Part 11: Point of Perspective

A/N: POV changes throughout.

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[Spike]

Stupid ponce of a git.

I cannot believe this is happening. Hopefully Alex-he's probably going to be hungry, we didn't even get to eat dinner. Bloody hell, Angelus, make my son feel hungry.

Grabbing a box of animal crackers and a carton of milk, I block off all the windows and doors with the steel reinforcements Xander and I had installed. That should hold 'em out till I get back down.

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[Alex]

"What's wrong, mom? What's happening? Dad wont let me see Uncle." Why did Uncle look at me like that?

Mom looks scared, walking back and forth.

She did that before when dad let me eat a whole big bag of M&Ms, but then mom said I would get sick and started walking back and forth talking to herself, and then, and then dad said, it was just that one time, and I really wanted too, and then mom and dad started saying stuff to each other, and then I threw up, and then they stopped arguing—well that's what I think they were doing, cuz my friend says that's what his parents does. But I don't know because I don't see them doing that so much, but sometimes when I hears them talking back and forth, and sometimes mom gets mad at dad and dad gets sad, or dad says stuff and mom doesn't talk to him, but they tells me that's what happens when people loves each other. Mom doesn't look like she's mad right now. She looks sad. She stops walking now.

"Well, baby, remember what we talked about? All vampires are different, they can have different personalities like people do. Now, listen, don't open the door for anybody, except…?" Buffy waited for Alex to finish her sentence.

"You or daddy."

"That's right, honey."

I hear a knock on the door, but I don't answer it because mom tolds me not to. We did this before, mom and dad and me would play this game, where I go to this room. They always tell me not to open the door to anybody, only to them or grampa Giles, or Uncles Xander or Auntie Willow. And then they ask me questions like, like where is the food or the secret weapons that I'm not suppose to play with.

"Baby, it's me." That's dad, he told mommy so. But I don't open it because mom's already there.

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[Buffy]

This can't be happening. This can't be happening. I knew something like this would happen-I felt it.

I open the door, which can only be opened on the inside. The hidden room only has two doors, one entrance way, but two exits, one leading to Spike's and my room and the other to Alex's room.

As soon as I open the door, I look into his eyes. They tell me everything I already know.

Spike then goes to Alex and I see him kneel in front of him so that he can be at eye level. He's talking to him, and Alex is nodding his head. I don't hear a thing Spike's saying, because how can I? Not when my mind is on overdrive and screaming at me to do something.

When Spike stands back up, Alex goes to the side table and opens the box of animal crackers, and separates a handful into two groups; be eaten, and not to be eaten. He doesn't eat the whole crackers. He plays with them, but he eats the broken ones. He says that he has to eat them before they feel hurt. I turn to open the drawer that I was leaning against, to pull out some solid food, and place it on the table. I know Alex will be hungry for more than animal crackers and milk.

I feel Spike behind me. I can feel him watching me, thinking- he's always thinking.

I feel him come up behind me, and for a moment I think that he's going to put his hands around my waist to hold me. He always does that, and when he does, I just melt. But he doesn't do that now. I know he knows what I'm thinking, and thinks it too.

I feel his cool soothing breath on my neck, he doesn't need to breathe, but he does it anyway, sometimes I think he breathes because of me, because he thinks I need to feel it, hear it. I think he knows that I love just the idea of feeling anything from him, to tell myself that he's there. He's just inches away, only inches away.

I feel him dip his head and press his lips on the nape of my neck. He's whispering now, "Please don't come down."

I put a hand to the slight curve of my belly. And I feel his hand covering my own, but it leaves as soon as I felt it, making me wonder if his hand ever touched mine.

"Just stay here for Alex, and this one."

I only nod.

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[Spike]

I know to trust that nod. I know she could never lie to me.

I hear the house start to reverberate, the product of vampires trying to get in. The steel reinforcements are working like a charm, but it's not going to last long. So I know I have to get back down.

I get to the hidden wooden chest, carrying the weapons. But, instead, I just grab something hanging from a hook on the wall. I feel her facing me now, watching me. "I mean it, Buffy," I say more for my own comfort because I know Buffy won't take her promise back.

She's walking over to me now. But never answers, I don't see it, but I know she nodded. "He's got a lot of company with him?" She says in more of a statement than question.

"20, just about," I answer, I look at her now. "Did you call Red?"

"Yeah, she's making her way to Giles'."

"Xander? And the slayers?"

"He and Andrew are getting to the dormitory as we speak."

She's mere inches away, and puts her hands on me; she's running her hands down the lapels of my jacket, she doesn't meet my eyes, so I take her hands into my own, and I give each a kiss.

"They are not just a bunch of fledglings, you know that." She looks up at me. I see her lip tremble.

"Hey, I got this. I'll be back right quick." I flash her one of my grins. With that I turn and open the door.

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TBC...