What A Year!
Month 4
Month 4, One Day: Evening Bachelor Party
“I’m getting married,”Angel said, stunned as he looked at his reflection in the mirror.”I’m getting married to Buffy in two weeks.”
Angel looked closely at his reflection again, and looked really hard. His face hadn’t changed much in the past two hundred and forty odd years, and his body was still basically the same. But he still couldn’t get over it, he could see his face. But other than the wonder that he could see that his face, he still expected it all to be a dream, and expected to see no reflection. Sometimes, after a late night, he woke in a cold sweat, sometimes screaming, that he was a psychotic vampire again. That he was Angelus.
Angel shook his head as he left the bathroom. But he wasn’t Angelus. he wasn’t even a vampire anymore. He was human. And he was getting married in two weeks. Less than two weeks. In one week, six days, thirteen hours, and some odd minutes, he’ll be married to Buffy. And in less than seven months, she would have his baby. Angel let out a long breath as he sat at the edge of his bed, and grinned. Buffy was having his baby, and he still couldn’t beleive it. His grin grew wider as he remembered the past month.
As he put his night shirt on, he chuckled at the things that he and Buffy bought for the baby. He was determined to think of the baby as a girl, and she was just as determined in thinking that it was a boy. So right now, the baby stuff that they were getting was a total mixture. And the names, Angel laughed out loud, the thoughts of the names that he and she suggested! And the things that he and she ate! Everyday she had a new craving, and everyday he went out, into the sun, got it for her, and then shared it with her. If anything, his tastes with food *definitely* was broadened, and so were his experiences.
He touched his lips as he thought of her. Buffy was insatiable now that she was pregnant, in more ways than one. He sighed as his eyes roamed towards the imprint that Buffy had recently left on the bed. Since Buffy had found out that she was pregnant, she had wanted to stay with Angel until the wedding. But her mother nixed the idea. And so had he when she pointed out three things: Buffy was still having morning sickness, he was still living in a basement apartment that was bad for a pregnant Buffy and that it was bad luck to have engaged couples living together before the wedding. It was the threat of his basement apartment to Buffy’s and the baby’s health that changed his mind about Buffy living with him. He wanted *nothing* to harm her...or the baby she was carrying. He’d rather die a misrerable death and repeat his time in Hell first.
Shaking his head at his morbid thoughts, his mind wandered back to the wedding. Joyce was a master at organizing it so quickly, even with his and Buffy’s hinderence. So now, he was going to be married and a father. It was something that he, even in his most wildest of dreams, would have never thought at all possible. It was...wonderful.
Angel turned his head when he heard a familiar noise.”Hello? Buffy?”
As he leaned back against the bedboard, he smiled.“So how are you and my daughter?”
Angel heard Buffy chuckle,”Your son and I are fine, Angel. But he’s starting to have a strange craving for strawberry ice cream with fudge and a hot dog with the works. Um, listen. Mom just told me that the guys are on their way to your place to give you a bachelor party. And I just wanted to tell you that no funny stuff had better happen.”
Angel stared at the phone.”What? A bachelor party? When?”
The doorbell rang as Buffy replied,”Now.”
Angel stared at the door, then at the phone. The doorbell rang again.”Now? Wait a sec. Who is it?”
A muffled voice replied.“Vampires.”
Angel frowned at the door as he opened it.”Not funny, Xander.”
Xander shrugged as he came in with Giles.”But it made you open the door. Now you’d be in *real* trouble if we were vamps.”
“Xander,”Giles chided.”We’re here to take you out on the pagan ritual practiced by men entering your state, Angel.”
Xander rolled his eyes.“What librarian here is saying, we’ve come to take you out, get you drunk and embarrass the *hell* out of you before you marry our favorite Slayer. We’re here for your bachelor party. Let’s go. Oz is in the car waiting for us.”
“Gimme a sec,”Angel said as he made his way to the phone again.”Buffy? They’re here. Who put them up to this? Your *mother*?!? And who?”
Angel stared at the phone then at the red-faced Giles. Xander made his way to the phone and grabbed it.”Buff? We’re here to take your honey out to party. We’re gonna take him out, get him real drunk then abandon him in the woods. Yeah. Yeah. Bye!”
Angel looked at Xander as he hung up the phone.”What’d she say?”
Xander shrugged.“That she’d kick *my* ass if I tried it. Then kick *Giles’s* for letting me do it. Then kick *your* ass if you let it happen. Have you noticed that she’s gotten a little more violent now that she’s pregnant?”
“That’s my Slayer,”Angel smirked.”But we really don’t have to do this. Just smile to her and say we did.”
Giles coughed.”Not possible. Willow arranged that we all go to a late dinner at Whiskey Joe and then arranged for a car to take us to wherever we wish. And Joyce was most adamant that this bachelor party proceed when Willow presented it to us fait accompli.”
Angel sighed.”Let me change. Be out in five.”
*****
The smoke filled room brought back vague memories to Angel as he sat in a booth with the three men that he knew the most. He nursed his whiskey and eyed the younger men as they downed their beers.”Well, that was a delicious dinner. Though I’m not sure why Willow choose an Irish bar to celebrate a bachelor party.”
“It was her first planning for one. She wasn’t sure of what you like to eat, and assumed that Irish fare was good enough, since you’re Irish and since she wasn’t about to send us to a topless bar or strip joint,”Oz said as he took another swig.”However, she plans to take Buffy out to somewhere that she won’t even tell me. All hush hush. Well, here’s to you and Buffy!”
The other men raised their glasses and cheered. Angel looked at his empty glass as the whiskey went soomthly down his throat.“That was good. Willow’s not planning to take Buffy to a Chipmunk’s is she?”
“Chippendale’s? Got me. Xander?”
Xander shrugged.“All I know is that Cordy’s quiet about it.”
“And Joyce won’t say a *word* about it to me,”Giles said a tad testily. Angel’s eyes narrowed as he watched the Watcher pour another shot of whiskey into Angel’s glass then his.”She won’t even let me into the house, especially now that Buffy’s father is staying there until the wedding. To avoid suspcion.So, where’s the honeymoon going to be, Angel?”
Angel looked closely at the Watcher before he answered.”We’re staying here. We decided that Sunnydale still needs a Slayer, so we decided to go no where.”
Giles looked at him in surprise. Angel shrugged.“Can’t leave the Hellmouth unprotected. And we really wouldn’t be having a good time if we were worrying about you guys.”
Xander sniffed.“We’re touched. Really. But you two can go anywhere you’d like. I mean, you’re a millionaire. And you guys are buying one house and making another house!”
Angel looked at the younger man.”One for us to share for now. And another house that I’m never going to enter. Ever.”
There was silence, and then the three men nodded their heads in understanding. If Angel was going to turn into Angelus at the end of the year because he slept with Buffy, the first thing that the demon in him would do, would be to destroy the symbols of his humanity, his family. Most especially Buffy and their child.
Oz sighed.”Well, enough of this morbid thoughts. Think of the honeymoon. Where’d you like to go if you would? I know Will’s wanting to go to Silicon Valley for some reason.”
“Anywhere that Buffy would like. I don’t care,”Angel shrugged.”Maybe even Ireland. Show here where I lived, though I’m sure that it changed in the past two hundred years.”
“Probably. I’m gonna put more money in the jukebox. Any favorites?”Xander offered as he stood up. Oz stood as well.
“I wanna see the selection,”Oz said as he walked with Xander. Angel looked at Buffy’s Watcher. He was way too quiet tonight. And drink way too much.
“I’d never hurt Buffy,Giles,”Angel said slowly.”I love her.”
Giles nodded.”I know that you do. And I know that she loves you.”
More silence.”So then what’s bothering you?”
“What makes you think that something is bothering me?”Giles countered.”Everything is fine. Buffy and you are getting married. We are celebrating the end of your bachelor days. Joyce is estatic about the wedding, and she’s managed everything perfectly. And Buffy’s father is in the house and will stay until the wedding.”
“And I repeat, what’s bothering you?”Angel said as he looked at the Watcher.”That Joyce is managing everything? That Buffy and I are getting married? That you can’t get to your books at Joyce’s home?”
Angel’s eyes then narrowed.”Or that you’re afraid that Joyce and Hank are going to continue sharing the same house after Buffy and I get married?”
Giles looked sharply at Angel, who smiled grimly.”I thought that was it. You’re in love with Joyce, aren’t you?”
“Yes.No. I don’t know,”Giles said as he ran his fingers through his hair.”If I am, it was...something that I never saw coming. With Jenny...”
Angel tensed as Giles hesitated, then continued.”With Jenny it was a spontaneous attraction. Much to my chagrin, *she* chased me. Made me not think about what I was going through, while I was going through it. It was...an instant attraction. With Joyce...”
“With Joyce?”Angel prodded. Giles sighed and his eyes wandered into the distance.
“When I first saw her, I merely regarded her as Buffy’s mother, someone to protect Buffy’s identity from. Then when Spike attacked the school, one of the many that I was responsible for. The most important someone that I had to lead to safety,”Giles said slowly.”Then in the hospital, while Buffy was sick..Joyce gave me her condolences about Jenny’s...death. And I saw, for the first time, where Buffy had gotten her gentleness and compassion for others from...”
Lost in thought, Giles continued.”After Buffy ran away...it was the first time that I saw how much my decision to forbid Buffy to tell her about being the Slayer destroyed her. Her brown eyes were shattered, as if I had killed someone very close to her...and then she gave me a mean left hook and kicked me in the groin.”
As Angel bit his inner cheek,Giles snorted.”Needless to say, I kept a careful distance from her left hand from then on. Yet, during that whole time that Buffy was gone, I saw that I had reduced a proud woman into a woman on the verge of mental collapse, a mother desperately searching for her child. And I vowed to myself no more secrets to her. No more hiding.”
Giles looked at Angel.“After Buffy came back...Joyce and I started talking with each other. And it wasn’t easy. The woman is decided in her opinions as Buffy can be, and there were so many clashes about Buffy. The danger. The fear. It bothered me, the danger that Buffy was in, but I knew that Buffy could handle any of the dangers that she was in. She defeated so many demons: the Master, Trick, Drucilla, you. But I never really thought...that is...I never saw how much...”
“Of how much Buffy’s death would really affect Joyce, until Lilith kidnapped Buffy and made everyone think she was dead. Then before you could think, Hank was at the house, reminicing about old times with Joyce, and her laughing about the good times they shared,”Angel finished. Giles nodded then gave out a sharp snort.
“I must be mad in thinking that there could be something between us,”Giles said as he looked away at the wall.”She is the Slayer’s Mother. Joyce would always blame me, in some way, for Buffy’s death. When she dies. She, at least, shared some happy times with Hank. But with me? What can we share? Memories of Buffy’s death? The fear of Buffy’s imminent death? Worry over obscure prophecies?”
“Buffy’s not going to die,”Xander announced. Giles and Angel looked up to see Xander and Oz standing near the table, far enough to not interrupt, but close enough to hear.”And I think that it’s real cowardly of you to think that Mrs.Summers would blame you for Buffy’s...demise.”
“Xander...”Giles started, but Oz cut in.
“Yeah, Giles. I mean, Mrs. S isn’t like all out to blame you for Buffy’s death, if it should happen. She’s cool about that, man. She’d just torture you if you tried to stop her from helping Buffy, like you well know,”Oz said as he took a swig of his beer. “So...how long have you felt the love thing between you and Mrs.S? Willow says that it started the summer that Buffy ran.”
“What? Willow said what?”Giles stared at the younger man. Oz shrugged.
“Personally, I didn’t see it. But then, Will’s more observant than me,”Oz drawled. Xander just shook his head.
“Always knew that she had too many thoughts,”Xander laughed.”So, is there another proposal in the making here?”
Giles shook his head. Xander snorted.”So you’re gonna let Buffy’s dad sweep her mom off her feet while you remain in the vampire dust. Real brave of you Giles. Letting a chance of getting a happy out the door like that.”
“I am *not* letting a chance of happiness out the door like that,”Giles said beligerantly. Xander snorted.”Then what are you doing?”
A waitress came by the table and set down several drinks. Surprised, Angel made a motion for her to stop.”We didn’t order any more drinks, miss.”
The woman smiled at him tiredly.”I know. Some gentleman paid for them, and your tab. He also said to give you this.”
She put down a small packet of papers.”And to inform you that all will be taken cared of, and I’m supposed to tell you that if you question me, he’d kick your ass.”
“What if we bribe you?”Oz asked. She smirked at him as she sauntered away.
“Man gave me $200 tip, and offered to triple it on hand if I made no id. Don’t think that you boys can to that tonight.”
The men looked at her then at the packet that was labeled ‘Angel’. Xander looked at it, then at Angel.”Well, open it.”
Angel opened it, took out a letter, and his jaw dropped.”To the Slayer’s Chosen:Do not worry about the Hellmouth, all will be protected. The Slayer’s family and friends will be guarded, as they have always been. Enclosed is a gift from the Mana-kai and her Sotiera, enjoy the time that Lady Lilith has granted you. The most blessed love, prayers, dreams and hopes be with you, the Slayer and your child. Sincerely, Leige of the Mana-kai. And a note to the Watcher, happiness always depends on you. Chances are not always given, happiness is to be always cherished, not feared.”
“All right, who feels like they’re being stalked?”Xander said as he looked around the booth. Giles and Angel ignored him as they stared at the letter.
Oz opened the packet further, and his jaw dropped.”Angel...there are tickets here. England. New York. Disney World. Ireland, with hotel reservations at the Hilton, Wardolf, Magic Suite and Swan Inn...and I’m guessing about eight grand at least in the matching country’s denominations...Check this out! Even your own private jet if you want to go somplace else!”
“Whoa...”Xander’s eyes popped.”This is *some* gift! I guess this mean no honeymoon on the Hellmouth!! Can I go into your suitcase?”
*****
Month 4, Second Day: Pre-Wedding Jitters...
Angel stared at himself in the mirror as he waited in the priest’s alcove with Giles, Xander and Oz.”What am I doing? I look silly.”
Xander rolled his eyes.”Yes, you do look silly, Dead Boy. And what are you doing marrying Buffy?”
“That’s what I keep asking myself,”Angel scowled. His hands came up to touch his silk grey stripped tie? Was that what it was called these days? In his day it was called a cravat. He snorted.”This thing doesn’t look right.”
Giles came up to Angel’s shoulder.”It looks fine. Leave it alone.”
“It looks crooked,”Angel complained.”Can we fix it? Oz, do you have the ring?”
“Yeah, I got it. Wanna see it?”Oz sighed as he reached into his pocket. Angel breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the ring.
“Think that she’ll like it?”Angel asked as he stared at the ring. Xander looked over Angel’s shoulder and shrugged.
‘Who wouldn’t like a 24 carat pale blue diamond heart mounted between white gold circlets?”Xander said as he shrugged.”Man, this tux is killing me! Bet you feel real comfy, Giles.”
“Actually, no. I-”
“Hello, men,”Hank Summers said as he entered the room. Angel looked the man with a panicked face.
“Is Buffy all right?”Angel blurted as he met the man at the doorway. Hank put up his hands towards the younger man.
“Whoa, Angel! Buffy-”
“It *is* Buffy! Where is she?!?”Angel yelped as he headed towards the door. Giles and Xander sighed as they started to go after the former vampire. The door opened and he found Joyce Summers standing there, poised to knock.
“Angel! Stay!”she ordered as she took Angel’s arm and sat him down on to a nearby chair.”Buffy’s fine.She just wanted be sure that you were here, so she sent me. Now sit!”
Angel sat as Joyce towered over him in her pale yellow-green empire dress.”Now what have you done with your tie?”
“Giles did it,”Angel mumbled Joyce she untied it.She smiled as she made a loop.
“He was fidgeting around alot, Joyce. He wanted to keep moving around, tried to see Buffy, several times, but I stopped him,”Giles sniffed as he looked over her shoulder.”So I couldn’t do the blasted thing properly. But I did try.”
“My hero,”Joyce murmured as she finished knotting the tie at Angel’s neck. Angel saw over Joyce’s shoulder Giles’s startled face forn a grin, and Hank give a quick frown.
“Reminds me of our wedding, Joyce,”Hank said as Angel stood up for Joyce to fix his boutenirre.”Remember when I sent Jack and Gregg to see if you were there?”
Joyce’s eyes softened with memory and laughed as she looked at her former husband.”I remember that you told Jack that you needed proof that I was in the chapel. And that you stuttered as we took our vows.”
Angel saw Giles’s masked look as Hank Summers shrugged as he grinned.”And you lost the penny in your shoe.”
Joyce rolled her eyes.”Along with the shoe. Come on, Dad, Buffy’s getting nervous. Rupert, let me fix your flower. There, you look handsome. Xander, what did you eat to get that on your lapel? Never mind, just dab at it with cold water. Oz, Giles and Xander, I beleive that you all know your roles. Angel...”
Angel looked up at Buffy’s mother with a pale face. She smiled,”Breathe...just breathe. Boys, don’t let him faint.”
Month 4, Still Second Day: After the Wedding...
‘If I could save time in a bottle...
If words could makes wishes come true....
I’d save every day like a treasure and then I would spend
Every day just to spend them with you...’
“Feel better?”Buffy dimpled at Angel as she twirled around the dance floor. Angel simply held her closer to him.”Angel, how’s your head?”
Angel simply kissed her before he grinned.”Pain’s gone now, thanks to the wonders of asprin. I can’t beleive that I did that.”
Buffy giggled.”My knees felt like they were about to give, and then yours did. Never saw you faint like that, Angel. Even when we faced the Hellmouth together.”
He rolled his eyes as he twirled her.”Men don’t faint, Buffy. I collapsed.”
“Right on top of the minister,”Buffy giggled as Angel chuckled.”I’m hungry again.”
“What does our daughter want now?”Angel asked as he looked at her starting to round stomach affectionately.”Ice cream and hot dogs? Sushi and pizza? Tacos and linguine? Black olives and oranges?”
Buffy shook her head, then cocked it to the side.“I think that he wants really sour pickles and...do we have fajitas? Or chop suey?”
“She wants three things now?”Angel asked increduously as he sat her down. Buffy simply giggled again.”I’ll see what I can do.”
“What’s wrong, Buffy?”Willow asked as she and Oz came off the dance floor.”Are you feeling queasy?”
“Nah. Baby wants sour pickles, fajitas and chop suey,”Buffy grimaced as Angel kissed her forehead.”Junior has strange taste buds. Must get them from his dad.”
“Or from her mom. Keep her company guys. I’ll see if I can get a little of what she wants before she starts eating the table linens,”Angel said as he searched for a waiter. As Buffy stuck her tongue out at him, he chuckled.
Sighing, Buffy looked at her friends.”So, distract me from my cravings. Tell me, where’s is everybody?”
Willow grinned.”Cordelia needs a break from dancing with Xander, so she’s in the ladies room. Giles is dancing with your mom somewhere around here. And your dad is off at the buffet.”
“Buffet table?”Buffy repeated. She then gave Willow a sad look.”And I’m so hungry. Can you take pity on a poor, pregnant and defenseless Slayer and get her some food?”
“Well, I don’t see a waiter in the hall. I’d better search for one before she starts to stake the guests,”Angel commented as he came back.Oz chuckled.”Willow, better get her some food and feed your hungry little god-child before Buffy feeds her the napkins.”
*****
Smiling, Angel walked through the caterer’s doors and was about to hail a passing waiter, then stopped when a flash of bleached hair caught his eye. He headed straight towards the man, and swung him around.”Spike.”
“Angel. Nice to see that you’re married. Sorry to miss the wedding, but not the reception, mate,”Spike said jovially. Angel tightened his grip on the younger vampire’s arm as he lead him to the side.
“What the *hell* are you doing here?”Angel snarled. Then looked at him.”And in a black tux? There’s no free blood here, mate.”
“Why not? I see a bunch of walking meals all around,”Spike snarled back.”And one of them’s holding my arm.”
Angel smiled grimly.”Try it and die. How the hell did you find out about my wedding? We sure as hell kept it a secret from the vamps, even as to go so far as to have it here in Los Angeles in this exsclusive country club.”
Spike smiled smugly as he pulled out a card from his pocket. Angel stared at it.”Who invited you?!?”
“I did,”said a voice calmly. Angel spun around and gaped at his new mother-in-law as she looked at him coolly and then opened her arms wide and with a broad smile to the vampire next to him.”Liam! You made it!”
“Hello, Mum,”Spike said jovially as he gathered Joyce into his arms and gave her a quick peck on the cheek.”You look lovely.”
“Thank you, Liam,”Joyce said as she kissed him back.. Angel shook his head as Spike and Joyce started to talk to each other affectionately, like a mother to her son. It was an odd relationship, to be sure...the killer of two Slayers adoring the Mother of the present Slayer. It wasn’t a relationship Angel liked nor trusted, but it was there.
Joyce turned to look at Angel.”Angel, I know that you and Spike have your differences, but he did help save Buffy, and promise to not eat any of the guests or staff.”
Angel stared at her then at the smug Spike as she continued.”Liam has also promised to not get into a fight with Buffy, so keep her away from him. Let him enjoy himself at the open bar and the dance floor.”
Spike cleared his throat.“Uh, Mum? I have news for you and Angel-boy here. There’s gonna be a bunch of vamps that are going to attack this country club by ten tonight.”
Joyce stared at him as Angel growled back.”And how did they know that Buffy and I were getting married?”
“Liam! You’re not back with her again, are you?”Joyce cried, her face in dismay. Spike shook his head slowly.”Oh, Liam!”
Spike gave her an unhappy smile.“No, Mum. I’m not. I’m on my own for now. After that Lilith thing, she ran from me again. And I was too bloody tired to go after her, if she doesn’t want to stay with me...”
“Oh, Liam,”Joyce said softly as she wrapped her arms around him. Spike’s face was forlorn as he rested his head on her shoulder.
Angel gritted his teeth as he repeated his question,”How did they know that Buffy and I were getting married?”
“It sure as hell wasn’t me! It was one of your bright friends with black hair and a big mouth made the mistake about talking about the Slayer’s honeymoon in a bar two weeks ago,”Spike snorted as he pulled away from Joyce’s comforting embrace.”Dru’s managed to get a small group to attack enforce. So if I were you, I’d get these people out of here. Pronto!”
Angel demanded,“And why the hell should you care, Spike?”
Spike shook his head, then held her delicate face in his hand.”I don’t. I just came here to warn Mum. Now, you got to get out of here, Mum.It won’t be safe for you.”
Angel cleared his throat.”We’ll get everyone out. Joyce, you go tell Giles and the others what’s going on. I’ll take care of Buffy.”
When she left, Angel looked at Spike.”How did she contact you?”
Spike rolled his eyes.”She made me apply for an e-mail account. So that I could keep in contact with her. Now, I’ve done my duty to her, and I’m leaving. Good-bye.”
“So you’re not here to help us fight them off? Or to join with them?”Angel asked dubiously. Spike snorted.
“Get real, mate. I’m a vampire. I like being a vampire. I like chaos and blood. And I couldn’t care less if your Slayer or her friends or you, for that matter, died. I just came to warn Mum. That’s what I did, so I’m leaving. Sayonara, pal,”Spike said as he was a about to turn to leave. Then stopped.”If Mum doesn’t make it out of here alive, I’ll look for you and kill you all over again, then I’ll start on that Slayer.”
Angel watched as the vampire he made less than two hundred years ago walk out the caterering hall. Life was *definitely* strange,he thought.
As he turned, a man bumped into him and shoved a note into his hand as he scurried away. Puzzled, Angel looked at the paper, opened it, and his jaw dropped.”I’m definitely feeling stalked.”
As he walked back into the hall, he was greeted by his beautiful wife and their friends.”I don’t think that we have to worry about anything.”
He read them the note.” ’All will be taken cared of. Keep all the guests inside. They will not disturb the Slayer’s celebration. Sotiera.’ Is anyone else feeling a bit stalked?”
“As long as there’s plenty of wood, we have nothing to worry about. I guess,”Giles mused.”Sotiera...I believe that’s your personal guardian of the Mana-kai, Buffy. I must research about them more.”
Buffy groaned.“Not tonight, please. I just got married. And Junior’s still hungry.”
