Chapter 18 Ohhh Baby

The two of them broke into a run on their way out of the Edinburgh Underground back the way they came. As they neared the tunnels branching off as they went through Musselburgh they heard voices. Spike shot out an arm stopping Buffy. They inched forward against the wall of the tunnel until they could see what they were dealing with.

There were two demons with deep bluish skin. They were both wearing ornate black robes with glittering silver accents. One was distinctly female. She was short and thin, with long dark hair arranged in elegant braids and decorated with beads and charms. The other demon was only slightly taller than her but much more muscular. The female was talking quickly and started to wail, she was clearly in distress. The male held her firmly as she nearly collapsed in his arms. He held her up supporting her as they slowly headed back down the tunnel away from the spot Buffy and Spike hid.

"What was that?" Buffy asked quietly.

Spike rubbed his face, "I think I just figured out what happened with Wendy's crew. Shit…" he murmured, casting a glance around the tunnels.

"What?"

"We have to get back to the castle. Text the girls and get them out of the tunnels. Make sure they aren't followed. I promise, I'll explain on the way," he said, pulling her along. He let go as she jogged next to him with her phone out.

As they continued on Buffy tugged on Spike's arm, "Any time with the explanie."

"They're Minch," he said distractedly as they hurried on.

"What?"

"Long story short: these guys are a sort of religious sect. Pretty self sufficient, never knew they were down this far. Sort of like the Amish, but you know, not. They usually stick to the highlands, normally near the water, or so I thought. What are they doing down here? Bugger!"

"What's that have to do with the girls?"

"From the sound of it I think they just interrupted their version of a christening and became kidnappers. That was the mother back there. She was crying over losing her baby."

"What? Oh God…" Buffy gasped.

"Haven't dealt with these guys for a long while. Didn't exactly end on good terms the last time round. The language barrier is a real bitch. This could be really bad, Slayer. If they don't get that kid back they're libel to declare war on all Slayers."

"So we take the baby back."

"I told you, the language thing is a problem for me. They are really set in their ways. You'd have to broker a deal and It's not as simple as just handing the kid over and saying 'sorry for the misunderstanding'. You have to have someone who can speak the language and knows the culture. It's tricky stuff and I'm definitely not the qualified party, Pet."

"Don't suppose you know who is?"

Spike slowed down as they neared the tunnel to Dalkeith, all was quiet and Buffy hopped, the girls listened and got out of the tunnels. They picked up their pace again as Spike answered her, "Yeah, unfortunately we both do. Your ex-honey."

"Great, Angel is coming to town. I've always wondered what it would be like to have you both at the same time," she said sarcastically.

Spike stopped dead, gaping at her, "Come again?"

"What? I— oh God—- That came out wrong. I meant under the same roof not— I didn't mean— not in a sex way! I just meant—"

Spike waved a hand and shook his head, "Just stop there, Love. We need to get back and call Peaches."

"Perks of having a magically enhanced phone plan," she pulled her phone out again, "I'll text him."

"And say what exactly?"

Buffy pulled out her phone and started texting,

911 Need you. Edinburgh, Scotland ASAP

"Need you?"

"It's a text message, what do you want from me?"

"I'm just wondering what he's going to think he's going to get."

"He knows better than that."

"Does he know about us?"

"I haven't talked to him in over a year. Not since just a little after Sunnydale, and that was pretty much a business call. I thought he might have given you that necklace on purpose… I blamed him for your death until he reminded me he had planned on wearing it himself. It wasn't a great conversation," she paused for a few minutes as they walked on before breaking the silence, "He knew you were coming to see me, didn't he?"

"That's all he knows."

"So he'll find out we're a couple before the wedding," she shrugged and continued on at a faster pace.

"Wedding?"

"You were the one who started it— According to the hospital staff, we are Mr. and Mrs. Summers."

"Besides, this whole magical-mystical-psychic-bond thing we have going on is about as binding as you could get."

"Yup, we might as well just skip the wedding and just get the rings already."

"Buffy, I—"

"Spike, relax, I'm totally joking. If it weren't for the fact that we were back together before we faced the love-demon, I might be worried that, that was the only reason we were together."

"Thank the powers for serious talk, heartfelt confessions, and a couple of great shags before we killed the wanker then," he teased. His face sobered, "Right well I suppose you do have a point. We. It's probably best if he heard it from us first."

"Exactly."

They were nearly back to the house when Buffy received another text message:

Be there ASAP

She read it out loud and groaned, "There goes our weekend trip."

"Should have stayed with the kids after all," Spike said with an exasperated sigh.

"They're bound to make mistakes. I just hope we can correct this one…"

They had just closed up the tunnel and gone upstairs into the kitchen when Buffy got another text from Angel:

Is Spike with you?

She responded to the text:

Yes, we need your help

"Well, at least he can't say he wasn't warned" she said blankly as she turned to Spike.

"Am I going to have anything to worry about here, Love?"

"You're seriously asking that question? Besides still being pretty pissed at him for not telling me you were back. There's a lot of things he should have told me that I found out from other people."

"Suppose you mean Conner?"

"He told you?"

"Not me, Faith. You?"

"Nope, Willow. Hence the pissed."

"Alright then, one more thing we have in common."

"There's more to it. He also did some kind of a memory whammy on Wil and apparently everyone else who knew about his kid and then it was undone. We found all this out way after the fact when Wes sent Willow a whole crap ton of files on Angel. I guess in case he didn't make it… Faith didn't say anything about it but it makes sense since she was in LA with Angel before Willow brought her back to Sunnydale."

"Didn't know about the memory thing. Now you mention it, something I overheard while I was at Wolfram and Hart is starting to make a whole lot more sense… Bloody hell," he swore as they walked out to the entryway. Spike grabbed the blanket he had left on the bench just in case and they made their way outside. The blanket had been a good call as the sun was shining splendidly overhead, "I'm thinking, a covered walkway from the house to the castle."

"We'll see what our budget is like. Security blanket is a lot cheaper."

"It's on my wishlist. So where are we keeping Captain Forehead anyway?"

"Depending on how Giles is doing with his crutches we might be able to get him back into his bedroom. Even with the elevator fixed, it's on the wrong side of the castle for him so he can only take it so far. We'll talk to Giles and see how he feels. Angel can either stay in his room or on the couch— or the couch in Giles's room. Really doesn't matter to me where he sleeps."

"As long as it's not in our room. I don't fancy having to call Willow to put Jack back in his box again."

"Do you really think I'd do anything that could possibly release Angelus? I mean seriously, do you really think I could ever do that to you?" Buffy looked up towards the back of the castle and could just make out several of the girls in the orchard.

"I know we have this bond thing now, but it's happened before."

"Once. It happened once. And I was actually dating him at the time. It wasn't when I was with you or anyone else for that matter."

Spike looked dumbfounded, "Not then. That doesn't count in my book and you know it. What does count is that last time you snogged the great poof. You and I were definitely something then. I don't know what, but we were something. Had that little heart-to-heart in your kitchen and thought we had some sort of well… maybe not settled… but we were definitely something! Then next thing I know you're there snogging him."

"I might have kissed him but I slept with you that night. In case you don't remember! That night with you changed everything for me. And everything we've been through since then… If you don't get that, then maybe I should just leave you out here with your blanket!" she snapped. They had reached the castle door and Buffy stood there with her hand on the large handle.

"Of course I do, Love," he said as he pushed as much of the emotion those words carried in her direction.

"Good," she nodded, "Then you should also know that whatever is still between me and Angel is history."

"That's all I need to hear. I do trust you, Buffy. Course I do."

"You better, I think you're starting to smoke a little."

Buffy opened the door and ushered him inside. The moment she did they were hit with a wave of excitement and motion. Wendy rushed up to them, "I'm so glad you're back. We screwed up. I really screwed up. Mr. Giles just found this—" she said holding up a book showing the Minch demons they had seen in the tunnels, "I swear we thought it was a human baby. It was all wrapped up and— they were doing a ritual and it looked like—-"

"Living room, now," Buffy said firmly.

Wendy went back in and sat down roughly in one of the leather barrel chairs across from the couch Giles was in. The Minch baby was cooing away chewing on his own hand as he sat in Zari's lap. Addison sat on the left side of Zari with Ursula on the arm of the couch next to her. Ursula sat relaxed with her arm resting around Addison's shoulders.

"He's actually pretty cute," Buffy said as she took the baby from Zari looking him over, "It's a he right?"

"Yeah, males have horns, females don't," Spike answered.

With the exception of the bluish skin and three very tiny nubs of horns protruding from the baby's forehead above each eyebrow, he looked more or less human. The baby looked up at Buffy with wide dark eyes and began to laugh. Buffy moved him into a cradle hold and sat down next to Zari on the couch. Spike took the only empty seat in the second barrel chair by Wendy who sat with her head in her hands.

Wendy looked up, her face streaked with tears, "I'm so sorry. I didn't know… we thought they were doing some kind of a sacrifice… I thought it was a human baby, I didn't know it was a ceremony for one of theirs… we were almost back to the castle before I realized it was a demon," She wiped furiously at her face, "Mr. Giles says that they have a really complicated social system and if we just take the baby back we might actually make it worse— I—-"

"Spike and I are already on it. We saw the mother in the tunnels. Spike can understand enough of their language that he was able to figure out what happened."

Giles adjusted himself on the couch, "Can you broker a deal then?"

"Oh no, you don't want me doing that. I can understand Minch a lot better than I can speak it. That's got me in trouble before and that had nothing to do with their offspring. They are very family oriented. You definitely don't want me near this. Buffy and I already called in help."

"Really? Who? Not Andrew, surly?"

Buffy turned towards Giles, "No, not Andrew. Angel."

"Dear me."

"Yeah, it looks like you're getting a roommate, Rupert," Spike said smugly.

The phone rang and Buffy answered it then took the phone into the kitchen in case it was Angel. But she needn't have bothered.

"Oh hey B, holy shit, I don't think you guys would be back so early," Faith answered.

Buffy filled her in on the Minch situation and let her know Angel would be coming, "Can you handle Angel?"

"Course I can. Tell him to call me when he gets close."

"Already did."

"Oh damn, I bet Spike is thrilled with all this."

"Well whether he is or isn't he doesn't really get to complain, considering it was his idea to call him in the first place. Did you need something?"

"I'm 5 x 5, I was actually just calling to check on Giles; make sure he didn't need anything."

"Nah we're all back now."

"If you want me there I can totally come home."

"No, don't worry about it right now. If you two are having a good time just stay there. Just be back before Angel gets here. Other than that, can you pick up some blood on your way back?"

"How much?"

"As much as you can get without looking like you're filming a horror movie. We're just dealing. I gotta figure out what to feed this kid. I don't know if he'll even take baby formula."

"Yeah well you have fun with that. I think I'm going to skip that for as long as I can and just stay here in carnal bliss."

"Thank you, Faith, for that mental picture."

Faith hung up the phone and turned to Callum who had just come back from the kitchen with a couple of beers. "What's that look for, beautiful?"

"Remember all the crazy shit I was telling you we deal with on a regular basis?"

"Ah huhh," he said as he resumed his spot on the bed next to Faith.

"Looks like you're about to pop your supernatural cherry."

"Thought we already did that," he smirked, "Most magical thing I've ever experienced."

"Pretty damn wasn't it?" She smirked back, "But seriously, the girls screwed the pooch and brought a demon baby back to the castle."

"You're pulling my leg."

"Oh just another day in the life. It's all good."

Callum looked at her a little puzzled, "Okay so not that I'm suggesting killing a baby but isn't it your job to you know, kill demons?"

"Ahh yeah… there is a bit of a grey area. Believe it or not some demons are really just regular Joes with jobs and families and shit. Heck, some of them are even part-human. We normally just deal with the super baddies, you know the real evil killers like vampires. We normally catch them in the act or the intent to act."

Callum sat back against the headboard and took a sip of beer, "I don't envy your job."

Faith smiled a little "I know right?"

"So they don't need you back for a while huh?"

"Nope, I can stay here for a while longer. You can come back with me if you want to really get the full effect. The teaching schedule has been thrown out the window for a bit until we get this whole thing ironed out."

"Exactly how are you going to iron this out if you're here?"

Faith reached over to grab her beer off of him, "It's not something I can do much about anyway. Buffy called Angel in on it because of some language barrier thing. He's on his way. I can stay here until he comes into town."

"Wait, that Angel bloke is coming here? The one who bit you?"

"Would you get off of that? It wasn't really him. He lost his soul. I was there to help bring him back."

Callum raised his eyebrows, "What the f—"

"You having a problem with something?"

"I— you say it like it's a normal thing."

"I wouldn't say it's normal… it's just— if Angel loses his soul it releases Angelus. Angelus is the most evil SOB vamp on record. He's a real sadistic bastard. He is the one who bit me. Not Angel. Angel saved my life, helped me when no one else would."

"So what, he's just walking around with this other bloke locked up in his melon?"

"Yeah, pretty much."

"Yikes."

"Angel is a good guy, trust me."

"I do, Lass. I'm just wrapping my head around all this."

Faith shrugged, "It's just that you're kinda stuck on that. Remember the fight with Buffy that landed me in a coma?"

"Yeah…"

"That's where this scar is from," she pointed to her stomach, "She stabbed me with my own blade. Self defense; I wasn't pulling punches. We worked through it, for the most part. It's just crazy history. No point losing sleep over it."

"Alright, seriously complex history with pretty much everyone you know, noted," he laughed.

"Yeah, you laugh but it's true… anyway, I guess Buffy set me up as Angel's contact so he'll probably call at some point."

"Faith, if you have things you need to take care of…" Callum trailed off as Faith leaned in close.

"Trust me. They got this. And for now, I got you," she grinned seductively, "You can take me home later and maybe I'll show you my room."

"When you put it like that—" he said as he pulled her in for another long kiss. He set his beer down blindly, nearly spilling it in the process. He pulled her to him as she pushed him back against the headboard straddling his lap again.

Buffy looked down the baby aisle at their local store and nearly felt like she might have a panic attack. The choices seemed endless. She had a limited idea of what a regular baby needed yet alone a demon baby.

"I sure hope you know what you're doing," she said to Zari, who had volunteered to drive Buffy to the store.

"I'm the oldest of nine, I got this."

"Big family."

"Yup, lots of babies. I've changed my share of diapers."

"Lead the way."

Zari stopped in front of the diapers and grabbed a big box, and some baby wipes. She also threw in a 3 pack of bottles, and a large container of formula. Buffy followed her as she headed towards the clothes and picked up a pack of plain white onesies.

She hesitated a moment, "How long do you think he's going to be with us?"

"A couple of days at least. Why?"

"I'm just wondering if we're going to need to get him a few more things. Clothes and baby wash and such."

Buffy bit her lip a second, "You're probably right."

"Maybe. Alright, you go pick out some lightweight sleepers, socks and maybe some little outfits and I'll get some baby wash and diaper cream just in case, maybe a baby-carrier… that might be too much… my mom always used one but I don't know if we'll need it."

"Clothes I can do, let's just stick with the basics."

Zari frowned looking at the carrier in her hands and threw it in with the diapers anyway, "Might come in handy."

By the time they got back from the store, the girls had made up a makeshift bassinet using a laundry basket and some blankets. They had no more than made up a bottle and got the baby down for a nap when the doorbell rang.

Buffy turned to Giles, "Please tell me you ordered pizza."

"Oh good Lord, it's Zara."

Buffy's eyes widened. She turned to Wendy, "Take the baby and the rest of this stuff up to your room. We can't let her or anyone else know we have a demon baby here."

Buffy went to let Zara in, "Hey Zara!"

Zara was dressed casually in a black skirt and a blue and purple tie dyed tank that revealed a record player with music notes tattooed on the back of her shoulder. The music notes wrapped around to the front of her shoulder. Her sleek black hair had been pulled into a French braid that really highlighted the bright streak of blue in her hair. She smiled brightly when she saw Buffy , "Oh! Hello there Buffy, I thought Giles said you wouldn't be back for hours." Sounded more than a little disappointed.

"We weren't supposed to be. We ended up coming back early, unexpectedly. Giles is in the living room. He hasn't even tried the elevator or the stairs yet."

"Stubborn. Always has been."

"You've known him a long time?" Buffy asked as they stepped into the living room where Giles and Spike were pretending to be watching a movie.

"Rupe? Oh yeah. We met at Uni when he was coming out of his rebel phase. Didn't like him much back then. I like this version of Rupert much better. I'm digging the whole sexy librarian vibe. Especially when he comes by the shop and helps me catalog and put things away."

"I should have known you only wanted me for my skills as a librarian," Giles said as he turned towards her.

Zara went over to him, perching on the edge of the coffee table, "How on earth did you manage this one, Rupe?"

"A simple accident. Buffy and I were looking through her new house and I slipped on a pile of dust and debris on the floor."

"It happened really fast," Buffy said from her seat next to Spike.

"I'm glad you were with him. Could have been a lot worse. Where is your new house?"

Spike answered, "Just across the lawn really. We're not going far."

"This must be the boyfriend, I take it?" Zara asked, turning towards Giles again.

"Ah yes, this is Spike."

"Spike is it? And what does your poor mother call you? Surely not that."

"No, she died a long time ago. She called me William, ma'am."

Zara nodded, "I'm sorry, William."

"Ta. It's alright, don't talk about her much. She was a class act my mum. Much like Buffy's if I'm honest," he shot Buffy a glance, surprised by his own candour.

"I didn't mean to—" she shot Buffy and Giles a pained expression.

"No, it's ok. We're ok. Right, Giles?" Buffy said, turning to him.

"Yes. Yes, of course. You needn't worry about that, Zara, dear."

Zara relaxed, "I've done the widow bit."

"Not a picnic, that. Bit easier when you got family though," Spike said knowingly.

Zara eyed him, "Well said, William."

Buffy and Giles both watched him expectantly. When he didn't elaborate Buffy cut in, "Spike, Zara owns the record store in town, she helped me pick out your MP3 player."

"How's that working for you?" Zara asked.

"Not as good as vinyl but it works nice. Like that it's small and I can take it round with me."

"Nothing is as good as vinyl but I'm biased. I'm glad you like it," there was an awkward pause before Zara continued, "We'll Rupert, maybe we'll get you up and moving a bit. You can show me how well you use these things," she said, picking up his crutches and handing them to him, "Let these two get on with their day. I'm sure your students are around here somewhere."

"Yes, I suppose you are right. What do you plan on doing with me?"

"Oh Rupert, you really should have known better than to call an ex-physical therapist," she grinned.

Giles closed his eyes, kicking himself internally, "I had honestly forgotten," he said as he carefully swung his legs down, sat up, and pulled himself up with his crutches.

"You know I wasn't always a shopkeeper. Shame on you Rupert."

"I suppose you could help me navigate the stairs and I could show you my little sanctuary."

Buffy cleared her throat, "Alright then, on that note… I think we are going to go check on the girls and get things ready for our house guest. Before my brain explodes."

"I can't stay long, my daughter is watching the shop for me. She has an appointment coming in at 5 o'clock so I have to be back at the shop by at least 4:30 so she can get back. I'm afraid I'm in a bit of a time crunch here," Zara assured her.

Buffy stood up motioning for Spike to come with her, "Duty calls."

As Giles and Zara headed towards the elevator, Spike and Buffy took the stairs up to the girls' rooms. Buffy really did want to check on how things were with the baby. They found Zari and Wendy alone in the bedroom on the fifth floor with the baby still fast asleep.

Wendy got up and went out into the hall quietly, "What's up Buffy?"

"We just wanted to check on our little house guest."

"He's been pretty quiet. I'm just waiting for him to wake up wet and hungry."

"I hear they do that. What do we know about this little guy?"

"I've had my girls digging through Mr. Giles's books and the internet. He took the formula ok but I'm thinking we might need to get some goat's blood in him before long. Otherwise we haven't really found anything on the babies. I've seen some of the other demons in those books and I'm just hoping he doesn't pee acid or something."

"I'm not an expert on these guys but I'm pretty sure they don't pee acid," Spike said dryly, "Sink ships or drown someone who seriously pisses 'em off sure."

"Good thing you don't breathe?"

"Got that right."

"What kind of blood do you have in the fridge?" she asked.

"Pig mostly. It's the closest to human. Cow. Might have a little sheep left. I don't normally get goat if I can help it, bit gamy for my taste."

Buffy frowned, "It's definitely goat he needs?"

"That's all we've found so far. I think it's more of a religious thing for them but still…I'm done screwing up."

"No you're not. This will be the first of many screw ups. You'll learn from it and carry on."

Wendy mulled that over for a moment and nodded, "Ok, I guess I'm still in the 'Young and stupid', stage of development."

"Yeah well I'm nowhere near 'Old and wise', I've just been doing this longer and picked up a few things. Besides, you were following my orders. I never thought you'd come across something like that. I might have thought the same thing if I saw them performing a ritual with what you thought was a human baby. I get it. Next time you'll know to look for some of the more subtle context clues."

"Yeah… it would have been a whole lot easier if I understood the language."

"Oh now that would just take all the fun out of it," Buffy tried to reassure her. "Alright, I'm going to have Ursula make a blood run. Faith is going to bring some home too but if we need goat then we need goat. We're going to need a lot more on hand anyway with another vampire coming to town. Can't have anyone getting cranky."

"With that dinky fridge there won't be room for the milk."

"We'll make due. Are you planning on switching off anytime soon?"

"Probably after his nap. We're nodding off as it is. Addison and Ursula are supposed to be taking over."

"Ok, sounds good. Spike and I will take a shift after them."

"We'll do what now?" He asked with wide eyes.

"Take a turn with the baby, it only seems fair."

"Right then. If that's the case. Buffy, as long as it's all quiet, I'm gonna go get some kip. I think you should too."

"Good point. You go on, I'll be there when I'm done."

"Hold you to it, Slayer. I didn't mind babysitting Nibblet, but a demon child is something entirely different. Not doing this thing solo."

"Big bad Spike can't handle a teeny tiny baby?"

"We'll see who's laughing tonight, Pet."

A/N: To be continued... Please Read and Review! I love reading your kind words!