Rating: PG-13
Distribution: If you would like a copy, just e-mail me.
Feedback: Please, always appreciated
Summary: Buffy comes to L.A. pre 7/3 with a surprise.
Some spoilers for ATS Epiphany. Starts A/C, ends B/A. Of course! Oh- Connor and Angel have made up and Connor lives at the Hyperion.

Part One

Buffy Summers looked up at the monstrous Hyperion Hotel. The building was large and daunting. It cast long shadows on the street in the moonlight. Her heart raced and her skin pricked at Angel's presence inside. They hadn't talked in over a year. That was too long for her poor heart. After all these years and heartbreaks, she still loved Angel. But he didn't lover her.

He promised her forever.

She didn't get forever.

Buffy made her way up to the door. She peered through the glass. Her breath fogged up the pane. She placed a hand on the cool, flat glass. Buffy felt four years old, as if she was peering into a candy store. Her green eyes locked on the scene inside. Her heart stopped and her stomach lurched.

Angel held Cordelis in his arms, his chin resting on her hair- her awful blond streaked hair. She said something and he laughed, kissing the crown of her head gently.

Buffy shakily reached for the door knob. The cold metal shocked her warm, damp hand. Buffy felt the doorknob's firm line in her hand. She turned it and felt the reassuring click.

Angel and Cordelia looked up. Angel's jaw lowered slightly. His dark, intense and curiously guilt-free eyes traveleld from the vampire slayer to what she held in her arms.

"Angel, I'd like you to meet your daughter."

Cordelia raised a suspicious brow. "Talk about deja vu."

Angel looked at Buffy and said, "That's not possible, Buffy. We haven't made love in-"

"-In Four years. I know."

"It's obviously not his," snapped Cordelia angrily.

"I need to talk to Buffy alone, Cor," Angel said harshly, finally tearing his eyes from the baby in Buffy's arms. Cordelia picked up a magazine and went upstairs. When Angel heard the door shut, he spoke.

"It's not possible, Buffy. NOT POSSIBLE."

Buffy stepped down from the landing, holding the tiny baby girl in her arms. She shrugged off her caramel colored leather jacket. Angel's hand darted out and caught it before the jacket touched the floor. He took it and folded it over the back of the couch wordlessly.

"Angelica was conceived on January 17, 1998."

"Your seventeenth birthday."

"When you turned into Angelus, the Powers That Be rationalized that to defeat you, I couldn't carry Angelica and fight you at the same time. So they killed our baby. The next evening, I lost h er. It coincided with my period, so I didn't know anything about it," said Buffy stocially. She reached down to touch the hair of her daughter.

Angel had never felts so cold. Buffy's news hit him like a bucket of ice water. He shivered from the shock. 'Buffy and I had a baby. A baby- our baby. Our baby died because I lost my soul.'

"In January, I got an unwanted visit from the PTB. They recognized how wrongly everything was going for me, how everything was falling apart. They told me about our first baby and asked me to conceive again."

"Sort of like immaculate conception."

"Sort of. I agreed to carry our baby because I didn't have anything left of you- of us. We have grown so far apart."

Angel waited for Buffy to go on, he would know when it was time to speak.

"When we met last fall, we were both so cold and distant. There had been too many changes between us.I hated not being a part of your life anymore, Angel. That's why I agreed to have Angelica. So I could be part of your life. So I could still have part of you.

Buffy's eyes met Angels. Wordlessly, she handed the tiny baby to her father. Angel cradled the tiny girl, studying the tiny features. Angelica had her mother's nose and her father's hair and eyes.

"Buffy, she's beautiful. She's ours," Angel said in a thick voice. He began to cry.

Buffy slowly reached up and wiped away his tears. "Don't cry, Angel."

Angel tucked a lock of Buffy's hair behind her air. Their foreheads touched, their eyes smouldered. Two ragged souls began to mend one another and fuse back together. Slowly, their lips met.

"Dad? What's going on?"

Part Two

Buffy hurriedly pulled away from Angel.

"Just how many childdren do you have?" demanded Buffy icily. She practically ripped Angelica from her father's arms.

"Hi, who are you?" asked the boy.

Buffy looked at the tall, dark hair boy. He wore jeans and animal skins. His feet were bare and locks of hair were in his eyes.

"I'm Buffy. Buffy Summers." She watched as the boy came to greet her. He extended his hand. His hand was strong and slightly calloused, like Angel's.

"Connor."

"You look so much like your father," mumbled Buffy in embarrassment.

"So I've been told. Is that your baby?" asked Connor. He motioned toward Angelica/

"Uh-huh."

"It looks like my father," Connor told Buffy. He extended his index finger, which Angelica grasped and wrapped her tiny pale hand around.

"It should," Buffy said with a smile. "It's his."

"God, Dad, you really get around. Got any more kids I should know about?" teased Connor playfully.

"Just you and the Brat," teased Angel back.

"You've known our daughter twenty minutes and already you're calling her names," added Buffy. Connor smiled and Angel did not. Angel's son released his finger from the little confine and backed away, sensing a moment coming up.

Angel lifted a hand and touched her cheek.

"Buffy, there's so much to explain. But right now, I'm here with my family. My wife, my son, and my daughter."

"YOUR WIFE?" asked Buffy and Cordelia in stereo.

Angel would have blushed if he could have. He swallowed nervously. Cordelia looked at him and narrowed her eyes.

"You better be doing some explaining, Mister."

Part 3

Angel was screwed. Not literally, mind you. Figuratively. Cordelia was staring him down. Her eyes were full of tears that threatened to run down her cheeks at any second. The < old > Angel would have run to her side and comforted her. The < new > Angel stayed with Buffy and their daughter.

"I'm your wife?" asked Buffy softly.

"Yes."

"How-how did this happen? When did this happen?" asked Buffy, touching her "husband's" face.

Angel didn't speak. He moved his arm from Buffy's waist and held up his hand. Buffy caught the silver glint of the Claddagh ring and swallowed the lump in her throat. Wordlessly, she nodded.

"We've violated all the sanctums of marriage," mumbled Buffy, putting her head on his chest. < Riley. Spike. ADULTERY! >

"It doesn't matter. What matters now is that we're together, Buffy," Angel told her honestly, touching Angelica's dark hair.

"What about me?" asked Cordelia, her tears now running freely.

Suddenly Connor spoke up.

"Were you happy being the replacement?" asked Connor. Everyone turned to face him.

"I had never met Buffy before tonight," continued Connor, "but I think she and Dad belong together. It feels right."

Angel looked at his son in awe. "You do?"

"Yeah. She's not Mom, and I know you're not asking her to be, but she clicks. She belongs to the night, to the hunt. She's a warrior like us."

"What was I possibly thinking? I AM the replacement! I can't believe I thought I could replace Buffy the super-ho!" exclaimed Cordelia sarcastically.

"You're only saying this because you're hurt and upset, Cordelia. I understand," Angel said softly.

"Screw you! Screw you and Buffy and that little Hell child!" shouted Cordelia, her hand on the doorknob.

"GET OUT OF MY HOTEL!" screamed Angel. "IF YOU ARE NOT IN A BETTER MOOD AT WORK TOMORROW, I'LL EXPECT YOUR LETTER OF RESIGNATION ON MY DESK BY NOON!"

The response to Angel's question was the slamming of the door. The slamming caused Angelica to scream out.

"Damn it. I'm going to put Angelica to bed," said Buffy, looking at her daughter.

"No, Buffy, let me do it. You and Dad have a lot to talk about," offered Connor. Buffy placed Angelica in her brother's arms and Connor was upstairs before Buffy could thank him.

Buffy and Angel went to sit down in the lobby. They sat in silence for what seemed like hours.

"Angel?" she asked.

He loved the way his name sounded when she said it. Buffy moved to join him on the couch he was sitting on. She picked up his cool hand and held it, waiting for him to explain.

"Darla was brought back as a human a year or so ago. She taunted me in my sleep until I was obsessed with her. She came to me and told me she was dying of Syphillis. Darla had caught it before the Master made her a vampire. She begged me to turn her and I refused. So Drusilla did it for me."

Buffy swallowed hard. "And Drusilla turned Darla."

"I started in a downward spiral. I fired all of my friends and...in a moment of weakness...I had sex with her. One time- just once. That was the night Connor was conceived," explained Angel.

Buffy nodded and squeezed his hand.

"That night I had an epiphany. I didn't lose my soul, but I ordered Darla to leave. I gave her everything I had left and I failed. She's the reason I'm still me."

"Angel," said Buffy, "I'm so sorry."

"You're not angry?" Angel asked.

Buffy shook her head 'no'. Her mind was plagued with thoughts and visions of having sex with Spike. She'd even slept with him after she became pregnant with Angelica. Angel sleeping with Darla had produced something good- Connor. Buffy sleeping with Spike had produced nothing.

Angel went on to explain how Wesley kidnapped Connor, got attacked, and got Connor taken away. He told Buffy that Angel and Connor had had a lot of problems when Connor came back to this dimension, but everything was a lot better now.

Buffy hadn't said a single word the whole time.

"What are you thinking?" asked Angel, tracing a line on Buffy's hand with his index finger.

"Oh. Nothing," said Buffy.

"You don't have nothing face, Buffy. You have something face. You don't have to tell me right now. It can wait. Besides, I left something out of the explanation," said Angel, looking at Buffy with a smile in his eyes.

"Oh, god, what?" asked Buffy in an alarmed way.

"After my epiphany, I learned that my soul is anchored. The epiphany anchored it. Well, that and the fact that your soul is part of mine and vice-versa, so I can't lose mine because it's not completely mine anymore."

Buffy froze. Her heart soared with joy. Her pulse began to race. Her body began to cry out for him. She needed her hand on that cold flesh. She needed it.

Angel read her mind. He picked her up in his arms and began to carry her up the stairs. In the meantime, he ripped off her shirt while she worked on the buttons of his top. His hands fumbled with the hooks on her bra, so she reached around and unhooked it, flinging it somewhere.

They barely made it to his room.

PART FOUR

***************

Connor pushed open his father's bedroom door. He silently entered the room with the skill of a predator. Clothes and underwear were scattered from the doorway where they ended abruptly by the bed. His eyes wandered upward.

His father was in bed with Buffy. They were nestled together in the crimson sheets. Connor wasn't necessarily suprised, he had heard them coming up the stairs the night before. He realized he was intruding on something very personal and backed out of the room.

On his way downstairs, he heard Angelica crying. He walked into her room and picked her up. The moment Connor touched her, Angelica quit crying.

Buffy woke up with a start. Angel was still there, he was sound asleep. He traced his facial features gently. A hand reached up and captured hers.

"That. Tickled."

"Sorry," said Buffy with a laugh. "Didn't mean to wake you up."

"I don't mind being woken up by you. Do you want me to make you breakfast in bed or do you want to stay in bed?" asked Angel with a wicked smile on his face.

"I WOULD stay in bed, but we have a daughter I need to check on," said Buffy, reluctantly climbing from the bed. Angel still held onto her hand until her fingers lost grasp of his.

Buffy padded down the hallway in Angel's white undershirt (which was baggy, underwear, and his boxers. It made for quite the fashion statement. Buffy was surprised to find Connor holding his half-sister in a rocking chair.

"Hello, Buffy," said Connor. Buffy hadn't even spoken.

"How did you know I was there?" asked Buffy, coming farther into the room.

"I felt you," explained Connor, not looking up from Angelica.

"Like Father, like son." Buffy paused. "How much do you know about me?"

Connor's gave never left that of his half-sister.

"Your name is Buffy Summers, you live in Sunnydale, and you're the vampire slayer. You and my father have a daughter named Angelica. Oh, and last night you had sex."

"Made love."

"Huh?" asked Connor. He finally looked up at Buffy.

Buffy shrugged and said, "We made love- we didn't have sex. They're two totally different things, Connor."

"Are they not performed in the same manner?"

"They are. But it you really love and care about someone, you make love."

Connor was silent while he absorbed this information.

"Maybe later you can tell me about yourself and how you met Dad."

Buffy grinned and nodded. "Come on down when you're done with the Brat." Buffy turned to leave.

"Yes, all right. Oh, and Buffy?" asked Connor.

Buffy turned to face him and said, "Uh?"

"Nice outfit."

Buffy went down to the lobby after she pulled on a pair of jeans. She found, to her dismay, Cordelia and two other people. She was sort of hoping no one would come to work so she and Angel could have the hotel to themselves. Those tables didn't look too bad...they looked sort of under-used...

"Hi," said Buffy, finally tearing herself out of her thoughts.

Cordelia looked up and scowled.

"Gunn. Fred. I'd like you to meet Buffy. Angel's whore."

"I'm not a whore!" exclaimed Buffy angrily.

"She's not a whore, Aunt Cordelia," afreed Connor, coming downstairs.

"WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON!" shouted Cordelia.

"I didn't know this was a contest," said Connor angrily.

Angel joined his wife on the stairs and protectively pulled her to him. "Cordelia, if you cannot treat my wife and daughter with the respect they deserve, I will expect your resignation on my desk."

"You're threatening me? You're choosing that bimbo who's slept with half of UC Sunnydale over me?" screeched Cordelia.

"Hey! Which 'bimbo' was in his bed last night giving him pleasure? You or me?" snapped Buffy.

Gunn raised a timid hand. "Hey, I'm still stuck on the Buffy's-your-wife-part, man."

"It's a very long story," explained Angel.

"How long have you been married?" asked Fred.

"Four years," the vampire and slayer said together.

"On my birthday," added Buffy.

"Wow, Angel, you never mentioned it," said Fred with a teasing smile.

"It...slipped my mind," said Angel with a grin.

"We're not married in America," he continued. "But in Ireland, we're husband and wife." Any further discussion was interrupted by Lorne coming into the hotel, belting out Tony Bennett's 'I Left My Heart in San Francisco'.

"I left my hearttttttt, in San Fransisco!" crooned Lorne. Lorne came into the lobby and his mouth clamped shut. He spied Buffy and grinned wildly.

"You must be the mate."

Part Five

"How did you know?" asked Buffy. She extended her hand for Lorne to shake.

"When I first met Angelcakes, he seemed incomplete, like an oreo without the white part. He was just two tasty and handsome chocolate cookies. The minute I saw you, the oreo was complete."

Buffy smiled and said, "That's beautiful. But are you flirting with my boyfriend?"

She paused for a moment, hearing Angelica cry. She looked at Angel, who nodded for her to go. Once Buffy was upstairs, Angel turned to Lorne.

"What do you think?"

"She's a peach, Angelcakes. She holds your soul. Do you know that?" asked Lorne.

"Well, duh," spoke up Buffy, who had returned to the stairs with Angelica in her arms. Angelica was crying loudly. "She wants her Daddy." Buffy handed Angel his daughter.

"Her Daddy?" asked Gunn, Lorne, and Fred in unison.

Angel took the tiny bundle from Buffy and rocked the tiny girl back and forth. The cries were soon silenced.

"How did this happen, man?" asked Gunn, looking from Angel to his daughter in awe.

"Well, when a man and a woman-"

"Cut the crap, man. I mean, how did you get ANOTHER kid?"

"He shoots blanks!" added Cordelia with a knowing look on her face.

Buffy shook her head. "I wouldn't be so sure, you guys. He's gotten me pregnant twice, not to mention Darla."

Gunn, Fred, Cordelia, Lorne, and Connor did a double take. Angel raised an eyebrow and shook his head, his shoulder moving with unspent laughter.

"TWICE?"

Buffy flattened her hands on her stomach and looked at her audience. "Well, once when I was seventeen, and once in January."

Cordelia cried out "January!"

Fred and Lorne shouted out "Seventeen!"

"Damn, man, you a cradle robber!" shouted Gunn with a laugh of approval.

"Thanks. I forgot to mention that trip to Sunnydale, didn't I?" joked Angel.

Buffy wasn't laughing, she stayed silent. Lorne caught the melancholy vibe and asked, "What happened when you were seventeen, gorgeous?"

"So you were pregnant junior year and forgot to mention it?" snapped Cordelia.

"I lost my first baby. I stayed home three days from school, thinking it was some kind of flu. I was sick and didn't know why."

Buffy shook her head and fought back the tears that stung her lids. She looked at the floor as hher body shook. She raised her face slightly and locked eyes with her husband, begging for support. His hand reached out for hers and their fingers touched.

"The PTB decided that because Angel had reverted to Angelus I couldn't have a baby, fight him, and win at the same time." Buffy began to sob. She clawed at Angel and he held her after handing Angelica off to Lorne.

"Oh, god," muttered Cordelia.

"They keeled your baby!" shouted Fred in disbelief.

"They killed our baby! Thay didn't even ask me if I wanted my first lover's baby! They just took it!"

Angel was shocked. Slayer Buffy, the strong young woman who had been in front of him a moment before, was gone. The Buffy that was in front of him, in his arms, was anything but the Slayer. It was truly Buffy.

"Man. That's rough shit," said Gunn.

"How'd the Munchkin get here?" asked Lorne.

"YOU SLEPT WITH HER?" roared Cordelia.

"No. Before yesterday, I hadn't seen him since last fall. The PTB are responsible for Angelica. They took the soul of our first baby and made a second one. We never actually..."

"She's a very cute baby," said Fred, changing the subject.

"Thank you." Buffy turned to Angel. "There's something I forgot to tell you."

"I *knew* there was a catch!" shouted Cordelia.

"No one in Sunnydale knows I was even pregnant with Angelica."

Part six

Angel, Connor, Buffy, and Angelica arrived in Sunnydale around eleven that evening.

"Buffy, do you know if Giles and Willow are home yet?" asked Angel. He turned the Angel-mobile onto Revello Drive.

"Giles is staying until next week. Will is still in England doing the rehab thing," Buffy replied. The car slowed to a stop at 1630 Revello Drive. Connor looked up at the Slayer's Home.

"You live here by yourself?" asked Connor.

"No, I live here with my sister. My Mom used to live here, but she died last March from a brain tumor."

Buffy handed Angelica to Connor and got out of the car.

"And it's always busy here. Xander, Willow, Spike, or Anya are always hanging around,and my sister Dawn always has a friend over. It's like I live with four or five other people."

Angel snorted and raised an eyebrow.

"Spike?" he asked jealously.

Buffy looked at the sidewalk that reached towards Buffy's front door. She stopped walking before she reached the porch steps.

"After we finish explaining to the gang, there's something we need to talk about," said Buffy softly.

Angel froze. With a thick voice he said, "I'm not going to like this, am I?"

Buffy raised her head and looked into his eyes.

"No."

*

Giles took off his glasses. He rubbed the bridge of his nose and slowly put the glasses back on. Xander, Anya, and Dawn sat quietly around the room.

Giles looked from Buffy, to Angel, then to Connor. His gaze finally rested on the baby girl Xander was holding. Angelica clutched at Xander's shirt collar.

"Let me make sure I understand this, Buffy. These 'Powers That Be', of which we have never heard, impregnated you with Angel's child. You go to Los Angeles only to learn he married you when you were seventeen AND that he had a child with Darla...who is now...sixteen."

Buffy nodded.

Giles closed his eyes and let out a long breath.

"How do you know your daughter is Angel's? Have you even asked Spike? I know you to were involved, Buff, but did you even consider him?" asked Xander.

Buffy shot Xander a look, but it was too late. Her world had suddenly collapsed. Xander had told Angel about Spike without knowing it.

"Xander, no, please stop. Angel doesn't know."

Angel slowly rose from his seat next to Buffy on the couch.

"Is this what you wanted to tell me, Buffy? That you fucked Spike?" he roared.

Buffy quickly stood and brought herself to full height.

"Do *not* use that language in front of our daughter!" she screamed.

"I don't even know if she's mine, Buffy! She could be Spike's or hell, even Xander's! Maybe Cordy *was* right! All you wanted was money, or sympathy, or sex!"

Buffy wilted. "Why would I lie about that, Angel? How pathetic do you think I am?"

"You slept with *Spike*, Buffy. Don't ask me how pathetic I think you are!"

Buffy reached up and smacked his face. A red mark spread across the vampire's face like fire.

"If you think I'm pathetic, go back to Cordelia! I don't need a husband who acts like this!"

Angel nodded then pressed his lips in a firm line. "Fine. Connor, let's go."

Connor stood and said, "No, Dad."

"CONNOR! NOW!"

Connor looked up at Buffy sadly. "Buffy, I'm sorry." He touched her hand quickly and gave a sad smile.

"It's okay, Connor. Come back to the Hellmouth and visit us sometime."

"I will."

Buffy silently watched the man she had loved since she was sixteen years old leave her home with his son and close the door on her.

*Three months later*

The Scooby Gang sat at the airport. They waited for Willow to arrive from England. She had been gone for seven months while she recuperated from her addiction to magic. It was now Christmastime and everyone was in the Chanukah Spirit.

Xander handed Angelica his keys, which she promptly shoved in her mouth.

"Hey, kiddo, don't get my keys all slobbery!" shouted Xander.

Buffy spotted Willow coming down the terminal. Silently, Willow dropped her bags and the two girls embraced and rocked back and forth. Buffy pulled away but still clasped Willow's hands.

Willow's fiery red hair was halfway down her back. There were noticeable bags under her eyes, but her cheeks had more color. She wore black slacks and a baggy white sweater.

"Buffy, oh god, it's so good to be home."

"It's so good that you're back, Will. We missed you so much."

Willow caught Angelica moving over Buffy's shoulder.

"Your daughter...I knew you were pregnant- I felt it. Is it Angel's?" asked Willow.

Buffy looked down at her hands.

"It is. Angel...pretty much expressed the fact that he'd rather be with Cordelia than me- his wife."

Willow was confused about the usage of the word 'wife' until she saw Buffy's Claddagh ring- her wedding ring. Willow nodded to herself and she understood.

"Buffy, I'm sorry. Angel probably needs time to think."

"Three months of thinking, huh? Xander, bring Baby Girl over so she can meet her aunt Willow."

*

The Summers hous was full of people. Buffy was celebrating her 22nd birthday and so far it had gone without a hitch. The Scoobies plus Dawn's friend Cecilia were in Buffy's living room, standing around a chocolate cake. Angelica reached down from Buffy's arms and grasped a handful of cake, which she smeared on her mother's hands.

"Angelica Joyce Summers, it's not even your birthday and you're hogging the cake."

Everyone laughed and Buffy heard the doorbell ring. She handed Angelica to Willow and ran into the kitchen to wipe off her hands.

"Just a minute!" she yelled.

Buffy swung the door open.

"Connor?"

End of Part 6

Part 7

Connor stood in the doorway of Buffy's house. He wasn't injured but there were spots of blood on his animal skin 'shirt'.

"Buffy, you have to come to Los Angeles. Now."

"Connor, it's my birthday. What's going on that's so important?"

"Dad needs you. He tried to commit suicide and he failed."

Buffy fell into Connor's waiting arms and hugged Angel's son. Stepping back she looked at Willow, who motioned for her to leave.

"Okay. Let's go."

"Gunn brought the car. Will Angelica be all right?"

"I'm not worried about Angelica. I'm worried about her father."

Buffy climbed into the backseat of Angel's car.

"Hey, Gunn."

"Hey, girl. Let's go kick Angel's undead ass until he gets some sense."

"Solid call."

*

Buffy ran into the Hyperion. She found Fred nervously pacing in the lobby. Fred ran towards Gunn and threw her arms around him.

"Charles! You're back! And you brought Buffy! Hi, Buffy."

"Hi, Fred. Where's my husband?"

Fred looked confused.

"Your hus- oh, you mean Angel. Cordelia's taking care of him in his room." She pointed upwards.

"I'll be back. I'm going to check on him."

Buffy left Gunn and Fred in the lobby and walked down the hall to Angel's room. She opened the door to find Cordelia tending to Angel's wounds.

"Get out," said Cordelia icily.

"No," protested Angel weakly. "Buffy, stay. Cordelia, go."

"What?"

"You heard my husband. Go before I shove your skanky ass out."

Cordelia placed the wet cloth on Angel's unmoving chest and stormed out. Buffy sat on the edge of Angel's bed. Her eyes traveled over his exposed chest, which was one large burn.

Buffy realized Angel had bathed himself in Holy Water. She winced at the thought.

"Baby, you did it the slow way. You shouldn't have done it at all, but the way you did it was just plain stupid."

"Aren't you going to ask my why I did it?" Angel asked, looking at her with tear filled eyes.

Buffy reached down and brought her fingers across his cheek.

"Tell me and then we'll forget about it. We will be together- a family. You, me, Connor, Angelica, and your baby that's inside me."

"You're pregnant?" croaked Angel.

"Yes."

"And it's mine?"

"Yes. You're the last man I made love to."

"I didn't mean all of the things I said to you, Buffy. I was hurt and jealous when I found out about what you did with Spike. I tried to have a relationship with Cordelia and it almost destroyed me. I missed Angelica and I missed you. So I decided to end my life slowly and painfully. I didn't deserve to wait for the sun to rise."

"Oh, Angel, you could have just come home to me. I was waiting for you."

"Looks like I messed up another birthday, my love."

"Well, we're just keeping up the Buffy Summers tradition of birthdays from Hell."

Angel laughed and said, "But we seem to have good luck on your lousy birthdays."

"Yeah, I guess we do."

"I love you. I will always love you, and I love our daughter," said Angel.

"I love you too, so much."

"Forever," replied Angel.

Buffy leaned in and kissed him.

"Forever."

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