Years In, Year Out:
Tell-tale Signs
by KNS

Willow opened the door without checking to see who was on her porch. Her eyes widened in surprise when she saw the young Slayer standing there. "Hi, Helen. Were you looking for Buffy? You missed her by about thirty minutes, but I can email Xander on his pager if –"

"No, no," Helen said quickly. She glanced behind her, then back to Willow. "I came to see you."

Willow blinked. "O-oh. Well, come in." She watched as the dark haired girl slipped past her and into the house. Her hands drummed on her thighs her eyes skipped from one place to another without pause. The girl was clearly nervous. "Sit down. Want anything to drink?"

"No," Helen said again. She sat down on the edge of the couch, crossed and uncrossed her legs. She waited until the ex-hacker sat down in the chair across from her before she blurted, "Buffy said I could come to you if I ever have a problem. Well, I have a problem."

Willow could only imagine the type of problem Helen was bringing to her. Did it involve fangs, claws, or curses? "Tell me about it."

Helen took a deep breath. "There's this guy I really like and I know he likes me too because he's told me but he's really shy and I was just wonderin' if you could mix somethin' up to make him less shy." She paused, added in a more hesitant voice, "You know – a spell."

Willow didn't know how the young woman would react if she laughed, so she made her face behave. "You want me to create an aphrodisiac?"

Helen nodded vigorously. "Please? I'd be really grateful."

The red haired woman bowed her head so her smile would be concealed. "Helen, you know I can't –"

The young Slayer was on her feet in an instant. "Please, Willow. You don't understand how important this is! If you don't help me, I'll have to find someone else to do it, and think about what could happen then." She drew a ragged breath and added in a pitiful tone, "Buffy said you could help me."

"Buffy knew you were going to ask for a spell, and she said it was alright?" Willow returned doubtfully.

Helen nodded. "She said you'd help me the same way you've always helped her. That a spell was fine so long as I told the guy before it happened what was going on so he wouldn't freak out. But she didn't use those words."

Willow hesitated. If Buffy had said it would be okay. . . She glanced at her watch. "I have to go get the boys from school. We'll pick up the things I need on the way."

Helen dropped to her knees and hugged the startled witch. "Thankyouthankyouthankyou!" she laughed, and Willow missed the note of desperation hidden beneath the enthusiasm. Helen had never hugged her before.

The past night's events caught up with Angel – that, plus the stress of knowing Buffy was off on her own while some assassin planed her death, conspired to rob him of his energy. He laid down on the bed to read for a while and ended up falling asleep when he woke, it was night, and darkness had completely fallen.

Before he opened his eyes, before he reached out a hand to the empty space beside him, even before he consciously realized where he was, he thought of her. He thought of the shape of her smile, the sound of her laughter, the feel of her hands, the color of her eyes.

And then he realized she was not there.

After a while he sat up, switched on the lamp beside the bed. He'd slept for a good six hours hopefully, the rest would do Buffy some good as well. That was the benefit to their tie – they could not share thoughts, but emotions and physical sensations were easily passed between them. It was that link that let him know now that she was well, though still tired and rather annoyed.

He closed the book that lay open beside him, hearing a noise from downstairs, stood up and headed for the stairs. "Still here, Helen?" he called as he went down.

"Yeah, in here," she returned. Helen was in the kitchen. Angel nearly gasped at the sight of her.

She stood leaning against the counter, her back half to him, looking out the window over the sink what caught him by surprise was the way she was dressed. She was wearing a whispy, mid-thigh length white dress. Her long black hair fell down past her bare shoulders in gentle waves, was partly scooped away from her face by a pair of silver combs. Low heeled white sandals completed the outfit, along with a silver necklace laying in the curve of her collarbone.

"Going out tonight?" he said, heading towards the fridge. "You don't look like you're dressed for sparing."

"I poured a glass of wine for you," she said quickly, turning towards him. At his raised eyebrow she added, "I was about to go wake you up, and you're almost as cranky as Buffy when I do that. The wine was going to be, like, a peace offering."

Angel grinned. "Surely I'm not as bad as Buffy," he scoffed. He walked over to the glass of red wine, picked it up and sipped from it. It settled oddly in his stomach, probably because he hadn't eaten. "You look nice, by the way."

Helen actually blushed and glanced at him shyly. "You think so?"

He took another drink of wine, then smiled at her.

"Buff, why don't we just stay at a hotel?" Xander asked for what must have been the tenth time. "I've got a company card – we can stay at the Ritz for all I care."

Buffy glanced away from the road to give him an annoyed look. "Because I want to go home," she said again, but not as patiently as she had done before. "Don't you want to see Will and the kids?"

Xander rolled his eyes. "Don't do that. You know I do. But it's late, and I've been in conference all afternoon, and you've been on base with your crazy friend, and I think we should call it a night."

She laughed and said, "You're just trying to get me into bed."

He looked at her, a little surprised.

"Did I really say that?" she asked, frowning.

Angel sat on the sofa, Helen close beside him. There was only one lamp on in the livingroom, but the moon shone through the open windows, filled the room with a soft glow and the sounds of the sea.

On the table beside them sat two half-empty glasses and an open bottle of red wine.

"So you really buried the box?" Helen giggled, scooting a bit closer to him.

"Yeah," Angel laughed, then reached for his glass of wine. "You know, you can't drive after all the wine you've had." He smiled at her.

She smiled back. "I wasn't plannin' to. How could I possibly leave you?"

Again he laughed, then sobered a little. "Have I ever told you how beautiful your eyes are? Just like Buffy's."

It was so late in the night that it could almost be called morning when the black Jag finally pulled into the driveway. Xander practically jumped out of the car the moment it stopped.

"Well, Buff, here we are," he said nervously, opening his door. Buffy had been acting odd for hours – smiling, joking, putting a hand on him as often as possible. . . It was almost what he would call flirting, except that this was Buffy, his friend, and she would never do that. "Let's get you inside."

"Xander, wait," Buffy said. She laid a hand on this thigh and he froze. "Let's talk for a minute."

"Talk," Xander echoed, his voice tight. This was so unlike Buffy. "No, no I think we should go inside – "

She leaned over and laid a finger against his lips. "Hush, Alexander," she commanded with a smile. "Remember back in highschool when you asked me to Spring Fling and I said no?"

Xander looked at her with eyes wide as saucers. If she said what he thought she was going to say, he didn't know what he'd do . . . .

Leaning closer, she whispered, "I should have said yes."

What happened next was a blur. Buffy leaned closer, Xander leaned away, they said different things – and suddenly Willow was there, putting a hand on his collar and dragging him out of the car.

"Willow! This isn't what it looks like," he said so quickly that the words were almost unintelligible. "I don't know what's wrong with Buffy – "

But Willow was already nodding. "I know. Is she okay, Giles?"

Xander looked over, saw that Giles was giving Buffy a severe talking-to. "What's going on?"

Buffy turned her head at the sound of his voice. "Tell Will the truth, Xander. Tell her how we feel about each other – "

"What?" Xander squeaked. "No," he added quickly, looking to Willow. "I swear, Willow, I don't – "

Again the red haired woman interrupted him. "Don't worry, Xander, I understand. It's a spell. Giles, go easy on her – it's not her fault."

Giles caught Buffy by the hand and pulled her towards the dark house, muttering as he went. Buffy pulled against him, calling for Xander.

"A spell?" Xander repeated. "A spell? The assassin used a spell?"

The pale moonlight illuminated Willow's grim face. "It wasn't the assassin, Xander. It was me, my spell. Helen – "

"Oh my god."

Buffy's half-shouted words sliced off Willow's explanation, fell between the married couple like a sword. They looked at each other for a moment in silent confusion and dread, then turned together and ran for the open front door.

Giles and Buffy stood just inside, staring into the livingroom. Xander and Willow halted beside them, looked to where their eyes were fastened.

On the couch, Angel was yanking on his shirt while Helen frantically rebuttoned her whispy dress. It was clear what had been happening.

"What the hell is going on?" Xander demanded.

"That's a good question," Buffy hissed, taking a menacing step forward.

Giles caught her by the upper arm. "W-wait a m-moment," he told her.

"Buffy, I-I don't know what happened," Angel said, looking at her with confusion. "I didn't – I mean, I would never – " He glared at Helen. "What did you do?"

"Everyone calm down and let me explain," Willow said, her calm voice bringing momentary silence to the room. "Buffy, Angel, you're both under the effect of a love potion. I'm guessing it was in that wine, Angel, and Buffy's getting it through you. It'll wear off in a few hours."

"Why did you give Helen a love potion?" Xander asked her.

"I think a better question is why did Helen use it on Angel," Giles suggested.

Five pairs of eyes turned to regard the young Slayer standing silently in the center of the room.

"Well, Helen?" Giles prompted.

Helen made an annoyed sound and threw up her hands. "You guys just don't get it, do you? You're so busy worrying about everything else that you can't see what's in front of your faces."

"You're going to have to do a lot better than that," Buffy warned.

"All I see is a spoiled brat who likes to manipulate people," Xander added.

"Then you're not looking hard enough," Helen said, her voice suddenly cracking. "'Cause if you were, you'd see that I'm pregnant."

Silence.

"What?" Angel asked.

"Are you sure?" Willow questioned.

Xander laughed sarcastically. "This is just perfect."

Giles turned and shut the door, moved to switch on a few more lamps.

Buffy dropped into the nearest chair, ran a hand over her face, and muttered, "I need a drink."

"Who's the father?" Xander demanded.

Helen licked dry lips, nervously glanced at the ex-vampire on the couch. "Angel. I'm sorry, Buffy – we were going to tell you –

""Helen," Angel said, disappointment heavy in his voice.

"Nice try," Xander scoffed. "Even *I* don't believe that one."

"You don't know, do you?" Buffy said quietly.

The dark haired girl looked ready to cry. "I didn't think it could happen to me – I'm the Slayer! Isn't there suppose to be some kind non-pregnancy thing – like hormones or somethin'?"

Buffy smiled wryly. "'Fraid not."

Willow moved forward and embraced the girl. Helen clung to her, sniffling. "It's going to be okay," she told the young Slayer.

"For God's sake, Will, be realistic," Xander said. "She's seventeen, she's the Slayer, and she's pregnant. Things are not okay."

Willow cast a quick glare at him but ignored his words. Releasing the young woman, she asked, "How far along are you?"

Helen shrugged. "About a month and a half, best guess."

"And you didn't tell us?" Angel said, anger finally creeping into his voice. "Helen, neither Buffy nor I pulled our blows during sparing, and I know for sure the demons haven't been giving you an easy time."

"I didn't know I was pregnant," she nearly shouted. "How many times do I have to say it?" Tears were beginning to spill down her cheeks.

"But now you do." Giles' voice was level and calm. He removed his glasses, withdrew a handkerchief from his pocket and began to polish the lenses. "T-the question at hand now is, what do you want to do about it?"

The dark brows knitted together. "What do you mean?"

"He means, what do you want to do with the fetus?" Willow clarified. Her voice was odd, caught somewhere between hope and sadness and something else. "You have to make some important decisions now. Do you want to have this child? Or try to, anyway?"

"I-I don't know," Helen faltered. "What else can I do?"

"Alright, it's too late for this," Buffy announced, coming to her feet. "Helen, pack a bag. You're going home with Giles." She glanced at Giles for confirmation, which he gave in a brief nod. "We'll talk about this more tomorrow."

"Are you kicking me out?" the young Slayer asked in a little voice.

"Only for tonight," Angel said. "Buffy and I need to have some time to talk."

Helen looked as if she would argue, but instead merely turned and walked upstairs.

Willow turned to Buffy. "I'm sorry about – "

Buffy waved away her apology. "It's alright. I mean, as long as Xander forgives me." She didn't look at Angel.

"Hey, no big," Xander laughed nervously. "Water over the bridge – or, um, you know. Forget about it."

"Why don't you give Helen the Watchers' journals to read," Angel advised Giles. "It'll give her a little information on what she's getting herself into."

Giles slipped back on his glasses, put his handkerchief back in his pocket. "Not a bad idea. I don't intent to let her leave the house until one of you two comes for her."

"You will let her come back," Willow said, more like a question than a fact.

Now Buffy did turn to look at Angel. The two gazed at each other for a moment, and whatever passed between them was done in silence. Eventually Angel stretched out his hand, and Buffy took it.

"Yes," Angel said, relief and guilt and a host of other emotions in his voice, "she can come back." Although his words were for Willow, his eyes remained on the woman holding his hand.

It was well after midmorning when Helen emerged from the guest bedroom. She found Mari in the apartment's small kitchen the smell of whatever she was cooking filled the air with a delicious aroma.

"Good morning," Mari said pleasantly, smiling over her shoulder. "Hungry?"

Helen guessed no one had told her about the previous night's adventures. "Yeah, a little." Actually, she was starving.

"There's juice in the fridge and coffee in the carafe, if you want any." She moved over to a drawer, took out a spatula and went back to cooking unit. "Hope you like blueberry pancakes." Helen couldn't take Mari being nice to her. Once she found out what she'd done, Mari would probably kick her out of the house. It was what she deserved.

"I'm pregnant," she announced, much as she had the night before, only calmer this time.

Mari turned half towards her and smiled. "I know. Rupert told me." She adjusted a button on the unit, then added, "Congratulations."

The young Slayer hadn't been anticipating that answer. "And I did something terrible to Buffy and Angel."

Nodding calmly, Mari said, "I know that, too."

Helen stared at her back. "Aren't you mad?"

"Why should I be?" Mari returned.

"B-because what I did was wrong," Helen stumbled. "They took me into their house and – and taught me how to fight and stuff, and they were really nice to me, even when I wasn't very nice back."

Mari flipped a pancake. "Why did you do what you did, if they were so nice to you?"

Helen threw up her hands. "I don't know!" she cried in frustration. Why was Mari being so calm about this? Didn't she realize what a terrible thing she'd done?

"You must have had some reason," the silver haired woman said easily. She checked a button on the unit, then flipped another cake.

"Well, yeah, I had a reason," Helen admitted. "I thought they'd throw me out if they found out I was knocked up. So I thought, maybe if I could get Angel – "

" – You could say the child was his," Mari finished, sounding thoughtful. "Fairly smart idea."

The young Slayer snorted. "Are you kidding? It has to be the dumbest idea I ever had. I should have know better than to try something so stupid. I mean, come on. . ." She trailed off for a moment. "It's just – I don't know. I was so afraid they'd throw me out. My dad kicked my big sister out when she was sixteen because she got pregnant and I, like, never saw her again. And I'm seventeen and Buffy and Angel aren't even related to me and I don't want to end up like that."

Mari finally turned to look at the young woman. "Did you tell them that?"

Helen shook her head. "No. It wouldn't matter. I just – I don't know what to do now. I think – I mean, I'm pretty sure I want this baby, but what if I can't take care of it? I mean, a baby – it'll depend on me and need me and everything. But I'm a Slayer too, and – maybe that's not fair to it, you know? What do you think?"

Mari shook her head. "I think it's time for breakfast. After that, you can go through some of the journals Rupert set out for you. You're not the only young woman – or young Slayer – that has faced this kind of situation before."

"Really?" Helen asked, hope clear in her voice.

"Really," Mari smiled.

Next Part

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