Authors Note: Lord i forgot how long this chapter is. Any way this the chapter where William WAKES UP! YAY! So that should be pretty good. it's really angsty through out the whole thing until the end. You'll learn a bit about Cordelia too so that's a plus. Alright here we go. And as always review because i love getting reviews and look i updated sooner.
Chapter Twelve: Clearing the Air
"I hate this," Rory said as she grabbed her bags off the luggage claim.
"I know me too. I mean he couldn't take 10 minutes out of his busy day to pick his two kids up." Hayden said as he helped Rory, "Did he even arrange for a cab?"
"Yeah supposedly, but we'll find out soon enough I guess." Rory said as they walked out.
"Rory Giles?" A man walked over to Rory as she struggled with her bags.
"Yes who are you?"
"I'm Andrew, your father's intern. He asked me to come pick you and brother up."
"Great, well here are my things and that's my brother, Hayden. Can you load it all up or do you need our help?"
"No I can manage."
"Okay," Rory said before she walked over to the car and got in. Hayden helped Andrew load the bags up then got in as well.
Andrew closed the trunk then got in the driver's seat. "Well are we all set?'
"Yeah jeeves," Rory said before she looked back out the window.
Andrew nodded then drove away.
"He didn't tell me when they'd be coming, but I assume it's soon." Cordelia said as she helped Anya with her house chores.
"Yeah he told Xander, but when Xander offered to pick them up Will said he had it covered."
"Yeah he sent Andrew."
"His INTERN!" Anya said as she stared at Cordelia.
"Yep,"
"They're going to be so pissed off. Why didn't you go?"
"They hate me. So Will figured it'd be better if I just stayed away."
"Why do they hate you?"
"William is marrying me, and they wanted him to marry Buffy."
"God I miss Buffy. Oh sorry I guess I can see where they'd be coming from."
"Me too, you know sometimes I…never mind."
"No what?"
"It's not important."
"You can tell me Cordelia."
"Sometimes I think that Will pushed our wedding back all these years because he was waiting for Buffy."
"Thank god I'm not the only one who thinks so."
"I almost called the whole thing off 6 months ago, but he came home and declared that we would be we by the end of the summer. And here we are 2 weeks away, but 12 years too late."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't…Anya I did something."
"What?"
"I hired a private investigator to look into Will's doings. And he found something."
"What?"
"Rory and Hayden aren't Buffy's only kids. She has two more…and they're Will's."
"Oh my god," Anya said as she sat down next to Cordy, "But how could I have not known that?"
"No one does. My investigator found out because he checked out their hospital birth certificates. About four years ago Will went to New York and paid five thousand dollars to have his name placed under father. And after the money and a paternity test the hospital did."
"Oh wow, but when did he do this?"
"Remember how he ended up in New York after he graduated?"
"Yeah,"
"Well it happened then, but he's never met them face to face, which really pisses me off. I mean its one thing to cheat on me, but to completely ignore two babies who didn't do anything to deserve it…that unforgivable."
"Cordelia can I ask you something,"
"Sure,"
"Why aren't you more pissed off about this?"
"About him and Buffy having an affair? Well because I'm having one."
"What?"
"With my private investigator."
"Holy shit Cordy. Then why did you agree to marry Will?"
"I don't know, I guess partly because Doyle and I were ending it. But now…"
"What about now?"
"Now Doyle wants to marry me and I want to marry him too."
"Damn that's screwed up."
"Isn't it always? Listen I have to go I promised Will I'd go to the house to greet them."
"Okay, thanks for stopping by and send my niece and nephew over here. I haven't seen them in 10 years."
"I will bye Anya." Cordelia said before she walked out.
Anya waited till she heard the car pull away before she spoke. "You get all that?"
"Yeah I did." Xander said as he walked out of the shadows.
"I just can't believe she hired a private investigator and she's sleeping with him."
"Rory was right."
"You think she bought it?"
"Yeah I think so."
"Even the 10 years thing?"
"Yeah that was a nice touch by the way."
"So what's Rory going to do with this?" Anya said as Xander handed her the tape out of the recorder.
"She's going to save her mom."
"Thanks Andrew." Hayden said as he helped unload the bags.
"I'm sorry William couldn't make it." Andrew said.
"Oh no it's fine; I've gotten use to it. Rory on the other hand hasn't."
"No, but that's what big brothers are for I guess."
"Actually Rory is 3 minutes older than me."
Andrew looked at Hayden completely amazed. "Really? Wow I wouldn't have thought it."
"No one ever does."
"Are we ready?" Rory asked as she walked around the car.
"I think that's everything. Thank Andrew." Hayden said as he shook the other man's hand.
"Yeah thank Andrew, I'm sorry about earlier."
"You've welcome and it's alright. Take care of yourself." Andrew said before he got in the car and drove off.
"I wonder if Barbie is here." Rory said as she walked up the drive way with her bags.
"I doubt it, her Mercedes isn't here." Hayden said when they made it to the front door.
-Ding Dong-
The door opened and the twins were pulled into a tight hug.
"Oh my dears you're home." The woman said as she hugged them.
"Hello Joyce." They both chimed when they were let go of.
"Now set your things down and let me get a good look at you. Lorne! Lorne come see the darling babies that just walked through the door." Joyce yelled as Lorne appeared from the kitchen.
"Well I'll be damned look at these two. Rory…well aren't you a sight for sore eyes. Come here." Lorne opened his arms as Rory walked into them.
"Hello Lorne." Rory said as she pulled away.
"You're too thin, where is that mother of yours we need to talk."
"Mom didn't come with us."
"Damn shame that, because this wedding is going to be one for the history books!" Rory laughed as Lorne smiled at Hayden.
"My look at you, you're growing up to be a handsome devil."
"Thanks Lorne. It's nice to see you too." Hayden said as he hugged the other man.
"Where are Peyton and Henry?" Lorne asked.
"Shh, you know we're not to know about them." Joyce said as she walked over to Lorne.
"Wait how do you know about our brother and sister?" Rory asked in a whisper.
"Your mother told us." Lorne said.
"When she came two years ago she told us about how she missed her babies terribly and we thought she meant you two, but then she said she had two more and when she told us that they were William's…we knew why they weren't with her."
"That's going to change soon." Rory said.
"What are you talking about?" Joyce asked.
"You'll know soon enough." Hayden said before they grabbed their things and headed to their room.
Cordelia pulled into the driveway and turned off the car. She was nervous as hell. It wasn't the wedding that had her on the edge it was the feeling that something wasn't quite right and it only get worse the second she entered that house. 'Might as well bit the bullet,' she thought as she grabbed her purse and keys then got out of the car.
"I'm home." Cordy said as she walked in the door.
"Miss Chase welcome home." Joyce said as she walked in from the kitchen.
"Are they here?"
"They're in their room. They were asking about their car."
"Oh well I'll go speak with them." Cordelia said as she started walking upstairs.
-Knock-
"Come in." Rory yelled through the door.
"Hey guys." Cordelia said as she walked in.
"Hi Cordelia," Hayden said.
Rory continued writing in her journal not once looking up at the woman.
Hayden nudged her and gave her a look. Rory looked up at Cordelia. "Hi Cordy,"
"Listen there's something I want to say. I know you two don't like me and frankly I don't blame you. But after next Saturday I'll be your step mother. So lets get everything off our chests now."
Rory stood up and cast a glace at Hayden, who knew what was coming. "Where's our car?"
"In the garage, Joyce has the keys."
"Okay…I hate this to be honest with you. My dad is a loser. He gets my mother knocked up and leaves the he decides to marry her old friend. So I don't hate Cordelia…I hate that you're letting him do this." Rory said then grabbed her purse and left the room.
"I…I'm sorry Hayden…let your sister know that, because I really am sorry." Cordelia said before she stood up and left the room.
Rory honked the horn for the third time as she waited for her brother. Hayden rolled his eyes as he smiled at Joyce and walked out to the car. Once he was inside it Rory backed down the driveway then headed towards their uncles.
"Rory…she says sorry." Hayden said.
"I shouldn't have been so mean, but I just…I had to tell her."
"I know Rory."
"Why did he pick up Hayden? Was work more important than us? Are we nothing to him? Am I nothing to him?" Rory asked as she began to cry.
"Rory pull over."
Rory pulled over and Hayden pulled her into a hug. "I have no answers for you sis. Our dad is a dick. We know that. We just have to ignore how he treats us for now. We're here for Peyton and Henry and most of all we're here for mom."
"I know…I'll be better I just got so mad. It really pissed me off."
"I know…so where are we going?"
"Uncle Xander's."
"Fun, are you ready to drive?"
"Yeah I think I can manage." Rory said as she turned the car back on to the road and headed on their way.
"Rory!" Molly yelled as she ran out of the house.
"Molly you're almost 18 and you still run to greet me."
Molly stopped running and began walking. "Shut up Rory." Molly said when she stopped in front of Rory.
"Hey I was just saying."
"Whatever. Wow look at that hair."
Rory touched her long blonder hair. "I know it's so long."
"Wow and here I am with my boring dark brown hair."
"It's still gorgeous. Hey where's Danny?"
"Inside, where's Hayden?"
"In the car, I think he was talking to his girlfriend."
"Oh gossip, come inside we have so much to talk about." Molly said before she led Rory inside.
"Rory," Xander said as he walked to the door to see what the noise was about.
"Uncle Xander." Rory said as she walked into her Uncles open arms.
"Hayden." Xander said as the boy walked in the door and over to join in on the hug.
"It's good to see you Uncle Xander." Hayden said as they all separated.
"Wow you two look…well Rory you look exactly like your mother did at your age. And Hayden…you look exactly like William."
"So what's the story on Cordelia?" Rory asked.
"Well it's interesting that you should ask. Anya!"
Anya appeared from the kitchen and smiled when she saw the twins. "Wow you're here. That's weird Cordelia left her like a half hour ago. Did you two duck out or was there a fight?"
"As always you're right Aunt Anya." Rory said.
"Well come in the living room. We have a lot to talk about." Anya said.
"Well I'm going upstairs; send Rory up when you're done." Molly yelled as they walked away.
They walked into the living room and Rory and Hayden sat together on the couch as Xander and Anya sat on the other couch across from them.
"So there was a fight…what about?" Anya asked.
"Cordelia did…" Rory started.
"Cordelia simply asked us to be honest with her and Rory got very emotional." Hayden said as Rory glared at him.
"I'm sorry, but what was I supposed to do. I don't want her as a step mother. So I told her that it was stupid and that my dad is a loser."
"Rory," Xander said.
"Well he is. First he gets mom knocked up with us and you know mom hides it from him. He finds out the truth about us and he's all Mr. Dad, then he screws mom again and tell her that he regretted it. Then he practically disowns the twins, and if it wasn't for his sudden birth certificate mission, they wouldn't have known about him at all. So he is a loser, because of how he's treated, us, our siblings and most of all our mother."
"You're right Rory." Anya said.
"I know,"
"No Rory you're right." Xander said before he pushed the button down on the stereo.
"They hate me. So Will figured it'd be better if I just stayed away."
"Why do they hate you?"
"William is marrying me, and they wanted him to marry Buffy."
"God I miss Buffy. Oh sorry I guess I can see where they'd be coming from."
"Me too, you know sometimes I…never mind."
"No what?"
"It's not important."
"You can tell me Cordelia."
"Sometimes I think that Will pushed our wedding back all these years because he was waiting for Buffy."
"Thank god I'm not the only one who thinks so."
Xander hit the stop button. "You see Rory."
"She…she feels bad for us."
"Yes, and there's more." Nick said as he hit the button again.
"…And here we are 2 weeks away, but 12 years too late."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't…Anya I did something."
"What?"
"I hired a private investigator to look into Will's doings. And he found something."
"What?"
"Rory and Hayden aren't Buffy's only kids. She has two more…and they're Will's."
"Oh my god," Anya said as she sat down next to Cordy, "But how could I have not known that?"
"No one does. My investigator found out because he checked out their hospital birth certificates. About four years ago Will went to New York and paid five thousand dollars to have his name placed under father. And after the money and a paternity test the hospital did."
Xander hit the stop button again and fast forward really quickly.
"Dad paid five thousand dollars to claim Peyton and Henry. Why?" Rory asked.
"No one knows Rory. But we wish we did." Anya said.
"…he's never met them face to face, which really pisses me off. I mean its one thing to cheat on me, but to completely ignore two babies who didn't do anything to deserve it…that unforgivable."
"Cordelia can I ask you something,"
"Sure,"
"Why aren't you more pissed off about this?"
"About him and Buffy having an affair? Well because I'm having one."
"What?"
"With my private investigator."
"Holy shit Cordy. Then why did you agree to marry Will?"
"I don't know, I guess partly because Doyle and I were ending it. But now…"
"What about now?"
"Now Doyle wants to marry me and I want to marry him too."
Xander hit the stop button as Rory stared at the stereo. "I knew it." Rory said.
"I know honey, but now what are you going to do about it?"
"I'm not sure yet. But I'll know soon enough."
"Hey I'm home." Will said as he walked in the door.
"William welcome home." Joyce said as she walked down the stairs.
"Good Evening Joyce. Are they here?"
Joyce shook her head. "They left a few hours ago to visit with their Aunt and Uncle."
"Oh well that's good. Is Cordelia here?"
"Yes she's in your room."
"Thanks Joyce." Will said before he walked upstairs.
Joyce was a woman that Will had met 10 years ago when he was just starting to get to know the twins. So he asked her if she'd like to be his children's nanny and after meeting them she never left. Joyce is one of Will's favorite people because she was like a mother to him when he needed one the most. He's very grateful to her for that.
"Cordelia," Will said as he opened the door.
"Oh hey Will." Cordy said as she walked out of the closet.
"What's up?" Will said as he looked at her.
"Nothing I'm just getting ready to leave."
"Oh, where are you going?"
"Out," Cordelia said as she slipped on her shoes.
"You've been going out a lot this week."
"Yeah well with the wedding so close there's still a lot to do so I've been going out and doing those things for it."
"Oh, well I thought since the kids just got here we'd all have dinner together."
"Oh sorry honey, but I already made plans maybe tomorrow." Cordelia said as she grabbed her coat and purse. "Cheer up. Its not as bad as what comes later." Cordelia leaned down and kissed Will's cheek. "Bye."
"Bye love." Will said as she left.
"Okay we're going home." Hayden said as he led Rory to the door.
"Okay then drive safe and we'll see you tomorrow." Anya said as they all hugged.
"Bye guys." Hayden said as they opened the door and walked outside.
"So we're really going home?" Rory asked as she got in the passenger seat.
"Yeah Rory we're really going home."
"You think he'll ask about them?"
"He never has before. Why should he start now?"
"You're right…I
just wish he would."
"Me too, you know one of us should write
a screenplay about our lives and turn it into a movie. We'd be
rich."
Rory laughed. "I'll write the screenplay if you direct it."
"Deal,"
"You're back." Joyce said as the twins walked in.
"Hey Joyce, is dinner ready?" Rory asked.
"Yeah, and your father is home."
"Great,"
"Lorelia, Hayden," William said as he walked in, "Give your old man a hug."
"No thanks." Rory said as she walked into the dinning room.
"We'll pass." Hayden said as he followed her.
"What was that all about?" William asked Joyce.
"Don't ask me William they're your children and I mean they're your children."
William nodded and walked into the dinning room and sat at the head of the table. "So how was the flight?"
"Ask Andrew." Rory said.
"Lorelia I'm sorry I couldn't pick you up. I was very busy."
"Then you should have let Uncle Xander pick us up."
"I didn't want to burden him."
"We're not a burden dad. And plus he offered to, but you said you had it covered."
"I did, I sent Andrew."
"Are you numb?" Hayden spoke up for the first time since William had sat down.
Joyce walked in and placed the plates of spaghetti down before Nathan could answer Hayden. Joyce could feel the tension so as soon as she was done she excused herself from the room.
"Son, I am not numb I just didn't want your uncle to have to give up his day so I simply asked Andrew. And as for you, Lorelia, you need to watch your tone. I'm still your father."
"Wow that's a laugh riot."
"Young lady,"
"Don't you dare young lady me, you may be my father and I do have to show you some respect, but I'm have a problem doing that when you're being a jerk."
"Lorelia Lily Summers, you stop this rude behavior this instant."
"Fine I will…when you meet Peyton and Henry."
William looked at Rory as if she'd called him an asshole. "You know better than to say their names in this house."
"Why? Because you couldn't keep it in your pants. Because if that's the case then no I don't know better. All I know is that I have a little brother and sister who have to live their lives knowing that their dad doesn't want to meet them. I hate how you're treating them. You don't even know them dad. They're two wonderful kids. They're so smart and so talented, but you wouldn't know that. I mean do you even know how old they are" Rory's question was met with silence. "I didn't think so. You don't know your kids William. I'm going to bed." Rory rose from her chair.
"Lorelia,"
"My name is Rory. Grandma and Grandpa Summers are the only ones who call me Lorelia." Rory said before she walked out.
"She is so infuriating just like Buffy." Will said.
"No dad, mom only pisses you off because she didn't do as you asked. You really are a heartless selfish bastard. Rory use to idolize you. That was until the day she realized what you were doing to the twins. And it only got worse when she found out how broken mom was. I'm starting to really hate who you are dad. I really don't want to be like you anymore." Hayden said before he rose from his chair and left the room.
William sat at the table for twenty minutes before Joyce came in. "What have I done Joyce?"
Joyce took a seat next to William and took his hand. "William when I met those two babies I knew they loved their father. They put you on a pedestal that no one could ever humanly achieve. But something happened. And forgive me, but you made a mistake. You slept with their mother and broke her heat. You turned you back on a woman who loved you so completely for a woman who didn't even want you to see your kids alone. And when your night with her ended with an unwanted pregnancy, you told her that you didn't care. Yes William, I know all about this. Now an older brother and sister are looking out for their siblings. They only want you to admit that they're yours and take some responsibility. They want you to love them and apologize to their mother. That's where you went wrong William."
"Oh Joyce, I know what I did was wrong, but I did what I felt was right. Maybe you're right maybe I did choose the wrong girl. But how do I make things right again?"
"Oh dear that is for you alone to figure out."
"But how?"
"Talk to your kids. Rory may hate you right now, but when it comes to her siblings she's willing to talk."
"Joyce, how did you find out?"
"Buffy…when she was here a couple of years ago she accidentally let it slip."
"Does Cordelia know?"
"No, but that may not last."
"I know, I'll go talk to Rory. Thank you Joyce."
"It's no problem William. I'm always here for you."
"I know and I thank you for that."
"I just want him to meet them." Rory said as she laid on her bed.
"I know Rory, but there's something I've been thinking about lately."
"What?"
"I'm starting to think that maybe Peyton and Henry don't want to meet dad."
"Why?"
"Because they're fine with only having mom."
"Because that's all they've ever been offered."
"True, but they see our fights with dad and the pain we are put through and they don't want that. I mean have we ever asked them what they want."
"Well no, but…"
"No Rory. We need to ask them what they want."
"Hayden…"
-Knock-
"Whose there?" Rory asked.
"It's your father…Can I come in?"
Rory shook her head as Hayden crossed the room to the door.
"Come in." Hayden said when he opened the door.
William walked in and pulled a chair up to Rory's bed. "Listen we need to talk."
"I'll say."
"Lore…Rory I understand that you're hurt, really I do. But this is bigger than the fact that you're hurt."
"What do you mean Dad?"
"Twelve years ago I made a choice. I chose to throw caution to the wind and sleep with your mother. However I wasn't prepared for what happened after. You two know that your mother is a sleep talker right?"
"Yeah of course we do." Rory said.
"Well after we slept together we fell asleep. But I wasn't totally asleep. My mind was racing and that's when I overheard your mother. She was dreaming about the perfect family…and all of the things that she wanted to say to me. I freaked out, I never thought about what my actions would do to her. I wasn't ready to make that leap with Buffy. Especially since things with Cordelia were so up in the air. So I left. I wrote Buffy that awful not and I left. But when she called to tell me that she was pregnant, I panicked. I wasn't ready to accept Buffy and I knew that she'd ask me to leave my life and my job for her. I was still such a child. I was 27, and Buffy was only 23. I felt horrible…So I decided that she didn't need me."
"Then why the birth certificate stuff?"
"Same reason I had yours changed. You're all my children whether I've met you or not."
"Then why won't you at least meet them?"
"I'm scared of rejection."
"By Peyton and Henry?"
"Them…and your mother."
"Dad…no offence but you rejected mom first. I think she'd have to be crazy to welcome you back."
"No I mean…your mother rejecting me as their father."
"Oh…dad she wouldn't do that."
"She wouldn't?"
"No…dad she wants you in their life just as much as we do. She wants them to be able to come here and visit with you whenever they want. Most of all she wants you to meet the second greatest mistake in her life."
"She wants all of that?"
"Yeah she really does dad."
"Well…what about Cordelia?"
"Well you know you could always just tell her."
"She'll leave me!"
"Dad I'm going to ask you something and you have to be honest with me."
"Okay."
"Are you happy? Is Cordelia really the person for you?"
William sat back as he thought about Rory's question. "No."
"No what?"
"No I'm not happy, and a lot of it has to do with Cordelia."
"Then why are you still with her?"
"Because…Because…honestly I'm not so sure anymore."
"Dad I understand that if at the time you loved her when you proposed, but things change dad. People change. Hell we watched mom grow up."
"You're right. But I don't want to hurt Cordelia."
"Dad you have to do what's right for you."
"I know…I think I'm going to go to bed." William stood up and walked to over to Rory.
"Can I get that hug I ignored earlier dad?"
"Sure." William said as he pulled Rory to him.
"I'm so sorry Daddy."
"No baby I deserved it. I've been so horrible to you and Hayden. But that's going to change now. You have my undivided attention."
"Good, I love you daddy."
"I love you too." William said as he kissed Rory's head.
Rory pulled away from her father as Hayden walked over to them.
"Son…I'm very sorry."
Hayden wrapped his arms around his father. "Thank you dad."
"For what?"
"Waking up."
William felt tears in the corner of his eyes as he held Hayden. "You're welcome son…you're very welcome."
-Ring-
"Peyton will you answer that?" Buffy yelled from the kitchen.
-Ring-
"Got it!" Peyton yelled as she ran to the phone. "Hello…oh hey Rory….No we're just…what…oh yeah she's in the kitchen…okay hold on." Peyton set the phone down and ran to the kitchen. "Mom Rory's on the phone."
"Okay I'll get it in a second."
"Okay." Peyton ran back to the phone. "Mom will be on in a second…no just cleaning my room…No I didn't….whatever here's mom." Peyton handed the phone to Buffy then ran back upstairs.
"Hi baby how was the flight?"
"Fine…fought with dad."
"Already, Cant you two every get along."
"We can now."
"What happened?"
"Dad wants to meet Peyton and Henry."
"What?"
"Yeah he wants to meet them mom. So he's scheduled a flight for them tomorrow."
"Well that's wonderful but they can't fly alone Rory."
"Duh mom that's why you're coming with them."
"No Rory,"
"Come on mom Please."
"Rory,"
"Mom…"
"Fine what time?"
"Tomorrow at noon,"
"Okay I'll see you tomorrow."
"Yea I love you mom."
"Yeah, yeah, I love you too. Be good."
"Bye momma."
Buffy hung up and walked up to Henry's room. "Sweetie pack a bag."
Henry paused his video game and looked at Buffy. "Why are we going somewhere?"
"Yeah we're going to LA."
"But that's where…"
"I know."
"We're meeting him aren't we?" Peyton asked from behind Buffy.
"Yeah you are." Buffy said as she walked out of the room.