"So, what time is the movie again?" Buffy releases Angel's hand as she picks up her iced water and takes a sip. At a large round table, Xander sat to Buffy's right, with Anya seated next to him, then Willow and Oz, followed finally with Angel leaning with his elbows on the table on the opposite side of Buffy. The restaurant they had chosen for their, almost, once-in-a-blue-moon-night out, was carefully lit with candles on the tables and small chandeliers overhead. Xander and Anya got out plenty. Oz and Willow only had a few draw backs when it came to that certain time of the month, possibly for both, and some other extra curricular clashing schedules. All of their loyal friends thought that it was about time that they got out. Buffy and Angel not only had to worry about patrol, but they too, had to deal with their own mix of career schedules. Not to mention their three year old toddler that was at home with the baby-sitter for the night. After the small visit from Buffy, Angel had no power nor control over her dreams. Neither of them would have imagined that a Slayer's memory with her sub conscience is stronger than that of her virtual memory bank. Of course, the people who screw up are those in high places. Although the Oracles did erase the day from, the effects and consequences were left unrecognized. Buffy had become pregnant and it was only until she started to show did she begin to wonder and learn of her special condition.

"7 o'clock. Don't worry we won't miss it." Willow answered the edgy Buffy's question.

"I'm not worried. I just want to make sure that our plans go through." Trying to hide what she knew everyone could already see.

"Uh, huh. Riiiggghhht." Xander looks at her and then around at the rest of the occupants at the table. He knew as well as everyone else that was there that night, that Buffy never did like the idea of leaving her daughter with someone that she had only known for three days before agreeing to letting her watch her little bundle of joy. When Jena was only 8 months old she was handed, temporarily, over to the care of someone else's hands. Buffy was never sure of whether the poor woman really wanted to get to Buffy from the inside out. Or perhaps Angel. They knew she was just being over protective as a mother along with her slayer instincts.

Buffy blushed with that little inkling of a statement. For support, Angel slid his hand gently on her leg. Giving her a little notion that everything was okay. He wanted desperately for her to take a break. Not to mention the fact that he needed one as well. And having an over worked wife and needy child just was not that much fun to deal with or be around 24/7.

Instead of leaving immediately the six of them slowly finished off their drinks as well as conversations. Enjoying a nice relaxing night while also enjoying the company of each other. It seemed as if after every other sentence a joke was told and everyone burst into laughter. Since sitting their waiting for the lapsing time pass by, everyone was able to loosen their tense muscles and fully interact with one another.

"What time is it?" Xander looked at his wristwatch answering somebody's question who had just barely finished laughing from a resent joke.

"6:30." Xander looked at everyone before him and they all exchanged the same looks as well as thoughts. "Should we go?" Everyone took their last sips of their drinks and go up from their chairs and began to start off for the door.

"So, we'll meet you there?" Everyone headed for their own cars. As they began to spread apart, Buffy wanted to further detail the plan. Beep Beep. Beep Beep. Her pager went off just as she received a nod from Willow in response. "Who in the-"

The pager read: Come home 911

"Angel?" Buffy handed him the pager to let him read it for himself. Taking one glance at the rather vague words, his expression, of what he thought was to come of the night, fell. He looked back at Buffy and a mutual vibe ran through them.

"We've got to go!" They both cried out, loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Something's wrong with Jena and the baby-sitter!" She wanted to make sure she didn't just leave them in the dark and that everyone heard her.

They hopped into the car, with Angel in the driver's seat and headed back home. All kinds of scenarios ran through their heads. But neither of them were shared with the other. They didn't want to get too worked up, nor did they want to scare the other into jumping to conclusions.

Finally, they pulled up into the driveway of their two year old house. Since Angel was now human, due to a spell that had been put on them by an old friend of Angel's, he was able to live a real life, get a real job. Raise a family of his own. And be free to love his wife. In both literal and emotional.

The door was quickly opened by Danielle, the baby-sitter, after looking through the peep hole. Buffy entered first, pulling off her coat and dropping her purse onto a reclining chair. A small framed girl lied on the oversized couch with a baby-quilted blanket covering her body. Instead of her usual smile to her parents' return the toddler gave a small whimper for her mother. "Mommmmy." From her side, she rolled onto her back to look up at her opposite hair colored mother. The girl had night black hair that had grown down to the middle of her back and her father's chocolate brown eyes.

"Oh, Baby...Whats wrong." Buffy knelt down next to her little girl and leaned against the soft cushions.

"I think she has a fever..." Danielle answered for the clueless little one. "She didn't eat much of her dinner. She said it hurt to much to swallow. She might have a minor case of the flu or a cold..." She gave a full hearted sympathetic look at the young one's state. She'd baby-sat the same little girl for almost three years now, and has grown very close to her. Maybe not as a mother, but perhaps a little sister of some sort. But she too, felt useless to the baby.

"Is that true, Baby? Does your throat hurt?" Gaining a nod from the small girl's head she looked up to Angel.

"Thanks for calling us." He took out his wallet and began to count in his head just how much they owed her. Reaching a sum, he pulled out a few dollars and handed them to the college freshman. "You okay going home? I mean, you've drove your car over right?" Giving her what seemed to be his usual worried lecture of being safe at night. "No telling what kind of people you'll find out there." Finishing up with a stressed smile.

"Yeah. I'm fine. Thanks." She exited the house and walked over to her parked car on the curb. As she did this, Angel stood and waited for her to drive away. After she had started off, Angel shut and locked the door looking to his wife and sick baby girl.

"Should I get the Tylenol?" He took a position identical to Buffy's next to the couch. "How are you sweety?" Taking in his own observation.

"Yeah, you get the Baby Tylenol and I'll run her a cold bath." Standing up she hovered her chest closely over the little body on the couch. She slid her hands under her, one supported her head, the other her back. "Come on, Baby." Buffy was completely in nurturing mode. She picked up Jena and headed upstairs to the bathroom. Once the water had filled the tub to her mother's desire Jena began to squeal. Tears stained her face as sobs took up her body.

"No!" She tried desperately to wiggle out of her mom's grasp. "No!" Between every other breath Jena was able to get out one single word.

"It will make you feel better, Sweety. Come on..." Buffy felt even worse that her daughter was taking her intentions the wrong way. Jena knew it was cold, and that she would hate it.

"Whats wrong?" Angel walks in and sees the two struggling against each other.

"She doesn't want to get in." She talked over her screaming daughter.

"Did you get the Tylenol?"

"Yeah." Putting the small bottle of liquid Tylenol on the sink. "Let me take her, while you get the Tylenol ready." Angel put his hand on Buffy's shoulder and the other brushed back the deep brown hair away from those small identical eyes. Buffy forfeited and handed the girl to her father.

He wanted to make sure that she was calm before he tried to reason with Jena. Or she would not have paid attention. He started to sing to her, in Gaelic. A lullaby that his mother used to sing to him and his other siblings. Almost immediately she began to calm down. Her sobs were only existent with the loss of breath that she had worked off during her fit.

"Ti hief tue." Angel muttered in her ear as he lightly rubbed her back to calm her down. Her head lowered down, laying on his shoulder. "Now...The bath will make you feel better. Do you trust Daddy?" Her hot head rubbed against his neck as she nodded. "Okay then...Are you going to let Mommy put you in the tub?" He received the same warm brush from her sticky skin. "Okay..." He sat down on the covered toilet and positioned her to where she sat up, leaning her bare back against his chest. He was still in shock of how hot she really was compared to her normal temperature.

"Here, Baby." Buffy stepped in front of the two, and held a small cup in front of Jena's tightly closed mouth. "Please..." Buffy begged. Taking in a deep breath Jena contemplated what was being asked of her. Quickly, so as not to taste the horrible medicine, she swallowed the whole cup's worth. "Thank you." Buffy mumbled under her breath, although it was clearly heard. Jena soon realized that she had hurt her mother's feelings some how. Angel gathered the same vibe from Buffy. But it was apparent to only him at the time that it was his fault that Buffy had felt neglected as a mother. Instead of her being the one that could calm down her daughter it was her father. Which was not entirely bad, but it was just the usual thing to have the mother be the one that was needed most. He decided that it would just have to be something he would discuss with her later.

After finally taking her bath, she was dressed and basically passed out on the way to her bed from the bathroom. Buffy entered their bedroom first with Angel in following.

"Buffy...she didn't mean it. You shouldn't let it get to you." Angel stood a few feet into the room as he watched his wife change and get ready for bed. He knew that she was not the most pleasant company at the moment. He thought it best to keep his distance.

"I don't blame her and I don't blame you." Taking a deep breath she stopped and looked at him finally. "Nor do I blame myself...But it's just upsetting. I'll be fine." She drew back the covers and sheets from the oversized bed and removed some fancy pillows.

"I just want you to know that I-"

"Mommy!" Angel was cut off by their daughter's cry for her mother. Without thinking they both instinctively rushed out of their room and down the hall. As they rushed into the night-lighted room, the young girl sat up in bed. "Mommy." She was crying again. Not for anything in particular besides the fact that she might not have been able to get comfortable.

"What's wrong, Jena?" Buffy sat down next to her daughter. Almost immediately, she wrapped her arms around Buffy's neck and curled up near her chest. Stunned with the dramatic actions of her daughter, Buffy picked up her daughter where she cuddled against her, and moved to the rocking chair that still remained in Jena's room. Even though she was three years old she was still effected tremendously by it's constant easy motion. Buffy began to sing her own little lullaby that she herself sung to her daughter. Again, one that was passed down to her from her own mother. Jena gradually fell asleep to the humming vibrations and movements as well as lyrics in her mother's arms.

Responding to the satisfaction that her baby girl was finally comfortable and asleep she smiled down at her and then at Angel, Who kissed the top of her head.

The End

Feedback to CaelaClt@aol.com!

Go here for more of Caela's stories.

Back to the BAFFA

---

This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page