Chapter 5 - Waiting

I woke the next morning, after everyone had tucked me in like I was a small child the night before, to the sound of obnoxious pounding on my door.

I tossed it an evil look, then did my customary glance at the pillow beside me, but this time, I also touched my stomach and smiled.

" I'm coming for you. Just hold on. " I whispered, grazing my fingertips over the pillow.

" What ? " I called in the direction of the door.

" Breakfast. " Andrew's cheerful voice announced.

I got up slipped on my pants and went to answer the door.

He stood on the other side with a tray laden heavily with eggs, bacon, toast, coffee, orange juice and a bowl of fruit.

" You're eating for two. " he told me as I looked dishearteningly at the tray.

" Please don't start that. " I said holding the door opened. " I let you guys take advantage of me last night because I was tired. Don't expect to make a habit of it. " I warned.

Andrew turned to me with a look that said I was being absolutely preposterous.

" Of course we won't make a habit of it. " He sighed. " Spike will be here soon to take care of you. "

I just stared at him for a long while. I think in that moment I could have kissed him. He was right. Spike would be here soon. I don't think that thought had really sunk in either. Actually when I woke in the middle of the night, I had begun to think that the entire day before was a dream. I even went as far as to open my bedroom door and look across the hall.

But sure enough, the door was closed which it never was and there was a light under the door. Angel was definitely there. That meant everything else must have been true, too. I didn't think I was going to manage getting back to sleep after that. But I guess being pregnant makes things different because I drifted right back off as soon as my head hit the pillow.

" Come here and eat. " Andrew said, breaking the spell that was holding me staring at him. " It'll get cold and you have a doctor's appointment at nine o'clock. "

I glanced to the clock which read eight. I barely had enough time to get ready. I sat quickly and started eating. Unlike all the other meals I had endured over the last months, this one stuck with me. I was ravenous and I devoured everything on the tray. It was the best thing I had eaten in longer than I could remember and I didn't have to force one bit of it.

It was almost like, now that my brain understood that I knew what was wrong with me, it stopped yelling at me so loudly that there was something going on.

" Oh, good, you're up. " Giles said walking in with Willow in tow. " We wanted to talk to you about what you're going to do about Spike. "

I looked at him with a confused face. " I'm going to save him and bring him home. " I told them like they were both idiots. Well, ask a stupid question ...

Giles hesitated then took another step closer to me. " We figured with the baby and all you might not feel it was best if you were the one that went to save him. "

" What ? " I asked, shocked.

" Well, we were just thinking that if it came to a fight, you would be putting yourself and the baby in jeopardy and no one wants that to happen. " he explained.

" I am going to go get Spike and bring him home. " I repeated louder this time. " I'll have Angel with me and Willow. Hell, Andrew's even coming in case I'm not eating right. "

I sat up a little straighter. " There is nothing in this world or any other for that matter that is going to keep me from getting on that plane this evening. " I made sure my voice left no room for argument and they didn't offer any so I must have done a good job.

Giles took off his glasses and cleaned them on the hem of his shirt. " Well now that is settled. " he began. " I was thinking maybe you should take someone along with you like Faith or maybe even Zander. "

I didn't even think about that. " I am taking Andrew and Willow. You are welcome to join us but I think I'll leave the woman who makes no secret of her hatred of Spike and the guy with a bigger ax to bury in Spike's back that he could lift, here if that's okay with you. "

Giles looked like he understood. Then he grinned. " I would really like to go with you, but someone should stay here and run the school. "

I smiled, knowing that is what he would say. I actually didn't want Giles coming either. He and Spike had never really gotten along. They had tried on and off. But then Giles found out about the rape incident and he had made his feelings pretty clear ever since. But hey who would blame the guy. He thought of me like a daughter. If it had happened to my child I would have made sure there was nothing left but pieces of the guy who tried to touch her. Now here I was having his baby and telling him I was in love. I could understand why he didn't much care for Spike.

Not to mention the fact that it seemed in a lot of ways that Spike had taken me away from him. I mean, Giles and I trained together everyday until last year when I stopped training with him and went with Spike instead.

I couldn't explain to him that it wasn't personal. Spike was just my prefect sparring partner. He could push me to my limit and beyond it and we were both good enough that we didn't have to worry about the other accidentally getting hurt. With us fighting, it had always been , what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger.

" I understand. " I told him, " you're right we can't just drop everything here and run off. I appreciate you staying behind to take care of it. "

He nodded and left the room, leaving Willow still standing there. " Are you certain about the whole, pregnant fighting thing ? " she asked, timidly.

" I'm certain. I'll be fine. You and Angel will be there, watching my back. " I said with a decisive head shake.

" I've told you before, I'm not large with the butch. " she smiled.

" Yeah, but you are large with the magic and there are all kinds of protection spells you can use. "

She thought for a moment. " You're right. I know several, especially for the baby because it's still an innocent and all. "

" Yep, " I said, " See I knew I could count on you. "

" Can I come with you to the doctor ? I know Dawn wants to come too and if you feel like it would make you uncomfortable I understand. "

I laughed. " Yeah, you can come. It is only fair that both the baby's aunt's get to be there. And that way she won't have anything to hold over your head when it comes to baby sitting rights. "

Willow laughed back. " Well I still got to feel it first. " she answered.

The trip to the doctor consisted of me peeing in a cup and the doctor confirming what we already knew. I was indeed pregnant. In fact, I was actually three months and four days along. After a quick blood test. I learned everything was perfectly normal. I was in wonderful physical shape and there was no reason to believe that this wouldn't be a perfectly normal pregnancy resulting in an absolutely normal, completely beautiful baby.

Well that last part I threw in but I was really starting to get this whole baby thing and it left me walking about five feet above the ground, floating on a cloud when we got back to the mansion.

I walked up the stairs the exact same way, meeting Zander half way up.

" My, don't you look wonderful today. " he mused.

" I feel wonderful. " I answered.

" Having Spike alive agrees with you. " he smiled. " I am so happy for you. "

I hugged him and kissed him on the cheek. " We're having a baby. " I told him over his shoulders while his arms were still locked around me.

I have never been so quickly dropped. " What ? " he asked, his voice shaky.

" Spike and I are having a baby. " I repeated.

" How is that possible ? "

" We don't know but I just got back from the doctor and it's a fact. " I answered.

" Oh, my God. " he whispered. " When are you due ? "

" February 14th, of all days. " I smiled.

" You and a once dead, but now alive vampire are going to have a baby on Valentine's Day ? " he asked, still looking shocked.

" Yep. " I answered.

Now he looked like he needed some water. " Are you telling everyone now, or are you waiting for Spike to come home ? "

It was a question I hadn't thought about. I was so excited about the news it hadn't occurred to me that he should be the first to know about this, or at least the second or third. There I went being selfish again. I didn't think about his feelings at all. But the damage was already done I guess. So there was no harm now, besides everyone that mattered to both of us already knew.

" I guess I'm telling everyone now. " I told him.

He smiled and went to the second floor railing leaning over it slightly. I watched him wondering what the hell he was doing.

" I'm going to be an Uncle. " he shouted as loud as he could.

I laughed out loud as I heard several doors open and people started coming into the foyer below to see what the yelling was about.

An entire class of S.I.T.s had converged there, along with Robin and Faith and several others.

" What are you yelling about, Zander ? " Faith called up to him.

He smiled and pulled me up beside him.

" I'm going to be an uncle. " he repeated.

Everyone stared at me for a minute. I don't think they understood what he was talking about at first, then they started to applaud and several people yelled there congratulations to me and Zander.

By the time I finished packing an hour later I had been congratulated so much I was tired of hearing the words almost. People filtered in and out of my room like it was Grand Central Station at rush hour. I was already feeling very tired again and it wasn't much past lunchtime. The doctor had warned me about the fatigue, but he also said the dizziness and nausea should be on there way out. So any news is good news.

I stopped by the arsenal, but then I remembered that we would be taking a plane, so anything weapony was out. I was just going to have to trust Angel to have the armaments covered. I was pretty sure he did.

By two o'clock I was ready to go and anxiously checking the clock every fifteen minutes. We had an eight o'clock flight. God, I hated traveling with vampires. I was antsy, nervous. I hated waiting for things.

Patience had never been one of my virtues. I really hoped the kidnappers would call us as soon as we got to LA. Angel had said Spike was the one making the calls. I wanted to talk to him. I needed to hear his voice, I guess I figured it would make all this seem more real somehow.

I busied myself with some last minute preparations for the school and tried to keep from biting my nails. But the hours just seemed to creep by. I ran into Willow and Andrew both and they were all set to leave. Now the hard part was just the waiting.