CHAPTER EIGHT

Buffy rejoined the group and the cake was cut and handed out and Buffy was halfway through her monstrous piece when Anya held up the cordless phone. "Hey, Buffy, there's someone on the phone for you."

Buffy laid down her frosting covered fork as she took the phone and said, "Hello?"

"Buffy, it's me, Angel."

"Uh... hi," Buffy stuttered.

"I know this is kinda out of the blue, but can I see you?"

Buffy's mouth had gone dry, but she managed to croak out, "What?"

"I understand if you don't want to, but..."

She looked around at her friends chatting away with one another and sighed, "Sure. Give me an hour and I'll meet you at the Espresso Pump."

"That'd be great, see you then."

She mumbled, "Yeah... great," then put the phone down.

"Who was that?" asked Dawn.

"Oh, uh... no one. Just somebody trying to sell us things we don't need," she replied jumpily. 'Oh God, this can't get any worse.'

ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS

JUNE 2011

Buffy walked through the office, struggling to balance the donuts and coffee she had just purchased as she turned on the lights. She stepped into Angel's office and flipped the light switch with her elbow, managing to slosh a tiny splash of coffee over her hand.

"Whoa!" yelped Angel as he rolled off his leather couch and landed in a heap on the carpet.

Buffy's coffee cup hit the floor a split second later and she squeaked, "Oh, I'm sorry!"

Angel scowled at the half-caff mocha latte that was soaking slowly into his Berber carpet and sighed, "It's okay, I'll call the janitor and he'll get that right out." He scrubbed his hands over his face and climbed back up onto the couch then dropped his arms and glanced at the clock behind his desk. "What are you doing here, Buffy? It's 6:30 in the morning. You do remember that we don't even open until nine, right?"

She shrugged as she dropped the box of donuts on the small table in front of the couch. "I couldn't sleep and I have a ton of things to do to meet deadlines, so..." She stepped into his private bathroom and came out with a fluffy white towel. "So, what about you?" she asked as she dropped the towel onto the puddle and stepped on it.

He watched his monogrammed, massively high thread count, extremely expensive towel turn a nasty brown coffee colour as it soaked up the liquid from the carpet. "Another night of fighting with Darla," he sighed.

"I'm sorry." She stepped off the towel and picked it up by the corner then carried it back into the bathroom, dropping it onto the floor with a wet plop. He managed to wipe the scowl off his face as she stepped back into the office wearing a bright smile. "Say, why don't we go get a cup of coffee?"

XXXX

The waitress sat down two coffee mugs in front of them. "Thanks," said Angel as he pulled out his wallet and handed over a few notes.

"So, uh... things still rocky?" asked Buffy with caution.

"Yeah. Big time. We were looking to adopt, you know how badly she wants to be a mother," he sighed.

"I know you guys have been trying for a while." She smiled sympathetically.

"Yeah, three years. She's just not taking it well that we can't do it the natural way." He sipped his coffee slowly. "I feel for her, I do. It must be tough, but it doesn't excuse her bitchy side."

"I'm glad I'm not the only one who sees it." He smiled and Buffy smiled back, reaching across the table to rest her hand on his. "I see a lot."

XXXX

The office was quiet and dark, not even the cleaning crew was still around as Buffy sat at the computer typing furiously with Angel leaning over her shoulder. "So, she was last seen at this location, but there's no evidence to suggest that she was the one driving," said Buffy professionally, trying not to notice the warmth seeping into her from Angel's nearness.

Angel put his hand on her shoulder and she looked up at him with a smile then gasped as his lips came crashing down on hers. He pulled her to her feet, passionately kissing her as he swept the papers and cups off the desk then laid her down on top of it. Clothing was torn and discarded, for once no thought given to cost as lips and hands travelled over heated, sensitized skin. For a long time the only sounds to be heard were moaning and the slapping of flesh as they made passionate love.

PRESENT DATE

Buffy walked into the Espresso Pump and noticed him immediately. She stopped for a second then made her way toward him whispering, "Oh God, Oh God, Oh God,"every step of the way.

"Buffy." Angel jumped to his feet and pulled her chair out. "I got you a coffee, it's your usual." He smiled as he sat down across from her.

"Thanks, but caffeine's not so good these days." She patted her bump gently.

"Right. Uh, you look great."

"Thanks." She smiled tightly. "Cut the crap, Angel, what do you want?"

He smiled awkwardly and stared at his coffee cup. "I just wanted to see how you were... to talk..."

"Now you want to talk? Why?" she snapped.

"The baby..."

She cut him off, "Isn't yours."

A few of the coffee shop patrons turned toward their table when Angel all but shouted, "Well your boyfriend sure as hell didn't seem to think that!"

"My boyfriend? Who? I don't have..."

"That bleached asshole you brought to the party."

"Spike? He's not my boyfriend and he doesn't know who the father is," she stuttered.

"Well maybe he worked it out, 'cause gotta say, I sure didn't have blond and British pegged as a brainy type, but hey, sometimes people surprise you." Angel leaned back in his chair with a sneer. "I know it surprised the hell out of me when he slammed me into the wall and tried to choke me to death for knocking you up then leaving you high and dry."

Buffy's eyes went wide as she stammered, "He what?" Angel opened his mouth to speak and Buffy held up her hand, "I can't do this, Angel," then she stumbled to her feet and dashed out of the coffee shop.