Angel looked around quite pleased at the completely refurbished mansion. He didn’t have a lot left in the way of savings after this endeavor, but it was worth it. As he stood in the doorway looking at the main room, he thought about the work that had gone into its current state. There had been a crew of workmen here for months – repairing various damages, cleaning everything, and doing various other work to make the mansion like new.

It wasn’t entirely successful, but only Angel had to know that. A floor rug and the artful arranging of furniture covered the scorch mark from his return from Hell. No amount of scrubbing would remove that, it seemed, and he wasn’t going to pay the money to replace the floor. Beyond the main room with its large windows the mansion was still dark. That could not be helped, but the decor made it more welcoming.

That and the streamers, balloons, flowers, Christmas tree…the group of people hiding behind the couch…. Buffy’s friends and family were lying in wait to throw the new mother a welcome home party. A calm party (Angel insisted on Buffy’s behalf) was planned for when Buffy and the newest addition got out of the hospital. It was also a sort of a housewarming, since this would be the day Buffy officially moved into the mansion. Everyone wanted to spend time with Buffy and the new baby outside the hospital.

Angel smiled at the expectant gathering as he placed Buffy’s bag down on the couch. Buffy was still outside. He turned back around to accompany her and their newborn daughter into the house. He gently took Ailia from Buffy’s arms so that she could properly greet everyone when she got inside. The baby was sound asleep at the moment (thankfully) and Angel felt himself getting caught in her beautiful peaceful face. She was so tiny and perfect…he was constantly amazed. Angel had never spent much time around children; an infant was an entirely new experience.

He was drawn back to his surroundings by Buffy’s gasp of surprise. She was standing just inside the door, grinning wildly. Angel couldn’t be sure if her reaction was for the renovated mansion or the party, but it pleased him nonetheless.

Buffy turned to him in the doorway and kissed him lightly on the cheek. “Thank you,” she breathed in his ear, then turned full of smiles to say hello to everyone. Even Cordelia and Wesley were there, having closed the office in L.A. to get their first glimpse at the boss’ new baby.

As Angel watched Buffy fell into familiar patterns of interaction, laughing and talking with her long time friends. Her laughter warmed the previously cold stone room, making the mansion a home for the first time. Rarely had things felt so right.

Ailia began to fuss then, the voices having woken her. Angel rocked her in his arms and was about to go into the next room to try and quiet her when Joyce appeared at his side. “Hand me my granddaughter,” she said gently. Angel did so, and Mrs. Summers held the newborn to her shoulder and rocked on her feet like someone very used to holding babies. After a couple of moments Ailia quieted and Joyce smiled. “I never thought I’d be a grandmother so soon,” she said with a slight laugh. “Watch out. Everyone’s going to spoil her.”

“Even you?” Angel asked, smiling.

“Of course. Especially me. To spoil children is a grandmother’s job,” she replied. She paused for a moment, shifting Ailia slightly in her arms. “Do you mind if I take her around to meet everyone?” she asked politely.

Angel nodded. “Go ahead,” he said, and went back to watching the gathering at a distance.

Several minutes later Cordelia came to join him at the back of the room. The year in L.A. had matured her and instead of giving one of her usual biting comments she smiled sincerely. “She’s beautiful, Angel,” she said.

“Thanks,” Angel replied, then smiled. “I thought you didn’t like babies.”

“Hey, as long as I’m not the pregnant one they’re cool,” Cordelia defended herself. “Or changing their diapers, or cleaning their drool, or waking up in the middle of the night for them…which all falls to you. Good luck – I don’t envy you that.” She paused for a second. “Speaking of, and I know this isn’t really the time for that, but what are you going to do about the business?”

“I don’t know,” Angel explained. “I’m still thinking about that.”

“Okay then, I’ll leave you to thinking,” Cordelia said. She only took a couple of steps, though, before she turned to speak to Angel again. “Don’t you want to join the party?”

Angel hesitated. “I…”

“What? You’ve been perfecting your imitation of a wall for so long you’ve forgotten how to socialize?” She took Angel’s hand then, and drew the new father into the party.

Buffy was chatting animatedly with Xander on the couch. Giles was looking awkward holding Ailia under Joyce’s supervision. Willow was sitting next to him, grinning from ear to ear and waiting to see the baby. Wesley looked out of place, but not as out of place as Angel felt. Buffy, however, had never looked happier, and Angel was happy for her.

“Hey guys!” Cordelia called, drawing everyone’s attention. “Look who I found brooding in the corner.”

“I wasn’t brooding,” Angel defended himself as he sat opposite Buffy.

Cordelia shot him a ‘who do you think you’re kidding’ look, and Buffy laughed slightly.

Xander stood up. “Well, now that Dead Boy’s joined us the party can really begin,” he said with only a touch of expected sarcasm. He disappeared from the room and returned a moment later with a pile of presents.

Buffy’s eyes went wide. “You guys!” she said. “You didn’t have to do this.”

“Nonsense,” Wesley exclaimed.

“Absolutely,” Willow agreed. “Sort of think of this as a combined house warming, baby shower, and early Christmas party. There must be presents!”

Buffy wasn’t one to protest that, and another phase of the party began.

Angel nodded, closing the front door. The house seemed so silent in everybody’s wake. He came to sit beside Buffy, Ailia cradled in his arms sound asleep. She’d been remarkably well behaved, only fussing a couple of times. Angel was sure she’d be making up for it later.

Buffy smiled. “The place looks great,” she said. “All that work paid off, huh?”

“Yeah.” They sat together for a moment in silence. Angel looked at their Christmas tree, adorned with garland and a ‘baby’s first Christmas’ ornament with Ailia’s picture on it. There was now a significant pile of presents underneath. Angel chuckled. “Your mother said Ailia’s going to be spoiled,” he said.

Buffy followed his gaze and nodded in agreement. “She’s probably right.” She leaned into Angel’s shoulder then, wrapping her arms around his waist and gazing at their daughter. After a moment she tensed. “Angel?” she asked very oddly.

He turned his head to look at her with bewildered eyes. “What is it?” he asked softly, concerned.

“Are you breathing?” she asked just as softly.

Angel grinned then. “Yeah.” And he was, very slowly because he didn’t need much in the way of oxygen, but he had needed it to a degree for the last couple of days. Most definitely breathing.

Buffy’s eyes went wide. “How long?” she asked.

“Since Ailia was born,” Angel answered. That was the exact truth; father and daughter had taken their first breaths together.

Buffy’s tone went angry and began to rise. “Three days and you didn’t tell me?”

Angel smiled, trying to placate her. “I wanted to see how long it would take you to notice.”

“Why…you…”

“Shhh,” Angel said softly. “You’ll wake the baby.”

“If you weren’t holding her right now, I’d hit you.”

“No you wouldn’t,” Angel replied certainly.

Buffy fought a smile and failed. “You’re right,” she agreed finally and kissed him on the cheek. She reached up and placed a gentle hand against his neck. “So you breathe, but you don’t have a heart beat,” she said after a moment.

“Yeah.”

“Weird.”

Angel laughed slightly. “Buffy.”

“What?”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“I’m not worried. I think it’s neat.”

Angel chuckled then. With one hand around his love’s shoulder and the other cradling his newborn daughter, the three of them fell into a contented sleep.

I can tell by the way you’re walking,
you don’t want company
I’ll let you alone and I’ll let you walk on
and in your own good time you’ll be
Back where the sun can find you,
under the wise wishing tree
And with all of them made we’ll lie in the shade
and call it a jubilee

Until I receive Angel in leather pants, I'll keep asking for feedback
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