Here's the second part of the chapter.
Chapter 27b
Monday evening…
Kara opened the front door as she heard Spike's footfalls coming up the driveway.
"I hate bloody traffic! Some stupid wanker hit the center divider on the expressway and ended up blocking two lanes! And, of course, the soddin' lookey-loos had to slow down to a bleedin' crawl to stare at the idiot! I spent two bloody hours just tryin' to get through friggin' L.A. You look cute today. Is that new?"
Kara blinked at his sudden subject change, then continued into the kitchen. She handed him a glass off the counter. "Here. I think you need this."
He took a large swallow of the scotch, sighing as it burned down his throat. "Ahhh, that's good. Thanks, pet."
"I figured it was worth a shot, since you were running late. How's the Desoto?"
"A tad warm, but she held up. What's for dinner?"
"Shrimp for me, spicy wings for you. I tried a new sauce recipe, so I hope it's good. It smelled alright. Cleared my sinuses, too." She stirred the seafood in the pan, before adding. "Go check on the grill, if you want. They should be ready to flip." Spike gave her a quick kiss, then went out back.
"It'll do," he said, a couple minutes later, licking his fingers. "Those are shrimp? I've seen smaller lobsters!"
"They were labeled as 'colossal'."
"I'll say! So, what's the plan for tonight?" he asked.
"Just…hanging out, relaxing. I arranged everything for the ceremony yesterday. There shouldn't be any problems. The Elder sends his congratulations, and Tara says 'hi'."
"You talked to Glinda today?"
"Saw her, actually. We had lunch and went shopping."
"You went shopping last week."
"For different stuff." Like pregnancy books and baby names.
"I don't get you birds, and the compulsion to shop. Just go in, get what you need, and leave."
"This, from the guy who spends two hours in the music store every time."
"That's different. Music is cultural enrichment; books, too. You chits spend hours comparing shoes."
"Hey! I don't spend hours on shoes. I go in and buy what I want."
"'Cause you can buy out the bloody store, pet. What'd you do when you only had money to get one pair at a time, hmm?"
"That's why you bring a friend along, to help you decide. Speaking of friends, you need to pick someone to be your chaperone for the night before the ceremony. And time's up on the wings." Kara walked out with a plate to go clear off the grill.
"I don't need a chaperone!"
"Yes, you do. It's tradition. So, you'll have to pick one, unless you want to spend all night with a guy you don't know."
"So…if I pick Clem, is it alright for him to come to Ossiriand?"
"Yeah…he's harmless, and I trust him. Too bad Sebastian is already gone."
"Why's that?"
"Because he's family. You guys were close back in the day, right?"
"Yeah, as much as the ten year age difference allowed. Let's eat, eh? I'm bloody starving."
"Have a seat in the family room. I'll be along in a minute." Kara dished up her shrimp and pasta, took the large mug of blood out of the microwave, and poured herself a glass of milk. Spike had already taken his plate of chicken wings with him. "No getting sauce on my couch, mister. I brought you a couple paper towels."
"Thanks, luv." He gulped down the blood while Kara put in one of the movies she'd rented. "What's that?"
"I stopped at the rental place on my way home. I was in a Shakespeare comedy mood."
Watching a movie that always made her laugh helped relax Kara's nerves. Spike slumped down on the sofa after finishing his meal, his stomach very full. Her arm rest along the back of the couch, her hand playing with his curls. He hadn't bothered with the usual gel today, for some reason. She loved his hair like this – soft and silky. It wasn't long before his eyes closed and he was purring from her touch. Kara gazed at his relaxed features, wondering what a combination of the two of them would look like. Would they have his cheekbones, or her softer features? His nose, hers, or a combination of the two? Or would they be a throwback to a past generation?
He'd been sliding along the sofa, until his head came to rest on her shoulder. Kara guided the sleepy vampire to lay his head on her lap, and resumed running her fingers through his hair. Spike nuzzled against her stomach, and stretched his feet over the other end of the furniture. He was still conscious enough to keep his boots off the upholstery. His attention turned towards her biorhythms, which always gave him a sense of peace to listen to. There was something comforting about listening to her breathe, the blood rushing through the thoracic artery, her stomach gurgling as it digested her meal. It made a really funny noise, and he chuckled. He could tell by how her hand had slowed its movement that she was paying more attention to the film now. Above it all, the timpani of her heartbeat drummed along, which…wait a minute…there seemed to be some kind of echo he hadn't noticed before?
"Kara, do you have a heart murmur you never mentioned?"
"Huh?" she blurted out, startled by his voice.
"A heart murmur. You know, makes the beat sound weird?"
"No, why? Oh…" Crap. Well, I guess now's as good a time as any.
"'Oh…' what?"
"There's no murmur, Spike," Kara replied.
"But I distinctly heard some kind of echo…"
"Honey…just put your ear back where it was and focus," she softly requested.
He looked at her, puzzled, but did as she asked. This time, Spike focused on the anomaly and listened. His eyes widened, almost comically, as his mind started to consider what the origin of the sound was.
"Is that…another…?"
"Uh huh," she breathed. "Two, actually."
He shot up off her lap and started to pace. Suddenly, he turned, and pinned her with a glare like ice. "Who did this?" he growled.
"What?" she asked, startled.
Spike grabbed her by the arms and hauled her to her feet. "WHO!"
"You did, jackass!"
"Not possible…" he shot out, shaking his head.
"Remember me saying that an eternity claim can make even the impossible reality? Well, welcome to reality!"
He released her and started pacing again. "Kara, I'm dead! And nowhere during that night did I suddenly come over with a case of humanity."
"I'm not saying it makes sense, Spike, but it is real. There's never been anyone else. God, do you actually think I would do that to you!" she cried.
He gave her a long, hard look, and relaxed a bit. "No. I know you'd never cheat on me, but what was I supposed to think? You're-"
"Pregnant, yeah. It hasn't been a cakewalk for me, either, believe me. I spent a while in denial, then freaking out, then saw the doctor, freaked out some more then, today I find out that it's not just one baby, but two! There, no more secrets."
"Two? As in…twins?" This was too much to grasp.
She smiled a little. "Yeah. Your mutant seed made identical twins."
Spike hesitantly stepped forward and laid a hand on her belly. "They're actually in here?" he murmured in disbelief.
"Yeah…I have a picture…from my doctor visit today."
"Show me…please?"
Kara nodded and gestured for him to follow. She pulled the envelope out of her purse, and started to hand it to him, then paused.
"Before you look, you need to know that they aren't just going to look like a newborn right away. They're only 8 weeks in development, so things aren't in their right places yet, and-"
"Kara, just let me see," he coaxed. She nodded again, and handed him the envelope.
His face was blank, at first, and she started to fidget. What if he still doesn't believe me? What if he thinks they're ugly? What if-
"They're perfect," he whispered.
Her head snapped up, surprised. "Really?"
"Sure…you can see the hands, and the eyes…we made them?" He had to ask again, just to try to wrap his brain around it.
"Uh huh. Half you, half me…" And he was suddenly kissing her and holding her tight.
"Thank you," he whispered reverently. "I'm sorry for being such an ass, kitten."
Kara buried her face in his chest, tears soaking into his t-shirt. Weeks of up and down emotions, and nerves, had built up to a point she couldn't contain any longer. His acceptance was the final catalyst for release.
"Shhh, sweetheart. Please don't cry. I'm sorry for being such an insensitive prick…come on, now, luv. I can't stand to see you cry. Kara?" His hands fluttered about, trying to comfort her.
She sniffed, and raised her head, wiping at her face. "Sorry. Hormones, or something," she said with a watery half-smile.
"How long have you known?"
"A month, since I pretty much knew. Missing two periods in a row really gives it away. I wanted to make sure everything was…okay, in there, before I told you. I had the ultrasound this morning."
"And they're healthy? You're okay?" Spike asked, concerned now.
"So far, all looks normal and as it should be. My next appointment is in a month, for the 3-month check-up." She could see him doing the math in his head. "Yeah, I know the numbers don't add up. I've been carrying the eggs for 10 weeks, but they've only been developing for 8."
"Is that normal?"
"For an Ossirian woman, yes. The fertilized egg can be held in limbo for over 2 months. My ancestors believed that the soul of the potential life was being weighed, measured, during that time because we wield so much power for eternity. Judged by what, or whom, I haven't a clue. Are you okay? I know this is a huge shock." You could say that again. "I mean, I doubt this is something you ever planned on, so if it's too much, that's okay. I don't want you to feel obligated just because, and I'll understand if you don't want to be tied to all this," she rambled.
Spike put his hands on her shoulders and lowered his face to her level. "Kara, slow down and breathe, okay? Sweetheart, I love you. I wouldn't have asked you to be mine if I wasn't willing to face whatever that might bring. It's true that I haven't thought about kids since I was human, but I don't walk away from what's mine. You – are mine, and that makes these li'l bitties mine, too. I couldn't ask for a more amazing gift."
"You're sure? 'Cause identical boys, or girls, are going to be quite a handful. They'll double-team us, and try to confuse us with who's who. There will be double the diapers, and teething, and chicken pox, and - oh god! – dating! And they'll want cars at the same time, and then there's college. And I'm going to get totally huge," she pouted, plopping down on the nearest stool. She looked so completely disgruntled over that last thought, that he had to laugh. "It's not funny, Spike!"
"Oh, yes, it is, when the thing that bothers you most is what might happen to your lovely figure," he replied, giggling while she scowled at him. "Luv, you don't even get a scar from a knife wound. I'm sure you'll bounce right back once the babies are born."
"You think so?" she asked hopefully.
"I'm sure of it, kitten. Wanna go finish your movie?"
"Okay," Kara softly replied. Spike took her hand as she slid off the stool, giving it a kiss as she followed him back to the family room.
He stopped her from sitting down on the sofa long enough to kick off his boots and get settled back against the cushions, then pulled her down to sit in front of him and wrapped his arms around her. Kara lay back against his chest and un-paused the movie.
She didn't make it to the end of the film, Spike noticed, as the remote slid to the floor out of her slackened hand. He shut off the movie, then maneuvered to pick her up, and carried Kara to the bedroom. He carefully undressed her, slipped one of her old tees over her head, and settled her under the covers before removing his own clothes. Spike slid in next to her and laid his head on her stomach, listening to the tiny, rapid heartbeats until sleep claimed him.
