A/N : Screeching Dragon, Spuffyfan4eva, Freezyboncoolipants, Rachel, theoneandonlygurl, kori hime, Higgy's Red, Lady Savage, Shania Maxwell, libraflyter, Arisluv, Jem, Carol, sPIKEanDmE, Lucky-112, samica, MikiBaby, Katie, PainIsLove, SinisterChic Heather Martin, Moluvsnumber17, Cady Monroe, pixiecorn, Reader, spikeswife1, spuffyfan-1, Spuffyluvr, MaidenRo, slayafreek, zanthinegirl, naiya-isis, Princess Consuela - I happen to think that all of you people are very cool for taking the time to read and review my story, and I know a lot of you do that for every single chapter. I really do apprecaite it. Hopefully you will all like this chapter and send me nice reviews for this too :-)
(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

Chapter 23

Buffy woke up for the fifth morning in a row to find strong arms around her and blue eyes gazing into her own. She found it was not exactly a bad way to wake up each day, though it did feel a little odd spending so many nights in the same bed as a guy, both of them with most of their clothes on, and never actually doing anything other than sleeping. Those thoughts made her feel awkward and eager to break the silence of the room.

"Morning already?" she said sleepily and Spike smiled.

"Looks like" he agreed, "Your Mum said she was headed home today, right?" he checked as Buffy wriggled to sit up a little more, still remaining in his arms.

"Yeah, she has gallery stuff" the Slayer yawned, "Y'know I asked her if she wanted me to go back with her"

"And what did she say to that?" Spike asked, hoping Joyce had stuck to her plan and said no. If she was so eager to keep Angel and Buffy apart she wouldn't want her girl back in SunnyD, not for a while at least. Besides if there was a big bad around town, Buffy would only want a hand in its downfall if she knew, and they couldn't have that, given her condition.

"She said it was my choice" Buffy sighed, "Which didn't help much, but then she said she didn't mind if I wanted to stay and she understood I was comfortable here...and I think she likes you" she smiled up at the vampire.

"Well, your Mum has good judgement" he smirked, "Reminds me a bit of my Mum sometimes" he admitted without thinking and Buffy shifted position so she had a better view of his face.

"Tell me about her" she said, looking like a child who wanted a bedtime story, despite the fact it was actually time to get up, not go to sleep.

Spike was a little apprehensive. He and Buffy were closer these days, and they'd talked about both their pasts to a certain degree, but Spike mostly steered clear of his human days. He was such a different person back then, though he had to admit, his softer poetic side may well be the first part that fell in love with Buffy.

"Er, well, she was my mother" he began awkwardly, as Buffy listened with interest "Her name was Anne and she was twenty four when I was born...I s'pose you could say she was my world for a long time. She was all I had and vice-versa after my father passed on and then Rebecca..." he stopped short as he was reminded of days he'd tried so hard to forget, overcome by emotions he wasn't supposed to have.

"Your sister?" Buffy guessed at who Rebecca might be. Spike merely nodded, and the Slayer felt sick. She didn't know why she'd asked about his Mom, she was just interested to know what the real him was like, the man she was slowly learning to love.

"I'm sorry" she said softly after a while, reaching an arm across to hug him and resting her head back on his chest. Spike only felt worse when she was nice to him. He didn't deserve her kindness, not when she didn't know...he still hadn't told her about the other Slayer, Nikki. The only other Chosen One to bear a child and he was the reason she'd not seen that little kid grow up.

Spike really didn't want to mention it at all, and found Joyce's presence was a good excuse for staying quiet for the time being, but she was headed back for Sunnydale today and that would be the end of that. There was no way to tell if Giles knew of Nikki's fate and if he did, how long it'd be before he told Buffy. Spike knew he had to tell her before the Watcher or anyone else did, if he wanted a real chance with her.

"Er, we should get moving" he said suddenly, carefully letting go of Buffy and pulling himself from her grasp. He flung back the blanket and swung his legs over the side of the bed, disappearing from the room before the Slayer could figure out what had happened.

- - - - - - -

"So, you're saying this guy has what? Batteries or somethin'?" Faith asked with a frown. Giles and Willow had finally gotten somewhere with Professor Walsh's files and had now come up with several likely theories about Adam. It had turned out to be a more complicated process than previously thought.

When the witch had finished decrypting the files she found that most of the more private documents were in code or other languages. The Initiative clearly took their privacy very seriously. Still, after countless hours of hard work, the Scoobies now found some rather useful information, firstly about Adam's power source.

"All the bodies that have been found" Giles explained, "both demon and human have been mutilated but no parts taken away, bringing us to the conclusion that he is not powered by any type of digestion. In the translation of these documents from Professor Walsh's files" he passed around pieces of paper to the gang as he continued "she often refers to a 'power core' but as yet we have yet to find out what that is"

"So, like Faith said, we're looking at batteries or something similar?" Angel guessed.

"One would assume so yes, which may mean he needs to recharge somehow, though how we have no idea as yet. I'm afraid it's very much a case of one step forward, two steps back at the moment" the Watcher sighed, removing his glasses and rubbing his eyes tiredly.

"Well, anything's better than nothing, right?" Willow smiled hopefully. She'd been working so hard on the whole Adam thing, not really wanting to think about what might happen if they didn't manage to defeat it. She wished most of all that Buffy were back in Sunnydale. She'd spoken to her very little since she'd gone away, much like Giles she was a terrible liar and far too afraid of telling the Slayer all about the latest Big Bad. By now the blonde would be the equivalent of six months pregnant, and in no fit state for fighting anything.

- - - - - - -

"Buffy, I will not fight with you on this" Joyce said sternly, crushing the cheque into her daughters hand, "You can't live on fresh air and if you're going to stay here you need some extra cash" she insisted.

"I have my savings" Buffy reminded her mother and Joyce shook her head.

"You're going to need those for the future" she told her, "So just stop arguing and accept that Mom knows best, okay?"

Buffy couldn't help but smile as she reached to hug her mother, a task made somewhat awkward by her ever-expanding stomach.

"I love you, Mom" she said as she squeezed her tight, "and I'm so grateful for everything you do for me"

"I love you too, sweetie" Joyce smiled, a tear in her eye as she pulled away from her little girl and pushed her hair off her face, "and I'm your mother, I'm supposed to do these things for you"

Next she turned to Spike who shifted a little uncomfortably in the background.

"Take care of my girl, Spike" she told him, "and my grand-child too"

"Will do, Joyce" he nodded, expecting that to be the extent of their goodbye. He was somewhat shocked when the woman came at him and hugged him. He awkwardly put an arm around her and patted her back until she let go and made for the door, picking up her bag as she went.

"I'll see you both soon" she smiled and Buffy did the same.

"I'll call you" she promised as her mother finally left, and again she and Spike were alone.

The vampire still looked uneasy even when Joyce was gone, and Buffy was starting to wonder what was going on. Maybe he was uncomfortable with her mother knowing they shared a bed, or thinking their relationship was different to what it was. There were many different explanations but right now Buffy couldn't be worrying about it. Despite having slept all night she still felt tired and she was getting hungry now. If there was a problem, Spike would tell her. Maybe she was just being paranoid.

Of course at the very same moment she was thinking these things, the vamp himself was in turmoil. His excuse for not telling Buffy about the fate of Nikki Wood had just walked out that door and there was no telling how things would go from here.

Spike sighed as he sat down on the sofa and watched his Slayer in the kitchen making a sandwich. God, he really needed a fag right now, but knowing the damage it could do and with Buffy being pregnant and all he only ever smoked outside the apartment these days. Since it was neither the middle of the night or a distinctly cloudy day, he didn't stand a chance for at least six hours or so.

In a vain attempt to fill some time he flipped on the TV and managed to find a re-run of one of his favourite shows. Pacey's problems had to be easier to deal with than his own right now, he'd concentrate on that.

"Whatcha watchin'?" Buffy asked as she came into the living room.

"Er, Dawson's Creek" he admitted as she came to sit beside him, munching on her sandwich.

"Cool, I never watched it before" she told him and he looked shocked.

"Are you serious?" he checked and she nodded since her mouth was full of food and she didn't think spraying him with crumbs would be a good look, "We need to educate you, luv"

She smiled as she swallowed her mouthful and settled down closer to him, until he put his arm around her.

"So go for it, oh wise one" she giggled, "Teach me the wonders of this show"

"Right then" he nodded as he began to explain all the characters names as they appeared on the screen, going into detail on who was dating who, etc. Buffy threw in her own little comments and giggles at different things he said, and the fact that he knew so much about the show. The re-runs were showing back to back and it was several hours before the pair moved from the couch.

"Well, look at that" Spike frowned a little as he cautiously looked through a crack in the blinds, "Bloody sun's down already"

"Wow, were we watching TV so long?" Buffy asked a little surprised as she got a bottle of water from the fridge, "How did we not notice that?"

"Guess we were just comfy" Spike shrugged as he looked back over at her and she was smiling in this weird way that he couldn't quite figure out. If he didn't know better he'd say she was looking at him with affection or, dare he think it, love? But that was ridiculous.

"I..I'm gonna pop to the shops for more supplies" he said, shaking his head an breaking their gaze, "Might swing past the butchers too, reckon I'm getting low on blood"

Buffy nodded in agreement, thankful they'd found that butchers shop not too far away. Their first night there, Spike had stolen human blood from the hospital. It made her more comfortable to know that what he drank now came solely from four legged creatures.

Spike made the most of his time out of the apartment, managing to get through most of a packet of cigarettes between the shops and home. Remembering the big deal Buffy made about him smelling like an ashtray whenever he'd been out smoking, he always made sure he had some chewing gum on him. It wasn't like she was prone to snogging him or anything (only in his dreams!) but they were a lot closer these days and she noticed stuff like that. He liked to make an effort to do stuff she'd appreciate, though he liked to think he was still the Big Bad so he almost always spat the gum out in the street.

He came in the front door and found the living room and kitchen to be empty. Buffy must already be in bed, he realised as he put his blood away in the fridge along with the groceries that were to be kept cold. The rest of the supplies were put in their places in the cupboards and he took off his coat, draping it over one of the stools by the kitchen counter.

It wasn't all that late and yet it did seem like Buffy had gone to bed. It worried him a little and he paused by the bedroom door wondering if he should just walk in or not. Deciding to knock first he did just that and heard her call for him to come in.

"You okay, luv?" he asked when he found her already in bed.

"I'm fine" she assured him, "I was just...waiting for you"

There was something about the way she said it that gave Spike the shivers. Her tone was reminiscent of that she used in some rather vivid dreams he'd had, none of which he would ever dare tell Buffy about for fear of being staked on the spot!

He didn't say anything as he walked around the bed, took off his boots and climbed in next to her. She immediately cuddled up to him and he automatically wrapped his arms around her.

"Whats with the shirt?" she asked, looking up at him and he gave her look that said he had no idea what she meant, "You don't usually bother wearing a shirt when you sleep" she explained and Spike looked down at his chest as if it were a shock to see clothing there.

"I dunno" he shrugged, "Just didn't think about it" he told her, wondering if she knew what she was doing to him as her fingers drew random patterns up and down his arm. Besides, why was it suddenly a big deal that he was sleeping with his shirt on? Did she like him shirtless or something? Tonight was just getting weirder...

"Can I ask you something?" she asked him after a moment, and he fought a few natural urges as her foot skimmed his leg under the blanket.

"Anything, luv" he managed to say quietly.

Despite being told she could say whatever she liked, Buffy was silent for a full minute before her question was asked in barely a whisper.

"Do you still love me?"

Spike was sure if he had breath it would've caught in his throat, if he had a heart-beat it would've ceased right there and then. How could she ask him that? Was it not obvious to her?

"Buffy" he said, moving to see her better and ending up with his face mere inches from hers, "Of course I still love you, did you really think I'd ever be able to stop?"

"I don't know" she said in a whisper, gaze flickering between his lips and his eyes, "You only said it once and then...I just wanted to know for sure, before..."

"Before?" he prompted, though he was fairly certain he knew where she was going with this, at least he really hoped he did as she leaned even closer.

"Before this" she said finally, right before her lips met his in a sweet kiss. He was surprised but not stupid enough to let the moment pass. His arms wrapped more tightly around her, though he was careful because of the baby as he initiated a second kiss that went a little deeper than the first. She seemed to be okay with that as she responded to his touch, her hands running up and down his back as the kiss went on.

Spike had waited so long for something like this to happen between them. What they'd done under Willow's spell had been great but this was something else entirely. This was coming from just the two of them, no outside influence. What they did was by choice and free will alone.

His hands gently caressed her body as he kissed a path down her neck making her gasp.

"I want you Spike" she whispered near his ear, "It'd be okay...if you wanted to..." she told him. She'd checked before, if it was okay to have sex during pregnancy. All the books and magazines had said it was fine and she really wanted to right now. She was more than a little surprised when Spike stopped kissing her and she opened her eyes to find he'd moved completely away from her.

"Spike?" she frowned as she looked over at him, "What's wrong?"

"S'nothing pet" he shook his head, turning onto his side so he didn't have to look at her. God he'd waited for this so long, and now she was offering, all ready and willing, and the damn conscience he wasn't even supposed to have was stopping him.

"Honestly Spike, it won't hurt the baby, I promise" she assured him, knowing how much the unborn child meant to him and figuring maybe that was his problem.

"I know that" he told her, still not willing to face her. He only did so when he smelt salt and knew she was crying.

"It's me, isn't it?" she asked, trying not to sob but finding she couldn't help it, "I'm just not attractive this way" she gestured down towards her bump beneath the blankets and Spike got a little angry as he took hold of her chin and turned her head to face him.

"You are beautiful" he said firmly, "You hear me? You're the most stunning, gorgeous woman in the whole world, and knowing you're carrying our child makes you even more bloody wonderful to me" he promised her, so much truth in his eyes she had to believe.

"Then why?" she asked, swallowing hard. If she meant this much to him, why couldn't he give her what she wanted?

"Because..." Spike sighed, knowing if he didn't tell her he'd never be able to get close to her, "Buffy there's something I have to tell you, and I should have done it before but...well, I'm doing it now, I s'pose" he said sitting up straight. Buffy pulled herself up next to him and waited for the bad news she was fairly certain was coming.

"I did some research" Spike continued, studying the fraying edge of the blanket in his hands, "I wanted you to feel better about being a pregnant Slayer and all, so I went to the library to find more info on the other one that had a kid"

"Go on" Buffy urged when he paused too long.

"Her name was Nikki Wood and she was the Slayer in New York in the seventies" he continued, still looking down at his hands and not at the girl beside him, "In 1973 she had a son called Robin, but by 1977 she was killed...by a vampire"

"That's awful" said Buffy, "but I don't see why you..." her words died on her tongue as Spike finally looked over at her, the answer to her unasked question clear on his face.

"You?" she gasped out, not expecting that at all, and Spike nodded.

To Be Continued...

A/N2 : I know, I know, just when they were getting close it all got ruined, but I gave you a little bit of Spuffy goodness so I'm hoping that'll be enough for now. Review please and let me know what you think :-) Oh, and I've also updated Who's That Guy? if anyone's interested.