AN: Not one but two updates? What! I'm not actually dead after having this story sitting idle for over a year? Gasp! I did say I would finish this, though it's taking a heck of a lot longer than I thought (blame Netflix), but I will chip away at this.

Who's Nightmare is this Anyways?

November 26, 2011

Angel felt a finger trace down his chest, it looped down to his navel then headed back up, ringing around his left nipple. He grinned and half-opened his eyes, "Some of us are trying to sleep around here." He whispered to his wife, who was busy repeating the movement. She glanced down at him, looking innocent and sweet, "You can sleep…after." She added the last word with a sexy smirk and wink. He chuckled, already having forgotten about sleeping when his wife was on the sexual prowl, "Hmm, true." She bent down and started to kiss a trail to his lips. He grinned again and waited impatiently for her to get to the finish line. A moment later they were sharing a passionate kiss, one that was cut prematurely short as a terrified six year old ran screaming onto their bedroom.

"DADDDYY!" Katie ran straight for Angel, tears streaming down her face. He had shot up as soon as he heard his eldest daughter's rapid heartbeat approaching and opened his arms as she dove into him. "Katie honey, what's wrong" he asked as he held his shaking daughter. She held him in a death grip, and cried hot tears onto his chest.

"Katie?" The worried mother asked, sexy thoughts completely forgotten, as she rubbed her hand down her child's back in a soothing motion.

"Sweetie what happened?" Angel gently prided his little girl from his chest; he sat her in his blanketted lap then cupped her chin in his hand, and ran his thumb along her cheek as he spoke, "Shh baby, you're safe, no more tears."

She sniffed then looked up at him, "A man, he hurt you, made you go away. It made mommy really sad. I don't want you to go away." Fresh tears streamed down her cheeks, as she pressed herself flush up against him.

Catching Buffy's worried glance, he turned his attention back to his daughter, "No one hurt me, I'm not going away Katie, why did you think that?"

She pulled herself impossibly closer to him, like she were trying to crawl into him, "I saw it."

Buffy looked at Angel, real concern in her eyes, "You mean like a dream?"

The little girl nodded against her father's chest.

Buffy shook her head, "Katie, dreams aren't real, they can't hurt you."

"I was so scared, why would the bad man hurt daddy with a stake? That's for monsters. Daddy's not a monster." The little girl questioned as she eyed her parents, wetness still glimmering on her cheeks.

Buffy and Angel exchanged a look, they had been horrified when a group of vampires jumped them a few years ago at dusk while they were heading out of the park after a lazy work-less afternoon and Katie was aware enough to see a few of them dust. They thought she was too young to understand what had happened, and pretended it was a game for a while, but they realized they couldn't hide the occult world from their children forever, they needed to understand the dangers to stay safe.

Like to not invite a demon into their home.

However they'd simply told the girl 'the stick' hurts monsters, neither had called it a stake.

Angel shifted away from Buffy, leaving a space for Katie to lie between them. "Shh. No one is going to hurt me. Go back to sleep Katie. We're all safe." He said as he kissed her forehead, not showing her how much this disturbed him.

The little girl laid down, tired from crying and now feeling safe and secure, quickly fell asleep between her parents.

Buffy looked down at her daughter, then up at her husband. "Did you tell her about stakes?" she asked him in a hushed tone, as not to wake their child.

He looked appalled at her and shook his head, saying rather defensively, "Of course not, I wouldn't traumatize her like that."

"Well if you didn't, and I didn't…O god no." she whispered.

"What?" he asked, seeing the panic is her face.

"You…you don't think she has…slayer dreams?" The eldest of the Slayers, the one who's likely had the most slayer dreams thus far, thought in horror of passing those onto her child.

Angel swallowed hard, looked at his wife, then down at the girl between them, having thought it before but neither of them really wanting to vocalize it.

They tried not to talk about the possibility of their children inheriting either of their parent's powers, demonic or otherwise, but the fears had been present none the less.

The children hadn't shown any supernatural traits, save for being able to sense their parents or being above average in agility and awareness.

"I don't know, but…no, no she's too young, way too young." He whispered back, feeling helpless about what to do for his child. Katie had been having nightmares practically since birth, but no tests Cass could perform or questions they'd asked the girl directly had been able to prove anything over the years.

Upon waking, the dreams were always gone.

"It'll be alright Buffy" he said to her as a tear slipped down her cheek, her mind full of the horrible images that had frequented her slayer-sponsored nightmares in her own youth.

His hand gently wiped the tear away, "We'll get through this, just like we always do. I promise."

She nodded and they both laid back down on either side of the sleeping girl, both of them in worrying about their children's futures.

It was a long time before either of them slept.

...

Next Day, Noon.

Angel was asleep on the couch, his youngest who just turned two, Joan, was curled up on his chest between his arms and his eldest daughter Katie, at six and a half, was sprawled out on his legs, her head resting on a pillow on his knees.

Angel had a vampiric tendency to nod off around noon, especially when his sleep was interrupted the night before, either for occult reasons or most often, romantic ones. Most days it was helpful, the kids needed to nap and if daddy was napping too, it made it more fun for them. Typically his son, Liam, would burrow down between his daddy and the back of the couch, but today he decided to bed down on the adjoining chair. Angel saw no problem with it and nodded off as soon as the kids were asleep.

If didn't seem like long before, "Daddy!" Liam's normally quiet voice suddenly yelled into Angel's ear as his arm was being roughly shaken, small fingers with sharp nails digging into his skin.

"What…what's wrong champ?" Angel inquired somewhat groggily and partly annoyed for having his nap cut short as he sat up and carefully adjusting the thankfully still sleeping toddler on his chest.

"A man." The young boy stated, wide eyed with fear, at his father as he turned and pointed behind him.

Any thoughts of returning to his nap dissolved as the boy pointed his finger at a hooded figure watching menacingly from the kitchen.

Angel went ridged as he realized this wasn't child's play and quickly shook Katie awake and placed the now fussing toddler into her arms, "Go upstairs, to your bedroom, and don't open the door for any reason. Understand?"

"But Daddy…" she tried to ask more.

"Now! Go!" He yelled out of fear for this children's safely, his voice far more harsh than he intended but there was an unknown stranger not twenty feet away and he was worried sick that if something happened to him, his children would be defenseless down here.

Katie was scared but understood the tone of her Daddy's voice meant no games, she held her little sister tight, grabbed her brothers hand and ran for her bedroom; the protection spells Willow cast upon the room would prevent anyone except Buffy or Angel from entering, acting like a safe-room.

Angel rose from the couch to his full height, grabbed the iron poker from its stand beside the fireplace and slowly walked towards the intruder. "Who the hell are you?" He demanded, unsure how someone could even enter his home without his having heard or smelled them, not to mention an arsenal of magic wards.

Angel's eyes widened in recognition as the black robed figure silently drew back his hood.

"You?" Angel questioned, shocked and somewhat annoyed, "Thought I had you killed."

The figure cast him an angry glare, "You did, guess it didn't take."

Angel nodded, having wondered if Lorne had lied to him all those years ago, judging on how emotionally disturbed the empathy demon had been, he'd been certain he hadn't. "Just checking."

Lindsey McDonald drew a sword from within his dark robe before dis-guarding the garment

"Just so we're clear, what exactly are we fighting over this time?" Angel asked the 'tiny Texan' as he circled him, wondering it this were some retaliation from Wolfram & Hart or something more personal. Of all his enemies over the years, Lindsey was one of the oddest. He'd worked with Angel before, even helping to save blind children and gum up the works of Wolfram & Hart, but the former lawyer also had a mean streak to try and destroy him out of revenge for cutting off his hand, not to mention jealousy involving Darla and messing with him and Spike about the prophesy for a vampire with a soul.

Lindsey smiled coldly, having spent many a long nights dreaming of his vengeance against Angel for all that had happened since he'd been murdered by a flunky, igniting in him a whole level of vengeance he hadn't know existed and that helped draw him back from death. "No real reason." The former lawyer dismissed revealing the true depth of his feelings towards the now living vampire, "Well, other than I really hate you for having me killed by a nobody! Let's see how you do fighting your own battles."

Angel shrugged, "Fair enough. Let's make this quick, can't have you scaring my kids."

"Fine by me." Lindsey yelled as he charged.

Lindsey swung his sword, it was fairly plane as swords go, no elaborate décor or embellishments, but it sure looked sharp.

Angel soon discovered its looks were not deceiving, he barely ducked fast enough to avoid beheading as the blade sliced a small slit on his left cheek, drawing blood.

Seeking to avoid another feel of the steel on skin, Angel rolled and swung the poker, planning to take out the Texan's legs, but his opponent jumped over the swing and somersaulted away.

"See you learned some new moves." Angel inquired, slightly impressed at the growth in the former lawyer's fighting skills, as he rolled to his feet, not that the former's skill had been all that bad in the past.

Cocky as ever, "Oh I think you'll find a lot has changed about me." Lindsey said as his face morphed into the gruesome demon mask of a vampire.

"Can't say I like the new look." Angel muttered as Lindsey charged again, a little unnerved how he didn't sense vampire within the former Wolfram & Hart lawyer. Angel took a few punches, then landed a few of his own before swinging the poker again. Lindsey blocked the powerful blow with the edge of his sword, however from the force, the brittle metal of the sword cracked under the pressure, causing the larger end of the sword to drop to the ground in shards.

"You broke my sword." Lindsey complained as the shattered end dropped useless to the ground at his feet.

"Well don't expect an apology." Angel replied hotly, ready to swing the metal poker again

"Don't need one" the lawyer smirked as a light consumed the sword's remaining hilt, the glow condensing into the shape of the former blade before solidifying into honed steel. "An oldie but goodie" he remarked to Angel's uncomfortable frown as he swung the renewed sword for the living vampire again.

'Son-of-a-bitch and his damn bag of magic tricks.' Angel thought as he ducked the blow, nearly losing his head in the swing.

They fought, evenly matched for a few rounds, but as Angel's anger amplified his demon strength the odds shifted.

Buffy could be home soon, and he couldn't afford to have her entering into his fight.

Angel put all his energy into ending this as fast as possible, so as Lindsey charged towards him, he kicked out as hard as he could, connecting with the other man's chest. "Nice talking Lindsey, but get out of my house." The blow was powerful enough to send the vampire crashing through the picture window behind the couch and into the bright noonday sun.

With a sigh of relief, Angel slumped down with his hands on his knees and drew in a few long breaths, feeling the age his body was now growing into. Knowing the sun would have ignited the vamp into Texas Toast, thus alleviating his problem, he picked up the dropped sword to prevent any small hands from finding it later and was about to head upstairs to check on the kids when he felt something behind him.

He turned around in time to watch Lindsey plunge a stake into his heart.

Angel gasped in horror, feeling the demon within him dusting in response to the invasion of wood thrusting into his beating heart, and now purely mortal he slumped back against the wall, blood flowing down his chin from his pierced lung. Darkness descended in the corners of his eyes as he watched Lindsey's smiling face engulf his remaining sight.

"Some fine looking kids ya got, I'll take my time with them." The former lawyer laughed, knowing he'd finally won over Angel.

Even dying, there was no way in hell Angel was going to let Lindsey anywhere near his children. With his last ounce of strength, Angel whipped the broken sword still clutch in his right hand around and beheaded Lindsey as he was victoriously looking away towards the stairs.

Gracelessly, the sword shard dropped from his numb and bleeding fingers and Angel fell back against the wall. As he slid down it, he watched with satisfaction as Lindsey erupted into dust.

His darkening gaze fell upon a dislodged photograph from the wall, his smiling family looking back at him.

'I'm so sorry Buffy' Angel thought mournfully, fighting to focus on Buffy's bright hazel-green eyes as his punctured heart stopped beating for the final time.

...

Buffy immediately noticed the gaping hole in the window and shimmering glass shards splayed across the lawn as she parked the SUV and slid the key from the ignition. 'What on Earth did he do now?' She thought as she exited the truck, suddenly furious at her spouse for whatever stunt he pulled while she was out.

It wasn't the first time he'd let the kids play ball inside or attempted some game that ended with a broken window. Nor did she suspect it would be the last. In the 7 years since they'd bought the house, the living area had been nearly completely replaced twice.

Marching up the path and through the front door, she yelled into the living room, "Angel! What the hell happen to the…" Buffy's anger dissolved into stark horror as she spotted the disheveled furniture and the motionless form of her husband lying in a heap against the far wall.

Time seemed to freeze as she took it all in.

This hadn't been some silly game, there had been a fight.

"Angel?" she stood shocked for a moment, locked in place until her eyes focused on the ample blood and more noticeably, the stake still protruding from his chest.

"ANGEL!" she screamed in terror and a moment later she collapsed in front of him.

One hand went over her mouth to stifle the scream that threatened to overpower her, the other touched her Angel's cheek. She looked into his open lifeless eyes, already misting in death; her fingers found no pulse at his neck, his too pale skin was cool to the touch.

"No" she breathed, not understanding how this could be happening, "No…NO!" she yelled to the world, wanting this nightmare to end.

After what felt like forever, she seemed to regain control of herself and gently pulled the stake from his chest, tossing the hated object away and drew her lover into her arms, hugging him to her.

She sat there rocking her husband's cooling corpse tightly clenched against her chest, and cried.

...

Angel bolted upright, clenching his chest and gasping for breath.

Buffy snapped from a dead sleep and turned to him, alarmed by his actions. "Angel? What's wrong!" she quickly sat up, looking him over, she couldn't see any physical wounds on his body, but she saw tears in his eyes and felt him shaking.

Katie, who'd been sleeping between them, stirred but didn't seem to wake.

Buffy carefully moved around the girl and wrapped her arms around her husband, asking him again what was wrong. She felt his heart beating, pounding fast but strong under her ear. After a few moments he calmed down enough to answer. "I…I don't know…I…can't remember."

He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close again, like a security blanket. "I'm sorry I woke you. Go back to sleep Buffy, I'm ok now." She looked at him, trying to see his face in the dark of their bedroom, "Are you sure? Whatever you dreamed seemed pretty awful, more than usual, even for you."

He nodded and laid back down, drawing close to his sleeping daughter "I can't even remember it" he repeated. After a beat she laid back down too, this time spooning up behind him and wrapping him in her embrace.

Angel took a deep breath and stared across at the wall a moment. The tremors and tears had faded along with the adrenaline, leaving him feeling drained and tired. With an uneasy feeling deep in his gut, he forced himself to close his eyes.

Right before he fell asleep, he thought of Katie and her nightmare.

...

The next morning was routine, waking the kids, feeding the kids, bathing the kids. It was a weekend and neither had class that day, so their focus for the day was solely on their children. Around 11am Buffy came back into the living room, dressed and holding her purse. "My doctor's appointment is at 11:30am, I should be back by 1pm at the latest."

"Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?" he asked concerned. Even if he already knew the reason for the appointment was nothing bad, he still would rather go with her.

Shaking her head, Buffy turned him down, "It's easier to keep the the kids here. And I told you, it's nothing. I'll be out in like two minutes. Most of it's just waiting."

In reality, she really wanted to talk alone with Cassidy for a little while, not that she didn't want Angel to hear what she had to say, but some things were better discussed with another woman.

"Alright" he surrendered, seeing the resolve to go alone clearly written on her face.

"Anyways, will you be able to handle them all by yourself?" She asked with a wicked smile, looking over at the three young children causing mischief at the toy box.

"Well since this falls right in the middle of nap time, I should be fine." He replied as he grinned and pulled his wife down into his lap.

"If they go down for a nap" she countered, worming out of his grip.

"They always sleep for me." He said as he leaned forwards and brushed a stray lock behind her ear, admiring her neck.

She laughed, a mix of the tickle his fingers caused on her skin and her reply, "They don't sleep for you, they sleep on you."

He smirked, "They must have learned that from their mother."

Rolling her eyes, she playfully shoved him away and shook her head before turning back to give him a romantic goodbye kiss.

A chorus of "Eww" led by Katie came from the children playing on the floor at their feet. They pulled apart laughing, and she gave each one a kiss before she left. "Remember, don't drive daddy crazy. Mommy needs him sane." She gave him one last smile and headed out the door.

Later, around noon.

"Daddy!" Liam suddenly yelled into Angel's ear and began shaking his arm. Angel awoke from his nap and looked down at his son. "What…what's wrong champ?" He asked, sitting up and carefully adjusting the sleeping toddler on his chest. "A man." The young boy stated, eyes wide with fear then turned and pointed. Angel went ridged as the boy pointed his finger at the hooded figure emerging from the kitchen. He quickly shook Katie who had been curled up on his legs, awake and placed Joan into her arms, "Go upstairs, to your bedroom. Go!" He yelled out of fear for this children's safety. Katie grabbed her younger siblings and ran for the protection of her bedroom.

Angel rose to his full height, grabbed the iron poker from its stand beside the fireplace and slowly walked towards the intruder. Angel's eyes widened in recognition as the robed figure drew back his hood. "You?" Angel questioned, "Pretty sure I had you killed."

The figure cast him an angry glare, "You did, guess it didn't take."

Angel nodded, "Just checking."

Lindsey McDonald drew a sword from within his robe, and then tossed the garment aside.

"Just so we're clear, what exactly are we fighting over this time?" Angel asked the 'tiny Texan' as he circled him.

Lindsey smiled coldly, "No real reason, other than I really hate you for killing me." Angel shrugged, "Fair enough. Let's make this quick, can't have you scaring my kids."

"Fine by me." Lindsey yelled as he charged.

Lindsey swung his sword; Angel ducked the blow and countered with one of his own, catching Lindsey across the bicep. Angel rolled, and swung the poker, planning to take out the Texans legs, but he jumped over the swing and somersaulted away.

"See you learned some new moves." Angel said as he rolled to his feet.

"Oh I think you'll find a lot has changed about me." Lindsey said as his face morphed into the mask of a vampire.

"Yeah, you've gotten uglier" Angel taunted, as Lindsey charged again. Angel dodged a few punches, and then landed a few of his own.

Angel swung the poker again and Lindsey blocked it with his sword; however the sword cracked from the force of the blow. "You broke my sword." Lindsey complained.

"Don't expect an apology" Angel replied then kicked the hilt out of his hands before the Texan could react. The broken sword flew across the room and landed in a patch of sunlight on the floor.

"That was disappointing" Lindsey said, then sent a ball of lightning at Angel.

'That's new!' he thought as he ducked behind a chair.

Drained, Lindsey slumped against the kitchen wall for a second, needing time to recharge.

Angel took advantage of the opportunity and shoved the chair he was ducking behind into the vampire. Lindsey collapsed to the floor and a moment later Angel was swinging the poker for his head.

Lindsey kicked the chair off and rolled away from the blow, bouncing back to his feet. "That all you got Hero, a fire poker to kill me with?" The vampire taunted, wondering how the living vampire would taste.

Swinging the poker again, Angel growled, "What can I say, you're not good enough for the fancy weapons."

"I'm going to rip your throat out!" Lindsey growled back, blocking the blow with a magical palm sided force-field.

They fought, evenly matched for a few rounds, Angel's anger amplified his demon strength and he kicked as Lindsey charged, the blow was powerful enough to send the vampire crashing through the picture window behind the couch and into the noonday sun.

Fight over, Angel bent down, his hands on his knees and drew in a few long breaths, his muscles aching from the strain of the fight.

He picked up the broken sword and was about to head upstairs for the kids when he felt a strong 'Deja vu' feeling slam into his gut.

He spun in time to see the stake Lindsey was aiming to his heart, but he didn't quite dodge fast enough to miss it entirely and the stake plunged into his left shoulder.

Angel gasped in pain and he slumped back against the wall, clutching his wound.

"Some fine lookin kids ya got, I'll take my time with'em." Lindsey laughed as he pulled another stake from his pocket and prepared to ram it into Angel's heart.

"Like hell you will!" Angel spat as he whipped the broken sword around, and beheaded Lindsey with a demon accelerated slash.

Suddenly the sword felt far too heavy for his hand and it dropped from his numb fingers as Angel fell back against the wall. As he slid down the cream colored wall leaving a red smear behind, he watched with satisfaction as Lindsey erupted into dust.

'Buffy' Was Angel's last thought as he lost consciousness.

Buffy noticed the shattered window and scorch marks on the grass outside on the lawn as she slid the key from the ignition and exited the truck. 'What on Earth?' She thought, suddenly mad at Angel for whatever stunt he pulled while she was out. Marching up the path and through the front door she yelled into the living room,

"Angel! What the hell happen to the…" Buffy's anger disappeared into horror as she took in the room's disheveled appearance and spotted her lover lying motionless against the wall.

"Angel?" she stood shocked for a moment, until her eyes focused on the ample blood, and the stake protruding from his chest.

"ANGEL!" she screamed and a moment later she collapsed in front of him.

One hand went over her mouth, the other touched Angel's cheek.

He groaned and his eyes fluttered at her touch, "Buffy?" he mumbled, pain evident in his voice.

Relief flooded her, for a moment she had thought… 'No', she wasn't even going to think it again. She quickly, but gently pulled the stake from his shoulder. He growled and squeezed his eyes shut from the pain and she ripped off her coat and pressed it against the bleeding wound. She quickly slid behind him, against the wall, and pulled him against her chest to cradle him in her lap. One hand pressed against the wound, the other caressed his cheek. "Are you ok?" She asked, praying he wasn't worst that he looked.

Somewhat lightheaded, he nodded, "Yeah, I'll…be fine." His words were mumbled as he leaned against her, grateful for her support and warmth, "Just…give me a few minutes."

She nodded, relieved beyond measure that he was alive, upon walking in, she'd really thought she'd lost him. Keeping steady pressure on the wound, she held him and waited for Angel to regroup.

His eyes had slid shut again, he was tired, but it was more because he was content to be laying in his wife's lap with her fingers gently running through his hair rather than being too injured to stay awake.

"What happened?" she asked him after a few minutes past, her need to know outweighing her patients.

"Old friend, dropped by to say 'Hi'." He replied dryly, opening his eyes and looking up at her.

"Where is this friend now?" she asked, wanting retribution for hurting her husband.

"Currently, vacuum food." He added with a smirk as she noticed the dust pile on the floor.

"Who…How did he get in here? It's broad daylight, and who invited him in?" She asked concerned about their safety. Vampires, as a rule, didn't just stroll into people's houses during the day.

"Lindsey McDonald. Wolfram & Hart lawyer, been a pain in my ass for years, until I had him killed. Guess it didn't stick. He was big into magic's, must have used a spell or something. " He filled her in with what he knew, which in retrospect wasn't much. The only one who could have answered was now dust, granted it wasn't likely he would have told them regardless.

She nodded and held him tighter, thinking about how different this could have ended.

"The kids!" she suddenly remembered, looking around frantically.

"In the safe room" he said quickly to sooth her nerves, "I sent them before the fight even began." Seeing the need in her eyes, he said, "Go. I'll be up in a minute." She didn't want to leave him, but the mother in her needed to see her children were safe with her own eyes. "Are you sure?" she asked, torn between tending her injured husband and her children.

"I'll live," he said as he sat up and gently pulled the coat from the wound, "It's already stopped bleeding."

She leaned in and met her lips with his, both as an assurance he was really ok and for herself that he was actually still here, still with her and everything was still right in the world.

He eagerly returned the long kiss, letting his tongue assure her without words that he was a little anemic but otherwise fine, or at least would be.

With a promise for more to come, she slowly broke the kiss then headed up the stairs.

She stood at the door a moment, heart clenching if her babies would be there or not, then turned the knob and entered. A second later Liam and Katie were wrapped around her legs in a death grip. Joan sat on the floor crying, oblivious to what was going on around her, but feeling the tension none the less. Buffy collapsed down as her children flung their arms around her neck, "Mommy! What happened to daddy!" Katie cried into her neck. "There was yelling and banging" Liam cried. Jo crawled over and opened her arms, Buffy re-positioned to hold the toddler. "Shh. It's ok," she said to the wailing children, "Everything is ok. Daddy's fine. He was just…telling the bad man to leave."

A few minutes later Angel walked into the room, he had quickly changed his shirt to keep the kids from seeing the blood. As soon as he was in view Liam and Katie yelled "DADDY!" and ran at him, he dropped down against the door as they tackled him. "Hey, It's ok." He said as they hugged him tight and cried into his shirt. Buffy saw pain flash across his face, but he shook his head, silently telling her he was ok. "I'm sorry I scared you guys, but that man scared me too. I promise he isn't coming back. It's over. Shh. Everyone's Ok." He soothed his children. Buffy sat beside him, Jo playing with a doll in her lap.

"The front window left glass all over the floor and the living room's trashed." She whispered to him, "We should keep them upstairs". He nodded tiredly, "Xander is going to be miffed he has to fix that window." He added a beat later "...again." She smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes, she thought for a moment about what she could have lost today. "I'm going to go call the gang, get Xander on that window and have Willow check the spells around the house." He nodded and gave her a quick kiss. She took Jo with her into the bedroom to get the phone.

Angel sat there, Liam and Katie no longer crying, but still clinging to him, and thought about the dream he had. 'Or was it a vision?' He looked down at Katie, and realized she saved his life. He somehow saw her 'bad dream' and it gave him enough to win a fight he should have lost. He was pissed his six year old was the conduit, but he was grateful to whoever sent the message. Without it, Buffy would have been left alone with soon-to-be four children, and he would have broken his promise to never leave her. Buffy came back into the room and sat back down next to him, "The gang will be here soon." She said as she laid her head against his undamaged shoulder. He wrapped his good arm around her and held her tight.

"So, how was your appointment?" he asked after a few minutes as a welcomed change of subject. She turned to look at him, "Great, I'm perfectly healthy" she said with a smile.

"And?" he asked, a knowing gleam in his eyes.

She sighed, "It's not fair, you always know before me!" When she noticed he was still watching her with that waiting stare, she caved, "Fine. Seven weeks exactly."

'Ha!' He thought and grinned, "Boy."

She looked up annoyed at him, "Cass can't tell the gender yet, it's way too early." She stated the fact, not that Angel's logic ever seemed to include those.

His grin became a full teasing smile, "It wasn't a guess."

Frustrated at her infuriating spouse, Buffy shook her blond head, "This is so not fair. How come you always know I'm pregnant before I do? I'm the girl! I should know first!" she only partially mock complained.

"Buffy" he said with a calming tone before she could continue.

"What?" She snapped.

He nodded down at his lap, "You going to wake the kids."

Looking down, she noticed Katie, Liam and Joan were passed out on their laps.

Rolling her eyes and shaking her head, "I swear you must secrete some kind of knockout drug.", which was stated while stifling a yawn.

With a sleepy grin, he rested his cheek against her head, "Guess I'm not immune." He said as he shut his eyes.

"Me either." She whispered as hers shut too.

There were no nightmares this time, although falling asleep sitting up against the wall left a few butts in distress.

...

The End ?

...