Opposition

"So…" Xander started, with a grimaced look on his face, as he gestured towards Spike and Buffy's closed bedroom door. "They've just been through a very painful spell. Why are they having sex?" He held up a hand, as if to interrupt himself, then adjusted the question. "Why are they having loud sex, that we can hear?"

Giles sighed. "I've already explained this," he said. "When in pain the best thing either of them can do to soothe it is to… join together."

"Right," Harris cringed. "This claim thing. Still kinda wigged about that."

"Uh huh," murmured Willow, who was trying not to think about it. "So this buys us time, right? We still need to figure out who took Buffy's soul and why?"

"Indeed," said Giles, "Of course."

"Where do we check now?" asked Dawn, but before anyone could answer her the front door burst open. Rona and Vi ran into the hallway and slammed the door shut again. They began blockading it when the phone started ringing. The sounds of Buffy and Spike's union died down, and the ex-vampire was heard exclaiming, "Bloody hell," as the Slayer picked up.

"You're gonna need to sit down and listen carefully, B," came the voice down the line.

Faith explained all she knew as fast as possible, and when the Slayer hung up and got herself together, she walked out into the chaos that was her living room.

The two other slayers were out of breath, and badly explaining the situation in fits and starts.

"What's happening?" Xander and Dawn were asking.

"Who was on the phone?" said Willow.

"What's coming, luv?" said Spike.

"Slayers," answered Buffy, "Lots of them. Willow, put up a protection spell now."

Without another word the Witch complied and, practicalities having been dealt with – for the time being – the Slayer sat down and let the shock of everything wash over her. She began to cry and rub her hand protectively over her bump.

"What's happening?" Xander dared to ask again.

Spike was lost in a sea of mixed emotions. Looking over at his mate he was tempted to go to her. His instinct was torn between comfort and protection, and he wasn't sure he could do both in that moment. Finally, though, he turned to the boy and said, "The slayers are coming after us. They want to hurt Buffy. To end her pregnancy," – he then looked to Rona and Vi for confirmation. "That about right?"

They nodded, solemnly.

"You have the details?" Spike continued to ask, calling on all the strength within himself to remain calm.

"Yeah," Rona answered.

"Well work with the scoobies here. Come up with a plan to deal with them. Because if one more person threatens my family I swear to every hell god in this sodding galaxy I will start ripping throats out and I don't give a damn if they're human, or chosen, or little fucking girls."

There were more nods, from all around the room. No one dared argue with him. And when he said his piece Spike finally went and took Buffy in his arms.

"Faith said they wanted to recruit her," she told him, through sobs. "They asked her to come here and kill my baby. They… Spike, she said they think it's an abomination, and that she deserves to die."

Spike's blood boiled. He couldn't even whisper reassurances to his mate, because he didn't trust himself to speak.

In the background he was aware Willow was still chanting, and all the others were talking over each other. Then came the banging at the door.

"We know you're in there," came the booming voice of Kennedy on the other side. At the sound of it Willow gasped and the spell faltered momentarily.

"Keep it together, Red," Spike barked, but she was already back in control.

"We've come here to do the right thing," Kennedy continued, "Let us in now."

Having appointed himself the negotiator in the situation, Giles told her that there was no way he was letting anyone harm his family, and that any mission they thought they were on was completely wrong.

"Bull!" the girl told him. "I've seen all the info."

"Info?" the watcher asked, suddenly intrigued.

"Oh, you know, off the website and stuff. We're not gonna let the hell spawn be born no matter who's carrying it."

Spike stood up and looked at Giles. The man looked back at him, then told Willow to make a hole in the barrier.

Opening the door Spike whipped the girl inside and slammed it shut again, in the faces of all the rest.

"Talk!" he said, disarming her and pushing her down in a chair. "Right now."

To be continued...