Although the curtains were drawn tight, a haze of diluted sunlight painted the small bedroom in shades of gold. Outside, the birds were chirping, the squirrels were chattering and the neighbour’s lawnmower was burping and sputtering. Ah, the early-morning sounds of suburbia...

Buffy was happily nestled in the crook of Spike’s shoulder, head resting on him. His chest rose with every deep breath he took and the young woman wondered at this strange habit the vampire had. Was it comforting to him, or was it just a human trait that his body had never forgotten?

Her quiet musings were interrupted by the slam of the front door. Buffy turned to her alarm clock: 6:45am. Her mom had just left for work. Finally! A wide grin spread across her face before she wiggled out of the vampire’s arms. She slipped her nightie over her head and wiggled out of her panties before awkwardly crawling under the covers.

Maybe it was the hormones, maybe the night of lying in a naked Spike’s arms, or maybe just because it was a nice, sunny morning and she didn’t have to go to work. Whatever the reason, the Slayer found herself feeling adventurous. She slid the tip of her finger along the vampire’s cool skin as she made her way down to a spot between his legs, placing kisses along the way. She could have gotten off simply from kissing those hips of his...

As the fog slowly lifted from his sleep addled brain, Spike became aware of the most wonderful sensation at his groin. The thought that he was dreaming flitted through his mind, but he discounted that idea--sunlight seldom pervaded his dreams. Not the good ones, anyway.

Reluctantly, he opened his eyes fully and looked to either side of him. No Buffy to the left; no Buffy to the right. That had to mean, then, that she was...

He bit his lower lip and grabbed fistfuls of sheets when he felt warm, wet kisses along the insides of his thighs. Oh, just a bit closer, luv...

Buffy knew that the vampire was awake, by the twitching of his muscles and his sharp intake of breath. Oh, that and the moaning, she thought to herself, proud that she’d reduced him to a puddle of goo without actually taking him in her mouth. She was even more encouraged when his hands came down to play in her hair, massaging her scalp.

“Christ, Buffy. Please...” He couldn’t take the teasing and didn’t care if he was reduced to begging. He needed to feel her hot little mouth engulf him. It had been so long since a woman had pleasured him like this. Not that he minded being the one doling out the pleasure, but--hey, he was a man after all.

Buffy let his reactions guide her as she ministered to his needs. Licking the palm of her hand, she curled her fingers around his shaft and pumped her fist up and down a few times, feeling him get harder. She brought her mouth to him and slowly dragged the point of her tongue up his cock’s underside, paying more attention to the little spot just under the head. On a whim, she decided to gently bite this sensitive spot.

When his hips bucked up and an animalistic growl emanated from the blonde vampire, she knew she’d found a definite weakness. Biting back a snicker, she thought to herself ‘Gotta file that one under ‘how to get my way’...’

He really didn’t know how long he could last or how far she was planning on going. In between pants, he managed to find his voice. “Keep that up, love, and you’ll find yourself with a new take on ‘breakfast in bed’, if you catch my meaning.” The answer she gave him, a loud ‘Mmm’, followed by her taking him in her mouth, nearly caused him to lose control.

The heat of her mouth reminded him of their first--and only--encounter a few weeks back, where he had been sheathed deep in her pussy. This action, though, touched him on a different level than the frenzied fuck they had shared in the DeSoto’s front seat. This pleasure was something she was giving him, freely of her own volition, to please him. He hadn’t had to ask (or beg). She’d just taken it upon herself to give him the blowjob of his unlife.

She knew he was close, gauging by the vampire’s rapid breathing and constant fidgeting. For the first time ever, she knew that she wanted to follow this act through to the end. She’d never swallowed for Riley--it wasn’t something that had tickled her fancy, for some reason. But for Spike? She couldn’t explain it, she just knew it. It probably had to do with how excited she’d become just by getting him off. Relaxing her throat muscles, she began to take him in deeper and deeper, all the while continuing to caress him with her hand.

The sensation of the Slayer’s throat muscles gripping his cock pushed all thoughts from the vampire’s mind, save but one. He was just lucid enough to mumble a “Now, pet... I’m gonna cum...” before roaring out his release.

Buffy kept her hands pressed against the vampire’s hips, keeping them flush on the bed. She may have decided to stay the course, so to say, but she certainly didn’t look forward to having him thrust up in her throat. Making sure that her tongue kept up its movements, she took almost everything he had to give, not minding the taste or consistency--or volume--of the demon’s spendings. When she couldn’t swallow any more, she pulled back and finished with her small fist, pumping until it was clear that Spike had ridden out his orgasm.

Feeling the Slayer slowly lick the cum off his softening cock, Spike wondered what he had done to deserve this.

***

Eleven minutes. Eleven minutes is all it had taken for them to do... well, whatever it was that would cause Spike to sound like that.

Joyce had driven back to the house, having forgotten the keys to the gallery. She’d walked in to a silent abode, but just as she was about to leave she thought she’d heard moaning. Pausing, she nearly jumped out of her skin at the roar that had echoed through the house.

Well, there was nothing she could do. Buffy would certainly never speak to her again if she walked in on them at this point--she’d just have to make time to have a little chat later on...

As she locked the door on her way out, she made a mental note to ask Rupert about the mating habits of vampires. Maybe he had a book or two that might just explain what her daughter was up to.

Hey, a woman had the right to be curious, no?

***

Spike dropped his head back on the pillow, trying to catch his breath. If only he could wake up to this every morning, unlife would be amazing...

He lifted his head up a little and smirked at seeing the lump underneath the blankets make its way up to him. When the Slayer’s head appeared, hair mussed from the covers and cheeks flushed, he couldn’t help but chuckle.

“So what brought that on? Not that I’m complaining or anything...”

Buffy sighed and settled herself comfortably on the vampire, her rounded belly pressing against his solid abdomen. “Dunno. Just felt like it, I guess.” She paused for a moment, averted her eyes from his and asked shyly. “Um... You did like it, right?”

Spike’s face snapped down to hers, eyes wide and incredulous. “You’re joking, right?” Hadn’t the howling been sign enough?! When his eyes met hers, he realized that she was dead serious. “Christ, pet. You were amazing--I don’t think I’ve ever come that hard or that fast before.” Pulling her up even with him, he leaned in and kissed her hard, holding her tightly to him.

He broke the kiss, but not the hold he had on her. “I’ll never get enough of you, not if we were together for an eternity.”

As she lay in her lover’s arms, Buffy realized why she’d fallen so quickly and so hard for the vampire: he didn’t go halfway with his emotions. It was either all or... all, come to think of it. He loved her as wholly and passionately as he’d hated her. But, as much fun as it had been to fight him, adrenaline running through her veins, muscles aching, lungs pumping furiously, it was so much better resting atop his strong body, kissing his soft lips, feeling his cool hands caressing her curves.

She smiled when she felt him harden again. Ah, the benefits of a vampire lover... She ground her pelvis down into his, announcing her own arousal, causing him to growl deep in his throat.

Such a vixen, and even at 7 months pregnant almost as insatiable as him. Of course, it had been almost a couple of months since their first and only encounter, so she probably wanted it--needed, it--as much as him. Quick as lightning, he flipped them both over so that his body was covering hers, his arousal pressing against her warm centre.

His voice hoarse with desire, he locked his blue eyes with her hazel ones. “How... how do you want to do this? I don’t want to hurt you or the bit...” It wasn’t important what position they assumed--all that mattered to him was to be buried deep into her heat, feeling her inner muscles clamped around his cock.

Oh, she needed him. Needed him in ways even she couldn’t begin to understand. Could someone need someone on a molecular level? She looked into his eyes, which had turned almost black from desire, and licked her lips--she knew that drove him nuts. “This way’s perfect. Just try not to go in too deep...”

Nodding, he positioned himself at her entrance and slowly began to slide in. The strained sound of his voice surprised them both. “Jus’ let me know how deep is good, ok?” God, she was tight. Both times he’d been in her, it felt like he was her first. He was convinced she’d burn him with her heat--but she was so moist, so welcoming...

When she felt that he was in far enough, she found her voice. “That’s good--oh, God, that’s good Spike...” She put the soles of her feet flat on the bed and pushed her hips up, meeting with his gentle thrusts. She’d never been verbal during sex, but the emotions that were coursing through her were too strong. “Please don’t stop, ever... Feels so good, so right... God, I love you, Spike...”

The words that were streaming from her mouth were bound to be his undoing. For once in his unlife, he was the silent one, listening to what his Buffy had to tell him. All whispers, all moans, every single little noise were put to memory as he moved within her, following the rhythm she was setting.

When he felt her begin to shake, heard her breathing increase, he lowered his lips to hers. “I love you, Buffy” slipped from between them before they locked with hers. He held steady as she rode out her orgasm, breaking their kiss to throw her head back and call his name out. The contraction of her muscles around his shaft led him to follow her over the precipice.

Although she never expected any less from him, Buffy was still surprised at Spike’s gentleness. Even when he came, she could tell that he held himself back, only letting himself ride his release through shallow thrusts. It felt so right being in his arms, being held by him. She’d never allowed herself to be the weaker one in a relationship until she was with Spike. It had bothered her when Angel or Riley had tried to treat her like a porcelain doll, but if Spike were to try she had a suspicion that she’d let him. She didn‘t really know why, but she knew better than to try and figure it out. For once, she just wanted to follow what her heart thought was right.

Still breathing hard, Spike rolled over onto his back and pulled Buffy in with him, curling her into his side. “Oh!” Both blondes jumped when her stomach moved. Buffy smiled and rubbed where she’d felt the movement. Turning her eyes towards her belly, she cooed. “What’s got you moving around, like that, huh, baby? You getting hungry, or you just stretching out?” Or maybe it was the earth-shattering orgasm?

Spike pulled the covers back and gently prompted the Slayer to lie on her back. He propped his head up on one hand and cupped his other hand over her belly. The baby wiggled around under the weight of his fingers as they danced around in lazy circles over the young woman’s stomach. “It’s strange, seein’ the bit move around like that. Guess it must feel kind of strange, eh?”

Placing her hand over Spike’s, Buffy nodded. “It’s weird, but only if I really stop to think about it. If I just let my instincts take over, it’s the most natural thing--baby moves, it means it’s ok. But if I step back, in a sense, and think about it in a detached way, it’s way weird. I mean, think about it--something is alive in my belly, and it’s moving around. It’s kind of like in that movie, where that thing rips out of that guy’s stomach.”

The vampire couldn’t help but chuckle. “Like in Alien. I remember that... That scene even set me off for a while afterwards.” He tore his eyes away from her stomach and looked Buffy in the eye. “You’re beautiful, you know that?”

The Slayer blushed and tried to pull the covers back up. “Shyeah--with my big belly, weird belly-button and water-swollen ankles. Real beautiful.”

Spike shook his head. Taking her chin in his hand, he turned her hazel gaze onto his own cerulean one. “But you’re creating life! Your breasts are fuller, and so are your hips; your skin glows, your hair is shiny... There isn’t anything on this planet more beautiful than you right now, Buffy. We’ve both seen so much death, so much destruction. We’ve got to take a minute and step back to appreciate just how glorious this is...”

Buffy didn’t know what to say. She knew he was right, but that didn’t mean that she still didn’t feel like a whale. “Thanks. It’s nice to hear that, that someone finds me beautiful when I feel so big.”

They shared a comfortable silence before Buffy spoke up once again. She had a favour to ask the vampire, but wasn’t sure how he’d feel about it. On one hand, he was always there when she needed it, but on the other, he was often discomforted at being put in all-too-human situations.

“Spike?”

“Hmm?”

“I have a favour I need to ask you. I only want you to say yes if you really want to go ahead with it, though.” Oh, this wasn’t sounding good, even to her own ears.

Still lulled by the morning’s events, the vampire kept his eyes on the baby’s movements. “Ask away, love.”

“I’ve... uh... signed up for pre-natal classes. They really encourage the partner to be there during the courses, but since I’m not really with the partner anymore, and anyway you’re really kind of my partner now, and I signed up for night classes, I was wondering...”

Ok. Now she had his attention. Dragging his gaze from the young woman’s belly to her face, he pursed his lips. “What’s involved in these classes, pet?” He wanted to say yes, but this was asking a lot...

“Well, I’m not a hundred percent sure, but they explain what goes on when the baby’s born, they give you some pointers on how to make the delivery easier, they go through some of the problems that might come up. Oh! And there’s also a visit to the birthing unit in the hospital, so we get to see how everything is set up, and...”

“I’ll do it.” It wasn’t a hard decision, after all. He’d want to be there, by her side, during the baby’s birth. That much he knew. And if he wanted to be of any use, he might as well tag along to these classes. He’d be of no use if he didn’t know anything about what was going on. When she turned to look at him, hazel eyes wide with surprise and face beaming, he knew he’d made the right decision. “’S’not much of a decision, really; not if I don’t want to look like a complete git when the baby’s on it’s way.”

Buffy hugged him as tight as she could. He’d just answered another question, one that she hadn’t built up the courage to ask yet. He’d be with her during the delivery. It sounded like a cheesy 70’s song, but he was her rock, her anchor. With him there, in the room with her, she knew she could go through anything. “Thanks, Spike.” She pulled back and sniffled, wiping away a few stray tears--stupid hormones. “Now, why don’t we go downstairs so I can rustle us up a breakfast of champions?”

“Sounds tempting, love. But I have a much better idea--why don’t we start off with a nice, hot shower first?”