Chapter 4

Another two months past uneventful. Spike and Buffy both agreed to push back the wedding. They had more important things they had to take care of. None of them were sure if they were dealing with another apocalypse. They wanted to be prepared for it. Buffy and Spike still haven't seen their baby yet, but were getting excited about the moment. They still looked lovingly at each other knowing they had created a life and a life together.

"Buffy, Xander and Anya are here," Dawn called. Buffy was in the back training with Giles. They agreed that she would train until she was tired or she was too big to train. Even pregnant, Buffy was in the best shape of her life. She was becoming self-conscious about her body around Spike or anyone at fact. She had gained a small, swollen stomach and she was beginning to show.

Buffy walked out of the training room and stopped in her tracks. She saw Dawn standing next to Spike, who was holding two month old Brandon. Spike was smiling and laughing with Xander. Two of them agreed to call it truce and became friends. She still couldn't get over watching Spike hold a baby or an infant. It was a glimpse in the future. It looked so natural. It was like Spike was meant to be a father. Buffy was pulled out of her trance by the touch of Giles's hand. She looked up and smiled.

"Hey," Buffy greeted finally getting over the scene. Spike walked over and kissed Buffy on the cheek.

"Did you have a nice training session?" Spike asked. Buffy sighed.

"Sure, when I didn't have to use the bathroom every six minutes," Buffy complained. Anya laughed.

"I definitely don't miss those days. I like having my child with my husband and having our sweaty…"

"Anya, we do have a kid in the room and I'm sure you have money to check on," Xander interrupted. Spike tried his best to fight back his laughs. Buffy slapped him on the arm.

"Xander, do you mind if I hold Brandon?" Dawn asked eagerly. Xander smiled.

"Of course not, Dawnie," Xander answered. Dawn took Brandon from Spike's arms. Buffy couldn't get over how cute Xander's kid was. He had brown eyes like Xander and a mixture of his mother and father's hair color.

"So, how are things over at the high school?" Xander asked Buffy. Buffy shrugged.

"The Principle Wood is a bit strange and the kids don't even come in," Buffy answered. Spike massaged her shoulders. He felt the tension in her shoulder.

"Should we be afraid of the principle? His office is on top of the hell mouth. He might turn evil," Xander said walking to the lower level of shop. Buffy sighed.

"I've been watching him intently and I don't see out of the ordinary about him. He still seems very principally and he is actually cooler then Snyder."

"Lucky, kids. I would have been happier in high school with out Snyder. Of course the coyote kids had to go and eat Principle Fluty. I still can't believe I ate the pig." Spike looked at Xander strangely as he sat down at the table. Xander shrugged. Buffy walked off so the two could talk.

"It's a long story."

"I bet it's an entertaining one and I want to hear it," Spike said with a mischief grin on his face. Xander rolled his eyes.

"I held a coyote soul in my body and I fed on flesh. Buffy took the spell off of me and me as good as new. Of course I can't eat anything that has to do with pig." Spike chuckled. Even imaging Xander killing was entertaining. Spike looked up and saw Buffy talking to Anya. He figured they were talking about pregnancy and mother things.

"Has Buffy told you any of our horror stories?" Xander asked getting Spike's attention back. Spike looked at him and shrugged.

"Ok, this one will entertain you. We had to sell candy for school…" Giles looked up realizing what story he was talking about.

"Now Xander, I'm sure you have some work to do," Giles said interrupting the conversation. Spike could tell it was juicy. He looked at Xander. Xander was chuckling.

"Yeah, I have to finish repairing some weapon shelves in the training room," Xander answered. He looked at Spike. "Want to help?" Spike nodded and headed to the back with Xander. Xander started to work on the shelves as Spike sat on the couch.

"You were saying about the candy," Spike began. Xander nodded.

"Ah, yes the candy. Well the candy had a spell in it that turned Grown-Ups to teenagers. Well, get this, it turns out Giles was a wild teenager going by the name Ripper." Xander laughed just thinking about Giles wild and rebellious. Spike couldn't help but laugh. Book man in there was wild and crazy teen. Who would have thought? After Xander caught his breath and continued.

"Buffy's mom and Giles were hanging out like teens and he bet up a cop. I'll never forget Buffy's face when she told Willow and me this, Giles and Joyce had sex on top of the cop car twice." Spike's mouth fell open. His shock turned into hysterical laughter.

Buffy looked at the closed door to the training room. Everyone could hear Spike and Xander laughing. Anya and Buffy looked at each other and smiled.

"I haven't heard Xander like that in awhile," Anya said with a small smile on her face. "I guess he's pretty happy he has another male to exchange male stories to." Buffy nodded. She looked over at Giles. He was cleaning up some of the shelves that didn't need to be cleaned. Spike and Xander walked out of the training room holding there sides. After the story they both shared a few jokes. Buffy and Anya watched them intently wondering what they were laughing about. Spike finally caught his breath. He looked at Giles and burst out laughing again.

"Ok, what's the big crack up?" Buffy asked putting her hands on her hips. Spike looked at her still laughing.

"Giles…Ripper…Joyce…" Spike couldn't say another word. It was too funny. Something clicked in Buffy's brain telling her what they were laughing about.

"XANDER! YOU TOLD HIM ABOUT GILES AND MY MOM!" Buffy exclaimed.

"How could I not?" Xander asked as he felt Giles's icy glare on him. Xander stifled a laugh. Buffy pushed Spike. He looked at her and tried to stop laughing.

"Sorry, love. I can't help it. It's nice to know watcher isn't all nacy boy. His old days sound like mine when I turned," Spike said with a smile. Giles dropped the statue on his foot.

"BLOODY HELL!" Giles yelled in pain. Anya put Brandon down in his jumper and let him play with his rattle.

"You didn't break the statue did you?" Anya asked worriedly. Giles looked at her annoyed.

"No, Anya, I didn't break the statue," Giles answered. He looked over at Spike and painted his fingers. "My old days are nothing like yours. I didn't put spikes through peoples' heads." Spike turned white as a memory flashed in front of him. The blood pooling under the heads. The life was taken by an instant. He had killed so many.

"Giles," Buffy hissed. Her hand on Spike's shoulder. She looked at him concerned. She sat down next to Spike.

"Sweetie, don't listen to him. It's in the past now. I know you have changed since then," Buffy whispered gently. Spike had to be a strong man. He couldn't be a nacy boy. That was Peaches's job. He wasn't going to be weepy Willie. His anger over fused him and he knew exactly what to say to him.

"Look here, Rupert, I may not be Peaches, but I do have bloody feelings. You seemed like you are mister perfect but if I remember correctly you were never elected saint Giles." Buffy looked over at Giles and sighed. This wasn't going to be pretty.

"Yes, Spike, I might not be perfect but I never done the gruesome things that you have. I'm not a monster and I never was." Spike clinched his jaw. He stood up and got into Giles's face.

"I have to live with it every single day of my life. I am not a monster…not any more. You seemed to forget I'm a bloody human like you. I could care less of your sodding rebellious stage. As long as I am with Buffy you will pay me some sort of respect." Spike clinched his teeth. He stepped back out and threw up in his hands.

"The least you can do, Rupert. I gave you some sort of bloody respect," Spike called over his shoulder before walking out of the shop and slamming the door. Buffy sat there stunned. She swallowed a lump in her throat. Tears welled in her eyes.

"You just had to bring up the past didn't you," Buffy said before running into the training room. Dawn looked up from her math book. Xander looked over at Dawn. Her arms were crossed and shaking her head.

"He's been having non-stop nightmares of his past," Dawn said out load. "Every night, he wakes up shaking and almost in tears about his fears of becoming that monster again. God, Giles, if you only saw the pain in Spike's face and how scared and hurt Buffy is feeling watching it happen in front of her. You would feel so bad for him. He strong during the day but by the time he goes to sleep he is as strong as a baby." Xander looked at the table distant. Giles had a sorry look on his face.

"Nice work, G-man. You probably screwed up the slayer and Spike," Xander said getting up from the table. He picked up the sleeping Brandon and Anya grabbed the diaper bag. They all walked out of the shop. Willow walked in and saw the sorrowful looks on Xander and Anya. She looked at Dawn. She looked majorly up set.

"Ok, what's ever one upset about?" Willow asked concerned. Dawn closed her book and put it in her book bag.

"Giles brought up Spike's early days," Dawn said standing up. She put her book bag on her shoulder and trotted off to check on her sister. Willow shook her head at Giles.

"Giles, how could you? Did anyone bother going after Spike?" Willow asked hurt. Giles shook his head.

"Everyone has been giving me the third degree," Giles answered.

"Well, good you deserve it. You should have known with him being only human for four months that he is still coping with his past. I mean he has done some horrible things." Dawn walked out of the training room with Buffy.

"We are going to head home," Buffy said sadly. Willow shot a dirty look at Giles and then walked down and hugged Buffy.

"Would mind if I came by later and see how Spike is doing?" Willow asked. Buffy gave a sad smile.

"I think he'll like that, Will," Buffy answered. She and Dawn then left the magic shop hoping the Spike will be at home.

"Spike?" Buffy called when they got home. Spike emerged from the kitchen into the long hallway.

"Yes, love?" Spike said trying to keep an ease face. Buffy smile sadly. She walked over to him and hugged him.

"I was afraid you weren't going to be here," Buffy whispered in his ear. Spike pulled back. He looked at her seriously.

"You think I would skip out on my favorite girls and my kid because of the Bugger, I highly doubt it, love. They would have to knock me unconscious and give me amnesia to get me away from you guys," Spike assured her. She smiled and kissed him gently on the lips. She got a whiff of the air.

"Mmm. What are you cooking?" Buffy asked feeling her stomach grumble. Spike smiled.

"I figured I would cook you guys some nice pasta with meat balls and French bread," Spike answered. Buffy smiled.

"You know how to get to this girl's heart." Buffy walked into the kitchen and tasted the sauce. She fell in love with it. Spike walked over and wrapped his arms around her. She dipped her finger in the sauce and put it up to Spike's mouth. He sucked it off of her finger. Dawn stood in the doorway with a smile trying not to laugh.

"Let's hold off on the sexapades for later," Dawn said with a huge smile on her face. Buffy looked at Dawn and shift uneasily in Spike's arm.

"I just wanted to make sure he tasted his sauce," Buffy lied. Dawn finally broke out in laughter.

"Yeah, and Spike built the Buffy Bot to play chess with," Dawn said sarcastically. Buffy looked up at Spike.

"I did have it built to play chess," Spike lied. He lend over to Buffy's ear. "Of course we played naked." Buffy pushed him playfully.

"Agh! You perv," Buffy said playfully disgusted. Dawn walked out of the room when she heard the doorbell ring. She opened it and smiled. Xander and Anya standing in the doorway.

"We wanted to see how Spike was," Xander explained. Dawn moved out of the way to let them in.

"Well, he's fine now, but tonight I guarantee him freaking out," Dawn said sadly. They heard laughing in the kitchen. Xander headed towards the kitchen.

"I wouldn't go in there if I were you. They are having their flirtatious games. It's revolting." Xander smiled at Dawn.

"Listen to Dawnie. She's using such large words." Dawn rolled her eyes and headed up to her room. Xander walked into the kitchen prepared what he might find. He saw Spike and Buffy tossing water at each other. They were doing the dishes. Xander crossed his arms and smiled. He hadn't seen Buffy this in a few years. After she came back from the dead, she was dark and gloomy. She hardly smiled except at Christmas. She wasn't this happy but that was the last time she had ever had that big of a grin on her face.

Buffy looked away from Spike and saw Xander standing there having a very entertaining grin on his face. She felt the blood rush to her face. Spike splashed her one more time then looked at Xander.

"Hey Xander, what bring you around our neck of the woods?" Spike asked with a triumph grin.

"Just wanted to see if you were up for dinner," Xander lied.

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

"Giles, you probably scared him off," Willow complained worriedly. Giles looked at her sternly. She slid down her chair some. "Well you probably did." He rolled his eyes and continued with his shop papers.

"Giles, maybe w…we should…g…get more h…help," Tara suggested. Giles looked up at her.

"Help with what?" Giles asked confused. Tara looked over at Willow then back at Giles. They were glad the Magic Shop was closed for the night.

"With…s…slaying," Tara answered. Giles looked at both at them.

"I thought Buffy was doing fine on slaying," Giles said with a questionable look on his face.

"No…it's just…" She looked over at Willow. Willow let out a hard sigh.

"It's just the fact Buffy is pregnant and ….Spike is still healing some. We don't have anyone protecting Sunnydale," Willow finished Tara's sentence. Giles sighed and nodded.

"I agree but what can we do about it?" Tara looked over at Willow knowing she was going into dangerous territory.

"I-We….w….were thinking that a…Angel could take over…for a w…while." Giles let out a hard sigh. He was afraid they were going to say that. He was thinking the same thing. They needed Angel and his gang to help fight the demons here while Buffy is pregnant.

"I was thinking the same thing after hearing Buffy was pregnant. This fight has to be fought by her but we have no choice. We can't have her lose the baby because of her duty. I do think we should discuss this with Buffy and Spike. It is their decision."

**********

"Absolutely not!" Buffy yelled standing up from her chair. Her hands on her hips frustrated. Spike looked up at Buffy. She had a right to be angry. There was no way he was going to let Peaches back into Buffy's life. They had created a happy life together. Things really did change and he knew Buffy loved him with all her heart. There were times where he didn't wonder if she was thinking about him, but he never said anything.

"Rupert, regretfully, made a point, love," Spike said taking her hand into his and sitting her down on his lap. She looked at him hurt and confused.

"You want Angel here?" Buffy asked shocked. Spike looked at her with huge eyes.

"Of course not, love. It's just you are pregnant and you have a chance of hurting the little bit. We wouldn't want to lose him do we?" Spike waited as Buffy's faced softened and flashed a small smile.

"What makes you think it's a he?" Buffy asked teasingly. Spike arched his scared eyebrow.

"It's instinct, love," Spike said with a sly smile. Buffy smiled and kissed him gently on the lips. Spike always knew a way of cheering her up. Spike gently caressed her arm. He looked back at Giles.

"So, you want to replace me with Angel," Spike said in harsh husky voice. Giles stared at him stunned then found his voice.

"No, we wanted to make sure you were in fully recovered from you're…uh…past. We wanted to make sure you are healthy mentally." Xander sat on the couch next to Giles stunned.

"You are kidding right?" Xander said finally speaking up. Giles glanced over at him.

"I've never kidded about something like before," Giles said in a serious. Xander shook his head.

"This man is as sane as ever could be," Xander said standing up for Spike. Willow looked at Buffy stunned but ecstatic. Buffy gave a faint smile.

"Let's not attack each other," Buffy said breaking the conversation before anything could be said that would be regretted later.

"We will not have Angel coming any where near here. This isn't his fight. It is Spike's and mine. This is the fight for our life and once we pass the one year mark we will be cleared," Buffy said in commander voice. Spike loved the commander part of Buffy. It was the part of her that showed surety and mental strength.

"I've all ready called Wesley and arranged a meeting with him," Giles said silently. Everyone looked at him stunned.

"You did what?" Spike and Buffy said in unison. Giles looked at them and throw up his white flag.

"It was for help on research the prophecy. I was going to bring up Angel while he was here." Buffy closed her eyes and sighed.

"Giles, I don't want Angel here. This isn't his business."

"This isn't whose business," Angel asked walking into the room. Spike looked up at Angel and thought he was going to drop Buffy and kick his ass. Spike absently put his hand on Buffy's stomach.

"I thought you said you didn't call him?" Buffy asked getting mad at Giles.

"I didn't," Giles answered. Everyone stared stunned at Angel none of them knew what to make of the appearance and how to digest it. One thing Spike knew. If Angel even touched Buffy without him being around he was going to kill him.