Chapter Sixty-One: I Want To Go Home
Buffy stared at the ceiling, thinking for the millionth time how bored she was. She was used to activity, to doing, instead of just sitting around. Buffy sighed and glanced at the call button that was right next to her bed. She knew that if she pressed it a doctor would come and that if she asked she would be allowed to take a walk in down the hall.
Her so called doctors had been encouraging her to do as much walking as possible. When she'd asked why they had told her that walking might help induce labor. That had been a mistake telling her that. She hadn't set foot out of bed, except to use the bathroom. She was not doing anything that might help them. She knew that they were planning to take her baby away from her as soon as he was born and do who knows what to both of them.
The baby, sensing her thoughts, kicked hard. Buffy smiled and stroked her stomach, "It's okay, we'll get out of here before they can hurt either one of us." She just didn't know how. Right after she'd realized where she was and what they were going to do, she'd tried to escape but she had barely gotten out of her room when she'd been caught. The result was that she'd been chained to her bed and drugged. That had been when the majority of the tests had been performed. Once Buffy had managed to shake off her stupor she'd refused all tests. The chains had been taken off in an attempt to get her to cooportate but she had refused to let them touch her.
A sudden tightening of her abdominal muscles made her wince. She rubbed her stomach and took deep breaths while she waited for it to pass. She knew that they were just Braxton-Hicks, false labor, but they had scared her when she'd first felt them. That had been the only reason she'd allowed a doctor to look at her. They'd assured her that everything was normal but that all signs pointed to her giving birth in the next few weeks. That mean that she didn't have much time for her friends to figure out a rescue plan. If they were even able to.
Buffy sighed and rolled over onto her side, adjusting the monitors so that they wouldn't go off. She wondered if her friends were okay. She'd asked her doctors if her friends had been hurt. They had said that they didn't know but Buffy didn't believe them. Her doctors had to know everything that was going on. They would know if her friends were alright. They just weren't saying. Buffy knew that her doctors figured if she thought she had been adandoned and was on her own, she'd cooperate better.
"But they don't know your daddy, do they," Buffy said to her baby. She knew that only death would keep Spike from rescuing her and the baby. She just hoped that Spike would show up sooner rather than later. This mess with the government hadn't made her forget what was going on in Sunnydale. By now Drusilla's army would be ready to attack and Dru and the Trio were probably ready to open the Hellmouth.
Buffy shook her head. She was starting to depress herself with all her worries. Plus she was hooked up to machines that monitored her heartrate, as well as a fetal monitor. Any change in her or the baby's heartbeats and doctors would instantly appear. Buffy wanted avoid this so she forced herself to think of other things so she wouldn't bring on any more stress. She looked around the room for something to do but there was nothing. Her guards had been given orders not to let her have anything. There was no TV in the room and anything the could possible be used as a weapon had been romoved. All that was in Buffy's room was a hospital bed and monitoring equipment. The room was even searched to make sure that Buffy wasn't working on something to help her escape. She knew that Riley must have told them how resourcefull she could be. Riley...
Buffy shut her eyes. She was not going to think about him. It was too much to deal with, that he could have betrayed her this way. It had been one thing when he'd cheated on her but this time he'd crossed a line. He'd put her and her child in danger, that she wasn't sure she could forgive.
Buffy sighed and pulled the blankets up around her chin. She'd try and take a nap, at least that would make some of the time pass. She was just about to drift off when she heard the door open.
Buffy opened her eyes, wondering who they had sent in now. She'd seen every kind of doctor there was. She'd even had a session with a psychiatrist. She couldn't wait to see who they had sent now.
"Buffy?" The woman asked. She didn't look much older than Buffy. She had dark hair that was pulled back into a bun, glasses and had a timid air about her.
Buffy rolled her eyes but said, "Yes."
"Good," The woman said. She looked around and then her whole manner changed. She hurried to Buffy's side and turned off the alarms and monitors. Then she quickly unhooked Buffy.
"What are you doing?" Buffy asked.
"I'll explain later. Come on, we have to get out of here before they realize that you're gone."
"Who are you?" Buffy asked.
"Fred," She said. "I work with Angel." She eyed Buffy, "Can you stand? I can get a wheelchair but it would be better if you could walk."
"Wait a minute," Buffy said "Angel sent you? How does he know anything about this?"
"Spike came and asked him for help," Fred explained. "I'll explain everything once we're out of here."
"Spike asked Angel for help," Buffy said suspiciously. "Right, in some alternate dimension maybe but in this one they despise each other."
"I know," Fred agreed. "We've had to separate them so many times.. There were a few minutes when I thought they were really going to kill each other."
"Wait a minute," Buffy said, uncertainly. "We're not in some alternate demension? This is our world."
"Yeah," Fred said. "And I don't have much time to get you out of here. So come on."
Buffy hesitated. Fred seemed to be telling the truth but Buffy wasn't sure. This could be another trick of the governments. She needed proof before she was going anywhere. "Wait," Buffy said. "I need some proof that you're telling the truth, that you work with Angel."
Fred nodded, "Spike said you'd be suspicious. He told me to give you this. He said he found it in your car. He wanted you to have it back." She handed Buffy a familiar necklace.
Buffy gasped. It was the sapphire necklace that had belonged to Spike's mother and that he had given her. She quickly checked the clasp and saw the initials. They were there and Fred was telling the truth. No one could have known where she left the necklace and only a few people knew of its existance and its significance. Buffy quickly put the necklace on and said, "Let's go."
"Come on," Fred told her. "There's a car waiting downstairs to take us back to the hotel."
Buffy followed Fred out the door. The guards were there. They saw Buffy and eyed her suspiciously.
"I'm taking her down for a scan," Fred told them.
The guards nodded so Buffy and Fred hurried to the elevator.
"That was easy," Fred commented.
"Yeah," Buffy said. "These guys are programmed to just stand around and not ask questions." They rode the elevator to the floor that they would leave from. The elevator doors opened. Fred looked around. There was no one on that floor.
"Where is everyone?" Buffy asked.
"I fixed it so that all the guards would be away long enough for us to get out of here," Fred explained. "But let's hurry before someone realizes what I did."
They moved as fast as they could towards the doors. They were almost there when they both heard the sound of footsteps. Fred and Buffy froze.
"What do we do?" Fred asked.
Buffy looked at the door. She quickly calculated how long it would take for them to reach the door, "Run," Buffy said.
"What?" Fred asked.
"You said that there's a car outside, right," Buffy said. "We just have to get to it and then we're safe."
"Can you run?" Fred asked, looking at Buffy's stomach.
"I'm still the Slayer," Buffy said. "I can't run as fast as I could but I'll make it. Now go," She ran for the door, as fast as she could with Fred close behind her. They made it outside and stopped for a minute.
"Where's the car?" Buffy gasped, amazed at how out of shape she was.
"Over here," Fred said, pointing to a dark car. She and Buffy hurried towards it. They yanked open the doors, got in and slumped against the seats, gasping.
The person who was driving turned around, "Hello Buffy."
"Wesley," Buffy said, in surprise. "You're driving the get-away car?"
"My car," was all Wesley said as he started the car and drove away.
Another figure in the front seat turn, "Fred, you okay?"
"I'm fine Charles," Fred told him.
"Any problems getting out?" Wesley asked.
"No," Buffy said. She looked around the car, "Where's Angel and Spike?"
"We left them back at the hotel," Wesley said. "Cordelia and Lorne are keeping an eye on them."
Wesley drove as fast as he could back to the hotel. Once there he helped Buffy out of the car and she, along with Wesley, Gunn and Fred went into the hotel.
"What's taking so long?" Spike asked, pacing through the loby.
"They haven't been gone that long," Angel said, testily.
Spike stopped and looked at Angel, "If your mates have screwed up and put Buffy in even more danger..."
"Guys," Lorne said, seeing Buffy standing in the doorway.
"No one's screwed up," Angel snapped. "You're just going to have to wait for once in your unlife."
"Uh guys," Lorne tried again.
"I'm not waiting," Spike told Angel. "Something went wrong, I know it."
"Would you two just shut up and look," Cordelia said, pointing to the door.
Both Spike and Angel turned and saw Buffy. Neither one of them said anything. They just stared at her.
"We should have gotten you back sooner," Wesley murmered to Buffy. "If that's what it took to shut them up."
Buffy didn't answer. She just stared back at them. Then she walked towards Angel and Spike. All three of them were silent. She reached Angel, paused for a split second and then walked right past him without even looking at him. She kept walking until she reached Spike. Then she stopped right in front of him. Both of them stood there for a minute, then Buffy made a soft noise and threw herself into Spike's arms.
They just stood there, locked in each other's arms, Spike' face buried in Buffy's hair. Slowly he looked at Buffy and lowered his lips to hers. She returned his kiss, passionately and long.
Everyone looked away as Spike and Buffy got more passionate. They seemed to forget that anyone was there.
Finally Cordelia snapped, "For crying out loud you two, get a room."
"Good idea," Spike said. He reached down and lifted Buffy up into his arms. Because of his vampire strength the added weight of her pregnancy didn't bother him and he effortlessly began to carry her up the stairs.
Once they were out of sight, Lorne sighed, "And they say romance is dead."
Angel glared at him. Then he walked over to the playpen and picked up Connor, "We may have gotten Buffy back but it's not over yet, not until the government knows what'll happen to them if they go anywhere near Buffy or Connor."
Fred glanced at her computer, "It's all there. All we have to do is make sure that they know that it's there."
"Good," Angel said, bouncing Connor. He glanced up the stairs and then looked away, trying not to think about what was probably going on up there.
Upstairs Spike carried Buffy into one of the empty rooms and laid her down on the bed. Then Buffy watched him disapear into what she assumed was the bathroom. She heard the water start and Spike came back into the room.
"Thought you'd want to get cleaned up," Spike explained.
"Thanks," Buffy said. "They let me shower there but I had to practically file a request to." She looked down at what she was wearing, sweats and a hospital gown that were covered by a robe. "Is there anyway I can get out of this too?" She asked.
Spike nodded, "The cheerleader'll get you something."
"Have her get a tent," Buffy said. "That's probably all that will fit me." She stood up, went into the bathroom, undressed and got into the tub. She sighed with relief. The hot water was just what she needed to soothe her sore muscles.
"Enjoying it luv?" Spike asked, leaning against the door frame.
"I feel like I've died and gone to heaven, again," Buffy said, leaning her head back and closing her eyes. "Except for the fact that I probably look like a beached whale."
Spike smiled and said, "You have never looked more beautiful than you do right now."
Buffy opened her eyes, "And you have never told a bigger lie than you just did."
"Serious as a heart attack, pet," Spike told her. He turned to leave, "I'll be right back."
"Where are you going?" Buffy asked.
Spike didn't answer. He just left, closing the door behind him. Buffy sighed. She might as well enjoy this because it wouldn't be long before they'd have to go back to Sunnydale and the mess there. Once that happened there wouldn't be much of a chance to relax.
Spike was able to get to and from the kitchen without anyone noticing. He quickly put a tray together and carried upstairs. He set it down on the table in the room he'd appropriated for him and Buffy
"Miss me?" Spike asked, poking his head in the bathroom.
"Come here," Buffy said, motioning him over. Spike walked over to the tub and started to pull his shirt off. "No," Buffy said.
"What?" Spike asked. This was not how he planned this.
Buffy rolled her eyes, "Come here."
Spike sighed and knelt down next to the tub, "What's more exciting than..." He was cut off when Buffy splashed some water at him. He leaned back startled, then grinned, "Oh you're going to get it." He leaned over Buffy.
"Wait," Buffy said, holding out her hands. "I want to show you something."
Spike looked her up and down, "Ah luv, there is no part of you that I havn't seen."
"Shhh," Buffy said. "Just watch." She lay perfectly still and stared at her stomach.
Spike followed her gaze, wondering what she was talking about. He waited for a few second, then asked impatiently, "What are we waiting for?"
Buffy didn't answer for a minute, then she pointed to her stomach, "That."
Spike looked confused for a second but then he saw what Buffy wanted him to, "Is that?"
Buffy nodded, not taking her eyes off her stomach. She and Spike just watched watched her stomach, as the baby's elbows and knees were visble as they made contact with the inside of Buffy's stomach.
"Wow," Spike said, reaching over and putting his hand on Buffy's stomach. The baby kicked at Spike's hand. "Hey," Spike protested.
"Sorry," Buffy said. "Should have warned you. He doesn't like it when someone touches my stomach."
"Territorial," Spike said, moving his hand off of Buffy's stomach.
"You have no idea," Buffy said. "He seems to know when it's me touching my stomach, he doesn't mind that but when one of the doctors would try to examine me he'd go crazy."
"I'll keep that in mind," Spike said. He leaned over and kissed her forehead. "Good to have you back, luv."
Buffy nodded, "I was never so bored when I was in that place. They didn't hurt me but all I could do was sit around and do nothing but worry about what they were going to do to the baby and what they might have done to my friends."
"Both are fine," Spike assured her. "I read your file and it said that everything's good with the little nipper. As for your mates, I talked to Dawn last night and everyone's fine. Your watcher is back and they're all waiting for me to bring you home." Spike decided it was better not to mention the litter of newborn kittens in the basement. He hoped that Clem would have sold them by the time they got home.
"We need to get back," Buffy said. "Before your insane ex puts her newest plan in action."
"We will," Spike promised. He was just as anxious as Buffy to get home. He'd spent too much time with Angel as it was.
"We should get going now," Buffy said. She struggled to sit up. She was finally able to with Spike's help. He helped her out of the tub and then to dry off.
"Where are my clothes?" Buffy asked, looking around for something to wear.
"Here," Spike said, tossing her one of his shirts and a pair of sweats that he'd borrowed from Cordelia. Buffy quickly dressed and was relieved to find that, although everything was a little tight, it still fit. Spike looked her up and down.
"What?" Buffy asked, unnerved by how Spike was looking at her.
"Just hoping that," He ran his finger along the buttons of the shirt she was wearing. "You'd wait a bit before putting clothes on." He leaned down and kissed her, while undoing the buttons on her shirt.
Buffy pushed him away, "Spike, no." He looked confused and Buffy thought she saw a flash of hurt so she quickly explained. "We don't have time right now. We need to get back to Sunnydale before all hell breaks lose."
"Things are fine in Sunnyhell," Spike said. "Your Watcher's there and gettin' everyone ready to take Dru down. And," He pulled Buffy into his arms and began kissing her neck, "A few hours is not going to matter and I've missed you."
Buffy pushed him away again, "No," She insisted. Now she was sure she saw hurt on his face so she tried to explain. "Look," She said, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "I'm tired, I'm sore and I feel as big as a house and about as attractive as...." She searched for the right words. "A blue whale."
Spike sat down on the bed next to Buffy, "I find," He began kissing her shoulder. "Blue whales very," He continued up her neck until he reached her ear, "Very sexy."
Buffy tried to protest for a second but then she stopped fighting him. Despite how unattractive she felt, she still wanted him and she had no idea what was going to happen when they got home. Aside from Drusilla's army, there was the baby to think about. There probably wouldn't be very many chances for romance when there was a baby around. Buffy was just about to tell Spike this when he moved his hand and rendered her incapable of a coherent thought.
Hours later and downstairs Gunn glanced up the stairs, annoyed, "Think they'll ever come down?"
"Not for awhile," Fred said, going through a file. "With vampire and slayer stamina they could be up there for hours." She looked up and saw the look on Angel's face. "Sorry."
Angel shrugged. He knew what was probably going on upstairs and what would continue to happen. It bothered him a little but he could deal with it. He looked up and saw Buffy and Spike coming down the stairs. Buffy's face was flushed and Spike had a smug, satisfied look on his face. For second Angel forget what he'd been thinking a second ago but tried to remember that he was in no position to judge Buffy.
"Nice to see you two," Angel said. "I didn't think we ever would again."
"Only in my fondest dreams," Spike said.
"So when are you two leaving?" Cordelia asked.
"Sunset," Buffy said. "We need to get back right away."
Angel nodded, "The latest I've heard is that Drusilla's army is complete. All she's waiting for is for the stars to align."
"And that's soon," Buffy said. "That's why we have to get back and stop her before she can open the Hellmouth."
Angel shook his head, "I don't think it's just the Hellmouth opening she's after. There's something else going on."
"We'll figure it out when we get home," Spike said, anxious to get out of L.A. and back to Sunnydale. He looked outside. The sun was setting enough that he could drive back. "Let's go," He told Buffy.
"Wait," Buffy said. "What about the government? How do we know they aren't going to come after us again."
"They won't," Angel said.
"Don't be so sure about that," said a voice from the doorway. Everyone turned and saw Riley Finn standing in the doorway. Behind him was an entire team of armed guards.
Buffy stared at the ceiling, thinking for the millionth time how bored she was. She was used to activity, to doing, instead of just sitting around. Buffy sighed and glanced at the call button that was right next to her bed. She knew that if she pressed it a doctor would come and that if she asked she would be allowed to take a walk in down the hall.
Her so called doctors had been encouraging her to do as much walking as possible. When she'd asked why they had told her that walking might help induce labor. That had been a mistake telling her that. She hadn't set foot out of bed, except to use the bathroom. She was not doing anything that might help them. She knew that they were planning to take her baby away from her as soon as he was born and do who knows what to both of them.
The baby, sensing her thoughts, kicked hard. Buffy smiled and stroked her stomach, "It's okay, we'll get out of here before they can hurt either one of us." She just didn't know how. Right after she'd realized where she was and what they were going to do, she'd tried to escape but she had barely gotten out of her room when she'd been caught. The result was that she'd been chained to her bed and drugged. That had been when the majority of the tests had been performed. Once Buffy had managed to shake off her stupor she'd refused all tests. The chains had been taken off in an attempt to get her to cooportate but she had refused to let them touch her.
A sudden tightening of her abdominal muscles made her wince. She rubbed her stomach and took deep breaths while she waited for it to pass. She knew that they were just Braxton-Hicks, false labor, but they had scared her when she'd first felt them. That had been the only reason she'd allowed a doctor to look at her. They'd assured her that everything was normal but that all signs pointed to her giving birth in the next few weeks. That mean that she didn't have much time for her friends to figure out a rescue plan. If they were even able to.
Buffy sighed and rolled over onto her side, adjusting the monitors so that they wouldn't go off. She wondered if her friends were okay. She'd asked her doctors if her friends had been hurt. They had said that they didn't know but Buffy didn't believe them. Her doctors had to know everything that was going on. They would know if her friends were alright. They just weren't saying. Buffy knew that her doctors figured if she thought she had been adandoned and was on her own, she'd cooperate better.
"But they don't know your daddy, do they," Buffy said to her baby. She knew that only death would keep Spike from rescuing her and the baby. She just hoped that Spike would show up sooner rather than later. This mess with the government hadn't made her forget what was going on in Sunnydale. By now Drusilla's army would be ready to attack and Dru and the Trio were probably ready to open the Hellmouth.
Buffy shook her head. She was starting to depress herself with all her worries. Plus she was hooked up to machines that monitored her heartrate, as well as a fetal monitor. Any change in her or the baby's heartbeats and doctors would instantly appear. Buffy wanted avoid this so she forced herself to think of other things so she wouldn't bring on any more stress. She looked around the room for something to do but there was nothing. Her guards had been given orders not to let her have anything. There was no TV in the room and anything the could possible be used as a weapon had been romoved. All that was in Buffy's room was a hospital bed and monitoring equipment. The room was even searched to make sure that Buffy wasn't working on something to help her escape. She knew that Riley must have told them how resourcefull she could be. Riley...
Buffy shut her eyes. She was not going to think about him. It was too much to deal with, that he could have betrayed her this way. It had been one thing when he'd cheated on her but this time he'd crossed a line. He'd put her and her child in danger, that she wasn't sure she could forgive.
Buffy sighed and pulled the blankets up around her chin. She'd try and take a nap, at least that would make some of the time pass. She was just about to drift off when she heard the door open.
Buffy opened her eyes, wondering who they had sent in now. She'd seen every kind of doctor there was. She'd even had a session with a psychiatrist. She couldn't wait to see who they had sent now.
"Buffy?" The woman asked. She didn't look much older than Buffy. She had dark hair that was pulled back into a bun, glasses and had a timid air about her.
Buffy rolled her eyes but said, "Yes."
"Good," The woman said. She looked around and then her whole manner changed. She hurried to Buffy's side and turned off the alarms and monitors. Then she quickly unhooked Buffy.
"What are you doing?" Buffy asked.
"I'll explain later. Come on, we have to get out of here before they realize that you're gone."
"Who are you?" Buffy asked.
"Fred," She said. "I work with Angel." She eyed Buffy, "Can you stand? I can get a wheelchair but it would be better if you could walk."
"Wait a minute," Buffy said "Angel sent you? How does he know anything about this?"
"Spike came and asked him for help," Fred explained. "I'll explain everything once we're out of here."
"Spike asked Angel for help," Buffy said suspiciously. "Right, in some alternate dimension maybe but in this one they despise each other."
"I know," Fred agreed. "We've had to separate them so many times.. There were a few minutes when I thought they were really going to kill each other."
"Wait a minute," Buffy said, uncertainly. "We're not in some alternate demension? This is our world."
"Yeah," Fred said. "And I don't have much time to get you out of here. So come on."
Buffy hesitated. Fred seemed to be telling the truth but Buffy wasn't sure. This could be another trick of the governments. She needed proof before she was going anywhere. "Wait," Buffy said. "I need some proof that you're telling the truth, that you work with Angel."
Fred nodded, "Spike said you'd be suspicious. He told me to give you this. He said he found it in your car. He wanted you to have it back." She handed Buffy a familiar necklace.
Buffy gasped. It was the sapphire necklace that had belonged to Spike's mother and that he had given her. She quickly checked the clasp and saw the initials. They were there and Fred was telling the truth. No one could have known where she left the necklace and only a few people knew of its existance and its significance. Buffy quickly put the necklace on and said, "Let's go."
"Come on," Fred told her. "There's a car waiting downstairs to take us back to the hotel."
Buffy followed Fred out the door. The guards were there. They saw Buffy and eyed her suspiciously.
"I'm taking her down for a scan," Fred told them.
The guards nodded so Buffy and Fred hurried to the elevator.
"That was easy," Fred commented.
"Yeah," Buffy said. "These guys are programmed to just stand around and not ask questions." They rode the elevator to the floor that they would leave from. The elevator doors opened. Fred looked around. There was no one on that floor.
"Where is everyone?" Buffy asked.
"I fixed it so that all the guards would be away long enough for us to get out of here," Fred explained. "But let's hurry before someone realizes what I did."
They moved as fast as they could towards the doors. They were almost there when they both heard the sound of footsteps. Fred and Buffy froze.
"What do we do?" Fred asked.
Buffy looked at the door. She quickly calculated how long it would take for them to reach the door, "Run," Buffy said.
"What?" Fred asked.
"You said that there's a car outside, right," Buffy said. "We just have to get to it and then we're safe."
"Can you run?" Fred asked, looking at Buffy's stomach.
"I'm still the Slayer," Buffy said. "I can't run as fast as I could but I'll make it. Now go," She ran for the door, as fast as she could with Fred close behind her. They made it outside and stopped for a minute.
"Where's the car?" Buffy gasped, amazed at how out of shape she was.
"Over here," Fred said, pointing to a dark car. She and Buffy hurried towards it. They yanked open the doors, got in and slumped against the seats, gasping.
The person who was driving turned around, "Hello Buffy."
"Wesley," Buffy said, in surprise. "You're driving the get-away car?"
"My car," was all Wesley said as he started the car and drove away.
Another figure in the front seat turn, "Fred, you okay?"
"I'm fine Charles," Fred told him.
"Any problems getting out?" Wesley asked.
"No," Buffy said. She looked around the car, "Where's Angel and Spike?"
"We left them back at the hotel," Wesley said. "Cordelia and Lorne are keeping an eye on them."
Wesley drove as fast as he could back to the hotel. Once there he helped Buffy out of the car and she, along with Wesley, Gunn and Fred went into the hotel.
"What's taking so long?" Spike asked, pacing through the loby.
"They haven't been gone that long," Angel said, testily.
Spike stopped and looked at Angel, "If your mates have screwed up and put Buffy in even more danger..."
"Guys," Lorne said, seeing Buffy standing in the doorway.
"No one's screwed up," Angel snapped. "You're just going to have to wait for once in your unlife."
"Uh guys," Lorne tried again.
"I'm not waiting," Spike told Angel. "Something went wrong, I know it."
"Would you two just shut up and look," Cordelia said, pointing to the door.
Both Spike and Angel turned and saw Buffy. Neither one of them said anything. They just stared at her.
"We should have gotten you back sooner," Wesley murmered to Buffy. "If that's what it took to shut them up."
Buffy didn't answer. She just stared back at them. Then she walked towards Angel and Spike. All three of them were silent. She reached Angel, paused for a split second and then walked right past him without even looking at him. She kept walking until she reached Spike. Then she stopped right in front of him. Both of them stood there for a minute, then Buffy made a soft noise and threw herself into Spike's arms.
They just stood there, locked in each other's arms, Spike' face buried in Buffy's hair. Slowly he looked at Buffy and lowered his lips to hers. She returned his kiss, passionately and long.
Everyone looked away as Spike and Buffy got more passionate. They seemed to forget that anyone was there.
Finally Cordelia snapped, "For crying out loud you two, get a room."
"Good idea," Spike said. He reached down and lifted Buffy up into his arms. Because of his vampire strength the added weight of her pregnancy didn't bother him and he effortlessly began to carry her up the stairs.
Once they were out of sight, Lorne sighed, "And they say romance is dead."
Angel glared at him. Then he walked over to the playpen and picked up Connor, "We may have gotten Buffy back but it's not over yet, not until the government knows what'll happen to them if they go anywhere near Buffy or Connor."
Fred glanced at her computer, "It's all there. All we have to do is make sure that they know that it's there."
"Good," Angel said, bouncing Connor. He glanced up the stairs and then looked away, trying not to think about what was probably going on up there.
Upstairs Spike carried Buffy into one of the empty rooms and laid her down on the bed. Then Buffy watched him disapear into what she assumed was the bathroom. She heard the water start and Spike came back into the room.
"Thought you'd want to get cleaned up," Spike explained.
"Thanks," Buffy said. "They let me shower there but I had to practically file a request to." She looked down at what she was wearing, sweats and a hospital gown that were covered by a robe. "Is there anyway I can get out of this too?" She asked.
Spike nodded, "The cheerleader'll get you something."
"Have her get a tent," Buffy said. "That's probably all that will fit me." She stood up, went into the bathroom, undressed and got into the tub. She sighed with relief. The hot water was just what she needed to soothe her sore muscles.
"Enjoying it luv?" Spike asked, leaning against the door frame.
"I feel like I've died and gone to heaven, again," Buffy said, leaning her head back and closing her eyes. "Except for the fact that I probably look like a beached whale."
Spike smiled and said, "You have never looked more beautiful than you do right now."
Buffy opened her eyes, "And you have never told a bigger lie than you just did."
"Serious as a heart attack, pet," Spike told her. He turned to leave, "I'll be right back."
"Where are you going?" Buffy asked.
Spike didn't answer. He just left, closing the door behind him. Buffy sighed. She might as well enjoy this because it wouldn't be long before they'd have to go back to Sunnydale and the mess there. Once that happened there wouldn't be much of a chance to relax.
Spike was able to get to and from the kitchen without anyone noticing. He quickly put a tray together and carried upstairs. He set it down on the table in the room he'd appropriated for him and Buffy
"Miss me?" Spike asked, poking his head in the bathroom.
"Come here," Buffy said, motioning him over. Spike walked over to the tub and started to pull his shirt off. "No," Buffy said.
"What?" Spike asked. This was not how he planned this.
Buffy rolled her eyes, "Come here."
Spike sighed and knelt down next to the tub, "What's more exciting than..." He was cut off when Buffy splashed some water at him. He leaned back startled, then grinned, "Oh you're going to get it." He leaned over Buffy.
"Wait," Buffy said, holding out her hands. "I want to show you something."
Spike looked her up and down, "Ah luv, there is no part of you that I havn't seen."
"Shhh," Buffy said. "Just watch." She lay perfectly still and stared at her stomach.
Spike followed her gaze, wondering what she was talking about. He waited for a few second, then asked impatiently, "What are we waiting for?"
Buffy didn't answer for a minute, then she pointed to her stomach, "That."
Spike looked confused for a second but then he saw what Buffy wanted him to, "Is that?"
Buffy nodded, not taking her eyes off her stomach. She and Spike just watched watched her stomach, as the baby's elbows and knees were visble as they made contact with the inside of Buffy's stomach.
"Wow," Spike said, reaching over and putting his hand on Buffy's stomach. The baby kicked at Spike's hand. "Hey," Spike protested.
"Sorry," Buffy said. "Should have warned you. He doesn't like it when someone touches my stomach."
"Territorial," Spike said, moving his hand off of Buffy's stomach.
"You have no idea," Buffy said. "He seems to know when it's me touching my stomach, he doesn't mind that but when one of the doctors would try to examine me he'd go crazy."
"I'll keep that in mind," Spike said. He leaned over and kissed her forehead. "Good to have you back, luv."
Buffy nodded, "I was never so bored when I was in that place. They didn't hurt me but all I could do was sit around and do nothing but worry about what they were going to do to the baby and what they might have done to my friends."
"Both are fine," Spike assured her. "I read your file and it said that everything's good with the little nipper. As for your mates, I talked to Dawn last night and everyone's fine. Your watcher is back and they're all waiting for me to bring you home." Spike decided it was better not to mention the litter of newborn kittens in the basement. He hoped that Clem would have sold them by the time they got home.
"We need to get back," Buffy said. "Before your insane ex puts her newest plan in action."
"We will," Spike promised. He was just as anxious as Buffy to get home. He'd spent too much time with Angel as it was.
"We should get going now," Buffy said. She struggled to sit up. She was finally able to with Spike's help. He helped her out of the tub and then to dry off.
"Where are my clothes?" Buffy asked, looking around for something to wear.
"Here," Spike said, tossing her one of his shirts and a pair of sweats that he'd borrowed from Cordelia. Buffy quickly dressed and was relieved to find that, although everything was a little tight, it still fit. Spike looked her up and down.
"What?" Buffy asked, unnerved by how Spike was looking at her.
"Just hoping that," He ran his finger along the buttons of the shirt she was wearing. "You'd wait a bit before putting clothes on." He leaned down and kissed her, while undoing the buttons on her shirt.
Buffy pushed him away, "Spike, no." He looked confused and Buffy thought she saw a flash of hurt so she quickly explained. "We don't have time right now. We need to get back to Sunnydale before all hell breaks lose."
"Things are fine in Sunnyhell," Spike said. "Your Watcher's there and gettin' everyone ready to take Dru down. And," He pulled Buffy into his arms and began kissing her neck, "A few hours is not going to matter and I've missed you."
Buffy pushed him away again, "No," She insisted. Now she was sure she saw hurt on his face so she tried to explain. "Look," She said, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "I'm tired, I'm sore and I feel as big as a house and about as attractive as...." She searched for the right words. "A blue whale."
Spike sat down on the bed next to Buffy, "I find," He began kissing her shoulder. "Blue whales very," He continued up her neck until he reached her ear, "Very sexy."
Buffy tried to protest for a second but then she stopped fighting him. Despite how unattractive she felt, she still wanted him and she had no idea what was going to happen when they got home. Aside from Drusilla's army, there was the baby to think about. There probably wouldn't be very many chances for romance when there was a baby around. Buffy was just about to tell Spike this when he moved his hand and rendered her incapable of a coherent thought.
Hours later and downstairs Gunn glanced up the stairs, annoyed, "Think they'll ever come down?"
"Not for awhile," Fred said, going through a file. "With vampire and slayer stamina they could be up there for hours." She looked up and saw the look on Angel's face. "Sorry."
Angel shrugged. He knew what was probably going on upstairs and what would continue to happen. It bothered him a little but he could deal with it. He looked up and saw Buffy and Spike coming down the stairs. Buffy's face was flushed and Spike had a smug, satisfied look on his face. For second Angel forget what he'd been thinking a second ago but tried to remember that he was in no position to judge Buffy.
"Nice to see you two," Angel said. "I didn't think we ever would again."
"Only in my fondest dreams," Spike said.
"So when are you two leaving?" Cordelia asked.
"Sunset," Buffy said. "We need to get back right away."
Angel nodded, "The latest I've heard is that Drusilla's army is complete. All she's waiting for is for the stars to align."
"And that's soon," Buffy said. "That's why we have to get back and stop her before she can open the Hellmouth."
Angel shook his head, "I don't think it's just the Hellmouth opening she's after. There's something else going on."
"We'll figure it out when we get home," Spike said, anxious to get out of L.A. and back to Sunnydale. He looked outside. The sun was setting enough that he could drive back. "Let's go," He told Buffy.
"Wait," Buffy said. "What about the government? How do we know they aren't going to come after us again."
"They won't," Angel said.
"Don't be so sure about that," said a voice from the doorway. Everyone turned and saw Riley Finn standing in the doorway. Behind him was an entire team of armed guards.