PART 16

When Angel had finished his shower and dressed, he started downstairs. Halfway down he almost slipped and he called out to Buffy, "Hey... Are there any flashlights around? A guy could break his neck." When there was no answer, he said "Buffy?"

He groped his way into the kitchen, a flash of lightening illuminated the room and he saw the back door wide open. Dread convulsed in his stomach and sent a bitter taste into his mouth. He swallowed, raised his gun and stealthily walked towards it. Holding to the wall, he looked outside (the best he could) and saw nothing, he burst from the house in a crouch. He wheeled around, then rose, she wasn't there, no one was. The temptation to call for her was almost irresistible, but Angel pushed it away. The temptation to go looking for her was equally strong, but he knew what he had to do first: call for backup. He charged inside and grabbed the phone it was dead. Cursing viciously, he jammed it back down and headed out again.

He hugged the outside wall, ignoring the rain that drove into him. He paused at the corner, waiting for a flash of light, and then he continued cautiously even though every nerve in his body screamed for him to hurry. His foot bumped into something metallic. He bent and picked it up it was the power meter! Finn had been the one to cut the power and not the storm. "Son of a..." Angel flung it away and groped for the side of the house. If Finn had been smart enough to do this (and that meant Angel had underestimated him), then he probably did the phone in too. "You blew it there" Angel whispered and hoped that the station would pick up on that fact soon.

It had to be that damn dog's fault that Buffy was out here and that now Finn had her. She wouldn't of let herself be taken easily, which meant she was lying out there, somewhere hurt... he had to find her. Crouching low, Angel began moving through the darkness. A forlorn howl broke through the rain and Angel stiffened, Fritz! The sound had come from the direction of Willow's house and Angel started running. As he neared the house he stopped and crouched to gain the scope of things. He saw Buffy, unconscious and sprawled against the chain link of Fritz's pen, with one arm tied behind her head. Behind her Fritz was whimpering in concern and nuzzling her. Everything in Angel cried out to go to her, but the trap was obvious and he held back. He moved in cautiously, but Fritz spotted him and gave an excited yelp. When he reached Buffy, he wasn't at all surprised to find that the hand he lifted to her cheek was shaking. Lying there, she looked like a rag doll and until he felt her pulse he wasn't even sure she was breathing.

PART 17

From a distance he'd been confused as to why Finn had tied her up this way. It had seemed too casual, but now the reason was clear, one look at her arm and he knew it was broken. "Buffy... sweetheart... it's me" he whispered, "Wake up... please. I'm going to untie you." That was however easier said than done, Finn has been determined that she stay put and the knots held, especially since Angel was hampered in his movements by the gun in his hand.

Buffy moaned softly as she roused from unconsciousness. At first she thought that she was dreaming, but when she opened her eyes he was really there. "No" she moaned realising the risk he was taking, "Go away... please! It's a trap."

"Hush" he soothed, "I know, but I'm not going anywhere without you." He kept trying to untie her, frustrated he asked, "Where is he? Do you know?"

"Sorry" she grimaced, "I passed out... my arm."

"I know love" he said "Is the pain bad?"

"Not when I look at you."

Angel kept at the rope, "Damn... I can't get this knot... out."

A flash of lightening lit the area and Buffy saw Riley sneaking up. "Angel! Behind you!"

He spun around quickly, but Finn was too close, a searing heat scorched across his shoulder. His gun wobbled and Finn snatched it from him and retreated a few steps, swapping the knife he'd held for the gun.

"Now we're ready to start the trial" he said.

Angel touched his shoulder, glanced at the blood that coated his fingers and wiped them off. Then he turned his attention to the madman. "You're a fool if you think you'll get away with this."

"You're the fool O'Brien... you and your little lady." He laughed, "She gave me more trouble than you did and I respect her for it. That's why I tied her up so nice."

"Gee thanks" Buffy said sarcastically.

The sarcasm was lost on Finn, "You're so polite... I like that."

"If you want to be nice... let her go. She needs to see a doctor" Angel said.

"Relax O'Brien. She's tougher than she looks. She gave me this after she hurt her arm," he said pointing to his split lip. "Besides she can't leave she's a part of all this."

"It's me you've got the gripe with, and we both know it. Leave her out of this."

"Hold it!" warned Finn, "Sit down."

"We're on trial... and you're the judge and jury" Angel jeered, "Why don't you just kill us?"

"Because that's not how it's done in the system, is it? In the system you're innocent until proven guilty... unless you're a cop and then no rules apply and you can shoot anyone you want."

"Whatever they've been feeding you in prison has rotted your brain" Angel muttered.

"What's the matter? You get a little touchy when somebody says it the way it is?"

"It was self-defence and you know it" Angel yelled.

"IT WAS MURDER!"

Buffy's eyes widened as Riley aimed at Angel. "Riley" she called, "Let's talk... please."

He smirked, "Plea bargaining already?"

"No... When I start to beg for my life, you'll know it."

"You mean like when you hit me before?" Riley said angrily.

"You didn't give me a choice about that."

"Stop it" Riley said pointing the gun at Buffy.

Angel saw that Riley was distracted and used the opportunity. In one smooth sweep Angel pushed the hand holding the gun into the air... it discharged... and then he smashed it into Riley's knee. Finn cried out, the gun fell, and Angel gave him one final blow to the chin. He was unconscious before he even hit the ground.

PART 18

Buffy draped her head back against the pen and closed her eyes. <Thank God> she thought. Relief and exhaustion flooded over her leaving her numb. She didn't hear Angel approach, but she felt his hands on her face. He gave her a quick kiss and said, "I love you. I was sure we weren't going to survive that."

"I was terrified that he was gonna shoot you" she replied, "You provoked him."

He gave her a sheepish look, "I was cheesed that he managed to sneak up on me."

"Yeah... me too."

Angel looked at her, "Did you really give him a hard time?"

"How did you think I got this?" she demanded nodding to her arm.

Angel shifted into worry mode, "How is it?"

"I'll live... as long as I don't spend eternity tied to Fritz's pen." She tilted her head back trying to look at his shoulder, How's the back? I saw so much blood..."

"It's okay. Hold on... I'll grab Finn's knife and cut you loose." Angel rose and started towards Finn. Then at the sound of an approaching car he jogged up the drive to flag it down. A moment later it pulled up and Doyle jumped out.

"Looks like I arrived late" he apologised. He saw Buffy and rushed over to her, "Buffy. Are you okay?" He touched her cheek and glanced down at her arm. "Is it?"

"It is. You know I'd be willing to swap congratulations for a knife... if you have one?"

"What? Oh, just a sec" Doyle told her.

"That's what they all say" she muttered.

Finally Angel returned with Finn's knife and freed her. "Can you stand?" he asked.

"I think so" she said standing up wobbly.

"I've got to get you to a hospital" he muttered.

"We're both gonna go" she corrected. "But not for a while. We can't leave Finn here alone and neither of us can drive ourselves."

Doyle joined them after handcuffing Finn, who was still out cold. "Want me to call for help?"

"YES" they chorused.

Doyle disappeared for a minute and then came back to keep them company. "They're coming."

They all sat around on the ground, unable to move, exhausted. "How's Cordy?" Buffy suddenly asked.

"Tired" Doyle told them. "Hey... you two can see the baby while you're at the hospital."

Buffy and Angel looked at Doyle and then at each other. Buffy was about to tell Doyle something crude when they heard the arrival of the cavalry.

PART 19

Five Months Later:

//Lying here with you

Listening to the rain

Smiling just to see that smile upon your face

These are the moments I thank God that I'm alive

And these are the moments I'll remember all my life

I've found all I've waited for

And I could not ask for more//

Angel leaned against the bar and watched the couples out on the dance floor. <Nice party> he thought. It had been more than three years since the last police Christmas party he attended. He could hardly believe how much his life had changed since the last one.

//Looking in your eyes

Seeing all I need

Everything you are is everything in me

These are the moments

I know heaven must exist

And these are the moments

I know all I need is this

I've found all I've waited for, yeah

And I could not ask for more//

The bartender approached him, "Can I get you anything?"

"Yeah, some coffee."

The craggy-faced man nodded, "You and the wife about to call it a night?"

"If I can get her off the dance floor" Angel grinned and turned his attention back to the crowd.

//I could not ask for more than this time together

I could not ask for more than this time with you

Every prayer has been answered

Every dream I've had's come true

Yeah, right here in this moment

Is right where I'm meant to be

Here with you, here with me

Yeah//

He found her easily, unaware of how his expression changes. It was hard to believe they'd been married for five months (after the Finn incident neither had wanted to wait and they'd married the day after). The days slipped by so quickly, life was great.

//These are the moments I thank God that I'm alive

And these are the moments I'll remember all my life

I've found all I've waited for

And I could not ask for more//

Angel set down his coffee and went to reclaim his wife. She was dancing with Giles who gave him a stern glare when he tried to cut in.

"I don't suppose it would do any good to pull rank?" Giles asked.

"Marital privileges" Angel answered.

Giles turned to Buffy and said, "If you ever get tired of this smart-aleck, come see me."

She laughed, "And what would Jenny say to that?"

"Good riddance probably" he said leaving.

"He's such a darling" Buffy murmured falling straight into Angel's arms.

"Hey... what does that make me?"

"My darling" she whispered, "Ready to go?"

"Yeah. I have a sudden need to be alone with my wife."

"How can I argue with that?"

In a short while they'd said goodbye to everyone and were on their way home.

He drove into the driveway of their home (one Buffy had conned him into) and felt like he was finally where he was meant to be. They went inside and Buffy flopped down on the couch. "I'm exhausted..." Buffy said.

"Really?"

"Yep... I wish that I had someone big and strong to open the mail for me, so I don't strain myself" Buffy whined.

"Do we have too... wouldn't you rather go to bed?"

"Nope... I wanna open Christmas cards."

"Okay, but you're only prolonging the inevitable," he told her.

Buffy laughed as they began to open their Christmas mail. There was a card from Willow and one from Buffy's mom and sister.

"Oh gee... isn't that just too bad... no Joyce this year, only Dawn" Angel said trying not to laugh.

"Hey... you may not like her, but she is my mom" Buffy objected.

"Sorry."

Buffy opened the next card, it was from Cordy and Doyle, included was a family photo. "Chely's gonna look exactly like Cordy" Buffy said, "And they want us to visit real soon."

"Great" Angel said.

There were almost a dozen cards in all, but out of them all she liked Xander's the best. She picked up the last envelope with a small frown. "What's this? It's for you."

Angel took it from her, "No return address. Maybe I should take it downtown and have it checked for fingerprints?"

"Or maybe I should sniff it and see if it's an old girlfriend trying to be semi-discreet?"

"I never had any discreet girlfriends, semi or otherwise" he teased. "Go on, open it."

"No way... it's all yours."

Still laughing, Angel opened the envelope and took out the card. It read:

Merry Christmas Daddy

See you in July

Love

Baby O'Brien #1

Angel read it again in disbelief. "You wrote this?"

"Well... It's a little early to expect him or her too."

"A baby?" he asked in awe.

She nodded and he pulled her into a hug. "I guess this means you're happy?"

"Totally... Let's celebrate" he said, picking her up and headed for the bedroom

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