Part Three
Yaksha snarled at a passing vampire and broke its neck, killing it. He had taken over the slayage since Buffy had swelled to the size of a small car. He smiled with a bittersweet feeling, only three weeks until her due date. He was happy for her, it was wonderful to have children. Oh, he never fathered any children, not in the conventional sense but he had raised a couple. Beautiful women, on the streets because they were with child, the proud eras of Queen Victoria and King George. He heard a rustling in an alley and was confused, that was the sixth vampire tonight.
He grabbed the unfortunate creature by the neck and growled at it. “Who’re you working for!?” The vampire snarled and Yaksha hit him again. “Tell me shit head!”
“Ok! Spike, he and Dru’re back! Lemme go!”
“No, where are they?”
“Mansion,” he gasped as Yaksha squeezed, “mansion, stop!”
Yaksha staked him and strode towards the mansion on Crawford street. He walked in as if he owned the place and Spike looked at him in disbelief.
“Who the Hell are you and what do you think you’re doing? And where is security? I thought we discussed this people!”
“Shut up Billy, I’m here to ask for a favour, not ask really, demand.”
Spike was amused and Dru sidled up to him. “So? What do you want us to do? Ya crazy bugger. And what makes you think we’lll do it?”
Yaksha looked around the main hall. “How many men you got Spike?”
“What?”
“How many loyal minions have you got?”
“About two dozen, why?”
“Here’s the deal, little boy, I need to find Angel, I need to bust him and a couple of others out of wherever they’re being held. I think that you’ll do it.”
Spike just laughed. “Yeah, right, since when do I take commands from total strangers? Who the fuck do you think you are mate? I’ve killed more Slayers than you’ve probably seen!”
“I am Yaksha, son of the Yakshini and Amba. I have drawn breath when your ancestors were not born, I am stronger than you will ever be. Don’t fuck with me.”
Spike’s face went very pale and Dru cowered. “He reeks of power Spike, he’s very strong. He has powers that we will never ever have, the stars sing that he was cursed, but the waters tell me he’s blessed, there’s ‘orrible confusion. I think he misses his mate.”
Yaksha’s face was impassable, stony and silent. He stood and stared at the two. “Either help or I will kill you. A vampire is bound to their sire and I have heard many tales of the seer Drusilla, show me that they’re true. Where can I find them?”
“In a place that smells of unnatural things, Angel does suffer, his Slayer is far away. The spellcasters and the wolf grow restless. There are other there, very strong others, they yearn for freedom, and blood. They’re very hungry. If they could see the stars, they would see them all for the day has no cover. At a time of year that is important to lots of people, the sunlight dagger shines on the rocks and will kill all the ones who stand in our way.”
Yaksha’s eyes opened wide. He knew what she was talking about.
***** Sita lay on her bed dozing one day, the day Buffy was due to deliver, and hummed a song, there was little else to do. Suddenly, her keen ears picked up a scream, a sound of visceral agony and she smiled, the cavalry had arrived. She ran out and Kalika and Seymour were standing at the door, listening intently. They stood back and shoved the oblivious mortals down as they heard a noise very close to the door. A few seconds later, it blew in with a huge noise and fell from its mighty hinges.
“So, a vampire walks into a bar with a parrot on his head. What happens next?” Yaksha walked in through the door and grinned. He had a very large gun in his arms and behind him, a troop of vampires under a powerful spell and some marines did battle, none of the marines realising that the vampires could only be killed with stakes and sun, not bullets. Yaksha threw guns to the company and they all ran out, a huge man with an Uzi covering them.
“Who the Hell is he?” Willow shouted over the confusion.
“Let’s say a number of things happened to me in Vietnam, one of them was a gang of US Seals. They owed me a favour.” They ran close to the ground, under the deadly rain of bullets and every so often, they fired at a passing soldier who got too near.
Finally, after many more deaths, they emerged into the desert night, running to a huge Hummer that sat ready to go. “Skinner?!” Mulder gasped as he saw his boss sitting behind the wheel. He jumped in behind him and pulled Scully with him, cradling her against him.
Xander helped everyone up along with the help of Seymour and Kali, Sita and Yaksha still fired at the troops. Sita grunted in pain as a bullet tore through her chest, rendering it very hard to shoot. Jenny, who was still on the ground, ran to help her and Xander saw a corporal raise a gun.
“No!” He ran and barrelled into Jenny, sending her flying but receiving a bullet to the upper gut as a reward. Angel ran and helped the fallen teen into the Hummer and soon, they all sat in the van, rumbling over the desert. When they were about a mile from the site, a huge blast shook the ground and the sky lit up with fire.
Skinner stopped the van and Scully ran to Xander.
“Cordy?”
“Xander, can you hear me?” Scully pressed the wound tightly, it wasn’t working.
“Cordy, I’m so sorry, I am Xander, King of Cretins.” Willow wept and grabbed his hand.
“It’ll be ok Xander, just, just hold on.” Scully had tears in her eyes and she didn’t meet Willow’s gaze.
“Hey, it doesn’t hurt anymore, I’m ok, it musta missed.” He coughed up blood and even Angel had a tear in his eye.
Sita looked at Yaksha with wide eyes. “He’ll die, please Yaksha, I’m not strong enough.” Yaksha bowed his head.
“Willow, he’ll be dead in about two minutes, I can let him go in peace or I can make him like me and the others. You know him best.”
“I don’t wanna die,” Xander mumbled, close to falling into a dark chasm, “I’m too young, so much I need to do. It’s not fair.”
All nodded as they heard those sad words and Yaksha cut his wrist open. “Please, forgive me Xander.”
***** They sat in a dark basement in Housten, cowering slightly. Xander was still unconscious but Willow and Kalika were taking care of him. “I need to get to Buffy, I need to go home.”
“I know Angel, I know but we have to wait, wait and move when the time is right.”
“No, Buffy was due to go into labour today, I need to be there for her.”
“We have to be very careful, one wrong step and we’re all screwed,” Yaksha said.
“I need to see her, please.”
Yaksha sighed. “I can cast a glamour, and there’s a spell that should wipe everyone’s memories of our existence, I want to cast that before anyone goes anywhere, just to be safe. You could hurt her if you move, draw attention to her.”
Angel sat down, resigned. “Alright, I’ll stay, but hurry, please.”
***** “Where the Hell is Yaksha?” Cordelia demanded hotly.
Buffy sat and stared into space, smiling slightly and humming, running her hands over her stomach where she could feel her child just beneath the skin.
“Hello? Buffy? Earth to Buffy? Where the Hell is Yaks?”
“I don’t know, maybe he had business to attend to.”
“Yeah, well he had stuff to do here too.”
“Like what?”
“He said he’d pick up my new car today!” Buffy rolled her eyes and grinned. She hurt, alot but Cordelia’s inane, insane, behaviour was distracting. “I’m ringing his special phone, I’m through with this!” Cordelia dialled a number that Yaksha had given them to only be used in the most special of circumstances.
It rang a few times and Yaksha finally answered it. “Who is this?”
“Yaksha! It’s me, Cordelia Chase, you were meant to get my cute little Merc today!”
“Oh, I totally forgot. Sorry.”
“Oh, are you? Where are you so I can go and kick your ass into the next millennium!”
“Housten.”
“Texas?”
“No, the other one that’s featured in all space movies involving Nasa.”
“Ha ha ha. What are you doing there?”
“Not much, how’s Buffy?”
“Huge, and sleepy.”
“Can I talk to her?” There was some background noise and she could hear Yaksha swear a couple of times. “Get off! For fucks sake Seyms!”
“Who’s there Yaksha?”
“No one important,” a slapping sound came over the line, “let me talk to Buffy.”
“Sure. Buff, Yaksha wants to talk to you.”
On the other end of the phone, there was a scuffle and Angel grabbed the phone. “Yaksha? What’s up?”
“Buffy?” Buffy froze, she’d know that voice anywhere. She swallowed and a tear slid down her cheek, this wasn’t real. He wasn’t there.
“Buffy, are you there?”
“A-Angel?”
“I’m here, I’m here.” Buffy was speechless and choked down sobs of joy. “Are you ok Buffy?”
“I’m better than I’ve been in months. Where are you? Are you ok?”
“I’m in Texas, I’m fine.”
“Is everyone else ok too?”
Angel paused, this wouldn’t be a thing that she’d want to hear over the phone. “We’re all here.”
“When are you coming home?”
“As soon as I can, I promise.”
“Angel, I miss you so much. Hurry back?”
“I will, I love you.”
“I love you too, get your ass on the next plane to California,” she was choked, again, “see you soon?”
“I will, how’s the baby?”
“Ready to be born. Please be here Angel, I need you so much.”
“I love you Buffy, more than anything else.”
“I, I love you too. S-say hi to everyone.”
“Sure. Talk to you later?”
“You bet.” They hung up on both ends and both cried tears of joy and relief.
***** Angel sat in the cargo hold of the plane and waved to Sita. She winked at him and went back to pretending to direct air traffic. Angel huddled down and glanced at his ring, it glittered faintly in the dim light, reminding him of his love, their child. He smiled and closed his eyes as the door shut. He was going home.
***** Buffy paced nervously, she hadn’t been able to contact Angel or any of the others again, Yaks had turned off his cell phone. Cordelia was walking the walls too, she wanted to see Xander. They hadn’t told Joyce yet, she was still at the gallery. “When are they going to ring?”
“I don’t know! At least you got to talk to Angel, I didn’t get to say hi to Xander.”
“We will soon.” Buffy sat down on her bed and cuddled Mr Gordo. Cordelia sat beside her and sighed heavily. “Are you ok Cordy?”
“I, what if he’s forgotten about me, like, what if he doesn’t want me anymore? I’ve always been such a bitch to him and Willow, and Jesse, when he was alive. It’s just, he’s the first guy I’ve ever missed like this.”
“Don’t worry, he’ll be the first to say hi to you.” Cordy smiled and hugged Buffy warmly.
They stayed sitting on Buffy’s bed, making small talk for about an hour. “And then I thought, well, what the Hell, go with Gucci every time!”
Buffy frowned, had she heard something outside? She stood up and walked to her window. A familiar face appeared in the window and she flung her arms around him, pulling him in and smothering him with kisses. “Angel!” She kissed him again and he smiled into the kiss, so glad to be able to hold her again.
They drew back and he ran his hands over her swollen belly, barely able to contain his joy. They couldn’t talk, only hold each other and thank whatever higher deity that they were able to touch each other. “I missed you so much Angel.”
“I know, I missed you too.”
“Where are the others?” Cordelia asked impatiently.
“They’re still in Texas, they couldn’t get a plane out just yet.”
“How’d you get here then?”
“Hid in a cargo hold.” Buffy smiled and laid her ear over his chest, over his thumping heart.
He held her close and kissed her hair gently. “You’re huge.”
“I know, I think this baby’s going to be a kickboxer.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, she doesn’t seem to sleep.”
“She? Have you been to a doctor?”
Buffy shook her head.“I just know.” Angel hugged her again and Cordelia waved goodnight to them, going off to her own bed. Angel kissed Buffy’s forehead and gently lifted her onto her bed. She pulled him down with her and for the first time since the cave, she slept soundly.
***** “Cordy!”
“Xander!” Xander and Cordelia ran to each other and kissed wildly. The rest of the entourage came up to them and hugs ensued.
“Where’re the others?” Giles asked.
“At the hospital.” Cordelia grinned at the group as their faces paled considerably.
Three vampires galloped off to the hospital closely followed by a werewolf, a witch, two watchers, Cordelia, and two FBI agents. “So, how’ve you been Yaks?”
“Fine, never better.” Sita grinned at Yaksha and linked arms with him. She kissed his cheek lightly and he smiled. The two ambled off to the hospital under the bright California sun.
***** “Ok, breathe Buffy, breathe.” Buffy tried to breathe but it was quite a difficult task. She gripped Angel’s hand even tighter and he whimpered as another bone broke. She swore through gritted teeth as yet another contraction came, peaked and slid away.
The doctors nodded at each other. “Ok, on this next contraction, push!” Buffy pushed, and felt as if her entire pelvis was going to be torn apart. She moaned, then screamed, then flopped onto the bed as the contraction passed. The doctors instructed her to push again and she did, possibly the most painful thing she ever had to do.
Angel was at her side all the time, urging her on and whispering words of support, mopping her face with a damp towel and having his hands crushed. He smiled as he saw the doctors lift a tiny baby, Buffy didn’t really see, she was too exhausted. The doctor cleared out her nose and mouth and she gave a gentle cry. Buffy lifted her head and smiled.
A nurse wrapped the baby in a blanket and handed her to Buffy. “Congratulations, it’s a girl. Ten fingers, ten toes.”
Buffy was still breathing hard, but her breath was taken away when she saw her daughter. She held her close and Angel peeked in. A few tiny strands of blond hair clung to her head, her eyes were still closed. He held her tiny, bunched up fist and she grabbed onto his finger. Buffy smiled at her child and Angel lifted his face, meeting Buffy’s eyes. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
A nurse came over and coughed slightly. “We need to clean her up.”
“It’s ok, I got it.” Another nurse, in green scrubs came up and winked at Buffy. “Hey kiddo, long time no see.
“Sita?”
“Who else? So, should I wipe some of that lovely fluid off your daughter?”
“Sure.” Buffy handed her daughter to Sita and the vampire smiled. “You’re very lucky Buff, so lucky.”
Buffy smiled and kissed Angel. “I know.” Sita smile and waked off with the tiny bundle to clean her up. Buffy was moved back into her room, only Angel allowed in according to the doctor. She sank into her pillows and closed her eyes. Angel sat beside her and stroked her hair (yes, vampires heal very quickly, his fingers were fine).
Soon, Sita came in with the baby and took off her surgical mask. She handed her to Angel and smiled at him. “I better go talk to the others, they’ll want to know what’s going on. See you three later.” Angel nodded and held his daughter close to his chest.
She yawned sleepily and he smiled at her. Buffy opened her eyes and her lips curled into a tired smile. “Hey you two.”
“Hey, are you feeling better?”
“Much.”
Angel lifted their child up and set her gently in Buffy’s arms. “Have you decided on a name yet?”
“No, any ideas?”
“Not one.” They laughed and went back to giving their full, undivided attention to the tiny little baby in the blanket.
***** Three hours later, after mother and child had gotten some rest, Joyce came in. “Hey honey, are you ok?”
“Tired, very tired.” Angel looked between the two and smiled. “So, what does it feel like to be a grandmother?”
“I’d imagine the exact same it feels to be a new father, only older.” Buffy hugged her mother and kissed her cheek.
Joyce hugged her back and held the baby. “So, any names?”
“No, we’re lost.”
“Too bad, ‘Summers Baby’ isn’t exactly a wonderful name.” Angel smiled crookedly and Buffy gave her mother one of those long suffering glances.
Soon, Giles and Jenny came in to say hi and Buffy was ecstatic to see her watcher. They all talked gently for a few minutes, not wanting to tire Buffy, there was still a pack of teenagers to see her. When they left, Xander, Willow, Oz and Cordelia came in.
Separated for months, Buffy hugged the former three and Cordelia shook her head. “You are so melodramatic Summers!”
“It’s one of her many charms,” Xander said playfully (he hadn’t mentioned to Buffy or Cordelia that he was a vampire but Cordelia knew something was off, he had suddenly become a much better kisser). After the teens came Mulder and Scully, then the vampires. Eventually, the entire contingent had to be shooed by a nurse.
Angel stayed by Buffy’s bedside and watched her sleep, and he made sure that the baby was alright in her crib. He kissed her forehead gently and pushed a few stray strands of hair from her face. “I love you Buffy.”
***** Epilogue *****
A week later, Buffy was feeding Aoife (they had finally settled on a name) in the peace and comfort of her bedroom. Angel was sprawled out on their bed, watching the two people he cared most about in the world. Finally, once Aoife had fallen asleep and was stowed carefully in her crib, Buffy lay on the bed beside Angel and slept soundly, at peace.
Downstairs, Oz strummed a guitar, singing softly to Willow who was giving her opinion on his latest offering to the mad world of music. Of course, she loved it and wasn’t going to change her mind. Cordelia and Xander were shopping, Queen C had decided that if her man was a creature of the night, he’d need to dress accordingly. Kalika and Yaksha were helping Joyce prepare dinner, Yaksha made a killer duck a l’orange.
Sita leaned over Seymour’s shoulder as he typed furiously at the computer. “So, you’re on the ship with Alana, what then?”
“I’m not telling the truth that was too recent. Oh! Give me eternal peace, y’know, I travel back in time and kill Yaksha.”
“Just like you always wanted too. Ok, what about me?”
“You’re dying of Aids, remember? Make the end weepy.” Seymour typed some more.
“That’s that. Name?”
“Um, the Sita Chronicles?”
“Nah.”
“The Last Vampire?” Willow supplied helpfully.
“Perfect. Who wrote it?”
“The Scarlet Pimpernel.”
“Ha ha Sita.”
“Um, Christopher Pike.”
“Good name, where’d you come up with it?”
“I don’t know, first thing that came into my head. Get that ready for the publishers!”
“Sure thing. Hey, weren’t you meant to ring Mulder and Scully?”
“I think I was.” Seymour smiled and put the finishing touches on his sire’s story.
Upstairs, Buffy curled up against Angel’s chest and sighed in contentment. Finally, things were going her way.
