Summary: Buffy has a dream, leading her to Angel.
Spoilers: All of Buffy and Angel.
Author's Note: Angel is like he is right now, on the verge of losing it, except Darla has nothing to do with it. Kate, has been blaming him for her father's death and all the other death's of LA. Riley hasn't left yet, and Joyce is dead.
"Help."
Buffy walked through the graveyard, searching for the owner of the small voice.
"Help," it sounded once again.
She neared a bush, and peeked behind it. There, sitting on a swing, sat a tiny child. To Buffy, she looked to be around 6 or 7 with brown hair, resting a little below her shoulders. Her bright blue eyes contrasted her dark hair, giving it a bigger effect
The child's light blue sun dress fell below her knees, reminding Buffy of the outfits she used to wear when she was that age.
"Help," the child said in a small voice.
"What's wrong?" Buffy asked. "Are you hurt?"
The child giggled.
"Help *him*, Silly. I am not hurt."
"Help who?" Buffy interrogated, not quite understanding the girl.
"The Angel, he needs help," the child paused. "He is on a cloud and about to fall. If you don't help him he will be lost in the dark."
"Where is the Angel?" the blonde Slayer prodded.
"The City of Angels, of course. Where else?" she said in a DUH sort of words. "Help him and you will be rewarded."
Buffy heard an alarm sounding, looking around she tried to find something indicating where the sound was coming from.
She turned back around and the child was gone.
Feeling dizzy, Buffy fell to the ground.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When Buffy awoke she half expected to find herself staring at the small brown-headed child.
Realizing it was a dream, she laid her head back upon the pillow.
She thought back to what the little girl had been telling her about the Angel. The only problem was she couldn't put the pieces together.
Buffy threw the covers off her body and rolled off her bed.
She trudged into the kitchen and poured herself a glass of orange juice.
The phone rang and she ran into the living room.
"'Ello?" she answered.
"Buffy, its Riley."
"Riley, hi," she stated.
"I was wondering if you wanted to go to lunch with me today?" he asked.
"Yeah, sure. First, I have to go see Giles. You can meet me there, if you want."
"All right, see you then," he said as he hung up.
Buffy ran upstairs. She put a pair of white highwaters and a pink halter top on. Then she slipped into some pink flip flops.
Grabbing her purse, she slammed the door behind her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Slayer walked into Giles' store.
"Giles," she called out. "I need to talk to you."
Buffy's ex-watcher emerged from the back room. "Buffy, hello. I didn't think I would see you today."
"Same thoughts here," she replied.
"Might I ask why you are here?" he asked.
"I had a dream."
"Prophetic?" Giles interrupted.
"That's the thing; I couldn't tell. I think it was, but it still could have been my imagination or something."
"Well, what was it about?"
"There was this little girl. She kept telling me the Angel needed my help. Her voice was so cryptic. She refused to tell my exact things, making them into almost rhymes but not, ya get me?" Buffy explained.
"I presume so. Let me see, she was giving you hints rather than actual facts?"
"Yes, that's it!!"
"Now, can you tell me anymore details?"
"She told me that he was in the City of Angels; she called him *the* Angel. Said he was on a cloud and falling off. If I didn't help him he would fall into the dark."
"Sounds interesting. The only person I can think of that she could possibly be talking about is Angel."
"Angel?" She asked worriedly. "You think there is something wrong with him?"
"Something wrong with who?" Riley asked, walking into the Magic Shop.
"I had a dream. Nothing big, I just needed to talk to Giles about it. We can leave now," Buffy told her boyfriend. "Giles, could you do me a favor? Call Cordelia and see if there is anything wrong."
"I would be more than happy to. I will call you if she says anything," Giles nodded.
"Thanks." She turned to Riley, "Let's go."
The couple walked out of the shop, Riley excited to be out with his girlfriend; and Buffy worried about Angel.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Hi, Cordelia's apartment," Cordelia Chase announced, picking up the phone.
"Um, hello," Giles said into the phone. "Cordelia, its Giles."
"Yeah, I got that. Can I help you?" she asked.
"Well, you see, Buffy has been having these dreams about an Angel. Of course, we figured that the Angel the little girl in Buffy's dream was talking about was Angel. Naturally, we decided to call you and check up on his status."
"Thank God you called," Cordelia yelled into the phone. "There is this cop lady who has been blaming Angel for her father's death. No one around here has been able to convince him that he didn't do it."
"Angel killed someone?" Giles asked incredulously.
"No, no, no! Of course not. I *said* she was blaming him for the death of her father. Vampires did kill him, but it wasn't Angel."
"Thank goodness."
"Giles, can I ask you a favor?" Cordelia asked.
"Why of course, Cordelia."
"Could you maybe, oh I don't know, send Buffy up here and let her kick Kate's ass. Oh, and get her to knock some sense into Angel; tell him he didn't kill her father."
"I don't think Buffy should hurt the cop, but I am sure I can send her to talk to Angel. She was quite worried about him this morning."
"Thanks, Giles. I gotta go, got an audition in a few."
"All right then, I will send Buffy up tonight. Good-bye, Cordelia," Giles said, hanging up the phone.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As soon as Riley dropped Buffy off at home from their lunch date, she jumped in her car and raced towards Giles' shop.
"Giles, did you find anything out?" Buffy screamed, walking in the door.
"Yes, actually I did," he answered.
"Well..." Buffy prodded.
"Your predictions were correct; the dream did concern Angel. I called Cordelia today and she informed me on what has been happening."
"Ok. What's wrong with him?" She asked, scared that something life threatening was happening to him.
"There is a cop that Angel knows, her father died recently. Cordelia said that lately she has been blaming Angel for his death because he didn't prevent it. According to Cordelia, Angel is on the verge of losing his soul because of the guilt he is experiencing."
"Oh God," Buffy whispered.
"She-she asked me to send you to Los Angeles. She was thinking that you could talk to Angel."
"Of course I will go. I am going to pack and drive up tonight."
Buffy headed to the door. "Giles, thanks."
"It wasn't a problem."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When Buffy arrived home from the Magic Shop she quickly rushed up the stairs and started packing.
In all her rush she had completely forgotten what Giles had said about Angel on the edge of becoming Angelus. She only remembered his words when she was at the door.
Pausing, she dropped her bag and walked to the couch. Buffy sat down and rested her hands upon her knees. She laced her fingers through her hair and sighed deeply.
I can't do it, she thought. What if he becomes Angelus again? I'm no going to be able to kill him, I can't, I love him too much. This isn't happening to me, why are they making me go through this again.
"Doesn't anyone care?" she asked herself. "Does anyone care about me and my life? They make me go through this over and over. All that comes my way is pain."
"Of course they care," a voice said, startling Buffy.
When she looked up she realized it was the little brown haired girl from her dream.
"I'm not dreaming, how are you here?" Buffy asked.
"Because I am not only a dream, I am a real person. I came to you in a dream, you need to go to him and help him."
"What happens if he becomes Angelus? I can't help him then?" she pleaded.
"If you get there soon enough, you will save him. Your tests will be completed and you and the Angel can be happy. The two greatest warriors of all time will be rewarded."
"My tests will be completed? What tests?"
"I cannot tell you anymore. You will find out more later, when they are completed."
"Who are you? How do I know you aren't some kind of demon prankster?"
"In your heart you can tell that I am telling you the truth. I'm from the future, you will meet me in a year, give or take," the girl informed her.
"What's your name?"
"Ella Wimberly," the child answered before disappearing.
Buffy slowly stood up, grabbed her bags and walked out the door. Wimberly, I don't know anyone with that last name, she thought.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Slayer was in her car on the way to LA. She had decided that first she would go to Cordy's and get details, then talk some sense into Angel.
She only hoped she wasn't too late.
While driving in her car she heard a song that reminded her off what she had been feeling for lately.
She missed Angel so, so much.
........I called you today just to hear you say
you were not around
When the message was through, though I wanted to
I couldn't make a sound
I wanna tell you the things i've seen
I wanna take you to where I've been
And wish you were here with me
I really miss you yes I do - yeah
I really miss you
Oooh yeah I do
I'm writing to say - I had a wonderful day
Hanging with my friends
But the memory dies as the sun reach the skies
I'm alone again
I wanna tell you the weather is fine
When the night comes around you were on my mind
And I wish you were here with me
Don't you know
I really miss you
Yes I do yeah
I really miss you
Oooh yeah I do
I really miss you
Oooh yeah I do
I wanna tell you the things I've seen
I wanna take you to where I've been
And wish you were here with me
Oh don't you know
I really miss you
Yes I do yeah
I really miss you
I miss you
I called you today just to hear you say
you were not around
When the message was through, though I wanted to
I couldn't make a sound
I'm writing to say - I had a wonderful day
Hanging with my friends
But the memory dies as the sun reach the skies
I'm alone again
I really miss you
Yes I do yeah
I really miss you
I miss you.............
The song said exactly what she was feeling. She wanted so badly to call Angel every night just to hear his voice or to beg him to come back to her. Buffy longed to write him letters and tell him what she had been doing with her life and how she hated it so much right now.
His decision was a mistake, she knew it. Buffy was determined to make Angel see that.
This visit to LA was a perfect opportunity to have the chance to make Angel see things her way.
Now, all she had to do was think of a way to clear his mind. All the way to LA Buffy thought of ideas and comebacks for things Angel could tell her for his reasons of leaving.
After I make him realize he wasn't responsible for this cop's father's death, I will get my Angel back, she told herself.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Buffy arrived at Cordelia's apartment a little after 6:00 PM that night. She nervously knocked on the door.
The brunette swung the door open and ran to Buffy, crushing her into a hug.
"Buffy, I'm so glad you're here."
"Thanks, Cordy," the blonde answered.
"Come in," Cordelia gestured.
The Slayer walked into her apartment. Nice, she thought.
"Cordy, I want you to be honest. How bad is Angel?" Buffy asked.
"Pretty bad," she paused for a moment. "You're going to need to sit down for this one."
Buffy walked to the couch and a moment later Cordelia joined her.
Cordelia continued, "He has convinced himself he is responsible for everything bad that happens in LA. It is all her fault."
"Who's fault?"
"Kate Lockley. She is a cop, new to the vampire territory. Her father was killed by some vamps and wouldn't let Angel in the apartment to help him. Kate showed up a little later and accused Angel of letting him die and not helping him."
"Wow."
"That's not all. Kate has convinced herself and Angel that all vampires are evil and are mass murdering machines. She has him thinking he is responsible for everything that happens to her. When a weird case comes up, Kate jumps into investigate it. She is always looking for something to blame Angel for."
"Oh God. He must feel awful," Buffy sympathized.
"You got that right."
After a moment of silence between the two girls Cordelia spoke up. She turned to Buffy.
"God, Buffy, I am so scared for him. He locks himself in his bedroom all day; he never comes out, only to eat. Practically everyone night there is a message on the machine for Angel from Kate. Usually she calls to accuse him for something else. Of course, since he is the only one who actually lives in the hotel, he always hears the messages before Wesley, Gunn, or I can delete them. You have to help him."
"We haven't seen each other in such a long time; I hope I can help him," Buffy told Cordelia. "What is the address, I am going to go over there tonight."
The brunette jotted the address down on a piece of paper for Buffy; the two girls hugged and Buffy left, on her way to help Angel.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lightening gleamed in the sky and thunder boomed through the dark night. Rain was falling heavily from the dark, starless night.
Buffy slammed her car door shut and tightened her coat around her body. She ran quickly to the doors of the Hyperion Hotel.
Slowly she opened the doors and whispered, "Angel."
There was no answer. She remembered Cordelia saying he spent all of his time in his bedroom. Buffy decided she would check there, but before she did that she was going to check his messages.
The Slayer walked over towards the front desk, looking for a phone. She spotted the machine and pressed play.
"You have one new message," a voice said.
"Angel, it's Kate," the message started. "I wanted to call and tell you about a case I just finished. Two young girls found with their throats slashed. Each of the girls had symbols carved into their backs, the symbols were for a ritual. I read up on it," she paused. "How could you just sit there and watch innocent people die," Kate accused. "First my father, then the 10 underground hostages, thirdly these girls, and to top that off all the vampire killings in the area. I don't care what people say about you being cursed with a soul because you don't have one."
The message ended, leaving Buffy shocked.
How could a person be so heartless, she thought? Kate was cruel and there was no other word to describe her. She took out her pain on Angel, the most kindest soul ever known.
Buffy pressed delete and continued her search for Angel.
"Angel," she called a little louder.
The Slayer ventured up the stairs, hoping that her senses would be able to find him. She waited for the tingly feeling that she got when he was around. Buffy walked further down the hallway when she felt a slight stir in her toes.
As she walked a warmth spread from her toes to her knees, venturing upward to her stomach. It came into her chest at the third door from the end of the hallway.
Buffy pushed the door open and found Angel. Her heart leapt, but not for long. He was sitting with his back to her in a leather arm chair.
"Angel," Buffy whispered.
She walked closer to him and then around the chair. Buffy gasped when she saw what was in his hand.
Oh God, she thought. This can't be happening.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He doesn't really have that in his hand, does he, Buffy asked herself. Oh God, this isn't happening, please it can't be happening.
"Angel," Buffy pleaded. "Put it down please."
"Why are you here?" he demanded.
"Please, put it down."
"I said, why are you here?"
"Please," she was almost crying now.
"Please, what?" he mocked.
"Put the stake down."
"Why are you here?" he yelled.
"To help you." It was a simple answer, but harder than it seemed.
"To help me?" he mimicked.
"Yes, Angel. Its not your fault."
"Of course its my fault. I didn't literally kill them, but its my fault. I didn't try and save them when I could have."
"Put the stake down. I can help you, make you see it isn't you fault. Just put it down, please."
"Kate hates me, everyone hates me, the world hates me. I should go ahead and end it now. I don't know why the Powers That Be even thought of giving me a shanshu. I'm not worth it," he said of himself.
"Yes, you are and you know it. Just because someone tells you that your something doesn't mean you are."
"How could you have loved me?" he asked, twiddling the stake in his hand.
"How can you ask me that question? Can you actually think for a moment that you weren't worthy of my love? It was simple to love you. You were the kindest, most caring person I've ever met in my life. You always knew what to say to make me feel better. I could count on you to keep my secrets when I poured them out to you. When I was having a bad day you would do everything in your power to make it better. You treated me like a goddess. You kissed me like a goddess, you worshiped me like a goddess. You were my best friend and I could always count on you. Do you think that someone like that is not worthy of love?"
Buffy paused, "Angel, please. Give me the stake."
"I-I can't do it," he stopped. "I thought I was strong enough, but I'm not. I can't do it knowing that we could have a future someday."
"We can start today. Put the stake down, for me?"
Angel slowly bent down and placed the stake on the ground. The Slayer, over come with her happiness, embraced him.
She hugged him so tightly she thought she would break something. He had come back to her. Angel hadn't killed himself and for that she was so happy.
Tears cascaded down Buffy's face and Angel wiped them away with the pad of his thumb.
"I thought I was going to lose you," she whimpered. "I've never felt so sad in my life. Please, never do that again."
"I'm sorry," Angel kissed her forehead and smoothed her long blonde locks back.
"Promise me, please. Promise that you will never scare me again like that," Buffy begged.
"I promise, never again."
Buffy tilted her head upwards and leaned into a soft kiss. Tears were coming from the faces of both of them. Both lovers were reunited, finally.
Little did they know that they still had another hardship coming their way.
"Buffy?" Angel asked.
"Hmmm."
"There's something I have to tell you."
"What is it?"
"Do you remember when you came to LA for Thanksgiving?"
"Yeah."
"Well, you weren't--" he was interrupted by Buffy.
"Here for only 5 minutes. The day was taken back, you were human. I remember and I'm not mad."
"When?"
"Around the time my Mom started getting sick," she answered. "I started having these dreams. At first I thought they weren't real and they were just ways to deal with the stress of her being sick."
Buffy took a deep breath.
"I started being distant," she continued. "I went on patrol more often and never talked to anyone. I wouldn't let Riley in or let anyone comfort me when she was sick. My Mom died and it just got worse. The only time I ever saw anyone was meetings at Giles' shop. Everyone was getting worried, the only person I talked to was Spike."
"Spike?" Angel asked.
"I know, its weird. I started thinking what if I went back to Angel? He is the only one that understands me, he could help me. I had a bag packed and was ready to come here."
"Why didn't you?"
"Spike told me he loved me. I freaked and figured if I showed him I had friends and a boyfriend he would leave me alone. It worked and I got back into the swing of things."
"Spike loves you?"
"Yeah, freaky," she yawned.
"You're tired, you should get some sleep."
Angel lifted her up and carried her to the bed.
"Stay with me?" she asked.
"Always."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Buffy walked into the LAPD with determination written on her face.
She had slipped out of bed around 10:00, leaving Angel alone. Of course, she left a note, but not with her whereabouts. It simply said, 'Angel I went out. I will be back around 11:00.'
The Slayer tapped her finger on the front desk, waiting for the attendant to notice her.
"May I help you?" he asked.
"Yeah, I'm looking for Kate Lockley," Buffy answered.
"Hold on a minute, I will page her."
The man turned his chair around and proceeded to call her, telling Kate about the visitor she had at the front.
He hung up the phone and spun back around to see a very impatient Buffy sitting in the waiting room.
"If you go this way and through the third door to the left, she will be waiting for you in a conference room," the attendant motioned towards a hallway.
Buffy thanked him and thought in her head how she would handle this.
At the third door to the left, Buffy turned and stepped in.
A blonde woman, taller than her, sat in a chair with her arms crossed.
"Can I ask why you are here?" Kate asked. "I have some other very important business to attend to."
"Business such as torturing Angel with words," Buffy spat out. "Believe me, what I have to say is much more important."
"Angel gets what he deserves."
"He deserves sitting in a room with a stake an inch away from his heart," Buffy said harshly. "No one deserves that. He tried to kill himself because of you."
"Good."
"Good? Oh no. It's not good. Why do you have it in for him? What did he do to you that has made you be such an evil bitch to him."
"It's personal," Kate answered smugly.
"Then let me tell you. Your father died and you couldn't handle it, so you decided to take it out on Angel since he was there. It's not his fault your father died, its your father's and his only. He didn't invite Angel in, he didn't understand the risk he was getting into by doing business with demons and vamps."
"It wasn't his fault. Besides what do you know about my dad and demons and vampires? You're what? 18? How can a high school student understand things like that?"
"I'm 19, in college. I've been told what your father did and how he didn't even try to prevent his own death. He knew to invite Angel in and he didn't. Let me tell you something, I can understand demons and vampires more than anyone in this world could. I understand them better then they understand themselves. So, don't be over here assuming things."
"That's a laugh, you understand them better than they understand themselves. What are you like the Einstein of demons?"
"I'm the Slayer," Buffy answered, boring her eyes into Kate. "I'm the person who stays out at night to make sure everyone is safe. I'm the person who makes sure the world doesn't get sucked into hell when a macho demon thinks he can end the world. I'm the person who has been fighting demons since she was 15. I'm the person who takes care of everyone in the world. I'm the person who makes sure you don't make Angel try to kill himself."
"You're the slayer?" Kate whispered.
"Yes, now I am going to tell you this once." Buffy said in a deathly and serious tone. "Stay away from Angel, stay away from anything that has to do with Angel. Leave him alone. You don't and you deal with the consequences. Don't ask what they are, you don't want to hear them. Am I understood?"
"Yes."
"Good."
Buffy slammed the door on her way out. She had to check on Angel.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Angel, I'm back," Buffy announced, walking through the door.
She found him sitting at the kitchen table drinking a cup of tea.
"Where were you?" he asked.
"I had to go see Cordelia," she lied, not looking him in the eyes.
"You're lying." He had caught her.
How did he always do that, she wondered?
"Fine, I went to see Kate. I yelled at her and told her to leave you alone. She is history now."
"Thank you," he said calmly.
"Thank you?" she questioned. "I thought you were going to get mad at me."
"Honestly, I am a little mad. But, I know what you did was only because you were looking out for me."
"No, I did it because I love you."
She leaned in for a kiss. Buffy smiled on his lips as he deepened it. Hands were roaming and things were getting heavy. Of course, they had to get interrupted.
"Ahh. I'm blinded," Cordelia screamed.
"Cordy, what are you doing here?" Angel asked.
"Well, first I came to see if Buffy had helped you, which I see she did. Secondly, I came to tell you that the Powers That Be paged you through me. You and Buffy need to go see the Oracles."
"Wait, they're dead," Angel said confused.
"Replaced, actually. Now go," she ushered the two out the door.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Buffy and Angel were standing in the Oracles quarters.
"Warriors, you have come," the female said.
"We have news for you," her brother continued. "You have passed the first part of your test."
"Our test?" Buffy asked.
"Yes, but only the first part," the woman answered her. "The second part has yet to come."
"What is the second part?" Angel inquired.
"If both of you would keep quiet we could inform you," the male snapped. "The second part is to stay away from each other for six months so you," he said pointing to Angel, "can make up for all the cases you neglected for the past 3 months. When the six months is over, both of you will come here. Then you shall be rewarded."
A blinding light flashed and the two were thrown from the room.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"This isn't fair," Buffy complained. She and Angel were standing in the doorway saying good-bye for the next six months. "We just got back together and now they want to separate us."
"I know, but they said we would be rewarded," he reasoned. "Just do what they see and something good will come out of this, I promise."
Angel kissed her for what seemed for forever and much to his disliking said good-bye and the two lovers parted for the next six months.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next six months passed very slowly for Buffy and Angel. To put it loosely, they were lonely. Of course, they both had their friends, but they needed their loves.
They both needed the person who could understand them the most in the world. The Powers That Be had said six months. Six months seemed like six years.
Frequently, Buffy called Cordelia to make sure Angel was ok. She informed her of things that were happening in her life so Cordy could report to Angel. The Oracles had said no contact, but said nothing about asking from other sources.
Today, was the day. Six months today. Angel and Buffy could finally be together now, they hoped.
Right now, they were entering to visit the Oracles as they were instructed six months before.
The two of them held hands, hoping they would get to be together now. Buffy had no idea what the reward could be. Angel, on the other hand, had a slight hope in his heart the reward had something to do with his humanity.
"Greetings, lower beings," the female oracle said. "Your six months are up and now you shall be rewarded."
"Finally," Buffy muttered under her breath.
"Hush, child," the male ordered. "Now, your reward is humanity for the vampire."
"Humanity?" Buffy asked.
"Yes," said the female. "He has received his shanshu."
"Thank you," Angel said.
He and Buffy were about to leave when the male interrupted, "Wait, there is more."
"Yes, there is," the female agreed. "In the day that was not, a child was created. She will be the next Slayer, stronger than her mother. The Powers have been taking care of her until this day came. They want her rightful parents to take care of her now."
A child appeared from behind the oracles.
"What is her name?" Angel inquired.
"Ella," the female answered, looking towards Buffy.
Their child was the little girl from Buffy's dream.
Her dark hair was tied into a low ponytail with a pink ribbon, reaching her shoulders. Ella was wearing a pink tanktop and white capris. On her feet were low, white sandals. In her hands was a teddy bear.
"Hi," Ella spoke.
Buffy felt tears well up in her eyes. Angel and her had a child.
Ella was not seven, the age Buffy had seen her at before. Now, she seemed to be around three.
"You will take Ella and raise her in a normal family. At the age of sixteen she will be called to fulfill her Slayer duties," the male oracle said before Buffy, Angel, and Ella disappeared from the room.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The family of three were standing under the post office.
Ella was crying softly.
Buffy knelt down to pick her up, "What's wrong sweetheart?"
"I miss Rory," she whimpered.
"Who's Rory?" Buffy asked.
"My friend."
"Oh, it's ok sweetie. I'm sure you will get to see her soon," Angel assured her.
"No, I won't," she told them. "She said good-bye forever. She said momma and daddy were going to get me. Are you momma and daddy?"
"Yes, honey, we are," Buffy answered.
Ella yawned and buried her head in the crook of Buffy's neck. She wrapped her arms around her mother's neck and fell asleep.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Buffy and Angel walked back to the hotel, Buffy carrying Ella. The Slayer carried her daughter into the bedroom and tucked her in before joining Angel.
"She's adorable," Buffy gushed.
"She is," Angel agreed.
"And she's a part of us. Angel, its a miracle. We have a daughter. I never thought this would happen."
"I love you."
"Love you, too."
Buffy yawned, and as if on cue, Angel picked her up and carried her to the bedroom. The two of them joined their daughter.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Oh my God," Cordelia whispered.
Gunn, Wesley, and Cordelia had arrived at the hotel at their usual time ready for some demon fighting.
Cordelia, being her usual self, had been getting inpatient with Angel. They had been here for over an hour and still he hadn't shown himself.
She walked back downstairs, completely shocked from what she had just seen.
Angel, Buffy, and a little girl in his bed, sleeping.
"You will never guess what I just saw," Cordelia announced. "Angel and Buffy are sleeping."
"Wow, Cordelia, I guess you've never seen Angel and Buffy sleeping, " Gunn said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.'
"I wasn't done. If you wouldn't have interrupted me you would've known. As I was saying, they are sleeping. Except, there is a little girl with dark brown hair in-between them."
"What?" Gunn and Wesley chorused.
"What I just said," she answered.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Angel descended the stairs, Buffy and Ella were still sleeping.
He was greeted with Cordelia when he arrived in the lobby.
"Morning, Angel," Cordelia greeted. "Have a good sleep?"
"Yes, thank you," Angel answered.
"Who is that little girl in there with you?" she asked, getting right to the point.
Angel proceeded to tell Cordelia, Wesley, and Gunn about Ella and Buffy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Buffy awoke to a blowing in her ear. She opened her eyes and saw Ella, her mouth by her mother's ear.
"Hey, sweetheart," Buffy told her daughter.
"Hi, momma."
"I wonder where your daddy is."
"Downstairs," Ella answered.
"How about we go and see him." Buffy picked her daughter up, carrying her downstairs.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Angel was talking quietly with his colleagues when Buffy descended the stairs carrying Ella. The brown-headed child jumped from her mother's arms and ran for her dad.
"Good morning," Angel told the two girls.
Buffy smiled, "Morning everyone."
Cordelia, Wesley, and Gunn nodded.
Angel whispered something to Ella, causing her to smile and return to her mother.
"Momma," she whispered into Buffy's ear. "Daddy says we can go to the beach today. Can we?"
"Of course we can, darling," Buffy answered in a whisper also.
"I think all of us should go to breakfast," Buffy suggested.
Angel nodded, "Are you three up to it?"
Cordelia answered for them, "Of course we are."
"Ella and I need to go get dressed, we should be down in about 10 minutes," Buffy added, heading upstairs.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Buffy finished getting dressed and was about to start on Ella, when she realized she had no clothes for her.
She remembered Angel putting her outfit from the day before in a drawer. Pulling open the drawer, Buffy saw that there was quite a number of clothes the size of Ella.
There was a note on top of them, reading it Buffy found out how the clothes got in the drawer. They were from Rory.
Buffy debated on whether or not to tell Ella, she decided not too. She didn't want her to start crying.
The Slayer dressed Ella and rejoined Angel, Cordelia, Wesley, and Gunn downstairs.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ( This part is in Buffy's POV)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We just entered the restaurant. The waiter seats us and I look over at Angel. Cordelia just said something funny and he is laughing. I can't believe it, he laughs now.
I never thought I would see him do that, but I guess I was wrong. I mean, if I were a vampire turned human I would laugh, too.
I'm staring off, looking at the wallpaper. It's ugly as hell, but I'm thinking, it doesn't matter.
This whole test thing was ridiculous, but I don't mind it now. I have Angel and Ella now. I can't actually believe it, I have a daughter.
I didn't think I would live to be 21, I didn't think I would like to have a daughter, but I did both things. Who says anything can't happen. No one. I certainly don't.
Angel's paying the check for breakfast, did it all happen this fast? I can't even remember. I've been thinking too much, it's bad for me. I lose track of time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
( Third person POV now)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Buffy, Angel, and Ella separated from the other three after lunch. They were going shopping and then to the beach. Shopping was for the bathing suits.
They stopped in baby Gap for Ella, buying her a light pink bikini. J. Crew was the stop for Buffy and Angel. Buffy bought a tube top tankini, pink like Ella's, but with flowers also. Angel bought light boy swimming shorts. He would have much rather black, but Buffy persuaded him into the blue.
Now, they were ready for the beach. On the way, they had picked up a raft and beach ball.
For the rest of the day the happy family played on the beach, alternating playing in the water and playing in the sand.
Ella built a sandcastle for her parents. Later, the three of them got in the ocean. Angel lifted Ella on his shoulders, while Buffy held his hand, wading through the water.
When Ella got tired of the water, she insisted they play beach ball. Although the three-year-old could barely catch the ball, she was rather good at throwing it.
The family returned home around 6:00 pm that evening, saddened by their leaving. They promised each other they would do it again, for the rest of their lives. Everyday would be a fun, family day. Never would they be separated again, nothing could stop them from having a happy family now.
Did ya'll like? please send feedback!!!
Send feedback to Taylor
Back to the Fanfiction Archive