Hey all.... Um.. let's assume a few things. Assume after Wrecked, Buffy feels a bit ill. Assume after all, what everyone thinks is wrong : vampires cannot sire children. Let's assume, just for a moment in time, that the planets are aligned *just* right, that the powers that be have a sick, twisted sense of humor. And let's assume, that, after all, not everything is how it seems, and not everyone is on their properly assigned TV shows. hehehe... I felt like cueing up the "Twilight Zone" music there for a minute. I own nothing. Joss does. We all bow in reverence. Bow, you pitiful minions!!!! lol jk.

› Tequila Sunrise

ps~ James Marsters is a hotty. A friggin' hotty. AND smart. Ok. That's all.

Convoluted.

"Ex-CUSE me?" Buffy squeaked at her doctor, shaking her head, as though to hear properly.

"I can see this is a surprise... I said you are three months pregnant, Buffy. Here." She handed her a few pamphlets, telling about adoption, abortion, and OB/GYN's. "Here's a few numbers you can call, too... Are you going to be all right to drive? Do you need to call someone?"

Buffy was not in shock. She was mad. "No... No. Of course not. Don't... don't worry about it. I'll be fine."

As she walked to her car, drove past her home, to the cemetery in the south corner of Sunnydale, the Hellmouth, she repeated that to herself like a comforting mantra. She would be fine...

Stalking into Spike's crypt, she found him in his green chair, watching Passions. She strode in front of it, and shut it off.

He objected, loudly, as always. "'Ey! What the bloody 'ell do you think you're doing?? Timmy just made a mysterious phone call, and now Miguel is all soppy faced over Charidan! I mean, c'mon, Slayer, you've got to leave me alone SOMETIME! Isn't it enough that I-"

"I'm pregnant, Spike." The words were spoken quietly.

He stopped short. Pain overtook his features. "Well." He cleared his throat. "I see. Who's the lucky guy? I'll send him card. If that's all, I'd really like to be getting back to Passions, Slayer." He tried to toughen himself.

She started to cry. "It's yours. You son of a bitch. It's yours. So throw yourself a damn party."

He jumped up. "What!? Slay- Buffy, luv, it can't be mine." His eyes turned a brittle, bitter shade of blue. "We're... Vampire's can't..."

"I know, Spike! But you're it. You were the last person I was with. Think about it. Count it. It's been three months. I'm that far along."

He moved to her slowly, hoping she would allow him to hold her. She did. "I don't know what I'm gonna do, Spike... I can't... I can't afford it. It makes no sense... I'm the slayer, I have to protect everyone..." Her eyes snapped up to his, tears still streaming, her sobs hiccupping. "You can't say anything. Not... Not till I figure something out... something to tell everyone."

"Of course. Buffy... You have to let me know to help. You... I want to help."

She smacked his chest, saying angrily, "Could have subscribed to the Condom Club, asshole! You've got some swimmers!"

He chuckled. He couldn't help it. He just laughed. He placed a kiss on her forehead. "What do you want to tell them, pet?"

"I... I don't know. I can't tell them... How would they react? 'Hey, guys! Spike and I banged a few months ago. It was a big mistake. But I'm pregnant, though! Let's give it a cute name, in case it's got a vampy face!' Yeah... I can see it now. They'd have me in a loony bin. 'Buffy went nutzo. She slept with William the Bloody, the Slayer of Slayers.' Oh, man...."

"Buffy... Are you going to keep it? You aren't... you aren't going to..."

She placed a protective hand over her stomach. "Abort it!? NO! No! It's... It's a baby, Spike. It's not it's fault. We can't..." She looked at him, with pleading in her eyes. "You don't think I should, do you?"

"No!" He barked at her. If only she knew... If only she knew how much, and for how long he had wanted to have a baby. He had always loved kids. Always. "Buffy... I'm helping with the baby. I don't care what you think. I don't care what you say. I *will* be a part of bringing her up."

She nodded slowly. She would need all the help she could get. "Ok. I mean... all right. I mean.... you have to give me time to break it to them... for them to accept this. It will help, if, once I tell them, you move in. Dawn will be ok with it, and you can have mom's old room. The Scoobies will be more accepting if we present a united front. Willow will be the easiest won. Then Tara, then Anya, and then Xander."

He grinned and showed her to a chair. She sat, still planning her attack. "So. Starting... um... give me the weekend. So, starting Monday, we'll tell them, in that order. Dawn first, of course. Do you want to tell her tonight?"

"So... You two... umm..."

"Yeah." Spike and Buffy answered simultaneously, both embarrassed.

"And you're pregnant?"

"Yeah."

"Cool." Dawn smiled. "Can I be it's godmother?"

"We'll see," Buffy said. "Not because I don't want you to, it's just... you're very young."

"Yeah... I understand... Um... Will I be allowed to help?"

"Of course!" They both said.

"So.... Will Spike be moving in with us? I mean... You don't want the baby to think it's daddy lives in a CRYPT, do you? I mean... it's already coming into a SERIOUSLY dysfunctional family. But make it visit Daddy in a crypt after nightfall? Just cruel."

Spike and Buffy shifted, embarrassed. "'Ey, now. 'S not all THAT bad. It's... kinda homey, even," Spike defended lamely.

"The baby's due in December. You're 'homey' little crypt doesn't have heat. I fully expect to have a big part in bringing this baby up, and it will NOT be cold in a crypt. Is that COMPLETELY understood?" She glared at both of them. It was apparent that she was well won over...

Monday Morning, the Magic Box.

Buffy ushered Willow to the training room, which, with it's lack of windows made it a good place for Spike to be in the middle of the morning in June. Seeing him, Willow frowned, confused.

"Hey... Um... Buffs... S.. Spike's here. In the daytime. In the Magic Box."

"I... I know, Willow. There's something I need to ask you. Tell you really, and then... have you keep it a secret."

Willow backed against the door, wishing for an interruption from Xander, a customer... ANYONE... "Buff... I'm really not good at secrets... Really REALLY not good at them."

"I... I know... But I plan on telling the others soon.... It's just... gonna take a little bit, and I need... well... um..." She cast around for the right words.

"Backup." Spike tossed his cigarette to the ground, stepping on it.

"Yes... Backup. Will, please?"

She took a deep breath. Sometimes, the best friend role had more obligations than she liked to think about. "All right. My word."

Unconsciously bracing her shoulders, as if expecting a blow, she faced off to Willow. Reading the situation carefully, Spike came from behind Buffy, laying a hand on her back. "Easy, killer. She's a friend," he whispered.

She relaxed under Spike's touch, and dropped her head. Staring at the toe of her boots, she said quietly, "I'm pregnant, Will."

Willow laughed nervously. "What, Buffy? I can't hear you. It almost sounded like you said that you're-"

"I did say. I'm pregnant." She raised her eyes to her dearest friend.

She shook her head. "But... But Buffy... Riley's been gone... and... And... you said you and that frat guy... that he... ya know... condomized."

Buffy swallowed hard, and reached back unthinkingly for Spike's hand. Holding it behind her back, she spoke. "It's Spike's. The baby... The baby... is ours."

Complete shock encompassed Willow's face. "Oh, MY God! OH my GOD! Buffy!! AGAIN!? Oh... oh... Dear... This... This is bad... oh my. Can we not tell Giles? I mean, we all love him. We don't want him to keel over... SPIKE!? With SPIKE!? Without..? How could you not-!?"

"Well," Buffy started the embarrassing explanation, when Willow held up her hand. "NO! No, no, no verbal explanations! NO IMAGES!" Her hands flew up to cover her eyes. "Buffy... Vampire's... No. I mean," she looked at Spike. "I really like you. I think you've helped a lot when you didn't have to. I appreciate it. But... Surely you can see how this is Class A, Code Red bad!?"

His head tipped to the side, considering her. "I like you, too, Red. You've been one of the only ones to treat me decent. But I'm this baby's father. I will raise her. I will love her, and I will see to it that anyone, or thing that hurts her dies slowly, and ends up in hell."

The intensity in his eyes confirmed his speech, and Willow wasn't that shocked. She had seen him with Dawn. She guessed he had always wanted to be a father. But this sealed her participation in this freak show. "You have my support and blessing." She nodded. "Resolve face."

Buffy hugged her. "Willow... Thank you. I... You don't know how much this means to me... I-"

"Buffy... You're my best friend. Ever. And I love you."

Buffy nodded. "You're mine, too, Will. I love you, too. Thank you for doing this..."

Willow nodded. "Want me to tell Tara?"



End Part One.

Part Two.



Two friends and three days later, the Scoobies faced Xander. Buffy opened her mouth to speak, but Spike gripped her hand, silencing her.

"Look, Xander. You don't like me. Tha's all right. You're protective of Buffy. I like that. It means a lot. But she's pregnant and the baby's mine. Tha's how it goes. And I will not leave. I will raise her as my own, and love her as such. If you've got a problem with it, step up, and we'll handle it."

"..." Xander sat, shell-shocked. Spike coming out in broad daylight, in a dress, skipping, and singing "Feelings" could not have surprised him more. "Buffy, is it true?"

"Yes, Xander..." She lay a protective hand over her still flat stomach. "The baby is ours and we love it."

Xander sat, licked his lips. The day had come. He chose his pride, or his friends. His ingrained misgivings, or chance. And only one way would guarantee him one of the best friends he had ever had. He swallowed, and stood. Face to face with Spike, he nodded.

"If you ever hurt her, or the baby, I will tie you in the morning sun to slowly fry. Until that happens... Welcome." He extended his hand.

Taking Xander's firmly in his own, Spike shook. The Scoobies let out a collective sigh.

Buffy cinched a silver chain belt low on her hips over the tight black dress. Pulling on her knee high boots, she surveyed herself critically in the mirror. The dress was short, the boots were high, and her makeup heavy. And her stomach was still flat.

He watched her critique herself in the mirror, running her hands over her stomach where his baby grew. Her makeup was too heavy for his liking. Walking up to her, he grasped her hand and twirled her slowly in a circle. Seeing the surprise in her eyes, he made a note to himself to do sweet, simple things more often.

"Do you trust me?"

She met him with an immediate, "No."

Chuckling, not half as mad as he would have been two weeks ago, the query passed his lips softly, "Will you? For just ten minutes?" Reading the wariness in her eyes, he gave a laugh. "I won't hurt you, luv."

She gave him a look, then sat back at her vanity.

Spike walked out, stopping to get a wet cloth from the bathroom. Walking back in, he said, "Close your eyes."

Still in a good mood, she closed her eyes obligingly, only muttering slightly.

He grinned at her token protest, then wiped the cloth over her face gently. Felt her freeze, then let him continue. Staring at her newly clean face, he was reminded of the one night they had together that had changed everything. Staring at her vast array of cosmetics, he grabbed a black eyeliner, and smudged it across her lashline, then added a light layer of silver dust.

"Ok... Scared... Are you done clowning with my face?"

Making at face at her closed eyes, he muttered, "No. Shut up."

Pulling a small chain with a charm out of his pocket, he fastened it around her neck. Her hand flew up to his wrist, her grip hard, eyes open.

"Slayer, slayer, slayer... Have a little faith. I got you a present." Worry flickered across his blue eyes. "Do you like it?"

Turning to look in the mirror, she drew in her breath sharply. Her fingers reached up, but didn't touch the pendant.

It was beautiful. A work in sterling, it was a carefully, painstakingly detailed angel with long hair, and a fiercely determined look on it's face. The thing that brought tears to her eyes was the sapphire heart that the angel was hugging so protectively.

"Oh..." She was awed. In a rare show of affection, she stood, and hugged Spike softly. "Thank you," she whispered, and turned to look at her makeup in the mirror. And again, was shocked. It was pretty, almost smoky looking.

"How," she questioned suspiciously, "do you know how to do makeup?"

"Hey," Spike said defensively, "everybody wore makeup in the 80's. Everybody."

Laughing, she stood, grabbed her purse and headed for the door.

The evening as well as her makeup wore well. They laughed, the Scoobies made toasts with Coke, and for the first time, Dawn felt a part.

A slow song started and Xander asked Buffy to dance. Accepting his hand, she was guided to the floor.

As people paired off, Anya sat, saying, "You all must realize what a good friend I am to Buffy; letting her touch Xander like that." She twitched uneasily.

Spike managed a smile, watching Buffy lay her head on Xander's shoulder, listening as Xander whispered in her ear. Watched as Xander gathered her close, as she squeezed him back, just as tightly. A deep breath, unnecessary, and he reminded himself that they were just friends.

"Wanna dance, Niblet?"

"Umm... Yeah.... Sure..." She giggled as he bent low over her hand.

As they swayed to the music, Spike was shocked at how well Dawn danced in his arms, and how aware the other lechers in the room were of the fact, too. He pulled her very close, moving as little as possible.

Dawn noticed the evil look he gave the other dancers and smiled. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she kissed his cheek and cuddled into him. She gasped softly as, on the other side of the floor, Xander and Buffy leaned toward each other...

"What? Niblet-" Spike tried to turn his head, succeeded against Dawn's restraining hands, until, desperate, she grabbed his face and kissed him, full on the lips.

Xander and Buffy pulled apart, smiled at each other, and walked together to the Scooby table.

Fighting back an intense urge to gag, Dawn waited until Xander and Buffy were walking away, she pulled away, and looked up at Spike shyly.

His face registered shock, horror, and complete confusion. His eyes were huge, his hands out at his sides, fingers spread.

"I... Umm…" she smiled faintly. "Congrats on the baby? Come on... I'm sitting down."

The evening ended, and after they had been home for a bit, Dawn holed up in her room, Buffy asked, "Would you go check on Dawn while I jump in the shower?"

"NO!!!!" Spike's shout reverberated through the house. "I... I mean... she's... A grown little lady, and she deserves her privacy... Not... Not that I'd... hmmm... ever think of her like that... Um... YA know.. All... Ummm.. Grown... and... Womany... and... such... And... Ya know? I think I left something at my crypt. It might take a while to get... so... Um... don't wait up."

As Spike turned and stalked out of the Summer's home, Buffy was already up the stairs, knocking on Dawn's bedroom door. Without waiting for an answer, she walked in. Dawn was sitting on her bed, a toothbrush hanging from her lips, a book in front of her.

"What the hell is going on?" her older sister demanded.

Dawn glared, then replied, "Brushing my teeth at ten minute intervals."

"For... A half an hour?"

"Yeah." Defensively, she turned a page.

"Umm... Ok... I'll bite. Why?"

Giving her sister a droll look, Dawn looked her in the eye and said calmly, "Because I kissed the undead father of your child, your fuck-buddy, the vampire, Spike."

Registering her shock on a scale of one to ten, she had just hit a seventy-three. She blinked. Again.

"Why?"

"So he wouldn't see you kissing Boy #2, Scooby Gang original, engaged to recently human, ex-demon Anya, Xander." 'Goddess of Truth,' she praised herself sarcastically.

Buffy groaned. "You didn't..."

Dawn waved her toothbrush incriminatingly.

"Shit. Ok... Let me tell you what happened..."

End of part 2

Part three.

Please, R&R. Always.

Tequila.

Walking into Spike's crypt, two things stood out to her. The liquor on his breath, and the look of absolute panic in his eyes.

"You can't stake me, Slayer.... Not yet. Let me see my baby first. Please, Slayer, please. I didn't mean to."

"Dawn kissed you."

Even in his drunken state, he tried to protect Dawn. "I kissed her. Right took bloody advantage." Swung the bottle back, drank.

"Ok..." She sat down in his green chair, crossed her legs. "Why'd you take advantage of my baby sister and kiss her?"

Scrambling through his liquor-impaired mind, he tried to think of something. Anything. "The... There was something on her lip, and... I... Uh... mmm... Kissed it off?"

"Laa-ame," Buffy sang.

"She... looked beautiful in the club lights?"

"Pervert."

"I didn't like the way the other dancers were looking at her?"

"Plausible... But no."

"Wanted to make you jealous?"

She scoffed. "Would you like to know why Dawn kissed you?"

He collapsed into a sitting position, an attentive disciple to her wisdom. "God, yes."

"Because... I... Ummm... I kissed Xander. It wasn't..."

He raised a hand for silence. "Hold. Up. The Bit kissed me, 'cuz you kissed... Doughboy? You *kissed* him?"

"It wasn't like that!" She cried defensively. "We were talking and he... we told each other what... we are to each other..."

"Which is..?"

Flustered, Buffy stood, paced. "What do YOU think?"

Spike stood stiffly alongside her. "I know exactly what I think. Why don't you tell me what you know?"

Buffy crossed her arms, her hands hugging her elbows. Laughed uneasily. "I don't even know why I'm explaining this to you."

"Well, do it, anyway." His frustration was rising, and the only thing keeping him from lashing out was his baby in her womb.

Giving him a look she spoke softly, "We danced, and the whole time he was telling me how he used to be so in love with me. I was... his dream..." She dropped her eyes from his blue stare, uncomfortable.

"I can understand that, luv. Go on." His head was held high, but his shoulders spoke another, hopeless story.

"But then, he told me that Anya was his all, that missing piece of his soul, but that I was as his best friend, and I told him the same." Paused. Rephrased. "Minus all the love stuff. And he wished me luck. With Dawn, the baby... and... With you." 'Deep breaths, Buff,' she reminded herself. "Then he kissed me, and we walked away."

"Then Niblet-"

"Wanted to be sure you weren't hurt. And kissing you... Last ditch resort." She laughed. "Dawn's probably still brushing her teeth."

At his puzzled look, she shook her head. "Guess you're not a good kisser to her standard."

He all but yelped, "Hey now!! No judgment! I wasn't even TRYING! I mean..."

She laughed. "I know. Remember? I know."

"Yeah... Yeah... I know you know." He stepped towards her, laying a hand on her stomach. She wrapped both her hands around his wrist, smiled softly.

July came and went uneventfully. Dawn woke with a start, hearing yelling downstairs. Creeping down her staircase, she stared, a hand pressed to her mouth to stifle a giggle.

"Stop telling him war stories!!" Her sister yelled. "Negative expressions are BAD FOR HIM!" She thumped Spike on the side of his head forcefully. "Geez!"

Spike snarked back, "Shut up, Slayer. SHE likes the stories."

Dawn laughed, watching. Buffy's tight tank top was pulled up, baring her slightly rounded belly. Her hands were on her hips. Spike knelt before her, at eye-level with her stomach, hands on either side of her womb. Both were glaring. Finally, Spike gave in.

He leaned forward, kissed her stomach softly, and said, "And they all lived 'appily ever after. Good night, baby-mine."

Suddenly feeling intrusive, Dawn crept back to her bed, a soft smile on her lips.

"So... Ummm... Anyone else noticing the LACK of calling Giles and saying, 'Hey! G-man! Buff's prego... With Spike's kid... hahaha'?" Xander asked.

"Yeah," Willow said sadly, crunching a carrot.

"And," Anya added, frowning intensely over seating arrangements for the wedding, "they fight. About everything. Even the sex of the baby. I think they love each other."

Dawn held her own hair as she heaved in the bathroom of Sunnydale High. Wiping her burning mouth and nose, she walked to the office, past the secretary and picked up the phone; dialed.

It rang once before a groggy Spike answered. "Buffy?"

"Where's Buffy, Spike? I need to... I need her."

"What's wrong, Niblet? Are you ok? Demons? You hurt?"

She gave a tiny smile at his concern. "No... I'm fine. Just sick. I wanna come home. And I need Buffy." The last part of her claim came out in a slight whine.

"I... Nib, she's at the doctors... I can be there in 2 minutes. Be outside."

"I can't. I have to be signed out." Her eyes watered as her stomach rolled. "I want Buffy."

"Two minutes, Dawnie. I'll sign you out."

True to his word, two minutes later, the old DeSoto's tires squealed, and he jumped out, coat over his head, and stalked into the building swiftly.

Staying as far from the light as possible, he made his way to the office. Signing the piece of paper nearest to him, he bellowed, "DAWN!! Let's GO, Niblet!!"

"Ex-CUSE me, sir!" The secretary said indignantly, "Some ID please?"

"Sod. Off. Bitch." He enunciated clearly, adding a snarl for good measure. "My NIECE is sick, her sis is at the doctor's, so I'm signing her OUT, all right!?"

There was something... just lurking in his eyes, and under his skin, that made her stutter her response. "I...I-I... Of course.. F-f-f-feel better, Ms. Summers."

"Uh-huh," Dawn replied, as Spike pulled her along behind him

Buffy walked slowly up the sidewalk, looking at the sonogram picture in her hand. Ran a finger over the forming head and body of her baby. Her baby. With a heartbeat. She barely noticed anyone else with her until Spike was yelling, pulling her quickly after him.

"-hasn't stopped gettin' sick yet! Cor! It's been at least an hour. Hurry UP. she's been crying for you!"

Buffy snapped out of her haze and began to run up the stairs to her home...

But not before she noticed Spike running beside her, uncovered...

And un-burning.

After putting Dawn to bed, holding her until she fell asleep, Buffy went downstairs, the picture in her hand.

Spike was heating a cup of blood, looking frazzled. "She's all right, then? Settled in? Does she need anything?"

"No." She handed him the picture and sat at the table.

He sat, too, holding the picture. "This is her? My baby?"

"Yup. That's him. Our baby. I... I told her I didn't want to know the sex of the baby... kind of a surprise, ya know."

"Yeah." He stood, kissed her forehead. "Dawn woke me too early in the afternoon. I'm gonna go the crypt, catch some shut-eye."

"Spike... You may as well get used to sleeping here. Just... take my room. I'll be up a bit later."

"All right," he agreed casually, thinking that big steps were going unacknowledged.

An hour later, sure everyone in her household was asleep, she picked up the phone and dialed a number off a small scrap of paper on the phone stand.

"Hello?" The familiar voice washed over her.

"G-Giles? This is... It's me. Buffy."

"Bu-Buff? Buffy? How have you... emmm.. Been?"

"Um... Well, I guess. But, Giles... There's some things... Things that you need to know. But first... I have to say some things. I miss you, firstly. In training, in advice... You were always... almost... a... a... surrogate dad to me, and I just wanted you to know that I love you. And I'm thankful for everything you've done."

"Oh, Buffy... I miss you, too. I'm... I'm glad you think so highly of me.... I... when I... When you... well, I lost a daughter, when we lost you."

There was a deep silence, an embrace across oceans.

"But... Buffy, what do you need to tell me?"

"I'm... That I'm... pregnant, Giles. Four months pregnant."

"Well then..." She could hear him cleaning his glasses, then drop them. "I see... Congratulations, then... Who is the father? Do you need anything?"

"No... Nothing... But I'd love your company... But that isn't the important part-"

"Buffy. The father?" The steel she remembered was back in his voice.

"Spike.ButIreallyneedyoutolookupaprophesyformeand-" she rushed.

"Spike!?" She could hear him standing. "Buffy! Spike!"

Her voice timid, she said,"I know, Giles... I was there." She lay a hand on her stomach. "But I love him."

"You're... in love with Spike?"

"I... What!? No. No! The baby... My baby. I love him very much. Spike." She laughed nervously. "Actually, I have a professional question to ask you. Ever heard of a vampire walking unharmed in the light... Sans help from the Gem of Amarra?"

"Ummm.. Not off the top of my head. But it's... 3 am here, Buffy. In two hours, I can get into the Council library."

"All right... Thank you, Giles. I... I miss you."

"I miss you, too, Buffy. Now go to... Wait. Spike's the father... Walking in the light?"

Sensing it was a bad thing, she mumbled, "Um... Yeah.. kinda..."

"No burning?"

"Not a sizzle."

"Lovely. I'll call you the instant I find something... Before I go... The chip?"

"Ineffective."

"Of course. Right. Good night, Buffy. I'll call you soon... Buffy?"

"Yeah?"

"Be careful... I love you." The line went dead.

Three hours later, the phone rang, and Buffy snatched it up before the first ring was over, praying it hadn't woken anyone.

"Giles?"

"Yes. Buffy... I found something... You.... you won't like it."

"I don't care if I like it, Giles... I need to be able to prepare for it."

"All right. Sit down..."

She sat, a pen in her hand, ready to scribble down the key phrases of the prophesy.

"The one that hunts the hunter, will be only able to conceive with one, and walk among the living unharmed in the light before the end of the second lifetime. The child will walk among the living, be of the living, and live to save all in a single battle. The child will be of dark beauty. The chosen's father will walk among the living, and age as one."

Buffy dropped the pen, a strangled sound emerging from her lips.

"Buffy? There's... There's more. As a mortal, he will answer for sins. He and the hunter will stand united with old enemies, and lost souls will be regained, and postpone the last of days."

"Giles... Giles... explain the... the... walking in the light, before the end of the second lifetime... That part... I'm... confused."

"It means, I think, that everyone is allotted seventy years. So, think, that the second lifetime will be... 140 years. He's... 128, correct?"

"Hundred and twenty-nine..."

"Exactly. It was bound to happen. With or without the child, he would walk in the light. But the second lifetime will be up in.. little over ten years..."

Her hand lay on her stomach, fearful. "My son... my baby will fight?"

"And you, Spike, and a few of your enemies alongside."

She groaned. "Shit, shit shit. And Spike gets his soul back?"

"It doesn't say him... but, yes, I am assuming that."

"All... All right... I.. I have to go, Giles. Thank you so much."

"Of course... Watch yourself."

"You, too." She hung up.

Spike sat in the upstairs bedroom, the phone hanging limply in his hands, the dial tone sounding, and tears streaming down his face.

"What the BLEEDIN' HELL am I supposed to do with a SOUL," he raged to himself. "Be some brooding poofter like Peaches? No pissing thank you! Shit! What next? The prophesy means mortality!?" As angry as Spike was, the fear was lurking too close to the surface for his liking. "I'll go to hell... I'll get old, and sick, and I'll die, and then I'll go to hell... As a mortal, I'll answer for my sins?? I was the SCOURGE OF EUROPE!!!! I *AM* the scary story people tell their kids at night! And I like it like that!! At least.. I won't get old... Old, and crippled, and weak.... and sick..." His voiced trailed off, and he replaced the phone.

The next night, while Buffy and Spike were patrolling, there came a knock at the door. Dawn padded downstairs, opened the door, pushing her disheveled hair out of her eyes.

"Oh my God."

end of part 3

And here we go.. Part 4.

I was wrong. There's gonna be loooots of parts to this, but it's on it's way. Please review. Joss is God of the Buffyverse. *cries* To the wonderful people who review, all the time. I love you.

Tequila Sunrise

Dawn padded downstairs, opened the door, pushing her disheveled hair out of her eyes.

"Oh my God." True terror clawed up her throat, but she contained it, and unknowingly plastered a very Spike-like sneer on her face.

"May we come in?" Angel asked respectfully, gesturing to the dark- haired woman beside him.

"Hell no." She produced a stake from the waistband of her Hello! Kitty pajama pants.

"I can just walk in, Dawn. I'm trying to be polite."

She swung the door open. "I invite you... to try."

Angel sighed and walked forward, almost knocked on his butt by the invisible force by the door, pushing him back.

"It's an uninvite spell, asshole. And this is a stake. I am Dawn, the Key, and you are Druscilla, the big, big bitch who hurt Spike. Oh, did I mention that I'm sick? So I'm in a reallllly really pissy mood. Quickly. You have two minutes to convince me why I shouldn't make you a dusty present for Spike's ashtray."

"I've had a vision," Druscilla started slowly, "about her baby..."

"You stay the fuck away from my baby, you demented undead whore!" She was careful to stay with in the safety of the house. She raised her hand with the stake defensively.

She started and turned, bringing the stake down sharply as someone's hand closed around her wrist, stopping the stake's flight to his unbeating heart.

"Easy, Niblet. Unholy shit. And watch your bleedin' mouth. You mother would kill you. Hello, Peaches. Dru."

"Can we come in now, Spike?" Angel was getting exasperated.

"Not for your soul." Buffy's voice came, her hands protectively on Dawn's shoulders. "Leave."

"I have news... About your baby," said Dru in her wispy voice.

"You leave our baby alone, or I'll drip holy water through your unbeating heart."

Dru appealed to Spike. "You always trusted my visions... How else would I know about it?"

"Kinda cold, guys." Angel whined pointedly.

"Yeah. Since Spike is staying here now, you can stay at his crypt."

"Dawn. A minute. Spike... still uninvited."

Stepping aside to the kitchen with Dawn, Buffy ran her hands over Dawn's arms, checking for injuries.

"Did they touch you?"

"No. Stayed in the house. Are... Are you all right?"

"Yeah.... Yeah.... I just... needed a minute. Oh man... Angel and Dru. Ex's abound, Dawnie. I can't handle this. What am I gonna do?"

Dawn was shocked. Buffy never confided in her. "We're... Gonna let them stay here. In the house. Where we can keep an eye on them. It'll be ok, ok?"

"Yeah... Good idea, Dawnie. Ok... Ok."

After a moment, Dawn said quietly, "I was reading one of Willow's spell books."

"What!?" Buffy did NOT have time for this. "You're kidding me?"

"No... I found a spell. It's an uninvite spell, but not for a house. It's a smaller one. We could use it in one or two rooms we don't want them in."

Mulling it over, Buffy nodded slowly. "Good idea... Do you have the book still?"

"Yeah... and.... I don't know why, but I took candles and all the stuff you need for it, too. I just... I had to."

Nodding understandingly, she ran her fingers through Dawn's hair. "You did well. Let's go."

Walking out, hand in hand, Buffy reached in front of Spike, and shut the door in Angel and Dru's faces.

"Just a minute!" She called. Grabbing Spike's hand, the three trooped their way up the staircase.

Pulling his hand loose, Spike stood his ground. "Look luv, I was talking there, and-"

"Do you love me?"

"What kind of bleedin' STUPID question is THAT?"

"Do you love me? Or at least, do you love Dawn?"

"I love you both more than anything else. But that doesn't have anything to do with your manners-"

"We're making sure Dawn is safe. Just sit and shut up." She dragged him into Dawn's room, as her little sister gathered the necessities.

"Hey!" He yelped. "That's Red's magic stuff."

"Yup," Dawn said, giving him a hug. "I love you, too."

"I don't know if you two should be playing with this... You know there are consequences."

"It's ok," Dawn reassured him. "I know this spell. It's safe."

"Niblet!" Spike was at the end of his rope. "What are you doing with magic shit!?"

"It was... an impulse. But a good idea. It's an uninvite for a room. I'll be safe." She gave him a doe-eyed look. "So will the baby."

That was the clincher, and everyone in the room knew it.

She and Buffy sat on the floor, a bowl and lit candle between them. Spike stood the the side cautiously.

Dawn poured water from a small flask into the bowl and took a small piece of wood from a velvet pouch.

Holding the wood over the candle till the flame caught, she threw it in the bowl, where oddly, it stayed lit. Holding hands with Buffy over the bowl, Dawn began to speak softly.

"With flame and water, thought to conceal

This room under our care to seal

From undead and evil let this place now be free.

As we will, so mote it be."

Blue flames shot up from the bowl, singing their clasped hands. The girls eyes were closed in concentration, neither seemed the notice when Dawn's string friendship bracelet caught, engulfing her wrist in flames.

Spike watched, wanting desperately to tear their hands from the flames, but waited, knowing that messing with magic before a spell was complete could unleash some very big nasties. So, he stood, helpless, every muscle tense.

Finally, both girls cried out, their hands flying apart. Spike knelt between them, a hand on each of their faces.

"Are you all right? Nib, Buffy... Let me see your wrists. Now." The fear was something he wasn't accustomed to, creeping up his spine like the warning of an unwelcome visitor. He examined Dawn's wrist first, turning it over, seeing no burns, the same went for Buffy.

He picked up the bowl, examining its contents. Buffy slapped it out of his hands, saying sharply, "Don't touch it! It's holy water!"

He recoiled slowly, showing no signs of panic. But he felt a burning on his legs, arms and torso. The room was attacking him, and they didn't even know it.

"Invite me in," he gasped, as a pain gripped his stomach, doubling him over.

"What? We thought if you were in here when we did the spell then-"

"It *burns*, Slayer," he ground out, panting.

"Wel-welcome to this room. Always."

He slumped against the wall, his hands shaking badly. "Cor. Allright. All right."

Buffy was feeling his arms and torso for injuries, but her hurried search seemed fruitless.

"Go. Invite them in now, pet," he said softly. "I need to talk to Dawn."

"But, I-"

"Go." His authority jarred her and she moved for once to do as he said.

"Come here, Dawn," he said as soon as her sister left.

She crept slowly towards him, where he lay propped against the wall; knelt in front of him.

"Touch me."

"What?" She recoiled slightly, her hands behind her back.

"Touch me here." He pulled up his shirt, revealing a cut over his left side that had escaped Buffy's searching hands.

"Vampire's heal quickly, Spike," she mumbled.

"Touch. It. Niblet." He looked at her sternly.

She placed a shaking hand on the cut, feeling it seal under her palm. Jerking her hand back, she sat down quickly, rocking back and forth, crying.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. What happened? Spike.... I'm sorry."

He laid a hand on her cheek comfortingly. "It's all right, Niblet. It'll be fine. When an innocent uses strong white magic, their touch has a healing property for a few minutes after the spell. It just hurt so badly, and white magic wounds take weeks to heal. I didn't mean to scare you. By the time we wash up and go downstairs, it'll be gone."

She raised a tear-streaked face to look him in the eye. "Promise?"

"I promise." A sudden thought gripped him, and he all but barked, "Pull up your shirt. Show me your side."

She pulled up the right side of her shirt, getting goosebumps from Spike's cold fingers brushing back an forth over her skin. "What?"

His relief was so great that he missed her deception. "Sometimes, to heal, an innocent takes on the wound."

She leaned up and kissed his cheek. "That's silly. But go down and take care of her. I gotta pee."

He rolled his eyes. "Take out a billboard, pet... I'm sure the rest of the world wants to hear that, too."

"Go," she laughed.

As he walked downstairs, she locked the bathroom door carefully behind her. She winced as she slowly peeled her tank top off, grimaced as she stretched.

"Sorry, Spike,"she muttered, looking at the seeping cut on her left side. She found the medical supplies, and two gauze pads, neosporin, medical tape, and a new tank top later, she was tramping down the stairs.

End of part 4

Ok... Start, part 5.

House Rules and Claiming. I own nothing, but Joss is working a deal out. haha. Just kidding. More tonight. Thanks for the reviews. I need more.

Always.

Tequila Sunrise

"House rules, Angel," Buffy said sternly. "One. Daylight hours, you sleep. You NEVER come upstairs, or downstairs. The phone goes unanswered, same with the door. Night, you go as you please. NO human happymeals. None." Leaning close to him across the table, she said threateningly, "And you touch Dawn or my baby," she paused, rephrasing her usual death threat. "And little Connor's mine."

She leaned back and had the satisfaction of watching Angel's demon visage come to the fore, and visibly restrain himself from lunging across the table at her. Roundly ignoring it, she continued. "Pigs blood in the fridge. No smoking in the house, no alcohol. Light's out at eleven. The basements furnished, you'll stay down there. Linen's in the closet. Questions?"

"Social Services comes again in two days," Dawn said around a yawn.

"Right. And Spike will be in respectable clothes, being a 'male disciplinary figure' in your life. Oh, and if they ask, 'William' and I are getting married."

"Where's the ring?" Dawn questioned sensibly.

"I'll use Mom's engagement. She never DID like it. Pompous, she said,-"

"Just like the a-hole she married," Dawn finished their mother's famous quote.

"Exactly. Since I'm guessing you two will be here when the SS guys come, you, Angel, are my cousin on my father's side. You love Dawn." She frowned at her sister. "You love him, too. Dru will be Angel's quiet wife. If you or Dru mess this up and Dawn gets taken away, after I'm through torturing you, you'll go sunbathing. It's that simple."

Finally, Dru spoke up. "Can I braid her hair?"

"Whose?"

"The pretty little one..."

"NO!" Spike barked at her.

"Geez, Spike... it's just my hair," Dawn said, puzzled.

"No. No touching. Braiding your hair gives her a link to you, don'nit, Dru?" He turned sardonic eyes on her. "Braid her hair reaaaaalllll pretty, then get into her bedroom, and make her a pretty little doll, hmmm? Well if she's DEAD, Dru, she won't talk at the tea party."

Dru looked into her lap, whined softly, "Ooohhh... Spikey... You're being mean."

"Mmm... I *know*, Princess," he clucked sympathetically. "But I rather fancy Dawn and Buffy alive."

"Mmm..." She swayed back and forth, pondering something. Gazed at the table. "Aren't the snowflakes pretty?"

"Very." This came, respectfully, from Buffy.

"He hasn't claimed you yet." Her fuzzy gaze focused on the Slayer's face. "Do you know why?"

"I... claim? Claim me? What does that mean?"

"Pet... It's Dru... She's not all-" Spike tried to turn the conversation.

"William." Angel's voice came sternly reprimanding. "She deserves to know. I don't now how Giles neglected to tell her."

Sharply, his pride very ruffled at the use of his former name, he snapped, "Probably because he wasn't worried about vampire's mating habits as much as he was keeping his slayer alive."

"I know." Dawn said.

All the adults but Dru said incredulously, "You know what?"

"She knows a lot. She is a key. And her scent was dripping off one of Spike's journals." Dru said in a sing song voice, "Drip, drip, drip, just like that pretty lady's heart in Prague."

Fighting back a shudder, Buffy questioned Dawn. "Why hasn't he claimed me?"

"Buffy, I don't think-"

Spike was cut off decisively by Buffy. "Spike! I deserve to know."

Dawn took a deep breath. "To claim you, he'd have to challenge Angel, and destroy his line."

"Why?"

"Because when I bit you, Buffy," Angel said shamefacedly, "I claimed you. Because the thought of anyone having you was... is... unacceptable. So I claimed you." Possession gleamed in his eyes as Buffy covered the raised scars on her neck.

"But," Spike spat, "It's understood... Buffy is mine."

"I don't get it," Dawn said, "just dust Dru and get it over with."

"No." Angel and Spike said in unison.

"I... It's not fair to her," Spike elaborated, "She's not truly evil. Angelus... Made her a little psycho. It's not fair to damn her." At Buffy's disbelieving glare, he clamped his jaw, silently handing it off to Angel.

"And... To destroy my line... He'll have to kill Connor."

"But Connor's just a baby!" Dawn protested.

"The Powers don't care," Spike shot back bitterly.

"I'll turn the child," Dru said helpfully. "We can have tea parties, and play with the moon when she comes to visit..."

Visibly shaken, Angel reigned in his horror and guilt to say calmly, "That's ok, Dru. But I'll let ya know."

"Ok..."

"Um... This'll have to wait," Buffy said around a huge yawn, "Till tomorrow. Dawn has school, and I have to work."

"What does Dawn have to do with-"

Buffy interrupted Angel brusquely, "She's a part of this household, and what she thinks and says has a large effect on how things go. the sooner you realize that, the better." She stood, flanked on each side by Spike or Dawn. "Good night."

At the top of the stairs, Buffy ushered Dawn into her now demon-proof room, and tucked her in.

"If you don't feel well tomorrow, don't go to school. We'll stay home, ok? Just tell me." Kissing her forehead, she turned off the light and began to close the door.

"Hey Dawn?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you. Sleep well. You're safe."

Dawn smiled and burrowed into her covers.



Outside her own room, Spike leaned against the door jamb, sweeping a hand up Buffy's cheek and into her hair when she stood close enough to touch.

"Want me to stay on the couch, luv? Make sure Dru doesn't wander?"

Turning her head into his palm, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Actually..." she started, opening her eyes to meet his blue stare, "I want you to stay... with me... in my room... In my bed."

Saying nothing, absolutely nothing, he drew her into his arms, and, invited, into her room.

Slowly laying down on the bed, they watched eachother, with no light but the moonlight. Laying side by side, Buffy's head cradled against his shoulder, their hands clasped over his unbeating heart, Buffy slept.

But Spike just stared at her sleeping features...

And wondered.


End of Part 5

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