"Sons and Daughters"
Author: A. Price
Email: andramichelle@yahoo.com
Doctor Shane walked into the waiting room with a serious look on his face, he scanned the many people there his eyes resting on the petite blond with the bulging belly, He walked towards her sighing inwardly, he hated having to give any kind of bad news, he felt that Mr. Fowler would be okay but this would be a blow to his wife.
"Mrs. Fowler." He spoke calmly.
"Yes, " Buffy stood up, "Is it over? Can I see him now?"
"Yes, the bone marrow was collected and we are preparing it for transfusion into Mr. Giles. However, there was a slight setback with Mr. Fowler." The doctor motioned for Buffy to sit back down and he took the chair beside her.
"Setback?" Buffy asked her soft features reflecting her fear. The other's gathered around her as the doctor spoke. Dawn put her arm around her sister's shoulders.
"He seems to have reacted slightly to the anesthesia." The doctor further explained, "He should have come out of it by now, but he's still under"
"When will he wake up?" Buffy's voice choked on the last words.
"We don't really know, but I'm sure it will be soon. We've moved him to ICU strictly for observation. You may go see him if you'd like." The doctor patted her hand, "Now I have to go see to Mr. Giles."
Buffy nodded her head at the doctor as she watched him leave the waiting room. She stood shakily, "ICU... I have to go there." She walked towards the hallway with Dawn and Jeremy following, "I'll go with you sweetie." Dawn told her as she squeezed Buffy's hand.
"We'll stay here, if you need us, let us know." Willow called behind them.
"He's not gonna wake up is he?" Xander blurted out once Buffy was out of sight.
"Of course he is, Xander." Amanda patted her husbands' arm, "You heard the doctor."
"You don't get it, Amanda. Good things never come cheap in Sunnydale, we'll get Giles back and Buffy will lose Spike." Xander stood and began pacing the waiting room.
"Usually... usually it does work that way, but not this time." Anya stood and placed her hand on Xander's arm, "This time it's going to be okay. I just feel it."
"Anya's right, it's going to be okay." Willow helped Xander back to his seat, "It's got to be." She added under her breath.
"He just looks like he's sleeping." Buffy said softly as she ran her hand through Spike's unruly blond curls.
"He is just sleeping and he'll be awake soon." Dawn assured her as Jeremy stood beside her clasping her hand tightly in his.
"Come on, Spike. Wake up." Buffy called to him softly, "Wake up for me Sweetheart."
Spike was walking along a lake and it was beautiful, water lilies bloomed large and white against the bluegreen water. He was going somewhere but he wasn't sure where...and it was so lovely here it was easy to get distracted. But someone was calling his name he could hear it ever so softly.
Suddenly the lovely water was gone and he was deep in a forest, tall trees loomng over head hiding the sunshine from him. He could hear a crazed giggle following him but when he turned there was no one there, he didnt' like this place. The giggles got louder and were joined by words, "You don't deserve her... you never will... "
"But I love her and we're having a child!" He shouted to whoever or whatever was taunting him.
Drusilla appeared from behind a tree, "You think that you deserve a child, my Spike?"
"Things...things are different now, Dru." Spike fought a growing lump in his throat.
"How many children do you think we left motherless?" Dru ran a blood red nail down his cheek he could feel the small trickle of blood from the scratch.
"But that was before..." Spike argued.
"Doesn't matter though does it, do you really think you can make up for everything you've done?" She smiled wickedly.
"Buffy's forgiven me." He replied strongly.
"You think so?" Angelus voice joined Dru's as he appeared before Spike, taking Dru's hand and kissing the palm. "You don't think that in the dark hours of the night, she thinks about the things you've done... that she doesn't worry that heartbeat or not you just might turn again?"
"Really, it's best if you stay here with us?" Darla suddenly appeared, 'You're real family."
"No!" Spike turned and ran from the wicked trio.
"Come back my Spike!"
"Spike my boy, you belong with us."
He ran long and hard until he could no longer hear the taunts. Maybe they were right? Maybe he didn't deserve all he had?
"Buffy, would you like something to eat or drink? You didn't have breakfast and I know the baby is probably hungry." Dawn asked as she sat Buffy in the chair by Spike's bed, Buffy held Spike's hand in a death grip.
"Yeah... some juice maybe, for the baby." Buffy replied in almost a whisper.
"We'll be right back." Dawn gave Jeremy a worried look as they left the room.
"Spike, you have to come back to me and the baby. He needs his daddy, and I need you." Tears rolled from her cheeks to land on his still hand. "Please, baby, wake up."
"I'm worried about her." Dawn told Jeremy as they paid for the juice, "I'm not sure what she would do if something happens to Spike."
"We have to pray that he's okay, Dawn, and if the worst happens, Buffy will go on, because she has a baby to care for, Spike's baby." Jeremy smiled at his wife as he ran a hand over her dark hair.
"Must be nice to have that between you, a life you created." Dawn replied wistfully.
"Dawn, it would be nice, but it's not neccessary to have a child to bond two people together. I love you... whether we have children or not." He squeezed her hand, "We better get back to Buffy."
They returned to the room to find Buffy's had pulled the chair all the way up to the bed, her head was lying next to Spike's arm, her eyes closed, fresh tears on her cheeks. "Buffy, here sweetie, we brought you some juice."
"Thanks." Buffy replied as she took the juice from Dawn, "You don't have to stay here, you can go check on Giles. I'll be okay." She sipped the juice.
"Are you sure you don't want me to stay?" Dawn asked worriedly.
"No, you need to go on check on Emily, let me know how Giles is." The older girl replied with a half smile.
"Alright, but if you need me."
"I know where to find you." Buffy hugged Dawn and then Jeremy before they left.
She fluffed up Spike's pillow and ran her hand down his cheek again, she leaned forward and kissed his forehead, 'I'm going to sit right here until you wake up and then I'm going to let you have it for worrying me!"
Spike finally stopped running when he found the quiet lake again. This time a woman sat on a blanket by the lake, she seemed familiar as she walked closer. "You made it." Joyce Summers smiled at him as she gently swayed a wrapped bundle in her arms making soft cooing noises.
"Who's baby?" Spike asked mildly confused.
"Who's do you think it is?" She asked as she moved the bundle to her shoulder.
"Is it mine and Buffy's?" He asked trying to peek at the bundle more closely.
"Yes, and he's adorable." Joyce patted the baby's back.
"May I see him?" Spike asked moving closer.
"Not yet, you'll see him soon enough, I need to talk to you." Joyce smiled, "You've done a good thing, giving your marrow to Giles. You're a good man, Spike. I'm not so sure you realize that."
"I'm really not Joyce, the whole reason I ever tried to be good was for Buffy. It was purely selfish on my part. Back there, " He nodded towards the woods, "They were there, Dru, Angelus and Darla, they said I wasn't worthy of her, of him." He nodded towards the baby.
"They were wrong." Joyce smiled again.
"I'm not so sure." Spike sighed.
"How is Giles?" Dawn asked as she and Jeremy entered the waiting room.
"He's out of the procedure room and in recovery. Emily is with him." Willow explained as she made room for Dawn and Jeremy to sit down.
"How is Buffy? And Spike" Xander asked as he stood and stretched his legs.
"She's holding up, but I'm not sure for how long." Dawn sighed.
"Spike is the same. Hopefully he will wake soon." Jeremy added as he put his arm around Dawn's shoulders.
"Buffy should rest, being pregnant makes you tired even without the drama." Anya added, "Maybe we should take turns sitting with Spike?"
"I don't think she'll leave him." Dawn shook her head, "How long before we know if the transplant worked? I think that knowing Giles is better might help Buffy."
"It will take few days of testing to find out if his blood in making cells and platelets the way it should on it's own. But it shouldn't be long." Willow tried to smile.
"I'm sure Spike will be up and around to get the good news." Amanda took Xander's hand.
"Yeah, he will be." Dawn agreed.
"Hey, how are you feeling?" Emily asked as Giles sat up in his bed.
"Okay, how is Spike?" Giles asked tiredly.
"He's... he's fine." Emily forced a smile.
"I want to see him as soon as he's able to get in here." Giles told her, "Need to thank him again."
"As soon as he's up and around I'm sure he'll be here." Emily patted her husband's hand, "There are some other's who want to see you if you feel up to it."
"Oh yes, send them in." Giles grinned as Emily stood and ushered in the Scoobies.
The nurse advised them that they could only stay a few minutes, well wishes were given and Giles told them to all go back to the hotel and get some food and rest. He felt fine.
"Where is Buffy?" He asked when the others had left the room.
"She's with Spike."
"Oh, as she should be, but I would like to see her." Giles yawned.
"I'm going to go check on them, I'll tell her you want to see her." She kissed his cheek and left the room.
"Buffy, how is he?" Emily asked as she entered the room.
"The same, it's just like he's in a deep sleep." Buffy still held tight to his hand, "How is Giles? Dawn came by a few minutes ago and said he was good."
"Yes he's doing well, he wants to see you." Emily sighed.
"I can't leave Spike and I sent Dawn home..." Buffy chewed on her bottom lip.
"I'll stay with him, it's the least I can do." Emily's voice cracked, "I'm so sorry we never wanted anything like this to happen."
"I know you didn't, it's no one's fault." Buffy patted Spike's leg before she stood.
"I haven't told Rupert about Spike, I'll let you do that." Emily hugged Buffy and took the chair beside Spike's bed.
"Giles." Buffy called softly as she entered the room.
"Buffy, you came." Giles smiled brightly.
"Of course I came." She replied forcing a happy smile on her face.
As usual Giles saw right through her, "Buffy, are you okay? Spike?"
Buffy's tears started again as she went to stand closer to the bed, "He's not woke up from the anesthesia yet, they think it's a reaction, the doctor says he's sure he'll come out of it."
"Oh, Buffy... I'm so sorry. I don't know what to say."
"There is nothing to say, Giles. It's going to be okay, he's going to wake up soon, I know it." She took Gile's hand, "You know Spike he always has to add a bit of drama to everything he does."
Giles nodded, "That is true, but I wish he had skipped it this time." He squeezed Buffy's hand.
"I'm sure he'll be okay... he has to be." Buffy smiled wistfully at Giles, "I'm so glad you are feeling better."
"Me too, in a couple of days we'll know if it worked or not."
"I already know it did." She let go of his hand, "Now I have to go check on my husband and I'll send your wife back to you." She turned to leave then added, "I love you, Giles."
"I know." He answered with a fatherly smile, "Let me know if anything changes."
"I will."
The others went back to the hotel and decided to meet for dinner and make a schedule out of people to stay at the hospital with Buffy and Emily. Then the group went back to their own rooms for much needed rest.
"Yes, you can talk to Daddy." Amanda grinned and handed the phone to Xander.
"Hi, honey. You did? Wow that sounds fun. Yes we'll be home soon. You take care of your sisters. I love you too." He handed the phone back to Amanda.
"Yes, put your Aunt back on. I'm going to try to leave tonight if I can, I'll let you know." Amanda said her goodbyes and hung up the phone.
Xander frowned at her, "You're leaving tonight?"
"Xander the girls miss thier parents, one of us needs to go and it should be me. I'm not much help here, but you are needed." She stood up and hugged him tightly.
"But the girls need me too?"
"Yes they do, but they'll be okay for a little while longer. This part of your family needs you now. And you can do a bit of thinking while your here." She smiled as she pulled away from him, "I'm calling the airport."
"You really don't mind me staying?" He asked as he watched her dial the phone.
"I think you need too."
"I don't deserve you, do I?" He grinned at her.
Amanda smiled at him, "No you probably don't." She then talked to the airline and confirmed her ticket home.
"When I get home, we have to talk... " Xander sat on the bed next to her.
"That sounds ominous... " Amanda laughed lightly, "But I would like to hear what you have to say." She added the last bit with sigh.
Dinner went smoothly, Amanda had said her goodbyes earlier and even stopped by the hospital on her way to the airport. A schedule of sorts was made up for the next day at the hospital, Buffy, Emily and Giles had all insisted they would be okay at night, since they would probably be sleeping anyway.
The next morning Dawn, Jeremy, Todd and Anya showed up for thier watches. Dawn and Jeremy went to Spike's room and Todd and Anya to Giles'.
Buffy was sleeping in a fold out chair by Spike's bed, her belly protruding in a well defined lump under the thin blanket. Spike was still lying in the bed as if he were peacefully sleeping.
"Let her sleep." Jeremy told Dawn as he offered her the chair.
"That's probably a good idea." Dawn agreed as she sat down by Spike. She placed her hand on his, "Come on, Spike, wake up. You're worrying us!"
A nurse entered the room, "I have some breakfast for Mrs. Fowler. She probably needs it and we had an extra tray." She sat the food on the small tray attached to Spike's bed.
"Was there any change last night?" Dawn asked the nurse as she left.
"No, I'm afraid not. But I'm sure it's just a matter of time." She smiled as she left the room.
Buffy stirred as the door closed, "Hey," She sat up.
"Hi, the nurse brought you some breakfast." Dawn carried the tray to where Buffy sat.
"Let me help you get that chair up and you can eat." Jeremy offered as Buffy stood.
She sat back down and looked at the tray, "Yummy, hospital food."
"You need something in your tummy, we'll get you a Big Mac later." Dawn grinned as Buffy poked at the runny eggs on the plate.
"I am hungry." Buffy told her as she picked up a slice of bacon and buttered her toast.
"So have you seen the doctor lately?" Dawn asked as she turned back to Spike.
"Early this morning, he says Spike should snap out of it anytime, his heart rate and respirations are fine." Buffy nibbled on the toast, "I think he's just being stubborn." She tried to grin but it never reached her eyes.
"That's Spike." Dawn agreed with her sister.
"So how are you today?" Anya asked as Todd talked Emily into having a cup of coffee.
"I feel very well, the initial blood tests have gone well, we'll know more over the next few days. I am worried about Spike though." Giles told her with a helpless look.
"I think Spike will be fine, I am going to stay until everything is better, but I think Todd will go back tomorrow. Sam needs one of us at home." Anya explained and then added, "Amanda went back already." It was as if she felt a need to defend Todd's leaving.
"I know, I talked to her before she left. It's okay Anya, you and Xander and Dawn have found wonderful people to spend your lives with. And the fact that Todd came with you and even tested his marrow is a testimony to what a good man he is. But you do have a family of your own now, I understand that." He patted her hand, at this instant she reminded him of the old Anya who was often unsure of herself.
"Thank you." She leaned over and kissed his forehead. "You are my only parental figure you know, and since you never actually had children I think we've both done okay." She smiled at him.
"I know." He smiled back at her, thinking that to have actually never fathered a child he had many sons and daughters to call his own.
The day passed slowly, the two couples on watch left the hospital at suppertime. Willow and Xander had each called several times during the day and were ready for their turn to hospital sit tomorrow.
After supper, Giles with Emily's help guided himself and his IV to the ICU unit. He stopped at the door watching Buffy stand by the bed an untouched tray of food on Spike's bedside table. She was murmuring something to him, in such a soft voice he couldn't catch the words, but she was smiling as she talked. The next thing she did made tears spring to Giles' eyes. He watched her take Spike's limp hand and place it on the bulge under her flowning top. Gile's turned to Emily, "I don't know if I can face her Em, what if he doesn't recover?"
Spike watched Joyce as she removed the baby from her shoulder and began to rock him gently in her arms. She looked from the baby to Spike, "When Xander mentioned that you shouldn't try to donate your bone marrow, you weren't angry for Buffy, you were angry because he didn't want you to help Giles. That was totally unselfish."
"Okay, yes I wanted to help Giles. But does that make up for the things I did before Buffy?" Spike asked as Joyce continued to rock the baby.
"You aren't that man anymore, Spike. Buffy loves you and you need to get back to her." Joyce stood with the baby and turned away from Spike.
"But how do I do that?" He called after her desperately.
"Listen... and you'll find your way back to her." Joyce waved at him as she dissappeared.
"Spike, did you feel that?' Buffy continued to hold his hand on her belly, "Come on, Spike, come back to us."
"Go on in, Rupert. She needs you." Emily gave her husband a small push.
Giles cleared his throat and wiped at his watery eyes as he entered the room, he joined Buffy at the bedside, "Do wake up Spike! You don't want to miss out on being her when little Rupert arrives."
Buffy turned to Giles, "Little Rupert?" She asked with a grin.
Spike listened carefully to the wind, he could hear her calling his name, "Spike, come back to us." He followed the voice.
Giles returned Buffy's grin, "Yes, Little Rupert. Spike informed me that I had to survive this or you would want to name the baby after me. He didn't want that to happen."
Buffy laughed softly, "That sounds like Spike. We of course can't decide on a name."
"When he wakes up, you'll have to do that, the baby will be here before you know it."
Buffy's bottom lip trembled as she tried to keep her tears at bay, "If he wakes up. I'm beginning to get really worried now."
Giles wrapped his arms around the girl beside him and patted her hair. "It's going to be okay, Buffy."
Emily joined them then, patting Buffy's back also, "Rupert is right, it's going to be fine."
Buffy pulled away and wiped her tears, she sniffled once and then took a good look at Giles, "You look better, you really do."
"I'm feeling better, they are taking my blood daily checking my progress - so far so good."
"How are you feeling, Buffy. You have to take care of yourself too." Emily asked as Buffy sat down again.
"I'll be okay. I just really need him to come back to me." Buffy sighed as she rubbed the top of Spike's hand.
Another two days passed and Giles was making a good recovery, his own body seemed to have accepted Spike's marrow and he was making his own cells now. His color was much better and he was getting stronger everyday.
Spike remained asleep, the doctors constantly monitoring is vital signs and finding no problem. The doctor was beginning to become discouraged but kept this from Buffy, hoping to run more tests and find out why the young, healthy man was comatose.
Buffy remained by Spike's side, leaving only to bathe and change clothes, she ate her meals at his side, talking to him and encouraging him to come back to she and the baby, even threatening to name the baby Rupert, if he didn't come to and help her decide on a proper name for their son.
Xander, Anya and Willow and Dawn were enjoying a late breakfast. Todd and Jeremy had both caught flights home the night before. Todd going back to take care of Sam and Jeremy going back to work. Dawn had insisted he go back after he had taked a couple calls from the office, he had tried to stay but she had kissed him firmly, and explained that she would call if she needed him.
"I really need to talk to you three." Xander sighed over his coffee cup.
"Xander, have you done something stupid?" Anya asked always getting right to the point.
"Not yet, but I might be going to." Xander frowned slightly putting the cup down, "When I go home, I want to tell Amanda about my past, about things in Sunnydale."
"You want to tell her everything?" Fear shown in Anya's eyes.
"As much as I think she can handle, she deserves to know we were engaged, that I left you at the altar. She needs to know about some of the trauma's in my life that made me the way I am... insecure about all the good things in my life." He finished with a sigh.
"You won't tell about the vengeance demon part?" Anya asked as she played with her croissant.
"No, not if you don't want me too."
"Of course I don't want you too, Todd doesn't know any of that... I know that I should tell him about our engagement though... but I'm not sure how to do that without telling more then I want to or more then he'll understand." Anya's eyes were watery, "I'm afraid."
"We all are, Anya... I know there are things I should tell Jeremy too. It's a curse of growing up in Sunnydale." Dawn absently patted Anya's arm as she thought about the ramifications of confessing her whole "keyness" to Jeremy.
Willow remained quiet as her nervous hands mangled the paper napkin in front of her. Her past was a black as the former vengeance demon sitting next to her.
"Will, are you okay?" Xander placed his hand on top of hers to still them.
"Yeah, I'm just wondering if you plan on telling every single gory detail of our pasts." She swallowed hard.
"Not everything Willow, but as much as I think she can handle. I feel like I need to explain about Spike's ummmmmmm... blood disease at some point. I'm tired of all these holes in my history, things I can't tell.. I think if I confess some small things and then go on to some bigger ones, if she doesn't think I'm totally nuts and leave me... I'll feel better." Xander gave a small grin.
"Amanda loves you, Xander, I don't think you have to worry. And hey at least you've always been human, that's one up on me." Dawn's stood up, "I've got to get to the hospital." She said her goodbyes and left the three friends at the table.
"Xander, I think you're right, maybe it's time I tell Todd some things too, I'll start with how you humiliated me on our supposed wedding day." Anya said with a smirk.
Xander sputtered out his sip of coffee, "If that makes you feel better, Anya." He then offered a smile.
"I... I'm seeing someone." Willow suddenly spit out.
"You are?" Xander and Anya asked in unison.
"Yes, umm... his name is Greg and he's a professor too." Willow smiled shyly.
"Greg?" Xander asked with raised eyebrows.
"Yes, Greg. And I have a good feeling about it, I've told him a bit about my background, but not everything. He's a really good guy."
"I am so glad for you Willow, I was worried you would never find another significant other." Anya patted Willows hand.
"We've got a lot of baggage don't we?" Xander laughed harshly, shaking his head,
"Yes we do, but we also have each other." Willow smiled at her best friend.
"That we do, now we all need to follow Dawn to the hospital. I think Buffy is going to need us, Giles may get to go home tomorrow." Xander stood to pay the bill.
"It's a miracle isn't it?" Willow and Anya stood.
"I expected no less in good ole Sunnydale, Spike... well he did a good thing." Xander sighed, "I hope he comes out of it soon, Buffy really needs him."
"I never thought I would hear you say that." Anya grinned at her former fiancee'.
"I never thought I *would* say it." Xander returned the grin.
Dr. Shane sighed as he looked at Spike's chart again, no change. He wasn't sure what to do next. "Doctor, could you please be honest with me, is he going to wake up?" Bufffy's small voice asked from the corner of the room.
"Mrs. Fowler, I wish I could answer your question, but I'm not sure I can... " He shook his head, "I'm ordering another cat scan and some more blood work. Hopefully we will have some answers soon." He smiled at her as he left the room.
"So, no change?" Dawn asked as she entered the room.
"No, I thought for a moment last night when I was talking to him, that his eye's fluttered more then normal. But they never opened. " Buffy sat tiredly running a hand through her hair, "I've been talking to him constantly through the night, I keep thinking that maybe I can talk him back, you know, remind him of what's here.."
The voice was fainter now... and the woods deeper, "Buffy, come on love, keep talking." Spike called out to the tall trees.
"I'll talk." Dawn went to stand by the bed, "Spike, it's me Dawn. It's time for you to wake up. Buffy needs you, and I need you, you're still one of my best friends. Do you remember during that terrible summer that Buffy was gone... I'd sneak out to your crypt and you would have my favorite ice cream for me, like you knew I was coming. You didn't treat me like I was made of glass like the others, you were honest, sometimes brutally honest. But I knew you loved me... come on Spike."
Spike looked around the forest, he listened carefully, a small voice was coming through again, "Niblet?" He walked towards a small clearing, the voice was stronger there.
Buffy fought back her exhaustion as she listened to Dawn plead with Spike. Finally she lost the battle and her eyes closed in a fitful sleep.
Spike walked for what seemed like days, he could hear the voices of his loved ones calling to him. But he seemed to be going in circles as he tried to gauge which direction the voices came from. He kept running into his past victims on the way, hollow eyed and silent, sometimes the memories of what he was weighed him down and he sat alone near tears, but then a small voice would break through and beckon him to come home.
" I'm trying, I'm trying." He called out to anyone that would listen.
"Spike, enough is enough now. I am going to beat you home from the hospital." Giles stood at the blond's bedside. Emily and the others had convinced Buffy to go to the cafeteria for a meal. Giles had promised to stay with Spike. He was leaving the hospital to day and he really wanted to leave without the heaviness his heart felt when he looked at the unconcious man in the bed before him.
"Buffy needs you, you know and you have a child to take care of." Giles frowned at the lack of movenment from the bed, "And I need to take you for a pint and thank you properly for what you've done! You're taking all of the fun out of being cured you know?"
"Giles, is that you?" Spike called out as he trudged down another dark path.
"How is he?" Buffy asked as she returned to the room, her entourage of friends and Dawn behind her.
"Still being stubborn, I'm afraid." Giles shook his head sadly.
"The doctor mentioned that maybe there was some kind of psychosomatic reason for this, I think he's getting desperate for answers." Buffy sighed.
"Well, Buffy, Spike has been through a lot the last few years, I mean *human* and responsibilities and now a baby to take care of. It might be a bit overwhelming." Xander replied softly his hand on her shoulder.
"So you think, he's scared, that this is his way of not dealing?" Buffy asked angrily.
"No...no, I'm just...being desperate like the doc I guess." Xander sighed.
"Not good enough for her."
"Doesn't want to accept the responsibility."
"Maybe she's better off without you."
The voices got louder until Spike physically put his hands over his ears, as he heard familiar voiced from his past and present.
"You thnk he's scared?" It was Buffy's voice loud and clear.
"Buffy, Buffy!" He called loudly, "I'm not scared!"
The others left Buffy in the room with Spike to help Giles get ready to go back to the hotel. She sat and brooded as she went over the doctors words and Xander's comments too.
"Are you trying to avoid your life now?" She asked in a whisper as she pushed a stray curl from his forehead. "No, you wouldn't do that. I know you wouldn't."
She paced the room her anger building, "Wake up! Wake up, Spike!" Her voice rose enough for a nurse to enter the room.
"Mrs. Fowler, this is not good for him or for you, think of your baby." The nurse tried to get Buffy into a chair.
"No, he has to wake up! I need him!" Buffy yelled again fighting the nurse, she lurched back and fell over the chair at the bedside striking her head on the end of the heavy metal bed. She went quiet then. The nurse called for help as she bent down beside Buffy's prone body, blood trickled from a cut on the side of her head matting the pretty blond hair.
Buffy's voice was stronger now, she sounded almost angry. Oh great, when I find her she's going to be angry with me. It didnt' matter he ran even faster, she couldn't be too far away now.
"You know, it's a bit dangerous for Buffy to be all alone now, isn't it? Any thing could happen she's quite vulnerable, you know?" Angelus hard voice came from the woods again.
"Shut up!" Spike yelled furiously as he tried to listen for her voice, but there was nothing. "What have you done to her?" Spike cried out towards the direction of Angelus voice.
"He's done nothing, Spike. Except try to keep you from finding your way back. Buffy needs you more then ever now. Go that way!" Joyce appeared before him, ignoring Angelus she pointed towards a lighted place in the forest.
He ran as if her life depended on it...
"I think she'll be okay, but we need to move her to room and put a monitor on her and check out the baby's status." Dr. Shane knelt beside Buffy and the nurse, he called for a gurney as he felt Buffy's pulse pumping strongly.
"Buffy!!!" Spike screamed her name as he approached the lighted area, the trees were there and Buffy was lying beneath them in the grass. He ran towards her and knelt beside her on the ground, smoothing her hair back from her brow.
Her eyes fluttered open, "Spike?"
"Buffy?" A small voice asked.
Buffy's eyes fluttered open and she smiled past Dr. Shane and his nurse to the bed behind them. "Spike?"
The nurse and the doctor both turned their heads towards the bed, anxious to help Buffy they had not heard him soflty call her name. He sat in the bed desperately trying to remove the wires around so he could get to Buffy.
"Mr. Fowler!" The nurse stood up and helped Spike down from the bed as the doctor helped Buffy sit up.
"How do you feel?" Doctor Shane asked Buffy as he turned to Spike, "And how do you feel Mr. Fowler?"
"I'm much better now." Buffy smiled at Spike.
"Me too. What happened?" Spike asked as he ran a gentle hand over the cut in her bloody hair.
An intern entered the room with a gurney for Buffy. Dr. Fowler helped him lift Buffy on to it. He turned to Spike, "Mr. Fowler, please get back into the bed, I'm not sure about your condition yet"
Spike gave him a look that would have scared the most evil creature Buffy had ever faced, the nurse stepped back. He stood and took Buffy's hand in his, in a calm, calculated voice he faced the doctor, "You may poke and prod at me, after I make sure my wife and child are okay."
Doctor Shane nodded his head resignedly as he led the gurney to another room. He attached the fetal monitor around Buffy's tummy and asked the nurse to clean the cut on her head.
The nurse watched the monitor as she bandaged the small wound. Spike continued to hold Buffy's hand as he watched the lines on the monitor go up and down. "The baby is fine, Mr. Fowler and your wife is too." The nurse patted Buffy's hand, "Now won't you come back to your room so we can take a look at you?"
"Give us a minute and I promise I'll go back to my room."
The nurse nodded her consent and left the couple alone in the room with the sound of their baby's heartbeat keeping them company. Spike stood beside the bed, one hand over Buffy's hand, the other gently cupping her cheek. "I love you so much."
Tears ran down Buffy's cheeks even as she smiled at him, "I love you too, and I was so afraid I was going to lose you. I was afraid the baby would never know his father."
"Shh...I'm here and I'm not leaving again," He kissed the back of her hand, " I'm so sorry I worried you."
"It's okay, you're here now." Buffy clasped his hand tighter in hers.
"Giles? How is he?" Concern filled Spike's voice.
"He's going home today! The transfusion seemed to work perfectly."
"I was out of it that long?"
Buffy sighed, "Several of the longest days of my life."
The nurse stuck her head in, "Mr. Fowler, Dr. Shane is waiting. I'll bring Mrs. Fowler down to your room shortly."
"Okay, I'll go. You take care of them." He kissed Buffy's forehead and left the room.
"Oh... my sister and the others, could you find them in Mr.Giles room and tell them about my husband please?"
"Yes, mam. Let me disconnet all of these wires and I will get them and bring them to you." The nurse disconnected the monitor and left Buffy sitting on the side of the bed.
Within ten minutes the room was filled with the Scoobies, Dawn and Jeremy, along with Giles and Emily.
"Where is Spike now?" Dawn asked as she hugged her sister tightly.
"The doctor wanted to look him over. He's back in his room." Buffy explained with a grin.
"What did you do to your head?" Willow asked looking at the bandaged cut.
"I tripped over a chair and hit it. Don't worry, everything is okay." She hopped off the bed.
"And Spike, he seems to be well?" Giles asked as he hugged Buffy.
"Yes, he seems to be fine. I'm sure we'll all be able to see him soon."
The room was full of animated conversation as Spike walked back in ,fully clothed. "So did you lot miss me?" He smirked.
Buffy walked to his side and put her arm around him, "Why are you in your clothes?"
"Doc can't find anything wrong with me, told him if Rupert gets to go, so do I." He pulled her a bit closer to him.
"Are you sure?" She frowned slightly.
He kissed her lightly, "I'm sure."
Dawn hugged Spike tightly as Jeremy tried to shake his hand. "I'm so glad you're back."
Soon he was surrounded by his friends and his family. After a round of hugs and 'we missed you's' it was decided that it was time to leave the hospital. Everyone involved had decided they had seen enough hospital walls to last a lifetime. Giles asked Spike to please come by his room when they got back to the hotel.
After a big family supper at the hotel restaurant, each of the group returned to their rooms with the exception of Spike and Buffy who went to Gile's room with he and Emily. Emily asked Buffy if she would like to take a walk, she sensed that this was something Giles needed to do alone. After a quick goodbye to their husbands, the women left them alone.
"Spike, I need to thank you." Giles offered the younger man his hand.
"It was no big deal." Spike replied trying to sound casual.
"Yes, it was a big deal, you've given me back my life. I'm not sure why it worked out this way, but I'm not sure I can ever thank you properly."
"Anyone of us would have done it, Giles. You're a good man." Spike cleared his throat, his voice tight with emotion.
"Thank you." Giles sat down across from Spike, "When you were unconcious, I watched Buffy. She really needs you Spike, I wasn't always happy with her choices... you know that, but you make her happy, you give her something no one else ever could."
"Well, it's easy enough, I love her." Spike answered simply.
"I know you do, and apparently for all the right reasons too." Giles smiled at him and reached out a fatherly hand placing it on Spike's shoulder, "I've watched you over the years, changing and maturing and I... I wanted to tell you that I'm as proud of you as I am my other "sons and daughters"."
Giles grinned at the look of unabashed happiness on Spike's face, when Spike found his voice again he spoke softly and sincerely, "That's ... well I never thought I would hear that from you." He then turned to Giles his smirk firmly in place, "Thanks, Dad!"
Giles laughed as he stood and clasped Spike's badk, "Let's go find our wives, shall we?"
The next day was one of goodbyes. Xander, Anya and Willow were all going home. Giles and Emily were leaving for England the next day depending on the results of a couple more tests at the hospital. Doctor Shane had assured him that he saw no problems. Giles doctor in England had been kept informed of his progress and was anxious to see his patient. "He'll want to stick more needles in me I'm sure." Giles had complained good naturedly to the group at the lunch table.
"We're just glad you're still here for him to poke and prod." Emily kissed his cheek, "I can't thank you all enough for your caring support."
"No problem, we love the G-man." Xander stood and walked behind Gile's chair, "I guess I better get ready for the airport, my flight leaves in a couple of hours."
Giles stood and smiled as he turned towards Xander, "Thank you for coming, take care of Amanda and the girls." He then pulled the younger man into a hug, whispering, "I am so proud of the man you have become."
" Thank you, Giles, you are big part of who I am," he whispered back, he then pulled out of the hug,"You take care too. No more scares for another 50 years okay?"
"I shall try my best." Giles nodded his head.
"Bye, guys, it was good to see you all. Take care, everyone." Xander grinned and waved at the remaining scoobies.
"Bye!"
"Take care"
"Call me!"
"I better go to." Anya stood and smiled, "Maybe I can even catch a ride with Xander to the airport. It was good to see you all. Gile's I'm so glad you are okay." Anya kissed Gile's cheek.
"You take care, Anya. Thank you for your help." Giles hugged her to him, "Take care of Todd and Sam."
"I will," she turned towards the others, "Bye, lets try to get togther again soon." She waved as she hurried after Xander.
"Bye!" The group called after her in unison.
"Willow, when does your flight leave?" Buffy asked as she sipped the last of her ice tea.
"I'm not leaving for a few days." Willow smiled mysteriously.
"And why would you want to stay around Sunnyhell?" Spike asked shaking his head.
"Actually a friend is joining me here, his name is Greg and I think he can help me get past some ghosts I have here." She sighed softly.
"That sounds lovely, Willow." Emily patted the red heads hand.
"Willow, I am happy for you. It's time for you to move on." Giles took her hand and gave it a squeeze.
"When do we get to meet him?" Dawn and Buffy asked in unison, causing their husbands to roll their eyes at their wives.
"Let Red have a bit of privacy, I can only imagine how difficult it is to be introduced to this bunch." Spike laughed as Buffy swatted his arm.
"He's right, it's not easy the first time you meet this crew." Jeremy grinned as Dawn mimiced her sisters action.
"I'm sure you will get to meet him soon." Willow shook her head at her friends. "Now, I'm going to my room and get ready for some company. I love you all - take care." She hugged Giles, "I love you."
"I love you too. Good luck!" Giles kisssed her cheek as she waved and left the restaurant.
"We are driving back this afternoon," Jeremy stood and shook Giles hand, "Good to see you sir, and I'm glad you're okay now. I'm going to go pack the car." He turnd to Buffy and Spike, "See you guys soon."
When Jeremy left the restaurant, Dawn began to fidget with her napkin, "I need to ask you something?" She addressed those left at the table.
"What's wrong, Dawnie?" Buffy asked, her maternal instinct kicking in overtime.
"Xander is going to tell Amanda about his past, about our pasts, not everything but he is going to fill her in on what he thinks she can handle," Dawn sighed and the continued, "Do you think I need to fill Jeremy in on my past?"
"Dawn, I believe that is completely up to you, I think that your past belongs to you and who you divulge your 'specialness' to is your business, I don't think that you have to tell him, but I think you might feel better if you did."
Giles patted Emily's hand, "I've told Emily everything and it was like an enormous weight being lifted."
"Of course I thought he was certifable at first, but then I realized he was telling the truth and I love him even more for trusting me with that truth,." Emily smiled at Dawn.
"I think Jeremy is going to love you no matter what, you don't need to feel pressured to tell him, but you shouldn't feel guilty if you don't feel like you can tell him either." Buffy hugged her sister.
"He should consider himself lucky to have you, Niblet. I don't think anything you could tell him would make him leave." Spike assured her with a smile.
"I'm gonna think some more on it." Dawn stood, "I better go help with the packing." She leaned over and kissed Giles cheek, "You take care."
More goodbyes were heard as Dawn walked back to her room.
Giles stood and Emily followed him. Spike helped Buffy up and walked to Emily's side, "May I walk you to your room?" He smiled and winked at her, then whispered, "I think they may need a minute."
Emily nodded at him, "That would be lovely, Spike." She linked her arm through his and they walked out of the restaruant together.
Buffy and Giles followed them, "My husband is very subtle isn't he?"
Giles laughed softly, "Subtley or patience are not either of Spike's virtues."
"No, but he does have some virtues, you know that now, don't you?" Buffy asked her voice hopeful.
"Yes, dear I know that now." Giles gripped her hand as they walked, "He loves you very much, it's amazing to watch. I of course can never thank him enough for what he did."
"He wanted to do it." Buffy smiled at her "father".
"You'll take care of yourself and let us know as soon as the baby gets here?"
"Of course."
"And you'll let me know how Dawn is, she has some big decisions ahead of her." Giles stopped outside his rooms door.
"I know, she'll make the right one." Buffy kissed his cheek, "I have one question to ask."
"Okay, what is it?"
"When you said you told Emily everything, did you happen to tell her about my mom and the police car?" Buffy laughed at the expression on Gile's face.
He removed his glasses and began to fervently clean them, "I... ah..that may have slipped my mind."
"I love you, Giles." Buffy hugged him tightly to her.
"And I love you." He replied tears stinging his eyes.
One Year Later in LA
"He's adorable!" Willow cooed over the chubby baby in Buffy's lap. His soft brown hair and brilliant blues shown in the afternoon sun. "Hello, Gareth, I'm your Aunt Willow." The baby cooed at her and smiled, it was his mommy's smile. "Greg come here," Willow motioned to her husband of six months.
"Hello, Greg." Buffy greeted him as Willow relieved her of her son, "Maybe she needs one of her own." She teased him.
"Someday maybe, but give us a little time." Greg grinned as the baby squirmed in his wife's arms.
"But someday." Willow smiled at him.
"Buffy, if you'll show me where the cups are, I need to get the girls some juice." Xander asked as three little dark haired girls followed him.
"The cabinet to the right of the sink." Buffy told him as Amanda approached her.
"Buffy, Gareth is adorable. I'm afraid that seeing him might make Xander want to try for a boy though." Amanda arched her eyebrow and shook her head.
Buffy smiled, "So you and Xander are good?"
"Yes, we are. We've always been good, but when he came home last year, he explained alot of things to me. Alot of it was hard to believe, in fact, I'd like to talk to you about the whole" She leaned in and whispered the last part, "vampire thing! It seems kind of romantic in one way but terrifying in another."
Buffy laughed, "I think every relationship has it's terrifyng moments. but I would be happy to talk to you about it sometime."
Spike watched as she his wife glided from person to person as he drank a beer with Jeremy. "Lot can happen in a year."
"Yeah, you've got a son, and I found out my wife was a mystical being." Jeremy smiled at his brother in law. "I've always known she was special though." He tipped his bottle to Spike's.
"To our Niblet." Spike said as the bottles clinked.
"What are you two doing?" Dawn sat down on her husbands lap.
"Toasting you." Spike smiled as he stood, "You are a special woman."
"Did Jeremy tell you?"
"Tell me what?" Spike asked.
"We've decided to look into adoption." Dawn grinned at Spike as she threw his arms around her in a large bear hug.
"That's great." Spike pulled away from her, "Now I better go save Buffy from more of Anya's parenting advice. She means well but... "
"So he took it well, he said he knew that Xander and I had a bond. I couldn't tell him about the vengeance demon part, but one thing at a time right?" Anya shrugged her shoulders.
"I think you need to tell him as much as you feel comfortable with, Anya." Buffy gave her a brief hug.
"Me too, now what kind of diapers are you using?" Anya asked as Buffy sighed.
"Hey, Pet. I think Giles is needing the platter from the kitchen, you go get it and I'll take my little man." Spike could see the relief in Buffy's eyes as he reached for Gareth.
She mouthed the words "thank you" as she headed into the house.
"Spike, is Buffy still breastfeeding? Does Gareth have teeth yet? We had much better luck with Sam's teething rings if we put them in the freezer first." Anya smiled as she went on an advice roll.
Buffy found the platter and took it to Giles, then she went to check on Spike, she loved Anya but sometimes her advice lectures could get boring.
Giles and Emily stood behind the grill as he removed the burgers from the grill and put them on the platter. He watched as, Buffy and Spike with little Gareth found a spot on the swing. Dawn and Jeremy sat in the same lawn chair, as Xander and Amanda filled the glider with their bunch, Anya, Todd and Sam shared a wooden bench, the yard was filled with happy voices.
"They are a wonderful family aren't they Rupert?" Emily asked as she helped him open the hot dogs.
"They are indeed. No father could be prouder of his sons and daughters - then I am." He kissed his wife soundly and laughed as the others cheered him on.
The End