Hello all,
I would recommend listening to 'Love is a Compass' by Griff. It's beautiful and for some reason it fits. So if you get a chance have a listen and let me know what you think?
I have outlined about 50ish chapter with more to be added. It's going to be quite the journey so buckle up folks. Also I am British not American so I might get things wrong and for that I apologise. I'm learning :)
It is a bit heavy on the angst be warned and Buffy might be a tad OOC, be do remember she's hurting and pregnant. She's gonna be emotional. Angel will be joining us shortly I promise just not this chapter. I'm also unsure what to do with Riley, we might see again we might not...I don't know.
This is unbeta'd so any mistakes are my own.
January 2000
"It's Angel's." Buffy says naturally. She glances down at her hands fiddling with them trying to avoid the disappointment and disapproving looks. At one point she counted on Willow's support of her relationship with Angel. But ever since the lead up to graduation and the aftermath, Willow's opinion of Angel soured completely. Not that Buffy could blame her, but still she needed someone to be slightly supportive. It was unlikely she would get it elsewhere.
Willow's eyebrows nearly end up in the witch's hairline, her mouth drops open as she stares at her roommate. "What?" Willow squeaks out, her face whitening by the thought and the possible outcomes of this news will cause.
"It's fine, he didn't lose his soul." Buffy mutters to Willow. She's already aware that the next few weeks were going to be trying for her especially when she explains to Giles and Xander. Buffy closes her eyes trying to will those thoughts away for now. She will speak with them soon enough. Might be easier to do it separately.
"But how did…you know when last time he lost his soul."
"He was human when we…er…yeah." Buffy answers back lamely, the memory of his warm lips meeting hers flashes through her mind along with seeing him in sunlight. She misses him so much now more than ever.
Willow takes a moment to absorb the information, her mind racing at how something like this could happen. "What? How? Buffy."
Buffy takes a deep breath, blinking the tears away. She explains everything that she could remember from her time in Los Angeles over Thanksgiving. From the moment she walked through the office door to saying goodbye. She even mentions the deal that Angel so that he could give it all up, so that he could keep her safe.
Willow watches Buffy: the way she holds herself, the way her eyes look haunted and full of misery. Her eyes suddenly opening for the first time of how much her friend was truly hurting.
"Buffy…"
Another tear slips down Buffy's cheek, "Will…am I not good enough? Is something wrong with me?"
Willow's heart breaks even more for the blonde, as she watches a tear slip down Buffy's cheek. Willow pulls Buffy into her arms as her best friend began to sob once more. It was in that moment that she knew they had all made a grave mistake in separating Buffy from Angel. Of trying to get her to move on from him, getting her to enjoy the new norm for them. But while the rest were thriving, Buffy was barely surviving. They all thought that it was just a teen romance, that Buffy deserved better than Angel. They all seemed to think they knew what was best for her.
Yet none of them seemed to think of her happiness.
Seeing Buffy like this, she could now see that all these months since Graduation, possibly even before then, that Buffy had been hiding how much it was breaking her being without him. This was more than any of them thought, the love Buffy and Angel shared went far deeper than anything Willow had ever seen.
A wave of guilt runs through Willow's body.
"You are good enough Buffy. Don't ever doubt that. There is nothing wrong with you at all." Willows whispers as she holds Buffy in her arms as she weeps. She could feel Buffy's whole body shaking, the gasps of breath that the young woman was trying to inhale. Her top was beginning to soak through once more from the fresh tears. But in that moment in time, Willow didn't care.
Willow silently cursed everyone. Xander for not being supportive and hostile of the relationship that Buffy and Angel had. Giles, while he never outright said it, everyone knew he didn't trust Angel nor like him. She even cursed herself for not seeing the heartbreaking truth of how much Buffy has been suffering in silence. And then there was Angel for causing so much emotional damage to her normally strong best friend.
This needed to be fixed, but how?
"Buffy Summers." A nurse calls out to the waiting room, Buffy looks at Willow her eyes growing wide. Willow grabs Buffy's arm, pulling her up from the chair and begins to head towards the nurse with Buffy lacking behind.
"Will, I'm not sure about this…maybe the test was wrong." Buffy whispers panicky into Willow's ear,
"There's only one way to find out." Willow
Buffy jerks her arm out of Willow's grasp and stops dead in the waiting room. She looks wildly around the room as people begin to look up wanting to see what the fuss was all about. The red headed woman turns to face
"Will…I…can't. What if…"
Willow looks at Buffy sympathetically, "you can do this Buffy. You can do anything." Willow encourages her. Buffy bites her lip and nods her head, she takes a deep breath before taking a step forward once again heading towards the nurse. The older woman gives Buffy a tight smile and indicates to Buffy to follow her.
Buffy begins to follow the nurse however she turns to face Willow who had started to go back to her own seat and wait. "Will." Buffy calls out. "I…can you come with me?" Buffy asks hope within her voice.
Buffy sees Willow's eyes and face light up, she sees her companion hesitant. "Buffy are you sure?"
Buffy smiles at her, "more than anything."
"If, you're sure." Willow stands up and follows Buffy and the nurse down the corridor into a side room. The nurse quickly takes Buffy's height, weight and asks her to go down the hall to the toilet where she must do a sample in a cup.
Buffy returns from her trip holding a cup, her face fill of disgust as she hands it over to the nurse. The nurse thanks her before saying, "a doctor will be with you shortly." The nurse turns to leave through a different door that they had walked through taking the cup Buffy handed to her.
Both sit down in the chairs in front of a desk waiting for the doctor to join them. Silence filled the room as neither of the women felt inclined to say anything to one another, both too lost in their own thoughts.
Willow wonders of all the changes that will to be taking place suddenly. Especially if Buffy does happen to be pregnant. Will she continue with college? Is she going to leave Sunnydale and be with Angel in Los Angeles? Would Angel be coming back to Sunnydale? Was she going to lose her best friend? There were so many possibilities, so many outcomes.
Buffy however was deep in thought, thinking of Angel, the time they had spent together 2 months ago and the choices that have altered everything. She understood his decision for changing the day that never happened, but she still felt hurt that he came to that conclusion without discussing it with her first. That he once again decided something that affected them both without even a second thought of how she might feel. Could she forgive him for making a decision regarding their relationship without her?
She then her mind wonders over to the idea of telling him of his impending fatherhood, that's if the doctor confirms that the test is right. How was he going to take this? She wishes that he were here with her, holding her hand, calming her down, even to experience this with her. Even if she is mad as hell at him. She wanted him with her.
Both women are drawn out of their thoughts when the door opens once again, an older tall woman steps into the room. Grey short hair with glasses perched at the end of her nose as she looks over the file that she carries with her. She looks up and sees a red-headed woman and a blonde with her. "Miss Summers?" she asks looking to them both.
Buffy raises her arm slightly, "that's me." Giving the doctor a tight smile. The doctor gives her a warm smile and sits down at the desk opposite her. She reaches out her hand for Buffy to shake.
Buffy shakes her hand, "I'm Doctor Jarvis, I have specialised in obstetrician for over 35 years." The doctor explains to Buffy, her warm eyes watching the younger woman as she shifts uncomfortably. Doctor Jarvis eyes turn to Willow, "are you a friend, sister…?"
"Oh, I'm Willow Rosenberg, Buffy's best friend. She asked me to join her. Is that allowed?" Willow inquires, her eyes widening slightly.
Doctor Jarvis lets out a laugh, "it's not a problem at all Miss Rosenberg. It's nice that Miss Summers has a good friend in her corner." The older woman looks back at Buffy, "so I hear you think you might be pregnant?"
"Yep." Buffy answers tightly, the doctor nods.
"Okay, so according to the urine sample that you gave to Nurse Evans you are indeed pregnant." Doctor Jarvis holds back her congratulations, she has a feeling this is an unplanned pregnancy and sometimes not all women want to be congratulated when they are unsure of their options going forward.
Buffy takes a deep breath and closes her eyes as the doctor informs her of the news. She feels Willow reaching across and grasps one of her hands within her own. Buffy tightens her grip slightly in gratitude. She could feel the tears leaking through her closed eyes, her mind instantly wanting Angel.
She knew it wasn't going to happen. Try for all her might it was pointless. He wanted her to forget.
The older woman gives Buffy a sympathetic smile as she offers her a tissue. "Are you okay?"
Buffy nods wildly, "yeah." She manages to choke out, she tries to control her breathing in the hopes she doesn't start sobbing aloud. The last thing she wanted or needed was to be having a break down in the middle of the doctor's office. After a few more moments of getting control over her emotions, she looks to the doctor. "Sorry." She utters out, feeling embarrassed.
"It's okay, there are lots of different reactions to this sort of news." Buffy nods her head. "There are different options for you."
Buffy shakes her head immediately, "I'm keeping him." she remarks.
"Okay…him?"
The young blonde shrugs her shoulder, "I just think it's a boy."
The doctor gives her a smile, "lots of women have that feeling when it comes to the gender of their child. Majority of the time they tend to be right." Doctor Jarvis mentions, throwing Buffy a wink trying to put the young slayer at ease.
"Okay, shall we have a look and see what's happening inside and see if we can get some measurements." The doctor stands up and heads over to the bed in the corner, she switches on a machine. She turns back to the women and gestures for them to come over. "Buffy if you could lie down and lift up your shirt a little bit."
Buffy does as she's told, laying back onto the bed and wait for the doctor to get organised. She motions to Willow to take the seat by her head, Willow moves quickly and sits by Buffy.
"Right, Miss Summers…can I call you Buffy?" Buffy nods her head. "Brilliant, now Buffy this is going to be cold." Doctor Jarvis squirts a bit of gel onto Buffy's stomach which automatically flinches at the cold. The doctor grabs her wands and presses onto Buffy's flat stomach as she searches for the fetus.
"Ah ha…there you are." Doctor Jarvis mumbles, beginning to press things onto the machine. "Would you like to see?" She enquires, turning away from the screen to look at the expectant mother.
Buffy bites her lip before nodding her head enthusiastically with a small smile. Doctor Jarvis turns the screen to face both her and Willow. Buffy stares at the screen in front of her, there in black and white was her baby, not that it resembled anything like a baby. A part of her and a part of Angel. Her perfect little miracle. Her eyes once again become misty the longer she stares at the screen.
"Buffy…" Willow whispers as she too stares at the screen seeing the little bean. Buffy grabs hold of Willow's hand tightly.
"I know." Buffy chokes out as a few tears slip down her rosy cheeks, she no longer cared. Her mind became set on ensuring that this child will be loved completely. In the short amount of time, he's already become her everything, she was going to make sure that he knew how special he was.
"I would estimate that you are 8 weeks. Judging that baby is due around the end of August. Would you like to listen to the heartbeat, it's looking to be rather strong."
"We can hear that now?" Buffy wonders, her eyes briefly glancing over to the doctor before resting back onto the screen. She couldn't take her eyes of off her little peanut.
Doctor Jarvis smiles, "of course." She presses a few buttons, and a sudden echo of thumping is heard all around the room.
Buffy didn't have the willpower at all to hold back the flow of tears as she listens to the steady heartbeat.
A little while later, the women walk out of the clinic just as Buffy hears her name being called. "Buffy!" Buffy and Willow's eyes grow wide as they see a muscularly man heading towards them.
"Riley…hey."
"Buffy. Willow." Riley greets breathlessly, a beaming smile on his face, his eyes glowing as he looks over at the blonde in front of him.
"Riley." Willow's voice goes high pitch and her eyes widening at the dark blonde-haired man in front of them. She quickly takes the information leaflets out of Buffy's hands covering them up. Riley smiles at her, ignoring the leaflets in her hands and turns to face Buffy.
"I was hoping to run into you." He then looks behind her and see that they are standing outside the health clinic. "Are you okay?"
"Oh…yeah just a yearly check-up." Buffy brushes aside with a fake smile. Willow gestures to Buffy that she is going to step away from the couple. After a reassuring nod from Buffy, she steps aside, hovering a few steps away waiting for Buffy. "So, what's up?"
Riley brings his one of his arms up to his neck nervously rubbing it, "I was just wondering if you wanted to get some coffee sometime."
"What…I mean…huh?" Buffy stammers, her eyes glancing over to Willow.
"Coffee, you, me, date?"
"Oh…erm. Riley the thing is…" Buffy stammers out, feeling awkward.
Riley's face falls as he interrupts her, "say no more." He must have read the situation all wrong. He turns to leave the now awkward interaction.
Buffy grabs his arm, stopping him from stepping away from her, "wait, it's not that I don't. Its just things have got complicated for me recently." Riley turns to face her as Buffy explains to him without giving him too much away.
"Buffy its fine don't worry about."
"I'm sorry really, I am. I just…"
"Buffy it's fine. Look I've got to go. I guess I'll see you around." With that Riley turns and walks around from the petite woman as she lets him go this time.
Willow comes back over to Buffy, "why does life have to suck?" Buffy asks her eyes still watching the retreating man.
Willow grimaces as she studies Buffy. "Life is always gonna suck for us."
"Great…"
It's been a week since it has been confirmed that Buffy would be expecting a child in the late summer and all week, she has been trying to find the courage to mention it to Giles, Xander and her mother. Willow has been trying to get her to say something and every time she found that she was in a room with any of them, her courage seems to fail her.
She was the slayer; she can fight demons, monsters, and vampires. Everyone's worst nightmare. But having to tell people who mean the most to her that she was having a baby. A baby at the age of 19 and with her vampire ex-boyfriend, that no-one seemed to like. Well, it frightened the life out of her. She dreaded disappointing them, just the thought of the looks alone had Buffy quivering, let alone the reality of it all.
She knew she had to do it soon, preferably this side of the baby being born.
Buffy lets out a little sign as she continues to stare at nothing while sat on the couch in Giles' apartment. She was hoping that she would be able to speak to the older man in privately regarding her change in circumstances this evening. However, it was turning out to be a bust
as everyone buzzed around her.
Giles getting cups of tea for everyone playing the perfect host as he always did since they didn't seem to have a headquarters anymore for their discussions. As always Xander reaching over for more biscuits, while Anya complaining about being here wanting to go back to Xander's so that they could have sex. That woman has no filter at all.
Willow and Oz in their own world, whispering things into one another's ear. Buffy properly won't be seeing her best friend any time soon. It was a common occurrence a few days after the full moon, Willow would be unreachable. Then there was Tara, sitting at the end of the couch looking around the room trying to avoid everyone's gaze. The newcomer had been unexpected, but Buffy found that she liked the quiet girl. There was something about her that put Buffy at easy with her presences. She did, however, felt for the young woman who looked incredibly uncomfortable. She couldn't blame the girl, having to listen to Anya's openness regarding sex, and with Willow and Oz's display of affections from the armchair.
Even Buffy was growing uncomfortable with it all.
Buffy felt the courage of disclosing her news fading away the longer everyone was within the room. She just wanted a private word with Giles, is that too much to ask? She knew it would be easier to tell him before she says anything to Xander. Giles while he might disapprove, he wouldn't openly attack her unlike Xander.
Xander has a habit of bringing up the past horrors whenever Angel is involved. Buffy didn't want to deal or listen to the same old argument coming from him. It was tiresome. She knew he meant well and that he does it to protect her. But it wasn't his life nor his decision to be making.
Buffy turns round when the front door opens; everyone stops what they are doing turning to face the unexpected intrusion. As if the night couldn't get any worse, Spike walks in like he owns the place. He looks round at them all, Buffy rolls her eyes at the bleached blonde before turning back round.
Spike stops after he closes the door, "something isn't right." He drawls out, his eyes narrowing around the room looking at everyone within the room with even more scrutiny.
His eyes land on the slayer looking at her, his ears listening to her closely. He frowns even further before sniffing the air near her. His face brightens, letting out a chuckle.
"So, when you due slayer?" He asks casually, his eyes lightening up at the prospect of irritating the soon-be-mother. Getting her all worked up, blood boiling. It was more fun than annoying Angelus.
"What?" Everyone asks at once looking at the unwelcomed vampire. Both Buffy and Willow's eyes widen as they look to one another, Buffy shakes her head and Willow gestures to her to say something.
Spike glances around the room, everyone's faces full of confusion. Yet both Red and the Slayer seem to be avoiding looking at him or anyone else. "You don't know?" He laughs even further and looks to his supposed nemesis arching his eyebrow at the back of head. "You haven't told them?"
"Spike." Buffy warningly says, she stands up avoiding eye contact with everyone. She grabs her coat; she needed to get out of her. She wasn't ready to deal.
Spike throws his head back and laughs even further, "this is bloody brilliant, let me tell you."
"What is he talking about Buffy?" Xander asks also standing up carefully looking between vampire and slayer.
Buffy turns to face him but doesn't look into his eyes, "it's nothing."
"Nothing, is that it?" Spike scoffs with a look of disbelieve on his face and shakes his head.
"Buffy." Willow says, nodding her head trying to encourage her, but the petite woman just ignores her, she heads to the front door.
"I have to go patrolling."
Spike steps in front of her blocking her in, "in your condition and what will Angel say about that." Spike condenses to her, arching his brow at her. Buffy glares up at the man while he smirked at her.
"Angel? What does he have to do this?" Oz speaks up frowning when Willow begins to shift uncomfortably in her seat. He knows she knows something, he could smell that she was hiding something let alone her body language giving her away.
"Who's Angel?" Tara questions before even thinking, she then blushes and looks down to the floor at suddenly speaking out.
"Well, if you're not gonna…"
"Spike please…don't." Buffy pleads to him, but Spike just stares at her. He could smell her fear, the uncertainty. She reeked of it.
"Will someone tell us what's going on?!" Giles asks this time, his patience running thin. He needed to know what seemed to be troubling his slayer.
"Please…don't." Buffy whispers beggingly, her eyes filling with tears. She didn't want this to be how they all found out.
Spike huffs and looks at her seriously. "They're going to find out."
Buffy shakes her head and sits down on the chair at the table. She places her head in her hands. It was fruitless, even she knew that they needed to know now. It was unlike for her to leave the apartment without so much of an explanation. But she couldn't find the words even begin.
Spike watches her for a moment, waiting to see if she says anything. When it was decided that the woman wasn't going to say anything nor object to him disclosing information, he shakes his head and shrugs his shoulders. He turns to face the rest of the group, all of which had been unusually quiet and had seemed to have seen the exchange between himself and young blondie. "The slayer here is expecting."
"Expecting what?" Anya inquires confused, she looks around the room seeing if anyone else understood what the vampire was telling them.
Giles frowns at Spike before his eyes land on the blonde shifting in her seat. His eyes growing wide when he knew what he meant, "Buffy is this true?"
"Spike's right…I'm pregnant." Xander staggers back into the armchair that he had previously been sat in. He nearly knocked Anya off from her spot where she was resting of the arm of the chair.
"Oh." Giles mutters in amazement. His eyes wide and leans against the nearest thing which happens to be a coffee table. He accidentally knocks off the lamp and a few books, app of which go crashing to the floor. The elder gentleman didn't seem to care nor worry as he takes his glasses off, wiping away the dust with a handkerchief that he seems to always carry.
Silence fills the room as they all take in Buffy's news. Everyone lost in their own thoughts, it was Oz that spoke first with a frown.
"Wait a second…What does Angel have to do with this?" Everyone's eyes once again landed on Buffy wanting and waiting for her to explain. Spike takes a seat in the chair at the table, he places his legs and feet onto it as he watches Buffy open and close mouth a couple of times. He knew coming here was the best idea, he is thoroughly enjoying himself. If only he had some popcorn, it would have made this trip even more memorable.
Buffy lets out a sigh before taking a gulp. Here goes nothing and then she whispers, "it's his."
Xander jumps up from the chair once again abruptly, causing Anya to actually fall to the floor. The former demon glares at her boyfriend as she starts to stand up as he shouts, "what!"
All of sudden everyone, those who were acquainted with Angelus (apart from Willow, who knew the full story), shouting over one another at the slayer causing her to cower slightly, tears began to form in her eyes once again.
Willow jumps from her spot, bring a couple of fingers to her mouth and whistles loudly gaining everyone's attention. "Hey!" She then goes over to Buffy wrapping an arm around her, "a few things. You're all scaring her, don't you think she's scared enough. Her whole life is about to change, she doesn't need you all…being…well" Willow gestures to Xander, Giles and even Oz with a glare. "Shouty. And anyways when Buffy and Angel…" She stops herself sudden uncomfortable with what needed to be said. "He was human." Willow eventually huffs out.
"Huh?" Five voices all at once come out making the exact same sound. Xander stops pacing, Giles freezes from continually cleaning his glasses. Anya falls onto the chair next to Spike, while she hadn't been there when Angel had been Angelus; she knew all about the famous wicked vampire. Oz just opens and closes his mouth as he looks to Buffy and then Willow. He knew that Willow knew something. Spike sits up properly looking between the slayer and the witch with bewilderment.
Willow looks to Buffy waiting for her to say something, Buffy instead nods her head for Willow to tell them. Willow gives Buffy a smile in understanding however before she says anything she leads Buffy back over to the couch and sits her down. "You okay?" Willow asks, not caring that everyone in the room wanted answers. She wanted to make sure her best friend was okay primarily. Buffy nods her head unable to say anything, Willow gives Tara a look hoping the woman would understand what was being asked off her. Tara nods her head and moves closer to Buffy.
Tara didn't really know much of what was happening other than Buffy being pregnant and judging by the reactions of everyone around no-one seemed to be too happy with the father of the child. Tara wraps an arm around Buffy trying to bring her comfort.
Once Willow knew that Buffy was okay, she stands up heading back over to the gang that were waiting for her. The witch begins to explain everything to them from what she knew of what had occurred between Buffy and Angel exactly 2 months ago. Tell them all about the Mohra demon they had encountered to the deal that Angel made with the Oracles so that he could be a vampire again in order to keep Buffy safe.
After Willow finished telling them all of the tale to the point of Buffy remembering everything and finding out she is pregnant from the day that is supposed to have been forgotten. Everyone was sat around the table, each nursing a cup of strong tea, Spike had also joined them blowing his hot cup of tea before taking a sip.
Both Tara and Buffy stayed on the sofa, Buffy continuing to cry on the dark-haired woman's legs as Tara ran her hand through the blonde's hair trying to soothe her. Listening in on the story that was being told. Tara could see not just of how Buffy behaved but from her aura alone, of how much of Angel's decision has done in destroying Buffy emotional and mentally.
Giles gets up from his seat and walks round to the sofa, he places himself in front of Buffy leaning down to her. He strokes her face in a fatherly manner.
"I'm sorry." Buffy croaks out as she stares at him tears slipping down her cheeks.
"You have nothing to be sorry for." He whispers to her, "does he know?" Giles asks her. Buffy's lips begin to quiver, and she shakes her head. He nods his head in understanding.
"I…I don't want him knowing." Buffy sniffles out, she sits up and wipes under her eyes and cheeks from the wetness that is lingered there from her constant tears. She gives Tara a soft thankful smile which she gets one in return.
"What?" Xander and Spike say together, they look at one another and glare before looking over to the back of the blonde.
"Oh…" Giles says frowning, as he moves over to sit on the coffee table opposite the couch.
"Buffy…" Willow hesitantly calls out. She knew of Buffy's reasons and knew what the slayer wanted to do but she doesn't agree to her.
"Look, I know okay but…I just need to get my own head around it before anything. He has his own life in Los Angeles and I'm here." Buffy states to them sadly.
Spike shakes his head, he leaps from his chair, he calls Buffy out, "That's such crap."
"Excuse me?" Buffy turns to face the bleached blonde from her seat, eyes narrowing at him.
"It's all shit and you know it." He walks over to her, pointing a finger at her. "You don't like that he decided something without you" Buffy turns her head away from him, he knew that what he just said was the truth. "Now you're going to punish him by not telling him that he is going to be a father. That's harsh slayer even for you. I might not like the bloke half the time" He pauses and cocks his head to the side before shrugging his shoulders, "well all the time. He's a twat with a soul. But even he deserves to know." Spike preaches to her.
Buffy stands up, walking over to him. She wants to retort something back to him, to give him a piece of her mind, tell him that he was wrong. But the words wouldn't form. Instead, for the second time that day she bursts into uncontrollable tears.
"Please…don't say anything to him." Buffy sobs out, trying her hardest to stop herself from crying. She kept sniffling, rubbing either her nose or eyes in the hopes it would stop. She was a sight for sore eyes, not that anyone thought to tell her as much. "I will tell him; I just need some time." Buffy promises to Spike.
Spike eventually nods his head in agreement.
Buffy gives him a watery smile, "Thank you." She whispers.
"I'll do the patrolling for now on until..." gesturing to her stomach.
"Spike, you don't have to…"
"Yes, I do, even if he isn't here. He will throw the biggest tantrum known to man if he finds out that you're slaying whilst pregnant. I wouldn't hear the end of his bitching."
"Thank you." Buffy gives him a soft smile gazing her green eyes up at him.
"Don't worry about it." Spike says, he walks over to the door and leaves the apartment. He needed to get out of there before he gets robed into doing anything else. At least if he patrols, he can do damage to something or someone.
Back inside the apartment, Giles places his hands on his legs and stands up. "Right well I guess we ought to start looking into this." He goes over to the bookcase and starts pulling out random books. "How this came to be? There must be a prophecy or something?" Buffy glares at Giles. "I'm sorry Buffy, but from what I know of the Oracles, which isn't much. They always have something up their sleeves. It doesn't make sense to have erased the day but left you pregnant and then with the dreams of you remembering."
Buffy looks down to her feet, she knew Giles was right. There must be a reason for this to be happening but it doesn't mean she didn't like it. She didn't want her child to be a part of this world.
Yet, she knew that it is just wishful thinking. Her child is going to be hunted, wanted and used against her but even knowing that she couldn't part from him.
He is hers and Angel's. She couldn't walk away from that. He's not even here and she loves him more than anything in the world.
She just has to make sure that no-one knows and that she protects him at all costs.
A few hours later after doing intensive research into the Oracles, prophecies, mystical pregnancies, and previous slayers. The Scooby Gang decided to call it a night after getting nowhere. Giles moaned a few times about wanting to contact Wesley in order to see what he might know or even Angel. Every time that he did, he would either get glared at by either Buffy or Willow. Buffy for not wanting Angel to know yet and Willow because if Buffy wasn't glaring, she burst into floods of tears every time he mentioned Angel's name. In the end the older man just began to mutter under his breath about the whole situation.
Anya and Xander had been the first to leave, quickly saying their goodbyes and practically ran out of the front door. Oz had originally waited for Willow however she told to go on without her and that he would see her tomorrow. He brooded for a moment before nodding his head, leaving Tara, Willow, and Buffy with Giles. Not long after he left, Tara said her goodbyes and went to leave, Willow also said her goodbyes and followed Tara out.
Outside of Giles' apartment Willow hastily catches up with Tara, "Tara, can I talk to you for a second. I need help with something, like a big something."
Tara gives her a smile, "sure Willow, what can I help with?"
The women continue to walk towards Sunnydale College, heading towards their dorms, "do you know anything about curses? More specifically gypsies' curses?" Willows asks, Tara turns to look at Willow and frowns slightly. Willow then begins to explain everything and what she wanted to achieve with her fellow witch. All along the way to the college, Tara listened, paying close attention to the details.
Eventually, after a few minutes of silence Tara speaks up, "I think I could help, I might know a person. But I cannot promise anything Willow."
The next afternoon, Buffy walks into the house of Revello Drive. "Hey mom." Buffy calls out to her mother. It was Friday afternoon, a day in which her mother and her would get together weekly for a catch up and have dinner together.
"Hey Buffy, you, okay?" Her mother walks out of the kitchen into the dinner room, wiping her hands on the towel that she held.
"Yep, you?" Buffy smiles, placing her bag onto the dining table.
Joyce takes a breath, it was now or never. "So, I had an interesting call today from the doctor's office."
Buffy's eyes grow wide, her heart begins thump rapidly. "Oh…oh." Buffy face drains as she stares at her mother. She had completely forgot that her mother would get called from them regarding the insurance. Or something among those lines, she never did quite understand it all.
"So, am I expecting to be a grandmother in the next 7 months?" Joyce remarks, her face blank not giving anything away.
"I was going to tell you." Buffy says weakly.
Joyce closes her eyes for a moment before looking back at her daughter, her eyes blazing in rage. "How could you be so irresponsible?" She hisses.
"It's not like I went out I deliberately got myself knocked up." Buffy retorts back.
Joyce takes a breath trying to calm herself down, she knew getting angry and shouting wouldn't do either of them any good. "Buffy, you have your whole life ahead of you, do you really want to be tied down to a child at 19. That's if I assuming you're keeping it. How will this affect slaying? Does Giles know?"
"I'm keeping him mom." Buffy murmurs, her hands going down to her stomach.
Joyce feels the wind knocked out from her as she looks at her now pregnant daughter. Her eyes beginning to soften, she pulls a chair out and sits down. "Him? It's a boy, you already know it's a boy."
"No, I don't but I just have a feeling." Buffy shrugs. "And don't worry about slaying, Spike is covering it for me. And Giles found out last night…"
"Giles knew before me!" Joyce shouts out.
"Mom…" Buffy starts, in attempt to calm her mother down. She sits down next to her mother and grabs one of her hands.
"Wait a second, do you even know who the father is?"
"Yes, I do…" Buffy states, playing with her mother's sleeve looking down.
"Who? Do I get to know." Joyce inquires, she pulls her arm away from Buffy wanting her attention and answers.
Buffy doesn't look up and mutters, "it's Angel's…"
Joyce frowns, unsure if she heard properly but she is pretty sure her daughter said Angel. Which would be impossible as far as she is aware Buffy hasn't seen Angel for months. Not since Graduation. Besides, from what Giles had explained to her, vampires couldn't have children. Maybe she had just misheard her daughter, "excuse me?"
"It's Angel's." Buffy repeats louder, she looks at her mother out the corner of her eyes trying to read her reaction. Joyce's breath hitches at the answer as an uncomfortable silence fills the room.
So many thoughts rushed through Joyce's mind, she quickly stands up and begins to pace in front of Buffy. "What!? How…I thought vampires couldn't have children…wait a moment…when did you even see him?" Joyce looks at Buffy almost like she was trying to search for something within her daughter. Her mind completely scattered, part of her was thrilled that she was going to be a grandmother however another part of her worried. She had wanted to avoid this for Buffy, especially with him being in involved.
"I saw him over Thanksgiving when I went to see Dad…" Buffy clarifies, she looks back down to the ground not wanting to see the disappointment.
Joyce lets out a huff and sits down. "And you're keeping…the child?"
"Yes." Buffy automatically replies not even thinking about it.
"Is it human?"
Buffy looks at her mother horrified with the question. "MOM! Yes, Angel was human when we…"
"What?" Joyce looks at her daughter in a daze.
Buffy explains everything to her mother, somehow it was easier to tell her mother everything than it had been with the gang. They both had shared some tears, Joyce held her daughter at one point as she sobbed everything out to her. Joyce didn't like it one bit but she knew her daughter, while young, would only ever love the vampire.
Joyce pulled Buffy away from her, holding onto her cheeks. Wiping the tears away from her red cheeks, "I don't like it Buffy. But it is your choice. I will help but Buffy you have to finish college and maybe it would be best if you move back home." Joyce tells her.
"Thank you." Buffy whispers and nods her head. The mother and daughter duo smile at one another before hugging again.
Buffy knew then that everything was going to be alright. At least she hoped.