Disclaimer:

Charmed is the property of Aaron Spelling, Constance M Burge, and the WB; Buffy, the Vampire Slayer is the property of Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. Godzilla is the creation of Inoshiro Honda and Eiji Tsurubaya and Toho Pictures.

Summary:

AU Crossover between the Charmed, Buffy, and Godzilla universes. While the witches and white lighters make the preparations for the Underworld's Godzilla celebration, Willow has some problems at home.

Author's Note:

I had originally not planned to put the Turner family in this story. However, Ben and Buffy nagged me so badly about putting them in, that I gave in just to shut them up.

Please feed the author.

Chapter Three: Mother Vs Son

Part One

"But, Mom! Willow cringed as she heard Ben's voice for what seemed to be the hundredth time that day. She stiffened, the frustration building within her. What happened to the darling little boy she used to have? When did he get to be so stubborn and willful? She looked up from packing to see Ben glaring at her from the doorway of their bedroom with his little hands on his hips, his eyes flashing. It was enough to make her laugh. However, she was rapidly running out of patience with Ben.

"Benjamin Cole Turner!" She snapped in anger. She felt the power surging within her. She froze and took a deep breath. She never wanted to be even slightly tempted to use her magicks against her children. It frightened her that she might even be capable of that. "Ben. My decision is final. I do not want my children playing with demons. End of story."

Ben bristled in frustration, and even a little anger. She had to listen to him. She had to! "Mom! I'm a demon!"

His mother closed her eyes and sighed. "You are only a quarter demon. Your father is only half demon. You are not going. We are not going."

"Momma, please. I mean, you've been all bad and dark and stuff. I've seen you! It's not fair! I want to go! I want to watch Godzilla! It'll be cool!" He pleaded. He grabbed at his mother's hand. He heard his mother gasp in shock at his words, and he knew he had gone too far.

Willow stumbled back at his words. She hated the fact that her son had actually seen her dark. And, now he was using that as a reason why she should expose him and his sister to such evils. She had fought demons for so long. She didn't want to think of them in any positive way. And she sure as hell didn't want her children to have any fuzzy feelings for them.

"Momma, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it! I didn't! I just want--"

"I know what you want, Ben, but we don't always get what we want. And, you're just going to have to be disappointed. Now, why don't you go see Grandpa? It must be time for your lesson."

"But--" Ben started and froze at his mother's look. She glared at him and pointed him to the door. It was no good. There was no changing her mind. Maybe Daddy could help. Or even Grandpa. If he could convince Grandpa, he was sure that Grandpa would be able to talk to Momma. He nodded quietly and left his parent's bedroom.

Willow sat heavily down on the bed and held her face in her hands. Oh, dear Goddess. He's only five, what am I going to do when he's a teenager? She shuddered at the thought. She took a few ragged breaths and laid back on the bed, praying for strength. Maybe, I shouldn't have had children. No one told me it would be like this. She giggled at the thought. Sure they did, they all warned me that raising partially demonic children would be full of problems. But, now it doesn't seem that the powers or the magicks are the problem. It's his personality.

Part Two

Giles looked up to see Ben shuffling into his study. The boy was definitely in a mood. He was slouching and was dragging his feet as he came into the room. Looking into his eyes, he saw that his grandson was in a very surly mood. He chuckled. It reminded him very much of the look he would see in Buffy's eyes. Oh, yes. He was very familiar with this mood.

"Grandpa!" He looked up again to see Ben's eyes flashing dangerously. He could see the cool blue eyes flashing with fire. Hmmm. The demon within, no doubt. Giles always knew he had to be careful when it came to this facet of Ben's nature.

"Sorry, Ben. I wasn't really laughing at you. I was thinking about how you remind me of your Aunt Buffy sometimes."

Ben wrinkled his forehead as he thought about this. Well, that wasn't so bad. But, how he reminded Grandpa of Aunt Buffy was really a mystery. Now, if he'd said he reminded him of Dad, that wouldn't be so bad. He started giggling. "Grandpa, don't be silly."

Giles laughed along with Ben. "Sorry, Ben. So, why are you so cheesed off?"

Ben wrinkled his face at his grandfather. He must be talking British again, it was so difficult to understand. "I haven't had any cheese today, Grandpa. What are you talking about?"

Giles sighed in defeat. Of course, he wouldn't understand. The boy was being raised as an American. And, of course, Willow was an American. Cole, too, he supposed. "Cheesed off is a British phrase, Ben. It means you are angry or upset about something. I think your mother would use the phrase 'pissed off'. Now why don't you sit down and tell me what's going on? Or should we go to straight to the reading lesson? Did you look at that book I gave you?"

Ben climbed up on the chair across from his grandfather and shrugged. "I guess so. Can we talk instead? I'm really... well, cheesed off at Mom."

"Indeed. I can see that. But why?" Giles asked, smiling at his grandson.

"She won't let us go to the Godzilla party." Ben spat out angrily.

"Ben, Ben, anger won't help. Not at all. Nothing good ever came out of anger. Anger is probably one of the reasons she doesn't want you to go."

He wrinkled his nose at his grandfather. That didn't make any sense at all. "No, Grandpa, that's not it. She doesn't want us around demons. Which is silly, we're demons! Well, you and mom aren't, but me, Buffy, and Daddy are."

"Well, yes, there is that. But, what I mean about anger is that demons listen to their anger, they respond to it, they act on it. Ask your father about that. However, you and your sister, and your father, aren't just demons. You're also human. Your mom doesn't want you to learn the wrong type of things from the other demons. They're being raised to do evil, to want to kill, to want to hurt. Your mom wants better things from you and your sister. She's just worried and a little bit afraid, Ben, that's all. She's not trying to keep anything from you." Giles paused to look at the reaction in Ben's face. The boy was looking very pensive. He was like that, Giles reflected. He was like his father, a planner.

"Well, I guess so. I still want to go, Grandpa. I promise I won't be evil. If you guys are with us, it'll be okay. Anyway, what about Daddy?"

Giles frowned. What about Cole? He certainly wouldn't be any help with Willow. He always sided with her, even if he disagreed with the decision. The only time he put his foot down was when he believed the children's or Willow's safety was at stake. "What about Daddy, Ben?"

"He'll get to go, won't he? Even if we don't?" Giles fell back in his chair as he felt Ben's blue eyes on him. He sighed in resignation, knowing that there was no way around it. He would just have to tell Ben the truth.

"Yes, Ben, he probably will. He'll have to make sure the witches and the demons don't get into any trouble."

"But..." He began, and then hung his head and growled. He jumped at the sound. He looked up at his grandfather, and smiled weakly. "Sorry, Grandpa."

Giles chuckled. He knew that Ben could never truly be bad. The potential, he supposed, was there. However, he really didn't believe it could ever really happen. "Don't worry, Ben. It's part of you, you needn't apologize for it."

Ben smiled and nodded. He knew Grandpa had fought evil things all his life. Vampires, demons, and other terrible things. He wondered why Grandpa didn't mind that he and Buffy and Daddy were demons. Shouldn't he hate anything that was even part demon? He was just happy that Grandpa loved them anyway.

"Ben?" He looked up when Grandpa started talking to him.

"Yeah, Grandpa? Did you want me to get my book?"

"No, Ben, I was just thinking. If you want something bad enough, you should try and get it. Have you done everything?"

Ben looked at his grandfather suspiciously. He was acting like he was on his side. He didn't get it. He should be telling him not to go. Instead, he seemed to be trying to help. He frowned.

Giles laughed, a loud, boisterous laugh. "Ben, Ben. I don't automatically always side with your mother. I try to make the right decision for the situation. Your mother is reacting from fear and worry. I, however, am looking at this objectively, I hope."

"Ob- what?"

"Objectively. That means I haven't decided if you should or shouldn't go. Like a judge who is deciding if someone is guilty or innocent. He's not allowed to be on one side or the other. He decides once he hears both sides of the argument. Now, I know your mother's side. What you need to do is try and convince me why you should go. Understand?"

Ben's eyes grew wide at the words. The anger and frustration he'd been feeling all day just melted out of his heart, replaced by hope and gratitude. He began to open his mouth to try and convince Grandpa, when he placed a hand up.

"No. Not now, Ben. I'll give you thirty minutes to prepare your case. Just like your dad prepares a case for a judge, right?"

Ben nodded happily, grabbing some paper and a pencil. He was still learning to write, but he felt he needed to put some of his case on paper. If he couldn't write the words, he could always draw pictures of his reasons.

Part Three

Cole shimmered into his bedroom to find his wife asleep on the bed. She looked drained, exhausted. On the other side of the bed, a case was half packed. She had decided to take Giles and the children to Toronto until this Godzilla thing was finished. It wasn't what Cole really wanted, but he understood and he would stand by her decision. He knelt next to her and smoothed the hair out of her face. He leaned down and kissed her tenderly on the temple. He didn't want to wake her.

He stood back up and walked quietly to the door. He'd just reached down for the handle when he heard her. "Cole?"

He turned back to her and smiled warmly. "Darling, I didn't mean to wake you. I was just going to check on the children."

Willow blinked wearily and sat up against the headboard of her bed. She shuddered at the mention of children. She really didn't want to deal with Ben again. Why couldn't he just listen to her?

Cole frowned as he looked at Willow. "Will? What's going on? Are you upset with the kids? Did they do something?"

"Oh, Cole. What happened?"

Cole blinked in confusion. How would he know? He walked over to her and sat beside her on the bed. Gathering her up in his arms, he pulled her back so that her head was resting against his shoulder. "Baby, won't you tell me what you mean? Why are you so upset?"

She closed her eyes, inhaling through her nose to relax herself. "It's Ben. We've been fighting all day. What happened to my darling little man? He used to be so happy and willing to please. Now, he's all demands and anger."

He crooned to her as she started to weep. He suppressed a chuckle. Ben had obviously been a handful today. He'd fought with his mother. He imagined Willow had been a handful too. Still, she was upset. "Willow, darling. You don't want him to be a mama's boy, do you? Or a daddy's boy, for that matter. We want him to be a strong, independent human being. Right?"

He paused to look into her eyes as she turned her head to look at him. Her big green eyes were rimmed with tears, but now they were also full of something else. Understanding. Sorrow. Even a little guilt.

Cole reached under her chin and lifted her head. He bowed down and kissed her gently. "Honey, there's nothing to feel guilty about. Nothing. This is just another day in our life as parents. I'm sure there'll be much worse days. I dread the day my daughter discovers boys." He shuddered at the thought.

He smiled as he heard Willow giggle. He could feel the tension slipping from her body as she giggled. He laughed too, happy that Willow was happy.

"Daddy?" Cole looked up to see Buffy in the doorway. He smiled at her. Her riot of red curls was pulled up in a top knot and wrapped with a shiny gold ribbon.

"Yes, baby? What is it?"

"Grandpa wants you guys in his room. He wants to have a... a... earing, I think he said."

"An earring?" Willow repeated. "That's ridiculous. He wouldn't wear an earring."

"No, mama. He said earing. He's going to judge something."

Cole shook his head in disbelief. "You mean a hearing, baby?"

She nodded her head happily. She rushed forward and grabbed her parents' hands. "C'mon, c'mon. Grandpa and Benny are waiting!"

Cole and Willow had started to get up and go with her when suddenly a strange sound was heard from outside. It was the sound of some kind of animal calling out. It was a strange noise that Willow had never heard before. She grabbed Buffy to her and looked to Cole. Cole, for his part, had a strange expression on his face. He was disturbed or frightened at all. But, the truth was, Cole was rarely frightened. His expression, this time, was one of nostalgia and anticipation.

"Don't worry, he's still out in the Bay. That was the sound of Godzilla."

Part Four

They found Giles sitting behind his desk. Ben was in a chair pulled over to one side of the room. There was another chair on the opposite side of the room. There were other chairs, too, but they were on the side of the room behind a small desk. Cole surveyed the room critically. It had been set up just like a courtroom. And it looked like Giles had set himself as judge. Ben, obviously, was one of the plaintiffs. He and Willow were presumably the other plaintiff. What, however, was the judgment deciding?

"So, Giles. Have we been subpoenaed and I just don't remember it?" Cole asked pleasantly.

"Not at all. This is a judgment considering the decision on whether or not the children should be allowed to attend the GodzillaFest celebrations..."

"NO! I SAID NO AND I MEAN NO!" Willow erupted, making Cole jump.

"See, Grandpa?" They heard Ben call out from his seat. Cole looked at his son and suppressed a laugh. He was rolling his eyes at his mother, and he was obviously very pissed off. What surprised Cole though, was how evident the demon was. It actually disturbed him a little. "I told you Mom was being--"

"Ben." Giles interrupted sternly. "You will have a chance to present your argument. Right now, you will respect the judge's chair. I don't want to have to charge you with contempt of court. Understand? I won't give you another warning."

Cole nearly choked as he watched his son shrink back in his chair at Giles' stern words. A few minutes before, he could actually see the demon within Ben struggling to emerge. More and more, his son's demonic heritage sprung forth. Even Willow had commented on it. Yet, a few words from his grandfather and the demon sank back down. "Yes, Gran-- your honor. I understand."

Willow was at a loss for words. In the Goddess' name, what was going on? This wasn't a democracy after all. It's a family! A family's more of a monarchy, damn it! "Giles! What the hell is--"

"Willow. Willow. Please calm down. Yelling and cursing at me is not helping matters. Now, take a deep breath and have a seat." Giles glared at Willow and pointed her towards the lone chair in the opposite corner of the room from her son. "Now, Cole, as you will be an expert witness, you may sit next to the bailiff."

Cole eyes looked to where Giles was now pointing. Bailiff?Giles was pointing to the two chairs in the corner of the room. On one of the chairs, Buffy was sitting happily with a book on her lap. She waved at him and patted the chair next to her. Obviously, that was where he was meant to sit. He sighed and strolled over and sat down. Smiling down at his daughter, he nodded towards Giles. "So, baby, what--"

"Shush, Daddy! You go to court all the time. You should know the rules." She glared at him, then blushed as she looked at her grandfather. "I'm sorry, your honor."

"Very well, bailiff." Giles nodded at Buffy. "Well, let's get started. Okay?"

Buffy jumped off her chair and walked to the center of the room. She came to a stop in front of Giles' desk. She cleared her throat and looked at Willow and Ben. "Ten-shun! I now call this... um..."

She looked at her grandfather for help. She really didn't know what it was. Grandpa looked at her and smiled. "A hearing, Buffy."

"Right. I call this hearing to begin. The honorable Grandpa Giles is judging." Buffy paused and glared when Cole chuckled. He paled and shrunk back in his seat. She was just so serious. Like this was an actual courtroom. As a matter of fact, she'd probably be more intimidating than most bailiffs he was acquainted with. She reached into a large bag on the floor underneath the desk and pulled out a small American flag. "Okay, all rise to say the pledge of legions."

Giles and Ben rose immediately, placing their hands on their hearts. Willow and Cole exchanged a look of disbelief. Cole was quite amused by the whole circumstance; however, it was getting to be a bit much for Willow. She leapt to her feet in outrage. "Now, hold everything! This is completely ridiculous and I am not going to put up with it anymore. I--"

"Quiet!" Cole gasped and Willow collapsed backwards into her chair in shock. The voice that silenced them hadn't been Giles, as Cole had expected. It had been Buffy. Happy little Buffy. Cole shook his head involuntarily, trying in vain to dispel this bizarre alternate universe he'd stumbled into. "Mommy, if you don't behave, we'll have to... um... um... make you behave. We'll have to tie you up or gag you."

Thus silenced, Willow collapsed in defeat. This whole day was quite a trial. She just couldn't believe what had happened to her children. Why were they acting this way? Maybe, just maybe, it was a bad dream and she would wake up soon. She could only hope.

"Well, now that we've got your attention, shall we continue?" Giles asked pleasantly, with a chuckle in his voice.