Buffy returned from her patrol early. It was a quiet night, even by “normal” people’s standards...not that she was complaining. With everything that had happened the last few days with her and Faith, she welcomed the lack of activity. Even though it was out in the open, and Giles knew, she still couldn’t shake the image of that poor man’s face, as it looked up at her with lifeless eyes. Eyes that were once alive, and would still be if it weren’t for the Slayers. And then there was Baltazar...

Jabba the Hut of the demon world, she thought. He may have looked pretty pathetic, even for the undead, but his dying words haunted her...and would probably continue to invade her nightmares for a long time to come.

“When he rises,” his words echoed in her mind, “you will have wished I killed you all.”

So, now there was yet another threat to the world’s existence...like she hadn’t “been there, done that” before. But this, somehow, seemed different...almost menacing. And very cryptic. A threat was coming, and nobody knew a thing about it. Just another day on the Hellmouth.

She opened the door to her house, and tiptoed inside, not wanting to wake up her mother. Lately, her mom had shown enough confidence with her, that she didn’t bother to stay awake, waiting for Buffy to return home after a late night of patrolling. A fact, that she wasn’t quite sure she could get used to.

“I don’t want my mom to worry about me,” she explained to Willow, on their many gab sessions at school, “but I’ve gotten so used to her worrying about me, that I almost expect it.”

“So now you’re thinking... ‘does my mom have confidence in me, or does she have too many other important things to worry about, for her to care?” Xander piped in.

“Xander,” Willow glared at him, “You’re no help,” then turning to Buffy she said, “I think it’s cool how your mom is proud of your work, and that she doesn’t feel as though she has to worry every ten seconds.”

“I know,’ Buffy pouted, “It’s just weird, that’s all.”

Buffy stood in the living room and looked at the coffee table. There, sitting on the table, were two coffee cups. Okay, Buffy thought, picking them up and bringing them into the kitchen, so Mom had a guest over...no biggie. She had a right to have friends, right? She turned off the lights and made her way upstairs, planning on an early night’s rest.

When she passed her mother’s room, she heard a voice coming from behind the closed door. So, she was awake after all. Well, Buffy figured, might as well let her know I’m home and alive.

She turned the knob of the door and gently pushed it open. “Mom, I’m...”she stopped dead in her tracks. Her mother did have a guest indeed, but no one she could have ever possibly imagined. “Mom?” she gasped, looking at her and her ‘company’, “Giles!?”

There in bed, with the covers pulled up to their necks, was Buffy’s mother and her Watcher. The looks of surprise and horror were clear on both of their faces. She stood staring for a few minutes in silent disbelief, unable to speak...unable to think. This was not happening!

“Oh my god,” Buffy finally blurted out, “this is not happening! This can’t be happening!”

“Buffy,” Joyce tried to say, “I can explain...” But her daughter was already out the bedroom door, and halfway down the stairs.

By the time Joyce managed to throw on a robe and head after her, she could hear sounds of dishes breaking in the kitchen. Well, at least she knew where Buffy was. Joyce carefully opened the door, and deftly dodged a flying, plastic cup. It bounced off the wall next to her head and fell to the ground.

“Are you done?” Joyce asked her daughter, “Can we talk?”

“Talk! You want to talk?!” Buffy snarled, picking up a plate, then placing it down on the counter, “Fine, let’s talk! I can’t believe you slept with Giles! I mean, don’t you think I have enough stress in my life?”

“Buffy,” Joyce rebutted, “I’m a grown woman, and can do what I want to. I don’t need your permission!” Then calming down, she added, “I was upset, and Mr. Giles was there to comfort me...”

“Yeah,” Buffy bit back, sarcastically, “I bet he comforted you!”

“That’s enough young lady! You don’t know what happened, and you don’t really want to know either. And don’t you dare pass judgment on me!”

At that last statement, Giles slipped into the kitchen. He was fully dressed, with a look of deep concern on his face. If it were any other moment, Buffy would have been amazed at how fast he managed to get into his tweed suit, and still look neat and tidy. Of course, if it were any other time, her Watcher wouldn’t have “shagged” her mother.

“Buffy, Joyce,” Giles said calmly, stepping in between the two arguing women, “perhaps we should all sit down and discuss this...”

“What...discuss how you had sex with my Mother?!” Buffy spat, “You two can talk all you want...I’m outa here!”

“Buffy!” was all Joyce could say, before her daughter stormed out into the night.

Giles placed his hand on Joyce’s shoulder and said softly, “Don’t worry, I’ll talk to her. Then...we can all talk.”

Giles drove around the streets of Sunnydale for the better part of the hour, looking for Buffy, before he realized that he knew were she would have gone in times of stress...Willow’s.

******

Willow answered the door, and found Buffy standing there, tears streaming down her face, “Buffy, hi. What’s wrong?”

“Can I come in?”

Willow looked at her best friend, “Sure...sure come on in. My mom and dad are away for the week...again, so we have the house to ourselves.”

“I need to talk to you...” Buffy said, wiping the tears from her cheeks.

“You didn’t kill someone again did you?” Willow asked wide eyed.

“Will!”

“Sorry, knee-jerk response,” she apologized, “What’s up?”

Buffy sat down on the couch, and rubbed her throbbing temples. She looked at her best friend and sighed. After everything that they have been through together; all of the pain, and the lies, and the death, Buffy was always amazed at the unlimited loyalty Willow had for her. She often wondered why...but still, in times like this, she was glad she could count on her friend.

“I...” she fumbled for the right words to say, “I came home tonight, and found my mom with a ‘guest’.”

“Oooo,” Willow’s curiosity was now peaked, “a guest as in ‘A GUEST’?”

“Yep.”

“Well, I think that’s pretty neat,” Willow said, “I mean, you mom has a boyfriend and all...he is a ‘boyfriend’ right?” When she saw Buffy nod in dismay, she continued, “So, did you meet him? What’s he like? Is he cute? Is he human? Do I know him?”

“Oh,” Buffy said, nodding, “I defiantly think you know him.”

Just then, there was another knock at the door. Willow got up to answer it, so she didn’t hear Buffy add, “And here his is now.”

When the door opened, Willow saw Giles pacing nervously. He was dressed in his usual tweed, three piece suit, yet there was something different about him, that Willow couldn’t quite put her finger on.

“Giles,” she said surprised, “Hi. What are you doing here?”

Giles answered her simply, “I need to talk to Buffy.”

Willow moved aside and let Giles in. She turned to tell Buffy, and saw her standing in a defensive stance. She didn’t have to be a rocket scientist to know that there was something defiantly wrong here. “Um, Giles,” Willow offered, “Buffy didn’t kill anyone...if that’s what you were wondering.”

Ignoring that, Giles looked at Buffy and said, “It was wrong of you to walk out on your mother like that. Especially before she had an opportunity to explain. She’s at the house in tears, small thanks to you. Please, come back and let’s discuss this like reasonable adults...”

“Hey, Giles, how did you know that Buffy and her mom got into a fight,” Willow began, then stopped when she realized just how he knew, “Oh...I see. That would mean that you’re the....OH...”

“Buffy, please,” Giles pleaded.

“Please what?” She said coldly, “Go back and discuss why you took advantage of my mother when she was upset?”

“Buffy, it isn’t like that at all,” Giles explained, “I came over your house to speak with you...”

“Must have been my lucky day...”

“...and you weren’t home. You mother offered I stay and wait for you. I did. We talked, and...well, one thing led to another...”

“...and you slept with my mom,” Buffy finished, “I know I’m going to sound like a parent right about now...but did you ever consider the consequences? I mean what were you thinking? I know my mom isn’t exactly young, but she could still...you know...get pregnant. I mean did you ever consider that could happen?”

“Well,” Giles swallowed, “It’s a tad late for caution.”

“Huh?” Buffy gave him a confused look, “Um, if the two of you just had sex, then how would you know that it was too...” the expression on Giles face told her all she needed to know, “Unless this wasn’t the first time. Oh, my God...I think I’m going to be sick. When?”

“The night of the band candy.”

“But you said nothing happened?” Buffy shook her head.

“No,” Giles corrected, “as I recall, your mother and I didn’t say anything when you brought it up.”

“And now she’s pregnant?”

“And now she’s pregnant.” Giles repeated.

“So you thought to tell me, when? When she was going into labor!?”

“I just found out, myself, tonight,” Giles rebutted.

At this point Buffy was furious, “Okay, so you said to yourself, ‘congratulations, we’re going to be parents...let’s have sex.’!”

“Buffy, that’s enough!”

The next thing Giles knew, he was knocked to the floor, with a sharp pain to his jaw. Buffy stood over him, fists in little, deadly balls, ready for the next attack. He shook his head, trying to clear the cobweb that Buffy so generously gave him, and looked up at the Slayer. Giles was well away of her abilities, and was more than a little concerned for his safety. The blow to his face, while it knock him off his feet, was nothing compared to what she could really do to him, if so inclined. And, he was beginning to wonder, if she was feeling so inclined.

“Buffy, don’t!” Willow shouted, putting herself in between the Slayer and the Watcher, “You don’t want to do this.”

“Will, you have no idea what I want,” Buffy growled, “Now get out of my way!”

“No,” she said bravely, “I don’t care how you feel about this, I’m not going to let you make a really big mistake, that you’ll regret later. And, look at Giles...” she said, motioning to the fallen Watcher, “You hit him so hard, he’s bleeding.”

Willow spoke the truth. Buffy saw the blood dripping from Giles nose and mouth, and backed up. She had hit him before, but never to really hurt. And, the way she was feeling at the moment...she really wanted to hurt him. But, if she did, she would never be able to forgive herself.

“Willow,” Buffy said, through the newly formed tears, “I’m sorry, I’ve gotta go. I can’t stay here right now.”

And before Willow could stop her, she ran out of the house, away from the one person she could always turn to in a crisis...because he had been the cause of this particular crisis.

******

Buffy wandered the streets aimlessly, her mind was still reeling from this most recent bombshell. He mother was pregnant...and by her Watcher no less! And she thought dealing with vampires and demons trying to end the world was hard? This made it look like a day in the park. She was going to be a Big Sister!

Her wanderings brought her to the large mansion on the outskirts of town...and to Angel. That was no big surprise, seeing as she needed someone to talk with. Someone who would agree with her distaste in the entire matter...

“Buffy you’re blowing this way out of proportion.”

Buffy looked at Angel and threw up her hands in utter despair, “Not you too?”

Angel’s eyes met hers and, for the first time, she saw the wisdom that only centuries of life could provide, “All I’m saying is that this is not the ‘great tragedy’ you’re making it out to be. What’s wrong with your mother having a relationship? She may be your mother, but she’s a woman too.”

“I know,” Buffy sighed, “And I wouldn’t mind...much, but she is having a ‘relationship’ with my Watcher...”

“Ex-Watcher,” Angel corrected.

“Ex-Watcher, whatever,” Buffy said, “Does it really matter? She’s having Giles’ baby! God, how come everytime I say that I cringe?”

“You know,” Angel said thoughtfully, “I don’t think this has anything to do with Giles.”

“You don’t, do you? Well, he’s the only one sleeping with my mother!”

“Other that your dad,” he pointed out.

“My mom and dad have been divorced since I was fifteen...”

“Right,” Angel said, “but he’s still your father, and maybe the real issue is that you think Giles is trying to replace him.” Buffy looked at him in silence. “It’s not your mother having a relationship with Giles that bothers you, it’s her having a relationship with any man, other than your father, that’s the problem.”

“That’s not true,” Buffy replied weakly.

Angel pulled her close to him and whispered, “Isn’t it? Come on Buffy, I know you better than that. It’s okay to feel that way, alot of people do, but let’s not pretend that it’s something it isn’t.”

“But, he’s my Watcher,” Buffy’s argument began to diminish under the intense gaze of her lover’s eyes, “Isn’t there some kind of rule against that...or something?”

“Maybe, but he’s not your Watcher anymore...he’s just a man. A very lonely, hurting man, who needs as much love as the next person.”

“But with my mother?” she knew she was losing the battle, but she had to keep trying.

“What, she doesn’t deserve to be happy?”

******

She knew Angel was right, and she cursed him for it. Deep down inside she had always hoped that her mother and father would someday get back together. But, that was just a dream that all lonely children wished to be real. But dreams and reality were usually two different things. If the truth be known, Giles was more a father to her than her own flesh and blood. At least he was there for her through thick and thin. At least he cared.

Buffy stopped just outside her house and looked at the front door. Giles’ car was still parked outside, meaning that she would find him in her house, with her* mother. But, that was a good thing, because what she wanted to say, she needed both of them to hear.

She took a deep breath and opened the door.

She could hear the voices of her mother and Giles discussing something she couldn’t quite make out, but knew it was probably about her. She had made her mother cry...again, and she hated herself for that, but maybe, there was still a chance to make things right.

“Um, hi,” she muttered, sheepishly.

Both Giles and Joyce looked up. Buffy could see the ice pack gently pressed up against his face, were she had hit him. Her mother had a bloodied handkerchief in her hand, she was using to clean his wounds. Wounds, Buffy had caused. But the greatest of all wounds, no ice pack or handkerchief could fix. Only four words could repair that damage she created...

“Mom...Giles,” Buffy gulped, “I’m sorry.”

“No,” Joyce said, “I’m sorry. I should have told you when I found out. I was just so...so scared. Buffy, you don’t realize how hard it is for me. I worry about you every day...worry that, someday, you may never come home, and now I have to go through this all over again. But this time, I don’t have your father to help. I have to do this on my own,” seeing the look of dejection on Giles’ face she added, “Well, not completely alone. I’m a single mother of a teenage girl...which, right now, I can balance with work. But, to have to take care of an infant to boot; I don’t know if I have that much energy anymore. And to be honest, I wasn’t even sure I was going to keep the baby.”

“You mean you were thinking of...”

“Yes, for all of about three seconds,” Joyce smiled, “after I had my panic attack. But then I realized that if the baby is anything like you...I would be truly blessed. I’m sorry I hurt you, I never wanted that to happen.”

“What’s important now,” Giles interjected, “is you feelings on the matter.”

Buffy watched Giles remove the ice pack and rub is sore jaw. She could see the remnants of blood on his face, and feel the pain he was in. But the pain was more than just the physical cuts and bruises on the exterior; the pain was much deeper than that. She saw her mother dab the handkerchief in some water and gently apply it to his face, the same way he had done to her when her powers where gone. The motions were the same...as well as the look in their eyes.

They really cared for each other. Maybe not in the same way that her mother and father did, or the passion that Giles shared with Miss Calendar, but there was definitely something there, that hadn’t been there before. And perhaps, that wasn’t such a bad thing after all.

“What are my feelings?” Buffy considered the question carefully, then smiled, “I feel as though I should get to pick out the name of the baby.”

“I think I can handle that,” Joyce smiled, hugging her daughter.

“Cool,” Buffy said, “If it’s a girl we could name her Felicity...”

“I am not having a child of mine being named after some television show,” Giles huffed.

“Okay, how about Karma?”

Giles groaned.

“And to think, no of this would have come about if it wasn’t for that letter you sent to Giles,” Joyce chimed in.

Buffy looked at her mother and asked, “What letter?”

And, as the sun began to rise, heralding a new day, the Watcher, the Slayer and her Mom began to plan for a new day, and life of their own.