Part Four
Buffy finally gathered her thoughts and helped her angel to stand, she was leading him towards their home when she changed direction and headed towards the apartment he had lived in when he had been here so many years ago. Once there she began to tend to the many wounds on his body. He sat in a stunned silence and Buffy felt uncomfortable in it. She wanted to know who had hurt her angel like this and yet knew that she couldn’t ask. He would tell her when he was ready. All that mattered now was that he was back, this time it would be for good. She tried to get him to say something to her.
“Angel, I had your son, I called him the stupidest name. You see all through my pregnancy Spike was with me. He’s my best friend. Willow she’s in England. Training to be a Watcher. Giles is there too. Xander and Anya moved away they live in a small town, the neighbouring town actually. They have 3 kids. 2 girls and a boy, the eldest is Sophie and then there’s Helen. Poor little Zack the youngest and only boy so he loves it when we go there cos then he gets to be with another guy. So anyway like I was saying so when I had our son it seemed only right that I consider all the help Spike was through my pregnancy so I called him Will. Not William just Will. But I wanted part of you too so I had his middle name done as Liam. The boys at school tease him about it. His sister is the only one who joins the names. He hates it and loves it cos she does it. They’re so close. I guess cos they have a twin bond or something. Did Spike ever tell you about Emily? Well he let it slip and so I called our daughter Emily. She never got a middle name cos I was always waiting til you came back to give her that. So you could decide. They have your last name, Spike told me it. Ever since they were born they were different. They have Slayer strength. They both have your hair and even though they’re twins Em has more of me in her and Will more of you. They were born on October 23rd at 2 in the morning. Will weighed 7lbs and 8oz and Em was 6lbs and 9oz.”
“I know.”
“What?”
“The man who was my captor, he kept telling me stuff. First he came and said you were pregnant and then that Spike was with you. Then he told me you had twins and were all healthy. He never told me anything else. Buffy I missed you so much. I don’t even know how long I was there.” His tears began again and she sat beside him and held him to her. She tried to calm him.
“It doesn’t matter nothing between you and me has changed.”
“But how old are they? How much have I missed?”
“Angel it doesn’t matter, they know the truth. Vampires, demons, the slayer everything. They know you wanted to be with us but you couldn’t.”
“Buffy…”
“They’re 8. 9 in 4 months. Today is June 9th 2015. You were kidnapped on January 30th 2006.”
Buffy tried hard to convince Angel to come home with her but he refused claiming it was better he rest and recover before meeting his kids. He said he wanted to look like him. But Buffy knew better she knew it would take a very long time for Angel to heal properly. Outside the wounds would fade but the deeper wounds and the scars that remained inside for only him and her to see would take a long time if ever. Riley came round more than ever and more than ever Buffy was being cruel to try and get through to him. Everyone noticed a change in her, she was happier. When Angel had disappeared Buffy had continued Angel Investigations so she would have some income. Cordelia had commented on her change in attitude. Buffy hoped Angel would decide it was time soon as she knew that people were beginning to think there was something wrong with her.
Angel stepped outside. This was a big step for him, a step he was making without Buffy. He needed some fresh air and after being deprived of sunlight for so many years after only rediscovering the joys of it he desperately wanted to be outside. He wondered the streets of the small town and marvelled at how little it had changed. If he imagined hard enough he could still see himself with Buffy when they had first got back together. So happy they had been walking down this street to their new home. He stopped as he went past the magic shop and wondered who owned it. He approached it and went in. A man was at the counter just purchasing something and turned. Angel saw him and was startled. The man looked at him in horror. He ran towards Angel. Angel could see the fist coming towards him and was powerless to stop it, how could he stop it? But he didn’t need to. A hand gripped the fist and twisted it behind the man’s back.
“So Riley, Angel wanna tell me what’s going on?”
“Buffy…” Buffy cut Riley off by twisting harder and looked at her angel. He was scared and she could see it clearly. The times before when he’d been scared he’d never let her know about it and so she knew it had to be serious. She reached out to him. Riley looked at Angel so afraid of the truth he could shatter what Riley had tried so hard to achieve. Of course being here had done that. But then again Riley pondered he’d always been here. Buffy had never let go of him.
“Angel?” Angel looked in her eyes and she could see the making of tears in his. She dropped Riley’s arm and went to his side. She held him as he sank to the floor in silent sobs. She rocked him as one would a small child. They stayed like this for a while before she helped him to stand. Instead of returning him to the apartment she took him home.
Angel walked in to the house he should have known like the back of his hand. He should have been living here for over 8 years but instead it had been only 2 months. Spike had heard the door and went to greet his friend. She’d been very panicked when she’d called asking if he’d noticed anything strange. Angel could clearly see Spike’s shock as he set eyes on his grand-sire. Spike shook himself out of it and went to help Buffy. Together they managed to get him up the stairs and into bed. Buffy sat with him until he fell into a very light sleep. She went downstairs to talk to her friend.
“Buff I don’t know what to say?”
“The day you came back and fought with Riley, he was on our porch, but he ran. I found him later when I was on patrol. I took him to the apartment. He said he didn’t want to meet his kids looking like such a mess and so refused to come with me. I went to the apartment today and he was gone. I finally found him the magic shop. Riley was just about to hit him. I stopped him and he just collapsed. Spike I’ve never seen him as afraid as he was in that shop and I don’t know why? I know he was hurt and abused. He was tortured in the worst way, by being told little things about me. He lost all track of time. I don’t know what happened to him, he won’t say anything. I don’t want to push him but I need to know so I can stop it happening again. Spike how can I help him when he won’t let me in?”
“Buffy he’s been locked away from you for so long and has probably had so many dreams about coming back that he needs a little time to make sure this isn’t another one. Just be there for him. We can’t even begin to guess what they have done to him. We don’t even know who they are.”
“I know I just feel so helpless. The man I love has finally come home and I can’t help him. Look at him, even asleep he’s scared. That’s not a peaceful sleep.”
Emily noticed something was wrong with her mother while they were all sat round the table. Just when the group had finished their meal the doorbell rang. Will jumped up to get it and Emily realised he felt the same tension in the room as she did and was eager to get away from it. Will returned not looking happy.
“Fish boy’s here.” Riley came into the room. Another sign something was wrong was that her mother didn’t tell Will off for calling Riley Fish Boy. It was a name the twins had picked up from Xander.
“Hi Buffy.”
“What the hell are you doing here?”
”I just wanted to see you.”
“Well I don’t wanna see you, I never did and especially don’t after today, so leave, now.” Buffy turned back to the sink and grabbed the sideboard in an attempt not to swing for Riley. Spike noticed her.
“Kids show Fish Boy the way out.” Both twins looked at him but said nothing as they both grabbed an arm and practically dragged Riley from the room.
“Buffy…” Buffy turned with a piece of the work surface in her hands.
“Think we can claim on the insurance?” Spike smiled and held her.
“I just can’t stand it, he’s so close and yet so far away from me. What if he doesn’t come back?”
“I was scared.” Both spun to face the man who had stumbled blindly into the room. Spike rushed to help his grand-sire to a chair. Angel looked at him but said nothing. It occurred to Angel that even though he knew that Spike was good and had helped Buffy. In fact Buffy had even said herself he was her best friend, that it was strange. Even when they had both been evil all that time ago they’d never got on but now it seemed Spike had totally forgotten all of that. Angel began to tell his story of that morning. Buffy had tears glistening in her eyes and Angel’s tears were falling freely. Spike’s vampire hearing picked up on the sounds of the children coming back so in an effort to lighten things up before they came in her tried to joke.
“Well man I gotta say when you don’t want to be found you can sure stay well hidden. Seriously I looked all over the bloody place for you but you seemed to know I was coming and move before I had a chance to get ya.” He grinned at his grand-sire. Then turned his attention to the two children in the doorway. Buffy moved to her angel and placed her hand on his shoulder. He looked up at her and then back at his children.
“Dad?” Emily’s voice was thick with emotion and without even noticing she grabbed her brother’s hand. Angel tried to smile at them but wasn’t sure he’d managed it. A single tear escaped his daughter’s eye and that set everyone going except for his son and Spike. Emily let go of her brother’s hand and hurled herself into her father’s lap. He held her as she buried her head into his chest. Will stood for a moment before turning and running upstairs. The bolt could be clearly heard sliding into place on his bedroom door. Buffy looked at Spike, he gave her a reassuring smile.
“Daddy.” Emily spoke softly with tears and sobs escaping every few breaths. “Daddy.” She repeated it over and over as if trying to make it sound right to make her mouth used to the formation of the word. Angel held her as if afraid if he let go he would wake up from this dream and would be confined in the hovel he’d escaped from. Buffy watched her child and her lover and smiled, she only wished her son had followed his sister’s first steps. She went upstairs. She knocked quietly on the door.
“Will honey open up, please.” She waited patiently for about 5 minutes until the bolt slid out of place and the door opened a crack. She pushed the door open further and went in closing it behind her. She sat heavily and the bed and waited for her son’s reaction.
“Is it really him?”
“Do you think it’s really him?”
“I know it’s really him. You’re disappointed in me.”
“NO sweetie I’m not disappointed in you. I know this is weird. You never had your daddy and now he’s here. Not everyone reacts in the same way just because you’re up here and she’s with him doesn’t mean that she’s more loved by me now or by him. It doesn’t mean she’s the better child it just means you have your own way of dealing. You have to get over the shock and sometimes it takes longer. But don’t think that we love you any less or her anymore. You’re equal.”
“Where’s he been?”
“I don’t know honey.”
“How long has he been back?”
“About a week.”
“Why didn’t you tell us?”
“Cos when he first came back he didn’t want you to see him like he was. Whoever had him had hit him and beat him really bad and he wanted you to see him as perfect. He was staying in this old place he did when he lived here a long long time ago.”
“Who took him?”
“I don’t know. It’s been very hard for him and so we just have to be patient and love him and if you can’t do that straight away it’s okay. I know you will soon and we’ll be that happy family you always wanted.” Will turned slightly and flung his arms round his mother.
“I love you.” His voice was little more than a whisper and Buffy had to strain to hear it.
“Ditto sweetie.” She held her son and felt his tears.
