Part 16: Battle's End

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Part 16

The wait. Buffy muttered to herself and wished for more patience.

Her eyes were fixated on the closed door. She found herself willing Spike to be okay. She wanted for him to open the door and walk out of it, like the day never happened. Then everything would be how it should be. Anything else wouldn't be right, not to her, not for them.

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"So?"

"So, I feel like a truck just ran over me...and the driver forgot to do the 'over' part and the truck is still very well on top of me."

"Yeah, me too." Angel agreed, looking up at the ceiling. "I think it worked."

"I think so, too. Swapping blood, did the trick after all. Guess it gave me, well now us, the time to fight. Kind of like having to fight a cold," Spike grinned at the memory of when he told Alex that they were going to fight his cold. "Vampire style."

"I don't even remember what it was like to have a cold. I hated it though, I'm sure. I hated the person who I caught it from even more."

"Glad I was able to pass this on to you then." Spike said, grinning. "So, how long have we been sittin' here for?"

Angel looked at the clock. "Uhh...two minutes?"

"Two minutes away from my family, a record I don't want to top." Spike made a move off the bed.

"Spike-"

"Look, there's something Buffy and I don't do anymore and that's what you are about to do, so don't." Spike said, knowing that Angel was about to explain everything, and frankly, Spike just wanted to walk out the door and be with Buffy and Alex. "Words pretty much mean shit. Just show me, yeah?"

Angel nodded.

Spike met Angel's eyes for a second and was out the door the next.

When Buffy saw the door open she thought she had only imagined it. But when Alex exclaimed, "Dad!" and got up from her lap to run over to him, she sighed in relief. Spike is okay.

Spike's first sight was Buffy and Alex on the couch. Next thing he knew, Alex was running to him and was in his arms. He lifted him up, "See I told you, I'd be okay." Spike looked over and watched Buffy stand up, a sight he would remember. Her cheeks were streaked with tears, her eyes were pink and glossy with fresh tears, ready to drop and follow the path of the previous. And her lips, which broke into a smile; he'd never seen her so beautiful.

Buffy ran over to him and threw her arms around him, Alex was caught in the middle. Now, this was right.

After a few moments passed by, Giles stood up, walked over to the scene. Willow walked over as well. She was the first to get there.

"Spike, glad to see you are up and about."

Spike kept his arm around Buffy's waist and in the other he held onto Alex. He turned to regard Willow. "Thanks, Red."

"Yes, we're glad to have you back," Giles said.

"Glad to hear you say that. I guess we're all glad then?" Spike said with a grin. "You know, I always knew that I was the reason that made everyone feel all fuzzy inside."

"Yes, well, fuzzy is definitely a word for it." Giles raised an eyebrow. "So, Angel?"

Spike nodded towards the door. "Feeling fuzzy as well, I'm sure." Spike grinned.

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After things had settled, Angel, Giles and Willow turned down the offer to stay for the night and went home. Buffy, Spike and Alex walked up the stairs.

Alex turned into the bathroom to do his bedtime ritual, while Buffy and Spike waited just outside of the door.

Their eyes met.

Spike grinned. And Buffy smiled.

When finished, Alex walked out of the bathroom with a yawn.

Spike put a hand to his shoulder as they walked to his room. "Minty fresh?"

"Minty fresh." Alex confirmed.

When they reached Alex's bedroom, the boy got into bed and under the covers.

Buffy adjusted his blanket to tuck him in. And Spike brushed the light soft brown curls from his forehead. "Nothing like a good nights sleep after yet another battle won."

"We killed those germs, huh daddy?"

"Yeah, we did, we live to fight another, eh?"

Alex nodded and closed his eyes with a smile.

Buffy went over to kiss his forehead. "Sweet dreams, love you."

"I love you." Alex whispered as he drifted to dreamland.

Spike wrapped an arm around Buffy's waist as they walked out of the room.

"You think when he grows up, he's gonna think back and say, 'whoa, what kind of life is this? This is sooo not right.'" Buffy reflected as they got to their own room.

"Nah..." Spike shrugged, as they walked into the master bathroom. "He's gonna think back and say, 'what an awesome life.'" Spike looked at Buffy who was already brushing her teeth. He did the same.

"I bet-" Buffy started, as she walked out of the bathroom with Spike closely behind her. "I mean, what's normal anyway, right?" Buffy got underneath the covers, and Spike did the same. "This is right, right?" Buffy said, not needing an answer, as she snuggled into Spike's side. "We're okay."

TBC...in the final chapter