Fiction- AtHwA13- Fueling Up

Title: All That Heaven Will Allow

Chapter Title: Chapter Twelve- Fueling Up

Author: Restive Nature

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to BtVS. They belong to Whedon & Mutant Enemy. I also do not own the rights to Charmed. They belong to the WB. No infringement is intended and this fiction is for private enjoyment only.

Rating: PG-13

Genre: Crossover

Type: Angst, Action, Humor

Pairing: canon pairings in both shows

Summary: Slayer dreams and Whitelighter-Witch hybrid powers collide when the veil between worlds come close to collapsing. Can baby Wyatt survive life on the Hellmouth?

Spoilers/ Time line: Season 4 (after “Harsh Light Of Day”) of Buffy and Season 6 (after “Forget Me... Not”) Of Charmed.

Feedback: Always welcome!

Distribution: Ask first please.

A/N: This was one of my contributions started for NaNoWriMo 2012. The story was by no means completed in that month and I am looking forward to continuing it.

A/N2: There is a definite time difference between these two worlds and the seasons that I am using. This will hopefully, be explained within the fiction itself.

All that Heaven Will Allow

Chapter Twelve

Fueling Up

“So,” Phoebe murmured as she took a seat at the kitchen table the next morning. Admittedly, it had been a long night, the night before. So much had happened and with her self imposed vigil of watching over Piper, she hadn't gotten a lot of sleep. “You want to tell me what's up with the sudden one eighty on your attitude.”

Piper, who was standing at the counter watching the food that she was cooking, glanced over her shoulder, quietly regarding her sibling. “What d'ya mean?”

“I mean,” Phoebe spoke through a yawn and shook her head a little to try and clear the cobwebs away, “you were so drained, emotionally and physically. And now you're, well you're not exactly bopping around the kitchen like all is well in the world, you're... I hesitate to say it, better?”

“I don't know that I'm better exactly,” Piper hedged. “Suffice to say that sleep helped. I'm still scared out of my mind about Wyatt and Leo of course.” It didn't escape Phoebe's notice that she had left Chris out, but that was forgivable as they didn't know the young man very well yet. And the Elders were helping him to recover. “But... and don't laugh at me, I had a dream.”

“A dream?” Paige asked as she swept into the kitchen, unlike her sister's, fully dressed. “Isn't that Phoebe's field?” She moved to the island counter that separated the breakfast table from the appliances, quickly looking over the choices presented there.

“It wasn't a premonition,” Piper protested and then paused in her stirring of a pot of fruit compote. “More like... an assurance or something. I think,” she paused again and looked down at the fruit. It needed to simmer a little more before it could be served and she settled the wooden spoon she had been using on the spoon holder before grabbing a towel to wipe her hands off. She turned to face her sister's who were waiting to hear her explanation and leaned against the island counter that was between them. Bracing herself for their disbelief, she announced, “I think Wyatt sent it to me.”

Surprisingly there were no outbursts or accusations of her insanity. They looked, contemplative.

“Well,” Paige tilted her head consideringly. “Can't say that I've heard of that power, but with your kid? Who knows?”

“Perhaps it's like a reversal on an active power,” Phoebe wondered. “I mean, if you consider that someone or something sends me premonitions, where do they come from? Someone has to do that. Or something. Maybe Wyatt is like the thing that does it.”

“You think my baby hands down premonitions?” Piper asked wryly and Phoebe smiled gently.

“Not like that,” she groaned softly. “But you understand what I mean?” Piper nodded in response and began fixing herself another cup of coffee.

“So what kind of dream did Wyatt send you?” Paige wondered curiously, leaning on the island counter now herself, breakfast forgotten for the moment.

“It was strange,” Piper commented, recalling some of the details and some of the things that seemed hazy now but had been so clear then in the middle of the night. “It was just so normal. And I mean, you'd think I'd be freaking out. But for the most part, he felt safe. You know?”

“Not really,” Phoebe waved her hand, “but go on.”

“Well,” Piper continued as she skirted the island and took a seat at the table, “I could hear him crying in the dream.” Phoebe nodded, starting to equate Piper's story with the emotions that she had felt from her before Piper had calmed and was able to sleep more deeply. The eldest Halliwell sat stiffly as she tried to recall the nuances and feelings from those precious moments. “He was sitting in a pile of blankets. And then there was someone there. He was crying for me and then a girl was there. She held him and changed him. She fed him when he was hungry and he kept going back to her.”

“A girl?” Paige questioned, perking up slightly. “How do you know, did you see her face?”

Piper shook her head in the negative. “I don't know a lot of guys that would wear girly Japanese cartoon pajamas and she had boobs. Wyatt definitely noticed the boobs,” she chuckled for just a moment.

Phoebe grinned widely, leaning her hand on her head, relieved that her sister could find some humor in a moment like this. “He's definitely a daddy's boy there, huh?”

“I'm not sure I like what you're implying there,” Piper sniffed but then nodded before continuing. “Well, at least I know he's being taken care of.”

“You know or you think?” Paige asked carefully. Piper spared her a glance.

“I know,” she stated assertively, rising to check on her compote again. “I don't know who this girl is. If she's caught with him wherever he is or by whomever has him. I don't know. But he kept orbing back to her. He felt safe with her,” she insisted.

“Okay,” Paige soothed. “I just wanted to be sure. Good to know.”

“At least wherever he is, they're not harming him physically,” Phoebe pointed out. “That counts for something.”

“So now we just have to worry about the mental damage,” Piper sighed. “I know,” she nodded as she lifted the wooden spoon once more. “So we will continue to do everything possible to find him and get him back. As soon as witchly possible.”

“Right,” Paige agreed. “And as soon as we've eaten and fueled up our bodies, we'll get crackin' right on that.”

“All right,' Piper agreed as she tapped the thick liquid off of the spoon and took it to the sink to add to the wash pile. “Then grab some plates because breakfast is ready.”

AtHwA~AtHwA

“Knock, knock, anyone up?” Xander called as he tried the door at Buffy's house and found it unlocked. He pushed it open further and stepped into the foyer, his other hand full of a product he was sure would make the Summer's women pretty happy.

“We're in the kitchen Xan?” he heard Buffy call back. With a relieved smile and hearing the baby's pleased gurgle, he headed in that direction.

“So how go the adventures in baby sitting?” he asked as he entered the warm and bright kitchen. Buffy was holding Wyatt up on the kitchen counter, both arms around him as Joyce was at the kitchen counter, wiping something from her blouse.

“Wildly,” Joyce commented with a shake of her head and then turned to face her daughter. “Oh, it's a lost cause. I'll have to send it to the dry cleaners.”

“Well, I hate to say I told you so, but seriously, does anyone like pureed prunes?” Buffy chuckled.

“Yes, all right,” Joyce chuckled dryly. “You've made your point. Wyatt made your point. What can I say? It was very early and I thought I'd give it a try.”

“Let me get this straight,” Xander was blinking heavily at Joyce. “You tried to feed the baby mashed prunes... why?” Settling the burdensome, awkward package down, he held up both forefingers and quickly spanned them apart before pointing at both females. “Did Wyatt come from the home planet of tasteless and yucky is actually delicious and nummy?”

“Not that I'm aware of,” Buffy giggled, which made Wyatt giggle as well. “He seems to have come from the world of good tasties only. Yes he did,” she crooned and then giggled again.

“All right, you three, enough,” Joyce threw in the towel, literally and figuratively before crossing her arms and nodding towards Xander. “And what little surprise have you brought to my doorstep this morning?”

“Oh this?” Xander asked, pointing at the large bag at his feet. True it was a trash bag and not normally how he wrapped things up. Though really, he was a guy, he was in a hurry and he figured they'd probably prefer it clean, rather than dusty and dirty from the walk over. “Oh, well see,” he muttered, clapping his hands together and then leaning over to pick it up and moving it to the island counter. “I was thinking last night, I know my mom still has a bunch of my old baby stuff packed away, so I asked her if there was anything you might be able to use. She wanted to know why, so I told her about your nephew coming for a last minute visit and voila!”

“She saved your car seat?” Buffy asked dubiously, eying it as he continued to push the plastic down to reveal everything.

“That's a pretty new model,” Joyce commented, coming over to look at it.

“No, no,” Xander shook his head at Buffy. “I told her you guys have nothing. And aside from a few clothes and some blankets, we pretty much had nothing. But,” he grew animated again, “Mom told me that they have a program at the hospital where you can sign out car seats for an emergency at a small fee and when she went to work, she signed one out for you guys. You know, so you have the extra one to use for whoever is babysitting Wyatt. You know, if they actually have a car to put it in. Or for nap time or whatever.”

“Oh Xander, that's genius!” Buffy complimented, her eyes lighting up as she considered several possibilities that hadn't occurred to her before.

“Certainly much cheaper, one would assume,” Joyce nodded her appreciation as well, “than buying one that might be obsolete before it sees use again after Wyatt.”

“Oh yeah,” Xander agreed. “They even included instructions and an on the spot safety inspection for this bad boy. They wouldn't let me add a skull and stakes decal though.”

“Well what do you think about that, Wyatt?” Buffy asked the boy as she turned him to see the car seat. He wasn't much interested it seemed, instead reaching for Xander. Buffy, sensing an opportunity scooped the boy forward and right into Xander's arms. “He thinks it's great and wants to thank Uncle Xander while Buffy goes to grab her bag!” she decided brightly and then spun and dashed out of the room.

Xander, awkwardly juggling the new squirming bundle in his arms, turned to Joyce. She watched him for a moment, assessing before she held her hands up. “Don't look at me. I need to change my blouse and get to work. I'll be late if I take took long.” And with that she had hurried out of kitchen as well. Xander looked forlornly after the direction the women had taken before looking down at Wyatt again.

“Okay, I know she's super powered and all, but her best power yet?” he asked rhetorically of the boy. “Sensing a sucker. Yeah, that's right.” He couldn't help the grin on his face as Wyatt lit up and squirmed again. “But just don't expect me to change your butt kid. I draw the line at diapers!”

“And Xander!” Joyce called from the stairwell. “you might want to check, but Wyatt hasn't been changed since we got up.”

Xander looked down at Wyatt who, honest to goodness, laughed right in his face. “Okay,” he muttered. “But just this once and don't tell anyone. You keep this between us kid and I'll hook you up with all the yummy snacky goodness. No more yucky prunes for you!” Xander never even noticed as his language descended into baby talk as he wandered the house, wondering where it would make the most sense to put diapers for a baby you weren't expecting.

AtHwA~AtHwA

“Okay, so he's got enough bottles and formula to last all day. We got the rice cereal and fruit. There's diapers and everything you need in the diaper bag to change him,” Buffy recited breathlessly as she settled bags on the dining table of Giles apartment. “Do you need me to write out instructions? Cause I can do it real quick. Or ooh,” she grunted, checking her wristwatch. “Maybe not. I'm gonna be late for psych!”

“I'll muddle along, I'm sure,” Giles sighed. “And I've learned that most products in America come with instructions.”

“Even Buff,” Xander chuckled, having decided to go along on the shopping trip that Giles had picked them up for earlier. “Though I don't know why you didn't keep that handbook.”

“You've met other Slayers and you still think to ask that question?” Giles commented with his usual wry humor. “Will you be staying?” he asked of the other man.

“Sorry,” Xander shrugged. “I've actually got a job interview that I should probably get to. You know, for like paying for the car seat rental money that I owe my mom. Rent, food, stuff like that.”

“I'm sorry about that Xander,” Buffy grunted as she extracted the napping boy from his five point harness car seat. She wanted to let him sleep but didn't think he looked too comfortable all strapped in. “I will pay you back for that. I just forgot with all the food and other stuff today.”

“No problem Buffy,” Xander shrugged. “I know you're good for it. And if not that, then at least a few drinks at the Bronze next party night.”

“Ether way, you're on,” Buffy agreed. “But for now, I gotta book, with my books!” She touched one finger to Wyatt's cheek, gently and sighed. “Wish I didn't have to leave him, but well, Professor Walsh waits for no man or woman, for any excuse.”

“All right Buffy,” Giles nodded as he escorted her and Xander to the door. He closed it behind them and turned to look at the new form of chaos that had invaded his apartment. He wasn't quite sure yet if it was more or less manageable than the chaos that being a watcher to a Slayer and mentor to her two sidekicks, had already brought.

With a dismissive glance at the goods Buffy had purchased, knowing that none needed to be refrigerated, Giles instead moved to his collection of books lining the bookcase behind his sofa, he chose several that he wanted to look through and then retired to a seat where he had a good view of the baby.

“You just have yourself a nice long nap, lad and we'll get on all right,” he murmured and then settled in to read.

AtHwA~AtHwA

“You know, I half expected to find you a mess and pulling your hair out by the roots,” Joyce chuckled as Giles allowed her entry into the apartment.

“Oh, not at all,” Giles chuckled as he shut the door behind her. It wasn't the first time that Joyce had been here, but at least the circumstances were much better this time around. “I'd like to think that working at a library that sat atop the Hellmouth for three years, whilst dealing with angsty youth prepared me admirably for this task.”

“I can just imagine,” Joyce agreed. “Though I see you've added to your wardrobe.”

“Yes, well, Wyatt does not seem to like creamed spinach much like the pureed prunes,” Giles chuckled, lifting the tea towel that he had slung over his shoulder to mop at his hairline. Joyce hid her grin, seeing a slight smear of green still there.

“You fed him creamed spinach?” she suddenly realized. “Oh no.”

“It was baby friendly, I assure you,” Giles hastened to assure her. “He seemed to like the rice cereal well enough and when he wouldn't eat the spinach, I mixed the two, hoping to blend the familiar.”

“Oh, oh yes,” Joyce at once understood. But things like that had been coming back to her quickly. “I'm not certain that he's at that age to mix the foods, but it certainly won't hurt anything. The formula is vitamin and iron fortified. No need for Popeye just yet.”

“Quite,” Giles agreed as he led Joyce into the living room. Wyatt lay on a blanket in the middle of Giles' tiny living room. His little bottom was lifted in the air as he slept face down. “Hmm,” he murmured. “I see he's a mover, even when he sleeps.” He turned to face Joyce. “He was playing just a little while ago and fell asleep on his back.”

Joyce nodded. “Buffy was like that as well. The moment she learned to roll over, we couldn't get her to stay sleeping on her back. Her pediatrician told us that the risk of crib death went down a little at that point. But there's always new research coming out, isn't there?”

“What one man discovers, another tears down, only for another to build up again,” Giles agreed. He finally figured that rubbing at his hair with the towel wasn't doing any good and abandoned it to begin instead, picking up the things that Wyatt had managed to get into in the course of the day.

“I suppose,” Joyce nodded as she began picking up Wyatt's few belongings. She had stopped at a consignment store, never realizing until she needed it, that there was one in town. It was one of those stores that the eye passed right over every time you drove by it. “Did you manage to get a schedule figured out for the rest of the week?”

“I did that, yes,” Giles sighed as he straightened up from his crouch with an arm full of old knick knacks that were child friendly. Of course that was only in that they had no sharp edges, weren't heavy and had no monetary or magical value. That left very few in number that he'd been able to play with, but Wyatt had seemed fine with that. “Although since none of the others know of it yet, we'll see if it will meet with democratic approval.”

“Probably only if it involves you and I doing the heavy work while they get a chance to play in between the important parts of their lives,” Joyce grunted and then her shoulders sagged. “Oh Rupert. I don't mean to sound bitter. Truly, Wyatt is a lovely baby, but, well...”

“I know,” Giles nodded, seeing things from Joyce's point of view. “I myself managed to get through most of the day by simply reminding myself that it's a temporary situation at best.”

“And at worst?” she worried.

“Then we'll all be prepared should the real thing happen. It's good practise,” he grinned, though it didn't reach his eyes.

After a few more minutes of picking up and then putting the still slumbering baby into his borrowed car seat, Joyce headed off, barely noticing the nosy neighbors peeking from behind their curtains. Her mind was already moving ahead to preparing dinner for herself and her daughter and hoping they'd find something Wyatt liked other than bottles, Buffy and rice cereal.