TITLE: Destiny's Child
AUTHOR: sugarwater
E-MAIL: DISCLAIMER: I own nothing, all bow down to the mighty Joss
TIMELINE: Begins mid Season 2
SPOILERS: Probably just about everything
SYNOPSIS: B/A! The Powers That Be have a surprise in store for Buffy and Angel. Btvs re-write – Angel doesn't leave. Whole lot of Fluff and little bit of Angst.
DISTRIBUTION: Anywhere, if you want it, take it, just let me know!
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Very very long epic type story, Chapter 6takes place between "Anne" & "Dead Mans Party"
FEEDBACK: Craved, oh please, please, please, REVIEW! Constructive crit very welcome
RATING: T
Giles carried the small box and bag of Buffy's belongings into the new apartment. This one was much nicer and bigger than her last. Buffy walked around and tried to look happy. She really appreciated this and didn't want to seem like she was ungrateful, but she couldn't be happy right now. Not when she had to face the prospect of giving up her baby.

Giles had made her to quit her job and lay low. He could see how hard this was for Buffy and hated himself for being the one that had to make her see sense. He hoped that one day she would forgive him.

"What do you think?" the watcher asked cautiously.
"It's great, more than great. Thank you" she said sincerely trying to manage a smile.

"It's the least I could do. Besides, the watchers council will reimburse me for most of it." Giles said as he placed her things down in her new bedroom.

"They do that?" Buffy asked wide eyed.

"Yes, of course. Any costs incurred in the line of duty they promise to refund." Giles said.

"And you chose to tell me this now? I've ruined almost half of my wardrobe 'in the line of duty'! Boy, when I get back to Sunnydale I am gonna cash in on this, big time. There was this one time, when a demon guy slashed my genuine leather coat with a battle axe! That coat cost me $375! Ok, it cost my mom $375" Buffy complained.

"And do you really think that the watcher's council would deem such a garment suitable apparel for slaying purposes?" he raised his eyebrows disapprovingly.

"Well…no, but couldn't we just say I was caught off guard? Like I was on my way to one of my non slaying extra curricular activities when I was rudely attacked by a demon?" Buffy pleaded.

Giles sighed and took off his glasses to clean them. "I'll see what I can do"

"Yay!" Buffy exclaimed. "Besides, it's about time I got some form of payment out of this. Army guys get danger money. The least they could do is add a few more perks to the job."

"Yes well, clothing refunds aside, I think the Watchers Council will get a fright when they see this months bill, especially with the money it's costing me to have you privately tutored until your return to Sunnydale." Giles said, reminding Buffy of the impending doom that was her studies.

"Do I really have to? Giles, come on! Its bad enough I'm gonna have to stay in this apartment most of the time and now you want to bring school to me?" Buffy pouted, hoping she could get out of it.

"Don't look at me like that. It's not going to work. Besides it will give you something to do during the day" Giles tried to reason with her.

Buffy sat down on the sofa in a huff "Give me something to do? Haven't you heard of cable?"

Giles eyed her scornfully "Buffy, if you don't begin studying now you'll never catch up when you return. And then your only options will either be summer school or to repeat your senior year."

Buffy's eyes widened at the prospect and she gulped. "Private Tutoring is so the way forward."

"Well I'm glad we're in agreement. Now I best be on my way. I doubt Principal Snyder will be best pleased if I miss another day of work." Giles voice hardened at the thought of the evil dwarfed nazi-like principal.

"Do you really think my mom and the gang will believe your story?" Buffy asked worriedly as she struggled to stand up. She hated lying to her mother and friends but they both knew it was the most sensible thing to do.

"They'll just have to. Although your mother will hate me even more" He replied.

"She hates you?" Buffy asked inquisitively.

"She blames me for your disappearance." Giles stated trying not to sound too bitter.

"Well don't worry, when I get back I'll definitely set her straight" Buffy told him reassuringly.

She tried to look happy as she led him to the door. She knew he had her best interests at heart.

"Now remember, lay low, no going out after sundown and absolutely no slaying." Giles said firmly.

"I know, I know. I'm secret identity gal. I remember." Buffy rolled her eyes at her watcher.

"Good. Take care and I'll see you next weekend."

With that Giles left the apartment building and headed back to Sunnydale.
He was nervous at the prospect of telling Buffy's mother and friends the story that the two of them had created. He wasn't sure how convincing he could be but hoped for all their sakes that they would believe him.

Willow limped down the hallway of Sunnydale High as Oz helped her along.
"Ok, Oww…" Willow pouted.

"That's pretty much what I'm thinking too" Oz said.

The pair of them were nursing injuries from the previous nights slaying. Or rather the previous nights attempt at slaying. They made their way into the library where Xander and Cordelia were waiting for them.

"Willow, you look terrible." Cordelia exclaimed looking the red head up and down.

Xander stared at his girlfriend, annoyed but not really surprised. "And once again, your amazing ability to be sympathetic astounds me"

Cordelia glared back at him "I'm just saying. This is ridiculous. We can't go on doing this. It's Buffy's gig. She's the super hero."

"Well Buffy's not here. And somebody has to do it" Xander said becoming agitated at Cordelia's reluctance to help.

"Well not me. Not after last night. That was too close. We're lucky that Oz and Willow were only hurt. And I don't want to end up looking as bad as Willow tomorrow, so count me out." The brunette stated as she crossed her arms across her chest in defiance.

Xander tried his best to reason with her "If we don't do it, no one else will."

"And it's only til Buffy gets back which will probably be really soon" Willow interjected hopefully. Even she didn't really believe it, but she kept telling herself that Buffy would soon return. She missed her the most.

"And you're basing this on what exactly?" Cordelia hissed, annoyed at Willow's inability to be realistic.

"Well Giles has to find her eventually. He has to. He will" Willow spat back

"Will, I think he'll find her when she wants to be found." Xander said truthfully.

Oz wasn't too happy about the idea of them slaying again either. He didn't mind being hurt but he worried about Willow. "Umm, yeah. But Cordelia may have a point. We're not getting any better at the slaying and it's dangerous. We need Buffy"

"And she'll be back in a few weeks" Giles said calmly as he walked in through the library swing doors, just catching the end of their conversation.

"Giles!" Willow exclaimed excitedly. "Did you find her? Did you find Buffy?"

"Yes, yes, I did. She's safe" he smiled reassuringly as Willow hugged him.

"So where is she? And why isn't she coming back now?" Xander said not trying to hide the fact that he was upset with Buffy for leaving them in the lurch.

Four pairs of eyes fell on Giles waiting intently for his explanation.
"Well, the watchers council contacted me a few weeks ago. They urgently needed Buffy in England, but I couldn't help them as none of us knew where she was.
It wasn't until this morning that they finally decided to inform me that they had tracked her down themselves and taken her back to England. They allowed me to speak with her and she's fine, albeit a little annoyed at being taken to Britain."

Cordelia furrowed her brow and looked confused. "Why did they take her to England? Can't you just tell them we need her here? Like now?"

"She's there on top secret watcher council business. I have no idea what that means but when it comes to the council I've learned its best not to ask too many questions. All I know is its very important." Giles explained.

"But she's ok right? And she'll be back in a few weeks? For sure?" Willow asked, needing confirmation that her friend would soon return.

"Yes, about 3 or 4 weeks" Giles replied.

Xander stood up to leave the library "Well then it's settled. We'll keep up the slaying until she returns."

The Scooby gang all started to pick up their bags as the bell rang.
"And I-I will help of course." Giles told them.

Willow smiled at everyone "See? Everything's gonna be fine. And In a few more weeks we'll have Buffy back!" she exclaimed as she bounced out the door, not caring about her hurt leg anymore.

Giles sighed inwardly. He was so relieved that they had bought his story. Now he just had to convince Buffy's mom that it was the truth.

Joyce paced up and down the length of the kitchen, not believing what she had just been told. "So you're saying they took my baby thousands of miles away without my permission?"

Giles tried to remain calm and collected. "Yes, I'm afraid they did. They're not really in the business of asking permission. As far as they are concerned Buffy is needed in England and that's the end of it"

"Well I am not taking this, its way out of line. Get me a phone number for this Quentin Travers. I'm going to give him a piece of my mind." She demanded.

"Joyce there's really no need. Besides he's unavailable at the moment. Trust me you won't get anywhere with them. They're extremely unreasonable."

The watcher was doing his best to satiate Joyce but she was extremely stubborn. Now he knew where Buffy got it from.

"And what about her studies! She's already missed the first two days of school and I don't even know if I can get her back into Sunnydale High!" the concerned mother argued.

"They're taking care of that. Buffy will be privately tutored in England. Trust me she'll be given the best of care." Giles gave her his most reassuring smile.

"Well she better be." Joyce said.

"I assure you she will be fine and it's only temporary. She'll be back before you know it."

Giles sipped his tea as he watched her expression. Luckily she seemed to buy it and would never have to know about her daughter being pregnant.

Giles took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. He had been researching for the last five hours and had found absolutely nothing. This was hopeless. He wasn't even sure where to look, he had been reading anything related to child orientated prophecies he could find but there was nothing about vampires or slayers at all.

Sitting back in his chair he took a moment to gather his thoughts. If he didn't find anything then maybe they were wrong. Maybe Buffy's baby would just be normal and he wouldn't have to make her give it up. He hoped that was the case but knew deep down that it was impossible.

Giles' thoughts were interrupted by footsteps coming down the hall. Willow and Oz came through the doors hand in hand.

"Giles! What are you doing here at this time?" Willow asked as she noticed the pile of books on the desk. "Is there research? Why didn't you call us? What's going on?" she asked becoming more concerned.

"Oh it's nothing, nothing to worry about." He replied quickly placing a bookmark into the page he was reading and closing the book shut. "What are you two doing here at this time?" He hadn't anticipated having company and didn't want Willow getting suspicious.

"It's the night before the full moon? I'm on Oz watch." She replied smiling as Oz began putting up towels around the enclosure.

"Oh, yes, I'd forgotten. Well there's really no need for you to stay Willow, I'll be here most of the night anyway. You should get some sleep" he said walking in between Willow and the desk.

Willow could sense that something was going on and she could tell that he was hiding something. Giles smiled as she suspiciously eyed the books on his desk. "If it's not important why are you gonna be researching all night. I can stay and help you, I'm not tired."

"No, no that won't be necessary. I've got it under control." He gave her the biggest smile he could manage in an attempt to convince her but she wasn't buying it.

The cage behind them rattled as Oz wolfed out, turned and threw himself against the door. "Giles why don't you go make sure the tranquilizer gun is loaded." She said, glaring at him.

Giles continued to smile for a moment before edging slowly away. "Of course. Won't be a moment" He rushed off into his office.

Willow immediately sat down and opened the book to the page Giles had been reading and began to scan the page "Prophecies foretelling the birth of warriors should often be interpreted in the metaphorical and not literal sense" she read. Willow was confused and desperately tried to think of why Giles would be interested in that sort of thing. She picked the book up to look at the front cover. As she did this she noticed a small address book underneath it. It was opened at a new page which said 'Buffy' and then gave a phone number and address. Willow scanned the information in bewilderment.

Giles returned to the room and noticed Willow eyeing his books. Before he had a chance to say anything the red head spun around to confront him.

"What's going on!" she demanded.

"hmm? Nothing. Nothings going on." He stammered unconvincingly.

"I'm not stupid Giles, this is Buffy's phone number and address isn't it? This says L.A. She's not in Britain at all is she. You lied to us!" she fumed trying not to let her voice crack with emotion. "Is Buffy in trouble!" she asked worriedly.

Giles sighed and slowly walked over to the table and took out a seat. He sat down and took off his glasses. "I'm afraid she may be." He said staring at the books in front of him, not being able to meet her gaze yet and her look of betrayal.

"Tell me what's going on. I have to know Giles. Either you tell me what's going on or I'm calling Buffy" she stated coolly.

Buffy was watching MTV when the phone rang. She knew it was Giles from the caller ID and picked up the phone. "Buffy the vampire slayer, how may I help you?" she joked.

"Buffy! You can't answer the phone like that!" he shouted.

"Relax Giles, I knew it was you from the caller ID" she said smiling at how flustered he had gotten.

"Oh…yes of course. I'm afraid I may have been a little hasty in assuming that everyone had believed our story." He said quietly, hoping she wouldn't be too mad.

"Oh no, not my mother, please not my mother." Buffy uttered, petrified at the thought.

"No, Willow. She knows something is wrong. She's here. She wants to talk to you." Giles said solemnly.

"Put her on. I know I can trust her." Buffy replied.

Giles handed the phone to Willow who was eager to talk to her best friend. "Buffy?"

"Hey Will" Buffy said, glad to hear the familiar voice.

"Buffy what's going on?" Willow asked tentatively.

"It's a long story. And I think you should sit down…"

An hour later Willow hung up the phone, totally amazed at what her best friend had told her. She stood up and walked out of the office to meet Giles who was busily researching.

She sat down beside him and stared at the table. "Wow. I mean, wow. That's a lot to take in. Poor Buffy. She really has to give the baby up?" she asked sadly.

Giles looked up at her and frowned. "I believe it's the only way. I take it Buffy warned you about how sensitive this is? You mustn't tell anyone, not even Xander" Giles told her gently.

"I know, I get it. It's ok I won't say anything. But I'm coming with you this weekend to see her." She told him.

"Good. I think Buffy will appreciate the company." He smiled warmly at her.

The pair researched all night desperately trying to find out more about Buffy's baby. They both knew it was going to be a very long night.