Buffy and Graham

Chapter 8

  A knock sounded at the office door.

"C'mon in Will." Buffy called still sitting in the chair with Graham on the other side of the desk.

The redheaded witch popped her head into the office and grinned. "Hey, Buff. Hey, Graham."

"Please sit." Buffy gently requested. Graham watched Willow's face twist with confusion then concern but did as told. Graham stood letting Willow take his seat.

Buffy leaned forward resting her elbows on the desk and struggled for the perfect words. Willow reached across the desk and placed her hand over Buffy's. "Whatever it is, you can tell me." Willow encouraged.

"Okay, I'm just gonna say it then. I'm, uh, I'm pregnant."

A large grin came to Willow's mouth. "Oh, my god!" She squealed with excitement. Buffy's reached to Graham's. He smiled and shrugged with a silent, 'I told you so'. "This is huge!"

"I know."

Willow stood from the chair and walked around the desk giving Buffy a big hug. "Congratulations! I'm so happy for you." Willow then turned and hugged Graham. "If you hurt her, I'll kill you." She whispered into his ear. Willow unhooked her arms from around Graham and looked at Buffy "Have you told the others yet?"

"No, I was going to at the Scoobie meeting."

"This is so great!" Willow glanced at her watch. "Shoot, I'm late for class. I'll catch up with you later?" Buffy nodded her head and went to the door.

Before exiting, Willow looked back at the couple, "I really am happy for you. I get to be an Auntie!" Buffy and Graham smiled at the redhead's apparent excitement and watched her leave.

When the door closed, Graham pushed himself from against the wall and went to Buffy. "See? Not as bad as you expected." Graham said knowingly as Buffy rolled her eyes and sat back down in the large leather chair.

"She's Willow though. Not Xander or Giles - Oh, god, Giles." Buffy put her hand over her face in a panic.

Graham took the hand from over her face and kissed her palm as he knelt down. "No panicking." He placed his hand over her flat stomach. "Hey, Baby. It's your Daddy here." Graham laid his head on her lap as he spoke to the baby. Buffy smiled softly and toyed the hair of her incredibly supportive boyfriend. "Your Auntie Willow is really excited for you. Just like me and Mommy." Graham could hear Buffy's heart pound when he referred to her as Mommy. "You see, Baby, your Mommy needs to understand that Grandpa Giles, Uncle Xander, and Auntie Dawn will be nothing but supportive of us. They love her so much, just like how I do. You're a gift and Daddy is just Mommy's added bonus." It made Graham's heart swell when Buffy's soft laughter reached his ears. Graham smiled and pressed his lips against her stomach.

"Ego, much?" She twirled his short hair around her fingers.

Graham tilted his head up, his expression was playful. Buffy cupped the back of his neck with her hands and pulled up to her face to kiss him.

"Oh, it's huge." Graham mumbled against her mouth wagging his brows. Buffy laughed and kissed mouth lovingly. W.C. Academy

The Scoobies lounged in the library when Buffy and Graham walked in. Giles adjusted his glasses ready to begin the meeting.

"Buffy, what kept you?" Giles asked.

"I, uh, we need to tell you something. You all something." Graham was a bit surprised to see her jump to the chase quickly.

"Buff, we already know. You're dating Graham." Xander said with a smile. He liked Graham. In his opinion, Graham was actually the best boyfriend Buffy has ever had.

"It's not that." Buffy said and caught Willow's smiling eyes. Buffy reached behind and taking Graham's hand. "I'm pregnant." She waited for the room to explode counting down in her head.

"H-how far along?" Giles asked somewhat uncomfortably.

"First trimester, so, uh, twelve weeks... I think." Buffy nervously glanced back to Graham who smiled at her. She faced Giles again and watched as he took off his glasses and cleaned them again. She knew exactly what that meant.

"I'm going to be an Auntie?" Dawn asked with sprouting excitement.

Buffy smiled softly, "Yes."

"Congrats, Buff." Xander wrapped his arms around Buffy's petite body.

"Buffy, may I speak with you alone." Giles went into his office before Buffy could respond. She looked at Graham. Graham gave her a wink and watched her disappear into the office.

In the office, Giles faced the window looking out to the Academy's courtyard. He watched the army of Slayers train readying themselves for battle against the forces of darkness.

"Giles-"

"Quiet." He voice was soft but firm. Buffy stared at his back watching him turn to her. She hadn't seen him this serious in a long while. She prepared herself for Giles to lecture her irresponsibility and her failure to achieve her Slayer duties. Buffy wrapped her arms around her body feeling defensive. "Do you plan to marry him?" He asked her.

Buffy was a bit caught off guard by his question. She shrugged. "Uh, I don't know. W-we haven't really talked about it. Someday, I guess."

"So you will not be performing the proper traditions?"

"Traditions? Giles, this is me we're talking about. Anti-tradition girl. When we're ready, we'll take that step. Me and Graham - I'm not even I'm ready for a baby let alone being someone's wife. Luckily, I have a few months to get over my baby drama issues. But, Graham... he's different."

"How so?"

"Well, he's not a vampire for one. So that's a change of pace." She mumbled. "He won't lose his soul but he's also not Riley either. He's Graham-ish." Buffy said lamely. She took a deep breath and said, "I know he won't hurt me. I know that he loves me." Buffy saw a question forming on Giles's face. "And I love him." She added quickly. "He's going to be a great father and-"

"Stop." Giles held his hand up. He took a deep breath and sat on the edge of his desk crossing his arms. "I've known you for a long time Buffy. It's not unknown to hear I've never only thought of you as just my Slayer. You must know that. You are the daughter I never had. I've watched you blossom into such a wonderful and capable young woman. I am so proud to have had witnessed that. I only hoped that you would have a chance of a life that no other Slayer has ever had a chance to live; With a family. Growing old surrounded by grandchildren. I do hope that your daughter or son will think of me as their grandfather."

Tears fell from Buffy's eyes. She took a step into Giles' arms letting him hug her tightly.

"I am so proud of you, my Buffy. You will make a fine mother and someday a wonderful wife." He kissed the top of her head.

Giles walked out from the office door only to be greeted by Graham. "Is she in there?" The former military man asked.

"Yes, she'll be out in a moment." Giles said.

Graham moved toward the office when Giles caught his arm. "Graham, you realise I think of Buffy as my own flesh and blood?" Graham nodded his head facing the older man. "I have never been keen on the men she had chosen as her companions. I haven't seen her give herself completely to anyone wholeheartedly since Angel. I assume you know who Angel is?"

"I do."

"So you know, Buffy loved that man with all of her heart only to have it shattered." Graham swallowed and nodded his head. "Since then, it's become a rarity for her to let people into her heart. Too many had left her heartbroken and alone damaging her will-"

"I will never do that to her." Graham told the Watcher firmly.

Giles stepped forward to the younger man. "Since she's been with you, Graham, I've noticed her walking brighter, freer, happier. And I think it's because of you. I want to thank you for bringing that girl back to us." He gestured to the Scoobies standing about talking. "Buffy deserves the world. And you, Graham, have given her a world filled of love, hope and a child. I want to thank you." Giles held out his hand.

Graham took the hand utterly speechless.

Giles smiled and went back to the gang sitting around the tables creating baby names for Buffy and Graham. Graham smirked when Buffy's arms wrapped around his waist from behind. Graham circled his arm around her shoulder and kissed her tenderly, "That went well." He whispered.

"A little too well." Buffy said suspiciously eyeing his face.

"Now, what?" He hugged her shoulders.

"Babies 'R' Us. Ooh, Carter's is having a sale." Buffy took his hand pouting her bottom lip.

Graham rolled his eyes. "You do love shopping." He sighed heavily taking a mental snapshot of her megawatt smile. "C'mon, let's go eat first."

"Shake Shack?"

"Fine."

Buffy smiled happily getting her way. She laced her fingers around his arm and led him out of the library before he changed his mind.

"You need to call your family." She blurted as they walked down the hallway.

"Do I haveta?" Graham whined.

"Yes, you do. They should know they'll be grandparents very soon."

"But-"

"Besides, parents buy baby stuff. Trust me, honey, you'll feel better in the end." Graham refused to admit that she had a point. If he called his parents he would save a couple of bucks.

Graham shook his head and reached into her purse and took out the Porsche keys.

"This sucks." He unlocked the expensive sport car. Buffy laughed at him and got in to the car.