It's All Ok by Criss Moody

Date: September 8^th, 2000

Spoilers: If you haven't seen Angel: The Series, maybe.

Rating: G-PG

Pairing: Cordelia/Doyle (Buffy/Angel, Xander/Anya)

Content Warning: Sap, fluff, and mention of a character death.

Summary: The Gang celebrates the arrival of a new member.

Disclaimer: Mr. Whedon and cohorts created the characters and concept, I'm just doing what my muses force me to do.

Notes: This is ubersap, het sap at that. May the SlashGods forgive me <g>.

"We've got to get out of here."

"No luck Princess, we've got Liam until Harris-Summers number two pops out. Besides," Doyle looked at his rapidly warming body of Murphy's Irish Stout, "I haven't finished my beer yet and Joey is about to tell Jack why she's not marrying Pacey."

Cordelia chose that moment to look at her husband of four years with a mixture of affection, disgust, and shame. Her beloved half-human husband liked Dawson's Creek and that explained the shame and the disgust. The affection was still a bit hard to explain. She sighed, rubbing her pregnant tummy, turning her attention back to the slim, elegant, wonderfully expensive television screen that spread across a stone wall in the mansion.

"Kerr Smith is kinda cute. In a teen idol sort of way that is."

"Please, he's such a pretty boy."

"Honey, he's taller than you are."

"Bet he's not bigger than I am."

"Allan Francis Doyle!"

A rumpled, pajama-clad little boy stumbled out of his bedroom, rubbing his eyes with both tiny fists.

"Aunty Delia, why are you yelling at Uncle Doyle?"

"Because he's an idiot that's why." She rolled her eyes and amended her statement. "I wasn't yelling honey, we were just discussing a TV show."

"Dawson's Creek? Mommy says Kerr Smith is a hottie and then Daddy frowns but Mommy says Daddy is the only man for her even if Papa Xander knocked her up twice."

Doyle and Cordelia looked at each other and burst out laughing, their giggles bouncing off the high ceilings of the Crawford Street mansion. The laughter proved infectious and the little boy soon joined in, squirming between the two adults.

"Delia?"

"Yes baby?" The elegant, heavily pregnant woman answered her charge, rubbing her hand over his silky brown hair.

"When will Mommy and Papa Xander and Daddy get home with the new baby?"

"Soon, Liam, soon." She kissed his brow, inhaling his sweet baby boy scent. The stretching and moving of his body radiated off of his skin. It didn't seem possible that four years ago, Anya had fallen into a coma, 4 months pregnant with Liam. Everything Xander had needed and wanted had been wrapped up in the ex-demon and the child he had created with her. When the doctor said that she was brain dead, Xander Harris had gotten drunk for the first time in his life. After the news about Anya had come, Cordelia had handed her boss the keys to the car and the aspiring actress, her aspiring half-demon boyfriend, and the vampire had zipped off to Sunnydale.

It had taken Angel, Doyle, Spike, and finally even Buffy to get him out of the bar. The doctors told the soon-to-be widower that the child might have a chance if it were implanted in another womb. But it would have to be quick. Buffy had volunteered, much to the displeasure of Angel, and after signing the consent forms, Xander fled Sunnydale. By the end of the day, tiny Liam Alexander Harris had been implanted in Buffy and Angel had appointed himself as her protector…again. Eventually, the two former lovers had come back to each other and by the time little Liam was born, they had come to realize that they worked better together than apart. Xander finally returned, broken, shamefaced, but willing to let time and his friends heal him.

Now, four years later, Buffy and Angel had decided that another child would be a good addition. Liam was wonderful, but more would be even better. After first considering invitro and adoption, Xander had offered up his "Super Squigglers." Icky nickname aside, the solution made everyone fairly happy. Liam would have a half-brother or sister, and the new baby would have the same three parents as Liam. Unusual, but somehow it worked. So, while Buffy treated Angel to childbirth Slayer style for the second time, Cordelia and Doyle took care of Liam, who looked exactly like Anya.

The phone rang next to Cordelia's elbow and she quickly snatched it up before Liam, who had fallen asleep against her bulbous body, woke up again.

"Cordy?"

"What is it?"

"We're the proud parents of a 5 pound, 8 ounce screaming baby girl. She's got her mother's mouth, my attitude, and Deadboy's skin tone…ow!" Cordelia grinned when she heard her boss' hand smack against her friend's head.

"Xander, shut your mouth off…congratulations goofball."

"Cordy, you warm me with your sweet words." Xander's tone switched from mocking to serious. "How's the mini-fang?"

"Sleeping peacefully and you shouldn’t call him that."

"Tell him we're naming the baby Ana…after his mother."

Cordelia sniffed and closed her eyes. Buffy was Liam's mommy, but Anya would always be his mother. She felt her crazy pre-mommy hormones shake, rattle, and roll until Doyle's arms curled around her.

"Cordelia, what's up? Annoying boy said you got really quiet there." Angel had taken the phone and Cordelia shook off her brief maudlin moment to focus on the moment. Life had won out again. Time to celebrate.

"Angel, I'm fine. Can we bring Liam in to see Ana?"

"Yeah, but wait 'till the morning. Buffy's asleep and so's Ana. Xander will be coming back to the house soon."

"No problem Boss-Man."

Cordelia hung up after Angel said goodbye and leaned into her husband's embrace. "Her name is Ana."

"Sounds good to me."

The three figures on the couch drifted off to sleep, safe with the people they loved.

Do a good deed. Send Feedback.