"I wish I could say that it's good to see you, William." The woman stood up slowly and put the girl child on the bed with her two siblings. The eldest remained standing in the corner, clutching at the cross she held. The woman approached the creature of the night and looked him up and down, the way only a mother can.

Said vampire appeared to be trying to collect his wits, which had been scattered by the appearance of someone he'd thought back in merry old England. Spike squinted as if that would make her vanish or her appearance change. "Mum? What are you doing here? You're supposed to be in London! Not gallivanting around with gypsies."

The raven haired teen looked in confusion from the woman she'd come to call Mother to the monster who'd violated their home. Neither were acting as they should, as they had begun.

The vampire had kicked open the door and sauntered in taunting them. As expected.

Mother had been waiting with crosses and Holy Water. As expected.

Then they had begun to talk, and now....

They were HUGGING? Definitely not expected. Although the vampire had restored his human guise and was looking embarrassed as she fussed over him in the same way she fussed over all the clan's children.

Suddenly the demon had freed himself from her and was over by the open window, frowning. He turned back. "He won't do it will he? Reverse the curse?"

Mother shook her head, "No. He can't. And the woman who cast it died as a result of the casting." She stood taller, with pride, "And I won't."

To Ravenna's surprise the vampire smiled. Suddenly he appeared boyish and charming. "Good. Wouldn't want to see a Smythe surrender to threats." The smile disappeared as he became serious again.

Deadly serious. "I can save you, Mum. Th' whole bleeding caravan. But I need to make it look real, know what I mean?"

She didn't hesitate. "If it will save the children, do what you must."

-------------------

Buffy broke off the kiss and looked at Riley, studying his face. It was open, and honest and completely in line with everything that Angel had left her for. She could easily see him painting that picket fence, or mowing the lawn, or romping with blonde little girls in the sunshine. It was at that moment Buffy realized that she had no reason to continue agonizing over her decision.

It was already made. There would be no visit to the clinic. No guilty secrets to hide from her mother and friends. Buffy knew her time on this world was limited, but if wanting this child was selfish then so be it.

Of course, now there was a new question. One that could only be answered by the man in front of her.

-------------------

"In that wagon is your family. Your wife and daughters will die tonight without my protection." Darla stroked the gypsy's cheek, "But if you'll do as I say, your family can live."

Spike swung around the corner of the caravan in full game face, blood dripping from his fangs and lips. He summoned a tidy belch and let it roll out his throat. Darla looked at him in disgust and snapped the human's neck. She believed he was an imbecile, and Spike liked it that way. He gave her his best confused look, "What?", and leaped to the ground. He grabbed Dru and began dancing with her as she babbled about music and mercy.

Darla was furious, her yellow eyes reflected the firelight as if they were the flames of hell. "Show none."

Inside the caravan, Ravenna watched as the two vampires cavorted and played amidst the death and fire that had once been their camp, their home. She forced herself to look at her father's corpse lying in the grass, his neck twisted at an unnatural angle. Their vengeance had brought this destruction down upon them, further vengeance would serve no purpose, and would possibly wipe their family from the face of the earth.

Ravenna turned away and looked within to what was left. Her little brothers so bravely trying not to cry. Her sister, the youngest of them all with crying as only small girls can cowering between both of them. And the woman they all called mother, whether she was or not, blood from the wound on her neck staining the neckline of her dress. No. The next time she saw the one called William, she would thank him.

And then drive a stake through his dead heart.

Soon the vampires left, and they were left at peace. For weeks the children would fear the setting of the sun and nightmares troubled them constantly. Ravenna had nightmares too, but more of the What If? variety. What if the curse had never been cast? What if there had been no need?

What if William had been like his sire?

And at every dusk, she would see a small smile on her mother's face as she spoke of her son.

-------------------

Joyce let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. Spike had not sat still during his tale, finding himself unable to be calm during this confession, and now his nervous twitching, fidgeting and occasional pacing had increased. The pacing that he was once again making her dizzy with. Somehow Joyce didn't think the worst was over.

She forced a small comforting smile, "I always thought that they broke the mould with you, Spike. You've proved that, and I'm happy for you. But why tell me?"

Spike took an unneeded breath. "So that you could understand that family is the most important thing in the world to me. And because we are now family."

Joyce raised an eyebrow in bemusement. "We are?"

"Willow did a spell. Coupl'a weeks back."

Joyce rolled her eyes, "Oh."

Spike paused and gave her a sympathizing look. "One little spell, yeah. Turned Harris into a demon magnet, made the watcher go blind, and for a time I was a Slayer, but still with all me parts in place."

The Slayer's mother tried not to smirk. "Well thank goodness for that. But what about Buffy? Was she hurt?"

Spike blinked rapidly as he tried to remember, then ducked his head. Had he been human, crimson would have suffused his cheeks. "Uh, no. Just the opposite actually. See.....Cause of the spell you see, we, uh Buffy and I, ...."

"Wethoughtwewereengagedallmakingplansan'ally'knowanwekindasnuckoutand...."

Years of experience with Willowbabble had given Joyce the valuable ability to understand one breath speeches. "And?"

"You're going to be a Grandmum."

-------------------

Buffy gave Riley her _dead serious_ look. It was kind of like her _going to stake you now_ look but with lack of stake. "For this to work, there's something I have to ask you."

He grinned like a foolish boy, ignoring her look. "As long its not classified, you can ask me anything."

"Could you raise a child that wasn't yours?"

Buffy watched as the emotions flashed across the face of the soldier in front of her. Idly she wondered if he knew just how easy he was to read. There was confusion first, of course followed by realization of why she would ask that question.

And there it was - disgust, revulsion, the look of a man who has been asked to accept another's leavings.

She had her answer. After all, first impressions last. No second thoughts would sway her, she refused to let any child of hers be put in the inevitable position of being unwanted by the sole parent. "I guess not."

Buffy left.