** ** **

Willow sighed, sitting down next to Mina. The newly turned six year old turned
to her mother, placing her hand on her momma’s *huge* stomach. “Momma, you are
so big!”

Willow nodded, yawning slightly. “Don’t remind me.”

“Daddies are gone out, right? They had to go with Unca Graham and Unca Xander
to beat up the mean demon?”

“Yep,” Willow said. “Uncle Wesley is in England visiting family, and Uncle
Gunn and Aunt Cordelia are in Sunnydale visiting Grandpa Giles. He’s coming
back with them, aren’t you excited?”

Mina nodded happily. Grandpa Giles didn’t get to come visit that often, but he
doted on the girl when he did, and she always loved seeing him. “I love
Grandpa Giles. He’s so nice, momma.”

“He is, baby. He’s always been good to me, much better than Ira was.”

Mina’s face screwed up in childlike disgust. She’d met Ira and Sheila
Rosenberg several times, knowing that they were her momma’s parents, but she
didn’t understand why they were so cold towards her, like they didn’t care
anything about her one way or the other. It confused her, because everyone
else in her family loved her so much. “I don’t like Ira and Sheila that much,
momma.”

Willow snickered. “I know, baby.”

“Momma?” Mina asked softly. “Can I sleep with you tonight? I don’t like it
when Daddy-Sire and Daddy-Spikey are gone.”

Willow smiled. “Yea, baby, I think that would be good.”

~*~

Willow gasped, waking up suddenly. She moaned, the pain of a contraction
rocking through her body. “Oh goddess,” she murmured, turning over to wake up
Angel and Spike.

With horror, she realized that they were still out fighting the demon. “Oh, my
goddess, Mina. . .” she whispered, shaking her daughter.

“Momma, sleeping. Don’t wake me up right now,” Mina whimpered, burying her
head under the pillow.

“Willow, I think the babies are ready. . .” she whispered.

Mina’s eyes popped open. “Oh, goodness!” she exclaimed. She sat up quickly.
“Oh, my goodness!” She looked at Willow with wide green eyes. “Momma, what do
we do?”

“Hospital,” Willow groaned. “We have to go to the hospital. . .and we have to
get in touch with your daddies.”

Mina scurried out of bed, running to the phone. She picked it up and pushed
the button labeled, “Beeper.” In her haste, she forgot the phone number to the
hotel, just entering *9-1-1* three times. She hung the phone up and ran to the
closet, pulling out her mother’s packed suitcase. She placed it in the middle
of the room and ran to Willow, who was leaning over, crying at the pain of her
contractions.

“Momma, I thought you said it wasn’t painful!” she cried.

Willow grimaced. “Ok, so maybe it’s a *little* painful. . .”

~*~

Angel growled angrily. The fight was *almost* over, all he had to do was
decapitate the demon, and his beeper was going off. Not many people had his
beeper number, but he was sure that it was something asinine. He swung his
sword, effiectively putting the demon out of his misery.

He moved to the car and slumped against it, glancing over at his fighting
companions. Graham was wrapping Xander’s cuts up, and Spike was sitting on his
heels, licking at a cut on his hand. He glanced up at Angel, smiling softly.
“Good fight, mate.”

Angel nodded wearily. “Yea, thanks.” He stretched once before reaching to his
pocket to retrieve the beeper that was vibrating ever so quietly. His eyes
widened with surprise as he saw the number that was on there – not once, but
three times.

9*1*1

“Spike.”

“Sire?” The vampire looked up, eyes immediately concerned at the tone of his
mate’s voice. “What is it?” He looked at the beeper the older vampire held out
for him to see. “Red?”

“I think so, give me your cell phone.” A lump of worry settled in the pit of
his stomach. He waited, quietly oblivious to the stares of the two humans, as
he dialed the number for the hotel. It rang once, twice, three times before
the answering machine picked up, Cordelia’s perky voice promoting the
investigating firm and offering for him to leave a message on the machine. He
hit the cancel button on the phone, dialing the number for his red haired
mate’s cell phone by heart.

“What’s going on?” Xander whispered, coming to kneel next to Spike. He watched
as Angel finally got someone on the phone and began talking in animated
whispers.

“Red paged him. 911s. The Poof’s trying to figure out what’s wrong.”

“Do you think it could be…you know…time?” The human asked quietly.

Spike tilted his head to the side, contemplating the question that was being
asked. “I suppose it could be. Doc said she wasn’t due til next week, though. I
guess the bloke could have been wrong though.”

“Or the babies could be early.” Graham joined in, coming to sit next to his
lover. “If they’re anything like you, Spike, they’re impatient as hell
already.”

The vampire mock-glared at the former commando, knowing that it was true. He
was a tad impatient when it came to things. One of the reasons he had never
been able to succeed with any of his ‘evil’ plans. In hindsight, with
everything that had happened in his life due to those very same failures, he
had to admit that he wouldn’t have had it any other way. He opened his mouth to
retort, stopping short when he saw that his Sire was rejoining them. The older
vampire stood before them, shaking his head slowly from side to side. “Well…?”
The blonde finally prompted.

“Its time.” Angel murmured, a nervous smile on his face.

** ** **

Nurse Davis was on the eighth hour of her ten hour shift when the double doors
at the end of the hall burst open, slamming back against the pristine white
walls. She looked up, expecting to see another soon-to-be-mom rushing in, hands
on her stomach. Instead she saw four men.

“Where is she?” The taller of the two men in front asked, putting his hands on
the counter.

“Where is who?” The nurse asked gently, one hand on the call button under her
desk just in case there was any trouble. These four already looked as though
they’d been in a fight of some sort, their clothes rumpled and disheveled.

“My Willow. My babies….?” The dark haired vampire struggled for words. Why was
this woman asking him so many stupid questions.

“He’s looking for Willow Rosenberg.” Xander interjected helpfully, pushing
Angel momentarily aside.

“Ah. A father to be.” The nurse grinned as she consulted the chart on her desk.
This was something she had seen all too many times before – the nervous father
to be unable to think of anything except his wife or lover and their coming
child. “Third door on the right. The doctors are in with her now. No...no…” She
held up a hand when all four of the men started to go down the hall. “Only two
people can be back there at the time. The rest of you wait here.” She pointed
at a group of plastic lobby chairs sitting nearby.

“Guess that’s you two.” Graham smiled. He clasped Angel on the shoulder and
gave Spike a brief nod. “Give her our love.”

“Will do, mate.” Spike grinned, bouncing on the balls of his feet. He didn’t
even wait to see if his Sire was behind him, running down the hallway to the
room the nurse had indicated. He could hear the labored breathing of his mate
before he even opened the door.

“Spike!” Willow groaned when he finally put his head through the door. “It took
you two long enough!” Her face was red with pain as yet another contraction
pushed through her small body. Her hands grasped desperately at the sheets on
the bed as a nurse gently dabbed at her forehead with a cool cloth. She let out
a long breath, smiling as she noticed Angel had joined her blonde haired mate
at the doorway.

“Can we come in?” Angel asked hesitantly, eyeing the sterile environment of the
room.

“You sure can.” The nurse smiled, stopping her duties for a moment to reach
into a small cabinet across from the bed. When her hands emerged she was
holding two small piles of blue fabric. “Just put these on.”

“Daddy-Spike? Daddy-Sire?” A small voice called out.

“Mina?” The blonde haired vampire asked, just loud enough for everyone in the
room to hear. He had totally forgotten about his daughter in the rush to get to
Willow’s side.

“I’m on the other side of the curtain.” There was a soft rustle of cloth and
the curtain moved slightly, a child’s body obviously pressing against it.
“Mommy said I should wait over here while she gets my little brothers ready.
She said it wasn’t something I should see. What does she mean?”

Spike exchanged a grin with his Sire and the older vampire cleared his throat.
“Just that she wants it to still be a surprise, Mina. She doesn’t want you to
see them until they’re all dressed and ready for you.” Walking behind the
curtain he drew the five-year-old out. “Uncle Xander and Uncle Graham are in
the lobby. Do you want to go spend time with them while we wait?”

“Please?” The girl begged. “This room smells funny. Like the stuff mommy uses
to clean the floor at home.”

Angel laughed and led her to the doorway. Pointing down the hall he pushed her
gently in the direction of the two humans who were waiting nervously. “There
they are. Run to them quick so I can get back to helping mommy.” When he was
sure she was safely in their arms he turned back to the room, shutting the door
just as a new round of screams and groans started from his mate.

Willow exhaled loudly, letting the last of the contraction rush over her. They
were coming closer now, pushing her body through more pain than she remembered
having with Mina.

“It shouldn’t be much longer now.” The nurse smiled helpfully, handing the damp
cloth to Spike. “Just wipe the sweat off of her face. I’m going to go get the
doctor.”

Spike nodded dumbly, gently wiping the sweat from the red head’s pain-etched
face. He would have done anything to take that pain from her, to make her time
easier. But in the end, he knew it would be worth it. He was going to be a
daddy. For the first time in his life, human or otherwise, he had helped to
bring a child into the world. He was going to have someone who was of his own
bloodline running around the world – a living, breathing, human child.

“Did you hear that, Willow?” Angel whispered, leaning over to kiss her cheek.
“Soon. Soon we will have two more children to love and cherish.”

“And spoil rotten.” The red head admonished sweetly. Her face sobered for a
moment. “I know these two are your blood, your sons…just don’t forget about
Mina. You two are the only daddies she’ll ever have.”

Spike looked at his mate in shock. “Pet, we could never forget about Mina.” He
gave the red head a soft smile. “Me an’ Peaches got enough room in our bloody
bodies to love all three of them.”

Willow nodded, squeezing onto the hands that were holding her own as the next
contraction began. She closed her eyes, bearing down as the pain rushed through
her. Only a little more to go and then it would all be over.

Then she could introduce her daughter to her new little brothers.

~*~

“One more time. PUSH!”

“Aaaggh!!” Willow cried out, pushing with all her waning strength as the doctor
continued to give orders. She wished the man would just shut up and let her
rest. Surely the babies could wait a few more hours?

“A little more…little more…” The doctor crooned. He glanced up from where he
had been looking, seeing the petite red head squeezing the life out of the
hands of the men next to her. Having been the one to deliver Mina five years
earlier, he wasn’t too terribly surprised. “I see the head…just a little more
Willow. One big push.”

The red head groaned, tears spilling from her eyes. It seemed as though the
labor was taking forever, even with the drugs she had eventually begged for to
stop the pain. Gathering her strength around her like a shield, she pushed with
all her might, holding her breath with the pain.

“A boy!” The doctor smiled, holding up the child for the room to see. The
infant let out a tiny cry as Spike gingerly cut the cord, his eyes never
leaving those of the child that may very well be his own. Handing the child
over to the nurse to clean up, the doctor again kneeled at the foot of the bed.
“You’re doing great, Willow. Half way there.” Already he could tell that the
second of the twins was on its way.

“Great.” The red head growled, earning herself an appreciative look from Angel.
He clasped her hand, wincing as again she squeezed. After a five minute span
that seemed more like five centuries, the second baby emerged. Disengaging
himself from her hand, the dark haired vampire approached cautiously. He smiled
down at the tiny, red face, taking the scissors from the doctor. With one hard
snap he cut through the cord, freeing his child.

“Is it over?” Willow asked groggily, shifting slightly so the nurse could clean
her up.

“Yes, Red. You did bloody marvelous.” Spike leaned over, brushing a kiss across
her sweaty brow. He watched as across the room the nurses bathed and clothed
the infants. He shifted from foot to foot, wanting to hold his son for the
first time.

“We’re going to get her cleaned up and moved to another room, then you can have
visitors.” One of the nurses informed Angel. She waited for a moment until she
was positive he had heard her then wheeled a chair over to Willow, helping the
new mother into it. With slow and careful movements they made it down the
hall, to a fresh room. Making sure that the red head was okay to change into a
fresh gown by herself, the nurse returned to the room.

“Okay. You two gentlemen can go on down the hall and see her now. Get that
darling little girl of yours too.”

Angel gave the nurse a glance. “We don’t get to see the babies now?”

“They’ll bring them down to you as soon as they’re done being bathed and
dressed.” The nurse said patiently. She had seen it all before. Fathers so
anxious to hold their kids that they couldn’t see through common sense logic.

Spike nodded shortly. “Come along then, Peaches. Lets get the moron and
commando boy and Mina and go see Red.” Grabbing onto his Sire’s arm, the blonde
led them from the room, pulling him with all the speed he could to the waiting
area. “Red’s ready for visitors. Babies should be out soon.”

“Congrats!” Xander grinned. He picked Mina up, spinning her in a tight circle.
“You’re a big sister now, aren’t you excited?”

Mina nodded, tilting her head back and letting the air rush past her. She loved
when Uncle Xander spun her. “Yep. Can I see them now? Mommy and Daddies said I
had to wait until they were ready. Are they ready now?”

“Almost, Strawberries.” Spike smiled. He took the girl from Xander’s arms,
hugging her tightly to him. “Come on, mates.”

The nurse at the desk looked up as they walked by, smiling to them all. She had
overheard about the twins from the other nurses.

“Just in time, it seems.” Angel grinned, walking into the room. The nurses had
entered just before them, each one pushing a separate cart. He walked to the
one nearest him, “Mina, Xander, Graham…I’d like to introduce you to Angelus
Alexander…or Alex for short”

“And William David…or David for short. Don’t want to get the bloke confused
with me.” Spike grinned, looking altogether too goofy for a master vampire. He
reached down to stroke a gentle line across the baby’s sleeping cheek,
marveling at how small the infant was.

“Can I see?” Mina asked quietly. She held her arms up to Angel, begging to be
lifted.

“Say hello to your new brothers, Mina.” Angel whispered.

“They’re all red and wrinkly.” Mina giggled softly, catching on that she should
be quiet around the babies almost immediately. She leaned over, blowing a kiss
to them. “Hello David, hello Alex. Nice to meet you. I’m Mina and I’m gonna be
the bestest big sister ever.”

Willow smiled, watching as her friends and family stood in awe over the
children. Truly she had been blessed. Not just with Mina and Spike and Angel.
Or the friendship she had with Xander and Graham. But now with David and Alex
as well.

Life was good.

~*~

Nurse Davis smiled coldly, her lips pulled into a thin line of pure bitterness
as she looked down the dim hallway to the room shining with laughter and love
at the end. This was what she had been waiting for. A moment of greatness to
prove herself worthy in the eyes of her employer. Maybe this would get her that
raise she had been longing for so badly.

With steady hands she picked up the phone, sealing the fate of the people in
the room down the hall without even realizing she was doing so. She dialed the
number she had been given to call in case she ever had any information that her
employer would be interested in hearing.

She was sure they’d want to know this.

“Hello, this is Nurse Davis over at Mercy General. There was a birth today I
think you might be interested in…”

~*~ The End ~*~

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