A/N: Guys, seriously? I know I'm sounding like a broken record here, but...I absolutely cannot believe the amount of feedback I'm getting! You guys are so, so, so, so, so freaking awesome and amazing and nice and sweet and utterly fantastic ego-boosters. No lie, if y'all aren't careful my head won't be able to fit through the door.

I'm just kidding...sort of...

Okay! Moving on. This is part 2 of 3 in the episode of Tabula Rasa! I tried to make it two parts, but it just got too damn long. This chapter is something that I think you've all been waiting for...the Scoobies' reactions!

And I just got to say that Angel will absolutely melt your heart this chapter. One of his lines in this chapter is probably my favorite that I've ever given him. Trust me, you'll know it when you read it. :)

So...let's get to it!

Random Disclaimer: (I don't own Buffy).

Me: So, are y'all nervous?

Buffy: Who, me? Nah.

Angel: Not at all.

Me: (raises eyebrows) Really? You're ready to explain to everyone that you are impossibly pregnant? I think you guys are in denial.

uffy: Come on, they're my friends!

Gunn: Yeah, so are we.

Wes: And we were still shocked.

Fred: (grins happily) I wasn't!

Cordy: Of course not.

Giles: (tiredly) I really think we need to just skip to the actual chapter. That way, we can all find out how we react.

(beat of silence)

Buffy: Giles, that's a good idea.

Giles: It's been known to happen on occassion.

Angel: But we just want to clarify...we're not in denial.

Buffy: (laughs nervously) No, no, no! Absolutely not! I mean, what's there to be nervous about?

Tabula Rasa Part Two

Buffy and Angel walked back into Caritas and were immediately swarmed when they reached the bar.

"How's the little munchkin?"

"What was it like?"

"Was there more magic?"

"Was the doctor hot?"

"Guys," Angel snapped, looking around pointedly at the demons in the bar. "Keep it down, will you?"

The A.I. crew looked properly chastened. "Yes, um, perhaps this conversation could be held somewhere more secure," Wesley said in a low voice, glancing around cautiously.

They all nodded in agreement and Angel led the way out, keeping Buffy's hand in his as he walked slightly in front of her. Buffy noticed but didn't say anything. She figured she better just get used to it. The fact that Angel was so protective only made her heart swell with love and awe. His protectiveness only cemented how much she knew he loved their child already.

They all drove back to the Hyperion and after a detailed explanation of the doctor's appointment; Buffy and Angel had packed for a weekend in Sunnydale. Angel didn't want to let her out of his sight, and Buffy didn't mind in the slightest. Their new situation was still so, well, new. Buffy wanted Angel with her. They were still sharing this huge, monumentally epic moment. It was almost as if they were afraid that if they were apart for but a moment, it would all fade into the loveliest of dreams.

The drive to Sunnydale was mostly spent in silence. Buffy was content to rest her head on Angel's shoulder the entire way there, and Angel was just soaking up the moment—and the silence. It was giving him some time to think.

In the jumbled, excited chaos of Buffy's announcement, a few very important thoughts had been momentarily put on the back burner. For a good thirty-six hours, Angel had simply let himself absorb and revel in the joy of learning that he was going to be a father. Buffy was carrying his child, their child. Their child. Even thinking the words caused a smile to grace his features. In the dark of the car, Angel's hand sought hers. They linked fingers and he gave her hand a gentle squeeze, which she reassuringly returned.

Their child. It complicated things. Big time.

Angel was not normally afraid of change. He, of all people, knew how good change could be. But this change…this change terrified him.

This baby, their baby would have a target on its back the moment it was born, probably even before. This, in turn, painted an equally large target on Buffy's back. The two people Angel loved most were in danger and there wasn't a damn thing he could do about it.

Angel knew that the moment the supernatural world learned of their child, he or she (even though Buffy was certain the baby was a boy), would be hunted. Some would see his son as a sign of good. Others would see his son as a danger, a menace—something to be destroyed.

Angel would not let this happen.

Buffy also worried him. How would this pregnancy affect her? Would it be more arduous because the child was half vampire? What about Slaying? Angel wasn't comfortable letting her go anywhere without him, let alone out by herself to patrol. No, patrols were now completely out of the picture. Angel knew that they were going to get around to fighting about it sometime or another, and he was already preparing his argument.

What about Wolfram and Hart?

Angel sighed quietly and began to rub his thumb over the back of Buffy's hand. How was he supposed to hide this from Wolfram and Hart? They were already keeping tabs on him, and he knew that they'd looked into his relationship with Buffy last year, even if they hadn't made anything of it. They'd focused on Darla.

Well, Darla was dead. The only woman in his life was Buffy, and Angel would not have her used as leverage against him, and he sure as hell would not have his unborn son adding to that already infinite leverage. Angel glanced down at Buffy briefly. There was a reason that the heroes in fiction never truly committed themselves to a relationship. They would try to distance themselves from everything and everyone, for the strict reason that relationships were their downfall. Buffy and their baby were the key to his destruction and if Wolfram and Hart knew that…

Angel shook his head, not wanting to consider the idea.

"We're almost there," Buffy observed quietly.

"Yeah."

"We have to tell them, Angel."

Angel didn't need her to clarify. She was talking about the Scoobies. "Yeah."

"So…you have a plan?" Buffy asked hopefully.

"No."

"Crap." Buffy frowned but tried to be optimistic. "Willow will be happy, Dawn too—I think."

"It's Giles and Xander I'm worried about," Angel admitted anxiously. "I mean, what do I say to Giles?"

"The truth?" Buffy offered nervously.

"Oh, sure," Angel replied sarcastically. "Hey, Giles, Buffy's pregnant and I'm the father. Crazy, huh?"

"I wouldn't quite phrase it like that," Buffy returned dryly. "We just have to break it to them gently. And, you know, perhaps when they're sitting down."

"Good idea."

Angel pulled into the driveway, and he and Buffy both sat in the Plymouth in front of the Summers house for a moment. "We have to go in there eventually," Buffy pointed out.

"Yeah." Angel squeezed her hand. "I never thought I'd have to do this," he admittedly quietly, glancing over at Buffy. "Tell a girl's family that she was carrying my child," he elaborated.

"I'm hardly a girl," Buffy scoffed playfully, trying to make him smile. "I'm twenty years old! Almost twenty-one," she added.

"And I'm two hundred and forty seven, almost forty eight," Angel returned easily.

"I've always liked older men," Buffy commented idly as she got out the car, knowing that Angel would follow.

Sure enough, by the time she'd shut her door, he was already making his way around the front of the car. "Yeah?" he questioned with a smile as he pressed her lightly against the car door. "More than two centuries older?"

Buffy shrugged. "Eh, I'm an overachiever."

At one time, a few years ago, Angel would not have been smiling during their conversation. He would have been somber and quiet, and would have felt guilty. Guilty due to the fact that she was so easily throwing away everything he thought she should have in order to be with him.

But not anymore. Buffy was with him, in every way, and he wasn't going to question it anymore. He'd lived life without her, and it had been the worst time in his entire existence. If someone as good and pure-hearted as Buffy wanted him, then he was just going to declare himself a lucky man and live it up.

"I guess that's a good thing," Angel smiled softly before capturing her lips. Buffy's arms wrapped around his neck, and they stayed glued together until Angel pulled away to allow Buffy to breathe. "I can't imagine my life without you anymore," Angel admitted seriously, but with a gentle smile as he caressed her face. "You've given me everything, and I've given you all I could in return." Buffy opened her mouth to protest, but he hushed her by placing a finger over her lips. "Now, I can finally give you what I've always wanted to," he finished as his hand came to rest on her stomach.

A single tear slid down Buffy's face, and a watery smile pulled at her lips. Buffy sobbed out a laugh, before cradling Angel's face in her hands tenderly and placing a loving kiss on his lips. "And to think that I used to complain that you didn't share your feelings," she laughed shakily as she fought back tears.

"Gah." Buffy wiped her eyes and blinked quickly a few times. "I'm a mess."

Angel wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her to his side. Buffy's arm went around his waist in turn, and together they walked up the front porch steps and entered the house.

"Dawnie!" Buffy called smiling. "Will!"

The sound of a door slamming seemed to echo through the house. Next, the unmistakable sound of pounding feet was heard as they hurried down the stairs. The next thing Buffy knew, Dawn was hugging her tightly. "Buffy!" Dawn grinned widely. "What are you doing here?"

"Is everyone here, gréine?" Angel asked, hearing more than a few heartbeats in the house.

"Oh, yeah," Dawn answered quickly. She gestured towards the living room, and they saw the empty bowl of popcorn and an endless supply of chips. "Movie night."

"Ooo," Buffy moved towards the living room and picked up the movie. "Braveheart? Nice," she approved as she handed the movie case to Angel.

"Scots," was all Angel muttered before he tossed the movie case back on the table.

"Buffy!" Willow grinned widely as she entered the living room, having thought she'd heard her friend. "What are you doing here?" she asked as she hugged her. "You aren't supposed to be back until tomorrow."

"Yeah, well, I, um," Buffy struggled to find words. She glanced up at Angel, "We have news. Big news—like, uber important big news that we have to share with all of you…"

Willow frowned and worry creased her brow. "What's going on?"

"Buff?" Xander walked into the room then, and he grinned. "Back so early? Miss me?"

"Xander, I thought we were going to go have sex," Anya said irritated, appearing from behind Xander. "I hope you're not so distracted when we're married. Oh, hey Buffy," the ex-vengeance demon said casually, just now noticing Buffy's presence. "Hey Angel. Why are you here?"

Buffy just smiled and shook her head. Why was she here? Well, she'd tell them if they'd just give her a chance. "Okay," she sighed. "Everyone needs to gather in here, 'kay?" she suggested. "That way I'm not repeating myself."

"Okay," Willow said slowly, though a curious light had entered her eyes. "I'll go get Oz and Giles. They're in the backyard working on Oz's wolfness. He can almost change at will now," she said with a proud smile.

Willow left and Dawn immediately went to talk with Angel, speaking in flawless French in a nearly flawless accent. Angel replied softly with a smile, and Buffy knew he'd just praised her little sister, judging by the wide, answering smile on Dawn's face. Dawn had a knack for languages and Angel loved teaching her.

Buffy went over to Anya and Xander. "So, any new wedding plans I need to know about?" she asked, knowing that Anya never settled on anything for more than twenty-four hours.

To say that she had been surprised when she'd learned that Xander and Anya were engaged, and had been for a while, would have been an understatement. Of everyone in the group, Buffy had never thought Xander would be the first to marry. She'd always thought that Willow and Oz would be the first ones to tie the knot.

But Buffy was still happy for her friends, ecstatic really. They deserved it.

"Oh, I think I'll have the bridesmaid's dresses be purple instead of blue," Anya informed her. "And before I forget, what's your dress size?"

Buffy opened her mouth to give the answer, but then closed it just as quickly. Her dress size was about to skyrocket and that thought caused her to frown. "Oh, don't be embarrassed," Anya said quickly. "I would never have a fat person in my wedding."

Buffy didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Thankfully, she chose laughter for the sheer irony of Anya's statement.

"Buffy," Giles smiled kindly as he entered the room. "I suppose you've already been asked this numerous times, but, uh, why are you here?"

Buffy smiled nervously, immediately retreating back towards Angel to take his hand. "Um, why don't you guys sit down?" she suggested.

The Scoobies all looked at her oddly, but complied. Oz and Willow sat on the couch and Xander and Anya occupied the loveseat. Giles chose to sit in the armchair, and Dawn perched herself on the arm of the couch by Xander. "So, um, Angel and I," Buffy glanced at Angel with a nervous smile. "We, um, have something really important to tell you."

"It's not bad is it?" Xander asked anxiously.

"We don't think so," Angel shook his head, unable to help the smile that lit his face.

Angel's genuine smile was a rarity to the Scoobies except for Dawn, so all of them were now on high alert. "What is it then?" Giles asked curiously.

"Well," Buffy laughed nervously, yet giddily at the same time. "It's going to sound crazy, but, I'm...well, I'm—"

"You need to give me asylum!" Spike said as he rushed into the living room, wearing a brown tweed three piece suit that would have caused Buffy to snort if she hadn't been about to make one of the most important announcements of her life.

"Sorry, did I interrupt something?" Spike asked before he suddenly sniffed the air. "Whoa," he smiled hugely, glancing around at the girls in the room. "Okay, which one of you is it?" he asked.

"Spike," Angel warned, but Spike didn't pay attention.

The platinum blonde vampire walked further into the room, looking at Willow for a moment, debating, before shaking his head and staring at Anya for a moment.

"What are you talking about, Spike?" Oz asked curiously, his eyes narrowed in confusion.

"Well, one you girls is pregnant!" Spike said gleefully, inhaling. "Ah, so sweet…"

Angel growled sharply, which caused Spike to look towards his grandsire with raised eyebrows. His gaze slid to Buffy and it lingered there for a moment, before he cocked his head to the side and slowly stepped towards the Slayer. "It's impossible," he murmured, but when he took another step towards Buffy, Angel blocked his path. Spike seemed to study Angel's face before a moment, before he chuckled. "Okay, Peaches," Spike clapped Angel on the shoulder. "So…what does this make me? A cousin? An uncle? I'd rather be an uncle. Good ol' Uncle Spike," he grinned to himself. "Has a ring to it, don't ya think?"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, hang on, pause, rewind," Xander said quickly, standing up and moving towards Buffy. "What he's talking about, Buffy? I mean, he's not saying that you're…"

"Pregnant?" Buffy offered with a shy smile. "Yeah."

"Really?" Willow whispered with wide eyes as she too rose from the couch. Her gaze flitted down to her friend's flat stomach in awe before she broke into a wide grin and squealed in excitement before throwing her arms around her friend.

"I'm going to be an aunt?" Dawn asked shocked, but she quickly dissolved into giggles. "I'm going to be an aunt!" she clapped excitedly before hugging her sister along with Willow.

"You're going to get so huge!" Anya complained, causing everyone to pause and look at her. "What? I'm thinking about the wedding."

"Thanks Anya," Buffy said dryly.

"Buff," Xander said slowly. "This isn't some crazy joke, right? You're really going to have a baby?"

"It's not a joke," Buffy shook her head. "I'm pregnant."

"And Angel is the…" Giles trailed off hesitantly.

"I'm the father," Angel answered seriously, almost daring Giles to disagree.

"Wow," Oz seemed to consider everything before glancing at Angel. "Nice, man. Happy for you."

Angel offered Oz a grateful grin.

"Well, this is a, um, surprise," Giles said as he stood and made his way towards Buffy. Dawn and Willow both moved out of the way, giving the Watcher and his Slayer a little bit of space. "How are you feeling?"

"Oh, a little nauseous," Buffy shrugged. "I really like peanut butter and celery. In fact…" Buffy turned to Dawn. "Do we have any?"

"Um, I can check," Dawn offered with a smile before hurrying off to get the requested food, a happy skip in her skip.

"Well, this is just great," Spike said cheerfully. "New member of the family," he shook his head. "Let's just hope he's not as ugly as you, Peaches," he snickered glancing at Angel who glared.

"Um," Xander cast a look at Angel before returning his gaze to Buffy. "How, uh, far along are you?"

"Eight weeks," Buffy answered with a small smile.

"Two months?" Xander raised his voice slightly. "You've known for an entire month and you didn't say anything?"

"Xander, I just found out two days ago!" Buffy retorted frustrated.

Xander scoffed in disbelief. "Seriously? How do you not know you're pregnant?"

"Easy," Buffy snapped. "It's supposed to be impossible! Why would I even consider it a possibility?"

"Which begs the question," Giles interrupted before Xander said something that caused Angel to hurt the boy. The vampire's fist was already clinched, ready for a punch, and he had already protectively shifted slightly closer to Buffy.

Angel's eyes left Xander for a moment and settled on Giles. "Which begs the question," Giles repeated calmly. "How is this possible?"

Dawn returned with the celery and peanut butter, causing Buffy's attention to be completely diverted for a moment as she focused on the tasty snack. "Angel has an idea," she said in between bites as she sat down in the armchair Giles had vacated.

This caused Angel to launch into his explanation for his and Buffy's current situation. He explained about the Trials and Jeeves and the life he had earned. He also went on to explain what Cassie had said, that the magic used was of the good. Once he was finished, Giles was quiet for a long moment before he nodded to himself. "I suppose that is the most logical conclusion we can draw."

"But what about this kid?" Xander asked, still sounding somewhat hostile to Angel's ears. "How's he going to turn out?"

"The doctor said that while he'll probably be supernatural, it won't be anything major," Angel answered tersely, his dislike for Xander reaching levels that it hadn't been in years. "Just strength and speed."

"He'll probably have heightened senses too," Buffy added thoughtfully as she chewed a piece of crunchy, peanut buttery celery goodness. "It would make sense."

"Well, pet, congrats," Spike sighed before rolling his shoulders. "I'm off. Got to find me some kittens," he muttered to himself. He paused in front of Buffy, before he squatted down on the balls of his feet and stared straight at Buffy's stomach. "Hey, you," he told the baby. "When you get out here, I really want to meet you." And with that, Spike straightened up and left.

Everyone was silent for a moment before Dawn broke it. "A baby," she whispered with a smile and Willow giggled in excited agreement, and Oz smiled. It was small, but genuine.

Anya shrugged, and was more frustrated than anything. She was going to have a fat person in her wedding. But, she reasoned, she was going to have a pregnant Vampire Slayer at her wedding, whose baby daddy was a Vampire. That was a first, and it was going to be at her wedding. That just made her wedding better than everyone else's.

Xander, through his anger and incredulity was worried. One of his best friends was pregnant. Buffy, who was a Vampire Slayer. How was she going to slay pregnant? She couldn't. So what would happen to Sunnydale? Would Buffy move completely to L.A.? What would happen? Xander didn't like this not knowing, this unpredictability. Things were changing and Xander didn't know if he was ready to accept it.

Giles was simply worried. He was afraid for Buffy, and he had no doubt that this child Buffy and Angel had conceived was written in some prophecy, somewhere. He had to find out…because he couldn't lose Buffy, his daughter. He couldn't lose her again. A subtle anger burned him, and he couldn't help but glare at the being responsible. Giles didn't know what he was going to do, but if any harm came to Buffy due to this pregnancy, Giles was holding Angel responsible.

Angel had seen this look in Giles' eye and the two men stared at each other for a moment, before Angel nodded and took Buffy's hand. "You need to sleep," he told her. "It's been a long day."

"I think it's been a long day for everyone," Giles sighed tiredly, though he sent another warning glare at Angel. "I suppose we should all be getting home."

"But, Giles—" Xander began to protest.

"Later," Giles waved Xander off. "We have time—seven months to be exact."

"Giles," Buffy said softly as she rose from the chair. She took her Watcher's, but most importantly, her father figure's hand in hers and smiled at him genuinely. "I'm happy," she said simply, hoping to convey all that she could in those two simple, yet powerful words.

"I'm glad," Giles returned softly, placing an uncharacteristic, though not unwelcome kiss on her forehead before leaving for his own home.

Xander and Anya said their goodbyes next, promising to see her tomorrow. "We have to discuss whether your kid will be a Star Trek or a Star Wars fan," Xander teased, making a peace offering with the joke.

Buffy smiled. "Sure."

Once everyone had left, Willow and Oz retreated up to their room and Dawn was left downstairs with Buffy and Angel. "I'm so happy for you," Dawn told both of them as she gave both of them a hug before turning with a smile to go to her own room.

When they were finally alone, both Angel and Buffy let their tiredness show. "Bed sounds nice," Buffy told him and Angel nodded in agreement, before sweeping her up into his arms and carrying her up the stairs to her old bedroom.

Buffy let him carry her, contentedly curling into his chest as her eyes fluttered closed.

Alright! There we go! Part 2 is done! I promise that we'll get into the actual episode (at least what happened in canon) the next chapter! Promise!

And how about Spike? Doesn't he have great timing? lol

Lots of love,

AC