Title: The Beginning of a New Age

Author: Kristin Hulett

Summary: The extended Scooby Gang gets together for the holidays. When two unexpected guests arrive with a series of prophecies, the celebrations are somewhat unceremoniously halted.

Disclaimer: I don't claim to own any of the characters established on either Buffy or Angel. Those characters are all the property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, etc. However, all characters that are new to this story, the children of Buffy, Angel, Xander and Anya, Christopher Bishop, Gabriella, Victoria, Nicholas, and the representatives from the Watcher's Council, and the concept of this story are mine. In any case, nobody sue me, because it would be pointless. You wouldn't get much.

Time Period: 2020, about ten years after the end of "Immortal Miracles".

Part One

early December, 2020:

"Megan! Felicity! Time to get up!"

Buffy stood at the top of the first flight of stairs, yelling at her two daughters. She finally hears Felicity's six-year-old voice respond.

"OK, Mommy. I'm awake."

"Thank you, Lissy. Megan! If you don't get up right now, I'll have to drive you to school!"

"No, Mom!!! I can't have you take me to school! It's bad enough you're the principal."

Buffy laughed quietly at her daughter's comment, then decided to rescue Angel, who was trying to feed Jamie. Even after having two other kids to take care of, he had never gotten a hang of raising a one-year-old.

When she got into the kitchen, the first thing she saw was Jamie in his high chair banging a spoon around. Then he saw her. "Ma-ma!"

"Yes, honey. Now try to be a little quieter, so you don't drive your daddy up the wall."

She turned and looked at Angel, sitting at the kitchen table with his head in his hands. Buffy sat down next to him.

"OK. What's the problem?"

Angel looked up. "I don't know what to feed him." He looked so pathetic that Buffy had to try not to laugh.

"Well, how 'bout I make some scrambled eggs and sausages. Jamie can have some of the eggs," She got up and got the ingredients out. "Why don't you make sure our daughters are actually getting dressed." Angel gets up and goes out the door, towards the stairs.

At that moment, Megan comes rushing in, dressed but still brushing her hair. She goes to the cupboard and pulls out a Pop-Tart. She puts it in the toaster as Buffy looks at her. "I'm making some eggs if you want some."

"Sorry. I don't have time." She finishes brushing her hair right when the Pop-Tart pops out of the toaster. She grabs the Pop-Tart, her backpack and jacket, and leaves the house.

Buffy is still just standing there, halfway through making the eggs, when Felicity comes bouncing into the kitchen. She is wearing mismatched clothes and her shoes are on the wrong feet. By this time, Angel is back in the kitchen, too.

Buffy responds to Felicity's outfit. "Felicity, did you dress yourself?"

"Yes. Mommy. Megan said she was too busy to help."

"OK, how about I go up and help you choose something that matches." Then she turns to Angel. "Can you finish the sausage?"

"Sure. I guess so." By the time he finishes speaking, the other two are already gone. Angel turns to the stove as Jamie decides to get the last word in.

"Da-da!" He continues to bang the spoon on his tray.

Twenty minutes later, everyone is dressed, and sitting at the kitchen table eating breakfast. Between bites, Buffy starts a conversation.

"So, Angel. What're you going to do today?"

"Well, Nicholas asked if I could look in the "library" to make sure nothing is going to happen in the next couple weeks, and then I said I'd help Xander with the Bronze's business stuff. And at 3, I have a person coming for help in French." The "library" was in their basement, and consisted of most of Giles's books that they acquired after his death, along with a few others Angel has gotten since.

"OK, but if you do go downstairs, remember to keep an eye on Jamie. Put him in his playpen down there. I'll probably be home by 3:30. Can you try and figure out what we should have for dinner?"

"Sure."

"I want pizza." Felicity suggested.

Buffy turned to look at her daughter. "Lissy, you always want pizza. How 'bout something different?"

"'Kay!"

By this time, they are finished eating. Buffy stands up; she is dressed for work in a stylish business suit. She grabs her purse.

"Come on Felicity. Grab your jacket and school bag and I'll take you to school."

Felicity gets out of her chair and gets her stuff. She runs out to the car. Buffy follows at a slower pace, after she gives Angel a good-bye kiss. "See you later, honey."

"See you."

Buffy walks out the door to where Felicity is bouncing around in the passenger seat of her car. A few minutes later, they pull up in front of the elementary school. Felicity gets out of the car.

"Lissy, if Daddy or I aren't here to pick you up, either Uncle Xander or Aunt Anya will come to get you. OK?"

"OK, Mommy. Have fun at work."

"I'll see you this afternoon." With this, Buffy pulls out of the parking lot and heads towards the high school, while Felicity heads into her school.

Later that day, Buffy picks up her youngest daughter at school and heads to their house. On the way, they pass Megan, Michael, and some of their friends, also heading home from school. They don't try to offer them a ride since they know it will bother Megan.

Before they get onto their street, Felicity speaks. "Mommy, I need some new crayons for class tomorrow. I lost mine."

Buffy sighs. "OK, honey. But only this once. If you lose these, you're out of luck." She makes a U-turn and heads back towards the store.

About 45 minutes later, the two pull into the driveway at their house. They head to the door, and see Angel's pupil getting ready to leave. On the way out the door, the teenager says, "Hi, Mrs. Summers, Felicity."

Buffy just smiles, holding the door open for Felicity and her bag of crayons. After Felicity is inside and heads to the family room to do what little homework she had, Buffy finds herself enfolded in her husband's arms.

"Hey. How was work? Any "delinquents" today?" Angel says this last part jokingly, knowing how Snyder had thought of Buffy when she was in high school.

"Work was fine, and no. I think people respect me more than we did with Snyder. What's up here?"

"Not much. I looked to see if anything was coming according to the stuff we have downstairs; I couldn't find anything. Xander asked if we were going to show at the Bronze tonight, and Willow called."

"Oh? What'd she call for?"

"To say two things. One, she and Tara are definitely coming down for Christmas, and two, that Oz called her to say he'd come from New York for Christmas, too."

"Yeah, he was in New York right now. I forgot. But, hey, if they're all coming, why don't we invite the guys in LA to come, too, and make a big party out of everything."

"Are you sure you can handle having seven people visiting at once?"

"It could be worse. I can figure out a menu, and Willow, Tara and Anya can help me cook. And we won't have a problem with where everyone will stay. We have four guest bedrooms and a couch, and at least one person can stay at Willow's."

"OK, fine. I'll call LA." Angel leaves to go to the telephone in the kitchen.