After using the bathroom under the supervision of the nurse one last time , at least she certainly hoped, Buffy made her way back to the main room, getting settled in the bed. She'd grabbed her phone and did her best to answer the string of text messages and promised to call everyone tomorrow after maybe she got some rest, which she felt beyond ready for it.

Of course, it was hard to want to fall asleep when there was finally their daughter just right there and she could look at her and hold her, smell her... and Angel, who she couldn't seem to get enough of being close to again after these past many weeks apart. Plus she knew Lindsey was on his way up to them finally and there wasn't going to be any sleep coming her way just yet.

With a knock on the door, Lindsey cautiously stuck his head inside a moment later. "Hey," he whispered, stepping inside. Her heart leaped a little when his eyes found the little one in Angel's arms and his face was nothing but pure love and joy for her.

Pulling up a seat between where Angel was and the bed, he sat down and held his arms out for Angel to hand her over after washing his hands. "How you doin', mama?" he asked with a quick glance her way, then his eyes were right back at the baby, his nose lightly brushing up to hers.

"I'm okay," Buffy told him softly. "Sore, tired, but incredibly happy."

"If I wasn't so unhappy with these two I would be making some crack about those big blue eyes of yours, yes I would. I have pretty blue eyes, too, and beautiful locks of hair. And these two went and ruined all my fun."

Angel rolled his eyes.

"I'd also like to be able to complain about touching something that happened to have came out of your mother, but unfortunately, this isn't the first time that's happened to me either."

And then Buffy rolled her eyes at him as well. She was sure she'd never live the pregnancy test down, and now she had to live with the fact Lindsey had walked in on her and Angel having sex in his bed, plus the fact of her water breaking in his bed too.

"So, your mommy and daddy here filled me in on how big and tall you are, I got to see some beautiful photos of you little one, but I've yet to hear a name," he said pointedly to the two of them. "Have these two not given you a name yet?" he asked with a little pout.

Buffy opened her mouth, then closed it, sharing a look with Angel for a quick moment. "Lindsay," she finally said.

"What?" he looked over.

Buffy's lips turned up a little. "Her name. Lindsay."

Lindsey's eyes narrowed, his eyebrows creasing together. He stared her down then looked over at Angel. "What's her name?" he asked.

Angel pointed over to the hospital bassinet and waited while Lindsey read the little name tag taped to it. Buffy almost thought she saw a blush creeping in his cheeks as he took that bit of information in then looked between the two of them again. "You motherfuckers," he said softly, holding his hands over Lindsay's ears the best he could. "You did not."

Buffy felt her heart break a little, tears threatening to return to her eyes as she looked at him. "It was supposed to be a joke, it had been almost this entire time... but nothing else seemed to fit."

Buffy was pretty sure he was struggling not to break out in tears as well as he held her closer and properly introduced himself.

OoOoO

Deciding maybe he should go home and get the house a little more baby ready, at least until Angel had his place up and running, and give Buffy and Angel some more time together to figure out what in the hell they were even doing, Lindsey spent a few hours at the hospital before heading out again.

Buffy had finally fallen asleep a little over an hour before he decided to head out. After learning more about how the birth story played out, he was sure she needed it. He cringed at even the thought of how that must have felt.

He still was unsure what in the hell was going on between Angel and her, but figured right now wasn't the time to press it. Angel spoke a little more after Buffy had drifted off and he wasn't sure what to really say. It wasn't the time to have that talk with either one of them, though.

He couldn't help but be worried though as he watched them, as he headed back home. He wanted nothing more than the two of them to actually work things out, but he could only see hormones, two dumb people who were endlessly in love but couldn't work things out, his best friend, his brother by other means than blood, falling apart every time he got involved with the woman he had long since fallen for.

Part of him wanted to believe in one more try for them. Maybe the changes of leaving California behind, leaving Wolfram and Hart, Darla being out of the picture, and all of that could help. Maybe. But the bigger part of him couldn't help but think none of that was big enough to save them. Something else could always come up. Darla shouldn't have caused all this to begin with, her ass should have known better, and it was a cop out to say well all is fine now.

He wanted Angel to be happy. He'd been getting his life together this past month. He'd hate for him to be back in square one all over again, to throw all that away all because he was thinking with the wrong damn head, because Buffy blew in here with no warning.

He'd have to sleep on it, talk with each of them maybe to figure out what was really going on and how he could help. Whether that was trying to make sure these two were okay as a couple, or if that was talking some goddamn sense into them. He figured it'd be the latter.

OoOoO

When Buffy stirred, she blinked her eyes a few times before the new nurses came into view more clearly. "Just here to check on you and Lindsay. Sorry to have to wake you, hun."

Buffy shook her head, wiping her eyes. She was surprised she'd slept all at. Sitting up, she smiled at Angel passed out, and Lindsay sleeping quietly as well. Though she couldn't imagine he was too comfortable in that position, especially with the baby cradled against his chest like that.

"It's okay," she assured the new nurse, once she was finally sitting up in the bed.

"He looks like he's going to be such a good Daddy," the nurse told her smiling as she slipped the blood pressure cuff over her arm. "Did you need anything for pain?"

Buffy's eyes drifted back over the two of them before meeting the nurses once again. "I think I'm okay for now," she told her, though truthfully she was in a bit of pain, she just hated how loopy the medication made her feel.

"Okay, well if you change your mind let me know. Everything looks good, just make sure that you keep resting when baby rests, remember the best way to heal is through sleep honey. If everything continues the way it's going, you may very well find yourself released sometime tomorrow."

The new nurse checked over the feeding chart, and the chart to log Lindsay's diaper changes, before writing her name across the white board in her room. She asked once more if she was sure about the pain medication, then reminded her that she could be reached by any phone in the hospital by dialing her extension.

Buffy had waited until the nurse exited before slowly getting to her feet. She'd been trying to get the baby without waking him, but as soon as she went to pick her up, Angel nearly jumped awake. "Sorry," she whispered, "I was just trying to take her so you could sleep better."

He hadn't even realized he'd fallen asleep, after Lindsey left he'd zoned out, completely lost in the sight of the two of them sleeping. "It's okay," he mumbled sleepily, "What time is it?".

"I'm not sure, but it's still dark out," she whispered, gently taking the baby from him. "I think it's past time for you to eat missy, you're not supposed to sleep through any feedings yet," she smiled, softly rubbing her little back in an attempt to wake her.

"Come lay with us."

That was something he was sure he would never have to be told twice. Clicking the chair closed, he quickly followed, slipping onto the bed beside her. "I didn't want to make you uncomfortable," he murmured as he struggled to keep his eyes open. His arm easily found its way around her as he rested his chin against her shoulder, "How's my girl," he whispered against her ear.

Her heart squeezed in her chest, it had been too long since she'd heard him whisper sweet nothings like that. Scooting over, she tried to get as close to him as possible, "Perfect," she whispered, turning her head to kiss him softly.

Apparently little miss Lindsay was not a fan of sharing her Daddy, as soon Buffy's lips touched his, she had immediately unlatched and began to fuss. Buffy attempted to soothe her but she wasn't having it, only growing more upset the more she tried to calm her. It wasn't until Angel's hand moved to pat her bottom that she eventually began to settle, and Buffy was able to get her latched again. "Now that's a little bit ridiculous ma'am, this whole sharing Daddy thing is going to have to be something we both get used to."

She'd finished feeding and burping the baby, as Angel dozed in and out of consciousness, his eyes popping open every time she moved around. Luckily the bassinet was in arms reach, so she was able to grab a diaper and the wipes to get her changed. Once she was swaddled again, Buffy kissed her forehead tenderly, and laid her safely in her bassinet. Satisfied that she was settled, she turned around to snuggle in her husband's arms, just needing to feel him for a few minutes.

"Mmm, I don't know how I ever slept without you," she spoke, pillowing his chest, her eyes already falling closed.

"Sleep," he told her softly. "I'm not going anywhere."

She had just begun to doze off listening to the sound of his heart beat, when the baby began to fuss again, her small cry causing her to shoot up just as Angel had done earlier.

"Let me see her."

Scooping her up, she didn't object to handing her over this time. Lying her on Angel's chest, she touched her nose to Lindsay's tiny one, as her fingers found Angel's across her back. There was just enough light in the room for her to see into the itty bitty blue eyes staring back at her.

"Hey cutie," she told her softly, smiling as she watched her struggle to yawn. Not sure that she had ever seen a more adorable sight in her entire life.

Angel listened as she talked to the baby for a while longer, then he watched as both of them fell asleep, each of their mouths parted slightly in the same exact way. He couldn't believe how much she favored Buffy, he'd been trying to prepare himself for what everyone warns you about, babies looking like grumpy old men or shriveled up little aliens. Though he was in no way prepared for this beautiful little girl that was his daughter.

He continued to watch the both of them until he could no longer hold his eyes open, no matter how hard he tried. Succumbing to sleep, he found himself excited about the future for the first time since Darla blew back into their lives. Lindsey had asked how they were doing, he'd played it off as casual conversation, but he knew him better than that. He could read between the lines, luckily however he hadn't pushed the subject when he brushed him off, not wanting anything to taint the day of their daughters birth. Knowing Lindsey though, which he unfortunately did, it wouldn't be the last he heard on the subject.

OoOoO

Lindsey had managed to get most of the major things he thought they were going to need unboxed and set up in Angel's room. He still wasn't so sure about this whole moving in together thing, but he knew better than to voice those opinions right now. He'd washed the sheets for the pack and play, and finally got the damn diaper genie working after trying to figure out how to load the damn thing for nearly an hour before eventually breaking down and reading the instructions.

Who knew a freaking baby would need so many damn contraptions. Bottle warmer, wipe warmers, nose suckers… an electric freaking formula dispenser. Geeze, California had really gotten to their heads. The diapers, you would think that Angel was stocking up for the damn apocalypse or something. As soon as he tried to open his closet, he got pegged in the head by one of those damn boxes, if little Lindsay wasn't so damn adorable, he might just have something to say.

He still couldn't get over the fact that they had named her after him, though he had to admit that after all the shit he'd been through, it might be a little fitting. Earned even. Especially after all the bodily fluids he'd had to in one way or another come in contact with since the whole start of this damn thing.

Groaning, he knew he wasn't even going in his bedroom right now unless he absolutely had to, that was for sure. The two of them were going to have to clean up the mess they'd made in there, and possibly buy him a new damn bed and mattress. He double checked over everything else in case they would be coming home sooner than later, hoping it would do at least for now. He knew Angel still had a number of things to do over at the new house but doubted he'd go all out now, at least not yet, not before actually moving in now that the little one was actually here.

And who knew what was actually going to happen with Buffy... but as his mind wandered there again he quickly shut it all down. He couldn't deal with it, not fully at the moment.

He had quickly got in touch with Buffy's friends back home in Sunnydale while she was birthing his new niece and the last he knew Willow was working on getting a plane out but he wasn't sure who all would be able to make it, for how long, or any of the details. He found he kind of liked being the first to get to see her, hold her, and the whole shebang.

Sure messed up his plans, though and turned everyone's lives completely upside down all over again.

OoOoO

As she was finishing getting Lindsay into her "coming home" outfit, she glanced at Angel who kept looking paler and paler by the moment. "Angel? Are you okay?"

"Yeah," he brushed it off but once she pressed a couple more times he sighed, leaning against the little counter by the sink. "I keep thinking how messed up it is that we're bringing her home... to Lindsey's. You spent countless hours planning all of this to be perfect and exactly how you wanted, you have a perfect nursery just sitting there in Sunnydale that you wanted to bring her home to. And trust me I'm not saying I'm upset by any means about you coming here or-"

"I know, Angel. And yeah, there is all of her things all set up back there. But that's not what's important at the end of the day. Being with you and her is, it doesn't matter where that happens to be. And as much as that house once meant to me... it doesn't feel like home anymore."

He looked down at his feet. "I'm sorry."

Buffy's heart broke at the look that passed across his face and she patted little Lindsay for a moment before crossing the room to him. She grabbed his hand and guided him around her waist, and her body pressed into his. "Stop. I'm not upset about it. Letting go and maybe starting over with fresh eyes, with a cleaner slate, and with one hell of a bigger purpose in that little girl over there... I am sure that everything will be fine. Lindsey's is going to be her first home and you know what? That's okay, hell it's rather fitting when you think about it. And maybe, hopefully, the extra time with him will get him to stop being so mad at me and maybe come to terms with us again?"

"We can hope." Angel's arms wrapped tighter around her and he kissed her forehead. "Are you sure that's what you still want, though? That you want to stay here?"

Buffy nodded and smile up at him. "I know we can't just jump into bed and declare 'divorce over' and all is perfectly fine again, but this is what I want. You and me, us as a family. I want to be wherever you are. For the rest of my life, Angel, you are everything I want."

OoOoO

As they came to a stop at another red stop sign, Buffy suddenly had an idea strike her and she asked Angel if she could see the new house he had apparently bought out here in nowhere, Oklahoma. "Right now?" he'd asked, locking eyes with her in the rear view mirror. Buffy nodded, even if they couldn't just walk in and be at home she figured it could still hold meaning to bring their daughter there.

She also hoped that maybe it could help with the swirl of emotions inside of her ever since they'd walked out of the doors to the hospital, maybe make it a little more real, more than just words shared between them.

OoOoO

"Welcome to your new home, Baby Girl," Buffy whispered, bouncing the little one in her arms as Angel finished unlocking the door. She already felt like she was in love with the place at first glance as they had turned down the road and she spotted it, but as she followed Angel inside, she strangely felt a warm peace fall over her.

Her eyes roamed the completely empty open spaces before her, taking it all in. Angel nervously began going on about what little issues it had to be taken care of, mentioning he could always figure something else out if she didn't like it, and she quickly cut him off telling him it was perfect.

He walked her through the entire downstairs, including the attached garage and basement she peeked down into before they went upstairs. Her heart skipped at the sight of the master bedroom, the little nook to the side that was perfect for an extra space for the little one and again as he showed her all of the bedrooms upstairs, including the one Angel said he had planned on turning into the nursery saved for the end of the little tour.

So many times she had stood back in their house in California and she could nearly taste it all, she could imagine the memories they could make as if they were playing out right in front of her, but she also knew those memories, those moments... they could happen anywhere. She would miss so many things about Sunnydale, but that didn't mean this couldn't be home and that was exactly what she told Angel, drinking everything in.

OoOoO

Lindsey sighed in relief when he finally saw Angel pull into the drive. He had debated taking a cab back out to the hospital to make sure they got home safe and sound but Angel had talked him out of it, but he'd been waiting for what felt like forever since getting a call confirming that they had been given discharge papers from the hospital.

Then, they told him they were taking a detour on their way back here so that hadn't helped a damn thing.

He'd never lived with a baby before, and if Buffy was staying he was even more on edge, but he still felt a rush of excitement once they were finally on their way. Nerves were to top levels but he couldn't wait to spend more time with that baby girl either.

About as soon as they stepped through the doorway he was grabbing for the little black and pink car seat, only to have Angel swiftly move her out of his reach.

"Go wash your hands," he instructed, as he sat the baby's carrier next to Buffy on the sofa to begin the process of unlatching everything. His hands still shook as he carefully removed his daughter from its confines, no way he was trusting Lindsey with such a task, not yet.

Gently handing her over to Buffy, he then moved the car seat over by the fireplace, before taking a seat back next to them. Slipping an arm behind his wife, he pulled her up against him as he relaxed back into the soft pillows. He was exhausted, but he was glad she had asked to see the house, something about taking her there, seeing the two of them inside of it made the idea of them finally being back together seem more solid, more real. It also made him realize just how much still needed to be done before they would be able to move, but thanks to Lindsey they had time to get all of that sorted out. All he wanted to do right now was take his wife and daughter and go crawl into bed.

Buffy beamed as she handed little Lindsay over to Uncle Lindsey. Despite their differences she didn't think she would ever tire of seeing that look on his face when he held her. "Well hello there princess," he drawled, lifting her up to kiss her forehead. "You weren't supposed to be here yet, no you weren't, but your damn Mommy and Daddy don't have a lick of sense left in their brains, do they?"

Buffy rolled her eyes, as Angel cracked an eye open to look at him from across the room. "Hey asshole."

Pretending to be offended, Lindsey tried his best to cover the baby's ears at Angel's words. "You're Daddy just called me a bad word, but you know what he doesn't get to call me that because he had sex with your mother in my bed."

She was absolutely certain she was going to die of embarrassment, having nearly forgotten all about that minor detail of the other night. "I'm sorry Lindsey."

He was still pissed about the situation in general, but he was finding it mighty difficult to stay that mad at her right now after bringing this little one into the world. "Don't fucking be sorry Buffy, I don't want your apologies. I'm not saying that I'm on board with this, but obviously y'all don't listen to shit I have to say anyways…"

"Lindsey," Angel interrupted, not sure where he was going with all this, and not wanting him to cause issues on their first night back.

"No damnit, now I'm going to say my fucking piece, you can do with it what you will, but I think I've earned that much." Angel just nodded, as Buffy snuggled deeper into him, bracing herself for the verbal onslaught she knew was bound to come.

"Y'all can't keep doing this, not to each other, not to yourselves, and most especially not to this precious baby girl right here. I love both of you, but the two of you together are absolutely terrible. I don't have much faith that this time is going to be any different than the damn others, but for y'alls sake I hope like hell you prove me wrong." Pausing he waited for Buffy's eyes to meet his own before continuing, "You better have had one hell of an epiphany these last few days, don't fucking pull him through this again, he don't deserve it Buffy."

She felt Angel tense beside her at Lindsey's words. She had been expecting this, but that still didn't make it any more easier to sit through. "I know Linds…"

Any further discussion of the topic was cut short as the tiny bundle in his arms began to fuss. He tried to calm her, but by the time Angel had worked himself up from around Buffy, the little girl was full blown screaming. He didn't even know babies that small could be that loud, panicked, he looked up just as Angel was reaching out to take her from him.

"What's wrong with her?"

Angel's eyebrows rose as he placed his daughter on his shoulder and began softly rubbing her back, "Maybe she doesn't like you yelling at her mother," Angel snapped.

"I wasn't yelling," Lindsey exclaimed as he tried to reach for the baby, only to be dodged by Angel again.

"She's probably hungry," Buffy told the two of them as she walked over to stand between them. Standing on her tiptoes, she leaned up to give Angel a quick kiss before taking Lindsay from him. "I'll go feed her, while the two of you talk," she told him quietly.

Angel nodded, and pressed his lips to the top of their daughter's head as she began to walk away. So much for crawling into bed.

OoOoO

Buffy stood shocked as she flipped the light on to Angel's room. The mountain of boxes were gone, everything was opened, the baby's bed actually looked like a bed, even the monitor sat on the corner shelf, just waiting to be used. For as much shit as he gave her, sometimes Lindsey made it really fucking hard not to love him too. Quickly making her way back to the living room, she went up behind him and threw her free arm around him, taking care not to squish the baby between them. "Thank You," she gushed, hugging him tightly. "It's perfect."

Patting her hand around his chest, he shrugged, "Ya well, I didn't exactly do it for you. I did it for her.".

She didn't care who he claimed he did it for, she'd known Lindsey nearly as long as she'd known Angel. He may not be ready to say that he was back on board as far as her marriage was concerned, but his actions spoke volumes. Of course she was still on some pretty thin ice when it came to him, but she thought this was a start. "Oh and one of you has a mess to clean up in my room, I'd actually like to sleep in my own bed again… ya know after it's cleaned and possibly swapped with yours."

"You didn't even take off the sheets?"

Lindsey cringed, "I'm sorry but those sheets have unmentionable juices from the both of you… I wasn't going near the damn thing."

Angel just shook his head, it wasn't as though he was really in a position to argue with him. Had that night not resulted in the birth of their daughter, then he could guarantee they would be having an entirely different conversation right about now. "I'll get it changed," Angel told him, rolling his eyes as he stepped around them to get to his room. He couldn't freaking believe he'd just let the sheets sit on the bed like that, he probably would end up having to buy him a new mattress now. He wasn't even sure amniotic fluid could be cleaned up, nor did he really want to research it the more he let his mind wander on the subject.

When he had done as much cleaning up in the room as he could tonight, Lindsey still made a face from the doorway. Angel rolled his eyes. "I will buy you a new damn bed tomorrow."

"Puttin' it together your own damn self, too."

"Fine! I can manage that, you just figure out what the hell you want and we can go from there alright?" he said, his voice tired.

Lindsey crossed his arms over his chest and then one ankle over the other as he leaned against the frame of the door. "Do you know what you're doin'?"

Angel sighed. "No?" He leaned his own self against Lindsey's dresser and rubbed a tired hand down his face. "Just days ago I was convinced that Buffy would never want to see me again in her life, I thought I was possibly months maybe even just weeks away from getting divorced for the second damn time. I was trying to prepare for that moment and for a life where I didn't have her... again. I thought I had lost my family, that I may not get to see my daughter - our daughter - being born and missing important moments... walking, crawling, holidays, school plays... not being there half - at least - of the time. I was as prepared for that as I could get myself to be."

"Then in blows Hurricane Buffy."

"Yeah, I guess in a way. She showed up with no fucking warning and you came rushing out of that house and quickly rushed out those words about she was in the damn house and it flipped everything on its damn head. She came here and that alone said a lot and I don't know. She was willing to grant the divorce, signed the papers and I am sure we would have figured some agreement out."

"But that's not what you want. Even after all the shit she's put you through."

Angel shrugged. "I'm not innocent on every last thing either, Lindsey.I made a good fucking number of mistakes, too, in case you have forgotten."

"So you just go back to before? Acting like nothing happened? We all hope she doesn't get some wild hair up her ass in a couple months?"

"I don't know, Linds. I can't see what the future holds. Maybe I'm just a fucking lost cause who can't get over her and will keep going back as long as she will let me. I don't know."

Lindsey shook his head, his eyes going up to pray for some help from the heavens above him. "Probably," he agreed. "But you know all I want at the end of the day is for you to be alright, right? If that is with Buffy, if that is with trying to have your little family find its way back together then I'm going to be supportive... but I also can't stand by and watch you get treated like dirt either. And sometimes that's a hard fucking balance."

"Again, drawn to punishment or whatever... I want to believe things could be different. That we start over, again, and this time have a little girl watching our every move and making us make the right choices. Or something. I don't know anymore, Linds."

Lindsey chucked as Angel trailed off. He doubted he even knew half of what he was saying, he looked rough at the moment. Nothing was going to be settled tonight anyway. "Did she like the house?" he finally asked.

"She seemed to. I mean there's nothing in it really so it's hard to imagine it I'm sure. You know she's better at all that."

"Don't act like you didn't buy that fucking place with her in mind, that you didn't walk through the entire thing picturing her in it. I ain't that stupid."

Angel shrugged again. "I didn't actually expect it, though."

"Well, I guess we will just have to see how everything plays out. We'll try and get you in there as quickly as we can and maybe you two will get your shit worked out in the meantime."

ButImBroken:

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