2011
Sunnydale, California
Downtown: Couples Therapy Office: Session 8
Shuffling the stack of index cards on her lap, Cordelia smirked, eager to begin the session.
Buffy and Angel stared at the therapist, not at all feeling at ease about the look of enjoyment on Cordelia's face.
"Let's play a game." Cordelia said, holding up the index cards. "I have cards here and you two are just going to ask each other questions. That's it. That's the game. Here's a stack for you." She cut the deck and passed Buffy a set of index cards. "And for you." Cordelia handed Angel the other half. "So… begin."
Angel raised a brow at the therapist, finding this exercise ridiculous and juvenile.
The smile on Cordelia's face did not waver as she silently challenged Angel to play her game.
Clearing her throat, Buffy read over the index card. "When you were a child what did you want to be when you grew up?" She lifted her eyes to Angel seated across the couch from her.
Deadpan, Angel looked at Buffy for a minute then shifted his gaze to Cordelia to complain about the lunacy of this exercise. "What's the point of this?"
"The point is to enhance your connection and share intimate and meaningful details with one another, improving your bond and building your relationship foundation—Now answer." Cordelia encouraged.
Angel leaned his elbow on the arm of the couch, holding his head. "But you said our 'foundation' was solid."
Cordelia's smirk dropped slowly, becoming aggravated by Angel's reluctance to play the game. "Just ask the questions, Angel."
"Doctor—"
"Not a doctor." Cordelia said. "Just ask the questions… please." She wore a tight smile, which dared Angel to question her methods again.
Clenching his jaw to stop him from complaining, Angel looked down at the index card in his hands. There were about a million other things he would rather be doing than this. "If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be and why?" He finally asked.
Buffy shrugged. "A tropical beach."
"Why?" Angel heavily sighed, bored and irritated by this entire thing.
Quiet for a moment, Buffy thought of a reason why a topical beach. Topical beaches were beautiful, relaxing, sunny, and far, far away from here. "It's quiet."
Angel's eyes snapped to Buffy's face noticing the despair in her voice.
"What's your favourite song and why?" She asked. A small smile began to tug at her lips, knowing his answer.
Hesitantly, Angel cleared his throat. "Um… Let It Be by the Beatles."
Smirking with amusement, Buffy shook her head. "No, it's not. This is the game of truth, honey. You gotta be truthful." There was a playfulness in Buffy's voice that had been absent for years.
Rolling his eyes, Angel frowned. "I am being truthful."
Buffy looked at him knowingly.
Entertained by the interaction, Cordelia couldn't help but wanting to know the answer to Angel's favourite song. By his flushed cheeks of embarrassment, Cordelia knew the answer would be ridiculous and surprising.
"Fine." Angel scoffed. "My favourite song is… Barry Manilow's Mandy." He sunk into the corner of the couch.
"And why is that?" Buffy asked, the small smile on her face widening.
"Because…" Angel hesitated. "Because it's pretty." He glared at Buffy and Cordelia, laughing at him. "It's not funny." He grumbled.
Buffy shook her head, trying very hard to suppress her laughter. "No, no, of course, not. It's really a lovely song."
"Thank you." Angel smirked.
The couple went quiet for a minute, their eyes lingering on each other re-discovering that familiar spark between them.
"What is your favourite childhood memory?" Angel asked.
Buffy wore a pensive look on her face. "Every year on my birthday, my father and I would go to the ice show. It was just the two of us."
"Do you still do this with your father?" Cordelia held her chin between her thumb and index finger, very intrigued.
"Um, no. I haven't seen or spoken to my father since my parents divorced a long time ago. Ahem." Buffy shifted, feeling increasingly uncomfortable. She turned her eyes to Angel.
Angel knew how much she hated talking about her broken relationship with her father. Hank Summers was not spared from Angel's hatred. He hadn't even called Buffy after Katie's death. As far as he knew, Hank was dead to them and if he ever decided to unexpectedly show up, wanting to be back in Buffy's life, Angel would certainly beat the living daylights out of Mr Summers for the years cold treatment towards his wife.
Buffy didn't want to dwell on the subject of her absent father any longer and moved the game along. "Um, what did you first notice about me?"
For a long time, Angel looked at Buffy. He memorised her features and felt that familiar thumping beat of his heart. So beautiful, it was hard to determine what he had first noticed about her. "Your eyes. I've always loved your eyes. The second thing I noticed was your smile."
Blushing, Buffy sheepishly turned her head away. "There was no follow-up question."
There was a flirtation in her voice that made Angel chuckle. He lowered his eyes to the next index card in his hands. "Describe the best day of your life."
"Holding Katie in my arms for the first time." She remembered that day as if it were yesterday. For six hours Buffy had been in labour. Their daughter took her sweet ol' time to be finally delivered. When Katie's wailing cries hit her ears, Buffy realised that it was real. She was a mother. "Describe the worst day of your life." Her heart sank, instantly know the answer.
"Burying her in the ground." Angel answered, tossing the index cards on the coffee table, no longer interested in playing the game.
The laughing enjoyment in the room abruptly evaporated remembering the tragic reason why they were there in the first place.
Gone was the playful smile on Buffy's face. She turned her eyes towards the window, biting her bottom lip to force herself from crying.
Angel rubbed his chin, feeling that rise of anger. He looked at Cordelia waiting for some sort of counselling piece of advice, but even she seemed suddenly jolted back to reality.
2004
Los Angeles, California
Wolfram & Hart LLP
Exhaling a deep breath, Buffy walked across the chaotic ground floor of bustling lawyers swiftly moving past the blonde as she headed towards the elevator.
Nervously, Buffy twisted the ring around her finger. A few lawyers known to her nodded their heads in her direction but she hadn't noticed. Her mind too preoccupied with the overwhelming news she had just received.
At the elevators, a bellhop greeted Buffy with a smile. "Hello, Mrs O'Connor. This is a surprise." He said, always having liked the CEO's grandson's wife. Unlike many of the spouses that visited Wolfram & Hart, Buffy was always friendly and down to earth.
The bellhop frowned noticing the weary look on Buffy's face. She hadn't said a word as she would have normally. He lowered his head and closed the gate of the lift.
Buffy stood in the back corner of the elevator. Her eyes gazing down at the outfit she was wearing. She suddenly wished she had changed into something less casual and black. Buffy smoothed out the invisible wrinkle of her black v-neck long sleeve shirt, black pants, and boots. She wished she had worn something more colourful.
Telling your husband that you're pregnant should involve a colourful outfit.
Ding!
Buffy pushed the pang of regret for her attire and stepped out of the elevator.
Heading down the long hallway, Buffy tried to sort out what she was going to say to her husband. They hadn't discussed children at all. The idea of procreation seemed so, so far into the future.
They had only been married for two years. Buffy and Angel were still in their honeymoon phase and renovating their newly bought mansion up on the hill in Sunnydale. It was an old piece of property that Angel had instantly fallen in love with. Buffy didn't have the heart to share her true opinions on the dreary looking mansion, it made him so happy.
Standing outside Angel's office door, Buffy inhaled a deep breath, staring at the wooden door.
"Are you gonna go in?" Harmony, Angel's secretary asked. She held her chin in her hand, watching Buffy with bored interest.
"I will. I just…" Buffy stammered, "... need a minute." She swallowed, gathering all of her courage to raise her fist and knock on the door.
"Buffy?"
Whirling around, Buffy saw Angel's grandfather Fiedhelm O'Connor standing on the other end of the hallway. He was an old man in his mid-seventies, but by his handsome and distinguished features one would never know. Dressed in an expensive suit the Irish native smiled at his granddaughter-in-law.
"T'is is a surprise. Is Angelus expectin' ye?" His Irish accent is thick and undoubtedly charming.
"Um, no." Buffy nervously smiled. "I-I, um, need to talk to him right away. I mean, it can wait. It's no problem. I know I'm coming here unexpectedly and with no appointment and—"
Fiedhelm smiled at the rambling young woman. He knew Buffy well enough to figure out that she was dreadfully nervous about something. "Okay, simmer down, lass. Ye don't need an appointment to see yer husband, love."
"I feel like that's an unwritten rule."
"It is." Fiedhelm's smile widened. "But only for t'a spouses t'at are insufferable. Ye, my dear Buffy, are a dream."
Buffy exhaled a breath, feeling a bit more relaxed.
When she first met Fiedhelm O'Connor, they had written each other off quickly. Buffy thought of the man as overbearing, indescribably narcissistic, insufferably arrogant, and a megalomaniac.
In turn, Fiedhelm thought Buffy was a flighty gold-digger with no direction. He soon found that she was a fearless, sassy, and intelligent young woman that loved his grandsome dearly.
He had never seen two people at their young age genuinely and passionately love each other so much. Fiedhelm was actually quite jealous, knowing that their love was once in a lifetime.
Cocking his head to the side, Fiedhelm eyed the blonde suspiciously. He noticed that her arms were self consciously covering her flat stomach.
A slow smile crept across the old man's mouth. "What are ye waitin' for, lass. Go in t'ere and tell t'a boy t'a good news."
Buffy's eyes widened.
"Ye t'ink I wouldn't know?" Fiedhelm smiled, wrapping his arms around the petite woman. "Congratulations, Buffy." He whispered into her ear.
Buffy relaxed and hugged her husband's grandfather.
"Go on." He urged her forward.
Inhaling a deep breath, Buffy faced the office door. She chewed on her bottom lip, unable to raise her fist and knock on the door.
Smiling, Fiedhelm reached around the blonde and twisted the office door open. With hand touched her lower back and pushed her inside the office.
Angel's Office
The office was enormous compared to hers at the gallery. Angel had the perfect view of Los Angeles. Near the large windows was a light brown leather couch.
Buffy looked at Angel sitting intimidatingly behind a long mahogany desk.
"Hi." Buffy finally said, trying not to sound so nervous but it was impossible.
The sound of Buffy's voice snapped Angel's attention from the paperwork laid in front of him. He picked up his head and looked across the office at her. The look of surprise on his face was comical. "Buffy?"
Angel's deep velvety voice whispering her name zapped a cold tingle straight down her spine.
"Is everything okay?" He asked, stepping around the desk. "Did we have lunch plans? Did I miss them?" Angel began to apologise for losing track of time.
After a moment, Buffy recovered from her temporary stupor and shook her head. "No, we didn't have any plans. Um… I, uh, hope this is okay? Maybe I should've called." Nervously, Buffy tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear.
Angel smiled. "Buffy, you don't need to call." He said, reaching out to take her hand at her side. "In fact," he pulled her closer into his front, "I can't stop thinking about you." He dipped his head, kissing the side of her neck.
Relaxing in his arms, Buffy looped her arms around his neck. She accepted his kiss and took her time to thoroughly explore his mouth when she remembered the news she needed to tell her husband. "I came here for a reason." She said, breaking the kiss and pulling back her head. "I need to talk to you."
Sensing the serious tone of her voice, Angel took her hand and led them to the couch near the large windows. He sat her down on the couch and gave her his undivided attention.
"What is that you wanted to talk about?" He asked, waiting patiently.
Twisting her fingers, Angel knew that she was nervous about telling him whatever she was struggling to say.
Angel took her fidgeting hand and kissed the back of it. "You can tell me anything, Buf."
Nodding her head, Buffy swallowed, gathering her courage. She lifted her chin as well as her gaze. "This morning I, um, went to the doctors."
"Are you okay?" Angel asked with a rise of panic in his voice. "Are you not feeling well? 'Cause I can—"
"No." She said, with a bit too much urgency. "I mean, I'm fine. I'm perfectly fine. I'm not sick."
Exhaling a breath of relief, Angel began to smile.
"I'm pregnant."
Angel froze. His eyes stared blankly at Buffy as his brain processed what she had just said. Pregnant. Buffy is pregnant. He slowly repeated the words to himself.
"What did you say?" Angel asked, stunned to disbelief.
"I'm pregnant." Buffy repeated, terrified of his reaction. His head hadn't completely exploded so she figured that was a good sign.
A bright smile widened across Angel's entire face, which instantly gave Buffy relief. "Pregnant?" He asked, still stupefied by the news. "You're pregnant?" Angel held a jolt of excitement swirling around his chest. His hands cradled Buffy's face between his hands and he passionately kissed her.
"You're happy?" Buffy asked, still feeling a bit apprehensive.
Angel grinned. "Are you kidding?"
Touching his forehead to hers, Angel closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. He breathed in her flowery perfume.
Angel lowered his gaze to his hand touching Buffy's flat stomach. Pregnant. A father. I'm gonna be a father. Angel can hardly believe it; a baby.
The couple continued to kiss. Angel wrapped his arms around Buffy. His tongue swirled around hers, deepening their already fervent kiss. He lowered her onto the couch, his hands pushed up her skirt up her legs.
2011
Crawford Street: O'Connor Residence
Shrugging off the long coat from her shoulders, Buffy placed it on the hook. She closed her eyes feeling even further away from Angel than they ever had been in the last two years.
He mumbled something about heading into L.A., to catch up on some paperwork at the firm. Buffy hardly heard him, her mind strictly elsewhere.
Turning from the coat hooks beside the front door, Buffy watched Angel walk towards the office to gather a few things before walking out the door.
"We've gotten worse, haven't we?"
The sound of Buffy's voice stopped Angel in his tracks. He slowly faced her. The frown on his face was deep and pained with agreement, although he hadn't said a word.
Folding her arms protectively across her body, Buffy said, "Maybe… maybe this is the end of the line for us. We tried. We gave it our best shot but, we just…" She inhaled a deep breath, her eyes did not waver from his face. "You did what I asked and… I think after… I need a little bit of a break. Please." Her voice cracked with emotion. Buffy swallowed and headed towards the stairs, needing time alone to reanalyse what she had just said to Angel.
Angel swallowed the pain clogged in his throat. He had known that this day would eventually come, but it still shocked him.
Watching her start to climb up the stairs, Angel softly asked. "You still my girl?
Buffy paused, halfway up the stairs and looked at him from over her shoulder. "Always." She replied, continuing up the stairs without another world.
Angel watched her and felt as if the rest of the world crumbled around him to the ground. If he did nothing now, he will lose her for sure. But what does he do? How will he win her back?