Title: Unexpected Blessings
Author: Pattyanne

Summary: What can I say...Spike and
Buffy have a baby. (They're together and
they're gonna stay that way!)

Rating: Up to NC-17

Warning: There is very happy spuffyness
ahead. No angst, no gloom, no Angel, no Riley!




~~~~~
The First Month
~~~~~


"Oh, my God...OH, MY GOD!!"

Buffy's voice was loud and pitched high with
shock.

Down in the living room, Willow leapt off the
sofa and ran upstairs to the bathroom that Buffy
had excused herself to go to ten minutes ago.

"What? What's happening?" she panted, certain
that she would find something horrible going on.

Buffy didn't reply. She was standing, seemingly
in suspended animation, staring at something in
her hand that Willow couldn't identify.

Until she saw the box sitting on the bathroom
counter.

**I can't be seeing that properly** She closed her eyes
tightly for a moment, then opened them again.

The box was still there. It was small and white, with
big purple letters announcing it's contents.

**But why is Buffy using an early pregnancy test? Why
does Buffy even HAVE an early pregnancy test?**

Still, there it sat. Right before her eyes.

"Buffy?" she ventured timidly.

"This says," Buffy began, staring straight at herself in
the mirror. "It says that I'm...."

Willow swallowed hard. "Pregnant? But...but you can't
be. Vampires can't make babies..right?"

"Yes," Buffy said absently. Eyes still locked on her
own reflection, she held the test stick up, enabling Willow
to see the great, big blue plus sign in the little window
on the end of it.

"Then how can you be..." Willow's eyes became even
wider. "Oh...is there someone...else?"

This question broke through Buffy's foggy head. "Of
course it's not someone else," she frowned, shaking
off her dazed manner. "What a thing to say!"

"Well, I'm sorry," Willow said, groping for the right
answers to this unexpected news. "It's just that it's
so...surprising."

Buffy sighed and replaced the test stick in the empty
box, handling it with ridiculous care, as though the
thing was ticking a countdown and shouldn't be jarred
for fear of premature explosion.

Willow laced her fingers together nervously. "Then if it's
not someone else..and it's not possible for a vampire
to make a baby..how did you...I mean, how COULD
you...how?"

Buffy placed the box back in the bathroom drawer, then
flicked off the lights and went downstairs, with Willow
right behind her.

When they were seated together on the sofa, Buffy
looked at her friend. "Something...happened."

Willow took her hand. "Do you want to tell me?"

"Yeah," Buffy nodded, then took a deep breath. "You re-
member a few weeks ago...the birthday party?"

"Yeah."

"Well...I was in the kitchen...."



***********************************
"So...what did you wish for?" Buffy asked as
she sliced cake.

A pair of strong arms wrapped around her from behind. "I
can't tell you that," Spike said, nuzzling the side of her
neck.

She sighed happily. "Don't do that when I have a knife
in my hand. I'm liable to cut off a finger."

He chuckled, turning her in his arms. Taking the knife
away from her, he placed it on the counter. "Can't let
that happen," he said, kissing each finger and then her
palm.

Buffy smiled. "Come on...tell me what you wished
for," she coaxed. "You can tell me."

"S'pose I could, but then it won't come true. Isn't
that how it works?"

She leaned back against the counter. "What are you
saying...that my big, bad vampire thinks birthday
candle wishes come true? Since when?"

In point of fact, he actually felt guilty for making
a wish in the first place. He'd alrady been given
so much, starting with this girl. Wasn't it tempting
fate to ask for more?

What if fate got really pissed off and took it all
back until he learned not to be greedy?

"Since when?" he repeated. "How about...since the
first time you told me that you love me?"

Buffy's eyes became soft with tenderness. "Well,
aren't YOU a smooth talker?" she murmured, wrapping
her arms around his neck.

"So I've been told." He placed his hands on her hips and
pulled her forward until their lower bodies came into
contact.

Buffy returned the pressure he was applying. "You're
not gonna tell me, are you?"

"Fraid not, gorgeous."

She moved her hips slowly from side to side. "Nothing
will pry it out of you?"

His body responded to her movements, but he still
shook his head. "No," he managed to say. "But...feel
free to keep on...prying."

Her side to side motion switched to back and
forth, with a little grinding pause every time she
moved forward.

Fully prepared to lower her to the kitchen floor and
take her right then and there, Spike's eyes opened
wide when she abruptly stopped her teasing. "Hey!"

"Suit yourself," she said, pushing him away. "It's
just as well anyway. I feel a headache coming on." She
massaged her temples. "The kind that lasts for two or
three days."

"All right! You win," he conceded instantly, yanking
her back. "I'll talk. I'll tell you anything you want to
know...birthday wishes...state secrets...Oprah's real
dress size...pick a subject."

"You know," she smiled devilishly. "I kind of thought
you might."

He gave her a reproving look. "You fight dirty."

"Well, I learned from the best." She turned and swiped
her finger through the cake frosting. "Taste?" she asked,
offering it to him.

Spike took her finger into his mouth, licking and sucking
the frosting off. When he released it, he scooped up a
dollop of the frosting on his own finger, and smeared it
across her lips.

Buffy closed her eyes when she felt him licking her
clean of the sticky chocolate.

"God, you taste sweet," he murmured.

Before she could even begin to form a reply, they
were interrupted.

"You know, sometimes you two are absolutely sick-
ening." Xander stood in the kitchen doorway, his
arms folded across his chest. "Not to put a damper
on your kinky fun with food, but are you planning to
serve that cake sometime soon?"

Buffy gave him the sort of smile usually given to a
marginally amusing, but slightly irritating child. "Sorry."

"Yeah, I'm sure you are," Xander said. "Look, play
games with the leftovers, okay? You have dessert
deprived people out there waiting for chocolate cake."

Spike turned on him. "All right...the cake is on the
way. Why don't you run along and play nicely with the
other children until it gets there?"

"Guess what?" Buffy said, after Xander left. "I have another
can of frosting in the pantry."

Spike released her so abruptly that she almost fell. "Then
let's get this party over with. Fast."

He took a stack of dessert plates out of the cupboard,
while Buffy finished slicing the cake.

"You never told me what you wished for," she reminded him.

He hesitated. "It's stupid," he finally said.

She stopped cutting and looked at him. "I'm sure it's
not."

Leaning back against the counter next to her, he stared
at his feet. "I wished...that I could take you outside. In the
daytime..the sunlight..just for one day." He shrugged. "See,
I told you it was stupid."

Buffy smiled at him. "That's not stupid. I think it's a
lovely wish." She cupped her hand beneath his chin
and made him look at her. "And I love you for making it."

He smiled and tucked a lock of her hair behind her
ear. "You're just..so damn beautiful in the sunlight. I'd
love to see you up close in it." Slipping one hand behind
her neck, he pulled her closer. "See it dancing in your
hair..feel it heating your skin..make love to you in it."

Buffy took a deep breath, then sighed. "Ohh...that is so
swee-eet," she said. "I don't know why everyone thought
you were such a lousy poet, honey."

Spike gave her a look. "Why, thank you. You're just TOO
kind."

"You're welcome," she said brightly, then began trans-
ferring cake onto plates. "Listen...I don't give a rat's ass
about the sunlight. It's not good for the skin, anyway."

He wrapped his arms around her again. "Love you," he
said in her ear.

"Love you, too," she answered. "And..after everyone
goes home, I will give you the best birthday present
you've ever had...as many times as you want."

They were just about to kiss when a voice floated
in from the living room.

"We're still wait-ing," Xander sing-songed.

Spike dropped his head onto Buffy's shoulder in
frustration. "Someday...I'm really gonna kill him."

Buffy nodded. "Someday, I'll hold him while you do
it," she sighed. "Come on...grab some plates and
let's get this party done."

He leered at her. "And then the REAL party starts,
right? The private one...with the frosting?"

"Calm down, Romeo," she said, patting his cheek. "I
promise you can eat all the frosting you want...and
anything else you might want, too."

In the living room, they handed out portions of cake.

"What's this?" Xander asked plaintively. "No ice cream?"

Buffy straightened up and stared right at him. "Do you
REALLY want me to go back into the kitchen, Xander?"

He immediately reached for the plate. "You misunderstand,"
he said. "I meant "No ice cream?" in a good way...because
I am...lactose intolerant." He cut off a bite of the cake and
smiled at Buffy. "Never touch the stuff."

"That's what I thought you meant," she said. "Now, shut
up and eat the damn cake."

"I'm eating the cake," he said agreeably. "Yum! Good
cake!" He turned to Anya. "Am I right?"

She just shrugged. "It's all right, for a home made cake, but
you could have gotten a better one at the market. Now,
THEY know how to make a cake, the ones with the icing
roses, and...what? What did I say?"

An hour later, Buffy ushered her guests out the door. After
closing and locking it, she turned around and saw
Spike standing at the foot of the stairs, tossing a can
of chocolate frosting from one hand to the other.

Snatching the can in mid-air, she grabbed his hand and
led him up the stairs, where they fell into bed and made
feverish love until they were too tired to go on.

Buffy woke shortly before sunrise the next morning,
sensing, even in her sleep, that something was different.

Lying half on top of Spike, her cheek pillowed on the
hard muscle of his chest, she smiled as she listened
to the steady thump of his heartbeat.

Instantly, her head snapped up. His heartbeat?! Spike
didn't have a heart beat! Hadn't had one for more than
a century. "What the hell..."

His normally cool body was warm beneath her, and
she stared in fascination at the slow rise and fall of
his chest as he breathed.

"I'm dreaming...this is a dream...a really GOOD dream."

Spike stirred at the sound of her voice. "Go back to sleep,
sweetheart," he mumbled, one hand gently rubbing her back.

His hands were warm too!

And other parts of him, she quickly realized, were down-
right hot!

Carefully lifting the blanket, she peeked down at his
semi-hard erection.

Forgetting for the moment about everything else, Buffy
smiled and moved down in the bed, under the blanket.

Wrapping her fingers firmly around his shaft, she took
it into her mouth, sucking it gently.

His eyes snapped open, and his hips lifted instinct-
ively.

"Christ.." he muttered, still half asleep. "B-Buffy?"

"Down here," she said. "Don't mind me. You just go on
with what you were doing."

He chuckled. "You're the boss, baby."

Buffy continued working over him, her lips and her
tongue sliding up and down, licking and sucking
him until she brought him to a swift and powerful
orgasm.

"Bloody hell," he panted. "You..you were right. Best
damn birthday present...I ever had."

She smiled and kissed him. "Don't be too sure of
that."

Taking his hand, she pressed it, palm down, over
his heart.

"WHAT THE HELL..?" He jackknifed into a sitting
position.

Buffy sat up beside him. "That's what I said."

He stared at her in shock as she climbed into his
lap and pressed herself against him. "Your skin is
warm," she said softly."

"What's happening?" he asked.

Buffy loved the wonder and amazement in his eyes,
wishing it would stay there forever. She cupped his
face in her hands. "I could be wrong...but I think some-
one got his birthday wish."

Spike shook his head in denial. 'That's not possible."

She rolled her eyes. "What, are you kidding me? We
live on the Hellmouth, where ANYTHNG is possible."

"Now," she added, wrapping her arms around his neck. "We
don't know how long this might last, so...I say we don't
waste one second of it."

"That's my girl," Spike said, trying to lower her to the
bed.

Buffy didn't allow it, pulling away and getting out of
bed. "Not yet," she teased, tugging on his hand.

"Where are we going?" he asked, grinning.

She gave him her sexiest smile. "We're going outside
to play."

**************************************************

Willow sat staring at Buffy with wide, fascinated
eyes. "Well," she finally said. "You were right about
one thing...anything is possible on the Hellmouth."

"Mmm," Buffy murmured, her eyes a little dreamy.

Seeing the expression on her friends face, Willow
smiled. "So..how do you feel about this? Happy?"

Buffy leaned back on the sofa, crossing her arms
over her stomach. "It's all still sinking in, but...yeah,
I'm happy. I never thought I'd have a baby."

"Never?"

"No. Actually, I didn't expect to survive long enough
to..don't make that face, you know it's true..plus, the
two men I've loved are both vampires. No babies there."

"So you thought." Willow squeezed Buffy's hand. "I'm
so happy that you're happy."

"Yeah?" Buffy smiled.

Willow nodded. "Yeah. Cause, I gotta tell you..I'm so
excited that I can't stand it. A baby! A little baby Buffy!"
she squealed.

Buffy rubbed her flat tummy. "It might be a boy."

"Nope," Willow shook her head firmly. "It's a girl,
I know it is. And she's gonna be so cute and we'll all
love her so much!"

"I know you will." Buffy frowned slightly. "Gee, I can't
wait to see the look on Giles' face. Who ever heard of
a pregnant slayer?"

"Oh, pooh." Willow waved one hand airily in front of
her face. "You and Spike have been together for
three years now, and Giles is cool with it."

"Yeah, but..."

"Besides..what CAN he say?" Willow demanded. "It's
already a...a fait accompli."

"It's a what?"

"It's gonna happen. And, as far as the slayage goes,
we'll get you through that. Spike's just about as good
as you are, and everyone else will pitch in too and
take over while that little cake is baking. It'll be fine."

Buffy looked at her friend seriously. "I appreciate that
Wil..because I'm not taking any chances with this
baby. It's probably the only one I'll ever have..and I
KNOW it's the only Spike will have." She shook her
head. "No way am I gonna let anything happen to
her."

"Her?" Willow teased.

Buffy sighed and rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I think it's
a girl, too. I don't know why, but I just...it's like I
can hear her little soul talking to me. I've gotta keep
her safe, Wil."

"Oh," Willow's eyes were a little teary. "That is just...it's
the most..." She sniffled. "Oh, Buffy...I think I'm gonna
cry."

"I might join you," Buffy said, wiping at her own eyes.

They sat quietly for a bit, each girl lost in their own
thoughts, until Buffy broke the silence.

"I wish my mother could know."

Willow took Buffy's hand again. "I'm sure she does. She's
watching somewhere..and I'll betcha she's smiling."

"I know," Buffy said with a shrug. "I just wish she was
here..you know..to help me through it."

"Help you through what, luv?"

Both girls jumped at the sound of Spike's voice.

"I'm sorry," he said, smiling as he entered the
room. "I thought you heard the door open."

"Oh..no," Buffy spoke first. "We were..."

"Talking," Willow supplied.

"Yeah...talking. And..I guess we just..didn't hear
you?" Buffy added, then cleared her throat.

Spike leaned over to kiss her. "Must have been a
heavy subject," he observed.

"Well, it WILL be," Willow muttered under her
breath.

"What was that, Red?"

"Nothing." She stood up suddenly. "I've gotta get
going. Come and walk me out?" she asked Buffy.

"Sure." Buffy stood up and looked at Spike. "Be
right back, 'kay?"

Spike narrowed his eyes slightly, sensing something. "I'll
be upstairs," was all he said.

Willow waited on the porch until Spike went upstairs,
then said quietly. "I know it's none of my business,
but...how's he gonna take this?"

Buffy shrugged. "He'll be...surprised. That's a given." She
walked with Willow to her car, watching as she unlocked
it and climbed in. "But, he'll take care of me," she said,
smiling. "He loves me."

Willow smiled back. "He sure does." Inserting the key
in the ignition, she started the car, then looked at Buffy
again. "If someone had told you years ago that you'd
be having a baby with Spike...."

"I'd have had them committed to an insane asylum,"
Buffy finished the sentence.

Willow revved the engine and began to back out of
the driveway. "Call me tomorrow?"

"I will." Buffy waved, then turned and walked back
to the house. She closed the door and turned off
the porch light, then took a deep breath and headed
up the stairs to inform her lover that he was going to
be a father.

******************************************************

She found him waiting for her, stretched out on
their bed.

Stepping into the room, she closed the door
quietly behind her.

Spike smiled, patting the empty space on the
mattress next to him, inviting her to join him.

Buffy sat down beside him and took his hand. He
tugged gently, urging her to lie down with him, but
she resisted the pull. "We need to talk," she began
nervously, suddenly uncertain that he would be
turning cartwheels over her news.

Spike sat up. "Is something wrong?"

"Well...no. Not exactly. I just..." She looked at
him. "Why would you think something's wrong?"

"Because nothing good ever happens when
a conversation starts with those four words."

"That's not always true," Buffy said, twisting her
fingers together. "Sometimes...well it just depends
on your point of view. You shouldn't assume..."

"Buffy." He held up one hand. "Stop stalling."

Like a man on the gallows with a rope around
his neck, the wait was almost worse than the drop.

She paused to collect her thoughts and put them
in some kind of coherent order.. "Do you remember
your birthday party."

"Vividly," he grinned. "S'pecially the after party fun
and games." He ran one hand up her arm caressingly.
"Is that what we need to talk about, luv?"

"Sort of," Buffy nodded, gamely plowing ahead. "But,
more specifically the cake? And even MORE speci-
fically..the candles on the cake?"

This conversation wasn't going at all the way he'd
hoped, and it was making him nervous. "Buffy! Please!"

"Okay!" She ran a hand through her hair. "You made
that wish..and then the next morning for whatever
reason..you..you were...."

"Alive?" he offered.

"Yes! That!" She jumped on the phrase. "And while you
were..."

Spike rolled his eyes. "Alive," he said again.

Buffy sighed. There was no subtle way to say what
needed to be said. He'd never guess it in a thousand
years. Mentally hollering "Geronimo!" she jumped
out of the plane.

"While you were alive we made love for hours, and
since you were alive, all of your bodily fluids were
alive right along with you and you got me pregnant,'
she said, without pausing to breathe.

She peeked up at him through her bangs, bracing
herself for the shell shocked expression she expected
to see on his face, and was puzzled when she didn't
see it...because it wasn't there.

Leaning back against the headboard of the bed,
Spike sat silently, until Buffy couldn't stand it anymore.

"Did you hear what I said?" she asked.

"Yeah," he replied, a tiny smile forming on his
lips.

Buffy was confused. "I just told you that I'm pregnant."

"I know...I heard you."

"By you!"

"Well, of course by me," he said. "Who else could it
be?" he asked cheerfully.

The room was silent for a count of thirty.

"I'm NOT kidding!" Buffy burst out suddenly.

"I believe you."

Jumping to her feet, she began to pace around
the room, a habit she'd picked up from him.

"What the hell is the matter with you?" She stood
in front of him, hands on her hips. "How can you
be so damn casual about this?" she demanded,
glaring at him. "You act like you already...."

She stopped when she saw his eyes shift somewhere
to the left of her. It only took her a moment to figure
out why.

"No..." she said, shaking her head slowly in denial. "No,
you couldn't possibly...."

He smiled guiltily.

"..have known....you KNEW?? Is THAT what you're tell-
ing me?" she asked shrilly.

"No!" he said quickly. "I'm not saying that I knew...just
that I...suspected."

"HOW?" Buffy yelled. "How could YOU suspect before I
suspect...ted?"

Spike reached for her hand, pulling her back down on
the bed and into his arms. "Your body, sweetheart," he
tried to smooth her over. "It's changing. I can sense it,
especially when we make love. And..you missed your
monthly."

"How do you...?"

He gave her an "Are you kidding?" look, and interrupted
her. "I always know when you're bleeding, luv..no matter
where it's coming from."

Well, that was true. She had once broken a glass
in the kitchen and cut her finger while cleaning it up,
and he'd smelled it all the way upstairs in their bedroom.

"I don't believe this," she grumbled. "You already knew!"

"No, I just...thought," he said, wishing he'd kept
his mouth shut and acted surprised. He pulled her into
his lap and kissed her cheek.

"Well, you MIGHT have mentioned it!" Buffy scowled.

"And miss all this? Not bloody likely," he replied,
nuzzling her neck.

She was trying hard to maintain her aggravation, but
it was damn near impossible to do when he touched
her that way.

"Okay, you know," she finally said. 'How do you feel about
it?"

He was silent for a moment. "It's an awfully big respon-
sibility, you know."

"Uh-huh," she agreed.

"I've been thinking about it...and...well..."

"And..well..WHAT?"

Spike shrugged. "Doesn't sound so bad."

"Doesn't sound...." she echoed. "Now THAT'S a ringing
endorsement." She struggled out of his lap and tried
to leave the bed. "Thanks so much for all the positive...HEY!"

He grabbed her, wrestling her down into a prone
position and throwing one leg over her to pin her
to the bed.

Dark blue eyes stared intently down into hers. "Do
you know..do you have ANY idea what you've done."

"What I've done? What I'VE done??" she squealed
in disbelief. "You know, I wasn't exactly all by myself
when it happened. If you think..."

"YOU" he cut her off, clapping one hand over her
mouth, "..have given me everything I never thought
I'd have. Your love...and this home with you...and now
a child." His eyes were soft with emotion. "And I don't
deserve any of it."

Buffy pushed his hand away from her mouth. "Honey..."

"No...let me say this," he insisted.

She remained silent, looking up at him.

"I don't deserve any of it," he said again. "Not you..or
the home you've made with me..and definitely not
this child." He smiled at her, smoothing her hair. "But
I promise I'll do right by you...and by this baby. I
swear to God, I will."

Buffy smiled at him, with slightly trembling lips. "I
already know that," she said. "I trust you..and I love
you."

"I love you, too," he replied. "Don't cry."

She sniffled. "I can't help it. I'm happy and I have to
cry."

Spike shook his head and chuckled. "That makes no
sense." He grabbed a piece of the sheet and mopped
her cheeks. "Come on now...big slayers don't cry," he
scolded. "Blow."

"Not on the sheets." She turned her face away.

"I'll change them."

"No. Just get me some tissue."

He brought her a handful of kleenex from their bath-
room. "So," he said, sitting beside her again. "What's
the first thing we do?"

Buffy tossed the used tissue into the waste basket. "A
trip to the doctor, I guess. I'll make an appointment
tomorrow." She looked at him and smiled. "Want to
come along?"

Spike looked surprised. "He's got evening hours?"

"No, but there's underground parking and an elevator
straight to the office." She grinned. "Just stay away
from the windows."

He smiled back at her. "I'll be there." Taking her arms,
he pulled her over until she was more or less on top
of him.

"How do you feel about having sex with a pregnant
lady?" she asked, after a long and intense kiss.

"Uncertain," he said.

His answer surprised her. "How come?"

Spike fiddled with her hair. "I'm afraid I'll hurt you...or
the baby." He shook his head. "I don't think we should."

Hoping he wasn't going to say THAT for the entire
nine months, Buffy looked at him and sighed. "We did
it last night and I was pregnant then," she reminded
him.

"Yeah, I know..."

He looked positively gloomy, and Buffy knew she
had to put an end to this immediately. "Look, honey...I
don't want to sound crude, but do you honestly think
you're gonna be able to go for months without sex?"

"There's always..."

She shook her head. "I mean REAL sex...not low im-
pact substitutes."

Moving closer, she nibbled the hard line of his jaw,
while sending one inquisitive hand down the front of his
shirt.

"Slayer." He grabbed her hand. "Be good."

"Oh, I will be, lover," Buffy whispered, licking his
ear lobe. "You can count on it."

With a soft moan, he tangled his fingers in her
hair and captured her mouth beneath his.

Buffy parted her lips and slipped her tongue
into his mouth, dancing it lightly over the edges
of his teeth and wrapping it around his.

"Come on, baby," she murmured against his
lips. "Don't you want to?"

"You know I do." He rolled them over on the
mattress, until he was above her. "I always want
to."

She tugged his shirt out of his jeans, pulling it up
and off, and tossing it to the floor.

Dragging her nails down his spine made him jerk
up and arch his back. "Again," he grunted through
clenched teeth. "Harder."

She gave him what he begged for, leaving long
red scratches up and down the length of his back.

Spike rose to his knees and straddled Buffy's hips,
then began to undress her. When he had all the
buttons of her shirt undone, he pulled it open.

She watched him as he slowly leaned down and
pressed his lips against her abdomen.

"Hello, baby," he said softly. Buffy didn't reply, since
she knew he wasn't talking to her.

She unfastened the clasp of her bra as he moved
his mouth up her body. Looking down, she met his
gaze with hers.

"Hello, mommy," he grinned.

She giggled. "H'lo daddy."

Laughing with her, he buried his face against the
side of her neck. "This is so bloody sweet that I'm
making MYSELF sick." With a soft groan, he added,
"What the hell have done to me, Slayer?"

"Domesticated you? Settled you down?" She snapped
her small teeth teasingly. "Tamed you?"

"Yeah," he agreed. "That's the one. You tamed me, girl.
Made me all soft and mushy...and tender."

"You love it," she accused.

"I really do," he said. "I gotta have it."

Pulling him back down, she closed her eyes when
he kissed the hollow between her breasts.

"Well then," she moaned. "Come and get it."

TBC.....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Be sure and let me know if you like this. I
know baby fics aren't everyone's cup of
cocoa.

Title: Unexpected Blessings
Author: Pattyanne
snapkik@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Rating: Will vary from chapter to
chapter, up to NC-17
Feedback: Yes, please.




~~~~~
The Second Month
~~~~~


"What in bloody hell is THAT?"

Buffy followed Spike's gaze. "The examination table,"
she explained as she changed into a paper gown.

"What are those things on the end of it?"

"That's where my feet go."

"Looks like a bloody torture device," he muttered.

"Actually" Buffy replied, hopping up on the table, "it's
not all that bad." She grinned, beckoning him a bit
closer. "In fact...I've had some pretty interesting
fantasies about it."

Spike gave her a skeptical look. "Fantasies? About
that thing?"

"Yep," she giggled. "Think about it..me stretched out
on the table with my feet in the stirrups..."

"Stirrups, huh?" he chuckled.

"Uh-huh...and my legs are spread open wide. You're
standing at the end of the table between them..wearing
nothing but a stethoscope...giving me a thorough exam-
ination. Pretty sexy, huh?"

He wasn't at all surprised by what she was saying. Lately,
Buffy had managed to put a sexual spin on just about
everything they did.

Although they'd always had a regular and fulfilling sex
life, Buffy's pregnancy had made her insatiable. The stirred
up hormones bouncing through her body like a pinball,
had unleashed a sex kitten that she couldn't control.

She'd developed a knack for finding lacivious meaning
in the most innocent of comments, surpassing even HIS
talent for sexual innuendo.

Buffy craved sex to the point where she would wake
him up in the middle of the night, or afternoon, desperate
to make love.

Often, he was not even fully awake when she would
crawl on top of him, squirming and wriggling until she
made him hard, then ride him like a wild pony.

Simple questions fueled her craving; What would she
like for breakfast?..."You, honey"; Want to rent a movie
tonight?..."Yes, get one of the ones they keep in the
back of the store...get a couple of them"; Is that a new
dress?..."Yeah, and I'm not wearing any underwear either."

Whenever they went out together, Buffy spent most of
the time looking for dark corners where they could make
some quick love.

Anywhere..anytime..anyway. It was all good for her.

He had taken her Christmas shopping one evening, only
to be pushed into the gingerbread house where the mall
Santa spent his daytime hours having his picture taken. He'd
sat in the red velvet armchair, almost cross-eyed with
pleasure, as Buffy had bounced up and down in his lap.

In the cemeteries they patrolled, she would watch from
a safe distance as he staked new vamps, then would
tackle him to the ground, relieving the pent up aggression
that she could no longer channel into slaying.

Spending an evening with Xander and Anya, Buffy
had pleaded exhaustion and a back ache, and had
asked if they would mind if she stretched out on their
bed for a while. A minute later she had called Spike
into the room, asking for his help to ease a painful
muscle cramp in her leg.

Not wanting to make a mess of the bed, she had
pulled him down to the floor.

The possibility of being caught had aroused her even
more intensely. Turning onto her side and facing away
from him, she'd urged him into the same position behind
her, then pushed her hips back to meet his thrusts.

At one point, she had taken his hand off her hip and
guided it around front between her legs. He had played
with her clit, rubbing and squeezing it as he'd whispered
dirty words in her ear until he'd brought her to orgasm.
The contractions of her tight sex as it clamped down
on his erection had made him follow right behind her.

The entire act, from beginning to end, had taken less
than five minutes to perform.

Which hadn't satisfied Buffy in the slightest.

Driving home an hour later, she had reached into his
jeans and taken a firm grip on his cock. Pumping her
hand up and down until she had him painfully hard,
she'd lowered her head to his lap and taken him into
her mouth, nearly causing him to run the car into a
tree.

Wanting to avoid what was sure to be a spectacularly
bad car crash, he had quickly pulled the car into the
empty parking lot of a bank, dragged her into the back
seat, and fucked her until his ears rang.

Three days later, in a rare fit of camaraderie over
a pitcher of beer, Spike had told Xander about what
they had done and about Buffy's new fits of nympho-
mania.

The only comment Xander had made was, "Please
tell me you're not complaining about this."

********************8

Spike was pulled abruptly out of his thoughts when
Buffy's obstetrician came into the room.

After the usual questions about vitamins, nutrition,
and plenty of rest, Buffy stretched out on the table
and submitted to the pelvic exam.

Spike didn't like this any better than she did. Whether
it was reasonable behavior or not, he absolutely hated
the idea of anyone besides himself being so inti-
mately familiar with Buffy's body, even her doctor.

But he forced himself to keep quiet, and stood next to
the exam table, holding her hand firmly in his.

Dr. Beaumont was quick and efficient with his exam. Drop-
ping the rubber gloves he'd used in the trash can, he
informed them that everything looked perfectly fine and
on schedule.

Buffy gasped when he squirted a cold glob of clear gel
onto his abdomen. He made an amused apology and
began moving the sonograph wand around.

"There's your baby," he announced. "Looking fine."

Spike and Buffy had stared at the screen, looked at
each other, then at the doctor. "Where?" they both
asked.

"Right...there," he replied, pointing out the baby's
head and limbs. "And here," he added, using a pen
to pinpoint the exact spot, "is the heart...beating like
a little drum."

"And everything looks good?" Spike asked, fascinated
by the tiny rhythmic flutter on the screen.

The doctor nodded. "Everything looks just about perfect,"
he said, freezing the image and handing Spike the picture
he took. "That's one gorgeous baby."

"That's because she has a gorgeous mother," Spike
said softly, kissing Buffy's forehead. "I love you," he
whispered, "so much."

She smiled up at him. "I love you, too."



TBC...

Feedback is what I need.

Title: Unexpected Blessings
Author: Pattyanne
snapkik@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: Not mine
Feedback: Yes, please!




~~~~~
The Third Month
~~~~~

Buffy squeezed her thighs tightly together, shift-
ing from foot to foot. "Spike?"

"Yeah, luv?"

"Spiiike!" she squealed again, bouncing up and down
on her toes.

He turned and stared at her. "AGAIN?"

"I can't help it," she whined.

Spike sighed and reached for her hand, but she
had to send both of them down to her crotch. She
whimpered as she squeezed firmly, trying desperately
not to have an embarrassing accident.

"All right...let's go find a..."

"No! Now!"

"Buffy," he said patiently. "We're in the middle of a
cemetery. There are no bathrooms here."

"Can't wait!"

"Then we'll hurry. Come on."

She shook her head frantically. "Can't walk!"

"I'll carry you," he offered.

"I'm...Spike, I'm gonna wet my pants."

Her eyes pleaded with him for help. Casting his gaze
around the moonlit cemetery for a solution, he guided
her to some bushes behind an immense mausoleum.

"Go ahead," he said, turning his back.

Buffy almost didn't make it. The second her skirt
was up and her underpants were off, she let loose,
panting with relief on behalf of her overly burdened
bladder.

"You all right?"

"Yeah. Better." Making her "ick" face, she pulled her
panties back on. "Let's go."

Walking along beside him once again, she glanced
up and saw the laughter he was having trouble con-
trolling.

Ordinarily, she'd have laughed along with him, but
right now for some reason, the sight pissed her off
out of all proportion to the offense.

"Stop snickering or I'll kill you in your sleep," she
groused.

"Sorry," he said quietly.

"When a girl's gotta go, then a girl's gotta go!"

"That's very true," he nodded agreeably.

Buffy ranted on, too wound up to stop. "And when a
PREGNANT girl has to go, then everyone should
just shut the hell up and stay out of the way."

"I'll try and remember that."

If possible, her tone became even more defensive. "This
is perfectly normal you know! Dr. Beaumont said so! It
happens to every pregnant woman! All the time! It's not
like I'm just doing this for fun!"

By this time, he'd had just about enough. "All RIGHT!!" He
stopped walking and turned to face her. "I get the picture.
I'm SORRY I laughed and I'll NEVER fucking do it again,
OKAY?"

His voice was a lot louder and sharper than he'd in-
tended it to be, and he was instantly sorry when he
saw tears begin to gather in Buffy's eyes.

"Oh, baby...I'm sorry," he said, reaching for her. "I
shouldn't have..."

"Don't touch me!" Buffy ducked out of reach. With no
intention of letting him off the hook, she turned and
flounced off.

Spike stayed right on her heels, trying to catch
hold of her. "Buffy...please, honey."

"Go away!" she said, without stopping. "You yelled at
me!"

"I know I did...and I'm sorry. Come on, baby..please stop."

He finally caught her arm and pulled her to a stop. "Don't
cry, sweetheart," he all but begged, searching his pockets
for something to dry her tears with. "You know I can't stand
it when you cry."

Buffy sniffled, wiping her face on her sleeve.

Looking down into her tear filled green eyes, Spike felt
like the meanest son-of-a-bitch in the entire world.

"Baby, I'm sorry, I really am. Forgive?"

She'd been prepared to make him pay for his behavior,
but he looked so ashamed of himself that she couldn't
go through with it.

"Forgive," she agreed, allowing him to hold her.

They stood that way for a few moments, then Spike
squeezed her gently and gave her a kiss. "Come on,
luv, let's go on home. There's no action here tonight,
anyway."

Taking her hand, he tugged her along. "I'll make you
some hot chocolate and..."

"Back rub?" she asked plaintively, her fingers knead-
ing the base of her spine.

"For as long as you want," he promised.

"Okay." She smiled at him, then her eyes widened
and she began to walk a little faster. "Hurry up!"

"Why?"

"Don't ask...just hurry up!"


TBC....

Enjoying the story?

Title: Unexpected Blessings
Author: Pattyanne
snapkik@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Feedback: Yes, please

This chapter is NC-17



~~~~~
The Fourth Month
~~~~~


"I think I'm starting to show," Buffy announced with a
pleased smile as she climbed into bed.

"Starting to show what?" Spike asked from behind
the newspaper he was reading.

"The baby, silly." She flicked the paper aside. "Don't
you think so?"

"Well, I don't know." He grabbed the hem of her night-
gown and tugged on it. "Lemme see," he begged, leering
playfully.

Buffy allowed him to push her gown up and examine
her abdomen. "See?"

"See what?"

"That bulge." She pointed to it. "Right there."

Spike shook his head. "That's not the baby. That's
your dinner."

"Oh...what do YOU know." She swatted his hands away.

He answered her by reaching under the bed and
producing a large picture book. "More than you think. I've
been reading up on all things baby, Dr. Spock and the
others. You'd be surprised what I know."

She WAS surprised. "Really?"

"Yeah, really," he said. "I want to be ready." He flipped
the book open and tilted it towards her. "See...that's
what baby looks like right now."

Buffy examined the photograph. "Yuck!"

"Hey!" Spike scolded. "It's not yuck. S'a bloody miracle
is what it is."

"Why is everything "bloody" with you? Even a baby?"

He shrugged. "Just my nature," he said, turning the
pages of the book. "How do you suppose they take
these pictures, anyway?"

"Geez..I don't even want to think about it," Buffy
shuddered. "Hey...where did you get this book?"

"Library."

She stared at him. "You don't have a library card."

"So what?"

Buffy rolled her eyes. "Oh, great!" She sat up and
glared at him. "Fine role model you're gonna be...steal-
ing from a library."

"Borrowing," he corrected her. "I'll take it back. Oh, look
at THIS one."

"No thank you." She pushed the book away. "My dreams
are strange enough right now without this sort of bedtime
reading."

She slid down in the bed, stretching.

Spike watched her with admiring eyes. "You know...you
don't look any bigger around the middle just yet, but
you're definitely getting rounder in...other places." He
leaned over and ran a suggestive finger around the neckline
of her nightgown.

Buffy grinned, highly pleased at the compliment. "I noticed
those, too," she said. "It's the first time in my life that
I've ever felt stacked."

He tugged on the pink silk and peeked inside. "Lucky
baby, to be so well fed."

Buffy reached for his hand, pushing it underneath the
fabric until it was cupped over her right breast. "Baby
won't be needing them for a while," she said softly. "I'm
sure she won't mind if you play with them until then."

Her words, coupled with the tone of her voice and the
feel of her breast, caused Spike to develop an instant
erection.

Lowering his head, he kissed the soft flesh of her
throat. He peeled her gown away from skin still damp and
warm from her bath, and gazed with rampant lust at the
lovely new curves she had developed.

"Beautiful," he whispered, as his lips traveled down
her neck to the beginning swell of her breasts. "So soft
and warm," he added, rubbing his cheek against her.

"And sensitive," Buffy interjected, stroking the back
of his neck.

He smiled against her skin. "Are they?"

"Mm-hmm. Especially..right here." Cupping her hand
beneath his jaw, she guided his mouth to one hard peak.
"They're just...aching."

"Aching for what?" he asked hoarsely, still nuzzling her.

"Ohh...to be touched...and kissed...and..."

"Sucked?" he ventured eagerly.

Buffy arched her back. "Most of all..."

Spike placed a tormentingly light kiss on both
nipples. "Would you like me to help you with that
ache, darling?"

She gasped at the touch of his tongue. "Make it go
away."

Wih a soft growl, he began to trace wet circles around
her nipples, Moving from one to the other, he teased
her with long strokes of his tongue.

Her body began to writhe beneath his in helplessly
agonizing pleasure. "Please...oh, please," she moaned,
digging her nails into his biceps.

He pulled back. "Want more, do you?"

"Yeah.Give me more," she demanded. "Give me every-
thing. It's mine...and I want it."

Wrapping her arms around his head, she held him
firmly against her. "Open your mouth," she whispered.
"Be my baby."

Spike did what she wanted, taking her breast into
his mouth and suckling strongly.

Buffy had all she could do to keep from screaming at
the spasms that coursed through her body. She felt
every pull of his mouth all the way down in her womb.

Spike began to alternate his sucking with hard kisses
and long laps of his tongue. "That better, honey?" he
asked, rubbing his cheek against her nipples. "Shall
I suck harder, or keep licking them?"

Trying to keep a clear objective in mind, Buffy sent
her hands down and began to push off the sweat pants
he'd donned after his shower.

He released her long enough to remove them and
toss them aside, then returned to the flesh he was
feasting on so enjoyably.

When she couldn't wait one more second, she cupped
his face in her hands and forced him to look at her.

"Now," she panted. "I want you inside me..now!"

Leaning his weight on one arm, he yanked her
nightgown up around her waist, then positioned himself.

Mindful as he always was of her pregnancy, he pene-
trated her slowly, with shallow back and forth thrusts
of his hips.

Buffy moaned and panted below him, grinding herself
against his pelvis in search of the friction she craved.

Spike adjusted his position, moving up so that the
base of his shaft rubbed her where she needed it, then
began to thrust a little harder and deeper.

He varied his pace, sometimes slow and deep, some-
times fast and shallow, sometimes no thrust at all,
but only grinding pressure.

"Ah, Christ, baby...you feel so good," he groaned. "So
hot and tight...and juicy. I want to fuck you..fuck you
hard...yeah, make it tighter..."

"More," she cried, digging her nails into the straining
muscles of his ass. "Faster, baby...yes...like that..."

Abandoning all restraint, he complied, pounding into her
over and over again. The sound of their bodies slapping
together blended with the harsh grunts he emitted
with each thrust.

"Come on, baby," she urged him. "Do it with me...I'm
so close..come when I do...give it to me...do it..."

She was babbling mindlessly, but he was past the
point of hearing her. He sensed the onset of her climax,
and he shoved one hand down between them. Reaching
the juncture of her thighs, he quickly found what he
wanted.

Covering her mouth with his, he pushed his tongue into
it and firmly pinched her clit, then rubbed it rapidly be-
tween his thumb and forefinger.

It was the last thing needed to send Buffy over the
edge of sanity. With a soft scream, she careened out
of control as a violent orgasm exploded inside of her.

As the convulsions of release shot through her body,
she was only dimly aware that he was riding the same
crest of pleasure that she was on.

When it was over, when they began to come back
down to the earth, Buffy smiled a dazed and dreamy smile
at him. "I..I just relalized something," she said.

"Wassat, babe?"

"You CAN actually come your brains out."

Spike collapsed on her in helpless laughter. "You don't
say?"

"Who knew?"

He kissed her, long and hard. "You mean you came so hard
that your brains aren't in your head anymore?"

"I don't think they're even in the same ROOM anymore."

With one more kiss, he withdrew from her body and
rolled onto his back. "Get some sleep, little one," he
said. "Maybe you'll develop some NEW brains."

"Yeah, but what GOOD will they do me? I'll just lose
them again."

"G'night Slayer...."



TBC....

Title: Unexpected Blessings
Author: Pattyanne
snapkik@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: Not mine
Feedback: Tons of it, please
Rating: Varies from Chapter to Chapter,
but never higher than NC-17.
Summary: Buffy and Spike have a baby.




~~~~~
The Fifth Month
~~~~~



Spike came full awake when he felt Buffy suddenly
sit up in bed beside him.

Reaching with one hand, he gently rubbed her
back. "Whass wrong, baby?" he asked, his voice slurred
from sleep.

Buffy just looked at him, not speaking, but he recog-
nized the look on her face.

"You hungry, sweetie?"

She nodded, embarrassed by her seemingly un-
ending appetite.

"Want me to get you something?"

"Yes, please," she said, a polite little girl.

Spike smiled. "What sounds good?"

"I was thinking about...ice cream?"

"No sooner said." He climbed out of bed and pulled
on his jeans, not bothering with a shirt. "Chocolate,
chocolate chip, mint chocolate chip," he recited, "or
that godawful crap with the bubble gum in it?"

Buffy nodded and licked her lips. "Yum."

He waited to hear her selection. "Which one?"

Her eyes narrowed. "Which ONE?"

There was a pause. "Oh! Right!" He leaned over the
bed to kiss her. "Sorry, babe. Dunno what came over
me." He took her right hand and kissed her fingers. "Be
back sooner than trouble, baby face."

His hand was on the doorknob when she stopped
him.

"And maybe...a couple of cookies?"

"And cookies," he nodded.

"Peanut butter."

"I know."

"Oh! And a..."

"Glass of milk," they said simultaneously.

"Yes," she smiled, her eyes sparkling with good
humor.

As he was standing in the kitchen, scooping immense
portions of ice cream into a large mixing bowl, Dawn
wandered in, yawning and sleepy eyed. "Is she hungry
AGAIN?"

Spike shrugged. "She's eating for two."

Dawn snorted and rolled her eyes. "She's eating for
twelve!"

"Yeah..well.." He opened the cupboard and reached
for a glass. "Milk," he requested.

Dawn opened the refrigerator. "Regular or chocolate?"

"The usual."

"One of each?"

"Mm-hmm." He placed a second glass beside the first
one.

Dawn carried the milk upstairs, while Spike followed
with the ice cream and a bag of cookies.

Nudging the door open with her shoulder, Dawn
went in first, then stopped so abruptly that Spike
nearly bumped into her.

They stood there, side by side, watching Buffy
sleep, her arms wrapped tightly around her pillow.

Spike looked at Dawn. "Want some ice cream?"


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`


TBC.....

Title: Unexpected Blessings
Author: Pattyanne
snapkik@yahoo.com

Summary: Spike and Buffy have a
baby.


~~~~~
The Sixth Month
~~~~~


"G'morning, sweetness." Spike stretched and
yawned. "Sleep well?"

"Mm..I did." Rolling over in bed, Buffy snuggled
up against him kittenishly. "I really did."

He wrapped one arm around her, leaned over and
kissed her. "How's my baby doing today?"

Buffy smiled. "Which baby? Me or the fetus?"

"BOTH my babies?"

"We are very well, thank you for asking."

"And are we hungry this morning?" he asked, patting
her tummy. The small swelling was firm, with silky
soft skin, the result of Spike's gentle hands massaging
lotion into it every night after Buffy bathed.

She walked her fingers teasingly up his abdomen
to his chest. "Is a bear Catholic?"

Spike laughed. "Funny, aren't you?"

"Does the pope sh...."

"Buffy!" He cut her off before she could complete the
question. "Watch your language. Baby can hear you,
ya know?"

"Really?" Buffy asked with a smirk. "You mean baby heard
all the loud grunting and groaning you did last night?"

"Me?" he asked, feigning shock.

"Well, how about when you yelled, "Oh! Oh, fuck me! I'm
gonna come...I'm gonna come...!!"

Spike slapped her lightly on the bottom. "That was you,
honey."

"Oh, no it...wait, I...you're right," she giggled. "That WAS
me."

He sighed. "Now that we've gone all the way around
the mulberry bush," he said, "let's get back to the subject,
which WAS...are you hungry?"

Sitting up in bed, Buffy answered, "I'm so hungry I could
eat a whole herd of horses."

"I'm sure I can do better than that," Spike said as he climbed
out of bed and dressed. When he noticed her starting to get
out of bed, too, he urged her back down. "No, you stay here.
I'll bring you some breakfast."

"You're too sweet," she informed him, giving him her prettiest
smile. "And you're spoiling me."

"Yeah, I know," he agreed. "I'm practicing on you so that I
do a good job spoiling the baby rotten."

"Good plan."

He leaned down and kissed her once more. "What would
you like to eat, luv?"

Buffy shrugged. "Surprise me," she said, reclining back
into the pillows.

Spike was halfway down the stairs when Buffy suddenly
screamed. "SPIKE...COME HERE NOW...COME HERE!!"

He turned so fast that he nearly lost his footing, then
raced back to the bedroom. If his heart had still been
beating, Buffy's screaming would have stopped it cold.

He burst into the room, wild eyed with fear. "What's
wrong? What happened?" He fell to his knees beside
th bed. "Are..are you in pain? Bleeding?" He looked terri-
fied. "Oh, God...you're not bleeding, are you?"

Buffy was sitting straight up in the bed, her hands
cradling the gentle curve of her belly, smiling like an
angel.

Looking at him, her eyes danced with excitement. "It's
moving. The baby's moving and...and kind of kicking me."
She reached for his hand and placed it on her tummy. "Feel."

"Oh...oh, Christ..." Spike moaned. He fell forward onto the
bed, burying his face in the blankets, as relief robbed his
body of all it's strength.

"Buffy," he said, his voice muffled by the bedding. "Sweet-
heart...please don't ever...EVER...I'm begging you...scream
like that unless something is....th-the baby moved? Really?"

"Uh-huh," Buffy squealed, moving his hand. "Right there...just
keep your...Oh!...did you feel it?"

"I did," he said, his eyes wide with wonder and an ear
to ear grin on his face. "Does it hurt?"

"No," she shook her head. "It feels kind of..fluttery. Hard
to describe. Sort of like a little..." She looked up and caught
him staring at her intently. "What?"

"I just...I just love you," he said softly, taking her hand
and kissing it. "And in case I haven't told you this lately..
you're the most beautiful pregnant..."

"Cow," she slipped in, grinning.

"Woman..in the entire world."

Buffy sighed. "Getting turned on by fatties these days,
honey?"

"Stop that!" he ordered her. "You're not fat...you're preg-
nant."

"Pregnant?" she gasped, looking horrified. "How'd THAT
happen?"

Spike stood up. "All right, funny girl, that's enough. I'll
get your breakfast."

Buffy stopped him when he was almost out the door.

"Hey, if you find out who did this to me, couldja let me
know? The least the cad can do is...marry me."

He turned slowly to face her. "Marry you? You want me to
marry you?"

She pointed at her tummy. "Are you responsible for this?"

He hung his head, trying to look ashamed. "Guilty."

"Well, then?" When he didn't answer right away, she
stuck out her lower lip and pouted. "Don't you WANT to
marry me?"

He still didn't answer. Instead, he opened the closet door
and took something out of the pocket of his coat. Returning
to the bed, he sat down next to her and opened his hand
in front of her face, revealing a small black velvet bag, tied
with a drawstring of black satin ribbon.

Buffy's eyed widened. "Is that for me?"

"Mm-hmm."

"What is it?"

Spike smiled and shrugged. "Don't know. Why don't you
look and see."

She took the bag and untied the ribbon. Holding out
her palm, she emptied the tiny bag of it's treasure.

"Ohhh," she said, trying hard not to look disappointed
as she stared down at a pair of tiny gold hoop earrings. "How
pretty...thank you."

Looking back up at him, she caught him trying not
to laugh.

"Don't tease me," she scolded him.

"Sorry," he replied, then opened his other hand to
display a ring, a gold band with a square emerald, bordered
on both sides by a row of small channel set diamonds.

Buffy was speechless.

"If you don't like it..." he began.

"Are you crazy?" she interrupted. "It's perfect...I love it!"

Spike grinned at her. "I know these things are usually
diamonds...but I fancy you in emeralds. Brings out the
green in your eyes."

Taking her hand, he reached for the ring and began
to slide it onto her finger, then glanced up in surprise
when she suddenly closed her fist.

"Just what do you think you're doing?" she demanded.

"Uh..well. I THINK that I'm putting a ring on your
finger," he said. "What do YOU think I'm doing?"

Buffy sat back, folding her arms across her chest. "Don't
you have something to ask me first?"

He looked dumbfounded. "You mean I have to ASK?"

She nodded vehemently. "Damn right you do."

"But...but you're pregnant," he told her, as though it
was a big surprise to her. "With MY baby!"

"So what?" she said. "You think that means you can
just take me for granted? THIS is the 21st century,
you know. Women have choices. You can't just
assume."

"I thought I could!" he said.

"Well, now you know better," she replied. "This is my
first marriage proposal, so...do it right!"

Spike sighed and knelt beside the bed, holding her
hand in his. "Buffy....

"Yes?"

He shrugged. "You gonna marry me, or what?"

She sat there for a moment, staring at him. "Wow...you
sure know how to sweep a girl off her feet," she said,
pulling her hand back.

He chuckled. "Gonna answer the question, then?"

"I'm not even sure what the question was," she grumbled.

Spike repeated it. "Are YOU..gonna marry ME..or NOT?"

Buffy turned her face away. "Might...might NOT!"

He growled and pounced on her, tickling and nuzzling
her. "All right, all right!" she shrieked. "I'll do it...quit
it!" She held out her hand to him. "Gimme!"

He slipped the ring onto the appropriate finger.

"So, you'll marry me?" he asked, smirking.

"How can I NOT after that romantic proposal?" she
asked sarcastically.

"Good!" He stood up. "Glad it's settled."

Without taking her eyes off her ring, Buffy asked, "Break-
fast?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`


TBC.....

Title: Unexpected Blessings
Author: Pattyanne
snapkik@yahoo.com





~~~~~
The Seventh Month
~~~~~



Small, soft fingers were creeping up his back,
stopping now and then to tickle him awake.

"Spike? Are you awake?"

He shook his head. "No."

"You are too!"

"No, I'm not. You're dreaming, darling."

He burrowed deeper into his pillow, tempted to
cover his head with it.

"Honey...come on." There was a short pause. "I'm
hungry."

Spike sighed. He was beginning to regret ever start-
ing this "breakfast in bed" business. It seemed like
Buffy was waking up earlier and earlier every morning.
He felt as though he'd only just gotten to sleep.

He lifted his head and stared, bleary-eyed at the
clock. It was later than he'd thought, almost 8:00.

Rolling over in bed, he looked up at the beauty
hovering anxiously over him...and melted into a
puddle. "All right, luv...what would you like?" He
moved one hand up her back and drew her down,
wanting a quick taste of her before he left the
warmth of their bed.

In his opinion, she was getting more beautiful every
day. Her hair was thick and shiny, and wonderfully
soft, and her skin glowed with good health. Every time
he looked at her, he thanked whatever lucky star he
had been standing under when she'd come into his
life.

Her lips were warm and sweet, and he kissed
them lingeringly. When he finally pulled away,
she smiled and said, "That was yummy, but I'm
still hungry, Daddy."

He grinned. God, he loved the sound of that
word. It was going to feel like forever before he
heard it from his child, but it was awfully cute
when Buffy used it.

"Yes, I know," he said. "What do you want to
eat?"

She shrugged. "I don't care. I'm not feeling
picky this morning."

Rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, Spike dressed,
kissed her once more, then went downstairs to
the kitchen.

Dawn was sitting at the table, eating a bowl of
cereal.

"Why aren't you in school?" he asked. "What are
we sending you to University for, anyway?"

"My morning psych lecture was cancelled. I
don't need to be there until one o'clock." She
rinsed out her bowl as she watched him assemble
the ingredients for breakfast. "Want some help?"

Spike nodded. "Yes."

Fifteen minutes later, he nudged open the bedroom
door with the tray he was carrying. "Breakfast," he
announced cheerfully, "is...."

Buffy whipped her head around and glared at
him with murderous eyes.

"...served?" he finished weakly.

"What is it?" she asked, still glaring. "It smells funny."

Spike set the tray down on the end of the bed,
eyeing her warily. "Something wrong, Slayer?"

"Don't call me that!" she snapped. "Quit defining me
by my job title." She sat up and pointed an accusing
finger at him. "I don't go around calling you "Vampire,"
do I?"

"What?" He was genuinely surprised. The word "Slayer"
had become a term of endearment between them, and
Buffy had never complained about it before.

She ignored him, staring at the breakfast tray. "I
hate poached eggs," she announced.

"Since when?"

"Since right now! They look...icky."

"All right," he said agreeably, "No icky poached
eggs. How about...?"

She cut him off. "That bacon is greasy."

"No, it isn't, honey." He picked up a piece and
offered it to her. "See. Nice and crispy."

"Well, then YOU eat it!"

Keeping the words, "She's pregnant, be gentle" tacked
to the forefront of his mind, he smiled. "How about
some toast, then? It's got your favorite cherry jam on
it."

Buffy looked at the bread as though it was covered
in green mold instead of jam. "That's white bread,"
she complained. "You know I like wheat bread."

Patience...patience...

"The strawberries? You love strawberries." He felt
himself on firmer ground with this one. She couldn't
very well gripe about them being the wrong kind or
overcooked, or icky.

"They aren't ripe!" she stated. "No way are those
things ripe enough to eat." She folded her arms
across her chest. "I don't want them."

Patience was beginning to fray along all it's
seams.

"All right," he sighed. "How about the tea?"

**Let me guess...too hot?"**

Buffy took a tiny sip. "It's cold."

**My mistake**

This was becoming weirdly fascinating.

"Just drink the orange juice, honey. It's good
for you...full of vitamins."

**Balls in your court, baby**

He was surprised when she picked up the glass
and drained it.

"There!" She smacked the glass back down on
the tray. "Satisfied?"

Spike tried to ignore her nasty tone. "Do you want
something else? Does anything sound good?"

"Nothing that YOU can bring me," she said. "Just
take this...this mess back to the kitchen."

"Buffy..you have to eat something."

She nailed him with angry eyes. "If you don't get that
tray away from me, I'm gonna barf all over you. Is
THAT what you want?"

"No, honey," he sighed. "That's not what I want. I
just want you to..."

"You want me to what?" she asked, her voice
tinged with sarcasm. "Tell me...what is it that you
want ME to do for YOU?"

He mentally threw in the towel. "Nothing. Not a
bloody thing." He stood up and reached for the tray.

"Maybe...I could eat the toast," she said grudgingly,
picking up a piece and biting into it. "It's not..too bad,
I guess."

Spike felt like he'd just navigated a mine field without
having one blow up in his face. "Tell me if you want
more."

Buffy shrugged. "I might," she muttered ungraciously.

He sat down on the end of the bed and smiled at her as
he watched her eat.

She looked up and caught him. "What? Why are you
staring at me?"

"I'm not staring at you," he said. "I'm smiling at you."

"Why? What's so funny about me?" Her voice was
petulant.

"There's nothing funny, honey. I just enjoy looking
at you." He brushed a lock of hair out of her eyes. "You're
very pretty, ya know?"

Buffy rolled her eyes. "Oh, yeah..I'm just gorgeous,"
she sneered. "I'm pale..I'm fat..my hair looks awful..."

She recited an entire catalog of self perceived flaws.

"...I have dark circles under my eyes..I can't get my
feet into my shoes..and I have three broken finger-
nails. I'm Miss America."

Spike hesitated. This was dangerous territory. Years
of experience had taught him to recognize a no-win
situation when he saw one, and there was a big one
coming straight at him.

He couldn't disagree with her, because she'd accuse
him of patronizing her. But, if he was sympathetic
and told her that she wouldn't look this way forever..she'd
throw something at him, and she had a hell of a pitch-
ing arm.

She stared at him, waiting for his reaction to her
litany of self-abuse.

He opened his mouth...and completely lost his
nerve.

"Listen, sweetheart," he said, reaching for the break-
fast tray. "I told Dawn that I'd clean up the kitchen..since
she made your breakfast and all."

He stood up and edged towards the door. "Do you need
anything, Slay...sweetie?" he asked, then watched
helplessly as her eyes welled up with tears.

"I'm fine," she said, her voice trembling. "Go ahead and
go."

Two diamond tear drops traced down her cheeks.

Spike couldn't stand it. Though he could take nearly
everything that Buffy threw at him, field every foul
ball she pitched...he absolutely could not handle tears.

"Sweetheart..?" he began, only to be brutally rebuffed.

"I said GO! By all means..don't keep the dishes wait-
ing! Don't you worry about me, cause I'm just FINE!"

He had NEVER seen a mood swing so fast.

"Why are you still here?" she demanded, her
voice beginning to ride up the scale. "I don't WANT
you here! Go and wash the goddamn DISHES!"

"Buffy...calm down. This isn't good for you or the..."

"I'M CALM" she screamed. "I'M TOTALLY FINE! SO
GO AWAY AND LEAVE ME ALONE!!"

Struggling for patience, Spike set the tray down
and reached for her hand.

Buffy flung her head up, eyeing him like a target
in the crosshairs. "ARE YOU DEAF OR SOME-
THING?" She slapped his hand away. "GO AWAY!"

Enough was clearly enough.

"Buffy! Stop that screaming!" He grabbed her hand,
keeping it firmly in his. "Don't make me leave, honey," he
said, kissing her fingers. "I want to be here with you."

She stared at him, doubtfully. "You do? Really?"

"Of course I do," he smiled. "Really!"

"You.." She sniffled. "You don't want to go?"

**Christ, yes...I want to go** "No, I don't want to go."

And, as simply as that, the sunshine appeared as Buffy
gave him her prettiest smile. "Okay then...as long as
you're sure."

"I'm sure." **Buffy? Are you in there somewhere?**

She pulled on his hand, until he was on the bed
beside her. "I'm sorry I was grumpy," she said,
cuddling up like a kitten.

"Don't worry about it, luv," he made himself say. "You're
entitled."

Her fingers played with his hair. "No, I'm not," she shook
her head. "You brought me a nice breakfast and I acted
like a big, fat witch." She lifted her face and kissed his
cheek. "Forgive?" she asked sweetly.

He smiled down at her. "Forgive," he confirmed. **At
least the mood swings are over**

"Spike?" she whispered, nipping at his ear. "Let's
make love."

**....or not!**

Her hand began to move down his body, and he
grabbed them before they could get too far. "Buffy..."

"Come on, baby," she begged, licking his jaw. "Do it
to me...right now."

"D-Dawn's downstairs," he stammered.

"I'll be quiet." She began kissing a path down his
neck.

"Yeah.." he said weakly. "But..."

Buffy tugged on his belt buckle. "Don't you want me?"

"Of...of course I do. It's just...."

"Just what?" she breathed in his ear, her hand
brushing his crotch.

**Well....why not?**

Lifting his hips, he shoved his pants down and helped
her straddle him.

She lifted her nightgown and slowly lowered herself
onto his erection. Placing his hands on her waist, he
guided her movements.

She rode him at a steady, lazy pace..until the pressure
began to build. The escalation of her breathing and the
tightness of her lower body was driving him crazy.

Raising his hands, he pulled her gown open, then
cupped the heavy curves of her breasts, squeezing
them firmly and tugging on her enlarged nipples.

Her head dropped back as she placed her own
hands over his. "Oh, yes..." she moaned. "That's so
good, baby...so good."

He began to thrust up into her a little harder and
faster, almost bouncing her on his hips. "You like that,
pussycat?" he asked, moving one hand down to
play with her clit. "What about that, baby? Feel good?"

"Feels real good," she panted. "More...."

He closed his eyes, grinding his head down into
the pillow. "God, you're tight," he grunted. "So damn
wet...so hot...fuck me, honey...come on...make it
tighter...just...oh, yeah...like that, baby...."

"I'm...I'm gonna come," she whimpered, squeezing
her eyes shut tight. "You're making me come...now...
yes...now!"

"Do it, baby!" he ordered her harshly. "Come all over
me..give me that cream...unh...yeah..."

It was all she needed to send her over the edge
and she took him right along with her, grinding
herself down on his hard length, her hips jerking
back and forth.

Every bit of her strength left her, and she collapsed
into his arms, allowing him to ease her onto her
side to keep pressure off her swollen tummy.

"Oh, gosh.." she panted in his ear. "That was...in-
credible..."

"Mm-hmm," he agreed, covering her face with
kisses. "I love you."

"Love you, too...thank you, baby."

They stayed that way for a while, until Spike
disentangled himself from her embrace and climbed
out of bed.

With his back to her, he adjusted his clothes and
buckled his belt. Turning around to face her, he
smiled. "Are you...."

His voice trailed off at the expression on her face.

"This is so gross," she snapped. "The bed's all wet..and
it's cold, too," she added, giving him an angry scowl. "You
don't expect me to sleep in this mess, do you?"

If she'd had a stake handy...Spike was certain she
would have used it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


TBC.....
Feedback is appreciated.

Unexpected Blessings


The Eighth Month

~~~~~


Spike could hear the sound of the kitchen
cupboards being yanked open and banged shut
as he walked downstairs.

Folding his arms across his chest, he leaned against
the doorjamb and watched Buffy ransack the
pantry, muttering under her breath.

Grinning, he said, "If you'll tell me what you're
looking for, maybe I can help you find it."

"That's just it," she replied, blowing her bangs
out of her eyes as she reached into the back of
a cupboard. "You can't help me find it...cause
it's not here."

"What's not here?" he asked.

"I don't know," she said, pulling her hand back.

Spike joined her in front of the open pantry
door. "Well...if you don't know, then how do you
know it's not here?"

"Because if it was here," she explained patiently,
"then I would see it."

"See what?"

"See what I'm looking for."

Leaning over, he peered into the cupboard with
her. "But if you don't know what it is, how do you
know it's not right here in front of you?"

Buffy sighed. "Because..if it was right in front of
me..I would see it, because it would be here."

"What would be here?" He was about to start laughing,
he just knew it.

"The thing that I want."

He decided to try another approach. "Well, if it WAS
here...what would it look like?"

"Like the thing I want."

"Which is what?"

"I already told you...I don't know."

She turned on him, hands on her hips, fully
expecting him to understand and endorse her
convoluted logic.

So, he tried. "Okay...you want something, but you're
not sure what it is. You'd know it if you saw it, but
since you don't see it, then you don't know exactly
what it IS that you don't see...even though it's what
you want."

Buffy stared up at him. "I have NO idea what you
just said."

He chuckled. "Neither do I, honey."

"Arrgghh" she growled, closing the pantry door. "There's
nothing to eat in this house."

"What are you talking about?" he asked in disbelief. "Dawn
was at the market for over an hour this morning. This
place is packed with food."

"I know," she said agreeably. "But there's nothing that
I want."

"Well, what do you...oh, no you don't" He backed away. "No
fair dragging me into THAT again!"

"Dragging you into WHAT again?"

"That game of verbal volleyball that you enjoy torturing
me with."

Buffy just smiled. "Be nice to me."

"I'm ALWAYS nice to you," Spike protested. "You're
the one who's mean to me!"

Dragging out a chair from the dinette, she flopped
down onto it and stared at the table. "I know...I'm sorry."

He looked at her suspiciously. "You're not gonna cry,
are you?"

"No."

"Pout?"

"Nope."

She looked so sincerely miserable that he couldn't
bear it. With a sigh, he picked her up from the chair
and sat back down with her in his lap.

"Oh, don't," she complained. "I weigh a ton."

"You do not," he denied, nuzzling her hair. "What's the
matter, baby?"

Buffy looked at him and made a face. "I want chocolate!"

Spike was surprised. "Dawn didn't get anything chocolate?"

She shook her head.

Now, he was really shocked. The two women he shared
this house with had an absolute passion for chocolate. It
was as essential to them as blood was to him.

"Why would Dawn do all that shopping and not buy..."

She interrupted him. "I..sort of told her not to."

"YOU...told her not to?" Would wonders never cease?

"Wellll," she whined. "I thought I was eating too much
of it."

"Baby," he said, stroking her hair. "The doc said your
weight was fine. He told you to go ahead and give
in to your cravings."

"I know...but...he didn't really know how much of it
I was eating." Sitting up straight in his lap, she gazed
into his eyes to make sure he understood. "Spike...I
was eating chocolate breakfast cereal."

"Well, that's not so...."

"With chocolate milk poured on it!"

"Oh...."

Buffy hid her face against his shoulder. "I'm a chocolate
junkie," she moaned.

His arms tightened around her. "No, you're not," he said
soothingly.

"Yes, I am!" she insisted. "You don't know how badly I
want it. It's like...like heroin!"

Spike laughed. "I don't think it'll have exactly the same
effect, honey." He kissed the top of her head. "Listen..it's
hard to stop doing something, or eating something that you
love. Just quitting flat out and all."

"YOU did it!"

"But I had some negative reinforcement, if you remember
correctly. It really won't be good for you to have a blinding
migraine every time you eat a piece of candy."

She wrapped her arms around his neck. "But you
quit smoking too."

He nodded. "Yeah, but I did that for you and the baby. It
can't hurt me, but I'm not taking any chances with the
two of you."

Buffy leaned her head on his shoulder. "You're so
sweet to me," she murmured.

"Because I love you."

"A lot?"

"Mm-hmm...more than anything."

"Enough to do something for me?" She placed a
line of kisses down the side of his face.

** Here it comes...**

"Sure. What do you want me to do?" he asked.

"Well," she said, playing with his shirt buttons. "The
sun's down."

"So?"

"I thought...maybe you would...go to the store for me?"

Spike pulled back a little and looked at her. "For
what?"

Buffy sighed in exasperation. "For what do you think?"

Wrapping his arms loosely around her waist, he
kissed her and said, "I thought you wanted to cut down
on chocolate."

She shrugged. "I changed my mind."

Spike hid his grin against the side of her neck. "Honey,"
he said sincerely, "I wouldn't feel right about it if I didn't
try to help you overcome this prob...OW!"

He rubbed his ear as she waved her small fist
under his nose. "Next time you're really gonna
yell," she warned him pleasantly.

"You know, that's not a nice way to treat someone
when you want them to do something for you."

"Nice?" she squealed. "Is it nice to treat ME this
way? Nice to tease your sweet little bride, who YOU
knocked up higher than a box kite?"

"Sweet?" he muttered under his breath as he
dislodged her from his lap and stood up. "She calls it
sweet! I haven't seen anything sweet since before..."

"What was that?" she demanded.

"Nothing, baby...nothing important," he said as he
walked out of the kitchen.

"Where are you going?" she asked, trotting after
him.

"To get the keys and..." He sighed and rolled his
eyes. "...go to the bloody store."

She graced him with a huge smile. "Thank you, honey."

"You're.." He frowned as she thrust a piece of paper
under his nose. "..welcome. What's that?"

"A list" she said brightly, nudging him towards the
stairs.

When he came back down, she was waiting for
him by the door, holding his jacket.

He leaned over to kiss her, and she returned the
kiss, but placed her hands on his waist and began
walking him backwards out the front door."

"Bye, sweetie," she said cheerfully. "Drive carefully...but
hurry home, okay?"

"Yeah," he said. "I'll just..." She closed the door. "..do that."

**********

The market was almost empty, making his chore a
lot easier.

As the cashier ran the items over the scanner, she
shook her head in amazement. "Boy...someone has a
serious love affair going with chocolate."

Spike shrugged. "My wife is..."

"Pregnant?"

"Yeah."

The woman laughed. "I know how she feels. With me..it
was meat. Rare meat..bloody. By the time I delivered, I
was almost eating it raw."

Spike was intrigued. This was a craving he could get
behind! "That's entirely understandable."

She shook her head. "My husband didn't think so," she
said. "I drove him nuts serving undercooked meat. He was
afraid we were both going to die of botulism or something."

"That's an old wives tale," Spike scoffed. "Little blood
never hurt anybody."

The cashier handed him his change and the grocery
bags. "Good luck!"

"Thanks, pet."

Halfway home, he decided to make a quick stop at
Willy's.

The place was fairly crowded, forcing him to roughly
nudge a few demons out of his way.

"What'll it be?" the bartender growled.

Spike glanced around. "You new here?"

"Yeah. What do you want?"

Turning his head briefly, Spike let his demon loose
and looked back at the man. "Take a wild guess."

Without a word, the bartender reached under the
bar and brought out a tall glass, filling it from a
blood bag. Pushing the glass across the bar, he
asked, "You want it straight..or should I make it
interesting?"

Spike briefly considered the offer, then decided
against it. It woldn't be a good idea to show up at
home smelling of alcohol. Buffy was a fairly patient
girl these days, but he didn't want to give her a
reason to yell at him.

He saw a gold glitter out of the corner of his
eye and looked down to watch the light reflect
off his wedding ring. Tilting his hand, he watched
the sparkle come and go.

Spike smiled, remembering every moment of
the day she had given him this ring. She had
looked so pretty, she had absolutely knocked
him out.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


Buffy and Dawn had spent a lot of time planning
the "perfect wedding," even after he had told her
that no wedding could possibly be perfect, and
she shouldn't expect it to be.

It hadn't worked. She had been up at sunrise, drag-
ging Dawn out of bed and down to the back yard
to start decorating.

He had spent most of the previous night stringing
tiny, clear Christmas tree lights through all of the
trees and bushes, so Buffy had given him the day
off, assuring him that all he needed to do was shower,
dress, and present himself at the proper time and
place.

Waking at about four o'clock in the afternoon, he had
glanced out the window and watched with a grin as
Buffy bossed everyone around with the authority of
a traffic cop.

"Don't worry about where the chairs will go...We'll
decide when they get here...Did you find the table-
cloths?...Look in the bottom drawer of the china cab-
inet...Where's Willow?...Go find her...XANDER!...Don't
put the arch there!...Of course I didn't tell you I wanted
it there!...I want it in front of the rose bushes...Then
PUT it there...please!...What time is it?...Are you
kidding??"

The doorbell had rung, and he had gone downstairs
to answer it. He directed the delivery men to the
back yard, instructing them to speak to the bride about
where she wanted the chairs, explaining that they
would have no trouble identifying her...just look for the
small, pretty blond behaving like a cross between Hitler
and a professional football coach.

Back upstairs, he'd returned to his vantage point by
the window to watch the show.

"Xander...move the arch over there...Because I've
changed my mind...Never mind why...Willow?...The
flowers are here...You have to see these, they're
my favorite...HEY!...Come back here...These roses
are red!...Well, I ordered white roses...Yes, I'm
sure!...If I'd ordered red roses, then I wouldn't be
complaining about GETTING red roses, would I?...Yes,
that's exactly what I want you to do...And move
fast...Run red lights...Shoo!...What do you want now,
Xander?...I am perfectly calm!"

Spike had chuckled softly, shaking his head as he
went to shower and change. After the sun went down,
he presented himself for inspection.

After checking him over from top to bottom, Buffy
had smiled and kissed him, whispering in his ear
that he looked delicious in the black silk shirt and
suede pants she'd bought, and that she couldn't wait
for their wedding "night."

Rewarding him with another kiss, she had called
her posse into the house with her to help her
dress.

An hour later, everything was in place, and the
ceremony began.

One of his clearest and best memories was the
moment he had turned to see his bride.

How she could be more beautiful than she already
was, he couldn't fathom.

She wore a cream colored dress, with a velvet bodice
and a satin skirt that fell to the floor from beneath a
high waistline designed to accomodate her pregnancy.

The sleeves of the gown were velvet as well, snug
all the way to her wrists, then ending in a froth of
creamy lace that cascaded over her hands.

A circlet of white rosebuds nestled in her honey
colored curls.

When she'd reached his side, he'd stared at her,
almost hypnotized by her beauty. He had taken
her hand and turned it over, then lifted it to his
lips and pressed a lingering kiss into her palm,
never breaking eye contact with her.

"You look like an absolute angel," he'd murmured.
"Will you marry me?"

She had smiled. "Yes, I'll marry you."

They had exchanged their vows in front of a
Wiccan priestess that Willow knew, although
Buffy had requested a more traditional love,
honor, and cherish form of the ceremony.

The actual wedding hadn't taken long, but the
party afterwards had gone on for almost six
hours. The night air had been warm, and the
entire yard glittered and sparkled with lights and
laughter and music.

The last ones to leave had been Willow and
Tara. Taking Dawn home with them for the night,
they had promised to return the next day and
clean up the party mess, then disappear for the
rest of the weekend.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After he locked the front door, he went upstairs
and found his bride sitting in front of her vanity,
brushing her hair.

She had changed out of her wedding dress and
into a nightgown that he couldn't remember seeing
before. Black satin and lace, it had thin ribbon
straps and it's hem lightly touched the tops of her
small feet.

Spike closed the door, leaning back against
it.

Turning her head, Buffy smiled at him. "Everyone
gone?"

"Yes," he said. "It's just you and me tonight."

He crossed the room and stood behind her. Taking
the brush from her hand, he began to move it
through her soft tresses.

Buffy sighed with pure pleasure, and closed her
eyes.

"You know," he said, continuing the rhythmic
strokes of the brush. "They say that all brides are
beautiful..." With a smile, he returned the brush
to her vanity table. "...but MY bride is definitely
the fairest in the land."

Taking her hand, he drew her to her feet and
pulled her across the room to the oak armoire.
He opened the cabinet door that hid the television
and stereo system, then pushed the "ON" button
of the CD player.

Soft, slow music began to play as he led her back
to the center of the room. After kissing both her hands,
he placed her arms around his neck, and wrapped
his loosely around her waist.

Bending his head, he buried his face against the
warm flesh of her throat. Swaying gently to the rhythm
of the music, they danced without saying a word.

Whispering soft words of love into his bride's ear, Spike
lifted her into his arms and carried her to their bed, sitting
down with her in his lap.

"The most beautiful bride in the world," he said, looking
into the endless green depths of her eyes. "My wife,"
he added, kissing her possessively. "Mine!"

"Yes, baby," she replied, laying one small hand on
his cheek. "All yours...forever." She started to kiss him,
then pulled back. "Hey! I just thought of something!"

"Well, can't it wait?" he asked, trying to get back to
her mouth.

She held him off. "No, I really want to ask you some-
thing."

Sighing, he gave in. "Ask me what, baby?"

"What Mrs. am I?"

"What?" He looked at her, confused for a moment, then
said, "Oh, I know what you mean. Um..well, technically
you're Mrs. Hamilton."

Buffy grinned. "No kidding? You're William Hamilton?"

"That's right..William Thomas Hamilton."

She tried it out. "William Hamilton...Mrs. William Hamilton."

He smiled and pinched her cheek. "That would be YOU,
love."

"Any numbers?" she asked.

"Numbers?"

"You know...the second, the third, the fourteenth? Numbers?"

"Sorry, sweetheart." He shook his head. "No numbers."

"How come?" she asked, tilting her head. "I thought
you British types were big on the number thing."

"Not really..unless there's a crown involved."

She giggled. "I guess we can start the numbers...if
this baby's a boy."

"Sorry again, love...but this baby is a girl." He stroked
the firm curve of her belly.

"How do YOU know?"

"Because that's what I ordered," he explained. "A baby
girl...very tiny and delicate..with golden curls and big
green eyes, and a voice that'll tame the fiercest dragon
in the forest and make it lay it's head in her lap..and
there it will stay, happily, for the rest of it's life, doing
anything she asks of it."

Buffy smiled tenderly, stroking the back of his
neck. "This little girl sounds like she's gonna have
a lot of power."

Spike nodded, playing with her hair. "She already
does. And...she'll be so beautiful that all the wild
things and most dangerous beasts will fall at her
feet...and beg her to smile." Cupping her cheek,
he turned her head to look into her eyes again. "Just
like her father did with her mother."

She leaned forward and kissed him, then pressed
her cheek against his. "You know what I wonder?"

"What's that, love?"

"I wonder where the hell you were hiding this part
of you back when you were trying to kill me."

He chuckled. "Baby, I wasn't hiding anything. This
part of me didn't exist until I fell in love with you."

Buffy shook her head. "Sure, it did. You just lost track
of it for a while."

He turned her in his arms and lowered her down into
the pillows. "And then you found it."

"Yep, I did." She slipped her hands around the back
of his neck, lacing her fingers together. "I had to dig for
it, but I found it."

Her voice suddenly became serious. "You know, we're so
lucky. Think about how many times we almost killed
each other...how close we came. God...just the littlest
thing could have changed everything. We wouldn't be
here and I wouldn't be...."

"Mrs. Hamilton?"

His using her married name caught her attention. "That's
me," she said with a childlike giggle.

"You need to stop talking now, because there's something
I want to do. Actually, it's something I've never done
before, and..."

"And what would THAT be?" she inquired.

Spike kissed a path from her cheek to her ear. "Make
love to my wife," he said. "It's time to consumate this
marriage."

"Oh! Well...don't let ME stop you."

"Sweetheart," he murmured against her lips. "An
act of God couldn't stop me."

His mouth moved down her boy, lingering on the
tender skin between her breasts. Slipping his fingers
under the satin strap of her gown, he rubbed his
thumb against the soft material.

"This is very pretty," he said. "Take it off."

"Wait a second," Buffy tried to push his wandering
hands away. "I spent a lot of time shopping for the
perfect nightgown."

"And you succeeded. It's perfect...but it's also in
my way." He doubled his efforts to wrestle the
garment off her.

She straightened her arms, holding him away from
her with difficulty. "So, I only get to wear it for five
minutes?"

"Sorry about that," he replied, sounding anything BUT
sorry. "Sudden uncontrollable lust is taking over. Don't
fight it."

"Yeah, but you're gonna tear it!"

"I don't care!" He took one of her arms and pinned
it to the bed by the wrist. "I'll buy you another one."

Buffy was struggling not to smile. "This was the only one
in my size," she informed him. "Extra short and kind
of chubby around the middle."

"Oh, baby," he moaned playfully. "You're turning me on."
He glanced skyward, his eyes half closed in bliss. "That's
the girl of my dreams."

"Yeah, well....you're weird!"

"I am indeed," he nodded, winking at her. "And you love it,
don't you, baby?"

Not giving her a chance to reply, he captured her mouth
beneath his. Parting her lips with his tongue, he
pushed it deeply into her mouth, finding hers and then
testing the edges of her small teeth.

Moaning softly, Buffy chased his tongue back into his
mouth, following eagerly with hers.

Tearing her mouth away, she panted for air as Spike
licked and kissed his way to ear. "I love kissing you,"
he said. "You kiss like a dream. The way you taste me
and suck on my tongue...I feel it all the way down in
my dick."

His lips moved down her cheek to her jaw, then
skimmed over her throat to the beginning swell of
her ample breasts. Impatiently, he yanked down
the neckline of her gown until he'd completely ex-
posed the heavy mounds. Cupping the sides of
them, he pushed them together and began licking
her nipples.

With a cry of pleasure, Buffy arched her back, en-
couraging him to be a little rougher in his attentions.

He suddenly pulled away, making her whine and
whimper irritably. "That feel good?" he teased.

"Feels so good," she moaned.

"Want some more?"

"Yeah...God, baby...please don't stop."

Burying his face between her breasts, he
rolled them over on the bed until she was hovering
over him.

Bracing herself on her hands and knees, she
lowered herself, then began moving her shoulders
slightly, rubbing her breasts all over his face.

Whenever she brought them near his mouth, his
tongue darted out and flicked rapidly back and
forth over her taut nipples.

Taking one breast in each hand, he fondled and
squeezed them. Starting at the base, his hands
moved up, gripping her firmly and playing with
her nipples.

He lingered at this task until he felt his not-so-
blushing bride pushing on his shoulders impatiently.

With a soft laugh, he pulled back. "Want me to
go down on you, love? Eat your little pussy until you
scream?"

"Yes, please," she said, directing him south.

He paused at the curve of her belly, lavishing every
inch of it with kisses, and smiling when he felt
the baby stirring beneath his touch. "I'm sorry,
sweetheart," he said. "Daddy woke you up, didn't
he? Well, I'll try to be more careful, so you go back
to sleep, little girl."

Buffy smiled. "Why bother? You're just gonna wake
her up again in a few minutes."

Spike shook his head. "No, I won't. I'll be very gentle,
little one. You won't even know I'm there."

"Oh, great," Buffy muttered.

"Relax, love...YOU'LL definitely know I'm there." Moving
further down, he eased her thighs apart and began to
apply his tongue to the wet cleft of her sex, sliding it
up and down.

Buffy yelped, "Oh!...You're there, all right!"

In less than two minutes, he reduced her to a panting
little bundle of sexual need. His talented tongue covered
every inch of her, kissing and licking, then probing deeply
and fucking her with it.

Without pausing in his attentions, he glanced up, watch-
ing her face as he worked over her. Her swollen tummy
obscured his view, and he stopped licking her.

Anticipating a loud protest, he inserted one finger
inside her, using his thumb to stimulate her clit, then
raised his head.

"Lift up a little, baby," he instructed her. "Put a couple
of pillows behind you."

"W-why?" Buffy gasped.

Spike grinned at her. "Because I like to watch your
face when I do this."

She returned his smile. "And I like watching you do it."

He waited until she found a comfortable position. Meeting
her eyes, he lowered his head and licked her from bottom
to top, then began to suck on her clit.

Seconds later, he sensed her impending orgasm and
released her from his mouth. "Do you want me to make
you come this way?" he asked.

Buffy was almost incapable of speech. "No.." she managed
to choke out. "I want to come when you do...when you're
inside me..."

Her words kicked his own lust even higher. He crawled
up her body on his hands and knees. "Inside of you?"

"Uh-huh."

"Which part of me do you want inside of you...making
you come?"

"You know which part." Her hands slid up and down his
arms, her fingers digging into the muscle of his biceps.

"Say it," he whispered in her ear.

"Spiikkkee," she whined. "Please...."

"Say it!" he demanded again, turning her onto her
side and positioning himself behind her. "Say it...or
I won't..." He pressed his erection against her soft
bottom, then pulled away.

She reached behind her, placing her hand over the
large swelling between his legs.

"This!" She squeezed firmly. "Your cock...your dick...your
shaft...your gigantic manhood...your reason for living!"

Turning her head, she glared at him. "Now stop teasing me
or I'll throw you on your back and damn well help myself!"

Spike had to laugh, rubbing his face against her soft
hair. "Baby...this isn't my reason for living," he said,
pressing himself against her again. He then sent one
hand down to cup her wet pussy. "This is!"

Lifting one of her legs slightly, he pushed himself
into the tight warmth where he loved to spend all his
time. "Time to play..."Here Comes The Bride" he
said, beginning to slide in and out of her.

Buffy braced herself with one hand and pushed
back to meet his thrusts, biting her lower lip.

"Don't do that," he ordered her, sucking on her
earlobe, laving it with his tongue. "I'm the only one
who gets to bite any part of you."

"Spike..." she panted. "I...I love you."

He leaned forward to meet her lips with his. "I love
you, too, Buffy...I love you...love you...."

He increased the pace of his thrusts, pumping deep
and hard, reaching around front of her to play with
her clit. "Gonna make you come, baby....make you
come hard...make you see stars...make you scream."

Her loud panting and moaning was driving him
crazy. Buffy was never one to be silent during sex,
and he absolutely loved that about her. She had
no shyness about telling him exactly what she wanted
from him in the most graphic terms.

She threw her head back, straining all her muscles. "It
feels so good...so good...fuck me harder, Spike...fuck
me good."

"Mmmm...." he moaned. "Gonna give me some cream,
kitten? I want to feel it all over my cock...so wet and
sticky...give it to me...come for me, baby...do it...do it
now!"

Wih a soft cry and a final tensing of her internal muscles,
she did as he asked, coming so hard that she brought
on his own orgasm before he knew what was happening.

"Oh, FUCK!" he shouted. "UNH...YEAH..YEAH...AHH..."

He actually felt dizzy as he emptied his load into
his wife's willing body, slowing down a little at a time,
until he was buried all the way in her, pressing hard
against his rear, his hand cupped over her soaking wet
pussy.

After a minute of recuperation, she looked back at him
and smiled. "Now that's what I call...a successful con-
sumation."

He had to agree.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


A loud blast of music from the juke box startled him
out of his thoughts. He glanced at his watch and
realized that, as pleasant as his little trip down
memory lane had been, if he didn't get home soon
his bride would be waiting with something far
sharper than her tongue.

Finishing his drink, he dropped some money
on the bar and headed for the exit.


**********

"Where have you been? I was getting worried!"

Buffy was standing on the front porch, waiting
for him.

"Sorry, baby." He dropped a light kiss on her
cheek. "Store was really crowded," he added,
mentally crossing his fingers.

In the kitchen, he deposited two full grocery
bags on the table. Taking off his jacket, he
tossed it over the back of a chair.

"Here you go, babe," he said when Buffy came
in to the kitchen. "Knock yourself out."

She rewarded him with her prettiest smile, the one
that would make him do anything she asked, and
began unpacking the bags.

Behaving as though he'd brought her a treasure
chest overflowing with jewels and gold coins,
Buffy pulled out one item after another.

There were a dozen candy bars of different varieties; a
bottle of chocolate syrup; two dozen chocolate cookies
with chocolate chips in them; chocolate covered straw-
berries; three cans of chocolate fudge frosting...a par-
ticular favorite since their baby had been conceived after
they'd spent hours licking it off each other; a carton of
slightly melted chocolate ice cream; and a gallon of
chocolate milk.

As she emptied the bags of their treasures, she heaped
words of love and praise on him. "You're my hero, baby,
you really are. The way you treat me...all the sweet things
you do for me."

Pausing in her task, she smiled at him and said. "You're the
best husband I've ever had."

"Gee, thanks," he replied. Leaning back against the counter,
he had to smile. She could be such a little girl at times, and
was also so adorably unaware of it.

**Like a kid in a candy store...literally**



Sometimes, she was a wide-eyed child, capable
of charming the devil himself. But, at other times, she
was all woman. A sensual creature with a wild heart,
who could seduce God's most virtuous angels from
their hope of heaven.

Buffy continued unpacking her treats. "You are the
sweetest, most considerate...wait a minute." She
looked at him. "Where are the peanut butter cups?"

Spike hit his forehead dramatically. "I knew I forgot
something!"

"I take back everything I said," she pouted.

"Well, I'm sorry, kitten. I meant to get it, but I got
sidetracked by something and just...forgot."

"Sidetracked by what?" she demanded. "The butcher
shop?"

"Careful, baby," he scolded. "Be nice to me, or I won't
show you what I found."

"Spike!"

He shook his head. "You'll be sorry." Reaching for his
jacket, he dug into it's deep inner pocket and extracted
a can with a brown snap on lid. Smiling wickedly, he turned
the can slowly, displaying the label.

Buffy's eyes opened wide. "That's..that's..oh, my GOD!" she
squealed, reaching for the can.

He laughed and held it high over her head.

"Hey!" She punched him in the gut, with no effect. "Give
it over!"

He saw her prepare to jump and reach for the can. Afraid
she might jar something loose, he relinquished it.

Buffy stared at the can in sheer delight. "Who is the
genius that invented chocolate whipped cream?" she
asked. "I want to write him a fan letter."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


TBC.....
Comments?

Title: Unexpected Blessings
Author: Pattyanne
snapkik@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: Not mine
Rating: Varies from chapter to chapter
Feedback: Yes, please.
Summary: Buffy and Spike have
a baby.



~~~~~

The Ninth Month

~~~~~

The evening sun had finally set, and Spike was
stretched out on the sofa with a cold glass
of beer and a novel he'd been looking forward
to reading.

Ever since Buffy's pregnancy, he had rediscovered
his love of the printed word, something he had lost
right about the same time he lost his mortality.

But after reading up on every baby advice manual
he could lay his hands on, he had found himself
missing the pleasure of just sitting quietly with an
interesting book and losing yourself in the words.

So, he had tagged along with his wife to the
Sunnydale Public Library one night, and walked
out with a card of his own, and a stack of books
he'd heard about over the years, but never bothered
with.

Taking a sip of beer, he set the glass down on the
coffee table and propped his feet up, then opened
the book.

He hadn't gotten halfway through the third page
when Buffy's voice interrupted him. "Honey, please!
I just polished that table a little while ago."

He looked over the top of his book, and saw his
wife standing over him. She looked absolutely
adorable in a pair of denim overalls that almost
completely disguised her "nearly ready to pop"
tummy, and she had her hair in two long braids.

In her hand, she held a bucket stuffed full of
cleaning solutions and sponges, paper towels
and dust cloths.

"Oh...I'm sorry, love." He removed his feet and
placed them on the floor, then glanced up for
her approval...but didn't see any. "Something
else?" he asked.

"The glass. Please..use a coaster," she asked
sweetly, whipping one out of her pocket and
handing it to him.

"Sure, love...anything you...." His voice disappeared
when he picked up the glass and saw the very
large ring of moisture on the table. "Oh, I'm really
sorry...I just...I didn't know...I wasn't thinking..."

She shook her head like a country school marm,
then extracted a clean cloth and re-polished the
coffee table. He made sure the coaster was under
the glass, which earned him a "thank you, sweetie"
and a brief kiss brushed across his forehead, before
she went on her way.

Keeping his feet on the floor, he sat back again and
re-opened his book. A page and a half later, he was
startled out of his seat at the sudden roar of the
Hoover a few feet away from him.

"Lift your feet!" Buffy shouted over the clamor of
the engine. He levitated them a few feet in the air
as she pushed the vacuum back and forth many more
times than she actually needed to.

"Sweetheart.." he yelled. "The carpet isn't exactly covered
in filth! I think that's enough! "

"What?!" she yelled back.

"Can you turn that off, darling?!"

She nodded. "I'm almost done in here!"

He waited, as patiently as he could, until she toddled
out of the room, heading down the hallway. The hum of
the motor faded a little, and he went back to his book.

The story was just beginning to really peak his interest
when he heard a loud thump from the stairs, and looked
up in time to see Buffy hauling the heavy vaccum cleaner
from one step up to the next, intending to lift the thing
all the way up the staircase.

"Stop that!" he yelped, tossing the book aside and
leaping to his feet.

"What? I'm fine!" she insisted, one hand on the machine
and the other on her hip.

"Buffy, please call me when you want something heavy
lifted," he begged for what felt like the hundredth time. "I
know you're the slayer and all...but you're pregnant, love.
I don't want anything to happen to you or the little one."

There was really only one argument that worked with
her when it came to this issue, and he wasn't above
using it. "Baby, please...you know I like doing these
things for you. Please let me." Those words, along with
the most earnest and pleading look he could summon
up, usually got him his way.

He hauled the Hoover upstairs and waited for her
to join him. "Will you let me do this for you?"

"No, honey...go read your book. I can push the
vaccum, it's not hard to push. And I'll be careful,"
she promised.

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"I'm positive...go. Read. Relax," she pushed him
out the door.

When he was back on the sofa, he picked up his
book and waited for a moment, listening to the
even back and forth motions of the vaccum.

It was a soothing sort of sound, something called
"white noise" if he remembered his earlier baby
info correctly.

The peaceful back and forth swish was suddenly
accompanied by a distinct thud that could only mean
one thing...she was lifting furniture.

"Damn it!" he shouted, flinging the book down with
a splat! He took the stairs three at a time, and found
Buffy on her hands and knees in the nursery, dragging
the heavy rocking chair back into place. The crib was
completely pulled away from the wall, and the solid oak
changing table was slightly out of place.

"Buffy!"

She jumped, whirling around with a guilty flush on her
face. "There was so much dust down there...you wouldn't
believe it," she began, but he cut her off by grabbing
her hand and tugging her out of the room.

"That's it!" he said loudly. "No more cleaning..no more
nesting..consider yourself nested until this baby is
born."

He dragged her downstairs and forced her to sit
on the sofa next to him. Picking up the book, he
turned it back to page one and began to read out
loud.

It wasn't long before she was curled up next
to him like a kitten, listening intently as he read. Her
attention spurred him on to make the story more
enjoyable for her, and he employed his entire vocal
range to entertain her.

After taking a break for her to go to the bathroom,
he brought her a glass of milk and a bag
of chocolate chip cookies. She sat peacefully beside
him, only stopping him once to tell him that being
"nested" was a lot more fun than working to get
there.

Five chapters into the book, he closed it up for the
night, resisting her pleas for him to continue.

"No. Time for you to have a bath and get some
sleep." He was firm on the subject, and he knew
by how easily she let herself be persuaded, that
she must be tired out.

She undressed in the bedroom as he ran a
tub of luke warm water for her. He helped her
step in to the tub and sit down, then he lathered
up a soft sponge with bath gel and ran it over
the wet silk of her skin, working up a creamy,
fragrant lather.

He stripped and climbed into the tub behind her,
making her lean back against him as he plied the
soapy sponge over and over the hard drum of her
pregnant belly. The baby moved beneath his
touch, seeming to want to play with her daddy
already as she kicked and rolled, making her
mommy gasp and request that she settle herself
down.

"See, she's not gonna do that, love," he informed
Buffy with a cocky grin. "That's my little girl in
there, and she knows her own mind."

Buffy smiled, cupping his cheek in her wet
hand. "I think you're right," she said. "She sure
isn't listening to me. In fact," she oomphed after
a hearty kick in the ribs, "I was hoping maybe you
could have...a talk with..her."

Obligingly, he placed both his hands on her tummy
and stroked it gently. "All right now, little girl," he
murmured softly. "Mummy wants a little rest now. Be
my Princess and settle down for Daddy, hmm? You'll
be here with us soon, baby, and I promise you we'll
have wonderful adventures together, the three of us.
That's my good girl...you sleep now, and Daddy and
Mummy will make everything ready for you."

Miraculously, the baby stopped her incessant flip-
flopping about and settled into one position, with
just an occasional little tap of one tiny foot to let
her parents know she was still around.

"You're amazing," Buffy sighed. "The things you can
do with your voice..."

He chuckled. "Just don't ask me to sing."


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TBC....

(You know what comes next!)

Title: Unexpected Blessings
Author:Pattyanne
snapkik@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: Not mine
Feedback: Yes, please!
Rating: Up to NC-17
Summary: Buffy and Spike have a baby





~~~~~~~~~~
Labor Pains? What Labor Pains?
~~~~~~~~~~


"I think I'm in labor."

Buffy stood at the kitchen sink, one hand on her
belly and an uncertain expression on her face.

Dawn and Willow turned and looked at her, then
at each other, then back at her.

"What?" Buffy asked them.

"Uh...you don't really look like you're in labor," Wil-
low explained tentatively.

"Yeah," Dawn agreed. "Aren't women in labor all sweaty
and screamy and...stuff?"

"Not at the beginning," Buffy said, rolling her eyes.

Willow gave her a sympathetic smile. "Why do you think
you're in labor?" she asked.

"Well..it's only two days till my due date, and I feel kind
of...funny."

Now, Willow looked concerned. "Funny strange...or funny
ha-ha?"

"I don't know," Buffy sighed.

Dawn spoke up. "Are you in pain? Labor means pain,
right?"

Buffy sat down at the table and opened the cookie
jar. "Not really pain," she said, grabbing a handful of
Oreos and pulling them open to lick the cream out. "I
mean...not serious pain, anyhow."

"Buffy" Willow said seriously. "Are you in ANY pain at
all?"

The slayer shrugged. "Every now and then I get a
little cramp. Kind of like I get near the end of my period."

"And that's all?"

"Pretty much, yeah."

"What should we do?" Dawn asked nervously. "Should
we call the doctor?"

Willow thought for a moment. "Maybe we should," she
finally said. "Buffy..you have a pretty high tolerance
for pain. Maybe you're in serious labor and just not
feeling it."

"Neat!" Buffy grinned, crumbling up chocolate cookie
bits in a glass of milk. "Wow..if this is serious labor then
childbirth will be a walk in the park. Not MY walks in
parks," she amended, "because mine are scary
and dangerous...but other people's walks in...in other
people's parks."

"Okay...so what do we do first?" Dawn asked again,
her voice high pitched.

Willow turned and looked right at her. "We don't panic!"

Buffy nodded. "Thash my moddo" she said, speaking
through a mouthful of soggy cookies bits.

Spike walked into the kitchen, stopping short when
three pairs of eyes fixed on him. "What did I do?"

"Hi, honey!" Buffy said brightly. "I'm in labor!"

He just stared at her for a moment as she sat there
with milk clinging to her upper lip, then chuckled as
though she had told him a mildly funny joke. "You
are not," he said, shaking his head.

Buffy's eyebrows arched. "I reeeallly think I am" she
sing-songed.

"No," he said firmly. "You're not."

Exasperated, Buffy glared at him. "How the hell do
YOU know? Are YOU in here with me?"

"Buffy, you're not in...."

"You're pissing me off, Spike! I don't..." She struggled
to stand up. "Get me out of this chair!"

He took her hands and pulled her up. When she
was back on her feet, she placed her hands on her
hips and confronted her husband. "I don't think you're
the best judge of MY condition!"

Willow spoke up, hoping to calm the fracas before
it really got rolling. "We were just thinking that Buffy
might be in labor, and just not feel it all that much..her
being the slayer and all. She can take a lot of pain
before she says ouch."

Spike just shook his head. "She's not in labor," he said
doggedly.

"You can say it until the cows come home," Buffy
snapped. "And it still don't make it true!"

"Look, sweetheart," he began reasonably, "You
can't be in labor."

"Why the hell not?" she asked shrilly. "For crying
out loud, Spike...you always knew this day would come!"

"Buffy..."

"And WHY are you so damn positive that I'm not
in labor?" she demanded. "Did you graduate from
medical school when I wasn't looking?"

"Because," he blurted out, "I'm not ready for it!"

Buffy didn't know whether to laugh or scream. Not
ready for it? Like THAT was the deciding factor!

"Well, WHY didn't you say so?" she asked sarcas-
tically. "I'm sure if you ask her that the baby won't
mind staying where she is until you're ready for it!"

"Buffy..."

"Maybe you can give me a rough of when you THINK
you'll be good to go. Nothing definite, just ball park,
what do you think? Two weeks? Three? Couple of
years?"

"Funny, Slayer...real funny." Spike looked at Will-
ow. "She been like this all day?"

"Like what?" Willow asked innocently.

Spike didn't reply, just looked back at his wife. "You
really think you're in labor?" he asked.

Buffy folded her arms across her chest. "Well...YOU
tell ME!"

Grabbing her hand, he pulled her towards the
back door. "You," he said, pointing at Dawn. "Run
upstairs and get your sister's bag. It's right inside
our bedroom door. And you," he turned to Willow.
"You call her doctor...number's by the phone."

"Gee, he must be ready," Buffy muttered.

"And YOU!" Spike added. "Shut up and get your ass
in the car."

She stared up at him, fully prepared to give him
the rough side of her tongue, then stopped when she
saw the look on his face.

Waiting until Dawn and Willow were gone, she
slipped one hand behind his neck. "Don't be scared,"
she said softly. "Everything will be fine...and you
ARE ready for it."

He just looked at her, his eyes filled with doubt
and worry. "You think?"

She smiled. "I KNOW," she whispered, pulling
him down until his lips touched hers. After a long
kiss, she cupped his face in her hands and said
the one thing she knew would calm him down
and fire him up at the same time.

"Spike...I need you to take care of me. I'm count-
ing on you, baby."


**She needs me...she needs me...my wife
needs me....**


He smiled and kissed her forehead. "You're good...you
know that, don't you?"

"I know YOU, baby."

"All right," he said firmly. "Let's..." He stopped when
she made a face. "What?"

She shrugged. "Labor pain."

Spike was surprised. "That's IT?"

"I guess so," she said with a cheery smile.

"Well, that doesn't seem so bad."

"Yeah, that's what I thought. Fringe benefit of being
a slayer, I guess. Painless childbirth. Lucky me, huh?"


*************************

SIX HOURS LATER....


"GET...AWAY...FROM...ME!"

"I need to examine you and see how far you're
dilated," the nurse said briskly.

Buffy lay flat on the hospital bed, panting and
sweating, and madder than hellfire.

"NO!" She whipped her head around and
glared at Spike. "Kill her!" she demanded. "It's
the least you can do for me, you rotten son of
a..."

Spike looked up and met the nurses eyes. "She's
kidding." He leaned over the bed. "Sweetheart...the
nurse is here to help you. I know you're in pain, but
I can't kill her," he whispered."

Buffy looked at him murderously. "This is YOUR
fault," she panted. "You...and your stupid birth-
day...I HATE you....I wish you were DEAD!"

Turning on the nurse, she grabbed the front of
her uniform. "Bring me...a sharp piece of wood!
Any kind!"

"Buffy!" Spike said loudly. "Let go of the nurse!"
He pried her fingers loose and kept her hands
locked in his, preventing her from sinking her teeth
into his knuckles.

Dr. Beaumont walked into the room, scanning
Buffy's chart. "How are things going in..." He stopped
short when he saw the looks he was being given
by the other three people in the room. "Not
well, I take it?" he asked needlessly.

"No!" Spike answered. "You take it damn well right! She's
in too much pain. Can't you bloody well give her some-
thing for it?"

"Please..." Buffy whined.

"I can do that," the doctor assured them. "How far
is she dilated?" he asked the nurse.

"She won't let me examine her and find out!"

Dr. Beaumont smiled. "I'll do it." he washed his
hands at the sink, then pulled a pair of rubber
gloves from the wall dispenser. "Page Dr. Hulse.
We may do an epidural."

When the door swung closed behind the R.N., the
doctor pulled the curtain closed around Buffy's bed.

"Buffy.." he began.

She glared at him suspiciously. "What?"

"I promise to be very gentle and not hurt you, but I
have to see how far you're dilated. Then, we'll get you
something for the pain. All right?"

Buffy nodded. "Thank you." In the lull between pains,
she tried to be pleasant. "You see..this wasn't
supposed to hurt."

Dr. Beaumont looked at her, puzzled. "Why did you
think that having a baby wouldn't hurt? Didn't you attend
the classes and...."

"Yes!" she interjected. "But I'm different from the others!"

"Oh? How's that?"

"I'm a ...."

Spike clapped his hand over her mouth. "Big, brave
girl!" he finished for her. "Be quiet now and let the doc
examine you, honey. I'll be right back."

She grabbed his shirt sleeve. "Where do you think YOU'RE
going?"

"I'm just...just going to tell everyone how you're doing,"
he explained.

"But I'm doing lousy," she said fretfully.

"No, you're not, love." He loosened her hand and
kissed her fingers.

"Hurry up!" she called as he made it out the door.

"Oh, yeah...I will," Spike answered. As the door
closed behind him, he paused to collect himself,
then headed for the waiting area.

Dawn saw him first and jumped to her feet. "Is it
over?"

Spike shook his head. "I wish." He sat down on
the couch next to Willow. "The doc is giving her
something so it doesn't hurt so much."

Willow smiled and patted his shoulder. "The pain
kicked in, huh?"

He nodded. "In a big way."

"Is she being mean?"

"In a BIG way."

Xander appeared in the doorway, three cans of
soda in his hands. "So," he said, handing a can
to Dawn and Willow. "How's the little mommy doing?"

"She's terrorizing the nurses," Spike replied. "They're
all afraid to go near her."

"As well they should be," Xander said, plopping down
in an armchair and opening a can of cola. "The only
thing more dangerous than a cranky slayer...is a
cranky slayer in labor."

"Yeah, well...." Spike stood up. "I have to go back," he
said bleakly.

Xander raised his can. "Courage, man."

Willow smiled cheerily. "Tell her that we're here!"

"And that we love her!" Dawn added.

"I will." Spike looked back at them from the doorway. "Good-
bye," he said, sounding like a condemned man standing
on the top step of the gallows.

Outside of Buffy's room, he waited, listening for
her cantankerous tones. After almost a minute of silence,
he pushed the door open. "Buffy?"

"Hi, honey" she said sweetly, holding out one
hand. "Come here."

Encouraged by her smile, he leaned over the bed. "How
you feeling, baby?" he asked, brushing back her damp
hair.

"Better," she sighed deeply. "Soooo much better."

Spike smiled. "On drugs, huh?"

"Mm-hmm," she nodded. "Good ones, too."

Doctor Beaumont came in to the room. "How's the
pain?" he asked.

"Bearable" Buffy said.

The doctor chuckled. "Hooray for modern medicine." He
glanced at her chart. "Good news...you're fully dilated."

"What's that mean?" Spike asked.

The doctor closed the chart with a snap. "Time
to push. AFTER we get you into the delivery room."

"Okay," Buffy said, her face determined. "I'm ready."

After summoning the nurse on the intercom, Doctor
Beaumont turned back to them. "All right. Let's go
deliver this baby."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Next...A Whole New World

Unexpected Blessings



A Whole New World...


Dawn nudged the door of Buffy's hospital room
open and peeked inside, grinnng at the sight
before her eyes.

Buffy was curled up on her side in the bed, sound
asleep. Spike was sitting in the chair next to the
bed, feet propped up on the bed rail, head back,
eyes closed.

They both looked utterly exhausted.

But it was the other occupant of the room that
Dawn most wanted to see. The brand new one.

On top of a small cart next to the bed, a baby
wrapped snugly in a pink cotton blanket was
sleeping in a glass bassinet.

Dawn was so enraptured at the sight of the
baby, she didn't notice that Spike wasn't asleep
until he spoke.

"Go ahead," he said quietly. "Get a closer look."

She approached the sleeping infant as quietly
as she could. "Oh, God," she whispered. "She's
so beautiful."

Spike stood up and stretched, then joined her
beside the bassinet. "She's more than beautiful,"
he said. "She's perfect."

Dawn slipped one arm around him and squeezed. "Proud
daddy."

He hugged her back. "You know I am," he agreed. "Watch
this." He reached into the bassinet and stroked the
baby's tiny hand with one finger. Her little fist uncurled
and she instinctively wrapped her own fingers around her
father's.

"That's my girl," he whispered.

"And my niece," Dawn added. "Can I...?"

Spike smiled. "Hold her? Sure, you can."

She lifted the baby carefully, cuddling her against her
breast.

"Hi Dawnie," a tired voice whispered. Dawn turned and saw
Buffy, awake and smiling.

"Hey, big sister...look what I found."

Buffy held out her hands to Spike. "Help." She grimaced
slightly as he helped her straighten up in the bed. "So,"
she said, pushing the button that raised the back of the
mattress. "What do you think of your niece?"

"Gee, not much," Dawn said, grinning widely. "Only that
she's the most beautiful baby ever!"

"She looks like her mother," Spike said, leaning down
and kissing Buffy's forehead.

"She's so tiny," Dawn marveled.

"Everything but her lungs." Buffy smiled up into Spike's
eyes. "Those she gets from her father."

"Very funny," he said, smiling back at her.

Dawn sat down in the bed side chair. "And how are YOU
feeling?"

"Like I just went ten rounds with a kangaroo on speed..and
lost," Buffy replied.

"So, it WAS painful?"

Buffy thought for a moment. "Put it this way...it wasn't
a walk in the park. It was more like a 10k run through
the highways of hell...uphill."

Dawn laughed. "But she was worth it."

"Yes, she was," Buffy nodded. "Worth that and ten
times more besides."

The door opened and they all turned to look as one of
the nurses came in carrying an enormous flower
arrangement. "These just came," she informed them,
setting the vase down on the night stand.

After the nurse left, Spike extracted a small white
card from the arrangment and handed it to Buffy.

"They're from Giles" she announced, after reading
the card.

It was a short, simple message.


" I've never been more proud "


She showed Spike the card. "My thoughts exactly," he
murmured.

A few minutes later, Dawn rose reluctantly to her
feet. "It's getting late," she said, giving the baby to her
father. She leaned over and kissed Buffy. "You get some
rest. I'll see you tomorrow."

"I'll be here," Buffy promised.

Passing Spike on her way out the door, Dawn gave him
a pat on the back.

"Nice work...Daddy."

***********

"She's right you know."

"Right about what, love?"

"You do nice work."

"Well...I had some help."

Buffy watched as Spike sat down in the chair,
holding the baby close, patting her tiny back.

She felt a sudden rush of pure love move
through her. Love for her child and for her hus-
band. So much love, that she couldn't even
imagine ever hating him...wanting to drive a
stake into him.

**God....what if I had succeeded?**


It was a horrible and sobering thought, one that
she didn't want to examine closely.


She was always amazed at how quickly life
could change, how little it took to make it a
completely different life from the one you'd
been leading. The tiniest, most insignificant
circumstance could alter the course of existence
as much as a major occurance could.

In a very short period of time, she had gone from
a slayer with no family but a "sort of" younger
sister, to a wife and a mother. Somehow, in
spite of the wrenching twists and turns her early
years had put her through, she had come out on
the other side into a new world filled with love and
hope and endless possibilities.

Everything was different now. She had a husband to
love and a child to raise...and she was double damned
if she would let anything interfere with that destiny.

"What are you thinking about so seriously?"

Spike's voice brought her out of her thoughts.

"Just that...it's so funny to think that I'm a mother
now."

He laughed. "Oh, I can relate," he said. "Imagine my
difficulty believing I'm a dad."

Buffy shook her head. "Things have changed so much
now. There's so much more to consider."

He nodded. "That's true. It's a whole new world for
us now. Isn't it?" he asked the sleeping baby.

Buffy was silent for a long moment, then spoke
with complete decisiveness. "I'm through being
a slayer."

Spike looked at her. "Say what?"

She met his gaze head on. "I'm through with it. I'm
through with risking my life every night. I mean...it
was bad enough before, but now...Spike...I can't
take a chance on getting killed...on leaving this
baby....leaving you."

Although he kept his face composed, inside he
was shouting with joy. He'd been planning to bring
this up at some point, but had never summoned the
nerve during Buffy's pregnancy.

"I'm gonna talk to Giles in the morning," she said
firmly. "He's going to have to bring Faith back from
New York if he wants a slayer in Sunnydale."

"You think she'll do it?"

Buffy nodded. "I think so. I talked to her a few
weeks ago and she sounded a little lonesome.
You know Faith...she never says it, but I can
tell. And she wanted to come and see the baby,
anyway."

"When she gets here, we'll shanghai her, not
let her leave, then." Spike said. "How does that
sound, poppet?" He waited, then looked at Buffy.
"She's not talking, but she loves the idea."

"And what does Daddy think?" Buffy asked.

"Daddy...thinks it's the best idea he's heard in
a very long time. And he also thinks that it's
time he went home and let Mummy rest."

He stood up and kissed the baby's cheek. "Good-
night, Katherine Rose," he said. "Be a good girl
and I'll see you tomorrow." He started to place her
in the bassinet, but Buffy stopped him.

"Don't put her back to bed," she protested. "Bring
her here."

Spike placed the baby in her mother's arms, then
picked up his jacket from the chair and slipped
it on. "You get some sleep, love," he said, bending
over to kiss her and caress the baby's cheek one
more time.

"We will," Buffy promised, leaning back against
the pillows.

"See you tomorrow, baby."

"Hey!" Buffy called when he had one hand on the
door. "I love you."

Spike turned and looked at her. Unable to resist,
he returned to her bedside. "I love you, too," he
said, kissing her soundly on the mouth. "Now, go
to sleep."

After he'd left, Buffy looked down at the baby
in her arms.

"That was your daddy. Isn't he cute?"



TBC......

Title: Unexpected Blessings
Author: Pattyanne
snapkik@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: Not mine
Feedback: Yes, please
Rating: Varies from chapter to
chapter.
Summary: Spike and Buffy have a
baby.



Back In The Saddle



Buffy groaned and burrowed her head deeper
into the pillow.

That noise was starting up again. It was loud
and piercing, and was yanking her out of a very
nice dream by the scruff of her neck.

She tried to block the sound by covering her head
with another pillow, but it was too persistent. She
couldn't ignore it.

Not just because it was so damn loud...but because
something inside of her sleep fogged brain was telling
her she'd better not.

**Please...please let me sleep...I'm so tired**

The noise didn't care. The more she tried to ignore
it, the louder and more shrill it got.

Finally, with a moan of defeat, she opened her eyes
and concentrated on the task of pinpointing the
source of the wretched sound and making it stop.

Sitting up in bed, she gazed around the room
through eyes only half open, trying to identify the
origin of that dream killing caterwauling.

A quick glance at the man sleeping next to her
revealed nothing.

There was no one standing at the door, and the window
was tightly closed against the cold night air.

Buffy rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and tried to
make them focus. Her gaze moved past the armoire,
around the chair, up and down the bookshelves, past
the bassinet...

"Oh!"

Her eyes snapped back instantly in the direction
they'd come from and zeroed in on the pink and
white bassinet. The source of the clamor had been
located and now had to be stopped before it woke
up the entire neighborhood.

"Spike...honey," she muttered, tapping his shoulder
gently. He didn't even twitch. "The baby's crying," she
said a little louder, shaking him a little harder.

Nothing.

Leaning over, Buffy placed her mouth less than an
inch from his ear. "HEY!"

He shot straight up in bed, staring at her, wild
eyed. "What? What's wrong?" he asked, looking at
her as though he wasn't quite sure who she was.

The baby picked that moment to wail again.

"Buffy...the baby's crying," he said, yawning widely.

She looked at him. "No kidding?"

He flopped back down on the bed. "Whassa matter
with her?" he asked, his voice still sleepy.

"Well, it beats me all to hell." she said. "Hey, I know!
Why don't you go ask her?" She produced an impressive
yawn of her own. "Go and get her before she wakes
up everyone in town."

He gave her an imploring look. "She's probably hungry"
he said. "It's not like I can do anything about that, so..."

Buffy cut him off. "Go get the baby!"

He tried to appeal to her again. "Yeah, but...why should
BOTH of us...."

"Go..get..the...baby!"

Seeing the look on her face, he switched gears. "Why
don't I go get the baby?" he asked, smiling as if it had
been his idea all along.

"Good plan," she agreed, patting his arm just a touch
harder than was necessary.

Still half asleep, he stumbled over to the bassinet and
peered down at his daughter, trying to focus.

"You're not a bit happy right now, are you?" He picked
her up and held her against his shoulder, patting her
back. "And if you're not happy...nobody's happy. Isn't
that right, my love?"

Depositing her in her mother's arms, he crawled back
into bed and turned on his side, openly staring as Buffy
unbuttoned her nightgown and began to nurse the baby.

The curves that Buffy had developed during her pregnancy
had nearly doubled in size, causing Spike to develop an
instant erection everytime she undressed or nursed Katie.

She glanced at him and caught him looking at her.

"What are YOU staring at?" she asked, a tiny smile
playing on her lips.

"What do you think I'm staring at?" he leered playfully,
tracing one finger over her milk laden breasts. "Do you get
to keep these after you stop nursing?"

Buffy laughed. "God, I HOPE so."

Turning the baby in her arms, she offered her other
breast. Katie nursed for a few seconds, then drifted
back to sleep.

"She's out cold," Spike observed.

"Mm-hmm..back to bed please, Daddy." Giving the
baby back to her father, Buffy watched as Spike
gently settled her back in her bassinet. Leaning over,
he kissed her cheek and whispered, "Sweet dreams,
angel."

Returning to the bed, he saw Buffy making a face
of discomfort. "Something wrong, love?"

She shook her head. "Not really. It's just that sometimes
she falls asleep before I'm...."

"Empty?"

"Yeah." Slipping one hand into her gown, she massaged
her breast. "It's a little...uncomfortable."

He was silent for a moment, then looked into her eyes
and said, "I can help you with that, sweetheart."

Buffy gazed at him in surprise...and something else.

"Do tell," she murmured, smiling slowly.

Spike sat up and pulled her lower in the bed. Working
her nightgown off, he tossed it to the end of the bed,
then settled beside her and placed his hand beneath
her right breast, lifting it to his mouth.

Gently, knowing how sensitive they were, he lowered
his head and took her nipple into his mouth, then
began suckling.

Buffy gasped sharply and pushed her head back into
the pillow, trying to stay quiet and not disturb the
baby. Closing her eyes tightly, she slipped one hand
around the back of Spike's neck, caressing it.

He broke contact briefly. "Not hurting you, am I?"

"Mmm...no," she said softly. "Not a bit. You're being
very gentle."

He smiled and kissed the side of her neck. "And I thought
your blood tasted sweet," he whispered.

Buffy applied a little pressure to the back of his
neck. "Don't stop."

He reclaimed the tender flesh, drawing her warm milk
into his mouth greedily.

Buffy's head was spinning. This was such a different
sensation from what she felt when she nursed Katie.
That happiness was completely maternal and loving,
all it's pleasure derived from the knowledge that she
was nurturing her child.

But this...this was amazing. The feelings rushing
through her now had nothing to do with motherly
love. This was sex...pure and simple.

In the past when they'd made love, Spike had
always paid lavish attention to her breasts. He knew
how much she enjoyed the feel of his hands and
mouth on her, and he spent as much time there
as she wanted him to.

Pregnancy had increased not only the size of her
breasts, but also the sensitivity. She had become
so sensitive, in fact, that he was able to bring her
nearly to the point of orgasm without even touching
her below the waist.

Buffy's eyes suddenly opened wide as she realized
that it was happening right now. She felt every pull of
his mouth in the depths of her womb, making her sex
swell and become moist and heavy feeling.

Slowly, she became aware that he was saying
something.

"What?" she asked faintly. 'I..I didn't hear...you."

Spike looked at her, his own _expression a little
dazed. "I asked if you felt better now. Did that help?"

"Oh...right." Buffy tried to focus her attention on
something other than sudden, unbearable lust. "Yeah,
if feels much better." Her hand drifted up and caressed
his cheek. "Thank you, honey."

He swallowed hard. "My pleasure," he said in a
strained voice as he tried to climb out of bed.

Buffy caught his arm. "Where are you going?"

"Not far." Spike looked as uncomfortable as she
had a few minutes ago. "I'll be right back."

Her eyes moved down the front of his body, easily
seeing the reason behind his obvious discomfort.

Smiling, she pulled him back down. "You don't have
to do that by yourself, baby. I'll take care of it for
you."

She slipped one hand down the front of his sweat-
pants. "It's my fault that it got all big and hard like
that." Placing her free hand on his chest, she urged
him down, then pulled his pants all the way off.

"Are...are you sure?" he asked hoarsely.

Buffy smiled. "You made me feel better with YOUR
mouth. I should return the favor."

"Oh...oh, God," he moaned, his hands playing in
her hair. "Buffy...sweetheart...feels so good."

Her mouth slid up and down his shaft, slowly at
first, then faster when she felt his hips rise to
push himself deeper into her mouth.

Releasing him from her oral embrace, she licked
him up and down, swirling her tongue around the
head of his penis in a way she knew he enjoyed.

"Baby...yes...harder," he begged. "Suck it harder..
yeah...you know how...use your tongue..."

Buffy licked up the drops of semen that formed
at the slit, then sucked just on the head as her
fingers wrapped more firmly around the base of
his erection.

"Ohhhh....fuck...you're the best, baby...no one
sucks as good as you do...clever little tongue
of yours...so hot and wet...mmmm...suck really
hard now....."

When she felt him stiffen even more, she knew
he was close to climaxing. Removing her mouth,
she held him firmly in her hand, pumping it up
and down.

She looked up and caught him watching her. "Try not
to yell too loud when you come,' she said with a sassy
smile. "You don't want to wake up your daughter at
a moment like this."

Lowering her head, she reclaimed him in her mouth.
Thirty seconds later, he grabbed a pillow and buried
his face in it, muffling the sounds of pleasure that he
couldn't control.

When he was finished, she pulled the pillow away
from his face, chuckling when she saw the idiotic
smile he had on.

She crawled back up beside him and fell into his
arms. "Better?"

Spike squeezed her tightly. "God...yes. Life is SO
good, kitten."

Buffy snuggled closer. "It's about to get even better."

Something in her tone made him open his eyes and
look at her. "How so?"

She propped her head on her hand. "I have an appointment
with the doctor today. Eight week check up time. And, if
everything goes right," she added, walking her fingers up
the middle of his chest. "..I should get the all clear."

Spike's eyes kindled with new heat. "You mean...?"

Buffy nuzzled his ear. "I mean..that with any luck...you'll
be back in the saddle tonight, cowboy."

He flipped her over suddenly, startling her. "Then I'd
better make sure it's ready for me."

He kissed his way down her breasts and over her
abdomen.

When she felt him push her thighs apart and settle
between them, she closed her eyes and sighed.

"You were right, honey," she said."Life is damn good."



************

"Why are we here?"

"Because I felt something behind."

"Something important?"

"Something unfinished."

Jacob stared into depthless dark eyes, eyes that
had bewitched him from the moment he saw them
glittering in a fever of blood lust.

For three months he had been with her. Three months
living in her world of mad fantasy, of tea parties where
she served blood in delicate china cups, and danced
to music no one else could hear.

She was completely insane. He knew it...but he
didn't care. He was a part of her. She'd made
him especially for her, had given him a new life
and taught him what to do with it.

He would do anything for her, which was what she
wanted and needed from a man.

Jacob watched her stand in the moonlight, staring
at a small house across the street. Her eyes sharp-
ened briefly when a light was turned on and a woman
passed in front of a window that ran half the length
of the house.

A woman holding a baby.

He could see her patting the infant's back, see her
mouth moving as she soothed it.

"There," his lover whispered.

Inside the house, the woman turned her head suddenly,
as of someone had called to her from another room.
Moments later, the light went off.

"Who is she?" Jacob asked.

"She's a thief," the woman beside him replied,
turning to face him with golden eyes and glistening
fangs. "She stole from me."

Jacob shivered as his own demon leapt forward
to greet her. "What did she steal from you?"
he growled.

She smiled sadly. "My prince. She took him away
from me...two times. That's not good form, you
know. I'm quite cross with her....she has to be
punished."

"How will you punish her?"

The smile on her face changed and her eyes
narrowed.

"By stealing from her what she loves most." Lifting her
arms, she gazed into the blank glass eyes of
the doll pressed against her breast. "Her child."

Jacob watched her walk away, singing a nameless
lullaby, forgetting that he was even there.

Taking one more look at the house, he ran to
catch up with her.




TBC.........

Title: Unexpected Blessings
Author: Pattyanne
snapkik@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: Not mine
Feedback: I really need it!
Rating: Varies chapter to chapter
Summary: Buffy and Spike have
a baby.

Unexpected Blessings





Stolen Away....
(Okay, so maybe there's
a LITTLE bit of angst)

~~~~~~~
"Hey! Where's my daughter?"

"In here with me!"

Buffy glanced up as her husband came into the
living room and scooped Katie up in his arms.

"Happy Birthday, Princess," he said, kissing
the baby's cheeks.

"What are you talking about?" Buffy asked. "It's
nowhere near her birthday."

"Is so," he insisted. "She's nine weeks old today,
aren't you, m'love?"

"Oh, brother. "Buffy rolled her eyes. "Yeah, she's
really getting up there, isn't she? Seems like it
was only nine weeks ago that we brought her home
from the hospital. Where DOES the time go?"

Spike stretched out on the sofa with the baby
on his chest. "Your mother has a very sarcastic
way about her sometimes," he said, patting Katie's
back. "And it's not very attractive."

Buffy couldn't stop herself. "She'll be asking to
borrow the car any day now."

"Hmm...not bloody likely," he mumbled.

"S'cuse me?"

"No one," he stated firmly, "except for me will be
driving her anywhere!"

"What about me?"

"YOU?" Spike laughed. "Least of all, you!"

Buffy knew better than to open THAT can of worms
and run down mailboxes, so she decided to take
another tack. Folding her arms across her chest,
she sat down on the end of the sofa.

"All right...how about when she starts dating?" she
asked, then sat back to wait for the explosion.

He didn't disappoint her.

"Dating? Are you...you're out of your...I will
NOT..." He shook his head vehemently, clutching
the baby closer. "No!"

Buffy had to bite her lip until it nearly bled, just
to suppress a smile. "What do you mean, no?"
she asked, when she could speak without laughing.
"She never gets to date? Ever?"

He thought it over for about three seconds. "No."

'You know, honey," Buffy said. "I think she may
fight you on that." She patted his knee. "You're
being over..pro..tec...tive."

"Well...I don't care," he replied, stroking Katie's
soft cap of light brown hair. "If you think that I'm gonna
stand around and watch some..boy..put his sweaty
hands on my baby, you'd best think again."

"My, my, my," Buffy said. "That IS a brand new you,
isn't it?" Standing up with a sigh, she reached down
and took the baby.

"Hey!" he protested. "I'm not done yet!"

"Too bad," she called over her shoulder. "Nap time,
doncha know?"

"It is not." Spike followed her upstairs. "You're just
saying that."

"Am not."

"She's not tired."

"Is so."

Five minutes later, they came back down.

"Told you so," Buffy said. She went into the kitchen
and stared balefully at a sink full of dirty dishes. "Why
do we use so many dishes?" she asked, looking at
him as though she expected him to answer.

"What do you mean, we?"

As she stood at the sink scraping dried food off
her mother's china, Spike crept up behind her and
slipped his arms around her waist. He nuzzled and
growled against her throat, making her laugh.

"Hey, ya know what?" he asked suddenly. "Let's
go out tonight, just you and me."

She turned in his arms. "Yeah? Like where?"

He shrugged. "You choose."

"What about Katie?"

"Dawn'll be home soon. Instant baby-sitter."

She thought it over for a moment, then smiled. "Okay,
you talked me into it," she said returning his em-
brace.

"Then you put on your prettiest dress," he instruct-
ed. "I'm going to take you out and show you off!"

Pushing her up against the sink, he kissed her long
and hard.


****************************************

"You ready to go, gorgeous?" Spike called out,
standing at the bottom of the stairs.

"I am very, very ready," Buffy said. She practically
skipped down the stairs, with Dawn following behind
her.

"Look," she said to her sister. "I know that YOU know
where everything is, but let me give you the little
speech anyway, okay?"

Dawn nodded. "Fire away."

"The number of the restaurant is on the pad next to
the phone. So's her pediatrician's number. I fed her
about two hours ago, and she'll probably want to eat
before we get home, so there's a can of formula in the
cupboard. She doesn't mind the bottle."

Spike took her hand and began tugging her towards
the door. "Come on, Slayer. Night's not getting any
younger."

"Okay, okay...I've got my cell phone...you know that
number, right?"

"Yup," Dawn said.

"What else....Oh, I forgot...Xander and Anya might
drop by later."

"How come?"

Buffy pulled her coat on. "Anya wants some diaper chang-
ing practice, as long as they're just wet that is."

Spike looked surprised. "Is she...?"

Buffy smiled and shook her head. "No. She just wants to
be ready for it when it happens."

He snorted. "Yeah. Good bloody luck."

Buffy narrowed her eyes at him. "What's THAT sup-
posed to mean?"

Reclaiming her hand, he led her down the porch
steps to the driveway. "Nothing terrible," he explain-
ed. "Just that...no matter how ready you THINK you
are...you're not!"

He opened the car door for her, then came around
and climbed into the driver's seat. Before turning the
key, he turned to look at her. "Am I right?"

Buffy opened her mouth to speak, closed it again
to think, then said, "I can't argue with you on that
one."

Wearing that same smirk that used to make her
fingers itch to smack off his face, Spike stated
the car and backed out of the driveway.

**************************************

Dawn heard the doorbell ring as she was closing
the door to the nursery.

"Shit," she muttered under her breath, descending
the stairs as quietly as she could. She opened
the door halfway, to find a man and woman she
didn't recognize standing there.

The woman spoke first. "Hello," she smiled. "You
must be Buffy's sister, Dawn."

She had a soft voice and spoke with a cultured
English accent, a sound Dawn was familiar and
comfortable with.

"Rupert described you perfectly," the woman added.

"You know Giles?" Dawn asked.

"Oh, yes," the woman nodded. "We're old friends. I've
been out of the country for a while, but we had a lovely
visit this afternoon and he told us all about Buffy's
baby. I just had to come and congratulate her...oh,
and I brought a little gift."

She handed Dawn a small box, wrapped in pink
paper, with a white and pink bow on top of it.

Dawn smiled. "Buffy's not home right now."

The woman looked disappointed. "Oh, that's a
shame."

The man cleared his throat. "Darling," he said
softly. "We're going to be awfully late."

"Yes..I know, but.." The woman sighed. "Would
you mind terribly if I borrowed your phone to let
our friends know that we're on our way. It'll only
take a moment."

Dawn shrugged. "Sure. Come on in."


*********************************


"Did you have fun, baby?"

"I did," Buffy smiled and laid her head against
Spike's shoulder. "I'd almost forgotten what it's like
to eat a meal without providing one at the same
time."

"Sure you don't want to go somewhere else?" he
offered. "It's early yet."

She shook her head. "Uh-uh. Things are getting un-
comfortable," she said, gesturing at her breasts. "I
just hope she's hungry."

"Well, if she's not," he said, pulling into the driveway
behind Xander's car. "I could eat."

Shutting off the engine, he slid one hand behind
her neck and pulled her closer to kiss her.

After a few seconds, Buffy broke away. "I sure do
appreciate all the sacrifices you make for ....the
front door's open."

They opened their doors and got out of the car.

"They're probably just ready to leave," Spike
suggested.

"Yeah, maybe," Buffy nodded. "But it's kind of
cold out."

He reached for her hand. "I'm sure it's nothing, love."

She stared at him. "Then why do you look nervous?"

Simultaneously, they both began to walk faster.

Spike was the first one through the door, and he
stopped so abruptly that Buffy ran into him.

"What's..." she started to ask, then followed his
gaze to the living room sofa. "Dawn? Dawn...what
happened?"

Her sister was sitting on the sofa, her eyes red and
swollen from crying. Anya sat beside her, holdng a
plastic bag filled with ice against the side of Dawn's
face.

She turned in the other direction, and saw Xander
in the kitchen doorway, punching numbers on the
phone. As he hit the final number, he turned and
saw them.

Before he could speak, the cell phone in Buffy's
purse began to ring.

Xander hung up the phone. "I was just calling you."

Spike held up one hand. "The baby's not here. She's
not in the house."

Buffy didn't ask how he knew. She felt it too. Their
child was gone, and the house felt...different.

Panic began to take a stranglehold on her throat, as
she did her best not to break down and scream, not
to fly out of the house and start kicking in people's
doors.

"B-Buffy.." Dawn's voice was soft and frightened. "I'm
so...I'm so...." She began to cry.

Buffy clenched her fists to keep from tearing the
house apart.

Spike sat down beside Dawn and pulled her hands
away from her face. "Dawn." His voice amazingly
controlled. "Tell me everything that happened."

When she lifted her head to speak, he saw the
marks on her neck. Two small punctures, smeared
with blood.

He closed his eyes briefly, shaking with rage.

A vampire had done this. Had come into his home, and
taken his child. And it had to be someone he or Buffy
knew. Dawn had to have invited them in.

"Spike?" Buffy's voice was nearly inaudible with fear.

Opening his eyes, he looked at Dawn. "What did he
look like? Have you ever seen him before? Dawn,
honey, listen to me...this wasn't your fault. Just try
and remember...tell me everything that happened."

Anya placed the ice bag on the table, revealing a
huge bruise and swelling on the side of Dawn's face.

"Oh, Christ," Spike bit out angrily. "Buffy? Come here,
love."

On shaky legs, Buffy crossed the room and sat
down in the armchair near the sofa. "Dawn...tell us
what happened."

In a quiet voice, Dawn described everything.

When she mentioned the part about Giles, Xander
went back to the phone and dialed the watcher's
number. Their conversation was brief.

"He hasn't spoken to anyone, from anywhere,
about you and the baby," he told them. "He's
on his way over." Xander stood in the doorway,
arms folded, staring at the floor.

While Dawn continued, Spike rose to his feet
and reverted to old habits, pacing the room with
his fists clenched.

"I...I let them in to use the phone. I thought you
guys knew them. She seemed to know about
you. And...and when they came in...he grabbed
hold of me and started to...to bite me. But she
told him to stop. She...she said that she wanted
me alive..so that I could tell Buffy that she was
being...being punished for stealing from her. She
started to go up the stairs, and I tried to stop her!
I tried to make her stop! And she...she hit me!"

"She knocked her out cold," Xander added. "Anya
and I found her laying at the foot of the stairs. By the
time we woke her up...God, Buffy. We didn't know
the baby was gone. We went up and checked the
nursery, but we thought she was with you. I..I guess
we weren't thinking clearly."

Anya's voice was soft and hesitant. "We thought maybe
you forgot that we were coming over. We didn't see
the bite marks at first."

Buffy was almost nauseous with fear and guilt. This
was HER fault. These vampires had come to punish
her, to punish the slayer...and her baby was going to
suffer because of it. Her little girl.

The thought of her helpless baby in the cruel and
uncaring hands of a vampire, was the blow that finally
brought the slayer to her knees. Sliding out of the
chair, she buried her face in the cushion and began
to cry harsh, painful tears that made her entire body
tremble.

Spike crossed the room in three strides and picked
her up off the floor, then carried her upstairs.

He sat on their bed, holding her on his lap as she
cried. He didn't even try to make her stop. He knew
there was no way that she could.

But, he also knew that he had little time to spare.

Five minutes crawled by, and Buffy's sobs turned to
soft, silent weeping.

"Listen to me," he said quietly. "I am going to find
her, I promise you. I'll bring her home."

Buffy took a deep breath. "You can't promise me
that...and you know it."

"Buffy..."

"Oh, God...this is all my fault," she whimpered. "My
fault.."

"What are you talking about?" He pulled back and
looked into her eyes. "Baby...this is not..."

"A vampire took her!" She cut him off brutally. "They
took her...because she's MY child! The slayer's
child. They couldn't get me...so they took her." She
began to cry again. "They took our baby, Spike...our
little girl."

"Sweetheart...don't do this to yourself."

Buffy was gasping for air. "I didn't think anything could
hurt this much," she said, holding her hand over her
heart as her chest heaved. "I don't think I can survive
this, Spike...I can't...I just can't."

Burying her face against his shoulder, she sobbed
brokenheartedly.

After a few minutes, he shifted her off his lap. "I'll
be right back, honey."

Buffy clutched at him. "Where are you going? Spike...
please....I need you."

"I know, love," He took hold of her hands and kissed
them. "I'll be right back, I swear it."

Anya spoke from the doorway. "I'll stay with her."

Spike glanced at her and nodded. "Thanks." He kissed
Buffy's forehead. "I just need to talk to Dawn, okay?"

He walked quickly downstairs, briefly distracted
by the sound of a car stopping in front of the house
with a scream of brakes and tires.

Looking out the window, Spike watched as Giles
leapt from his car and sprinted for the house.

"How's Buffy?" he asked, panting for breath.

Spike shook his head. "Not good. She's upstairs."

Halfway up the staircase, Giles stopped and turned
his head. "Spike?"

"Yeah?"

"How are YOU doing?"

A little surprised, Spike didn't reply.

"I'm sorry," Giles said. "She's your daughter, too. You
must be out of your mind."

Spike nodded. "Nearly."

"I should have asked."

"You did. Now...go see Buffy. Tell her I'll be up
in a few minutes."

Back in the living room, Spike knelt in front of Dawn
and took her hands. "Tell me what they looked like. Did
they give you any names? Did they call each other by
name?"

Dawn shook her head. "No. He called her darling...but she
didn't call him anything. I..I thought they friends of Giles'.
She sounds just like him."

Spike had been staring at the floor, but this comment
caught his attention. "What do you mean...sounds just
like him? You mean she was English?"

"Yes."

He closed his eyes. "What..what did she look
like?"

"She had long dark hair...I think her eyes were brown. And
she was wearing a long dress...sort of fancy and old
fashioned looking."

"Oh, God." Xander had been standing by the window
listening, and went pale with shock. "That's...you
think it's..."

Spike looked up and met his eyes. "Yeah," he said
curtly.

Dawn wiped her face on her sleeve. "What? Who do
think it is?"

Spike didn't answer her. The anger that had been
building in him since he had come home to find his
daughter missing was fast turning into a raging fury
that he was almost afraid to unleash.

**DRUSILLA!! YOU BITCH!! GODDAMN YOU, YOU
FUCKING...PSYCHOTIC...BITCH!!**

He clenched his fist so tightly that his nails dug
in to the palms of his hands.

**If you hurt her...if you hurt my little girl...I swear
before Christ Almighty that I will kill you so
slowly...so painfully...that you will BEG FOR THE
FUCKING FIRE!!**

Jumping to his feet, Spike threw open the door
to the weapons cabinet, Xander right behind him.

Grabbing a monstrously huge axe, he tossed it
to Xander, who caught it in one hand. They each
armed themselves with several stakes. Xander took
a full sized crossbow, while Spike took a smaller
one that he concealed beneath his coat.

"Spike?"

He turned to see Buffy standing at the foot of the
stairs, watching him. Dropping the weapons in his
hands, he held out his arms. "Come here, sweetheart."

"Where are you going?" she asked, pressing her
cheek against his chest.

"I'm going to get our daughter...and bring her home."

She reared back, staring at him with wide, hopeful
eyes. "You know where she is? Who took her?"

Spike placed his hands on his shoulders and and
lookd directly into her eyes. "I know who took her..and
she won't be hard to find. She's just as stupid as she
ever was."

"Who is? Who are you..."

"Buffy," he said urgently. "Listen to me. This whole thing
has nothing to do with you being the slayer. That's not
what it's about at all."

She looked at him, confused. "But...Dawn said that SHE
said...it was to punish me."

Spike shook his head. "But not for being the slayer."

"Then for what?"

"She's punishing you...because I love you. Because I
fell in love with you...and left her."

He watched the terrible knowledge dawn in her eyes.

"You..you mean Drusilla? Drusilla took our baby?"

"Buffy..."

"Spike!" She clutched his shirt frantically. "Spike...she's
insane! You know it as well as I do! God...God only knows
what she'll do to...." She began to cry again. "Oh...oh, no.
No...please."

He felt her shaking, and knew she was about to collapse.
Wrapping his arms tightly around her, he sank down with
her to the floor.

"Buffy...sweetheart. Listen to me, now. I'll bring her
home. I swear...I SWEAR to you...you'll have your
baby in your arms again soon."

"OUR baby," she sobbed.

"Yes," he said softly, "Our baby." Spike looked up at
Giles and sent him a silent message. The watcher
nodded.

"Buffy." Giles' voice was calm as he knelt beside
her. Placing his arms around her, he slowly raised
her to her feet. "Come and sit down for a moment.
Dawn needs to see you. She's..she's almost hys-
terical."

"No," Buffy protested, trying to pull away. "I have
to go..my baby needs me...she needs me, Giles."

"No, Buffy,' Giles said sternly. "Let Spike deal with
this...with Drusilla. You're not in any shape for it
and..." He frowned, hating to say such words. "You
might endanger Katie. You're not thinking clearly...and
who could blame you?" He walked her into the living
room.

Spike stood up and retrieved his weapons. "Are you
ready?"

Xander nodded grimly. "Beyond ready."

Without a backward glance, they both walked out
of the house.


TBC....

Feedback makes my day!

Title: Unexpected Blessings
Author: Pattyanne
snapkik@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: Not mine
Rating: Varies from chapter to chapter
Feedback: Oh, yes. Please
Summary: Buffy and Spike have a baby.




Retribution



"What makes you think she'll be here?"

Spike stopped the car across the street from the
factory where he'd once lived with Drusilla.

"Like I said...she's as stupid as ever. Dru never
thought things all the way through. That's why she
can't manage on her own," he replied, stepping
out of the car.

When they found the back entry, Xander tested
the door. "It's locked," he whispered.

Spike didn't reply. Lifting one foot, he kicked the
door in so hard that it snapped off it's hinges and
fell to the floor with an echoing clatter.

Xander stared at him. "Good idea. Let's sneak up on
them."

Spike ignored the comment and walked into the
warehouse area of the factory. He picked up Dru's
scent immediately and his demon emerged, fueled
by rage and eager for violence.

"DRUSILLA!!" He stood in the middle of the cavernous
room and shouted her name.

He felt her before he saw her step out of the
shadows on the opposite side of the room.

"Spike," she said, with airy unconcern. "Come
to call, love?"

"Not exactly a social visit, Dru." He approached her at
a slow pace. Jacob stood a few feet away, and without
thinking twice, Spike pulled out his crossbow and fired
the bolt through the other vampire's heart.

"That the best help you can get these days, Pet?" Spike
asked as Jacob's dust settled. "How things have changed."

"You're being very cruel, Spike." She tilted her head
to one side and pouted, a gesture he had once found
irrestible, but now only made him want to snap her neck.

"Tough shit," he said curtly, reloading his weapon. "I'm
just getting started. Where's my...." He was
cut off by the sound a baby wailing miserably.

With a tiny smile on her lips, Dru scolded him. "Naughty
Spike...you woke the baby."

Striding quickly across the room, Spike entered a small
office and found his daughter lying on the cold, filthy
floor, yelling her tiny lungs out.

Relief washed over him, sending him to his knees beside
her. "It's all right, sweetheart." After checking her for bite
marks, he scooped her up and realized immediately why
she was so upset.

Apart from how hungry she must surely be, the room
was freezing and she hadn't been changed in so long
that her sleeper was soaked from the waist down.

Holding her under her arms, he kissed her little face.
"S'all right, love" he said soothingly. "It's all over.
Daddy's here now."

There was nothing he hated to hear more than the
sound of his little girl crying. He'd kill Drusilla for that
alone.

"Come on, baby," he said, working himself out of his
jacket and wrapping it around her. "Mommy's home
waiting for you. She'll fill up that empty tummy."

The baby recognized her father's voice and his touch,
and allowed herself to be comforted. Holding her against
his shoulder, he picked up his crossbow and carried her
back to the main room.

Xander had Drusilla backed up against a wall, his own
weapon precisely aimed, being careful not to make
eye contact with her.

"Take her outside," Spike said, reluctantly handing Katie
over.

Xander lowered the crossbow, and took her in one
arm. "What about...?" He gestured at Drusilla.

"Just take her out to the car," Spike said. "See if there's
a blanket in the back. She's cold."

With a brief nod, Xander headed for the exit. Before he
walked out, he turned to look back. "Spike?"

"Yeah?"

"Finish it this time."

Spike waited until they were gone, then turned to look
at Drusilla.

"I really wish you'd stayed away, Dru. You've gotta stop
listening to the voices in your head. They're
giving you a lot of bad advice."

"And you should stop consorting with humans," she
replied. "They've been a bad influence on you."

He shook his head. "We had some good times, you
and I. You made me what I am today and I loved you
for it. For over a hundred years, I loved you. I'd have
done anything for you."

"You were my prince," she sighed, extending one
hand.

Spike nodded. "And you were my dark princess."

"Spike..."

"But..things change." He chuckled softly. "Angel
told me that once. And...well, I told him that WE don't
change. Demons don't change."

Spike smiled ruefully. "Turns out I was wrong. I changed.
I don't love you, Dru. Not for a long time. But..you knew
that. You knew about the slayer."

Her eyes hardened, then became slightly unfocused. "The
other one you love."

"No," he corrected. "The ONLY woman I love. It's her,
and it always will be."

Moving a few feet away, he turned his back. "Don't
get me wrong though. I'm still grateful to you for turning
me. If you hadn't...I would have died long ago. I never
would have met the slayer."

Swinging around abruptly, he nailed her with a cold, direct
gaze. "And I wouldn't be her husband."

He moved one step closer to her...

"You really shouldn't have come back here."

And another step...

"It was a big mistake."

And another...

"But you made an even bigger mistake when you
took the slayer's child. Because, when you stole
HER child..."

He paused and smiled. "You stole MY child, too."

Leveling his weapon, he took aim.

For the first time since he'd come here, she looked
afraid. "Spike?"

"Now...it's your turn to be punished," he whispered,
and fired the bolt.

He stayed there for just a moment, kicking his foot
and smearing the residue of dust around the floor.

"You always were a stupid bitch."

**************************************

Spike crossed the street and saw Xander waiting
by the car with the baby.

Holding out his arms, he gathered her up and
held her so closely that he could feel her little
heart beating.

"So," Xander said. "It's done?"

Spike nodded. "It's done. It's finally done."

Walking around the to the other side of the
car he climbed into the back and buckled
Katie into her car seat.

"Let's go home, sweetheart," he said, kissing
the top of her head. "Home to mommy."


**************************************


When they pulled into the driveway, Buffy was
standing at the open front door, frozen by fear
into immobility.

"Hey, Buffy!" Xander shouted as he climbed out
of the car. "We've got someone here who could use
a little motherly love. You interested?"

When she saw Spike come around the back of the
car with a small bundle in his arms, Buffy let out
a cry of happiness and launched herself off the
porch and across the lawn.

Sweeping the baby into her arms, she cuddled
her close and burst into tears.

"Oh, baby...mommy missed you so much! Yes,
I did." She held the baby away and covered her
little face with kisses. "I'm so happy you're
home!"

Holding Katie close again, Buffy looked up into
Spike's eyes. "I love you," she whispered.

"I love you, too," he said, wrapping his arms around
his girls.

"Thank you for bringing her home."

The baby began to fuss, then to cry.

"Someone's hungry," Spike said, stroking her
soft hair.

"Not to mention wet." Buffy patted the baby's
bottom, then wiped her hand down the front of
her sweater.

"Let's go inside, love. It's too cold out here for her."

As they walked back to the house, Buffy looked up
and saw the others standing on the porch waiting.

Dawn was sobbing and shaking, unsure of what to
do or say. Buffy handed the baby to Spike and
walked up the front porch steps. She threw her arms
around her sister, hugging her tightly.

"It's over now," she said. "And I don't want you
blaming yourself for this."

"Buffy..."

"No, Dawn. There's no way you could have known
about Drusilla."

"She's right, bit," Spike added. "It's all over..and Drusilla
won't be bothering us ever again."

"And thank you for THAT," Giles said as everyone filed
back into the house. He closed the door, then locked
all three dead bolts.


************************************

"Was it hard for you to kill her?"

Buffy lifted the baby from her bathtub and held
her as Spike wrapped a towel around her.

"Are you kidding?" he grunted derisively. "I just
wish I could have brought her back and done it
again."

He carried Katie into their bedroom and laid her on
the bed, drying her thoroughly.

Buffy stood in the doorway watching the tender
care he gave their child. "You're a good daddy," she
said, smiling.

He looked up at her, pleased by the compliment. "You
think?"

Buffy nodded. "Oh, yeah."

Sitting down beside him on the bed, she powdered
and diapered the baby's bottom, then zipped her
into a clean sleeper.

She had been horrified at her child's condition
when she'd first begun to undress her. After peeling
off the wet sleeper, she had found that Katie's
diaper was so soaked that it had swelled to three times
its normal size and was beginning to fall apart. Her
tiny bottom looked red and sore.

The baby had been so hungry that she'd taken every-
thing Buffy had to give without slowing down.

Now, with her tummy full and her body clean, dry,
and warm, she fell asleep on her parent's bed. They
stretched out on either side of her, facing each other
and talking quietly.

Buffy was trying to stave off the inevitable moment
of putting the baby to bed in her crib. She wanted her
daughter no farther away than the reach of her hand.

Spike, as always, seemed to read her thoughts and
said, "Let's keep her in here with us tonight."

Buffy beamed at him. "That's exactly what I was
thinking."

The night's terrible events began to take their toll,
leaving them physically and emotionally wrung out.

Spike forced himself to get up and move the bassinet
next to their bed, then scooped up the baby without
waking her. He tucked her snugly beneath her blanket,
then leaned over and kissed her, taking in her fresh
baby scent with his eyes shut tight and silently thanking
whoever had been kind enough to help a vampire without
a soul anywhere on him.

He undressed and crawled into bed next to Buffy. "The
only positive side in all this is that she won't remember
any of it."

"Yeah," Buffy said, moving into his arms. "But WE will."

They laid in bed quietly, until Spike broke the
silence.

"If you thought I was over protective BEFORE...."



The End.

(There will be more of Spike/Buffy/Katie
in a continuing series I'm calling
'Daddy's Girl'.)