CHAPTER FOURTEEN

A/N (Please Read): The following two chapters occur in Buffy's dream. Just so you don't get confused. Enjoy

Buffy woke in her bed, sunlight streamed through her bedroom window, still wearing her clothes from the night before 'man I was tired' she slipped out of bed and went into her very own private bathroom she had demanded upon arriving at the compound there was no way that she was sharing her bathroom again.

She turned the water on and slipped out of her clothes, as she stepped into the shower the hot water cascaded down her body and relaxed her worn muscles from the fight with the demon the night before, she stood there for several minutes before a knock came on the bathroom door.

"Hey Buffster, glad you're awake. Will is making pancakes better get your keister downstairs before they're gone" yelled Xander from the other side of the door

"I'll be out in a minute Xan" she replied quickly washing the suds out of her blonde locks.

XXXXX

In no time Buffy was dressed and feeling refreshed as she bounced down the corridor to the dining room. As she opened the door she giggled some with a bright and cheery "good morning".

What she was faced with she wasn't prepared for. A baby babbling away in a high chair "say when did we open a day care centre?" She asked

"Oh Buffy, you don't recognise your own niece" said Dawn playfully

"Huh? What? Dawnie we had this discussion two days ago, no bringing babies into the house I'm only just getting over the fact you're married" babbled Buffy

"Are you serious? Wow you must of really hit your head last night" said Dawn looking a little worried

"What?" Buffy asked again

"Mia, Aunt Buffy is being silly today huh?" said Dawn in a baby voice at her daughter

"Anybody explain to me what the heck is going on?" asked Buffy with her hands on her hips looking rather displeased

Spike strode into the dining room "morning all" he smiled

"Spike!" cried Buffy rushing over to him and pulling him in for a rib cracking hug

"Uh hi?" he said very perplexed with his hands in the air to make it obvious he wasn't touching Buffy whilst mouthing 'what the bloody hell?'

"You're okay!" Buffy smiled brightly

"Aren't I usually?" he asked. As she finally stopped hugging him

"Well you had the thing with the sword laced with poison and we all thought you were a goner, and then me and Faith kicked the demon's ass and got you're cure" said Buffy sounding so sure of herself

"Uh pet..." Said Spike

"Uh Buffy can I see you out in the hall for a sec?" Asked Dawn "Spike watch Mia for me?" She asked handing over the toddler to him and taking her sister by the hand and leading her into the hall

"Uh Buffy are you okay?" Asked Dawn

"Sure I'm fine"

"Are you sure because well don't take this the wrong way, I mean you did take a big blow to the head last night maybe we should get you checked out" said Dawn worriedly

"I'm fine I swear"

"Yeah... It's just you're kinda bringing stuff up from about two years ago. And you didn't even recognise Mia" said Dawn

"Maybe I'm a little dazed..." Said Buffy

"I can call Dr Thomas? She can be here within the hour" said Dawn

"What happened to Dr Swanson?" Asked Buffy

"Vamp attack last year?" Said Dawn hoping her sister would remember "okay, that really doesn't matter, I think we should get you checked out"

"Ah got you fooled" said Buffy giggling nervously

"Oh thank god, I really thought you'd lost your memory" Dawn said relieved

"Of course I remember Mia, duh. Now if you don't mind I'm going to go bond with my niece" said Buffy going back into the dining room closely followed by her sister

Buffy looked around the room and noticed Spike playing with baby Mia, he was a natural. Watching him with the baby gave her butterflies in her stomach. Spike had noticed her staring and came over "I think somebody wants their auntie" he said coolly passing Mia over to her

"Hey cutie" she acknowledged the tot "look Spike about before, I uh was playing a joke on Dawnie"

"I expected as much, we haven't exactly been on talking terms for a few weeks now" he said whilst Mia's hand was still firmly wrapped around his finger

"And why is that?" Asked Buffy

"With everything going on around here, demon hordes, vampire cults and a wedding. Doesn't leave us much time for the chit chat love... But then again I think it's more about the wedding" he said calmly

"Why do you say that?" Asked Buffy

"Well I know you and Kaitlyn aren't exactly best mates, and I'm grateful that you're letting us have the wedding here"

"What?"

"Look I know you don't like Kaitlyn but she is going to be my wife, and after last night's little outburst from you I think you owe her an apology" he said sternly

"Oh apology... Right... Say I better go apologise right now" said Buffy passing Mia back over to him "excuse me" she said slipping out of the dining room door.

Buffy walked down the corridor holding her head in confusion, babbling incoherently to herself before bumping into Faith "hey watch where you're going B"

"Oh my god!" Were the first words to come out of Buffy's mouth, Faith stood there with what looked like a soccer ball pushed up her t shirt "what the hell happened to you?"

"Uh you might wanna ask Robin that question, I sure as hell seem to be asking him a lot"

"oh my god Faith"

"Jeez B, you're acting like you didn't know about this..."

"Oh no, of course I knew it's just wow. You're looking awfully pregnant today"

"Yeah due any day now, though I've promised Kaitlyn to try to not go I to labour at the wedding tonight, but hey no promises" said Faith

"Right, the wedding. Oh god Kaitlyn, what did I say to her last night?" Asked Buffy

"Ahh, the bachelorette party and the drunken mess that you were, by the way you so cannot handle tequila you were supposed to be drinking for me but hey whatever"

"Get to the point Faith"

"Oh yeah basically you said that, you didn't like her because she's a bitchy girl and that she wasn't good enough for Spike. Although you did kinda have a point"

"Oh my god, now I know why I don't drink, I should apologise to her" said Buffy looking a tad guilty

"Screw that B, she had it coming. These past few weeks she's been really rubbing your nose in it" said Faith

"I'll bet, anyway I promised Spike I'd apologise so I kinda have to now" said Buffy

"Still doing everything he says? Man you got it bad don't you"

"Well duh"

XXXXX

Kaitlyn sat at her dressing table, with a hairdresser behind her putting her hair in rollers for the evening's ceremony as Buffy knocked on the door "come in" yelled Kaitlyn turning to see who it was coming through the door "oh it's you" she said slightly annoyed

"Hey, you got a minute?" Asked Buffy sheepishly

"Can you give us a minute Carrie?"

The hairdresser silently stopped fixing Kaitlyn's hair and exited the room

"So?" Asked Kaitlyn

"I just wanted to come and say sorry for my behaviour last night, I clearly wasn't thinking straight" said Buffy

"Okay... I accept your apology, thank you. But what I said last night still stands I don't want you near the wedding"

"I understand" said Buffy turning around to leave

"It's not just last night Buffy, ever since Spike and I got engaged you've been so off with us both"

"I have?... I have, I'm sorry for that" said Buffy sincerely

"I understand this can't be easy for you but he made his choice remember, I thought you would respect that" said Kaitlyn angrily

"I do... I hope that you'll be very happy together" Buffy smiled thinly and walked out of the door