Buffy couldn't take it anymore. She was going over to the bar and ask someone, anyone, if they knew when Spike was coming back from his trip. "Willow, I'm going out."
"Have fun finding Spike." Willow and Tara smiled from the couch where they were snuggly watching television together.
"Hey, watch out." Buffy had been coming down the stairs to the apartment so fast she hadn't notice the man standing in front of the apartment until she ran into him. When she looked up to see his face she gasped.
"We have to stop meeting like this Luv," Spike smirked as she recovered from her shock and hugged him.
"Oh Spike, I am so sorry. I was just telling Angel to get out of my life when from out of nowhere he kisses me and before I get a chance to disentangle myself and slap him I see you leaving. I never meant to hurt you like that and after you left I told him off royally and I don't think he'll bother us again." Buffy looked into his blue eyes for a glint of forgiveness.
"Of course I forgive you if you forgive me." Spike smiled back at her and then sighed. "I was afraid that with the bad timing and suddenness of the trip you wouldn't forgive me. My mom got really sick and I had to move her out of the country cottage she's lived in since she was eighteen and into an assisted living apartment next to the hospital. I think the move was harder on her than being sick."
"Oh Spike, I'm so sorry here I am pathetically worried about my love life when something really big is happening to your mother. Is there anything I can do? I have time off between classes maybe if you introduce me I can keep her company."
"That would be really nice Luv, and I want you to meet her, but with the move and the medical treatments disorienting her it would be better to meet her after she gets adjusted to everything." Just then Spike's phone rang and after a few moments of listening he looked grave. "I'll be right there," and turned off the phone. "My mom," he explained, "I really have to go."
"I understand," Buffy smiled weakly. "I really hope she gets better."
"No one expects the Spanish inquisition" Spike sighed but then looked at Buffy. "Oi, cheer up Luv. I'm sure my mom will be fine. So sure in fact that I will be at the bar tomorrow night waiting for you to show up and make my life better."
Buffy smiled, "I think I can manage that." As they kiss she is both comforted that they are back together and worried that he needs to go see his mother. After groaning into his mouth she whispers, "You'd better get going or I'm not going to be able to let you leave." They share a look of understanding and promise before Spike runs to his car and leaves and Buffy heads back upstairs.
&&&
"Hey Angel," Buffy said into the phone when called the bed and breakfast that night.
"Buffy, What is it? Is something wrong?" Angel asked nervously staring at the bathroom where Darla was currently located.
"No, I just wanted to here your voice" Buffy assured him. "I miss you when you're away."
"I miss you too sweetie," Angel smiled into the phone.
"So I need to tell you something wonderful that I just found out," Buffy began to gather up her courage to tell Angel about the baby when she heard a woman screaming on the other end of the line. "What was that?" Buffy asked.
Angel made exaggerated gestures to Darla screaming that he was on the phone with Buffy. "Nothing, there seems to be a sex act taking place next door. Oh, and there's room service I really better go. I'll talk to you when I get home okay." Angel slammed down the phone and glared at Darla.
As Buffy hung up the phone she just sighed, "So I found out that we are going to have a baby."
&&&
As Buffy doodled Spike's name all over her school schedule in class the next day she was shocked to realize that she hadn't had her period in the almost two months since she started dating Spike. 'This doesn't mean anything.' She tried to stay calm before class let out and she could go grab a pregnancy test. 'I've missed my period before.' 'Yeah but not right after having sex with the sexiest man alive.'
&&&
"What do you think you are doing?" Angel screamed at Darla. "I was on the phone with Buffy."
"I'm sorry," Darla sneered in pain, "that my possibly breaking my toe on the bathtub interrupts your scheme to keep Buffy and Me in constant romantic limbo."
"Darla, I didn't mean." Angel began.
"Save it Angel, I got back with you in the hopes that eventually it would be just the two of us again, but she's always going to come between us. So just go back to her and never call me again ever." Darla grabbed her purse and limped to the door slamming it on the way to the hospital.
&&&
Buffy strolled into the bar nervously that night. She loved Spike, but she wasn't sure with her going back to school and his mother in the hospital that now was the right time to have a baby, but right time or not the baby was coming so she might as well tell him. He deserved to know. "Hey," she smiled warmly at the bartender she recognized. "I was hoping Spike would be here already. Do you know where he is?"
"He went over to visit his mother in the hospital about an hour ago." The bartender shrugged as he headed over to a group of people waiting for their drinks.
"Well I guess I could meet him over there," Buffy glanced around the room on last time.
Buffy was humming as she walked into the entrance to the hospital. The cool night air had calmed her nerves and she was almost giddy about telling Spike the good news. She asked the nurse at the reception desk for the room number for Mrs. Pratt and was rewarded with the shock of her life.
"Her son and his wife are visiting her now, but you can see her as soon as they come down ah here they are now," the nurse smiled helpfully.
Buffy turned to see Spike kissing a beautiful dark haired woman who was indeed wearing a wedding ring. Buffy couldn't breathe and her only defense was to run out of the building.