I wrote this a while ago, but the recent baby fics being posted made me want to toss my hat in, as it were. This is the "prequel" to 'Daddy's Girl', which is not finished yet.

The First Month ~~~~~ "Oh, my God...OH, MY GOD!!" Buffy's voice was loud and pitched high with shock. Down in the living room, Willow leapt off the sofa and ran upstairs to the bathroom that Buffy had excused herself to go to five minutes ago. "What? What's happening?" she panted, certain that she would find something horrible going on. Buffy didn't reply. She was standing, seemingly in suspended animation, staring at something in her hand that Willow couldn't identify. Until she saw the box sitting on the bathroom counter. She closed her eyes tightly for a moment, then opened them again. The box was still there. It was small and white, with big purple letters announcing it's contents. does Buffy even HAVE an early pregnancy test?> Still, there it sat. Right before her eyes. "Buffy?" she ventured timidly. "This says," Buffy began, staring straight at herself in the mirror. "It says that I'm...." Willow swallowed hard. "Pregnant? But...but you can't be, can you? Vampires can't make babies..right?" "Yes," Buffy said absently. Eyes still locked on her own reflection, she held the test stick up, enabling Willow to see the great, big blue plus sign in the little window on the end of it. "Then how can you be..." Willow's eyes became even wider. "Unless...is there someone...else?" This question broke through Buffy's foggy head. "Of course it's not someone else," she frowned, shaking off her dazed manner. "What a thing to say!" "Well, I'm sorry," Willow said, groping for the right answers to this unexpected news. "It's just that it's so...surprising." Buffy sighed and replaced the test stick in the empty box, handling it with ridiculous care, as though the thing was ticking a countdown and shouldn't be jarred for fear of premature explosion. Willow laced her fingers together nervously. "Then if it's not someone else..and it's not possible for a vampire to make a baby..how did you...I mean, how COULD you...how?" Buffy placed the box back in the bathroom drawer, then flicked off the lights and went downstairs, with Willow right behind her. When they were seated together on the sofa, Buffy looked at her friend. "Something...happened." Willow took her hand. "Do you want to tell me?" "Yeah," Buffy nodded, then took a deep breath. "You re- member a few weeks ago...the birthday party?" "Yeah." "Well...I was in the kitchen...." ********** ********** "So...what did you wish for?" Buffy asked as she sliced cake. A pair of strong arms wrapped around her from behind. "I can't tell you that," Spike said, nuzzling the side of her neck. She sighed happily. "Don't do that when I have a knife in my hand. I'm liable to cut off a finger." He chuckled, turning her in his arms. Taking the knife away from her, he placed it on the counter. "Can't let that happen," he said, kissing each finger and then her palm. Buffy smiled. "Come on...tell me what you wished for," she coaxed. "You can tell me." "S'pose I could, but then it won't come true. Isn't that how it works?" She leaned back against the counter. "What are you saying...that my big, bad vampire thinks birthday candle wishes come true? Since when?" In point of fact, he actually felt guilty for making a wish in the first place. He'd alrady been given so much, starting with this girl. Wasn't it tempting fate to ask for more? What if fate got really pissed off and took it all back until he learned not to be greedy? "Since when?" he repeated. "How about...since the first time you told me that you love me?" Buffy's eyes became soft with tenderness. "Well, aren't YOU a smooth talker?" she murmured, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Yes, I am," He placed his hands on her hips and pulled her forward until their lower bodies came into contact. Buffy returned the pressure he was applying. "You're not gonna tell me, are you?" "Fraid not, gorgeous." She moved her hips slowly from side to side. "Nothing will pry it out of you?" His body responded to her movements, but he still shook his head. "No," he managed to say. "But...feel free to keep on...prying." Her side to side motion switched to back and forth, with a little grinding pause every time she moved forward. Fully prepared to lower her to the kitchen floor and take her right then and there, Spike's eyes opened wide when she abruptly stopped her teasing. "Hey!" "Suit yourself," she said, pushing him away. "It's just as well anyway. I feel a headache coming on." She massaged her temples. "The kind that lasts for two or three days." "All right! You win," he conceded instantly, yanking her back. "I'll talk. I'll tell you anything you want to know...birthday wishes...state secrets...Oprah's real dress size...pick a subject." "You know," she smiled devilishly. "I kind of thought you might." He gave her a reproving look. "You fight dirty." "Well, I learned from the best." She turned and swiped her finger through the cake frosting. "Taste?" she asked, offering it to him. Spike took her finger into his mouth, licking and sucking the frosting off. When he released it, he scooped up a dollop of the frosting on his own finger, and smeared it across her lips. Buffy closed her eyes when she felt him licking her clean of the sticky chocolate. "God, you taste sweet," he murmured. Before she could even begin to form a reply, they were interrupted. "You know, sometimes you two are absolutely sick- ening." Xander stood in the kitchen doorway, his arms folded across his chest. "Not to put a damper on your kinky fun with food, but are you planning to serve that cake sometime soon?" Buffy gave him the sort of smile usually given to a marginally amusing, but slightly irritating child. "Sorry." "Yeah, I'm sure you are," Xander said. "Look, play games with the leftovers, okay? You have dessert deprived people out there waiting for chocolate cake." Spike turned on him. "All right...the cake is on the way. Why don't you run along and play nicely with the other children until it gets there?" "Guess what?" Buffy said, after Xander left. "I have another can of frosting in the pantry." Spike released her so abruptly that she almost fell. "Then let's get this party over with. Fast." He took a stack of dessert plates out of the cupboard, while Buffy finished slicing the cake. "You never told me what you wished for," she reminded him. He hesitated. "It's stupid," he finally said. She stopped cutting and looked at him. "I'm sure it's not." Leaning back against the counter next to her, he stared at his feet. "I wished...that I could take you outside. In the daytime..the sunlight..just for one day." He shrugged. "See, I told you it was stupid." Buffy smiled at him. "That's not stupid. I think it's a lovely wish." She cupped her hand beneath his chin and made him look at her. "And I love you for making it." He smiled and tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. "You're just..so damn beautiful in the sunlight. I'd love to see you up close in it." Slipping one hand behind her neck, he pulled her closer. "See it dancing in your hair..feel it heating your skin..make love to you in it." Buffy took a deep breath, then sighed. "Ohh...that is so swee-eet," she said. "I don't know why everyone thought you were such a lousy poet, honey." Spike gave her a look. "Why, thank you. You're just TOO kind." "You're welcome," she said brightly, then began trans- ferring cake onto plates. "Listen...I don't give a rat's ass about the sunlight. It's not good for the skin, anyway." He wrapped his arms around her again. "Love you," he said in her ear. "Love you, too," she answered. "And..after everyone goes home, I will give you the best birthday present you've ever had...as many times as you want." They were just about to kiss when a voice floated in from the living room. "We're still wait-ing," Xander sing-songed. Spike dropped his head onto Buffy's shoulder in frustration. "Someday...I'm really gonna kill him." Buffy nodded. "Someday, I'll hold him while you do it," she sighed. "Come on...grab some plates and let's get this party done." He leered at her. "And then the REAL party starts, right? The private one...with the frosting?" "Calm down, Romeo," she said, patting his cheek. "I promise you can eat all the frosting you want...and anything else you might want, too." In the living room, they handed out portions of cake. "What's this?" Xander asked plaintively. "No ice cream?" Buffy straightened up and stared right at him. "Do you REALLY want me to go back into the kitchen, Xander?" He immediately reached for the plate. "You misunderstand," he said. "I meant "No ice cream?" in a good way...because I am...lactose intolerant." He cut off a bite of the cake and smiled at Buffy. "Never touch the stuff." "That's what I thought you meant," she said. "Now, shut up and eat the damn cake." "I'm eating the cake," he said agreeably. "Yum! Good cake!" He turned to Anya. "Am I right?" She just shrugged. "It's all right, for a home made cake, but you could have gotten a better one at the market. Now, THEY know how to make a cake, the ones with the icing roses, and...what? What did I say?" An hour later, Buffy ushered her guests out the door. After closing and locking it, she turned around and saw Spike standing at the foot of the stairs, tossing a can of chocolate frosting from one hand to the other. Snatching the can in mid-air, she grabbed his hand and led him up the stairs, where they fell into bed and made feverish love until they were too tired to go on. Buffy woke shortly before sunrise the next morning, sensing, even in her sleep, that something was different. Lying half on top of Spike, her cheek pillowed on the hard muscle of his chest, she smiled as she listened to the steady thump of his heartbeat. Instantly, her head snapped up. His heartbeat?! Spike didn't have a heart beat! Hadn't had one for more than a century. "What the hell..." His normally cool body was warm beneath her, and she stared in fascination at the slow rise and fall of his chest as he breathed. "I'm dreaming...this is a dream...a really GOOD dream." Spike stirred at the sound of her voice. "Go back to sleep, sweetheart," he mumbled, one hand gently rubbing her back. His hands were warm too! And other parts of him, she quickly realized, were down- right hot! Carefully lifting the blanket, she peeked down at his semi-hard erection. Forgetting for the moment about everything else, Buffy smiled and moved down in the bed, under the blanket. Wrapping her fingers firmly around his shaft, she took it into her mouth, sucking it gently. His eyes snapped open, and his hips lifted instinct- ively. "Christ.." he muttered, still half asleep. "B-Buffy?" "Down here," she said. "Don't mind me. You just go on with what you were doing." He chuckled. "You're the boss, baby." Buffy continued working over him, her lips and her tongue sliding up and down, licking and sucking him until she brought him to a swift and powerful orgasm. "Bloody hell," he panted. "You..you were right. Best damn birthday present...I ever had." She smiled and kissed him. "Don't be too sure of that." Taking his hand, she pressed it, palm down, over his heart. "WHAT THE HELL..?" He jackknifed into a sitting position. Buffy sat up beside him. "That's what I said." He stared at her in shock as she climbed into his lap and pressed herself against him. "Your skin is warm," she said softly." "What's happening?" he asked. Buffy loved the wonder and amazement in his eyes, wishing it would stay there forever. She cupped his face in her hands. "I could be wrong...but I think some- one got his birthday wish." Spike shook his head in denial. 'That's not possible." She rolled her eyes. "What, are you kidding me? We live on the Hellmouth, where ANYTHNG is possible." "Now," she added, wrapping her arms around his neck. "We don't know how long this might last, so...I say we don't waste one second of it." "That's my girl," Spike said, trying to lower her to the bed. Buffy didn't allow it, pulling away and getting out of bed. "Not yet," she teased, tugging on his hand. "Where are we going?" he asked, grinning. She gave him her sexiest smile. "We're going outside to play." ********** ********** Willow sat staring at Buffy with wide, fascinated eyes. "Well," she finally said. "You were right about one thing...anything is possible on the Hellmouth." "Mmm," Buffy murmured, her eyes a little dreamy. Seeing the expression on her friends face, Willow smiled. "So..how do you feel about this? Happy?" Buffy leaned back on the sofa, crossing her arms over her stomach. "It's all still sinking in, but...yeah, I'm happy. I never thought I'd have a baby." "Never?" "No. Actually, I didn't expect to survive long enough to..don't make that face, you know it's true..plus, the two men I've loved are both vampires. No babies there." "So you thought." Willow squeezed Buffy's hand. "I'm so happy that you're happy." "Yeah?" Buffy smiled. Willow nodded. "Yeah. Cause, I gotta tell you..I'm so excited that I can't stand it. A baby! A little baby Buffy!" she squealed. Buffy rubbed her flat tummy. "It might be a boy." "Nope," Willow shook her head firmly. "It's a girl, I know it is. And she's gonna be so cute and we'll all love her so much!" "I know you will." Buffy frowned slightly. "Gee, I can't wait to see the look on Giles' face. Who ever heard of a pregnant slayer?" "Oh, pooh." Willow waved one hand airily in front of her face. "You and Spike have been together for three years now, and Giles is cool with it." "Yeah, but..." "Besides..what CAN he say?" Willow demanded. "It's already a...a fait accompli." "It's a what?" "It's gonna happen. And, as far as the slayage goes, we'll get you through that. Spike's just about as good as you are, and everyone else will pitch in too and take over while that little cake is baking. It'll be fine." Buffy looked at her friend seriously. "I appreciate that Wil..because I'm not taking any chances with this baby. It's probably the only one I'll ever have..and I KNOW it's the only Spike will have." She shook her head. "No way am I gonna let anything happen to her." "Her?" Willow teased. Buffy sighed and rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I think it's a girl, too. I don't know why, but I just...it's like I can hear her little soul talking to me. I've gotta keep her safe, Wil." "Oh," Willow's eyes were a little teary. "That is just...it's the most..." She sniffled. "Oh, Buffy...I think I'm gonna cry." "I might join you," Buffy said, wiping at her own eyes. They sat quietly for a bit, each girl lost in their own thoughts, until Buffy broke the silence. "I wish my mother could know." Willow took Buffy's hand again. "I'm sure she does. She's watching somewhere..and I'll betcha she's smiling." "I know," Buffy said with a shrug. "I just wish she was here..you know..to help me through it." "Help you through what, luv?" Both girls jumped at the sound of Spike's voice. "I'm sorry," he said, smiling as he entered the room. "I thought you heard the door open." "Oh..no," Buffy spoke first. "We were..." "Talking," Willow supplied. "Yeah...talking. And..I guess we just..didn't hear you?" Buffy added, then cleared her throat. Spike leaned over to kiss her. "Must have been a heavy subject," he observed. "Well, it WILL be," Willow muttered under her breath. "What was that, Red?" "Nothing." She stood up suddenly. "I've gotta get going. Come and walk me out?" she asked Buffy. "Sure." Buffy stood up and looked at Spike. "Be right back, 'kay?" Spike narrowed his eyes slightly, sensing something. "I'll be upstairs," was all he said. Willow waited on the porch until Spike went upstairs, then said quietly. "I know it's none of my business, but...how's he gonna take this?" Buffy shrugged. "He'll be...surprised. That's a given." She walked with Willow to her car, watching as she unlocked it and climbed in. "But, he'll take care of me," she said, smiling. "He loves me." Willow smiled back. "He sure does." Inserting the key in the ignition, she started the car, then looked at Buffy again. "If someone had told you years ago that you'd be having a baby with Spike...." "I'd have had them committed to an insane asylum," Buffy finished the sentence. Willow revved the engine and began to back out of the driveway. "Call me tomorrow?" "I will." Buffy waved, then turned and walked back to the house. She closed the door and turned off the porch light, then took a deep breath and headed up the stairs to inform her lover that he was going to be a father. ********** ********** She found him waiting for her, stretched out on their bed. Stepping into the room, she closed the door quietly behind her. Spike smiled, patting the empty space on the mattress next to him, inviting her to join him. Buffy sat down beside him and took his hand. He tugged gently, urging her to lie down with him, but she resisted the pull. "We need to talk," she began nervously, suddenly uncertain that he would be turning cartwheels over her news. Spike sat up. "Is something wrong?" "Well...no. Not exactly. I just..." She looked at him. "Why would you think something's wrong?" "Because nothing good ever happens when a conversation starts with those four words." "That's not always true," Buffy said, twisting her fingers together. "Sometimes...well it just depends on your point of view. You shouldn't assume..." "Buffy." He held up one hand. "Stop stalling." Like a man on the gallows with a rope around his neck, the wait was almost worse than the drop. She paused to collect her thoughts and put them in some kind of coherent order.. "Do you remember your birthday party." "Vividly," he grinned. "S'pecially the after party fun and games." He ran one hand up her arm caressingly. "Is that what we need to talk about, luv?" "Sort of," Buffy nodded, gamely plowing ahead. "But, more specifically the cake? And even MORE speci- fically..the candles on the cake?" This conversation wasn't going at all the way he'd hoped, and it was making him nervous. "Buffy! Please!" "Okay!" She ran a hand through her hair. "You made that wish..and then the next morning for whatever reason..you..you were...." "Alive?" he offered. "Yes! That!" She jumped on the phrase. "And while you were..." Spike rolled his eyes. "Alive," he said again. Buffy sighed. There was no subtle way to say what needed to be said. He'd never guess it in a thousand years. Mentally hollering "Geronimo!" she jumped out of the plane. "While you were alive we made love for hours, and since you were alive, all of your bodily fluids were alive right along with you and you got me pregnant,' she said, without pausing to breathe. She peeked up at him through her bangs, bracing herself for the shell shocked expression she expected to see on his face, and was puzzled when she didn't see it...because it wasn't there. Leaning back against the headboard of the bed, Spike sat silently, until Buffy couldn't stand it anymore. "Did you hear what I said?" she asked. "Yeah," he replied, a tiny smile forming on his lips. Buffy was confused. "I just told you that I'm pregnant." "I know...I heard you." "By you!" "Well, of course by me," he said. "Who else could it be?" he asked cheerfully. The room was silent for a count of thirty. "I'm NOT kidding!" Buffy burst out suddenly. "I believe you." Jumping to her feet, she began to pace around the room, a habit she'd picked up from him. "What the hell is the matter with you?" She stood in front of him, hands on her hips. "How can you be so damn casual about this?" she demanded, glaring at him. "You act like you already...." She stopped when she saw his eyes shift somewhere to the left of her. It only took her a moment to figure out why. "No..." she said, shaking her head slowly in denial. "No, you couldn't possibly...." He smiled guiltily. "..have known....you KNEW?? Is THAT what you're tell- ing me?" she asked shrilly. "No!" he said quickly. "I'm not saying that I knew...just that I...suspected." "HOW?" Buffy yelled. "How could YOU suspect before I suspect...ted?" Spike reached for her hand, pulling her back down on the bed and into his arms. "Your body, sweetheart," he tried to smooth her over. "It's changing. I can sense it, especially when we make love. And..you missed your monthly." "How do you...?" He gave her an "Are you kidding?" look, and interrupted her. "I always know when you're bleeding, luv..no matter where it's coming from." Well, that was true. She had once broken a glass in the kitchen and cut her finger while cleaning it up, and he'd smelled it all the way upstairs in their bedroom. "I don't believe this," she grumbled. "You already knew!" "No, I just...thought," he said, wishing he'd kept his mouth shut and acted surprised. He pulled her into his lap and kissed her cheek. "Well, you MIGHT have mentioned it!" Buffy scowled. "And miss all this? Not bloody likely," he replied, nuzzling her neck. She was trying hard to maintain her aggravation, but it was damn near impossible to do when he touched her that way. "Okay, you know," she finally said. 'How do you feel about it?" He was silent for a moment. "It's an awfully big respon- sibility, you know." "Uh-huh," she agreed. "I've been thinking about it...and...well..." "And..well..WHAT?" Spike shrugged. "Doesn't sound so bad." "Doesn't sound...." she echoed. "Now THAT'S a ringing endorsement." She struggled out of his lap and tried to leave the bed. "Thanks so much for all the positive...HEY!" He grabbed her, wrestling her down into a prone position and throwing one leg over her to pin her to the bed. Dark blue eyes stared intently down into hers. "Do you know..do you have ANY idea what you've done." "What I've done? What I'VE done??" she squealed in disbelief. "You know, I wasn't exactly all by myself when it happened. If you think..." "YOU" he cut her off, clapping one hand over her mouth, "..have given me everything I never thought I'd have. Your love...and this home with you...and now a child." His eyes were soft with emotion. "And I don't deserve any of it." Buffy pushed his hand away from her mouth. "Honey..." "No...let me say this," he insisted. She remained silent, looking up at him. "I don't deserve any of it," he said again. "Not you..or the home you've made with me..and definitely not this child." He smiled at her, smoothing her hair. "But I promise I'll do right by you...and by this baby. I swear to God, I will." Buffy smiled at him, with slightly trembling lips. "I already know that," she said. "I trust you..and I love you." "I love you, too," he replied. "Don't cry." She sniffled. "I can't help it. I'm happy and I have to cry." Spike shook his head and chuckled. "That makes no sense." He grabbed a piece of the sheet and mopped her cheeks. "Come on now...big slayers don't cry," he scolded. "Blow." "Not on the sheets." She turned her face away. "I'll change them." "No. Just get me some tissue." He brought her a handful of kleenex from their bath- room. "So," he said, sitting beside her again. "What's the first thing we do?" Buffy tossed the used tissue into the waste basket. "A trip to the doctor, I guess. I'll make an appointment tomorrow." She looked at him and smiled. "Want to come along?" Spike looked surprised. "He's got evening hours?" "No, but there's underground parking and an elevator straight to the office." She grinned. "Just stay away from the windows." He smiled back at her. "I'll be there." Taking her arms, he pulled her over until she was more or less on top of him. "How do you feel about having sex with a pregnant lady?" she asked, after a long and intense kiss. "Uncertain," he said. His answer surprised her. "How come?" Spike fiddled with her hair. "I'm afraid I'll hurt you...or the baby." He shook his head. "I don't think we should." Hoping he wasn't going to say THAT for the entire nine months, Buffy looked at him and sighed. "We did it last night and I was pregnant then," she reminded him. "Yeah, I know..." He looked positively gloomy, and Buffy knew she had to put an end to this immediately. "Look, honey...I don't want to sound crude, but do you honestly think you're gonna be able to go for months without sex?" "There's always..." She shook her head. "I mean REAL sex...not low im- pact substitutes." Moving closer, she nibbled the hard line of his jaw, while sending one inquisitive hand down the front of his shirt. "Slayer." He grabbed her hand. "Be good." "Oh, I will be, lover," Buffy whispered, licking his ear lobe. "You can count on it." With a soft moan, he tangled his fingers in her hair and captured her mouth beneath his. Buffy parted her lips and slipped her tongue into his mouth, dancing it lightly over the edges of his teeth and wrapping it around his. "Come on, baby," she murmured against his lips. "Don't you want to?" "You know I do." He rolled them over on the mattress, until he was above her. "I always want to." She tugged his shirt out of his jeans, pulling it up and off, and tossing it to the floor. Dragging her nails down his spine made him jerk up and arch his back. "Again," he grunted through clenched teeth. "Harder." She gave him what he begged for, leaving long red scratches up and down the length of his back. Spike rose to his knees and straddled Buffy's hips, then began to undress her. When he had all the buttons of her shirt undone, he pulled it open. She watched him as he slowly leaned down and pressed his lips against her abdomen. "Hello, baby," he said softly. Buffy didn't reply, since she knew he wasn't talking to her. She unfastened the clasp of her bra as he moved his mouth up her body. Looking down, she met his gaze with hers. "Hello, mommy," he grinned. She giggled. "H'lo daddy." Laughing with her, he buried his face against the side of her neck. "This is so bloody sweet that I'm making MYSELF sick." With a soft groan, he added, "What the hell have done to me, Slayer?" "Domesticated you? Settled you down?" She snapped her small teeth teasingly. "Tamed you?" "Yeah," he agreed. "That's the one. You tamed me, girl. Made me all soft and mushy...and tender." "You love it," she accused. "I really do," he said. "I gotta have it." Pulling him back down, she closed her eyes when he kissed the hollow between her breasts. "Well then," she moaned. "Come and get it." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Second Month ~~~~~ "What in bloody hell is THAT?" Buffy followed Spike's gaze. "The examination table," she explained as she changed into a paper gown. "What are those things on the end of it?" "That's where my feet go." "Looks like a bloody torture device," he muttered. "Actually" Buffy replied, hopping up on the table, "it's not all that bad." She grinned, beckoning him a bit closer. "In fact...I've had some pretty interesting fantasies about it." Spike gave her a skeptical look. "Fantasies? About that thing?" "Yep," she giggled. "Think about it..me stretched out on the table with my feet in the stirrups..." "Stirrups, huh?" he chuckled. "Uh-huh...and my legs are spread open wide. You're standing at the end of the table between them..wearing nothing but a stethoscope...giving me a thorough exam- ination. Pretty sexy, huh?" He wasn't at all surprised by what she was saying. Lately, Buffy had managed to put a sexual spin on just about everything they did. Although they'd always had a regular and fulfilling sex life, Buffy's pregnancy had made her insatiable. The stirred up hormones bouncing through her body like a pinball, had unleashed a sex kitten that she couldn't control. She'd developed a knack for finding lacivious meaning in the most innocent of comments, surpassing even HIS talent for sexual innuendo. Buffy craved sex to the point where she would wake him up in the middle of the night, or afternoon, desperate to make love. Often, he was not even fully awake when she would crawl on top of him, squirming and wriggling until she made him hard, then ride him like a wild pony. Simple questions fueled her craving; What would she like for breakfast?..."You, honey"; Want to rent a movie tonight?..."Yes, get one of the ones they keep in the back of the store...get a couple of them"; Is that a new dress?..."Yeah, and I'm not wearing any underwear either." Whenever they went out together, Buffy spent most of the time looking for dark corners where they could make some quick love. Anywhere..anytime..anyway. It was all good for her. He had taken her Christmas shopping one evening, only to be pushed into the gingerbread house where the mall Santa spent his daytime hours having his picture taken. He'd sat in the red velvet armchair, almost cross-eyed with pleasure, as Buffy had bounced up and down in his lap. In the cemeteries they patrolled, she would watch from a safe distance as he staked new vamps, then would tackle him to the ground, relieving the pent up aggression that she could no longer channel into slaying. Spending an evening with Xander and Anya, Buffy had pleaded exhaustion and a back ache, and had asked if they would mind if she stretched out on their bed for a while. A minute later, she had called Spike into the room, asking for his help to ease a painful muscle cramp in her leg. Not wanting to make a mess of the bed, she had pulled him down to the floor. The possibility of being caught had aroused her even more intensely. Turning onto her side and facing away from him, she'd urged him into the same position behind her, then pushed her hips back to meet his thrusts. At one point, she had taken his hand off her hip and guided it around front between her legs. He had played with her clit, rubbing and squeezing it as he'd whispered dirty words in her ear until he'd brought her to orgasm. The contractions of her tight sex as it clamped down on his erection had made him follow right behind her. The entire act, from beginning to end, had taken less than five minutes to perform. Which hadn't satisfied Buffy in the slightest. Driving home an hour later, she had reached into his jeans and taken a firm grip on his cock. Pumping her hand up and down until she had him painfully hard, she lowered her head to his lap and taken him into her mouth, nearly causing him to run the car into a tree. Wanting to avoid what was sure to be a spectacularly bad car crash, he had quickly pulled the car into the empty parking lot of a bank, dragged her into the back seat, and fucked her until his ears rang. Three days later, in a rare fit of camaraderie over a pitcher of beer, Spike had told Xander about what they had done, and about Buffy's new fits of nympho- mania. The only comment Xander had made was "Please don't tell me you're not complaining about this." Spike was pulled abruptly out of his thoughts when Buffy's obstetrician came into the room. After the usual questions about vitamins, nutrition, and plenty of rest, Buffy stretched out on the table and submitted to the pelvic exam. Spike didn't like this any better than she did. Whether it was reasonable behavior or not, he absolutely hated the idea of anyone besides himself being so inti- mately familiar with Buffy's body, even her doctor. But he forced himself to keep quiet, and stood next to the exam table, holding her hand firmly in his. Dr. Beaumont was quick and efficient with his exam. Drop- ping the rubber gloves he'd used in the trash can, he informed them that everything looked perfectly fine and on schedule. Buffy gasped when he squirted a cold glob of clear gel onto his abdomen. He made an amused apology and began moving the sonograph wand around. "There's your baby," he announced. "Looking fine." Spike and Buffy had stared at the screen, looked at each other, then at the doctor. "Where?" they both asked. "Right...there," he replied, pointing out the baby's head and limbs. "And here," he added, using a pen to pinpoint the exact spot, "is the heart...beating like a little drum." "And everything looks good?" Spike asked, fascinated by the tiny rhythmic flutter on the screen. The doctor nodded. "Everything looks just about perfect," he said, freezing the image and handing Spike the picture he took. "That's one gorgeous baby." "That's because she has a gorgeous mother," Spike said softly, kissing Buffy's forehead. "I love you," he whispered, "so much." She smiled up at him. "I love you, too."

The Third Month ~~~~~ Buffy squeezed her thighs tightly together, shift- ing from foot to foot. "Spike?" "What, luv?" "Spiiike!" she squealed again, bouncing up and down on her toes. He turned and stared at her. "AGAIN?" "I can't help it," she whined. Spike sighed and reached for her hand, but she had to send both of them down to her crotch. She whimpered as she squeezed firmly, trying desperately not to have an embarrassing accident. "All right...let's go find a..." "No! Now!" "Buffy," he said patiently. "We're in the middle of a cemetery. There are no bathrooms here." "Can't wait!" "Then we'll hurry. Come on." She shook her head frantically. "Can't walk!" "I'll carry you," he offered. "I'm...Spike, I'm gonna wet my pants." Her eyes pleaded with him for help. Casting his gaze around the moonlit cemetery for a solution, he guided her to some bushes behind an immense mausoleum. "Go ahead," he said, turning his back. Buffy almost didn't make it. The second her skirt was up and her underpants were off, she let loose, panting with relief on behalf of her overly burdened bladder. "You all right?" "Yeah. Better." Making her "ick" face, she pulled her panties back on. "Let's go." Walking along beside him once again, she glanced up and saw the laughter he was having trouble con- trolling. Ordinarily, she'd have laughed along with him, but right now for some reason, the sight pissed her off out of all proportion to the offense. "Stop snickering or I'll kill you in your sleep," she groused. "Sorry," he said quietly. "When a girl's gotta go, then a girl's gotta go!" "That's very true," he nodded agreeably. Buffy ranted on, too wound up to stop. "And when a PREGNANT girl has to go, then everyone should just shut the hell up and stay out of the way." "I'll try and remember that." If possible, her tone became even more defensive. "This is perfectly normal you know! Dr. Beaumont said so! It happens to every pregnant woman! All the time! It's not like I'm just doing this for fun!" By this time, he'd had just about enough. "All RIGHT!!" He stopped walking and turned to face her. "I get the picture. I'm SORRY I laughed and I'll NEVER fucking do it again, OKAY?" His voice was a lot louder and sharper than he'd in- tended it to be, and he was instantly sorry when he saw tears begin to gather in Buffy's eyes. "Oh, baby...I'm sorry," he said, reaching for her. "I shouldn't have..." "Don't touch me!" Buffy ducked out of reach. With no intention of letting him off the hook, she turned and flounced off. Spike stayed right on her heels, trying to catch hold of her. "Buffy...please, honey." "Go away!" she said, without stopping. "You yelled at me!" "I know I did...and I'm sorry. Come on, baby..please stop." He finally caught her arm and pulled her to a stop. "Don't cry, sweetheart," he all but begged, searching his pockets for something to dry her tears with. "You know I can't stand it when you cry." Buffy sniffled, wiping her face on her sleeve. Looking down into her tear filled green eyes, Spike felt like the meanest son-of-a-bitch in the entire world. "Baby, I'm sorry, I really am. Forgive?" She'd been prepared to make him pay for his behavior, but he looked so ashamed of himself that she couldn't go through with it. "Forgive," she agreed, allowing him to hold her. They stood that way for a few moments, then Spike squeezed her gently and gave her a kiss. "Come on, luv, let's go on home. There's no action here tonight, anyway." Taking her hand, he tugged her along. "I'll make you some hot chocolate and..." "Back rub?" she asked plaintively, her fingers knead- ing the base of her spine. "For as long as you want," he promised. "Okay." She smiled at him, then her eyes widened and she began to walk a little faster. "Hurry up!" "Why?" "Don't ask...just hurry up!"

The Fourth Month ~~~~~ "I think I'm starting to show," Buffy announced with a pleased smile as she climbed into bed. "Starting to show what?" Spike asked from behind the newspaper he was reading. "The baby, silly." She flicked the paper aside. "Don't you think so?" "Well, I don't know." He grabbed the hem of her night- gown and tugged on it. "Lemme see," he begged, leering playfully. Buffy allowed him to push her gown up and examine her abdomen. "See?" "See what?" "That bulge." She pointed to it. "Right there." Spike shook his head. "That's not the baby. That's your dinner." "Oh...what do YOU know." She swatted his hands away. He answered her by reaching under the bed and producing a large picture book. "More than you think. I've been reading up on all things baby, Dr. Spock and the others. You'd be surprised what I know." She WAS surprised. "Really?" "Yeah, really," he said. "I want to be ready." He flipped the book open and tilted it towards her. "See...that's what baby looks like right now." Buffy examined the photograph. "Yuck!" "Hey!" Spike scolded. "It's not yuck. S'a bloody miracle is what it is." "Why is everything "bloody" with you? Even a baby?" He shrugged. "Just my nature," he said, turning the pages of the book. "How do you suppose they take these pictures, anyway?" "Geez..I don't even want to think about it," Buffy shuddered. "By the way...where did you get this book?" "Library." She stared at him. "You don't have a library card." "So what?" Buffy rolled her eyes. "Oh, great!" She sat up and glared at him. "Fine role model you're gonna be...steal- ing from a library." "Borrowing," he corrected her. "I'll take it back. Oh, look at THIS one." "No thank you." She pushed the book away. "My dreams are strange enough right now without this sort of bedtime reading." She slid down in the bed, stretching. Spike watched her with admiring eyes. "You know...you don't look any bigger around the middle just yet, but you're definitely getting rounder in...other places." He leaned over and ran a suggestive finger around the neckline of her nightgown. Buffy grinned, highly pleased at the compliment. "I noticed those, too," she said. "It's the first time in my life that I've ever felt stacked." He tugged on the pink silk and peeked inside. "Lucky baby, to be so well fed." Buffy reached for his hand, pushing it underneath the fabric until it was cupped over her right breast. "Baby won't be needing them for a while," she said softly. "I'm sure she won't mind if you play with them until then." Her words, coupled with the tone of her voice and the feel of her breast, caused Spike to develop an instant erection. Lowering his head, he kissed the soft flesh of her throat. He peeled her gown away from skin still damp and warm from her bath, and gazed with rampant lust at the lovely new curves she had developed. "Beautiful," he whispered, as his lips traveled down her neck to the beginning swell of her breasts. "So soft and warm," he added, rubbing his cheek against her. "And sensitive," Buffy interjected, stroking the back of his neck. He smiled against her skin. "Are they?" "Mm-hmm. Especially..right here." Cupping her hand beneath his jaw, she guided his mouth to one hard peak. "They're just...aching." "Aching for what?" he asked hoarsely, still nuzzling her. "Ohh...to be touched...and kissed...and..." "Sucked?" he ventured eagerly. Buffy arched her back. "Most of all..." Spike placed a tormentingly light kiss on both nipples. "Would you like me to help you with that ache, darling?" She gasped at the touch of his tongue. "Make it go away." Wih a soft growl, he began to trace wet circles around her nipples, Moving from one to the other, he teased her with long strokes of his tongue. Her body began to writhe beneath his in helplessly agonizing pleasure. "Please...oh, please," she moaned, digging her nails into his biceps. He pulled back. "Want more, do you?" "Yeah.Give me more," she demanded. "Give me every- thing. It's mine...and I want it." Wrapping her arms around his head, she held him firmly against her. "Open your mouth," she whispered. "Be my baby." Spike did what she wanted, taking her breast into his mouth and suckling strongly. Buffy had all she could do to keep from screaming at the spasms that coursed through her body. She felt every pull of his mouth all the way down in her womb. Spike began to alternate his sucking with hard kisses and long laps of his tongue. "That better, honey?" he asked, rubbing his cheek against her nipples. "Shall I suck harder, or keep licking them?" Trying to keep a clear objective in mind, Buffy sent her hands down and began to push off the sweat pants he'd donned after his shower. He released her long enough to remove them and toss them aside, then returned to the flesh he was feasting on so enjoyably. When she couldn't wait one more second, she cupped his face in her hands and forced him to look at her. "Now," she panted. "I want you inside me..now!" Leaning his weight on one arm, he yanked her nightgown up around her waist, then positioned himself. Mindful as he always was of her pregnancy, he pene- trated her slowly, with shallow back and forth thrusts of his hips. Buffy moaned and panted below him, grinding herself against his pelvis in search of the friction she craved. Spike adjusted his position, moving up so that the base of his shaft rubbed her where she needed it, then began to thrust a little harder and deeper. He varied his pace, sometimes slow and deep, some- times fast and shallow, sometimes no thrust at all, but only grinding pressure. "Ah, Christ, baby...you feel so good," he groaned. "So hot and tight...and juicy. I want to fuck you..fuck you hard...yeah, make it tighter..." "More," she cried, digging her nails into the straining muscles of his ass. "Faster, baby...yes...like that..." Abandoning all restraint, he complied, pounding into her over and over again. The sound of their bodies slapping together blended with the harsh grunts he emitted with each thrust. "Come on, baby," she urged him. "Do it with me...I'm so close..come when I do...give it to me...do it..." She was babbling mindlessly, but he was past the point of hearing her. He sensed the onset of her climax, and he shoved one hand down between them. Reaching the juncture of her thighs, he quickly found what he wanted. Covering her mouth with his, he pushed his tongue into it and firmly pinched her clit, then rubbed it rapidly be- tween his thumb and forefinger. It was the last thing needed to send Buffy over the edge of sanity. With a soft scream, she careened out of control as a violent orgasm exploded inside of her. As the convulsions of release shot through her body, she was only dimly aware that he was riding the same crest of pleasure that she was on. When it was over, when they began to come back down to the earth, Buffy smiled a dazed and dreamy smile at him. "I..I just relalized something," she said. "Wassat, babe?" "You CAN actually come your brains out." Spike collapsed on her in helpless laughter. "You don't say?" "Who knew?" He kissed her, long and hard. "You mean you came so hard that your brains aren't in your head anymore?" "I don't think they're even in the same ROOM anymore." With one more kiss, he withdrew from her body and rolled onto his back. "Get some sleep, little one," he said. "Maybe you'll develop some NEW brains." "Yeah, but what GOOD will they do me? I'll just lose them again." "G'night Slayer...."

The Fifth Month ~~~~~ Spike came full awake when he felt Buffy suddenly sit up in bed beside him. Reaching with one hand, he gently rubbed her back. "Whass wrong, baby?" he asked, his voice slurred from sleep. Buffy just looked at him, not speaking, but he recog- nized the look on her face. "You hungry, sweetie?" She nodded, embarrassed by her seemingly un- ending appetite. "Want me to get you something?" "Yes, please," she said, a polite little girl. Spike smiled. "What sounds good?" "I was thinking about...ice cream?" "No sooner said." He climbed out of bed and pulled on his jeans, not bothering with a shirt. "Chocolate, chocolate chip, mint chocolate chip," he recited, "or that godawful crap with the bubble gum in it?" Buffy nodded and licked her lips. "Yum." He waited to hear her selection. "Which one?" Her eyes narrowed. "Which ONE?" There was a pause. "Oh! Right!" He leaned over the bed to kiss her. "Sorry, babe. Dunno what came over me." He took her right hand and kissed her fingers. "Be back sooner than trouble, baby face." His hand was on the doorknob when she stopped him. "And maybe...a couple of cookies?" "And cookies," he nodded. "Peanut butter." "I know." "Oh! And a..." "Glass of milk," they said simultaneously. "Yes," she smiled, her eyes sparkling with good humor. As he was standing in the kitchen, scooping immense portions of ice cream into a large mixing bowl, Dawn wandered in, yawning and sleepy eyed. "Is she hungry AGAIN?" Spike shrugged. "She's eating for two." Dawn snorted and rolled her eyes. "She's eating for twelve!" "Yeah..well.." He opened the cupboard and reached for a glass. "Milk," he requested. Dawn opened the refrigerator. "Regular or chocolate?" "The usual." "One of each?" "Mm-hmm." He placed a second glass beside the first one. Dawn carried the milk upstairs, while Spike followed with the ice cream and a bag of cookies. Nudging the door open with her shoulder, Dawn went in first, then stopped so abruptly that Spike nearly bumped into her. They stood there, side by side, watching Buffy sleep, her arms wrapped tightly around her pillow. Spike looked at Dawn. "Want some ice cream?"

The Sixth Month ~~~~~ "G'morning, sweetness." Spike stretched and yawned. "Sleep well?" "Mm..I did." Rolling over in bed, Buffy snuggled up against him kittenishly. "I really did." He wrapped one arm around her, leaned over and kissed her. "How's my baby doing today?" Buffy smiled. "Which baby? Me or the fetus?" "BOTH my babies?" "We are very well, thank you for asking." "And are we hungry this morning?" he asked, patting her tummy. The small swelling was firm, with silky soft skin, the result of Spike's gentle hands massaging lotion into it every night after Buffy bathed. She walked her fingers teasingly up his abdomen to his chest. "Is a bear Catholic?" Spike laughed. "Funny, aren't you?" "Does the pope sh...." "Buffy!" He cut her off before she could complete the question. "Watch your language. Baby can hear you, ya know?" "Really?" Buffy asked with a smirk. "You mean baby heard all the loud grunting and groaning you did last night?" "Me?" he asked, feigning shock. "Well, how about when you yelled, "Oh! Oh, fuck me! I'm gonna come...I'm gonna come...!!" Spike slapped her lightly on the bottom. "That was you, honey." "Oh, no it...wait, I...you're right," she giggled. "That WAS me." He sighed. "Now that we've gone all the way around the mulberry bush," he said, "let's get back to the subject, which WAS...are you hungry?" Sitting up in bed, Buffy answered, "I'm so hungry I could eat a whole herd of horses." "I'm sure I can do better than that," Spike said as he climbed out of bed and dressed. When he noticed her starting to get out of bed, too, he urged her back down. "No, you stay here. I'll bring you some breakfast." "You're too sweet," she informed him, giving him her prettiest smile. "And you're spoiling me." "Yeah, I know," he agreed. "I'm practicing on you so that I do a good job spoiling the baby rotten." "Good plan." He leaned down and kissed her once more. "What would you like to eat, luv?" Buffy shrugged. "Surprise me," she said, reclining back into the pillows. Spike was halfway down the stairs when Buffy suddenly screamed. "SPIKE...COME HERE NOW...COME HERE!!" He turned so fast that he nearly lost his footing, then raced back to the bedroom. If his heart had still been beating, Buffy's screaming would have stopped it cold. He burst into the room, wild eyed with fear. "What's wrong? What happened?" He fell to his knees beside th bed. "Are..are you in pain? Bleeding?" He looked terri- fied. "Oh, God...you're not bleeding, are you?" Buffy was sitting straight up in the bed, her hands cradling the gentle curve of her belly, smiling like an angel. Looking at him, her eyes danced with excitement. "It's moving. The baby's moving and...and kind of kicking me." She reached for his hand and placed it on her tummy. "Feel." "Oh...oh, Christ..." Spike moaned. He fell forward onto the bed, burying his face in the blankets, as relief robbed his body of all it's strength. "Buffy," he said, his voice muffled by the bedding. "Sweet- heart...please don't ever...EVER...I'm begging you...scream like that unless something is....th-the baby moved? Really?" "Uh-huh," Buffy squealed, moving his hand. "Right there...just keep your...Oh!...did you feel it?" "I did," he said, his eyes wide with wonder and an ear to ear grin on his face. "Does it hurt?" "No," she shook her head. "It feels kind of..fluttery. Hard to describe. Sort of like a little..." She looked up and caught him staring at her intently. "What?" "I just...I just love you," he said softly, taking her hand and kissing it. "And in case I haven't told you this lately.. you're the most beautiful pregnant..." "Cow," she slipped in, grinning. "Woman..in the entire world." Buffy sighed. "Getting turned on by fatties these days, honey?" "Stop that!" he ordered her. "You're not fat...you're preg- nant." "Pregnant?" she gasped, looking horrified. "How'd THAT happen?" Spike stood up. "All right, funny girl, that's enough. I'll get your breakfast." Buffy stopped him when he was almost out the door. "Hey, if you find out who did this to me, couldja let me know? The least the cad can do is...marry me." He turned slowly to face her. "Marry you? You want me to marry you?" She pointed at her tummy. "Are you responsible for this?" He hung his head, trying to look ashamed. "Guilty." "Well, then?" When he didn't answer right away, she stuck out her lower lip and pouted. "Don't you WANT to marry me?" He still didn't answer. Instead, he opened the closet door and took something out of the pocket of his coat. Returning to the bed, he sat down next to her and opened his hand in front of her face, revealing a small black velvet bag, tied with a drawstring of black satin ribbon. Buffy's eyed widened. "Is that for me?" "Mm-hmm." "What is it?" Spike smiled and shrugged. "Don't know. Why don't you look and see." She took the bag and untied the ribbon. Holding out her palm, she emptied the tiny bag of it's treasure. "Ohhh," she said, trying hard not to look disappointed as she stared down at a pair of tiny gold hoop earrings. "How pretty...thank you." Looking back up at him, she caught him trying not to laugh. "Don't tease me," she scolded him. "Sorry," he replied, then opened his other hand to display a ring, a gold band with a square emerald, bordered on both sides by a row of small channel set diamonds. Buffy was speechless. "If you don't like it..." he began. "Are you crazy?" she interrupted. "It's perfect...I love it!" Spike grinned at her. "I know these things are usually diamonds...but I fancy you in emeralds. Brings out the green in your eyes." Taking her hand, he reached for the ring and began to slide it onto her finger, then glanced up in surprise when she suddenly closed her fist. "Just what do you think you're doing?" she demanded. "Uh..well. I THINK that I'm putting a ring on your finger," he said. "What do YOU think I'm doing?" Buffy sat back, folding her arms across her chest. "Don't you have something to ask me first?" He looked dumbfounded. "You mean I have to ASK?" She nodded vehemently. "Damn right you do." "But...but you're pregnant," he told her, as though it was a big surprise to her. "With MY baby!" "So what?" she said. "You think that means you can just take me for granted? THIS is the 21st century, you know. Women have choices. You can't just assume." "I thought I could!" he said. "Well, now you know better," she replied. "This is my first marriage proposal, so...do it right!" Spike sighed and knelt beside the bed, holding her hand in his. "Buffy.... "Yes?" He shrugged. "You gonna marry me, or what?" She sat there for a moment, staring at him. "Wow...you sure know how to sweep a girl off her feet," she said, pulling her hand back. He chuckled. "Gonna answer the question, then?" "I'm not even sure what the question was," she grumbled. Spike repeated it. "Are YOU..gonna marry ME..or NOT?" Buffy turned her face away. "Might...might NOT!" He growled and pounced on her, tickling and nuzzling her. "All right, all right!" she shrieked. "I'll do it...quit it!" She held out her hand to him. "Gimme!" He slipped the ring onto the appropriate finger. "So, you'll marry me?" he asked, smirking. "How can I NOT after that romantic proposal?" she asked sarcastically. "Good!" He stood up. "Glad it's settled." Without taking her eyes off her ring, Buffy asked, "Break- fast?"

The Seventh Month ~~~~~ Small, soft fingers were creeping up his back, stopping now and then to tickle him awake. "Spike? Are you awake?" He shook his head. "No." "You are too!" "No, I'm not. You're dreaming, darling." He burrowed deeper into his pillow, tempted to cover his head with it. "Honey...come on." There was a short pause. "I'm hungry." Spike sighed. He was beginning to regret ever start- ing this "breakfast in bed" business. It seemed like Buffy was waking up earlier and earlier every morning. He felt as though he'd only just gotten to sleep. He lifted his head and stared, bleary-eyed at the clock. It was later than he'd thought, almost 8:00. Rolling over in bed, he looked up at the beauty hovering anxiously over him...and melted into a puddle. "All right, luv...what would you like?" He moved one hand up her back and drew her down, wanting a quick taste of her before he left the warmth of their bed. In his opinion, she was getting more beautiful every day. Her hair was thick and shiny, and wonderfully soft, and her skin glowed with good health. Every time he looked at her, he thanked whatever lucky star he had been standing under when she'd come into his life. Her lips were warm and sweet, and he kissed them lingeringly. When he finally pulled away, she smiled and said, "That was yummy, but I'm still hungry, Daddy." He grinned. God, he loved the sound of that word. It was going to feel like forever before he heard it from his child, but it was awfully cute when Buffy used it. "Yes, I know," he said. "What do you want to eat?" She shrugged. "I don't care. I'm not feeling picky this morning." Rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, Spike dressed, kissed her once more, then went downstairs to the kitchen. Dawn was sitting at the table, eating a bowl of cereal. "Why aren't you in school?" he asked. "What are we sending you to University for, anyway?" "My morning psych lecture was cancelled. I don't need to be there until one o'clock." She rinsed out her bowl as she watched him assemble the ingredients for breakfast. "Want some help?" Spike nodded. "Yes." Fifteen minutes later, he nudged open the bedroom door with the tray he was carrying. "Breakfast," he announced cheerfully, "is...." Buffy whipped her head around and glared at him with murderous eyes. "...served?" he finished weakly. "What is it?" she asked, still glaring. "It smells funny." Spike set the tray down on the end of the bed, eyeing her warily. "Something wrong, Slayer?" "Don't call me that!" she snapped. "Quit defining me by my job title." She sat up and pointed an accusing finger at him. "I don't go around calling you "Vampire," do I?" "What?" He was genuinely surprised. The word "Slayer" had become a term of endearment between them, and Buffy had never complained about it before. She ignored him, staring at the breakfast tray. "I hate poached eggs," she announced. "Since when?" "Since right now! They look...icky." "All right," he said agreeably, "No icky poached eggs. How about...?" She cut him off. "That bacon is greasy." "No, it isn't, honey." He picked up a piece and offered it to her. "See. Nice and crispy." "Well, then YOU eat it!" Keeping the words, "She's pregnant, be gentle" tacked to the forefront of his mind, he smiled. "How about some toast, then? It's got your favorite cherry jam on it." Buffy looked at the bread as though it was covered in green mold instead of jam. "That's white bread," she complained. "You know I like wheat bread." Patience...patience... "The strawberries? You love strawberries." He felt himself on firmer ground with this one. She couldn't very well gripe about them being the wrong kind or overcooked, or icky. "They aren't ripe!" she stated. "No way are those things ripe enough to eat." She folded her arms across her chest. "I don't want them." Patience was beginning to fray along all it's seams. "All right," he sighed. "How about the tea?" Buffy took a tiny sip. "It's cold." This was becoming weirdly fascinating. "Just drink the orange juice, honey. It's good for you...full of vitamins." He was surprised when she picked up the glass and drained it. "There!" She smacked the glass back down on the tray. "Satisfied?" Spike tried to ignore her nasty tone. "Do you want something else? Does anything sound good?" "Nothing that YOU can bring me," she said. "Just take this...this mess back to the kitchen." "Buffy..you have to eat something." She nailed him with angry eyes. "If you don't get that tray away from me, I'm gonna barf all over you. Is THAT what you want?" "No, honey," he sighed. "That's not what I want. I just want you to..." "You want me to what?" she asked, her voice tinged with sarcasm. "Tell me...what is it that you want ME to do for YOU?" He mentally threw in the towel. "Nothing. Not a bloody thing." He stood up and reached for the tray. "Maybe...I could eat the toast," she said grudgingly, picking up a piece and biting into it. "It's not..too bad, I guess." Spike felt like he'd just navigated a mine field without having one blow up in his face. "Tell me if you want more." Buffy shrugged. "I might," she muttered ungraciously. He sat down on the end of the bed and smiled at her as he watched her eat. She looked up and caught him. "What? Why are you staring at me?" "I'm not staring at you," he said. "I'm smiling at you." "Why? What's so funny about me?" Her voice was petulant. "There's nothing funny, honey. I just enjoy looking at you." He brushed a lock of hair out of her eyes. "You're very pretty, ya know?" Buffy rolled her eyes. "Oh, yeah..I'm just gorgeous," she sneered. "I'm pale..I'm fat..my hair looks awful..." She recited an entire catalog of self perceived flaws. "...I have dark circles under my eyes..I can't get my feet into my shoes..and I have three broken finger- nails. I'm Miss America." Spike hesitated. This was dangerous territory. Years of experience had taught him to recognize a no-win situation when he saw one, and there was a big one coming straight at him. He couldn't disagree with her, because she'd accuse him of patronizing her. But, if he was sympathetic and told her that she wouldn't look this way forever..she'd throw something at him, and she had a hell of a pitch- ing arm. She stared at him, waiting for his reaction to her litany of self-abuse. He opened his mouth...and completely lost his nerve. "Listen, sweetheart," he said, reaching for the break- fast tray. "I told Dawn that I'd clean up the kitchen..since she made your breakfast and all." He stood up and edged towards the door. "Do you need anything, Slay...sweetie?" he asked, then watched helplessly as her eyes welled up with tears. "I'm fine," she said, her voice trembling. "Go ahead and go." Two diamond tear drops traced down her cheeks. Spike couldn't stand it. Though he could take nearly everything that Buffy threw at him, field every foul ball she pitched...he absolutely could not handle tears. "Sweetheart..?" he began, only to be brutally rebuffed. "I said GO! By all means..don't keep the dishes wait- ing! Don't you worry about me, cause I'm just FINE!" He had NEVER seen a mood swing so fast. "Why are you still here?" she demanded, her voice beginning to ride up the scale. "I don't WANT you here! Go and wash the goddamn DISHES!" "Buffy...calm down. This isn't good for you or the..." "I'M CALM" she screamed. "I'M TOTALLY FINE! SO GO AWAY AND LEAVE ME ALONE!!" Struggling for patience, Spike set the tray down and reached for her hand. Buffy flung her head up, eyeing him like a target in the crosshairs. "ARE YOU DEAF OR SOME- THING?" She slapped his hand away. "GO AWAY!" Enough was clearly enough. "Buffy! Stop that screaming!" He grabbed her hand, keeping it firmly in his. "Don't make me leave, honey," he said, kissing her fingers. "I want to be here with you." She stared at him, doubtfully. "You do? Really?" "Of course I do," he smiled. "Really!" "You.." She sniffled. "You don't want to go?" "No, I don't want to go." And, as simply as that, the sunshine appeared as Buffy gave him her prettiest smile. "Okay then...as long as you're sure." "I'm sure." She pulled on his hand, until he was on the bed beside her. "I'm sorry I was grumpy," she said, cuddling up like a kitten. "Don't worry about it, luv," he made himself say. "You're entitled." Her fingers played with his hair. "No, I'm not," she shook her head. "You brought me a nice breakfast and I acted like a big, fat witch." She lifted her face and kissed his cheek. "Forgive?" she asked sweetly. He smiled down at her. "Forgive," he confirmed. <ATleast the mood swings are over...> "Spike?" she whispered, nipping at his ear. "Let's make love." <....or not!> Her hand began to move down his body, and he grabbed them before they could get too far. "Buffy..." "Come on, baby," she begged, licking his jaw. "Do it to me...right now." "D-Dawn's downstairs," he stammered. "I'll be quiet." She began kissing a path down his neck. "Yeah.." he said weakly. "But..." Buffy tugged on his belt buckle. "Don't you want me?" "Of...of course I do. It's just...." "Just what?" she breathed in his ear, her hand brushing his crotch. Lifting his hips, he shoved his pants down and helped her straddle him. She lifted her nightgown and slowly lowered herself onto his erection. Placing his hands on her waist, he guided her movements. She rode him at a steady, lazy pace..until the pressure began to build. The escalation of her breathing and the tightness of her lower body was driving him crazy. Raising his hands, he pulled her gown open, then cupped the heavy curves of her breasts, squeezing them firmly and tugging on her enlarged nipples. Her head dropped back as she placed her own hands over his. "Oh, yes..." she moaned. "That's so good, baby...so good." He began to thrust up into her a little harder and faster, almost bouncing her on his hips. "You like that, pussycat?" he asked, moving one hand down to play with her clit. "What about that, baby? Feel good?" "Feels real good," she panted. "More...." He closed his eyes, grinding his head down into the pillow. "God, you're tight," he grunted. "So damn wet...so hot...fuck me, honey...come on...make it tighter...just...oh, yeah...like that, baby...." "I'm...I'm gonna come," she whimpered, squeezing her eyes shut tight. "You're making me come...now... yes...now!" "Do it, baby!" he ordered her harshly. "Come all over me..give me that cream...unh...yeah..." It was all she needed to send her over the edge and she took him right along with her, grinding herself down on his hard length, her hips jerking back and forth. Every bit of her strength left her, and she collapsed into his arms, allowing him to ease her onto her side to keep pressure off her swollen tummy. "Oh, gosh.." she panted in his ear. "That was...in- credible..." "Mm-hmm," he agreed, covering her face with kisses. "I love you." "Love you, too...thank you, baby." They stayed that way for a while, until Spike disentangled himself from her embrace and climbed out of bed. With his back to her, he adjusted his clothes and buckled his belt. Turning around to face her, he smiled. "Are you...." His voice trailed off at the expression on her face. "This is so gross," she snapped. "The bed's all wet..and it's cold, too," she added, giving him an angry scowl. "You don't expect me to sleep in this mess, do you?" If she'd had a stake handy...Spike was certain she would have used it.

The Seventh Month ~~~~~ Small, soft fingers were creeping up his back, stopping now and then to tickle him awake. "Spike? Are you awake?" He shook his head. "No." "You are too!" "No, I'm not. You're dreaming, darling." He burrowed deeper into his pillow, tempted to cover his head with it. "Honey...come on." There was a short pause. "I'm hungry." Spike sighed. He was beginning to regret ever start- ing this "breakfast in bed" business. It seemed like Buffy was waking up earlier and earlier every morning. He felt as though he'd only just gotten to sleep. He lifted his head and stared, bleary-eyed at the clock. It was later than he'd thought, almost 8:00. Rolling over in bed, he looked up at the beauty hovering anxiously over him...and melted into a puddle. "All right, luv...what would you like?" He moved one hand up her back and drew her down, wanting a quick taste of her before he left the warmth of their bed. In his opinion, she was getting more beautiful every day. Her hair was thick and shiny, and wonderfully soft, and her skin glowed with good health. Every time he looked at her, he thanked whatever lucky star he had been standing under when she'd come into his life. Her lips were warm and sweet, and he kissed them lingeringly. When he finally pulled away, she smiled and said, "That was yummy, but I'm still hungry, Daddy." He grinned. God, he loved the sound of that word. It was going to feel like forever before he heard it from his child, but it was awfully cute when Buffy used it. "Yes, I know," he said. "What do you want to eat?" She shrugged. "I don't care. I'm not feeling picky this morning." Rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, Spike dressed, kissed her once more, then went downstairs to the kitchen. Dawn was sitting at the table, eating a bowl of cereal. "Why aren't you in school?" he asked. "What are we sending you to University for, anyway?" "My morning psych lecture was cancelled. I don't need to be there until one o'clock." She rinsed out her bowl as she watched him assemble the ingredients for breakfast. "Want some help?" Spike nodded. "Yes." Fifteen minutes later, he nudged open the bedroom door with the tray he was carrying. "Breakfast," he announced cheerfully, "is...." Buffy whipped her head around and glared at him with murderous eyes. "...served?" he finished weakly. "What is it?" she asked, still glaring. "It smells funny." Spike set the tray down on the end of the bed, eyeing her warily. "Something wrong, Slayer?" "Don't call me that!" she snapped. "Quit defining me by my job title." She sat up and pointed an accusing finger at him. "I don't go around calling you "Vampire," do I?" "What?" He was genuinely surprised. The word "Slayer" had become a term of endearment between them, and Buffy had never complained about it before. She ignored him, staring at the breakfast tray. "I hate poached eggs," she announced. "Since when?" "Since right now! They look...icky." "All right," he said agreeably, "No icky poached eggs. How about...?" She cut him off. "That bacon is greasy." "No, it isn't, honey." He picked up a piece and offered it to her. "See. Nice and crispy." "Well, then YOU eat it!" Keeping the words, "She's pregnant, be gentle" tacked to the forefront of his mind, he smiled. "How about some toast, then? It's got your favorite cherry jam on it." Buffy looked at the bread as though it was covered in green mold instead of jam. "That's white bread," she complained. "You know I like wheat bread." Patience...patience... "The strawberries? You love strawberries." He felt himself on firmer ground with this one. She couldn't very well gripe about them being the wrong kind or overcooked, or icky. "They aren't ripe!" she stated. "No way are those things ripe enough to eat." She folded her arms across her chest. "I don't want them." Patience was beginning to fray along all it's seams. "All right," he sighed. "How about the tea?" Buffy took a tiny sip. "It's cold." This was becoming weirdly fascinating. "Just drink the orange juice, honey. It's good for you...full of vitamins." He was surprised when she picked up the glass and drained it. "There!" She smacked the glass back down on the tray. "Satisfied?" Spike tried to ignore her nasty tone. "Do you want something else? Does anything sound good?" "Nothing that YOU can bring me," she said. "Just take this...this mess back to the kitchen." "Buffy..you have to eat something." She nailed him with angry eyes. "If you don't get that tray away from me, I'm gonna barf all over you. Is THAT what you want?" "No, honey," he sighed. "That's not what I want. I just want you to..." "You want me to what?" she asked, her voice tinged with sarcasm. "Tell me...what is it that you want ME to do for YOU?" He mentally threw in the towel. "Nothing. Not a bloody thing." He stood up and reached for the tray. "Maybe...I could eat the toast," she said grudgingly, picking up a piece and biting into it. "It's not..too bad, I guess." Spike felt like he'd just navigated a mine field without having one blow up in his face. "Tell me if you want more." Buffy shrugged. "I might," she muttered ungraciously. He sat down on the end of the bed and smiled at her as he watched her eat. She looked up and caught him. "What? Why are you staring at me?" "I'm not staring at you," he said. "I'm smiling at you." "Why? What's so funny about me?" Her voice was petulant. "There's nothing funny, honey. I just enjoy looking at you." He brushed a lock of hair out of her eyes. "You're very pretty, ya know?" Buffy rolled her eyes. "Oh, yeah..I'm just gorgeous," she sneered. "I'm pale..I'm fat..my hair looks awful..." She recited an entire catalog of self perceived flaws. "...I have dark circles under my eyes..I can't get my feet into my shoes..and I have three broken finger- nails. I'm Miss America." Spike hesitated. This was dangerous territory. Years of experience had taught him to recognize a no-win situation when he saw one, and there was a big one coming straight at him. He couldn't disagree with her, because she'd accuse him of patronizing her. But, if he was sympathetic and told her that she wouldn't look this way forever..she'd throw something at him, and she had a hell of a pitch- ing arm. She stared at him, waiting for his reaction to her litany of self-abuse. He opened his mouth...and completely lost his nerve. "Listen, sweetheart," he said, reaching for the break- fast tray. "I told Dawn that I'd clean up the kitchen..since she made your breakfast and all." He stood up and edged towards the door. "Do you need anything, Slay...sweetie?" he asked, then watched helplessly as her eyes welled up with tears. "I'm fine," she said, her voice trembling. "Go ahead and go." Two diamond tear drops traced down her cheeks. Spike couldn't stand it. Though he could take nearly everything that Buffy threw at him, field every foul ball she pitched...he absolutely could not handle tears. "Sweetheart..?" he began, only to be brutally rebuffed. "I said GO! By all means..don't keep the dishes wait- ing! Don't you worry about me, cause I'm just FINE!" He had NEVER seen a mood swing so fast. "Why are you still here?" she demanded, her voice beginning to ride up the scale. "I don't WANT you here! Go and wash the goddamn DISHES!" "Buffy...calm down. This isn't good for you or the..." "I'M CALM" she screamed. "I'M TOTALLY FINE! SO GO AWAY AND LEAVE ME ALONE!!" Struggling for patience, Spike set the tray down and reached for her hand. Buffy flung her head up, eyeing him like a target in the crosshairs. "ARE YOU DEAF OR SOME- THING?" She slapped his hand away. "GO AWAY!" Enough was clearly enough. "Buffy! Stop that screaming!" He grabbed her hand, keeping it firmly in his. "Don't make me leave, honey," he said, kissing her fingers. "I want to be here with you." She stared at him, doubtfully. "You do? Really?" "Of course I do," he smiled. "Really!" "You.." She sniffled. "You don't want to go?" "No, I don't want to go." And, as simply as that, the sunshine appeared as Buffy gave him her prettiest smile. "Okay then...as long as you're sure." "I'm sure." She pulled on his hand, until he was on the bed beside her. "I'm sorry I was grumpy," she said, cuddling up like a kitten. "Don't worry about it, luv," he made himself say. "You're entitled." Her fingers played with his hair. "No, I'm not," she shook her head. "You brought me a nice breakfast and I acted like a big, fat witch." She lifted her face and kissed his cheek. "Forgive?" she asked sweetly. He smiled down at her. "Forgive," he confirmed. <ATleast the mood swings are over...> "Spike?" she whispered, nipping at his ear. "Let's make love." <....or not!> Her hand began to move down his body, and he grabbed them before they could get too far. "Buffy..." "Come on, baby," she begged, licking his jaw. "Do it to me...right now." "D-Dawn's downstairs," he stammered. "I'll be quiet." She began kissing a path down his neck. "Yeah.." he said weakly. "But..." Buffy tugged on his belt buckle. "Don't you want me?" "Of...of course I do. It's just...." "Just what?" she breathed in his ear, her hand brushing his crotch. Lifting his hips, he shoved his pants down and helped her straddle him. She lifted her nightgown and slowly lowered herself onto his erection. Placing his hands on her waist, he guided her movements. She rode him at a steady, lazy pace..until the pressure began to build. The escalation of her breathing and the tightness of her lower body was driving him crazy. Raising his hands, he pulled her gown open, then cupped the heavy curves of her breasts, squeezing them firmly and tugging on her enlarged nipples. Her head dropped back as she placed her own hands over his. "Oh, yes..." she moaned. "That's so good, baby...so good." He began to thrust up into her a little harder and faster, almost bouncing her on his hips. "You like that, pussycat?" he asked, moving one hand down to play with her clit. "What about that, baby? Feel good?" "Feels real good," she panted. "More...." He closed his eyes, grinding his head down into the pillow. "God, you're tight," he grunted. "So damn wet...so hot...fuck me, honey...come on...make it tighter...just...oh, yeah...like that, baby...." "I'm...I'm gonna come," she whimpered, squeezing her eyes shut tight. "You're making me come...now... yes...now!" "Do it, baby!" he ordered her harshly. "Come all over me..give me that cream...unh...yeah..." It was all she needed to send her over the edge and she took him right along with her, grinding herself down on his hard length, her hips jerking back and forth. Every bit of her strength left her, and she collapsed into his arms, allowing him to ease her onto her side to keep pressure off her swollen tummy. "Oh, gosh.." she panted in his ear. "That was...in- credible..." "Mm-hmm," he agreed, covering her face with kisses. "I love you." "Love you, too...thank you, baby." They stayed that way for a while, until Spike disentangled himself from her embrace and climbed out of bed. With his back to her, he adjusted his clothes and buckled his belt. Turning around to face her, he smiled. "Are you...." His voice trailed off at the expression on her face. "This is so gross," she snapped. "The bed's all wet..and it's cold, too," she added, giving him an angry scowl. "You don't expect me to sleep in this mess, do you?" If she'd had a stake handy...Spike was certain she would have used it.

The Eighth Month-part 2 ~~~~~ After he locked the front door, he went upstairs and found his bride sitting in front of her vanity, brushing her hair. She had changed out of her wedding dress and into a nightgown that he couldn't remember seeing before. Black satin and lace, it had thin ribbon straps and it's hem lightly touched the tops of her small feet. Spike closed the door, leaning back against it. Turning her head, Buffy smiled at him. "Everyone gone?" "Yes," he said. "It's just you and me tonight." He crossed the room and stood behind her. Taking the brush from her hand, he began to move it through her soft tresses. Buffy sighed with pure pleasure, and closed her eyes. "You know," he said, continuing the rhythmic strokes of the brush. "They say that all brides are beautiful..." With a smile, he returned the brush to her vanity table. "...but MY bride is definitely the fairest in the land." Taking her hand, he drew her to her feet and pulled her across the room to the oak armoire. He opened the cabinet door that hid the television and stereo system, then pushed the "ON" button of the CD player. Soft, slow music began to play as he led her back to the center of the room. After kissing both her hands, he placed her arms around his neck, and wrapped his loosely around her waist. Bending his head, he buried his face against the warm flesh of her throat. Swaying gently to the rhythm of the music, they danced without saying a word. Whispering soft words of love into his bride's ear, Spike lifted her into his arms and carried her to their bed, sitting down with her in his lap. "The most beautiful bride in the world," he said, looking into the endless green depths of her eyes. "My wife," he added, kissing her possessively. "Mine!" "Yes, baby," she replied, laying one small hand on his cheek. "All yours...forever." She started to kiss him, then pulled back. "Hey! I just thought of something!" "Well, can't it wait?" he asked, trying to get back to her mouth. She held him off. "No, I really want to ask you some- thing." Sighing, he gave in. "Ask me what, baby?" "What Mrs. am I?" "What?" He looked at her, confused for a moment, then said, "Oh, I know what you mean. Um..well, technically you're Mrs. Hamilton." Buffy grinned. "No kidding? You're William Hamilton?" "That's right..William Thomas Hamilton." She tried it out. "William Hamilton...Mrs. William Hamilton." He smiled and pinched her cheek. "That would be YOU, love." "Any numbers?" she asked. "Numbers?" "You know...the second, the third, the fourteenth? Numbers?" "Sorry, sweetheart." He shook his head. "No numbers." "How come?" she asked, tilting her head. "I thought you British types were big on the number thing." "Not really..unless there's a crown involved." She giggled. "I guess we can start the numbers...if this baby's a boy." "Sorry again, love...but this baby is a girl." He stroked the firm curve of her belly. "How do YOU know?" "Because that's what I ordered," he explained. "A baby girl...very tiny and delicate..with golden curls and big green eyes, and a voice that'll tame the fiercest dragon in the forest and make it lay it's head in her lap..and there it will stay, happily, for the rest of it's life, doing anything she asks of it." Buffy smiled tenderly, stroking the back of his neck. "This little girl sounds like she's gonna have a lot of power." Spike nodded, playing with her hair. "She already does. And...she'll be so beautiful that all the wild things and most dangerous beasts will fall at her feet...and beg her to smile." Cupping her cheek, he turned her head to look into her eyes again. "Just like her father did with her mother." She leaned forward and kissed him, then pressed her cheek against his. "You know what I wonder?" "What's that, love?" "I wonder where the hell you were hiding this part of you back when you were trying to kill me." He chuckled. "Baby, I wasn't hiding anything. This part of me didn't exist until I fell in love with you." Buffy shook her head. "Sure, it did. You just lost track of it for a while." He turned her in his arms and lowered her down into the pillows. "And then you found it." "Yep, I did." She slipped her hands around the back of his neck, lacing her fingers together. "I had to dig for it, but I found it." Her voice suddenly became serious. "You know, we're so lucky. Think about how many times we almost killed each other...how close we came. God...just the littlest thing could have changed everything. We wouldn't be here and I wouldn't be...." "Mrs. Hamilton?" His using her married name caught her attention. "That's me," she said with a childlike giggle. "You need to stop talking now, because there's something I want to do. Actually, it's something I've never done before, and..." "And what would THAT be?" she inquired. Spike kissed a path from her cheek to her ear. "Make love to my wife," he said. "It's time to consumate this marriage." "Oh! Well...don't let ME stop you." "Sweetheart," he murmured against her lips. "An act of God couldn't stop me." His mouth moved down her boy, lingering on the tender skin between her breasts. Slipping his fingers under the satin strap of her gown, he rubbed his thumb against the soft material. "This is very pretty," he said. "Take it off." "Wait a second," Buffy tried to push his wandering hands away. "I spent a lot of time shopping for the perfect nightgown." "And you succeeded. It's perfect...but it's also in my way." He doubled his efforts to wrestle the garment off her. She straightened her arms, holding him away from her with difficulty. "So, I only get to wear it for five minutes?" "Sorry about that," he replied, sounding anything BUT sorry. "Sudden uncontrollable lust is taking over. Don't fight it." "Yeah, but you're gonna tear it!" "I don't care!" He took one of her arms and pinned it to the bed by the wrist. "I'll buy you another one." Buffy was struggling not to smile. "This was the only one in my size," she informed him. "Extra short and kind of chubby around the middle." "Oh, baby," he moaned playfully. "You're turning me on." He glanced skyward, his eyes half closed in bliss. "That's the girl of my dreams." "Yeah, well....you're weird!" "I am indeed," he nodded, winking at her. "And you love it, don't you, baby?" Not giving her a chance to reply, he captured her mouth beneath his. Parting her lips with his tongue, he pushed it deeply into her mouth, finding hers and then testing the edges of her small teeth. Moaning softly, Buffy chased his tongue back into his mouth, following eagerly with hers. Tearing her mouth away, she panted for air as Spike licked and kissed his way to ear. "I love kissing you," he said. "You kiss like a dream. The way you taste me and suck on my tongue...I feel it all the way down in my dick." His lips moved down her cheek to her jaw, then skimmed over her throat to the beginning swell of her ample breasts. Impatiently, he yanked down the neckline of her gown until he'd completely ex- posed the heavy mounds. Cupping the sides of them, he pushed them together and began licking her nipples. With a cry of pleasure, Buffy arched her back, en- couraging him to be a little rougher in his attentions. He suddenly pulled away, making her whine and whimper irritably. "That feel good?" he teased. "Feels so good," she moaned. "Want some more?" "Yeah...God, baby...please don't stop." Burying his face between her breasts, he rolled them over on the bed until she was hovering over him. Bracing herself on her hands and knees, she lowered herself, then began moving her shoulders slightly, rubbing her breasts all over his face. Whenever she brought them near his mouth, his tongue darted out and flicked rapidly back and forth over her taut nipples. Taking one breast in each hand, he fondled and squeezed them. Starting at the base, his hands moved up, gripping her firmly and playing with her nipples. He lingered at this task until he felt his not-so- blushing bride pushing on his shoulders impatiently. With a soft laugh, he pulled back. "Want me to go down on you, love? Eat your little pussy until you scream?" "Yes, please," she said, directing him south. He paused at the curve of her belly, lavishing every inch of it with kisses, and smiling when he felt the baby stirring beneath his touch. "I'm sorry, sweetheart," he said. "Daddy woke you up, didn't he? Well, I'll try to be more careful, so you go back to sleep, little girl." Buffy smiled. "Why bother? You're just gonna wake her up again in a few minutes." Spike shook his head. "No, I won't. I'll be very gentle, little one. You won't even know I'm there." "Oh, great," Buffy muttered. "Relax, love...YOU'LL definitely know I'm there." Moving further down, he eased her thighs apart and began to apply his tongue to the wet cleft of her sex, sliding it up and down. Buffy yelped, "Oh!...You're there, all right!" In less than two minutes, he reduced her to a panting little bundle of sexual need. His talented tongue covered every inch of her, kissing and licking, then probing deeply and fucking her with it. Without pausing in his attentions, he glanced up, watch- ing her face as he worked over her. Her swollen tummy obscured his view, and he stopped licking her. Anticipating a loud protest, he inserted one finger inside her, using his thumb to stimulate her clit, then raised his head. "Lift up a little, baby," he instructed her. "Put a couple of pillows behind you." "W-why?" Buffy gasped. Spike grinned at her. "Because I like to watch your face when I do this." She returned his smile. "And I like watching you do it." He waited until she found a comfortable position. Meeting her eyes, he lowered his head and licked her from bottom to top, then began to suck on her clit. Seconds later, he sensed her impending orgasm and released her from his mouth. "Do you want me to make you come this way?" he asked. Buffy was almost incapable of speech. "No.." she managed to choke out. "I want to come when you do...when you're inside me..." Her words kicked his own lust even higher. He crawled up her body on his hands and knees. "Inside of you?" "Uh-huh." "Which part of me do you want inside of you...making you come?" "You know which part." Her hands slid up and down his arms, her fingers digging into the muscle of his biceps. "Say it," he whispered in her ear. "Spiikkkee," she whined. "Please...." "Say it!" he demanded again, turning her onto her side and positioning himself behind her. "Say it...or I won't..." He pressed his erection against her soft bottom, then pulled away. She reached behind her, placing her hand over the large swelling between his legs. "This!" She squeezed firmly. "Your cock...your dick...your shaft...your gigantic manhood...your reason for living!" Turning her head, she glared at him. "Now stop teasing me or I'll throw you on your back and damn well help myself!" Spike had to laugh, rubbing his face against her soft hair. "Baby...this isn't my reason for living," he said, pressing himself against her again. He then sent one hand down to cup her wet pussy. "This is!" Lifting one of her legs slightly, he pushed himself into the tight warmth where he loved to spend all his time. "Time to play..."Here Comes The Bride" he said, beginning to slide in and out of her. Buffy braced herself with one hand and pushed back to meet his thrusts, biting her lower lip. "Don't do that," he ordered her, sucking on her earlobe, laving it with his tongue. "I'm the only one who gets to bite any part of you." "Spike..." she panted. "I...I love you." He leaned forward to meet her lips with his. "I love you, too, Buffy...I love you...love you...." He increased the pace of his thrusts, pumping deep and hard, reaching around front of her to play with her clit. "Gonna make you come, baby....make you come hard...make you see stars...make you scream." Her loud panting and moaning was driving him crazy. Buffy was never one to be silent during sex, and he absolutely loved that about her. She had no shyness about telling him exactly what she wanted from him in the most graphic terms. She threw her head back, straining all her muscles. "It feels so good...so good...fuck me harder, Spike...fuck me good." "Mmmm...." he moaned. "Gonna give me some cream, kitten? I want to feel it all over my cock...so wet and sticky...give it to me...come for me, baby...do it...do it now!" Wih a soft cry and a final tensing of her internal muscles, she did as he asked, coming so hard that she brought on his own orgasm before he knew what was happening. "Oh, FUCK!" he shouted. "UNH...YEAH..YEAH...AHH..." He actually felt dizzy as he emptied his load into his wife's willing body, slowing down a little at a time, until he was buried all the way in her, pressing hard against his rear, his hand cupped over her soaking wet pussy. After a minute of recuperation, she looked back at him and smiled. "Now that's what I call...a successful con- sumation." He had to agree. ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// A loud blast of music from the juke box startled him out of his thoughts. He glanced at his watch and realized that, as pleasant as his little trip down memory lane had been, if he didn't get home soon his bride would be waiting with something far sharper than her tongue. Finishing his drink, he dropped some money on the bar and headed for the exit. ********** "Where have you been? I was getting worried!" Buffy was standing on the front porch, waiting for him. "Sorry, baby." He dropped a light kiss on her cheek. "Store was really crowded," he added, mentally crossing his fingers. In the kitchen, he deposited two full grocery bags on the table. Taking off his jacket, he tossed it over the back of a chair. "Here you go, babe," he said when Buffy came in to the kitchen. "Knock yourself out." She rewarded him with her prettiest smile, the one that would make him do anything she asked, and began unpacking the bags. Behaving as though he'd brought her a treasure chest overflowing with jewels and gold coins, Buffy pulled out one item after another. There were a dozen candy bars of different varieties; a bottle of chocolate syrup; two dozen chocolate cookies with chocolate chips in them; chocolate covered straw- berries; three cans of chocolate fudge frosting...a par- ticular favorite since their baby had been conceived after they'd spent hours licking it off each other; a carton of slightly melted chocolate ice cream; and a gallon of chocolate milk. As she emptied the bags of their treasures, she heaped words of love and praise on him. "You're my hero, baby, you really are. The way you treat me...all the sweet things you do for me." Pausing in her task, she smiled at him and said. "You're the best husband I've ever had." "Gee, thanks," he replied. Leaning back against the counter, he had to smile. She could be such a little girl at times, and was also so adorably unaware of it. Sometimes, she was a wide-eyed child, capable of charming the devil himself. But, at other times, she was all woman. A sensual creature with a wild heart, who could seduce God's most virtuous angels from their hope of heaven. Buffy continued unpacking her treats. "You are the sweetest, most considerate...wait a minute." She looked at him. "Where's the chocolate licorice?" Spike hit his forehead dramatically. "The chocolate licorice! I knew I forgot something." "I take back everything I said," she pouted. "Well, I'm sorry, punkin. I meant to get it, but I got sidetracked by something and just...forgot." "Sidetracked by what?" she demanded. "The butcher shop?" "Careful, baby," he scolded. "Be nice to me, or I won't show you what I found." "Spike!" He shook his head. "You'll be sorry." Reaching for his jacket, he dug into it's deep inner pocket and extracted a can with a brown snap on lid. Smiling wickedly, he turned the can slowly, displaying the label. Buffy's eyes opened wide. "That's..that's..oh, my GOD!" she squealed, reaching for the can. He laughed and held it high over her head. "Hey!" She punched him in the gut, with no effect. "Give it over!" He saw her prepare to jump and reach for the can. Afraid she might jar something loose, he relinquished it. Buffy stared at the can in sheer delight. "Who is the genius that invented chocolate whipped cream?" she asked. "I want to write him a fan letter."

The Ninth Month ~~~~~ The evening sun had finally set, and Spike was stretched out on the sofa with a cold glass of beer and a novel he'd been looking forward to reading. Ever since Buffy's pregnancy, he had rediscovered his love of the printed word, something he had lost right about the same time he lost his mortality. But after reading up on every baby advice manual he could lay his hands on, he had found himself missing the pleasure of just sitting quietly with an interesting book and losing yourself in the words. So, he had tagged along with his wife to the Sunnydale Public Library one night, and walked out with a card of his own, and a stack of books he'd heard about over the years, but never bothered with. Taking a sip of beer, he set the glass down on the coffee table and propped his feet up, then opened the book. He hadn't gotten halfway through the third page when Buffy's voice interrupted him. "Honey, please! I just polished that table a little while ago." He looked over the top of his book, and saw his wife standing over him. She looked absolutely adorable in a pair of denim overalls that almost completely disguised her "nearly ready to pop" tummy, and she had her hair in two long braids. In her hand, she held a bucket stuffed full of cleaning solutions and sponges, paper towels and dust cloths. "Oh...I'm sorry, love." He removed his feet and placed them on the floor, then glanced up for her approval...but didn't see any. "Something else?" he asked. "The glass. Please..use a coaster," she asked sweetly, whipping one out of her pocket and handing it to him. "Sure, love...anything you...." His voice disappeared when he picked up the glass and saw the very large ring of moisture on the table. "Oh, I'm really sorry...I just...I didn't know...I wasn't thinking..." She shook her head like a country school marm, then extracted a clean cloth and re-polished the coffee table. He made sure the coaster was under the glass, which earned him a "thank you, sweetie" and a brief kiss brushed across his forehead, before she went on her way. Keeping his feet on the floor, he sat back again and re-opened his book. A page and a half later, he was startled out of his seat at the sudden roar of the Hoover a few feet away from him. "Lift your feet!" Buffy shouted over the clamor of the engine. He levitated them a few feet in the air as she pushed the vaccum back and forth many more times than she actually needed to. "Sweetheart.." he yelled. "The carpet isn't exactly covered in filth! I think that's enough! " "What?!" she yelled back. "Can you turn that off, darling?!" She nodded. "I'm almost done in here!" He waited, as patiently as he could, until she toddled out of the room, heading down the hallway. The hum of the motor faded a little, and he went back to his book. The story was just beginning to really peak his interest when he heard a loud thump from the stairs, and looked up in time to see Buffy hauling the heavy vaccum cleaner from one step up to the next, intending to lift the thing all the way up the staircase. "Stop that!" he yelped, tossing the book aside and leaping to his feet. "What? I'm fine!" she insisted, one hand on the machine and the other on her hip. "Buffy, please call me when you want something heavy lifted," he begged for what felt like the hundredth time. "I know you're the slayer and all...but you're pregnant, love. I don't want anything to happen to you or the little one." There was really only one argument that worked with her when it came to this issue, and he wasn't above using it. "Baby, please...you know I like doing these things for you. Please let me." Those words, along with the most earnest and pleading look he could summon up, usually got him his way. He hauled the Hoover upstairs and waited for her to join him. "Will you let me do this for you?" "No, honey...go read your book. I can push the vaccum, it's not hard to push. And I'll be careful," she promised. "Are you sure?" he asked. "I'm positive...go. Read. Relax," she pushed him out the door. When he was back on the sofa, he picked up his book and waited for a moment, listening to the even back and forth motions of the vaccum. It was a soothing sort of sound, something called "white noise" if he remembered his earlier baby info correctly. The peaceful back and forth swish was suddenly accompanied by a distinct thud that could only mean one thing...she was lifting furniture. "Damn it!" he shouted, flinging the book down with a splat! He took the stairs three at a time, and found Buffy on her hands and knees in the nursery, dragging the heavy rocking chair back into place. The crib was completely pulled away from the wall, and the solid oak changing table was slightly out of place. "Buffy!" She jumped, whirling around with a guilty flush on her face. "There was so much dust down there...you wouldn't believe it," she began, but he cut her off by grabbing her hand and tugging her out of the room. "That's it!" he said loudly. "No more cleaning..no more nesting..consider yourself nested until this baby is born." He dragged her downstairs and forced her to sit on the sofa next to him. Picking up the book, he turned it back to page one and began to read out loud. It wasn't long before she was curled up next to him like a kitten, listening intently as he read. Her attention spurred him on to make the story more enjoyable for her, and he employed his entire vocal range to entertain her. After taking a break for her to go to the bathroom, he brought her a glass of orange juice and a bag of chocolate chip cookies. She sat peacefully beside him, only stopping him once to tell him that being "nested" was a lot more fun than working to get there. Five chapters into the book, he closed it up for the night, resisting her pleas for him to continue. "No. Time for you to have a bath and get some sleep." He was firm on the subject, and he knew by how easily she let herself be persuaded, that she must be tired out. She undressed in the bedroom as he ran a tub of luke warm water for her. He helped her step in to the tub and sit down, then he lathered up a soft sponge with bath gel and ran it over the wet silk of her skin, working up a creamy, fragrant lather. He stripped and climbed into the tub behind her, making her lean back against him as he plied the soapy sponge over and over the hard drum of her pregnant belly. The baby moved beneath his touch, seeming to want to play with her daddy already as she kicked and rolled, making her mommy gasp and request that she settle herself down. "See, she's not gonna do that, love," he informed Buffy with a cocky grin. "That's my little girl in there, and she knows her own mind." Buffy smiled, cupping his cheek in her wet hand. "I think you're right," she said. "She sure isn't listening to me. In fact," she oomphed after a hearty kick in the ribs, "I was hoping maybe you could have...a talk with..her." Obligingly, he placed both his hands on her tummy and stroked it gently. "All right now, little girl," he murmured softly. "Mummy wants a little rest now. Be my Princess and settle down for Daddy, hmm? You'll be here with us soon, baby, and I promise you we'll have wonderful adventures together, the three of us. That's my good girl...you sleep now, and Daddy and Mummy will make everything ready for you." Miraculously, the baby stopped her incessant flip- flopping about and settled into one position, with just an occasional little tap of one tiny foot to let her parents know she was still around. "You're amazing," Buffy sighed. "The things you can do with your voice..." He chuckled. "Just don't ask me to sing."

Labor Pains? What Labor Pains? ~~~~~ "I think I'm in labor." Buffy stood at the kitchen sink, one hand on her belly and an uncertain expression on her face. Dawn and Willow turned and looked at her, then at each other, then back at her. "What?" Buffy asked them. "Uh...you don't really look like you're in labor," Wil- low explained tentatively. "Yeah," Dawn agreed. "Aren't women in labor all sweaty and screamy and...stuff?" "Not at the beginning," Buffy said, rolling her eyes. Willow gave her a sympathetic smile. "Why do you think you're in labor?" she asked. "Well..it's only two days till my due date, and I feel kind of...funny." Now, Willow looked concerned, "Funny strange...or funny ha-ha?" "I don't know," Buffy sighed. Dawn spoke up. "Are you in pain? Labor means pain, right?" Buffy sat down at the table and opened the cookie jar. "Not really pain," she said, grabbing a handful of Oreos and pulling them open to lick the cream out. "I mean...not serious pain, anyhow." "Buffy" Willow said seriously. "Are you in ANY pain at all?" The slayer shrugged. "Every now and then I get a little cramp. Kind of like I get near the end of my period." "And that's all?" "Pretty much, yeah." "What should we do?" Dawn asked nervously. "Should we call the doctor?" Willow thought for a moment. "Maybe we should," she finally said. "Buffy..you have a pretty high tolerance for pain. Maybe you're in serious labor and just not feeling it." "Neat!" Buffy grinned, crumbling up chocolate cookie bits in a glass of milk. "Wow..if this is serious labor then childbirth will be a walk in the park. Not MY walks in parks," she amended, "because mine are scary and dangerous...but other people's walks in...in other people's parks." "Okay...so what do we do first?" Dawn asked again, her voice high pitched. Willow turned and looked right at her. "We don't panic!" Buffy nodded. "Thash my moddo" she said, speaking through a mouthful of soggy cookies bits. Spike walked into the kitchen, stopping short when three pairs of eyes fixed on him. "What did I do?" "Hi, honey!" Buffy said brightly. "I'm in labor!" He just stared at her for a moment as she sat there with milk clinging to her upper lip, then chuckled as though she had told him a mildly funny joke. "You are not," he said, shaking his head. Buffy's eyebrows arched. "I reeeallly think I am" she sing-songed. "No," he said firmly. "You're not." Exasperated, Buffy glared at him. "How the hell do YOU know? Are YOU in here with me?" "Buffy, you're not in...." "You're pissing me off, Spike! I don't..." She struggled to stand up. "Get me out of this chair!" He took her hands and pulled her up. When she was back on her feet, she placed her hands on her hips and confronted her husband. "I don't think you're the best judge of my condition!" Willow spoke up, hoping to calm the fracas before it really got rolling. "We were just thinking that Buffy might be in labor, and just not feel it all that much..her being the slayer and all. She can take a lot of pain before she says ouch." Spike just shook his head. "She's not in labor," he said doggedly. "You can say it until the cows come home," Buffy snapped. "And it still don't make it true!" "Look, sweetheart," he began reasonably, "..you can't be in labor." "Why the hell not?" she asked shrilly. "For crying out loud, Spike...you always knew this day would come!" "Buffy..." "And WHY are you so damn positive that I'm not in labor?" she demanded. "Did you graduate from medical school when I wasn't looking?" "Because," he blurted out, "I'm not ready for it!" Buffy didn't know whether to laugh or scream. Not ready for it? Like THAT was the deciding factor! "Well, WHY didn't you say so?" she asked sarcas- tically. "I'm sure if you ask her that the baby won't mind staying where she is until you're ready for it!" "Buffy..." "Maybe you can give me a rough of when you THINK you'll be good to go. Nothing definite, just ball park, what do you think? Two weeks? Three? Couple of years?" "Funny, Slayer...real funny." Spike looked at Will- ow. "She been like this all day?" "Like what?" Willow asked innocently. Spike didn't reply, just looked back at his wife. "You really think you're in labor?" he asked. Buffy folded her arms across her chest. "Well...YOU tell ME!" Grabbing her hand, he pulled her towards the back door. "You," he said, pointing at Dawn. "Run upstairs and get your sister's bag. It's right inside our bedroom door. And you," he turned to Willow. "You call her doctor...number's by the phone." "Gee, he must be ready," Buffy muttered. "And YOU!" Spike added. "Shut up and get your ass in the car." She stared up at him, fully prepared to give him the rough side of her tongue, then stopped when she saw the look on his face. Waiting until Dawn and Willow were gone, she slipped one hand behind his neck. "Don't be scared," she said softly. "Everything will be fine...and you ARE ready for it." He just looked at her, his eyes filled with doubt and worry. "You think?" She smiled. "I KNOW," she whispered, pulling him down until his lips touched hers. After a long kiss, she cupped his face in her hands and said the one thing she knew would calm him down and fire him up at the same time. "Spike...I need you to take care of me. I'm count- ing on you, baby." take care of her....> He smiled and kissed her forehead. "You're good...you know that, don't you?" "I know YOU, baby." "All right," he said firmly. "Let's..." He stopped when she made a face. "What?" She shrugged. "Labor pain." Spike was surprised. "That's IT?" "I guess so," she said with a cheery smile. "Well, that doesn't seem so bad." "Yeah, that's what I thought. Fringe benefit of being a slayer, I guess. Painless childbirth. Lucky me, huh?" ********** SIX HOURS LATER.... "GET...AWAY...FROM...ME!" "I need to examine you and see how far you're dilated," the nurse said briskly. Buffy lay flat on the hospital bed, panting and sweating, and madder than hellfire. "NO!" She whipped her head around and glared at Spike. "Kill her!" she demanded. "It's the least you can do for me, you rotten son of a..." Spike looked up and met the nurses eyes. "She's kidding." He leaned over the bed. "Sweetheart...the nurse is here to help you. I know you're in pain, but I can't kill her," he whispered." Buffy looked at him murderously. "This is YOUR fault," she panted. "You...and your stupid birth- day...I HATE you....I wish you were DEAD!" Turning on the nurse, she grabbed the front of her uniform. "Bring me...a sharp piece of wood! Any...kind!" "Buffy!" Spike said loudly. "Let go of the nurse!" He pried her fingers loose and kept her hands locked in his, preventing her from sinking her teeth into his knuckles. Dr. Beaumont walked into the room, scanning Buffy's chart. "How are things going in..." He stopped short when he saw the looks he was being given by the other three people in the room. "Not well, I take it?" he asked needlessly. "No!" Spike answered. "You take it damn well right! She's in too much pain. Can't you bloody well give her some- thing for it?" "Please..." Buffy whined. "I can do that," the doctor assured them. "How far is she dilated?" he asked the nurse. "She won't let me examine her and find out!" Dr. Beaumont smiled. "I'll do it." he washed his hands at the sink, then pulled a pair of rubber gloves from the wall dispenser. "Page Dr. Hulse," he instructed the nurse. "Tell him to get ready for an epidural." When the door swung closed behind the R.N., the doctor pulled the curtain closed around Buffy's bed. "Buffy.." he began. She glared at him suspiciously. "What?" "I promise to be very gentle and not hurt you, but I have to see how far you're dilated. Then, we'll get you something for the pain. All right?" Buffy nodded. "Thank you." In the lull between pains, she tried to be pleasant. "You see..this wasn't supposed to hurt." Dr. Beaumont looked at her, puzzled. "Why did you think that having a baby wouldn't hurt? Didn't you attend the classes and...." "Yes!" she interjected. "But I'm different from the others!" "Oh? How's that?" "I'm a ...." Spike clapped his hand over her mouth. "Big, brave girl!" he finished for her. "Be quiet now and let the doc examine you, honey. I'll be right back." She grabbed his shirt sleeve. "Where do you think YOU'RE going?" "I'm just...just going to tell everyone how you're doing," he explained. "But I'm doing lousy," she said fretfully. "No, you're not, love." He loosened her hand and kissed her fingers. "Hurry up!" she called as he made it out the door. "Oh, yeah...I will," Spike answered. As the door closed behind him, he paused to collect himself, then headed for the waiting area. Dawn saw him first and jumped to her feet. "Is it over?" Spike shook his head. "I wish." He sat down on the couch next to Willow. "The doc is giving her something so it doesn't hurt so much." Willow smiled and patted his shoulder. "The pain kicked in, huh?" He nodded. "In a big way." "Is she being mean?" "In a BIG way." Xander appeared in the doorway, three cans of soda in his hands. "So," he said, handing a can to Dawn and Willow. "How's the little mommy doing?" "She's terrorizing the nurses," Spike replied. "They're all afraid to go near her." "As well they should be," Xander said, plopping down in an armchair and opening a can of cola. "The only thing more dangerous than a cranky slayer...is a cranky slayer in labor." "Yeah, well...." Spike stood up. "I have to go back," he said bleakly. Xander raised his can. "Courage, man." Willow smiled cheerily. "Tell her that we're here!" "And that we love her!" Dawn added. "I will." Spike looked back at them from the doorway. "Good- bye," he said, sounding like a condemned man standing on the top step of the gallows. Outside of Buffy's room, he waited, listening for her cantankerous tones. After almost a minute of silence, he pushed the door open. "Buffy?" "Hi, honey" she said sweetly, holding out one hand. "Come here." Encouraged by her smile, he leaned over the bed. "How you feeling, baby?" he asked, brushing back her damp hair. "Better," she sighed deeply. "Soooo much better." Spike smiled. "On drugs, huh?" "Mm-hmm," she nodded. "Good ones, too." Doctor Beaumont came in to the room. "How's the pain?" he asked. "Bearable" Buffy said. The doctor chuckled. "Hooray for modern medicine." He glanced at her chart. "Good news...you're fully dilated." "What's that mean?" Spike asked. The doctor closed the chart with a snap. "Time to push. AFTER we get you into the delivery room." "Okay," Buffy said, her face determined. "I'm ready." After summoning the nurse on the intercom, Doctor Beaumont turned back to them. "All right. Let's go deliver this baby."

Chapter Notes: A/N: I'm sorry that I won't have "delivery room" scenes in this story. I personally had a c-section, so I have no experience to draw on to describe what I have been told is the "sheer gut wrenching agony" of childbirth.

Fic Notes: I wrote this a while ago, but the recent baby fics being posted made me want to toss my hat in, as it were. This is the "prequel" to 'Daddy's Girl', which is not finished yet.

A Whole New World..... Dawn nudged the door of Buffy's hospital room open and peeked inside, grinnng at the sight before her eyes. Buffy was curled up on her side in the bed, sound asleep. Spike was sitting in the chair next to the bed, feet propped up on the bed rail, head back, eyes closed. They both looked utterly exhausted. But, it was the other occupant of the room that Dawn most wanted to see. The brand new one. On top of a small cart next to the bed, a baby wrapped snugly in a pink cotton blanket was sleeping in a glass bassinet. Dawn was so enraptured at the sight of the baby, she didn't notice that Spike wasn't asleep until he spoke. "Go ahead," he said quietly. "Get a closer look." She approached the sleeping infant as quietly as she could. "Oh, God," she whispered. "She's so beautiful." Spike stood up and stretched, then joined her beside the bassinet. "She's more than beautiful," he said. "She's perfect." Dawn slipped one arm around him and squeezed. "Proud daddy." He hugged her back. "You know I am," he agreed. "Watch this." He reached into the bassinet and stroked the baby's tiny hand with one finger. Her little fist uncurled and she instinctively wrapped her own fingers around her father's. "That's my girl," he whispered. "And my niece," Dawn added. "Can I...?" Spike smiled. "Hold her? Sure, you can." She lifted the baby carefully, cuddling her against her breast. "Hi Dawnie," a tired voice whispered. Dawn turned and saw Buffy, awake and smiling. "Hey, big sister...look what I found." Buffy held out her hands to Spike. "Help." She grimaced slightly as he helped her straighten up in the bed. "So," she said, pushing the button that raised the back of the mattress. "What do you think of your niece?" "Gee, not much," Dawn said, grinning widely. "Only that she's the most beautiful baby ever!" "She looks like her mother," Spike said, leaning down and kissing Buffy's forehead. "God, I love you," he whispered in her ear. "She's so tiny," Dawn marveled. "Everything but her lungs." Buffy smiled up into Spike's eyes. "Those she gets from her father." "Very funny," he said, smiling back at her. Dawn sat down in the bed side chair. "And how are YOU feeling?" "Like I just went ten rounds with a kangaroo on speed..and lost," Buffy replied. "So, it WAS painful?" Buffy thought for a moment. "Put it this way...it wasn't a walk in the park. It was more like a 10k run through the highways of hell...uphill." Dawn laughed. "But she was worth it." "Yes, she was," Buffy nodded. "Worth that and ten times more besides." The door opened and they all turned to look as one of the nurses came in carrying an enormous flower arrangement. "These just came," she informed them, setting the vase down on the night stand. After the nurse left, Spike extracted a small white card from the arrangment and handed it to Buffy. "They're from Giles" she announced, after reading the card. It was a short, simple message. " I've never been more proud " She showed Spike the card. "My thoughts exactly," he murmured. A few minutes later, Dawn rose reluctantly to her feet. "It's getting late," she said, giving the baby to her father. She leaned over and kissed Buffy. "You get some rest. I'll see you tomorrow." "I'll be here," Buffy promised. Passing Spike on her way out the door, Dawn gave him a pat on the back. "Nice work...Daddy." *********** "She's right you know." "Right about what, love?" "You do nice work." "Well...I had some help." Buffy watched as Spike sat down in the chair, holding the baby close, patting her tiny back. She felt a sudden rush of pure love move through her. Love for her child and for her hus- band. So much love, that she couldn't even imagine ever hating him...wanting to drive a stake into him. It was a horrible and sobering thought, one that she didn't want to examine closely. She was always amazed at how quickly life could change, how little it took to make it a completely different life from the one you'd been leading. The tiniest, most insignificant circumstance could alter the course of existence as much as a major occurance could. In a very short period of time, she had gone from a slayer with no family but a "sort of" younger sister, to a wife and a mother. Somehow, in spite of the wrenching twists and turns her early years had put her through, she had come out on the other side with a new world filled with love and hope and endless possibilities. Everything was different now. She had a husband to love and a child to raise...and she was double damned if she would let anything interfere with that destiny. "What are you thinking about so seriously?" Spike's voice brought her out of her thoughts. "Just that...it's so funny to think that I'm a mother now." He laughed. "Oh, I can relate," he said. "Imagine my difficulty believing I'm a dad." Buffy shook her head. "Things have changed so much now. There's so much more to consider." He nodded. "That's true. It's a whole new world for us now. Isn't it?" he asked the sleeping baby. Buffy was silent for a long moment, then spoke with complete decisiveness. "I'm through being a slayer." Spike looked at her. "Say what?" She met his gaze head on. "I'm through with it. I'm through with risking my life every night. I mean...it was bad enough before, but now...Spike...I can't take a chance on getting killed...on leaving this baby....leaving you." Although he kept his face composed, inside he was shouting with joy. He'd been planning to bring this up at some point, but had never summoned the nerve during Buffy's pregnancy. "I'm gonna talk to Giles in the morning," she said firmly. "He's gonna have to bring Faith back from New York, if he wants a slayer in Sunnydale." "You think she'll do it?" Buffy nodded. "I think so. I talked to her a few weeks ago and she sounded a little lonesome. You know Faith...she never says it, but I can tell. And she wanted to come and see the baby, anyway." "When she gets here, we'll shanghai her, not let her leave, then." Spike said. "How does that sound, poppet?" He waited, then looked at Buffy. "She's not talking, but she loves the idea." "And what does Daddy think?" Buffy asked. "Daddy...thinks it's the best idea he's heard in a very long time. And he also thinks that it's time he went home and let Mommy rest." He stood up and kissed the baby's cheek. "Good- night Katherine Rose," he said. "Be a good girl and I'll see you tomorrow." He started to place her in the bassinet, but Buffy stopped him. "Don't put her back to bed," she protested. "Bring her here." Spike placed the baby in her mother's arms, then picked up his jacket from the chair and slipped it on. "You get some sleep, love," he said, bending over to kiss her and caress the baby's cheek one more time. "We will," Buffy promised, leaning back against the pillows. "See you tomorrow, baby." "Hey!" Buffy called when he had one hand on the door. "I love you." Spike turned and looked at her. Unable to resist, he returned to her bedside. "I love you, too," he said, kissing her soundly on the mouth. "Now, go to sleep." After he'd left, Buffy looked down at the baby in her arms. "That was your daddy. Isn't he cute?"

Stolen Away ~~~~~ "Hey! Where's my daughter?" "In here with me!" Buffy glanced up as her husband came into the living room and scooped Katie up in his arms. "Happy Birthday, Princess," he said, kissing the baby's cheeks. "What are you talking about?" Buffy asked. "It's nowhere near her birthday." "Is so," he insisted. "She's nine weeks old today, aren't you, precious?" "Oh, brother," Buffy rolled her eyes. "Yeah, she's really getting up there, isn't she? Seems like it was only nine weeks ago that we brought her home from the hospital. Where DOES the time go?" Spike stretched out on the sofa with the baby on his chest. "Your mother has a very sarcastic way about her sometimes," he said, patting Katie's back. "I'ts not very attractive at all." Buffy couldn't stop herself. "She'll be asking to borrow the car any day now." "Hmm...not bloody likely," he mumbled. "S'cuse me?" "No one," he stated firmly, "except for me will be driving her anywhere!" "What about me?" "YOU?" Spike laughed. "Least of all, you!" Buffy knew better than to open that can of worms and run down mailboxes, so she decided to take another tack. Folding her arms across her chest, she sat down on the end of the sofa. "All right...how about when she starts dating?" she asked, then sat back to wait for the explosion. He didn't disappoint her. "Dating? Are you...you're out of your...I will NOT..." He shook his head vehemently, clutching the baby closer. "No!" Buffy had to bite her lip until it nearly bled, just to suppress a smile. "What do you mean, no?" she asked, when she could speak without laughing. "She never gets to date? Ever?" He thought about it for about three seconds. "No." 'You know, honey," Buffy said. "I think she may fight you on that." She patted his knee. "You're being overprotective." "Well...I don't care," he replied, stroking Katie's soft cap of light brown hair. "If you think that I'm gonna stand around and watch some..boy..put his sweaty hands on my baby, you'd best think again." "My, my, my," Buffy said. "That is a brand new you, isn't it?" Standing up with a sigh, she reached down and took the baby. "Hey!" he protested. "I'm not done yet!" "Too bad," she called over her shoulder. "Nap time, doncha know?" "It is not." Spike followed her upstairs. "You're just saying that." "Am not." "She's not tired." "Is so." Five minutes later, they came back down. "Told you so," Buffy said. She went into the kitchen and stared balefully at a sink full of dirty dishes. "Why do we use so many dishes?" she asked, looking at him as though she expected him to answer. "What do you mean, we?" As she stood at the sink scraping dried food off her mother's china, Spike crept up behind her and slipped his arms around her waist. He nuzzled and growled against her throat, making her laugh. "Hey, ya know what?" he asked suddenly. "Let's go out tonight, just you and me." She turned in his arms. "Yeah? Like where?" He shrugged. "You choose." "What about Katie?" "Dawn'll be home soon. Instant baby-sitter." She thought it over for a moment, then smiled. "Okay, you talked me into it," she said returning his em- brace. "Then you put on your prettiest dress," he instruct- ed. "I'm going to take you out and show you off!" Pushing her up against the sink, he kissed her long and hard. ******************* "You ready to go, gorgeous?" Spike called out, standing at the bottom of the stairs. "I am very, very ready," Buffy said. She practically skipped down the stairs, with Dawn following behind her. "Look," she said to her sister. "I know that YOU know where everything is, but let me give you the little speech anyway, okay?" Dawn nodded. "Fire away." "The number of the restaurant is on the pad next to the phone. So's her pediatrician's number. I fed her about two hours ago, and she'll probably want to eat before we get home, so there's a can of formula in the cupboard. She doesn't mind the bottle." Spike took her hand and began tugging her towards the door. "Come on, Slayer. Night's not getting any younger." "Okay, okay...I've got my cell phone...you know that number, right?" "Yup," Dawn said. "What else....Oh, I forgot...Xander and Anya might drop by later." "How come?" Buffy pulled her coat on. "Anya wants some diaper chang- ing practice, as long as they're just wet that is." Spike looked surprised. "Is she...?" Buffy smiled and shook her head. "No. She just wants to be ready for it when it happens." He snorted. "Yeah. Good bloody luck." Buffy narrowed her eyes at him. "What's THAT sup- posed to mean?" Reclaiming her hand, he led her down the porch steps to the driveway. "Nothing terrible," he explain- ed. "Just that...no matter how ready you THINK you are...you're not!" He opened the car door for her, then came around and climbed into the driver's seat. Before turning the key, he turned to look at her. "Am I right?" Buffy opened her mouth to speak, closed it again to think, then said, "I can't argue with you on that one." Wearing that same smirk that used to make her fingers itch to smack off his face, Spike stated the car and backed out of the driveway. *************** Dawn heard the doorbell ring as she was closing the door to the nursery. "Shit," she muttered under her breath, descending the stairs as quietly as she could. She opened the door halfway, to find a man and woman she didn't recognize standing there. The woman spoke first. "Hello," she smiled. "You must be Buffy's sister, Dawn." She had a soft voice and spoke with a cultured English accent, a sound Dawn was familiar and comfortable with. "Rupert described you perfectly," the woman added. "You know Giles?" Dawn asked. "Oh, yes," the woman nodded. "We're old friends. I've been out of the country for a while, but we had a lovely visit this afternoon and he told us all about Buffy's baby. I just had to come and congratulate her...oh, and I brought a little gift." She handed Dawn a small box, wrapped in pink paper, with a white and pink bow on top of it. Dawn smiled. "Buffy's not home right now." The woman looked disappointed. "Oh, that's a shame." The man cleared his throat. "Darling," he said softly. "We're going to be awfully late." "Yes..I know, but.." The woman sighed. "Would you mind terribly if I borrowed your phone to let our friends know that we're on our way. It'll only take a moment." Dawn shrugged. "Sure. Come on in." ********************** "Did you have fun, baby?" "I did," Buffy smiled and laid her head against Spike's shoulder. "I'd almost forgotten what it's like to eat a meal without providing one at the same time." "Sure you don't want to go somewhere else?" he offered. "It's early yet." She shook her head. "Uh-uh. Things are getting un- comfortable," she said, gesturing at her breasts. "I just hope she's hungry." "Well, if she's not," he said, pulling into the driveway behind Xander's car. "I could eat." Shutting off the engine, he slid one hand behind her neck and pulled her closer to kiss her. After a few seconds, Buffy broke away. "I sure do appreciate all the sacrifices you make for ....the front door's open." They opened their doors and got out of the car. "They're probably just ready to leave," Spike suggested. "Yeah, maybe," Buffy nodded. "But it's kind of cold out." He reached for her hand. "I'm sure it's nothing, love." She stared at him. "Then why do you look nervous?" Simultaneously, they both began to walk faster. Spike was the first one through the door, and he stopped so abruptly that Buffy ran into him. "What's..." she started to ask, then followed his gaze to the living room sofa. "Dawn? Dawn...what happened?" Her sister was sitting on the sofa, her eyes red and swollen from crying. Anya sat beside her, holdng a plastic bag filled with ice against the side of Dawn's face. She turned in the other direction, and saw Xander in the kitchen doorway, punching numbers on the phone. As he hit the final number, he turned and saw them. Before he could speak, the cell phone in Buffy's purse began to ring. Xander hung up the phone. "I was just calling you." Spike held up one hand. "The baby's not here. She's not in the house." Buffy didn't ask how he knew. She felt it too. Their child was gone, and the house felt...different. Panic began to take a stranglehold on her throat, as she did her best not to break down and scream, not to fly out of the house and start kicking down people's doors. "B-Buffy.." Dawn's voice was soft and frightened. "I'm so...I'm so...." She began to cry. Buffy clenched her fists to keep from tearing the house apart. Spike sat down beside Dawn and pulled her hands away from her face. "Dawn." His voice amazingly controlled. "Tell me everything that happened." When she lifted her head to speak, he saw the marks on her neck. Two small punctures, smeared with blood. He closed his eyes briefly, shaking with rage. A vampire had done this. Had come into his home, and taken his child. And it had to be someone he or Buffy knew. Dawn had to have invited them in. "Spike?" Buffy's voice was nearly inaudible with fear. Opening his eyes, he looked at Dawn. "What did he look like? Have you ever seen him before? Dawn, honey, listen to me...this wasn't your fault. Just try and remember...tell me everything that happened." Anya placed the ice bag on the table, revealing a huge bruise and swelling on the side of Dawn's face. "Oh, Christ," Spike bit out angrily. "Buffy? Come here, love." On shaky legs, Buffy crossed the room and sat down in the armchair near the sofa. "Dawn...tell us what happened." In a quiet voice, Dawn described everything. When she mentioned the part about Giles, Xander went back to the phone and dialed the watcher's number. Their conversation was brief. "He hasn't spoken to anyone, from anywhere, about you and the baby," he told them. "He's on his way over." Xander stood in the doorway, arms folded, staring at the floor. While Dawn continued, Spike rose to his feet and reverted to old habits, pacing the room with his fists clenched. "I...I let them in to use the phone. I thought you guys knew them. She seemed to know about you. And...and when they came in...he grabbed hold of me and started to...to bite me. But she told him to stop. She...she said that she wanted me alive..so that I could tell Buffy that she was being...being punished for stealing from her. She started to go up the stairs, and I tried to stop her! I tried to make her stop! And she...she hit me!" "She knocked her out cold," Xander added. "Anya and I found her laying at the foot of the stairs. By the time we woke her up...God, Buffy. We didn't know the baby was gone. We went up and checked the nursery, but we thought she was with you. I..I guess we weren't thinking clearly." Anya's voice was soft and hesitant. "We thought maybe you forgot that we were coming over. We didn't see the bite marks at first." Buffy was almost nauseous with fear and guilt. This was HER fault. These vampires had come to punish her, to punish the slayer...and her baby was going to suffer because of it. Her little girl. The thought of her helpless baby in the cruel and uncaring hands of a vampire, was the blow that finally brought the slayer to her knees. Sliding out of the chair, she buried her face in the cushion and began to cry harsh, painful tears that made her entire body tremble. Spike crossed the room in three strides and picked her up off the floor, then carried her upstairs. He sat on their bed, holding her on his lap as she cried. He didn't even try to make her stop. He knew there was no way that she could. But, he also knew that he had little time to spare. Five minutes crawled by, and Buffy's sobs turned to soft, silent weeping. "Listen to me," he said quietly. "I am going to find her, I promise you. I'll bring her home." Buffy took a deep breath. "You can't promise me that...and you know it." "Buffy..." "Oh, God...this is all my fault," she whimpered. "My fault.." "What are you talking about?" He pulled back and looked into her eyes. "Baby...this is not..." "A vampire took her!" She cut him off brutally. "They took her...because she's MY child! The slayer's child. They couldn't get me...so they took her." She began to cry again. "They took our baby, Spike...our little girl." "Sweetheart...don't do this to yourself." Buffy was gasping for air. "I didn't think anything could hurt this much," she said, holding her hand over her heart as her chest heaved. "I don't think I can survive this, Spike...I can't...I just can't." Burying her face against his shoulder, she sobbed brokenheartedly. After a few minutes, he shifted her off his lap. "I'll be right back, honey." Buffy clutched at him. "Where are you going? Spike... please....I need you." "I know, love," He took hold of her hands and kissed them. "I'll be right back, I swear it." Anya spoke from the doorway. "I'll stay with her." Spike glanced at her and nodded. "Thanks." He kissed Buffy's forehead. "I just need to talk to Dawn, okay?" He walked quickly downstairs, briefly distracted by the sound of a car stopping in front of the house with a scream of brakes and tires. Looking out the window, Spike watched as Giles leapt from his car and sprinted for the house. "How's Buffy?" he asked, panting for breath. Spike shook his head. "Not good. She's upstairs." Halfway up the staircase, Giles stopped and turned his head. "Spike?" "Yeah?" "How are YOU doing?" A little surprised, Spike didn't reply. "I'm sorry," Giles said. "She's your daughter, too. You must be out of your mind." Spike nodded. "Nearly." "I should have asked." "You did. Now...go see Buffy. Tell her I'll be up in a few minutes." Back in the living room, Spike knelt in front of Dawn and took her hands. "Tell me what they looked like. Did they give you any names? Did they call each other by name?" Dawn shook her head. "No. He called her darling...but she didn't call him anything. I..I thought they friends of Giles'. She sounds just like him." Spike had been staring at the floor, but this comment caught his attention. "What do you mean...sounds just like him? You mean she was English?" "Yes." Spike closed his eyes. "What..what did she look like?" "She had long dark hair...I think her eyes were brown. And she was wearing a long dress...sort of fancy and old fashioned looking." "Oh, God." Xander had been standing by the window listening, and went pale with shock. "That's...you think it's..." Spike looked up and met his eyes. "Yeah," he said curtly. Dawn wiped her face on her sleeve. "What? Who do think it is?" Spike didn't answer her. The anger that had been building in him since he had come home to find his daughter missing was fast turning into a raging fury that he was almost afraid to unleash. <DRUSILLA!! YOUPSYCHOTIC BITCH!! > He clenched his fist so tightly that his nails dug in to the palms of his hands. before Christ Almighty that I will kill you so slowly...so painfully...that you will BEG for the FUCKING FIRE!!> Jumping to his feet, Spike threw open the door to the weapons cabinet, Xander right behind him. Grabbing a monstrously huge axe, he tossed it to Xander, who caught it in one hand. They each armed themselves with several stakes. Xander took a full sized crossbow, while Spike took a smaller one that he concealed beneath his coat. "Spike?" He turned to see Buffy standing at the foot of the stairs, watching him. Dropping the weapons in his hands, he held out his arms. "Come here, sweetheart." "Where are you going?" she asked, pressing her cheek against his chest. "I'm going to get our daughter...and bring her home." She reared back, staring at him with wide, hopeful eyes. "You know where she is? Who took her?" Spike placed his hands on his shoulders and and lookd directly into her eyes. "I know who took her..and she won't be hard to find. She's just as stupid as she ever was." "Who is? Who are you..." "Buffy," he said urgently. "Listen to me. This whole thing has nothing to do with you being the slayer. That's not what it's about at all." She looked at him, confused. "But...Dawn said that SHE said...it was to punish me." Spike shook his head. "But not for being the slayer." "Then for what?" "She's punishing you...because I love you. Because I fell in love with you...and left her." He watched the terrible knowledge dawn in her eyes. "You..you mean Drusilla? Drusilla took our baby?" "Buffy..." "Spike!" She clutched his shirt frantically. "Spike...she's insane! You know it as well as I do! God...God only knows what she'll do to...." She began to cry again. "Oh...oh, no. No...please." He felt her shaking, and knew she was about to collapse. Wrapping his arms tightly around her, he sank down with her to the floor. "Buffy...sweetheart. Listen to me, now. I'll bring her home. I swear...I SWEAR to you...you'll have your baby in your arms again soon." "OUR baby," she sobbed. "Yes," he said softly, "Our baby." Spike looked up at Giles and sent him a silent message. The watcher nodded. "Buffy." Giles' voice was calm as he knelt beside her. Placing his arms around her, he slowly raised her to her feet. "Come and sit down for a moment. Dawn needs to see you. She's..she's almost hys- terical." "No," Buffy protested, trying to pull away. "I have to go..my baby needs me...she needs me, Giles." "No, Buffy,' Giles said sternly. "Let Spike deal with this...with Drusilla. You're not in any shape for it and..." He frowned, hating to say such words. "..you might endanger Katie. You're not thinking clearly...and who could blame you?" He walked her into the living room. Spike stood up and retrieved his weapons. "Are you ready?" Xander nodded grimly. "Beyond ready." Without a backward glance, they both walked out of the house.

Retribution "What makes you think she'll be here?" Spike stopped the car across the street from the factory where he'd once lived with Drusilla. "Like I said...she's as stupid as ever. Dru never thought things all the way through. That's why she can't manage on her own," he replied, stepping out of the car. When they found the back entry, Xander tested the door. "It's locked," he whispered. Spike didn't reply. Lifting one foot, he kicked the door in so hard that it snapped off it's hinges and fell to the floor with an echoing clatter. Xander stared at him. "Good idea. Let's sneak up on them." Spike ignored the comment and walked into the warehouse area of the factory. He picked up Dru's scent immediately, and his demon emerged, fueled by rage and eager for violence. "DRUSILLA!!" He stood in the middle of the cavernous room and shouted her name. Spike felt her before he saw her step out of the shadows on the opposite side of the room. "Spike," she said, with airy unconcern. "Come to call, love?" "Not exactly a social visit, Dru." He approached her at a slow pace. Jacob stood a few feet away, and without thinking twice, Spike pulled out his crossbow and fired the bolt through the other vampire's heart. "That the best help you can get these days, Pet?" Spike asked as Jacob's dust settled. "How things have changed." "You're being very cruel, Spike." She tilted her head to one side and pouted, a gesture he had once found irrestible, but now only made him want to snap her neck. "Tough shit," he said curtly, reloading his weapon. "I'm just getting started. Where's my...." he began, but was cut off by the sound a baby wailing miserably. With a tiny smile on her lips, Dru scolded him. "Naughty Spike...you woke the baby." Striding quickly across the room, Spike entered a small office and found his daughter lying on the cold, filthy floor. Relief washed over him, sending him to his knees beside her. "It's all right, sweetheart." After checking her for bite marks, he scooped her up and realized immediately why she was so upset. Apart from how hungry she must surely be, the room was freezing and she hadn't been changed in so long that her sleeper was soaked from the waist down. Holding her under her arms, he kissed her little face. "S'all right, love" he said soothingly. "It's all over. Daddy's here now." There was nothing he hated to hear more than the sound of his little girl crying. He'd kill Drusilla for that alone. "Come on, baby," he said, working himself out of his jacket and wrapping it around her. "Mommy's home waiting for you. She'll fill up that empty tummy." The baby recognized her father's voice and his touch, and allowed herself to be comforted. Holding her against his shoulder, he picked up his crossbow and carried her back to the main room. Xander had Drusilla backed up against a wall, his own weapon precisely aimed, being careful not to make eye contact with her. "Take her outside," Spike said, reluctantly handing Katie over. Xander lowered the crossbow, and took her in one arm. "What about...?" He gestured at Drusilla. "Just take her out to the car," Spike said. "See if there's a blanket in the back. She's cold." With a brief nod, Xander headed for the exit. Before he walked out, he turned to look back. "Spike?" "Yeah?" "Finish it this time." Spike waited until they were gone, then turned to look at Drusilla. "I really wish you'd stayed away, Dru. You've gotta stop listening to the fairies whispering in your ear. They're giving you a lot of bad advice." "And you should stop consorting with humans," she replied. "They've been a bad influence on you, my pretty." He shook his head. "We had some good times, you and I. You made me what I am today and I loved you for it. For over a hundred years, I loved you. I'd have done anything for you." "You were my prince," she sighed, extending one hand. Spike nodded. "And you were my dark princess." "Oh, Spike..." "But..things change." He chuckled softly. "Angel told me that once. And...well, I told him that WE don't change. Demons don't change." Spike smiled ruefully. "Turns out I was wrong. I changed. I don't love you, Dru. Not for a long time. But..you knew that. You knew about the slayer." Her eyes hardened, then became slightly unfocused. "The other one you love." "No," he corrected. "The ONLY woman I love. It's her, and it always will be." Moving a few feet away, he turned his back. "Don't get me wrong though. I'm still grateful to you for turning me. If you hadn't...I would have died long ago. I never would have met the slayer." Swinging around abruptly, he nailed her with a direct gaze. "And I wouldn't be her husband." He moved one step closer to her... "You really shouldn't have come back here." And another step... "It was a big mistake." And another... "But you made an even bigger mistake when you took the slayer's child. Because, when you stole HER child..." He paused and smiled. "You stole MY child, too." Leveling his weapon, he took aim. For the first time since he'd come here, she looked afraid. "Spike?" "Now...it's your turn to be punished," he whispered, and fired the bolt. He stayed there for just a moment, kicking his foot and smearing the residue of dust around the floor. "You always were a stupid bitch." *********************** Spike crossed the street, seeing Xander waiting by the car with the baby. Holding out his arms, he gathered her up and held her so closely that he could feel her little heart beating. "So," Xander said. "It's done?" Spike nodded. "It's done. It's finally done." Walking around the to the other side of the car he climbed into the back and buckled Katie into her car seat. "Let's go home, sweetheart," he said, kissing the top of her head. "Home to mommy." ************************* When they pulled into the driveway, Buffy was standing at the open front door, frozen by fear into immobility. "Hey, Buffy!" Xander shouted as he climbed out of the car. "We've got someone here who could use a little motherly love." When she saw Spike come around the back of the car with a small bundle in his arms, Buffy let out a cry of happiness and launched herself off the porch and across the lawn. Sweeping the baby into her arms, she cuddled her close and burst into tears. "Oh, baby...mommy missed you so much! Yes, I did." She held the baby away and covered her little face with kisses. "I'm so happy you're home!" Holding Katie close again, Buffy looked up into Spike's eyes. "I love you," she whispered. "I love you, too," he said, wrapping his arms around his girls. "Thank you for bringing her home." The baby began to fuss, then to cry. "Someone's hungry," Spike said, stroking her soft hair. "Not to mention wet." Buffy patted the baby's bottom, then wiped her hand down the front of her sweater. "Let's go inside, love. It's too cold out here for her." As they walked back to the house, Buffy looked up and saw the others standing on the porch waiting. Dawn was sobbing and shaking, unsure of what to do or say. Buffy handed the baby to Spike and walked up the front porch steps. She threw her arms around her sister, hugging her tightly. "It's over now," she said. "And I don't want you blaming yourself for this." "Buffy..." "No, Dawn. There's no way you could have known about Drusilla." "She's right, bit," Spike added. "It's all over..and Drusilla won't be bothering us ever again." "And thank you for THAT," Giles said as everyone filed back into the house. He closed the door, then locked all three dead bolts. ********************* "Was it hard for you to kill her?" Buffy lifted the baby from her bathtub and held her as Spike wrapped a towel around her. "Are you kidding?" he grunted derisively. "I just wish I could have brought her back and done it again." He carried Katie into their bedroom and laid her on the bed, drying her thoroughly. Buffy stood in the doorway watching the tender care he gave their child. "You're a good daddy," she said, smiling. He looked up at her, pleased by the compliment. "You think?" Buffy nodded. "Oh, yeah." Sitting down beside him on the bed, she powdered and diapered the baby's bottom, then zipped her up into clean sleepers. She had been horrified at her child's condition when she'd first begun to undress her. After peeling off the wet sleeper, she had found that Katie's diaper was so wet that it had swelled to three times its normal size and was beginning to fall apart. Her tiny bottom looked red and sore. The baby had been so hungry that she'd taken every- thing Buffy had to give without slowing down. Now, with her tummy full and her body clean, dry, and warm, she fell asleep on her parent's bed. They stretched out on either side of her, facing each other and talking quietly. Buffy was trying to stave off the inevitable moment of putting the baby to bed in her crib. She wanted her daughter no farther away than the reach of her hand. Spike, as always, seemed to read her thoughts and said, "Let's keep her in here with us tonight." Buffy beamed at him. "That's exactly what I was thinking." The night's terrible events began to take their toll, leaving them physically and emotionally wrung out. Spike forced himself to get up and move the bassinet next to their bed, then scooped up the baby without waking her. He tucked her snugly beneath her blanket, then leaned over and kissed her, taking in her fresh baby scent with his eyes shut tight and silently thanking whoever had been kind enough to help a vampire without a soul anywhere on him. He undressed and crawled into bed next to Buffy. "The only positive side in all this is that she won't remember any of it." "Yeah," Buffy said, moving into his arms. "But WE will." They laid in bed quietly, until Spike broke the silence. "If you thought I was over protective BEFORE...." The End. You can read more about Spike, Buffy and Katie in "Daddy's Girl", which WILL be expanded on as soon as I catch my breath.