Chapter 4

"Did you steal it?"

"What do you take me for? Of course I bloody well stole it!" Spike grumbled as he parked the car as close to the Magic Box as possible. The sun was on its way down but it was still light enough to singe off his eyebrows if he wasn't careful.

"Spike!"

"Calm down, luv. Chored it out of some rich bird's skip, didn't I…" Buffy's face took on an abhorrent expression. "…and gave it a thorough scrub. 'Sides, it wasn't in bad nick to begin with and someone was just gonna throw it out." He said, defending his recent haul and it did something to diminish Buffy's temper.

"Oh."

"Oh, is right and we put a blanket down first anyway, she's fine." He said as he checked the rear-view mirror to take a peek at the squirming babe suckling on her new dummy, his absent reflection allowed him to see directly behind him where Buffy sat beside her, a lack of seatbelts meant she was holding onto the second-hand car seat that Spike had had the foresight to nick last night.

"Well, thanks." Buffy smiled. "You didn't have to do that…but I can't lie, it will help…massively. It's only been half a day and I already underestimated how hard it is to do anything if you don't have anyone to watch them or anywhere to put them, it's not like I'd feel comfortable just letting her have a snooze on the sofa, what if someone sat on her?!" Buffy thought in horror and Spike laughed.

"Least she can't crawl yet." He argued.

"This is very true. Well, either way, I'll feel better about taking a moment to clean up my room now that there's something I can strap her into, as militant as that sounds."

"What wrong with your room?" Spike queried, donning his blanket, ready to make a break for the Magic Box doors.

"Talc explosion," Buffy sighed, shuffling herself and the occupied carrier along the backseat of Spike's car to get out. "My bedroom looks like El Chapo's office." Buffy grinned and Spike barked out a genuine laugh before they headed out into the diminishing evening sun.

Inside the store Giles and Anya were finishing up with the last remaining customers of the day and Dawn seemed to be making her way through a pile of homework when Spike and Slayer walked through the front door with baby in bound, needless to say a few eyebrows were raised.

"Buffy, what on earth…" Giles began, too confused to even think about cleaning his glasses to check if he was seeing things.

"The others should be here soon," Said Buffy "I called Xander and Willow earlier today, I'll explain when they get here."

Giles wouldn't have to wait long as the bell over the door rang once more and in walked the missing Scoobies.

"A carpenter and two witches walk into a magic shop… Hey all…and…baby?" Xander's eyebrows furrowed together as he saw Buffy undoing the straps of the car seat that had now taken up a third of the counter space beside the register. Spike had hoisted himself up next to the babe and he began to gently rock the temporary napping station in time with the sway of his legs as they dangled off the edge of the counter. As if a baby wasn't confusing enough, Xander pondered.

Giles turned the sign over in the shop window before joining Willow, Tara, Xander, Anya and a giddy Dawn at the round table they frequented many a research session.

"Buffy, what is going on? You sounded awfully fervent on the phone." Giles started the conversation when he saw that Buffy was reluctant to do so.

"Are we kidnapping now?" Anya asked delightedly.

"Ahn?" Xander began, slightly worried.

"I only have a little experience in this area, I admit, but I'm sure I can offer you some worthwhile advice, Buffy." Anya beamed up at her expectantly, eager to help, much to the dismay of everyone else.

"Thanks Anya but we didn't kidnap her." Buffy assured everyone and a little tension left the room, though not nearly enough. Buffy found herself looking back over her shoulder at Spike for reassurance who was currently too preoccupied with her daughter to even realise. "This is my…no wait, I want everyone's reassurance that they won't interrupt until I'm finished telling you everything that happen last night." Buffy demanded. "It'll be so much easier." And she was met with bobbing heads, a few reluctantly.

"Ok. I was patrolling in Restfield. I picked up this fight with a vamp and ran into Spike half way through, he dusted the James Brown wannabe and then we heard this scream…'

"… so yeah, she's mine." Buffy finished. She wasn't sure what she expected but deafening silence was not it. Even Spike remained silent behind her, he kept a careful eye on the group, prepared for any outbursts. "Guys?"

"My word." Giles managed, this time he did remember his spectacles and removed them from his face to polish them, a comforting motion he was familiar with. "Buffy…and are you…alright?"

"Me? You're not pissed?"

"Heavens, Buffy, why would…"

"I know slaying and babies don't go hand in hand…I thought you'd be angry…" Buffy trailed off quietly.

"Buffy," Giles smiled. "It's not like you were careless, nothing could have prevented this, we just…" He sighed, feeling his age. "…you, of all people, understand what it means to have responsibilities and I'm not foolish enough to devalue what it means to be a parent however, I believe the task is too often underestimated. I want to make sure you're ready." Buffy looked down at the ground then back at her daughter, Dawn had wandered up to the register to play with her niece's toes and Buffy caught Spike's eye momentarily before turning back to the group.

"You don't need to tell me how easy it is to shirk your responsibility as a parent Giles, my father taught me well enough. I'm up to it." Buffy looked him right in the eye. "Besides what's the alternative, abortion? And adoption is out of the question." Buffy shrugged. "I was given a gift and I'm going to take care of her…though, I might need some help while I get up to speed. I'm nine months behind." Buffy smiled, looking at the other faces in the group who grinned back. The Scoobies had relaxed by the time she'd finished speaking. The shock had worn off.

"Holy shit, you're a mom!" Xander grinned raising his arms, jacket scrunching at the shoulders, a happy grin coloured his face and Buffy laughed along with the rest of group. "Congratulations, Buffy."

"Thanks. Yeah, she, um, she doesn't have a name yet so I've been calling her baby and pet names all day but um," Buffy walked over toward the carrier, Spike jumped down from the ledge and picked it up to hand to Buffy. "Baby, meet the gang. Scoobies, Baby." Buffy beamed and she was met with a chorus of intolerable nonsense and cooing but laughed all the same.

Each took their turn peering down at the sleeping bundle.

"Is that all she does? Sleep?" Xander asked, Anya rolled her eyes and returned to the cash register to count the days takings.

"She a soddin' week old, Harris. Give the girl a chance." Spike growled protectively and Giles made silent note of it.

"I think it best if today we focus on Buffy settling into her new role and then tomorrow we should regroup and discuss this 'Glory' persona. I'll start research tonight." Giles suggested and the majority of the group acknowledge him with a nod. "In the meantime," Giles began pulling glasses from the back of a cabinet and a bottle full of amber liquid. "How often is it we are able to celebrate something rather wonderful?" And the man began to pour a round of drinks for everyone.

"Giles." Buffy smiled at him affectionately. "Thank you."

"Now, you're talkin' Rupes." Spike chimed in at the sound of a liquor bottle being cracked open.

"Can't I have a glass?"

"No, Dawn, it's hard liquor."

"But it's just to toast my niece."

"You're fifteen."

"Nearly sixteen. Spike, how old were you when you started drinking?"

"Do not drag me into this, Nibblet. I grew up in Victorian England, you're born boozy."

"Giles, then?"

"How is that relevant?" The watcher wisely refused to answer that question truthfully so as not to give Dawn anymore ammunition and she knew it.

"America has it so backwards. Please, Buffy. This won't be the gateway to my impending alcoholism. I won't even like it, I swear. Please…"

Buffy must have been on a new parenting high or something because there's no way in hell she'd would've agreed to this normally but denying her sister the chance to raise a glass to the existence of her beautiful niece, Buffy would never dream of being so cruel.

"You can have a sip of someone's drink." Buffy conceded and everyone stopped what they were doing to pay attention to the sisters. Spike's gaze shone on with particular interest.

"Shut up. Really?"

"Yeah, really Buffy?" Xander asked confused.

"She's old enough to toast, Xan. Responsible enough not to drink outside of this little celebration, right Dawn?" Buffy gave her a warning look.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you." Dawn squealed and ran to give Buffy a wraparound hug.

"Ok, calm down." Buffy laughed. "Don't make me regret this and for god's sake, don't tell mom!"

Dawn ran to fill up a glass of water so she could actually participate in said clinking of the glasses and then the whole group filled in around the table. Spike moved the carrier to one of the benches that surrounds and met Buffy's eyes.

"Should probably include the guest of honour in this, even if the little chit is dozin' through her own toast." Spike smirked and surprisingly, it got a chuckle out of everyone before Giles cleared his throat.

"Spike's right, since the special lady is fast asleep, here's to you, Buffy." He raised his glass and everyone mimicked his action. "You were chosen for something very special and now, it appears, that something even more exceptional has chosen you. You will make the most wonderful mother, Buffy."

"To Buffy."

"To my niece."

"Baby Summers."

"To the Slayerette."

"Cheers!" They saluted their drams in tandem. Xander, Spike, Anya, Tara and Giles all necked their drink back in one whilst Willow and Buffy sipped at theirs more slowly.

"Here you go Nibblet." Spike offered up a tumbler to Dawn that had a freshly poured millimetre of whiskey in it.

"That's it?"

"Big sis, said one sip. That's a sip and a half." Spike winked at the younger Summers, Buffy caught it and found she really enjoyed the way he interacted with her sister. Spike could make Dawn smile when many of their days were dark. That was a rare attribute and one to admire when you lived on the top of a Hellmouth.

"It's ok, we can just have another toast when you actually figure out her name, Buffy." Dawn grinned with mischief.

"Watch it." Buffy smiled at her sister's cheek.

After the small toast, Willow had just finished hugging Buffy for perhaps a little too long when she began asking the important questions. "So how can we help?" She smiled.

"Well, I don't have any baby stuff, only what I bought in town this morning. She can't sleep in her car seat."

"I can ask my parents about my old crib, they hoard everything." Said Willow. "If it's still around, I'm sure Xander could swing by, drop it off to you? And whatever else there is."

"Sure thing, Buffster." Xander agreed, digging into the standard box of donuts that accompanied every meeting.

"That would be great, Will. Thank you."

"She's beautiful, Buffy." Tara smiled down at the child. "Her aura too." Tara's eyes sparkled as her mouth tipped up into a smile.

"I know…wait, you can see her aura?"

"As white as snow…" Tara said dreamily. "Babies are like a blank canvas, pure as anything." Giles had his nose buried in a book, Anya had her hands full of cash; the rest of the group was now milling around Xander and the remaining donuts and Buffy, Tara and Spike were still huddled round the baby.

"Hey, Tara," Buffy began and the sweet witch dragged her eyes away from the sleeping child to look at the Slayer. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Sure." Tara smiled.

"Watch her for me?" Buffy asked and rested her hand on the crook of his arm, turning towards the besotted vamp.

"Not a problem, luv." He shrugged down to the floor, back against the wall and now had the car seat situated between his bent legs, the baby was beginning to stir. Tara followed Buffy into the back of the shop and Dawn, who had managed to snag a couple donuts, came to sit beside Spike and offered him one.

"Jam?"

"If by jam, you mean jelly? Of course." Dawn grinned handing one over.

"Hey Nibblet, do us a favour and grab the baby bag your sister packed from the back of the DeSoto will you? Little one's gonna be hungry when she wakes up and the sun's still up."

"Sure." Dawn smiled, all too happy to accommodate her new favourite niece."

"Everything ok, Buffy?"

"Yeah, I just wanted to ask your advice, maybe get your help with something?"

"Anything." Tara encouraged.

"I was wondering if there was a spell or something that could maybe… maybe help me breastfeed?" Buffy confided in the witch with a little apprehension. "I wasn't pregnant with her and I want to be able to…"

"You don't have to explain." Tara beamed. "I think that's a wonderful idea."

"Really?" Buffy's heart swelled. "You can do it then?"

"Both men and women can lactate…sort of, without any kind of pregnancy or magic being involved but I can brew you some herbal tea that will definitely give your body a magical nudge in the right direction. Hopefully when the milk comes in you won't even have to keep drinking it."

"Tara that would be…really amazing…thank you." Buffy smiled. "I mean I think I can hack the formula no sweat but slayer boob juice has got to be good for the kid, right?" The two girls laughed. "The bottle's not the same as…"

"The tap?" Tara teased and the girls were laughing again. "I know, Buffy." Tara finished with more sincerity.

"I want to do this for her."

"You're going to be a great mom." Buffy received a rare hug from the gentle woman that had her holding back a few tears yet again before they returned to the others. Upon entrance, Buffy was greeted by the sight of her younger sister, entirely focused on her little baby girl. She'd clearly just woken up and Spike had her nestled in his arms, duster abandoned on the floor beside them as she suckled at another bottle of milk. It was quite the sight. Something about it made her feel all warm inside and a wonderful fluttering began low in her belly.

AN:/ Please review sweet people...honest to god can't tell if this is going somewhere worth while or a piece of piss x