“Hey, Buffster--how high do you want the border?”

The Scooby gang was gathered at Buffy’s house, helping her decorate the baby’s room. This hadn’t been something she’d felt comfortable even thinking about earlier on in her pregnancy, but now that she was 24 weeks along, she no longer had that superstitious feeling that putting too much energy into preparing for the baby was going to jinx everything.

“I don’t know. What do you think about putting it lower, so the baby can see it when it begins to move around? Like about ‘so’ high?” She put her hand at the wall at hip level.

Tara turned around from painting the baseboards. “Oh, that’s good, Buffy. I don’t know why people put it high up--the baby won’t ever see it up there.”

Willow put her own paint brush down and nodded. “Yeah, unless they levitate the crib or something...”

A look passed between the two witches, who began to giggle.

Xander and Buffy looked at each other, eyebrows raised. It was obviously some inside joke that neither of them wanted in on.

“That’s about three feet. Ok--I’ll go fill the wallpaper tub with water and get to work.”

The Slayer nodded, and returned to her own task of trying to figure out the blinds. She smiled and patted her belly as she felt the baby move. In the past week, she’d begun to feel the movements during the day, instead of just at night when she lay down to sleep. “You getting excited about your room? I hope you like what we’re doing to it. It’s called ‘renovating on a budget’.” She rubbed the swell of her belly once again. “You’re kinda gonna have to get used to that...”

“Ooh! Is the baby moving around?” Willow dropped her paintbrush onto the newspaper and ran over to her friend. Putting her hands on ‘mommy’s belly, she closed her eyes and concentrated. After about thirty seconds her eyes opened and her mouth formed a definite pout. “Pooh... It always stops moving...”

“That’s ok, Wills. The only other person it moves for is Sp...” She caught herself as Xander walked into the room. “Mom! Is mom--that ‘Special’ mom person, who the baby moves for... also...” Ugh, could her cover-up be any worse? She wasn’t sure how to go about telling the rest of her friends about her burgeoning relationship with the vampire. Burgeoning? More like burgeoned, if that was a word...

Truth was, the baby moved most in Spike’s presence. Maybe it was the cadence of his voice, maybe it was because Buffy was happiest when he was around, maybe it was because he spent lots of time talking to it through her belly. Either way, a few simple words from Spike, like “Evenin’ luv”, would have the baby doing a Riverdance.

Willow and Tara just smiled, knowing perfectly well what Buffy was about to say. But it was up to their friend to announce her new ‘boyfriend’ to the rest of the gang, and they respected that right. They knelt back down, wanting to get the second coat on the moulding before calling it quits. As much as they loved helping Buffy, crawling around on all fours, painting an 8” colonial-style baseboard wasn’t what they’d consider a fun chore. Fun was going to be deciding where to put the crib, decorating the walls with decals, helping shop for the cutest lamp...

An hour later, the four friends sat down on the room’s floor, exhausted. In just one afternoon, they’d managed to give the moulding two coats of paint, install roller blinds, put up the wallpaper border and, thanks to Xander, fix the light fixture that had never worked.

Buffy wiped at her forehead and turned to Xander. “So, where’s Anya, again?”

“She’s working at a self-imposed inventory. She does it every week or so. I think she’s afraid to be low on eye of newt or something... She sends her regards, though.”

The Slayer’s eyebrows shot up. “Really?”

“Uh, not exactly. It went something more like ‘Lie for me, Xander. Tell Buffy I’m sorry I couldn’t come--but you know as well as I do that I’d much rather count my money than do actual physical labour.’ The thought’s what counts, though...”

The three girls shook their heads in wonder. Anya’s bluntness was something that grew on you, something that you really had to work at to appreciate. It was just part of the Anya package, along with her neverending drive to impart wisdom (usually in regards to sex, or banking).

They were startled by the sound of the kitchen door opening, but Buffy knew immediately who it was. Time for the big showdown, she mused.

“That’s the food--I’ll go set it out in the dining room, if you guys want to get cleaned up.” Without giving them a chance to answer, the young blonde scampered out of the room and bounded down the stairs.

Shaking his head, Xander pulled himself up. “Buffy seems really... I don’t know, she seems happier these days, don’t you think? Maybe she’s finally gotten over the whole Riley thing...”

Willow and Tara just stared at him, not really knowing what to say. Surely they couldn’t tell him the truth... Finally, Tara spoke up. “I think that she’s just finally figuring out which direction her life’s going--she’s in control of her future and that makes her feel safe.” Well, it was the truth, wasn’t it? So she hadn’t mentioned a particular decision of Buffy’s--an omission is by no means an outright lie...

Xander seemed to take her opinion seriously, though. “That makes a lot of sense. I guess she probably hasn’t felt like she was in charge ever since she’s been the Slayer.” He smiled and turned towards the bathroom. “It’s just nice to see her happy again.”

***

“Ooh! Chinese!”

Buffy ran to the take-out containers on the counter and began to pick through them. “Mmm... Kung Pao Chicken, Szechuan Beef, Pork Fried Rice, Sweet and Sour Fish... Soups, spring rolls... You really made sure there was something for everyone, didn’t you?”

She turned back to Spike, who was putting some beer in the fridge. Sneaking up behind him, she threw her arms around his waist in a bear hug, trying to peek over his shoulder. “What did you get for us non-beer drinkers?”

“Got some Coke for the witches--don’t fancy seein’ them near alcohol for a while, considering that the one cooler they shared got them snookered last time. And for you, I got juice--a bottle of apple and one of that mango-passionfruit-tropical crap you like so much.”

The vampire finished finding room for the extra beers. He turned around to find a pouting Buffy. “What’s wrong, luv?”

“I’m sick of juice. I want some Coke too. You know, I’m allowed to have some caffeine--they say I can have something like 4 servings a day. But you always get me juice...”

The vampire walked to the counter and, leaning back against it, pulled the Slayer in his arms. “Then why don’t we let you have a glass just this once? It’s damned near impossible to say no to such a beautiful woman...” He leaned down and placed his lips on hers in a slow, sensual kiss. They were past the hurrying, the uncontrollable urges, even though they hadn’t had a chance to consummate their relationship since that night in the DeSoto.

Buffy felt her heart speed up and her legs weaken at the vampire’s proximity. It was so silly and childish to get jelly-kneed over something as simple as a kiss, but she couldn’t help it. Her arms reached over Spike’s shoulders, her hands clasping around the back of his neck. When his own hands came down to her rear, pulling her towards him--pressing her into his erection--she couldn’t help but let out a contented sigh.

She broke off the kiss when she heard the strangest noise. I kind of sounded like a cross between a gurgle and a choke, but she couldn’t really be sure. When she looked up at Spike, she noticed that he was looking at something behind her. She turned around, only to find a slack-jawed Xander pointing at them, mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water.

It had to be a spell--it just had to. There was no way that Buffy would be stupid enough to get involved, once again, with a member of the undead club. “Bu... Buffy... Please tell me this isn’t what it seems...” He knew that pleading was pathetic, but he wasn’t beneath begging. Not when it came to this.

Buffy opened her mouth, but Spike was the one to speak up. “Listen, uhm, the Slayer asked me to come over and discuss some demon related... stuff, and...” The vampire’s pathetic attempt at a cover up was cut short when the woman in his arms turned to face him and put a finger to his lips. She simply shook her head, clearly indicating that this was up to her.

“Xander? There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you...” She was leaning back against Spike, who had his arms snaked around her, hands on her belly. As grateful as she was that he‘d tried to cover for her, knowing that their relationship wasn‘t something she‘d discussed with Xander, she knew it was time to stick up for herself and for the choices she had made. “It’s about Spike, and me. We’re kind of together. Well, not really kind of, more like... really, really together. Like Willow and Tara together, or you and Anya together.”

The young man shook out of his silence and stood up, back ramrod and eyes boring into the blonde couple. “Why, Buffy? What is it with you and vampires? Is it some sort of a fad that I haven’t heard of--should I go get myself some undead plaything, too? I honestly don’t know what’s wrong with you, it’s disgusting to see you lower yourself to screwing around with his kind.”

Buffy felt Spike’s body go rigid, his hold on her arms almost painful. But the pain from his grip was nowhere near as harsh as her friend’s vitriol. “Oh, I’m sorry I disappoint you, Xander, but I’ve already tried the ‘normal guy’ route. And do you know where that left me? Knocked up and alone, that’s where! But what do you care, as long as I live my life how you want me to? Does it mean anything to you that I’m happy? Does it truly matter if a vampire is the source of my happiness?”

Tears clouding her vision, she looked up at the man who held her before turning back to the brunette. “Xander, Spike’s been there for all the times that Riley should have been. When I’ve felt crappy, when I needed someone to talk to, when I had to go to the hospital... It’s just so refreshing to have someone who doesn’t want me to be anything else but Buffy; not the Slayer, not what you expect me to be, just who I want to be. I hope you can understand, Xander, because I’m not going to change just because you don’t accept my being with Spike. He makes me happy, and it’s been a damn long time since that’s happened.”

She untangled herself from Spike’s grasp and stormed off. “Now, if you don’t mind, this vampire screwing slut is going to go and let her lesbian witch friends know that the food is here!”

Both men watched her leave, eyebrows raised. Xander turned his gaze back to Spike and had the common sense to look abashed. “Guess I really put my foot in it, didn’t I?”

The vampire chuckled and shook his head. “You should know better than to piss off a pregnant Slayer, Harris.” He walked to the fridge and grabbed two beers--one for himself, and one for the brunette. Truth was, he kind of felt pity for the young man. He knew what it was like to let your emotions lead you on, then to get your ass kicked--whether literally or metaphorically.

Surprised at the bleached blonde’s act of truce, Xander accepted the beer he was offered. “Look, I’m sorry...”

“Don’t need to apologize to me--Buffy’s the one you should be talkin’ to. I don’t give a rat’s ass what you think of us, but she obviously does. She’s been through enough hell without being castigated by her best friends on top of it all. What she needs right now is for people to support her, to believe in her ability to make the right choices for herself.”

Xander was sobered by Spike’s words. “You really do care about her, don’t you?” It would have been a joke even one minute prior, but after what the vampire had said it no longer seemed so inconceivable.

“More than anything on this earth, Harris.”

“Do you love her?” Where the hell had that question come from?!

“Yes.” Didn’t need to expand on that, now did he?. He loved Buffy. More than anyone he’d ever loved, even since he was a human. Stupid William, believing that what he felt for Cecily was love. He had simply been idolizing what was unattainable. If anyone who was half the woman his Slayer is would have made her way into his life back then, he wouldn’t have run into Dru that night. Wouldn’t have accepted her invitation to the dark side.

The brunette nodded, strangely satisfied with the one-word answer. He was expecting some sort of... what did they call it in English class? Ah, a soliloquy. That’s what he expected from the usually verbose vampire. But when all he said was ‘yes’, blue eyes clear and steady, it was obvious he was speaking the truth.

The sounds of three hungry girls hopping down the stairs shook the two men from their silent musings. Willow and Tara looked mighty pissed, and Buffy was avoiding any eye contact, especially since it would show them that she’d been crying.

The redhead was the first to speak up. “Xander Harris! You big jerk--come over here so I can talk to you!”

Xander surprised everyone by shaking his head. “Sorry, Wills. Buffy’s the one I have to apologize to, if she wouldn’t mind having a quiet talk before we sit down.”

Buffy looked up, surprised. What had gone on between two of the most important men in her life that would cause her good friend to revisit his opinion on Buffy+vampire? “Uh, ok.” As she walked by Spike on her way out to the porch, she looked up to him questioningly. He simply smiled and nodded, assuring her that all was ok.

“Go on, love. The whelp’s got some serious grovelling to do. Dinner’ll still be warm when you come back.” He placed a kiss on the top of her head and walked to the dining room.

“So... everything’s going to be ok?” Tara had felt awkward in the midst of this emotional outburst. Not having been part of the Scoobies for very long, she didn’t feel comfortable participating in this sort of debacle. These were people who loved each other so much that nothing was done halfway; not the laughing, not the crying, and not the fighting. And hopefully not the apologizing, either.

“Harris and the Slayer’ll be right as rain when they come back. Don’t fret your pretty little self over them. The whelp just got a serious case of foot-in-mouth that he needs to apologize for. He’s made his peace with me and I’m sure he’s more than eager to do the same with Buffy.” The vampire busied himself by setting the table and placing the food containers in the middle, ignoring the odd looks he was getting from the two witches.

Neither of the three admitted it out loud, but they were curious to know what the two out on the porch were saying. Was it going well? Were they actually talking, or were they just sitting there with their arms crossed, playing in the dust with the toes of their shoes? They both needed to air out some opinions--the well-being of their friendship depended on it.

When the kitchen door opened and Buffy and Xander came through unscathed--although both looked like they’d cried a bit--the two witches and the vampire let out breaths of relief.

“Well, don’t know about you, but I’m starved. Kissing ass builds up a heck of an appetite...” Xander made his way to the table, clearly indicating that he wasn’t about to be the one to repeat what had been said in the privacy of the porch.

Spike put his arm around Buffy, guiding her towards her seat. “Come on, love. I’ll go get you a glass of cola--and a bottle of juice. You just sit tight.”

While he was getting the Slayer’s drinks ready, the vampire heard Willow speak up.

“So where’s your mom tonight?”

Helping herself to some wonton soup, Buffy shrugged. “Don’t really know. She said something about having to stay overnight somewhere--LA or something. I guess she’s on a buying trip. It’s funny, though, she usually tells me all about it, gives me about ten emergency phone numbers, but this time she kept avoiding having to answer me. She wouldn’t say why she was going, or where she was staying...”

“Bloody hell!”

Before anyone could ask what was wrong, Spike’s head popped into the dining room. “Rupert!”

Buffy’s brow furrowed. “What about Giles?”

Spike looked like he’d discovered Tut’s tomb--he was wearing a crazy grin, his eyes were bright and he kept chuckling to himself. “Rupert told me not to come by tonight or tomorrow night after patrol, that he was having company. I started to tease him about havin’ a bird over and he went beet red and started to stutter...” He looked at the Scoobies, waiting for a reaction, but all they did was stare back at him.

“Are you all bloody daft, or what? They’ve been givin’ each other puppy dog eyes for weeks now!”

“Who’s ’they’?” Xander was tired of this game--he just wanted to dig in.

“Joyce and Rupert, that’s who! Not only that, but the other night I spotted Joyce’s umbrella at the Watcher’s house. I figured maybe Buffy’d been there, but...”

“Argh! No! Stop, now!” Buffy’s mind was being invaded with x-rated visions of her mother and Giles. She put the heels of her hands over her eyes and groaned. “It’s just a coincidence, that’s all! You just saw an umbrella like my mom’s--I’m sure there are tons of them around...”

Spike’s eyebrow raised. “A four-foot wide umbrella with Degas’ ballerinas on it? Tell me, pet--how many of those have you seen in Sunnyhell recently?”

“No! I’m not listening! This is beyond gross, and way beyond wrong. You’re just...” The young woman paused, taking a bite out of one of the wontons. “... jumping to conclusions.” She looked around to her friends, looking for support. “Right?”

“Uh...” “Well...” “Spike kinda has a point, Buffy...”

Needless to say she didn’t get the rousing support she’d expected.

“Look, pet. Why don’t we test my theory. You call your Watcher, make it sound really important and tell him that you absolutely have to speak to your mother. If she isn’t there, he’ll truly be flummoxed. If she is there, he’ll probably slip.” He popped a peanut from the Kung Pao Chicken in his mouth. “What do you say?”

Shoulders squared, the Slayer was intent on proving the vampire wrong. No way in hell would her mom and Giles be doing... things. Especially not without her figuring it out. “Challenge accepted, bleached one. Bring me the phone and I’ll show you how wrong you all are.”

Phone in hand, she dialled the number she knew by rote. It rang twice, three times, four times... Come on, Giles, I know you can’t let a phone ring without answering it... She nearly squealed with joy when her Watcher answered it on the sixth ring.

“Hello?”

“Hi Giles?”

“Buffy? What... is something wrong?”

Here it was--the moment of truth. “Oh, Giles--I need to speak to Mom. It’s really important...” She sniffled, adding to the drama of the moment.

“Your Mother? Of course, I... Wait a second--how did you...”

Buffy didn’t even give the man a chance to finish before she hung up on him. “OhGodOhGodOhGod...”

***

“Oh, dear...”

“What’s wrong, Rupert?” Joyce walked up to the British man, circling her arms around his waist and resting her head against his back. She’d been in the kitchen when he answered the phone, and had missed the short conversation.

Giles removed his glasses, taking one of the arms in his mouth. “I do believe we’ve been found out.”

Author’s note: Well, this is the last chapter I’ve got saved up for you guys. The next two are with my beta, and should be back within a week. I haven’t started on the next ones yet, but I know what they’ll be about, so I just need my muse to inspire me, that’s all. I’m figuring that this story will have about 24 or 25 chapters at the most, so this story’s about two thirds done... I'd also like to say that I know 'Real Renos' is a show up here in Canada, but the title fit my story too well.

And, as usual, please read and review. Looks like over 100 people read that last chappie, but didn't review... Pretend it’s a Christmas gift, or something :)