"I think it's a girl!" Dawn said, her eyes gleaming with excitement. She looked across the table to Willow, Xander, and Tara. Tara smiled.

"Me too, Dawnie." Tara said, looking at Willow.

"I'm not telling." Willow said, smirking.

"You have to say. It's a game." Dawn squealed.

"Oh right, the guess the gender of Buffy's unborn child game. I almost forgot." Willow joked. She looked at Tara and then at Dawn. "Girl." She finally admitted.

All of the girls look at Xander for his guess. He was so intent on reading a comic book that he didn't even see them staring. Giles and Anya came into the dining room bickering. All of the girls stopped staring at Xander and focused on Giles and Anya.

"I'm sorry but I just don't see why we have to give Buffy gifts." Anya said, obviously annoyed with Giles.

"Because Anya, it is tradition. When you have a baby you have a baby shower." Giles informed.

"Then I want a baby." Anya whined. Xander's face turned red as he looked up at his ex-fiancé. "Where can I buy one?"

"What are we buying?" Buffy said, walking into the room. She was rather large, now almost nine months pregnant. Spike wasn't far behind her. Spike practically lived at the Summer's house. He wanted to take care of Buffy and the baby as much as he could.

"Anya wants to buy a baby." Willow told Buffy, trying not to laugh.

"She's not buying a baby." Xander then informed everyone but kept his eyes on Anya. She stuck her tongue out at him and glared.

"You aren't the boss of me, Xander Harris." She said in a childlike manor.

Buffy just shook her head. She put the bags of groceries onto the counter in the kitchen and returned to the dining room. The baby kicked, sending a blow to Buffy's rib cage. "Oooh."

"What is it Buffy?" Spike asked.

"Baby kicked. Congratulations Spike, it has your bad temper." She said, teasing Spike. He just sighed and looked at the mother of his unborn child.

Giles stood in front of Buffy holding her shoulder. "Why don't you go lie down, Buffy. We'll put everything away." He insisted. She gave him a sincere look and carefully made her way upstairs. Spike followed her.

"I think it will be nice having another guy around." Xander said, manly. Everyone looked at him and laughs. "I vote a boy."

Upstairs, lying in bed Buffy began to think about the past months…

It's been some time since Spike and I got together. I realized that I was afraid to love him because of how my relationship with Angel turned out. I didn't want that again. Spike made it clear that we'd be different. We love each other so much. We chose not to know what our baby is. I don't know why really.

"Spike."

"Yeah Buffy?" Spike said, tired.

"What should we name it?" Buffy asked, patting her rounded stomach.

"Buffy, it's three in the morning. Cant this wait until tomorrow?" He groaned.

"What do you think about William?" She asks, not caring if Spike wants to sleep.

He sighs. "I think not pet."

"But that was your name."

"Exactly. I want our child to have a good, strong, name. Something that means something special. Joyce?"

"It's too soon, Spike. I can't." Buffy frowned. "What was your mother like?"

Spike smiled. "The best. I was her only child and my father had passed when I was young. It was just me and her. We shared a lot of wonderful years together…"

"What happened to her?"

"You mean before I turned her?" Spike scoffed. Buffy insisted on hearing. "She got sick and she wasn't going to live much longer. I had just been turned and I wanted my mother to feel good again. She deserved it. But she was different after. Cruel. I didn't have a choice but to…" He finished.

Buffy moved closer to Spike's side of the bed, rubbing his back. "What was here name?"

"Annalise." He whispered.

Buffy smiled. She rubbed her stomach… Hello little Annalise. She cuddled up to Spike and fell asleep.

Suddenly there was a bright light. A gust of wind brought forth a portal and the force was so strong Buffy and Spike were sucked in. When it stopped they were on the ground. Their eyes were still adjusting as they gazed around at what appeared to be Sunnydale. The gang was all there and all safe, but very confused. Why were they here? How did they get here? Then Xander noticed a sign nearby. …Feeling hungry? Come on into The Double Meat Palace and enjoy our fresh tasting food! 2023 is going to be a great year for us. Help us in the opening of two new restaurants! 2023?!

"Uh guys… I think we have a problem…"