Summary: it’s been 2 years since Buffy visited Angel in
LA and things have changed a lot. This is the sequel to LA Bound.
Disclaimer: The characters belong to Joss etc etc etc
Feedback: Always!!!
I looked at the card in my hand and finally let myself think about Angel. I’d banished all things to do with him from my head when I’d left LA. I glanced at the little message at the bottom of the card and smiled remembering the conversation I’d had with Gunn. ‘This wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t talked some sense into me.’ I had known they were attracted to each other and told them to go for it but it was 2 years down the line and in my hand I held an invitation to Gunn and Fred’s wedding. I wanted to go, they wanted me there. But could I really go. Seeing Angel would be hard enough but seeing him with Cordy. That would be torture. And the invitation had said Buffy + guest. Trouble was none of the losers I had dated recently was a good enough prospect to take to a wedding. I mean all the hidden meaning behind it would make them think that I…
“Hey what’s that?”
“Gunn and Fred are getting married, it’s an invitation.”
“Oh not being rude but why did they invite you?”
“Cos while I was there I saw the attraction and told Gunn it was obvious and he should ask her out. I think he has it in his head that it’s all down to me.”
“You gonna go?”
“Don’t know. Probably, I was just thinking who my guest would be.”
“Hopefully not Richard. What a nerd/freak/geek/ohmigod!” Dawn laughed and I had to join in. Thinking about LA reminded me what a bad time I was going through then. It had been hard repairing my life but I had. It was okay. Dawn and me got on much better, in fact she had been the person who had helped me most. She gave me a reason and I had needed that. I had got the house sorted and even got everything insured, which I definitely needed. I had a good job. I was phys ed teacher at the high school. Something Dawn thought was cool and bad at the same time. I had never really imagined myself as a teacher but it was the only job that I could find in Sunnydale that paid enough money. Plus when I wasn’t teaching I could do some demon stuff if needed but mostly I trained in the school gym. Mine and Willow’s friendship had suffered badly since she was the one I held most responsible for it but we were okay sort of. Anya and Xander were expecting a baby. It had been hard getting Xander down that aisle. Giles had given Anya away and I had been Xander’s ‘best man.’ It wasn’t so much the fact I was a girl cos it’s been done before it was that he choose me. Willow just sat on his side of the church doing nothing. Dawn was bridesmaid. Willow and Xander had been friends so long I just figured he’d ask her but he asked me. I had always thought it had been guilt about making me so unhappy by helping bring me back but now I knew different. Anya had never really liked Willow and vice versa but Xander had grown up a lot and his friendship with Willow had changed mostly due to her misuse of magic.
“Hey Dawn I’m gonna go and since I have to face my vampire ex who I still love and who is going out with a girl who I really didn’t like in high school I sorta thought I’d need my support system with me and so since they really don’t specific what sort of guest they’d like I wondered if you wanted to go?”
“Really! Oh my god Buffy this is so great. I mean LA. I’ve been there. When we’re there could you show me all the stuff I have fake memories of so at least I’ve actually seen them?”
“Sure thing.”
************************
That was 2 weeks ago and now we were actually in the car heading for LA. We were late, no surprise there 2 girls getting ready for a wedding and one bathroom didn’t make for a healthy equation. But if I hurried and avoided the cops we could probably make it on time. I was looking forward to it except for the part where I faced Angel and Cordy. We got there with a few minutes to spare. Wesley was Gunn’s best man and when they saw me outside the church they both hurried over.
“Hey Buffy I’m really glad you’re here.” He surprised me by enveloping me into a hug. Which after getting over my shock I returned.
“Glad you invited me.” We pulled back and he smiled at me. My hand wondered to point to Dawn. “This is my sister Dawn.”
“Hey. Congratulations.”
“Hey and thanks, all down to your sister telling me to ask her out.” I laughed.
“Buffy hello.”
“Hey Wesley. How you doing?”
“I’m good but obviously not as good as you.”
“I’m guessing Angel told you guys. It’s okay. I’m dealing.”
“You look great.”
“Yeah totally hot. But then again I said that before so… but you look really happy and smiling which is always good.” I laughed, Gunn was really funny.
“Hi Wesley.”
“Dawn, have you thought about college yet? Maybe you could come to LA and see us more often.”
“I don’t know, I was thinking U.C. Sunnydale you know Slayer’s sister sorta not so good.” Cordelia walked over then holding the hand of the most adorable little boy I had ever seen.
“Oh my god Connor. He’s so sweet. I guess he won’t remember me though but oh wow he’s gorgeous.”
“Connor?”
“Oh yeah didn’t mention that part, he’s Angel’s son.”
“Angel has a son!”
“Yeah but it’s long and detailed so I’ll explain later.”
“Buffy hi.”
“Hey Cordy.”
“Listen about when you were in LA. I’m sorry. I was majorly jealous and didn’t deal well. The fight and the screaming and the stuff I said. It was bad. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. You helped me realise that I shouldn’t run from my problems. You are totally forgiven.”
“What you say ‘bout Connor not remembering ya?” Connor was reaching up to me. I bent down and picked him up. It was then Cordy kissed Wesley. I nearly dropped Connor from the shock.
“I thought you and Angel were…”
“Yeah we tried it but we’re much better friends. It’s cool it didn’t hurt our friendship. He’s more of a big brother than a boyfriend. Actually he’s…”
“She’s here.” It was then everyone went into the church. I turned to hand Connor back to Cordy.
“Angel said can you take him? Cos me bridesmaid and Wesley best man and Angel usher so…”
“Sure.” Cordy hurried off and Dawn and I entered the church. It was all beautifully decorated and Gunn signalled that there was a space at the front he had reserved for us. We walked over and before we sat Wesley whispered to me that Angel had paid for it all. Which set my mind wondering how Angel could survive with no job. I guessed it must have something to do with what he did with his money over the years. The wedding was beautiful and the reception was at the hotel.
*
The Hyperion had been grandly decorated but I could see that it was different from when I’d been here. I figured it had needed serious care. The dancing had started and Fred and Gunn looked like they fit together perfectly. I had never seen a more beautiful bride or a couple more suited to each other. When Fred’s father cut in Gunn came over tome.
“Can I have this dance?” Dawn held her arms out for the nearly asleep Connor and I stood. We went to the dance floor. We danced and at the end of the song someone came up behind me and asked if he could cut in. Gunn handed me over as the next song began and I turned realising it was Angel.
I can feel the magic floating in the air
Being with you gets me that way
I watch the sunlight dance across your face
And I’ve never been this swept away
All my thoughts just seem to settle on the breeze
When I’m lying wrapped up in your arms
The whole world just fades away
The only thing I hear
Is the beating of your heart
Cos I can feel you breathe
It's washing over me
And suddenly I’m melting into you
There's nothing left to prove
Baby, all we need is just to be
Caught up in the touch
Slow and steady rush
Baby, isn't that the way that love's suppose to be
I can feel you breathe
In a way I know my heart is waking up
As all the walls come tumbling down
Closer than I’ve ever felt before
And I know, and you know
There's no need for words right now
Cos I can feel you breathe
It's washing over me
And suddenly I’m melting into you
There's nothing left to prove
Baby, all we need is just to be
Caught up in the touch
Slow and steady rush
Baby, isn't that the way that love's suppose to be
I can feel you breathe
I can feel the magic floating in the air
Being with you gets me that way...
While we danced to this song I realised how perfectly it fitted the moment.
“I asked for this song to be played while I danced with you. I guess you know about Cordy and me and Cordy and Wes.” I nodded. “Buffy I’m…the reason this song was perfect was cos…”
“Cos you decided it was time to tell me that your heart was beating and you now actually need to breathe instead of just doing it cos you wanted to be more human like. Angel you were an usher in their wedding you had to walk into a church from a car, which means either you ran or you don’t burn in sunlight.”
“It happened about 2 months ago. Gunn and Fred had already planned the wedding and so I thought that I could tell you now. Buffy about a year after I came here we found a prophecy predicting my humanity. We didn’t know if it was real or even when it would happen if it was, so I didn’t tell you. Besides at the time you were with Riley and then your mom and then you…it never seemed the right time. And then after a long time I figured it probably wouldn’t happen for a while. I was facing a demon rather big and ugly and had found a way to open another hellmouth. I stopped it. Have you noticed anything lately concerning the amount of demons in Sunnydale?”
“Not as many.”
“Well that’s cos the hellmouth is slowly closing. It’ll probably be closed completely within the year.”
“Oh god.”
“Buffy I thought since I’m human and we both still love each other…”
“No. Angel I can’t. It took me so long to get my life back. And I only really got it back about 6 months ago, properly. Yeah I still remember but the memory doesn’t hurt anymore. Dawn is helping me a lot. She is my reason for living, or she was. Now she’s just my friend and my sister and she’s not my reason anymore. I just live. And if we try again right now I’m afraid that I will end up not going forward but backwards cos with you, when we are together you always have been my reason for living and I can’t go back to that now. Sorry Angel.” I left him stood on the dance floor watching me. I made my way over to Fred and Gunn.
“Congratulations, you make the most amazing couple I have ever seen. And I wish you all the happiness in the world, but I need to go now so congratulations and thank you for inviting me.”
“Thank you for everything. About you and Angel…”
“There is no me and Angel.” I smiled and then went over to Dawn.
“Come on Dawn, let’s go.”
“What happened? He’s still stood there watching you.”
“I’ll tell you on the way home.” I knew Dawn could tell my voice was cracking and the tears would fall soon. Dawn placed Connor gently across 3 chairs and stood. She placed her arm round my shoulders and hugged me before we walked away from the hotel.
*
“He’s human.” The car journey had been very silent for almost an hour until I finally told her.
“Human? As in breathing, heart beat, able to walk in the sun.”
“Yep and oh yeah the hellmouth is slowly closing and should be closed within the year.”
“Wow. Buffy why did you walk away?”
“Because, I love him and I have been hurt in our relationship a million times before and can’t face it again. And also my life is in Sunnydale and his is in LA.”
“Buffy in a few months when the hellmouth closes you can go anywhere, do anything be something other than the Slayer be just Buffy.”
“I know but it’s not just the hellmouth that ties me to Sunnydale, it’s my home. You’re there and so are my friends.”
“Buffy I’m there now but I have no guarantee to where I’ll be next year. I’m going to college, and I don’t know which college it will be but it could be Boston or Michigan or LA or it could be NYC. But my point is I could be a million miles away from Sunnydale.”
“Yeah I know but Dawn everything I know is Sunnydale and my friends are there. I’ve been living there so long I can’t not be there. My life is there.”
“Buffy I just want you to be happy.”
“When have I ever been happy in a relationship with Angel? It always leads to heartache.”
“Buff it’s a little different this time. There are no demons to get in the way and no immortality and no problems with sunshine or marriage or any of those things. And human’s their souls are kinda stuck with them.”
“I’m scared Dawn. When I came back from heaven I didn’t deal. Then I left and I came back from LA and told everyone, and I started to deal. My only thing, the only way I could deal was you. You were my reason and you stopped being that only half a year ago and that’s when you became something more important than my reason you became my sister and my best friend. And if I start with Angel I’m scared that he will become my reason and I can’t live like that. I can’t Dawn it’s too hard and it’s not what I should do because…”
“Stop the car Buffy. You’re about to cry you can’t drive like this. We’ll swap.” I got out the car and Dawn moved over. I sat in the passenger seat and she started. I was not really paying attention but I realised she had hung a u-turn and was heading back to LA.
“Dawn where are you going?”
“We are going to LA because you guys love each other and the sort of love you have is scary. But love’s meant to be scary that’s what makes it so amazing. And you won’t loose yourself in him. You won’t cos the place you’re in you don’t need to.”
“Dawn I did before.”
“Yeah but were a kid and you needed that and now you’re a grown woman and you don’t need it. You have your friends and your family and a job that amazingly enough you love doing. You have a house and money coming in and you don’t have to save the world anymore. You can be who you are not the Slayer.”
“Dawn I’ve been the slayer for 8 years that’s who I am.”
“No it’s not you’re Buffy don’t forget that. Hell you and Angel love each other and you can’t loose yourself in him when he’s got a kid to which you’ll have to be a mom.”
“Dawn I can’t be a mom, I’m 22 years old.”
“Yeah and when mom died you were 20 and you weren’t just a mom you were a mom to a teenager that is like the hardest job ever so you can do it and Angel will always be there to help you cos he loves you just as much as you love him. Buffy I saw him when you walked away and both your hearts were breaking well guess what. It’s cos love is scary and it hurts sometimes but the good times make it all better and if they didn’t then it’s not love. You cannot tell me that when he left you wouldn’t have given up everything to have made him stay.”
“I would, but that was 4 years ago we’ve grown apart now.”
“Well you’re still young you can grow back together.”
“I wouldn’t say Angel was young.”
“Buffy he’s 26 years old only 4 years older than you so don’t give me any of that crap.” By this time we were there. The party was in full swing and Dawn got out and practically dragged me into the hotel. I looked around nervously. He wasn’t there and a part of me was relieved. Dawn marched us both over to Cordy and Wes on the dance floor.
“Where’s Angel?”
“He disappeared about 5 minutes after you left. We figured it was best to leave him alone.”
“You mean leave him to brood somewhere. Come on Buffy we will find him and you will finally get it together. God I have never met any couple like you so difficult.” Dawn dragged me over to the doors. I saw that he was sat outside looking up at the stars. I quietly opened the doors. I started to walk over to where he was sat.
“Someone once told me that the only way to regain inner peace after stormy weather was to look up at the stars and then you realize how insignificant you are and so your problems and fears and everything melt away.” He turned towards me as I reached him. “I been looking at the stars a lot these last 2 years. It was a big help.”
“I remember when I told you that.”
“Yeah so do I, that night I sent you away cos I was needy, when all you wanted to do was help. But it was good that I survived that on my own and that I survived coming back on my own cos it made me realise that I am as strong as everyone thinks. Angel I’m sorry if I hurt you with what I said. But you scare me. I…the things you make me feel scare me because I can’t control them. They run wild in me and I can’t get…I can’t let them out because I won’t be able to get them back in after you leave me again. And that would hurt more than anything…that’s why everything to do with you and with us is so painful.”
“Buffy you don’t need to control them or pull them back in cos now I’m human and I won’t leave you.”
“Angel it’s scary. Everything that helped me through was control. I had to control everything and that is what helped because it gave me focus and I can’t control this love and it scares me because control is the only thing I have to help me.”
“Buffy control everything you want just please don’t shut me out because you can’t control it.” All my thoughts, feelings and words died on my lips as I stared into his chocolaty orbs. I moved closer to him and placed my hands on his shoulders as I stretched up to place a kiss softly on his lips. His arms moved faster than a human’s normally do and they grabbed my waist and pulled me closer. He held me so tight it seemed as if he was afraid to let go. I pulled back finally and we both needed air.
“Dawn’s watching us.”
“I know. Think she’d mind staying overnight.”
“Ask her. She was the one who forced me to confront the fear and come back.”
“I must thank her.”
“Yeah me too.” He took my hand and we walked back inside to find not only Dawn watching us but Cordy, Wesley Fred and Gunn too. As we opened the door they all started to applaud and colour rushed up my neck and up Angel’s too.
“So am I super sister or what?”
“Yes Dawn you are and since you’re super sister you will have to take care of your sister’s boyfriend’s son while your sister and her boyfriend talk.”
“Talk yeah right you’ve loved each other for 8 years and after nearly 5 years you can finally be together and all you’re gonna do it is talk. Okay then I totally believe you.” She smiled at us and then hugged me and they all went back to the party leaving Angel and me together for a minute.
“Wow I think they approve.” I started towards the party and he grabbed my arm pulling me back.
“Buffy do you love me?” the sweetness and uncertainty in his eyes made me fall in love with him all over again. The question was pure Angel, he was always so unsure of himself and so certain that he didn’t deserve anything good because of all the pain he’d caused.
“Yes, I never stopped. You know that.”
“Do you love me enough?”
“Enough for what?”
“For life. I have a son and I love you but he has to…”
“Come first, I know. But do you love me enough cos Dawn she’s my sister, she’s my best friend and I’m the closest she has to a mom and I have to be there for her. I know she’s 17 but I remember 17 and it’s hard and she needs a mom to guide her and teach her the rest of the stuff she needs to know and so she must come first.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.” He pulled me into his arms and held me close.
“Angel loving you enough was never the issue, it was…” I couldn’t find the words to explain myself and stayed quiet but I knew he knew what I meant. We kissed gently and went back into the party. We were just in time for the ritual throwing of the bouquet and tossing of the garter. I stood to the side.
“Buffy come on.”
“No Dawn you go and catch.” But Dawn being Dawn wouldn’t listen. She dragged me over. I had just lifted my hands to free myself from Dawn when the bouquet landed in them. Everyone turned and looked at me and I could feel the heat colouring my face. Dawn smiled at me obvious discomfort. The attention turned away from me after what seemed like an age. The garter was thrown and landed squarely in front of Angel who was stood right at the back of the group trying to avoid everyone.
“I think it’s a sign.”
“Dawn we got back together about 5 minutes ago, getting married not gonna happen just yet.” She just smiled knowingly at me. I hated her sometimes. I playfully shoved her and she laughed at me.
************************
Three months ago Angel and Connor joined our happy home. I don’t think. Angel is working at mom’s old art gallery. He has always had an eye for good workmanship and knows more about each and every piece than all of the other people combined know. The Hyperion was redone and is now actually used as a hotel. Cordy and Gunn work on the advertising and public relations, which is the perfect job for Cordy. Wesley and Fred manage the accounts and stuff like that. It is very successful and brings in a lot of money for our rather strange family. Willow is still trying to recover from her overuse of magic. Mom’s room was redecorated. It was a time for bonding between Dawn and me as we slowly worked our way through the room. We then went to the basement while the first coat dried and sorted through all mom’s things. It had taken us a long time to get here and it had been hard but we had finally reached our destination. Angel and I had taken over my mom’s room and Dawn had gotten my old room. Willow had managed to convince Tara to take her back and so she moved in with her. Connor got Dawn’s old room so everything changed. Dawn was looking at colleges and I thought she was leaning towards NYC. Dawn loved Connor, in fact everyone loved Connor. Connor loved Xander, he thought he was hilarious. At first this hurt Angel cos he and Xander had never got on but they soon found common ground when their first baby came and Xander came running round cos he needed to know what to do, in fact Xander and Angel are on their way to becoming friends.
“Hey Buffy I thought I smelt smoke you’re thinking.”
“Don’t push it kid.” She laughed. I could tell by her face what she wanted to talk about was serious.
“What’s up?”
“It’s about college, don’t get mad cos I know you think, well actually I don’t know what you think but anyway I am considering NYC or I was but now I’m not. I am trying to decide between U.C Sunnydale and Michigan. Please don’t think that choosing to stay here has anything to do with you, I mean you’re my only family and my best friend and my sorta mom but it’s not.”
“Dawn it’s okay. If you wanna go here fine, if not don’t. I’ll miss you if you go but hell even if you go to U.C Sunnydale there is the possibility of you rooming there so either way I’ll miss you. But as long as you’re happy.”
“If I did decide to go here would I absolutely have to you know room there. I mean if you and Angel I could but…”
“Dawn this is your home too. And I would love to have you here forever.”
“Good cos that was all a lie. I got a letter through today saying U.C. Sunnydale had accepted me for non-board education.” I screamed and she screamed we both jumped up and hugged each other.
“I heard screaming what happened?” Angel came rushing into the room.
“Nothing honey, Dawn just decided to go to U.C. Sunnydale and not only that but she wants to still live here. Isn’t it great.”
“Yeah. Buffy I have to go to work. Someone called in sick.”
“But the doctor.”
“I know but I thought that today being a day for good news and stuff could be a sister bonding day.”
“You are so lucky that she still lives here cos if not she wouldn’t be here to save you.” I was going to the doctor for my scan. I was 3 months pregnant. When I found out I was pregnant Angel decided that long distance wouldn’t work. Connor could never be replaced and I knew that but I think Angel feels he missed something by not being there through the whole 9 months and plus he didn’t love Darla. I had to admit that I loved having Angel with me everyday. When we first started again it was good that it was long distance, I needed that but for the last 4 months it had been bad cos I’d wanted him closer. Angel had this way of consuming me. Before I’d gone back I’d been afraid of Angel becoming my reason and although he, us, consumed me he didn’t become my reason cos I still had my job and my friends and my sister. My only fear now was that my world was too perfect.
*
“Miss Summers I’m picking up another heartbeat here.”
“You have 2 heartbeats!”
“Buffy you’re gonna have twins.”
“Call Angel.” Dawn left. The doctor was trying to tell me some stuff but I wasn’t listening. Dawn came back.
“I called his work but they said he wasn’t in today.”
“But he said… he’s cheating on me. I’m having his 2 kids and he’s cheating on me!”
*
It was about 2 hours later when Angel got home. I was sat in the front room and he came in.
“Hey love.” I stood and slugged him.
“You bastard! I know you weren’t at work today. Who is she? How long has it been going on?” Tears were streaming down my face. He grabbed me hands and looked into my eyes.
“Buffy I love you. There is no one else. I know I lied but I wanted it to be a surprise. I know this isn’t the most romantic way to do this, I had wanted it to be perfect. You know a meal and then dancing and then the surprise party I was planning for your birthday and then this.” Angel got on his knee and pulled a small black box from his pocket. He opened it revealing a gold ring with a large diamond set in a cluster of emeralds.
“Oh my god! Dawn tried to tell me. She knows right?” he nodded. “I’m so sorry. I was just at the doctor’s and I freaked. Angel we’re not having a baby, we’re having twins.”
“What!”
“We’re gonna have twins. Angel I’m sorry.”
“Marry me.”
“Even after today?”
“Yes besides we can put it down to stress and hormones.” I laughed and he smiled at me.
“So…”
“So stand up. You are gonna get the perfect romantic setting. So ask me again after the perfect night.”
“But you know.”
“So.”
“And I have to wait til tomorrow to hear your answer now.”
“Angel please and I know you wanted it to be perfect and I ruined it but we can just pretend today didn’t happen.”
“Fine.” I smiled and kissed him.
“I love you Buffy.”
“I know and you know I love you too.”
*
So we had the perfect night but I had a surprise. We didn’t tell my friends or Dawn that I knew about any of it. We went to dinner at the most amazing Italian restaurant. Everything about the night was perfect. About 9 we got back home and everyone jumped out and shouted surprise. I pretended I was really surprised and the party began. Everyone obviously knew about it cos my special surprise was Giles.
“Giles!”
“Hello Buffy.”
“Oh wow. This is so perfect, it couldn’t get any better.”
“Hi Buffy.”
“Olivia hi.”
“Happy Birthday and I believe congratulations are due.”
“Yes they are, double congratulations actually because I was at the doctor’s yesterday and it turns out I’m having twins.” Everyone came over and I received a lot of hugs from everyone. Dawn hugged me last and pulled a person from behind her.
“Buffy this is Alex. We’ve been going out for about 2 months now and please don’t cross examine him.”
“I wouldn’t! I know we say I act like your mom sometimes but give me some credit. It’s nice to meet you Alex.” He held out his hand and I shook it.
“Happy Birthday and congratulations.”
“MOMMY!” Connor came running in and I bent and he flung his arms round my neck. Connor had been calling me Buffy for a long time now but for the past couple of weeks he’d been calling me mommy on and off but it had never been in front of anyone. In his hands he held a small package. I hugged him and then placed him down.
“Happy Birthday mommy.” He handed the package to me with a shy smile on his face. I opened it to find a beautiful matching necklace and earring set.
“Oh Connor this is beautiful thank you so much sweetie.” I hugged him again and kissed his softly on the head.
“Mommy is it time?” I nodded and he ran off again. He came back a few seconds later and handed me something. I took his hand we circulated through my friends for a while before going over to where Angel and Xander were stood talking. I bent on my knee.
“Angel, will you marry me?” I produced the box Connor had given me and opened it. He smiled at me. “You wanted it to be a surprise. You never said who the surprise was for.” He bent down onto one of his knees.
“Buffy all my life I thought I could never be happy because of all the things he did and you showed me that I wasn’t him. That forgiveness could be mine and I was a good person. You were the first person to see me as something other than a monster and I love you with all my heart. And the fact that you have so easily accepted Connor as your own makes me love you even more if it’s possible and it’s been so hard to get to where we are now and now we’re finally here I don’t ever want us to be without each other again. I can’t imagine spending another day without you after I’ve experience such perfect happiness.” Tears were falling fast now.
“So is that a yes?”
“You know it is.” He wrapped his arms around me and I held him tight. I pulled back and slipped the ring onto his finger. He kissed me and then pulled out his black box. He opened it and revealed the ring, which he then took out and placed on my finger.
****************************
I lay exhausted after delivering mine and Angel’s two perfect children. We had 2 little girls. We named one Katherine Morgan Finnley and the other Kayla Abigail Finnley. Dawn came in as soon as we were moved to our own room.
“Hey Buffy, how are you?”
“Very tired and sore.”
“Oh wow they are so perfect.”
“Congratulations you guys.”
“Thanks Dawn. Do you wanna hold one, cos holding two is a little difficult and Buffy’s exhausted?”
“Sure.” She settled herself in another chair and Angel passed Kayla to her.
“Have you named them?”
“Yeah. We named the one Angel’s holding after his sister sort of, her name is Katherine Morgan Finnley. And the one you’re holding is called Kayla Abigail Finnley.”
“Abigail?”
“Yeah after mom. I thought Joyce was probably…”
“A little old fashioned for someone her age.”
“Yeah.”
“Buffy they’re perfect.” Perfect as they were they were a handful right from the start. Feeding was hard and in the night when one woke the other always did. Connor also felt a little left out.
“Connor sweetie can you pass me that pacifier?”
“No.”
“Please honey, help me.”
“No. I want them to go back, just take them back.”
“Don’t you like being a big brother?”
“No, I hate them! All they do is cry and sleep and poo and yet you and daddy and auntie Dawn think they are so great.”
“Well sweetie we only pay them more attention cos they’re newborn when you were their age you got this much attention. But honey we still love you and no one can take your place.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.” I put Kayla back into the carrycot next to her sister and hugged him. He wrapped his arms round my neck. I was glad Connor looked so much like Angel and nothing like Darla, not that that could make me love him any less. I couldn’t love Connor more if he was my own. He was so adorable and just so perfect. “Connor you are very important to us and so we want you to be in our wedding. Do you want to?”
“Are they in the wedding?”
“No.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Well you get this cushion and on it is two rings and you just walk down the aisle carrying this cushion and then when we exchange rings you hold the cushion up and me and daddy both take a ring.”
“Okay.”
“Happier now?”
“Yeah and I’m sorry, I’ll try and be a better big brother.”
******************
The wedding was the next month and it was beautiful. Everything was perfect. I couldn’t have asked for anything more. Willow and Tara were staying at ours over the honeymoon as Dawn had her exams coming up and it wasn’t fair for her to have 3 kids to take care of. When we came back from our honeymoon in Ireland I had some big news for everyone.
“Guys, I’m pregnant!”
“Again! The twins aren’t even 7 months old!”
“Sorry I didn’t realise there had to be a time span on it.”
“No there doesn’t Buffy Angel congratulations.” After Dawn’s strange reaction and then her congratulations we were bombarded with more.
“Since this is a day for news I have to announce mine and Olivia’s engagement.”
“Giles congratulations.”
“Buffy I want you to be my best woman.”
”Oh my god Giles, I would love to.” I hugged him and he held me back.
“I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have.”
“What anyone better than your unofficial foster daughter?”
“No, anyone better than my daughter.”
“Okay dad don’t get too mushy on me.”
*****
Giles and Olivia’s wedding was quite small but at the reception the first pains began and everything was cut short by the entire group relocating to the waiting room at Sunnydale General. As I was in labour I remembered the conversation I’d had with Connor a few months after I had told him we were gonna have another baby.
# “Mommy when the new baby comes can you make it be a boy cos when the girls get older they’ll be 2 against one and if it’s another girl it’ll be 3 against one and so if you made it another boy then it would be 2 against 2.”
“I’ll try honey.”#
Connor got his wish and I delivered a very healthy 7lbs 9oz baby boy. We called him Liam Michael Finnley. It wasn’t long after this that we got the news that Wesley and Cordelia had been on vacation and had decided to elope. With 4 children and 3 adults in a 3 bedroomed house we decided we needed a bigger place. When I first brought it up with dawn she had assumed we were asking her to move out. I quickly corrected this and asked her if she would mind if we moved and she came with us. She agreed. The money from the sale of the house was divided equally between us but instead of getting a mortgage and remortgaging the hotel Dawn put her money back in and combined with money Angel had stored away we got a nice big house on the outskirts of Sunnydale. It even had a white picket fence. Of course Angel decided to be the perfect family we had to get a dog. We got a large golden retriever, which Connor named Goldie. The house had a large plot of land with it which was perfect cos of all the kids. There were 6 bedrooms and downstairs a guest bedroom and a playroom, there was a large kitchen/diner and a living area. There was a nice patio outside for warm summer days when we wanted to eat outside. For now we all had a room for our own except the twins who shared but we figured later on when they were older they’d want their own room but for now the other bedroom was just another guest bedroom. Dawn and Ryan were quite serious now and sometimes stayed over, on times like this we had to keep Connor busy so he wouldn’t go investigate his aunt and her boyfriend. I thought that Ryan would probably be the one but since it was Dawn I wasn’t sure. He seemed very nice and had a little bit of excitement. His father owned a rather large cosmetic firm and so had money to provide for Dawn so if it came to that I knew she’d be well looked after, though she was so sure she wouldn’t need looking after, and if anything she would look after her husband which always made me laugh. As strange as our family might be I loved it. Xander and Anya had moved close to us after discovering Anya was pregnant for the 4th time with triplets. Willow and Tara had a ‘Wiccan Wedding’, which was all they could since the church had refused to marry two women. They were now in the process of adopting. Gunn and Fred visited regularly with their little girl and their little boy. We were informed that Cordy and Wes were having a baby on one of these visits. Of course the next weekend they came and Cordelia and I had a long talk about pregnancy since Fred had said how wonderful the whole experience had been and she wanted all the painful and disgusting details. Of course at this time Angel decided the children need a nap and then he Wesley and Connor had gone to play basketball.
The End
If the future I might do another story that would be more about the children and how they have grown up. If you ask me real nice of course and you all review these two stories.