Forever, Always, and Then Some

Chapter Nine

Willow: Buffy, who is he?

Buffy: Willow meet Holtz.

Willow: The vampire hunter after Angel. And he is in our house because why?

Buffy: So I can keep an eye on him until I figure out how to deal with him. Holtz come with me.

Buffy leads Holtz into the living room and decks him.

Buffy: Willow, chains.

Angel: Buffy, what are you up to?

Buffy: Oh, well I figured the best way to deal with Holtz was not to. And this way I do not have to worry about you. So he is heading for the basement until after the wedding, then I will decide my next step. I have way too much on my mind to deal with a homicidal maniac after my groom.

Angel: And I actually thought you were going to treat him like a guest.

Buffy: If I could fool you, then I knew I could fool him.

Angel: I see I better never underestimate you.

Buffy: Good idea. Now would you mind checking his pockets and making sure he has no weapons or anything he can use to escape. Then carry him downstairs while I get the chains together.

Willow: Here Buffy.

Buffy: Thanks Willow. Would you mind heating up something for Angel and I, while we secure this jerk?

Tara: Uh Buffy, I need to go. I can come by in the morning if you know what time everyone will be leaving.

Buffy: Huh? Oh the barrier. Gosh I hate putting you through so much hassel.

Tara: No real hassel. I got to spend some time with that adorable little boy of yours. You are a lucky lady.

Buffy: Thanks. Don’t I know it? Well Willow and Dawn usually leave around 8, so if you could come by then. Oh yeah Angel promised to cook breakfast, so come early and join us.

Tara: Angel cooks?

Buffy: Yeah, he spends a lot of time indoors and he has been around over 200 years so he has picked up a lot of handy skills.

Tara: See you in the morning.

Buffy: Breakfast?

Tara: Sure, I will be here. Bye.

Buffy: Take care.

Buffy goes down to the basement and she helps Angel chain up their hostage. He has made Holtz a pallet to lay on. Holtz starts to come to.

Holtz: Where am I? What is going on?

Buffy: You are my hostage for a few days. Just until after the wedding and then I will decide what to do with you.

Holtz: You can not so this.

Buffy: And who is going to stop me.

Holtz: I have others who will come looking for me.

Buffy: As you noticed, no one can get in unless we let them. So you are here until I say so. Nighty nite. Come on honey I think Willow has fixed us some dinner and Liam will be wanting his next meal soon too.

Angel and Buffy head upstairs. Buffy turns back toward Holtz.

Buffy: And if I hear any screaming, I may have to gag you so I would be quiet if I was you.

The leave the basement closing the door to the Holtz problem for now.

Early the next morning before the sun has even come up, Buffy is in the kitchen tending to her son. Dawn comes into the room.

Dawn: Hey I thought Angel was cooking. He said he was.

Buffy: I woke him and reminded him. He mumbled okay and rolled over.

Dawn: Do you want me to try?

Buffy: No I told him to get up and well if he don’t then ……well I am sure he will as soon as the sun comes up.

Dawn: And how do you know that?

Buffy: I kinda opened the curtains a tiny crack.

Dawn: Buffy you didn’t. He is going to be so angry with you.

Buffy: We have too much to do for him to be such a lazy buns. Giles will be in tomorrow and the wedding is Saturday and Liam has his first doctor’s visit today. I don’t have time to play games.

Buffy looks toward the kitchen window as she notices the warm glow coming through the curtains. Suddenly there is a yell and a crash upstairs.

Buffy: Looks like he woke up.

Angel soon appears in the kitchen doorway.

Angel: Buffy, please be more careful. You left the curtain opened.

Buffy: Did I? Oh well must have figured you would be out of bed before the sun came up.

Angel: You did it on purpose?

Buffy: Huh, why would I do that?

Dawn: Hi Angel, you are cooking right?

Angel looks at the long thin burn on his chest.

Angel: So far the only thing cooked around here is your sister’s goose.

Dawn: Angel I was talking about breakfast. You promised.

Angel: What about Buffy cooking, she seems to have already started heating things up in here.

Dawn: Buffy cook? She cooks like vampires sunbathe.

Buffy and Angel: Huh?

Dawn: Everything gets burnt

Buffy: I resent that. I am not that bad. I cooked an entire Thanksgiving meal before.

Dawn: I heard about that. I heard you had a lot of help too

Buffy: Well some, but I pulled it off with out a hitch.

Angel: I was there I kinda remember quiet a few hitches, namely ghostly Indian dudes.

Buffy: Oh them, yeah but the meal was good. Hey that was the day before (she looks down at Liam)

Angel: Fond memories?

Buffy: At least I now have the memories.

Dawn: Food?

Angel: Fine, let me see what I can put together.

They hear a knock at the front door. Dawn goes to answer it.

Buffy: Must be Tara, she was coming for breakfast.

Angel: Oh didn’t know I was cooking for everyone.

Buffy: Well she came to let us out of the house and since you said you were cooking.

Angel: Its okay. I just need my coffee before I can be human.

Buffy: You human. Now there is a fantasy come true.

Angel pulls her into his arms, baby and all.

Angel: If I could fulfill your every fantasy, you know I would.

Dawn: (cough) Look who ran into Tara out front.

Buffy: Mrs. Rosenburg?

Sheila: Hello Buffy, sorry to stop by without calling but I was on my way to work and I wanted to stop by and drop off a gift for the baby.

Tara carries in a large box.

Sheila: Thanks Tara. I appreciate you carrying it for me.

Buffy walks over and examines the box.

Buffy: A swing? Thank you.

Sheila: Babies love the gentle motion. I wasn’t sure what you had and didn’t have.

Buffy: We don’t have one. Is he old enough?

Sheila: Sure, he may seem a bit startled during the backward motion at first, but he will soon adjust.

Sheila walks up to Buffy and looks at little Liam.

Sheila: He is so cute. (she looks at Angel) You must be the father. There is no mistaking those eyes.

Buffy: Mrs. Rosenburg, this is Angel.

They shake hands.

Sheila: Oh you have a small burn.

Angel: Oh I just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. Need to be more careful around here. ( he gives Buffy a look)

Sheila has turned back to Liam.

Sheila: Can I hold him?

Buffy: Sure.

Willow walks in.

Willow: Mom?

Sheila: Hi honey, just stop to drop off a gift for the baby. Buffy, it is too bad your mother is not here to see this. Angel, what about your parents?

Angel: They are both deceased.

Sheila: Oh I am sorry, so this little guy has only the one grandparent. But I bet he is spoiling him rotten.

Buffy: Actually my dad has not seen him yet. But hopefully he will be here Saturday, if I can ever get up with him.

Buffy begins unpacking and setting up the swing.

Sheila: I better be going. I am glad I got to see him and Angel nice to meet you.

Buffy: Mrs. Rosenburg, please stop by again. Actually I was wondering if you and your husband would come to the wedding on Saturday.

Sheila: Oh yes that would be lovely. When is the ceremony?

Buffy: Sunset

Sheila: Well I will see you then.

She hands Liam to Buffy. Willow walks her mom out. Tara slips out to lower the barrier and secretly restore it.

Tara and Willow return.

Tara: Good thing I showed up when I did, she was about to walk into the barrier.

Willow: That would have been fun to explain.

Buffy: Sorry guys but hopefully it won’t be for much longer

Angel: Who wants breakfast?

Everyone sits down to eat.

Buffy: Angel, I need you car today.

Angel: Okay but where are you going?

Buffy: The county office to pick up copies of Liam’s birth certificate and the marriage license. Then the pediatrician for Liam’s first check up and then back here to drop him off before I go to the grocery store.

Angel: Oh so I can go back to bed until you get back from the doctors?

Buffy: Sure or you can go down to the basement and put together those metal shelving units I bought, so we have a place to put all those boxes from my room that are cluttering the upstairs hall. Your call.

Angel: And why did I leave LA?

Buffy: Because you wanted to help me get Liam settled in and that includes rearranging my household.

Angel: And the boxes have to be on shelves because why?

Buffy: Because after the basement flooded I learned that it is better to store things off the ground. Hence shelves.

Angel: Fine, I know when I am beat.

Buffy: Come here.

Angel: Why?

Buffy: So I can show you how much I love you.

He walks over and takes Liam and hands him to Willow. Then he wraps his arms around Buffy’s waist. Lowers his face to hers.

Angel: Like this?

Buffy places her hands on his neck and pulls him into a deep kiss that lasts for quite awhile. Buffy finally pulls back.

Buffy: That was nice, very nice.

Angel moves in for another kiss, but Buffy pulls back. Angel pulls her back toward him.

Angel: Where are you going?

Buffy: Away from the fire, before we both get burned.

Angel pulls her back into a kiss. When he finally releases her, he looks into her eyes.

Angel: I have the fire under control. I just like to feel the heat.

Buffy: Well I need an extinguisher myself.

Angel lets her go.

Buffy: I need to get dressed. Angel would you mind getting Liam ready for me.

Angel gets Liam and they head upstairs.

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