Mid February. The bronze. Buffy and Willow are at the table, Xander, and
Dawn on the
dance floor. Buffy is lying with her head on her arms, obviously very
upset. Willow isn't
looking that composed either.
Willow: Oh. My. God. When? Who? How? Well, not how, obviously i know how,
but, i
mean...
Buffy: I'm...He...I...uhh...
Willow: Its okay. No panic. Zero panicking here. Take deep breaths.
Breathing is good.
Buffy: I'm okay Will. I'm pregnant, not in labour.
Willow: I was talking to myself.
Buffy: Oh.
Willow: I think the most important question is who. (off her look) You do
know who, don't you?
Buffy: (unintelligible mumble)
Willow: Who?
Buffy(v. quiet): Spike.
Willow: Who?
Buffy(louder):SPIKE.
Willow: I heard you , I just don't believe it. Wait, now we're back to how.
I thought
vampires couldn't...
Buffy: They can't.
Willow: Then how...oh.
Buffy: Yeah. I guess we hadn't worried about it before and it just slipped
our minds.
Willow: When?
Buffy: The last night. His birthday.
Willow: Where?
Buffy: In the living room.
Willow: Explaining the broken lamp.
Buffy: And the underwear on the ceiling fan.
Willow: Hey! We were all...Dawn was in the house!
Buffy: We were quiet.
Willow: Does anyone else...Does he know?
Buffy: How could he? I only just found out today, and he's been gone since
that night.
Oh my god. I'm a single mother. My worst nightmare has come true.
Willow: The one where you turn into a vampire and kill all your friends?
Buffy: No, the one were on top of saving the whole world I have even more
important
responsibilities.
Willow: Oh, yeah. That one's scary too.
Buffy: How do I tell Xander? Or Dawn?
Willow: Well, here they come...
Buffy looks up. They (Dawn and Xander) are walking towards Buffy and
Willow. Buffy lets her head drop back onto her arms.
Buffy: I think I'm going to cry.
Dawn and Xander arrive, faintly out of breath.
Dawn: C'mon guys, time to shake your respective groove things.
Xander: Join us in our immature revelry! Its good for what ails ya. Notices
Buffy's obvious distress Hey Buff, what ails ya?
Buffy (muffled through her arms): Nothing. Everything is perfectly normal
and fine.
Xander: Your words say "Fine", but your body language says not so much.
Buffy: It loses something in the translation.
Xander: And I've always thought it was a beautiful language. You know, I've
always been meaning to study foreign tongues and...
Willow: She's fine really. Look at her, she's...(searches for the word)
glowing!
Buffy raises her head and gives Willow a look.
Dawn: What's wrong sis, is the world ending again?
Buffy: I almost wish. I'm good at that.
Dawn: So what's going on?
Buffy looks around at their faces, all looking very concerned. She turns to
Dawn.
Buffy: You know how you've always wanted a little sister? Someone who you
could boss around and pick on?
Dawn: Vaguely...
Buffy(timidly): Well, how about a niece?
Dawn: What? Willow: Buffy's pregnant. Xander: Oh my god... Dawn: Who's the father? Buffy groans and puts her head back down Willow: Spike. Dawn: Oh. Xander: How is that possi...oh. Dawn (all prissy-like): Does he know? Willow: No. She just found out today. Xander: And we have no idea where he is. Willow: None. You saw him last. Xander: And he wasn't looking too good at the time. Dawn: How do you mean? Xander: Well, that night, I woke up at about 3:00am and went to the bathroom, but Spike was in there, staring at the mirror and crying. Buffy's head shoots up. Buffy: Crying? He seemed fine when I left him... Xander: Its a guy thing. When I'm crying about Anya, I...wait, forget I said that. Willow: Forgotten. Xander: Ayway, I didn't want to go in there, so I held it the rest of the night. I never heard him leave the bathroom, but he must have, cause when I got up again he was gone. I just figured you had dumped him again. Willow: That's so unfair. He was so happy. Cheerful, helpful. Poor guy. Buffy: And I'm the one who wrecked it again. Willow: Oh, Buffy no. Its not your fault. You saved him. Buffy: But if he hadn't been with me, that bringer guy wouldn't have been after him in the first place. I'm cursed. Xander: Its not just you Buffy. We all are. Willow: You saved his life. You did the right thing. Buffy: I ruined his life. Xander: He would have died. Buffy: I ruined his life way before that. Dawn: He wasn't so great to you either. Buffy: So many lives... Xander: I wonder if any other slayers ever had children. I mean, would they be, like Super babies? Willow: I bet Giles would know. We could call him. Buffy: Not yet. I don't know how to tell him. Xander: Can you feel it kick? Buffy: Xander, from what the doctor tells me, it doesn't have legs Willow: Buffy, you know we're behind you. Buffy: Thanks Will, I knew... She's cut off by Dawn's dramatic jumping to her feet and storming off. Buffy: Dawn? She follows.
Outside the Bronze. Dawn is storming away from the entrance when Buffy comes running after her, calling out. She catches up and grabs her sister's arm, spinning her around. Buffy: Dawn! Dawn just glares at her. Buffy: What's wrong? Her sister turns her back. Buffy: God, Dawn. I'm really losing my patience here. What's the matter this time? I'm sharing, letting you in. Its not like I've been keeping this a secret from you, I just found out today. What's the problem? Dawn: How could you? Buffy: How could I do what? Be so careless? Dawn: Sleep with him again. After what he did? Buffy(unbelieving): You're mad at me because I'm supposed to be mad at him. Dawn: You said you'd never let him touch you again. Now he's gone again, and what are you supposed to do now? Buffy: You don't understand. Dawn: No I don't! Explain it to me. Explain to me why. Buffy: I don't think I can. Dawn: He tried to rape you, have you forgotten that? Have you forgotten everything he's put you through? Buffy: It's not the sort of thing you try hard to remember. But, no, I haven't forgotten. I wake up at night remembering. Anyway, he's done far worse things in his lifetime than what he did to me. Dawn turns and faces her. Dawn: Is that supposed to make it better? Buffy: Our relationship was built on violence. Everything about it...I always said no, and did it anyway. How was he supposed to know it was any different that time. Dawn: No. Don't try to justify it! I've been reading! A lot of violated women try to justify it. You can't. There's no forgiving what he did. Buffy: He didn't have a soul. When Angel, you remember him, don't you? When he lost his soul he was a different person. He was pure evil. Spike's never been that sadistic. Just violent. Dawn: What's your point? Buffy: I've been thinking about this a lot. Spike was practically a decent person when he didn't have a soul. He helped me, even when he didn't have to, helped you too, you know it. I honestly think he did love me. I've been trying to deny that. That a creature without a soul could love. Dawn: Why? Buffy: Why? Because when Angel lost his soul, he stopped. Loving me. So if Spike could love without his soul, the Angel could too. And didn't. Dawn: Oh. Buffy, I didn't. Buffy (on the verge of tears): He left me. He was supposed to be my soul mate and he left me. And now Spike's gone. Everyone leaves me. Starts to cry. I loved him. Dawn: Who? Angel? Buffy: Yeah. I still do, I guess. We couldn't be together. With or without his soul. I knew what he was and loved him anyway. Dawn: And Spike? Buffy: What about him. Dawn: Do you love him? Buffy wipes the tears off her face. Buffy: Being pregnant sure makes you emotional. Hey. Its late, we should be getting home. Dawn: Do you? Buffy: He's stronger than Angel ever was. He chose to torment himself, when Angel couldn't stand being around me, if he couldn't have me. Spike...he was willing to sacrifice everything he had, everything he was, just to be with me. Dawn: You're not answering the question. Buffy: I...you know I have feelings for him. I like to be with him. Dawn: Do. You. Love. Him? A pause. Buffy: I guess I do. Or did. He might be dead by now. Dawn: Wow. How long have you known? Buffy: You know how sometimes you don't miss anything until it's gone? When I saw him, bleeding all over the sidewalk, fading, leaving me, I realized I didn't want to live without him, human or not, soul or no soul. It was like when your ears pop, and suddenly you can hear things you couldn't before, and didn't even realize you were missing. They turn and start to walk home. Buffy: And as soon as I had the slightest chance of happiness, loving a man who loved me back, it ****ed up. Again. Just like it always does. Dawn: It always does, doesn't it. I can't think of a single romance that ended well in Sunnydale. Its like there's some sort of conspiracy. Even Spike and Dru, in love for over a century, come here and poof, Spiltsville. Buffy smiles. Buffy: We should change the name of the town. Dawn: Splitsville, California. Buffy: America's home of heartbreak. Dawn: Do you think he's coming back? Buffy: I don't know. If he does he's in for quite a surprise. They walk up they're steps and into the house.
Mid April. Buffy's home. She's on the phone, leaning against the wall. She's talking to Giles in London. Her Long distance bill is getting steadily more dramatic. Giles: That's...great. Why didn't you tell me sooner? Buffy: I don't know. I guess I thought you'd be busy with the council or something. Are you.cleaning your glasses? Giles: I'm not disappointed. Buffy (surprised): Your not? Giles: No. And your mother wouldn't be either. Buffy: I'm scared Giles. I don't know if I can handle this. This is big. There's so much responsibility. Giles: You're no stranger to responsibility. Buffy: No. No I am not. But this is different. This isn't just saving lives, this is making one. Giles: You've been taking care of your sister for a long time now. This shouldn't be too different. Buffy: I wish the world was just ending. I'm good at that. Giles: I'm sure you'll rise to the challenge. You always do. Buffy: Has this ever happened before? Giles: A slayer carrying the child of an undead vampire, who briefly turned human with a magical amulet? All the time. Buffy: Giles. Less with the sarcasm, please. Giles: It has happened that slayers become pregnant, but its usually terminated by the council. One time, the abortion itself, surgery being what it was at the time, was the very thing that killed the slayer in question. Since you don't work for the council, they can't force you to do anything. I assume you have considered that option. Buffy: Not even. I want to do this. I just don't want to have to do it alone. Giles: You're not alone. You have Xander, Willow and Dawn. Many children grow up in far worse situations. Buffy: Many children won't have to learn how to kill something with a table leg. How do I explain why their mom keeps getting older, but dad stays the same age? Why she shouldn't drink the red packages in the fridge? Giles: You're assuming then that Spike will be coming back? Buffy: I...he has to, Giles. She'll need a father. Giles: How are you so sure it will be female? Buffy: I don't know. I just feel it. Giles: That's a shame. I was hoping for a boy. Buffy: Why? Giles: Then you could name him Rupert.
Dining room. Dawn's surfing away on Willow's computer, making occasional notes on a piece of paper next to her. Also beside her is a dusty old tome, looking like it came from the Giles Collection, little words, but occasional pictures. Willow comes in, looking fairly surprised to see Dawn working. Willow: Hey Dawny, Studying? Dawn looks up. Dawn: Huh? No. Willow: Of course not, what was I thinking. She comes over and looks at the screen. What are you doing? Dawn: Me? Oh, I've just been doing some research. Checking out some statistics. Willow reaches for the notes and looks to Dawn for permission. Dawn gives her the go-ahead, so Willow reads the notes. Willow: Divorce statistics? Dawn: I have a theory. Willow: That it's a demon? Dawn: Huh? Willow: Never mind. A theory? Dawn: yeah, check this out. In the United States, on average, one in three marriages fail. Willow: Okay. Dawn: In Sunnydale, two in three. Willow: Hm. Dawn: Isn't that weird? Willow: I guess. Dawn: Okay, I can see you're not convinced. Willow: Convinced of what, exactly? Dawn: Look at this.
She reaches for the book and opens it to a page she has marked with a post- it. On the page, there's some Latin writing and a picture of a complicated Rune.
Dawn: See this? Do you know what this is? Willow: Latin? You read Latin now? Dawn: The picture. Willow: Its a sigil. A mark for augmenting spells. Dawn: Right. This particular one is for an stealing spell. Willow: We have been studious, haven't we? Dawn: According to the book, this spell sucks all the energy of a particular kind out of the area around it and feeds it to the spell caster to lengthen their life.
Willow: Okay. Still missing the point, Dawny. Dawn: You can adjust it to take almost any kind of energy, anger, sadness, lust, or even luck. Willow: Sorry, you've lost me. Dawn: Luck in money, luck in fame, even luck in love. Willow: Assuming you believe in luck. Dawn: So technically, you can suck all the love luck out of an area. Willow: Okay. Dawn: Think about it. Look at every relationship you've ever seen or been in. Have any of them ever ended happily? Ever? Willow: Of course. There was...but he died. Or...no, she was a mummy. I guess not. Dawn: See? Not one! Every time someone falls in love around here, sooner or later, something happens to ruin it. That can't just be a coincidence. Willow: Dawn. People grow apart. Sometimes there's just nothing you can do. Dawn: Sometimes, sure, but every time? I refuse to believe that. There's something here, something that ruins everything. That's why Spike and Dru broke up, after hundreds of years, Why Xander left Anya at the alter, why that stray bullet just happened to hit Tara... Willow: Tara? Dawn: It can't be coincidence. It can't. Something out there is ruining our lives to give itself immortality and I'm going to find out what it is. And I need your help. Willow looks confused and unsure. Then her face sets and she nods. Dawn: Great. Now here's what we have to do...
Willow and Dawn are sitting on the floor in Dawn's room, candles lit, ready to do a spell. Between them on the floor is the old book and a map of Sunnydale. Willow: Are you sure we shouldn't tell Buffy about this? Dawn: Not now. She has enough to worry about. So. How does this work exactly? Willow: Its basically the same spell I used when I first got back, to find the demon. If this mark is anywhere in Sunnydale, it'll glow real bright on the map. Dawn: Sounds pretty. Willow: Take this powder and when I say go, sprinkle it over the map, okay? Dawn: Check. Willow: Okay, here we go. She starts to chant. Dawn looks really nervous. Then Willow says now, and they both sprinkle the powder. Dawn: Well? Willow: Any second now... Seconds pass. The map itself grows steadily brighter, then fades. Willow: Huh. Dawn: Did I do something wrong. Willow: No. Dawn: So there's nothing here? Willow: 'Fraid not, Dawny. Dawn: Damn. All that Latin translating and conjugation for nothing. Willow: Sorry Dawn. Dawn: I was so sure... Willow: I guess it was just coincidence. Dawn (unconvinced): I guess... Willow: Come on. Lets go out for some post magic ice cream. They get up and leave the room, leaving the map and book on the floor. If you look real carefully, you'll notice that the major streets of Sunnydale look uncannily like the lines of the rune. It's a shame Willow and Dawn didn't notice that....
Mid July(and therefore nine months). Xander and Buffy are sitting in the living room. Buffy's looking very big and very uncomfortable, propped up on the couch with pillows and stuff. Buffy: Xander? Xander: Yeah? Buffy: You know what I could go for right about now? Xander: What? Buffy: A peanut butter and pickle sandwich. Xander: As appetizing as that sounds, you finished off the pickles on your ice cream. Buffy: Oh yeah. A pause) You know what else I'd like? Xander: What? Buffy (suddenly very loud and angry): Having this stupid baby out of me! Xander (kind of frightened (and who could blame him?)): Yeah. That'd be good. When's your due date supposed to be, exactly? Buffy: It was last week. Xander: Oh. Buffy: Pregnancy's a beautiful thing, the creation of life, miracles etcetera, but I really want it over now. Xander: Don't worry Buff, any time now. Buffy: When are Willow and Dawn coming back from the movie? Xander: Well, it supposed to be pretty long, so we've got at least an hour left. Buffy (suddenly weepy): Thanks for staying with me while they're gone. You're a true friend. I don't know what I'd do without you. Xander: Hey, I said I'd stick by you and here i am. Sticky. Buffy: Do we have any marshmallows left? Xander: I'll check. He gets up and goes into the kitchen. Buffy sighs and looks down at her tummy. She pokes it. Buffy: You. Out. Time to go. Checkout time was hours ago. Xander (from kitchen): White or coloured? Buffy: Colored! Xander comes back, munching on a marshmallow. He hands the bag to Buffy. Buffy: Thanks. She pops a marshmallow in her mouth. Her voice becomes muffled. Why do they call the marshmallows? Not a very appetizing name. Marsh. Mallows. Xander (also muffled by mallow): Neither is Twinkie. That name always worried me. That's what my mom used to call...never mind. Buffy: Leaving that one alone. Give me another one. I want more marmallowy goodness. Xander hands her the bag, she reaches for it and her hand stops halfway. Xander: Take it. Buffy: Oh! Xander: What? Buffy: OH! OH! Xander: What? What? Buffy: OHohohohohohohoh! Xander: Is it time? Is it coming? Buffy: Oh! Xander: Don't panic. Number one thing, no panicky goodness. Got to go to the hospital! Where's my keys? Where's my keys? Buffy: Xander, panicking! They're in your pocket! Xander: Right! Keys, good! Got the bag? Buffy grabs the duffel bag by the door. Buffy: yeah. What about Dawn and Willow? Xander: Get in the car, I'll write them a not. Buffy goes out the door and Xander grabs a piece of paper off the table, and writes a message "Taken Buffy to Hospital. Meet us there, Hurry, there's not much time. Xander." He puts it on the table and runs out the door after Buffy.
Exterior of Buffy's house. It's empty and quiet. That is, until a motorcycle come roaring up, coming to a stop at the end of the walk. On the bike are a few bags and a guitar case that looks held together with duct tape. The rider, dressed in a long black coat and completely covered by gloves and a tinted helmet, steps off the bike. He pulls off the helmet and a reveals (you guessed it) Spike. He looks very tired. Helmet in hand, he walks up the steps and stops in front of the door. He steels himself and knocks on the door. The force of the knock opens it, and it creaks open ominously. He looks surprised but walks inside. Spike: Hello? Anyone home? There's no answer (seeing that no ones home, that's probably a good thing). Spike puts his helmet down on the table and walks around the house. He goes upstairs and looks in Buffy's room, then Dawn's, travelling the house until he gets to the bathroom. He looks inside and gets a pained look on his face. He shakes his head and goes back downstairs. Spike: Maybe they're invisible... He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a pack of smokes. He pulls one out and puts it in his mouth. Still walking around, he searches in his pockets for his lighter. As he finds it and pulls it out, he notices the note on the table. He walks over and reads it. Then he reads it again. The smoke falls out of his mouth and drops unlit to the floor. He puts his lighter on the table and picks up the note. He reads it again, looking absolutely panicked. He stuffs it in his pocket and runs to the door, slamming it. He gets back on his bike and races away, in the direction of the Sunnydale hospital.
Buffy's house, inside in the hall. The house is silent, almost peaceful. That is until Dawn and Willow enter laughing. Willow: ...And when he slid down the stairs on that shield? Dawn: That was amazing. Are all elves that sexy? Cause if so, shouldn't we have more in Sunnydale? Willow: Well, I thought Liv Tyler looked...hey. Where is everybody? Dawn looks at the coffee table and sees Spike's helmet. Dawn: Since when do we live with Evil Kanevil? Willow (from Dining room): Ever since one of us started smoking. Dawn follows her voice into the other room. Willow is holding the lighter and unlit cigarette. Willow: Found this on the floor. Dawn (about lighter): This is Spike's. Willow: BUFFY? SPIKE? XANDER? Dawn: Where are they? Willow: I...I don't know. Looks like they left in a hurry. Dawn: Lets try her cell. Dawn goes over to the phone and dials the number of Buffy's cell. She waits while it rings, once, twice, thrice, again, then: Buffy: Hi... Dawn: Buffy! Where... Buffy: I can't answer my phone right now, but leave your name, number and apocalypse and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Dawn shakes her head and hangs up. Willow: No luck? Dawn: Not so much.Where could they have gone in such a rush? Willow: The hospital? Dawn (excitedly): You think? Willow: Must be. Dawn: Lets go! Dawn slips the lighter and cigarette in her pocket. They put their coats back on, and start out the door. Dawn: You know, you'd think they'd leave a note or something...
Sunnydale Hospital, Emergency Registration Desk. Spike is looming over a very scared and intimidated looking nurse, whose frantically shuffling through papers, stuttering and shivering. Spike's face looks absolutely frantic and really scared. He slams his fist on the desk. Spike: I don't have time for this! Hurry up! Where is she? Nurse: I, I, I, I, can't find it! What did you say her name was? Spike: Summers, Buffy Summers. She's blond, about yay high, probably with a stupid poofter with bad hair. She was probably injured, or something, missing blood maybe. Nurse: What happened to her? Spike: I don't know! Where is she dammit? Nurse: I'll just call... Spike: Useless, stupid woman! He slams his fist on the desk again, knocking over a vase of flowers. He turns and goes through the doors into the hospital, pushing people and stuff out of his way. Nurse: Sir? SIR? You can't go in there! Sir? Aw, forget it.
Spike wanders (or should I say walks with a specific purpose) through the hospital, knocking over people on crutches and scaring old ladies, not to mention causing serious alarm in the staff. He snarls and snaps (not literally, verbally) at anyone who comes near him. He looks in almost every room, panicking various sick people, with no success. Finally he looks in a tiny rectangular window in the door of room #730. His eyes widen. His face shifts rapidly from an expression of triumph, to surprise, to confusion, to realization and finally to anger. His hands clench into fists. Spike(mutters): Bastard! Bloody bloody bastard... The people in the hall stare at him in fear. He turns around and notices the small crowd of people behind him, watching him. Spike: WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT? They shrink back, and various "nothin'"'s are heard being muttered. Spike (calmer): Right. He walks deceptively calmly through the hall and out the door.
Sunnydale Hospital, Emergency Registration Desk. Willow and Dawn are questioning the same harried nurse. They're both out of breath, like they ran all the way here. Willow: Summers, Buffy? Nurse: Oh no. Willow: She's having a baby? Nurse: Really? So that's what she's here for. Dawn: What? Nurse: A really angry man came in asking for her too. I'd warn her about him when you see her. He looked dangerous. Dawn: Was he pale, blue eyes, Billy-Idol-esque? Willow: Spoke with a British accent? Nurse: That's the guy. Willow: Spike. Dawn: What room is she in? Nurse: Let me call the mat-ward. The nurse turns and dials he phone. Dawn and Willow turn away. Dawn: How did he know to come here? Willow: I don't know. Maybe he's already with Buffy. Dawn: I have a bad feeling about this. Willow: You think? Nurse: Room 730. They turn back to her. Dawn: What? Nurse: Says she's in room 730. She's in labour right now, with the father. Willow and Dawn exchange looks. They start to run.
Inside Room #730, Sunnydale Hospital. Willow and Dawn's faces can be seen peering in the rectangle window. In the room, decked out in typical sterile hospital style, are Buffy, Xander, and some doctors and nurses (Sunnydale Hospital, though small, is very well staffed, with full wards and some of the best care in the country). Buffy is in labour. She's screaming and breathing and all the other relatively undignified delivery activities. Xander is holding her hand, actually looking quite useless. Xander: C'mon Buff, you're doing great. Buffy: If I'm doing so great, why is it taking so long!?! Xander: Just keep breathing. Doctor: Here comes another contraction. Push Buffy. Xander: Push. Push like you've never pushed before! Buffy: I AM pushing! No one has ever pushed this hard in the history of the world! She screams and squeezes Xander's hand tighter. Xander: Okay, ow. Ow. Buffy: SHUT UP XANDER! Xander: Its okay, I'm just losing feeling in... Buffy screams and squeezes it even harder. Xander: MY HAND! A cracking, splintering sound is heard and Xander joins Buffy in the screaming. Buffy (between breathing and screaming): Oh, sorry! Xander: Its fine, I don't use that hand anyway. Just get this baby out! Doctor: Here it comes! And out it does come, looking kind of deformed and reptilian as newborn babies do. The nurse and doctor take it away to be weighed and name tagged and all that stuff. Buffy sighs and leans back against the pillow, releasing Xander's hand. It's not looking right. Xander: Note to self. Never hold hands with a slayer when she's giving birth. Buffy: Lucky for you, we're already in the hospital. Xander: The gods are smiling on me. Buffy: Doctor, is it alright? Doctor: Just a minute, that's what we're trying to find out. Buffy and Xander look at each other. Buffy (frightened): Xander, hold my hand again. Xander: Not on your life. He sits down beside her and puts his arms around her while they wait for the doctors. After what seems like forever, the nurse brings over the baby. It's all cleaned off, looking sweet and angelic and human. The nurse puts the baby in Buffy's arms. Surprisingly, Buffy's hair and makeup are looking flawless, despite having just gone through labour. Funny. Buffy looks down at her child in wonder. Nurse: Its a girl. Buffy: I know. I've always known. Xander: Oh my god. Buffy: You doubted my prophetic ability? Xander: No, its not that, its just...oh my god. Buffy: I couldn't put it any better myself.
Outside the Sunnydale Hospital. Spike is leaning against the wall, smoking a cigarette. He is just radiating barely controlled rage. A doctor comes out, wearing scrubs. He leans on the wall a meter or so away from Spike, taking deep breaths and enjoying the night air. Doc: Those things'll kill you, y'know. Spike: They can try. Doc: You don't worry about it? Spike: I'm not afraid to die. Not anymore. Doc: Aren't we Mr. Melodramatic. Spike: .... Doc: Y'know, I used to feel that way too. Live fast, die young. Spike: Leave a good looking corpse. Doc: Yeah. But life...life is the most wonderful thing. And to see a life begin, so full of possibilities, its just breathtaking, y'know? Spike: ... Doc: Everyday I thank the powers that be that I'm alive. Spike: Alive. What makes someone "alive". What is it that makes being alive better than dead? Used to seem the same to me. Doc: Well, I've never been dead, so I wouldn't know. But Life, Life is waking up and being impatient for the day to begin. Life is loving and being loved. Life is feeding and sleeping and making new life. Spike: Apparently making new life has been big around here lately. Doc: Not really. Just one birth tonight. Spike: Boy or Girl? Doc: A girl. Spike (bitterly): A girl. Little Buffy and Xander's girl. Doc: You know the parents. Spike: I thought I did. Did when I left. Doc: Been gone long? Spike: A while. Long enough, I guess. You go away, and you figure everything will be the same when you come back and its not. Everything's changed. You miss chances. You don't even recognize the place. And now I have to go again. Doc: Why? Spike: No place for me anymore. "Life" has moved on. Once again leaving me behind. Was I gone so long? Did she...did everyone forget me so fast. Must have moved very fast. Weeks. Took weeks to get over me. I travel the world, finally find a purpose, a meaning, a "life", and I come back to live it and its all gone to hell. Good place for it. Doc: Don't you think you're feeling a little sorry for yourself? Spike: Someone has to. Doubt they even remember me now. The doctor sighs and straightens up, moving back towards the door. Doc: Life's a funny thing. Good luck. Spike: Yeah thanks. The strange doctor disappears through the door. Spike pulls the note out of his pocket and reads it again. Spike: This changes everything. I'll just go back. Get new instructions. A new plan. He must not have known. Couldn't have known. He'd've told me. I guess I'LL go tell him then. He smiles. But before I go, there's just one thing I have to do. He crumples the note and throws it to the ground.
Sunnydale Hospital. Buffy lies in bed, holding her new baby in her arms, gazing at it lovingly. Xander returns to the room, hand in bandages, with Willow and Dawn. Xander: I have returned, with my new friend, the plaster cast! Buffy: I said I was sorry. Hey Will, hey Dawn. Dawn: Is this cool? Buffy: Sure come on in. Share my joy. Dawn and Willow approach the bed and immediately start cooing and baby talking. Dawn: That's the cutest thing I've ever seen! Willow: She's beautiful! Buffy: She is, isn't she. I never thought I could love anything this much. Dawn: She's so quiet! Willow: And sweet! Xander: And fits neatly into most overhead compartments. Buffy: Xander. Actually, she hasn't cried once yet. The doctors thought there was something wrong with her, but they did some tests, and she's the healthiest baby they've ever seen. Xander: She is the daughter of the slayer. Buffy: I can't wait to call Giles! I want to tell everyone I know. Dawn: Just us and Giles then. Buffy: It was so funny when I told him who the father was. You could hear him cleaning his glasses. Dawn: The father... Willow: I can't believe we forgot! Dawn: Did you see him? I kinda expected to see him here. Willow: Maybe he's still wandering around. I'll ask. Abruptly, Willow gets up and leaves. Buffy: What? Xander: I second that "what" and raise you a "huh?". Dawn: When we got home from the movie... Xander: Wasn't it great? Dawn: Super. Anyway, when we got home we found these: She pulls the lighter and cigarette (now bent) from her pocket and hands them to Xander who shows them to Buffy. Xander: These are... Buffy: Spike's. Dawn: They were on the dining room table. There was also a bike helmet. Buffy: Spike's never worn a helmet in his life. Xander: Maybe he's on a safety kick. Buffy: You haven't seen him? Dawn: We didn't but the nurse at the desk said she did. She said he was really angry. You haven't seen him? Buffy: Obviously not. I was kind of occupied. Willow comes back in, holding a piece of paper. Buffy: Any word? Willow: I asked around. An orderly says he saw a man of Spike's discription outside your door. Apparently he looked really angry. And a doctor, your doctor, actually, said he talked to a really sad man, same description, outside. Said he kept talking about leaving. And something about moving on. Oh, and I found this. She hands Xander the note. Xander: Hey, my note. Dawn: I KNEW you wouldn't go have a baby without leaving a note. Didn't I say they'd leave a note? Willow: You called it. And it explains how he knew to come here. But he wouldn't have known why. Buffy: Oh. Dawn: Man, It must have come as quite a shock to see you in here. Willow: Having a baby. Buffy: With Xander. There's a worried silence. Xander: Well, that can't be good.
In front of Buffy's house. Xander's car pulls up. He gets out and goes around to open the passenger side door, and help Buffy out. Xander: Come on, ex-pregnant lady. Buffy: I can't wait to get this weight back off. Xander; what weight? You look the same as you usually do. Buffy: Do I? Xander: Yeah. Buffy: That's weird. Xander opens the back door and pulls out the car seat, complete with baby. Buffy grabs some bags and they head fro the house. Buffy: It's so late. I hope Dawn and Willow get home soon. Xander: I have a feeling they'll be looking for Spike for a while. Nice of them to volunteer, so you could get some rest. Buffy: And nice of the doctor to let me come home so soon. You know I was only in the hospital for a few hours? Xander: That is strange. Buffy fumbles for her keys. Buffy: I hope they find him soon. I really need to explain things.
She unlocks the door
Xander: Yeah, lets explain to the crazy vampire how I'm not the father of his girlfriends kid. Buffy: That's what I'm saying. Xander: Where should I put the bundle of joy? Buffy: Is she still sleeping? Xander: Like a baby. Buffy: Well, her crib's all set up in the spare room you built for us, so I'll go put her in there. Xander: Here. He grabs the bags and hands her the baby. She smiles at it and carries it upstairs. Xander sits down on the couch and grabs a marshmallow from the still open bag. Then he gets up and goes to the kitchen. It's completely dark. He opens the fridge door and leans in, and the light spills over the kitchen, revealing: Spike: Xander.
Outside, somewhere in Sunnydale. Dawn and Willow are walking down the street. Willow: So lets see...Not at his crypt, Not at Xander's. Not the school basement. Not the bronze. Not Willy's old place or any of the other strictly demon hangouts... Dawn: That was a cool glamour, by the way, the demon thing. Willow: Thanks. So if he's not there, where else could he be? Dawn: Maybe he left town again. Willow: Maybe. Dawn: See? This is exactly what I was talking about. Willow: When? Dawn: Months ago! The love/luck-sucking thing. Willow: Oh yeah. I thought we gave up on that idea. There's nothing here, remember? Dawn: Don't you think its a little odd that Spike should come back today of all days, to find that note, should arrive at the hospital at the worst possible time? To see the worst possible thing? Willow: Dawn, there's nothing here. We tried that spell over and over. If that mark was anywhere in Sunnydale, the spell would have found it. Dawn: Then its something else. I just have to keep looking. Willow: In the meantime, we have to keep looking for Spike. Lets check out a few graveyards. If we still don't get anything, we'll go home and I'll try a spell. Dawn: I just hope we find him before he finds Xander.
Back in Buffy's kitchen. Xander drops the milk he grabbed and it spills across the floor, as he whips around to see Spike, sitting almost Bond-bad- guy style on the kitchen chair. Xander: Spike... s..So nice to see you. I he..heard you were in t..town. Spike: Xander. Aren't you gonna offer me a drink? Maybe a cigar? Xander: Willow and D..dawn are looking for you. Where ya been? Spike: Here and there. Went home for a while, actually. And what about you, what have you been up to? Spike advances on Xander and Xander backs away. Xander: N..not much. Actually, I have some big news for you. Spike: really. Is it good news...he steps closer as Xander runs out of room to back up....or bad news? Xander: That really depends on how you take it... Spike's hand flashes up and grabs Xander's neck, pushing him against the wall. Spike: How I take it? How should I take it?
Xander gasps for breath
Spike: I go away for less than 10 months and come back to find that someone has gotten the woman I love pregnant! And who do i find has done this? Her supposed best friend, Xander. Xander (chokes out): Don't...don't kill...me. Spike: Why not? I should kill you. I've done worse things, far worse things. Chip or no chip, I could kill you. I can barely feel it now, you know? Just this little ache in the back of my head. The pieces are all broken up. Xander: Its..n..not..my.. Spike: Not your what? Fault? Trying to blame this on her? How fast did you move, Harris? Was it a revenge thing? I take yours, you take mine? Xander: N..no...I... Spike drops Xander and he falls to the ground, gasping for breath. Spike sneers at him. Spike: I'm not going to kill you. She'll need you. You've made sure of that, haven't you? Xander: Spike, it... Spike: Shut up. Lemme finnish. I'm going. Here. He hands Xander an envelope. Spike: She better get this. Its for her. And her. A gift for your child. Xander: Spike! It's not my kid! Spike: What? Buffy (from doorway): It's yours.
Buffy's back porch. It's a warm quiet night. Buffy and Spike are sitting on the steps, much like they did in "Fool for Love." Except this time Buffy's holding a baby. The parents both look really awkward. Buffy: So...you're back. Spike: Yeh. Buffy: Where'd you go? Spike: Been all the way around the world. Buffy: Oh. Spike: Yeah. Spike leans toward her to get a better look at the child. Its wide awake, staring around. She has unbelievable blue eyes and shocking white hair. Spike: She's beautiful. Looks just like you. Buffy: Actually, she has you eyes. And for some reason your hair. Spike: That's a little odd, isn't it. And awkward silence follows. Spike: Um. Can I hold her? Buffy: Have you ever held a baby before? Spike: Well, once, but you don't want to hear about it. Buffy: I really don't. Here, careful. She passes him the baby, and he holds her awkwardly. His face lights up with pride and wonder. Spike: She's so small. And quiet. Buffy: Healthy too. Spike: That's a relief. I kinda expected to be holding something with fangs. Buffy: I'd love her anyway. Some of the people I care about most have fangs. Spike looks up and studies her face. She's not mad at him. She looks almost proud. Spike: I'm sorry. Buffy: For what? Spike: What don't I have to be sorry for? Most recently I'm sorry for leaving. If I'd've known... Buffy: There's no way you could have known. And i knew you'd come back. Just don't do it again. Spike: Scouts honour. How did you know I'd come back? Buffy: You always come back. Spike: I do, don't I? How many times have i left, four? Buffy: Something like that. Spike: And something keeps dragging me back... The silence resumes. Buffy: I missed you. Spike: Thought you might. Buffy: I tried not to. Spike: Knew you would. Buffy: And when I found out...well, all I could think about was how much I wished you were here to share it with me. Spike: Thought of a name yet? Buffy: No. I had some ideas but nothing good enough. Any thoughts? Spike: I do have one idea. Buffy: Shoot. Spike: We should name her Tara. Buffy says nothing for a moment. Then she smiles. Buffy: Its perfect. Tara it is. Tara Joan Summers. Spike: Joan? Buffy: I like Joan.
Buffy's house. Dawn and Willow come in the front door. Xander's sitting on the couch, massaging his neck with his good hand and eating stale marshmallows. Dawn: Hey Xander. Willow: What happened? Xander: You know, I'm almost glad I'm going to live a lonely life of bachelorhood and never going to have kids. Dawn: We didn't find Spike. But I'm guessing you did. Xander: He was in the kitchen. Willow: Always the last place ya look. Xander: He and Buffy are talking out back. Buffy: Nope, we're done. She and Spike come in the room. Buffy's carrying the child again, and Spike's standing behind her. Xander: So. Spike: So. Buffy smiles and elbows Spike in the chest. Spike: I'm sorry for trying to throttle you Xander. Xander: No, no, no apologies needed. Your discomfort is all the thanks I need. Willow: Nice to see you Spike. How was your trip? Spike: Longer than I had expected for one thing. Xander: And apparently lucrative too. Dawn: What d'ya mean? Xander picks up the envelope Spike had handed him earlier and opens it up. It's full of cash. Xander: All 50's and non-consecutive. Dawn: Where'd you get it? Spike (proudly): I have a job. Willow: really, doing what? Spike: Mostly contract work. Tell you later. Right now, Buffy has something to tell you. Xander: You're not getting married are you? Cause its not as much fun as you think. Buffy: Not what I was going to say, but an interesting idea to toy with. Spike: I'm still dead set against "Wind beneath my Wings" Buffy: That's an argument for a later day. Right now, we picked a name for the baby. Willow: Oh, you finally decided? Buffy: Actually, it was Spike's suggestion. Dawn: Oh goody. My niece, Cindy the bloody. Xander: Spikette. They start to laugh. Buffy: Tara. The laughing stops abruptly. Dawn and Xander exchange looks, while Willow just looks shocked. Spike: If that's okay with you, Red. Willow: Okay? I...I...okay? She bursts into tears Of course its okay. It's wonderful. She rushes up and throws her arms around Spike, who just looks really surprised Xander: I hate to ever agree with Spike, but that's a great name. Dawn: Its perfect. Buffy: I knew you'd think so. Spike, would you hold little Tara? I have to phone Giles. Its got to be late enough there by now. She passes the baby back to Spike, who's trying to untangle a weeping Willow. Buffy goes into the kitchen to make the call. Dawn (coldly): so, spike, are you staying for a while, or are you going to take off again. Spike: Don't be like that, Niblette. She looks at him coldly. Except when I have to go off on business, I'm sticking around here. Dawn: And how often will that be? Spike: Not often. I hope. Dawn: You don't know? Spike: Stop it Dawn. Don't you want to see what I brought you from China? Dawn's face lights up. Dawn: China? Spike: Yeah, let me go out to...
Buffy cuts him off by coming in the room holding the phone
Buffy: Spike? Giles wants to talk to you. Xander(sing-song): Spike's in trouble, Spike's in trouble. Spike: Okay. Hand off. He gives the baby to Willow, who's still overcome by emotion, but pulling herself together. Spike takes the phone from Buffy and goes into the kitchen. Xander: So that's it? Spike's back, the baby's born and named, he brought us stuff from china, what else is there to do? Willow: I bet I can think of one thing. Here Buffy, you can do the honours. She hands Buffy her child. Buffy: What hon...She smells the air. Oh. Okay. I'm on it. Super mom to the rescue. I know just how to handle this. She shifts the baby in her arms. Buffy: Spike! I need you!
Epilogue
A girl who looks about fifteen years old, with short white hair and blue eyes is waiting in the airport. An announcement comes over the Speakers: P.A.: Last call boarding for London, England. Rows 3-10. The girl stands and grabs her bags. She heads for the loading line. She looks very upset, like she's about to cry. As she passes through the gate, a pair of slightly older women come running full tilt toward her, calling out. The girl ducks through the gate and heads down the ramp to the plane. The other two women try to follow but are stopped by the attendants. They give up and turn around. Older Woman: damn. Younger Woman: I'm sure she'll be okay. Older Woman: OF course she will. I just wanted to say goodbye. Younger Woman: I'm sorry we didn't catch her Buffy. Buffy: Its alright Dawn, I know where she's going. Dawn: Your just going to let her go? Buffy: I have to. Its her decision. I just hope its the right one. Dawn: Me too. They start back the way they came. Dawn: You'd never let me fly to England by myself when I was fifteen. Buffy: Well, you aren't her. Dawn: No. No, I'm not. Buffy: And you wouldn't want what she has. Dawn: No. No I wouldn't. Not for the world.
Dawn: What? Willow: Buffy's pregnant. Xander: Oh my god... Dawn: Who's the father? Buffy groans and puts her head back down Willow: Spike. Dawn: Oh. Xander: How is that possi...oh. Dawn (all prissy-like): Does he know? Willow: No. She just found out today. Xander: And we have no idea where he is. Willow: None. You saw him last. Xander: And he wasn't looking too good at the time. Dawn: How do you mean? Xander: Well, that night, I woke up at about 3:00am and went to the bathroom, but Spike was in there, staring at the mirror and crying. Buffy's head shoots up. Buffy: Crying? He seemed fine when I left him... Xander: Its a guy thing. When I'm crying about Anya, I...wait, forget I said that. Willow: Forgotten. Xander: Ayway, I didn't want to go in there, so I held it the rest of the night. I never heard him leave the bathroom, but he must have, cause when I got up again he was gone. I just figured you had dumped him again. Willow: That's so unfair. He was so happy. Cheerful, helpful. Poor guy. Buffy: And I'm the one who wrecked it again. Willow: Oh, Buffy no. Its not your fault. You saved him. Buffy: But if he hadn't been with me, that bringer guy wouldn't have been after him in the first place. I'm cursed. Xander: Its not just you Buffy. We all are. Willow: You saved his life. You did the right thing. Buffy: I ruined his life. Xander: He would have died. Buffy: I ruined his life way before that. Dawn: He wasn't so great to you either. Buffy: So many lives... Xander: I wonder if any other slayers ever had children. I mean, would they be, like Super babies? Willow: I bet Giles would know. We could call him. Buffy: Not yet. I don't know how to tell him. Xander: Can you feel it kick? Buffy: Xander, from what the doctor tells me, it doesn't have legs Willow: Buffy, you know we're behind you. Buffy: Thanks Will, I knew... She's cut off by Dawn's dramatic jumping to her feet and storming off. Buffy: Dawn? She follows.
Outside the Bronze. Dawn is storming away from the entrance when Buffy comes running after her, calling out. She catches up and grabs her sister's arm, spinning her around. Buffy: Dawn! Dawn just glares at her. Buffy: What's wrong? Her sister turns her back. Buffy: God, Dawn. I'm really losing my patience here. What's the matter this time? I'm sharing, letting you in. Its not like I've been keeping this a secret from you, I just found out today. What's the problem? Dawn: How could you? Buffy: How could I do what? Be so careless? Dawn: Sleep with him again. After what he did? Buffy(unbelieving): You're mad at me because I'm supposed to be mad at him. Dawn: You said you'd never let him touch you again. Now he's gone again, and what are you supposed to do now? Buffy: You don't understand. Dawn: No I don't! Explain it to me. Explain to me why. Buffy: I don't think I can. Dawn: He tried to rape you, have you forgotten that? Have you forgotten everything he's put you through? Buffy: It's not the sort of thing you try hard to remember. But, no, I haven't forgotten. I wake up at night remembering. Anyway, he's done far worse things in his lifetime than what he did to me. Dawn turns and faces her. Dawn: Is that supposed to make it better? Buffy: Our relationship was built on violence. Everything about it...I always said no, and did it anyway. How was he supposed to know it was any different that time. Dawn: No. Don't try to justify it! I've been reading! A lot of violated women try to justify it. You can't. There's no forgiving what he did. Buffy: He didn't have a soul. When Angel, you remember him, don't you? When he lost his soul he was a different person. He was pure evil. Spike's never been that sadistic. Just violent. Dawn: What's your point? Buffy: I've been thinking about this a lot. Spike was practically a decent person when he didn't have a soul. He helped me, even when he didn't have to, helped you too, you know it. I honestly think he did love me. I've been trying to deny that. That a creature without a soul could love. Dawn: Why? Buffy: Why? Because when Angel lost his soul, he stopped. Loving me. So if Spike could love without his soul, the Angel could too. And didn't. Dawn: Oh. Buffy, I didn't. Buffy (on the verge of tears): He left me. He was supposed to be my soul mate and he left me. And now Spike's gone. Everyone leaves me. Starts to cry. I loved him. Dawn: Who? Angel? Buffy: Yeah. I still do, I guess. We couldn't be together. With or without his soul. I knew what he was and loved him anyway. Dawn: And Spike? Buffy: What about him. Dawn: Do you love him? Buffy wipes the tears off her face. Buffy: Being pregnant sure makes you emotional. Hey. Its late, we should be getting home. Dawn: Do you? Buffy: He's stronger than Angel ever was. He chose to torment himself, when Angel couldn't stand being around me, if he couldn't have me. Spike...he was willing to sacrifice everything he had, everything he was, just to be with me. Dawn: You're not answering the question. Buffy: I...you know I have feelings for him. I like to be with him. Dawn: Do. You. Love. Him? A pause. Buffy: I guess I do. Or did. He might be dead by now. Dawn: Wow. How long have you known? Buffy: You know how sometimes you don't miss anything until it's gone? When I saw him, bleeding all over the sidewalk, fading, leaving me, I realized I didn't want to live without him, human or not, soul or no soul. It was like when your ears pop, and suddenly you can hear things you couldn't before, and didn't even realize you were missing. They turn and start to walk home. Buffy: And as soon as I had the slightest chance of happiness, loving a man who loved me back, it ****ed up. Again. Just like it always does. Dawn: It always does, doesn't it. I can't think of a single romance that ended well in Sunnydale. Its like there's some sort of conspiracy. Even Spike and Dru, in love for over a century, come here and poof, Spiltsville. Buffy smiles. Buffy: We should change the name of the town. Dawn: Splitsville, California. Buffy: America's home of heartbreak. Dawn: Do you think he's coming back? Buffy: I don't know. If he does he's in for quite a surprise. They walk up they're steps and into the house.
Mid April. Buffy's home. She's on the phone, leaning against the wall. She's talking to Giles in London. Her Long distance bill is getting steadily more dramatic. Giles: That's...great. Why didn't you tell me sooner? Buffy: I don't know. I guess I thought you'd be busy with the council or something. Are you.cleaning your glasses? Giles: I'm not disappointed. Buffy (surprised): Your not? Giles: No. And your mother wouldn't be either. Buffy: I'm scared Giles. I don't know if I can handle this. This is big. There's so much responsibility. Giles: You're no stranger to responsibility. Buffy: No. No I am not. But this is different. This isn't just saving lives, this is making one. Giles: You've been taking care of your sister for a long time now. This shouldn't be too different. Buffy: I wish the world was just ending. I'm good at that. Giles: I'm sure you'll rise to the challenge. You always do. Buffy: Has this ever happened before? Giles: A slayer carrying the child of an undead vampire, who briefly turned human with a magical amulet? All the time. Buffy: Giles. Less with the sarcasm, please. Giles: It has happened that slayers become pregnant, but its usually terminated by the council. One time, the abortion itself, surgery being what it was at the time, was the very thing that killed the slayer in question. Since you don't work for the council, they can't force you to do anything. I assume you have considered that option. Buffy: Not even. I want to do this. I just don't want to have to do it alone. Giles: You're not alone. You have Xander, Willow and Dawn. Many children grow up in far worse situations. Buffy: Many children won't have to learn how to kill something with a table leg. How do I explain why their mom keeps getting older, but dad stays the same age? Why she shouldn't drink the red packages in the fridge? Giles: You're assuming then that Spike will be coming back? Buffy: I...he has to, Giles. She'll need a father. Giles: How are you so sure it will be female? Buffy: I don't know. I just feel it. Giles: That's a shame. I was hoping for a boy. Buffy: Why? Giles: Then you could name him Rupert.
Dining room. Dawn's surfing away on Willow's computer, making occasional notes on a piece of paper next to her. Also beside her is a dusty old tome, looking like it came from the Giles Collection, little words, but occasional pictures. Willow comes in, looking fairly surprised to see Dawn working. Willow: Hey Dawny, Studying? Dawn looks up. Dawn: Huh? No. Willow: Of course not, what was I thinking. She comes over and looks at the screen. What are you doing? Dawn: Me? Oh, I've just been doing some research. Checking out some statistics. Willow reaches for the notes and looks to Dawn for permission. Dawn gives her the go-ahead, so Willow reads the notes. Willow: Divorce statistics? Dawn: I have a theory. Willow: That it's a demon? Dawn: Huh? Willow: Never mind. A theory? Dawn: yeah, check this out. In the United States, on average, one in three marriages fail. Willow: Okay. Dawn: In Sunnydale, two in three. Willow: Hm. Dawn: Isn't that weird? Willow: I guess. Dawn: Okay, I can see you're not convinced. Willow: Convinced of what, exactly? Dawn: Look at this.
She reaches for the book and opens it to a page she has marked with a post- it. On the page, there's some Latin writing and a picture of a complicated Rune.
Dawn: See this? Do you know what this is? Willow: Latin? You read Latin now? Dawn: The picture. Willow: Its a sigil. A mark for augmenting spells. Dawn: Right. This particular one is for an stealing spell. Willow: We have been studious, haven't we? Dawn: According to the book, this spell sucks all the energy of a particular kind out of the area around it and feeds it to the spell caster to lengthen their life.
Willow: Okay. Still missing the point, Dawny. Dawn: You can adjust it to take almost any kind of energy, anger, sadness, lust, or even luck. Willow: Sorry, you've lost me. Dawn: Luck in money, luck in fame, even luck in love. Willow: Assuming you believe in luck. Dawn: So technically, you can suck all the love luck out of an area. Willow: Okay. Dawn: Think about it. Look at every relationship you've ever seen or been in. Have any of them ever ended happily? Ever? Willow: Of course. There was...but he died. Or...no, she was a mummy. I guess not. Dawn: See? Not one! Every time someone falls in love around here, sooner or later, something happens to ruin it. That can't just be a coincidence. Willow: Dawn. People grow apart. Sometimes there's just nothing you can do. Dawn: Sometimes, sure, but every time? I refuse to believe that. There's something here, something that ruins everything. That's why Spike and Dru broke up, after hundreds of years, Why Xander left Anya at the alter, why that stray bullet just happened to hit Tara... Willow: Tara? Dawn: It can't be coincidence. It can't. Something out there is ruining our lives to give itself immortality and I'm going to find out what it is. And I need your help. Willow looks confused and unsure. Then her face sets and she nods. Dawn: Great. Now here's what we have to do...
Willow and Dawn are sitting on the floor in Dawn's room, candles lit, ready to do a spell. Between them on the floor is the old book and a map of Sunnydale. Willow: Are you sure we shouldn't tell Buffy about this? Dawn: Not now. She has enough to worry about. So. How does this work exactly? Willow: Its basically the same spell I used when I first got back, to find the demon. If this mark is anywhere in Sunnydale, it'll glow real bright on the map. Dawn: Sounds pretty. Willow: Take this powder and when I say go, sprinkle it over the map, okay? Dawn: Check. Willow: Okay, here we go. She starts to chant. Dawn looks really nervous. Then Willow says now, and they both sprinkle the powder. Dawn: Well? Willow: Any second now... Seconds pass. The map itself grows steadily brighter, then fades. Willow: Huh. Dawn: Did I do something wrong. Willow: No. Dawn: So there's nothing here? Willow: 'Fraid not, Dawny. Dawn: Damn. All that Latin translating and conjugation for nothing. Willow: Sorry Dawn. Dawn: I was so sure... Willow: I guess it was just coincidence. Dawn (unconvinced): I guess... Willow: Come on. Lets go out for some post magic ice cream. They get up and leave the room, leaving the map and book on the floor. If you look real carefully, you'll notice that the major streets of Sunnydale look uncannily like the lines of the rune. It's a shame Willow and Dawn didn't notice that....
Mid July(and therefore nine months). Xander and Buffy are sitting in the living room. Buffy's looking very big and very uncomfortable, propped up on the couch with pillows and stuff. Buffy: Xander? Xander: Yeah? Buffy: You know what I could go for right about now? Xander: What? Buffy: A peanut butter and pickle sandwich. Xander: As appetizing as that sounds, you finished off the pickles on your ice cream. Buffy: Oh yeah. A pause) You know what else I'd like? Xander: What? Buffy (suddenly very loud and angry): Having this stupid baby out of me! Xander (kind of frightened (and who could blame him?)): Yeah. That'd be good. When's your due date supposed to be, exactly? Buffy: It was last week. Xander: Oh. Buffy: Pregnancy's a beautiful thing, the creation of life, miracles etcetera, but I really want it over now. Xander: Don't worry Buff, any time now. Buffy: When are Willow and Dawn coming back from the movie? Xander: Well, it supposed to be pretty long, so we've got at least an hour left. Buffy (suddenly weepy): Thanks for staying with me while they're gone. You're a true friend. I don't know what I'd do without you. Xander: Hey, I said I'd stick by you and here i am. Sticky. Buffy: Do we have any marshmallows left? Xander: I'll check. He gets up and goes into the kitchen. Buffy sighs and looks down at her tummy. She pokes it. Buffy: You. Out. Time to go. Checkout time was hours ago. Xander (from kitchen): White or coloured? Buffy: Colored! Xander comes back, munching on a marshmallow. He hands the bag to Buffy. Buffy: Thanks. She pops a marshmallow in her mouth. Her voice becomes muffled. Why do they call the marshmallows? Not a very appetizing name. Marsh. Mallows. Xander (also muffled by mallow): Neither is Twinkie. That name always worried me. That's what my mom used to call...never mind. Buffy: Leaving that one alone. Give me another one. I want more marmallowy goodness. Xander hands her the bag, she reaches for it and her hand stops halfway. Xander: Take it. Buffy: Oh! Xander: What? Buffy: OH! OH! Xander: What? What? Buffy: OHohohohohohohoh! Xander: Is it time? Is it coming? Buffy: Oh! Xander: Don't panic. Number one thing, no panicky goodness. Got to go to the hospital! Where's my keys? Where's my keys? Buffy: Xander, panicking! They're in your pocket! Xander: Right! Keys, good! Got the bag? Buffy grabs the duffel bag by the door. Buffy: yeah. What about Dawn and Willow? Xander: Get in the car, I'll write them a not. Buffy goes out the door and Xander grabs a piece of paper off the table, and writes a message "Taken Buffy to Hospital. Meet us there, Hurry, there's not much time. Xander." He puts it on the table and runs out the door after Buffy.
Exterior of Buffy's house. It's empty and quiet. That is, until a motorcycle come roaring up, coming to a stop at the end of the walk. On the bike are a few bags and a guitar case that looks held together with duct tape. The rider, dressed in a long black coat and completely covered by gloves and a tinted helmet, steps off the bike. He pulls off the helmet and a reveals (you guessed it) Spike. He looks very tired. Helmet in hand, he walks up the steps and stops in front of the door. He steels himself and knocks on the door. The force of the knock opens it, and it creaks open ominously. He looks surprised but walks inside. Spike: Hello? Anyone home? There's no answer (seeing that no ones home, that's probably a good thing). Spike puts his helmet down on the table and walks around the house. He goes upstairs and looks in Buffy's room, then Dawn's, travelling the house until he gets to the bathroom. He looks inside and gets a pained look on his face. He shakes his head and goes back downstairs. Spike: Maybe they're invisible... He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a pack of smokes. He pulls one out and puts it in his mouth. Still walking around, he searches in his pockets for his lighter. As he finds it and pulls it out, he notices the note on the table. He walks over and reads it. Then he reads it again. The smoke falls out of his mouth and drops unlit to the floor. He puts his lighter on the table and picks up the note. He reads it again, looking absolutely panicked. He stuffs it in his pocket and runs to the door, slamming it. He gets back on his bike and races away, in the direction of the Sunnydale hospital.
Buffy's house, inside in the hall. The house is silent, almost peaceful. That is until Dawn and Willow enter laughing. Willow: ...And when he slid down the stairs on that shield? Dawn: That was amazing. Are all elves that sexy? Cause if so, shouldn't we have more in Sunnydale? Willow: Well, I thought Liv Tyler looked...hey. Where is everybody? Dawn looks at the coffee table and sees Spike's helmet. Dawn: Since when do we live with Evil Kanevil? Willow (from Dining room): Ever since one of us started smoking. Dawn follows her voice into the other room. Willow is holding the lighter and unlit cigarette. Willow: Found this on the floor. Dawn (about lighter): This is Spike's. Willow: BUFFY? SPIKE? XANDER? Dawn: Where are they? Willow: I...I don't know. Looks like they left in a hurry. Dawn: Lets try her cell. Dawn goes over to the phone and dials the number of Buffy's cell. She waits while it rings, once, twice, thrice, again, then: Buffy: Hi... Dawn: Buffy! Where... Buffy: I can't answer my phone right now, but leave your name, number and apocalypse and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Dawn shakes her head and hangs up. Willow: No luck? Dawn: Not so much.Where could they have gone in such a rush? Willow: The hospital? Dawn (excitedly): You think? Willow: Must be. Dawn: Lets go! Dawn slips the lighter and cigarette in her pocket. They put their coats back on, and start out the door. Dawn: You know, you'd think they'd leave a note or something...
Sunnydale Hospital, Emergency Registration Desk. Spike is looming over a very scared and intimidated looking nurse, whose frantically shuffling through papers, stuttering and shivering. Spike's face looks absolutely frantic and really scared. He slams his fist on the desk. Spike: I don't have time for this! Hurry up! Where is she? Nurse: I, I, I, I, can't find it! What did you say her name was? Spike: Summers, Buffy Summers. She's blond, about yay high, probably with a stupid poofter with bad hair. She was probably injured, or something, missing blood maybe. Nurse: What happened to her? Spike: I don't know! Where is she dammit? Nurse: I'll just call... Spike: Useless, stupid woman! He slams his fist on the desk again, knocking over a vase of flowers. He turns and goes through the doors into the hospital, pushing people and stuff out of his way. Nurse: Sir? SIR? You can't go in there! Sir? Aw, forget it.
Spike wanders (or should I say walks with a specific purpose) through the hospital, knocking over people on crutches and scaring old ladies, not to mention causing serious alarm in the staff. He snarls and snaps (not literally, verbally) at anyone who comes near him. He looks in almost every room, panicking various sick people, with no success. Finally he looks in a tiny rectangular window in the door of room #730. His eyes widen. His face shifts rapidly from an expression of triumph, to surprise, to confusion, to realization and finally to anger. His hands clench into fists. Spike(mutters): Bastard! Bloody bloody bastard... The people in the hall stare at him in fear. He turns around and notices the small crowd of people behind him, watching him. Spike: WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT? They shrink back, and various "nothin'"'s are heard being muttered. Spike (calmer): Right. He walks deceptively calmly through the hall and out the door.
Sunnydale Hospital, Emergency Registration Desk. Willow and Dawn are questioning the same harried nurse. They're both out of breath, like they ran all the way here. Willow: Summers, Buffy? Nurse: Oh no. Willow: She's having a baby? Nurse: Really? So that's what she's here for. Dawn: What? Nurse: A really angry man came in asking for her too. I'd warn her about him when you see her. He looked dangerous. Dawn: Was he pale, blue eyes, Billy-Idol-esque? Willow: Spoke with a British accent? Nurse: That's the guy. Willow: Spike. Dawn: What room is she in? Nurse: Let me call the mat-ward. The nurse turns and dials he phone. Dawn and Willow turn away. Dawn: How did he know to come here? Willow: I don't know. Maybe he's already with Buffy. Dawn: I have a bad feeling about this. Willow: You think? Nurse: Room 730. They turn back to her. Dawn: What? Nurse: Says she's in room 730. She's in labour right now, with the father. Willow and Dawn exchange looks. They start to run.
Inside Room #730, Sunnydale Hospital. Willow and Dawn's faces can be seen peering in the rectangle window. In the room, decked out in typical sterile hospital style, are Buffy, Xander, and some doctors and nurses (Sunnydale Hospital, though small, is very well staffed, with full wards and some of the best care in the country). Buffy is in labour. She's screaming and breathing and all the other relatively undignified delivery activities. Xander is holding her hand, actually looking quite useless. Xander: C'mon Buff, you're doing great. Buffy: If I'm doing so great, why is it taking so long!?! Xander: Just keep breathing. Doctor: Here comes another contraction. Push Buffy. Xander: Push. Push like you've never pushed before! Buffy: I AM pushing! No one has ever pushed this hard in the history of the world! She screams and squeezes Xander's hand tighter. Xander: Okay, ow. Ow. Buffy: SHUT UP XANDER! Xander: Its okay, I'm just losing feeling in... Buffy screams and squeezes it even harder. Xander: MY HAND! A cracking, splintering sound is heard and Xander joins Buffy in the screaming. Buffy (between breathing and screaming): Oh, sorry! Xander: Its fine, I don't use that hand anyway. Just get this baby out! Doctor: Here it comes! And out it does come, looking kind of deformed and reptilian as newborn babies do. The nurse and doctor take it away to be weighed and name tagged and all that stuff. Buffy sighs and leans back against the pillow, releasing Xander's hand. It's not looking right. Xander: Note to self. Never hold hands with a slayer when she's giving birth. Buffy: Lucky for you, we're already in the hospital. Xander: The gods are smiling on me. Buffy: Doctor, is it alright? Doctor: Just a minute, that's what we're trying to find out. Buffy and Xander look at each other. Buffy (frightened): Xander, hold my hand again. Xander: Not on your life. He sits down beside her and puts his arms around her while they wait for the doctors. After what seems like forever, the nurse brings over the baby. It's all cleaned off, looking sweet and angelic and human. The nurse puts the baby in Buffy's arms. Surprisingly, Buffy's hair and makeup are looking flawless, despite having just gone through labour. Funny. Buffy looks down at her child in wonder. Nurse: Its a girl. Buffy: I know. I've always known. Xander: Oh my god. Buffy: You doubted my prophetic ability? Xander: No, its not that, its just...oh my god. Buffy: I couldn't put it any better myself.
Outside the Sunnydale Hospital. Spike is leaning against the wall, smoking a cigarette. He is just radiating barely controlled rage. A doctor comes out, wearing scrubs. He leans on the wall a meter or so away from Spike, taking deep breaths and enjoying the night air. Doc: Those things'll kill you, y'know. Spike: They can try. Doc: You don't worry about it? Spike: I'm not afraid to die. Not anymore. Doc: Aren't we Mr. Melodramatic. Spike: .... Doc: Y'know, I used to feel that way too. Live fast, die young. Spike: Leave a good looking corpse. Doc: Yeah. But life...life is the most wonderful thing. And to see a life begin, so full of possibilities, its just breathtaking, y'know? Spike: ... Doc: Everyday I thank the powers that be that I'm alive. Spike: Alive. What makes someone "alive". What is it that makes being alive better than dead? Used to seem the same to me. Doc: Well, I've never been dead, so I wouldn't know. But Life, Life is waking up and being impatient for the day to begin. Life is loving and being loved. Life is feeding and sleeping and making new life. Spike: Apparently making new life has been big around here lately. Doc: Not really. Just one birth tonight. Spike: Boy or Girl? Doc: A girl. Spike (bitterly): A girl. Little Buffy and Xander's girl. Doc: You know the parents. Spike: I thought I did. Did when I left. Doc: Been gone long? Spike: A while. Long enough, I guess. You go away, and you figure everything will be the same when you come back and its not. Everything's changed. You miss chances. You don't even recognize the place. And now I have to go again. Doc: Why? Spike: No place for me anymore. "Life" has moved on. Once again leaving me behind. Was I gone so long? Did she...did everyone forget me so fast. Must have moved very fast. Weeks. Took weeks to get over me. I travel the world, finally find a purpose, a meaning, a "life", and I come back to live it and its all gone to hell. Good place for it. Doc: Don't you think you're feeling a little sorry for yourself? Spike: Someone has to. Doubt they even remember me now. The doctor sighs and straightens up, moving back towards the door. Doc: Life's a funny thing. Good luck. Spike: Yeah thanks. The strange doctor disappears through the door. Spike pulls the note out of his pocket and reads it again. Spike: This changes everything. I'll just go back. Get new instructions. A new plan. He must not have known. Couldn't have known. He'd've told me. I guess I'LL go tell him then. He smiles. But before I go, there's just one thing I have to do. He crumples the note and throws it to the ground.
Sunnydale Hospital. Buffy lies in bed, holding her new baby in her arms, gazing at it lovingly. Xander returns to the room, hand in bandages, with Willow and Dawn. Xander: I have returned, with my new friend, the plaster cast! Buffy: I said I was sorry. Hey Will, hey Dawn. Dawn: Is this cool? Buffy: Sure come on in. Share my joy. Dawn and Willow approach the bed and immediately start cooing and baby talking. Dawn: That's the cutest thing I've ever seen! Willow: She's beautiful! Buffy: She is, isn't she. I never thought I could love anything this much. Dawn: She's so quiet! Willow: And sweet! Xander: And fits neatly into most overhead compartments. Buffy: Xander. Actually, she hasn't cried once yet. The doctors thought there was something wrong with her, but they did some tests, and she's the healthiest baby they've ever seen. Xander: She is the daughter of the slayer. Buffy: I can't wait to call Giles! I want to tell everyone I know. Dawn: Just us and Giles then. Buffy: It was so funny when I told him who the father was. You could hear him cleaning his glasses. Dawn: The father... Willow: I can't believe we forgot! Dawn: Did you see him? I kinda expected to see him here. Willow: Maybe he's still wandering around. I'll ask. Abruptly, Willow gets up and leaves. Buffy: What? Xander: I second that "what" and raise you a "huh?". Dawn: When we got home from the movie... Xander: Wasn't it great? Dawn: Super. Anyway, when we got home we found these: She pulls the lighter and cigarette (now bent) from her pocket and hands them to Xander who shows them to Buffy. Xander: These are... Buffy: Spike's. Dawn: They were on the dining room table. There was also a bike helmet. Buffy: Spike's never worn a helmet in his life. Xander: Maybe he's on a safety kick. Buffy: You haven't seen him? Dawn: We didn't but the nurse at the desk said she did. She said he was really angry. You haven't seen him? Buffy: Obviously not. I was kind of occupied. Willow comes back in, holding a piece of paper. Buffy: Any word? Willow: I asked around. An orderly says he saw a man of Spike's discription outside your door. Apparently he looked really angry. And a doctor, your doctor, actually, said he talked to a really sad man, same description, outside. Said he kept talking about leaving. And something about moving on. Oh, and I found this. She hands Xander the note. Xander: Hey, my note. Dawn: I KNEW you wouldn't go have a baby without leaving a note. Didn't I say they'd leave a note? Willow: You called it. And it explains how he knew to come here. But he wouldn't have known why. Buffy: Oh. Dawn: Man, It must have come as quite a shock to see you in here. Willow: Having a baby. Buffy: With Xander. There's a worried silence. Xander: Well, that can't be good.
In front of Buffy's house. Xander's car pulls up. He gets out and goes around to open the passenger side door, and help Buffy out. Xander: Come on, ex-pregnant lady. Buffy: I can't wait to get this weight back off. Xander; what weight? You look the same as you usually do. Buffy: Do I? Xander: Yeah. Buffy: That's weird. Xander opens the back door and pulls out the car seat, complete with baby. Buffy grabs some bags and they head fro the house. Buffy: It's so late. I hope Dawn and Willow get home soon. Xander: I have a feeling they'll be looking for Spike for a while. Nice of them to volunteer, so you could get some rest. Buffy: And nice of the doctor to let me come home so soon. You know I was only in the hospital for a few hours? Xander: That is strange. Buffy fumbles for her keys. Buffy: I hope they find him soon. I really need to explain things.
She unlocks the door
Xander: Yeah, lets explain to the crazy vampire how I'm not the father of his girlfriends kid. Buffy: That's what I'm saying. Xander: Where should I put the bundle of joy? Buffy: Is she still sleeping? Xander: Like a baby. Buffy: Well, her crib's all set up in the spare room you built for us, so I'll go put her in there. Xander: Here. He grabs the bags and hands her the baby. She smiles at it and carries it upstairs. Xander sits down on the couch and grabs a marshmallow from the still open bag. Then he gets up and goes to the kitchen. It's completely dark. He opens the fridge door and leans in, and the light spills over the kitchen, revealing: Spike: Xander.
Outside, somewhere in Sunnydale. Dawn and Willow are walking down the street. Willow: So lets see...Not at his crypt, Not at Xander's. Not the school basement. Not the bronze. Not Willy's old place or any of the other strictly demon hangouts... Dawn: That was a cool glamour, by the way, the demon thing. Willow: Thanks. So if he's not there, where else could he be? Dawn: Maybe he left town again. Willow: Maybe. Dawn: See? This is exactly what I was talking about. Willow: When? Dawn: Months ago! The love/luck-sucking thing. Willow: Oh yeah. I thought we gave up on that idea. There's nothing here, remember? Dawn: Don't you think its a little odd that Spike should come back today of all days, to find that note, should arrive at the hospital at the worst possible time? To see the worst possible thing? Willow: Dawn, there's nothing here. We tried that spell over and over. If that mark was anywhere in Sunnydale, the spell would have found it. Dawn: Then its something else. I just have to keep looking. Willow: In the meantime, we have to keep looking for Spike. Lets check out a few graveyards. If we still don't get anything, we'll go home and I'll try a spell. Dawn: I just hope we find him before he finds Xander.
Back in Buffy's kitchen. Xander drops the milk he grabbed and it spills across the floor, as he whips around to see Spike, sitting almost Bond-bad- guy style on the kitchen chair. Xander: Spike... s..So nice to see you. I he..heard you were in t..town. Spike: Xander. Aren't you gonna offer me a drink? Maybe a cigar? Xander: Willow and D..dawn are looking for you. Where ya been? Spike: Here and there. Went home for a while, actually. And what about you, what have you been up to? Spike advances on Xander and Xander backs away. Xander: N..not much. Actually, I have some big news for you. Spike: really. Is it good news...he steps closer as Xander runs out of room to back up....or bad news? Xander: That really depends on how you take it... Spike's hand flashes up and grabs Xander's neck, pushing him against the wall. Spike: How I take it? How should I take it?
Xander gasps for breath
Spike: I go away for less than 10 months and come back to find that someone has gotten the woman I love pregnant! And who do i find has done this? Her supposed best friend, Xander. Xander (chokes out): Don't...don't kill...me. Spike: Why not? I should kill you. I've done worse things, far worse things. Chip or no chip, I could kill you. I can barely feel it now, you know? Just this little ache in the back of my head. The pieces are all broken up. Xander: Its..n..not..my.. Spike: Not your what? Fault? Trying to blame this on her? How fast did you move, Harris? Was it a revenge thing? I take yours, you take mine? Xander: N..no...I... Spike drops Xander and he falls to the ground, gasping for breath. Spike sneers at him. Spike: I'm not going to kill you. She'll need you. You've made sure of that, haven't you? Xander: Spike, it... Spike: Shut up. Lemme finnish. I'm going. Here. He hands Xander an envelope. Spike: She better get this. Its for her. And her. A gift for your child. Xander: Spike! It's not my kid! Spike: What? Buffy (from doorway): It's yours.
Buffy's back porch. It's a warm quiet night. Buffy and Spike are sitting on the steps, much like they did in "Fool for Love." Except this time Buffy's holding a baby. The parents both look really awkward. Buffy: So...you're back. Spike: Yeh. Buffy: Where'd you go? Spike: Been all the way around the world. Buffy: Oh. Spike: Yeah. Spike leans toward her to get a better look at the child. Its wide awake, staring around. She has unbelievable blue eyes and shocking white hair. Spike: She's beautiful. Looks just like you. Buffy: Actually, she has you eyes. And for some reason your hair. Spike: That's a little odd, isn't it. And awkward silence follows. Spike: Um. Can I hold her? Buffy: Have you ever held a baby before? Spike: Well, once, but you don't want to hear about it. Buffy: I really don't. Here, careful. She passes him the baby, and he holds her awkwardly. His face lights up with pride and wonder. Spike: She's so small. And quiet. Buffy: Healthy too. Spike: That's a relief. I kinda expected to be holding something with fangs. Buffy: I'd love her anyway. Some of the people I care about most have fangs. Spike looks up and studies her face. She's not mad at him. She looks almost proud. Spike: I'm sorry. Buffy: For what? Spike: What don't I have to be sorry for? Most recently I'm sorry for leaving. If I'd've known... Buffy: There's no way you could have known. And i knew you'd come back. Just don't do it again. Spike: Scouts honour. How did you know I'd come back? Buffy: You always come back. Spike: I do, don't I? How many times have i left, four? Buffy: Something like that. Spike: And something keeps dragging me back... The silence resumes. Buffy: I missed you. Spike: Thought you might. Buffy: I tried not to. Spike: Knew you would. Buffy: And when I found out...well, all I could think about was how much I wished you were here to share it with me. Spike: Thought of a name yet? Buffy: No. I had some ideas but nothing good enough. Any thoughts? Spike: I do have one idea. Buffy: Shoot. Spike: We should name her Tara. Buffy says nothing for a moment. Then she smiles. Buffy: Its perfect. Tara it is. Tara Joan Summers. Spike: Joan? Buffy: I like Joan.
Buffy's house. Dawn and Willow come in the front door. Xander's sitting on the couch, massaging his neck with his good hand and eating stale marshmallows. Dawn: Hey Xander. Willow: What happened? Xander: You know, I'm almost glad I'm going to live a lonely life of bachelorhood and never going to have kids. Dawn: We didn't find Spike. But I'm guessing you did. Xander: He was in the kitchen. Willow: Always the last place ya look. Xander: He and Buffy are talking out back. Buffy: Nope, we're done. She and Spike come in the room. Buffy's carrying the child again, and Spike's standing behind her. Xander: So. Spike: So. Buffy smiles and elbows Spike in the chest. Spike: I'm sorry for trying to throttle you Xander. Xander: No, no, no apologies needed. Your discomfort is all the thanks I need. Willow: Nice to see you Spike. How was your trip? Spike: Longer than I had expected for one thing. Xander: And apparently lucrative too. Dawn: What d'ya mean? Xander picks up the envelope Spike had handed him earlier and opens it up. It's full of cash. Xander: All 50's and non-consecutive. Dawn: Where'd you get it? Spike (proudly): I have a job. Willow: really, doing what? Spike: Mostly contract work. Tell you later. Right now, Buffy has something to tell you. Xander: You're not getting married are you? Cause its not as much fun as you think. Buffy: Not what I was going to say, but an interesting idea to toy with. Spike: I'm still dead set against "Wind beneath my Wings" Buffy: That's an argument for a later day. Right now, we picked a name for the baby. Willow: Oh, you finally decided? Buffy: Actually, it was Spike's suggestion. Dawn: Oh goody. My niece, Cindy the bloody. Xander: Spikette. They start to laugh. Buffy: Tara. The laughing stops abruptly. Dawn and Xander exchange looks, while Willow just looks shocked. Spike: If that's okay with you, Red. Willow: Okay? I...I...okay? She bursts into tears Of course its okay. It's wonderful. She rushes up and throws her arms around Spike, who just looks really surprised Xander: I hate to ever agree with Spike, but that's a great name. Dawn: Its perfect. Buffy: I knew you'd think so. Spike, would you hold little Tara? I have to phone Giles. Its got to be late enough there by now. She passes the baby back to Spike, who's trying to untangle a weeping Willow. Buffy goes into the kitchen to make the call. Dawn (coldly): so, spike, are you staying for a while, or are you going to take off again. Spike: Don't be like that, Niblette. She looks at him coldly. Except when I have to go off on business, I'm sticking around here. Dawn: And how often will that be? Spike: Not often. I hope. Dawn: You don't know? Spike: Stop it Dawn. Don't you want to see what I brought you from China? Dawn's face lights up. Dawn: China? Spike: Yeah, let me go out to...
Buffy cuts him off by coming in the room holding the phone
Buffy: Spike? Giles wants to talk to you. Xander(sing-song): Spike's in trouble, Spike's in trouble. Spike: Okay. Hand off. He gives the baby to Willow, who's still overcome by emotion, but pulling herself together. Spike takes the phone from Buffy and goes into the kitchen. Xander: So that's it? Spike's back, the baby's born and named, he brought us stuff from china, what else is there to do? Willow: I bet I can think of one thing. Here Buffy, you can do the honours. She hands Buffy her child. Buffy: What hon...She smells the air. Oh. Okay. I'm on it. Super mom to the rescue. I know just how to handle this. She shifts the baby in her arms. Buffy: Spike! I need you!
Epilogue
A girl who looks about fifteen years old, with short white hair and blue eyes is waiting in the airport. An announcement comes over the Speakers: P.A.: Last call boarding for London, England. Rows 3-10. The girl stands and grabs her bags. She heads for the loading line. She looks very upset, like she's about to cry. As she passes through the gate, a pair of slightly older women come running full tilt toward her, calling out. The girl ducks through the gate and heads down the ramp to the plane. The other two women try to follow but are stopped by the attendants. They give up and turn around. Older Woman: damn. Younger Woman: I'm sure she'll be okay. Older Woman: OF course she will. I just wanted to say goodbye. Younger Woman: I'm sorry we didn't catch her Buffy. Buffy: Its alright Dawn, I know where she's going. Dawn: Your just going to let her go? Buffy: I have to. Its her decision. I just hope its the right one. Dawn: Me too. They start back the way they came. Dawn: You'd never let me fly to England by myself when I was fifteen. Buffy: Well, you aren't her. Dawn: No. No, I'm not. Buffy: And you wouldn't want what she has. Dawn: No. No I wouldn't. Not for the world.