PART 11

Buffy awoke before dawn and being extra careful not to wake Angel, she slipped out off the bed and got ready. Then she headed downstairs feeling like she'd overdosed on happy pills. Buffy started the coffee and gathered the food to start breakfast. She was just about to start it when she heard a car pull up she opened the back door. "Morning Wils... Fritz" she said greeting her friend and the dog.

"Hi Buffy... am I too early?"

"Nope, besides you're the one who has to catch an early flight" Buffy told the redhead, "Do you want some coffee?"

"I can't... Tara's in the car" Willow replied. Then she quickly asked, "Are you okay? I'm worried about you."

"I'm fine. Fritz will be fine. So go and have a good time with Tara" Buffy told her.

As soon as Willow left the radio buzzed, signalling that Doyle wanted to talk. She keyed the radio while telling Fritz to shut up. "What's up Doyle?" she finally asked.

"Checkin' in" Doyle replied.

"Great... You want breakfast?"

"I thought you'd never ask" Doyle exclaimed.

"Come over when you're ready and use the back door" she said signing off. Buffy looked down at a sad eyed Fritz, "Sorry Fritzi, but I'm too busy to play with you." Then she quickly set about starting breakfast.

Doyle looked exhausted when she let him in a few minutes later. "Hey neighbour" he said holding out a cup, "Can I borrow a cup of somethin'?"

"Wow... so original" Buffy teased. "Remind me to fill it before you leave."

"As long as you fill it with something edible" he told her.

Buffy got him a cup of coffee as he sat down he muffled a yawn. "Stop it" she told him, "You're making me feel guilty."

"Don't Buff. I figure this is great practice for two o'clock feedings."

Buffy smiled, "Okay, changing the subject. How was your watch?"

"Slow..." he replied taking a sip of coffee. "You make great coffee, Buff. If Cordy didn't already own me heart and soul, I'd become your slave for a pot of this every mornin'"

"One of these days that mouth of yours is gonna get you in trouble. How do you want your eggs?"

"Scrambled" he said laughing. "Cordy can't face one any other way and now I'm addicted. So where's Angel?"

"Asleep" Buffy said bringing him his food.

"Where's ya brekkie?"

"I'm gonna eat with Angel" she told him.

"Okay, but a least get a cuppa coffee while ya keep me company," Doyle said. After Buffy had sat down Doyle said, "I like him Buff... are ya happy?"

"Yeah."

"In that case... when are ya movin' to LA?"

The sound of laughter woke Angel a few minutes later. He rolled over and reached for Buffy, she was gone, but she'd been there... not like all those other times. He felt good... alive... whole again. The weariness and strain that been overwhelming him lately was gone. Last night... actually this morning... was an accident and ill timed, but no way did he regret it. And now that he knew how special and necessary their love was, he knew that he'd never be able to resist her again. Angel heard more laughter (Buffy's) and felt a desperate urge to be there sharing it with her, he sat up and tried to get up but his feet connected with something small and furry. "What the..." he looked down and saw the dog, "So you're Fritz. You're gonna be trouble... I just know it."

Back downstairs, Buffy wiped the tears of laughter from her eyes. "Alright, stop the jokes and tell me what you think. Is it a good idea or not?"

Doyle laid down his fork. "It's great, but I'm the one getting the deal. Now, if I were ya banker... I'd be havin' a heart attack."

"Hey, I'm serious" she told him.

"Buff... are ya sure?"

"Totally and I'm sure Angel will be too."

Doyle rubbed his neck, "I'll admit... I'd be a fool to say no."

"So say yes," she said.

He jumped from his chair and swung her from hers, shouting "YES! YES! YES!"

"Doyle! Shh... You'll wake Angel."

"Good, it's time to celebrate. You are more than a friend, Buff. You're a dream!"

Buffy burst out laughing. The sound of a throat being cleared behind them made them turn around.

PART 12

Angel leaned against the wall watching them, his arms folded across his chest. "Good morning. Is this where you convince me that things aren't what they seem?" he asked.

Buffy rushed over to him, "We woke you up... I'm sorry.

"I'm not" he said giving her a good morning kiss, "Now what's all this celebrating about?"

"Nothing much. I just talked Doyle into buying my house, so I'll be able to join you in LA... right after I give notice."

Angel's face brightened, it was good news. He'd been secretly worried about them being separated when he went home.

"Wow... I think he's happier than I am" Doyle exclaimed. "Cordy'll be thrilled, we need a bigger place with the baby comin'... and we don't have much of a deposit..."

"It's enough for me," Buffy told Doyle. "Sit down Angel and I'll get your breakfast."

Angel did as he was told and then turned his attention to Doyle. "How was your watch?"

"Quiet."

"He should strike soon. At this point he's probably broke and hungry, that should narrow his options" Angel said.

"Unless he's come into money" Doyle suggested. "I'll call the station and check on any muggings or burglaries in the past twenty four hours that match our boys MO."

"Good idea."

Doyle finished his coffee and stood up. "Now if ya will excuse me, I believe I have a few calls to make and then I'm gonna sleep. I'll tell HQ to call here when they know somethin'. Holler if ya need me and thanks for the food."

"Don't forget this" Buffy handed him the cup he'd brought, now filled with chocolate biscuits. She let Doyle out and returned just in time to serve Angel's breakfast. "Just right" she murmured dishing up his eggs.

"Buffy, they're just eggs" he said amused.

"Hey... I'm trying to make you the perfect breakfast here" she replied.

"It's already perfect... I'm here with you and we're alone... except for the mutt. How can you improve on that?" he said as he kissed the curve of her neck and shoulder.

"Angel..." she said, "Your breakfast is gonna end up on the floor if you keep that up."

He laughed, "And so will we."

She tilted her head to accept his kiss and then broke away, to put the food down on the table so she didn't drop it.

"I missed you when I woke up" he whispered.

"Duty called" she told him, "But I did hate leaving you."

"Congratulations. That was the right answer, you win."

"What do I win?" she asked.

"This." He lowered his head and kissed her. By the time Angel lifted his head they were both breathless.

Buffy changed the subject before they got carried away. "Eat the food."

He took a bite and said, "This is great. Are you sure about selling to Doyle?"

Buffy frowned, "I know I should've talked with you about it, but once the idea popped into my head... I got carried away. Sharing decisions is something I'm gonna have to get used too."

"That's not what I meant... it's your house. So it's your decision about what to do with it," he said.

"That's not how I want it... Hear me out," she said as he began to argue. "I know how much you still owe..."

"No" he said adamantly. "Do you think I want to start off our marriage by using your money to clean up my mess?"

"I prefer to look at it as a means of solving a problem... a problem that's been keeping us apart for too long already" Buffy answered.

"Don't use logic on me. It's not right" Angel replied.

His expression was so adorably stubborn that she had to look away to keep from smiling. "It is when you consider the alternative."

"What?" he asked.

"The one that will have you in LA for the next six or so months and leave me here. But if that's the way you want it... Doyle and Cordy will be disappointed... maybe I could catch him before he calls her with the news."

"You know he's already told her."

"Probably."

He narrowed his eyes, "You were never going to go along with my suggestion were you?"

"Nope."

Angel sighed, "Make me."

"Huh?"

"Make me change my mind. Make me realise that I can't be away from you."

She leaned over and kissed him, teasing light kisses, denying him the intensity that he craved. He pulled her close to him, "Let's go upstairs?"

"I thought this was gonna be my big seduction scene?"

"Oh... it was" Angel told her as he scooped her into his arms and headed for the stairs.

PART 13

A few hours later Buffy was wandering around the house with nothing to do (Angel was asleep, so no fun there), after a couple of minutes she decided to call Cordy. She picked up the phone and dialled.

"Hello?" Cordy answered.

"Hey Cor."

"I knew it was you!" Cordy said, "Doyle told me not to call and bother you... so I'm glad you eventually called me. How's it going?"

"I'm bored... yet exhausted."

Cordy laughed and then made a hissing sound.

"What's wrong?" Buffy demanded instantly.

"... Nothing, just a little indigestion."

"Are you sure?" Buffy pressed.

"Yes mom" Cordy replied sarcastically.

Buffy wasn't fully convinced but she kept her mouth shut. "Okay, what disgusting craving have you been eating?"

"You know me so well. Let's see... it was probably the cream cheese and sardine sandwiches."

"Eww. I'm sorry I asked" Buffy told her.

"Just wait until it's your turn" Cordy teased.

"Whatever Cor. You seem to be in a good mood otherwise..." Buffy said.

"Totally."

"I guess this means you're gonna take the house?"

"When can I come over and help you pack?" Cordy answered.

Buffy smiled, "Thanks. The least you could do is say you'll miss me... maybe a few tears."

"You know I'll miss you" Cordy told her quietly. "But I'm dying to know the details about this guy... Doyle says he's a hottie."

"Doyle said that?" Buffy asked in disbelief.

"Well... with Doyle you have to read between the lines" Cordy amended, "But I'm right aren't I?"

"Yeah... Angel's the best."

"So when do I get to meet him?" Cordy asked.

"After I have a ring on my finger" Buffy teased.

Cordy's laughter took a while to subside. "Thanks, you just made my day. But lets not get off the subject... you. Do you mean to tell me that all this time I've been trying to fix you up and you... had someone all along?"

"No... Angel and I haven't seen each other since I left LA" Buffy told her. "It's a really long story. I guess Doyle told you we used to be partners?"

"Yeah. That's about all he knew... except that you two are nuts about each other. Is he why you left?"

"Yes, I had too. Once we started to feel more... he was married" Buffy confessed.

"Yeouch. That must have been awful for you... but somehow I think you're leaving out the best bits."

"Maybe."

"Tell me this then... If you two are together now... What happened to his wife?" Cordy asked curiously.

"She died... she'd been real sick."

"Whoa, you two did it the hard way. At least you can be together now... I'm so happy for you" Cordy started to cry.

"Thanks, but do you know what gets me?" Buffy told her, "If Finn hadn't been after me, Angel said he probably wouldn't have come after me. He has the monumentally stupid idea that he's not good enough for me."

"Men... Don't you just love them? That's why fate steps in to set things right" Cordy told her.

Buffy groaned, "About Doyle... I'm not comfortable with him involved..."

"Not one more word" Cordy warned, "You're like family. If Doyle hadn't volunteered, I would have drafted him."

They hung up shortly afterward, so Buffy could call the station and find out what was going on.

About an hour later Angel came downstairs and found her reading some trashy romance novel at the table. He leaned over, gently tugging at her ponytail and demanded a kiss. "How was your nap?" she asked.

"Great... except my favourite pillow keeps disappearing," he said kissing her again. "What are you reading?"

Buffy was about to answer when the phone rang. It was Cordy... or at least she thought it was, she was crying and hysterical. "Slow down. Take a deep breath and tell me what's wrong?"

"The baby... Buffy, call Doyle... please, I forgot the number, and... It's too soon!"

Buffy put her hand over the mouthpiece. "Raise Doyle and tell him to get home," she said, "I think Cordy's gone into premature labour."

Then she went back to Cordy, assuring her that everything was under control. "No, I won't hang up" she promised, "I'll talk to you until Doyle arrives. Did you call an ambulance? Good." A little while later Doyle and the medics arrived and Buffy had to hang up.

Angel was beside her and took her into his arms. "It's not fair," she whispered through her tears.

"It'll be okay... you've got to believe that" Angel soothed.

PART 14

There was a knock at the door and Buffy pulled herself out of Angel's arms to answer it. "Hi Xander" she letting her friend inside.

"Hey" he said bending to kiss he cheek.

The two men exchanged looks behind Buffy's back. Xander for once trying to be the mature one extended his hand. "This doesn't have to be binding," he whispered.

"It would make her happy if it was" Angel whispered his reply.

"What are you doing here?" Buffy asked him.

Xander turned his attention to her, "I was worried and I needed to see for myself that you were okay."

"Well, things around here could be better" she told him about Cordy and Doyle.

"Whoa, that's not good" Xander said sympathetic to what his one-time high school sweetheart and her husband must be going through. "Anything new with Finn?" he asked a moment later.

"Nothing much on that front" Angel answered. Xander and he exchanged looks again and Angel suddenly said, "I'm going to call the station and explain what happened with Doyle."

"Thanks" Buffy told him as he walked off.

Xander stared at her for a moment after Angel left. "I know you're used to pressure Buff... but you look tired."

"I'm just worried about Cordy. I'll be fine," she promised.

"I'd better go, but I'm calling later to check up on you" he told her as he left.

Angel heard Xander leave as he picked up the phone. A few minutes later he slammed it down in a fit of temper.

"What's wrong?" Buffy asked concerned, she'd never seen him act like that.

"Backup won't arrive until after ten" Angel told her bitterly.

"Don't worry, we'll get through it. I'd better start dinner," Buffy said suddenly feeling the urge to keep busy to fight of nervousness.

"Okay" Angel said. He began to wander around Buffy's living room, taking a look at her books, when he found something interesting... Buffy's high school yearbook. He picked it up and began to look through it.

A few minutes later Buffy yelled, "I can't take this he should've called by now!"

"Maybe there's nothing to call about" Angel called back.

"Well... he could've called and told us that."

Angel resisted the urge to laugh, "Try to believe that no news is good news."

She came into the room and saw what Angel was reading and grimaced. <Where did he find that? > She thought, <I thought I'd buried it. > "Will you please not look at that?" she asked him.

"No way... Don't be embarrassed everyone hates their yearbook. Besides I think that you looked cute!" he told her.

"Cute! I wanted to look sexy."

"At seventeen?" he asked.

"I always wanted to fit in, be popular," Buffy told him, "I just never quite did."

Angel's heart ached for the pain she must've felt. "I think that you were subconsciously waiting for perfection... me?"

"Idiot" she giggled burying her head in his shoulder.

When the phone finally rang, she leaped off of his lap with a lot more enthusiasm than was appropriate. "Hello? Doyle." She listened briefly and then yelled, "I'm an aunt!"

Angel grinned enjoying Buffy's enthusiasm and the way she began to interrogate Doyle. After a couple of minutes Angel was called to the phone. "Doyle... congratulations... yeah... Are you sure? We'll see you soon then." He hung up and quickly pressed his fingers to her lips before she could protest. "It's the way that he wants it."

"He should stay with Cordy."

"They won't let him stay all night," Angel countered.

"Then he should go home and rest."

"Buff, you heard him. He was in the delivery room with Cordy, he's so wound up... it's going to take him hours to calm down."

"Okay..." Buffy gave in.

He hugged her, "Go finish dinner and I'll cancel the other backup." But when she turned away he stopped her, "Wait. Aren't you going to tell me what the stork brought?"

Buffy smiled, "A girl."

A few hours later Buffy (she and Angel had done a little celebrating), as a bolt of lightening lit up the sky. She saw Angel standing at her bedroom window staring at the approaching storm. "Hey" she said getting up and wrapping her arms around him.

"Hey yourself" he replied kissing her.

She snuggled into his arms and then realised that something or rather someone was missing. "Angel... where's Fritz?"

"Outside."

"When?"

"A couple of minutes ago" he told her. "I'm going to go take a shower... think you can stay out of trouble for ten minutes?"

"I'll try" Buffy replied sarcastically. As soon as Angel was in the bathroom, Buffy dressed and headed downstairs to let Fritz back in. She was almost to the back door when the lights went out and startled she grabbed for her gun.

From upstairs she heard Angel yell, "Buffy!"

"Don't worry," she told him, "It'll be back on soon."

"You sure?"

"Yeah... happens all the time out here." When she heard him resume his shower, she tucked her gun into her shorts and went outside after Fritz.

PART 15

The wind was strong and Buffy had to hold onto the back door to keep from blowing away. She called out for Fritz, but her voice was drowned out by the wind, however she tried it again. Suddenly she had the thought that Fritz might of gotten confused in the storm and headed back to Willow's for safety, then she heard a faint bark and yelp... and she was sure it came from Willow's. "Damn" she whispered. Of all the times fro this to happen... if she went and got him, Angel would surely be the one who'd kill her. But she couldn't leave poor Fritz out there alone... not only was he her responsibility, but she didn't want to think about how upset Willow would be if anything happened to her dog. She made her decision as the first drops of rain began to fall. "Summers" she muttered with resignation, "This is so not the smartest thing you've done." Adjusting the gun in her waistband, she took off running. She raced around the back of Willow's house and saw Fritz... all locked up. She was reaching for the latch when she was yanked back. Then a knife was pressed against her side.

"Freeze... don't even think about moving or I'll do more with this than scratch your pretty skin" Riley Finn whispered. His left hand slid around her waist and removed her gun. "Alright, slowly... turn around. Slowly... keep your hands up" he ordered stepping back from her.

Buffy closed her eyes in disgust and then taking a deep breath to temper her surging adrenaline and pounding heart, she did as her told her.

"Welcome to my party" he said pleased with himself.

"Hello Riley." Her eyes swept over him, lingering on the way he had her revolver pointed at her. He stood about six feet away from her. He looked different than she remembered, but she wasn't going to underestimate him or what he could be capable of.

"Taking inventory?" he sneered, "Me too." His gaze drifted over her, "I think I like you better out of uniform officer Summers. A lot better."

Buffy forced herself to ignore that comment and her rising temper. What was important wasn't her vanity, but buying some time. "That was a good plan" she said, "What did you do, follow me over here?"

"You think I left this to chance? I knew you'd both underestimate me. I planned it all. You thought that you were so clever hiding in the house..."

"Isn't that what you wanted?"

"No... I knew you'd come out eventually," Riley said manically.

"You locked him up... to trap me?"

"Pretty smart, huh?"

"What now?" she replied trying to keep the fear from her voice.

"I'm going to tie ya up and wait for O'Brien to show." He spoke as though it was a normal everyday occurrence, "Turn around."

Buffy knew that letting herself get tied up was the last thing she could afford to do. Angel would be looking for her... all she had to do was get closer to her house, so he could hear her... and not get herself shot in the process. She turned around and prepared to move.

"Put your hands behind your head."

"Riley... this isn't necessary... we can do..."

"Do it!" he snapped poking her in the back with her gun.

She bent at the knees and with all her weight behind her and shot her elbow back into his stomach. He doubled over in pain and Buffy spun around and locked her hands together, driving them into the back of his neck. He fell to his knees, dropping the gun, Buffy grabbed for it but he was quick to recover. He grabbed her ankles and sent her flying back onto the cement. Pain shot up her right elbow (which took all of her weight when she fell), for a moment she was in agony. She recovered in time to see Finn pick up her gun; instinctively she kicked up and knocked it away from him. The kick stunned Finn momentarily and she tried to get away, Finn made a blind grab for her and she ducked, keeping on running. She wasn't fast enough, Riley tackled her and she slipped into unconsciousness as she fell to the ground.

Go to Part 16