Part Eight

Both Buffy and Spike were well aware of the fact that Angel walked closely behind them, however Spike dared to whisper, "So are you gonna tell poof about the deal?"

"Spike!" Buffy hit the blonde vampire across the chest, "Do not speak about that! I can't risk losing this challenge because you have loose lips."

"Well, don't get all bloody mad at me!" Spike said and started walking faster than the slayer leaving her close behind. And behind her, Angel.

Time seemed to go very quickly this night. It was already 9:00pm and no vamps in sight.

"I'm starting to get really nervous," Buffy confessed to the blonde vampire.

"So am I sweetheart, so am I." Spike stated.

"What do you have to be nervous about?" Buffy looked confused at his concern.

Spike stopped walking and the slayer almost walked right into him, "Look, I bloody damn well know, if midnight comes around and you are a vamp short, you’re going to take my bloody life! I'm scared for my own sake!" Spike shouted.

By that time, Angel had caught up to the arguing couple. "Care to let me in on what you're scared about?"

Buffy and Spike looked at each other, then Angel, and then back to each other. "No," they replied in unison and kept walking.

Angel huffed and threw his arms down to his side, "Why do I feel like I'm a babysitter?"

Buffy heard Angel's comment and stopped to face him. "Look Angel, you can go. No one said you have to be out here tonight. I know, why don't you go tuck Braelyn in for the night and read her a story. She would love that." Buffy said with genuine concern.

Angel smiled, "Although that's a nice though, I think I rather stay and see what's got you and Spike all up in arms. Something tells me I don't want to miss this." Angel kept walking straight ahead, leaving Buffy behind this time.

"Fine, be that way, see if I care." Buffy rebelled under her breathe and starting walking in a different direction.

After a few minutes of walking, Buffy's spider sense told her there was something behind the brush. She carefully pulled out her stake and entered the brush. If was difficult to be silent when you were constantly walking on twigs and hearing them snap. There was a low humming in the woods that seem to be disguising Buffy's steps. She led her way to it.

It wasn't long before Angel and Spike knew Buffy had chosen another path. The walked in silence looking for the slayer. Angel broke the ice and spoke first, "So, I do appreciate you looking after Buffy and Braelyn. It's good to know you are around for them."

Spike chuckled, "Yea, well, someone has to be around for blondie. Ya know it's tough for her. Tough being the girl that saves the world day after day. Not to mention a single mom." Spike deeply felt sympathy for her.

Angel solemnly spoke, "Like I stated, I appreciate it. I - I can't be there for Buffy -"

Spike interrupted, "Why - why can't you be there for her? Oh, cuz you got souls to save in LA?"

Angel replied, "I don't know why nobody understands. I can't give Buffy want she deserves - "

Again with the interrupting, "What does Buffy deserve? Let me tell you. She deserves to have a companion, a life partner who not only loves her unconditionally, but can understand her - her purpose. Someone who can show her the affection she needs, wants, craves. She deserves happiness, someone who can make her happy, whether or not they can be happy is another story. If you don't want to be that person, I will!"

It was at that time Angel realized that Spike was really in love with Buffy. "Will, I had no idea that you felt so strongly about her -"

"Yea, well I do. She's a sweet girl, growing up too fast. She has a daughter that ages twice as fast as the rest of the human race, and she's trying to spend every moment with that little girl, and fight for your -" Spike almost let the secret out of the bag.

"Fighting for my what?" Angel quizzed the vampire.

The humming Buffy heard was now detected by her two protectors. "Do you hear that?" Spike ignored Angel's question.

"Yea, I do." Angel started walking towards the hum.

In the woods, Buffy found the source of the sound. Five vampires were participating in some sort of sacrifice. Wonderful Buffy thought, I only need to kill three and I have five. This whole challenge should be over with in a matter of minutes. Once Buffy stepped out into the open, not only did she staked her 998th vampire, but she also realized, she was out numbered. "Oops," she confessed out loud. The other 4 vampires quickly dropped their religious artifacts and rushed the slayer. "Hey guys, take your turn, you all can have a piece of me." Buffy panted as she dodged a punch from one of the vamps. She fought well for the first few moments, until the vamps decided to circle her. "Hey, I'm not into the whole gang bang thing, so why don't we just cool off for a moment."

"How about not, slaaaaayer!" The biggest and ugliest vamp hissed, "We are in need of a live sacrifice, I think a slayer sacrifice would be a little overkill, but who cares, we would be killing two birds with one stone." The ugly vamp lunged at the slayer as the fat vamp behind her grabbed her arms and held them behind her back. Buffy put up a good fight, but she decided to help Angel and Spike find her. She spit in the face of the ugly vamp and tried to kick him away from her, "Angel! Spike! I need you!" She shouted louder than she ever shouted in her life.

Angel and Spike ran towards Buffy's scream. They could see her stand in the middle of a circle of vampires. Spike yelled, "How many can we kill?"

Buffy yelled back, "All but two!"

Angel and Spike flew into action. Punches were flying left to right, to left again. Before Buffy knew it, dust was forming everywhere. "Wait, slow down." Buffy cried. She grabbed her stake and dusted the remaining vamp. She looked around for more. "Where's the rest of them?"

Spike looked at Buffy, "Love, you got to kill your two right? Tell me, you kill two?"

Buffy's eyes started to tear, "Yes" she quietly said. "I killed two, total. But I need three total, I needed two more." She was babbling, as she searched for her pager. It was 11:55pm.

"I have 5 minutes, Spike, I have 5 minutes," Spike started scanning the woods for any sign of life.

Angel walked over to comfort Buffy, "Buffy, I don't know why you're acting all paranoid, it's okay." Angel went to take Buffy into her arms, when she pushed him away.

"No, not like this, - it's not going to end like this." Buffy also started scanning the woods quickly. "Spike do you see anything?" Buffy was becoming very frantic.

Angel stood and watched the two blondes. He was utterly confused at the way they were acting.

Spike could see the tears rolling down Buffy's cheeks. He couldn't stand to see her cry. Just like that day he comforted her at her house, when she learned her mother was ill.

Spike walked over to Angel, "Remember what I said to you that night at the hotel in LA?"

Angel nodded, "You told me to take care of my family."

Spike smiled, "I enjoyed the years we spent together, Angelus. I wish you the best of luck in the rest of your years. Take care of that woman for me. Give Braelyn a big kiss from her Uncle Spike. Make me proud." He bravely shook Angel's hand, and pulled him into a hug.

Spike pulled away after he realized how awkward this moment was becoming. Spike walked over to Buffy.

"It's over Spike, I lost." Buffy started to cry.

"No, love, you haven't lost." He handed Buffy a stake. "Hurry you don't have much time left."

Buffy sniffled away her tear, "What? What - no. Spike I'm not taking your life. No."

"Yes, just do it before - I bloody change my mind." Spike reluctantly said. "When you have more kids, promise you'll name one after me."

Buffy pulled away, "No Spike, your harmless, I don't kill the harmless."

"You have one minute, dust me now slayer, put me out of my misery. Oh and hey, in the future, if you and Red want to try and reincarnate me, that's cool. Maybe without the whole chip in the head thing k?" Spike smiled. "Do it now." He pulled the slayer close to him and kissed the girl on the lips. He wanted to leave the earth smelling her vanilla scent and kiss the sweet, salty lips of his natural sworn enemy. This is the way he wanted to die for the second time in his life. "I love you," were his last words.

Buffy drew the stake to Spike's heart. "I love you, too." She spoke quietly to the dust that settled on her clothes. "Thank you"

Angel rushed to Buffy's side, "Buffy, why did you do that. What's wrong with you?"

Buffy was sobbing uncontrollably as the time ticked passed midnight.

With all this confusion running through Angel's mind, he wasn't prepared for what happened next. A white light surrounded Buffy was made her disappear. Angel was left standing, alone in the woods.

A VISIT TO THE ORACLES

Buffy found herself in the white room that she stood in one year ago.

In front of her were two new beings. They were dressed the same as the ones from last year but they were different.

"Well, Congratulations Slayer, you've rid the world of 999 demons in one year." The female oracle said proudly.

Buffy corrected the female, "No, I believe your count is incorrect. I took 1000 vampire lives in the last year."

The male oracle stated, "Yes, you did rid the world of a 1000 creatures, but one of them wasn't a threat to our cause. Instead he was more of an ally."

"No, no. If you can bring those other two being people in here, we said nothing about evil vampires, or evil demons. We simply said demons and/or vampires. So I have lived up to my agreement."

Part Nine

The oracles looked up at the ceiling, well if there was a ceiling that's what they looked up at. It was more like a cloudy sky.

"Fine." The female oracle stated.

The male oracle began, "Yes, let's get on with business." He looked up at the ceiling and closed his eyes. "It is done. The man you love, the father of your child, the warrior he is - is protected. His soul can not be ripped away from his immortal body anymore. Do not tell him of this or happiness will never be had between the two of you. Be gone Slayer."

Just a quickly as she was summoned, she returned.

IN THE WOODS

Angel still stood along, trying desperately to put together the logic of the evening. As quickly as the light appeared and took Buffy, it returned Buffy.

Buffy stood in the woods looking at Angel, "Hi," she swallowed.

"Ah, hello? Anything you want to tell me?" Angel questioned.

"No not really. How about we go home and check on our daughter?" Buffy put her arm around Angel and led him to the house.

"Do you want to tell me why, you decided to take Spike's life?" Angel asked.

"Well, he - he kissed me. And I told him if he ever kissed me, I'd dust him." Buffy lied.

"Okay, then what was this whole I've-got-to-kill-another-vampire thing you had going on?" Angel continued to quiz the slayer.

Buffy was stalling for more time as she tried thinking of reasons. "The watcher's council, challenged me. They said, if I could kill a 1000 demons in one year, then they would give me a gold card! Yup, a gold card, with my name, Buffy Anne Summers on it." She thought this excuse sounded pretty good.

Angel knew Buffy was lying, but it was obvious she wasn't going to confide in him. They walked peacefully to Buffy's house.

During the nerve wrecking silence, Buffy could only imagine what her life could be like, right now. Waking up in the morning next to Angel, going to bed at night with Angel. Making love for hours. God, it sounded so wonderful. They had a daughter they could spend time with. A real family. When they reached Buffy's front door, Buffy took a chance. She stopped walking and grabbed Angel's arm. "Come here," she commanded.

She cupped his face and gave him a very passionate kiss. Angel was struggling to break the embrace and then he let his body relax. He decided to indulge himself one last time. After a few moments, Buffy pulled away and smiled. She walked into the house before Angel could confront her on why she decided to break their invisible boundary.

Angel stepped inside the house after Buffy, "Look, I'm going to spend the night at the mansion with Wesley and Cordelia before this gets any more uncomfortable."

Buffy nodded and opened the door. "Goodnight, Daddy." Buffy winked. Angel turned and walked out the door. Yes, the leather duster blowing in the wind his turn created. That sexy walk that Angel walks. Buffy was so in love with Angel. She started crying as she shut the door behind her love. Tears poured down her face and Buffy slide down the back of the door. She was sobbing as if someone just killed her best friend. Truth was, Buffy's closest companion did die. She killed Spike. No, Spike told her to kill him. She took his unlife from him. But, she also freed Angel from part of his curse. Angel didn't know it though. Buffy's sobbing woke Dawn. Dawn walked down the stairs to comfort her older sister. "Buffy, it's okay. You tried very hard over the last year. Even if Angel knew what you did for him, he would be proud. It's okay if you lost the challenge." Dawn was running her hands threw Buffy's golden hair.

Buffy looked up at her baby sister, or atleast the girl who was acting as her sister, "Dawn, I won. I won Angel's soul. It's his - forever."

Dawn smiled and congratulated her sister, "That's great Buffy, but what's the what with the tears?"

Buffy hugged her sister, "I'm happy and yet I am so sad. I saved Angel by - by killing Braelyn's best friend."

Dawn looked at Buffy; "You killed her stuffed monkey?"

Buffy knew Dawn was trying to make her laugh, "No, silly, I staked Spike."

"Was it an accident? What happened?" Dawn inquired.

"It was down to the last minute of the night and I had one more vamp to kill and Spike surrendered himself to me. He wanted me to stake him - for - for my love." Buffy started crying more.

Dawn paused before she spoke, "The way I look at it, Spike gave you a gift. You should be happy for what he gave you. Cherish his gift. Remember the good he brought you." Dawn exchanged smiles with Buffy. "Oh, I almost forgot, get yourself together girlfriend. We've got to get to the Bronze!"

Dawn pulled Buffy into standing position and the girls hugged, "Mom already knows to look after Braelyn tonight. We were all hoping for the best. Let's go celebrate!"

Angel was quite shocked to see the door open at Buffy's. Buffy and Dawn stepped outside, hugging each other. They were laughing and giggling walking in the direction of the Bronze. As usual, Angel followed. Buffy was up to something, something wasn't right. He was going to find out what.

Dawn and Buffy walked and told stories of Spike. They spoke only of the good times over the last year when Spike was helping with the baby. "Remember the time, he drank some of your breast milk!" Dawn started laughing.

Buffy frown, "Yuk, I didn't know that."

Dawn started giggling, "Oh yea, he put it in his bowl of Count Chalcula. You should have seen his face when I told him it was your milk." Dawn recalled, "And oddly, he kept drinking it." Dawn looked puzzled; she didn't know how much in love Spike was with Buffy.

By the time Buffy and Dawn reached the Bronze, Buffy forgot all her misery. Buffy put aside all her negative feelings, that's probably why she didn't feel Angel near.

When they walked into the Bronze, silly string and noisemakers were blowing. Confetti was falling and Buffy's closest friends were celebrating for her. Xander, Anya, Willow, Tara, Giles, Olivia, and Cordelia. Wesley decided to stay at the mansion for fear that Angel would be suspicious of their late night partying.

Angel peered through the windows; he was shocked to see everyone in a festive mood. He obviously wasn't invited to this party. Instead of crashing it, he turned and walked towards the mansion.

The party only lasted an hour. Everyone was so tired. Especially Buffy, "I tell ya, I am going to sleep until next week!" Buffy sat and told everyone about the events of the evening.

The group said a silence prayer for Spike. "Well, here's to ole' chip in the head, hopefully, he's enjoying it in hell!" Xander cheered. Anya smacked Xander for that comment. "What, what did I say? He is in hell isn't he? I could have said, 'I hope he hates in it hell' no, instead I said, 'I hope -' oh never mind." Xander gave up.

After twenty more minutes of cheers, the group decided to call it an evening. Each Scooby member, both past and present hugged and wished everyone well.

Cordelia whispered in Buffy's ear, "So, what's the game plan?"

Buffy smiled, "There is no game plan. I'm not allowed to advise Angel of his newfound freedom. Just life as normal, until he discovers it on his own, I guess." Buffy shrugged, she hadn't thought much about Angel's gift. Mostly, Buffy just dreamed. Dreamed of the day she could be happy with her family. It was that dream that got her through the last year. It was a tough, challenging year, but in the end, it was all worth it.

Cordelia headed back to the mansion in Angel's car, she offered Buffy and Dawn a ride home, but Buffy said she really needed the fresh air. Giles drove Willow and Tara back to the dorm. Xander and Anya drove in their own car. What a night!

AT THE MANSION

Cordelia tried coming in quietly, but when a stealthy vampire is waiting for you, there's no sense in being quiet. "So may I ask where you've been tonight?" Angel looked like an expecting father waiting for his 17 year-old daughter to come home.

"Very funny, you can practice that line on Braelyn in about 10 more years!" Cordelia was hoping her remark would quiet Angel.

Angel was relentless, "Actually Cordelia, I'm serious. This is Sunnydale, normal people just don't go out partying until 3:00am."

"I wasn't partying long- hey how did you know I was partying?" Cordelia mused.

"I sort of followed Buffy to the Bronze, it looked as if you all were having a good time, I didn't want to intrude." Angel confessed.

"Well silly, you should have. It would have been fun. We were celebrating Buffy's one year of motherhood." Cordelia was getting so much better with the lying.

"I wasn't invited." Angel solemnly said.

"Angel, people just don't go walking around inviting vampires everywhere." Cordelia smiled. Angel didn't think it was funny. The love of his life was having a party in her favor and no one invited him along. It was a fact he would just have to deal with. He wasn't part of her life anymore, he shouldn't expect to be included. "Let's go to bed before I fall asleep standing here talking to you." Cordelia usher Angel to the second floor.

Part Ten

THE NEXT MORNING

Buffy walked over to the mansion carrying Braelyn in her arms. She had been told by Cordelia that Angel planned on leaving later today. If was only fair for Buffy to walk over to Angel's and spend time before he took off. As Buffy drew back the heavy black curtain and walked in, Angel could feel her presence. Due to the vast open space and high ceilings Braelyn's babble echoed throughout the place, "Da-de da-de." Even though he was already in full brooding mood, he couldn't help but to smile when he heard that sweet little girl calling for him. Angel quickly buttoned her shirt and made his way downstairs.

There she stood. His love, his daughter, they were standing in the middle of the foyer waiting for Angel to arrive. Buffy looked so pretty. She was wearing a soft pink sweater and black jeans. Braelyn was aimlessly walking around looking for things to play with until she saw her daddy aware. Braelyn's face light up as she bounced over to Angel. She opened her arms as wide as she could and wrapped herself around Angel's leg. Buffy did all she could to hold back the tears. This was her daughter, hugging her father. The man who used to be her forbidden lover. "Hi. We thought we would come by and spend some time with you, ya know, uh, before you leave and go back to LA." Buffy spoke softly.

"I'm glad you did. I was hoping we could have the conversation we never had. Thanks for bringing Braelyn." Angel answered. He picked up his daughter and motioned for Buffy to join them on the couch.

The blonde mother walked over to join her family. She sat down next to Angel and Braelyn. "So, do you want to tell me what has happened in your life during the last year?" Angel questioned.

"Well, let's see. Here's the quick version, I had a 9 day pregnancy, I thought I was raped or immaculate conception, then the memories of the best day of my life came back to me." Buffy paused for a response, when hearing none she continued. "And I figured out how I became pregnant. I gave birth and continued saving the world. So what have you been up to, ya know besides that whole Darla thing you had going there?"

Angel was surprised at Buffy's story, "Well, for some reason I thought this would take longer." He cleared his throat; "I spent the last year, saving souls. Helping the citizens of LA." Angel turned towards Buffy, "I want to hear more about my daughter, tell me about her growing up."

"I loved too. But I do have something for you." Buffy pulled some videotapes out of her bag. "Xander gave these to me last night. He made copies for you to keep. Some of the videos are kinda corny, but it's my baby girl."

Angel gratefully took the copies, "Tell Xander thanks, I really appreciate this." Angel looked in Buffy's eyes, "Is she going to be called?"

"If you mean called by the watcher's council, yes. She will be called the day I die," Braelyn's mom turned her eyes away from Angel's. "She will be the first slayer of her kind, half slayer and half demon. Needless to say, I have to stay as alive as I can."

Angel grabbed Buffy's hands, "If I have anything to do with it, she'll never be called."

Buffy shook her head and pulled away, "I already tried that. I spoke to the Oracles directly, they said I can not change it."

Angel understood, "Well, I guess I have to keep you alive for as long as I can." He smiled, hoping to reassure Buffy.

"Thank you." Changing the subject was now appropriate Buffy thought, "So how are we going to do this custody thing? You see her on holidays? Weekends? What?"

"I would love to see her as much as I can, however I know that will be difficult with -" Angel didn't want to say what was true.

"It's okay Angel, I understand, it's difficult seeing each other as it is," Buffy finished.

There was no more talk of arrangements; inside the couple decided to play with their baby for the rest of the afternoon. Talking with her, playing hide and seek, and all sorts of children's games. They were a real family.

As night fell, Angel, Cordelia and Wesley started packing up. They left Gunn in LA to hold down the fort, but now it was time to return.

"So I'll drive up and see you in a week?" Angel inquired.

"Yes, and we will call each other everyday, right?" They hadn't spoken about calling daily, Buffy just decided to throw that in.

Angel smiled; he was going to hear her voice everyday. "Yes, that would be nice." He kissed Buffy's forehead. He picked up his daughter and kissed her on the cheek, Braelyn turned and kissed daddy on the lips drool and all. Angel gave his daughter back to Buffy and stole another kiss from his beloved. This time softly on the lips, after all he was about to leave; it's not like they could fight about it for the next hour.

Buffy became all warm inside; he made her melt. She was so glad he kissed her, although she wanted more. A lot more. One day she thought.

The car took rolled out of the driveway and headed for LA. The trip was peaceful.

Once they arrived in LA, Angel did the most important thing he would do all day. He popped in the video in the VCR. By the looks of the tapes, Xander had recorded a lot.

~~~ Signal's video tape ~~~

The first imagine to grace the screen was Buffy. Buffy a startling 9 months pregnant, she was very cranky and crabby. "Xander, I swear to God, if you don't take that camera off of me -" As Buffy approached the camera it went black.

The next part of the video was Willow talking with Xander outside the delivery room, "So Willow Rosenberg, my records show that you are a friend of Miss Summers and she is currently in labor, how does it feel to almost be an aunt." Xander's voice stated.

Willow played along and spoke, "I am so happy, even though it's 6:00am in the morning!" The camera jiggled a little and then it focused on Xander. "So how do you feel almost being an uncle, Mr. Harris?"

"Well, I tell ya, whenever mom says no, that kid will learn to come to Uncle Xan!" Xander boasted. He looked as if he was a proud papa. "Let's go into the birthing room and see if Miss Summers has any words for her baby." Xander opened the door and starting walking in.

In the background of the video, you could hear a woman's screen. "Oh GOD! The pain is so incredible." "Damn, slayer, must you break my hand!" "I need drugs, I don't care what kind, I don't care how much, I need drugs noowwwww!" Angel could tell that was Buffy and Spike.

"Well, I guess slay gal isn't feeling very well, maybe we shouldn't pop in on her right now." Xander started backing out of the room with the camera.

"I think you’re right Xander, unless of course, you want Buffy to put that camera somewhere it doesn't belong."

The tape went black again.

The next scene was the sounds of a baby crying. Spike came running out of the delivery room, "I'm a father, I'm a father - wait no. I'm a broth- no. I'm an - geez red what am I?"

Xander answered, "Besides an annoying, impotent vampire?"

Spike went to smack Xander when he clutched his head in pain, "You'll pay for that Harris, mark my words!" The vampire hissed.

"Ouuuhhh, I'm sooo scared." Xander mocked and started to laugh.

"Stop both of you. How's my Buffy doing?" Willow asked.

"She's doing great, lot's of blood and Buff said I could have it! I get the placenta, too." Spike said gleefully.

"No, tell us about the baby!" Willow moaned.

Spike looked into the camera, "Well, 7 pounds, 12 ounces and 18 inches, crying pink and blood covered baby. Oh yea, she's a girl."

Willow and Xander hugged each other. Joyce hugged Spike. "I'm a grandma. I have a granddaughter!"

Dawn walked over to her mom and hugged her, "I'm an aunt. I'm really a aunt!"

"I wonder what Buffy decided on naming her?" Joyce questioned.

Spike groaned, "Oh, yea. Of course she decided the name the child after peaches."

Dawn questioned, "She named her daughter Angel?"

"No, Braelyn Angelica Summers." Spike finished.

~~~ Angel paused the tape. ~~~

He didn't know Braelyn was named after him. He started to become emotional. She named her after me.

~~~ Video resumed ~~~

The video was now recording mom and her baby. Buffy looked very exhausted and she was holding a very pink child. The baby just laid her mother's arms sucking Buffy's finger. Buffy opened up the blanket and revealed the little hands and fingers. "Look how precious she is." Buffy was starting to cry. She sniffled, "And she's my responsibility. Oh God, how am I gonna do this?"

Go to Part 11