Part 16:

"Got a surprise for you luv." Spike sang as he let himself into the house that he and Buffy now shared. He threw his duster over the banister and strode into the living room. "Slayer?" he called, not finding her in the living room. He checked the kitchen, dining room, her room, and Bit's room, but still no Buffy. "Slayer!" Spike yelled, panic starting to rise within him, "Bit!" He hadn't seen either of them all day; some nonsense about a soddin' 'Sisterly Bonding Day'. Jogging from room to room, the vampire was starting to become frantic. He was checking the kitchen for the third time before he saw the small piece of paper attached to the fridge with a magnet. Spike snatched the paper and quickly read the note:

Spike, Dawn and I came home but you weren't back yet, so we decided to head to a movie around 3. Should be back around 9 or so. You can stop freaking out now. We're both fine. Have fun, Buffy & Dawn

Spike released an overdramatic sigh of relief. He crumbled the paper and threw it into the trash. 'Bloody heart almost stopped,' He complained to himself, 'not that it was beating to begin with. And what kind of movie are they seeing that's 6 bloody hours long?!' Spike pulled a fresh bag of blood from the refrigerator, poured the contents into a clean mug, and popped it into the microwave. He set the timer and waited patiently for it to beep. Spike grabbed the warm mug and made his way to the living room. Passions was on in 10 minutes and he'd be damned if he missed it.

Throwing himself down on the sofa, Spike picked up the remote and began surfing through channels; commercial, commercial, cartoons, commercial, and finally Passions. Spike sipped his blood, grimacing slightly at the taste. He despised pig's blood, but since the Initiative put that handy little chip in his brain, he couldn't have real human blood. So it was pig's blood for him now.

Again, there were more commercials gracing the TV screen. Spike watched in humor as a dozen or so cats, galloped through a small town, advertising cat food. Then the screen went black and another commercial came on. But this one wasn't humorous; it was a commercial for a store that had just opened in town, a party store.

'What will they come up with next?' Spike thought to himself as he watched the images flash by. Kids at a birthday party, swinging at a colorful piñata, people gathered for a wedding shower, the bride and groom in the center, and a pregnant, very pregnant woman in the middle of a group of friends opening gifts.

He'd never thought of that. Spike hadn't even thrown Buffy a baby shower. It was a tradition; at least among humans it was, to throw a party for a mother-to-be. 'I should do this.' Spike thought, light bulb appearing in his mind. 'I will. I'll throw a surprise baby shower for Buffy.' He glanced at the clock hanging just above the fireplace, 4:46. 'Four hours to throw a party?' the voice in Spike's head asked in disbelief, 'You can't do it.'

"The hell I can't!" Spike shouted aloud. He jumped off the couch and set to work.

"This is pointless." Willow complained. "It has no points, it's round!"

"Calm down, honey." Tara smiled sweetly at her girlfriend.

"I don't want to calm down." Willow laughed, "I've had four iced mochas from the Espresso Pump, I can't calm down, I'm on a sugar rush!"

Both Tara and Willow burst into synchronized fits of hysteria. They collapsed on the bed they shared, each clutching their stomachs. The laughter continued for nearly 10 minutes before it died, leaving the Wiccas lying on the bed, smiling brightly. Both were content to just lay there for the rest of their lives, but the phone rang, forcing Willow to get up. She grumbled and groaned as she made her way across the room to the nightstand where the phone sat. She picked up the receiver and tried to sound as pleasant as possible.

"Hello?"

"Red?" the voice on the other side asked.

"Spike?" Willow asked eyes widening. "Spike since when do you call me?" Tara climbed off the bed and joined the girl at the mention of Spike's name.

"Well I'm not going to make a habit of it, trust me, but I need to ask you a favor." Spike bit his bottom lip as he spoke. He hated admitting he needed help, and hated it even more to ask any one of the Scoobies, but he was desperate.

"Sure," Willow answered, "what'd you need?"

"I was thinking, um, well, do you think Buffy would like a baby shower?"

Willow was taken aback. She and Tara had been talking about just that lately, they had decided to throw her a surprise party next week. "Y- yeah." She stumbled, "She'd love it. Actually Tara and I were planning a little party next week."

"What do you think about a little party tonight?" Spike asked, desperately hoping she would agree.

"Tonight?" Willow asked.

"Tonight?" Tara echoed.

"Tonight." Spike confirmed. The tone of their voices had caused him to feel both uncertain and almost embarrassed. What was he thinking? Could he really pull this off? "What d'you think?"

Willow didn't answer, but merely stared at Tara. 'Spike wants to throw Buffy a surprise baby shower tonight. Can we pull this off?' she asked her girlfriend using their newfound practice of telepathy.

'A baby shower?' Tara asked. 'Tonight?'

"When?" Willow asked into the phone.

"Slayer and Bit went off to a movie, said they'd be back around nine." Spike explained.

'Nine,' Willow told Tara mentally, 'that'll give us less than four hours.'

'What do you think, Willow?'

The witch stared long and hard at the space just above Tara's head. Buffy was her best friend, had been since they were sixteen. She'd saved her life more times than Willow could count. She'd do anything for Buffy, anything at all.

"What do you need us to do?" Willow asked Spike.

Spike paced back and forth in front of the door, awaiting Willow and Tara's arrival. He had hung up with them nearly an hour ago. Much to Spike's surprise, Tara and Willow had agreed to help him with the party. They were probably out buying streamers, balloons, the whole bloody lot, right now.

He'd also called the Watcher, demon girl and the whelp, and they all said they'd be there after they had a sufficient amount of research done. Which could mean they would be there all night.

Spike continued to pace in front of the door, chewing anxiously on his bottom lip. He had no idea why he was so worried about this party going right, not ten years ago he would ripped the limbs off of every last Scooby including the Slayer, and now here he was trying his best to impress and be accepted by them. What had become of the Big Bad that desecrated half of Europe along side Drusilla?

'He got a soddin' chip rammed into his brain.' Spike thought with remorse. 'I'm still the Big Bad, I'm just-'

'House broken?' the little voice nagged. 'Face it, you've been tamed, domesticated.'

'Have not.' Spike argued with himself. There could have been an all out fight were it not for a knock at the front door. Spike rushed over, hoping it was the witches. He flung the door to open to find a beautiful young woman standing on his porch.

"Can I help you?" Spike asked, casually looking past the woman to see if Tara and Willow had brought a friend.

"Spike?" she asked, "Spike is that you?"

"Maybe." Spike answered wearily. "Depends on who wants to know." He looked the woman in front of him over; she sparked some feeling recognition, but Spike just couldn't place her. 'Could be that chit I turned in Portugal.'

"Spike." The woman pushed passed him and walked into the house like she owned it.

'Nope, not a vamp.' "Listen, I don't know who you are and I bloody don't appreciate people I don't know trampling in my house. So if you don't mind," Spike pushed the door open as far as it would go, "get your bloody arse out!"

"Geez Spike." She sighed, "Your memory isn't the greatest is it? You seriously don't remember me?" Spike merely stared at the woman blankly. "Sunnydale High? Spike it's me!" Again with the blank stare. "Cordelia!"

Suddenly his memory worked again. Cordelia, one of the Slayer's mates, she was always the annoying, clingy one. "Bloody hell," Spike sighed. He'd once trapped her and Red in a closet while looking for the Slayer. Last he heard of her, the Whelp said she was working in L.A. with-

"Hello Spike." A male voice greeted.

Spike turned slowly; he already knew who was behind him, but turning around only verify what he feared.

There he stood, taller than Spike, and broader; the attitude of a prisoner in exile, and the face of an angel.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Spike sneered.

"Oh don't seem so happy to see me." Angel said, stepping inside the Summers' home. He moved passed Spike without a sideward glance. "Where's Buffy?" he asked casually.

"Not home." Spike snapped, he slammed the door shut angrily, knowing he couldn't make Angel leave even if he tried. "Why are you looking for the Slayer?"

"We've got a little problem." Cordy said stepping between the two vampires.

"What's it matter to you?" Angel asked, wondering why Spike was at Buffy's house when she wasn't there. "What are you house sitting or something?"

'He doesn't know.' Spike thought triumphantly. 'I've got a secret over Peaches, one that's sure to piss him off.' A sly smile spread across Spike's face, but he hid it quickly, not wanting to tip off his guests. "I, uh, had a bit of info I thought the Slayer could use, and decided to drop by. I just walked in a few minutes before you came barging about."

"Maybe we should find Giles." Cordy suggested to Angel. "He might know what happened."

"What are you talking about?" Spike asked, feeling left out of the bloody loop.

"Cordelia's visions have stopped." Angel explained. "But during her last one, she said she saw someone, a girl."

"And Buffy. She was there too." Cordelia added, feeling incredibly helpful.

"Don't know anything about that such stuff." Spike mumbled, and it was the truth. "Go find the Watcher, he'll be down at the Magic Box, it's on Main Street, can't miss it."

Cordelia looked over her shoulder at Angel. "What do you think?" she asked.

"Giles and I have never gotten along that well." Angel admitted.

"Well imagine that!" Spike sang with fake astonishment. "Someone doesn't like Peaches. Who would've guessed?"

Cordelia snickered at the remark, earning an estranged look from her vampire companion. She quickly turned the giggle into a couch, waving her hand for emphasis. Angel merely glared at Spike, suddenly remembering why he had objected to coming here. He glanced around the living room then back at Cordy. "We'll wait." He said simply, moving into the living room and taking a seat on the couch.

Cordy brushed passed Spike, a sympathetic smile on her face and sat next to Angel. Though she would never admit it, Cordelia knew just how obnoxious and ill-tempered Angel could be at times. She had pointed it out to him a few times, but he had been so irritated by it that she quickly amended and left the room. It was never brought up since, for fear of losing some limbs.

"Of course you will." Spike mumbled to himself. 'This should be interesting.'

Part 17:

"I can't believe it," Buffy sighed as she and Dawn exited the Sun Cinema. She tossed her half eaten bag of popcorn in a nearby trashcan and continued, "I can't believe I just spent the last 6 hours watching the Star Wars trilogy. What a waste of time."

"Hey," Dawn scolded her half-heartedly. "Those are classic movies and besides, Harrison Ford is very good looking in those movies."

"Han?" Buffy asked. "He's too cocky and he thinks he always so great."

"Hmm," Dawn sighed over dramatically, "Sounds like someone else we know. A certain undead Billy Idol wannabe."

"I thought Luke was better looking." Buffy said changing the subject quickly.

"Luke?" Dawn scoffed, the whole Spike thing completely forgotten-for now. "No way." Both girls laughed as the walked down the dark and nearly deserted streets of Sunnydale. "What time is it?" Dawn asked her sister, glancing around at the nearby shops. Their windows were all dimly lit with the merchandise being cast into eerie shadows.

"Quarter after 8, we've got some time to kill." Buffy said checking her watch.

"Wanna grab a mocha at the Espresso Pump?" Dawn asked hopefully. She was lacking the certain pep she usually possessed and hoped a frothy, iced mocha might give her a boost.

Buffy considered her options for a second. "Not sure if all that sugar is good for me. Gotta keep a healthy diet nowadays." Buffy laid a gentle palm against the swell of her stomach.

"Oh, right." Dawn amended, wondering how she could have forgotten that. Willow and Tara had raided through the whole Summers' house, and everything that was even remotely chocolate was taken out. It was nothing but health food in their house, and Dawn hated it. Chocolate was like oxygen to her, she needed it to wake up in the morning. Annoyed as she was, Dawn understood the reasoning behind the callous actions. Buffy needed to be eating healthy, and both Dawn and Spike were determined to be helpful. "How are my favorite niece and nephew doing today?" Dawn asked, her voce suddenly morphing into her baby-talk voice.

"Um, Dawn?" Buffy pointed out with a small chuckle, "They're your only niece and nephew."

"Yeah well they're still my favorites." Dawn huffed. "We'll stop at the Magic Box then head home. Sound good?"

"Let's go." Buffy looped her arm through Dawn's and both girls took off down the street.

Cordelia sat on the Summers' couch and stared at the pictures sated on the coffee table. 'What am I doing here?' she thought to herself. 'I haven't seen these people since graduation and I don't really feel like tromping down memory lane at the moment.' "Angel," she addressed the brooding vampire seated next to her, "can't we just go look for Giles? Why do we need to see Buffy anyway? She's not going to be able to do anything."

"I told you this before," Angel snapped. He was becoming increasingly annoyed, what with being in the presence of his childe. Angel couldn't help but wonder why Spike was in Buffy's house at this time of night. He didn't buy his excuse, it just didn't seem like Spike.

"Yeah I know," Cordelia whined, "You promised Buffy if you ever came to Sunnydale you'd stop in and see her. But for all we know she's at the Magic Box with Giles, or she might even be out patrolling."

'Doubt that.' Spike thought to himself, 'And if she is I'll kick her pregnant ass.' He was busying himself in the kitchen, trying desperately to stay at least 20 feet away from his sire. He was just getting Cordelia a soda she had asked for when there was a knock at the kitchen door. Spike rushed to the door and opened it.

"You want to take one of these?" Willow asked, thrusting a brown paper bag full of party supplies at Spike. The vampire took it and let the girls in. "We're got a killer deal on all this stuff, sorry it took so long."

"Um, Red?" Spike pushed the girls into the kitchen trying to keep the noise down. "We got a problem.

"I know, we've only got a little bit of time to decorate, but Tara and I can-"

"That's not it." Spike grabbed Willow's arm and pulled her to the kitchen door, he pushed it open a crack so she could see.

Willow couldn't believe her eyes. There on Buffy's couch sat Angel and raven-haired woman. 'She looks familiar.' Willow's inner voice screamed. Finally it hit her, 'Cordelia!' With one final glance Willow backed away from the door and stared at Spike. "We've got serious problems. Why are they here anyway?" She fought to keep her voice low as to not alert the couple to their presence.

"Who's here?" Tara whispered, feeling a bit out of the loop.

"The chit lost her visions and someone in Sunnyhell got them." Spike explained in his own unique wording.

"She doesn't have visions anymore?"

"Who doesn't have visions?" Tara asked. She was quickly becoming lost in the conversation and it unnerved her greatly.

"Apparently not and someone here-someone connected to the Slayer-does." Spike had begun to pace the kitchen. He snuck a peek at the clock on the stove. He only had forty minutes-give or take-to get Angel and the girl out of the house and out of Sunnydale.

"Will someone please tell me what is going on?" Tara demanded surprising both Spike and Willow with her sudden boldness. She added a quick "Please?" before blushing.

"Angel and Cordelia are here-as in Buffy's first boyfriend Angel. Neither of them knows that Buffy is pregnant, hell they don't even know Buffy and Spike are together." Willow explained rapidly. "Cordelia was given the gift of visions, she would see things before they happened, but I guess now she had passed on the gift to someone up here."

"So what happens when Buffy and Dawn get home?" Tara asked, eyes wide with sudden fear.

"All hell breaks lose." Spike offered.

"Simply math here." The gears in Willow's brain were beginning to turn, a plan formulating. "All we have to do is delay Buffy and Dawn from coming home. Spike," she pointed to the vampire, "call the Magic shop and get Giles to stall. She'll be stopping there before coming home." Willow took a moment and thought about her next move. "Tara and I will take care of Angel and Cordy."

"What are you talking about Red?" Spike asked wearily even as he picked up the phone and began dialing the number of the Magic Box.

"Don't worry." Willow said in a teasing voice. She flashed Spike a wicked grin to accent her meaning, and then pulled Tara aside. "Okay, here's the plan."

The bell above the Magic Box door jingled happily as Buffy and Dawn walked in.

"Hello?" Buffy called when no one greeted them. There was a moment of silence then a response from the back. "Looks like they're deep in the research."

"Sounds like fun." Dawn said dryly. She shrugged of her denim jacket and slung it across her arm, following Buffy to the rear of the store.

That's where she found them: Giles, Anya and Xander. All three of them were seated around the research table, a slew of books scattered around, even some stacked on the floor beside them. Giles had his nose buried in a book, obviously fascinated by what he was reading, but the other two, they looked so completely bored that it actually hurt. Buffy took a seat next to Giles and Dawn next to Anya.

"Find anything yet?" she asked him.

Giles, jumped from surprise. He was so caught up in his reading that he didn't hear them come in.

"What? Oh yes, well not much I'm afraid but we have found some new information." Giles said taking off his glasses and giving them a quick cleaning.

"So we still don't know anything about this prophecy?" Buffy asked. She pulled a book in front of her and began leafing through the pages aimlessly. She couldn't place it, but there was something about this prophecy that unnerved her. Something that seemed all too familiar.

"How are we going to get to Buffy's surprise party when Buffy's here?" Anya leaned in and whispered to her fiancé. They were all just about to pack it up and leave when Buffy and Dawn had arrived. Xander merely shrugged his shoulders in response.

Giles was about to add something when the phone rang behind the counter. He excused himself and went to answer it returning a few moments later with a worried look on his face.

"Who was it?" Buffy asked, noticing her Watcher's expression.

"What? Oh, it was just Spike. Calling to see if you and Dawn were here." Giles knew he was a terrible liar, even as he spoke he could feel his face getting flushed.

"I really think we need to get Spike a hobby." Dawn laughed. "All he does is worry about us all day long." They all shared a good chuckle before Giles pulled Xander aside.

"What d'you need G-Man?" Xander asked in a hushed voice. Giles had pulled him to the basement claiming he needed help moving some crates.

"Xander I've told you repetitively not to call me that." Giles scolded him then became more serious. "That was Spike on the phone, but he needs our help. He told me to keep Buffy and Dawn at the shop as long as possible."

"Why?"

"Well it seems that Angel is here."

"Angel!" Xander shouted in surprise. Giles automatically quieted him.

"Yes," Giles stole a glance up that stairs at the door hoping no one had heard Xander's little outburst. "Apparently he and Cordelia are here to see Buffy."

"Cordy's here too?" Xander cringed at the thought of seeing his ex. He and Cordy had only gone out for a short while, but their relationship was complicated; a mix between lust, competition, and hatred.

"Yes, but you're missing the point. Angel does not know about Buffy current, um, condition, and I doubt he will take it all too well."

"Oh right." He pushed the thoughts about his past relationships out of him mind and focused with the task at hand. "So what's the plan?"

"We'll simply recruit them to help with the research, it shouldn't be that hard."

"Whatever you say G-man." Xander agreed with a snide grin. Giles merely glared in his direction and ascended the stairs behind him. When they got to the top Buffy and Dawn were preparing to leave.

"Where ya goin'?" Xander asked, suddenly very anxious.

"Um, home?" Dawn suggested pulling her jacket onto her arm. "That's generally where we sleep." Both Buffy and Dawn laughed.

"Buffy we really need some help here with the research." Giles explained. He moved to the table and grabbed two books, walked back to the girls, and handed one to each of them.

"But Giles I'm horrible with research, you know that." Buffy whined trying to hand the book back to him, but Giles refused to take it.

"Please Buffy." Giles voice changed to pleading fatherly tone.

"Oh fine." She huffed returning to her previous seat at the table. "You know I hate it when you use that voice."

"Yes I'm quite aware." Giles said with a smirk. "And that's why I use it."

Dawn tossed her book onto the table and giggled triumphantly. "Since I'm not allowed to do research I'll be in the back sleeping." She turned to leave when Giles grabbed her elbow and pulled her to sit on the bench.

"I think it's time that you be introduced to the wonderful world of books." He said trying to hold back a grin.

"I second that," Buffy chimed in.

"Third!" "Fourth!" Xander and Anya called.

"You guys suck." Dawn sighed as she flipped open a book.

Part 18:

"I don't know what you did Red, but you're amazing." Spike laughed, standing in the now empty living room. Angel had just sprinted out of the house, Cordelia in quick pursuit.

The Wicca merely smiled at the vampire and blushed. "Let's just say I work in mysterious ways." She quickly amended, "Also the fact that neither Angel or Cordelia know Tara was a big help."

"Right," Spike said tearing into one of the discarded brown paper bags atop the center coffee table. "The watcher is gonna stall for as long as possible so we've got about 15 minutes to get this place ready."

After a small pause, they set to work. Willow and Tara quickly blew up twenty or so multicolored balloons and began hanging them around the living room and kitchen area. Spike was left to work the streamers. He tried taping them to the fireplace, but they refused to stick; he tried sticking them around the doorway, but that wouldn't work either. Finally, Spike lost his patience with the decorations. "Bloody hell," he mumbled tossing the paper aside. "Red!"

"Yeah?" Willow's head appeared in the doorway between the living room and the kitchen.

"These soddin' streamers are pissing me off!"

With a hushed giggle, Willow walked over to Spike and took his arm. "Why don't you help Tara in the kitchen and leave this to me. She's just dishing out the chips. You can handle that much."

"Fine," Spike grumbled. He stalked passed Willow and through the doorway. There he found Tara behind the kitchen island pouring chips from a bag into a large bowl. Already there were numerous bowls out filled with snack foods.

Tara looked up from her current task and smiled shyly at her new companion. "Oh, hi Spike," She said sweetly, "Are the decorations done already?"

"No, Red's doing that since I'm obviously incapable of taping paper to the wall." Spike growled in frustration. He picked up a handful of chips and stuffed them into his mouth. Deciding the taste wasn't that horrible, he reached for another handful only to have his fingers smacked playfully by Tara. "What was that for?" Spike asked his voice filled with fake hurt. He cradled his hand to his chest like a little boy who burnt his hand on the stove.

"Those are for the party," Tara warned, "hands off!" She picked up two of the bowls and handed them to Spike. "Take them in the living room." She followed quickly behind another bowl in her grasp.

"I think we're pretty much set here." Willow announced when the two blondes entered the living room carrying the food.

Tara set her bowl on the coffee table and looked around the room, admiring her girlfriend's handiwork. "It looks great Will."

"Where did you put the gift?" The red head asked Tara.

"Oh it's in the kitchen," Tara suddenly remembered, "I'll go grab it." She said and slipped out of the room.

"When did you have time to buy a gift?" Spike asked, eyebrows raised in confusion.

"Oh, um," Willow stammered, "R-right after Buffy found out she was pregnant. Tara and I found a baby store in the mall and couldn't leave. We spent a good hour just picking out clothes and laughing about how cute they were. We found the cutest little-"

"Here it is." Tara cried triumphantly. She came back into room carrying a large, brightly colored gift bag. A shiny, twisting bow was hanging around the handles and colored tissue paper peeked out the top. The witch crossed the living room and handed the bag to her girlfriend.

"Let me see." Spike approached Willow and tried to look inside the bag, but she jerked it out of his sight.

"You'll see it when Buffy opens it and not before." Willow warned.

"W-what did you get Spike?" Tara asked.

"You'll see it when the Slayer opens it and not before." He chuckled, echoing Willow's words.

"Giles there's nothing in these books." Dawn whined.

"Yeah I'm going to have to agree with Dawn on this one." Anya piped in. She slammed the book in front of her shut and sighed loudly.

"I told Spike we'd be home by nine and it's already-" Buffy glanced down at her wrist, "9:26."

Giles finally looked up from the book he was searching, and studied the faces of the people around him. They all seemed to be equally tired, their faces etched with drowsiness. They had not been researching for that long, but time seemed to move a lot slower when your nose was buried in a book, searching endlessly for a question with no known answer.

"I suppose we should call it a night." Reluctantly, the Watcher gently closed the musty old book in front of him and stood. No sooner than he took a step, everyone slammed their books shut and pushed back from the research table, heavy sighs of relief echoing in the silent room.

"Guess we should be heading out now?" Xander asked Giles, hoping the older man would find the hidden question within. What Xander really wanted to know was 'How are we going to get out of here and to Buffy's house before her?'

"Yes," Anya joined in, "we should be leaving soon."

Buffy stood and quickly shrugged on her coat. "Yes we better get moving." She said to Dawn, "Spike's probably having a fit. He'll have Clem out looking for us in another two minutes."

The younger Summers laughed and threw her coat on shouting a goodbye to the group. They left arm in arm, complaining about over protective vampires.

As soon as the Magic Box door swung shut, the bell above singing of their departure, Giles was upon it, locking it up tight. "Back door," he said without elaborating, "we've got to get to that house before they do." All three of them scurried out the back, Giles flicking off the lights before they exited. They raced through the back alleys of town, avoiding the usual way of getting to the house, knowing they would meet the Slayer along the way and have some explaining to do.

"Hurry," Xander shouted as he pulled ahead of the pack. All three kept up with each other, jogging through town, desperately trying to beat the Slayer.

Upon reaching the house, Xander burst through the front door and immediately trip over the rug, falling flat on his face.

Spike stood in the doorway to the kitchen and laughed. "And the Most Graceful Award goes to-" he spoke loudly, imitating a TV announcer's voice.

"Shut up Spike." Xander growled half winded as he pulled himself to his feet. Giles and Anya arrived and shut the door quickly behind them.

"Oh hey guys." Willow called enthusiastically, pushing past Spike to approach the group. "All the gifts are already here so there's no need to run home."

"Oh my," Giles cursed under his breath. After a moments pause he asked, "How did you know where my present was?"

"Well we were w-with you when you bought it." Tara supplied, blushing when the group laughed.

"Oh yes," he suddenly remembered. "Very good."

"Well Buffy will be here any moment so we better get this shindig started right." Spike couldn't believe the way he was acting or his odd use of the word 'shindig'. This was the Big Bad, murderer of thousands of innocent people, and here he was throwing a surprise baby shower for the Slayer, for their children. If Dru could see him now, she'd probably dust herself on the spot.

Everyone moved to find a good hiding spot. Xander and Anya chose just inside the living room, standing on either side of the doorway; Willow and Tara were behind the couch; and Giles was crouching behind the chair. Spike figured there was no reason for him to hide, after all someone was going to have to let the others know when to stop giggling and be all secretive. He looked out the living room window and peered down the street. A short distance down, two figures were approaching the house. Spike immediately recognized them both.

"Here they come." He announced to the group. Everyone fell into their places. Spike flicked off the lights to the living room and waited by the door. He was so nervous that he could have sworn he felt his heart beat, but quickly shrugged it off. Peering out the tiny window in the door, Spike could see Buffy and Dawn turning into the sidewalk and coming towards the house. 'Okay act mad, act angry, act like peaches!' he prepped himself mentally.

As they approached the house, Dawn pointed out something off about the house. "That's weird." She said suddenly, earning a curious glance from her sister.

"What's weird?"

"The house," Dawn pointed straight ahead, "all the lights are out. Spike can't be asleep already, I mean, he never even sleeps. Does he?" Before Buffy could answer Dawn broke in again, "Oh wait, you wouldn't know would you? Cause every night you two are making with the crazy, naked sex."

"Dawn!" Buffy shouted, trying to be stern but failing to hide a tiny giggle that escaped her lips.

"Admit it!" Dawn shouted in triumph.

The Slayer just shook her head. She went to grab the doorknob, but jumped back when the door flung open revealing a very pissed off Spike behind it.

"Where have you two been?" he growled.

"We were at the movies." Dawn supplied.

"Yeah I spent the entire day watching the Star Wars trilogy. Have a little sympathy here." Buffy added, attempting to bring Spike from his irritated mood.

"You said you'd be home by nine." Spike retorted fighting back a grin at Buffy's argument. "It's 9:38!"

"Geez, Sorry." Buffy apologized, a bit taken back by the harshness in his tone.

"Giles had us at the Magic Box researching." Dawn added, finally finding her voice in the lovers' quarrel. "Blame him."

Spike's face softened a bit, and a loud sigh graced his lips. "Fine, but it's late, let's get inside."

With a final nod to Spike, Buffy stepped inside the house quickly followed by Dawn, and Spike bringing up the rear.

Part 19:

As Buffy stepped into the house, she was greeted by darkness. "Um Spike?" she asked, feeling the wall for the light switch, "was there like a power outage while we were gone?"

"No," Spike answered moving past the two girls and into the living room.

Buffy moved to follow, but was pushed back by a sudden rush of noise. "SURPRISE!" shouted a multitude of voices, causing her to stumble backwards in astonishment. "W-what the-"

"It's a surprise baby shower!" Willow shouted while climbing out of her hiding place. She was so excited that she almost fell flat on her face while climbing out but luckily Xander was there to catch her.

"You guys did this all for me?" the Slayer asked, tears threatening to spill from her eyes.

"Actually it was all Spike's idea." Giles amended.

"This is so cool!" Dawn said with enthusiasm, looking around the room.

Buffy turned to Spike, who despite the great joy and amusement Buffy found in the impromptu party, was standing off to the side, a curious look on his face. "You did all this?" she asked, hand motioning around the room to make her point clear.

"Well yea." Spike answered after a short pause. "The Wiccas helped too. Since I'm too inept to decorate they had do pretty much everything and-"

Cutting off Spike's ramble, Buffy wrapped her arms around his neck and smashed her lips to his. She had never felt such an urge to be with him, there seemed to be some unmistakable force, drawing them together, as if they were two magnets.

Taking Buffy's lead, Spike curled his arms around her and laid them flat against her lower back. While their tongues danced, Spike's hands slowly slid around her body and under the material of her shirt until they were resting against the bare flesh of her bulging stomach. His thumbs began tracing lazy circles around her bellybutton.

Buffy's heart raced, the minute his cold hands touched her stomach, she could feel the twins kicking and moving about. Almost as if they knew exactly whose hand it was; almost as if they already knew who their father was and what his touch felt like.

Dawn stared at the couple, heart melting in her chest. 'This is what it's all supposed to be like. This is what fate is supposed to mean.' She reason. 'It's perfect, it's-it's what mom would have wanted.' Feeling her eyes begin to tear up, Dawn quickly blinked them back.

"So," Giles muttered, breaking the insatiable tension that had invaded the room, "shall we get this party started?"

The vampire and slayer broke apart, staring deeply into each other's eyes. "Yeah." Spike said without looking away from Buffy's eyes. "Let's party."

"Will there be presents?" Buffy asked excitedly, earning a few laughs from the assembled crowd. "What? It's a fair question."

"Of course," Willow said with a huge grin. She walked over and took Buffy by the arm, tugging her towards the couch. "Better start opening them, you know," she shot a comical look at the vampire across the room, "before Spike gets his grubby little hands on them and ruins all the surprise."

Later, Buffy sat on the couch amidst the debris of wrapping paper, bows, and presents. A brand new playpen, compliments of Xander and Anya sat in the corner, the rest of the gifts piled neatly inside. Her friends had really gone out of their way to make this night special and for the first time in a long time, Buffy felt her place in the world was right here where she was.

"Isn't this the cutest thing you have ever seen?" Willow gushed holding up a pink plaid sundress with little flowers gracing the front breast pocket and tiny white sandals with flower décor to match.

"It is adorable." Dawn said excitedly. "So this is what you did that time you guys ditched me in the mall?"

"Yep," Tara answered, "We spent 2 hours in the Baby Gap just looking at cute clothes and getting all mushy. It was really a fun time."

"Thank you guys for everything." Buffy finally spoke up. "This party, all the gifts," she turned to where Giles, Spike and Xander were sitting in a group, "taking over the slaying."

"It was our pleasure Buffy." Giles said taking a sip of tea, which he had made himself earlier. "You need to take it easy for the next few months."

"Yea," Xander chimed in, "Nothing but sleeping and eating for the Buffster."

"Well hey as long as there's chocolate cookie dough ice cream, french- fries, and Ranch dressing in the house, I'm all kinds of good." A bright smile graced Buffy's face as she thought of the names foods.

Giles had to choke back his gag reflex, hearing such foods be put into a similar group of any kind was beyond disgusting. The older man turned to face the vampire across from him, giving him a confused look.

"What?" Spike asked. "I told you she got weird cravings. At least we're over the pickles."

"Pickles?!" Buffy asked excitedly.

"Hey," Dawn spoke up, happily dragging the conversation away from the horrible eating habits of her sister, "Spike where's our gift?"

"Oh, sorry Bit, forgot to bring it down." The blonde rose from the chair and took off up the steps taking them two at a time.

"You'll completely love them," Dawn assured Buffy, stuffing a handful of pretzels into her mouth and attempting to talk around them. "Spike and I found them on a trip to the mall and just couldn't pass 'em up!"

Moments later, Spike returned from upstairs carrying two small, square boxes; one wrapped in shiny blue paper, the other in bright pink. He handed the boxes to Buffy and took a seat next to her.

Buffy eyed both Spike and Dawn-who were smiling broadly at each other- before setting the blue box on the coffee table in front of her and taking the pink one in her hand. She examined it closely, it was the size of her palm and wrapped with delicate pink paper. "I'm going to go on a hunch and say that someone at the store wrapped these?"

"Why would you say that?" Dawn asked, mock disappointment in her voice.

"Well because you once tried to wrap mom's Christmas gift-which I might add was in a box-for two hours and it looked like someone wrapped it with their feet." The Slayer explained. "Also," she continued after a small chuckle escaped her lips from the memory, "I remember the box of chocolates Spike gave me one year for my birthday. They were all smashed and the box really was square anymore."

"Oh quit complaining and open the gifts." Spike hurried her along. Truth be told he was anxious to see her reaction to the gifts.

Buffy took a deep breath and tore into the paper. Surprisingly it came off very easily. She removed a small gray box and removed the lid. Her breath caught in her throat. Inside was a tiny silver cross much like the one Buffy herself wore with the name Audra Lynn written in fancy cursive letters. Carefully, Buffy pulled the necklace from the box and draped it over her palm, examining it closely.

"Oh my God-" she whispered in amazement.

"Do you like it?" Dawn asked eagerly, happy to see the joyous expression on her sister's face.

"It's beautiful," she gasped. She rotated her hand, the light hitting the necklace, making it almost glow.

"Open the other one." Willow commanded, full of excitement.

Buffy gently set the tiny necklace back in the box and closed the lid. Then she took the other gift, wrapped in blue paper, and eagerly tore into it to find an identical gray box. Although she already knew what was inside, Buffy was amazed to find the same silver cross inside, but this time the name William Andrew scrolled across the middle.

"You guys," the Slayer's voice quivered a little as she addressed Spike and Dawn, "these are beautiful. Thank you so much." She set the boxes on the table in front of her, gave Dawn, and Spike each a quick hug.

"I knew you'd like them." Dawn said triumphantly as she embraced her sister.

"You really like them?" Spike asked once Buffy had wrapped her arms around him in a death grip.

"They're perfect." She smiled.

"Anyone want something to drink?" Willow asked. "I'm making Margaritas!"

"I'll have one!" Anya shouted.

"Me too!" Dawn added, fully expecting the usual refusal from everyone, but there came none. Trying not to draw any attention, Dawn glanced from Willow to Buffy and Spike who had moved into the hallways and were currently in a serious make-out session. 'Well at least she can't yell at me while Spike's tongue is down her throat.' She thought laughing to herself.

"Anyone else?" Willow asked the group.

"I'll take one too." Tara said shyly, "I'll help you make them."

"Let's go."

"Can you hand me the strawberries?" Willow asked her girlfriend, who was busy smashing a bag of ice into smaller pieces.

"Sure," the girl answered, picking up at small carton of fresh strawberries and handing them to her.

"I think this night has gone pretty well, don't you?" Willow asked while grinding up the Margarita ingredients in the blender. Normally you wouldn't be able to hear yourself think while using a blender, but with a handy little silencer spell, you could hear a pin drop in he Summers' kitchen.

"Y-yeah." Tara agreed. She was about to add onto her comment when the kitchen door opened wildly revealing a very pissed off Cordelia behind it.

"Okay," she started, "first you tell us there's a big ass demon wreaking havoc downtown and that Angel needs to take care of it, but then when we get to where SHE," the girl pointed to Tara, "said she was attacked, there's nothing there. Zip. Zilch. Nada. So what I'm wondering is-"

"Cordy where exactly is Angel?" Willow asked in terrible fright. No party needed a crasher, and having Buffy's ex beau fill the position was not a ticket fun land.

"Right behind me. Or at least he was." The brunette explained.

As fast as she could muster, Willow was around the kitchen island and shutting the door. She wasn't fast enough. Angel barreled into the wood, knocking Willow onto the floor.

"Where's Buffy?" he asked hurriedly. "I need to talk to her now!"

"Uh oh." Was all Willow could muster.