Part Four

LATER THAT NIGHT AT THE MAGIC SHOP

"Giles, I can go alone. It's no big -" Buffy tried explaining.

Giles stood and sternly spoke, "No Buffy, if you don't take Spike with you, I will personally see that- "

A desperate Buffy backed away from Giles, "Giles, look, last time Spike went patrolling with me, he killed just as many vamps as I did. He's ruining my chances."

Giles, "Buffy, I understand that you want Angel's happiness, but I can't have you risking your life for the next ten months, going on solo missions. How can Angel ever really be happy if your not alive to share it with him."

Buffy looked down to hide her tear. "Fine! But he has to stay back. No killing - you got that blonde!" Buffy turned towards the vamp.

Spike merely put his hands in the air, pretending to surrender, "Sure, if you are in over your head, I will watch you get your arse kicked. Then peaches will be really happy, not to mention your beautiful daughter."

Buffy was now defeated there was nothing more she could say. She has only been a mom for two months now, and that precious little girl meant the world to her. She couldn't go on ranting this way. Buffy swiftly grabbed her staked and walked out the door. Following her, of course, was Spike.

"I figure we will attack the cave from behind, this way, they won't know we are coming." Buffy was speaking to the vamp walking behind her.

"Sure love, whatever you say. I'm just here to watch remember?" Spike flashed a mischievous grin.

Buffy rolled her eyes and started out towards the caves. "Stop, do you smell what I smell?"

Spike, "Well it depends, are you talking about all that fresh blood flowing through your veins, or the salt water in the area, or oh yea, about 5-6 vamps close by sucking the blood of a poor fisherman?"

Buffy looked at Spike in disgust, "Yea the fisherman part. Let's split up, you go to the left, I'll take to right."

"Slayer, do I get to kill anyone?" Spiked amused himself.

Buffy walked into the cave and took the guard by surprised, he had just feed, she could still see the fresh blood on his lips. The slayer grabbed him from behind and stuck the stake through his heart. The commotion caused two vamps to rush towards the petite girl. "Found our cavern, slayer. You're just in time for dessert."

"Sorry, I'm full," boasted Buffy.

The big burly vamp laughed, "No dear, we are not inviting you for dessert, you ARE dessert!" He chuckled as Buffy dusted his friend.

"Thanks for dusting old scab there, now I get to drink more of you!" the vamp announced.

Buffy ran towards the wall and jumped off of it doing a mid-air backflip, landing behind her opponent. "I'm sorry, who did you say was dust?" Buffy questioned as she staked the vamp in the heart.

Buffy could hear Spike causing a ruckus in the next cave, she ran towards the sounds. "You better not be killing anything Spike!" She mumbled under her breath.

As soon as Buffy rounded the corner, she heard Spike bellow, "It's about bloody time slayer, I was about to finish this fella."

Buffy ran to the restrained vamp and offered her stake - in his heart.

"Two more," Spike yelled, "They went that way." He pointed deeper into the cave.

"Cover me," the slayer spoke.

"No problem, I like looking at your arse anyhow." Spike stared right at the slayer's bottom.

Buffy turned and slapped the vamp, "look I can take my count up one more if I staked you right now!" Buffy threatened, although she knew Spike was an asset to her. He almost replaced Angel in his abilities to watch her back. Almost, no one could ever replace Angel.

IN LA

"Any calls, Cordelia?" Angel groggily asked.

"No sleepy boy. Not a one." Cordelia who was filing her nails replied. "Ya know Sunnydale is a far more busiest place Angel, maybe we should set up shop there and get away from Dar- all the weirdness here."

Angel sent an evil eye towards Cordelia.

"What's in Sunnydale, Angel, you been holding out on me man?" Gunn replied.

"Nothing, nothing's in Sunnydale, nothing she can't handle," Angel mumbled the last part. Nothing was far from the true, Angel hardly thought of Buffy nowadays. His mind was on a different blonde. Darla.

"Who's Nothing?" Gunn looked toward Cordelia, who looked up at the ceiling until Angel left the room.

Once they knew Angel was out of sight, "Nothing is Buffy. Buffy was the only thing Angel thought of, well until Darla was resurrected. I much rather fear the two of them shagging than Angel being Darla's prey."

Gunn, "What's wrong with a couple of people getting a happy?"

Cordelia huffed, "You don't know, do you?"

Cordelia sat back in the comfy chair, "Take a seat my friend, it's a looooonnng story."

THE CAVERNS IN SUNNYDALE

"There they are." Spike whispered.

"I smell Slayer, do you smell Slayer?" A vamp took a needless breath of the air.

"So what do I smell like boys, sugary sweet, like vanilla? Or hot like Tabasco?" Buffy inquired.

"More like annoying like burnt popcorn." The vamp chucked.

Buffy's mouth dropped, "Spike is that true?" She kicked the vamp in the stomach, "I smell like burnt popcorn?" She kicked him again.

Spike was working on the other vamp and answered, "Actually love, you smell like freshly picked flowers." He yelled for Buffy, "Come stake this one!"

Buffy kicked her opponent in the head and ran towards Spike with Mr. Pointy. Spike had the vamps arms behind his back and Buffy plunged her stake into him.

The other neglected vamp came behind Buffy and grabbed her hair. "Ouch! You ignorant, blood-sucking fein!" She swung around and staked him in the heart, too.

Buffy stood dusting herself off, she mumbled, "Thanks Spike."

Spike mockingly mumbled back, "You’re welcome."

"If I counted right, that was another 6 vamps right?" Buffy quickly changed the subject.

Spike, "I guess that makes you at 138, huh?"

FOUR MONTHS LATER

Braelyn was now six months old, resembling a twelve-month old child. She was rolling over on her own and trying to speak, but no words yet. She did a lot of teething, which was driving Buffy mad. For the most part the baby slept through the night for Joyce and Dawn, but whenever Buffy was home, she started to fuss.

"Come here baby girl," Buffy picked up her daughter and started rocking to pacify her.

"I know sweetheart," Mom kissed her baby's head, "I know I'm not here a lot, but strangely enough, I'm doing this for us. I want us to be a family. You, me, and - your daddy." Buffy sighed at the reality of the matter, "That is of course, if your daddy will have me."

Braelyn was now asleep in her mother's arms.

Buffy called Giles on the phone, "Giles where am I with the stats? I killed two more last night."

"Well, that brings you to 463. You have 537 left and 6 months."

Buffy sighed, "This is getting exhausting. I can't believe I'm not even half done."

"Buffy, you don't have to continue this challenge, you could surrender and go about life as you normally do, you don't have to take on this added pressure."

"Are you serious Giles? This is all I ever wanted in life. I want to be a happy family with Angel and Braelyn. I'm going to see this to the end."

"Yes, I see. So it's over with you and Riley then, I take it."

Buffy replied, "Yes, Riley is going to South America with the Initiative on a special under cover mission."

Giles, "Oh, I did not know this."

"Basically, he gave me an ultimatum, either him or my unrealistic dream." Buffy said.

"Well, I can't blame the man."

"Uh, Giles I thought you would be on my side. Ya know, don't even answer that, I've got to get to school. I'll check in tonight." Buffy hung up and went to get dressed.

IN LA

"You're all fired!" Angel stood up and swiftly walked out of the room.

Cordelia, Wesley and Gun looked in shocked. "What, what, wait a minute buddy, fired? Cordelia Chase has never been fired, I quit!"

Angel walked back in the room, "Fine, resignation accepted, get your things together and leave. In fact, go back to Sunnydale and let Buffy protect you. I'm sick an tired of always watching the backs of the three of you!" Angel left again.

Wesley swallowed hard, "I say, I have been fired many times, and it really isn't that bad."

Gunn chucked, "You're kidding right, don't you see what Angel's trying to do?"

Wesley and Cordelia looked at Gunn, "His trying to get us out of the firing range of Darla and Dru. He probably figures, they will try to kill us to get to Angel."

Wesley spoke, "Yes, nice theory Gunn, however, there is a demon underneath Angel's skin and I don't want to take the chance that this is Angel's defeat. I don't want to see Angelus again, not ever."

Cordelia, "So do we call his bluff or do we make him fight that inner demon?"

Wesley scratched his head. "That's a good point. I'm not sure." Wesley, himself, looked defeated.

The three looked at each other pathetically. Wesley stopped the silence, "For now let's keep our distance, but stay close."

The other two nodded.

THE MAGIC SHOP

"I see, I see. Okay Wes, it was good to hear from you. I believe our solution has just walked in." Giles hung up the phone as Buffy entered the shop.

Buffy, "Hey Giles what's up? How's the sales? Today is a great day isn't it!" Buffy was gleaming.

Giles, "Well, it would be an understatement to say you look well."

Buffy spun around the room, "Braelyn, said my name today. Well, not Buffy, but MOMMY! Or I should say MEMAH!" Buffy looked so proud.

Giles gave Buffy a hug. "I'm so happy for you, Memah. Listen we need to talk."

Buffy's smile quickly soften to a huff. "Great, now what terrible danger is the world in!?"

Giles took his glasses off and began the story, "Either Darla and Dru killing everyone near and dear to Angel, or the return of Angelus. You pick, which do you prefer?"

Buffy slumped into her chair. "Great! Well, I much rather kill Darla and Dru, Angel needs to stick around and be a dad. I can't wait until Braelyn can say Daddy, or dah, or dydah. Buffy gave a lopsided grin. "Spike and I will leave for LA as soon as night falls."

ON THE ROAD

"So love, how do you want to play it?" Spike inquired.

Buffy sighed, "I'm not sure, I suppose once I see Angel I'll form a game plan. I don't want to assume he's going bad, that wouldn't show trust."

Spike interrupted, "Hey, I know, if Nancy Boy is thinking about turning to the dark side, just tell him about his beautiful baby girl!"

Buffy ran her fingers through her hair, "No that hasn't changed. Until Angel fesses up about the night I don't remember, he won't know that we have a child."

Spike moaned, "I guess you’re right, last thing you want Angelus to do is eat your daughter."

Buffy popped Spike in the shoulder, "Hey, he will not turn to Angelus! And he won't eat my daughter. That's specifically why I won't tell him on this trip to LA." Buffy sat back in her seat and pouted.

"So, speaking of ex's. You're going to leave Dru alone, right?" Spike soften his voice and asked about his other love.

"Not if she's killing people she can live." Buffy said matter-of-factly.

Spike punched the steering wheel, "Damn it Slayer, you know she's killing people. I just want the opportunity to save her. Maybe those Initiative folks can put a chip in her head, too."

Buffy, "Oops, I guess I forgot to tell you, the Initiative packed up shop and moved on down to South America."

Spike, "Oh great, look, I'll cut you the same deal I did years ago. If I get Dru out of the country, will you leave her alone?"

"As I recall, you said, if you two ever came back to Sunnydale I could dust you." Buffy stated.

Spike rolled his eyes, "Are you serious, I've been such as asset to you, and you are threatening to kill me - AGAIN! I helped you in the birthing room, I rocked Braelyn asleep at night, when you're exhausted -"

"STOP!" Buffy began. "We will see. I'll make no promises, but if Dru tries to kill me, I'll kill her."

At that time, they pulled up to the famous hotel.

"Is this it?" Buffy checked the address again. "I guess so."

Spike put the car into park and took the keys out of the ignition. "Let's go love."

Buffy paused before she opened the car door. "I can feel him near," she mumbled.

From the rooftop of the hotel, Angel saw Spike and Buffy step out of the car. "Great, more interference."

Darla walked behind her lover and put her arms around his waist. "Oh no dear boy, this is perfect. You can suck the blood of that cheerleader of yours, and then you’re mine again, all mine." Darla kissed his neck.

Buffy and Spike entered the hotel. "Hello? Angel? Is anybody here?"

Nothing but Buffy's echo came back.

Spike plopped down on the chair in the lounge area. "Let's just kick back and take a nap, okay slayer?"

A hand was placed on Buffy's shoulder and she shivered throughout her body. She turned quickly to see a cute, black man standing behind her.

"Your hands are warm, so you're not the enemy. Who are you?" Buffy quizzed.

"Name's Gunn. And you must be the enchanting slayer. Cordelia told me a lot about you, but she forgot to mention gorgeous." Gunn said eyeing the blonde.

Spike stood up to protect his slayer. "Yea, hands off buddy. Maybe one day I'll tell you want she looks like naked." Buffy elbowed Spike in the stomach and he fell to the ground.

"Gunn is it? Well, if you don't want to be gasping for air for the next hour, I suggest you keep your remarks to yourself."

Gunn said, "Sorry, I was just paying you a compliment. That must be Spike, I take it?"

Spike stood, "Yup, that's me, William the Bloody. The legend does exist. I've killed two slay---"

Buffy glared at Spike, "You want to brag some more impotent boy?"

Gunn, "Look I hate to break up the party, but I suggest you come across the street to our safe haven."

Gunn explained they took up residence in a apartment across the street to spy on Angel.

When Buffy and Spike reached the apartment, they were fill in on the details. "So Angel is really on the verge of turning bad?"

Wesley, "Yes, he was actually on the roof a short time ago with Darla, who knows where they are now."

Part Five

A DIMLY LITE HOTEL ROOM

Darla ran her fingers through Angel's hair. "Oh love, I can't wait. We will be Mr. and Mrs. Scourge of Europe again. Or should we be Mr. and Mrs. Scourge of America?" Darla teased.

Angel kissed Darla's nose, "Whatever you want dear. Whatever you want."

Darla purred as Angel reflected on his life's choices.

AT MISSION CONTROL

"Bye Braelyn, bye honey, can you say bye Memah? Come on say it - Memah -"

Cordelia rolled her eyes, "Is this what happens to perfectly sane people when they have children?"

On the other line Dawn picked up the phone, "Buffy, Brae's has done nothing but drool on the phone, I don't think she's going to talk for you, but if she doesn't I'll write it all down."

Buffy sighed, "Okay, but write it all down, no video tape it for me - "

Dawn, "Yea, I'll see what I can do. Right now, I'm trying to teach her to say Auntie Dawn. She's doing pretty good."

Buffy said, "If anything happens, don't hesitate to call me. Give my baby girl a kiss goodnight. Thanks Dawn." With that Buffy hung up the phone. "I miss her so much."

Wesley, "Well now, let's get down to business."

Buffy suggested, "What business? I'm going over there and I will kill anything that gets in my way."

Cordelia piped in, "You are going to make sure Angel is bad before you go killing him - right?"

Buffy paced the room, "Look, I can handle it, I'm the slayer right? The chosen one, I defeated Angelus once before -. Actually, I never defeated Angelus, I kill Angel."

Buffy became very depressed. Gunn advised, "Look I'm going with you."

Spike looked up, "I have to go with her, so you might as well come along and keep me company."

Buffy grabbed her stake, "Oh by the way Gunn, your not allowed to kill anything." Buffy walked away. Gunn looked at Spike, "Don't worry man, I'll fill you in." Spike walked out after Buffy and Gunn took stride after him.

Angel could feel Buffy's presence come closer. He knew it would only be minutes before she would confront him. What would he say to her?

Gunn spoke softly, "So what do we do, check all the rooms, this is a pretty large hotel?"

Spike whispered, "She can feel Angel, she'll know what room he's in."

Gunn nodded, but he didn't understand.

Buffy walked slowly passed the rooms as she tried narrowing in on Angel.

Finally on the fourth floor, her sense grew strong. She knocked on the door, waiting to see if he would answer.

On the other side of the door Darla purred, "Show time." As she hide behind the curtains.

Angel answered, "Come in lover." The way the words flowed off his tongue frightened Buffy.

"Hello lover," she replied. "I see you've missed me?"

Angel stood, "What makes you think that I missed you?" He slowly walked towards the small slayer. He had forgotten how tiny is really was.

Buffy stated with the utmost confidence, "Well, you're running around town with a stuck-up, blonde bitch who only thinks of herself and no one else. A person that will only suck the life out of you. I can only assume you're trying to replace me."

Angel was about to reply, 'that's not true' until he remembered the role he was playing. He was Angelus, a cold-blooded vampire, who purpose was to make the slayer insane and sire her. "Oh, I guess you’re right. So how do you want to do this sweetheart? Do you want to fight first or can I just bite you and make it simpler?"

Buffy was taken back by his terminology, sweetheart? Angelus only called her Lover or Buff, not sweetheart. "Oh, I like foreplay, wanna give me some?"

Angel wasn't about to throw the first punch; instead he circled Buffy until she did.

Darla was getting aggravated at the two; she jumped out behind the curtains and startled Buffy. "Well, little girl, we met again. If Angel won't kill you, then I will."

Buffy laughed, "Oh, I'm sorry, I don't think you read the story line correctly, see you're the one who is going to be dust."

Angel backed away and watched Darla and Buffy have at it. Darla threw the first punch. Buffy not only blocked it, but also grabbed her arm and twisted it behind her back. "I see your getting stupid in your old age, what are you 500 something? I told you last time I saw you that your eyes were looking a little worn."

Darla pushed the slayer off of her and regained her stance.

"I am so much wiser and stronger than any slayer will ever be."

Buffy replied, losing sight of Angel, "That's where you're wrong, you have never come against me."

Darla jumped out at Buffy with an iron post from the bed frame. She launched herself at Buffy and the slayer fell to the floor. Buffy kicked up on Darla as her fangs were closing in on her throat and pushed her to the other side of the room. The slayer sprung to her feet and broke the wooden chair into two. She went towards Darla and was about to strike her in the heart when Darla cried, "Angel don't!"

Buffy turned her head to see what Angel was about to do, when Darla used the stake on Buffy. It only hit Buffy in the shoulder, but it was still extremely painful. Angel was no where in sight. Buffy was had. As Darla cowered over the now helpless slayer she turned to dust. Angel stood behind the dust as it cleared.

Buffy spat the Darla dust out of her mouth and yelled, "Damn you, why can't you tell me ahead of time when you're going to help me!" Buffy tried sitting up, but she was having trouble.

Angel sat down next to the cute slayer and helped her to sitting position. "That's an awful wound you have. I've got to get some bandages."

At that time, Gunn and Spike walked in. "Uh, we didn't hear anymore fighting so we figured someone was dead."

Angel was about to walk out of the room, when Buffy yelled; "Don't you go anywhere Angel!"

Angel stopped in his tracks. He turned around to face the pissed off slayer. "What is going on in your mind?"

Angel sighed, "I was trying to protect you, trying to protect everyone. I was trying to let Darla think I wanted to give control back to the demon. If I didn't she would have surely tried killing everyone I love. Including you, little miss slayer."

Buffy looked at Angel and she could see in his eyes, he was telling the truth. "Truth?"

"Truth." He replied. He picked Buffy up and carried her to the bathroom where they could care of her wound.

Spike and Gunn shrugged their shoulders and started out of the hotel to tell the others when suddenly Dru purred, "Spike, is that you, lover? Have you come home to me?"

Spike turned to see his true love, "Dru? Why Dru your looking lovelier than ever."

Dru batted her eyelashes, "Thank you love."

Spike recalled, "However my love, you left me for an chaos demon, remember?"

Dru's face turn sad, "I've been a very naughty girl, how about you spank me Spikey?"

Spike took a deep breath, remembering all the pain she put him through; he pulled out a stake and dusted Dru.

In the bathroom, Angel pulled out his medical kit as Buffy took off her shirt. She was thankfully wearing a sport bra underneath. All Angel saw was the beautiful shoulder, attached to the beautiful stomach and wow, she had a great body. "You are getting very tone, you have -" Suddenly Angel, heard himself speak. How long was he talking? How much did he actually say?

Buffy blushed, "Thank you. It's all the extra training I've been doing." Buffy was getting all warm inside. Angel still liked her body, even though she had given birth 6 short months ago.

Angel started dressing her wound, when his hands touched her skin electricity just flew through both of them. Buffy was definitely getting very warm, warm everywhere. Angel felt the same exact way in his body.

He took his time dressing her wound, it was like foreplay. A sick twisted foreplay, but it was the only way he could touch her, and he was going to make it last. As rubbing alcohol dripped off the cloth it rolled down Buffy's back. Angel watched as the goose bumps formed. She was so pretty, his girl. Or was she? She had Riley, someone she could trust. The thought of Riley getting to see this beautiful woman in front of him bothered him deeply. He quickly finished bandaging the slayer up.

Buffy was saddened when she felt her wound be cleaned and covered. She couldn't put back on her blood soaked shirt. Angel asked her to wait a minute as he went to find her a suitable shirt.

He gave her a soft dark blue T-shirt of this. It was 3 sizes too big, but Buffy didn't care, it had Angel's scent all over it. "Angel, I have to tell you something, your probably going to be mad - but -"

Angel kissed Buffy's forehead; "There's nothing you can tell me that would make me mad."

Buffy savored the kiss on this head. Only wishing it to be lower. "I remember -"

At that same moment, Wesley, Cordelia, Gunn and Spike walked in. "So are we still fired boss? Cuz I haven't even begun to look for a job."

Angel looked at the four of them with an evil look; "Can't you see we are busy here?"

Cordelia said, "Exactly, we can't have the two of you getting all groiny again."

"Look if I say you can have your job back - will you leave?"

Cordelia responded delightfully with a "Yes!"

Buffy thought, Angel is going to feel trapped if I tell him about Braelyn, he is going to leave all these people in LA and we won't be any closer to getting his soul permanently bound. I can't burden him.

Angel looked at Buffy, "You remember what?" He was hoping she would say the very words he wanted to hear.

"I - I remember - it's harder for us to leave each other when we get this close." Buffy swallowed her guilt and her words in one gulp. She felt so bad, but she couldn't blow their chances of perfect happiness on a whim.

Angel sadly, released Buffy from the embrace they were in. She had Riley and that's obviously who she wanted to be with. She was over him. She did what he wanted.

Spike took Buffy's hand and led her out of the hotel, he knew she couldn't take the steps herself. "I'll take care of her man, you can take care of your family - later."

Angel was a bit confused by the words Spike spoke. As soon as the car pulled away, he flung himself into a rage. Throwing chairs and tossing papers, hitting the columns in the lounge of the hotel. He had so much to vent. He loved Buffy with all his heart, but his crimes, crimes committed a hundred years ago was preventing him perfect happiness with the women he loved the most.

"Well, there goes brooding boy," Cordelia started, "Atleast it's over Buffy and not Darla."

Angel's re-employed employees started cleaning up his rage.

IN THE CAR TO SUNNYDALE

The slayer sobbed the entire way home. Spike could only stroke the back of her head. He was dealing with own remorse, killing his love, his sire, Dru.

Once they reached the Summer's residence. Buffy ran upstairs to be with her daughter, her only connection to Angel. Buffy put the baby in bed with her and silently cried herself to sleep.

AUGUST 29TH 2001, SIX MONTHS LATER

Braelyn would be officially turning one in tomorrow. Everyone who knew Braelyn knew she was turning one but her appearance was different. They were looking at a two-year-old. The child was definitely in her terrible two's stage, constant whining and temper tantrums. Spike was also giving into Braelyn's fits so she continued them. After all, she knew they worked.

At the same time Braelyn turns two, I mean one, Buffy would also be finishing up her challenge with the PTB. It had been a tough year, but the count was down to 989 vamps. Just eleven more to kill within the next 3 days.

Just eleven to go, Buffy kept repeating to herself as she crept through the graveyard. Eleven, mean old nasty vamps. Eleven bottles of beer on the wall, eleven. . . Buffy thought she was singing the tune in her head, until someone pointed out to her that she wasn't. "I didn't know you drank, slayer!" Bellowed a fat vamp.

Buffy smiled, "hey there chubby, want to play?"

The vamp didn't response; instead he leapt for the blonde and fell on his ass. Buffy smiled to the heavens, "Thank you." She said.

Ten bottles of beer on the wall, ten bottles of beer, when one falls down . . .

IN LA

Angel had been busy the last few months, that was a blessing for all concerned. He wasn't spending as much time brooding as usual.

Cordelia opened the mail and found herself an invitation to Braelyn's first birthday party. Buffy had been in contact with Cordelia over the last few months so naturally she had to invite her. Cordelia was very excited and mistakenly left the invitation on her desk and she ran out to the store to go shopping.

Angel stepped out of the office to gather the mail and pay some bills when he noticed the Cherised Teddies invitation. Curiously, he opened it:

You’re Invited to My 1st Birthday Party
When: September 1st
Where: Memah's house
Time: 2:00 o'clock
RSVP: To Memah, I hope you know the number, because I don't

Signed: Braelyn

Angel shrugged, he didn't know any Braelyn, didn't know anyone named Memah, what was that a demon's name. He figured he'd asked Cordelia when she got back.

Go to Part 6