Forever, Always, and Then Some

Chapter 99

 

That evening, just before sundown.

Everyone is getting their stuff together to take the mini-van and car back to Sunnydale. Xander is carrying the first bags out when he is confronted in the doorway.

Xander: Oh my.

He backs up.

Xander: Need some help here guys.

Buffy: Can’t you carry a few bags?

Xander: Not the bags. The big scary demon.

Buffy: Xander, sorry but that is not a scary demon.

Xander: Then what would you call it?

Buffy: I call it Skip. Hi Skip.

Skip: Hi Buffy. Sorry to scare your little friend here.

Xander: Skip? As in pendant giving Skip?

Buffy: That’s the one. So you want to take the bags out?

Xander: Okay. I guess.

Skip steps aside as Xander cautiously slips by.

Buffy: Sorry Skip. So what can I do for you?

Skip: Is Angel here?

Buffy: He is getting Conner changed. We are on our way back to Sunnydale.

Skip: I know. They told me about your little vampire trouble.

Buffy: Who told you? The powers?

Skip: Yes.

Buffy: I guess they know everything. So it that what brings you here?

Skip: Actually no. I came to get Angel to help me capture a prisoner.

Buffy: Oh. Let me get him.

She heads upstairs and passes Willow and Oz coming down.

Oz: Who’s the tin man?

Buffy: Skip. He works for the powers.

Oz: Oh.

Oz and Willow enter the lobby.

Skip: Hello.

Willow: Hi, I’m Willow, I saw you when you were here before.

Skip: Yes. You are the witch, right?

Willow: I was. I have kinda given it up.

Skip: For now. It will always be in you. Someday you will be able to control the power. Your child’s life will depend on it.

Willow: Another prophecy.

Skip: I guess you can say that. But you and the werewolf need to be prepared to do whatever it takes to keep him safe.

Oz: We will.

Skip: I thought you might be him. I can smell the power. You have harnessed it well.

Oz: Most the time.

Xander comes in.

Xander: Oz, man would ya mind loaning a hand.

Buffy, Angel, and Conner come down.

Angel: Skip, Buffy says you need my help.

Skip: Sorry to interrupt the family time, but I need some real help. And I think you are the only one that can help.

Angel: Just tell me what you need.

Skip: He has escaped deep into some underground caverns. It may take us a long time to actually track him and catch him. But with your keen eyesight, hearing, and lack of need for oxygen, you are our best chance.

Angel: I guess you mean now.

Skip: I do.

Angel: Thought so. Buffy?

Buffy: See you when you get back.

Skip: Now why can’t my wife say that.

Angel: Is your wife a warrior too?

Skip: No. That probably would help. I guess you both are use to sacrifice.

Buffy: Our middle names.

Buffy takes Conner and Angel kisses her and heads to stock up on weapons. Buffy watches.

Buffy: Skip, please try and keep him safe.

Skip: I will try. We can’t afford to lose him.

Buffy: Do you think this will take long?

Skip: Not going to lie to you. It may be weeks.

Buffy: Oh.

Willow: Buffy, let me take Conner. Go help Angel get ready.

Buffy: He doesn’t need my help.

Willow: Just do it.

Buffy walks over.

Buffy: Angel, can I help. Want me to get anything?

Angel: I think I got it.

He looks into her eyes.

Angel: When I am done, I will head straight to Sunnydale. So you better be looking for me.

Buffy: Everyday. Skip said it may take weeks.

Angel: (smiles) Then we will have lots of time to make up for.

Buffy: I guess phone calls are not an option.

Angel: Hey maybe I can use the mind projection. Just need to know where you’ll be.

Buffy: Conner goes to bed same time.

Angel: Okay, if I am able I will try and send you a thought at that time in our room.

Buffy: But if you can’t I will know you are fighting the big bad.

Angel: And winning.

Buffy: No doubt in my mine.

He leans over and kisses her, wrapping his arms around her and lifting her off the ground. He slowly releases her.

Angel: You are still light as a feather.

Buffy: Not for long.

 

Later that night in Sunnydale.

Willow: Conner is asleep.

Buffy: Thanks Will.

Willow: He will be okay.

Buffy: I know. But I can not help but worry a little. Skip chose him because he needed a strong warrior. And that means it is dangerous.

Willow: He will be back here and in your arms before you know it.

Buffy: Keep telling me that.

Willow: Everyday, more if needed.

Buffy hugs her.

Buffy: No one could ask for a better best friend.

Willow: I have a better one.

Buffy: Okay, we have a mutual admiration society going here.

Willow: Do you ever think back to that first day we met. If you never came over and talked to me. Things would have been so different.

Buffy: It would have happened eventually. The prophecy says so.

Willow: I guess it does. I guess we both need to get some sleep.

Buffy: I know. We both have our first doctor appointments.

Willow: I know Angel was suppose to be here to go too.

Buffy: He can come next time.

Willow: Well lets get some sleep.

 

In her room Buffy is getting ready for bed when she hears Angel.

Angel: Buffy?

She tries to connect but she has no idea where he is.

Angel: Buffy, I love you. I hope you can hear me. I am safe. We are still moving through the tunnels. It is a bit boring.

As he talks she tries to us his thoughts to trace him.

Angel: I know you can’t respond but I promised I would stay in touch and I will try to every night.

Buffy: Angel?

Angel: Whoa. You traced me?

Buffy: Not easy, but thankfully you were not your usual aphonus self.

Angel: Hey, I thought it was a one sided conversation.

Buffy: Well it isn’t.

Angel: Conner sleeping?

Buffy: Yes and I am heading to bed too.

Angel: Glad to

Pause.

Buffy: Angel?

Angel: Sorry. Skip wanted to know why I was smiling. He had no idea we could do this.

Buffy: Smiling? About what?

Angel: You going to bed.

Buffy: Well I have the appointment tomorrow.

Angel: Damn, I forgot.

Buffy: You can go next time. And every other time too.

Angel: Tell me everything he says. I want to know it all.

Buffy: I promise. Now go fight the big bad, and will you try to contact me same time tomorrow.

Angel: I will try. Give Conner a kiss for me. I love you.

Buffy: I love you too. Be safe.

Buffy waits but knows he has stopped. She climbs in the bed. Her minds wanders to Angel and soon to memories of that morning. She quietly relives in her mind the pleasures of their encounter. A smile is on her face as she falls asleep.

 

 

The next morning.

Willow: So he reached you and you were able to trace the call.

Buffy: I guess you could say that.

Willow: You are wicked good. I can’t even do that.

Buffy: I have practiced a lot.

Willow: You have mastered dream visiting too haven’t you.

Buffy: Not creation.

Willow: I figured you had.

Buffy: But there is still more to learn.

Willow: The student surpasses the teacher.

Buffy: I have a major incentive.

Willow: I guess you do. So are we all ready.

Buffy: Waiting on Dawn. Dropping her and Conner off at the Magic Box.

Willow: I can not believe Anya is opening up this morning.

Buffy: I can. It’s Anya. I am just surprised she did not insist we come here straight from Vegas so she could open yesterday.

Willow: Actually I am too.

Buffy: Well Dawn is going to work with her until Angel takes her to LA.

Willow: Angel and Dawn have really connected.

Buffy: I think so. I think he feels a void that I can’t.

Willow: He is older. Maybe she needs someone not so close in age.

Buffy: No one is close in age to Angel.

Willow: I mean close to Dawn’s age.

Buffy: I know what you meant.

Dawn: Ready.

Buffy: Okay someone grabs the diaper bag and we are off.

 

 

Three weeks later

Willow: So he has not communicated in three days?

Buffy: No. He has skipped a day before but the last we talked he said they thought they had tracked the guy and hoped to catch him soon.

Willow: I think you would know if he was hurt or anything.

Buffy: I think I would. I am refusing to worry. He will contact me as soon as he can.

Willow: He will, maybe tonight.

Buffy: Maybe.

Willow: Well go pick up Dawn and dinner

Buffy: Nice to see you getting your appetite back some.

Willow: Just following the doctor’s suggestions. Still get sick sometimes but not as often.

Buffy leaves. The phone rings

Willow: Hello.

Angel: Hey Willow.

Willow: Oh, you just missed Buffy.

Angel: Oh. Well we got the guy. Not an easy mission.

Willow: Buffy said you had not contacted her in days. We were just talking about it.

Angel: Was a bit busy. Had my hands full. The Skip got hurt so I had to carry both of them out.

Willow: Is Skip okay?

Angel: He is fine. Just needs to recuperate. His wife was glad to see him though.

Willow: And your wife?

Angel: Tell her I will be there tonight.

Willow: Sure you don’t want to surprise her.

Angel: Not a bad idea. I am leaving here after sunset. Be there around 11 or 12.

Willow: You still have your key.

Angel: I’ll let myself in.

Willow: We all get to bed earlier around here.

Angel: Getting plenty of sleep I hope.

Willow: We are. Never knew how much energy you lose being pregnant.

Angel: So you both have been taking good care of yourselves.

Willow: And of each other.

Angel: Well I need to go and get packed.

Willow: Bye.

 

Later that night.

Willow: Is Conner asleep?

Buffy: Yes, I just hope I hear from Angel tonight.

Willow: I think you will.

Buffy: You sound confident.

Willow: Just a gut feeling I have.

Buffy: Sure that isn’t the moo goo gai pan?

Willow: No. It is the feeling that he is safe and you will hear from him soon.

Buffy: I hope so.

 

 

Even later that night.

The house is quiet as everyone is sleeping when Angel lets himself in. He moves up the stairs as his normal stealthy self. He stops in the bathroom to change for bed, before moving on to his room. He slips in and pauses to look at Conner sleeping. He set down his bag and moves and sits on the side of the bed and gently touches her cheek. As he softly touches her, she stirs.

Angel: Buffy, honey.

Her eyes flutter open.

Buffy: Angel?

Angel: Yes, its me. Just wanted to make sure you were awake before I climbed in. Didn’t relish being thrown across the room.

Buffy: Get in here.

He walks around the bed and slips in. He slides up behind her and wraps his arm around her. He pulls back and rolls her over.

Buffy: What is wrong?

Angel pull back the covers and runs his hand over her swollen middle.

Angel: You have grown a lot in three weeks.

Buffy: I know. I can feel her move now.

Angel: Really?

Buffy: Not now, but when she is awake.

Angel slowly unbuttons her shirt and runs his hand over her stomach. He leans over and kisses her belly.

Buffy: What are you doing?

Angel: When is she awake?

Buffy: During the day. Like normal people.

Angel: Not like her father, huh.

Buffy: No. She takes after her mother. You are not going to sleep anytime soon are you?

Angel: I guess you are tired.

Buffy: Actually I am. But I can stay up a little longer if it involves kissing.

Angel: Kissing? You want to kiss me?

Buffy: Every inch of you, but I will be satisfied with your mouth.

She takes his face in her hands and guides his lips to hers. He softly kisses her and the kiss becomes more passionate. He pulls her toward him. Her stomach pressed against his. As the kiss deepens he suddenly pulls back.

Buffy: Now look what you did.

Angel: What did I do?

Buffy: You got my heart racing and you woke her up.

Angel: So that was her I felt.

Buffy: Yes.

She reaches for his hand and places it on the her belly. He smiles as he feels to slight movement.

Angel: She is definitely not sleeping.

Buffy: But she should be.

Angel: She knows daddy is here and wants to show off.

Buffy: Daddy will be here in the morning honey, go back to sleep.

Angel: Do you think she can hear you?

Buffy: Some say they can. Don’t hurt does it.

Angel: Guess not. But I think we all need to go to sleep.

Buffy: No arguments here. And tomorrow I want all the details on the hunt for the bad guy.

Angel: Okay.

He kisses her nose. And they snuggle back down to sleep, his hand protectively covering her abdomen.

© 2005 Tara