Title: Odd Couples
Author: Gileswench

(notes and disclaimer with part one)

"Honey, are you sure about this?"

"Well, Mom," Buffy said, taking another helping of casserole, "it's not exactly what we had in mind, but it's the only way we can do this. Either we take a year or so off outside of time, or we never have a baby of our own."

"If it's what you want to do, I'll support you, of course," Joyce said. She handed the salad in Giles' direction. "I just hope Daphne knows what she's doing."

"I've talked to the Skloaths she's recruited," Giles said. "They're all powerful enough to do this, and more than willing to help us in return for their guaranteed safety from the Slayer."

"It'll be fine, you'll see. I don't want you to worry about us. Just think about your own sprout."

"I hate to break it to you, Buffy, but you're my first sprout." Joyce dabbed at her eye with her napkin. "I'm going to miss you so much!"

"Um...you do understand that from your point of view, we'll be back in the morning, right? Tomorrow afternoon, if we have some trouble...hitting the target. I'll be back complete with my baby before you have yours."

"Okay, now that's a disturbing thought," Xander said through a mouthful of buttered roll.

"Did you pack enough warm things?" Joyce asked anxiously. "It might get cold out of time."

"Mom!" Buffy giggled. "We're not going on an arctic expedition...are we?" She looked inquiringly at her husband.

"I really don't know what it will be like," he admitted. "I've never been before, and Mum doesn't talk about it much."

"I don't care what it's like," Xander said, "just go already! Come back in a better mood than you've been in and I'll be the happiest man on Earth. Could somebody pass the mashed potatoes?"

The conversation turned to other topics for a time as they all ate heartily. At last, though, Buffy and Giles got up from the dinner table.

"It's about that time," she said nervously. "We'd better get going."

"Oh honey, I'm going to miss you so much!" Joyce exclaimed pulling her daughter into her arms as close as she could in her current bulbous condition.

"Take good care of the Buffster," Xander said to Giles. "Bring her home soon."

"As soon as I can," he promised.

"Don't stress," Buffy ordered her mother. "It's bad for the baby."

"I'm okay," Joyce said. "Really, just sentiment and a little gas."

"Which we so didn't need to hear about."

"Trust me, Buffy, when you get to this stage, antacid will be your best friend. Did you pack any?"

"Mom, stop. Chill. I'm gonna be okay. So will Rupert, in case you were wondering."

"Just get out of here," Xander ordered. "The sooner you go, the sooner I can distract my wife from all the fuss until you guys get back."

"Yes, we'd best be on our way," Giles said. "We'll see you...tomorrow...and in about a year."

"Oh God, he's getting that 'this is so fascinating' look," Xander shuddered. "Buffy, take your hubby and distract him or we won't see you for a month while he researches the phenomenon beyond the reach of normal time."

With a final round of hugs and good wishes, Buffy and Giles left her mother's house. Xander and Joyce watched from the porch. When Giles' car drove away, Joyce turned to her husband with misty eyes.

"I can't believe they're going away."

"They'll be back."

"I know," she sighed. "But it's so damn unfair!"

"It's the best shot they've got."

"I know. But I should be with her, giving momly advice and driving her up a wall."

"Honey, you can do that just fine when she gets back. You don't get to help her deal with morning sickness, but look at the bright side: you don't have to deal with her morning sickness." He turned her to face him. "Come on, Joycey, let me distract you a bit."

His kiss was deep and thorough. Joyce let herself relax and enjoy it. At last she pulled back slightly and ruffled his hair.

"You're a very bad influence on me, you know," she laughed. "Mrs. Keller across the street has probably had a seizure watching us."

"I might have one if you tell me to stop," he teased back. "Whaddya say we leave the dishes until morning and go straight to bed now?"

"I say...hope clearly springs eternal. I'm really not up to it tonight."

"Little Ripley getting too big for us to have fun? Is that it?" he asked as he nibbled his way up her throat.

"Ripley?" She pulled away. "You are not naming our daughter Ripley."

"Altaira?"

"No."

"Vash? Come on, don't you love the idea of a kid named after Captain Picard's girlfriend?"

"You know what I love?" Joyce purred.

"No. What?"

"The idea of you doing the dishes."

She kissed him lightly and went into the house. He followed, protesting all the way.

"How can you not want to name our kid after some kick-ass woman of sci-fi?"

"I might agree if one of them had a name I liked or could imagine my daughter not getting teased for. Believe me, I learned my lesson when I named my first daughter Buffy."

"Mary Jane. You can't object to Mary Jane, can you?"

"I'm also not naming my daughter after shoes."

"Hey! Show a little respect. That's Spiderman's lady love you're dissing, there."

*****

When Giles pulled the car to a stop in front of their apartment complex, they both sat still for a moment.

"Are you certain about this, Buffy?" He asked. "Because it's not too late to change your mind."

"I'm sure. I want this baby, Rupert, and this is the only way it's gonna happen. Remember what I said when we got married? I'm down with the weird of it. What about you? Any qualms? Any quibbles? 'Cause now's the time to say if you're thinking of running for the hills."

"No qualms, quibbles, or questions," he said running a hand through her hair. "In fact, I'm looking forward to the adventure."

"Just don't get so caught up researching the whole being outside of time thing that you forget what we're there for."

"How could I forget? You'll nag me within an inch of my life if I do," he grinned.

"Nag? I do not nag! Now sit up straight and remember to shine your shoes," she teased back. "How was that?"

"You sound ready for motherhood."

"Then let's go do it, babe."

Hand in hand, they walked purposefully to their front door. When they stepped through, they found Ernest, Daphne and a small crowd of full-blooded Skloath demons waiting for them. As Giles had said, the only way to tell them from humans were some subtle brow ridges and oddly kaleidoscopic eyes. For the first time, Buffy really noticed that Daphne's blue eyes were shot through with green and gold flecks. They, however, were normal compared to the lavendar-shot orange eyes of the Skloath approaching her. On closer inspection, she could see flecks of red, turquoise and royal purple as well.

"Buffy, my dear, this is my cousin Vi," Daphne said. "She and some of her friends will be taking you and Rupert out of time."

"Hey," Buffy said with a shy wave. "I mean, nice to meet you, Vi. Is that short for Violet?"

"Vimariak, actually," she said pleasantly. "But most humans have trouble pronouncing it. Especially Americans. So, please, call me Vi." She turned to Giles. "Rupert, it's good to see you again."

"And you, Vi," he replied leaning over to kiss her cheek. "Thank you for what you're doing. I know this is a bit...unusual, what we're asking..."

"Nonsense, we're happy to do it. And we're asking a fairly high price in return."

"What price?" Buffy shrugged. "I never slayed a Skloath before. It's no problem to me not to start doing it. And Rupert will keep plenty of notes on what the next Slayer isn't allowed to slay. But as long as you guys stay low profile, it probably won't come up."

Vi looked as though she wanted to say something to that, but simply smiled a little tightly. "Are you ready?" she asked them.

"Yeah, I think so," Buffy said.

"If you are," Giles added.

"Ernest, Daphne, it's time to go," Vi ordered. "Working together we can keep Buffy and Rupert outside of time, but we don't want to overtax our powers. You'll have to go."

Daphne enveloped Buffy in a maternal hug. "I've left a few things for you in the bedroom," she whispered in her daughter-in-law's ear. "I hope you don't mind."

"Mind? You're incredible. Have I mentioned lately that you're the coolest mother-in-law in the world?"

The older woman just smiled and moved to embrace her son. Ernest took his turn with Buffy.

"Don't let him get all wrapped up in the mechanics of the arrangement," he warned her. "Given half a chance, he's going to forget what he came for."

"Don't worry. I have ways of distracting him from the research...which I will never tell you about."

"That's my girl!" Ernest guffawed. "Hurry up and make me a grandfather. I've waited entirely too long to have a chance to spoil my boy's child."

"Great, between you and Rupert, I'm gonna end up being the stompy foot of discipline," she grumpled good-naturedly. "Just remember I'm kickass at kicking ass, and yours will be on the line if you spoil my kid too much."

"Dad," Giles said, "I'll see you when...this is done." He still had one arm wrapped around his mother's shoulders. "And that will be a lot sooner if you go now."

In spite of the terseness of his words, he pulled his father into a bear hug and seemed reluctant to release him.

"Remember what I said, Son: pay attention to what you're doing and hurry back."

"I will."

Giles moved back to Buffy's side. They watched as his parents walked out the door. Immediately, Vi and her fellow demons formed themselves into a circle and began to chant. Giles found himself thinking of a service he'd attended at a Russian Orthadox church once. The harmonies of the chanting sounded like the music he'd heard there. He waited for an overpowering smell of incense, but it never arrived. He decided this was more to his taste.

A few minutes later, the chanting stopped. Buffy raised an eyebrow at her husband in inquiry. He shrugged slightly to indicate he was as much at sea as she was. Vi left the circle and came to the confused couple.

"It is done," she told them. "This place is now removed from the timestream. At least two of us will keep the enchantment in place at all times while the rest of us rest and restore outselves. Now, I suppose the two of you had best get to bed and get to work."

"Wait a minute," Buffy said, "you guys will be *here* all the time?"

"Of course we will. How did you expect us to work the magic if we left?"

"Oh boy," Buffy muttered. "This might be harder than I thought."