Chapter 21

Spike was pacing the waiting room, beyond worried about Buffy. If she didn’t make it through this, he didn’t know what he would do.

“You should sit down, Spike. You’re making us dizzy.”

He nodded at Willow, but sitting still was not an option at the moment. “What’s taking so long? I’m about to lose my bloody mind here.”

Tara rubbed his back in comfort, always the one to make everyone feel better. “She’ll be okay, Spike. Buffy’s strong, if anyone can get through this, it’s her.”

That gave him some reassurance, but didn’t stop him from being worried. Spike perked up when the doctor finally headed in their direction, making his way over to him and not wasting any time with his questions. “How is she? Is she okay? Is the baby going to be all right?”

The doctor held up his hand, a smile on his face. “You have a very healthy, baby boy. Buffy lost a lot of blood, but we managed to get her stabilized. She’s still out of it, but should make a full recovery. It’s up to her now.”

Spike sighed in relief as all of their friends cheered and hugged at the happy news. “Thank you, Doctor. When can we see her?”

“Visiting hours are over right now and Buffy needs to rest, but you can each go in one at a time.”

He nodded, turning to the others once the doctor walked away. “You should go in first, Joyce.”

She shook her head. “I was actually going to call the sitter to check on Dawn, you go on ahead. You should be the first one she sees.”

Spike nodded again and took off to Buffy’s room, taking a deep breath that he didn’t need before entering. He saw her lying in bed, tubes sticking out of her and the machines beeping at her side, but this sound was much more soothing.

Buffy opened her eyes when she felt him near, giving him a small smile. “Hey,” she whispered.

“Hey, sweetheart, how are you feeling?” he asked, taking a seat in the chair next to her bed.

“Kind of fuzzy, is the baby okay?”

He smiled, taking her hand in his. “The baby’s fine. We have a beautiful, little boy.”

“I know how much you wanted a girl.”

Spike shook his head. “Once I saw him, that didn’t seem to matter. Besides, I already have Dawn. After the horror stories you told me, I think one teenage girl is all I can handle.”

She laughed, which wasn’t a good idea at the moment.

He turned serious when she grimaced, bringing her hand to his mouth and pressing a kiss to her knuckles. “I don’t know what I would have done if I lost you.”

Buffy gave his hand a squeeze. “I told you everything would be okay. I’m not ready to go anywhere yet. My head feels funny, though.”

“You’re probably weak from the blood loss; I should let you rest now.”

She didn’t let his hand go as he stood up. “Not yet, stay a little while longer. Are the others here?”

“Yeah, they’re all waiting to see you. I should at least let your mum have a chance. I’ll still be here if you need me.”

Buffy nodded and let him go then.

He touched his lips to her forehead, lingering there for a moment. “I love you.”

She smiled, feeling herself start to drift off. “I love you, too.”


* * * * *


Buffy and the baby, who was given the name William James, were finally able to leave the hospital two weeks later.

Spike held him over Dawn’s crib. “This is your little brother, princess.”

She giggled, reaching out her tiny hand to touch the baby.

Spike smiled, still in complete shock that he was a father. He always felt like one with Dawn, but William made it official.

“Buffy’s in bed, and complaining about it already. She’s not thrilled that the doctor has her on bed rest.”

Spike chuckled, handing William over to Joyce as he headed to Buffy’s room.

Buffy pouted when she saw him. “This is so not fair. Why do I need to stay in bed? This is supposed to come before you have the baby. I’m perfectly fine; they wouldn’t have let me out of the hospital if I wasn’t.”

Spike moved to her side, sitting on the edge of the bed. “I think they let you out because you were driving the nurses crazy.”

“Hey, it’s not my fault, you try being stuck in a bed for two weeks and feel differently. You know how much I hate hospitals.”

He nodded, lying down at her side. “That I do, but I think you handled it very well.”

She rested her head against his chest. “How’s my baby?”

“I’m doing just fine,” he responded with a grin.

Buffy rolled her eyes. “I mean my other baby, both of them.”

“I think Dawn likes the idea of being a big sister. Her little face lit up when I introduced her to William.”

“Yeah, she feels that way now, but I predict lots of fights as they get older.”

He agreed. “That could be said for any siblings.”

“Why am I so tired?”

Spike kissed the top of her head. “You’ve had a rough few weeks, get some sleep now. I’ll watch over you.”

She nodded and did just that.

Spike took advantage of the fact she was finally sleeping to kiss her eyelids, nose, and then her lips, being careful not to wake her. “Thank you for giving me a family,” he whispered to her, then dozed off himself.

Joyce watched them from the doorway, pleased that her little girl finally had everything she deserved. A loving man and two, beautiful children. Joyce was too old to have more kids, but she wouldn’t mind having a man in her life.


* * * * *


“Spike, stop, I can walk!” she exclaimed, laughing.

“Yes, but I like to carry you,” he retorted, carrying her into the house.

It had been months since she got back from the hospital. They were both returning from their date, grateful for the time alone. After all, with two babies in the house, they didn’t have much time to themselves.

He put her down, capturing her mouth with his in a passionate kiss.

Buffy moved them into the living room, not taking her lips off of his. She finally let him go, her jaw dropping at the sight in front of them. “Mom?! Giles?!”

The two adults pulled away from each other, trying to fix their disheveled appearances.

“Honey, you’re home early,” Joyce commented.

“And you were supposed to be babysitting, not making out on the couch with my Watcher. Are you trying to scar me for life?”

Spike laughed. “That’s bloody brilliant. Way to go, Rupert!”

Buffy elbowed him in the stomach, sending him a glare. “You are so not helping.”

Giles blushed, clearing his throat. “I’m terribly sorry about this, Buffy. We never intended for you to find out about us like this.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “Just how long has this been going on?”

“It has only been a few weeks,” Joyce responded.

Buffy scrunched up her nose. “I don’t even wanna know what else you guys have been doing while we weren’t here. I’m going to check on the babies.” She turned to Spike. “Your offer about getting a place of our own? I think I’ll be taking you up on that now.”

Spike was happy to hear that as he followed after her, wiggling his eyebrows at the couple before being pulled upstairs by his very agitated girlfriend.