A/N: I know, I know, it's been almost four years, but my muse took a hike as life started throwing curveballs at me. Thankfully things are looking up and my muse came back home thanks to a wonderful well written Buffy fic. And again I'd like to thank all the readers who have been patient with me despite this LONG wait and I apologize for the spelling mistakes, I'm a little rusty.
Chapter 30
The sound of the judge's club echoed in the courtroom as the judge ruled the case. Angel had won, but he felt no joy over it. His first instinct had been calling Buffy and telling her he had won his first big case, but it only took a moment for him to remember that she wasn't taking his calls.
The opponent was screaming at Hank Summers as his own client was jumping from joy. At some point she grabbed him and pulled him into a tight hug, but he just stood there rigid as her arms wrapped around him. He couldn't wait to get out of the courtroom and go home to brood and numb himself with a good bottle of whiskey. Finally the client let him go, spouting quick litany of thank you's before being whisked away by her sister.
Angel started to gather his things off the desk when he was roughly turned to face Hank Summers' client. The man stared at him angrily, but he didn't feel threatened. "Just what the fuck have I ever done to you?" the man questioned, his voice breaking as he yelled too loudly.
"I told you to get another lawyer", Angel answered casually like the man quickly turning red was not his concern. The man stared at him like he wanted to hit him, but Angel was younger and larger man to who he was no match, so he thought better of it and just stormed out of the courtroom into the herd of reporters and photographers that were waiting outside.
Angel went back to cleaning his desk, but again his task was interrupted as he found Hank standing next to him. Slowly he turned his gaze to the older man, lifting one eyebrow in question. His indifference seemed to just infuriate the man.
"I'm going to appeal. And I'm going to tear you apart, you're going to pay for this", Hank threatened.
"I'll be looking forward to it," Angel answered and took his briefcase before turning around and walking out of the courtroom.
xxx
The end credits of Thelma & Louise were rolling on the TV, but Buffy felt like she hadn't even seen the movie, her mind was still on Angel. "He promised me he would tell me it was over before he would cheat", she said miserably.
"Yeah, but he's a guy, guys cheat", Faith stated matter of factly, then stopped to look at Buffy's reaction. The blonde's sad look didn't change.
"But Angel isn't... wasn't just some guy. He... He even bought a new bed because of me. He built me a swing." She sighed and fell back to the couch, looking even more dejected. "Or maybe I'm just dumber than I thought", she stated.
"You're not dumb, B", Faith protested.
Buffy turned to look at her friend. "I am. I didn't even know Riley was cheating on me until I caught him right in the act."
"Again, you're not dumb. You're just way too trusting. Like I've said before, men are beasts, they may look tame and housebroken, but there's always an animal inside and it can turn on you. Men lie, they cheat, you just have to accept that as a fact of life and have fun."
Buffy raised one eyebrow, a small crooked grin on her lips as she stared at her friend. "I'm not that cynical just yet, thank you", she stated wryly. "And I think my having-fun days are over", she added and rubbed her pregnant stomach.
"What you gonna do, swear off men and become a nun?" Faith joked.
"You think they'd have me?" Buffy asked dead-panned.
"I think it's a little late", Faith answered with a grin and gave a pointed look to her stomach.
For a long while there was silence in the room. Faith concentrated on eating the rest of the popcorn while Buffy settled into just staring at the blue screen of the TV. But her task was interrupted when she felt the baby kick, her hand went down to her stomach and gently she rubbed the spot. Her thoughts turned to the check up she was supposed to go the next day and she was filled with dread, she didn't want to go alone and asking Angel was too hard. Slowly she turned her eyes to Faith who was pouring the last handful of popcorn into her palm.
"Faith", she started, gaining the other woman's attention. "Will you come to the check-up with me? I don't think I can do it alone."
"Sure, I'll come", she answered, then frowned. "As much as I don't like the guy, you do know that you're gonna have to face him some time, he's still the father."
"I know. I just can't, not yet."
"By the way, we have to take your car cause I lost my license," Faith stated like she was talking about the weather. Buffy turned to look at the brunette in concern.
"What happened?"
"According to the cop I was speeding. And because I have few tickets..." Faith explained, but paused as Buffy snorted. She gave the blonde a glare and continued, "the bitch took away my license. If she had been a guy, I still would have my license."
"Having female cops is just wrong", Buffy stated deadpanned.
"Damn right it is", Faith joined in, not hearing the humor in Buffy's voice.
xxx
He felt like a stranger in his own apartment, it didn't have a homey feel to it, the colors were too dark, there were no pictures of friends and family decorating the walls, it simply wasn't home. With a sigh Angel walked across the room and poured himself half a glass of Irish whiskey before sitting to the nearest chair. Wesley had informed rest of the guys about his big moment in court and they all had wanted to go out celebrating, but he just didn't feel like it. All he wanted to do was sit and brood with a bottle of Jack.
Half an hour later Angel had downed his first glass of whiskey and now was trying to perfect his brooding. His thoughts kept on going back to the day Buffy had caught him with Darla, he thought of different scenarios of how it could or should have went and finally as usual came to the conclusion that it shouldn't have happened at all.
"Stupid! You idiot!" he yelled at himself and jumped up to his feet, starting to pace the room. Darla was not worth losing Buffy, he knew he shouldn't have let his friends hurt his ego, he should have been stronger and just admit his feelings towards Buffy and let her know them. But he hadn't lost her yet, the thought was unacceptable, so he went back to his other new favorite hobby, thinking of what he should say to Buffy to make her forgive him. He was long into his speech and his second glass of whiskey when his train of thought was interrupted by the doorbell. He jumped up from the couch and rushed to the door. He looked into the peephole and to his disappointment it was his friends that were waiting outside the door.
Even though he felt like leaving them standing there, he opened the door and barked, "What?"
"You're in a good mood", stated Doyle, not at all unnerved by the murderous look on his friend's face.
"We're taking you out to celebrate, you've been cooped up in there long enough, brooding and drinking, it's not healthy. So we're taking you out so you can drink with your friends", Gunn announced.
"Put your shoes on and let's go. The cab is waiting and the meter is running, so move it", Doyle said and pushed past Angel into the apartment. He grabbed Angel's coat and wallet, quickly checking the inside of it before pushing Angel out the door. He had barely managed to get his shoes on when he was already forced to leave the apartment and join his friends in celebration. He didn't feel like celebrating, but he was also too tired to argue so he figured he could drink in a bar just as easily as on his couch.
It turned out that it was even easier to drink in a bar than at home, his friends created a background noise while he downed the drinks they kept bringing to the table. Women paraded around their table, trying to catch his eye, but he didn't pay any attention to them, other women had lost their appeal to him once he fell in love with Buffy and because of his current situation he couldn't even think about anyone else than her.
"Man, you´re depressing tonight!" Gunn exclaimed, drawing Angel's attention to him. "You've been brooding long enough, it's time to get back on the horse."
Next to him Doyle cringed even before he saw the murderous look Angel sent to Gunn, he had known Angel for a long time and no woman had affected him the way Buffy did. Beneath all the jokes and fears he was happy that his friend had found real love and he hoped that he could get Buffy back because it was clear that it was too late for Angel to turn back into the guy he was before meeting her.
"Just get back on the horse?" Angel questioned, his voice sounding dangerous. "Pick up some brainless twit to fuck and that will make me forget the woman I love, the woman who's having my child?"
Everyone stared at him startled, none of his friends expected to ever hear him say those words aloud.
"Do you think that's the way to make Buffy forgive me what happened with Darla? Or do you think it's just that easy to get over this damned feeling that is gnawing at my guts?"
Gunn didn't know how to respond, he wasn't a easily scared man, but Angel's dark gaze made him feel like a wounded mouse waiting for the cat to jump him.
"Angel, take it easy, Gunn didn't mean to be an asshole", Doyle tried to calm his friend who had stopped brooding, but was now screaming bloody murder with his eyes. Gunn wanted to protest being called an asshole, but decided it was best to keep his mouth shut. Angel let out a long sigh and shook his head to clear it. He downed the last of his drink and got up from the table.
"I'm gonna head home, I don't feel like celebrating."
"Oh come on, Angel. Stay a bit longer. Have another drink", Gunn protested.
"Yes, you won your first case, one of importance I might ad, you deserve a drink", Wesley joined in, but Angel shook his head.
"I already had one. You guys stay and celebrate for me", he answered and started to walk towards the exit, his step leading him more to the left than a straight line.
"I'm gonna make sure he makes it to the door", Doyle said and followed Angel. He caught up with him by the door, Angel was just hanging up his phone and trying to decide which way he should go.
"I'm thinking you should try going to the right, the cab won't come in here. Or was it Buffy you were calling to?"
"No, it was the cab", Angel answered sullenly and put the phone into his pocket. He had been thinking about calling to her, but thought better of it because he knew she would just hang up. Again he looked to both ways before deciding to go to the right like Doyle had suggested.
Once they were in the fresh air waiting for the cab, Doyle felt free enough to talk. "You're not going to go sing a drunken serenade to her, are you?" he asked only half joking.
"No! I'm not going to sing!" he answered like he was a little offended. "I want her to take me back, not give me a restraining order."
Doyle let out a small chuckle. "The girl loves you, I doubt she would do that even when forced to listen to you sing. But seriously, you're not going to do anything stupid, are you?"
Angel ran his hand through his already messy hair and shook his head. "No, I'm not going to do anything stupid. I'm just going to talk to her", he answered.
"Something is wrong in the world when I have to be the serious one, especially after having a few, but Angel, don't you think it would be best for you to wait till tomorrow with that chat. I doubt she will be in a very forgiving mood if you show up drunk at her house."
For a good while Angel just stared at his friend, shocked that Doyle had somehow managed to find the serious and reasonable side of himself. "Maybe you're right", he admitted quietly.
"Excuse me, what did you say?" Doyle asked with a drunken grin. Angel glared at him.
"You heard me."
"Yeah, I think I did, but I just want to hear it again."
"You were right", Angel repeated reluctantly. "And that's the last time you're gonna hear it from me", he added, but it didn't wipe away the self-satisfied smile from Doyle's face.
"I can live with that", he laughed, then turned more serious. "You're going straight home to sleep it off, right? You stay away from Buffy's place till you're sober," he asked for confirmation, turning to look at his friend.
"Yeah, I'm not going to fuck it up", Angel assured him. After a moments silence he turned to Doyle, a deep frown on his face. "Do you think I fucked up? Do you think she'll forgive me?" he asked and the question took Doyle by surprise, this was a side of Angel he had never seen before. It took him a good while before he could answer.
"I think you messed up, but she'll forgive you. I may not know her very well, but from what I've gathered is that she's a very forgiving person. It may take a while and you might have to do some groveling since chicks like that, but she'll take you back if your pride can take the begging."
"I can't lose her", he said, his eyes showing vulnerability that Doyle had never seen him show before.
"You really love her, don't you?" Doyle asked, the realization just hitting him. He had heard Angel's words in the bar, but now he was start to believe that he really meant them.
"Yes, I do", Angel answered softly, but there was no hesitation or denial in his voice.
"Then I wish you luck. Do the groveling, prove to her that you do love her", Doyle said, then added as he noticed the cab pulling over next to them, "But do that when you're sober."
xxx
Angel walked into the gallery, giving Gloria a smile as greeting as he past her desk. "Hold it, mister", Gloria said with her authority voice that she usually used on her sons and got up from her seat, circling around her desk.
"I'm here to see Buffy", Angel told her.
"Well, she doesn't want to see you", Gloria answered, putting her hands to her hips, creating an image of a protective mother.
"Gloria", Angel started with his charmer smile that he knew always worked on women.
"Don't you Gloria me, mister, I have three sons so don't even try it. I don't know what happened between the two of you, but I know that girl like she was one of my own kids and that girl is heartbroken. And I also know that you have something to do with it. So to make it clear, no, I will not let you talk to her, no matter how you stare at me with those bedroom eyes of yours."
"How can I clear things up with her if you don't let me talk to her?" Angel asked with a raised eyebrow.
"That's your problem, honey. She said not to let you in if you came and you're not going in", Gloria answered, already feeling a little sorry for the man, she was truly rooting for the two lovers to work it out, but she was firmly on Buffy's side and wasn't going to let Angel in unless she wanted it.
"Gloria...", Angel started, but was silenced by the determined women.
"You better go now."
Angel sighed in resignation, hanging his head and running his fingers through his hair. "I'll be back later," he promised.
"She won't be here. She has a appointment," Gloria answered.
"With who?" Angel asked, feeling jealousy take over.
"If she wanted you to know, she would have told you," Gloria answered coolly and turned her back to him, walking back to her desk. It was a clear sign that it was time for him to leave. He frowned, giving Buffy's office one more look before turning around to leave the gallery. As he walked towards the door he decided to get to the bottom of this even if he had lost Gloria's cooperation.
xxx
He needed to know where she was going. Waiting outside her workplace, following her and practically stalking her were not normal things to do, but he was obsessed, that he knew. After she had walked out of his life he had been watching her from the distance, justifying his stalking with the fact that she was expecting his baby, he was just looking out for her, he was protecting her, not stalking her.
Angel watched as Buffy walked out of the gallery, digging into her purse looking for her phone. His eyes widened in alarm and he was a step away from jumping out of the car when he saw her take a step to the road and then quickly step back as she noticed the car coming. His hands gripped the wheel more tightly and he closed his eyes in relief.
Buffy took a deep breath and put the cellphone she had just found back to the purse and got her car keys instead. Once she was in the car, she dialed Faith's number and let her know she was on her way to get her.
Angel watched her drive off and he waited few moments before following her just to make sure she didn't notice him. At first the plan was working, he could see Buffy just two cars away and everything was going like he planned. But he didn't take into account her driving style, as the light was about to turn red she sped up and managed to get through just before the light turned red and he was forced to wait for it to turn back to green.
Angel cursed loudly and hit the wheel, he was sure he wouldn't be able to catch up with her again. He grabbed his cellphone and was searching for Lindsey's number when he changed his mind, if Buffy found out he had her followed she would be furious and that wouldn't make getting her back any easier. He threw the phone to the passenger seat and settled into waiting for the light to turn green.
xxx
After the check-up Buffy felt too emotional to go back to work, so she called Gloria letting her know she was in charge. Faith convinced her she shouldn't be alone and invited her to spend the day at her place, regretting it as soon as she was forced to watch a series of chick flicks for Buffy's comfort before switching to Thelma & Louise because the happy couples only made Buffy more miserable. Once the sun had set, Buffy stated Faith had suffered enough for her and decided to head home after convincing the brunette she was okay enough to drive herself home.
As Buffy turned to her driveway she noticed someone sitting on the swing on her porch. Once the figure stood up, she knew it was Angel. She killed the engine and closed her eyes, trying to gather herself. When she opened them, he was walking towards her. She watched as he approached her car and all she could do was stare, it felt like she hadn't seen him in years. All the emotions hit her at once, how much she missed him, how she was torn between forgiving him just to have him close again and quickly fleeing away from him so he could never hurt her again.
Angel opened the door, interrupting her train of thought. Her eyes snapped to his face and she whispered his name. Angel let it roll over him, sighing in relief as she still said his name like she did before Darla happened.
"Buffy," was his gruff response and for a moment they just stared at each other.
"I... I need to get inside," she said and quickly he took a step back to give her room. She got out of the car and locked the door, doing her best not to even glance at him.
"Buffy", he said her name, more forcefully this time. "Where were you?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.
"With Faith, not that it's any of your business anymore", she answered, regretting how bitchy she sounded. Still she wouldn't look at him, so he grabbed her arm and spun her around.
"Buffy, please. I need to talk to you."
Slowly she raised her eyes to his face, the vulnerability in his eyes was making her heart ache. "Angel, please, I need more time", she whispered, looking away from him because the hurt look on his face was too much. "I... I have to go," she whispered and hurried towards the house, holding on to the door keys like they were going to save her life.
It only took a moment for Angel to go after her. She had just managed to open the door, but Angel came from behind her and pushed it closed. She spun around, ready to give him an earful, but as she did that she came fully aware that she was trapped between the door and his large body and the nearness of him caused the words to leave her.
"Buffy, we're going to have a baby, you can't just push me out of your lives", Angel said and for a moment Buffy looked like a panicking animal that had been cornered.
"She's not yours!" she cried out vehemently and quickly concealed the surprise she felt from her own words. Angel stopped, just staring at her.
"We have a girl?" he questioned softly. Buffy swallowed thickly and closed her eyes, trying to gather her strength back up.
"She's not yours", she repeated, but the tremble in her voice didn't make her sound convincing. Angel got even closer to her and grabbed a hold of her arms, pulling her against his body.
"Don't lie to me, Buffy. We both know she is mine and I'm not going anywhere. I will do anything to get you back", he said with conviction and she had to turn her face away from him.
"It's too late", she stated and took a step back. The stricken look on his face almost made her want to take it back, but she held on to the image of Angel in that skanky ho's arms.
"I'm not giving you up. I love you, whether you believe it or not, I love you and I have never loved another person like I love you", he said and took a step closer to her, lifting her chin with his finger, forcing her to look at him. "I love you", he repeated staring straight into her eyes to make her believe him.
"Don't", she whispered and tried to pull away, but he wouldn't let her.
"Don't what?" he asked pulling her closer to him.
"Don't say that. Don't say that you love me."
"But it's true. I do love you. I can't stop and I'm not going anywhere, I will do anything to get you back."
"No!" she cried out and pried herself out of his arms. "Don't say that! You don't love me! You don't! You promised you'd end it between us before you went to someone else, but you didn't. You betrayed me! To me that's not love", she said vehemently, shaking her head as tears ran down her cheeks. Angel took a step closer to her, reaching out, but she stepped back like he was going to burn her.
"You hurt me, you hurt me worse than anyone else because I love you", she said and turned around, quickly getting into the safety of her house. Angel watched her walk away, it felt like a tiny fist was squeezing his heart, but what gave him hope was that she had said 'love' instead of 'loved'. In his mind he swore that he wasn't going to give up, she still loved him and he was even more determined to get her back.
xxx
The next day Angel was standing near by the gallery with a coffee in his hand, waiting for Gloria to leave her post long enough for him to sneak past her. He had been standing there for a good while, usually he was a patient man, but now he was getting anxious. But his long wait paid off as Gloria picked up some papers from her desk and walked into the other room. Quickly Angel crossed the street, getting angry honks from the cars, and stepped inside the gallery. He hurried past Gloria who was standing with her back to him talking to a potential buyer and quickly got into Buffy's office.
"Angel," she breathed in surprise when she saw who had stepped into her office.
"Buffy," was his automatic response.
"You need to leave," she said sternly once she got over her first feeling over seeing him again.
"No, not until you hear me out," he answered and walked further into the room.
"Angel, please, not here", Buffy asked, looking away in exasperation.
"You won't talk to me elsewhere so here has to do", Angel answered.
"I have to work and people will hear."
"I don't care."
"But I do. This is my work." When he showed no signs of intending to leave, she shook her head in defeat and let out a long sigh. "Fine. Come to my place after I get out of here. I won't promise that I'll listen, but you can talk", she relented, she allowed herself to look at him and she felt her anger wavering as she saw the small smile form to his lips. She had to look away, she didn't want to let herself be charmed by him again.
"You should go now, I have paperwork that I should have done yesterday", she stated and turned to look at him, allowing herself another look of the smile that didn't falter even though he was asked to leave.
"Okay, I'll go. But I'll come by tonight", he said and started backing away towards the door.
"I'll be leaving at seven thirty, just so you won't be hanging around the house all day, Mr. Lowell might start to wonder and call the cops", Buffy said after him.
xxx
As Buffy drove the car to the drive way she could see Angel sitting on the porch swing. She stopped the car and killed the engine, keeping her eyes on him as he turned to look at her and stood up. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for what ever waited for her and got out of the car. She didn't know if she was unconsciously stalling, moving slower or was the front door suddenly farther away than it had been before, but it felt like it took forever to reach the house.
"Hope you didn't have to wait long", she said as she reached the steps, she had left the gallery exactly at seven thirty, both looking forward to seeing him as well as dreading it.
"Don't worry, I haven't been here all day, just ten minutes or so," he reassured her. Buffy just nodded and opened the door, letting him walk in before her. Silently she took off her coat before they moved to the living room and the silence continued as neither one of them spoke. She crossed her arms almost protectively and looked at him, not daring to meet his eyes that were taking her in. She could see he had lost some weight and she felt a bang of guilt from knowing that she must be the reason for it.
"You know, one of us should talk", Buffy said quietly, unfolding her arms and allowing herself look him in the eyes.
"Okay", he said softly and took a deep breath, deciding to go straight to the point."I know I messed up, and that's an understatement. I freaked out, having all these feelings is completely new to me. You are the first woman I have ever loved and I got scared", Angel explained, his eyes pleading for her to understand. Buffy just stared at him, her head tilting to the side like she was trying to figure out a abstract painting.
"So, because you got so scared of your feelings, you decided to hop into bed with that... woman?" Buffy asked for clarification, her surprisingly calm voice making it clear she wasn't that easily won over.
"I didn't hop into bed with her", Angel answered defensively, then softened his voice, "Or anyone else. You have been the only woman in my life. What happened with Darla was just a kiss. I was weak and stupid and I let other people get inside my head because I was afraid of how deep my feelings for you were. It took losing you to make me realize that you are the only woman I will ever want and I don't care what other people think."
Buffy stared him right in the eyes and she felt torn. Maybe she was overreacting, maybe it hadn't been more than a kiss, but how could she be sure it wouldn't happen again, she had been burned too many times before.
"Maybe you feel like that now, maybe you didn't sleep with... her and the kiss meant nothing", Buffy said like the words left a bitter taste in her mouth. "But how can I be sure it won't happen again? That you won't get 'weak and stupid' with her or someone else."
Angel took a step closer to her, he wanted to reach out to her but didn't. He waited for her to look him in the eye before he spoke. "Because I love you and I can say it out loud now. And because I don't want to lose you again. I have never cared about anyone but myself, not until I met you. You make me want to be a better man", he said with such conviction that she believed him despite trying to keep him from getting to her. Angel could see she was wavering and it gave him hope that things between them could go back to the way they were.
"Buffy", he whispered her name softly and he could see her letting out a small breath before lifting her eyes to meet his. The look of hurt and betrayal had been replaced by longing and he was not going to let the opportunity to pass him by. He pulled her close to his body, holding her against him with one arm as he gently cupped her cheek. She could feel the closeness of him affecting her as it always had been.
"Please, don't", she whispered, her voice breaking. He didn't say anything, just leaned down and softly kissed her lips. She wanted to protest, wanted and needed to push him away, but as he deepened the kiss she was responding to it like she had no will of her own. She had missed his touch more than she had realized.
Neither of them noticed the front door opening and Faith walking in. It wasn't until the brunette cleared her throat that they noticed they weren't alone anymore. Buffy pulled back, looking at Faith almost guiltily and avoiding Angel's eyes. "Faith", she said, surprise clear in her voice.
"Hey, B. I figured you'd need some company. But it looks like I was wrong", the brunette explained her presence and turned to look at Angel, giving him a murderous look. "You need help throwing this cheating scumbag out or should I go?" she asked turning back to Buffy.
"No, don't", Buffy answered to both questions, then glanced at Angel for the first time after the kiss had been broken. "Just give us a minute, okay."
Faith nodded. "Okay, I'll put the ice cream in the freezer before it melts", she answered and went to the kitchen, but not before giving Angel another warning look.
"You should go", Buffy stated, turning to look at Angel, but at his hurt look, she quickly continued, "I'm not kicking you out. But this whole kissing thing and you being here and me being confused is just too much right now. I need time think. Please. I'm not doing this to torture you, but if you want me to give you a real answer to where we're gonna go, I need time."
She reached out to him, touching his hand before pulling her hand away as she noticed what she had done. Angel nodded slowly in understanding, but his eyes reflected his emotions, he wasn't happy about this.
"I understand. I'll give you space", he said quietly and brushed a strand of hair off her face, tucking it behind her ear. Briefly she closed her eyes at his touch and when his hand was gone, she was already missing his touch. He took a step back, moving towards the door.
"I'm gonna go now. But can I call you? Tomorrow?" he asked.
She nodded before answering softly, "Yes, you can call."
He nodded and turned around, leaving the house. She was staring at the closed door when Faith came out of the kitchen.
"I thought you weren't ready to talk to him yet", Faith stated, her tone accusatory, but when she noticed the guilty look on Buffy's face, she added: "Though technically that wasn't talking."
"Faith, please. It was just a small relapse. Just because I don't like him at the moment doesn't mean that I've stopped loving him. And maybe I should just forgive him, maybe it was my fault that he went to Darla. Maybe Xander was right and I did the same to him as I did to Riley..." She didn't get to finish what she was saying when Faith jumped in.
"Or maybe it was his fault, just like it was Riley's. Men let their dicks do the thinking and no matter what Xander says, Riley is responsible for his own cheating, not you. You know what a Riley-groupie Xander was, if he can't have you then he wants to decide who you're supposed to be with and Riley qualified."
Buffy didn't look convinced, but she didn't say anything to contradict Faith. She let out a long sigh and sat down heavily to the couch. "I'm so confused. I want to forgive him, I know I love him, but I'm just scared that maybe this will happen again if I take him back now. Maybe I should go to Sunnydale for a while, to clear my head. Leave the gallery to Gloria and Amy, I have to do that anyway when the baby is born", she said more to herself than to Faith.
"Maybe you should do that, just relax like the doc said," Faith agreed and sat next to the blonde. "So wanna watch a movie? I got you tomatoes", she continued, making Buffy smile.
"There's a offer I can't refuse", she grinned.
To be continued...