Title: A New Slayer 2/9
Author: Jadedragon177
Disclaimer: Not mine, Buffy and company belong to Joss, Mutant Enemy and the WB and UPN. Can I keep Giles, please?

June

Giles was glad to finally be home.

He and Nikki had gotten in on the 11:30 p.m. flight from London, rented a car and driven straight toward his condo, where they should arrive in about 15 minutes. He couldn't wait to surprise the Scooby gang and hoped that they could help him with Nikki and her problems. She had been raised at the Council's complex in Liverpool after her parents had been killed when she was only eight. The horror of the accident that had killed not only her parents but both of her brothers had left her shattered and emotionless, almost robot like. Her fighting technique was flawless, but she had no imagination and they had almost been killed several times because of that. He had tried everything he could think of to reach the scared child he knew was deep inside her emotionless exterior. From what he'd been able to learn, her childhood had been normal up until the Council had taken her in. But being raised by their strict rules had stolen her childhood and she was a hard young girl with no joy in her life. Giles ached for her and her lost innocence.

Giles couldn't wait to see Buffy. He had never thought that he would miss her so very terribly and had continued having vivid dreams of making love to her since the night of her 25th birthday. They were so real he could feel her in his arms. Some mornings, he would even find himself in tears because it had been a dream and not real. He knew that he would have to talk to her and take a chance that she might be able to feel about him the way he felt about her.

Giles was scared. He didn't want to lose Buffy's friendship, but he wanted her so badly, there were nights he couldn't sleep. He knew that he had to take the chance and be honest with her about his feelings.

**********

Buffy was having trouble sleeping and thought she heard someone at the door. She was up quickly, threw her robe on and grabbed the quarterstaff she had started keeping by the bed because it was the easiest weapon for her to use now. She was halfway down the stairs when the door opened and a young girl came in, attacking her before the lights came on. Buffy was defending herself, but was finding it a losing battle. The girl was faster than she was and getting under her guard. She couldn't see who was with the girl as she was concentrating on protecting her unborn child.

"Nikki, Buffy, stop!" Giles called in a loud commanding tone as the lights came on. Buffy had never heard him use that tone of voice.

The girl stepped back and Buffy put down the quarterstaff, as she sat down hard on the step, fear on her face very clear. Giles seeing Buffy so scared quickly stepped over to her.

"Buffy, are you alright?" Giles asked as he laid his hand on her shoulder.

Buffy looked up into the eyes of the man whose child she carried and saw in his eyes fear and concern. A shocked expression slowly came over his face, as he looked at her, his gaze moving to her stomach and the gentle roundness of it.

"Buffy?" was all he said, an expression of disbelief on his face. She had never seen him speechless.

"Giles, is this Buffy?" asked the young girl who looked to be about 10, both had forgotten about.

"Y-yes, Nikki. P-please make yourself at home. Buffy and I have to talk!" before Buffy could protest he took her hand and walked with her to the study and closed the door. He led her to a loveseat and sat her down on it. For several minutes he paced and said nothing, still in shock at finding her carrying his child.

"Why, Buffy? Why did you use that spell?" he finally asked her angrily, realizing what he had felt the morning after her 25th birthday had been the magickal residue of a spell used in the middle ages to trap men into marriage. "Using a spell you knew nothing about was dangerous. Haven't you learned anything from Willow's mistakes? Did you even know what the consequences could have been?" he drilled her, the anger in his voice more that she had ever heard from him.

"I knew that I would conceive..." she started in a small voice.

"I'm not talking about that," he paused before continuing. "There were many instances where the ingredients weren't mixed properly and the young girl was raped and some even died from their injuries! Buffy, how do you think I would have felt if I had raped or hurt you?"

"Giles, Allie didn't say..."

"Most people haven't studied magick like I have and don't know the consequences of the ancient spells," he told her in a clipped, precise voice. "Why do you think I have been so slow to teach Willow? I wanted to make sure she knew the basics backward, forward and inside out so she wouldn't make a mistake that could lead her or others to harm. Did Willow help you with this?" he asked, the anger in his voice growing with each statement.

"No. She didn't know about it. Giles, I'm sorry," she told him, tears falling, knowing she would have to admit to him exactly how she felt and hope she hadn't ruined their friendship.

"Buffy, if I had hurt you in any way, it would have killed me," he admitted, in a softer voice. "You still haven't told me why?" he pleaded with her.

"I was losing you. I was no longer the Slayer and didn't need you as my Watcher, but I needed you, the man. I love you and wanted to make love to you, but knew you thought of me only as a daughter, not a lover," she looked into his shocked expression before continuing. "When I found the spell, and realized that I could have a night, one single night with you and have your child, it was a dream come true. I had lost you to another Slayer. I didn't want to hurt you, I only wanted to love you, to have one night with you." She told him the tears streaming down her face.

"Buffy, why didn't you tell me how you felt?" Giles asked with disbelief on his face, his anger evaporating.

"I didn't want you to reject me. I couldn't lose you. I love you too much," she said as she broke down, sobbing.

"Buffy, look at me," he said as he brought her face up to his, no longer angry, "I have loved you so long and never thought that you would love me as a man. I have dreamed of that night this entire time, wanting you so badly it hurts," he told her as he gently took her into his arms.

She pulled from his gentle embrace and looked into his eyes, not believing what she had just heard. "You love me? You truly love me?" she asked in a small, unsteady voice.

"Buffy, my luv, you are the other half of my soul," Giles told her as he kissed her gently. When they broke apart, love shining in their eyes, they heard fighting in the living room and both ran to see what was happening.

**********

Spike saw the lights on at Giles' and wondered if Buffy was having nightmares again. Several times over the last couple of weeks, she'd had dreams, nightmares really, which seemed like prophecies. It had something to do with an orange horned demon opening the Hellmouth and setting his brethren free. She had seen the death of Xander, Willow and her mom in different versions of the dreams and had finally called Angel and company. They would be arriving in the morning before sunrise and would be staying in the mansion. When he realized that the door wasn't locked, he entered quickly and quietly. As soon as he entered, he was attacked by a young girl with a stake, barely managing to keep it away from vital parts before he managed to grab both of her hands pinning her to the wall, calling out to Buffy.

"Slayer, get in here." He called for Buffy before turning back to the girl he had pinned. "If you have hurt her or her child..."

"Spike, it's ok, I'm ok." Buffy told him as she ran to reassure the vampire that she was safe. "Spike, this is Nikki, Giles' new Slayer. Nikki, this is Spike, he's a vampire, but he has been helping to keep an eye on the Hellmouth for the last couple of months." Buffy told the new Slayer.

Nikki looked at her and Spike like they were crazy. < A Slayer and a vampire working together? > "The only good vampire is a dead one. Tell her Giles." Nikki said in an unemotional voice.

"Nikki, mostly that is correct. But here in Sunnydale, there are two that help us. Spike is one, the other is Angel, who lives in LA and actually runs a detective agency." Giles explained in a tired voice.

"Rupert, it's good to have you back, mate."

"Ah, thanks, Spike, it's good to be back, I think," Giles told him, wondering why he would be here at this time of the night.

"Giles, would you put some tea on and I'll explain everything in a moment." She said as she headed down the hall toward the bathroom. When she got back Giles had the tea tray on the coffee table and had just poured her a cup.

"I'll begin with Spike, as I said he's helping patrol. I kept up patrolling a couple of times a week, then about two months ago, attacks increased so I increased the patrols, but when my condition became too apparent I was told in no uncertain terms that I was not to continue patrolling. The Scooby Gang, Wang and Spike have been taking turns to keep things quiet here. I have been more of a coordinator of the action, so to speak, since they won't let me join them. The reason Spike is checking on me, and I had the quarterstaff by my bed, is that there have been a several attacks on me by the non- vampire population. Nothing serious, mind you, but Spike keeps close tabs on me and lives here in the basement.

"Buffy why are you living here and not with Willow and Tara?" Giles asked her.

"Giles, we were taking turns sleeping here then I realized that I slept better here than at home," she explained before continuing. "I have been having dreams over the last couple of weeks about an orange horned demon and we haven't been able to identify it or found any information on it. I'm glad you're back. We need your help, in more ways than one. Angel, Wesley, Cordy and Doyle will be coming in early in the morning, before sunrise. They'll be staying at the mansion, and Wesley will be bringing some texts that we don't have here.

Nikki couldn't believe what she was hearing. The old Slayer had friends who helped with her duties; that was unheard of. No one was supposed to know of a Slayer's identity except her Watcher and the Council and vampires helping the Slayer; that was sacrilege.

There was a knock on the door and Spike, being closest, answered it. He let Joyce in and she asked if Buffy was all right? Before he could answer she saw Giles and entered the living room.

"Mom, you're back early." Buffy said as she hugged her mom. "Mom, this is Nikki. She's the new Slayer."

"Nikki, it's nice to meet you. Rupert, welcome home."

"Joyce, it's good to be home, even with the surprises. Buffy has told us what has been happening around here and about the meeting tomorrow with Angel and company."

"I wanted to be here for the meeting, that's why I came back tonight. I drove by on my way home and saw the lights on," Joyce then turned to her daughter. "I'm sorry, Buffy, but you know how I worry, even with Spike here. I still say that you should get in touch with the father of this child and let him know. He could help you. He needs to take responsibility."

Giles cringed at Joyce's words. Even though he hadn't known until tonight, he agreed with Joyce that Buffy should have contacted him.

"Mom, I've talked to you about this before and I have told him and we will talk with you once we have had a chance to discuss what we want to do. He didn't know, I'll explain it to you later."

"Buffy does he even care?" Joyce asked concerned for her daughter and grandchild. "Why is he not here? He should take responsibility for his actions. He had his fun, now it's time to pay the piper," Joyce turned to Giles. "Rupert, maybe you can talk some sense into my stubborn daughter."

"Spike, would you take Nikki and show her your room, I need to talk to Mom and Giles alone," Buffy asked

"Sure thing, Pet. Come on Nikki, I'll give you the grand tour of 'Casa de Spike'" he told her as he led her from the room to the basement. Nikki went with him hesitantly, knowing that if she needed to she could stake him.

Joyce felt the tension in the room and saw Giles uneasiness. Buffy was not telling her something, and then she knew.

"Rupert, are you the father of Buffy's child?" Joyce asked not nearly as surprised as she thought she would be.

"Mom, he didn't know until he got home."

"Why didn't you tell him? How long had you been together?"

"Joyce, I.." Giles started.

"Giles, let me explain, you're not at fault here, I take full responsibility," she told him as she turned to her mother. "Mom, please listen and don't interrupt. I have been in love with Giles for several years and hid my feelings, scared that he could only see me as a daughter. Just before my birthday, I found a spell in one of Willow's books and saw a chance to have one night with him and have his child. It was selfish, I know that now, but I felt that I would never see him again, that I had lost him to his new Slayer. The spell left him with only a dream of making love to me. He didn't know it was anything but a dream until he saw me tonight. When he did, the spell was broken and in that instant he knew what I had done and that the child I carry is his. We haven't talked yet; so don't know what plans we'll make. But I have discovered that he does love me as much as I love him." She told her mother as she reached for Giles hand and looked lovingly into his eyes.

"Rupert, you really had no idea?" Joyce asked, not believing this could be the truth.

"Joyce, the night of Buffy's birthday, I dreamed the most vivid dream I have ever had. I never suspected that it was real until I saw Buffy and realized that she carried my child. The spell she cast is one which was used in the Middle Ages to entrap men into marriage by the aristocracy."

"Are you going to marry her?" Joyce demanded.

"Mom, that's for us to decide, not for you to pressure. We need to talk and you need to get home. Please Mom, we need to make decisions about what to do, besides finding out what is going on with the Hellmouth," Buffy pleaded with her mother.

Joyce saw the determination on her daughter's face and knew that she would accomplish nothing but getting Buffy more upset. She could see that Rupert truly loved her daughter and knew that he would do what was right. But she was still worried.

"Alright, I'll head home, but you need to get some sleep," she told her daughter, seeing the circles under her eyes. Buffy had not been sleeping well over the last several weeks because of the dreams she had been having.

"Yes mom, I'll go back to bed as soon as the sleeping arrangements have been made," she assured her.

"Buffy I have room, if someone needs to stay with me," Joyce offered.

"We'll be fine." She told her mom as she led her to the door and said good night. "I'll see you at the mansion about 10:00." She told her mom as she left to go home.

"Well that went better than I would have thought!" Giles said to Buffy as she sat back down on the couch beside him.

"Rupert, you should have been there when she told Joyce she was pregnant and wouldn't tell her who the father was. I've never seen Joyce so explosive." Spike told him as he and Nikki reentered the living room. "Hey, congrats, I figured that you might be the father."

"Giles, what sort of spell was that?" Nikki asked, curious about magick.

"Not one you need to know about, Nikki." Giles told the young Slayer.

"Nikki, would you mind taking the couch, I'd like Giles to sleep with me upstairs, if that's alright with you?" Buffy asked him.

"If that's what you want." he told her as Nikki said ok.

"I'll sleep better, if you're there. I hate sleeping alone," she told him as she headed for the loft and Spike went to the closet to gather a pillow and linens for Nikki.

Buffy took off her robe and got back into bed as Giles lay on top of the covers beside her. She turned to him and laid her head on his chest.

"I was so stupid, Giles, can you forgive me?"

"I've already forgiven you. Can you forgive me for being such a fool? I should have told you how I felt, but I was as scared as you were. It sounds like both of us were acting a rather foolishly. All I care about now is starting our life together with our child." He told her as he held her close in his arms. He looked down and saw that she was already asleep. He closed his eyes and was soon asleep himself.

**********

Buffy slowly woke up and felt the arms around her. She jerked back before she realized that it was Giles who held her.

"Well, good morning to you, too," he greeted her with a smile.

"I'm not used to waking up with anyone," she apologized, as she cuddled back into his arms.

"It's alright, luv. We both have some adjustments to make. I'm just glad to be home, mostly I'm glad to really hold you in my arms," he told her as they lay together, not saying a word, just enjoying the silence and the company of each other. The quiet didn't last long. Nikki called to them.

"Giles, I'm through in the shower, it's 8:30. Shouldn't we get moving if we have to leave here by 10:00?"

"Nikki, we'll be down in a few minutes," he called as he started to get up.

Buffy pulled him back, "What? No good morning kiss?" she said as she reached for his lips. It was several minutes before Giles made it downstairs to start tea while Buffy took her shower first. When she got out Giles had breakfast ready for the three of them. Nikki and Buffy ate while Giles got his shower. They were ready to leave at 9:45. They helped Spike to the trunk of Buffy's car then drove to the mansion to meet the others.

Giles was uneasy entering the mansion, even after all the years that had passed since Angelus had tortured him there. He had been there on occasion when it was necessary, but had quickly left. He knew that the mansion was more apt as a headquarters, but he still would rather have used anywhere else to gather in. He realized that he still had fears to overcome, but he knew that he could with his friends' help. He and Angel had come to an understanding and their friendship had improved over the last several years. Giles knew that he could count on him for help whenever it was needed. It would be good to see them; they had not been in Sunnydale for a while before Buffy's birthday party and he had seen them only briefly then, spending as much time with Buffy as he could.

Wesley met them at the door holding it open so Spike could run in before the sun did too much damage to the vampire. A large table was in the center of the room with a computer at one end where Willow was busily searching the net for information on the demons Buffy had been dreaming about. When Willow saw Giles, she jumped up from her computer and ran to him threw her arms around his neck and almost knocking him over with her exuberance.

"Giles, when did you get in? I missed you so much. Is your new Slayer with you? Have you seen Buffy?" Willow fired the questions at him.

"Willow slow down! Last night, I missed you too, yes and yes. And how many cups of coffee have you had this morning?" He asked her pointedly.

"Almost three," she answered shyly, like a little girl who had gotten caught with her hand in the cookie jar.

"Well then, no more coffee for you, young lady," Giles told her with a laugh as he untangled himself from her.

"Hey, G-Man, welcome back," Xander yelled as he approached from another room.

"Xander, please don't call me that!" Giles told him yet again, but with a smile on his face this time as the two of them exchanged a brief hug.

Buffy went to the door and let her mother in as everyone gathered around Giles to welcome him home. It felt so good to have him here, and even better to know that he loved her. They would talk later about themselves and their daughter, she had not even told him they were going to have a little girl.

Nikki watched as all these strangers greeted her Watcher. They swarmed over him like ants over chocolate. How could he stand all those people clambering around him, smothering him? How could he breathe? It was chaotic, totally unordered and out of control. Her vision went black for a moment then she saw him being attacked, pushed in a corner, vampires surrounding him. < It couldn't happen again! She couldn't let another Watcher die because of her. > She attacked the group surrounding her Watcher, pulling them away and throwing them to the side.

"Paul, Paul, answer me!" she called as she threw Xander across the room and shoved Cordelia away into Doyle, before Wesley, Wang, Spike and Angel wrestled her to the floor and pinned her down.

Giles went immediately to Nikki, calling her name.

"Nikki, it's alright," motioning for Wesley, Wang and Angel to let go and move back while he motioned Spike to let go but to stay where he was across from him at Nikki's shoulder. "Nikki, it's alright," he told her again in a soft soothing voice, talking to her as if she were a small scared child. "These are my friends, my family. They won't hurt you or me," Giles assured the scared girl.

"Paul, where is Paul?" she asked in a panic stricken voice, looking everywhere. She looked at Spike and grabbed him "Paul, you're ok? Where have you been?"

Spike looked at her and then at Giles not knowing what to do. The girl was obviously having a flashback of some traumatic event. "Nikki, my name is Spike, not Paul." Seeing Giles nodding at him he continued. "We just met last night, remember?"

"Yes, you're not Paul, he's dead! I got him killed!" she remembered, shaking her head, coming back to herself.

"There, there, Pet. I'm sure it wasn't your fault," Spike told the scared girl, pushing her hair out of her eyes.

Giles took her hands and turned her toward him, "Nikki, its Giles, remember, your Watcher."

"No! I don't want to be responsible for another death!" she screamed as Giles took her into his arms soothing her as one would a small child. "Shh, let Spike and me take you to a bedroom where you can lie down and rest." He picked her up and carried her to the room where Angel directed him and laid her down on the bed as he stood beside her. She was immediately asleep. Once she was sleeping, Giles led Spike and Angel out of the room back to where everyone was waiting for them.

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