Chapter 34

Boon and Andrew snuggled together on Buffy's right hand side, while she snuggled up to Spike on her left. Spike had bundled Anne securely in her blanket, swaddling her in the snug semblance of being inside her mother. All the while his wife and daughter had slept he had watched them, unblinking and constant. They were miracles, the pair of them. Across the six foot expanse Wesley stood with his eyes to the mouth, a sentinel. It was too much of a risk to make a fire, so they remained in the dark for the rest of the night. As the Buffy had slept, Wesley repeated the story he had told Buffy.

It was close to sunrise, though it was hard to tell with the cloud covered skies, but the night had remained fairly peaceful. Buffy and Anne were further wrapped in the duster, staying as warm as possible. Buffy had woken some time ago, but said nothing. Instead she curled close into her husband, eternally grateful he was with them again. She was at peace in the circle of his arms and the attendant comfort of his embrace and like him studied Anne's sublime face. Buffy eased down a little further, laying her head on his chest and tucking the baby's head under her chin. Both hers and Spike's hands covered the tiny body.

"Is she warm enough?" Spike whispered. Pulling the leather up to Anne's chin.

"Yes, honey, she's plenty warm, between you and me," Buffy said.

"I was worried...I'm always so cold."

"Don't be talking that way, you're nice and warm."

"You've made me so...not just with this Slayer body of yours that makes beautiful babies, but with your heart."

"A heart that used to be broken, used up and cold....and then you just wouldn't go away."

"Couldn't do that, pet, I was in love with you. I knew, I just had to wait until you knew too." Underneath the blanket of the coat, her left hand gave his thigh a reaffirming squeeze.

"I won't ever forget it. How could I? Gave you a kid and everything."

"That you did, love, that you did. She has your nose."

"Yep, but your eyes."

"It's dark, how can you tell?"

"When she looked at me, it felt like you. I promise, once we get her out in the sun you'll see they're a perfect match to yours." Anne gave a quick, fitful jerk with her limbs, just learning that she had more room to move about. She whimpered and made a sad little mew, the beginning of her crying again,"Shhh....mommy and daddy's have you, you're all safe...." Anne continued with small gasps of air that came out with tiny cries, still scared of this open world,"Spike, sing to her." Spike complied, the first few soft words of Greensleeves hummed softly at Anne's ear. Abruptly he stopped and quickly pulled away and got to his feet. The action startled both mother and child and the baby began to cry.

"Someone's coming..." Wes came to attention, drawing out his knife, while Spike picked up the sword he's had with him previously and Boon did the same. It was, much to Spike's surprise, Connor who appeared at the cave's opening.

"Finally!" Wes said, exasperated,"You should have been here hours ago."

"I know," Connor replied, trying to catch his breath,"It's all going wrong...they're right behind me."

"Damn!"

"What the bloody hell's going on here!?" Spike demanded. It was then that Connor showed them what was in the leaded strong box he was carrying. He shook off Spike's disdain and knelt down, placing the box on the ground and opened the lid. The entire place was filled with the glowing power of the Key. Anne stopped crying and hid herself from it, curling into her mother's breast.

"It took Cordy too long to convince them to bring it to her, even longer for me to escape with it. I can move twice as fast, but they're still coming after me, they'll be here soon enough. They still want the baby."

"Over my dead body!"

"You might be a daywalker, but you're still a vampire, 50 monks against you? One lucky stake and the Slayer and the child are helpless. Escape is the only way....we've known this for over a year."

"Spike, Buffy," Wes began, taking over the explanation,"We're still on schedule, the plan that I formulated with Cordelia and Connor. We've found a way to set things right. Cordelia came back from where the Powers sent her, with a clear vision of every day to come up until this one. It wasn't supposed to go quite like this..." Spike grabbed Wesley by the shirt and slammed him back against the cave wall, the man winced as a jab of stone caught him in the back.

"You tell me what you lot've done in messing around with the lives of my wife and daughter!!" Spike roared.

"We're trying to save them! Save us all." Connor and Spike heard the monks at their doorstep at nearly the same time,"Spike, Buffy, you must do as I say, your child's life depends on it. Cordelia has done something to the Key, I don't know what precisely, but she assures me that it will be able to take you to a time and place before the apocalypse."

"When and where, Wes?!" Buffy asked, wanting to get to her feet but still too drained from birthing Anne to manage it,"China two thousand years ago?!"

"I don't know, I'm trusting Cordelia on this."

"You need blood to open that Key," Spike stated.

"I know..." Connor went off to meet the first throng of monks, trying to hold them at bay long enough for the portal to be opened. Wes took his knife and slash it across his palm. As the droplets fell from his hand and over the energy sphere, there was a disturbance in the atmosphere that resulted in a vortex opening beneath it. The energy of the Key poured down the electrified funnel. The portal was slowly draining the Key and Wes dry,"Jump through. You must hurry, no time to debate! I won't last long....once the blood stops..."

At that moment a trio of monks breached Connor's resistance and came at them. They were stopped by Boon. The young Slayer ignored the danger and did what any natural born Slayer would do, protect the innocent. Andrew was about to leap into the fray, but Spike grabbed him by the collar,"No time for debate," Spike said, deadly serious.

"But..." the mouse tried to protest.

"I'll get her, just bloody jump!" The vampire pulled Andrew to the edge of the portal. He also helped Buffy to her feet and into the leather duster and wrapping it around her and Anne. He gave Andrew a push and bravely the boy leapt and then he was gone, swallowed by the energy,"Boon come on!! Boon!!" Wes was weakening, the Key draining his life's force, the portal couldn't remain active much longer. The young Slayer was in the thick of it, too far out for Spike to reach her and still get back to make it through himself. It would have risked it, but just then Buffy wrapped her arm around his waist and hugged close to him, Anne protectively sandwiched between them. Spike knew he'd never be able to forgive himself for what he was about to do, but he left one Slayer behind, took hold of Buffy and jumped.

As the last seconds of reality slipped away and Spike felt them shift from one dimension to the other, a shock of memory hit him. The portal created by Dawn all those years ago had closed only when Buffy had passed through, not just from the draining of blood. If it needed to be so this time also...

Spike reached out at the last possible second and caught the hem of Wes' pants, pulling the former Watcher through the portal with them.

TBC...

Chapter 35

There was an audible *snap* in the air as the portal between the previous world and the one they now found themselves in closed. Spike landed from the ten foot drop on his back, cushioning Buffy's fall and consequently Anne felt non of the impact. The jarring however had her upset and crying. Wesley landed next to them with a dull thud. Spike ignored the other man and carefully rolled he and Buffy on to their sides,"Love, are you hurt?" he asked urgently.

"We're okay," Buffy gasped, staring up at the trees that surrounded where they lay and gently rocking their daughter. Beneath her was soft, lush grass, a little moist in the shade with late-morning dew. Anne was quieting and snuggling at her mother's chest, wondering why she'd ever left the warm place inside. When her father's hand began to rub her back, the tension left her body and she relaxed upon Buffy,"Is everybody okay?"

"Wes, mouse?" Spike asked, looking up, but seeing only Wesley struggling to his feet,"Andrew?! Andrew?"

"Spike, where is he?"

"Don't know, love." Spike rose to his feet, scanning the area, finally setting his sights on a patch of the lawn that was indented where the boy had landed,"He was here, pet, but he seems to have run off, don't worry, I'll wrestle him back here and give him the lecture about straying."

"Where do you suppose we are?" Wes asked, standing on the other side of Buffy, peering out over the gatherings of trees.

"Sunnydale," Spike and Buffy replied in unison, Spike continued,"The cemetery where I had my crypt is a few hundred yards off to the left, the town's to the right, or at least I hope they are, no telling what year it is until we investigate."

"How can you tell?"

"I know the trees, we both do, spent...uh...many a night alone together here."

"Oh...oh I see."

"Yeah, well...." There was sudden disruption that knocked both Spike and Wes to the ground and started Anne crying again. The Earth gave a mournful groan, not through the soil beneath them, but the entire planet. Buffy looked at her husband with eyes full of anguish, his reflected the same. They knew exactly when they were. The earth shook and Buffy wrapped both her arms around Anne, trying to shield her from everything."I remember what the First Evil told us...what it's telling the other Spike and Buffy right now."

"I can't think about it," Buffy said, cradling her daughter as close as possible,"Not right now." He crouched before her, reaching out to pet the top of Anne's head.

"Buffy, love, remember what the First told us? The only way to cease the Hellmouth's eruption was a sacrifice born of love. Pure and true love."

"No..." She shook her head in denial.

"Pet, listen now, listen to me, we both know what's about to occur and what's to be done about it. It's why Coredelia's sent us back. I gotta do it, or it'll happen all over again. The death, the disease, the end of the world, I have to do it. There's no one else and we both know it. Come on now, give us one last kiss at least." She denied him, instead rocked Anne in her arms and whispered soothing words in her ear,"Fine then, without my kiss."

"How can you? How can you talk like this? How can you do this to Anne?"

"I've held her in my arms, kissed her face, looked into her eyes. As blue as you promised. It's more than I'd ever hoped for, more than I ever deserved. What wouldn't I do for you, Buffy? What wouldn't I sacrifice of myself so you can live? And what wouldn't I do for Anne? Buffy, we created her, from our love, how could either of us not do what right so our little girl can grow up in a world with Willow, Dawn, Xander, Anya, Giles and Dawn? And you won't be without me entirely - the other Spike's still here."

"He's not my husband! He's not Anne's father!! You bastard, you can't do this to us! Spike, please!!" She grabbed on to his arm, trying to pull him down with her.

"I know you don't mean to call me that, I know how much you love me. There's no one else, love, time's out...I gotta go now....gotta go...." He broke himself away from her grasp, her fingers refusing to tear away from the skin, scratching down his arm. He let her scrape all the way down to his fingertips. Buffy was too weak to follow, to stop him and the desperation in her sobbing, clutching their daughter to her was not the last image he wanted to remember, but it was them nonetheless."Love you both forever."

"No, no, no.....Spike...." He turned and started to run. He didn't look back when he heard Buffy scream for him, heard those screams turn from words to mournful howls. When Anne's own cries joined her mother's he almost went back, but instead he quickened his pace, broke into a hard sprint, the tears streaming down his face. He'd found the resolve to do this. He'd failed last time and let Buffy's pleas stop him, he wasn't going to fail again.

Chapter 36

It seemed to Andrew that he'd been standing over the gaping opening in the bottom floor of the school for years instead of minutes. Below in the basement the Seal of Danthazar had opened with an army of Turok Hans waiting to be unleashed. He saw an incarnation of the First Evil taunting another Spike, the one from two years ago that was to become his best friend. The other vampire was preparing to jump down to his doom, while the other Buffy was telling him for the first time that she loved him.

"Mouse?" his own Spike asked. Andrew turned around and faced his friend,"Been wondering' where you'd gotten to. What are you doing mouse? It's dangerous there on the edge." Spike was twenty feet or so back from where Andrew stood. If the boy slipped accidentally Spike didn't think he'd catch him in time.

"I remember where I was," Andrew began, his voice fluttering with nerves,"I was gonna help, but I got scared and went and I hid in the equipment room near the gym."

"Yeah? I was..."

"I know, right down there with Buffy," Andrew pointed,"In a couple of minutes you're going to walk away, so you and Buffy could be together and make....make Anne. Buffy let me hold her, for just a second though. It was nice, she didn't cry. The baby that is, Buffy was already crying."

"'Course my little angel didn't cry, you're her Uncle Andrew. You're gonna teach her all about old fantasy stories, read to her from The Lord of the Rings, watch Star Wars n' tell how her dad's just like Han Solo...."

"You can to that, and you are just like Han Solo."

"Yeah, but I know bugger all about Red Dwarf."

"I think they're out on DVD now."

"Good to know....mouse, come on, time's a wasting."

"It is. Spike? Do you think you'll go to Heaven when you die?"

"Dunno...I've killed many..."

"I just killed one. Does it make a big difference?"

"Not for us to answer, but I hope and try to have faith."

"Maybe I can to then, if you can."

"That's good, pet, now come away."

"Spike, can you make me a promise?"

"What is it? Anything if you just step closer over here a few paces."

"Take the other me to Portland some day?"

"What?"

"A sacrifice, one born of love, right?"

"Mouse?"

"That's right, isn't it? That's what you told me two years ago when we were all hiding out in the sewers."

"That's right...mouse, come here. You're too close to the edge there, it's making me nervous. Come here. Come right bloody now!!"

"I love you guys...tell Buffy and Anne."

"We love you too, oh god, Andrew please don't..."

"Bye." Andrew smiled at Spike, sweet and innocent and as quirky as ever. He turned away when the vampire came running for him and took a step forward.

Right before Spike's eyes, Andrew fell down through the open hole and was swallowed up by the Hellmouth,"ANDREW!!" Spike fell and reached for the boy, arm stretched out and hand open to grasp the boy's coat, or arm, or anything, but he was already gone. He watched, horrified and with his heart feeling as though it had been shredded to ribbons as Andrew slipped into the black and the vampire drowned himself in tears of sadness.

Trembling, Spike backed himself away from the crevice. God, how was he ever going to tell Buffy that their boy was gone? He struggled then to this feet, still overcome with shock and with unsteady paces he made his way out of the high school. Behind him the effects of the Hellmouth's energies collapsing under the power of Andrew's sacrifice echoed in the vampire's ears. In a selfless act, born of love, this particular gate to Hell was no more, sealed for eternity and setting the Slayer free.

Chapter 38

There was no possible way of presenting the group gathered at the Summers house with a second Spike, Buffy and Wesley, along with Anne without a long winded explanation, so Buffy strode right on in and announced that they had new guests. The household came rushing to the front hall, Spike especially eager to be reunited with his Slayer though they'd only been apart an hour.

"What the bloody hell...." the vampire choked out upon being confronted with the family that followed his Slayer inside the house.

"Spike, mate, lookin' good, none too worse for wear after an apocalypse I see," the second Spike said to his other self. The vampire was dumbstruck at seeing himself, with the present day Buffy and with his own Buffy sleeping cradled in his arms. Then there was Anne, nestled against Buffy's breast and cooing softly. The present day Spike was fixated on the child, a small river of terror washing over him as he cautiously extended his hand out in want of touching her. He looked nervously at the other man and withdrew his hand,"It's alright, go on touch her. Her name's Anne."

"After....after mother? May I?" Spike nodded in affirmation and the other vampire reached out again and brushed his fingertips across the child's face,"She's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. How is it possible?

"It's miracle, for one and there's more, but not right now, want to get Buffy into a bed and get a doctor to look her and the baby over first."

"Right, of course, sorry."

"No worries, and stop looking so bloody scared, it's a baby."

"From a vampire and a Slayer? She's no ordinary tyke is she?" Spike looked up the stairs, wanting very much to keep on going but he supposed he owed his other self a little more considering how this must have thrown every one's lives into chaos.

"No, she's not ordinary, not in the least, but she's only a few hours born and she's my little girl. I couldn't care less about Slayers and vampires. Get it?" The other Spike nodded and the first went up to the bedroom. Buffy had already turned down the bed and arranged the pillows for him to put his Buffy down. He lay his wife up against the pillows, making sure Anne was secure before taking off Buffy's sandals. She stirred for a moment, opening her eyes and smiling up at him when he pulled the quilt over her.

"Where are we?" she asked.

"We're home, pet, just rest now."

"So tired."

"I know, love, you've been through alot. You both have."

"I should feed her."

"She's sleeping, you can feed her when she wakes." He bent down and kissed her forehead."We've sent for a doctor too, just to check you and Anne over."

"Good."

"Sleep, Buffy love."

"Don't leave."

"I won't go anywhere, promise." She nodded her head and slipped effortlessly back to sleep holding her baby. The other Buffy stood in the doorway watching the exchange, wondering what her own Spike thought of all this. Then she sensed him, coming up behind her, but stopping before he could touch her. The two of them watched as the Spike from the future took off his boots and crawled on to the bed next to his wife and child, wrapping an arm around them and closing his eyes and resting his head on her shoulder. Buffy backed away and closed the door, turning around to face him.

"She alright you think?" Spike asked, catching a last glimpse of the baby.

"He's with them, so yeah," Buffy replied. He saw how she was shaking and reached for her, she hesitated a moment, a little startled, then grabbed for him too. She buried her face in his chest and muffled the sound of her sobs against his body. Spike wrapped his arms around her and moved them away towards her old room, which was now Willow's. He sat them on the bed and rocked them until she calmed. He held her cheek with his hand and brought her back to look at him.

"What's the matter?"

"Did you see them?"

"Yeah, 'course I did. I don't understand, love."

"Love! That's just it, you can see it's just nothing but total love between them! And that baby!"

"Yes, Buffy, but....."

"How can we ever get to that?"

"You don't think we can? Even after everything you said back at the school? You said that you loved me and that you couldn't live without me. Didn't you mean it?"

"I meant it, I do love you, god I love you more than anything in the world...but....I'm going to ruin it, I know I will. I'll suck you in and wreck you, I always do." He pulled her on to his lap so that she was straddling him and they could see eye to eye.

"You saw how he was holding her?" She nodded,"That total and utter devotion? That's what I've always given you and you know it, my love. The difference in that room is her, she's learned to take comfort in what he's got to give, learned that it feels good to give it back. You just have to learn, Buffy. What you want is right in front of you."

"Will you help me learn?"

"Of course, Buffy, you're my whole world, sweetheart."

"And he's hers, him and the baby girl. I want that too, I want you to be my whole world too."

"And the baby?"

"How's that even possible?"

"Dunno, pet, we have to wait for them to tell their tale. Would you really fancy having a kid with me?" She smiled slightly, her fingers twisting the loose curls at the base of his neck around her fingers.

"Might not be so bad."

"She's a little darling isn't she? Did you get a good look?"

"Not really...I'm kinda scared to, you know?"

"Why's that, pet?"

"Because I don't think it's really written in the cards for us. Some pretty miraculous stuff had to have happened for a vampire to be able to...the whole cold dead seed thing."

"Ah."

"It might be nice, but I don't really think it's gonna be for us too."

"Maybe, maybe not, we've never tried. There's all sorts of magic in the world. But if not, there's Anne still, we can be her strange auntie and uncle who look remarkably like mummy and daddy."

"Why are we the strange ones? Why can't they be the strange ones?" He brushed his lips across hers and smiled.

"Aunt and uncle are an okay thing to be, pet, we can spoil her rotten and not suffer for making her so."

"Sounds good."

"For now. I think they've been together a very long time. We've had what, a few hours of something real, something beautiful? Give us time."

"I think I'd like us to start now, please."

"Here? Won't Willow have something to say about that?"

"Well it used to be my bed?"

"Fair enough. I love you, Buffy."

"I love you too, Spike."

"Yeah, I know baby."

"With all my heart and soul."

"Yes, love, I know."

"Forever, okay? Really forever!"

"I know, Buffy."

"No, like...with everything I am."

"I know. Be quiet already you silly bint and give me a bloody kiss!"

Chapter 39

Buffy awoke feeling perhaps more exhausted than when she'd passed out, not to mention the fact that her body ached terribly. As she forced her eyes open the entire ordeal that has transpired came crashing back to the forefront of her mind.

"Spike!?" she cried out suddenly.

"Shhh...pet, m'right here, see?" he answered at her ear. She was gathered up in his arms with Anne cradled in between them, facing her father. Buffy let out a sigh of relief and dropped her cheek down to the top of their daughter's head.

"Oh thank god, for a second there....we're really here aren't we?"

"Yeah, Sunnydale, May 2003. Back in your own bed." Buffy kissed the top of Anne's warm crown and smiled at the miracle that was her.

"And she's really here too." The baby was quiet, clinging to Spike, still feeling uncertain of her new world, but knowing she was safe nonetheless,"Spike, she's a perfect little girl, isn't she? Our little girl."

"Nothing as perfect in all the world, 'cept maybe her mum. I'm so proud of you, love."

"I was so scared. I tried, Spike, believe me, I tried to wait, but she couldn't. You shouldn't have missed seeing your baby being born."

"We were set up, love, there no blame on you. I on the other hand...I'm so terribly sorry I wasn't with you, at the least to hold your hand....take away some of your fears."

"I had Andrew, and he was great. We'll always have this tiny regret, but how can we now that Anne's here?"

"Hardly at all. Still, I wish to have heard her first cry, seeing you take her in your arms..." He sighed and kissed Anne, lingering on her hot little head until his lips felt as warm as she. He inhaled her scent, memorizing every molecule of it, how she was a little of himself and a little of Buffy, but also of being a new and completely unique person. He sunk down further into the bed, covering her body with his hands and keeping her warm between her and Buffy. A few stray tears fell down his cheeks and Buffy kissed them away."I love her, I love her..."

"I know, William, I love her too. This is it now, okay, we don't have to look for a mission, or a figh...we're done. This is all we have to do forever, love Anne."

"Love Anne and love each other." The baby stretched and yawn, pushing off her baby blanket some before opening her eyes, wincing at the brightness in the room,"We'll need to get her clothes, toys, more...stuff."

"We'll get her lots of stuff, honey, don't worry."

"I need to get a job. Bloody hell." Buffy giggled and kissed the tip of his nose.

"Not something to worry about today. I know you'll take care of us, you always have." There was a knock at the door and Buffy sighed."Everyone's probably outside that door."

"No, it's just one person, I can tell - the lot of 'em are downstairs forming the mother of all research parties. No doubt picking poor Wes' brain down to the bloody thalamus! Hopefully he can field most of their questions. You both need rest and lots of it. You've given birth and I think you've earned a little maternity leave from being the Slayer."

"Permanent leave! Change the title from Vampire Slayer, to Mommy of Vampire's Baby." The knock came again, slightly louder.

"Come in!" Spike called back. The door opened and Giles peaked his head in, he was about to speak, but was awestruck at seeing the new parents cuddling their newborn between them."Come in, mate." Spike's tone was unexpected to the Watcher, gentle, friendly.

"Right, sorry, but we've a doctor to examine Buffy and the child," Giles explained. Spike nodded and carefully turned Anne over and into her mother's arms.

"I'm gonna wait outside, sweetheart, let you have your privacy," Spike explained in a hushed voice.

"You can stay," she whispered back.

"Truth? I want to...you know, just have a moment with the Watcher. I know this Giles isn't my friend like ours, but you know?"

"I do. Don't push him too hard." She gave him another kiss and he rose from the bed, making way for an older lady with a moon shaped face and long, bountiful gray hair pulled back in a loose ponytail. She carried a medical bag and gave Spike a warm smile. Stepping outside, the vampire closed the door behind him and found Giles still standing there waiting for him.

"Wes told you the gist of things?" Spike asked. Giles was pensive, arms crossed and head down.

"Yes, it was harrowing tale, a very bleak future. I should like to know your story, however."

"I'll tell it, we can sit down with a couple a pints of Boddingtons, little Who on in the background....what?"

"Nothing..."

"You looked shocked, Rupert. Suppose you'd never consider palling around with this time's Spike would you?"

"Hardly...I...." Spike breathed a hard, angry breath our through his nostrils and tightened his jaw. He should've know this wouldn't have be easy.

"Save it, Watcher. For what it's worth, you, Xander and Andrew were my best mates...we talked...there were times...bloody hell."

"Go on."

"When you let me unburden myself, let me be who I really am, when Dawn first got sick, you let me cry....fuck, I can't do this. You're not bloody him!"

"Spike, wait. Listen, you're right, the Spike I know isn't my friend...but, I'm willing to give you a fair chance."

"I rather that you gave my counterpart that fair chance. He's the one who needs it. Consider the fact that he would've gone on to be a man you loved and respected, a man that would marry Buffy and have child with her and love them with everything he's got." Giles examined this man in front of him and thought of what had occurred at the high school. He looked Spike square in the eye and gave a nearly imperceptible nod of consent."Thank you."

Chapter 40

The bedroom door opened and the doctor stepped out, giving Spike an unexpected warm smile."You can come back in now," she said. Spike made his way back to Buffy's side as the doctor gathered up her belongings.

"Everything's okay?" he asked of his wife.

"We're good," Buffy answered him, opening up the hemp gown she still wore in order to nurse Anne again.

"I've given your wife a few shots, all preventative measures considering the situation of the birth, other than that, everything appears perfectly normal," the doctor explained,"Your daughter's in excellent condition. I'll be designating her a file number at the hospital under your names, Mr. and Mrs...."

"Harker, Mr. and Mrs. William Harker. Our daughter's name is Anne Joyce," Buffy smiled and he winked at her. Finally giving her his real name obviously pleased her, though he was expecting he'd be on the receiving end of a few good natured Bram Stoker jokes.

"Alright then, Mr. Harker, congratulations. You can bring her into my office in a few days for a check up, I'm Dr. Beltram."

"Yes, thank you doctor." The vampire took a seat on the bed next to Buffy, wrapping his arm around her,"Up to a few visitors, pet?"

"No," she sighed, nervously,"I'm a little afraid to see them."

"I understand, love, I'm a tad off kilter too. At some point you and I are going to have to have a talk about Andrew." She nodded and held Anne just a little closer,"Giles is just outside so are our other selves."

"Maybe I could have a bath first? And we had to have someone buy a few things for the baby. I'm hungry too." He kissed her cheek and rose from the bed.

"I'll take care of it, you two just rest."

"Thank you. I haven't said it in a while - I love you."

"Love you too, be right back.

"Okay." He was met by the aforementioned trio of vampire, Slayer and Watcher as he exited the room.

"Buffy," the anomalous Spike said,"The other....I mean, my Buffy would like to take a bath and maybe borrow some clean clothes?"

"Oh, um, of course," she replied, already moving past him into the bedroom. Spike turned to Giles next.

"If it's not too much to to ask, can someone get us a few things for the baby? Nappies, clothes n' all that?"

"Actually, Willow and Dawn have already taken the liberty," Giles responded,"I have a few questions..."

"Which I'll be more than happy to answer, but first, I haven't had anything to eat for near on 24 hours and neither has Buffy." He turned to his other self,"Care to spare a pint a pig?"

"'Course...um, I have a question..."

"Come on then you two. For the record, Anne was conceived under 4th Street and Royal Avenue."

***

The present day Slayer stopped after she'd closed the bedroom door. Her other self sat curled up with pillows and the comforter, breast feeding her newborn daughter. A pang of jealousy shot through her and she tensed. The little girl was all but asleep, her small hand splayed out over the heavy swell of nourishing flesh. Buffy looked tranquil, murmuring soft words as she looked lovingly down upon the child. She looked up when she noticed she'd been joined by the other woman.

"Hey," the young mother said, gently prying the sleeping infant away from the breast and laying her over her shoulder.

"How are you?"

"Much better now that I've had some sleep and she's been fed."

"Um...Willow and Dawn went to buy her some diapers and clothes and stuff. Did you want another blanket?"

"That would be great...right now though..."

"Right, a bath. Are jogging pants and a t-shirt okay for you? For after?"

"That would be great. I just said that a moment ago, didn't I?"

"Yeah...um..."

"You want to ask me about her?"

"How did you know?"

"I'm you....well, two years from now."

"How did it happen?"

"The usual way. Would you like to hold her while I take my bath."

"Can I? Oh, maybe I shouldn't, I don't know how."

"Come here, I'll show you how." The two women made their way to the bathroom. Once the tub began to fill, Buffy passed her daughter into the arms of her other self. The other Buffy was overwhelmed at holding a baby for the first time. She couldn't remember her parents ever letting her hold Dawn,"Not so bad is it?"

"It's wonderful. She looks so much like him. How did it ever happen?" Buffy disrobed and sunk herself down into the bath.

"It was nothing short of a miracle, but then that's just Spike, isn't it?"

***

"So how is it that your Slayer's all plump as a Christmas pud and you're as thin as a bloody rail?" The present day Spike asked of his twin. The three men had gone into the kitchen and scooted out any and all Potentials, leaving them with a modicum of privacy. Spike went about his business of getting out food to prepare for Buffy and pouring a mug of blood for himself and popping it in the microwave. He leaned against the counter and spoke.

"Hard times, mate. I couldn't always trust that they wouldn't have put something in the blood. Wes gave you the gist, right? Anyways, I made all of Buffy's meals myself. After a few suspicious incidents, I didn't trust her safety to them either."

"Wesley's told us good majority of the world from which you've just come," Giles began,"I am admittedly more interested in how a vampire was able to father a child."

"Ever the Watcher, eh? One day, Buffy was pregnant. I woke up a few months ago under the sun and didn't burn. This morning my heart began to beat."

"You're becoming human? My word..."

"I dunno. I still have the demon inside. Tell you what, you research, I'll make lunch."