Chapter Thirty-Seven
Buffy was relieved to see she had a female doctor for her ultrasound, this time around. It felt like the whole world had changed since she'd been in the examination chair but, then, of course it had – time being the least turned around thing of all, compared to the epic emotional journey everyone had undertaken.
"Now, Buffy, this is going to be a little cold," the doctor told her, applying gel to her belly.
The Slayer gave her a nervous smile before looking across at Spike, who was standing sentry, as if something might attack at any moment.
"Come here," she told him, offering her hand.
He looked relieved for the contact.
"Here goes nothing," Buffy whispered.
"We're together either way," said Spike.
"'Till the end of the world," they agreed, before falling back into silence.
The doctor had a verdict, it seemed...
Spike and Buffy walked out of the doctor's room hand-in-hand, approaching their group of friends who were looking expectantly up at them.
The Slayer felt like she could barely hold herself together for the short distance, but she somehow managed it.
Closing the final few inches, she handed a piece of paper first to Dawn, then Giles, then on around the rest of the group.
Once everyone had a look, they glanced back at the couple, seeking confirmation directly from their lips.
Spike broke into a smile that could melt ice caps as he took the little printout in his hands again, gazing at it.
"We're having a girl," Buffy announced.
The End.
Epilogue
Buffy had made a decision.
True, it was a decision about a scenario that would probably never happen, but it was always good to be prepared, just in case.
The thing was, these were the happiest days of her life, and that made her nervous, because things were almost too good. And too-good-to-be-true things tended to be not good, actually. And even if they were good, then that could be bad, because good things tended to end. And, god, she was starting to hyperventilate.
None of this matters, she told herself, because I have a plan. I've made a decision. She had told Spike as much.
He'd frowned and nodded, and not really said anything. Because what could he say? It was still important that he knew, though. Buffy was sure of that.
She went over it again, like a mantra.
"If I go back. If time shifts, somehow, and I end up back in the crappy, original reality, it will be okay. I'll go into the Magic Box and I'll tell everyone to stop yelling. They'll listen to me because I'm the Slayer. Probably. Well, I mean, I am the Slayer – that bit's for sure. There is another one, but, y'know what? That bit's not important. And who cares if they don't listen? There's only one person I really need to get through to, and he will listen."
The baby kicked, then, as if in agreement. Rubbing her belly, Buffy continued to explain the plan carefully to her bump.
"I'll go in there, and I'll grab Spike. I'll pull him out of there, and I'll kiss him, and tell him I love him, and that nothing else matters; that we can fix the bad stuff, that I'll be better, and – who am I kidding? He'll probably stop listening to me as soon as I tell him I love him, and then he'll get that really adorable look on his face. Just wait! You'll love his moon eyes!"
The baby kicked again and Buffy stopped pacing, taking a seat on the edge of her and Spike's new king-size bed instead. She was getting to the most important part of her plan.
"When Spike calms down, and we've kissed, and he's probably got me to repeat the 'I Love You' like six more times, we'll talk, and we will fix things, like I said. We'll get all the help we can, and we'll find a way to have you again. Have you there, in that reality."
Buffy let out a little sigh, still rubbing her belly. "What I'm saying is, things will work out, even if the worst happens. Everything will be fine, and we'll be a family."
"Are you done now, luv?" Spike asked, appearing at the doorway.
Buffy smiled up at him in answer, leaning further back on the bed. "Rub my feet?"
"Sure, pet," he agreed, approaching her and laying a kiss on her forehead and a kiss on the bump.
Buffy sighed as soon as his cool hands touched her warm, puffy ankles.
"Do you think I'm crazy?" she asked him.
"No, Slayer. I know you're crazy."
She swatted playfully at his arm. "Gee, thanks."
"Wasn't complaining," Spike pointed out.
"Well, good," said Buffy. Then, after a pause, she added, "So this is us?"
"This is us," he agreed, switching feet.
"Any regrets?" they asked each other, in unison.
"None," they agreed.
The baby kicked at that, too.