The Bloodshedverse :: Spuffy with Bite

Some Cold Lovin', Las Vegas Style - Part 3 by bloodshedbaby (2 Reviews)

- - abc +

do not own the characters of BTVS. Yeah that's right. I don't. Also, wanted to mention that it was brought to my attention that as far as legalities went, Spike and Buffy's night in vegas could technically be considered rape (at least statutory) and also assault. I didn't want Buffy to feel like that had happened to her in this fic, figuring she had enough stuff to deal with. If this bothered anyone, I very much apologize. I wanted to leave Buffy with SOME good thoughts of that night, so that was my basis behind it. Now, on to the story!!
Chapter 8

    They sat there on her mom's couch in silence again, both lost in their own world. Spike could feel his demon getting pushed further back, and his mind played over the recent events that had caused that to happen. He'd never given much thought to children, mostly because he was under the impression he would never have any. He had never gotten off on feeding on children like a lot of his kind, but now the thought of that made him sick and he wondered what was happening to him.

    "Spike?"

    "What?"

    "How come you've been such a jerk since you came to town?"

    It was on the tip of his tongue to tell her that he was always a jerk, which wouldn't be far from the truth. In actuality, he had acted in a manner far less violent than he was used to, but he knew what she was referring to and decided to give her an honest answer. "Mostly 'cos I was angry, I suppose."

    "At me? What did I do?? Well, besides hit you over the head that time, but you so deserved that."

    Spike gave her a half smile. "Yeah, guess I did. No, was angry at me."

    "Huh?"

    Spike thought she looked cute with that confused look on her face. Going for brutal honesty, he asked, "Buffy do you know what I usually do to virgins?" At the hesitant shake of her head, he replied, "I hurt them, is what. And I like it."

    He could see the horror etched on her face, and he pressed on. "I'm a vampire, luv. A demon. And we like causing pain and death. It's what we do."

    "But... you uh, didn't really hurt me," Buffy said hesitantly, finding herself confused. "Well, you did at the end, but that was different."

    "Yeah, it was."

    "So..why didn't you hurt me?"

    "My demon wanted to, believe me."

    "So, what stopped it?"

    After a lengthy pause, Spike finally said, "I did."

    "oh. So, uh.. what happened to you when I freaked?"

    "The demon took control."

    "Oh. I think I get that. But that still doesn't explain why you've been such an ass since you came to town."

    "Like I said, I was angry."

    "Yeah, but why?" Buffy pressed.

    Spike looked over at her in mock annoyance. "Boy, you really ask the tough questions dontcha? Ok, you really want to know why? I'll tell you. But don't complain if it doesn't make a whole lot of sense." Buffy nodded. "The demon's pretty much been in the drivers seat for the last two years. I've been one mean son of a bitch." At her horrified look, he smirked. "Yeah that's right baby. Bad. The demon population the world over has suffered greatly."

    "Demons?"

    "Yeah, demons. Don't know why, but the human scene got a bit old. Demons were more of a challenge, put up more of a fight. But even that got old. Then I heard some talk about the slayer, and I thought, well, there's my next challenge." He didn't look at her as he told her this not wanting to see the condemning look on her face. "So I arrive in Sunnydale to take out the Slayer, and who do I find? You. The Slayer. So yeah, angry here."

    "It's not my fault you don't get to kill a slayer!" Buffy said indignantly.

    "Yeah, well that's not what caused the anger. I discovered I felt something like guilt when I saw you. Me, feeling guilt. I don't feel guilt, I'm a vampire. But that's what I felt. And it brassed the demon off but good."

    "Oh. Ok, that makes a little sense. So, are you still pissed?"

    Spike smiled at her and shocked her by reaching for her hand. "Yeah, my demon's not happy with all these tender feelings I seem to be having, but I'll try not to take it out on you again, ok?"

    "Yeah, that'd be nice. Because, you know, you were kind of annoying earlier," Buffy remarked with a slight teasing tone in her voice.

    Spike snorted. "And like you weren't?"

    "I so wasn't."

    Spike's sensitive ears picked up the sound of Buffy's mom finally going all the way up the stairs. He had been aware of her presence but didn't really blame her. At least not enough to call her on her eavesdropping. He was actually amazed she hadn't tried to stake him on sight and another sliver of human emotion snuck in on him. But this time, he just accepted it and didn't lash out at the one his demon deemed "responsible" for it. The girl sitting next to him.

    Buffy's face turned serious, and her eyes hardened a bit. "Spike, there are a few things I need to say to you, things I've pretty much been holding onto for 2 years now. I know it probably won't make a difference to you, but I have to say it anyway."

    Spike nodded. "Fine."

    Taking a deep breath, Buffy plunged ahead. "Ever since that night, I've been really confused. But the bottom line is, you hurt me. And you terrified me. And if I wasn't the Slayer, you'd be terrifying me right now. But killing vampires is my job, and I'm good at it. I'm willing to give you the benefit of the doubt about that night because I realize you really were trying to make it good for me, which added greatly to my confusion. I don't know what would have happened if I hadn't seen you in the mirror and I'd rather not think about that." Then, looking straight into Spike's intense blue eyes, Buffy added fiercely, "But what I can tell you is this. If you hurt me again, I will kill you. If you hurt our son, I will kill you. If you hurt any of my friends or family, I will kill you. Understand?"

    Spike looked away, but Buffy still caught the flicker of sadness in his eyes which only added to her confusion. Why was he so damn confusing? "Yes, I understand."

    Buffy nodded. "Ok, good. And just so you know, I'm not making idle threats here. You're Blake's father and I'm not entirely certain there isn't a reason why we were given a chance to have this baby, which is why I'm even willing to take this chance with you. I'm going on gut instinct here, so please don't make me sorry, ok? If you don't want a part of this or if you know you can't be trusted, you are more than welcome to walk away now. I won't stop you."

    "Not walking away from my son," Spike replied, finding himself oddly proud of Buffy's speech to him. He had discovered she had grown claws, now he realized she'd also grown up a bit.

    "Alright, just remember what I said. I'm dead serious." Looking at her watch, Buffy groaned. "Uh, time to go to bed, I have school in the morning."

    Spike looked at her in surprise, then remembered how young she really was. "What do you do with the boy while you're at school?"

    Standing up, Buffy answered, "Mom takes him to the gallery and watches him there."

    An odd feeling hit telling him that he had missed out on a lot of his boy's life and that tugged at him. "I can watch him."

    Spike watched with dread as Buffy's face closed off and she shook her head. "No. Not going to happen."

    A small glint of anger found its way back into Spike's eyes as he retorted, "He's my son."

    Putting her hands on her hips, Buffy replied, "Spike, I said I was willing to take a chance. That does not mean that I trust you."

    A stab of hurt found its mark and Spike found himself with an internal war once again. But before, when he would have reacted in anger, this time he allowed himself to react in acceptance, knowing the words she spoke were most likely true. "Ok. I guess we'll have to work on that, won't we?"

    Buffy gave him a relieved smile and Spike felt like he had passed a test. "Yeah, guess so. Bring him on up, let's get him back to bed."

    "Can I just sit with him a while more?"

    Buffy shook her head. "No, Spike." At the look of anger on his face, Buffy added, "And if you try that controlling claim thingie on me again, I'll kick your ass."

    That made Spike smile, as he drawled, "Yeah? Like to see you try."

    Buffy shrugged, as she pulled him up off the couch. "Maybe we can spar sometime. Giles'd like that. I'm always pounding on him."

    "Yeah, maybe." Spike followed Buffy up the stairs, noticing the light was still on in her mum's room. Reluctantly, he lowered his son into his crib, wanting to have him back in his arms again. But, he knew it was his fault Buffy didn't trust him and allowed himself to curse his demonic side. He had been honest with her tonight and he knew he'd been a jackass to her. Blame it on his defense mechanism, or whatever, Spike decided then and there he was willing to do whatever it took so that he earned Buffy's trust. He wanted it, and he hadn't realized how much he needed it until now, as he looked at his precious sleeping son, then back at Buffy's gentle face. He smiled at her and allowed himself to be drawn out of the room.

    Closing the door quietly behind her, Buffy asked, "So, how did it come about that you got yourself invited to Giles for a drink?"

    "Saved his life, is what."

    "Really?"

    "Yeah, you can ask him. Think your Watcher is a bit on the lonely side."

    "Yeah, maybe." She turned to head to the bathroom, then looked back at him and announced, "Just so you know, I'm sleeping in Blake's room tonight."

    Spike held her gaze, then nodded his head, acknowledging her unspoken statement that she would be watching over her son against him. Again, the need to wipe that doubt and mistrust from her face stuck Spike like a sledgehammer, even while he knew he was responsible for putting it there. No, he corrected, the demon put it there. Yeah, well you helped, mate, Spike chastised himself.

   "Better be getting to bed with you then," Spike commented as he turned around and went back down the stairs, knowing Buffy was watching him walk away.

    As Buffy settled into the twin bed in Blake's room, she realized that her most of her conflict surrounding that night was gone. Whatever the outcome of the future, for that she was grateful. She was glad they had been able to talk, that he now knew exactly what he had done to her. And she could so do without the piddly shit fighting they kept engaging each other in.

    Joyce also finally allowed herself to shut off the light, and tried to sleep. She had no guilt about eavesdropping on their conversations. Regardless if Buffy was the Slayer and could handle herself against a vampire, she was still her little baby girl. And that vampire downstairs had hurt her. But, Joyce had also seen something else in Buffy, something that would flash in her eye when she would talk about "him." It had been enough for Joyce to allow herself the benefit of the doubt when he had shown up at their door, wanting to see how they interacted with each other. And again, it was her mother's intuition that told her that the entirety of Buffy's feelings towards Spike were not all bad. That was the only thing that kept her from sending a stake through his heart, because she just wanted to see her daughter happy. She realized most would think her foolish for giving an evil vampire the benefit of the doubt, but Joyce felt it was the right thing to do. So for now, she would just watch and see what happened. And pray she had made the right decision.

    With that thought in mind, Joyce drifted off to sleep.

tbc..
chapter 9

    Spike jerked awake in full game face, all senses on alert ready to face whatever threat had woken him up. Just as quickly, his face smoothed out and he gave Buffy a dirty look. "Don't you know better than to wake a vamp up like that?" He gestured to the stake she held loosely in her hand.

    Buffy snorted. "Please, you sleep like the dead. I've only been calling your name for like the last 5 minutes. Not my fault you wouldn't wake up."

    "Yeah, well, I am dead. And it's my nighttime, supposed to be sleeping right now," he grumbled, running a hand through his unruly blonde hair.

    "Well, I need to talk to you, ok?" Buffy informed him. Spike nodded his consent and Buffy continued. "I'm leaving for school right now. My mom will be leaving soon, with Blake. She doesn't want you getting in her way, ok? She's kind of nervous being here alone with you without me here. Now I'm just going to ask you this one time. Does she have a reason to be?"

    "I'm not going to hurt your mum."

    Buffy searched his face, seeing the slightly offended look he was trying to hide from her and nodded. "You better not. And you are not to try to see Blake this morning either."

    Spike opened his mouth to interrupt her, but Buffy held up her hand to cut him off. "No Spike. We're doing this by my rules. Any contact you have with him will be with me right there, understand? "

    Spike glared at her. "Wouldn't hurt my boy."

    "And that's what I'm counting on Spike, and that's the only reason why you're being allowed to stay here today. But like I said, we're doing this my way. Ok?"

    Spike knew by the steely and determined tone Buffy used that there was no sense arguing with her, even though the temptation was there. Slowly he nodded his head in acceptance. "Right. Won't get in your mum's way. When are you going to be home?"

    "After four, or so. My mom is working until five. I'll pick up Blake on the way home."

    "Right then." Spike found himself feeling awkward at this slightly domestic scene, something he wasn't used to feeling. He was the Big Bad, daily pleasantries weren't in his usual vocabulary. "Well, uh..have a good day."

    Buffy gave him a strange look. "Uh, Ok, I will." Flipping her hair behind her shoulder, she headed back into the kitchen, leaving a confused vampire behind. He heard her say goodbye to her mum, telling her that she had talked to Spike and he had promised to behave. Spike could hear the slight edge of fear in Joyce's voice when she responded and he laid back down, finding himself oddly bothered by the fact that Buffy's mum was scared of him. The voice of the demon was growing more faint, bringing his more human emotions to the surface where they hadn't been seen since he'd been turned. Annoying, but strangely comforting and he was glad he and Buffy had come to their little truce last night. The constant war inside of him had eased a bit now, and he now knew why. Trust? No, they were right not to trust the demon, but Spike knew it was ok for them to trust William.

    Spike heard Buffy leave and the sound of Blake's sweet little voice babbling in the kitchen reached his ears, causing him to smile. Then he heard Joyce tell the boy it was time for her to get ready and Spike pretended to be asleep when she passed through the room on her way to the stairs. He heard the swish of material and the padding of feet up the stairs and allowed his eyes to open up slightly, looking after them longingly. He noticed the stake Joyce had gripped in her hand and his respect for her grew. Good for her, not a stupid woman. And she was doing it to protect his son, even better. Blake waved at him from his place over her shoulder just as they reached the top of the stairs and Spike was startled by the tears that sprang into his eyes at that sweet innocent gesture. At least one person didn't appear to be afraid of him and Spike intended to keep it that way.

    Rearranging the pillow so it was more comfortable, Spike allowed his eyes to drift closed once again and it wasn't long before he fell back into a deep dreamless sleep.

    A loud crash jerked him awake this time. He jumped up and whipped his head around, all senses heightened and on direct alert. Nothing downstairs seemed to be amiss, then he heard his son whimpering upstairs. Moving from the kitchen, he went back through the room he had slept in and crept softly up the stairs.

    "Joyce?" he called out, hoping to alert her he was on his way up the stairs. He didn't really think she'd do it, but he didn't fancy a stake through his heart so early in the morning.

    But there was no response and Spike's uneasiness grew. "Joyce?" he called again, louder this time. Suddenly a familiar smell hit him, and he froze. Blood, and it was fresh. Going to Joyce's door, he knocked loudly.

    "Joyce?"   Spike could hear two heart beats in the room beyond the closed door, one that could only belong to his son, but it was the other that concerned him. It was rapid and somewhat thready. Spike put his hand on the door knob, giving a growl of frustration when he realized he'd been locked out. Taking a step back, he wasted no time in kicking the door in, nearly splintering the thing from the frame in his haste. Stepping quickly inside the room, he was assaulted by the heady smell of blood and lots of it. Shaking his head to clear it and push the surging demon back, he looked around and found Joyce lying on the other side of the bed. His son was in some sort of enclosed contraption, and appeared to be staring intently at his grandmum. Spike was able to assure himself quickly that he was alright.

    He moved quickly to Joyce's side, avoiding the patches of sunlight filtering through the blinds and assessed her injuries. She appeared to be unconscious, and from the awkward angle of her ankle, it was surely fractured. He ran practiced eyes over her form, noting a wide laceration to her forehead, causing a pooling of blood on the floor. There appeared to be multiple lacerations from the broken mirror that lay littered around her like sparkling diamonds. Her respirations seemed to be alright, and her heart beat was losing the prior threadiness and was beginning to beat with more conviction. Spike heard a hitch in her breath and he pondered his next course of action before realizing that Joyce was coming to. With a muffled groan of pain, she attempted to roll over from her prone position on the floor. Spike realized her worst injury was a laceration to the inside of her upper arm. There was profuse bleeding and Spike suspected her brachial artery had been nicked. Grabbing a shirt he found on the bed, he crouched down next to her and wrapped it tightly around her arm.

    "Don't move, Joyce," Spike told her, his eyes taking note of the sharp pieces of glass that surrounded her body. He quickly picked her up working hard to ignore the sweet allure of her blood calling to him and laid her down on the bed, ignoring the hiss of pain that his actions caused her. He then went in search of first aid supplies.

    Joyce allowed her body to relax when she felt the soft bed beneath her, her body felt like it was on fire. Everything hurt and she could feel the blood dripping down from various cuts on her. So stupid. Blake had thrown one of his toys out of his play pen and she had tripped on it, falling head first into her mirror, then hitting the footboard of her bed. And now? She was at the total mercy of a vampire. 'Oh god, please let it be all right,' she thought frantically before the inky darkness pulled her back into its welcoming depths and she succumbed willingly.

    When Spike reentered the room, he realized that Joyce was unconscious again. Well, that was fine with him; he knew what he had to do next wasn't going to feel good, better that she be out cold for it. Putting his supplies down next to her,he looked over at Blake and saw the concerned look on his face.

    Now he knew exactly what Buffy was talking about when she said that sometimes the boy seemed years older, there seemed to be an uncanny intelligence burning deep behind those eyes so much like his own and Spike felt pride well up in him that he'd had a hand in creating this beautiful child.

    Blake tore his eyes away to look at Spike and surprised him by saying, "Help gwanma, daddy."

    Spike nodded at him and told him he would. Blake just turned those intense blue eyes back to his grandmother, and Spike set about getting the bleeding stopped. The shirt he had tied around her arm was now saturated and Spike ripped it off and put a pressure dressing in its place, hoping that it would do the trick.

    This was new to him, trying to keep blood inside of a body rather than take it out like he had done so many times in the past. But he was a vamp on a mission and he had no intentions of failing. He thought briefly of dialing that 911 thing but then dismissed it.Too many questions involved, and most likely of the stake now- ask later variety. He could tell by her heart beat that she wasn't in mortal danger anymore now that he'd gotten the bleeding controlled.

    Secure in his intent to help Buffy's mum, the temptation to take a taste of what was pouring so freely was not there even though he couldn't help his true face from emerging.

    He worked quickly and efficiently, removing glass where he could and covering the many lacerations that littered her body. Some would require sutures he knew because of her mortal status and the urge to get her to the hospital was growing stronger with each passing moment.

    So intent on his task, Spike hadn't even realized she was awake until he smelled the very strong odor of fear coming from her. He looked up to find a look of sheer terror frozen on her face.

    "What?" he asked, tearing a piece of tape and placing it over a bandage.

    In a whispered voice, Joyce replied, "Your...face.."

    That was when Spike realized he was in game face and he looked over at Blake to see his reaction to it. But the toddler just had the same intense look on his face he'd had before and Spike found himself relieved by that.

    Looking back at Joyce, he mumbled, "Sorry" and changed back into his human face. "You ok?"

    "Are you going to kill me?"

    Spike snorted. "No, Joyce, not going to kill you. I don't usually take the time to bandage up those that I'm planning on killin', y'no?"

    Joyce painfully looked down and saw the various bandages on her arms, and the huge bulky pressure dressing on her inner arm. "You did this?"

    "Yeah, well, the little tyke's a bit too young for this type of stuff, so it was kinda up to me seeing as how no one else is here." Spike placed a bandage over the laceration on her forehead and taped it in place. "Was waiting til you woke up to see what you wanted to do. Most of these are going to need stitches, especially the one on your arm. And I think your ankle is busted. You're going to need a trip to the hospital. I think you knocked yourself on the head pretty good too."

    "I, uh.." Joyce attempted to finish her sentence, but the darkness had pulled her back, unwillingly this time. Sinking back into the dark abyss, her eyes closed and her head slumped to one side.

    Spike sighed. 'Well, guess it's that 911 deal after all. Not much more I can do.'

    Fifteen minutes later, Joyce had been strapped onto a gurney and loaded into the back of an ambulance and Spike watched it pull away. Looking at the boy in his arms, he said to him "Come on, let's go call Giles and let him know what's going on."

    "Unker Giles!" Blake commented causing Spike to roll his eyes. "Yeah, Unker Giles, all right."

    Blake had watched in quiet fascination as the EMS crew had worked over his grandmum, starting an IV, asking Spike questions. He had called "Daddy" in the middle of it, with his arms raised, indicating he wanted to be free from the enclosed prison he had been in, and Spike happily complied. Especially when Blake had thrown his arms around his neck and hugged him.

    Hurt him? They thought he would hurt him? He would stake himself before he'd allow this boy to be harmed and surprisingly, even his demon seemed to be in agreement there. This boy was HIS.

    Finding the number for the library on the frilly little corkboard thing next to the phone, Spike dialed the number. "Sunnydale Library"

    "Rupes, it's Spike. Got me a bit of a situation here."

    "What did you do?" The cultured British voice had gone from cordial to coldly lethal in seconds flat.

    "Didn't do a thing, you git. Joyce had a bit of an accident though, the ambulance just left here. Just thought you'd like to know."

    "And you want me to believe that you had nothing to do with it?"

    "Believe what you want, Watcher. But I didn't."

    "Where's Blake?"

    "He's right here." Giles heard Blake in the background chanting happily, "daddy, daddy" and it made his blood boil.

    "Spike, you listen to me. Either Buffy or myself will be right over. And you and the boy had better be there when we get there, do you understand?"

    Anger tried to take control of Spike's good sense as he snapped, "Yes, I bloody understand Watcher. It's daylight out, in case you hadn't noticed. Wasn't planning on going anywhere. One request I DO have, you will bloody well talk to Joyce before passing any judgment on me, do YOU understand? "

    "I'll think about it. But if one hair on that boy's head is harmed, you will be praying for a quick stake through the heart when I'm done with you," Giles threatened.

    "This is my SON, Rupert," Spike growled. "Nothing will happen to him as long as I'm around, got it?"

    "We'll see."

    "Now go get Buffy and tell her that her mum is in the hospital, will you? She lost a bit of blood, and I think her ankle is busted." With that parting comment, Spike slammed the phone down, trying to calm his anger down. Really, had he expected any different? And did he deserve any different, he forced himself to ask. The answer was no to both questions.

    He scooped Blake back up and buried his face into the sweet smelling hair and breathed deeply. That alone was enough to soothe the anger and frustration brewing inside of him and he pulled his head back slightly to smile down at his son. "So, what do you want to do now?"

    "Watch TV."

    Chuckling slightly, Spike headed into the living room and pretended to throw a giggling boy onto his makeshift bed. Sitting down next to him, he grabbed the remote and flipped through the channels until Blake informed him which show he wanted to watch. Not content to just sit next to him, Blake climbed into Spike's lap and sprawled, burrowing the back of his head into Spike's chest.

    Fifteen minutes later, the front door flew open and Buffy ran in, wild eyed and frantic, her Watcher following behind. Spike scoffed at the stake evident in his hand and just turned his attention back to the tv.

    "Momma!" Blake called happily but did not get up from his comfortable position in Spike's lap, much to the vampire's delight.

    Buffy stopped and looked at the curiously domestic scene on the couch. Spike had apparently even retrieved some snacks for Blake and her son appeared to be in absolutely no danger. She looked back at Giles and raised her eyebrow.

    "How come you're not at the hospital?" Spike asked, but figured he already knew the answer.

    "Giles thought we should stop by here first, said it sounded suspicious," Buffy replied, looking from her Watcher to Spike, and back again.

    "Yeah, figured as much."

    "Blake, sweetie, are you ok?" Buffy asked, going over to the couch and sitting next to Spike and her son.

    Blake looked at her and nodded with eyes that were wide and serious. "Gwanma hurt."

    "I know sweetie, we're going to go see her right now." She leaned over and ruffled his hair, inadvertently pressing the side of her breast against Spike's arm. He almost hissed at the sensation and turned his attention to the tv again to get his mind of how nice it felt to be touched by her again.

    "We'll take him with us," Giles announced.

    Spike glanced up sharply and threw the Watcher a dirty look, then looked back at Buffy. "I can watch him."

    Buffy looked torn and looked up at Giles who had a suspicious look on his face.

    "Oh for god's sakes, Watcher. Go take a look at the room, I had to kick in the bloody door to even get to her."

    Buffy took a deep breath and cast her eyes to the floor. "I'm sorry. I think we're going to take him with us." She risked a look at Spike's face and saw the tightly held set of his jaw and his rigid posture and couldn't help the stab of guilt that went through her. At that moment, she realized her fear of him had dissipated and was reassured by that feeling. "Spike, look at me."

    She realized that the eyes that he turned in her direction weren't tinged with anger but with hurt. "Spike, I'm sorry, ok? I just need to talk to my mom. Remember, I'm still working on that trust thing."

    Spike's eyes softened a bit and he grabbed her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Go. Your mum needs you. I'll just catch up on some sleep here. Could you...uh... maybe call me later and let me know how she is?"

    "Yeah, I can do that," Buffy agreed, pulling her hand away. She grabbed Blake off of Spike, surprised when he put up a bit of a fuss about leaving his "daddy". Spike gave him a kiss on the forehead and told him to go with his mum, and Buffy and Giles left the house.

    Suddenly, the dense quietness of the house was overwhelming and Spike felt a sense of loneliness like no other. Well, this wasn't good, he thought to himself and flicked the TV on loudly to surround himself with noise.

tbc...
Chapter 10

    Buffy burst through the emergency room doors, cursing herself for taking the extra time to get to her mother's side. She shouldn't have listened to Giles when he had suggested a set up, but knew he had a point. Her son had been safe though, of that Buffy was sure. And now she had her son with her, exposing him to god knows how many germs that lingered on every surface in the hospital. Ugh, how she hated hospitals.

    "Joyce Summers?" She said to the admitting clerk at the registration desk. Luckily, she was dealt with in a timely and efficient manner, and it wasn't long before they were directed back into the main hub of the emergency room which was a massive influx of perpetual motion. Joyce was in a private room and Buffy rushed in.

    Her mother opened pain filled eyes in her direction and encompassed them all in a weary smile. She looked pale and tired, but Buffy was just happy to see her awake.

    "Mom! What happened?"

    "It was so stupid. I tripped."

    Giles stepped forward and asked something he was anxious to get cleared up. " Joyce, my apologies for bombarding you, but can you tell me if Spike had anything to do with this?"

    Joyce shook her head wearily. "No, he didn't. He was downstairs. I tripped on one of Blake's toys."

    A doctor entered the room at that time, flipping through a chart thus halting any further conversation in that direction. "Ah good, you must be Ms. Summers family. I'm Dr. Kimball."

    "Is she going to be ok?" Buffy asked anxiously, finding herself relieved that Spike wasn't implicated in this.

    The doctor nodded, looking up at Joyce and smiled. "Yes, I believe she is going to be just fine. She's rather a lucky woman. I believe it safe to say that in this case, quick medical intervention saved her life."

    This did not seem to shock Joyce, she'd obviously already heard it but Giles was stunned by this news. "Perhaps you could elaborate on that?"

    "Oh, sorry. Thought you knew. When Ms. Summers fell, she cut her brachial artery on a piece of glass. It's quite possible for a person to bleed out and die as a result, especially since Ms. Summers apparently was unconscious as a result of her fall. But because pressure was quickly applied, it slowed the bleeding down and allowed it to clot. The other injuries are mostly surface stuff, they've already been sewn up. But that laceration to her arm was a nasty piece of work. There is a possibility of a concussion, so we will be keeping her here overnight for observation and she does have a fracture of her ankle. One of our orthopedic surgeons will be consulting later today. All in all, she's a lucky woman, it could have been a lot worse. A blood transfusion wasn't even necessary. Yes, quite fortunate. " After giving an encouraging nod to Joyce, he stepped out of the room.

   The silence that pervaded the room after the doctor left had Giles and Buffy exchanging shocked glances. "So what happened after you fell, mom?" The concern in Buffy voice was in high evidence.

    "I really don't know. I think I was mostly unconscious. I remember waking up at one point, and seeing Spike there. I think it was Spike, he was all fangy and I remember being scared," Joyce replied in a slow slightly slurred voice.

    "But he didn't hurt you?"

    Joyce shook her head. "No, I don't think so. He said sorry and his face went back. I think he bandaged me up, then I think I passed out again."

    Buffy looked at Giles who had a pensive look on his face. "How did I get here?" Joyce asked, confusion coloring her voice.

    "Spike called 911, I believe," Giles responded.

    "Oh. Ok." At that, Joyce closed her eyes and fell asleep, the pain medication she had received finally taking affect.

    "Giles, she could have died," Buffy said softly.

    "I know"

    "Spike saved her."

    Giles ripped off his glasses and began polishing the lenses. Heaving a pained sigh, he admitted, "I know. However it's entirely possible that he's trying to lull us into a false sense of security here."

    Buffy shook her head. "No, I don't think so. This morning I told him that mom was nervous around him, and he told me he wasn't going to hurt her. And I'm sure he meant it, Giles."

    "Daddy help gwanma," Blake piped in from his spot in a chair across the room.

    "I take it by this change of heart that you and er, Spike, came to some sort of reconciliation last night?"

    Looking down at her mom, Buffy nodded. "Yeah, we did. We talked a bit." Looking up at her Watcher, she announced, "Giles, I want to research this claim thing. Can you help me with that?"

    Giles nodded hesitantly. "It might be a bit disturbing for you."

    "What disturbs me is having Spike be able to throw those little surprise curveballs my way. I need to know what he did to me."

    "I have the books at the library. As much as I hate to say this, I have to return to work. As it is, Snyder is sure to investigate the reason I pulled you out of class and closed the library doors during school hours. Will you two be all right?"

    Buffy nodded, then looked over at her fidgeting son. "Giles, can you do me a favor?" Giles nodded his agreement. "Can you take Blake back home?"

    Giles opened his mouth to argue, but Buffy cut him off. Her body was set with determination as she spoke. "No Giles, so not going to argue with you about this one. It's not fair to Blake for him to be here all afternoon when he could be at home. Spike wanted to watch him and it was a judgment call earlier that made me say no. Well, now my judgment is saying yes. I didn't grab my diaper bag, I have nothing here for him. I'm asking you to please take him home."

    Giles stared at her, wanting to argue but seeing the steely resolve on her face, he changed his mind. He nodded his assent. Buffy turned to Blake and informed him that Uncle Giles was taking him home.

    "With dada?" Blake asked excitedly. Buffy nodded, unable to help the smile at his youthful enthusiasm. It turned into a happy grin when he begin to clap his hands at the thought of being back in his father's presence. Her son was uncannily insightful and had a strangely good judgment of character for one so young and Buffy was relieved to see that Blake did not seem to perceive Spike as a threat. Blake had had the misfortune of being with Buffy when they were accosted by a pair of vamps, and Blake had immediately whispered "bad men" to Buffy. She didn't know how he knew, but he did.

    With one last glance at the sleeping Joyce, Giles hoisted Blake into his arms and said to Buffy "I hope you're not going to regret this."

    Strangely, Buffy knew she wouldn't. "Giles, it's ok. Really."

    Giles gave her a skeptical look, but moved to do as she had asked. He knew he couldn't take him to the library; the one time they had tried that, that bastard Snyder had tried to make Buffy feel like unwed white trash. And now that Blake was able to understand more of what was being said around him, more than he should really, Giles was not willing to put either one of them in that situation. Plus, the library was not set up for a highly inquisitive toddler.

    So Giles took the boy home.To his father.

    Spike had tried to lose himself in TV to no avail. He was staring blankly at it, his brain working frantically around itself when he heard a car in the driveway. Turning the TV down, he waited to see who was there. There was no knock, just the sound of a key being inserted into a lock at the front door and then what sounded like music to his ears.

    "Daddy!"

    Spike looked over to see his son burst through the door as fast as his little chubby legs would carry him, and a welcoming smile spread across his face. "Hey there, little one." Blake stopped at the couch and raised his arms up expectantly. Spike leaned down and swooped him up, causing an eruption of giggles to commence. He set his son down next to him, and turned to look at Giles.

    "How's Buffy's mum?"

    "What? Oh, er... she seems to be all right. They will be keeping her overnight for observation," Giles announced, feeling slightly tongue tied, knowing that the vampire deserved some sort of recognition for his deed, but the words did not want to spring forth from his mouth.

    "Good. Had a nasty fall, she did."

    "Yes, well. It seems we owe you a bit of gratitude," Giles mumbled.

    Spike laughed, amused. "That hurt a bit, did it, Watcher?"

     "Yes, quite, as a matter of fact," Giles admitted. "Buffy was hoping you'd watch the boy for her."

    "Course I will. Already told you I would." At the look on Giles face, Spike felt compelled to add, "Don't worry, he's safe with me."

    "Well, you'll have to excuse me if I have a bit of trouble believing that."

    Spike shrugged. "Believe what you want. It's the truth."

    "Why?"

    "Why what?"

    "Why the big change?"

    Spike directed a piercing looking at Giles. "Because I want what's mine."

    Ah, now we're getting somewhere, Giles thought. Sitting down on the chair opposite Spike, he asked. "And what, pray tell, do you consider yours?"

    Spike didn't respond, just continued to study the Watcher with that piercing look, making Giles feel slightly uncomfortable. "Ok, since you won't answer, I'm assuming you are referring to Buffy and Blake. Is this correct?"

    Spike nodded in confirmation. Giles continued, "So this whole thing is an elaborate set up so you can take what is yours?"

    Spike scoffed at that. "No, you git. I don't want to take them. I want them to take and accept me."

    Giles tipped his head to the side, studying the vampire in front of him. "Ah well then. And how do you propose to manage that one?"

    Agitation was striking Spike hard, and he tried to quell it. "Dunno, Watcher All I know is that two days ago, I would have ripped you to shreds for daring to speak to me the way you have. But now? Now I'm just willing to sit and take it and hope that it gets better. Dunno quite what's happening here, but I do know for the first time in my bloody undead life, it's something good. It's something that's not evil."

    Giles sat and thought about his words. "So, you're saying you're not as evil as you were two days ago?"

    "Thought you were a quick one, Watcher, but that's not what it looks like from my end."

    "Were you tempted by all the blood Joyce had lost?"

    By the slightly horrified look that flashed across Spike's face, Giles had his answer and was strangely reassured by it. He got up to leave, saying good bye to Blake who was fully engrossed in whatever god awful TV program Spike had been watching.

    "Buffy's at the hospital, don't know when she'll be home. I'll be at the library if you need anything." Then he was gone, and Spike knew that was as close to acceptance he was going to get from Giles at this time. The fact that he had left without issuing any sort of threat spoke volumes and Spike found himself strangely placated by that fact. Yeah, he was turning all touchy feely all right. But he didn't really care; especially when his son crawled up into his lap and snuggled and Spike wrapped his arms around him and drew him close. They sat like that, father and son, watching TV until both fell asleep not long too after.

    And that was how Buffy found them an hour later Spike sprawled on his back along the length of the couch, her son, no correction, THEIR son laying face down on his chest, deeply asleep. It was a strangely domestic scene and that along with the heightened emotions that the day had brought, caused Buffy to fight the tears that were welling up in her eyes.

    Spike opened his eyes at the sound of sniffling in the room, and saw Buffy standing there, obviously upset as she fought a valiant battle against a pool of tears that slid down her cheeks. Scooting over a bit, he extended his arm out to her.

    "Come 'ere," he told her in a sleep roughened voice.

    Buffy started a bit, so caught up in her little emotional trip that she hadn't realized he was awake. She looked down at him warily, but saw only concern on his face. He grabbed her hand and pulled her to the side of the couch. "Lay down," he ordered gruffly.

    She stiffened a bit, causing him to growl a bit in displeasure. Then he said something that shocked her. "Please. Lay down with us."

    She looked like she was going to bolt, but finally allowed herself to curl up next to him on the small space he had provided for her on the couch, her arm flung over Blake where he lay sleeping on Spike's chest, Buffy's head pillowed on his shoulder. Her body was stiff at first at the intimate contact but she finally allowed herself to relax. When Buffy felt the lips press gently against the top of her head, it all became too much and the tears came again in earnest. This time though, they were for her mother.

    "Shhh, it's ok," Spike whispered against her hair.

    "Oh god, Spike. I almost lost her."

    "You didn't though. She's going to be ok, right?"

    Buffy nodded her head, adding in a whisper, "Thanks to you."

    Spike ignored her words, and continued with his reassurance. "She'll be home soon, good as new. You'll see."

    His voice was so soothing that Buffy felt herself drift off to sleep. She had only intended to come home to check on how things were here, but she was so tired, and right now, she was so comfortable, pressed against Spike and Blake. Strangely, she felt safe. Ok, how weird was that?

    It might have been hours later or just minutes before they were awakened by the sound of voices. Loud and accusing voices that had Buffy cringing.

    "Oh merciful zeus, please tell me I'm not seeing this."

    "Sorry Xander," Willow's voice was apologetic, but curious. It was actually kinda sweet. Well, if one of the three on the couch wasn't an evil vampire and everything.

    "Willow, Xander, that's quite enough." Giles voice sounded through with its usual authoritative presence. He too was a bit taken aback by the domestic scene on the couch and Spike's earlier words about wanting to be be accepted by them sounded through his head. He hadn't had the time to do any quality research to see if anything could be found that could explain the supernatural conception of Blake's existence. Buffy had been insistent prior to this that she didn't want him delving into possible prophecies, she'd rather not know. But now, it seemed remiss on his part to have listened to her requests.

    "What do you sods want?" Spike grumbled, elation going through him that Buffy had not leapt from the couch or from his arms at this intrusion. He knew she was awake and irritated.

    "We came to check and make sure Buffy and Blake were still among the living, you bloodsucker," Xander remarked heatedly.

    Buffy opened her eyes at that point and looked at Xander. "I'm fine, just tired. And try to keep your voice down ok? Blake's still asleep."

    "I knew it! He's got you under that thrill thing again, doesn't he?"

    Spike snorted. "It's thrall, genius. And no, she's not under anything."

    "Yeah, like I believe that one." Xander retorted, ready to stalk over to the couch.

    "Xander, cease." Looking over at Buffy, he added, "We went to the hospital, but you weren't there." Before Buffy had a chance to ask the question, Giles answered it for her. "Don't worry, your mother is quite well. We just came by to see if you needed anything."

    Buffy shook her head wearily, her red rimmed eyes prominent on her too pale face. "No, I'm fine."

    "Well then, we'll be on our way. Give us a ring if you need anything," Giles told her, as he headed to the front door.

    "We're not leaving them here with that murderous thing, are we?" Xander asked in an incredulous voice.

    "Yes, Xander, we are. Buffy is the slayer, after all. If she has a problem with him, I am quite sure she knows what to do about it." With that, they were out the door, and Buffy and Spike were alone again. As alone as one can be with a sleeping child thrown in the mix.

    "Your mate Xander is a breath of fresh air," Spike commented dryly.

    "I don't want to talk about him." Buffy announced, closing her eyes again and sighing lightly. She felt Spike's arm tighten around her, and snuggled closer.

tbc...
chapter 11

    Back at the library, Xander commented, "Ok, want to tell me again why we're leaving Buffy alone with a murdering bloodsucker?"

    Giles threw a heated look at the teen. "Xander, need I remind you yet again that Buffy is the slayer?"

    "Yes, and I'm sure that will do her a lot of good when he has her under his thrilling thrall thingie."

    Giles cast his eyes towards the ceiling in a fit of impatience. "Xander, I am well aware of the implications here. And while I too have my doubts, I don't think our presence is required at this time."

    "G-man, he's a killer!"

    "I am well acquainted with that fact, thank you. And I would appreciate if you did not refer to me in such a...common way."

    "Sure thing, G'sters."

    "Oh good lord. Is there anything wrong with keeping a name the way it was intended?"

    "Such things offend the XanMan." Xander replied as he put his feet up on the table and leaned back, appreciating the fact he was managing to ruffle that cool British reserve.

    Giles pinned an annoyed look on the smug teen. "You should consider yourselves fortunate that I allow you to get away with referring to me by merely my last name without doing your best to butcher it, you know."


    "Ok, Rupert."

    "Oh, for God's sakes." Giles turned to the stack of books on the research table, then in an attempt to rid himself of the troublesome teen, he commented, "Well, I have quite a bit of research ahead of me. Perhaps you care to help me out?"

    That caused Xander to jump to his feet, as he grabbed his bag of chips and clutched them tightly to his chest. "The XanMan would, but I promised Willow I'd be over at her house about...." Xander made a point of looking down at his wrist which was unadorned and bare. "Oh gee, would you look at the time. I gotta go."

    Giles gave him a pained look, but told him to go. Xander practically ran for the exit in his hurry to escape researching hell. Before he went through the double doors, he suddenly paused and turned back to Giles, all traces of the obnoxious teen wiped off his face. "Giles, do you really think Buffy is going to be ok?"

    Giles let out a deep sigh and sank down heavily into one of the chairs, taking a moment to answer. "Quite honestly, I'm not sure, Xander. I'd like to hope that things will all work out, but we are dealing with an extremely dangerous vampire here. Very old and powerful. But, from what I've seen, he's not fitting the mold of a typical vampire. I do know that he saved Buffy's mother's life today and as a vampire, to be that close to that amount of blood and not act on it,.... well, it's enough to make me wonder.   Spike apparently has quite a rigid control on that part of him that makes him a monster. However, I just pray that it is enough."

    Xander stood in the doorway for a moment, pondering Giles words. "So do I." With a wave and a "later Gman", Xander was gone and Giles was left alone with his books. This was not something that particularly bothered him, to be in the constant company of teens was a strain at times, especially since prior to coming to Sunnydale, his peers had been fellow Watchers who were quite a bit like him. Reserved and British. So yes, to be alone was something he found quite enjoyable. Most of the time, anyway. When he opened the ancient volumes, they seemed to come alive for him, telling him tales of different times, different eras. Of what could be, and what will be. The written word was always something that Giles could sink his teeth into, it was something sacred to him, something for him to worship and study. No matter how many times he would glance through these ancient texts, there was always some pearl of wisdom ready to be extracted from the dusty pages to be implanted into his brain. Of that, it was a certainty like no other.

    With those reverent thoughts in mind, he began to research for a possible explanation to Blake's existence. The boy should not have been conceived, yet here he was, and Giles could only wonder what significance that held.
~~~~

    Spike and Buffy's time on the couch quickly came to an end by the awakening of a fully refreshed and recharged 15 month old. Blake looked at Spike and smiled happily. "Daddy!" Then he turned his head and shouted "Mama!!"

    Buffy's face softened, and it didn't escape her notice the tender look on Spike's face at their son's waking comments. "Hi sweetie." Buffy pulled herself to a sitting position as Blake scrambled off of Spike's chest and threw himself into her arms. Hugging him tight, she stood up with him. "I'm uh, going to go give him his dinner."

    Spike nodded, noticing that Buffy seemed ill at ease now and wondered what was going through her head. "I fed him some lunch earlier before we both conked out. Dunno if I did it right, but he seemed to eat ok."

    "Thanks," came her distracted response as she headed into the kitchen. Spike sat up and ran his hand through his hair again before he grabbed his smokes and headed out to the porch. Dusk would be falling soon, and not a moment too soon as far as Spike was concerned. Lighting up, he pulled the smoke deep into his nonliving lungs and exhaled forcefully. He could take air in and out, but the basic body mechanics of exchanging oxygen and CO2 died when he took his last breath over a hundred years ago. It wasn't something he particularly missed, breathing. Or realized it was missing most of the time. But when he smoked and would see the smoke billow out in a rush of stagnant expirations, it would lead his mind to wondering.To his life, before he was a vampire. And that led to thoughts of his son.

    And Buffy.

    In the kitchen, Buffy had hoisted Blake into his high chair and had fixed some fish sticks for him. While they were cooling, she fed him the chocolate soy pudding that he liked, as her thoughts also took a little side trip. Spike wasn't staying in the evil little box she had built for him, and yeah ok, it was cause for some wiggins. He had saved her mom, he had taken care of Blake. And the most confusing thing, he actually seemed to care. And god help her, she could tell she was falling for him. Again. That feeling in her gut tingled every time he was near. Why was her life always so damn confusing? It would be so much easier if he could have just stayed evil, then she wouldn't be faced with this issue of trust. Because if she made the wrong decision here, lives were at stake. Her life sucked, she decided with a pout.

    She looked up when Spike clomped into the kitchen. "Going to go take a shower. I'll take you to see your mum soon as the sun sets." And without waiting for a reply, he turned and headed up the stairs.

    Looking down at Blake, Buffy complained, "Your daddy is a complicated man."

    Their trip to the hospital was delayed slightly when Buffy took in the state of Spike's car. That provided the fuel for their first argument and there was no shortage of kindling laying around.

    "Just bloody shove the stuff on the floor!"

    "Spike, this is disgusting. I can't have my son riding in this."

    "He's MY son too and he won't break. It's just a bit of trash."

    "A BIT of trash? The back seat is like...overflowing!" They stared each other down; Buffy with determination locked tightly in place, Spike with irritation. Finally with a snarl, Spike threw up his arms and stomped into the house, causing Buffy to relax slightly and let out a sigh of relief.

    Ok, he hadn't gotten all damage bound on her, this was of the good. She didn't want to admit that she was testing him but she wasn't giving into the sliver of fear that remained where he was concerned. Ok, more than a sliver, Buffy thought, more like half a damn pie of fear.

    Spike came stomping out of the house with a black trash bag and held it out to her. Huh? Fear was forgotten as Buffy realized Spike wanted HER to do it.

    "Oh NO WAY!" she yelled. "I am so not cleaning all that crap out of your car!"

    Spike threw a smirk in her direction. "Language, pet. Got us a impressionable child here." Spike opened up the door to the backseat and a whirlwind of trash tumbled to the ground. Rolling his eyes, he bent down and picked it up. Buffy picked Blake up, who was staring curiously at the car.

    "Car messy, Daddy."

    Spike glared at Buffy who was in the throes of hysterical laughter at her son's comment. He realized it was just plain irritation he felt, not the complete and total rage of the demon that had plagued him for years. His girl was lucky, his demon didn't take kindly to being laughed at. Wait, his girl? Yeah, she was. And with that realization, his mood lightened and a smile graced his chiseled face.

    It was so unexpected and breathtaking at the same time that Buffy stopped laughing.

    "Yeah, I know it is, little one," he told his son, stepping over and ruffling his hair where he sat in his mother's arms. With a wink at Buffy and a quick pat on her butt that left her blinking in shock; he turned and faced the task of making room for the car seat. The Big Bad with a car seat in his car, now there was something he never thought he'd experience.

When he crawled into the backseat of the car and began tossing garbage into the bag, he finally had to admit that ok yeah, the car was a bit of a mess. He tried to recall the last time he'd emptied the thing out, and his mind was completely blank on the matter. Judging by some of the more retro wrappers he was finding, it probably had been quite some time ago.

    Buffy left him for a minute, telling him to keep an eye on Blake, who was spectating with interest and she went to go retrieve something from the house. Scooting herself into the passenger seat, she took out the car lighter and plugged her retrieved item in.

    Almost completely having filled one huge bag, Spike took the opportunity for a small break. Sniffing, his senses were flooded with a rush of rosemary, peppermint and lavender. "What in the bloody hell did you stink up my car with?"

    Buffy offered him an aghast look. "Please, the car so smelled already. "

    "Not answering my question. What is that?"

    "It's aromatherapy."

    "It's WHAT?"

    "You know, aromatherapy? This is a portable one that heats the oil, thus releasing the fragrance of the oils so you can appreciate the full affect."

    "Only thing I can appreciate is that it stinks and you'll do well to get it the hell out of my car."

    Buffy gasped. "I will not! That....odor of 20 years of trash was giving me a headache."

    Spike just glared at her, taking in her determined and set face then suddenly found himself laughing. He tried to remember the last time he'd really laughed like this, but couldn't. Aromatherapy. Christ. What a world she lived in.

    "What are you laughing at?" Buffy asked suspiciously.

    "You."

    "Well stop it!" Buffy demanded.

    "Are you always like this?" Spike asked, grinning at her from the back seat.

    "No," Buffy announced. "Well, maybe."

    "Good," Spike replied, leaving her stunned. When he leaned over the front seat and pressed a quick hard kiss against her lips, she went beyond stunned.

    Spike sauntered out of the car to find his son already sitting in his car seat on the grass. He smiled at Blake and picked the car seat up and turned back to the car with his precious cargo. He noticed Buffy still in the same spot with the same astonished look on her face, and felt highly pleased with himself. Not every day he managed to shake up a slayer, after all.

    With Blake laughing at being given a free ride in his car seat, Spike said "Wanna show me how to put this contraption in, Buffy?"

    With a mental slap, Buffy came out of her daze and assisted Spike, finally allowing them to get on their way to the hospital. The drive over was curiously pleasant for Spike, and he even allowed Buffy to keep her smelly oils plugged in. A warm feeling was working its way through him and he didn't even try to shrug it off because he was finally realizing that this is what he had been searching for. This little bit of paradise, this feeling of family. He had been cold and dead inside for so long.

    He liked this girl, oh yes. She was annoying, argumentative, maddening, confrontational, but she was also strong, loyal, warm, brave, maternal, loving and he found himself wanting to be included in her love. Again, an internal buzz sounded, the Big Bad wanting the love of a Slayer?

    Without hesitation, he beat it down. Yes, the Big Bad wanted the love of the Slayer. And of the mother of his child. Spike purposely didn't include the 'love of his mate', he had already decided to not use the claim in any way. It had already served its purpose, letting him know that nobody else had laid their hands on his girl.

    His reverie was soon brought to end by the ceaseless chatter of a toddler. He quickly learned that Blake expected his answers to be answered immediately Turning to Buffy, he asked, "Do all kids his age talk this much?"

    Buffy laughed. "Nope. Our boy has an advanced vocabulary for his age."

    Spike nodded, and pulled out his pack of smokes. Buffy grabbed them out of his hands and he growled at her. "No smoking around him, got it?"

    Heaving an exaggerated pained sigh, Spike announced, "I am still evil, you know."

    Buffy was silent for a moment before replying softly, "Spike, if you were still completely evil, we wouldn't be in this car with you."

    Spike pulled into a parking space at the hospital and winked at her in response. Opening his door, he got out and rescued his son from his car seat. Settling him on his hip, he went around to Buffy's side of the car and held out his free hand to her. "Ready to go see your mum?"

    Buffy looked at his hand, then at his face, studying it. Finally she smiled and slid her hand into his larger cooler one, slinging the diaper bag up onto her shoulder. Hand in hand, they walked into the hospital, causing quite a few looks to be thrown in their direction. There was something just adorable about the sight of a dangerous looking man in black leather with his son held in his arms that drew people's attention. Spike didn't appear to be aware of it, but Buffy was and it made her smile. They really were adorable, she thought, looking over at them.

    Buffy's mom had moved from the Emergency room and was now in a room on the medical/surgical floor. She was awake when they came in the door and if she was surprised to see her daughter holding hands with the vampire who had gotten her pregnant, she didn't show it. What she did show was a welcoming smile for Spike.

    "Gwanma!" Blake called out excitedly, pitching forward in his excitement to get to his grandmother's side. Spike set him on the floor, and he went over to the side of the bed and smiled up at her happily.

    Buffy went over and embraced her mom, eyes beginning to tear up at the thought that she had almost lost her. "How are you, mom?"

    "I'm doing ok. They won't let me get any sleep, but other than that, it could be a lot worse." With that comment, Joyce directed her attention to the vampire lurking by the door. "Spike."

    He took a few steps forward, finding himself oddly discomfited. "Joyce."

    Joyce reached one arm out in his direction, her eyes full of gratitude. She was still groggy, but was in full control of her mental capacities, unlike earlier. Hesitating for just a moment, Spike took the remaining steps to the side of the bed to stand next to Buffy,and took hold of her hand.

    "Thank you." Joyce said simply but with heartfelt meaning.

    "Didn't do much."

    Nodding her head, Joyce contradicted him. "Yes, you did. And I thank you."

    "You're welcome," he mumbled, casting his eyes around uncomfortably, finding himself once again plagued by unfamiliar feelings.

    Luckily, Buffy changed the subject by asking, "So, when do you get to go home?"


    Joyce grimaced distastefully and sighed tiredly. "I'm not sure now. The orthopedic surgeon was here and said something about possible surgery. I think I'll know more tomorrow."

    "Oh God! Mom!! That's horrible!!"

    Joyce looked back over at Spike and asked, "Are you going to be sticking around for a while?"

Chapter 12
    Joyce looked back over at Spike and asked, "Are you going to be sticking around for a while?"

    Spike shot an uncomfortable look over at Buffy, not sure of the reaction he would find on her face in response to her mum's question. To his relief, she was merely regarding him with curiosity, not in the abject horror and fear he had anticipated.

    "Uh.. yeah, think so," he finally said, looking over at Buffy again and noted the relief that settled over her features at his words.

    Joyce nodded once with satisfaction and said, "Good, I'm glad to hear that. Buffy's going to need some help, and well, I'm not sure how much help I'm going to be for a while."

    Spike found himself completely gobsmacked. This was a concept that he could hardly fathom; that his company was apparently both needed and wanted. That warm feeling inside him was quickly gaining the heat of a raging inferno and he knew there was a sappy grin on his face. Buffy's mum was a right decent lady, and Spike found himself glad that she was going to be ok.

    Luckily Blake broke the sudden emotionally charged silence with a request to be picked up. Spike was more than happy to comply, swinging him easily into his arms with Blake threw his pudgy arms around his neck. Joyce and Buffy watched this interaction with interest, both sharing a tender smile. Spike took him over to the window and began pointing things out in the well lit parking lot, with Blake hanging onto his every word and engaging his dad in a myriad of questions that bounced from one topic to another.

    "He's good with him," Joyce announced quietly, watching them.

    "Yeah, he is." Buffy replied just as softly, knowing that Spike could most likely hear every word spoken.

    Joyce turned to look at her daughter and concern was etched heavily on her weary features. "He won't hurt you again, will he?"

    Buffy was silent for just a moment; she had been watching Spike and had witnessed his body tensing at her mom's question.. Then in a voice barely over a whisper, she admitted, "No."

    Spike turned to look at Buffy and the naked raw emotion in his eyes was such a far cry from the rude cocky vampire she thought she knew, that a tiny gasp escaped. Turning his attention to her mother, Spike announced quietly, "I won't hurt either of them, Joyce. You have my word."

    Joyce appeared a bit startled by the revelation, and Buffy couldn't help the small giggle that escaped at her confusion. "Vampire, mom. Means all senses are enhanced, including hearing."

    "Oh."

    Spike brought Blake over to the bed. "Yeah, and you should see how your daughter abused my sense of smell on the way over here."

    Joyce sent a smile in his direction. "Aromatherapy?"

    "If that's what you want to call it."

    The banter was cut off by the arrival of a nurse bearing pain medication for Joyce, and Buffy felt her first hint of jealousy when the young attractive nurse spent a bit too much time talking and looking at Spike. Buffy saw the blatant inspection of his ring finger before the lecherous eyes traveled to inspect Buffy's hand. Before she even realized she did it, Buffy had moved right next to Spike and pressed herself against his side in an obvious effort to claim ownership. To let the nurse know that this was HER guy.

    A minute later, reality crashed in and Buffy realized exactly what she had done. She looked up at Spike and stiffened at the highly amused smirk on his face and was poised to move away, but he made good use of the opportunity by snaking his arm out to keep her pinned to his side. Buffy's first instinct was to struggle and she just barely managed to quell that urge, especially since this close proximity to him was making her Slayer sense rattle like a fire alarm. But then she realized it wasn't just her slayer sense, it was that delicious feeling in the pit of her stomach again, and she finally allowed herself to relax under his tight grip.

    Coolly efficient now that the line had been drawn, the nurse finished pushing the narcotic pain medication into Joyce's IV tubing and crossed the room to throw the empty syringe in the red Sharps container by the sink. In a pleasant professional voice, she asked Joyce if she needed anything else. Joyce shook her head, highly amused by her daughter's blatant possessiveness. With a flirty toss of her hair and a wink in Spike's direction, the nurse turned to leave the room.

    Spike turned his head to look at Buffy just in time to catch the lethal glare she had sent in the nurse's direction as she passed through the door. Under her breath, Buffy muttered, "Geez, unprofessional much?"

    Eyes twinkling, Spike teased, "oooh, the little kitten has claws."

    Buffy broke away from Spike's hold, finding her capacity for thought diminished in such close proximity to his body.   Assuming an innocent air, she stuck her nose in the air and informed him haughtily, "I don't know what you're talking about."

    Joyce and Spike exchanged amused glances over the top of Buffy's head, which thankfully she missed. Seeing that the pain medication was starting to make Joyce sleepy, Spike announced they should probably be on their way. Buffy opened her mouth to argue, then saw her mom's drooping eyelids and allowed Spike to be correct. Saying their goodbye's and giving her mom a kiss, they walked out the door towards the elevator.

    Spike pushed the button for the 2nd floor and Buffy looked at him like he had the IQ of a idiot. "We need the ground floor, brainiac."

    Spike sent narrowed eyes in her direction, but replied in an easy tone, "Know that. Need to stop off on 2. Feeling a bit peckish."

    The horror returned to Buffy's eyes as she realized what he meant. "Oh no you don't! If you think I'm going to let you kill someone while you're with me, you're so totally mistaken."

    Spike sent her another look, this one Buffy was unable to interpret. "Not gonna. GI floor, y'no? Lots of bleeders there so they always keep extra blood on hand in case someone starts bleeding out."

    "Oh," Buffy answered, feeling slightly placated. "Wait, you're going to steal it?"

    "Well, yeah. Can't exactly buy it off of them, now can I?"

    "No," Buffy admitted in a surly tone. "Fine, just go do it. We'll wait in the car."

    "Don't know what this attitude is about Slayer, it's a lot easier for me just to go out and kill someone, you know. I'm doing this bagged thing for you."

    The doors opened on 2, and Spike was gone like a black shadow, striding purposefully down the hall. How he thought he was going to manage walking away with blood in the middle of a crowded hospital floor, she had not a clue. But yet, she didn't doubt his pending success. And then she had to admit, he was right. It WAS easier for him just to go kill someone. Now how sad was that? Grrr...It made her head hurt. If he was going to be sticking around on any type of regular basis, she'd have to see what she could to to fix him up with a constant supply. She didn't want his diet to be an issue between them, they had enough stuff to deal with.

    Buffy had barely gotten Blake buckled into his car seat before Spike threw open the driver's seat door, causing Buffy to jump in alarm. "I thought you were getting blood," she accused, allowing herself to relax from her attack stance.

    He turned to look at her with an amused smirk before he pulled a few bags out of his duster pocket and threw them at her. "I did," he informed her unnecessarily.

    "Ok, I so don't want to know the details," Buffy muttered, shaking her head. She handed Blake a sippy cup of juice then got herself buckled up as Spike started the car and they headed back to Buffy's house. The ride back was spent in surprisingly comfortable silence, marred with periods of incessant chatter from the youngest occupant of the car. Spike didn't appear to be harboring any lingering resentment over her attitude about the blood, and Buffy found herself grateful for that. She didn't even say anything when he shifted into game face for a second to bite down into one of the bags before shifting back and drinking the blood greedily. He kept looking over at her expecting a comment from her, but was treated with a friendly silence.

    But when they got home and Buffy walked through her front door, it hit her that she was totally alone with Spike and that's when her mind exploded with the possibilities. No, don't let your thoughts go there, she chastised herself frantically. Look at how well that turned out last time. Pinning her eyes on the ground so she didn't have to look at him, she missed the curious look he gave her.

    "So now what?" Spike asked, setting Blake down in the living room.

    Buffy shot her head up, a startled look on her face. "Huh?"

    Amused, but finding himself reluctant to add fuel to her obvious uneasiness, he tipped his head in Blake's direction. "The boy. Does he have some sort of night time ritual or any such rot?"

    "Oh yeah. Sure thing. I mean, yes, he does. Maybe you can like, uh, change his diaper while I go get his jammies?" Buffy asked, ready to bolt from the room, becoming more and more unnerved by his commanding presence the longer she stood there.

    Spike looked at her like she was daft in the head, but she was already gone, effectively escaping the room.

    And him.

    He sighed and turned to his son. "Right, diaper." He looked around the room then looked back at Blake and said, "Wouldn't happen to know where the diapers are at, would ya?"

    Without a verbal response, Blake walked over to a basket in the corner and got a diaper out and held it out to Spike who took it with a slightly horrified look on his face. Changing a diaper wasn't something he thought he'd ever be doing, that much was certain. Didn't exactly fit the criteria for being bad and evil.

    "Ok, now what?" he asked, hoping his son would be helpful once again.

    Luck was on his side. Blake laid down on the floor and looked up at Spike expectantly. Letting go of another sigh, Spike muttered, "Right. Well, here goes nothing." He crouched down on the floor and managed to get Blake's pants off without mishap. He stared at the diaper on his son trying to figure out what the blasted thing, then realized there was some velcro numbers on the side that held the sides together. Huh, how 'bout that. Guess modern day conveniences stretched to include updated diapers.

    He got the soaked diaper off with Blake lending some assistance and began to get a feeling of accomplishment, half the job was done. But if he'd looked at his son's face just then, he would have taken note of the lips curving up into a mischievous smirk that was almost identical to Spike's own.

    Spike was just reaching for the clean diaper when he heard Buffy yell from the top of the stairs. "Oh, if you're changing his diaper, be careful." Before Spike could ask what she meant, a stream of urine shot out, coating the arm of Spike's leather duster and spraying the floor.

    "Bloody HELL!" was ripped from his throat and his mind froze on how to handle this situation. He looked at his son and finally noticed the smirk. "Oh you, you did that on purpose, dinnit ya?"

    Peals of giggles were his answer and Spike just shook his head in disbelief, then called, "Hey Buffy, get that cute bum down here. Your boy just peed everywhere."

    Buffy came into the room and rolled her eyes at the horrified look on Spike's face."I told you to be careful!"

    "He peed on me."

    "Well, duh." Buffy threw him the box of wipes, and with a ferocious scowl sent in her direction, Spike grabbed a few and cleaned up the mess his son had made. He shrugged out of his duster and wiped it carefully off.

    Blake still had a wide pleased smile on his face, and Spike growled, "It's not funny." The boy just continued to smile, and Spike felt his resolve weaken. "Ok fine, maybe it is a bloody good trick, but save it for someone who's not your da, got it?" Spike managed to get the diaper on, albeit a little crooked, but he felt satisfied with himself for his accomplishment nonetheless. Buffy handed him the pajamas she had retrieved from his room, and Spike managed to get those on as well. Spike leaned back to admire his success, feeling a tad proud of himself.

    The next hour was spent going through Blake's usual bedtime ritual and Buffy didn't allow herself to feel apprehensive. This was her time with Blake and she didn't let anything interfere. But as soon as she kissed Blake goodnight and they shut his bedroom door, her nerves slammed right back into her.

    With Buffy's tightly coiled emotions written clearly across her face, Spike found himself making an attempt to put her at ease. "Fancy a bit of telly, pet?"

    Without looking at him, Buffy nodded and headed down the stairs. Spike found her huddled on the couch, remote in hand, her gaze intent on the television screen before her. He sat down next to her, and his jaw tightened when he saw her stiffen at his close proximity. She still wouldn't look at him, keeping her attention focused on the corny sitcom on TV. He could tell by her unfocused eyes that she wasn't really watching it, just fixing her stare on it to avoid having to look at him.

    "What's wrong?" he found himself asking in exasperation.

    Buffy flinched at his tone, pressing herself further away from him. "Nothing."

    Spike grabbed the remote from her hand and flicked the TV off. "Dammit, would you talk to me?"

    Buffy took a deep calming breath, then look over at him. She expected the anger she found brewing on his face, but it was the confusion mixed in with it that had her relaxing slightly. "I'm sorry," she mumbled, wrapping her arms around her tighter.

    "Did I do something?"

    Buffy started to shake her head no, then sighed and decided to go for the truth. "I'm probably being stupid, but... being alone with you like this kinda brings back some not so good memories for me."

    Spike let his head fall back against the back of the couch and looked up at the ceiling. Silence filled the room for several uncomfortable minutes before Spike finally said, "I'm sorry. I think I said that before, but this time I actually mean it. All I can say is that will never happen again."

    "What won't?"

    "Me trying to hurt you."

    The obvious sincerity in his voice brought Buffy's head up sharply to look into his eyes. When he reached over and took her hand, she didn't pull away, just kept her eyes locked on the intense stormy eyes that seemed to be peering into her soul.

    "What can I do to show you I mean it?" he asked gently, rubbing the roughened pad of his thumb over the top of her hand.

    Buffy shocked herself as much as she did Spike by closing the distance between them and pressing her lips to his. Again, it was like someone else had taken possession of her body, making her do the one thing that her entire being craved. It took him less than a second to respond and he let his mouth move against hers in a dance that was both completely foreign to him yet hauntingly familiar. He reached over and hauled her into his lap while his lips increased the pressure, his tongue thrusting into her mouth in a frantic sweep. Buffy wrapped her arms around his neck and rose up so she was straddling his hips where he sat on the couch. His hands were everywhere at once, and Buffy could feel a ripple of desire shoot through her at his intimate touch.

    There wasn't a flicker of doubt that she shouldn't be doing this with him, not like there should have been and Buffy gave it barely a moment's notice that there was no fear, only desire. And strangely, a fragile trust that he would be a monster of his word; he would not hurt her again. She drew back slightly and ripped her t-shirt off, baring her bra clad torso to his hungry eyes. Reaching behind her, she unsnapped her bra and let it slip slowly from her shoulders before he grabbed it in a fit of impatience and threw it on the floor.

    "So fucking beautiful," he murmured, burying his face in the valley between her breasts before he turned his head and captured one rosy nipple in his mouth, teasing it with his tongue. Buffy gasped at the sensation, it felt like the was a connection between her sensitive nipples directly to that throbbing place between her legs that begged for his attention. Without even realizing it, Buffy found herself grinding her mound against the hard protrusion that lay beneath Spike's jeans, unable to stand the sweet ache.

    She was glad she had worn a skirt when Spike's skilled hands deftly lifted up the hem and shoved the crotch of her panties out of the way, allowing his fingers to rub against her engorged nub. Buffy reached down and undid the buckle on his jeans, frantic for another glimpse of him. This shouldn't be happening like this, she thought fleetingly as she struggled with the buttons. But she was helpless to stop, she wanted him. And that was the part that had tormented her the most during the last two years, knowing that even after what he had done, what he was, she knew she still desired him. And the self disgust over that knowledge had been the hardest cross that she'd had to bear. But now she was free to admit it to herself. Vampire or not, she wanted him inside her again.

    Breaking her mouth away from his, she muttered against his jaw, "Can't get the buttons undone."

    Not stilling the worship his hands were bestowing upon her body, he managed to ask, "You sure 'bout this, luv?

    Buffy nodded emphatically, leaning in to kiss that succulent mouth again as Spike worked his buttons free with one hand, his erection now free from its prior restrictive confine, curving up in a hard arc towards his abdomen. Buffy dragged his shirt over his head, frantic in her need to touch as much of his cool firm flesh as possible, her hands sliding over rock hard muscles and pale satiny skin before trailing downward to grab his engorged shaft in her hand. Spike moaned at her touch, closing his eyes and tipping his head back against the cushion. Unable to wait, Buffy shifted herself and poised herself over his thick member before slowly sinking down. A bit of feminine satisfaction came when Spike's eyes flew open, filled with wonderment and awe at the intense feeling of being enveloped in her hot moist sheath, inch by agonizing inch.

    "Oh god, baby," je moaned, clutching at her hips to keep her still when she had taken him inside her to the hilt, afraid he would come right then. Looking up in to her face, he asked, "Does this hurt?"

    Buffy shook her head no, smiling down at him as she trailed her index finger softly down the side of his face, tracing his chiseled jaw. She began to move against him, and he couldn't help but thrust up into her each time, watching her face carefully for any sign of pain. He was determined to do right by her this time and actually now felt sick at the thought that he had hurt her before. Of course he had hopes that the evening would wind up with them shagging, but he didn't really think things would progress this far and he hadn't been about to push her. She shocked him though by initiating this, and now it was hitting home yet again just how special this girl was.

    Using his hands on her hips as guidance, he showed her the best way to move against him, liking that he was the one who got to introduce her to these things. He could see things were building up for her by the enthralled look on her face and took one now unneeded hand off of her shapely hip and pressed his thumb against her sensitive clit. His own thrusts were becoming more demanding and he could feel things beginning to tighten up, but he wanted her to get off first. With a loud cry, Buffy's orgasm broke over her, sending delicious shivers through every cell in her body, causing all of her muscles to lock up simultaneously before she collapsed into a boneless heap against Spike's bare chest.

    That extra squeeze coupled with seeing Buffy's face as she got off was what Spike needed to send him into his own orgasm. With a snarl, he clutched her tight while he spurted his seed deep inside her, his body convulsing with each ejaculation, before he joined Buffy as a boneless heap.

    "Fuck, that was amazing," Spike panted, holding her tight in a desperate attempt to keep physical contact with her.

    Buffy groaned, "Oh god, my legs are totally asleep." Spike looked up at her, then after pressing a quick kiss to her lips, hauled her up and stretched out on the couch, placing her to sprawl on top of him. "Oh my god, I so cannot believe we just had sex on my mother's couch."

    "Well, we'll just have to keep that little tidbit to ourselves then, won't we?" Spike replied teasingly, stroking the back of her head gently. He had this sudden fear that she was going to regret what they had just done and was steeling his emotions against it.

    "Yeah, I guess so," Buffy replied tiredly, pressing her cheek against his chest.

    "I didn't hurt you, did I?"

    Buffy lifted her head up and stared at him. "What? No!"

    She could see the relief enter his intense blue eyes and she leaned up to kiss him gently then whispered in his ear, "Wanna go play up in my room?"

    His eyes darkened with desire, and with a high pitched squeak, she found herself scooped up in his arms and on her way up the stairs. She looked down at herself, shirt off, skirt all hiked up and grimaced. Then she looked down and saw that Spike's pants were still on, and she began to giggle. With a playful growl, he threw her on her bed, kicked off the offending jeans and flung himself at her. This time, he wanted to do things slowly, show Buffy exactly how talented he was, but again she was an impatient wench and spoiled his plans.

    Hours later, Buffy found herself sore in all the right places, a languid feeling having taken up residence in her body, and she couldn't move even if she wanted to. It had been a night of sharing and learning, about learning how to trust and getting past the fact that she was the Slayer and he was a vampire. It ceased to matter anymore. Sometime during the night, she realized Spike was having trouble keeping his demon back, and told him to let it go. When he questioned her about her motives, she told him quite simply that she had to know that she was safe from his demon also. He merely nodded then allowed his face to change instead of fighting to keep it back and he was humbled by Buffy's willingness to trust him that much. After what his demon had done to her, she was still willing to take a chance. As soon as his demon came to the forefront, Spike realized that there was no problem here, his demon was just as taken by this girl as he was. He made no attempt to bite her, although the urge to do just that was almost overpowering, and after they had both come down from mind numbing orgasms, Buffy had gently traced the distorted ridges of his forehead, pressing gentle kisses along his cheek and said a quiet "Thank you." Spike didn't reply, just gave her a heart felt smile that spoke volumes
    It was near dawn when they finally collapsed into each other's arms, utterly exhausted by a full night of lovemaking. Buffy fell quickly into an utterly exhausted sleep, tucked in the naked embrace of the demon she had let worship her all night. Spike watched her drift off, feeling oddly proud of himself at the contented smile on her face, and settled himself against the pillows to get some much deserved rest.
``````

    Xander and Willow walked through the library doors after second period and found Giles deeply engrossed in research, only looking up when Xander cleared his throat in gross exaggeration.

    "Yes?" Giles asked a bit impatiently.

    "Have you talked to Buffy?" Xander asked.

    All impatience fled to be replaced by concern. "No, she hasn't been by yet this morning. Why?"

    "Uh, she wasn't in class this morning," Willow informed him.

    Giles eyebrows knitted together as he pondered this information. "Well, perhaps we should give her a call." He went through the library cage and picked up the phone, dialing Buffy's number. He was visibly upset when he rejoined the two teens in the main part of the library. "There appears to be no answer."

    "And why am I thinking that I'm going to get to say I Told You So?" Xander announced unhelpfully.

    "I believe I am going to go over to her house, she may be in need of assistance."

    "I'm going with you" Xander informed him forcefully and Giles decided not to argue the matter. Willow regrettably returned to class, having a major chemistry test the next period. Within moments, Giles closed up the library once again during school hours and he and Xander were on their way to Buffy's house.

     Giles parked next to Spike's black monstrosity in the driveway, and he felt somewhat reassured that the vampire at least still appeared to be in Sunnydale. However, the state in which they might find Buffy and Blake was what was truly cause for concern. Walking up the front steps, Giles rang the doorbell and his unease grew when there was no answer. Xander tried the door and found it unlocked, slowly pushing it open as he called Buffy's name.

    They walked into the front room and looked around. Nothing seemed too out of place, Giles frowned when he noticed the blankets Spike had previously used on the chair. They both managed to miss the few choice clothing articles strewn about before they headed up the stairs. Giles peeked into Blake's room, sure he was going to find a bloodbath there, but was greeted by a sleeping toddler sucking his thumb. He and Xander continued down the hall to the partially opened door to Buffy's room with great trepidation, and the sight that was waiting for them was more horrifying than Giles could possibly have imagined.

    His Slayer was sprawled naked on top of equally naked vampire, their bare limbs entwined, her head pillowed on his silent chest with his arms wrapped around her protectively. A slight effort had been made to cover up, but the sheet had gotten as far as the curve where her ass met her thigh, and did nothing to hide this stark brutal reality. Both of them were deeply asleep, Spike's chin resting on top of Buffy's head.

    "Holy crap," Xander uttered in a shocked voice.

    That quietly uttered expletive served to do what a phone call, the doorbell and calling her name refused to do. It woke Spike up. His sleepy eyes opened and immediately hardened when he caught sight of them in the door way. "Stop your bloody staring," he ordered in a dangerous voice. Buffy shifted in her sleep, trying to burrow herself deeper against him and sighed in contentment.

    Both Giles and Xander found themselves helpless to do anything but stare, causing Spike to growl, "Get your fuckin eyeball off of her, do you understand?" That finally served to wake Buffy up and she lifted her head up from its comfortable pillow to peer into his face, confusion overriding her weariness. But when she saw his penetrating glare directed over her head towards the doorway, she turned to see what had captured his interest so intensely.

    "Oh GOD!!! " she cried, scrambling to draw the sheet over her to hide her nakedness from Giles and Xander's horrified and probing eyes. Her cheeks flushed red with mortification, her embarrassment palpable.

    "Buffy.....?" Xander said, unable to finish, and unable to tear his eyes away either.

    "I told you to stop bloody looking at her!" Spike snarled, but his movements were gentle when he moved Buffy off of him and to the side. "Get the fuck out, now."

    Stunned beyond all comprehension, Giles tried to get his brain to jump start, but he couldn't get his body to obey Spike's commands. "Spike, I.."

    Giles and Xander suddenly found a naked vampire in full game face charging towards them, rage clearly present on his demonic features. "I told you sods to stop fucking looking at her!" Spike roared.

     With no time to scramble for the stakes they had brought, Giles and Xander did the only thing possible for their self preservation that they could. They beat a hasty retreat, their hearts pounding with fear and anticipation. But instead of the savage attack they were expecting, they found themselves with the door to Buffy's bedroom slammed shut in their faces. Looking at one another, relief hit them at the same time and they both slumped against the wall.

    "Well, I hope they used birth control this time," Xander announced snidely, finding himself feeling out of sorts now that the fear and shock had worked its way out of his system.

    "Oh good lord."
tbc...

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