"I can't believe this is happening." Xander commented, watching the activity outside the waiting room.

"I know." Willow said, speaking softly so as not to disturb Dawn who had fallen asleep. She was afraid the doctors were going to have to sedate Dawn, but a few soothing words from Tara, and she was asleep.

"Will, what you did…" Xander stated.

"I know I'm not supposed to use magic, but I had to do something to help Buffy." She said, her eyes downcast.

Xander touched her arm, prodding her till she looked up. "I wanted to say it was amazing what you did. I'm not mad at you, none of us are. If you hadn't pulled that bullet out, it might have done more damage. You gave Buffy a chance to survive this." He told her, squeezing her arm to emphasize his point.

"She has to pull through, Xander. If she doesn't survive, it'll destroy Spike. Did you see how devastated he was? It was as if that bullet had ripped through his heart." Willow shuddered, hearing Spike's anguished pleas reverberate through her head.

"You know," Xander said, in contemplation. "I never really believe Spike could love Buffy as much as we did. I was wrong. I was so wrong." He said, shaking his head. "I disregarded his feelings last summer, but seeing them firsthand…"


Giles stood up, stretching his tired body. He paced the length of the room, taking peeks every now and then down the hallway to where Buffy lay unconscious. He felt helpless, useless, and knew this was taking a terrible toll on Spike and Dawn.

"Here, Giles." Anya handed him a paper cup full of steaming coffee. "I wanted to get tea, but this was the best they had.

"It's perfect Anya. Thank you." Giles smiled appreciatively at her, noting the circles under her eyes. "I hope you got something for yourself."

She shook her head. "No, I'm not hungry. I got some snacks for Dawn. I hope we can get her to eat something." Her voice caught. Giles put his arm around her and led her away from the group.

"I'm sorry, Giles. This is just all so sad. Buffy can't die. She's already died twice. Hasn't she suffered enough? And Dawnie?" Giles awkwardly patted Anya on the back, trying to comfort her. Anya threw her arms around Giles' waist.

"There, there, Anya. We have to keep praying that won't happen." He felt Anya's tears soak through his scrub top.

"I don't know why I'm being so silly. Buffy won't die. Spike won't let her." She smiled.

"You're right. He loves her very much." Anya nodded again, resting her head against Giles' chest. The two leaned on each other, both hoping that this time death wouldn't win the battle with Buffy.

Dawn stirred, her head bumping Tara's chin as she sat up. She rubbed her eyes, and looked around. "Any word yet?" She asked.

Tara shook her head, smoothing Dawn's hair down. "No, not yet. Spike said he would come and get us if there was any change in Buffy's condition.

Dawn hugged her body, rocking gently in the seat. "I felt the baby calling to me, begging me to save her. She was in so much pain, Tara." Tara pulled Dawn to her, gripping Dawn's shoulder tightly.
"I know you're scared, Dawnie, but you have to believe Buffy's going to pull through. You have to have faith."

"But I don't feel the baby anymore. I don't feel Bitty." Dawn told her, brokenly.

"That might be a good thing." Tara stroked Dawn's arm. "The doctor's said Buffy was in a light coma. She's sleeping very deeply."

"Do you think she knows we're here?" Tara smiled.

"Yes, I do. I think on some level she's aware of us." Tara meditated tried to reach out to Buffy's subconscious, but the drugs they'd given her were too potent.


"Buffy. Buffy. Wake up." Buffy felt the cold hand shaking her gently.

"Spike." Buffy said, opening her eyes. A young woman stood next to her, a child cradled in her arms. Buffy scrambled away in confusion.

"Where am I?" Buffy asked, panicked by the familiar surroundings. "No, please. I don't want to be here." Buffy stroked her stomach. "Oh, god, my baby's dead." The woman stepped closer, and Buffy's heart ached for her own child. "Bitty. I'm so sorry, baby."

The woman glanced at the bundle in her arms, her long black hair falling like a curtain over the child. "She is here, Buffy. She isn't lost, but you will have to fight to keep her safe."

Buffy's hands flew to her mouth, her voice shaky with emotion. "My baby." She said, reaching out to take the tiny bundle. The woman kissed the little blonde head before placing her in Buffy's arms.

"Hi, Bitty. Mommy is here." Buffy tenderly kissed the child's cherubic face. "Mommy loves you. I'm never going to let anything bad happen to you ever again." The woman touched Buffy's arm. Buffy looked up, her hazel eyes swimming with tears.

"Thank you for saving her."

"I didn't. She survives because of love. She has many people who love her, and want to see her brought safely into this world. Trust in those people, Buffy. They will guide you along your journey. You mustn't be afraid of what you discover about her origins, for there is more to her than you know. There is much more you have to do. " Buffy glanced up and it dawned on her who this woman was. The sun's rays illuminated her mane of jet-black hair in a halo of sunshine.

"Martine, I'm sorry they hurt you."

Martine smiled. "Thank you, but don't mourn for me, Buffy. I lived and I loved. You must remember this Buffy. The diary is the key. The Key will protect the baby. It's time for you to go. You have much to do."

Martine stroked the baby's cheek with the back of her hand. "Goodbye, little one. Live a long, healthy life." Martine smiled sadly.


Buffy struggled to wake up. Her eyes felt so heavy. She could hear humming all around her, like a thousand bees surrounding her. She began to panic, fearful of what she couldn't see. She felt something cold pressed into her hand. Spike. Spike was here, she thought. He wouldn't allow anything to hurt her, and that thought immediately calmed her. Buffy opened her eyes, but closed them quickly. She opened her eyes again, trying to focus them. The room came into focus, and Buffy recognized the sterile interior of the area, the machines. She was obviously in a hospital. She winced as she tried to move. Her back felt as if it was on fire, and her mouth tasted like sandpaper. She reached up, pushing the oxygen mask away from her face.

Buffy wet her lips. Glancing down, she could see a familiar blond head resting on the bed. She could look at him forever. "Spike." She whispered, her throat hurting. She tried again to make him hear her. "Spike." She repeated. She felt drowsy again, but she didn't want to go back to sleep. She groaned her resistance.

Spike's head shot up at the sound, and he found himself staring into a pair of hazel eyes he thought he'd never see again. He stared, his mouth gaping open.

"My back hurts." She whimpered. Spike had never heard a more beautiful sound.

"You got shot, luv." He said, reaching out to brush her hair behind her ear. "Warren shot you. Do you remember?"

Buffy shook her head, and Spike was grateful for her lapse in memory. He wished he could forget.

"Is the baby okay?" She asked. She had to be sure. She had to know if the dream was real or just her imagination. Spike lowered his eyes, trying to reign in his emotions. He heard a wail, and realized it was Buffy.

"Oh, god. No, no, the baby is fine." Spike hastily assured her. "The baby's fine." He gently stroked her face with his fingertips. "Bitty is all right. She gave us a scare, but the doctors said you're both going to be okay."

"Are you sure?" Her voice cracked, hoping he wasn't trying to spare her. "She's alive."

"Look for yourself, luv." He said, pointing to the monitor. Buffy turned her head, grimacing. A monitor was placed near the bed, and Buffy could hear a steady thumping coming from it.

Buffy's hand trembled as she reached out to the monitor. "Our baby." She said, as Spike pulled her other hand to his lips, kissing it hard. "She could have been killed, Spike. I let Warren hurt her. I'm so sorry." She sobbed. Buffy felt him tremble.

"It wasn't your fault, Buffy." He whispered, struggling to keep his composure. "You didn't know, luv."

"It doesn't matter now. You're safe. She's safe." He couldn't look at her. "I was so scared, Pet."

Buffy nodded. "Me, too." She laid her hand on his face. "You look awful." She said, earning a soft laugh from him.

"I have no life without you and Bitty. I couldn't live without you." Spike cried, lowering his head, and weeping. Buffy reached over and ran her fingers through his hair.

"I didn't want to leave you again." They stared into each other's eyes, drinking in the sight of the other. To Buffy, no heavenly peace compared with what she had now.

Spike moved quickly. He grabbed her face, heedless of the mask, and kissed her with all the fear and terror of the last 10 hours. "I need to get your doctors, and Dawn is outside. Will you be alright for a few minutes?"

Buffy nodded. "Don't be gone long." She said, gripping his hand tightly.

"I won't. I'm not letting you out of my sight for the next 50-60 years."




Six pairs of eyes looked up, expectantly when Spike entered the waiting room. Giles took one look at Spike's tear-stained face, and assumed the worse.

"She's awake." Spike said before his legs gave out. Dawn rushed to him, wrapping him up in her arms.


"I'm not supposed to let this many people in here at one time. You have 5 minutes, then you'll need to go. She needs to get her rest." The nurse checked Buffy's IV before exiting the room. Dawn held Buffy's hand tightly, refusing to release it for even a second. Spike stood across the room, watching her closely. Giles held Buffy's other hand, patting it clumsily.

"You gave us quite a scare." Giles told her. Last night had been the longest of his life. Even after Willow's assistance, the doctor's weren't sure Buffy would survive, and if she did, if the baby would.

"I feel awful for putting you guys through this." Buffy said sheepishly.

"Nonsense, Buffy. It wasn't your fault. It's not like you wanted to get shot." Willow told her, tweaking her toe.

"Yeah, Buff. Don't worry about us. We're a lot stronger than we appear." Xander assured her. He could joke now. Earlier, it had taken everything to stamp down the nausea he felt looking at all the blood.

"I'm glad you weren't killed Buffy. I would have missed you." Anya said.

Buffy nodded. "I would have missed you too, Anya."

"How are you feeling now?" Tara asked, sliding her arm around Willow's waist. Buffy saw this, and smiled.

"I'm good." Buffy answered back, squeezing Dawn's hand.

"The doctors say you'll need to be here for about a week, but that's their best guess. It'll probably be shorter with your healing powers." Tara told her.

"I don't care as long as the baby is alright. Did someone call the school about Dawn?" Buffy asked.

"Yeah, we did. We talked to her principal. She was very understanding. We also spoke to Mr. Walker from Social services." Willow added.


"Thanks, guys. I don't know what we'd do without you." Buffy glanced out of the corner of her eye at Spike. Since speaking to her earlier, he'd kept his distance. Dawn squeezed her hand, drawing her attention from Spike. They were going to have to talk, Buffy.

Anya wondered over to Spike, feeling some kinship with her demon pal. "You're quiet. Are you okay?" She asked, genuinely concerned.

"I'm fine, Anya. Thanks for asking." He could still smell Buffy's blood on his skin. Even after washing it off and changing into scrubs, he could still feel it on him. It seemed as if it had seeped into his bones.

"Sometimes they forget there's someone else who loves Buffy as much as they do." Anya offered in defense of her friends. Spike shrugged.

"No, they just want to assure themselves this is real, that they are not dreaming." Anya nodded her head in agreement, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.


"Buffy, do you need me to get you some water?" Dawn asked quietly. She'd been doing that a lot, peppering Buffy with questions or touching her, as if to reassure herself Buffy was indeed alive.

"Thanks, Dawn, but I'm not thirsty. I'm tired." Buffy said with a sigh.

"That's our cue to leave." Giles said to all of them.

Giles gingerly pulled Buffy into his arms. He was reluctant to leave her, but knew she needed her rest, and they did to. He also wanted to check to see if Warren had been arrested. After shooting Buffy, no one remembered seeing him. If Warren had escaped, then Buffy's life was still in danger. True to form, no mention of the attack had made the Sunnydale papers, and the Scoobies presence at the scene was dismissed as being merely an unfortunate coincidence.

"I'm going to take Dawn home. Let her get some sleep. We'll be back tonight." Giles stroked Buffy's cheek with the back of his hand, pausing to gaze at her.

Buffy patted his hand. "I'm okay, Giles. I'm okay." She reassured him.

"Yes, you are, my dear." Giles leaned down and kissed her softly on the temple. Blinking back tears, Giles turned away, stopping in front of Spike. "Take care of her." Spike nodded stoically. "And get something to eat, you look terrible."

"Buffy, we'll talk later. Don't worry about Dawn. Tara is going to stay at the house with us, until you get out of the hospital." Willow told her, embracing Buffy, careful of the wound to her back.

"Thanks, Will." Willow tried to pull away, but Buffy held her to her bosom. "For what you did for me and my baby, I can never repay you." Willow felt the tears returning, and quickly stepped back.

"I love you, Buffy."

"Love you, too."

Tara bent down for a quick hug. The two women stared. "We'll talk later. Get some rest, Buffy."

"I will and thanks again Tara." Buffy smiled as the two women left the room, hand in hand. At there was something positive to come out of this whole thing. She thought.

"Buff, next time you want our attention, do it in a less vivid way. Geez, always gotta be the center of attention." Xander teased, kissing Buffy on the forehead. She squeezed his hand, and held on lightly as he walked away.

"Buffy, if you need anything. Call me. I want to help." Buffy reached out her hand to Anya, who took it.

"I'm gonna take you up on that. Now, go home, and get some rest." Buffy told her. Anya grinned, and then, shocked them all by embracing Spike before she left.

"I only have eyes for you, love." Spike teased her, when Buffy's brow arched in his direction.

That left Dawn, who hadn't bulged from her spot next to the bed. Dawn had tears in her eyes. "I don't want to leave."

"Dawn, I'll rest better knowing you're taking care of yourself. Now, let Tara and Willow spoil you senseless. We'll see each other in a few hours." Sometimes, Buffy forgot she was only sixteen. They'd both lived a thousand lives over the last 2 years.

"I was so scared, Buffy. The baby.. she was in so much pain."

"She sent you another message, didn't she?" Dawn nodded. "I'm sorry you had to see that. You shouldn't have had to see that. I wish I knew why this was happening, but we're fine. Look at her heartbeat. Look how fast it's going. She's a tough little cookie, like her mom and dad." Spike smiled, his eyes glued to the monitor as well.

"That's a Summers trait. No offense, Spike."

"None taken, Nib." Spike smirked. "You'd better scoot before the warden comes in here, and throws you out." Spike gestured to the nurse, who was glaring at them from the nurses' station.

"Yes, come along Dawn. Let's let them get some rest." Dawn gave Buffy one final hug before allowing Giles to lead her out of the room.


Buffy watched her till she passed, and slumped back exhausted. "Spike." Buffy waited till he looked up. If it was possible, the immortal had aged in the hours since her shooting.

"Yeah, luv." He said with hint of a smile.

"I need you." Spike approached the bed cautiously. She sensed his hesitation, and knew he was still somewhat in shock over her shooting. She had to make him see that she was going to be around for a very long time.

"Where's my ring?" She asked, hoping it would remind him they had a future.

iWhen the emergency room doctors cut away Buffy's bloody clothes, they found her ring, nestled between her breasts. A nurse came out, asking for her next of kin. Giles got up and told the young man he was her father. She gave him the chain. Giles stared at the emerald ring, the implications of its existence clear to him. He informed the nurse that Spike was Buffy's fiancé and the father of her child.

The nurse nodded and approached Spike, who was huddled with Dawn. She took in his bloody appearance, and knew instantly he was in shock. The nurse bent her head, looking with sympathy at him. "Sir, the doctors will be out as soon as they stabilize Ms. Summers. How many months along is she?"

Spike heard her voice, and he answered on autopilot. His mind was still fuzzy with the images and sounds of Buffy struggling to live. "Uh, she's three and half months." Spike answered, his blue eyes swimming with unshed tears.

"Is our baby dead?" Spike squeezed his eyes shut, afraid she'd tell him his Bitty was gone.

"No, it isn't. The doctors will be able to tell you more. It shouldn't be long." The woman touched Spike's shoulder. "She's young, that's in her favor. They'll do everything in their power to save both of them."

Spike nodded and buried his head in his hands./i


"Spike?" Buffy said, touching his hand. "It's not lost, is it?"

"No, here it is." Spike said, lifting Buffy's chain from around his neck. Buffy sighed with relief when she saw it.

"Can't lose this. You might not marry me." She joked, but Spike was lost in his own world of pain and remembrance.

"Talk to me, Spike." Buffy pleaded, "I don't remember what happened. I want to because I know it must have been awful for you. I can see it in your eyes."

"It's nothing. You need to get your rest." Spike scrubbed his hair, wanting to forget last night, wanting to forget the sounds, the smells, all of it.

"Stop patronizing me." Buffy yelled, drawing the attention of the nurse walking past. She admonished them both, reminding Spike, Buffy needed rest, not stress.

"Buffy, go to sleep. I'm just going to go find something to eat." He said.

"No, we talk now. Why won't you touch me? Why aren't you over here right now with your arms around me?" She said agitated.

"Please, Spike. Talk to me." She begged.

Spike didn't want to talk about it. He only wanted to forget this ever happened, but of course, Buffy wouldn't let it go. "I couldn't protect you last night. You would have died, and I wouldn't have been able to stop it from happening. Again!" He said, his voice breaking.

"I love you. I Love You!" Buffy's arm reached out and snatched him down on the bed. "I know we almost died last night, but we didn't. We're still here, and we need you." Buffy grabbed Spike's face, peering into those blue eyes that she'd willingly drown in.

"What do you need me for?" He said pitifully.

"For everything. You saved me from me. We wouldn't have this baby if you hadn't forced me to open my heart. You've made me so happy, made me so much stronger. You're my heaven. Nothing that heaven could offer me could compare to being here with you, in your arms. Nothing."

Buffy felt her fingers become wet with his tears. "I can still hear your heart slowing. I can hear my baby girl dying. I can't close my eyes without seeing the blood. I feel it on my skin. I can't wash it off, Buffy." Spike was sobbing loudly, but Buffy didn't stop him, knowing he needed to put to words all the terror he'd felt. She pulled his unresisting body into bed with her. She ran her hands over his back, encouraging him to continue.

"I smell your blood everywhere." His arms inched around her waist. "I'm scared to touch you. I'm afraid it'll all be a dream, and you're really not here."

Buffy kissed his curls, wanting to take all his pain and roll it into a ball, throw it as far as possible. "Does this feel like a dream to you?" She said, kissing his lips slowly, softly. Spike tried to pull away, which infuriated Buffy, but she continued to kiss him, increasing the pressure till his resistance yielded, and she slid her tongue inside his mouth.

"Does this?" She said, taking his hand and placing it over her heart. "Do you feel how fast it beats when you're around? I love you. Don't you know that by now, you silly fool?" Spike could only nod his head, astonished.

"Are you trying to seduce me?" Spike asked when he finally found his voice.

"Maybe, would it finally convince you I'm okay?" She said, teasing his lip.

"I don't ever want to go through that again, luv. It nearly killed me." He said seriously.

"I know, and I'm sorry. You gave me this," she said, showing him the ring on her finger, "and promised to never leave me. Well, you have my promise. I'm not going anywhere. You got me. I'm yours, forever."


"How's the patient?" Xander said, peeking his head through the door.

Buffy smiled. "Bored. Please tell me you're here to bust me out of this joint?" Buffy joked.

"Ah, sorry, Buff. Don't really want the Master Vamp and the Ripper to come down on me." Xander leaned down and gave Buffy a quick hug, making sure to avoid her bandaged back.

Xander reached in his pocket, and pulled out a pack of cookies. "I brought you these, though."

Buffy's eyes widened and she clapped her hands together. "Ah, real junk food. Thank you. Thank you." She screamed quietly, greedily grabbing at the pack, and ripping it open.

"Umm. They are delicious. Umm." Crumbs fell from her mouth, but she didn't care. "They won't let me have anything even remotely bad, which means no ice cream, no cookies, no chips. I'm a growing girl here." She said, patting her stomach.

"They're just concerned, that's all." Xander smiled at Buffy's obvious enjoyment of the cookies.

"And to top it off, my formally amoral boyfriend is listening to them."

Xander chuckled. "What do you mean, formally? He's still amoral."

"He's a big cream puff, and you know it." Buffy grinned, dropping crumbs on the bed sheet. "So how was your date with Anya last night?"

It seemed her shooting hadn't just left its mark on Willow and Tara's relationship, but Anya and Xander's as well. Buffy didn't know the particulars, but from what she could get from Spike and Dawn, the two former lovers were being civil towards one another, which was a definite improvement over the last few weeks.

"It wasn't a date, but I think it went well." Xander said, his big brown eyes bright with hope. "We talked for the first time in a long time. I didn't realize how long it had been since we really sat down and talked honestly with each other."

"Talking is a big thing in relationship. Not that I'm that familiar with it myself, but I've heard rumors that it's a good thing." Buffy brushed the crumbs off the bed, lest the nurses see them.

"I didn't talk to Angel or Riley or even Spike, until recently. But to make our relationship work, I can't keep things bottled up inside anymore. Spike doesn't have that problem. He talks all the time."

"You guys are good together." Xander admitted.

"Did I just hear a compliment come out of your mouth, Alexander Harris?" Buffy whistled low, laughing at the wounded look on Xander's face.

"Yeah, and I'll deny it if anybody asks."

Buffy nudged him with her leg. "So, can I be nosy and ask what you and Anya talked about?"

"You, actually." Buffy knitted her brow.

"Me?" She said, pointing to herself.

"Yeah, seems I've been in love with you since high school." Buffy mouth dropped open. Flies could have set up shop and she wouldn't have noticed.

"You told her that. I'm surprised you still have all your parts." Buffy said, flabbergasted.

"I promise you, it didn't sound that bad when I told her. Willow gave me a stern talking to the night Dawn got attacked. She made me see some truths about myself and how I was treating everyone." Xander slumped back in his chair.

"Are you sure you want to hear this Buff? I can tell you jokes or something?" Buffy tilted her head.

"Xander, I'm not afraid of what you're going to say. I love you. So, yes, please tell me."

"I love Anya. I really do. I just don't think I was in love with her. How could I have been? I constantly tried to make her into you. Every time I think about how I nick picked every little thing Anya said or did, I'm surprised she stayed with me as long as she did. And then, there is you. I'm supposed to be your friend, but I haven't been a very good one. I've been judgmental and self-righteous. I've done everything, but tell you what to wear." Xander gripped his hands together, too embarrassed to look at her. I forced a lot of crap down your throat. I'm surprised you haven't choked on it."

"You were trying to protect me. I understood." She shrugged.

"You're being too understanding, Buff. I second-guessed every decision you made, especially where your love life was concerned."

Buffy wanted to reassure him she had no ill feelings, but she couldn't. Xander had overstepped his bounds on more than once. When he didn't tell her about Angel, then trying to guilt-trip her about Riley. And the finally with Spike, and his nasty, hateful words to her. Nope, she wasn't going to make him feel better. She had to face up to her actions, he needed to do the same. If he didn't, he'd never get past this point in his life. He'd never grow up.

"I've done so many things in the name of love, and they weren't done out of love, but my own fear and cowardice."

"I put you on a pedestal, Buffy. When you didn't live up to my expectations, I turned my back on you. I'm sorry." Xander continued to stare at the floor. "And Anya, god, she got the worse of it. Well, she and Spike, but I didn't promised to love Spike for the rest of my life."

"Well, I hope not. That's my job." Buffy twisted the ring on her finger.

"I expected more from you than I did of myself, Buffy. I expected Anya to know everything there was about being human, and she doesn't and probably never will. But that's what makes Anya, Anya. Those very qualities are what makes her special and unique. I didn't appreciate that. It's easier, you know, to go with what's familiar, what's comfortable."

"I get that. I really do." Buffy said sympathetically. "I'm not perfect. I made mistakes, and lord knows, I'm not sure why Spike stuck around as long as he did. I had to face some harsh truths about myself too. You're not alone in the 'kicking yourself in the butt' club."

"I want to make things right with Anya, with you. I want to love Anya the right way, but I fully expect her to never trust me again. I'm okay with that, as long as she lets me be in her life again."

Buffy leaned forward, stroking Xander's chin. "I'm sure she will, Xan. Give her time. Be patient."

"Cheating on me, luv." A distinctly familiar British voice called out from the door. Xander smiled, noticing how Buffy's entire demeanor brightened when she heard Spike's voice.

"To quote the Giles man, that's my cue to leave." Xander stood, brushing Buffy's hand as did. "Talk to ya later, Buff. Love you." He leaned in to kiss her, but stopped when he heard Spike cough loudly. "See ya."

"Spike." Xander said, smiling.

"Harris." Spike said, closing the door in Xander's face.

"That was rude." Buffy admonished, but she was smiling broadly.

"Was it? Hmm, I guess you'll have to spank me for being bad." Buffy shook her head at the mischievous gleam in Spike's eyes.

"Interesting offer. Might take you up on it when we get home."Spike sat down, his fingers linked with Buffy's. His other hand resting on the other side of the bed.

Would she ever get used to the way he looked at her, as if he could see into her soul, feel what she felt? Would she ever stop feeling her heart jump when he entered a room or she heard his voice? God, she hoped not.

"Did you have a nice visit with Harris, Pet?" He said, drawing lazy circles on her arm.

"Yes, I did. He brought me cookies." She said, daring him to say something. Spike merely quirked his brow.

"Chocolate chip?" He asked, innocently, too innocently for Buffy's taste.

"Uh huh. Why?"

"Thought I might have a taste." Buffy giggled as Spike bore her back into the bed.



"Ms. Summers, I know Dr. Schulz gave you specific instructions for the next few weeks. I want to reiterate them." The surgeon said, sitting down next to Buffy. "We were lucky the bullet didn't do more damage. I know you're feeling better, but you need to take it easy. No strenuous activity. No over-exertion. You must eat properly, and get plenty of rest. So.."

"Dr. Franks," Buffy interrupted. "I understand. Sit down. Shut up, and look pretty. Will do. I won't do anything to jeopardize my baby."

Standing up, Dr. Franks said . "One more thing, then I'll let you go. Call the office on Monday for an appointment. Just routine." He said. We need to check the wound, make sure it's healing properly."

Dr. Franks turned to leave. Buffy grabbed his hand to stop him. He looked at the young woman and saw tears in her eyes. "Thank you saving our baby. You'll never know how grateful we are."

Dr. Franks gave her hand a quick squeeze. "My pleasure, Buffy. Take care."

An orderly appeared at the door with a wheelchair. "Are you ready to go, Ms. Summers?"

"Yes, please. I'm ready to go home."


Giles glanced in the rearview mirror, watching the couple in the back. It still shocked him to see Buffy up and about, smiling at Spike, her hand resting lightly on her stomach. This scene of bliss contrasted distinctly with the scene from a week ago. He wouldn't dwell on that. Buffy was alive, and that was all that mattered. She was safe and happy, and he'd do anything to ensure she stayed that way.

"You're pretty quiet. You okay?" Spike asked, holding her tightly to his side.

"Yeah, just thinking about Warren actually." Buffy felt Spike stiffened, and she stroked his chest to get him to relax. "I still can't figure him out. I guess I'll never understand evil."

"Why give him another thought, Pet? He's long gone. No one's seen him since... " Spike left off the rest of that statement." Buffy snuggled closer, her hand seeking his.

"He took something away from us, Spike. We should have been celebrating our engagement. I don't want to put my life on hold worrying about Warren or the Council. Life is too short. I don't want to wait any longer, Spike."

"Wait on what, luv?" Spike peered at her in the darkness.

"I want to marry you. I don't want to wait till the baby's born. We've waited long enough, don't you think?"

"I'll marry you whenever you want."

"How about 2 weeks from Saturday?"