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DISCLAIMER: All hail Joss Whedon, UPN, the WB, FOX , Mutant Enemy and 20th Century Fox Film Corporation. Theirs not mine.

Cordelia smiled widely. �That sounds absolutely perfect.� She headed upstairs.

Buffy watched her go, then turned and entered the dining room, where Spike and Tara huddled conspiratorially. Thick volumes and stacks of papers were everywhere. �Okay, so are we good?�

�She has no clue that we know it�s her birthday,� said Tara. �We are going to totally surprise her.�

�I hope she likes it,� said Buffy. �The surprise birthday celebration thing kind of sucks when it�s for me.�

Angel came in the room. �Okay, so what is the plan?�

Spike rustled some papers on the table. �We�ve got a reservation at the Armory for nine o�clock. The cake is here. Tara slipped it past her. Did you get her presents?�

Angel made a face. �Yeah, I got everything.�

�What is it? What�s so terrible?� Tara asked

�What�s terrible,� replied Angel, �is she is going to make us�.� A knock at the door interrupted him. �I think that�s for me,� he said, moving to answer it.

A young woman wearing a black dress and a white cap stood at the door. �Hello, I am Penelope Travers,� she said in a clipped British accent. �Wesley told you I�d be coming?�

�Yes, absolutely.� He looked over his shoulder. �If you don�t mind, let�s just step outside for a minute.�
As they stood on the front porch, he peered down at her. �So, you understand the situation.�

She nodded at him, eyes grave. �I was made aware of the threat that you are facing. I will protect the child with all of my powers.�

Angel looked at her hesitantly. Leading her over behind the tree, he stopped her. �If you don�t mind, would you drop the glamour for a minute?�

She looked at him seriously and then shut her eyes. Her features blurred and reformed. Before him stood a winged creature taller than himself. Blue scales covered humanoid features. Sharp talons curled at the ends of powerful arms. She opened her green, reptilian eyes, turned her head to the side and breathed a stream of blue fire. As she pivoted back to face him, she returned to human guise. �I am perfectly harmless cloaked in my mortal appearance,� she explained softly. �But any hint of threat to your son, and I will change instantly and address it.�

Angel cleared his throat. �Well, I�m convinced of that. Please come in, Miss Travers.�

He took her coat and hat and led her over to the bassinet. �This is Connor,� he whispered. After hanging up her things, he led her to the dining room. �Everyone, this is Miss Travers,� Angel announced. �She will be helping us take care of Connor while we stay in Sunnydale.�

Buffy smiled. �Wow, you�re actually going to let someone else take care of the baby?� She turned to Miss Travers. �Hi, I�m Buffy. It�s a pleasure to meet you. You must be some kind of superwoman, if Angel thinks you�re up to the job.�

Spike gave the nanny an assessing look. �Not a super woman. More like a��

Angel laughed nervously. �Super person. A really super person. No need to be sexist, right?� He shot Spike a glare, clearly wanting him to shut up.

For once, Spike took the hint. �I�m Spike. Pleasure to meet you,� he said. He tilted his head, staring at her.

�And I�m Tara,� the witch introduced herself. �So, are you from Sunnydale?�

�No,� Miss Travers replied. �I�m from elsewhere.�

�So, can I get you a drink, or something to eat?� Buffy offered.

A small wail arose from the living room. �Excuse me, � the woman said, �I must tend to the child.� She turned towards the living room, Angel following right behind.

�Wow, that is cool,� enthused Buffy. �So we can actually have an adult evening. Maybe we could go to The Bronze after dinner. I bet that Cordelia and Angel haven�t gone dancing in a while.�

�Last time we went there, we didn�t do much dancing,� said Spike seriously. Buffy looked over at him in disbelief.

�Why not?� asked Tara, as she looked up from the notes on the table. �Was one of you not feeling well?�

�We had to leave,� explained Buffy, flushing slightly. �I got overheated.�

�Well, if we�re going to go dancing, I should change clothes,� said Tara.

�Willow left some boxes of yours behind. I put them in the closet in your old room,� said Buffy.

�I�ll take a look, see what I can come up with. � Tara went upstairs.

Buffy turned to Spike. �What is with you?� She poked him in the chest. He grabbed her waist and pulled her close.

�I just like teasing you,� he said quietly. His hands wandered up her body, thoroughly touching her from hips to shoulders. She sighed, rubbing against him. He pulled her head down for a kiss, as his hand pressed the back of her head. The embrace deepened, growing tighter and closer with every moment of the kiss.

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