Disclaimer: All the characters belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, Fox,
etc... except of course the ones I make up.
Summary: Spike and Buffy are going to have a baby together!!! I know, I know, it's been done about a million times but I promise that this one is different. Anyway, it also deals with all different types of families that could exist in the Buffyverse.
Spoilers: None really
Continuity: It's the sequel to "Apocalypse now... Again". However, you don't really need to read it to understand this fic. It picks up a few weeks after where "Apocalypse Now... Again" leaves off. Also, I just thought I'd point out that Tara is alive and with Willow, both witches are living with Buffy. Also, Xander and Anya are married and Anya is pregnant.
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FAMILY
Chapter 15: A Lot of Loss
It was warm for Valentine's Day. Though it was never really cold in Sunnydale, even in February, it was unusually warm for this time of year. Not that anyone minded of course, especially not Dawn who was being treated to ice cream by her makeshift guardians.
Buffy threw out the empty ice cream cup and intertwined her fingers with Spike's. He smiled and placed a sweet kiss on her cheek.
"That was fast," Dawn commented as she pointed toward the garbage with her spoon. Buffy narrowed her eyes and mock-laughed at her sister's less-than- polite comment.
"What are you doing with us, anyway?" The elder Slayer asked, "it's Saturday and Valentine's Day... shouldn't you be with Dave?"
Dawn nodded. "I will, he had to do something with his parents today, but he's picking me up at nine."
"Nine?" Buffy asked, "what time is it now?"
Dawn looked at her watch. "Seven-fifteen. Why?"
"It's so dark. I hate winter. It gets dark so early. Doesn't give me enough time before all the oogly booglies come out."
"It's not all that bad, pet..."
"Well... there's one oogly boogly I'm willing to tolerate," Buffy said as she leaned in and placed her lips on Spike's. He wrapped his arms around her and Dawn rolled her eyes at them. The younger Slayer turned around to keep walking but screamed a short, yet very loud yelp at what she saw standing before her.
"Slayer..."
"Look what you did!" Dawn yelled at the grimy looking vampire who merely gave her a confused look. "You made me drop my ice cream!"
Buffy and Spike's attention had been gotten by now, and Spike stepped forward in order to give Dawn the assistance that he assumed she wouldn't need. Dawn thrust her fist forward, aiming for the vampire's jaw but he was faster than she expected. He ducked just in time and pushed her against the ground... hard.
Spike stepped up and punched the vampire in the jaw. Spike knew he would have to do everything he could to keep the vampire from passing him and getting to Buffy. But everything he had just wasn't cutting it. This vampire was stronger than most Spike had ever fought. He was quick, and smart, and powerful. Spike looked to Dawn for help but she was recovering from being flung onto the floor: spitting blood and shaking her head to get a clear vision of the world again.
Their attacker could recover fast from all of Spike's blows... faster than Spike could recover from his own injuries. Spike ran at the vampire with all of his might and high kicked him into a wall. The vampire seemed to be slowed at least a little bit so Spike took a moment to turn and check on Dawn who was on her feet again and looking almost ready to fight. Spike turned back around to fight the vampire but was surprised to see it standing face to face with him. He was too stunned to react so the vampire threw him again the wall before heading toward Buffy.
Dawn knew as well as Spike that Buffy couldn't fight... it was just too dangerous. She jumped on its back, trying to twist its head hard enough so that she could snap its neck. It wouldn't kill him, of course, but it would hurt like hell. Dawn was drained of much of her energy, and the vampire threw her off easily and Dawn once again banged her head on the pavement.
The vampire now stood face to face with Buffy, whose insides were screaming for her to run, but she couldn't. She couldn't even think of a time in her life when she had ever been more terrified.
Buffy threw her fist at its face as hard as she could but he caught it with ease and twisted her arm painfully. He looked down at her stomach and focused there for a moment before looking back at her. That's when Buffy realized... he knew. And now she knew what he was after all along.
"And it shall come to pass," it told her, moving its face in close to hers, "that the child shall not live..."
With that, it released Buffy's hand just long enough so that it would kick her full force in the stomach. Buffy flew backward and landed painfully on her side.
"...nor shall it die."
But the vampire did. It didn't have time to react before a stake sunk into its back and the demon crumbled to dust. Spike didn't even have to think before running to Buffy. He stood over her but couldn't move at what he saw.
He looked back to Dawn for help but she couldn't move either. All the poor teen could do was taste the blood in her mouth and see the blood that was dripping from the large gash on her forehead into her eyes.
Spike turned back to Buffy who was looking sadly at the ground. Bright red blood was staining the legs of her jeans as it flowed down relentlessly. The Slayer was sitting in a puddle on her own blood and she knew it, but couldn't believe it. She took two fingers, stuck it in the blood beneath her and rubbed it over her thumb.
"Oh God," she muttered, before passing out on the pavement.
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Willow ran through the doors of the hospital and to the front desk. She was about to ask for Summers, Buffy, when she saw the black-clad man standing out against the white walls of the hospital. Willow walked past the receptionist and straight to Spike who was pacing inexorably. She tapped on his shoulder and he stopped, looked at her for a moment with his tear-filled sapphire eyes. She threw her arms around his neck and gave him what she hoped would be a somewhat comforting squeeze.
"How are they?" The witch asked as she took the vampire's shaking hand and led him to the chairs.
"I'm not sure. Dawn is getting stitches and Buffy... I'm not really sure what they're doing for her."
"Did they say anything about it? About how it looked?"
"Not as of yet. I haven't seen her since they rushed her off to God knows where." Spike paused and put his head in his hands. "I can't believe this is happening."
Willow nodded in sad agreement. "I know. But... but Buffy, she's strong. She can take this."
"Yeah, BUFFY can."
"I know," Willow whispered, understanding exactly what he meant. "So... what did this? Vampire?"
"Yeah, but not just a vampire. It was strong, Will, I mean REALLY strong. I haven't met a vampire like that since... I don't think I've ever met a vampire like that."
"What did you tell the paramedics?"
"That we got mugged. God I can't believe- I should have done something... something more."
"Spike, what else could you have done?"
"I could have stopped him."
"Spike, you and Dawn both took him on and neither of you could stop him. This isn't your fault, you did everything in your power to-"
"Are you here with Dawn?" A nurse with a pinkish uniform asked the pair.
Spike stood quickly and nodded while Willow remained seated and watched. "Is she all right?" The vampire asked anxiously.
"She's doing fine. She's a bit shaken up but she got the x-rays done and the doctor finished the stitches."
"Right, good then. Do you know about her sister yet? Buffy..."
"Sorry, not yet. But you can go in and see Dawn now if you want. I think it would probably be good if you did."
"Right, good for Dawn. Okay..." Spike stammered and he looked to Willow for help and she immediately knew what he needed.
"I'll listen out for Buffy and get you when they're finished with her."
Spike nodded thankfully and followed the nurse out of the waiting room. He was led to Dawn who was sitting on the hospital bed, face tear-streaked and bruised. Another pang of guilt swept through Spike's body when he saw what the bastard had done to Dawn.
How could I let this happen? He thought.
Dawn hopped carefully off of the bed and walked right into Spike's arms. He welcomed this and embraced Dawn gently so as not to aggravate her wounds. Dawn pulled back and looked up into Spike's eyes.
"Buffy-"
"We don't know anything yet, Nibblet. Willow's waiting for news in the waiting room."
"Has only Willow come?"
"So far, but Xander and your dad are on their way."
"Okay," Dawn sighed, taking in the harsh reality of the situation before walking back over to the bed and laying down carefully on it. Even the soft pillow stung her beaten face. A few tears of pain and anger escaped her eyes. Spike walked over to be by her side and took her hand.
"I'm sorry," she mumbled through her sobs.
"Sorry? You've got nothing to be sorry for, Sweet Bit. This isn't your fault."
"Yes it is."
Spike gently wiped the tears from her cheeks, careful not to agitate the bruised on her face. "No, it's not."
"It took maybe five seconds for him to take me out... some Slayer I am... if I had been faster or-"
"Dawn, you did nothing wrong, you understand? This vampire, he was different. Stronger, faster... there was nothing you could have done differently."
"If anything happened to that baby..." Dawn whispered just loudly enough for Spike to hear it. To that, he didn't know what to say. He had tried to completely block the thought from his mind so he could concentrate on Buffy and Dawn. But he had to face reality: he could lose his child tonight.
At this point in their relationship, Dawn could read Spike like a book. She knew exactly what he was thinking and she realized that it was what she had said that made him go there. She gave herself a little mind-slap.
"But they'll be okay," Dawn attempted to comfort him. "I know they will."
Spike, not wanting to upset Dawn even more than she already was, decided to act comforted. "Yeah Nibblet, I'm sure they will."
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Willow followed a male nurse in a bluish scrub-like uniform into a typical white-walled hospital room. She didn't dare ask what was going on with Buffy; her fear simply got the best of her. Then the look on Buffy's face told all.
Willow walked quickly past the nurse and wrapped her arms around Buffy. "I'm so sorry."
"She's fine."
Willow thought that the words she heard come out of Buffy's mouth were a mistake, or possibly optimism on her part, maybe it was optimism on Buffy's part. The witch leaned back slowly from her best friend and gently pulled her own hands back into her lap.
"What?"
"The baby, she's okay."
"Really?"
Buffy nodded absently as she stared blankly at the wall, looking completely past Willow.
"But then why do you look so..." Willow trailed off and tried to collect her thoughts. "I mean, I thought she wasn't-"
"She shouldn't be," Buffy said, still not looking at Willow. "I can't believe that she not-"
"Buffy?"
The Slayer was drawn out of her daze and pulled back into reality at the sound of her name coming from Willow's lips. She focused her sight on the red-haired woman sitting next to her and sighed heavily.
"I can't believe this is happening."
"Buffy, don't be so upset. It's okay, now. You say she fine so it's going to be-"
"But it's not Willow!" Buffy said forcefully. "If I lose- if I lose her, that's it. No second chances here. I will never ever have another chance to have a baby with Spike. This is it."
Willow nodded and looked at her feet. "Oh."
"I can't lose her Will," Buffy said softly, "I just can't."
"Then you won't," Willow said, taking Buffy's hands gently, "you won't... because you're strong. You're a fighter, Buffy. You have fought to protect the entire world and now you will fight for her. If there is anything that I have faith in, I have faith in that."
"It was only a vampire, though. I... I should have been able to stop him."
"Buffy, no. I spoke to Spike and he thinks it's some sort of super vamp or something. You can't blame yourself. You didn't ask for this to happen."
Tears began to flow steadily from Buffy's eyes, down her cheeks, and dripped off her chin onto the white sheet that had been placed over her.
"I'm so afraid, Willow. They said, when they had finished with me how lucky I was. Liars. I'm not lucky. They have no idea. This baby has already had a near-death experience and she hasn't been born yet. How am I supposed to keep her safe from my life?"
"You will. I know you will. And you won't have to do it alone. Everyone will be there for you, and you know that. Besides, do you think that Spike- "
"Spike..." Buffy muttered under her breath. "Oh God, Dawn! Is she, where's Dawn? Is she okay?"
"Oh yeah. Spike's with her right now. The nurse said that Dawn is fine. Couple of nasty scratches and such but nothing dire. You know, I could go get Spike for you and stay with Dawn if you want."
"Yeah," Buffy nodded appreciatively. "That would be-"
"Good as done," Willow smiled as she left the bed and walked briskly out of Buffy's room. A few minutes later Buffy watched as Spike walked to the threshold of her room. He stood there just staring at her before slowly entering. Neither knew what to say so they remained silent. Spike sat on the bed, took Buffy's flushed face in his hands and kissed her firmly on the forehead.
"I love you so much," was all the vampire could manage as he leaned back and looked into Buffy's sad and tired eyes.
"That helps," she told him sincerely, as he ran his fingers through her long, blonde hair. "Willow told you?"
"Yeah," he said with a relieved smile. "It's even better coming from you."
Tears began to flow rapidly again from Buffy's eyes. "I almost lost her tonight."
"But you didn't."
"But I could have. And I can't lose you."
"You will NEVER lose me," Spike assured her, though he did not understand where this fear was coming from.
"I can't always protect her," Buffy sobbed quietly. "What am I supposed to do if I can't always protect her?"
"Buffy, no parent can always be around to protect her child."
"But no other parent is the Slayer."
"No, but when it comes to being a parent, I think everyone is pretty much equal: same chances, same statistics. There will be things that you and I won't be able to protect her from."
"She hasn't even been born and I already can't protect her."
"But you can, Buffy. You can try for her. You can be strong for her."
"Can you be strong for me?"
Spike smiled genuinly, took Buffy's hand and kissed it tenderly. "Always."
TBC...
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Wow, I actually got another chapter up. Yay for me :-). LOL. Anyway... please keep reviewing!!!!!!!!!!!
Summary: Spike and Buffy are going to have a baby together!!! I know, I know, it's been done about a million times but I promise that this one is different. Anyway, it also deals with all different types of families that could exist in the Buffyverse.
Spoilers: None really
Continuity: It's the sequel to "Apocalypse now... Again". However, you don't really need to read it to understand this fic. It picks up a few weeks after where "Apocalypse Now... Again" leaves off. Also, I just thought I'd point out that Tara is alive and with Willow, both witches are living with Buffy. Also, Xander and Anya are married and Anya is pregnant.
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FAMILY
Chapter 15: A Lot of Loss
It was warm for Valentine's Day. Though it was never really cold in Sunnydale, even in February, it was unusually warm for this time of year. Not that anyone minded of course, especially not Dawn who was being treated to ice cream by her makeshift guardians.
Buffy threw out the empty ice cream cup and intertwined her fingers with Spike's. He smiled and placed a sweet kiss on her cheek.
"That was fast," Dawn commented as she pointed toward the garbage with her spoon. Buffy narrowed her eyes and mock-laughed at her sister's less-than- polite comment.
"What are you doing with us, anyway?" The elder Slayer asked, "it's Saturday and Valentine's Day... shouldn't you be with Dave?"
Dawn nodded. "I will, he had to do something with his parents today, but he's picking me up at nine."
"Nine?" Buffy asked, "what time is it now?"
Dawn looked at her watch. "Seven-fifteen. Why?"
"It's so dark. I hate winter. It gets dark so early. Doesn't give me enough time before all the oogly booglies come out."
"It's not all that bad, pet..."
"Well... there's one oogly boogly I'm willing to tolerate," Buffy said as she leaned in and placed her lips on Spike's. He wrapped his arms around her and Dawn rolled her eyes at them. The younger Slayer turned around to keep walking but screamed a short, yet very loud yelp at what she saw standing before her.
"Slayer..."
"Look what you did!" Dawn yelled at the grimy looking vampire who merely gave her a confused look. "You made me drop my ice cream!"
Buffy and Spike's attention had been gotten by now, and Spike stepped forward in order to give Dawn the assistance that he assumed she wouldn't need. Dawn thrust her fist forward, aiming for the vampire's jaw but he was faster than she expected. He ducked just in time and pushed her against the ground... hard.
Spike stepped up and punched the vampire in the jaw. Spike knew he would have to do everything he could to keep the vampire from passing him and getting to Buffy. But everything he had just wasn't cutting it. This vampire was stronger than most Spike had ever fought. He was quick, and smart, and powerful. Spike looked to Dawn for help but she was recovering from being flung onto the floor: spitting blood and shaking her head to get a clear vision of the world again.
Their attacker could recover fast from all of Spike's blows... faster than Spike could recover from his own injuries. Spike ran at the vampire with all of his might and high kicked him into a wall. The vampire seemed to be slowed at least a little bit so Spike took a moment to turn and check on Dawn who was on her feet again and looking almost ready to fight. Spike turned back around to fight the vampire but was surprised to see it standing face to face with him. He was too stunned to react so the vampire threw him again the wall before heading toward Buffy.
Dawn knew as well as Spike that Buffy couldn't fight... it was just too dangerous. She jumped on its back, trying to twist its head hard enough so that she could snap its neck. It wouldn't kill him, of course, but it would hurt like hell. Dawn was drained of much of her energy, and the vampire threw her off easily and Dawn once again banged her head on the pavement.
The vampire now stood face to face with Buffy, whose insides were screaming for her to run, but she couldn't. She couldn't even think of a time in her life when she had ever been more terrified.
Buffy threw her fist at its face as hard as she could but he caught it with ease and twisted her arm painfully. He looked down at her stomach and focused there for a moment before looking back at her. That's when Buffy realized... he knew. And now she knew what he was after all along.
"And it shall come to pass," it told her, moving its face in close to hers, "that the child shall not live..."
With that, it released Buffy's hand just long enough so that it would kick her full force in the stomach. Buffy flew backward and landed painfully on her side.
"...nor shall it die."
But the vampire did. It didn't have time to react before a stake sunk into its back and the demon crumbled to dust. Spike didn't even have to think before running to Buffy. He stood over her but couldn't move at what he saw.
He looked back to Dawn for help but she couldn't move either. All the poor teen could do was taste the blood in her mouth and see the blood that was dripping from the large gash on her forehead into her eyes.
Spike turned back to Buffy who was looking sadly at the ground. Bright red blood was staining the legs of her jeans as it flowed down relentlessly. The Slayer was sitting in a puddle on her own blood and she knew it, but couldn't believe it. She took two fingers, stuck it in the blood beneath her and rubbed it over her thumb.
"Oh God," she muttered, before passing out on the pavement.
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Willow ran through the doors of the hospital and to the front desk. She was about to ask for Summers, Buffy, when she saw the black-clad man standing out against the white walls of the hospital. Willow walked past the receptionist and straight to Spike who was pacing inexorably. She tapped on his shoulder and he stopped, looked at her for a moment with his tear-filled sapphire eyes. She threw her arms around his neck and gave him what she hoped would be a somewhat comforting squeeze.
"How are they?" The witch asked as she took the vampire's shaking hand and led him to the chairs.
"I'm not sure. Dawn is getting stitches and Buffy... I'm not really sure what they're doing for her."
"Did they say anything about it? About how it looked?"
"Not as of yet. I haven't seen her since they rushed her off to God knows where." Spike paused and put his head in his hands. "I can't believe this is happening."
Willow nodded in sad agreement. "I know. But... but Buffy, she's strong. She can take this."
"Yeah, BUFFY can."
"I know," Willow whispered, understanding exactly what he meant. "So... what did this? Vampire?"
"Yeah, but not just a vampire. It was strong, Will, I mean REALLY strong. I haven't met a vampire like that since... I don't think I've ever met a vampire like that."
"What did you tell the paramedics?"
"That we got mugged. God I can't believe- I should have done something... something more."
"Spike, what else could you have done?"
"I could have stopped him."
"Spike, you and Dawn both took him on and neither of you could stop him. This isn't your fault, you did everything in your power to-"
"Are you here with Dawn?" A nurse with a pinkish uniform asked the pair.
Spike stood quickly and nodded while Willow remained seated and watched. "Is she all right?" The vampire asked anxiously.
"She's doing fine. She's a bit shaken up but she got the x-rays done and the doctor finished the stitches."
"Right, good then. Do you know about her sister yet? Buffy..."
"Sorry, not yet. But you can go in and see Dawn now if you want. I think it would probably be good if you did."
"Right, good for Dawn. Okay..." Spike stammered and he looked to Willow for help and she immediately knew what he needed.
"I'll listen out for Buffy and get you when they're finished with her."
Spike nodded thankfully and followed the nurse out of the waiting room. He was led to Dawn who was sitting on the hospital bed, face tear-streaked and bruised. Another pang of guilt swept through Spike's body when he saw what the bastard had done to Dawn.
How could I let this happen? He thought.
Dawn hopped carefully off of the bed and walked right into Spike's arms. He welcomed this and embraced Dawn gently so as not to aggravate her wounds. Dawn pulled back and looked up into Spike's eyes.
"Buffy-"
"We don't know anything yet, Nibblet. Willow's waiting for news in the waiting room."
"Has only Willow come?"
"So far, but Xander and your dad are on their way."
"Okay," Dawn sighed, taking in the harsh reality of the situation before walking back over to the bed and laying down carefully on it. Even the soft pillow stung her beaten face. A few tears of pain and anger escaped her eyes. Spike walked over to be by her side and took her hand.
"I'm sorry," she mumbled through her sobs.
"Sorry? You've got nothing to be sorry for, Sweet Bit. This isn't your fault."
"Yes it is."
Spike gently wiped the tears from her cheeks, careful not to agitate the bruised on her face. "No, it's not."
"It took maybe five seconds for him to take me out... some Slayer I am... if I had been faster or-"
"Dawn, you did nothing wrong, you understand? This vampire, he was different. Stronger, faster... there was nothing you could have done differently."
"If anything happened to that baby..." Dawn whispered just loudly enough for Spike to hear it. To that, he didn't know what to say. He had tried to completely block the thought from his mind so he could concentrate on Buffy and Dawn. But he had to face reality: he could lose his child tonight.
At this point in their relationship, Dawn could read Spike like a book. She knew exactly what he was thinking and she realized that it was what she had said that made him go there. She gave herself a little mind-slap.
"But they'll be okay," Dawn attempted to comfort him. "I know they will."
Spike, not wanting to upset Dawn even more than she already was, decided to act comforted. "Yeah Nibblet, I'm sure they will."
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Willow followed a male nurse in a bluish scrub-like uniform into a typical white-walled hospital room. She didn't dare ask what was going on with Buffy; her fear simply got the best of her. Then the look on Buffy's face told all.
Willow walked quickly past the nurse and wrapped her arms around Buffy. "I'm so sorry."
"She's fine."
Willow thought that the words she heard come out of Buffy's mouth were a mistake, or possibly optimism on her part, maybe it was optimism on Buffy's part. The witch leaned back slowly from her best friend and gently pulled her own hands back into her lap.
"What?"
"The baby, she's okay."
"Really?"
Buffy nodded absently as she stared blankly at the wall, looking completely past Willow.
"But then why do you look so..." Willow trailed off and tried to collect her thoughts. "I mean, I thought she wasn't-"
"She shouldn't be," Buffy said, still not looking at Willow. "I can't believe that she not-"
"Buffy?"
The Slayer was drawn out of her daze and pulled back into reality at the sound of her name coming from Willow's lips. She focused her sight on the red-haired woman sitting next to her and sighed heavily.
"I can't believe this is happening."
"Buffy, don't be so upset. It's okay, now. You say she fine so it's going to be-"
"But it's not Willow!" Buffy said forcefully. "If I lose- if I lose her, that's it. No second chances here. I will never ever have another chance to have a baby with Spike. This is it."
Willow nodded and looked at her feet. "Oh."
"I can't lose her Will," Buffy said softly, "I just can't."
"Then you won't," Willow said, taking Buffy's hands gently, "you won't... because you're strong. You're a fighter, Buffy. You have fought to protect the entire world and now you will fight for her. If there is anything that I have faith in, I have faith in that."
"It was only a vampire, though. I... I should have been able to stop him."
"Buffy, no. I spoke to Spike and he thinks it's some sort of super vamp or something. You can't blame yourself. You didn't ask for this to happen."
Tears began to flow steadily from Buffy's eyes, down her cheeks, and dripped off her chin onto the white sheet that had been placed over her.
"I'm so afraid, Willow. They said, when they had finished with me how lucky I was. Liars. I'm not lucky. They have no idea. This baby has already had a near-death experience and she hasn't been born yet. How am I supposed to keep her safe from my life?"
"You will. I know you will. And you won't have to do it alone. Everyone will be there for you, and you know that. Besides, do you think that Spike- "
"Spike..." Buffy muttered under her breath. "Oh God, Dawn! Is she, where's Dawn? Is she okay?"
"Oh yeah. Spike's with her right now. The nurse said that Dawn is fine. Couple of nasty scratches and such but nothing dire. You know, I could go get Spike for you and stay with Dawn if you want."
"Yeah," Buffy nodded appreciatively. "That would be-"
"Good as done," Willow smiled as she left the bed and walked briskly out of Buffy's room. A few minutes later Buffy watched as Spike walked to the threshold of her room. He stood there just staring at her before slowly entering. Neither knew what to say so they remained silent. Spike sat on the bed, took Buffy's flushed face in his hands and kissed her firmly on the forehead.
"I love you so much," was all the vampire could manage as he leaned back and looked into Buffy's sad and tired eyes.
"That helps," she told him sincerely, as he ran his fingers through her long, blonde hair. "Willow told you?"
"Yeah," he said with a relieved smile. "It's even better coming from you."
Tears began to flow rapidly again from Buffy's eyes. "I almost lost her tonight."
"But you didn't."
"But I could have. And I can't lose you."
"You will NEVER lose me," Spike assured her, though he did not understand where this fear was coming from.
"I can't always protect her," Buffy sobbed quietly. "What am I supposed to do if I can't always protect her?"
"Buffy, no parent can always be around to protect her child."
"But no other parent is the Slayer."
"No, but when it comes to being a parent, I think everyone is pretty much equal: same chances, same statistics. There will be things that you and I won't be able to protect her from."
"She hasn't even been born and I already can't protect her."
"But you can, Buffy. You can try for her. You can be strong for her."
"Can you be strong for me?"
Spike smiled genuinly, took Buffy's hand and kissed it tenderly. "Always."
TBC...
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Wow, I actually got another chapter up. Yay for me :-). LOL. Anyway... please keep reviewing!!!!!!!!!!!