Part 2: All is in Order (continues)
As the months went by, so did the growth of the inevitable swell of Buffy's belly. Willow and Xander had moved in an apartment complex just down the block, as did Andrew. Buffy would have too, but Dawn had liked the idea of staying with Giles. And Buffy couldn't complain, she liked living with him too.
Giles' assurances that everything was going to be okay really made a difference in how she handled her pregnancy. He was very supportive and she really appreciated the fatherly love that Giles gave to her and the others willingly. Besides, Giles had no complaints, except the occasional mutters of how women can be women. His flat was pretty practical and big enough to easily house Buffy, Dawn and the new baby that was to arrive. Plus, he wasn't at all hiding his excitement over the prospect of Buffy having a baby. Okay, so he happened to be in a state of denial for the first couple of months, but day by day he had started to love the idea. As did Xander.
"You're what?" Xander had exclaimed at the news.
"I'm pregnant."
"Oh my God, Im going to be an Aunt!" Dawn ran over to her sister and pulled her into a hug.
"You're What!" Xander exclaimed again.
"Oh dear lord." Was all Giles could get out before he prompltly fell onto the couch from a faint, which surprised no one.
"You want me to get the scotch?" Andrew had asked.
Giles had been making proposals on starting a training school for the slayers, and Buffy was with him every step of the way. Willow, Xander, occasionally Dawn, and even Andrew had naturally took up a role in the plan, and made it routine. They had many accomplishments in contacting the new slayers that they weren't able to reach before, and had gone as far as being able to help them with their choices. With each new day they had gone farther than expected, and within months they were able to set up a place for their plans of a school.
What had begun as a project had started to turn into a goal for their future.
"You have a choice. And I'm not going to talk you into or out of any choice you choose to make."
"Just like that?"
"Just like that."
"What are the choices again?"
"Well, you can keep the powers, and we can help you train so that you can control them. Or if you decide not to keep the powers we can always reverse the spell. You can even change your mind down the road if you want. It's totally up to you, and I want you to know that I'm here to help you, no matter what you decide."
"Can I think about it?"
"Take all the time you need."
And when the baby had entered the world, there was no stopping Buffy from hiding him from the world. Okay, maybe she happened to be very protective of who knew and who didn't, after all she was the slayer, and she was no fool.
"So have you decided what to name him?"
"Actually, yeah, I've decided to name him William Alexander." Buffy answered from the hospital bed.
"You...you want to name him after me?"
"Well... if you don't mind, i mean..."
"No, I dont mind at all," Xander said, smiling at Buffy, he looked at the baby in his arms. "He's incredible, Buffy."
Buffy smiled in response.
"You know Buffy, the offer still stands… I want you to know that." Xander squeezed her hand.
"I know Xander, but-"
"I know, it's just-"
"I know." Xander stood up from his chair. "I love you, Xander."
"I love you too." He bent down to kiss her forehead, "You should get some rest."
Buffy had started to feel proud of herself. She had begun to accept things in life, and felt as if she was finally moving on. But it all started to change again when she had started getting checks in the mail. And as the checks built up on the office table, she got more and more irritated and knew she had to put an end to it. There was no way that she would accept the money that she didn't earn. She was capable of taking care of herself and her son, not to mention helping and being a sister to Dawn in a way that would make her mother proud. She decided she'll have to return to L.A..
And little did she know that her trip to L.A. would become the most important trip of her life. In L.A. she reunited with the man she had lost, and she got a second chance at true love.
"What do you think Giles?"
"I think that you're right Buffy. If this is what you want, then by all means I support you."
"Thanks Giles."
"Do I need to tell you to be careful?"
"No, but you can say it anyway."
"Then be careful Buffy, the consequences of going to L.A. and letting them know could be dire."
Buffy stood up and walked to the chair Giles was sitting in and threw her arms around him. "What would I do if you weren't here?"
"What you are now, grand, Buffy. Grand." After a moment of silence, just enjoying each others presence, letting them take in everything that had happened between them, all of the years past of arguing fighting, scolding, mistakes and losses, rejoicing over battles won, occasions, and victories, crying over more losses, pain and the hurt, and the laughing over jokes, plans gone wrong; everything. When the moment passed, Giles patted Buffy's back in an affectionate, but still in his own prim and proper way. "I'll watch Alex for you while you pack for the trip."
ccc
As Spike passed through the living room he found Alex crawling on the floor. "Well, well, look at what we have here..." Spike said while bending down to pick Alex up from the carpet. "How'd you get down from the sofa?"
Alex patted his hands playfully on Spike's cheek and giggled.
"So that's what you did, eh? Becoming quite the little acrobat aren't you?" As the doorbell dinged again, he shook his head at the interruption. "I'm coming already." He looked at Alex, "That must be your Uncle Xander, never could wait, that boy."