Chapter 3

Giles paced the floor concerned. They had spent three nights figuring out why Spike was human. He could have translated the prophecy wrong. A human that has vampire abilities. It had prophecy all over it. He just couldn't figure it out.

"I don't get it," Xander said looking up from one of the research books. Buffy was scared. She, herself, was in danger of dying.

"What don't you get, Xander?" Buffy asked looking up from her magazine.

"The fact now you're pregnant and all the demons and vampires are on the rampage again," Xander answered. Anya patted Xander on the back. Dawn had fallen asleep on top of a book.

"What do you think, Spike?" Willow asked. Spike looked up from Buffy.

"I can't tell you, Red. All I can say something in the prophecy has gone wrong," Spike answered. He started massaging Buffy's shoulders. Buffy smiled and closed her eyes to the nice motion of his hands. She leaned back into his chest.

"Are you guys planning on getting married?" Xander asked feeling like he watching them under a spell again. "I mean Spike is going to have to get a job."

"Let's take one step at a time, Xander," Buffy said without opening her eyes. "We don't want us dead too quick now." Xander looked at her confused.

"So, if Spike dies then you die," Xander said slowly.

"Xander, let's just figure one step. Let's make sure Buffy doesn't die first then let's discuss everything else," Giles said putting his hand on his shoulder. Buffy finally opened her eyes and looked up at Spike.

"I think we need to get Dawn home. I have appointment with the doctor tomorrow." Spike kissed Buffy's head. She sighed and stood up. She looked at her watched stunned. It was two in the morning. Spike got up and walked over to Dawn. He scooped her up. Dawn moaned and cuddled closer to Spike. Buffy smiled as she watched Spike carry Dawn out of the door.

"Buffy, would you like me to give you a ride home?' Giles asked kindly.

"That would be great, Giles. I'm not sure how far Spike can go before his arms starting to hurt carrying Dawn," Buffy answered with a smile.

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

Giles dropped them off at home then drove back to the Magic Shop. Buffy opened the door for Spike. Spike carried Dawn up to her bedroom. Buffy followed close behind. He laid her down on the bed. Buffy leaned against the door frame as she watched him. He took off Dawn's shoes. He covered her up with a blanket. He kissed her gently on the forehead. He looked over at Buffy. She smiled at him. He thought she looked like an angel. The hall light was giving her this gentle glow. He walked over to her and wrapped his arm around her. He looked at her. Her face was lost in thought.

"What are you thinking about, love?" Spike asked. Buffy looked up at him and smiled.

"I was just thinking about the future. I mean we are a family now," Buffy said with a big grin on her face. Spike kissed her gently on the lips.

Xander looked up. Anya had fallen asleep on the couch. Willow was slowly falling asleep while reading. Tara had gone home for the night. She had a mid-term in the morning. Xander looked over at Giles. He was pacing the floor reading the translation of Garmatin prophecy.

"If Spike is human then Buffy got pregnant like a normal person," Xander said looking up from the book. Giles looked up.

"We don't know that, Xander. We don't know if Spike was human before Buffy got pregnant or if it happened after," Giles said before placing the book down and taking off his glasses to wipe them with a handkerchief. Xander sat back in his chair.

"I don't get it though. Why are we doing research if Buffy is pregnant?"

"Xander, Spike is human," Willow reminded. "He wasn't supposed to turn human." Giles looked at his watch then up at the sleep deprived group.

"Why don't we turn in for the night? We all can meet back here at five," Giles said as the relief washed over the group.

"It is five," Anya said sleepily as she looked at her watch. Xander got up and helped Anya off the couch. He grabbed his coat and hers.

"We'll see you in twelve hours," Xander said as Him and Anya walked out the door.

She was just lying there. He couldn't figure it out. He did what he could, but she just wouldn't wake up. He looked down at the small child in his arms. Its blue eyes stared up at him with gleam but then stared wailing it's lungs out. He let out a hard sigh. He held the tiny infant close to his chest as he stared down at his love. She was so cold. As hard as he might he tried not to let his tears of worry escape his eyes. The infant cried louder. He placed the small infant next to its mother and watched it as he finally settled into a deep sleep. He pulled his love into his arm but things turned for the worst. The room began to spin and thunder was heard in the background. The infant turned into a vampire ready to feed. It wrapped its tiny hands around his neck and tried to choke the life out of him. All he could hear was the bit's words yelling at him to give up and she would fight for him. He screamed at her the best he could.

Buffy woke when she heard screaming. She saw Spike struggling for his life in his sleep. Dawn opened her door and looked at Spike concerned. She rubbed her sleep from her eyes.

"Spike, wake up," Buffy whispered in his ear. He continued to struggle.

"Do you want me to help you restrain him?" Dawn asked leaning against the door frame. Her heart was screaming in fear. She had always seen Spike strong. The only moment he was soft was when either she got hurt or before Buffy came back from the dead. He was lying right there in fear. It wasn't like him. Both girls' eyes widen when Spike's lips starting turning blue.

"Buffy! What's happening to him?" Dawn asked with fear in her voice.

"I don't know, Dawnie. Go call Giles," Buffy answered. Dawn looked at Spike as Buffy tried to shake him awake.

"But Buffy…."

"GO!" Dawn ran off to call Giles. Buffy punched him in the nose like she had always done. Her worry was taking over her. Willow ran into the room.

"Dawn told me what was happening. Do you need help? I can do a spell," Willow said concerned.

"Do it fast, Will. We are losing him. I'm starting to feel light headed," Buffy said hurriedly. Willow put her hands over Spike and murmured some magical words before light came over and she saw what was going on in the dream. She needed Buffy's slayer strength to get the demon off of Spike.

"Buffy, I need your strength," Willow demanded. Buffy clutched Willow's hand. She felt the power come over her. She felt the urgency of his dependence on her. The image of him going up in flames flashed before her. She did her best not to let the tears of her worry go. Willow looked worriedly at Buffy. She was losing her color. She can see the fear in Buffy's eyes as she watched Spike.

"Will, put me in Spike's dream," Buffy demanded. Willow looked at her stunned.

"Buffy, I don't…."

"Please, Will, it's the only way we can keep him alive." Willow nodded and put Buffy in Spike's dream.

The room was spinning with dark purple sky threatening to unleash a violent storm. She looked around the area. She was definitely in their room. Spike was fighting an ugly demon. No it wasn't a demon it was….it was a vampire baby. It must be his night mare. She glanced over at the bed. Her body lay there.

Oh yeah. This is definitely Spike's nightmare, Buffy thought.

She went into her slayer mode and rushed over to help Spike. That was her plan anyway but her slayer senses went off and saw the body on the bed began to move. Its eyes burst open and it had its game face on. She let out a hard sigh. Spike saw Buffy and felt a wash of relief until the vampire version of her woke up. She looked over at him.

"So, do you still think I'm attractive with the lumpies?" Buffy asked. Spike tried not to smile. He had intended to give her some sly remark but he was knocked down by the strong infant. He would trade her but he knew he wouldn't be able to fight the vampire Buffy. He loved her too much even if it really wasn't hers. Spike pushed the infant off and it hit the wall.

"Where are the stakes?" Buffy asked kneeling next to Spike. Spike looked up at her and ran his fingers through her golden hair.

"You think I would dream up stakes you're bloody mad," Spike said then sat up. He looked up. The mother and its child reunited. The infant grew larger into a full size version of a vampire and they bother were horrified when they say what it turned out. It was Spike.

Buffy grabbed Spike's hand and pulled him up. She looked around the room for a quick and easy way to break and make some stakes. She had no choice except to break the bed. She broke it and grabbed the two sharpest pieces of wood. She threw a piece to Spike. He caught it and it was on with the fighting of evil. She was surprised by how weak her vampire self was. She was dusted with in a couple of minutes. The old Spike was….the same strong evil Spike. He was going to kill him and make sure he killed his third slayer. She wasn't going to let that happened. She wasn't going to let him kill her man. She ran behind him and made sure Spike was keeping him occupied she staked him. The dusted spike went all of them. She knelt down next to him. His left eye brow was bleeding. She ran her fingers through Spike's curly hair.

"It's over, William. You can wake up, now"

Willow stood off to the side as she watched Spike finally wake up. Buffy stood in the middle of the room. Spike opened his eyes and sat up. Buffy rushed to Spike's side and wrapped her arms around him. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close.

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

"So explain to me why this dream was killing him," Buffy said sitting back. They all decided to meet at Giles's place. They definitely wanted some privacy to discuss this issue.

"It was his fears coming to life," Giles said simply. Xander looked over at Anya.

"Welcome to the hell mouth were even your dreams can kill you," Xander said sarcastically. He looked over at Buffy. Spike was holding her close. She was still a little shaken by the dream. Spike had his free hand on her stomach. Dawn had fallen asleep on his shoulder.

"So, what did the doctor say?" Willow asked looking at Buffy. She shrugged.

"They changed it. I'm not seeing him until tomorrow," Buffy answered. "I swear though if they change it again. I will have to give them some slayer talk because I want to see this baby." Willow smiled and looked up Tara.

"W...We were plan...planning to have kids lat…later," Tara said with a smile.

"I'm sure, you guys will be great parents," Buffy said with a smile. It was evident that the scoobies were adults. Xander was married and was an expecting papa. Willow was getting married and, well, she was pregnant and in deeply in love with the guy she hated for years. Things on the hell mouth were definitely strange. Well, wasn't only the hellmouth. Angel was a father. His son, Conner, was born to two vampires. Something had happened to change nature and now, here she was pregnant with Spike's kid. She didn't know if it was natural or if it was a prophecy.

"Good lord," Giles said looking at one of his book. Everyone gave him their attention.

"What is it, Giles?" Buffy asked concerned. Giles looked up.

"The dream of Spike's ….his fears…it can come alive in our dimension," Giles began. Buffy looked at everyone then looked back at Giles.

"I speak for everyone when I say huh?" Giles sighed knowing it was going to be a long night.

"Spike's dream is the key to all of the prophecy. He is the beholder of it all. As you experience his fears maybe be typical because of his new humanity, but the fact his fears of becoming William the bloody will doom us all if it comes true. We may have to fight another apocalypse on our hands."

"Oh, goodie for us." Buffy rolled her eyes and sighed. The remembrance of Buffy's body on the pile was too much for Spike to bear. He got off the couch and left the room. Buffy looked at the doorway and frowned.

"What's his problem?" Xander asked. Buffy sighed and got up. Dawn was half awake now.

"The apocalypse," Buffy answered. Xander sighed. He had to admit the last apocalypse was very painful for all of them. It was especially hard on Spike. He spent fours weeks in his crypt without leaving it. He remembered going to Spike and telling him that he needed to help out because Dawn was almost killed the night before.

"Do you think it was the fact Buffy died?" Anya asked looking at Xander.

"I think it's more then that Anya. Think it's the fact She has a possibility of dying and possibly taking his kid with her," Xander answered. Willow and Tara exchanged looks. Dawn shifted uncomfortably. Everyone didn't admit it then but the possibility was greater then anything else.

Buffy walked slowly towards Spike. He turned away from her. It wasn't fast enough because she saw the tears he had shed. It broke her heart to pieces.

"Spike," Buffy said quietly. She saw his ragged breaths. She placed her hand on his shoulder. His shoulders shagged. She turned him towards her. She wasn't prepared to see when she saw his face. It had strikes down his face. His face showed pain and suffering. She placed her hand on his face.

"I'm sorry," He whispered. She walked closer to him.

"For what?" She asked. Her heart felt the twinge of pain watching him trying not to cry.

"I'm sorry I failed to protect Dawn. If I had done it right you wouldn't have died and then you wouldn't have suffered. I saved every single night in some many different ways. I just wished you didn't have to endure so much pain." She kissed him lightly on the lips.

"You did save me. You saved me from becoming suicidal. You showed me the light, Spike. You reminded me what it was like to live again. You gave me my life back and…." She placed his hand on her stomach. "You have given me something I have always wanted. I love you, Spike. I always have and I always will." Spike pulled her into arms and held her tight.

"I will protect you with my life, love. I would give up my humanity just to make sure you live." She smiled and a tear trickled down her cheek.

"You will be my night and shinning armor then?" Spike let out a light laugh. He reached into pocket of his duster and pulled out a black box. He pulled back and got down on one knee.

"Will you marry me, Buffy and become my beautiful queen?" Buffy gasped as she looked at the sapphire ring.

"Oh yes, William. I will!" Spike smiled and placed the ring on her finger. He put the black box in his pocket and then wrapped his arms around her. They walked back into the room glowing. They announced their engagement. Everyone was surprised by it for a minute then everyone congratulated them. Even Xander was happy.

The next two months passed fast. Willow and Tara had their beautiful ceremony in the park. They both looked gorgeous in their dresses. During the reception Spike couldn't keep his hands off of Buffy. After the wedding everything seemed to settle down. The vampires were up and about not as much as they use to be but Buffy liked it that way. This was the first big even that had happened in the past two months.

"What room did he say they were in?" Spike asked as he gazed down the long hallway. Dawn looked into the window to the nursery and looked at all the tiny babies. She stood there awing over them. Buffy looked at Dawn and smiled. She tapped Spike on the arm. He looked at Dawn. He walked up next to Dawn.

"Cute aren't they, Spike?" Dawn asked. He looked at the babies.

"Yeah, their adorable," Spike said sincerely. Buffy walked up and looped her arm through his. She placed her hand on her stomach.

"I can't wait to have kids," Dawn said wistfully. Buffy went into sister/mother mode.

"Yes, you can. You can wait till you are married and are thirty," Buffy said strictly. Spike chuckled and then saw Willow walking down the hall.

"Hey, I worried you guys got lost," Willow greeted. Buffy hugged Willow. There were round of hugs. They followed her into Anya's room. She was screaming at Xander. Giles stood in the corner rubbing his temples. Tara sat in the chair by the table in the near corner.

"If I get mean like that will you knock me out with baseball bat," Buffy whispered. Spike smiled.

"No, I'll try soothing you with kisses," Spike whispered. The doctor came in and gave Anya epidural. Everything in the room settled. Dawn, Buffy, and Spike took a seat at the table. Buffy sat on top of Spike's lap and Dawn sat next to Tara and Spike.

"Have you guys picked a date for the wedding?" Xander asked as he held Anya's hand.

"We haven't, yet. We are thinking about three months from now," Buffy answered. Anya smiled.

"So you guys want to have right around Christmas time?" Anya asked. Buffy looked over at Spike.

"Well, not exactly around Christmas time…"

"We have other things to worry about besides wedding details," Giles interrupted. Everyone looked at him confused and surprised.

"Well the wedding is important, Giles," Buffy said seriously. The doctor walked in and asked everyone to leave.

"I think it was best for us to leave," Dawn said walking with Buffy and Spike down to the waiting room.

"Yeah, things were getting a little edgy in there," Buffy agreed. She intertwined her fingers with Spike's.

"Well, your watcher does have to make sure you stay alive, love," Spike defended. Both girls looked at him surprised.

"Are you defending Giles?" Buffy asked with a smile. Spike at her seriously and shocked.

"I would never defend your bloody watcher. I was just saying he….oh bloody hell I am. This is your fault, love. You made me all soft." Both giggled as they walked into the waiting room. They sat in the chair and talked to Tara and Willow.

They sat in the waiting room for four hours before Xander came in beaming. They all looked up finally.

"It's a boy," Xander announced. Everyone smiled and patted Xander on the back for a good job. They all congratulated them then left.

"Wow, I can't believe Xander is actually a dad," Buffy said on the way home. Spike smiled and put his hand on Buffy's stomach.

"We will have another pregnant slayer on our hands," Spike said with a smile.