Title: Chapter 10 Genesis

Disclaimer: Anything owned by Joss and Mutant enemy isn't mine obviously but things that aren't are mine! Confused?

Notes: Another title option was Birth… drum roll. Sorry if everyone's reviews went away (they should be back now) but I had to delete the whole story because mixed it up when I uploaded chapter 9. If you can identify the song lyrics used in the talking I'll give you a cookie! To WayWard Childe thanks for the review and I hadn't actually thought about it like that but now you mention it I totally agree Spike would mess up a completely different species for pretty much any reasons.

2 weeks later (after the end of Chapter 9)

Spike walked out of the bedroom and held his hands out, displaying himself.

"Be still my heart," Asara muttered.

"What do you think?" Spike asked.

"Give me half a chance," Asara swallowed.

Spike had said they were going out to a new club and proceeded to dress to kill as he was wearing a tight fitting black shirt that showed off his pale skin and tight Oh so tight! leather pants. Asara felt plain beside him.

"I was being good," Asara complained. "I wasn't going to tease you this evening but if you're going to wear that I'm changing!"

With that Asara fled past him into the bedroom and Spike wondered what he'd got himself into. She came back out wearing the same low hipster embroidered black flare jeans but the top had changed. Now, instead of the straightforward mock Japanese shirt she'd had on, she was wearing a black low cut top that was designed for pregnant women. It flashed cleavage and was spilt down the front to show off sizeable bump Asara was now carrying. Spike swallowed and shifted causing Asara to grin.

"Where the hell did you get that?" Spike's gaze was firmly fixed on the top but Asara only laughed in reply.

-

"Had a good night?" Spike asked.

"One of the best," Asara snuggled into his side. "Got to say it's about time Sunnydale had a proper club."

Spike kissed her and they continued walking home. Worried to start with Spike hadn't wanted to wear Asara out but Asara had gradually showed that she had the energy to last an evening without falling asleep. The food was still a problem and she had eaten all the Chicken McNuggets and BBQ sauce from McDonald's before arriving at the club, Carrera, but once there, she and Spike had danced the night away. The club had been designed for all the clientele that Sunnydale could offer but humans were protected there so there was no unofficial snacking going on. Dead bodies were too much hassle. Asara and Spike had received several offers from others at the club and Spike had firmly put everyone in their place, making Asara laugh and kiss him. They drew crowds of admirers when they danced and applause when they finished but in truth they only had eyes for each other.

Content in the silence Asara smiled as Spike ran his hand over her belly. Suddenly that hand disappeared as Spike was hauled backwards and Asara turned, a growl rumbling in her chest. Five vampires had had hold of him but Spike remained calm, eyes on Asara as one guy, clearly the leader, sauntered over to her. Two vampires took her arms as the boss looked her up and down appraisingly before vamping out. Asara laughed and peered over his shoulder at Spike,

"Honey yours are more impressive than his!"

"Well if mine are then his must be toothpicks compared to yours," Spike agreed.

"Shut up," the leader growled, put off by his victims' apparent unconcern.

"You really are an idiot aren't you?" Spike shook his head.

The vampire spun round and bullied up to Spike, who continued,

"I mean you pick us out of everyone else."

"Well I fancied your woman and I'm sure you're vamp enough to find another," the leader prodded Spike's chest.

"Well luv he showing some promise of brains," Spike told Asara.

"Not much though considering," she replied.

"Will you two shut the fuck up!" the leader was losing his cool.

"Shall I run through all the problems?" Spike lifted an eyebrow. "First you're trying to take someone off a master vampire. Secondly that someone is my mate. Thirdly my mate is pregnant and expectant mothers will do anything to protect their young. Fourthly you got your priorities all screwed 'cause everyone bloody well knows you take out the biggest threat first."

"I got you didn't I?" the vampire looked smug.

"Hardly," Spike replied. "And I'm not the biggest threat."

"You're saying she is?" the vampire's expression turned to disgust.

"Bloody hell did you lose your sense of smell along with your life?" Spike had finally had enough.

The leader opened his mouth to reply when a very undignified squeak sounded from behind them and turning he found the two vampires that were meant to be holding had backed away from her.

"What are you two doing?" he snarled.

"But she…" one started.

The other pointed,

"She… she did something."

Asara smiled innocently.

"She couldn't throw a punch you wimps," the leader stepped forward to grab one of them and Asara demonstrated the perfect left hook.

The vampire hit the ground with a stunned expression on his face.

"She can't punch huh?" Spike smirked.

Asara crouched down and licked a finger,

"Wanna see a trick?"

His eyes narrowed,

"Trick?"

Asara held out that finger and it morphed into a long, slightly curved claw. The leader's eyes widened and he stared at her.

"What did I tell you?" Spike shook his head in pity and shame for his race.

Asara flicked her wrist and the head bounced once before exploding. She stood up, finger transforming back and turned her gaze to the vampires still holding Spike.

"Did you hear about the two who took on the slavers and won?" she asked.

The vampires exchanged looks before nodding.

"Well one of them was Spike," Asara pointed at Spike.

Disbelief coloured their faces.

"Spike… he…" one stuttered.

"He did it for me so let go of my mate," she ordered, voice quiet but deadly.

The five released him like he was on fire and stepped back. Spike grinned, attacked and Asara smiled as she watched him massacre the rest. After the chip had been removed Spike fought with renewed vigour even though the chip had never lessened his ability to kill his own kind. Asara knew he was making up for lost time in simply being able to beat anyone he liked up and she had to say she liked the new Spike. He wasn't much different just, perhaps, a little more confident in what he did but he still showed every loyalty to her as well as being willing to curtail his life style for her. Spike had asked whether she wanted him not to kill anyone and she'd been shocked that he'd asked. Feeding off humans was his nature and the chip had only stopped him being natural so she said she never prevent him doing that ever again but warned him to be careful as she didn't want the Slayer killing him or knocking down their door to hurt the pack. Spike agreed and rarely killed, just drained them up to the point where they wouldn't remember what happened to them.

-

"Mmmm love you," Asara murmured, snuggling into Spike's side, resting her head on his chest.

"Love you too," Spike kissed her.

Somehow, even pregnant, Asara could still exhaust him even with vampire stamina. Well if I was human I'd have been shagged to death a while back. Spike thought as she pressed her rounded belly against his hip. He started slightly when he felt a kick from one of the inhabitants as he still wasn't use to it but now he smiled. Asara drifted to sleep beside him and Spike listened to her breathing deepen and even, a thing so familiar that he had it memorised but this time it was different. Shuffling out from under Asara he placed an ear on her chest to listen to her breathing and Spike could hear the wheezing and wet gurgling from within. Jerking his head back from her he stared at her, worry on his face but Asara slept on peacefully. Carefully Spike extracted himself from her, making her whimper and he stroked her hair until she calmed and he could leave to find Juidon.

Bring her back Juidon proceeded to listen to Asara's breathing before standing and looking at Spike, her expression serious,

"She has a mild Pulmonary Edema."

At his blank expression Juidon explained,

"That's a fluid build up in her lungs."

"But don't people die from that? Why has she got it?" Spike frowned. "It was on ER but they were mangled in the neatest ways."

Juidon hid a smile,

"Yes humans do die but shifters don't. She should be fine, no more symptoms if she rests so make sure she doesn't overwork herself and cut down on the energizer bunny routine."

"She won't like that," Spike looked down at the sleeping form.

"And you don't either I know but take it slow. I'm not gonna say cut it out completely cause that would be pointless but slow down," Juidon was blunt.

"Yeah ok," Spike nodded before glancing up sharply. "Aren't you going to tell her?"

"If she asks tell her but there is no point in worrying her if she's fine, which by the looks of things she is," Juidon nodded at Asara.

Spike sat down next to her and Asara moved in her sleep, going to him without waking. Juidon smiled at the pair before leaving quietly but she was glad Spike hadn't picked up on her worry and that he hadn't discerned a lack of answers. He'd been too anxious himself to notice but Juidon had never heard of a shifter getting a Pulmonary Edema so she was worried just what was going on with Asara, defying every that made her what she was. Going through her mating cycle two hundred years too early, mating with a vampire, getting pregnant with a vampire's children and now getting ill with problems shifters did not get. It was giving Juidon a headache.

-

One week later

Spike worked hard to make sure Asara rested but he couldn't be with her twenty-four-seven as he went out and got a job. Yimila gave him a reference from her bodyguard job and he got a reasonably well-paid job as a bouncer outside Carrera. His vampire status gave him enough muscle to deal with the demons and his reputation gave him the 'oomph', as the boss called it, to scare people into behaving. His job brought in well-needed money to the pack, so much so that Juidon announced they could build an extension for the pups' bedrooms and Spike had been teased at work that he lived in a mansion. He retorted that someone slept in every bedroom and just because there was twelve going on sixteen pack members didn't mean that it was a mansion. Everybody laughed and Spike made some friends.

One night whilst on duty with a humanoid demon called Larus Spike caught sight of Xander and Anya heading their way. When they got closer Xander recognised Spike and grinned.

"Who'd have thought? The Big Bad working," he smirked.

Spike shrugged,

"Need the cash. What you doing here? Wanna get eaten?"

"We thought we try the new club," Xander replied.

Spike glanced at his partner-in-bouncing and asked,

"Hold the fort a moment?"

"Sure, nothing else happening," Larus nodded.

Spike led the pair away a bit before Anya piped up,

"I want to go inside and dance vigorously."

"Do you two know what sort of club that is?" Spike glanced at the pair, wondering why he was doing this. He could just let them walk in and he'd love the surprise on their faces but something warned him this wasn't such a good idea. He still owed Xander.

"A club where you dance, drink and have fun," Xander rolled his eyes.

"With demons?" Spike raised an eyebrow.

"Ex-demon… Plural?" Xander caught the last part.

"Yeah dumb ass, as in that's a mixed club. Everyone allowed but humans rarely go in without some sort of protection unless they're looking for something to feed," Spike jerked his head at Larus.

"Vampire?" Xander asked.

"No but you know what happened with soldier boy. Same thing here," Spike nodded. "You can stick your head through the bleedin' door if you want."

Xander glanced at Anya,

"An what do you think?"

"I don't want you to get munched on by a stronger person so we should go home and make up for the spoiled evening with lots of sex," Anya replied.

"Sounds good to me," Spike drawled.

"Hey!" Xander exclaimed before grinning. "Does doesn't it?"

"My Xander is a Viking in the sack," Anya answered proudly.

"An," Xander said pained.

Spike rolled his eyes at the pair before going back to his post.

"What was that all about?" Larus asked.

"They didn't know I was a mixed club," Spike told him.

"So?" Larus frowned.

"They're the Slayer's lackies mate. Didn't want to lose my job if they got munched on," Spike slumped back against the wall, annoyed that he couldn't smoke on the job.

"Good point," Larus nodded, eyeing the big demon coming down the street. "We're up."

-

1 month and 3 weeks later

"Spike?"

"What is it pet?" Spike looked up at Asara standing in the doorway.

"You know we're having four children," she began hesitantly.

Spike nodded when she stopped, wondering where this was going.

"Well in this form I can't um… feed all of them at the same time and so to stop me changing form every time well I've… compensated?" Asara was a little red.

"Compensated? What the hell are you talking 'bout?" Spike frowned.

"I er… umm…," Asara took a deep breath. "I'm in the process of growing another pair of breasts."

Spike was silent for a moment,

"You're saying that you're going to have four breasts?"

Asara nodded and Spike pictured it and was instantly turned on. She noticed and her eyes widened,

"I knew men liked them but you like them that much?"

Spike's answer was to stride across to Asara, kiss her and pick her up,

"Let me show you how much I like them."

-

1 week later

Asara yawned and snuggled her face deeper into Spike's lap, still watching the TV, and Spike stroked her hair, engrossed in the episode. She put up with Passions and Spike put up with Star Trek so they could carry on enjoying each other's company. When Asara squirmed a bit Spike thought the babies were kicking again and moved his hand onto her belly, loving the feeling of them moving inside her. All was quiet on the front.

Some half an hour later Asara squirmed again and Spike felt muscles ripple under his hand and he frowned.

"Pet what was that?"

"I don't know," Asara shrugged. "Didn't really bother me."

Spike relaxed. If it hadn't bothered her then he had nothing to worry about but another thirty minutes later Asara stiffened suddenly.

"Luv?" Spike got out before the muscles under his hand rolled downwards and inwards. "Bloody hell what was that?"

"That," Asara said after the pain passed. "Was a contraction and fuck!"

"Contraction?" Spike gaped a bit before his brain snapped into action. "Juidon!"

Asara winced at the volume but it had the desired effect as Juidon came running in.

"It's started," Asara beat Spike to any explanation.

"You're a day too early!" Juidon exclaimed before frowning. "Not what I'd hoped for. I did not want you in labour for a day. You aren't up to it but it can't be helped. Spike carry her upstairs whilst I get the sheets."

Spike nodded and scooped Asara up. Even with the added two stone that the pups weighed Asara had only made it up to her normal weight which meant she was not up to a long and exhaustive labour. Spike had just got into their bedroom when Juidon came hurtling in and laid the special 'clean' sheets on the bed on which she instructed Spike to put Asara on. After that they both helped strip the bulky Asara and Juidon checked her over before announcing that he did indeed have a full day ahead of her. Asara groaned and waited for the next contraction.

They waited half an hour for the next and it continued like that for the next three hours but after that they dropped to twenty minutes, ten until they were tearing though her body every five minutes. Asara had hold of Spike's hand and was gradually mangling it with the amount of strength behind each push with a contraction. Spike was completely oblivious to the pain as he was utterly absorbed in what was happening to Asara and he was convinced he had never seen anything so painfully wrong as this.

Juidon stood, smiled at the pair before saying,

"Your turn Spike."

"What…?" Spike gaped at her.

"Remember what we discussed? I can't be here. The pups must see, smell you first to make that bond with their parents," Juidon explained again.

Spike looked a bit startled but made his way down the bed. Juidon went through the procedure of cutting the umbilical cord and where to clamp before explaining she'd be right outside if there was an emergency. Spike eyed Asara who was laid on her side after the argument with Juidon who had insisted that Asara change form. Asara had refused, saying that she'd conceived in human form so in that form she would give birth. Juidon only relented when Asara allowed herself to be positioned into the typical D'ewain birthing arrangement, on her side, leg up and braced on the wall but both Asara and Juidon had agreed on one thing: Spike. He was to feel no pain and he had to help when the time came.

Spike had argued about the pain until it was pointed out he would be wielding scissors around he pups and one slip could end their lives. He accepted that point before releasing that he was meant to deliver them. Panicking, something he later denied, he had it explained to him several times by both Asara and Juidon.

Now he watched Asara strain with a contraction, completely forgetting he was meant to be counting with her but got overenthusiastic when he saw a pup's head.

"You're nearly there!" Spike called up before he paused. "Is it meant to be that slimy and squished looking?"

Asara laughed, a short panting sound,

"Yes Spike."

Asara gritted her teeth at the next contraction swept through her and pushed. A wet, sticky noise accompanied the first pup into the world and Spike gaped a bit before some deeply buried instinct roused him into action. He pulled the pup towards him to give him better access to the cord, which he clamped about two inches from its belly before cutting it. Lifting the pup up in both hands Spike stared straight into a pair of blue eyes that regarded him quietly before a pink tongue flicked out and licked his hand. Asara lifted her head to watch Spike and smiled at him before he looked up past the pup to her and she felt a wash of emotions.

"Can I?" she asked.

Spike crawled up the bed on his knees, cradling the pup gently before carefully passing her the bundle. The pup regarded its mother as it had Spike before the little tongue appeared again and Asara responded by licking the pup back, cleaning its black fur. Asara recognised a greater proportion of D'ewain features as the pup had three digits, just like her when in true form, the same shape skull and ears.

"She's beautiful," Asara smiled at Spike.

"She? How can you tell she's a she?" Spike eyed the clean fuzzy shape.

"I just can plus," Asara flipped the pup over, earning a yip from her. "No extras."

"Right," Spike nodded before retrieving the pup, wrapping her in a blanket and putting her in a box readied for the pups.

He kissed Asara on the way past and she nodded at him to say she was ready, just before a contraction ripped through her. Caught off guard Asara cried out, pushing, despite the fact she shouldn't and Spike grabbed her arms.

"Breathe! Asara!" he ordered.

"You breathe!" Asara snapped as the pain subsided. "I'm sorry."

"S'ok luv. Hormonal time and all that," Spike grinned.

Asara growled at him,

"Do not tease the woman giving birth!"

On the next contraction she was allowed to push, she strained and a crack appeared in the wall. Spike eyed it, worried and impressed at the strength behind her leg before his attention was drawn back to more important events. The next pup came quicker than the first and was born with the third contraction, a wet black bundle. Spike quickly cut and clamped before picking up the pup to look at him. A pair of dark brown, almost black eyes regarded him before another little pink tongue appeared and licked his hand. Spike smiled and crawled up the bed to Asara to hand her the new arrival. The same process was repeated as she cleaned her new child and she answered Spike's unspoken question.

"Boy," she suffered the pup the same indignity as she flipped him over.

"He's different to her," Spike nodded at the first pup.

Spike was right. The boy had five digits on his paws and a more developed brow ridge on his skull and Asara saw the vampire strain showing through.

"More of your genes in him," Asara explained.

Spike picked the pup up and nestled him in next to his sister in the same blanket. The pups rubbed noses and licked each other's faces like old friends becoming reacquainted with each other. Both parents watched, smiling, and Asara had a big urge to say 'Awww' but the next contraction stopped her and all that came out was a panting as she remembered to breathe through it.

The next pup was born two contractions later and Spike went through his procedure; clamp, cut, pick up. A pair of rich brown eyes met his and Spike could have sworn the pup smiled before his hand received its third lick. Asara watched and waited, hiding the fact that she was now exhausted and clinging to consciousness by a thread. Spike handed her the pup and both had noticed that the pup was slightly smaller than the eldest two pups. Asara cleaned the rich brown fur, noting the five digits and brow ridge but as she opened her mouth to tell Spike the sex he interrupted,

"I know. It's a girl."

Asara smiled and Spike put the second girl in with the others and the pups greeted their new sister with licks and nose rubs. Asara flopped back down onto the pillow to wait for the next contraction. It didn't disappoint.

"One more to go," Spike tried to encourage her.

"Two, still have to deliver the placenta afterwards," Asara gasped between contractions.

"What? Bloody hell nobody told me that!" Spike swore.

Asara winced and pushed hard, willing the last pup from her body, knowing that if she passed out with the pup inside her it could die so with all her strength she forced the pup out with that contraction. Spike immediately noticed that this pup was smaller still but he clamped and cut quickly so he could lift the pup to eye level. Another pair of blue eyes stared right back at him before the pup happily licked his hand. Spike saw something familiar in the eyes but he couldn't place it. Passing the smallest and youngest pup to Asara Spike watched her as she cleaned her pup with such gentle caring that Spike knew she'd be a good mother. The blonde fur was soft and clean and the pup was nestled amongst his brothers and sisters after Asara told Spike it was a boy.

"Two of everything! Neat!" Spike grinned at Asara

She smiled tiredly before her eyes shut and her head thumped back down on the pillow. Spike, startled, shook her shoulder,

"Asara wake up we haven't finished yet."

When Asara made no response Spike yelled for Juidon.

"Are all the pups born?" she asked from the doorway.

"Yes but the placenta out and she bloody won't wake up," Spike glanced up, worry on his face.

"I thought this would happen," Juidon checked Asara's pulse. "Actually I'm surprised she lasted this long," Juidon glanced at the now sleeping pups, oblivious to their mother's problems. "That's mothers love for you."

Spike was almost tearing the sheets up in barely contained worry and impatience so Juidon moved down to Asara's belly.

"Good the contractions are still going but we need her to help this," Juidon looked up at Spike. "You're going to have to wake her up."

"And how the hell am I meant to do that?" Spike almost snarled.

"You're her mate, bonded partner for life. I'm only her best friend and doctor. Do what you must, what you think is right but only do it quickly," Juidon urged.

Spike stared at her before looking down at Asara. Her head was laid to one side, revealing the pale sweep of her neck and Spike saw the scar he had left from their blood bond. They had bitten each other countless times after that but none left any marks save this one. An idea gradually dawned on Spike and instinct told him he was right. Vamping out Spike bit down on his wrist, drawing his blood to the surface before he lowered his wrist to her mouth and opened their link, ignoring the instance pain of contractions he felt.

Please let this work! Spike thought.

At first nothing happened and Spike's blood trickled from her mouth but suddenly Spike felt a tiny brush from her tongue. Willing her strength Spike felt the suction on his wrist increase as Asara slowly came round. Gathering her into his lap he rocked her gently but when her hands moved to grab his wrist Spike prised his hand away. She opened her eyes and made a small whimpering noise.

"No pet you can't have it back," Spike told her as she licked her lips. "You still have the placenta inside you. Remember?"

Asara growled slightly.

"Asara talked properly and push with the next contraction," Juidon ordered from down the bed.

Asara growled again. Spike's blood had brought her animal nature to the fore and it was reacting to the pain of the contractions and it certainly didn't do logical thinking.

"Asara! Please just push," Juidon begged.

Asara bared her teeth, which were slipping into their natural state.

"Spike make her push. She's not listening to me because I'm not a dominant but you are," Juidon knew, even on Spike's blood, Asara didn't have much strength.

Still bumpy Spike leant down, awkward in his position, until his face was pressed to hers and a deep rumble started in his chest. She responded instantly and kept it up until she ran out of breath at which point Spike broke off and pointed at the pups. Asara moved to go to them but Spike and Juidon easily held her down.

"If you want to be there for them then you have to bloody well push!" Spike told her.

Asara regarded him then the pups then back to him. Her base instincts understood him and she pushed with the next contraction. Soon a sticky red mess made an appearance and Asara could relax. Juidon cleaned up the mess and instruments as Spike washed Asara down with a damp cloth and by the time he was done the woman he was used to was back, if so tired she was nearly out of it again.

"Sleep," Spike kissed her forehead.

"Thank you," Asara whispered before blacking out.

Spike curled up next to her, the box placed between them and watched the five most important people in his life sleep. The pups had automatically and instinctively moved into that category when he knew Asara was pregnant but now he had held them they were even more firmly lodged in his heart. Spike realised the huge amount of trust Asara was putting in him. She was trusting him to watch her whilst she was defenceless but more importantly, to keep the pups safe from harm. Spike knew, more clearly than he had ever felt before, that this was home, this was where he was truly meant to be.