Timeline

Chapter 25

Liam wandered round the hotel. Best get familiar with it if I have to live here he thought. He ended up in the lobby and saw Faith with Gunn and Illyria. Illyria saw him and cocked her head to the side .
"It's the half breed" she announced.
They all turned and watched Liam approach them.
"The names Liam " he told Illyria
"Is of no consequence to me" she sneered at him .
Faith looked at Gunn and raised her eyebrows. He shrugged back at her.
"Do you know when Angel and Buffy will be getting back " Gunn asked Faith
"Once she's maxxed his credit would be a good guess"
"What are they going to do with Lilah?" Gunn asked
"If the mortal had betrayed me ,I would have her intestines strung as an ornament for all of her kind to witness" Illria stated . The others grimaced , even Liam.
Spike joined them and stood next to Gunn."Hows the smurf doing?"
"You mock me instead of fear me half breed"
"Well yeah, duh!"
Illyria shot a hand out and sent Spike skidding across the lobby floor and smacking into the wall.Liam pointed at Spike and laughed at him.
It was at that point Angel and Buffy walked in with their hands full of items for the baby.
Liam and Spike ran and took the stuff from Buffy. She pointed over her shoulders and informed them there was more in the car.Angel , Liam and Spike bought it all in and took it to his room.Buffy and Faith followed them up to the room , chatting as they walked.
"Have you even thought of names , cos unno , Faiths a good name"
"For a boy ? I can see the therapy bill now" Buffy joked.
"So , it's a boy then"
"Yup"
They entered the room and saw the huge stack of baby stuff on the floor.Angel stood in front of it with his hands on his hips. Liam was looking at the baby monitor with confusion and Spike just patted Angel on the shoulder and wished him luck as he left.
"Damn B, " Faith said as she picked up a huge blue rabbit " Overkill?"
"Hey , don't blame me , blame Mr Dad here"
Angel looked up guiltily.
Angel and Buffy spent most of the night putting the equipment together and getting the toys and clothing away. Finally they were happy with what they had achieved.
"Don't you think this room needs something though" Buffy said
"Such as ?"
"Well it's a bit , Anne Rice in here"
"Good point, I'll get it sorted soon , promise" Angel said "Anne Rice" he shook his head "Hack writer" he mumbled.
It was late when most of the group finally all got together downstairs again.
They all discussed the prophecy and how Wolfram and Hart were planning on taking Buffy before the birth . Illyria said that she would help, and would do anything in her power to protect the baby .Illyria had been told of her part in the downfall of the Senior Partners and their sons future, which may have helped sway her decision.
Spike had offered to train with Illyria and to report back to Angel. Liam stuck to Buffy's side , much to Angels disgust. But, he had agreed to protect her , so Angel had to swallow it.Buffy had been told about Liam and Spike being her guards , she hadn't been too happy about Liam, but she trusted Spike.
Angel went into the kitchen and prepared dinner for everyone. Faith joined him.

Spike went out into the garden .He sat on the steps and drank his beer. Talking to Liam earlier had stirred up memories.He thought about Darla and Dru, god knows where Dru was these days. Last he had heard , she was shacked up with a chaos demon. They were disgusting , all slime and antlers. He missed her , like an emptiness within him, she was his sire. He wondered if that was how Angel felt, had felt about Darla.He had staked her to protect Buffy.He sat going through memories while he stared at the stars.
Liam followed Buffy into the office, she sat at the desk and started the laptop up. She started going through her e-mails to see if Andrew had any reports on other potentials he had found . His job was to travel the world finding other girls and report back . Buffy had neglected them since she had been with Angel. Seems her life had kind of spiralled out of control lately.Buffy glanced up at Liam and shook her head as he sat down and put his feet up on the desk. He slumped in the chair and crossed his ankles and arms. Buffy studied his face from over the edge of the laptop. It was exactly the same , a bit more rugged maybe, average joe wouldn't know though.Liam looked at Buffy and caught her looking at him. Buffy's eyes shot down to the screen again . Liam laughed.
"Whats so funny"
"You slayer, you think I didn't feel your eyes on me"
"Sorry"
"Don't be. I understand. Your thinking about how much I look like him, smell like him, and your wondering to yourself , does he touch like him"
" Consider getting over yourself already "
Liam laughed again. " Wasn't he a vampire with a soul when ye met him"
"Yes" she kept her eyes on the screen. Buffy wasn't actually reading the mails though.
"So I would be right in saying I'm more like the man you fell in love with , than he is"
She looked at him , annoyed " Your nothing like him" she stood up "Your , your a pig, your rude and vile and so full of yourself , I'm surprised there's room in there for a soul"
Liam jumped up and grabbed Buffy by the shoulders . His face morphed to that of the demon. "Face it slayer , you miss the demon in your man" he licked his lips and kissed her hard.His fangs pierced her lip. Buffy tried to force her way out of the embrace but couldn't. She closed her eye's and reached for the drawer. Liam caught her hand and drew away from her . "I wouldn't try it , not if you want that poor excuse of me to live" He pulled her to him and kissed her neck. He glanced at her shoulder and saw the bite mark.
"He marked you before "
"Yes " she whispered
Liam bought his mouth to it and Buffy closed her eyes, waiting for it. He lifted his head to her ear " Did you like the feeling of his teeth in your flesh?"
"Yes" she felt the words caught in her throat.
"I thought so" he kissed the mark gently sending shivers through Buffy. Her heart was pounding and her breathing was fast. " I can tell . You want me now don't you slayer"
Angel walked into the office and saw them. He grabbed Liam and the stake that had been left on the desk. He held it to Liams chest . Liam was smiling "Go on , do it. "
"Angel , don't" Buffy shouted
"Why shouldn't I , hmmm , tell me " He glared at Buffy
"He's you , If you stake him, you'll die too" she had tears streaming down her face .
Angel backed down and dropped the stake . He walked out, out of the hotel and into the night.
Liam , pleased with his accomplishment retired to his room.
Buffy sank to the floor , crying.

Angel walked to the old offices he had when he first arrived in L.A. It was boarded up and still showed signs of the fire. He broke the boards off the door and went in.He went downstairs and squinted in the darkness. He kicked some burnt wood across the floor and went into the bedroom. The bed still there and mostly untouched by the fire,he sunk into it and laid looking at the ceiling. He felt like he was drowning in his own tears. He fell asleep.


Buffy woke up in an empty bed . Liam sat in the chair looking at her .
" What are you doing. Haven't you caused enough pain. Get out"
"Can't. I vowed to take care of ye when Angel wasn't here"
"Do you think he would want you anywhere near me after last night"
"He's not here to say one way or the other"
Buffy got out of bed and pulled Angels robe on. Liam got up. Buffy instantly froze. "Nervous slayer?"
"NO!"
"Liar" he shot over to her and pulled her to him. "Maybe it's your arousal I can smell then"
"That's disgusting. Let me go Liam"
He ran his hands down over her body. "Your body doesn't say that to me "
"You can have the body, it doesn't mean a thing , but you will never have my heart or soul"
Liam vamped out " Are you sure" he sank his teeth into Angels mark on her shoulder and drank. They fell to the floor.
Buffy sank her nails into his back , he bit down harder. He lay between her legs , pinning her down. She struggled to push him up , he was too strong. Finally she relaxed and lifted her head to his ear " I've wanted this so bad, I wanted you so bad"
Liam broke away from the bite and looked into her eyes. He squinted and licked his lips. His face morphed back and he kissed her deeply. She returned the kiss, feeling his arousal , she smiled.
Liam bucked in pain and rolled off clutching his groin. Buffy shot up and ran out of the room . Spike caught her by the shoulders and saw the bite. He ran to the room , Liam had disappeared .
"What the hell is going on Buff?"
She wiped the tears away and told Spike about the previous nights events.
"So Angels off sulking somewhere leaving you here with him, and with the threats , ain't he a bloody charmer"
"It's not his fault. Spike we need to find him"
"And you still defend him, bloody priceless"
"Liam, I got the feeling he's going to try and get rid of Angel and take his place Spike "
"Shit, that's what Angel would have done . Any idea's where Angel would go to brood , other than here"
"We need to ask people that know him best"

Buffy and Spike walked into Wesleys room .
"Wes , where would Angel go to hide and brood , apart from here?"
Wesley looked up and saw Buffy still in Angels robe , blood staining the neckline and the bite mark visible.
"He doesn't really know many places here, erm, well there's the bar Lorne has, Carita's, but that will be shut now .Only other place would be the old offices , but they were blown up"
"Perfect , I'll get dressed and we'll head over there straight away" Buffy said to Spike.
"Is there something I can help you with" Wesley offered.
"Stay here and keep an eye out for Liam . Get Illyria to capture him and put him in the cage"
Buffy walked into the room and saw the bedding all messed up and the blood on the carpet. She cringed and held her neck.
Spike turned his back while she got dressed. Buffy put on a pair of sweats and a tee , her training shoes and tied her hair back.
Spike looked at her and half laughed.
"What " Buffy said
"You almost look like the old Buffy in that get up. Well the bump kinda spoils the image"
She looked down and the sweats and tee left the bump obvious, but Spike was right , she was dressed like her old kick ass self.She smiled.
"Well we best go pet"
They left the room and out through the sewers.

Angel woke up and shook his head. His head and heart hurt. He sat on the edge of the bed . Daylight was creeping in from the boards on the windows.He went to one of the windows and broke a board off. Daylight flooded in. He looked around , picking up pieces of his previous life up and throwing it down again. He leant against the kitchen counter and wiped his tears away again, leaving a blackened smudge across his face.
Anger crept up on him and he started throwing things around and smashing the table, yelling. He saw the battle axe still attached to the brick post. He pulled at it and smashed the rest of the furniture with it. He finally fell in a heap on the floor , surrounded by shattered wood.
In the sewers Buffy and Spike had turned a corner and were under the apartment. They heard the crashing and the yells.They raced up through the grating and through his bedroom.
There he was in a heap on the floor sobbing.
Spike hung back, knowing his place was anywhere but there at that point in time. He dropped back into the sewer.He lit a cigarette and sat up on an old pipe.

"Angel?"
"Leave me alone Buffy"
"I can't do that , you know I can't"
Angel looked up at her . He saw the bite and anger took him over again. He shouted at her through his teeth " He tasted you and you let him" he was still on the floor.
"No! Angel no" she was crying and reached out to touch him.
Angel pulled away " Tell me , everything and don't lie Buffy or I'll know"
"He came into the office last night and said he was keeping watch over me as you had asked him to do , I was checking my e-mails, I stood up , he grabbed me and kissed me. I tried to get a stake but he grabbed my hands and forced me to drop it. that's when you came in , this morning I woke up and he was there watching me, he said the same thing , that he was looking after me , I went to go to the bathroom when he took me by surprise and bit me. I managed to get him off me and I ran to Spike and then we came after you. Look Angel I think he's going to try and kill you."
Angel looked up at her in shock. "Where's Spike. I take it you didn't come alone"
"He's in the sewer, waiting . Angel" she said softly
He held his hand up to her . He still couldn't look at her.
She caught his arm and pulled him back. He turned and slapped her across the face. She punched him back and then put her hand up to where he had hit her. She looked into his eyes and saw nothing but anger . Buffy let his arm go. Crying and hurt she left him there and went back to the bedroom. Buffy calmed down and took a deep breath .A pain shot through her stomach.
"ANGEL!"
He ran into the bedroom and Spike came in a few seconds after him. Buffy sat on the edge of the bed clutching her stomach .
"The baby"
Angel pulled her further onto the bed and got her as comfortable as he could.
"Spike, go back to the hotel and get the car, and Spike, try hard not to draw too much attention " Spike just nodded and leapt down the sewer entrance.
Buffy laid there holding her stomach "It's to early , it's to early"
"It's going to be alright Buffy , It has to be"
"How can it be " she snapped "Your going to leave me again"
"Buffy I'm not leaving you"
She let out another scream
Angel kissed her hands and kept looking at the door. He knew Spike wouldn't be back this soon but he didn't know what else to do.
The pain passed and Buffy got up , pacing the room and holding onto her back.
Angel paced with her.
"You must think bad of me" Angel said "Leaving like that "
"No , I get it , but I can't believe after everything we have been through , you would think I wanted him"
"Didn't you"
"No!"
Another contraction hit Buffy and she doubled over.Angel caught her and helped her to the bed.
"This is only the start of labour , can't wait for the rest " she hissed out.
Angel laughed.
"Glad you find it amusing , cos this is the only son your getting"
Another contraction "Argh" These suck!"
"We need to get you to a hospital soon they're coming fast now Buff"
"Your telling me!?"
Spike popped his head up through the sewer entrance and Angel picked Buffy up. They got to the car and put Buffy on the back seat , Angel climbed in beside her and Spike drove.Angel rubbed Buffy's back and timed the three contractions she had in the car.
"Can't you go any faster Spike" she yelled
"We're almost there " Spike took the next corner and then went into an underground car park. The car screached to a halt.
Spike got out and helped Buffy out.Angel got a wheelchair and then rushed Buffy to admissions.
"Name?"
"Angel"
"Not yours , hers" A burly nurse pointed at Buffy with her pen.
"Layton , Layton Eras"
Buffy looked at him confused and he winked at her.
"Age?"
"Twenty seven" Buffy kicked him
"Nature of problem?"
"Baby , she's having a baby"
Buffy tutted " dufus"
Spike sniggered
"Relationship?"
"Nearly married , engaged and him , he's the uncle"
"How far along are you?"
"She's thirty four weeks"
"I don't see any notes on here for her but seen as she's in labour we best get her into a room. Follow me"
They followed the nurse into the room and helped Buffy get settled onto the bed.
"Only one of you can stay with the mother"
Spike went to leave and Buffy protested
"Miss , we cant allow him to stay"
"I'm not having this baby without him here" she went to get out of bed and the nurse pushed her back against the pillows.
"O.K but it's my head on the block."
Spike pulled up two chairs and sat down grinning at the nurse as she left.
"So you going to explain what all that was about out there?"
"With Wolfram and Hart after you and the baby we thought it best for you to have a false name"
"Right"
Another contraction.
"Get her back in here and tell her to give me whatever it is that gets most women through this"
"Your a slayer , I really don't think that will work for you "
Buffy glared at Spike "I . DON'T .CARE"
Spike shot out ohe chair and bought the nurse back " She wants drugs , for bleedin' hells sake , give her some"
"We can't til the doctor and paediatrician have seen her "
"Then get them"
She hurried down the hall and spoke to a guy in a white coat. She pointed at the room and nodded , then walked back.
"Doctor says that you have to wait"
"Sucked through portals, jumped through one and died to save the world, but can I get an epidural or an aspirin .... no , remind me to never save her ass"
Angel and Spike laughed and sat down..


Two hours later

The doctor walked in followed by another guy in a white coat , the first doctor flipped through a clipboard.
"Miss Layton Eras?"
"Yeah"
"We will be your physicians for the duration of your stay here"
"Great" sarcasm evident in Buffy's voice.
Both doctors looked at Buffy then each other . He continued.
"How far apart are your contractions?"
"Four minutes"
Again they looked at each other
"We're going to have to examine you to see how far you have dilated and then place you on a monitor to check the baby's heart rate , we understand the baby's a little early"
"Yes"
"Gentlemen could you just step out so we can examine Layton"
Angel and Spike stepped into the hall
After ten minutes the first doctor came and got Angel and Spike
"It appears that Layton is pretty far gone in her labour and it shouldn't be long now. We can't give her an epidural as she wont be long and there won't be time for it to work"
Angel looked at Buffy.
The doctors shook Angels hand and left the room
"How are you feeling?" Angel asked
Buffy shot him a look that said it all "I have your son, that feels like its the size of a bowling ball , crawling its way out of me, how do you think I feel?"
"Graphic? " Spike said
Angel got the ice chip cup and offered Buffy some
"Do you need me to tell you what to do with them?"
Angel put them back on the table and sat down.
"Looks like you got told" Spike said. Angel glared at him.
"Why's he here again?"
"To protect me"
Another contraction , stronger than the last. Buffy doubled over and clutched her stomach.This time she started to go red in the face .
Angel ran and grabbed the doctor.
"Hey, looks like this babies ready to show it's face" he smiled at Buffy "Are you feeling the urge to push?"
Buffy nodded
The doctor went into the hall and called his collegue back into the room and they got into their green overalls and handed some to Spike and Angel.
The doctors pulled in an incubator and asked Angel and Spike to hold Buffy's hands and to stay at the top of the bed out of the way.
They took up their positions at Buffy's feet.
After ten minutes of grunts and pushes.
"We can see the head Layton , one more push and the head will be out.That's it, well done. Now take a breather, and with the next push , your baby will be here."
Angel and Spike were both grinning like Cheshire cats and were both crying like , well , like babies.
Buffy screamed and pushed as hard as she could.
The room was silent and then a small cry was heard
"Congratulations. You have a healthy baby boy"
Angel grabbed Buffy up in his arms and kissed her .
"Would you like to cut the cord sir?"
Angel cut the cord and the doctors wrapped the baby up,and then handed the baby to Buffy.
"So guys, what ya gonna call him?"
Buffy looked at Angel. "We didn't even think about it at all ."
"We're gonna call him Layton , after his mum" Angel winked at Buffy and kissed her.
Buffy held the baby out to Angel "Layton , go say hi to Dad."
Buffy fell asleep , leaving Spike and Angel taking turns to cuddle the baby.