AN: Okay, this chapter may be a little crazy...but bear with me.
Thanks to those who have reviewed: Mia, buff, lessthanangelic1, invisibleA, Spike's ho-bag, goddessa39, Regan, Jess, ya ya, Kastia, kayley, mal.
Chapter Fifteen
"Hello Buffy, um…This is Giles, Rupert Giles of the Inn? I just thought that you would want a heads-up. Um…someone came looking for you today and wanted to give you a court order of some sort, I'm not sure what of course, it wouldn't be right. I hope it's not something too serious. Anyway, I've sent him off to your new address and just called to warn you a bit beforehand. And since you'll be staying in LA for now, Jenny and I would love to see you again sometime, you're always welcome to stop for a cup of tea. That's all, um…have a nice day then."
Buffy frowned as she listened to the message playing on the answer machine when she got home Monday afternoon from shopping with Alex for school supplies. She was glad to hear from Giles but confused about this court business but then she remembered the divorce and attributed the court order to those proceedings.
With that thought in mind, Buffy was not particularly stressed when a man came knocking to deliver a court order. She signed for it, attempted a smile at receiving it, and brought it into the small half-open kitchen. She poured herself a cup of tea and sat down to read the document that would end her marriage. She was not at all prepared for what she read.
Motion for Custody
The Family Court of the State of California requests the presence of Ms. Buffy Anne Summers in the matter of custody for the minor, Alexander Bill Harris.
She re-read the words again twice, but they did not change their form, nor did they make any more sense.
It has come to the court's attention that the named minor might be under the care of the wrong guardianship as to the wishes of his parents. A potential claim to sole guardianship of the minor has arisen and is currently under the review of the court.
Thus, the court advises Ms. Summers to prepare for the surrender of the guardianship to minor Harris if and when the court finds in favour of the Plaintiff: Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Osbourne.
The court date set for the hearing is on the 12th of August, 2005 at 5124 Court Street, Los Angeles California.
She sat there for some time in shock of the news she just received, the words have not made any more sense before Alex poked his head into the kitchen in concern.
"Mom?"
"Yes?" She folded the letter up in haste and looked at her son.
"There's someone at the door, didn't you hear the knock?" He looked worried, "Do you want me to get it?"
"NO!" Buffy stood immediately and snapped the answer, then she pulled herself together when she see her son's stunned face, "I'm sorry Alex, I'll get the door. Why don't you go into my room to watch the TV in there, okay sweetie? And don't come out until I tell you to, would you do that please?"
"Okay." Still looking doubtful, Alex went into the room and turned on the TV. Buffy did not answer the door until she hears the sound coming from it.
She stood in front of it, "Who is it?" Her voice sounded a lot more uncertain and fearful than she'd like.
"Open the door." The threatening tone was thinly veiled but it was familiar and not the threat which Buffy had anticipated.
"Angelus?"
"Open the door." The demand was repeated.
"No."
"Unless you're never leaving this apartment, I would recommend that you open this door right now Buffy, because I'm not going anywhere."
Finally, the door opened and revealed a slightly dishevelled Angelus.
"What do you want?"
"When did you move in here?" He pushed his way into the apartment.
"Before the wedding, not that it's any business of yours."
"Where is he?"
"Who?"
"You know who, the boy who called you mom at the party. He's my son isn't he?"
"No, he's not." Buffy scoffed and walked back to the kitchen.
"What? No, you're lying. He's about the right age, it was that last time. You would never cheat on me."
"And once again, the great Angelus's ego and piggish manner outshine everyone else."
"Buffy."
"What do you care anyways? You don't want children remember? Alex is not your son. Alex is my son, but he's not my biological child. Didn't I tell you to stop reading those harlequin romances? What, you think I'm gonna run away pregnant with your child and bring him up all by myself and then come back to you one day for a big ole' teary reunion? Please."
"What? I don't understand."
"These days I'm much more inclined to have the kid and then sue you for child support."
"Wait, wait. So Alex is not my child. But he looks like me."
"Gosh, so full of yourself, just cuz my son is handsome and adorable does not mean he's yours. Alex is NOT your son. His parent's were orphans; they died after an accident and left Alex to me as his legal guardian."
"Questionable reasoning."
"Okay, reason this, the first 6 months after I left you, I moved constantly, I was always on the road, you should know, your detectives were chasing me down. You think I can move that swiftly if I was pregnant?"
"You could have been very strong."
"Ugh, why are you so stubborn? What would it take to convince you?"
"DNA testing."
"No one is sticking a needle in my son. If you really want to do that, get a court order. And after you learn the truth, I'll slap you with a harassment suit and restraining order. Then legally, you'll be out of our hair forever."
"Fine, I'll trust you on this." He tried to rein in his anger. Still slightly suspicious that Buffy's lying, not that he cares if Alex is really his son, "You still think I'm handsome and adorable."
"What?" Buffy was stunned at the sudden statement. When did she…oh, the discussion about Alex. She felt uneasy but recovered quickly. "So, I have eyes, a lot of men are handsome and adorable. Like Colin Firth! Tall, dark hair, sexy smiles."
"Who the fuck is Colin Firth?"
"Excuse me! Language!" Buffy glared at Angelus. "A British actor, a very fine one, I met him in Italy."
"So, your picking up men in foreign countries is more acceptable behaviour for your son to witness than swearing?" Angelus riled up over Buffy's acknowledgement of some other cute guy.
Hearing his comment, Buffy's eyes grew colder than ever, and her tone dropped to an eerily calm. "His SON was Alex's playmate in preschool, and he was a gentleman. And you better get out right now Angelus."
He remain unmoved from his position, "What the hell are you doing with someone else's child anyway? Do you really think you can do this by yourself Buffy?"
She tried to stay calm but she was further exasperated by his unintended reminder of the legal document which she had just received.
"Alex is not someone else's son, he's my son. He's been my son for five years," her voice wavered and her face and eyes reddened, "I've been the only parent he knows since he was three and I'm doing just fine. Don' you dare use that tone with me, you have no idea what I'm capable of doing now or ever. Get out. Get out!" She closed in on Angelus and with a surprising amount of force, pushed him out of the door and slammed the door in his face.
TBC…
Reviews please.
So, I know that this is not quite what a lot of you are hoping for, but seriously aren't you all bored with the usual pregnant fics now? This is not an intended attempt to vex ppl, the plot had already been determined before this fic was written. Don't worry, we're going in for some major fun:)
