FF Razor's Edge 6/9 - W/Fitz - R

["Hunter Ash" <carrkjar@xxxxxxxxx>]

Razor's Edge, Part 6

Frau Hunter Ash 
Copyright © 2002 by Hunter Ash. All Rights Reserved.
Email: carrkjar@xxxxxxxxx Feedback welcome!!
Homepage Addy: http://www.hunterash.com/ 

Disclaimers: The characters and show all belong to Joss Whedon, Fox, 
Mutant Enemy, Kuzui, and God only knows who else. The storyline, 
however, is the sole property of the author. This story cannot be 
sold or used for profit in any way. Copies of this story may be made 
for private use only and must include all disclaimers and copyright 
notices.

F/F romance: the story assumes a loving and sexual relationship 
between people of the same gender and may even include 3 at the same 
time <G>. If this offends or is illegal for you, then please leave.  
Come back when you are older, have an open mind, moved, or changed 
your laws. 

Spoilers: up to season 5  Oz never returned.

Summary: Fitz begins a long recovery process and Willow deals with 
telling her parents about how much things have changed in the last 
six months that they were gone.  

Rating: Pairings: Fitz/W, X/An

Author's Note: Jessica FitzHugh is a Slayer from an alternate reality 
and my own character. 

* * *

Willow Rosenberg hesitated outside her house and she felt Fitz' hands 
on her shoulder, the warmth reassuring her.  

"You sure you don't want me to come in with you, then?" Jessica 
FitzHugh asked softly, leaning heavily on her crutches.

"I&I don't want to go in," Willow admitted. "I really don't know how 
to do this. They've been gone for six months this time. I'm six 
months pregnant and my fiancée is a non-Jewish woman. This isn't 
exactly the homecoming they wanted."

"Red," Fitz said slowly, "I'm here for you. I love you more than life 
itself. I'll be right outside here with Ma in the car."

Willow glanced back at the car and Joyce Summers waiting patiently.  

"Been a strange few months, hasn't it?" the witch said softly but 
with a smile.

"Aye, I lost my world and gained the universe," Fitz said softly, 
resisting putting her arms around Willow. They had no idea if 
Willow's parents might be watching out a window or something.  

Willow sighed heavily. "Don't go too far?" she asked, her voice 
small and fearful.

"Never, aye," Fitz said softly. "We'll be about two doors up."

"I love you, Jessie, don't doubt that," Willow said firmly, reaching 
up to squeeze the former Slayer's hand before moving towards her 
parent's door.

Fitz wanted to dash after Willow and take the red-head away, to 
somehow erase any stress and worry from her lover's life but knew she 
couldn't. The dark Slayer was feeling helpless.  

"Come on, Jessica," Joyce called through the open car window and the 
Slayer turned to maneuver her encased leg and crutches into the car.

They watched as Willow rang the doorbell and walked inside, slowly.

Joyce moved the car up the street and turned around so they could 
watch the front door of the Rosenberg house, waiting for Willow in 
case things didn't go well.

"Its times like this I was wishing I smoked," Fitz complained.  

"I understand that sentiment," Joyce nodded. "It's been a rough few 
months for you two."

"Aye, Willow was just mentioning that, she was," Fitz 
nodded. "Getting tossed into a strange alternate universe after 
seeing my Willow killed and me being crippled was enough to test 
anyone's sanity, it was."

"I'm glad that you ended up stuck here," Joyce said firmly and with a 
smile. "It's been good for Buffy to have you and Willow at the 
house, especially after Riley turned so weird and left."

"Strange lad, that one," Fitz agreed. "Turning to vampires for 
affection instead of hashing it out with Buff? A bit touched, that 
is."

"Is Willow going to tell her parents about her relationship with 
you?" 

"She's not sure," Fitz said slowly. "Red wants to play that by ear, 
just telling them about the pregnancy and her decision to keep the 
child without the father will mess them over enough to start."

"I hate waiting," Joyce admitted.

"Never was much one for it," Fitz agreed.

* * * 

Willow listened to the silence that filled the dinner table. After 
the initial small talk about her parent's long educational tour of 
Europe, Willow's grades at the University, questions about her plans 
for the future and their assurances that they would see more of their 
daughter this year, finally the topics had turned serious.

Not that discussions of Willow's education weren't considered serious 
by the highly respected educators, it was the one area where they did 
pay attention to their daughter. They expected high intelligence, 
perfection in school, and had gotten it. The only disappointment had 
been Willow's insistence on staying in Sunnydale instead of attending 
any University in the world. They wanted Harvard or Oxford, Willow 
wanted Sunnydale and had put her foot down.

Finally the parents asked about Willow's social life and wanted more 
information about Willow's plans for the future now that her Freshman 
year was behind her. They were hoping that she was over whatever 
fascination Sunnydale had for her and was ready to transfer to a more 
appropriate school.

Willow had swallowed and hid her shaking hands under the table.  

"Well, I don't know if you got my letter telling you that I had 
broken up with Oz, or not," Willow began.

"I think I remember that one," her mother said absently. "He dropped 
out of school and went off to 'find himself' or something?"

"Yes, about six months ago," Willow nodded.

"Musicians," her mother huffed. "We did warn you."

"Yes, you did," Willow agreed.  

"Well, is there a new young man in your life?" her father asked.  

"Not exactly," Willow said slowly. "I&uh&I've been offered full 
scholarship for Graduate studies at Oxford after I graduate in three 
years."

Willow's mother, Sheila, fairly danced out of her seat in delight, 
coming around the table to hug her daughter tightly as her father 
applauded.

"Why not now?" he asked, grinning.

"Well, they know I want to complete my studies here," Willow 
said. "It's being offered by the same people that trained Mr. Giles 
for his work at the museums and universities. I'd be working for them 
when I graduate."

"What would you be doing, darling?" her mother asked.

"Computers, research, teaching, and setting up new sites for their 
research centers and stuff like that," Willow explained, trying to be 
detailed without giving any real facts about the Watcher Council.

"Sounds exactly what you love doing," her father, Ira, said with a 
nod of approval.

"They also understand that I need a couple of years here before 
traveling overseas for studies," Willow said slowly.  

"You said when you graduate in three years," her mother said 
thoughtfully. "I know on the accelerated program you had set up that 
you were going to graduate with honors in three years. Has something 
happened to your grades?"

"Not yet," Willow said. "But I will miss a lot of school at the 
beginning of the next semester and the professors have amended my 
program to give me that time so I don't burn out or kill myself 
studying."

"Why on earth would you miss school?" Sheila demanded. "You've never 
missed school unless you were in the hospital."

Willow resisted snapping at her mother, her parents hadn't even 
visited her in the hospital, despite being put in a coma by 
Druscilla.  

"Well, I&" Willow felt her face turning bright red and hated it but 
couldn't control it. "I'm six months pregnant and I'm due just after 
the semester starts," she blurted out, keeping her eyes on her plate.

The silence was overwhelming and seemed to last forever.

"Six months?" Ira finally muttered.

"Yes, Daddy," Willow said softly.  

"At least she didn't commit another sin by having an abortion," 
Sheila muttered to Ira. "Have you picked a couple for the adoption?"

Willow raised her head and glanced at her parents' stern faces.

"No, I'm keeping the child," she said, almost in a whisper.

"Of course you're not," Ira snapped, throwing his napkin on the 
table. "Unless you're about to tell us that you've gone and gotten 
married and the young man is waiting outside to be properly 
introduced!"

"No, Daddy," Willow dropped her head again. "The baby is Oz' and he 
doesn't know because I don't know where he is and I wouldn't marry 
him even if he did know."

"Then adoption is the answer," Ira said firmly.

Willow's green eyes flashed as she raised her head.

"No."

Sheila and Ira Rosenberg looked stunned at the response.

"I'm keeping the baby, it's a boy and I'm keeping him," Willow said 
firmly. "I know it won't be easy going to college and everything but 
my professors are already planning my schoolwork around it."

"You can't have a child without a father," Ira declared.

"Actually, you only need a father for the first part," Willow snapped.

"Don't get smart with me, young lady!" Ira shouted. "You won't bring 
disgrace to our family like this!"

"It would only be a lesser disgrace if I went off somewhere, had the 
child and gave it up for adoption, right?" Willow demanded 
angrily. "No, I'm keeping my child!"

"How will you manage, Willow?" Sheila asked. "Without a husband or 
family?"

"I was hoping you would be part of this, the child is going to be 
your grandson," Willow said calmly, fighting back the tears stinging 
her eyes. "Your only grandson. I have my close friends, Mrs. 
Summers, Mr. Giles and&and...there is someone special."

"I thought you said there wasn't," Ira snapped.

"I said there wasn't a young man," Willow clarified and saw the 
puzzled expressions on her parent's faces and knew they didn't get 
it. "I've met someone who loves me beyond compare and who will be 
with me to raise my son."

"Not a young man?" Ira repeated. "An older man?"

"No, a young woman," Willow admitted and braced herself. "She's 
Irish, my age, and was injured recently."

Instead of the usual questions about religion and future plans, 
silence greeted Willow's announcement. The silence lasted for five 
minutes until Willow thought she was going to go insane with the 
tension.

"Get out," Sheila finally said softly, her voice flat and without 
emotion.

"Mama?" Willow whispered, her voice cracking as tears finally escaped 
her eyes.

"Leave!" Ira snapped. "We have no daughter. Your things will be left 
on the back porch tomorrow."

"Please, we can talk about this," Willow begged. "I need you both so 
much! You've never been there and I need you now! My child needs his 
grandparents!"

"We have no daughter," Sheila repeated. "We will say the Kaddish for 
our daughter."

Willow stumbled to her feet and managed to get out the front door as 
her tears blinded her.

* * *

"There!" Fitz cried, seeing Willow stumbling out the door and down 
the steps. She opened the car door and leaned out. "Willow!"

Joyce jumped out of the car and met the staggering young woman in the 
center of the street, pulling Willow into her arms as the witch 
sobbed. The mother of the Light Slayer looked at the Rosenberg house 
and glared as the porch light went out and the curtains were drawn.  
Joyce turned Willow towards the car where Fitz waited anxiously.

Willow cried all the way to the Summers' home and refused to repeat 
what her parents had said. Fitz held the red-head throughout the 
night as Willow slept restlessly between bouts of tears. Not even 
Buffy and Joyce's reassurances that Willow would always have a home 
with them seemed to make her feel better.

Fitz growled in the dark as she held a sobbing Willow.

The Dark Slayer had a pretty good idea what Willow's parents had 
said. She had been through it already with her Willow in the other 
realm. Her Wills hadn't been pregnant either, she reflected. Still 
Willow's parents had disowned her and had thrown her out in their 
Junior year of High school when they discovered the relationship 
between Fitz and their daughter.  

"They're throwing my stuff out tomorrow," Willow whined.

"Don't worry, Xander and Buffy will grab your things, love," Fitz 
said gently.  

The former Slayer placed a hand on Willow's womb and smiled as the 
child within kicked or punched, causing Willow to stop sobbing and 
gasp in surprise. Fitz loved the look of love that always crossed 
Willow's face whenever her baby kicked up a fuss, no matter how 
uncomfortable it made the witch.  

"We should be thinking of names for the lad," Fitz suggested, hoping 
to distract her lover.

"I'd like that," Willow smiled slightly, snuggling closer to Fitz and 
laying her head on the Slayer's shoulder. "I'm glad you didn't leave 
for England. I couldn't do this without you."

"Aye, I'm right glad of that myself," Fitz smiled. "I am sorry about 
your folks, Red."

"I know," Willow said wearily, her hand resting unconsciously on her 
womb.

"It'll be their loss, my love," Fitz said softly, feeling Willow's 
energy slipping into sleep.

* * *

Buffy, Xander, Anya, Joyce and Giles made the trip to Willow's former 
home and gathered what few belonging had been left in her room. Just 
as they had threatened, Willow's belongings were on the back porch of 
the Rosenberg's home. It was only Giles and Joyce urging the kids to 
gather Willow's things that kept Xander and Buffy from pounding on 
the door and confronting her parents.

Fitz and Willow were at one of Fitz' endless therapy sessions. The 
full leg cast had been replaced with a cast that went from mid-thigh 
down to include her foot. The doctors were more than pleased and 
surprised at how well the Slayer was recovering but were still 
cautious about her future abilities.

The rest of the former Slayer's body had made a quick recovery from 
the beating she had taken from the rock demons in her own realm.  
After a month of being bed-ridden had weakened Fitz and she was 
determined to get back on her feet as quick as possible.

Willow watched as Fitz moved along the parallel bars that were set at 
waist level, helping Fitz rebuild her uninjured leg muscles. The 
young Irish woman was sweating and stopped for a moment to readjust 
the bandana tied around her head. She was breathing heavily and 
Willow could see Fitz' arm and leg muscles beginning to tremble.

"Jess," Willow said softly and wasn't surprised when Fitz glared at 
her for a moment but then the Slayer's eyes softened.  

The therapist standing behind Fitz waited, hesitating to grab the 
young woman by the safety belt. She had been on the receiving end of 
Fitz' impatience and frustration and knew better than to "order" the 
woman to do anything. She learned quickly from Willow that 
suggestions seemed to work best with Fitz.

Fitz gritted her teeth and moved a few feet down the bars and leaned 
heavily on her hands.

"Help," she finally said softly.

The therapist, Anna Ramirez, grabbed the belt firmly and Willow 
jumped up and moved the wheelchair to the end of the bars. Together, 
they helped Fitz turn around and settle down into the chair. Anna 
handed Fitz a towel and smiled.

"You're doing very well," Anna encouraged. "I really think that 
you'll manage with a cane and special leg brace, eventually."

"Doc Wang doesn't think so," Fitz muttered as Willow leaned over the 
back of the wheelchair, wrapping her arms around the dark haired 
woman's body.

"Dr. Wang is being overly cautious," Anna responded with a 
smile. "Just don't over do it. How's the baby coming along?" she 
asked turning to Willow with a grin. 

"Little beggar kept her up most of the night," Fitz teased.

"He's getting bigger and my doctor thinks the pregnancy is going 
well," Willow said softly.  

Fitz leaned against the red-haired witch's arm and Anna smiled. At 
first she had been a little uncomfortable once she figured out the 
relationship between the two women but she had quickly discovered 
that Fitz and Willow were like any other couple, especially a couple 
deeply in love. Sometimes Anna found herself envying the two young 
women, she had never seen such devotion and love between anyone 
before, other than her parents.

"Decided on any names yet?" Anna asked as Willow gathered up her 
backpack.

"Not yet, we were just talking about that last night," Willow smiled, 
noticing the pain that Fitz was trying to hide.

"Do you have any favorites yet?" Anna asked, moving to help wheel the 
injured young woman through the hospital.

"No, my father's name is Ira," Willow said softly, biting back her 
emotions. "I can't see naming a child Ira."

"What about you, Fitz?" Anna asked, noticing how quiet the Irish 
woman was.

"My father's name was Kevin, a bit boring that," Fitz smiled as 
Willow walked beside her chair. "Knowing Red here, we'll be cruising 
the 'net' for the next two months debating it."

"Xander is already hinting that Alex is a great name," Willow laughed.

Fitz smiled and nodded, grateful that Xander had gotten over his 
initial dislike of the stranger who had claimed Willow's heart.

* * *

Buffy and Joyce found Fitz asleep and Willow working quietly over her 
laptop after they unloaded Willow's belongings into the Summers' 
garage. They had refused to let Willow help at all because of the 
heavy weight she was already carrying. Fitz was tired and hurting 
after the therapy so they had been banished to the room they shared.

Willow looked up with a tired smile. Both Buffy and Joyce were 
beginning to worry about their friend. With Willow's small framed 
body, at six months into the pregnancy, she already looked like she 
was smuggling a basketball under her shirt and was beginning to look 
tired all the time.

Fitz had confided to Joyce that Willow wasn't sleeping well at night, 
that she couldn't seem to get comfortable. Joyce had suggested a 
pillow under the stomach so Willow could lay on her side occasionally 
and Fitz had hugged Joyce tightly the next day for the suggestion.  
Now it seemed that Willow had hit another uncomfortable stage in 
carrying her son.

"Hey, Will," Buffy said softly.

"Don't worry, I actually got her to take one of the heavy duty pain 
pills, she's out," Willow smirked, glancing over at the sleeping form 
of her lover.

She thought Fitz still looked as adorable as the first time she had 
seen the Slayer, especially without the bruises, cuts, dirt and 
tears. The blue-eyed dark haired Irish lass had let her hair grow 
longer and it was now down past her shoulders in the back but still a 
bit spiky on the top and shaggy on the sides, much like an 80's Joan 
Jett, Willow thought.  

"How did you do that?" Joyce asked with raised eyebrows. "We can 
never get her to take her pills. Then again, I can't get Buffy to 
take meds either."

"Slayers don't get sick often and we recover quick," Buffy reminded 
her mom.

"But they still hurt," Willow countered. "I know she didn't sleep 
much last night because she was worried about me. Then she over did 
it at therapy, as usual."

"We got your stuff, Wills," Buffy said softly and Willow frowned, 
ducking her head and nodding. "They didn't come out."

"I didn't think they would," Willow said softly. "They told me they 
were going to recite the Kaddish for me. Can't get more final than 
that."

"Kaddish?" Buffy asked, kneeling down in front of her friend.

"Prayer for the dead," Willow whispered, tears beginning to escape 
down her cheeks. Joyce moved to join Buffy in wrapping their arms 
around Willow as she began to cry again.

"I could strangle them!" Joyce declared.  

"They just can't deal with the disappointment," Willow muttered and 
Buffy drew back, her blue eyes blazing.

"Don't even think that!" she snapped. "You are the most intelligent 
and wonderful person I have ever known, Willow Rosenberg! You could 
never be a parent's disappointment! It's their loss!"

"Buffy's right," Joyce nodded. "Any parent would be proud to have 
you as a daughter, me included."

"Even pregnant, unmarried, and living with a woman?" Willow asked 
bitterly.

"I see a young, beautiful woman who is capable of so much love that 
it's almost frightening," Joyce countered. "You're going to bring a 
child into this life and it won't be easy, I won't lie to you about 
that, but you're continuing with your future and building a life."

"You don't do drugs, you haven't dropped out of school, you haven't 
killed anyone," Buffy jumped in. "You're an honor student, a 
computer whiz and you've saved my life on more than one occasion! You 
are the best, Will."

"Thanks," Willow said shyly and let the Summers' women wrap her in 
their arms again, accepting their love.

"Do you want lasagna for dinner? Maybe a nice large salad with that?" 
Joyce asked.

"One vote!" Buffy said enthusiastically.

"Two and a half here," Willow smiled, attempting some humor. "I'll 
vote a yes for Fitz, she loves your lasagna."

"Better than that fried stuff she always wants for breakfast, no 
wonder the Irish die young," Joyce muttered.

"Fried food and drink," Buffy nodded as she glanced over at the 
sleeping former Slayer as her mom left to start dinner. "Is she 
okay?"

"Yeah," Willow said slowly, also watching her lover. "She hasn't had 
a drop to drink since that night she thought about suicide."

"You mean that night you two got horizontal finally?" Buffy teased.

"Goddess, was that only three and a half months ago?" Willow said 
softly, her face blushing.  

"Speaking of which," Buffy said, standing up and digging into her 
jeans. "I've been meaning to give this to you. I found it in my 
drawer the other day and kept forgetting."

Willow took the small gold band and turned it over in her hands 
thoughtfully. "Fitz' wedding ring."

"Yeah, I remember her taking it off in front of all of us and asking 
you to marry her the next morning," Buffy nodded. "She tossed it to 
me just before you tackled her."

"She took it off to show me and everyone that she was leaving her 
Willow behind and asking me, the me of this realm," Willow said 
thoughtfully as she looked inside the band. "I don't know what this 
says."

Buffy took the ring back and looked at the inscription and shrugged, 
handing the ring back. "I think it's Gaelic. I thought she might 
want it in the future, it's the only thing she has from her life in 
that realm and her marriage to that Willow."

"Thanks, Buff," Willow nodded and placed the ring on top of the 
desk.  

"Any plans on your wedding? Anya is so jealous!" Buffy grinned.

"No, not really," Willow smiled. "I've started researching the 
different ceremonies. It's a little complicated, Jess is Catholic, 
I'm Jewish and quite a bit pagan thrown in."

"Well, are you going to do it before or after the rug rat is born?"

"I'm not sure, Fitz is so damned stubborn! She wants to be able to 
stand at the ceremony," Willow smiled. "I think it runs in all 
Slayers."

"Hey!" Buffy protested with a laugh and noticed Fitz beginning to 
toss in her sleep.

"Damn, those pills only keep her quiet about three hours, they're 
supposed to last six," Willow complained.

"Slayer strength," Buffy commented.

"Well, I don't want to double the dose either," Willow muttered.

"Let me," Buffy asked as Willow sighed heavily. The Slayer moved to 
the bed and cautiously sat down on the edge next to Fitz.

"Thanks, Buff," Willow said softly, watching the two Slayers. "My 
feet are killing me. I don't think I've seen them in the last month."

"Hey, Fitz," Buffy said gently, reaching out to softly shake the 
Slayer's arm. Willow knew that Buffy's muscles were taunt and ready 
to spring. It was a rather dangerous task, waking a Slayer. Willow 
had never been hit or tossed out of the bed but anyone else waking 
Fitz up had come close to having arms or noses broken.  

Fitz frowned in her sleep and Buffy saw the former Slayer's hands 
clench.

"Damn, a nightmare or pain?" Buffy asked, calling over to Willow.

"Looks like pain," Willow said, reading her lover's sleeping 
expressions and body language.

"Come on, Fitz," Buffy urged. "It's okay."

Fitz slowly opened her eyes and looked puzzled to find Buffy sitting 
next to her instead of Willow. Her eyes instantly searched the room 
until she saw Willow and smiled.  

"Hey, kid," Buffy said lightly. "Mom's making lasagna for dinner."

"Sounds good," Fitz nodded. "How long was I out?"

"Couple of hours, love," Willow said.  

"Bring me some aspirin and join me?" Fitz suggested, noticing 
Willow's tired face.

"Sounds like a great idea, it'll be a while before dinner," Buffy 
agreed.

"I need to finish this," Willow protested, pointing at the laptop.  

"It can wait, Will," Buffy said firmly.  

"My parents are probably going to withdraw their funding tomorrow, I 
need to find alternatives," Willow protested.

"Later, Will," Buffy said, standing up and shutting the laptop. "You 
have to stay healthy."

"Aye, you've a crippled wife to tend to and a child on the way, 
you've got your hands full," Fitz added.

"You are not crippled!" Willow snapped. "Just injured right now."

"It doesn't bother me to say it, Willow," Fitz said as Willow moved 
slowly to the bed and sank down next to the Slayer with a 
groan. "It's what I am now. I really don't mind. I'm luckier than 
most Slayers, I even get a second chance at love and I found my true 
soul mate after being crippled. I'll thank the Fates everyday for 
that."

"Catch you later, guys," Buffy smirked. "Mush alert!"

Fitz smiled and held out her arm, letting Willow settle next to her, 
the witch's head on her shoulder. She gently stroked the red hair 
and let the energy of her love spread over Willow like a blanket.

* * *

Xander looked at the 3x5 index card that Fitz had placed on the 
counter of the jeweler's shop in curiosity.

Loach/Badb seirc thar taimh

"What does it mean?" he asked as Fitz shifted on her crutches.  

"Warrior and witch love beyond death," Fitz translated literally.  

"Wow!" Xander whispered and put the card back on the counter as the 
jeweler returned with a calculator and two wedding rings. They were 
a matched set, one larger and meant for a male. Gold with a silver 
band circling the center.

"The sizing is free of charge, of course," the jeweler said absently 
as he punched in numbers into the calculator, consulting the tags on 
the boxes that held the rings. He turned the calculator around to 
face Fitz and the former Slayer nodded, sealing the deal.

"I want the wording and letters exact," Fitz said firmly. "I know 
it's a foreign language and all."

"There should be no problem, I'll do the engraving myself," the 
jeweler said calmly. "That's a fine set you've chosen."

"Thank you," Fitz grinned.  

"They'll be ready in a week, I want to take the time with them," the 
jeweler assured Xander and Fitz.

Fitz pulled out a bundle of bills and noticed Xander turn away, 
giving the former Slayer some privacy as she counted out several 
bills and handed them to the businessman.

"Thank you, I'll get your receipt," the man said with a wide smile.

Fitz knew she wasn't getting much of a break on the rings but smiled 
back. It didn't matter when it came to her Willow.

"She's going to love those, especially the diamond engagement ring," 
Xander commented, wandering back to Fitz.

"I'm hoping so," Fitz grinned. "Thanks for driving me. Kinda hard to 
do any shopping for your fiancée with her right by your side."

"Yeah, I understand that!" Xander grinned. "We haven't even started 
planning the wedding yet and Anya is making little lists everywhere."

The jeweler handed Fitz her receipt and the ex-Slayer carefully put 
it away in her wallet, determined not to lose it. She already had 
the engagement ring in her pocket.  

Xander held the doors open as Fitz maneuvered the crutches out of the 
store.

"How is it going with the Watcher Council dude?" Xander asked as he 
opened the door to his pickup.

"Not too bad," Fitz said as she maneuvered her cast into the pickup 
and then the rest of her body. "At least they sent me someone not so 
British."

"Giles isn't bad," Xander grinned.

"No, he's not," Fitz agreed. "The first one they sent to me was so 
stereo British that he was lucky he wasn't shot the moment he got out 
of his car in all that tweed."

"I don't understand that whole Irish/British thing," Xander 
admitted. "I tried reading on it but it seemed confusing."

"Aye," Fitz nodded, pleased that Xander had wanted to learn something 
about her background. "The basics are that England decided that 
anything near them belonged to England a few centuries ago and that 
included Scotland, Wales, the Isle of Mann and Ireland."

"Like we did the United States," Xander ventured.

"Yes, surprised that your lot didn't take over the whole damned 
continent," Fitz grinned. "Scotland, Wales and Ireland fought to 
keep the English out, none totally succeeded. The English beat, 
starved or over-ran all of them. To conqueror the Irish, the English 
decreed that anything about being Irish was illegal. A Catholic 
couldn't practice the religion, any priest caught on the island was 
under a death sentence and any priest trying to land was the same."

"Wow," Xander muttered, unable to comprehend such drastic measures 
having been raised with a different church on every block.

"Aye, a Catholic couldn't own land, couldn't hold public office, 
wasn't allowed to attend school and couldn't attend Mass," Fitz 
explained. "The Irish fought back over the ages. There was a major 
uprising almost every fifty years, each new generation taking a 
stand, I think."

"And now?"

"I learned that Ireland gained something of its independence from 
Great Britain in this realm," Fitz said slowly. "In my realm we 
didn't yet. After the terrorist's attacks, hunger strikes and 
protests in the early 70's the English cracked down hard and no one 
outside of Ireland protested. The terrorist's actions continue on 
both sides and Ireland is in a state of siege."

"Is that why you joined the IRA?" Xander asked softly.

"Yes," Fitz nodded. "I know it's different here and they're viewed 
as terrorists. In my realm we're fighters and never target civilians."

"Don't accidents happen?" Xander asked with a frown.

"Sometimes," Fitz admitted, "On both sides."  

"You ever kill someone?" the young asked softly.

"Just two ghouls and a sorcerer," Fitz said slowly. "The night I 
came here was the first time I ever killed a human being."

Xander was quiet for several moments as Fitz watched him drive.

"Still thinking I might turn out like your Faith?" she finally asked 
and watched as he blushed, knowing he had been caught thinking 
exactly that.

"Maybe," he muttered.

"Buffy and Willow have told me a bit about the girl," Fitz said 
thoughtfully. "Raised by an abusive mother, tossed around a lot, 
probably abused by anyone she met until she discovered her strength 
and such. Her first Watcher killed in front of her, not easy that."

"We took her in, accepted her and she turned on us like some rabid 
pit bull," Xander snapped, his hands tightening on the steering 
wheel. "She tried to kill Angel, hurt Buffy and sided with the Mayor 
to rule the world."

"A bit touched, aye," Fitz nodded.

"I've known Willow since we were five years old," Xander growled.

"And she loves you very much," Fitz commented. "She'd be lost 
without your friendship."

"You meant that inscription, didn't you?" Xander asked after a moment.

"Aye," Fitz nodded, meeting his demanding glare firmly. "I loved my 
Willow with everything and she was the best. I was willing to die 
for her, Xander. This Willow is different and&and&I fell in love with 
her. It's deeper than what I felt for my Willow and I didn't think 
that was possible."

"You hurt her and I'll find a way to hurt you," Xander growled.

"Understood," Fitz nodded, not mentioning that they both knew Fitz 
could probably kill him with one hand.

"So, the new Watcher, James Stewart, right?" Xander nodded. "What's 
he like?"

"Not bad, he's been studying ways of researching other realms without 
actually crossing over or bringing over any more like me," Fitz 
said.  

"Why send a Watcher if you're not going to be a Slayer?" Xander 
asked, his voice non-judgmental, merely curious.

"They want to meet Willow and get to know her before her training 
with them as well as me. Seems they think we'd be a good team," Fitz 
grinned.

"Is that why Willow has started training with Giles on some of the 
defense moves and stuff when she first learned she was pregnant?"

"Yeah, if she's going to be a Watcher, she'll have to be in the best 
shape she could ever get to," Fitz explained. "They can't do a lot 
because of the child but they'll really crack down on her training 
after the little one is born."

Fitz frowned, looking around. "Where we headed?"

"Out for a bit longer, I'm under orders," Xander grinned as Fitz 
raised her eyebrows.

"From who?" Fitz demanded with a smirk.

"Everyone, it's a major conspiracy," Xander admitted, trying to look 
innocent.

Fitz thought about threatening Xander but decided against it, 
reaching in her pocket to check on the ring box for the tenth time.  

* * *