Forever, Always, and Then Some

Chapter 135

 

Buffy slides out of bed and pads across the room to the crying infant. She scoops her up and holds her close as she maneuvers onto the empty bed. She positions the child against her breast and sighs deeply. A look of contentment spreads over her face and she closes her eyes. She never notices Hannah watching her as she relaxes against the headboard.

Buffy feels his presence before she ever opens her eyes. She glances over at his broad back as he leans over the occupied crib.

Buffy (m): Is he still asleep?

Angel turns, smiles, and nods.

Buffy (m): I missed you so much.

Angel (m): We missed you too.

Hannah watches through hooded eyes the silent exchange. Even in the dark room she can see the love bouncing between the two of them. Tears spring to her eyes at her own fate.

Buffy reaches out her hand and Angel helps her to her feet. She leads him back to their room and settles on the larger bed. Angel lays down and places his head in her lap. Her thin fingers caress through his hair as she nurses their tiny daughter.

Angel: We need to get a tree this morning.

Buffy: A tree? What’s today?

Angel: December 24^th.

Buffy: Christmas Eve. It is Christmas Eve. So I made it back in time.

She looks down at him.

Buffy: And you didn’t already get the tree?

Angel: We all decided to wait for you. We wanted to do it all together.

Buffy: And if I was late?

Angel: Then Christmas was going to wait.

Buffy: But…

Angel: It was a unanimous decision. No one wanted Christmas with out everyone present.

Buffy: Even Cordy?

Angel: She’s the one who suggested we wait.

 

 

Later

Everyone wakes up to the smell of coffee and bacon. They all follow their noses to the source. Angel stands flipping pancakes as Buffy sets plates and silverware on the table.

Willow: You did not have to fix breakfast your first day back.

Buffy: We were up so why not.

She reaches over and hands Connor another piece of soft pancake.

Fred: I am not going to complain. I love pancakes and Angel makes the best ones ever.

Gunn: I just want to know where you put it all.

Fred: Oh, I have a hollow leg. Didn’t I tell ya?

Cordy: If I ate like that I would look like Carnie Wilson before all the surgery.

Anya: Oh I loved her with those other girls.

Angel moves over and places a platter of pancakes and one of bacon on the table. The talk stops as everyone quickly sits down to eat. They easily make room for their two new guests. Light banter ensues as the silver wear clatters against the plates. Marvin glances at Hannah as she nibbles at the bacon and sighs. He watches as she taste the pancakes and closes her eyes chewing slowly.

Giles: Hannah, can I get you some milk?

Hannah: Milk? Oh yes, please.

Buffy: Giles, get her a glass of the fresh. Her first milk in 400 years should not be from powder.

Giles gets up and moves to the kitchen. Hannah looks confused and watches until Giles carries back a large glass of cold milk. She takes it gingerly and sips. She smiles and takes a large swallow.

Giles: Hannah, dear please drink slowly. Your body may still need time to adjust.

Hannah frowns and nods. She drinks slower and savors the sweet fluid.

Buffy: Is it like you remember?

Hannah: Oh yes. It is wonderful.

Connor squeals and draws every one’s attention his way.

Buffy: Hold on there. Here’s yours.

She hands him his sippy cup and he gurgles. Marvin tries to understand how the petite blonde mothering the toddler is the same woman who carried him over her shoulder just the day before. He marvels at her many facets as he watches her interact with her family. His eyes move on to the large male on the other side of the high chair. Marvin watches as he picks up a piece of sticky pancake and pops it in the baby’s waiting mouth before holding out his fingers for Buffy to lick away the sweet syrup. The imposing man sits back and picks up his glass of juice or milk.

 

 

Later

Hannah watches as the group bustles around clearing the table and cleaning the dishes after the wonderful breakfast. Tears again form in her eyes as she feels the family camaraderie surrounding her.

Wesley: Might I suggest we go get our tree.

Cordy: Yes. We have waited long enough.

Dawn: We need to find something for Marvin and Hannah to wear so they won’t freeze.

Buffy: You’re right.

Marvin: I’m fine.

Buffy: No you’re not, you will freeze in that outfit. You need snow pants and a jacket.

Oz: I think he can fit some of my stuff.

Marvin: I don’t really have to go. I can stay here. This appears to be a family thing.

Buffy: I am sorry but we only have two hours so can we dispense with the imposing stuff. You and Hannah are part of the family now and we want you to join us. No more arguments.

Marvin nods.

Buffy: Good, so lets get going before it gets late.

Everyone heads to their bedrooms and changes. Ten minutes later they all assemble in the living room. Angel stands helping Buffy strap the snug sack on and slide Caitlin inside.

Hannah: You do not have to take the poor little one. She can stay inside. I would be more than happy to watch over her.

Buffy: No thanks. We are all going.

Marvin walks out all bundled up.

Marvin: I am ready. But the sun has yet to rise. It does rise here does it not.

Buffy: It does.

Marvin: I see. So why don’t we wait for the sun?

Buffy: Because my husband has a rare sun allergy.

Marvin: Oh I’m sorry. I was not aware

Marvin watches oddly as Angel helps her slip on her coat over the snug sack and zip it up.

Angel: Can she breath okay?

Buffy: Yes. Where is Connor?

Willow: Dawn is helping him with his mittens.

Cordy: So is everyone about ready?

Xander: I think so.

He lifts an axe and props it on his shoulder. As everyone moves out the door, Wes and Angel pick up their own axes. They all pour out into the night air. Oz flips the switch and the yard is flooded in light. Hannah jumps back in fear.

Angel: It is okay Hannah. It is like a big oil lamp. Nothing more.

She glares up at the source of the illumination fearfully.

Angel: We will talk later, okay? I will try and help you understand things more.

Hannah nods and moves to join the others. They all move away from the lighted area and use their flashlights to guide their way into the darker woods. As they moved through the trees they began to fan out looking for the perfect specimen. It takes only minutes before Dawn calls out to the others.

Dawn: I think I found it.

Willow and Oz move over and examine her selection.

Oz: I like it.

Willow: It is okay, I guess.

Dawn: Still not hip on a Christmas Tree?

Willow: Well being Jewish, not so much.

Buffy walks up with Angel. She circles the tree as she clutches Caitlin close.

Buffy: It is perfect. Good work Dawn.

The others arrive and quickly scrutinize the subject.

Fred: I vote yay.

Gunn: Gets my vote.

Xander: Well then stand back and let me at her.

He raises his axe and steps forward.

Angel: Hold on a sec.

Buffy: You don’t like it?

Angel: No I don’t like the idea of flying wood.

He hands Connor to Oz. He crouches down and examines the bottom of the trunk before standing back up. He hefts his wide blade fighting axe in one hand and swings it across the base. He stands back and they all look at the tree standing before them.

Xander: Man you missed it entirely. So much for your axe skills.

Angel steps forward and touches the tree toppling it over. Everyone gasps and then begins laughing. Angel turns and takes Connor.

Angel: We need to get the little ones back inside.

He heads back to the lodge with Buffy beside him. The women turn to follow as the men stare at the tree.

Xander: He takes all the fun parts and we get to haul it?

Gunn: Appears so.

Pike: No biggy.

He leans down and grabs a lower branch. Gunn grabs the other side and the two men begin dragging the tree toward the lodge. Wes and Xander follow carrying their axes. Giles and Marvin follow at the rear.

Marvin: He is very strong.

Giles: Yes he is.

Marvin: I guess a woman like Buffy needs a strong man by her side.

Giles: That she does. But I don’t think she would love him less if he was weak and useless.

Marvin: I’ve been getting that. The whole love thing with them.

Giles: Kind of hard not too I assume.

 

 

Later.

Everyone stands around the nude tree except Buffy. She sits in the corner of the sofa, nursing the baby.

Cordy: Where do we start?

Dawn: The lights. The lights always go on first.

Fred: I got them.

She holds up a stack of boxes of new strands of lights.

Fred: I guess even with new lights we should like check them first?

Pike: Here let me.

He grabs a box and pulls out the lights. He squats behind the tree and plugs in the cord. The strand glows brightly and Hannah squeals. Angel walks over to her and leans over closer.

Angel: Come with me a moment, please.

Hannah nods and follows him into the kitchen. He nods to a stool and once she sits he takes another.

Angel: Hannah, I know there are a lot of things that you find confusing and scary but I need to assure you that there is nothing to fear. Time has just brought a lot of changes to our world. And a lot of them are improvements.

Hannah: It is all so different. I just want to go home.

Angel: Home? Where is home?

Hannah: Where I was. Where I have been living.

Angel: Living alone? Were you truly happy that way. I know how it is to be alone and it isn’t wonderful.

Hannah: But it is my life. I do not belong here.

Angel: No, you belong in a Virginia colony with your sister and a future. But you can not go back there. And I am not sure you can go back to the place you now call home. But you are a strong woman and I hope you can someday have the future you were denied. But you can only do that here.

They both look up as Giles walks in.

Giles: Sorry to interrupt but I wanted to make sure our guest was okay.

Angel: She is having problems adjusting to the changes.

Giles: I can imagine it is a bit daunting to say the least. I guess you are the one most able to relate to her.

Angel: A little.

Hannah: Were you in another place too?

Angel: No. But I have lived a very long life. Not as long as you but I am pretty old.

Hannah: Old? How old?

Angel: Well I was born in 1727, so that would make me 275. But don’t tell me wife as she thinks I am only 245.

He smiles conspiratorially.

Giles: I thinks she knows the truth.

Angel: She does now.

Hannah: I am not understanding.

Angel: I am immortal. I do not age and I do not die.

Hannah: Oh my.

Angel: So if you have questions about how things are now, I will try to help. I can still remember a simpler world. But I have to admit the changes are wonderful. We have lights that come on by the flip of a switch. We have hot water that appears by turning a handle. We can travel without need of animals. We can even fly.

Hannah: Fly?

Angel: Yes. And we can even communicate with anyone all over the world while sitting at home.

Hannah: You said fly.

Angel: Yes. They have developed machines that allow us to fly to anywhere in the world.

Hannah: Fly. Do you have wings?

Angel: Not exactly. But you climb into a big coach and it has wings and it can take off into the air.

Giles: Hannah, there is much to learn about the world now.

Hannah sits and looks at her hands. Giles and Angel exchange a concerned look.

© 2005 Tara