Title: Night and Day (New Life- pt 19)
Author: Nimue
Rating: PG-13
Feedback: Yes, please
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, UPN, Fox... Just Borrowing.
Summary: The moment comes closer. Spike and Dawn finally have a chance to talk.
Night and Day
"What did I do this time? Spike asked, closing the door behind him.
"Xander just needs some time to adjust, that's all," Giles responded,
sipping at his tea. Dawn was sitting on the couch, staring quietly at
Spike. She didn't want to force herself on him, but she was desperate for him to acknowledge her.
"I was thinking on the way back here...don't babies need things?" Spike
asked, looking quite dumfounded by the sudden reality of his life. " I mean like cribs and bottles and diapers and.... baby things?"
"Well, in anticipation of Buffy's return, we took care of all of that,"
Giles answered.
"We even made her a room," Dawn whispered. Spike looked at her, suddenly remembering how much he missed the Niblet. "Want me to show you?"
"Yeah," Spike said, holding out his hand. Dawn grabbed on, noticing
immediately how warm he was. She looked at his eyes, her own wide with
surprise. "Guess I got some 'splaining to do anyway."
Dawn just nodded, holding tightly to his hand, and lead him back upstairs.
*****
Buffy was still awake, alternating between chatting with Tara and screaming bloody murder, but at the moment she was quiet. A thin sheen of sweat covered her body and Tara could tell that she was already completely exhausted. Her eyes were dark hollows and her face was lined with worry and fatigue. It would be easier for her if Spike was here, Tara thought. She would at least be distracted.
"You alright, Buffy?" Tara asked, holding her hand. Buffy squeezed it
softly.
"I'm tired," Buffy answered. "It hurts."
"Is there anything I can do?"
"No," Buffy answered, staring at the lights around her. "Pretty lights."
"Part of the spell," Tara answered, smiling serenely.
"Do you think I'm going to die?" Buffy asked, as the pain started again. This time she didn't scream. She was too tired to scream anymore and the pain was getting worse and more frequent. She closed her eyes and held Tara's hand tightly.
"No, Buffy," Tara whispered, brushing her hair from her face. "No more
dying".
*****
Dawn flicked on the light in what used to be her room. Her bed was still there, but so were all of the accoutrements of a baby room. Crib, cradle, changing table, toys. All sorts of things Spike knew nothing about. What he did notice, however, were the walls. Two were painted midnight blue, with stars and the moon. The other two were pale sky blue, with a sun and huge puffy white clouds.
"Tara and I painted it," Dawn said. "Night and Day. Light and Dark. Just reminded me of you and Buffy." she said.
"You're idea, Nibs?" Spike asked. Dawn sat down on the floor in the middle of the room. He came in and sat across from her.
"Yeah," Dawn answered. " I kinda like art. Only thing I'm any good at.
Guess the whole light and dark thing doesn't work anymore now that you..."
"No, it's perfect," Spike said, letting his hand drop onto her knee softly. She smiled.
"See, where the two meet it's a little bit of both. Kind of like you really are. Both of you."
"Is *that* what you think?" Spike said. "Thought I was all *evil* and
*dark* and Grrr and Buffy was all *goodness* and *light*. "
Dawn giggled. Somewhere, she still had a little crush on him. "Yeah,
right," she answered. "You're real evil now. And Buffy... you've seen her in the mornings. No goodness there." Spike chuckled. "Do you really like it?"
"I *love* it, " he assured the girl. Dawn was silent a long moment.
"Spike?"
"Yeah, Nib."
"What happened to you?"
Spike thought for once before answering. "I think I will let Buffy tell you about ... where we were."
"I can wait for that," Dawn complained. "But what ... I mean..."
"Oh," Spike answered. He took the girl's hand in his, and pulled it up to his chest, pressing it against his heart. He watched her eyes as she felt his heart beating. They were wide and as curious as a little child.
"Are you human now?" Dawn asked. "Like me?"
"Not quite. Still have the whole fangy face thing. But I have this silly heartbeat and I breathe. And I can go out for a stroll at noon now without being reduced to ashtray contents, or so it seems."
"What does it mean?" Dawn said. Spike hadn't really thought beyond the
basics discoveries.
"Not sure yet, Niblet. Guess we'll figure it out as we go."
"You going to stay with us?" Dawn asked, her hand still on his warm chest.
"If that is what Buffy wants. And, of course, if you don't mind."
Dawn giggled. " I guess I'll deal with it if I *have* too," She said
sarcastically. He pushed her playfully.
"Like the room?" a voice said from the doorway.
Spike stood. Xander walked from the darkened hallway into the bright lights of the room. Anya stood in the doorway, leaning against the frame.
"Girls worked hard on it," Xander continued, scanning the wall.
"Yeah," Spike said, sliding his hands into his jeans pockets and rocking
back on his heels. "They did a wonderful job."
"Xander made the crib, And the cradle," Anya said, standing on her toes so she could see Spike over Xander's shoulder. Spike looked shocked for a moment. He turned and walked over to the furniture. It was beautifully made, with little moons and suns carved into the edges, the wood stained a deep cherry colour. The boy had a real knack for this.
"You *made* this?" Spike asked, turning back toward Xander.
Xander shuffled his feet and looked to the floor. "Yeah. For Buffy."
Spike thought a moment. In a way, he felt sorry for the whelp. He had been there himself. Still felt like he was there sometimes. Carrying a torch for the one woman who would never love you back. "Thank you," Spike said.
Xander just nodded, staring at the Vampire with a mixture of hatred and a tenuous understanding.
A brutal, earth-shattering scream broke the silence.
Spike was out the door and around the corner to Buffy's room with lightning quickness, the rest of them at his heels. "Buffy? Buffy? She alright in there?" Spike called into the bedroom, pounding on the door with his fist, a mixture of concern and annoyance in his voice.
His question was answered with a primal scream from Buffy. The sound of her pain was making him lose his mind. "That's it, I'm coming in," he said reaching for the knob. Xander grabbed his hand and Dawn latched onto his arm to stop him.
"Spike, no," Xander said, trying to be calm. The sound was scaring the
daylights out of him as well.
"And why not? I need to do *something*."
" I think you have done quite enough already," Xander retorted, losing his newfound understanding for just a moment. This was not going to be easy. Somewhere he would always be jealous that this was real. Now it was Spike and Buffy that were connected always. Not him. Spike.
"And tell me again why in bloody hell I should listen to you?" Spike
hissed, forgetting his pity, almost changing to game face. The noise was driving them both insane. Spike would do anything to get in there.
Anything to help her.
Buffy began screaming again. Spike could hear Willow chanting louder,
faster. He could not bear this. His hand began to turn the knob.
A tug on his sleeve brought him back. He turned to look at Dawn's worn and frightened little face. "You know Willow said that she has to protect her. That this ... baby...shouldn't... be ... at all. And to bring her into the world might kill Buffy. Willow said she can make it so both of them live, but we cannot break the circle. If we do, one of them, or both, die."
Spike softened, leaning back against the door. Hearing Buffy screaming,
Willow chanting, Tara cooing softly. He wanted to be with her. This was going to drive him mad.
Giles appeared at the top of the steps. "It sounds like we are getting
close. I'm going to go ahead and call the nurse."
"Your friend?" Anya asked.
"Yes," Giles answered. "She won't ask too many questions. But we need
someone here to give Buffy and the child a good looking over. Spike nodded at the Watcher. Thank God, *someone* thought ahead. There was terror in the Vampire's eyes now. This was all too real and all to frightening. All he wanted was to have her back and to know that she and their child were safe.
Dawn brought him back again. "Why don't you take me downstairs and help
me... rustle up some food," Dawn said, tears in her eyes. Her sister's
screaming was killing her too. Spike knew Dawn wasn't hungry, but also knew one more minute of hearing Buffy in so much pain and not being able to help her might do them both in.
"Right then, Nib," Spike said, taking her hand. "Off we go."
*****
Spike sat down on the couch, Dawn sliding in next to him. "I'm really not hungry," she whispered, her tired eyes all dewy with tears.
"I know, little one," Spike answered, wrapping his arm around her. She laid her head on his chest. He stroked her long, dark hair. So different from her sis, but so alike sometimes, he thought.
"I just couldn't... I can't..." Dawn choked on her words.
"It'll be fine, Niblet. Right as rain," Problem was, he hadn't quite
convinced himself.
"She's going to die, isn't she?"
"Now, do you honestly think I would let that happen?" Spike replied,
attempting to be comforting. Dawn looked up at him doubtfully. "Again?" he corrected.
Anya came down the stairs, Giles a few steps behind. "What are all these sad faces about?" Anya chirped. "I thought this was a happy time. Babies are good."
Dawn looked at her strangely. "But Willow said that Buffy might..."
"Nah," Anya continued, waiving her hand in the air. "This is Buffy. She's the Slayer. She'll be fine. Isn't this what all of the saving the world stuff is about anyway? Make it safe for kittens and puppies and little children?"
"She does have a point," Giles contributed, settling into his usual seat. Anya plopped on the arm of the couch, closest to Dawn. "We should be quite excited. Shortly, the world will be that much better a place."
"But, what if..." Dawn began, huddling closer to Spike. "She's all I
have.." Spike looked down at the girl for a second. "Ok. And Spike. But she's my *sister*."
"What if? What if the world ends tomorrow? What if a flesh-eating demon sneaks into your room at night? What if.." Anya babbled.
"Anya?" Giles interrupted, noticing the frightened expression on Dawn's
face.
"The point *is*," Anya continued, "You're about to become an aunt and
Buffy's going to be somebody's mom and Spike is going to be a father. I
think that adds up to points in the good column."
Spike knew he liked the former vengeance demon for a reason. When it
counted, she could be more human that the rest of them. "Think you're
right," Spike said, brushing Dawn's hair back over her shoulder. "Things'll be fine, Niblet. Promise. Before you know it, your be changing nappies with the best of 'em."
"What's a nappy?"
A rapid knock at the door started just before the most brutal, ear- splitting scream pierced the air. It has begun.
To be contd.
Author: Nimue
Rating: PG-13
Feedback: Yes, please
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, UPN, Fox... Just Borrowing.
Summary: The moment comes closer. Spike and Dawn finally have a chance to talk.
Night and Day
"What did I do this time? Spike asked, closing the door behind him.
"Xander just needs some time to adjust, that's all," Giles responded,
sipping at his tea. Dawn was sitting on the couch, staring quietly at
Spike. She didn't want to force herself on him, but she was desperate for him to acknowledge her.
"I was thinking on the way back here...don't babies need things?" Spike
asked, looking quite dumfounded by the sudden reality of his life. " I mean like cribs and bottles and diapers and.... baby things?"
"Well, in anticipation of Buffy's return, we took care of all of that,"
Giles answered.
"We even made her a room," Dawn whispered. Spike looked at her, suddenly remembering how much he missed the Niblet. "Want me to show you?"
"Yeah," Spike said, holding out his hand. Dawn grabbed on, noticing
immediately how warm he was. She looked at his eyes, her own wide with
surprise. "Guess I got some 'splaining to do anyway."
Dawn just nodded, holding tightly to his hand, and lead him back upstairs.
*****
Buffy was still awake, alternating between chatting with Tara and screaming bloody murder, but at the moment she was quiet. A thin sheen of sweat covered her body and Tara could tell that she was already completely exhausted. Her eyes were dark hollows and her face was lined with worry and fatigue. It would be easier for her if Spike was here, Tara thought. She would at least be distracted.
"You alright, Buffy?" Tara asked, holding her hand. Buffy squeezed it
softly.
"I'm tired," Buffy answered. "It hurts."
"Is there anything I can do?"
"No," Buffy answered, staring at the lights around her. "Pretty lights."
"Part of the spell," Tara answered, smiling serenely.
"Do you think I'm going to die?" Buffy asked, as the pain started again. This time she didn't scream. She was too tired to scream anymore and the pain was getting worse and more frequent. She closed her eyes and held Tara's hand tightly.
"No, Buffy," Tara whispered, brushing her hair from her face. "No more
dying".
*****
Dawn flicked on the light in what used to be her room. Her bed was still there, but so were all of the accoutrements of a baby room. Crib, cradle, changing table, toys. All sorts of things Spike knew nothing about. What he did notice, however, were the walls. Two were painted midnight blue, with stars and the moon. The other two were pale sky blue, with a sun and huge puffy white clouds.
"Tara and I painted it," Dawn said. "Night and Day. Light and Dark. Just reminded me of you and Buffy." she said.
"You're idea, Nibs?" Spike asked. Dawn sat down on the floor in the middle of the room. He came in and sat across from her.
"Yeah," Dawn answered. " I kinda like art. Only thing I'm any good at.
Guess the whole light and dark thing doesn't work anymore now that you..."
"No, it's perfect," Spike said, letting his hand drop onto her knee softly. She smiled.
"See, where the two meet it's a little bit of both. Kind of like you really are. Both of you."
"Is *that* what you think?" Spike said. "Thought I was all *evil* and
*dark* and Grrr and Buffy was all *goodness* and *light*. "
Dawn giggled. Somewhere, she still had a little crush on him. "Yeah,
right," she answered. "You're real evil now. And Buffy... you've seen her in the mornings. No goodness there." Spike chuckled. "Do you really like it?"
"I *love* it, " he assured the girl. Dawn was silent a long moment.
"Spike?"
"Yeah, Nib."
"What happened to you?"
Spike thought for once before answering. "I think I will let Buffy tell you about ... where we were."
"I can wait for that," Dawn complained. "But what ... I mean..."
"Oh," Spike answered. He took the girl's hand in his, and pulled it up to his chest, pressing it against his heart. He watched her eyes as she felt his heart beating. They were wide and as curious as a little child.
"Are you human now?" Dawn asked. "Like me?"
"Not quite. Still have the whole fangy face thing. But I have this silly heartbeat and I breathe. And I can go out for a stroll at noon now without being reduced to ashtray contents, or so it seems."
"What does it mean?" Dawn said. Spike hadn't really thought beyond the
basics discoveries.
"Not sure yet, Niblet. Guess we'll figure it out as we go."
"You going to stay with us?" Dawn asked, her hand still on his warm chest.
"If that is what Buffy wants. And, of course, if you don't mind."
Dawn giggled. " I guess I'll deal with it if I *have* too," She said
sarcastically. He pushed her playfully.
"Like the room?" a voice said from the doorway.
Spike stood. Xander walked from the darkened hallway into the bright lights of the room. Anya stood in the doorway, leaning against the frame.
"Girls worked hard on it," Xander continued, scanning the wall.
"Yeah," Spike said, sliding his hands into his jeans pockets and rocking
back on his heels. "They did a wonderful job."
"Xander made the crib, And the cradle," Anya said, standing on her toes so she could see Spike over Xander's shoulder. Spike looked shocked for a moment. He turned and walked over to the furniture. It was beautifully made, with little moons and suns carved into the edges, the wood stained a deep cherry colour. The boy had a real knack for this.
"You *made* this?" Spike asked, turning back toward Xander.
Xander shuffled his feet and looked to the floor. "Yeah. For Buffy."
Spike thought a moment. In a way, he felt sorry for the whelp. He had been there himself. Still felt like he was there sometimes. Carrying a torch for the one woman who would never love you back. "Thank you," Spike said.
Xander just nodded, staring at the Vampire with a mixture of hatred and a tenuous understanding.
A brutal, earth-shattering scream broke the silence.
Spike was out the door and around the corner to Buffy's room with lightning quickness, the rest of them at his heels. "Buffy? Buffy? She alright in there?" Spike called into the bedroom, pounding on the door with his fist, a mixture of concern and annoyance in his voice.
His question was answered with a primal scream from Buffy. The sound of her pain was making him lose his mind. "That's it, I'm coming in," he said reaching for the knob. Xander grabbed his hand and Dawn latched onto his arm to stop him.
"Spike, no," Xander said, trying to be calm. The sound was scaring the
daylights out of him as well.
"And why not? I need to do *something*."
" I think you have done quite enough already," Xander retorted, losing his newfound understanding for just a moment. This was not going to be easy. Somewhere he would always be jealous that this was real. Now it was Spike and Buffy that were connected always. Not him. Spike.
"And tell me again why in bloody hell I should listen to you?" Spike
hissed, forgetting his pity, almost changing to game face. The noise was driving them both insane. Spike would do anything to get in there.
Anything to help her.
Buffy began screaming again. Spike could hear Willow chanting louder,
faster. He could not bear this. His hand began to turn the knob.
A tug on his sleeve brought him back. He turned to look at Dawn's worn and frightened little face. "You know Willow said that she has to protect her. That this ... baby...shouldn't... be ... at all. And to bring her into the world might kill Buffy. Willow said she can make it so both of them live, but we cannot break the circle. If we do, one of them, or both, die."
Spike softened, leaning back against the door. Hearing Buffy screaming,
Willow chanting, Tara cooing softly. He wanted to be with her. This was going to drive him mad.
Giles appeared at the top of the steps. "It sounds like we are getting
close. I'm going to go ahead and call the nurse."
"Your friend?" Anya asked.
"Yes," Giles answered. "She won't ask too many questions. But we need
someone here to give Buffy and the child a good looking over. Spike nodded at the Watcher. Thank God, *someone* thought ahead. There was terror in the Vampire's eyes now. This was all too real and all to frightening. All he wanted was to have her back and to know that she and their child were safe.
Dawn brought him back again. "Why don't you take me downstairs and help
me... rustle up some food," Dawn said, tears in her eyes. Her sister's
screaming was killing her too. Spike knew Dawn wasn't hungry, but also knew one more minute of hearing Buffy in so much pain and not being able to help her might do them both in.
"Right then, Nib," Spike said, taking her hand. "Off we go."
*****
Spike sat down on the couch, Dawn sliding in next to him. "I'm really not hungry," she whispered, her tired eyes all dewy with tears.
"I know, little one," Spike answered, wrapping his arm around her. She laid her head on his chest. He stroked her long, dark hair. So different from her sis, but so alike sometimes, he thought.
"I just couldn't... I can't..." Dawn choked on her words.
"It'll be fine, Niblet. Right as rain," Problem was, he hadn't quite
convinced himself.
"She's going to die, isn't she?"
"Now, do you honestly think I would let that happen?" Spike replied,
attempting to be comforting. Dawn looked up at him doubtfully. "Again?" he corrected.
Anya came down the stairs, Giles a few steps behind. "What are all these sad faces about?" Anya chirped. "I thought this was a happy time. Babies are good."
Dawn looked at her strangely. "But Willow said that Buffy might..."
"Nah," Anya continued, waiving her hand in the air. "This is Buffy. She's the Slayer. She'll be fine. Isn't this what all of the saving the world stuff is about anyway? Make it safe for kittens and puppies and little children?"
"She does have a point," Giles contributed, settling into his usual seat. Anya plopped on the arm of the couch, closest to Dawn. "We should be quite excited. Shortly, the world will be that much better a place."
"But, what if..." Dawn began, huddling closer to Spike. "She's all I
have.." Spike looked down at the girl for a second. "Ok. And Spike. But she's my *sister*."
"What if? What if the world ends tomorrow? What if a flesh-eating demon sneaks into your room at night? What if.." Anya babbled.
"Anya?" Giles interrupted, noticing the frightened expression on Dawn's
face.
"The point *is*," Anya continued, "You're about to become an aunt and
Buffy's going to be somebody's mom and Spike is going to be a father. I
think that adds up to points in the good column."
Spike knew he liked the former vengeance demon for a reason. When it
counted, she could be more human that the rest of them. "Think you're
right," Spike said, brushing Dawn's hair back over her shoulder. "Things'll be fine, Niblet. Promise. Before you know it, your be changing nappies with the best of 'em."
"What's a nappy?"
A rapid knock at the door started just before the most brutal, ear- splitting scream pierced the air. It has begun.
To be contd.