FUTURE IMPERFECT
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters except for the ones that I created like Nick, Callie, and Hope.
CHAPTER 10-THE BIG SIT-DOWN INTERVIEW
Reluctantly Angel agreed to wait out in the garage with Wesley until Faith had thanked Nick and Callie for staying so late and seen them to their car. Faith had lied and said that Wesley was changing the oil in the SUV, and luckily for her that lie had been enough. Angel listened intently to the short conversation, trying to glean as much information as he could so that when he began to ask his questions he wouldn't look like a fool, while trying to make sure that Wesley stayed alert. From a quick glance around the garage Angel was surprised to notice how normal it all looked, no easily visible weapons of any kind, just gardening tools and many of the other assorted items that one would expect to find in someone's garage. All in all the whole scene only furthered Angel's confusion before Faith whispered loudly that the coast was clear for Angel and Wesley to enter the house. Just before Angel got to the door Faith smiled sheepishly and invited him in. Angel let Wesley walk in front of him, taking note at the amount of care and concern that Faith took in guiding him to a recliner. Angel was about to charge into his first question when Faith disappeared out of the room and could be heard rummaging around through drawers before running some water. Seconds later Faith walked back into the living room carrying a roll of paper towels, a small first aid kit, and a medium sized bowl of water. She set the items down and went about cleaning Wesley up before she noticed Angel's uncomfortable look.
"So…ya gonna sit there all night or ask a question before your head explodes," Wesley asked with a sarcastic grin on his face, a grin that Angel was slightly shocked to see Faith possessing as well. Angel leaned back with a confused frown on his face for a few seconds before trying to ask his first question.
"What…I mean…how…you died…but you're here…and the two of you…," Angel stammered out before nervously running a hand through his hair and looking away.
"Are married…big shock I know…was to us to at first…but after Hope came along it just seemed like the thing to do…and so far I have to say…no complaints," Faith answered with a patient look on her face as she dipped one of the paper towels into the bowl of water.
"Wait…Hope…who's Hope…," Angel started to ask with a confused frown on his face before a loud cry from another room interrupted him. Wesley and Faith shared a look of panic and uncertainty, that wasn't lost on Angel, before Wesley sighed and nodded his head.
"Wait here…I'll be right back…," Faith said nervously as she stood up and pushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear before walking slowly out of the room.
"Where is she going…," Angel asked in a soft whisper, trying his best to not do or say anything rash or insensitive, as he leaned forward towards Wesley.
"You'll see…but I feel that I should warn you…Hope does have quite the set of lungs…just like her mother," Wesley replied with at first a serious look on his face before he finished with a look on his face as if he were trying to tell a secret and was afraid of getting caught.
"I heard that…," Faith yelled out from a few rooms over, making both Wesley and Angel cringe a bit before beginning to relax.
"This is all yours, the house the yard…all of it," Angel asked with a very impressed smile on his face as he stood up and walked around the room, looking everything over like an assessor would.
"Yes…it's all ours…after my father was killed along with the rest of the council I…appropriated enough funds to get us started here," Wesley replied with a proud shrug of his shoulders as he leaned over and wetted a paper towel before using it to clean his hands, neck, and face.
"So in other words you stole as much money as you could when what was left of the council had its trousers down," Angel added with an amused laugh as he clasped his hands together behind his back and half turned back to Wesley.
"I didn't steal anything Angel…a good deal of the money was mine to begin with…as for the rest I took most of it from some of the councils more…shady…business dealings," Wesley answered with a very sure of himself frown on his face before Faith's entrance back into the room interrupted their conversation.
"Look who wanted to meet her long lost uncle Angel," Faith chimed in with a very relieved smile on her face as she slowly walked back into the living room, carrying a somewhat sleepy Hope in her arms. Had he been human Angel's breath would have caught in his throat and his heart would have stopped at the sight of Faith holding a baby, that was hers, more importantly hers and Wesley's. Angel had always expected that one day Faith would show up on his doorstep pregnant and alone. He had never expected her to find anyone to spend the rest of her life with, sure he had always hoped that she would meet such a man out somewhere in her travels, but as time went on he began to slowly doubt that dream more and more. It was plainly obvious that Faith and Hope were related, as after one look at Hope's cherub-like face he guessed that she looked just like Faith did at that age. Even then Faith and Hope both had the same complexion and that unruly dark brown hair. Angel couldn't see much of Wesley in her but he guessed that the traits that she got from Wesley were the ones that would show up later on.
"She…she's beautiful," Angel gasped out with an overwhelming sigh of relief as all of the fears and sleepless nights that he had endured wondering about his two best friends could now end once and for all, and on an extremely happy note.
"Thank you…luckily for us she looks like Faith," Wesley chimed in with a slightly joking smirk on his face as he turned his head back and smiled even further when Hope gleefully mumbled back, "Da…da!"
"Ya got that right Wes," Faith said with an equally happy smirk on her face as Angel heard her heart rate speed up along with what sounded like an echo of sorts.
"How old is she…," Angel asked with a small bit of confusion still remaining in his mind about all that he was seeing and hearing.
"She'll be eighteen months old in a few weeks, I found out that I was pregnant about a year or so after we left Sunnydale…and about nine months later…," Faith replied with a tired frown on her face as she sat down on the couch and moved the paper away so that Hope wouldn't try to grab it and jam it into her mouth.
"Why…didn't you guys say something…contact us…we could've helped you…," Angel asked regretfully as all of the things that he had missed out on came flooding into his mind.
"Wesley and I wanted to do it on our own…and for the first time in my life I was beginning to know what it was like to be happy Angel…really happy…and I just guess that…," Faith said sadly as she tried to keep Hope from the newspapers, which ended up being a constant job.
"We didn't want to lose what we had found…surprising as it was, we were both comfortable with it and we thought that you would probably have your own problems and that we'd only add to them," Wesley added with an equally solemn frown on his face before a small smile spread itself across his face as Hope hiccupped. Angel stayed silent for a moment, acting as if he were about to respond angrily, but he sighed and threw up his hands in defeat.
"You wouldn't have done that…really…but it's all in the past, and now that I know you two are alright there'll be plenty of time to talk about everything later…but now you know that you'll have to at least come back and visit everyone," Angel replied with a tired but happy look on his face as he picked the newspapers up off of the couch and set them in the basket nearby before sitting down on the couch opposite Faith.
"Sure…but let's not rush things…maybe when there's a break for Thanksgiving or Christmas," Faith said with a reluctant smile on her face as she looked over at Wesley, who seemed to share her uneasiness. Angel noticed the uneasy look between the two but decided that it was best not to say anything; instead he put on his best smile and turned back to Faith.
"Can I…hold her," Angel asked meekly as he leaned forward slightly and let Hope grab hold of his index finger.
"Sure…," Faith answered with a willing smile on her face before she stood up and handed Hope to Angel, who seemed happy to be holding her but nervous just the same.
"You're a natural Angel," Wesley added with a joking smirk on his face as Faith stood by his side, her hand on his shoulder. Angel only smile in response as he held Hope, who seemed to be the least bit afraid or unhappy. A few seconds later Angel momentarily slipped his game face on before going back to his human visage. Liam had been thoroughly terrified of Angel when he did that, but Hope seemed to take it in stride, giggling in fact.
"What's with the presto-chango Angel…," Faith asked with a worried frown on her face as unbeknownst to her she squeezed Wesley's shoulder and her fingernails dug in deeply.
"Just checking something, Liam…that's Cordelia and Connor's…son, he always runs away when I slip my game face on, and Anya and Xander's son Christopher always loved it…I guess Hope doesn't mind it much either…," Angel replied with an excited smile on his face before he noticed the slightly worried look on Faith's face. "What's wrong Faith…you look like you thought that I'd…," Angel asked with a confused and slightly hurt frown on his face as he looked up at Faith.
"I know you wouldn't hurt her Angel…I guess it was just my motherly instincts kicking into overdrive…sorry," Faith said with a slightly uncomfortable smile on her face before she took her fingernails out of Wesley's shoulder and walked back to the couch.
"Forget about it…after Liam was born I accidentally slipped my game face on around him and Cordelia nearly staked me…," Angel said with a relieved shrug of his shoulders before he gave Hope back to Faith.
"Of course…but now I really should get this little lady back to bed, it's way past her bedtime, and I still have to call the Dean and tell him that you're not coming in for a couple of days and to have Professor Whedon or Professor Boreanaz fill in for you," Faith said through a long yawn before she turned around and silenced Wesley's confused look with a stern one of her own and left the room.
"What was that all about…," Angel asked with a nervous frown on his face as he turned back to Wesley, who sigh and shook his head before responding.
"She's just worried about me, she does this every time I get hurt, and the funny thing is that when she gets hurt I nearly have to tie her to the bed to keep her home…," Wesley replied with a slightly amused smirk on his face as his gaze started out on Angel before going to the hallway that Faith had just walked down.
"So what is it that you guys do…exactly," Angel asked with a slightly less confused look on his face than he had earlier as he stood up and began to walk around the room, stopping to look at each of the paintings and pictures that hung on the walls.
"Well I'm a professor of history at a local college and Faith is my assistant…in a way, we actually work very well together, you'd be surprised how much she's…we've both changed…and every weeknight she drives into the city to do a radio show," Wesley replied with a proud smile on his face as he stood up before returning the paper towels and the bowl of water to the kitchen.
"You two certainly have full lives…a daughter…college life…a radio talk show…but do you ever miss the old days, helping the helpless, thwarting one apocalypse after another," Angel asked with a tired shrug of his shoulders as he followed Wesley into the kitchen before taking a seat at the table. Wesley took a moment to think before answering.
"Honestly…," Wesley asked with a thoughtful frown on his face before he reached into the refrigerator and took out a juice bottle.
"Yeah, it just hasn't been the same without you…Fred's tried her best, but her area of expertise is more into the science aspect of things," Angel replied with a relaxed smirk on his face as he idly smoothed out the tassel on the edge of the placemat in front of him.
"Sometimes…I miss it, I'm sure it's the same for Faith…but we haven't completely stopped fighting the good fight, Faith and I occasionally do go out and night and reduce the vampiric population as best we can…and on the side we do consultations…," Wesley said with an almost nostalgic smile on his face before his look changed to a more determined one. Angel's brow furrowed and he started to inquire about what Wesley had said before he was interrupted.
"Basically we help friends…or friends of a friend out with their problems that are right up our alley," Faith chimed in as she walked into the kitchen, now wearing a pair of Wesley's old sweatpants and one of his white shirts, with her hair pulled up in a ponytail.
"So in our own way we're still helping the helpless…only now we don't have to do it to survive," Wesley added with a tired smile on his face before he scooted his chair back a bit and pulled a yawning Faith down onto his lap. Angel quietly took note of the two's actions with an appreciative smile on his face before asking another question.
"Helping anyone I know…," Angel asked softly with an energized smile on his face as Wesley took a drink of juice and Faith straightened out the placemat in front of Wesley.
"Actually we are…in a way, Dawn, she came to see me a couple of days or so ago in need of an old book about demons that threatened to take over the world a hundred years ago," Wesley replied with a slight nod of his head as he looped one arm around Faith's waist.
"Yeah right before Giles showed up and made an ass out of himself," Faith added angrily with an unhappy scowl on her face before she snatched Wesley's juice drink away from him and took a drink. Angel wanted to ask about Giles but instead focused himself and pressed on.
"That wouldn't have anything to do with the apocalypse that Lorne foresaw happening somewhere in New York City would it," Angel asked with a growing look of concern on his face as he leaned forward onto the table with his elbows.
"That depends…what else did Lorne foresee…exactly," Wesley asked with a very interested look on his face as he leaned forward, causing Faith to roll her eyes and shake her head in slight dismay.
"Here we go again," Faith whispered softly before she took another drink and set the bottle back down onto the table. Ignoring Faith's small outburst Angel reluctantly nodded his head and said what little Lorne had been able to tell him before he and Gwen had left.
"He didn't see much, other than the apocalypse happening here…and something about fire breathing demons that lived a long time ago…is any of this sounding familiar," Angel replied with a very serious look on his face, a look that only deepened as he saw the worried scowl on Wesley's face.
"Unfortunately that sounds exactly like the problem that Dawn came to see us about…what was the name of that book that you gave her again Wes…," Faith said with an unhappy sigh as she leaned her head up against Wesley's.
"The Dringogen texts…the book tells about a cult of fire breathing demons that terrorized this area about one hundred years ago being they suddenly vanished…and haven't been seen since," Wesley said with a contemplative frown on his face before he took a drink of juice.
"Looks like we're all working on the same apocalypse…maybe I should have Fred, Gunn, and Connor catch the next flight here…maybe Cordelia and Liam to…," Angel said with an excited look in his eyes as he used his thumbnail to dig some dirt out from under his other fingernails.
"I don't know Angel…maybe we should wait until we know whether or not we can take care of this apocalypse on our own," Wesley said with a reluctant frown on his face as he motioned that he wanted to get up and Faith jutted out her bottom lip in a pout before she slid off his lap and let him up.
"Well if they were here then they'd be able to concentrate on the researching…letting you two keep appearances up while still being able to help out when we find anything," Angel said with a growing look of acceptance on his face as Wesley politely excused himself and walked out of the kitchen.
"It certainly would save us from making the trip to L.A. sometime, and with Spike and B here…then…oh shit I forgot about them," Faith started to say sheepishly before she cursed herself for forgetting.
"Have you…I mean do they know…about all of this," Angel asked with a slightly worried frown on his face as he motioned around the kitchen.
"Not yet, all they know is that they're here to help Dawn get acclimated to college life…Dawn and Giles both agreed not to say anything to them about us, although at the rate we're going they'll probably find out about us soon enough…you know that B's pregnant right," Faith replied with an unhappy sigh as she walked over to the sink and started to fill the sink up with water to clean the dishes. Angel gritted his teeth loudly before forcing his anger down enough to respond without yelling.
"Yeah, she and Spike stopped by in L.A. before coming out here," Angel said calmly even though his eyes told a completely different story.
"So if we're going to have this big meet and greet of the Scooby gang and the A.I. gang we have to find someplace to do it…and don't you dare even think for a second about it being here because…I…," Faith started to say with a reluctant frown of acceptance on her face before she put a hand up to her temple and winced in pain.
"Faith…what's wrong…," Angel asked with a very worried tone to his voice as he jumped up out of his chair and was at her side in seconds.
"Nothing…I'm fine…it's just that these last few days or so I've been getting headaches pretty frequently and having some bad cramps…," Faith replied, trying her best to sound positive, as she picked up a plate and began to scrub the food off of it.
"Which sounds an awful lot like what you went through before Hope was born…," Wesley exclaimed with a worried frown on his face as he walked back into the kitchen wearing almost the same outfit as Faith, except he had on a black long sleeved shirt.
"I told you already Wes…I'm not pregnant, I can't be…I'd know," Faith growled angrily before she sighed and continued with an apologetic frown on her face, "Sorry…."
"Forget about it," Wesley replied with a worried scowl on his face as he pulled Faith away from the sink and held her close. Watching the two Angel felt like hugging the two outright, but he stopped before he even took a single step. He could only stand and stare as he caught the sound of a heart beating softly, one that was different from Wesley, Faith's, or Hope's.
"I think before we call anybody you two should get some sleep…I'll finish up the dishes and then call Gwen to tell her not to expect me back until tomorrow, we can talk more in the morning, right after you take Faith to the doctor to make sure that Hope's little brother or sister is doing okay," Angel said with a very commanding tone to his voice and look on his face as he nodded politely to Wesley and Faith before walking back into the living room, taking his cell phone out of his pocket as he went.
END OF CHAPTER 10
