"Giles can't you drive any faster?!" Dawn was getting slightly annoyed with the fact that the rental car that Giles got never went over 30 mph.

"I'm doing the speed limit, Dawn." Giles said.

"Go. Faster." Dawn grumbled.

Giles punched the gas and the car lurched forward. They took the corner to the hospital on what felt like two wheels. He slammed on the brakes just outside the doors and sent he and Dawn flying forward.

"Geez you drive like Anya." Dawn groaned as she climbed out of the car. Giles met her on the other side of the car and they went in together.

Spike had been sitting in the ER waiting room for almost an hour, but it felt like an eternity to him. He'd called the Watcher about 5 minutes ago. For the life, or rather the unlife of him, he couldn't understand why he had waited so long.

Question upon question raced through his mind. 'Buffy's pregnant? But I can't do that. I don't think so anyhow. Oh God Buffy's pregnant. That monster it hit her in the stomach. I'll kill!'

Finally one of the doctors that had taken Buffy before came back out. Spike stood and moved to him. "Is she okay? Can I see her?"

"She'll be fine." The doctor said with a slight smile. "She's still out, but she should be coming out of it soon, if you want to go in and sit with her." He motioned to the doors.

Spike was passed him before he even finished that last sentence. He pushed through the swinging doors and found a short hallway with maybe two of three doors on either side. Spike walked slowly down the corridor looking into windows.

'This place is just depressing.' He thought as he passed a room where a young girl lay in a bed, unconscious, surrounded by family.

Finally he came to the last window on his right. He looked in and saw Buffy's small figure lying in a bed. Spike pushed through the doors and stepped inside.

The room was dimly lit, casting shadows everywhere. Buffy's limp body was lying on the bed in the center of the room. An IV was strung from her left arm to a bag dangling behind her bed. One of those hospital bracelets was hooked on her right wrist.

"Oh God." Spike whispered. He grabbed a chair from the corner of the room and pulled it up beside her bed. He sat in it and took her hand in his. "God Buffy." He whispered again. "I know you're still in there, and I know you can hear me." As he talked to her, he stroked the back of her hand. "Come on, Slayer. Time to wake up. The Watcher'll be here soon with Little Bit. Don't want her to see you like this now do you?" he pleaded. Spike felt her hand tense and he looked up at her face. "Slayer?" Buffy's eyes opened slightly, just enough for Spike to see the emeralds hidden behind them. "There's my girl." He said with a huge smile.

"S-s-spike?" Buffy said. It was loud enough for just him to hear.

"I'm here." Spike said.

"What h-happened?" she asked.

"Demon took you down." Spike explained. He continued to stroke her hand gently as he talked. "Buffy, when were you going to tell me?"

She stopped and looked at him. He hadn't explained what he was talking about, but she knew anyhow. She knew that Spike had found out about her being pregnant. 'Oh God.' She thought, memories flooding back. 'That thing kicked me in the stomach.'

"Buffy?" Spike asked again, noticing her staring into space.

"I'm sorry." She choked out. She tried to hold them back, but tears slowly started to form in the corners of her eyes. "I'm so sorry."

"No pet." Spike stood up and wrapped his arms around her shoulders the best he could. "There's nothing to be sorry for."

"I just don't know how this happened." Buffy sobbed. "I mean you can't- um."

"I know pet." Spike said. He sat back down on the chair and took her hand again.

"The demon." Buffy started. "He kicked me, in the stomach." She ran a hand slowly down to her abdomen.

"We'll get a sonogram later." Spike said.

"Sir," a man appeared in the doorway. "Oh good to see you're awake."

"Can I help you?" Spike asked a little rudely.

"There is an older man and a young girl out here looking for you and the lady."

"Giles," Spike said to Buffy, "and Bit. Show them back, will ya?"

"Sure," was all he said and left the room.

"Spike," Buffy pleaded. "Don't tell Giles or Dawn. I.I want to tell them myself."

"Sure thing pet." Spike assured her.

"Buffy!" Dawn cried as she ran to her sister's bed and threw her arms around her.

"Dawnie." Buffy managed to say as she tried to pry her younger sister off her. "I'm glad to see you too."

"Buffy, how are you feeling? Are you all right?" Giles asked.

"I'm fine." Buffy said, her sister still clinging to her.

"Uh Bit," Spike ventured, "she's gotta breath you know."

Dawn backed off of her sister. "Sorry," she apologized quickly. "Are you sure you're okay? I mean what about the-" Dawn stopped herself again.

"What about the what?" Buffy asked, confused.

"What about the.um.the demon?" Dawn recovered quickly. 'Oh no,' Dawn thought, 'they're gonna know that I know.'

"Spike got it." Buffy explained. "That was after he took me down,"

"What happened?" Giles asked. "Did he have some type of uh, super strength or something?"

"No, he just hit me.here." Buffy rubbed her stomach.

"And why exactly would that cause you to fall?" Giles asked confused. "You've been in numerous fights, Buffy. And I imagine you been hit in the stomach before, but."

"Umm, Giles?" Buffy said wearily. "Dawn? There's something I have to tell you both." She looked up at Spike for reassurance, and she found it in his face. Spike reached over and took her hand.

"Buffy what is going on?" Giles asked.

"I'm.um.I don't really know how to say this." again she looked up at Spike.

He saw the desperation in her eyes. These were the people she loved the most. "We're uh." Spike began, clutching her hand tightly, "we're gonna have a baby." There it was out. Well at least to two of them knew.

Giles stood there for a moment and stared at his Slayer. 'This isn't happening.' He thought. 'This physically can't happen.'

"Oh my gosh, Buffy!" Dawn screamed. "Oh my gosh! I'm gonna be an aunt!" She rushed back over to the bed and once again threw her arms around her older sister. "I love you." Dawn whispered in her ear. Then she ran over to Spike. She almost knocked him flat on his butt. "Oh my gosh Spike this is so awesome!" Dawn threw her arms around him and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Buffy, how." Giles started. He took off his glasses and pulled the handkerchief from his pocket. "How could this happen?"

"I don't know." Buffy admitted. "Spike and I.um."

"Slayer," Spike said untangling himself from Dawn's grasp, "seeing as how he knows you're pregnant, I think he gets that we're sleeping together."

Buffy's cheeks turned a deep crimson.

Dawn had fallen asleep, curled into a ball in a chair in the corner, Spike's duster thrown over her like a blanket.

Spike had stayed up all night talking to Buffy and assuring her that everything was going to be okay. That is until he too fell asleep in his chair.

Although he seemed to be secure and happy on the outside, Spike was a wreck. After the initial shock of the news, Spike had been thrilled. But the more he thought about it, the less sure he became. Every time he tried to think happy, something more horrific came to his attention.

'How did this happen? What happens next? What about.oh God, what if it's half vampire? Can it be half vampire? How is this physically possible?'

But he brushed them all aside and kept a bright face. 'Have to keep strong. Gotta stay for Buffy. Have to be there for her.'

Buffy herself was asleep; her hand still nestled in Spike's. Her nerves had been on end all night, but telling Giles made her feel a little better. It was finally out in the open. It was the next morning before Buffy got her sonogram.

"Good morning everyone." The doctor sang as he came into Buffy's room with the machine. "How are we this morning?" He came over to Buffy and took her wrist, checking her pulse.

"Feeling better." Buffy said in a chipper voice. "Can I go home now?"

"Well that's what we're here to determine." The doc said as he hooked up the machine and searched for the gel.

"Patience luv." Spike said. "Uh, Niblet?"

Dawn was still asleep in the corner. She didn't even twitch when Spike called her.

"Bit?" he called again; still no response. Rolling his eyes, Spike got up from his chair and walked to Dawn's. "Platelet?" he called and shook her shoulders gently.

Dawn's eyes popped open immediately. "Spike? What do you want?"

"Wow," Spike said in fake shock. "Such attitude, even when she wakes up. Just thought you'd want to be awake for this." He pointed behind him at the doc talking to Buffy.

"Oh, right." Dawn said blushing. "I didn't sleep very well. That's why I'm cranky." She lied. Spike helped her off the chair and over to her sis's bed.

The doctor had already explained things to Buffy and was just ready to begin. The machine hummed; the doc rubbed a clear gel over Buffy's abdomen. Buffy shivered slightly.

"Cold?" Dawn asked standing beside the bed.

"Yea," Buffy said. "Morning."

"Morning." Dawn answered.

"Ready?" the doctor asked.

Buffy looked from Spike to Dawn and back again. "We're ready." She said. Spike's handed snaked into Buffy's and he squeezed it gently.

The doc pressed the wand to her stomach and the machine's screen came to life.

Buffy wasn't sure what she was looking at. To her, the screen just looked like one of those old black and white TVs with bad interception. 'Just like the one in Spike's crypt.' She thought.

Spike stared at the machine with a blank expression on his face. "Uh, doc?" Spike questioned. "What exactly are we looking at? 'Cause honestly, I'm not seeing a bloody thing."

"Me either." Dawn admitted. "It kinda just looks like a big blob."

"Yea," Buffy agreed. "But I'm sure the doctor knows what he's looking for. What are you looking for?"

"Well," the doc began to explain, "you can't really see much. You're only about 2 months along. But you see this spot right here?" he pointed to a darker portion of the screen. "This is the heart. And.oh."

"Oh?" Buffy asked, suddenly scared. "What oh?"

"Good oh or bad oh?" Spike asked.

"It's just that..." The doctor said, studying the screen carefully. "This is something I hadn't anticipated."

"What?" Buffy asked again, her attitude had severely changed from excited to scared and worried.

"There's two." he said.

"What?" Spike asked.

"Miss Summers," the doctor said, turning to Buffy and company, "you're going to have twins."

Giles had spent the rest of the night in the Magic Box researching. There were dozens upon dozens of books spread across the table, open to various pages. But he could find nothing. There was nothing in any of these books that explained why, or rather how, a vampire could impregnate a Slayer. Giles had checked every book he could think of. The only other option was to contact the Council.

'Oh yes that would go over smashingly,' he thought. 'Ah Giles, what brings you to ask us?' 'Well I would just like to know how exactly a vampire could get my Slayer pregnant. That'd be bloody spectacular.'

After another short period of research, Giles decided to take a break. He went into the backroom and made himself a pot of tea. It wasn't until he looked at the clock on the coffee pot that he realized what time it really was.

'7:52!' he thought, surprised. 'I should phone the others and tell them.'

He made his way back out to the main store and picked up the phone behind the counter. He quickly dialed Willow and Tara's number and listened for several seconds while it rang.

Willow was busy studying for a huge psych test she had next week when the phone rang.

"You gonna get that?" Tara called from the bathroom.

Willow heard the shower turn on, and figured that Tara wasn't going to get it. "Yea I got it." She pulled herself off of the bed and over to the phone. "Hello?" Willow asked.

"Willow? It's Giles."

"Giles, hey. What's up?"

"It's Buffy." Giles said simply.

"What's wrong?" Willow asked, her voice suddenly concerned.

"She's fine, but she's been taken to the hospital."

"What?!"

"It's nothing serious." Giles assured her. "Could you meet us there in half an hour?"

"University Hospital?"

"Yes. I'm going to call Xander now."

"We'll be there." Willow said and hung up.

Giles put the phone down and picked it right back up. He thought for a moment then punched in Xander's number.

"Anya, would you stop vacuuming?" Xander asked annoyed. "The carpet is only getting so clean."

"I must vacuum though." Anya argued. "It's my American responsibility to keep a clean home and to give you many children."

"Remind me to hide every book that was published before 1980." Xander laughed. Then the phone rang.

"I'll get it." Anya jumped and ran towards the phone. "Harris residence, Anya speaking." She said into the phone. Xander just groaned and rolled his eyes. "Oh," Anya said in disappointment, "Xander, it's Giles." She tossed him the phone and went back to her cleaning.

"Hey G-Man." Xander greeted Giles.

"Xander I told you never to call me that." Giles warned.

"Sorry, momentary memory lapse. What's happening?"

"It's Buffy. She's been taken to University Hospital." He explained.

"Oh my God, is she okay? What happened?" Xander's questions came a mile a minute.

"She's fine, Xander." Giles said, trying to calm him down some. "We're all meeting over there in a half hour, can you be there?"

"Of course," Xander said. "I'm grabbing the keys right now."

"Good, I'll see you there."

Xander hung up. "Anya!" he called until his girlfriend appeared in the doorway of the bedroom. "We gotta go, Buffy's been taken to the hospital."

"Do we have to?" Anya asked; Xander stared at her like she had grown a second head.

"What do you mean? Of course we do! It's Buffy!"

"But, it's just that, hospitals are so depressing." Anya whined. "All those sickly people, they make me feel depressed."

"Are you coming or not?" Xander asked angrily.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming." Anya said. She snatched her purse off the kitchen table and followed Xander out the door.

Giles hung up the phone and let out a loud sigh. 'Well here we go.' He thought. 'I better get over there before everyone else does.' He left the books sitting where they were, and left the shop. He locked the door behind him and jumped behind the wheel of his red convertible.

"What?" Buffy asked. Her body had almost gone into shock when the doctor told her she was having twins. 'I heard him wrong.' She thought. 'I had to hear him wrong. Twins?!'

"You sure doc?" Spike asked, his eyes wider than golf balls.

"Yes." The doctor replied. "Here," he pointed to the screen, "here is one and here's the other."

Buffy watched the screen absently. She had no idea what she was looking at. Every thought of assurance she had had suddenly vacated her mind. The thought of one baby had been easy, well as easy as raising children could get. But two? At the same time! This was going to be harder than Buffy or Spike or even Dawn had ever thought.

"Miss Summers?" the doctor asked.

"Huh?" Buffy was suddenly snapped back to reality.

"I think I'll just let you all a moment to ponder this all." He said. "As soon as the office gets your release forms cleared you'll be free to go. And I tell you, Miss Summers you should be visiting a doctor every month from now on. Gotta keep them little guys safe." He smiled at the crew and earned a smile back from Dawn, but no one else. The doctor wheeled to machine back out of the room and was gone.

The room was cast into silence. Nobody really knew what they should say next.

"So what now?" Dawn asked, breaking the awkward silence.

"I don't know." Buffy admitted. "We need to call Giles."

"I'll do it." Spike said. "Should I call the Magic Box or his flat?"

"Try the Magic Box first and if he doesn't answer there call his place." Buffy answered. "And Spike?" she called before he could leave the room. "Thanks. For everything."

"My pleasure." He flashed her a smile and left the room.

Again there was a strange silence in the room as just the sisters were left alone.

Once again Dawn was the one to break with silence with, "Look Buffy. I know this isn't what you planned on but this can still be a good thing." Upon the look from Buffy, Dawn continued. "Well you always say that you wish that I had someone to put me through all the things that I put you through. And.well.these kids, they're gonna be good for you.for us. When Spike took care of me, the summer that.the summer that you were gone." Both Buffy and Dawn cringed at the memory of the summer that Buffy had been dead. "He was.it was almost like mom was back. I know he'll be a great father. And you. Buffy you've been a mom for a while. You've been a wonderful mom to me, and these kids are lucky to have you."

Buffy lay in her bed and looked up at Dawn. The girl she had always thought of as her annoying little sister, she now saw as a beautiful young woman. Dawn had just showed Buffy an enormous amount of maturity and love. Buffy couldn't believe that this was all happening, but knowing that she would always have Dawn's support made things a little easier.

"Dawnie." Buffy whispered. She waved her sister over to the bed and wrapped her arms tightly around her. Dawn hugged her sister back tightly.

"Buffy?" Giles asked as he entered the room. The sisters broke their embrace and looked to the doorway.

"Giles, Spike just went to call you." Buffy said.

"Must have just missed him." He said. "Uh Buffy, Tara, Willow, Xander, and Anya are on their way over here."

"What? Giles, I don't.I don't want to tell them. Not yet." Buffy said.

"Well I didn't say anything," Giles assured her. "But I figured that if they found out without one of us telling them, it would be a worse situation."

"Good thinking." Buffy said.

"Buffy I could reach the Watcher." Spike said as he came into the room. "Oh, well that was a bloody waste of time."

"Hello to you too Spike." Giles smirked.

"Ugh, Giles?" Buffy said with a shaky voice. "There's a little bit more news you need to hear."

"What?" Giles asked, preparing himself for the worst while praying for the best. "Is the b-baby okay?" He could hardly bring himself to say the word. It still hadn't fully hit Giles that Buffy was pregnant. And with Spike's child non the less.

"The baby is fine." Buffy said placing a hand gently on her stomach. "It's just that.well.this is bigger than we realized."

"Buffy, what are you talking about?" Giles questioned her, his face twisted with uncertainty.

"Well.umm."Buffy stumbled. 'Why is this so hard?' she thought bitterly. 'I've already told him I'm pregnant what's the big deal?'

"She's talking about twins." Spike finished before Buffy had a chance to speak again.

"Thanks Spike." Buffy said with fake enthusiasm.

"What?" Giles asked again.

"It's true, Giles." Buffy confirmed. "The doctor gave me a sonogram this morning and he said there were twins."

"Twins like.two babies.not just one." Dawn offered.

"Thanks I got that Dawn." Giles said. "Well no matter what Buffy, we'll get through this."

"Yes, we will." Buffy said looking at Dawn.

Tara and Willow were the first to arrive at the hospital. The fact that they lived only 15 minutes away was a great factor; also because they both ran the whole way there.

"Where is she?" Willow asked as she came to the front desk.

"Where is who, ma'am?" the receptionist asked, confused.

"A patient here." Tara explained, much calmer than Willow. "Buffy Summers?"

The young woman looked at a computer screen in front of her. She punched a few keys then turned back to Tara and Willow. "Room 244. Take the elevator to the second floor and get off. Down the hallway to the left, it's the last room on your right."

"Thanks." Willow muttered as she and Tara took off down the hall.

"Willow?" Tara ventured once they were in the elevator. "Why are we running? I mean Giles s-said that Buffy was fine."

"I know what he said." Willow said. "But Buffy's never been hurt bad enough to be in the hospital."

"I thought she was in the hospital once before though?"

"Well yeah." Willow corrected herself. "But she was sick with the flu and the only reason she stayed was because her made her."

The doors opened before and both witches exited the elevator. They turned left and walked down the hallway to the last door on their right, just as the receptionist had instructed.

"Buffy?" Willow called and knocked on the door before entering.

"Yea." Buffy called back.

Both Tara and Willow went in the room. "How are you?" Willow asked her best friend.

"I'm fine. Except that I almost killed Giles for calling you guys." Buffy shot a look at Giles, who was stationed in the back of the room next to Dawn.

"No." Willow said. "I'm glad he called us." She moved beside Buffy's bed leaving Tara at the foot. "Buffy, if you were seriously hurt."

"I wasn't." she interrupted Willow. "This demon thing, it just hit me hard. And I haven't been feeling all that great lately. I guess he just took me down."

"The doctor said everyone was fine." Dawn blurted.

"Everyone?" Tara asked confused.

Dawn looked at Giles with wide eyes, pleading for help. "Everyone meaning Buffy and Spike. He's the one that brought her in." Giles lied.

"Yeah." Dawn chimed in, trying desperately to cover up her mistake.

"Well we're just glad you're okay." Willow said, her eyes focusing on Buffy. They were deep with concern and sympathy.

"I told you I'm fine." Buffy said. She studied Willow's face to make sure she was believing her.

"W-what happened?" Tara asked.

"Spike and I were on patrol," Buffy began explaining.

"Spike?" Willow asked.

"He found the demon." Buffy supplied; Tara nodded in acknowledgement. "Anyway," she continued, "we got into a major fight and I guess the thing just took me down."

"Well how'd you make it to the hospital?" Tara asked.

"Spike brought me in." Buffy said. "Actually I think he's still around here somewhere."

"I'll go find him." Dawn volunteered. She weaved through the people assembled in the room and out into the hall. As Dawn was leaving, Xander and Anya made it to the room.

"Oh man Buffy, are you okay?" Xander asked, rushing to the side of the bed opposite Willow.

"I wish people would stop asking me that." Buffy sighed. "I'm fine, I should be getting out of here any minute."

"What happened?" Xander asked. Buffy rolled her eyes and dramatically dropped her head back on the pillow.

"Demon, fight, Spike, hospital, ready to go home." Willow said, quickly bringing both Xander and Anya up to speed.

"Spike?" Anya asked, curious. "How does Spike fit into the mix?"

"He's the one that brought her here." Tara added.

"Oh," Xander sighed. "Well where's Deadboy Jr. now?"

"Xander." Dawn warned as she came trotting back in the hospital room, Spike in tow.

"Yeah, whelp." Spike snapped. "I don't much like that name."

"Spike." Buffy whispered with a broad smile across her face.

"What's the what luv?" Spike asked, moving beside Xander. "How ya feeling?"

"I'm fine!" she shouted, earning looks from everyone else in the room.

"Well I met the doc in the hallway," Spike said. Buffy's face immediately lit up. "He said you're good to go anytime."

"Finally." She sighed in exasperation. Buffy swung her legs over the side of the bed to reveal a fully clothed Buffy.

"When did you dress?" Giles asked removing his glasses and cleaning them.

"Well I figured as soon I got word I could leave I would want to be out of here, so when you went back to the Magic Box and Spike and Dawn went for food I got dressed." She explained as she leaned over and slid on her boots, zipping them up the side. "Okay," Buffy said as she stood up, "let's go."

The people that left the hospital room was more than anyone ever thought you could fit in. Buffy walked down the hall to the nurses' station and practically signed her life away, but at last she was free.

"So what are we thinking?" Willow addressed the group as Buffy filled out yet another form. "We reconvening at the Magic Box?"

"We could always head to the Bronze tonight." Xander suggested.

"I like the Bronze." Anya said evenly. "They have loud music, sticky floors, and cheap drinks. It's the ideal place for America's youth to spend their lives."

"Yes," Giles said taking charge of the group, "well it's up to Buffy."

"Why don't we just crash at the house?" Buffy said handing a clipboard and pen back to the receptionist.

"Alright." Dawn said, quickly becoming excited. "We can have a party. A Buffy's Coming Home party."

"Niblet," Spike said wrapping his arm around her shoulders, "she was only gone for a night. Not really celebration worthy."

Dawn looked up at Spike with wide eyes. Spike knew what she wanted to celebrate, but since there were only four people that knew about it thus far, it wouldn't be much of a celebration.

"Here you go Miss Summers," the receptionist said, breaking the conversation. She handed Buffy a small pack of papers she was to give to her insurance company. "Give these to the lady at the front desk on your way out and she can send them to your insurance for you."

"Thanks," Buffy said flashing the young woman a warm smile.

"You're free to go," she said. "I hope you and the twins are very happy and stay healthy."

Everyone froze. Buffy looked up at Spike, Dawn, and Giles, a frightened look across her face. She looked as she had just seen a ghost, only a ghost really wouldn't have scared her that much. Dawn's eyes were huge; like a cartoon characters. Spike looked like he was ready to split. Giles, of course, was cleaning his glasses.

However, Xander, Willow, Tara, and Anya were staring at Buffy with blank experiences. None of them knew exactly what the hell was going on.

"Buff?" Xander ventured, finally breaking the incredibly awkward silence. But Buffy didn't answer.

"Buffy?" Willow asked.

The nauseous feeling in Buffy's stomach had returned. She felt the need to run into the bathroom and never come out again. Everything was coming out into the open and it was not when or where Buffy had planned.

"Well this is awkward." Anya said. Xander looked at her and she gave him her 'what did I say?' face.

"Perhaps we should discuss this in a more, uh, private place?" Giles suggested, momentarily freeing Buffy.

"Back at the house." Buffy said weakly. And without another word, she turned and walked away.

The sun was low in the California sky, painting it with a pallet of oranges, reds, and yellows. A few seagulls had flown in from the coast and were currently perched on the roof of the Sun Cinema. All of their eyes moved with Buffy as she passed them.

She'd been walking aimlessly around Sunnydale for almost half an hour. Not being able to bare going home, she visited every street.

'This isn't happening.' She thought, her body shook with fear and cold. 'It just can't happen this way. None of them will understand. I just can't deal with this right now.'

A convertible full of screaming teenagers sped past Buffy, sending a slight breeze her way. She let the wind whip her hair around, not caring anymore. All she knew was that she couldn't go home, not yet. Buffy turned down yet another darkened alley looking for anything, dead or undead, to take her mind off of the situation that awaited her at home.

"Where is she?" Willow asked, pacing back and forth across the living room.

"Honey I'm sure she'll be here any minute." Tara comforted her anxious girlfriend. "She's probably just trying to.uh."

"Spike went to find her." Dawn explained. "If anyone can get her to come back, it's Spike."

Xander looked at Dawn for a moment, noticing the way she seemed to be glowing with happiness. "Dawnster? What's up?"

"What?" Dawn jumped. "N-nothing." Dawn looked around the room and noticed that everyone was staring at her; Tara and Willow, Xander and Anya, even Giles was watching her. "What?" she asked again.

"There's nothing to discuss." Giles said rising from the couch and strolling over to the front door.

"The receptionist said." Xander started but couldn't bring himself to finish.

The awkward silence demon chose then to make its presence known. Everyone stared at each other not knowing what to say, or what to do for that matter. The tension in the room was so thick that you could wade through it.

"She'll be here." Dawn said, more to herself than anyone else. "She'll come back." But in the back of her mind, Dawn had a feeling that Buffy might not be coming back. 'This is the perfect time for her and Spike to run off. They've got kids on the way, and don't need to be in a town filled with demons and sacred duties and younger siblings.' Tears threatened to spill from her eyes, but Dawn choked them back, putting forth her strong face for the Scoobies to see. She couldn't let them know that she had any doubt within her.

Spike had been out looking for almost an hour and still no sign of Buffy. He never thought of Sunnydale as a big town until he had to find one person in the endless alleyways, cemeteries, crypts, and regular supernatural haunts. It was like finding a needle in a haystack, only that would have been much simpler.

'She's ashamed.' Spike concluded as he search an alley that he was sure he had already been down. 'She's ashamed of our relationship and now she wants to hide it. Now that her mates know about her.our,' he mentally corrected himself, 'children, she's going to run and hide. Probably do something stupid and foolish.' Although he tried to suppress the feelings, Spike was becoming gradually angry at Buffy instead of worried about her. Deep down he knew that it was all just nerves but he couldn't ignore that little nagging voice in the back of his head.

'She doesn't love you. She was just using you for a good lay.' The little voice sang. Spike couldn't help but notice that the voice sounded an awful lot like Drusilla.

"She does love me." Spike said out loud. It wasn't that he was talking to anyone in particular, although a few people passing by did throw glances his way, but he needed to hear it said aloud for the reassurance on his own behalf.

'Has she ever said it?' the voice chimed in.

Spike stopped in mid step. It hit him like a ton of brick and hurt just as bad. Buffy had never admitted that she loved him. He had said it time and time again, but she had never returned the gesture. In all their time together, all the lovemaking, never once had she said it.

"Bloody hell," Spike muttered beneath his breath. "Chit's got me worked into a soddin' ponce and she doesn't even love me?"

'I told you.' The voice mocked him, laughing. Spike could almost see Dru standing in front of him laughing at him and the pathetic excuse for a demon that he had become.

Spike's spirits sunk. Everything seemed to be falling down around him. Suddenly he didn't care anymore; didn't care whether he found Buffy or not.

'She doesn't love you, so why are you chasing after her like a little lost puppy without a master. She's controlling you.' The voice squeaked, suddenly sounding very powerful; like the commanding officer of an army.

"No she doesn't." Spike said aloud. He had every intention of turning around, gathering his things and leaving town when he heard it-a baby laughing.

The sound made Spike's heart melt. He looked out the mouth of the alley to see a young couple walking down the street, the woman pushing a stroller. Spike jogged to the end of the alley and looked in the direction that the couple had disappeared.

There they were, standing in front of the Espresso Pump. The woman had picked up the baby and was holding her over her shoulder. The little girl had the biggest green eyes Spike had ever seen and a three-toothed smile to match.

If Spike's heart had been beating it would have stopped at the sight. Suddenly everything became clear. He was going to find Buffy, take her home, and be with her throughout thick and thin even if she didn't want him there.

'You're making a huge mistake.' The voice urged him. 'She'll never accept you, and what will it do to the children? Think about it!'

"Oh shut up!" Spike yelled, earning a glance from the couple and a few teenage girls passing by. The girls giggled and flashed Spike their best smiles. He took off at a dead sprint down the all but deserted street. He was going to find her whether she wanted to be found or not.

Buffy had been walking around Sunnydale for nearly an hour and half, not getting past the city limits. She knew her life would probably be a lot easier if she could just bring herself to leave town, but she couldn't. Buffy knew the minute she stepped passed that 'Welcome to Sunnydale' sign; her mind would race with questions. Are her friends all right? Where could she go? What about Spike?

Turning down a side road she found herself back on Main Street. Buffy watched as Spike went running in the opposite direction that she had come.

'He's out looking for me.' She thought proudly. 'He really does care.' Without hesitation, or even another thought as to why, Buffy took off after Spike.

'What am I doing?' she thought as she rounded the corner. She could see him a block ahead of her, leather duster flying behind him. Buffy couldn't run any farther. She suddenly found herself feeling nauseous. "Spike" she screamed, hoping to catch his attention. It worked.

Spike stopped immediately. He turned around to see Buffy leaning against a building, panting. "Finally," he sighed reaching to her. "Where have you been? We've been worried sick."

"We?" Buffy asked weakly.

"Bit, the Watcher, the Wiccas, the Whelp, heck even Demon Girl was scared." Spike chuckled at the thought of Anya pacing the living room, a worried expression plastered to her face.

"I couldn't." Buffy started, but couldn't find the right words. "I just couldn't go through with this."

"Slayer," Spike started in his sympathetic voice.

"No, you don't get it." Buffy yelled, tears swelling behind her eyes. "I can't go back there Spike."

"Pet, you have to-" Spike attempted to console but Buffy pushed him away.

"No." she said strongly. "If I go back there.I'll have to face them all; all their glaring and whispering. I just can't do this."

"What do you want to do?" Spike asked her, trying to remain calm.

"Can't we just run away? To some place without slaying and without night. Where it's just a nice sunny place without responsibilities and sacred duty and the whole lot?"

"Well, if there's no night, I wouldn't last long." Spike said with a grin. Buffy couldn't help but smile. "See I knew I could at least get a grin outta ya." Spike wrapped his arms around Buffy's waist and pulled her into him. Surprisingly she didn't push back. Instead, Buffy laid her head on his shoulder and concentrated on the feeling of Spike's hand gently stroking her back. "We can't get around this on Buffy." Spike explained. "You're going to have to go home eventually. And I'll be right there by your side."

Buffy raised her head and looked up at him. "Promise?" she asked after a long pause of just looking into his eyes.

"Cross my heart, hope to die." Spike teased.

Buffy giggled and swatted his chest playfully. "You're already dead, Fang breath."

"Yeah, well," Spike laughed, "it's the thought that counts, right?"

"Yeah." Buffy said softly, laying her head back on Spike's shoulder. They stood like that for a long time; The Slayer and The Slayer of Slayers. They just held each other.

"Giles is probably worried sick." Buffy finally said after what seemed like an eternity of silence.

"No more than Bit is." Spike said pulling away from her and looking down at her face. "Shall we get you home?"

Buffy sighed, she really didn't want to face the firing squad yet, but she knew it was now or never. "We shall."

With his arm still around Buffy's waist, and her head on his shoulder, they turned and walked in the direction of Revello Drive.

Dawn was the first to greet Buffy and Spike as they came in the Summers' home.

"Buffy." Dawn cried, throwing herself at her older sister. "God, I was so scared. Please don't ever do that again."

"I'm sorry, Dawnie." Buffy apologized, hugging her sister tightly, "I just needed some time."

"I know." Dawn said. "I get that, and I tried to hold the fort down, but they're getting rowdy in there."

Buffy looked into the living room to see all her friends staring at her intently. She felt like turning around and running back out into the night and never coming back. Running somewhere--preferably some place that wasn't a Hellmouth; a place where demons and vampires existed only in books.

Spike saw the look in her eyes. "No, no more running. It's now or never pet." He said taking Buffy's arm and hauling her into the living room.

"How about never? Never sounds good to me." Buffy whispered just low enough for Spike to pick up. He grinned slightly, but kept dragging her forward.

"Buffy are you alright?" Giles asked, a fatherly tone to his voice.

"I'm fine." Buffy lied. Her stomach was doing enough flip-flops to qualify for the Olympic gymnastics team. With a final nod from Spike, Buffy sat herself down in the middle of the couch, forcing Giles to stand next to Dawn in her chair.

Spike looked from Buffy to Dawn, back to Buffy and then to Giles. Satisfied that the people that knew their secret were ready, he sat down next to Buffy and took her hand in his, discretely.

Buffy felt his larger, cold hand grasping her and it sent a chill up her spine. Never before had it hit her just how cold his touch really was. It reminded Buffy of ice or a wiping wind full of snow. But there was certain warmth behind it, maybe because of everything she had told him and he had told her, or maybe because of everything he had given her in the past, but whatever it was the feeling caused Buffy to relax momentarily.

"Buff what's going on?" Xander asked, gesturing to their adjoined hands. "What's up with you and Captain Peroxide?"

"Xander," Willow warned her best friend. "Buffy is something happening?"

Buffy looked at Willow; she sat on one of the chair adjacent to the couch, girlfriend perched loyally on the chair's arm. Her eyes searched Willow's looking for the girl she knew once upon a time, the Willow that understood everything and was always there to help in any way possible.

"I'm.I'm." Buffy stumbled. 'I can't do this.' She thought hopelessly, 'I'm choking.' Spike gave her hand a gentle squeeze as if to remind her that he was still there, that he wouldn't leave her like the others had. Buffy took a deep breath and gathered her courage, 'you can do this Summers. You're the Slayer for Christ's sake!' With one final look around the room, Buffy finally just blurted, "I'm pregnant."

Then came the silence. Anyone who thinks that silence is peaceful, an escape, clearly wasn't in that room. Suddenly Buffy found her shoes to be incredibly interesting. She avoided looking at anyone except Spike. She peered into those deep sapphire eyes and what she saw there changed her forever. His eyes literally screamed with love, trust, and compassion. It seemed weird to her, but at that moment Buffy knew that Spike was going to be a great father.

"What?" Xander asked tearing Buffy from her happy thoughts. "Buffy how did.how?"

"Well you see when two people sleep together, the egg and the sperm join together and form a baby and then." Anya explained before she was cut off.

"That's not what he meant." Willow said in an even voice. With a steady gaze, she looked over to her best friend. "Who?" she asked after a long moment. Willow already knew the answer, she had seen Buffy sneaking out to meet Spike numerous times, and even saw them making out under the tree in the front yard, she was still permanently scared after walking in on them in the training room of the Magic Box. Luckily that hadn't seen her, but she would be in therapy for the next thirty years. She had never told anyone, and no one ever found out she knew. For some reason though, she wanted Buffy to admit it, to herself and to everyone else.

Buffy swallowed the lump in her throat, 'This is the clincher,' she thought to herself. Gathering every last nerve she had, Buffy looked directly at Xander and said, "Spike."

You would have thought that Buffy had just told Xander he was the father. His eyes grew about three times their normal size, and his face went a ghostly white.

"But how can.I mean Spike can't.um.can you?" Willow stammered trying desperately to understand this.

"We're not sure." Buffy explained.

"But you've been sleeping t-together?" Tara asked hiding her face behind the curtain of hair she so frequently sought shelter beneath.

Buffy looked at Spike, he squeezed her hand tightly, giving her a boost of nerve. "Y-yes."

"Well that's pretty obvious." Anya blurted earning confused looks from everyone, excluding Xander who was too busy staring at the floor. "It's just that every time you came into the Magic Box after one of your little 'adventures'," she used sarcastic quote marks making Dawn snicker, "you always looked so flushed. It was clear that you were suffering from post- orgasmic-flush. Your face was always so red."

The silence. It was back. But this time it was not because everyone was in the dark, because now they all knew. No, this silence was meant for contemplation, to take everything that had just been given to them and arrange it in a sensible way. It was like a jigsaw puzzle that needed to be put together.

Buffy glanced at each of her friends in turn, gnawing on her bottom lip. She knew in general that most of them wouldn't say anything and eventually accept it. But there was one person that Buffy was worried about and that person was Xander. Everyone knew he was going to flip, and tried to mentally prepare themselves for the volcanic eruption.

Tara decided not to wait for Xander's reaction. She picked herself up off the arm of the chair and walked to Buffy, throwing her arms around the girl. "Congratulations Buffy." She whispered in her ear and gave her a quick kiss on the forehead.

Buffy rose to her feet and wrapped her arms around Tara, thankful that the waiting was over. She had almost worn a hole through her lip. "Thank you." Buffy said just above a whisper. Willow joined them in an embrace, quickly adding Dawn and Anya.

Giles shook Spike's hand like a father congratulating his new son-in-law. Though he would never admit it, Giles had come to rather enjoy Spike's company. But under his breath he threatened, "Hurt her and I'll stake you myself." Spike should have been scared, but seeing the look in the Watcher's eyes, made Spike understand where he was coming from. Buffy made everyone around her seem to want to protect her.

Dawn, Tara, and Willow backed away from Buffy, giving her some room to breathe. Everyone turned to look at Xander when a quiet laugh began. It grew louder and louder until it transformed into hysterical laughter.

"I'm sorry," Xander apologized between fits, "it's just that it's so funny. I mean clearly Buffy's playing a joke on us. Right Buff?" Everyone looked at Xander like he had grown another head.

"Xander."

"Oh God," he sighed, the reality hitting him at full force. "It just can't be.you.you slept with Spike?"

"Hey." Spike defended himself.

"Oh no," Xander warned him, "You don't get to defend yourself. You knock up my friend and think you can just waltz in here expecting me to be okay with this?!"

"Xander!" Buffy yelled. Spike moved to her side and took her hand in his.

"You know what Whelp?" he said in an extremely pissed off tone. "Notice she's not pulling away from me. Must mean she's not entirely disgusted with me. So you've got problems you need to just deal with them!"

"This isn't happening." Xander said, trying to convince himself more than anything else. He got up off the chair he was sitting on and stormed to the door.

"Xander where are you going?" Anya asked.

"Anywhere but here." He said and stomped out the door, slamming it behind him.

Although Buffy had anticipated that Xander was going to freak, she still felt herself being torn apart. He was her best friend, and his opinion was important. She knew she shouldn't care so much; it wasn't like she could forget about the problem and go on with her life. There were only seven months before her little problem became a real life miracle.

"Buffy." Spike ventured noticing a small tear appear in Buffy's eye.

"No, I'm fine." She said jerking her hand away from his and swiftly wiped the stray drop away. "It's just.I need to be alone right now." Feeling the tears welling up, Buffy pushed through her friends and made her way through the kitchen and out to the back porch.

"Should someone.go with her?" Willow asked shyly.

"No, I think she needs some time." Giles said, removing his glasses and cleaning them thoroughly with a handkerchief from his pocket. "I think it best if we all just came back tomorrow."

"Agreed." Tara said staring off towards the kitchen. "Just give her some space, I'm sure she'll come around."

"Let's hope so." Willow whispered.

Dawn silently crept down the steps, avoiding those that squeaked when stepped on. As she hit the bottom, Dawn peered into the living room, making sure she hadn't woken anyone up. Sure enough he was still asleep.

Spike had decided to crash on the Summers' couch for the night when everyone else went home. Said he wanted to be there in case Buffy needed him. But Dawn knew that he couldn't bring himself to leave her.

Stepping passed the doorway and crossing to the kitchen Dawn thought she was out of trouble. She strode gracefully to the back door without a care.

"Don't even think about it Niblet." Spike said shutting the refrigerator door.

"Spike!" Dawn cried jumping back from the door. "Geez, what are you doing here?"

"Well I was sleeping, but my soddin stomach wouldn't stop growling. Where's your sis keep the blood around here?"

"It's in the back behind the kool-aid." Dawn said turning around and grabbing the doorknob again.

"I believe I said no Bit." Spike said, not looking up from the fridge.

"But she's been out there all night." Dawn whined. "Someone should check on her."

"She wants space." Spike explained pulling out a pint of blood. He bit into the package and downed it in one gulp. "We should just let her go."

"But." Dawn started.

"No buts pet." Spike threw the packing away and came over to Dawn. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders like an older brother would, and led her into the living room. Spike sat her down on the couch and took a seat on the coffee table opposite her. "Listen, for some strange reason big sis needs to have the Whelp's okay. And she's not going to be happy until she has that. I personally couldn't care whether Xander is okay or not. S'not like he can change it."

"Would you change it? If you could?" Dawn asked sheepishly, bowing her head and dropping her eyes to the floor, afraid to know the answer.

"Little Bit." Spike moved from the coffee table and took a seat next to Dawn. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. "I love your sis. And she knows that, somewhere deep down, she knows it. And I'll be damned if I let Xander come between that. These kids.our kids.they're going to be good for me, for all of us." Dawn nodded silently in agreement laying her head on Spike's shoulder. "Sure it's gonna be tough, but you know.we're living on a bloody Hellmouth, what part of life isn't tough? But we're gonna get through this."

Dawn felt herself drifting off to sleep as Spike talked. She knew he was trying to calm his own nerves as well as hers. Dawn shut her eyes and concentrated on the even flow of Spike's voice, never raising nor falling, always a steady tempo.

'I could listen to him talk all night.' Was her last coherent thought before sleep engulfed her and thrust her into the land of dreams.

"Night Niblet." Spike whispered when he felt her heart rate slow and muscles relax. He gently picked her up and took her upstairs to her, kissing her temple as he laid her in her own bed and covered her. Spike shut the door as quietly as possible and leaned against the wall just outside her room. "Now off to deal with big sis."

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