Lindsey was about to start yelling another message into the phone again when he saw Buffy and Angel pull into the parking lot.

Finally.

He ended the call quickly and shoved his phone back into his pocket, beginning to march their way. "I am gonna tell you both this right now. It better not ever happen because I'm pretty sure I'd shoot you both... but in the event you two wind up splitting up again... the next time you two decide to later get married I ain't comin'! I ain't being no best man," he said pointing at Angel, "I ain't showing up as no guest," this time pointing at Buffy. "It ain't happening."

Buffy tried not to laugh. "Thank you for keeping everyone distracted, Lindsey."

He shook his head a little. "There was no distracting. That train left this station some time ago now. Every damn person in there knows exactly what you two were up to," he told them then turned to walk back toward the restaurant.

OoOoO

Buffy tried not to blush as she and Angel made their way inside as well. She was sure everyone had a good idea of why the two of them had disappeared as it were, but there was no telling what Lindsey had decided to be so candid about while they were gone. She was sure she didn't even want to know. Thankfully, no one made it any more awkward than it was. Everyone happily greeted them as they came inside, mentioned that they'd already started eating and everything, and after a few minutes it was mostly normal and comfortable again.

They'd asked everyone not to bring them gifts but of course no one listened so some time after she and Angel had sat down to go through those. They didn't do a large show of the reception either but she and Angel did enjoy their cake, much differently this time than last as they skipped the show of feeding one another and toasting and all those traditional moments they'd already gotten memories of years before.

They didn't have an enormous amount of space - nor had they needed it - but she and Angel had one dance in front of everyone before she took a deep breath and began to thank each and every one of these favorite people in their lives for coming, for supporting them in the past, while they had split up, on the journey back together and now as they got to focus more on the future from now on. She had tears well up as she told them all how she knew how crazy all of this was but how thankful she was, how thankful they both were, in the end because they were getting this second chance at everything they wanted.

Angel's arms wrapped around her and she leaned back slightly. She wiped her eyes and smiled at the little crowd. "And that leads me to one last thing we have been dying to let you all in on. I am so grateful that you are all here and I can share this with you on one of the happiest days of my life," she took another deep breath. "Not only are Angel and I on this new journey as Husband and Wife... for the second time... but we are also embarking on a new adventure together as expecting parents." She paused for a moment and looked at everyone's wide variety of facial reactions before smiling and telling them how far along she was, her due date, and assuring everyone that neither of them could be happier with this bit of news.

Willow squealed loudly, running over to hug Buffy, then Angel, and Buffy again before just smooshing them together for one big hug. "You guys!" she gushed. "I can't believe you hadn't told me! This is wonderful!"

Tara smiled at them both and gave her well wishes, Xander and Cordelia gave what you could consider to be their version of congratulations, Giles had come close to repeating Willow's actions. It didn't take much to pick up on his pure joy over the fact. Buffy thought all those worries he'd had in his tone each time they spoke and even earlier today as he'd given her away at the wedding seemed to quickly fade away. "A baby, Buffy. That is fantastic. Your mother would be so proud of you, so excited for you, for both of you."

Buffy felt a lump in her throat form and she nodded.

Lindsey, who had mostly been avoiding them, stood back as everyone gushed over them and their news that of course he was already well aware of. Too aware of. Finally though, he came over and gave her a great big hug. "You know I am happy for you both," he whispered.

Buffy nodded against him for a moment, then, "You know we're going to name you as the godfather."

Lindsey let out a heartfelt laugh. "Oh, like hell you are."

Buffy laughed with him though she knew when the time came he was always going to be the choice. Whether he wanted it or not, prepared for it or not.

OoOoO

The second time returning home since the wedding, Buffy stood with her hands on her stomach, looking at the large photograph from their first wedding. She thought of how in love they were, but how messed up they let things get and swore silently once more that, that would never happen again. She swore it to herself, but also to the child growing inside of her.

She looked around the house and could remember the good times, the bad ones, the new ones they'd made since coming back together. But she also began to imagine so many future moments they were finally going to get as well. She could almost taste rushing out of the house to get to the hospital for this baby to be born, birthday parties, dinners with Willow and Tara, with Xander and Cordy as they all grew, as their own families grew, teaching their children about Joyce, about Angel's parents who would have loved them with every inch of their being but never got the chance to, of big moments, little ones.

When Angel finished bringing in the last of the items from the trunk he came to find her. Now, even more than earlier, she felt the fullness of being his wife again, of completely being his.

She turned to face him her eyes full of tears, "I love you," she choked out, suddenly overcome with the emotions from the day.

Angel stood frozen in front of her, unsure what had happened to his beaming bride from minutes earlier. Slowly stepping towards her, he opened his arms to wrap them around her. Holding her tightly to him, he kissed her forehead whispering that he loved her too, as he reached up to wipe the tears from her eyes.

His hands trailed down the bare skin of her back, down to where the silk seemed to cling right on her ass. Squeezing her mounds playfully, he lifted her, urging her to wrap her legs around him.

"What are you doing," she chuckled between tears. Pregnancy was weird.

Gripping her tightly, he started to make his way to their bedroom.

"Making good on my promise, woman."

OoOoO

After Angel proved just how good he was at keeping promises, they spent the rest of the night becoming reacquainted as husband and wife. Neither spending a second outside of the other's arms.

Their clothes were discarded all across the room, the lamp that was supposed to sit on his end table lay shattered on the floor. Their comforter had somehow managed to become a tangled heap with their bed post, each of them too exhausted to care.

By some miracle she had managed to get out of her dress without him ripping it from her body, just barely though. He was relentless, wasting no time flipping her to her knees, once the offending garment had been disposed of. She was fairly certain they had pushed their physical capabilities to the limits. She'd lost count around six orgasms ago, she hadn't even been aware her body could move in the ways it had.

She was almost positive they had set a new record, "Mmmm, I can't believe it's already morning," she breathed, her head pillowed on his chest. Wrapped safely in his arms from the middle of their bed, covered only in a sheet, she cuddled closer to him, never having felt more content or sated.

His head rested lightly against the top of hers, cracking one eye open as if to verify what she said was true, he groaned when he saw the light filtering through the curtains. "It was one hell of a night though," he mumbled, tightening his old on her.

"That it was," she agreed, between yawns.

"You need to get some sleep," he whispered, his voice hoarse from overuse. It was a good thing everyone had decided against staying with them last night, he had no doubt they would have been scarred for life… especially Giles.

Leaning up, she placed a quick kiss to his lips, "Agreed," she whispered against his skin, their breath mingling together. After the last twelve hours or so, she wasn't even sure where his body ended and hers began.

She was pleasantly numb.

OoOoO

Angel laid awake long after Buffy fell into an exhausted slumber. A small part of him was still terrified he was going to wake up alone. But the bigger part of him was so deliriously happy that he wasn't sure he could sleep if his life depended on it.

He kept replaying the last twenty-four hours over in his mind, imagining her walking down that aisle repeatedly, remembering all the positions he had taken her in last night, thinking about how real their baby seemed now that they had told everyone about her. Throughout the night Buffy had constantly reassured him that he wasn't going to hurt her or the baby, but still it worried him. He'd been wanting to bring the subject up with her OB, but in all honesty he just wasn't sure how to bring it up. He wouldn't be able to live with himself, if he knew that he was the cause of something to go wrong.

His mind drifting to darker thoughts, he suddenly found his brain circling back around to Darla. He felt like he could finally breathe a sigh of relief knowing that she hadn't done anything stupid today, like show up to their wedding. Still a flicker of unease coursed through him every time her name crossed his mind, she was definitely playing at something. He just wasn't sure what, but he was going to find out. He had more to lose now than he ever had before, and he was determined to keep them safe, no matter what.

Now that they had announced the news about the baby, he figured it was only a matter of time before that piece of information found its way back to her. Hopefully she would hear that and realize that now more than ever, she needed to back off. Unfortunately, Darla wasn't always known for her rationality. He definitely needed to speak with Lindsey before he flew out again, just to double check that he hadn't heard anything else from one of his "sources".

Buffy stirred in her sleep, flipping over, she used his arm as a pillow. Rolling to his side, he spooned his body behind hers, gently pulling her flush against him. His hand snuck around to span the slight curve of her lower abdomen, his thumb gently traced slight bump, as his mind once again shifted to thoughts of the tiny person growing inside there.

He couldn't wait to hold her in his arms, to experience the absolute miracle that was birth with the love of his life. He constantly found himself trying to picture what she would look like, who's eyes she would inherit, which of their hair colors she would possess. Whatever she looked like, whoever she looked like, he already knew that she was going to be perfect.

He wasn't going to stand a chance.

OoOoO

Lindsey had tried calling both of their phones all day, of course he expected them to be holed up for a while, but they had made plans for dinner tonight. Normally he would just blow it off, thinking those two were just too wrapped up in one another to notice any missed calls.

However after this morning, and the conversation he'd had, he was on edge. Besides he'd promised to grab takeout from that Italian place Buffy loved so much since his hotel was just across the street from the restaurant. He may not have kids… or a wife. But he wasn't an idiot, he knew better than to come between a pregnant woman and her food.

Glancing at the take out he had placed in the passenger seat, he said a silent prayer that everything was okay as he made his way through the streets of Sunnydale. Making sure to keep his eyes peeled for a certain blonde that he'd run into this morning.

Pulling up to the house everything seemed to be normal, albeit a bit quiet. None of the lights in the house were on, but nothing seemed out of place. Lindsey cursed the both of them, this was the second damn time in two days he had to venture into this damn house unprepared.

Getting out, he made sure to slam the door to his car extra loud in an effort to make as much noise as possible.

The house was eerily quiet as he stepped inside, keeping his eyes closed he called out for either Buffy or Angel. When he didn't get a response, he cracked one open enough to get a blurry look around the area before him. Not seeing any naked bodies doing unspeakable acts, he let both fully open up and looked around the house... turning on a couple lights as he went so he could see. He put the food on the kitchen table then started back, heading up the stairs.

He called out for the couple again with no response and swore under his breath.

Their bedroom door was open once he reached the top of the staircase. Again, he squinted just in case they were celebrating their marriage still. After knocking and still getting no response he peeked inside and let out a breath of relief at the sight of them. Barely covered in a sheet and upside down in the bed, but there.

He stared hard to make sure they were breathing and let out a silent thanks to whoever might be listening before flicking on the lights and yelling Angel's name as loud as he possibly could.

"Fuck!" Angel shouted.

Buffy jumped and for a moment the top half of her body almost became exposed but she quickly grabbed the sheet back up and pulled it over herself. "Hi, Lindsey," she greeted with a blush taking over her face.

"What in the hell, Lindsey?"

"Mother fuckers don't show up for dinner, don't answer your phones, your house is dead quiet... people start to worry."

"Oh, sorry," Buffy said, rubbing one hand down her face while the other continued to clutch onto the sheet for dear life. "We forgot all about it, Linds. I was going to set my alarm but got a little... uhh... distracted."

"Uh huh," he said with a little grin. "Well, get your asses up and come down to eat. Maybe disinfect this room of yours, too. Smells like sex in here!" He turned to let them get dressed and headed back downstairs. He was just thankful they were alright.

'Fuckin' Darla,' he thought.

OoOoO

"What's going on?" Angel asked after dinner was over and Buffy had headed back upstairs. "You've been looking uncomfortable this whole time... and I don't think it's over finding Buffy and I in bed."

"It didn't help matters," Lindsey told him, taking a seat. He glanced behind him to see if there was any sight of the pretty blonde.

"What happened, Linds?" he asked again.

Lindsey sighed. "I think you need to take the threat about Darla a lot more serious than you have been. I'm not saying you are or have been doing anything wrong... but I don't think any of us really understood how deep this shit goes with that woman," he told his best friend. "I couldn't even begin to tell you what her plan is to do next... I wish that I could... but... Angel.. she knows too much information about you and Buffy. Too much, more than she should be privy to." Lindsey sat back and began explaining some of the pieces he'd been able to put together over the last several years but also about how he'd learned Darla knew their schedules, she knew Buffy was pregnant long before any of their other friends, that she knew what doctor she was seeing, their appointments... Angel paled a little, letting all this sink in. He sat down as well.

"More than that, Darla has kept tabs on Buffy the entire... hell... the entire time you two were together and it just never stopped. Like, even after your divorce went through, after she left fuckin' California. I don't know all the how's about this, but she's known every move the two of you have made for God knows how long now."

As Buffy showered, he tried to get out all the information that he could, that he had found from anyone he could think of, the run in with Lily or Anne or whatever name she was fucking going by now who he'd tracked down, all of it that he knew as of this moment.

It felt like so much yet so little at the same time, there was a lot still left to be uncovered and at every turn it seemed to make it worse. He didn't like where any of it was heading at all.

Angel's head hung low and he put his head in his hands. He asked if Lindsey happened to remember something from their days back in college that he had to be forgetting or missing. It'd been a conversation they'd had a number of times before but Lindsey knew he was just desperate for answers.

Lindsey sighed, thinking back... he'd tried retracing every memory he had of Darla from back then his own self so many times trying to figure out why she had started all this shit those years back, why she would still be stalking their lives and trying to ruin what Buffy and Angel had... Nothing ever just jumped out at him any more than it had Angel. Darla was just there... none of this had any flashing red light saying "Danger!" There was nothing he could come up with that would explain how or why she'd zeroed in on Angel and set out to destroy his life... other than maybe she was psycho, and that there was no rhyme or reason for it beyond that.

OoOoO

Angel stared at the floor, unsure of what to do. He thought about what they could legally do but he really wasn't sure how much the police or the system could really help him. He was sure they could probably get some sort of restraining order against Darla and anyone else they could track down tied to her but at the end of the day that was just a piece of paper.

Packing up, moving, disappearing wasn't as simple as that. They had lives here, family, friends, a home. They had a baby on the way. And, it seemed even if they did something like that she'd just set her sights on finding them again.

But he knew something had to be done and soon. He couldn't risk this woman ruining his relationship again, or worse... he didn't doubt for a second she was unstable enough to do something to Buffy or, God forbid, their child, if given the chance. He could hardly breathe at the thought, only getting angrier at the situation, at her.

Darla had ruined his life once, she had taken part in making sure he lost everything that was important to him the first time she interfered in their relationship. He knew Buffy wouldn't believe anything she might be trying to pull that fell along those same lines but there was no telling what she'd do here and now. She was too close and he had more than ever to lose.

OoOoO

Buffy couldn't decide what she felt more, fear or anger. She hated that she was afraid but she also couldn't seem to help it as Angel sat her down and explained more to her about everything Lindsey had found out about Darla. In the few days that he was in Sunnydale he even had the misfortune of running into the psychopath, who as always tried to put on her best act of innocence. Though Linds was the master at manipulation and was able to get her to confirm that she was aware of not only the wedding, but the little peanut they had roasting too.

She was terrified, an uncontrollable shiver ran throughout her body, as her hands began trembling so badly, Angel had to pull her into his lap.

"Shhh beautiful, its going to be okay. I promise I'm not going to let anything happen to you, or to us." Reaching a hand under the shirt she wore, his fingers lightly drummed the small bump that was just starting to form.

For probably the hundredth time she found herself questioning what they had done to deserve this. Things in their life were finally settling down, they were husband and wife, they were having a baby for goodness sake. Why couldn't that bitch just go find someone new to stalk.

The fact that Darla had known about Buffy's whereabouts while she was in Texas really threw her. Obviously she had people spying on her even back then. Her hand went to cover Angel's, resting over the bulge on her belly. She had never doubted her ability to defend herself before, well at least not when in came to Darla, but after Spike, and now that she was pregnant… She couldn't help but feel a bit defenseless.

"I'm scared," she admonished quietly against the skin on the side of his neck. His grip tightening around her, he held her as tightly as he could without hurting

her. "What are we supposed to do," he heard her question, voice full of tears.

"Look at me,'' he urged, "It's going to be okay. Now we know that we have to keep our guard up, at least for the time being," he was trying desperately to reassure her, but even he could hear the worry in his own voice.

Lifting her head from its place on his shoulder she met his eyes with her own, the look of utter exhaustion behind his dark brown orbs broke her heart. Crazy as it sounded, she was worried that Darla may cause something to happen to the baby. Angel was scared that he was going to lose them both-again. Pressing her lips quickly to his, she smoothed his brow with her fingertips. "What about the police," she asked, her forehead resting on against the side of his own.

He wished the answer was as simple as that, "All the police would do, is file a restraining order, and that's if we're lucky. Threading his fingers with her own, he continued, "We don't have the evidence to connect her to anything, not even Spike," he sighed frustrated.

At the mention of Spike's name Buffy came apart, snuggling further into his arms, she absolutely lost control, sobbing quietly. "Why-why does she have it out so bad for us, why can't we just be happy…" pausing mid sentence, she raised her head from his shoulder, "What if you were right, what if she was the one who put Spike up to everything," her hands fell to her stomach, holding onto the life growing inside of her, the one she would do anything to protect.

Angel leaned back into the cushions of the couch, he hated having to put this stress on her. After Lindsey left he'd debated keeping everything to himself but he couldn't start their marriage off on a bed of secrets, he refused to let that-that woman take anything else from them. No matter what.

Shifting her so that she was fully straddling his waist, his thumbs trailed just below them hem of her shirt, gently tracing small circles along her bare skin with his. "Even so, he's dead. I swear to you baby, you're safe, and so is she," he whispered, his hand traveling to rest atop her own. "If anything we just have to keep our eyes open, Darla's fucking sloppy. Sooner or later she's going to screw up, and when she does I'm not going to show her an ounce of mercy."

Buffy held his penetrative gaze, she trusted him, she believed in him. She knew without a shadow of a doubt that he would never let anything happen to her or their child if he could help it, but in all honesty there were going to be times he wouldn't be able to help it. She couldn't be by his side twenty-four hours a day, she shouldn't have too.

As if he could read her mind, he tried to ease her worries by telling her that he had spoken to the head bosses at Wolfram & Hart. He would be working remotely for the foreseeable future, the only exception being the one day a week he had to arrange for all his one on one meetings. He explained that he hadn't even wanted to agree to that, but those were their terms and he knew better than anyone not to cross the senior partners.

Especially when they were already being more than generous, they could have very easily let him go. He was sure they would have, had he been anyone other than himself. Besides he could handle one day a week, like Buffy said, they had a lot of memories to make in that office.

ButImBroken:

This was cowritten with the amazing Scribes1015!