Chapter 27

Buffy and Spike walked hand in hand that Friday when they got to her house. They spent some time at the Bronze before they decided to meet with the parents later that night. Spike looked at her and could tell how worried she was as he gave her hand a comforting squeeze. She gave him a small smile as she walked into her house. She closed the door once they were inside and they found their parents in the living room. They noticed that Giles was already there and he was talking with Hank. Joyce smiled when she saw them walk in. Her smile then faded when she saw the worried expression on her daughter's face. "Honey, what's wrong?" Hank and Giles stopped their conversation to look up at their children and they were just as worried. Buffy decided to be the one to speak first.

"There's something we have to tell you." Joyce didn't like the sound of that as she nodded and motioned for them to sit down. They sat down on the couch, still holding hands. Buffy took a deep breath before she spoke. "You all know that Spike and I are together now. I'm sure you also know how much we love each other and we hope that you can understand what we have to say." Joyce put her hand over her heart.

"Did you get married?" Buffy looked at her mother and part of her wished that her news was about them being married. She just shook her head.

"No, we didn't get married." Joyce sighed in relief and waited for Buffy to finish. She took another breath and just decided to get it off of her chest. "I'm...I'm pregnant." She said and was greeted by shocked expressions from all of them. Spike only gave Buffy's hand another squeeze. The men didn't know what to say and Joyce had tears in her eyes.

"Oh god, my baby is going to have a baby." She said and Buffy felt tears of her own in her eyes.

"Mom, it's going to be okay." Joyce looked at her eldest daughter.

"How is it going to be okay? You're only a child, Buffy. Have you decided what you're going to do?" Buffy nodded.

"I know this wasn't planned, but I'm keeping the baby. It's a part of both of us." Joyce nodded also and didn't know what else to say when Spike spoke up.

"I'll be there with Buffy through everything, Joyce. You can count on that." Joyce looked at Spike and could tell how sincere he was. She stood up and gave her daughter one more look.

"I think I need to lie down. We'll talk later." She stated as she walked upstairs. Hank looked at Buffy and placed his hand on her shoulder.

"It'll be alright, sweetheart. I'll talk to her." Buffy nodded as Hank also got up and headed upstairs. Spike then looked at his father and was afraid of what he would say. Giles remained quiet as he looked at Spike. He then stood up and walked away and Spike went after him.

"Dad, wait!" He exclaimed and Giles stopped to look at him.

"We'll talk about this at home." Was all he said before he walked out of the house. Spike was hurt as he went back into the living room to see Buffy with her head in her hands and he could tell that she was crying. He sat down next to her and wrapped his arms around her as he kissed the top of her head.

"We'll get through this, Buffy. No matter what. I love you." He said quietly and she looked up at him with teary eyes.

"I love you, too. I don't know what I would do without you. I would never be able to handle this alone." Spike nodded and gave her a quick kiss on the lips.

"You never have to worry about that. I'm not going anywhere, love." Buffy was grateful as she hugged him and he continued to comfort her as she cried.