A/N: I've been having some problems posting on this site. For some reason it keeps giving me error pages when I try to upload documents. Eventually it lets me do it but this is pretty much the reason I keep taking so long to update so I'm sorry it keeps taking so long. Anyway, hope you enjoy the chapter.

A Gift

It had been a few months now and all eight girls were looking like they were ready to pop. Things had been going well since the situation with Connor and Spike. The morning after Connor's first change was a very confusing one but everyone was there for him to help him through it. They explained everything to him. They told him that he was a werewolf, explained what a werewolf was, they told him about Angel and Spike and what they were and pretty much everything else they could tell him.

At first his initial reaction was panic. He was getting a lot of very strange information all at once and it wasn't easy for him. It took several long hours to convince him that they were good people who were just trying to help him. For the first day they held him captive. They didn't really want to do things that way because he was scared and they knew that they weren't really proving that they were good people out for his best interests by holding him hostage but they had no choice. There was still one more night that he would change and they couldn't risk letting him go.

The day gave them plenty of time to explain things and try and convince him to stay. After the final night of the full moon they let him go. After a few days of soul searching he came back and accepted their invitation to stay with them. When he started getting used to the weird occurrences and the demons and things he actually fit right in. Xander got him a job with him and Gunn in construction and he was actually pretty good at it. He also decided that he wanted to help with the other stuff too so at night he would train with Angel and Gunn.

As far as the situation with Spike went, he stayed away for a little while. He was still in LA but he knew that his talk with Buffy was meant to be a deep and meaningful one and he needed to let things sink in and cool down. After Connor had accepted Angel's invitation to live with them he went back to Spike's. He thanked him for all his help and told him that he still wanted to spend time with him and he hoped they could still be friends. This actually meant a lot to Spike. Connor was pretty much his only friend.

It didn't stay that way though. After a few weeks or so people started going with Connor to visit Spike. First Dawn and Faith came, Faith pretty much just to get out of the house, and then others would come like Fred, Willow, Tara and Anya. After a while they even started getting him to come to the hotel to visit and he even started helping out on Angel Ink's cases.

Everything between Buffy and Spike even blew over after a while. He knew how she felt about him and he respected it. He realized that he could deal with never being a man that she might love but that he did really still want to be friends. And after the inevitable awkwardness started to pass they did become very good friends.

Even Spike and Angel put their differences aside and sparked what I guess you could call a friendship. They still made fun of each other and genuinely disliked each other but they at least tried. To everyone's shock Angel had even invited Spike to stay at the hotel with them. His reasons of course were to have some extra help and better safety to protect the girls and the babies if need be. What was even more shocking was that Spike actually said yes. He moved in just a few weeks ago.

"Did you get it baby?" Willow asked Tara with an excited look on her face.

She nodded her head with enthusiasm, "I got it."

Willow smiled with extreme joy. A little while after the Connor situation started getting stable Willow had purposed to Tara. She did everything a traditional guy would do. She bought her a ring that she had been carrying around for a few weeks and she got down on one knee and everything. Tara of course said yes and the two were married just two months later. They had a beautiful outdoor wedding at night so that Spike and Angel could attend. They were happier then they had ever been.

"We should get Cordy, Wes and Fred," Tara said with a giant smile.

Before Spike had come to the hotel that day looking for help with Connor, Willow and Buffy's talk sparked an idea in Willow's head. She wasn't sure if it could be done but she enlisted Tara, Cordy, Wesley and Fred to help her out. They had been working on it for months and now Tara had finally found the last piece they needed.

Willow and Tara walked as fast as their tired legs would carry them into the office where Wesley, Fred, Cordelia, Angel and Faith were. They peaked in and managed to catch Fred's eye. She mouthed the words, 'Did you get it?' and Willow and Tara both nodded their heads with excitement.

Fred tried to fight back an excited scream as Angel looked at her and then at the door. "Everything ok, Fred?" he asked with concern in his voice as he saw no one at the door. Willow and Tara had ran away when they realized that Angel was about to look.

"I'm fine," Fred said with a bright smile as she tried her hardest to conceal her excitement. "Umm…Wes can you and Cordy come help me with something?" she asked as she signaled to them that something was up.

"Umm…yes, yes we should help you with that," Wesley said with a smile.

Cordelia just smiled as she fallowed the other two out the door. Faith and Angel just looked at each other with extreme confusion. "What was that all about?" Faith asked.

"I have no idea," Angel responded.

The five very excited friends walked up the stairs and into Willow and Tara's room. "I can't believe you got it," Cordelia squealed with excitement.

"This is really happening isn't it?" Fred asked with a giant smile on her face.

"This is going to be so great you guys thank you so much for helping," Willow said to everyone.

"It was our pleasure I just wish I would have thought of this myself," Wesley said.

"So…" Willow said excitedly, "Where is it?"

Tara smiled at her very impatient wife and walked to their dresser drawer and took out a small heart shaped gem. "There's said to be only three of these left in the world," Tara said with a proud smile.

"It's beautiful," Cordelia said as they all huddled around the glistening gem.

"So now that we finally have the last piece…when are we going to do it?" Fred asked anxiously.

"I would say as soon as possible but we have to make sure that no one else will be around," Willow answered. "We need to make sure Angel will be alone."

"Well today is Tuesday and Xander, Gunn and Connor work every weekday so if we do it during the day we wont have to worry about them," Cordelia pointed out.

"That's a good point," Wesley said, "But what about Spike? I'm sure we could think of some way to get ride of the others but Spike is a vampire…where are we going to send him during the day?"

"Good point," Cordelia admitted.

"Oh," Willow said with excitement, "We could send him on a mission. Tell him there's a case."

"But then won't Angel want to go with him?" Fred asked.

"I'm sure we can convince him to let Spike go alone," Wesley said.

"What about Giles then?" Tara asked, "I'm sure we could get the other girls to go shopping or something like that but I don't think Giles will exactly be thrilled with being asked to go shopping with four hormonal pregnant women."

"Lorne can take care of Giles," Cordelia suggested.

"Yeah where is Lorne anyway?" Fred asked. They had Lorne in on the surprise as well. They figured that since he was an empath demon and all he would probably find out anyway.

"He's with a client on the other side of town I think," Tara answered.

"Alright…so tomorrow then?" Willow asked as she looked around at all of her friends.

They all looked at each other with beaming smiles. They were so excited about this surprise they just couldn't wait. "Tomorrow it is," Wesley said.

XXXXXX

The next morning was like any other morning. Xander, Gunn and Connor got up and went to work. The others woke up, went through their normal routines and then went into the lobby to work on their latest cases. The night before Willow and the other five that were in on the surprise planned everything out perfectly to get the others out of the hotel so they could get Angel alone.

Lorne came down the stairs energetic as usual with a smile on his face. "Well kids I'm afraid I've got to go see another client today," Lorne said. "I've gotta say though this guy is so hard to understand. Barely speaks a word of English."

"What language does he speak?" Wesley asked.

Lorne looked to the ceiling as if he was fishing through his mind to find the memory. "Umm…I think it was Sumerian?"

"I speak some Sumerian," Giles said.

"Really?" Lorne asked with extreme excitement. "Giles sweaty would you do your old friend Lorne a huge favor?" he asked putting an emphasis on the word huge. "Would you come with me and help translate?"

Giles looked a little unsure at first. "Well…I'm not sure. I'm really not all that great at speaking it and there is some what of a lot of work to do here."

"Not really," Cordy contradicted. "There's not much to do at all."

Just then Buffy, Dawn and Anya walked into the room. "You could always come to the mall with us," Dawn said with excitement in her voice. "We're going baby shopping again."

"You know maybe I should come with you," Giles said anxiously to Lorne. "I know enough Sumerian to the point that I could be of some help I'm sure."

"Excellent," Lorne said with a smile as they both started walking towards the door.

Buffy put on her pouty face. "If he didn't want to come he could have just said so."

"Alright girls lets go spend some of the boys money already," Faith said with a smile as she walked into the room.

"Sounds good to me," Buffy said. While they were getting ready she looked around with confusion. "Where's Willow and Tara?"

Cordelia smiled and shook her head, "You don't wanna know."

"No way," Faith said with shock on her face. "You're kidding right?"

"Hey their newly weds," Cordy said with a shrug of her shoulders.

"But their pregnant," Anya said with a confused look on her face. "Xander and I haven't had sex for months."

"Thanks for sharing that with us," Dawn commented. "Well let's go already. Where's Fred?"

"She isn't really feeling all that well," Wesley said as he tried to force a worried face.

"Well is she alright? Maybe we just shouldn't go," Buffy said with a look of concern.

"Oh she's fine," Wesley said. "Please, go, she wouldn't want you not to go just because of her. Besides Cordelia has volunteered to stay behind and help me take care of her."

Buffy, Dawn, Faith and Anya all looked at each other as if they were about to burst into laughter. "You're joking right?" Buffy asked.

"Cordelia is passing up an opportunity to shop to take care of someone?" Faith asked in a shocked ton.

"Hey!" Cordy said as she began to feel a little offended. "You make it sound like I'm shallow or something. Now get out of here before I change my mind."

"Yes you should go, Lorne already said he would drive you and he and Giles are waiting in the car now," Wesley said.

"Yes…let's go please," Dawn said anxiously.

"Alright already," Buffy said as her sister practically pushed her out the door. "Tell Fred we hope she feels better," she yelled as she was finally out of sight.

Cordy and Wes smiled at each other. "Eight down…one to go," Cordelia said with a smile.

Just then Angel and Spike walked out of the office arguing as usual. "Look, all I'm saying is that it's not that hard to put things back where they belong," Angel yelled.

"And all I'm saying is that it doesn't bloody matter," Spike refuted.

They stopped walking and Angel got very close to Spike and looked him straight in the eye. "I have a system here Spike and with that system comes putting my favorite ax in its rightful place," Angel said angrily.

"Oh please," Spike said as he shrugged off everything Angel was saying to him as if it was nothing.

"Hey!" Cordelia yelled to get their attention.

They both turned at the same time. "What?" they both snapped angrily.

"Will you two stop arguing for like two seconds already," Cordelia said. "God you're like an old married couple."

They both looked at each other and crossed their arms uncomfortably. "Are not," Angel defended as if he were a six year old boy.

Cordelia just rolled her eyes and continued with what she was about to say. "We got a case this morning. Nothing big just a women who said she's been hearing some unnatural noises in her basement."

"I'll go check it out," Spike said as he walked away from Angel. "I need to get the bloody hell out of here anyway."

"Like I'd send you on a case by yourself," Angel snapped.

"You don't send me anywhere mate…I don't fallow your orders," Spike yelled.

Before Angel could refute Wesley was holding him back and bringing him into a corner. "Angel listen it might be good for both of you if you just let him do this," Wesley tried to reason.

"But…" Angel tried to argue.

"It's nothing big," Wesley interrupted. "What this woman is hearing is probably a mouse or something and Spike can handle himself."

"It's not him handling himself that I'm worried about," Angel said as he glared at Spike angrily.

"Just give him a chance," Wesley reasoned.

Angel looked at his friend. He really didn't want Spike going on a case alone especially because there was no telling what he would say or do. Angel suspected that he would probably loose this client and somehow a lot of others just by being himself. But he knew that Wesley was right. Spike was part of the team now and he had to start at least trying to trust him. Angel sighed. "Alright," he said quietly said as he rolled his eyes.

Cordelia had been giving a similar talk to Spike while Wesley was talking to Angel. She told him that he just had to be patient with Angel and that they should just try to get along. When Angel approached Spike they were both finally calming down. "Alright Spike," Angel said unwillingly, "You want to go on this case alone? Then go. I…trust…that you'll do…just fine," he finished as the words came out very roughly.

Spike smiled at this moment and tried to savor it for as long as possible. "Right then…be back in a jiffy," he said as he started to head towards the sewers.

"Just don't screw it up," Angel said under his breath.

"I heard that," Spike yelled as he continued walking and never looked back.

When Spike was finally out of sight Angel just shook his head and walked back into his office. When they heard him close the door Wesley and Cordelia looked at each other and smiled. Their plan was working. "Let's go get Willow, Tara and Fred and start setting up," Cordelia said excitedly.

XXXXXX

"Angel?" Wesley said as he popped his head into Angel's office.

"What's up Wes?" Angel asked as he looked up at his friend from the papers he was glancing at.

"I was checking things out down at Connor's cage and I was wondering if you could help me out with something I can't seem to fix," Wesley asked.

Angel rubbed his head in frustration. "Yeah…sure."

"Thanks," Wesley said with a smile as they both walked out of the office and started heading downstairs.

"So what exactly is the problem?" Angel asked as they walked down the narrow steps.

"It's something inside the cage…a loss bar it seems or something," Wesley lied as he tried to coax Angel into the cage.

"A loose bar?" Angel asked as he gullibly entered the cage. As soon as Angel had entered the cage Wesley shut it tightly behind him and locked it. "What the? Wesley…what's going on?" Angel asked with confusion on his face.

Just then Cordelia and Fred rolled out a table from the shadows. The table had all kinds of spell ingredients, candles and the heart shaped gem in the middle of it all. "What's going on here?" Angel asked angrily as he franticly tried to get out of the cage that bound him.

Next, Willow and Tara walked out from the shadows with a book in their hands. "Deus affectus , malum vomica , commodo solvo animus vomica , suus redimio," they began to read.

Angel didn't know what to do. He just looked around with frightened eyes and tried his hardest to find some way out of the cage.

"Commodo tribuo vita , sino sentio , sino delecto," the witches continued.

"Wesley, please," Angel pleaded as he started to feel the power that was taking him over. He had no idea what was happening to him but with a situation like this one he knew it couldn't be good.

Finally the girls reached the last line of their spell, "Tribuo animus vita, tribuo animus vita, tribuo animus vita." As soon as they finished the spell a bright light surrounding Angel blinded their eyes as he screamed out in pain.

Note: I just wanted to say thanks to all of you who have been reading and review this story. It always means a lot to me when people take the time to review because then I really get the feel of how I'm doing with the story. I also wanted to say sorry to all of you out there that don't believe in same sex marriage but in my world it's legal and not frowned upon at all so there! I also will be posting the translation to the spell that Willow and Tara did in the next chapter. It gives away too much of what happens and it would pretty much totally defeat the purpose of my cliff hanger if I gave you the translation now. It might be pretty shotty and not exactly the right translation though since I just used an internet site but oh well. I know that all of you are smart enough to figure out how to translate it on the internet but for those of you who want this to be a surprise please don't look it up. I promise that all will be revealed/explained in the next chapter. Thanks again.