A/N : Thanx for the latest reviews everybody! I know the alerts aren't really working lately, at least not for me, but hopefully you'll find this new chapter at some point or other!
(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

Chapter 6

"She's still not here, Tara" Willow said worriedly as she looked around the Bronze for Buffy and then glanced down at her watch, "She's never this late for anything, not without calling or something"

"Sweetie, I'm sure she's fine" her girlfriend tried to comfort her, though in all honesty she too was a little concerned.

"It's my fault, if anything's happened, it'll be all my fault" the red-head said, getting upset, "I was supposed to talk to her, find out what was wrong and be all good-friendy but she seemed so okay today, so happy when we were shopping and all, I just thought whatever had been bothering her was maybe all fixed now, so I didn't ask and I should've, I..."

"Hey, Will" Xander interrupted his friends manic rambling, putting a hand over hers on the table, "It's not your fault, it's not anybody's fault. Hey, we don't even know if there's fault to be placed, there might be a totally simple, non-bad explanation for the lateness of the Buffster"

"I think she's just jealous" Anya sighed, causing all eyes to turn to her, "It's obvious to me what her problem is, she doesn't have anybody" she said matter-of-factly, "Xander and I are engaged, you girls are all coupley around her all the time, and okay so Giles is all alone but he's old, and that's to be expected, but Buffy's young and single and I think that's the root of the problem myself"

"Thank you, Anya" the Watcher said sarcastically, "As always your opinion is very much appreciated" he said, rolling his eyes as he polished his glasses on his handkerchief, "Now Willow, if it would put your mind at rest I shall use the pay phone over there and call Buffy's cell-phone to ensure she is alright"

"Thanks, Giles" the red-head managed a half smile as he attempted to squeeze through the crowds of writhing young bodies to go and call his Slayer. He dialled the number, holding the receiver to his ear and listening to the ringing tone for a few moments before it changed to a busy signal.


Buffy made a little annoyed sound in her throat as she gave up and shut off her phone.

"You just know I can't get through cos some Cordelia-esque Valley girl just decided she needs to call everyone she knows cos of a new pair of shoes or something!" she said angrily to herself since she was currently alone in the Magic Box, Spike was still in the training room with Dru.

They'd come in through the back door, for which Buffy had a key and used the training mats in the back room to make a comfortable area to lay the pregnant vampire down. It was the strangest phrase to Buffy, the words pregnant and vampire just didn't go together, until tonight of course.

"You get hold of your gang then?" Spike asked as he came into the main part of the shop, closing the door quietly behind him.

"Busy line" she said absently, as she turned to look at him, "She okay?" she checked, though in all honesty she wasn't sure if she cared. Still, the baby Drusilla carried could be human, innocent as any other, she couldn't wish death upon it if that were the case, though she was less concerned about it's mother.

"Dru's fine, still... well, dead to the world" Spike smirked slightly at the half-joke he hadn't really meant to make, "Probably her body tellin' her it needs sleep? I don't know to be honest this is beyond insanity, I can't..." Spike sat down on one the chairs by the table, running his hands back through his hair, elbows resting on his knees as he looked over at where Buffy still stood, "I am sorry, luv" he said sincerely, and she found she couldn't look at him right now.

"I don't need your apologies" the Slayer shook her head as she turned towards the bookshelves "I'm not the one you impregnated" she pointed out as she began scanning the shelves.

"I didn't mean that exactly" Spike said as he got up, walking over to join her, "I know what you're thinkin', that I'm some right bastard, shagging Dru and then tellin' you what I feel for you..."

"Spike" Buffy interrupted him with an exasperated sigh, "Now is not the time for tripping down memory lane, especially not that particular lane" she said barely glancing at him before going back to checking titles of books and pulling a couple from the shelves.

"What exactly you looking for?" Spike checked as she pushed two volumes into his hands and crossed over to the ladder leading up to where the more important books were kept.

"Anything that's going to help us figure out what the hell is going on" she called behind her, "Anything about demon births, vampire pregnancies..."

"Oh yeah, that'll be in that book all about stuff that never bloody happens then, will it?" Spike asked sarcastically, "Slayer, you know this isn't possible, or at least it shouldn't be" he reminded her as he stood at the bottom of the ladder calling up to her.

"This stuff never happens?" she echoed as she looked down at him, "Tell that to your knocked up sire" she spat, before going back to her task.

With a sigh, Spike gave up trying to talk to her, going over to the research table and sitting down on one of the chairs with a thump. He opened up one of the books Buffy had handed him and began flipping pages trying to find anything of use, though he doubted he would be successful.

Vampiric pregnancies should be impossible. If Drusilla was having a child, and he was certain there could be no mistake in that, the question became not only how was it possible, but what did it mean. Two demons with the ability to produce children was quite the anti-miracle, and Spike wondered why now was the time it had happened. He and Dru had been shagging for over a century, and suddenly now she was having his kid. It made even less sense when he looked at it that way.

The ringing of Buffy's cell phone caught his attention and he attuned his ears to her conversation as she answered the call.

"Buffy, thank the Lord" Giles sounded relieved to hear her voice, "We've been trying to contact you, are you quite alright?"

"Yes and no" the Slayer admitted, "I'm sorry I didn't make it to the Bronze, I did try to call, things are kinda crazy here"

"Where is here exactly?" her Watcher asked sounding concerned.

"The Magic Box" Buffy told him, "And we could use your help. Can you get everybody here?"

"Well, yes of course, we'll be there as soon as possible" Giles assured her, "but who is we and what exactly do you need our help with?" he asked her.

Buffy sighed pushing her hair off her face as she moved along the shelf of books on her hands and knees, checking all the titles for anything relevant.

"Giles, please, it'll be easier when you guys get here" she told him, and at last he seemed to accept it, promising he'd get the whole gang to the shop as soon as possible before saying goodbye and ending the call.

"They're not going to be any help, y'know, pet" Spike told Buffy as she came back down the ladder a moment later carrying a few volumes that might at least be slightly useful.

"I don't know if anybody can help right now" the Slayer admitted as she dumped the books on the table in front of her and took the seat next to Spike, "but if they can it'll be one of the gang. There's not much Giles doesn't know or can't find in his books, Anya remembers stuff from hundreds of years ago, and Will and Tara have the magicks on their side"

"I don't mean they're not up to the task, luv" Spike shook his head, "Just sayin' they won't be any help, won't want any part in it all when they realise it's me and Dru they're helpin'. They bloody hate me"

"Maybe they do" Buffy admitted with a sigh, "but whatever is happening here, it has to mean something. Maybe something bad is coming, or maybe it's something not so bad, I honestly have no idea" she told him, "but we need to find out what we're dealing with and then figure out where we go from here"

Spike nodded his agreement, pulling the book in front of him closer and scanning the pages. They both sat quietly skimming through the tomes Buffy had found waiting for the Scooby Gang to arrive, Spike always very aware of Drusilla in the back room, and keeping one ear open for when she awoke.


"Buffy!" Willow called to her as the gang came rushing into the shop, "My God, are you okay?!" she asked, looking the Slayer over for obvious injuries as she got to her feet.

"Will, I'm fine, I swear" Buffy promised her, "Hey, you two. Congratulations" she smiled as she hugged Xander then Anya, as the ex-demon made a big deal of pushing her diamond ring into Buffy's face for her to admire, "I'm sorry I kinda messed up your party" the Slayer apologised but Xander shook his head.

"No big" he assured her, "Plenty of time for more celebrations later"

"Oh yes" Anya agreed with a big grin, "With presents next time" she said enthusiastically, though her comment went mostly ignored as the group focused on Buffy and then Spike.

"Whatever is going on, Buffy?" Giles asked her, as he polished his glasses, "Is there some evil we need to investigate?" he guessed as he replaced his spectacles on his nose and cast an eye over the pile of books laid out on the table, some as yet untouched, others open at particular pages of some relevance.

"Well, it's all a little shocking and weird" Buffy admitted, not really knowing where to begin.

"Weird, huh?" Xander echoed, "Well, that'll explain why the Evil Dead is here. Don't come much weirder" he said, almost nastily.

Spike took little or no notice of the boy, his petty insults were nothing compared to the rest of the nights events so far.

"Whatever's happening, Buffy, it can't be any weirder of more shocking than the other stuff we've faced" Willow pointed out, "I mean when you've seen snake demons and Hell Gods and Master vampires, what icky surprises are left?" she asked rhetorically.

Buffy opened he mouth to answer when a piercing scream came from the back room, loud enough to wake the dead, though ironically it was the dead that had awoken to make the sound.

"Bloody hell" Spike cursed as he scrambled from his seat and crossed the space to the training room door in seconds.

Buffy was right on his heels and the rest of the Scoobies followed behind, wondering what on Earth was happening, and who or what was making such an horrendous noise.

"Bugger" Spike muttered as ran to Drusilla's side.

She was writhing around on the mats where he'd left her, apparently in terrible pain as she screamed and shouted, damning the moon and stars and various other entities that really had no bearing at all on her situation as far as Spike could see.

"Oh my Goddess" Willow gasped, as she took in the scene and Xander was equally stunned, though of course Tara and Anya did not yet fully understand what they were seeing, not knowing that the pregnant woman they were looking at was in fact a vampire.

"Good Lord" Giles said as he stared down at Spike trying to restrain his sire as she kicked and screamed for all she was worth, "Drusilla... She's pregnant?"

Buffy looked at him and shrugged her shoulders hopelessly.

"I tried to tell you it was shocking and weird!"

To Be Continued...