Part Seven

"Don't you have something more productive to do than sitting there like that?" Buffy asked sitting down across from Spike who was rocking the baby's car seat with his foot while he looked at a magazine.

"No." Spike answered without looking up from his article.

"Don't you think you could be helping Willow with the food?" Buffy asked.

"If I stop rocking she's cries." Spike said gesturing toward the half- asleep baby. "If you're worried about Red you could help her."

"I'm the guest. And Breanna's asleep." Buffy said huffily.

"Fine." Spike said and stopped rocking moving his foot from the seat. The second the rocking stopped the baby began to whine in her sleep.

"Fine then I'll rock her. How hard can it be to rock that thing with my foot." Buffy said moving to sit next to Spike on the couch.

"Won't work. That's why I'm in here instead of Red." Spike said picking his magazine back up as he began rocking again.

"Right 'cause at what two months old she can tell the difference." Buffy said putting her foot next to Spike's and began picking up the rhythm of the rocking. "Now move your foot."

Spike lifted his foot slowly and before it hit the floor next to the carrier Breanna was crying. Spike looked at Buffy and smirked.

"Spike did you stop rocking her?" Willow called from the kitchen.

"The slayer made me." Spike answered giving Buffy another smirk.

"This is ridiculous." Buffy said standing up as Spike started rocking the baby again and the crying stopped. "I'm going to help Willow."

"Great idea." Spike said reaching down to pick up Breanna. "And I'll change her before everyone else gets here."

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Spike walked into the living room, after putting the baby in her crib. It had taken longer than usual to get her to sleep tonight. Everyone had already finished eating by the time he returned to the room.

"She finally asleep?" Willow asked.

"Yeah. I don't think she feels well Luv." Spike said.

"I know I'll call the doctor in the morning." Willow said, "But now that everyone is here, have you found anything for…" She began turning to Giles.

"Not yet. But Willow what you described isn't that bad. It's not magic. I don't think she has the ability to use actual magic yet. What happened today seemed like harmless telekinesis."

'Harmless telekinesis?" Xander said looking at the watcher. "Have you never seen Carrie?"

"I doubt she'll be setting town's on fire anytime soon." Giles responded. "We're looking. I just don't think Willow needs to be overly concerned just yet."

"That's right. So she's moving things. It only happened once right?" Anya said, "Maybe it was a fluke and will never happen again."

"I just don't want anyone to be hurt." Willow said nervously.

"I don't believe that's a worry right now." Giles said, "Unfortunately there aren't a lot of cases of wanting to stop someone's magic."

"That's right. If you wanted to increase her magic, that would be easy." Anya said.

"Gee thanks An." Willow said.

"She's right Willow. While we were looking today I must have found a dozen spells to increase magic." Xander defended.

"We'll watch her Luv." Spike said moving to sit beside Willow and wrapping his arm around her shoulder, "And the Watcher will keep looking for something."

"That's right." Buffy said, "We'll all keep looking. And hey why are you touching her?"

"Jealous Slayer?" Spike asked turning to face Buffy.

"In your dreams." Buffy said angrily. "But you have no right to…"

"Yes he does Buffy." Willow interjected.

"What?" Buffy and Xander replied simultaneously.

"Anya why don't we get more drinks for everyone?" Dawn said standing up.

"I don't think anyone needs…"

"Just come with me." Dawn said grabbing Anya's arm and pulling her toward the kitchen.

"What the hell do you mean he can touch you like…"

"It's none of your business what we do Slayer." Spike said interrupting.

"Like hell it's not." Buffy answered.

"You two need to stop now." Willow said moving between the angry vampire and the Slayer.

"I think I'll go and help…" Giles began standing up.

"No stay. I don't want to say this more than once." Willow said, "Now all of you sit and listen. I really don't think I should have to explain myself to you. Spike either for that matter. But I also am not ashamed, so I'm just going to get this all out now."

"Willow you don't have to…" Spike began.

"Yes I do." Willow said smiling at Spike. "I told you I wasn't ashamed and I'm not. I love Spike, he loves me. I know none of you want to hear that but it's true."

"Willow how could you he's…" Xander began.

"He's a vampire." Willow said, "I'm aware of that. But you guys know what. I've had to deal with your relationship choices so now you just need to deal with mine."

"What do you mean my relationship choices?" Xander asked.

"Anya was a demon Xander. And do you even want me to start about the Cordiela thing." Willow said angrily, then turned to Buffy. "And before you start, When Angel came back from hell did I get angry that you were dating the vampire that tried to kill me, and tortured Giles? Did I say anything about Riley, even after we found out about the Initiative and he helped to capture and almost kill Oz? No because who you two choose to love is your business not mine. I expect the same respect."

"Willow he…" Buffy began. "He tried to kill you more than once."

"That was a long time ago. And if I can get over it shouldn't you." Willow said.

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"Why did you drag me in here if we aren't getting drinks?" Anya asked as Dawn stood just inside the doorway listening to the argument in the other room.

"Hush. I can't here when you talk." Dawn said.

"Then tell me what's going on."

"Fine." Dawn said. "Spike and Willow are in love. I think they finally managed to admit it to each other."

"In love." Anya said, "Well of course. They have been for a while now."

"You knew?"

"Of course. It's so obvious." Anya said.

"So why didn't Xander know. Or Buffy if it's so obvious?" Dawn asked even though she did agree with the ex-demon.

"They don't see anything they don't want to see."

"The yelling stopped. Think it's safe to go back?" Dawn asked.

"Anya are you ready to go?" Xander shouted from the living room.

"Guess things didn't go well." Anya said on her way out of the room. "Sure let me get my coat."

"Dawn you too." Buffy said coming toward the kitchen.

"Coming Buffy." Dawn answered.

Willow walked into the kitchen as Dawn was setting the last of the dishes into the sink.

"Didn't go well?" Dawn asked.

"Not really." Willow said, "They'll get over it though. Giles seems fine with it."

"Dawn!" Buffy voice drifted into the kitchen again.

"Go. Call me tomorrow and we'll talk okay." Willow said hugging the younger girl.

"Tell Spike I said good-bye." Dawn said, "Don't worry Buffy can't stay mad at you for long."

"Bye Sweetie." Willow said hugging her again as she left the kitchen.

Part Eight

"How long do you plan on staying mad at Willow?" Dawn asked sitting down next to Buffy on the couch.

'She's sleeping with Spike." Buffy said simply, "And I don't want to talk about this with you."

"Don't care." Dawn said facing her sister. "You slept with Spike too. But that's really your problem isn't it. You know Spike won't hurt her. He's not that evil anymore. You just don't like that he stopped loving you and moved on."

"That's ridiculous Dawn. I told him too." Buffy said still not facing her sister.

"Great and he did what you said, so what's the problem. You haven't talked to Willow, your best friend in a week." Dawn said angrily.

"Dawn you don't understand."

"Then explain. Because what I see is that Willow and Spike love each other a lot." Dawn said, "And that you and Xander are acting like spoiled children. You two are always willing to use Spike and have him around when it suits you. If I need to be protected or you need help patrolling or Willow needs a pretend daddy for her baby then he's fine to have around. But how dare he actually care about one of us."

"Dawn the things he did…" Buffy began.

"I know he's done really stupid things." Dawn said, "But he's sorry. He's more than made up for them don't you think? Will's done stupid things too. You forgave her."

"Dawn he…" Buffy began again.

"Buffy you guys need to get over yourselves and deal with it. Willow and Spike love each other. You can't change it. Do you really want to lose your best friend because of it. It's not like you have to like Spike. Hell you don't even have to pretend too. Everyone is aware of how you and Xander feel about Spike." Dawn said, "I think Spike enjoys fighting with you anyway. So just deal and call her."

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"Why don't you call her?" Anya asked looking at Xander sitting at the magic box table. "You miss her."

"I'm not calling her."

"Why because of Spike." Anya asked, "If he makes her happy why does it make you so angry. She didn't like me, but she dealt with it because I made you happy."

"He's an evil soulless vampire." Xander answered.

"I was an evil soulless demon."

"You have a soul now."

"But I don't regret anything I did before Xander." Anya stated, "Isn't that supposed to be what the difference is. Angel's okay because he has a soul and regrets what he did before. Well I have a soul and don't regret a damn thing. Does that mean I'm not worthy to be loved."

"No." Xander said getting up and walking over to Anya. "It's different. Spike…"

"This really doesn't have anything to do with Spike. It's all about whether you love Willow enough to deal with her decisions."

"I do but…"

"Then call her."

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Willow walked into the bedroom and stood quietly in the doorway watching the scene before her. Spike was laying across the bottom of the bed, his back to her. He had Breanna on the bed in front of him, surrounded by toys. He kept picking them up one after the other and offering them to her.

"Come on, pet. Don't you want to play with this little doggie?" Spike asked wiggling a small stuffed dog in front of her.

Breanna just continued to stare at him.

"Okay then how about the purple dinosaur thing." Spike offered squeezing the hand of the offered toy making the I Love You song start to play.

"His name is Barney." Willow said walking into the room giggling at the sight of the vampire playing with the toy. "And I told you she's too young for this stuff."

"Is not." Spike said, "She's smart. She needs challenges."

"It's not intelligence Spike, its motor function."

Willow laid down across from the vampire, with the baby between them, pushing toys out of the way to make room. "So tell me did you leave any baby toys at the store."

"She needs toys to grow." Spike argued. "I want her to have everything."

"That's so sweet Spike. It really is. But too much will just make her spoiled."

"No more toys for a while." Spike said sadly.

"No more toys." Willow said, "let her learn to use these first 'kay."

"Fine." Spike said then tickling the baby who had rolled onto her back, "Your mum says no more toys. Told you she was a mean mum."

"Hey." Willow said stretching to hit the vampire's chest. "I'm not mean."

"Crabby though." Spike said still playing with Breanna.

"Am not."

"Have been since last week Luv." Spike answered. "Why don't you call them?"

"They have to come to terms with this Spike." Willow said, "They'll call when they have. I mean It's not like I don't talk to anyone. Dawn calls, So does Giles, and amazingly even Anya."

"But Buffy and Xander?" Spike asked.

"Still dealing according to Dawn." Willow said sadly, "They'll call when they're ready."

"If you say so." Spike said, then looking down at the baby, "And you need to be changed." He said picking her up, kissing Willow on the cheek and heading out of the room.

1 Part Nine



"Willow."

"Buffy?" Willow said trying to balance the phone on her shoulder and hold the bottle and the baby.

"Yeah. Um, I'm sorry." Buffy blurted out.

"So am I Buffy. I mean I could have found a better way to tell you guys." Willow said as she rocked slowly.

"No Will it was my fault. I shouldn't have been so angry. If you love him. I guess I'll have to deal with that. Dawn is right. My not liking Spike can't end our friendship."

"I'm glad Buffy. I don't want to lose you guys. But I also don't plan on hiding my relationship with Spike. I love him. He loves me."

"I can deal with that as long as I don't have to be nice to him."

"Of course not. Would either of you know what to do if you were nice to each other?"

"Guess not." Buffy said, "Oh wait Xander wants to talk to you too."

"Hi Will." Xander said still not sure he was ready to deal with this.

"You okay with this too now Xander?" Willow asked.

"I guess. Won't be nice to him either though." Xander answered.

"Wouldn't expect you too." Willow said as Breanna finished the bottle and started to fuss. "I'm sorry guys but I, uh, gotta go."

"Talk to you later then." Xander said.

"Yeah. Later." Willow said hanging up the phone.

"Everything is getting better Sweetie." Willow said setting the bottle on the table and raising Breanna onto her shoulder as she began patting her back and walking toward the bedrooms.

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Spike had been listening to Willow's side of the conversation from the bedroom. It looked like her friends finally came around. He hated seeing her so upset, it took them long enough of decide to deal with it. Two weeks, it wasn't like they even believed he would hurt her, they just didn't like him.

"Hey. Who was on the phone?" Spike asked walking into the nursery just as Willow finished putting Breanna down for her nap.

"Shh." She said before moving away from the crib and pulling him out of the room. After closing the door she turned to hug him. "Buffy and Xander. They're dealing."

"That's great." He said pulling her closer to him.

"They still don't like you but they're dealing."

"They'll never like me." Spike stated simply.

"I can hope." Willow said kissing him.

"Giles called earlier too. He said he contacted Wesley about Breanna and they're looking into it too." Willow said.

"That's great Luv." Spike answered, "Maybe they'll find something soon."

"I know, but I'm beginning to think that maybe I just imagined it all. I mean it hasn't happened again." Willow said.

"It's up to you Luv. If you don't want to do anything then we won't. We can deal with it later if that makes you feel better."

"I don't know." Willow said, "I guess I'll just decide when they have something."

"If that's what you want." Spike said, "Now how about watching television. Isn't Charmed on tonight?"

"You know I hate that show Spike." Willow said, "Really can't they fight demons wearing a little more clothing. And don't get me started on how they portray witches."

"Come on Red. The show's funny." Spike answered pulling her with him.

"Is not. You just like to watch those girls fighting half naked." Willow said as he pulled her down into his lap on the couch.

"Well there is that too." He said kissing her as he turned on the television.