Forever, Always, and Then Some

Chapter Seven

Buffy and Angel return from patrol.

Buffy: Willow, everything go okay here.

Willow: No problems. Liam and Dawn are both in bed asleep. Oh and there is leftovers in the fridge. Oh and Angel yours is on the bottom shelf.

Buffy: When did Liam eat last?

Willow: About an hour ago. Oh wanted to tell you, I talked to my mom tonight and when I told her about all the guest coming in this weekend she said my old room and the guest room are at our disposal/

Buffy: Wonderful. I guess we can send Cordy and Fred there. And Anya said since she is never at her place that Gunn and Wesley could stay there. That only leaves only Giles and Angel with no place to go.

Angel: Me? Hey I thought I had a bed here.

Buffy: You do, just not Friday night.

Angel: Huh?

Buffy: Its bad luck. And we don’t need any jinxes.

Angel: I know you are kidding.

Buffy: Look at my face, do I look like I am kidding.

Angel: Okay you farm me out somewhere, how do you think I am getting back during the daylight. I thought we were shooting for sunset.

Willow: I think I will excuse myself and go to bed.

Buffy: Night Will. Thanks for all your help.

Willow: Anytime, you can count on me. I think I love that little one as much as you two. (Willow leaves)

Buffy: Angel you hungry, cause I am.

Angel: Yeah but I see a quick subject change here

Buffy: You don’t miss much. Let’s eat now and debate beds later, I am hungry and tired.

Angel: Well Uh I just usually eat in private.

Buffy: I think if we are close enough to have a baby, I think you can eat in front of me.

Angel: It well is not a pleasant sight, I saw Cordy drink it once and it looks disgusting.

Buffy: Cordy drank blood? Why? And you took pictures?

Angel: Well short version, she was impregnated with a demon spawn and got hungry and so ate the only thing in my fridge.

Buffy: Cordy pregnant and drinking blood. Getting scary visuals.

Angel: Not a pretty sight.

Buffy looks in the fridge.

Buffy: Ooo Chinese. Oh and here is the O pos.

Buffy and Angel each fix a late night snack and sit at the counter eating.

Buffy: How long before the lawyers catch up with us?

Angel: Probably already in Sunnydale. We may need Willow to put up a protection spell here at the house.

Buffy: Willow has given up magic. She was getting out of control for awhile. I can’t ask her to do it.

Angel: Oh I didn’t know.

Buffy: But maybe Tara can do it. She is not as advanced as Willow but I think she can do a basic protection spell. I will call her tomorrow.

Angel rinses out his cup.

Angel: I am going upstairs and get a shower before bed.

Buffy: I will be up soon, you can find clean towels in the hall closet.

Angel: Thanks.

Buffy finishes her food and loads the dishes in the dishwasher. She proceeds to lock up the house and close all the curtains. As she checks the locks at the front door she notices a van up the street parked. Her instincts tell her that it means trouble. Buffy heads upstairs and finds a fresh from the shower Angel coming out of the bathroom.

Buffy: I think you were right about the lawyers. There is a suspicious van up the street.

Angel walks down and looks out. He heads for the back door.

Buffy: Where are you going? And hey all you are wearing is pajama pants.

Angel: This is not a formal affair but I intend on scaring the mess out of some Wolfram & Hart guys.

Buffy watches the van and she eventually sees a shadow move near the van and knows where Angel is. As she watches he punches in a window and opens the door. As he enters the van, three men fly out other doors. Angel emerges minutes later and smugly walks back to the house. Buffy opens the front door and he walks in.

Buffy: They really do make you go insane.

Angel: Yeah well they know how to push my buttons. But they won’t be doing much more surveillance tonight, I smashed all their equipment. Ready for bed?

Buffy: Yeah okay, remind me not to make you mad.

Angel: You could never make me that mad.

They head upstairs.

Morning at the Summers house means chaos. Dawn and Willow trying to get ready for school. Add to that the new excitement of a baby. Buffy and Dawn are in the kitchen.

Dawn: I miss Tara. When she was here I actually got cooked breakfast. Cold cereal is not a good substitute.

Buffy: Well I can make instant oatmeal. It is warm.

Dawn: Yuck….disgusting.

Angel staggers in.

Buffy: Look, the walking dead.

Angel: Please it is too early for your lame puns. Is there some reason we are up so early?

Buffy: Someone got up on the wrong side of my bed. If you had slept on the side closer to the cradle, you would know why I am up. And Dawn and Willow are heading to school..

Dawn: Angel, you can cook right?

Angel: Huh? Cook? Is there coffee?

Buffy: It is too late for anybody to cook anything, just eat your cereal.

Angel: Oh cook breakfast, yeah I can do that, how about tomorrow morning, since it looks like sleeping in is not an option in this house.

Buffy: You are not a morning person.

Angel: No, more the creature of the night. Coffee?

Buffy: Over there. Follow your nose.

Angel fixes a cup and after a few sips looks around at the others.

Angel: Morning.

Buffy: Morning. Know why I love you? You never cease to amaze me. Never took you for a coffee junkie.

Angel: Not a junkie, but since Liam came into my life I have been suffering from major sleep deprivation. And I had gotten kinda use to Cordy taking the morning shift. Night work don’t bother me, it is being up with sun I can’t handle.

Buffy: Awe poor baby, so it is good thing Liam is staying here, so you can get your beauty rest.

Angel: Know why I love you?

Buffy: My wit?

Angel: Not hardly,.

Buffy: My bubbly personality?

Angel: No.

Buffy: Then why?

Angel: Because when I am with you I forget that I am anything but a man with a beautiful woman. You make me feel like a normal Joe.

Willow walks in.

Dawn: On that sappy note I am out of here. Willow?

Willow: I am ready.

Dawn and Willow take off.

Buffy: Well we have a lot to do to in my room, are you up to it or do you wanna go back to bed.

Angel: No let’s get it done. Just let me get dressed.

Buffy: Oh I was kinda liking the bare chest look.

Angel: Well I tell you what, I will work without a shirt if you do too.

Buffy throws a kitchen towel at him.

Buffy: Hey don’t you think my chest has had enough exposure lately. Go get dressed. I will be up in a minute. Oh and check on the baby.

The couple spends the day boxing and storing Buffy’s various junk in order to make room for Liam’s stuff. By the time they finish getting everything organized, Willow gets back from the campus.

Willow: Looks good. So are we ready to do some old fashion hacking.

Buffy: Oh yeah. Think we can pull it off.

Willow: Easy as pie.

Buffy: Never thought pie was easy, all that rolling the dough and all.

Angel: What are you two up to?

Buffy: Creating a legal paper trail. You and Liam currently do not exist……well that is about to change.

Angel: Okay. And how do we do that?

Willow: I get into the county records and add my own records.

Angel: You are the little cyber demon.

We see the three at the table. Willow is at the computer.

Willow: Okay, lets start with Liam’s birth certificate. Can’t do anything without that. Okay here is the form. Mothers name?

Buffy: Buffy Anne Summers

Willow: Mothers place of birth?

Buffy: LA, California

Willow: Fathers name?

Buffy: Angel?

Angel: We never finished discussing this. I told you what I wanted to do. It might make your dad happy and it would save you a lot of hassle.

Buffy: You want to take my name? Are you sure?

Angel: Can’t think of anyone else’s name I would want to have. What is wrong with it, women do it all the time.

Buffy: It is your decision.

Angel: But it affects you too. I know some woman get a kick out of being Mrs. so and so, will it be enough for you just to go from miss to Mrs.?

Buffy: Please, do you love me?

Angel: Of course, why do you ask?

Buffy: Because that is all I care about, that I know, no one else matters. I am not into what the public sees. We could be married and no one ever know except us and I would be happy.

Angel: Okay, well Willow, sorry to keep you waiting, Fathers name is Angel Liam Summers.

Willow: Okay, and place of birth?

Angel: Well since I feel like I was born the first day I saw Buffy in front of her school, lets go with LA, California.

Willow: Huh, I thought you two met herein Sunnydale.

Angel: No I saw her in LA and followed her here.

Willow: Buffy, you knew this?

Buffy: Yeah he told me on my 18th birthday.

Willow: Oh, okay next question. Baby’s name.

Angel: Liam Alexander Summers

Willow: Place of birth will have to be here in Sunnydale or I am in the wrong county records.

Buffy: Fine, a home birth works for me. Angel?

Angel: Of course. Better than an alley.

Willow: Date of Birth?

Angel: November 19, 2001

Willow: Time?

Angel: Uh…around 9:45 I think.

Willow: AM or PM

Angel: Willow it was in an alley and Darla and I were both there.

Willow: PM it is. For a home birth we need an attendant or witness name.

Buffy: Angel?

Angel: Fred was there but don’t you think it would be better using Willow or Dawn?

Buffy: Willow?

Willow: Sure why not, I was there when Buffy went through that emotional scene on Saturday. That could count as labor. And was with her when she saw him look at her for the first time……I am a witness to her birth of sorts.

Buffy: Is that a yeah I am with the big legal lie.

Willow: Of course, I just had to rationalize it for myself. I am on the deception train. Okay now all I have to do is post this and then we can order official copies from the County office. Liam is now completely legal. Next stop license applications.

Angel: License?

Buffy: As in marriage, we do need one of those, I thought.

Angel: Of course, and going through the Willow way saves me having to prove I exist. Sometimes I catch on.

Willow: All done. I used the same info from the birth certificate. Buffy you can pick it up when you pick up the birth certificate. The minister returns it to the courthouse after the ceremony for it to be registered officially.

Buffy: Minister? Uh who are we going to get?

Angel: I may be able to get one. I think.

Buffy: You know a minister? In Sunnydale?

Angel: Yes, I knew a lot of people around here, I did live her for 2 ½ years.

We see Angel on the phone. Buffy stands near by.

Angel: Reverend Matthews this is Angel.

Listens

Angel: Yes that Angel.

Listens

Angel: I am need of your help. I am getting married.

Listens

Angel: Yes I am still a vampire.

Listens

Angel: No she is not a vampire, she is human. Actually she is the slayer.

Listens.

Angel: Yes I said the slayer.

Listens.

Angel: We are looking for a minister to perform the ceremony on Saturday.

Listens.

Angel: Reverend would you mind coming over and meeting with us before refuse.

Listens.

Angel: 1630 Revello Drive. Thanks Reverend.

Angel hangs up.

Angel: He will be by around 7 tonight. He did not say yes but he did not say no either.

Buffy: How do you know him?

Angel: I helped him out when some vampires were taking out his congregation one at a time. Actually Giles sent me to him, you were a busy with Hansel and Gretel and the whole MOO problem at the time.

Buffy: Oh yeah Mom and MOO, not a happy time……oh reminds me, Willow finally turned Amy back.

Angel: She did? When?

Buffy: Uhhhh….. sometime in November. She was a rat for almost 3 years.

Angel: Willow has evolved into quite a powerful wicca. But she has given it all up?

Buffy: She was becoming like an addict on drugs. She could not do simple task without magic.

Angel: Magic is rather seducing. But I always thought of Willow as strong and level headed.

Buffy: Well even the best of us can go off the deep end. Get a little obsessive.

Angel: Point taken.

Later that evening, Reverend Matthews arrives. Buffy has asked Xander, Anya, Willow and Dawn to be at the house in case they need a little help convincing the minister. Buffy answers the door.

Buffy: Hello.

Reverend Matthews: I think I have the right house, is Angel here?

Buffy: He is upstairs, getting the baby to sleep. We can go in the living room, He will be down shortly. By the way I am Buffy Summers.

Reverend Matthews: Nice to meet you Buffy. Did you say baby?

Buffy: Yes, we have an infant son. I know we got the order a little backwards, baby then marriage but we are trying to correct that.

Reverend: I was not aware that vampires could father children.

Buffy: Most can’t but as you know, Angel is not your typical vampire.

Reverend: I see that. Now he said his fiancé was the slayer, that can not be you.

Buffy: Why not?

Reverend: I am sorry but you don’t look like you could beat up a 5th grader much less a vampire.

Buffy: I thought one was not suppose to judge a book by its cover. I am a lot stronger than I look.

Reverend: I am sorry just expected a big muscular woman. Not a petite beauty like yourself.

Angel walks in with Liam.

Angel: She is a beauty. Hello Reverend. Buffy, he is no where near ready for bed.

Buffy: I suspected as much, too many naps while we were working on the room.

Reverend: He is a cutie. And he is human?

Buffy: Yes he is.

Reverend: Can I hold him? I love babies. God’s little gifts.

Buffy: Sure (handing Liam over)

They all sit in the living room. The reverend cooing over the newborn.

Reverend: I was all set to refuse your request but I guess I should at least hear you out.

Buffy: Reverend, I am not sure what you want to hear, but I want you to know that I love this man as much as any woman has ever loved a man. And yes I said man, because Angel is a man, a man with a soul. He may be possessed by a demon, but as long as he has his soul he can love like any other man. He is not a demon.

Reverend: But a real man can have a job, can own a home and can grow old. I would have said have a family but I see that Angel is a unique vampire in that respect.

Buffy: Angel Has a job. He and a group of friends own and operate Angel Investigations in LA. It is a private company that works to rid the world of unspeakable evil…….that sounded a bit Cordy like huh?

Angel: Yes it did.

Reverend: Cordy?

Angel: Cordelia Chase. She works for Angel Investigations. She is originally from Sunnydale. She and Buffy went to high school together.

Reverend: Chase? Did her parents own the big house on Rush Street.

Angel: Yeah before her father tried to cheat the IRS.

Reverend: So you fight evil for money?

Angel: Only if they can afford to pay. It is a case by case decision. We had one client who is a multimillionaire who paid us enough to keep us in the black for a year. He also helped us secure the low interest financing for the 68 bedroom hotel we use as our office. I and one other employee live there. I like a lot of space, since I am inside all day. The other three employees live in their own apartments.

Reverend: So you have a job, a home and a family but you still will never age. I still have a hard time seeing this relationship being able to survive that obstacle.

Buffy: Reverend, I am the slayer, and no slayer has ever lived pass 25 and I am about to turn 21, so there is a good possibility I may never age either. But does that mean I should not have every opportunity while I am alive and kicking. I have been in love with this man since I was sixteen. He actually moved to LA to allow me to find a more traditional relationship and I tried but I never could love another as I loved him. And well one quick trip to LA and well you are holding the results. So lets don’t think I do not know what I want or what I am getting into because I do. And it is what I want more than anything.

Reverend: So you think that Angel, is the answer to your prayers?

Buffy: No he is not the answer to any prayers, he is the man I love and I want the chance to love him and be loved by him and to raise our son in a family filled with our love.

Reverend: Angel, where did you find this gem and does she have a sister for my son.

Angel: A demon guided me to her and I was in love from the first moment I saw her. Oh and yes she has a sister, but one too young for any serious relationships.

From the Kitchen: Dawn: Depends on if he is cute or not.

Buffy: That would be my 15 year old sister. Dawn come on in and bring the rest.

The others walk in.

Buffy: Reverend, this is my sister Dawn. My best friend Willow, she lives her and helps me with Dawn and now with Liam. And this is my other best friend Xander and his fiancé Anya.

Reverend: And your parents?

Buffy: My dad lives in LA, he calls once and awhile but we don’t see him often. Our mother died last year from complications from brain surgery.

Reverend: Where are you going to live if you get married? Here or LA?

Buffy: Both. Angel will stay in LA and I will stay here. We both have too many responsibilities. There will just be a lot of commuter miles on are cars.

Reverend: Can I ask what everyone else thinks of this union?

Dawn: I have watched my sister for years, when Angel is in her life and when he isn’t……I like it better when she has him to love. She is a much happier person. And Angel….well he is normally a nice guy, well except early in the morning before his coffee.

Angel: Hey, not my idea to get up crack of dawn. I am usually just going to bed then.

Willow: I have met Buffy when she first moved to Sunnydale. I have watched their love grow, I have seen her grieve when she thought he was dead. I have seen her sacrifice her own life for his. Literally. And I have watched her crumble in a heap when he left for LA, because he thought it was best for her. So do I think they have a love that can withstand anything,? Not a doubt in my mind.

Xander: I have never been a big Angel fan myself. I guess because I always had this big crush on the girl myself. But I do know that if he makes her happy, then let the ceremony begin.

Anya: Hey I did not know them from before, but heck she seems a lot happier when he is here. And well with the kid and all.

Reverend: Can I assume that I would get similar accolades from your friends and co-workers back in LA.

Angel: Probably…..they are all coming Saturday…..if we are having a wedding.

Reverend: Tell them to come on. I can not deny two people who seem to have this much love surrounding them. And this kids needs know his parents are committed to each other as well as to him. I will do the ceremony. What time? And where?

Buffy: Sunset And right here. If that is okay.

Reverend: Sunset is fine I will be here about an hour before hand. I will come over Friday night to do a walk through. Will the attendants be here?

Buffy: Yes that would be Willow and Wesley should be in from LA by then.

Reverend: Wesley?

Angel: Wesley Wyndam-Price, he works for Angel Investigations, he use to be one of Buffy’s watchers.

Reverend: (hands Liam to Angel) I know Wesley. He came to my church a few times when he lived here. I wondered where he went. So he was your watcher?

Buffy: For a few months, he replaced Giles when Giles disagreed with some orders. Wesley got stuck in the middle of me and the council when they refused to help me with a problem. I quit the council for about a year and a half, but continued my training with Giles on the side and eventually I returned to the council when they agreed to reinstate Giles. Giles is living in England now but he should be in Wednesday. He will be the one giving me away. Well if he agrees.

Willow: Giles can not deny you anything.

Buffy: Almost anything, We will see.

Reverend: Well I will see you Friday. Don’t forget the license.

Buffy: Getting it tomorrow.

Reverend: Bye.

Everyone collapses.

Buffy: Major obstacle out of the way. Thanks guys.

Anya: Oh sense when do you have a big crush on Buffy?

Xander: Had! I said had.

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