Xander had been able to rouse Buffy and Giles quickly. Much quicker than he had expected, considering they had only been asleep for a little over four hours. He couldn’t help but smile when he quietly entered the room to find them both sleeping soundly, Buffy’s back pressed against Giles’ chest and Giles’ hand resting protectively on her stomach.

Giles opened his eyes when Xander touched his shoulder. He turned his head and stifled his yawn. Xander passed on Amelia’s information and Giles nodded, gently rubbing Buffy’s abdomen and placing a kiss on her cheek.

Buffy groaned softly, mumbling sleepily. “I love you, but I’m really not in the mood…”

Hearing two distinct male voices chuckle, she opened her eyes and rolled over. “Please tell me I didn’t say that out loud.”

“The helicopters will be landing soon.” Giles answered softly.

She pushed herself up and ran her fingers through her hair. “The kids?”

Xander smiled. “Up and dressed. Willow’s making squiggly eggs for them.”

Giles snorted and sat up beside Buffy. “How glad am I that they finally got tired of pancakes?”

Buffy grinned. “Willow figured out what squiggly eggs are?”

Xander nodded, his smile growing. “Thanks to Braden. Lucas was adamant that he didn’t want scrambled eggs though…only squiggly ones.”

“That’s my boy.” Buffy moved her hand to Giles’ thigh and squeezed gently. “Shower for us?”

Giles scratched at his chin. “Mm, yes. I think I could use a shave as well.” He glanced down at her swollen abdomen. “Mind if I wash the baby?”

“Nope.”

Xander blushed lightly and backed his way towards the door. “Okay, so…I’ll let you guys get ready.” He glanced at his watch. “Probably about ten minutes until the first two ‘copters land.”

“Thanks.” Buffy yawned and then smiled when Giles leaned down, giving her a soft kiss.

* * *

Faith strolled into the office, followed by three other Slayers and one Potential. She grinned, shaking her head in amusement as she looked at the young boy looking up at Giles and gesturing with his left hand, his right shoved in his pocket.

“Wow, look at Mini-Giles.”

Giles and Braden both turned towards the voice at the same time. Braden seemed to be studying her as Giles smiled warmly.

“Faith, it’s nice to see you again.”

Faith snorted and looked at Buffy. “Yo, B. Damn, you look like you’re gonna pop at any second!”

Buffy laughed and nodded. “I feel that way too. Any problems with your group getting out?”

“Nope. We’re all five by five. Present and accounted for.” She stared at the little girl running up to Giles and wrapping her arms around his leg. “And you have a Mini-B, too.”

Lucas looked up from his book and smiled. “I’m a Mini-Me.”

Faith laughed loudly. “Kids say the damnedest things sometimes.”

Giles chuckled as he reached down and picked his daughter up. “This is Haddie.” He placed his hand on Braden’s head, gently stroking the boy’s hair. “This is Braden, of course you’ve met him before.”

“Yeah, but he was little then. He looked like you back in the day, now he’s…well, he’s you.”

Braden tilted his head slightly. “I don’t remember you.”

“Oh, you were just a little tyke the last time I saw you.” Faith knelt in front of him and smiled, gesturing towards the couch. “Is that your brother?”

“Yes. That’s Luke.” He smiled when Lucas ran over to him. “But, I’m the only one who calls him that.”

“Really? What does everyone else call him?”

Braden put his hand on his brother’s shoulder. “Lucas.”

Faith turned her eyes to the younger boy. “Nice to meet ya, Lucas.”

Lucas gave a small wave and grinned. “Hi.”

Braden’s eyes drifted towards the door and he stiffened. Lucas furrowed his brow.

“Whas wrong, Bay?”

“I remember you.” Braden spoke softly, his hand tightening protectively on Lucas’ shoulder.

Giles stepped forward, his eyes darkening. Faith stood back up, confused at the reaction as she watched Buffy grab Giles’ arm.

Angel cleared his throat, but made no effort to move further than the two steps he had already taken into the room. “Hello.”

“Angel.” Giles spoke his name as if it were a curse.

Faith darted her eyes back and forth between them. “Um…you didn’t know he was in Bolivia with us?”

Buffy shook her head slowly. “No.”

Angel smiled softly. “You look well, Buffy. And – ”

Giles glanced at Amelia, who had just walked into the office. “Could you take these young ladies upstairs? Let them choose their rooms.”

“Rupert…”

Giles gave her a quick shake of his head and looked down at Braden. “Why don’t you take Lucas and go find Willow and Oz.”

“And Haddie?” Braden asked quietly.

Haddie giggled and squirmed in her father’s arms. Giles met her eyes and forced his eyes to soften. “Would you like to go with your brothers, Hadley?”

“Yep! Oss!”

Giles kissed her cheek and gently placed her on the floor. Braden instantly took her hand in his. As he guided his siblings past Angel, he looked up.

“I remember you.” He repeated coldly, leaving Angel no doubt where he stood with the young boy.

Faith raised an eyebrow. “Wow, Mini-Giles is an intense kid.”

“You would be too if you were looking at the man who threatened to kill your entire family in front of you.” Buffy stated quietly.

Faith’s brow furrowed. “What? When did that happen?”

“Eleven months ago.” Angel answered softly. “In L.A.”

Faith stared at him. “You didn’t say anything about trying to kill them.”

Angel glanced at Giles, not surprised to find the man staring at him. “That wasn’t me.”

Giles took a step forward, halting when Buffy tightened her hold on his arm. He looked down at her and she shook her head.

“Not right now, Giles. We have other things to get through first.”

Giles took a deep breath and exhaled slowly before meeting the vampire’s eyes once more. “Your group…how many survivors?”

“Three. Jackson, Thomasina, and myself.”

Faith’s eyes widened. “Novak and Flinders?”

Angel’s eyes glistened. “We were ambushed. Flinders took the first hit. Novak tried to help him…I…Flinders told me to take Thomasina and run.”

Buffy gasped. “Novak?”

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” Angel lowered his head. “He fought bravely. A true warrior.”

Giles took a shaky breath and swallowed hard. “I, uh…”

When he trailed off, Buffy looked up and slid her hand into his. “Giles?”

“He was a good man.” Giles whispered.

Not knowing what else to say, Buffy cleared her throat. “Um…we were told there were three casualties…”

At that moment, two men entered the room followed by two young girls. Giles instantly recognized them as Watchers, Jamison Knox and Michael Harding. The young girls were their Slayers, Chelsea Minchinbury and Leanne Clarke.

Faith stared at them, fighting to hold back her tears. “Robin?”

Knox shook his head sadly. “I’m sorry, Faith. We…”

“Dear Lord.” Giles whispered, pain in his voice.

Faith shook her head quickly. “No, no, no. This is some kind of mistake. Robin wouldn’t die…he…no.”

Buffy moved quickly, pulling Faith into her arms. Giles glanced at Angel and moved to stand in front of him.

“We have unresolved issues that I expect to be resolved to some point within the next few days.”

Angel nodded slowly. “Giles, what happened in L.A. – ”

Giles shook his head. “Not now. For now, take them upstairs and get them settled in. Find a room for yourself as well. We’ll talk later. Until then…” Giles looked into the vampire’s eyes and lowered his voice. “Don’t go near my children.”

Without another word, Angel turned and ushered the two Watchers and two Slayers out of the office. Giles turned around, sighing heavily at the sight of Faith sobbing in Buffy’s embrace.

He wasn’t sure what surprised him more. The fact that she was so obviously distraught over Robin Wood’s death, the fact that she was allowing her despair to be witnessed, or the fact that she was letting Buffy comfort her. Perhaps it was a combination of all three.

It had been no secret that Faith and Robin were lovers. Had been for a few years now. As Faith cried out Robin’s name, Giles felt his heart ache. This was not the same Faith that he had known all of those years ago.

This was a Faith who had learned to love, and who had allowed herself to be loved. And now her love was gone.

Buffy lifted her eyes and met Giles’ gaze. He watched a tear roll down her cheek and realized that tears blurred his vision.

His tears didn’t come from the loss of a friend. He and Robin had been sociable, but not exactly best friends. No…his tears came from the fact that Faith was in agony. An agony that he could understand because it was his own nightmare.

He knew that Buffy’s tears came from the same place. And suddenly, he wanted nothing more than to hold Buffy in his arms. To assure her of what she already knew…that he was completely in love with her and would do absolutely anything to protect her.

Xander and Anya walked into the room, stopping suddenly when they heard the sobs. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what had upset Faith so much. And they didn’t need to ask why Buffy and Giles were crying as well.

Xander swallowed the lump in his throat and wrapped his arm around Anya’s shoulders. Anya reached out and gently touched Giles’ arm. Giles turned slowly and offered her a small, sad smile.

The three of them turned their gazes back to the two young women sitting on the floor. Faith’s tears still flowing freely, her sobs quietening as Buffy whispered soft words in her ear as she stroked her dark hair.

When Faith mumbled incoherently into Buffy’s shoulder, Buffy leaned back slightly and looked down at her.

“What did you say?” She whispered quietly.

Faith sniffled and wiped the back of her hand across her eyes. “We were getting married in six months.”

“Oh…” Buffy sighed and brushed her fingers through Faith’s hair. “I didn’t know. I’m so sorry, Faith.”

“We shouldn’t have split up…we should’ve stayed in one group.”

Giles cleared his throat and stepped forward. “I know it seems that way at the moment, Faith. But, had you not split up…the result could have been much worse.” When Faith turned her red eyes towards him, he inhaled deeply. “And, I realize that your loss is…”

He shook his head sadly and knelt next to them, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. “I can’t begin to imagine what you’re feeling, Faith. But, know that you’re welcome to stay here for as long as you need.”

Faith nodded numbly and Giles stood, quickly walking to his desk and lifting the phone. He dialled Amelia’s number and waited for her to answer. If anyone knew what Faith was going through, it was Amelia. And if anyone could help Faith get through this, it was Amelia.

He sighed softly when Amelia answered the phone. “We need your help.”