Uh oh. Buffy knew this was not good, and she braced herself for her mother's wrath. Oddly enough, it never came.

"Oh Buffy," Joyce said sadly, "You really have gotten yourself in quite a mess. Are you sure its Parkers?"

"Mom, I'm not a slut," Buffy said sobbing, "How could you have asked me that?"

"I know, I'm sorry it's just the timing…" Buffy glared at her mother and wiped away her tears. If there was such a thing as a death glare, Joyce would have been deader then dead.

"Mom, I know. Trust me. It was after I found out about Dad and I needed to feel something, other then sadness," Buffy said trailing off.

"I wish you could have talked to me, then maybe you wouldn't have gotten yourself into this predicament. What about adoption?" Joyce asked cautiously.

"Mom, are you serious? Dawn would hate me for giving her sibling away. I can't do that, nor do I want to do that. I made my bed and now I have to lie in it," Buffy said solemnly.

Joyce just looked at her, "Wait," Buffy said irritated, "That wasn't exactly what I meant."

"I know, dear. But what about financially, you're still in school. How are you going to juggle two kids without help?"

And that question brought Buffy back to earth, "I don't know. I was hoping maybe Angel would stick around."

"So there's not chance for Parker?" Joyce asked tentatively.

"God," Buffy said putting her face in her hands, "No. I love Parker, but he doesn't make me happy. He makes me miserable. Our past relationship aside, we don't work. He's too… Parkery."

"Well, that was incredibly non-eloquent," Joyce stated boldly.

"Mom, I know you hate both of them. But it's my choice, and Parker's not it," Buffy stated firmly.

"You know, I really did like Angel better," Joyce said suddenly.

Buffy was in shock. Did her mother just really say she preferred Angel? Okay, this was turning out to be such a strange day.

"Really?" Buffy said stunned.

"Yes really," Joyce said grabbing her mug and motioning Buffy to follow her. Together they went into the kitchen. "It was getting too buggy out there," Joyce said sitting down at the table, "So what is your plan?"

"Wake up, go to school, take Dawn to school, and deal with whatever happens," Buffy said sarcastically.

"Funny," Joyce said dryly, "But I don't think this is funny."

"Join the club, it's very unfunny. I was going to call and make a doctor's appointment for tomorrow to confirm, and then I was going to talk to Angel," Buffy said fidgeting with her hands.

"Okay, the first part sounds okay, but you definitely have to tell Parker first. It's his kid, and he deserves to know," Joyce said firmly.

"I was hoping to not tell him," Buffy said avoiding her mother's gaze.

"Ever?" Joyce asked questioningly.

"Well, not for a while. I don't want to deal with him," Buffy said clearly aggravated.

"You're going to have to eventually. Plus, he still see's Dawn she's obviously going to talk about her little brother or sister. He'll notice your pregnant belly. Speaking of Dawn, when are you going to tell her?"

Buffy gingerly touched her still flat stomach, "Soon."

"I'm disappointed, "Joyce sighed," But I know you're an awesome mother, and this kid's going to be extremely lucky. For your sake I hope it's a boy."

"Why?"

"Cause they are so much easier," Joyce stated, leaving Buffy sitting at the table lost in her own head.

The next day, Buffy had confirmed what she had already known. She was in fact 8 weeks pregnant. He or she was due in November. She knew that she needed to talk to Parker. As much as she hated him now, they were going to be parents again. He should start taking some of the financial burden now… especially, since there were going to be another little one.

She touched her stomach, and remembered when she was pregnant with Dawn. It was a much different scenario. She didn't have the support system she had now. It was six years ago, and a lot happens in six years. She wasn't the scared timid fourteen year old. She was twenty years old, almost twenty-one. She was planning on going home and telling Dawn the news. She was nervous though, Dawn would ask questions and Buffy wasn't sure if she would be apt at answering them. She would have to tell Dawn that it was Parker's. Maybe she should word it something like, "You know mommy and daddy are going to be having a baby."

No, that wasn't right. Maybe her and Parker should do it together? Ugh, Buffy sighed. All this stress was not good for her.

She had about an hour until she had to pick up Dawn, so she picked up her cell phone and called Parker.

"Hello," Parker said in greeting.

"Hi," Buffy said timidly, "Are you free right now?"

"Well, I have a meeting in an hour but I could take a lunch break."

"Meet me at the coffee bean in 10 minutes. We need to talk," Buffy said

cryptically.

"Fine," Parker said hanging up the phone.

Buffy arrived at the Bean before Parker. She ordered a Vanilla blended with no coffee, and sat down at an empty booth. She was playing with her straw when she saw Parker and motioned him over.

"Hi," she said awkwardly.

"Hey," Parker said all business like, "What's up?"

"There's something I need to tell you…" Buffy started, "Is it Dawn?" Parker interrupted showing concern.

"No," Buffy said calmly, "It's not Dawn. She's fine. Don't worry about her."

"Okay, I know this isn't a social call. You've made it very clear that you're not in love with me," Parker began lecturing.

"Parker," Buffy interrupted, "Shut up for five seconds okay… I'mPregnant."

"What?" Parker said shocked, "I didn't quite hear you."

"I'm pregnant," Buffy said again.

"Oh, give my regards to Angel then," Parker said angrily.

"It's not Angel's. I'm 8 weeks along. Do you remember what happened 8 weeks ago?"

"Oh," Parker said finally realizing what she was telling him, "Your serious?"

"As a heart attack," Buffy said seriously.

"Well, those are serious," Parker deadpanned.

"Very," Buffy said in agreement.

"So what are we going to do?" Parker asked hesitating.

"I don't know. I've been trying to figure it out. But now, you don't have much to do. You've done enough, really," Buffy said gesturing to her stomach.

"Are we going to co-parent? How are we going to tell Dawn?"

"You tell me. I'm just as clueless as you are," Buffy said sipping down the rest of her drink.