TITLE: "Emotional"
AUTHOR: ASH Watcher/Slayer
RATING: PG-R just to be safe. ;)
PAIRING: Buffy/Giles/Angel friendship mostly...may change by the end of the fic.
SPOILERS: My fics, "Do What It Takes", "Where Would I Be?", and Season 6 of BtVS and Season 3 of A:tS
DISCLAIMER: I own my fics, but none of the characters. But, if there's a character you don't recognize, then they probably belong to me. *g*
SUMMARY: This fic picks up directly after "Where Would I Be?"...just who IS the father of Buffy's baby & how did the baby come to be. (Yes, I *know* how babies are made, LoL!) Annnnd how a baby changes the scenery and lives for everyone at Angel Investigations.
FEEDBACK: Pretty please, with Angel, Lindsey, and Giles on top. And as always, flames should be sent to Spike's Crypt, making sure he signs for each delivery. *G*
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Gee, where to start...after the last fic, the response was overwhelming for a sequel. LoL....I'd never planned on writing a fic after "Do What It Takes", but two people, Musey & Boa, kinda insisted on another fic. ;) And so, now I find myself writing a third fic--hopefully the last one. *G* I hope everyone likes this one...and...yeah, okay, I'll shut up now. ;) OH and the fic title, "Emotional", is from the Diana DeGarmo song, which I *love*, of the same name. Lyrics can be found at the end of the fic and if you'd like a copy of the song, I'll email it to you. :)
DEDICATIONS: Boa, Musey, and everyone who voted in the Poll on ash_watcherfanfiction. :) *HUGS* Ohhh and of course, all of my LJ friends. :D
***********************
"God, not again!" Buffy groaned, running towards the nearest bathroom. It was the third time this morning, that she'd had to toss her cookies. Five weeks pregnant, and still uncertain about the father, Buffy was very certain that she hated the morning sickness. Thankfully, nobody had noticed her frequent bathroom visits...even her two "watch dogs". She still hadn't told anyone about the baby, so sue her for being chicken.
After flushing the toilet, she stood up slowly, and shakily walked over to the sink. She rinsed out her mouth, and sighed when she looked in the mirror. Her reflection showed a completely pale face, sweat beaded on her forehead and upper lip, and stringy, dirty hair. How everyone she lived and worked with, hadn't seen how shitty she looked by now, Buffy was confused. In a few seconds, she left the bathroom and went downstairs.
Breakfast was pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast. Everybody exchanged "good mornings" and sat down to eat. Angel placed a plate in front of everyone, then sat down between Giles and Buffy. Buffy glanced down at her plate, saw the grease on the bacon, smelled the combination of smells, and immediately jumped up and ran back to the bathroom. Giles and Angel looked at each other, concerned looks on their faces, then got up and followed Buffy. What was going on with their Slayer?
***********
"Buffy? Are you okay?" Angel asked, after knocking on the bathroom door. He heard a flushing sound, then waited for her to open the door. After a few seconds, she still hadn't let him in, so he opened the door. Giles went in first, and both men were shocked at the appearance of Buffy. She looked like hell.
"What on earth is going on, Buffy? Are you sick?" Giles questioned, quite worried. Angel went over and started to pick her up, but stopped when she groaned. He put her back on her feet, then waited for her to explain what was going on. Ugh, she'd been dreading this...and hoping it wouldn't have come for a while longer. Oh well...guess luck wasn't on her side this time.
"Um...I'm not sick...exactly..."she began. Both guys looked at her expectantly.
"I'mkindapregnant..."
"I beg your pardon?!"
"You're what?!"
"I'm having a baby. In about eight months or so."
Both men blinked in astonishment. Buffy was PREGNANT?! How? Why? When? Who was the father? Buffy smiled, talk about a classic reaction from Giles and Angel. She got up and left the room, waiting for the guys to snap out of it and follow her, demanding explanations. She'd give them a few minutes...and in the meantime, went back downstairs, to find something she could eat.
****************
"Hey Buffy, you okay?" Gunn asked. She nodded, then sat down at the table. Luckily, the bacon had been eaten or tossed.
"Head's up guys, I just told Giles and Angel something kind of...unexpected...so when they get back down here, don't be surprised if they're yelling and stuff," Buffy said. Cordy, Gunn, Fred, and Wes all wondered what the unexpected thing was.
"Does this 'unexpected' thing, have anything to do with the mysterious phone call you got last week?" Cordy asked.
"Yeah, it does..."
"Well, what is it?" Cordy begged. Buffy grinned at the Seer's child-like pleading.
"Basically...I'm pregnant."
You could've heard a pin drop, for the stunned looks on their faces, and the dead silence in the dining room.
**************
"Buffy's p-pregnant? How on earth...good lord!" Giles sputtered, whipping off his glasses to polish them, as he usually did when he was at a loss of what to say or do.
"Now that I think about it, Giles...I'm not all that surprised. I mean, her scent's been off for a few weeks now, but I didn't really associate it with a pregnancy. Why would I? It's not like she's been romantically involved with anyone since she's been back," Angel replied, stunning the Watcher.
"You...you *knew* something was off with her...scent, and yet you refused to share that information with me? Bloody Hell, Angel! How could y-you keep something as important as Buffy's well-being from me?!" Giles growled, glaring at the Vampire.
"Look, I'm sorry, I really am, Rupert. But like I said, I didn't associate her unusual scent with a pregnancy!" Angel calmly stated. Giles took a few calming breaths, then sat down on the couch in the family room.
"I'm...I'm sorry as well, for blowing up at you. It's just...my god...a baby? What the hell are we going to do with a baby? Pregnant Slayers...why they're almost un-heard of."
"I know they are...but Buffy's never *been* a "normal" Slayer, has she?" Angel mused, smiling as he thought of the woman. Giles got up and went to find her. It was time to discuss the pregnancy and how it would effect life as they knew it.
************
Buffy was still in the dining room, nibbling on some cinnamon toast.
"So, you're having a baby? When? And who's the father? You don't sneak out after everyone's gone or in bed, to meet a secret boyfriend or anything, do ya?" Cordy bluntly asked.
"I'm having a baby, yeah, but no, I don't have a secret boyfriend....as for who the father is...see, that's just it. I don't *know* who the father is."
Giles, having walked into the dining room just then, caught the tail end of the conversation. Buffy didn't know who her child's father was? Dear god! How could she not know? Didn't she remember the conception of her own child? Unless she had been under a spell? Anything was possible, he supposed.
"Buffy? Might I have a word or two with you in the other room?" Giles interrupted. Buffy sighed, then got up and followed Giles into the family room.
Time to face the music, she thought. Joy.
**********
"How long have you known you were pregnant?"
"I found out just last week, Angel. But I didn't know what to think, or even how to tell anyone. I mean, it *was* just a "little" shocking...pregnant? Me? How? Why? When? What was I supposed to do?" Buffy replied, beginning to pace. "I wasn't lying a few years ago, when I had to do that Egg Baby thing for Science, in high school...ya know, how I said I wasn't ready for kids then? Well, it's not like I'm ready for kids now, either," she replied. Angel remembered that conversation all too well.
"Buffy, ready or not, you're having a baby...now, we need to discuss our options," Giles said.
"The only option is that I *won't* get rid of my baby!" she yelled.
"I didn't mean...I just want us to discuss how we're going to deal with your pregnancy, especially as it progresses. Pregnant slayers aren't very common."
Buffy sighed, "I'm sorry Giles...I didn't mean to snap at you. But nobody's taking my baby from me. And why aren't pregnant slayers very common?"
"I..I'll have to do a bit of research, but I gather it's because of when a slayer's pregnancy reaches a certain point, possibly six months or so, her weight gain would most likely cause problems for her, during battles. Buffy...did I hear you correctly earlier, telling Cordelia that you don't know who the father of your child is?" Giles asked.
"Uh-huh. I don't...I...I really don't."
"You don't have any clue?" Angel asked.
"Nope...no idea," Buffy responded. "It's not like I go around having sex with random guys or anything...and I don't even remember the last time I...oh, never mind," she blushed, then stopped talking. Giles and Angel gave her a strange look, but wisely didn't say anything. So, Buffy was pregnant, but didn't know who the father was...how would they ever find out the identity of the baby's father?
"Do...do you remember anything in particular about the night the child was conceived, Buffy?" Giles, ever the Watcher and researcher, questioned. "Perhaps you suppressed the memories somehow?" Buffy thought for a few minutes...and was surprised to recall something about the night in question.
"Well...I think there might be something, but I'm not sure if it's relevant to the situation," she finally said.
"Why not tell us what it is, and we can research or something, to see how it relates to things?" Angel asked.
"Okay...um...well...I think I remember the smell of...maybe Sandalwood or Old Spice? *sigh* I...I'm just not sure, you know?"
"So Sandalwood or Old Spice? Well....that's definitely a start. Is there anything else? A sound maybe?" Angel wondered.
"...I'm sorry...but I can't remember anything else, guys," Buffy answered, frustrated that she couldn't remember anything about the night she got pregnant. How lame was that? "M-maybe there's a reason I can't remember anything...like a spell or something?"
"That's possible, but...oh bugger...I, I've got to go research something...yes, research something," Giles stated, and quickly exited the room.
"Boy, that was weird....what flew up his butt?" Buffy asked. Angel shook his head, then also left the room and went to his office. Buffy sat there bemused, and wondered what had caused Giles to leave so abruptly. Whatever, she thought, and turned on the tv to see what was on.
*********
Upstairs in his room, Giles was silently freaking out. But occasionally, a "bloody hell" this, or a "oh dear lord" that, could be heard from behind the door. He'd gone over to his closet and was digging through an old shoe box, desperately trying to find something, knowing that it could very well solve the mystery of Buffy's baby's conception. More importantly, who the father was.
*********
Downstairs, in his office, Angel was sitting behind his desk, doing what he did best...brooding. Come to think of it, he hadn't had a good brooding session in a long time...so he felt he was long overdue for one. Sandalwood and Old Spice...well shit. As soon as Buffy had mentioned those fragrances, Angel had immediately known who the father of his mate's child was...and it wasn't him. He sighed...what was he going to do?
Sure, he'd told Buffy years ago, that he wanted her to find a normal guy, who could take her into the sunlight and give her babies...he just didn't think it would hurt so much, even after all this time...knowing she was pregnant with another man's child. How could Giles do this to him? How could he sleep with her and not remember? Oh well, enough brooding for now, he supposed, then got up and went to find the Watcher.
********
"Ah-ha! I found it, at last!" Giles exclaimed, holding the mysterious item in his hand. It was an earring. A silver, dangling, heart earring. One he'd found hooked to one of the button holes in his green and white striped pajama shirt a few weeks ago. When he'd first seen it, he hadn't thought much about it...but now...now he thought he might know who's it was and why it had come be on his shirt.
The earring....belonged to Buffy. And it must have gotten caught on the shirt, when he'd taken it off her...the night their child was made. She'd borrowed the pajama shirt a while back, but hadn't returned it, until a few days after The Night. Just then, Angel knocked on the bedroom door. Giles went and opened it, took one look at the Vampire's face, and gulped. He knew...Angel knew...
"Angel...what can I do for you?"
"Well...for starters, Rupert...you can tell me how the hell you don't remember sleeping with Buffy. Let alone getting her with child."
"...I...I wish I knew, Angel." He sighed...then Angel noticed the earring Giles was holding.
"What are you doing with Buffy's earring?" Angel growled.
"Good question...Giles, why *do* you have one of my earrings?" Buffy asked, having walked into the room un-noticed. She'd come upstairs to find something in her room, and had looked around on her dresser, thinking it might be there. But it wasn't...and while she'd been looking, she'd noticed an earring was missing. She walked up to Giles and noticed that it was indeed, the missing earring.
"Buffy...I found it on a pajama shirt of mine that you borrowed a few weeks ago. I had planned on returning it to you, but hadn't found the time."
"Oh...okay...well I'll take it now, if ya want. Pajama shirt? The green and white stripey one?" Giles nodded. "Oh, okay...I wonder how it got there..."she wondered aloud. She shrugged, then went back into her room and put the earring in her jewelry box. She yawned, man was she tired. It seemed like she was always exhausted now, due to the pregnancy. Buffy stretched her arms in the air, yawned again, then decided to lay down and rest.
**********
"So, Buffy's knocked up, huh? Wow...didn't see that one coming...,"Gunn said.
"Same here...I mean, *Buffy*? God...what next?" Cordy replied.
"Beats me...I'm gonna go do some equations in my office...see y'all at lunch," Fred said, then left the dining room. Wesley sighed in longing, as he watched her leave. Gunn and Cordy snickered at him, and Wesley rolled his eyes, then got up to follow his girlfriend.
**********
"Well, now what? You're having a baby with Buffy...but she doesn't know yet. When are you going to tell her?" Angel questioned.
"Damned if I know. I don't even recall the night in question...just that she had borrowed the pajama shirt and when I got it back, the earring was on it. Except I didn't know what the significance of the earring was, until a few minutes ago." Giles sighed, and ran his fingers through his hair. Why the devil couldn't he remember more? Maybe Buffy was right about being under a spell during The Night, an amnesia spell.
"Are you thinking it could be some sort of spell, like Buffy suggested earlier?" Angel asked, staring at Giles in curiousity.
"It's possible, of course, I just don't know who would do such a thing or why. Research time, I'm thinking." Angel agreed, then followed Giles out of the room and downstairs into the library.
*********
*~*~*Dream Sequence*~*~*
He came into the darkened bedroom and silently slipped into the bed. She was sleeping soundly, and he pulled her close to him and kissed her cheek. She sighed and smiled in her sleep, then rolled over onto her back. He instantly took advantage of her change in position and began placing kisses on her face and down her neck. She moaned softly, as he began unbuttoning her pajama shirt and peppering her newly bared skin with heated kisses.
His lips encircled a pert nipple and began suckling as she groaned. His lips switched to the other nipple, giving it the same attention the first one had recieved. Her hands began clenching and unclenching in the bedsheets, as his actions slowly drove her crazy with desire. He released the nipple and she whimpered. He sat up and helped her take her shirt off, then he shucked his pajama pants.
She grabbed him around the neck and dragged him down to her, so she could kiss him. Their lips and tongues meshed passionately time and time again. Finally, he couldn't bare to wait anymore, and moved to lie on top of her. She spread her legs eagerly and after testing her readiness with two fingers, causing her to whine with want, he moved into position and entered her in one thrust. She squealed and groaned at the sudden fullness.
Things progressed quickly from there and within minutes, they came together, shouting in jubilation.
*~*~*End Of Dream Sequence*~*~*
Buffy groaned as she slowly woke up. **God what a dream**...she thought...and could feel a dampness between her legs. She blinked sleepily and yawned. Just then, there was a knock on her door. "Come in!", she yelled. Angel came in and grinned at her sleepiness. She mock-glared at him, causing him to laugh. He sat down on the bed next to her and she crawled over to him and climbed into his lap. Angel put his arms around her in an embrace, which she happily returned.
"What am I gonna do with a baby, Angel?" she mused, a while later. He kissed the top of her head, and she sighed contentedly. She loved how safe he made her feel. Like nothing could harm her, as long as Angel was holding her. "I mean...I don't even know how to change a diaper! I was too young when Dawn was in diapers to help any."
"I know you'll be a wonderful mother, Beloved. Any baby will be lucky to get all of the love and affection you have to offer it. And we'll all be here to help you raise it, of course," Angel reassured her, giving her a gentle kiss on the lips. She cooed and kissed him back. He smiled, then hugged her and stroked her hair for a little while. Eventually, Buffy broke the silence.
"Angel...do you think I'll ever find out who the father is?" she asked. Angel mentally groaned...how could he keep from telling her Giles was the father? But if he kept the truth from her, wouldn't she be angry with him? He should probably discuss things with Giles first, because Giles, by rights, should be the one to tell Buffy. God what a dilemma.
"I think you will, I'm just not sure when...,"he finally replied. "But Buffy...would you be okay if you never found out?"
"I...I don't know, Angel...I mean, I guess I would...cuz it's not like the baby wouldn't have a male role-model or two around here. But what would I say, if he or she asked me where their father was?"
"I don't know, Buffy. Maybe you could tell he or she, that they had lots of daddies?" he suggested.
"Yeah...that could work. But still...I think I'd rather know who the actual father is." He nodded his understanding, then hugged her once more. Just then, Fred walked in, telling them both that lunch was ready. They thanked her, then went downstairs together.
****************
After an un-eventful lunch, Buffy went back upstairs to rest some more. Cordy and Gunn started playing Gin Rummy, Fred and Wes went back into her office, presumably to work, and Angel and Giles went into Angel's office to chat.
*****************
"Giles, you *have* to tell her you're the father!" Angel growled.
"I know that! I would just prefer having more answers about The Night first."
"I can understand that, but she was asking me questions earlier and I was sorely tempted to confess everything. Lucky for you, I chose against that option, deciding to discuss it with you first."
"I thank you for that, Angel," he sighed and ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. "How do you propose I tell her?" the Watcher finally asked. Angel thought for a few seconds...would being blunt work? Or should Giles take the more...British approach, and be elusive, wordy, and detailed?
"Well...," the Vampire began, only to be interrupted by a gasp from the doorway.\f1 It was Cordelia. She was standing there with a shocked look on her face. But before either man could approach her, she quickly fled down the hall.
"Bloody Hell! Just what I needed, Cordelia, of all people, finding out I'm the father. Just bloody perfect! Well, now what?" Giles ranted.
"I think it's pretty obvious that you need to get to Cordy, before she spills the beans to everyone. Buffy should be told you're the father, *by* *you*, and not Cordy," Angel replied.
"Yes, I suppose you're correct about that." And with that, Giles headed upstairs to Buffy's room.
****************
When he got to Buffy's door, he knocked once, then entered the room. She was sleeping peacefully and softly snoring. Giles grinned ruefully, then turned around and left her to her nap.
****************
Things passed in relative normalcy for the next few days. Cordy didn't tell anyone what she knew and Buffy continued having the erotic dreams. One night, as Buffy got out of bed to use the bathroom, she noticed Giles coming out of his room. Thinking he might need to use the bathroom too, she told him he could go first. He didn't respond, though, and she wondered what was going on.
Angel could sense Buffy in the hallway and came out of his room to investigate. He saw Giles standing there, as if on his way to the bathroom or downstairs. Buffy turned and saw Angel. She walked over to him and explained why she was out of bed and how strange Giles was being.
"It's like he's awake, but not really, Angel." They continued watching Giles, waiting to see what he'd do.
"Buffy...I think I know what's causing his unusual behavior....I think he's a somnabulist."
"A sombrerolist? What's a sombrerolist?"
"Not a "sombrerolist", Beloved....a somnabulist. It's the name for someone who sleepwalks," Angel grinned.
"Ohhhh...well why didn't you just call him a sleepwalker to begin with? So what do we do to wake him up?" Buffy questioned, somewhat annoyed at Angel for using a word she hadn't known.
"I don't know exactly, but I *do* know that one should *never* wake up a sleep-walker. I've heard it's pretty traumatic for them, waking up and not knowing where you are or how you got there."
"Okay...that makes sense...but what do we do? We can't just leave him like this, can we? Ugh...hang on, I gotta pee...stupid hamster bladder."
He laughed softly, and watched her make a mad dash for the bathroom. In a few minutes, she came back out, looking relieved.
"So...a somnabulist Watcher. Huh."
"Yep. Maybe we can take him back to his room, so when he wakes up, it'll be in familiar surroundings?" Angel wondered. Buffy nodded, and carefully, they walked Giles back to his room. After that, Angel walked Buffy back to her room. "Here you are, my lady. Do you want anything to drink before getting back into bed?" She gave him a "who-are-you-kidding?" look, causing him to grin.
"Angel...will you keep me company until I fall back asleep?" She asked, giving him her "little girl" look. He snickered, then nodded his agreement. She grinned, then went into her room, with him following her. Within an hour or two, she'd drifted off to sleep once more, along with Angel, who had wrapped himself around her.
*******************
Over the next few days, nothing unusual happened, and Buffy had another really good dream. She was around seven weeks along now, and other than the morning sickness, the occasional soreness in her breasts, and the fatigue, she felt pretty good. Angel had been checking every night, to see if Giles sleepwalked again, but he hadn't so far. Giles was still contemplating how to tell Buffy he was the father of the baby, but had yet to find the right words. He was rather surprised by how Cordy hadn't told Buffy for him...in fact, he wondered why she hadn't.
*******************
"Giles, when are you gonna tell Buffy?" Cordy asked, one afternoon, after coming into his office. He'd been reading a fascinating article in the latest issue of "Moto-Euro" magazine, and was startled by the interruption. He sighed, and looked up at her. As he pondered his answer, he whipped off his glasses, and began polishing them on his shirt.
"I'm still not certain, Cordelia. But I wondered why you didn't run right up to her and blurt out the news, as soon as you'd found out."
"Duh, cuz it's none of my business, Giles. You and Buffy are both consenting adults, who slept together, which ewww by the way, and now she's knocked up with your kid. I just wondered how much longer I'm sposed to keep your secret, that's all."
"I *will* tell her, I swear it...I'm just trying to figure out the best approach. I don't want to just go up to her, and go, "Oh by the way, Buffy...I say, did you know I'm the father of the baby you're having?"...it's just not me."
"I know blunt isn't your normal routine...but seriously, if it were *me* pregnant, and unaware of the father....I'd be freaking out."
Just then, Buffy herself, came walking in. She looked like hell, and both Giles and Cordy wondered what was wrong.
"Are you okay, Buffy?" Cordy asked, walking over to her sometimes friend. Buffy shrugged, then slumped down on the sofa. Angel, who'd been following her, entered the room a few seconds later. He gave Giles a "tell her or else I will" look, causing the Watcher to polish his glasses more fervently. Cordy continued to wonder what was wrong with Buffy, as did Giles, and of course Angel. Finally, Buffy broke the silence.
"I was just wondering when the morning sickness will stop. Along with being tired all the time...and I was also curious about who'sgonnacomewithmetothedoctor'sappointmentthisafternoon," she babbled. She looked down at the floor, then looked up at everyone.
"You've got a doctor's appointment this afternoon?" Giles asked. Buffy nodded. "Would you like me to come with you? Or would you prefer someone else?"
"Um...I'm not picky, really....I mean, if I knew who the father was....," she trailed off, swallowing hard. She could feel the tears in her eyes, god she hated being so weepy.
"Well, what time is your appointment, Buffy?" Angel asked.
"It's at 3:30. I'll be getting a sonogram done this month," she answered, then suddenly smiled as she thought of the sonogram. She was gonna see her baby!
"A sonogram...that's like an ultrasound, right?" Cordy asked. Buffy nodded and the two women grinned at each other. "When do you get to find out if it's a boy or girl?"
"Around the fifth month....but I'm not sure if I wanna find out or not," she replied. She'd been doing some research online, and had bought some pregnancy books recently. "I can find out at anytime now, with an amneocentesis, but Cordy....they use a REALLY long needle for that."
"Eww...needles are not cool...but if you don't find out what you're having....how're we gonna know how to decorate a nursery? Ooh, we should find the perfect room for the nursery before you go to your appointment!" Cordy exclaimed. Buffy laughed.
"So...Angel or Giles...which one of you is taking her? If it's you, Angel...then how're you gonna get there? Cuz, it's just a tad bit sunny outside right now."
"I'll find a way, Cordy....but I think Giles should take her," Angel replied, giving Cordy a "if you catch my drift" look, which she responded to with a quick nod.
"Yeah, I think you should take her Giles...cuz you're into the science thing and stuff. Plus, it might look weird if I took her. Wouldn't want the doctor thinking I'm Buffy's lezbo lover or anything. Puhlease!" Angel snorted and Buffy giggled.
"Cordy, you are WAY too high-maintanence for me, girlfriend!" Buffy replied, winking at the brunette. Cordy rolled her eyes and did an "as if!" gesture with her hand. A couple of minutes later, it was agreed, that Giles would accompany Buffy to her doctor's appointment.
****************
At 3:30 PM, Buffy and Giles arrived at California Hospital Medical Center for her first prenatal appointment. Giles followed her inside, and waited as she checked in with the front desk. Within 10 or 15 minutes, they were lead into an exam room. Dr. Okeem walked in and said hello to Buffy, and secretly wondered who the older man was. Maybe her dad? Or an uncle?
"Hello Buffy. How are we feeling today?" Dr. Okeem asked.
"I'm feeling pretty good, thanks. Oh, this is my friend Rupert Giles, he came with me this afternoon. I hope that's okay."
"Yes, of course. I encourage my patients to bring friends with them, or even the father of the child, when possible."
Buffy cried on the inside. Why couldn't the father of her child be with her today? He *should* be here, seeing his baby, and supporting her during her pregnancy! Giles mentally cringed upon hearing the doctor's words. Bloody hell! He should have confessed being the father before now. Next thing he knew, the doctor would be asking Buffy where her child's father was.
"So, Buffy...is your baby's father at work this afternoon? If so, would you like to call him and let him know where you're at?" Dr. Okeem asked a second later.
"Um, actually...I...," Buffy began, only to burst into tears. Dr. Okeem smiled gently, and handed Buffy some tissue. Giles groaned to himself. He was such a pillock! Why couldn't the floor open up and swallow him when he wanted it to? In a couple of minutes, Buffy calmed down and blew her nose noisly. Then she sort of smiled, and apologized.
"I...I'm s-sorry for being such a crybaby. But I-I can't help it," she hiccuped.
"Oh it's perfectly normal, I assure you. I've got two kids myself, and my husband swears I cried almost the entire time I was pregnant with both kids. Of course he also says I craved really weird foods, but I deny that one," Dr. Okeem laughed. "So...should I assume that the father isn't in the picture then?"
"Well...kind of...I mean...," Buffy started to say, but was interrupted by Giles a second later.
"Actually, Dr. Okeem...I'm the father of Buffy's child," he blurted out. Oh god, now he was in for it...he only hoped Buffy wouldn't hurt him too badly...at least not in public. Buffy blanched. Giles...the father...of her baby?
"Oh! I...I see," Dr. Okeem said, glancing first at Giles, then at Buffy. Buffy was reeling from the unexpected news. She couldn't believe he'd kept this kind of secret from her! Oh god...what if she was the last one to find out? What if Cordy, Angel, Fred, Gunn, and Wes already knew?! And if they did, why wouldn't they have already told her?
Were they laughing at her when she wasn't around? Laughing about dumb, stupid, blonde Buffy who didn't have the brains to figure out who had knocked her up? How could she face them after today? What was she going to do about Giles? Did she even want to continue being around him after this? Giles was worried that Buffy hadn't said anything to him yet.
"Should I give the two of you a few minutes to talk in private, Buffy?" the doctor asked.
"No...let's just do the exam, please," Buffy replied. She refused to look at Giles...and instead, watched as Dr. Okeem got things ready for the sonogram. The doctor had Giles turn off the lights, she had Buffy lift up her shirt, and then squirted the goo onto her belly. Then, Dr. Okeem turned on the machine and the three of them held their breaths as Dr. Okeem placed the sonogram wand on Buffy's tummy. In a few seconds, Buffy gasped, as she saw her baby for the first time. It was pretty tiny, but with Dr. Okeem's help, Buffy was able to see the head, arms, legs, hands, and feet.
Giles was stunned. He didn't know what to say or how to feel, as he too, saw his baby for the first time. It was miraculous...he watched as the doctor pointed out the different parts on the fetus. So tiny and...simply amazing. How two people could make something so fascinating, was quite baffling.
"Would you like me to make you a picture of the baby from the machine? So that you'll be able to show your friends?" Dr. Okeem asked, after a few more minutes of watching the baby.
"Oh...yes, please! I'd love to have a picture of him or her. Thank you!" Buffy said, smiling, while continuing to look at her baby. It hadn't seemed very real to her before now...but being able to actually see it, made all the difference. Cordy and the others would be *so* excited to see the picture. Dr. Okeem printed out a picture, then turned the machine off. Buffy was handed some more tissues, which she used for wiping the goo off her tummy. She pulled her shirt down, and climbed off the table.
"Okay Buffy, here's your picture. I hope you enjoy looking at it and showing it off," Dr. Okeem smiled, as she handed Buffy the baby picture. "Don't forget to make an appointment for next month, before you leave. And of course, keep taking your vitamins, keep getting lots of rest, and I'll see you next time."
"Thanks again, doctor. Bye!" Buffy replied, shaking Dr. Okeem's hand. Buffy left the room a few seconds later, and headed towards the front desk to make her next appointment. Giles followed her, and then lead her out to the car. As they drove back to The Hyperion, neither of them said a word. Buffy was staring dreamily at the sonogram picture, and Giles didn't want to shatter her happiness, by suggesting they talk about his examining room confession. When they got home, he came around and helped her out of the car, then they both went inside.
*****************
Cordy pounced immediately when Buffy walked into the hotel.
"Lemme see! Lemme see!" she demanded, eagerly holding out her hand for the picture. Buffy giggled, then handed it to her, a bit reluctantly, though. Angel and the others came into the lobby, to welcome Buffy and Giles back. Cordy was cooing over the picture, then she went over and showed Gunn. He wasn't sure what to think, so he showed it to Wes. Wesley examined the black and white picture scientifically, "hmm"-ing and "dear me"-ing the whole time.
Fred looked at the picture next and grinned. She then handed it to Angel. He looked at Buffy, making sure it was okay, and she nodded. He gave her a faint smile, then glanced down at the picture. So this was Buffy and Giles' baby, huh? Kinda cute, really. Buffy walked over to him, and put her arm around him in a hug. He smiled at her, and hugged her back. Giles watched the two with some apprehension.
After everyone had finished looking at the baby picture, Fred announced she was going to start dinner. Wes quickly volunteered to help, and trailed after her, like a puppy on a leash. The others snickered and grinned at how much Wes and Fred were in love with each other, and how cute a couple they made. Angel, released Buffy from his embrace, causing her to pout briefly. Cordy and Gunn were curious as to what was going on between the Slayer and her Vampire. Were they an item now?
"Buffy...do you think we could discuss...things?" Giles finally asked.
"What's there to discuss, Giles?" she replied, playing dumb. **Uh-oh, what's going on with them?** Angel wondered. He had an inkling he knew, but wasn't sure just yet.
"Please, Buffy," Giles said. She sighed, then leaned up, kissed Angel passionately, and left the room, heading for Giles' office. Giles gasped. What the hell was she doing kissing Angel? Especially like that?! At least Angel hadn't kissed her back, that was something, he supposed. Giles glared at Angel, then headed towards his office where Buffy was waiting. Time for the fireworks to begin.
*****************
"What the hell was that little display out there for?" he demanded, after slamming the office door shut behind him.
"What display? Oh....you mean my kissing Angel?" she replied, looking at anything but Giles.
"Precisely, Buffy...why did you kiss him? How long have you two been romantically involved?"
"Well...technically, since I was 16...but with him dumping me at 18, then my dying at 20...we were kinda seperated for a while," Buffy said, smirking smugly at her Watcher.
"Don't be coy with me, Buffy. Are you two...currently involved in a romantic relationship or not?" he growled, going over to her and giving her an angry look.
"Or not, Giles. Chill out already, god. Angel and I kiss, and cuddle...but nothing more...not that it would be any of your business if we *did* get into a sexual relationship."
"I will *not* chill out, Buffy! Nor will I allow you to become involved with Angel sexually!" Giles shouted, trying to rein in his temper.
"Uh...excuse me? You won't allow me to what?! Since when were you the boss of me?! I'm 22 Giles, not 12...and if I wanna fuck a guy, I will!"
"Have you forgotten the "small" matter of being pregnant with MY child, Buffy?"
"Gosh...I don't think so...and thanks for reminding me why I should be wanting to strangle you right about now. How could you keep something as important as YOU being the father of MY baby from ME?! What did I do, to make you so upset with me, that you'd lie to me and keep such a huge secret from me? Does everyone already know you're the father? Am I the last to know? Tell me, Giles...why?" she pleaded, and began softly crying. Damn hormones strike again.
Giles paced back in forth in front of her. He would've prefered comforting her, but doubted she'd let him, when she was angry with him. He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair...here went nothing. Giles gestured for Buffy to sit down, which she did. He gave her tissue to blow her nose with and then began explaining, what he believed to be true, about The Night.
********************
"I...do you remember my telling you about the bond between a Watcher and his Slayer?" Buffy nodded, then waited semi-patiently for him to finish talking. "I believe that on the night our child was concieved...you were sending out some sort of...signals, as it were...calling for your mate...."
"My m-mate is Angel, though...," she said, getting more confused.
"Yes, I'm aware of that...however, for whatever reason, he did not respond to the signals you were emitting. And instead..."
"You did," Buffy finished, slowly getting the picture. "So...I emitted some kind of...radar or something...calling for my mate...Angel...but you responded instead? Why wouldn't Angel have responded? And why would I have sent out radar or whatever?"
"I believe that you emitted signals, meant specifically for...me...Buffy. The Slayer in you...was searching for her Watcher...me. I'm quite certain, that your Slayer was looking for my Watcher...calling him to mate with her...and make a child. And I'm also certain, that our Watcher/Slayer bond, wasn't completely severed when you jumped from the tower to save Dawn. I think that when Angel and I did the locator spell, before going to the graveyard where Willow and the others would be resurrecting you, it somehow...reaffirmed our bond, Buffy. And the night our child was made, it reached a peak...and since our child has been growing these seven weeks, the bond has been getting somewhat stronger. Does any of this make sense to you, Buffy?" Giles asked, after explaining his theory.
Buffy just sat there, thinking about all of the stuff Giles had told her. Her Slayer called his Watcher to her...so the two could mate, re-bond if you'd call it that, and make a child? Could it be true? If so, then had Giles been sleepwalking that night? Had he sleepwalked into her room, mated with her, planting his seed inside of her willing and fertile womb, and then leaving, without saying a word to her? Why wouldn't she have been aware of it? Unless...holy swiss cheese! The dreams!
Buffy's x-rated, full technicolor, surround sound, with all the bells and whistles, dreams...why they weren't just dreams after all! They had really happened! She and Giles had done the nasty! Oh god! Giles watched her, as she suddenly turned pale, then blushed, then clamped her hand over her mouth, and fled the room. He followed her, concerned, as she ran into the nearest bathroom, and emptied her lunch into the toilet.
When she was done, he had her sit up and then ran a cool washcloth over her face. She whispered her thanks, then with his help, got up from the floor. Angel, who'd seen her go tearing out of Giles' office, stuck his head into the bathroom, to see if she was alright. He fought back Angelus' desire to tear Giles apart, from touching HIS mate. Angel told the demon that Giles was the father of Buffy's child, NOT him. Angelus snarled inside of Angel and again, demanded to be let loose. Angel ignored him, and went into the small room.
"Are you okay, Buffy?" he asked, concerned. She nodded slowly. Giles wanted to tell Angel to bugger off, but wisely kept his mouth shut.
"I think I'm gonna go lay down in my room...I'm close to falling asleep on my feet. God being tired all the time, sucks. So does puking...but I wouldn't trade my baby for anything," she grinned, then yawned loudly. Giles agreed that she should go and rest, and along with Angel, watched her head up the stairs for her nap. Both men studiously ignored looking at one another, and left the bathroom in different directions.
********************
An hour and a half later, Buffy awoke, feeling refreshed and starving for dinner. Just then, Wes knocked, popped his head in, and told Buffy dinner was ready. She thanked him, then got up, stretched all the kinks out and went downstairs, after freshening up. She walked into the dining room and said "hi" to everyone, then sat down between Cordy and Fred. Gunn sat on Cordy's other side, Wes sat on Fred's other side, and Giles and Angel sat across from Fred and Wes. Spaghetti and Meatballs, with French Bread, and Salad, was passed around for everyone.
********************
After dinner, everyone went into the living room/den, to watch a movie. The movie, which Fred, Cordy, and Buffy had picked out, was called "Valentine". It was a horror flick, and the girls clung to the guys during some of the more gruesome parts. When the movie was over, the girls all commented on how much one of the guys in the movie, looked like Angel. Angel told them they were nuts and the girls, along with Wes and Gunn just laughed. Cordy served ice cream for dessert, and when they were all done eating, she and Gunn left for the night.
Fred and Wes headed for their room, leaving Angel, Giles, and Buffy alone in the now empty dining room. Tension immediately filled the air...Giles and Angel avoided looking at each other, and Buffy wondered who'd swing first. Surely one of them would make a move?
"Well, this is fun, isn't it? The father of my baby...and the love of my life. I hope you two don't expect me to choose between you? Cuz I gotta tell you...right now, I don't want anyone. Giles, I'd like it if you'd continue coming with me to my doctor's appointments...but only because you're the father. Angel, I love you...always have, always will...my having another man's baby, isn't going to change that. I'd like to raise my baby in the hotel, with you, Cordy, Wesley, Fred, Gunn, and Giles. But if you and Giles can't get over your jealousy problems where I'm concerned, then I'll have no problems moving elsewhere. Got it?" Buffy stated calmly looking from one man to the next and back.
Angel and Giles looked at each other, then at the woman they both loved across the table. She was being completely serious, they knew that with certainty.
"Buffy...we won't let whatever problems we have with each other, get in the way of our feelings towards you and your baby. Right, Giles?" Angel asked. Giles nodded.
"We agree to discuss things with each other, so we can reach a solution that will suit the three of us," the Watcher said.
"Sounds good, I'm gonna head up to bed...I'll see you in the morning. Night," Buffy responded, getting up from the table and going up to her room. A quick shower later, she brushed her teeth, turned off the light and crawled into bed.
*********************
A few days had passed since Giles had told Buffy he was the father of her unborn child. Since then, Buffy had been mostly ignoring him, preferring to spend her time with Fred, Wes, Gunn, and Cordy. Angel wasn't one of her favorite people either, due to the fact, that he and Giles were fighting over her like a favored toy. They didn't actually get into physical altercations, but the nasty looks they'd shoot at each other when the other wasn't looking, was enough to drive Buffy to slay them both. She, Fred, and Cordy, had begun scouting out the perfect room for a nursery. It was the room directly to the left of hers, Angel's room being on the right side and Giles across the hall.
One afternoon, as Buffy was vegging in front of the tv, she heard some commotion coming from the lobby. Sighing at being disturbed, she got off the couch and went out to investigate. What she saw, made her see red. Giles and Angel, it seemed, had reached a stand-off. Gunn, Wes, Cordy, and Fred, were standing on the sidelines, waiting to see who'd do what. Buffy rolled her eyes, and went back into the living room/den to finish watching her show.
As Buffy was watching tv, out in the lobby, her two protectors, were having a staring contest. Gunn and Wes silently thought that Angel would make a move and kick the living snot out of Giles...Cordy thought Giles might move first...and Fred went into the living room/den to check on Buffy. Finally, after what seemed like forever, Angel vamped out and swung his fist in a right hook, which crashed into Giles' lower left jaw. Everyone gasped as Giles hit the floor, hard. He quickly recovered and swung with deadly precision at Angel's nose. Cordy grimaced as Giles' fist easily broke the Vampire's nose.
Angel growled and spun his leg out to kick Giles in the ribs. But Giles ducked out of the way and elbowed Angel in the stomach. Wes wondered if perhaps he should do something to stop them, but valued his safety. Gunn was glad to see Angel had finally gotten his act together, to do something about the guy who had knocked Angel's girl up. Cordy, who'd had enough, made her way into the living room/den where Fred and Buffy were.
"Buffy, you've *got* to do something, before they kill each other! Do you want your baby to grow up without its' dad?" Cordy pleaded to the Slayer.
"I don't want them to kill each other, obviously...but maybe a nice bit of violence, will knock some sense into them. God knows nothing else will," Buffy replied...then suddenly doubled over when a sharp pain hit her in the abdomen. Instantly sensing her baby was in distress, she cried for Cordy to get her to the hospital as quickly as possible. The Seer panicked, and ran to get her purse and keys. Angel, who was in the middle of repeatedly pummeling Giles' chest, abruptly stopped as he sensed Buffy's fear. Giles, too, felt Buffy's fear and quickly went into the living room/den to attend to her.
She was hunched over on the floor, clutching her stomach and openly weeping with fear and pain. Cordy came rushing into the room, with Wesley behind her. He could feel his instincts as a Watcher, kick in, demanding he assist the woman who had been his Slayer. Then Cordy shoved Giles out of the way and with Wes' help, got Buffy into her car. Cordy sped off to the hospital a few seconds later, leaving a panicky Giles and worried Angel behind. Within 10 minutes, Giles had gotten into *his* car, and quickly drove off after Cordy and Buffy. God he hoped Buffy was okay.
****************
An hour later, a subdued Giles walked into the hotel. Wes, Fred, and Gunn, asked him where Buffy and Cordy were. He said Buffy had thrown him out of the hospital. The baby had gone into serious distress and Buffy was going to be kept overnight, so that Dr. Okeem could run some tests on her and the fetus. Buffy blamed he and Angel, and had sworn that if anything happened to her baby, she would *never* speak to either of them ever again, and she'd leave LA and not come back. Giles had taken her threats to heart, and had come back to the hotel.
Fred, Gunn, and Wes, were shocked to hear this...and asked Giles if he was alright. The Watcher didn't say anything, just went up to his room quietly. When he got there, he lay down on the bed, and silently wept. Tears of sorrow, frustration, helplessness, regret, and anger at himself. He didn't know what he'd do, if Buffy lost the baby. He said a silent prayer after his tears had finally ceased, praying to anyone listening, to keep Buffy and their baby safe.
****************
At the hospital, Buffy was lying in her bed for the night, weeping too. Dr. Okeem had told her that she was very lucky she'd come in when she had. If she had ignored the pain, then she could have lost the baby. Cordy had gasped and held Buffy's hand for comfort. Giles had burst into the room and heard what the doctor said to Buffy. He'd paled, and had quickly grabbed the door to keep from falling as his knees suddenly gave out. Buffy had looked in his direction, gave him a fiercely angry look, and told him to get the hell out.
Giles stood there, begging her with his eyes, for forgiveness...but she wouldn't look at him after telling him off. He finally left, and Buffy had begun weeping. Dr. Okeem took some blood, making Buffy wince from the needle, then left to get the tests running. Cordy was currently sitting in the chair by her friend's bed, still holding her hand. She knew Giles was sorry, and she knew Buffy knew Giles was sorry...but the main focus for Buffy's attention, was the safety of her baby.
Buffy could feel a tingling in the back of her head...and for some reason, she instantly thought of Giles. Was this their bond at work? A warmth suddenly rushed through her body, focussing on where the baby lay. She could feel the tingling in her head, get stronger and was swamped with a mesh of feelings. Regret, sorrow, helplessness...and something that felt like hope. Could these feelings be Giles' feelings...transferred into her from their bond? If so...was there anyway for her to transfer *her* feelings back to him?
She yawned suddenly, and Cordy grinned. Just then, a nurse popped her head in the room, and told Buffy that her guest would have to leave, as visiting hours were ending. So a couple of minutes later, Cordy said "bye" to Buffy, then told her she'd come pick her up in the morning, gave her a hug, then left. Buffy yawned again, and slowly drifted off to sleep.
***************
*~*~*Dream Sequence*~*~*
She woke up...and not knowing why, was drawn to his room and her mate. Whatever it was, pulling her to him...she couldn't and wouldn't resist...she must mate be him tonight. Now! She crept into his room, and crawled into bed with him. Not paying any attention to the seed running down her thighs or the fact that she was naked. She lifted up the covers and lay down on top of the sleeping vampire...and kissed him eagerly on the mouth. He instinctively knew her as his and ravished her mouth with his kiss of response.
She squirmed on top of him, as his kiss touched her deep inside where she ached for him. He groaned softly, and without breaking their kiss, rolled them both over, so she was underneath him and with no further waiting, he spread her legs with his knees and plunged his hardness inside of her. She gasped as he filled her to the brim and began moving her hips to meet his eager thrusts. Over and over again, their bodies met in an age old rhythm, until in burst of intense pleasure, they reached their peak, crying out each other's name in passion. As they came down, they softly kissed and whispered their love to one another.
*~*~*End Of Dream Sequence*~*~*
Angel gasped as he suddenly woke up. The covers were tangled around his waist, and his hands were clenched in the sheets. My god what a dream! He sighed with pent-up desire, and rolled over. Punching the pillow into shape, he laid back down and shortly drifted back to sleep.
*************
Over in the hospital, Buffy groaned and rolled over in her bed.
*************
*~*~*Dream Sequence*~*~*
"Come on, Buffy! You can do it, keep pushing!" Angel cheered, holding her hand as she bore down and pushed again. Dr. Okeem smiled her encouragement to Buffy from where she sat, on the stool at the end of the bed. Buffy groaned in pain, and Angel was beside himself with anticipatorial joy and elation. He hated seeing his mate, his wife, in such undiluted pain. He hoped it would be over soon, and consoled himself with the knowledge that soon he and Buffy would have their beautiful little baby.
"Okay Buffy...just one more good push, and your baby will be here," Dr. Okeem said, getting ready to catch the newborn as soon as he or she came out. She told Buffy to look in the mirror at the edge of the bed, so she could see her baby's head and watch the birth. Buffy looked at the mirror and cried, "I see it! Oh Angel, I see our baby!" Angel grinned in excitement and looked in the mirror, too.
"Buffy, just a second...," Dr. Okeem said, as she helped ease the head out of Buffy's body..."all right...one more little push, Buffy..." and as Buffy pushed, the rest of the baby came out. "Here's your baby, Buffy! Congratulations, it's a...."
*~*~*End Of Dream Sequence*~*~*
In separate beds, in separate places, Buffy and Angel jolted awake suddenly. They had just shared a dream of their baby's birth....but how could that be possible? Both of them knew that vampires couldn't reproduce...and that the father of Buffy's baby, was Giles. But the dream...it seemed so...so real...Buffy could still feel what it felt like to push, and could still see what her baby looked like. And Angel...he could hear Buffy's noises of pain as she labored to deliver their baby...he could smell the blood from Buffy as she pushed the child out.
What could the dream mean? Buffy could remember Angel supporting and encouraging her during the delivery. She felt as if he was still there, standing next to her, but he wasn't, and it hurt. Angel wanted to keen for the loss he felt, upon not having Buffy in the bed next to him. Both souls cried out for their mate...and a tear streamed down each lover's cheek.
*****************
The next morning, Dr. Okeem came into Buffy's hospital room, to check on her and the baby.
"How are the two of you doing this morning?" she asked.
"We're doin' pretty good and eager to get out of here as quickly as you'll sign the release papers," Buffy replied, giving the doctor a cheeky grin and "puppy dog" eyes. Dr. Okeem chuckled at her patient's eagerness to leave.
"I understand your wanting out of here so soon, but I'm still waiting for one more test's results to come in. *Then*, if everything checks out as it should, I'll have the release papers drawn up for you to sign. Okay?" Dr. Okeem questioned. Buffy nodded in agreement, then smiled as the doctor left, with promises to come back soon.
"Man this sucks...all I wanna do is make sure everything's okay with my baby, and get outta here," Buffy grumbled a short while later. She'd already called Cordy, to see what was going on over at the hotel, but there wasn't anything exciting happening. Fred and Wesley dropped by a short while later, to see how Buffy was faring.
"Hello, Buffy...how are you?" Wes asked.
"Other than uber bored and uber ready to make my escape outta here, I'm not too shabby. How 'bout yourself?" she replied.
"I'm fine, thank you. I must confess that you had all of us quite worried yesterday afternoon. So I'm very glad to know that you're doing so well."
"Thanks, Wes. I really freaked myself out, too...so, I'm sorry about that," Buffy spoke, patting her tummy softly. It had been getting a little...poofy the last day or so, she'd noticed. Her favorite jeans were a bit snugger than they had been a couple of weeks ago. Normally, Buffy woulda been bummed, but since she knew her jeans not fitting anymore, was for a good cause, her itty, bitty, babykins (what she called it when she was alone), she could've cared less.
"Yes, well, everything worked out all right in the end, and that's all that matters, right?" the younger Watcher asked. Buffy nodded, then smiled. Fred entered the room a few seconds later, surprising Buffy with a "Get Well Soon" balloon and a cute, little, light green frog.
"Awwww....thanks, Fred! The froggy is so cute! And, awww....it'll be Itty Bitty Babykins' first toy!" Buffy exclaimed, kissing the froggy's head and smiling at Fred.
"Itty Bitty Babykins? Is that what you're calling your baby, Buffy?" Fred grinned. Buffy, not realizing what she'd said, blushed and grinned sheepishly at Fred and Wes. How embarrassing.
"Heh...yeah...but don't tell anyone, 'kay? I didn't know I'd actually said that out loud," Buffy laughed nervously. Fred and Wes swore to keep Buffy's pet name for the baby a secret. The threesome were joking around about how Cordy and Gunn had been caught making out in the movie theater two nights before, causing them to get kicked out. Dr. Okeem came in as the laughter died down, and she had some papers with her.
"Buffy, your final test results are in...would you like me to tell you now, or wait until you're alone?"
"Now is fine, these are my friends Wes and his girlfriend Fred."
"Buffy, if you want, Wes and I can wait in the hall while the doctor tells you what the results are," Fred offered.
"It doesn't matter to me, guys...you can stay if you wanna," Buffy responded, shrugging. Fred and Wes decided to wait in the hall after all, giving Buffy and Dr. Okeem their privacy.
"So what's the verdict, Doc?" Buffy asked...concerned with how Dr. Okeem was glancing at the test results repeatedly.
"Well, Buffy...actually...according to the HCG test results...it looks like you might be having twins."
Buffy blinked in astonishment. Twins? As in two babies? Two Babies?! She blinked again...then gave the doctor a fierce look, causing Dr. Okeem to take a step back from the Slayer.
"Did I hear you right, Dr. Okeem? Did you or did you not, just tell me I "might" be having twins? Might be? How might I be having twins? We both saw the baby on the sonogram. One. Baby. Not. TWO! Explain this to me, Dr. Okeem. Please!" Buffy practically demanded. Dr. Okeem swallowed hard and slightly wondered if she'd need to call Security to deal with her once, normal, patient. Buffy sighed...**geeze Buff, bite the nice doctor's head off, why don't you?** she mentally yelled at herself.
"I...I'm really sorry, Dr. Okeem. God...I don't know what came over me. I'm sure you've got a really great reason, as to why you suspect I'm carrying twins...and I promise to stay completely calm and quiet while you make your explanations," Buffy apologized, cringing upon seeing the doctor's scared look.
"W-well, Buffy...I accept your apology, and can only imagine the cause of your sudden....out-burst, as being contributed to your...pregnancy hormones...mood swings, specifically," Dr. Okeem said, clearing her throat and opening the test result folder again. "HCG is what is used to maintain progesterone production by the corpus luteum in the early part of pregnancy. I can see you're kind of confused...so let me try explaining it better. First, Progesterone, is a female steroid sex hormone, that is secreted, by the corpus luteum, which is a yellowish mass of progesterone-secreting endocrine tissue that forms right after a woman ovulates, progesterone is made for preparing the endometrium, the uterus, basically, for implantation. And then later on, progesterone is also used by the placenta, during pregnancy, to prevent the rejection, by the uterus, of the developing embryo or fetus."
"So...basically...my..progesterone is higher than it should be, for a...what do they call it...singleton? pregnancy...so your natural assumption is that I'm having twins?" Buffy asked, trying to make sense of all of the medical jargon she'd heard.
"Yes, that's more or less it. And I think that the reason we only saw one baby, is because they were playing "hide-and-seek" and the second baby, was the one hiding," Dr. Okeem replied.
"Oh that's cute...they're already playing together! So, then when will the second baby come out of hiding?"
"It's hard to say, Buffy. We can do another sonogram at your next appointment, and maybe we'll get lucky and see them both. In the meantime, we'll just keep doing what we've been doing. Keep up with your vitamins, get as much rest as you think you need, eat when and whatever you want to, and keep up with your appointments. Do you have any other questions?"
"Um...I can't think of any right off hand...oh! Am I free to go, yet?" Buffy asked, laughing when Dr. Okeem immediately handed her her release papers. They said their goodbyes, and the doctor left. Fred and Wes came back in, and Buffy told them that the doctor said everything was fine with the baby...and that she was free to go home.
******************
Within two weeks after the hospital scare, Buffy had really developed a little poochy belly, and had been "forced" to go baby-shopping with Cordy. Fred tagged along, and the three of them headed for the mall. Three hours, yes, three hours, later...the women walked into the Hyperion's lobby, exhausted. Around 30 bags, from various baby/maternity stores, littered the floor around the circular couch the women had collapsed on. Giles and Angel, had decided to focus all of their attention on Buffy and the baby. Neither Buffy, nor Angel, had talked about their shared dream...and she had been keeping both men in tune with the changes in her body and how she was feeling.
"Good Lord! I say, did you ladies put the mall out of business? Or did you perhaps leave one or two crumbs for the rest of LA's population?" Wesley asked, walking into the lobby and chuckling at all of the bags he saw. Buffy yawned loudly, then looked pleadingly at Wes.
"Wes...pretty please...carry me up to my room? I'm too pooped and too sore to walk all the way across the room and then up all...those...stairs," she asked, batting her eyelashes at him. Fred nudged her with her elbow.
"Hey...no fair using your feminine wiles on my boyfriend, Buffy...that's my job," she giggled. Buffy pouted, but put her "feminine wiles" away for the time being. Cordy smirked at Buffy, then winked at Fred. The women burst into a fit of giggles, which caused Wes to roll his eyes at their silliness, and leave the room. His leaving the room, just made the women giggle harder. Finally, Buffy stopped, clutching her aching sides, and gasping for breath. Fred and Cordy stopped too, also clutching their aching sides.
Gunn and Angel, who'd been in the work-out room, entered the lobby and saw the three ladies sitting there. Angel noticed they all had flushed faces and he wondered what they'd been doing, to make them laugh so much. Gunn went over to his girlfriend, and in a spontaneous act of romance, picked her up and swung her around, causing her to giggle. Then he put her back down, held her close, and the two kissed slowly. Fred grinned at the display, then headed off to find her own boyfriend for some smoochies. Buffy sighed, and wished she had a loving boyfriend, too.
She got up and went over to Angel. Their eyes met and both wanted nothing more, than to lose themselves in each other, but knew it couldn't be. Too much stood between them, least of all, the fact that she carried another man's child. Buffy was the only one who knew that she might actually be carrying twins. However, neither she, Giles, nor Angel, knew the full impact of her carrying twins, would have on all of them. None of them could for-see how their lives would change in the next few months.
***************
THE END????
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