Days Later

Harris Residence

Living Room

Buffy and Xander sat nervously on the rugged floor watching their three-year-old play with the toys spread out around him.

Oblivious to his parent's awkward apprehension, Josh happily rolled the truck toy over the rug accompanied by a series of 'truck' noises.

With a thought in his imaginary world, Josh paused his game and crawled across the rug to Xander, plucking the mini tractor from his much larger hands and continued to play.

Xander kept a firm eye on his son, as he played and a thousand thoughts raced through his mind.

A distraction came when Buffy's hand touched his shoulder gently.

He glanced over to her with a short nod.

"Hey, Josh-y," Xander began, "can, uh—Mommy and I need to tell you something."

Josh kept playing with the toys, ignoring his father.

"Josh, honey, please stop playing and listen," Buffy gently ordered the three-year-old.

Listening to his mother, Josh paused his wild imaginary adventure and looked at his parents.

"We have good news," a small smile tugged at Xander's mouth. "A baby will be joining our family soon."

Sceptically eyeing his father, Josh asked, "A baby?"

With a nod, Xander smirked, "Yes, a baby."

"When?" Josh asked looking back down at his toys.

Xander reached over for Buffy's hand and brought into his lap, "In about nine months."

"How long that?" Josh rolled the toy truck over the rug slowly inching back into his game.

Sharing a smile with Buffy, Xander replied, "Nine months."

"That's a while from now," Buffy added.

Josh stopped playing for a moment, chewing on his bottom lip then looked at Buffy and Xander, "How baby getting here-a?" The toddler asked slowly. "Truck?" He held up his truck.

Reaching to run her fingers through Josh's hair, the exact way she ran her fingers through Xander's, Buffy softly smiled at her son's perfect innocence. "The baby is growing in my belly."

Josh's green eyes widened bewildered by the 'pregnancy concept'.

"Was I in your belly, Mommy?"

Buffy nodded her head with a tugging smile, "You sure were. And you did not want to come out." She lightly tapped his little pert nose.

"Why?"

"It's warm and comfy."

"Like my bed!" Josh grinned.

Buffy nodded cupping Josh's cheek and lovingly brushed the pads of her thumbs under his big, bright green eyes.

"So what this baby means, Josh," Josh's grinning attention turned from Buffy to his father, "is that you're going to be a big brother."

"Big broter?" Josh's brows pinched together.

"Mm-hm, being a big brother is a very special job." Xander reached out, wrapping his hands around Josh's sides. Josh busted out into laughter as he was being pulled into Xander's arms. Josh curled himself in his father's lap.

Holding his three-year-old like a baby, Xander smiled, "You have'ta hold your little brother or sister like a baby." He teased and squeezed his arms that were around Josh until he laughed. "Babies likes to be tickled under their chin-y-chin," Xander tickled his fingers under Josh's chin.

Buffy watched her son laugh hard and wrestled in Xander's arms.

"You know what babies like to say?" Xander asked.

"What?" Josh giggled with anticipation, ready for his father's attack.

Suddenly, Xander's hands began to tickle Josh, beginning at his little stomach and moved all around his short body. "They say, 'Goo-goo! Ga-ga!' You speak baby, right?"

Wriggling in Xander's arms, Josh laughed until his stomach hurt and he couldn't stop.

Sitting beside her two laughing boys, Buffy silently thought back to a time she felt as happy as she felt at this exact moment; Marrying Xander adjacent to the rubble canyon of what used to be the town of Sunnydale. Holding her son for the very first time when he was born. The laughter she shared with Xander as they failed to capture Josh's first steps on camera. Listening to Xander and Josh talk about the 'comic book of the night' that they were reading before bed. Telling Xander that she was pregnant.

These small moments of happiness were not few and far in-between as it had been before. She had a chance to live a life and still fulfil her Slayer destiny—though she was not on the battle front lines as often anymore.

In only a matter of months, Buffy's happiness would grow and she'd have to rethink the small list of her 'happiest moments'.

Breaking out from her overthinking mind, Buffy joined in on the tickle fight and easily found Josh's most ticklish spots that were at his sides.

5 Months Later

N.W.C Academy

Buffy's Office

Walking into the main office, Buffy frowned catching the uneasy looks on Andrew and other staff members faces that were standing around the office. Buffy frowned and silently demanded one of them to tell her what was going on, but they quickly disbursed. Andrew gulped and retreated back to his computer, hiding behind it from Buffy's withering glare.

Buffy squinted her firm narrow glare on her assistant. What are you hiding?

Pushing away her suspicions, Buffy entered her office and froze mid-step.

His back faced her as he eyed the hanging family and friends framed photographs and the many drawings made by her three-year-old on the wall.

Buffy couldn't help her eyes as they travelled over his tall frame and traced the perfect even line of his board shoulders. He looks the same… Still so handsome. She cursed the thought as soon as she thunk it. A swirl of butterflies fluttered in her belly or it was the baby kicking her back into reality, Buffy wasn't sure.

"Angel?"

Angel turned from the wall of framed pictures to face her. His dark eyes immediately went to her growing belly and swallowed with a bit of sadness.

Her eyes tossed over his face. He was as handsome as ever, though she reminded herself, that Angel could never change because of being a vampire, he'd always look the same. His hair was a bit longer and his dark chocolate brown eyes Buffy remembered drowning in looked tired. After the battle that had happened in Los Angeles two years earlier, Buffy wasn't surprised he was still feeling the effects from it.

"Angel?"

He lifted his eyes from her rounding belly to her face and knew if his heart could beat it would've stopped. Always so beautiful. A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth but it quickly fell. He was not here to be social. It hurt too much to be here and staring at her, knowing that she's well moved on from him. This is what you wanted for her. Angel reminded himself.

"What are you doing here?"

"How have you been?" He immediately wanted to slap himself after just telling himself that he wasn't here to be social.

Her eyes rose high up her forehead, surprised that he had asked that question too, "Pregnant?—You?"

"I'm actually here for a reason."

Duh, Buffy said mentally but if being a mother of a three-year-old has taught anything, it was patience. "And the reason is…?"

"Back in the 1950s, there was an archaeological dig in the ancient city of Hatra, Iraq. The diggers found a statue of Pazuzu. There was an amulet that belonged to Pazuzu that was stolen and it unleashed the demon. It took nearly a decade for the demon to resurface. It's most notable account is the possession of a little girl in the early 70s." Angel watched as Buffy moved across the large office and sat down behind her desk and gestured for him to sit down.

"What happened next?"

"A Catholic Priest saved the girl by putting the demon in jeopardy…"

With a slow nod of realisation, Buffy knew where this was going, "… And the demon jumped into the closest body. Did the demon kill this Priest?"

Angel nodded.

"And what?—You wanna do what we did with that Eyghon demon-thing?"

"A bit more than that," Angel stated. "The vessel died but not the demon. The demon resurfaced and possessed another. She's a young woman from Connecticut."

"At least this demon has a type," she mumbled sarcastically.

Suppressing his smirk, Angel continued, "I've already contacted the Vatican and they've sent someone—a Priest to Connecticut buying us time. I found the amulet. I want to destroy Pazuzu. But I need help."

Having heard more than enough, Buffy didn't need the backstory, she was already going to give Angel whatever he wanted. Even after all this time, she kept a close eye on him. Though they wouldn't ever be together as they once were, she'd always love him and she would always be there to help him.

"Whatever you want, it's yours."

Angel dropped his eyes to her round belly once more but then quickly brought them back to her face. "A few Slayers, a Witch, a Watcher or two would be good. Since Wesley…" he couldn't bring himself to say, 'died'.

Buffy understood and nodded her head, "You need reinforcements. I'll have Faith assemble you a team—which would also include Faith," she offered him a smile.

Angel returned her small smile.

"I mean, I would be on the front lines with you but…" she pointed to her pregnant belly, "… I'm a little out of commission."

"I can see that," his dark eyes dropped back to her belly. "How, uh, far along are you?"

Buffy sat a little straighter in her chair and said, "Five months. To be honest, I really don't like the pregnancy part of being pregnant. My mood is up and down, I have to run to the bathroom every ten minutes, I get these weird food cravings," Angel chuckled, "and I have to sit on the sidelines—which I hate." Buffy looked at him, "But after the pregnancy part... that's the good stuff. Holding your baby for the very first time..." her mind trailed off without thoughts of holding her newborn in the months to come. She felt Angel's eyes watching her carefully, she shifted uncomfortably and said, "You know what's that like w-when Connor was..."

"Yeah," Angel nodded, "I remember." They still hadn't fully talked about Connor yet. He knew she knew back in Sunnydale; word had gotten to her fast. In honesty, Angel was terrified to have that conversation with her. He didn't have a clue of how to explain himself and how he was able to have a baby let alone have a baby with someone he didn't love in the way he loves her. But now, it didn't seem to matter. Buffy had moved on. She married someone else. She's the mother of someone else's children.

Angel swallowed his heartbreak and said, "You look happy," he offered her a small smile.

"I am."

They silently stared at each other. No words needed to be said. No matter where they were in their lives or how far they've moved on since their torrid and passionate relationship, they still looked at each other in the exact same way.

The office door burst open, immediately breaking Buffy's trance from Angel's hypnotic brown eyes.

Her little torpedo son sprinted into the office carrying the backpack that seemed to swallow him on his back.

"Mommy! Mommy! Look what I draw-ed!" Josh exclaimed holding a crinkled piece of paper in his little hand, grinning wildly.

Angel watched the small boy rush straight to Buffy's side holding out the paper of his childish drawing. His eyes went to Buffy, chiselling the look of her warm smile into his membrane as she responded to her child.

Buffy pushed Josh's dark shaggy hair from his forehead and brought him into her arms.

Angel couldn't help but see so much of Buffy in the little boy. Josh had her eyes. They were so bright with life and they shared the same shade of green. He also has her little-pointed chin.

Josh climbed up onto Buffy's lap and spread out his drawing over the papers already scattered on to the tabletop.

Angel listened as the toddler explained the whimsical characters in his drawing.

Josh then looked up from the drawing and at Angel, then asked, "Mommy, who's that?" He pointed a little finger at Angel and turned his eyes to Buffy.

"That's Angel," she said, running her fingers through Josh's dark hair. "Angel is one of Mommy's good friends," Buffy explained simply.

Not thinking any more of it, Josh resumed his grand explanation of his drawing to his mother and his mother's 'good friend'.

Xander entered the office and stalled at the door when his eye fell on the familiar broad-shouldered, dark-haired man sitting in a chair in front of his wife and son.

A decade-old sting of dislike and jealousy pierced his heart.

Xander knew he had nothing to worry about. He won. He got the girl. She chose him. She loves him. She's married to him. They're having another baby for crying out loud. He and Buffy were in a great place in their marriage and well… just in general.

Pushing himself from his paralysed state, Xander walked over to the desk but kept a glaring eye on Angel.

"Angel," Xander said, in a low voice, Buffy recognised.

She could see the resurfaced feelings of hatred for her ex-boyfriend in Xander's eye and in his body. His clenching fists had also been a strong indication that his dislike and jealousy still swirled inside him, despite everything that's happened since.

Angel smirked, rising from the chair to stand nose to nose with Xander. "Xander," he said.

"What do you want?" Xander scowled.

Angel's smirk grew watching the blazing fire in Xander's dark eye.

"Oh puh-lease," Buffy rolled her eyes at the display of testosterone between her ex and her husband. "Angel needed a team assembled to take out a demon. That's all. Now will you two knock it off, my son is trying to tell me about the 'Adventures of the Puppy Who Lost His Way.'" She said through gritted teeth and glared at the two men.

Xander and Angel recoiled at the scowling Slayer. Though she was five months pregnant, Buffy was still a Slayer and she could most certainly kick their asses without a breaking a nail.

"I should get going." Angel looked at Buffy and gave her his famous tugging smile that had always melted her knees. "I'll be in touch about those reinforcements." He slowly backed away from the small family and headed out the door.

Xander frowned at the interaction and watched Angel leave. Buffy eyed her husband closely and read his thoughts.

Without a word uttered, Xander followed Angel out of the office, leaving Buffy worried and shaking her head, Oh boy.


Following Angel out into the hallway, Xander almost jumped back when Angel whirled around to face him.

"I'm leaving," Angel said and started to walk away again.

"She'll always love you, you know," Xander's words made the vampire pause in his tracks. "I don't get it. I don't know what it is about you…" he trailed off not wanting to dig through the details of what it was that made Buffy still love Angel. "But Buffy… will always keep a place for you in her heart. I hate it." He smirked with good humour.

Angel faced the dark haired man and listened.

"But you're apart of her. And I love her so… I guess I love that part too—even though I can't stand it." He knew his logic was a little off but he was trying to take the high road.

"She chose you, Xander," Angel told him suddenly. "I may have a place in her heart but you get to hold her heart. You get to love her."

Seeing this as an unspoken truce, Xander swallowed and gave a short nod. He was well aware that he had a better deal. Buffy chose him. Buffy loves him. Buffy is carrying his child. They have a family and they are happy.

Backing away, Xander slowly turned away from the vampire when Angel said, "Thank you… Xander." Forcing him to pause.

Xander looked back at Angel unable to hide his surprise.

"What you've given Buffy—What you continually give her is more—" he cut himself off refinding it within himself to say what he needed to say, "—It's everything I've always wanted for her. You've given her everything I've always wanted to give her. She's happy with you."

Xander felt humbled as he stood across the hall from Buffy's ex-boyfriend, who at one point in her life, she loved so much.

"Stay safe, Angel." He found himself saying and genuinely meaning it.

Angel watched Xander turn away again, "Oh and Josh…"

Xander paused and turned back to Angel waiting for him to finish his sentence, "Yeah?" He felt protective over his son.

"He looks exactly like Buffy," he smirked.

Xander returned his smirk and said, "That's good, 'cause she's way prettier than me."

With a faint smile, Angel walked away down the hallway, leaving Xander in his wake.

Xander turned back into the main office and stepped into Buffy's office.

Buffy watched him carefully, running her eyes over his face and body for signs of a fight. But he appeared to be his healthy handsome self.

Moving around the desk, Xander perched himself partially on the edge of the table top. He looked down to the new drawing Josh was creating with one of Buffy's pens. He lifted his eye to Buffy and gave her a small smile, taking her hand, "You make me happy."

Still wondering the conversation that her husband had with her ex, Buffy pushed those thoughts away and gave him her famous half-smile and said, "Right back atcha, babe."

3 Months Later

Harris Residence

Master Bedroom

Sitting on the edge of the bed anxiously, Xander's knee bounced.

Willow and Tara had taken Josh out for the night letting him sleep over her large apartment along with Dawn, who was visiting from University. Faith had promised to stop by to see her favourite 'nephew'.

It wasn't often that Buffy and Xander were given any real alone time. They decided to celebrate their wedding anniversary a little early because any day now Buffy would go into labour.

"Are you ready?" Buffy's uncertain voice came from behind the bathroom door.

Running a hand through his hair, Xander couldn't wait anymore. He sat stark naked on the bed, his manhood sticking straight up ready for some 'Buffy-lovin''. He grinned with anticipation, "More than ready."

"Honey, this is a bad idea," her voice was muffled.

"No-no-no-no, it's not. Come on out and lemme see my gorgeous Bufflicious wife." He sat up with eagerness when the bathroom door cracked open.

His eye ran over her and he licked his lips as she stepped out. One of Buffy's expensive lacy bra was worn on the outside of her tank top that was slightly too small to contain her outrageously pregnant belly. She also wore a pair of grey sweatpants. And Xander found her gorgeous and was desperate for her.

"I had to put the lingerie on top of my clothes," Buffy said with a small pout of defeat.

"I can see that." He corked a lopsided smile.

"This isn't great, can't we just—"

Xander stood up slightly, reaching out for her hand and pulled her toward him. Buffy sat across his lap, holding her hands around his neck.

"No, we can't just. I wanna be with my wife—My beautiful pregnant wife. I want some Buffy-lovin'," he boyishly smiled and ran his hand over her large stomach. "C'mon, Buf, Josh is with his aunts, we finally have the house to ourselves, Hellmouth is quiet so we should celebrate!" His dark brown eye danced around her face in awe. "My God, you're pretty." He whispered as he pushed a blonde strand off of her forehead.

"Even when I look like a whale?"

Cupping her cheek, Xander softly smiled, "Tell me you love me."

Nuzzling her nose against his, Buffy opened her eyes and said, "I love you more than crunchy peanut butter."

Xander's eye widened, "Wow, that much? Do you know how much I love you?"

Holding him just a little bit tighter, Buffy pressed her forehead against his, "Tell me."

"I love every part of you, more and more every single day—even the parts that annoy the hell outta me." He said as he twirled the ends of her long blonde hair around his finger. "I love you more than anything in the world. You were my first love and you'll be my last love. You, Buffy Anne Summers hyphen Harris are the very best thing to ever happen to me." He kissed her gently then continued, "I love you more than Spiderman and the Avengers and Batman and the Justice League, and Star Wars."

Teary-eyed, Buffy smiled softly, "You love me that much?"

"I know, it's big." He inched closer to her mouth and kissed her.

His hand wandered from her hip to her breast. He smiled into their kiss at the already unfastened bra hanging on her shoulders.

Moaning into the kiss, Buffy pulled her head back and narrowly eyed him, "Oh, honey, there's no way."

"I want you, my wife, in any state." He took her hand and brought to his cock that was begging for her attention.

Releasing a deep breath, Buffy wrapped her small hand around the shaft of his cock, giving it long strokes. She watched his face as it told her everything she needed to know whether he liked it or not. His eye was closed, thoroughly enjoying her attention.

She was not in the mood to suck him dry as she would normally be, plus, she couldn't really bend very well. Nor was she in the mood to have his cock inside her. She felt uncomfortable and hot. What she really wanted to do was take a nap—possibly run to the bathroom again then take a nap.

"Sweetie, can't we just spend our only night alone laying in bed watching that house flipping show you like so much?"

"But…" his breath was jagged in his chest as she continuously stroked him, "… your hand is… and it's our pre-anniversary…" his words died on his lips as he captured her mouth, needing her kiss desperately.

He laid back on the bed with Buffy straddling his waist on top of him. His hands roamed around her back to her thighs than around her butt.

The head of his cock poked her centre against the fabric of her sweatpants. It was then he felt something very wet—and it wasn't the aroused sort of wet. Buffy stopped kissing him and opened her eyes widely.

"Did your…?" he began to ask.

"Yes,"

Staring at her with disbelief, Xander let out a breath, "Man, I am good."

Cleveland General Hospital

Maternity Ward

Delivery Room

Xander couldn't believe that he was standing right here again at her bedside, whispering words of love into her ear as she gave birth, three years later.

He held Buffy's hand and mentally begged for her not to crush his bones.

His mouth pressed against her damp hair coaching her through the contraction, "Deep breaths, Buf. There you go." He told her. "Keep going. It's almost over…" Xander gritted his teeth as she squeezed his hand when she pushed again.

When the contraction was over, Buffy let out a breath and looked at her husband, "Did you call Willow?"

"They're already here," Xander said, wiping away the sweat from her forehead.

"Is Josh—"

"—Josh is fine. Dawnie is reading to him at last check. Everyone is fine and very excited." He told her gently.

"What about—"

"—Giles took the earliest flight. He'll be here tomorrow." He finished her thought. "Anything else?"

Buffy nodded and looked at him feeling another contraction coming. "Honey, I'm sorry for everything I say in the next thirty seconds. I mean none of it."

He chuckled, "You'll mean some of it."

Despite the pain, Buffy tossed him a small smile, "Very little of it."

"Okay, Buffy," the doctor glanced up at Buffy with a small smile. "Are you ready to have this baby?"

"If I said, 'no' would that change anything?" Buffy asked.

Smiling, the doctor shook her head and said, "No. Big push in 3… 2… 1…"

Sometime Later

Barging into the delivery room, Josh struggled to climb onto the bed. Xander stepped around the bed to help his son.

Josh carefully crawled over to Buffy's side and rested his cheek on her shoulder as she held the newborn baby girl.

Willow, Tara, Dawn, and Faith shuffled in to see the newest addition to the Harris family.

"I skipped out on a guy with a motorcycle to see my new…" Faith looked at Buffy to finish the sentence.

"Niece," Buffy smiled never removing her gaze from the sleeping infant, nestled in a blanket settled comfortably in her mother's arms.

"She's so little." Dawn cooed. "Are they always so little?"

Xander chuckled, "Yeah," he ran a hand through Buffy's blonde hair.

"Mommy," Josh peered over Buffy's shoulder to look at his new little sister, "she's funny looking." He giggled.

For the first time, Buffy broke her eye contact with the infant and looked at her son with a small smile of amusement.

"Like a wrinkly old grandpaw." He teased.

Rolling her eyes, Buffy kissed the boys forehead, "Do you remember when you were this little?"

Josh shook his head with wide eyes trying to imagine himself that little.

"You were," Buffy told him matter-of-factly. "You were so little, you fit into my arms just like this. Now look at you," she smiled tenderly. "You're growing like a weed."

Josh's green eyes grew wide, "Like a weed-y?"

Buffy nodded with a light laugh, "My big little boy."

"Her hair is so light," Willow said. "You think she'll be blonde like you or take after daddy over there." She gestured over towards Xander with her thumb.

Xander leant forward, brushing his mouth over his new daughter's soft head. "I think she'll look just like her mommy." He mumbled.

Willow watched the interaction between her oldest friend and his new daughter. She sometimes had to stop in her tracks and remind herself that she and Xander weren't six years old anymore nor were they those dorky outsiders in High School. He was married with two children. Xander has children. Willow smiled to herself with disbelief. My goofy best friend has two kids… He's a father of two… He's a father. She watched him as he stared at his new daughter with amazement. Fatherhood looks good on him.

Reading her thoughts, Tara took her hand and rested her chin over Willow's shoulder. With a small smile, Willow brought Tara's hand to her mouth, brushing her lips against the diamond engagement ring that sat on her finger.

Xander took the infants little hand and felt his heart pound when her tiny hand wrapped around the tip of his finger. He leaned a bit closer to her and began to sing:

"Let me be there in your morning,

Let me be there in your night,

Let me change whatever's wrong and make it right,

Let me take you through that wonderland that only two can share,

All I ask of you is let me be there,"

Josh looked at his father brightly with a grin, "Mommy's sowng!" He laid his head back over Buffy's shoulder. "I like that sowng."

Dawn wiped the tear from her eye moved by her sister's happiness. For everything Buffy has been through, Dawn was more than ecstatic that her sister found a sense of normal. A normal she's craved ever since she was called as the next Slayer.

Buffy pressed her lips against Josh's dark hair with a loving smile listening to her husband whisper-sing the song her mother used to sing to her as a child.


Song Used: "Let Me Be There" by Olivia Newton-John 1973