Another year came and went, and with it, this time around came plenty of changes.

Watching torrents of rain beat down on the sidewalk outside, Faye slightly tightened her grip on the mug of hot chocolate in her hand . Her gaze fell from the steady drops of water to the ring on her finger, a faint smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.

Unfortunately Jet and Caroline had beaten them to the alter, though that should have been expected. In fact, it had been their wedding that had been the catalyst that brought about the biggest changes.

Two weeks after they had returned from a honeymoon stay at a bed and breakfast in Venus, Jet had gathered everyone around to break the news. He was planning on selling the Bebop for what he considered the best deal he could get for the well worn vessel.

It had come as a shock to everyone on board, and became a great source of tension. Faye couldn't recall a time that the ship had been so quiet with Ed on board, that was until she learned that Ein and herself would be going to live with Jet and Caroline. After that the corridors were once again filled with nonsensical chatter and barking.

For Spike and herself however, it had been harder to take in the idea of such a major change. She was fairly certain herself nor Spike spoke a word to Jet in a week.

Though neither of them was willing to admit it out loud, it was the closest thing to an actual home that either of them had ever known in their adult lives. It held many memories, a lot of them good, though some not so pleasant, but memories none the less; something Faye had grown to appreciate.

The added stress of trying to figure out financially what was reasonably affordable for a place to live, had caused nothing but a solid week straight of fighting between herself and Spike. It had been miserable, until Jet and Caroline had come to them with some very vital withheld information. Though she had been staying with them for some time now, Caroline still owned her house.

The idea had been brought up that she and Spike could rent the house from Jet and Caroline, and in a slightly ironic twist, Jet would still theoretically be their landlord, though aboard the Bebop, Faye could admit to herself now, that they had done little more than freeload. While still a bittersweet decision, it alleviated all the stress that came with it.

Heading into the kitchen to top of her beverage of choice with more whipped cream, Faye paused in front of the fridge. There, beside the much neglected grocery list, held in place with a poker chip refrigerator magnet, was a photo of everyone's last day aboard the old fishing vessel.

Jet and Caroline beamed from ear to ear with all the happiness of a newly wed couple, while Ed sat in front of them with Ein in a bear hug. Beside them Spike stood with his arms around her waist, both of them looking much happier than she recalled given the circumstances.

Fishing around behind a few items, she removed the can of whip cream she had tried to hide, given Spike's habit of randomly spraying it into his mouth, she finally located it; only to be met with disappointment when a small dollop came from the can, followed by the empty discharge of co2.

With a small groan, she tossed the empty can in the trash, grabbing her mug from the counter. A change of scenery hadn't been the only change. Since moving into the house, Spike had taken a job with Doohan, and Faye herself, had been working at a flower shop that Caroline had opened. For a while the two of them had been going after small fry bounties to supplement there income, and while Spike still did on occasion, Faye had given it up a couple months ago.

Taking a sip from her mug, Faye was content to just enjoy a day off, as she returned to watching the rain fall in sheets outside the window, just in time for a beat up jeep to pull into the drive way. She shivered slightly, despite the sweatshirt that she had stolen from Spike's side of the closet that she wore.

Setting her mug on the window sill, a smile graced her features as she watched the lanky man exit the vehicle and make a bee line for the house against the torrents in record time.

"Jesus it's really coming down out there." The door shut as Spike made his way into the kitchen, depositing his drenched coat on the back of a chair at the table.

"Mm hm." Faye kept her eyes on the downpour outside. She grinned as she felt Spike's arms wrap around her waist, the familiar scent of faint mercenary grease and cigarettes pervading her senses. "How was work?"

"Eh, it was work I guess." He kissed her hair, resting his chin on top of her head. He shifted his gaze to the living room and a mountain of unfolded laundry on the couch. "What have you been up to all day?"

Closing her eyes, and leaning back into his embrace, Faye grinned. " Not much, pretty much had a lazy day."

"I can see that." Spike chuckled.

Silence settled over the room, save for a pattering of rain against the window. Until Faye finally spoke up. "What are you thinking?"

"Huh? Oh I was just thinking…" He tightened his hold around her waist a little more. " I was thinking that there used to be three things that I hated."

"Yeah, yeah, I'm pretty sure I've heard that before." Faye elbowed him in the side slightly. " And now?"

Sliding his hand slowly under the hem of the sweatshirt, his fingers slowly splayed across the slight swell of her stomach. " That's a good question." His gaze once more shifted to the couch, Blue lazily napping on the back. " But I think I know the answer."

"And what's that?"

Kissing the side of her neck, he smirked against her skin. " I've changed my opinion on all of it."

"Good."

"I still can't believe I made a baby."

Faye tried to hold back a dry chuckle. " You did huh? All by yourself? " She yawned, leaning back against him a bit more. " I'll remember that when it wakes up in the middle of the night."

"Ok, ok. Fine. I can't believe we made a baby. That better?"

"Yes. Much better." Sliding her hand under the hem of the sweatshirt as well, she let her hand rest atop Spike's, reveling in moment. "Hey Spike?"

"Hmm?"

"Promise me something."

"What?"

"Promise me that we'll at least get married before this kid turns one."

Turning his hand over, Spike laced his fingers with hers, slipping them from under the hem of the shirt. " Well, I think I could manage that."

"I know we're slackers, but we really gotta draw the line somewhere, ya know?"

" Yeah, Yeah. I hear ya." The rain had slowly subsided, Spike focused on a few birds bathing a puddle in the middle of the yard. " You ever think we'd be doing this?"

"Doing what? Living like real hardworking honest people? Not in a million years."

"Ya know, it's not to late to bail."

"Same goes for you." Turning around in his lose hold, Faye wrapped her arms around his neck. " But don't think you're getting rid of me that easy."

"I wouldn't dream of it." Leaning in he kissed her softly, pulling back slightly at the audible rumble of his own stomach. " Did you ever happen to make it to the store?"

" I thought about maybe picking up some neutral onesies and socks, but I didn't even get that accomplished." Faye chuckled slightly, kissing his forehead.

"So I'm gonna take that as a no then?"

"Sorry." Faye slipped out of his hold, grabbing her mug from the window sill, and setting it in the sink.

" Well take out it is. What sounds good? Pizza or Chinese?"

"Chinese!" Faye was quick to answer, the menu with the phone number already in hand.

"Well call it in, I'm gonna take a quick shower."

As Spike headed down the hall toward the bathroom, Faye started to punch in the number, pausing for a moment. " Spike?"

"What?" Came the reply from the hallway.

" I love you."

After a few minutes of silence, a shirtless Spike reappeared in the kitchen. " Love you too. And Faye?"

"Huh?"

" Thank you."

"For what?"

"Nothing. Just thank you."

"Well you're welcome." Smiling warmly, Faye grabbed the phone off the table. "Now get your smelly ass in the shower."

Spike gave her a crooked grin. "Gee I don't know, you're making it awfully hard to with all the sweet talk."

"Go!"

" Ok, Ok, I'm going." Raising his hands in mock surrender, Spike backed away slowly into the hallway and out of sight.

Satisfied once she heard the bathroom door shut, and the shower start up, Faye shook her head with a grin, her hand coming to rest on her stomach. " I swear you better not turn out like your father kiddo."

Starting to dial again, Faye paused once more as everything finally sunk in at once. All of the ups and downs that life had thrown at her, and at Spike even, and yet here they were. She grinned wide, setting the phone back down on the table.

Life truly was one big gamble, and she was never one to turn down a good bet. For once lady luck had truly been on her side for once. She knew it wouldn't always been easy, but she knew how much Spike liked a challenge.

Things had changed so much, she knew nothing was certain, but as far as Faye was concerned, they were both to stubborn to give up when things got rough.

Listening to Spike's muffled singing from the shower, Faye rolled her eyes. And he had the nerve to tell me I was off key…

A wicked grin slowly spread across her face as she made her way to the kitchen sink, turning the water on full force, counting back in her head from ten, as she got to one, she held back a laugh.

"Damnit Faye!"

She let the water run a few more seconds before turning it off, grinning from ear to ear. No one ever said things had to change completely.

After finally calling in their order, Faye hung up the phone just in time for Spike to emerge from the shower, towel wrapped around his waist, heading to fridge to grab a beer.

As he shut the fridge and turned, he met Faye's intense gaze as she just stared at him. "What?"

"Nothing." Faye smiled. She really never had imagined having anything remotely close to this, life really was uncertain, but she was going to her best to go with it and live like real people do.

There was nothing left for them to do but buckle up, hold on tight and get ready for the crazy ride.