"They're coming."

I hear them, too. Unnatural howls and wails echoing from afar, so loud that I wouldn't be surprised if all of the Sunnyhell underground could hear them. I don't know how many there are. Was too busy bloody running to stop and count.

We've taken refuge in a small hiding hole in the catacombs. It's far too cramped to give birth in. Added to that, it's a dead end.

Buffy lets out a pained cry and I turn my attention back to her. She's sweating. Is she supposed to be sweating? We've been running, but it usually takes a hell of a lot more than that to get a Slayer to sweat.

"You alright?" I ask.

She glares. I've been on the receiving end of that glare too many soddin' times to count over the past eight months. "Do I look OK to you?!" she snaps, and I remind myself that it's not her fault. Just her hormones.

She cradles her protruding belly and takes in several deep breaths. Bloody hell, I wish Red or Glinda were here. Or Joyce. They'd know what to do.

"Sorry, luv." I brush aside a strand of her hair that's stuck to the sweat on her forehead "We need to get you to a hospital."

"And put all those people in danger?" she says in between breaths, before shaking her head. "Can't. Won't. Wouldn't do any good, anyway. We'll still be in danger."

"Least then you'd have a doctor."

"I'll be fine," she assures me. But I can't exactly believe her when it's clear from the expression on her beautiful face just how much pain she's in. "I read the books. I know how it works. Besides, Slayer healing."

"You might have it, but the Bit doesn't." And if that sweet little bit doesn't make it, I'll never forgive myself.

"If I feel something go wrong, I'll tell you and then we can risk the hospital. But right now, we've got bigger things to deal with."

They're closer. I can actually hear what they're saying now, and it doesn't sound good. I hear one demon suggest ripping the Nibblet out of Buffy's belly.

I growl. The demon's itching to get out and slaughter them all. I'm willing to let it. But I have to take the fight away from Buffy. She's in no shape to defend herself and the Bit.

"I'll hold 'em off," I say. "Stay here."

She glares again. Oh, is she really gonna do this now? "No… I'll help."

She tries to get up, but I place my hand on her shoulders and push her back down again, against the wall. "Remember what I said, luv? The Bit comes first."

"And I'll never forgive myself if she dies because I was stupid and stubborn." She sighs.

"Know you'd usually be able to tear 'em limb from bloody limb," I tell her. "But right now, let me take care of it." They're almost here, and if they trap us in this little hiding hole…

It sounds like an entire bloody army. Should be fun. And at least they're not those Round Table wannabes. I can actually hit this lot.

I pause, sigh and go to step back through the hole in the wall. Buffy's hand stops me, grabbing mine and pulling me back towards her.

"Spike… I love you."

She looks desperate. Pleading. In pain.

I wish I could believe her. But after what she did when she discovered the truth – and then again when Dru showed up – I can't bring myself to. She's only saying it because there's a bloody good chance I won't make it out of this all in one piece. That way she won't have to follow up on her words and give me what I want.

She's saying it because I'm her bloody hero, whether she likes it or not.

I have to be honest with her, just in case I do make it out of this. Save her the mistake and later embarrassment.

"No, you don't. But thanks for saying it."

I jump outside the hiding hole before she can say anything more. I draw the sword I grabbed before we left and pick up the axe that Buffy dropped. There's no way to block the hole in the wall, I realize.

I'll just have to do.

The demon hoard comes charging around the corner. I shift into game face. The first one launches itself at me, and I cut it down with a single swing of my sword.

They keep coming, and I keep fighting. Slash. Swing. Cut. Kick. Wash, rinse, repeat.

Eventually I head-butt the last vamp before slicing his head off with the axe. Seeing that there's nothing left, I stop to rest. I'm covered in demon guts and blood – some of which is my own. Dirty, tired… I probably look like I was dragged through Hell and back again.

I hear Buffy crying out behind me and I quickly turn. There're dead demons lying all around me. I'm almost certain that none of them made it by me, but…

"Luv?"

"I'm fine," she calls out between gasps. "Or as fine as I was before. She's coming. It… it hurts, Spike. It really hurts."

My beautiful, brave girl. "I know, luv. I know. Just gotta stay strong. Keep going." I don't go to her in case more of the Hell Bitch's demons come.

I'm right. When I turn back around, I see one of her ugly little minions trying to creep up on me. I cut him down no problem, but directly behind him is someone familiar. He looks like an elderly balding man, but his lizard tail gives away his true nature. I know this bloke. Doc, I think his name is? Had no sodding clue he was playing for the other team.

He swings his sword towards my head, and I block it with my own. Behind him, a second wave of demons appear – a second wave that's larger than the first. Bloody hell.

When our swords lock, Doc starts to speak. "Stand aside, vampire. Give her to us. The goddess will reward you with all that you desire. That chip of yours? Gone. Money, prestige, wealth? Yours. Even the Slayer can be yours to do with as you please after we've taken the Key."

Key. They think she's just an object; something they can use. They have no idea who she really is: The Slayer's child.

And mine.

He waits for my reply with our weapons still locked in place. The demons behind him wait too, though unlike Doc, they're clearly itching for a fight.

Buffy's cries have stopped.

There's silence.

I close my eyes and let a century's worth of dark, demonic power crash through every inch of my body like a tidal wave. My eyes open again, and I narrow my gaze. "You shall not pass."

With all my strength I push him back and knock the sword from his grasp, before I swing my axe in a perfect arc and take off his head. It hits the far wall before rolling into a puddle of dirty water.

The demons roar and start to charge.