Chapter 14
"Say cheese," Dawn said, as she snapped one more photo.
Spike put on another smile as Buffy started to groan. He took Amber from Buffy, sensing her discomfort.
"Still sore, love?" Spike asked concerned.
Buffy nodded and rubbed her back.
"Nid bit, why don't you wait on pictures until Buffy gets some rest?"
Dawn started to whine. Buffy got off the couch and made her way upstairs.
"Can I just take pictures of you and Amber then?" Dawn asked hopefully
Spike sighed and nodded. "Just two more and that's it. Then you can wait till the party for more pictures,"
"Fine." She replied.
Dawn started to pout and Spike tried not to cave in. He was vulnerable to the Summer's pout. He was going to hate it when Amber got older.
Spike sat for two more pictures, and then took Amber up to her crib. He settled her and made sure she was safe. He turned on the baby monitor and took the second one with him.
He walked into their room, and saw Buffy sound asleep on the bed. Her breathing was steady, and her heart was at a relaxed pace.
Spike turned and left his favorite girls to rest. He walked downstairs and made his way to the kitchen. He saw Angel sitting at the island with papers around him.
"Aren't you supposed to be sleeping?" Spike asked. Angel shrugged and put the papers away in a folder.
"I have to figure out if I have enough money to get a place to stay in Sunnydale," Angel said.
Spike walked over to the refrigerator.
"Aren't you supposed to be with your wife and kid?" Angel asked.
Spike turned and looked at him.
"They're both asleep. The doctors gave her some pain killers for the pain in her lower back, and the kid just fell asleep in my arms," Spike replied.
Angel smiled sadly remembering Connor. Connor was good for a baby. He hardly kept them up at night. Cordelia sometimes took over and rocked the baby. He missed those days.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Buffy woke up in the middle of the night. The baby wasn't crying, but it was motherly instinct. She walked to Amber's room and saw Spike sitting the rocking chair. Amber was in his arms. He was looking out the window. The soft moonlight that flooded through the window, made his skin glow.
"When did you get up with her?" Buffy whispered in his ear. He looked away from the window and smiled.
"I just thought I hold her," Spike said simply.
He returned to the window. The baby seemed very attached her father. Amber's little hand was on her father's chest.
"She is sure fond of you. I think she might actually be crying for her daddy when leaving for kindergarten instead of her mommy," smiled Buffy.
"I doubt that, love. Children cry for their mothers no matter how attached they are to the other parent," His gaze never left the window.
"Is something out there?" Buffy asked.
She looked out the window and recognized the white van that was parked in front of their house a few months back.
"I'll go get Angel. Have him check it out," said Buffy.
Spike nodded distantly, as his eyes stayed on the white van.
"What ever you buggers are planning, I will fight to the death," growled Spike.
"Really? I was sure you couldn't hurt a human," said a tight voice said from behind Spike. Spike turned his head and saw Riley standing in the doorway holding a gun.
Spike didn't want to risk anything at that moment. He was holding his baby girl. He could tell Riley had his eyes on Amber.
"Hello, farm boy," drawled Spike.
"Careful, Spike. Somebody would think you were human," said Riley.
Spike rolled his eyes.
"You might want to rethink that. I'm as much human as you are. Well were. You seem to be lacking in the usual human emotions,"
"Riley," A voice hissed behind them.
Riley spun around and saw Angel, but before Riley could respond, Angel punched him. Spike put Amber in her crib. He sighed. Life was never going to be simple.
"You really need to stop coming back here and ruining everything," Angel said before throwing another punch at Riley.
Riley jumped up and ducked the punch. He kicked Spike in the stomach and threw a punch at Angel, but missed. Angel went into Game face and punched Riley hard, knocking him out of the room. Spike looked back at Amber. He had a feeling if he didn't stay with her then she wouldn't be safe, but he had to keep Riley from turning Angel into another chipped vampire.
Spike reluctantly left the room. He walked down and saw the door opened. He ran down the stairs with grace and speed and was out the door before anyone knew it. He was in the fight.
"I have to say, I always wanted to take you down in a fight," Spike gushed before kicking Riley, hard, with a high kick.
Angel backed off. He sensed something was wrong in the house. He looked at Spike, who seemed like he was having the time of his life, beating Riley.
He decided to run back inside and check on things.
Riley punched Spike. Spike punched back. It was an all out punching war until Riley kicked Spike into a tree, knocking him unconscious.
Riley grabbed his stun gun, and quickly ran back into the house. He slowly made his way up the stairs, and crept into the baby's room. This was going to be the greatest experiment the government had ever done. They were going to figure out how to make hybrids.
He walked into the room and smiled, as he saw the room was undefended. Riley quickly scooped up the baby, and made his way out of the house. He smiled as he walked by Spike, who was gaining consciousness. He had dreamed of taking away Spike's happiness.
Spike opened his eyes and saw Riley get into the white van. He thought Angel had scared him off, until he heard a familiar baby cry. It was Amber crying. By the time everything registered. The van was speeding down the street.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"I failed, Peaches," Spike confessed.
Angel had a grim look on his face. The memories of Connor being abducted into the hell dimension were too vivid, and now, Buffy and Spike were going through what he had. Their daughter was kidnapped from them by the government.
"You tried, Spike. That's what is important. It wasn't your fault that Riley knocked you unconscious. I should have gone straight to the baby's room, but Dawn had got me side tracked with her crying about Buffy,"
"They have Buffy and Amber, Angel. They have my family. The only thing I actually live for. God, We knew that they were planning something and yet we never told Buffy about it. I should have taken them out of town. That bastard, must have grabbed Buffy before he decided to come after the baby," said Spike.
"Spike, listen to me. Buffy is the slayer remember. She is strong and when she is pissed, well you know how she is when she is pissed. She will protect Amber, and we will find away to get them back, or Buffy will find away to escape with Amber," Angel replied.
Spike looked up at the window. It was morning, and it was a horrible morning. He didn't get any sleep since the night before. He was too grief stricken. He knew that he had to be strong, but it was hard, when your whole life had been snatched away from you in one go.
Dawn came running down the stairs. Her eyes were red and her face twisted in shock. She looked as bad as Spike did.
"Please tell me, Buffy and Amber are still here," Dawn begged.
Spike looked at her. His eyes gentle and sad. It was then that she broke down in tears again. Spike got up from his chair and took Dawn into his arms. He held her close, as he tried to not to cry himself. If Riley was trying to destroy his life. He was doing a good job.
"Angel, call Giles. Tell him what has happened. Tell him to call everyone. We are all meeting here," Spike ordered, his voice even.
Angel nodded, and got up without a word and called Giles.
The group rallied into the house an hour later. Everyone was silent. No one spoke. The only sounds were of Dawn's crying, coming from upstairs, with Spike trying to calm her down, even though he had finally broke down and had wept himself.
"Why would Riley do this?" Willow asked sadly.
"I'm guessing he wanted to get Spike back for…..for being Spike," Xander answered wrapping his arms around Anya and squeezing her tightly.
"Well, he messed with the wrong people," Angel said angrily. "I will not have anyone go through what I went through. Spike will get his kid and wife back even if it kills me,"
"What if we can't get them back?" Willow asked.
Angel glared at Willow.
"I mean we will, but we don't even know where they are," Willow added quickly.
"We could try that government place," Xander suggested. "Buffy said that the place had demons and what not there. I'm guessing an initiative above ground,"
Angel nodded, and walked over to the weapon chest and threw it open. He went through the chest and got some weapons.
"Wait, Angel. We need a plan and it's still sunlight outside. You will get fried extra crispy if you go outside. Plus, shouldn't we let Spike know what's going on?" Willow suggested.
Angel sighed and threw the ax he was holding, back into the chest.
"Yeah, I just don't think Spike in the greatest mental state right now," Angel said, gazing at the stairs.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Spike, you can't do this," Dawn cried.
Spike grabbed Dawn by the shoulders.
"It's the only way I can get your sister and niece back. I won't let that sodding bugger ruin my family," Spike hissed.
His eyes reflected pain and anger. Dawn bit her bottom lip.
"He could kill you. What would happen then?" Dawn said, knocking Spike's hands off her.
"I won't go down without a fight, Dawn. If he kills me then….you tell Buffy, that I died trying to save their lives," Spike said gravely.
His look told her that he was worried. He was stubborn though.
"Spike, why don't you talk this over with Angel? I mean he can back you up," Dawn pleaded. Her face begged him not to go.
"They could easily take him as an experiment. He will be backup if I don't make it,"
Spike grabbed his gun he had found in the back yard and stalked out of the room. Dawn kept yelling at Spike, begging him to stop.
"Angel! Stop him!" Dawn yelled into the living room.
Angel came running out of the room and saw Spike heading towards the door holding a gun.
"Don't even think about, Spike," Angel hissed.
He grabbed Spike by the arm and tossed him into the living room.
"Get out of my way, Peaches. I'm going to get my kid back," Spiked hissed back.
"William, be reasonable," Giles, said.
Spike looked over at Giles.
"I will get them back, and there is nothing you can say, to stop me," Spike growled. He pushed Angel out of the way and ran out the door. Giles ran after him. Everyone looked at each other, before joining the chase.
