Chapter 22

Phoebe dropped her legs from around Angel's waist. They both turned to look at the rest of the group. They had just heard Piper's words.

'Dru is craving blood?' Angel asked. Piper nodded. Leo shook his head.

'Someone has got to know something up there! I'm coming back with a doctor...one that deals in magical pregnancies.'

No one said anything as Leo orbed away. Wesley looked grave.

'What is it?' Paige asked, eyeing her boyfriend.

'The doctor Leo is going to bring back, will probably confirm what I already suspect.'

'Which is?' Angel asked impatiently. Phoebe rubbed his arm.

But Wesley looked at Spike.

'Have the two of you been intimate?'

'What the sodding hell?! That's kind of personal, isn't it mate?' Spike responded huffily.

Wesley summoned up patience from God knows where, in regards to Spike.

'Just answer me, Spike. It's important.'

Spike looked around, then rolled his eyes.

'Alright, yes! We are living together you know!'

'When?' Wesley asked.

'When what?'

'When were the two of you intimate?'

'A couple of hours ago...why? What possible difference could it make?'

Leo orbed back in with of all people, Penny Haliwell, the Charmed Ones late grandmother who was affectionately known as 'Grams'. Phoebe and Piper hurried over to her and hugged her.

'Grams? What are you doing here? And you're not in spirit form!' Piper noted. Grams smiled gently at her two granddaughters, then focused on the whole room. Spike leaned in towards Paige.

'Who's the old lady?'

'My Grandmother.' Paige answered back.

'Really?' Wesley asked, looking the woman over. He wondered if that was how Paige would look when she became old.

Angel moved in as well. Phoebe looked at him. She could feel guilt coming from him again. She decided to ask him about it later.

'Grams, what's going on? What do you know about Drusilla's condition?' Phoebe asked.

'Honey, the Elders are sending down a doctor to check up on her. But we have our suspicions.'

Wesley stepped forward.

'Are your 'suspicions' that Drusilla is carrying twins?'

'WHAT?!' almost everyone in the room cried out in unison. Angel walked over to him.

'Wait a minute! Wait! She's carrying Spike's twins?'

'No,' Grams said primly, 'she's carrying the child of the former Source of Evil and a vampire. Two separate fathers. I'm afraid this pregnancy is going to be more than difficult for her...even if it will only last for two weeks.'

Spike's mouth dropped open! He was going to be a bloody father?! How?! He was dead for God's sakes!

'How is Spike able to conceive a child?' Angel asked no one in particular.

Grams nodded.

'Drusilla is a witch. Anything can happen with a witch. Belthazor is dead as well, and Phoebe became pregnant by him.'

'Don't remind me!' Phoebe sniffed.

'Dru and me are going to have a little one?' Spike asked, somewhat in awe. But Paige sighed and looked at Wesley.

'So are Dru and Cole! Grams, why is this pregnancy going to be so hard? Is it because the babies will have powers or something?' Paige asked.

Phoebe glanced at Angel.

'Cole's baby was unbelievably strong...I mean my body couldn't support it. I watched as it completely obliterated another woman and a whole room.'

Spike moved forward.

'What are you saying? What? That this baby could destroy Dru...and our child?'

Grams had never cared for vampires, but that Angel guy was cute! And this Spuck or Hick or whatever his name was...well...he just looked so sad!

Suddenly, a small form orbed in. It looked to be some girl Elf and she was carrying a doctor's bag. Leo nodded.

'The doctor is here. I'm going to take her up to Dru.'

'I'm going with you!' Spike insisted. But Angel stopped him.

'Just let the doctor do what she needs to do, Spike.'

'The hell I will! One of those little one's is mine!'

'I understand that. I really do. But this is really all my fault.'

Everyone in the room looked at Angel. Phoebe raised a brow.

'Your fault? Is there a third kid in there too?' she asked, half-jokingly. But she didn't like the vibe she was picking up from the brooding vampire.

Angel half turned away from Spike to look at Phoebe.

'I love you, Phoebe. That's why I fell for that witch's half assed spell. But when Leo and you first came to me, it was because you thought that more than anyone, I could help Drusilla. I haven't been doing that.'

'Of course you have.' Phoebe protested. 'You gave her a job and...'

'And let her become involved with two men, that in her confused state, she didn't need to be involved with.' Angel finished. Spike looked him up and down.

'I guess one of those men you're talking about is me, hey mate?'

Angel sighed and turned to completely face him again.

'Dru doesn't have full control over her powers yet. She wasn't getting along with Phoebe. Belthazor was putting all kinds of ideas in her head. But instead of trying to help her with her training, or just taking it slowly, you jumped her the minute you got the chance!'

Spike began to back away, appalled!

'Is that what you really think?! That I was out to get my rocks off on Dru?!'

'I don't know, Spike...'

'Yes you do, Angel! I made peace with Buffy and any feelings I had for her, so I could start a life with Dru! And no, I'm not the 'take it slow' type, but this is Dru we're talking about! I didn't need to get to know her, because I have known her for over a century now! I can't believe you'd say something like that!'

'I have, Spike. And what's more, I want you to stay away from her until the doctor looks at her. I'm going to be the one helping her now.'

Wesley, Paige, Piper, Spike, Phoebe and Grams, looked at one another. Piper spoke up.

'What does that mean?'

'It means that once she has these babies...or baby, God forbid, I'm going to do what I promised to do. Watch out for her.'

Spike shook his head.

'She won't need you, Angel. I'll be here for her and my babe.'

'But what if your child doesn't live Spike? What if she ends up raising Belthazor's? Huh? Are you going to be there for her then?'

Spike's eyes locked with Piper's. Piper looked away, trying to forget their earlier conversation. She didn't know if Spike would hang around if Dru only gave birth to Cole's child.

'I will.' Spike said with hard determination.

'You will now. Now that you think I'm going to get involved, right Spike?' Angel said, his voice equally as hard.

'Okay guys.' Phoebe said tiredly. She hadn't liked Angel's little announcement either. For while she was all for helping Drusilla, it sounded like Angel was talking about damned near marrying the woman himself! She just didn't like the sound of it, but knew it would be wiser not to say anything at all at this point and time.

Leo and the Elf looking doctor reappeared. Everyone looked at them. Grams spoke.

'Well?'

The Elf nodded.

'It's as I thought. She is having twins. And one of them is already much more stronger than the other.'

'Damnit to bloody hell!' Spike cried out in anguish. His child was probably the one that was dying, and there wasn't a thing he could do to stop it!

Grams looked over at Spike.

'It might not necessarily be yours that's the weaker one, Huck.'

Spike looked her up and down.

'That's Spike.'

'Spike, Huck, same difference! Look, Drusilla is a very powerful witch herself. With her powers and your vampire abilities, well, your child would be no slouch either.'

The Elf nodded.

'This is true. There is still time for the weaker one to fight back. But it is a battle that will be fought in the womb. Drusilla will be asleep the whole time.'

'Asleep?' Piper asked, looking over at Leo. 'What do you mean?'

Leo sighed.

'With this kind of magical pregnancy, or a 'two weeker', the mother sleeps until the labor begins. The pain wakes her up.'

'Oh mother of God!' Spike muttered, turning away. Wesley and Paige gave him a sympathetic glance.

The Elf nodded.

'So call me if there are any complications.'

'You mean if she wakes up early?' Angel asked quietly. The Elf looked his way and nodded.

'Yes. If she awakes early, chances are, that will be when we know that one of the girls has not survived.'

'Girls?' Spike asked, turning back towards them. Grams smiled at him.

'Haliwell women usually have girls...though I don't know what happened with Piper.'

'Grams!' Piper said warningly. They had had this conversation before.

Spike looked around.

'I'm going up to see her now.'

'She's asleep, Spike.' Leo warned.

'I don't care, Leo! I want to be with her while she's going through this.'

Grams and Piper nodded to Leo. Leo turned and began walking up the stairs. Spike began to follow, when he stopped and looked back at Angel.

'You just concentrate on your own girlfriend there and stay out of my business. Dru and MY daughter, are none of your concern.' he almost hissed. He then turned and continued to follow after Leo.

Wesley moved towards Angel.

'What do you plan to do?'

Angel cracked his knuckles.

'Who are we kidding? What are the chances of Belhazor's child not living, or Dru giving birth to both girls? Slim to none. We have to concern ourselves with making sure that Belthazor never learns that Dru is carrying his child.'

Leo and Spike, were more than a bit startled to open the door to Drusilla's room, only to find Cole already there, standing over the sleeping Drusilla and stroking her hair.

'Sodding hell! Get away from her!' Spike growled, as he began to rush him. Leo grabbed him, and was barely able to restrain him.

'Get out of here Cole!' Leo yelled. Cole grinned.

'Let the vampire go. We all know what will become of him even before he makes it over to me.'

'You sure about that, mate?' Spike asked in a low tone.

'No...but I am sure that from what I just learned, Dru and I are going to have a child and that yours...well...I just wanted to give you my condolences. Maybe you can try again with another witch.'

'I won't be needing your pity. Dru's going to deliver both girls.'

'Girls? Hmmm. I was hoping for a little powerhouse like Wyatt, but a girl will do just as well. I was just telling Sleeping Beauty here that I've picked out a name. I mean if it was a boy it would be Cole Jr. But since it's going to be a girl...'

Spike moved forward.

'Bugger off before I get Angel and the others up here!'

'Oooh! Now that's a frightening prospect!'

'I think what's more frightening is Phoebe coming up here and seeing what a bastard you are...yet again! You haven't given up on taking her away from Angel, have you?'

Cole's expression changed. He backed away from Drusilla.

'Fine. But I will be back....in two weeks to see my daughter. And again, Spike, my condolences.'

Cole shimmered away. Leo stared at Spike's back. His head was down and he could've sworn the bleach blonde vampire was crying.

'Spike?'

Spike sniffed and wiped his face. He did not look at Leo.

'Could you give me a minute?' he asked tonelessly. Leo nodded, then turned and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.

Spike looked back at the closed door, then walked over to the other side of Drusilla's bed. He then got down on his knees and rested his head on her stomach.

'You have to fight, little one. You have to.' he whispered.