Note: I do not own Buffy or anything else you may recognize...I'm only borrowing it from Joss Whedon and ?SOMEONE?...Hope you like it...Enjoy...
Note2: I did say I'd dedicate this to whomever picked up on the crossover...JUST ANOTHER JESSICA was the only reviewer and while not correct, it's dedicated for her...
As the plane touched down, I was thrilled to be back in a place that I considered home. While I had spent my childhood with Mum in Boston, I had spent the last several years living in Scotland for school. It was a special boarding school that a student had to be invited to attend. I received my invitation on my 11th birthday and both Mum and I were surprised when it came. Over the years I had made plenty of friends and even a few enemies. I could not live in England without seeing my friends but first I needed some time alone to sort out everything.
I had randomly picked a town near a large city and found a cozy flat to move into. Since I had some money from Mum's estate and I lived frugally I didn't need a job so I painted and sketched to keep myself busy. The town had weekly fairs and I would set up my art and made several sales. After my second week selling, I became known within the community and people would specifically ask me to do certain pieces for them.
The loneliness was a blessing at times and haunting at other times. When it was good, I could focus on my art and do the custom work I had been hired to do. When it became too much, my mind would wander back to my attack and I would remember everything that had happened and the result because of it. Here I was, Deedra Winston aged 18 alone and pregnant.
I had already made up my mind to keep the baby but my mind wouldn't calm from thinking how I was going to tell everyone how it came to be. One day I would think about lying and saying it was from a quick relationship and other days the truth sounded better but it would come with pity. I just didn't know how to tell those I loved.
"Dear, is everything well?" an elderly woman asked as I mindlessly stirred my tea.
I looked up at the woman standing in front of my little booth at the fair. I tried smiling but she could tell it was forced. It was nearing the end of the fair so there weren't a lot of people around.
"If your daughter came to you and told you she became pregnant after being raped, what would you say?" I asked.
"I would ask if she hunted the man down who did it and cut off his bits. Then I would tell her, the child would be loved no matter of how it was conceived and it takes a strong woman to go through with the pregnancy and raise the little one alone. Is that what's on your mind?"
"Yes. I know I'm keeping my baby but I don't know how to tell my father and friends without them thinking badly of me."
"They won't think badly of you. You didn't ask to be raped, child, and while they may feel sad that you had to go through it, they will see that you've overcome what happened and have taken back your life. It was one moment in your life that you can't change but can learn from."
"Thank you. I think I knew that all along but hearing it from someone else made it ring true. Please take a painting if you like. Free of charge."
"Well, last week you had a painting of a large green and gold dragon. It seemed alive by how you painted it and my grandson adores dragons," she said.
"I sold that specific painting but I do have this blue dragon."
I pulled out a painting of a blue dragon with her wings wide, fire shooting from her nose. Near her feet stood two smaller blue dragons, her young, trying to copy the plume of fire but only smoke flickered from their nostrils.
"It is beautiful. The light catches the different shades of blue and it almost glitters like the dragon is actually moving."
"I hope your grandson enjoys it as much as you do."
The woman accepted the painting and left the fair. Now that my mind was made up, I knew I needed to grow up and face my problem head on. I would start with my friends here and then worry about telling Dad and the others in Sunnydale. I immediately started packing when I arrived home from the fair. There was no better time like the present.
I arrived in London and sent word to my friends that I was here. I had arranged a large room for us to meet in at the place where I was staying. I managed some shopping before I was to see everyone, more to pass the time than anything.
"Deedra," a short plump woman cried when I entered the room.
She enveloped me in her arms nearly squeezing me. Over the years I had become a second daughter to her and she was like a mother when my own was too far away. She released me and took a long look at me. Her husband stood behind her with a smile that welcomed me back.
"Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, it's great to see you again. Where is everyone else?"
"They're coming, dear. We Floo'd over early. Now why did you run off so quickly after the battle? Not even a week and you were barely healed."
"An owl from Mum. She needed me in Boston. Yes, there is more to say but I'd rather wait for everyone."
Soon my best friends were all there. Harry Potter, still a scrawny messy haired man; Ron Weasley, a ginger who eventually grew into his lanky arms and legs; Hermione Granger, a book addict who had a touch of OCD when it came to learning; and Neville Longbottom, a wizard who didn't trust his own magic until it was shoved into his face. It had only been a year since I've seen them but it made me long for the days when life was simpler.
"Ginny and the twins were held up downstairs. They'll be up soon," Ron stated.
"I need to remember to get some of their Muggle pranks for a friend back in the States. Xander will just love them."
"Be still my heart. Deedra Winston, is that you?"
"The one and only unless you count that time with Polyjuice but George can't pull off Deedra like I can," I replied.
Three gingers stood in the doorway, two towered above their sister. Ginny was smiling, her arms full of a little boy. I didn't need George's missing ear to tell the twins apart but maybe that was because I had dated one of them. Fred stepped around his sister and brother to pick me up and twirl me around.
"Careful, Freddy. I haven't been feeling well."
With that, he stopped and put me down. His blue eyes scanned me to see if there was any physical indication as to why I was ill. I pushed against his chest and motioned towards the chairs. As I sat, I got a good look at the boy in Ginny's arms and I smiled at the pink haired son of Remus Lupin and Nymphodora Tonks.
"Before you all rush me with questions, please let me talk," I requested.
"Is everything alright, Dee?" Harry asked.
"Quite. I found my father. Before I get into that, I need to tell you that my mother didn't strictly work for the museum in Boston. She worked for the Watcher's Council and it was because of them I am here today. You see, my father is also a Watcher."
"You said worked, your mum worked for the Council," Hermione replied.
"She was put in charge of a newly called Slayer. We weren't prepared for the attack. She died protecting Faith and I. It was in Mum's will that she told me about my father. I went to find him in California, Sunnydale to be precise."
"Atop of a Hellmouth?" George gasped.
"Yes and in charge of another Slayer. Buffy's cool and so are Xander, Willow, and Oz. I enrolled at the school and helped kick some demon and vampire arse over the past year. At Graduation, we stopped an Ascension and a demon bent on destroying the world."
The group was silent. I could see that Hermione was trying to figure out how there were two Slayers and what an Ascension was. Harry was shaking his head before he let out a deep laugh.
"Only you, Dee, would leave one battle to join another. So the Slayer, eh?"
"Slayers. Faith went all bad so she had to be stopped. Don't worry she's still alive. There are a lot of stories to tell but there is one that is most important. You see, IwasrapedandnowI'mpregnant."
"Wait. Say that slower, Dee," Neville asked.
Mrs. Weasley held a hand to her mouth as she looked at me. Ginny and Hermione had picked up on it too and shock could be seen in their eyes. The males obviously didn't speak girl so they needed it spelled out for them.
"After a night at a local hangout, I was attacked and raped. Not by any demon or vampire, just plain human. Now I'm almost four months pregnant. I came back to London to figure things out before going back to Sunnydale and telling my father and friends. They will think it's their fault for not protecting me better even though I can protect myself well enough."
"Why didn't you use magic? Stupify them or something before they could…you know," Ginny asked.
"Because of the Hellmouth. The magic we use comes from within and the evilness from the Hellmouth distorts it. If I tried a simple Stupify, I could have killed them. The magick I did while there was more what you could consider earth magick, Wiccan magick. The one time I used my normal magic for a simple summoning spell had me panting and drained because of the concentration I needed so it wouldn't backfire."
"How long are you staying?" Fred asked.
"A couple of months. I told them I would be back by October. I need you all to know that I'm not giving this child up. It is part of me and while I might keep how it was conceived quiet until much later, I need to know if you're with me on this. We fought the devil incarnate and survived. I think we can survive me being a mother," I joked.
"You're practically family, Deedra. I still have some of the boys' old clothes and Ginny's so you can have whatever you might need. Will you be seeing a Healer while in London?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"I plan to before having to find a doctor in Sunnydale or a Healer in L.A. I doubt a Healer would come to the Hellmouth to deliver a baby."
"Is being near the Hellmouth safe for the baby and its magic?" Fred asked.
He had been quiet but I guess hearing that your ex-girlfriend had been raped and now pregnant is hard to handle.
"I'll ask the Healer that. I hope so because I didn't have much time getting to know Dad before I left suddenly."
We changed the topic to how everyone else was doing. Harry and Ron talked about the Auror program. Hermione had started in at wizarding university while Ginny had been invited to play professional Quidditch. Neville started an internship under Professor Sprout while taking teaching classes by owl. Fred and George's store was a huge hit and they were in talks about opening a second location.
"Sorry, guys, but I am in desperate need for a nap. I have nothing planned except to work on some pieces to sell so send an owl and we'll go shopping or spend an afternoon playing Quidditch or something," I yawned.
"Where are you staying? Grimmauld Place has some spare bedrooms. The four of us are staying there so you'll never be alone," Harry offered.
"I have a room here until the end of the week but if you're sure you won't mind. I am going to be here a couple of months. Luckily I haven't been hit with the morning sickness lately so no puking sounds to listen to."
"It'll be fun to watch you battle Ron for the food," Hermione laughed.
Her boyfriend pretended to scowl but ended up laughing. I grabbed my luggage and checked out. Tom, the bartender, didn't even charge me for the one night I had stayed there. It was nice to apparate again since it was much quicker. The fidelius charm had been removed and the front entryway had been cleaned. Most of what I saw before drowsiness began to kick in was much better than the last time I had been there.
"Ginny stays with me in Sirius' old room. Ron is sleeping in our old room while Hermione is in her old room. Teddy's nursery is set up in Regulus' old room for when he stays over so any other room is free for you to take. You can gut and redo any part of it for while you're here. We still haven't figured out how to get rid of Mrs. Black's portrait but I put up a silencing charm every morning."
"I might have a way to get rid of it. But nap comes first. Thanks, Harry, for letting me stay here."
"You saved my arse during the battle and I consider you a sister. It's only right I give you a place to sleep."
"A sister, eh? So this kid is going to have Winston, Giles, or Potter as a name. Hmmm. Maybe I can hyphenate it all? Nah, too long. Maybe I can do a mix like the Muggles do with their celebrity couples? Winletter?"
"I'll leave you to it, Dee," he chuckled.