As Strong As We Are United
Chapter 24 – Proposals and Announcements
Buffy woke and left the hospital wing early on Sunday morning. She would not see Faith until the teens' afternoon training session, but decided that it would be a good idea to tell Spike about her pregnancy while Charlie was safely asleep in his room and not an easy target. Buffy turned to descend the stairs that led to Spike and Genevieve's dungeon rooms.
Buffy knocked tentatively and was surprised, when Spike opened the door after less than a minute. "What can I do for you, Slayer?" he asked.
"Did I wake you up?" Buffy asked.
"Nope – vampire – night. Actually, Gen's asleep, but I was catching up on Passions," Spike replied lazily.
Buffy smiled. "Anya sent you another tape?"
"Every Saturday," Spike replied. "She's quite the responsible one, when you're paying her." Buffy laughed softly. "So, what can I do for you?" Spike asked again.
"Can I come in? I have something to talk to you about?"
Spike nodded and stepped away from the door. Buffy followed him into the dark sitting room and took a seat, while Spike turned off his charmed television. After he sat down opposite her, she blurted out, "Spike, I'm pregnant."
"I know," the vampire replied. "Haven't you noticed that I've been avoiding any hits to the abdomen lately?"
"You know? How? I didn't even know."
Spike laughed. "Gen and I both know. We can hear the heartbeats. Figured that you and Faith would both tell us, when you were ready," replied Spike.
"Faith told me a few weeks ago. She told the rest of the gang at the ball last night." Buffy thought for a moment about what Spike had said. She paled slightly. "When you say heartbeats. . ."
"You don't know? You, Pet, are having twins. Their heartbeats are just slightly off from each other. Took me awhile to realize. Gen caught it right away though."
"Twins?"
Spike nodded. "Yup. So can I assume your dragon man is going to do right by you?"
Buffy smiled. "He wants to get married, but I told him to think about it for awhile before he asks me."
"Figured as much. Blokes the honorable sort," Spike stated. "You could've done worse."
Buffy rolled her eyes. "I'll take that as a compliment," she said, rising from her seat. "I'm going back to bed. I'm going to tell Faith, but Charlie and I want to wait to tell everyone else."
"Hey, I've kept it quiet this long," Spike reminded Buffy. "Gen and I won't say a word until you're ready to make the announcement."
"Thanks, Spike." Buffy gave her old lover a quick kiss on the cheek, before departing.
As Buffy walked through the castle toward the Scooby common room, she tried to get used to the idea of two babies instead of one. The thought only made her more nervous. Without realizing it, she found herself outside the portrait of the Slayer that guarded the common room. She quickly whispered the password, "Sunnyhell," and stepped through the portrait hole.
No one was awake when she entered the Scooby common room, though Ron and Hermione were still curled up in the chair where they had fallen asleep the previous night. Buffy smiled at the two teens. She quietly unfolded a blanket from the back of one of the couches and placed it over them, before slipping down the stairs to Charlie's quarters.
Charlie woke slightly, when he felt his bedsprings lower. Realizing that Buffy had joined him, he pulled her into his arms and closed his eyes. As he began to drift back to sleep, he vaguely heard Buffy speak. "I told Spike. . . could hear the heartbeats. . . twins."
With the last word, Charlie jolted awake. "Twins?" he asked. "Are you sure?" Buffy nodded. "Two babies," stated Charlie, before kissing Buffy soundly. "You never do anything halfway, do you?" he teased.
"Guess not," replied Buffy, snuggling against him and quickly falling into a deep sleep.
When Faith arrived just before lunch, Buffy once again dragged the dark-haired Slayer upstairs to her rooms. "What is it this time?" Faith asked. "I didn't have any prophecy dreams last night."
Buffy shook her head. "This is about the dream from last month." Faith raised an eyebrow. "Remember when you said babies, as in plural?"
Faith nodded. "I asked Madame Pomfrey, and I am most definitely not having twins. So, so much for your theory."
"You may not be having twins," replied Buffy. "But I am."
Faith let out a loud whooping sound. "This is going to be so cool. We can do the whole mommy thing together, and our kids will grow up together. And, it's going to be so cool to have someone else to share everything with."
"Um, Faith, I still don't have any idea what to do with a baby," Buffy noted.
Faith shook her head. "Buffy, nobody knows what to do with a baby until they have a reason to learn. I got a whole bunch of books that Robin bought. He's been reading like crazy. I've read a few, and trust me that new mothers throughout history don't just know what to do."
"Aren't you scared at all?" asked Buffy in amazement.
"Of course, I'm scared," replied Faith with a flip of her hair. "But I figure if I can help defeat the First Evil, I can figure out how to handle a baby. Besides, unlike the Slayer gig, I'm not doing this alone. Robin will be there every step of the way."
Seeming to realize what she had said, Faith placed her arm tentatively around Buffy's shoulders. Faith had a husband and a house. Buffy was still single. "Does Charlie know?" Buffy nodded. "Is he okay with this?"
"He wants to get married, but I told him to really think about it before asking," Buffy replied.
"He'll stick by you," Faith assured her sister Slayer. "He's all noble that way. Besides, you know that you aren't alone. Our children have one hell of an extended Scooby family."
"They do, don't they?" For the first time since the previous night, Buffy stopped dreading telling her friends, though she still worried that Giles would be disappointed in her.
"They do. So, I take it you haven't made any grand announcements yet?"
"We're going to wait a little while. I'm telling you and I told Spike because of training," Buffy replied.
Faith nodded. "So, how did Spike take it?"
Buffy rolled her eyes. "Can you believe it? He and Genevieve already knew about both of us. He says they can hear the heartbeats."
The week passed quickly, and Buffy was surprised on Saturday morning, when Charlie announced that he was taking her into Hogsmeade that evening for a quiet, romantic dinner. She knew exactly what he was planning, but did not think he would propose so soon.
That night, Charlie escorted Buffy to a small restaurant that was on a side street. As they ate, he made a point not to discuss Buffy's pregnancy. Instead he focused on talking about their relationship and his feelings for her.
After dinner, they walked back to the castle. Buffy was surprised when Charlie placed a warming charm on both of their cloaks and asked her to escort him to the lake. He helped her into a small boat, that moved of its own accord into the middle of the lake. The stars shown brightly above them, and the Hogwarts castle made for a fairytale-like sight in the distance.
Charlie smiled at Buffy. "You asked me to think about if I really want to marry you," he started. "I don't know if you remember, but back in Grimmauld Place this summer I told you that I was already thinking about us getting married and having children someday. Someday may not be as far in the future as either of us had imagined, but it doesn't change the fact that I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
Kneeling down in the small boat, Charlie pulled a beautiful garnet ring from his pocket. Buffy had expected this, but gasped all the same. "Buffy Anne Summers, would you do me the honor of being my wife?" Charlie asked.
Maybe it was due to hormones, but Buffy burst into tears of joy. She could not seem to make her voice work, and so instead nodded and held out her hand. After placing the ring on her finger, Charlie hugged Buffy to his chest. "I love you so much," he whispered in her ear.
"I love you too," replied Buffy, who had only just found her voice.
"Are you ready to tell everyone?" Charlie asked, as Buffy sat back.
"Not yet," replied Buffy. "I want to do it when everyone is together." Her eyes lit up as she got an idea. "Thanksgiving is in two weeks. We could have a big Thanksgiving dinner like we did last year. We'll invite all the Scoobies and the Weasleys, and tell everyone then."
"Buffy, I was thinking. I know that it's pretty short notice, but what if we got married at Hogwarts on Christmas?" Charlie suggested.
Buffy seemed to think about the suggestion for a moment before speaking. "What about Christmas Eve?" she asked. "That way, we still have a day that's ours. Once the twins are born, Christmas will be all about them and presents."
"Perfect," agreed Charlie, leaning in to kiss his fiancé.
The next day, Buffy informed the house-elves that they would be requiring a feast like the previous year in the Scooby common room on Thanksgiving day. She also sent owls to the Weasleys and Scoobies, including members of Angel Investigations, who were not living at Hogwarts with invitations to the feast. Meanwhile, Charlie informed the Scoobies and students at Hogwarts that Buffy was once again planning a Thanksgiving feast. He also asked Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall, Flitwick, and Snape to attend. Surprisingly, Snape agreed to attend this year, though there was much convincing from Willow.
At 5:00pm on Thanksgiving Day, the guest began to arrive. Those not living at Hogwarts, used the floo network directly into the Scooby common room, which was once again filled by two large tables, weighed heavily with platters of delicious-looking food.
"I can't believe you Americans have a holiday about eating," commented Fred Weasley, as he and Angelina took seats beside George and Oliver and across from Ron, Hermione, Percy, and Penelope.
"We need a holiday like this here," agreed Ron, looking longingly at the food set before him.
"Well considering that the holiday is based on being Thankful for surviving away from England, that wouldn't make much sense," Robin noted, as he and Faith took seats with Wesley, Cat, Genevieve, Spike, and the Angel Investigations team.
"Ah but I do like the idea of a day on which to give thanks," added Dumbledore. "Especially in dark times like these, we must remember the good in our lives." Everyone nodded in agreement. "Miss Summers, will we once again be participating in your tradition of sharing those things for which we are thankful?" the headmaster asked.
"We will," replied Buffy, who sat beside Charlie. "I'll begin. I am thankful to have an opportunity for all of us to be together. We don't get the chance to do this nearly enough, unless there's a battle that is." Everyone laughed.
Each person in attendance took a turn to share what made him or her most thankful. Charlie was the last to speak. Buffy slipped her hand in his. They had planned to share their news with everyone at this moment. Charlie cleared his throat. "I am thankful that Buffy has agreed to be my wife," he stated clearly.
Everyone began talking at once. "You're getting married?" shrieked Dawn, pulling her sister into a hug.
"When's the wedding?" Anya asked.
"We were hoping to do it on Christmas Eve," replied Charlie jovially.
"That's quick," noted George.
"You didn't go and knock her up, did your?" teased Fred.
Charlie blushed deeply. As the eldest living Weasley, even he could not avoid the Weasley blush. The Weasley brothers' eyes all widened. "You did," stated Ron, somewhat in awe.
"Good thing that mum's not here to see this," noted Percy.
"Oh please," interrupted Ginny. "Mum would have no room to talk. Bill wasn't exactly conceived after the wedding. Besides, she would be thrilled at the prospect of grandchildren."
"What do you mean Bill wasn't conceived after the wedding?" asked Ron abruptly.
Ginny shook her head. "Why is it that I'm the only one who knows what goes on in our family," she wondered aloud. "This isn't the first time a Weasley man got his girlfriend pregnant, and I doubt it will be the last." She glared at Percy, Fred, and Ron. "If I were you three, I'd be extra careful."
All three were taken aback by Ginny's proclamation. Fred whipped around to face Charlie. "See what you did. Now our baby sister is talking about," his voice dropped, "S-E-X." Ginny rolled her eyes. Charlie was at a loss for words.
Buffy decided to help her fiancé by bringing the conversation back on topic. "I'm due in June," Buffy stated. "We're going to have twins."
As Fred and George whooped loudly about another set of twins in the Weasley family, Buffy turned her attention to Giles. She still worried that he would be disappointed in her. Giles noticed her concern. He stood and walked over to where she was sitting at the other end of the table. Buffy stood as well. "You are going to make a wonderful mother, Buffy," her Watcher assured her, before taking her into his arms and hugging her tightly. "I will always be proud of you," he whispered, before releasing her and turning to Charlie to shake his hand and congratulate him.
After some of the noise had died down, Buffy again addressed her friends and family. "Charlie and I have some favors that we would like to ask some of you. Don't feel that you have to give answers to us right away."
"We decided that we aren't going to have a big wedding party because we would want all of you in it and then we would have no guests," explained Charlie. "But, Percy, I would like to ask you to be my best man."
All of the Weasley brothers were stunned at this request. After a moment Percy found his voice. "I know that if he were here, Bill would be the one standing up with you. It will be an honor to stand in his place." Penelope quietly took Percy's hand and squeezed it reassuringly.
Buffy turned to her sister. "And Dawnie, I want you to be my maid of honor." Dawn let out another shriek, before happily agreeing.
Buffy then turned to her Watcher. "Giles, I know that we've had some rough times, but there is no one else who I would want to give me away."
Giles smiled widely at his Slayer, wondering at how the young obstinate girl who had first walked into the Sunnydale High School library had turned into a responsible young woman. She had always been the closest to a daughter he ever had. Surreptitiously wiping a stray tear from his eye, he nodded. "It would be my greatest pleasure to give you away."
Distracting everyone's attention from the moment being shared between Slayer and Watcher, Charlie turned to the headmaster. "Professor Dumbledore, Buffy and I would like to have the wedding at Hogwarts. As supreme mugwump. . ."
"It would be my pleasure to perform the ceremony," finished Dumbledore.
"A wedding at Hogwarts," commented McGonagall, as she dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief. "If I can be of any help in organizing the castle, please let me know."
"Me too," agreed Professor Flitwick.
Snape merely nodded at the newly engaged couple. "Congratulations," he stated with little emotion.
Meanwhile the Scoobies again left their seats to hug Buffy and give their congratulations. Buffy caught Willow, before she could return to her seat. "You aren't angry that I asked Dawnie to be made of honor are you?" Buffy asked her best friend.
Willow shook her head. "If you had asked Faith or Anya I would've been offended, but Dawnie's your sister. She should be the one to stand up for you. And I'm so glad that you asked Giles to give you away. It's obvious that it means a lot to him."
"It means a lot to me too," replied Buffy, as Angel pushed past Willow to hug the Slayer and shake Charlie's hand. Both Angel and Spike behaved, though they did both quietly tell Charlie that he had better take care of Buffy or he would have to deal with them.
"So can we eat now?" asked Xander and Ron at the same time, eliciting several chuckles from various guests.
"Dig in," ordered Buffy, as she grabbed the nearest platter of roasted potatoes.
"Yeah, us pregnant chicks need food," Faith quipped, also grabbing the nearest platter. Everyone laughed again.
Anya frowned. She turned to her husband and stated loudly. "I want a baby too." Xander immediately began to choke on the piece of turkey he had eaten.
Willow slapped him hard on the back and glared at Anya. "You can't have a baby with him if you kill him." Anya shrugged and turned her attention to her dinner. For the first time ever, Xander seemed to have lost his appetite.
After dinner everyone went his or her separate way. Percy, Fred, George, and their significant others left for home. Faith, Robin, Xander, Anya, Narcissa, and Giles did the same soon after. Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall, Flitwick, and Snape returned to their own quarters. Angel followed Spike and Genevieve to their rooms to talk about upcoming battles, while the rest of Angel Investigations returned to Los Angeles. Buffy and Charlie retired for the evening as well, followed soon after by Cat, Wesley, Willow, and Oz. After Andrew flooed back to his flat in London, Luna, Ginny, and Neville returned to their own dormitories. The six teens were the last left in the common room.
"Hey, Harry, do you think Hermione could borrow your invisibility cloak?" Ron asked.
Harry raised an eyebrow. "Only if she brings Shannon along, when she comes over tonight."
"Hey, if Shannon spends the night with you, where am I supposed to sleep? I don't want to hear you two going at it," Draco moaned.
"You can stay with me," suggested Dawn. "As long as Hermione and Shannon sneak back early enough, you can take the invisibility cloak from them and sneak back to your room with it."
"Works for me," stated Harry, yawning obviously. "I think it's time for bed. Come on, Malfoy. You can sneak over with the cloak in a few minutes and then give it to the girls."
The teens retired to their rooms. Only ten minutes elapsed before Draco knocked softly on the door. He pulled off the cloak, after entering the room. Shannon and Hermione pulled it around them and left. "I hope we don't get caught because of them," he worried.
"Especially since it isn't like we're doing anything to get in trouble for," grumbled Dawn.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Draco asked, looking confused.
"Why is it that we are the only ones not sleeping together?" Dawn asked. "Don't you want to?"
"First of all, I don't care what anyone else is doing," replied Draco. "And, it has nothing to do with not wanting to. It has to do with being ready."
Dawn's features softened, as she pulled Draco to sit beside her on her bed. "I am ready," she assured him.
"I'm not," Draco replied.
Dawn was taken aback. She assumed that he was waiting for her. "Last year I kind of got the impression that you've done this before," she stated. "So, how can you not be ready?"
Draco sighed deeply. He knew that they were going to have to have this conversation at some point. He had not been looking forward to it. "On my sixteenth birthday, my father," Draco sneered, "took me to a brothel to make me a man." Dawn was stunned. She had no idea what to say; so, Draco continued. "You know how things were with my father. Every relationship was about what you could get out of it, everything was always about taking."
Draco put his arm around Dawn's shoulder. With his other hand, he tilted her face up to look at him. "Our relationship isn't about what I can get out of you. It's about giving, not taking. This is something that is still very new to me. I'm still getting used to it, and I don't want to rush into anything that can mess it up."
Dawn leaned forward and kissed Draco. Admittedly the brothel thing was disgusting, but the rest of his words made her heart feel like it would burst with love for him. "We'll wait then," she said breathlessly, after breaking the kiss, "though it won't be easy."
"Maybe I should sleep in Shannon's bed," Draco suggested.
"Don't be silly," replied Dawn. "We've shared a bed before. Besides, even if we don't do anything, I like sleeping in your arms." Draco happily agreed and slid into bed beside Dawn. After such a long day, they quickly fell asleep.
"I'm glad that Buffy asked you to give her away," Narcissa commented to Giles, as she readied herself for bed.
"Me too," replied Giles, looking up from the book he was reading in bed. "Two years ago, she wouldn't have."
"Every relationship has its rough patches," stated Narcissa. "The two of you are too important to each other not to have worked things out." Narcissa slid into bed beside Giles. "So how does it feel to be old enough to be a grandfather?"
"What?" Giles asked suddenly.
Narcissa smiled. "I know that in many ways Buffy is like a daughter to you, thus making her children like grandchildren to you."
"Good lord, I can't be old enough to be a grandfather," Giles worried.
Narcissa giggled at the look of indignation on his face. A moment later she grew serious. "Rupert, have you ever thought about having children of your own?" she asked tentatively. Giles looked alarmed. "I'm not trying to tell you anything, but we're not exactly old. Plenty of people have children in their forties. I was just wondering if you ever thought about it."
Giles took off his glasses and placed them and his book on the nightstand, before answering. "When I was younger, I always assumed that like everyone else I would marry and have children. Things just didn't work out that way."
Narcissa extinguished the lights and lay back on her pillow. "Maybe fate's given both of us another chance," she stated quietly.
"Does that mean you would consider starting over?" Giles asked.
"I always wanted more than one child." She rolled onto her side away from Giles. "Good night, Rupert."
"Good lord," Giles muttered yet again. Narcissa smiled to herself, knowing that Giles was beginning to think about the possibility of having a family with her someday.
Ron flopped onto his back beside a heavily breathing Hermione. "Is it just me, or does it get better every time we do it?" he asked.
"It's not just you," noted Hermione, as she clutched Ron's hand.
After their breathing had slowed, Ron turned on his side, propped himself on one arm, and looked down at Hermione. He seemed lost in thought. "What are you thinking about?" she asked.
"I almost envy Charlie," Ron replied, blushing deeply.
Hermione smiled up at her boyfriend. "We have plenty of time for all that, you know," she assured him.
"I know, but I kind of like the idea of us having babies someday." Hermione blushed almost as deeply as Ron at his words.
"Yes, but someday is a long way off," Hermione reminded him. "After this year, you have five more years of Watcher training, and it would be sensible to put in another two years of active duty before we disrupt our lives with a family. Also, I have my own career to pursue. I don't want children until I have had time to prove myself at my job."
Ron's lips halted any more words from Hermione. When he pulled back, he spoke. "Ever the logical one," he teased. "You are absolutely right about waiting to have children. I figure in about seven to eight years."
"I figure more like eight to ten," Hermione interrupted.
Ron smiled at his girlfriend. "However, though you made many good points, nothing you said provides a reason to wait to get married. I've actually been thinking that we should do it after graduation, before I start my Watcher training."
Hermione's eyes widened. "What? You want to get married that soon? I thought the promise ring and everything was for years from now."
"Give me one good reason why we should wait," replied Ron.
"Because we're too young," Hermione answered quickly,
"Hermione, we don't have the opportunity to have our parents continue to look after us, while we find our way in life." Hermione nodded at this. "I know that we're young, but I think it would be even harder to start out in life alone instead of together. Besides, the Watchers training facility has married housing," he added as an afterthought.
"You're really serious? Are you actually asking me to marry you after graduation?" asked Hermione breathlessly.
"I'm serious, but I want to hold off officially asking you for another few months; so, I can finish saving for an engagement ring," Ron replied.
Hermione pulled him down for another long kiss. "I don't need another ring. I love the one you already gave me. Besides, if we are going to get married, we should be saving our money for more important things than a ring."
"Ever the logical one," muttered Ron, before kissing her again.
The next evening, Willow entered Snape's private potions lab for their last night of work on the potion she needed for her meditation. As usual, they talked as they worked. "I still can't believe that Buffy's pregnant," Willow commented.
"The Weasleys are not exactly known for their low fertility," replied Snape, as he measured the last ingredient for the potion.
"Sometimes I wonder if I'll ever get the chance to have children," Willow shared. "With Tara, I could see eventually having a baby." Snape looked confused. "With a sperm donor obviously," Willow added.
"I frequently forget that Muggles use technological means for conception," Snape admitted.
"Yeah, but the thing is that I don't think I would want to do it alone, you know?"
"Willow, we have been through this before. When the time is right, you will find someone. You have plenty of years yet to start a family. Besides, the way things are right now the time is not exactly ideal."
"Do you want kids?" Willow asked curiously. Snape seemed startled by the question. Willow rolled her eyes. "I mean in general, assuming that you find someone you want to share your life with. I'm not asking you to be a sperm donor."
Snape looked relieved. "I have no desire to have children," he stated. "That is one of the reasons that I have not sought a romantic relationship. It would be unfair to expect a woman to give up the opportunity to have children of her own."
Willow rolled her eyes again. "Most people want children, but there are women out there who don't – just like I know there have to be women out there who would appreciate your unique perception of the world."
Snape could not help but laugh, as they finished the potion. When it was complete, Willow stayed in the dungeon to try it. Snape insisted that he be on hand in case anything went wrong. Both were happy, when it worked.