Angelus sat at her bedside.
Hand on her belly; he contemplated the new emotions running through him.
He thought about the taste of her blood, the smell of it, and no matter what else;
he was still an evil vampire.

Yes, he loved her. He admitted that to himself only. Yes, he was starting to love their baby but
he craved her blood more and more each day.

How many times would Angelus die? How many deaths would it take to end him completely?
Could he stake Angel and pretend to be the one with a soul?
‘Never’, he thought sneeringly. ‘Never could I take the soul’s place as a soul. I could just do it
as I am now.’

/Are you now…\ the thought whispered through his mind.
~~~~~~~~~~~~

/Or ever were.\ The thought came unbidden in Angel’s mind.
‘Or ever were what?’ He wondered.
He walked out of the elevator and down the hospital corridor to Buffy’s room.

He heard heartbeat after heartbeat as he zeroed in on Buffy’s and their unborn daughter. Both were calm..
Angelus must be there. Though Angel sensed a vampire close by.

Imagine his shock when he saw that it was Spike humming a low tune to Buffy.
“I thought Angelus would be here.” Angel said softly, but a little harshly too.

“Hey now mate, he had some business to attend to, if you know what I mean.”
Spike walked around the bed to the doorway.
“Guess I’ll be leaving now.”
He tried to pass Angel but Angel grabbed his arm and turned him toward Buffy’s bed.

“What game are you two playing at, William?” He pushed his accent forward to let Spike know he didn’t
like nor appreciate whatever it was that he and Angelus were doing.

“You may think because I am here and not around the two of you, I am oblivious to all else, but Willie me boyo, trust me, I shall find out.”
Angel gave him a tiny shove away from the bed and he took his sit next to his wife and child.

Spike briefly wondered if he was staring at Angelus and his notorious mood swings or Angel and his broodiness.
“You know what? I’m not sticking around to be played with by either of you or Buffy when she wakes up.”
He marched out and decided he didn’t care which one it was, they weren’t going to play him like a lap dog or
lost puppy!

Angel smirked, he knew that would rile Spike a bit.

“That wasn’t very nice Angel.” Buffy whispered.

Angel smiled broadly. “I know love, I couldn’t resist though.”
He rubbed her stomach for her and then kissed her lips.
“How do you feel today?”

“Rested. Restless.” She laughed. “I’m not really sure. I have a headache though.” She grimaced and rubbed her forehead a bit.
Angel frowned and searched his memory from the reading they did..
He leaned forward and pushed the call button on the monitor.

“Yes?” a sweet low voice answered.

“Buffy is awake and she says she has a headache.” Angel replied.

“I’ll be there in a moment.” She said.

Quite literally, a few heartbeats later she came in.
“Now, Miss Summers, do you think you need some fresh air?”
She looked expectantly at Buffy, waiting.

“I can go out, even though its getting dark?”
Buffy hoped so, she wanted to be with Angel in the night air.

“Of course, there is an area designated just for night time walks.”

“I can walk around?”

“Oh certainly, I think your man can help you some, don’t you think so?”
She looked at Angel this time.
Camilla, the nurse, waited.

“Yes ma’am. I can do that.” Angel said proudly.
‘Finally something I can do right.’ he thought.

They helped Buffy in the wheelchair and helped her put on her robe.
“There usually is a cool breeze coming in off the water at this time
of night, dears. I think it will do you some good.”

Angel could almost feel Buffy’s anticipation. He heard her blood rushing through her,
her heartbeat speed up and it was the sweetest sound he hadn’t heard for awhile.
~~~~~~~

Angelus punched Knox in the face.
“The spell, dammit! Do you want to die? Is that it, you don’t care about
your life?” Vampiric features to the fore and his growling certainly was frightening
but Knox knew he would rather die to this vampire than live to face the Senior Partners.

Knox laughed a pitiful sound or mirth and told him. “I give you the spell, you kill me in return, fair enough?”

“Deal!” Angelus growled.
He was going to get the spell to go back, the spell and glamour for the beast and then
he would graciously kill this boy!

He was handing over paper and pen to Knox when the doors flew open and
he stopped.

Harmony, Spike, Gunn, Fred, Wes, and Lorne came marching in.
“Hell, what now!”

“You can’t kill him.” Fred said somewhat breathlessly, “If you kill him, his death will open up a portal that will suck in the entire world!”

to be continued….
______________________
AN: I wanted to leave you with something before Christmas and I dont know when I can start writing again.
Have a happy holiday season, a Merry Christmas, and a happy New Year
Brittany