Title: Yule Traditions, Past and Future 10/11
Author: Gileswench
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.
Midway through dinner, the phone rang. Buffy got up to answer it.
"Hello?"
"Buff?"
"Xander! You just called yesterday. Are you okay? Did something happen?"
"Yeah, I guess you could say that," Xander said. His voice sounded dull and shocky.
"Oh Xand," Buffy said sympathetically. "Debbie didn't pick today to break up, did she?"
There was a slightly hysterical giggle on the line.
"No. No breaking. Buffy...you know I said she's been real quiet and moody lately?"
"Yeah."
"She told me why today."
"And...?"
"She's having a baby. My baby."
"Really?" Buffy squealed. "Xander, that's great!" Her face fell. "It is great, isn't it?"
"We're going to the courthouse tomorrow and get the marriage license. It's just gonna be a small thing, Buff. Y'know, quick, so I don't have time to worry and freak and change my mind again."
"I don't think you'd bail this time. But maybe this is for the best. And I guess I might as well tell you right now, you're not the only one who's a daddy now."
"Um...Buffy...the last time we talked, you and Giles had been together about a day. You can't be knocked up already."
"No. I'm not. But it turns out Olivia was way back when. Looks like I'm a stepmom to a bouncing three year old boy."
"Harsh. Are you okay?"
"Actually...I'm great. So's Rupert. And Olivia's a whole lot better than I remembered. Not having to be jealous makes a real difference. Turns out she doesn't have devil horns. In fact, she's really nice."
"So I take it she's not there to take Giles away from you?"
"Wouldn't take him as a Christmas present. I liked her a whole lot better as soon as I knew that for sure. And Dominic's the cutest kid. Rupert wants to get him his own pony for when he comes to visit."
"Sounds like you're going into mom-mode. Should I be watching my mail for an announcement?"
"We...we've talked about it a little, but no decisions. We're taking things kinda one step at a time."
"I think Debbie and I got our steps a little backwards."
"It's all about the Snoopy dance. You're gonna be fine, Xander. I know you're gonna be a great husband and a terrific dad."
"How do you know that?"
"I know you."
"Hey, I gotta go, Buffy. These calls really eat up the long distance budget. Why don't you call me tomorrow and give me all the dirt. I want to be one-up on Will for once, okay?"
"You got it. One big order of dirt, coming right up. Tell Debbie I'm happy for her, will you?"
"Thanks. And give the big guy a squeeze from me."
"Sure thing. One Squoze Giles for the man from Seattle."
*****
That night, Buffy and Giles lay in bed, kissing and touching one another softly in the aftermath of lovemaking.
"I still can't believe Xander's going to be a father," Giles said. "It seems only yesterday I was scolding him for getting pizza grease on my research volumes."
"Does it weird you out? Y'know, that I'm the same age as him?"
"You were never that young when I knew you, Buffy. Physically, yes, but your calling made you older, more mature that the others. You always assumed you were my equal. And you were."
"No way was I equal to you. You were amazing. I was a total ditz." She pressed a kiss to the middle of his chest. "You just thought I was special because I was yours."
"No. I thought you were special because you were special. You still are. You always will be."
"Mushy guy," she smiled. "I guess everyone is going home tomorrow, huh?"
"They'll be back."
"I know. But I'm glad we'll have some time to just ourselves. We haven't been alone since we got together. I want some serious Gilestime before the next invasion."
"That could be arranged."
"But it's nice to know next Christmas, there'll be a kid around here again."
"Olivia's going to let Dominic stay with us for the holiday?"
"They're both gonna come stay with us. And Aunt Min's thinking about it. That's what I call progress."
They lay quietly for a few minutes. Eventually, Giles spoke again.
"Buffy?"
"Yeah?"
"Would you really want a child? With me?"
"I could probably be talked into it."
"Would you...shall we try right away, or wait a bit?"
She raised her head and looked at him.
"Are you saying you want to have a baby right now?"
"Well...Aunt Min was right about one thing. I'm not getting any younger. If I'm to be an effective father, I should probably make the effort now, rather than later."
"You're sure about this? Really sure? You want to be woken up at two in the morning to change diapers? You want to cope with a Slayer in the throes of morning sickness? You want to have no peace and quiet for the next couple decades?"
"I know it sounds odd, but yes. That's precisely what I want. If you're willing, that is."
She straddled his body and kissed him soundly.
"Then let's go, tiger."
Down the hall, Olivia heard a muffled shriek of laughter. She smiled as she pulled her son a little closer. On the other side of the guestroom, Aunt Min snored in blissful ignorance of what was going on.
*****
They were married on Giles' birthday in February. Two weeks later Buffy shyly told him the news that she was pregnant. Katherine Eva Giles, named for her paternal grandmother, was born shortly before Christmas.
Two years later, on New Year's Eve, Buffy presented her husband with a son named Simon Paul after Giles' brother and father.
"The next one we're naming after someone from my side of the family," Buffy said almost immediately after they settled the matter.
"Whatever you say, dear," Giles agreed happily. A moment later, his face froze. "You want another?"
"I know I'm insane. But it'll probably be the last. Is that okay?"
Giles shrugged and smiled.
"If we keep up at this rate, we'll find ourselves living in Cheaper By The Dozen, but there are probably worse fates."
"We would know, wouldn't we?"
Simon was only seven months old when Buffy announced the next baby was on the way. She and Giles planned happily for the new arrival. He loved watching the way her body changed with pregnancy, tending her whims and soothing her aches during the process. She had to admit she enjoyed the extra coddling. But most of all, they delighted in the movements of the new child in her womb. Death had been so much the warp and weft of their lives that new life felt all the more precious to them both.
Disaster struck when Buffy was five months pregnant. Tests started coming back wrong, and she couldn't feel much movement from the baby. When she miscarried, the doctor said this child simply wasn't meant to be. They should accept their loss, talk to others who had lost children, and try to move on.
Buffy knew differently. She knew what had killed her baby. But when a Tragara demon threatened Katie, she had to attack. The thing had fought back. In the melee, it had landed a strong kick to her abdomen.
Katie was okay, but Buffy would never forgive herself.