"What?" Buffy asked incredulously.
A short man in a tweed suit cleared his throat and began again, "I am authorised by the-"
"I got that bit. This was more an 'I can't believe you' what. As in - I can't believe you honestly think I'd leave the man I love and the family I'm happy in to go to England with a group of people who have so far only caused me pain and misery."
"I assure you Miss Summers we are only trying to do what is best. You are the only active Slayer and as such the Council felt it would be best if you underwent some rehabilitation and extra training."
Short Tweed, as Buffy privately dubbed him, straightened his back and tugged down on his jacket nervously. She could almost feel the tension radiating from Giles and she guessed that her husband was probably giving the Watcher his best 'Ripper' glare.
"What sort of 'rehabilitation' are you planning? Because I don't think brain washing will work on me."
Short Tweed adjusted his tie and tugged on his jacket again. "We simply feel that you would benefit from some time with people trained to deal with your unique situation. As the Slayer the fate of the world frequently rests on you and the Council has decided that you need proper preparation for this task."
"You don't think I'm doing my job properly? I've saved this world more times than you've sneezed so I don't think I need 'rehabilitation', thank you. I need you to let me get on with my life."
"If you were doing your job properly you would not be pregnant and relying on your friends to guard the Hellmouth," Short Tweed shot back.
For a moment Buffy was shocked speechless. "How did you know about that?" she eventually asked quietly.
"The Council makes a point of keeping ourselves aware of your progress. Despite what you may have thought, your pregnancy has not escaped our attention," Short Tweed informed her.
"You were spying on me?"
"In a manner of speaking . . . yes."
"Why does that not surprise me?" Buffy muttered.
"I'm sure you can now understand why we feel you are in need of help. Your former . . . Watcher," Short Tweed said the word as though it left a bad taste in his mouth, "has obviously taken advantage of his position of trust and we must seek to undo the damage before it can manifest itself in an even more dangerous form."
At his words Buffy had felt Giles tense even further beside her, although he still said nothing, and it was a wonder Short Tweed had any limbs left. The way the Slayer could feel her husband's hands clenching and unclenching left her in no doubt that he dearly wished he could take some of that tension out on Short Tweed. She wondered what was stopping him. Unless he's trying to give me a chance to hear them out. It's almost sweet. He's willing to give me up if he feels it would be better for me. He's also completely insane if he thinks anything would ever make me give him up. Aloud Buffy asked, "What will happen to my baby if I go back with you?"
Short Tweed looked uncomfortable and fiddled with his tie again. "Naturally your pregnancy would have to be terminated. It's unfortunate but a pregnant Slayer cannot hope to successfully battle the forces of evil."
At his words Buffy felt a cold burning rage begin to flow through her. "It's more than unfortunate - it's unthinkable. I won't give up my baby. I won't give up my husband. I won't leave my family. So you can stuff your 'rehabilitation'. I'm not going."
"B-But this is unheard of!" Short Tweed spluttered. "The Watcher's Council has-"
"I don't care what the Watcher's Council wants! I'm a free person and I have the right to choose how I live my life! And I choose to live it here, with my family. So you can go back to England and tell your bosses that I don't want to know about them."
At her words Buffy felt all the tension flow out of Giles and she smiled slightly as she watched the short Watcher slowly turn an odd shade of puce. "Y-you can't do this!" he eventually managed to choke out.
"I can and I have," the blonde Slayer said with a note of finality in her voice.
As Short Tweed continued to splutter and turn interesting colours Giles finally added his voice, "I believe my wife has said all that needs to be said on this matter. You will leave this house and I promise to personally pummel anyone else who interferes further with us."
Short Tweed suddenly turned white and Buffy sensed people edging through the door behind her.
"That goes for me too," she heard Xander say behind her.
"And me," Willow said.
"Count me in," Amy added.
Buffy heard a hissing noise coming from the floor and looked down to see Gizmo standing between her and the Watcher. She was crouching low with her ears drawn back and a line of fur down her back standing on end. As Buffy looked an ugly growling sound issued from the little kitten, followed by a hiss. She could almost hear the little patchwork cat saying, "you'll have to come through me, too".
They must have painted a formidable picture because Short Tweed involuntarily took a step back. That step was enough to reveal the person sitting in an armchair who had previously been hidden from Buffy. Quentin Travers.
He stood and looked at them for a while, his grey eyes unreadable. Eventually he said, almost wearily, "On your heads be it then. Charles, we've done all we can."
With that he brushed past the group with Short Tweed following behind like a faithful puppy.
Buffy heard the front door slam shut and let out the breath she had not realised she was holding. "What was that about Rupert?" she asked. "Did you know they were coming?"
Giles rubbed the bridge of his nose tiredly as he looked at the assembled teenagers. "No, I had no idea they were keeping tabs on you. They were waiting in their car when I arrived home a few minutes before you, Buffy."
"I think we can safely say we've found out the what killed the pregnant Slayers," Xander said.
Willow and Amy nodded but Buffy, surprisingly, looked uncertain. "I don't know. I've been around evil before, and something just didn't feel right there. I didn't . . . I didn't feel like they meant me harm. I almost thought Short Tweed was concerned for me."
"Buffy-" Giles began.
"I'm probably just feeling wigged because the answer was so easy," Buffy said with a wry grin. "I'm so used to big, complex evil that the idea of it being right in front of me makes me nervous."
Giles took her hand and began rubbing his thumb lightly over her knuckles. "I understand. And I'll do everything I can to ensure the damned Council can't hurt you or our baby."
He gently kissed her and Buffy sighed.
*finis*