Title: Love, Hellmouth Style 15-16
Author: Gileswench
Contact: gileswench@yahoo.com
Feedback: Constructive criticism always welcome. Praise abjectly sought.
Disclaimer: It all belongs to Joss, Mutant Enemy, etc., etc., etc. I just let them have all the fun Joss won't. I own nothing except my twisted mind which you really don't want. Please don't sue.



Buffy stared at the man as if he'd announced he was from Mars.

"My father-in-law? Then that means you're..."

Giles joined her at the door and placed his hands protectively on her shoulders.

"I didn't expect you. What are you doing here?" His voice was mild, but Buffy could feel the tension in his hands.

"What did you expect? I haven't heard a single word from you since you came to this Godforsaken country, and then you call to say you've married your Slayer. I'm here to put an end to this nonsense."

The elder Mr. Giles curled his lip as he looked at Buffy. She suddenly felt small, insignificant, and far, far too young to be married. an unconscious hand moved to her hair which she had worn in pigtails so it wouldn't get in the way while they were moving Anya. She suddenly knew in her heart of hearts that she looked like she was twelve years old in her grubby jeans and sneakers. She felt herself shrink against her husband's chest.

As if he knew what she was thinking, Giles gave her shoulders a light, reassuring squeeze.

"Buffy, luv, would you go make us some tea?" He kissed the top of her head lightly as he stepped away from the door to let his father in.

"Yeah, sure." She went into the kitchenette and prepared the tray as Giles and his father moved into the living room and sat sizing one another up like wrestlers preparing for a fight.

The silence wore on. Finally Mr. Giles broke it.

"Rupert, you can't seriously believe this will be allowed."

"Can't I? I'd like to know who has the right to stop us." Buffy heard his voice slip into a slightly more refined version of what she thought of as his Ripper accent.

"She's a child and the Slayer."

"She's a woman, and my wife."

"She's right here!" Buffy's voice floated out from the pass through. "If you're gonna talk about me, you could at least let me do some of the talking."

Mr. Giles glared at the girl.

"Where are you staying?"

"I had assumed that you would have a room for me."

"We haven't. I'll book you a hotel room."

"Rupert..."

"You've had a long flight and I'm sure you're very tired. Had we known you were coming, we could have taken care of this in advance, but since you chose to surprise us, we'll simply have to do the best we can under the circumstances."

"Dammit, son..."

Giles turned on him in a fury. "Don't call me that! You lost that right years ago." He swallowed his rage and picked up the phone. "I think you'll find the Sunnydale Inn comfortable. We'll talk again later, if you insist upon it."

*****

Joyce and Crystal had spent a quiet evening together assassinating Hank Summer's character. The older woman had been pleasantly surprised at how well she and Crystal got along. It was almost like having a daughter at home again. Not that she and Buffy had ever sat and talked this way. That was difficult to do with someone who kept as many secrets as Buffy did. Crystal was easier to get to know than Buffy. Joyce felt a small stab of guilt at the thought.

But it passed.

*****

Xander and Anya kept low to the ground, stakes at the ready, as they patrolled Restview Cemetery.

"Why are we doing this? Buffy's the Slayer. This is her job."

"An, she's having a baby. This is too dangerous for her now."

"Nu-uh. She just wants us to do her job for her."

"We volunteered for this."

"You volunteered us. I wanted to be in our home, in our bed, having sex, but no, you wanted to come out here and stake vampires. This is our first night living together. We shouldn't be doing violence. Or if we are, it should be the fun kind. Like spanking, or using my new fur- lined handcuffs."

Xander's eyes glazed over. He shook his head to clear it.

"We can do that after we get home, Anya. In fact, after that, I'm pretty much gonna need to do something when we get home. But right now, we have to keep our eyes open."

"How much longer do we have to do this?"

"Not long. In fact, I think we're not gonna see anything toni...damn."

"What? What is it?"

"Over there." Xander pointed. "Harmony. And she's got somebody with her."

"Who is it?"

"I dunno, but he's in for one hell of a stakin', let me tell you."

Anya let a quiet squeal of delight. "Say that again. It made you sound all manly and strong."

"Focus, An. Keep to the shadows and stay quiet. We're going in."

The two crept along the row of headstones as quietly as they could manage. Just as they were upon their prey, Anya stepped on a twig and it broke. The sound was like a firecracker to their heightened senses - and those of the two vampires.

"Who's there?" Harmony whirled around to see. She put her hands on her shapely hips. "Is that you, Spike? If it is, I'm not going back to you. You can beg and plead all you want. Really. I mean it this time."

"I don't think it's him." Parker sniffed the air. "It doesn't smell like a vampire. It smells human."

Harmony smiled and clapped her hands. "Ooooh, that's my clever baby! Where is it?"

He led his Sire to where Xander and Anya cowered.

"Harmony. Long time no hair pulling. Look, just forget you saw us, and we won't tell Buffy where you are. Deal? Good. We'll be on our way." Xander grabbed his girlfriend's hand and tried to leave. Parker blocked his way.

"Oh I don't think so. I don't think you're ever leaving here again."

He and Harmony slid into game faces.

*****

Giles tossed his keys on the coffee table and dropped into the easy chair with a deep sigh. After a moment, he tugged off his glasses and ran his hand back through his hair. Buffy approached him with some caution.

"Hey."

He smiled wanly at her. "Hey to you, too."

"You okay?"

"Not really, no."

"You want to talk about it?"

"No."

She went to him and took his hand. "You don't have to deal by yourself, y'know."

As if propelled by some unseen force, Giles sprung from the chair and clung to Buffy. He wrapped his arms around her fiercely.

"I won't let them take you from me. I won't!"

"Shhhh, it's okay, Honey. That's not gonna happen." She rubbed his back as she whispered comforting words.

He cupped Buffy's face, bringing his lips to hers. The kiss was one of possession more than passion, but Buffy accepted it hungrily.

"I need you, Buffy. You're my life."

"You're not gonna lose me, Rupert. You're my life too." She took his hand and guided it to her flat belly. "We've made a baby together. That connects us forever. There's nothing in this world that will take me from you."

With that, Giles swept her into his arms and carried her up the stairs. He placed her carefully on the bed, then lay beside her. His kisses devoured her, his hands roamed her body as if to assure himself she was still there.

*****

"Anya, run!"

Harmony grabbed the former demon by the throat.

"I don't think you're going anywhere. Parker, you can eat Xander. I'll take this one." She bared her fangs and moved in for the kill.

"No way! I want the girl. I don't eat guys."

Harmony stared at her childe.

"What did you say?"

"I won't eat a guy. I'm not a faggot!"

"Fine, I don't want you to screw him. I want you to rip his throat out. Not the same thing, hetero boy!"

Xander took advantage of their distraction to jam his stake into Parker's chest, but missed the heart.

"Hey! Stop that! You can't kill my childe!" Harmony knocked Xander several feet into a headstone, where he lay stunned. Anya grabbed the cross from her purse and ran to her boyfriend's side. The vampires hissed at her, but dared not approach.

"You haven't seen the last of me, Xander Harris! You, you...loser!" The vampiress hauled her errant childe away, keeping a firm grip on his ear. Parker could be heard yelling in pain for some distance.

"Xander, are you alright?"

He sat up slowly and felt his head for lumps or blood.

"Yeah, An, I think I'm okay."

"You could have been knocked out. Like Giles always is."

She threw her arms around his neck in relief.

"It's okay, Honey, I'm fine." He kissed her. "Let's go home, okay?"

The two left the cemetery holding one another for assurance.

*****

Giles entered Buffy in one hard stroke. He kissed her deeply as he thrust into her again and again. Buffy clung to him. Her breathless cries of pleasure filled his ears, her aroused scent perfumed the air, her tight wetness surrounded his cock. All he was aware of was Buffy. All he wanted was Buffy. All he needed was Buffy.

With a shout, he filled her womanhood. He collapsed on Buffy and lay panting, yet still kissing her.

"Shhh, Rupert, it's okay. I'm here. I'm not going anywhere. I love you."

Finally, Giles seemed to recover himself. He rolled so he lay on his back with Buffy still straddling his hips. He stroked back the hair from her face in the comforting Giles-ey gesture she so loved.

She couldn't help a giggle at that point.

"That was some wild ride, Mr. Toad."

"I'm sorry..."

"No. You don't apologize for that. It was really hot. I loved it, I love you, and you can do that again any time."

"Th-thank you. I was more concerned that...well I'm not certain the baby appreciated that quite as much as you and I did."

"It's fine. No problems in there." She ruffled his chest hair affectionately. "I'm happy that you care about that, but it'll be a few months before the kid stops us having sex. And then it'll be because it needs it's diapers changed or something."

"I love you both, you know."

"And we love you. Wanna tell me why you were so wigged?"

"Not especially."

"You have to sometime. I think it needs to be soon."

"Soon, I promise. But tonight, I just need to be sure of you."

He pulled her down for another kiss.

"I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."

She began to move gently above him as he re-hardened within her.

PART 16

Joyce stared at the words. They made no sense to her.

"This is about Buffy?"

"And the rest of us, although I haven't quite deciphered who some of the people involved are. Three who Watch, well, I can only assume that I am one of them, and that Wesley is another. As for the third...it could be anyone on the Council. The Fallen Angel is clearly Angel, which means he will be involved in some way at some point, although his role is unclear to me. The Slayer is Buffy, of course..."

You mean my grandchild is going to be the Bringer of Light? What does that mean?"

"I wish I knew. Unfortunately, many of the prophecies can only be fully interpreted after the fact. Still, it's obvious that this child is terribly important to the future of the world."

"Does Buffy know about this?"

"Not yet. I found it after she left this evening. Ever since the incident with The Master, I try not to bring up this book unless it's absolutely necessary. She...um...dislikes it rather intensely."

"The incident with The Master?"

"Yes, that was when she was sixteen. When she...when she...um...she died. It was prophesied in this book."

Joyce nodded slowly. "So that's when it happened. She would never tell me about it."

"It was the night of the Spring Fling." Giles rubbed his jaw absently. "If it hadn't been for Xander...well, it's something I don't like to think about if it can be helped."

"You were in love with her even then. I should have seen it."

"No, I wasn't, not as such. At least, I didn't think of her in those terms at the time. I simply wanted her to be safe. I still do, Joyce. I know you don't approve of our marriage, and I'm not entirely certain I blame you, but I love Buffy and I will die before I let anything happen to her or our child. I make you that promise."

"You're right. I've never approved of your relationship with Buffy. I still don't. But, there's nothing I've ever been able to do about it." She hesitated briefly before continuing. "She feels the same way about you. She would die for you."

"I know. She already has. I won't let it happen again."

"You'd damn well better not."

The two shared a tight smile as they rose. Giles helped Joyce put on her coat and escorted her to the door.

"Oh, by the by, Buffy and I would like to hold Thanksgiving here this year, if that's alright with you. We thought we'd make a grand announcement then about the baby."

Joyce wanted to be angry with Giles. She wanted to want to punch him in the face. Somehow, though, when she saw the glow in his eyes when he mentioned Buffy or the baby, she couldn't quite remember to hate him so much.

"I'll bring the wine. What time?"

*****

"So, Crystal, how'd you like your first frat party?"

"It was nice, only..." She shrugged and walked a bit faster.

"Only what? Did something happen?"

Crystal stopped and looked at Buffy. "It's nothing. Just, there was this boy, and I thought he liked me, but when I came back from the bathroom, he was gone. That's all. It's nothing new."

"Look, Crystal, I probably should have said something to you before, but the reason he didn't come back was I told him not to."

"Why did you do that? Buffy, I was making a friend! He was really nice."

"No, he's really not. Trust me. I know."

"How? How do you know?"

Buffy looked stubbornly at the ground. "I just do. He's not the sort of person you want to know."

"Why? Because he's not friends with you? You don't seem to want me to know anybody but your friends."

"What are you talking about? We just took you to a party so you could meet people."

"And then you chased off the only person there who wanted to talk to me. Why?"

"He was no good, Crystal. You've got enough to worry about between Daddy and the baby without getting involved with him."

"This is about Hank, isn't it? What, you don't want me to cheat on him? He cheated on me, Buffy! He left me! And now I can't have a conversation with a boy? I wouldn't have come here if I'd known you were gonna go all get thee to a nunnery on me."

"I'm not pulling a Hamlet on you, honest..."

"Look, I'll just walk alone from here, if it's okay with you."

"You can't do that."

"Why not? I don't need you to hold my hand all the time."

"What has gotten into you tonight? Look, it's late, it's dark, you don't know Sunnydale very well, and you're pregnant. Not a good combo for safety. If you won't let me walk you back to Mom's place, at least let me call Rupert and have him give you a ride. I just want you and the baby to be safe."

"We'll be fine without you."

"Why are you so mad at me?"

"You made Parker leave so he wouldn't be with me."

"So he wouldn't use you."

"He wouldn't have used me!"

"Yes he would."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because he used me!"

*****

"I think Crystal had a good time tonight, don't you?" Willow crawled under the covers next to Tara.

"I'm not so sure. She seemed a little upset about something at the end."

"Really? I didn't see that."

"Well, she's not the yelling kind, so it's a little subtle, if I'm even interpreting it right."

"No, you have this way of seeing stuff that the rest of us don't, sometimes. I guess I just don't know Crystal very well yet. It's really weird to think she's Buffy's stepmom, when she's so...young. She's just a baby."

"It is funny to think about. But really, she's not that much younger than Buffy. The part I have trouble with is that she's Giles' mother- in-law."

"Okay, that's just plain scary."

"Don't worry, I'll keep you safe."

"How?"

"Snuggling."

The two giggled as they kissed. After a minute, Tara looked at Willow seriously.

"Did you notice something different about Buffy tonight?"

"Different? No. Different how?"

"Maybe it's nothing. I just thought something seemed a little...off. Not in a bad way, more a thoughtful way. Like there's something big on her mind."

"Well, there's lots of stuff going on with her and Giles right now..."

"This felt like something new. Like a presence maybe. I don't know."

"I don't know either, and it's late. If it's really important, she'll tell us."

"I know. I just was wondering. Now, where were we?"

The two embraced.

*****

"Where am I?"

Parker looked around his new surroundings in confusion. The last thing he remembered was leaving the party with this gorgeous blonde. Now he was waking up in what looked like the set of some horror movie. A young man with bleached hair and chipped black nail polish called out.

"Harm! Your dinner's woken up!"

"He's not my dinner Spikey - Spike! He's my childe."

"Yeah, whatever, he's come to any rate. Go do whatever it is you're going to do with him. Just don't make me watch."

The gorgeous blonde advanced on her new creation. She smiled broadly and clapped her hands in excitement.

"Ooh, this is so great! I made a childe! I never did it before, so I didn't know how you'd turn out. Y'know, some vampires make really stupid minion types and I didn't know if you'd be one of those, but you're so cute!"

"Looks don't equal brains, Harm. You ought to know at least that much."

"Shut up Spike! He's my childe and he's sweet."

"Oh, yeah, love the bovine look in his eyes. Can he even talk?"

"Of course he can talk!" She turned to her creation. "You can, can't you? Talk, I mean."

"Yeah, I can talk."

"See! I told you!"

Spike rolled his eyes. "Yeah, real intelligent. Regular chip off the old blockhead. I'm out of here. I need some ciggies."

"You mean you're going to go watch the Slayer screw her Watcher, don't you?! Oh, yeah, I know all about that, Spike!"

"So what if I'm watchin' them? Gotta get to know the habits of my prey, don't I?"

"You just want to pretend it's you! I think you should leave, Spike! Go away and don't come back!"

Spike slammed Harmony against the wall of the crypt.

"You're forgetting one thing, aren't you, Harm? This is MY bloody crypt! If you don't like what I'm doing, you can go get your own. And take your sodding childe with you. He gives me the creeps."

Pulling on his duster, Spike swept out of the door. Harmony gave an apologetic smirk to Parker.

"He's just a little cranky 'cause he can't kill things. Speaking of which, why don't we go find you someone to eat?"

Parker smiled and slid into game face.

*****

"Wow. He really...that was bad."

"So you get why I wigged now?"

"Yeah. I guess so." The two girls walked in silence for a few minutes.

"Buffy?"

"Yeah?"

"What's gonna happen to me?"

"We're gonna take care of you until you figure that out."

"What if I can't?"

Buffy slung a comradely arm around her stepmother's shoulders. "You will, Crystal. Maybe not tonight, but you will."

They walked up the front steps of Joyce's house. Crystal let them both in with her key. Buffy then went to the phone and called Giles to pick her up. She felt too tired to patrol that night.

Anyone who needed saving from vamps would just have to wait that night.

*****

The Bronze was swinging that night. Parker had no trouble finding a girl to dance with. When he led her into the alley for a quick kiss and a cuddle, she got the last hickey of her life.

Harmony watched, aglow with pride.

"That's my baby! Oooh, your first kill! Smile and say hemorrhage!"

She pointed the camera and clicked the shutter.


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