Looking up at the house Willow smiled, she was home. Looking down at the sleeping baby cradled in her arms, she waited for Giles to open the car door before stepping out into the street. Slowly she followed the older man up the path towards the front door, unlocking it Giles entered first and held the door open for the new mother and child.

“Welcome home Willow…and Belle”

“Thanks Giles…where is everyone”

“Well they thought they would let you get settled in first then everyone’s coming around for a few drinks”

“Oh…How’s Buffy”

Looking at the watcher and noticing the sombre look, she placed Belle into her carrycot before stepping up to the man and placed a hand on his arm

“She’s holding up…I think it’s the waiting that’s getting to her”

“Yeah Buff, never was one for waiting…but I know she’ll be fine”

“Yes your right…I’m just being a silly old man, its just all of you are like family to me, and if I lost any of you I don’t know what I would do…”

“No one is going anywhere Giles, you kind of got stuck with us years ago…you don’t have to tell us were family, we know”

Smiling slightly at the redheads reassuring words, Giles pulled his glasses off and wiped at his eyes before replacing them and watched the girl…no women pick up her new born.

“Yes…its just I’ve nearly lost Buffy before, and then when I thought I was going to lose you…”

“Giles…Giles”

The redhead moved back into the old mans gaze, shifting Belle into one arm, she replaced her hand on Giles’, offering him some comfort as his eyes watered

“What happened with me…I’m sorry I lied to you, and looking back I know I was stupid…”

“No Willow you were scared”

“No…I was looking for something that wasn’t there…and I know that now, but you know what? When I’m alone…I think of Oz, and how it was good, even if it was at the start, there was something there to start with. And I would truly be stupid if I said I wish it had never happened because then I wouldn’t have Belle, or my friends and I wouldn’t feel as loved as I do now…it took losing everything to figure that out. To realise that I’ve got everything I ever wanted now, and I’m not going anywhere. For the first time in my life I feel like I’m…home”

“You feel at home here”

“Yeah…even more so then when I’m with my parents, and I know this was only a temporary thing until I got my life back but…”

“No this is your home…I don’t think Spike would let you leave anyway”

“Giles…I just want you to know that I cant promise you that I wont do something stupid in the future but Sunnydale…here, is my home and I think I speak for everyone when I say that everyone’s here to stay…and that means Buffy too”

“Yes…thank you Willow, I really needed this…look at us two, you come home and were both crying”

Laughing Willow wiped the tears from her eyes, watching as Giles did the same, hearing a noise at the doorway both turned to see Spike standing watching the two, blushing slightly Willow smiled at the blond

“Hey Spike…did that sound as soppy as I think it did”

“Oh pet…you have no idea, there are tears in these eyes”

“Spike!”

Laughing the vampire made his way over and looked into the shining eyes of the redhead before looking down at the sleeping bundle in her arms

“How’s Bump”

“She does have a name you know”

“Yeah but she’ll always be my Bump”

Laughing, Spike watched as the watcher softly left the two to talk. Smiling he looked at the happy look on Willow’s face, before remembering why he had came downstairs in the first place

“Oh…surprise, for you…I have”

Confused, the redhead followed the smiling vampire upstairs, stopping at the door next to her room, she watched as he slowly opened the door, walking in her eyes filled with tears again

“How…”

“Well I couldn’t think of a gift the others hadn’t got you so I thought why not…do you like it?”

“Like it…Spike I love it!”

Pale pink walls greeted Willow as she walked further into the nursery. An antique crib sat in one corner, a mobile singing lullabies hung over it. All the soft toys the redhead had received in the hospital sat on shelves and in toy boxes, some even spilled onto the floor, in another corner sat a baby-changing table, everything matched perfectly. Wiping the tears away
Willow’s eyes widened as her gaze landed on the rocking chair next to the bookcase filled with every child’s book imaginable.

“This is…perfect”

“I try my best love…I’m just glad you like it”

Spinning around Willow looked at the vampire, his large smile matching her own, noticing the nervous look in his eyes she moved closer and without waking Belle hugged the vampire

“Spike how could I not love it…it must have cost you a fortune”

Spike never heard the rest of the sentence as he arm went around his waist. Returning the hug, he let his face drop to her shoulder, the silky strands of her hair tickling his nose, hearing her voice calling him, he let his senses take in the smell of her before standing back

“Sorry pet what did you say?”

“How could you afford this…Spike it must have cost a fortune”

“Willow you don’t live this long without making sure you can afford to…anyway until now I’ve had nothing to spend my money on. And now well Belle deserves the best, and I’m going to make sure she gets it”

“Spike…I can’t ask that of you”

“I know and you didn’t…I gave it to you, and you’ll hurt my feelings if you don’t accept it”

Pouting playfully, he watched as she looked around the room again, moving her towards the rocking chair, he let her sit and rock softly, smiling at the little sounds that left the small baby. He watched as the freshly woken baby looked up at her mother. Keeping his gaze on Belle, Spike let his eyes wander to her mother every so often, noticing the happy and content look on her face his smile grew.

“Thank you”

Hearing her whisper he leant down and placed his fingers in one of Belles tiny hands before turning and smiling at Willow

~ A Few hours later ~

“Willow are you…”

Spike watched as the watchers sentence dropped, looking up his eyes found what had stopped the watchers lecture

“Hey guys”

Waving as she came down the stairs, the redhead wrapped her arms around herself at their silence, they hated it, she knew she still had some of her pregnancy weight to lose, why did she have to pick a tight dress, all her insecurities came rushing back. Turning around ready to run and change she was stopped when they eventually spoke

“Willow…don’t go”

“No I was stupid…I would never wear this before I don’t know why I did now, give me five minutes to change”

“Willow you look wonderful”

Slowly turning on the stairs her eyes quickly found the two men stood at the bottom

“Really?”

“Beautiful”

Blushing at Spikes whispered words, she let herself walk the remainder of the stairs until she reached the bottom. Spike looked at the jade coloured summer dress and never thought he had seen anything so breath taking. The colour did wonders to both her hair and eyes, highlighting the sparkle of her eyes as the light touched them, the simple straps gave him a glimpse of her creamy pale flesh. Watching the blush spread as far as her shoulders at his continual gaze, looking up he caught her gaze and smiled.

“Ah this should be Buffy…she said she would come early and help with the food”

Both Willow and Spike were brought out of their daze as they watched the watcher open the door, smiling Willow went to greet her friend

“Hey Buffy…how are you”

“Good…how are you, and how is little Belle, where is she?”

“She’s asleep so that when Xander and them arrive she won’t be tired…oh I have to show you what Spike did to her room”

“Spike…did something”

“Shut it slayer”

Both girls laughed as the vampire stormed off into the kitchen, following the redhead Buffy walked into the little girl’s room, tears filled her eyes as she took in the beautiful room

“Willow…this is gorgeous”

“Isn’t it…and he did it all, surprised me with it”

“And what a surprise”

“Yeah I know what you mean”

Looking at the sleeping baby, Buffy looked at Willow before smiling at the small baby

“She’s perfect Willow, you must be so proud”

“Yeah…you can hold her if you want”

“Won’t she wake?”

“The others will be here soon, let Auntie Buffy have a hold before the rest of the gang arrive”

“Auntie Buffy…I like it…Auntie Buffy”

Smiling, the blond bent and softly lifted the small baby into her arms, whimpering a bit, Belle soon settled down in her aunt’s arms.

“You can carry her downstairs if you want?”

“Can I”

“Of course”

Walking downstairs, Willow saw that the others had arrived, Xander was standing next to the table shovelling heaps of potato chips into his mouth as Anya stood back looking annoyed

“Hey guys”

“Hi mommy Willow”

“Xander!”

“What where is my little Belle…come to unky Xand”

Laughing at the name he had given himself, Willow watched as Buffy handed over Belle to her uncle, Anya looked at the two and in her usual bluntness had Xander glaring up at her whilst Willow and Buffy giggled

“So this is another outcome of sex…ill stick with orgasms”

“Anya!”

“What? Oh right not that I’m saying she’s not a beautiful baby Willow, but I’m not much of a mothering type”

“Really Anya that would have never crossed my mind”

Smiling Anya went and grabbed some more food and sat down on the couch.

“Hey Willow does Cordelia know about Belle here”

“Yeah I rang her before I went into hospital, she wished me well and said that her and Angel were rooting for me”

Willow watched as Xander gave Giles the small baby and sat down next to Anya. Spike walked into the lounge carrying his cup of heated blood, glancing at the watcher awkwardly holding Belle he couldn’t help but laugh

“Oh look at Grandpa Giles”

“Spike don’t call Giles that”

“What! He likes it look at that face”

Pointing to the smiling face of the older man, Willow walked over and looked into the eyes of the man she thought more of a father then her biological one

“Giles…would you like to be…I mean, my parents aren’t exactly the grandparent type, they weren’t really the parent type…and she already has plenty of aunts and uncles”

“I would be proud Willow”

“Well that settles it…granddad”

Everyone started laughing at the blush that spread across the old mans face. Soon everyone was bust talking leaving Willow to sit and watch her friends. She had never been happier in her life, watching Xander and Anya trying to talk without touching and
un-succeeding, laughing as Spike followed Giles, teasing the old man about his new status within the group. Noticing that Buffy and Belle were missing, Willow made her way up to Belles nursery, slowly opening the door, she found who she was looking or, sitting in the rocking chair Buffy was watching over a sleeping Isobelle. Softly stepping into the room, she took the time to really stare at her best friend.

“Buffy”

Only the slight movement of the blonde’s head told the redhead that she had been heard

“Hey Wills”

Nearly missing the whispered words, the redhead moved forward and looked down at her friend. Placing a hand on hers, Willow was surprised to feel that the small blonde was cold, grabbing a blanket, the redhead wrapped it round her friend and was grateful when she received a smile from the quiet blond

“Buffy…are you okay”

“Yeah, I’m just a little cold”

“Your okay now”

Wrapping her arms around Buffy, the redhead blinked back tears as she brushed hair out of her friends face, noticing the unfocused look in her eyes, the redhead continued to murmur soothing words until she felt the small blond move and look around

“Willow”

“Yes Buffy…I’m here, shh I’m here”

“I’m sorry, I just needed to sit for a while and I thought I would come and see Belle…I’m sorry”

“Buffy there is nothing to be sorry for…ill go and get Giles and we can work out what happened”

“No!…Ill be fine, please don’t tell Giles”

“Buffy, you just blanked out, we have to tell someone”

“Please Willow”

Looking into Buffy’s pleading eyes, the redhead silently nodded her head as she pulled her friend back into a hug

“Okay, but your going to the doctors tomorrow…we need to find out what is happening to you…this is serious Buffy”

“Yes…just I don’t want to worry Giles just yet, look I’m okay now…go back to the party ill keep an eye on Isobelle, I just want to sit and think for a while…please”

“Okay…but I want you downstairs in five minutes”

 “Five minutes”

Walking out of the room, she took a deep breath before starting for the stairs. Reaching the bottom, Willow walked into the kitchen and got a drink. Closing her eyes against the tears that threatened to fall, the fear of losing her friend seemed to grow after the little scare in Belles room.

Hey Buff…where you been hiding”

“Sorry Xander…I was just sitting with Belle for a while”

“Buffy are you okay…you look a little pale”

“Giles I’m fine…really”

Slowly the redhead walked back into the lounge to see the blond smiling and talking to the rest of the group. Receiving a smile and wave from the blond, Willow smiled softly then walked to the front door, softly opening it, the redhead sat down on the front steps and buried her face into her hands. A hand on her shoulder brought her out of her reverie, looking up she smiled as her eyes found his icy blue ones

“Hey Spike”

“How are you?”

“Fine…just needed to get some air”

“She’ll be fine you know”

“Excuse me?”

“The slayer…she’s a fighter”

“Yeah…”

“Are you saying I’m wrong…I’ve been fighting this girl for years, and I know how strong she is, she wont go down without a fight”

“But what if that fight is running out”

Turning pleading eyes on the blond, Willow felt the tears fall against her skin at the thought of losing her friend. Moving forward the blond vampire wrapped his arms around the sobbing girl, soothing her with words of comfort, he let her cry her final tears
before speaking again

“Willow, you know Buffy…she isn’t going to just lie back and take it”

“You didn’t see her before”

“Before?”

“She was so cold…I’m so scared in case we lose her”

“Were not going to let that happen”

Laughing slightly, Willow wiped the tears from her eyes as she looked up at the vampire

“Thanks”

“What for pet”

“For sitting here with me and making me feel better”

“My pleasure pet”

Leaning forward Spike placed a kiss on the redhead’s forehead. Pulling away his eyes locked on hers, slowly inching forward his lips touched hers, feeling her hand against his cheek, the vampire went to pull away only to feel her fingers slide through his hair, pulling his lips closer to her. Feeling his tongue run along her lips, Willow opened her mouth and let her tongue dance with his. Feeling his fingers run through her hair, she let all the worries of the last few months leave her mind, the fear of having a baby, losing her friend, everything vanished as his lips travelled over hers.

The~End

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