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Chapter 27


Spike watched Buffy prepare the meal, amazed by her transformation; not just the change her outward appearance, but the sense of peace that seemed to have taken her over. Even in this time of obvious stress, she seemed happy. Happy? Have I ever seen her happy? I wonder if she will ever want to leave… “Buffy? Are you okay? I mean, really okay?” He knew she wanted to wait to discuss things, but he needed to know. Seeing her as Kaia disturbed him. That girl—it wasn’t just her looks that were similar, there was something else. Something… he knew. She’s a Slayer.

Buffy felt warm just being in Spike’s presence again. She knew it had to be bizarre for him to see her like that, but she was thankful he’d recognized her right away. She knew that he needed to know all about what had been going on in her life, but she wasn’t ready to tell him everything just yet. She also knew that he wanted to get her home as soon as possible, but she wasn’t really sure she could go with him. Or even wanted to. “Yes, Spike, I am fine. Things are very complicated, but I feel like everything will work out just fine.” She smiled at him, letting him know she was being truthful. “Especially now that you’re here with me.” Grabbing a large bowl of food, she asked him to carry in the spare skins filled with water, and they joined Hourak and Groma.

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Groma and Hourak had been talking between themselves while waiting for the meal. Groma had tried to explain what she could, to prepare Hourak for the shocking story he was about to hear. She had decided to start with the pregnancy that was obvious to everyone by now.

Hourak was struggling with his emotions, knowing that Kahn had hurt Kaia and left her with child, and that she then had been kicked out of the only home she had ever known. Looking at his old friend, he could see that leaving the clan had been hard on her too. She looked like she had aged years in the short amount of time they had been gone. He was worried about her health.

Groma could see her friend tormented by the decisions the clan had forced him to make, and wanted to comfort him. She placed her hand on his. “Hourak, this hasn’t been easy, but in many ways it has been a blessing. I have had more time to spend with my daughter, which is something I am grateful for each day.”

Hourak looked around, pleasantly surprised at how well-stocked and fortified their cave was. Kaia had done a fine job locating it and setting it up for Groma. There was nothing that they would need even for the upcoming winter. Except, can Kaia care for Groma during the hard winter months alone and heavy with child? I will bring them back, or I will stay with them. I must do something.

Buffy and Spike settled on the ground near the fire and passed the food and water to the elders. Spike took some food, hoping Buffy was right about it possibly sustaining him. He didn’t like the idea of taking her out hunting, in her pregnant state. Spike took a few bites, nervous that it would compare to the food Buffy had prepared back in Sunnydale. It wasn’t bad, and actually felt like it might stave off the hunger, but as far as eating actual food, he longed for that bloomin’ onion and some spicy wings.

Groma took a few bites, then started the conversation. She explained to Buffy that she had told Hourak of the pregnancy and confirmed Kahn’s attack. She saw the pain in her daughter’s eyes, knowing how hard it had to be to tell her newly arrived mate of the situation. Many men had been known to shun the woman they supposedly loved when they find out she'd been violated, that she was no longer 'pure' for him. But, from what Buffy had told her of Spike, he wouldn't turn her away or love her any less. She suggested that Buffy tell Spike while they ate.

Spike had been watching the women talk and could see not only the pain on Buffy’s face, but the love for her on Groma’s. He didn’t have to understand the language to know that the older woman had just brought up the pregnancy. He reached out, placing his hand on the girl’s shoulder, and said, “If you want to wait to tell me, I understand, and I’ll be here when you’re ready.”

Buffy covered his hand with her own and looked into his eyes. “I don’t need to wait.” She placed her free hand on her swollen belly, and asked, “Do you remember when I told you about Kaia calling to me in my dreams?”

Spike nodded, letting her go on at her own pace, and saving his questions for later.

“I went to Willow and asked her to help me get in touch with her, only Willow did something… Well, I’m not so sure it was wrong, but it definitely wasn’t what I expected.” Buffy turned her body so she was facing Spike. “There was a bad man. Hourak is an Elder of the clan, just like the man who was threatening Kaia. There’s a lot to the story, but it’s little things that I can share later. The point is, he was threatening her. But then he attacked her. Well, actually, he attacked me.” Buffy paused. Knowing Spike, he would explode in anger right about now.

Spike could feel his blood boil, but he remained composed in the presence of Groma and Hourak. I know what I will be hunting tonight…

Surprised that Spike hadn’t vamped out or started yelling, Buffy continued. “I think that without me here, Kahn would have killed her. She is strong, but if I hadn’t been training her, she never would have survived his attack—or the vampires’.” Buffy looked to Groma—who had been listening and watching her—and the woman nodded for her to go on. “Kaia is a Slayer. I think that’s why we had the spiritual link. When I arrived, she was with me, inside this body. I could feel her emotions, we could communicate. I tried to protect her, comfort her, not knowing how long I would be here or what dangers she would face.” She paused, remembering her first days after she’d arrived. She smiled, the conversation reminding her of all the things she and Kaia had taught each other in the first few weeks. “I was able to protect her from experiencing Kahn’s attack, but when we returned to the clan, everything changed. I was attacked by those vampires or blood drinkers as they call them here and was injured when Kahn found me. The clan doesn’t understand vampires or anything about them really. They feared I’d been turned, and wouldn’t let me back in. I think they were genuinely afraid I'd been turned, but many of them would have taken any opportunity to get rid of Kaia. Her differences scared them from the beginning. Groma left with me.” Buffy choked out the rest. “I wasn’t strong enough to stop him, but I killed him after.” She dropped her face into her hands quietly sobbing as her mind took her back to that fateful night.

Spike knew Buffy well, and was sure that the fact that she had killed a human was far more traumatizing than the actual rape. He reached out and pulled her into his lap. It felt strange to him, that stranger’s body resting against his chest. Kaia’s body didn’t fit as well as Buffy’s did, but it didn’t matter. Kaia, or Buffy, or whatever combination, needed comfort. He held her tight, gently rocking her as he whispered sweet words to calm her. “I would have drained him dry myself, if you hadn’t taken care of him, pet.”

Buffy cuddled against him, finding comfort in his familiar embrace. She had missed him more than she had known. But having him with her, made all her desires more vivid. She needed him, heart and soul, and it didn’t matter whether they were in Sunnydale or there. The only thing left to discuss with him now was the baby. And for that, she still needed a little more time.

Groma and Hourak watched the tender moment between the two, each missing that connection with another person in their own lives.

Groma knew it was time to tell Hourak about Buffy, to try and explain their relationship. Hating to interrupt, she asked cautiously. “Buffy? I think its time we tried to explain Spike to Hourak, hopefully without making either one of us look crazy.”

Buffy giggled at Groma’s comment, and translated to Spike as she slid off his lap. She reached for his hand and told Groma she could start, and she would translate to Spike as she spoke.

Groma mirrored Buffy’s previous position, facing her old friend. She worried that Hourak wouldn’t believe her, or—worse—think that she had lost her mind. For some reason, him believing her meant so much to her. She looked at Buffy one more time, and the blonde gave her the nod to begin. “Hourak, I need you to know, before I tell you this tale, that I was skeptical at first, but it will all make sense once I have told you everything. Please remember that as you hear what I am about to say.”

Hourak saw that Groma was troubled that he might not believe her, and it pained him. “Groma, after all we have been through together, I hardly believe that you would tell me anything less than the truth. Now, please, tell me everything.”

Groma decided to start the story with the day that Buffy had arrived. She reminded Hourak of the day that Kaia had been ill and had rested through the evening meal. Hourak nodded to let her know that he remembered the day. “Kaia had been helping, like she did every day, when she simply collapsed. When I rushed to her, she woke almost immediately, but the way she looked at me… It was almost as if she did not recognize me. I thought that maybe she had injured her head, but I was wrong. She did not know who I was.”

Groma paused, wanting to search Hourak’s expression at this point. His look remained inquisitive, so she continued. “Kaia had been troubled for many months about Kahn, and how the clan treated her, and had been asking the Spirit Guide to help her cope with her fears of what was to come in her future. Her requests were answered by a spirit called Buffy.” She knew that was where the story became difficult to believe, so she chose her words carefully.

Groma’s face reflected her concern, only to be comforted by Hourak taking her hand and squeezing it as he had seen Spike do. The warmth she felt allowed her to continue.

“Kaia had been communicating with Buffy, seeking guidance, only she was suddenly unable to reach her. From my understanding, a friend with magical powers thrust Buffy’s spirit back into her human body, and she was returned to her previous life, which prevented her from being able to reach Kaia. Kaia was devastated. I knew something was wrong, but had no idea at the time what it was. Buffy was equally distraught, enough that she sought her magical friend to help her reach Kaia.” Groma hoped she was telling Buffy’s side of the story right, not wanting any detail to be missed.

“Keep going, Groma. You are doing just fine,” Buffy announced seeing her surrogate mother’s apprehension.

“Buffy’s friend, Willow, cast a spell that somehow did more than allow her to communicate with Kaia. It put her spirit in Kaia. This happened on the day that Kaia missed the evening meal.” As Groma looked into her friends eyes, she could see shock and concern. “Buffy has been with us since that day.”

Hourak turned to Kaia. “Is this true? Are you not the Kaia I have known for all these years?”

Buffy responded, “I’m Buffy, but Kaia is not lost. She was with me when I arrived, teaching and explaining all the things in her world that are so different from my own.” With that, Buffy let Groma continue.

Groma went on. “You must have noticed a change in Kaia those last weeks at the cave. The way she dealt with Ullah and Kahn’s proposal? Kaia would never have had the strength to face the clan. Buffy is wise, and strong, and she was teaching her to be the same. Spike is her mate from their world.” Groma’s voice trailed off, the woman unsure of how to continue.

Hourak had picked up on the past tense that Groma had used and judged from the sad, lost look on her face, that something had changed. “Kaia… Or shall I say, Buffy?”

“I am Buffy, Hourak, but Kaia is here too. Only now, her spirit lives within the child. I know this is hard to understand, but I can only tell you what I know and feel to be true.” Buffy knew it was time to tell Spike when Hourak stood, excusing himself, and walked to the cave’s ledge to think.

Groma rose on unsteady legs, but managed to make her way out to Hourak. She knew Buffy needed some privacy, just as much as she needed to be available to Hourak should he have any questions.

“Catch me up, kitten. Obviously whatever Groma said upset him,” Spike said eagerly.

Buffy knew this would be hard, and that Spike might not believe her, but it was time. “Groma told him about how I got here, and about what has happened to Kaia. He’s having a hard time accepting it. I suppose you will too.”

“Go on, I’m ready,” Spike said as he prepared himself for the worst.

Buffy took a deep breath. “When I arrived here, Kaia was still in here with me. She explained and taught me how to do these things-” she directed his attention to all the things around her. “And I was there to help her with Kahn and the clan members, who were terrible to her.” She took a second to collect her thoughts, then continued. “But after… the pregnancy became obvious, she only spoke to me once more. I was so upset that Kaia—so young, and kicked out of her home—now had to face a pregnancy because of a rape.” Buffy had to pause, to wipe at her eyes. “A rape I couldn’t prevent. Groma offered to help stop the pregnancy, but Kaia refused. She told me this was her body, and probably her only chance to ever be a mother. She told me that even though this was Kahn’s child, it was hers as well. It was innocent.” Tears had started to fall as she spoke. “I told Groma this baby must be born. But then something happened. I don’t know when or where, but Kaia wasn’t there anymore. But—she is.” Buffy knew she was sounding as confused as he must feel. “I mean, she’s still with me, only she’s here now.” Taking his hand, she placed it on her swollen belly. “She’s here.”

Spike looked into her eyes, shocked by her revelation. He knew how magic worked, and he knew there were always consequences. He knew that she was speaking the truth, knew that this now complicated things above and beyond what he could have ever expected. “Buffy, I believe you. I really do. I don’t know what we are going to do now, but I need to tell you about what has been going on in Sunnydale. About Willow, and the Powers That Be, and your body.”