Real – XLIV
'What we call reality is an agreement that people have arrived
at to make life more liveable' – Louise Nevelson
Three weeks later...
It was almost as though the great invisible barrier that had separated them for so long had finally lifted. The mystery remained as to exactly what gesture or exchange had served as the balm to the sore; however, rather than question the sudden change in atmosphere, the Scoobies resolved to find relief in the fact that their friends were finally more than simply co-existing. The tension in the Summers' household had been near smothering since Buffy's return and yet, seemingly overnight, those unspoken issues appeared resolved.
The awkward silences across the dinner table, strained glances, and exchanges of far-too-formal pleasantries were long gone; in their wake was left a kind of honeymoon period that saw Buffy and Angel perhaps more blissfully content than ever before. Angel had taken to returning from work most days with flowers or some other romantic trinket, and the couple had even cleared time in their respective work and slaying schedules for a regular date night.
Willow, whilst simultaneously baffled and suspicious, was thrilled beyond all measure to see the reparations, which had begun at an astounding rate. Giles remained a little cool towards Angel but was undoubtedly pleased that he and Buffy had managed to work through their grievances without the usual need to resort to violence.
Dawn beamed with a kind of secret pride and her own mood also visibly lifted. She could not help but credit herself at least a little with having helped move the couple towards their reconciliation, but rather wisely she chose not to voice as much. Dawn had always believed that she had played a large part in Buffy's choice to leave Sunnydale, despite her sister's best efforts to convince her otherwise. For that reason alone Dawn simply watched with quiet relief as Buffy and Angel continued to rebuild the bond they had all feared shattered.
As always, Xander maintained an air of indifference towards the whole situation. The recent weeks had seen a noticeable pick-up in the frequency of his visits to the Summers' home but it was clear that there was still a ways to go before his own issues could be set aside. He chose to call only when he knew that Spike's absence was assured and, despite Dawn's own efforts to set him at ease, Xander remained uncomfortable in her presence. He found his eyes often wandering to her stomach, which protruded visibly now that she had entered her twenty-sixth week of pregnancy. Xander forced himself to suppress the shudders that threatened to take hold of him each time he witnessed the mound of Dawn's belly shifting.
The others had begun to approach the pregnancy with more understanding and even considerable excitement. They often could be found with their palms pressed eagerly to Dawn's stomach in the hopes of catching the latest flurry of movement. Even Buffy, once so devastated by the news of her sister's predicament, had hefted their old crib down from the attic and assembled it neatly at the foot of Dawn's bed. She had yet to reveal the beautiful old patchwork quilt that had served to swaddle not only she and Dawn in their infancy, but also their own mother. Buffy had resolved that after a thorough dry clean and a few minor repairs to the seams, the blanket would make the perfect new baby gift for her sister. She knew that this was what their mother would have wanted, and so in her free time she struggled to mend the intricate stitching where the decades had taken their toll.
It seemed that as the rest of the gang grew more comfortable with the situation, Xander's own fears only intensified. Willow had attempted to chalk his anxiety up to immaturity and his own disdain for the prospect of parenthood, but Xander suspected otherwise. Try as he may, he just could not shake the uneasy feeling that with this baby would come more trouble than any had anticipated.
In contrast, Buffy appeared to finally have regained most of her old assuredness in the weeks that had passed. To all that observed her, Buffy's mood was noticeably lighter and her passion for simply living reignited. She and Angel seemed to have slipped comfortably back into their infatuation with each other, but had mutually agreed that the wedding should be postponed until the months following the birth of Dawn's child. Whilst Dawn protested this decision guiltily, Buffy was resolved in its making.
At Buffy's request, Angel had kept all but snippets of the secrets she had shared with him as such. They had revealed together to the gang what little the former Watchers had offered and it had been almost unanimously decided that for the meantime the prophecy should be regarded as dubious at best. Like Xander, Giles remained concerned by the translations in the text and continued to search long into the wee hours of the morning for any information that might assuage his fears. Knowing the toll that this dedication was taking on his wellbeing, Buffy suggested to Spike that he should consider arranging an ante-natal appointment of a more fitting kind for Dawn. The unpredictable nature of the baby had made it impossible for Dawn to see a regular obstetrician, and so for the duration of her pregnancy she had remained medically uncared for. Both Spike and Buffy had made the extra effort to procure all manner of pre-natal vitamins and literature, but neither could give much insight into the wellbeing of either mother or child. The date for a routine sonogram to take place had long passed and this had proven to be of some concern to Dawn, who had yet to even hear her baby's heartbeat (should it indeed even possess one).
Spike had nodded his understanding at Buffy's request and returned the next evening with news of a kind of 'physician' who was willing to see Dawn. She had listened in silence to the assurances that Spike provided but her pursed lips and protectively crossed arms alerted them all to the fact that Dawn was less than impressed by the proposal.
"You want me to see some back alley witch doctor?" Dawn had demanded finally, her eyes narrowed in an accusatory manner at both Buffy and Spike. Angel chuckled from his position in the armchair but kept his nose buried in the local newspaper. Buffy perched at Angel's side and shot him a mildly disapproving look before returning her attention to Dawn.
"No, not a witch doctor," said Buffy patiently, glancing at Spike for support. The vampire grinned and nodded with enthusiasm before seating himself at Dawn's side on the couch.
"A shaman..." he explained, "completely different kettle of fish and all that."
Spike reached out one splayed palm to Dawn's belly with a broad grin, which faded rapidly as she slapped his hand away before it could make contact with her body. Dawn shifted in her seat in order to affix Spike with a look of unbridled fury.
"No way," Dawn replied, shaking her head as an incredulous expression contorted her features. "How do you even know that this guy is..."
"Safe?" Spike finished, arching one blonde eyebrow in Dawn's direction. "You think I'd risk you and the ankle biter?"
"Not intentionally, no," Dawn replied snippily, "but I'm not exactly filled with confidence at the thought of letting a shaman poke and prod at my baby."
"There will be no prodding or poking of any kind," Spike promised, holding both hands up in front of his body, "cross my heart, love. You'll see."
"I haven't agreed to go yet," said Dawn sulkily, folding her hands in her lap and twisting away from Spike. The vampire sighed and leaned towards the girl, gently inclining her face back to his own by cupping her chin with his fingers. Dawn reluctantly met Spike's gaze, her lips drawn into a pout that clearly conveyed her feelings on the issue.
"Dawn, love," Spike began, his voice dropping to a low and comforting purr, "this is our chance to prove to everyone once and for all that there is nothing to worry about here. I know it's just eating you up inside that we don't know the first thing about this baby... and now you're turning down our only chance to get to know him?"
"Or her," Dawn shot back automatically in a mumble. Her brow furrowed and her gaze dropped to her lap as she contemplated Spike's words for a few moments more. Finally, after a lengthy pause, she released a sigh and sagged back against the cushions of the couch.
Buffy had been more than a little relieved by Dawn's decision to attend the appointment but, the following evening, as they stood in front of the evidently derelict warehouse she had begun to question her own sanity at having ever trusted Spike with such a task. The building was made entirely from corrugated iron and the tiled roof was plagued in at least several places by holes large enough for an adult to crawl through. Graffiti was daubed on almost every inch of the outer wall and each window was covered by a thick sheet of wood. The entire area surrounding the building appeared to have been deserted for a number of years, such was the state of disrepair it had fallen into. Buffy and Dawn stood arm in arm before the iron monster, each wearing identical expressions of horror as they processed the scene before them. Only Spike stood at ease, his smile wide and excited, and both hands shoved into the pockets of his leather coat. He rocked back and forth on his heels like a child at the door of a candy store.
"You have got to be kidding," Buffy finally spoke, shattering the uncomfortable silence that had descended since their arrival at the address Spike had produced.
"I'm not going in there," Dawn snarled, rounding on Spike and punching him viciously in the top of his arm without warning. The vampire blinked in surprise and rubbed at the mild stinging sensation, his expression wounded.
"It's not what it looks like, ok?" said Spike, taking a rapid step backwards as a measure for his own safety. Both Buffy and Dawn glared at him murderously, their eyes narrowed. Spike swallowed and gestured towards the building.
"Look, can we please just go inside and..."
"Absolutely not!" Buffy snapped, shaking her head incredulously at Spike's display of greater than usual idiocy. "Aside from the obvious fact that we have no idea what the hell is even lurking in there, I'm afraid I'm going to catch tetanus from just standing on the sidewalk."
"Who told you about this place?" demanded Dawn. Her eyes searched the perimeter of the building for any signs of life but beyond the odd rodent she could locate none. Spike ducked his head a little sheepishly and offered the women a smile that he hoped was beguiling at very least.
"A customer," he muttered, kicking at the ground with the toe of one scuffed boot. Dawn emitted a yelp that startled both Buffy and Spike.
"You actually listened to one of those low life demonic scumbags from Willy's?" Dawn yelled, her eyes now blazing and her entire body trembling in a demonstration of her fury.
"Willy's?" Buffy repeated in a puzzled tone. She shot Spike a bemused look.
"I work there," Spike grunted, thankful that his ability to blush was long redundant. Buffy's eyebrows immediately shot up and she stared at Spike for several seconds before suddenly dissolving into laughter.
"You work there?" she spluttered, bending over and clutching her knees for support, "for Willy the snitch?"
"I work the bar and sweep up a few evenings a week, alright, Slayer?" Spike growled, removing a cigarette from behind his ear and striking a match off the sole of his boot. As he cupped his hand around the end of the cigarette and drew the flame towards it, Dawn pointedly cleared her throat. Spike allowed the match to fall to the floor where it extinguished itself. He tucked the cigarette behind his ear once again and glared moodily at Dawn.
It took Buffy a few moments more to recover but after she had finally straightened up and regained control of herself, she gestured towards the door of the building.
"Look, I'll go in first, check the place out, and if it seems legit then you guys can follow?" Buffy suggested, desperately attempting to thwart the grin that tugged at the corners of her lips. She was careful to avoid Spike's gaze but from the vampire's responding grunt could tell that he was now less than enthused.
"Whatever," was Dawn's sullen response. She folded her arms and continued to stare at the building, the structural integrity of which Buffy was seriously questioning as she approached the entrance. The main door itself seemed mercifully to be both in tact and functioning, and Buffy wasted no time in wrenching it open with Slayer strength. There was a loud metallic screech and a cloud of dust was instantly thrown up into the air, momentarily obscuring Buffy's vision. Buffy cupped one hand over her nose and mouth and, squinting, stepped inside the darkened warehouse. Every inch of her body was tensed, each muscle poised like a coiled spring in preparation for an attack that never came. Instead, as Buffy moved several more paces towards the centre of the warehouse, she felt the atmosphere around her begin to shift. The sensation this brought was not unpleasant but rather dizzying, and Buffy instinctively reached out a hand, forgetting for the moment that the building she stood in was by all accounts empty.
Buffy's mouth dropped open a little in surprise as her hand met a very definitely solid surface that felt cool beneath her skin. After several seconds of rapid blinking, the Slayer's vision began to clear and she was met with the sight of an enormous marble desk behind which sat a smiling woman. Buffy glanced to her side quickly as the air rippled once more and into the lobby stepped Spike holding a rather stunned Dawn by the arm.
"I thought you guys were going to wait for my signal?" Buffy hissed, flashing the plump, middle-aged receptionist a smile. Spike merely shrugged and turned to observe Dawn, who was staring with wide eyes at her suddenly pristine and very clinical surroundings.
"See, didn't I tell you, love?" Spike said, his grin now returning, "all above board. Just an illusion to deter the undesirables."
Dawn nodded dumbly, her gaze falling upon the receptionist, who was still beaming in welcome at the three new arrivals. She wore a crisp white smock complete with matching cap that hinted strongly at the professionalism of the establishment. A landscape calendar hung on the wall behind the woman just to the right of a large metal filing cabinet marked 'records', and a cordless phone complete with a fax machine stood at the end of the desk. The woman drummed her fingernails upon a stack of papers before her, which Dawn presumed to be the appointments log since she could see no evidence of a computer nearby. Her suspicions were confirmed as Spike stepped forwards, mumbled Dawn's name, and the receptionist immediately turned her attention to the top paper.
"The vampire baby," the woman chuckled seemingly to herself as she crossed a line through Dawn's name with pencil. She looked back at the group, blinking with what appeared to be two sets of eyelids, before gesturing to a collection of plastic seats that stood in a square in the corner of the room. A notice-board adorned with photographs of smiling demons and various medical pamphlets was affixed to the wall on one side of the waiting room, whilst a large oak door dominated the wall on the other.
"Dr. Kalkirasch will be with you shortly," she said, her smile pleasant enough as she eyed Dawn with curiosity. Dawn peered down at her feet and shuffled over to the waiting area where three demons of varying shape, size and hue were already gathered. Some flipped through magazines in evident boredom whilst another played with a cell phone in between shooting glances at the wall clock. Dawn took in the coffee table spread with a selection of paperback romance novels, the water cooler bubbling away in an adjacent corner, and the rubber potted trees that stood in a line behind one row of seats. Everything seemed so comically human that Dawn felt the sudden urge to giggle hysterically rise up within her. She coughed a few times to sober herself and selected a chair that was as far away as possible from the waiting room's other occupants.
On the floor in the centre of the seating area, a little girl with a pair of wicked looking horns sat cross legged. Her green eyes were trained on a fashion doll that floated a foot off the ground before her. Dawn noted that the girl appeared to be immersed in conversation with her dolly, and was highly relieved to note that the doll appeared not to be responding. The demon child wore a pink silk party dress and her brown hair was woven into a tight plait that stretched down her back and passed her elbows. Sensing eyes upon her, the little girl turned to peer at Dawn and grinned, waving once before her attention wandered back to her game.
"This is all kinds of freaky," Dawn muttered, jamming her hands into the pocket of her light jacket and leaning closer into Spike as he lowered himself into the chair by her side. He reached out and patted Dawn's knee, his smile reassuring and more than a little excited.
"Well, at least it's clean," Buffy attempted as she peered down into the gleaming tiled floor upon which she could literally see her own reflection. The whole room reeked of a stench that was not unlike ammonia and which someone, presumably the merry receptionist, had tried to mask by affixing an automatic air freshener to the ceiling.
"Not really reassuring," Dawn griped, rolling her eyes as her sister simply shrugged.
They waited in the office for some time without the arrival of any further patients occurring. However, every ten or so minutes, the heavy looking oak door would swing open and one of the already waiting demons would disappear inside the darkened room at a prompting glance from the receptionist. None re-emerged; a fact that did not go unnoticed by the trio. Eventually, after no more than an hour had elapsed, Buffy, Spike and Dawn sat alone in the waiting area.
The receptionist's soft but tuneless humming did little to calm their nerves, and whilst Buffy sat drumming her fingernails on the coffee table Dawn chewed relentlessly on her own. Finally, the door rattled and then creaked open. Simultaneously, Buffy, Spike and Dawn all turned to stare at the entrance whilst waiting for the signal they knew would come. The receptionist cleared her throat once and the three practically sprang to their feet.
Dawn was first to move towards the doorway and as she passed by Buffy seized her hand to hold tightly in her own. Dawn's smile was grateful but her expression still strained as she continued to walk towards the unseen room. Spike brought up the rear of the party, his hands balled into fists at his side, although Buffy was unsure as to whether this was in preparation for a fight or simply nerves due to the nature of their visit.
Dawn released an audible sigh of relief as they stepped into the doctor's office. The door swung shut behind them with a loud thunk but Dawn was far too immersed in examining the interior of the office to really notice. The room looked the same as one would expect any other doctor's office to look. A wooden desk stood at one side of the room surrounded by three more chairs; the walls were lined with anatomy posters and non-descript floral prints; whilst in the centre of the room was a reclining chair with various pieces of machinery situated either side. Dawn did not notice the small olive-skinned man waiting patiently in the corner of the room until he stepped forwards and thrust one hand almost under her nose.
"Miss. Summers I presume?" he questioned in a thick middle-eastern accent, his bushy black eyebrows raised so high that they were almost now sitting either side of his creased forehead.
Dawn nodded wordlessly and found herself the next minute embroiled in an overtly enthusiastic handshake. The doctor, who stood almost a foot shorter than Buffy, beamed up at the group and rubbed the bald crown of his head with one hand.
"I am very excited to meet you," Dr. Kalkirasch cooed, his almost ebony coloured eyes creasing at the corners as his smile grew only wider. Dawn felt her body begin to relax, oddly comforted by this genuine if not peculiar little man.
"A vampire baby is indeed something I have heard of only in the legends of my own people," he continued, his gaze falling to Dawn's stomach which was partially concealed by her jacket, "but I am most honoured that you have chosen me to care for you and your child at this important time."
"Well, it's kind of tough to go elsewhere when we're not exactly sure which one of us the nipper takes after, if you catch my drift, doc?" Spike replied, peering askance at the doctor as he emitted a high-pitched and childlike giggle. Dr. Kalkirasch clapped his hands together in delight and nodded, his tiny dark head bobbing frantically on his shoulders.
"Of course, of course," he said, turning to Dawn and grasping her hand between his own two. "If you would be so kind as to make yourself comfortable then we will begin the exam."
Dawn hesitated, inhaling deeply as she looked from the doctor to her sister and back again.
"What exactly will this 'exam' entail?" Buffy questioned in a gentle tone, for she herself had already grown fond of the animated little man before them. Dr. Kalkirasch slapped one palm to his forehead and grimaced.
"Very rude of me," he apologised, flashing another brilliant smile at Dawn, who he continued to usher towards the chair. "Very simple, completely painless, and everything you wish to know about your baby, you shall."
Dawn hopped up onto the chair and reluctantly settled herself back against it, all the while chewing on her bottom lip. Spike was at her side in an instant, his hand searching out hers and clasping it tenderly to his chest once he had found it. The couple exchanged nervous smiles and Buffy settled herself into one of the nearby chairs, suddenly feeling more of a third wheel than a pillar of support.
"Is Mommy ready?" Dr. Kalkirasch queried, arranging himself at the opposing side of the chair and glancing down at Dawn for confirmation. Inhaling deeply, she nodded.
Dr. Kalkirasch rubbed both hands together before placing them around an inch above Dawn's midriff. His eyelids fluttered closed and a moment later his head lolled forwards as though he had entered some form of trance. Both Spike and Dawn stared at the doctor, who had yet to even make contact with his patient's body but nonetheless appeared to be engaged in some sort of examination. His hands stroked the air above Dawn, who seemed now to genuinely relax against the soft padded chair. The exam continued for several minutes, for which the room remained respectfully silent before without warning Dr. Kalkirasch dropped his hands to his sides and opened his eyes. His smile was instant and warm.
"All done, Miss. Summers," he proclaimed, moving towards a metal basin that stood against one wall and beginning to vigorously wash his hands despite his lack of contact with his patient.
"And?" Spike prodded, his grip on Dawn's hand tightening almost painfully.
"Baby is in the peak of health," Dr. Kalkirasch promised, his eyes twinkling, "a very strong heartbeat."
"Heartbeat?" Dawn whispered faintly, her eyes beginning to shine with renewed hope. "So... the baby is..."
"Human," the doctor finished with a nod before settling himself at his desk and beginning to scrawl something on a palm sized square of card. "Around twenty-six weeks and three days gestation, and tough as an ox."
Spike and Dawn beamed at each other, tears beginning to pool in the corners of both of their eyes.
"Would you like to know the sex?" Dr. Kalkirasch inquired, laying his pen down and handing the newly completed appointment card to Spike along with a stack of booklets he had fished from his drawer.
"No," Dawn replied in a rush, shaking her head determinedly. "I kind of think a surprise is nicer."
"As you wish," the doctor conceded with a nod, "my lips are sealed. Your own health is perfect, Miss. Summers, and I see no need for any further treatment today. Now, you are free to go and please see that you return promptly for your next appointment in several weeks."
Glancing first at Buffy and Spike, Dawn clambered down from her seat and moved towards a second previously unnoticed door that Dr. Kalkirasch now stood alongside. Nodding at each of the visitors in turn, the doctor pulled open the door to reveal behind it what appeared to be a view of the Summers' lounge. As she shook her head in wonderment, it suddenly dawned on Buffy why none of the doctor's previous patients had been seen to leave their appointments. Spike and Dawn exchanged final pleasantries with the doctor before stepping through the portal and fading from sight. After a moment of hesitation and a final backward glance at the doctor, Buffy crossed the threshold of the doorway. Her feet had barely touched down on the polished wood of her living room floor before the door behind them sealed, and then vanished in a flash of brilliant light.
x-x-x
Buffy sat at her mother's old dresser and thoughtfully raked a brush through to the ends of her hair. She had been frozen in this particular pose for the last fifteen minutes, her eyes trained upon her reflection in the mirror although Angel was certain that the Slayer was barely seeing herself at all. He approached from behind and snaked his arms around Buffy's waist, his suspicions confirmed as she visibly jumped. Angel planted an apologetic kiss on Buffy's neck before lowering his chin to rest on her shoulder-blade.
It was late and the couple were preparing for bed on one of Angel's rare evenings off work. In celebration of this fact, Buffy had selected and now sported a blue baby-doll nightdress made from the thinnest cotton imaginable.
"Penny for your thoughts?" he asked in a soft whisper, smiling as Buffy leaned back into his embrace.
"I was just thinking about the prophecy," Buffy admitted, finally laying the brush on the table in front of her. Angel nodded and waited for her to continue.
"The baby is human so I guess there really is nothing to worry about..." Buffy said, reaching behind her in order to smooth one palm across Angel's cheek.
"But?" he probed, stroking the bare skin at the top of her arm. "You don't trust the doctor?"
"No, I actually did," Buffy replied, her brow furrowing as she added, "I just trust Giles a whole lot more."
Angel shrugged and began scattering kisses along the nape of Buffy's neck. She mumbled in contentment and closed her eyes, suddenly feeling every minute of the torturously long day she had endured.
"Giles has been wrong before," Angel said, pausing for a moment and meeting Buffy's gaze in the mirror as her eyes flashed open. Buffy nodded and spun around in her seat to face Angel. She wasted little time in wrapping both arms around his neck and giggled as he hoisted her effortlessly into the air.
"You worry too much," Angel accused, his tone now an undoubtedly seductive purr that sent shivers rolling throughout Buffy's body. He felt her body tremble a little against his own and his smile was immediate.
"I really do," Buffy breathed, bumping the tip of her nose lightly against Angel's as she taunted him with the prospect of a kiss. At the last second, she pulled away with a wicked grin.
"You know, I have the perfect way to relieve some of that tension," Angel promised, crushing his lips against Buffy's and defiantly claiming the kiss she had denied him. As they drew apart, Buffy nodded eagerly.
"Show me?" she whispered, her eyes growing wide in a pantomime of innocence.
"Definitely," was Angel's only reply as he lowered his lover into the centre of the bed they once more shared.