***

45

"This place hasn't changed a bit since I last saw it," Angel commented when he and Buffy walked through the front door of the beach house.

"Not much. Obviously, there have been a few changes made in the past six years. We converted one of the spare bedrooms into a playroom for Abby. But other than that, you're right, it hasn't changed," agreed Buffy, shutting the front door behind them.

He looked around. "Do you guys come here a lot?"

"Once every couple months or so. Last time we came here was Memorial Day weekend. Abby just loves the beach. I keep telling her that if she stays in the water too long, she'll turn into a fish."

"Maybe we should have brought her with us. Seeing as she loves the beach and all."

Buffy shook her head. "No way. I love my little girl to death, but there are times when I'm glad to be away from her. And now is one of those times. I can't tell you how glad I am that my dad suggested we come here."

Angel flashed her a guilty smile. It was time to come clean. "This wasn't actually your father's idea. It was mine. I thought it would be better if he broached the subject to you rather than me."

"Why didn't you want to do it?"

With a shrug of his shoulders, Angel sighed. "I guess I just didn't want you to know it was my idea. I didn't want you to think I wanted to come up here because…well, you know."

She nodded in understanding. "I know. Angel, that's the whole reason I wanted to be here with you this weekend."

"I thought you might think I was rushing things."

"Never. A snail moves faster than you have been in regards to us. If anything, I've been doing the rushing. All I have wanted since we've gotten back together is to be with you; feel your arms around me and hear you say how much you love me."

"We have the entire weekend for that," he told her. "I plan on making this weekend one we'll remember for the rest of our lives."

Buffy brought her hands to the buttons of his white oxford shirt. "Why wait?"

"Now? It's only eight o'clock," he reminded her.

She lifted her eyebrows. "Do you have a problem with that? I wanna be with you, more than anything or anyone. You're the only man who's ever wanted me."

"That's not true."

"Yes, it is," Buffy disagreed. "Both before and after you left, nobody wanted me. And I didn't want anyone who wasn't you. You're the only man I have ever made love to in my entire life."

"I find it hard to believe that you haven't been with anyone since we broke up," Angel said.

Buffy looked at him as if he'd just told her the moon was made out of green cheese. "What man would've wanted me? I was carrying too much baggage. First and foremost being the fact that I've always been in love with you. That never changed, nor will it ever. Secondly, there's Abrielle. A kid turns most guys right off; who wants to go out for a romantic dinner with his girlfriend's kid? Very few men, that's who. The few guys who did happen to show an interest in me were turned off by the revelation that I have a child with another man. Lastly, I'm fat again. Buffy the Blimp."

"Good god, Buffy. You're hardly fat. You're beautiful."

"It's been five years and I'm still twenty pounds overweight."

"Who cares? I certainly don't," he stated truthfully. He loved her no matter what she looked like.

"You're not the one who has to look at this body in the mirror every single day."

Angel took a step closer to her. Now there was no space between them; their bodies were mere millimeters from touching. "I see you now. And you're the same person I fell in love with."

"But-"

He decided to interrupt her with a kiss. Though it was originally meant as a ploy to quiet her, it quickly turned passionate. While Buffy's hands fiddled with his shirt buttons in an attempt to remove the article of clothing, Angel's wound their way through her long hair. When the two finally had to come up for air, their eyes met and smiles danced across their lips.

"Thought you wanted to go slow," Buffy teased. "Wanted to wait."

Angel took her hand in his, leading her to the couch. "We've waited six years to be like this again. I'm going to make it last, and I'm gonna make it worth the wait."

***

"Hey, Grandpa?" Abrielle started after Mr. Summers had placed her in the tub for her nightly bath.

"What, Princess?"

"Why didn't Mommy and Daddy come with us? I thought grown-ups liked Disneyland, too."

He grinned. "They do. It's just that your mom and dad wanted to spend some time together. Alone."

"Where'd they go?" she wanted to know.

"To the beach."

Abrielle giggled. "Are they gonna kiss?"

"Maybe. If they want to."

Her face lit up with excitement. An idea had come to her. "When they come back, are they bringing a baby home with them?"

Mr. Summers wished he knew where his granddaughter was coming up with such things. "No, I'm sorry, Abby. You don't get babies that way. You have to wait a long time for one."

"How long?"

"Long." The last thing he wanted to do was explain to a five-year old where babies came from. "A long, long time."

The answer seemed to satisfy her. "What are they doing at the beach?"

"Talking," he told her. Though he seriously doubted there would be much talking done between the couple that weekend.

***

"Where are we going?" Buffy asked the next night after dinner. Angel had grabbed her by the hand and dragged her out the door to the beach.

He smiled down at his confused girlfriend. "For a walk to the pier. I thought it would be nice to watch the sunset there."

Buffy had to admit, it was a romantic idea, and Angel was nothing if not romantic. And she loved it. "Okay."

Wanting to make it there in time, Angel half-dragged her down the sandy shoreline. Both were out of breath when they reached their destination, but they made it with a few minutes to spare.

"I always forget how beautiful it is here," Buffy stated. "Do you remember the first time we came here together?"

"Sure do. Prom weekend, the day after we made love for the first time. That old lady saw us kissing and told us we'd be together forever." He took a nervous breath. "That's why I picked this place."

"Huh?"

"Buffy, I love you, and I will always love you. We are meant to be together, I honestly believe that. And we have been through hell and heartache, and yet here we are, together again. I won't blow it this time around.

"I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to raise our children together and grow old with you by my side. Truth is, I wanted to do this years ago and I should have. But I didn't, and things happened. Awful things."

Angel pulled a black velvet box out of his pocket, then bent down on one knee. "Will you marry me?"

She was so overwhelmed that she didn't give him an answer. All she could see was the sunlight playing upon the diamond ring Angel was offering her.

"Buffy?" he said.

"What?" she asked., breaking out of her reverie. "Oh, yes. Yes, I'll marry you!"

He took the ring out of the box and placed it on her finger. "Guess this makes it official. I told you I'd make this weekend one we'd both remember forever."

"You planned this?"

He nodded. "Yep. I didn't just bring you here so we could have sex. I brought you here to ask you to be my wife."

"I love you, my Angel." She put her arms around him and kissed him with all the love she felt in her heart for him.

"And I love you, too, my beloved."

***

46

The knock sounding at the front door woke Melissa up from her nap. It had been a long day at work of filing and answering telephones at the local OB/GYN's office where she worked full-time. Stretching her tired body and yawning, she heard it again.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming," she whined as she trudged to the living room, still only half-awake. Opening the door, she was dumbstruck at who she found standing there. "Buffy."

Buffy shifted her weight from one foot to the other. "Hi, Melissa. Do you mind if I come in? I'd really like to talk to you."

Melissa unlocked the door and took a few steps back, allowing Buffy to come inside. When she had, they walked to the kitchen in order to sit down. Buffy took the seat across the table from Angel's sister.

"It's been a long time since we've seen each other," Buffy commented.

She agreed. "Eight months. The day of my mom's funeral. You look great, by the way."

"Thank you." In the six months that had passed since Angel proposed to her, Buffy lost all the extra weight she had gained from her pregnancy. She had been determined to regain her pre-pregnancy figure before their Valentine's Day nuptials. There was no way she wasn't going to look perfect the day she became Mrs. Angel Riches. So she exercised until she lost the weight.

"H-How is everyone doing?" Melissa stuttered. "I haven't exactly been clued in on what's going on in everyone's life lately."

"We're good. Abrielle started kindergarten back in September and she's doing great. Smart as a whip, just like her father. Not to mention that Angel and I have been fairly busy getting stuff ready."

She nodded her head. "Yeah, I read about the engagement in the paper. Congratulations." Melissa couldn't help but notice the diamond ring her future sister-in-law wore. It wasn't overly flashy, but she could tell it cost her brother a fortune. When it came to showing affection for the people he loved, Angel spared no expense.

"Thank you," Buffy said for the second time.

"When is it? The newspaper article I read stated that you hadn't set a date yet."

"It's going to be on Valentine's Day. We didn't want to wait too long; you never know what might happen."

"I understand. How is Angel?" Melissa wanted to know. The siblings hadn't spoken in over six months.

"He's fine. Been battling a case of writer's block on the latest book. Doesn't quite know what to do with Nick."

"I used to love coming up with ideas for those characters of his. Did you know that turning Jacob into a vampire in the second book was my idea?" she asked. "He needed a reason for Nick to join Emily's circle and I came up with one. Turning his best friend into a vampire."

Buffy smiled. "I had no idea. But I know that the Slayer series is his baby, and there are times when I wonder if he cares more about those damn characters than he does me."

"Never. My brother loves you with all his heart, anyone can see that. Anyone who read FIRE AND ICE can see it, Buffy."

"You're right, I'm just being self-piteous." She inhaled deeply. "Melissa, I know things between you and Angel have been strained since your mother died."

"He won't speak to me," Melissa stated simply. "No ifs, ands or buts about it."

"With the wedding coming up in two weeks, I'd hate it if all of our family wasn't there to celebrate it with us. Even though you and Angel aren't on speaking terms, I know he'll never forgive himself if his own twin sister isn't there on his wedding day. That's the reason I came over here today, Melissa. I want you to be a part of our wedding."

It left the woman speechless. "You want me in the wedding? Isn't it a little last minute?"

"I think you misunderstood what I meant. I want you to be there for the wedding ceremony and the reception afterwards. You're not going to be in the wedding party. I'm going behind Angel's back as it is; he doesn't know I'm here."

"Oh." She felt embarrassed for making such an assumption. Of course she wouldn't be a part of the wedding party. Not when she had lied in order to keep the bride and groom apart.

"Look, Melissa, I'm not doing this for me, I'm doing it for Angel. You're all the family he has left except for a few aunts, uncles and cousins. And even though what you did was wrong and unforgivable, you should be there."

She cast her eyes to the kitchen table. "I never did apologize to you for what I did. I was jealous of you and I thought you were only out to hurt Angel. It never crossed my mind that your feelings for him were true."

"You know now. Despite what you did, Angel and I are together. We have a lovely daughter and we'll be married in a few weeks. Goes to show that true love does conquer all."

"I'm sorry. I kept Abby from getting to know her father. And I wouldn't wish that on anyone, especially since I know what it's like to grow up without a father."

"If you had known that I was pregnant, would that have changed things?" Buffy asked.

"Yeah, it would have," Melissa answered with a nod of her head. "I wouldn't have done it. I can't take back what I did, or turn back time so that it'll never happen. But I *can* tell you how heartfully sorry I am."

Buffy gave her a small smile. "I can accept that."

***

"How are you holding up, man?" Xander asked his best friend twenty minutes before the wedding ceremony began.

Angel took a deep breath and adjusted his tie so that it was straight. "Nervous. Like there're a million butterflies in my stomach just dying to make a break for it."

"What do you have to be nervous about? The sun is shining, there isn't a cloud in the sky and you're half an hour away from marrying the woman you love," he said. "Everything is perfect."

"What if Buffy changes her mind? What if she doesn't want to marry me anymore?"

Xander sighed with exasperation. "She's been in love with you for how long? Almost twenty years? Somehow, I don't think she's going to change her mind. It's a done deal; she wants to marry you for some strange reason."

A knock was heard from the other side of the door, and Mr. Summers walked in. "You guys almost ready?"

Angel visibly paled. "Why? Is it time? It can't be time yet."

"No, it isn't time yet. Although I do have someone here who is dying to see you."

"Who? It's not Buffy, is it? We're not supposed to see each other until the ceremony starts."

"Not Buffy." He opened the door wider, revealing Abrielle, standing there with a smile on her face, her chestnut hair in ringlets and wearing a light pink dress.

She ran over to her father, jumping immediately into his awaiting arms. "Hi, Daddy!"

"Hiya, honey. What are you doing here? Why aren't you with your mom and Aunt Cordelia?" Angel asked his daughter.

"They're opening presents and stuff. 'Sides, I wanted to see you."

"You look beautiful Your dress is very pretty," Angel complimented.

"Thank you," Abrielle replied cordially. "You should see Mommy's dress. It's white and long and pretty. She looks like a princess."

He kissed her on the cheek. "That's because your mom is a princess."

She giggled. "Am I a princess, too?"

"You bet. You're my princess."

"Dad, when you and Mom come back from your honeymoon, am I gonna have a baby brother or sister?"

"Maybe. But I can't guarantee it."

"Yea!" she shouted. There was nothing Abrielle wanted more than to be a big sister.

Angel put her down and Xander walked the flower girl back to the Bride's Room. While he was waiting for his best man's return, the anxious groom silently slumped down onto a chair.

"Is something wrong, Angel?" Mr. Summers wanted to know. "You look melancholy all of a sudden."

"I was just thinking about my mother. All she wanted was for me and Buffy to be together. It was her last wish. And now here I am, on my wedding day and she isn't here to share it with me. It doesn't seem right."

"Adrienne should be here; it isn't fair that she was taken away from us so suddenly. She and I weren't close the last few years of her life, but I know how thrilled she'd be," he agreed.

"It's times like this when I wish I had a father. A real father, one who cared."

Mr. Summers sat down next to his soon-to-be son-in-law. "If you'd like, I'll be your father. From the first day I saw you in that hospital nursery, it had been a dream of mine. Besides, you're already family, Angel."

***

// It's a little bit funny, this feeling inside

I'm not one of those who can easily hide

I don't have much money, but boy if I did

I'd buy a big house where we could both live

If I was a sculptor, but then again, no

Or a man who makes potions in a traveling show

I know it's not much, but it's the best I can do

My gift is my song and this one's for you \\

"You know," Angel started, after he'd gathered his wife in his arms for their first dance as husband and wife. "I almost fainted when I saw you walking down the aisle to me. I couldn't believe you were still gonna do it."

"Did you think I was going to change my mind? No way, buddy. You're stuck with me for the rest of your natural life," Buffy replied.

"There's nobody else I'd rather be stuck with. I love you more than anything."

She rested her head on his shoulder. "Me, too."

// And you can tell everybody this is your song

It may be quite simple but now that it's done

I hope you don't mind, I hope you don't mind

That I put down in words

How wonderful life is while you're in the world \\

"It feels better the second time around," Angel whispered, thinking Buffy wouldn't be able to hear him.

She lifted her head to look him in the eye. "Second time around? What do you mean by that?"

"I married you for the first time when we were eighteen. Remember, on graduation day when I gave you that ring?"

Buffy nodded. "The claddagh ring. Yeah, I remember."

"Well, I took an Irish folklore course back at Emerson when I was a sophomore and that's when I found out what it symbolized. According to Irish tradition, you and I have been married for six and a half years," he informed her.

"I know. I mean, I knew the legend even when you gave me the ring. My mom had one and explained the story behind it year ago."

He stared at her incredulously. "You've known all this time and you never told me? Why?"

"Guess I didn't want to scare you away."

//I sat on the roof and kicked off the moss

But a few of these verses, well they've got me quite cross

But the sun's been quite kind while I wrote this song

It's for people like you that keep it turned on

So excuse me for forgetting, but these things I do

You see, I've forgotten if they're green or they're blue

Anyway, the thing is, what I really mean

Yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen \\

"Abby asked me something interesting this morning before the wedding," Angel said.

"What?"

He smiled at the memory. "She wanted to know if we were going to bring back a baby brother or sister with us from our honeymoon," he told her.

"What did you say?"

"I told her we might."

Buffy's emerald eyes widened. "We might? Are you saying what I think you're saying?"

"I think Abrielle should have a brother or sister. Or a few. In my mind, I'd be a good father, and I know what a great mother you are. But, as long as it's okay with you, I'd like more children. And I'd like to start trying as soon as possible."

"I wasn't sure if you wanted more kids."

"I've always wanted a big family. And I don't want that family with anyone but you."

"So do I," she said. "I want to carry your baby inside me again. You've made this the best day of my life, you know that?"

Angel laughed. "I take it you like being the new Mrs. Riches."

"It feels like a dream come true."

***

47

The newlyweds had decided to split their honeymoon between two destinations. For the first three days, Buffy and Angel stayed at their beach house. As a wedding present, Mr. Summers gave it to them, knowing how much it meant to them as a couple. The house was one of Buffy's favorite places to go as a child, and the same was true for her daughter. He had wanted to give the couple something special, and he couldn't think of anymore more special than the beach house.

After three days, Buffy and Angel flew to Virginia Beach for the last week-and-a-half of their vacation. Neither of them had ever been there before, but knew that it was a beautiful location with plenty to do during the day. They'd driven to Washington D.C. one day and to Alexandria another. At night, though, there was always something to keep them occupied, whether it be a moonlight stroll along the boardwalk or just simply staying in the room.

On their last full day in Virginia, Angel awoke early, struck with inspiration. He had been battling writer's block on the sixth book of the series, called THE PACK. In it, Emily's friend Nick becomes possessed by the spirit of a hyena along with four trouble-making classmates. The story flowed smoothly until it was time for the climactic scene. Angel had no idea what would be the climax, until now.

When he'd woken up just after dawn, he knew. It had come to him: the pack of hyena-possessed students - sans Nick - would eat the principal. It would be a major plot twist none of his devoted readers would see coming. Not wanting to wake his still-sleeping wife, Angel took his laptop computer out onto the balcony, hoping that the sound of the crashing waves might further inspire him.

He was so deeply involved in his writing that Angel never heard Buffy wake up and come up behind him. When he felt two hands touching his shoulders, he jumped. He sighed with relief when he saw that it was his wife.

"Buffy," he said, his heart still pounding. "You scared me half to death."

"Sorry," she apologized, bending down to place a kiss on his lips. Her hands massaged his muscles, feeling the knots between her fingers. "You know, honeymoons are supposed to be relaxing, but you're more tense than I've ever seen you."

"I'm relaxed, believe me."

She raised her eyebrows suspiciously. "Are you really? 'Cause I always classified relaxing as laying around in bed until we start to feel extremely lazy. And I get the feeling you haven't been out here for just ten minutes."

"Three hours, actually," Angel admitted. "All the typing didn't wake you, did it? I tried to be quiet."

"No, you didn't wake me. But I find it a little disconcerting to wake up at nine-thirty in the morning to an otherwise empty bed. Especially when I wanted to lay in my husband's arms for a little while longer."

"I'd been playing with this idea last night for the book, trying to figure out what could happen next. And it came to me this morning when I woke up. So I came out here to get it written while it was still fresh in my mind."

Still massaging his shoulders, Buffy curved her head downward to caress his neck with her lips. "Were you working out this plot idea of yours while we were making love last night?" she whispered in his ear.

The touch of her lips and the feeling of her breath on his neck sent the blood rushing straight to Angel's groin. "No, never," he replied huskily.

Buffy closed the laptop, which was sitting open on his lap, then placed it on the table next to the chair he was sitting on. "I think three hours is enough work for today. Time for something more…relaxing."

He knew exactly what she had in mind. "I need to get this out before I forget it."

"You've worked hard enough and long enough, my love. Let me help you forget for a little while."

***

48

SIX MONTHS LATER

It was five minutes to ten when Buffy stepped out of the bathroom following her shower. Upon walking into the master bedroom of the split-level home she and Angel bought shortly after their wedding, she found him sitting in bed with the laptop resting on his lap.

"Did you come up with any ideas yet?" she wanted to know. "You've been sitting there with that laptop attached to your hip for the past three days."

He shook his head. "Nothing. Maybe this plot twist is all wrong. It might be a big mistake."

"Don't say that, it's a great idea. The audience will be so surprised when they find out Alex is a vampire," Buffy assured him.

"I still don't know…"

"Well, what do the fans say when they write to you?"

Angel sighed. "Most of them are pushing for an Emily/Alex relationship. Having her find out the guy she's in love with is a 240-year old vampire might be too much."

"I think it's a terrific idea. Arch-enemies falling in love despite the fact that they've been programmed to hate each other…it's angsty and brilliant. Go for it, Angel. You have nothing to lose. Think of all the plot lines you could use in the future."

"I don't know where to go from here."

She sat down next to him. "Do you want to tell me? I might be able to help."

"This is as far as I've gotten so far. Emily sneaked Alex into her room the night before because she was afraid he'd be attacked by the three assassins they had fought earlier. She goes into her bedroom the next day to give him some food to eat and they start talking. One thing leads to another and they start to kiss. That's when Alex switches into game face. That's all I got so far."

"Is he a bad vampire?"

"No. Something made him change, but I don't know what."

Buffy thought for a minute. "He was cursed by gypsies in the nineteenth century for killing their favorite daughter. Alex was given a soul. He was so plagued by the guilt of his atrocious crimes that he has never fed off a living human being since that day."

"That's great, I love it. You should be writing this."

"I'll stick to taking pictures, thank you."

"Then what?"

She grinned mischievously. "Emily takes a home pregnancy test and finds out she's pregnant."

"Emily hasn't slept with anyone. I want Alex to be the first, but not for some time later. She can't be pregnant."

"Okay…so have the author's wife take a home pregnancy test and discover she's pregnant."

Angel stared at her like he was a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming car. "You're…you…we…" he stumbled.

Buffy nodded. "Uh-huh. I'm six weeks late and according to the test I just took, it's positive. We're having another baby."

He was at a loss for words. So he placed his hand on her belly, as if he were trying to feel their baby. "Our baby is in there."

"Yep."

"And I'll be here to see it all. I'll be able to experience everything I missed out on with Abrielle."

"You won't be so happy about that when I start to have the midnight cravings, mood swings, morning sickness and all the other fun stuff that goes along with being pregnant."

Angel ran his hands through her hair, stroking her cheek with the other. "I love you so much. And I am so happy we're having another baby."

"So am I. Abby's going to be a big sister, she'll be so excited. But since she's at day camp and we can't tell her right away, maybe we should have a private celebration."

"You shouldn't be drinking."

She loosened the top button on his shirt. "That wasn't the kind of celebration I was talking about, Daddy."

***

MARCH 23, 2009

In room 326 of Sunnydale Hospital, Buffy sat up in bed, holding her newborn daughter. She had been born the day before, at five twenty-eight in the afternoon, weighing eight pounds, five ounces. Already, she and Angel's daughter had a tuft of blonde hair on top of her tiny head and the most piercing blue eyes, like the Pacific Ocean.

Unbeknownst to Buffy, her husband stood in the doorway, watching them. It was a sight to behold: Buffy cradling their day-old daughter in her arms. The sight nearly brought a tear to his eye. He wanted to remember this moment for the rest of his life.

"Feeling up for some visitors?" Angel asked, announcing his presence.

Buffy looked up and smiled. "I'd love some. How long have you been standing there? I didn't even see you."

"Almost a minute. I couldn't take my eyes off my two beautiful girls."

"But Abby's not here."

He laughed. "I meant my other two girls. You and our new daughter. She looks just like her mother."

"Poor kid."

"Hey! Don't talk like that. She's lovely. Don't start."

"Who's watching Abrielle? Did you drop her off at Cordy's apartment before you came here?" Buffy wanted to know.

"Nope, she's here. Your father offered to take her to the bathroom so we could be alone for a few minutes." He glanced at his newborn daughter. "How is she today?"

Buffy sighed, inserting her finger between the baby's balled-up fist. "Tired, like her mother. But she seems very alert. Hasn't made a sound since the nurse brought her in here. And that was over forty-five minutes ago."

Angel sat down on the bed next to her, careful not to jostle the baby and wake her up. "You know, we really should give her a name. We can't call her 'it' for the rest of her life."

"Yeah, I was thinking about that last night."

"And did you come up with any ideas?"

"A few. Samantha, Alison, Sarah and Gillian. What do you think?"

He smiled, thinking about the different names she'd chosen. "Gillian Riches…it has a nice ring to it. I like that one."

"Abrielle Joyce and Gillian Adrienne. Our mothers will live on in our children."

"Mom!" Abrielle shouted when she entered the room.

Out of breath, Mr. Summers came in behind her. "Don't shout like that in a hospital. It's not polite and it might wake some of the babies. People are tired and need their sleep."

"Sorry, Grandpa," she apologized.

"Want to see your new little sister?" Angel asked her.

Abrielle's face lit up like a Christmas tree. She had been dying to see the new baby all day long. "Yeah!"

Angel picked her up and sat her down on his lap. A huge smile adorned the seven-year old's face, her green eyes sparkled with glee. "She's so little," she commented. "Is she always going to be so little?"

"Nope," her mother answered. "She's going to be as big as you are in a couple of years. But you'll always be her big sister."

"Wow. Can I touch her?"

"How would you like to hold her?" questioned Buffy. She ignored the look of terror in Angel's eyes, knowing he was thinking that Abrielle was far too young. But she completely trusted their daughter.

Abrielle's jaw dropped. "Can I?"

"Sure. Push your dad out of the way and sit next to me."

Against his better judgement, Angel stood up, allowing her to take his spot on the bed. He cast a nervous sigh when Buffy gently placed Gillian in Abrielle's arms, but relaxed when she didn't move the baby around. Instead, she just stared at Gillian, almost as if in awe of the baby.

"Have you two decided on a name yet?" Mr. Summers asked them.

Buffy nodded, keeping a careful watch on Abrielle. "Gillian Adrienne Riches. I wanted to name her after Angel's mother. After all, I named Abrielle after Mom. It only seemed fair."

Mr. Summers' eyes teared up when Buffy informed him of his new granddaughter's name. 'Now the two women I loved will live on forever in our granddaughters.' "It's beautiful. And Gillian is absolutely perfect. An exact replica of you when you were born, Buffy. You're so very lucky."

"I'm the luckiest person alive. Every single one of my wishes has come true. I am married to the man I've loved for my entire life, I have two adorable daughters and I'm making a living doing what I love. Life is perfect."

***

49

SIXTEEN YEARS LATER

The sun's rays shone into the bedroom window of Buffy and Angel's room. It woke him up, causing him to rub his eyes. Looking over at the alarm clock, he noted that it was almost six-thirty. 'Six and a half more hours. I can't believe it,' he thought. 'It's gone by so fast.'

Buffy lay in his arms, her head using his shoulder as a pillow. Even after seventeen years of marriage and four children, she was still beautiful; and still made his breath catch in his throat. Thirty years ago, he never would have imagined himself married to her, much less blissfully happy. In fact, he probably would have laughed in the face of the person who told him his life would be like this. Angel had never pictured himself married to Sunnydale's Ice Princess.

Their life was seemingly perfect. Buffy opened a studio and became a professional photographer, making a name for herself in the world of advertising and print ads. Ten years earlier, a year before the birth of their first son Matthew, she went out on tour with one of the most popular bands at the time as their official photographer.

Angel had continued writing the Slayer series; the books had become wildly popular, spawning a TV series and two successful movies. He even tried his hand at television writing, but preferred to stay at home in Sunnydale and write. As well as take care of the children while Buffy was working. In essence, he became a stay-at-home dad. He didn't want to miss out on one moment of his children's lives, like he had with the first five years of Abrielle's life.

After twelve years of not talking to one another, Angel and Melissa finally made peace. It happened when her third child, with her husband Cameron, died. Little Michael was playing ball in the front yard and was hit by a speeding car when his ball rolled into the street. The twins, at the funeral, decided that life was too short to spend it hating one another.

"Buffy," he whispered in her ear. "Time to wake up."

She moaned, but didn't open her eyes. It was daylight, though she knew it was far too early to be getting out of bed. "Not yet," she complained. "Still tired."

"It's Saturday. Remember what day it is?"

She thought, then opened her eyes with a start. How could she have forgotten? "It's Abby's wedding day!"

"Uh-huh. You didn't think I was going to let you sleep away the whole day, did you?" he joked. "The mother of the bride has to get up and get ready."

When she looked at the time, Buffy sighed. "It's only six-thirty. We don't have to be at the salon until eight. Why are you waking me up so damn early?"

"Because I know how long it takes you to crawl out of bed."

Buffy sat up, followed in suit by Angel. "Can you believe it? Our little Abrielle is getting married in a few hours."

"I know."

"She's too young. Just twenty-four years old."

"That's the same age we were when we got married," Angel pointed out. "She and Gavin have known each other since kindergarten, and have been dating since Junior High. They love each other."

She nodded her head. "Yeah, I know. But doesn't it make you feel kind of old, though?"

"We're only forty-three, Buffy. It's hardly old."

"I do feel old. When I was doing my hair for the wedding rehearsal last night, I found four gray hairs. Four! I've got gray hair!"

Angel laughed. "So do I, love. And mine's much more noticeable than yours is, believe me."

"On you it looks distinguished. People are going to be looking at me during the wedding ceremony and wonder why you're married to such an old woman," she whined.

"Since when did you get so concerned about your looks? You look beautiful."

"You won't be saying that when I start to sag and wrinkle up and gain another thirty pounds."

"Trust me, you're not sagging. You look just like you did back in high school. Just as beautiful and just as desirable."

She frowned. "You are just saying that to shut me up."

He pulled her into his arms. "How about if I show you?"

***

Abrielle was about to knock on her parents' bedroom door when she stopped suddenly. From inside, she heard low moans and the sound of the bed springs squeaking. She laughed.

"And here I thought I'd have to wake them up. Sounds like they're already awake," she muttered. "And up."

Gillian came up behind her. "Aren't you going to wake up Mom and Dad? We're gonna be late if they don't hurry up."

"I'd say they're up."

She wrinkled her nose. "What are you talking about? Why haven't they come down for breakfast yet?" she wanted to know.

"They are busy."

"Doing what?"

Abrielle sighed. "Can't you hear them? Mom and Dad are having sex, Gillian."

"Ew! I don't want to hear that! That's gross."

"I think it's sweet. After all these years, they still find each other sexy."

"You're gross, Abby. Those are our parents you're talking about."

"I hope Gavin and I are like them when we've been married for twenty years. So in love with each other. You'd think Mom and Dad were still teenagers, the way they act sometimes. I want my marriage to be just like theirs," she stated.

***

"Still think you're old?" Angel asked. "I couldn't keep up with you."

She giggled. "I might need a refresher later on."

"After the wedding. I think we should make an appearance downstairs before the kids wonder what happened to us."

"Good idea," Buffy agreed. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For making all my dreams come true. You loved me, married me and gave me four wonderful children. You gave me everything I ever wanted, Angel," she told him.

Angel kissed her lovingly on the lips. "I love you. Forever."

"Forever. I like the sound of that."

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