claudiajean's Diaryland Diary

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guardian - part one - BtVS

The way she spent her time with him was that she had taken to going with Giles to LA. He made the large portion of his income advising different museums and galleries there and so for one weekend a month, he went. The funny thing was, they had both been dropping not so subtle hints around each other. Both accused of not spending enough time with the other, both were hurt.

“Why don’t you go with him to LA?” Tara had commented finally and surprisingly, both had agreed immediately.

The first time was awkward and heated. They were both so angry with each other and both had been hiding it for too long. With Olivia, his attempt to go back to England, College and everything in between cleared, they worked on mending the relationship that was once so good.

“This will take effort, Buffy. You are no longer a child. We cannot interact as if you were.” he said on the first trip, pulling into the parking lot of the big, old museum building.

“And you are not old, really.” she shrugged an apology. “I’m relearning how to see you, Giles.” This made him smile.

***

This was their fourth trip together. He picked her up at seven am, on time. And she was ready with her overnight bag, exiting the dorm without a sound. They rode with the top down, mostly, and so it was conversation-less which was okay. After the second trip she had made him sit with her at the computer and pick out songs that they could both agree on. Dawn had come home to see Buffy and Giles singing along to Freebird loudly and it had almost been too much for the girl.

So now they blasted acceptable music and Buffy’s blonde hair whipped out behind her. She glanced at him from behind her sunglasses and he smiled at her. The time was good for them, they were adults together.

At the museum she was his ‘apprentice’, they said, Miss Summers. He gave her busywork like cross-referencing and translations but it was busy work most girls her age shouldn’t have been able to do so the stuffy men and women gave her some respect. And over the brim over his glasses, in his tweed, she understood now how high school Willow had a crush on librarian Giles. He would give her approving, glowing looks and four hours later they would rotate to a different location.

The hotel they were put up in was a Ramada, but it was on the nicer side. They shared a room with two queen beds and when he snored at night, she would slip out of bed and place her hand on his bare arm and he would roll over and quiet. She wondered if he knew she did that. She liked to watch him sleep despite the snoring. He relaxed and softened and radiated the kindness she knew was inherent to his personality. And when nothing else could, his steady breathing would eventually lull her to sleep.

Sunday was spent at three galleries displaying art from centuries ago to modern times. She could help less with this part so she would go out and buy their lunch, or shop a bit if Cordelia was available. Giles didn’t know if she saw Angel but he liked to think she didn’t.

They were eating in the deli across the street when her cell phone went off. Stepping outside he could see her talking animatedly through the plate glass window.

“Is everything okay?” he asked when she slid back into her seat, resuming the consumption of her turkey and avocado sandwich.

“That was Xander. Guess what?” he loved the way she glowed when she was happy.

“I haven’t a clue.” he said, her excitement already contagious.

“Anya is pregnant!” she shrieked and blushed as the full diner turned to look at her and smiled.

“Really? That is exciting. Xander must be thrilled.” he said but she was already planning a mile a minute, the wedding having to be moved up, of course.

“Giles? Wait, I thought we were happy, here. Why so glum all of a sudden?” she asked.

“I-it’s nothing, continue.” he said, dismissing his sudden dark thoughts.

“No, you just looked like someone kicked a puppy.” she stood and cleared the remains of their lunch.

“I just... Buffy, you may never get the chance to have children and I’m sorry for that.” he said and she shrugged.

“I know.” They started to walk back. “I’ve thought about it before. I wouldn’t have time for a baby and I'd feel bad about the amount of danger it would be in... always.”

“You have a valid point.” he agreed.

“Besides, I bet slayers can’t even get pregnant.” she speculated. “I've never heard of slayers having children.”

“Slayers can get pregnant, and have in the past.” he corrected.

“Really? What happened?” she asked, genuinely surprised.

“To my knowledge, they never made it to full term. They were killed. The added weight and bulk hindered them too much.” he said, sadly.

“I wonder what the children would have been like. Super duper like their mommas?” she pondered, walking through the gallery door that Giles held open for her.

“It’s a topic of great curiosity.” he said. “A slayer called Athena nearly made it about a century ago and the council was sorely disappointed when she was killed in her eighth month. They though because the father was- well, they thought the baby would be extraordinary. Here we are.” he said and her eyes narrowed.

“Because the father was what? A demon?” she asked, ready to defend alternative lifestyles to her usually accepting watcher.

“No, the father was Athena’s watcher, a Mr. Parkers, I believe.” Her mouth formed a silent ‘O’ of understanding.

“You mean, if we had a-a, you know, together... w-with each other, you and me-”

“Buffy,” he said, stopping her babble.

“It would be extra super?” she finished, her cheeks reddening.

“That’s what the council had presumed.” he sat behind a wooden desk and she perched on it, in front of him.

“Do you want me to make like a tree?” she asked, eyeing the workload still on his desk.

“What?”

“Leave.” she clarified.

“Ah... it will only be a few hours more. Why don’t you use the computer and do a bit of research on Athena and her Mr. Parkers.” he said. “And Buffy... you are the best slayer yet. I believe if you want children, then you shall have them.” he said.

“Only with you, Rupert.” she said, drawing out his name. “So they’d be fierce.” He glared his disapproving glare but couldn’t help the smile the thought caused.

***

It was a bit before eight when they rolled into Sunnydale, the top up, Buffy asleep against the window.

“We’re nearly to your dormitory, Buffy.” he said, gently touching her arm.

“No.” she moaned. “Willow said she was going to make me watch Blade II.” she cracked one eye. “Can we just go to your place for awhile? Just until patrol?” she didn't have to beg, he just kept driving. “I don’t see why she likes to watch those completely unrealistic vamp movies.” Buffy continued, complaining.

“Perhaps that’s why. It makes something very much frightening and real seem like fantasy again.” he said and she cocked her head.

“I guess I hadn’t thought of that. But I don’t need the Hellmouth in my fantasies too.”

“I quite agree.” he said and stopped the car. “Flat, sweet flat.” They pulled themselves out of the BMW and into his apartment. He moved to male the tea and she went to his coat closet.

“Can I borrow a sweater? It’s like ice in here.” she asked, already pulling a grey on off its hanger.

“Go ahead. You Californians are all the same. If it’s under seventy two degrees, you’re COLD.” he said and she put the sweater on, its largeness somehow suiting her small frame.

“Melissa Davis, the woman from the second gallery thinks we’re dating.” Buffy said, leaning against the counter next to him in the kitchen.

“Excuse me?” he said, spinning to face her. “She told you this?”

“No, I overheard her telling that squeaky mail boy who wanted to ask me out.” she explained.

“I hope you don’t- I never told them we were... If I give the impression-”

“Whoa, chill out. I don’t think you tell them that.” she said. “I do have a question though.”

“Yes... ask.” he said, still flustered, handing her tea with cream and an excess of sugar. Just how she liked it.

“Quentin Travers fired you because you cared about me. How come back in the day, the council overlooked slayer-watcher smoochies, but the second you want me to not die, you lose your job?” she asked.

“I doubt they broadcasted their relationship. And once the council caught wind of the pregnancy, well... they wanted to see the child too much to separate the pair.” he explained, sitting next to her on the sofa.

“You should have knocked me up before telling me about that test.” she said and forced a laugh at the touchy subject. He was less amused. “I’ve been pestering you all weekend. I should go patrol now.”

“I like that you’ve taken an interest in history. You may pester me all you wish. I’d be concerned if you didn’t.” he joked and she smacked him lightly. He still winced.

“I’ll bring you your sweater back after patrol, if you’d like me to check in.” she said, standing.

“I would. It’s my favorite sweater and slayer, so do be careful.” he said and she left. In the early days, he would have been out there with her but now she didn’t need that and the tendency he had to be knocked in the head made it wise for him to stay home. Still, he missed those times perched on a tombstone watching her work. The way she moved could be an art form.

The phone rang.

“Hey Giles, it’s Willow.” he smiled at the voice of one of his favorite people.

“Hello.” he said again.

“I just wanted to see if you guys were home yet.” she said. “And if Buffy is there.”

“She’s patrolling, actually. But she should be back in an hour or so.” he said, checking his wristwatch.

“I just tried her cell and she didn’t answer.”

“She left her handbag.” he explained.

“Thanks then. See ya later, Giles.” Willow hung up and he moved to where Buffy’ s purse sat on his coffee table. It rang again, the sound so soft he wasn’t surprised he missed it the first time. Fishing the contraption out of the jumbled keys, compacts, and tampons, he looked at it. “HOME” it flashed, with Buffy’s mother’s number underneath. She was probably wondering where her daughter was as well. Buffy called her usually, on the way home. He hit the green button.

“Hello?”

“Mr. Giles?”

“Oh, yes, Joyce.” he said, somewhat pleased it wasn’t Dawn.

“Why are you answering Buffy’s cell phone?” she asked. She tried not to question his platonic watcher status, but sometimes she wondered.

“She is on patrol. I didn’t want you to worry.’ he explained, wishing he’d let it ring.

“Oh. Well, thank you. Will you have her call me when she gets in?”

“I will.” he promised. When had people started talking like she lived there, like they were always together? He didn’t mind, but it struck him as odd. On the ride home she had pointed out that her research had mentioned multiple watcher-slayer relationships throughout many, many generations. Why had she said that?

She came back bleeding.

“Don’t worry, the sweater is fine.” she said, and he rolled his eyes as he rushed for his first aid kit.

“What happened?”

“Just vampires. But I dusted them all. Though brass knuckles are just downright playing mean. Can we get some?”

“Perhaps. Here, this will sting.” he said and she thought it cute he still warned her. He pressed the cotton ball of hydrogen peroxide to her marred cheekbone but she didn’t wince. She watched him carefully place the little bandages on her cheek.

“Thank you for taking care of me.” she said and threw her arms around his neck. He could only hug her back.

“You take care of me as well.” he said, stepping back. “Willow and your mother are expecting a call.” he said. “Are you peckish before you go? I’ll make you a sandwich to take.”

“Sure.” she went to her bag and called her mom first.

“Hey, yeah a few hours ago. I’m about to head home. He’s fixing me a snack.... I’ll swing by tomorrow, I promise, after class... love you, too. Bye.” He was watching her (as he was wont to do) and she buckled under the gaze.

“What?” she asked, taking the roast beef sandwich from him.

“Nothing, come on, I’ll drive you home.”

***

“Buffy, what is it?” he asked. She had stormed in without knocking and thrown herself into one of the winged chairs, immediately pouting.

“Willow and Tara are moving in together.” she said. “Tara’s family stopped paying for a lot of her school stuff and so I said she could stay with Will in our room and I could just go home.”

“Well, that’s very kind of you.” he said.

“But, at home, my room is already storage space. It’s like Mom and Dawn don’t even miss me. I don’t belong anywhere, or to anyone.”

“You belong to all who love you.” he said, and she snorted.

“Mom just... I was trying to help Tara, not inconvenience the world. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to rant and rave at you.”

“You could live here.” he said, almost too quietly.

“What?”

“Here. With... ah, me. We meet here now and all the resources are here and... it’s an option.” he offered.

“Oh Giles. That’s so sweet of you to even offer. But I couldn’t just impose on you like that-”

“I wouldn’t have offered if I wasn’t willing. At least... consider it.” he said. She looked thoughtfully at him for a long time.

“If we spent a day organizing the back room... Giles, I’m a pain in the ass, you have to be completely sure and okay with it.” she said, picturing a life with her watcher. It didn’t seem bad at all.

“Completely.” he said.

“Then I’ll do it.” she said and grinned her beautiful smile at him.

***

It was 6:45 in the morning when she hugged her robe around the cool air and her still bed warm body and crept up the stairs to his loft. He was asleep, snoring lightly on his back. She sat on the edge of his bed and put her hand on his bare, hair sprinkled chest.

“Giles, wake up.” she said, not loudly but in a normal, excited tone.

“Buffy, what’s wrong?” He sat up quickly, fumbling around for his glasses.

“Nothing, silly, it’s Christmas!” She said and he stared at her, letting the lack on an emergency sink in, letting his heart rate slow.

“Oh,” he grinned. “well, we should get up and ready if everyone should be here by eight.”

They had decided that for Christmas Brunch, it would be just the Scoobies at Buffy and Giles’, and for dinner, Joyce and graciously accepted to host. Willow was once Jewish but now was pagan with Tara, Anya hadn’t celebrated Christmas in centuries and Xander was pleased to not have to spend it with his drunken family.

Giles grabbed at t-shirt and slid it on while she pulled him down the stairs. She had plugged the tree in so the living room was awash in a glow from the tiny colored lights. Two stockings hung at the fire place, the red one hers from home with Elizabeth stitched on it, from her grandmother and his green velvet with tassels she had bought for him. The lady at the store and stitched in ‘Rupert’ with her loud machine.

“Looks like Santa came.” she said excitedly. “Although it doesn’t quite seem like for us, does it?”

“I haven’t had a visit from Father Christmas in... 30 years!” he said, laughing. “Did you do this?”

“Hey, I’m not Santa! I just know you’ve been good this year and passed it on to the big man.” she said. “Now lets open, I’m still impatient me.” She knew the trinkets in her stocking so she paid more attention to his reactions of delight. He got chocolates, a glasses repair kit, an ice pack (for his concussions), a CD of Marc Cohn, “You’ll like it,” Buffy assured him and one wrapped gift. The tag read: To Rupert, From Santa. “Go on.” Buffy said, setting her stocking of candy, stakes, crosses, holy water, and lip gloss aside.

Inside was a beautiful ,metal picture frame that said ‘family’ on it. The picture was of her, Xander, and Willow way back in high school, probably the first year he had been there. They were grinning on the lawn one lunch, just happy to be alive and together.

“You never cease...” he said, admiring her surrounded by paper and ribbon, messy hair in the dim light. “Thank you. I love this. I love you.”

“Oh.” she said, leaning across the massacred stockings. “I love you, too.” She hugged him, wiping at her eyes. “Merry Christmas.”

“To you, too.” he said, letting his slayer go

“Well... I promised Will we wouldn’t open anything until everyone was here, but I wanted a Christmas morning with you... so let’s build a fire. burn the evidence and start getting ready.” she said. He nodded and gathered up wood and wrapping paper and set to starting the fire while she carried his gifts upstairs, leaving the picture displayed on his nightstand.

***

By the time everyone was in cars, ready to go to the house on Revello drive, everyone was exhausted.

“Just one more huge meal, guys!” Buffy said to Willow and Tara in the backseat of the Beamer.

“Ugh.” they groaned in unison as Giles started the car.

Joyce, who was so excited she couldn’t stand it, was waiting for them on the front porch when the two cars pulled up.

“Merry Christmas!” she shrieked, running to Buffy and hugging her daughter who was still struggling to get out of the car. “I love Christmas!”

“I know Mom, Merry Christmas.” she said, laughing. “Let’s go inside. Giles, will you get the presents from the trunk?” she called over her shoulder.

“Of course.” he said, already half way through the task.

“Like a well oiled machine, that one.” Buffy said to her mother. Joyce frowned.

“More like a well oiled husband.” Tara whispered.

“Without the fun parts.” Willow sand and the two witches cackled.

“We both heard that.’ Giles said, brushing past them. Buffy glared at the girls, but winked once Giles was past her and out of eyesight. The couple just shook their heads.

Inside, the turkey cooking made the whole house smell good and put everyone in such good cheer that they didn’t even mind that Spike was already sitting in the kitchen, drinking Joyce’s hot cocoa.

“How did you even get here?” Willow asked.

“Big blanket... and I ran. One will do stupid things for little bits of marshmallow.” he said, slurping one up and out of his mug.

Dawn was watching the new Miracle on 34th street, eyeing the presents impatiently.

“Runs in the family, it seems.” Giles said coming up behind Buffy, resting is hand on the small of her back, the other holding is tea. She leaned into him, unaware of the picture they made.

“It’s nice to have a holiday that’s pleasant like this. Rare... I want to savor it.” she said. He understood.

“Okay, okay, let’s start gifts!” Joyce said, coming into the living room full of guests.

“FINALLY!” Dawn yelled, turning off the television and rushing the tree.

“Hey, Dawnie, you know the rules.” Willow said. Dawn grumbled but backed off. “One at a time.” Willow reiterated.

“And you’re first this year, Buffy.” Her mom said. “Come with me.” They went out the front door. A truck that she had paid no attention to when they’d arrived now had a giant red bow on it.

“OHMYGODYOUGOTMEACAR!” she screeched, running out to see it, her friends and family laughing. Not just any truck, but brand new, long bed, steel blue. She yanked the bow off and read the tag aloud.

“To Buffy, you deserve it. Love Mom and Giles.” she looked at her watcher who was trying already to not take credit for the gift. She hugged her mom tightly, then walked over to Giles and kissed him lightly on the lips. “Thank you.” she said. Xander let out a cat call.

“Look at him blush!” the young man yelped.

“You are most welcome.” he said, ignoring Xander, not taking his eyes off his slayer. “I’ll take you on a drive after dinner.”

“Yeah, everyone inside.” Dawn said, only slightly jealous of her sister. She and Buffy had started getting along better, now that she lived with Giles. Or, “your boyfriend without the smoochies,” as she called him which prompted a “DAWN!” from both her sister and her mother.

At dinner, the living room thrashed and filled with thoughtful gifts, the Summers women insisted that Xander carve the turkey and it made him happy and proud to be given the man’s job when Giles was just across the table next to Buffy. Even Spike sat with them at the table, able to leave safely now and ate a small portion.

“I’m so fat and piggish.” Dawn said, sprawled next to her sister on the sofa.

“Ditto.” Buffy said, groaning.

“I can’t believe you ate that much.” Tara said, poking at her girlfriend who was passing out in the armchair.

“We should help with dishes.” Buffy said, unmoving.

“Xander and Giles are already doing it.” said Anya, from the floor. “Even Spike is drying.”

“Amen and God bless ‘em.” Dawn said, closing her eyes for an after meal nap.

“Buffy, are you ready?” Giles asked, coming into the living room. “You all are quite the picture of strength and agility right now, might I add.”

“Ha, HA.” Willow grunted sarcastically. “Ouch.”

“You wanna go home already?” she asked her watcher.

“I meant to drive.” he said and she leapt up, wincing.

“I’m ready, never better.” She grabbed her new keys with the seven different cross key chains she had gotten from each person (except Spike). “Who wants to come?” she asked and got no response.

“I see, we’ll be back then.” Giles said. They sat for a moment in the dark cab while she checked out everything, orienting herself. “I wanted... well, your mother wanted this small sports car with a pansy engine... this is practical, you see?”

“Yeah. I mean, with the weapons of mass destruction I haul around, you for sure made the right choice.” she said. “I didn’t mean to embarrass you... kissing you.” she said of the earlier incident.

“Kissing your, or rather, being kissed by you is not an embarrassment.” he said, looking at her with an intentness she could recognize but was newly directed towards her.

“I think I’m ready.” she said, clearing her throat and putting her seat belt on. The engine roared to life and this delighted Buffy who pulled out into the street with a quick glance. He kept the criticisms to a minimum and didn’t really give any directions. “This is nice.” she said looking at him.

“Yes. Though I’ll miss our drives together.” he commented, opening the glove box and finding it mostly empty. There was the manual and insurance papers.

“You mean to LA?” she asked. “Why would I stop coming?”

“I don’t know. I just figured with your own car now, you’d be out more.” he shrugged. “Which you should be.”

“Giles, when I lived at home and in the dorms I never really did much more then sleep there. But I like being at home now, do you think I spend time there, with you, because I can’t get a ride?” she glared. “Do you want me to spend less time? I can move in with Mom again if you’re sick of me.” the thought made her feel like crying.

“Now, don’t stay that.” he paused, gathering his thoughts. “I’ve always known that my life would be consumed by yours. It is in our destinies... and I spent a lot of time fighting that. But fighting it made me so angry, so unhappy. I am happy now, spending time with you. You, Buffy, make me happy, you being the center of my everything completes me somehow.” he tried to explain. It was lucky they were pulling up in front of her house because her eyes were filled with tears. Turning off the engine, she reached for him, hugging him, burying her face in his neck. “I didn’t mean for you to cry.” he whispered, stroking her back at the awkward angle.

“No wonder slayers fall for their watchers.” she said, smiling a watery smile. She pulled back and wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand. He froze at this.

“Buffy-”

“I know that makes you nervous, but come on Giles. We have the perfect marriage without the sex. We function so smoothly and are content with each other. We make true companions.” she said. He could not argue.

“While the council has done a great many things wrong, their ability to match a slayer with a watcher remains true.” he said, a validation of her point.

“And I’m not asking you to do anything you don’t want to do. I’m simply saying that we make a match I doubt I'll ever want to split up.” he marveled at her maturity. “Also, the entire gang is staring through the window, watching us.” She rolled her eyes. “Snoops.”

He grinned a distinctively Ripperish grin and she furrowed her brow. “Giles, what are-” She didn’t finish her sentence as his lips covered hers. They could faintly hear shrieking from the house.

***

Anya’s obscenities floated down the hall to the waiting area, making everyone chuckle. But the laughter was dry and low in their throats. Anya had been in labor for nine hours already. Outside, night fell. Since Buffy’s announcement of her own impending motherhood, the minions of the Hellmouth had doubled their attempts on the Slayer’s life. Now in her sixth month, staying alive was becoming more of a challenge. They all watched the sun sink past the horizon.

“Spike.” Buffy said softly.

“Right.” He said and left to go patrol and to guard the hospital. Buffy rose to go to the morgue, with Giles close behind. With her in the hospital, she was sure some vamps would be popping up.

“I’m getting so big.” she commented to her husband to be. They had decided to wait until things settled down before getting married and that meant after the baby was born... if the baby was born.

“It’s beautiful on you. You carry it well, remain graceful.” he said, pushing open the swinging double doors so she could walk through. They started to pull down sheets, checking for bite marks.

“Bingo.” she whispered.

“The rest are clear.” he said, coming to stand by her side. “Would you prefer the steak or knife.”

“Oh, let’s behead this one.” she said, the longish knife poised in her hands. She didn’t give him the chance to change completely before she severed his head.

“No pun?” he asked as they went back to the waiting area.

“My feet are sore and I don’t fit my pants.” she said. “No pun.”

“Oh come now.” he took her and hugged her briefly. “We’re over halfway there and doing brilliantly. And with the council’s “donation” to our “experiment”, I no longer have to go to LA and we can concentrate on your safety. Things look good.”

“You’re right. As always.” she said. In the waiting room, the gang had disappeared. “Excuse me.” she said to the nurse behind the counter. “Where did everyone go?”

“To the room. Mrs. Harris had the baby.” the young woman said. They went to the room and the exhausted parents sat on the bed holding their sleeping daughter.

“Hey.” she said and the room gave a quiet greeting.

“Buffy,” Anya said excitedly, but exhaustedly. “take the drugs.”

“Will do.” The slayer promised. “Was it bad?”

“Oh... it was worth it.” she said, smiling. The baby was bright pink and round and wonderful. She slipped her hand into Giles’.

“Okay, okay, everyone out.” The Doctor said, sticking his head into the crowded room. “Go home, come back in the morning.” Outside, Spike waited.

“Did they have the beast yet?” he asked.

“Yep. Natalie Jane Harris.” Willow answered happily. “I’m godmother.”

“Good.” he said, nodding.

“How was patrol?” Giles asked.

“I’d get home if I were you, Slayer. Word on the street is they’re mounting an army. Any demons that can halfway stand each other are gathering.” he shrugged. “If I were ‘em, I’d wait a few months.”

“That’s quite enough, thank you.” Giles said, walking to the truck. “Come along Buffy.” Nodding, she followed wordlessly, touching her rounded midsection.

It was midnight when they finally slid between the sheets to get some sleep.

“Rupert, I’m not sure about this.” she said, turning to face him. He smiled to himself. She still called him Giles unless they were in bed together.

“About what?”

“Babies. Just one, ours. An army? I mean, I can deal with a lot of stupid demons but not all at once and not like this.” she sounded so unsure.

“What do we know about Hellmouth armies? That many species will probably kill each other faster than we can kill them. We’ll have weapons and magic and one slayer who is getting exceptional with using her six-foot staff. If it turns really bad, which I highly doubt, we’ll call the council who, for once, want nothing more than for us to succeed. We win, it’s what we’re good at.” he said. “Did that help?”

“Oh, a little.” she snuggled closer. “Sing me to sleep?” This was her favorite request; it either curled her toes or lulled her into a peaceful slumber. He guessed the latter for tonight. Humming a tune she didn’t know, she finally drifted off, content.

***

“Bring... the... army... let them... kill me.” she begged through clenched teeth, though the painful contraction.

“No, no, you’re fully there.” Tara said to the slayer. Buffy collapsed back into the heap of blankets that lined the floor of the cave. Outside, the war raged without the two women.

“Rupert promised me drugs!” she said, trying not to cry. “He promised me we’d win. He promised a lot of things that aren’t happening now.”

“I know. But he’s needed.” she motioned to the mouth of the cave that was magically sealed shut until the baby was born.

“People are dying because we were too lazy to find a condom. The first time unprotected! They should make pamphlets with me-- oh God, I feel another coming.” she said, gasping for air.

“Ok, push this time.” Tara instructed, moving between the slayer’s legs to monitor progress. “I think we’re winning, the council sent over some pretty powerful sorcerers.” Tara said, trying to talk her through the worst of it. “Oh, I can see it crowning.” Buffy collapsed back.

“But... Will... Xander... Rupert...” she started to cry, knowing it was already time to push again.

“Harder... oh, they can hold their own. Plus, they are magically protected, well-armed, and of the good.” Tara said, sounding less than convinced herself. “Keep pushing.” Buffy was yelling now, in agony, her small frame not quite equipped for childbearing.

“Too big!” she yelled. “I can’t!”

“Now hey, you have no choice. Push as hard as you can and I’ll help.” Tara had never planned to see or touch quite this much of Buffy, but she reached down to cradle and pull the heat as Buffy pushed. “Now, give me all you’ve got.” This worked and the head was out. Tara could pull the rest out it was followed easily by the placenta which she had been ordered to keep.

“Oh!” Buffy said, seeing Tara clip the cord and quickly wrap the baby in a towel. “Is that-?”

“A boy, let me.” Tara cleaned the nose and wiped him down with a soft rag. He was crying loudly which was a good sign. “Let’s go.” The seal had worn off now that we was birthed and they knew that they had to leave now. Tara wanted to give the baby to it’s mother but they had to get to the truck first. Running as best she could behind Tara and her son, they went to the truck and climbed in. She carefully took the boy from Tara who started the engine and drove away from Sunnydale towards the state line.

The baby latched on to her breast immediately which was also a good sign. The baby boy was already strong.

“So now they don’t want to kill me, just my baby... well, and me but their original goal has failed.” Buffy said, not taking her eyes from her child. “He has Rupert’s mouth. Oh, Tara, he’s beautiful, thank you.” She was crying again.

“So they’ll call.” Tara said. “When it’s safe, they’ll call.”

***

Her mother waited at the small motel in southern Nevada, with Dawn. Joyce was thrilled to see her daughter alive but more so to see her new grandson. They checked the exhausted mother and son into the hospital under the name Ann Rupert and said she’d had the baby on the side of the road in the truck due to engine failure. She and Giles’ hadn’t agreed on a name when the war had broken out and she refused to name him without his father present so the birth certificate temporarily read Baby Rupert. They just called him Baby and were released the same day.

The five them shared on room and waited without the patience to sleep. If Buffy was tending the crying, colicky baby, she was sobbing herself. It’d been three days since the birth.

“They should have called.” she fretted. “We should be home by now.” Everyone agreed but tried to soothe the slayer. In the middle of the fourth night, there was a knock on the door.

“Are they okay?” she asked. “Spike, where are they?”

“In the car... Watcher is fine. Xander and Anya and the girl all went off somewhere to hide soon after you did, think they’re alive anyway.” he shrugged.

“Willow?” Tara asked, appearing.

“Alive.” he said. Buffy pushed past him to where a car she didn’t recognize held her fiancé and best friend. She opened the door and he opened his eyes. He was gaunt, bruised, bloody but in piece.

“Buffy.” he said, pulling out of the car. “Thank god.”

“I know.” she hugged him, carefully kissing his lips. “I was so worried. You have a son, Rupert.” She said to the bundle in one of her arms. He reached for the child who quieted in his father’s arms.

“A son. Bloody brilliant.”

“How is Willow?”

“Slept for the last day. Spent. It’s freezing out here.” They moved to the other side of the car and shook Willow. She didn’t wake so Buffy gritted her teeth and picked her up, throwing her over her shoulder, they went inside.

“We should get her to a hospital.” she said, trying to gently deposit her on one of the beds, Tara beside her. “All of you should really get checked out. When we get back to Sunnydale-”

“Oh. Forgot to mention that part. You want the good news or the bad first?” Spike asked, none too gently. She looked at Giles who just shrugged.

“Bad.”

“Sunnydale is rubble. Whole town got completely destroyed. The huge explosion is how we won, but...” The vampire let their imaginations fill in the rest.

“Oh God.” This was Joyce, her hand to her mouth. “Our whole lives were in that town.”

“Most people evacuated when we asked it.” Giles mentioned. “Many stayed but not all.” There was a few moments of silence in which the baby started to cry. Buffy faced her husband for an iota of privacy while she situated herself to feed him. No one commented.

“What's the good news?” she said, almost forgetting there was any.

“A magical blast that size? That Hellmouth is officially out of commission.” Spike said.

“There are others.” Giles said. “One in Brazil, one somewhere in the Indian ocean. One in Cleveland.” His fingers ran lightly over the crown of his son’s soft head as he spoke.

“We need to find Xander and Anya and the baby, but then what?” Willow asked.

“You said that the baby would be special.” Joyce said to Giles.

“We should go to the council.” Tara said. “They might be a little corrupt but they should at least have some resources we can use. And they might know something about the baby.”

“For tonight, we sleep. We rest.” Buffy ordered. They would rest, seek the councils help, then more likely then not, settle at another Hellmouth.

end of part one

9:56 p.m. - 2003-05-20

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