A\N: Again, I am basing Buffy's prenatal visit on research and what I've been told. Feel free to correct me if I've gone wrong anywhere.
A majority of the appointment was taken up by questions about health, lifestyle, genetics and some basic tests but the moment Buffy and Spike had anticipated soon arrived when the doctor wanted to do an ultrasound to determine her due date.
"It shouldn't take long. We just want to be sure of how far along you are". Buffy clambered onto an examination bed and lifted up her shirt up slightly so that it ended at the bottom of her ribcage. She barely noticed the doctor clicking all sorts of buttons on the Ultrasound machine when she saw what was underneath her shirt. It was the first time she'd taken a look at her exposed belly from a horizontal angle. God she looked huge. She couldn't believe that she was only going to get bigger. Her thoughts were interuppted by a splash of freezing jelly on her stomach. She arched her back slightly and goosebumps crept across her chest and all the way up her arms.
"I should've warned you that it's a bit cold", the woman chirped.
"It's fine". Buffy managed a friendly smile despite the shock still flowing through her. Spike was sat at the chair beside the bench, his hands rustling against the layer of paper rolled acrosss it. He soon found his hands separated as Buffy wormed one of hers in between them.
"Hey, you're more nervous than I am. You know that's not allowed right?". "Didn't know there were rules pet". He brought his hands back together again but Buffy refused to move hers. She tried not to tense her stomach as the doctor pressed the Ultrasound probe against it, smearing the liquid across the lower half of her torso. It took a few seconds before an odd gulping noise came from the machine. It sounded vaguely familiar. Something like a sped up heart beat. Similar to Riley's after the Initiative had drugged him. Maybe a little slower. She and Spike soon realised that was exactly what it was when a fuzzy black, white and grey image appeared on the screen. The first thing that attracted their attention was the large black jelly bean shaped blob in the centre. It moved from side to side every so often as the doctor shifted the probe. She was so small. So tiny. Who would've thought that all of this stress was caused by this tiny little thing in front of her. She knew that she'd be happy dealing with it forever if it meant she could hold this little person in her arms. Buffy's own heart was pumping thunderously in her chest so loudly that she could feel it pulsating in her throat. The look on Spike's face, when she craned her neck to face him, sent even more rushes of adrenaline through her body. It was a look she'd never seen on anybody's face, let alone expected to see on his. He was completely mesmerised by the picture before him yet it was obvious that he was utterly terrified. Buffy had always known that there was a possibility of her being a mum one day but when had Spike ever expected to be a dad? Never! Well not in over a hundred years at least. She squeezed his hand again after several seconds had passed but he only just managed to blink. His shoulders dropped slightly and he relaxed his rigid hand but didn't remove it from Buffy's warm palm.
"You okay?", she giggled, tears clearly having an impact on her tone of voice.
"More than okay". Spike only just realised that his voice was faltering too.
"Heartbeat's perfectly normal", the doctor confirmed after several moments had passed.
"I just want to take a few measurements now so we can find out when you're due". The proud parents looked on as she studied the screen carefully, referring to her notes every now and then.
"Well using the LMP you gave me and the measurements and appearance of the foetus, I'd say you are around 8 weeks pregnant so I'd expect to see you're baby arriving in January".
January. Buffy's own birth month. She didn't know what to say next. She had so many questions that no one would probably know the answers to for the next few months.
"Okay", was all she could say in an attempt to keep her mouth from running away with her.
"Now we'd like you to come back in about 4 weeks. It's just routine to make sure everything's as it should be and to run a few more tests. If you need to come back earlier for any reason please don't hesitate to reschedule your visit". Buffy's cheeks flushed a bright shade of pink. She threw Spike a sheepish look, which he returned, before rolling down her shirt.
"Erm, that may be a problem". The middle aged woman looked up from her notes.
"How come?".
"Well we're leaving for Tenerife later today and plan to stay there".
"You never mentioned travelling Miss Summers?".
"Yeah I know, I was going to ask you about it round about nowish but I didn't need to when you sort of indirectly brought it up now". The doctor didn't look amused.
"Is it okay to fly?". Her doctor let out a noticeable sigh and sat back in her chair,
"Medically speaking, you can go without my permission but I would stop and think about how you're feeling Miss Summers. You told me earlier that you've been suffering quite badly from sickness and exhaustion. Of course this can be quite natural at this stage of pregnancy but it can often be a problem when travelling".
"But I could go, if I wanted to?".
"Buffy", Spike whispered under his breath. Buffy ignored him.
"I wouldn't recommend it. Maybe give it a couple of weeks and see how you're feeling".
"No I need to go". Spike shuffled his chair closer to the bench but Buffy pulled away from him fractionally.
"I'll do whatever I need to once we land but it's important that we get there".
"If you're sure you want to go, then I guess I can't stop you. You just need to make sure that you make another appointment for 4 weeks in Tenerife".
"It's not a problem, I promise".
"I think that's everything then. I give you all my best Miss Summers", she glanced to Spike,
"Sir". Buffy knew that Spike wasn't going to let this go easily so quickly shook the doctor's hand before slipping out of the door into the hospital hallway. Spike also shook the doctor's hand before shooting after Buffy but he was too late as he saw her disappear into the toilets.
Buffy had been in a cubicle for at least 10 minutes now, dwelling on what might happen when she went back out there. She wasn't exactly going to tell Spike how sick she'd just been. It wouldn't help her case. He'd probably guess anyway. He'd always been the one who could read straight through her. The bleep of Buffy's text message tone snapped her out of her deep thoughts. She dug the cell out of her jean pocket, flipping it open. She read the message in irritation.
"Hiding isn't gonna make me leave". Buffy knew it was time to face the music. She wasn't denying that her decision was rash but she needed to get out of the country. After opening the door, Buffy rubbed her face in her hands, trying to clear the potential water works, but oh boy did she wish she hadn't. By the time she noticed the woman standing in front of her, it was too late to run or fight. Not that she could in her condition anyway. Her natural instinct was to yell Spike's name but the woman had her freezing hand around her throat before she could shout out the second syllable. Buffy gagged as she felt her feet leave the floor. She was being picked up and held in midair. She tried to throw a punch but missed, increasing the mysterious woman's grip on her windpipe. Buffy frantically looked around, desperately trying to find a way out of this. Her feet were in range of the main door. God she hoped Spike was still outside. She kicked the door with all her strength several times, creating pretty noisy bangs, before she was dragged away from the source of the alarm she was making. Her attacker had her against the basins, her hand still not leaving Buffy's neck.
"Buffy?!". It was Spike. When no reply was voiced, the vampire charged through into the restroom, taking no more than a few milliseconds to see Buffy being strangled to death and to identify her attacker. Spike didn't hesitate in pulling the woman off of a choking Buffy who slid down the counter and onto the floor, gasping for air. Spike had the psycho by her hair and slammed the front of her head against the wall 3 times before she retaliated and head butted his face with the strongest part of her skull. He flew backwards into the wall, clutching his nose, but ducked as a punch was slung his way. The crack of plaster echoed in the room as a huge, deep hole was made in the wall by her fist. After dragging her hand out, Spike circled the woman. She soon joined in but her movement was much slower. More elegant and relaxed than his.
"You just couldn't leave it alone could you Illyria?". She smiled evilly as he used her name.
"I don't need your permission to hunt my prey vampire". Spike flinched at the word. Prey. It reminded him of when he was young, around about 65, when he and Angel would stop at nothing once finding a helpless young soul that they knew would taste good. It was even better if their meal was a challenge to catch.
"There's more chance of the sun exploding tomorra' than getting your hands on her love. You'll be a pile of blue hair extensions by the time I've finished with you".
"It amuses me that you think you have any sort of a chance. I'm going to enjoy killing you after you watch your weakened slayer and the abomination that grows within her die". That. Was. It. Spike let his game face take over and he lunged for Illyria's throat. He was knocked back again with a side swing of her fist but he wasn't giving up any time soon. He ran towards her again but purposely slipped and skidded the rest of the way along the floor, making the unprepared god lose her footing. Her head landed on the tiled floor with an earth shuddering smack and she lay distracted for a few moments. This gave Spike enough time to start running water into a basin. Once Illyria had found the strength to stand again, which didn't take very long, she looked strangely at the almost full sink of water.
"Your actions are confusing. What do you hope to achieve? The transparent liquid is harmless". Spike wiped away the blood from his lip before shrugging.
"Yeah but it buys me some time". Spike snatched up a handful of Illyria's hair and hauled her towards the now overflowing pool of water. He shoved her whole head into the basin, using all his strength to keep her from resisting. He added another hand to her head as she pushed back slightly. He was standing at an angle where her legs couldn't reach him and her arms weren't all that flexible. She coukyd only wave them about a little. Slowly, after several seconds, her movements began to reduce and eventually stop altogether. Spike held on just in case she was playing him but he soon realised she wasn't waking up any time soon and let her body plummet to the floor. He immediately ran over to Buffy, who hadn't moved from her upright position against the counter, and lifted her to her feet.
"Baby, can you walk? Buffy? Buffy!", he repeated when she she just stared at him in shock.
"I-I think so", she panted.
"Come on then. We need to go. Drowning Illyria will only leave her unconscious for a few hours. She doesn't know where we're going". Spike wrapped an arm around her waist, giving her some support without attracting too much attention. He glanced at her several times as they made their way out of the hospital. His gut instinct was to stop, check if she was okay, check if the baby was okay but he talked himself out of it, knowing that he needed to get them out of there. Now...