Chapter 7: Baby Gifts
A/N: I know Andy's death was 6 ½ months after 'The Wedding From Hell' but I already tweaked the timeline to put 'TWFH' in June, so hope you don't mind my futzing with it again.
Challenge: #3064 'conception by conspiracy *non-stargate*' by shelli.
Thanks to my betas: zigpal, AshDawnSoulmates and AerynSpeedleCaine.
Disclaimer: BtVS characters belong to Joss Whedon / Mutant Enemy. House, MD characters belong to David Shore and Fox. I claim no rights to any copyrighted material. Please do not copy or take this story without my permission.
Summers/Giles home
The Monday after Thanksgiving…
Just days before the baby shower was going to take place, Giles got a call from Wes. Apparently there was a dream or prophecy or something that he needed to talk to Giles about. Rather than have Giles leave Buffy, Wes decided to tag along with the Scoobies to the shower.
"Makes me a little nervous to see you two huddled over dusty books again," Buffy teased, only semi-serious in her concern. Remembering that it had been a couple weeks since she talked to the new Slayer, she asked, "How's Chloe doing?"
Wes set the book he was reading aside for the moment to answer, "Better now. Her best friends were finally let in on her secret – as well as her father," he added as almost an afterthought.
"How did they take it?" Giles inquired, remembering the difficulties he had with Buffy's friends and mother. He desperately hoped Chloe's father accepted it better than Joyce.
"Pretty much like Chloe did, although her father is worried about her safety," Wes said, thinking it was rather expected for a parent to have that reaction. Or at least a caring parent; his father would just talk about what an honor it was for his child to be Chosen. Shaking off the bad memories, he smirked at the memory of giving 'the speech' to the small group. "It's rather hard to shock people from Smallville. The only concern her friend, Clark, had was the idea she had to kill her enemies. Apparently, they try to rehabilitate the meteor-infected people that cause problems in Smallville."
Giles got the ridiculous image of rehabilitating demons in his head. Then he shuddered, remembering that the Initiative already attempted that foolish notion – at a terrible cost to themselves and the citizens of Sunnydale. "Does that work?"
"Not often, unfortunately," Wes conceded regretfully. It was really too bad that the meteors seemed to create psychopaths; humans with those extra abilities could prove quite helpful against demons. "Usually the people break out of jail or the mental hospitals they were put in, and vow revenge. However, since they are human beings, there isn't much anyone can do," he reminded the 'retired' Watcher/Slayer team, knowing they'd want to fix the situation somehow.
Pulling herself out of her own memories of the Initiative, Buffy bit her lower lip in concern. "You explained that it's different with demons? Even the vampires?" She wondered if maybe she should go and talk to this Clark guy on Chloe's behalf. Maybe he'd accept the voice of experience if he didn't believe Chloe.
Wes nodded, "Of course. When they fully accept it as the truth… Well, that's another matter entirely. Chloe has accepted it, though," he told them. His Slayer's opinion on the topic was the only one worth worrying about. "At least they aren't interfering or trying to stop her."
"I just hope they don't make her feel guilty for not trying to save the demons or vamps," Buffy commented with a frown. It really wouldn't help the younger girl's will to fight if she felt guilty about the part of the job she shouldn't feel bad about. Losing people, sure…but not killing the baddies.
"She wouldn't let them if they tried; she's quite strong-willed," Wes answered proudly. Then he smirked at Buffy and teased – a first for him, "Perhaps even more than you."
Buffy found she liked this new, mocking Wes. Between losing the Council's stick up his ass and shedding the brooding atmosphere around Angel, the 'junior' Watcher had really turned into a decent guy. Chloe had a good one – something Buffy was very happy for. "Really? Good for her! Well, the books are calling me. If you need help when I'm done studying, I'll do what I can," she offered over her shoulder as she walked out of the room.
"We've got it covered," Giles called after her. "You just concentrate on your schoolwork and your friends. They'll only be here for a few days."
Tuesday night…
It was time for the baby shower…at long last. They would have preferred to do it over the weekend, but since it was a holiday, they couldn't. Detectives Munch, Eames and Goren managed to sneak away from their duties because they worked cases over the weekend. Leo, and his friend, Andy Trudeau, were able to come because they were only an orb away from Leo's duties.
The reason Andy didn't have to worry about his cop duties anymore was because he was dead…technically speaking. When he saved the sisters from Tempus, the time-shifting demon, Andy was given the opportunity to become a whitelighter.
Because his charge was so unique, he would only have one – although Leo could call him in an emergency that didn't involve the Charmed Ones. That was the Elders' only stipulation, and he reluctantly agreed to it. At least they'd have Leo looking out for them, and he promised to keep Andy up to speed on them and Darryl.
As for who his charge was, the Elders used the foreknowledge they got from Buffy's visit to Leo the prior spring to intercede on the child's behalf. Because they claimed the baby as a future whitelighter, she couldn't be a Slayer, or even a Potential Slayer. Or in the case of a boy- well, it was just a precaution to keep the baby out of the hands of the PTB. They'd worry about the child actually becoming a whitelighter after his/her death – which they hoped would be decades away.
When they explained it to the former Slayer, she crossed her arms over her swollen belly and asked with an inscrutable expression on her face, "So you're telling me that you claimed my unborn baby?"
Suddenly regretting his choice of words, Leo stepped back, nodding as he did so, "Umm, yeah?"
He wasn't prepared for Buffy rushing/waddling over and hugging him tightly. "Oh, thankyouthankyouthankyou!" she gushed, kissing him on the cheek, then turning to do the same to Andy.
"You're welcome," Leo murmured, a bit flustered by her reaction.
Andy smiled down at the perky blonde in his arms. "I take it this means you aren't mad about the Elders doing it?"
"Are you kidding?" she asked incredulously, turning to beam at Giles. "My daughter won't have to be a Slayer! Or even have to worry about being a Potential!"
Giles took over the explanation, guessing that the hormonal young lady might begin crying in relief soon – if the brightness in her eyes were any indication, "Worrying about what happens after she dies – many, many, many years in the future – is hardly a concern when you compare it to the very real threat of being the Slayer in less than 20 years."
After she blinked away the tears in her eyes, Buffy requested of her new favorite people in the world, "Next time you see those Elder people, tell them they are okay in my book!"
Once they finished eating dinner, House looked around the room, then leaned over to complain to Buffy, "Don't you know anyone who isn't pretty?"
"She knows you," Wilson answered with a smirk.
"Besides, like you're one to talk. You work with two members from an aging boy-band," Xander quipped, pointing to Wilson and Chase.
Chase took offense; not to the boy-band part, but the aging part. "Hey!"
Foreman and Cameron started snickering at their colleague's distress. It was easy to picture him singing with Justin Timberlake or one of the Backstreet Boys. Oh, this would be prime prank material for months to come.
From the other side of the table, Munch raised an eyebrow and inquired wryly, "Should I be concerned you included me in that pretty remark, doctor?"
Smiling impishly at the older man, Buffy teased, "You have a seasoned, gruff sorta pretty, Munch."
Giles shook his head in despair, standing up to signal an official end to dinner. "Oh dear, I think we'd better get to the presents before this conversation disintegrates much farther," he suggested, moving to lead Joyce to the other room.
Perking up at the idea of presents – even those not being given to her – Anya chirped, "I agree! The sooner we finish, the sooner Xander and I can attempt to get our own child!" She lowered her voice to a stage-whisper and added to her boyfriend, "See, I was very subtle and didn't mention orgasms at all!"
Xander coughed a bit, then said, "Yup, good job Ahn. Umm, Buffster? I made this for Buffy, Junior," he said setting a medium-to-large box down in front of his best friend and House.
"Actually, we've kinda settled on Kendra Marie. Kendra, for- you know…Kendra. She was a friend of ours before she died a couple years ago," Buffy explained to the group who may not already know. "And Marie, for House's grandma."
She lifted off the cloth wrapping to find a beautiful, handcrafted hope chest. Her eyes welled up with tears as she ran her hand across the intricate woodwork, noticing the protection runes carved in it. When she opened the lid, there was an envelope inside.
"The bonds for when the baby is older. I was told they are a good, safe investment," Anya declared proudly.
"Thank you, guys," Buffy said through her choked vocal cords. She'd have to pace herself if she didn't want to be sobbing throughout the whole night.
Andy stepped forward next. "This was passed down in my family, and I'd like you to have it." Inside the box, she found a Christening gown. The other box which Leo handed her was from him and the sisters, and contained crystal 'decorations' with a note that said they promoted health and peace of mind.
Having learned a bit about the mystical realm, Joyce figured those were just new age claims. Still, she wanted to divert attention away from the mystical tonight – especially when so many people there didn't know the truth. "Those are very pretty and would make a lovely mobile, don't you think?"
"I found a wonderful baby pram," Cuddy remarked, handing Buffy a picture of the item, which was out in the mudroom so it wouldn't crowd the living room.
House felt he had to snark at her use of the word pram, "You know they call them strollers here in the States."
Munch handed over a silver rattle, but whispered in Buffy's ear that it was actually bug-detector and scrambler. She shook her head at his paranoia, but thanked him anyway.
"My gift – aside from the toys – is to be your late night medical advisor, Buffy. That way you don't have to deal with House's bedside manner," Wilson offered, smirking at his best friend.
Pretending to be wounded, House sniffed, "Just for that, somebody else gets to be the baby's godfather."
Before they could get into a full snark-off, Wes spoke up, "This is from Chloe and myself."
Buffy opened the jewelry box to find an odd necklace that looked like a cross on one side, a heart with a stake through it inscribed on the back.
"You'll have to explain that to me later," House whispered in her ear. "My turn now. This is a CD of me playing lullaby songs on the piano."
"The ones she's been listening to the past few months? Thank you, Greg!" Buffy declared, leaning over to kiss him tenderly on the lips. Even in the womb, little Kendra loved the sound of her daddy playing on the piano.
Since the doctors seemed to be stuck in a state of shock, Goren stood up and handed her a bag with toddler's cop uniform, complete with a Kevlar vest. Rolling her eyes at his choice of presents, Eames said, "In case you want your daughter to look like a girl instead of a rookie, here's a frilly dress."
The doctors still hadn't blinked since seeing Buffy kiss House, so Giles gave her the next present. "This came from Jack and Allison. Well, technically from Allison and SARAH."
He handed her a keycard (visitor's pass to Eureka) and a baby's needs analyzer, pre-tested, from SARAH. "They're scientists and really smart ones at that," Buffy explained to the confused group. The doctors finally seemed to come out of their stupor.
Willow handed Buffy a basket of lotions and powers that she and her girlfriend formulated for the baby. "Well, mine and Tara's aren't so science-y, but they should help with the baby's needs too."
When she saw House taking samples from each of the containers, Buffy had to ask, "What are you doing, Greg?"
He finished marking them before he answered, "No offense to your friends, but since they aren't FDA-approved lotions and powers, I want to make sure there aren't any harmful ingredients in them. All-natural doesn't always mean harmless."
"That sounds more like the House we know. We got you these clothes, and promise to babysit…within reason," Foreman quickly tacked on, with a knowing glance at his boss. That whole sweet exchange between him and Buffy earlier was freaking him out. They had barely gotten used to the idea of House not being a complete jackass anymore, but sweet?
House tried to look innocent, but failed miserably. Since that didn't work, he picked up one of the out-of-town gifts and opened it. He stared in confusion when he saw a gun cleaning kit that looked like it had been used, as well as a pile of new onesies and blankets.
Smiling down at the kit, Buffy explained without thinking, "Oh, that's from Speed. When I met him, his gun jammed and I had to tackle him before he was shot. It's just his way of saying that Horatio finally got through to him on the importance of gun maintenance."
"He put our child's life in jeopardy?" House growled.
Buffy put her hand on his arm. It was as if he planned to get up and fly down to Miami immediately to pound the guy into the floor. "No, he put his own life in jeopardy. If you're gonna get angry at anyone, it should be me for tackling him. I didn't even get a tiny scratch though, so…" she tried to reassure him.
"And I've already yelled at her for being impetuous," Giles added, figuring that it might make House feel better that she had no plans for repeating such an action.
Before they could get to any of the other presents, Buffy suddenly clutched her abdomen in pain. "Ahhh!" she screamed loudly. Her twisting insides caused her water to break, scaring everyone in the room – especially the doctors, who knew that the baby wasn't due for another six weeks. Six very important weeks.
House looked down and saw pink in the liquids under Buffy. "We need to get her to the hospital now!" he shouted to anyone and everyone. They all raced to clear a path to one of the SUVs. Goren offered to drive while House and Joyce sat in the back with Buffy. Giles was elected to give directions.
As he followed the others out of the house, Wes saw one of the caterers and recognized him, but couldn't remember from where.
A/N: Next…The baby's birth.