Forever, Always, and Then Some

Chapter Two

In LA

 

Angel: Hey Willow, it’s Angel.

Willow: Oh Hey Buffy is not here right now.

Angel: Oh she isn’t. Well I actually called to talk to you. We need a favor and we thought you might be able to help.

Willow: More computer hacking?

Angel: Actually Wesley and Fred, I think you met Fred when you were last time. Well they are working on some analysis regarding various people who possess special powers or strength and well we were hoping you might be able to help us to get Buffy’s help.

Willow: What exactly are you asking for?

Angel: Well they are doing DNA profiling. Getting samples from folks who are unique and from their closest family members to see if there is anything unique about them biologically. We got Faith to consent. And samples from a girl with telekinesis and others. We were kinda hoping Buffy would contribute.

Willow: Why don’t you ask her yourself?

Angel: Things are just too tense between us, I was hoping you could sort of feel her out for me.

Willow: Did you guys get in an argument when she called?

Angel: Buffy called? When? (Angel’s eyes dart around)

Willow: Oh I thought she said she was going to earlier. Guess she changed her mind.

Angel: I did not talk to her. But back to what I was asking, will you?

Willow: I don’t think she will help but I may be able to get you the samples if I tell her it is for a school project. But I hate lying to her.

Angel: Willow, please you know I hate asking but it may help us in the future.

Willow: Okay but do not tell her. When do you want them?

Angel: As soon as possible. Overnight them if you can.

Willow: Fine I will call before I send them.

Angel: Willow, I owe you big time.

Willow: Now that is a change, you owing me.

Angel: Bye Willow

Willow: Bye

Angel returns to the others.

Angel: Mission accomplished. I hate lying.

Cordy: I know and you are usually not good at it.

Angel: Huh? Since when?

Cordy: Puhleese who here can tell when Angel is lying?

Everyone holds their hand up.

 

 

Days later

The package arrives from Sunnydale, Willow convinced both Buffy and Dawn to gives samples for her science project.

Wesley: The package is here. Okay now I need samples from the Angel and the baby.

Fred prepares the slides from both father and son and Wesley takes everything to the lab.

Angel Investigations is jumpy awaiting the results. Every time the phone rings, everyone runs for it. After a few days the call finally comes.

Wesley answers the phone.

Wesley: Angel Investigations, we help the helpless.

Wesley listens.

Wesley: Yes, this is Mr. Wyndam-Price, do you have our results? Can you tell me over the phone? Oh, well okay I am on my way.

He hangs up.

Wesley: I have to go sign for the results in person.

Angel: I am going with you.

Wesley: Angel it is daylight.

Angel: I don’t care, I will stay in the car if I have to but no way I can sit and wait for you to get back.

Wesley: Fine let's go.

The duo arrive at the lab and Wesley is able to find a parking spot in the shade. He runs inside and emerges minutes later with results in hand.

Before Wesley can get all the way in the car, Angel snatches the envelope and rips it open.

Angel sits there in silence with tears in his eyes.

Wesley takes the paper from him and slow reads out loud.

Wesley: Male A has a 99.98% possibility of being the father to child C. Female B has a 99.97 possibility of being the mother to child C. Female D has a 85% chance of being related to child C. Angel? Do you know what this means?

Angel: Yes, I am soooo dead. I do not just mean undead. Buffy is going to kill me for sure.

Wesley: Calm down, she is not going to be that mad.

Angel: We are both talking about the same Buffy? Lets go home, I need a drink, and I am not talking blood.

Wesley: Okay, but don’t you want to get your blanket first?

Angel: Oh yeah, sorry

The men return to the hotel where Wesley tells everyone the results and Angel grabs a bottle of scotch before heading toward his rooms.

Cordy: Angel before you start getting drunk, let me remind you that you have a son to take care of.

Angel: Oh,yeah..and I was really needing a good old fashion drunk.

Cordy: Well maybe it will teach you to keep your pants on.

Angel just glares at her.

Fred: Well, now we know, what are we going to do?

Angel: I guess we call mommy and share the news.I am soooo dead.

Cordy: Yep you are.

Angel: Cordy can you or Wes please call and see if she can come here. Actually I think she should bring Willow, Dawn and Xander. Better tell everyone at once.

Cordy: You just hope they will be able to keep her calm.

Angel: That too.

Wesley: I’ll call.

In Sunnydale

Buffy is talking on the phone.

Buffy: I do not know why, all I know is Wes said we all need to come as soon as possible. Sounds pretty urgent.

She listens.

Buffy: Xander, can’t she close a little early on Saturday. We can drive up right after and Wes said there was plenty of room at the hotel and we could drive back sometime Sunday.

She listens.

Buffy: I will tell Wes to expect us around 6PM Saturday. Bye. (She hangs up)

Willow: So Xander and Anya are a go.

Buffy: I wish I knew what was up. I wonder if it has to do with the dream.

Willow: I thought you never called about the dream.

Buffy: Why do you think that?

Willow: Well ummm. Well

Buffy: Willow what happened?

Willow: Well I talked to Angel a few days ago and he said you never called.

Buffy: I did but Cordy said he was busy, I told her to tell him why I calledI guess she was her ever efficient self. I will say something to her when I get there.

 

 

On Saturday in LA

Wesley, Gunn, Cordelia, Lorne and Angel pretend to be busy around the office and lobby waiting for 6 o’clock to come.

As Angel keeps staring at the clock, it reads 6:15 when the Sunnydale gang troops in.

Willow: Sorry we are late but Anya would not close the shop until there no more customers.

Anya: Hey I usually stay open till 6, and closing at 4 was not my idea.

Angel stares at Buffy.

Angel: Hi Buffy

Buffy: Hi Angel. Are you ready to tell me why I had to come all the way to LA?

Angel: Yes. But why doesn’t everyone have a seat. Can I get anyone a drink or anything?

Buffy: Angel all we want is to know why we are here.

Everyone finds a seat and Angel starts pacing back and forth, even though he knew this moment was coming he has no idea where to start. Cordy walks out of the office.

Buffy: Cordy, Hello. Since Angel here is having trouble finding words can I ask you why you did not tell Angel I called the other morning?

Angel: She did, that is part of the reason you are here.

Buffy: You told Willow she did not tell you.

Angel: I lied. Well actually I told Willow I had not talked to you. So technically.

Buffy: Fine you lied, now tell me what is going on.

Angel: (swallows) Cordy told me you had a dream about us. And we were in my old apartment under the office.

Buffy: Yes but it was nothing but a dream.

Angel: No, it was not a dream, it was real.

Buffy: Huh? No way could it be real, because in the dream you were alive, you were human.

Angel: Believe me, it was no dream. It happened two years ago when you came to the office to after I was in Sunnydale because of Doyle’s vision.

Buffy: I remember, I was there about 5 minutes.

Angel: No you were there for 24 hours.

Buffy: Huh?

Angel proceeds to tell her everything that transpired.

The Sunnydale group is stunned.

Buffy: So you are telling me that my dream was actually my memory of that time, but how come I am getting the memory back now?

Angel: Because there are always consequences to our actions and mine have caught up with us. I think you got the memory back in order to help you accept what else I have to tell you.

© 2005 Tara