IMPORTANT A/N: hey hey, it's me Sarah the author, I am so sorry about the
last chapter It wasn't very good at all and it lacked any relevance to the
story so sorry that you had to read that one. Although I had been dying to
write a good bitch fight. Anyhow I will try to write a better chapter in
the future! I thank all of you who were able to review it was very much
appreciated thank you!
SC
Second Chance
Within weeks, Rachel had blossomed into a whole other girl. She had soaring popularity amongst her peers and more friends and secret admirers than she could count. Her mother's death was very rarely on everyone's minds these days and her grades were exceedingly well. Life was coming together for Rachel. It would be too surreal to say it was perfect, if her family including her mother and father were together it might have been.
Her favorite class was art history and unlike her best friends Ally and Kate she had no attraction whatsoever to Mr. O'Connor but she did harbor some feelings for him. She couldn't quite identify them but the way he looked at her like she was so special, like she was the only thing holding him to this world made her want to put on a smile each day. It was true she got creeped out frequently when he was constantly asking about her life and how it was going but she took his sincere interest as just being friendly.
Not too many people noticed but she had a lot lately, it was drawing edgingly nearer to the end of the year she noticed some very similar things about her and Liam. They both had dark brown soulful eyes and the same unruly brown matted hair. They both had similar pale complexions and a knack for art. Everyone in the junior class knew of Rachel's talents for sketching, many teachers had told her that they were remarkable and put her pictures in contests. One of them had one but she was quite upset when a teacher had entered it. It was a picture of her mother she had drawn, she was warm and smiling with an infant in her arms, I imagined it was my baby brother Kyle being born, or the little brother I have dreamt about since I was seven.
It was safe to say that her and Kevin were also quite the item. He bought her flowers on their three-month anniversary and a promise ring three months later. They were very attached and even shared a few discreet kisses in the hallway. As for Courtney and her gang of brainless chickens, they had taken a back seat in trying to mock Rachel, she had too many admirers that would beat them down if they even tried.
One night she came home and everything changed, her aunt Willow had received a visit that evening. It was her Uncle Giles but Rachel was never told this information. She was sent to live with her girlfriend Kate while Willow claimed that her and Xander had some issues to work out. She still didn't believe in what they were telling her because they appeared to be very together, saddened but no problems.
She packed up and left but came back after two weeks. It was now more than five months later and she was starting a fresh new year in highschool. Her birthday was shy 5 months and she still hadn't heard about what was happening. Today she would come back home to Willow and Xander. They said it was safe for her to come back now and that they had something very important to discuss with her. She was very thrilled to be able to live at home with her aunt and uncle but she was also curious as to why she was sent away five months ago. She held her breath and knocked on the door. She was about to find out what Willow and Xander were keeping from her but she couldn't help but wonder what happened that day her Aunt and Uncle had gotten a visit.
Flash Back
"Xander stop that, Rachel will be home any second now!" Willow mumbled in a hoarse voice, she was aching for some Xander time but not if Rachel a fifteen-year-old could walk in, in any moment.
"You are such a tease Mrs. Harris!" Xander Whispered into the cape at her throat.
Suddenly the doorbell began to ring and Xander got up to get it.
"Thank God for that we almost got carried away there!" Willow was pleased because she knew that if she hadn't had this interruption she wouldn't have been able to have stopped Xander.
"Hello?" Xander called to the empty porch untill a man in flat ironed tweed came into sight with a brief case in hand and a hat a top his balding head.
"Xander? Willow? How good it is to see your familiar faces again!" It was unmistakably the voice of their old librarian Rupert Giles.
"Oh my Goodness! Giles come in" Willow was all smiles, her and Giles were a book worms match.
"I am afraid I have not come on a sociable occasion, its about Rachel" Giles said this solemnly and Xander knew it had to do with the other world they had shield her from for so long.
"Please good friends trust me to revive your memory of things that were lost to you, you will better understand what I speak of" Giles took out an object from his pocket and waved infront of both Willow and Xander. Within seconds Willow was on the floor in a gut retching sob and Xander trying to cradle his hysterical wife.
The Angel will be devastated and will be forced to care
for the child. The child will be forced to offer herself
to the world on the night of her fourteenth birthday. We
will all be spared but the child will not be. Th one and
the child will be reunited leaving the Angel alone.
The Angel will soon join them in paradise where the
three souls will be together forever but her presence
will be missed by everyone damaging the lives of the
guardian and mother. The second will become the one and
the world will once again be at peace. If the cycle is
disrupted the earth will crumble to pieces.
"No, no, it can't be true, say it isn't true!" Willow cried in frustration.
"I am afraid it is, today I come to you because it is short a year that her sixteenth birthday will come to pass and if we do not protect her until she gets there, all our lives will be at a loss"
"Why those self riteous bastards, why do they always have to have the lives of innocent children, Giles, she can't die she is the only thing we have left of Buffy besides, I love her, she is my daughter, you think I can just give her up?"
"You will have to Xander, and you will, when some new information comes to light in a few mothns you will not be able to say no, trust me." Giles had gone on a retreat after Buffy's death and had been living in England since, occaisonially seeing Rachel and getting updates, but the prohpecy was coming into it's last stage and he needed to be in Sunydale where he could make sure nothing could stop it.
"I know this is difficult, it never is easy but we have to prepare her, she must know what is to come of her and we have to train her to be able to protect herself, if she dies before she is supposed to then we will be ruined. This power Buffy spoke of, the dreams she had after Rachel's birth,"
"The frist," Willow whispered.
"What?" Xander looked at his once silent wife.
"I was the only one she had told, she had this dream this thing or being rather, the name, the first, came to mind, she said it was strong, stronger than everything and that she wanted Rachel, is this what is doing this?"
"It is. It can take the form of any dead person it wants and it will be after her now more than ever, I have tried to protect her with spells so they didn't know how to locate her but it's different now, the first has had enough time to accquire enough power to break the spells and they are trying to kill her. If Rachel succeeds in fulfilling the prophecy than all evil everywhere in the world will be abolished."
"That's a big destiny for a child" Xander said his mouth in a twitch.
"Had msut be done, I have made some arrangements, the first has spies everywhere it is too dangerous if she stays here, for now she will live with her friend, Kate. Rachel will need all the help she can get, I must go, I am sorry friends!"
"Wait Giles, Angel, he is the only one that could really protect her, when should will tell her about him?"
"You are right, heaven's knows Angel will have to be involved. Tell her Xander when you feel ready she has a right to know her father before she has to.."
"die?" Xander supplied his voice cracking.
"Oh, oh my god!" Willow fell to the ground as soon as Giles left, "Is this really happening?"
End Flashback
"Hello, anyone home?" Rachel peered through the door, it wasn't like Willow and Xander to leave the door open. She wandered into the house and looked around. Everything was as it was. It was so good to finally be home, but they sure had a hell of a lot of explaining to do.
Rachel decided to head up the stairs maybe they were up there. As she turned the corner she was positive she might have found them but instead she peered into the room she had heard a slight ringing sound from. When she got into the room it was as though she had never been there before. The room was a creamy yellow now and not the plain white it was before. But what struck her the most was that there was a little wooden crib and teddy bears all over the place. That must have been it Willow and Xander, they were having a baby! It was so accurate. She grinned from ear to ear, it might not have been her real new sibling but she sure could be there for the new baby. She raced downstairs to find that Willow was sitting in the family room patiently waiting the arrival of Xander.
'Willow? What's going on? What was so urgent that I had to have Kevin drive me here?" Rachel wanted her aunt's news to be a surprise so decided to play dumb.
"Please sweetheart I need you to sit down."
"Willow are you alright?"
"I am fine!" The doorbell rang and Willow got up to get it but Rachel raved her to it.
"Kevin?" She asked hopefully but was saddened to realize it was her art history teacher.
"Um, sorry sir but are you sure you have the right house?" Say he doesn't say he doesn't, Rachel was cursing under her breath.
"Nope, I am pretty sure that this is the one, come Rachel let me in, please?" He grinned and she stepped aside.
"I don't mean to be rude or nothing, but why are you here again.' That s when she noticed that everyone in the rooms started to get uncomfortable except for her.
"Okay did I miss anything cause the mood sure died in this room."
"Rachel take a seat, sweetheart." Willow ushered her to the chair but she stood firmly.
"No, I want to know what's going on, now!" Rachel clenched her hands into tiny fists.
"I didn't know she would be home I am sorry." Angel apologized quickly and Willow only nodded.
"What, why does it matter? Am I in trouble? Just tell me!" it was scary any big discussion she every had to have always resulted negatively.
"Well Rachel we called you here because your aunt and I are having a baby!" Xander tried to smile, it wasn't that he wasn't happy but it wasn't supposed to be like this, it was so unplanned, he wanted to be a father but not when the end of the world was coming. Angel really had killer timing to come over and congratulate us.
"So why do I get the feeling that's not all you want to talk about."
"Rachel, its about your father,"
The room became very silent. Rachel faltered backward and decided that taking a seat looked awfully friendly right now. She plopped herself down and was suddenly all ears.
"What about him?"
"He well, Rachel you see," Willow started.
"Will, it's okay, I, I can take it from here, you've done so much already you don't have to take my rap not while you are pregnant!"
"What do you mean, what would you know about my father!"
"If you'd listen I would tell you." He chastised.
"Fine I am listening happy?" She rolled her eyes.
"Rachel, your father he didn't well he didn't mean to leave, he was so confused and after your mother, well you just reminded him so much of her and it was painful but never doubt that I never loved you."
"What did you say?" angel gulped she had caught it.
"No, I won't believe it, this is not happening, you're my art teacher for god sakes! This is ridiculous you are all going mad!" She began pacing.
"sweetie, he isn't lying, Rachel, Liam, better known as Angel is your father!" Rachel looked at Xander, he wouldn't lie to her, and she knew it. Then she glanced at Angel his eyes looked so distraught and fragile.
"No!" and with that she ran from the house out into the night tears streaming down her face.
"Well that went well!" Xander rolled his eyes.
"Angel, give her time it's not going to be easy for her."
"I know, I know."
It began to rain and Rachel just ran harder. She didn't know where she was going just that she was going. She ran down the streets past the graveyards, across parks and finally to a small house on a vacant street.
"Kevin! Kevin! Oh God please open up!" She was banging on the door so hard her hands began to bleed and her brown hair fell in wet locks across her face.
"Rachel? Baby? Oh my God what happened!" Kevin found his six month girlfriend crumpled, soaking and shaking on his front porch.
"I-I-it was him, they found him!" She said in anger and joy.
"Who?" Kevin asked exasperated.
"My father." She fell against his chest in exasperation and he brought her inside and got her out of her wet clothes like a gentleman and dressed her in his sweats and laid her on the couch. She was running a slight fever but she would be fine in the morning. He stayed with her until then. A lot was going through her mind.
Flashback:
"Dadee!" a four year old Rachel came tumbling down the stairs with her barbie in her hands and a long pearl necklace on.
"Well aren't you beautiful tonight princess!" he lifted her up in his big strong arms and she nestled her had on his shoulders.
"Pancakes?" She asked.
"Okay we can make pancakes but peanut remember no chocolate, mommy has already got my neck about that!"
"otay!"
"That's a good girl Peanut!" He hoisted her up onto the counter and began to get out the ingredients.
"I luve pancaaaaaakes!" She yelled.
"and I love Raaaaaachel!" Angel smiled and kissed her little nose! "Everything will be alright you will see, you have the best mommy in the whole wide world kiddo!"
"I also have the best daddy!" She through her arms around his neck and he began twirling her around. That's when it began to fade and Rachel sat up in a sheer sweat/.
End Flashback
"Daddy?" Rachel whispered timidly when a groan came from the floor. She finally prossessed her surroundings. This was definitly not her home and definitly not her bed and these were definitly NOT her clothes.
"Oh god, Willow and Xander must be worried sick!" She got up quickly and began looking for her shoes.
"Rachel, sweetie you up? Don't worry I called your aunts they know you are here." He got up and steadied her with his hands.
"Oh Kevin you must think I am such a nut bag."
"No, I think you are real, any other normal person would have reacted that way if they had found out their father was alive and well and well their art teacher."
Rachel laughed, "Yeah, that is kinda funny! But there is no one in hell I can give that guy another chance."
"Really? I think you should, he is your father and he must have been so afraid to have come back after all this time and want to patch things up. Rachel no matter what you say you will regret not taking this opportunity to rediscover your relationship with your dad and have a family with your biological father."
"I hate it when you are right, you know that?"
"I do now!" he smiled and caught her in a kiss, "go, get outta here and make amends with your father, I love ya!" He shouted after her but the last part a but quieter, it wasn't time yet to tell her what he felt.
SC
Second Chance
Within weeks, Rachel had blossomed into a whole other girl. She had soaring popularity amongst her peers and more friends and secret admirers than she could count. Her mother's death was very rarely on everyone's minds these days and her grades were exceedingly well. Life was coming together for Rachel. It would be too surreal to say it was perfect, if her family including her mother and father were together it might have been.
Her favorite class was art history and unlike her best friends Ally and Kate she had no attraction whatsoever to Mr. O'Connor but she did harbor some feelings for him. She couldn't quite identify them but the way he looked at her like she was so special, like she was the only thing holding him to this world made her want to put on a smile each day. It was true she got creeped out frequently when he was constantly asking about her life and how it was going but she took his sincere interest as just being friendly.
Not too many people noticed but she had a lot lately, it was drawing edgingly nearer to the end of the year she noticed some very similar things about her and Liam. They both had dark brown soulful eyes and the same unruly brown matted hair. They both had similar pale complexions and a knack for art. Everyone in the junior class knew of Rachel's talents for sketching, many teachers had told her that they were remarkable and put her pictures in contests. One of them had one but she was quite upset when a teacher had entered it. It was a picture of her mother she had drawn, she was warm and smiling with an infant in her arms, I imagined it was my baby brother Kyle being born, or the little brother I have dreamt about since I was seven.
It was safe to say that her and Kevin were also quite the item. He bought her flowers on their three-month anniversary and a promise ring three months later. They were very attached and even shared a few discreet kisses in the hallway. As for Courtney and her gang of brainless chickens, they had taken a back seat in trying to mock Rachel, she had too many admirers that would beat them down if they even tried.
One night she came home and everything changed, her aunt Willow had received a visit that evening. It was her Uncle Giles but Rachel was never told this information. She was sent to live with her girlfriend Kate while Willow claimed that her and Xander had some issues to work out. She still didn't believe in what they were telling her because they appeared to be very together, saddened but no problems.
She packed up and left but came back after two weeks. It was now more than five months later and she was starting a fresh new year in highschool. Her birthday was shy 5 months and she still hadn't heard about what was happening. Today she would come back home to Willow and Xander. They said it was safe for her to come back now and that they had something very important to discuss with her. She was very thrilled to be able to live at home with her aunt and uncle but she was also curious as to why she was sent away five months ago. She held her breath and knocked on the door. She was about to find out what Willow and Xander were keeping from her but she couldn't help but wonder what happened that day her Aunt and Uncle had gotten a visit.
Flash Back
"Xander stop that, Rachel will be home any second now!" Willow mumbled in a hoarse voice, she was aching for some Xander time but not if Rachel a fifteen-year-old could walk in, in any moment.
"You are such a tease Mrs. Harris!" Xander Whispered into the cape at her throat.
Suddenly the doorbell began to ring and Xander got up to get it.
"Thank God for that we almost got carried away there!" Willow was pleased because she knew that if she hadn't had this interruption she wouldn't have been able to have stopped Xander.
"Hello?" Xander called to the empty porch untill a man in flat ironed tweed came into sight with a brief case in hand and a hat a top his balding head.
"Xander? Willow? How good it is to see your familiar faces again!" It was unmistakably the voice of their old librarian Rupert Giles.
"Oh my Goodness! Giles come in" Willow was all smiles, her and Giles were a book worms match.
"I am afraid I have not come on a sociable occasion, its about Rachel" Giles said this solemnly and Xander knew it had to do with the other world they had shield her from for so long.
"Please good friends trust me to revive your memory of things that were lost to you, you will better understand what I speak of" Giles took out an object from his pocket and waved infront of both Willow and Xander. Within seconds Willow was on the floor in a gut retching sob and Xander trying to cradle his hysterical wife.
The Angel will be devastated and will be forced to care
for the child. The child will be forced to offer herself
to the world on the night of her fourteenth birthday. We
will all be spared but the child will not be. Th one and
the child will be reunited leaving the Angel alone.
The Angel will soon join them in paradise where the
three souls will be together forever but her presence
will be missed by everyone damaging the lives of the
guardian and mother. The second will become the one and
the world will once again be at peace. If the cycle is
disrupted the earth will crumble to pieces.
"No, no, it can't be true, say it isn't true!" Willow cried in frustration.
"I am afraid it is, today I come to you because it is short a year that her sixteenth birthday will come to pass and if we do not protect her until she gets there, all our lives will be at a loss"
"Why those self riteous bastards, why do they always have to have the lives of innocent children, Giles, she can't die she is the only thing we have left of Buffy besides, I love her, she is my daughter, you think I can just give her up?"
"You will have to Xander, and you will, when some new information comes to light in a few mothns you will not be able to say no, trust me." Giles had gone on a retreat after Buffy's death and had been living in England since, occaisonially seeing Rachel and getting updates, but the prohpecy was coming into it's last stage and he needed to be in Sunydale where he could make sure nothing could stop it.
"I know this is difficult, it never is easy but we have to prepare her, she must know what is to come of her and we have to train her to be able to protect herself, if she dies before she is supposed to then we will be ruined. This power Buffy spoke of, the dreams she had after Rachel's birth,"
"The frist," Willow whispered.
"What?" Xander looked at his once silent wife.
"I was the only one she had told, she had this dream this thing or being rather, the name, the first, came to mind, she said it was strong, stronger than everything and that she wanted Rachel, is this what is doing this?"
"It is. It can take the form of any dead person it wants and it will be after her now more than ever, I have tried to protect her with spells so they didn't know how to locate her but it's different now, the first has had enough time to accquire enough power to break the spells and they are trying to kill her. If Rachel succeeds in fulfilling the prophecy than all evil everywhere in the world will be abolished."
"That's a big destiny for a child" Xander said his mouth in a twitch.
"Had msut be done, I have made some arrangements, the first has spies everywhere it is too dangerous if she stays here, for now she will live with her friend, Kate. Rachel will need all the help she can get, I must go, I am sorry friends!"
"Wait Giles, Angel, he is the only one that could really protect her, when should will tell her about him?"
"You are right, heaven's knows Angel will have to be involved. Tell her Xander when you feel ready she has a right to know her father before she has to.."
"die?" Xander supplied his voice cracking.
"Oh, oh my god!" Willow fell to the ground as soon as Giles left, "Is this really happening?"
End Flashback
"Hello, anyone home?" Rachel peered through the door, it wasn't like Willow and Xander to leave the door open. She wandered into the house and looked around. Everything was as it was. It was so good to finally be home, but they sure had a hell of a lot of explaining to do.
Rachel decided to head up the stairs maybe they were up there. As she turned the corner she was positive she might have found them but instead she peered into the room she had heard a slight ringing sound from. When she got into the room it was as though she had never been there before. The room was a creamy yellow now and not the plain white it was before. But what struck her the most was that there was a little wooden crib and teddy bears all over the place. That must have been it Willow and Xander, they were having a baby! It was so accurate. She grinned from ear to ear, it might not have been her real new sibling but she sure could be there for the new baby. She raced downstairs to find that Willow was sitting in the family room patiently waiting the arrival of Xander.
'Willow? What's going on? What was so urgent that I had to have Kevin drive me here?" Rachel wanted her aunt's news to be a surprise so decided to play dumb.
"Please sweetheart I need you to sit down."
"Willow are you alright?"
"I am fine!" The doorbell rang and Willow got up to get it but Rachel raved her to it.
"Kevin?" She asked hopefully but was saddened to realize it was her art history teacher.
"Um, sorry sir but are you sure you have the right house?" Say he doesn't say he doesn't, Rachel was cursing under her breath.
"Nope, I am pretty sure that this is the one, come Rachel let me in, please?" He grinned and she stepped aside.
"I don't mean to be rude or nothing, but why are you here again.' That s when she noticed that everyone in the rooms started to get uncomfortable except for her.
"Okay did I miss anything cause the mood sure died in this room."
"Rachel take a seat, sweetheart." Willow ushered her to the chair but she stood firmly.
"No, I want to know what's going on, now!" Rachel clenched her hands into tiny fists.
"I didn't know she would be home I am sorry." Angel apologized quickly and Willow only nodded.
"What, why does it matter? Am I in trouble? Just tell me!" it was scary any big discussion she every had to have always resulted negatively.
"Well Rachel we called you here because your aunt and I are having a baby!" Xander tried to smile, it wasn't that he wasn't happy but it wasn't supposed to be like this, it was so unplanned, he wanted to be a father but not when the end of the world was coming. Angel really had killer timing to come over and congratulate us.
"So why do I get the feeling that's not all you want to talk about."
"Rachel, its about your father,"
The room became very silent. Rachel faltered backward and decided that taking a seat looked awfully friendly right now. She plopped herself down and was suddenly all ears.
"What about him?"
"He well, Rachel you see," Willow started.
"Will, it's okay, I, I can take it from here, you've done so much already you don't have to take my rap not while you are pregnant!"
"What do you mean, what would you know about my father!"
"If you'd listen I would tell you." He chastised.
"Fine I am listening happy?" She rolled her eyes.
"Rachel, your father he didn't well he didn't mean to leave, he was so confused and after your mother, well you just reminded him so much of her and it was painful but never doubt that I never loved you."
"What did you say?" angel gulped she had caught it.
"No, I won't believe it, this is not happening, you're my art teacher for god sakes! This is ridiculous you are all going mad!" She began pacing.
"sweetie, he isn't lying, Rachel, Liam, better known as Angel is your father!" Rachel looked at Xander, he wouldn't lie to her, and she knew it. Then she glanced at Angel his eyes looked so distraught and fragile.
"No!" and with that she ran from the house out into the night tears streaming down her face.
"Well that went well!" Xander rolled his eyes.
"Angel, give her time it's not going to be easy for her."
"I know, I know."
It began to rain and Rachel just ran harder. She didn't know where she was going just that she was going. She ran down the streets past the graveyards, across parks and finally to a small house on a vacant street.
"Kevin! Kevin! Oh God please open up!" She was banging on the door so hard her hands began to bleed and her brown hair fell in wet locks across her face.
"Rachel? Baby? Oh my God what happened!" Kevin found his six month girlfriend crumpled, soaking and shaking on his front porch.
"I-I-it was him, they found him!" She said in anger and joy.
"Who?" Kevin asked exasperated.
"My father." She fell against his chest in exasperation and he brought her inside and got her out of her wet clothes like a gentleman and dressed her in his sweats and laid her on the couch. She was running a slight fever but she would be fine in the morning. He stayed with her until then. A lot was going through her mind.
Flashback:
"Dadee!" a four year old Rachel came tumbling down the stairs with her barbie in her hands and a long pearl necklace on.
"Well aren't you beautiful tonight princess!" he lifted her up in his big strong arms and she nestled her had on his shoulders.
"Pancakes?" She asked.
"Okay we can make pancakes but peanut remember no chocolate, mommy has already got my neck about that!"
"otay!"
"That's a good girl Peanut!" He hoisted her up onto the counter and began to get out the ingredients.
"I luve pancaaaaaakes!" She yelled.
"and I love Raaaaaachel!" Angel smiled and kissed her little nose! "Everything will be alright you will see, you have the best mommy in the whole wide world kiddo!"
"I also have the best daddy!" She through her arms around his neck and he began twirling her around. That's when it began to fade and Rachel sat up in a sheer sweat/.
End Flashback
"Daddy?" Rachel whispered timidly when a groan came from the floor. She finally prossessed her surroundings. This was definitly not her home and definitly not her bed and these were definitly NOT her clothes.
"Oh god, Willow and Xander must be worried sick!" She got up quickly and began looking for her shoes.
"Rachel, sweetie you up? Don't worry I called your aunts they know you are here." He got up and steadied her with his hands.
"Oh Kevin you must think I am such a nut bag."
"No, I think you are real, any other normal person would have reacted that way if they had found out their father was alive and well and well their art teacher."
Rachel laughed, "Yeah, that is kinda funny! But there is no one in hell I can give that guy another chance."
"Really? I think you should, he is your father and he must have been so afraid to have come back after all this time and want to patch things up. Rachel no matter what you say you will regret not taking this opportunity to rediscover your relationship with your dad and have a family with your biological father."
"I hate it when you are right, you know that?"
"I do now!" he smiled and caught her in a kiss, "go, get outta here and make amends with your father, I love ya!" He shouted after her but the last part a but quieter, it wasn't time yet to tell her what he felt.