Thank you,

Rupert Giles

Angel reread the letter three times. Buffy needed him? Giles wanted him to be with Buffy? Angel had long since given up ever being near Buffy again. Three years… three long years of watching from a distance.

He remembered like it was the day before. Giles had come to him with a spell to make him human again. Angel had instantly agreed to let him perform it.

Then they talked about Buffy.

Angel knew that she and Giles had new feelings for each other, but Giles insisted that Angel was still her true love…. and he was the one she needed. He told him that he’d rather see Buffy completely happy with Angel, than just fairly happy with himself.

So Angel decided to do as he said. To forgive himself of his past just a bit and seek Buffy out so that she and he could live a happy life. So he prepared to see her in his newly human state. Per his request, Giles hadn’t told Buffy anything about the spell.

Angel decided to walk up to her in the afternoon sun. After missing it for over two centuries, he loved the feel of the orange glow warming him. She was in front of her office building. She’d just started a job as a therapist, and she was trying to be permanently assigned to a shelter, where she could help children. Her choice in careers didn’t surprise Angel in the least.

He was a mere fifty feet away when he saw her look to her side and smile broadly. He looked in the direction and saw what had made her so happy. Giles had approached her.

Angel watched, with his heart breaking, as Buffy hugged her former watcher, kissing him lovingly. He realized he couldn’t do this to her. It would only hurt everyone involved. Giles would lose Buffy, Buffy would feel too guilty to be with either man and Angel would feel bad for hurting Giles and making Buffy feel guilty.

Besides, she really did love Giles. Angel had seen the look on her face before. She used to look at him that way. He couldn’t take the chance that she wouldn’t feel that way about him again.

So he turned and walked away. Giles had talked to him a few days later, the stress of not knowing if or when Buffy would be breaking up with him overruling his desire to butt out of the former vampire’s life. Angel had told him he’d decided to let Buffy go on living her life as she was, and asked Giles not to tell her about the spell.

Over the time he’d checked on Buffy… every few weeks or so. The summer after he’d been made human, she and Giles wed. It was a small ceremony. Only their closest friends had gathered for the event. Even Joyce wasn’t present. Angel was sure she and Buffy didn’t get along. In the time since Buffy had married Giles, he’d seen them together once. Buffy had brought Austin with her right after his first birthday to a restaurant. They ate lunch with Joyce and Angel could tell it had been tense.

Most the details he knew about Buffy’s life, he knew from his own observations of her. He and Cordelia never spoke of the blonde who possessed his heart for the rest of his life. It was an unwritten rule that they didn’t "go there." He hadn’t even let her know he was human, still only going into work after dark.

One night, right after that past Christmas, he had overheard Cordelia on the telephone. When she’d laughed and said "Buffy" she’d caught his attention. Already feeling ashamed, he listened to everything she said carefully. That’s how he found out Buffy’s son was named Austin, and that Buffy was pregnant again.

His heart had ached. Oh how he wished he had the chance to be the father of her child. How he wished he was the one she had come home to, excitedly telling him that she was expecting a baby. Now he had his chance.

So why did the greatest tragedy of Buffy’s life have to lead to the greatest opportunity of Angel’s?

* * *

"She seems like she’s doing all right." Willow whispered to Cordelia as they made lunch in Buffy’s kitchen.

Cordelia peeked out the door into the living room where Buffy sat on the floor playing with Austin.

"She’s barely keeping it together." Cordelia replied. "If she didn’t have Austin, she’d probably be a disaster."

"Poor Buffy… I can’t believe this happened…. And when she’s pregnant of all times!" Willow sighed. Cordelia had called her at seven that morning. Willow had called in to the school where she taught, letting them know she’d be gone for a week. She then packed up a few things and took the first flight into LA from San Francisco.

"We just need to be here for her, whenever she needs us. Maybe we could take turns with Austin so that she could have some time to herself." Cordelia told her.

"Yeah… maybe you could take him first… since he doesn’t know me all that well." Willow replied.

Cordelia nodded. "Sure, after we eat, I’ll do that. Then you and Buffy can talk."

"Is the funeral all arranged?"

"Yeah… Giles actually had made most of the arrangements already…. You know how he was one of those people that planned. Now I see the importance of doing something so morbid. At least Buffy doesn’t have to pick out a coffin and all that stuff right now."

"Yeah… is her mother coming?"

Cordelia shrugged. "I don’t know… I called and left a message for her… but I honestly don’t know if it would be a good or bad thing for her to come. You know, since she never approved of Buffy’s marriage to Giles."

"Xander?"

"He’s driving in. Says he’ll be here tomorrow."

"Where was he?"

"New Mexico… doing some odd job. It wasn’t easy tracking him down."

"How about… Angel?"

"I don’t know if I should call him and tell him. We generally avoid any topics involving Buffy. I suppose I should let him know and let him decide for himself whether or not he wants to be there for her. The funeral will be in the late afternoon, but we will be having a few people here after the ceremony and it’ll be dark then, so he can come if he chooses."

Willow nodded in agreement. Placing the sandwiches and a bag of chips on the tray, she walked out into the living room with Cordelia carrying drinks behind her.

"It’s time for lunch." She announced a bit too cheerfully.

Austin stood up from where he’d been playing with his toy cars and stood half behind his mother. He was very shy around Willow, a virtual stranger to him.

"It looks good, guys. Come on Honey, eat your lunch."

Austin obediently sat next to Buffy, letting her tuck a napkin into the collar of his shirt. Buffy picked up a half of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, breaking it into another half and handing one piece to Austin before taking a small bite of the other piece.

"You’re not just eating that, are you Buffy?" Cordelia asked as she filled Austin’s cup with milk and handed it to him.

"I’m not very hungry." Buffy replied.

"Buffy, what about the baby? You have to keep it healthy, you aren’t only hurting yourself but the baby as well." Willow pleaded.

Buffy closed her eyes, willing the tears that welled there not to spill. Not in front of Austin. "Please don’t."

Willow didn’t push any further. Perhaps it was too soon. If Buffy were to not eat much for a day or so, it would be all right, they would just make sure that she went back to eating healthy before she did hurt herself or the baby.

They ate their lunch in virtual silence, Cordelia and Willow’s attempts at conversation failing miserably with Buffy. Cordelia and Willow refused to let Buffy help them clean up, and since they wouldn’t help her up off the floor, she couldn’t. After it was all cleaned up, Cordelia announced that she and Austin were going to the park. A huge grin spread on the toddler’s face, he loved the swings.

The two of them headed off to the park down the street as Willow sat with Buffy on the living room floor. The two women sat for several moments in silence, gathering their thoughts.

"Buffy… I am so so sorry that this has happened to you… and I want you to know that you can come to me or Cordelia anytime at all, to talk, to cry, whatever. We’ll be here for you."

Buffy nodded and let a few tears slip from her eyes. Willow leaned over and hugged her tightly, slightly rocking her friend as she released all her anguish.

"I don’t think I can do it Will… I don’t think I want to…" Buffy sobbed.

"Oh, Buffy… I know you feel like that right now, but you can’t. Because you can do it without him and you will. Do it for Austin, and the baby. Without Giles, they’ll need you even more. You can’t let them down. This is why you need to take care of yourself. You have to be healthy so you can still be the best mom ever."

Buffy nodded meekly then began wiping the tears from her face. "Austin was the only reason I got out of bed this morning. Otherwise, I’d have lain there all day, smelling Giles’ pillow. It still smells just like him Willow… I mean, this very time yesterday I was with him…. Now I’ll never see him again! It’s just unreal to me right now."

"I know, Sweetie… you just need time to process everything. We’ll be here for you."

"Is Xander coming?"

Willow nodded. "He’ll be here."

"How about my mom?" Buffy asked apprehensively.

"I don’t know, Cordelia left a message but hasn’t heard back."

Buffy’s shoulders sagged, doubting Joyce would even return the call. Willow decided she might as well give her friend fair warning so she wouldn't receive a total shock at the funeral.

"And Cordelia is trying to decide whether or not to call Angel."

Buffy’s head turned sharply towards her in surprise.

"Would you want her to call him?"

Buffy looked down. "I don’t know… I … I think so."

Willow nodded. "Then I’ll make sure she does. He wouldn’t be able to come to the funeral because of the sun, but after…. he could come here."

Buffy nodded slightly. "Yeah…"

* * *

Buffy sat on the couch awkwardly, with Austin sitting right beside her nervously. All these strange people in his home didn’t bode well with him.

It was a quiet get-together, with a few of Giles’ business friends, as well as several others that Buffy and Giles had been acquainted with in their life as a couple. Xander made it, as promised. Of course, Willow and Cordelia were there, coddling Buffy, and trying to make life as easy as possible for her.

But Buffy felt like strangling the next person who looked at her with pity. She hated being perceived as the poor young mother with a dead husband, a toddler and a baby on the way. She hated being pitiable.

Austin scooted off the couch and scurried into a corner of the room where he picked up one of his toy cars. Buffy smiled as he sat at her feet and began to play. He must have finally relaxed since he was being left alone. After the funeral when everyone had first arrived, they had all fussed over him, which upset him so much he cried.

Buffy wondered if he even understood what was going on. She had explained that Daddy had gone up to Heaven and he wasn’t going to come home…. But she wasn’t sure it really clicked. She dreaded the day he wanted Daddy.

"Buffy." Cordelia softly called her friend’s name.

Buffy looked up…. And froze.

She and Angel locked eyes. They had an almost electric connection. Eight years had done nothing to lessen the feelings they had for each other. Eight years….. and even then, when they saw each other everyone else disappeared.

Cordelia took Austin in the kitchen for a treat so that his mother could talk. Angel tentatively sat next to his former lover, before softly speaking.

"Buffy… it’s so good to see you after all this time… and so horrible that it had to be over something like this. I’m so sorry about Giles…. I just can’t believe it."

Buffy nodded. "I still don’t think it’s completely sunk in yet. I’m *never* going to see him again… I just can’t believe it."

"You know I live in LA… and I don’t know if Cordelia told you but the business is doing very well… I don’t even go into the office all that much. If you need me for anything, anything at all. I want you to call me. Please?"

Buffy nodded. "I will… I mean, you and Giles were the only two people I connected with on this certain level… because of the slayer thing… and now.. without him… I really could use you to talk to."

"You’ve got it." Angel replied, gracing her with a small smile. "I should have come and told you that long ago."

"You knew I was here? You knew about Giles and I?"

"Yes… I hope you’re not mad, but I did check up on you from time to time…. Had to make sure he took good care of you." He smiled.

"Nah… it’s nice to have people looking out for me. Especially when it’s from a distance and they aren’t breathing down my neck."

Angel nodded his head in the direction of the kitchen. "Your son… he reminds me of Giles."

Buffy smiled. "Yeah, he’s a mini-Giles…. Except Giles was kind of a bad boy when he was young and Austin is just… shy and mild mannered and perfectly behaved. He didn’t get it from me so I don’t know how we lucked out!" She answered proudly, before rubbing her belly and adding, "This one is probably going to be a wild child to even it out."

Angel chuckled. "Probably."

"I suppose I deserve it…. When I had my worst tantrums when I was little, my mother used to say she hoped my child would be just like me. Funny thing was… I thought that would be great. Now I know better." She smiled fondly.

Angel nodded. "Is your mother here."

Buffy shook her head, and Angel instantly regretted asking. "She.. um… she gets busy with her gallery stuff… she couldn’t make it."

Angel nodded again, not sure of what to say.

"So, how is your life?" Buffy asked, trying to lighten the conversation.

Angel shrugged and lied. "I haven’t changed all that much."

"Oh, still reading and brooding?" Buffy teased,

Angel smiled and replied honestly. "Actually… yes. And I occasionally work."

"You look a little…. Different… kind of older." Buffy observed. "Of course, that’s ridiculous…maybe you just seem older because I am older… do I look a lot different?"

"Not a lot… a little of course… but you still have a baby face… you still have an innocence about you…. Which is absurd, really. And you’re as beautiful as ever."

Buffy looked at him incredulously. "I’m huge, Angel."

"Buffy your body is blossoming as it nurtures a life… that’s one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen."

Buffy looked down and blushed. "You always know the nicest thing to say."

"It’s the truth." He replied.

"Mommy, here you go." Austin said, running up to them with two cookies in his hands. He handed them both to Buffy before whispering to her. "He gets the other."

Buffy nodded. "Thank you, Austin." She took a small bite of hers and handed the other to Angel.

"Thank you." Angel told the toddler as he peered out from behind his mother. The small child gave him a small smile in return.

"Mommy I want to sit on your lap."

"Honey, you know you can’t, the baby is too big." Buffy replied, feeling guilty that she couldn’t even let her own child sit in her now non-existent lap.

Austin frowned and lifted his arms, trying to get her to pick him up. Buffy sighed and lifted him. He sat next to her on the couch, laying his head against her stomach.

Buffy looked at Angel and explained. "I’m having a hard time lifting him. Thank God for Cordelia…. I don’t know what I will do for the next month before the baby comes. She offered, but I can’t let her come take care of us at night after working all day."

"Well then she can take a month or so off."

"Oh, no Angel, I can’t do that! First, I doubt she has that much vacation time, and second I couldn’t let her use her vacation to take care of me."

"Buffy, I am her boss. She doesn’t need to use her vacation… she’ll just be my… assistant to the person I care more about than anyone else for a while as opposed to my secretary. She’ll have to work for a change, since I am pretty sure that she can’t have much to do without me there."

"Excuse me? Boy am I underappreciated. I do plenty. That phone is ringing off the hook all day with annoying people who think they are so special and *you* are the only one they can talk to." Cordelia interrupted, jokingly, as she and Xander walked up to them.

Angel looked up at her and smiled. "So how do you convince them they aren’t?"

"She doesn’t, she just talks their ear off until they jump out a window to end the insanity." Xander quipped.

Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Grow up, Xander."

Buffy chuckled and shook her head. Some things never changed.

* * *

"I don’t think this was such a good idea."

"Why isn’t it?" Cordelia asked as she tried on a pair of Buffy’s earrings and admired them in the vanity in Buffy’s room.

"Because, me… Angel… nice restaurant…. That’s date-like. And women who are due in two weeks with their recently deceased husband’s child do not go on dates."

Cordelia rolled her eyes and lied. "It’s not a date! You and I go out for dinner alone all the time and that most certainly isn’t a date."

"That’s different. I never had sex with you. And you’re a girl! It’s different!"

"Buffy, Angel is very clear on the fact that you and he aren’t romantically involved. He has no problem with eating dinner with you, someone he cares about and likes to spend time with. You know, I care about you and like to spend time with you…. So what’s the diff?"

Buffy sighed. "Why don’t you come with us? Then it’ll be totally not a date."

"I have to watch Austin." Cordelia replied.

"We could call Caylee."

"Buffy, she is a teenager, it’s a Friday night…. She’s not going to be sitting home and available to babysit at the last minute. You’ll be fine. Even if you don’t trust that Angel doesn’t see this as a just friends thing… you know he would never try something if you didn’t want him to."

"I know that… but this is still bothering me."

Cordelia sat down on the edge of the bed behind Buffy and looked at her friend in the mirror. "You aren’t really worried about Angel thinking it’s a date, are you? You’re more worried about what you are feeling about him."

Buffy broke away from her friend’s gaze. "Cordelia my husband has been gone for nineteen days… not an hour goes by that I don’t want to sob and beg God to give him back to me… but I still have these feelings for Angel…. Feelings I never should have when I pledged my love to another man. A man I married and created two children with. I wish I didn’t feel this, more than anything…. But I can’t seem to stop."

"It’s all right, Buffy." Cordelia assured in a soft voice. "You don’t have to act on it right now. You have a long time… and Giles wouldn’t want you to be alone forever."

"Yeah… but things are different than when I was eighteen and all I wanted was Angel. I have my kids to think about. Even ignoring the whole issue of him losing his soul… he can’t even go out in the daytime. He doesn’t age… if it were just me, it would be one thing, but we’re a package."

"Well, go out to dinner with him. I’ve dated a lot more guys than you, Buffy, and let me tell you; nothing makes you not like them more than spending time with them. He’ll have some annoying habit, I’m sure."

"Giles didn’t."

"Buffy, he must have."

"Well, he snored and insisted he didn’t…. that annoyed me."

"See, there you go."

"But I wouldn’t have stopped loving him for it! Besides, Angel can’t snore, he doesn’t breath."

Cordelia sighed. "You’re too into details."

* * *

"Are you sure you don’t need anything else to eat?" Angel asked as he and Buffy walked away from their table.

"I’m very sure. The appetizer, entrée and dessert were enough. I’m actually too full." Buffy replied.

"Okay, I just know that when you’re pregnant you need more food… eating for two and all."

"Well, if it helps, I ate about twice as much of the appetizer, entrée, and dessert than I would have before I got pregnant."

Angel smiled at her quip as he held the door open for her. Buffy gave him a gracious smile as she walked out the door.

"Would you like to take a walk?" Buffy asked, the cool summer air caressing her skin like silk.

"Sure… Will you be all right walking, though?"

"Oh yeah… I like to walk when I’m pregnant… don’t know why, but it relaxes me."

"Okay." Angel replied as they began walking down the street, keeping a safe distance apart as they looked in the store windows.

Buffy stopped in front of a dress boutique, admiring a black slip dress. "Sometimes I wonder if I will *ever* wear that kind of stuff again."

"Could you wear it after Austin?" Angel asked.

"Yeah."

"Then I think you’ll be able to wear it again."

"I hope." She replied wistfully, before glancing over at the dress next to it.

Something caught her eye.

Angel’s reflection.

*Angel* had a reflection. She looked directly at it, her eyes locking with his. He remained calm for a few seconds before he remembered he wasn’t supposed to have one.

Buffy slowly turned around. "You have a reflection."

Angel remained silent, not knowing what to say. For the past two and a half weeks, it had been nagging at him. He’d kept putting off telling her. If he had known, she’d find out like this he would have sat her down and had a calm conversation with her.

She walked up to him and grabbed his wrist, checking for a pulse. When she found one, she dropped his wrist and backed away, slightly shaking her head.

"You can’t be… how are you…. Alive?"

"Buffy… I didn’t want to tell you like this…. three years ago… Giles came to me with a spell… he made me human. I was going to tell you then, but you were already so in love with him. I made him promise not to tell you."

"But why didn’t you tell me sometime in the past two weeks? You lied to me, Angel. You led me to believe that you were still a vampire."

"Buffy I saw you for the first time since I became human at your husband’s funeral…. I didn’t think you needed the shock… and then there just never seemed to be a good time."

"I can’t believe Cordelia never told me!"

"She doesn’t know." Angel replied. "You’re the only person who does… Giles was the only other. I rarely go anywhere in the daytime… I lived the same lifestyle for over 200 years…. Old habits die hard, so I let everyone continue thinking I was a vampire." He looked at her pleadingly, hating the idea of her being mad at him.

The anger on her face was replaced with surprise as she moved a hand to her belly. "Oh boy."

"What?!" Angel replied, fear in his voice.

"I… I think I’m in labor." She replied.

* * *

"You called Cordy, right?" Buffy asked as she lay in the hospital bed.

"I did, she said she’d get your sitter or someone to watch Austin and then head right over." Angel reported as he sat stiffly in a chair beside the bed. Frankly, this scared the shit out of him.

"And she’s bringing my bag?"

Angel nodded. "She promised she would. Uh… how did this happen? You said you weren’t due for two more weeks."

"I wasn’t, but obviously the baby doesn’t care. I’m a little early, but it’s all right." Buffy explained.

Angel nodded, still in a daze. "I just wish I had known this beforehand."

"Oh, I’m sorry you didn’t get to read my warning label! It says I might pop at any second!" Buffy growled.

Angel looked taken aback.

Buffy took a deep breath and exhaled. "Sorry… I’m just in a bit of pain right now."

Angel bit his lower lip and nodded. "Are they going to give you those medications?"

Buffy shook her head. "I’m going to try to do it naturally."

"What did you do last time?"

"I got every drug they’d give me… but it was so hard, I couldn’t even feel my legs."

Cordelia bounded in the door. "Oh good, no baby yet. Would have hated to miss the big event."

"Did you find someone for Austin?" Buffy asked, concerned.

"Well, Caylee wasn’t home, but her mother said she could watch Austin tonight…. He’s staying with them."

"Good… he likes her mother so he should be okay."

"He’ll be fine… don’t worry, Buffy." Cordelia assured her friend as she set a small suitcase before turning to a panicked-looking Angel. "Angel…. Ready to be here for the birth of a baby?"

Angel’s eyes widened. "Oh I can’t… I mean, I don’t know what to… Buffy doesn’t want me here! Right Buffy?"

The two looked over at Buffy, who was busy breathing deep, cleansing breaths. Concerned, Cordelia walked over to Buffy.

"Has anyone been in here to check on her? Like, how dilated is she?"

"I have no idea… they were here when we first got here, about an hour ago, but nothing since."

"Jeez… I’m gonna go get a doctor or a nurse or something, stay with her." Cordelia told him, heading for the door.

Angel rushed to her side and stopped her in the doorway. "Why don’t *I* go look and you stay with her."

"Come on, Angel." Cordelia replied, putting a hand on his arm. "She needs to be reassured that this is going to be okay. She trusts you. Comfort her. Be strong for her."

Angel nodded and took a deep breath. Cordelia moved down the hall and Angel turned back around to face Buffy, who was not looking well. He grabbed the chair he’d been sitting in and pulled it right next to the bed, then sat down and grabbed one of Buffy’s hands.

"Buffy, I’ve never done this, you’ll have to talk me through this… what do I need to do?"

Buffy looked over at him and smiled at how sweet he was. "Well, pretty much you just try and make me comfortable, which is totally impossible because labor is pretty uncomfortable. Oh, and I’ll probably scream mean things at you because you are male and will never go through this kind of pain. Just brush it off, I don’t mean it."

"Okay…" Angel nodded. "Is there anything I can get you? Are you thirsty?"

"Actually, yeah."

"Want some water or juice or something?"

Buffy shook her head. "I have to have ice chips."

"Ice chips…." He replied looking around for something, anything that would tell him where he was supposed to find ice chips.

"They forgot about you, can you believe it Buffy? I say sue their asses!" Cordelia announced, bustling into the room with a small bucket in her hand. "Want some ice chips?"

Angel’s shoulders sagged. He’d failed to help her again.

Buffy gave him a supportive smile. "Cordelia’s an old pro…. She knows the drill, and she’ll show you the ropes."

An older woman in a nurse’s uniform came in. "I am so sorry, Mrs. Giles, you were admitted right before the shift change and it’s a Friday night…. We must have lost you in the shuffle."

The nurse began to examine Buffy, and Angel was very grateful that the blanket covered Buffy’s nether regions. It was a bit ironic, considering he was the first man to make love to her.

"Oh dear… we better get a doctor in here soon to give you a look… you’re six centimeters. Did you want an epidural?" The nurse asked.

"No… I’m probably going to hate myself for it, but I’m going the natural route."

"You’ll be fine." The nurse reassured her as she made some notes on Buffy’s chart. "With your friend and your husband here to support you, it’ll be a breeze."

"We’re not married." Buffy and Angel both replied as the nurse rushed out the door, not even, hearing them.

Cordelia eyed the window. "Uh oh, just thought of something. What if this takes a way long time? Angel can’t be here when the sun is up."

Buffy looked at Angel expectantly.

He took a deep breath and began his speech. "It’s not a problem, I’m not a vampire anymore. Three years ago Giles found a spell and made me human again, but I wouldn’t let him tell Buffy because she was already so happy with him. I just let everyone believe I was still a vampire."

Buffy looked at Cordelia, who was in shock. "And there ya go."

"You knew about this Buffy? I can’t believe you never said anything."

"She just found out…. Right before she went into labor tonight."

"Ooohhh… Angel…. You shocked Buffy so much she went into labor." Cordelia teased.

"I did?!" He replied.

"She’s kidding, Angel." Buffy told him.

Right then, a doctor came in and began examining Buffy. Angel found the whole situation, sitting in a chair beside Buffy as someone examined her intimate areas, a bit unnerving. Even if it was a doctor.

"Whoa, this baby wants out. This is going to be a quick delivery…. Over in a few hours." Dr. Andrews smiled, looking at Buffy’s charts. "You already have a child?"

"Yeah, a little boy." Buffy answered.

"Was that delivery fast?" He asked.

"About three hours."

"Wow…. My wife would envy you…. She spent over 20 hours in labor with each of our three."

"See Buffy? There is a always a bright side." Cordelia added.

* * *

"Come on Buffy, one more push." The doctor ordered.

Buffy pushed as hard as she could. "That is like the 10th time you have said that to me! Obviously one more push is NOT going to do it!"

Cordelia wiped her friend’s forehead with a cool washcloth. "You’re doing great, Buffy."

"I can’t push anymore… I’m too tired." Buffy replied.

The doctor had been wrong, soon after he’d told them it would be over in a few hours; Buffy’s labor had stopped. Since her water had already broke, they had feared infection, so they’d given her drugs to induce labor. It was nearing five in the morning, over seven hours after she and Angel had arrived in the hospital and she had yet to deliver the baby.

"If anybody can do this, you can. Just focus on it and before you know it, your baby will be out here and in your arms." Angel added.

Buffy looked in his eyes and found the strength she needed. She bore down and pushed with all she had.

"Here it comes, keep pushing Buffy, you’re doing great." Dr. Andrews encouraged.

Both Angel and Cordelia held her hands tighter as she squeezed, her whole body working in the effort to push the baby out.

"I got it." The doctor announced. A few seconds later they heard the sound of a baby crying.

Buffy released a deep breath she didn’t even know she’d been holding. She was filled with relief at hearing her baby’s first cries.

"Congratulations, Buffy, you have yourself a healthy daughter."

Angel watched in awe as they wrapped the tiny child in a blanket and laid her in Buffy’s arms. Buffy cried as she held her baby girl for the first time, then looked up at him with such joy in her eyes. His heart swelled as it was filled with his love for her.

Cordelia looked at the two former loves and smiled. Too bad she didn’t have a camera.

* * *

Angel popped his head into Buffy’s hospital room. He felt a stab of disappointment when he saw her sleeping peacefully, but he knew she needed all the rest she could get. Just watching her give birth had exhausted him, so he couldn’t imagine what it would be like to have actually done it.

He carefully crept inside, intending on only leaving the vase with flowers that he had bought her, before heading back out of the room.

"Angel?" Buffy called groggily as she stirred on the bed.

Angel turned and saw her scooting herself into a sitting position.

"I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you." He apologized, moving closer to the bed. "That’s all right… what time is it."

"Uh.. almost five." Angel told her as he checked his watch. He himself hadn’t risen until three. He was always one to sleep during the day, but he was even more exhausted than usual, since he'd been with Buffy at the hospital until almost eight when she had ordered him home.

"Good, it’s almost time for dinner, I’m hungry." She smiled up at him.

"Have you eaten anything today?" Angel asked as he pulled a chair up to the bed, keeping his voice low so he wouldn’t wake the baby as she slept in a clear plastic crib on the other side of Buffy’s bed.

"Sure… I had lunch around noon. I have to feed the baby every few hours so I have been up and down."

"Did you name her?"

Buffy smiled. "Melissa Anne Giles."

"I like it." He replied.

"Thanks…. I think Giles would have liked it too." She told him, her eyes welling with tears. "Oh God, Angel I wish he could have been here to see her! She’ll never know her father."

Angel tenderly covered her hand with his. "I wish I could make it better, I really do."

Buffy nodded and joked. "I guess I can blame it on post-partum depression."

"So when are we busting you out of here?" He asked.

"They said tomorrow morning we will get released."

"Wow, so fast?"

Buffy nodded. "24 hours is all they say you need."

"Look, there she is! I told you she’d be okay." Cordelia said softly as she and Austin came in the room.

As soon as the toddler saw his mother, he raced over to her bed, surprising everyone, by getting Angel to lift him onto the bed. Buffy realized how attached her son must be to the man to allow him to pick him up.

"Mommy." Austin said as she enveloped him in her arms. He looked down at her stomach, no longer huge, and looked up at her confused.

"Austin, the baby came! You have a little sister, look." Buffy smiled, pointing at the sleeping baby girl. "Her name is Melissa."

"Melissa?" Austin replied his soft voice filled with curiosity about this whole "sister" thing.

"Austin you’re getting to be such a big boy, you have a little sister and everything." Cordelia smiled as she sat at the foot of the bed.

"Are you being good for Aunt Cordy?"

Austin nodded absently, still too engrossed in the sleeping form of his sister.

"He just misses his Mommy." Cordelia smiled. "How are you and Melissa doing?"

"Perfect."

"And how long have you been here, Angel?" Cordelia asked, smiling mischievously.

"A few minutes." Angel replied his voice a warning.

"Just asking." Cordelia replied, grinning.

Both Buffy and Angel rolled their eyes. Only Cordelia would find it suitable to set up a man with a woman who was still in the hospital after giving birth to another man’s child.

* * *

"Don’t worry, Angel. You’ll be fine."

"Cordelia, he doesn’t know me that well."

Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Austin! Austin, come here."

The little boy ran into the living room of Buffy’s apartment where Angel sat on the couch and Cordelia stood, with her purse slung over her shoulder, ready to leave.

"Austin, wouldn’t you like to spend a little while with Uncle Angel? He can color with you, and play cars with you, and you know he loves snack time." Cordelia asked the little boy, knowing what his answer would be. Since Angel was so quiet, he didn’t scare Austin as most adults did.

"Okay." Was the little boy’s reply.

"See!" Cordelia smiled. "I have to run, Buffy’s supposed to check out at ten and it’s nine-thirty. We’ll be back here in an hour… don’t worry."

Angel sighed, still nervous about being left responsible for a two-year-old. "Fine. Drive safe."

"I will! Austin, be good. I’ll be back in a little while and Mommy and Melissa will be with me." Cordelia replied before rushing out the door.

Angel and Austin stared at each other for a moment.

"Um… want a cookie?" Angel suggested.

"Okay."

Angel found that taking care of Austin was a breeze, really. After they each had some cookies, they headed into the living room. Austin turned the television on, surprising Angel when he knew how to change the channel so that he could watch cartoons as he colored in a coloring book. Angel read the paper as Austin quietly did his own thing. Both were content until Cordelia came bounding in the door.

"We’re home!" She announced, dropping the suitcase in the front hall and carrying two pizza boxes into the kitchen.

A moment later, Buffy struggled through the doorway with the baby bag and her purse over a shoulder and the baby carrier with a crying Melissa in her other hand. "Thanks for the help, Cordy." She said sarcastically.

Angel took the bag and purse from her and set them down on the couch. As soon as he walked away, Austin ran up to her and plastered himself against her leg.

"Hi Sweetie… he didn’t give you any problems did he Angel?" Buffy asked as she walked to the table with Austin attached to her leg.

"Nope, we got along just fine." Angel told her, watching with interest as Buffy picked Melissa up and lay her against her chest.

"Good.. Austin, why don’t you sit down? I promise I’m not going anywhere." Buffy replied, wanting to sit down with her daughter before she collapsed. Austin released her leg and ran off somewhere else. Angel noticed he seemed to be very hyperactive all of a sudden as he sat at the table.

Buffy sat across from him, smiling down at her sleeping daughter that she cradled in her arms. "Melissa doesn’t seem to like the baby carrier much."

"She’ll probably get used to it." Cordelia told her as she quickly set the table.

"Mama, look." Austin said, holding up a toy car.

"Is that new?" Buffy asked.

Austin nodded.

"Who bought you that pretty car?"

"Uncle Angel."

Buffy grinned at Angel, who smiled shyly. "He seemed to like them a lot, so I thought of him when I saw it."

"Aww… that was so nice of Uncle Angel, wasn’t it?" Buffy asked Austin.

The toddler nodded, then ran over to the chair next to Angel and sat in it.

Cordelia finished the table, then grabbed Austin’s booster seat, helping him get into it in the chair next to Angel. "I guess Austin wants to sit next to his new friend!"

Angel shot her a dirty look, but Cordelia just smiled. This was easier than she thought. Hell, she didn’t even have to meddle, Angel and Buffy would get together on their own!

* * *

Buffy looked down as she breastfed her daughter in Cordelia’s bedroom for privacy. It was the Fourth of July, almost two weeks after Melissa had been born. Cordelia was having a party at her house, and she had coerced Buffy into attendance. Austin seemed to be having a good time, there attend, and they had begun playing with each other.

Buffy, on the other hand, was not enjoying herself. Cordelia was hosting the party with Jack, her live in boyfriend. Most of the guests were couples, but a few of Jack’s single male friends were in attendance, and amazed Buffy by actually hitting on her as she held her infant daughter in her arms. They knew she was single, so Buffy suspected they had been told that she was a widow… but that didn’t stop them. Sure, she had gotten back to her prepregnancy figure back already, but she thought kids scared guys off.

She didn’t dare admit it to Cordelia, but she’d hoped Angel would be there. At least he could provide intelligent conversation. They’d been spending quite a bit of time together lately. He’d insisted that Cordelia still take time off of work so that she could help Buffy, and he came over very often as well, to give help in any way he could.

Buffy was sure that Cordelia invited him, and she wondered why he hadn’t agreed to come. She knew he wasn’t a party person, but knowing Cordelia, she’d mentioned that Buffy and the kids would be there…. Maybe he had a date.

Buffy didn’t like the twinge of jealousy she felt at the idea. Angel was free to date anyone he liked. Hell, she had gotten married and had two kids; he had every right to go out with any woman he liked. Besides, she was supposed to be a grieving widow…. She couldn’t think of any man the way she did Angel. She had to stop. Stop immediately.

She realized Melissa was done eating, so she quickly burped her. The baby immediately fell asleep. She placed her on her side, propping her up with blankets and pillows in the middle of Cordelia’s bed. Buffy stood and looked herself over in the mirror, being sure that her nursing bra was fastened and her shirt was adjusted properly.

She took a deep breath and headed back out into the party. Now she didn’t have the relative protection of Melissa to keep the leeches at bay. Before she could use the excuse that she had to change her diaper or feed her, but now she had nothing to do but talk to them.

Cordelia saw her friend leave the bedroom and cornered her. "Having fun?"

Buffy shrugged. "I guess."

"You guess? What’s wrong?"

"Nothing… I just… I don’t really know anybody. The couples are… coupled… and the single people.. I just don’t fit in with them either."

"Well, try harder, Buffy. Come on, you’re just used to being in couple mode… be single and looking girl again."

"Cordelia, first of all, I’m not looking. My husband has been dead for a month… I need time. Second, I’m not the same person now that I was when I was single. I have kids, I’m older, I’m a different person."

Cordelia sighed. "Just… try to have some fun?"

Buffy nodded, and watched guiltily as Cordelia walked away. Maybe she hadn’t given the party a fair shot. And Cordelia really wanted her to have a good time.

:: Next Part ::