__Slayer's Hormones__
By Gibberish




  Six Weeks Pregnant

     Buffy sat in her Father's living room. It saddened her how little they knew each other. It was true, he wouldn't win any Father of the Year awards, but then she wouldn't be winning any Daughter of the Year awards.

 Hank looked at his daughter with a stunned expression. "Pregnant?"

 Buffy nodded happily. "We are getting married. Actually, we were planning to anyway, we just hadn't gotten to the actual planning part yet. But he asked, and I said yes."

 "Pregnant." Hank said again. "Who? Who is he?" Then he muttered to himself. "I didn't even know there was a he." He looked at Buffy again. "Where is he? Why isn't he here with you?"

 "He is." Buffy told him. "Here, that is. He's waiting outside in the car. I made him. I wanted to prepare you."

 "Prepare me?" Hank echoed. "Prepare me for what?" He asked warily.

 "Well," Buffy said hesitantly. "He's older than I am. Quite a bit older."

 "How much older? Thirty?" Hank asked.

 Buffy shifted. "More like almost thirty years older. Than me."

 "What?!" Hank exclaimed.

 Buffy took her Father's hand and pulled him down next to her. "I love him, Daddy." She met his eyes very seriously. "I don't have a crush and he isn't having a mid-life crisis. I've known him for a long while now. He worked at the high school. And, before you ask - No, we didn't. I didn't see him that way, then. Do you remember me telling you about Giles?"

 Hank thought carefully. "The Librarian. SATs, he helped you study." Buffy's smile nearly knocked him over. He reached out and touched her cheek. "What about school?"

 "You know, I've never seen a rule that said pregnant women can't go to college." Buffy said. "I'm still going. It may take me a little longer, but..."

 Hank took a deep breath. "I guess you'd better bring him in then." Buffy hugged him and jumped up.

 When Buffy brought Giles back in, Hank was surprised. He looked like a college professor. He wore blue jeans and a tweed jacket. The earring seemed out of place. Hank took a really good look at this man. This man, that had gotten his baby pregnant, was going to marry her. Hank did the only thing he could think of in that moment, He decked him.

 "Giles?!" Buffy exclaimed. "Daddy." She admonished.

 Giles lay on the floor, holding his jaw. Hank reached out a hand to help him up. "Welcome to the family." Hank said drily as he helped the other man to his feet.

 "Buffy didn't tell me that there would be an initiation." Giles said with some humor.


Three Months Pregnant/One Month Married

   Buffy laid on the couch with her feet in Giles' lap. She held her feet up for his inspection. "Do my feet look swollen to you?"

 Giles looked over the top of his book at her feet. "No." He went back to his book.

 Buffy nudged his leg with her foot. "Fine, just humor me. They hurt."

 Without looking up from his book, he moved one hand to her foot and massaged it. "I don't think it's the pregnancy, I think it's your shoes."

 "They still hurt." Buffy pointed out. "I guess it's time to give them up, huh?"

 "I never understood what the point of them was in the first place." Giles commented mildly.

 "They make me taller, for one." Buffy said and saw his lips twitch. "They make my legs look nice."

 "You don't need shoes for that." Giles pointed out. "You don't wear shoes when we ... All right, once. It was an experiment, but the point is - Your legs are lovely, with or without shoes."

 "Yeah, now maybe." Buffy said. "What about six months from now."

 "You won't be able to see them anyway." Giles said with a laugh. Buffy dug her toes into his side. He set his book down and looked at her seriously. "You will only get lovelier to me." She pouted at him. "Is this one of those hormonal arguments that I can't win?" She nodded. Giles sighed and picked his book back up.

 "Hey." Buffy said with another nudge. "That doesn't mean you aren't supposed to try."

 "You only end up more upset than when you start." Giles pointed out.  Buffy sighed. "I'm hungry."

 Giles put his book down and stood up. "I never thought I'd be grateful for mood swings."

He muttered as he went to the kitchen.


Four Months Pregnant

   Buffy walked into her Psych class for the first time in maternity clothes. She ignored the looks and went straight to Willow and sat next to her. She made herself as inconspicuous as possible, but could feel the eyes of the TA on her. She sighed and tried to lose herself in Prof. Walsh's lecture.

 After class, Riley's friends came up to him and saw him watching Buffy make her way out with Willow.

 "Something you want to tell us, Riley?" Forrest teased his friend.

 "I'd say that the lady is definitely unavailable." Graham said.

 "Women aren't supposed to look like that in maternity clothes." Riley commented, he didn't really hear either one.

 "Then, how do you think they end up in maternity clothes?" Graham asked.


   Buffy sat on the couch with Willow and Xander. Every time she moved to stand, they told her they would get whatever she had wanted. She knew that they were just trying to be nice, but they were driving her crazy. She went to stand again.

 "We'll get it, Buff." Willow told her.

 "Afraid you can't do this one for me." Buffy said wryly.

 "'Course we can." Xander said. "Just tell us what it is." Buffy stood and Xander tried to help her. "Buff, ..."

 Buffy lost her temper. "I have to pee, Xander. Get out of the way." She stalked to the bathroom.

 "Hormone alert." Xander muttered.


Five and a Half Months Pregnant - Christmas Eve

   Buffy was walking to her Mother's. She'd lost track of time doing last minute shopping and was muttering to herself about the sun having set. She was grabbed from behind and swung around. "Spike!" She smacked his arm with a stake. "Don't scare me like that."

 Spike stared at her stomach. "What the bloody hell ..." His words were cut off by a human shaped projectile hitting from the side and they both hit the ground.

 Buffy watched in detached fascination. "What ... Angel?"


   Buffy turned to invite Spike and Angel in, when Spike brushed passed her. Buffy sighed. "Come in, Angel." She turned to the group in the living room.

"Mom, have you been letting Spike in again?" Joyce shrugged sheepishly.

 Buffy made a quick trip to the bathroom, but began to pace when she came back out. She looked at Angel. "What are you doing here?" She twiddled with the stake in her hands.

 Angel watched the stake warily. "Wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas." He said lamely.

 Buffy rolled her eyes and looked to the Scooby Gang. Willow, Oz, Xander and Anya. "Which one of you called him?"

 "Me." Joyce said. Buffy, and the rest, looked at her shocked. "I was worried about you. I asked Angel to help keep watch over you."

 Buffy turned on Angel. "And you came?" She asked surprised.

 "Of course I came." Angel said. "I haven't stopped loving you. I want you to be happy. And safe."

 Buffy looked at Giles and then turned on Spike. "And what are *you* doing here?" Buffy asked.

 "Ahem." Giles said nervously. "I called him."

 Buffy sat down hard on the arm of her Mother's chair. "What? Why?"

 "To protect you." Giles told her.

 "Spike?!" Buffy exclaimed in unison with Angel. "Giles, honey, I'm the one that's supposed to be irrational."

 "I was going to ask about that." Spike commented.

 Buffy moved quickly and had the stake pointed against his heart. "Shut up, Spike."

 "Did you just say Giles, honey?" Spike asked. "Well, that explains that."

 Buffy pushed a little on the stake. "Didn't I just say shut up?" Suddenly, she just pulled away and sat with her arms around her belly. "I should just give up on holidays."

 "Duck and cover." Xander muttered. Willow and Anya both smacked him.

 While Giles took Buffy into the kitchen, Joyce asked Xander to do her a favor. He disappeared for about a half an hour.


   In the kitchen, Giles took Buffy into his arms. "We're just worried about you, Luv." She nodded. He gave a little laugh. "What would the Council say? A pregnant Slayer being protected by two vampires."

 "And an over protective ex Watcher." Buffy added with a sigh.

 "I am not over protective." Giles said indignant. "There is nothing wrong with being cautious."

 "So, you called Spike?" She asked with a laugh.

 "That's better." Giles said. "I can't help being worried."

 Buffy sighed and snuggled against him. "I know. It's just ... I'm the Slayer, you know? I'm not used to needing protecting."

 "I think that's the first time that you have actually acknowledged the need for assistance." Giles commented thoughtfully.

 Buffy shrugged and looked down. "How much longer will I be able to see my feet? My center of gravity is completely off."

 Giles patted her bottom with a grin. "Seems all right to me."
  

   They all sat down at the dining room table. Spike and Angel looked into their goblets, then each other, then Joyce. Joyce smiled at them and glanced at Xander. Her smile broadened when they both ducked their heads.

 Dinner ended up as a rather merry affair. Laughter and jokes. Stories about childhood. By the time the hot chocolate made it's way to the table, everyone was in a pretty good mood.

 Giles didn't think anything of it, when Buffy reached for his hand. However, when she placed it on her belly, he looked at her oddly. Then, he felt a tiny flutter under his hand. Giles met Buffy's eyes, she had a hand over her mouth and tears on her cheeks and the happiest glow he'd ever seen on her face. He was unaware of the tears that made their way to his own face.

 "Buffy? Giles?" Willow asked worriedly.

 Everyone looked at them with fear in their eyes, except Joyce. "It's all right." Joyce said quietly, tears in her own eyes.

 "What is it?" Angel asked.

 "They felt the baby move." Joyce said. "Together."

 "Wow." Willow said awed.

 "I second that." Xander said.


   Buffy watched them from the kitchen doorway. They sat around the Christmas tree in the living room. Happy and content. She wanted to lock this moment away in her heart.  

  Spike came up to her awkwardly. "Look, Slayer, I was wondering ..."

 "What is it, Spike?" Buffy asked, too happy to fight, even with him.

 He gestured at her stomach. "Could I ...?"

 Buffy stared at him for a minute. Then, she almost smiled. She took his hand in hers and placed it on her belly. "You may not feel ..." She started to tell him, but felt the baby move. She smiled at the absolute awe on his face.

 "I never felt anything like that, before." Spike said hushed. "Does it hurt?"  Buffy shook her head. "It almost tickles." She looked around and saw Angel watching them with the oddest expression. She simply held out her hand and he came over.

 Giles watched them from where he sat on the couch. He wore a puzzled smile. He moved his foot and nudged Willow with his foot.

 Willow followed Giles' gaze to where the two vampires stood with Buffy. They each had a hand on her belly and both of their mouths were open. They actually smiled at each other.

 Xander noticed Giles' and Willow's preoccupation and followed their gazes. He stared for a moment, blinked his eyes a couple of times, but the image was still there. He shook his head at the weirdness, but didn't say a word.
  

   Buffy settled onto Giles' lap. When she was comfortable, and certain that he was as well, she noticed that everyone was staring at them. "What?"

 Xander grabbed a box from under the tree and handed it to Giles. "Thank you, Xander." Giles said as he took the box and set it Buffy's lap. "Merry Christmas, Luv."

 Buffy looked at the box, it was bigger than a shirt box and heavier. She carefully undid the ribbon and opened the box as everybody watched expectantly. "Uh, Giles?" She said as she looked at the folders filled with papers. She looked at the papers. "Is this what I think it is?"

 "All you have to do is sign them, Luv." Giles told her quietly.  Buffy looked at him with confusion on her face. "But ..." She looked at the papers again.

 "It's only a couple of blocks away." Giles told her. "It's not large, but ... I thought you might like to be close to your Mum."

 "A house?" Buffy whispered tearfully.

 "A small house." Giles told her self-consciously. "Once you sign the papers, it can be processed. It'll be our house. We should be able to move in before the baby's born."

 Buffy threw her arms around his neck, nearly sending the paperwork to the floor. "Oh, Giles. How?" She pulled back. "That's why you've been so late getting home."

 "I was hoping it would be finished by Christmas." Giles explained.

 "It's wonderful, Giles." Buffy said as she hugged him again. "You're wonderful." She pulled back and smiled brightly, even with the tears on her cheeks. "We have a Home."



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