Chapter 19

“I can’t believe you actually went to Angel.”

Spike ran his fingers through his hair. “I know it wasn’t the best choice, but I was out of options. There’s no one else I can really talk to and we may not be close, but I knew Peaches would understand.”

“You could have talked to me,” Buffy responded, sitting next to him on the couch.

“It was about you, and I already knew what you would say.”

Buffy nodded, accepting his answer. “So, how’s he doing?”

Spike raised his eyebrows. “Do you really wanna know?”

She took in a deep breath. “Yeah, I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t.”

“He has a kid of his own; don’t ask me how it happened. The mother is Darla, believe it or not.”

That was the last thing she expected to hear. “Okay, that makes no sense. She was dead, last time I checked, as in the dusty kind.”

Spike nodded. “I didn’t exactly ask for the details. She was pregnant and ended up staking herself just so the baby could be born, which was something I never would have expected from her. That bloody bitch never had a soft spot for children; I guess things are different when it’s your kid.”

“Wow, so Angel has a baby then? I would pay good money to see how he deals with that. Is it a boy or girl?”

“Boy, all human, and apparently very healthy.”

Buffy took in this new information, an idea forming. “Hey, wouldn’t it be cute if Dawn…”

He cut her off, knowing what she would say. “Don’t even think about it, Slayer. No daughter of mine is going to end up with that wanker’s offspring. We may be okay right now, but he’s still your ex.”

She shrugged, a smile on her face. “It was just a thought.”

“Well, get it out of your head.”

“Duly noted, it’s no longer in my head,” she claimed.

“Good, just so we’re clear.”

Buffy rested her head against his shoulder. “Do you think I’ll have a boy or a girl?”

He kissed the top of her head, once again praying that this birth would be a smooth one. “I don’t know. I wouldn’t mind another girl. I don’t know if teenage boys are something I would want to handle, let Peaches do it.”

She laughed. “Trust me; teenage girls are no easier, what with the dating and all. You would be more protective over a girl than you would over a boy, way more to worry about, like teenage pregnancy, and all that fun stuff parents have to deal with.”

Spike looked pale, even more so than usual. “Is there a chance we can lock Dawn up until she’s forty?”


* * * * *


“No way, are you serious?”

Spike chuckled. “You seem more shocked by that than of Angel having a kid.”

Buffy scrunched up her nose. “And with good reason, this is Cordelia we’re talking about. Has he lost his mind?!”

“You’re not jealous, are you?” he asked teasingly, but was still worried about her answer.

“Hardly, it’s just weird. I always knew they had this attraction to each other, even when we were together, but I never thought anything would come of it. I mean, it’s Cordelia!”

Spike settled her down on his lap, wrapping his arms around her. “It’s not so strange; the cheerleader has changed since she left this bloody town. Besides, she’s probably the only one who can keep Peaches on his toes. Not that you didn’t do a fine good job of that, but you’re not the same girl you once were, either.”

She pouted, deciding to accept Angel’s very bad taste in women. “Well, it’s not like I ever thought I’d be dating you, I guess anything is possible.

“Oi, don’t sound so upset about that,” he said, tickling her, which he knew was her weakness.

Buffy collapsed in giggles. “All right, I give, stop with the torture. I’ll never be upset to have you in my life,” she stated, making amends.

Spike smiled. “That’s more like it.” He gave her a peck on the lips, which soon turned more passionate.

Buffy pulled away when she felt a familiar stirring in her abdomen, placing a hand over it and raising her eyes to his. “Did you feel that? The baby just kicked.”

He covered her hand with his, a bigger smile forming on his face when he felt the tiny movement. “Bloody hell, she’s already just like her mum.”

Buffy squeezed his hand, tears suddenly clouding her vision. “See, everything is going to be fine. We just have to keep believing that.”

Spike wished to have her confidence, but knew that she was right. They’ve been through so much together already, this was just one more obstacle to get through, and he knew they would do just that.


* * * * *


“So, Buffy’s being all hormonal?”

Spike let out a sigh. “I love her, but I’m very tempted to strangle her. She’s driving me bloody crazy. Was it this bad the first time?”

Xander shrugged. “Thankfully, I wasn’t around much then. I knew better.”

“And what would you do if Anya was pregnant? Just avoid her until the kid comes out?”

Xander’s eyes widened. “It’s a little too soon for that, we’re not thinking about kids yet.”

“You may not be, but I guarantee the idea has been in her head for a while.”

Xander paled, shaking his head. “We’re talking about you, not me. What else has Buffy done?” he asked, changing the subject.

Spike rubbed the back of his neck. “She says she wants sex, right? I’m obviously okay with that, I get her ready, and then right in the middle of it, she changes her mind. Says she’s not in the mood anymore, and when I turn sex down, the few times that actually happens because I’m worried about hurting her, she calls me a wuss, or a pansy. The bloody bint keeps stealing my words, and I can’t say I really care for it, especially not when she mocks my accent. What the fuck am I doing wrong? I’m just looking out for her.”

Xander patted him on the back. “It’s not you, man. It’s always them. They get these damn mood swings, which have them blaming you for every little thing. Did she apologize later on?”

“Yeah, actually, she said she was sorry and let me hold her. Instead of constantly pushing me away and cursing the fact that I knocked her up. How do you know so much when you’ve never had any children?”

Xander grinned. “The Lifetime channel, bleach boy. It’s gotten me through many lonely nights.”

Spike raised his eyebrows. “That’s something you should keep to yourself, Harris.”

Xander watched him walk away in confusion. “What? It helps! It’s quality entertainment!” He shook his head and sighed. “I really need to get more male friends.”