A/N Ok, I have a plan as to where this is going, but it's going to take a while. So, between now and the big finale, it's going to be random incidencts and slightly progressing of the Elijah story arc. But I promise you (SPOILER ALERT) when Buffy comes to term, things are going to get big. Enjoy!

Chapter 19

"But Angel..." Buffy said.

"No buts. The last time around, you nearly killed yourself because you refused to take it easy." Angel said. He pushed down on Buffy's shoulders until she gave in and flopped on the couch. "I know you're worried about Shy and the Powers, but those babies are important. A lot more important than anything else. They could be the key to getting the Ancients back into this world, if Willow's theory is right."
"Oh, I don't care about that. Well, I mean, I do, but... My sister comes in here, packs her things up, and leaves in the middle of the night and only leaves a note saying she's moved in with that guy!"

"Oh..."

"What 'oh'?"

"This is about Dawn."

"Of course it's about Dawn. She's putting unwarrented stress on me and that's not healthy. So, she needs to... She needs to at least call us."

"She's growing up."

"I thought she'd grown up and out of that rebellious stage."

"You know that never goes away."

"I wish it would."

"Honey, you need to calm down. Stress is bad. You know that."

Buffy couldn't help it. She blew up. Her voice reached a high pitch and she started to cry. "I can't help it that I'm so stressed. It's really not my fault that there's so much stress in my life right now. Don't you think that if I could be stress free, I would be? Stop telling me what to do, damn it!"

Angel mentally punched himself. He wasn't watching what he said. "I'm sorry baby." He tried to hug her, but she stood up and moved away from him, heading for the kitchen. "Buffy..."

"No." Her tears had dried up and she'd switched to anger. "You leave me alone. I'll go have these babies by myself and let you run the stressful family since your so damn peaceful. And where is Giles? I thought he was supposed to have been here by now." She disappeared into the kitchen.

Angel rolled his eyes and sighed in frustration. Buffy's hormones were out of control. He guessed it was having twins that was making it worse than it was with Connor. You never know what would set her off and you never knew what mood she would be set off in. "Baby..." Angel followed her. "I'm sure that his plane just got delayed or he had trouble finding his rental car. You know how he is about those rentals." Angel gave a short, strained laugh, but Buffy was still pissed off.

"Angel, why don't you just go, I don't know... Do something constructive. I'm busy here." Buffy said, keeping her back turned to him.

"And what are you busy with?"

This time she looked at him with a supremely annoyed look. "I'm baking!" Sure enough, she had a recipe book out and was pulling ingredients out of the cabinets. "I thought Giles would like to come to a nice, home-cooked meal that he didn't have to sacrifice his home for. But if Mr. Bossy-Man-Of-The-House doesn't want me to, then..."

"All right. I'll go to the office and you stay here and bake to your heart's content." Angel turned and headed towards the front door. Just as he was about to step out, he heard Buffy call in the sweetest voice, "Bye sweetie, don't forget to bring home that paint for the twins' room. We're still painting that tomorrow!" Angel slapped his forehead and walked out.

Buffy was just pulling the rest of the red velvet cake out of the oven when she heard the doorbell ring. She put the hot cake pan down next to its twin and pulled off her oven mit. "Coming!" She called. Still wearing her little apron, she opened the door and beamed at Giles.

"My, you look... homely." Giles said.

Buffy embraced him tightly. "Oh, I missed you so much!"

"I've missed you too. Strength."

"Oh, sorry." Buffy moved out of the way. "Come in."

"This place certainly is large."

"It's great, huh? Come on. You'll be staying in Connor's little office. He's got a futon in there. It's all ready for you." Buffy led the way up the stairs. "Connor was just..."

"Are you baking?"

Buffy glared at him for a moment for inturrupting her, but then smiled and nodded vigorously. "Yup. I'm making supper tonight. That's just dessert. Thought I'd get a jump on it since it takes a while."

"Since when do you bake?"

Buffy opened the door and let Giles into the room first. "Since I decided that after these babies are born, I'm going to be a full time mom."

"Good Lord! What?"

"Yeah. There are plenty of Slayers out there to take over for me. And I figure once this thing with the Powers is over with, I can finally live a normal life... And raise my kids without the threat of some bad guy taking them from me."

Giles' expression softened. "I see." He reached out and moved a stray strand of hair from Buffy's eyebrow. "You'll make a wonderful mother. Those babies will grow up in a loving environment and become valuable citizens."

Buffy raised an eyebrow. "Jeez, Giles, they're not even born yet and you're planning on them becoming doctors or lawyers?"

Giles laughed. "How are you feeling?"

"Tired. Hormonal. Typical pregnancy symptoms."

"Although a multiple birth isn't the same as a singular birth. There are..."

"Bigger risks for complications. I know. Would you like to help me cook dinner?" Buffy looked at her watch. "I want to get it on the table by six, so we better get to it."

"I would love to help."

"Hey Angel, where's Buffy?" Willow asked, walking in. Angel glared at her for a second and then marched into the office.

"She must be having more mood swings." Xander said. "He's glowering."

"I'd take it like a man." Spike said. "Ponce doesn't even have the right stuff to get a gal preggers and by some miracle, his woman gets knocked up, but he spends his time brooding in the office and complaining to anyone who gets trapped with him for more than three seconds at a time."

"Be nice." Faith said.

Connor walked into the lobby. "Hey guys. Where's dad?"

"In the office sulking." Willow said.

"Yeah, mom was pretty peeved this morning because last night, Dawn moved out."

"What?" Xander asked. Everyone's attention was now riveted on Connor.

"Yeah, she came back in the middle of the night, packed up her stuff as best she could and moved out. She left a note on her bed telling mom not to contact her until she contacted mom."

"Oh my God." Willow said.

"This is bad. No wonder Buffy's been having such bad mood swings today." Xander said. "I was going to eat a bag of chips the other day, but she blew up in my face and lectured me on how it wasn't nice to eat in front of a hungry pregnant woman and not offer her anything. All I did was open the bag."

"She's been pretty crazy over this whole Dawn thing, but with Grandpa Giles coming, she should be more relaxed."

"Here's hoping." Spike said. "Old Rupert always did know what to say to Buffy."

The door opened and Connor and Angel walked in. The air smelled delicious. It was thick with the smells of baked chicken, sweet potatoes, green beans, and fresh bread. Giles walked out of the dining room. "Hello there."

"Grandpa Giles!" Connor said, hugging Giles tightly.

"I see you made it." Angel said, shaking Giles' hand.

"Yes. It was a long trip, but I'm more than happy to be here." Giles said.

"How long are you staying?" Connor asked.

"I don't know really. I thought to stay only a week, but I think maybe you'll need some help around here with what Buffy's been telling me."

"Hello everyone." Buffy said cheerily, walking into the foyer. "Dinner's ready when you are."

Angel kissed her and then bent down and kissed her growing stomach. He decided not to comment on Buffy's cheery mood for fear that it might send her into a rage or a depression. "It smells great, honey."

"Giles helped."

"Is Dawn…." Giles started, but Angel subtly shook his head as a warning not to go there with Buffy. "Right then, let's eat."

Later that night, Buffy couldn't sleep, so she got up and wandered the halls. She found her way into the unfinished nursery and stood in the doorway. She imagined what the place would look like once she was finished decorating. "Hey."

Buffy turned to find Connor standing there. "Hey sweetie."

"Can't sleep?"

"No."

"Me either."

"What are you doing up here?"

"I don't know. I guess I just wanted to come hang out in my little brothers' room."

"You're intent on having brothers, aren't you?"
"You betcha. I wouldn't know what to do with a sister."

"Are you going to help out with the painting tomorrow?"

"When I get home from school. I've only got one class tomorrow, so I shouldn't be but a couple of hours."

"You've been such a joy to have around, Connor." Buffy sighed. "You know, you'd be three years old if Holtz hadn't of…."

"Yeah."

"You were a joy as a baby, too. The first couple of nights after we brought you home…. Those were rough. You were a little colicky, but after that…. You slept through the nights and you didn't fuss too much."

"I wish I could turn back the clock for you, mom. Give you the chance to raise me yourself."

"But I've got two second chances to get it right this time."

"Here's hoping dad doesn't have any long lost enemies showing up this time around."

"That's not funny."

"Sorry." Connor looked around the room. "So, are we painting it blue at least?" Buffy laughed and hugged her son.

"You doing ok?" Elijah asked.

Dawn sat on the couch in Elijah's apartment and smiled. "Yeah. I think so. It's just…."

"Different." He sat down next to her. "It's your first time living away from home. It's tough, but you get used to it."

"I'm just worried about Buffy."

"Don't be. She can handle herself."

"Yeah, but…. See, she had…. Complications with her last pregnancy. Lost the baby. This time it's twins, so…."

"She'll be fine." Elijah looked into Dawn's eyes and kissed her gently.

Dawn softened. "Yeah. You're right. I don't need to worry about her. She's got Angel to watch out for her."

"So, let's stop talking about her."

"Works for me." Dawn kissed Elijah, deeper this time. Elijah pulled her closer and Dawn knew where this was going. "Elijah, maybe we…."

"Everything's going to be fine. I've got you." Dawn melted into Elijah and they melted into the couch.

"You look…. Chipper." Shy said to his son as Elijah walked into the dark apartment.

"You could say that." Elijah said.

"What's the mood for?"

"Everything's going smoothly. Dawn's moved in with me and hasn't talked to her sister in days. She doesn't even go to the Hyperion to visit the others." Elijah took a swig of Pepsi. "And the best part is, the Watcher's in town and she doesn't even want to go visit him."

"There's more to it."

"Is there?" Elijah smiled coyly.

"You bedded the Slayer's sister."

"More than once, pop. She was shy at first, but woo! That girl can go. Just think when the Slayer finds out…. Dawn will never want to see her again!"

"I have to say, you're doing well."

"I need you to organize an attack on the Slayer."

"Why? Won't that upset the girl?"

Elijah paused and thought for a second. "No. I don't think it will."

"And what if it does? What if…."

"I don't want to kill the Slayer. I don't want to hurt her…. Much. I just want to test Dawn's loyalties. I want to make sure that if something bad happens, she'll stick with me."

"Very well."

Elijah smiled at his father and sucked down the rest of his Pepsi.

Buffy waltzed into the Hyperion, all smiles. "Good afternoon everyone."

"Hey Buffy!" Xander said. "How are things?"
"Pretty good. Moving along nicely. Where's Giles?"

"In the office with Angel. I wouldn't go in there." Willow said.

"Why not?"
"They're pretty heavy into research on Shy. Giles may be able to talk to some guys about how to kill him."

"Oh, then I should be in there."

"It will only depress you." Xander said.

"Fine." Buffy sighed and went to sit on the settee. "Has anyone heard from Dawn?"

"Not recently." Faith said.

"Little nipper just up and disappeared on us." Spike said.

"I noticed." Buffy said. "She hasn't called or anything. Giles is here and he hasn't seen her!"

"She's just rebelling. Give it time." Xander said. "I'm sure…."

A demon came crashing down from the balcony and landed next to Xander. It knocked Xander out cold and went after Buffy. Spike and Faith went to block it, but the thing barreled past them, knocking them away. Angel and Giles came out of the office just as Willow threw up a barrier around Buffy. Angel grabbed a sword and went after the demon. It wasn't concerned with anyone, but Buffy though.

It managed to penetrate Willow's barrier and grab Buffy by the throat. She kicked with all her might, but the thing hauled her in the air and tossed her across the room. She landed hard on her back against the stairs, causing her back to pop loudly as if it had been broken. Angel and Spike ran up behind the demon and sliced it into three parts before Angel dropped his sword and ran to Buffy.

"Baby, are you ok?" Angel asked.

"Angel…." Buffy said, starting to cry.

"Come on. Let's get you to the hospital." He picked her up in his arms and carried her out the doors.