Title: A Model Romance
Author: Ashley K.
Disclaimer: I own nothing BTVS or A:tS.
Chapter Six:
"Marry me," Angelus stated. "I can give our child my name. It doesn't have to be a real marriage. A year or so after our child's born we can get it annulled."
Stunned, Buffy could only gape at her child's father. How typical of Angelus to suggest a marriage of convenience. She ignored the stab of pain to her heart. "No," Buffy spat out, finding her voice.
"No?" Angelus repeated, amused. "You would dare to say no?"
"Yes, I dare to say no, you arrogant prick!" Buffy yelled, wincing from the pain that action caused. Angelus was immediately contrite.
"I'm sorry, don't yell," Angelus apologized and commanded, all in one breath. "I can't bear to…" he trailed off, rather than finishing his sentence, he leaned over and kissed Buffy, gently at first, then, as the kiss progressed, more and more passionately.
"Ahem." Buffy and Angelus jumped apart, Angelus smug, while Buffy was slightly embarrassed that her mother and Giles had witnessed their kiss. "I take it congratulations are in order?" Giles dryly commented.
"Not quite," Angelus smoothly replied. Buffy closed her eyes in mortification. Her mother glared at her. "Buffy, I've got to go, but I'll be back tonight."
"Oh, goody," Buffy joylessly said. She watched as Angelus left and her stomach sank when her mother cleared her throat. Giles stuttered some excuse and left mother and daughter alone. "What Mom?"
Joyce stood there, just staring at her daughter. When had she become so grown up? Joyce mused. This was her baby girl who was carrying the next generation. Joyce smiled slightly, before remembering what she wanted to say. "Buffy," Joyce calmly started, "do you realize how incredibly lucky you are?"
"Uh, not be insolent or anything, but what the hell are you talking about?" Buffy asked. "I'm six months pregnant and the father of my child can't stand me. My job's on hold and I don't have a college education."
"Buffy, Angelus loves you," Joyce stated.
Buffy's heart leapt at the thought of Angelus loving her, before her mind reminded her that Angelus only loved one person. Himself. "No, he doesn't," Buffy quietly said.
"He was up all night, praying for you. Did you know that? When Giles' called him, Angelus was at the hospital ten minutes later," Joyce said, watching her daughter's expression. "And now he wants to marry you."
"He wants to stake claim on my child," Buffy matter-of-factly retorted. "As for praying all night…well, he was probably concerned about the baby."
"And the mother," Joyce answered. "You would be stupid to not accept his proposal."
Silence reined as Buffy contemplated what Joyce had just told her. Maybe Angelus was concerned about her. But he had admitted to being possessive. In all likelihood, he was more concerned about his child than the woman who was carrying it. "Mom, I'm tired," Buffy quietly hinted.
Sighing, Joyce kissed her daughter's forehead. "Buffy…just think about it. Even if it doesn't work out, at least your child can have his father's name."
Watching her mother leave the room, Buffy stared, blankly at the closed door. "What are we going to do?" she wondered out loud.
Her finances, while she had originally thought would cover the next couple months, were appalling low. Buffy had no idea how she would pay for this unexpected hospital visit. Marrying Angelus would guarantee financial security for the time being.
But was she willing to stoop that low?
Joyce was right; her child deserved to know his, or her, father. And Angelus deserved to be a part of its life. Biting her lip, Buffy weighed the pros and cons of marrying Angelus, even if it was just for the year.
On the one hand, it would most likely create another scandal. She would be, from a legal standpoint, Angelus'. Not to mention the fact that Buffy would actually have to live with Angelus, a living arrangement that had not suited them when she was teenager.
On the other hand, it would give her and her child financial security. It was only right for Angelus to be part of his child's life. And, the smallest, most hidden part of Buffy actually hoped that her mother was right, that Angelus did love her.
Frowning, Buffy made her decision.
Angelus stood outside Buffy's hospital room, holding the gifts he brought her. When his father had called him, telling him about Buffy's hospitalization, he had been on his way to the reception hall. Willow and Oz's wedding had been on the news; the famous guitarist from the Dingoes getting married was big news. He had every intention of crashing the reception and demanding that Buffy tell him the truth.
Once he heard the words 'hospital' and 'Buffy' in the same sentence, however, all rational thought fled. Angelus barely remembered the drive to the hospital and was almost certain he had ran three red lights.
Knocking, Angelus waited for Buffy's invitation in.
"Angelus," Buffy said, not giving him the chance to start the conversation. "Yes."
"Yes?" he repeated.
"I'll marry you," Buffy agreed. "But I want the wedding to take place after the baby's born."
"No," Angelus smoothly denied. "We will get married once you're out of the hospital."
"I will not have my child knowing that Mommy and Daddy had a shotgun wedding. We'll get married after the baby's born," Buffy repeated.
"I will not have my child born out of wedlock," Angelus countered, setting his gifts on the nearby chair. "We will be married the day you get out of the hospital."
"Damn you, Angelus," Buffy swore, "I'm marrying you; at least let me choose when!"
"And give you the opportunity to back out?" Angelus snapped. "I don't think so, Buff."
"I won't back out," Buffy quietly promised. Angelus grabbed his gifts and threw them on Buffy's lap. She stared, questioningly at them, before looking up to Angelus. "Thank you," she hesitantly acknowledged.
"Open this one first," Angelus commanded, handing her a tiny, black velvet covered box. Knowing what was probably in it, Buffy slowly pushed the lid up. Staring at the ring that lay there, Buffy was speechless. She had seen that ring only once before.
It was Angelus' late mother's engagement ring to Giles. According to Giles it had been a family heirloom, in the Giles' family for six generations. Joyce didn't want to wear the same ring Giles' ex-wife had worn, not out of jealousy over the deceased woman, but out of respect for Giles' first marriage.
And now Angelus had given it to Buffy.
She had been played, and she knew it. Buffy had only one thing to do at this point. Accept defeat. "Alright," Buffy quietly whispered as Angelus slipped the ring on her ring finger, "The day that I'm released."
Soundlessly, Angelus gathered her in his arms and sealed the marriage deal with a deep kiss.
Staring at the antique engagement ring and plain wedding band, Buffy bit her lip. It was done. She was now Mrs. Angelus Liam Giles, for better or for worse. Until death do them part. Or the year ended, Buffy wryly thought with a sad smile.
Her husband had dropped her off at his townhouse and had promptly left. "Business matters," he had brusquely answered her question as to where he was going.
Buffy had been married for three hours now and had only spent the first five minutes with her new husband. "Some honeymoon," Buffy muttered to herself, changing into her sweats and an over-sized shirt.
"Buffy?"
Buffy ignored her new husband, just like he had ignored her for the past two hours and fifty-five minutes. Settling deeper into the couch, Buffy reached for the remote, clicking on the television. And immediately turned it back off. Angelus and her marriage apparently was big news. She should have held out for a wedding following the birth of her child.
"Buffy," Angelus said, standing in the doorway. "I called for you."
Stubbornly silent, Buffy refused to even glance at him. "I am not your pet dog; I don't come when I'm called."
"Dinner," Angelus simply replied.
Buffy had no intention of sharing a meal with the bastard, but Junior was demanding food. And the delicious smells wafting her way from the kitchen only peaked her appetite. Grumbling, Buffy hauled herself up and into the dining room.
"Did you get settled in all right?" Angelus pleasantly queried.
"Yes." Buffy had been answering all of his questions with monosyllabic words. She might have to share a meal, a house, a year of her life, and a child with the man. She did not have to be pleasant.
"Are you going to be a brat all night?" Angelus finally asked, as their meal was almost complete.
"Yes," Buffy answered, vaguely entertaining the idea of sticking her tongue out at him, but vetoing that idea, on the basis that, in order for him to see her tongue, she would have to actually look at him.
The newlyweds finished their first meal together in silence, Angelus giving up on having dinner conversation. Buffy finished her meal first, pushing her chair back, fully intending on going to bed. She was happy that she insisted on her own bedroom and was even happier when Angelus agreed.
"Good night," Angelus called out to her.
Buffy stared at the calendar. She had been married for a week. After that first night, she had realized that, yes, she was being an immature brat, and had gracefully apologized to Angelus. He had accepted with the cool dignity that defined him.
But now it was a week and they hadn't shared a dinner since that horrible first night. Buffy wondered if he was out, with Darla or Drusilla or any of the other girls she had read about.
"Where have you been?" she demanded, the second she heard Angelus walk through the door. "You married me, Angelus. Even though I'm sure that with Darla you get to have philosophical debates and with Drusilla you're better entertained, you made me marry you."
"What are you talking about?" Angelus asked, incredulous.
"We've been married for a week and I'm already bored out of my mind!" Buffy exploded.
"Well, sweetheart, I'd hate for me to be the only one," Angelus sarcastically threw back. Suddenly melancholy, Buffy spun around and stormed back to her room. "Oh Buff?" Angelus called after her. "If it wasn't for that delightful display, I never would have known how insecure you really are."
Pausing, Buffy almost burst into tears. Luckily she was able to hold them back until she reached the safety of her own room.
She had made a terrible mistake, Buffy realized. This wasn't how she expected her life with Angelus to be. Well, what did you expect? Her annoying inner voice nastily asked, You were being a brat. Nobody wants to be around that.
Sobbing herself to sleep, Buffy woke up the next day still feeling tired and knowing her eyes were puffy beyond repair.
Angelus had apologized over breakfast and, in the months following, was the picture-perfect husband and father-to-be, choosing ridiculous names for their child and showing Buffy where he thought the nursery should be.
One night, in her seventh month, Buffy realized, as she turned for the tenth time, that she would not be getting any sleep that night. Creeping into the nursery, which was located in the room between Angelus' and her own, Buffy flipped on the light, searching for the packages she had bought the day before and had been too tired to unpack. Scanning the room, she found the Angelus, or one of the maids, had placed them on the top shelf of the closet. Cursing, Buffy pushed a stool into the closet, before climbing on it, reaching for the packages. She cursed again when she realized that, even with the stool, she was still a good three inches too short. Stretching her body further, Buffy was so intent on her mission; she didn't hear the nursery door open.
"What are you doing?" Buffy jumped, catching herself at the last moment.
"Angelus," Buffy warily greeted. "I couldn't sleep."
"So I gathered," Angelus dryly nodded. "But why in the Hell are you on that stool, putting yourself, and our child, in imminent danger?"
"I wanted to unpack the packages I bought yesterday," Buffy simply said, pointing at the brightly colored plastic bags. Angelus growled, before lifting his wife up and off of the stool.
Pulling the newest furniture closer to the closet, Angelus motioned for Buffy to sit in the hand-carved rocking chair. "Now, I'll get the packages and you tell me where to put them."
Yawning, Buffy watched as Angelus put the last little undershirt in its proper drawer. "Thank you," she sleepily said, holding her hands out for him to help her out of the rocking chair. Buffy could not wait until her child was born, not only because she was excited to meet her child, but so that she could return to her pre-pregnancy graceful body. "Good night."
"Buffy," Angelus stopped her. "I need to hold you tonight. Seeing you, on that stool…" he trailed off, swallowing hard, not meeting her gaze, "I just need to be sure that you and the baby are fine."
Touched by his concern, Buffy agreed. Snuggling deeper into her husband's arms, moments later, Buffy, for the first time in three months, immediately fell asleep, feeling perfectly safe and content.
Two Months Later…
Buffy woke up, kicking the covers off. She had been feeling off since the evening before. Her skin felt itchy and too hot, she felt nauseated, and the headache she had complained of the night before had grown worse, rather than better like she had hoped. Turning over in the bed, hoping to find the cool spot, Buffy moaned as the feeling in her stomach grew worse.
Moving as fast as she could, Buffy staggered into the bathroom, her fingers dragging on the wall. She tried to ignore the pain that was trying to double her over and dove for the toilet, heaving the little food she had in her.
"Buffy?" Angelus' voice boomed and Buffy winced. Had Angelus always sounded that loud?
"Too loud," Buffy complained quietly. Angelus frowned and flicked the bathroom light on. "Turn it off!" she whispered, harshly. The moment the light flooded the bathroom, her eyes felt like they were on fire.
"What is, honey? Is it the baby?" Angelus asked, grabbing her off the floor. "You're burning up."
"Something's wrong," Buffy whispered. "I…my stomach hurts."
"Are you in labor?" Angelus asked, settling her down on the living room couch. He grabbed the phone, somehow, instinctively knowing that they would need an ambulance.
"No," Buffy whispered. "It's my stomach…not the baby. Angel, my head hurts so bad…and my skin. It feels weird."
"I'm calling 911," he assured her. "I'm calling for help."
"There's more," Buffy admitted, "I can't see very well…its all blurry. Angel!"
Angelus quickly dialed 911, stroking her hair with his free hand. "Hello? I-its my wife…she's pregnant and…there's something very wrong, her head hurts, she's puking, and she's burning up. Yes, 311 Crawford Drive, the mansion. Thank you, please hurry."
"Angel…" Buffy whispered, "Wesley said something about toxemia and how I had to watch my blood pressure. How I had to be careful."
"Toxemia?" Angelus repeated, confused. This was the first time he had heard anything about toxemia.
"My blood pressure wasn't that bad," Buffy softly said, her face contorted in pain. "I-I thought that we were okay."
"Wes," Angelus said into the phone. "It's Buffy. She's bad, real bad. Meet us at the hospital," he barked into the phone, hanging up when Buffy moaned in pain again.
"Angel," Buffy whispered, "Angel…you're a good man. I-I'm sorry for being such a brat. I love you."
"God, baby, Buffy, please," Angelus pleaded, mentally selling his soul for Buffy's safety. "Just hang on."
"Do you love me?"
"I do. I love you, Buffy," Angelus said, kissing her hand desperately, watching helplessly as Buffy's bright green eyes slowly fluttered shut. "Oh God, Buffy…wake up! Please baby, hold on!"
"Hello!?" Angelus whipped his head up; the ambulance had finally arrived.
"We're in here!" he cried out, nudging his wife again. "Baby, they're here, wake up, Buffy."
"Sir, please, step aside," the EMT requested attaching an oxygen mask to Buffy's face. Suddenly, Buffy started to convulse and the other EMT had to physically restrain Angelus from jumping to her side. "Sir, we just have to make sure she doesn't hurt herself. Please, sir, stand aside. Let us do our job."
Angelus watched, helpless, as Buffy finally came out of the seizure and the EMTs injected something into her arm and took her blood pressure. If her blood pressure had been high before, it was now dangerously low. "We gotta get her to the hospital, man," one of the EMTs stated.
"I'm coming," Angelus said, grabbing his coat and following the EMTs as the wheeled his wife onto the ambulance.