Chapter 14: Not Ready To Make Nice

Giles had been with the coven for about four and a half months before Angel was able to track him down. He had covered his tracks pretty well, but Angel still managed to find him. He called Buffy as soon as he arrived in Devon, and told her that she had found him. She could hear the relief in her voice as she thanked him. Angel had heard they had had a few close calls with Glory in the last few months. Xander had broken an arm and spent a week in the hospital. Tara had had her mind sucked out of her, and was now pretty much a hollow shell. Willow was coping with her girlfriend acting like a child, and Buffy was keeping Dawn hidden from Glory while dealing with being about eight months pregnant and not very mobile. The baby inside of her was all that Buffy had to look forward to now. But, Angel had plans to change that. He would knock some sense back into Giles, and tell him that he needed to return to Buffy. If he loved her like he claimed he did, he would.

Angel found his room in the house the coven used fairly easy. He was surprised he hadn't had much trouble trying to get into the manor. The witch at the door invited him in and told him exactly where to find Giles. He hadn't questioned her, as he assumed she had the gift of foresight and could see why he was coming. He knocked on the oak door, waiting for movement inside. It didn't take very long for the door to open to reveal the very person he was looking for. Giles looked tired, worn, and stressed. He rolled his eyes and tried to close the door, but Angel stopped him, walking past him into the room. Angel studied the room as Giles spoke, which was small enough to be a closet, with nothing but a bed, a dresser, and a few chairs.

"What do you want, Angel?"

"You left something behind in Sunnydale. Cute little blonde who can kill things with her bare hands, remember?"

"I could never forget....How is she?"

"Good, for her situation. All her friends are being chased down by Glory and she can't do a thing about it."

Angel turned to look back at Giles, seeing the confusion forming on the watcher's face. A part of Angel wanted him to suffer, because Buffy had been suffering alone for all these months now. Buffy had been more depressed than he had ever seen her, but she was surviving on her own. He didn't think she could do it for much longer, but he was proud of her. Angel thought Giles deserved a little bit of suffering. But, after a few moments he could see that Giles had also suffered a great deal in the last few months. His heart was heavy, and his sadness knew no bounds. At least not any that Angel could see. He could feel the guilt and loneliness coming from the Watcher, and he almost felt sorry for him. Giles sat down on a small wooden chair beside his door, taking off his glasses and cleaning them with his shirt like always. After a few moments he stared back up at Angel, speaking out of desperation.

"Her situation? What's wrong? Is she hurt? Please, tell me."

"She's not hurt. She's....Giles, there is no easy way to say this, so I'm just going to say it. She's – pregnant."

Angel watched Giles stand up, and move to the window after he finished speaking. Giles didn't speak for a long time. He didn't know what to say or to think. Buffy was pregnant? Why had he not realized that was what she had been trying to tell him the day he left. He could kick himself in the ass for leaving her at a time like this. He couldn't find the words no matter how he wanted to speak. He just allowed himself to stare off into the distance. Angel got more and more frustrated with each and every passing minute, before he finally let everything that had happened in the last few months spill out.

"Look, she's pregnant. Glory knows that Dawn is the key. Glory sucked Tara's brain out. And Glory almost killed Xander last week. You have to come back. She can't do it alone. She's been trying it alone for four and a half months, and she has been strong. But, she can't keep doing it. It's eating away at her, not being with you and being basically defenseless. "

"And what good can I do if I go back, Angel?"

"You can be by her side. You can protect her. She needs that right now."

"And why won't you do it? And besides, I recall she told me she didn't need my protection."

"Because she doesn't love me anymore. But she does love you. She never stopped. She may not say it, but she does. And she may not admit it, but she does need your protection. Especially now. "

Giles looked up at Angel. Did he speak the truth? Did Buffy still love him even after what he did to her? But, there was something else. Buffy was pregnant with his child. He knew he had to go back to her. He had to see if what Angel was saying was true. He couldn't leave her alone anymore. If she really was pregnant, she would need someone to protect her. Especially if Glory was on her tail and most of her friends were out of commission or dealing with their own problems. He couldn't leave her abandoned for another moment. Giles sighed, rubbing his head before speaking again before he spoke.

"Then I guess I have no choice, do I?"

"You will go to her?'

"Yes. I will. I can only pray she forgave me for leaving her."

Angel smiled, glad that he was able to convince Giles easily to return to Buffy. Though, he had a feeling he was planning on going home all alone as a suitcase sat on the edge of the bed packed with a plane ticket sitting on top.

"Buffy, Hurry!"

Dawn cried to her sister as the pair of them ran through the city streets. Buffy could hardly keep up with her. She was growing tired and she didn't know how much longer she could hold Glory off from Dawn. They made their way to the Magic Box were Willow had prepared the trap. She was just hoping it would be enough to contain Glory until they could find a way to kill her. Buffy grabbed her sister's hand as they continued to run, fighting off a few of the scabby demons that worshiped her here and there. It took them only three minutes to reach the front door and they rushed through it, closing and locking it behind them.

Willow and Xander rushed to Buffy's side, helping her to a chair. Buffy could feel the exhaustion spilling up inside of her. She allowed the others to help her into a chair and tried her best to relax, even though her child inside was protesting. She groaned at the shot to the kidney she received.

"You okay, Buffy?"

"I'm fine. Dawn, are you okay?"

"Yes. She's coming though, Buffy."

"I know. And I don't know if I can stop her."

Buffy admitted aloud for all to hear. But, the confession was more directed to herself than to anything. She was scared. For the first time in a long time since becoming cursed with the girts of a Slayer, Buffy was scared for her life. And she wasn't just scared for her life, but for the life of her baby growing inside of her. Xander was by her side in an instant, looking up at her. She began to cry, as he pulled her into his arms. She spoke in a voice only above a whisper to one of her two best friends.

"I wish he was here, Xander. He would know what to do."

"Sshh, Buffy. It's going to be okay. We're going to keep you and Dawn safe. I promise."

Buffy didn't think anyone could keep her safe. Not Willow or Xander or even Anya. Angel or Giles were the only ones who stood a chance fighting against Glory, and neither of them were present. She heard a noise outside and pulled away from Xander, standing up with her friends beside her. Dawn was crouched behind the counter with Anya and Tara, whom Willow had been able to restore her memory to only moments before Buffy and Dawn began to ran. She turned to see the door to the shop being pulled off from its hinges, and Glory walking through. The fear began to build inside her as Willow and Xander stood in front of her. Glory rushed at them, throwing both Xander and Willow to the side as if they were dolls. She now stood in front of Buffy, and picked her up by her throat, causing Buffy to struggle in her fingertips.

"Where is my key?"

"You won't get her, Glory. I won't let you."

"Buffy, Buffy, Buffy. Sweetheart, do you really think you're in any condition to fight against me?"

"Probably not. But there is no point in not trying."

"If you say so."

Glory grinned, and released Buffy by throwing her up against the wall beside Xander and Willow. She groaned from the hit to her head, and struggled to get up. Willow was unconscious, and Xander could barely move. She had never felt more helpless in all her life. Being pregnant had taken a toll on the Slayer. Her strength was not nearly as strong as she was use too. But not being very mobile due to the large bump, as well as decreased Slayer strength had not been a problem until now. She had stayed pretty well hidden from the other baddies, with Spike keeping guard over the house. Willow had also done a few protection spells to keep her from harm. But, it wasn't going to work with Glory.

Buffy finally managed to stumble to her feet, charging at Glory and kicking her down. Decreased Slayer strength didn't mean a thing when it came to the adrenaline that kicked in. Buffy found that her fear of losing her child had become a great strength to her when she allowed it to be. Buffy pounced onto Glory, punching the crap out of her face for a few moments. She wouldn't let the demon-bitch win. She couldn't if she was going to be able to survive. Glory grabbed Buffy's hand eventually and threw her over the table behind her into a book shelf. Her head slammed against the side of the shelf and she sat their, a little confused and disoriented.

"I have to say you are stronger now. A mother's love for their child is a beautiful thing."

Buffy crawled away from Glory's grasp, kicking her in the face a few times with her boots. The long jean skirt she had been wearing was not doing her any good with being able to move her legs and Glory caught her foot, dragging her towards her. She flipped Buffy over onto her back, and leaned down, picking her up by her neck again.

"But, you are still not strong enough to defeat me. And soon I will be going home and your world will be finished."

She cackled with a sinister look on her face. Buffy felt the fear rising inside of her. Glory could kill her right here and now, and her baby would die as well. Buffy kicked Glory in the chest, sending her flying into a bookcase behind her. Buffy dropped to the floor, landing on her side. She groaned, crawling away from Glory and towards her friends. Willow was now awake and Xander was trying to help the pair of them up.

"Buffy, are you okay?"

"I'm fine. I don't know how much longer I can - "

Buffy stopped mid-sentence as she looked towards the door that lead into the shop. Giles and Angel stood near the doorway. Willow felt a strong power coming from Giles, but she couldn't quite put a finger on what it was and it confused her. Angel smiled at Buffy, before turning to run at Glory who had managed to get to her feet. Angel spoke to her after he knocked Glory against the wall.

"Sorry, I'm late Buffy. Traffic can be hell."

While Angel kept Glory busy, Giles made his way over to the others. Buffy couldn't believe it was really him. It was almost like a scene from an old movie when he reached her, pulling her into his arms as their lips met. She wanted to scream, she wanted to yell, and yet she allowed the kiss to happen. She needed the kiss more than anything else. She needed to be in his arms again. In that moment she made a decision. She wouldn't hold what had happened against him. If he wanted a second chance, she would give it to him. She loved him too much to bear to be away from him for another moment. The last five months had been hell and she didn't want to have to go through that again, even if she was still angry with him. As he pulled away, she felt a tear fall down her face. She let a hand move to his face, stroking it softly. She was the first to speak, her voice shaking through the tears and the smile that had formed on her face.

"I thought I would never see you again."

"I know. I'm sorry - "

"No, don't. No sorries. Nothing. It's in the past. All that matters is that you came back – to me. I love you, and I forgive you."

As those last three words were spoken, Giles could feel himself tearing up as well. He pulled her into his arms, kissing her forehead. She could see Willow and Xander behind him, and they didn't look mad. They looked relieved and happy that he had come back. At least he wouldn't have to deal with the awkwardness, at least not right away. Angel flew across the room and landed beside Buffy and Giles. Buffy looked down at Angel as he spoke, helping him to his feet.

"I hate to break up the Kodak Moment here, but we still have a demon to fight."

"Right. Buffy, stay here with the others. Willow, come with me."

"What can I do?"

"Just come with me."

He pulled Willow away from the counter where Tara and Anya were huddled together. Angel followed Giles and Willow, turning to Buffy and telling her to stay back. She didn't know what they were planning, but she was hoping it would rid her of Glory once and for all. Giles reached down and held Willow's hand before speaking, watching Glory standing in front of them.

"Just follow my lead. You see that hammer over there."

"Um, yeah. The one that belonged to Anya's ex?"

"Right. Help me lift it."

"What? Giles, you can't -"

"Just do it, Willow."

Willow now understood the strange power she had been sensing from the moment that Giles had walked into the room. He had been blessed with the coven's powers. A force from twenty or thirty witches was residing inside of him. Would it be enough to fight Glory. Willow and Giles combined their magics and watched as the hammer easily lifted from the floor and made it's way to Glory's head. It didn't take much effort but with one swing, her head was removed from her body.

"Well...I guess that was a good way to do it."

Buffy spoke from behind them, before feeling herself falling to the floor. Giles turned around and caught her before she hit the floor. It was for the first time that he noticed the blood coming from the back of her head. She passed from consciousness a few minutes later.

"Buffy? BUFFY!"

"Giles, we need to get her to the hospital. Like now!"

"Right. Angel, help me."

By this time the others had joined them, all with worried look on their faces. Angel and Giles hurried out to the black convertible that Angel owned, placing Buffy in the back seat, getting in beside her. Dawn got into the front seat, and told the others to meet them at the hospital. Giles held her close to him, trying to wake her. He couldn't lose her. Not now. Not now that he had finally come back home. Angel drove as fast as he could to the hospital, and they all prayed that she and the baby would be okay.