DISCLAIMER: Yeah, I wish I owned them. Well actually I do own Lola... but the others, I don't own them. Wouldn't that be nice?
TIMELINE: Future-ish
SPOLIERS: Uhhh, tiny tiny one for Becoming 2.
SYNOPSIS: Buffy and Angel spend a day with their daughter.
DISTRIBUTION: All those people out there who have other fics of mine, or want this one (I pity the person who actually wants this) please take it! (AQ link would be nice though)
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hmm, been a while huh? Well this one is for Elizabeth (hey, I finally did it!) and Doc who are always there bugging me to write :), for Fay and Giles whose angst I am getting sick and tired of, and for Jason. He will probably never read this, but it was his "constructive criticism" that gave me the idea for the beginning. And * indicates thoughts of some sort.
FEEDBACK: Ya know if I did own these characters I might be willing to share with a little feedback... (hint hint)
RATING: PG or PG-13 (nothing too big)

"... and then there was light." - Genesis 1:3

It finally happened. Everything and everyone was risked for this. There is not one person here whose life has not touched mine, and I think that is what kept me going. The fact that they were with me, next to me, throughout thick and thin, in all of my troubles and all of my tribulations. I did it for them. They helped me in so many ways.

It is finally over. And yet, why does the world not rejoice? Perhaps it is because the sky is still gray. This gray... I hate this gray. It lacks... substance. There are no colors when there is gray. There is no black, no white, no red, no blue, no orange. Nothing. Perhaps it is because death still lingers in the air. It is suffocating. It smothers you, an ever-constant reminder that there is always an end. It still may be blood. The blood is the one thing that light up this horrible battleground. I have never seen so many colors. Not just red, but green and yellow, blood that once belonged to living being. Well mostly living beings. Is this why the world's population just sits, unresponsive? Or is it because they never knew?

I am exhausted. Every bone and muscle and organ aches. A pain that seems to worsen with every minute. My eyelids weigh thousands of tons, if not more. I can not even reach a hand to him. To see if he is okay. My soul aches for his touch; he too seems to be in a similar weakened state. But one look at him, just one glance, and all my fears are put to rest. My body summons its last amount of strength and weakly crawls to him. I collapse against his broad chest. My eyes finally close, ready for rest. And just before I fall into my darkness, I feel the beginning of a new day, the beautiful light of its rays bathing me in a warm glow.

"... and then there was light."

*~*

There was something in the air. Anticipation. Brown eyes met green. They dared the girl to make a move. She looked back, mustering as much innocence as possible. A small smile spread on her delicate face. His eyes narrowed, attempting to register what lie beneath the soft emerald pools. After finding nothing he glanced back down swiftly re-memorizing what he held in his hands. His eyes traveled right back up.

"Lola..." he said with a hurried voice.

"What?" she asked, giving him a toothy grin.

He sighed and brought his arm to the table. His head was placed in his large palm, a sign of impatience.

"Fine, go fish!"

Angel brighten a bit, glad to receive something, though he suspiciously eyed her.

"Now you know that I am looking for a ace right?"

"Yes, daddy," she sighed, obviously having heard this once before.

"The card with the little A on it in the corner?"

Lola nodded her head and then brought a hand to place some deep brown curly hair behind her ear. Angel reached into the pile of cards that rested on the table, unhappy to be losing the game to a six-year-old. He pulled out a card and frowned.

Lola giggled lightly before asking him her question.

"Do you have any thirteen's?"

"Lola, there are no thirteen in a deck of cards."

"Yes there are daddy, there are tens, eleven's, "she held a jack up, "twelve's," a queen, "and thirteen's," a king.

"Well, you just think you are the smartest thing in the world huh?" he asked playfully.

"Yep," she laughed.

"Well in that case I don't have any kings."

She raised her eyes to meet his, "How about any thirteen's?"

He laughed, "Nope, none of those either."

*~*

"Mommy!" Lola yelled up the stairs.

"What!" yelled Buffy.

"Telephone! It's for you!"

Buffy balanced a laundry basket on her hip as she reached for the phone in their bedroom. She picked up the receiver and greeted whoever was there. After several apologies to whoever was on the other line and much explaining that she did not wish to own a brand new air conditioner. The one she had was working just fine, she told the woman. Angel strolled into the room, playfully snaking an arm around Buffy's waist, bringing her down to the bed with him.

"Hey!" she laughed.

"Hey what?" Angel smiled, already knowing the answer.

"You know what," she replied before giving him a kiss.

The kiss deepened with Angel's hand roaming around under Buffy's shirt, until a small voice rang into the room.

"Ewwww, that's gross. Daddy has cooties!"

Angel quickly removed his hand from under the shirt and turned around. He sighed.

"Cooties huh? Who has cooties?" he laughed as he got up.

Though trying her best to look scared a smile still crept up her face.

"No one," she peeped.

"No one? I think this little bird said it," he smiled looking at Buffy, "what do you think?"

"I think perhaps it was just you," she winked at her daughter.

Lola winked back, before she and Buffy took off downstairs, Angel chasing them. Both laughing the whole time. He tackled Buffy on the couch and pulled her down with him. She laughed against his chest.

"Tag," he whispered.

"Mmmmm," she said as she kissed him.

And for the second time the couple heard a small voice, "Cooties."

"I'll cootie you!" Angel shouted before grabbing her from behind the couch and placing her on his lap. He began tickling her as she giggled.

"Daddy... he he he.... daddy... stop!" she squirmed.

"Say the magic words."

"Grape monkeys!"

"You got it babe," he released her and stuck out his check, waiting for a kiss.

"Close your eyes," Lola said.

Angel did without hesitation, knowing the true meaning behind the words. Before it might have been awkward for him, bringing only sad memories. But that was the past, and he now was focused on what he did have; he had a beautiful wife and child who he adored.

He felt cool lips on his cheek and warm one on his lips. He loved this. Loved being able to kiss the love of his life anytime he wanted, without worrying what could happen if it deepened. Every day he thanked God for giving him what his heart most desired.

Angel opened his eyes and came face to face with the two most beautiful women in the world. He broke into an even bigger smile and hugged Buffy, losing himself in her long golden locks.

"I love you," he said, continuing his promise to tell Buffy he loved as often as he could. He had learned the hard way that life usually doesn't give you the chance to tell loved ones about your love.

"I love you too," she smiled, her eyes expressing her love for only him.

"Mommy, we have to leave soon?"

Broken from the moment, Buffy glanced at the clock that was placed on the mantel of the fireplace.

"Yeah, baby. We will leave soon. Angel," Buffy said receiving his full attention, "are you coming?"

Angel looked at her quizzingly.

"Gibson's game? Remember?"

Angel searched his brain before remembering that Oz and Willow's child, Gibson, had a basketball game that the small family planned on attending.

"Yes, give me a second to go change," Angel ran upstairs to change into something more presentable than just sweatpants.

"I think I like you like that," Buffy breathed as he dashed up the steps. "Come on, baby girl, we need to put you in some reasonable clothes too."

*~*

"Got the keys?"

"Of course, ready?"

"Sure," Buffy said, pausing to brush a piece of lint from Angel's navy blue polo.

He looked stunning as ever. His still firmly build body now lightly tanned was a constant reminder or everything that the fight was worth. A sunlit Angel. Life could not get more perfect. *Well I guess it will have to.* Buffy smiled to herself.

Angel pulled their car out of the driveway and feel into the usual route to the high school where Gibson played volleyball. Gibson looked just like his father, with red-ish brown hair and stunning blue eyes. He was a great deal taller than his father, standing 5'9, and still growing. It was a mystery to the family, but a pleasant surprise. After entering the gym and spotting Willow, the family sat down.

"Daddy, I'm hungry."

"Well then, do you want to see what they have at the concession stand?"

"Yes please."

Angel turned his attention to Buffy, "We are going to get something to eat, want anything?"

"No thanks. Do you have some money?"

"Of course. Be right back."

Both people left to buy concessions while Buffy stayed behind with Willow. Oz has left to go to the bathroom.

"Wow, she is getting so big," Willow commented after Angel and Lola had left.

"I know, Wills, everyday. Same with Gibson."

"Tell me about it, now he wants to start dating! He has been talking about this girl from school non-stop."

Buffy laughed, "Awww how cute, his first big time crush. What is the leading lady's name?"

"Maela Wellington."

"Oh, sounds pretty."

Willow's eyes scanned the crowd before settling on a person, "She's right over there," Willow pointed.

In the middle of the left bleachers a girl in a red shirt sat watching Gibson as he set a ball in place of a team mate who couldn't get to it fast enough. She had long wild red hair and violet eyes.

"Oh exotic eyes and unruly hair. What ever are you going to do?"

"I don't know. I don't know if I want him to start dating yet, Buffy. He is only fifteen."

"Willow, fifteen is a respectable age for dating. You realize this?"

Willow cast her gaze upon Buffy, "And when Lola reaches fifteen?"

"Oh she won't don't worry. She is going to stay six forever."

Willow laughed at her friend's denial. "And if she doesn't..." she provoked.

"Then Angel will have to beat up every potential candidate that even looks at her," Buffy said with a gleam in her eye.

Willow just sighed.

Angel returned with a very happy Lola and many snacks. He placed a tray in front of Buffy, "I know you said you didn't want anything, but if I know you well enough..."

"Say no more," Buffy grinned as she pulled out a piece of candy from the pile."

"Geeze, Angel, what did you do? Buy out the whole place?" Oz asked with wide eyes.

"Nah," Angel said with a wave of his hand, "but it does go for a good cause."

Buffy gave him a quick kiss on the lips and starting re-watching the game, very aware of Angel's hand on her thigh.

*~*

"Great game Gibson!" Angel said as he walked up to the very tired player.

"We still lost," he said, a bit sadly.

"Yeah, but you played really well, and you lost by two points. I would say that's pretty good, right?"

The first game had been won by the opponents, but the second

Gibson's team had come back, winning it 15 to 5. The third game had gone well into the twenties, with the other team finally taking to two point advantage.

"I think you did great!" Lola said from Gibson's side.

"Thank you," he said, happy to his cousin's point of view. She honestly didn't care what happened, and he liked that.

The two families were walking out of the gym ready to go home and sleep, that game had gone on for a while.

"Ice cream?" Lola asked, happy to be staying up past her bedtime.

"Lola, its too late baby." Angel sighed as he spoke to her, trying to see her up on his shoulders.

"Come on mom, let's go get ice cream," Gibson begged, even though he had homework, he was ready for a treat. Plus it was very very hot outside. And he was still sweaty from the game.

"Fine," Oz said as they headed for the car. The nearest Ice Cream place, The Dairy Palace, was just a few blocks away.

*~*

"What do you want girlie?" Willow asked Lola who stood next to her.

"Ummmm, strawberry?"

"Sure, Buffy, Angel, what do you guys want? My treat."

Buffy groaned, "No Willow, you treated last time, we should be asking, what do you want?"

"Trust me guys, I got it, now what do you want?"

"Cookie dough," Buffy said.

"Fudge mint chip," Angel answered.

Willow ordered for them both, and protested when Buffy handed the money to the cashier before Willow could say anything. Buffy smiled in triumph, and took her cone.

Outside Buffy and Angel took turns licking each other ice cream, blending the tastes to make their own personal ice cream flavor. Lola was on the swings in a play set in the well-lit park not three feet from where they stood. Gibson pushed her, telling her about what her teachers were going to be like next year in school.

"Beloved, it doesn't get much better than this," Angel said licking his ice cream.

"No, I don't believe it does," Buffy said, leaning again his chest in the same way she did so many years ago, closing her eyes. And though the sun was setting, she didn't need to feel its warmth any longer, she had her Angel to keep her warm.

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