Chapter 9
Two hours had past by slowly for Buffy. She sat back in her chair holding Spike' hand as he slept. He hadn't spoken to her since she had arrived and it frightened her. The silence was overwhelming; she wondered how Spike had made it through this. She looked down at her stomach. She smiled sadly. She rubbed her stomach.
"Don't worry, Sweetie. Daddy will wake up soon and we will live our lives like a happy normal family," Buffy said to her stomach.
"Just like I always wanted you to have," Angel said with a smile. Buffy looked stunned then smile backed.
"I'm so glad you're here," Buffy whispered. Angel grabbed the chair that was in the corner and placed it next to Buffy.
"You know I left you so you could have a normal life."
Buffy looked at Spike. She smiled sadly. She wanted to see his big blue eyes that showed so much love for her. As much as she tried she knew that this was never normal.
"I don't think this is normal, Angel. I did conceive the baby naturally. It was the prophecy, then Spike all of a sudden is human and things begin to change. He starts to change. Everyone starts to call him William. Everyone who despises him thinks of him of family. Giles takes him as a son and Xander makes him his best friend."
"Isn't that what you wanted? I thought you wanted your friends to accepted. I mean he is my childe and I will always have this protection of him even if his is a big pain in the ass."
"That's just it, Angel. I'm getting everything I've ever wanted. A husband. Child. Peace. It's the normal life I have craved. I know that he will still have his bad dreams of what he has done in the past but I waiting for it to crumble. When my life is perfect something goes wrong and everything crumbles."
"Buffy, I assure you nothing is going to happen. Not on my watch anyway. I know, Spike and would die before he let anything happen to you, the baby or Dawn. He seems very protective of Dawn most."
"That's because we are his family. He takes Dawn under his wing like a sister. I mean he has chased off most of the boys Dawn has dated." Buffy laughed silently.
"I remember this one guy named Jake. He was picking Dawn up to go to the movies. They have been dating for…I think two weeks. Dawn made me keep Spike away. Let's just say Spike didn't let this time slide."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Flash back
Spike sat on the couch drinking his blood. Buffy walked into the living and came to the halt. She was surprised to see Spike's presences. She remembered telling him that Dawn wasn't able to make their traditional Friday night movie night. Then she noticed him drink his blood.
"Spike, what have I told you about drinking blood in the living room?" Buffy said aggravated.
"That I should put my cup on a coaster," Spike replied with a sly grin. Buffy glared at him.
"No, I told you to drink the blood in the kitchen. I don't want to explain to everybody why there is blood drops on my furniture and carpet." Dawn walked down the stairs and stopped.
"Why is Spike here?" Dawn asked Buffy frantically. Spike raised his eye brow at Dawn. He put the mug on the coffee table. He licked the blood off his lips. Both girls cringed.
"Well hello to you too, Nidbit," Spike said sarcastically. He eyes Dawn for head to toe. She was wearing a spaghetti strapped lavender dress with mid high heels. Her make-up was done to the right amount. It almost looked natural.
"Do you have a date?" Spike asked.
"No," Both girls said in unison as their bodies stiffed. Spike shook his head.
"Who is the lucky wanker?" Dawn looked at Buffy both girls shared glances and sighs.
"His name is Jake. He is nice guy."
"Where are you guys heading?"
"We are going to the movies, father" Spike's eyes widen by Dawn irritation and nick name. He crossed his arms.
"If I am your father then I will have to give you the sex talk and how the movies just start it." Buffy gasped and smacked Spike's arm.
"Don't you dare traumatize Dawn," Buffy warned. Dawn looked at Spike and rolled her eyes.
"You gave me that talk. You told me about it when I went on my first date with…" The door bell rang. Dawn rushed to the door while Buffy pulled Spike into the kitchen.
"Don't you dare interrogate him. He is nice and shy guy."
"I promise I will be on my best behavior, love. Scout's honor." Buffy sighed and followed Spike back into the living room. Dawn sighed know she had to introduce Jake to Spike. Spike crossed his arms and eyes the boy. He was tall and was lean. He had brown hair that fell into his face.
"Jake this is Spike. Spike this is Jake." Jake reached out to shake Spike's hand. Spike smiled into return.
"Nice to meet you, sir."
"Nice to meet you, Jake."
"So, how do you know Dawn? I thought her father was in L.A."
"You can call me her body guard. Now may I ask you a question, Jake?" Dawn looked worriedly over at Buffy. Buffy looked as worried as Dawn.
"Of course, sir."
"You don't have any intentions of shagging my lil' bit now do you? Because if you do I will snap you like a trig."
End of flash back
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Buffy and Angel sat there laughing. Angel sat there shaking his head. It sounded like his childe. Very protective but says the wrong things.
"I never have seen Dawn look so pale in my life. It was safe to say that Jake never showed up at the door again," Buffy said with a sad smile. Angel let out a light sigh.
"That's Spike for you. Always goes straight to that point," Angel said sadly as he glanced over at his sleeping childe.
"I think that was the moment I fell in love with Spike. I love how he was so protective of Dawn. I'm afraid for this child if it's a girl because I think he is going to keep her in closets from boys. By the way, I thought you were heading back to L.A.?"
"After the white van, I decided that I better stay. Plus I have to patrol for you. I promised Spike that I would stay that way you wouldn't get into any danger."
"Angel, my life is danger. I mean when hasn't my life been in danger? I'm the slayer, remember? I'm not supposed to live past 25." Angel nodded.
"You got me there, but I think for the baby's sake and Spike's, I think you should quit." Buffy stared stunned at Angel.
"I can't quit. You very well know that, Angel. I was born to do this job."
"You know about Principle Wood, don't you?"
"No. What about him?"
"His mother was a slayer and he is trying to find the vamp that killed her." Angel glanced over at Spike. Without hesitation Buffy caught on.
"He's look for Spike. Well I'll make sure to keep him away from Spike."
"Buffy, I can't stress enough how dangerous it is for you to raise a family and be the slayer. You could end up dead….again. Leaving Spike to take care of the kid and Dawn."
"Dawn can take of herself. But I see your point but I won't do it. Our lives are so hectic right now Angel that we haven't really sat down and thought about our lives. We have been fighting evil left and right. I'm trying to get things ready for the baby, Dawn in graduating and we are still trying to figure out why Spike is human. On top of that we are planning our wedding. We really haven't discussed our lives once we are married. Now to top it off Spike's chip almost kills him and he is basically in a coma right now. I mean one bad thing after another. The baby was almost killed and Spike almost dies. Suddenly…" Buffy's voice brakes as she covered her face and began to sob.
Angel watches sadly wishing he knew what to do. He put a comforting hand on Buffy's shoulder. He still feels his love for her and his heart aches for her pain but he knows Spike is also doing the best he can. It wasn't his fault his chip was killing him. He knows his childe well enough that he knows he wouldn't try to hurt Buffy.
"Buffy, listen to me. You will always have Spike. You can't get rid of him as hard as you try. Trust me I know. He finds away to haunt me. Right now, if he could speak he would probably go on about his life."
Buffy let's out a small laugh.
"Yeah, that's Spike for you. I was talking to him earlier and I told him about Riley and he said, 'Poor poof. I bet peaches would love to hear this.' I just love that about him. Even thought he considers you a friend. He still calls you Peaches. It's just who he is." Angel rubbed Buffy's shoulder then stood up.
"Well I'm going to head out to patrol. I'll make to kick some major Vampire ass for you and Spike."
"Patrol? It's still daylight out? How did you get here?"
"Buffy, it's been dark for over hour and a half. I came when sun was down."
"Wow, it's that late all ready. Well I didn't realize it was dark with the lack of windows and all." Angel and smiled and left Buffy to Spike. She intertwined her finger with Spike's.
"Come, William. Wake up for me. I need you to wake up for me."
When nothing happened, Buffy sighed and sat back. She closed her eyes. This was too stressful. She was just released from the hospital and then she had to deal with Spike's chip. She felt sleep wash over her. She greeted it. She just needed to sleep everything off.
Buffy is walking through the cemetery twirling Mr. pointy in her hand. She is wearing her leather pants like she use to before she got pregnant. She has her slim form back. She is surprised by how fast she got firm body back into shape. She knows the baby is safe at home with her father and her aunt Dawn. It was nice knowing that her life was simple. A husband and child. A real family. She had a comfort knowing that Angel moved into town watching out for her family.
Her slayer senses gave her a heads up about the group of four vamps behind her.
"Don't they ever teach you not to sneak up on the slayer," Buffy asked sarcastically.
Vamps charged at her. She stood her ground kick a couple of their buts and staked two of them. She was ready for the other two. The third one was simple with one punch he was on the ground and staked. She was surprised by the forth vamp. He was tougher. A lot tougher. She hadn't a good slay in a while and enjoyed the challenge but from the lack of sleep the baby was giving her she was growing tired. The vampire sensed that and took that as his advantage.
She sensed another vamp. This one was familiar. She automatically knew it was Angel. This distracted her and the vampire knocked her on the ground. They struggled till she was too weak to fight anymore. Her body was exhausted and breath was against her chest. She heard Angel charging but it was too late. The vampire bit into her neck and starting drinking furiously.
By the time Angel got him off, her life was hardly there. Angel dusted the vamp then kneeled down to Buffy. He was talking to her but she couldn't hear him. It came in as a mumble. She was losing her life as Angel frantically tried to keep her there. She never imagined that she would die like this. She had a family now and her kid would have to be raised by Spike. A broken Spike.
"Angel, make sure Spike make's it through this," Buffy said weakly. Then everything went black. She had finally died….again.
"Buffy," a voice said over her shoulder. Buffy whipped around. She was wearing a white gowned and a colored woman stood in front of her wearing 70's wear.
"Who are you?" Buffy asked.
"I'm Niki Wood," Niki answered.
"Oh, you're the first slayer who had a child."
"Yes, I am. I was stupid enough to continue to do the job. I ended up leaving my son alone to grow up. He has grown up hatred towards anything."
"Well, he doesn't seem so bad. I mean yeah, he has a grudge against my fiancé for killing you but hey, people change."
"You're right. I'm here to advise not to make the same mistake I did."
"I knew I heard it from Angel. I should quit because of the baby and Spike. Well I do things as a please."
Niki led Buffy towards what looked like a bird bath but it showed what was happening on earth. She saw Angel show Spike the body. Spike broke down once he saw her. Dawn was holding the baby. Dawn held Spike as they both cried. Angel soon joined in. Spike was holding the limp body of Buffy.
"Is that what you want to happen? Do you want you're one true love to grieve over you all over again?"
Buffy felt a lump in her throat remembering watching her friends discover her body on the ruble. She knew they would be ok even though she watched them brake down in tears. Spike had caught her eyes as he lost his ability to stand. Just the thought of it happening again terrified her.
"No…..No. I don't want Spike to go through that again."
"Then you know what you must do. I advise you it will be ok. World won't become over feasted with vampires. Things will calm down."
"But, what am I going to do if I don't patrol every night?"
"You will live a normal life. Like a normal person with slayer powers just like Spike will live a normal life with vampire abilities. Now wake up, dear."
Buffy opened her eyes. She felt her hand being caressed by a thumb. She looked over at Spike. He looked drowsy. She moved forward in her chair.
"How do you feel?" Buffy asked with a small smile. He pulled his hand from her and caressed her cheek.
"Like a weight has been lifted from my head," Spike answered. Buffy closed her eyes as she valued his touch. She almost lost the touch and the dream she had convinced her that she had to start thinking about Spike and their unborn baby.
"I'm quitting," Buffy said bluntly. Spike started at her stunned for a moment.
She isn't saying that I think she's saying, Spike thought.
"You're quitting what?" Spike asked.
"I'm going to quite my slayer gig."
She is.
"I can't slay anymore, Spike. I have a family to tend to. I have a job as a mother, wife, and counselor. I don't think I will have the energy for slaying after the baby. Hell, I barely have the energy for it now. I think it's time for me to live a normal life."
"Are you sure, pet? I mean I know you love slaying." Buffy gave Spike a warm smile.
"I am. If I die then you become undone. You will barely be able to take care of the baby. You need me and I need you. It's as simple as that."
"All right, pet. It's you decision but I won't lie saying that I'm relieve that you are quitting. I know that you will be around a lot longer."
"I'll let me call, Dawn. She has to come and get us. Since we lack in the vehicle department."
"Captain Cardboard can't give us a lift back to home sweet home? Or is he still pissed about you telling him how unmanly he is?" Buffy stared wide eyed.
"Eavesdropped on our conversation?" She didn't need an answer. The look on Spike's sly grin face was answer enough.
"What can I say……."
"Don't you dare pull that I've always been bad crap. I know very well you were a sweet shy poetic guy before you turned into a vampire and now that you are human you still have that bad ass demon attitude."
"Little snappy this morning, love? What happened a dream rub my slayer the wrong way?"
"Will you always call me slayer?" Spike shrugged.
"Not in front of the lil' bit but you will always be my slayer even if you did quit."
