Buffy smiled as she looked over at Xander holding up a newborn sized bodysuit as the friends discussed some of the last minute details for the upcoming baby shower. "I have trouble picturing someone small enough to fit in this," Xander said.

He then looked over at Buffy's stomach. "And yet so big that to as well... that the tiny human who this is for is right there inside of you... growing... and something big enough to fit into this will be coming out of you..."

Buffy chuckled again at the face he made picturing that and then trying to erase such image, putting it back down on the counter next to some markers. One of the games they had brought up to her today was everyone decorating a plain white onesie and it was one of the more tame ones as far as Xander was concerned.

A couple of times now she felt worried he was still trying to make up for the whole lack of bachelor party situation for their second wedding with this event. And that just wasn't going to work out as far as she was concerned.

Willow asked her if she was sure about the guest list one last time and if Lindsey really wasn't planning on coming. Buffy frowned and shrugged, that still seemed to be the final verdict on that. She understood why of course but she still missed the asshole. The guest list was a little larger than the wedding one, having invited a couple of their neighbors and she'd asked some of the ladies from school to join them as well.

She had felt a little weary about it before for whatever reason but as it all got closer the more excited she had to admit she felt. Angel had pointed out it wasn't about them getting things but rather a celebration of their baby to come and she couldn't be against that after all.

Plus once the baby shower was over they could move on to setting up the rest of the house and that was exciting.

Angel had also surprised her with a special dress for the occasion and told her when she went to get her hair done she might as well get any of the other services she wanted so she was looking forward to a little extra and much needed pampering.

In which she totally intended to indulge on. Her feet were not only puffy, but in desperate need of a pedicure, and she definitely wanted to get her eyebrows threaded. She just wanted to look her best for the shower and the photographs they were scheduled to have made later in the day.

Despite her protests she found herself getting more and more excited each day that passed. Not necessarily for the shower itself but to finally be able to set everything up and be fully prepared for their daughters arrival. Some days, even now, it seemed surreal that all of this was really happening.

Sure they had, had a few bumps along the road, but that was to be expected in any relationship. Some days she felt like she would burst from happiness when she opened her eyes, feeling the twists and turns inside her belly, while wrapped safely in Angel's arms. She had no doubt, they could get through anything now, she was pretty sure their relationship was stronger than it had ever been before. It seemed as if nothing would be able to come between them now.

Yawning, she glanced at the clock, Angel had volunteered to run a few of the errands that they had planned for the weekend. Though she knew it was really just a ploy to give her some alone time with her friends, something she had been seriously lacking the last few weeks.

Not that she would trade a second of the time her and Angel had sequestered for themselves, after their big fight it took a little while to get back into their regular groove. Afterwards, well, it seemed they hadn't been able to keep their hands off each other… not that she was complaining, but damn was she exhausted.

Snapping her out of her thoughts was sound of Xander squealing, looking over to him the entire room seemed to burst into laughter as he danced around the living room attempting to pull her brand new breast pump from his chest.

"What the hell Xand, I'm going to have to sterilize that again," Buffy gasped through her tears, she was laughing so hard, gasping for breath.

Yanking the contraption from his chest he threw the possessed piece of machinery down onto the couch. "I just thought I'd see what it felt like," he shrugged as though it was the most normal thing in the world. Which caused an entire new series of laughter to erupt from the group, "Only you Xander," Willow reassured him as she patted his knee, while he sat down rubbing his abused nipple.

Turning her attention to the other side of the couch Willow extended her hand to Buffy's protruding stomach, she had yet to even feel the little bugger move, none of them had. Well except for Angel, and he always got all grrrr when any of them tried, which she honestly thought was kind of adorable in an annoying sort of way.

Buffy sighed as Will softly poked and prodded her belly, attempting to elicit some form of movement from the being inside, completely still, their daughters stubbornness worried her already.

"Hey, hands off the merchandise," came Angel's deep voice as he came into view from the kitchen.

Startled, Willow's hands instantly flew from Buffy's abdomen, "It's not fair," she pouted. " I can't believe I haven't felt her once."

Immediately walking over to where Buffy sat he dropped a quick kiss to her forehead before crouching down, shooting a wink her way. Placing one hand above where his growing baby lay, he used his other to grip Willow's wrist, bringing her hand to rest underneath his own.

Willow beamed when she felt the rolls beneath her palm. "Wow, that's amazing," she gushed to her best friend. "What's it feel like from the inside?"

"Well, sometimes I can hardly feel anything at all, others I'm half convinced there's an octopus growing in there," she giggled, amused at her bestfriends wonderment.

OoOoO

Most of the gang had ended up feeling some small movement or another mostly due to Angel's guidance. Except for Xander, he didn't try for very long but she could tell Angel was pleased. Like father, like daughter she assumed.

Later that night she was cuddling closer into Angel's side on the couch, yawning once again she had to admit she was glad her friends had decided to cut out a bit earlier than usual. Not that she didn't love or miss them, but damn this pregnancy was taking it out of her lately, some days she had to drag herself from the bed.

"Hmm, did all of you get the rest of the details for the shower worked out," Angel asked her, his face buried in the top of her hair. Per usual he had left most of the decisions and planning up to her even though they were going the co-ed route, but earlier when Xander started mentioning Midget baby strippers he had used the excuse of errands and the bank, just to get the hell away from it all.

Buffy groaned, normally this was her thing. She loved planning birthday parties, house warming parties, it was her area. But not this time, Willow and Tara had taken charge of most things, a part of her felt guilty, but another part of her was actually looking forward to the surprise.

"Ya, I think so. Everyone asked my preference on a few more games, some of them were pretty out there...especially the ones Xander had suggested."

"Mmm, I hope you vetoed those. We are not playing pin the sperm on the egg" he said rolling his eyes.

Giggling softly against his side, she wished she had a picture of his reaction when Xander read that one from the potential list. "I'm not sure which was worse, that or the balloon game."

"They were all terrible."

"They really were," she agreed, as she tried to keep herself from dozing.

Angel felt the baby stirring, twisting and poking into his side as he watched Buffy slip into unconsciousness against him. Even though the last couple of months had been better than any dream he ever had, he couldn't seem to get rid of the ball of fear that lived in the pit of his stomach. He didn't want to worry Buffy by constantly bringing Darla up, or reminding her to be careful, but if there was one thing he had learned over the years about the blonde psychopath… it was that she was ruthless.

She may be laying low, she may have even moved outside of the city limits, but Angel knew without the shadow of a doubt that they hadn't seen the last of her. That worried him far more than complication they could possibly run into at this point.

That woman just didn't make any sense, he had always made sure not to cross even the vaguest of professional lines when it came to her. Knowing the way she felt about him, she had always seemed accepting of his circumstances before the divorce. Hell, maybe part of this really was his fault, he was sure there was more than one time he'd vented to Darla about his relationship in passing those years back and maybe she thought that was some kind of "in" he was offering somehow.

It certainly hadn't been his intention but he knew he'd made comments about him and Buffy to Darla back then. Maybe a passing question she would ask about if he was alright, or she'd comment on he looked stressed at the time, and he might have said something she took the wrong way.

Or perhaps when he had quite stupidly brushed off things that Buffy had came at him with back about any bad feelings she was getting off of or toward Darla then maybe that gave her more ammunition to try and tear he and Buffy apart... That she twisted that in her mind to mean what she wanted it to mean, that she only saw things as she wanted to...

He honestly wasn't sure about any of it. None of it ever made sense in his mind when it came to the shit she had pulled.. and now, after all this time, it felt more like he was grasping for straws trying to put any of the pieces on this subject together. He knew he had spent so many endless nights in the past couple of years trying to figure out what he might have done but he doubted he would ever really know.

Buffy had come to him with some research she'd gathered about Darla and similar situations as the one they found themselves in, they even pointed out in black and white that it literally could have been over nothing. It was possible her fixation on him could have stemmed from something he did in fact do and she twisted it up, it could be over something as simple as a smile or having told her he liked a dress she wore one day, maybe buying her a cup of coffee one day could have set her off, or... or it could have been absolutely nothing. Just one day he drew the unlucky card to become her victim of this stalking, obsession, whatever she had on him.

And that only made it more frustrating in his mind.

Even with all that research in front of him he still felt at times like if he could just pinpoint what it was that he could figure out how to undo it all. He knew that wasn't really how these things worked but it didn't stop the wishing all the same.

With a sigh, Angel tried to push all of those thoughts back out of his head as he felt more random, harder movements jabbing at him from inside Buffy. He smiled slightly as he thought it was like she sensed when he needed a distraction more and more these days. He whispered while looking downward at Buffy's stomach that she had better not wake her mama up with all that mess while he gently massaged Buffy's stomach. Buffy was pretty good at sleeping through most of the kicks, jabs and somersaults from the little one but if she got too wound up in there that was another story. Or if she managed to hop up into a position or two Buffy had complaints with and she kept repeating the same movements over and over Buffy would be too uncomfortable to stay asleep anymore.

Smiling a little brighter, he soon felt things in there simmering down under his palms. Then with a large sigh, he let his thoughts drift over to all the things he needed to do in the week ahead. He was glad it was ending with a baby shower and having some downtime to just enjoy their friends and relax a little. He also knew what a relief it would feel to have it over with so they knew what else they may need to get and Buffy would feel a lot more at peace he was sure once the entire house was more or less ready for the baby to arrive. Those were some big stepping stones on her lists, next would be getting the hospital bags ready and he couldn't believe they were already to this point.

The pregnancy seemed to be flying by at times to him. He couldn't wait until their daughter was actually here, they could see her and hold her, but sometimes he wished he could pause time a little longer. He enjoyed this journey, and truth be told he was still pretty terrified of the idea of them actually being in charge of a whole other person for the rest of their lives.

Most of the time he felt fairly confident but other times he'd get ahead of himself with a thousand endless worries and what ifs that would rush through his mind. He'd read countless books, looked up answers to questions he had many times, he'd spoken with their doctors and all of that which helped plenty... but there was just so much still to come, still out there, still unknown.

People liked to assure him much of it would come naturally, or that he doesn't need to go in knowing absolutely everything and he can figure it out as he goes, and God he hoped that would be the case. He knew even if he was a disaster Buffy wouldn't be and that also gave him some comfort.

OoOoO

Buffy groaned. She hadn't wanted to fully wake up, or have to move either, but obviously her bladder had a mind of its own. She blinked a few times and smiled as she found Angel's face close to hers, lightly snoring away. She whispered his name a few times until he sleepily looked at her. "Come to bed," she whispered.

She didn't fancy the idea of walking back to the couch after getting up to use the restroom, nor did she find it as comfortable as she used to in her current condition.

Buffy struggled a tiny bit to get up, and gave Angel a look daring him to comment on it. Smart man that he kept his mouth shut as he rubbed his eyes and got up as well, following behind her. He followed her into the bathroom as well so he could brush his teeth and wash his face.

Joining him a few minutes later, Buffy snuggled up into his warmth under the blankets. "Mmm, much better," she said quietly. She made a comment about the couch and Angel said he'd debated carrying her upstairs or just staying put which made her chuckle. "I'm pretty sure that we are getting to the point you don't need to throw your back out or something trying to lift me up."

"I can pick you up just fine," he muttered and she just rolled her eyes. He may be able to but she knew it took more effort these days, and certainly wouldn't have the easiest time getting her up those stairs but she let it lie and just kissed him.

"I love you."

"Mmm, well, I love you, too," he whispered back. His lips touched hers and Buffy found herself deepening it moments later, a second wave of energy suddenly grabbing hold of her.

Pulling back to look at his beautiful wife, he eyed her questioningly for only a moment, before shifting so that he could guide her legs to straddle his waist. He loved the feel of her swollen belly pressing into his own, grabbing her neck he pulled her to him, devouring her lips.

Some time later, as he slipped inside her wet heat, he couldn't help but think about their journey, and how blissfully perfect their life was beginning to become.

He truly was the luckiest man on Earth.

OoOoO

The week had flown by, before they knew it, it was the day before the baby shower...the day Angel had been dreading for nearly two weeks. He knew he was probably just over reacting, but this would be the first time she hadn't come to the office with him since their argument. He'd actually grown rather used to having her there with him once again, sometimes a bad memory would cross his mind, but most of the time he just enjoyed the act of all the new memories they were making.

Spooning his body around her own, he gently pulled her solidly against him, brushing the hair from her neck, his lips began leaving a trail of warm kisses from just below her ear to the little freckle on her collarbone. "Wake up, beautiful," he whispered softly as his hand began rubbing circles over the curve of her abdomen. Knowing she wasn't going to be happy to know he may have let her sleep past her alarm, it wasn't by much but he had simply gotten lost in the picture of her asleep. The look of total perfection, the epicenter of his world.

"Mmm," she grumbled half asleep, "But I don't wanna…" she moaned, even as she turned her head to give him better access.

"You're going to be late," he reminded her as he continued to assault her neck.

Feeling his hard length nestled against her ass, she couldn't help but lightly grind her t-shirt clad body against his own. Feeling his fingertips dig into her thigh, she bit back a smile of satisfaction, once again loving how much he loved her.

Nuzzling her ear, he gently bit it with blunt teeth before whispering, "Don't start something you don't plan on finishing, woman." He certainly couldn't withstand another case of blue balls like he had last week.

Opening her eyes to glance at the clock, she would have sprung from the bed had Angel not kept his hold on her. "Oh my god," she squealed, "I should be leaving right now," she whined, turning the best she could in his warm arms to face him.

Still feeling his hard cock pressed against her thigh, she sighed, wishing he had just woken her when the alarm went off. Knowing no matter how much he swore she wouldn't be, she would be late, and she was already pushing it too close as it was.

Touching her lips to his, she thought about her last day with him at his office. An evil grin spread across her features at the memory as she pulled away to nuzzle his nose with her own. "I'll make it up to you tonight," she promised, her voice hoarse with her own need. Reaching a hand between them, she slipped her nimble fingers inside of his boxers, gripping his rigid flesh, she stroked him slowly a few times, watching as his eyes fell closed, lost in the sensation.

"I can be quick," he promised desperately.

Shaking her head, she pressed one final kiss to his lips before releasing his hard flesh. Slipping from the bed, she promised him once again that she would make up for it later after they had both returned home.

Angel had simply muttered his reply as she watched him flip over to his stomach, in an effort to calm his raging libido.

As she reached the bathroom door she paused, "Besides it will give you something to remember me by at work today," she teased, making sure to close and lock the door before he was able follow. Knowing in reality she didn't stand a chance had he decided to join her, and she was determined to look her best for the shower and the photos they had scheduled.

Angel listened as she showered, then turned the water off. He heard her unlock the door, and brush her teeth, and finally decided it was safe to join her once he heard the blow dryer turn on. He would never understand the reason women felt the need to do their hair, in order to go get their hair done. He supposed it was just one of those mysteries of the female population he would never understand, like their need for ice cream after a break up.

Ignoring the blonde temptress dressed only in her satin robe, Angel quickly discarded his own clothes. Unashamedly showing off the condition she had left him in as he stepped beneath the hot spray.

OoOoO

Buffy was already dressed and rushing around the house by the time he made it downstairs, tightening his tie, the sight of her once again took his breath away. Walking up behind her, he wrapped his arms around her waist, gliding his hands across her protruding belly, he rested his head against the crook of her neck.

"For the record I still don't like this."

Spinning around, she brought her hands to rest on his shoulders, her fingers seeking out the hairs at the nape of his neck. "I'll be fine," she assured him, smiling slightly as she touched her lips to his.

Reaching around to grip her ass, he pulled her more securely to him, turning her gentle kiss into one that held the silent promises of all the things he had planned for her tonight.

Finally releasing her, he muttered that they both better get going before he said to hell with their day and carried her back to bed. His commitments to his once beloved company seemingly less and less important by the minute.

Checking her purse one last time, and grabbing her car keys off the hook by the door, she also double checked with Angel that he had grabbed all the files he needed.

Assuring her that he was all set for the day, he walked her to her car, opening the door for her, he waited for her to climb inside, before once again reminding her to be careful, and to call him if she ever felt uncomfortable or needed anything at all. Even if it were him, sure the meetings he had today were important, but there would never be anything in his life more important than her.

Promising him one last time that she would be careful, and would give him minute by minute updates on her girly procedures, she snuck one more quick kiss through the window, before putting her car in reverse and pulling out of the driveway.

OoOoO

Thankfully her stylist was in the opposite direction of Los Angeles, meaning there hadn't been much traffic that she had to sit through. For as late as she thought she was going to be, she ended up pulling into the parking lot just in the knick of time, so with a smile Buffy grabbed for her phone to shoot Angel a quick text message that she had arrived before getting out of the car and heading for the door. She did roll her eyes as she thought about how her walk was becoming more and more like a waddle at times these days.

She was flooded with a new wave of excitement as she entered and made her way to the front desk as she found plenty of chances to gush about the pregnancy, how she was looking and feeling these days, and about all the plans for the baby shower that she was in there to get all dolled up for with the ladies in the salon.

She went over the packages once more before deciding exactly what she wanted to get done today, then before she knew it she was heading off with one of the girls to go get a facial to start things off with.

OoOoO

Hearing her phone go off while she waited for a chair to open up back in the nail area, Buffy checked in with Angel to let her know how things were going then got his opinion on some of the nail colors she was debating. She was sure her husband didn't have one ounce of caring about it in him one way or another but he humored her anyway. And what more could she really ask for?

"Are you sure you're okay?" he asked and she tried to assure him everything was fine while they chatted. She had to admit it was a little strange for her not being in LA with him and being alone like this. She'd tried to get at least one of the girls to come at first but no one had been available with everything else going on, but honestly some time to just be on her own was nice she found. And missed more than she guessed she'd realized.

She loved how overprotective Angel was, she loved the extra time with him and even with her friends, but sometimes just having some time to do something on your own was nice, too.

Buffy knew Angel was a little extra anxious right now as his big meeting for the end of his day was coming up soon and he couldn't exactly keep checking in on her like this during it. He reminded her of the times he was due to be in there and to make sure to call Harmony rather than his cell phone if she needed something and she assured him for the millionth time she knew the drill before they ended the call.

OoOoO

After her long session at the salon with her nails, getting waxed, massaged, her hair being washed, styled, and cut... Buffy grabbed a few items from the little gift shop she wanted to try before finishing up back at the front desk.

She snapped a selfie to send to Angel before leaving, and as she got back in the car she sent it along with a message that she knew it'd be a little while before he got any of her messages but she wanted to check in and let him know how everything had gone and that she was about to leave again.

Sitting in her car still in the parking lot, she made a quick call to Willow to check in and make sure she and Xander weren't still nit picking each other over everything. Then, she tried to decide on what else she wanted to do with the rest of her afternoon between now and when Angel was due back home. It seemed like too big of a waste to just head home after all, especially after how well this little adventure of hers had gone.

OoOoO

Angel stole yet another look over toward the large clock hanging on the far wall before mentally scolding himself for the action. He knew that it only made him more anxious when he kept looking over there, and he had already managed to get sidetracked twice now during the meeting when he'd let his mind wander too much about his worries about Buffy being so far away.

He silently told himself that Buffy was fine and probably teasing him relentlessly in a series of text messages knowing he was so worried and trying to work him up for when he got out of here, saw them, then had the long drive back home to her.

That had seemed to tame his nerves a little and time wasn't dragging on so slow. As he paced around the floor of the board room as he answered a few questions, he then noticed some movement over by the door. He glanced quickly to see Harmony stick her head in. He had only glanced but his eyes quickly flew back to her a moment later, as if his brain had noticed something he hadn't fully registered yet, and he had a weird feeling rush over him as their eyes met.

Angel paused as he looked at the blonde. "Harmony? Is everything okay?"

"H-hey, Boss," she said softly. "C-can I... I... I, um, I need to talk to you," she answered, her voice was shaky.

Angel stared at her for another moment before nodding. He placed the papers in his hands down on the table closest to him and muttered some apologies as he passed chairs by, the room kind of blurring around him and that sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach only growing.

Angel followed Harmony out of the room and into the hallway, closing the door behind them. Harmony's eyes were full of concern as she turned around to face him, his eyes seemed to focus on that and how her fingers templed in front of her, fingertips dancing nervously against one another. "T-there's a phone call that you really need to take," she told him.

"Is it Buffy?"

Harmony let out a little sigh. "I-it's about Buffy," she told him. "We've kind of been here before... but Buffy was in some sort of accident, Angel. The hospital is trying to reach you."

Angel felt like his legs were going to give out from under him as she spoke and the words hit him like a ton of bricks. His mind raced with a million worries about his wife and their daughter as he tried his best to follow behind her. Not even waiting until he got to his office, he asked her to go grab his cell phone while he grabbed the line from her desk, closing his eyes and silently praying everything was going to be okay, that maybe it wasn't something serious...

ButImBroken:

Cowritten with Scribes1015!