Title: A Mother's Wrath

Author: Tycho

Contact: tychocelchu@optusnet.com.au

Series: BtVS

Chapter: Five - I Want A Family

Rating: PG-13

Code: - B/S

Summary: An AU of the Glory Saga. The Monks create someone closer than a sister.

Timeframe: Takes place just after "Doomed"

Archive: You betcha. Just lemme know.

Disclaimer: Whedon owns all.

Spike had fully expected Joyce to be angry. Its emotion that a guy expects when telling a woman he's just knocked her daughter up. He expected frowns, shouts, laying blame; perhaps some tears as that blame reached herself.

But instead an icy rage seemed to take hold of her, and a sharp pain erupted in his left cheek as Joyce slapped him hard. "How dare you. How dare you come into my house spouting these hurtful lies. I never really believed Buffy's insistence that you were evil. But this?! Is this how you get your kicks now? Playing with peoples' minds? Giving them hope for the impossible so you can watch their dreams get shattered? Get out!" She pointed towards the door.

Spike shook his head trying to clear the shock from the slap and wrap his mind around what Joyce was telling him. "Joyce? Wha? I'm not lyin'...."

"Don't say it Spike. Giles told me all about Slayers." Tears began to well up in her eyes, eager to stream down her cheeks. "They fight, they die. And they can't have children!"

Spike sank back into the armchair as he began to comprehend what Joyce was telling him. This was why Joyce was so upset. After her experiences with Angelus, a taunt on this subject must be the most horrible thing imaginable to her. He sat forward and captured her eyes with his, trying to convey whatever scrap of honesty he could find. "Joyce, I promise you. I'm not lyin'. I don't know how or why it happened, but Buffy is pregnant. Maybe it had somethin' to do with my brief stint as a Slayer, or somethin' else entirely. Hellmouth an' all. I don't know. That's more the Watcher's department. If you want proof, talk to Willow. She'll tell you."

Joyce scoffed angrily at this. "You're trying to tell me you convinced Willow of this nonsense?"

"Other way 'round pet. I was in the middle of a lovely suicide attempt when Red gave me somethin' t'live for. But that's not going to do any of us any good if Buffy decides to pay a visit to one of those clinics you yanks are so fond of." Spike's temper was starting to get the better of him, especially when he thought of the Slayer doing exactly that. He tried to calm himself as Joyce began to deny that her precious daughter would never do such a thing, the tremor in her voice telling Spike she was desperately trying to convince herself of that fact.

He put everything he had into his closing argument, his pleading blue eyes revealing his desperation. "I don't care if she hates me and wants nothing more to do with me. I've dedicated my life to death and mayhem, and suddenly I've been given this chance to create somethin' worthwhile. Please Joyce. Help me. Convince Buffy to keep the baby."