A/N : Thanx to all the latest reviewers; freezyboncoolipants, MaidenRo, rubi-elektra, adpi24, MikiBaby, Kari Mouke, spikeswife1, theoneandonlygurl, Lyss, zanthinegirl, libraflyter, kargrif, Moluvsnumber17, slayafreek, CraZy4SpikE09, Screeching Dragon, spuffyfan-1, Spuffyfan4eva, samica, JadedxVampire21, Arisluv, velja, pixiecorn, electricgurl, SSWBA, Mizgeorgiapeach, Moonglow13, Princess Consuela. A special thanks to MaidenRo for the nominations at Love's Last Glimpse :-) Seems some of you are finding bits of his fic you don't like, well, I guess you can't please all the folks all the time...Hope most of you like this new chapter! [This chapter contains some references to Angel Season 1 episodes]
(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)
Chapter 18
A week passed, and in Sunnydale research was the word. The hybrid creature, Adam, who had murdered Initiative commando Riley Finn and it's own creator Professor Walsh, was still on the loose in the town. It was easy to spot where it had been as every morning a fresh carcass was found, sometimes demon, sometimes animal, sometimes human, but always opened up like a surgeon would, either laid out or hung up somewhere. Giles surmised that Adam was studying these creatures in order to gain knowledge of the world as well as himself. Still the Scoobies continued their research into the demon parts it appeared to made of, and Willow did her level best to hack into the Initiative files with her laptop. It was eight days after Adam's escape when she finally got into what she needed.
"Guys, I think I finally did it!" she grinned from her position at the table in Giles' apartment.
"You've managed to hack into Professor Walsh's private files?" the ex-Watcher was astonished but pleasantly surprised when the red-head nodded madly. Tara smiled as she hugged her girlfriend.
"I knew you could do it, sweetie"
"Way to go, Will" Xander chimed in as he came to stand behind his friends chair and look at the computer screen, "'cept none of that actually makes any sense to me" he frowned gesturing with his hand towards the garbled codes that filled the screen.
"The files were encrypted" she explained, pointing at the top of the screen, "but see, where the numbers and letters are unscrambling now? That means, I solved it" she grinned once again, so proud of her achievement. The guilt she felt for inadvertently causing Buffy's pregnancy was still there, but lessened a little since she'd actually talked to the Slayer and been told she really wasn't blamed at all.
"Giles told me Spike was with you" the red-head had commented, "I don't think he could handle telling Xander though"
"Will, do you think I'm crazy?" Buffy had asked, deliberately having waited for Spike to go out before calling her friend, "I mean, I know Spike's a vampire and everything, but this is his kid I'm carrying and...would you believe he's being kind of sweet?"
"Doesn't sound like Spike" Willow shook her head, "Y'know, same guy that tried to kill me not so long ago"
"I know" Buffy had replied sadly, hating to be reminded of the kind of non-person Spike really had been and in some ways still was. That phone call with her best friend had been a couple of days ago now and it was still on her mind.
Away in the apartment in Santa Monica, alone with the vampire who had helped her make a baby, Buffy had been able to relax a little. There were a lot less demons to worry about when you weren't living on a Hellmouth, and without studying, patrolling, and constant worry-age about her friends, Buffy should be mostly at ease. However, one problem remained, and that was Spike.
Far from being enemies, the Slayer and the vampire had what could only be described as a friendship, though with a little more then friend-type affection on at least one side of the equation. What bothered Buffy so much was that she liked him and she was attracted to him, so much so she was starting to wonder if she was falling in love with him as he said he had with her. It made her feel weird, guilty, confused, and weird a couple more times. He was a vampire after all, and not even souled like Angel had been, but he had told her he loved her and it seemed like he couldn't do enough to help her, whilst at the same time managing not to be patronising or make her feel weak.
"Buffy?" Spike tried once more to get her attention, waving his hand in front of her eyes that stared off to nowhere.
"Huh?" she finally snapped out of her thoughts and the vampire smiled.
"Honestly, pet, I don't know where your mind's at half the time" he shook his head as he sat down on the sofa beside her and she automatically shuffled away a little. He'd got used to that these past couple of days. Before she'd been easier with him, more relaxed, but now it was like someone had flipped a switch and he couldn't get within five feet of her without her backing up with that frightened rabbit expression on her face. He put it down to pregnancy related mood swings and such, but it bothered him quite a bit.
"Look, luv, I was thinking" he told her.
"Did it hurt?" she shot back, sarcastic but in a more friendly way than it would have been at one time.
"Ha bloody ha, Slayer" he replied flatly, before continuing with what he wanted to say, "I was thinking we really should get you to a doctor or something, check everything's okay..."
"Spike" Buffy sighed, "Did we not already have this conversation?"
"Well..." he shifted uncomfortably, knowing full well that they had and Buffy had been insistent that she didn't need doctors poking and prodding at her and interfering with what was happening in her body. Spike had made some filthy comment about him having a turn at interfering with her body and the conversation had ended with him narrowly avoiding her right hook. Since then Joyce had called and tried to convince Buffy to see a doctor and when she too was given the Slayer's reasons for not complying, Mrs Summers had put pressure on Spike to convince her girl what was best for her.
"Slayer, why is it you can face off against my kind, and all manner of other nasties, but you're afraid of a little doctor's examination?" he asked, going at it from a different angle. He knew how much she hated being called weak or scared.
"I am not afraid" she shot back immediately, knowing that was a half-lie. In truth it wasn't the doctor or his examination that scared her, it was the hospital they'd have to visit, that and the fact she was having a slightly abnormal pregnancy.
"If you're not afraid, prove it" Spike challenged her, "I'll call up the hospital try to get you a late appointment so I can come with, and I'll drive you over to see the doctor for a check up"
Buffy stared at him for a moment, trying to think of the perfect excuse that meant she wouldn't have to admit to her fear of the hospital. None came to mind as his eyes bored into her own and her mind went mostly blank.
"I don't have to prove anything to you" she said eventually, turning her head away. Spike rolled his eyes. It was always excuses and lame comebacks with her lately. She couldn't deal with him loving her, she couldn't face the hospital...
"You're an impossible bint, you know that Slayer?" he said more tiredly than angrily as he got back up off the sofa and headed for the bedroom door. He would have gone out but the sun wouldn't be down for a few hours yet so the only way to give them both some space was to sit in separate rooms. As it was, he didn't make it through the door when Buffy yelled at him.
"And you're a stupid, worthless vampire!" she spat, "I should have dusted you years ago" she added nastily and Spike saw red.
"Oh, so it's like that is it?" he said, striding back over to the couch and stopping behind it, looking down on her, "Decided if all else fails to bring out the old back up of me being the enemy, huh?"
"You didn't stop being a evil demon just because some spell forced me to carry your kid" she reminded him. He nodded slowly.
"Okay, so I'm still a demon, can't change that" he shrugged, "Can't say as I'm in a hurry to either, but you tell me this Miss High-and-Mighty" he said in a more dangerous tone, leaning over the back of the couch so he was right in her face, "Exactly how many evil things have I done to you lately?"
"You're constantly an annoying jerk" she replied, hoping he couldn't hear her heart thumping madly in her chest.
"Well what can I tell you baby" he smirked, "I've always been bad...but I'd hardly say 'annoying' and 'evil' are the same thing" he pointed out, "If they were you could easily add your entire Scooby gang to the elimination list, including your good self" he finished, still smirking as he stood up straight and walked back towards the bedroom door.
Buffy got up from the couch, fully intending to start a full blown argument.
"You are such a...ow!" her yelled insult was cut short as she felt an odd pain in her stomach and sat down again fast. Spike stopped and turned back immediately.
"You alright, luv?" he asked, hurrying back to her side.
"I don't know I...ow" she said again, her hand going to the side of her swollen stomach. She was the equivalent of almost half way through her pregnancy now and the baby was growing fast.
Spike's expression turned from concern to confusion as Buffy laughed.
"It's kicking" she grinned, "Spike, I think the baby's kicking me" she giggled as it did it again.
"Don't do that to me, luv" the vampire managed a smile, "Had me thinkin' something awful was happening then. Reckon if my heart beat I'd be having an attack right about now"
Buffy was only half listening as the child inside her continued to wriggle and kick. It was weird but sort of nice since it made it feel more like a real person was in there now.
"Here, you have to feel this" she smiled taking hold of a surprised Spike's hand and placing it on her stomach, "Feel that?" she asked him as the baby kicked again, right where their hands were.
"Yeah" he nodded absently, suddenly feeling very proud and so much like a father. That was his kid in there very much alive and kicking. He and Buffy, born to be enemies, had created this tiny innocent being. It was incredible. "Our baby" he said softly, not really meaning to say it out-loud at all but glad to see Buffy smile at him when he did.
Their eyes met once again as they continued to smile at each other, their hands together on her stomach where their baby resided. It could be so perfect, they were both thinking it, if it were as simple as two young people and their child. For a moment they were as they seemed, two ordinary people and a child to be born, a little family so full of love.
"Buffy..." her name came in a whisper from Spike's lips as he leaned a little closer and she closed her eyes anticipating his kiss. Far from the weird and guilty feelings she'd been having before, all the Slayer wanted was for Spike to kiss her now, make this moment even more perfect than it already was.
Ring! Ring!
The shrill sound of the phone shattered their would-be perfect moment and Spike cursed colourfully.
"Stupid bleedin' phone!" he complained reaching for it, "Everytime I get soddin' close one way or another..." he continued, still angry when he put the phone to his ear, "Whoever this is, you must have a bloody death wish!" he yelled into the receiver, and Buffy rolled her eyes. She was disappointed that they'd been interrupted but melodramatic much? There would be plenty of others time when they could get to the kissing, at least she found she was hoping so - what was that about anyway?
"Er, Slayer?" she heard Spike say and was surprised to find him looking awkward and almost embarrassed. She looked at him quizzically as he held out the phone to her, "It's your Mum"
- - - - - - -
"Faith, that is not funny!" Angel tried not to yell at the not-so-obviously-fragile girl before him. It was a while now since the Rogue Slayer had run from Sunnydale and just two days since she'd turned up in LA, hunting down one souled vampire for the cash Wolfram and Hart would pay. After torturing Wesley, hitting Cordelia, and making several attempts at staking Angel, she'd broken down in floods of tears in the vampire's arms. He'd agreed to take her in and help her when no-one else would and she appreciated it, it did not however stop her from taking great delight in telling him his precious Buffy was in the family way.
"It's not a joke, man" she promised him, trying to repress a smile, "I ain't exactly known for my honesty, I get that" she shrugged, "but this is not something I'd lie about, not when you've been, y'know, decent to me"
Angel began to pace up and down the living space of his home whilst Faith sat herself down in the chair and watched with half-hidden amusement.
"I guess I couldn't expect her not to move on...I mean, we are over, but not over-over, I mean one day it might be...not that I expect her to wait because...but she's nineteen that's no age to...unless she loves him and..." he rambled on, mostly to himself.
"Hey, Angel" Faith interrupted, "Not that I wanna stop you mid-rant or whatever but your phone's kinda ringin'" she pointed out. The vampire went over to answer it and found Cordelia was on the other end of the line.
"Hey Cordy, what's up?" he asked.
"Apart from you keeping a mass-murdering woman in your basement with you?" she retorted, "But hey, who am I to judge?" she added quickly, despite the fact Angel knew Cordelia was quite happy to be anyone's judge, jury, and executioner on many topics from fashion to politics.
"What did you call for, Cordelia?" Angel checked, "Cos unless it's life or death, I'm kind of having a situation myself here"
"I had a vision" she admitted, "and can I just say, not getting any less painful, and I have tried every kind of headache pill..."
"Cordelia" Angel said tiredly, "Why do I get the feeling you're avoiding telling me about this vision?"
"As if!" came her typical answer. There was a pause before she continued, "Okay, so I'm a little avoidy but how are you s'posed to tell a guy his not-so-ex-girlfriend is pregnant and probably making out with his spawn's spawn as we speak, whilst a demon terrorises good ol' Sunnydale"
Angel shook his head, hoping that the words Cordelia had just forced into his ear would somehow get arranged into some kind of sane order.
"I know that Buffy's pregnant, Faith just told me" he admitted, continuing before Cordy could interrupt, "but who is my spawn's spawn and what demon in Sunnydale?"
"Angel, get with the program!" his assistant shook her head, "Buffy and Spike with the kissing, and big ugly ass demon in..."
There were few occasions when Cordy could remember seeing Angel with a genuine smile on his face, but to actually hear him laugh? That was an even rarer event, but the idea of Buffy kissing Spike was apparently so crazy it was worthy of a laugh, one that completely interrupted her sentence.
"Hello, not finished here" she pointed out somewhat crossly.
"I'm sorry but..." Angel giggled, "The Powers are playing with your mind Cordy, there is no way Buffy would be kissing Spike!"
"Angel" Cordelia sighed, "I know you have issues where Buffy is concerned, we're all very aware of this, so for now I'm going to let that slide on by, but can we at least concentrate on the nasty looking thing rampaging through Sunnydale whilst the Slayers in her comfy chair wearing a circus tent for a dress?"
The souled vampire was on information overload as he tried to process the crazy facts that had been thrown at him in the past half hour. Buffy was pregnant. Buffy was kissing Spike. A demon was attacking Sunnydale and Buffy was either substantially incapable of fighting it due to her pregnancy or not there to stop it. Despite the fact he knew the whole attacking demon thing was the most important right now, the other two things, the Buffy-focused information, just kept on surfacing in his head.
Cordelia finished explaining about her vision, and the demon before asking that he let her know if he decided to hop off to Sunnydale, she may even go with this time if he needed her too. He agreed, said goodbye, and hung up the phone, all without really being aware of what he was doing.
"Hey, Angel?" Faith frowned at his glazed look as he returned to her, "What's up?"
"It's Buffy" he said flatly.
"Ain't it always?" Faith mumbled to herself, before continuing at a regular volume, "Cordelia just confirm what I told you?" she guessed.
"Why Spike?" he said to himself as if he hadn't really heard her. Faith's frown deepened.
"Spike? As in vampire?" she asked, trying to understand what he was talking about, "As in can't make babies, so what the hell are you talking about?"
Suddenly Angel seemed to notice she was there and talking to him.
"Faith, how about a road-trip back to Sunnydale?" he suggested. It didn't happen often but that actually had the Rogue Slayer looking a little worried.
"I dunno, man" she shifted uncomfortably, "LA's sweet and..."
"You want to atone, right?" Angel reminded her, "Apologising to Buffy would be a start, and helping to fight a demon that she's not going to be able to handle herself now she's...well, in her condition"
"I guess I could but...why do I get the feeling there's more to it than that?" she asked suspiscously. Angel smiled evilly enough to rival his Angelus side when he replied.
"I wanna take a gift for Spike" when Faith looked even more confused he vaguely explained, "Now, where could be buy pokers and a Mozart record at this time of night?"
To Be Continued...
A/N2 : We all remember the Season 1 Angel Ep In The Dark, right? The one where Spike visited LA to get the Gem of Amara from Angel? It's not a big deal but that last line won't make much sense if you don't know that ep. Hope you're all still enjoying the story - review please and let me know! :-)