Chapter 1:

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Spike waltzed into the apartment before Angel, who sent a dirty glare at the blond vampire's back. "So how's Buffy holdin' up?"

Andrew shrugged. Plopping down onto the couch, he said, "Oh she's fine. She's out right now at the club with The Immortal."

An incredulous look passed over Spike and Angel's faces. "You let her go by herself?"

"Well DUH! It's not like I'd go there. Besides. I have plans."

Spike snorted. "Plans. He had plans. Hear that, Angelus? He left our Slayer with The Immortal becuase he had plans."

"Well, I'm not the only one!" Andrew shouted. "This is practically her first night off and she's spending it at the club. Most of her nights off are spent cuddling with The Immortal."

"There's cuddling?" Angel asked, his face whitening a bit.

Rolling his eyes, Andrew said, "Of course! And then she and him go to bed, and-"

"Whoa whoa whoa!" Spike interrupted. Andrew and Angel looked over to where Spike stood, his back to them. He turned around, and Angel saw what was in his hand. Holding it up, he asked, "Who the hell is she holding?"

Leaning over to inspect the Kodak, Andrew squinted and said, "Oh him? That's The Immortal."

"Uhhh....no offense, mate. But we've met The Immortal. That's not The Immortal."

Understanding their confusion, Andrew said, "Nononononono. That's just a nickname she gave him after she defeated a baddie named The Immortal. Right now, she and him are at the 'Single Moms' club. She gets lots and lots of support from the members. They all love him. His real name's William. After his--"

"--after his father," came a soft voice from the doorway. Spike inhaled sharply and turned around and came face to face with Buffy....

....and her son.

***

The long awkward silence was broken by the sound of William gurgling. He clapped his small, pudgy hands together and giggled. He lurched slightly in his mother's arms and held out his arms to Spike.

"Spike...." Buffy trailed off, not knowing what to say to a man she'd thought dead until 2 minutes ago.

Giving her a small wave, he said, "Hey luv."

"Wh-what are you doing here?"

"Came to see a man about a lady."

"That's not what I-"

"I know. Just kiddin' with ya. Honestly, I have no idea why I'm back. Gotta say though, being corporeal now beats being a ghost by a hell of a lot. Can't imagine anything better." He glanced towards the small boy in Buffy's arms. "Then again...." He held his arms out, silently asking if he could hold the boy. Buffy handed him over, and William nuzzled into Spike's neck and opened his tiny mouth in a yawn, clenchin Spike's t-shirt in his small fist. As he gently bounced the baby, he looked over at his love, and said simply, "Mine?"

She nodded, tears glistening in her green-brown eyes. "Yours," she whispered.

Spike nodded, tears of his own threatening to spill, and he gently kissed the top of his son's head. Only Angel, with his vampiric hearing, heard the softly whispered word:

"Mine."

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TBC......

Chapter 2:

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Spike sat on the couch, twiddling his thumbs as Buffy put her--THEIR son in bed. Glancing around the apartment, he noticed for the first time that the entire living area was covered in pictures of William, Jr. Most of the were black and white, but there were a few where his eyes, electric blue with a hint of green, seemed to light up the rest of the picture. His son looked so care-free, and joyful. Buffy looked tired; circles had made themselves at home under her eyes, and though she was smiling, in her hazel orbs there was a sadness so great, that Spike felt his heart clench. She looked as if someone had ripped out pieces of her heart and threw them away.

"Hey," she said, startling him. When she advanced, he unconsciously scooted backwards on the couch.

Holding her hands up, palms facing forwards, she sat down on the cushion next to him. "Relax. Not gonna hit you. I just....I just wanna know....why?"

"Why what?"

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"What would I have said?"

"I don't know. Something. Anything. Just....you could've......and then.....gah. Why is this so hard? Dammit Spike. I wouldn't have cared what the hell you would've said. I just would've been happy to hear your voice. I don't care how you came back, just as long as you did." She noticed he was staring at her, and she chuckled, "Support group. I've gotten used to opening up by now. Not so much with the suppressed feelings anymore."

Smiling, he said, "Glad to hear it."

Pause.

"So how old is he?"

"Will? 15 months."

"So I'm assuming it was that last night.....in the basement?"

"Yeah....apparently making love on top of a mystical magical trinket thingy isn't such a good idea. But I'm happy it happened. Wouldn't have Will if we hadn't, now would we?"

"Guess not."

Pause.

"So how'd you react when you found out?"

"Freaked. Totally wigged. Gave everyone the wiggins."

***************************************************

June 2003

'Holy shit. Holyshitholyshitholyshitholyshit' was all Buffy could think as the blue positive sign stared up at her from the wand. 'No. nononononononono. This isn't happening....this isn't happening! LALALALALALALALALA!!!! No....I can't do this.....I can't do this alone!'

"Pregnant!" Buffy shrieked. Dawn rushed into the bathroom, holding a flyswatter and looking very sleepy. "Wha'? Wha's going on?"

Buffy looked up at her. "Pregnant!!!!"

Dawn lowered the fly swatter now that the possibilty of danger was gone. "Yeah? 's great," she yawned and headed out the door. About 15 seconds later, she rushed back in, eyes wide. "Pregnant?!"

"PREGNANT!"

Xander poked his head in, eyes weary from no sleep. "Pregnant?" he slurred. " 's great. Wake me up when the ponies come, mommy." Sensing he was close to sleep again, Dawn smacked him across the face. Reality seemed to hit him with that smack, and he shouted, "PREGNANT?!"

"PREGNANT!!!!!!!!!!"

***************************************************

Laughing, Spike said, "Whelp always was slow on the uptake."

Buffy couldn't help but giggle. "Yeah....after we picked him off of the floor he asked me how it had happened. I was like, "Shouldn't you have had this talk with your parents a while ago?"

Sighing, Spike leaned back into the couch. "Guess I missed some things, didn't I?"

"Yeah.....you missed his first word..." she said softly.

"Really? What was it?"

There was a long silence before she softly replied,

"Dada."

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Chapter 3:

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Spike closed his eyes as a nauseating feeling swept over him. He felt Buffy's small, warm hand come to rest on his forearm, and he lost it.

He launched himself into her arms, and sobbed into her shirt. "I'm sorry....so so sorry...please...god, please....don't hate me...."

She tightened her arms around the sobbing man in her arms. He snuggled into her chest as she made soothing cooing noises. "Shhhhh.....baby....s'all right....s'ok........"

"No," he said, pulling out of her embrace and wiping at his nose. "It's not. If I had told you sooner.....God, I'm such a jerk. If I had....then I would've been here to listen to him say it."

A soft noise disturbed their moment, and they looked towards William's bedroom. Buffy walked towards it, Spike not far behind.

When they opened it, they saw Will standing up in his crib, rocking side to side slightly as he went, "Phfllla!"

Buffy picked him up, and said, "Hey buddy. What's up? You should be sleeping."

William held his arms out to Spike and gurgled, "Dada! Daaaaaaaadaaaaaaaa!"

Closing her eyes to hide the tears, Buffy whispered, "Yeah, baby. That's your dada."

Will stopped his squirming and cocked his head in a manner that resembled his father's. "Mama? Zzzzz Dada? Dada!"

She walked over to Spike and handed him his son. "Hey there," Spike said. "Someone should be sleepin'."

"Dada!"

Taking him out of Spike's arms, she placed Will in his crib again. When she straightened, she said, "That's his favorite word. Says it all the time." Glancing over at him, she told Spike, "That's the first time he's said Mama, though. See? At least you were here for his second word." The last part came out more bitter than she intended. Closing her eyes, she said, "Sorry....so sorry...."

He waved his hand, dismissing the matter. "No, it's alright, luv. Should've been here for you."

They stood in a comfortable silence before Spike asked, "Soooo.......guess I'm crashin' on the couch..."

Looking up at him, she said, "No. You're staying with me. In my bed."

***************

They slept in each other's arms all night, only waking not to the alarm clock....

......but to the sound of Dawn screaming.

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Chapter 4:

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Normally, one wakes up to the soothing sounds of birds chirping, or your alarm clock, or someone yelling "Get up!!! NOW!!"

But you don't normally wake up to a full fledged shriek and then the feeling of being pelted with large candles.

Well, unless you're Spike.

"GAH!" he yelled as the first candle made contact with his head. "What the fu--hell was that for?!"

Another candle hit him in the chest (he had slept nekked!! ;D). "OW! Bloody hell, Bit! Why in the soddin' world are you throwing candles at me?!"

Dawn stood in the doorway, another pillar candle in hand. "Don't come near me!" she shrieked. "I know you're the first!!"

Rolling his eyes, Spike wrapped the sheet around his waist and stood up. "Dawn..." he began but didn't get to finish as she threw the candle at a verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry sensitive place.

"BLOODY HELL!" Spike yelled as he clutched his crotch (haha say that 5 times fast!). "What the fuck is it with you Summers women and throwing candles at me?!"

"DAWN!" Buffy screamed.

"WHAT?!"

"Do you honestly think I would let the First Evil into my bed?! And how did you think that throwing candles at something non-fucking-corporeal would help?!"

Dawn sheepishly lowered her last candle. "Uh....whoops?"

A low moan came from Spike who was still on the floor, rolling around with his hands between his legs. Dawn's eyes widened. "S-So he's really.....really Spike?"

"YES! I'M BLOODY REALLY SPIKE!"

"Oh my god, Spike! I'm so, so sorry!!!! I di----um, I didn't mean to--well, yes, I did, but I-I didn't know it was you..."

Spike stood up, wincing a little, and sighed, "'S all right, nibblet."

A small cry broke through the room. Buffy's eyes widened. "Will..."

Spike and Buffy rushed out of the room, running towards their son's room. Spike got there first, and picked the crying boy up and cradled him in his arms. "Shhhh.......'s alright,.....daddy's here....daddy's gotcha....shh..."

Buffy stood in the doorway, hand covering her mouth and tears glistening in her eyes. Dawn appeared at her side, soft smile in place. "Never thought we'd see this happening, now did we?"

Buffy shook her head, unable to speak.

Will calmed down a bit, and snuggled into his father's bare chest (mmmmm....bare chest of Spike....) and mumbled sleepily, "Dada..."

Spike kissed the soft golden hair of his son and whispered, "Tha's right....Dada's here....."

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TBC....

Chapter 5:

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Buffy and Spike sat on the couch, Will between them, as they watched 'Spongebob Squarepants'. Spike was trying to pretend to be bored, but he couldn't help but laugh at the stupidity of the show.

Will giggled when his father laughed. Buffy smiled at the resemblance between father and son.

Both had the head tilt; both had the same piercing blue eyes, though Will had flecks of green in his; both had defined cheekbones...or however defined cheekbones could be for a 15 month old.

Noticing her quiet speculation, Spike asked, "What?"

Shaking her head, she smiled softly, quietly saying, "Nothing......it's just.......Father like Son, y'know?"

Before Spike could reply, the door to the apartment opened, and Willow walked through the door. Looking into the plastic bag she held, she said, "Kay, Buff. For today's comfort hour, we have.....Rocky Road, Moose Tracks, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Mint Chocolate Chip..." Looking up as she made her way into the kitchen, she said, "Hey Spike."

Buffy and Spike exchanged amused glances as Willow backed into the room, face deathly pale. "B-Buffy? Do you see......?"

"Yeah, Will. I see." Her son glanced up at her at the nickname 'Will'. "Not you, sweetie."

The boy seemed to accept this answer in his year and 3 month year old brain, and turned back to the television.

Spike watched his son, an adoring expression on his face before he felt a sharp pain in his shoulder. "OW! Red, what'd you pinch me for?!"

"Making sure....."

"Great, this is just....great. First, pelted with candles, and now being pinched. Anything else?"

As he said this, Will chose this moment to throw his teething ring at Spike's head. Glancing down at his son, he said, "Thank you, bit." Scooping his son up in his arms, he began to tickle him, until Will was squealing in his arms.

"Alright, boys. That's enough," Buffy said, using her best 'mom' voice.

Willow watched the entire exchange before she cleared her throat and said, "So if he's back....is there still going to be a comfort hour?"

Buffy turned to Spike, who gave her the 'I don't know what the hell you're talking about' look. She shrugged and said, "Eh....we can always just eat the ice cream."

There was an awkward silence for a few seconds that was broken when William screeched, "Iyz skeeem!! Iyz skeem!!"

Their laughter could be heard in the entire apartment.

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Chapter 6:

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Buffy bounced Will on her lap as she fed him tiny spoons of Ben & Jerry's Mint Chocolate Chip. After he had mashed the ice cream up sucessfully with his toothless gums, he gurgled and clapped his hands together.

Spike sat with his spoon in the ice cream, smiling at his son. Buffy glanced up at him, smiled, and whispered something in their son's ear.

William giggled, and smiled at Spike. Holding his arms out, he demanded, "Dada! Up! Up!"

Spike lifted his son up in his arms, and said to him, "Hey, Will. What do you say we go tickle mommy?"

The little boy smiled and giggled at his father, "Mommmmmmmmmmmmmmy! Maaaa!"

Spike hoisted his boy up in his arms, and proceeded to chase Buffy. He stretched his arm out, and poked Buffy in the side.

"Don't," she said, already laughing.

"O-oh," Spike said to Will. "Seems mum's a bit ticklish, doesn't it, Will?"

His only response was a squeal and a high pitched, "Dada!"

Spike planted his son down in his seat in the living room, and chased Buffy around the apartment. As they ran around the couch, Buffy gasped, "You can't catch me!"

Spike stopped, and stood straight for a moment. Buffy stood hunched over for a few seconds, then relaxed and straightened. In her moment of distraction, Spike charged, and tackled her to the floor. Straddling her, his fingers danced over her ribs, hitting all her sensitive spots.

"I give!" she laughed. "I give, all right?!"

Spike held her arms down, and leaned in close. "No," he breathed. "Not all right." He dipped his head down, and captured her lips in a passionate kiss. He released her hands, and she wrapped them around his head, bringing him closer and deepening the kiss. Spike nudged his leg between hers, and trailed kisses down her jaw-line before returning to her mouth.

"Spike," she whispered. "I-I love you....please believe me..."

"Love.....you....too...." he gasped between kisses. Their hands and teeth came into play, and after a few seconds of tugging at each other, a loud gurgle brought them out of their love-induced faze.

They looked up at their son, who was giving them a look that clearly said 'Don't forget me!'

Spike buried his face into Buffy's neck, muffling his laughter. "Guess we got caught," he said, words muffled slightly.

"Yeah," Buffy giggled. "Guess our boy's not a fan of PDA."

Spike raised his head, and cocked an eyebrow at her. "That'll change in 17 years. Trust me." Not giving her a chance to respond, he swooped down for another kiss. As soon as their lips touched, William let out another loud noise.

Spike stood up, and pulled Buffy up with him. Walking over to his son, he picked him up and tickled him. "You are a little demon boy. Won't let mum and da' kiss, will you?" Leaning in, he whispered into Will's ear, "Don't worry. You won't mind in a couple of years."

Will made a disgusted face, and Buffy and Spike laughed.

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