Disclaimer: These characters don't belong to me. They belong to Joss, the mutant enemy who likes to fulfill our dreams and then rips them away...only the plot is mine, and it's how it should be.
Spoilers: picks up where the Aftermath left off. Angel is human and recovering from a bite, Willow has begun to discover the extent of the gifts the Powers That Be gave her, Anya is two months pregnant, Giles and Joyce are in love, and Spike and Dru have a plan, which includes two people from the past.
Author's notes: Like I said, it's picks up where the Aftermath left off. The Challenge was the first part of the series, the Aftermath was the second and this is the third part, in the trilogy, I assume I will stop there, but who knows!
NOTE: I have named each part, with a title, just something different, and each part has it's own rating. If you do not want to read the R/X parts, please e-mail me and I can e-mail you a toned down version of it, so you can continue with the plot line, I have no problem doing this, so please, let me know. Thanks! I have rated things differently, R/X is either that way for sex, extreme violence, language or both, not much language, but a couple places I felt it was warranted.

"Well, Mr. errr. Mr. Angel, it looks at though you can go home this afternoon, do you need a ride? We can call a cab for you, if you need one."

"I'll walk."

"I don't recommend that, you lost a lot of blood, you were very weak and you still haven't told us how you managed to loose that blood."

"What can I say? I don't remember, I was kind of passed out. I don't have to go very far, I'll be fine walking, what time do I leave?"

"I really can't let you walk, sir."

"He won't be doing that, doc, don't worry."

"BUFFY!" She walked over to him, he was sitting on the bed. "I thought you had that. stuff to take care of."

"It's done, and you're not being very good for the doctor." He wrapped his hands around her waist and his forehead fell to her stomach. She caressed his head.

"I'm sorry, forgive me doc, I just wanna get outta here."

"I'll start the paperwork." The doctor left and his hands slowly pulled her shirt up and he began kissing her belly. He grazed her navel and moved his hands up her back under her bra and he started to undo the hooks.

"Down boy." She tried to back away, but he kept her there.

"But. it's been so long."

"Angel, you waited 100 years, I think you wait a couple more hours."

"Yeah, but making love to you is like breathing Buffy, once you start you never want to stop."

"Oh." she moaned as he moved his kisses upward and his hands downward, "Angel." she was breathless, "Angel, I can't breathe."

"What?" He stopped.

"Not really, figuratively, I mean."

"I know what you mean." She sat down next to him on the bed and hooked her bra. "So. how'd the thing go?"

"No problem."

"Cut the cryptic, details."

"Oh, yeah, I found them, they seemed, well, they were busy let's say. I mean, I'm glad he's moving on, you know, I felt bad just dropping him, but I mean, it's kind of fitting isn't it?"

"What?"

"You know that she falls in love while something thinks she's me?"

"Yeah, I guess, what?"

"Oh, right, Faith switched our bodies, I told you this, you know. she and Riley slept together, he thought it was me, and of course it wasn't, I mean she's totally dif."

"I would have known." He looked at her and he smiled.

"I know." The door opened and Joyce walked in. "Mom, what are you doing here?"

"Buffy, I, I tried to find you, but I couldn't and we need to talk, privately."

"Oh, okay." She turned to her Angel. They hadn't talked about what happened yet, they hadn't wanted to get into it in the hospital, so they hadn't. She looked at him, "I'll see you in a couple, why don't you get dressed so when they come we can just take off."

"K."

"Buffy." They sat in the waiting area, which was deserted.

"Mom, what's up?"

"Buffy, I just. I think you should come home."

"What? I'm fine Mom, going to classes, keeping up with the sacred duty and I have time to sp."

"Buffy, you're not living at college anymore, you've been living there."

"Mom, I love Angel, I understand you have your reservations bu."

"Buffy, this boy has only caused you pain from the moment you met him."

"Mom, this boy is my fiancé, and we're going to get married and you might as well deal with that. There's nothing you can do about it, Mom, I love Angel, and we're going to be together."

"Buffy, he changed his mind before, I just don't want to see you."

"Mom, you made him change his mind before, he never would have left, if it hadn't bee."

"Buffy, that's not true." She turned around and he was standing in the doorway, dressed. "Buffy I was already thinking that, your Mom just made me say it out loud."

"No, she did this, she never liked you, not even before she knew you, she never liked anyone I brought to the house."

"That's not true, I liked Willow and Xander."

"Oh please Mom, you thought we were doing drugs. you never trust me to make my own decisions, just because your marriage failed doesn't mean I'm doomed. I never paid attention to you and dad anyway."

"Buffy, you don't mean to say this, let's go back to the room and get my stuff, you need to cool down, come on." He walked to her and took her hand. "Let's go, Buffy, you don't mean these things."

"No, I do. Mom, I'm not a little girl, I'm in college and I've grown up a lot, I'm not the same dumb naïve fifteen year old in LA, Mom, I've killed vampires and demons and seen them come back to life, I've stopped the end of the world like four times, I'm not some stupid kid. Why can't you see?"

"Cause you're still only 20 Buffy, and that's young, you don't everything about love, you don't everything about life, you're a child and you shouldn't be getting married, even to the Pope himself, you are just a child. I got married when I was 20 and I made a mistake."

"A mistake? I'm a mistake? Well, that explains a lot Mom. My kid will never feel like a mistake, I'm going to love this child and she will never think that."

"Your child? Buffy, what are you saying?" Oh no! She had said it, she turned to Angel and looked into his eyes.

Her eyes looked up at his and he knew, Buffy was pregnant. She was going to have his child. It made more sense, why Tara had been so insistent on his return. She was going to have a child, they were going to. She was worried, he could see, she hadn't meant to. He smiled at her and she smiled back. He pulled her to him and he leaned over and hugged her. "A baby?" he whispered into her ear.

She whispered back, "A baby. Our baby."

"Buffy! What are you saying?" She turned to look at her mother.

"Mom, I'm pregnant. Spare me the lectures, I'm happy and if you can't be happy for me, then don't call anymore."

"Buffy? Buffy, I just. I've always wanted what's best for you, I wanted you to be happy and loved and I wanted you to have a life." Buffy let go of Angel and went to her Mom.

"I have that now Mom. I am loved, I am happy, I have a life separate from slaying, I have a happy life, a wonderful one, that I don't want to give up."

"Okay." Her mom went over to Angel, "Welcome to the family Angel."

"Thanks Mrs. Summers."

"Joyce, please."

"Joyce, thank you." She gave him a hug and it took him by surprise. "I'll take good care of her, I promise, and this time, nothing can screw it up."

"I believe you."

"Oh!" She screamed, he was moving, twisting, turning, reaching inside her. "Oh GOD!" Her nails pressed into his skin on his back and it made him move faster. He was in and out, going deeper every time. She thrust herself around and flipped him over.

"Are we going to play?" He asked.

"Yeah, we're playing." She was riding him, hard. He was panting, begging for more. She leaned back and his hands found her breasts and kneaded them, toying with them. Her hair flew back and tickled his knees, which made him squirm inside her. "We're definitely playing."

"Oh yeah!" He twisted suddenly and flipped her over and thrust inside, hard.

"UHH!" She was wet, she was panting, sweating, her skin was on fire. She saw the stars and with them came the white surge of warmth and he collapsed onto her. He put his head down on her shoulder and they lay there, breathing, catching up with the emotions.

"God, Riley. you're amazing, more so in my own body."

"Yeah?"

"Oh yeah. Riley. I. this is hard."

"It was, it will be again, give me a few minutes."

"No, I mean, well that's good, but I. I want to tell you. I want to say that I. I love you."

He raised his head and looked at her. She was frightened, she'd never said that before. She hadn't meant to say it, but, she just had to. He had to know she wasn't just using him. "You what?"

"I love you. It's why I came back. I mean, to steal you from Buffy, but not because of her, because of me. I know you didn't know what you were doing, who told 'I love you' to, but it was me, and I do too."

"Faith? I. I don't know what to say."

"Don't say anything, I just wanted you to know."

"You know, you look so pretty like that."

"I'm reading. That constitutes pretty?"

"Cordelia, you'd be pretty covered in slime."

"Hey, I've been before, and it was NOT pretty." He smiled at her. "You know, you're over there, sitting all alone and I'm all alone and if I'm so pretty, why don't you come over here? You can rub my feet." He stood up and walked over to her, she lifted her legs and he slid under them and began rubbing her legs.

"Doyle?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm so glad you're back, I'm so glad we can use Buffy's house while Joyce is at Giles'."

"Me too."

"Hold me Doyle."

"Okay."

"NO HOLD ME!" He took her head and she squirmed under the pain. She looked up at him, "Doyle, there's trouble."

"Not exactly a news flash, there's always trouble."

"Love?"

"Mmmm?"

"You were going to kill him for me?"

"Yes Spike, I was, I did, I don't know what happened. Sorry."

"It's okay pet. We have another way."

"Buffy?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

"I know. I love you too."

"We need to talk."

"Yes, but not now, let's just drive." She inched over to him on the seat and rested her head on his shoulder. He moved his arm around her and rested his hand on her stomach, where his child growing. He never thought he would ever have children and now he could. He drove around a while and when they got back to the apartment, she was asleep with her head in his lap. He picked her up and carried her inside and placed her on the bed.

"Angel?"

"Oh, I didn't want to wake you."

"Angel, make love to me."

"Buffy, do you think we should, with the baby?"

"Angel, make love to me." She took his hand and pulled him to her. He lowed his mouth to hers and was swept away by the taste of her. She leaned back on the bed, resting her body on her elbows and he straddled her. He took his shirt off and went down and kissed her passionately. She pushed him up again and unbuttoned his pants. He stood up and she went with him and she took her shirt off. In a second, they were naked and they slipped under the sheets on the bed. She kissed him, touching the tip of his tongue with her own, driving him crazy. He knew she knew it drove him mad, mad with need to be with her.

She looked over at him, and the light was streaming in through the window on him, he was an angel. She saw the scar on his neck that matched her own and she kissed it gently. He rolled on top of her, forging his way into her body. She moaned as he grinded against her, moving, twisting, passionate kisses. He pressed on into her core.

"Are you okay Buffy?"

"Uh huh." She stopped concentrating so much on him and just let the sensations wash over her. It took her back to the dreams she'd had, feeling what she saw. She rolled over and began kissing his chest, moving down further, licking and teasing. He had his hand around her head, massaging her, touching her hair.

"Buffy." he said.

He couldn't stand it. He had been inside, now he wasn't, he needed to be there. He wanted to be. He pulled her mouth to his and she impaled herself on him and he rolled her again and pushed deeper. She looked into his eyes, and she wrapped her legs around his waist as she'd done before, and she pulled him in. "Uhhh, oh Buffy." she wrapped her arms around his chest and held on tightly. His body took over the rhythm and she pressed up against him. The explosion came and he fell on top of her, panting, gasping for air. He buried his head in her shoulder. Their bodies relaxed a bit and he just laid there, still inside.

"Are you okay?"

"Angel, I'm fine, I'm perfect."

"You are." He went to roll next to her, but she held him there.

"Just stay here, with me."

"I'm not going anywhere."

"No, just stay right here." He looked into her eyes, he could see, she was thinking about before, what they had to talk about, and she didn't want to ruin the moment, the rush of sensations, emotions, the feeling of being filled completely.

"Okay." He put his head back down and she had her hands on his back, moving them around. He kissed her gently on the neck and remembered a time when that would have meant so much more. He began remembering the scenes, the consequences of a wish he was glad had been taken away. They remained interlocked for some time after that, just breathing, feeling.

"The doctor said he went home."

"Let's go."

"Cordelia? He's been in the hospital for two weeks, I doubt they are having tea and crackers."

"Right. Well, the vision isn't that important, it can wait a day, right?"

"We'll head there after dark."

"Okay."

Silence. Between him and Buffy, silence communicated so much more than words some times. He was lying on top of her, in her and everything was just silent, quiet, calm. He knew what she was thinking about, and she knew what he was thinking.

"Angel?" her voice startled him.

"Yes?"

"I have to pee." He started laughing and rolled next to her. She stood up and he marveled at her body. She was unique, she was perfect. To think that he had found someone that fit so perfectly against him. When she was there, he felt complete. She came back.

"Why didn't you tell me my hair was a rat trap?"

"I didn't notice."

"Right. It just escaped your noticing."

"Buffy, I've told you before, you could be covered in slime and you'd still be beautiful to me." She squirmed under the covers and pressed herself against him, he wrapped his arm around her.

"So."

"So."

"Should we do this here, or should we get dressed."

"I don't think we need to be dressed. EVER!"

"Angel, we will eventually, we can't just forget the whole sacred duty thing."

"I know." Silence. "Buffy, I'm. I'm sorry."

"I know. Angel, I was so scared. You were dying. Don't ever do that again."

"Buffy, I. I saw Tara again."

"What?"

"I. I was with her, somewhere, I don't know where. She showed me what was happening, I saw you crying. I hurt you so much, so much pain. I asked her to erase the past two years."

"Angel? How could you?"

"She said that it's not always better. Buffy."

"Angel, didn't you learn the first time?"

"Let me finish. We. she showed me, took me to all these places, to where I drank from you, when we first met, when we were fighting in the department store, and with Acathla, I saw everything Buffy, when I came back from hell, watching everything, like. like a fly on the wall. Buffy, I saw the fear in your eyes, when I didn't stop drinking, I was looking into your eyes Buffy, I. I thought it would have been better if I hadn't come back. I wished for it. She made it happen."

"What?"

"I guess she really didn't MAKE it happen, but she showed me what would have happened, Buffy, it was horrible."

"What?"

"You were with Spike, making love to him, and I had to watch. Then, you were drunk and you went." he choked, silent.

"Angel? Tell me."

"You killed Willow and Oz and Xander, and Cordelia."

"What? Was I a. a vampire?"

"No."

"What? How is that. I wouldn't."

"Buffy, you were drunk, depressed and you beat Willow up and Spike finished her off, and you killed Oz and Xander with an axe."

"How? What?"

"Then, he drank from you Buffy, and he cut his wrist and gave you the choice, the one we didn't have. You decided not to, but then you fell on his wrist, and you drank. He buried you and brought your mom and you killed her, Buffy, it was awful. That's when. Buffy, I never thought about it that way, never thought what would have happened, I just figured you would have been better off, but I was wrong. I see that now, I came back to you Buffy, I'm sorry. It's so hard for me. I had given up hope of ever being normal again, and now we're having a baby."

"Angel, why'd you do it?"

"What?"

"Kiss her." Silence. How could he explain it, how could he tell her about before? The girls? Babies. "Angel? I don't care what the answer is, I just want one. How could you? Was it magic? Like what she did with Giles to get him to tell you the secret to awaken Acathla? Is that it?"

He would love to say yes, to lie, but he couldn't. "No, it wasn't magic. I knew it was her."

"Oh."

"Buffy, I. she has a part of me inside her, she always will, she has my blood, I have hers. That's all, it's just perverse attraction I suppose. It's nothing. I don't love her, I don't care about her."

"It's because you can do things with her, you can't with me."

"What?" She was figuring it out, he didn't want to have to explain, but he feared he would have to.

"You can. you can do things to her, things you would never want with me." Silence. "I'm right, aren't I? That's why you're so quiet. I'm right. You can."

"Buffy, do we have to get into this?"

"Angel, I want to know, how do you know what you can do until you talk to me about it."

"Buffy, I've done the bad girl thing, we've talked about it, I love you and I would never dream of doing anything to you that would hurt you."

"Do you want to hurt me?"

"What? How can you ask me that? Of course I don't."

"I mean I a good way."

"What? Buffy, let's not." He withdrew his arm from around her, and he sat up.

"Angel." she kneeled behind him and wrapped her hands around his neck and slid her hands onto his stomach. He was so perfect, his stomach was so muscular, his whole body, years of fighting had paid off. She kissed his shoulders and his neck and she leaned over him to kiss his cheek. He didn't respond. "Angel, I know you don't want to talk about it, but how can move past it, if we don't talk?"

"You want to know about me? Buffy, before I was changed, I hurt people. I would pick up some young girl in a bar and go some where with her and we'd have sex, and I'd hit her sometimes and then I'd leave her there. Innocent girls, sometimes teenagers, Buffy, I'd tell them I loved them and we'd have sex and then I'd leave them there with bruises."

"Angel, that was then. What do you feel now? I don't care what you were like before. Do you wanna know what I was like? I was such a bitch, I was Cordelia in high school. I was a cheerleader and I was mean to people and if you didn't buy the right type of clothes, you weren't even in my world."

"It's not the same as beating up innocent girls during sex."

"Angel, it may not be the same, but we both changed. We grew up. That guy would have never thought about having children, or getting married. You do. You're not him, not anymore. And you're not Angelus either, so don't even bring that up."

"Buffy."

"Angel, I thought you were, I was confused before, but then I realized you're not the same, you're not him, he was hateful and mean, and his eyes had anger in them." She climbed around and sat in his lap, with her legs wrapping around him, looking into his eyes. "You want to know what I see in your eyes? I see love, and kindness and I see the man I want to spend forever with. He can't even compare. You're so much more than that, so much more than you think you are."

Her lips brushed his gently. "Angel, there are plenty of people in the world, good people, who like it rou." He put his finger up to her mouth.

"Shhh. don't say it Buffy, please don't say it." Silence. She stared into his eyes with desire and he knew.

She met his eyes and she glared into them. Silence. She knew it was coming, and she was ready. Quickly, he jerked her around and flung her on the bed, her arms pinned above her head. He leaned down and forced his tongue into her mouth, she pushed against it with her own, and bit his lip lightly. He held her arms there while he moved down and nibbled on her breasts slightly. She wiggled up and he made contact with her thighs before she squirmed out from underneath him and jumped off the bed. He chased after her and he caught up with her in the kitchen and he put her up on the counter and bent down to take advantage of her delights. She giggled, "Angel." and then jumped up, standing on the counter and jumped down to the floor, he chased after her and pinned her into the door jam of the bedroom. He got her hands above her head again and moved in for a kiss. She slipped under her again and he grabbed her and slammed her into the wall.

He looked for her eyes, he had to find them, he wanted to make sure she was okay, they had slammed into the wall harder than he'd expected. He looked into her eyes, and she was okay, her chest was heaving, gasping for air and he suckled her nipples ferociously as she squirmed around. She jumped up and wrapped her legs around his waist and he dipped into her warmth a little. He carried her to the bed and threw her onto it, and she looked at him with a hunger in her eyes, he'd never seen before. He jumped on top of her and forced himself inside. He pushed hard, deep and she responded, arching her back to allow him further entry. He welcomed the invitation and she scratched at his back as he pressed on, harder, deeper.

She was panting, begging for air, but he was all the air she needed. She felt him pushing inside, reaching into her. She tightened around him, squeezed him and he groaned and pushed on, harder. She lifted her pelvis up toward him and he hadn't been expecting it and he jolted inside, deeper than he'd ever been. She felt it, it was almost painful and she smiled slightly, and growled slightly. He paused for a minute.

"Buffy?" He wasn't sure what to do, he didn't want to stop, but he wasn't sure what she had said, had he hurt her? He knew they were the closest they'd ever been, he felt it, felt her around him more than ever. She locked her legs around him and he continued, she was okay. He pushed harder and she bit his shoulder a little. He moved his mouth down to hers and forced his tongue in, trying to go to the same place the rest of him was. She responded wildly, with passion and hunger he'd never imagined.

He felt so good inside, so perfect, she relaxed as the rush came and the motion slowed. He laid on top of her for a few minutes, breathing. She could feel his heartbeat on her bare chest, it was loud. It was erotic. She was mad with desire for him again. She didn't want to stop, but she couldn't breathe, so she lay under him, twisting slightly and he moaned. She relaxed her muscles around him and she rolled him over to be on top and she just put her head down and listened to his heart slowing to normal. He was sweaty, she could smell it, feel it under her skin. Silence stretched seemingly into forever between them. Stretched on into the afternoon. Silence.

They hadn't moved. Their steady breathing had been the only sound. He had his hand on her head, gentling rubbing her head, caressing her cheeks. He was content. She was carrying his child.

"The baby!"

"What?"

"Buffy, the baby, what if we hurt the baby? What i."

"Angel, I talked with the doctor, he said couples can have sex far into the pregnancy."

"You've already seen a doctor? How long ago?"

"When you were in a coma, I. I was late, I got worried so I took one of the those home pregnancy test things and it was positive so I went to see a doctor one day while they took you for testing. Don't worry about it."

"Okay. Are you okay?"

"Yes, you?"

"I'm fine. You'd tell me if you weren't fine, right?"

"Angel," she looked up at him, "I'm wonderful. I'm not a doll you have to worry about breaking, I mean, demons have slammed me into headstones and I jump right up, slamming me into a wall or two isn't going to phase me that much, you know?"

"I guess I hadn't thought about it that way." He smiled. "Buffy, I. I'm sorry, I. I tried to stop her, I did, not hard enough I suppose, but. she."

"Angel, it's forgotten."

"Buffy?"

"Angel, it's over, it's forgotten, in the past, done, finitio, fine, the end, need I go on?"

"No. are you sure?"

"Yes. Sometimes Angel, you say more to me by just holding me, than by talking to me. Sometimes just looking into your eyes, I know and we don't have to say anything. It's forgotten." She put her head back down on his chest. "Just don't ever do it again."

"Never." He put his arms around her again. "I'm hungry."

"Me too, I guess we did work up an appetite, huh?"

"I guess so." She stood up and grabbed his shirt and put it on and went into the bathroom. He put his boxers on and stopped at the closet and grabbed the pants.

She came out of the bathroom and he was in the kitchen.

"Nice pants." She said as her arms wrapped around him and she put her head to his back.

"I thought you'd like 'em."

"I do. So what's on the menu?"

"Well, you're going to sit somewhere and I'm going to cook."

"You cook?"

"I do."

She jumped up on the counter and he smiled. "Speaking of 'I do's', let's talk about our wedding."

"Wedding?"

"Duh silly, we are engaged and couples make plans to get married, you know, the old ball and chain? Of course if you changed your mind, you know, that's fine, no big, water under the bridge, over the bridg."

"Not a change in hell. You're stuck with me, like it or not, but now that I don't have to worry about, you know, going psycho, I've get a better look on life, you know, since I'm living and all."

"Okay, so when do you want to get married? Before the baby or after?"

"What do you want?"

"Well, I don't want to be all fat and ugly."

"You'd never be."

"What are you making?" She looked down and saw him cutting up all these vegetables.

"Stir fry."

"Yeah, but what about marshmallows and strawberries."

"Well, you're pregnant and you have to take care of yourself."

"But vegetables aren't fun foods!"

"Well, if it makes you feel better, you can put whip cream on them."

"Funny." He leaned over gently and kissed her.

"Okay, after the baby, that way we have time to plan. How do you feel about a church wedding?"

"Buffy, I don't put much stock in organized religion, you know what with being killed twice and having been to hell and all."

"Yeah, I know, and we don't really know if she would come anyway."

"Who?"

"Tara. Let's have a ceremony outside, with a bunch of flowers and that way Tara can be outside with us, and I'm thinking a big white dress and we'll have to find a good tux, and we'll need someone to do the ceremony. this is going to take a lot of planning, maybe I should find a wedding coordinator, someone to assist me, and you know, we need money. I don't suppose you killed any rich people and took their money, did you?"

He looked at her and she smiled slightly. "That's not funny."

"Sorry. My vamp humor is going downhill now that I haven't been patrolling as much."

"Who has been patrolling anyway?"

"Doyle, Cordelia, Oz, everyone."

"You're going to have to stop you know, I won't have you putting the baby at risk. Things happen so quick, we know that now, and I can't have you risk getting hurt and we have to keep you away from Spike and Dru."

"DRU-SIL-LA, learn it well."

"Drusilla. I'm sure she's just going to be tickled pink when she finds out, and she's probably getting a vision right now about it. What better thrill than to kill a pregnant slayer? Maybe you should go to your moms for a while."

"No change in hell mister, but maybe we should look for a place of our own, you know, something where we can make our own memories. A place where all of them will be good, not that these aren't good her, but. you did go 'psycho' and maybe we'd want a place without that emotional attachment."

"It sounds like a good idea, unfortunately my mansion is out of the running."

"It wasn't really yours, I mean, it was kind of just empty, and anyway, bad memories there too, what with sending you to hell and you coming back and all. and anyway, I want our baby to have natural sunlight every morning, it's kind of a neat thing, if you can remember that far back."

"I may be like 243 years old, but you know, I have an excellent memory."

"Right." Just then she heard a knock on the door. "I'll go throw on some pants, you get the door."

"Who is it?" He asked through the door.

"Angel? It's Cordy and Doyle, we need to talk you, bad time?"

"No, come on in," he said as he opened the door.

"Where's Buffy?"

"Here, hey, Cordelia, how's it going?"

"Good, well, sort of. how are you feeling Angel?"

"Great, back to normal, if I'll ever be considered normal."

"You're as normal as I am." Doyle said with a chuckle.

"How's patrolling been going?"

"Good, five vamps, not many, it's been pretty quiet, and those pants are awesome, I give two big thumbs way up." Cordelia flashed him a big smile.

"The quiet before the storm, I'm sure, Drusilla will be pissed we spoiled her premature death plan for Angel. So why are you both here?" Buffy asked as they all sat down, Angel was back in the kitchen.

"Well, hey is that stir fry? His stir fry is the best Buffy, the eggs are better, but for a guy who's been drinking his meals for like 200 plus, he's a great cook."

"Cordelia, reason for raining on the Buffy parade?"

"Right, a vision. I had a vision this morning, didn't seem too pressing, but we went to the hospital and you weren't there, so we figured you were either dead or you were alone together, we chose the later and figured we'd give you a few hours of peace."

"The vision?" Angel came out with a plate and handed it to Buffy. "Eat, you need your strength."

"Why?"

Buffy looked at him. "Well, you might as well be next to tell, I'm pregnant."

"Is it Angel's?" Cordelia asked.

"Like, duh. of course it's mine Cordy. Who's else's would it be?"

"Well, like I said I had a vision, a blondie with Buffy, holding a baby, a dead baby, it was blue."

"Vampires marks?"

"No, like it was still born. And I knew you were seeing someone before, that's why I ask whose the baby is, but if it's Angel's then we have to figure out this vision, I mean we have two babies coming now, I mean we have like seven months, but with Spike and Drusilla now on the run, and all the normal freaky stuff that goes on. are you going to eat that Buffy?"

"Oh, have some, please."

"Don't you like it?"

"It's great, I'm just. not that hungry, not as hungry as I thought. I want some pizza."

"We can get some."

"With ketchup and pineapples, ooo and some chocolate."

"Man, and I thought my pregnancy cravings were weird."

"Pregnancy? You were pregnant Cordelia?" Buffy looked at her.

"Yeah, only I skipped the ketchup and pineapples and went right for the O neg, apparently demons like that stuff, ick."

"You were pregnant with demon babies?"

"Yes, and they were ugly. let me tell you, and they were talking to me, it was gross, but my heroes showed up and saved me and I learned that sex is very bad."

"No it's not." Doyle said and they all laughed.

"Okay, let's go. Angel?"

"Yeah, I'm ready."

"Man, I love those pants." She walked over to him and pushed him up against the wall.

"Buffy, let's keep our minds on patrolling, and not think about... other things."

"Right. Patrolling, I think I have a couple more weeks left, then I really should just sit back and make love to you all day." She held his hand, fingers interlocked and they thumb wrestled lightly. They left the apartment and headed to the Bronze.

"BUFFY! Congratulations! I just heard from your Mom! That's great news, of course I thought it was a best-friend moment thing, but hey."

"Willow! I was going to tell you first, but I hadn't told Angel yet when Mom heard. Anyway, YEAH! Can't wait to see Buffy being a mother, I mean, I kill my goldfish!"

"I think you'll be great! I mean, just think, some bully tries to steal her lunch money, mommy goes to school with a stake, problem gone. You'll be like rambo mom."

"Buffy, congrats."

"Oz, thanks! You two have plans tonight?"

"We were going to finish unpacking our stuff."

"Unpacking?"

"We're moving back into my apartment."

"Oh, so Willow, you're not going to be at the dorm then?"

"Right, is that okay Buffy? I mean, you haven't exactly been there either."

"I know, we were thinking of finding a place too, don't worry about it, you two have fun."

"And Buffy, we have to get together tomorrow, call me, I have to tell you something."

"Okay."

They were walking hand in hand when she looked up and saw her old friend, of course they had never been friends. "HEY B!"

"Faith, how wonderful."

"Yeah, long time no see Angelus, how ya doin'? Of course we know the answer to that, severely sex deprived, pitty, we could have been so good together, we could have had so much fun."

"Riley, what are you doing with her?" Buffy asked her ex.

"What? Buffy, I've moved on, and it's clear you have."

"Yeah, B, I thought I'd just pick up your leftovers, you ran over him pretty good, but luckily all he needed was a real woman, not some prissy little high school cheerleader wanna be."

"You're the immature one Faith, out of body-switching pills?"

"What can I say, I found my own fun, and I guess it started with your boyfriend, I guess I had my fun with both of them didn't I? Although I must Angelus was the most fun."

"You slept with him Faith?" Riley asked her.

"Yeah, well, I was going through I phase, I'm over that now, I bet he isn't though. Oh Buffy, it's okay, it didn't mean anything, did it? Of course that's not what you said in the heat of the moment when you were down on me, but hey. we don't need to go into the messy details."

"That's not true and Buffy knows it, it doesn't matter what you say, Faith, but as long as you have your delusions, I guess it's okay."

"You didn't seem to be so blazee about it when you had your tongue jammed down my throat. I mean, not that I minded... it was kind of nice actually..."

"I should have bit you when I had the chance."

"Then do it."

"I c."

"Angel, let's go. Riley, I really hope you know what you're doing because she's dangerous."

"No, I'm not B, if I were dangerous, I'd do this." Faith punched her stomach and Angel caught Buffy as she was pushed back from the blow.

"BUFFY!" Angel yelled.

"But I didn't do that, so I'm not dangerous, B. You should get your information straight before you go shooting your mouth off about things you don't know about." Faith approached the two of them, Angel moved in front of Buffy. "You see? He stills wants me, not that I blame him, I mean, if you were him, would you want a soul or would you want a good grind in bed? I'd choose the sex, what do you think Angelus?"

She brushed past them laughing, Riley stayed for a minute. "RILEY! Are you coming?"

"Faith, I'll catch up to you."

"You're leaving me for her? That's a mistake you don't want to make."

"I'm not leaving, I just. I'll meet you back at my room later, in an hour."

"Hmmm. B, can you behave? I guess you wouldn't be as cruel as to jump someone else in front of him, huh? I mean what you do in your bedroom is something that doesn't involve him, it can't, so I guess I can trust you, but I wouldn't leave them alone if I were you Angelus, unless that's part of the deal, you know, Buffy gets to bone anyone she wants, as long as you keep your soul, kind of a raw deal though, if you ever want to fix that, you give me a call. An hour Riley, no more."

"Later Faith." He watched her walk away.

"Riley?"

"Buffy, don't worry about her, she's all talk."

"I don't think you're qualified to give me Faith advice, you haven't seen the damage she can cause. I mean. that whole body switch was pretty tame for her."

"Buffy, whatever, it doesn't matter, you don't have to take care of me anymore. It's over, you made that clear, the first time you were engaged, if you don't want to be with me, fine, whatever, I don't care. Faith explained it all and if a life of celibacy is what you want, whatever, it's yours, but don't expect that the next time the initiative sees him, we won't take him and the same goes for Spike."

"Riley, you don't understan." he walked away. "Understand. so much for favors."

"Are you okay? The baby?"

"We're fine... this kid has got her parents strength, I can feel it, she was kicking me too."

"Are you sure she has legs yet?"

"No, probably not, but it just goes to show how strong she really is."

"Well, I don't think that could have gone much worse."

"No, Angel, it can always get worse."

"Love?"

"Yes Spike."

"Feel like the slayer special?" He asked his love as he saw Faith walking by. "With a side of initiative?" He saw her meet up with Riley.

"We were going to, but I watched you talk with them and I thought I'd surprise you."

"Well, you did. Walk with me?"

"Sure."

"I have to do some patrolling, but maybe later, we'll go back to my room?"

"Riley, your room is so. so her, we need our own place, special, separate from everywhere else."

"I know you." She spun around and saw a familiar face. "Hello cutie, how's about that confrontation we'd talked about?"

"William the Bloody, how wonderful! You should know not to pick on people you can't defend yourself against."

"You should have your facts straight." He smiled and punched her hard in the stomach, she jumped back. He had ruined a perfectly good evening. She looked at him and rushed at him, punching hard, kicking and spinning.

"Look into my eyes. be in me." She moved her nails in front of his eyes, and he stopped fighting. "Be in me."

"Hey, cutie, your love's in trouble, what'll you do? Go for the girl or finish off the guy? Or better yet, we'll finish off you." Spike bit down into her neck as she turned to look at Riley.

"Ahhh." she tried to fight, she was strong, he liked it, but she couldn't fight, he sucked quickly, as to make her weak enough to move her.

"Spike, save me some."

"Of course pet. Let's get them back home, we'll do it there." He grabbed her and Max took Riley.

They got back to the mansion and Dru walked over to Faith. She looked so pretty, her neck was bleeding, such pretty colors of red. She looked over at Spike. "Spike?"

"Yes love."

"Can I?"

"Of course, that's why we brought them here."

Through the haziness, he saw the phantom woman walk to him, she was dark, devilish. He felt her sink into his neck and he felt dizzy. He felt weak, it hurt, more than he'd ever dreamed. He began to pass out.

She took her nail and cut into her chest and lifted his head up to her, his mouth made contact with her skin and he suckled her. Spike watched. Had it been a mistake? He hoped the plan would work. She smiled at him.

"Deary, he's perfect."

"She's better love."

Riley dropped to the floor, lifeless, blue, cold. She moved to the other slayer, she was laying there, eyes opened watching the events. "Oh, sorry for your boyfriend, but he'll come back, would you like to? Get rid of Buffy once and for all, we'll make Angelus and you can have him. It's who you really want anyway, right?"

The slayers blood splashed into her mouth and she took it in, like air. She didn't want to stop, but she had to. She cut herself again, and lifted Faith's head to her breast, where the cut was and Faith too began to suckle her.

She was evil. Spike loved it, the way she made everything personal, so intimate. He looked down at the two and went to his Dru and took her in his arms. "Spike, my head is spinning, all the stars, I can see them all. I can count them, they're so beautiful."

"You want to see real stars love?"

"Feisty Spike, does mummy have to hurt you again?"

"You might, but first love. MAX!"

"Yes master?"

"You'll need to bury the bodies, a few feet'll be fine and mate, get us a couple warm bodies, they'll be hungry when they come to. Do it now! Dru and I'll be in our room."

"Right away master, who shall I bring?"

"Something young, supple. tender. whatever you can find easily, we'll need them soon, and don't hurt them." Max left and Spike turned to his love. "Now, shall we go?"

"Spike, carry me, I'm so weak." She fell to the ground and looked up at him and smiled. "I need help Spike, I'm so confused."

He bent over and lifted her into his arms and carried her up the stairs. He placed her on their bed. She looked so beautiful, his dark princess. He sat down beside her, and held her hand.

"Spike?"

"Yes pet?"

"Come to me."

"I'm right here love."

"Come to me Spike." She reached her hands up to his face and he pulled her down to him. "Spike? How come you never make love to me?"

"Dru?" He looked at her. "What do you mean? We do every day, what else is there to do? We don't have tele?"

"Spike you say you love me, but it's always a game."

"Dru." He leaned over and kissed her softly on the lips, his slipped his hand to her dress and groped her gently. "Dru. whatever you want baby, I'll give you anything you want."

"Ahhhh.." She went limp, she squirmed, she was having a vision. He sat there, just waiting for her to come back to him.

"What do you see baby?"

"A baby. My Angel is having a baby, the Slayer. a beautiful bouncing baby girl, mummy always said I should have babies, but Angel told me that the devil child would never have babies, the lord would see to that. But now, the lord provides me, with a baby. I want the baby Spike."

"To eat?"

"Oh Spike." he began untying her dress, "Spike, just hold me today, just hold me. We'll play tomorrow."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

The sun streamed in through the window. She had been up for a couple hours, just laying there, beside him, watching his chest move up and down, steady, something she marveled at. She watched the sun fall on his skin, he was warm to the touch. He began to stir and his eyes opened.

"Morning."

"Morning. How long have you been awake?"

"Couple hours. I guess."

"Couldn't sleep?"

"No, I just woke up. just thinking about things."

"What things?" His arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her up against him.

"Everything, nothing. everything in between. Just like a year ago, I never would have dreamed this would ever happen, me pregnant, in your warm arms listening to your heart, seeing the sun with you, any of it, it's like a dream, only it's real. I would think about you, in the middle of class, which is probably one reason Buffy barely got through high school, and I would imagine what it would be like. this moment. Waking up in the morning, having you here. After you left, after thanksgiving when I came to yell at you, I had dreams."

"What dreams?"

"I guess they were actually memories, buried deep inside, of us together. All I could hear in the dreams was 'thump thump.' It's so powerful, wonderful, you know, something we take for granted means so much to us. Did I ever tell you what I did, you know while you were in hell?"

"No."

"I went to LA, actually, I was waitressing. Trying to forget, running from my feelings, I tried to go to school the next day, but I couldn't. I was there, I saw Willow and Xander and everyone talking, probably about me, and I walked right on by and got a bus ticket to LA. I tried ignoring everything, it didn't work."

"Never does, does it?" He rubbed her head.

"No it's not. Nothing is ever simple. It sucks. I don't want our baby to grow up like this."

"Like what?"

"For starters, I don't want this baby to ever hear us arguing, I did that and it wasn't fun, listening to my parents argue about everything."

"I know. I mean, I understand."

"How?"

"Well, I. I saw you long before you ever saw me."

"What?"

"I was in New York, starving, eating rats, feeling sorry for myself, that's when I met Whistler. Or rather, he met me, found me in an ally. I told him to get away from me and he said, 'What are you going to bite me? Ooo, a vampire with a soul.' We walked and he talked, and we took a ride, to LA, and that's where I saw you, when Merrick told you that you were the slayer. I saw you that night, fighting the first vampire, and I saw you in your room, when you got home, with your mom and dad fighting. I fell in love with you Buffy, I got cleaned up and learned to fight, all so I could meet you."

"How come you never told me that?"

"I don't know. it never came up, I mean, 'hey Buffy, you don't know me, I'm a vampire, please don't stab me with that stake, I've stalked you before and you're in grave danger,' not exactly the best come on."

"Like there weren't a million times after that."

"Like when? The night after we made love, I was busy, you know killing people. Or when I came back from hell, yeah, when I didn't even know where I was, or right after I almost killed you, the first or second time, either one, take your pick."

"You don't have to be all. all sarcastic you know, dark and brooding works for you. I see your point, but I'm glad you told me."

"Hey, what fantasy part?"

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"In your diary, what fantasy part wasn't about me?"

"You will never know."

"Okay, fine, let me ask one question then, and promise you'll answer it."

"I won't promise you that, I know what you're going to ask."

"Oh yeah, what?"

"NO FORCE ON THIS EARTH!" She jumped up out of bed and ran into the bathroom.

He stayed there, under the covers listening to the water running. He pictured her, naked, water splashing on her, off her skin, covered in soap. He stood up and walked in. "Mind if I join you?"

She laughed, "I'd hoped you would." He stepped in and their bodies collided.

"Hey Willow, where are you calling from?"

"Oz', I was wondering if you wanted to meet us for breakfast?"

"Sure, where?"

"Campus?"

"Sure. An hour?"

"Great! Bye."

"Honey, we're meeting Willow and Oz in an hour for breakfast at the school."

"Okay, so we have an hour?" He asked with a devilish smile.

"No, we have to get dressed and I want to swing by my room and pick up some more clothes, I'm sick of wearing the same ones. Oh, I'm going to have to get maternity clothes, huh? That sucks."

"Don't worry about it now, you've still got like three months to worry about that." She walked over to him, he was sitting on the edge of the bed. He rested his forehead on her belly and she held his head. "Our baby is inside here right now Buffy, isn't that amazing?"

"It is, in more ways than one." She moved away and they both got dressed. "Angel? What are we going to tell her?"

"Her?"

"Yes, what are we going to tell her about how we met?"

"We met in an ally."

"Okay, I don't want to sound like a hooker."

"We'll tell her the truth when she's ready to handle it. And how do we know it's a her?"

"Spider senses."

"I thought those told you about danger and demons and vampires and things."

"They do, I just. I just know, sorry if you wanted a boy, but this is a girl, and we have time to have another, although not right away, okay?"

"Duh. I'm ready to go, you?"

"Yeah let's go."

"BUFFY!" She ran to her friend and the two embraced.

"Hey Willow, I've been missing you, a lot."

"Me too, hey Angel!"

"Hi, what's going on?"

"Not much. We just finished packing up the rest of my stuff, and all my candles and things too."

"So, I guess we're not roomies anymore?"

"Sorry..."

"No, don't worry about it Willow, we need to move on, no more doom and gloom. Right?"

"Yeah, but it's been really boring lately. Wanna sit down?"

There was only a two seater left, so he and Oz sat down, and Buffy settled in on his lap. Angel wrapped his arms around his lover and she leaned forward, and held Willow's hand.

"I know the feeling, you know since we don't have to steal weapons from the army, and we don't have to chase demons around, and there are no plagues on the earth, the slayage has been a no go."

"Buffy, I've gotta tell you something."

"Willow, what?"

"Well, you almost died."

"No I didn't."

"Buffy, we came into the mansion and we saw you over Angel, and Drusilla had an axe, she was going to kill you."

"She wasn't anywhere near me."

"Buffy, she was, I saw her and I screamed and I flung my hands out in front of me, and she flew back. She hit the wall behind her, on her butt, she flew back, Buffy."

"What?" Angel looked at Willow, he didn't remember much from when he woke up.

"I think... I think I did it to her, she looked up at me, she was so surprised, I was too, I mean, pleasantly surprised, what with her going to kill you and all, but I don't know what happened. I told Giles, and he thinks it might be some kind of spell, or something."

"Well, wait, could Tara have given you a power or something, can you do it again?"

"I've tried, it won't work, I've tried, but when I concentrate other things happen."

"Like what?"

She looked across the table at Buffy. "Like, I'lll try to move that glass on the table. Watch." She looked at the glass and put her hand not two feet from it, and tried to pull it toward her. The glass moved slightly, but then flew into her hand. "HOLY, THAT HASN'T HAPPENED BEFORE! I mean, before, the electricity went out."

"Willow, this is incredible, it must be some spell or something, maybe a new power, we thought Oz was the gift, but maybe she gave you something else, so you could save me."

"Maybe, it's kind of cool, kind of like in the movies..."

"You just have to practice more, a lot more, try moving stuff and throwing stuff..."

"Hey, I wonder if I could throw a stake and kill a vampire from like ten feet away."

"We can patrol tonight, maybe we'll get lucky and find one."

"I don't mean to be a pessimist, but wouldn't it better if we didn't find any vampires?" She turned at him and planted a kiss on his lips.

"Angel, we have to test this stuff out, this will help a lot. Seeing as how we can't really get close to Drusilla, if Willow could just fling a stake at her, we wouldn't have a problem anymore."

"No, we'd have a really pissed off Spike."

"That's true, but we can handle him."

"We can? Since when?"

"Well, he didn't bite me, did he? He'll be destroyed when he sees her ashes, then we dust him and we go have dinner. Sound like a plan?"

"Buffy, we can't dust him, we know him."

"Willow, we know him, so what, we knew him, but I sent him to hell, we do what we have to do, and they need to be dust, gone... then we'll have a nice quiet hellmouth, and pizza." She looked at her friends, they didn't seem down with the plan. "What? Got a better one? Just because Tara said we'll be 'forever fighting' them doesn't mean we can't have a plan, anyway, she deserves it."

"What if we got the initiative to put those little chip things in both of them, then we ca..."

"We can all go for tea? Chain them up in the tub and bring them blood? They didn't work the last time, I mean last time we tried being friends I ended up getting engag... never mind."

"Never mind what Buffy? Come on, I won't hold it against you."

"No force on this earth. I refuse to relive these moments of weakness."

"Oh Buffy..."

"Willow, shut up! Anyway, we should go now... I want to find Riley and tell him about Faith, he needs to know, for his own good."

"Buffy, you still care about him?"

"Of course, there was sparkage, he was nice, we had picnics, he helped me pass psych, got me into the initiative... it was a good time, and when we..." she cleared her throat as she felt Angel's hands tense up. "When we killed Adam, it was over, Riley is history, but I'd still like to be friends, I mean, just because he's with Faith doesn't mean we can't talk, get along."

"Ooo... how's the baby?"

"Good, driving me crazy though."

"Why?"

"Angel makes me eat vegetables."

"Oh, sorry... oh well... have you seen anyone else lately? I know I haven't seen Cordelia around in a while, I mean, not like she's my best friend person or anything, but I still can't believe she actually got a job, and for Angel no less."

"Cordelia isn't the same anymore guys, she's really changed, she's nice, well, she's not exactly nice, but she's grown up. She's a good friend to have in a pinch, this one time she chained me to the bed." Buffy whipped her head around and looked at him.

"OH REALLY? WHY?"

He looked at her and smiled. "No force on this earth."

"You jerk." She kissed him lightly and laughed. "We should get going, but we'll see you two later? Maybe we'll actually make it to the Bronze and have a good time tonight, the last time, it wasn't very good."

"Deal."

"Buffy, nine months? Let's deal with the crisis of the day first, we have Faith hooking up with your ex boyfriend, this can't be good, he's probably hating me right now, and she probably remembers us tricking her, and you giving her body back..."

"Angel? We have had Thanksgiving dinners in the midst of indian attacks, we've had birthday parties crashed by vampires and we won't even start on graduation or the prom, surely we can handle Faith on our wedding."

"The point is, wouldn't we rather have an occasion when we don't have to do all that. You should have, you deserve a special day, without demons and darkness, and I can give that to you now, and that's what we will do."

"That was very authoritative. I like it."

"Well, I'm good like that."

"I know." They got to the door and went inside. "Cordelia? We're here."

"Buffy! Angel!" Cordelia walked out of the bathroom. "Hey, I was just getting out of the shower, what's going on?"

"Not much, where's Doyle?"

"He went shopping, we were out of milk and stuff like that. Listen, I'm glad you guys came over, we wanted to tell you that we..." just then the door opened.

"Angel and Buffy, great!"

"Hey Doyle, I was just going to tell them the news."

"What news?"

"Angel, Buffy, we are going back to LA."

"When? Why?"

"Well, Angel, as I was dead and all, I had a lot of time to think and there was a condition to my return. Kind of a self imposed one that the PTB agreed with me on. I didn't fight before, I was the messenger, but now Cordy is, and I'm going to fight the good fight."

"But, Doyle, you're not combat ready."

"I wasn't, but I can do it now Angel. We all have something to atone for, and I started by dying, and now I'm back and I want to finish what I started, and with Cordy by my side..."

"And Wesley, don't forget Wesley. Angel, I don't want you to worry about us, we'll be fine, and if we need anything, we can call Kate."

"Kate? Who's Kate?" Buffy asked.

"Kate? Oh she's this detective Angel was jonesing for... oops... sorry..."

"Cordy, you have a way of putting your foot in your mouth."

"It's my way. Anyway, we're leaving this afternoon. I have an audition lined up for tomorrow, a part in a music video... I won't actually have to act, as it's painfully obvious that I can't."

"Don't say that, you just have to find someone who believes in you." Buffy felt bad, Cordelia had been so good to Angel and she was just as sad as Buffy had been.

"Don't worry about our Cordelia, I believe in her, and she'll be famous, if only in my mind." Doyle smiled at her and kissed her on her forehead.

They sat and talked for a couple hours, and as Cordelia and Doyle drove off, Angel smiled. Something good had come out of his leaving Sunnydale after all.

On to Part Ten