Part Eleven

"Slow down! Oh oh...stop sign!" Buffy closed her eyes as the car slowed to a stop.

"Relax!" Angel grinned, making the turn. "Considering the way you drive you shouldn't be the one to talk!"

"My babies are in this car," Buffy pouted, looking back over her shoulder for the umpteenth time to check on the car seats in the back. Still there from what she could in the occasional streetlight. No dream. They weren't going to vanish, or fly out of the car. Liam was asleep. Amber was staring up at the stars.

"Nothing is going to happen," the vampire reiterated. "We're almost home."

Buffy smiled and played with the string of the pendant hanging down her shirt. Slowly she pulled it out and turned it about in her fingers. The ring glinted in the lamplight. "Angel?"

"Hmm?"

"Where did you find this?" She looked up at him.

Angel glanced at her quickly. He looked surprised, unnerved, but a little pleased to see her wearing it, even if it wasn't on her finger. "The mansion," he spoke at last.

She had left it there after...Not going to think about it. "You kept it."

Angel flashed his cute insecurity smile that meant he didn't know what to say.

Buffy grinned. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." His voice was low and slightly emotional.

"Where's yours?"

"It's..." he shuddered. "In hell."

She winced. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to–"

"It's okay," he placed one hand on hers. The one resting on her knee. The buzz it sent through her was incredible. "I...it doesn't....it's behind me."

"Really?" Amazing. "Does that mean I can ask about–"

"No!...Thanks." He jumped slightly. "Someday soon. I promise."

"Good. That means you'll be here for a while right?" She was almost afraid to hear his answer.

They stopped at a light, and Angel turned to face her. "Do you...want me?"

Buffy smiled, worrying her bottom lip between her teeth and looking away, then back again. "I want you in my life. Again. More than ever." There. She'dadmitted it.

For a moment Angel's face was completely unreadable, and she was afraid that she might have just scared him off again. Then something incredible happened. He broke out in a radiant smile. "I'll stay as long as you want me. As long as you need me. And the twins."

"Green light."

He leaned back, started. "What?"

"Green light!" Buffy pointed up. "Sorry."

Angel stepped on the gas. "Your grade report came in the mail today."

"Oh, great. I'm sure my history final was a complete disaster," Buffy leaned back into the seat.

A cute smile perched on Angel's lips. "Just because you were having contractions doesn't mean you're not capable of getting good grades. Giles told me you were really getting into your Slayer studies before you...well, before this happened."

"All right, Mr. Encouragement, how did I do?" she asked, her curiosity peaked.

"You got an A in history."

What?! "You're kidding!"

"Of course not," the vampire chuckled. "You aced the final."

"Wow! Does that give me bragging rights?"

"You passed a final and had twins in natural childbirth. I'd say you have all the bragging rights a woman could ever want," Angel replied. "Other than history, you got two more A's and two B's."

"That's a record," Buffy grinned. "More A's than anything else."

"And no C's," Angel pointed out. "Definitely a first."

"Hey!" Buffy playfully punched him in the arm. "No need to be mean."

"All right," he smiled as they pulled to a stop outside the apartment complex. "Your castle, your majesty."

"Thank you, milord," Buffy smiled, slipping into her best British  accent. Well it was close enough. "Now if only I fit into that old Halloween costume."

Angel's hand gently pushed a strand of hair out of her face. "You look wonderful."

Buffy sat in wonder at the new Angel; so much more honest, open, and cheerful than before. "Flirt," she chuckled, unbuckling her seatbelt. As she stood her muscles from the waist down groaned in protest. "Thank the PTB it's winter break. I don't think I could handle classes right now."
 
"Then it's a good thing you don't have to," Angel closed his door and began converting Liam's car seat into a baby carrier.

Buffy did the same with Amber. The things were so convenient! Her little girl blinked up at her, that tiny mouth twitching slightly until it was almost smiling. "We're home," Buffy tickled her daughter's nose with her finger. She headed inside with Angel and Liam behind her, pulling her keys from her pocket as they went. Peace and quiet at–

"Surprise!"

Buffy jumped back from the open door, bumping into Angel as she did. Her friends and family were crowded inside the apartment. "Okay, you all succeeded in making me jump out of my skin. Can I sit down now?"

"Of course," her mother smiled, taking Amber's carrier. "I'll keep an eye on my grandchildren if you don't mind." Angel followed her with Liam.

Buffy sagged, exhausted onto the couch between Cordelia and Tara. "You guys are too much."

"Anything for my bestest friend," Willow grinned, slipping a plate of chocolate cake into Buffy's hands.

"So you're trying to keep me cowsized right?" Buffy smiled as she forked a bite of cake into her mouth. "Mmmm. I might like this new style of training. What do you call it, Sumo Slayer?"

"Of course not," Xander chuckled, slipping into the chair beside the couch. "Just a way to keep you out of commission so we can be slaying heroes a little longer. The job kinda grows on you."

"So does chocolate cake," Buffy flicked a blob of icing at him with her fork. As usual she had perfect aim, and it squished onto his nose, making everyone laugh. Buffy tried to be as mirthful as everyone around her, but she had the feeling it was going to be a very long evening. 

"Well, yeah," Willow shrunk back a little at the incredulous stare Buffy was directing her way. "I know it sounds kind of simple, but—"

"Kind of simple!" Buffy exploded. "We have an army of mind controlled demons being led by a species that's impervious to most weaponry, and the plan is to cast a spell that works like a broken record."

"Sort of," Giles straightened his glasses. "The spell repeats itself until it is canceled."

"And what does it do?" Angel asked, clearly to keep Buffy from exploding. Willow was much relieved. The vampire seemed to be inseparable from Buffy, as he had so long ago. It was kind of cute. Or at least, it would have been if not for the fact that Riley had insisted on showing up to fight. His eyes hadn't left them all evening, and his aura was a vibrant envious green.

"It casts spells." Tara explained. "We cast this spell, and it will continually cast the protection spell that makes weapons work against the Vei-rogk. That way Willow and I can cast other spells, instead of just focusing on the one."

"Oh, I guess that makes sense." Buffy calmed down, leaning calmly against Angel's shoulder. Willow could tell it was more of a natural movement than conscious, but Riley began to seethe even further. At least, the odd twisting of his face seemed to be an outward expression of seething. It was an interesting contrast to the new tranquility that shrouded Buffy when she wasn't in her usual state of nearly constant motion. It was a subtle, yet distinct change.

"Good." Anya interjected. "Can we get this over with now? Frankly, I like my friends raw...not extra crispy."

"Bad mental image." Cordelia cringed. Willow had to agree. It brought to mind the image of Xander in that breading stuff on a stick, or Giles in a greasy frying pan. Very creepy.

"Well, I think that everything's been fully explained then," Giles looked around the room, waiting as usual to see if any of them were going to ask any more questions. "Get some sleep. Tomorrow night is going to be very stressful for all of us." His look fell on Buffy.

"Oooh no. You can't keep me out of this!" She shook her head vehemently. "This is big. It's dangerous, and I'm the Slayer, so I get to say who kicks demon butt."

"But, Buffy--" Wesley began.

"But nothing," she snapped, eyes as sharp as stakes. "I kept in good shape. I'm not risking anyone by being out there. I'm going."

"Who's going to watch Amber and Liam?" Angel asked softly, resting one hand tenderly on Buffy's shoulder. Willow watched the shoulder tense, then relax again. The gang had already had this argument a dozen times today.

Buffy smiled up at him. Riley burned. "Mom will. And Riley."

"Great," Willow cut in before Riley could make the objections so clearly painted on his face. "I think Tara and I'll go practice that spell some more. You can't be too ready." Grabbing Tara's hand she headed for the door. She definitely didn't want to be around when Riley exploded! 

Angel helped her up from the couch. "Ready to go home?"

"Buffy, I need to talk to you."

Damn. Buffy turned around.
 
"Alone." Riley's voice was cold, but his expression was one of repressed annoyance.

"I'll be in the car," Angel slipped out behind her. Sometimes he was too good at sensing situations, but she was very glad for it now. Giles had vanished upstairs and she was alone with Riley.

Stay cool. She didn't bother to force a smile to her lips. "What do  you want, Riley?"

"Now you have the nerve to ask what I want?" The blonde ex-commando practically cracked her eardrums. "You're going to need me in the battle, Buffy. Not babysitting."

Was he really so blind? How could she have ever been with someone who could barely comprehend her thoughts? "These demons are smart, Riley. They'll do anything they can to keep me out of this fight." She laid one hand gently on his arm. "They will go after my babies. I'm sure of it. I need someone I can count on to protect them."

Riley's expression softened to an abashed smile. "I'm sorry. I should have trusted you." The smile faded. "The Initiative wants me back. For a mission in the South American rainforest. I can't tell you where."

"What?" Disbelief filled her mind. Riley leaving? No, they weren't together anymore, but he had been so adamant about them being his children before Angel's. He'd been out of her life for months, then barged his way in, and now he was just leaving. Couldn't the damn man make up his mind! "Do you want to go?" It would make things easier if he left. She wouldn't have to deal with the constant rivalry between Riley and Angel that had *not* been lessened by the PTB's intervention. Dealing with them one at a time was hard enough!

Before she could even squeak, Riley pulled her forward and clutched her tightly. "I've known for a long time we weren't meant to be, but that doesn't mean that it doesn't hurt to leave. Oh God, Buffy. Ten months ago I had a girl I loved, and who liked me back. Nine months ago I thought I was going to have a child. Now I have neither. There's nothing keeping me here."

Something warm and wet trickled down her cheek and Buffy pushed away slightly. It didn't work. "I wish I could beg you to stay. They were ours once, but I can't, Riley. It wouldn't be fair to either of us and you know it. I don't love you."

His head nodded, brushing softly against her hair. "I know you don't. You never did. That's why I'm going. I can be useful to them."

She pushed back again to meet his gaze. His grip loosened. Thank God!  "Please guard them. My mother can't do it alone. Spend some time with them before you go. How long is the mission?"

"A couple of years," Riley pulled back. "But it's not forever. So maybe I could..."

"Visit?" She displaced another tear with one hand. The taste of salt was strong in her mouth. "Maybe. Just call first, so you don't get accidentally staked." She managed a half-hearted smile.

"Yes, ma'am." Riley picked up his jacket. "Just one thing. Your Mom's not going to kill me if I go over there right?"

Tara sat across from her, quietly chanting in Latin. Candles sat on every available surface. The scents of sandalwood and cinnamon mixed heavily in the air around them. Another minute and the preparations would be complete.

She could hardly help but wonder how the others were faring. Buffy, Angel, Cordelia, Wesley, Xander, and Giles would be doing most of the actual fighting. Anya stood outside their own door, weapons at the ready, in case their plan had been anticipated by the Vei-rogk. They were in a vacant house, figuring that it would be much better to be attacked somewhere worthless than in their apartment. All possible wards and protection spells were up, so hopefully they were safe until they could finish the spell and then go join the fighting.

"Ready?"

She looked up to find Tara's eyes open. She was smiling nervously, her hands outstretched over the intricate design poured in sand on the floor between them.

Willow took her hands. It was time to begin. 

Something moved behind her, but from the tread of footsteps Buffy could tell it was Cordelia. The brunette was dressed intelligently in sweat pants and a t-shirt and sneakers, something she rarely did, even in the time they'd been sharing apartment space. And never outside the apartment. Buffy didn't look much more stylish. She didn't fit into her favorite leather pants yet, so she was clad similarly in semi-loose fitting sweats and t-shirt. Now was not the time to worry about fashion.

She could see the door now. Xander and Giles would be around the front now; Wesley and Angel entering from the roof. Surprise – and hopefully a little well done magic – was all the advantage they had against this army.   Buffy's heart was pounding so hard she was amazed Cordelia didn't comment. It had been so long since she'd done her duty as the Slayer. It was just excitement, not fear, that made her edgy. Really. Just another night, another slay. Briefly she wondered how Riley and her Mom were faring.

The stake in her hand began to glow a ripply pale green. It was starting. 

"Tea?"

Riley jumped. "Thank you, Mrs. Summers." He took the cup she offered and sipped slowly. Avoiding conversation for another few precious seconds. He kept his eyes riveted on the tiny infants asleep in the playpen between him and Buffy's mother. They were so adorable. He wished they had stayed his. Maybe he and Buffy could have made it work...for them. And maybe, later, for themselves as well. He could have loved enough for both of them. Sure he could. Maybe.

"Riley," Joyce's voice caused him to finally meet her eyes. She was looking at him intently. "It's not your fault."

It had begun. "That Buffy has children, or that I lost her?"

Joyce smiled in a way Riley could only call "motherly." "That you and Buffy weren't able to work things out. Not that I'm happy about you impregnating my daughter."

She made it sound so...irresponsible. Riley felt him ears warm. "Did she tell you what happened?"

"Yes." She sipped. "Liam would have died. You were very selfless."

Selfless? He wanted to split Angel open from nose to ankles, to steal Buffy away and keep her locked up in a palace fit for a queen. Full of daylight. "You're being kind. I know–"

"Shut up for a minute."

He figured it would be wise to do as she said.

"That was Buffy's word," Joyce continued. "Not mine. You made a major sacrifice."

"Yeah, it was hardly a sacrifice for Buffy to make Angel their father."

Joyce frowned. Whether about Angel, or something he had said, Riley couldn't be sure. "How much has Buffy told you about Angel?"

"How much has she told you?" Riley replied. As much as he might love to cause problems for the vampire, he couldn't do that to Buffy.

She smiled. "Touche. It took me a while, but I finally got most of the story out of Buffy. It was....difficult... for me to believe most of it at first." She paused, as if debating whether or not to continue. " But I know now how she felt about Angel. What happened between them. So many things I didn't know about my own daughter. And while I don't know yet if I can like him with her, he's been everything for her the past month. It's Buffy's life."

I still don't believe half of it. Riley just nodded, not trusting himself to speak.

"You were exactly what I hoped she'd find." Joyce looked at him intently. "Where were you when she was fifteen anyway?"

"Iowa." 

"What now?" Wesley asked.

Angel glanced quickly around the room. Across the expanse of surging demon flesh he could hear the thuds of kicks, and see the occasional spout of vampire dust. There. A flash of blond fury. Thank God she's alive. If they  lived through this, he'd spend every Sunday for the rest of eternity in church. Well, when there wasn't a likelihood of his being accidentally soaked in holy water, or giving himself a way by burning at the touch of a cross. "That way." He pointed toward a large door guarded by large slimy demons. The Vei-rogk had retreated in there at the very beginning of the fight. The vampire looked down at the axe, glowing green in his hands. He hoped Willow's spell didn't fail on them now. 

"You could be of some service," Giles gasped, staking a vampire as it lunged at them. "It would be better than thanks, actually."

"Right. Sure." Xander looked around for his weapon. Lacking one, he grabbed the nearest splintered board and, wincing as he scrambled up next to the ex-Watcher, went Babe Ruth on the vampires nearest to him. They had to get to the Vei-rogk, or this might be the end of things as he knew it. And he liked having his own place and his own girl!...oh, and friends. Those were nice too. Especially Slayers and witches. 

"Nope. That should hold for at least a couple of hours," Tara replied.

"Great." Willow might have smiled, but the situation was definitely not smile-worthy. The only thing that could break the spell now was if both she and Tara lost their concentration on the repeating spell. It required a slight flow of magic energy from both casters to continue functioning. Something they'd have to work on before they did it again. Hopefully there would be a next time. "Let's go join the battle then." She reached back into her bag and pulled out a couple of stakes, handing one to Tara. "I have one for–"

The door slammed, cutting her off as she jumped and spun. Anya was panting, wide-eyed. "Stake, now. Please. Or forget the stake. Swords would be good. Or magic. Even better."

"What's wrong?" Tara frowned.

The door surged open behind Anya, who grabbed the stake out of Willow's hand and ducked behind the two witches. "Them!" she pointed at a motley mix of vampires and demons.

Willow pulled the third stake out of her back. This was bad. Very bad. 

"And much sweeter smelling," Joyce smiled. "Never changed a diaper before have you?"

He shook his head. "No. It's a...unique experience."

"Only the first dozen times," Buffy's mother replied, standing with Liam in her own embrace. "Buffy fed them right before she left. It was about time for this anyway."

"What comes next?" he asked as Amber squirmed, then yawned.

"Bed time," Joyce told him, walking over to the playpen. "Eight o'clock on the button. If we're lucky they'll sleep through the night, and by the time they wake up everything will be back to normal."

Something clattered in the kitchen.

"It's me."

"Spike?" Riley stood, handing Amber off to her grandmother.

"Yeah, it's me." Came the vampire's voice. "The Slayer sent me to help protect the place. But I seem to have been uninvited. I brought some help. Some other chip-buddies."

Joyce gave Riley a questioning look. He sighed. "How do we know we can trust you? It's not like you've been much of a friend lately."

"Bite me."

"Isn't that your department?" Riley snapped.

"Oh, let them in." Joyce said quietly. "He's never been any trouble here. Come on in," she called.

Riley tensed as the door squeaked open and Spike entered the room clustered with several other vampires. Spike's head was down, refusing to meet Riley's eyes. "I'm sorry," he mumbled as the other vampires attacked. Only as he stabbed the first did Riley notice the blond vampire's hands were tied behind him. "Run!" He shoved Joyce toward the playpen. "Take them and go."

"Where?" Joyce swept Liam back up next to Amber.

"Anywhere!" Riley ducked a swing and stabbed upwards. There were a lot of them. "Someplace they need inviting!" And hurry. He focused on the swarm of bloodsuckers as they dove at him. He heard the front door slam behind Joyce and did his best to keep the vampires from going after her. He hoped she made it all right. Spike was sulking in the corner. "You could help you know!" Riley yelled.

Spike flinched and looked away. His hands were bound with some serious chains, and now Riley could see they were also linked to a loose chain that connected his ankles, giving him just enough freedom to walk, in small steps.

Well, damn. Riley ducked again, and felt pain as one vampire grazed his shoulder with a knife. Great, armed vampires. And they clearly didn't have chips in their heads. Another stab of pain as an axe grazed his ribs. There were so many. Maybe more than he could handle alone. His ears shrieked as a lucky blow connected with his head. He staked another as he reeled forward. Easy. Let it fade. Focus. God help Buffy, and protect the children.

The swarm attacked. 

"What do you want?" Buffy asked loudly.

Angel stood behind the Slayer, eyes sharp on the Vei-rogk council seated at the end of the empty room. His axe aimed even more sharply at the ring of demons that surrounded them. All the other vampires that had been there were dust. The pain in Angel's shoulders was enough evidence of that. That the PTB he wasn't a new vampire!

The Vei-rogk seated in the center wore on odd robe that seemed to be a mix of skins and feathers. Angel didn't want to know what kind of skins. "Your children," it croaked with the heavy accent Buffy had described. "They are our mas'kesh."

"Your what?" Cordelia interjected. "That sounds gross."

The Vei-rogk's apparent leader glared at her in annoyance. "They are abominations. Children of the Slayer and puny half-demon. They are not to live in this realm."

Buffy was shaking with the rage Angel could feel coming off of her in waves. He placed one hand on her shoulder. *Steady, love.* "What do you want with them?" He asked aloud.

"They must join us or die."

That seemed fairly clear. The demon's grasp of English was very good. Angel forced his own demon down, but his hands twitched around the axe handle.

"Over my dead body," Buffy growled. The old cliche seemed oddly appropriate for the moment.

The Vei-rogk laughed. It was an odd sound. Like sick flamingos crossed with water buffalo. "That was general idea."

Buffy stepped forward threateningly, then stopped suddenly. Angel was about to ask her what was wrong, when he noticed it too. Their weapons were sputtering, flashing green; weakening. Then, they stopped.

"Perfect!" Cordelia's voice echoed across the large empty hall.

"Shit."

"Buffy?!" Angel glanced down at her, a bit stunned. He'd never heard her use language before. Which, considering teenagers of the current period, he was even more amazed that he hadn't.

The Slayer stepped forward. "You dare to come to my town. To beat up my friends. To make my pregnancy a living hell. And now you want to take my children and make them some sort of evil scourges, wanted in several dimensions for heinous crimes. I don't think so. And I don't need magic to defeat you." She through down the now fairly useless stake. "I can use something a bit more mundane than that."

Angel watched as Buffy lifted her crossbow, aiming above the heads of the Vei-rogk. He looked up, wondering what she could possibly be planning. Then he knew. The pipe above their heads was one he had learned to recognize from his years wandering under cities and through factories. This part of the building was an old factory. The pipe likely leading to a freezer unit of some kind. Oh he hoped there was still something in it.

The arrow loaded on Buffy's crossbow had an unusually large head. It flew straight, and slashed across the pipe, sending a spurt of icy vapor down on the demons.

The shriek that went up was the most hideous sound Angel had ever experienced outside of Hell. Hands hit ears in a futile attempt to keep out the sound that rose far beyond the range of normal hearing, beyond ears themselves. 

"Nice move." Xander commented, his voice droll. "How did you know that was there?"

"Actually," she admitted. "I was hoping for a water pipe. A flood would have been a nice distraction."

"It's not over quite yet," Giles pointed out.

Indeed, the demons around them had also recovered, and weren't wasting any time. As they came forward, the Slayer dove for her stake, the last weapon she had available. Her leg twinged from an earlier wound, and her whole body ached from lack of conditioning. Now was not the time to lose it.

She attacked. Losing Angel quickly in the all out brawl that sprang up about her. Occasionally she heard human shouts, of victory or pain she couldn't be sure, and hoped that her friends were all alive. What had happened to Willow, Tara, and Anya? Why had the spell faltered? Block. Stab. She moved forward through the demons, wooden stake inflicting as much damage as any other weapon might have in a weaker opponent.

Across the room she noticed a blur of human color skin and then a chorus of red-heads accompanied by a large blond male. The cavalry had arrived. Changing direction, Buffy hacked her way towards them. Wesley flashed by at her right. Cordelia and Giles at her right.

A hand grabbed her shoulder, and Buffy spun, stabbing upward, slamming her stake into the heart of... a vampire. In a flash of evil face and blond hair, he vanished. Buffy blinked. She had stabbed him. Oh, dear God!

Go to Part Twelve