Part 18

 Willow and Angel watched as Jenny pushed Kathryn on the swing. They were sitting on a blanket that they had laid out, a picnic lunch in front of them. They often spent Sunday afternoons in the park, having the kind of family time that they both had missed growing up. When Angel and Willow had first started talking about children, they both agreed that no matter what was going on in their lives, their kids would come first. Willow was still hurt over all the times that she was left alone by her parents and Angel remembered how his father had often been away. Even when he was home, Angel could never get his approval. It had made them both resolve to make sure their children were loved completely.

 Willow busied herself with making sandwiches for the girls while Angel was busy poring them drinks. Neither had mentioned the return of Buffy, both silently agreeing that they didn't want to speak about her when they were around the children. While they knew that her return could possibly effect their lives, they refused to allow it to effect their children's.

Angel looked over at the red head who was busy making lunch for her family, still in awe of her beauty, even after all the time that has passed since he first fell in love with her. She constantly amazed him with her strength, her ability for forgiveness. Her willingness to do anything for the people that she cared for. He found himself falling deeper in love with her as the years passed. She was truly a gift that was sent to him by heaven and he cherished his time with her.

Willow noticed Angel staring at her and a smile formed on her lips. She never tired of looking at him. She loved looking into his eyes and seeing the love he had for her reflected in them. She had been nervous about his feelings when Buffy had shown up at their doorstop two nights ago, but the look that he gave her, spoke volumes. He loved her and she loved him. Willow's attention was brought to the girls when she heard Kathryn shouting for Jenny to push her higher in the swing. Willow heard Angel laugh at the antics of his children and Willow decided that it would be a good time to tell him her news.

"Angel, do you ever regret not having a son?" Willow began. Angel turned to look at his wife, surprised at her question.

"Of course not, kitten," he replied earnestly. "I don't regret anything about our life together. I love both of our daughters. I don't need a son to complete me. Besides, Jenny is enough of a tomboy to make any father proud. I mean, I am willing to place money on the fact that she will be the first female quarterback in the NFL."

Willow laughed as Angel made that statement. She knew that Jenny was every bit the athlete, having played sports as soon as she was able to walk. Willow even had to admit that Jenny was a damn fine football player, that being her favorite sport. Angel was constantly catching passes from their eldest daughter.

"But don't you wish that you had a son to carry on your name?"

Angel finally nodded his head. "Sure, but it's not this all consuming need in me." Angel turned to the woman whom held his heart. "Why are you asking me this all of a sudden?"

Willow looked down at the sandwiches that were now sitting in a pile in front of her. "Ummm, well remember how I was sick a couple of weeks ago?" Angel nodded his head. "Well, I went to the doctor and had a few tests done." Angel felt like his world was about to fall apart by the seriousness in Willow's voice. He was afraid of what she was about to tell him. He watched as Willow took a deep breath.

"Angel, I'm pregnant." Angel was stunned. Willow looked over at him, afraid of what his reaction was going to be to the news. Her fear quickly turned to joy as she was swallowed in a bear hug by her husband. His lips raining kissed all over her face. His hands holding her tightly to his chest. "I take it you are happy about this," Willow teased.

"I couldn't be happier," Angel pulled Willow away slightly so that he was able to look in to her eyes. "I love you, kitten."

"Oh Angel,' Willow threw herself into Angel's arms, tears of happiness pouring down her face. "I was so afraid that you would be angry with me. That you wouldn't want the baby."

"Of course I want this baby," Angel replied as he ran his hands through Willow's hair. "Why would I be angry? I love you and this baby is an extension of our love. Just like Jenny and Kathryn."

Angel drew Willow's lips to his as he gave her a deep kiss, showing her exactly how much he loved her. Willow lost herself in the kiss, feeling it all the way down to her toes. The two of them completely forgetting that they were in a public park, on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, with lots of people around them. For that moment, all that mattered was the person in their arms. Finally, the couple separated Willow resting her head on Angel's chest.

"I love you Angel," Willow told her husband. "I always will, no matter what happens."

"Nothing is going to happen," Angel reassured his wife. "I won't let anything happen." The tone in Angel's voice made Willow realize that he was talking about Buffy.

"You're thinking about her aren't you?" Angel nodded his head, looking into Willow's eyes. "It's okay. I understand. You loved her." Angel smiled and kissed Willow's forehead.

"Yes, I did love her once. At least, I thought it was love at the time," Angel admitted. "Now I'm not so sure. I think it was more the whole forbidden fruit thing. We weren't meant to be together so that just made us want it all the more."

"But you never had a real sense of closure with her, Angel. She was gone by the time you came back."

"Yes she was," Angel answered. "And now she is back, but things are different. What I felt for her is in the past. It died a long painful death when I was in hell, I just refused to admit it when I first came back. As soon as I saw her I knew then that there was nothing left between us. At least not for me."

Willow smiled at Angel, "But there is still something there for her. I won't let her come between us, Angel. Not now, not ever."

"She can't, my love. You are the only thing that I want right now. You and Jenny and Kathryn and our new baby," Angel held his hand to Willow's stomach. "This is what matters to me now. Not Buffy or whatever her return may mean. If she can't accept that I have moved on completely, then that is her problem."

"You have to be too good to be true."

"I was thinking the same thing about you," Angel said. Willow and Angel snuggled closer together, watching as Kathryn and Jenny were playing with some other children. They were content in their spouses arms, happy for what the Fates had given them. The didn't separate until the two girls came over asking for lunch.

The family sat down together eating sandwiches and laughing as Kathryn made funny faces at her sister. When Jenny made a comment about her father, he tackled her, tickling her until she had to scream uncle. Then the two adults told the children about the baby, which in turn made them squeal in delight. The prospect of having a new brother or sister making them extremely happy. Finally it came time to go and the four packed up their belongings and walked back to the car, the girls running ahead of their parents who were holding each other's hands. They never noticed the pair of eyes that had been following them all day.

Buffy's heart broke as she took in the happy family scene that had been playing out in front of her all day. She was sure that Angel was only with Willow because of some kind of sense of obligation, but seeing him so happy made her ache with loss. Loss at the children that he had, but not with her. Loss at the life he had made, but not with her. Loss of the friends that she had, but had given up because she didn't want to be the slayer anymore. She berated herself for being so weak, knowing that if she had stayed she would have been the one the nursed Angel back to health when he came back from hell.

Buffy watched as Angel and his family drove away, finally coming out of the shadows that had hidden her. She had to give Willow credit. Willow knew how to play hard ball. Telling Angel she was pregnant was a stroke of genius. Buffy couldn't believe that shy mousy Willow would resort to the oldest trick in the book to keep her husband away from his true soul mate. Willow knew that Angel was too much of a gentleman to leave Willow if he knew she was pregnant. This just made Buffy more determined to get Angel away from her former best friend. Because, although she saw how happy Angel was with his life with Willow, Buffy was sure that he would be happier with her.
 
 
 

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