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Buffy and other characters belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, 20th Century Fox, Warner Brothers, et. al and used without permission. No copyright infringement intended & no money earned.
"Come on, Red, I'll walk you home. I have someone I want you to meet." Faith stepped up to the park bench.
Buffy nodded to Willow then waited for Angel to sit down beside her. He waited to see if she would say anything and didn't have long to wait. She turned to him, her doubts and fears at war with her anger over the lost years.
"I'm not sure I have it in me to go back to where we were, Angel. What would happen to Lil if we can't make it? I know what it feels like for your parents to hate each other and put you in the middle. Wouldn't it be better to remain friends and care for our daughter together?"
"Could you handle it if I do what you want? Sometime no matter how much I love you, I'd want to have someone in my life. Isn't it better for us to try, to show Lil that we created her through love? We can show her that we love each other as much as we love her. I want a life with you and Lil. Tell me that you don't love me anymore, that you want me to be with someone else, and I'll leave you alone and try to have some kind of a life without you. I would still want to be part of Lil's life, but I'll leave you alone if you tell me that's what you want."
His hand caressed her cheek then slid behind her neck to pull her close until their lips were almost touching.
"Tell me to stop."
"I can't."
She knew that she couldn't let him go again. Buffy still loved him and he loved her just as much. Angel's lips touched hers tentatively as if he feared that she might pull away and tell him to leave her alone. Their bodies knew each other so well; a deep sigh was felt in both hearts. They were home, exactly where they were supposed to be. As horrible as the last years were without each other, they now knew that their love was something more than a teenage crush, or a lonely man's wish. Angel swept Buffy up into his arms and walked slowly back to the mansion stopping every so often to taste her sweet mouth again and again.
He pushed the front door open and wasn't surprised that no one was inside. Angel sent Faith another silent prayer of thanks. Instinctively, he knew that she took his old room for herself. Memories of the nights he lay in this huge bed and had wished her there beside him. He kept her in his arms and crept onto the bed.
Buffy rolled onto her back and pulled Angel with her. She looked up into eyes that were so familiar, Lil's eyes. Where her daughter's eyes were full of joy and mischief, Angel's burned with the heat of his passion and love. Her fingers slid into his spiked hair causing her eyes to close at the familiar texture.
"Angel." Her voice was a husky whisper that was said his name like a prayer.
"Buffy, I've missed you so much." He kissed her lips. "Your lips taste just as sweet."
He made his way to her tender ear, taking the lobe between his lips and teased it with his teeth. A soft purr sounded in her ear that had goose pimples racing over her skin. His tongue licked the side of her neck, which she arched to give him better access. His fangs scraped down the tender flesh and Buffy groaned. Her rich blood boiled just under her skin and her body flooded with need. Buffy felt her breath coming faster when Angel pulled back to unbutton her shirt one button at a time. He kissed every inch of skin that he bared. Once her shirt was open and she lay bare for his viewing pleasure, Angel leaned forward to whisper in her ear while his hand moved slowly across her stimulated peaks.
"I'm going to touch and taste every inch of you, Buffy. We'll fall asleep exhausted then wake up in the night to explore each other again. You'll never again doubt that I love you, want you."
Buffy thought she might stop breathing. She watched him take a deep breath then give her that smile that always made her crazy. Not willing to be out done, she pulled him down to whisper her own promises of this night of play and pleasure. "Your skin won't feel cold when I'm through with you, you'll feel my heat from the inside out."
Angel thought that he might embarrass himself right then and there. Buffy snapped the buttons on his shirt and pulled it off his shoulders, trapping his arms. Her lips latched onto his nipple, while her nails scratched lightly down his back. Angel let his fangs down to scrape her nipples and the sides of her breast. He altered between her breasts, the side of her neck and her lips.
"Angel, I want to feel you against my skin," Buffy demanded.
Her green eyes were heavy-lidded with passion and need. He lay her back down on the bed to unfasten her pants then moved to pull her boots and sock off. Angel slid his hands underneath her, squeezing the supple flesh beneath her jeans. His finger snagged the waistband and he pulled them over slender hips then down smoothly muscled legs. His hands shook at the thought of those legs wrapped around him while he moved with her.
Angel started at her toes sucking each small digit into his mouth. His hands moved over her legs, massaging them while they made their way toward her very center. His mouth followed the path of his hands.
Buffy pulled him forward to greet him with a heated kiss. Angel smiled at her lovingly as he moved forward to bring them together. Her mouth devoured his; she sucked his tongue into her mouth while she arched her hips up to meet his thrusts. Her hands came up to tease his ears and neck. When they broke apart so that Buffy could breathe, she bared her neck to him.
"Taste me, Angel, mark me as yours."
His eyes turned amber and his face changed, Angel buried his fangs into her neck careful not to tear the tender skin. He drank her powerful blood before he took too much; he pulled back with a roar. They screamed each other's names as the found their release together.
Buffy pulled Angel down to her. He rolled over onto his back pulling her with him. Brushing the hair away from her sweaty brow, his fingers danced over the high cheekbones, turned up nose and slender neck. Angel leaned up to kiss her neck where his mark stood out against her golden skin.
"This mark shows the world that you're mine. I love you, Buffy. In over 250 years, I have never loved anyone before I met you. We are mates in every sense of the word. The only way that you will ever get me to leave your side will be when I am dust."
"I love you, Angel. I know that I shouldn't but I can't help it. At night, I would make a wish on a star that you would come back to me and then when you did." Tears started to fall down her cheeks and she held back a hiccup. "I missed you so much especially when I found out about the baby."
"Hush love, you don't ever have to be without me again. Buffy, from this moment on I will never doubt what my heart tells me regarding you. I will protect you and Lil for the rest of your lives." He gathered her close and they both closed their eyes, both felt a sense of absolute peace for the first time since her seventeenth birthday.
The rest of Buffy's friends went back to LA after Faith told them about Buffy and Angel. She had a hard time convincing Johnny and Max. Surprisingly, it was Spike that convinced everyone that Angel was what Buffy and Lil needed and wanted in their lives. Lorne and Doyle confirmed his words and started packing up the house hopping to be out before the couple made their way back. Gunn was staying in Sunnydale with Faith and Wesley. Alonna promised to tell his crew and send the rest of his things in a few days.
Johnny's limousine pulled up to the mansion and even though she should have been in bed, a little moppet with blond hair met him at the door. "Unca, Unca hold me!" He swept her up in his arms and held her tight. "What are you doing up, young lady? You should be in bed by now. Mr. Gordo is going to be grumpy tomorrow if he doesn't get enough sleep."
"We let her stay up or rather she couldn't stay in the bed. She knew that you would be coming back tonight. How we don't know. This little imp is as I'm sure you know very persuasive, just like her mother." Giles stepped out of the study to look at the people who were part of Buffy's life since she left Sunnydale. "I, her mother and I, would like to thank you for taking care of our daughter. She is a very special woman but I know that I don't have to tell any of you that."
"I'm Johnny and this is Max, Rachel, Tara and Cammie. I was in love with Lil for the last twenty years. I begged her to marry me but she was too stubborn to allow anyone to help her. She was a wonderful woman who I will love for the rest of my life. Mrs. Giles, I want you to know that she left everything that she had to Buffy. Your daughter took that money and more than tripled it. She not only gave us this wonderful piece of heaven, she kept us all together when we lost Lil. See Lil was our strength and when we lost her, Buffy stepped in and protected us all. I have never had anyone that took care of me that way before Lil. I love her like she was my own and would do anything for her or this one." He tickled Lil and she laughed causing everyone to smile.
Joyce stepped forward to look at Johnny with tears in her eyes. "Thank you for loving all my girls. Lil was lucky to have you. I'm glad that she found someone to accept and love her. She deserved that better than anyone did. I only regret that I didn't learn it before it was too late."
"Ganmas happy unca that why she cwyin."
Everyone couldn't help but smile at Lil's explanation of the situation. They went into the study to get better acquainted.
Johnny made a phone call to let Vinnie know that he was free to take Cordelia anywhere he wanted as long as it was far away from LA. The former beauty queen was giddy to learn that her lover was taking her out of their love nest. Vinnie decided that he would follow Tony back to the old country and that Cordelia would help him pass the time while he settled into a new life.
Buffy woke up a few hours before dawn and leaned over to watch Angel sleep. She wasn't sure what the future held for them, but she was willing to take the chance. It was something that she thought herself incapable of doing even a day ago. Her life had changed in the blink of an eye and she was actually looking forward to seeing what the future would hold. Placing a light kiss on Angel's lips, Buffy softly woke her mate.
"Angel, we need to leave so that we can get back to LA before the sun comes up. I want to be there when Lil wakes up. I don't think that I can stand being away from her for another day."
He pulled her close to his side and gave a satisfied sigh. "I'm not sure that I can walk. For some reason, my legs feel like jelly. You wore me out woman." He grinned then opened his eyes.
"If you are a good boy and take me home I just might do it again."
He snatched her up off the bed in a single bound and spun her around causing her to laugh. "We are going to go to LA and watch our daughter wake up. I can't wait to see her, Buffy. She looks so much like you that I am going to have to beat the boys off with a very large stick; no I think I will just wait at the door with my favorite sword."
"Angel, she isn't even two yet. I think that we have plenty of time to worry about boys and beatings later. Now let's go rescue our daughter before she is so spoiled that we can't stand to be in the same house with her. She already runs the place as it is; I can't imagine what Mom and Giles have let her get away with."
Reluctantly, Angel put her down but there was a slight pout on his lips. Buffy turned her back so that he couldn't see her grin. "I'm sure that we have enough time for a shower. I'm sure you wouldn't want to be all smelly when you get to see her."
He watched her hips sway softly as she made her way into the adjacent bathroom. A wolfish smile spread across his face as he raced to join her. After a very pleasurable shower, they made their way to the garage and headed to LA within two hours of darkness to spare. Buffy was snuggled up next to his side, while Angel drove his vintage convertible down the almost deserted highway. They made it to the mansion with mere minutes to spare. Buffy rushed to the front door and held it open to Angel. He stood on the threshold waiting to be invited inside.
"Come in, Angel." She invited in a soft voice that was full of love and hope.
He walked into her home and looked around in awe at the beautiful place that she lived with Lil. "It is beautiful, Buffy. The perfect place to raise a little girl."
She took his hand and walked with him up the stairs to a room to the right of her own rooms. They crept in quietly to stand over the toddler bed where their little girl slept peacefully. As if she knew they were there, Lil's eyes opened. She stared at them for a second then shot up and into her mother's arms.
Buffy closed her eyes and drank in the sweet smell that was pure Lil. "I missed you baby girl. Mommy promises that she will never leave you alone again. There is someone here that wants to meet you. This is your daddy, Lil."
Lil looked up at Angel with small brown eyes that were the same as the ones looking down at her. Her face was serious for a moment and Angel was afraid that she wouldn't like him. A bright beautiful smile lit her whole face up. "Da?" He nodded his head and Lil launched herself into his arms.
Tears filled Angel's eyes and he looked at Buffy to see if this was real and not just a dream. Buffy smiled at him and nodded. Her hand came out to caress the back of the little blonde head. "Would you like it if your daddy came here to live with us? We would be a family with a mommy, daddy and of course baby girl."
Lil giggled. "Yes, me wants a famiwy."
The Powers kept their promise to allow Buffy and Faith a period of peace. Angel moved into the mansion and even Johnny was starting to come around. Buffy knew that it wouldn't last forever and she was right. One evening after dinner, Angel, Lil and her were outside playing on the back lawn. Angel crawled on his hands and knees giving Lil rides on his back. She had her little pudgy hands buried in his hair and squealed with delight when he would pretend to buck.
"That is a mighty fine little girl, kid. You and Angel should be proud of yourselves. She plays a very special part in the future." Whistler's Bronx accent came from behind the small family.
"What are you doing here?" Buffy looked at the PTB's messenger with anger in her eyes.
"Why do I always have to tell you that I am only the messenger? The Powers have a job for you and your mate, kid. The Council needs a new leader and you've been nominated."
"You have got to be kidding. I don't want anything to do with them, even the ones that weren't evil."
"That is your decision kid, but what if I told you that your bouncing baby girl will be a Slayer when she turns 16. She will be the greatest Slayer in history, barely beating out her mother for that honor. Do you want someone else to be in charge of her fate?"
"Over my dead body. So, if I don't take the job then I am leaving my daughter in the hands of the Council who by that time could convert back to the way that they were?" She looked at Angel for support.
"I am beside you, love, whatever you decide to do. It would be better to be the ones in charge. We could make sure that the Council was run with the best interest of the Slayers."
"Fine but I am not moving to England. I am a California girl and they will just have to move their tweed covered butts to this uncivilized place."
"That will be no problem, kid. The Powers said that you are in charge and trust you to run the Council the way that it should have been all along."
"Fine but I'm not giving up any of my businesses. What about Angel? How are they going to handle having a vampire bossing them around?"
"That is the other thing that I came to tell you. Angel is going to become human. He will still have his strength and healing powers. They think that he has proven himself as a warrior of the light and deserves this reward."
Buffy squealed and jump into Angel's arms. Lil wasn't about to be out done. She wiggled her way between her parents until Angel picked her up. They held each other then turned to Whistler with three identical smiles on their faces.
"Well, I always said that I would bring the Council to its knees. I just didn't think that it would be this way."
Whistler disappeared, leaving the family to absorb the changes that would affect the rest of their lives.
One Year Later
The Council was coming together under the new leadership of the oldest living Slayer in history. To say that her arrival was a surprise and shock would not do the situation justice. Her arrival one week later followed by the former vampire Angel and carrying a child who no one could deny was her daughter.
Buffy strolled past the secretary who squawked and ran after the small blonde in an attempt to stop. She threw open the conference room doors and gave a cheery yell. "Hello boys, there's a new sheriff in town."
The Watchers that remained after the Furies judgment were still trying to get bring the Council back into line. They stared at Buffy with looks of confusion and outrage on their faces. Each Watcher stood at the same exact moment, which caused Buffy to have to bite the inside of her cheek.
"Sit down guys and we will get down to business."
Angel went around the room handing out a portfolio, which showed that Buffy now controlled all the Council's holdings.
"Take a peek at the folders in front of you, and you'll see that I'm the Big Cheese now. I have the backing of the Powers, not to mention several well-placed and powerful men and demon clans. The Council's about to go to school to learn how proper Watchers serve the Slayer, not the other way around."
It took her a full week to get the Council to understand that she meant business. But, after she froze all of their accounts and let them know that she could do much, much more they started to come around. Within six months, the changes to the establishment that had followed the same rules for the last hundred years were amazing. A school was established for all of the potentials, which allowed them to complete their education as well as train for the event that they were destined to be the next Slayer. Watchers were put through a rigorous training plan established by Buffy, Angel and Giles.
The Giles followed their daughter and granddaughter back to Giles' homeland. Joyce was enjoying getting to know Buffy again and taking care of Lil during the days while Buffy went about Council business. No one was surprised to see Johnny follow a few months later and bring with him the rest of the gang. Everyone was together again except for Lorne and Spike who were in charge of keeping LA under control in Buffy's absence. Doyle and Cammie stayed as well to run the Coyote and planned to marry later in the year.
Buffy kept close tabs on the Hellmouth through her contacts. She kept up on her relationship with Faith and Gunn as well with frequent phone calls and promised to send them tickets for a visit at Christmas. Buffy also planned to send Watchers to Sunnydale for their final exam. She didn't see how they could be effective if they didn't have to face the same danger that they expected of young Slayers.
Willow and Graham showed up at Council Headquarters several months after Buffy had it tightly under control. Willow transferred to Oxford and Graham accepted a position with the Council as an in house psychologist. Neither of the girls would speak of Xander and Buffy like it that way.
It turned out once he was released and found out about Faith and Gunn, not to mention the fact that Willow knew everything that he left town. He was determined to find Buffy and make her see his side of the story. Xander knew that he would be able to make her see reason if he could just get her alone. He went to the Coyote but couldn't get any information from the bouncer at the door. He couldn't even get inside.
Spike was standing outside smoking and decided to follow dark haired boy. He no more than stepped away from the wall that he heard a high-pitched scream. Taking off in a run, he stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Xander lose his head literally. Turns out that Xander was cursing Buffy under his breath, when one of her more faithful demon contacts took it upon himself to take care of the problem. Spike couldn't stop the bark of laughter that crossed his lips. He walked over to the head that lay only a few feet from him. Bending down he looked at him with a smirk on his lips.
"Looks like you lost your head this time, you wanker. Always knew that yapping mouth of yours would be your downfall."
He walked away with his usual swagger and a whistle on his lips. He didn't see any reason to bother the Slayer with this little bit of info. Let sleeping dogs lie was his motto.
Cordelia hadn't found life in sunny Italy exactly what she expected. Vinnie sometimes stayed out all night, but he left his bodyguard behind to ensure she didn't leave. She had exchanged one prison for another, only to discover her wiles didn't work on her lover. Vinnie made her pay dearly when she decided to test the bounds. The only time she left her prison was when he escorted her outside its boundaries. Those times had grown less frequent with each week that passed. Cordelia knew she didn't have long before Vinnie would want to trade her in for the latest model.
She knew that she had to do something fast, before she lost her golden goose. The brilliant idea she came up was to pretend that she was pregnant to try to force Vinnie to marry her. This was her undoing. Rather than the proposal she had expected, Vinnie laughed at her. He simply stood up took her hand, and pulled her out of the house. She thought he was taking her to elope but soon found out the error of her ways. Turns out Vinnie had the measles when he was a teenager, which cause him to become sterile. He knew no one would dare touch Cordelia, and had grown tired of her constant harping to take her places and buy her things. He took her to an old acquaintance that specialized in getting rid of problems. No one has seen or heard of Cordelia Chase since that night.
Buffy made her way to her bedroom. She smiled, when she heard her husband of six months and daughter laughing through the door. She softly opened it to find Lil jumping on Angel's stomach while he groaned and pretended to growl at her. The little girl shrieked each time the little game played out.
"What are you two up to in here?"
"Momma," Lil squealed, and was off the bed and across the room in a flash.
"Wheres you been?"
"Where not wheres, Lil."
She scooped her little girl up into her arms and walked back over to the bed.
"I had an appointment but I got here as quick as I could. I have a surprise for you and Daddy. Do you want to hear it?"
"Yes, yes, Lil loves prises."
She clapped her small hands and shook her head up and down.
"How would you like to be a big sister? You would have to help us take care of the baby and make sure that he's safe and happy?"
Angel's eyes grew wide with shock then joy. "Are you sure, Buffy?"
"Yep, Dr. Reese confirmed it this morning. We should have a brand new baby in about six months."
"Yeah, a baby, a baby."
Lil jumped up and down on the bed, causing Buffy and Angel to laugh. The little girl stopped then with a huge grin across her face, before she tackled her parents. Their laughter rang throughout the halls, filling the house with the love and happiness the small family had finally found together.
The End.
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