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Same as usual, Don't own them.
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Denial and realizations


Buffy dropped her keys on the table and slumped back on the couch. She was tired and her back was aching from working a double shift at the Palace. Plus, she had been getting dizzy at the strangest times in the past couple of weeks... or, if she thought about it, actually months. Even before Spike left.

Buffy sighed and looked at her watch. 6 minutes and 35 seconds. That was a new record for her. It had been almost a month since she went to talk to Spike only to find him gone, and she hadn’t heard anything from him. Not that she expected to. She had managed to finally drive him away, just like she always did.

Buffy pushed the thoughts aside and forced herself to get up and walk into the kitchen, where she found Willow and Tara.

“Hey guys.” Buffy sat down in one of the chairs and put a bag from the Palace on the table. “I brought dinner.”

“Hi sweetie. How was work?” Tara opened one of the bags and took a couple of hamburgers out, handing one to Willow.

“Oh, the usual. Annoying customers, a fire in the kitchen, a kid throwing up all over my shoes.” Buffy leaned her cheek in her hands and closed her eyes. Willow put a supportive hand on her shoulder.

“I’m sorry, sweetie. At least you’re home now.”

“Yeah.” Buffy looked around the kitchen. “Where’s Dawnie?”

“She’s over at Janice’s, they’re watching some movie.” Tara said. “I’m picking her up in about an hour, we’ll save some food for her.”

“OK.” Buffy stood up, rubbing her lower back to ease the pain there. “I’m gonna head up to bed, my back is killing me.”

“OK. Night sweetie.” Willow said before turning her attention to the food.

*****

“Have you noticed anything strange with Buffy lately?” Tara asked. It was a couple of hours after their conversation with Buffy in the kitchen, and Willow and Tara were in their room, getting ready for bed.

“I don’t know. Maybe.” Willow pulled the cover down and slipped into the bed. “I mean, she was kinanot herself right after Spike left, but other than that, not really. Why?”

Tara crawled into the other side of the bed and leaned against the headboard.

“I just... I get a weird vibe from her, that’s all.” Willow leaned her head against Tara’s shoulder.

“Weird how?” She asked.

“Like, you remember when Faith took Buffy’s body, a couple of years ago?” Tara asked, getting a nod in return. “Well, it’s sort of like that, only it’s like there’s two different auras around her.”

“What could that be?” Willow asked.

“I have actually seen it before. The two auras thing.” Tara said. At Willow’s questioning look, she continued. “It’s normal for pregnant women.” Willow sat straight up in the bed.

“You mean... you think Buffy’s... pregnant?” Tara nodded. “But... no... she would tell me.”

“I don’t think she knows. That’s the other thing I’ve picked up. Buffy is... I guess you could say off balance with her own body, like she doesn’t know what’s going on. This could explain it.” Willow sunk back down to a lying position and considered what Tara had said for a moment.

“Well, she has been complaining about being tired, and dizzy, and, oh, back ache, and I’m pretty sure I’ve heard her throw up a couple of times. Maybe you’re right.”

“I think we should talk to her.” Tara said. “Help her figure out what’s going on and what to do.” Willow nodded.

“Yeah, we’ll talk to her tomorrow.”

*****

Buffy was sitting on the living room couch, watching some reality show on the TV. She tried to focus on what was going on in the show, but couldn’t quite get a grip on the story. With a sigh she turned the TV off and got up to get something to eat. She stopped when she heard the door open and turned to greet Willow and Tara.

“Hey, guys. I didn’t think you’d be home so early.” Buffy said. “Where’ve you been?”

“We want to talk to you, sweetie. Let’s sit down.” Tara sat down on the couch, Willow sitting next to her. Buffy crossed her arms in front of her chest.

“What’s going on guys?” She said, getting a little nervous.

“We just want to talk to you, that’s all.” Willow said, giving Buffy a... guilty? look.

“What is this, some sort of intervention? Cause let me tell you, I’ve had enough of those.” Buffy tried to joke, without a response.

Willow and Tara exchanged a look before Willow spoke.

“We’re a little worried about you.” She said.

“Why? I’m fine.” Buffy replied.

“Remember what I said about your aura a couple of weeks ago? That something was weird?” Tara asked and Buffy nodded. “Well, I think I’ve figured out what it is. When Faith hijacked your body, there was a disbalance because her aura didn’t fit.”

“You think someone’s taken over my body again?” Buffy asked. “I’m pretty sure I would’ve noticed that.”

“No, no that’s not what she ment.” Willow said.

“No.” Tara agreed. “This is different. It’s like you have two completely different auras, that exist together in your body.”

“What does that mean? I have some kind of parasite, or what?” Buffy had a confused look on her face. Tara shook her head.

“No. I think you’re pregnant.” To both Willow and Tara’s surprise, Buffy started laughing.

“Good one, guys, I almost fell for it. Did Dawn put you up to this?”

“No, Buffy we’re serious.” Willow said. “Think about it. You’re always tired lately, and you’ve said it yourself that your back hurts.”

“From work. Yours would too if you worked at the Palace for ten hours a day.” Buffy said defensively.

“And what about the nausea?” Willow asked, and Buffy looked away. “You have been getting sick in the morning, right?”

“Well, yeah a couple of times, but that doesn’t...”

Willow interrupted Buffy’s explanation.

“And the dizziness, what about that? And when did you last have your period?”

“I... I don’t know, a couple of months ago, I guess, but it’s been real stressful lately, you know...” Buffy’s voice died out as realization dawned on her. “No. I... I can’t be... I haven’t been with anyone since Riley left.”

“What about Spike?” Tara said in a soft voice.

“But... he’s... no, it’s not...” Buffy buried her face in her hands. “Oh God.” Willow moved a little so she could put an arm around Buffy’s shoulders.

“It’s gonna be OK, sweetie. We’ll be there for you, you know that, right?” Buffy looked up at Willow.

“I know. I just... I don’t understand how this happened. I mean, he’s a vampire, and they can’t...” Buffy didn’t finish the sentence.

“I think I do.” Tara said, causing both Buffy and Willow to give her confused looks.

“You do?” Willow said and Tara nodded.

“I’ve been reading some old Watcher’s Diaries, and I remember something from the fifteenth century.” Tara got up and walked over to the bookcase where Giles had left some of the journals. She picked one and brought it over to the couch, flipping it through. “Here it is. It’s written by Juan Mendez, he was the Watcher for Serena Velazquez in Spain from 1435 to 1438. There’s an entry about a young Spanish girl who was said to be in love with a vampire. The vampire in question was killed. A couple of months later, the girl had a baby, and she claimed that the vampire was the father. Juan investigated it further, and came to the conclusion that the cause of the girl’s pregnancy was a ritual called the Kiss of Blood.” Tara looked at Buffy. “Have you ever heard of it?” Buffy shook her head.

“I have.” Willow said. “It’s a sign of devotion between vampires, a kind of ‘I love you’ thing. During... well, you know, they bite each other and mix the blood in a kiss. But I’ve never heard of anything like this.”

“It’s probably never been done with a human before. Do you know if you two... did that?” Tara asked.

“I’m not sure. I know that he bit my tongue a couple of time while we... but I don’t know if he did the blood mixing thing.” Buffy replied.

“I think we need to get Giles in on this.” Willow said, and Buffy went visibly pale. “It’ll be OK, sweetie, he’ll understand. He loves you.”

“I know...” Buffy said. “I’m just scared he’ll react like Xander did.”

“Xander came around, and you two are fine now.” Tara said. “I’m sure Giles will be fine.”





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