Chapter 12
"What about Lilac?" Buffy asked Spike, as they sat together in their living room.
It had been three weeks since they found out, that they were going to have a baby girl. Buffy had gotten bigger. She hardly fit into her old clothes anymore. She had just been out and bought some cool maternity clothes. The night she bought them, she had returned home, and put on a fashion show for Spike…well started out as one, but it ended with the clothes on the floor as Spike ravished her.
"Bloody hell...NO! My daughter will not be named after a sodding plant," Spike answered wide eyed.
Buffy sighed and closed the baby name book.
"Well then, you think up a name," Buffy said frustrated.
She threw the book on the floor and sat back on the couch.
"Amber," Spike said with a sad smile.
Buffy looked at him surprised.
"What?" Buffy asked.
"Amber. What if we named her Amber?" Spike looked over at Buffy seriously.
"Where did you get the name Amber from?" asked Buffy
Buffy got up from the couch, and sat on the arm of the chair that Spike was sitting in.
"It was my kid sis's name. She used to looked up to me so," Spike answered.
Buffy smiled sadly at him, and then kissed his head.
"All right, Amber Joyce Giles is going to be our new daughter," said Buffy.
Spike raised his eyebrow, and shook his head.
"No way, our daughter will be a Giles! We are going to change the last name," he replied.
Spike sat back and stared down at the floor.
"What would our last name be exactly?" asked Buffy.
Spike looked up at Buffy.
"Winston. She will be Amber Joyce Winston,"
Buffy nodded.
"Well since the name thing is all decided and it's 2 in the morning, why don't we get a snack?" asked Buffy hopefully.
Buffy got up, and walked off to the kitchen.
"Pregnant Women," He smiled, fondly.
Spike softly closed his eyes and envisioned his little sister. Her long brown hair. She had blue eyes, just like him. She had been his world. He had learned to take care of his sister and his mother after their had father died. He had still been living at home, when his sister had been married and left.
They were his world now after one hundred years; he had three most important girls in his life. He wasn't going to let them go easily. He would rather die then see them hurt.
"Hey, Spike! Your girlfriend is eating up all the chocolate ice cream," Angel said, popping his head around the doorframe.
He stared at Spike. He looked like he was asleep, but he could tell he wasn't. He walked into the room, waved a hand in front of Spike's face, and clicked his fingers.
"Hey, Willie, you in there?" Angel asked.
Spike finally opened his eyes, and stared at Angel. Angel sighed and sat down on the coffee table.
"What do you want, Peaches?" Spike asked annoyed.
Angel read the suffering in his eyes.
"I wanted to inform you that Buffy was eating up all the chocolate ice cream, but I realized something else is wrong,"
"Yeah and that would be?" asked Spike.
Angel sighed and looked straight at Spike.
"You are missing your family. I killed my family, but you didn't. Your family died naturally,"
Spike raised his eyebrow.
"Your point being?" Spike asked annoyed.
Angel sighed and looked at the floor.
"Look, I know what it's like to be in love with Buffy. God, you don't know how much I envy you. You have the life I always wanted. When I was human, even if it was for only a day, I got to know what it was like to hold Buffy while she slept, and to be able make love to her, without worrying about the curse. I had to give it up because I knew lives of people were in danger. Now, I look at her, so happy. She looks like the same Buffy I left three years ago, but in the back of my mind, I wish she were carrying my kid, but…" He looked up at Spike.
Spike's face was a mixture of confusion, hurt, anger, and pity.
"What are you trying to say, peaches? That Buffy deserves to be with you?" Spike's voice was hard and his eyes were icy.
"No, Spike. I would never have been able to give her what you have given her. You said, you were destined to be with Drusilla when you were turned. That wasn't true. You were destined to be with Buffy until the end of her days, or yours. It kills me to say this, but I have to finally admit it. I rather have her with you, than that solider guy she was with,"
"Ok, now I've become your bloody therapist. Are you going to tell me all of your bloody terrible things happened in your relationship, or are we going to go into the kitchen, and make sure that Buffy hasn't eaten all the chocolate ice cream?" asked Spike.
Angel chuckled, as the two of them got up. They heard laughing in the kitchen as they walked in, and saw Dawn and Buffy eating the chocolate ice cream, talking girl talk.
"Ok, little bit, up to bed, now. You have to become that mindless zombie you promised," Spike said crossing his arms. Dawn looked at him and pulled a face.
"Spike, I'm eighteen years old. I can do what ever I want. Plus I don't want to go to school tomorrow, and I'm NOT LITTLE," Dawn said with unnerving self-confidence.
Buffy was certain that it was Spike's influence in her.
"The hell you aren't. Dawn, you will go become the mindless zombie you will become, or you won't have a place to live," Spike shot back.
Buffy and Dawn's eyes grew wide. Spike was acting like real parent. A very strict and some times stupid parent.
"SPIKE!" Both girls said in unison.
The look in Spike's eyes showed he was telling the truth. Buffy didn't know what to think. Dawn had promised Spike and her that after her missing half the school year that she would never cut school again, but here she was telling Spike she was staying home from school.
"Spike, cool it a bit would you?" Angel advised.
He put a hand on his shoulder. Buffy remained silent for a moment longer then as the shock passed, she turned to Dawn.
"You are going to school tomorrow, Dawn and that's final," Buffy said firmly.
Dawn stared at Buffy, then back at Spike.
"What the bloody hell is this? I am all of sudden 16 again?" Dawn asked frustrated.
It was Angel's turn to be surprised. He never heard anyone besides Giles and Spike use that phrase, and it sounded eerie. He pushed down his surprise, when he noticed all three of them had started yelling. He let out a sigh.
"WILL EVERYONE BE QUIET!"? Angel yelled.
They all stopped and stared at him.
"Everyone just calm down. Spike, you're over reacting. She is just flaunting her independence. Dawn, you are going to go to school tomorrow even if I have to drag you with a blanket over me. Buffy, just stop eating the ice cream, ok. I think you and Spike need some time to talk."
Spike sighed and walked out of the kitchen. Dawn crossed arm and glared at Angel.
"You're not my boss. You can't…" she began.
"Dawn, we need to have a talk. I know about life, especially as I have lived 200+ years. I give tips on life and trust me, you don't want to get out quite yet," Angel said.
He put his arm around Dawn and led her into the dining room, where they could talk, undisturbed.
Buffy watched them leave, then headed towards the living room. She hated it when Spike was this stressed out. She didn't know what it was, but it seemed that he was keeping something from her. Buffy had to know what was bothering him.
"Spike," Buffy said softly, walking into the living room.
She saw him sitting in front of the fireplace with his eyes closed. She walked up behind him, and started massaging his shoulders.
"Are you ok?" Buffy asked concerned.
Spike looked up at her and sighed.
"I don't know. Sometimes I think I'm living a wonderful dream, and the next I see everything bad that has happened in my sodding life," Spike answered.
Buffy leaned down and kissed his head.
"You're just tired, Spike. Why don't we go to bed? I promise you I won't bother you."
Spike placed his hand over hers.
"I like it when you bother me. You're going to be my wife and I prefer you to know, that you can wake me up for anything."
Buffy moved her freehand from his shoulder to his hair. She ran her fingers through his curly, now darker locks.
"Well….William, you've caught my heart again, you always know just what to say. Now, let's get upstairs, before I start getting hungry again." She grinned.
Spike got up, Buffy's hand still in his hand and they headed upstairs to bed.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Buffy sat up in bed, feeling even more swollen than she'd felt, when she went to bed the night before. The past month had flown by, with all the wedding arrangements to see to. She had had a hard time finding the right dress with herself being pregnant, but today was the big day. Today, she was going to become Mrs. William Winston.
They decided on Winston because it sounded better then Giles. Even Giles agreed Winston would be better then his last name, but to his surprise, Spike put Giles, as his middle name. It was Spike's way of saying that he appreciated Giles's help.
"Dawn!" Buffy yelled.
Dawn came running into the room. Buffy held out her arms, and Dawn sighed, walking over to her very pregnant sister. She pulled her sister up off the bed.
"I don't see why Spike just couldn't stay here," Dawn complained.
Buffy rolled her eyes.
"It's bad luck to see the bride before the wedding, Dawn. You know that, and we don't want any bad things happening," Buffy warned.
Dawn nodded.
The next few hours were spent talking and getting ready for the wedding. Buffy was in her room getting her wedding dress on when Angel walked in. He stopped and stared, his jaw dropping open at the beautiful vision that stood before him. Buffy's dress was off the shoulder. Her vial was sewn into her hair.
"Wow," Angel said breathlessly.
Buffy turned and looked at him. She smiled.
"You look absolutely gorgeous, Buffy."
Buffy stepped into her shoes and then walked over to Angel. She pulled him into an embrace.
"Thank you, Angel," Buffy replied.
She pulled back and smiled at him. She was surprised to see tears in Angel's eyes. She wiped his face with her finger.
"Buffy, I love you. I want you to know that. I will support you no matter what you do," Angel whispered.
Buffy smiled sadly.
"I love you, Angel, but my heart now belongs to Spike. It's nice to know that I can count on you if I need anything," Buffy said softly.
She kissed him gently on the lips. She pulled back and ran her fingers through his brown locks.
Buffy walked away from Angel and went to the mirror. She felt her nerves clenched at her stomach. Angel leaned against the door frame and watched her. He had dreamed of this moment, of seeing Buffy in a wedding dress, but he was marrying her. Instead, he was watching her be married to another.
Giles walked past Angel and into the room. He stopped and looked at Buffy. She really was gorgeous. He felt like a father seeing his daughter playing dress up. He never felt more proud of Buffy, than at that moment.
"It's time," Giles said trying to keep his emotions together, but Angel had sensed it and looked over at him. He was just as emotional. Buffy looked over at the two men.
"Ok. I'm ready," Buffy said nervously.
Angel walked out and walked down the stairs, with Giles and Buffy following. He walked to the backdoor where the bridesmaids were waiting. Dawn looped her arm around Angel's arm, and they walked down the porch steps and down the aisle.
The bridal march began, and everyone stood up. Buffy and Giles appeared in the doorway and made their way slowly down the aisle.
Buffy and Spike made eye contact.
Spike looked stunned beyond belief. Xander smiled and patted Spike on the back. It was incredible to see Buffy in a wedding dress. He still remembered her telling him that she would probably die, before she would ever have the chance to marry and have a family. Well, she couldn't have been more wrong.
Giles placed Buffy's hand into Spike's. Spike had tears in his eyes, as did Buffy. She couldn't believe how gorgeous Spike looked in a tux.
"Dearly beloved we are gathered here today to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony," The preacher began.
Buffy and Spike never took their eyes off each other during the whole ceremony. Before they knew it the preacher had declared them husband and wife.
"You may now kiss the bride," the preacher said.
Spike smiled.
"My pleasure mate," Spike said, before pulling Buffy into his arms and crushing his mouth to hers.
There wasn't a dry eye in sight as everyone clapped. Spike pulled back and smiled.
"You're mine now, and forever, Summers," Spike whispered.
Buffy smiled.
"That's Winston now," she corrected him.
Spike laughed and took her hand. They walked down the aisle, as everyone stood and cheered. It was definitely the happiest day, or night of their lives.
