"That's perfect." Buffy smiled as Spike placed the antique rocker in the corner of Jake's room, "Isn't that perfect sweetie!" She held Jake close against her.
"It does look lovely and Jake's gonna enjoy this on those nights he can't sleep." Spike shook his head and rolled his eyes but his smile ruined his attempt at mock impatience with Jake. In the last week Spike had begun to dote on the baby. Buffy had been amazed at how well he took on daddy duties.
Buffy was taking her role very seriously also. She had an appointment with a pediatrician that Mrs. Aldrich across the street had recommended. Her grandson went to him. Jake would be four months old soon and it would be time for his next round of shots.
More quickly then either of them had ever imagined, Spike and Buffy fell into a routine. Spike was still doing lots of interpreting and translating for Giles and the Council and Buffy had even patrolled a couple of nights. But there focus was on Jake now.
The phone rang and interrupted Buffy and Spike talking to Jake as she tried out the new rocking chair.
"I'll get it." Spike told her as he left the room to get the phone.
"You just don't want to change his diaper!" Buffy teased wrinkling her nose.
Spike laughed as he left her to the dirty job,"Hello." He answered the phone in their bedroom.
"Spike, it's Angel. Is Buffy there?" Angels voice answered.
"Yeah, she's here, what's up?" Spike kept his voice low.
"Well, I've been following a few leads and I think I may know who was behind the hit on Chris and Dawn. Wolfram and Hart were definitely involved. I was going to talk to Buffy and see if she wanted to be here when I go after the guys who did this."
"Umm... I think maybe I better come, Angel. Let Buffy stay here with Jake. When do you plan on making your move?" Spike stood up and closed the bedroom door, he could hear Buffy still talking to Jake.
"How about tomorrow night? Are you sure Buffy's going to be content to stay in Sunnydale?" Angel frowned on his end.
"Yeah, I'll talk to her. She'll be fine,got the baby to think of. I'll see you tomorrow night?" Spike hung up the phone just as Buffy entered the room,Jake in her arms.
"Who was that?" She asked as she sat down on the edge of the bed.
"Someone wanting to sell me something, couldn't get rid of him." Spike smiled at her as he pushed a strand of hair behind her ear, "I love you, you know?"
She looked at him a slight frown face, "Yeah, I know. What's wrong? You sound so serious."
"Just wanted to you to remember that, we've been so busy lately with Jake, not that I mind a bit, but I haven't got to show you how much as often as I would like." He nuzzled her her cheek placing a soft kiss there as he patted Jake's head.
"He is rather high maintenance, isn't he?" Buffy grinned at the baby.
"Yes, but well worth it." Spike tickled Jake's tummy.
"You know that I love you too, right?" She turned to him as she picked the baby up and placed him on her shoulder.
"Yes, I know." He kissed her lightly on the lips this time. Jake began to fuss in her arms, "Either you're jealous of the attention or hungry, LIttle man." Spike laughed soflty.
"I'd opt for hungry." Buffy sighed as she walked out of the bedroom and down the stairs to the kitchen.
Spike picked up the phone and called his cell phone, when it rang he picked it up and began to talk as he walked down the stairs, "Yes, I can do that. Nah, no problem, I"ll be there tomorrow. I'll tell her you said hello,better go now you're cutting out." He closed the phone.
"I guess that wasn't a salesman?" Buffy turned from where she was heating a bottle.
"No,that was Angel. He said hello, the connection was really bad, but he and Wesley have some text they'd like me to look at tomorrow night? I told him that shouldn't be a problem." The lie came out smoothly. There was no way Buffy was going to be in on this, he needed to take care of this for her, for Jake.
"We could take Jake, maybe let him see his grandmother?" Buffy sat down and put the bottle in the hungry baby's mouth.
"Well, that's a good idea,but you have that doctor's appointment for him the day after tomorrow, you don't want to miss that." He replied thoughtfully, "I guess this trip better be solo."
"I guess so, we'll miss you." She cooed at Jake, "Won't we sweetie?"
For a split second Spike felt an enormous amount of guilt at the lie he was telling. But when he watched Buffy sitting there feeding Jake, the peaceful look on her face, the way Jake's lips curved in a smile around the nipple as his eyes followed Buffy's every move. The guilt suddenly vanished, he knew she would be angry when she found out that he lied to her, but if ti meant that she and Jake were protected and there would be more moments like this... well to him, it was worth it.
Spike packed his bag as Buffy and Jake watched. "Just be a couple of days, Luv." He ws trying to assure himself as much as Buffy. So often in the past he had relished revenge on those who had hurt him or his, but now he just wanted it over, so he could come home to Buffy and Jake. He wanted justice for Dawn and Chris , for Jake, but somehow he knew that to Dawn knowing that Jake was being loved and happy was more important.
"I know... but." Buffy bit her tongue, not wanting to let Spike know how scared she was fo being all alone with Jake.
He stopped packing and getnly took her chin in his hand, looking in to her eyes he spoike, 'I know you aren't saying it but you're scared to be alone. It's okay, Buffy. You'll do fine. Jake needs you and thats most important right now." He kissed her softly.
"I know." She sighed as she took one of Jakes hands in hers, the baby smiling and cooing at her, "And he does have to get those shots tomorrow."
"Yeah, and I'll be home day after tomorrow, you won't even miss me."
'I always miss you, Spike." Buffy smiled at him, "Be careful."
"It's just books Buffy." Spike replied a bit too quickly.
Buffy looked suspiciously at him, "You're sure about that? Angel's not dragging you into something?"
"No, he's not dragging me into anything." Spike replied honestly, because really he wasn't being dragged, he was going voluntarily, twisted justification but there it was.
"Now, I better get going." He picked up his bag with one hand taking her free hand in the other they walked down the steps together.
"Call me when you get there." Buffy told him as he hugged her as close to him as he could with Jake balanced in the crook of her arm.
"I will. You two have a good time." He pushed her hair behind her ear, "I love you."
"I love you too." She kissed him once more before he closed the door behind him. Buffy watched as the taillights made their way down Revello drive. "Well, are you ready for some supper and bedtime?" She asked Jake as she closed the curtain.
Jake gave her a soggy grin as she carried him to the kitchen.
"Spike, glad you could get here." Angel met him at the door to the Hyperion, "How is Buffy and Jake?"
"Their both fine, Jake's got a doctor appointment tomorrow. I told he I'd be home day after tomorrow. We can get this done by then, right?" Spike sat his bag down and plopped on to the couch.
"Yeah, I've found a weasel with some info, he can get us into the building just in time for a meeting at Wolfram and Hart, a meeting about the last case Chris was working on. We can go from there." Angel sat down beside Spike. "Are you sure you know what you're doing not letting Buffy in on this?"
"She's "my" wife, Angel. I think I know her." Spike bit off the words.
"I just thnk that... " Angel didn't finish the sentence as Spike's glare cut him off.
"I need to call, let her know I'm here." Spike reached for his cell phone and dialed the number.
"Hello?" Buffy answered the phone still wrapped in her towel, she had showered quickly after putting Jake down for the night.
'I'm here, pet. How are you two doing?"
"Jake's asleep and I just got out of the shower." She told him as she reached for her comb.
"He's sleeping and you're freshely showered and I"m in LA... darn." He grinned into the phone.
"Yep, baby sleeping and I'm in nothing but a towel... oh well." She laughed softly, "You are the one who didn't want me to come along."
"I always want you to come with me... but there was that."
"I know the appointment for Jake. It's okay." Buffy heard a small cry from across the hall, "Speaking of Jake, I better go he's fussing. I'll talk to you tomorrow. Love you, night."
"I love you too. " He hung up the phone and grinned at Angel.
Angel rolled his eyes, the miracle of Spike and Buffy still managed to turn his stomach on occasion. Thankfully Wesley had arrived he stood to greet him.
"Spike, so good to see you." Wesley extended his hand.
"Nice to see you Wes." Spike stood, "So are we really going to look at books?"
"No, I'm here for backup. If Buffy calls tomorrow I'm to tell her you and Angel have gone out to pick up more text for me." Wesley explained.
Spike raised his eyes in Angels direction, "You have everything covered, don't you?"
"She may be your wife, but I also know Buffy." Angel answered with a raise of his own eyebrow.
Wesley sighed loudly, "Enough of this. You're both here on a common mission. Angel, Spike's been with Buffy for years now, you know he has her best interest at heart," He turned to Spike, "Spike, Buffy's been with you for years now, you know there is no danger from Angel. You're here on the same mission, just get it down without bickering this once."
The two vampires gave each other a final stare and nodded thier heads, "You're right. Let's just get it done." Spike sat back down.
"I for one, am not entirely trusting of Angel's snitch." Wesley grimaced, "I've been privvy to the workings of Wolfram and Hart in the past and none of them can be trusted... "
"Wesley, this guy just wants to be paid and leave town. We'll be fine." Angel shook his head.
"Fine, but watch your back at all times." Wesley warned.
Angel began to go over the plans for the next evening.
Buffy rose early the next morning. Jake had settled down quickly after waking when Spike called and slept through the night without a problem. She had dressed and was now fixing his cereal and formula. Feeding Jake was always an adventure but she realized she needed a bib too as the rice cereal ran down his chin as she held him on her knee to feed him. He still wasn't very fond of the spoon and only about half of what went into his mouth stayed there. She gave him his bottle and bathed him, dressing him in a new outfit for his appointment.
The doctors office was full with parents and children. Buffy felt slighly out of place as a couple fo the mothers asked about Jake's weight gain since birth and if he had any allergies. She couldn't answer very well and when she explained about how she became Jake's guardian they gave her sympathetic looks and turned away.
Thankfully the nurse called Jake's name quickly and they were led to a small exam room. The nurse weighed and measured Jake recording it in the charts. She asked Buffy if he was having any problems and told her he would need his booster shots before she left. The doctor came in and looked Jake over prounouncing Jake healthy and right at where he needed to be developmentally. The nurse returned with the injections and quickly dispensed them. Jake only whimpered slightly - but gae Buffy a look that broke her heart. "Sorry, sweetie, it's for your own good." She told him as she redressed him.
"He may be a bit fussy later, sometimes they get that way when they have shots." The nurse warned as she left the room.
"Come on Sweetie. We have a trip to make." Buffy loaded him into his carseat and went home to pick up their bags. She had decided to go to LA afterall. She would go to see Mrs. Jameson first and then go to the Hyperion and surprise Spike and Angel.
"Are you sure this is where we were supposed to meet him?" Spike asked impatiently as he ground out a cigarette on the floor of the sewer.
"Thought you were quitting." Angel asked rolling his eyes.
"I am, but there's no baby round and it's not like the smoke's gonna hurt you. Where is this guy?"
"He'll be here. It's just now 5pm the meetings in thirty minutes." Angel adjusted the axe hanging off his belt.
"You're sure Wesley wasn't overreacting about trusting him? " Spike leaned against the damp wall and quickly straightened.
"You getting scared in your old age, Spike?" Angel smirked.
"No... I" Spike looked over Angel's shoulder, "That must be him." He motioned towards the hulking granith demon coming towards them.
"Yeah, that's him." Angel turned towards the demon, "Is everything ready?"
"Yes, the meeting will start shortly, I think you'll find all you need there. Follow me." The vampires followed the hulking gray granith up through an opening and into the Wolfram Hart Building.
The confrence room at Wolfram and Hart was tastefully decorated, a sideboard held a selection of sandwiches and refreshments. Around the table several executives sat enjoying the snacks while several large demons guarded the door.
"They should arrive momentatrily." An older man stood at the head of the table, "This is a great time for Wolfram and Hart, we've not only rid ourselves of a pesky prosecutor but now we will also rid ourselves of an old foe - Angel and as a bonus the Slayer's husband. A great day indeed." He raised his glass in a toast.
Murmurs of congratulations were heard from the room.
Wesley sat in front of the television flipping through each channel nervously. He was worried about Angel and Spike, nothing good ever came out of any association with Wolfram and Hart, he'd learned his lesson well. He stood and grabbed his coat, maybe he better go check on them, offer some assistance?
"Hello!" A familiar voice called into the room.
Wesley's expression was one of shock as he watched Buffy walk into the room pushing a stroller, diaper bag over her shoulder. "Buffy?"
"Hi, Wes. It's good to see you." She began to take the baby out of the stroller, "Where is that husband of mine?"
"He... he and Angel have gone to pick up some more text, they'll be back soon, I'm sure." Wesley tried to cover.
"So where were you going?" Buffy asked as she placed the baby on her shoulder.
"Going?"
"Yes, you've got your coat on, you were headed towards the door when I came in." She bounced the baby slightly now and dug in the bag for something.
"Oh, umm... I thought maybe I'd join them." Wesley looked slightly panicked.
'Wesley, you arent' working on translations are you?" Buffy looked around the room, "I've seen the three of you in translation mode... where the books, the empty plates and cups?"
"We... "
"Don't even try to lie to me. Whats really going on here?" She seemed to find what she was looking for as she stuck a pacifier in the babies mouth.
"Buffy... " He started.
"Wesley, just tell me." Buffy ordered as she lay the baby down on the couch and began to change his diaper.
"You seem to have picked up on this parenting role very well, it suits you."
"Don't change the subject."
"They've gone to Wolfram and Hart, Angel has a snitch working there. They are going to invade a meeting tonight." Wesley esplained with a heavey sigh.
"What kind of meeting?"
"A meeting about Chis last case, evidently the men responisble for... " Wesley watched Buffy's eyes grow large with realization.
"Responsible for Dawn and Chris' death?" Buffy wrapped the soiled diaper up and lay it on the floor next to the couch.
"Yes."
"And they didn't want me involved?"
Wesley sat beside her, "Buffy, Spike didn't want you to have to worry about this or to possibly get hurt."
"That wasn't his decision to make for me. Where is this meeting?"
Wesley sighed then gave her the information she needed, :"Let me go with you. There could be trouble."
"No, you're staying here." Buffy replied gruffly.
"But I can help."
"Yes you can, you're going to baby sit. Everything he needs in that bag." Buffy kissed the top of Jakes head and handed the baby to Wesley.
Spike followed closely behind Angel as they followed the Granith down the quite hallways of Worlfram and Hart. "And the plan is?" He asked the older vampire.
"We go in and take care of those responsible - this meeting is supposedly a congragulatory one." Angel spoke in hushed tones his game face coming forward.
"That's your plan?" Spike asked raising his eyebrow.
"Yeah, that's it, problem with that?"
"No, not all." Spike's game face appeared as the Granith stopped in front of a closed door and grunted. "This is it?"
"Yes, this is the room you want." The hulking creature answered.
"On the count of three?' Angel pressed his shoulder to the closed door, "One..two... "
Before the number three could come out of his mouth, Spike charged past him crashing the door open. Angel quickly followed him into the room.
The room held a table surounded by several men in suits, wineglasses and half empty plates sat on the table. Large demons of different varieties lined the walls. The older man at the head of the table stood, "Welcome gentleman." He raised his wineglass as if to toast the two intruders as the ldemons lining the walls stepped forward to surround them.
Spike looked at Angel and shook his head, "What was that about Wesley and overreacting?"
Angel nodded back at him, "Scared of a little fight?"
"Never." Spike answered as both vampires turned and started swinging, they had knocked out a couple demons a piece when the man spoke again. "If you don't take a seat you won't get to hear the tragic story about your brother and sister in law."
Spike dropped his fists and turned towards the man, "Tell me!" He shouted, "Tell me who's responsible for their deaths!"
"Sit," He motioned towards two empty chairs, "You too." The man nodded at Angel.
The vampires each took a seat as the older man continued, "I am Steven Randall, the new leader at Wolfram and Hart. You're brother in law was making our job very difficult Mr... Mr..?" He gave a questioning look to Spike.
"Just Spike." The blond vampire answered in a steely voice.
"Well, Spike, your friend Angel over there makes our job hard enough by taking out our clients before they can even get a fair trial... Chris Jameson made it even worse for us, our clients that did survive to go to court were going to jail... for a very long time. It was just unaccepatable. Something had to be done." Mr. Randall stood.
"So you had a hit put out on Chris and Dawn?" Spike asked between clenched teeth.
"Actually it wasn't my idea, it was Mr. Deaton's over there." Randall nodded towards a tall man with very thick glasses, "It was an excellent idea, " He walked over to Spike and bent closer, 'He got a promotion out of the deal."
Spike was out of the chair in two seconds,as he lunged for Randall, several demons were on him and Angel at the same time, holding them tightly in the chairs. "Temper Mr. Spike. Don't you want to hear the rest of the story? Those two... " He pointed towards two weasly faced demons, "Did the job for us, your sister in law was not part of the original deal- just a bonus!"
Spike and Angel both bucked against their captors at his words, but were held down by renforcements.
"Which leads us to this beautiful moment... we had no idea that by taking out one of our top two problems it would lead to the demise of the other. We can get rid of Angel now... something we've wanted to do for a very long time. And if I'm not mistaken," He switched on a tv mounted on the wall, "That's the Slayer comng to rescue her man... or is it men?" Steven Randall was enjoying the fear on Spike and Angels faces as they watched Buffy walking down the halls, caustiously opening doors. "We get the Slayer too, a red letter day for the firm."
Angel turned to Spike, "I suppose this isn't a good time to say I told you so."
Spike glared at Angel and began to mouth a count under his breah, "One... two... "
Both vampires bucked hard and overturned their seats, demons scattered as they both came up fighting.
Lawyers flew under the table and towards the exit as Spike and Angel took on the small army in the room. Fist and fangs flew as they narrowed the opposition, Spike turned to Angel and pointed towards Deaton - the man behind the plan to get rid of Chris, he walked menacing towards the man who was cowered under the large table. He pulled him out from the table by the neck his hands closing around the mans throat. "This is going to be quick, only because I don't have the time to make you suffer as you should." Spike spoke vehemently.
He never saw Mr. Randal behind him, stake raised. Angel finished off the last demon with a quick twist of it's thick neck. He dropped it in time to see the stake plunging into Spike's back as Deaton fell back on the table his eyes wide as he tried to crawl back under the table.
Angel made quick work of Randall and soon his unconcious body joined the others on the floor. He gently lay Spike out on his stomach on the floor. One of the lawyers made a move to leave the room but a short growl kept him in his place as Angel examined Spike's injury.
Buffy walked slowly down the long corridor placing her ear caustiously to each door before she opened it. Her anger at Spike and Angel both grew with each step. How dare they? Just who did Spike think he was lying to her? There marriage was built on truthfulness even when it wasnt' pretty. How could he just... argh! It gave her a headache just thinking about it!
Her angry reverie was soon interrupted by the sounds of a fight in the next room down the hall. She ran and flung the door open to find Angel kneeling among the bodies of several demons and several cowering lawyers looks of terror on each of their faces. A quck scan of the room and she didn't see Spike... until her eyes lowered to the ground, she recognized the scuffed boots on the body Angel was kneeling over. "Spike!" She cried as she knelt beside Angel her view partially obscured by the large vampire.
"Buffy, you're going to have to help me here." Angel turned to her, his voice eerily calm.
"What? What is it?" She asked fear causing her voice to rise.
Angel sat back then and she could see Spike fully, he lay facedown on the floor a stake imbedded in his back only centimieters from his heart. Blood seeped from around the rough wood and covered his shirt in an abstact design. Buffy gulped, "Can you?" She looked from the stake to Angel.
"If you hold him still, I think I can get it out without a problem. He's unconcious and I'm afraid he'll come to in the middle of the operation and the movement could be... fatal." Angel remained calm as he watched Buffy's eyes widen and fill with tears, "Come on Buffy, you can do this."
She nodded her head as she positioned herself at Spike's head, her small strong hands holding his shoulders tightly. Spike's eyes flickered open, full of pain and questions, "Don't move, baby. Stay still." She whispered to him.
Spike grimaced om pain, his eyes quickly turned back to Buffy, his words were soft "Love you."
"Love you too, now be still, Angel's going to take that stake out." Buffy kept her hands firmly on her husbands shoulders, "Then we're gonna talk."
Angel almost felt sorry for the wounded vamp... almost. The talk part was probably going to hurt worse then the stake removal. He had tried to warn Spike. "That sounds fun." Angel told him as he got a good grip on the stake.
"You're not getting off scot free either." Buffy gave him a hard look, 'Now get this stake out of my husband, please."
With both hands steady on the stake Angel pulled it straight out of Spike's back. he breathed a sigh of relief as he threw the stake in the corner and realized Spike was not dust. Spike was trying to sit up while Buffy fussed over him. When he finally got up she threw her arms around him and held tightly, "You stupid vampire! How could you do this? How could you risk this without letting me know??? It's not just me anymore - do you want Jake to lose another parent?"
Spike felt Buffy pull away from him, "Well do you? Do you want Jake to lose someone else?"
Angel watched as Spike struggled for an answer. He could see the lawyers stirring and trying to decide if this distraction would be enough to get them ouf of the conference room. "Buffy... as much as Spike probably deserves this "talk", we really have more pressing matters at hand." He nodded at the lawyers around the table.
Spike looked around, "He's right, pet."
Buffy looked around the room as Deaton tried to scoot even further under the large table and Steven Randall began to stir from where he lie on the floor beside Angel's feet. "Are these... are these men responsible for what happened to Dawn and Chris?"
Randall tried to sit up but Angel's well placed boot in the center of his chest pinned him to the ground. Ever arrogant, he smirked at Buffy, "You must be the Slayer, your sister was lovely too, must run in the family."
Buffy's fist connected with his mouth before the sentence was completely out of his mouth, blood ran down his chin, "Now, Ms. Summers... let's talk about this." Randall began to stutter as his greatest fears were realized.
"Talk? You had my sister and her husband killed and you want to talk?" Buffy raised her fist again.
Randall began to try to back away but Angels boot remained firm on his chest, "It wasn't me... well... I didn't do the actual hiring... he did it!" He pointed at Deaton who was cowering under the table, his glasses askew on his weasley face.
"But you backed him up didn't you?" Buffy swung her fist repeatedly into Randalls face, till blood ran from his mouth and nose, one eye began to swell.
"Buffy," Spike's hand was on her shoulder, "You don't want to be the one to do this, he's human. Scum, but human."
"You're right... I'm through with him for ... now." She stood and walked towards the conference table where Mr. Deaton sat, his shoulders slumped his eyes downcast, waiting for his turn. "You... how could you do this to completely innocent people? You orphaned a child? For what?" She pulled him out from under the table by his jacket lapels, "Was it worth it?" She rammed her fist into his face repeatedly as she had done with Randall before him, "This is for Chris." she hit him again, "and for Dawn" Then she put both hands around his throat and began to squeeze, "And this is for Jake."
Angel and Spike watched with horror knowing that she would never forgive herself if she killed the man, no matter what he had done, "Luv, stop , don't lower yourself to their standards. You won't ever forget it if you do."
Tears rolled down her face as she dropped Mr. Deaton to the floor, "Somebody... call the police... she's crazy. " He looked at the group of lawyers around him, "We outnumber them... do something."
The lawyers stood quiet and motionless as they watched Spike put a comforting arm around Buffy, "They have to pay." She told him quietly.
One man stood up then and held his hands up in a "I surrender" gesture, "They will pay."
"Watson!" Randall shouted from his place on the floor.
"Oh, shut up, Randall. I think you've played out your tenure at Wolfram and Hart. Ms. Summer's, I think you realize that we can't just call the police and have them come pick up Mr. Deaton and Mr. Randall. They've covered their asses way too well for that. "
"What do you have in mind?" Angel asked with interest.
"I think with our resources here, we can come up with some documentation on the devious manner in which these two conducted themselves in this matter. Of course the fiirm is appalled by their behaviour." Watson continued.
"Of course." Spike replied with as much sarcasm as he could muster.
" I can gurantee that by tomorrow both Mr. Deaton and Mr. Randall will be on thier way to punishement for thier crime. And I think you realize this is the only way they will ever be punished." Watson smiled at his fomrer boss.
"And what makes you think you can pull this off?" Buffy asked suspiciously.
"Because I'm the new head of the firm." Watson smiled brightly.
"You... " Randall started but was quickly cut off.
"It's the Wolfram and Hart way, one leaves and another takes his place. Does anyone want to argue about this?" Watson asked the remaining lawyers.
"No."
"Congratualations"
"Fine with me"
"Time for a change in leadership"
"Is this a feasible conclusion to the problem?" Mr. Watson asked as he straightened his coat.
"Buffy, it may really be the only way." Angel advised her.
"Yes. but I want to see proof in the paper tomorrow." Buffy answered as Spike gave her hand a gentle squeeze,
"Agreed." Mr. Watson nodded his head.
"And this doesn't mean I won't be watching you." Angel warned his voice dangerously low.
"I would expect no less of you." Watson replied evenly.
"Let's get out of here." Buffy turned from the disaster that had once been a conference room.
"There, there, baby." Wesley walked around the living area of the Hyperion bouncing Jake on his shoulder, "They will be here shortly, I'm sure." He told the fussy baby worriedly.
"We're back, Wesley." Buffy's voice called out from the doorway.
"Thank goodness." Wesley quickly deposited the baby in her arms, "How did it go?"
"I'm going to let Angel explain that to you. Spike and I are taking Jake to the room, It's been a long night." She smiled at her former watcher then turned to her husband, "And we still have to talk."
Spike's expression grew grim as she followed behind his wife.
"Good luck." Angel whispered behind him.
"Now, please tell me what happened?" Wesley asked as Angel sat down tiredly.
Buffy changed Jake's diaper in silence once they were in their room. Spike sat next to her on the bed, playing with the baby's bare toes, "Jakey... Jakey." He singsonged the words as the baby looked at him, a bit of drool in the corner of his toothless grin.
"So you never answered me back there? Do you want Jake to lose someone else?" Buffy asked as Spike pulled the baby into his lap.
"Buffy... no I don't want Jake to lose someone else. But... I... thought that if..if one of us was going to be at risk, then it should be me. You are his flesh and blood. I'm not." Spike placed a soft kiss on the baby's head as Jake's eyes began to close.
"You can't think like that, Spike. If we are going to raise Jake, then it's going to have to be "we". You can't go off making decisions like that without letting me in on it, letting me help decide if the risks are too great. And as for being his flesh and blood, you're wrong." She placed her hand on Spike's cheek, You love him as much as I do. You are his "dad" now, that counts like flesh and blood."
Spike shifted the now sleeping baby in his lap and placed his hand over Buffy's, leaning his head forward until their foreheads touched, "You mean that, don't you?"
"Yeah, I do. And besides you promised Dawn, remember?" She asked softly, her eyes teary.
"I remember. I'm sorry, Buffy. This won't happen again. From now on it will be the two of us... well," He grinned at the baby in his lap, "the three of us."
"I wasn't sure that I, that we could handle this responsibility. But now, now I really think we can do it." Buffy gently removed Jake from Spike's hold and placed him in the crib.
They dressed for bed and crawled under the covers exhausted physcially and mentally from the night's events. Spike held Buffy close, her head resting in the crook of his neck, "Do you want to talk about tonight, pet? I mean what happened with Deaton and Randall?"
"No, not really. I just want it over, if Watson holds up to his end of the deal then I'll be satisfied. I will never stop loving or forget Dawn, but if we are going to raise Jake in a happy home, we can't always be out for vengeance. She would want us to concentrate on Jake." Buffy snuggled a bit closer.
"I think you're right. Goodnight., Luv." He kissed her forehead as they both settled into sleep.
Buffy walked into the kitchen of the Hyperion with Jake on her hip and Spike behind her. Angel had to smile at the familial picture before him. He turned the paper in front of him over as they walked in, he wasn't sure how the news were going to go over. "Morning." Buffy said brightly as she began to assemble a bottle for Jake.
"Monring to you." Angel tipped his cup to her and then looked at Spike, "Looks like you survived."
Spike shook his head at the other vampire, "Yeah, guess I did." He poured Buffy a cup of coffee and sat it down on the table as she fed Jake.
"Is that the paper?" Buffy asked as she moved to burp Jake.
"Yes." Angel answered with sigh, "Buffy.about this."
"What? Tell me they didn't find a way to get them out of this?" Her voice rose slightly.
"No, they didn't get out of it." Spike answered her as he lay the paper in front of her.
On the front page were pictures of Deaton and Randall, the caption underneath read,
Two of Wolfram and Hart's top lawyers killed in freak auto accident.
The article went on to say the two had been implicated in the murders of Chris and Dawn Jamison. The law firm was cooperating with police as they had no idea what the two lawyers had been involved in. An untimely accident killed both lawyers as they were being taken in to the police station for questioning.
"Buffy, you okay?" Spike asked as she finished reading the article.
"Yes, strangely I am." She answered as she smiled at the baby playing with her hair. "It's over now, and we can go home and try to give Jake the happiness they denied him."
Eighteen Years Later
The tall young man took one last look at his notes and shoved them in his back pocket, "Mom, Dad are you ready?" He called as he took the hanger holding the graduation gown from the hook on the back of his door and reached for the mortarboard lying on his bed, "Mom, we're gonna be late." She adjusted her dress one more time and ran her hand over her hair, "You look beautiful." Spike told her as she reached for a handful of tissue, he meant the words. Buffy was as beautiful today as she had been eighteen years ago, when Jake had first come to them. "You aren't going to cry before we even get there are you?" He leaned over and kissed her cheek.
"You're one to talk, 'Mr. I've got something in my eye' when he first called you 'dada' ." She smiled as she stuffed the tissue in her purse,
"Mom, Dad... come on!" Jake poked his head into his parents bedroom impatiently, a trait that Buffy was sure he received from his birth mother. He looked like Dawn, same eyes and pretty dark hair. Buffy knew how proud she and Chris would be if the were here today.
Buffy sighed as she stood and took Spike's hand and met him in the hall, "We're ready, you can go over the speech in the car if you'd like."
"I've already told you the speech is a surprise." Jake laughed softly at this mom before giving her a tight hug.
"She's gonna cry you know." His father smiled over Buffy's head at his son.
"Probably." Jake agreed as they got into the car.
The auditorium was full as the graduating class filed into the familiar strains of "Pomp and Circumstance." Jake took his place of honor on stage as the class Valdictorian.
Buffy and Spike sat on the front row, their faces beaming with pride. The prinicipal spoke and introduced the guest speaker. Then it was Jake's turn, he stood before the podium in his cap and gown looking poised and handsome. He grinned at this parents before he started his speech.
After a few minutes of speaking about how far each of them had come in the last twelve years and the potential of where each of them could go, Jake switched to the subject of the people who had helped them to where they were now - family and friends.
Buffy's eyes were damp as she listened to him speak.
"Many of you may not know this but my parents died when I was a baby. In fact I was too young to even remember them. But I know how much they loved me... because they left me in the care of my Aunt Buffy and Uncle William who became my parents. I want to take this time to thank my Mom and Dad for choosing such wonderful people to raise me. And I want to thank my Aunt and Uncle for being up to the job. I know it wasn't easy in the beginning, they had this life without children and suddenly there I was. They rose to the challenge and became the best parents a son could hope for." Jake's voice was soft and sincere.
Tears ran freely down Buffy's cheeks now and Spike swallowed the lump in his throat as they listened.
Jake began to finish his speech, "In closing I want to wish eacho my classmates the very best in life. I also want to," He paused and looked heavenward, "say I love you Mom and Dad," he then looked toward Buffy and Spike sitting in front of him, "And I love you, Mom and Dad." He sat down to a room filled with applause and more then one teary eye.
The couple on the front row held hands as tears of pride rolled down thier smiling faces. The once reluctant guardians realized that they had indeed kept their promise made all those years ago and indeed become true parents.
The End