Forever, Always, and Then SomeChapter 26
Early the next morning, Buffy wakes up as soon as Conner starts to fuss. She changes him and heads down stairs. As she is making the baby’s cereal, Wesley walks out of his office. Wesley: Morning Buffy Buffy: Morning, you are in early. Wesley: I couldn’t sleep, so I thought I might get a early start. Is Angel up yet? Buffy: Nope. Uh Wesley, I hope you don’t need him today. I was kinda hoping to have a little family day. Just the three of us. Wesley: No, don’t think so. Buffy: Well unless there is some big bad evil we are not here. Wesley: Got it, not here. Now here I was going to hold the baby while you fix that, but you are not here. Buffy: Funny Wesley. Here take him. (hands him to Wes) Buffy fixes the cereal and puts it on a tray, along with breakfast for Angel and herself. Buffy: Okay now I am going upstairs. I’ll take him now. Wesley: Can you carry all this by yourself? Buffy: I think so Wesley. See you tomorrow. Wesley: Bye. Buffy walks upstairs and enters their room. Angel wakes up. Buffy sets the tray down and sits down to feed Conner his cereal. Buffy: Morning. Breakfast? (she hands him his glass) Angel: Morning. Breakfast in bed? Hmmmm liking married life. Buffy: I am here to take care of my men. Angel: Wanna climb back in here. Buffy: Sorry but I have two men to feed. (she sits down to feed the baby)Cereal first, snuggles later.
Angel: Promise? Buffy: Anything you want. Angel: Anything? Buffy: Uh practically anything. You have a one track mind. Angel: Sorry. I’m teasing. How is my boy this morning? Buffy: Happy but hungry? Angel: And my girl? Buffy: Extremely happy. Angel: So what are your great plans for today? Buffy: You see it. Spending the day with my men. Just being us. Angel: I have liked your other plans before, but this one is your best yet. Later that same day. Angel is sitting in his chair reading a book. Buffy is lying on the floor slipping through a magazine. Conner is sleeping on a blanket beside her. Angel looks down at Buffy and takes his foot and starts rubbing her back. Buffy: Feels good. She rolls over and looks up at him. Buffy: Enjoying my book? Angel: Uh huh? How is Conner? Buffy: Sleeping like a baby….for now. Angel: Why don’t you come up here with me for awhile? Buffy: What do you have in mind? Angel: Talking, but if you have another idea. Buffy: Talking is good. Buffy climbs into his lap. Angel: I have been reading your book. It has some very interesting techniques. Buffy: How far have you gotten? Angel: They are going into how to project into another’s unconscious thoughts. Buff: Oh dream visiting. That is an experience. Angel: You have done it. Buffy: Once. It is not easy. Angel: Who did you try it with? Buffy: Willow. I waited until she was asleep and I projected myself into her dream. It is like being a fly on the wall. I didn’t stay long though. Angel: Why not? Buffy: She was dreaming about Tara. Angel: A too private? Buffy: Uh huh. Oh actually I did try it one other time. Angel: Willow again? Buffy: No actually Conner. Angel: Conner? What happened? Do babies really dream? Buffy: Not sure. He was sleeping so peacefully and looked like he had a smile on his face. I decided to sneak in and see what made him happy. Angel: What did you see? Buffy: Nothing. The moment I projected in, he got so startled, he woke up crying. Not doing that again. Angel: Oh poor little guy. Mommy scared him. Bad Mommy. Buffy: Very bad. Angel: Actually I can see how he must have felt. It gave me the creeps when you started sending me those first projections the other day. Like someone was walking on my grave. Buffy: Honey your grave is empty. Angel: Well so is yours. Buffy: Touché. That is why after your reaction the other day, I have not visited your dreams. I was so tempted last night. I was feeding Conner and I wanted so much to slip in and see why you were smiling. Angel: Smiling? Me? Buffy: Uh huh, do you remember your dream? Angel: The usual. Buffy: Not going to tell me? Angel: Its probably the same as yours. Buffy: Oh that dream. Now I wished I had visited. Angel: Wanna watch? Buffy: Not exactly, but you have not read the rest of the book. You still have the portion on dream manipulations and dream creation. Angel: Creation? Buffy: It requires more than thought projection. It is not possible on a conscious level. Both people have to be unconscious. When you reach the state of REM, you can project yourself into another’s dream. Somewhat like sharing a dream. You are suppose to be able to even manipulate events. No longer a visitor but a participant. Angel: Actually become a part of the dream? Sounds like when the first evil was haunting me. Buffy: That what I thought, but the part I like is the final level. Actually connecting with another and inviting them into a dream you yourself create. Angel: Is any of this really possible? Buffy: I think so but it requires being able to control thoughts when you are unconscious. I am still working on conscious projections. I just need a brain to invade. Someone to practice on. Angel: Are you asking for permission to visit my dream? Buffy: Only if you don’t mind. Angel: According to what I read we can see each other, but not communicate. Buffy: Not with conscious projection, but the unconscious projection is different. Angel: Hmmmm….if I let you dream visit would you help me with the thought projections. After seeing Rebecca last night, I can see how it could come in handy. Buffy: Yeah, use it to throw off your opponent or communicate with allies during a fight. Angel: Exactly. Buffy: That is why I originally learned it too. Angel: I also read that great distance can sometimes be achieved. Buffy: Only if you know exactly where they are. Have tried to reach Giles with mental thoughts but have never been successful. Angel: So you are saying that you could be sitting in your living room in Sunnydale and I knew that. I could send you a message from here in LA. Buffy: Supposedly. What would you send? Angel: You’ll have to wait for the message. Buffy: Sounds like you expect to master the skill. Angel: Oh definitely, if only to return that creepy feeling. Buffy: Would save on phone bills. Ah hear that? Angel: Yeah, Conner just took a deep breath I think. Buffy: Uh huh I know. That is stage one in waking up. We have less than three minutes left of grown up time. Better kiss me while we still have time. Angel: Your wish is (his words are cut off by her mouth. Conner wakes up. Buffy: Hmm, I told you. Let me feed him and you can change him. He will be up for awhile. This is one of my favorite times of day. He is awake, alert and happy. I call it playtime. Buffy get ups and picks up Conner. After he has fed and changed, Buffy and Angel lay on the bed with him between them just enjoying their son. Watching him reach for his various toys held out to him. Reacting to the sounds of his rattles. Suddenly Angel sits up. Angel: Oh I almost forgot. I got him something. It is my bag I was taking to Sunnydale. He walks over and retrieves a small blue stuffed animal. Buffy: A bunny, you bought him a bunny. Angel: I thought it was cute and see it has no fur to get in his mouth. Buffy: It is cute, one problem, we can’t take it to Sunnydale. Angel: Why not? Buffy: Anya, she has bunny fear and I do not want to alienate a prime baby sitter. We can leave it here for when he visits. Okay. Angel: Oh okay. I didn’t know. Buffy: No biggy, now let see if he likes it. Angel lies back down and they continue their family day. After dinner, Buffy ask Angel to goes for a walk. Angel: Sure, but it might be too cold for Conner. Buffy: I can keep him warm. She pulls out her snug sack and puts it on. Buffy: Here, hand me Conner. She places the baby in the snug sack and puts on her coat wrapping it around both of them. Angel: That’s cute. Is he safe? Buffy: Safe as if he was in the womb. Angel: Womb, is this a pseudo pregnancy thing. Buffy: No just a keep him close and warm thing. Ready to go. They walk down the streets to the very park where they first discussed their future. |
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