Joss Whedon and Ian Fleming are the geniuses behind these characters. I'm just borrowing them for a little while, so please don't sue me!

You Only Live Thrice
Chapter 4

by Zzilly14

"You wanted to see me?" Buffy asked as she entered the Muswell Hill Bookshop that evening, upon seeing Giles behind the counter.

"Yes, yes I do. Let me help these last few customers – the shop closes in about ten minutes – then we can talk."

At about quarter past six, Giles was at his desk, cleaning his glasses, and Buffy was pacing back and forth.

"...That is why you cannot have this child... it'll mean the end of the world."

"But we've been through apocalypses before, Giles!" she pleaded. "And we've beaten them all!"

After a few moments of silence, the former librarian said, "I don't think we can win this time, Buffy."

The Slayer began playing with the rings on her fingers, twisting them around in little circles. Giles put his glasses back on and read through some of his books.

"I haven't been completely honest," she admitted.

Giles looked up.

"What haven't you told me?"

"Well... this baby? Not Angelo's."

Giles rose from his seat, his face full of shock.

"Then who's the father?"

Buffy continued pacing. "I can't tell you..."

"And why not?" Giles spat as he walked over towards her.

"Because I made a promise to keep a secret. And the less people that know, the better. If you tell your spy friend, things will get screwed up."

"Buffy... you can trust me," he said, putting his hand on her shoulder. "You know how I feel about you."

She looked into his eyes, and finally nodded.

"I love you like a father... even more than my own," she stated. "Okay, I'll tell you. But no one else can know, okay? Not Dawn, not Andrew, and definitely not that British spy."

"I understand."

"Remember Angel's war against the Senior Partners? And how I flew over to L.A. to help?"

"Yes, of course. You and the other Slayers helped defeat them. Did Angel somehow..."

"No."

"Then what does this have to do with..."

"It's Spike. He somehow came back, and was working with Angel."

"Spike?"

"After the battle was over, I began to look for him. Guess where I found him? Sunnydale."

"How did he..."

"I'm not quite sure. He's explained it to me but it really confused me. Basically, it had something to do with the amulet."

"Wow. So you've been hiding Spike's existence for all these months?"

"I had to. If Angelo had known, we were both dead."

Giles stared at his Slayer.

"You were having an affair with Spike, weren't you?"

"Well..."

"That's why the Immortal wants you dead. He found out about it, and knew the baby wasn't his."

"But he doesn't know it's Spike."

"Buffy, I can't believe you..."

"Are you mad at me?" she asked quietly.

"I think you're bloody stupid," he stated crossly. Then his voice softened. "But I'm just glad you told me. I'll do whatever it takes to help you."