At 8:09, the apartment door swung open, admitting Willow, Tara, Anya and Xander.

"We're here!" Xander said, shoving the door shut. "The party can now officially start."

"Cool, pizza should be here in about twenty minutes, guys!" said Buffy. She was in the kitchen, and all Scoobies stopped when they heard her let out a frustrated grunt.

"Buff?"

"Just a sec –"

Willow rounded the corner and found Buffy, her arm in a sling, and a two-liter between her knees. She was trying not to squeeze it too hard and twist the top off to get some drinks started.

"Buffy, what are – what happened to your arm?" The redhead rushed forward, snatching the drink from her friend and setting it on the counter.

"I fell."

By this time, the rest of the Scoobies had crowded in behind Willow, taking in the Slayer's appearance.

"Were you fighting some big honkin' demon?" asked Xander, gnawing on a cookie.

"No, I was just running, and I fell wrong. Broke my collarbone," she said, her fingers fluttering to the bruised skin.

"Running, like away from danger, running, or running, like –"

"Exercise, Xander. Giles and I were exercising."

Anya's eyes lit up. "Oh, you were exercising," she said, putting air-quotes around the word. She looked up to Xander, grinning. "Xander and I like to exercise, too."

Giles rolled his eyes and cleared his throat, saving Xander from having to explain to Anya how unlikely it was that their favorite Watcher-Slayer duo didn't partake in that kind of exercising. Then again, Anya never really took a hint. As Giles squeezed by, Willow and Tara already heading to the living room to snag a spot on the floor, Anya gave Giles a friendly punch on the arm.

"Way to go, Giles."

"An –"

"What? I thought that was appropriate to congratulate a man on his sexual conquests."

Xander's blush deepened and he pulled her away, whispering.

Buffy took in Giles' own blush and giggled. "Hey, she thinks you can bag a cutie like me, that's a pretty big compliment, Giles."

He rolled his eyes as he removed his glasses, polishing them with his sweater. "Yes, how lucky I am in my imaginary personal life."

"Giles," she said, forcing his eyes to meet hers, "I live with you." He opened his mouth, closed it, settled for quirking his brow at her. "We're one make-out session from being a thing."

She turned and went into the living room, a small grin on her lips at the frozen look on his face when she left him. This might be more fun than she thought.

After composing himself, Giles had a decision to make. He could assert himself as an authority figure – yes, that's the way things have always been, isn't it, old chap? – or he could tease her back. He made up a few bowls of popcorn, poured the appropriate drinks, and set it on the counter, calling for help.

Buffy was already wiggling from her spot on the couch, but Xander stood. In his haste to tell Buffy to stay, he bumped her bad shoulder and Buffy cried out from the pain.

Giles was in the living room faster than anyone had ever seen him move, his hand on Buffy's neck. An involuntary tear escaped and she brushed it away, blushing. "It's no big deal, just surprised me."

"I'll get you an ice-pack," he said, sending a warning glare to the boy. Xander took a step back, sinking onto the couch next to Anya.

"See? Why do you always question me, Xander? Maybe I should start a psychic channel like that nice lady on late-night TV."

"M-miss Cleo?" said Tara, offering a small smile.

"Pft, that hack?" Anya rolled her eyes. "She's not a real psychic. She sold her soul for fame and mystery. She'll be out of the public eye at the end of her contract."

"As much as I want to hear more about selling souls, how about we talk about something less ooky, like how we're going to handle patrols while Buffy is broken?" Willow smiled up to Giles when he handed her a glass of soda. She paused, looking up at him again. "This is caffeine-free right?"

"Of course."

"Oh good."

"Willow does bring up a good point. I think if we go out as a team we should be able to handle the local population."

"What? No," Buffy said, putting her glass down. "Isn't there some kind of healing mojo you guys could do?"

"Buffy, even if I knew about healing magic –" Willow caught Giles' glare and she rushed to add, "- which I don't! – there's no way I'm strong enough to host that kind of power."

"Not to mention that you are already a mystical being," Giles said, lowering himself next to her on the couch – the only available spot left. "There is no telling what kind of affect such a spell could have on you." He looked down at her, his face taking on that soft smile she liked to think was just for her. "I'd rather not risk it unless it was a true life-or-death situation."

"So I'm stuck with this sling?" she said, pouting.

"I'm afraid so."

A knock sounded on the door and Giles looked around, confused.

"It's probably the pizza," said Buffy, grinning.

"Oh, and I'm to pay for this as well?" he asked, already standing and retrieving his wallet.

"No, I think I can handle this one, Big G," said Xander, pulling himself up from the couch. He went around it the long way to avoid Buffy's end altogether.

"No, it's quite alright, Xander –"

"Seriously, Giles, I have a job now."

"If you're sure?"

"Yep," he said, opening the door. "Four… pizzas… Who are you?"

Giles looked up and blinked a few times. "Liv?"

"Hello, Ripper," she said, smiling at him. "I…" She looked inside at all the young faces staring at her, particularly the little blonde one who looked just as upset to see her now as she did before. "…didn't realize you had company. Can we talk?"

"Yes, er, let's go to, uh, the patio, in the back," he said, motioning with his arm.

Olivia stepped inside, hooking her purse on the coat rack and nodding at everyone in the room. Xander stared after her, no longer verbal. Giles and Olivia slipped out the back door and Xander shook his head, looking around the room.

The females were all glaring at him, Anya's hurt look pinging his guilt. "So that's Olivia?" he said, letting out a nervous laugh. "She's not that pretty, Buffy."

"Is this the Giles place?" a voice asked behind him. Xander jumped and turned, realizing he hadn't closed the door. There stood a teen, uncertain and nervous with a bag of hot pizzas in his hand.

"You got it," he said, pulling two twenties from his wallet. "Keep the change."

The kid's eyes lit up and he grinned. "Hey, thanks man."

"No problem. Be careful out there," said Xander, shuffling the pizzas onto one arm. "It's not safe at night."

"Thanks!"

Xander closed the door and turned around, taking the full force of a room of glaring females.

"Uh… pizza?"

"Liv, what are you doing here?" he said, seating her before he sank onto a chair.

"Honestly, Ripper, you act like you'd never see me again." She grinned at his leveled look. "But I suppose that makes sense the way I rushed out of here before." She sighed and lowered her eyes. "When I came back last time – when those awful… things… were here, I came back to tell you something, but I couldn't. I was afraid."

Giles reached forward, covered her hand with his. "What's wrong, Liv? I'll help anyway I can, you know that."

"I was pregnant," she said, meeting his startled gaze. "When I came back, I was about three months along."

"So, it's possible, the child – did you say you were –"

"I've already had him," she said, a soft smile on her lips.

"And it's – he's – mine?"

"Yes, the timing works in your favor, I'm afraid."

Giles sat back, looking at her with a stunned expression. He looked around the patio, up to the stars. "I'm a father."

"He's a big boy, like you," she said, her tone turning grudging. "It was no easy task getting him out, let me tell you."

"May I…" he swallowed, lowered his eyes, "May I meet him, Liv?"

"Of course. I just didn't want to tell you in front of your… friends."

"My family, Liv," he said, automatically. She tilted her head when he brought his eyes up to meet hers. "They're my family."

"I am so not sticking around to watch her prance around half-naked in my apartment," Buffy said, glaring towards the back.

"Whoa, this is Giles' apartment, Buff," said Xander, picking up another slice of pizza.

"Oh, yeah, um –" Willow winced, looking from Xander to Buffy, then back again, "Buffy's kinda living here now."

"Way to keep me in the loop guys."

"Hey, I only just found out today!" Willow said.

"It doesn't matter, I was practically living here before it was official anyway. It just makes more sense. I get to train, study, keep my focus here. I can't do that at Mom's or the dorms, so here's where I'll stay." Buffy looked at her pizza, her stomach knotting again. She hadn't taken the first bite. She didn't know how she was going to deal with the Heff act again.

"You can always stay in the dorm while she's here," Tara said, trying to be helpful.

"I think the point is she doesn't want her here," said Anya. "Now she has to share Giles' attention."

"That is not it," Buffy said, glaring at the ex-demon. "She doesn't know how to dress, she's always walking around in a shirt and she smells like bleu cheese."

Anya didn't seem phased at all by Buffy's ire. "While those are all valid points, I still think –"

Xander saw the thunderous look on Buffy's face and clapped a hand on Anya's mouth, leaning in to whisper the first thing he could think into her ear. She grinned and turned to him. "Really?"

"Really."

"Aw, Xander, I'm so glad I decided to be with you." She fiddled with his shirt buttons. "No one can do that thing with their tongue better than you."

Xander covered his face with his hands, groaning. "Anya, please!"

"Rupert... I don't want him raised here," she said. "I don't want him around demons and monsters."

"Not that I don't understand," he said, shifting in his seat, "I fully do, but there are demons and monsters everywhere, Liv. Your best chance of protecting him is to educate him, and let him gain the family sitting in that living room." He nodded towards his apartment interior. "Those people are some of the finest I've ever known, and they risk their lives daily to protect the world."

She thought on that a minute, wringing her hands.

"What if –" she paused, looked him up and down, "What if I moved close, but not here? That way you could have visits, but he wouldn't have to live, well, here."

"That is certainly better than never seeing him at all," he said, sitting back.

"Oh good," she said, and relaxed. "I've already arranged an apartment in Los Angeles."

Giles grinned, shaking his head. "You knew I'd agree," he said.

"Well of course I did, Ripper. You're one of those honorable chaps. Kinda predictable."

"So happy to oblige," he said.

"Well, here's my number," she said, pulling a scrap of paper from her pocket. She stood and adjusted her jacket. "I have yours. We'll, uh, talk, yes?"

"Yes of course," he said, cupping her elbow to lead her inside. She paused, pulling back.

"Rupert, what about Buffy?"

He tilted his head, his eyes roaming her face. "What about her?"

"Isn't she going to be rather upset to know you've gone and had a child with another woman?"

He chuckled and cupped her arm again. "Buffy and I are not together, Liv."

"Oh, you haven't slept together, maybe, but she made it pretty clear who you belong to, love."

"She still feels guilty over that," he said, opening the back door.

"I'm sure she feels guilty about how she made you feel, Rupert." She stopped, cupped his cheek in the dark hallway. "Don't stay in denial the rest of your life. There is something there."

Giles placed a hand over hers, patting it. He wouldn't argue about this with Buffy in the next room, the least of which because she could probably already hear them. They walked out into the main room, Olivia waving to them all as she stepped to the door.

"Goodnight, everyone," she said, smiling. She caught Buffy's eyes and she softened her expression a bit, giving a single nod, and she turned to Giles. "I'll call you to set up an arrangement soon, Rupert."

"I look forward to it, truly," he said, smiling when she kissed his cheek. He waited until she was safely in her car and pulling from the drive before he closed the door and turned back to the living room.

The expressions on his family's faces were more varied than expected. Willow and Xander looked ready to burst with curiosity, Tara was smiling at him, Anya was reading a magazine and Buffy had an odd mixture of confusion and pain warring on her features.

"Well, you gonna spill or what, Giles?" said Xander.

"I, well, I suppose there's no easy way to say, uh – " Giles paused, removed his glasses to polish them. "It seems that Olivia and I are parents."

"What? Really? That's wonderful, Giles, congratulations!" said Willow, standing to rush at him and give him a hug. Tara was behind her, muttering congratulations as well. Xander got himself from under Anya and strutted forward, a cocky grin on his face.

"Wow, Giles, you old dog!" he said, clapping the older man's shoulder and pulling him into a hug. "Congratulations."

Giles, however, was staring at the stricken face of his Slayer.

Buffy felt like she'd been slapped. She'd just moved in and now she was probably going to have to move back out. Or he was going to move away. 'Oh god. Ohgodohgod he can't move away! I can't do this slaying gig without him! This isn't fair, he's mine!'

"Buffy?"

She blinked and looked up at him, his quiet concern showing on his familiar face. The Scoobies were staring at her from behind him, confused at her reaction.

"So there's a little Giles now?" she asked. He nodded, though he was getting worried at the hollow sound of her voice. "So I guess you'll be moving or, she's moving in?"

"What? Buffy –"

"I mean, you're a good guy, you'll actually want to be in the kid's life, so that's… that's good, right?"

"Buffy, I'm not going anywhere."

"So she is moving in," she said, lowering her eyes to her sling. She couldn't believe she felt like crying. She can't let them see her get so upset over a stupid baby.

"No, she's not."

"What?"

"She doesn't want to raise her son on the Hellmouth. We're going to arrange visits both at her new apartment in LA and here, so that I can be a part of his life without being removed from … where I'm needed."

"So you're not going… and she's not staying?"

Giles grinned and shook his head. "No."

Buffy's face blossomed into a bright smile. "So I don't have to move out?"

"Not unless you'd prefer –" He found himself with an armful of slayer trying to hug him with only one arm.

"I'm going to start asking around about being a psychic," said Anya, earning her an odd look from Giles and eye rolls from everyone else. "I'm right. Just wait and see."