A/N : Woah, it's been a while guys, and I'm really sorry about the lack of updateyness! But here I am with a real big chapter for you which I hope will go someway towards making up for the lateness. Thanx so much to all the latest reviewers; MaidenRo, kargrif, Spuffyfan4eva, Screeching Dragon, freezyboncoolipants, pixiecorn, Kez, GoldenAngl99, PltnmDancer, Ape18, Moluvsnumber17, Lindsay, sheilamarie, ayruh, buffwill - you all rock entirely! Here's the new chapter, hope you like it...
(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

Chapter 9

"C'mon Giles, I don't handle suspense well" Buffy urged him and the Watcher sighed. He always hated imparting news of impending doom, and as the years went on he found it more and more difficult to tell the expanding group of Scoobies that the end of the world may very well be nigh.

"I'm afraid signs indicate that a demon is going to try to open the Hellmouth" he said eventually, dangling his glasses from his fingers and pinching the bridge of his nose in an attempt to re-focus his eyes. Too many hours of checking book after book had done him no favours.

"Didn't we deja this vu already?" Rebecca asked with a frown, "Demons, hellmouth openage, we stopped it before we can do it again, right?" she shrugged as if it were nothing. She'd seen enough danger and apocalypse situations they were less of a big these days.

"It's not as simple as that, dear" Joyce told her grand-daughter gently and Giles nodded.

"Indeed. The creature that is coming was thought to be extinct, as a great many old demons are" he went on to explain, referring briefly to a book on the counter beside him "This one was not dead, just frozen in time as it were and now it has risen again, one last specimen, hell-bent on sucking the whole world into, well, hell"

"But we can deal, right Giles?" Xander attempted a positive attitude as Cordy got a tight hold of their son's hand, and the rest of the gang looked to Giles for an answer that didn't come.

"Yeah, I mean, sure it won't be a walk in the cemetery" Willow agreed with her best friend "but with magic and weapons and superpowers..."

"Willow, I admire your positive attitude" Giles told her as he took a seat at the table "but no ordinary human could stand against such an enemy, and magic would be next to useless against the Joh'ran Katama"

"What about us non-humans?" Buffy asked, "Me and Becky are Slayers, and Spike's a vampire, we could probably..."

"I'm no use to you, luv" Spike shook his head sadly and all eyes in the room turned to him, barring Giles and Joyce that already knew why he felt so bad.

"But Dad, you can beat anything" Becky was astonished by her father's attitude, he was always up for a fight "I've seen it myself and you've told me..."

"Not the Joh'ran" he told her, and several members of the assembled group wondered, given his expression, whether he was either going to throw something heavy or cry like a child.

Spike just wished Buffy and Rebecca would stop staring at him as they were now, everyone else he could handle but to let them down, it was just unbearable.

"Giles, will you tell them" he said, closing his eyes against the rest of the room. The girls looked to the Watcher for a response and everyone else's attention switched in the same direction.

"The, er, the Joh'ran Katama secretes a poison" Giles explained "and although it causes no harm to humans it has an effect on vampires...a deadly effect"

"But poisons have antidotes" Tara piped up "If the worst happened and Spike got infected couldn't we find a cure?"

"Perhaps" Giles nodded "but it truly is an awesome risk. This demon is so old and ancient, the formulae to any antidote would be well lost by now"

Buffy didn't know what to say as she glanced back at her silent husband. The rest of the gang continued the conversation.

"So I guess we need backup" Cordy realised "More powerful people?"

"Like another Slayer" Willow agreed "We should call Faith"

"And Angel still has extra strength" Tara recalled "even if he is human now, the Shanshu meant human but with powers..."

"I can't do this" Spikes chair scraped against the floor as he got up and stormed out of the back door of the Magic Box.

"Daddy!" Rebecca called after him, knowing he was hurting and hating that she couldn't help. She made to go after him but Buffy caught her arm and held her back.

The sound of his daughter's voice, so young and fragile made Spike wince, a memory speeding back to the surface that he'd sooner not recall right now, but his mind refused to comply with the wishes of his breaking heart.

- - - - - - -

"Daddy, what's wrong with Sean's shoe?" Becky's brow wrinkled in both confusion and concentration, "Did he lose it?" she tried but Spike really wasn't paying proper attention as he watched Buffy almost drop the phone in her hands.

Just moments ago that same phone had rung and on answering it Buffy had found it was Faith. She had news for her sister Slayer, and she was uncertain as to which way it would be taken.

Angel's side had suffered greatly in the latest almost-apocalypse to rock LA, the biggest casualty of all being the souled vampire himself who had been dusted by the enemy. The real shock had come when Angel had returned from the dead, no longer a vampire but a real live human being. It seemed the Shanshu prophecy had finally come to pass.

"Daddy!" Rebecca tugged on the bottom of her fathers jeans and he finally seemed to notice she was there.

"Becky, luv, I need to talk to your Mum" he told her, when suddenly the doorbell rang, "Bugger" he cursed under his breath when it was clear Buffy wasn't moving and since it was the middle of the day he was going to have to be careful answering the door. He managed to duck behind it as he opened it, and was relieved when he heard Becky shriek that it was Aunt Cordy.

"Hey sweetie, where's Mom and Dad?" she asked, hugging the child that ran at her.

"Dad's behind the door trying not to fry you silly bint" Spike called angrily and Cordelia hurried inside carrying Becky in her arms.

"Geez Spike, I know you don't have to breathe but calm it down" she told him as she closed the door and sighed heavily, "Am I missing something?" Cordy asked with a slight frown as she glanced between the look on Spikes face and Buffy's own expression as she stood in the hallway seemingly unaware of anything around her.

"Do us a favour, luv" Spike asked her, "take the little bit upstairs for a while"

Cordelia was about to ask what the hell was going on but the look on Spike's face told her now was not the time.

"Okay" she nodded once, "Hey Becky, why don't we go up to your room and I'll braid your hair like I promised before"

"Yeah! Yeah!" the little girl clapped and grinned excitedly as Cordelia carried her off and Spike turned to Buffy, walking down the hallway toward her.

"You alright, pet?" he checked.

Angel getting his Shanshu changed things, he knew that, and he'd dreaded this day. Now his old grand-sire was a real boy, nothing could stand in his way. He knew Buffy had spent so long wishing she and Angel were regular people so they could be together, now he was, and despite the fact she was practically married to him, Spike was feeling more than a little insecure. He could tell just from the sound of Faith's voice on the phone that she was uncertain of a lot of things too.

"Angel is human" Buffy said shakily, "He's actually alive" she turned to look at him then, before bursting into tears and going into his waiting arms.

Spike was a little surprised by her reaction, and wrongly assumed she was upset to have not waited longer for her first true love before settling for him instead.

"I know what he means to you Buffy" he said stiffly, fighting his own tears, "I know how long you waited for..." he just couldn't speak anymore. The thought of losing her and Becky was just about the one thing in the world that scared him even more to death. Just knowing Buffy wished she could leave him for his grade-sire made him want to cry like a ponce, something he realised he was doing anyway.

"It's not fair" the Slayer sobbed into his shoulder and he was desperate not to break down completely, but she was killing him with her words.

"I'm sorry, luv" he forced out, holding her close and rubbing her back with his hand. He loved her too much to find her suffering bearable at all. This coupled with the fear of her next words being something in the realms of goodbye made him feel sick.

"Why are you sorry?" she surprised him when she brought her head up off his shoulder and looked into his eyes, sniffing and crying still "It's not your fault the Powers chose the wrong guy for their stupid prophecy" she told him, bringing a hand to his cheek to wipe away tears she saw there, "You've done so much good and without being forced to...it's not fair" she repeated, "It should've been you"

"Should've been...?" Spike frowned at her words, not understanding. He'd been so certain she was crying for the loss of one she was too late to claim, or possibly out of the guilt she felt in knowing she was about to leave the father of her child behind. It seemed though that her tears were for himself, and the unjust re-birth of his grand-sire. As he studied her face for conformation she too searched his eyes and gasped at what she found there. Fear.

"You thought I would...?" she couldn't even say it, couldn't bear to think that he might doubt her commitment to him, "Just because he's human, I could never..."

"I'm sorry" Spike was quick to tell her as she backed out of his arms, "But you two were in so deep before, Buffy. He was your first love and I know how much you wanted to be with him..." he looked down at his boots, hating to mention these things. Most of the time he could put out of his head that the woman he loved had been first touched by Angel. Standing here now though, the issue had to be addressed, "Are you seriously telling me you didn't long for this day?" he asked her, voice audibly shaking as he looked at her again.

Buffy glanced at all four walls and the floor before she had enough courage to face his eyes again, bright blue and piercing her soul with their intensity. He may have misjudged her, and it hurt to know he didn't trust her not to leave for Angel just because he was alive now, but she couldn't deny when she looked at him then that she understood why he was afraid.

"I can't lie to you" she said softly, "I never could...and you're right in some ways" she told him, making him physically wince as if he'd been struck, "There's a part of me, deep down, that will always love Angel and always want him to come back to me"

Spike couldn't take it and two more tears fell down his cheek. He turned away to try to hide them. Buffy moved back towards him and grabbed his arm, spinning him back round to face her.

"But the rest of me belongs to you, Spike" she told him firmly, "My heart, my body, and soul. I never gave my whole self to anyone like I've given myself to you. You're my entire world, you and Becky, and I don't ever want that to change"

"Everything changes, pet" he told her still shaking, reaching out a hand and running it through her hair, "Nothing stays the same forever" he looked away then realising how true it was, how much life had just changed for Angel.

"Our love will" she swore to him, taking his hand in her own, "and if it does change, it'll only be because it gets stronger" she promised him.

"I can't ever be him, luv" he said, genuinely touched by her words but so very aware right now of all she had really given up just to be with him as she was.

"If I wanted him, you idiot" she said with a watery smile, "I would be with him now...but I'm not" she pointed out, "I'm here, with the man I love" she told him, attempting a laugh that was more of a sob than anything else as emotion overcame her once more "You do not get rid of me so easily, William Blackwell"

He hugged her tight to him then, just not knowing what else to do or say. He didn't deserve such a woman as this, but he wasn't letting go of her for anything in the world.

- - - - - - -

"We're not replacing you with Angel in this fight" Buffy said from the doorway at the back of the Magic Box "I know you're thinking it but we're not" she told Spike's back as he leant against the wall in the shaded part of the alley, smoking a cigarette.

"You didn't need to, pet" he told her, taking an unneeded breath as he threw the butt of the cigarette to the floor and stubbed it out beneath his booted foot, "I'll bet them lot in there have already called him" he said as he turned to face her, gesturing back inside the building where the Scoobies were already making battle plans, he had no doubt.

"They're calling Faith" the Slayer reminded him "Angel just comes as part of the package. Remember how they're together now? Like we are?" she pressed the point, making it obvious what she was trying to do. Spike shook his head.

"I'm not jealous Buffy" he assured her "or anything like insecure about you and that soddin' git" he reminded her, kicking a stone along the ground, hands shoved deep in his pockets.

"Then what's up?" Buffy wanted to know as she stepped in close to him and tried to make eye contact. He eventually looked up, smirking that smirk that was uniquely his.

"Apart from the demon that wants to suck us all to fire and brimstone world?" he asked her, making her roll her eyes.

"Yes, apart from that" she nodded and everything turned too serious again when he took her in his arms and looked deep into her eyes.

"I want to be by your side in this fight, Slayer, like I always promised to be" he told solemnly "I'm not afraid to die, Buffy, I mean in the permanent way, but I'll only be a burden if that bugger gets me" he pointed out "You'll lose concentration on the fight and worry about me doing the writhing in pain act on the ground" he said with some disgust, looking away from her. He couldn't bear to see pity or any other emotion other than love for him in her eyes.

Buffy put her hand to his cheek and made him face her once again.

"I don't know how I'd deal if I ever lost you or Becky" she said almost on the verge of tears.

"Never happen, sweetheart" Spike shook his head as he pulled her tightly to him, relieved at least to be reassured of her love and faith for him "We won't let it"

- - - - - - -

As various members of the Scooby gang flew into research mode and planning mode, one person had yet to move from her seat.

"You okay there, Beckster?" her Uncle Xander asked. She'd been sitting still too long for his liking. Much like her parents, Rebecca could never be quiet and inactive too long, she itched to be doing something. She was only so still and quiet when she was worried or upset.

"I'm as okay as you can be when you're facing the worlds impending doom...again" she half-smiled at her semi-joke before sighing "Though honestly, I'm more worried about my Dad than me"

"He's not happy unless he's kicking the ass of somethin' nasty" the brunette nodded, knowing only too well how true it was "It's gotta be a bummer to know he's pretty much out of this fight before it even starts"

"And instead we're getting Angel, the stupid git" she mumbled the last part to herself but Xander still gave her a look because he heard her anyway.

"Oh come on" she sighed at his disapproving, almost parental glare "You of all people have to agree with me?" she said incredulously and Xander shrugged.

"Kind of, sometimes" he admitted "but Becky, Angel's done a lot of good, and he's human now..." it took him a minute to realise it wasn't Angel's lack of evil that was bothering the teen so much.

"And he's no threat to your Mom and Dad" he added sincerely, as his hand covered hers on the table and squeezed it in a reassuring gesture.

"I know" Rebecca nodded, as she recalled her first memory of the ex-vampire with a soul...

- - - - - - - -

"Peaches? What the bloody hell are you doing here?" Spike's eyes narrowed as he opened the door and found his ex-grand-sire on the other side.

It was a year since they'd come face to face like this, and last time Angel had still been undead. Now he was very much alive and the situation was particularly awkward as Buffy poked her head around the side of the door and realised who was there.

"Spike who was at the...door?" her sentence became disjointed as she saw Angel standing there. It was strange but apart from being a little tanned he looked no different to the last time she'd seen him. She wasn't sure what difference she had expected now that he was a regular human being but she'd expected something.

"Hi Buffy, Spike" he greeted both of them though his ex-grand childe with some distaste, "It's been a while" he added pointlessly. This really had not been his idea but it was apocalypse time in the City of Angels and Faith had convinced him the only way they were going to get through this one was with help from Sunnydale. She herself had been back to the small town several times to visit those she now considered friends and on more than occasion to beg a little help of the demon-defeating kind. This time she had told Angel he must go, he'd avoided those people for too long.

"Mommy" an awkward silence was interrupted by a little voice and accompanying soft footsteps on the stairs. As Spike and Buffy turned to look at their daughter, Angel stepped inside the house and the door was closed behind him.

"Becky, honey" Buffy sighed, going to her, "What are you doing out of bed, it's late"

"I was dreaming" she frowned, "The flashcard monsters were trying to get me and I dropped my stake" she explained.

"Bloody Giles with his bloody flashcards" Spike muttered as he came over and picked the little girl up with ease, "Told you your daft Watcher was gonna scare the Little Bit with his sketches of the local evil crowd" he said to Buffy who shook her head tiredly.

"I'll talk to him tomorrow" she promised before realising Angel's eyes were now fixed on her daughter, "Oh er, Rebecca, sweetheart, this is Aunt Faith's...friend...Uncle Angel" she ventured, regretting the term as soon as she saw the flash of gold in Spike's eyes, but it was too late to take it back.

"Hey Rebecca" the ex-vampire said uncertainly. He had very little experience of children, and this one he had not seen since she was a babe in arms. Now she was an actual little person and...and she was looking at him kind of funny.

"You don't look like an Angel" she shook her head, before tilting it to one side to study him, "Angel's are pretty and they have wings" she told him matter-of-factly. He smiled at that.

"It's just a nickname" he told her, "My real name is Liam"

"My name is Rebecca Joyce Blackwell" she announced somewhat dramatically and Angel glanced at Buffy.

"We dropped the Summers, it made it all too long" she explained, "and I decided to change my name to Blackwell too"

Angel just nodded, staring at the perfect little copy of Buffy that was held in Spike's arms, the only tell tale signs of her father being her bright blue eyes and slightly sharpened cheek-bones.

"Come on, Nibblet" Spike told him daughter, "Let's get you some warm milk and see if we can't get you back to sleep before it's light again" he said carrying her off to the kitchen.

"Can I try some blood, Daddy?" the pair left in the hall heard her ask.

"For the hundredth time" came Spike's answer, "No!"

- - - - - - -

"Dad!" Becky moved quickly across the room to him as soon as he returned with Buffy right behind him. She hugged him and he looked a little surprised, though he was happy enough to hug her back.

"What's up, Sweet Bit?" he asked her with a convincing but fake smile as they pulled apart, "Think I might of got eaten by some nasty in the back alley or what?"

"You know that's not it" she told him with a look, "I know it bothers you that you can't be in this fight..."

"Hush now, you" he interrupted her swiftly, "Enough bloody talk about me not being in this battle" he said, loud enough to catch everyone's attention, "Just cos I won't be swinging an axe doesn't mean I'm out of this fight, just means I'll have to find other ways of helpin', right?"

"Indeed, Spike" Giles agreed, "there is plenty of research to be done and of course your assistance in strategising would be invaluable..."

"Don't over-do it, Rupes" Spike smirked, knowing the ex-Watcher wanted to include him somehow just to keep the peace between the gang, "Honest, pet, your old Dad'll be just fine" he promised, noting that Becky still looked concerned.

She nodded that she believed him before hugging him once again. When Buffy stepped away, Becky took the opportunity to whisper in her fathers ear.

"If Angel bugs you too much, I'll kick his ass for you...the stupid wanker"

Spike couldn't help but laugh at that. He really was so proud of his little girl.

To Be Continued...

A/N2 : Wow, did you notice? Not just fluff in this fic, we actually have demony plot! Yikes, how did that happen? Anyway, let me know what you think to this chapter by reveiwing and I'll get more done as soon as I can.