A/N : Y'know I spent all weekend trying to write this chapter and it just wasn't happening, then suddenly inspiration struck. Thankfully, I don't have to work this week so I had time to sort it all today and check it over and get it beta-ed so here it is for all you lovely people! Thanx to the reviewers of the previous chapter; Freeziboncoolipants, Bunny, spikeswife1, Spuffyfan4eva, Moluvsnumber17, uandme4eternity, kori hime, Brittany, rubi-elektra, spuffyfan-1, Carol, iluvglorfindel, electricgurl, MikiBaby, naiya-isis, HungryLucy, Kate, fearlessbuffy, Diana, SSWBA, bo-bob, Lucky-112, LiLRoguE. I hope you all like this chapter too...
(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

Chapter 14

"I guess I should get these bags unpacked, and then I have to call my Mom before she starts having a major spazz" Buffy realised, pulling herself out of the chair and making her way over to her luggage which she'd dropped on the floor earlier on.

"Yeah, Joyce, is a bit of a worrier, ain't she?" Spike smirked, "Made me promise to bloody ring when I arrived, I felt like a twelve year old or somethin'"

Buffy couldn't help but laugh at the image that popped into her head then. A little version of Spike in short pants, a backwards baseball cap, and a skateboard under his arm. She turned serious again when she realised he never did look that way, since she knew for a fact it was over a century since he was twelve. It brought home to her just what a weird situation they were in.

The Slayer sighed as she reached for her suitcase and Spike mistook the tired sound for one of pain.

"You shouldn't be carrying those, not in your condition" he mumbled, moving to take the case from her hand as well as picking up the bags from the floor.

Buffy wanted to yell at him, tell him she was quite capable of doing plenty of things, in her condition or otherwise, and that included staking his worthless hide, but the insults and ingratitude he was so used to hearing from her, appeared to stick in her throat today. How could you be so mean to a guy who just wanted to help? The same guy who you had made a new life just a few weeks ago...

"Thankyou" she said suddenly, "I need them in the bedroom" she added, as Spike nodded and took the bags through for her.

Whilst he was gone, Buffy called her mother and told her she'd arrived okay. Joyce was surprised but thrilled to find out that her daughter was able to bear Spike's presence without wanting to stake him every five minutes. Neither the Slayer or her mother were sure yet what that meant in the grand scheme of things, but for now it seemed it didn't have to mean anything.

"How did the gang take it when you told them?" Buffy held her breath as soon as the question had been asked, she was so afraid of the answer.

"They were shocked obviously" Joyce told her honestly, "Like you said, vampires aren't supposed to be able to make children"

"Were they freaked?" the Slayer pressed, "I mean like totally disgusted and disappointed in me?"

Spike came back into the room just as the question was asked and moved to stand behind Buffy, hoping to catch the answer from the other end of the phone.

"Er, well, no" Joyce stumbled on the words and Spike could almost see the nervous smile, "They're fine, really" she said, quickly changing the subject by adding, "I told Mr Giles you'd call him soon"

"Sure, Mom" Buffy agreed, "I did say that I would" she nodded to herself, suddenly frowning as she felt a presence behind her and turned, only to come face to face with Spike, mere fractions of inches separating their bodies.

"I...I have to go Mom, bye" the Slayer said quickly, turning off the cordless phone and just standing there, bright blue eyes staring into her own, almost hypnotising her. She didn't really remember looking properly before, but now Buffy was thinking just how beautiful those eyes were, and in general just how good-looking Spike was.

Suddenly the real world seemed to come rushing back to her breaking whatever moment they might have been having as Buffy's brain yelled 'You Slayer, him disgusting vampire!' Sometimes she wished she could make that little brain-voice go away...

"I guess you heard all that?" she gestured with the phone before putting it down on the table and moving briskly across the room. She would have gone to look out of the window, but all the blinds were shut. In some ways it seemed like a complete waste when the weather was so pleasant, but one ray of sun-light in just the wrong place and the father of her child would be nothing more than a big pile of dust.

"Yeah, I heard" Spike smirked, loving the fact that he must have had some kind of effect on her. He hadn't seen her cover ground that fast in a while, and all because he'd been looking at? There was more going on in his Slayer's head than she'd ever admit, he knew that, and he was going to have fun with it.

"So, seems there's only one bedroom" he smirked some more, "Guess we'll have to share"

"Be serious!" Buffy snapped, "You are so on the couch, and that is even if I let you stay here anyway" she told him matter-of-factly, folding her arms over her chest.

"What's the matter, Slayer?" he asked her, tilting his head to the side, "Afraid you won't be able to resist me?"

Buffy let out an unattractive snort at that, wishing she could shoot back a clever answer but finding none came to mind as very vivid memories came rushing into her mind. Back on that day when she hadn't wanted to resist him and vice versa, when all they'd wanted to do was get as close as possible to each other. The day that had led to them standing here now.

Realising he was still staring at her and feeling heat rise in her cheeks, Buffy looked away and moved back towards the phone.

"I have to call Giles" she mumbled, grabbing up the handset and violently punching in the number. She hated that Spike was making her feel things like this. He was a vampire, her supposed enemy, and it had been so clear. Now she was having his baby and he spent most of his time either being sweet and helpful or coming onto her, both of which were nice as well as annoying and scary at the same time.

As she waited for someone to pick up the phone, Buffy knew Spike was still watching her, but she refused to turn around and show that he was bothering her. Still, she really wished Giles would hurry up and answer the phone so she had something else to concentrate on...

- - - - - -

"I got it!" Xander yelled as the phone rang. Giles was in the kitchen making tea and Anya was half asleep on the couch with a book on her lap and a couple more either side of her, "Hello, Rupert Giles home, Xander speaking"

"Hey Xan, it's me" came the nervous reply.

"Buffy!" he exclaimed, causing both Anya and Giles to come rushing over to the table, "Where are you? How are you? Why didn't you tell us you were having Evil Dead Juniors kid?"

"Xander!" Giles exclaimed grabbing the phone from the boys hand and shooting him a nasty look, "Buffy my dear, how are you?" he said into the phone, still glaring daggers at Xander for his tactless-ness. Anya didn't really understand what the problem was but she knew her man was looking a little hurt and embarrassed so she put her arm around his back and leant her head on his shoulder in what she hoped was seen as an affectionate way.

"I'm fine Giles" the Slayer assured him, "Well, as fine as it's possible to be when you just found out you're having a vampires baby" she added quietly.

"Buffy, you do know that we understand" he checked, "There really was no need for you to run away"

"I didn't run so much" Buffy immediately went defensive, "I moved at a brisk pace, and besides it wasn't all about being worried what you'd think of me, I kind of need some alone time right now" she looked across the room into the small kitchen area where Spike was checking the cupboards for supplies. 'Alone time with the vampire', she added in her mind, but she wasn't going to tell her Watcher that.

"As you wish" Giles told her, "We're currently in full research mode as you may imagine, I assume you approve?" he ventured.

"It would be nice to know how I've gotten over four months pregnant inside three, yeah" Buffy agreed, "Riley said the Initiative thought it was maybe my Slayerness or maybe Spike's vampiness?"

Giles smiled at her phrasing despite the severity of the situation.

"Indeed, it may be that both those things are a factor" he agreed "though I am still very curious as to how a vampire was able to create a child at all"

"I know you'll figure it out eventually, and then I'll deal" Buffy smiled, "It's what we do. You're book guy, I'm action girl, it's the way it works"

"I would rather you let yourself be less of an action girl in your present condition, Buffy" Giles frowned a little, "I know you're the Slayer and only four months into your pregnancy but it would pay to be careful"

"I can deal, Giles" Buffy rolled her eyes, but also smiled at his concern, "and I'm guessing you've probably polished your glasses down to nothing now so please leave them on your face this time"

The ex-Watcher almost laughed when he realised he had subconsciously brought his free hand up to his face to remove his spectacles as she knew he would.

"Anyway Giles, I really oughta go. Seems kind of unfair to run up a huge phone bill when it's not my phone"

"Oh yes, indeed" her father-figure nodded, "I'll let you get some rest and so-forth, but do promise me you'll keep in touch, Buffy, we do worry you know"

"I'll call again in a couple of days" the Slayer promised, "And in the meantime, if you need to get a hold of me desperately, my Mom has the number"

After that they both said their goodbyes and hung up the phone. Buffy sighed as she did so before turning around and coming face to face with Spike again.

"Do you have to keep doing that?!" she snapped, "I could use you not being in my face every time I turn around"

"Calm down Slayer" he rolled his eyes, stepping away and dropping into the armchair, "Not good for you to get worked up in your condition"

She narrowed her eyes at him as he smirked and propped his feet up on the coffee table.

"That phrase is going to get real old, real fast" she warned him, pointing a finger.

He just ignored her and changed the subject entirely.

"It's like Old Mother Hubbard's in this place, not a scrap of food or anything" he told her, "Won't be long til the sun's down though...fancy a little stroll to the shops?" he suggested and Buffy looked at him strangely.

"You expect me to willingly be seen in public with you?" she asked incredulously.

Spike stood up with a smirk and breezed past her.

"Chill out, Slayer" he told her, "S'not like I'm asking you to marry me or anything" he added nonchalantly, smiling to himself as he walked past her to the bathroom and threw the door closed behind him.

It was times like this when Buffy remembered why she hated him.

"The stupid, arrogant..." she muttered to herself as she checked the cupboards that he had already been through "evil, soulless, gorgeous..."

'Where the hell did that come from?!' her mind screamed as she realised what she'd said. Her eyes went wide and her hand automatically clamped over her mouth, forcing back any further words of similar meaning. Quickly she moved towards the bathroom in silence and heard the water running. Even with his vampire hearing, at that distance and with the shower on, it was unlikely he would have heard her words, at least Buffy hoped not.

This trip away was beginning to feel like a very bad idea, the Slayer realised, as she flopped back down on the sofa and closed her eyes. It was pretty peaceful, or it would be if she couldn't here Spike singing a rough version of 'My Way' under the running water. Very disturbing images began to appear behind Buffy's eyes as her brain registered that Spike was in the next room, naked and under the hot spray of the shower. It was only disturbing because it was so pleasant, and that had to be wrong, right? He was a vampire, an evil thing that should be dusted as soon as possible, but he was the father of her child, and...and oh my God!

"For the fourth time, Buffy!" Spike called from the doorway, finally getting her attention onto what he was saying, "You up for that shopping trip then, luv?" he checked, one hand holding the towel up around his waist the other pushing his wet hair out of his face.

"Er, yeah, I guess" she stammered a reply, smiling slightly until he disappeared again, quickly chastising herself straight after for having the lusty wrong feelings about the vampire.

"Must just be a pregnant lady hormone thing" she reasoned, but deep down, she knew she was lying to herself.

- - - - - -

An hour and a half had past since Buffy's phone call and Giles, Xander and Anya were still pouring over the books trying to find any reference to pregnant Slayers and/or vampiric fathers. So far nothing of use had been found in any of the Watcher's Diaries, or any demonology books either old or new.

Giles checked his watch to see how long he'd been sitting in the same position as his body was starting to cramp.

"I do hope that Willow has made some progress with Riley" he sighed, realising she had been gone some time now, "it seems the Initiative really are the only people who have information regarding this type of situation or similar"

"Au contraire, mon frere" Xander said excitedly from across the table, raising his hand but not moving his eyes from the page.

"Oh did you find something?" Anya smiled coming over from the couch to stand behind her boyfriend "Can we stop reading these boring books now?" she asked innocently as she tried to read over his shoulder.

"This Watchers Diary" Xander gestured towards the volume he was studying "the entry for June 20th 1973" he said, reading the passage aloud " 'Today we welcomed Robin Thomas Wood into the world. He weighed 7lb 12oz and is as beautiful as his mother. Nikki is anxious to get back to her training programme and slaying duties, though I have assured her I can manage quite well until she's completely ready...' "

The words of the old Watcher, spoken through Xander's voice, were interrupted as the front door was flung open and a girl practically fell into the apartment.

"Willow?" Giles frowned, getting to his feet "Did you speak to Riley?" he asked, but received no reply. Eventually the red-head turned from closing the door and revealed a pale and tear-stained face to her friends.

"Good Lord, whatever's the matter?" Giles was panicked by the girls looks and behaviour as she promptly burst into tears. Xander was by her side in a second, putting his arms around her shaking form and leading her to a seat to sit down.

"Will, talk to me" he urged and she sniffed and hiccuped, trying to stop her tears. Anya was frowning hard, unhappy that her boyfriend had his arms around another girl, but not daring to say anything after being snapped at several times already today for saying the wrong things.

"Psychology class was cancelled" Willow choked out, looking first at Xander and then across the table at Giles "Professor Walsh, she's...oh Giles, her and Riley" she sobbed "they're dead"

To Be Continued...

A/N2 : Shocked? Happy? Sad? Please give your opinions in the usual way! :-)