Part 14

Angel merely quirked an eyebrow at the man, "Your wife?" he said. "I believe she's your ex-wife now."

Brent Davenport was taken aback by the calm attitude of the dark stranger standing only in sweat-pants and a t-shirt in his wife's apartment door. And of course, he silently admitted, the stranger was right. Buffy wasn't married to him anymore, but his kids, he thought, were still his kids and somehow he didn't like the idea that they would find a strange man in the morning with their mother. "May I ask where Buffy is?" his voice was like ice and he inwardly patted himself on the shoulder for this.

"She'll be here soon. But why don't you come in?" the ex-vampire flashed the ex-husband a friendly smile, that didn't reach his eyes. They contained a silent warning, that this was his territory now. Angel knew there wasn't a chance Brent would misread the message, Angelus had mastered this sort of communicaton over the centuries. And as expected, the other man swallowed - hard.

Brent didn't exactly know how to behave around this man he'd never seen before. And he was surprised too. He hadn't thought of Buffy finding a new lover so quickly. Hell, if he was honest, he hadn't thought her to take a lover at all. Sure they had had some great sex, but he'd met more passionate women over the years, for Buffy, sex sometimes seemed more like something she owed him more as she enjoyed it. It had been one of the reasons why their marriage hadn't lasted.

He followed the stranger into the living-room, studying his back and the way he moved. It all spoke of strength, his movements reminded him of a dangerous animal, ready to strike if necessary. Of course he didn't know how close his thoughts were to the reality. Brent knew about vampires and demons, when he and Buffy had met the hellmouth hadn't been closed at all. But he'd never been personally involved in the slaying, simply because there had to be somone watching Ashlynn when she was a baby and later on ... well, they were just drifting apart and Buffy wouldn't confide in him anymore.His thoughts were interrupted by Angel's question, "Do you want some coffee? We were just having breakfast when you came."

There it was again, this silent message he'd read before and that told him 'hands off'. He could've told the stranger that he wasn't interested in Buffy anymore. Sure he still thought her attractive, but he had been the one to file for a divorce and he'd had good reasons. But even if he *had* been interested still, he would've thought twice now seeing the dangerous glimpse in the other man's eyes. He didn't threaten him, no he was friendly and welcoming, but the message was unmistakeable. Brent slowly shook his head, "No, thanks."

"Alright," there was that friendly smile again, "I'll go and get Buffy." With this Angel turned around and left the ex-husband on his own, still trying to figure out who the hell this stranger was, he'd never heard about before.

***

As soon as Angel appeared in the doorway of the bedroom, Buffy pulled him inside and slammed the door shut. Then she broke down in a fit of giggles. "I ...c-can't believe you d-did that," she couldn't stop laughing. Her hand over her heart she tried to calm down, "Where did you learn that attitude?"

He quirked a brow, "What do you think?""Oh no," she shook her head, "you got this from your demon." Then she suddenly nodded, "Yeah, he'd've reacted like this."

"Plus he'd ripped his heart out of course," he added drily.

"And that," she confirmed, then laughed again. "God, I'm sure Brent almost had a heart attack. If he'd known who you are ... were ... this is so good."

He smiled, "I'm glad you're not angry."

"Angry? Oh, Angel, no. It was great." She broke off and sobered. "Now you probably think I hate Brent. But I swear I don't. Actually I'm not interested at all in him, but he can be such a snob and that was just right."

"Did you know he'd come to Sunnydale this weekend?" Angel asked while he was picking up his clothes from the bedroom floor. He was glad that he'd collected the rest that had been laying in the hallway before the arrival of the ex-husband. Not that Brent hadn't instantly known who he was. Angel's clothes and the way he acted made it perfectly clear, still it was a different thing to see scattered clothes everywhere.

"No," Buffy shook her head. "I haven't talked to him for," she gestured with her hand, "ages." She sat down on the bed and pulled the socks over her feet. "But that's just so like him. Ever since we split up, even when he still lived in Sunnydale, he acted as if he had to press the children somewhere into his schedule." She looked up and shook her head, "At the beginning he was really caring for Ashlynn. He had always time for her but it seems as if ...," she broke off, clearly not liking her thoughts very much.

Angel threw his clothes over a chair and kneeled down in front of her, cupping her face in his hands, "If what?," he asked and gazed deeply into her eyes.

She sighed unhappily and covered his hands with hers, "I think the moment he realised that I didn't love him, his love for the children faded as well. Or more precicesly for Ashlynn. David wasn't even born then. It was as if he couldn't bear to be around her, maybe because she's so much like me," she shrugged helplessly, "maybe she reminds him of the failure of this marriage, not consciously, but well ... I don't know."

His voice was very gentle and she could see the love in his eyes when he asked, "And you think you're responsible for it? Was that the reason you waited until he filed for a divorce?"

She shurgged again and tried to turn her head away, but he didn't remove his hands, forced her to look at him. "Buffy, that's nothing to be ashamed of. It's just a human reaction."

She took a shaky breath and tried a wobbely smile, "I shoul've finished this, our marriage, much earlier, but I ... I just couldn't. Then I even agreed to have David to save what hadn't been exisiting for years. Angel, I was so blind. If I'd reacted more like a mature person we would've been together for years." Tears were standing in her eyes now and when the first fell he tenderly wiped them away with his thumb.

"Oh Buffy," he leaned forwards and kissed her gently on the mouth. "Please don't do this. Don't try to blame yourself for something that cannot be changed. It's in the past."

"But you said yourself that you only stayed away because you knew I was married. If I'd been divorced ...," she trailed off, looking utterly miserable.

"And if I wouldn't have agreed to turn back time we might be together even longer," he retorted.

"No," she protested, "there was a perfectly good reason you did it while I ..."

"NO," his response was sharp and she gasped at the determination in his eyes. "Listen to me Buffy. We have to stop that. *You* have to stop it. No blaming, the past is the past. It's over and done with. Now we're moving on, together. That's the only thing that counts. We won't forget what happened in the past, because it's part of who we are, but nothing more. Do you understand?"

She stared at him for a long moment and then her face broke into a smile, "I love you," she whispered. "So, so, so very much. Looking back I don't even know how I managed to go on without you."

"But you did, because you're a wonderful, strong woman, I love with all my heart," he smiled as well, "And now you should go and talk to Brent. Otherwise he might think we're enjoying a morning quickie in here." He grinned, "Not that I would mind, him thinking it, I mean, but ..."

"Oh you," she scolded him gently, then sighed, "Alright, I'll go and talk to him." They both stood up and Buffy walked over to the door. Before she slipped out of the room she flashed him a grin, "This morning quickie-thingie ... we shouldn't forget about it." And then she was gone while Angel thought the smile on his face would last for ages.

****

Brent looked up when he heard a noise from the door. "Buffy," he said not standing up, just raising a brow, while his eyes noticed every detail of her appearance. He couldn't deny it, she looked like a woman well loved, and as much as he tried he couldn't remember she'd ever looked like this with him. "I ... I met your friend." He added.

"I know," was all she replied. She leaned at the doorway, her arms crossed. "What are you doing here?"

With a sigh he stood and looked at her, "I came to see my children. It's been quite some time..."

"Damn right," she pushed herself off of the doorframe and stepped closer to him, "Can you even remember when was the last time you called Ashlynn?"

"I'm really sorry, but these past weeks have been crazy. The new job, the new town and Danielle...," he stopped, realising his slip.

"Danielle," she raised a brow, but she wasn't angry, he realised. If he saw any emotion in her eyes it was faint amusement. What had happened to the bitter, frustrated woman he'd met the last time he'd been around? Remindng himself of the stranger in the bedroom he knew the answer.

Still he blushed slightly when he admitted, "Yeah ... she is ... well, we're seeing each other."

A smile played around her lips, "I see. Well, I hope she is nice." She shook her head and he could see the laughter in her eyes. "About the children. They are with my mom. But of course you can go and see them. They'll be so happy, at least Ashlynn will be, with David ... he doesn't really miss you." She saw him flinch and amended, "Sorry, I  think that didn't come out the way I wanted. I don't mean that he doesn't know you, he does. But for a two year old the people around him are the most important. That's all."

"I know," he sighed and ran a hand through his hair, "As much as I hate it, I have to accept it, I suppose. I love David and Ashlynn, you have to believe me ."

"I know," she replied. "You just have other priorities at the moment."

His head snapped up and he looked at her sharply, but there wasn't anger in her eyes, just a deep knowledge and he suddenly remembered that her father had acted similar around her. Not eager to discuss the subject any further he nodded towards the bedroom, "How long do you know each other?"

She seemed to consider her answer, but then said, "We go way back, Brent. I met him when I was sixteen years old."

He stared at her while the memory of a conversation slowly surfaced, something Willow had once said to him.

(*Don't be angry with her Brent. She loves you the best way she can.*

*I know, Willow, but sometimes she ... I don't know ... she seems far away ... she doesn't want to talk about it, but ... is there someone I should know about?*

*There has been someone. But there's really no reason to talk about it, they can never be together. All Buffy can do is move on and you should be glad she does it with you, because she is a really special girl.*

*Yes, she is.*)

"It's him, isn't it," he asked, suddenly understanding why the stranger had seemed so close to his wife, so protective and possessive.

"Huh?," she looked at him in confusion.

"I know you never talked about it, but somehow I felt ... and I asked Willow. She said there'd been a man, but you couldn't be together. Is it him?"

"Yes," she answered without hesitation, her eyes gazing straight into his.

"And you love him?"

"Yes, I love him very much. And the children love him. He's been wonderful with them. I don't want you to feel guilty about it or bad," she added quickly. "Maybe," she bit her lower lip, "maybe you could be glad that their mother's new friend is so good with them."

Brent studied her face for a long moment, then sighed and nodded, "I suppose I should. Not that I like the idea that David might call him Dad," he saw the protest in her eyes and held up a hand, "he is a little boy and it's only understandable that he will turn towards a man who is constantly around him. But that's probably the price I have to pay for being successful in my job." He frowned slightly and then asked, "What's he ... what's his name by the way?"

"Angel."

"Angel? An unusual name, wouldn't you say? Nevermind, what's he doing?"

"Several things. He's financially independent. Why?"

"Just curious I think," Brent replied. "Alright then. I think I'll better leave you on your own now. I'm going to take the kids for some hours. Unfortunately I have to be back in New York tomorrow noon, so I'll be taking a late flight."

"Sure, as I said, they'll be happy to see you. Tell mom, I'm calling her later."

"Okay," he nodded and was already walking towards the door, when he turned again and looked at her, "As much as I hate to admit it Buffy, but I think I never saw you so happy before."

She smiled in response, "That's because I am happy. Have a nice day with the kids."

"Yeah," he grinned, "and you with ... well, whatever you are doing."

When he was out of the door, Buffy smiled to herself and then began to laugh, God, what a morning. 

Part 15

"He should've been here since an hour," Buffy said nervously walking up and down at the window of her mother's house. She hadn't seen Angel since the last weekend. He'd left on Sunday evening and an emergency case Gunn was running had kept him in L.A. the whole week. But it was Friday night and the former vampire had called only three hours ago that he was on his way. In fact they were all on their way because Giles was staying in Sunnydale for the weekend and they would all meet him at Willow's house where he was staying for the time.

"Calm down, honey," Joyce smiled at her daughter from her spot on the sofa where she had been reading a book to David. The boy had fallen asleep after some time and his head was resting in his grandmother's lap.

"Yeah, calm down mom," Ashlynn agreed, "Angel will be here soon. He loves you."

Raising a brow Buffy turned towards her daughter, "And how do you know that?," she asked.

"Because we talked about it. Last Sunday in the park, when you were gone with David for a moment, I asked him, if his intentions were honest."

The former slayer was stunned for a moment while Joyce bit her lower lip not to laugh out loud. Buffy had to clear her throat before she could speak again, "Uhm ... well ... what do you know about honest intentions?"

"Dad was talking about it. When he took us to the zoo on Saturday," Ashlynn looked at her mother with serious eyes.

"I see," the blonde replied, biting her cheek. "Well, and Angel told you he loved me."

"Hmmm," the girl said and smiled, "he told me he loved you since you were a teenager," now she giggled, "and then he said he would only leave if you told him so. Mom," Ashlynn asked concerned when she saw tears forming in her mother's eyes, "are you okay?" Buffy gave her a brilliant smile, "Perfectly fine, darling. You like Angel, don't you?"

"Yeah, he's nice. He always plays with me, he talks to me," she looked down in  her lap, "not like dad."

"Oh, darling," the former slayer walked over to her daughter and kneeled down in front of her. "Your dad loves you very much, he's just so busy at the moment. But never doubt that he loves you."

"He said he loved me," Ashlynn sniffed a little bit, "but people who love each other want to be with each other. And dad didn't call for over eight weeks."

Buffy stroked the girl over her head, then cupped her chin, so that she had to look into her eyes, "Your dad had just started a new job, he has a new apartment ...."

"And a new girlfriend," her daughter remarked.

"He told you?," her mother was surprised.

Ashlynn nodded, "He said she is nice and she wants to meet me," she glanced at the sleeping form of her brother, "us. But mom, I don't want to go to New York. And I don't want to see this Danielle."

"But maybe she is nice," Buffy tried to improve her daughter's mood. "After all your dad married me once and you like me too."

"Yeah," her daughter wasn't really convinced. "And I promise you don't have to go to New York if you don't want to," the former slayer added. "Your dad will understand it. Maybe they can come here for a weekend and you can get to know each other. What do you think?"

"'kay," Ashlynn nodded.

"Better now?"

"Hmmm." It still didn't sound happy. So Buffy pulled her daughter with a sigh to her. Over the head of the girl she met her own mother's eyes and saw understanding there. She could remember a smiliar conversation between them only too clearly.

When the doorbell rang Ashlynn pulled back and her mood had brightened in an instant, "That's Angel. I'll go." And with this she ran to the door and pulled it open. Beaming at the former vampire, she threw her arms around his waist.

"Hey," he chuckled at the unexpected greeting and curiously looked at Buffy who had followed her daughter. "What happened?" But the former slayer just shook her head in the negative and her eyes were signaling him she would explain later. So he turned his attention back to the girl still clinging to him. "Ashlynn," he said and when she looked up he reached into his pocket and produced a book for her. "I brought you something."

"For me?," her eyes went wide with joy and she pushed the little pang away that her father hadn't brought her anything last weekend. Angel at least seemed to really like her. "Thankyou," she breathed, holding the book with trembling fingers. She gestured for him to bent down and when he did she kissed him soundly on the cheek. Then she turned and stormed away, "Grandma, grandma, Angel brought a book for me! Look!"

Angel chuckled again but he sobered when he saw the tears in Buffy's eyes, "Hey, is something wrong?," he asked and opened his arms.

She went into them and they held each other for a moment. "Later," she mumbled against his chest and then breathed deeply, "I'm so glad you are here. You don't know what this meant to her. Thankyou."

"You're welcome," he replied and pressed her even closer for a moment, then pulled back. "I'm sorry we are late. It's Cordelia's fault. She couldn't decide on a dress," he rolled his eyes and made Buffy smile. "Just let me say hello to your mom and then we should go. I'm sure they're already waiting for us with dinner."

"Probably," she replied and reluctantly left his arms.

He walked into the living-room and smiled, "Hi Joyce," he said and the older woman (well, not really older) smiled back. They'd met already last Sunday when he and Buffy had collected the kids and to his surprise she seemed very supportive to their relationship. But then, he was human now and her major problem with him had always been the fact that he was a vampire.

"Hello, Angel. It seems wherever you go, the females are smiling," she looked at her grand-daughter who was flipping happily through the new book and then at Buffy who was smiling now as well. Smiling at both of them, she added, "See you tomorrow them."

"Bye mom," Buffy leaned down and kissed her mother on the cheek, then she and Angel left the house.

As soon as she closed the door Angel stopped her, "Will you tell me now what was happening in there?"

She sighed deeply and looked at him, "Ashlynn has a hard time with her father so far away. She thinks he doesn't care for her anymore and it hurts her. I can understand her so well, Angel, and still can't really help. Only her father could and although I believe Brent that he loves his children ...," she trailed off.

He reached out and stroked her cheek with his thumb, "I will never understand how a job can be more important than your own family. I mean I realise that couples are getting divorced and all, but to move that far away that you can only see your kids at some weekends or during holidays," he shook his head. "I'm sorry, I didn't want to make you even more sad with this."

"No," she covered his hand on her cheek with her own, "you didn't. In fact you did the perfect thing with your present."

"I've got something for David as well, but he was sleeping," he said and made her smile.

"How did I ever manage to live without you," she asked in wonder.

"Well hopefully you won't have to do it again," he replied and kept his voice as casual as possible, not wanting to make her uncomfortable. She had said she loved him, but he wasn't sure how she thought about a permanent commitment. The whole week he'd made inquiries about houses in Sunnydale and had finally found one, he'd looked at just before.

That had been the real reason they had been late, but he didn't want to tell her yet. He wanted her and the children to live there with him, but he wasn't sure if she was ready for it.

"Hey," came a loud voice from the convertible, "are you coming at any time soon or are we forced to watch this PDA the whole evening?"

They both chuckled at Cordelia's mocked annoyance, Angel pressed Buffy quickly to him, then they turned towards the car. 

Part 16

"Come in, come in," Willow ushered the people in front of her door inside and flashed them a smile. Cordelia was her old self and Buffy ... the former slayer seemed to light up from the inside whenever Angel was around. Ever since they had worked out their issues the blonde was radiating with happiness and in the former vampire's eyes there was an expression of contentment and joy that warmed the red-head's heart.

"Is everyone here already," Buffy asked and craned her neck to see who was sitting in the living-room. She frowned, "No kids?"

"No," Willow shook her head and grinned, "They are with my mom. We have a children-free evening and night. Even Xander left his little ones with his mom. Ever since Mark was born, Mrs. Harris has suddenly realised she's got a son," she explained looking at Angel.

"So this is an only-adults night," Cordelia said with a grin. "Too bad Giles is around, no way we can tell dirty jokes then. We would embarrass him all the time."

"He certainly blushes easily," the former witch agreed. Tara and Willow had lost all their witchcraft as soon as the hellmouth had been closed, now the trio was running a software company with great success. She turned to Buffy, "He doesn't know about Angel yet," she told her. "I mean of course he knows about Angel being human and all, but I didn't want to tell him about you two on the phone." She gave them a concerned glance, suddenly feeling that she should've told him after all.

"That's okay, Willow," the former vampire put a comforting hand on her arm, "Until last weekend it wasn't even official. But he does know I'm coming tonight?"

"Yes," the red-head replied with a smile.

Angel had seen the former watcher only once after he became human. It had actually been in New York shortly after he'd married Anna. Giles had been staying there for the promotion of his first book and Anna, being a reporter, had to write a review about the book and made an interview with the author. The meeting had been under friendly terms, but Angel always felt a bit uneasy around Giles.

It wasn't that he didn't like him, actually he liked him a lot and admired the Englishman for his great knowledge about demons, but ever since he'd lost his soul for a second time and his demon had killed Jenny and tortured the former watcher he couldn't get over the images in his head. Angel wasn't on his usual guilt-trip anymore, but it was one thing to let go of past crimes - even if one hadn't commited them - and another to be confronted with one of your victims, who had also lost someone by the same hands.

So he took a deep breath and ran a nervous hand through his hair, before he walked after Cordelia and Gunn into the living-room. He felt Buffy squeezing his hand and flashed her a quick smile.

"Giles?," Willow smiled at the ex-watcher who was chatting with Oz and Tara. Xander and Anya were sitting near by but seemed to be engaged in a private discussion.

The former watcher looked up and a warm expression entered his eyes when they fell on the blonde, "Buffy," he smiled warmly at her, got up and enclosed her in a strong hug. "It is so good to see you."

"You too," she said when they pulled back. "It has been so long."

"It has," he agreed, then his eyes wandered to the other newly arrived. "Cordelia and this has to be the new husband of yours, right?"

The brunette grinned, "That's Gunn. Gunn that is Giles, he probably knows more about demons you can ever imagine." Gunn nodded at the Englishman.

"Angel," Giles held out his hand and the former vampire took it at once.

"Giles, so good to see you."

"It's really wonderful to be here," the former watcher smiled. "It's like coming home." He shook his head and laughed, "Maybe it classifies me as mad that I see this town as my home. But we went through so much here."

Everyone looked at him and nodded, but a special look passed between former watcher and vampire. There was no resentment in Giles' eyes, only a certainty that the past was over and done and that nothing could turn back the years. Angel released a breath he hadn't even realised he was holding and relaxed instantly.

Xander broke the mood, when he suddenly rubbed his hands on his thighs and asked, "Now that everybody's here can we start dinner? I'm famished!"

*

"I can't believe you had a cyber-relationship with a demon," Tara shook her head and smiled at Willow. They were all sitting around the table in the dining-room over homemade Pizza and were laughing about old times.

"But I did. It was the first time a boy seemed to be interested in me," the red-head shuddered thinking back to Moloch, who'd been trapped in a book for centuries and then released into the Internet. "And then they took me, but Buffy and Xander arrived in time and of course in the end we won."

"I still think the funniest thing was when Xander wanted to use a love-spell on me," Cordelia grinned.

"Oh, oh, I remember," Willow said excitedly, "And then all the girls in school had the hots for him."

"All the women in Sunnydale," Buffy said drily. "Even my mom."

Giles swallowed the bit of pizza he'd been chewing, "Excuse me?"

"I obviously never told you," the former slayer chuckled. Then she looked at Gunn who seemed lost as was Anya, "Xander was angry with Cordelia because she was giving him the cold shoulder and so he asked Amy to do a love-spell for him. It backfired and all the women were after him."

"There you see what the men do for you," the black man grinned at his wife.

"You never used a love-spell on me," Anya shot her husband a sharp look, but didn't comment any further.

Angel chuckled, and Buffy turned to her lover, "What?"

"Not only humans had the hots for him," he said.

"Oh no, you don't," Xander protested.

"What?"

"What?"

"What?" came from all sides.

"Come on, tell us," Buffy begged and grinned at the former vampire.

He grinned as well and leaned back in his chair while Xander blushed in embarrassment, perfectly aware what was going to come. "Well, Drusilla fell for him as well."

"Excuse me, please?," the former slayer stared at him as did all the others. "Drusilla? Loony-tunes Drusilla? Spike's Drusilla?"

Angel took Buffy's hand in his and kissed it, not noticing that Giles raised a curious brow. They hadn't told him about Buffy and Angel yet and so he watched them with surprise. "The very same," the former vampire confirmed. "Angelus was at your house and saw Xander in your bedroom window. He jumped up on the roof and pulled him out there, sending Xander flying down on your lawn. He was about to bit him when suddenly Dru appeared and saved his life."

Buffy had watched Angel telling the story and she wanted to cry in happiness when she heard him talking about it with nothing but a smile in his eyes.

"You can't be serious," Cordelia laughed hard, "you mean Xander owes Drusilla his life?"

"Yeah," the former vampire confirmed. "She was allover him."

"Xander, Xander," Willow shook her head, grinning broadly, "it seems there's stuff even I don't know about."

"Very funny," he muttered under his breath. Then he suddenly grinned as well, "And I remember a night when we went to that vapire-wannabe club and Angel was all unfriendly and then this guy walked towards us dressed all alike."

They all laughed at the memory, when Giles cleared his throat and looked at his former slayer, "Uhm ... Buffy, you and Angel, is there anything I don't know about you?"

"Oh," Buffy slapped her own forehead. "We forgot. Sorry Giles," she gave him an apologetic smile, "Yes. There is," she smiled at the man beside her, "we're back together."

The Englishman smiled irritatedly, "But I thought you were married, Angel."

"No, I'm divorced. For more than a year now."

"Ah," Giles nodded. "Well than I say congratulations. Somehow I always felt this would happen in the end."

"Then you knew more than we," Angel replied.

"But we're sure glad, it worked out that way," Buffy added and leaned her head at the former vampire's shoulder. In response he planted a kiss on her skull.

"I always thought the way the Initiative-guys were running around, with their uniforms, masks and teaser-guns was just laughable," Anya said out of the blue.

Buffy quickly glanced up at Angel, but he was relaxed and didn't mind the subject at all. He just looked at her and smiled.

"Talking about the Initiative, does anybody know what happened to Riley?," Tara asked.

"No," Buffy shook her head. "I only know that he went to South America after he left."

"I believe," Giles took a sip from his wine and when he saw everyone looking at him expectantly, he continued, "I heard about a demon hunting team fighting in Brasil in the last battle, shortly before we closed the hellmouth. Only a few of them survived, but I can't say if Riley was one of them or if he was even there."

"He might have been," the former slayer said, then shrugged, "I never tried to contact him and he didn't try either. We might have been together for a while, but we were never really close."

"Yeah," Xander nodded, thinking about the last conversation he'd had with Buffy when Riley had left Sunnydale. He had to laugh inwardly at his attitude then. Seeing Angel and Buffy together now it seemed almost ridiculous.

"How's Wesley by the way?," Giles asked taking another piece of pizza.

"He's fine," Angel replied. "I'm sure he would've like to see you, but he isn't in the States at the moment. He went to England for a short vacation. He planned it before we heard you were coming to Sunnydale. But he sends his best wishes, also for the new book."

The former watcher smiled, "Ah, the new book."

"I hear it's a great success already," Xander was happily chewing his pizza.

"That's what I'm told," Giles confirmed. "Now, Willow told me you've planned a trip with all the children tomorrow. I'm really looking forward to it."

"It'll be great," the red-head was all excitement. "We're driving to a nice spot outside Sunnydale. Mrs. Summers is coming too and we're going to have a picnic. Like a big family. It's going to be fun."

"Yeah," Xander agreed. "And we'll have lots of junkfood." "Xander," Buffy warned. "I don't want my children to be sick in the evening only because of that stuff."

"Where is everyone staying for the night?," Giles asked couriously.

"Cordy and Gunn are staying with us," Xander announced. "Buffy's apartment is too small and they wouldn't be able to sleep there anyway, with all the moaning going on."

"Xander!," Buffy blushed with embarrassment and burried her face in Angel's chest. The former vampire shot Xander a warning glance.

"What?," he grinned, "Do you want to tell me you can keep your hands off of each other at night after all the time you were apart and especially after you haven't seen each other for the whole week?"

"Which leads me to another question?," Giles said and smiled fatherly at Buffy and Angel. "What will happend with the two of you? I mean you say you are together now, but what do you intent to do with it?" 

Part 17

Buffy closed the door of her apartment behind her and for the tenth time gave Angel an apologetic look. "I'm so sorry, but I should've warned you that Giles tends to go into full father-mode sometimes."

"It's okay," he assured her and pulled her into his arms.

"I didn't want him to corner you like that. After all we're only back together for a week and the last thing on your mind probably is a commitment and ..."

He silenced her with a passionate kiss and when they pulled back they were both slightly breathless.

"Wow," she whispered.

"Yeah, wow," he agreed. "Buffy," he put a finger under her chin to make her look at him, "I don't mind Giles asking, actually there's something I want to ask you myself, but I wasn't sure if it was the right time ..."

"What?", she interrupted him.

"I ... I really don't want to make you feel uncomfortable or pressed and so ..."

"Angel," she said impatiently. "Just tell me."

He let go of her and walked over to the living-room, "It wasn't Cordelia's fault we were late tonight," he began and poured himself a glass of red wine. He knew that Buffy liked to drink red wine from time to time and although he wasn't much for alcohol, he welcomed it now. He was terribly nervous, although he told himself he didn't need to be. All she could say was no and that wouldn't mean their relationship was over. But he wanted it so badly, it was so important to him that he couldn't control his nerves.

"It wasn't Cordelia," she repeated his words and waited for him to continue.

"No," he took a sip from the wine, "the reason we were late was that we were looking ... no, I was looking at a house here in Sunnydale."

"You did what?"

He finally turned back to her and his words came out in a rush, "I don't want to be so far away from you, so I thought about moving to Sunnydale. So Cordelia searched the net for me. She came up with three possibilities. An apartment and two houses. The apartment wasn't an option, and so we looked at the houses. One of them is really nice and I signed the contract just before I arrived at your mother's house." He took another big gulp from the wine and looked at her.

"I see," she said slowly and stepped closer. "Well I for once like the idea of you living closer to us." He put the glass down, then shoved his hands into his pockets and clenched them into fists inside, "That's not all."

"It is not?", she raised her brows.

"No," he shot her an irritated glance. Her attitude was making him even more nervous than before. "The house I rented is really nice. There's even an option to buy it. It has six bedrooms and a nice garden and it's ... it's actually too big for me. But I thought you might consider ... well, that is I hoped ...," he took a deep breath, "would you consider to move in with me. You and the kids?"

She stared at him. The expressions on her face changed so quickly that he couldn't make out their meaning. After some minutes he became impatient.

"Buffy?"

"Huh?," she asked as if she hadn't understood what he'd said.

"I ..."

Suddenly she seemed to snap out of her daze, "Yes."

"What?"

"I said yes, the answer is yes." She flung herself into his arms and sprinkled kisses allover his face, "yes, yes, yes, yes, yes," she said again and again. "Oh yes, I want to live with you. I want to wake up with you, go to bed with you and don't worry about the kids. They love you anyway. David adores you and Ashlynn might even be a little bit in love with you." She beamed up into his smiling face. "Did I already tell you that I love you."

"Yeah," he kissed the tip of her nose, "but you can say it as often as you want. I'll never grow tired of it." He felt like the king of the world and he wanted to shout it out, how much he loved her and that she was his now. And nobody, he vowed to himself, nobody would take her away from him again.

"Good," she smiled, "because I intend to say it more often. Twice a day at least," she considered her words and then amended, "no, more often. Well, we'll just have to wait and see," she decided finally.

"Oh Buffy," his voice was full of emotion, "When?"

"As soon as you want us."

"Tomorrow."

She laughed, "Well, as much as I like the idea, but tomorrow we're going to have this picnic with the gang."

"Damn," he grinned. "But maybe on Sunday."

"We should at least ask the kids," she tried to slow down his enthusiasm a little bit, although the joyous expression on his face took her breath away.

"Oh," he seemed a bit disappointed, "yes, of course."

"They'll say yes, I'm sure," she assured him. "They don't like the apartment very much anyway, but I didn't want to stay in the house. With you on the other hand ...," she trailed off and planted a kiss on his Adam's apple.

"God, I can hardly wait, I can't believe you actually said yes."

"Did you really doubt it?"

"I ... I wasn't sure," he admitted honestly, "I thought it might be too fast and ..."

"But Angel, I waited almost 15 years for this. Nothing can be too fast," she kissed him on the mouth. "And now that we have worked that out and we're going to move in with you, can we go over to the really important things tonight?"

"Really important things, huh?," he teased.

"Hmmm," she purred and opened the first button of his shirt, kissing the warm skin on his chest. "You smell wonderful," she whispered.

Angel closed his eyes at the sensations her kisses initiated in him. His heartbeat accelerated and he could feel the blood rushing through his veins. "Buffy," he murmured when her hands moved over his chest and he felt them through the thin material of his silken shirt. It was as if fires were burning wherever she touched him.

"Maybe we should finish this somewhere else," she smiled up at him.  

Part 18

4 weeks later ... the moving in has been going smoothly and now Angel, Buffy and the kids are living in his new house.

"That's not possible," Buffy replied staring at the doctor sitting in front of her. "That's simply not possible. I've only been with one man and he's infertile. He told me himself."

Dr. Greene grinned, "Well, possible or not, the tests don't lie, Buffy, you are one hundred percent pregnant."

"But ... but..." the former slayer was stunned speechless. Her mind was in overdrive. She was pregnant. And it was Angel's, it had to be Angel's, there was no other possiblity. If the former vampire hadn't told her about his infertility she wouldn't have been surprised. The way they were going at it ...  "The only man I've been with was tested to be infertile," she repeated her words from before. "Is it possible that something like that changes?"

"Anything is possible," Barbara Greene replied with a smile on her face. "Maybe the tests weren't that thorough before, I don't know."

Buffy shook her head in amazement as the facts really sunk in. She was pregnant with Angel's baby. Angel would have a child. Hers and his and then a smile spread over her face. "That's wonderful news," she said. "How far am I along?"

"About four or five weeks I'd say," Dr. Greene said, looking at the sheets in front of her. "We will know it exactly as soon as we make an ultrasound. Maybe we should set a date now. How about next week?," she asked, flipping through her timeplanner.

"Next week is fine," the former slayer nodded. "And I'll bring the father too, God, he's going to be so happy," there were tears in her eyes now. "He really thought he couldn't have kids."

"I'm glad it's good news," Barbara smiled, "It isn't usual to go to a routine check and come back pregnant."

"Probably not, but believe me when I tell you that in my life rarely something went the usal way."

*****

"Wow," Willow said in awe at the other end of the line. "And Angel? What's he saying about this?"

"Will, I haven't told him yet," Buffy bit her lower lip. "He's in L.A. for the day and won't be back before tonight. But I just *had* to tell somebody."

"And so you called me," the red-head's voice sounded happy. "Well, I am your best friend after all."

Buffy heard the noises of a keybord through the line, "Willow am I disturbing something?", she asked.

"No," came the quick reply. "I'm just sending an e-mail while we talk. Now, there, ready. Sorry for that Buffy, but it was an important message that had to leave the office now," she sighed. "I'm really not sure what's going to happen in here when I stop working in some months."

The former slayer chuckled, "I think Oz and Tara will manage."

"I truly hope so," she let out another sigh. "I don't want to come back and find all my files out of order or gone or ..."

"Stop," Buffy grinned to herself, "You're paranoid, Willow. Oz managed the business before. Remember you already had a child?!"

"Yeah, I know. But the company has grown so much since then. Well, I can't change it, can I."

"No, I suppose not."

"I just see it's almost one p.m." Willow said looking at the clock on the wall. "How about some lunch. We can talk a little bit more about babies and stuff."

"Oh yes," Buffy agreed wholeheartedly, "I want to tell Angel so much, but I want to see his face then and for that I can't use the phone. So this lunch-thing is a great idea, get's my mind off for a while, keeps me enternained, so to say. But I have to be at Ashlynn's school at three-thirty to pick her up. I left David with mom before I went to the doctor and pick him up later. So I'm totally free until three-thirty."

"Fine with me. I have to get back to work then. So how about we meet at that new coffee shop and have some salad?"

"Great, see you in ... half an hour?"

"Yes, see you then.

Go to Part 19