Two
months later
“So
Xander, what’s the what?” Buffy asked as she walked into the Magic Box
with her arm around Willow, who wandered away to look at what Dawn had
once describe as ‘all the magic junk’. Buffy examined the other occupants
of the shop, taking in Giles behind the counter, Dawn sitting at the table
doing her homework, Xander holding Anya from behind with his hands around
her waist.
“Well, Buff. We got some news today.”
Xander started before the love of his life cut him off with “I’m going to
have a baby. We’re very excited.”
“An!”
Xander half chastised and half whined. “We agreed I could tell
them.”
“Right, Sorry.” Anya actually looked
sorry, a look she’d been trying to perfect the last couple of months. “You
could tell them now.” She then said her voice much more cheerful. “I bet
they’d pretend I hadn’t told them.”
While
this fascinating exchange was going on, everyone else in the shop had
frozen as the former vengeance demon’s words sunk in. The first oneto
actually have a reaction was Xander’s life long best friend, who flew
across the room to take the couple in a bear hug. She was just seconds
ahead of Buffy, followed by Dawn. All three were behaving in a way only
women in the presence of a newly pregnant woman can. The words flowed,
occasionally even into sentences, but mostly just into a lake of
incomprehensibility. After this had gone on for five minutes, Xander
wormed his way out of the mob of women, and went to talk to
Giles.
“Congratulations! You’ll make a fine
father.” The older man said, extending his hand.
Xander grabbed his hand, and Gilescould
see the worry in his eyes. “I hope so. I’m just not sure if I’m
ready.”
“Have
faith in yourself. You’ll be a good parent. Actually knowing you, You’ll
do a good job just to spite your parents.” Giles said a twinkle in his
eyes.
“Oh,
yeah that’s the other thing I have to do today.” Xander said a mysterious
smile on his face. He walked over to where the girls were still gushing
nonsensically. He loudly cleared his throat to gain their attention then
gestured like he was parting the Red Sea. As the girls moved leaving only
Anya in front of him Xander went to one knee, Took Anya by the hand and
asked “Anya, I love you, will you marry me”
Once
again everyone in the shop froze, waiting the expectant mother’s answer
with baited breath.
“Yes,
Xander. Yes I’ll marry you.” Anya said tears forming in her eyes as she
pulled Xander up and gave him a long passionate
kiss.
The
round of applause Giles started continued until the couple stopped kissing
then everyone lined up to congratulate the couple.
*****
“You
know a couple of months ago,
I didn’t believe in vampires.” Richie said as he swung his sword through
the neck of one of Sunnydale’s vampires.
“Yeah, well things change.” Amanda said
as she cut off a vamps arm, then it’s head. “After all, there wasa time,
when the horse was the fastest way to travel, and the maps of the earth
had places marked ‘Here be dragons’.” She looked around for more vamps to
fight, but the alley was empty except for the two of them. “I wonder how
Buffy’s new sword is working out.”
“Yeah, that dowel along the backedge of
her Katana was a cool idea. It lets her dust vamps with either the edge,
or a thrust.” Richie commented as the two immortals headed towards the
cemetery where Buffy had said she’d be.
As
the walked in they saw the slayer run a vamp through with her swords,and
smile as it turned to dust on her blade. Meanwhile Willow was a short
distance away, trying out a new fireball spell, under combat conditions.
So far, it looked to be a very successful trial, as she was throwing rapid
fire fireballs at any vamp that came near her, as well as taking pot shots
at Buffy’s attackers.
“They
seem to be having fun.” Amanda commented dryly.
“Hey,
watch where you throw that fire, witch!” Buffy shouted as fireballswent
by her on either side, striking two vamps.
“That’s it no nookie for you tonight.”
Willow said, just before she and Buffy sensed the approach of the other
immortals, and scanned the area until the noticed the blond immortals
approach.
“Where’s Nick?” Willow asked, wondering
why the ex-cop wasn’t with the others.
“He
got called to Paris for a job.” Amanda said clearly annoyed that Bert
Myers offer had been more attractive then spending time with
her.
“Now
Amanda, he did get offered 25 large for 3 days work.” Richie tried to
reason with the slayer.
“Hmmph.”
“Oh,
come on Amanda, we can have lots of fun without Nick.” Willow
said.
“Was
that an proposition?” Amanda returned, knowing that the witch wouldturn
bright red.
Buffy
glared at the older immortal, while rubbing her lover’s back and
encouraging her to breath.
Just
then Xander walked up to the group, startling them, so that they all
turned in his direction swords at the ready. “Uhh, I come in peace?” He
offered his hands in the air.
“Xander!” Willow gasped out ofbreath.
“Shouldn’t you be at home with your pregnant
fiancé?”
“I
couldn’t sleep. Will I need to talk.” The lone mortal in the group
said.
“Anya’s pregnant? And you’reengaged?”
Richie asked. When he received a nod in response he said “Hey man,
congrats.”
“Thanks. Will, could we please talk?”
Xander seemed distracted.
“Of
course. Buffy, I’ll be home in a while. Everyone else, see you later.”
With that the redhead gathered her best male friend and the two walked out
into the dark.
*****
“Will, I don’t know if I can be a father.
I’m not ready. I know nothing about kids, and what kind of life canI
offer a child.” Xander babbled, sitting on a bench in the park.
Willow pulled her childhood friendin to
a hug, and said “Xander, think of the past couple years. Have you really
failed at anything that you really wanted? You wanted to date Cordy, and
you did. You wanted to succeed where your parents failed, and you did. You
wanted to fall in love and you did. You can do anything you want, andyou
know I’ll be there to support you. So will the others. We love you,and
believe in you, now you just have to believe in yourself. You’ve got
plenty of time to learn about children, and you’re a hard working and
honest person who’s found a career that you can both succeed at and
enjoy.”
“I
don’t know Will. I’ve also messed a lot of things up. I kissed you and
cost us both our relationships. I slept with Faith and almost let herkill
me. I…” Xander just stopped talking allowing himself to remember the
past.
“Xander, you’re going to be a great
parent, and Buffy and I are going to be incredible aunts. Now go hometo
Anya, and let her comfort you in the one way I’m unable to.” Willow put on
her dreaded resolve face, and Xander capitulated
gracefully.
“Yes
Ma’am.”