Warning for this chapter, major corniness ahead! I swear I even think it's a little nauseating; this just isn't really like me. I guess we could all use a little corn once in a while though. Well, hope ya'll would like it anyway!

Chapter 28

"I cannot believe you could be this irresponsible, William. Did you not hear what I said about it being too soon for me to be a grandfather? I wasn't just saying that for my health." Spike sighed and knew the lecture would come the second he set foot into his house.

"I'm sorry, dad. This wasn't planned, it just happened. All I could think about was finally being with Buffy that I didn't even remember protection. I know we should have waited, but we both love each other and we were ready." Giles took his glasses off to clean them before he put them back on.

"You aren't ready for this kind of responsibility." He explained in a calmer tone.

"I will be ready. Buffy is keeping the baby and I couldn't be happier about that. I don't regret anything that happened. We graduate in a few months and I'll get a job after that. I will be there to support her and my child, so you don't have to worry about that." Giles looked at his son and could see how grown up he was.

"You know I will support whatever decision you make. Buffy is a very dear girl and I couldn't be happier that the two of you are finally together. So, I'll be there for both of you. No matter what happens." Spike smiled and gave his father a hug which took the older man by surprise.

"You don't know how much this means to me, dad." He said as he pulled away. "I know everything will work out." Giles nodded and placed his hand on Spike's shoulder.

"I have faith that it will." Giles really believed that. Buffy was having a lecture of her own at her house.

"When did it happen?" Joyce asked her as they were both sitting in the kitchen. Hank was upstairs with the girls.

"About a month ago, it was only the one time." Joyce nodded and took a deep breath.

"You weren't planned either." She said when she caught the confused look on Buffy's face and knew what she was thinking. "I don't regret anything, Buffy. You were the best thing that ever happened to me and I will continue to think that. I was just so young and I didn't know what to do. I never wanted you to be in the same position." She explained.

"I know you didn't, but I'm going to be okay. I have Spike with me and I believe that everything will be okay. I really want this child; I never thought I could want anything this much before. I just don't want you to hate me." Joyce looked at her daughter and could see the tears in her eyes.

"Oh, honey. I will never hate you." She said as she embraced her daughter and Buffy hugged her back as she cried. "You won't be alone in this; I'll be with you through everything." Buffy looked up at her mother and gave her a small smile.

"Thank you." She said as they hugged again and Joyce found herself crying along with her daughter. Buffy and Spike told their friends when they got back to school on Monday. They were all just as shocked, except for Willow since she already knew. They all were supportive of Buffy's decision to keep the baby. Buffy and Spike walked to the beach later that night because it was their favorite spot. He sat down and pulled Buffy down with him. They were lost in thought as they looked out at the ocean. "It's so beautiful here." Buffy whispered and Spike kissed her hair.

"That it is, love." Buffy turned to look at him.

"Spike, do you want a girl or boy?" Spike smiled, still not believing that she was carrying his baby.

"It doesn't matter to me. As long as he or she is healthy. That's all that matters." Buffy smiled at his answer and looked back at the ocean. Spike was really nervous when he thought about what he wanted to ask her and figured now was as good a time as any. He stood up and pulled her up with him and she was looking at him with a confused expression on her face. She was even more confused when she saw the look on his face.

"Are you okay?" She asked and he nodded as he gave her a smile.

"I have never been more okay. There's something I wanted to ask you." Buffy wondered what could make him so nervous.

"You know you can ask me anything." He nodded and then reached into his pocket to pull out a black box. He grabbed both of Buffy's hands and got on his knees. Buffy gasped when she knew what was coming. Spike looked into her eyes.

"Buffy, I love you more than anything in this world. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me." With that he opened the box and Buffy gasped again when she saw the diamond ring inside. Spike took a deep breath. "Will you marry me?" He asked her and she was in shock for a few moments.

"You promise this isn't because I'm pregnant?" She wondered.

"I promise, Buffy. I would have asked you years ago if I could." That brought a big smile to Buffy's face as she looked at the ring again.

"God, Spike. Yes, I'll marry you." She said and he smiled also as he took the ring out of the box and placed it on her finger. He then stood up and grabbed her in a big hug, lifting her off the ground a little as she laughed. He cupped her cheek when he put her down and gave her a soft kiss on the lips.

"I love you." He told her and she smiled again.

"I love you, too." They sat back down and Buffy was admiring the ring. "Spike, it's so beautiful." She said as she gazed at it.

"Yeah, it belonged to my mother. I told my dad that I was planning on proposing to you and he gave it to me. Of course, he made me promise that we would wait till after we graduated." Buffy nodded and was even more surprised as she looked at the ring and then back at Spike.

"I'll always treasure it." Spike gave her another kiss and she rested her head on his chest as they both continued to look out at the ocean.