A/N So sorry this latest chapter is so late… I was rushed to hospital on Saturday April 10th with severe chest pains, which was diagnosed as a heart attack. Due to my age, it came as a great shock. On Wednesday April 14th I almost died, they had to rush me to a top London heart hospital by helicopter. They performed surgery on my heart and I have lived to tell the tale…if there are any glaring errors in this chapter, I think they may be excused. There will be a chapter 25, but it may be a couple of weeks in coming…I never leave a story unfinished. SPIKES BINT
Chapter 24
There was a second bout of knocking at the door. Spike got up from the bed, Buffy put out her hand to stop him.
"Don't go," she said.
"I have to answer it love," he said as he kissed her hand and made his way to the bedroom door.
"Spike be careful, it could be anyone. Take the crossbow, it's under the bed," said Buffy.
"Okay," he said as he reached under the bed and took the weapon. "You stay here and find something to defend yourself with as well," said Spike as he left the room.
Buffy took a stake out from under her pillow. They certainly didn't keep the same kinda things in their bedrooms as most couples, she thought as she eyed the stake.
Spike closed the door behind him. Buffy got up out of bed and dressed as quickly as she was able. Her ear pressed up against the door, straining to hear for any sounds of possible danger.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Xander knocked on the cabin door for a third time.
"Are you sure it's the right one?" he asked Giles.
"I've only stayed here a couple of times before, but I think I would know if it's the correct cabin or not," sighed Giles.
"Maybe they're having sex?" suggested Anya.
Xander shuddered visibly.
"Or maybe the council found out where they were and they've kidnapped them," said Xander.
"Enough of the happy scenarios guys. I am sure they are fine," said Willow.
Willow raised her hand to knock on the door feeling more than a little concerned herself. They all started as the door was flung wide open. Spike stood there with a scowl on his face and a crossbow levelled at the all.
"Oh, its you lot," said Spike as he lowered the crossbow and stood to one side for them to enter.
"You really need to work on your meet and greet skills Spike," said Xander.
"What took so long for you to answer? Did we interrupt your happy time," asked Anya.
"No, we thought it might be the watchers council or something," said Spike.
"Why would you think that it was them? You are perfectly safe here," said Giles.
"Well, we were until last night…"
"When I was dumb enough to use my credit card," interrupted Buffy as she came out of the bedroom.
"Buffy!" cried Willow excitedly.
She ran to her friend and gathered her up in a big hug.
"Kinda hard to get close to me these days," said Buffy ruefully as they drew apart.
Willow looked at Buffy's tummy.
"May I?" she asked.
Buffy nodded and Willow placed a hand on her belly.
"Wow you've gotten so…"
"Fat," interrupted Anya.
"I would have gone with pregnant sweetie. Thank you for stating the obvious as always," said Xander.
"Would you like to know the sex of the babies? I can do a spell you know," said Willow.
"Maybe that's not such a good idea Willow," said Tara from behind her.
"Tara, hi nice to see you again, and Willow thanks, but no thanks. We're looking forward to the surprise," said Buffy warmly.
"Yeah, after all life's full of surprises ain't it?" asked Spike ironically, as he came to stand behind Buffy.
Buffy's friends looked at the pair of them standing together.
"You can say that again," they said in unison.
"So how have you been?" asked Giles.
"It's been good, apart from blowing up like a balloon in a matter of days," said Buffy as she plucked at hem of her maternity dress.
Willow smiled at her apologetically.
"Sorry I didn't choose you something better when I shopped for you. Time was kinda of against me," said Willow.
"No big, I feel like my mom in this outfit, but never mind. Which reminds me how is my mother?" asked Buffy.
"Fretting like any prospective grandmother. She really wanted to come up here Buffy. I persuaded her otherwise, I knew you wouldn't want her to be in any possible danger," explained Giles.
"Thanks, at least that's one less thing on my "things to worry about list" smiled Buffy.
"So, what do you do for fun around here?" asked Xander as he looked around the cabin.
"Nothing we'd wanna share with you Harris," smirked Spike.
"But there is something we want to tell you," added Buffy.
"Why do the words impending doom spring to mind at that statement?" asked Xander.
"Xander! Will you let Buffy finish?" asked Willow.
Buffy looked up at Spike, a searching look on her face. He smiled down at her and nodded.
"Spike and I are getting married!" said Buffy excitedly.
"Now where have I heard those lines before?" asked Giles.
"Oh Buffy that's great!" exclaimed Willow as she moved forward to hug Buffy, then moving on to Spike.
As Willow hugged Spike and drew away, he whispered in her ear.
"See Red I can take a hint, decided to make an honest woman of her after all," he grinned at her.
Xander took a few more moments to recover himself.
"Looks like there's still room for more surprises after all," he said as he hugged Buffy and shook hands with Spike.
"Congratulations Buffy…and…er…Spike," said Giles.
"There it didn't kill you to say it, did it?" asked Spike as he shook Giles's hand.
"Ask me that question again later," smiled Giles wryly.
"You said something about having used a credit card?" asked Willow.
"Oh, yeah sorry I got distracted. Last night I bought Spike a gift and used my card. He seems to think it was a bad move," Buffy explained.
"Well, that depends on how closely the council are monitoring us," said Giles.
"Do you think I may have put us in danger?" asked Buffy.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The limo pulled up alongside the quay at Humboldt Bay. Mr Travers lowered the window as he scrutinised the surroundings.
"We are here Sir. The antique store where Miss Summers made her purchase last night is just across the street," said his aide.
"Excellent work John," said Travers smugly.
The chauffeur came round and opened the car door. Travers looked around before crossing the street and entering the antiques store.
He returned a few moments later, looking very pleased with himself.
"Good news Sir?" asked John.
"The very best. The owner remembers a heavily pregnant woman fitting Miss Summer's description as well as her companion William," he replied.
"So we have an exact location?" asked John.
"Not exact, but enough to be going on with. Seems there are only a handful of cabins in the area," said Travers.
Travers gave instructions to the driver and they set off towards the forested area of the city.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"I really think that the best thing is to remain calm," said Giles.
"Calm! When it's your fiancée's and kids necks on the block I'd like to see how you'd react," exclaimed Spike.
"Spike don't forget that you and Buffy are connected. All this stress isn't good for her or the babies," said Tara.
Spike slapped his forehead.
"Buffy are you okay? Sorry I wasn't thinking love," he said.
Buffy had been sitting quietly on the sofa while the storm had been breaking over her head.
"Buffy, you look awful pale," said Willow.
"I don't feel so good," she replied.
"What is it love?" asked Spike as he rushed to her side and knelt on the floor.
"I don't know…I…Owww!" she cried out.
"Bloody hell!" gasped Spike.
"What's up with you Spike?" asked Xander.
"Pain, I felt pain right here," said Spike as he clutched at his abdomen.
"Uh oh," said Willow.
Spike had sat next to Buffy on the sofa; he clutched her hand in his.
" Now why don't I like the sound of that?" asked Xander.
"It's the connection. Remember when Buffy was in pain at UC Sunnydale and we had to take her to the hospital?" asked Willow.
"Yes, and Spike was in pain too…oh…goodness!" exclaimed Giles.
"Look can someone speak bleeding English around here for a change, and tell me what the hell's going on," demanded Spike.
"Owww!" Buffy and Spike yelled in unison.
"Oh boy," said Xander.
"That's putting it mildly. Spike, I think Buffy is going into labour and you are sharing her pain," explained Willow.
"You have got to be joking, right. Please say you are joking," pleaded Spike.
"I'm sorry Spike, but it looks like you and Buffy are in this together," said Tara.
"Good! It's about time you men found out what you put us women through, making us have your babies," said Anya.
"Spoken like a true ex-vengeance demon honey," said Xander.
"Are you all gonna stop talking about me as if I wasn't here and help me into the bedroom?" snapped Buffy.
Giles and Xander moved forward to help her from the sofa, guiding her into the room.
"Hey what about me? I'm in pain too," said Spike.
"You're a big boy, you'll survive," said Anya.
"Thanks!" said Spike as he winced in pain.
He entered the bedroom and sat next to Buffy holding her hand.
"Are you sure the babies are coming now?" he asked her.
"I think so. Spike I'm scared," she whispered.
"I know love, me too, but I'm here. We can do this together," he replied.
"Don't have much choice on the doing it together thing," she smiled.
"Now could every one who isn't Tara, Spike, Buffy or I leave the room?" asked Willow.
"Sure, never was too good round the sight of blood," said Xander.
"Harris," said Spike.
"Yeah?" asked Xander.
"Shut up," snapped Spike.
"Sorry, guess that was a bit insensitive of me," he shrugged.
"Come on Xander, you're always putting your foot in it. Don't know what you'd do without me," said Anya as she dragged him from the room.
Giles leant over to kiss Buffy on the cheek.
"I'll just be in the other room," he said.
"Next time I see you I'll be a mom," smiled Buffy.
Giles removed his glasses, reached for a pocket-handkerchief, and wiped at his eyes.
"Sorry I have a little dust in my eye," he lied.
"Yeah right," said Spike.
"Look after her," Giles said to Willow as he left the room.
"How far apart are the contractions?" asked Tara, as she placed a hand on Buffy's belly.
"Well, I haven't had a pain for a while. Maybe it's a false alarm like those Braxton hicks thingies?" suggested Buffy.
"You mean practice labour pains?" asked Tara.
"Yeah, those are the ones," said Buffy.
"Have you had them before?" asked Willow.
"A few times, but Spike didn't notice them before," said Buffy.
"Buffy can you lift yourself up a little. I need to put these towels under you," said Tara.
Buffy lifted herself off the bed and Tara laid the towels on the bed.
"Okay, but I think maybe we're…" Buffy trailed off as she felt a rush of warm liquid between her legs.
"Whoa nicely caught," said Willow.
"What was that?" asked Buffy fearfully.
"It's okay sweetie, your water just broke that's all," said Tara soothingly.
"Oh God," said Spike as he and Buffy experienced another twinge of pain.
"So much for the false labour theory," said Willow.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
It had been nearly four hours since Buffy and Spike had been moved to the bedroom. Giles paced up and down the room, while Xander and Anya sat together on the sofa holding hands.
"I hope she's okay in there. Spike's been making just as much noise as she has," said Xander.
"Men are such babies when it comes to pain," observed Anya.
"You'd know hon, having dished it out for over a thousand years," said Xander sardonically.
Another muffled scream and a deeper yell emitted from the bedroom. Giles clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles showed white.
"I just feel so helpless," said Giles despairingly.
"I know, that's our friend in there. If my friends are in pain, I just want to help, but I know I can't, not this time," said Xander.
There was the sound of a car door slamming outside the cabin.
"What was that?" asked Xander.
"Shhhh!" Giles held up a hand.
He advanced slowly towards the window.
"Oh no," he said as he pulled back a little of the drapes.
"What is it?" asked Xander.
"Quentin Travers," said Giles.
"This just keeps getting better and better," said Xander sarcastically.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Oh it hurts so much," groaned Buffy.
"I know love, believe me I know," said Spike.
"Will it be over soon?" Buffy asked Tara.
"It's hard to say, the contractions are closer together. I don't think you have much longer to go," said Tara.
"Dammit Willow, isn't there some kind of spell you can perform for the pain?" asked Spike through gritted teeth.
"I didn't think you'd want me to do anything," she replied uncertainly.
"I don't care about myself. I just hate to think of Buffy suffering this," said Spike.
"Okay, I will try a little something," said Willow.
"Oh God," Buffy groaned again.
"Make it quick Willow, I don't think there's much time left," said Tara.
"I'm so sorry…it's all my fault," said Spike as he wiped a tear away from Buffy's cheek.
"No, I'm not sorry. I would go through this all again just to have the chance to have your child," said Buffy.
"I love you Buffy,"
"I loooov….owww,"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Quentin Travers? What are we gonna do?" asked Xander.
"Arm ourselves. Travers is not getting his hands on Buffy, Spike or anyone else in this cabin," said Giles.
"Is he alone?" asked Anya
Giles peeked out from behind the drapes once more.
"No, he has those men from the hospital with him too," said Giles.
"Damn, where's all the weapons?" asked Xander.
"They are still in the trunk of the car," said Giles.
"Handy," said Xander.
"Oh, I saw some in the bedroom," said Anya.
"Well you are going to have to get them sweetie. It's a little out of bounds to Giles and I right now," said Xander.
"Fine!" huffed Anya.
"And not a word about this to Buffy and Spike please Anya. They are having a hard enough time of it as it is," said Giles.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
There was a knock on the bedroom door.
"Who the bleeding hell is that?" He turned to look at Buffy. "Who ever you are piss off! We're kind of busy right now," said Spike."
Willow went over to the door and opened it a little.
"Anya what is it?" asked Willow.
"I need some weapons," said Anya.
"Whatever for?" asked Willow.
"I'm bored I wanted something to look at," lied Anya.
"Now's not really the time," said Willow in annoyance.
"What's wrong?" asked Buffy from the bed.
"Hi Buffy, don't worry about it. I just need some weapons. Xander and I are playing the memory game and we needed some stuff," said Anya.
"It's Travers, he's here isn't he?" gasped Buffy.
"Don't be silly," said Anya as she scooped the weapons bag off the floor and quickly exited the room.
"Spike something's wrong," said Buffy.
"Can we focus on the task at hand love? I'm sure its just Anya being her usual weird self," soothed Spike.
The pains took over them again and Anya's brief visit was soon forgotten.
"When's that anti pain spell going to start kicking in?" growled Spike.
"It should be working by now, I don't understand it," said Willow.
"Willow!" said Tara urgently.
"What is it?" asked Willow rushing to her "Friend's" side.
Willow looked down.
"Oh my God I can see a head," said Willow, in awe.
"Where's a head?" groaned Spike.
"Where do you think?" asked Tara.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Now men be careful I don't want any one hurt in this situation, especially not Miss Summers," said Quentin.
"Yes Sir," they replied.
Quentin eyed the other strange car, parked up next to the Desoto
"Seems Miss Summers and William are not alone, so be on your guard," he warned them.
Travers walked up the path to the cabin door.
"What do you want Travers?" asked Giles from within.
"I think you know what I want. Send Miss Summers out here and no one will get hurt," said Travers.
"Oh, like that's ever gonna happen," shouted Xander through the door.
"Have it your way Rupert, on your own heads be it," said Quentin as he motioned to his men to break down the door.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"This is it," said Giles as the first kick sounded on the door.
Xander gripped his broadsword tightly in his sweaty hands. Anya's hands shook as she held a crossbow readily primed and aimed at the door.
"No way are they getting their hands on Buffy or her babies," said Xander as another kick sounded at the door.
"So this is a fight to the death situation?" asked Anya.
"If it has to be," said Xander.
"Thanks for the warning sweetie," said Anya sarcastically.
A third kick sounded on the door and it burst open as it was knocked off its hinges. The dust settled and Quentin and his men walked through the broken door.
"Sorry about that Rupert, but you insisted on doing things the hard way," said Quentin as he removed an imaginary speck of dust from his suit.
"Come any closer and I'll shoot," said Anya as she pointed the crossbow at them.
The men behind Travers removed guns from their jackets and pointed them at Giles, Anya, and Xander.
"I don't think so do you?" asked Quentin, with an arch of his eyebrow.
Anya's hands slipped on the crossbow and the bolt flew from it, embedding its self in the wall, just inches from Quentin's head. It was all the distraction that Giles and Xander needed as they bravely launched themselves at Quentin's men.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"What's going on out there?" asked Buffy.
Spike had a few ideas about exactly what was happening on the other side of the door, but he schooled himself to keep calm so that Buffy would not notice his fear.
"Nothing love, I'm sure. Just concentrate on the babies," he said.
"Spike I need to push," groaned Buffy.
Spike squeezed her hand. The pain was almost continuous in its intensity.
"Come on love, I know you can do it," Spike encouraged her through their shared pain.
"You are doing great Buffy," said Tara.
Willow looked on, gripping Tara's shoulder.
Buffy screamed and Spike yelled as their first child was born into Tara's hands. Willow took the ball of string from their hastily assembled first aid kit. While Tara took a pair of sharp scissors and cut the cord. She swiftly tied the ends and passed the baby to Willow. She wrapped the newborn infant in a warm fluffy towel.
"So now do you want to know the sex of the baby?" asked Willow, as tears fell down her face.
"I don't care as long as he or she has ten fingers and ten toes." Said Buffy tiredly.
"Don't worry Buffy, your son has all the right parts in all the right places," grinned Willow.
"A boy, we have a boy," cried Buffy.
Spike put his arm around Buffy and kissed her. They both looked at the squirming pink bundle that was their son.
"I'm so proud of you love," said Spike, as his tears mingled with Buffy's own.
Buffy breathed a short-lived sigh of relief as a fresh wave of contractions gripped them both.
"Bugger! I forgot all about there being another one in there," said Spike.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Xander and Giles had managed to disarm Travers lackeys and it had erupted into a fistfight. Anya crept up behind one of the men as they tackled Xander. She smashed a vase over the man's head and he crumpled to the floor.
"There, that's evened things up a bit," she said in satisfaction.
Buffy and Spike's groans of pain were barely discerned over the noise of the ensuing battle. They all stopped mid punch as the wail of an infant cut through the noise.
Travers eyes widened in shock.
"Buffy!" said Xander as he turned and started towards the bedroom door.
One of the men lunged at Xander as soon his back was turned.
"No! Stand down," ordered Travis, his shoulders sagged as all the fight went out of him.
Travers walked slowly over to the sofa and sat down, the continuing wail of the newborn infant still ringing in the shocked silence of the room.
"But Sir we have them right where we want them,"
"Are you questioning my authority?" warned Travers.
"No Sir Of Course not, but…yes sir what ever you say," he stammered at Quentin's expression.
"Leave me, go and wait in the car," said Quentin.
The men looked at each other uncertainly, but they knew better than to disregard Mr Travers orders.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"This one has a set of lungs on her," said Willow as she wrapped their second child in a towel.
"A girl?" asked Spike in wonder.
He sagged against the pillows. Reaching for Buffy's hand, he kissed it.
"Are you okay love?" he asked as he brushed the damp hair from her face.
Spike rolled over on his side and looked into her tired, but relieved face. Tara cleaned Buffy up and covered her with a sheet.
"She's just fine. A job well done the both of you," said Tara warmly.
Buffy and Spike kissed and turned to face Tara and Willow as they brought their babies towards them. Willow handed Spike their baby girl and Tara handed Buffy their son.
"Are they okay?" asked Buffy.
"They are doing great Buffy, but we still need to get you all to a hospital. The three of you need to be checked over," said Willow.
Buffy and Spike looked down at their son and daughter. The tears spilled down both their cheeks.
Tara and Willow looked at each other.
"I think we should give the new family some alone time," said Willow.
"Thank you both," said Buffy.
"Yeah thanks, we couldn't have done this without either of you," said Spike.
TBC