Summary: Buffy's birthday curse is broken when she and Riley run into Kate and Angel at a Backstreet Boys' concert in Los Angeles.
Angel's Timeline: After 'I Will Remember You', before 'Sanctuary'.
Buffy's Timeline: After 'Pangs', before 'The Yoko Factor'.
Genre: Romance/Drama.
Disclaimer: Yet another post-'I Will Remember You'-baby fic and I still don't own Buffy or Angel.
Author's Notes: Faith is awake. I really liked her before she spiraled down the darkness. I think she's cool and she and Buffy would be great friends, if Alan Finch hadn't showed up unexpectedly on the alley in 'Bad Girls'.
Blissful Concert
Chapter Two – Renewal of Friendships
As the Plymouth sped into the night, Angel smiled a little, surprised that how one year could change people. Buffy and Cordelia were chatting animatedly, in some kind of comfortable zone, something they never had in high school. That's because Buffy envied Cordelia for her normal, average life, and Cordelia envied Buffy for her slayer duties that made her special.
And there were, of course, the times where Cordelia tried to flirt with him, Angel, before he and Buffy went on strong.
The former May queen, who had her heart set at not letting anyone screw her friends' lives anymore, said:
"Since the boss is gonna be a daddy soon, I wouldn't mind having a slayer around", she smiled at Buffy. "You've been accepted to UCLA, haven't you, Buff?" She asked.
"I have", the blonde glanced at her boyfriend. "Cordelia has a point, you know. No offense, Cordy, but the Hell Mouth isn't the best place for a woman to raise her baby", she glanced apologetically at the brunette, who shrugged it off.
"None taken. You're right anyway", Cordelia replied. "It won't be easy, especially if you consider that dear mama is the slayer and daddy dearest is Angelus. Back in LA, at least our enemies don't bother us unless we bother them first. And, please, you'll be a two-hour ride away", she rolled her eyes. "It's not like you'll live in NY".
"Here we are", Angel spoke for the first time in a few hours, as he parked in front of Stevenson Hall. Buffy would spend the night there, and then go to her classes normally. After her morning in college, she had a free afternoon, being dismissed by Giles of her training, and would meet him at his new apartment – more accurately, their new base in Sunnydale. "Baby, please, take care", he warned seriously. She opened her mouth. "And don't worry with the slaying. I had someone to take it over", he told her. At her questioning gaze, he sighed. "Faith is dying to play her role as a warrior for the good".
"Faith?" Buffy gasped. "I thought she still was in a coma".
"Key word here, Buff: was. She woke up one morning, just like that", Cordelia snapped her fingers, "and decided to go after Angel. Not to get back at you by killing him, but to ask for help for her redemption. He took a few hours, but somehow managed to convince her to turn herself in. Kate released Faith in parole a few weeks ago". At Buffy's skeptical look, Cordelia sighed. "Listen, she is okay now. Just think that Angel wouldn't risk you and miracle kid".
"Willow, let go of me", Buffy grunted breathlessly. The witch had taken her into a bone-crushing embrace the moment the slayer had set foot on their dorm. Willow's strength surprised Buffy. The redhead released her from the hug with a faint blush coloring her cheeks.
"I'm sorry, Buffy. But I was so worried. First Riley called crying like a little girl yesterday and babbling something about you dumping him. Then Giles called and said you were spending the night at Angel's. So I thought that…" she trailed off. Buffy smiled understandingly.
"I'm happy, Wills. I'm not upset, or hurt, or mopey, or depressed. Angel and I are game again. Now, for good".
"How? When? What about the whole 'grr' potential?"
"Not an issue. Believe me", Buffy fell on her bed with a faint flush on her cheeksdreamy smile on her lips. "You remember when I went for LA last Thanksgiving, after finding out Angel had been here behind my back?"
"Sure. You stayed for, like, two minutes".
"Wrong. I stayed for a day plus two minutes".
"What?"
Buffy sat up on her bed in lotus position and proceeded to tell a confused Willow the tale of the Erased Day. By the time she was done, three hours later, the redhead was crying softly and so was she. Willow smiled gratefully at her when she grabbed a box of paper tissues and put it between them.
"Buffy, this was great. Even for Angel's sacrifices' standards, this is something I never expected him to do. That was so overwhelming. But", she blew her nose, "those Powers-guys did their trick wrong. I mean… You and Angel did the happy and he's not Angelus".
The phone rang and Buffy picked it up.
"Hey", she said, knowing it was Angel.
"Hey, beloved. Look, Faith's here and she claims she needs to patch up things with you", he spoke softly. She groaned. "Please, baby. She needs this, it's important for her redemption".
"Fine", Buffy gave in. "Only because I love you and you believe it'll work this time. Tell her I'll be there somewhere around noon. And get Cordelia to buy some groceries!"
"I will. Sweet dreams, my love".
"Night, Angel".
Buffy looked around herself. She recognized the place she stood at from her memories of the Erased Day – it was the Santa Monica Pier. The slayer looked down at herself and noticed she dressed a flowered summer dress and was shoeless. It was bright, sunny day, and she tried to focus on her baby's life force. None.
She was starting to panic when Angel appeared with a baby on his arms. Seeing him under the sunlight, Buffy sucked in a sharp breath. He dressed baggy pants and a light blue t-shirt that showed off his worked out torso. Then, when she stopped drooling at him, she stared at the baby in his arms.
It was a little boy, with Angel's thick, black hair, and green eyes. Angel smiled as Buffy carefully snatched the baby from his arms.
"This is Gabriel Angel O'Connell", Angel said as he slipped his arms around her waist. "Gabriel, this is Elizabeth Anne O'Connell", he paused for a minute, with a smile. "Your mommy".
"Oh, Angel, he's so cute!" Buffy squealed, basking at the feeling of the baby's soft weight between her arms. Gabriel gurgled happily at her, putting his plump little hand on her lips. Buffy kissed it softly. Her eyes suddenly were full of fear. "Is he supernatural of any kind?"
"Yes", Angel told her honestly. "He will kill some demon called Sahjahn, but only when he's an adult. Until then, he'll be a normal child", he kissed her skull. "Relax".
Buffy's eyes snapped open and she smiled, as she rested her hand over her flat belly.
At his bed, Angel smiled as well.
"Gabriel Angel", they said in unison.
The dream put Buffy in a great mood. She made through her classes as usual, except for the fact that running into Riley and then into Parker gave her some morning sickness. So, when she arrived at Angel's stony mansion, she was ready to face, forgive and forget Faith's evil deeds from the previous year.
Her sister slayer sat on the couch, dressed in a pair of black, baggy denim pants and a light blue tank top. Her face had no make-up on, making Faith look younger than her nineteen years old.
Angel kissed Buffy's forehead, gently caressing her belly.
"How are my beautiful fiancée and our adorable baby son going?" He asked, and they shared a secret, intimate smile. Faith broke the moment before she lost her nerve.
"Hum, okay, excuse me", she fidgeted anxiously. "Hey, B. Angel told me the baby-news. Congrats".
"Thank you, Faith", Buffy said, touched by the sincerity inside Faith's eyes. "I'm sorry I stabbed you back in May".
Faith had tears in her eyes.
"I should've seen it coming", she whispered. "I betrayed your trust, switched sides and tried to kill Angel. I believe you told me that no one messes with your boyfriend, and I did that. Worse, I tried to kill you. You had every right to do what you did".
"No. I didn't. I should've opened up to you when you arrived, but I was too wrapped up on my and Angel's issues that I didn't".
Buffy and her sister-slayer hugged. With his eyes brimming with tears, Angel grinned.
Three hours later, Faith and Angel were animatedly sparring under Buffy's watchful gaze when both Willow and Cordelia came in discussing in loud voices.
"I've never had my heart se at getting Angel!" Willow screamed.
"That was a low blow, Willow", Cordelia said venomously. "But then, it wasn't me who kissed another girl's boyfriend in front of her and my boyfriend!"
"Shut up!" Buffy screamed furiously. The two young women obliged. "Good, I can listen to my thoughts again. Now, what the hell is going on?"
"Cordelia says she is going to be your maid of honor when you get married", Willow explained. "I said that's my job as your best friend. And what is she doing here?" She pointed at Faith, frowning.
"Here she comes, the flawless, righteous bitch!" Cordelia muttered angered. Willow would reply, but wisely chose not to when Buffy glared warningly at her.
"Faith will slay for me. After all, I'm going for LA", she recalled. "As for the maid of honor, there won't be any, since we won't have a wedding ceremony, Angel being a vamp and all".
Cordelia smirked then engrossed a perplexed Faith in a senseless conversation, her lack of disappointment at Buffy's words confirming Angel's suspicions that her desire of being maid of honor was only to upset Willow.
"You'll leave us with Faith? Cheater, hooker, murdered Faith, who tried to kill both Angel and Xander?" Willow screeched. Angel glanced worriedly at Faith, and apparently the brunette slayer had expected this. It didn't mean, however, that it didn't hurt. But, before Buffy or Angel could speak, Bitch Queen C was back in business.
"Don't dare to accuse Faith of anything. It's the first time you see her since Graduation. She woke up and you had no idea of it. Because she knew she had made mistakes and went for us to help!"
"Cor…" Angel warned.
"She needs to listen!" She barked. "I bet she's not happy that you guys finally will have your happily-until-the-next-apocalypse. Because Angel's equal to Buffy's heartache, right, Willow? I bet you gave Buffy like, a week to heal her heart then it was, let's-find-Mr.-Right, didn't you, Willow? Guess what? Angel's him!"
Unable to deny the truth in Cordelia's words, Willow left in a rush. Cordelia shook her head.
"Pity. I had so much more to tell".
"I guess you blew her off", Angel warned her.
"Cordelia is right", Faith told Buffy. "I bet she has no idea about Angel Junior".
"She doesn't. What are you doing? Now, spar!" Buffy demanded.
That same night, Buffy, Angel, Cordelia and Faith drove to the 1630 Revello Drive's house. The pregnant blonde slayer had called her mother and warned her that she was taking a few guests to dinner.
Angel was visibly tense. He would rather avert an apocalypse alone than have dinner with his mother-in-law-to-be. Angel hadn't mentioned, yet, the 'friendly' visit Joyce had paid him the prom morning to Buffy, and considered that the little Cordelia-Willow fiasco was enough for the day.
Knowing her fiancé was brooding Buffy took Angel's hand on hers and placed it over her belly, entwining their fingers. She smiled, and her sweet, confident grin was a balm to his troubled soul.
In front of the Revello Drive 1630 house, Buffy knocked, Angel's hand firmly clasped with hers, Faith and Cordelia silently standing behind them like a guard of honor. Joyce opened the door with a grin that faded away when she saw Angel.
"What are you doing with him, honey?" Mrs. Summers asked her daughter. Buffy stepped in her house, pulling Angel with her; looking worriedly at their hostess, Faith and Cordelia followed them.
"Cordy, Faith and Angel are the guests I mentioned when I called earlier over the phone, mom", the blonde smiled innocently. "Angel and I have some news".
"Can your news wait?" Joyce replied. "I invited Rupert, Xander and Willow over".
"Oh, joy", Cordelia mumbled. "Queen C versus Witchy Girl, round two" she added, making Buffy giggle and Faith laugh. Angel, however, looked sick. Buffy noticed it.
"Angel, honey, what's wrong?" She asked nervously. He suddenly got up and ran outside, his fiancée hot on his heels. He stopped next to the familiar oak tree, and Buffy almost fainted as Angel threw up the pig blood he had drunk a little earlier. "ANGEL!" She yelled panicked, putting an arm around his waist. Angel leaned exhaustedly, heavily, against her.
"I can't look at your mother, beloved. Not when I know what she really thinks of me", he said wearily, and proceeded to tell her every little thing from that fateful prom morning.
Almost half an hour later, Cordelia and Faith were green with worry, while Willow bluntly avoided staring at them, and Xander and Giles couldn't understand why the two brunettes were there, when a furious Slayer and her very concerned fiancé walked in. The brunette slayer and the former May queen sighed loudly in relief.
Joyce ran to her daughter, but Buffy glared at her, making her stop. Suddenly, unexpectedly, the slayer marched towards the gallery's owner and slapped her face, hard. Joyce's lip started to bleed. She staggered backwards, her hand touching the struck place.
"Buffy!" The watcher and the two scoobies said, shocked. Buffy ignored them (AN: My friend Nellie says someone doesn't know why he/she is hitting, but the attacked always knows why he/she is getting his/her ass kicked).
"I HATE YOU!" The blonde yelled. "You sent my Angel away. How can you think you can control my life like that? You're such a heartless, selfish bitch!"
"Buffy, don't say that!" Willow said. Xander nodded supportively. Buffy glared at them.
"And who says that? My 'friends'?" She hissed venomously. "Willow, you wanted me to forget the man of my life and move on to Mr. Right. But do as I say, not as I do, isn't it, Wills? Because, of course, you can mope over Oz for as long as you feel like it!"
The redhead witch looked down unhappily.
"Buffy, what's wrong with you?" Xander asked her, and then turned to Angel. "What the hell are you doing here, Dead Boy? What did you tell her? What lie is it this time?"
"DON'T!" Buffy screamed. "Don't dare to accuse Angel of telling me the truth! And how dare you say about lies? I was told by you to 'kick his ass'. Willow's words, weren't they, Xander? But they were a lie, weren't they? Because why would Willow tell me to kick Angelus' ass when she was trying to curse him again?" She was unstoppable. Xander opened and closed his mouth, and then looked down guiltily.
Willow looked indignantly at her childhood friend.
"But that lie wasn't enough, was it? You had to blame Angel when he drank from me last year. You and Giles!" She exclaimed. The watcher paled slightly. "But guess what?" She said uncovering her scar. "Do you see this? This is Angel's mark. I forced him to drink my blood. I wanted him to. Even worse, at that point of my life I wanted him to turn me!"
"Beloved, calm down. Remember, the baby…" Angel said warningly. She took a deep breath.
"Baby?" Joyce and Giles asked. Buffy's stony eyes softened a little.
"Yes, baby. My baby. Angel's baby. The baby you won't get to know – Willow because she doesn't care about my happiness, Xander because he is a lying son of a bitch and you, mom" the last word was spit out like it was poisoned, "because, if it were for you, this baby would never have happened".
The blonde slayer's mother looked at her daughter like she was a mad woman.
"But… But…" She stuttered.
"DEADBOY CAN'T HAVE BABIES!" Xander cried.
"He can't now, but we're having a little boy", Buffy announced. Cordelia and Faith exchanged a grin, having been told of their shared dream of Gabriel. "Oh, and we're having a wedding".
"Wedding!" Joyce and Willow squeaked.
"I thought you said you wouldn't have one because of Angel's condition", Willow whispered. Buffy looked at her with hard eyes.
"By then we weren't. But now we are. Faith is maid of honor and Cordy, bridesmaid".
Meanwhile, Joyce just looked at her daughter. Her hand was tightly clasped with Angel's, who was giving Buffy everything Joyce believed he would never give. Her eyes glassy, she got up and surprised her fighting guests by hugging her vampire son-in-law-to-be.
"I'm sorry", she whispered. "I'm glad you managed to be together. You're giving her everything I wanted her to have. Would you give me the honor of watching your wedding?"
"Oh, mom!" Buffy said, choked up; she looked at her fiancé, and he nodded nearly imperceptibly. "We'd be delighted if you came to our wedding ceremony".
"We would, Mrs. Summers", Angel said. The older woman gave him a teary smile.
"Call me Joyce".
Buffy yawned and snuggled into Angel's embrace.
"I'm exhausted", she told her fiancé. Angel glanced worriedly at her, and focused his instincts at his son's life-force. The calm heartbeat of the baby told him that, despite the wild night they were having, Gabriel was safe and soundly asleep.
"Well, it was a long night", Faith said affectionately. "You crazy kids go home. I'll patrol".
"Thanks", Angel told her with a grateful smile. She waved dismissively at him.
"Don't comment on it", the brunette spoke softly.
"I'll stop by tomorrow morning. We need to go baby-shopping", Joyce told her daughter excitedly and kissed her cheek. Buffy smiled, feeling her mother's enthusiasm fill her.
"We do. Goodnight, mom". She then looked at her former watcher and the two teenagers. "I can't deal with you guys for the next days. It'll get me all worked up, and that will be not good for the baby".
With that, Buffy and Angel left. The expectant parents went home with Cordelia, while Faith split from them and went for a sweep around the cemeteries.