Chapter Two – Prophecy
Buffy sat silently in the doctor's office waiting for the results of her checkup. Dr. Hardgrave was an older woman and known to be a bit slow when you really needed her. So instead of nail biting and nodding off for a quick nap, it was during that time that Buffy thought more and more about Spike. He was human and he was dieing. If he died on her, then their child would grow up without him and she already knew what it was like to not have her father.
But Africa... who the hell was she supposed to have anyone find Spike in Africa? She hoped that Giles might be able to help and there was the slim possibility of Angel, but that would be left for a worst come to worst situation. Angel would make a deal out of it, and it wasn't his business to interfere in. She only hoped that her friends would be more supportive then she knew her ex would be.
"Okay now Buffy, I demand to know what is up!"
Dawn had snuck into the office without even knowing and was now impatiently tapping her foot, her face a mask of confusion and betrayal. She had promised the teen to share everything with her, but this was something that Dawn couldn't get over irrational with, even if Buffy had to hit her.
"Well it's just that..." Buffy began trying to find the words as hair bristled on the back of her neck, but then as if fate meant it to happen, Dr. Hardgrave walked into the room.
"Well I'm pleased to say Ms. Summers that you are going on you third month of pregnancy"
It was comical to see Dawn's mouth drop open exaggeratedly upon hearing this news. She made little chocking noises and ignored by Hardgrave completely who continued without pause.
"Well everything is good. Your child is healthy and so are you, so everything is going well. Since you fell asleep during the ultrasound, you weren't really there to see that"
"Do... do you know what its going be?" Buffy asked ignoring her sister's boring eyes.
"It's too early to tell Ms. Summers, but I believe that in another month or two we should be able to tell. Now I only have to ask one thing. Do you know who the father is?"
Buffy stared at the kindly lady and then to Dawn that was nearly blistering to say something snide.
"Yes. He's, umm, he's in Africa at the moment"
"Oh that's nice. Well have a good day"
As soon as the doctor had left the room, Dawn burst out in a babble of words. The teen was actually starting to drive her crazy.
"Dawn, enough!" Buffy snapped, picked her stuff up and headed for the door, Dawn following in her wake.
"You're pregnant?"
"Duh"
"Why didn't you tell me!?"
"I just found out this morning"
They stopped and sat down on a bench in the park. The sunlight wasn't near as beautiful as it had been in the dream, but then again things weren't perfect either. The two Summers' sisters just sat in the silence, listening to the chatter of the people that passed. The smells of godly perfume and hot greasy express foods were begging to make the expecting mother sick and then Dawn had to ask the inevitable question.
"It's Spike's isn't it?" Dawn asked and turned to Buffy. "From when that slimy ..."
"Dawn, that was two weeks ago! I'm already near three months!" there was now a strange overwhelming urge to protect the rights of her own child, but that of Spike as well – her motherly hormones nearly scaring the crap out of the poor girl next to her. "It couldn't have been from then and I don't want you bad mouthing Spike – I was partially to blame too"
"But – " she protested.
"No, what I felt at the begging was betrayal. I was scared; you know what that's like. You – you don't know what its like. Every time that we – I hurt him too"
Dawn's mouth was now firmly shut.
"I would hurt him over and over again" Buffy continued. "He gave me feeling again when I thought that I had lost it. All he ever gave me was love, even though at time it was wrong for the both of us. Now don't go thinking that I forgive him for what he did to me, because I can't even forgive myself of what I did to him. He was your friend wasn't he... if none of this had ever happened, what would you have thought of me if you had found out that I would beat him to a pulp to vent my rage?"
"You... you actually did that?" Dawn whispered.
There was almost horror coming into her voice, she had really been told the truth about what the inner Buffy was capable of last year – and it frightened her.
"Yes, I did. I used him just as much as he used me. We were both to blame"
"What's Xander going to say?"
"Oh to hell with Xander"
Buffy hugged her sister tight and they just sat there hoping that things would turn out all right. Well it didn't last long. Xander had arrived just to hear Buffy and Dawn's last words and get into a snit about not being told anything. Since Buffy wasn't quite ready to tell her friends yet, they had managed to shrug it off as sisterly-bonding talk to clam the whining carpenter.
An hour later Buffy, Dawn and Xander having tagged along, sat in the kitchen at the Summers house eating what ever was in the fridge. The events of the early had rattled both sister and while they alone knew what their lone male companion didn't, had had no way of knowing that he was treading on dangerous ground.
But like Spike had always told them, Xander Harris was a numbskull. But to poor ignorant Xander, he kept throwing Buffy weird looks after she devoured her tenth celery stick and then went on to the next.
"Umm Buff, what's up?" he finally asked, a bit spooked by this new quite, food munching Buffy.
"Hmm? Oh nothing" the slayer replied without even looking up.
"Well it has to be something" Xander concurred. "I haven't ever seen you eat that much before in one sitting. Don't you think it's a bit much?"
"I'll eat what I damn well want!" Buffy snapped, a mood-swing hitting her full on and she began chew on her celery even faster with anger.
Xander sat gob smacked. She had just given him the third degree.
"Just drop it Xander, everything is fine" Dawn lied though her teeth and cast a warning glare at him. "So when are you going to call Giles?" she asked trying to lighten the mood.
"Later"
But then a little thing called guilt start to snicker at her as Buffy had picked up her twelve stick and nibbled thought fully. Yes, she would have to call Giles soon... no, not soon, now. Getting to her feet, she left the kitchen and headed for her room. Flopping down on her bed, she sighed. Making this call was going to be one of the hardest things she would ever do.
In asking Giles to help her find Spike was going to need an explanation. She would have to tell the man the whole truth. So gathering up all her courage, Buffy dialed his number.
Seconds later, she heard his voice.
"Hello, Rupert Giles here"
"Hey Giles" Buffy chirped into the phone, trying to make what she was feeling inside (fear mixed with soda, cookies, chips and twelve sticks of celery – not a good combination for a pregnant woman).
"Buffy? Is that you? What wrong?" Leave it to the British to say everything they have to say in one sentence.
"Well hello to you to"
"Now you know I didn't mean it like that" he sighed and she swore she could hear him cleaning his glasses threw the phone. "It's just that with everything that has happened in the last few weeks, it could be anything"
"How's Willow doing?" she asked.
"Your staling for something else that's far more important, aren't you? Well Willow is doing as good as can be expected. The Coven is having a hard time getting to her past the hurt, but the progress is gradual. Now please Buffy, tell me what's really wrong"
Buffy sighed herself and took a deep breath.
"I'm pregnant"
"What?"
"How to make this more specific - I have a bun in the oven" she quipped sarcastically.
"I know what you mean, you silly girl, but it just can't be possible"
"Sure it's possible; it's the birds and the bees"
"No Buffy, not like that. There's never been a recorded case of an expecting slayer. If a slayer ever had a child, that was before she was called. Most watchers thought slayers to be infertile, but I believe that fate changed things to save lives and the hurt that would come from such...umm who is the father?"
"I think you already know that" she replied.
"Spike!? Oh good lord" Giles was being annoying direct.
There was silence at the end of the line. Little did she know that across the ocean in England, Rupert Giles had just poured himself a 'healthy' shot of brandy and knocked in back in one gulp.
"Giles?"
"I'm still here Buffy. Spike, being a vampire and all – they're dead, they can't have offspring"
"You think I don't know that? Well don't say anything; I have a favor to ask of you" she asked slyly.
"And what would that be?"
"I need you to help me find Spike"
"What? Have you gone crazy Buffy? After what he did?"
"No I'm not crazy" Buffy snapped and struggled to regain her thinning composure. "I had a dream last night – I think it was a slayer dream. Everything was beautiful and then Spike was there. He told me he was dieing. I've come to realize that I do love him Giles and I don't want our child to be without a father"
"I understand... do you have even a clue as to where we should start?"
"He told me that he was in Africa, in Kenya"
"It's not a surprise that he didn't go up in flames"
'If only you knew' Buffy's subconscious grumbled. 'Well, I'll just save that little detail for later'
"So you'll help?"
"Yes I will. I'll call back when I've found something. Goodbye Buffy"
"See yah Giles"
There was a clicked and that ended the call. Giles would help and that was a breath of fresh air. She had told her watcher, her father figure and her sister knew too. All there was left was for the dread encounter she was going to get when she told the whole truth to Xander...
The young man slowly entered the tent and Spike rolled his throbbing head to one side. His translator. The young African was like everyone in this village – tall and impossibly sun scorched dark, but the kid was nice and that was all the really mattered.
"So what the verdict?" he coughed.
"Not good" the boy answered before sitting down cross lagged in the sand next to where Spike lay.
"Is it worse?" he tried to joke, but almost chocked on the spicy sand that blew threw the air.
"You amaze me" the boy smiled. "You ride the brink of death and yet you laugh. That must mean the prophecy is true"
Spike groaned. Another prophecy – just what he needed. The pain was ignored as he reopened his eyes to look at the boy thoughtfully.
"What this time? Apocalypse, demon hoards... dismemberment?"
"No friend, it is one of greatness, one that has been legend passed down in my clan for centuries. It speaks of a vampire that becomes human for the sake of his one true love, but the process is not complete. Unable to live and almost dead, that man must travel to the heart of this country to find the Stone of Blood"
"Bloody hell, you really mean the sodding Stone of Blood? It's a myth!" Spike barked dryly.
"That it is not friend. My clan is the protector of the holy stone and thus I shall continue. With the Stone of Blood, he shall heal the world – ending the curse that first created the vampires"
"What? What first created the vampires?"
Now Spike was intrigued, fighting to stay awake against the darkness the pulled at him once again. But his young friend just smiled wistfully.
"In time you shall know, but know you must sleep. The healer works on a spell to help you for this journey. I know that you wish secretly to live – you cannot deceive me. There is one you love, one closer then even the Greats Fates wish to revile. Sleep know friend, I will see you before the first light rises into the sky, and before even the world the world whispers. Good night friend"
This gentle command made Spike draw back in the darkness. To see and meet the dawns of time or which ever drew him in first.
Well I hope that was satisfactory! Thanks to AthleticCharmedOne and Spygrrl for the first reviews – thanks, you're the best. I'll try to keep up; I've been getting good inspiration. Also I just wanted to say that I'm sorry about the spell, but I bet you've seen worse. Later!
Buffy sat silently in the doctor's office waiting for the results of her checkup. Dr. Hardgrave was an older woman and known to be a bit slow when you really needed her. So instead of nail biting and nodding off for a quick nap, it was during that time that Buffy thought more and more about Spike. He was human and he was dieing. If he died on her, then their child would grow up without him and she already knew what it was like to not have her father.
But Africa... who the hell was she supposed to have anyone find Spike in Africa? She hoped that Giles might be able to help and there was the slim possibility of Angel, but that would be left for a worst come to worst situation. Angel would make a deal out of it, and it wasn't his business to interfere in. She only hoped that her friends would be more supportive then she knew her ex would be.
"Okay now Buffy, I demand to know what is up!"
Dawn had snuck into the office without even knowing and was now impatiently tapping her foot, her face a mask of confusion and betrayal. She had promised the teen to share everything with her, but this was something that Dawn couldn't get over irrational with, even if Buffy had to hit her.
"Well it's just that..." Buffy began trying to find the words as hair bristled on the back of her neck, but then as if fate meant it to happen, Dr. Hardgrave walked into the room.
"Well I'm pleased to say Ms. Summers that you are going on you third month of pregnancy"
It was comical to see Dawn's mouth drop open exaggeratedly upon hearing this news. She made little chocking noises and ignored by Hardgrave completely who continued without pause.
"Well everything is good. Your child is healthy and so are you, so everything is going well. Since you fell asleep during the ultrasound, you weren't really there to see that"
"Do... do you know what its going be?" Buffy asked ignoring her sister's boring eyes.
"It's too early to tell Ms. Summers, but I believe that in another month or two we should be able to tell. Now I only have to ask one thing. Do you know who the father is?"
Buffy stared at the kindly lady and then to Dawn that was nearly blistering to say something snide.
"Yes. He's, umm, he's in Africa at the moment"
"Oh that's nice. Well have a good day"
As soon as the doctor had left the room, Dawn burst out in a babble of words. The teen was actually starting to drive her crazy.
"Dawn, enough!" Buffy snapped, picked her stuff up and headed for the door, Dawn following in her wake.
"You're pregnant?"
"Duh"
"Why didn't you tell me!?"
"I just found out this morning"
They stopped and sat down on a bench in the park. The sunlight wasn't near as beautiful as it had been in the dream, but then again things weren't perfect either. The two Summers' sisters just sat in the silence, listening to the chatter of the people that passed. The smells of godly perfume and hot greasy express foods were begging to make the expecting mother sick and then Dawn had to ask the inevitable question.
"It's Spike's isn't it?" Dawn asked and turned to Buffy. "From when that slimy ..."
"Dawn, that was two weeks ago! I'm already near three months!" there was now a strange overwhelming urge to protect the rights of her own child, but that of Spike as well – her motherly hormones nearly scaring the crap out of the poor girl next to her. "It couldn't have been from then and I don't want you bad mouthing Spike – I was partially to blame too"
"But – " she protested.
"No, what I felt at the begging was betrayal. I was scared; you know what that's like. You – you don't know what its like. Every time that we – I hurt him too"
Dawn's mouth was now firmly shut.
"I would hurt him over and over again" Buffy continued. "He gave me feeling again when I thought that I had lost it. All he ever gave me was love, even though at time it was wrong for the both of us. Now don't go thinking that I forgive him for what he did to me, because I can't even forgive myself of what I did to him. He was your friend wasn't he... if none of this had ever happened, what would you have thought of me if you had found out that I would beat him to a pulp to vent my rage?"
"You... you actually did that?" Dawn whispered.
There was almost horror coming into her voice, she had really been told the truth about what the inner Buffy was capable of last year – and it frightened her.
"Yes, I did. I used him just as much as he used me. We were both to blame"
"What's Xander going to say?"
"Oh to hell with Xander"
Buffy hugged her sister tight and they just sat there hoping that things would turn out all right. Well it didn't last long. Xander had arrived just to hear Buffy and Dawn's last words and get into a snit about not being told anything. Since Buffy wasn't quite ready to tell her friends yet, they had managed to shrug it off as sisterly-bonding talk to clam the whining carpenter.
An hour later Buffy, Dawn and Xander having tagged along, sat in the kitchen at the Summers house eating what ever was in the fridge. The events of the early had rattled both sister and while they alone knew what their lone male companion didn't, had had no way of knowing that he was treading on dangerous ground.
But like Spike had always told them, Xander Harris was a numbskull. But to poor ignorant Xander, he kept throwing Buffy weird looks after she devoured her tenth celery stick and then went on to the next.
"Umm Buff, what's up?" he finally asked, a bit spooked by this new quite, food munching Buffy.
"Hmm? Oh nothing" the slayer replied without even looking up.
"Well it has to be something" Xander concurred. "I haven't ever seen you eat that much before in one sitting. Don't you think it's a bit much?"
"I'll eat what I damn well want!" Buffy snapped, a mood-swing hitting her full on and she began chew on her celery even faster with anger.
Xander sat gob smacked. She had just given him the third degree.
"Just drop it Xander, everything is fine" Dawn lied though her teeth and cast a warning glare at him. "So when are you going to call Giles?" she asked trying to lighten the mood.
"Later"
But then a little thing called guilt start to snicker at her as Buffy had picked up her twelve stick and nibbled thought fully. Yes, she would have to call Giles soon... no, not soon, now. Getting to her feet, she left the kitchen and headed for her room. Flopping down on her bed, she sighed. Making this call was going to be one of the hardest things she would ever do.
In asking Giles to help her find Spike was going to need an explanation. She would have to tell the man the whole truth. So gathering up all her courage, Buffy dialed his number.
Seconds later, she heard his voice.
"Hello, Rupert Giles here"
"Hey Giles" Buffy chirped into the phone, trying to make what she was feeling inside (fear mixed with soda, cookies, chips and twelve sticks of celery – not a good combination for a pregnant woman).
"Buffy? Is that you? What wrong?" Leave it to the British to say everything they have to say in one sentence.
"Well hello to you to"
"Now you know I didn't mean it like that" he sighed and she swore she could hear him cleaning his glasses threw the phone. "It's just that with everything that has happened in the last few weeks, it could be anything"
"How's Willow doing?" she asked.
"Your staling for something else that's far more important, aren't you? Well Willow is doing as good as can be expected. The Coven is having a hard time getting to her past the hurt, but the progress is gradual. Now please Buffy, tell me what's really wrong"
Buffy sighed herself and took a deep breath.
"I'm pregnant"
"What?"
"How to make this more specific - I have a bun in the oven" she quipped sarcastically.
"I know what you mean, you silly girl, but it just can't be possible"
"Sure it's possible; it's the birds and the bees"
"No Buffy, not like that. There's never been a recorded case of an expecting slayer. If a slayer ever had a child, that was before she was called. Most watchers thought slayers to be infertile, but I believe that fate changed things to save lives and the hurt that would come from such...umm who is the father?"
"I think you already know that" she replied.
"Spike!? Oh good lord" Giles was being annoying direct.
There was silence at the end of the line. Little did she know that across the ocean in England, Rupert Giles had just poured himself a 'healthy' shot of brandy and knocked in back in one gulp.
"Giles?"
"I'm still here Buffy. Spike, being a vampire and all – they're dead, they can't have offspring"
"You think I don't know that? Well don't say anything; I have a favor to ask of you" she asked slyly.
"And what would that be?"
"I need you to help me find Spike"
"What? Have you gone crazy Buffy? After what he did?"
"No I'm not crazy" Buffy snapped and struggled to regain her thinning composure. "I had a dream last night – I think it was a slayer dream. Everything was beautiful and then Spike was there. He told me he was dieing. I've come to realize that I do love him Giles and I don't want our child to be without a father"
"I understand... do you have even a clue as to where we should start?"
"He told me that he was in Africa, in Kenya"
"It's not a surprise that he didn't go up in flames"
'If only you knew' Buffy's subconscious grumbled. 'Well, I'll just save that little detail for later'
"So you'll help?"
"Yes I will. I'll call back when I've found something. Goodbye Buffy"
"See yah Giles"
There was a clicked and that ended the call. Giles would help and that was a breath of fresh air. She had told her watcher, her father figure and her sister knew too. All there was left was for the dread encounter she was going to get when she told the whole truth to Xander...
The young man slowly entered the tent and Spike rolled his throbbing head to one side. His translator. The young African was like everyone in this village – tall and impossibly sun scorched dark, but the kid was nice and that was all the really mattered.
"So what the verdict?" he coughed.
"Not good" the boy answered before sitting down cross lagged in the sand next to where Spike lay.
"Is it worse?" he tried to joke, but almost chocked on the spicy sand that blew threw the air.
"You amaze me" the boy smiled. "You ride the brink of death and yet you laugh. That must mean the prophecy is true"
Spike groaned. Another prophecy – just what he needed. The pain was ignored as he reopened his eyes to look at the boy thoughtfully.
"What this time? Apocalypse, demon hoards... dismemberment?"
"No friend, it is one of greatness, one that has been legend passed down in my clan for centuries. It speaks of a vampire that becomes human for the sake of his one true love, but the process is not complete. Unable to live and almost dead, that man must travel to the heart of this country to find the Stone of Blood"
"Bloody hell, you really mean the sodding Stone of Blood? It's a myth!" Spike barked dryly.
"That it is not friend. My clan is the protector of the holy stone and thus I shall continue. With the Stone of Blood, he shall heal the world – ending the curse that first created the vampires"
"What? What first created the vampires?"
Now Spike was intrigued, fighting to stay awake against the darkness the pulled at him once again. But his young friend just smiled wistfully.
"In time you shall know, but know you must sleep. The healer works on a spell to help you for this journey. I know that you wish secretly to live – you cannot deceive me. There is one you love, one closer then even the Greats Fates wish to revile. Sleep know friend, I will see you before the first light rises into the sky, and before even the world the world whispers. Good night friend"
This gentle command made Spike draw back in the darkness. To see and meet the dawns of time or which ever drew him in first.
Well I hope that was satisfactory! Thanks to AthleticCharmedOne and Spygrrl for the first reviews – thanks, you're the best. I'll try to keep up; I've been getting good inspiration. Also I just wanted to say that I'm sorry about the spell, but I bet you've seen worse. Later!