Chapter 16/?
A few hours later Angel arrives at the mansion. Dropping off his things Angel heads to the sewer entrance.
Buffy is awakened somewhat by a crying baby. Disoriented she doesn’t connect the sound to her baby. Rolling over she tries to go back to sleep. A nurse comes into the room, ‘Miss Summers its time to feed your daughter” she says cheerfully
Buffy slowly opens her eyes and glances at the clock. She sees Spike asleep. “OK. Just a moment. Spike” she calls. Not getting an answer she calls his name again
“What?” Spike grumbles
“The sun will be up soon. You should get going”
“You sure?”
“Yeah Spike. Mom will be here soon”
Spike nods, “See you later” Spike leaves the room
Buffy takes the baby from the nurse, “Hey little girl you hungry?” Buffy takes the bottle the nurse offers her. Offering the bottle to the baby she giggles as the baby latches on to the nipple. “I take it you are”
“If you need anything then press the call button” the nurse says leaving the mother and daughter alone.
Buffy smiles as the baby opens her eyes. Buffy notices that the little girl’s eyes are chocolate brown. “Why am I not surprised that you have your Daddy’s eyes” She hears a brief knock then the door opening. Without looking up she knows that its Angel. “She has your eyes” she tells him
Angel walks up to the bed and sits next to Buffy. He puts his arm around her shoulders and kisses her temple. He moves the blanket away from the baby’s face and strokes her face with his fingers. “I’m sorry Buffy”
“For what?”
“Not being here when you needed me” he answers
“Your here now’ Buffy remarks. ‘I named her Katherine Angela.’ Angel looks at her surprised, ‘Angel, I named him before they told me he was dead I named him William Kieran- after you and Spike.’ she burrows her face into his neck, ‘I’m sorry”
“Buffy what do you have to be sorry for”
Buffy strokes the baby’s face. “For getting him killed”
“It wasn’t your fault. It was an accident.”
“Its only been a few hours but I miss him” she cries. The baby cries out when the bottles nipple is jarred from her mouth. “shh...’ Buffy calms putting the bottle back.
“I miss him too.’ Angel strokes the baby’s cheek, ‘but we should be glad she’s all right”
“I am glad” Buffy replies “And I’m glad your here with us” realizing the bottle is empty and the baby asleep. She kisses the newborns head, “How long are you going to be here?”
“Not for long my love. Just until Katherine and you are back home.” Angel puts his cheek against Buffy’s head. The two sit there watching the baby.
“I said I want to speak with my daughter” Buffy hears her father say loudly
“Your daughter’s mother left specific orders that we not allow you in. I’m sorry” the nurse replies
Angel feels Buffy tense, “Buff what’s wrong?”
Buffy holds the baby closer, “Angel thats my father”
The door to the room slams open and Hank barges in. “I told you I am her father. You cannot stop me from speaking with her”
“Mr. Summers’ the nurse protests loudly, ‘We have babies sleeping” At that moment the baby wakes up startled and starts crying
“Shh baby its going to be OK” Buffy soothes looking at her father she growls angrily, ‘I told you I never wanted to see you again!”
“You didn’t mean it Buffy” Hank remarks confidently. He notices the young man next to his daughter, “Are you the one who got my daughter pregnant and abandoned her” he demands angrily
“He didn’t abandon me” Buffy replies angrily, “Unlike you he has never let me down. Unlike you Angel would never try and sell off his own blood for business.”
Angel growls, “He did what?!”
“Buffy sweetie I didn’t do that. I made some calls so that you would be able to look at your options”
Angel gets off the bed. Standing next to the bed he demands, “Did you or did you not go behind your daughters back to sell off your grandchildren” Angel growls low trying to keep his demon under control
“Stay out of this.’ Hank yells at Angel. ‘this doesn’t concern you”
“I’m their father of course it concerns me. I found out that my childrens grandfather went behind our backs and planned to take them away from their mother. Of course this concerns me. Anything that could hurt my family concerns me”
“Not when my daughter is a minor and you are an adult. You know I could have you arrested”
“You even think of doing that father I will never ever forgive you. Not only will I not forgive you but I wonder how your clients would feel if they found out you tried to sell your own grandchildren!”
“You wouldn’t. Buffy honey I was just trying to protect you” Hank protests
“This is all your fault’ Buffy says her voice cold, ‘If you hadn’t come here none of this would have happened.’ Buffy chokes back a sob, ‘I wouldn’t have run out and ended up losing my son. I never want to see you again.” she comforts the crying baby
“You heard Buffy. get out” Angel growls. He watches as Hank walks to the door. Angel walks up to Hank. Leaning close his hand on the door closing it. ‘Summers listen to me closely. If you say one word about this to anyone I will allow Spike to have at you. I take it you met him’ Seeing Hank nods nervously, ‘If I ever find out that you are anywhere near my daughter and wi...Buffy I will personally hand you over to Spike. Spike happens to be very protective of those he cares about and he happens to care about my daughter. Do you understand Summers?” Angel growls his voice angry and cold. Hank nods nervously and hurries out of the room. Angel returns to Buffy’s side. Sitting on the bed he says tentatively, “Buffy?”
Buffy looks up at him her eyes filled with tears, “She won’t stop crying”
Angel gently takes the newborn from Buffy. “Shh.’ he holds the baby close to his chest. A low purr vibrates from his chest calming the little girl’s cries. When Katherine stops crying Angel asks, “Buffy?”
Wrapping her arms around herself in comfort, “My father betrayed me Angel.’ she whimpers, ‘It hurts Angel. How could he does this to me?”
Angel strokes her hair tenderly, ‘In a way he was protecting you beloved.’ Angel kisses the top of the baby’s head. ‘Fathers have a tendency to go over board. I’m sure he thought he was doing what was for the best.”
“He caused our son’s death. All because he didn’t listen to my wishes the day I told him I was pregnant. What hurts the most is that he pretended to be happy for me all the while he was lying and going behind my back” She wipes away her tears, ‘Because of that we could have lost them...both. He would have survived if my father had stayed out of my business. Angel?” Buffy reaches out and touches his cheek and then kisses the top of Katherine’s head. “Promise me that if anything happens to me or my mom that he won’t get custody of our baby?”
“Nothing will happen to you or your mom”
“Angel promise me” Buffy says seriously, “Promise me that if something does happen you’ll keep her away from him. He’ll end up hurting her like he did me”
“I swear Buffy. This little miracle will never be hurt by your father. If anything happens to you or your mom I will take her far from Sunnydale”
“Thank you my Angel’ Buffy says kissing him lightly. She pulls away when the baby protests at being stuck between them. ‘Sorry baby.’ Buffy looks at Angel and grins, ‘She is our little miracle’ she blinks away her tears, ‘They both are.”
“Yeah. William and Katherine are both our miracles...they always will be” Angel glances at the baby and looks at Buffy, ‘She’s asleep” he chuckles. Buffy leans forward and kisses the top of Katherine’s head. Angel gets up and puts the baby down in the basinet. He gazes at the sleeping baby.
Buffy stands up and wraps her arms around his waist, “How does it feel?” she asks against his chest
“How does what feel?”
“To finally be a daddy after 240 odd years?”
Looking at the baby he wraps his arm around her shoulders, “I’m happy yet in a way I’m sad. Not just because we lost William but because after all this time my parents have the grandchild they wanted when I was alive. And Kathy is missing out on seeing her niece. I guess I am feeling guilty”
“Angel don’t make me hit you for brooding. How many times have I told you, you have nothing to feel guilty about. None of the things that happened as Angelus is your fault. Your Angel and I know you would never do anything to hurt anyone. I’m betting that when you were human you never hurt anyone.”
Angel laughs, “Sorry Buff. I have to ruin that dream. I may not have killed anyone but I was a womanizing drunk when I was alive.”
“Let me remind you that no one is innocent...except for babies. Anyway that was a very long time ago. I think that you have outgrown those times’ Buffy grips his arms and turns him around, ‘have you? Because if you haven’t I will have to hurt you”
Angel holds his hands up in surrender, “Buff I swear I’m not like I was when I was Liam or Angelus”
“Good. Now you may have been a womanizing drunk but I am willing to bet that underneath all of that you were very sweet. Not matter how you were in the past you aren’t like that anymore Angel. Your just Angel the guy I love...who happens to be a vampire with a soul. Who happens to be my childrens father. Your sweet, incredibly handsome, smart, a great dresser do I have to list all of your qualities. I will if I have to”
“OK Buff I get your point” Angel surrenders
“Good. Now if you teach our daughter to brood I will have to hurt you” Buffy threatens
Angel kisses her head, “I promise I won’t teach her to brood”
Buffy looks at the clock, “Angel its almost dawn. You should get going”
“Sorry Buffy I’m staying here”
“Angel you are going back to the mansion’ Buffy orders pointing to the door. ‘No arguing. I don’t want to have explain to your daughter when she’s older why her father turned to dust when she was a few hours old”
“I’m going. I’ll be back later’ Angel kisses her cheek. Leaning over the basinet he strokes the baby’s cheek. ‘Sleep well little miracle” he grabs his coat and hurries down to the basement to the sewer entrance.
Buffy checks on the baby and then goes back to sleep. A little while she wakes up to the door to her room entering. Opening her eyes she sees her mom walk in quietly. “Hi Mom” she greets sleepily
“Buffy sweetie did I wake you?”
“Not really. My Slayer sense alerts me to people coming in”
“The nurse outside told me that your father come in earlier”
Buffy nods getting up she checks the baby. “Angel was here mom. He left a little while ago”
Joyce joins her daughter, “How did he take the news about William?”
Buffy looks at her mother biting her lip nervously, ‘Mommy I’m worried.”
“Why sweetie?” Joyce asks leading her to the bed.
Buffy wipes her tear away quickly, ‘I’m worried about Angel. I could feel his pain and anguish bottled up inside. He was trying to keep from breaking down infront of me”
“Honey men want to be strong. They hate showing their emotions”
“Mom I know but thats not like Angel to keep his feelings from me. Sure he maybe closed off to others but he always tells me what he’s feeling”
“He probably wants to process the things that have happened. Honey Angel will tell you what is bothering him when he’s ready. Now honey I want you to get some sleep. I’ll stay with the baby” Buffy nods sleepily burrowing under the covers and soon she falls asleep. Joyce sits down with a book and begins to read. After about an hour Joyce is alerted to the sounds of the baby fussing. She puts the book down and goes over to the basinet. “Hello Katherine how are you?” the baby coos as Joyce picks her up. “I am betting you need your diaper changed. Your mommy used to get that look when she had a dirty diaper” Joyce quickly changes the dirty diaper. When she is done the baby calms down. “Now that feels better huh?” she asks picking the baby up she sits down in the rocking chair. The baby makes happy sounds as she is rocked back to sleep by her grandmother. Joyce puts her back in the basinet and returns to her book.
Joyce sits there and tries to read the book but her attention keeps drifting back to the conversation she had with Buffy. Glancing at the clock Joyce realizes that it is a good time for her to call the funeral home to make plans for the burial of her grandson. Joyce calls the funeral home and sets the date for the service to be held the next evening just after the sun goes down. Moments after Joyce is off the phone Giles comes into the room.
“Hello Joyce” Giles greets, “How are they?” he asks looking at Buffy
“Rupert they are both fine. Buffy I am afraid didn’t sleep much last night. She had a visitor sometime after Spike left”
“Angel?” Giles asks
“Yes. She is worried about him. This morning Hank came by and upset Buffy. Giles can you stay with them? I need to go take care of something” Joyce grabs her purse and leaves the hospital. Getting into her car Joyce drives to the hotel that her ex husband is staying at.
Chapter 17/?
She knocks on the rooms door, “Hank its Joyce we need to talk” she hears him reply and the door opens. “Can I come in?” she asks
Hank gestures for her to enter, “Why are you here?”
Joyce enters the room, “I came to talk to you about Buffy”
“has she changed her mind?” he asks his voice semi excited
“That is what I have come to speak with you about.”
“What?”
“I want you to leave this whole thing alone.”
“Why? You agree that she is too young to be a mother”
“I may agree Hank but it is her and Angel’s choice. They both wanted to keep the twins. I may think Buffy is not ready for this type of responsibility but I will stick by my daughter and granddaughter”
“Is that what you came by to tell me?” Hank asks
“No. I came by to tell you to leave Sunnydale”
“Sorry Joyce I am not leaving until my grandson is buried”
“No you will leave now. If you come to the service I will not stand in Angel or Spike’s way when they tear you apart. If you do not leave Sunnydale by tonight then first thing tomorrow I will file a restraining order against you. Then I will call your boss and tell him what you had done and I will also tell the police that you tried to sell a child. Which is illegal and you could go to jail.”
“I am not paying the alimony or child support to support that...that bastards kid” Hank says angrily
Joyce looks at him angrily, “We don’t need it. Actually if you sent it I wouldn’t cash it and neither would Buffy. We will be fine without that money”
“How do you know that he won’t abandon her and the child again?”
“Because he loves them more than anything in this world. Just remember what I said” Joyce leaves the room. Next she heads over to the funeral home to make the arrangements.
Back at the hospital Buffy awakens to the baby crying. Opening her eyes she sees Giles sitting at the end of her bed reading. “Hey Giles. Where’s mom?”
Looking up from his book Giles answers, “She had some errands to run”
Biting her lip she says softly, “She’s making the arrangements isn’t she?”
Giles stammers, “Uuh I’m uh not sure. It is quite possible”
Buffy nods slightly as she gets up. Walking over to the basinet she gently picks the baby up. Returning to the bed she cuddles the baby closer. “Morning little Katie” the nurse enters the room carrying the bottle
“Here you go Miss Summers” she passes Buffy the bottle and leaves the room
“So Giles what’s going on at school?” Buffy inquires as the baby latches onto the nipple of the bottle
Giles removes his glasses, “I was only there to let the attendence office know that you would not be at school today”
“How did Snyder take the news?” she grimaces
“I’m not sure. I left before I could run into him” Giles admits nervously
“Uh oh Katie’ Buffy laughs, ‘Giles is scared of the mean troll” the baby giggles
Giles shakes his head, “Buffy I am not scared of that pompus little man”
“Sure Giles.’ Buffy replies. ‘Giles? I was wondering if’ she stops nervously, ‘if you’d be Katie’s honorary grandfather?”
Giles looks at Buffy surprised, “Buffy I’d be honored. But what of your father?”
Buffy looks down at the baby again, ‘Giles Katie deserves to have a grandfather who cares about her. Besides you’d be a better grandfather than him” she spits out in disgust
“Buffy’ Giles stands up. He walks over and sits on the edge of the bed. ‘I know that your father hurt you but are you sure you want to cut him out of your life?”
Buffy looks up at him her eyes round with tears, “Giles he tried selling off my children. Then he had the guts to tell me about it. Giles he doesn’t love me....he loves only his work” she says bitterly. Buffy pulls out the crucifix Angel gave her. She rubs it thoughfully between her fingers. The baby pushes the bottle away and begins to fuss waving her hands infront of her face. “Whats wrong Katie?” she asks jiggling the baby. After Katie refuses the bottle and won’t calm down. Buffy looks at Giles her face showing her worry, “Giles something isn’t right!”
“Do you want me to get a nurse?” Giles asks standing up he moves towards the door
Buffy looks at the baby then it dawns on her, “Wait Giles!’ she calls. ‘Giles its the cross” she states
“What do you mean?”
“Giles she started fussing when I pulled out my cross’ she takes her cross off and places it on the night table.
“It is possible that she inherited Angel’s aversion to crosses’ the Watcher theorizes
“Shh Katie its OK.” Buffy comforts, ‘But Giles does that mean that she can never wear one?”
“I don’t know. Buffy will you let me experiment” seeing his Slayers concerned look “I won’t hurt her’ Giles promises, ‘I won’t place it on her skin.”
Buffy looks down at the baby then nods, “Go ahead Giles” Giles picks up Buffy’s crucifix and holds it over the baby. “Shh Katie Grandpa Giles won’t hurt you” Buffy comforts the crying baby
Giles pulls the cross away rubbing his forehead he muses, “Buffy it seems as though Katie is affected by the cross but not the way a vampire is” seeing her confused look he explains. “Buffy when a fledgling is near a cross they burn almost immediately. It seems that Katie doesn’t have the normal reaction. Its like she has a reflexive reaction towards avoiding the cross. Its possible that Katie will outgrow it or get used to having the reaction when she’s older.”
Buffy’s attention snaps to the window, “Giles what else could she have inherited from Angel?”
Giles notices her attention is diverted to the window. “There is only one way to find out”
Buffy nods and stands up. She walks over to the window and slowly lifts the corner of the blinds until the sun touches the baby’s foot. She breathes a sigh of relief when the baby reacts normally. “At least we don’t have to worry about you going outside huh Katie?” she carries the baby back to the bed. “So Giles is there anything else I need to worry about?”
Giles cleans his glasses with his hankerchief. “I will have to research it”
“Well get to it mister” Buffy orders pointing to the door. “We need to know if there are any other things to worry about”
“But I promised your mother that I would stay” Giles protests. Just then someone knocks on the door
“Hey Buffy” Willow greets entering with a balloon and stuffed animal. “Hi Katherine” she says
“Look Katie Aunt Willow is here” Buffy says to the baby
“All right Buffy I will get going. Willow can you stay here until Joyce returns?”
“Sure” Willow says. “Can I hold her Buffy?” Willow asks excitedly
“Sure Will’ Buffy hands the baby to Willow. ‘So where is everyone else?”
“Still at school. I skipped” she says proudly
“Way to go Will” Buffy says impressed
“The others will be here later.’ Willow answers, ‘Buffy are you OK?”
Buffy shrugs, ‘I’m happy but I miss him.”
“Thats natural. Losing a child is hard for anyone” Willow replies
“I know Willow. I feel like its my fault that he’s gone”
“Buffy its not your fault’ Willow protests. ‘It was an accident.”
“I know it was.”
“So what did Giles leave to research?”
Buffy sighs, “Katie had a reaction to my cross. Giles when to see if he could find out if we’ll have any other problems. We luck out though she has no problem with the sun”
“Thats great Huh Katie?” Willow says to the baby, “That means we can take you to the park one day.”
“Willow you are planning to far ahead” Buffy laughs
“Hey this is the only chance I have to be an aunt” Willow reminds
“Well I better be an aunt one day” Buffy remarks. The two best friends spend the rest of the day talking and playing with the baby.
Finally afternoon rolls around and in walks the rest of the Scooby Gang. “Hey Buffster” Xander greets loudly
“Xander quiet down” Willow shhs
“Yeah brain dead we’re in a hospital” Cordelia snipes
After awhile the Scooby Gang leaves and Joyce returns. “Hello Honey” Joyce greets
“Hi. Where were you today?” Buffy asks
“I had some errands to run. Honey I stopped by the funeral home and made the arrangements”
“When?” Buffy asks softly
“Tomorrow night”
“When do we get to go home?”
“Dr. Jones said you and Katherine can go home tomorrow morning” Joyce answers holding her granddaughter
“Oh Katie hear that? We can go home tomorrow. Thank God I was going to end up hurting those cheerful nurses” Buffy remarks
“I know you hate being in the hospital honey”
“Mom I just want to go home” Buffy whines. The mother and daughter talk for a while and then Joyce leaves.
