"Angel Investigations. We help the hopeless."

"Hi, Cordelia."

"Buffy! Hi! Oh my God, are you all right? Xander told me you were *pregnant* and then when he called yesterday, he said something about you being in labor!"

"I was. I had the baby late last night. Stephen Angelus."

"Nice name," Cordy commented. "Want me to call Angel for you? He's sort of asleep, but all I have to do is *look* at his precious stereo and he wakes up. Or, is this one of those things we talk about and keep him from knowing? You know, like that whole thing with the crazy Fish Boy you were dating."

"First of all, his name isn't Fish Boy."

"But that's what Xander calls him!" Cordy said.

Buffy rolled her eyes. "Never mind that. I want to talk to Angel, yes. Please go get him."

"Okay."

"Thanks, Cordelia."

"No prob."

A few minutes passed and then Buffy heard him pick up the phone. "Hello?"

"Hi."

"Buffy." he sounded completely shocked.

"I was hoping for a little more enthusiasm than that." she joked.

"Are you all right?" he asked, suddenly panicked.

"I'm fine." she said happily. "Well, not really. I mean,...I need your help Angel."

"With what?"

"Um, a friend of mine is in danger. He's being hunted by the Initiative and I'm scared for him. You have the whole underground thing going so I figure I can easily hide out here. With him."

Angel sighed. Him? A friend that's a guy? Or a friend that's a boyfriend? It would kill him. "I--of course. Of course you can stay with me. Both of you can."

"Thank you so much, Angel."

"It's no problem. When are you gonna be coming?"

"Tomorrow morning. Giles will drive us."

"All right."

"Thank you, Angel."

"It's no problem," he repeated. "I just want you to be safe." he hung up and instantly, Cordelia was at his side.

"Well?" she asked. "What's up?"

"She's bringing her new boyfriend here." he said as he went into his bedroom and slammed the door. A moment later, Cordy heard some depressing opera music coming from his room.

She went back to her office and smirked. "You have *no* idea, Angel."

"Are you sure about this, Buffy?" Giles asked.

Buffy tightened her grip on Stephen before lowering him into his carrier and putting him between him on the front seat of the car. "I'm positive. This is the best thing for Stephen. It's the only way."

"I admit, I have to agree that Angel can supply a fortress-like exterior to camouflage the two of you, but I'm worried."

"Don't be." Buffy said.

"When do you plan on telling him that the child is his?" he asked.

"In about three minutes," she kissed his cheek. "I love you."

He blushed. "I shall miss you, Buffy."

"There's always email." she smiled.

"Yes, but that would require my being able to use a computer."

She blew him a kiss and picked up Stephen's carrier. "I need to go. I don't know if I want to."

Giles set her luggage on the curb and smiled at her. "You'll be fine."

She set the carrier between her feet and gave him a hug. Then he quickly got in the car and drove away. She assumed that like her, he was trying not to cry with an audience.

"Here goes nothin'," she muttered. She picked Stephen up again and opened the door to the agency.

"Buffy!" Cordelia was instantly at her side. "Do you have luggage?"

"Yeah, it's outside."

"Wesley!" she called. "Go get Buffy's stuff."

Angel came out of the elevator and didn't really let himself be seen yet. Buffy set the baby on Cordy's desk and she began flipping over him.

"Hello, Buffy."

She jumped when she saw him, then tried to smile. "Angel." she gave him a loose hug and jumped away, suddenly nervous. "Thank you for this. I--we can't ever thank you enough for this."

"Where is your friend?" he asked.

"Cordelia has him."

Angel turned and then gasped.

"Angel," Buffy picked the baby up out of his carrier. "This is

Stephen Angelus Summers. Our son."
//Well I just heard the news today
It seems my life is going to change
I closed my eyes
Begin to pray
Then tears of joy stream down my face\\

2/4
//But in a world without you
Where would I be
Where would I be without you babe
In a world without you
Where would I be
Where would I be without you babe
I couldn't breath without you babe\\

"My son?" Angel managed after stammering for a few minutes. "How??"

"November twenty-third." those were the only word she said. They were the only ones she needed.

"How?" he repeated.

"The Oracles can't erase everything," she said simply.

"I don't--"

"I'm gonna go get Wesley so he can take your luggage for a walk." Cordelia left and Buffy started to cry.

"I knew you would be upset with me," she said between sobs.

"I'm not upset, I'm just--"

"You're upset." she said, walking away from him. "And you have every right to be."

Angel followed and stood behind her. "Can I hold him?"

Buffy turned around. "Of course." she handed the baby over and watched Angel smile at him proudly.

"He's so beautiful."

"He looks like you," she smiled. "Now that you know about Stephen, I have to tell you some other things." The baby woke up and instantly began to cry. Buffy sighed. "I guess we'll have to talk after breakfast." she sat down at Cordy's desk, unbuttoned her blouse and reached for the baby. Angel reluctantly handed him over., He watched in amazement as Buffy fed their son. When she finished, she handed him back to Angel. "Can you burp him for me while I use the bathroom?" "Okay," he said reluctantly. "And change him too!" she called. He sighed and laid out a blanket, then put the baby on Cordy's desk. He smirked when he realized what a cow she would have if she knew and tried to hook a fresh diaper on his son. It took three tries and still no go. He growled and waited for Buffy. She laughed when she reappeared. "Three diapers ruined? Do you know how expensive those things are?" "I'll buy more. Help, please?" She laughed and showed him how to hook the velcro so that it stayed put. "It's not as easy as you make it look," he commented. "You've just never done it before without safety pins." she picked the child up and held him close. "Have you?"

"No," he grumbled.

Buffy gently set Stephen back in his carrier and watched as he drifted back to sleep. "I can't believe he's here. All these months I've been alone....it's nice to have someone to share this with."

"I'm sorry, Buffy. 'Cause I know alot of this was my fault and--"

"Let's just talk." she went into his office and he followed her. She locked the door and took an orange out of the fridge before sitting down.

"Lemme start at the beginning, with November." she began peeling the orange. "I came home and sort of threw myself into dating Riley. He was- is- this moron. I was sleeping with him - stupidly - when I found out I was pregnant. He wouldn't listen when I said the baby wasn't his, but I wouldn't back down. Ever since I'd left LA, I'd been having dreams of the two of us together, and then finally one day it was just like everything clicked and I remembered. We had to go to family court and see a judge and do the whole blood test thing to prove that I wasn't carrying his child. The judge was annoyed with Riley because it was obvious I was too far along for it to ever have been his child. He destroyed the courthouse by torching it, but they couldn't prove that he'd done it and of course, his stupid Initiative buddies covered the whole thing up. He wouldn't give up though, no matter what I did. I got a restraining order and we had cops watching me at the hospital to keep him out, but it didn't work. Oh, and that group I mentioned, the Initiative, he works with them. They're an illegal group of military vigilantes who try and pretend they're saving lives but they're killing people. And demons. They tried to kill Spike! They did give him this implant that made it so he can't bite anyone, which actually is amusing. He can't even hit a human without feeling pain. It's funny though, he whips some major demon ass whenever he gets the chance. Where was I? Oh, right. Well, this Initiative tried to kill Xander and I already told ya about them makin' Spike impotent. They tried to kill Willow's Wiccan friend Tara--"

"Is that the one they fed as a demon sacrifice?" Angel asked. Buffy arched an eyebrow and he almost laughed. "I snoop when Cordy reads and writes her email."

"You're terrible." she shook her head.

"I know. You're here to hide from the Initiative then, right? Is there more to this or are they the only ones I have to kill?"

Buffy laughed. "You know I'm always up for someone killing Spike."
//With arms wide open
Under the sunlight
Welcome to this place
I'll show you everything
With arms wide open\\ ________________________________________________________________________

3/4
//Wouldn't be no music
No reason to laugh, no reason to smile
Couldn't call it living
Without nothing to make the living worthwhile
You know that it would all seem worthless
If you weren't here with me
I could have the world in my hands
But I wouldn't have a thing\\

Angel rubbed his eyes and looked at his alarm clock.

Four-thirty.

He got out of bed and walked into the living room, not yet fully awake. He rubbed at his eyes and tried to make them focus.

Buffy was dancing around the living room with Stephen in her arms. She was pushing a Swiffer cloth over the hardwood floor with her foot, singing along with the NSYNC CD she was blasting.

"If you want it, here's my love," she sang, "No strings attached."

"Really." Angel folded his arms.

Buffy jumped and quickly turned the music off, earning her a whimper from Stephen. "Angel, I'm sorry I woke you. I forgot you were asleep. We'll be quiet."

"No, it's okay. I'm awake now. Besides, Stephen seemed to be liking it, though I can't imagine why."

Buffy turned it back on, slightly quieter than before, and finished the floor. Angel watched her as she sang and danced. He hadn't realized just how much he really did miss having her around. She'd been with him three months already, but it felt like three days.

"That's when I'll stop lovin', that's when I'll stop lovin' you." Buffy realized what she was singing after the first chorus and quickly changed the song to 'Bye, Bye, Bye'. It was Stephen's favorite and he kicked his little feet in the air as it played. Angel continued to watch, wondering how long they could live this way.

"Angel Investigations," Cordelia answered brightly, like she spoke on one of her commercial auditions. "We help the hopeless."

"Maybe Xander should be one of your clients," A British voice commented. Then he laughed at his own funny.

"Spike?!?" Cordy asked.

"Hold on."

Cordy heard lots of noise, most likely a scuffle, then a "Bloody Hell you will!" from Giles and "Get your hands off my duster!" from Spike before the Watcher cleared his throat and picked up the phone.

"Hello, Cordelia. How are you?"

"Scared. Is Spike like your secretary or something?" she asked.

"No, he's my moronic vampire house guest." he snorted.

"Sing!" she heard a voice instruct.

"Is Anya there?" Cordy inquired.

"Everyone's here. This is actually why I am calling."

"What's up?" she was starting to get bored.

"Well, I wanted to tell Buffy directly. Is she available?"

"No, she's singing and dancing with NSYNC right now." It wasn't like it was a lie. Besides, she was dying of curiosity.

"Oh. Well then, please tell her the University was torched by Percy West's ex-girlfriend last night. The entire Initiative was destroyed and several of the members' bodies have been recovered. Riley Finn was among them, so she can come home now. It's fairly safe to say she and the baby are out of danger."

Yeah, right, Cordelia thought. Things were just starting to go well with Angel and Buffy again. She wasn't gonna mess it up when they were finally nearing that relationshippy closeness.

"Oh, sure. I'll tell her." Cordy said brightly.

"When?" he asked. "I'm sure you realize how important this is."

"Of course. When she gets home, I'll tell her." the door opened and Wesley entered. "I need to go, Giles." Cordy said. "We've got a client. I'll have to call you back." she hung up and sighed.

"That was Mr. Giles?" Wesley asked.

"Yeah. He just wanted to check on Buffy." Cordy sat down and began typing on her computer. It was turned off but she figured Wesley wouldn't notice.

"Ah, yes. How is she?"

Cordelia glanced at the floor and Wesley noticed the singing. "Ah, I see. Anything I should know?"

"No." Cordy said flatly.

"Why not?" he asked, a bit jealous.

"You can't keep a secret." she kept on typing.

"Please tell me." he said softly.

"Okay!" she turned away from the PC. "The Initiative has been destroyed. Buffy can go home."

"Wonderful!" he exclaimed. "Would you like to tell her or should I?"

"No! Never, Wesley."

"I don't understand."

"Don't you get it? Angel's *listening* to *NSYNC*!!! He's trying to be normal, Wesley. He loves Buffy and they're so close again. We can't take that away from them. Stephen deserves to have his parents together."

He thought it over for a moment. "I never thought I would say this, but you're right."

"Ha ha. Promise to keep your mouth shut?"

"I--"

"I'll give you my visions," she threatened.

"I promise," he drew his finger over his heart.

"Good. Wanna go get some Chinese? I'm starving."

Buffy tried to feed Stephen his bottle, but he wasn't taking it. She put it down and shrugged. "I guess he's just tired."

"I'll put him down," Angel offered.

"Thanks. I'm gonna go take a shower." Buffy handed the baby over and disappeared down the hall.

"Oh, Stephen," Angel said. "I need your help." he laid him in his bassinet. "I need you to tell your mother something for me."

Stephen gurgled, as if to say "Okay,".

"I need you to tell her how much I still love her. That I always will love her."

Buffy, still standing in the hall, listening to every word, closed her eyes and leaned against the wall. She whispered, "She already knows." and left to take her shower.
//With arms wide open
Under the sunlight
Welcome to this place
I'll show you everything
With arms wide open
Now everything has changed
I'll show you love
I'll show you everything
With arms wide open\\ ------------------------------------ 4/4
//Baby-It would all seem worthless
If you weren't with me
I could have the world in my hands
But I wouldn't have a thing\\

"Are you sure you should go?" Angel asked as Buffy pulled her poncho over her head. "I mean, what if the Initiative has spies in the area?"

"She's fine." Cordy said flatly. "Firstly, nothing keeps a woman from Christmas shopping. And secondly- weird word." she shook her head. "Secondly, you'll be so busy, you won't even remember we're gone. Hang out with Stephen, do guy stuff, it'll go quickly."

"Guy stuff?" he asked.

"Burp, fart, watch sports." she shrugged. "I'd tell you to ask Wesley to help, but he's more clueless than you are."

"Bye, baby." Buffy gave Stephen a kiss. "Bye, Angel." she gave him a quick one too and followed Cordelia out to the car. "Oh my God." Buffy said when they were in the car. "I just kissed Angel!"

"Took you long enough." Cordelia said as she pulled up to a red light. "You've only been here like five months."

"What is wrong with me?!?" Buffy demanded.

"I don't think you guys are horny enough." Cordy said honestly.

"You scare me." Buffy stated.

"Good." Cordy smiled. "Can't I scare you enough to tell Angel how you really feel?"

"I--"

"Don't lie," Cordy said. "Just think about the life you guys could have with the baby."

"Um, Angel?" Wesley asked. "I'd like to ask you something, and please tell me if I'm out of line."

He put a stuffed animal in the crib with Stephen and closed the door. "What is it?" he asked.

"You and Buffy seem to have a close relationship, and I'd hate to be wrong about this, but--"

"Buffy and I are friends." Angel said as they walked into the kitchen. "Nothing more. Tea?"

"Perhaps, but...if you really care for her, then there's no time better than Christmas to show her."

Angel turned around to answer him, but he had already gone.

"Shouldn't we go in by the office?" Cordy asked.

"No, Angel won't care if we use the back door." Buffy carried her shopping bags down the stairs and opened the door. When she entered the kitchen, she could see some sort of flashing lights. She looked at the living room and saw Angel decorating a Christmas tree. The blinking lights were everywhere, and there was Christmas candy in bowls on the kitchen table.

"Angel, what is all this?" Buffy asked.

"My pager's going off." Cordy left the way she had come and Buffy walked over to Angel, still in shock. "Why did you do all this?"

"No child should be without a Christmas tree." he said.

"Oh, so this is all for Stephen." she immediately looked hurt.

"I did it for the both of you." he said. "And for me." Buffy didn't say anything so Angel spoke again. "I got some good advice recently. I realize that all this time with you and the baby has only made me love you more." he handed her a small box. "Open it."

Buffy pulled the ribbon loose and pulled out a brand new Claddagh.

"It's a promise ring," he took it from her hands and slid it onto her ring finger. "A promise that no matter what, I'll always be here for you and Stephen, and that I'll always love you."

Buffy kissed the ring and smiled at him. "I...I love you, Angel."

He put his arms around her and held her for the longest time. When she pulled away, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed him softly.

He kissed back passionately and they continued until she was out of breath.

"Um, you guys?" Cordy came back down the stairs. "I forgot to tell you that Giles called. The Initiative burned down and Fish Boy is dead. Guess it just slipped my mind." she shrugged. "Gotta go, bye!"

The couple pulled apart and stared at each other.

"Do we love her or hate her?" Buffy asked.

"I'll let you know after I catch her." Angel replied and they both took off running after her.
//With arms wide open
Under the sunlight
Welcome to this place
I'll show you everything
With arms wide open\\ ~~Yes, I'm planning a sequel~~