SERIES : the
Babe
PAIRING : Buffy/Angel
RATING THESE PARTS : PG
OVERALL RATING : PG, R, & NC17
SPOILERS : I Will Remember You
DISCLAIMER : I do not own these
characters.
=====================================================================
PART 24 (PG14 - Explanations)
“Okay,
the suspense is killing me.”
“Okay,
so I get back in town and you had sent Spike back to the commando lab, right?
So they put the chip back in his head, and I was pissed and had just found out
that I was still pregnant. So I get him and tie him up and I’m throwing holy
water at him right and I was yelling at him. And it turns out he felt really
bad about the baby, did you know he was married?”
“What?”
“Before
he was changed, he was married and his wife was five months pregnant, Drusilla
killed her too?”
“No,
I did.”
“Well,
anyway... he felt really bad and apologized, so I decided to let him go since
he couldn’t hurt anyone again and so him and Willow baby-sit while I patrol,
this way I know she’s protected too cause he can hurt a demon if one tried to
break in, and he stays up anyway... so that’s how he earns his keep, I give him
money for blood and he baby-sits, and he’s scarily quite good, she loves him.”
“Buffy,
it seems too weird. And the monster face? Buffy...”
“Angel,
she needs to know these things, my mother didn’t and she couldn’t accept it,
she still has a hard time with me, and now that you’re back... I can’t wait to
break that news to her. I think it’s important she knows these things, I mean
this way she will sort of understand why Mommy and Daddy aren’t growing old and
why Daddy never eats her brownies.”
“I
guess, and it’s your decision, it’s not like I was around. I wish I would have
known.”
“Angel,
I think it happened for a reason, like you getting your soul. I made the only
decisions I could make. And she knows not to discuss these things with other
people besides immediate friends and family.” They walked more toward the
cemetery.
“So
you read my journals?”
“Yes,
they kept me sane every night, I could be close to you, if only through words.
I had no idea you had them, why didn’t you tell me?”
“I
don’t know... because... I like Hannah’s name, it’s nice.”
“I
thought they were pretty and it’s not like I could name her Buffy... I thought
about Angelica or Angelina, but I liked Hannah more. It’s a strong name, gives
her character, history, makes her a part of us.”
“Buffy...
I’m sorry.”
“Angel,
you don’t have to apologize, no explanations necessary.” They walked in
silence.
“So
Spike knows my kid better than I do.”
“She
needed a male figure, anyway she has four of them, now five, Giles, Wesley and
Xander spend time with her too. She’s a very lucky little girl, I am too, most
of the time I have a babysitter for free. I work during the day, can you
imagine, I have superpowers and I still need to work! Of course so did
Superman...”
“Superman?”
“Sorry,
pop culture and all, you should really watch television more often, it’s great,
it brings pictures right into your house.”
“I
know Buffy... I am slowly jumping into the twentieth century.”
“Right...
but now we’re in the twenty-first century.”
“Oh...
well give me time, I’ll come around. When’s her birthday?”
“August
27th, she was a night baby, 1:22 in the morning. And man that stuff hurts, I
don’t know how some women can have nine or ten babies, they must be crazier
than Drusilla, and she was pretty damn crazy.”
“Sorry
I wasn’t there, you shouldn’t have been alone.”
“That’s
okay, I squeezed Spike’s hand all the hell.”
“Spike
was at the birth of my child and I wasn’t?”
“Angel,
Spike’s a friend now, not at first, but he’s proven himself and I can’t exactly
blame him if I don’t blame you, it was the demon. Anyway, him and Willow are
kind of together.”
“WHAT!?”
“Kind
of on and off, for a couple years now actually, of course they’ve actually been
more off than on, but... whatever, at least she’s happy. She deserves to be.
Which brings me to my next point, how do we know the gypsies didn’t lie to you
and there will be an even worse consequence?”
“I
guess we don’t, we’ll just have to take it for a test run, up for it?”
“I’ve
been up for it since my seventeenth birthday silly rabbit.”
“What?”
“Silly
rabbit, tricks are for kids... it’s a cereal, whatever, watch cartoons with
Hannah next Saturday, we’ll introduce you to the world of pop culture. I just hope
you’re up for it, there’s a long night ahead.”
“Oh
yeah? Why’s that?”
“Because
it’s been over three years and I have a lot of sexual frustration pent up. And
the thought of us being together again makes me tingle all over.”
“Well,
you’ll be tingling all over tonight, I can promise you that.”
“I
can hardly wait. Oh boy! Vampire!” She took off running and he ran after her.
By the time he got there, the vamp was dust. “I love it when I do that... it’s
so much fun!”
“Well,
not looking at destiny as all bad are we?”
“Well,
destiny did introduce me to you, so it can’t be all that bad... I mean without
it, you’d be long dead and I’d be in LA alone. Instead, we’re both here and we
can go home to our daughter.”
“I
missed you so much Buffy... I can’t believe I threw it all away, why didn’t you
find me? No that’s not fair, I’m sorry, I didn’t want to be found.”
“Angel,
I tried finding you, God I tried, but I couldn’t find you... but you’ll be
happy to know your daughter is very photogenic, we bought a camcorder, we have
the birth right up to her first steps on tape, I have like 30 tapes of her at
home, so you’ll have something to do during the day. I also have photo albums
up the wazoo, so don’t worry, she’s a very well documented child. I mean, she
is the only one, so I want to have lots to remember her by.”
“Buffy...”
“Well
let’s face it, we are going to watch her grow old and have children and
eventually die, I want lots to remember her by.”
“Well,
look at it this way, we’ll be able to watch our great great grandchildren grow
up.”
“I
never thought about it that way.”
“Well,
it makes it a little better... but still. Immortality takes a lot of getting
used to, huh?”
“That
is does. That it does Buffy.”
PART 25 (PG14 - Five)
“We’re
home!”
“Hey!
Your mom called, she’s going to come over tomorrow morning, I didn’t mention
anything about Angel being back, I wasn’t going to set her off again.” Willow
said.
“Thanks
Willow, that’s going to be a tough conversation.”
“Well,
if she loves you Buffy, she’ll deal, and if not, stake her.”
“That’s
not a resolution Willow, it would be manslaughter with a sanity defense at
best... premeditated murder one at worst. And I know she loves me, it’s just...
I wish she’d just stop making decisions for me, that’s all.” Buffy went in and
plopped down on the couch.
“How’d
slaying go?” Spike asked.
“One
lousy vampire... I don’t think the forces of evil are even trying... I mean,
here I am ready to slay and slaying has basically been a no go for two weeks.”
Angel walked into the living and looked around. Things had changed, the stones
were still there, but there were lights and candles and appliances. He
remembered a fight with Buffy in this very room, and a night when he almost
killed her, the most erotic night of his vampire life. Was there anything
better than a Slayer? And it had been even more so because it had been Buffy.
“You
know Angel, you can sit down, it’s your house too.” Buffy said, motioning for
him to sit next to her. He did and she threw her legs over his lap.
“Angel,
I’ve told Buffy this, and now I suppose I’ll tell you too. I’m sorry for what I
did, I mean not for the kidnapping part, that was funny,” Willow hit him, “But
for the drug part, if I had known she was pregnant, I wouldn’t have done that.
You were the one who took the children, I didn’t, oh and I’m sorry for that
too.”
“I
suppose if Buffy can forgive you, I can sort of, but I still don’t like you.”
“Well
I don’t like you either, so that should work out.”
“And
we were getting along so well... now boys, we’re going to be around a while, we
might as well co-exist.”
“You’re
right Buffy and I support you on this.” Willow stated. “Oh, Hannah wanted you
to look in on her when you got home and she went to bed late.”
“How
late?”
“Like
an hour ago...”
“Willow!
She needs to sleep, Sunday’s are big for her, you know that... and I wish you
would just listen to me every now and then.”
“What
are Sundays?” Angel asked.
“Oh,
the gang usually gets together for a picnic or something, sometimes she gets to
go see Xander and Anya... they wear her out, and she usually ends up at my
mothers a couple hours. Tomorrow we’re doing dinner here. Xander and Anya are
going to being their puppy.”
“Xander
and Anya?”
“Yes,
they are together, not married, but seriously considering it. We figure in a
couple more years he’ll be ready, and she’s just as scared as he is... I guess
if I were her, I would be too, after all the crap she’s seen from the male
species.”
“HEY!”
Spike screamed. “She lied to me! You did too! That’s the ring!”
“What?”
Willow asked.
“Darky,
she lied, she said it was destroyed, but that’s the Ring of Amara.”
“Yeah,
I told her I destroyed it, but I didn’t... thought it might come in handy one
day.”
“Well,
duh... what vampire wouldn’t want it? Any ninny could see that. Can I use it?”
“No.”
“But
I want to go outside... in the day light.”
“Please
Angel...” Willow chimed in. “We want to go to the beach.”
“Willow,
not that I don’t love you, but I don’t think Spike and the ring should share
space. You know? He might get ideas.” Buffy said.
“But...
I’ll be good, I promise I’ll be good... please...”
“Maybe...”
The four sat up talking until the sun came up.
“DAMN!
It’s morning!”
“Wow!
Morning...” Willow stood up. “Okay, well I’m going home to get some sleep.”
“I’ll
come too...” Spike stood up and grabbed his coat. “Let’s make a break for it.”
“Bye
guys!”
“MOMMY!”
Buffy jumped up and ran upstairs. He followed her. He stood in the hallway
listening.
“What’s
up baby?”
“Mommy
I had a dream... a bad dream...” The little girl clutched onto Buffy.
“It’s
okay, we’ll just have to do another spell with Aunt Willow, huh? It’s okay,
it’s morning...”
“Mommy,
is the man here again?”
“Yes,
Daddy is here for good honey. You can call him Daddy... is that okay?”
“Yes
Momma... but what if he goes away again?”
“He’s
not, Mommy won’t let him this time...”
“He’s
like Uncle Spike?”
“Yes
baby.”
“Then
how was he outside?”
“He
has something very special, it’s called the Ring of Amara and it let’s people
like Daddy go outside in the sun. It’s magic.”
“Oh...”
“Hannah,
I know it’s going to take a while to get to know him, but he loves us very
much... he’s kind of quiet... maybe *you* should initiate...” Angel leaned in
the door jam.
“DADDY!”
She screamed. “Daddy, come in... Mommy can we have five?”
“Of
course we can, but Daddy doesn’t know what that is.”
“Oh,
right, you lay here Momma and Daddy lays over here...” He watched the child
move in the middle of the bed and Buffy lay down on one side of her, he took
his cue from the child and lay on the other side. “Now we lay here for five
minutes.”
“Sometimes
it turns into an hour... huh baby?”
“Yeah...
Momma, can I go back to sleep?”
“Sure...”
their child lay between them and he put his arm over her and rested his hand on
Buffy’s hip. She put her hand up on his cheek and smiled at him. “This is
amazing Angel.”
“Yeah
it sure is.”
PART 26 (PG - Truce)
He
watched Buffy slowly fall asleep, he couldn’t though. He was afraid it would be
a dream if he closed his eyes that he would wake up and it would all disappear.
If it was just a dream, he never wanted to wake up. His child... their child...
it was a miracle, plain and simple, a miracle. He drifted off despite his best
efforts to stay awake.
“Mommy...”
she whispered. “Mommy...” the child slowly tapped her mother.
“Mmm...
what honey?”
“Momma,
it’s morning... I’m hungry.”
“Okay
baby.” She opened her eyes and he was still there sleeping.
“Mommy?”
“Yes
honey?”
“I
like Daddy.”
“Me
too. Come on, let’s let Daddy sleep, guess what, Gramma is coming over today.”
“Yeah!”
She picked up her daughter and carried her downstairs. “Mommy I want cereal!”
“Okay,
what kind?”
“Umm,
let me see... Kix!”
“Kix
it is... after breakfast it’s bath time.”
“Aw...
Mommy...”
“I’m
not listening to your sob story and bath time woes... bath after or no puppy.”
“Okay,
bath time...” Just then the door opened.
“Hello?
Buffy?”
“GRAMMA!”
Joyce walked in.
“Hey
Chicky... Buffy... I brought you some groceries.”
“Mom,
you don’t have to do that.”
“I
know, but... here.”
“Gramma,
guess what?”
“What?”
“Mommy
says my Daddy is back to stay!” Joyce looked up at Buffy quickly.
“Your
Daddy?”
“Yes,
I like him, he has a monster face like Uncle Spike... he said he would show me
today, I can’t wait...”
“Mom,
why don’t we go in the other room, Hannah finish eating and then we’ll get your
bath.”
They
walked into the living room, “Her Daddy?”
“Mom,
before you say anything, Angel came back yesterday... and he’s back for good,
and he’s going to be in our lives.”
“What
if he changes?”
“Mom,
he’s not going to... it’s different and
complicated and my business, and spare the lectures...”
“Buffy
he almost killed you twice...”
“Mom,
you only know about twice... but Mom, I almost die on a regular basis, and I
love him, and our child deserves to know her father. He came back to be with me
and we are going to be together.”
He
woke up and her clock read eleven. He got up and made his way downstairs.
“DADDY!”
the child jumped up and ran to him. He picked her up for the first time.
“Morning
pudding pie.”
“That’s
a silly name.”
“Yes
it is...”
“Gramma’s
here, GRAMMA! DADDY’S UP!” He carried her into the living room.
“Mrs.
Summers... how have you been?”
“I’ve
been busy taking care of my daughter, unlike you...”
“Mom...”
Buffy said, “Hey baby girl, why don’t we get you a nice warm bubble bath and
you can play for a little bit, we won’t wash you, you can just play.”
“YEAH!”
Buffy came and took her and went upstairs to the bathroom, leaving him with her
mother.
“Mrs.
Summers... I can only imagine how you feel about me... but I’m here now and I
plan to make things as right as they can be for Hannah’s sake and for Buffy’s,
I love them.”
“If
you loved them, you wouldn’t have killed them.”
“I
had no control over that Mrs. Summers... I felt horrible, that’s why I left. I
don’t deserve to be forgiven, I don’t deserve Buffy, but she seems to think
different. And I left because I thought Buffy would be better off... if I had
known she was still pregnant, I would have stayed.”
“Well...
that we’ll never know.”
“Mrs.
Summers, I know you don’t approve of us, but I’d like a chance to prove myself
to you, and when I have that approval, that’s the day I’m going to ask you to
give Buffy away. That’s all I ask, is another chance, one more, I’m not going
to let anything screw it up this time.”
“We’ll
see.”
“You
will see Mrs. Summers.”
“Joyce,
please.”
“Joyce...
you’ll see.” Buffy walked back down.
“Oh
good, no one is dead yet... I was hoping for the best.”
“That’s
not a funny joke Buffy.”
“Sorry
Mom... Hannah wanted you Angel to play with her.”
“What
do I do?” he asked.
“Just
play, pretend... I’m sure you’ll do fine... follow her lead and try to get her
hair wet with some suds.” He walked up and stood in the doorway looking at his
daughter. She was beautiful, big brown eyes and honey colored hair, a mix of
his brown and Buffy’s blond. He saw a mark on her back, a birthmark, he sister
had had one exactly like it he remembered. He smiled.
“DADDY!
Come play!” He sat on the edge of the tub and played with his daughter.
PART 27 (PG - Sleeping Over)
She
said she was getting cold so he wrapped her in a towel and carried her into her
room. She picked out clothes and got dressed.
“Daddy?
Uncle Spike floats me.”
“What?”
“Pick
me up!” He did so. “Now go over in front of the dresser.” He did and he saw
what she meant, there was a mirror there, and it looked like she was floating.
“Cool huh?”
“Yeah,
pretty cool.”
He
took her to the bed and she sat down. “Daddy?”
“Yes
baby girl?”
“Mommy
calls me that...” she had her mother’s smile. “Will you show me your monster
face? Please...”
“Oh
Hannah...”
“Please
Daddy... please...” she was groveling.
“Okay,
okay.” He vamped out and she squealed in delight.
“Your
teeth are bigger than Uncle Spike’s... I like your eyes.” She touched his cheek
and then his forehead. “I like it Daddy... it’s funny.”
“Don’t
you think it’s scary?”
“Not
on good monsters, only on bad ones... but not on you Daddy.” She stood up and
kissed his forehead.
“Okay
Kiddo, get dressed.” Buffy said from the doorway.
“MOMMY!
Daddy showed me his monster face! It’s so cool!”
“Good
honey, that’s great, now get dressed... Aunt Willow and Uncle Spike just got
here and he has a surprise for you.”
“Oh
Boy what is it?”
“You’ll
have to get dressed and go find out, but it’s really cool.” She picked out hair
ties and shoes and she was very self-sufficient. She was a little person. She
took his hand and led him downstairs where the entire gang was. They had a
barbeque that day and his daughter hung all over him and took him around the
house and property showing him everything.
“And
this is where Mommy killed a bad guy, and this is where I hurt my knee, but
Mommy put a band aid on it...” she led him all over, “And this is where Uncle
Spike said used to be a shower... and this is where I lost my dolly, she got
broked...” he smiled at her. They all ate and talked, caught up... the dynamics
of the group hadn’t changed that much and by the end of the day he was Angel
and he was now Daddy. He assimilated back in the group to where he had been
long before, in love with Buffy and fairly respected. Cordy was there too, so
was Wesley and they had become members of the Scooby Gang once again. It was
dusk and Joyce had walked over to Buffy. Cordelia walked over to him.
PART 28 (PG - Salutations & Goodbyes)
“Angel...
it’s so great you’re back.” Cordelia said. She gave him a big hug. “I just... I
missed you Angel, you’re a great friend and I missed you.”
“I
missed you too. I’m glad you’re in Hannah’s life.”
“Me
too, she’s a special kid.”
“Buffy,
do you want me to take her tonight, you can get her in the morning.”
“I
have to work tomorrow Mom.”
“Well,
I’ll bring her over and Angel can watch her.”
“Well,
I have to work, but I’m thinking I might call in sick.”
“Do
you want me to take her tonight?”
“Let’s
see, I’ll leave it up to her, Hannah?” She ran to her mother and Buffy picked
her up. “Do you want to sleep at Gramma’s tonight?”
“But
I don’t want to leave my Daddy.” Angel walked over.
“Hannah,
you can go to Gramma’s tonight, and I’ll come over and get you in the morning.
I promise.”
“Promise?”
“I
do.”
“If
you break that promise it’s five big berzerts.” He looked at her.
“Hannah,
why don’t you show Daddy what a berzert is. He doesn’t know our games.” Buffy
explained as the little girl got down on the floor.
“Right...”
she took his hand. “Come over here Daddy...” she put him on the couch and
rolled his shirt back. “This is a berzert.” She put her mouth on his stomach
and blew, it tickled, as well as being a little wet. “Mommy berzerts me all the
time.”
“Oh
yeah!” He grabbed her and did the same on her stomach over and over. She was
laughing uncontrollably. It was the best sound in the world.
“Okay,
Hannah do you want to go?”
“Yes...”
she got up. “I’m going to go pack.”
“I’ll
help you.” Joyce went up with her.
“Bye
Hannah, we’re leaving.” Willow called after her.
“Bye
everybody!”
“Buffy,
we’re going to get going... I’ll see you tomorrow night.”
“Okay
Willow, hey Spike you need money?”
“No,
I’m good.”
“Really?”
“I
decided to give up smoking for a while...”
“Wow...
that’s a big decision.” Buffy said.
“Yeah,
well it wasn’t his decision, Buffy, we’ll do patrolling tonight, come on
Spike.” Willow grabbed his hand and pulled him out the door.
“Buffster...
Anya and I are going home, we’ll catch you later.”
“Okay...
thanks for the hot dogs.” Xander gave her a hug and they left. He was glad
people were leaving, he was hungry, for Buffy.
Giles
and Wesley left next and Cordelia came over. “Buffy, call me if you need
anything, and Angel, glad to have you back mister, don’t pull another
disappearing act on us, okay?”
“Okay.”
She
gave them each a hug and left saying, “Hmm, the kid’ll be at Gramma’s, you
haven’t seen each other in three years and he has a permanent soul. I wonder
what you’re going to do tonight... Buffy and Angel sitting in a tree,
K-I-S-S-I-N-G...”
“Okay
that’s enough of that Cordelia.” Buffy said as she pushed her out the door.
“Mommy!
I’m all ready!”
“You
are? Do you have everything?”
“Yup!”
She jumped up onto Buffy and gave her a kiss.
“Okay...
I love you and I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Okay...
Daddy!” She jumped onto Angel and gave him a big hug and kiss. “I love you
Daddy.”
“We
love you... you be good for Gramma.”
“Okay.”
She took Joyce’s hand and dragged her out the door.
On
to the Next Part of the Babe