Forever, Always, and Then Some

Chapter 130

 

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Angel sits at the desk flipping through the folders, trying to seem unconcerned about the activity surrounding him. He watches from the corner of his eye as Gunn slips up behind Cordy and kisses her on the cheek. He is still amazed that they all have succeeded in keeping him completely in the dark of what is going on. He lifts up his worn tome and leans back placing his feet on the desk. He tries to lose himself in the words but his curiosity is digging at him deeply. He forces his face into a calm brood like image and stares at the written words.

At the sound of feet on the steps, he swivels his head to see Oz and Devon. He forces his eyes back onto his book. When the singer had shown up two days ago, he was sure he would be the weak link. He had thought he could trick the innocent lad into exposing the secret. But he had been no easier to fool than the others. Buffy was nothing if not thorough. He refuses to raise his eyes when he hears Wesley and Fred enter the front door. Even hearing Fred’s whispering to Cordy about his actions, would not make him move his pose.

Then he feels the familiar tingle. His fingers grip the hard cover tighter as he feels her presence nearing. He calmly turns the page and pretends to be engrossed in the words that swim before his eyes. Even when he hears the tiny squeak of the door and her slow approach down the steps he refuses to move. His hairs tingle at her nearness and then he is shocked to feel a second lighter sensation under his skin. A smile tugs at his face as he knows it is the presence of his daughter that stirs his demon within. He turns another page and stays his body until a warmth spreads along his thigh. He glances down at the tiny hand perched against the black slacks.

Connor: Dada

His face breaks into a beaming smile as he tosses the book on the desk and lifts the toddler into his lap.

Connor: Dada.

Angel: Hi tiger.

He accepts the small truck from the outstretched hand as he feels the feathery lips glide over his earlobe.

Buffy: Hi handsome.

Angel: Hi.

Buffy sits on the corner of his desk.

Angel: Is it really cold out today?

Buffy: No, why?

Angel points at the child in his lap.

Buffy: Oh the hood. Helps reduce ear infections

Angel: Oh.

He reaches out and unties the drawstring allowing the hood to slip down. He immediately bursts out laughing.

Buffy: Shh, he’s going to get upset.

Angel: I love it.

Cordy: Oh my gosh. He looks like a little blonde Angel.

Buffy smiles and nods.

Angel: You never told me you were getting his hair cut.

Buffy: He was starting to look like a girl.

Fred: Oh that is plum adorable.

Dawn: You should see him when he gets around a mirror.

Buffy: He loves it.

Cordy: You’re hair gel bill just went up.

Anya: I myself don’t think men should use all that stuff. I much prefer Xander’s unkempt hair.

Xander: Hey!

Willow: Buffy?

Buffy: Oh sorry Wills.

She hops off the desk and moves to take Caitlin. Angel turns and watches her. He looks around the lobby at the congregation of people. Buffy walks over with the baby.

Buffy: I’m going upstairs to feed her. You want to come?

Angel: You want my company or trying to get me out of the way?

Buffy: Angel.

Angel: Sorry.

He stands up with Conner and follows her up the stairs. Willow watches until they are out of sight.

Willow: So I guess we need to load up.

Oz: My van is out back.

Willow: Perfect. Lets get all the luggage in your van. Everyone keep your carryon with you. Anything that goes in the van is staying in till we get there.

Cordy: Gotcha.

Fred: What about the coolers?

Willow: We’ll put them in last.

Fred: The red one is for Angel. You know red.

Willow: Good.

Fred: And the blue one has drinks and sandwiches and chicken. Cordy and I fixed it all.

Willow: Perfect. You guys are great.

 

 

Upstairs

Angel sits on bed playing with Connor while Buffy nurses.

Angel: How long you going to keep this up?

Buffy: Till she stops eating.

Angel: Not nursing. Keeping this big secret.

Buffy: Oh that. All will soon be revealed.

Angel: I have to tell you I am not liking all this secrecy.

Buffy: Coming from the king of cryptic, that is funny.

Angel gives a withering look.

Buffy: She’s done. Do you mind changing her?

Angel: Of course not.

She hands him the baby and a diaper. As he sits changing her, Buffy opens the closet and pulls out his leather satchel and begins adding a few of his clothes.

Angel: Can I ask what you are doing?

Buffy: Just packing a few more things that we may need. She opens his drawer and adds more to the bag. He watches quietly until she adds the long blue nightgown he loves.

Angel: Buffy.

Buffy: One more minute.

She enters the bathroom and comes out with his electric razor and aftershave. She tosses then in the bag and closes it.

Buffy: Ready?

Angel: For?

Buffy: To go back down. Connor, come her honey.

The toddler moves to his mom. She pulls him up on her hip and shoulders the satchel.

Buffy: Let’s go.

Angel: Dang it Buffy.

Buffy: Don’t forget her bag.

She walks out the door and he pauses a moment before picking up Caitlin and her diaper bag and following.

Buffy: You going to lock the door?

He flips the lock and glares at her.

Buffy: Quit being like that.

She heads down the stairs and he follows with an irritated expression. The lobby is filled with their friends and family.

Buffy: Everything packed?

Willow: Uh huh.

Buffy: Good. Here is one more bag.

Oz takes it off her shoulder and heads out the back of the hotel.

Buffy: Where is my messenger bag?

Dawn: Right here.

Dawn trades the bag for Connor. Buffy walks to the counter and opens the bag. She pulls out a clipboard and a stack of maps.

Buffy: Okay. Lets see. I have three maps. One for each vehicle. The route is marked on each one. Now this is going to be a very long drive so we will have two drivers per vehicle. We also will need to stop but we need to make them brief and move on. Okay then this is what I have come up with and I hope everyone agrees. Like I said there will be two drivers for each vehicle which means two shifts. Okay here is how we start. Oz will of course drive his van and Willow will ride shotgun for the day shift. Xander will drive my van with Anya up front. For sun protection, Angel will be in the middle with Conner and Caitlin. And Dawn and I will be in the back. That leaves Cordelia, Gunn, Wesley, Fred, and Pike in the convertible. Wes, you and Gunn can decide who drives first.

Dawn: But I wanted to ride with Pike.

Buffy: Dawn, there is no room in the van.

Fred: She can ride in the car and I’ll go in the van.

Dawn: Really?

Buffy: I don’t know.

Cordelia: Buffy, I can watch them. Not like they can do anything.

Buffy: I guess. Fred are you sure?

Fred: Yeah. Besides, I get to ride with the little ones.

Buffy: Okay. Fine. Now there will be a little shuffling for second shift. Willow can not drive the van, so Pike will take over and Oz will be the passenger. Willow will move to the my van, which Angel will then drive. Then I guess with the new change, Fred can go back to the car. Is that okay? Any more changes?

Cordelia: Works for me.

Buffy: Okay then. I guess we need to get moving. Dawn, can you get Connor strapped in for me?

Dawn: No problem.

Buffy looks over at Angel standing holding Caitlin. She walks up to him and smiles.

Angel: So now I am being kidnapped?

Buffy: No. Now we are going on a Christmas vacation with all our loved ones.

Angel: Buffy.

Buffy: I guess I should tell you where.

He looks around the deserted lobby and nods.

Buffy: Oz knows a guy with a large hunting lodge nestled in the woods. It is ours for two weeks. Eight bedrooms and a great room with a fireplace. Plenty of snow for a white Christmas. And the best part; less than four hours of sunlight each day.

Angel: Huh?

Buffy: Alaska, silly. It is just outside of Fairbanks.

Angel: Alaska?

Buffy: Yes, now let’s go.

Angel: Everyone likes the idea?

Buffy: Of course. Two weeks of no fighting the fight. They are more than liking the idea.

Cordelia: What is taking you two so long?

Buffy: One sec. Angel?

Angel: You planned all of this.

Buffy: Oz helped a lot.

Angel: I love you.

Buffy: I know. Now let’s go.

She takes Caitlin and heads out. Angel slips from the shadows of the building and climbs in between the two car seats. Buffy straps Caitlin in and settles into the back seat. Xander closes the door and sits in the drivers seat. Angel reaches down to his feet and lifts the blanket balled up there.

Buffy: The tinted windows should keep most the sun out.

Angel: I know.

Conner tugs at the blanket and Angel looks at him.

Angel: Less than 4 hours sunlight?

Buffy: Uh huh. You can chase your son around for hours outside.

Angel: It will be too cold.

Buffy: He can wear a snowsuit and the fire will warm him up after.

Angel reaches his hand up and their fingers interlace as the van pulls away from the hotel.

 

That evening

Angel glances over at Buffy and smiles.

Buffy: What?

Angel: You are just so beautiful.

Buffy: I am so not. I look like heck.

Angel: Not to me.

He glances back toward the others.

Buffy: I think they are all asleep.

Angel: I know.

He reaches out his hand for hers.

Angel: I hate bucket seats.

Buffy tosses her pillow onto the center console and moves over closer to him. He smiles and wraps his arm loosely around her waist. Her head rest on his shoulder as she sighs.

Angel: You tired?

Buffy: No, just relieved. It has been a lot of work getting everything prepared. I just hope nothing goes wrong.

Angel: It won’t.

He quickly kisses her forehead.

Buffy: Eyes on the road Casanova. Babies on board.

Angel: I am okay.

 

Later

The glow of the sun begins to lighten the sky as they begin piling back into the vehicles. Buffy looks around for Fred as Cordy walks up.

Buffy: You riding with us?

Cordy: If you don’t mind.

Buffy: Fine with me.

Cordy: Think Angel, will let me sit with the kids?

Buffy: You want to sit between two small children?

Cordy: Yeah. I think it would be fun. Besides the big guy could use a little rest if he is driving later.

Buffy: If you’re sure.

Cordy walks over to the van.

Cordy: To the back with you.

Angel: Huh?

Cordy: I want to sit there so you get to sit with your wife.

Angel: Oh.

He quickly changes seats. Cordy tosses him his blanket as Buffy climbs in. As they all settle in, Xander closes the door and climbs in.

Xander: We ready?

Buffy: Appears so. Cordy, there is a bottle for Caitlin in her bag for when she wakes up. Just get Anya to warm it. She has the warmer for the cigarette lighter.

Cordy: Okay.

Buffy: And if Connor wants something to eat he has a bottle of juice and there are some animal crackers in his bag.

Cordy: I can handle it.

Buffy: I know you can.

She smiles and lifts the blanket and snuggles against her vampire. His arms encircle her waist and they both drift off quickly.

 

 

Later

9 PM

After two and a half days on the road, Angel eases the van into the parking lot behind Oz’s van.

Angel: I looks closed.

Buffy: Oz was suppose to call him when we got near. He is suppose to meet us.

Angel: Here comes someone.

Buffy jumps out of the van and joins Oz as he approaches the car.

Man: Hi. Mr. Osbourne?

Oz: Yes. Is everything ready?

Man: Just like you ordered. But I am sorry, I do not have any one to help you load it all.

Oz: That’s okay. We can handle it.

Pike opens the side of Oz’s van as the man opens the loading dock. Buffy steps up and the man points to the boxes of supplies.

Man: There are more in the walk in freezer.

Buffy: Good.

She glances out and sees Willow and Anya with the children. Angel walks up.

Angel: I guess we lost Wes.

Buffy: Oh, sorry, they went to the airport to pick up Giles. His flight should have landed four hours ago.

Angel: Giles is coming too.

Buffy: You surprised?

Angel: No. I’m glad he is coming. Makes it more complete.

Buffy: I know. So lets get this stuff loaded and we will meet them at the cabin later.

Angel reaches down and lifts the large box with ease. Buffy hefts the next one as the man looks on shocked. Oz and Xander lift a third and carry it to the edge of the dock. Buffy grabs it and hands it easily to Angel. The man watches as the tall man and petite blonde quickly stow the boxes. As the last box is wedged into the van, he walks up.

Man: I don’t know what to say.

Buffy: About?

Man: You are amazing.

Angel: Isn’t she? He wraps his arms around her from behind.

Willow: NO CONNOR NO!!!!!

Angel turns to see Connor dashing for the street with Willow unable to keep up with her expanded size. He runs and snatches the child up and rolls out of the way of the oncoming traffic. Buffy is directly behind him and leaps up onto and back off a parked car.

Buffy: Is he okay?

Angel: Fine. It missed us.

Buffy: Thank god.

Angel looks sternly at the toddler.

Angel: You were bad.

Connor: Mama.

Buffy: Don’t ever do that again? That was so bad.

He starts to cry as they approach the vans.

Willow: I am sorry. He was just standing there watching you and then he took off.

Buffy: I’m the one that’s sorry. He has been cooped up in the van for two and a half days. I should never have expected you in your condition to keep up with him.

Willow: I should have made him stay in the van.

Angel: He is fine. Connor, look how much you upset Aunt Willow.

Connor peaks out and then hides his face back into Angel’s shoulder.

Buffy: Let’s just go.

 

 

Later

Oz opens the door and Buffy and the others walk in and look around.

Willow: This is great.

Anya: I’m amazed. This is not what I expected.

Buffy: It is nice.

They each look around the great room.

Buffy: Hey, hate to say this but lets get the stuff inside, so we can get to bed.

Anya: Aren’t we going to wait for the others?

Buffy: They can help when they get here.

Angel: What about the kids?

Buffy: Willow?

Willow: Yeah, I got them.

Anya: Shouldn’t I help her?

Buffy: Fine, help her.

She turns around and heads out the door.

Xander: Ahn, I think you should help.

Anya: But…..

He shakes his head and opens the door. Oz steps in, followed by Angel. Each of them loaded down.

Xander: Ahn, can you at least man the door?

Anya: I guess so.

She steps up and takes the door from Xander.

Anya: So what do I do.

Xander: Look out the little window here and when some walks up, open it and the close it when they are in.

Anya: Oh, gotcha.

Buffy, Angel, Oz, Xander, and Pike begin carting the boxes and luggage into the lodge. As they grab the final bags, the convertible rolls into the yard.

Xander: You folks have great timing.

Gunn gets out and glances in the now empty van.

Gunn: I can say we do.

Buffy: But that just means you guys can help with putting it all away inside. Giles, you made it.

She steps forward and wraps Giles in her arms.

Giles: I would not have missed it for the world.

They move inside. Angel is squatting in front of the fireplace poking at the logs beginning to burn.

Buffy: Yay fire. She moves close, squats beside him and sticks her hands out.

Angel: Come here.

He pulls her in front of him and wraps her in the cocoon of his body.

Xander: Buff, we got work here.

Buffy glances around Angel’s bulking form.

Buffy: One second, please. Just start with the frozen stuff. Get it all in the freezer.

Fred: Cordy?

Cordy: Sure why not.

With everyone helping the food and supplies are soon stored away. They all plop down on the various chairs and sofas.

Cordy: I vote bed.

Wes: Seconded.

Buffy: Well there are eight bedrooms. Four with double beds and four with two twins. Willow and I set the kids up in the one with two twins and Angel and I will take the double next door because it has a connecting door. There are two more rooms on that end. One with two twins for Willow and Dawn and a double in the other for one of the couples. The other two couples can take the rooms on the other end of the building. Then Oz and Pike can take one room and Giles can have the last.

Xander: I guess Anya and I can take the one on your end.

Willow: Uh guys. If we do that, except for Angel and Pike we are pretty much segregating by city.

Angel: She’s right.

Cordy: Fine, Gunn and I will take the room on the Sunnydale side.

Willow: We don’t want sides. We want it to be one big family.

Cordy: I know. We are. One really, really bizarre family.

Buffy: But in a good bizarre way.

Everyone grabs their luggage and heads to their respective rooms, calling out their good nights as they go. Buffy waits until the room is empty and turns to Angel.

Buffy: Ready for bed?

Angel: Been ready.

She shoulders two bags as he grabs two others.

Buffy: Want to shower first?

Angel smiles seductively

Angel: Oh yeah.

© 2005 Tara