Title: That Damned Happiness Clause (37?)

Feedback! (I know, it's been forever)

Setting: Expecting. Keep in mind that I am a strong believer in the fact that one little thing can change the course of history, hence cannon gets meddled with because life took a different path my cannon is not Joss'.

Recap: The boys are going home.

They drank soda in the sky. Spike could tell that his boy wasn't happy about their altitude because of the way Xander keep glancing towards the plane's window so he said, "We never finished the name discussion. What about Jesse?"

"He wouldn't like that. He'd call it dwelling. What about Christopher? It's a nice name, the prince in Cinderella is name Christopher."

"Really? Only you would know that."

"Christopher Rupert, Windamehr Ladameir, Carl Alexander, Francois Reginal, Lanalot Herman, Gregory James."

"Alright so: James Rupert Christopher. Girl? I like Moira."

"Any reason?" asked Xander stroking Spike's hand.

"I had a dog called Moira. I was on the banks of the Thames with my brother and my sisters. I was thirteen and busy watching the three of them. And I didn't notice that some rotten bloody kid had kicked her into the water. She got caught on something and drowned. I fucking loved that bitch."

"Oh, I'm sorry. . . I like Joyce. Buffy's mom is such a mom."

"What about your mum? Jessica."

"No, she was miserable. I don't want to name her for misery. What was your mom's name?"

"Iris."

"Pretty."

Looking out the window Spike agreed with a nod.

"We should get more kittens. Not right away but I think the baby could use a pet and you ate all the kitten's you won. I mean Angel and Doyle still have Felix but he's theirs and I think Angel's finally getting over his cat fear."

Angel saw the man standing at the airport and smiled warmly. "Giles, how nice to see you. What are you doing here?"

"I came to pick Xander and Spike up."

"Typical!" Angel shook his head. "They get a ride and don't tell me."

Giles was mildly surprised that Angel was being almost capable of small talk. Buffy had told him of the Irishman and he wondered how the man had made such a difference in the vampire. Trying for a warm reply he said, "Xander can be absent minded."

"And Spike currently doesn't have a mind outside of Xander," rejoined Angel with an almost paternally fond smile. "They won't be through customs for a long time. Want to try find some coffee?"

As he ran his fingers over Xander's wrists, Spike smiled. Even in his sleep Xander instantly moved into the caress. The boy was wearing sweat bands that they'd bought at a street fair the night before. When Xander had started lactating blood and milk from his wrists Spike had been concerned but Xander had just laughed and assured him it was fine saying, "Would you rather I grew breasts? 'Cause personally? I don't think they'd look hot." And he'd stopped joking when Spike lapped at one of the weeping wrists, instead he'd wrapped his legs around the vampire's waist and fallen happily back into bed.

Now the smell of Spike's comatose lover played over his vampire senses and made him moan softly. Xander was so warm, vibrant, alive, sexy.

"Xander," he called in a singsong voice, "Xannnderrr, we're on the ground."

Eyes opening, Xander stretched before looking out the window and asking, "When did this happen?"

"About three minutes ago. Almost everyone else is off." Spike smiled and brushed hair off his boy's face. "C'mon, your watcher's waiting."

The vampire and watcher were still being friendly as they waited at the gate. Spike and Xander were among the last through. "We were worried you'd missed it," said Giles with a smile as Xander gave him a tight hug. The contact made him look slightly abashed.

Seeing Angel Spike grimaced, "We forgot to call."

"You did," Angel agreed.

"Well," said Xander, "it might not be such a bad thing because we didn't pack light. Giles are you still driving something tiny?"

"Yes."

"Okay, why don't you take Spike and half the bags and Angel and I can take the other half?" suggested Xander brightly. He sent his lover a pleading look that Giles caught.

Before the blond vampire could reply Giles said, "Wonderful idea. We'll see you back at your apartment."

"Is there a reason why we're leaving the watcher and the unrepentant evil vampire alone?" asked Angel as he placed the bags in the back; he wouldn't let Xander life things.

"Yeah, I wanted to ride with you," Xander smiled and punched Angel's arm. "Spike needs to realize that Giles isn't a threat."

Angel studied the boy for a moment before pulling him into a hug and saying. "You look so beautiful like this."

"Like what?" asked Xander, knowing what Angel meant but wanting a compliment. He'd never received them the way he got them here: meant and honest.

"Glowing," replied Angel.

Xander smiled, "I look sweaty and nine months knocked up."

Smiling into Xander's hair Angel said, "I'm sure it means nothing, but I'm so proud of you. And I'm so pleased for you."

"It means something," said Xander and Angel brushed a light kiss over Xander's mouth.

As they climbed into the car Xander asked, "What's happened since we left?"

"Cordy got pregnant with demon spawn." He started to pull out of the parking lot, watching Giles' car in his rearview mirror.

"Yea! We can be preggers buddies."

Angel shook his head, "There were twelve creatures inside of her. We killed the father, doing that killed his progeny."

"Oh."

Correctly reading the boy's mood Angel said, "It's not the same."

"No? Because here I thought I was about to birth an evil demon's spawn."

"Cordelia didn't want them, didn't know she was sleeping with a guy carrying demon come, her babies tried to possess her, it would have killed her to give birth."

"I'm gonna love my baby."

Angel tried to placate him, "And you'll be a wonderful father."

"My baby isn't evil."

"Of course not."

"Spike's evil but he's kind and loving."

"You have nothing to worry about," agreed Angel.

"I don't, right?"

Hearing the need for reassurance in the boy's voice the vampire said, "The baby will be wonderful. Don't be scared." Glancing in his rearview mirror again he said, "Giles doesn't look irritated yet, that's a good sign."

Xander leaned back in his chair, "Good."

"How long is he here for?"

"As long as he likes, I hope it's a few days. But Christmas is in a six days so I'm not sure. I hope it's a few days."

Angel smiled, sad that Giles -the boy's last connection to Sunnydale- would only stay a few days while Xander was having a baby. "How was Canada?"

"Wonderful. Freezing, but great. I even got Spike to snow tube, he said it was retarded as it was just sitting on your butt in the snow masquerading as a doing sport but then he got into it and wouldn't stop launching himself out of his tube when we were going downhill and landing on mine. He said it was his job to be evil." Xander laughed and rolled his head on his neck.

As they pulled into the underground parking lot Angel said, "Well, welcome home, Xander."

He watched his sire's eyes slide to his large stomach and Xander asked, "Are you and Doyle thinking about kids? I mean, none of us thought it was possible fifteen days ago."

Angel shook his head, "We talked about it but. . . not for a few years. There's plenty of time. We want four later."

The first five minutes in Giles' car were silent and awkward. Finally the watcher said, "Xander looks wonderful."

"He always does," said Spike but he felt like it was time to get the pleasantries out of the way and just say what needed to be said. "The baby will be here in two days. It doesn't seem like enough time."

He had been trying to think of a tactful way to ask his question but he couldn't think of a polite version and so Giles said, "Are you going to be a good father?"

"He's my mate. You can't take him away. If you try-"

"I'm not going to."

"I know you're a watcher-"

Angered by the words Giles asked, "What does that mean?"

"He loves you and if try to take him or the baby-"

"How dare you."

Ignoring the man's offence Spike pushed on, "It will kill him. If you try to get him to leave we'll both die. And if you steal his baby you'll be stealing his father figure too. It will be too much, he'll go mad. His father was a bastard. He thinks of you in the capacity of a caring adult. You hugged him as though you cared. I'm pleased if you're here for him but, if you hurt him in some way, I will hunt you down and not let you die for years. So if that's your aim I suggest you leave now. I can tell him that you got mad at me and left. You have no idea how important you are to him. You weren't just Buffy's watcher, he loves you and I need you to leave before you break that."

Silenced by Spike's honest words Giles finally said calmly, "I'm not here to take your child. I'm just here for a visit. I'm not going to hurt him. I've read the histories and know what you're capable of. Even if I did not care for Xander I wouldn't cross you. But that's not why I'm here."

"Okay," Spike let out an unneeded breath, "Good." They were pulling into the apartment's parking lot and he sighed. Home again.

Watching the vampire relax Giles realized he could place some reassurance behind his words. "I spoke to Wesley for you. I told him the situation and threatened his life. He wouldn't do anything but it's best to err on the side of caution."

"Thank you," said Spike as the watcher put the car in park next to Angel's machine.

Giles smiled, William the Bloody had just thanked a watcher. "You're going to be a wonderful father."

Spike was about to reply when he saw something out of the corner of his eye that made him jump out of the car, "Xander, don't you dare pick up that bag! That one's the heaviest. Take the carry-on bag."

Xander rolled his eyes and went to lift the big black bag but Angel stopped him with a smile, "Don't do it just to spite him. Go put the kettle on. Doyle got you new milk."

Rolling his eyes he muttered, "Yes, sire."

The key in the lock made the clicking noise of coming home. And as he flipped the light switch Cordelia, Doyle, and Wesley jumped up saying "Surprise!"

A round cake on the kidney shaped coffee table read "Hurray for Baby!" And, after blinking several times, Xander asked, "Is three people a surprise party or surprise get together?" Shaking his head he said, "Disregard that question." He smiled, "I'm gonna turn off the lights and you can do it again for Spike. This is so cool!" He darkened the room and walked into the kitchen to put the kettle on the burner.

Finding the lights off in the living room Spike called, "Xander, is there a reason why the light is off?"

"No, turn it on," called the boy from the kitchen.

"There are five pulses in this apartment and only two of them are inside of your body. So, when I illuminate the room, am I going to have to feign shock when all our nearest and dearest jump out?"

"Stop being difficult," said Giles behind Spike.

When the light came on Cordelia was tapping her foot, Doyle was flipping Spike off, and Wesley still said, "Surprise!"

"I'm shocked, really," Spike said dryly but happily received a hug from Cordelia.

"Hi, Giles," she said with a smile. This was her party and she was going to be a good hostess even if it wasn't her house. "You know Wesley and this is Doyle."

They shook hands and Doyle said, "It's nice to finally meet you."

Xander walked back in with the teapot and cups along with milk, sugar, honey, and lemon. "Put that down," said Cordy, "and come see what we've done."

She took Xander and Spike's hands and pulled them into their bedroom. Everything looked exactly how they'd left it, right down to the unmade bed, save for the closet light which was on and visible through the Venetian folding doors. Without thinking Xander moved to turn it off. The closet stretched eight feet along the wall and was four feet deep. Instead of seeing the clothing and stuff Xander was expecting when he opened the door, he saw that the bare bulb had a shade. The walls had been painted cream and a dark wood bassinette was sitting next to a rocking chair and a changing table cum dresser.

Spike whistled and Doyle said, "It's less of a nursery and more of an alcove but we figured you would want to keep him close at first."

"It's awesome!" said Xander excitedly. And, noticing gold symbols bordering the ceiling, he asked, "What are those?"

"Ancient demonic language," replied Spike.

"The first written language," explained Giles.

Clearing his throat Wesley said, "We thought that-"

"Credit where credit's due, mate," Doyle interrupted.

"Fine -I thought that- in this line of work, a few ancient protection spells wouldn't go amiss."

"The one who sits here shall be protected for ever and eternity," read Angel.

"Thank you," said Xander studying Wesley, "it's thoughtful."

With a sniff Spike said, "Was that chocolate cake? Who wants a drink with their cake? I'll do drink orders."

"Tea's made," added Xander and he sat down in the rocking chair and ran his hands over the varnished arms. Feeling the gaze on him he looked and met Spike's slightly lidded eyes, "Later," he promised and stood with a smile.

"Don't discuss sex in front of me," commanded Cordelia.

"Sorry," Xander blushed slightly. "Thank you, guys, so much. This is great."

Doyle hugged him and didn't let go, "Glad you like it."

"I did nothing," Angel announced.

"Of course you didn't, pillock. Help me with the drinks."