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Chapter 21: The Inspection Three men walked into the Hyperion lobby. Cordelia raised her gaze up from the papers she had been working on, ready to blast a bright smile on her face and suck up potential clients. But then she saw a familiar face and the starting smile turned into a glare, boring into the men. "You again", she said, her voice hostile. "We are here to meet Mr. Angel", Gavin Park informed. Cordelia didn't let her eyes off of him as she walked around the receptionist desk. "Why don't you and your little friends slither back to where you crawled out of", she said but the men didn't seem affected. "We are here to meet Mr. Angel", Gavin repeated. "And why would you want to meet me?" Angel asked walking into the room with Buffy following. He would have liked her to stay behind but it was futile to say no to her, especially now that she was pregnant she was even more stubborn than usual. "Hello, I am Gavin Park, and these gentlemen here are officer Delaney and Mr. Hayes. You are miss Summers, I assume", Gavin introduced and offered his hand to Buffy. She just looked at it like it was an foreign object and turned her eyes to Angel. "The new evil lawyer guy?" she questioned, nodding towards the lawyer. "Yeah", Angel answered. "What do you want?" he asked turning his eyes to Gavin, all warmth was gone from his gaze. Gavin dug a stack of papers from his briefcase and gave them to Angel. "Mr. Hayes is an building inspector and knowing your reluctance to cooperate officer Delaney is here to supervise that he are allowed to do the inspection on this building. If you interfere, he will have to arrest you", he explained the situation. Buffy's eyes turned into slits and she openly glared at the man. "He can try", she said menacingly to the lawyer. "Is that a threat, miss Summers?" he questioned with an raised eyebrow keeping the cool surface. "It's a statement", she answered and took a step closer to him. The fact that she was eight months pregnant didn't make her any less intimidating, actually it made her look like a tigress who was protecting her young. Angel could hear the men's heartbeats fastening and he had to suppress a proud smirk from rising to his lips and yelling 'That's my girl'. But instead, he laid a gentle hand to the small of her back, instantly calming her down. She turned to look at him and to outsiders it appeared like they were having a conversation without words. Finally she sighed and shrugged her shoulders like giving up the subject. "I'm starved", she stated, then turned her gaze back to the lawyer, her eyes narrowing suspiciously. "But I don't want any of them being unsupervised anywhere in this building", she said, her voice cold. "Believe me, love, they're not going to be", Angel said with a soft voice that was like a tender caress to her strung nerves. He turned his attention to Cordelia. "Get Wesley and Gunn, they're in the basement. We'll keep company to these gentlemen", he said and despite having a problem with orders, Cordelia did what she was told without any protest. Gunn and Wesley were training in the basement with swords. Gunn had been pestering Angel all morning, trying to get a permission to use his broadsword but hadn't got it, only okay to use the rapiers Wesley had been swindled into buying, that man really didn't have any sale resistance. Of course Gunn hadn't been happy with the choice of weapon because he felt the rapiers were less manly than the broadswords but still he wasn't going to pass the opportunity. Buffy had stayed clear out of the basement, she didn't like seeing those particular weapons if she didn't have to. Because of the imbalanced hormones, she was getting teary just from seeing a crossbow, it didn't take much to bring up bad memories. "Do you think they're still alive down there?" Buffy asked with a quirked eyebrow, her voice was low enough that the outsiders couldn't hear her. "They're still alive", Angel answered, his lips turning into a smirk. He had heard the whole session between the men and it was more talking than fighting, mostly Gunn complaining about the rapiers and Wesley's inability to resist salesmen. Cordelia and the two men came back up from the basement. "All I'm sayin' is that those are for sissy frenchies", Gunn said, not paying attention to the fact that there were strange people in the room. "Those particular rapiers are Italian and they are not for sissies. They are much more graceful than broadswords", Wesley stated with a hard face. "That's what I said, they're for sissies", Gunn answered, looking at Wesley like he didn't get the point. Wesley sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose, it appeared to be a fruitless debate. He turned to Cordelia for help. "Cordelia", he started but she raised her hands up to stop him from going further. "I don't care what kind of a sword you play with, they're all the same to me", she stated and rolled her eyes. Men! Gunn and Wesley turned their attention to the small group of people that were watching their debate, both Buffy and Angel were looking amused by the conversation. Gunn's eyes landed on the guy in a suit. "The new player?" he asked, nodding towards Gavin. "Yeah. And he brought friends with him, they want to inspect the building", Buffy answered. "Why?" Gunn asked bluntly, folding his arms on his chest. "Wolfram & Hart is interested in buying this building", Gavin answered. Buffy rolled her eyes. "Oh come on! Do you really think you can bring Angel to your side by taking away our home? Wolfram & Hart really is loosing its touch. I can't wait to see what kind of a replacement Lilah will have some day." "They are going to do the inspection but I don't want them to be alone anywhere, not even for a second", Angel said to Gunn and Wesley who nodded in understanding. "Okay, get on with it. I'm starting to get hungry", Buffy said with a impatient pout. "Angel, why don't you take Buffy for lunch, Gunn and I can supervise these people", Wesley said. He knew how bad cook Buffy was and that was why he thought Angel's cooking would be best for the baby. "Are you sure?" Angel asked. "Of course, he's sure. Get your woman something to eat, she's eating for two, you know", Gunn said, shaking his head. He understood that Angel didn't trust any people Wolfram & Hart sent, he didn't either, but it wasn't like he or Wesley couldn't handle it. "Okay, call out if you need anything", he said and got a impatient look from Gunn. He and Buffy went back to their room. With a sigh of relief Buffy sat down to the couch and took a comfortable position as Angel went to the small kitchenette and started preparing the lunch. In the living room, Buffy reached for the phone on the table and dialed a number. It had been either shifting from her seat and get the magazine or call Willow, she opted to the one where she didn't have to move from the comfy position she had managed to get. "Hey Will, it's me", she said as the redhead answered the phone. "Buffy!" Willow yelped in surprise, happy to hear her friends voice, then she frowned. "Is everything alright?" "Fine. Why? I just thought I'd call to kill time while waiting for the hubby to feed me", Buffy explained. Angel turned around to look at her as he had heard what she said. She just offered him a innocent look and a smile. She turned her gaze away and frowned. "Umm... Xander. Is he still mad at me?" she asked uncertain if she wanted to hear the answer. "I don't think so, he hasn't said anything. He's just really snarky at Faith but that's nothing out of the ordinary, they're always on each others throats..." There was a small pause. "Umm... Not literally. In each others throats. I'm saying that in a figurative way. But he won't tell me why he's in a pissy... I mean in a bad mood", Willow answered and Buffy could almost see her blushing at her use of words. Of course Buffy knew why Xander had been mad at her and why he was more aggressive towards Faith, but she wasn't going to tell it to Willow. "College is having a bad influence on you, Wills", she smirked, steering the conversation away from bad topics. "Yeah, I'm the regular poster child of bad things that happen to you by going to college", Willow answered. "So how's the baby? And how are you doing?" she asked, sure they had been talking on the phone only two days earlier but a lot could happen during the time. Buffy's hand drifted down to her stomach and a small smile rose to her lips. "We're fine. I think I cracked a rib when he", she glanced towards the kitchen, "or she kicked me but otherwise we're peachy. I have a doctor's appointment in an hour", she answered and quickly added: "Just the monthly check up." She knew if she didn't act quick, Willow would get worried. "Oh, that's good. That it's a monthly thing and not a bad visit", Willow said with a inaudible sigh of relief. "Are you going to drive there?" she asked, the frown returning to her face. "No, Cordy's taking me. Because someone doesn't let me drive anymore", Buffy answered, giving Angel a pointed look. "Besides, I doubt I even fit behind the wheel anymore", she added with a frown and tried to pull down the hem of her shirt that showed her bare belly. "Cordelia's driving you?" Willow asked, her frown deepening. She felt a surge of jealousy run through her, it should have been her taking Buffy to the hospital, not their high school nemesis. She never thought she would ever be jealous of Cordelia and she really didn't like the feeling. "Yeah. You know how much I hate hospitals, it's good to have company", Buffy answered to the phone and gave Angel a bright smile as he walked into the room and set the plate on the coffee table. She covered the phone and looked at him like he was her savior. "I love you", she said with a cheeky smile, then turned her attention back to the phone. "Sorry, Willow, but I have to go. Angel made a delicious lunch and there is nothing that stands in the way of a pregnant slayer and her meal", she said and Willow laughed. "Okay. I'll talk to you later." "Okay. Bye", Buffy said and hung up, turning her full attention to the plate in front of her. She was almost certain she wouldn't have better food even from a four star restaurant. "I think I just fell in love with you a little more", she stated after the first bite and Angel laughed.
Buffy was laying on the exam table with Cordelia on a stool next to her as doctor Lang prepaired the ultrasound ready. "So how are you feeling?" she asked, picking up the bottle of jelly from the cabinet. "Huge", Buffy answered with a frown. Dr Lang gave her a understanding smile. "That's quite normal. But how have you been feeling? Any aches, bleeding, something from that category?" Buffy shook her head. "Nope nothing. As you know, I didn't even have morning sickness. The baby likes to use me as a punching bag, my back is killing me, my feet hurt, I burst into tears from the strangest things and have the weirdest cravings but other than that, nothing", she answered. Again Dr Lang smiled. "Well, all that is normal as well." She spread the cold jelly to Buffy's bare stomach and moved the wand around while looking at the small screen. When the doctor was quiet for a long while, Buffy started to get anxious. "Is something wrong?" she asked with a frown and looked at the screen with sharp eyes. "Nothing is wrong. The baby appears to be healthy and very well developed. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were farther along than you are", Dr Lang said with a soft voice, easing her fears. Buffy let out a sigh of relief. Cordelia strained to see the screen, looking at the ultrasound video with scrutiny, then she turned her eyes to the doctor. "The baby is a girl, right?" she questioned with demanding eyes. "I don't want to know!" Buffy cried out before the doctor could even think of answering. "But I want to. I need to be sure so I can buy that princess dress for her", Cordelia said to Buffy, then turned back to Dr Lang, speaking firmly: "It is a girl, isn't it?" Buffy rolled her eyes. "Cordy, you'll just have to wait with the rest of us. Come on, it's just one month", Buffy said and petted the back of her hand in consolation. Dr Lang smiled in amusement and printed the photo of the ultrasound. She waved it in her hand, drying the ink, then handed it to Buffy. "Would you like one?" she asked Cordelia who seemed to be pouting from being denied the knowledge of the baby's sex. "Sure why not", she shrugged her shoulders, maybe she could frame it and give it to Buffy for birthday, she was sure Angel would wear out the one Buffy got. Dr Lang printed another picture and continued the examination.
Angel glanced at the clock on the wall, it had been nearly an hour since Buffy and Cordelia had left to the hospital but he had heard Cordelia talking about taking Buffy to a baby store so he figured he'd have plenty of time to finish what he had planned. Gunn noticed the solemn look on his boss' face and he made his way to the vampire. “Missing her already?� he asked with a smirk. Angel turned to look at him, he had gotten used to being teased about Buffy and it was no secret he worried about her every minute she was alone somewhere, she was carrying his child and being eight months pregnant didn't make it easy to defend herself if something happened. "It's not that", he said but Gunn just smirked knowingly. "What ever you say", he said chuckling. "Angel!" Wesley called out from the door and crossed the distance between them, he was carrying a see-through plastic bag that showed several books in it. "I have the books you requested", he stated and handed the bag to Angel. Gunn tilted his head to the side and read few of the titles, they were children's books. "Tired of reading those old, thick, musty books with big words?" he questioned with a raised eyebrow. "They're more like research", Angel answered, checking the content of the bag. "What for? If we get attacked by a wicked stepmother?" Gunn asked not seeing the point. "Gunn, you forget Angel is about to become a father in one month", Wesley reminded. "Well, I need to get started", Angel said and headed upstairs, going to his room. He changed his clothes into a pair old gray sweat pants and white wifebeater before leaving the room, going to the one next to it. The hotel room was smaller than his and Buffy's. He had painted it, done some remodeling and safe proofing while Buffy had been in Sunnydale. She didn't venture into the empty rooms so he knew the surprise was safe. He set one of the story books to the table, leaning against the wall with one of the pages open. Then he grabbed a thin paintbrush and opened several paint jars, dipping the brush in the black paint. He looked at the picture on the book and started drawing lines to the wall. In no time had made a perfect copy of the picture in the book. He turned the page, careful not to smudge the book with paint and started painting another character, this time he recognized it. He started doing the lines for the seven dwarfs, he had actually seen the movie when it first came to the theaters. He had come inside to get out of the rain and the theater seemed like good place for him, dry and dark. For over two hours he painted pictures to the walls till he heard the front door open and Cordelia's voice speaking. Quickly he closed the paint jars and put the brush into a cup of water before hurrying out of the room to change. The room wasn't finished so he didn't want to show it to Buffy just yet. He nearly ripped the shirt as he pulled it over his head and threw it into the hamper. His sweats were clean so he opted into pulling on a clean wifebeater and putting a dress shirt over it. He buttoned it up while making his way downstairs. "The stroller was pink. With ruffles", Buffy said shaking her head and walking quickly away from Cordelia, at least as quickly as she could eight months pregnant. "It was cute!" Cordelia insisted, following the pregnant woman that was trying to escape. "The baby might not even be a girl", Buffy sighed. Sure the stroller Cordelia wanted hadn't been that bad, it wasn't hot pink or something shocking but it still screamed 'girl', with ruffles. "It is a girl", Cordelia stated and crossed her arms over her chest, her face was stern, she had made up her mind. "You're back", Angel stated, interrupting the debate. Buffy turned with a bright smile on her face, happy of the interruption and he crossed the distance, pulling her into a kiss. Cordelia rolled her eyes. Angel pulled back, he would finish the kiss once they got to their room. Just thinking about it brought a small crooked smile to his lips. "So, what did the doctor say?" he asked, shaking himself out of his thoughts. "Everything is fine, everything has developed like its supposed to, he or she is perfectly healthy", Buffy answered with a smile, then dug the ultrasound photo from her bag and handed it to him. He was immediately mesmerized, staring at it with awe and he felt a bang of remorse for not being there with her. He traced the blurry features with his finger. It was his child. Cordelia took it as her cue to leave, the moment seemed a little bit too intimate that she felt they needed some privacy. Angel raised his eyes from the picture and looked at the mother of his child. She was watching him with teary eyes, just the look on his face as he looked at the picture of their child, made her feel emotional. "Don't cry", he whispered and wiped the tears away with his thumb before they could fall. "They're not bad tears", she assured and gave him a teary smile before reaching up and brushing her hand through his hair, settling to the base of his neck. She noticed the smudge of blue paint on his hair and with a second look, she also noted he also had some yellow paint on his neck and next to his eye. "What have you been doing?" she asked amusement clear in her voice. She smoothed her thumb over the yellow smudge till it was off his pale skin. Angel frowned, he couldn't really check if his face was covered with paint since he didn't have any reflection. "Fine, you don't have to tell me, you can go back to being a cryptic guy", she said with a shrug. She shifted on her feet, a movement that didn't go unnoticed by Angel. "You're tired. You should go rest. Wanna take a relaxing bath?" he asked and started guiding her to the stairs. "Maybe you could join me, wash all that paint off you hair", she said with a soft voice, giving him a mischievous look. "Maybe I could", he stated with a smirk.
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