"Do you need anything? A glass of water…something to eat? ..Anything?" His voice was shaken like mine had been a few hours ago. Somehow Willow had managed to pull me from our dorm room floor where I had planned on spending the rest of my life, and dragged me here. To Giles? I have to admit, it wasn't where I expected her to bring me. But it could be worse…she could have brought me to my mother. What am I talking about? Worse…that pretty much sums up my life right now.

"No, I-I'm okay thanks." I spoke between thoughts. I tried to block out all conversation around me but it wasn't working. Could everyone just leave me alone? Let me think…by myself? I just need to think…everything's rushing around me and I can't seem to catch up. The sound of voices continued as I tried to refocus and understand what was going on around me.

"Giles, stop panicking. You're making me panic. There's got to be some simple explanation to solve all this mess." Willow urged.

"That's exactly it, Willow. It's not all that simple actually. Sooner or later every being of evil that lurks through Sunnydale will know that the Slayer is vulnerable. There will be more chaos that you could even imagine."

Giles paced the floor of his apartment as he removed his glasses and polished them with a hankie he kept tucked in his pocket. Sighs were heard all across the room as everyone tried to keep hope. Anya and Xander lined the back wall as Willow, Giles, and Tara sat on the couches where I also sat, catatonic.

"What's happening to me…it hasn't changed my job description guys. It's not amendable. I'm the Slayer and I have a job to keep up with. Regardless…" I finally spoke up clearly. It didn't seem to change the atmosphere in the room.

"Well it is now, Buffy. I can't just allow you to roam the town in your condition fighting god knows what—"

"Allow? Giles, please. I've been doing this for too many years to just let something get in my way. Feel free to step aside and watch but don't try and stop me."

Willow came to sit aside me. She placed an arm around me firmly as if to hold me back from running out. "Buffy…it's not just a something…it's a baby. You're baby. You have more important things to worry about now."

I can't believe this! They're just going to expect me to step down and leave the town to perish while I make a sad attempt to play house? That's not who I am. I can't just…I won't…I won't let Parker take something else from me…first my dignity now my destiny? No, no. I've got to hold on to myself. "Will, you don't understand. I can't…"

If things couldn't get even worse. In walks Riley. The love of my life. The person that patched up my wounded heart and taught me what love should really feel like again. He is my everything. My reason for living and so much more…and now I'm going to tell him something that is sure to ruin it all. He's never going to forgive me…how could he? I can't even forgive myself…

"Buffy? Are you alright?" He rushed to my side and unintentionally pushed Willow aside as he grabbed me into an army strong hug. Tears escaped my eyes as I imagined his words…his reaction. I want so badly just to keep this…his arms around me…his loving embrace. He pulled back to see my face. "What happened?"

"She's alright Riley. She's a bit shaken up but she's okay." Giles said soothingly. It didn't help Riley's tension very much. His shoulders remained stiff over me. His entire body was tense.

"Was there an attack?" Riley asked, taking a head count of the people around him. "Is anyone hurt?"

"No, no. No attack." Giles gestured everyone to leave. "Why don't we leave you some privacy?" Immediately everyone cleared the room and it was just me and the one I love.

I could hear Riley breathing unsteadily and I knew he was preparing to hear something bad. And of course it is. Bad. I don't even think that word covers it. "Riley, baby…you know that I love you. I love you with everything I have."

"And I love you too, Buffy. I always will…what's going on?" He shifted ever so slightly in his seat and I could feel him pull a little farther from me.

"Riley, I'm pregnant."

I watched as his face changed. Though I knew it wouldn't, I hoped that I would feel him loosen his tensed muscles, smile his beautiful smile, and ask me if that's all…

"I don't know what to say here Buffy. I'm at a loss for words. I mean, I thought we were careful." Confusion filled his voice, that and fear. I felt so guilty for bringing him into this mess. This isn't his cross to bear. He didn't do anything wrong.

"We were careful. Riley, do you remember when we had just met? When I told you about Parker?"

"Are you telling me that…that it's not even mine? It's his?" He exhaled angrily as he rose to his feet and threw his hands into the air. "I can't believe this. After all he's put you through? God!"

I put my head in my hands and cried. Cried out of exhaustion, out of fear, and out of anything else I could possibly have a reason to cry for. I just cried.

"Oh Buffy…" He whispered as he crouched down in front of me and put each of his hands on my cheeks. "I didn't mean to upset you."

"You didn't. It's not that, it's just everything."

"I know. I can't imagine what you're going through. I just don't know where I fit into all of this. What are you going to do?"

"I-I…I don't know. I know what everyone else wants me to do. I just need to think."

"I understand. I'm going to let you do that. Call me when you're ready okay?" Riley said as he gently kissed my forehead and headed for the door.

"Riley, you don't need to go."I yelled out to him. He turned to look at me and gave me his best attempt at a fake smile.

"It's okay Buffy. It's kind of something I need too. I need to walk it out." And with that said, he was gone. Would he come back? Is that the last time I will see him? Don't be so dramatic Buffy, of course he's coming back…right? Ugh…hormones.