Chapter Forty-Six: Something For Everyone
"You're crazy, you know that?" Buffy said as she and Spike walked through the door.
"Look at the bloody picture," Spike said. "And tell me you don't see the resemblance."
Buffy studied the picture in front of her and said, "The only resemblance I see is to our TV when it's on the blink."
"Hey," Spike said. "Watch your mouth." He leaned over and touched Buffy's stomach, "Ignore her. We both know who you look like." He looked up and both he and Buffy noticed a group of people staring at them, "What?'
"Have you officially lost your mind?" Dawn asked.
"I think it's the hormones," Anya said. "Pregnant women tend to lose their minds."
"No ones losing anything," Buffy said. "Except a few memories." She tossed the drug that Spike had gotten from the hospital to Willow. "That should make him forget a few things."
"Any trouble getting it?" Willow asked.
"No trouble at all," Spike said, sitting down at the island. "Didn't even have to scare anyone to get it."
"So we give him this, pour alcohol over him and dump him in some ally?" Willow asked. "Is that going to work?"
"You have a better idea?" Buffy asked. No one said anything. "Okay, so who makes the body dump?"
"Send the whelp," Spike suggested. "He needs something to do."
"Hey," Xander objected.
But Buffy stopped him, "Xander and Angel can take him. Leave him in the alley behind the Bronze and then get back here right away."
They nodded. Willow mixed the drug into a drink and sent Cordelia downstairs with it. She quickly returned and reported that Jonathan had drunk it all.
"Good," Buffy said. "It works fast. So get him down to the Bronze."
Angel and Xander untied Jonathan and brought him upstairs. The drug was already starting to take effect and they practically had to drag him out the door. Spike handed them a bottle of whiskey that he kept around and they were gone.
"How was your doctor's appointment?" Dawn asked, once Xander and Angel were gone. "Is everything okay?"
"The baby's fine," Buffy assured. "The doctor said that everything seems normal."
"Did you find out what it is?" Willow asked eagerly. "Is it a boy or girl?"
"Yes," Buffy said, walking over to the kitchen and pouring herself a glass of milk.
"What?" Dawn asked.
"Yes," Buffy said. "The baby is a healthy boy or girl."
"Well which one is it?" Willow asked. "Boy or girl?"
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Spike said. He could see the game Buffy was playing and was more than happy to help her out.
"Come on," Dawn begged. "What is it? Am I getting a niece or nephew?"
"You should show a little more patience, Bit," Spike said, drinking from his mug of blood. "There used to be a time when you didn't know until the kid was actually born. My own mother didn't know she was going to have twins until the day that they were born. I'd say you're pretty lucky to know what you do."
Buffy nodded, "The baby's healthy. What more do we need to know?"
"Well how do we know what kind of clothes and toys to buy?" Dawn asked.
"Buy whatever you want," Buffy said. "Just leave the tags on and I'll return them if I have to."
"What about the nursery?" Willow asked. "We'll figure it out when you start painting the walls pink or blue."
"Where is the nursery going to be, anyway?" Cordelia asked. "It's a little cramped around here, even when Angel and I go back to L.A."
Spike and Buffy exchanged looks. They had briefly discussed what they were going to do but Buffy had vetoed every one of his suggestions, mainly because most of them involved asking Willow to move out and he and Buffy moving into Joyce's old room. "We haven't decided," Buffy said. "But we have time to figure it out."
"Not much," Cordelia pointed out. "It won't be long before that baby's born and you won't be ready. You have time to plan, use it."
"I will," Buffy said.
"So why don't we pick out the color for the baby's room," Dawn said. "Should I look at the blue or pink colors?"
"How about nice blood red," Spike suggested.
"That's not the color of a baby's room," Dawn protested.
"Why not?" Spike asked.
"Because.." Dawn couldn't think of a right reason.
"I think red's highly appropriate for the child of a vampire and Vampire Slayer," Anya said.
"No red," Buffy told him. "I'll check out some paint samples and we'll pick out something appropriate."
"I'm come with you," Dawn offered. She glanced slyly at Spike. "I saw some neat baby clothes the other day. There was the cutest little pink dress there, all lace and frills. You have to see it and get it for the baby."
"I'll look at it," Buffy said. She wasn't falling into Dawn's trap.
Spike, however, did, "The hell you are. No one is dressing my son up in some girlie frills. You want him to turn out like Peaches, or worse?'
Buffy groaned, Cordelia glared at Spike but Dawn squealed, "It's a boy!"
"What's a boy?" Xander asked, as he and Angel came into the house.
"Buffy's baby," Dawn said. "It's a boy."
"Is it a boy?" Willow asked, looking at Buffy for confirmation.
Buffy briefly glared at Spike, sighed and said, "Yes, the baby's a boy."
"How can you tell?" Anya asked, looking at the ultrasound picture on the island. "This doesn't look like anything."
"It does," Buffy said. "See there's the head, and the arms and the legs."
"Okay," Dawn said. "I see it."
"What are these?" Willow asked, looking at the pamphlets on the island.
"Just some information the doctor gave me on some birthing centers, that way I can have the baby at home."
"Is that a good idea?" Angel asked. It was the first time he'd spoken since seeing the ultrasound and hearing that Buffy and Spike were going to have a son.
"It's fine," Buffy said. "The doctor I'm seeing is very nice but I'd feel better if I had the baby at home. It'll be easier to protect him here than in the hospital."
"Right," Angel said. He headed for the door.
"Where are you going?" Buffy asked.
"I'm going out to do a quick patrol," Angel said. He looked at Cordelia and then Buffy, "Then we're going back to L.A."
"What?" Buffy asked, alarmed. "You're going back?"
Angel nodded, "There's no reason to stay anymore and we're needed at home. It's time to go back."
Buffy glared at Angel while everyone else, with the exception of Spike and Cordelia, hurried out of the room with excuses of needing to be home, studying or plans at the Bronze. Spike just stood there, watching, until Cordelia pulled him out of the room.
"When were you planning on telling me this?" Buffy asked.
"I just did," Angel said. "Cordelia and I talked about it and we decided that it's time to go home. You brought me here to help Spike. He's fine so you don't need us around anymore."
Buffy started to protest but realized he was right. The only reason she had contacted him was because he had been needed to help Spike but Spike was recovered now. Angel had his life in L.A. and she had hers in Sunnydale. "No but I didn't expect you to leave so soon."
"It's time for us to leave," Angel said.
"I know," Buffy said, fighting back tears. "It's just been. nice having you around again."
"I can't stay," Angel said. "You know that."
Buffy nodded, tears spilling onto her cheeks. If he stayed it would only make things worse for her. If she wanted to create any kind of family for her son then she couldn't be distracted and Angel would be the ultimate distraction. His presence would only make her miserable and her son didn't need an unhappy mother. It would be better for everyone if both her and Angel went back to their normal lives, as twisted as they were, better for the people in their lives and better for their children. "Take care of yourself," Buffy said.
"I will," Angel said. "If you will." He leaned over and kissed her on her forehead, "Be happy, Buffy, that's all I want for you," He whispered.
Buffy looked up, unable to speak and then ran back into the house.
Angel was just about to leave for patrol when the door opened and Spike walked out.
"What the bloody hell did you say to her?" Spike asked angrily.
"We just said goodbye," Angel told him.
"If you said anything to hurt her." Spike said.
"All I did was say goodbye," Angel repeated. "And that I want her to be happy."
"She will be," Spike said.
"If you do anything to hurt her." Angel warned.
"I know. I know, you'll turn all Angelus and kill me," Spike said. "I've heard it all before."
"I mean it," Angel said. He looked at Spike intently, "She cares about you. She might not see it but she does. I saw it while you were out. You matter to her so don't blow it."
Spike made an irritated sound, "Right, I matter to her, that's why she runs from my bed every time I get her into it."
"She's scared," Angel said.
"I bloody well know that," Spike said. "I know her better than anyone does, even better than she knows herself."
"Than you know she cares about you," Angel said.
Spike turned away from Angel and looked out into the night, "Yeah, I do, sometimes I think she's about ready to admit it to herself but then she pulls away again."
Angel nodded, "She will. What happened to you made her realize that she cares. All you have to do is be patient for once in your life."
"Fine," Spike said. "Let's make a deal. I'll be patient, wait for Buffy to come around and you stay out of our lives."
"What?" Angel asked.
"Stay the bloody hell away from her," Spike said. "All you're going to do is cause her more pain."
"If she ever needs me I'll be there for her," Angel said. "But I agree with you that staying here will only cause more harm than good. That's why I'm taking Cordy and Connor back to L.A. tonight, so that I don't hurt her anymore than she already has been."
"Good," Spike said. "Then leave now, I'll take care of tonight's patrol so you can go right now."
"Alright," Angel said. "We'll leave now but not because you asked me."
"Just as long as you leave," Spike said.
The two longtime adversaries stared at each other for a moment, and then Angel turned and walked back into the house. Spike looked back into the night. Then he stepped off the porch and headed out into the night. After his conversation with Angel he felt like a good kill.
"You're crazy, you know that?" Buffy said as she and Spike walked through the door.
"Look at the bloody picture," Spike said. "And tell me you don't see the resemblance."
Buffy studied the picture in front of her and said, "The only resemblance I see is to our TV when it's on the blink."
"Hey," Spike said. "Watch your mouth." He leaned over and touched Buffy's stomach, "Ignore her. We both know who you look like." He looked up and both he and Buffy noticed a group of people staring at them, "What?'
"Have you officially lost your mind?" Dawn asked.
"I think it's the hormones," Anya said. "Pregnant women tend to lose their minds."
"No ones losing anything," Buffy said. "Except a few memories." She tossed the drug that Spike had gotten from the hospital to Willow. "That should make him forget a few things."
"Any trouble getting it?" Willow asked.
"No trouble at all," Spike said, sitting down at the island. "Didn't even have to scare anyone to get it."
"So we give him this, pour alcohol over him and dump him in some ally?" Willow asked. "Is that going to work?"
"You have a better idea?" Buffy asked. No one said anything. "Okay, so who makes the body dump?"
"Send the whelp," Spike suggested. "He needs something to do."
"Hey," Xander objected.
But Buffy stopped him, "Xander and Angel can take him. Leave him in the alley behind the Bronze and then get back here right away."
They nodded. Willow mixed the drug into a drink and sent Cordelia downstairs with it. She quickly returned and reported that Jonathan had drunk it all.
"Good," Buffy said. "It works fast. So get him down to the Bronze."
Angel and Xander untied Jonathan and brought him upstairs. The drug was already starting to take effect and they practically had to drag him out the door. Spike handed them a bottle of whiskey that he kept around and they were gone.
"How was your doctor's appointment?" Dawn asked, once Xander and Angel were gone. "Is everything okay?"
"The baby's fine," Buffy assured. "The doctor said that everything seems normal."
"Did you find out what it is?" Willow asked eagerly. "Is it a boy or girl?"
"Yes," Buffy said, walking over to the kitchen and pouring herself a glass of milk.
"What?" Dawn asked.
"Yes," Buffy said. "The baby is a healthy boy or girl."
"Well which one is it?" Willow asked. "Boy or girl?"
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Spike said. He could see the game Buffy was playing and was more than happy to help her out.
"Come on," Dawn begged. "What is it? Am I getting a niece or nephew?"
"You should show a little more patience, Bit," Spike said, drinking from his mug of blood. "There used to be a time when you didn't know until the kid was actually born. My own mother didn't know she was going to have twins until the day that they were born. I'd say you're pretty lucky to know what you do."
Buffy nodded, "The baby's healthy. What more do we need to know?"
"Well how do we know what kind of clothes and toys to buy?" Dawn asked.
"Buy whatever you want," Buffy said. "Just leave the tags on and I'll return them if I have to."
"What about the nursery?" Willow asked. "We'll figure it out when you start painting the walls pink or blue."
"Where is the nursery going to be, anyway?" Cordelia asked. "It's a little cramped around here, even when Angel and I go back to L.A."
Spike and Buffy exchanged looks. They had briefly discussed what they were going to do but Buffy had vetoed every one of his suggestions, mainly because most of them involved asking Willow to move out and he and Buffy moving into Joyce's old room. "We haven't decided," Buffy said. "But we have time to figure it out."
"Not much," Cordelia pointed out. "It won't be long before that baby's born and you won't be ready. You have time to plan, use it."
"I will," Buffy said.
"So why don't we pick out the color for the baby's room," Dawn said. "Should I look at the blue or pink colors?"
"How about nice blood red," Spike suggested.
"That's not the color of a baby's room," Dawn protested.
"Why not?" Spike asked.
"Because.." Dawn couldn't think of a right reason.
"I think red's highly appropriate for the child of a vampire and Vampire Slayer," Anya said.
"No red," Buffy told him. "I'll check out some paint samples and we'll pick out something appropriate."
"I'm come with you," Dawn offered. She glanced slyly at Spike. "I saw some neat baby clothes the other day. There was the cutest little pink dress there, all lace and frills. You have to see it and get it for the baby."
"I'll look at it," Buffy said. She wasn't falling into Dawn's trap.
Spike, however, did, "The hell you are. No one is dressing my son up in some girlie frills. You want him to turn out like Peaches, or worse?'
Buffy groaned, Cordelia glared at Spike but Dawn squealed, "It's a boy!"
"What's a boy?" Xander asked, as he and Angel came into the house.
"Buffy's baby," Dawn said. "It's a boy."
"Is it a boy?" Willow asked, looking at Buffy for confirmation.
Buffy briefly glared at Spike, sighed and said, "Yes, the baby's a boy."
"How can you tell?" Anya asked, looking at the ultrasound picture on the island. "This doesn't look like anything."
"It does," Buffy said. "See there's the head, and the arms and the legs."
"Okay," Dawn said. "I see it."
"What are these?" Willow asked, looking at the pamphlets on the island.
"Just some information the doctor gave me on some birthing centers, that way I can have the baby at home."
"Is that a good idea?" Angel asked. It was the first time he'd spoken since seeing the ultrasound and hearing that Buffy and Spike were going to have a son.
"It's fine," Buffy said. "The doctor I'm seeing is very nice but I'd feel better if I had the baby at home. It'll be easier to protect him here than in the hospital."
"Right," Angel said. He headed for the door.
"Where are you going?" Buffy asked.
"I'm going out to do a quick patrol," Angel said. He looked at Cordelia and then Buffy, "Then we're going back to L.A."
"What?" Buffy asked, alarmed. "You're going back?"
Angel nodded, "There's no reason to stay anymore and we're needed at home. It's time to go back."
Buffy glared at Angel while everyone else, with the exception of Spike and Cordelia, hurried out of the room with excuses of needing to be home, studying or plans at the Bronze. Spike just stood there, watching, until Cordelia pulled him out of the room.
"When were you planning on telling me this?" Buffy asked.
"I just did," Angel said. "Cordelia and I talked about it and we decided that it's time to go home. You brought me here to help Spike. He's fine so you don't need us around anymore."
Buffy started to protest but realized he was right. The only reason she had contacted him was because he had been needed to help Spike but Spike was recovered now. Angel had his life in L.A. and she had hers in Sunnydale. "No but I didn't expect you to leave so soon."
"It's time for us to leave," Angel said.
"I know," Buffy said, fighting back tears. "It's just been. nice having you around again."
"I can't stay," Angel said. "You know that."
Buffy nodded, tears spilling onto her cheeks. If he stayed it would only make things worse for her. If she wanted to create any kind of family for her son then she couldn't be distracted and Angel would be the ultimate distraction. His presence would only make her miserable and her son didn't need an unhappy mother. It would be better for everyone if both her and Angel went back to their normal lives, as twisted as they were, better for the people in their lives and better for their children. "Take care of yourself," Buffy said.
"I will," Angel said. "If you will." He leaned over and kissed her on her forehead, "Be happy, Buffy, that's all I want for you," He whispered.
Buffy looked up, unable to speak and then ran back into the house.
Angel was just about to leave for patrol when the door opened and Spike walked out.
"What the bloody hell did you say to her?" Spike asked angrily.
"We just said goodbye," Angel told him.
"If you said anything to hurt her." Spike said.
"All I did was say goodbye," Angel repeated. "And that I want her to be happy."
"She will be," Spike said.
"If you do anything to hurt her." Angel warned.
"I know. I know, you'll turn all Angelus and kill me," Spike said. "I've heard it all before."
"I mean it," Angel said. He looked at Spike intently, "She cares about you. She might not see it but she does. I saw it while you were out. You matter to her so don't blow it."
Spike made an irritated sound, "Right, I matter to her, that's why she runs from my bed every time I get her into it."
"She's scared," Angel said.
"I bloody well know that," Spike said. "I know her better than anyone does, even better than she knows herself."
"Than you know she cares about you," Angel said.
Spike turned away from Angel and looked out into the night, "Yeah, I do, sometimes I think she's about ready to admit it to herself but then she pulls away again."
Angel nodded, "She will. What happened to you made her realize that she cares. All you have to do is be patient for once in your life."
"Fine," Spike said. "Let's make a deal. I'll be patient, wait for Buffy to come around and you stay out of our lives."
"What?" Angel asked.
"Stay the bloody hell away from her," Spike said. "All you're going to do is cause her more pain."
"If she ever needs me I'll be there for her," Angel said. "But I agree with you that staying here will only cause more harm than good. That's why I'm taking Cordy and Connor back to L.A. tonight, so that I don't hurt her anymore than she already has been."
"Good," Spike said. "Then leave now, I'll take care of tonight's patrol so you can go right now."
"Alright," Angel said. "We'll leave now but not because you asked me."
"Just as long as you leave," Spike said.
The two longtime adversaries stared at each other for a moment, and then Angel turned and walked back into the house. Spike looked back into the night. Then he stepped off the porch and headed out into the night. After his conversation with Angel he felt like a good kill.