Buffy stood frozen to the spot staring at the man who had fathered her. She blinked several times in an attempt to get her body and mind to perform some sort of amazing feat like inviting him into her house or slamming the door in his useless face. Both actions seemed appropriate and yet there she stood transfixed.

"Xander, quit hogging all the pretzels!" Anya chided her husband quietly as she slipped into his lap for a better view of the drama unfolding.

Hallie shot her best friend a knowing glance as she slipped into the living room to sit primly on a dining room chair situated next to the couch. The motion pulled Buffy out of her stupor.

She took a half step back from the door. Not enough to grant him entrance but enough for Buffy to regain some control of the situation.

"William. James. Pr—"

Spike shot up from his seat rushing to her side. "No need for all that now, pet."

She turned a murderous gaze to him. "I could have sworn we had a talk about doing big stupid stuff like this without talking to me first! So why is my father crashing our baby shower as Hallie's date? "

Spike winced at her harsh tone. Already fully prepared to take the blame for Dawn, even if it meant sleeping on the cot. "Ah, yeah, well you see it was—"

"Because he isn't just your father," Dawn cut in as she joined them in the entranceway.

"Dawn?"

Clem shifted to grab the bowls of snacks from the table. He shoved the party-mix into Willow's lap as he sat back down with the chips in his own. Cordelia reached over Fred and Tara to Willow for a handful of party-mix, and Willow passed the bowl to Tara. Cordelia settled back down with a giggling Connor sharing a few pieces with him as they watched with rapt attention.

Giles took up a place against the opening between the living room and the entranceway with his arms folded in front of him.

"I called Hallie. I… I made the wish…" Dawn said simply.

"What's going on here?" Hank sputtered as he took a tenuous step into the house, closing the door behind him and looking wide eyed from his daughters to Hallie.

Hallie just gave him a slow satisfied smile. "Oh I'm afraid that's not how this works. You don't get to ask the questions here. No. You are here to provide answers. It's well past time for your children to understand why you have abandoned them for so long."

"I- abandon? I didn't abandon them; they were with their mother. Joyce said they didn't want or need me so when a business opportunity came up overseas I took it. Joyce knows that! Where is she anyway?"

The room went silent. All except for little Connor's whines as he tried to wiggle out of his surrogate mother's grasp. Cordelia merely adjusted him on her lap and gave him a bagel-chip to chew on.

Spike situated himself between Buffy and Dawn, placing a protective big brother hand on Dawn's shoulder and wrapping the other around Buffy's waist to rest on her belly.

"Mom died. If you had given us updated contact information you would have known that by now. It's not like we didn't try to find you," Buffy said icily.

Hank pressed a hand to his chest and for a split second looked like he'd been kicked in the gut but then he recovered. "I'm sorry to hear that. I really am," Hank swallowed nervously. "I've been traveling a lot— for work. Spain and France mostly. I'm not even sure how we got here—"

"Oh please, Hanky. You're being far too modest. Why don't you tell them just how well you've been doing for yourself? I imagine they would love to hear all about your lovely yacht you've been trying to get me on."

Spike turned to Hallie, words dancing on the tip of his tongue. He bit down keeping himself in check and turned back to see the blood drain out of Hank's face.

Good

"A yacht?" Buffy bit out. "My fiancé and I are both working to pay off debts from mom's hospital bills and funeral expenses and a full copper repipe! Not even mentioning the fact that we're raising Dawn! Hell! I had to borrow money from Giles to pay the mortgage after I—"

"That was a gift for you and Dawn, my dear," Giles interjected, his voice a warm balm in direct contrast to the glacial look in his eyes. It was a look that signaled "Ripper" was hovering just below the surface, like a shark waiting to strike.

"I mean, it looks like you have everything under control. I can't imagine the two of you would be starting your own family if you didn't—" Hank said a little desperately as he gestured toward her very pregnant belly.

Buffy's eyes narrowed in anger and Spike's jaw clicked.

"Can I hit this guy?" Spike murmured in her ear.

"I'm relying on you to hold me back," Buffy replied.

"But then maybe you're worse off than I thought if you still think violence is the answer to your problems," Hank said sadly shaking his head, "and now you have this guy who seems to have the same attitude problem. Does he know about your stint in the psych ward and your obsession with vampires?"

Spike couldn't take it, that had been something that had bothered him ever since she had told him. His face shifted and Spike glared menacing golden eyes at him. "She might have mentioned it."

Hank stumbled backwards into the door and looked around wildly. He seemed to compose himself a little when he noticed no one else had reacted to Spike's display. At least until he caught sight of Clem and Lorne. Connor who had crawled up into Lorne's lap was now pulling on his red horns giggling while Lorne smiled indulgently.

"What's really going on here? W-who are these— these people?" Hank stammered.

"It's your daughter's baby shower, welcoming your granddaughters into the world, of course. I really thought that part was clear," Hallie answered as she tossed Hank a party favor. "As for who these people and lovely demons are, I suppose that is a question better suited for our hosts to answer. Wouldn't you agree, William?" she asked in a high society tone that managed to throw Spike back over a hundred years.

He smirked, squeezing Buffy and Dawn to him slightly. "Why yes, certainly. What do you say about giving proper introductions? Buffy, Dawn? It is your house after all."

"It's yours too," Buffy reminded him, but she squared her shoulders anyway. "These are our friends and family. The folks, who love and support us, no matter what."

"Family? I don't recognize any of these people… they're not—"

Spike let a low rumble roll through his chest just as Giles stepped forward. "We are more of a family to these girls than you have been. I've only dreamed of the things I would say to you for the hell you put Joyce through to say nothing of the neglect you have shown these girls long before her passing," Giles snapped.

Hank raised an eyebrow at him. "I didn't realize Joyce had a thing for Brit—" Hank's sentence was cut off when Giles punched him in the face. Hank landed on his ass in a sprawling heap cupping a bloodied mouth.

Buffy turned quickly to Giles taking his hand to examine bleeding knuckles. She turned back to her father who was pulling himself up with the help of the doorknob. "You need to get out, now."

Hallie drifted toward them. "Oh, I'm afraid he can't. Not yet anyway. Not until all of the specifications of the wish have been met and I'm afraid Miss Dawn was quite clear about what she wanted. Closure— Dawn, sweetheart, you've been awfully quiet during this little show."

Dawn bit the inside of her cheek and nodded. It had been so long since she had seen him— No, not really though. The fact remained that despite possessing vivid memories featuring the man, this was the first time they had ever actually met. He was a total stranger. But then that wasn't true either.

How am I supposed to find closure in that? Buffy's been pinching pennies while I'm here thinking how much I wish someone in this stupid town would overlook the fact that I'm too young to get a job and this jerk has a yacht? And a yacht? A freaking yacht?

Their apparently rich father had stopped paying alimony and child support, had cut them out of his life like a cancer and had never turned back. That thought made her want to cry. She stepped forward. "You left us. You left us when we needed you most. Mom died— Buffy— I would have been all alone if it wasn't for them! So yes! They are our family! So go back to your yacht and your European business opportunities and— and—" Tears had started to streak her face and Spike pulled her a little closer as Buffy gripped her sister's hand.

"Feel any better, Nibblet?" Spike asked.

"I really wish I—"

Buffy cut her off with a squeeze of her hand. "Don't even think about finishing that sentence. I think we've had enough."

Giles stepped forward again. "Not even close. I have a wish. I wish Joyce and these girls had been cared for financially and that Buffy didn't have to struggle so hard to get to where she is now. I wish they knew what it really meant to have a father who loves them unconditionally. I wish you knew of half the horrors these amazing young women have endured in your absence, Hank Summers!"

Halfrek gave a veiny smile, stretching her demonic features. "Why Mr. Giles I normally only grant one wish per customer but I think I might have to make an exception. A selfless wish really is a breath of fresh air, let alone three. But… It is a party after all—" she grinned wickedly "—wishes granted."

In the blink of an eye the bloodied Mr. Summers had disappeared from where he had been half slumped against the door.

"What the hell just happened? Where'd he go?" Buffy asked.

Hallie examined her nails, as though she were bored with how events had unfolded. "Oh don't worry, my dear. I'm simply teaching him a lesson, it won't kill him," she said, with a roll of her eyes.

Anya coughed a very poorly disguised, "Daddy issues…"

Buffy glanced at Anya before turning back to Hallie with a look of utter annoyance, mixed with anger, and just a hint of concern. "What isn't going to kill him?"

Hallie gave a little shrug. "Oh well, Mr. Giles, here was so kind to wish your father knew something of what you and your sister have been through over the years. I am merely giving him a bit of a taste of that."

Buffy's eyes grew wide and she could feel Spikes grip around her tighten. "Steady on, Slayer, let's hear her out."

Buffy cast him a side eye, raising her eyebrow slightly. "Seriously?"

He gave a slight nod, gesturing towards Hallie. "Why don't we have a seat, sort this all out?"

They all moved into the living room, all except for Giles who stayed standing by in the opening between the entranceway and the living room examining his split knuckles.

"All right Hallie, talk, what the hell did you do with our father?" Buffy said.

(*)

Hank lifted his head looking around the pitch dark room. He moved his wrist to look at his watch instinctively, and realized he was being held to a chair. Suddenly, a blinding light flickered on in the shape of a rounded movie screen in front of him. He was sitting so close that it wrapped around the sides of his vision so that all he could see was the screen unless he moved his head. He strained to look around himself and realized he was the only occupant in a small theater, and he was tied to the chair with thin, black ropes, the type often seen in special ops movies.

The screen flickered again, and he saw clip after clip of Buffy fighting various foes with a wide array of mutations. He watched as a bat-faced man pushed her down into a puddle of water. He watched as his daughter died, and her friend performed CPR on her, bringing her back to life. He watched as a tall, brooding man mocked her and terrorized his ex-wife and younger daughter, and as Buffy destroyed some hideous creature in a crowded mall with a rocket launcher.

The screen flickered many more times as more and more images flashed across it with nauseating quickness. Despite the speed at which the images appeared each one seemed to be seared in is mind. He watched as image after image bombarded his mind with acts of brilliant heroism pitted against insurmountable odds and there she was, his daughter coming out on top everytime.

He saw how Joyce's death had affected her and Dawn. The utter devastation they had endured. He watched as a hideous snake creature chased after Dawn. He saw his youngest daughter being kidnapped and held captive by some disgusting little demons. He watched as his eldest daughter fought to free Dawn and how it had led to her death.

Before he could even process the multitude of tears Dawn had shed in the company of the bleached vampire, he saw Buffy come back. He watched in horror as she struggled within the confines of her coffin to break her way out, saw her claw to the surface and fight even more demons like a feral beast. He watched her struggle with school and jobs and her pregnancy all while the blonde vampire supported her every move.

These visions and more, cut into his mind, searing him from the inside out as the truth of who and what his daughters are burned into him like a brand.

(*)

Hallie picked through a handful of party-mix, pulling out a pretzel and handing it over to Connor for him to chew on merrily. "Don't worry, I just sent him to the movies. He'll wake up in about a week with the worst hangover of his life to find a late rent notice on his apartment door and that his yacht has been sold, the money given to his daughters, of course. I think you'll find your mother's expenses have all been paid in full thanks to the back alimony payments he owed. I've started a rather nice college fund for Dawn with the back owed child support and the payments for the past six months are in your checking account. Oh and there were actually some back payments he had owed for you too before you became of age, I put that toward your outstanding debts already. I think you'll find you are standing on rather solid ground now with quite a nice bankroll."

Buffy's jaw dropped. "What?"

Hallie pouted. "I was really hoping for a little more gratitude, it's quite a nice shower gift I thought."

"I- I eh— thanks? I— but what's the catch?"

Hallie smiled. "Oh you really did have to ask, didn't you?" She paused and gave a dramatic sigh. "I believe I've covered all but one of Mr. Giles' wishes. That you both knew what it really meant to have a father who loves you unconditionally." She tilted her head examining Buffy and Dawn in turn before turning her sights onto Giles. "Seems a bit redundant if you ask me," she paused thoughtfully, "I'd say you're already there… however, there may be something else I can do for you…" With a snap of her fingers, Hallie presented Giles with an official-looking document.

"And what is this?" he asked suspiciously.

"The deed to the house at the end of the street that's been for sale for the last three months. There simply isn't any reason you should be throwing your money away on rent when you could have a mortgage-free permanent home. Far enough that you won't be stepping on toes but close enough that your granddaughters can visit on a whim."

Giles stared at the document in his hand and swallowed. "Why are you doing this?"

"To fulfill your wish of course."

"It just all seems kind of light on the whole vengeance-y thing," Willow interjected.

"Vengeance was Anyanka's wheelhouse," Hallie brushed off the comment with a wave of her hand, "as I've already explained to Dawn and dear William here, I prefer Justice Demon. It's Hank who is reaping all the justice I can dish out within the stipulations Miss Summers has set for me." She turned toward Dawn with a fond smile. "I think it would be wise for you to consider a career in Law. You have quite the gift."

Dawn's jaw had dropped open and she closed it in an attempt to compose herself. She hadn't really considered what she wanted to be with any serious thought yet and she felt the group's gaze shift to her like the burn of the spotlight on her skin. "Hum thanks? I guess, I'll think about it… But eh… not to sound ungrateful because, yay Giles being a permanent person around here but what about this house and the money and everything? I mean the roof isn't going to cave in or the cops aren't going to start poking around or anything right?" Dawn asked.

Hallie put her hand to her chest, like a proud auntie at a school play and looked around the room. "Do you all see what I mean? She really is quite an amazing young lady. No my dear this is simply part of our bargain, and Mr. Giles's wish in conjunction with yours. As for the house, I will confess it's not as though I've done any repairs on the place. However, I can tell you with some certainty that it passed inspection with the real estate company… and it may or may not be just a teensy bit haunted."

"…Which is why it seems to go on the market just as fast as it comes off." Spike said in a deadpan.

Cordelia snorted a derisive laugh. "The best roommate I ever had was a ghost. He was a real sweetie."

Hallie nodded loftily. "Thank you, yes. She's quite right, it's not necessarily a bad thing. Besides, if anyone would be qualified to handle such a place it's obvious who it would be. But, then if you're not satisfied, I can certainly take back the deed…" she trailed off expectantly as she reached for the document in Giles's hand.

Giles pulled it out of her reach. "I believe you have a valid point and I would be quite remiss if I did not graciously accept your offer."

Hallie smiled. "See I knew you could be reasonable." She flicked her wrist in the air in a circular motion. "There now, everything has been transferred out of that drab little apartment and into your new home. You're welcome."

Giles gave her a tight-lipped smile, unwilling to point out that he would still have to send for his things in England at the risk of sounding ungrateful. "Thank you, I can hardly wait to see my new home."

Hallie clapped her hands together, smiling broadly. "As much as I adore being the center of attention I'm a bit curious about these white-chocolate-covered strawberries made to look like diapers. Who's idea were these?" she asked, picking one up.

Willow blinked, stunned by the sudden shift of topic. "Oh, eh, I did those."

"Very nice," Hallie looked around the room at the stunned looks everyone was giving her. "Go on, it's a baby shower, isn't it? I don't expect anyone else can top my gift but I'm sure it doesn't mean they aren't well thought out and lovely all the same."

Clem shifted to pull a large brown grocery bag with pink tissue paper sticking out of the top. "It's not debt repayment and a house but it is handmade," he offered shyly as he held it out to Buffy.

Buffy gave him a bright smile. "I can't wait to see what you made." She put the bag on the coffee table, pulling out the tissue paper to reveal hand knitted baby blankets, one pink, one purple and gave out a squeal of adoration. "Clem! They are so pretty! Thank you!"

"There's more," he said proudly.

Buffy gave a little nod and pulled out two little hats and teddy bears in pink and purple that matched the blankets. "Oh my God those are so stinking cute," she gushed as she launched herself at him for a hug.

Hallie took a sip of pink lemonade, rolling her eyes. "Well at least someone got a proper thanks."

Buffy turned to her, biting the inside of her cheek. "I think it's going to take some time to let everything sink in, Hallie, but we are grateful. Thank you."

Hallie inclined her head in acceptance. "You're very welcome."