Authoress's Note: I had this major case of writer's bloke and had to finish it like I finished `Tradition'. Don't worry, this isn't a series. A friend who read this said this is like Tradition, except happier. I don't think that's what it's like, but hey! Make your own judgment.
Disclaimer: Anyone you recognize Joss Whedon owns.
Feedback: Please. I need to know if this is any good, cause I need a beta reader who is very tactful, cause I know some of my work sucks.
Timeline: After Angel's Shansu. Everyone is immortal.
Funfact: Did you know that David, Alyson, Charisma and Tony get online and read fan fic? Alyson said it's really cool, but is grossed out by unconventional pairings.

I'm lying on the beach, cradling Nina against me. Angel and Anton are playing in the water.

"Mama! Look at fishies!" Anton cried, happily.

"Yes, honey," I called back. Nina cooed and woke up. She's 9 months old and looks like porcelain doll. She has dark hair with blond tips.

"Mamma," she touched my face. She only knows three words - mamma, mama and dada. She was dressed in a brightly coloured bathing suit with yellow ruffles. She had a raffia sun hat with pink ribbons. She was christened Angelina Darla.

"Mama, can I have a drink ?" Anton padded over. I hand him a bottle of juice.

Antonio is only 4 years old. After Angel received his Shansau, and the Scoobies got their immortality, we left for Europe. We lived in Rome for a year, married there, and Anton was born 9 months later. We left for London until he was three and then came here, to the beach house outside Nice.

Willow got with Oz after she finished college, they have a daughter, Tara, who is a year old. Willow is a doctor, Oz is still in the Dingoes.

Xander and Anya are engaged with the terrible two, Joshua and Xander, who turned five last month. Xander is a lawyer, to the shock of us all. Anya is a housewife.

Cordy got her demons into shape. Really. Doyle was sent back to her. They had a gorgeous wedding in Sunnydale last Autumn. Cordy was a horrible actress, but the world's best paid model.

My mother got remarried just after Anton was born. To one Mr Rupert Giles. I was so furious, that I told them that I would never speak to them again, take their grandson with me. Angel told me a was a sadistic bitch, so I took Anton to Canada for a few weeks. Angel came back with his tail between his legs. I was very smug. Then I heard Giles had had a heart attack the day they found out I disappeared. Apparently, a body of an unidentifiable blond girl was found in the creek. She committed suicide. They married three weeks later.

Wesley married a childhood sweetheart, Emily Hanett, and they live in Wes's family home in London.

Faith. Faith married a newly human Spike. They have one daughter, Melinda Anne. They live in LA. Faith is a nurse, Spike works in Angel Investigations.

"Buffy, it's getting cold, take Anton and Nina to the house and I'll go get dinner," Angel kneels beside me, kissing my cheek. I smile. I'll never regret my wedding day.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Four Years Ago

I looked at the gown. It was satin. Thin shoestring straps, criss crossing at the back. My hair pinned back with cream and pale pink roses. A diamond necklace that Cordelia had modeled. My antique engagement ring, that had been his great grandmother's. Giles looked at me proudly. Faith, Willow and Cordy were my bridesmaids, because Anya was too pregnant. Mum stood there, tears in her eyes.

"Ohh," she whispered and hugged me.

"Ready Buffy ?" Giles asked me. I nodded.

It was magic. My family and our friends were thrilled. It was perfect.

**~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~~

One Year Later

"You're WHAT ?" I screamed. Anton was at the apartment with Angel. I had gone to see mum and Giles and they'd announced their engagement.

"We're getting married," Mum said calmly, but her eyes gave away her fear. What should she fear ?

" But...," I gasped.

"We are immortal, too, and we'd like to start a family," Giles added.

I raised my hand to my head and saw mum flinch and Giles tense. Oh God. They thought I'd hit them ? I loved them far too much. So I'd do something that would hurt them more than me striking them.

"Suit yourselves. But realize you'll never see me or Anton again," I hissed, storming out. My mum was horrified. She was crying. Good.

I drove home, furious, but when I arrived, I was crying. I wished I hadn't said those things. I ran inside and tried to tell Angel, get him to make it better. We ended up yelling at each other. He called me a sadistic bitch when I explained how I used Anton as my pawn against their marriage.

"Buffy, as long as we're married, Joyce and Rupert can see Anton as much as they like," Angel said.

"We'll get a divorce then," I snapped, instantly regretting it. His face showed hurt.

"I'm going to your mother's to fix things," he said. He didn't say anything else. I made up the spare bed in Anton's room and spent the night there. He came home late. He went to bed, not finding out where I was. I was woken later by Anton crying and Angel soothing him. I pretended to sleep. Anton fell asleep again and he knelt beside my bed.

"I'm sorry," he whispered and kissed my cheek. I almost forgave him. Then he treated me like dirt that morning.

"What time will you be home ?" I asked from my coffee. "Later. Probably after lunch," he said sarcastically. "And no, I won't bother coming home to screw you at lunch today."

He slammed the front door. I was hurt and sobbing. I went to my room and packed my some clothes and Anton some stuff. I left my laptop and cell phone on the dresser. Then I grabbed my baby. I put him in my car and left Sunnydale. I drove across to Canada.

After I left, Angel stayed in LA until the next afternoon. He came home to the abandoned house. He washed up, showered and waited for me to show up. He found my cell phone and called Mum and Giles. Instantly they called the police.

A week after I left, Willow, Xander, Cordelia, Angel, Mum and Giles gathered and had afternoon tea.

"I hope she's all right," Willow said.

Angel nodded. "I hope she comes back," he whispered.

Xander looked up from his coffee. "Buff'll come back when she thinks we feel guilty enough. Or when Anton asks to meet his father," he added on a darker note.

The doorbell rang. Mum got up and answered it. Constable Rogers, a family friend, followed her in.

"Joyce, Rupert, Angel," he said, sitting down. "I have some bad news. A girl in her early twenties was found in Tracy's Creek. Her face was burnt off, and her jaw is so crushed no dental reports will help us. Then I heard Buffy was missing with her infant son, so I thought...." he looked guilty. "Toms sent me to tell you that the case is closed, the body is going to be identified as Buffy Anne Summers, unless she contacts you soon."

Everyone was shaking. Angel managed to speak. "How was she killed ?"

"Beaten up, tortured and dumped there for her death. Or one very drastic suicide. Take your pick. We're opting towards beaten up, because there is no evidence of Anton or her car," Constable Rogers left the mourning family.

Willow collapsed in tears. Xander just stared into space, tears running down his face. Giles held Joyce as she began crying hysterically. Angel left the house and got as drunk as he possibly could. It was all his fault. All of it.

Giles collapsed two days later and was hospitalized for the next three weeks. I came home a week and a half later.

I drove straight to our apartment. It was dark inside. I drove around to mum's. I walked in the back door.

"....she's dead. So is my son. You think I'm just going to whimper and then go about my merry business ? It's not like that!" Angel was yelling. Everyone was there. And crying. Even Spike.

"But getting pissed isn't the way to deal !" Cordelia shot back, just as loud.

I walked in with Anton on my hip. I was pouting a bit, trying to see how much groveling Angel would do.

"Who died ?" I asked, trying to make a joke. Everyone looked awful. Everyone paled. Death white, I swear. And then Angel hugged me. I mean, he's hugged me before, but this was different. He seemed desperate.

"What.. ?" I asked, but Angel kissed me. Passionate, needing and forgiving.

"Again I ask," I caught my breath. "Who died ?"

"You did," Oz said very calmly.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

We lay tangled in the sheets later that evening. Angel was kissing my neck.

"I am so sorry baby," he said between kisses.

"I know," I said, running my fingers through his hair. "But the morning after our fight.. those things you said hurt, Angel," I said, curling up on his chest.

" I know ," Angel sighed. "Why'd you do it ?"

"Mum and Giles thought I'd hit them. I'd never do that. Mum would hit me, but never would I hit her. I needed to show her that violence isn't the only way I do damage," I whispered. "You seemed to hate me so much, that I had to.." I began sobbing.

"I love you so much," he whispered. "More than you'll ever know."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Angel's gone to get pizza from the closest town. Angelina is in the bath. Anton is watching Winnie the Pooh. I cradle Nina against me again as I bottle feed her. Angel calls up the stairs that he's home. I place Nina in her crib and switch off the light.

Anton and Angel are guzzling coke and inhaling the pizza. I stand in the doorway with my hands on my hips.

"Come here," Angel pats his lap. I sit on his lap and kiss him briefly. Anton swallows and looks at me. "Mamma, can I have a ice block ?" he begs. I shake my head.

" A banana ?" I nod.

He eats his banana and climbs the stairs to bed.

" Come tuck me in!" he shouts down the stairs. But Angel ignores him, straddling me on the lounge.

" Mmmm... Angel, let me check on Anton before we ..." I push him off and chuck him his shirt. He frowns and motions me to hurry up.

Anton insists I read Splodge the Cat to him and he's asleep at the tenth page. I creep back downstairs. Angel's reading some book.

"Lost interest, huh ?" I smirk. He drops the book and pulls me towards him.

"Not likely."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* I'm awake early the next morning, feeding Nina and making Anton breakfast. Angel's still asleep. I guess I wore him out last night.

"Mummy, can I watch cartoons?" Anton asks. I nod yes and sip my coffee.

Angel padded in, wearing only sweatpants. I rub up against him and begin kissing him.

"Love you," I half whisper, nuzzling him.

"Love you more," he half teases.

Angel earned this - he earned his Shansu and then he came back to me. Now we have two beautiful children and we're married.

I think that the whole `never get married' image of the new - ish millennium is stupid. Because if I hadn't married Angel, I'd never have known how deep his feelings run. Even now, it still amazes me that he holds me with such respect, love and loyalty.

I can't imagine life without him. No matter how corny of cliché it seems, Angel is my Soulmate. My other half. And I don't think anything will change that.

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