Part 2
Buffy arrived home to see Faith sitting on the couch, reading a book. Her eyes almost died of shock.
Faith…book reading?
In all the years that the two had been friends, not once had Buffy ever known Faith to pick up that sort of knowledge, not even when they were in school.
Buffy still pondered how the hell Faith had managed to graduate from high school without ever opening a textbook, let alone skipping class half the time.
“Hey.” Faith remarked, not looking up from her book.
“Hi.” Buffy said awkwardly. “What’re you reading?”
“A book on pregnancy, actually.” Faith murmured, shutting the book silently.
“What?” Buffy asked, trying to comprehend what Faith had just said.
“I’m pregnant.” Faith replied, looking up at her with tear stained eyes. “I just found out this morning.”
“So, what else did the doctor say?” Buffy asked.
“I didn’t go to a doctor. I took a home pregnancy test after your boy left today. It was positive.” Faith replied shamefully, her puffy eyes darting to the floor.
“Faith, you know those things aren’t always one hundred percent effective.” Buffy remarked, trying to lift her friend’s spirits, at least until they knew for certain. “You need to see a doctor.”
“I can’t.” Faith shook her head.
“Faith, you have to.” Buffy argued. “If it turns out you are, in fact, pregnant, a doctor can tell you what prenatal care you need to provide so that you can take care of yourself and your baby. Doctors won’t judge you. If you want, I’ll go with you.”
“I can’t have a baby.” Faith protested. “I can barely take care of myself, let alone a child. I have a hard enough time paying my half of the rent every month. How am I supposed to afford having a child?”
“I’ll help you. You know you are not alone in this, Faith.” Buffy comforted her. “I’ll just work some extra hours at the office. We’re supposed to be getting that new client, Ella, the one I talked to you about? We’ll make it work. It might be tight for a while, but we’ll manage it.”
“You’d do that?” Faith asked.
“You’re my best friend, Faith. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you.” Buffy smiled.
“What about that guy, though? Mr. O’Connor?” Faith asked.
“I told you already it was a fling. No strings attached.” Buffy shrugged off.
“You like him.” Faith said, yawning and falling back asleep on the couch. “Cute boy.”
“Sweet dreams.” Buffy kissed her forehead. *Everything will be all right, Faith. I promise you that.*
***
“Her name is Buffy Summers.” Doyle told his friend, slamming the file gently down on his desk at work the following Monday. “Has a twin sister named Tara, who hasn’t been heard from since the late 90’s. Mommy and Daddy told Buffy her sister was dead. Buffy’s been living with Faith since she was 19, just after high school.”
“Thanks Doyle. You’ll keep searching on any new information that comes up?” Angel pondered.
“You know I will.” Doyle nodded. “Just ask me something. You sure about this girl?”
“She gets to me. I can’t explain it. It’s like she’s in my every waking thought when I’m not with her.” Angel told him. “I know it sounds crazy, considering I only knew her for a few short, but yet informative hours, but I feel that she’s the one.”
“You’re such a pussy.” Doyle chuckled. “This is priceless. Angelus O’Connor’s first one night stand in months has got him pussy whipped.”
“Says the man whose high maintenance fiancée has him wrapped around her little finger. If she asked you to dress up like a puppy, you would.” Angel retorted.
“Touché.” Doyle smirked. “You really should try to forget about her, man. Girl like that probably has a big, bulky boyfriend at home. Move on.”
“I can’t.” Angel sighed. “You’d feel the same way if it was Cordelia.”
“True.” Doyle nodded.
“So, find out everything you can about her.” Angel eyed him intently before dismissing him.
“Hey.” Doyle greeted Wes as the other man walked into the room.
“Hey Doyle.” Wes smiled as he left, and turned his focus back to Angel. “Just stopped by for a friendly chit chat, did he?”
“Something like that.” Angel shrugged it off.
“ ‘Buffy Summers’.” Wesley read the labeling on the manila folder before Angel snatched it out of his hands. “I take it you haven’t given up on your obsession with this girl then?”
“It’s not an obsession.” Angel vehemently insisted.
“No?” Wesley asked. “You haven’t taken a shower, changed clothes, and I presume slept since you met this girl. You need to let it go, Angel. It was a one night thing, that’s it. I think she made it pretty clear that she wants nothing to do with you, no?”
“I can’t accept that.” Angel explained.
“Can’t or won’t?” Wesley asked.
“What are you saying?” Angel grumbled.
“Maybe you’re trying to find a replacement for Darla.” Wesley concluded.
“Don’t you dare fucking accuse me of that!” Angel growled. “You know what happened. You heard the whole conversation.”
“Let me go!” Darla screamed at him. “Get away from me, you arrogant bastard!”
“I didn’t do anything!” he yelled back.
“You slept with that whore! I saw you two together, so don’t even try and deny it!” Darla raged.
“Tina and I were just talking, that’s it.” Angel explained. “I don’t know what you saw but you’re wrong!”
“You lie!” Darla spat at him, breaking out of his grasp. “You ruined my life, Angelus. You deserve to suffer an eternity of torment, because you sure as hell don’t know the first thing about love!”
“I love you.” Angel replied sincerely.
“No, you never did. You just wanted a pretty blonde on your side to get ahead in your career. You don’t know how to love, much less how to feel anything.” Darla accused. “I feel sorry for the woman you actually fall in love with because once you finds out the truth about you, I hope she takes your heart and stomps on it! You don’t deserve love!”
Darla pushed him out of her way, and ran from his office. She never looked back, and was never heard or seen from again.
“That’s not what I meant.” Wesley shrugged off the recollection. “I just meant that is that what this Buffy girl is to you, as Darla once put it? A pretty blonde by your side to help you get ahead in your career?”
“Of course not.” Angel shook his head. “She’s more than that. I’m in love with her.”
“How can you be in love with a girl you just briefly met for a few short hours? Love blossoms with time, Angel. And you two barely knew each other a few short hours.” Wesley sighed. “I know you may think you’re in love with her, but let me ask you this. Ten years down the line, are you sure you’re going to feel that way? Can you imagine yourself with this woman that far down the line, perhaps even for the rest of your life? Let’s face it, you aren’t exactly celibate in the art of intimate flesh.”
“What are you suggesting?” Angel asked. “That I just let her go?”
“Do you really want her put her through all that if you don’t?” Wesley asked, leaving him to rationalize his thoughts.
Could he really leave her be? What did he really know about her? Did he really want to be tied down for the rest of his life?
Angel pondered these thoughts for the rest of the day. He knew what he had to do.
***
“How are you feeling?” Buffy asked the following morning.
“I’m fine. A little somber, but overall all right.” Faith nodded. “How are you today?”
“Good, I have a meeting at the office at noon. Ella wants to discuss the terms of her agreement with the company. Flutie wants me there since she will be my account.”
“You make her sound like a bitch.” Faith chuckled.
“Oh look, she can smile.” Buffy complimented her. “Ella is…let’s just say a handful.”
“Sorry, I know I haven’t been Miss Upbeat lately.” Faith sighed.
“You’ve barely come out of your room since you found out you were pregnant, Faith. That’s not healthy for you or the baby you are carrying. You should be taking better care of yourself.” Buffy advised her. “After all, you are providing for two people now.”
“I know. I will.” Faith nodded in agreement.
“You seem glum. You sure you’re okay?” Buffy inquired.
“I’ll be fine. Probably just a pregnancy thing.” Faith shrugged it off. “You should get going. Don’t want to be late for your meeting.”
“I know. I’ll be back later.” Buffy promised. “And then you and I will have a nice, quiet dinner at Hollands.”
“Okay.” Faith agreed. “Have a good day at work, B.”
“Thanks, I’ll try.” Buffy smiled. “And you try to wipe that sad look off your face.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Faith rolled her eyes.
“And stop scowling at me!” Buffy remarked, exiting the apartment.
Faith stared out the window, making sure Buffy was gone before picking up the phone. Dialing the memorized number, Faith waited for the voice to greet her.
“Hey,” Faith replied coolly. “It’s me. I need to see you…”
***
Angel arrived home that night to a dark, and somewhat empty apartment. Turning on the light, he realized that everything was the same as he’d left it a week ago.
Empty beer cans and pizza boxes cluttered the floor and coffee table, clothes were strewn every which way across the couch and empty floor space. Angel snorted in disgust.
He actually lived like this? He wasn’t a pig, by any means, but couldn’t he at least clean up after himself?
He moved towards the bedroom, and loosened his jacket from his shoulders, throwing it on the lounge chair nearby. He heaved a sigh of discontent.
Why was she still there, in his mind? He’d made his decision to stay away from her, so why was it that she consumed him, no matter whether he was with her or not?
He knew he had to see her.
Donning some worn jeans and a navy blue polo shirt, Angel grabbed his keys and headed for Buffy’s apartment.
Maybe they could finally put a rest to this torment once and for all.
***
“I’m pregnant.” Faith blurted out over coffee that afternoon.
“What?” he gasped. “Is it…?”
“Yours?” Faith asked. “For all intents and purposes, yes.”
“But you…and I…” he stammered.
“I know we both used protection. But we both know that birth control and condoms always aren’t 100% effective.” Faith sighed. “The point is, you and I need to start discussing the future, with this baby. Assuming you want a future with your child.”
“Faith, it’s not about that. It’s just I’m…” he trailed off.
“Married. I remember you mentioning it after you knocked me up, yes. I think that was right before I kicked you out.” Faith rolled her eyes. “What does the wifey not approve of your consorts?”
“She doesn’t know.” His eyes cast a downward glance.
“Oh.” Faith muttered. “So, I guess that’s it, right? You have a bastard child that the wife does know about, so you want to pretend like it never existed. I can’t do that, William. We created this child together. It wasn’t all my doing, as I seem to recall. You have to make a choice. Call me when you do.”
Faith grabbed her purse, and ran out of the diner, tears forming on her eyelids.
Would William actually leave her alone in this? Would she be raising a bastard child all by herself? What man could possibly love her now that she had a baby?
***
Buffy came home to find Faith lounging on the sofa, watching some T.V. The brunette faked a smile at her friend, but Buffy wasn’t buying it.
“Thought I told you to wipe the morbid scowl off of that face.” Buffy shook her head. “What happened?”
“I had lunch with...my baby’s father.” Faith sighed.
“Oh?” Buffy sat down next to her in the empty chair. “How did it go?”
“He, umm…” Faith looked down at her feet. “Oh god.”
“Faith, just tell me what happened.” Buffy remarked.
“He’s married, B. His wife never knew about us. And I never told you because I thought you’d see me as what my family saw me…a used whore.” Faith cried.
“Faith, you’re my best friend. I could never see you that way. I’ll love you no matter what fuck ups you do.” Buffy hugged her. “So you got involved with a married man. That’s not entirely uncommon these days.”
“I don’t think he wants it...Our baby.” Faith blurted out. “He acted like he wanted nothing to do with me. He got what he wanted with me and now he’s just like everyone else.”
“Then he’s a fool.” Buffy comforted her. “If he can’t see what a great catch you are, then the bastard wasn’t worth it in the first place.”
“It’s not his fault.” Faith defended. “I mean, it took two of us to…I’m partially to blame.”
“Did he tell you that he was married before you had sex?” Buffy asked.
“No.” Faith shrugged. “Not until after.”
“Then how is it your fault? You thought he was single. You didn’t know at the time.” Buffy explained. “Don’t try and justify his actions to me, Faith. Cuz I can’t back you after his manipulations.”
“And I love you for that, but I can’t give up my baby.” Faith noted. “So, whether William is in my baby’s life or not makes no difference. I won’t have this child play second fiddle to his wife. A child should always come first. If he can’t do that, then he doesn’t need this child in his life.”
“You need some cheering up.” Buffy replied, changing the subject. “So, get up and get dressed. We have an eight o’clock reservation at Hollands, and I am not one for being fashionably late.”
“Party pooper.” Faith joked as she moved towards her bedroom.