A/N : What with work being crazy-busy, and me spending much of my spare time watching Angel Season 5 (yes, they finally released the vids and I get to watch! Got up to Damage so far!) there hasn't been all that much fanfic writing going on...until now. I made some time for you guys, namely the fans of Our Little Secret, so I could update today. Sorry it took so long, but I have started Chapter 21 as well and the next chapter of Who's That Guy? is in the works too so you see I am making up for my brief absence! Once again, thanx to the reviewers; Freezyboncoolipants, Screeching Dragon, arisluv, kori hime, Rhonda, rubi-elektra, libraflyter, electricgurl, zanthinegirl, Anyanka0705, Burnz, Artemis Moonshine, Mr Lennox I pressume, pixiecorn, Kari Mouke, spikewife1, naiya-isis, Majin, sPIKEaNDmE, Princess Consuela, Spuffyfan4eva, MaidenRo, AraelMoonchild, Moluvsnumber17, Shania Maxwell, slayafreek, theoneandonlygurl, Higgy's Red. Hope you like the new chapter...
(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)
Chapter 20
"Hey G-man" Xander grinned as Giles opened the door and found the boy there, a pizza in his hands and his ex-demon girlfriend at his side.
"Xander, I have asked repeatedly that you not call me that" the Watcher frowned, removing his glasses and rubbing a hand over his face as he moved to the side of the doorway and let the pair in, "and I thought we agreed to meet at four o'clock, it is now six" he reminded them.
"I had to work overtime at the site" Xander explained as he sat down on the couch with Anya who nodded in agreement.
"And when I went to meet him from work I got all turned on by his manly digging and then we went back to his basement and..."
"Yes, yes, thankyou" Giles waved a hand to silence her, "I'm quite certain I know what you mean without further explanation" he shook his head in an attempt to remove some rather disturbing mental images.
"But hey, we brought pizza-ry goodness" Xander smiled too widely to cover his girlfriends half-made comments, "and it doesn't look like Wills and Tara made it yet either, those naughty little witches"
"Willow telephoned several hours ago" the Englishman assured him, "She and Tara have some ideas they wish to finish researching, possible spells and so forth for defeating Adam" he recalled what the red-head had told him as sat down in his armchair again.
"Spells, huh?" Xander smiled in a filthy fashion, "Working on the spells" he nodded to himself grabbing a piece of pizza from the box and stuffing it in his mouth. Giles was only grateful that Anya's mouth was also full of food, it prevented her from adding her own much more obvious comments to what Xander had alluded to.
"Xander, I do sometimes think that your brain stopped maturing when you hit twelve years old" the older man sighed.
A rather pizza-muffled 'Huh?' was all the boy could manage and the conversation was cut short by a knock on the door. Giles sighed as he realised the sun was down now and that it was most likely to be Angel and Faith waiting outside. Xander was far from the vampire's biggest fan but that was the least of his worries. He still had to explain all the details of Buffy's pregnancy and then move onto Adam's rampage. It was going to be a very long night, and the only reprieve might be the two slightly more sensible members arriving, namely Willow and Tara. With any luck they may even have some good news.
"Angel, Faith" Giles greeted with a nod as he opened the door, "Come in"
They did just that as Xander and Anya swivelled on the couch to look to the door.
"What are you doing here Angel?" the boy asked somewhat nastily, "And whats with bringing Psycho Girl back here?" his voice raised an octave or two at the sight of Faith.
"Is she Buffy again?" Anya frowned, "and if she's not, why is she here? And with Angel? Are you evil again?" she asked him matter-of-factly. Angel rolled his eyes.
"Why does everyone assume I'm evil?"
"The company you keep does tend to reflect back on you" Giles told him with a look, it was Faith's turn for an eye roll.
"Look, if me being here is gonna make everyone all scratchy, I'll just clear out"
"No" Angel cut her off, grabbing her wrist as she turned for the door, "We came here to help, both of us, and it's what we're gonna do" he told her firmly, the look in his eyes reminding her of what had happened back in LA.
Faith nodded slowly.
"Fine" she snapped, making a big deal of snatching her arm away, "Just, don't do that again" she fidgeted uncomfortably before heading for the other armchair, dropping herself into it.
"So Giles" she sighed, "What's the sitch? I mean, like the whole story" she was eager to know so she could fight the big evil and get out of this town again, "Gotta know everything if we're gonna bring the Big Baddy down"
"Very well" the Watcher nodded as Angel pulled over one of the chairs from the table and sat down with the rest of them, "I'll shall start from the beginning..."
- - - - - - -
"I'm sorry, did I wake you?" Buffy looked a little embarrassed as Spike appeared in the bedroom doorway, looking decidedly rumpled after his sleep. The Slayer had been digging through the cupboards, trying to find something she wanted to eat.
"Wasn't you, pet" the vampire smiled slightly, running a hand through his hair, "Cross between the sun going down and growling in my stomach" he admitted, "Seems you're havin' the same problem, hunger-wise" he guessed.
"It's totally weird" she frowned, "I'm hungry but every time I see actual food I get nauseous"
Spike smiled as she poked her head in the nearest cupboard to demonstrate her point. Sure enough her face soon re-appeared, now decidedly green in colour.
"Got yourself in a bit of a pickle then, don't ya?" he commented and she clapped her hands together like a child, a grin forming on her previously sick looking face.
"Ooh, pickles!" she exclaimed, quick to start digging through the contents of the fridge, but the sight of what she sought soon turned her stomach, "Or not" she gagged.
Spike had a hard time not laughing at her, not because she was suffering and he found that funny, but because it was all just so innocent and ridiculously amusing.
"Well, you mind vacating whilst I get myself something to snack on?" he suggested after a moments reflection, "Then I need to pop out so you can go back to your impossible food hunt"
"You're going out?" she asked as they switched places, him moving into the kitchen area to warm himself some blood as she moved to the other side of the counter and hefted herself up onto a stool to watch.
"Yeah, couple of things I need" he said absently as he took the packet of A-neg from the fridge and poured it into a mug. Buffy unconsciously licked her lips.
"You want company?" she asked next, not loving being left alone so much these days. She was used to Spike being there all day and most of the night.
"Er, no" he snapped too fast as he closed the microwave door and pushed the correct buttons, "I mean, no" he said more calmly as he turned to look at her. To her credit the Slayer didn't look at all startled, her eyes were on the microwave, watching his mug spin around.
"Whatever" she replied absently, causing Spike to observe her strangely for a moment before deciding she was probably just tired and frustrated. Nothing to worry about, he told himself, as he took the warmed blood from the microwave and sipped at it - 98.6 and perfect, he realised.
Again Buffy licked her lips, swallowing every time he did. Now he noticed as he watched her from over the edge of his mug. She couldn't possible want...the thought was too weird to finish.
Spike decided to test the theory, putting down the mug of half-drunk blood on the counter, he wiped his mouth on the back of his hand.
"Back in a sec" he said, heading for the bedroom. Buffy smiled as he went, watching until he'd disappeared completely. Her head turned back towards the mug on the counter and cautiously she reached out a hand towards it. She had no idea why but it suddenly looked and smelt so appealing. She had to be crazy, she knew it, and yet she still wanted it. She smiled to herself when she realised the same thought could be applied to Spike at times, still right now her mind was focused on the mug in her hands and the sticky red substance inside it.
Checking one more time that Spike was really gone she lifted the mug to her lips and took a small sip.
"What the bloody hell do you think you're doing?!" the vampire's voice exploded from the bedroom door, shocked to his very core as he'd seen the Slayer pick up his mug and drink. He'd wondered if it was what she was thinking before, he'd hoped he was wrong but apparently not. The shock of his loud entrance made the Slayer jump and spill the remaining blood on the counter as she hopped down from the stool, a kind of grimace on her face.
"You silly bint, what do you think you're doing?!" Spike demanded to know, hands on her upper arms, eyes demanding the same answer as his words.
"I didn't...I-I think..." Buffy shook her head as her hand shot to her mouth, "I'm gonna puke" she mumbled, slipping from his grasp and bolting for the bathroom as fast as she could go in her present condition.
Spike winced as he heard her heave up her guts into the toilet. Seems he wouldn't be getting to the library for past-Slayer research tonight, he sighed to himself as blood ran off the counter and dripped onto his boots. He figured cleaning up the mess would be job one, then he'd go and see to Buffy. One thing was for sure, living with a pregnant Slayer sure wasn't dull.
"...and so it became clear that Buffy is in fact carrying Spike's child"
- - - - - - -
"But that's impossible!" Angel interrupted Giles' explanation loudly, "Vampire's can't have kids, we don't..."
"Yes, we're quite aware of what it is you don't do" the Watcher took his turn at interrupting, "but these were special circumstances"
"It was my fault" Willow added quietly. She and Tara had arrived just a short while before and had joined in the narrative of Sunnydale's events over the past few weeks, "My spell made Buffy pregnant with Spike's child"
"Well, at least they didn't actually..." the look on Angel's face said exactly what he couldn't and Xander shook his head.
"Think again, Dead Boy" he told him, "As gross as the mental image may be, this kid was made the old fashioned way, just with a little extra zap thrown in by Will's spell"
"Yes, thankyou Xander" Giles grimaced at the idea of Buffy and Spike and what they'd done in his bedroom under the influence of that spell. It made him wonder what was going on between them now, wherever they were. It wasn't as if Buffy hadn't fallen for a vampire before, although Spike and Angel were very different...weren't they?
"I'll kill him, I don't care!" his ears tuned back in as Angel began to seeth, "He can't just...he has no right to touch her!"
"Angel, man, take a chill pill" Faith urged him, "S'not like either of them were in the right state of mind. Besides, B's capable of givin' the boy a whippin' if she thinks he needs it" her words did little to placate him.
"I have to see her, talk some sense into her" he continued to ramble on, out of his seat now and pacing up and down, "The spell is over and she's still with him!"
"He can't hurt her" Anya threw in, "You do know about the chip in his head, right?" she checked and Faith nodded.
"I told him" she assured the gang.
"Angel, as you know, Buffy likes to make her own decisions in life" Giles attempted to calm him down, "Sometimes her actions are questionable at best but you must let her make her own way in the world" he got up from his seat and went over to the vampire who finally stopped moving, "You left so she could live her life, that's what she's doing"
"You said Joyce knew where she was" Angel said suddenly as if he'd not heard a word the Watcher had said.
"I did, but...Angel!" the vampire was out the door and gone into the night before Giles could finish what he was saying. Willow sighed.
"Well, that went better than I thought" she half-smiled.
"Did you all forget the big ass demon we have to kill, crush, destroy?" Faith asked a little incredulously, "Cos that's what I'm here for, the big smack-down"
"For once Faith, I do believe you have what bears an uncanny resemblance to the right attitude in this instance" Giles nodded as he closed the door Angel had left swinging violently. He headed back to his seat and continued, "Adam should be our priority, since Buffy is somewhere safe for now at least"
"Then gimme the 411" Faith urged him, "Got me some atoning to do"
- - - - - - -
Angel was furious, hurt, confused, and furious a couple more times! Buffy and Spike? Had the universe gone insane?! The spell part he kind of understood. A lot of weird stuff happened under the influence of the magicks - some good, some bad, some down right freaky, but all could eventually be forgiven when it was over. The problem was, Buffy and Spike were still together somewhere and probably getting closer all the time, unless he could stop it.
Angel knew Spike too well to doubt if he couldn't kill the Slayer he'd try other ways of 'having' her. His charm was practically legend, as much as the older vamp hated to admit it, and with Buffy in her present condition, hormones flying everywhere and feeling more than a little vulnerable and alone...Angel's fists clenched tighter as he strode towards 1630 Revello Drive.
On his way to the front door he made a valiant attempt to calm down but it was far from easy. Still, by the time he reached the front door he'd managed to stop seething, even forcing half a fake smile on his lips. Joyce was not his biggest fan, he remembered only too well, and now he had to ask favours of her? This was not going to end well.
"Hi Joyce" he said, pleasantly as he could manage as she opened the door.
"Oh no!" she yelled angrily, grabbing something from the side table that turned out to be a stake, "Not you again!" she yelled, waving the sharp piece of wood too close for Angel's liking, "Buffy is not here, and even if she were..."
"Mrs Summers" Angel tried to say calmly, "It's you I came to see"
The woman narrowed her eyes at him, keeping the stake raised.
"You're evil again, aren't you?" she swallowed hard, trying to hide her fear. Angel could smell it coming off her in waves, despite her bravado.
"I'm getting really tired of people assuming that" he rolled his eyes, "Call Giles if you don't believe me, he'll tell you I'm okay"
"I had the un-invite spell put back on the house after you left" she lied, "Buffy doesn't know but Willow did it for me, I never wanted you back here upsetting my daughter"
Angel was fairly certain the spell thing wasn't true. There was no way Buffy would allow it and Willow would never be able to keep such a secret from her best friend. Still, he'd come here for a favour and arguing over such things would be fruitless.
"Mrs Summers, Joyce" he began again, "I just want to know where Buffy is so I can talk to her" he said, all innocent eyes and calm tone. Joyce didn't looked at all moved.
"You know she's pregnant?" she asked, not really wanting an answer as she continued, "My little baby girl, having a baby of her own..something you couldn't have given her"
"Spike shouldn't be able to either" he spat more nastily than he meant to in front of her, but she didn't flinch.
"But he did" she pointed out, "Fate or destiny or whatever you call it made that happen. I'm not saying he's my idea of the perfect son-in-law or similar, but he is respectful and polite..."
Her little 'Go Spike!' speech was interrupted by Angel's laughter, pained as it was. This deranged woman actually thought Spike was a decent person, or better than him at least. Things were getting weirder by the second.
"Joyce, he's playing you for fools" the vampire said eventually when his laughter subsided.
"Or maybe it's you who's the fool, Angel" Mrs Summers shook her head sadly, "believing a fifteen year olds High school crush on a mysterious stranger would ever last this long"
With that she closed the door leaving Angel on the other side, mouth open and gaping. He'd been to actual hell and back in his existence, but nothing ever hurt as much as what he'd just been told. The most painful part was, on some level, he knew she was right.
To Be Continued...
A/N2 : Well, this is new - I almost made myself feel bad for Angel...but not much! lol. How about you lot? What did you think? As always, let me know! Thanx :-)