Author: Jill
Disclaimer: Hysterical laughter - who wants them anyway these days? I'm not
making any money off this. Several lines of this are taken from the
Buffy-season-6-episode "As You Were". The episode was written by Douglas Petrie.
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: B/A (strong in this part!), and the usual pairings from the show
Distribution: my site (http://www.never-ending-love.de), Land of Denial, if you
have any of my stories, take it; anybody else tell me where it goes
Spoilers: Everything up to the season 3/6 episodes mentioned above is fair game.
Timeline: This is set into canon, in an attempt to make the whole series more
B/A-friendly. Well at least it started out like this. As B/A are together now, I
was forced to make some changes. You'll see them as soon as you read the story.
This is set within "As You Were"
Spoilers: the whole B/A-canon to be sure, follows loosely "Midnight Angel",
"Midnight Whispers", "Midnight Rainbow", "Midnight Hour", "Midnight Memory",
"Midnight Protector", "Midnight Letter", "Midnight Encounters", "Midnight Eyes,
"Midnight Lovers", "Midnight Kiss", "Midnight Song", "Midnight Rose", "Midnight
Velvet", "Midnight Sun", "Midnight Shade", "Midnight Secrets", "Midnight Star",
"Midnight Dance", "Midnight Wind", "Midnight Storm", "Midnight Fire", "Midnight
Breath", "Midnight Wishes", "Midnight Sky", "Midnight Crossing" and "Midnight
Illusion". You should probably read it to understand this. And you should have
seen season 6/3 or at least read the transcripts or you won't know what they're
talking about.
Summary: "As You Were" - Midnight-style
Feedback: oh yes, please - this goes without saying - pretty please?
Dedication: For Chrislee - thanks for writing "Sacrifice" - I had such fun
reading it.
Note: This is set after the Angel season 3 episodes "Waiting in the Wings" and "Couplet". Everything in those episodes happened, *except* Angel making googly eyes at Cordy. (unless he was under the spell that is, but that will be mentioned in the story, so you will have no problems understanding what I mean).
Note 2: This story is also set after the Buffy season 6 episode "Older and Far Away". The episode happened the way it did, except the Buffy/Spike sexual tension stuff.
Note 3: The visit Buffy made to L.A. was between the Angel-episodes, "Waiting in the Wings" and "Couplet" - and they celebrated her birthday when she came to visit. So she had one celebration in Sunnydale and one in L.A.
Note 4: This story *replaces* "As You Were"- that's it - I think. Enjoy!
*****
"And then he kissed her and-"
"Wait a moment. Angel kissed her? Cordelia?"
"Gee, Xander, did something happen to your ears? This wedding stuff finally catching up with you?" Buffy replied, rolling her eyes. "They were possessed. By the spirits of old lovers. Been there, done that, can be intense. It's not as if this was real." She made a little dismissive gesture with her hand, hoping she'd eventually believe it herself. She still couldn't help the pangs of jealousy she felt ever since Angel had told her about the events that had occurred at the Ballet in L.A.
Angel had repeatedly assured her that there was nothing to it, when she'd come to see him that it hadn't been real. But with her tummy rounding, her figure was shot to Hell, and Buffy was far from feeling beautiful or attractive even though Angel did his best to banish her doubts. And Cordelia in a grand evening gown - the Slayer knew the brunette must have looked truly stunning.
Sighing, and irritated with her own thoughts, Buffy looked back at Xander, "One good thing came from it though. Gunn and Fred are together."
Anya made a little sound, and when everyone looked at her, she shrugged, "I was just thinking. This tall, well-muscled, good looking man and this little mouse." She shook her head in disbelief.
Frowning slightly at her comment, Xander turned his head towards Buffy, "So, is his vampiric highness ever coming down tonight to graze us with his presence?"
"He's feeding Connor," Buffy told him.
"Ah, the little piglet," Xander grinned at his own words, when the door opened.
"No, I've been feeding Connor," Dawn announced, grinning from ear to ear, holding the door open for Angel who was right behind her, the baby safely tucked in his arm, "Angel showed me how to do it. It was fun."
Settling himself beside Buffy on the sofa, Angel leaned over to whisper into her ear, "I thought it was a good idea to show her she's part of it."
"She's a lot better since our visit in L.A., but thanks anyway," she whispered back.
"Hey, no PDAs in public," Xander joked, slinging one arm around Anya's shoulder. "We can't have that. Teenagers on board."
"Oh, please," Dawn rolled her eyes, but grinned, "As if this is something new for me. *You* weren't in L.A. with them."
"Can we change the subject please," Xander whined. "Not that I don't think it's not cute and all, but can we skip the whole horizontal mambo of Slayer and Vampire."
"Hey," Buffy and Angel cried at the same time, outraged. Connor didn't take his father's outburst too kindly and started to fuzz, instantly causing his father to rock him in his arm. "Shhh," Angel crooned, "It's okay, it's okay. I'm sorry." He smiled when the baby settled again. He and Connor had come to Sunnydale tonight, finding Buffy and her friends assembled in the house. "So," he turned to Xander, a wicked glint in his eye, "How's the preparation for the wedding going?"
Coughing on the chips he'd just been about to stuff into his mouth, Xander straightened, "Yeah! Wedding, one week! We have friends, family, demons flying in, a to-do list getting no shorter, and do *not*," he grabbed the chips bag from Anya, "take my chips."
She gave him an angry stare, "You have to stop wolfing down those chips. One more bag and you'll pop right out of your cummerbund. You're not even hungry, just nervous."
Angel chuckled, exchanged a grin with Buffy, "Maybe it's a good thing we're not able to get married," she whispered, "I don't know if I could stand this."
"But aren't you excited," Dawn asked, "I mean, married. Wow!"
"Yeah, wow," Xander muttered weekly.
"You know," Willow piped in, "When I was little, I used to spend hours imagining what my wedding to Xander would be like. And now I look at you …," she blushed suddenly, quickly grabbed her drink and started sipping as if her life depended on it.
Buffy leaned over to Angel again, "What do you say, we leave this merry group and have a little fun patrolling?"
He narrowed his eyes, "I thought you stopped patrolling."
"I did," she replied, "But it's," she gave him her best pout, "kind of boooring. And with you here, nothing will happen to me. Oh please," she begged, making puppy dog eyes, "I wanna stake one or two vamps tonight. I kinda miss the action."
"There they go again," Xander said, "With the whispers and the making family and stuff."
Quickly glancing at Buffy, Angel looked at Willow, "Would you look after Connor for a while?"
*
"You ready?" he asked five minutes later, coming from Buffy's bedroom, his axe in his hand.
"Ready as can be," she told him with a grin, showing him the two stakes she'd tucked behind her back. Starting to walk down the stairs, she remembered something, "Oh, Angel, can you get my cell phone. It's on my nightstand."
"Cell-phone coming right away," he joked, again disappearing in her room.
"Well," Buffy muttered as she continued to descend, "At least I'm seeing some action tonight. And Spike won't bother me with Angel here, and," she reached for the door, pulled it open, and froze. "You." Was all she could say.
*
Still staring at Riley, whose face was slightly changed due to a scar running across his cheek, his face grim, Buffy tried to understand what was going on. Last she'd seen him he'd left Sunnydale in a helicopter, bent on fighting demons in the jungle and leaving her. And now - out of the blue - he was back.
"Riley," she managed to say his name.
"Sorry to drop in on you like this, Buffy," he replied, giving her an apologetic smile.
"It's you."
"It's me," he confirmed.
"You're here." God, she was turning into a muttering idiot if she couldn't pull herself together very quickly.
"I know," he said, his lips twitching.
Buffy frowned, looking up at him, "And … were you always this tall?"
Sighing, Riley leaned a little closer, "Look, this isn't the way I wanted it. But something's come up, something big. We don't have much time. You understand?"
Not understanding anything, Buffy still nodded, "Not a word you've said so far."
"Are you on your way to patrol?" he asked. "I could come with you. Explain things." He saw her frowning, "Look," he took her arm, "I'm sorry this is all so sudden. You know, if we get a minute, I'd really like to sit down-" The same moment the beeper on his belt went off. Not wanting to disturb the others, not sure she even wanted them to see Riley, she shoved him out of the house, closing the door behind them, silently wondering what was taking Angel so long.
"What is it?" she asked when Riley had finished his call.
"Suvolte demon," he answered, "Rare. Lethal. Nearly extinct … but not nearly enough." He stopped when she started to grin, "It's close," he tried to explain, but she suddenly started to laugh. "What?"
She shook her head, waving with one hand, "Sorry. It's just … you still carry around all that James Bond stuff." She glanced at his communicator, "It's so cute." When she saw Riley giving her a look, she straightened, cleared her throat, "Sorry. Carry on."
After another look, he went on, "We've been tear-assing through every jungle from Paraguay up, taking out nests. As soon as we put one Suvolte down, a dozen take its place. They're breeders, Buffy. One turns into ten, ten becomes a hundred. This gets out of hand and there's a war with humans? Humans are gonna lose."
Cocking her head, she studied his face, "So they're like really mean tribbles." God, why couldn't she stop mocking him. Catching another look from him, she shook her head, "Sorry. I've been dealing with these … these geeks, it's a whole big thing." When she saw the confusion in his eyes, she added, "A lot has changed around here, Riley."
She realised he wasn't looking at her anymore, but at a spot behind her, then back at her, and at her protruding stomach. It wasn't all that big, but she couldn't hide it anymore either. Riley's eyes went back to the spot behind her, then he said, "Seems that way."
*
"Hello, Riley."
At the sound of Angel's voice, Buffy knew what exactly Riley had been staring at. She almost laughed out loud. Ex meets ex-ex. It could have been almost cute. Almost.
Riley stiffened, suddenly seeming even taller than before. "Angel." The name came from his lips as if he was tasting something acid. "Kind of funny to see you here," he added.
Not missing a beat, Angel walked towards Buffy, stopped beside her, "I just wanted to say the same," he said, and Buffy had no problem hearing the steel in his voice. She barely suppressed a groan. There went her nice romantic patrol. She *so* didn't want to deal with another testosterone display. Besides, there was nothing to fight about. She was with Angel, she was having his baby. Riley was the past. Period. Looking at him now, she could barely believe she'd once considered him attractive, much less that he'd been her boyfriend for the better part of a year. Obviously dying and coming back had changed her perspective. Maybe it wasn't such a bad thing after all.
"So…," Riley started again, "You're helping Buffy with the … uh … Slaying?" He nodded pointedly at her stomach.
Angel didn't move, but one of his brows rose, "That too," he replied.
"Okay, boys," Buffy just had had about enough. This was not going to happen. Not tonight. Perferably not ever. "Back off. Both of you."
When they didn't react, she shifted slightly, put a hand on Angel's arm. "Please?"
He closed his eyes for a moment, took a deep unnecessary breath, before looking at her, "Okay," he said. "But I still have a little problem with the way he just left you when you needed him most."
For a moment she was stunned, then - to Buffy's embarrassment - tears welled up in her eyes. Damn hormones. She was turning into a walking crying feast. But he was just so sweet. "Thanks," she whispered.
"Well, Riley," Angel looked back at the commando, "What brings you here?"
The blond stared at him for a moment, then shook off his momentary daze, "Ah … right, demon. Well, it's somewhere around here-" He stopped, and they all turned their heads looking in the direction where they could hear a growling sound.
"Cocky little demons," Buffy muttered. "Usually they don't come so close to my house."
"Maybe they haven't heard of you," Angel shot back, already moving towards the sound, following Riley who'd been one step before him. "You stay there," the vampire ordered."
"Yeah, yeah," she muttered, pouting again. "Just be the nice little mom and stay at home. Again no fun for Buffy." She sighed, and went back into the house, "It's just not fair," she said, shutting the door behind her.
*
Angel was only a moment behind the commando when Riley approached the demon, but the beast whirled around, slashing his arm with a claw. He reeled back, while Angel started attacking the demon, but instantly realised it was too strong when it flung him off against a tree, then started to run towards the main streets.
"You okay?"
Angel looked up to see Riley standing above him. "Yeah," he nodded. "What about you?"
The commando glanced at his arm, shrugged, "It's nothing bad. I've had worse. We should follow it."
"Right," Angel got up but before he could start to follow the demon, Riley put a hand on his arm, then quickly pulled it away again. "I've got a car around the corner. Might be easier."
The vampire looked at him for a moment, then nodded, "Let's go."
*
As soon as the car was speeding down the street, Angel risked another glance at his companion, his scar shining in the light of the street-lamps. "Been fighting a lot lately?"
Without tearing his eyes from the street, Riley nodded, "Yeah. You could say that. Killed a lot of demons. Also vampires."
"So no more vampires whores?"
Angel saw Riley flinch at the remark, but he didn't care. It was only a small payback for what Buffy had gone through finding him like that. "No, I'm over that," the commando replied finally, then after a little pause, "What happened to Buffy?"
The vampire straightened in the seat, "Happened?"
"Well, she's … pregnant, right? I mean, it's pretty obvious. So, what happened?"
"After the time you spent with her, you should know that," Angel said deadpan.
He saw anger flicker over the other man's face, and barely stifled a grin. He had promised Buffy not to fight with Riley, but that didn't mean he couldn't rattle him a little, right?
"That's *not* what I meant," Riley said tightly, "I just wondered … well, you know … who … I mean, there has to be a father to that child."
Oh yeah, there was, Angel thought, hardly able to wait seeing the face of the commando at that little piece of news, but before he could answer, Riley shouted, "There," he pulled the wheel around, "There it is."
And the hunt was on.
*
Buffy was already waiting for them, having peered anxiously through the window for the better part of the last hour, and she was not happy. Having been the Slayer for the last six years, she usually was the one hunting, the one in charge. She didn't take well to staying home and waiting for the man to come back after work. Surely Angel liked the idea, she thought bitingly, then instantly dismissed the thought. Angel wasn't like that. Sure, he was a bit possessive at times, and he could be archaic, but most of the time he was really good. He hadn't said a word about her work at the Doublemeat again.
But as much as she tried to tell herself that, she was still pissed when the door opened. A good thing all the others hand gone to the Bronze, so she could take care of Angel in her own way, but when she entered the hallway, she stopped, stunned for the second time when she saw not only Angel, but also Riley and with him a woman, clad in the same fatigues, her dark hair in a ponytail.
"Hey there," she said weakly, "Just come and invade my humble home." She glanced at Angel, who simply shrugged.
"Hey, Buffy. Sorry again for the … you know. This is Sam. Sam is my … uh … wife. Sam this is Buffy."
"Wife?" Buffy didn't know what exactly she had expected tonight, but it wasn't seeing Riley. And certainly she hadn't expected meeting his wife. They had only been separated for a year. Had he been able to get over her that easily, she wondered, her ego not all that happy with the idea. Then she thought about her own present state and sighed.
"How long have you been married," she asked.
"Four months almost," Sam replied cheerily.
"Mazel tov," Buffy said flippantly, "Any children?"
Sighing, too, Riley gave her a long look, "Buffy, I meant to tell you. When the time was right. She caught up to us a hell of a lot faster than I would've guessed possible."
Buffy gave him a dismissive wave, "Yeah, I know. Hey, Sam," she held out her hand to the other woman, "Nice to see you."
"The same here," the woman replied, her eyes warm and friend, and Buffy found herself liking her instantly. "I already met your boyfriend," she pointed at Angel. "He just saved my life."
The Slayer grinned, "He tends to do that sometimes."
"It's part of the service," Angel said without missing a beat, "Why don't we sit down. So Buffy can put her legs up, you know." He chuckled when she glared at him.
"He's the protective type, huh?" Sam asked when they sat down.
"You can say that," Buffy grumbled. "I'm not allowed to slay. I'm not allowed to patrol alone anymore." She looked at Angel who disappeared in the kitchen to get them something to drink. "But," she sighed, "I wouldn't want to miss him."
She turned her head, when Riley cleared his throat, "And … uh … the father of your baby?"
Drawing her brows together, Buffy frowned at him, "What about him?"
"He doesn't mind that … you and Angel are … that close?"
She was almost tempted to tell him that not all men were as jealous and insecure as he was, but let it go the last moment. It would probably hurt Sam and she liked the other woman too much already, to cause her pain. She seemed clearly in love with Riley, and in a way Buffy was glad. She had always pictured Riley with a woman like her. They fit together, and she hoped they'd be happy together.
"So here we are," Angel returned with a loaded tray, handing coffee to Sam and Riley and a glass of milk to Buffy, grinning at her pout. "Stop it," he said, "I'm immune to it. At least where it's important."
"Oh well," Buffy sighed dramatically. "I hate milk, just so you know."
"Agent Finn Returns."
They turned their heads, finding Dawn standing in the doorway, her eyes not at all friendly.
"Hey. Dawn." Riley got up, walked over to her, but she stepped back. A little unsure, he said, "Geez, look at you. I think you grew a foot and a half."
Not getting any friendlier, the teenager looked him sullenly, "A lot can happen in a year."
"Well," Riley turned back to the sofa and his wife, "It's still good to see you."
"Didn't you go to Bronze?" Buffy inquired.
"It was closed," Dawn told her, ignoring Riley, "Something about a cleaning up thing." She shrugged. "I'm going upstairs, okay."
"Yeah, fine," Buffy waved when her sister left the room.
"Hey," Xander was standing in the doorway, "There's the man. Life taker, heartbreaker," he went to Riley shaking his hand, "You know figuratively speaking."
Riley grinned, "Yeah. Let me introduce. Xander. Sam. Willow."
The redhead waved her hand. "Seems it was good the Bronze is closed today, or we would've missed all the action. How come you're here?"
"We were tracking a demon. It almost killed us, thanks to Angel it died before it had a chance," Sam gave the vampire another warm smile, which brought her another ten points with Buffy. Maybe she would be a good influence on Riley. Clearly she wasn't as prejudiced as he. "I was startled," she went on, "when I realised he was a vampire. But hey, he saved our lives. So - there's only gratefulness."
"So," Xander looked at Sam, "You're his … partner or what."
"Sam is Riley's wife," Buffy said pointedly.
"His," he gulped, "wife?"
"Yeah. Heard you're getting hitched yourself," Riley grinned, "Believe me, you're gonna love it." He exchanged a loving smile with Sam.
"We still need to find the eggs," she reminded him suddenly.
"The eggs?" Buffy gave them a confused look
"Yeah, the demon," Sam explained, "It was mature. And female. There have to be eggs. Riley did tell you-"
"Sure, sure," Buffy nodded. "Multiplying demon. Got it. So where can they be?"
"Who knows," Willow scratched her neck. "If Tara was here, we could do a location spell or something."
"What about you?" Riley turned to her, looking expectantly.
She stepped back, "No. I'm not doing magic. Not anymore."
The commando frowned slightly, but let it go. "Okay, so no spell. You have any ideas?"
Buffy suddenly felt Angel tense beside her, then surge to his feet, "Yeah, I do," he said slowly, giving her a look that made the hair in her nape stand up straight. No, she thought. It couldn't be. He wouldn't do that. Or maybe he would. Damn, *she* should have staked Spike in time.
"You're going there now?" she wanted to know.
"Yeah," he nodded. "We'll be back soon."
"What's going on," Willow asked confused when the three had left the house.
"They're going to look for the eggs. Angel thinks Spike has them," Buffy explained.
"Spike?" Xander shook his head, plopping down on the sofa, taking a sip from Sam's coffee. "I always said you couldn't trust the guy."
*
"So he actually had them, huh?" Buffy's voice was without emotion, but Angel could still see the pain of betrayal in her eyes. Not that Spike had ever been a friend, but she'd still trusted him, and to learn that he wasn't trustworthy at all had to hurt. Angel could have told her that it was part of Spike being a soulless vampire. He was sure deep inside she knew, but because Spike had helped them time and again she'd done her best to ignore it.
"Yeah, he had," Riley confirmed, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "Unfortunately before Angel could stake him, one of the eggs popped open, and we had a bunch of demon babies on our hands."
"Angel saved our lives again," Sam announced, leaning over and kissing the vampire on the cheek.
He grinned at her, "Hey, couldn't get that newly married couple eaten by a bunch of demons, could I."
"No," Riley said, giving him a long and measuring look. "And thanks. You really saved our asses twice today. I will never like you, but I … I've learned one or two things tonight."
"Geez, men," Sam rolled her eyes, "You could just say, sorry I misjudged you, but that would be too much, huh?"
"Hey, you're back," Willow smiled when she entered the living-room. "I looked after Connor. He's asleep."
"Connor?" Riley asked.
"He's Angel's son," Buffy told him.
"Angel's," the commando gulped, stared at her in disbelief, "but he's a …," He stopped, something shifting in his eyes, "Does that … ," he pointed at her stomach, "But didn't you tell me something about a clause?"
"There was a clause," Angel answered in Buffy's stead, "But it's gone. We don't know why. As we don't know how this was possible," he looked at Buffy's abdomen as well. "Or my son, for that matter. But we decided it's too good to question. So we're taking it the way it is and," he took Buffy's hand, "and enjoying it."
"Uh-huh," Riley said dumbly, reaching for a cracker on the table. "Some news," he muttered.
"So what are you going to do now?" Willow addressed Sam.
"We're done here. I'm not quite sure, but I expect them to send us back to South America."
"So, when is the baby due," Riley asked finally recovering from his shock.
*
"Are you okay?" Angel asked her some hours later when they were lying entwined, and naked on her bed, the curtains for once not drawn, so the moonlight came through. It was unlikely Spike would show his face tonight.
"Yeah. I am. Actually I'm really good," she smiled at him, leaned over to kiss him lightly. "To see Riley again. It was … closure, I think. I needed that. He's happy."
"That he is. Sam is nice."
"Yeah," she agreed. "And you know what?"
"Hmm?" he asked, his eyes half-closed.
"I'm happy, too," she told him snuggling into his embrace. "Very happy indeed."
END
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