Title: Child of Love

Author: +Faith+

Disclaimer: You know I don’t own them and you know who they belong to. Joss and Co., FOX, WB etc. Oh! And the little alien/demon guy who actually cried at the end of Becoming 1+2!! J

Rating: PG

Spoilers: IWRY, maybe a few others. Don’t read this if you don’t know the B/A history, put it that way!

Description: I like answering challenges huh? Here’s the challenge for this one:

Write a story using the following: --Someone's parents (other than Buffy's mother) --One of the Scooby Gang wearing leather pants --A baby/little kid --A meteor shower --College applications --Reference to the movie "Labyrinth" or "The Princess Bride" Janet www.oocities.org/celticair.geo/buffy.html Authors Notes: Italics: thoughts <<>>: My notes **italics: memories ~~~***~~~***~~~: dreams Dedication: This is for all you guys who gave me great feedback and support in my last 2 fics and for all the B/A shippers out there!! J Part One:

ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS: 2000

Angel sighed, his mind wandering from the book he was trying to read. Trying being the operative word! His thoughts just kept turning to Buffy, he couldn’t help it. He missed her so much and everything he seemed to see lately seemed to remind him of her. He suddenly chuckled, remembering the Savage Garden song he had heard on the radio yesterday when Cordy had it blaring away.

Here I go again, I promised myself
I wouldn’t think of you today
It’s been seven months and counting
You’ve moved on
I still feel exactly the same.
It’s just that everywhere I go all the buildings call your name
Like photographic memories of love.
Steal and granite reminders
The city calls your name and I can’t move on.

He sighed again, this time a sigh of wistfulness. He couldn’t live without her, yet he had to. If only when he became human, he had still had his vampire strength. Then that one perfect day he and Buffy had shared could have been what the rest of their life was like…

"Well that’s not what happened bud, so get over it! Jeez! You haven’t changed a bit have you? Still brooding!"

Angel jumped and spun around, trying to work out where the broad Irish accent had been coming from. Looking around the room he saw no one and sighed again. Just his imagination play tricks on him again. Now there was another person he missed. Doyle. Sure, Wesley was great but it just wasn’t the same.

Angel heard a deep laugh and then Doyle’s voice again.

"You can only see me if you believe Angel! Gosh, I would have thought that you, of all people, would know that one!"

Angel turned around, willing himself to see Doyle and sure enough, there he was, sitting in Cordy’s chair. A chair Angel thought, that was empty.

"Doyle! What are you doing here?" Angel said, a slight frown creasing his forehead. He guessed that Doyle wasn’t here for fun, the Powers That Be probably wanted something.

"Correct! You!" Doyle said, grinning as Angel stood there looking confused. "The Oracles want to see you Angel. I don’t know why so don’t ask me! I’m just the messenger."

Angel still looked confused. "How did you, I’m mean, did you just…"

"Read your mind? Yeah, I did. A little bonus that comes with the job. A drawback though? No drinking!" Doyle looked at his ex-boss with a wistful look on his face and Angel tried not to laugh. He remembered how much Doyle loved his drinks.

"So, how am I supposed to meet them Doyle? They were killed."

"Hey man, as I said, I’m just the messenger. I have no idea. Bet you’ll think of something though." Doyle grinned and he began to fade away.

"Hey!" Angel called out. "Wait! What am I…"

"Sorry mate," Doyle interrupted. "Duty calls. I’ll see you ‘round Angel." With that, the image of the half demon disappeared, leaving a confused Angel behind. He looked across the room at the clock and sighed for what must have been the 100th time that day. Cordy was late. AGAIN. He quickly scribbled her a note explaining what was going on and left the building, heading to the local jewelers.

Part Two:

"Enter warrior. What have you bought us?"

Angel grinned in relief. They had been replaced. He entered the room of the Oracles to find two new and very different Oracles there from the last time he had been there. They were still male and female, just like last time, but these two had a completely different air about them. Angel could tell, just by looking at them that though they were still very powerful, they weren’t quite as wise or powerful as the last two.

He fished around in his pockets before bringing out a box, which he handed to the female Oracle. She opened it curiously to find a beautiful amethyst necklace inside, resting in the velvet.

"Well done warrior. You have out done yourself. I thank you very much." She smiled at him but the other, the male, was not so impressed.

"You forget me warrior?" He said, an amused look on his face.

"Of course not wise one. It is simply your turn next time." Angel said, a grin spreading across his face. The female Oracle gave a tinkling laugh and the male smiled.

"Very well." He said. "But are you so sure there is going to be a next time?"

Angel chuckled. He liked this male Oracle much better than the last. The last one had been too suspicious of Angel, something he didn’t like.

"How can there not be, oh great one? I am forever cursed…surely during forever there will be some need for us to meet again." The two Oracles smiled.

"But are you so sure about that warrior. Do you forget the prophecy?"

"Of course not. How could I?" He said quietly, remembering how much he wished for the prophecy to come true during Buffy’s lifetime. "But what have I been called here for this time?"

"We were wondering how long it would take you to ask that warrior." The female Oracle said and looked at her brother. "The reason you have been called here is this." And she waved her hand, bringing forth a young maiden whose hand was being tightly grasped by that of a 3-year-old child. The young toddler had big brown eyes and beautiful golden hair. Her hair was the first thing that Angel noticed about her. That, and her likeness to Buffy. His voice was barely audible when he spoke.

"She’s ours isn’t she? Mine and Buffy’s."

"That is correct warrior." The male Oracle answered as the female walked over to pick up the child and dismiss the maiden.

"But how?"

"A result of the day-that-never-happened. When our elders turned back the time, they had no idea that this miracle had happened. She simply appeared here, a babe in a blanket. Since then we have looked after her as though she was our own and she has been taught the ways of the Oracles. Because of this she has a different aging process than humans. Each time her mind moves on to the next stage, so does her body. Though she is barely 6 months old she already has the body and mind of a 3-year-old. That is why we have called you here. You must take her back with you and teach her in the ways of humans or she will grow old before her time. We need her in future plans, just as we need you, and if she ages too fast she will ruin the future of the humanity."

"So, if you hadn’t needed me, you were never going to tell me this? You weren’t going to tell me I had a daughter?" Angel cried out in anger.

"Of course we were warrior, in due time. Everything has a plan and everything must go according to that plan. Do not question it warrior or you will be questioning your future. Go now and take your daughter with you. Tell as little people as possible about her as many will try to harm her and take good care of her." The female Oracle handed the child over to Angel and he turned to leave.

"Warrior."

Angel turned back.

"In case we never meet again, good-luck in the future and may you take our place in the future and fulfil it to the best of your ability."

With that last exchange, Angel found himself outside in the cold night air, his daughter in his arms.

Part 3:

"So she’s yours?" Angel nodded. "And Buffy’s?" Angel nodded again. "Wow! I mean, who would have thought?" Cordelia looked over to where the little girl was asleep on the lounge. Her voice was barely audible; her mind was still letting things sink in. Suddenly she turned and whacked her boss on the arm.

"Hey!" Angel cried indignantly. "What was that for?"

"Why didn’t you tell me?" Cordy said, slightly angry. Angel looked at her with a puzzled look on his face.

"Cordy, I only just found out myself!"

"Not about that!" Cordelia said, as if Angel was stupid. "About the day that, well, never happened. I mean, you were human for Christ’s sake!"

"Oh, that." Angel said, his voice going quiet.

Cordy noticed his sudden change of mood and changed the subject. "Do you know her name?" Angel shook his head. "Gosh! You’d think that would be the first thing you’d ask her!"

"Well I’m sorry Cordelia but I had other things on my mind! Like what I’m going to tell Buffy." Angel sighed and looked towards his daughter. She murmured quietly in her sleep and Angel smiled. "She’s so much like her isn’t she?"

In spite of herself, Cordy smiled. "Yeah, she is. I’m glad you guys got this chance."

"What chance Cordy? This is a human being, not a chance."

Cordy sighed in exasperation again. "What I meant was that it was a chance for you guys to get back together!"

Angel shook his head. "No Cordy." He said sternly. "I’m not using our daughter to get back together with Buffy. She doesn’t change anything, all the reasons I left are still there. Besides," He said wistfully. "She’s with Riley now."

Cordy watched his face carefully. It was obvious that he still loved her. "When are you going to tell her?" She asked gently.

"I don’t know." He replied. "When the time is right I guess. But for now, I’m going out patrolling. Watch her for me will you?"

Cordy nodded and Angel left, casting one last look at his sleeping daughter.

Buffy rolled over and went to hit the snooze button on her alarm clock then she suddenly stopped, the words of the song catching her attention…

…Every time I close my eyes,
The visions reappear
And when I wake up you’re not near.
Could you fall in love with me again?
Cause all I see is you
Every time I close my eyes…

Buffy laid back on the bed, listening to the words of the song, the song that had automatically made her think of Angel…

…When you look at me
I wish that you were mine once again
Cause now I love you
More than I did then.
And I’m hoping that
We can mend it all back
Cause when we’re together
The spark is there and the flame comes back
Every time I close my eyes,
The visions reappear
And when I wake up you’re not near.
Could you fall in love with me again?
Cause all I see is you
Every time I close…
Should I say this to you and just let it go
Tell you how I feel and just let it show?
No matter how hard that I think this through,
My feelings are the same I’m in love with you….

The song continued and Buffy just layed there, letting the words wash over her. She made a personal reminder to herself to remember to ask Willow who the song was by and go and buy it. It was a perfect song for what she was feeling.

The song finished and Buffy sat up, having a sudden urge to go to LA. In a crazy moment of longing she picked up the phone and rang Tara’s house, where she knew Willow had spent the night. They had intended on doing some witchy business or another.

"Hello?"

"Hi Tara. Is Willow there, I need to speak to her."

"Sure thing Buff. I’ll just get her."

Buffy smiled as she heard the muffled yell of ‘Willow! Phone! It’s Buffy!’ and Willow’s reply. Within a few seconds, her best friend was on the phone.

"Hey Buff! What’s up?"

"Not much Will. Just rang to let you know that I’m going up to Dad’s for a few days, can you explain that to my teachers and collect my homework for today? I should be home on Monday."

"Sure thing, anything else?"

"Nah, I’ll let you get ready for class." Buffy went to say goodbye then a thought occurred to her. "Actually Will, one last thing. I heard this song on the radio this morning and I have no idea who it is by, think you could tell me?" Buffy then pretended to sing the chorus of the song she had heard that morning.

"Oh! That’s an easy one! Every Time I Close My Eyes by Vanessa Amorosi."

"Thanks Will!"

"No prob Buff! Have fun this weekend!"

"You too! Bye!"

The girls hung up and Buffy proceeded to pack her bag and catch the next train to La… Part 5:

"Tiama! No, no, no sweetheart!" Cordy steered the 3-year-old away from the sword rack. "Angel!!" She scolded. "Put those things away! Do you want your daughter to chop off her arm? Besides, seeing things like that around are sure to give her nightmares! She’s three for crying out loud!"

Cordelia looked towards her boss who was deep in thought. "Hello?! Earth to Angel, Earth to Angel!"

Getting no reaction, Cordelia walked over to stand in front of Angel’s desk and clicked her fingers in his face. Tiama stood off to the side, watching the proceeding with a giggle. Still getting no reaction from the vampire, Cordy walked over, picked up Tiama and dumped her on Angel’s back, the little girl laughing the whole time. Angel jumped and spun around, nearly knocking the poor child out of Cordelia’s arms.

"My GOD Cordy! Don’t ever do that again!" He yelled then his voice softened as he saw Tiama’s face fall. "Oh, hey, I’m sorry Tiama! I didn’t mean to yell! You girls just scared me, that’s all!"

Angel smiled at his daughter then slowly his fingers crept towards her stomach. Her face broke into a smile, knowing what was coming next. Suddenly Angel’s nimble fingers darted forward and started tickling the little girl who started laughing. It was a deep laugh, right from the belly, and just hearing it made Cordy and Angel start too. Angel took his daughter from Cordy’s arms and placed her in his lap. She had been with them for almost 24 hours now and it felt like she had been there forever.

"Are you getting hungry little miss?" Tiama nodded, still grinning. "Well how about we get you some lunch and then maybe we can put a movie on for you!" Tiama nodded again, her eyes lighting up. Angel walked to the kitchen, carrying the little curly haired blonde in his arms. "So what do you want on your sandwich sweetie?"

Tiama thought for a moment then said. "Peanut butter and jelly!"

Angel grinned. "Just like your mum, huh Tiama?"

Tiama smiled and nodded, even though she had no idea what he was talking about. Angel and Cordy started laughing again and Angel handed the little girl her sandwich. Just after doing so, Angel heard a knock at the door and addressed his daughter.

"You know, if you ask Aunt Cordy nice enough, she might just put a video on for you while Daddy gets the door. What do you say Aunt Cordy?" He turned to face Cordelia who chucked him a dirty look. She hated being called ‘Aunt’.

"Weeelll…I don’t know Angel. I suppose…If she asked nice enough." Cordy grinned as the little girl abandoned her sandwich and came running over to grab her by the legs.

"Please Aunt Cordy? Please?"

Cordy laughed. "Okay Tiama! I’ll put a movie on for you!" She grinned then muttered under her breath, "If we can find one suitable for you!" She turned and gave Angel an innocent smile and he simply growled in reply, still laughing. Tiama raced into the lounge room just as another knock was heard.

"Okay! I’m coming!" Angel called. "Tiama! Don’t forget your lunch honey!"

He laughed as she skidded back into the room, only to give her father a cheeky grin, grab her sandwich and bolt back into the living room again. He grinned and turned towards the door. Gosh! He thought. This must be the most I have laughed in ages! That little tyke sure knows how to cheer a fella up! He walked to the door and opened it, expecting to find a client there…

…Instead, he found Buffy.

Part 6:

"B-Buffy!" Angel stammered. His surprise showed clearly on his face and he went to speak again but was interrupted by a yell. Buffy watched, in complete astonishment as a little girl came running in from the other room and ran straight to Angel, burying her face in his pants. The look on Angel’s face turned from one of surprise to one of guilt in a matter of seconds. He looked down at the small child wrapped around his legs then turned and yelled into the other room. "What did you do to her Cordy?"

"Nothing!" The reply came back. "I just put on a tape for her!"

Angel looked annoyed and Buffy just stood there, still in shock that there was a 3-year-old in Angel’s house.

"Well what tape did you put on for her?"

"Nothing that should scare her!" Cordy yelled back. "I put on the Labyrinth for crying out loud!"

Buffy made and "Oh" noise and bent down so she was the same height as the little girl, whose face was still buried in Angel’s pants.

"It was the goblins, wasn’t it?"

The little girl’s tear streaked face slowly looked up to see who was talking to her. She nodded, a sob escaping.

Buffy smiled and nodded sympathetically. "Yeah, they used to scare me too! But do you know what? They’re not that bad! Do you know what I used to do when they came on?" The little girl shook her head, and she slowly began to calm down. Nothing like a change of subject or a story to stop a kid crying! Buffy thought.

"Well, I have a stuffed toy, called Mr. Gordo. I used to hug him and he used to protect me. I imagined that he had magical powers and that if any of the goblins came to take me away, he would stop them! Do you have a toy like that?" The little girl nodded again, a smile creeping over her face. "Well why don’t you go and get it and give it a BIG hug and then maybe Cordy can put a better video on for you." Buffy looked up at Angel, to see a look of surprise and amusement on his face. She stood up. "What?"

"Since when have you been so good with kids?" Angel asked.

Buffy started to reply but was interrupted by a little sob from Tiama.

"Hey! What’s wrong sweetie?" Buffy asked, bending down to Tiama’s height again.

"My…::Sob::…Andy bear…::Sob::…isn’t…::hiccup::…here!" Tiama said, a tear running down her cheek.

Buffy smiled. "Maybe if you asked Angel here, he might go and get it for you!"

"On no he won’t!" Cordy called. "He has too much work to…Buffy?!" Cordelia looked at Buffy in surprise then a look of guilt flashed over her face as well.

"Hi Cordy!" Buffy replied, standing up again.

"What are you doing here?"

"Great welcome! Thanks Cordy, glad to see some things never change!" Buffy said sarcastically.

"Oh! You know what I meant!" Cordy said. "It’s good to see you and all but why are you here? I mean, I didn’t except to see you here all things considered." She nodded her head in Angel’s direction vigorously but Angel didn’t notice, he was too busy talking to his daughter.

"Will you Daddy?" Tiama asked, looking shyly at her father. Angel went to answer, a smile spreading across his face but he was interrupted by Buffy’s confused cry.

"Daddy?!" She cried looked at Angel with pain on her face. "Since when he you had a daughter? Or was this something you ‘forgot’ to tell me?"

Buffy looked at Angel, pain and anger clear on her face. "Whose is it? Huh? You’re just standing there! I want an answer Angel! I at least deserve that!" Tears filled Buffy eyes and her vision was blurred. She looked towards the only man she had truly loved and saw her pain reflected on his face. Cordelia quietly moved towards Tiama and picked her up. After casting Angel a sympathetic glance, she left the room, a wide-eyed Tiama in her arms. Angel and Buffy could hear her inquisitive questions as Cordy shut the door but neither of them registered them.

"Whose baby is it Angel?" She asked again, her voice now a whisper.

Angel looked at his beloved, pain at having to tell her this way clear in his eyes. The volume of his voice matched hers when he replied…

"She’s yours Buffy."