O'Connor Cottage
The Irish weather seemed unusually warm during the Spring months of 1746. Soft rain pitter-pattered on the roof of the cottage.
Candlelight illuminated the master bedroom with a yellow glow.
Liam laid his head totally comfortable on the feathered bed staring with amazement at Buffy's now, flat stomach. He traced his finger over the lines of her stomach imagine the way his wife will look nine months pregnant with his child. His heart pounded in his chest with love and pride, excited for his child slowly growing in his lover's womb.
Remarkably, Liam took the news of the pregnancy incredibly well. Liam silently pressured her into telling him what had happened in the backroom with the Tavern whore. Buffy was never one to keep much from Liam for long, especially when he'd stare at her for hours on end until she had finally had enough and told him her ales.
With the softest voice, Buffy told him they were soon going to be parents. The smile that spread across Liam's lips was of pure joy. It was a smile that will never be erased from Buffy's memory. It was a miracle given to them from the Powers That Be.
Liam shifted slightly on the bed hovering over Buffy's flat stomach and kissed her skin. Buffy rested an arm on his shoulders and combed her fingers through Liam's long brown hair like she used to do for Dawn.
Her heart broke missing her younger sister and her friends she had left behind. More than anything, she wanted to celebrate this miracle with them. She felt a mixture of happiness and severe guilt. She took comfort in knowing everyone she had left behind were all right and though guilt swimming in the pit of her stomach haunted her, she knew deep down not for a second would trade the life she was living, for the life had lived before. She had never felt this completely happy before and that left her with a strain of guilt.
"Our son will be a strong lad," Liam said as he kissed the side of her bare breast shifting Buffy from her thoughts.
"Our son?" Buffy smiled feeling butterflies jump like jellybeans in her stomach just thinking of their unborn child. She had always imaged a little boy with dark brown hair and dark brown eyes. He would look and act just like his father. "What if "our son" is "our daughter"?"
"Not possible." Liam rolled over her settling between her legs and kissed her throat.
With a laugh, Buffy buried her fingers into the waves of his hair. "No?"
"That's right, no, because all O'Connor men produce sons as first borns. It's been that way since the very beginnin'." Liam told her with conviction.
"But nothing is written?"
Liam smirked, "Right."
Buffy rolled her eyes at him with a smile. "Honey. That is ridiculous."
"Ye be sayin' that now. But when our son is born, ye'r'll be apologisin' for questionin' me… again."
"Oh, I would never question you, dear."
"Bloody woman." Liam shook his head unable to fight the smile on his face. He kissed her mouth which Buffy graciously accepted.
Her arms hooked around his neck and rolled Liam onto his back. She straddled his waist never breaking the loving kiss. Liam grinned against her mouth and pushed her hair from her shoulder.
Sunnydale, California 2001
Two Months Since Buffy's Death
1630 Revello Drive
Two months had passed since Buffy's death.
A slow and reliable routine had formed at the Summers' residence.
Dawn had basically been keeping herself cut off from the social world including the other world that resided in her home. She rarely spoke to anyone who wasn't Spike. She occasionally spoke to Tara.
The last time Spike had mentioned Buffy's name was during the card game with Dawn sometime before. He felt a thousand stakes in his chest whenever he thought of the fallen Slayer.
The Summers' home was unusually active on Monday morning. Willow rushed down the stairs almost running into Anya as she turned the corner into the kitchen where Xander stood leaning across the counter island.
Tara stood at the stove flipping the funny-shaped pancakes to the other side.
Dawn sat down on the stool beside Xander and stared at the pancakes that stared right back at her.
"Better eat up, Dawnie," Xander began, "you can't do algebra without Mickey-shaped pancakes in your belly." He gave her a slanted smile.
Dawn silently slid off of the stool leaving her pancakes untouched. She walked out of the kitchen picking up her backpack without uttering a single word.
The front door opened and closed, indicating, Dawn had left for school.
Xander sadly shook his head hating the sadness the youngest Summers girl felt. "Losing her mother and sister within months… that's hard for anyone to recover from let alone a teenager."
"She won't be in mourning for long," Willow said holding a piece of paper in her hands. "I'm so close to finishing this spell. I can feel it."
"Are you sure about this, Wills?" Xander eyed his oldest friend suspiciously. "I'm mean, we're not floating pencils here, we're planning on bringing someone back from the dead."
"This isn't just someone," Willow said. "This is Buffy we're talking about. As Buffy's best friends — As her family, it's our duty to help her and bring her back from whatever Hell she's in." Willow felt her chest tighten with sadness at her best friend's fate.
"What if… she's not where we think she is?" Tara asked her girlfriend carefully knowing how passionate Willow felt about this.
"What do you mean?" Willow frowned.
Tara swallowed and said, "What if, Buffy's in… in Heaven?"
"She can't be," Willow said firmly. "She jumped into a Hell portal. It's impossible for her to be anywhere else." She shook her head convincing herself of its impossibility. "Buffy's in trouble. She's trapped in a Hell dimension, probably being tortured to death or worse! I can't stand the thought of her being tormented—"
Xander wrapped his arms around the redheaded Witch, hugging her close to his body. "Shh, calm down. Tara's just — we're all just concerned. That's all."
Willow stepped back from Xander's embrace brushing away her fallen tears and said, "We have to help her. We have to bring her back."