A/N: Thanks to all who have reviewed thus far, and I hope you continue to enjoy this fic.



Buffy awoke to harsh white lights shining in her eyes. As she attempted to get her bearings, she felt the presence of the silent figure next to her before said person gently grasped her hand.

"Are you alright?" She turned her head and was convinced that she was either dreaming or hallucinating.

"You're not here," she said quietly to the face that haunted her, desperately hoping she was wrong.

"Sorry to disappoint." He gave her a sad grin.

"No… not disappointed. Just shocked and... Where am I?"

"Hospital."

"Why? What happened?"

"Some chit tried to kidnap you. Knocked you out with a dose of chloroform. Bloody strong too."

"Is, is my baby okay?" she asked, locking eyes with him.

"S'fine. It'll be just fine," he answered solemnly, glancing at her rounded belly before returning her stare. As she gazed at him, she could see in his eyes that he somehow knew.

"How'd you find out?"

"Why, were you gonna tell me?" Hurt was evident on his face. She gave his hand a gentle squeeze.

"I didn't know where you were. I wanted to find you but.... I'm sorry," she said quietly. He let out a long sigh. He couldn't blame her. He was the one who wasn't there- who left...

"No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been such a wanker and left in the first place."

"But I told you to go."

"Doesn't matter. Besides, I'm usually never good at following orders." She gave him a small smile in response.

"But no worries, luv. You're stuck with me now."

"I'm glad. But, how did you know about the baby being..." she trailed off, unsure of how to continue her question.

"Mine? Damnedest thing. Um, my demon could feel the baby's- demon. We were… almost like connecting I guess. It's a similar sensation that I have when I'm with my uh, family." She remained quiet and continued to stare at him.

"What? You expectin' me to do a trick or something?" He sounded nervous as opposed to the sarcastic tone he was going for. She reached up and cupped his cheek.

"No, it's just that I missed you." He removed her hand and gently kissed her knuckles and then her palm, closing his eyes at the contact of her warmth.

"Missed you too pet. Missed you everyday."


*****

About an hour later, Giles arrived back at his apartment expecting the "expecting" Slayer to be there. To his dismay, the gang had not heard from her yet.

"Rupert, I'm really worried. Something must have happened. Otherwise, she would be here by now," Joyce said, wringing her hands nervously. Before anyone else could get a comment in, Riley was on his cell phone.

"Yeah, I want the location of one Buffy Summers. About five foot three, long blond hair, and six months pregnant. Leave no stone unturned. Check the hospitals too." Though he whispered the last sentence, it didn't go unnoticed.

"Oh god, Giles!" Willow started.

“At least he didn’t say the morgue,” Anya commented off handedly.

"Now wait. Let's all stay clam." Giles directed his statement to Joyce, attempting to placate her to Anya’s unfortunate comment, though inside he was a wreck. And based on Joyce’s unrelenting look of horror, so was she.

"My people should be calling me back in a few minutes. If they don't come up with any—" Riley was interrupted by the shrill ring of his cell. Everyone was deathly silent as they awaited the news.

"Yeah. I'm on my way," he finished. They all watched him closely as he remained quiet with a pensive look on his face.

"Well come on Riley! The suspense is killing me. Figuratively speaking of course," Anya interjected.

"She's in the hospital. But she's okay," he added quickly.

"Good lord. How'd she get there?" Giles asked.

"I don't know. Some guy brought her in. They're there now."

"Well come on. Let's rock and roll down to the hospital." Everyone looked at Xander for his totally lame comment.

"Well, driving could be good too," he quickly amended.

********

Giles and Joyce decided it would be best if the others waited in the lobby until they made sure everything was okay. They agreed, albeit reluctantly. Joyce rushed in ahead of Giles. Her audible gasp made him fear the worst.

"Mom?"

"Hello Joyce."

Giles tentatively stepped into the room. He knew the first voice was that of Buffy's, and he was relieved that she was okay. But the familiar sound of the second, male, British voice was the one that troubled him.

" 'ello, Rupes."

God, please deliver us from this evil... Giles thought.

"Spike, what are you doing here?" Giles asked tersely, wishing he had a stake.

"Came to see the Slayer of course. But then, there was a lil' bit of a fight."

"Buffy, you were fighting?! Spike how could you? Especially in her condition and-" Joyce ranted.

"No mom. I was sleeping the sleep while Spike was fighting the fight against my attacker. I was unconscious," she clarified.

“Who?” Giles asked, utterly confused.

"From the description Spike gave me, I think that it was Faith."

"Faith? But she's in a coma. How can you be sure?" Giles blustered.

"Besides the description, she had wicked strength, if that helps at all." Buffy said.

"Wait a minute. You didn't see her?" Joyce asked.

"No, she came up behind me and knocked me out with chloroform."

"Yeah, see then I stepped in and-"

"Then? Only after she's attacked you step in? How courteous of you to let the lady strike first," Giles remarked snidely.

"No. I didn't know what the bint was gonna do, did I? 'Sides, I was taken aback by the large beach ball stuffed up the Slayer's shirt," he said sarcastically. “Specially when I didn’t’ know it was mine at the time,” he muttered under his breath.

"Look, I know you don't like Spike being here," Buffy said addressing Giles, “but he is the father. And if he hadn't been there tonight, god knows what would've happened," she finished pointedly.

"So, what exactly are you saying Buffy? Is Spike here to fulfill his fatherly duties, or do his interests lie solely in you?" Giles asked. Buffy scrunched up her face in confusion.

"Hello. Sittin' right here, Watcher."

"What about Riley?" Giles continued, ignoring Spike.

"What about the blighter? Hey, who the hell's Riley? And what kind of a poofy name is that?" Spike asked Buffy.

"Well, I think that it's good that Spike is here. Riley is a nice guy, but he isn't the father. This baby is going to have to deal with things that only Spike and Buffy teach it. Besides, Buffy and Riley were never romantically involved. You can pretty much write it off as a friendship anyway," Joyce commented.

"Joyce, he won't take this lying down. Though I know Buffy doesn't love him, he indeed loves her," Giles said.

"What? Who told you that?" Buffy asked.

"He did, of course. He felt it necessary to have some sort of man to man talk with me. I think he wanted... my blessing?"

"Yeah, well, his services are no longer need. So you can just tell 'em to piss off. Right luv?" Spike asked to Buffy. She rubbed at her eyes irritably.

"Spike, when has it ever been that easy?" Buffy said tiredly.