Part 10: No Laughing Matter
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When the wind started to pick up Spike, Buffy and Alex decided it was time to go inside.
Buffy was the first to enter the house, as Spike went to give Alex a piggy back ride. "So what do you guys want for dinner?" When she didn't get a reply, she turned around, only to see that nobody was there. "Come on, guys! Where are you?" Buffy asked. The sinking feeling she felt from earlier came back with a vengeance. "This is not funny. Spike, Alex? Come inside." Buffy's voice cracked. She stood her ground, refusing to panic.
"Now, come on... you know, I'll find you." Buffy said, calmly. Thinking logically, they were only still outside, playing a trick on her by the patio. She tuned out her surroundings. She knew they were close by. She could feel it, though she could not pinpoint their exact location as her senses were muddled with the terrible, gut-wrenching feelings that she couldn't shake off. Furthermore, because she was pregnant her emotions were multiplied tenfold. 'Everything is fine.' Buffy took a breath to calm her nerves. 'Think they could scare me? I think not.'
She tiptoed close to the doorway and jumped over the doorstep to beat them in their game. "Boo!" she yelled out, hoping to have scared the two that were behind the door, but was surprised to find nobody there. As she was about to turn around she felt something along her leg, and before she could figure out what was going on, she screamed.
The scream met laughter. Alex was holding onto her leg as he sat on the floor.
"Why, you little..." Grinning at her son, who looked up at her with the most innocent face she has ever seen, with iridescent blue eyes and cheeks that begged to be pinched, she asked, "where's your father?" Buffy laughed, letting relief roll down her spine. She bent down to try and pry her son's arms from the calf of her leg.
And as she bent down, she knew she would soon live to regret it. For in the corner of her eye, she saw Spike hastily sweep behind her.
"Attack!" Spike commanded, as he grabbed Buffy around the waist bringing her to the floor.
As soon as she was on the floor, Alex started tickling her, as planned.
Spike, who got her around the middle, tortured her as he tickled her most ticklish spot; just along and below her ribs on her sides. "Face it babe, we got you good."
"Okay, okay. But you do know, Spike... this can't be good... for the baby, I mean, me... not being able to breathe... and all..." Buffy said, in between her giggles.
Once it registered what she just said, Spike froze.
Then at his stupefied expression, Buffy started laughing even harder and showed him her crossed fingers, revealing her bluff.
"Why you—"
"Charge!" Buffy called out before Spike could finish.
Alex, who had caught her wink from earlier, followed her command.
And in a matter of a split second, Buffy had reversed their positions so that Spike was lying flat on his back, and Alex and Buffy both, tickled him. "Oh you both... are so going to pay... for that one. That's mutiny I tell you...mutiny!" Spike said, while trying and failing to get the advantage once again.
Laughter, chuckles, and giggles continued to fill the room.
Then all of a sudden, Buffy and Spike both froze and sat upright. 'Oh God' They thought in unison.
Alex also stopped laughing, but not for the same reason as his parents. He stopped out of curiosity. "What-"
Spike put a finger to his lips, to tell Alex to be quite for a moment. He stood up to head for the still opened door.
Once there, he looked outside, scanning the lawn and the streets. He turned back to Buffy, who was also already on her feet, stepping in front of Alex in a protective stance. "There's nobody there."
"Good." Buffy said with a sigh of relief.
"Guess again." Came the reply from just outside the entry.
Spike, who had only pushed the door so that it would close on its own, was already walking back into the house when he heard the voice. Then quicker than a blink of an eye he was back at the door. He tried to slam the door shut. 'Fuck'
"Uncle Angel!"
"Alex get to your room," Spike said, as he used his weight to try and close the door.
"But-"
"Oh, come on, all the lil' tyke wants to do is see his Uncle," Angel replied, as he also put his weight on the door.
"Alex, do as your father tells you!" Buffy ordered, and was already at Spike's side, trying to help close the door. She watched Alex hurry up the stairs. "How is he getting passed the door, without an invite?" Buffy asked Spike.
"Oh, come on, Buff. Have you forgotten? I don't need one, when one of its owners is already dead." Angel sneered.
"Fuck!" Came Spikes reply. "Buffy, you too, get upstairs."
"No, I'm not leaving you with Angelus!"
"Yes, you are! You're pregnant, and there's no way-"
Just then, they both somehow got the door closed. Without saying another word, Buffy rushed upstairs to check on Alex.
Spike went to block all the doors and windows.
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TBC...