Summary: What if Buffy had gone with Angel into that hell dimension on the finale of Season2? My first fan fiction, I think this would be considered AU.
Disclaimers: Mutant Enemy and Joss Whedon own it all. This just all just for entertainments sake, I hope.
It had been 2 months since Buffy and Angel had returned and 2 months since they had decided to accept Spikes aid in the matter of their son. Xander had taken to calling him "Nanny Spike", much to the amusement of Buffy and the chagrin of both Angel and Spike. "God Buffy, how about a little respect? I mean, Spike has killed 2 slayers in his day, William the Bloody, remember? And he's reigned it all in to take care of our son. Can't Xander at least try?" The boy still managed to rub him the wrong way. As much as Angel knew there never was and would never be anything between the boy and his mate, he also knew Xander's resentment was still there from when Angel and Buffy first fell in love.
"You and Spike have got to relax about this, sweetie." Sometimes Buffy felt like she was running a pre-school with the number of petty arguments she and Faith had to come between when it came to the males in their circle. "Xander just has a very different kind of sense of humor. He accepts all the changes we have gone through and he accepts us and Spike. Do you think he'd call him Nanny Spike if he didn't? It's a term of affection, I'm sure."
Buffy rolled over in their bed to look a little more closely at her husband. She was so in love with this man and no matter what the Powers That Be might throw at them she would be forever grateful for the life she now had. An eternitywith this man was so not going to be a hardship. She leaned over and gave a him nice, wet kiss.
"What was that for? Thought we didn't have time for anything with everyone coming over for Thanksgiving dinner." Angel pulled her back against him.
"That was just for love. You know, not every kiss or sign of affection is a precursor to sex. Mom told me to put that big, fat turkey in the oven at 9:00 and I am going to stuff that little puppy and do what she said. We have to use that huge oven she had installed sometime and today is the perfect day. It's Connor's first Thanksgiving, I'm so excited! Halloween was fun, such a relaxing evening, but it'll be much better next year when we can go out for candy. This holiday is gonna rock, tons of great food, great company and since we don't have cable TV, no games! Woo hoo!"
He looked at her retreating backside. "I just wish we could have these get togethers follow our time schedule. I mean, we just went to bed a few hours ago."
"We're vampires honey, I think we're strong enough to lose a little sleep, yes?"
They had moved into the mansion not long after deciding they needed a place big enough to house Spike as well as the three of them and any assorted guests that might need to crash. So, once the decision had been made, her mother went to work helping them to redecorate the place. The whole torture dungeon theme just wasn't working for Buffy or Angel. And when Giles came over they wanted to make sure he wasn't too reminded of the time he spent there at the hands of Angel and Drusilla.
With the budget Angel gave them to work with, Joyce went insane with tapestries and carpets all over the main rooms. Those, along with the plush couches and armchairs in warm, light colored fabrics and leathers made the rooms inviting and comfortable. She had installed whitewashed paneling in the baby's room and had Spike shop with her online for the furnishings in his rooms. Spike would never admit it, but Buffy could see how pleased he was that Joyce refused to treat him as anything other than the man who was caring for her grandson. Although Angel was very please with her mother's decorating sense, Buffy asked him to do their rooms exactly the way he wanted. Angel chose well; deep, dark colors and luxurious furnishings. He loved the burgundies and the deep, forest greens. And they even had a set of black satin sheets for their king sized bed. Yes, the rooms reeked of Angel's sensibilities and Buffy reveled in them.
Buffy put her jeans on. "Are you coming back up?." He looked at her with just the slightest bit of a pout.
"Honey, mom's gonna be here at noon and I want to make sure I didn't forget anything. It's not like any of us can run out to the store and Connor's a bit young for a cranberry run. Why don't you come downstairs and keep me company? I'll warm you up a cuppa. How much more tempting and domestic-y can I be?"
"Alright, my domestic goddess, I'll be down in a few. This is all so strange, a household with 3 vampires hosting Thanksgiving dinner. It's almost surreal."
Buffy giggled and gave him another kiss. "After all our time together in Ragnor, I never imagined this. My life, right here and now, it so far exceeds anything I could have ever dreamed. You, Connor, my family and friends. Even Spike, I am so happy. Let's just appreciate this because it won't last. And don't worry, I'm fine with that, too."
After dinner was eaten and dishes were put in the dishwasher, all the overly stuffed guests filtered into the family room to watch a movie together. Xander promptly laid his head on Cordelia's shoulder and fell asleep. The rest of the group were inclined to do the same thing, but Buffy put a stop to that quickly.
"This is our first holiday of the season, Connor's first, and no, Halloween does not count. We are all going to get the most out of it. Am I making myself totally clear? Xander! Wake up now and be a part of this or face my wrath-like self!"
"Jeez, Buffy. Controlling much?" Cordelia had put up with Buffy's strict enjoyment rules all day and she was too tired, she actually over ate as a reaction to Buffy's constant assessment to the meal's success, and was feeling bloated and irritable.
Angel felt it was time to step in. "Honey, it's time to relax. Dinner was perfect, right Joyce?" He looked to his mother-in-law for a bit of support.
"It was a magical meal. Connor's ready to be put down for the evening and the rest of us just want to sit and digest to the accompaniment of a good movie. Sweetheart, that's what Thanksgiving is all about. Excess and then digestion." She came over to her stressed daughter and took Connor from her. "I am going to put this little man to bed and you are going to be nice to your friends and have a peaceful evening with them. Yes?" The look her mother gave her gave Buffy no choice. It didn't matter how old she was, when Joyce gave her the look, well, that was it. "Yes, mommy."
Angel was so grateful for Joyce, looking around at the group assembled in his home he realized just how grateful he was for all of them. He took Buffy into the crook of his arm and gave her mother a look that showed all his gratitude. Yes, it was Thanksgiving.