Forever, Always, and Then Some

Chapter 32

 

In LA, 4am Sunday morning, Angel, Wesley, Gunn and Cordy return from fighting the demons. Fred, Lesley, and Bill have waited up to learn what happened.

Fred: Well did you get them all?

Wesley: We think.

Gunn: We did some major damage at least.

Wesley: Hopefully enough to keep our tourist industry safe.

Lesley: Thank god. No one else shall have to go through that.

Bill: I second that.

Wesley: Also we did find a pile of personal effects. We can take you there later and see if anything is yours.

Lesley: Oh yes.

Angel: Fred, what time did Buffy call?

Fred: She didn’t.

Angel: What? She didn’t?

Fred: Not tonight.

Angel goes to the phone and calls.

Willow: Hello.

Angel: Willow where is Buffy?

Willow: Right here (crying in background)

Angel: Why didn’t she call, she was suppose to call after patrol.

Willow: Well she kinda has her hand full. Its been a rough night.

Angel: What’s wrong, I hear Conner crying?

Willow: He’s been crying all night. He is not feeling well.

Angel: What? I am on my way.

Willow: Slow down. Talk to Buffy.

Buffy: Hey

Angel: What is wrong?

Buffy: He’s just not feeling well. He is not dying.

Angel: Why didn’t you call?

Buffy: Please calm down. I have enough to deal with without you panicking.

Angel: Sorry. Have you called the doctor?

Buffy: Not yet. I am waiting for morning. Babies get sick all the time.

Angel: Not my baby. Call the doctor, Buffy.

It’s the middle of the night.

Angel: I don’t care. Call him or I will.

Buffy: Fine, if you promise to stay put. I will call.

Angel: I will stay here. Call me as soon as you talk to him.

They hang up.

Cordy: What’s wrong?

Angel: Conner’s sick. Been crying all night. Buffy is calling the doctor.

Cordy: Angel, babies get sick all the time.

Angel: You sound like Buffy.

Cordy: Please don’t say that.

Lesley: Angel, they are right. Probably nothing more that a cold, an ear infection, or he could be teething.

Angel: Teething, this young?

Lesley: Sure, some babies get their first tooth before three months.

Cordy: And with you for a father , wouldn’t be surprised if he has some major chompers.

Angel: Cordy, he is human.

Cordy: I am kidding. Just relax and wait for Buffy to call.

Wesley: Well I am heading home.

Gunn: Me too.

Cordy: Night guys.

Angel paces the floor until the phone rings.

Angel: What he say/

Buffy: Hello to you too. He said it wasn’t anything serious. Looks like your son is trying to cut his first tooth.

Angel: Teething? That is what Lesley thought.

Buffy: Yep. Willow went to get some gel. Wish I had thought of that three hours ago. I just thought he was too young.

Angel: But he isn’t, I guess.

Buffy: Nope, must take after daddy on the teeth issue.

Angel: Okay you and Cordy are starting to sound alike.

Buffy: Please don’t say that.

Angel snickers.

Buffy: What’s so funny?

Angel: Tell you later, you need to get some sleep.

Buffy: I will as soon as he does.

Angel: I love you, sweetheart.

Buffy: I love you too, good night.

Angel hangs up and collapses in a chair.

Cordy: All’s well?

Angel: Just teething.

Cordy: Good, so I am heading home.

Angel: Night.

Cordy: You are a good father.

Angel: I am learning.

Two male voices are heard from behind a closed door.

Male 1: She has a baby? A boy?

Male 2: That’s what I heard.

Male 1: How old is he?

Male 2: I don’t know. Young, real young.

Male 1: What are you going to do?

Male 2: I don’t know.

Sound of cell phone.

Male 1: Hello…..yes……okay….we are on our way.

Male 1: Looks like we have something to distract you. We are heading to LA.

Sunday afternoon at AI, Angel comes downstairs, Cordy and Fred are working on the computer.

Angel: Coffee?

Cordy: Of course, why do you always ask?

Angel gives her a look.

Cordy: Somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed.

Angel: No, just the middle.

Cordy: Oh, bed feeling a bit big?

Angel: Exactly.

Cordy: Oh Buffy called.

Angel: Why didn’t you get me?

Cordy: Please. Wake the dead?

Angel: Cordelia, what did she say?

Cordy: Conner is feeling better. The gel is helping and he finally slept. She will call back later.

Angel: Good.

Angel stands brooding with a pensive face.

Cordy: What are you thinking about?

Angel: My life.

Cordy: Oh that should take awhile.

Angel: My current life.

Cordy: Oh less broad. Wanna share.

Angel: not really. I just hope that if I ever earn redemption and get my reward, it is while Conner is still alive.

Cordy: And Buffy?

Angel: That would be nice too.

Cordy and Fred get back to the computer. Wesley comes out of his office. They are going over some things. Angel sits upon the counter and seems to be thinking. He peeks over at the others three and smiles.

Angel: (mentally) Fred

Fred looks up shocked.

Angel: (mentally) Wesley.

Wesley looks too.

Angel: (mentally) Cordelia.

Cordy jumps, then looks at Angel.

Cordy: You did that, did you did that?

Angel smiles.

Wesley: How did you do that?

Angel: Buffy. She learned how and let me read her text. First time I have tried.

Wesley: Amazing. How does it work?

Angel: It’s a bit complicated to explain. Buffy took her book or I would show you.

Wesley: What book? Maybe we can find another copy.

Angel writes down something.

Angel: Here is the title. See what you can find.

Wesley: I am on it. This is amazing.

Angel: Oh wait to read the whole text. Buffy has already mastered other levels.

Wesley heads out the door. Gunn walks in,.

Gunn: Where is heading in such a hurry?

Angel: To buy a book.

Gunn: Oh not like he doesn’t have plenty of those.

Fred: This book teaches how to send thoughts to another person’s brain.

Gunn: Huh?

Angel: (mentally): Gunn, like this.

Gunn spins around.

Gunn: What the hell? Now you are getting freaky. More vampire power?

Angel: Nope. Willow and Buffy can do it too.

Gunn: And Wesley went to get a book on it?

Angel: I think we should all try to learn how.

Fred: I think it sounds like fun.

In Sunnydale

Buffy: He is sleeping peacefully.

Dawn: I am glad. It was awful seeing him in such distress.

Buffy: I am going to call his dad and give him an update.

Dawn: Oh yeah, call Angel just because he needs to know Conner is sleeping. Has nothing to do with your wanting hear his voice and have him tell you he loves you.

Buffy: Oh that too of course.

Buffy dials the phone.

Buffy: Hello, is he up yet?

Fred: Who?

Buffy: Fred, its Buffy, is Angel up?

Fred: Oh yeah he is. He is doing some talking with his mind thing. Oh yeah he said you could do it too. Can you?

Buffy: Yes, so he learned how? Fred where is he exactly right now.

Fred: Huh? He is sitting on the counter swinging his legs.

Buffy: Thanks. Watch out he is about to get messed with.

Buffy(mentally): Honey want to get on the phone or want to try to reach me mentally?

Angel looks over Fred holding the phone.

Angel: Buffy?

Fred: How did you know?

Angel: Tell her I will try but I need to know where.

Fred: He said he will try but needs to know where. (to angel) She said her bedroom.

Angel: Okay her goes nothing.

Angel: (mentally to Buffy) Buffy, I want to give you a happy right now.

Fred: I think she is choking.

Angel smiles.

Angel hopes down and walks to the phone.

Angel: Buffy, you get it.

Buffy: Oh yeah. I was actually calling to ask if you were tired. Conner is asleep and should stay that way for a few hours.

Angel: And you wanted go visiting. Last night got canceled.

Buffy: I was hoping.

Angel: Me too. Now?

Buffy: If you can.

Angel: Uh yeah…..see ya there.

Buffy: Hope so. Bye

Angel: Bye love.

They hang up. Angel starts to head upstairs.

Cordy: Are you going to Sunnydale?

Angel: No. Why?

Cordy: You just told Buffy you would see her.

Angel: Eavesdropping?

Cordy: No, but you were right here, not deaf.

Angel: Well even so our conversations are no one else’s business.

Angel turns to go upstairs.

Cordy: Then where are you going?

Angel: To bed, if you have to know.

Cordy: You just got up.

Angel: So.

Angel leaves. He gets to his room and settles down to sleep with thoughts of Buffy on his mind.

Buffy sits in Sunnydale giving Angel time to reach REM. Eventually she relaxes and projects her mind toward his. She enters his dream. She watches as Dream Buffy(DB) and Dream Angel(DA) are walking down a hall. They are dressed in the same clothes they got married in. They reach a door and DA picks up DB and carries her into a hotel room, a bridal suite. Buffy realizes that Angel is dreaming of how their wedding night should have been. DA sets DB down and proceeds to kiss her passionately.

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