A/N      And I thought you all loved Riley as much as me LOL! Thank you for the reviews.

The Good News First

Chapter 20

Forrest dropped his gun; it fell to the cave floor with a deafening clatter. He rushed over to Riley, who was slumped on one side, Forrest kicked away Riley's weapon. He could see by the light of Riley's campfire that he wasn't a threat anymore.

"Dammit Finn, why didn't you just do as I told you?" asked Forrest.

He touched his fingertips to Riley's neck; a faint pulse beat there. He was taken aback as Riley's eyes suddenly snapped open, a thin trickle of blood escaped from the side of his mouth as he tried to make words.

Forrest leaned his head closer, "Sorry man can't hear you," said Forrest.

"I'll have the last laugh," choked out Riley.

There was a loud rasp as the last breath left Riley's body and his eyes glazed over seeing no more. Forrest closed Riley's eyes and sat on the cave floor for a moment.

"Get your shit together man," he told himself angrily. Forrest took a couple of deep breaths and took out his radio and contacted Professor Walsh.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"All ready to go then love?" asked Spike as he helped her get changed out of her hospital gown.

"Yes, pass me my dress will you Spike, can't wait to get out of this place, I'd rather face a big bad any day," she said.

Spike walked up behind her in a slow predatory manner, holding her dress in one hand. He put his arms around her and pressed his lower body against her.

"Does this feel big and bad enough?" he drawled in her ear while moving against her.

Buffy gasped at the sensations he never failed to arouse in her. She shook her head to clear it of its lustful thoughts and turned around, her belly coming between them and she snatched her dress out of his hand.

"Spike behave, Giles and Mom will be here in a moment, and I think I have had my fair share of embarrassing moments where they're concerned," said Buffy struggling to do up her dress.

Spike slid the zipper on the back of her dress the rest of the way up and kissed her neck, nibbling at it a little, Buffy felt her resolve wavering as she pushed him down on the bed, and awkwardly straddled him, fully clothed. Buffy lowered her head to kiss him, when the door opened.

"Hello, all set then, your mum is waiting in the car….um," trailed off Giles as he saw the two on the bed.

Buffy struggled off of Spike and pulled down her dress that had ridden up around her thighs, blushing almost as crimson as the garment she was wearing. Spike pulled his t-shirt back down and grinned at Giles.

"Sorry about that was just helping Buffy get dressed," said Spike grinning wickedly at his wife's discomfort.

"That's what they are calling it these days? Anyway I think I'll go wait in the car too, don't be long Buffy, I have something to tell you," said Giles.

Giles made a hasty exit. Buffy raised a fist trying to make it connect with Spike's arm; he caught it easily mid-air.

"Play nicely love," he grinned.

"Oh like you do," she said glaring at him.

"That's just me though Buffy, better be on your way, wouldn't want Rupes to get his Y-fronts in a twist," said Spike.

"Meet you back at the crypt?" said Buffy.

"Yeah, smelly sewers here I come, thank God I don't need to breathe," said Spike.

They left the hospital room together and Spike walked her as close to the entrance as was safe. They kissed, Spike watched his beautiful wife walk out into the Californian sunshine, her hair shone like gold. She turned and smiled at him before getting into the car. He felt a lump form in his chest as he thought sadly to himself that it was the closest he'd ever get to seeing his Angel walk in the day. With a swirl of leather he was gone, heading for home through the underground sewer system.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Giles dropped Joyce off at her home and continued to the graveyard with Buffy, they walked among the tombstones, Giles thoughtful, his hands behind his back.

"What is it? Giles just spit it out," said Buffy knowing his look of old.

"The Kwoth demons that attacked you last night, that was deliberate," said Giles.

"The Initiative?" she asked.

"In a sense, one of them, Riley Finn," replied Giles.

"I am gonna get that son of a bitch," said Buffy, her fists clenching at her sides.

"You can't Buffy," Said Giles.

"Why, because I am pregnant? I still have my slayer strength," Said Buffy fiercely.

"No because, he's dead," finished Giles.

Buffy felt all the tension leave her body, her eyes widening in shock.

"How? When?" she asked.

"Last night, Forrest had to shoot him, he called me last night," said Giles looking at Buffy in concern.

"Stop looking at me like that Giles, I'm ok, so I dated the guy a couple of times, we deal with death nearly every day, I'll be fine,"  she said coming to a stop at the crypt door.

"Do you want me to come in and wait with you until Spike gets back?" asked Giles.

"No you get back to mom, Spike will probably be there already," she said Smiling at him.

"Ok if you are sure," he said uncertainly.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Buffy entered the cool interior of their home and closed the door behind her, leaning against it for support, not really sure what she was feeling inside right now.

"Spike," she called out in the dim interior.

"Here pet, what's wrong?" he said walking up the stairs from their lower domain, seeing her pale face.

"Riley's dead," she said starkly.

"Who do I congratulate?" asked Spike, looking pleased.

"There's more, he was responsible for those Kwoth demons attacking us last night, Forrest found him and shot him in self defence," said Buffy.

The smile faded from Spike's face as he vamped out in anger and smashed his fist against the wall.

"Better Forrest found him than I, otherwise they'd be looking for the body parts for weeks, does this mean the Initiative will leave us alone now?" he snarled.

"Your guess is as good as mine, the Initiative is bigger than one out of control soldier," said Buffy.

There was a knock at the crypt door; Spike went to answer it.

"Hello Red, wondered when you'd catch up with us, where's wolf boy?" asked Spike.

"Hi Spike, Oz, is at college telling my professor I had to go to the dentist," smiled Willow.

Willow walked over to Buffy.

"So how ya doing, Giles told me you had a close call last night and about all the other stuff, busy twenty-four hours wouldn't you say?" asked Willow.

"Oh I've had worse, so how much do you know?"  Asked Buffy.

"Oh let me see, demon attack, false labour and the death of a loser and last, but not least no more chip," she said looking at Spike.

Spike tapped his head.

"Thanks for that Willow, remind me to give you a kiss later," he grinned.

"As long as it's not of the eternal variety," Willow joked.

"As if I would do that," he winked at her.

"Can't believe Riley's really dead though, how do you feel about it Buffy?" asked Willow.

"Why do people keep asking me that? I feel sorry for him, but I am so over it. He tried to kill the two most important things in my life, William and our baby," said Buffy.

"Not forgetting you too Buffy," said Willow.

Spike could see she was getting worked up, so he went over to her stroked her hair, it never failed to calm her down, she smiled dreamily.

"What's with Spike's chip then Wills?" asked Buffy.

"Had a look in the books as soon as Giles told me seems that it's permanent, but Spike here has proved he's a changed man so I think it's no big," said Willow.

"How's the preparation coming along for my surprise baby shower?" asked Buffy, eager to change the subject.

"Don't know, Anya's handling it; she's kinda taken over all the planning, but how did you know?" asked Willow.

"Oh come on, I know you guys, you're always doing this sort of thing," said Buffy.

"True, just hoping Anya knows what a baby shower is," said Willow.

"Well I'll guess we'll find out, when is it?" asked Buffy.

"Saturday night, your mom and Giles and Xander and Oz want to be there too, I know it's usually a girly affair, but I thought we'd make an exception this time," said Willow.

"Don't mind, what could be better, sharing the coming event with my family and friends, so how are you supposed to get me there?" asked Buffy.

"Your mom is gonna invite us for dinner," said Spike.

Willow rose from her seat.

"Have to get back to college now, the amount of time I've been gone, could have a major root canal," said Willow.

Buffy hugged her friend.

"See you Saturday then," said Buffy.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Spike lay fast asleep in their bed, Buffy shifted about restlessly, unable to get comfortable, which ever way she lay, her back ached, Spike's eyes opened blearily.

"What is it love?" he asked

"I can't get comfy, no matter what way I lie, this gets in the way," she said pointing at her stomach.

"Someone's grumpy this morning," said Spike propping himself up on one elbow to look at her.

"So would you be if you'd only got a couple of hours sleep," she snapped.

"Hey, hey come on Buffy only another 3 weeks and our little girl will be here," Soothed Spike.

"Yes she will and we still don't have a name for her yet," said Buffy.

"Maybe we'd better throw a few boys names in for good measure?" he asked.

"Ok, but it will just be a waste of time, let's just try and get through tonight and Anya's baby shower," she grinned.

"Bleeding hell, forgot all about that, just wanted us to have some alone time while we still can," said Spike

Spike traced her nose with a tip of a finger then deposited a kiss on her lips.

"I'm scared," she said.

"Of the Initiative?" he asked frowning.

"No, well a little, but no that's not it," she said.

"Well what is it then?" he asked concerned.

"I'm afraid of giving birth," she admitted.

Spike put his arms around her.

"You'll be fine love, I'll be there with you, helping you as best as I can, can't say I am looking forward to see you in pain, it was hard enough the other night, but we'll get through this together," he told her.

"I know you will Spike, I have total trust in you, more than anyone I have ever known, I don't have a great track record with guys, my father and well you know the rest of my pathetic history, but you restored my faith that there are men out there that don't leave, that stick with you through thick or thin, I love you so much William," she said her eyes misty with unshed tears.

Spike smiled back, moved more than words could say, at his wife's words. He kissed her gently expressing his emotions through the touch of his lips. The kiss soon flared into breathless passion, Buffy broke away from him, looking into his blue eyes.

"I want you to make love to me," she sighed.

"Are you sure, I've been afraid to touch you these last few days since the hospital, sure you are not too tired? You know with everything being so close?" he asked

"How could I ever get tired of feeling your hands on my body? I feel lucky you even want me looking like this," she said.

"Hey, Buffy Lovejoy I have told you before, you are the hottest sexiest mother to be in the whole of Sunnydale,"

"Only Sunnydale?" she pouted.

Spike growled and took her in his arms, catching her bottom lip with his teeth, he bit it gently and released it.

"Told you I was gonna get it," he leered.

"And that's not all you're gonna get," she said

TBC