Chapter 13. Give Me This Dance.
Suddenly they hear the doctor start talking to Buffy's parents. They all then listen attentively.
"We've run all the tests necessary and we think that your daughter can go home with you today," says the doctor. "All you have to do is sign some papers here."
"Sure," replies Joyce. "I'll do that. It was nice meeting you…Willow, is it?" Willow nods her head and smiles.
"Yes, it was nice to meet you, too," replies Willow. "I hope Buffy gets better." Joyce gives her a warm smile.
"Honey, why don't you go and give Buffy her bag, so she can change?" Giles enters Buffy's room as the doctor and Joyce walk down the hall. Willow walks over to the exit to wait for Xander.
Riley, Tara, and Xander come out and meet up with Willow and then they all walk over to Dawn. She turns around and notices Riley holding a blonde girl's hand.
"I think this is our chance," says Riley.
"Chance for what?" asks Dawn.
"To get Buffy out of here." Dawn looks at her brother. "Dawn, watch for mom and I'll handle dad." Dawn nods her head and stands watch outside the room. Riley and Tara enter the room as Giles sits down next to Buffy. Buffy then begins to wake up and sees Riley and Tara. Giles then turns around.
"Riley, I didn't know you were here," says Giles.
"Hey, dad, this is my girlfriend Tara," says Riley.
"Oh, you have a girlfriend? I guess you and Buffy have been busy." Giles stands up and greets Tara, with a warm smile.
"Why don't we go and have breakfast and you can get to know her?"
"Riley, are you trying to get me out of this room?"
"Why would I do that?" Giles looks at his son in the eye. He then turns to Buffy. "Sweetheart, if you want to go and dance, you have my blessing." He kisses her on the forehead and Buffy hugs him.
"Thanks, daddy," says Buffy.
"Here are your things. Hurry before your mother gets back."
"Tara, why don't you help her," says Riley. Tara nods and quickly is at Buffy's side to help her off the bed and then led her to the bathroom. "Dad, can I talk to you outside?" Giles and Riley head out of the room. "Buffy's really happy dancing. I mean from what I've seen, she's a different person. She works hard at it and she's good at it."
"I understand that." Riley signals for Xander to come over with Willow. Giles sees him.
"Good luck," says Willow as she passes him and enters the room to help Tara with Buffy. "I'm sorry for my wife's rude behavior," says Giles.
"It's alright," says Xander. "I know she means well." Xander looks down from a distance, he sees Joyce walking down the hallway. "And she's coming this way." Giles pushes both Riley and Xander into the room and they close the door. Giles then turns around and gives a smile to his wife as she approaches.
"Is she awake?" asks Joyce.
"Um, no," replies Giles. "The doctor is checking on her." Giles keeps him from walking forward and Joyce looks at him.
Meanwhile, inside, Buffy comes out of the bathroom all dressed. She sees Xander and Riley and then hugs Xander.
"We gotta get out of here," says Riley. "Dad's stalling mom. She's outside."
"Window," says Buffy as she walks over to it.
"Are you crazy?" says Xander. "You could hurt yourself."
"We're on the first floor."
"Right, I forgot." They all head for the window. Tara and Willow exit first and then Xander. Riley then helps Buffy out and Xander and Tara pull her from the outside. Willow is out making sure no one sees them. "Thanks, Riley."
"Take care of her," says Riley.
"Will do," replies Xander as the three run across the hospital yard and over to the parking lot.
Back outside the door, Joyce is still trying to get through the door, but Giles keeps getting in her way.
"Honey, if I didn't know any better, I would say you are trying to keep me from entering my daughter's room," says Joyce.
"Me, no," replies Giles. Joyce then sees Buffy's doctor down the hall and she looks at Giles.
"Move out of my way." Joyce pushes Giles and enters the room. She only sees Riley and an open window. "Where is Buffy?" Riley shrugs. Joyce folds her arms over her chest and glares at Riley. "Riley Finn Giles, you tell me where Buffy is or so help me God, I'll put you over my knee and spank you."
Xander and Buffy finally make it to the dance competition. Cordelia is waiting for them and quickly gets them into their costumes.
"You guys sure like to cut it close," says Cordy.
"Sorry," says Buffy as she pulls her dress up.
"Buffy, are you sure you're up to it?" asks Xander. Buffy looks at Xander, with a warm smile.
"Of course," replies Buffy as she kisses him on the lips and ties her hair up with a pink ribbon. "Let's go."
"Okay, you guys," says Cordy as the two run down the aisle that leads them to the dance floor. "Good luck."
"Come on, let's go find our seats," says Willow. Cordy and Tara follow Willow.
On the dance floor, the announcer is announcing the pair of dancers, who have made it to the semi-finals. Buffy and Xander are near the floor waiting for their names to be called.
"I talked to the doctor before," says Xander.
"Really?" says Buffy. "About what?"
"Just asked him if it was okay for you to do this." Buffy looks at him. "I was worried. I didn't want you to do it because of me if you weren't able to do it."
"I want to do it for you and I want to do it for me." Xander squeezes her hand tightly.
"Alexander Harris and Buffy Summers Giles," calls the announcer. The two walk onto the dance floor and from the crowd Cordy, Willow, Tara, Oz, and little Alyson watch and cheer for them.
Back on the dance floor, as Buffy and Xander are doing their rounds around the dance floor, Xander continues his conversation with Buffy.
"The doctor said that you could be up to dancing at dance competition."
"That must have been a relief for you." Buffy smiles for the people.
"A relief was really that you didn't faint because you were overworked."
"What do you mean?"
"It's because you're pregnant." Buffy's eyes widen and she looks at him in shock.
"What?"
"It's a good thing that people started to cheer when you said that."
"Why didn't he tell me?"
"Guess he thought I would and he was going to tell your parents."
"They know?"
"No, I told him that you should be the one to tell them."
"Oh." The two then walk off of the dance floor. "I can't believe this is happening." Buffy touches her belly. "My parents are going to kill me. I'm not going to make it to the finals."
"Calm down. Yes, you will. I'll be there with you when you tell them."
"Why did the doctor tell you? You're not family."
"Um, he thought I was your brother."
Meanwhile at the hospital, Riley gives in and tells his mom where Buffy is. She looks at Riley and then Giles, then at Dawn. Joyce grabs Giles' keys and heads out the door. The three follow her.
They drove to where the dance competition is being held. Joyce is driving and didn't say a word to her children or her husband. She parked quickly and they all rushed over to the ticket booth. Joyce looks at Giles and he willingly pulls out money to pay for the tickets.
As they enter the building, they hear the ending of a song and then a big applause. They search for their seats and sit down. Then the announcer calls Xander and Buffy's name. They are next to dance.
On the dance floor, Buffy and Xander walk towards the middle of the floor and look at each other. Xander gives her one of his signature grins and Buffy smiles back at him as he holds both her hands.
"Everything is going to be fine," says Xander. "Just relax."