Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews! Connor isn't going to be kidnapped, but there will be drama, trust me. This is the last chapter before I skip ahead 2 years to get things moving and get along with the plot given to me, so I hope you like :)

"Buff, hello, anyone up?" Xander called as he walked into the Summers' house. He was there to pick Dawn up and give her a drive to school, something he did a few times a month to give Buffy a little break. "Alright then, guess I'll help myself to a little breakfast while I'm waiting," he said, continuing to the kitchen.

When he got there, his anxious-for-free-food smile disappeared. "Spike? What the hell are you doing in Buffy's house? Without a shirt?" Spike sighed as he turned for the basement. "Oh no, you aren't just walking away from this," Xander said, moving to block his way. Spike glared down at him. "What are you gonna do Spike? Hit me?"

Spike's jaw clenched. Despite the mind numbing pain it would cause, he really wanted to knock the wanker down a notch - but he wouldn't, not until Buffy gave him the okay to do it.

"What is all this yell-... ohh God," Buffy said as she came sprinting into the kitchen, still in her pyjamas, with Dawn behind her. "Xander, this isn't... well, okay, it is what it looks like... again. But, I can explain."

"Explain? First, Angel's baby... now Spike, in your house, half naked! What's he Buffy, your maid?"

"You best watch what you say Nancy Boy," Spike growled.

Buffy turned to her sister. "Dawnie, go get your backpack."

"But I have it right here..."

"Dawn, go get your backpack, now," she said sternly.

Dawn let out a frustrated sigh. "Fine. I never get to see the good stuff," she said before disappearing.

"Do you think I have a problem with kicking your neutered ass? How dare you prey on Buffy when she's weak like this!" Xander hissed.

"Xander, he didn't-..." Buffy started, but he cut her off.

"Don't stand up for him Buffy, he... he's evil," he said, glaring over at Spike.

Buffy glanced over to where Spike stood by the basement door, and with her eyes pleaded for him to go wait for her downstairs. With one last growl directed at Xander, he disappeared.

"Xander, please, just let me explain."

"Oh I think it's all pretty selfexplainatory, Spike obviously brainwashed you into thinking... wait, are you really Buffy? Oh! Oh! Buffybot!" he said, pointing his finger at her wildly.

Buffy rolled her eyes. "I'm not a robot Xander, I'm 100% the real deal. And Spike did not brainwash me into thinking anything. He's been... well, he's been helping me with Connor. So I... I asked him to kinda, you know, move in..." she said, trying to read her friend's expression.

"No, oh no... this is a dream. Wake up Xander, wake up," he said, pinching his arm. "Ow..."

Buffy laughed lightly. "Believe me, it isn't a dream. If it was, I'd be awake and fully staking Spike. But I trust him. He would never-..."

"Stalk you? Moon over you? Follow you around like a lost puppy? - Cause Buff, I think he already has. You can't trust him, he's evil."

"Yeah, I think we covered that already. But he isn't evil Xander, at least not anymore. And who are you to judge that anyways? You're engaged to a former vengence demon who was torturing men long before Spike was even born," she defended.

Xander took a step back, surprised by Buffy's defensive attitude towards Spike. She hated him - they all hated him. He was an evil, soulless vampire who Buffy only kept around for information and aid when needed... not for a make-believe housewife.

Buffy sighed. "Spike changed without a soul, he's proven all he needs to, and to the only person it matters - me. I love you Xander, and the last thing I want is for you to hate me. But I'm tired of hiding, I'm tired of feeling guilty, and I'm tired of worrying about your fragile ego. I can't help how I feel, if I could, believe me when I say Spike would be beaten bloody by now... but this happened for a reason. I need Spike in my life, just as much as I need you and everyone else. But if you aren't willing to respect me enough to trust my judgement, then I think... I think you should leave," she said, her voice soft yet stern.

Xander just stood there, his eyes locked on her. "You can't expect me to be happy for you Buffy. We're talking about Spike here - William the Bloody. You can't honestly think that he can be good for you, can you?"

She hesitated before nodding. "Yeah, Xander, I think he's good for me - great even. And not only me, but Dawn and Connor too. If you only knew how much he loved them, you'd see it too."

"Love? Spike doesn't know how to love. Don't you get that he's just using them to get to you?"

"When I... died, Spike was the one who protected Dawn. He kept her safe, he made sure nothing happened to her. If he was just using Dawn to get to me, why would he do it when I was dead? When you're six feet under you don't really see much," she said. "I'm not asking you to be happy for me Xander, I know this is... shocking and I don't blame you for being upset. But this makes me happy. Spike makes me happy."

Xander was silent for several minutes before he finally moved towards towards the front door. "If we don't get going Dawn will be late for school," he said, passing her by without so much as a glance.

Buffy stood in the kitchen, listening while he called for Dawn, and then the front door closing as they left. She rested her hands on the counter and took a deep breath. That hadn't gone quite as planned, but she couldn't say it went horrible. It could have been a lot worse.

One down, four to go.

Spike sat on his cot in the basement, his ears picking up on the argument between Buffy and Xander upstairs. He had lost count of how many times he'd rolled his eyes or mumbled a "bloody hell", but there was one thing he had kept count of - how many times Buffy had defended him. Four times in a five minute conversation - that was a hell of a lot more than he was used to.

He heard the wanker yell for Dawn and the front door slam shut as they left. He wasn't sure if he should go up to Buffy, or wait for her to come to him... if she did. But he figured after a spat like that with one of her closest friends that she would need her space. So he would wait.

It hadn't taken her as long as he expected, she was downstairs with him only minutes later. Even in her pyjamas Spike thought she looked as beautiful as ever. Her hair was a tangled mess pulled back into a scattered bun, and her face was without make-up - to him, she looked angelic.

"Spike, I'm sorry. I should have told them, I should have known something like this might happen," she said as she sat down beside him.

He looked over at her with a smile and kissed her gently on the forehead. "No worries luv, the whelp wouldn't 'ave taken it well either way. Those things you said Buffy, the way you defended me... I'll never forget that."

"You... you heard?" she asked and he nodded. "You aren't the monster that they think you are Spike, not now. When I see the way you are with Connor, everything I know about your past just disappears. I mean, of course I know what you are, what you've done and that there are some vampire ways about you that'll never go away... but I also know there isn't anything you wouldn't do for us, and I haven't had that in... well, a long time. I hope that Xander and the rest will realize that too. Maybe once they see you with him, really see you, they will."

He sighed as he hesitated to ask a question he'd been fearing the answer. "An' if they don't?"

Buffy paused to think. "If they don't... it won't change anything. I love my friends, and I want them in my life. I need them in my life. But when Connor almost... I realized that life is too short. I'm the Slayer for God's sake - I could be killed any day... well, most likely night... what I mean is I love you. You... You make me happy. And you make Dawn happy, and Connor too. As dysfunctional as it might be, we're kind of a family now."

Spike wrapped his arm around her tiny frame and pulled her into him, her head resting on his chest. "I never thought I'd see the day where I could hold you in my arms," he whispered.

She laughed. "Trust me, neither did I... but there is no place I'd rather be."

He kissed the top of her head gently. "You want me to take over patrol tonight?"

She shook her head. "Nah, I'm feeling kinda restless. It's been a few days since I've had a good fight - hopefully there's some real nasties out."

"Only my girl would pray to run into the nasties."

She shrugged. "What can I say, Slayer here."

"My Slayer," he said softly.

She turned her head to look up at him. "My vampire."

"Bloody well right," he said with a smile. "Now, what you say we go-..." He was cut short when a loud cry filled the house. "Check on the kid," he finished.

Buffy smiled as she stood up and headed for the stairs. When they got up to Buffy's room where Connor was sleeping, Spike lifted the small boy from his crib and soothed him gently.

Buffy sat down on her bed and watched them contently for a few minutes. "Spike?"

"Yeah pet?"

"What do you think... what is he gonna call us? What should he call us? The other day at the hospital, well, I almost said "mommy"... but I don't... I mean, I'm not his..."

Spike smiled over at her. "'s alright luv, 's a confusing situation. In all honesty, I don't think it matters much what he calls us, 's long as he knows that we're 'ere for him an' always will be."

She noddded. "You're right, that makes sense. Mom and dad are just names, they don't mean anything..."

"Connor'll figure out what he wants, an' if it makes 'im happy, then tha's all that matters, eh?"

She nodded again as she stood and kissed him on the cheek. "How would I ever survive this without you?"

He smirked. "Simple - you wouldn't."

Buffy stuck her tongue out at him before heading to the door. "I'm going to make some breakfast, my tummy's all rumbly."

"Alright luv, I'll get Connor changed and bring 'im down in a few."

"Okay - I'll make the yum, but I am not making your ick," she said, scrunching up her nose.

He laughed and watched as she left the room before taking Connor over to the change table.

A week had gone by, and Buffy had only left the house at night to patrol, or to run to the store for something they needed. She had been trying her best to avoid her friends, she didn't want any more confrontation about Spike. She knew they wouldn't understand, and it scared her to think that she might lose them forever.

But she wasn't willing to sacrifice Spike in order to keep them around. If they were truly her friends they'd come around. She just had no idea when that would be.

Having Spike around had proven more productive than she'd expected at first. Every night after supper he helped Dawn with her homework, and as a result of that her grades had picked up tremendiously. It seemed that all Dawn had needed was someone who had a unique perspective on learning to help her understand, and Spike was definitely unique.

Connor was already five months old and was growing so much that Buffy was scared she'd wake up and he'd be ready to start school. It was amazing to her how time passed so quickly when you were raising a child. But she would be nowhere if it wasn't for him - Spike. The things he knew surprised her at times. How could a vampire know so much about what a child needs? Yet, he always did.

That night, Buffy was tidying up the living room while Dawn and Connor slept upstairs. Spike had taken patrol that night, she didn't expect him to be back for a while. Whenever he went out, he always took a run by his crypt and then stopped in at the local demon bar.

She knew that he loved being with them at home, but he was still a vampire. He still needed some contact with his world. Surprisingly enough, she didn't mind. She loved him - all of him.

As she tucked some stray toys into their proper place, there was a knock on the front door. When she opened it, Willow was standing there with a hopeful look on her face.

"Can I, um, come in?" she asked quietly and Buffy nodded before backing away to make room. "How are you?"

"I'm good," Buffy said as they awkwardly sat down on the sofa. "Is that why you came by? Or did you have something else to say..."

"Uh, yeah, I did... I do... Xander, he told us what happened... with Spike," she said. "And Buffy, he might have overreacted a little, but you have to understand how much of a surprise this was, to all of us."

"Well it was a surprise to me too Will. You think I wanted to fall in love with Spike? But I... I expected you of all people to understand you don't choose who you love... and Xander, he's dating an ex-demon!" Buffy said, frustrated.

Willow sighed. "Buffy, it isn't so much what Spike is, but who he is. Spike hasn't always been on your side, he did try to kill you... more than once."

"That was before, he's changed... and how many times has he protected not only me, but Dawn and Connor too? I can't explain why I feel the way I do Will, but I'm not going to be ashamed of it. As crazy as it is, Spike... he makes me happy."

Willow nodded with a smile. "I know. I can see it all over your face. When we brought you back... and when we found out where you were... you've been through a lot Buffy, and you deserve to be happy. If Spike is what does it for you, then... well that's all that matters, right?"

Buffy smiled as she looked over at her best friend. "So you're saying you don't hate me?"

Willow gasped. "Hate you? God no Buffy, I could never hate you. It was just a... a shock is all. But stranger things have happened."

"They sure have... so we're good then?"

Willow smiled. "Better than good, we're goody good good." Buffy laughed as she wrapped her arms around Willow in a strong hug. "Ow... Buff... can't... breathe."

Buffy pulled away with a teary eyed smile. "Sorry, sorry... I'm just... I thought I might lose you and I really did not want that to happen."

"Lose me? Pff, you can never lose me, I'm unlosable. Just, one thing..." she said, and Buffy waited for her to continue. "Can I see my little Connor cakes? I've been going through baby withdrawls and I think I'm about to lose my mind."

Buffy grinned as she stood up. "Of course. He's upstairs. I'll be up in a minute, I just have to finish up down here."

Willow nodded before hugging her one last time, then headed up the stairs. Buffy watched her disappear with a smile on her face.

"No, we're not."

"Yes, we are."

"No, we're not."

"Yes, we are."

"Enough already! You two are worse than bickerin' children. Just pick a bloody movie before me an' Connor 'ere bugger off to do our own thing," Spike said, breaking up the argument between Buffy and Dawn over what movie they were going to watch.

The four were all gathered in the living room; Spike and Buffy sat on the sofa with Connor between them, while Dawn sat on the floor by their feet.

"You're not going to "bugger off", this is family night and all of us make up the family so no one is leaving this living room," Buffy warned. "Alive," she added for effect.

He smirked. "Well then, guess tha's not stoppin' me pet, now is it?"

She glared over at him. "You know what I meant... don't make me go Slayer on your butt cause I totally will. Nothing is going to ruin our family night."

"Nothin', eh? Well you and Bit 'ere seem to be ruinin' it plenty. 's not that hard, just pick a damn movie and turn it on."

"Well it is hard when your big sister doesn't want to watch any good movies," Dawn said. "She only likes the mushy romantic ones because she always finds something wrong in the action ones."

"Oh come on, Spike you have to agree with me there. I mean, some of the things they do, like those would actually work in real life," Buffy said, glancing over at him, but he said nothing. "Fine then. You'll see."

"Does that mean I won?" Dawn asked and Buffy nodded in defeat. "Awesome. Spike you're gonna love it, I promise."

"Sure thing Bit, you get the movie and me an' Connor will go get the snacks for you kids," Spike said as he stood, Connor in his arms.

"Haha, you're so funny," Buffy said. "Make sure you put extra butter on the popcorn - but not too much because I don't like it soggy. Oh, and don't forget the cookies, no family night is complete without cookies."

"And the soda," Dawn added.

"Bloody hell," Spike mumbled as he started for the kitchen.

"Oh Spike, one more thing," Buffy said, and he turned to face her. "Love you."

He rolled his eyes then smiled before disappearing.

Dawn turned and looked up at Buffy. "This is perfect," she said. "Ever since mom died... well it hasn't felt like a home, you know? But now with Spike, and Connor, and you... it's all just so perfect."

Buffy nodded as she ran her hand through Dawn's hair. "I couldn't have said it better myself Dawnie."

AN: So, I think this was a fairly long chapter! Hurricane Earl's hitting us right now so I'm stuck inside and bored, and wrote this :) Hope you liked, let me know!