Title: Slayer Central chapter 25
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.



"Okay, so how long do we give him to notice?"

Tara's brow furrowed as she considered Cordelia's question.

"It has to be long enough to give him a chance of getting it right, but short enough that we're not sitting around waiting until the end of the world, which around here could be...um...any time.

"A week?" Crystal offered. "Does that seem like long enough?"

Cordelia pursed her lips in thought.

"Yeah, that sounds fair to me. So we're agreed? One week to notice a whole new me?"

The rest of the judges nodded.

"Great. That's one down, two to go. Any ideas?"

"Ice cream?"

The Seer shot a disgusted look at the Slayer.

"Is everything about you and your stomach lately?"

"Hey, I'm eating for two now. Can I help it if my kid likes yummy ice cream?"

*****

Giles lay in bed unable to sleep. He had to laugh a bit. Had it really been a recently as three months ago that he'd assumed he would be sleeping alone more or less every night for the rest of his life? Now he could barely shut his eyes at night if his wife was even on the next floor of the house.

There were moments when the sheer cacophony of living with so many people jarred Giles to his soul, but he found he rather liked it after so many years of loneliness. Most of all, however, he loved sharing his home and his life with Buffy.

Sighing, he turned the bedside light on and picked up another book on pregnancy and infant care. He was deeply fascinated with the entire process, while Buffy merely asked him to read up and give her what she called "the Cliff's Notes version" of things. As he replaced his glasses on his nose to read, there came a knock at the door.

Putting the book aside, Giles rose and pulled on his robe.

"Xander?"

"Hey, Giles. I couldn't sleep. Mind if I come in for a bit?"

"Be my guest."

"I'm not keeping you up, am I?"

"Not at all. Like you, I'm finding it rather difficult to get to sleep."

"Funny how fast you get used to it, isn't it? Having them there, I mean. Y'know, right next to you all warm, and womanly and everything."

"Yes, quite. I do understand."

"And then to know she's in the next room, plotting a terrible revenge on some guy for some unknown transgression against my ex...well, it's a little bit too much to cope with."

"Xander?"

"Yeah?"

"Did you wish to stay here tonight?"

"If it's okay with you, Giles."

"I suppose so, as long as you keep in mind that no matter how warm I am, I am not womanly."

"Got it."

*****

Buffy took Crystal with her to the kitchen. After all, as she told the others, she needed someone else to carry the tray with the ice cream.

The real reason was that they needed to talk.

"Look, I don't know how to say this, so I'm just gonna say it." Buffy hesitated. "Maybe you better sit down for this."

The girl took a chair and looked hard at her stepdaughter.

"What is it? Did you guys find Hank?"

"Maybe. I'm not sure yet."

"Did something happen to him? Is that why you didn't say in front of the others? Or do they already know?"

"No. Rupert and I are the only ones so far," Buffy assured her. "We don't want to say much until we know for sure what's going on. But I thought you and my Mom should probably know now. I'll talk to her tomorrow before the test."

"Test?"

Buffy sat, her mouth set in a hard line.

"The Watcher's Council says they either have him or know where he is. They won't even tell me which until I take some test tomorrow."

"What sort of test?"

"I don't know. It could be anything. The last one was really bad. Nearly got me killed."

Crystal shook her head.

"But what about your baby?"

"This is my Dad," Buffy replied simply. "I have to do it."

*****

Xander regarded the stack of books on the nightstand.

"You're really into this Dad thing, aren't you?"

"It isn't a matter of being 'into it', Xander. It's a matter of preparation. We are having a baby, and I wish to be prepared for any eventuality."

"Nice try, Big G, but I'm not buying it. You're already wrapped around the kid's finger, and I don't even know if it has fingers yet - but I'm betting you do."

Giles pulled a gray tee shirt from the dresser and headed out the door.

"I'll be back in a moment, Xander. Feel free to learn for yourself about my child's fingers."

Left to his own devices, Xander pulled a book from the stack. As he scanned the pages, he turned slightly green.

"Pictures from inside a woman's mommy-bits just shouldn't be published where any guy can see them."

A gentle rap on the door roused him from the page. He opened the door only to see Wesley on the other side.

"Ah, Giles I - Xander?"

"He's down the hall. Wanna wait?"

"Um, yes, thank you."

The former Watcher entered the room. Silence reigned for a time as the two men tried to decide what they could safely and comfortably talk about.

"Doing a bit of research, I see?"

Xander tossed the book on the bed as if it burned his fingers.

"What? No. Not really. Not for me. No babies yet, and probably not for a long time. Please don't tell Anya about this."

Wesley smiled.

"My lips are sealed."

*****

As Buffy and Crystal reached the landing, they saw Giles headed for the bathroom.

"Hey, sweetie," Buffy said balancing on her toes for a kiss.

"What are you doing out of bed, love?"

"Ice cream duty. We need it for inspiration."

"And it's getting heavy. I think I'll take this up now," Crystal told them as she moved away.

"Would you like some help with that?" Giles offered.

"No, I got it. See ya' later, Buffy."

The younger girl headed up the next flight of stairs.

"Smooth," Buffy commented. "What's with the shirt?"

"Ah, well, Xander was having some trouble sleeping and he's in our room now. I told him he could stay the night."

"But you never wear a shirt to bed. The last time you did was...oh. Xander's basement. Is this about the scars?"

"Buffy..."

"I know. You're embarrassed. But you shouldn't be."

"Did you tell Crystal about your father?"

Buffy couldn't stifle a smirk before her expression turned serious.

"Not as smooth as Crystal. Yeah. I told her."

"How did she take it?"

"I think she was trying really hard not to freak. More or less like me."

Giles pulled Buffy to him and stroked her back gently.

"If it gets too dangerous, I'm pulling you out. I know Hank is your father and you want to help him if he's in danger, but you have others to think of as well."

"I got it. Now, would you like a little help with that shirt, or can you put it on all by yourself?"

She felt a chuckle vibrate through Giles' chest.

"Would you like to give me a hand with it?"

"Thought you'd never ask!"

*****

"Okay, so we've got two now. One more to - Crystal. Great! Ice cream! Where's Buffy?"

Cordelia took the tray from the girl and passed the bowls around the room.

"I don't think she'll be back for a while. We ran into Rupert downstairs."

The Seer shook her head.

"She is such a traitor to chick solidarity."

"I think it's sorta sweet," Tara interjected.

"So what did you guys come up with while we were gone?"

"Well, I decided Buffy was onto something with the hide-and-seek motif, so we're going to hide something from Wesley and have clues written like riddles and some spells he has to break before he finds it."

"What are you gonna hide?"

"We hadn't really decided that yet," Willow told her. "I think it should be something really valuable."

"And what if he doesn't find it? I could lose one of the few nice things I have left. No way."

"Does it have to be a thing?" Crystal asked. "Could it be Cordelia?"

"That's what I said!" Anya exclaimed.

"It is sorta...fairy princessey, Cordy," Willow allowed. "And we'd know where you are and everything so you wouldn't be lost if he didn't find you."

"Fairy princessey, huh? I could be a fairy princess."

"I think that's Cordy-speak for 'yes'," Willow informed the others.

*****

As soon as the bathroom door was locked, Buffy and Giles melted into a passionate embrace.

"We haven't long, and we'll have to be quiet, love," he whispered.

"A quickie's okay," she told him. "And I promise to be mouselike."

She immediately broke her promise with a moan as he nipped at her earlobe.

"Naughty girl," he nuzzled into said ear.

Buffy giggled even as his words sent a shiver down her spine.

"You're not gonna spank me are you?"

Giles pulled back, startled.

"Sp - you don't want me to, surely?"

'Nope. But I'm sure you can come up with some other way to keep me in line."

"Oh I can come up with something, alright."

He pressed himself against her belly and pulled her hips to him.

"Is that enough to keep you quiet?"

"It's enough, but it usually doesn't keep me quiet."

"Then I suppose I'll just have to keep your mouth busy, won't I?"

Her laugh was swallowed in a deep, searching kiss.


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