Spike put his arm around Buffy as they walked back to the car. "You okay?"

"As okay as you can be when your sister's been murdered in cold blood." Buffy said the words bitterly.

Spike sighed as he tried to think of some way to comfort his wife. This was how Buffy dealt with things she was either angry at the world and took it out on him or she closed herself off to everyone. He preferred angry Buffy.

"Spike, I'm sorry, for what I said." Buffy scooted as close to him as she could. She lay her head on his shoulder, "I really do know that this is hard for you too. Please don't let me take it out on you, I know....I know that in the past I've done that, I don't want to do that now. I need you now....."

"Buffy, you're right this is hard for me. I loved Dawn as if she was my blood sister. But.. I know how hard this is for you and I can put up with a little bit of your anger because I know it's not directed at me. I just don't want you to close me off. Okay?" He patted her knee.

"Okay." She sighed against him as they pulled up outside the Hyperion, "I suppose we should take Jake with us to Mrs. Jameson's , it might help to have him there when we tell her."

" I think that's a good idea. We'll pack up that diaper bag and go on over there." Spike agreed as they walked into the hotel.

Angel was sitting in the living room watching a morning news program. Jake was sleeping on blanket beside him on the couch. He stood when they entered the room, "I'm glad you're home. Mrs. Jameson, Chris' grandmother called, evidently someone from the paper called her with the news. She's very upset naturally, she called her after trying your place, Dawn had given her both numbers."

"Stupid press! I thought this was supposed to be kept quiet for a little while." Spike's fists were balled up at his sides.

"Evidently the Press wasn't told to keep it quiet or they just didnt' care. It's all over the news too." Angel motioned towards the tv where a picture of Chris and Dawn was plastered.

Buffy stared at the face of her sister, it was a picture of she and Chris at a Charity event. Big smiles on their faces - a beautiful couple with their whole lives ahead of them. The same face she had just left now pale and lifeless. She turned away from the tv, "We should go now see her now. I'll get Jake's things."


She left the room as the tv reported began to speak, "A terrible tragedy in LA, the bodies of local Prosecutor Chris Jameson........" Angel hit the off button on the remote as he watched Buffy leave the room, "Is she going to be alright?"

"I hope she will be. But with Buffy sometimes....well you know." Spike shook his head, "She'll be fine, I 'm sure it will just take some time."

Buffy returned with the diaper bag and picked up Jake from the couch he stirred slightly but settled into her arms still sleeping, a bit of drool gathering in the corner of his pink mouth.

"If it's okay, I'm going to pick up some more of Jake's things. An officer called while you were gone and said it would be okay. I thought it would be easier for me to go." Angel told them as they left.

"I should do it." Buffy began to argue but thought better of it, "No, you do it and....uh....thank you."

"It's no problem."

***
The car stopped outside of Mrs. Jameson's apartment building while Buffy was trying to calm a crying Jake in his car seat. "We're here. Maybe he'll be happier when we get him out of that seat." Spike told her as he
grabbed the diaper bag and his blanket.

"Maybe." Buffy didn't sound so sure as she took the baby from the car seat.

Jake was still announcing his prescence as they knocked on his great grandmother's door. Mrs. Jameson answered her eyes red and face splotchy from her crying, she dabbed at her eyes with a lace handkerchief.
"Please come in." She hugged Buffy and Jake to her for several moments patting Buffy's back before she finally pulled away. "Please come sit down."

They followed her into the small living room where she had a teapot ready since Buffy had called that they were on their way. She patted Spike's arm as she asked him to pour the tea. "Yes mam." He answered as he began to pour the strong tea into delicate china cups.

"Let me take him." The older lady asked as she reached for Jake. His crying stopped as she held him the baby softly cooing to him and rocking him gently in her arms. Tears rolled down her face, "You poor little thing." She murmured over and over.

"I'm so sorry you had to find out the way you did." Buffy began.

"It's not your fault, Buffy. I understand why you didn't come sooner, you are grieving for your lovely sister. I loved Dawn too, I always thought that Chris made a wonderful choice marrying her." She sniffled as she thought about her grandson. "Poor little Jake here, he's an orphan just like his father was. You know Chris' parents were killed in an accident when he was three."

Buffy couldn't help but notice the wedding pictures of Dawn and Chris scattered around the apartment and the baby pictures of Jake sat on every shelf. The baby seemed quite calm with Mrs. Jameson too. She had so much experience with children much more then Buffy could ever imagine. She wondered if Jake would be better off here?

"I suppose we should talk about arrangements?" Mrs. Jameson brought up the subject first.

The three adults discussed arrangements, deciding on a Sunnydale funeral. The baby lay contentedly in his great grandmother's arms. "I don't mind having the funeral and burial in Sunnydale. That's where you live and since Jake will be with you, then when he's old enough you can take him to the cemetary. You won't let him grow up not knowing who his parents were."

After exchanging several stories about the couple, more tears were shed and sad laughter was heard as they talked about Dawn's first dinner party disaster and how overprotective Chris had been when she was pregnant.

"You don't mind Jake living with us?" Buffy asked out of the blue.

"Why no, I knew that Dawn and Chris trusted you with Jake's life. You'll be fine." She hugged the now sleeping baby close to her chest.

"Mrs. Jameson, you're so good with him. He's the calmest he's been since....since this all happened. I'm not sure..." Buffy bit her bottom lip, "Maybe Jake would be better with you?" The last part came out in a small, scared voice.

Spike looked at Buffy as if she had lost all sanity, "Buffy?"

"Well, he does seem happy with her?" Buffy defended herself.

"I promised Lil Bit that we would do it, I keep my promises." He was shaking his head sadly.

Mrs. Jameson surveyed the situation, "I know that this is a terrible shock for all of us and I realize that this is not the way most families begin." She sighed as she tried to find the right words, "Buffy, I think you may be a bit scared of the responsibility taking on Jake ensues, but if my grandson and Dawn thought you could do it, then I know you can too."

"She's right, Buffy." Spike smiled as he placed his hand on her arm.

"I love Jake and I don't want to lose touch with him, but I'm older and live in this small apartment. He needs to be raised by younger people who are healthy and can raise him in a house with a yard. I would take him in a heartbeat if you really don't think you can do it....but I don't know how long I would be able and then where would that leave little Jake." Mrs. Jameson smiled at the sleeping baby.

"It's not that I don't want to take care of him." Buffy replied still defensive, "I just...I don't know a lot about babies. I don't want to hurt him somehow." Her tone softened at the confession.

"You can call me anytime you need me. And I hope...that I'll be able to come and visit?"

"Of course, of course you'll be welcome anytime." Spike assured her as Buffy nodded her head in agreement. "I know how hard this is, are you sure you're okay?"

"William, I've lived a long life and I've lost more then my fair share of loved ones, this hurts.....well it's like reliving when my son and daughter in law died all over again, but one thing I've learned is that as much as it hurts we have to go on, it's what the ones we love would want, it's what we want for the ones we leave behind." Tears spattered her cheeks as she handed the baby back to Buffy. She dabbed at the tears and
softly blew her nose into her hanky.

"We better go, we'll see you soon. And I'll take care of the arrangements just like we talked about." Spike stood and leaned over the older woman hugging her gently.

"Thank you." She patted his arm and turned towards Buffy, "Buffy, you take care. And don't worry you'll do fine with Jake." Buffy stood up with the baby balancing him as she hugged Mrs. Jameson tightly.

****

Angel greeted them at the door of the Hyperion with news, "I hope you don't mind but I called Giles. He'll be in Sunnydale as soon as possible, Buffy he said for you to not worry about anything, he's got everyone covered for the time being."

"Thanks, I had forgotten to call.....how could I have done that?" She shook her head as she walked into the living room which was now home to a unassembled crib, boxes of blankets and crib sheets and a variety of toys, and baby clothes. "Wow, I don't think all of this is going to fit in the car."

"Well you can start by taking the necessities." Angel told her as he pushed a bag aside for her to sit.

"Babies really do need lots of stuff." Spike looked around the room, "I think between both of our cars we can get all of it home though."

Jake stirred in Buffy's arms, he opened his bright eyes and smiled up at her. She was mesmerized by the smile, it was the first time he had awoken without screaming. "Hello, are you hungry?" He continued to examine her face his small fist latching on to a long blond curl.

"I'll get his bottle." Spike told her smiling at the scene before him.

"I'll help you." Angel followed him to the kitchen.

"Think I can handle this Peaches." Spike told him as he carefully measured the powder into the bottle and added the warm water.

"I just wanted to let you know that I've already put out feelers on information for who might be responsible for this. And I'm ready to help Buffy in any way find who did this to Dawn and Chris." Angel explained in a low voice.

"I appreciate that, Angel, I do. But I think vengeance should be on the bottom of our priority list right now. S'not that I don't want to take care of the slime that did this.....it's just that Niblet gave me a job and I promised..we have to take care of Jake get him settled into a new life. Buffy...we both have a lot to get used too." Spike shook the bottle several times to mix it properly, he then tested it on his wrist like he had watched Angel do.

"I understand that, Spike. But I know Buffy and when she's had time to recover, she's going to want to act."

"I'm hoping that taking care of Jake will take her mind off of that." Spike started towards the livingroom, "I'm not gonna have her going off half cocked looking for revenge. I won't take that chance with her making a mistake and getting herself hurt."

Angel rolled his eyes as he followed the blond down the hallway, amazed at what he was hearing, the Spike of old would have already hunted down the guilty party and tore them apart. It was hard to get used to this new "think things through" Spike.

Buffy was talking to Jake as she changed his diaper, the baby was cooing happily. "Look, I think he likes me."

"Of course he does." Spike laughed as he handed her the bottle.

The baby nestled against her as she offered him the bottle, he still wasn't excited about the formula but he was getting used to it and soon had emptied the bottle. After being burped he began to smile and coo again. Spike watched as Buffy smiled and talked to him, "You look like you're mommy, yes you do." Her eyes were moist again, but she continued to talk to the baby in a happy comforting voice.

Spike nudged Angel's arm, "See, no revenge, she's concentrating on the baby now."

"For now, for now." Angel muttered under his breath.

TBC
A/N :Okay, we have the funeral to get through and then Buffy and Spike settle down to being new unsure of themselves parents. Can they handle it? Also....Angel may be right for once - Buffy's going to want some closure.....