ct24

~~~Part 24~~~

�Dawn did you remember to pack the books I set aside on the dinning room table?� Giles rushed down the hall carrying an armload of weapons to pack away in one of the moving boxes. After a long discussion it had been decided that both Giles and Dawn wanted to join up with their friends again and make a difference in the world. Buffy had yelled, screamed and threatened to no end. Finally she had left the house in disgust, vowing to never speak to either Giles or Dawn again.

�Yeah, I also packed your Watcher Diaries.� Dawn called out from her bedroom.

It had been a blow to the heart, when the slayer had vehemently sputtered those final words. Dawn had cried and Giles had quietly gone to his room to collect himself, but neither had changed their minds on their decision. This was what they wanted to do that this was what was meant to be. Dawn had tried explaining to Buffy that they weren�t like other people, never had been and never would be. The chosen one aside, they had all lived a life of protecting innocent lives from evil forces. They knew what went dump in the night and to just keep running and pretending it never happened just wasn�t the right thing to do.

�Did you remember to pack your schoolbooks? I don�t want you falling behind.� Giles poked his head into her room. Dawn had made a face but nodded. �Good. The movers will pack up your room, but you will need to pack a bag to take with us tonight.�

Giles and Dawn had laid their cards on the table. There had been no beating around the bush, or any question what either one wanted to do. Buffy knew that no matter what, when Angel and the rest left town they were going as well. They wanted Buffy to come, but it was her choice. Apparently she had made it.

Calling the number that Angel had left behind they got Wesley and let the ex-Watcher know that they were going with them. Wesley�s excitedly relayed to them the departure time, and explained that Angel had already contacted a moving company and retained their services.

Giles and Dawn went to work. They wanted to get any questionable items packed away before any nosy moving men showed up. The running about kept their minds occupied, or both would feel the sting of Buffy�s ultimatum. Giles had written a letter, incase Buffy didn�t arrive back before they left. He left the deed to the house as well as the furniture to her. It wasn�t his intent to leave her with nothing, because he loved her. He had been in her life for seven years. No matter how childish or selfish she was behaving now, he stilled thought of her as a daughter.

Dawn had hid a note for Buffy as well. Knowing her sister like she did, Dawn knew that even if Buffy returned before they joined up with Angel and the rest, her sister wouldn�t change her mind. Even if Buffy *knew* she was wrong, her decision would remain the same. It wasn�t in the blonde�s nature, her pride almost as big and scary as the demons they used to fight back in Sunnydale. In the letter she had left Angel�s address and number, where they would be staying for the time being.

Giles took a look around the modest house they had lived in for the last year. This was it. In a way he was delighted that they were no longer going to be on the run, hiding from a menace that had taken the lives of so many friends, and threatened the life of Dawn. For all he knew Glory was still out there, but a part of him believed she was gone. That her time in this dimension had run out and had been exiled to where ever she came from. Believing in this had just made running all that much harder. He had no idea where life was going to lead them, but he trusted that the PTB had plans. Didn�t they always?

~~~*~~~

�Mrs. Harris everything is right on schedule.� Anya beamed over at Xander. �The only thing I am concerned about is your blood pressure. It�s still a little high.�

They had heard this through the entire pregnancy. They both believed that it had to do with the act that Anya wasn�t like normal people. That her past demon state had something to do with it. That and who wouldn�t have a little blood pressure problem if they had a pissed off God looking for them.

�So have you thought of a name for the little one?� The doctor asked as he scribbled notes into Anya�s folder.

�Yes. Willow Anne Harris.� Xander grinned. �We�re naming her after a friend I had growing up.�

�That�s a great name.� Nodding absently the doctor flipped through a few more charts. �Mrs. Harris have you decided on whether or not you�ll be breastfeeding?�

�Oh yes. The commercials say that it�s best to breastfeed. That�s what all mammals do. They supply the milk for their babies.� The doctor looked a little puzzled, but what didn�t puzzle him about the young lady in front of him.

�Yes well...its true that the baby gets benefits from breastfeeding but it�s not for everyone.�

Xander started gathering up their stuff, already knowing where this conversation would lead if Anya were aloud to speak. She had been discussing the some thing with a neighbor, when she also pointed out that many demons breastfeed their children. Xander had been standing there listening and say the shocked look their neighbor Tammy had given his wife. Needless to say their neighbor hadn�t stopped by since.

They were heading out the door when the doctor called out. �Remember, you need to take it easy. If your blood pressure rises I�m going to put you in the hospital for observation.�

~~~*~~~

Lindsey paced at the foot of the bed that at the moment Cordelia was napping on. She�d had two visions since the night before, each time pleading to let Angel and Willow have just a little more alone time together. It was well after noon, and Cordy had agreed on one o�clock. But should she have another vision before then he vowed he�d be pounding Angel�s door down.

It was amazing how she just accepted the pain that came with the visions without complaint. In some sick way he thought she was actually happy to be having the mind shattering images that TPTB sent her way. Infact everyone seemed to just take her pain with a grain of salt, thinking that it was just supposed to be that way. Lindsey knew that it tore him up seeing the tears that would wet her face. Perhaps he�d talk to Willow and see if there was some spell, or herbal mix that could help. There had to be something to ease the discomfort. If there was a spell that could bring a demon she bitch like Darla back from the bowels of Hell, than surly there had to be something for a damn headache.

Looking at his wristwatch, Lindsey wished he could say the hell with it and go get Angel. But Cordelia had been right. What good could they do right now? They�d have to wait until nightfall anyways. Running a hand through his hair Lindsey told himself to calm down. He wasn�t being rational.

�Are you going to pace all day, or do you think you could spare a few minutes and come cuddle?� Grinning from the bed Cordelia lifted up the comforter.

He couldn�t help but return the smile. Slipping in behind her, he gathered her warm body next to his. Amazing how just holding her made everything all right.