A New Life

Title: Sunsets (New Life- pt 17)

Author: Nimue

Rating: PG-13

Feedback: Yes, please

Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, UPN, Fox... Just Borrowing.

Summary: Buffy is in for a long labor. Spike and Giles have a conversation about the past and the future.

Sunsets

Spike stood staring at the wrong side of Buffy's bedroom door. This

shouldn't be happening, he thought. Just got her back and already leaving her in a situation that he didn't trust. Buffy didn't deserve this. He didn't deserve her. Or so he thought. Yet another door between us, Pet.

Giles put his hand on Spike's shoulder. "This could be a long while. Why don't we go downstairs and talk. Nothing we can do here."

Spike spun, facing the Watcher and pushing him hard against the wall. "Tell me again why I'm not with her? Why Red is in there with her magic mojo? Why am I standing in the bloody hallway, mate? That's my child and my....Buffy," he sputtered, not really knowing in what terms he should refer to her or their relationship.

"I understand you're upset..."

"Upset?" Spike snapped, pushing Giles up the wall a bit. "Upset doesn't *begin* to cover this, mate. I want answers. What was Glenda talking about? Dying? Tell me *now*!" He was fighting back the demon with every ounce of the energy he had left.

"They're saving her, Spike, and they're the only ones who can. I doubt

seriously that this little ruckus in the hallway is helping them concentrate on the task at hand, either, " Giles said in an amazingly calm tone, considering he was dangling from the business end of Spike's grip. Spike released the Watcher, allowing him to slide back to the floor. "Now, if you'd come downstairs, you and I can have a talk. If you still feel the need to pummel me into oblivion, I will then oblige."

Spike felt a tinge of guilt. "Look, Giles, I apologize. It's just... I

love her. You have no concept of what she's been through..." His voice

trailed off. Even Spike did not know what had happened to her after he

jumped.

"I'm quite sure you're right. It appears that you may have been through

quite a bit yourself," he responded, beginning to relax. "But, like it or not, this is the way it *must* be." Giles started toward the stairs. "You and I should talk. Coming?"

Spike sighed, taking a long look at the bedroom door. He turned and

followed Giles down the stairs.

*****

The room was silent. Buffy was lying quietly on the bed. Every so often, she would cry out in her sleep and writhe along the comforter, but she wouldn't come back. Tara had thought this might happen. She thought that Buffy might hide inside of herself to stop the fear. Stop the pain. Right now, it was a good thing. The silence made it easier for Willow to begin the spell and connect with the Goddess.

Willow sat on the bed with Buffy's head in her lap, her hands on Buffy's

shoulders. The witch had closed her eyes and Tara could see the silvery

threads of power weaving around her. A chill ran through Tara, but she

forced it back. This had to be done.

Willow was chanting softly in a language older than time and the silvery

threads became more solid. Sparkling stars danced along them like Christmas lights on tinsel wire. The power grew and spread until a circle was formed around the three women. A circle that could not be broken until the child was born and the payment made. Tara hoped that Willow could hold out that long. She closed her eyes and waited.

*****

Spike had escaped to the porch while Giles spoke to Xander, asking him to please take Dawn somewhere, just for an hour or two. It was best that he and Spike spoke alone. Xander was reluctant at first, so many startled questions and defensive answers dancing in his head, but he complied, ushering Dawn out the door on some unseen yet glorious mission.

Giles found the Vampire standing on the back porch, a plume of smoke rushing from between his lips. He closed the door, walking out to the steps next to Spike. The sun was setting over the treetops in a dazzling display of red and orange and pink and yellow.

"Haven't seen one of those in a while," Spike said, gesturing at the sun

with his lit cigarette.

"No," Giles answered. " I don't suppose you have." Giles had noticed the Vampire's sunlit entrance earlier, but there had been more pressing matters to attend to.

"Don't know quite what happened, mate," Spike said, sitting down on the

steps. Giles tugged his pants and sat down next to him. "All I can think of is that the resident hell god of that dimension.."

"Luke?"

"Wanker. He got a little off his mind and shot me with some sort of

current. It went straight into my chest. Hurt like hell."

"What other.. changes.. have you noticed?"

"Breathing for one," Spike coughed, tossing his cigarette to the ground and grinding it with his boot heel. "And this incessant little chatter in my chest," His hand unconsciously traveled to his heart, as if in the midst of a pledge.

"But you're not human either," Giles stated. Spike looked at him curiously. " Showed me a little fang upstairs," the Watcher mused, pulling off his glasses and rubbing them on his shirttail.

"Sorry bout that," Spike commented, staring back at the darkening

skies.

"Quite understandable."

"So, Watcher, what am I?" Spike asked, looking at Giles. It was a sincere enough question, and Spike had no idea whom else to ask.

"I'm not sure," Giles answered simply, " but it seems that you've been

expected for quite some time."

A confused look crossed Spike's face. "I've had enough of riddles."

"Willow stumbled across a file of Ms. Calendar's," Giles began, " A file

called Pax"

"Peace," Spike muttered, a vision of the vanilla scented moonstone girl

flitting across his mind.

"Right," Giles commented, "The language was one I'd never seen before, but Jenny had started to translate. I sent the rest to the Council..."

"Great. Sure the wankers are all abuzz to help old Spike."

"Well, they'll be interested in this." Giles interrupted.

Another curious look from the Vampire. "Well?"

"It seems that Jenny had thought that it had something to do with Angel.

The whole 'Vampire with a soul' connection...."

"Bloody poofter seems to be a magnet for the ancient prophetic types."

"But she translated the word 'soul' incorrectly. Willow spotted the

mistake. The true translation is 'heart'."

Spike thought for a moment. "And you now think this is about me?"

"It seems to fit. Even before your little journey to hell, Spike, it was your heart that ruled you for better or worse. Don't you agree?"

"Don't be so quick to propel me into some Chosen One."

Giles smiled slyly. "I think you managed to do that yourself."

Spike chuckled. "Why, Rupert, was that your attempt at off-colour humour?"

"I am still male, despite all of the estrogen in this house." Giles

commented, blushing a deep red.

"Bloody right there. Enough to turn the biggest bad into a weeping nancy boy."

"I've noticed," Giles remarked.

Spike smirked. Guess I deserved that, he thought. "So, what does this

prophesy say?"

"Well, we don't really know yet. All we have is something about a 'Vampire with a heart' and bringing forth peace. Bridging the gap between the worlds, uniting man and beast..."

"The end of wars..." Spike continued. "Heard this one, mate."

"You know something?" Giles asked curiously.

"The Peacemaker. Ancient, quite dodgy, prophesy. But you got it all wrong. Not me."

"What do you mean?"

"The Peacemaker's a girl. Ran into her in hell."

"What?"

"Trust me on this, Watcher."

"But she has something to do with you?"

"In the sense that she helped me while I was there, I suppose. That and she mentioned something about Buffy and I protecting her. Since I've shuffled back onto this mortal coil, haven't seen hide nor hair of her."

"I'll let the Council know."

"Sure they'll be bloody elated." Spike lit another cigarette. "So, are you going to tell me what's going on upstairs?" He took a long drag and coughed a bit as he exhaled. Damned lungs.

Giles explained the entire story to Spike, starting with Willow's unnerving discovery in the Tarangi texts, through all of the research on how to counteract the predicted outcome. Spike was silent, listening to the Watcher, but inside, a storm was raging. Thoughts of losing her again were like a tornado in his mind. Fast and furious and wiping out any semblance of rational thought he had left.

Finally, Giles got to why Spike was sitting out on the porch in the twilight rather than letting Buffy pummel him while she screamed in pain. He explained the spell and the magnitude of connecting with Gaea, and that Willow was the only one among them that was capable of grounding so much power. Not to mention, for the protection spell to work, only women must be present. Spike could not say he was happy with the scenario at hand, but understood much better when he realized the seriousness of Buffy's present situation.

"So," Spike said, leaning back against the step. "Give it to me straight. What are our chances here? I mean, I honestly don't think I can go through it again. She dies, you might as well start sharpening your stake..."

Giles held his chin in his hand pensively. "Well, as much as the idea of staking you may have excited me in the past, I doubt that that is best for any of us," he responded. "Although Willow has done some terrible things, she is a powerful witch with quite a bit of motivation to try and make things right for Buffy and for you. She feels that she owes you both something. Which, of course, she does. So, I think the chances of her bringing Buffy through this are very good." Spike knew that the Watcher was candy coating the words, but he clung to them all the same.

"And the child?"

"Buffy won't let any child of hers die." Giles answered smiling.

Spike smiled back at him. "No. Don't suppose she would."

They were both silent, staring at the dusky twilight skies. The world was hazed in purplish blue now, and the mother moon was crawling into the sky.

"Spike?"

"Yeah."

"You know that I don't trust you, right? You know that I never approved of your relationship with Buffy."

"I know."

"But she does love you. She was devastated when you... left. So, I'm

willing to try and work with you for her sake."

Spike looked at him. "Work with me?"

"You think that either of us could handle two of them alone?"

To be contd.

Title: Family (New Life- pt 18)

Author: Nimue

Rating: PG-13

Feedback: Yes, please

Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, UPN, Fox... Just Borrowing.

Summary: Spike makes a big decision. Will you figure out what it is? Buffy comes to and realizes just what is going on.

Family

Spike stood, stretching his legs. A sense of urgency overcame him. There was something left undone. He wasn't sure if it was something Buffy would ever appreciate, but he needed to do it all the same. Not because he *had* to, rather because it is what *he* wanted.

"You said you think it could be a while before I could see her?" Spike

asked, turning back toward Giles and stepping onto terra firma.

Giles looked at his watch as if it had some sort of baby birthing egg timer attachment. "It could be any time, I suppose. But in reality, I would imagine we have hours, if not a day."

"A day?" Spike asked, aggravated. "What's the hold up? Been baking it for nine months now."

"Well, these things take time," Giles answered, still sitting on the step. He found himself amused and a bit endeared by Spike's impatience.

"I have something I need to do," Spike began, his hands in his duster's

pockets. "Shouldn't take me more than an hour. I don't really want to

leave, but..."

"She will be fine," Giles said. "Probably do you some good to collect

yourself anyway." Spike still looked nervous. "Go. If anything happens, I will make sure to let them know you will be back in a hurry. I seriously doubt there will be any change in an hour."

"Right then," Spike responded. "Tell the Niblet that I haven't gone far. Should have talked to her more when I came in but.."

"Spike, if you're going to go, off with you. We'll be here when you

return."

"Right." Spike turned on a heel and took off at a jog around the house.

*****

A throaty scream roared around the bedroom and Buffy's eyes popped open, her shoulders lifting off the sheets, every muscle in her body contracting all at once. Tara winced at the sound. Willow was too deep in her trance to notice.

The look on Buffy's face was sheer terror. Pain ripped through her as if she had been stabbed in the stomach. Willow was chanting softly, still holding on to Buffy's tensed shoulders. Tara rubbed Buffy's calf softly, trying to calm her. The screaming stopped.

"Tara?" Buffy moaned. "What's happening? Where am I? What's going on? Is everything OK?" In her mind, she had been lying in Spike's bed, tangled around him, feeling his lips on her face. The reality of the situation hit her like a wave crashing down. She was confused, scared, in agonizing pain. None of this made sense.

"Everything is fine, Buffy," Tara answered quietly, still rubbing her calf.

"I feel like... I have never felt pain like this before," Buffy screamed

again as pain shook her, tearing her insides out.

"You've never had a baby before, Buffy."

"Right," Buffy said, suddenly waking into the here and now. The pain was slowly subsiding. This is ridiculous, she thought. I have been beaten, bitten, in hell, even dead, and *nothing* has ever felt this..."Owwwwwww!" Buffy whined as the pain finally tailed off. "How much more of this?"

"Well," Tara began. "I'm no doctor and I really know little about babies. My aunt was a midwife though. I was there for a lot of babies being born. I delivered puppies once..."

"That's a relief," Buffy said in the snarkiest tone that her exhausted mouth could muster. "Isn't there some way to tell?"

"The screaming is getting closer together. That's a good sign. Well, it is a really bad thing that it hurts so much. It does hurt?"

"Uh, *yeah*," Buffy remarked, flopping back onto Willow's lap. "Hi, Will."

"She's in a trance," Tara said.

"Oh," Buffy responded. "Where's Spike? I..." It suddenly hit her. Maybe hell had all been a dream. Maybe she was here and he was still.. gone... and she was about to become the world's first supernatural single mom. "He... he did come back, didn't he? I wasn't dreaming that was I?"

Tara smiled. "He's downstairs Buffy. He wanted to stay with you, but the protection spell requires that only women be in the circle. So, he couldn't stay. I had to drag him out of here."

A small smile played on Buffy's lips. "I wish he could be here."

"So does he," Tara answered.

*****

The crypt was dark. Spike lit the candle by the door, then grabbed another from next to the television, lighting it and carrying it with him. He made his way down the ladder and into the lower level. This thought had ran over and over in his head since things had changed with Buffy, but he didn't know how she would take it, and then he was sort of indisposed in hell. Now was as good a time as any.

He walked over to the bookcase in the back corner of his bedroom and pushed it aside. In a niche in the wall was a small wooden box. Spike sat on the stone floor, pulling the box into his lap and setting the candle on the floor in front of him.

It was so old. It even smelled old. Dust covered the wood. He blew on the top of the box, then flipped the lid, revealing the velvet fabric lining. Inside was all that was left of his life as William. A small notebook, some cufflinks, his father's watch and some of his mother's jewelry, which he had gone back for when he heard of her death. He reached for a small blue bag and shook the contents into his palm. It was beautiful still. He had remembered looking at it when he was a child. The way it changed colour when she moved, and the way it caught the light from every angle. Thinking about his mum was always hard, but wonderful. She was his first love.

Spike let his hand close on the small piece of his past. He remembered her being so beautiful. What angels must look like, he thought. She was thin and blonde and not very tall, but her spirit always filled a room. Whenever his parents had company, all eyes and ears were always on her. Her laughter filled the house. Many a night, he and Camille would lie on the floor of the upstairs balcony, a silent sibling tradition, and peer through the railings into the sitting room below, just to see what grown ups did. To hear what they talked about. Every time, mum would catch them and chase them back to their beds and kiss them goodnight. On the nights that she wasn't entertaining, she would read them poetry. Spike smiled, supposing he should have been cross with her for hooking him on the stuff at such a tender age, but back then, he had thought her sweet voice was magic.

Then daddy disappeared and everything changed. We were teenagers then, he thought, Camille being two years his junior. Mum and dad had always been so in love. Always kissing, touching, happy. Even their disagreements had been tender and passionate. He had learned about love from watching his dad bring her flowers and tell her every day that he loved her, and from watching his mom tend to them all with grace, even at their worst. When dad stayed late in town, no one ever thought anything of it. His business affairs were always second in his heart to his family, but they were crucial to their place in the world. William had understood that. But the night he didn't come home, he never came home... Camille had waited by the door all night to pounce on him and shower him with kisses as she had done every night since she could walk.

Mum had died that night. No, it was longer than that. It took weeks,

months, for her to die. Her spirit eventually faded and all that was left was the frail body she wore. She still kissed them goodnight. She still tended them while they were ill. But they were hollow gestures. Her heart had left with father.

William had tried to be the man of the house. Gone to university, but

worked all night in thankless job after thankless job to keep his mum and little sis in finery and food. It wasn't enough. Mum needed things young William didn't have to offer. And Camille. Camille just buried herself in thought and hid.

He had even tried to maintain their place in society, going to all of the social functions a young man of his stature should be attending. William never had the knack for witty banter or the aura that lit a room like either of his parents. Instead of furthering his parents' good name, the Windsors were now a laughing stock. All because he thought his heart and his words were enough to win them over. Wasn't enough for them. Hadn't been enough to save his family.

Spike opened his eyes, staring down and seeing his mother's smile in the

little piece of the shiny part of his life. When all was beauty and grace and he was part of a family.

Family.

Guess I get to give this another go, he thought, smiling and shoving his

clenched hand into his pocket.

But I won't leave.

*****

"Giles?" Xander hollered, coming through the front door. "Brought some

food and picked up this stray teenager I found at the mini mart."

Dawn slapped Xander and took a long draw from her milkshake. Giles appeared from the kitchen with a steaming cuppa. "Where's Spike? Can't wait to talk to him. Was I dreaming or did he come in while it was still light out?" Dawn gushed.

"He had an errand," Giles replied, moving into the living room and settling into the overstuffed chair. "And no, Dawn, you weren't dreaming."

"So, he's human?" Dawn asked, sitting down on the couch. Xander had

already settled in and was unbagging fast food from a greasy paper bag.

"Not quite, but I think this is a conversation better had with Spike."

Xander took a huge bite from a hamburger. "Nice of him to jet while Buffy's giving birth to his child. Real manly thing to do." His mouth was full and he wiped the corners with the back of his hand.

Giles took a deep breath and sighed. Part of him did not want to say the words, but he had made his peace with Spike. It was time that Xander learned that compromise was a part of life. "Xander," Giles began, sipping his tea, " I know you love Buffy in your own way, but it's time that you realized that she does indeed love Spike, odd as that may seem to any of us. She wants him here. She needs him.."

"Then why *isn't* he here?"

"Because I encouraged him to go."

"Good," Xander said victoriously, taking another bite of his sandwich.

"No," Giles corrected. "Spike is insanely worried about her, not to mention unnerved by what has happened to him. I thought he needed to regroup in order to be any good to Buffy. When he returns, which I suspect will be momentarily, I suggest you gather your dignity and your manners and at least be civil lest you find yourself out of Buffy's life. Were you to force her to choose between your friendship and her relationship with Spike, I doubt you would like the outcome."

Xander felt as if he had been kicked in the gut. He knew Giles was right, but he never really wanted to hear it. Spike? Why Spike? What did Spike have that he didn't? Fangs and ridges? Certainly not a soul. Bloodlust? Why Spike?

"If you give him a chance, you might like him at least a little," Dawn said timidly.

"I don't need... I don't want to hear this," Xander huffed, dropping the

remainder of his supper on the coffee table and grabbing his keys. He

strode at the door as if escape were his only hope for sanity.

"Where are you..." Dawn stuttered.

"Harris?" Spike said, walking in through the door just as Xander reached the knob. Xander looked hard at the Vampire. Really looked at his face and saw it. Saw a person. That just made it worse.

He brushed by Spike angrily and ran out the door.

To be contd....

Title: Night and Day (New Life- pt 19)

Author: Nimue

Rating: PG-13

Feedback: Yes, please

Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, UPN, Fox... Just Borrowing.

Summary: The moment comes closer. Spike and Dawn finally have a chance to talk.

Night and Day

"What did I do this time? Spike asked, closing the door behind him.

"Xander just needs some time to adjust, that's all," Giles responded,

sipping at his tea. Dawn was sitting on the couch, staring quietly at

Spike. She didn't want to force herself on him, but she was desperate for him to acknowledge her.

"I was thinking on the way back here...don't babies need things?" Spike

asked, looking quite dumfounded by the sudden reality of his life. " I mean like cribs and bottles and diapers and.... baby things?"

"Well, in anticipation of Buffy's return, we took care of all of that,"

Giles answered.

"We even made her a room," Dawn whispered. Spike looked at her, suddenly remembering how much he missed the Niblet. "Want me to show you?"

"Yeah," Spike said, holding out his hand. Dawn grabbed on, noticing

immediately how warm he was. She looked at his eyes, her own wide with

surprise. "Guess I got some 'splaining to do anyway."

Dawn just nodded, holding tightly to his hand, and lead him back upstairs.

*****

Buffy was still awake, alternating between chatting with Tara and screaming bloody murder, but at the moment she was quiet. A thin sheen of sweat covered her body and Tara could tell that she was already completely exhausted. Her eyes were dark hollows and her face was lined with worry and fatigue. It would be easier for her if Spike was here, Tara thought. She would at least be distracted.

"You alright, Buffy?" Tara asked, holding her hand. Buffy squeezed it

softly.

"I'm tired," Buffy answered. "It hurts."

"Is there anything I can do?"

"No," Buffy answered, staring at the lights around her. "Pretty lights."

"Part of the spell," Tara answered, smiling serenely.

"Do you think I'm going to die?" Buffy asked, as the pain started again. This time she didn't scream. She was too tired to scream anymore and the pain was getting worse and more frequent. She closed her eyes and held Tara's hand tightly.

"No, Buffy," Tara whispered, brushing her hair from her face. "No more

dying".

*****

Dawn flicked on the light in what used to be her room. Her bed was still there, but so were all of the accoutrements of a baby room. Crib, cradle, changing table, toys. All sorts of things Spike knew nothing about. What he did notice, however, were the walls. Two were painted midnight blue, with stars and the moon. The other two were pale sky blue, with a sun and huge puffy white clouds.

"Tara and I painted it," Dawn said. "Night and Day. Light and Dark. Just reminded me of you and Buffy." she said.

"You're idea, Nibs?" Spike asked. Dawn sat down on the floor in the middle of the room. He came in and sat across from her.

"Yeah," Dawn answered. " I kinda like art. Only thing I'm any good at.

Guess the whole light and dark thing doesn't work anymore now that you..."

"No, it's perfect," Spike said, letting his hand drop onto her knee softly. She smiled.

"See, where the two meet it's a little bit of both. Kind of like you really are. Both of you."

"Is *that* what you think?" Spike said. "Thought I was all *evil* and

*dark* and Grrr and Buffy was all *goodness* and *light*. "

Dawn giggled. Somewhere, she still had a little crush on him. "Yeah,

right," she answered. "You're real evil now. And Buffy... you've seen her in the mornings. No goodness there." Spike chuckled. "Do you really like it?"

"I *love* it, " he assured the girl. Dawn was silent a long moment.

"Spike?"

"Yeah, Nib."

"What happened to you?"

Spike thought for once before answering. "I think I will let Buffy tell you about ... where we were."

"I can wait for that," Dawn complained. "But what ... I mean..."

"Oh," Spike answered. He took the girl's hand in his, and pulled it up to his chest, pressing it against his heart. He watched her eyes as she felt his heart beating. They were wide and as curious as a little child.

"Are you human now?" Dawn asked. "Like me?"

"Not quite. Still have the whole fangy face thing. But I have this silly heartbeat and I breathe. And I can go out for a stroll at noon now without being reduced to ashtray contents, or so it seems."

"What does it mean?" Dawn said. Spike hadn't really thought beyond the

basics discoveries.

"Not sure yet, Niblet. Guess we'll figure it out as we go."

"You going to stay with us?" Dawn asked, her hand still on his warm chest.

"If that is what Buffy wants. And, of course, if you don't mind."

Dawn giggled. " I guess I'll deal with it if I *have* too," She said

sarcastically. He pushed her playfully.

"Like the room?" a voice said from the doorway.

Spike stood. Xander walked from the darkened hallway into the bright lights of the room. Anya stood in the doorway, leaning against the frame.

"Girls worked hard on it," Xander continued, scanning the wall.

"Yeah," Spike said, sliding his hands into his jeans pockets and rocking

back on his heels. "They did a wonderful job."

"Xander made the crib, And the cradle," Anya said, standing on her toes so she could see Spike over Xander's shoulder. Spike looked shocked for a moment. He turned and walked over to the furniture. It was beautifully made, with little moons and suns carved into the edges, the wood stained a deep cherry colour. The boy had a real knack for this.

"You *made* this?" Spike asked, turning back toward Xander.

Xander shuffled his feet and looked to the floor. "Yeah. For Buffy."

Spike thought a moment. In a way, he felt sorry for the whelp. He had been there himself. Still felt like he was there sometimes. Carrying a torch for the one woman who would never love you back. "Thank you," Spike said.

Xander just nodded, staring at the Vampire with a mixture of hatred and a tenuous understanding.

A brutal, earth-shattering scream broke the silence.

Spike was out the door and around the corner to Buffy's room with lightning quickness, the rest of them at his heels. "Buffy? Buffy? She alright in there?" Spike called into the bedroom, pounding on the door with his fist, a mixture of concern and annoyance in his voice.

His question was answered with a primal scream from Buffy. The sound of her pain was making him lose his mind. "That's it, I'm coming in," he said reaching for the knob. Xander grabbed his hand and Dawn latched onto his arm to stop him.

"Spike, no," Xander said, trying to be calm. The sound was scaring the

daylights out of him as well.

"And why not? I need to do *something*."

" I think you have done quite enough already," Xander retorted, losing his newfound understanding for just a moment. This was not going to be easy. Somewhere he would always be jealous that this was real. Now it was Spike and Buffy that were connected always. Not him. Spike.

"And tell me again why in bloody hell I should listen to you?" Spike

hissed, forgetting his pity, almost changing to game face. The noise was driving them both insane. Spike would do anything to get in there.

Anything to help her.

Buffy began screaming again. Spike could hear Willow chanting louder,

faster. He could not bear this. His hand began to turn the knob.

A tug on his sleeve brought him back. He turned to look at Dawn's worn and frightened little face. "You know Willow said that she has to protect her. That this ... baby...shouldn't... be ... at all. And to bring her into the world might kill Buffy. Willow said she can make it so both of them live, but we cannot break the circle. If we do, one of them, or both, die."

Spike softened, leaning back against the door. Hearing Buffy screaming,

Willow chanting, Tara cooing softly. He wanted to be with her. This was going to drive him mad.

Giles appeared at the top of the steps. "It sounds like we are getting

close. I'm going to go ahead and call the nurse."

"Your friend?" Anya asked.

"Yes," Giles answered. "She won't ask too many questions. But we need

someone here to give Buffy and the child a good looking over. Spike nodded at the Watcher. Thank God, *someone* thought ahead. There was terror in the Vampire's eyes now. This was all too real and all to frightening. All he wanted was to have her back and to know that she and their child were safe.

Dawn brought him back again. "Why don't you take me downstairs and help

me... rustle up some food," Dawn said, tears in her eyes. Her sister's

screaming was killing her too. Spike knew Dawn wasn't hungry, but also knew one more minute of hearing Buffy in so much pain and not being able to help her might do them both in.

"Right then, Nib," Spike said, taking her hand. "Off we go."

*****

Spike sat down on the couch, Dawn sliding in next to him. "I'm really not hungry," she whispered, her tired eyes all dewy with tears.

"I know, little one," Spike answered, wrapping his arm around her. She laid her head on his chest. He stroked her long, dark hair. So different from her sis, but so alike sometimes, he thought.

"I just couldn't... I can't..." Dawn choked on her words.

"It'll be fine, Niblet. Right as rain," Problem was, he hadn't quite

convinced himself.

"She's going to die, isn't she?"

"Now, do you honestly think I would let that happen?" Spike replied,

attempting to be comforting. Dawn looked up at him doubtfully. "Again?" he corrected.

Anya came down the stairs, Giles a few steps behind. "What are all these sad faces about?" Anya chirped. "I thought this was a happy time. Babies are good."

Dawn looked at her strangely. "But Willow said that Buffy might..."

"Nah," Anya continued, waiving her hand in the air. "This is Buffy. She's the Slayer. She'll be fine. Isn't this what all of the saving the world stuff is about anyway? Make it safe for kittens and puppies and little children?"

"She does have a point," Giles contributed, settling into his usual seat. Anya plopped on the arm of the couch, closest to Dawn. "We should be quite excited. Shortly, the world will be that much better a place."

"But, what if..." Dawn began, huddling closer to Spike. "She's all I

have.." Spike looked down at the girl for a second. "Ok. And Spike. But she's my *sister*."

"What if? What if the world ends tomorrow? What if a flesh-eating demon sneaks into your room at night? What if.." Anya babbled.

"Anya?" Giles interrupted, noticing the frightened expression on Dawn's

face.

"The point *is*," Anya continued, "You're about to become an aunt and

Buffy's going to be somebody's mom and Spike is going to be a father. I

think that adds up to points in the good column."

Spike knew he liked the former vengeance demon for a reason. When it

counted, she could be more human that the rest of them. "Think you're

right," Spike said, brushing Dawn's hair back over her shoulder. "Things'll be fine, Niblet. Promise. Before you know it, your be changing nappies with the best of 'em."

"What's a nappy?"

A rapid knock at the door started just before the most brutal, ear- splitting scream pierced the air. It has begun.

To be contd.

Title: Delivery (New Life- pt 20)

Author: Nimue

Rating: PG-13

Feedback: Yes, please

Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, UPN, Fox... Just Borrowing.

Summary: It's the big moment. But do things ever come off without a hitch?

Delivery

Buffy clutched the bed sheets with white knuckles, screaming. The pain was almost constant now, tearing at her, consuming her. She wanted him there. She was afraid. But Willow had said it would put them all in danger. The magic was dancing around them. A silvery white circle of little sparkly lights frolicking around the bed. Supposed to keep them safe. Tara was speaking quietly to Buffy, but Buffy could hardly hear her over the pain.

Suddenly, Buffy felt it all starting. Her eyes widened in fear and she lost her tenuous grip on coherent thought. "Where's Spike?" she panted to Tara. "Tara, help me!" She was crying now. Sobbing. "Where's Spike? Shouldn't he be here? Tara, something's happening. Something's wrong." She felt as if a huge wave crashed over her, crushing her, and she felt the baby moving.

"I know, Buffy," Tara cooed, trying not to alarm her. Trying not to betray her own feelings and admit that her own heart was racing and terrible little alarms chimed in her skull. She thought she could see the baby now. Willow chanted loudly, still lost in her protection spell. Tara thought fast, shaking off her own fear. "This baby, Buffy, this baby is a miracle. This...Buffy, we have to protect her. We don't know. No one has ever delivered a child like this. We have no idea what will happen." Just keep talking, Tara thought. Keep focused. "We are just trying to protect...."

Tara's words were interrupted by an ear splitting howl and Buffy's entire body shuddering and sliding towards her.

*****

"This way," Giles said, opening the door and ushering the nurse inside. She was older, Earthy. Very calm. Nothing at all like Spike was feeling after hearing that last sound. He was on his feet, hopping over the coffee table. "Spike, stay with Dawn. There's nothing we can do yet." Giles commanded, stopping Spike at the foot of the stairs.

"No, bloody...No," Spike argued, starting to push past Giles.

"Spike, *please*," Dawn cried, sobbing, wrapped in a little ball on the

couch.

"You'll go mad sitting outside the door, Spike. Stay here where you can at least be useful," Giles reprimanded, beginning up the stairs with the nurse in tow.

Must have a congenital weakness for Summers women, Spike thought, plopping back down on the couch next to the shaking teen. "Come on then, Nibs, we'll be useless and panicked together." Dawn crawled into the crook of his arm, sobbing into his shirt.

"Think I'll go make some tea," Anya said, clapping her hands and prancing off toward the kitchen.

*****

Giles delivered the nurse to the door, then backed well away. Just as her hand touched the knob, an awful howl pierced the air. Giles dropped down the wall, sliding to the floor. He noticed Xander crouched much the same way in the doorway to the baby's room. The noise made everything stop. Breathing. Heartbeats. Time. The world was standing still.

"Buffy?" Giles heard heavy footsteps downstairs and Spike's panicked voice calling, coming closer.

"Spike, *stay* there!" Giles demanded. There is no way I can handle this, Giles thought. Can't bear to loose Buffy. Can't handle Spike if he lost her. Whatever Spike would do, kill or cry, might not differ with him much.

*****

"Oh God, Buffy," Tara gasped. "Buffy, stay with me. Buffy...." Tara's

heart was jumping out of her chest. Buffy's eyes were fluttering, rolling back, her screaming replaced by rasping breaths. Wasn't Giles supposed to get help?

Tara heard the knob turn. It felt like that one, simple, circular motion, took a lifetime to complete. Buffy was gasping and clawing the bed, tears streaming down her now silent cheeks. Open the damn door and help us, Tara thought.

Finally, the door creaked open and quickly shut again. Tara was scooted out of the way, crawling up by Buffy's side, the nurse now at the foot of the bed.

None of them remembered much from there. Buffy whimpered then roared and her body contorted, every muscle firing at once and she fell silent against Willow's legs. Willow went silent and collapsed behind Buffy, her head knocking against the headboard. Tara's head spun in confusion, and she felt as if she had gone deaf and mute. The lights were gone. Only the lamp on the table glowed. It was a deep, warm yellow.

"Help me," the nurse whispered quietly to Tara, reaching out and touching Tara's hand. Tara looked at her startled and saw her holding a little bundled cloth.

"What do I do?"

"Can you take a pulse?"

"Yes."

"Take her's," the nurse said, gesturing at Buffy all the while fussing with the bundle in her arms. Sweeping the child's mouth. Wiping her face. Tara's fingers dropped to Buffy's neck. She didn't want to do it. She didn't want to know. It was easier to think she was asleep. "What do you feel?"

Tara was relieved to find a strong and steady rhythm. "It..it's there, " Tara stuttered. She felt her own neck. "Slower than mine, but not very slow."

A tiny noise came from the nurse's arms. Then a slightly louder one. The nurse smiled down at the baby. "The baby is beautiful," she said. "Pink. Ten fingers, ten toes..."

Tara began to ask about fangs and thought better of it.

"Stay with her," the nurse said in the same quiet, soothing voice. "Let me clean up the baby and then we'll take care of Buffy." She disappeared out of Tara's line of sight. Actually, could have been right in front of her. Tara seemed to have very limited senses right now. She sat, stunned, still checking Buffy, then Willow. Both seemed OK, other than being out cold.

Suddenly, Buffy's eyes shot open as if awaking from a nightmare.

"Buffy?" Tara whispered, rubbing her hand.

"Tara?" she replied quietly. "What happened? Where's my baby?"

"The nurse has her."

"Is she?"

"Fine," Tara said softly, squeezing Buffy's hand. Buffy went slack against the bed. "She's beautiful Buffy. You're a mom!" Tara was grinning ear to ear.

Buffy smiled. "I'm glad," she said so softly that Tara could barely hear her.

*****

It had taken a while to clean them up and rouse Willow. The witch woke up looking all the world like a hungover sorority girl, but she seemed all right. They managed to bundle the baby into clean blankets, administer shots, get Buffy sorted out, cleaned up and into a robe, which proved to be a challenge considering Buffy's body seemed to have the consistency of spaghetti. When Tara finally left the room, the nurse and Willow had propped Buffy up on pillows and given her the little girl. She cried. All of them did. But Tara knew she had to go. She had something still to do.

It was almost surreal walking into the hall. She thought she saw Giles and Xander there, but her head was buzzing and she felt as if she had a

complicated speech committed to memory and if she spoke or thought anything before she spit it out, she might forget. Tara floated to the staircase and began her descent.

*****

Spike sat on the couch, his leg twitching against the table, twirling Dawn's hair between his fingers. She had cried herself out and was asleep with her head pressed against the outside of his thigh. The screaming had stopped. Everything had stopped a long time ago. Seemed like a hundred years.

"Spike?" He looked up from the magazine he had been toying with. Dawn

didn't budge. His arm was draped over the girl as if he were still

comforting her in sleep.

Tara was standing at the foot of the stairs. Spike gently disentangled

himself from Dawn and walked over to the landing. It was so very silent.

"Is she?" he whispered. He was terrified she had not made it. That

neither of him had made it. It shouldn't be this quiet.

Tara reached out to him and touched his hand. He could feel the sting in the back of his eyes as the tears pushed against them, begging to come out. They were dead. He knew they were. Tara smiled at him softly, abandoning her long speech. "It's a girl," she said taking Spike's hand and pulling him up the stairs toward the bedroom. Relief and a new kind of fear washed over him as he walked behind Tara. But good fear. Excitement fear.

Xander was standing outside the door, pressed against the door jam. Giles was sitting like a rag doll against the opposite wall. It wasn't right that anyone else went in before Spike. Xander glared at the Vampire briefly, but let them pass without incident.

"Tara, wait," Spike said, just before her hand reached the doorknob. "Does she even...want.. to see me?"

Tara smiled reassuringly. "She has been asking for you."

Spike stepped into the moonlit room. Buffy was lying there, so tiny and

weak. Willow was sitting in a chair next to the bed, stroking the top of the child's head as Buffy held her in her arms. The nurse was leaned

against the windowsill, a pleased, motherly smile on her round cheeks.

It was so surreal to Spike. This was never supposed to happen. And he

never thought he could be so moved. For whatever reason, he thought he

would break down into sobs. The part of him that was human made this. And all of him would love and protect them.

Willow got up from the chair and took Tara's hand. As they left, Spike

turned to them. "Thank you," he said, at an unusual loss for words. Both women smiled softly and left the room. The nurse began to collect her things, leaving only a clipboard out of her bag. Spike barely noticed the woman anymore. All he could see was Buffy and the girl.

He sat down next to her on the bed. She did not talk, but she looked up

from the baby at Spike. Her face was soft. No more anger. No more

confusion. She had found her reason to live. He rested his hand on her

arm, stroking it gently, staring down at her child. Their child. The tiny blue eyed girl in Buffy's arms that had fought everything to be here. Just like her parents. Fighters.

Buffy's eyes were exhausted and teary. Spike touched her face with his hand and she closed her eyes, drinking him in. Slowly, wordlessly, she handed the baby to him and watched him take her so gently, so carefully. Spike stared at the little girl with the same love with which he looked at Buffy. He was no longer a monster. He had not been for a very long time.

"You did well, Pet," Spike said, looking down at the child, then back to

Buffy. He could hardly fight back his own emotion. Buffy watched him in awe. His face was a canvas painted with every expression at once. "What are you going to call her?"

Buffy looked at Spike a moment. Losing herself in those beautiful blue

eyes. "What was your mother's name, William?"

Spike stared at her, his head cocked, amazed at what she was thinking. His face was so soft and so sweet that she thought her heart might burst. "Emma," he said, swallowing.

"Emma Joyce," Buffy said touching his arm. "I like Summers," she said, "But the baby does have a father. I just don't happen to know his last name." She smiled, a sly grin playing on her lips. He couldn't help but be infected by it.

"Windsor," he said, looking down at the baby again, leaning in and pressing his lips against her impossibly soft forehead.

The nurse grabbed the last of her things and nodded softly at Buffy. She left the room wordlessly.

"Spike?" Buffy whispered.

"Yeah," he said, his voice starting to choke.

"I know this is going to be hard for all of us. But I want you to know that I do love you."

He was silent for a long moment. Slowly, he placed the baby back into the crook of her arm and stretched out next to her, burying his face in her hair, his arm wrapping around them both. "I know," he whispered, his voice finally breaking. A century of emotional escaping. " I do love you," he said softly. She closed her eyes and felt him there and for the first time, felt peace.

To be contd.

Title: Unity (New Life- pt 21)

Author: Nimue

Rating: PG-13

Feedback: Yes, please

Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, UPN, Fox... Just Borrowing.

Summary: Buffy and Spike are now parents. There are some major adjustments to make.

Unity

Buffy yawned, pulling herself up on her elbows. Her eyes were heavy and the room was still dark, but she could see the faint colours of the dawn seeping into her room. He was standing by the window, shoulder leaning against the frame, looking out at the purplish orange horizon. "Spike?" Her voice was quiet, but strong. Spike turned to face her, the baby snuggled into the crook of one elbow.

"You're awake," he said quietly. "Thought I'd give you a little while

longer," he continued, walking to the bed. "Seems she got a little fussy and I just thought..."

"It's fine, Spike," Buffy answered. "She's yours too,"

Spike wasn't quite sure what to say. The whole thing was so overwhelming. What he did know was that standing there, looking at the sunrise and holding his daughter, somehow felt... right. Slowly, he sat down next to Buffy on the bed. "Unfortunately, I don't think I am equipped to give her what she needs, " he said, handing her back to Buffy.

"Ah," Buffy answered. "Yeah, I'm pretty hungry myself."

"What do you want, Love?" he asked, sliding his palm against her cheek.

She pressed her face against his hand, closed her eyes and felt his thumb trace her cheekbone. I could get used to this, she thought. She let her eyes flicker back open as her hunger began to seize control of her stomach.

"Food," she answered, looking back at him. "Any food. Food flavored food."

Spike chuckled. "I can probably manage something," he said, leaning in and kissing her cheek softly. She turned her face so her lips caught his. His warmth was so foreign to her, but his touch still melted her completely. "Be back in a bit, Pet." She nodded softly as he opened the door and let it click softly shut behind him.

*****

Spike walked down the stairs in a haze of exhaustion and happiness that he wasn't sure he had ever felt in his life. It had all come crashing in at once. His life. Buffy's. Emma's. It was terrifying and wonderful in the same instant.

The living room had become a slumber party. Giles was asleep in his chair, head lolling sideways into the deep sides of the recliner. Anya and Xander were leaned against each other, propped along the wall as if they had frozen in time. Dawn and Tara were curled around each other like kitten and cat on the couch. It seemed everyone had found peace.

All but one.

Spike picked his way quietly through the living room to the kitchen. Willow sat alone at the counter, sipping at a steaming mug. She jumped at the sound of his boots against the linoleum.

"S'alright, Red," he said quietly, making his way over to the fridge.

"Scared me a little," she answered nervously. "Buffy hungry?" As she

spoke, she stood, pulling her jacket off of the table next to her and

stretching herself into it slowly.

"Yeah," he answered, scanning the refrigerator then letting it swing shut in frustration. "Nothing worth eating round here tonight."

"She likes peanut butter," Willow whispered, walking toward the kitchen

door. "Second cupboard from the left. Middle shelf. Bread's on the

counter."

"Uh, thanks," Spike responded, grabbing a plate and rustling through the

cabinets for the makings.

"Don't think Giles had time to go shopping."

"I'll take care of it," Spike answered with frost in his voice. He wasn't quite sure how, exactly, he planned on taking care of it. The realization hit him like a brick. Willow looked down, taking the tone as another indictment against her.

Willow grabbed the doorknob, her face wracked with guilt and tears. "I..I'm going to go ahead and go now. I don't ... belong here." The door clicked open quietly.

"Red, wait," Spike said, setting the jar of peanut butter and the knife

back on the counter. He walked toward the door and she cringed a little. Not so much from him. It was the learned reaction of someone afraid of everything in the world. He came towards her still.

"Wha..what? I know I need to go. I promise you I won't bother you

anymore." Tears streamed down the girl's face.

"You don't have to go," Spike said, gently taking her hand from the

doorknob. He turned her hand over in his palm, noticing the jagged red

scars across her wrist. His thumb traced the lines and he was shocked by the feelings of desperation and sadness that he felt just from touching her.

Spike thought for a long moment. "Red," he began "Your debts are cleared

with me."

"But I....I killed you. And I hurt Buffy. And everyone else..."

"Well, I can't pretend to speak for those wankers," Spike said, nodding into the living room, "but I've learned a bit bout forgiveness. God knows I didn't deserve it." Willow was shaking, still crying. It hurt Spike to even look at her. He knew where she was. He had felt that in the graveyard in hell. Somewhere, he had felt it always. "Red, you did wrong by me. But you just saved Buffy and my little girl. So we're even. You don't owe me a sodding red cent." Spike let go of Willow's hand and headed back towards the sandwiches. She stood still next to the door. Not moving to sit again, but not moving to leave either.

"Want one?" Spike asked, " Mean, while I'm up..."

"Nah," Willow answered, tentatively stepping toward the chair.

"Little hungry myself," he noticed, patting his stomach and feeling the

hunger spread through his veins. Not the hunger for spicy wings either.

Guess some things never change. Willow must have noticed his look.

"Blood?" the witch asked, quietly.

"Think a little PB&J will tide me over," he answered, licking his fingers and closing the jar. Willow stepped back toward the door, pulling her jacket around her.

"Where you going? Told you you are welcome to stay here," Spike said, as Willow grabbed the door again. The girl smiled faintly.

"I'm just heading to the butcher shop. Owe you that much at least. I'm

sure you don't really want to leave right now," Willow answered.

"No," Spike answered. "I don't want to go anywhere. That'd be fine, Red. In the meantime, I think its you that needs to work on forgiving."

Willow looked at Spike with tired eyes. As he walked from the room she

thought to herself that she felt a little bit OK for the first time in a

very long time. Funny thing is, the same thought occurred to Spike.

*****

The door opened softly. The lamp was glowing by the table, but a little bit of sun was starting to peak into the room. Buffy was sitting up, the baby resting in the crook of her right arm, a blanket pulled up to her neck. It took Spike a second to realize that it was breakfast time all around.

He sat the plate on the table next to the bed. "Didn't tell me it was going to be a buffet," Spike joked. "No fair," he whispered, his breath blowing into her ear. She closed her eyes and hummed softly.

"Not for a long time, Spike," she remarked, grabbing a sandwich with her

free hand. He grabbed her wrist, stopping her, pressing his lips softly to hers instead. "OK, some time," she muttered, her mouth still against his. He kissed her again with a little more fire. "Short time," she whispered breathlessly, "Slayer healing short." Her mouth drowned in his, melting, searing, becoming one.

Finally, he moved away, pushing the sandwich to her mouth. "Didn't want you to taste like peanut butter," he said as she took an enormous bite.

"Oh, and you didn't?" she laughed, her mouth full. He sat down on the bed next to her. The baby shifted and gurgled then went back to her mission.

"Good to see you laugh again, Pet," Spike commented, his hand fiddling with the edge of the blanket.

"Good to be able to," she answered, polishing off the first sandwich in

record time and grabbing the glass of water he had brought for her earlier.

Now's as good a time as any, he thought.

"I got... I brought you something, Love," Spike said softly, digging around in his pocket and grabbing hold of his past.

"Prezzies?" she exclaimed, gleefully.

"Got to be All.About.You.," he joked. She smirked at him. "But if you

*must* know, yes." His hand was closed around it, clenched in a fist, held against her legs.

"And?" she asked impatiently. "You know, presentation is half the..." Her words cut off as he opened his hand. She looked down at the beautiful, shiny ring and her heart stopped.

"It's a moonstone," Spike said. "Was my mum's. Kept it round because.. I dunno... but I would say I was offering you the family jewels but seems to me you've had *those* since we met..."

"Spike, I..." Buffy stuttered. What was he thinking? What did this mean? What was this supposed to mean?

"Just trying to make an honest woman outta ya," he said in that patented

Spike-is-being-snarky tone.

Buffy stared at the ring. Reached out and turned it over in his palm and watched the light dance over it. The stone changed colours at every angle. It reminded her a little of his eyes. It was truly beautiful.

But what did it mean?

"Spike, I... I'm not sure... why you want to give me this," Buffy stuttered. " I mean, it must mean a lot to you if it was your mother's."

"I'd like to think she'd approve," Spike answered, looking up as if she

might just be there.

"I'm not.." She was so torn. Half of her wanted to just take it and never question anything again. The other half was terrified of what it meant. She loved him. They were connected always through Emma. But there was so much still. So many questions. Details. Things to work through. Vampire. Breathing, heartbeat-y Vampire. Slayer. Mommy Slayer. Torn.

"Buffy," Spike said, reading the confused look on her face. "The beauty of it is that you can take it any way you want to. That part's up to you whenever you suss it all out. I'm giving it to you as a promise. I promise to love you and that I'll keep loving you, God help me, until the world implodes." Buffy chuckled quietly. "I promise that I'll be there for you. For Emma. Always."

"Every day," she whispered.

"Every day," he repeated. "And I promised that no matter hard you push me, I won't leave."

Buffy bit her lip. That was all she ever wanted, really. All she needed. She could feel the tears come streaming down her cheeks. And she could feel him raise his hand to her face and brush them away with more tenderness than her heart could bear.

"Can you accept that, Love?" he asked her, his palm still cupped over her cheek.

"Yes," Buffy answered, quietly. "Thank you." Spike kissed her nose gently, then settled back down on the bed next to her.

"Well, give me a hand then," Spike said, all business. Buffy thought for a moment. She could shift around, as the baby was finished and sleeping quietly. But instead she stuck out her left hand.

"It's free," she said, smiling slyly.

"Ah, that it?" Spike responded, his heart nearly exploding with happiness.

"I can always switch it later," Buffy said as he slid it on her ring finger. It sparkled and glowed in iridescent beauty as soon as it touched her skin. "But I won't," she mumbled under her breath.

"What was that, Pet?" Spike asked, leaning in closer to her face.

"Don't let it go to your bleached head," she quipped, just as his lips

caught hers and melted her into him again. One.

to be contd.

Title: Epilogue - Prophesy Girl Revisited (New Life- final chapter)

Author: Nimue

Rating: PG-13

Feedback: Yes, please

Thank yous: Thanks to Elizabeth, my wonderful beta. And I cannot thank those of you who have read this story enough for your time, interest and feedback. Please feel free to contact me with opinions, ideas, feedback and the like. I can only hope that you enjoyed reading this even half as much as I have enjoyed writing it.

Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, UPN, Fox... Just Borrowing.

Summary: It is a month later. How are the new parents coping? Giles comes back to town to deliver some news to Buffy and Spike.

Prophesy Girl Revisited

"Ah! Buffy, what did you feed this girl?" Spike called in disgust, fanning this face with one hand. He managed to pull the diaper off, clean the little wriggling girl up and redress her without heaving. It was getting easier.

"What are you whining about?" Buffy asked, coming into Emma's room, shrugging a cardigan onto her shoulders.

"I think that stuff's toxic," Spike commented, picking up the baby under her arms and pulling her against his chest. Buffy had to smile.

"So, you're saying I'm toxic?" Buffy asked, fiddling with Emma's clothes, pulling them down and stretching onto her toes to kiss the little girl's head.

"Are to me," he answered, pulling Buffy to him with his free hand and kissing her softly. Her knees went weak at even the slightest brush against her.

"All that nasty anti-big bad toxin," she whispered against his lips.

"Horrible stuff," Spike commented, kissing her again. He heard the door open downstairs, not that that was unusual at Grand Central Station West.

"Buffy, Giles is here!" Dawn screeched.

"Be right down!" Buffy called back.

"So why'd the old man come all the way back again?" Spike asked as Buffy took Emma back gently.

" He said it was face to face kinda stuff," Buffy answered starting for the door.

To Spike, that couldn't be good. Giles had left for England at the request of the Council only a week after Emma was born. It was now close to a month since he had left and he calls out of the blue one day and shows up the next? Spike did not like the gnawing feeling at the base of his skull.

"You coming?" Buffy asked, standing in the hallway.

"Yeah," he answered, hesitantly, then following her out the door.

*****

"Giles!" Buffy bubbled as she reached the bottom step. The Watcher looked harried and a bit jet lagged, but managed a decent smile for his charge. She looks wonderful, he thought. Slayer healing seemed to work on every level. Not only was she back to normal size, at least the size when they met, not the sickly gauntness that stuck to her after her resurrection, but her eyes sparkled and her skin glowed and her hair was longer and shiny.

She was beautiful inside and out.

"Buffy," he whispered, hugging her gently. "Hello again, Emma," he continued, leaning down and kissing the baby's forehead.

"Watcher," Spike said from the stairs. The gnawing was getting louder in his head.

"Hello, Spike," Giles said, extending his hand. Spike looked at him for a moment, then shook politely.

"Well, my time is a bit limited, so shall we sit and talk?" the Watcher said, clutching the handle of a tattered, brown briefcase between his hands.

'Sure. Sit," Buffy replied, walking into the living room. Dawn was stretched out on the floor doing homework. She'd been doing a lot more of that since Spike came back. Dawn didn't get away with much. He had the authority that Buffy had lacked. Not to say they never clashed, but Spike had become the master of teenage compromise and Dawn had met her match.

Buffy settled on the couch with Emma and Spike slid in next to her. Giles pulled a dining room chair to the opposite side of the coffee table, directly across from the pair.

"So, to what do we owe the special visit?" Spike asked, his mistrust of the situation evident in his tone.

"Well," Giles began,"as you know, the Council called me back regarding the file that Jenny had been working on when...."

"Yeah," Buffy interrupted, avoiding making him say it aloud. "So, what's up?"

Emma began to fuss and make small noises, wriggling around in Buffy's arms. She rocked the baby almost imperceptibly. Giles pulled out a stack of papers from the briefcase and set them neatly on the table in front of Buffy. She tried to lean forward to inspect them, but Emma burst into a wailing cry.

"Nibs?" Spike said, taking the baby and freeing Buffy to look at the stack.

"Got it," Dawn replied, popping up and heading to the kitchen. Spike distracted Emma by tickling her mercilessly until she was a gurgling plaything on his lap.

"Can I get the Cliff Notes?" Buffy asked, glancing over at the little girl now happily lying on Spike's legs. He seemed to have that calming effect on all the Summer's girls.

"Maybe just the highlights, Rupert," Spike said, never looking up from the little girl. Dawn bounced back in with a bottle and Spike coerced it into the baby's mouth like he had been doing it all his life.

"I would like to say there is good news and bad news, but I really can't," Giles stated. "Mostly because it is all in your perception."

"Get to the point, much?" Buffy quipped, smiling and leaning forward, her elbows pressed to her knees.

"Right," Giles said. " A little background. This file is wildly speculative. Much of it is simply conjecture. Very little can be categorized as prophesy. Jenny seemed to have started in the middle. The text itself is ancient, written in an extinct African dialect that resembles later European runes..."

"Never liked History, " Buffy interrupted, all business. "What is it about?"

"Curious bout that myself," Spiked chimed in, stroking Emma's cheeks as she happily chowed down. The girl had her mother's appetite.

"The 'highlights', right. Well, the important part is that the first Slayer was called as a result of the first Vampire's attempt at colonization of a small African village. That much we had suspected. But what we had *not* known is that they were connected."

"Connected, how?" Buffy asked.

"Remember, Buffy, this is countless centuries ago. The connection is not spelled out either. Prophesies are always somewhat of a riddle. But it was a blood tie. The text describes them as if they were two sides of the same person. The same soul divided in two. It seems open to interpretation. We could take it literally, or possibly assume they were siblings, even twins."

"That's a little....gross," Buffy said, looking over at Spike.

"Centuries ago," Giles repeated. "To continue, the lines then diverged radically. The Vampires becoming more and more dark and demonic. The Slayers becoming more and more nobel and light."

"I'm nobel and light," Buffy beamed, pushing Spike's knee. He rolled his eyes at her.

"Oh, *please*," Dawn chimed from the floor across the room.

"Do your homework," Buffy snapped cheerfully. At least she didn't make me leave the room, Dawn thought.

"The prophesy then states that there would come a Slayer, who, through her own death, would learn to accept the darkness and even embrace it."

"Oh," Buffy whispered. Spike smirked at her. "So, they knew I would die? Not to mention come back?"

"Seems to be the case," Giles answered. "It goes on to say that there would come a Vampire who's heart moved him toward the light. One who would betray his breed and who's devotion would bring him back to life."

"Who's light now, Pet?" Spike commented, tossing a towel over his shoulder and lifting the baby. He had long ago learned not to wear the duster around Emma. Leather and babies - never the twain shall meet.

"In the middle, they would meet," Giles continued, " and they would be chosen to bring Peace into the world. The lines again converge in a child born of the Slayer, fathered by the Vampire. And that child shall be Peace."

"Emma?" Buffy muttered, suddenly not feeling so amused by the prophetic riddles. "No, not this."

Giles swallowed. "The child is a Chosen One."

"Slayer?" Buffy asked, her face feeling tight. Her eyes beginning to burn.

"No," Giles answered. "The girl will bring peace between the worlds, unite man and beast. End the wars. Link monster and man...."

"The Peacemaker," Spike said, under his breath.

"The Peace....Spike you saw her too?" Buffy had refused to discuss what had happened to her in hell. They had never spoken of the that night again.

"Yes, Pet," he answered. "She helped me escape from..."

"Me too," Buffy interrupted.

"She's Emma? Emma's her?" Spike asked, completely confused as to why it hadn't occurred to him before.

"Yes... to both," Giles replied.

"So, is she human? Or is she demon?" Buffy asked, trying to grapple with the concept in her tired mind.

"Neither, really. Or both." Buffy looked at her Watcher in utter confusion. "She is human in form, but in function... we don't know exactly. We haven't quite..."

"Go on," Spike said, his eyes beginning to burn holes in Giles' mind.

"We haven't figured it out."

"Is there more that you *do* know?" Spike asked, his anger beginning to rise.

"And the Slayer will be her protector, the Vampire her champion, and together they will lead her to her destiny."

Buffy sat back hard on the couch. Spike grabbed her hand and squeezed it. "Is that all you know?" Buffy muttered.

"There is much more," Giles responded, "but we haven't finished translating." He paused for a long while. "There will be... people... demons... who would never see her succeed," Giles said, pulling off his glasses and wiping them in that familiar, nervous gesture.

"Do we know *who*?" Spike asked, one hand in Buffy's, the other on Emma's back.

"Not yet."

"Well, I suggest you find out," Spike snapped, defensively.

Giles twitched, thinking about firing back, but looked at them for a moment. He would have felt the same way had it been Buffy. Urgency. Fear. "I assure you, I will."

"So, what do we do?" Buffy asked, a tear escaping. She brushed it away in frustration.

"All I can say is to protect her. Which is what you would do anyway. She's your daughter. Raise her," Giles answered.

"Will you help us.." Buffy began, starting to cry in earnest, " help us figure out who... when... " she asked, lifting the baby from Spike and clutching the child close to her chest. Spike pulled Buffy back against his chest, wrapping his arms around her shoulders.

"Of course, Buffy," Giles answered, "but I have to go back to England. I don't trust the Council to do this correctly." Spike nodded, sharing his distrust. "But I do have a little positive news," Giles continued, placing the papers back into the briefcase.

"What's that?" Spike asked, holding Buffy closer. Any news right now was liable to send her over the edge.

"The Council has decided to let me remain Buffy's watcher. In my absence, Spike, I imagine..."

"Right," Spike answered, nodding.

"However, I have tried to convince the Council to provide Buffy with a stipend as she is the only Slayer to have reached adulthood..."

"The big proverbial *but*?" Buffy remarked.

"They declined."

"Not really good news," Buffy muttered.

"However, considering the importance, in certain circles, of Emma, they *have* agreed to pay you both as Emma's protectors. Fairly handsomely, I might add." Spike raised an eyebrow.

"The Council. Pay me? Ha!" Spike laughed.

"You are doing them a service," Giles responded, dropping an envelope on the coffee table.

"You did this?" Buffy asked. Giles did not respond. "Thank you."

Giles, nodded, standing. " I have to go."

"Now?" Buffy asked, pulling away from Spike and standing. Spike stood behind her, his hands on her hips. He felt as if she might topple down from carrying the world around on her shoulders.

"The information I have is very sensitive. I left the Council without notice. It is best if no one knows this. At least, the fewer the better. The threat could be right under our noses." Buffy was shaking now. Spike moved in closer behind her until her back was pressed hard to his chest.

" I can't... I can't do this. I can't watch her go through this..." Buffy sputtered, the tears starting again.

"I'm afraid there's no choice," Giles replied, his eyes dropping to the floor. "You, of all people, should understand that."

"It doesn't make it any easier," Buffy replied, fear and anger creeping into her voice. " And it's not like I've been relieved of duty to do this."

" I know, Buffy," Giles responded quietly.

"You're not alone, Pet," Spike whispered, leaning his head down so that his mouth was next to her ear. He brushed the hair from her face. "Can't change it. You know that. We'll just have to do out jobs. Live our lives. It'll be alright."

Buffy spun, looking up at Spike with wet and fearful eyes. "This is *not* alright," she cried. "Look at what it did to me. What it did to my family, my friends. That's not alright. People... things... will try to kill our daughter. You're OK with that?"

Spike clenched his fists. He wanted to lash back. To verbally punch her for even imagining that he thought any of it was OK. That he was content knowing his little girl was someone's prey. But it wasn't anger in Buffy's voice, in her face. It was fear. Spike took a deep breath and let his hands uncurl. "No, Love. It's not right. It's not fair. Not to you, nor to Emma, nor to me, nor Giles, nor Niblet. But it *is*, Pet. So we, all of us, protect her. Do you honestly think I would let anything happen to my little girl?" He was stroking Emma's head softly. "Honestly, Buffy?"

Buffy shook her head. Tears still streaming down her cheeks. "Do you think you would let anything happen to her?' he asked. She shook her head again. "Right, then," Spike continued," we just have to make it alright. Letting it be a sodding train wreck would be the real crime against her." Buffy was silent. His eyes were making her dizzy.

"Buffy, try to see the positive in this," Giles said. Buffy turned back to face him. "When she is older, it won't be her job to fight, but rather to stop the fighting. To orchestrate peace. She will render Slayers unnecessary and you can rest. Emma is the one that can make all of the unpleasantries just... stop."

" I would fight until I died to save her from this," Buffy snarled.

" I know," Giles answered. "But we must accept it and most importantly, you must let her be a child. I know it will be hard, but in your zeal to protect her, don't forget she is a little girl."

"I know," Buffy said, clutching the child closer. Emma was sleeping soundly against Buffy's chest. Dawn came over, wrapping her arms around her sister.

"I'll help," she said quietly. Spike squeezed Dawn's shoulder, tenderly.

"I'd best be off," Giles said, looking sadly at Buffy. He touched her arm and turned to go.

"Watcher?" Spike called, tailing him to the door. "Walk to the car?"

"Of course."

"Goodbye Buffy, Dawn, Emma," the Watcher said softly.

"Bye," Dawn replied. Buffy nodded, silent.

*****

"You sure bout all this, mate?" Spike asked as they strolled down the walk.

"Well, as sure as prophesy ever is."

"Have you told us everything?" Spike asked. He never would trust the Council, although Giles was a decent bloke.

"Everything I know."

Spike was quiet. They had reached the car. "Promise me something, Rupert"

Giles looked at the Vampire for a second and saw Buffy's fears echoing in his blue eyes. "What is that?"

"That you'll figure this out, or find someone who can. I need to know more. I need to know who wants her..."

"I promise," Giles answered. "I won't rest until I do."

"Nor will I," Spike replied, shutting the door behind the Watcher.

Spike stood, watching, until the car disappeared around the corner, then headed back up the walkway to the house. Buffy stood in the doorway, the porch light making her look like a Seraphim to Spike. He walked to her and studied her face for what felt like eternity. Spike took her free hand, toying with her fingers. "You know you're not alone."

"I know," she answered, convincingly.

"You know that I love you," Spike said, coming closer. The baby was still tight against her chest. "Always."

"Every day," she whispered.

"Every day," he repeated. "We'll make do."

"I know."

"Trust me?"

"Yes."

"Good."

*****

The blue sedan clicked silent, stopping a few houses down from the Revello drive address. He had watched the Vampire and the Councilman talking at the car. The red glow of his cigarette brightened as he inhaled, then blew a plume of dark smoke out the cracked driver window.

The Vampire had walked to the house with such purpose. Ah, the Slayer. Pretty little thing. Don't blame the demon for being so traitorous in going after that. The sandy haired man in the grey silk suit took another long drag, watching the tenderness with which the Vampire touched her. The sweet, soft expression on the Slayer's face.

Then he saw *her*.

The vinyl of the car seat crackled as the sandy haired man leaned forward, squinting at the scene on the porch. Encircled by the pair was a tiny baby girl.

The prize.

Let the games begin....

End book two