Earth Bound Chapter 26.

"What!" says Dawn staring at Giles. Tara looks down and avoids contact with Dawn. Dawn notices this and looks at her. "You knew this and you didn't tell me."

"I told her not to," says Giles. Dawn stares back at Giles. "I didn't want it to come out this way. I wanted to tell you some day."

"When was that going to be?"

"Dawn, don't be angry at him," says Tara. "He was only trying to protect you. No one knows about this and if they did, this kingdom wouldn't have a queen."

"This is quite a surprise," says Lorne who is still in the room. "I didn't expect this at all."

"I know what you must think," says Giles. "All this time…"

"No!" says Dawn. "You don't know what I think. How dare you keep this from me. I had the right to know. You keep treating me like I'm some little girl and I'm not!"

"I know you're not, Dawn. It was your father's last wish...it was Hank's last wish. We both promised him that, so that his kingdom would have an heir and that was you." Dawn turns away from Giles.

"You didn't even love her. I was conceived by a promise."

"I don't think we should get into the details of what happened, Dawn," says Tara. "What's done is done and as I've always told you, Giles loves you as a father would his daughter."

"This is so wrong in so many levels," says Dawn as she turns back around. "I did a lot of mean things to you that a daughter shouldn't be doing to her father and I'm in shock that you got Tara pregnant…"

"Dawn, I really wish not to talk about that," says Giles.

"I tend to ramble when I'm nervous. There are so many things about me that you have and I've always wondered if I was really the daughter of the king or the daughter of the right hand man Jedi knight. I didn't think it was going to be true."

"I didn't know you thought that."

"I did. Ever since I could learn to comprehend anything. You and my mom were friends. It's all anyone could think of, but in the mind of a child the imagination runs away with you and you think that maybe it's more then friends." Tara bows her head and walks over to the table. Dawn notices this. "Maybe we should just continue what we were talking about." Giles nods his head. "I know that he's dangerous, but please let me give him a second chance." Giles walks over to Dawn.

"Alright," replies Giles and Dawn quickly hugs him.

"Thanks, dad." Those words resounded in Giles' head and it touched him very much.

"Well, one thing. Not a word about this to anyone. If it got out, Dawn could be dethroned."

"My lips are sealed," says Lorne with a smile.

Meanwhile in the training room, Spike and Connor are training as usual, but Connor at least was being less aggressive and Spike was relieved by it.

"I'm sorry for my moodiness," says Connor.

"It's okay," says Spike. "Just don't try to kill me again or use those powers you have."

"I won't. I don't even know how to control them. I need some training on that."

"Lorne could probably help you there. Maybe he can help you with why your visions haven't been in effect."

"I guess, but he doesn't really like me. After all I did, I don't like myself."

"You saved Dawn. That counts a lot."

"I know, but I got her in danger in the first place."

"So, you messed up, everybody does."

"I don't want to do it again. If Tara says that I'm the one that will help them stop the dark warriors, then I'm going to prove them right."

"That's the spirit, kid."

"Who you calling a kid? I'm the same age as you." Spike laughs.

"Yeah, but I have more experience."

"You're a great guy. No wonder that's why Dawn likes you."

"Dawn likes me? Since when? We're friends, you know?"

"Yeah, I know. I understand now. If I have a daughter, I definitely want her to have a guy like you."

"Thanks. I'm flattered. Me, the boyfriend to a princess. Sounds nice."

"You better treat her right."

"Or what? You'll kick my ass."

"Exactly." The two laugh and then are interrupted by Giles. Connor tries to show no fear and walks up to him.

"We are going to give you a second chance," says Giles. "Don't mess it up." Giles then leaves the training room.

"Is he always that uptight?" asks Connor to Spike.

"Yep," replies Spike. "But don't tell him I said that."

Later that day, Giles heads over to Dawn's room. He knocks first and one of the maids gets the door. Dawn comes out of the bathroom dressed in her sleeping attire. She has a robe on covering her silk PJ's.

"Hi," says Giles. Dawn stops in the middle of the room.

"Hi," responds Dawn. "Come in." Dawn walks over to a sofa near the balcony window. Giles heads over there and sits next to her. They sit there in silence. "I would have thought we had more to talk about, but I guess I was wrong." The maids exit the room leaving them alone.

"I'm sorry to spit it out like that. It wasn't my intentions to tell you that way. Your mother told me to take care of you after your father…after Hank passed and to be the father figure that you lacked. It was hard not to tell you and not to be able to hear you call me dad."

"It was too soon. I'm sorry. I just wanted to know how it felt and I kind of like it. Calling you dad. You were always there for me and I didn't appreciate it much. I just want you to know that I love you and I'm glad that you're my dad." Dawn gets a little emotional and begins to cry. Giles quickly hugs her tight and soothes her back to comfort her.

"I love you, too and I'm glad to have you as my daughter."

"Ouch."

"What's wrong?" Giles pulls away.

"It's not you. It's them." Dawn points at her belly. "I think they're fighting. Two more Jedi in the family, just like you."

"And you and their father."

"Give me your hand." Dawn grabs Giles' hand and puts it on her stomach. "You feel that?"

"Yes, it's remarkable how hard they kick."

"Tara's don't kick?"

"Hers is pretty calm. Do they let you sleep?"

"A little. I guess I have to get accustomed to early wake ups and little sleep."

"I'm sure you can handle it. Your mother had you with no anesthetics. She was one tough cookie."

"Were you there with her when I was born?"

"Yes, she broke three of my fingers and she was walking around in less than two days."

"Oh, why did she break your fingers?"

"She grasped my hand the whole time she was pushing you out." Dawn laughs. "I guess you get the hurting the people you care for from your mother."

"I'm sorry."

"No, don't be. Every time you hurt me it reminds me of your mother, as strange as that sounds."

"Did you ever love her?"

"Dawn…I"

"I'm sorry. I just wanted to know. It's too personal. I understand." Dawn gets up and Giles does the same. "I'm kind of tired."

"I'll let you sleep. Goodnight." Dawn hugs Giles.