CHAPTER 8
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters, although I wish I did because I'd find a way to put Angel and Buffy back together; where they belong. You will also notice that I've snagged some lines from a few episodes on either Buffy or Angel.
Summary: What if the Oracles had in fact restored Angel to his vampire state instead of taking back the day (In "I Will Remember You" on Angel) so that a prophesized miracle could occur?
Historical Note: This trilogy takes place between the fourth and fifth season of Buffy, and between the first and second season of Angel. You may also notice some of the later elements are from later seasons of either show.
Author's note: This trilogy will go back and fourth between Sunnydale and L.A. More so in this first series. The second there isn't much crossover's going on, there may be a few though. I really tried to keep to both shows storylines as much as possible. Some events (The Glory bit in season 5 on Buffy for example) will be either pushed back or taken out in general. These events may have been important on the shows, but not in this story.
And Just to let everyone know so that there is no confusion, Darla was never resurrected in season 1 finale of Angel. So none of that Darla stuff ever happened. Yep, instead of Darla giving birth to Connor, Buffy will. As far as I can tell so far, the 'Connor' story line will remain the same. I'm still debating about the Cordy/Connor thing tho. Who else was going 'eww!' when that scene with Cordy and Connor in 'Apocalypse, Nowish' aired??!
The next day, Buffy decided it was a good idea to visit Giles before she left. If she didn't, she knew he'd be hurt.
Giles had no children, and Buffy was the closest thing to a daughter he had and the feelings were mutual on Buffy's side. After Buffy's parents had divorced, and she and her mother had moved, Hank Summers had stopped seeing his daughter. Sometimes Buffy had a feeling he had to be reminded he had a daughter.
Buffy and Angel sat on the small couch across from Giles, who was sitting in a chair. The three of them had been talking for a while, mainly catching up. It also gave Giles and Angel a chance to put the past behind them. The two of them hadn't really spoken much since Angel had reverted back into Angelus a year or so ago and killed Giles' girlfriend, Jenny Calender.
"Do you know what the um, gender of the baby is yet?" Giles asked curiously. Buffy shook her head.
"No. The question came up on my last visit, but since Angel wasn't there I thought it wouldn't be fair If I knew before he did" Buffy explained. Angel looked at her and smiled.
"We should find out before the baby's born. In fact, we can do it before we leave," Angel suggested.
"Alright," Buffy said.
"Yes, do let me know when you two find out," Giles requested. Buffy nodded.
"I promise," she said.
* * *
Not too long after the sunset Angel and Buffy left Giles' house and headed for Buffy's house. She had wanted to drive, but Angel had told her that his car had gotten enough of a beating on the way to Giles' house.
As Buffy and Angel walked up the walkway, she noticed her mother's car parked in the driveway.
"Well, she's here, are you ready to go inside?" Buffy asked as she held Angel's hand.
"Buffy," Angel warned. "Be nice, she's your mother," he reminded her.
"I know," she sighed as she opened the door. Joyce quickly came out from the kitchen to see who was there.
"Buffy-" Joyce began.
"Mom. We'll be here long enough to get a few things and we'll be gone," Buffy said as she began up the stairs.
"Buffy, wait," Joyce called out. "I'm sorry for what I said last night. It was wrong," she said as she looked at Angel, then back towards Buffy.
"It's been hard. It feels like I'm loosing my daughter," Joyce admitted. "And I know you love her, and will take care of her and the baby," Joyce added looking at Angel. Buffy stepped back down the stairs; her gaze never leaving her mothers face.
"Mom, you're not loosing me. You'll never loose me," Buffy assured her mother.
"I know, It just feels that way. I mean, you're going to be in L.A. when you give birth to my first grandchild," Joyce pointed out.
"I'm only going to be two hours away," Buffy reminded her. "Besides the minute I go into labor, you'll be the first person I call, I swear," Buffy promised. She then walked over to her mother and gave her a hug.
"Listen, I've gotta go pack some stuff, but we can all sit down and talk when I get done," Buffy said before she started back up the stairs. Angel made a move to follow her up, but Joyce stopped him.
"Can I talk to you for a minute?" she asked.
"Of coarse," Angel said.
"Is there a chance we could start over?" Joyce asked. "I now realize just how much you are in love with my daughter, and since you're the father of my first and probably only grand child, I think it would be easier on everyone including Buffy if we agreed to get along for now on," Joyce explained.
"Alright, that sounds nice," Angel said. Joyce smiled at him.
"I know you'll take good care of her," Joyce added. "Now lets go help her pack."
* * *
The night before they left for LA, they decided to go to the hospital to find out what they were going to have. Giles had told them they should so that they would know what they were going to have, but deep down, Buffy knew Giles wanted to make sure she wasn't carrying something evil.
Of coarse they had to make the appointment for sometime after sunset so that Angel could go.
Buffy sat in the bed wearing one of those hospital gowns people were forced to wear when performing the tests they were here to have done. At first, Buffy had refused to wear the dress, but after telling her she had to for twenty minutes or so, Angel was finally able to convince her to put the gown on. Angel stood by her bed, holding her hand as they waited for the doctor to come in.
"Angel?" Buffy asked as she sat up.
"Yeah?" he asked.
"What do you want the baby to be?" She asked curiously. Angel paused for a second then smiled at Buffy.
"It doesn't matter to me," he told Buffy.
"You don't care?" She asked. Angel shook his head. Just then, the doctor came in with the nurse.
"Good evening Ms. Summers. I see your here for an ultrasound?" The doctor asked as he looked down at his clipboard.
"Yeah," she told the doctor. The doctor looked back down at the clipboard.
"And your records say your six months along," The doctor read. Buffy nodded as she looked up at Angel.
"Ok then, this will only take a second," The doctor told them as he lifted up her shirt, and turned on the machine. The nurse the walked over to her, and squirted a clear liquid on Buffy's stomach.
"That stuff looks gross," Buffy told them. The doctor smiled as he typed in a few things on the machine, and set the machine up. Angel and Buffy both looked up onto the screen as an image of their baby came into view. Angel suddenly heard the sound of the baby's heartbeat and smiled.
"The baby has a heartbeat," Angel told Buffy happily, which told them their baby was human; and has a soul. The doctor looked at Angel confused.
"Of coarse the baby has a heartbeat. Why? Have you experienced complications recently?" The doctor asked Buffy. She quickly shook her head. The doctor looked at them for a second confused before returning his attention back to the monitor.
"Ah, here," The doctor said as he pushed a few more buttons. "It appears you two are going to have a healthy, baby boy," The doctor announced. Angel and Buffy smiled at the news. Angel leaned down and kissed her on her forehead. He then looked back up to the monitor. Angel smiles with the realization that fatherhood is right around the corner.
"I'm going to have a son," Angel said happily as he and Buffy both looked at the monitor, at their first sight of their son.
Three Months Later
In LA...
Buffy and Angel slowly walked down the stairs with their two-week-old baby. The Gang was waiting downstairs anxiously to meet their new baby.
Buffy had gone into labor some time in the afternoon, and by nightfall, she seemed ready to deliver. Soon after Giles and Joyce had arrived there, they ran into problems, and brought Buffy to the hospital.
Her labor had been very hard, but she had done well. Buffy had to stay in the hospital for a few days while they gave her fluids, then she was under strict directions to stay in bed for a few days after she was released.
Joyce and Giles had seen the baby the night he was born, but because it was a hard delivery they wouldn't allow any visitors for a few days.
Buffy's gaze wondered across the room as all of their friends waited to meet their new baby. She then looked back down at her new baby. He was a spitting image of both parents. The baby had a large patch of dark brown hair, which he had clearly gotten from Angel.
"I'd like everyone to meet Connor Alexander," Buffy announced introducing their friends to their new baby. Xander grinned at the sound of the name.
"Connor Alexander, huh?" Xander repeated. "I like it. It sounds tuff. Hey, how much did Buffy have to pay you to agree to that anyway?" Xander asked curiously. Angel laughed.
"She didn't have to pay me anything, it sounds good. It goes together nicely," Angel explained.
"So how are you guys doing?" Willow asked. Buffy smiled.
"This is different. I mean, I'm used to being up half the night battling things, but this is...different," Buffy admitted. "But he's good otherwise," Buffy added.
"And how's the daddy?" Willow asked Angel. He smiled as he looked at the family he thought he'd never have.
"Trying to keep mommy happy," he simply said. All of a sudden, Cordelia came running in with her arms full of stuffed animals.
"Ok, I'm here. I just got the message. I'm always the last to know!" Cordelia said trying to catch her breath as she dumped the stuffed animals on the front desk.
"Cordelia, how nice of you to join us. We were just having a nice, touching moment," Xander explained. Cordelia glared at him.
"Oh boy, Xander's here. Mix in a few of those head-wrenching visions of mine and this is my best day ever," Cordelia said sarcastically as she walked over to Buffy and Angel.
"Oh my god he's sooo cute! What's his name?" Cordelia asked.
"If you would've gotten here, oh say five minutes ago or so you would've already found out with the rest of us," Xander explained.
"Xander, go run around the hotel with a sword," Cordelia shot back as she returned her focus to the new baby. Buffy rolled her eyes at Xander and Cordelia's behavior.
"His name is Connor. Connor Alexander," Angel answered.
"Hi their Connor. I'm sorry you're middle name has to be shared with such an oober-loser," Cordelia cooed.
"I've forgotten how annoying you are!" Xander shot back. Willow then jabbed him in his side to shut him up.
"Ow! Sorry," Xander apologized.
"Oh yeah you two dated! I forgot all about that!" Anya exclaimed as it finally hit her. She remembered Cordelia from somewhere, but had forgotten where until just now.
"And it looks like you two are currently going out. I feel so sorry for you. Wait! You're that vainy fairy thing that granted my wish and put us all in bizarro-land!" Cordelia said remembering Anya.
"Oh, I don't do that anymore. I'm fully mortal now," Anya explained. Cordelia nodded as her focus returned to the baby in from of her.
"Can I hold him?" Cordelia asked eagerly.
"Sure," Buffy said. Angel began to get ancy, and held his hands out just in case something happened. Cordelia looked down at the sleeping baby, and she smiled.
"He is so cute! I want one!" Cordelia admitted. Buffy sighed.
"No you don't. I mean, don't get me wrong; I love my son, it's just, they're so much work, and they never sleep!" Buffy explained.
"Oh. Then I'll just borrow this cutie pie when he gets a little older and give him back to you guys when he gets cranky," Cordelia explained.
"Great. Thanks Cordy," Buffy said.
"Hey, I'm the aunt!" Willow informed her.
"And I'm like an uncle," Oz added quickly.
"Yeah, well, I'm the babysitter when they're out fighting, or...what not," Cordelia informed everyone.
"Well, I'm uncle Xander so there!" Xander fought back.
"Hey there little guy. You're so adorable," Cordelia cooed to the baby. "Angel, he looks just like you," Cordelia observed. The baby began to squirm.
"Ok. Remember when I said that when he got all cranky that I'd give him back? Well, here you go," Cordelia said as she handed the baby back to Buffy. Angel leaned over towards the baby and kissed the baby's forehead. All of a sudden, Gunn came running in.
"Hey, is everyone...alright?" Gunn began before he noticed the small group of people he didn't know.
"Did I interrupt something?" Gunn asked. "Hey, Buffy. I heard you had the baby. How you doing?" Gunn asked as he walked over to Buffy and Angel to see the baby.
"Were doing ok. Still adjusting to the whole 'parent' thing," Buffy admitted.
"Oh, he's so cute. He looks just like you Angel. He's got your hair and nose," Gunn noted.
"Thanks, I've been getting that a lot today," Angel told him. Angel then remembered how Gunn ran in quickly.
"Is there something wrong?" Angel asked.
"I thought there was. I tried to call, but all I got was the machine, so I figured something was up," Gunn explained.
"Oh, I pulled the plug out of the wall so that Buffy could get some rest, sorry," Angel explained.
"No problem," Gunn said. "So how old is the little tyke and what's his name?" Gunn asked.
"His name is Connor, and he was born four days ago," Buffy answered as she looked down at the baby; who was starting to squirm.
"Here Angel, can you take him?" Buffy asked as she handed the baby to him.
"Of coarse. Hey there buddy," Angel said as Buffy placed their son in his hands. Gunn looked at Buffy before he gave her a hug.
"Congratulations," he told them. He then got his first good look at Buffy since the baby was born. "Boy, only four days ago? You sure look great," Gunn noted out loud.
"Thanks," Buffy answered. She and Gunn had gotten to know each other a little more after she moved in the motel a few months back. They had become good friends. Although, she was still getting used to seeing Cordy every day again. Buffy was still getting used to a lot of things like being back with Angel, and now starting a family with him. After he left her on her graduation day, she never thought she'd ever be able to be with him ever again, but the Powers That Be stepped in and changed that.
They had granted Angel's wish and turned him back instead of erasing the day so that their child could exist.
"So were going to have a little baby here in the hotel now," Gunn noted. "Cool. Just don't expect me to change any diapers. Killing demons is my job, not tackling diapers," Gunn told them. Buffy laughed.
"I promise no diapers," She assured him. Gunn smiled.
"Alright. Well, now that I've seen the little guy, I gotta get going. Got stuff to get done before you make us come back to work," Gunn explained.
"If you need anything, just give me a ring. You know where I'll be," He added before he left.
"Wow. He's cute too," Anya noted after Gunn left. Cordelia sighed as she grabbed her bag.
"I'd better head out too. I've got a date tonight, and I need to get ready," Cordelia explained as she walked over to Angel.
"Bye Connor. I'll see you later," Cordelia promised as she said her good byes to Buffy and Angel.
"Come on Cor, don't scare the little guy like that," Xander teased. Cordelia turned around and shot him a glare before she left. Willow sighed out loud.
"So how often does your mother call?" Willow asked curiously. Buffy laughed.
"She calls like every night, and I think she's going to start to come over every weekend," Buffy explained.
"Oh boy," Willow laughed.
"She's so excited about the baby. I guess this whole grandma thing's really hitting her," Buffy explained.
"It's still weird, seeing you two as parents," Oz noted.
"It's weird actually being one," Buffy told them. "But I love it, Although I never thought I'd be able to have children since I'm the Slayer," She admitted.
"Can I hold him?" Willow asked. Buffy knew that Willow had been dying to hold the baby. She smiled at her friend then at Angel; who was still holding the baby.
"Sure," Angel said as he walked over to Willow and carefully placed the stirring baby in her arms. Willow looked down in awe as she gazed at her best friend's baby.
"He's so adorable, aren't you Connor," Willow cooed to the baby. Connor squirmed a little before opening his eyes for a second and looking around.
"Oh my god, he's going to have your eyes Buffy," Willow told her in amazement. Buffy and Angel walked over to Willow quickly, and caught a glimpse of the baby's eye color.
"Angel she's right. Look, he has a little green in them," Buffy noted before the baby closed his eyes again. Angel put an arm around Buffy and kissed her on her forehead.
"Hey Buffy, did it hurt. I mean, giving birth to Connor?" Willow asked curiously.
"You have no idea," Buffy told her.
"But she did great," Angel added.
"Hey, can I hold Connor?" Xander asked. Willow smiled as she handed the baby over to Xander. Willow looked at Buffy, and hugged her. "After I'm done, do you want to hold him?" Xander asked Oz. Oz shook his head.
"I'm not too good with babies. They always end up crying whenever I hold them," Oz explained.
"Wow. This feels weird. You being thin again," Willow noted.
"Thank god," Buffy told her as she hugged Willow back.
"Oh Buffy, I miss you so much. I wish you lived back in Sunnydale," Willow admitted.
"I know Will, I miss it there too, but I'm happy here," Buffy told her.
"I know, and I'm happy that you're happy,"
"Hey, Buffy. Uh, someone needs a diaper change; badly," Xander said as he handed Connor back to Buffy, who laughed.
"I'll be right back. Do you guys wanna come with me?" Buffy asked Willow and Anya.
"No thanks, I'll stay down here," Anya said as she hugged Xander's arm. Willow walked over to Buffy.
"But I'll come up with you," Willow told her. "Then you can tell me more about the baby, and what you've been up to here in L.A," Willow said as she and Buffy walked up the stairs. Angel turned back towards Anya and Xander.
"So, you two thinking about having kids?" Angel asked curiously as he sat down in the chair. Anya looked at Xander quickly and shook her head.
"No. I don't think I want little ones running around the apartment right now. They cost a lot of money to take care," Anya explained. Angel couldn't help but laugh.
"So what about you. I have to tell you; I never pictured you the father type," Oz admitted.
"I never thought I'd ever be one. Even before I was changed, I never gave it much thought," Angel told him. "But I love it. I love him so much already and he's only four days old. I mean, now that I have him and Buffy I couldn't picture my life without them," he admitted.
"So when does Angel Inc. open its doors again?" Xander asked curiously.
"I'm going to wait a little while longer, at least until Connor's a month old or so," Angel told him. A few minutes later, Buffy and Willow came back down the stairs.
"How's he doing?" Angel asked as he noticed Connor's absence.
"He's upstairs sleeping," Buffy explained.
"Their nursery is so cute, with all the little stuffed animals and everything," Willow told Oz, Xander and Anya.
"Hey guys, let's get out of here. I'm sure Buffy's tired," Willow suggested.
"It's alright," Buffy began.
"Willow's right. You two go and rest. Were still in town for another day or so," Xander told her.
"Alright. I'll see you guys tomorrow?" Buffy asked.
"If you want. I mean, If you're up to it," Willow said. "Besides, I'm staying with you guys for a few more weeks, remember?" Willow had reminded them. Buffy had asked her to stay at the hotel with them for a while after the baby was born to help out. Willow had a break from school, and she couldn't think of any better way to spend it.
"To see you guys? I'm always up for it," she assured them. They then said their good byes and left. Buffy and Angel then took advantage of their quiet time and decided to snuggle up together on the couch.
* * *
Two Weeks Later...
Buffy walked down the stairs early one morning holding a screaming Connor. Willow quickly ran into the room hearing the sound of the baby crying.
"Is they're anything I can do?" she asked. Buffy shook her head.
"I can't make him stop. I've been up with him all night long," Buffy confessed.
"Maybe he's just got an upset tummy," Willow suggested. Buffy began to rock him, but it didn't seem to help.
"I don't know. Maybe," Buffy said as she witched the crying newborn to her other arm. Angel then came into the room with a concerned expression on his face.
"Is he ok?" Angel asked as he held out his hands for his son. Buffy shook her head.
"I don't know. Angel, I don't know what's wrong with him," she admitted. Angel looked at her and noticed the black circles under her eyes.
"I'll take care of him. Why don't you go up and get some rest," he told her. Buffy nodded. "If you think something's wrong, come up and get me," she told him before walking up the stairs.
Willow remained downstairs to help Angel out.
"Hey little guy, what's wrong?" he asked the crying baby. He then tried to quiet the baby by making weird faces at him, but was failing horribly.
"Maybe he's hungry?" Angel asked. Willow shook her head.
"Buffy fed him before bringing him downstairs," Willow explained. Angel sighed in defeat as he tried to think of something else.
Coming up with noting else, Angel realized there was one thing he hadn't tried. His face then turned vamp face. The baby looked up at him and immediately quieted down. Angel looked down at his now quieted son and smiled. Willow looked at Angel shocked.
"That's my little guy!" he said as he began to rock his son to sleep.
"Angel!" Willow said playfully scolding him. Angel looked at her and changed his face back.
"Sorry. I ran out of ideas," he explained. "But It looks like it worked," he observed.
"Yeah, because he's probably scared half to death," Willow told him. As if on cue, Connor smiled, and both Willow and Angel caught it.
"My son? No," Angel said as he began to rock Connor in his arms. The baby then let out a giant yawn and began to settle down. Angel looked up at Willow and smiled. Willow rolled her eyes and left the room knowing Nagel had it all under control.
* * *
An hour or so later, Angel heard the sound of glass breaking. He quickly ran out of his office into the lobby, only to discover a Phyllian Demon standing in the lobby.
"Willow!" Angel called out as he ran towards the demon. He knew the demon was there to try and kidnap Connor, and Willow had grown powerful enough to banish some of these demons with her powers. Willow then ran down the stairs, Buffy closely following. As soon as they reached the end of the stairs, Buffy instantly ran towards Angel's office where Connor was asleep while Willow ran over towards Angel.
Angel watched as Willow's eyes turned black, and a ball of orange energy appeared in her opened hand. He then watched as she threw it at the demon, and it vanished.
"You know, if I would've known this was included with 'helping' you guys out, then I would've demanded pay," Willow told them jokingly as Buffy ran out with the baby.
"Is he ok?" Angel asked as he and Willow ran over towards the baby.
"Yeah. I think so," she said as she continued to study the now fully awakened baby. "You know Angel, this has been the second attempt from the bad guys for taking our baby," Buffy reminded him.
"Buffy, we both knew after the baby was born, that this would happen," Angel told her.
"I know, but how are we supposed to save the world when were too busy trying to keep our month old son alive?" Buffy asked.