Chapter 58

Taking a deep breath, Buffy opened her eyes to a soft white room. The curtains were drawn against the rising sun and the only sounds in the room were of a beeping IV pump and Angel's steady breathing. Brushing the hair from her face, Buffy watched her lover breathing steadily, his chest rising and falling. Sitting up, she winced at the pain in her stomach.

He shifted at the sound of movement. Opening his eyes, he moved to her side with incredible speed, taking her hands in his. "Hey."

"Hey." Bracing her stomach, she lay back down gingerly. "Is he okay?"

Nodding, Angel squeezed her hands tighter. "He's okay. He's in the NICU now; the nurses said they've never seen a baby recover so quickly."

Smiling, she almost laughed. "He kept trying to tell me something was wrong. I knew it, Angel. I knew he was in trouble. He kicked me really hard."

"The doctors said you have internal bruising. They couldn't explain it."

"I can. He's going to be a soccer star or a kicker for a football team or something. He's got some legs on him."

Smiling, Angel almost cried with relief that she was awake and smiling. Her hair was out of control and her skin was pale, but she had never looked more beautiful than in that moment, he thought. Brushing her hair down with his hand, he leaned forward and kissed her lightly.

"They said we can go see him soon. They want to make sure you're okay first."

Releasing a slow breath, she smiled at him. "They have no idea who they're dealing with. I'll be doing high kicks by tomorrow."

"I doubt that. You need to take it easy for a little while. Just a little while, though. You're already healing fast. They thought they'd have to give you another unit of blood, but you only needed one. You and Brady are amazing all the staff."

A short laugh escaped her lips. Closing her eyes, she wished she could hold her baby. "He is okay, right?"

Nodding again, Angel vowed to reassure her as often as she needed it. "He didn't need a ventilator or anything. They said he's really close to full term; he won't need to stay here long. They just want to make sure there isn't any swelling around his neck or anything. I think we can all go home tomorrow or the day after."

"It better be tomorrow. I don't want to be here any longer than I have to." Opening her eyes, she brushed her hand across his cheek. "How was that as an end to our day?"

Smirking, he turned his face to kiss the inside of her hand. "I could do with a little less excitement."

They sat in silence for a few moments until Angel spoke again. "Everyone's here. They're out in the hall. The nurses don't want many people to see you at the same time, but they said if your vital signs are good in a little while you can have as many visitors as you want. Should I send someone in?"

"I want to see my baby, Angel. Can't I have my baby?"

Swallowing the lump in his throat, he shook his head sadly. "He has to stay in the intensive care unit for a little longer. He's really strong, Buffy. His vital signs are great, he's beautiful. You'll see him soon."

Sighing heavily, she nodded and closed her eyes in exhaustion. Angel watched her sleep for a few moments before he rose and went out into the hallway. Again, everyone stood as he approached. Giving them a half smile, he looked at his oldest son, who had arrived shortly after Angel had come out of the surgery unit.

"How is she?"

"She's okay. Sore, tired, impatient to go home, but okay."

Sitting tiredly, he felt his muscles start to relax from fatigue.

"I brought clothes for you guys. I didn't think it was an emergency, I just thought she went into labor. I heard you leave last night and figured you wouldn't take anything." Handing his father a small suitcase, Angel accepted it with tired gratitude.

Sitting next to her friend, Willow put her arm around Angel and squeezed his shoulders. "Congratulations, Angel."

A small, tired, smile graced his lips. "Thanks Willow." Breathing out slowly, he shook his head. "That was nerve racking."

Gunn let out a brief, surprised laughter. "Nerve racking? Man, I would be a puddle on the floor. I'm amazed you're still conscious."

Faith nodded, "Yeah, man. You're holding up really well under all this stress."

Taking a deep breath, he excused himself and went to the nurses' station. After receiving a temporary swipe card, he let himself into the neo-natal intensive care unit. He could feel where his baby was without having to ask anyone. Sitting in a chair that was next to the enclosed plastic crib, he smiled down at his sleeping son. Brady was beautiful. A shock of dark hair covered his head, but Angel thought he would have his mothers' eyes and nose.

Putting his hand on the crib, he looked through it. Brady was monitored by few wires. There were wires monitoring his heart and a clip on his toes monitoring oxygen, but little else seemed to be on his baby. Thankful that Brady needed minimum intervention; he wished with all his being that he could hold his son in that moment. He felt the presence of a nurse behind him before she spoke.

"I think he can go to his mother today. When day shift comes on, they'll talk to the doctor. I'd guess, if everything keeps going this way, that he'll be with you and your wife by ten or eleven in the morning."

Thanking the nurse, Angel continued to stare at the being he had helped create. His heart swelled, he thought his chest would burst with pride and happiness. Taking a deep breath, he rose and returned to Buffy. She would not be happy about waiting do long to hold her son.

It was near noon when Brady was carried into a room of waiting people. Sitting up excitedly, Buffy smiled from ear to ear as the baby was placed in her arms. Cooing to her new son, she felt tears of joy running down her face. Angel gently brushed them away as he smiled down at his new son. Brady did not mind being the center of attention; he didn't cry at all.

Willow and Dawn were sitting on the bed, their sounds of cooing and awing made everyone in the room smile. Sitting on the non-occupied side of the bed, Angel put his arm around Buffy's shoulders and pulled her close. Kissing the side of her head, he took his sons' tiny hand in his own and felt the short and fast pulse within the tiny appendage.

Breathing easier than she had in days, Buffy held her baby close and kissed his forehead multiple times. "You are so beautiful, little guy." Nuzzling her cheek against his, she listened to pleasant yawns escaping her baby's mouth. She held her breath when his tiny eyes opened for a moment. He looked at her for a short time before closing his eyes again and falling asleep. Laughing, Buffy rocked him close and looked adoringly at Angel. He returned the expression.

"He's so perfect, Buffy." Dawn brushed her forefinger along Brady's cheek.

Coming closer, Fred leaned over the loving family and smiled at baby Brady. "You already have a play date, mister!" Gently shaking his little hand, Fred hugged Buffy and congratulated her.

Sitting back in his chair, Will watched Dawn with Brady and tried to deny his own longing. Clearing his throat, he looked at Angel and smiled. "You couldn't do this easy, could you? No, you had to make it a production."

Giving his friend a wry smile, Angel responded, "It turned out perfectly. It doesn't matter how it happened, it happened, and it worked out."

Sighing, Gunn leaned forward, a grin dominating his features. "That is one good looking kid. Good job Buffy."

Angel frowned. "What is this? Pick on Angel day?"

Laughing, Buffy kissed Angel's cheek. "Can we go home yet?"

"Tomorrow. They have to do…stuff. Something about your uterus I just didn't want to hear."

Nudging him playfully with her elbow, Buffy looked at Connor and beckoned the young man over. "Want to hold your little brother?"

Balking at first, Connor soon smiled and nodded. Taking the wrapped infant in his arms, he carefully supported Brady's head as he walked around the bed. "This is so cool." Rocking the neonate back and forth, he played with the baby's hair for a few seconds. "He has a lot of hair."

Standing, Dawn stood next to the baby and gently took him from Connor's grasp. Laughing softly down at the infant, she realized she had never held a baby before. Kissing his forehead, she looked at Faith and started walking towards the woman.

"No! No! I can't hold babies. And they might be contagious."

Laughing at her obvious nerves, Dawn set Brady into the woman's reluctant grasp. Swallowing hard, Faith looked at the sleeping infant and started to relax a little. It wasn't difficult, she told herself. When he hiccupped, she jumped three feet high. Laughing nervously, she quickly put the infant back in his mother's arms.

"Good job, B." Patting her former rivals' shoulders, she was glad that she was no longer the infant, doing so made her nervous.

The group slowly filed out of the room as Buffy indicated that it was time to feed Brady. Kissing her sister on the forehead, Dawn whispered her congratulations before leaving the room. Left alone, Buffy looked to Angel with a nervous expression.

"What if he doesn't eat? They said to feed him now."

Smiling, he moved closer to her. "He'll eat. Just…do what you do."

Staring dumbly at him, she waited for further instruction. Clearing his throat, he looked at her with a slightly concerned expression. "Didn't those baby books talk about breast feeding? I thought you read about that stuff."

"Well, I did. I thought I wanted to do that. Do I want to do that? I don't even know how."

"Umm…I might not be the best person to ask. Do you want me to go get a nurse?"

Thinking for a moment, she shook her head. "No, I can do it." Determined to fulfill her first motherly role, she started positioning herself. Pulling her hospital gown down, she took a deep breath as she tried to position Brady properly. After a few failed attempts, he latched on and started to suckle.

Kissing her head, Angel watched what he considered a miracle. It was beautiful, what her body was capable of and the instincts Brady seemed to have. Angel was in awe at the sight before him.

"That's a weird sensation." She laughed nervously but soon relaxed as she felt her body take over. It was an odd and comforting sensation all at once. Her muscles relaxed and her brain quieted as Brady fed.

Laughing, Angel put his head on her shoulder and closed his eyes for a few seconds. This was what happiness felt like, he thought. This was sheer relief and utter joy. Smiling into her shoulder, he let the excitement of what the next few days would bring fully occur to him. He couldn't wait to be a dad again.