A Life of Togetherness
Disclaimer: Joss Whedon and 20th Century Fox own Angel and Buffy and any others I may mention.
By: Lorna Dominey.
Rating: PG to R.
Summary: It's a few years in the future life has gone on and things have changed. Then Buffy comes back into Angel's life.
Pair: A/B
Spoilers: None that I know of it's my own world.
Author's note: Written a couple of years back.
Email: [email protected]
Part 1 Angel's life
Angel walked through the cold dark streets of San Francisco near Fisherman's Wharf. It had rained earlier and the streets were wet. Angel stepped around most of the puddles. His mind else where, he'd moved here two years ago to put more distance between him and Sunnydale. He thought about Buffy and her friends now and then. He tried not to dwell on the past it hurt too much.
Angel stopped and looked around. he thought he heard someone call out his name, but there was no one to be seen,. Must have been the wind. He sighed and picked up his pace. He had several errands to run before he could seek the shelter of his home.
Angel quietly entered his house. It was a big two story Victorian that was in dire need of paint among other things. He didn't care though. He had made a few rooms in the back of the house liveable for him and he did have electricity and running water. He sighed it felt good to be home.
Angel prepared for bed and drank some blood before going down to the basement where he slept during the day. The basement he'd spent the most time on in fixing up. The previous owner had used the room as a rec room. Angel had painted the walls a dark blue, and put dark blue carpeting on the floor. His bed was nestled into the nook that had been a bar. Once he'd removed the bar set up he'd decided it'd be perfect for the bed. It was the darkest corner of the basement.
There were a couple chairs and a small table. The one thing he'd had to conceed to was the pool table. there was no way he could remove it from the basement so he'd pushed it off to one side. He did play pool now and then just for something to do. There was a bathroom with a shower and a few closets. He was comfortable here and he felt safe, it was home.
Part 2 Angel has dreams
Angel crawled into bed and was instantly asleep. He dreamed of very little at first. The dreams changed and he was reliving the night that had made him decide to leave LA and Buffy.
Oh that night, Buffy, Willow and Xander had come to LA for a visit.They met Cordelia at a nightclub that evening for drinks after dinner at a nice restaurant. Angel soon joined them and they were actually having a good time dancing and talking. A large gang of vampires entered the club and a fight for their lives and everyone else's began. When it was over Xander and Cordelia were near death and had to be rushed to the hospital.They survived but barely. Buffy and Willow both suffered some minor injuries and Angel even ended up with a huge gash on his head. All in all 10 vampire were dusted and 4 humans lost their lives.
Angel found out later the vampires had followed him to the club. The vampires were after him and the others just happened to get in the way. There was a price on his head from some master vampire. Angel had fled LA hoping to spare Buffy and her friends anymore encounters because of him.
It had taken several months of fighting for his life before he'd conqured the master vampire. He was in San Francisco at the time and decided to stay,. He'd wrote a quick letter to Buffy explaining everything and where he was. She didn't respond to his letter so he had no idea if she even got it.
The dreams shifted showing him events from his life some of them with Buffy. Other dreams were things he'd done before his soul was restored. Angel thrashed around in his bed trying to get away from the dreams.
Part 3 Angel's life changes
Angel woke from his dream filled sleep and sat up in bed. He looked around the room. He felt as if he was being watched, but no one was there. Finally the feeling went away. Angel slowly got out of bed and went into the bathroom and splashed water on his face clearing the cobwebs from his mind.
Angel sighed the feeling of being watched had been so real. The dream that woke him had been of when Buffy and him had made love. He sighed it had been over two years since he last spoke to her or anyone for that matter from Sunnydale.
The shrill sound of the phone ringing brought Angel out of his thoughts, he went and answered it, "Hello, who is it?"
"Angel it's me Buffy I'm down at the bus station could you come get me?"
Angel was stunned, "Ah...sure Buffy let me get dressed and I'll be right there."
Angel hung up the phone. Buffy she's here I wonder why? He quickly dressed and headed upstairs the sun was setting. Angel went out to his car and got in and drove to the bus station. He was nervous about seeing Buffy and how she may have changed since he last saw her.
Angel parked the car and went inside the station he looked around and spotted her sitting in a chair her back to him, he walked over to her, "Buffy,..ah I'm here."
Buffy stood up and turned around and smiled faintly, "Hi, Angel,"
Angel couldn't help but stare at her she was pregnant very pregnant, he gulped, "Ah...Buffy...ah"
Buffy sighed and patted her stomach, "I'm 8 months."
Angel nodded his head and picked up her suitcase, "My car is parked just outside, this way."
They went out and got into his car, "Buffy are you hungry, if you are we need to stop and get you something to eat I ah don't have food at my place." he was trying so hard to act normal.
Buffy laughed lightly, "Oh Angel I'm sorry to surprise you like this but I have no one else to turn to, and yes I'm hungry."
Angel pulled into the parking lot of a grocery store. They both got out of the car and went inside. Buffy pushed the cart and Angel put the things she picked out into it. He kept glancing at her trying to get adjusted to her condition. She was so tiny except for her stomach. Buffy looked off balanced. They quickly finished their shopping and went back out to his car then he drove home.
Part 4 Home
Angel pulled up into his driveway, "Well this is it home sweet home."
Buffy looked at the large three story house in front of her then back at Angel, "Ok ah very vampish."
Angel laughed and got out of the car. He helped Buffy get out of the car.
Angel gathered the groceries and led her to the back door, "It's not really all that bad, the previous owners put in new plumbing and electricity, and reroofed the place they just didn't get around to painting the outside."
Angel opened the door and turned on the lights.
Buffy followed him into the kitchen it was in pretty good shape, "It does look better inside than outside."
Angel sighed and put the groceries on the counter top, "I have a few rooms and the basement fixed up it's all I've needed, so what do you want to eat?"
Buffy smiled, "I'll just have some fruit and a glass of milk for now."
They sat there in silence as Buffy ate. Angel studied her carefully, watched her movements. She looked tired and maybe a little bit worried.
When she was done she looked at Angel and smiled, "I guess you want an explanation about my condition." Angel grinned, "Oh yeah I do have some questions but the main one is who?"
Buffy sighed and rubbed her stomach, "It's rather complicated this whole being pregnant thing. Let me start with a short history of what happened after you left. One Xander took off for awhile blamed me and you for his losing his sight in his left eye he's back now. Two Cordelia is in total denial that she even lived in Sunnydale let alone knew us she's married to some rich land developer who is allot older than her.Tthree Willow and Oz got married and have a baby of their own a girl with flaming red hair and green eyes. Four Giles met and married my cousin Julia and now why I'm pregnant. This may sound odd Angel but the baby isn't even mine I'm a surrogate mother Giles and Julia wanted a baby real bad she can get pregnant but can't carry the baby to term."
Angel sat there stunned, "Wow, I've read about surrogate mothers, Giles agreed to this?
Buffy giggled, "Not at first but I insisted. I wanted to do this for them. Julia is 12 years older than me she used to babysit me and when things got real bad between my folks she'd take me home with her and let me stay a few days until things blew over, and well Giles he's just the greatest person I've ever known he's done so much for me given up allot in his life because of me so doing this is my way of thanking them."
Angel nodded his head, "Ok I'm begining to understand somewhat, but why are you here and not with them?"
Buffy sat back and sighed, "Julia is an archaelogist specializing in Incan and Mayan ruins she went on an expedition three months ago and then she disappeared two weeks ago. Five nights ago someone broke into her and Giles' place and nearly killed him, they came after me at my place but Xander was there and fought them off shot and killed one of the attackers. The papers found on the dead guy showed he was from the area in Mexico near where Julia was last seen, Giles told me to get lost and go somewhere safe so I came here."
"And how did you know where to find me?" Angel asked.
"Willow has kept track of you through the internet and I think through magic she's gotten very good at it."
Angel stood and stretched, "Do you know anything about the expedition Julia went on?"
Buffy sighed, "Only that it was in Mexico at a new site of some sort, she didn't talk much about her work in front of me for some reason."
Angel looked over at Buffy, "I'll keep you safe as best I can, I owe Giles big time myself and the least I can do is protect you and that baby."
Buffy stood up, "I need a shower and some sleep I've been on that bus for two days."
Angel took Buffy down to the basement, "The bathroom is over there and I only have the one bed it's yours for as long as you need it."
Buffy looked around, "Cozy I guess, and thanks Angel."
Angel went over and gave Buffy a hug, "I'm here for you always have been."
Part 5 Getting Back In Touch
Buffy and Angel spent the next few days just talking about everything that had gone in their lives since they last saw each other. It felt good being together. Angel quickly adjusted to Buffy's pregnancy. Rubbing her back and feet when they hurt which was more or less all the time. He loved feeling the baby when it kicked. He was enjoying the privilege of taking care of her.
Almost two weeks after she arrived Angel and Buffy were downstairs in the basement when some men charged in. Angel quickly shoved Buffy into a large closet and turned to the men. He morphed into game face and took them all on. They were yelling in Spanish about the child of their goddess or some such nonsense. Angel's Spanish wasn't all that good. He grabbed the first man that came at him and quickly snapped his neck thowing him against the other men. Another man was foolish enough to challenge Angel and he too was quickly taken care of the two remaining men turned and fled.
Angel walked over to the two dead men and picked one of them up. He took him upstairs he returned for the second man then made a quick phone call.
Angel went back to the basement and got Buffy out of the closet, "You ok Buffy?" "Yeah I'll survive, who were those men?"
Angel sighed, "I'd say they were from Mexico and looking for you, I don't think they'll be back I pretty much scared them away, the two who fled were mumbling about monsters as they ran off."
A light tapping sound was heard on the basement door Buffy jumped, Angel smiled, "'Don't worry it's a friend I'll be right back."
Angel then went upstairs, a strange little demon stood there, "These the bodies you want me to get rid of?"
Angel nodded, "Yes get rid of them and keep an eye out for any friends they may have."
The demon smiled and nodded his head and grabbed a body and went out side he soon returned and got the second body, "Later" then he left.
Angel went back down to the basement, Buffy was sitting on the bed with a funny look on her face, "Buffy you ok?"
Buffy nodded her head no, "Angel I think I'm in labor."
Angel stood there unsure of what to do, "Buffy want me to ah call for an ambulence?"
"Actually Angel I don't think they'll get here in time, the pains ahhhhhh god."
Angel rushed forward and quickly helped Buffy lay against the headboard of the bed, "Look I'll be right back I'm going for help."
Angel ran up the basement steps and out the door to his neighbors house. He knocked and a pretty dark haired woman answered the door.
Angel , "Ah need help baby coming now."
Another dark haired woman walked up, "What's going on Phebs?
"He says a baby is coming now, I have seen a pregnant woman over at his place lately."
Angel grabbed her, "Now."
He tuned and started to run pulling the woman behind him.
The other one yelled into the house, "Pru call 911 our neighbor is having a baby." she followed the retreating pair to the house next door.
Part 6 A baby is born
Disclaimer: I'm only borrowing Pru, Piper and Phebs for a brief moment so whoever owns them don't sue. (As you can see I wrote this before knowing Pru was going to die)
Angel ran down the basement steps pulling Phebs behind him. Piper wasn't too far behind. Buffy lay on the bed moaning and crying out.
Buffy screamed causing everyone to jump.
Piper went over to her, "Well I took first aid a few weeks ago and we did discuss how to deliver a baby, get me some clean towels and rubbing alcohol, some scissors and string."
Angel managed to get the towels, "I ah don't have any of the other stuff."
Phebs, "I'll go get them at our place be right back."
Angel and Piper carefully got Buffy in a more comfortable position. Angel with Buffy's help got her dress pulled up enough for Piper to check to see if the baby was indeed on it's way.
Buffy kept panting and moaning, she screamed every now and then, "I feel something pushing down, ahhhhhhhh,"
Piper, "I see the top of the head, oh god."
Angel knelt down next to Piper and he too could see the head, "Buffy the baby is almost here."
Buffy screamed and pushed. Angel saw the baby emerging. He held out his hands and the baby fell into them. Phebs ran in with the paramedics right behind her.
Angel looked up and smiled.
"Here let me finish up here." one of the paramedics said as he stepped up to Angel.
In a few short minutes the paramedics took care of Buffy and the baby. Soon had her in the ambulence on their way to the hospital. Piper, Pru and Phebs drove Angel to the hospital.
Angel walked into Buffy's room when he was finally allowed to, "Hey there, I ah called Giles and told him about the baby he said him and Willow will be here tomorrow sometime."
Buffy smiled, "Thank you Angel and please tell your neighbors thanks, have you seen him he's beautiful?"
Angel chuckled, "I was the first one to lay eyes on him and even covered in all that goo he looked beautiful to me."
Angel then leaned over and kissed Buffy on the forehead, "Now get some sleep and I'll be back tomorrow night."
Buffy smiled, "I love you Angel."
Angel stayed until she fell asleep. He left her room and found his neighbors waiting for him standing in front of the nursery window staring in at the babies.
Piper turned to him and smiled, "How is she doing?"
"Sleeping, thankfully."
"Let's take you home, it's near dawn and yes we know what you are."
Angel frowned, but then odd things were always happening next door that defied explanation.
Part 7 A Family is Formed
Buffy lay in the hospital bed cuddling the baby and cooing gently to him. Giles and Willow walked in the next afternoon. Buffy looked up and smiled, "Hi, look we've got a baby and he's beautiful."
Giles walked over to the bed and peered down at his son tears formed in his eyes, "Oh Buffy he is beautiful, I only wish Julia could be here she'd be so happy."
Willow put her arms around Giles, "Well at least you have the baby and he looks healthy."
Giles looked at Buffy and Willow and smiled, "I need to talk to Angel and you Buffy about something very important, he'll be here later on I take it?"
"He said as soon as the sun goes down he'll be here."
Giles nodded his head, "Do you mind if we wait here with you?"
"Giles of course not, here want to hold your son?"
Giles smiled as he carefully took the baby from Buffy and held him close, "Oh Buffy thank you so much I never thought I'd be a father."
Willow sat down in a nearby chair and sighed, "Well I like being a mother and right now I miss little Jessica real bad, can I hold the baby?"
Giles handed Willow the baby, "Oh he is a looker he does have your eyes Giles the shape of his brow it's you."
Giles sighed and sat down in the chair near Willow. He took the baby in his arms again, "Yes he does have that distinct Giles brow, but his mouth and chin is Julia's."
A nurse came in then and took the baby, "Don't worry I'll bring him right back the doctor wants to take a look at him.
A few minutes later the doctor and nurse came in with the baby, "He's a fine healthy baby about two weeks early, and I understand you're the father?"
Giles stood up, "Ah yes I am, so he's fine no problems?"
The Dr. "No, he's fine, so don't worry."
The nurse handed the baby back to Buffy and smiled, "He's hungry and you have been given the ok to nurse him that is what you planned isn't it?"
Buffy grinned, "Ah yeah, we talked about it."
The nurse then proceeded to help Buffy nurse the baby, "You'll get the hang of it."
Buffy settled back and watched as the baby suckled her breast. Angel chose this moment to arrive. The sight of Buffy with the baby to her breast made tears come to his eyes. She was the epitome of beauty to him at that moment.
Buffy looked up and smiled at Angel, "Hi, how are you feeling?"
Angel walked over to Buffy and kissed her on the forehead, "At this moment in awe of you and what you've been through."
Angel then turned to Giles, "Your son is beautiful you are so lucky."
Giles sighed and looked at Angel then Buffy, "What I'm about to say may shock the both of you but this isn't something that just came to mind I've been thinking about this ever since I was attacked and Buffy left Sunnydale. I want the two of you to raise my son to give him a home full of love. I'm not capable of giving him the things he'll need in life. I'm going to Mexico and try to find out what happened to Julia, I'm quite certain that she's dead. After that I don't know where I'll go or what I'll do. As for money on my mother's side I came into a small fortune recently I've already transfered the majority of it to a bank here in Buffy's name, you can make other arrangements if you want to. I have also had paper work drawn up giving Buffy custody to the child if the two of you marry then I guess Angel you could adopt him and give him your name."
Angel shook his head, "Giles I'm a vampire not exactly daddy material."
Giles grinned, "I have faith in you Angel, you and Buffy love each other and I know in my heart that the two of you would make excellent parents."
Buffy sighed, "Giles are you sure I mean you were looking to being a father so much."
Giles walked over to Buffy and looked down at his son now sleeping peacfully in Buffy's arms, "With Julia yes I was but now, he needs more than I alone can give him."
Willow spoke up, "It makes sense to me I mean Buffy and Angel love each but Angel can't make babies this way Buffy and Angel can be together and have a family still."
Angel looked at Buffy, "If you're willing to take the chance I'm with you."
Buffy smiled, "I love you Angel yes let's be a family."
Giles smiled, "Thank you I know that this is the right thing to do."
Willow, Oh what's the baby's name?"
Buffy smiled, "Well Julia wanted to name the baby if it was a boy, David because it means beloved so I want to name him David Rupert Angelus Summers."
Giles looked at Angel and sighed, "With a name like that no telling what kind of trouble he'll cause."
Angel grinned, "It's her choice, we'll all learn to live with it."
The next day Willow and Giles returned to Sunnydale and Angel took Buffy and the baby home a few days later.
An Epilog
This portion of the story takes place in the future and is the memories of Dr. David R. A. Summers of his family.
Musings of an Old Man
Today I buried the last of the gang from Sunndale. Dear sweet Aunt Willow. She was 105 years old and fiesty to the end. Even tried to give death her resolve face, and for the first time I do believe it didn't work. I'm going to miss her like I still do the others.
My life growing up was fairly typical except for the family unit that raised me. I had all a child could ask for a loving mother and father. Various Aunts and Uncles well they were to me at least and the sons and daughters of these "relatives."
Let me tell you about the people who raised me and the strange life I led.
It wasn't until I was 5 that I fully understood that Dad was a vampire and that I was not to tell anyone. A bit hard for a child to do but I slipped up only once and it was chalked up to a wild imagination. Mom was a retired vampire slayer which made no sense to me at all until I was around eight. I saw her dust a vampire, who came after her and I one evening after my little league game. After that I had a great deal more respect for her. They then had to explain why mom hadn't dusted dad. Which was a bit confusing at the time so I just shrugged and filed the information away for later.
When I was 6 Aunt Willow and her two daughters came to live with us after Uncle Oz disappeared one night. Jessica was 7 months older than me and she became my big sister instantly. Cassandra who was barely two at the time, ended up being the wild one. She did everything in her power to make life miserable for all. She even came close to turning my dad into toast one afternoon. She left home at 18 and well we never saw her again.
Uncle Xander he drifted in and out of our lives. Married 5 times and had 4 kids three girls and one boy. His oldest daughter Rebecca became my wife when she turned 21 and we're still together. She's a wonderful woman. His other children were Kendra, Alice and Alex Jr. Kendra ended up marrying Cordelia's only son, {more on him later}. Alice did allot of traveling took after her dad in that respect. She never married, wrote many wonderful books about her travels. Alex Jr. he has done pretty good for himself. he lived with us most of the time while growing up and I think that's why he turned out so good.
Aunt Cordelia and son Andrew showed up on our doorstep when I was 11 and he was 8. It was instant hate when we laid eyes on each other. But what can you expect we were both spoiled rotten and use to getting our way. It seems Aunt Cordelia's husband dropped dead and his family kicked them out of the house with all they could pack into her car, so she came to us. It was a shock though when Andrew and Kendra eloped. She was barely 18 and he was 19 that marriage lasted 30 years and it was a constant battle and their two kids. Steven and Kyle were caught in the middle. Andrew dropped dead from a heart attack. Aunt Cordelia was devestated to say the least she doted on him so much.
Thank goodness Dad's old Vitorian house he bought on a whim was so large. Mom, Aunt Willow and her two daughters and I had the second floor. Aunt Cordelia, her son Andrew and Uncle Xander and which ever of his wives or kids were with him shared the third floor. Mom turned the attic into a playroom for all us kids since Dad had the basement as his sleeping quarters. It was crowded but we managed. Mom and Aunt Willow were the ones who ruled the house and if you didn't do things their way well it wasn't pretty.
I was 14 when Mom and Dad sat me down and explained about my real father and mother. More confusing information but I was old enough to understand and accept it. To me it was just another strange chapter in my life and I was use to strangeness.
My years as a teen were atypical for the most part. I decided early on I wanted to be doctor wasn't sure what kind of doctor but one none the less. When I announced to my parents my decision Mom cried and Dad just stood there and grinned something I rarely ever seen.
The next chapter in my life happened on my 21st birthday. We were celebrating at home when there was a knock on the front door. Mom went and answered when she returned she was leading a frail old man into the room. It turned out to be Rupert Giles my biological father. To say the least I was stunned. This old man moved into the house with the rest of us. Mom fixed up a room for him downstairs it was a small one in the back of the house that was rarely used except for sitting and reading. I got to know this man quite well he lived 12 more years and it was due to Aunt Willow. She was delighted to have him back. He did say that he had found no trace of Julia or even how she died. After a few years in Mexico he traveled never staying in one place for very long untill he came here.
When he died we buried him in a family plot that my Dad had bought. Mom and Aunt Willow took his death the hardest. Little did we know that the next one to go would be Mom.
Five years after Giles died Mom took ill and became very weak. She had never looked her age people actually thought she was my sister. Then she became ill and overnight she aged it seemed. Dad refused to leave her side. Uncle Xander was living with us at the time and he too rarely left her side. We all knew the end was near but didn't want to accept it. Mom died curled up in Dad's arms he was alone with her and we knew for he let out one of the most mournfull sounds I have ever heard I will always remember it.
Mom's funeral was held at night so Dad could be there. It was such a strange sight that night vampires and demons came to the funeral and they seemed to actually be grieving for her. I met Spike and Drucilla that night I had heard of them and they were everything I'd been told. By the time the parade of vampires and demons had walked passed Mom's casket and laid flowers on or around it, the casket was almost hard to see. Uncle Xander stood beside Dad never left his side, he seemed to be proping Dad up.
The morning after the funeral I was sitting in the kitchen with my wife and Aunt Willow when Uncle Xander came in the back door. He had the oddest look on his face. He told us what was a shock, it seemed Dad didn't want to go on with out Mom so he asked for Uncle Xander's help. They stood at Mom's grave waiting for the sun to rise and when it did Dad saw his last sunrise. Uncle Xander seen to it that his ashes ended up in Mom's casket with her so they could be buried together. We quietly mourned Dad's passing and put both of their names on the headstone.
Aunt Cordelia was the next to go cancer took her. A few years later Uncle Xander went quietly in his sleep. Now Aunt Willow is gone. They are all buried together the way Dad planned when he bought that family plot so many years ago.
Well this is the end of my story so to speak I know not how much longer I have but it has been a good life strange but good. Dr. Davd R. A. Summers
