Angel's POV
I almost broke down when I saw Buffy fall. More has happened to her in the last week than anyone should ever have to go through. And here we were, running from unknown assailants, trying to get her to safety.
With our precious baby in my sight as we ran. My child, the impossibility, very real in Faith's protective grasp, sleeping soundly through all of this and still wrapped in my shirt. Her mother was still unconscious, being held tightly in my arms. My whole world was right in front of me and I'm determined to do anything to preserve that. Anything.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
They arrived at the mansion a few moments later. Their attackers seemingly didn't follow, but they were still wearily and pushed everything against all the outside windows and doors.
"I'm going to put Keira down in her nursery and get her dressed, I'll watch over her and bring a few books with me to research the arrow for Buffy." Willow said very skittish and went off to do her task as Angel nodded his approval.
"Angel will you put Buffy down and hold her for a moment?" Giles said wanting to take the arrow out.
Angel, sensing what he was going to do growled slightly then held her front against his chest.
"Buffy if you can here me I'm going to pull this arrow out of your back on three." Giles said getting a good grip on the arrow. "One, two.." And he pulled the arrow out before he even finished saying two. She shot up in his grasp and screamed out in pain, then once again went limp.
"Oh dear lord." Giles said studying the arrow and rubbing his forehead. "They wouldn't, not to her!"
"What's happening Giles what is that and who are you talking about?" Angel nearly roared at the frustration of not knowing.
"Angel, please just go lay with Buffy in your room until I have a definite answer for you. But while I'm researching make sure you tell me everything she may do, form the slightest whimper to what color she may vomit. This is very important." Giles said still looking wearily at the arrow.
Angel turned and carried Buffy up the stairs; not happy that Giles dismissed him but non-the less knowing he would be informed soon.
"Faith, please tell Angel to call my house phone, the research I need to do is there." Faith nodded as she watched the worn man walk away. "And Faith, make sure he doesn't do anything too rash." He said then left through the doors.
"Was it just me or is the G man so worried that it's scarring you?" Xander said.
"No mate, I think Giles has an idea what that bloody arrow is and it doesn't seem to look too good for the slayer." Spike muttered
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
All through out the night Angel couldn't keep Buffy down. She would wake and scurry to the bathroom, throwing up, never allowing him to follow. But when she'd come out he could smell blood on her lips. Then she would toss and turn in her sleep murmuring to herself.
"Buffy baby you need to lay still." Angel said trying to calm her but she continued to shake.
She started to cry and whimper as the pain in her body increased, sending bolts of lightning hot pain down her back.
"Shhh, baby you are going to get better. We have a daughter now; all our dreams have finally come true. Now all you need to do is get better." He said giving a worried smile down at her. But she didn't believe him and rushed to the bathroom again.
This time he got up to just in time to watch her throw up a red liquid. Her blood.
She looked up to se him watching. "No Angel." She said trying to comfort him by waking toward him and wrapping her weak arms around him, through the bolts of pain.
"I'll get better, you go down and go eat, I'm going to try and rest again." She said giving a small smile.
"No I need to be here with y-" But he didn't have time to finish, Buffy just put her small hand up to his mouth.
"Go." She smiled and pointed to the door
He then reluctantly left her, but not before tucking her in.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Angel went down stairs to see the Scooby gang huddled around a overflowing stack of books. Even Spike seemed to be researching.
As soon as they heard him enter they all looked up and gave him a look of pity and sorrow.
"Where's Giles?" Angel asked not seeing the watcher in the group.
"He went one man research party at his house." Oz spoke up
"How's the Buffster?" Xander said looking hopeful Angel just shook his he3ad and Xander looked crushed seeing the hurt in 'Dead Boys' eyes.
"Hey whoa, when did we get all 'no hope for Buffy'?" Willow said coming win with a bottle in her hand. "No, Buffy is NOT going to leave us, she has a child now. Something she has to live for, now get back up there once you are done eating and help my best friend and your wife." Willow said half ordering half pleading.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The next few days were in the same routine, Buffy would hide away how bad she was the best she could, Angel would be forced out of the room for some reason or another and he would get another pep talk from one of the Scoobyies.
On the third day Spike came up to his surprise.
"Listen up Poof, I know what's happening and I know on some conscious level you know too." He paused and looked down. "And as much as I hate to say it you two are just made for each other, and soon you will have to make a decision, a bloody hard one but you'll still have to make it. And I just wanted to say I'm here, I'm not the best counsel but we're still family." Spike finished and just nodded at his Sire in respect, who nodded solemnly and walked off.
Angel than sat down and cried that hardest he had in over 240 years because right before his very eyes he was losing the only light he had ever had.
~ ~ ~ ~Buffy POV~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Yeah I know I'm dying and I also know that Angel still hasn't accepted it. I think it will take Giles telling him so for him to finally let go. I don't want to die, I want to watch my daughter grow up, here her first word, and watch her craw, walk, then run. I want to be there when she falls just in time to catch her. I want to be there when she fall in love and then beat the shit out of the first guy that breaks her heart. And cry with her over some mushy movie with a bowl of popcorn.
I want to finally be with Angel. I finally have him back and the Powers, the Fucking Powers, are taking it all away from me, again.
I don't want to be here when the gang gets the call that I'm going to die. I don't want the fake smiles or the lies about how I'm going to get better. But I don't want to die alone, I don't want to die without seeing my daughter another time. To kiss Angel goodbye, to hug all my friends, and to tell Giles what a great father he has been to his adoptive daughter/slayer, I want to do al these things and that's the only reason I don't take what little energy I have and run away.
I guess I'm a coward for that, but hey call me a fucking coward I don't care because this slayers card has just expired and suddenly I have a feeling I'm not afraid anymore.
Fuck, would someone please pick up that damn phone? ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The phone was ringing in the kitchen and Angel got up from his tears and made his way to answer it.
It was Giles, a very distraught just stopped crying Giles.
"Giles, no don't you tell me." Angel pleaded on the verge of breaking down again.
"Angel I'm so sorry. I suspected it from the first time I saw it. The arrow is very ancient and very rare. The Council is the only people who know of its existence." He paused. "It's meant to kill off rouge slayers under extreme circumstances, when all else has failed. The symptoms include vomiting blood, small seizures, plagued sleep and finally a death within five days." Giles was crying now.
"NO, no they can't do this. I wont let this happen, we'll just get the anti serum or toxin.." Angel rambled
"No Angel, I'm sorry there is no cure for this, we can't save her from this." Giles stuttered
Everyone was in the room now watching Angel slowly unravel before them. The Scourge of Europe was now whimpering and pleading for the life of his Slayer.
"Giles I need her, we have a child, all her dreams finally came true. I need her Giles she can't die." Angel said and dropped the phone, collapsing.
And there was Spike there to catch his Sire and letting him cry openly on his shoulder and patting his back.
Willow picked up the phone and after a few minutes she dropped to her knees. "NO, no no no no no, why? No she can't!" She said rocking back and forth on her knees crying. Oz was next to her in an instant crying too. And a moment later the scoobies sat together crying and holding onto each other for support.
Upstairs could sense their pain and heard their cries. She sat alone crying to herself, as she looked at her sleeping daughter who would never know here mother.
I almost broke down when I saw Buffy fall. More has happened to her in the last week than anyone should ever have to go through. And here we were, running from unknown assailants, trying to get her to safety.
With our precious baby in my sight as we ran. My child, the impossibility, very real in Faith's protective grasp, sleeping soundly through all of this and still wrapped in my shirt. Her mother was still unconscious, being held tightly in my arms. My whole world was right in front of me and I'm determined to do anything to preserve that. Anything.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
They arrived at the mansion a few moments later. Their attackers seemingly didn't follow, but they were still wearily and pushed everything against all the outside windows and doors.
"I'm going to put Keira down in her nursery and get her dressed, I'll watch over her and bring a few books with me to research the arrow for Buffy." Willow said very skittish and went off to do her task as Angel nodded his approval.
"Angel will you put Buffy down and hold her for a moment?" Giles said wanting to take the arrow out.
Angel, sensing what he was going to do growled slightly then held her front against his chest.
"Buffy if you can here me I'm going to pull this arrow out of your back on three." Giles said getting a good grip on the arrow. "One, two.." And he pulled the arrow out before he even finished saying two. She shot up in his grasp and screamed out in pain, then once again went limp.
"Oh dear lord." Giles said studying the arrow and rubbing his forehead. "They wouldn't, not to her!"
"What's happening Giles what is that and who are you talking about?" Angel nearly roared at the frustration of not knowing.
"Angel, please just go lay with Buffy in your room until I have a definite answer for you. But while I'm researching make sure you tell me everything she may do, form the slightest whimper to what color she may vomit. This is very important." Giles said still looking wearily at the arrow.
Angel turned and carried Buffy up the stairs; not happy that Giles dismissed him but non-the less knowing he would be informed soon.
"Faith, please tell Angel to call my house phone, the research I need to do is there." Faith nodded as she watched the worn man walk away. "And Faith, make sure he doesn't do anything too rash." He said then left through the doors.
"Was it just me or is the G man so worried that it's scarring you?" Xander said.
"No mate, I think Giles has an idea what that bloody arrow is and it doesn't seem to look too good for the slayer." Spike muttered
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
All through out the night Angel couldn't keep Buffy down. She would wake and scurry to the bathroom, throwing up, never allowing him to follow. But when she'd come out he could smell blood on her lips. Then she would toss and turn in her sleep murmuring to herself.
"Buffy baby you need to lay still." Angel said trying to calm her but she continued to shake.
She started to cry and whimper as the pain in her body increased, sending bolts of lightning hot pain down her back.
"Shhh, baby you are going to get better. We have a daughter now; all our dreams have finally come true. Now all you need to do is get better." He said giving a worried smile down at her. But she didn't believe him and rushed to the bathroom again.
This time he got up to just in time to watch her throw up a red liquid. Her blood.
She looked up to se him watching. "No Angel." She said trying to comfort him by waking toward him and wrapping her weak arms around him, through the bolts of pain.
"I'll get better, you go down and go eat, I'm going to try and rest again." She said giving a small smile.
"No I need to be here with y-" But he didn't have time to finish, Buffy just put her small hand up to his mouth.
"Go." She smiled and pointed to the door
He then reluctantly left her, but not before tucking her in.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Angel went down stairs to see the Scooby gang huddled around a overflowing stack of books. Even Spike seemed to be researching.
As soon as they heard him enter they all looked up and gave him a look of pity and sorrow.
"Where's Giles?" Angel asked not seeing the watcher in the group.
"He went one man research party at his house." Oz spoke up
"How's the Buffster?" Xander said looking hopeful Angel just shook his he3ad and Xander looked crushed seeing the hurt in 'Dead Boys' eyes.
"Hey whoa, when did we get all 'no hope for Buffy'?" Willow said coming win with a bottle in her hand. "No, Buffy is NOT going to leave us, she has a child now. Something she has to live for, now get back up there once you are done eating and help my best friend and your wife." Willow said half ordering half pleading.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The next few days were in the same routine, Buffy would hide away how bad she was the best she could, Angel would be forced out of the room for some reason or another and he would get another pep talk from one of the Scoobyies.
On the third day Spike came up to his surprise.
"Listen up Poof, I know what's happening and I know on some conscious level you know too." He paused and looked down. "And as much as I hate to say it you two are just made for each other, and soon you will have to make a decision, a bloody hard one but you'll still have to make it. And I just wanted to say I'm here, I'm not the best counsel but we're still family." Spike finished and just nodded at his Sire in respect, who nodded solemnly and walked off.
Angel than sat down and cried that hardest he had in over 240 years because right before his very eyes he was losing the only light he had ever had.
~ ~ ~ ~Buffy POV~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Yeah I know I'm dying and I also know that Angel still hasn't accepted it. I think it will take Giles telling him so for him to finally let go. I don't want to die, I want to watch my daughter grow up, here her first word, and watch her craw, walk, then run. I want to be there when she falls just in time to catch her. I want to be there when she fall in love and then beat the shit out of the first guy that breaks her heart. And cry with her over some mushy movie with a bowl of popcorn.
I want to finally be with Angel. I finally have him back and the Powers, the Fucking Powers, are taking it all away from me, again.
I don't want to be here when the gang gets the call that I'm going to die. I don't want the fake smiles or the lies about how I'm going to get better. But I don't want to die alone, I don't want to die without seeing my daughter another time. To kiss Angel goodbye, to hug all my friends, and to tell Giles what a great father he has been to his adoptive daughter/slayer, I want to do al these things and that's the only reason I don't take what little energy I have and run away.
I guess I'm a coward for that, but hey call me a fucking coward I don't care because this slayers card has just expired and suddenly I have a feeling I'm not afraid anymore.
Fuck, would someone please pick up that damn phone? ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The phone was ringing in the kitchen and Angel got up from his tears and made his way to answer it.
It was Giles, a very distraught just stopped crying Giles.
"Giles, no don't you tell me." Angel pleaded on the verge of breaking down again.
"Angel I'm so sorry. I suspected it from the first time I saw it. The arrow is very ancient and very rare. The Council is the only people who know of its existence." He paused. "It's meant to kill off rouge slayers under extreme circumstances, when all else has failed. The symptoms include vomiting blood, small seizures, plagued sleep and finally a death within five days." Giles was crying now.
"NO, no they can't do this. I wont let this happen, we'll just get the anti serum or toxin.." Angel rambled
"No Angel, I'm sorry there is no cure for this, we can't save her from this." Giles stuttered
Everyone was in the room now watching Angel slowly unravel before them. The Scourge of Europe was now whimpering and pleading for the life of his Slayer.
"Giles I need her, we have a child, all her dreams finally came true. I need her Giles she can't die." Angel said and dropped the phone, collapsing.
And there was Spike there to catch his Sire and letting him cry openly on his shoulder and patting his back.
Willow picked up the phone and after a few minutes she dropped to her knees. "NO, no no no no no, why? No she can't!" She said rocking back and forth on her knees crying. Oz was next to her in an instant crying too. And a moment later the scoobies sat together crying and holding onto each other for support.
Upstairs could sense their pain and heard their cries. She sat alone crying to herself, as she looked at her sleeping daughter who would never know here mother.