Buffy growled in frustration and threw another dress to the bed. Once more she glanced into the full-length mirror and frowned, unsatisfied. She quickly pulled the zipper down and let the dress fall to the ground before kicking it towards the bed. She started digging into the closet, trying to find something suitable to wear. She didn't even notice she wasn't alone until she felt a strong pair of arms circling around her body. Angel chuckled softly, his hot breath tickling her neck.

“We're gonna be late”, he stated and brushed his lips against the column of her neck, his fingers absently drawing patterns on her bare pregnant stomach.

“I know. But I need something to wear, I can't go like this, you know”, she said throwing her arms in the air, frustration clear in her voice.

“I'm not complaining. But this is a side of you I don't want anyone but me seeing so I support your decision to put clothes on. Or we could skip the dinner”, he said and slipped the strap of her bra down from her shoulder before pressing a lingering kiss to the naked skin. Her lips curved into a smile.

“Down boy”, she said and escaped from his embrace. She turned around and looked at him sternly. “I know you're not all excited about having to spend the evening with your grandfather but he's invited us for dinner and I want to meet him.”

“You've already met him”, Angel stated and Buffy just gave him a look, like a mother scolding a child. “Alright, alright. Why don't you put on the red one I got you from Hawaii.”

“It's too tight”, she said with a pout and stepped past him, going to the pile of clothes on the bed. “Like many of them are. And after I give birth they will be too big”, she complained and a crooked grin rose to Angel's lips. He made his way to her and draped his arm around her.

“Maybe I'll just have to keep you pregnant then”, he said and and pulled her into a kiss. She laughed softly against his lips and slapped his chest.

“Dream on, mister”, she said back and pulled away, turning her attention back to the clothes.

“Why don't you put the pink one?” he suggested with a crooked smile on his lips. “The sooner we get there, the sooner we'll get to leave.”

Buffy turned around but he had already left the room. She let out a weary breath and sat to the edge of the bed, to the only spot that was free of clothes. She didn't want to push Angel into talking about his past or his relationship with his family. She knew his mother was alive, she didn't know where but at least she knew the woman was alive. She was starting to think the dinner was a bad idea but the way Angel had talked about it, Daniel O'Reilly hadn't invited them, it had been an order.

With a frown marring her features, she got up from the bed and slipped into the light pink dress. She looked at herself in the full-length mirror and quickly adjusted her hairdo before following Angel downstairs. “Angel”, she started and Angel turned around, his dark eyes raking over her body.

“You're beautiful”, he said and with few strides he was standing in front of her.

“Thanks”, she said with a slight blush, she was over twenty years old but she still wasn't used to compliments. But she also knew he only said it so she wouldn't continue the conversation they had upstairs.

“Maybe if we skip the dinner I could show you just how beautiful you are”, he said with a husky voice and for a moment she seriously considered his offer. She mentally shook the thought away even though it was very tempting.

“We should get going”, she stated and he let out a soft resignated sigh.

“Okay, let's go”, he said and they left Buffy's house. As he was driving to his grandfather's residence, he couldn't help but wonder what the old man's plan was, he hadn't been surprised when Daniel summoned him to his office and told him to bring Buffy with him to a family dinner. He knew his grandfather had known about Buffy for some time and he wouldn't have been the least surprised if the old man knew about the pregnancy as well.

Angel parked the car in front of the manor and turned his eyes to Buffy. He noted she was still nervously playing with the edge of her jacket, something she had been doing the whole ride from the house. “Don't be nervous, everything's going to go alright”, he assured her. She turned to look at him, worrying her lower lip with her teeth.

“I'm not nervous. Who's nervous?”

He gave her a crooked smile, she just looked so endearing. “It's just Daniel. And I don't give a rats ass what he thinks”, he said, not managing to calm her down.

“But he's your grandfather, I'd like to make a good impression”, she said stubbornly. He let out a sigh, he could think plenty of things he'd rather be doing than have dinner with his grandfather but he wasn't going to deny anything from her.

“As you wish”, he said and a grin broke to her face. He looked at her suspiciously, not knowing what had caused it. “What?”

“Oh, nothing”, she dismissed it and got out of the car, still wearing the grin. They went to the door and Angel rang the bell.

Few moments later the door was opened by a man dressed in a dark suit, he glanced at the couple and stepped aside. “Mr. O'Reilly is waiting in the lounge”, he said and closed the door after them.

“You can go, Jonathan”, Angel said to the man and with a polite nod, the man left. Angel helped Buffy out of her jacket, then led her to the lounge where Daniel was waiting for them. He was pouring a drink when Angel stepped into the room, his arm around Buffy's waist.

Daniel turned to them and glanced at his wristwatch. “There you are”, he said and set the drink aside.

“You summoned”, Angel stated wryly. Daniel ignored his grandson and turned his eyes to the woman next to him. A crooked smile rose to his lips and he crossed the distance between them, offering his hand.

“I'm Angelus' grandfather, the one he inherited his good looks from”, he said and Buffy shook his hand, giving him a nervous smile. The man could be intimidating and the crooked smile on his lips lacked the charm Angel's had, maybe in the past it had had it but now it was marred with cynicism.

“Buffy Summers. We have already met once, Mr O'Reilly”, she answered and Daniel nodded.

“Yes, I remember. And call me Daniel”, he said with a friendly tone. Buffy gave him a more relaxed smile as Angel watched the exchange with sharp eyes. He still couldn't figure out what his grandfather's plan was, dinner with only close family he had was nothing out of the ordinary but the man did nothing without an ulterior motive. “Why don't we go to the dining room, I am certain the dinner is ready to be served”, Daniel said and offered his arm to Buffy. She glanced at Angel who was looking at his grandfather and with small hesitation she took the offered arm. The three moved to the large dining room.

The dinner was actually almost pleasant. Daniel was charming, a fact that made Angel even more suspicious, and Buffy could see he had been quite a ladies man in his day but still he couldn't hide the cynical business man that lived inside him. Even when he was saying the most smoothest line she had ever heard, the calculating look in his eyes didn't change. She knew if the man considered her a threat to anything his, he wouldn't hesitate to destroy her but no matter how many cold chills the man could cause her, he was still Angel's grandfather.

“I know your father, he is Hank Summers, isn't he”, Daniel stated and keenly watched Buffy's reaction. She swallowed the food and set the silverware to the edge of the plate before taking a sip of water. Suddenly the food tasted bad. She lifted her eyes to the man and slowly nodded.

“Yes, he's a lawyer”, she answered and took another sip from the glass. Her father really wasn't a topic she wanted to discuss.

“Do you keep in touch with him? I hear he is working on a very interesting case at the moment”, Daniel continued, glancing at Angel's direction before turning his sharp eyes back to Buffy. Angel's eyes narrowed.

“I wouldn't know anything about that, I haven't talked to him in a good while”, Buffy answered politely, she was sure there was something to the line of questioning but she wasn't very keen on finding out what it was. “Uhm... Would you excuse me, I need to... Where's the bathroom?”

Angel got up from his seat, his eyes shooting daggers at the older man. “I'll show you”, he said and guided Buffy out of the room. At the bathroom door, he gently took her hand into his. “Are you alright?” he asked softly.

She turned her eyes to him, looking at him from under her lashes. “I'm fine”, she assured him and gave him a small smile to convince him.

“He likes you, but he's just an asshole”, he said, trying to make her feel better and a real smile tucked her lips.

“You really shouldn't say that, especially in his house.”

“Why not? He knows what I think about him”, he questioned with a smirk, sometimes she was just delightfully innocent.

“Okay, whatever. I'll just go in now and I *can* do it on my own”, she said and stepped inside the bathroom, closing the door firmly. He chuckled in amusement and turned around to return to the dining room, his smile fading as he reached it. Daniel had gotten up from the table and was pouring himself a drink, he didn't even glance at Angel when he poured another glass.

“Ah, now I understand why you wanted the case. It's because of her. Hank is the lawyer in that case. What you trying to do? Impress her?” Daniel smirked. Angel just glared at him. “But she doesn't know about the case, so why are you doing it? Are you even going to tell her you're going to slaughter her father in court?” he added and laughed heartily as Angel's scowl deepened revealing it was his intention.

“What the fuck are you trying to pull?” he growled harshly but Daniel seemed unaffected by the words, his mood still staying playful. He handed the other glass to Angel and took a sip from his own.

“What makes you think I am planning something? Maybe I just wanted to meet the woman who is expecting a child to my only grandson.” He could barely keep the grin from rising to his lips.

“You've already met her”, Angel stated and placed the drink to the table, he was driving Buffy home and he was not going to endanger her and their baby by drinking.

Daniel let a wry grin form to his lips, his grandson was no fool. “Yes, but I didn't know she was pregnant then. Besides, it was just a quick inspection to see what kind of a gold digger you had found this time. I must say, I was pleasantly surprised. She'll make an excellent trophy wife, pretty, good mannered and already wealthy”, he answered.

Angel just glared at him grinding his teeth together, his hands clenching into fists. If his grandfather had been a younger man and Buffy had not been in the same house with them, he would have hit him. Daniel finished his drink and set the glass aside before turning his eyes back to Angel. He could see the younger man was bubbling with anger and inwardly he smiled. “I suspect you haven't proposed to her yet. Waiting for her to get her figure back, eh?”

“That's none of your business, old man”, Angel responded his whole being darkening, men had withered under the gaze but it had little affect on his grandfather. He would marry Buffy even if she was nine months pregnant but he doubted she would go for it. Thankfully Buffy used that moment to return to the dining room and Angel could feel himself relax, he was almost certain Daniel wouldn't continue their line of conversation with her in the room. She stepped to stand next to him, her hand slipping into his. She looked at him feeling the tension coming from him but didn't ask why he was on edge.

“I would offer you a drink but I know you will refuse”, Daniel stated casually and turned to pour himself another drink.

“Yes, for the obvious reason”, Buffy answered and he turned to look at her, his sharp eyes somewhat unnerving.

“And what is that?”

“You don't need to play with me. I never believed this was just a casual dinner to meet the girlfriend. I'm pregnant and you know it”, she answered not letting her eyes wander away from his, she needed to keep her stand and not back down.

A wolfish smile rose to his lips, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “Smart too”, he stated looking at Angel before turning his gaze back to Buffy, his eyes raking over her body. The dress she was wearing made her stomach almost unnoticeable even though she wasn't trying to hide the pregnancy. Daniel's eyes snapped to the doorway as Jonathan stepped into the room. “Yes?”

“There is a phone call for you, sir. I believe it is urgent”, he answered and Daniel nodded absently.

“I will take it in the study”, he stated, then turned to Buffy. “If you'll excuse me”, he said and took a hold of her free hand, bringing it to his lips and brushing a soft gentlemanly kiss to the back of her hand. Then he left the room, leaving Buffy and Angel alone.

“You know, he's really a confusing man.”

“Yes, he can pull the charm when he wants”, Angel answered, his eyes still on the doorway. He still wanted to know what his grandfather was up to, he had been sugary sweet to Buffy while still making innuendos.

“So, this is the house you grew up in”, Buffy stated, leaving the sentence hanging in the air.

Angel turned to look at her, eying her suspiciously. “Yeah, at least the teenage years.”

“Is your room still like it was then?” she asked innocently, looking like the epitome of innocence.

“Yeah. And I think I know where this is going and the answer is no”, he said sternly and a pout formed to her lips, drawing his eyes to the protruding lower lip.

“Why not? You've seen mine”, she protested. He chuckled shaking his head, that pout was going to be the death of him.

“No”, he repeated with less conviction.

“Come on, I bet he's gonna be on the phone half the night. Please”, she requested but she could see he was trying to keep his stand, so she decided to take another approach. “Please”, she repeated with a breathy voice, batting her eyelashes. She placed a gentle hand to his chest and looked into his eyes from under the veil of her eyelashes.

“You think you can persuade me by pouting and batting those eyes of yours”, he said chastising her.

A grin rose to her lips. “Is it working?” she asked, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

“Yes. But you're going to pay for that”, he answered and her grin grew into a full blown smile.

“Later”, she promised. “Now show me your room”, she ordered excitedly.

“Fine. But I'm doing this under a protest”, he groused but it didn't make her smile any less brighter. Angel shook his head at her excitement but did lead her up the stairs of the lobby and once they arrived to their destination, he opened the door for her and flipped on the light. Buffy stepped inside and looked around herself, clearly surprised.

“Wow, this really isn't what I expected”, she said in awe.

“What did you expect?” he asked and stepped to stand right behind her, smiling in amusement.

“I don't know... Pictures of naked girls on the walls, clips from a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition. But this is like a library”, she answered and went to take a closer look at the bookshelves that covered the walls, some of the editions very rare. The room was full of dark colors, there were several shelves filled with books and a large mahogany bed was dominating the room. She glanced at the bed and turned to look at Angel, raising a questioning eyebrow.

“What? I like having plenty of room in my bed”, he defended himself.

“Don't I know it, you hog the covers”, she stated trying to stay serious. He pulled her close to his body, a crooked grin firmly in place.

“And why do you think that is?” he smirked. She glared at him and playfully slapped his chest. “You know, body heat is known to stop hypothermia”, he added.

“Which I'm in danger of having in my bed in the sunny California”, she answered wryly but couldn't stop a smile from tucking at her lips.

“It can get pretty cold at night”, he whispered huskily, causing her to chuckle.

“Because someone steals the covers”, she answered keeping a straight face. She was about to continue but with a roll of his eyes, he dived into a kiss, effectively silencing her. She moaned against his lips and wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her body against his.

As he started to guide her towards the bed, she let out a soft giggle and pulled back. “We should get back”, she stated stepping back from the temptation. He took a deep calming breath and let it out slowly, willing his hardening member to go down. “When we get home”, she promised and took another step away from him so she wouldn't change her mind and throw him down to the bed and have her way with him. She was pretty sure he wouldn't protest.

He saw the heated look in her eyes and it made his cock twitch. “I'm thinking we should say our meaningless thank yous for the dinner and leave right now”, he said and she nodded her consent.

They returned downstairs and met with Daniel who had just finished his phone call. “Mr. O'Reilly, thank you for the dinner but we really must be getting home now, I have an early morning tomorrow”, she said politely and offered her hand to shake his. Daniel took it and again placed a gentlemanly kiss to the back of her hand.

“The pleasure was mine”, he answered.

After a quick talk Buffy went to the lobby to get her coat while Angel stayed behind with his grandfather. She pulled on her jacket and took Angel's from the hanger before heading back to the room where she had left him.

“She got you by the balls, eh?” Daniel taunted with a smirk that told he was enjoying the situation. Buffy stopped as she heard him and after few short moments returned to the lobby, doing her best to pretend she hadn't heard it. Not long after Angel came from the room with long, angry strides. She handed him his jacket and he led her out of the house without saying goodbye to the host.

As they got to the car, he took a hold of her arm, stopping her. She turned to look at him, giving him time to get himself together. He let out a weary sigh. “I'm sorry about the whole evening. My grandfather is a domineering asshole and you shouldn't have been pulled into his games”, he said and pulled her closer to him. He knew she had heard his grandfather's words, he only hoped she hadn't heard all of the conversation.

“It's okay, no big”, she brushed it off and tried to pull back but he only pulled her closer. He looked into her eyes, searching for the truth. “Really, I'm okay”, she assured him and gave a quick kiss to his lips. “I thought you were on a hurry to get home”, she stated with a crooked smile that didn't reach her eyes. He brushed a strand of hair out of her face and nodded.

“Yeah, let's go home”, he said softly, then gave her a wicked grin. “If I remember correctly, you have a debt to pay”, he added and this time got a genuine smile from her.