Chapter 10: Family

 
             The hospital staff was racing to attend to the latest arrival.

            Normally a woman in Labor was run-of-the-mill work for the Hospital staff, but this particular patient…and her mate were causing quite a disturbance in the Maternity Ward.

             “OH GOD GET IT OUT!!!” The patient, Buffy Summers was screaming. Her mate was even more panicked than the woman.

            At one point he grabbed the doctor by the lapels and shouted at him to “Get the bloody baby out of her before I rip your throat out!!”

             No matter how many times the Hospital staff tried to calm him and tried to explain what was happening, he didn’t seem to hear them because all of his attention was focused on the tiny blonde-haired girl that was writhing in pain on the gurney. At one point she had gripped the bedrails during one of her contractions and ripped the thing clear off. But at least she had the decency to look sheepish about it before writhing in pain again as another contraction hit.

             Their friends finally came into the Emergency room; a middle-aged British man who had been filling out Buffy’s paperwork, and Buffy’s younger sister. Buffy’s mate seemed to calm down a bit when they told him that pain during labor was normal. All the Doctors and nurses sighed in relief when the man allowed his friends to pull him a few feet away so the doctors could work better.

             “Did you give her any Epidural?” Giles asked.

             “It’s too late for that. It wouldn’t help any.” A nurse answered.

             “Isn’t there something else you can give her?! She’s in pain, damn it!!!” Spike shouted frantically.

             “Spike she’ll be okay.” Giles told him, pushing him farther from the scene and standing in front of him to block him from getting in the doctor’s way again.

             “SPIIIIIKE!!! Don’t leave!!” Buffy shouted in pain. Spike wasted no time dodging around Rupert and racing to Buffy’s side again, holding her hand.

             “Buffy, love I’m here.”

             “I’ll KILL YOU!! You did this to me!!!” Buffy grabbed him, giving him a look that clearly said she intended to stake him the second she found something pointy and wooden. But then another contraction hit her. “AAAAAHHH GOD!!! SPIKE!! Don’t leave me, I love yo—OOOOOOWWWW !!!” Buffy screamed in agony and tightened her grip on his hand.

             “OWW!! Fuck!!” He shouted as he felt one of the bones in his hand break under her grip.

             “Buffy, do your Lamaze breathing, it’ll help!” Dawn told her.

             “Her contractions are closer, Doctor.” A male nurse announced.

             “I’m sorry, but you’ll have to wait outside now.” A female nurse told Giles and Dawn, ushering them outside the Delivery room to take them to the waiting room.

             Buffy started to make odd patterns and sounds in her breathing that Spike could only guess was the ‘Lamaze’ breathing. At least it took some of her concentration off breaking his hand.

             After several minutes of breathing this way Buffy suddenly gasped and scrunched up her face in pain. “Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, OOOWW!!”

             “She’s dilated to nine.” A male doctor said, and Spike for the first time noticed the man was between her legs, with his hands…

             “HEY!! GET YOUR BLOODY HANDS OFF OF HER!” Spike shouted, the only thing preventing him from tackling the Doctor was Buffy’s death grip on his hand.

             “SPIKE SHUT UP!! He’s the doctor! If you keep him from getting this thing out of me I’LL STAKE YOU!!!” Buffy said, squeezing his hand harder for emphasis.

             “Bloody hell Slayer!” Spike shouted in pain, vamping out for a second, but he quickly shook it off. The doctor’s were too busy with their tasks to notice.

             Another contraction hit and Buffy shouted in agony. She at least recognized that Spike was dangerously close to vamping out again, so she released his hand and gripped the other bed rail instead, accidentally busting that one as well. The doctors attending her all glanced up and marveled at her strength for a brief moment before returning to their tasks. One of the nurses timidly took the bedrail from her hand and fled, fearing that the patient would grab her arm in place of the bedrail.

             “She’s dilated to ten.” The Doctor announced and all at once the nurses and Doctors seemed to hurry their tasks along. A nurse elevated the top portion of the bed and her legs were placed into stirrups.

             “What’s happening?” Buffy panted between contractions.

             “Alright Ms. Summers, you’re baby’s ready to come out. I’m going to need you to push when I tell you to.” The doctor told her.

             “AAAHH!! Oh God, I’m scared. Spike don’t you dare leave!!” Buffy looked at him with panic in her eyes.

             “I won’t, I swear it.” Spike said, as he looked her directly in the eyes.

             “Okay Ms. Summers, it’s time. I need you to push now.” The doctor told her, and she complied, taking a deep breath and putting all of her strength behind it. After several seconds of pushing Buffy let out the air she was holding and panted for breath.

             “Okay you’re doing good…I need you to push again. Come on Buffy, you can do it.” The doctor told her.

            Her breathing was heavy, her body was trembling because of the intense pain that was wracking her body, sweat was making her hair stick to her skin and her face was scrunched up as she was attempting to force the baby out.

             Spike thought she looked beautiful.

             His reverie was short lived though because Buffy squeezed his hand harder than ever as she gasped out in pain. He was sure that every bone in his hand was now crushed…but he didn’t care.

             “Okay, the head is out! Buffy I need you to push one more time. You’re almost done.” The doctor said.

             “Oh God it hurts!!” Buffy sobbed as she tried to summon enough energy to push one more time.

             “Come on Buffy, you can do it. This is it love, you can do it.” Spike encouraged her. She nodded desperately and took deep breaths before pushing as hard as she could manage, making her scream out in agony from the pain.

             “She’s out!!” The Doctor announced, and nurses began to clean the baby off as Buffy gulped air to even out her labored breathing.

            “Nurse, the table.” The Doctor said, a bit hastily. The umbilical cord was cut and they placed the baby on a small table off to the side that they had waiting.

             “Is she okay?” Spike asked, fearing the answer.

             The doctors were working on her, putting tubes in her mouth and nose, sucking clear fluid out. Finally he heard the baby gasp and cry out.

             “She’s perfectly fine.” The doctor said a bit breathily, as if he was sighing in relief. They began wrapping her up in a pink baby blanket and returned her to Buffy, placing her in Buffy’s arms. “Congratulations, you have a healthy baby girl.”

             Buffy looked shocked and at a loss for words as she gazed down at her little girl resting in her arms.

             Spike was attempting to keep from bawling like a baby. “My God, I’m a father.” He said in shock. He looked at Buffy, his eyes wide and shining with tears threatening to spill. “You did it.”

             “No…we did it.” Buffy said firmly, her own eyes brimming with tears.
 
             Their baby opened her eyes, squinting against the bright light, but focused on Spike immediately.

             “Hey, look at that, she’s looking at me.” Spike grinned.

             “Dawn was right.” Buffy said wryly. “I guess she couldn’t wait to see her Daddy.”
 

             Buffy was set up in her own recovery room, and she and Spike were both lying in her hospital bed with their new daughter lying between them, sleeping peacefully. Dawn was channel surfing looking for something on T.V, while Giles was out calling the rest of the gang to tell them the great news.

             “Did you pick out a name, love?” Spike asked Buffy as he watched his daughter sleeping soundly between them. He had hardly taken his eyes off of her since the moment she came into the world.

             “Well actually yeah…if it’s alright with you.” Buffy said.

             “I’m sure whatever you picked is fine, love.”

             “I wanted to name her Hope.”

             “Hope?” Spike said as he looked down at his daughter, as if judging if the name would suit her. Finally he grinned and looked up at Buffy. “Hope is perfect. Remember that poem I read to you? Pandora’s Box?”

             ::You see? I told you Hope is a fitting name.:: Nigel’s voice interrupted their thoughts, and startled Spike so much that he jumped out of the hospital bed stealthily and vamped out immediately, looking for the unseen danger.

             “Nigel!” Dawn admonished. “Stop doing that!”
 
             “Spike calm down, its just Nigel.” Buffy said wryly, and Spike shifted back to his human face.

             “Nigel?” Spike asked in confusion.

             “Oh…I guess that means Giles forgot to tell you about everybody’s favorite talking book.” Dawn smirked.

             ::Telepathic Journal if you please.:: Nigel corrected her. ::Pleasure to meet you Spike. Then again, I feel as if I already know you since you are one of the major players in the vision I had so long ago.::

             “Er, right. The Ahmshe’ir right? Ruppies was kind enough to fill me in on that at least.”

             So this is the bugger that started this whole mess… Spike thought bitterly, but then caught a glimpse of Buffy-cradling Hope in her arms. I don’t know weather to thank him or to tear out his…uh… pages.

             ::I’ll take the former, thank you very much.:: Nigel replied dryly. ::Although you must know Spike, I’m only the messenger. I don’t ordain these things to happen…I just See them.::

             Spike startled again at Nigel’s invasion of his thoughts. “Bugger. A telepathic mind-reading journal. Only on the friggin’ Hellmouth.”

             ::That seems to be the consesus.:: Nigel chuckled.

             Just then there was a quiet knock on the door. Dawn got up and opened the door, allowing Giles, Xander, Willow, Tara and Anya inside.

             “Congratulations Buffy…and Spike! Welcome back!” Willow exclaimed quietly. Doing a double take when she saw Spike’s appearance “What did you do to your… uh, hair?”

             “Well, ‘Keep up prisoner’s physical appearance’ wasn’t very high on the Council of Wanker’s To Do list.” Spike shrugged.

             “Congrats Buffster on the mini-buffster.” Xander grinned and presented her with a vase of red roses and baby’s breath, with a balloon attached reading: “It’s a girl!”

             “Aww that’s sweet Xander, thanks.” Buffy said as he set the vase on her nightstand next to the telephone. Xander then went around the bed and stood before Spike, offering him his hand.

             “Good to have you back Dead boy Jr.” Xander grinned.

             Spike nodded and smirked, shaking his hand. “Thanks whelp.”

             “Congratulations, she’s very beautiful.” Xander said looking over at Hope.

             “Of course she is, she’s my daughter, isn’t she?” Spike said cockily and everyone groaned good-naturedly.

             “Still the same old Spike. It’s good to have you home.” Tara giggled.

             “Yeah…still the same old Spike.” Spike whispered quietly to himself.

             It was late at night, and visiting hours were over. The doctors had convinced everyone to leave for the night…except for Spike.

             For the Slayer and the Vampire, it wasn’t that late at all- only 11:30PM. Hope was asleep, so Spike and Buffy talked about anything and everything, just enjoying being with each other again. But after awhile Buffy began to drift off to sleep, so Spike took Hope out of her arms so that she could rest. He held Hope as both of his girls slept, just gazing at her and thinking a million things.

             But he was actually very hungry, and while he hated the idea of putting Hope down so that he could go liberate a baggie from the blood storage, he really didn’t have much of a choice. He needed all the strength he could get.

             So he set her down in the incubator the hospital provided and rolled her closer to Buffy’s bed so that Buffy could reach her if either of them woke up. Taking last glances around the room as if checking it for safety, he walked out of Buffy’s room and went in search of the blood storage. He glanced down each passage way, looking for passers-by, not only because he was going to get a five finger discount on the blood, but also to keep a watchful eye on Buffy’s room.

             Spike sighed. I’m probably just being paranoid. It’s a bloody hospital, what could be dangerous here? But he kept an eye out anyway.

             He walked stealthily down the hall, unable to hide in any shadows because of the bright sterile lights adorning the hallways. At last he found the room he was looking for and glanced around cautiously before ducking in.

             A short while later Spike crept back out of the Blood storage room and stealthily made his way back to Buffy’s room…only to stop cold the second he entered.

             Buffy was still asleep…but Hope was gone.

             The world suddenly felt as if it had dropped out from underneath him. He quickly ran to Buffy’s side and shook her awake.

             “Buffy, love, Hope is gone! I only left for a few minutes to get some blood and when I came back she was gone!!!” Spike said frantically before her eyes had even opened.

             “Wha--?” Buffy said groggily, but it only took a second for her mind to re-process what he had said. “WHAT?” She shot up from her bed and quickly began freeing herself from the I.V.’s that were hooked up to her.

             Spike nearly cried out in frustration and guilt. I shouldn’t have left her alone! I *knew* it!! This is all my fault… stupid Vampire! I was only gone for a minute…Who ever took her couldn’t have gone far. Spike thought and started sniffing the room. Generally newborn babies don’t carry much scent, but Hope carried Buffy *and* his scent because they had been fondling her so much.

             So he followed the scent as quickly as he could, out of the room and down the hall, Buffy tagging along behind him after she had realized what he was doing. He paused at every intersection, ‘testing’ the air and then quickly following the scent. Just when they got to the front entrance to the Hospital Buffy pointed at a man just ten feet away.

             “There!”

             A chill went up Spike’s spine as he looked up and saw the man was running while carrying something in his arms…and since there wasn’t anyone else around…they ran after him.

             By some kind of silent agreement Buffy and Spike attacked together: Spike grabbed the man from behind in a chokehold while Buffy ran around him, kicked him in the knee and grabbed their baby out of his arms. Hope woke up at the sudden violent movement and started crying.

             “Who the bloody hell are you!?” Spike demanded as he tightened his arm around the man’s neck. The man made a chocking noise while grabbing at Spike’s arm around his throat.

             Buffy finally got a good look at the man and gasped. “Spike, he’s a Watcher.” Buffy said, disbelievingly.

             Spike’s eyes widened as he continued to hold the Watcher that was trying to break his grip. His eyes flickered as he thought of the implications, and after a few seconds, he seemed to have come to a decision.

             “Come near us or try to kidnap our daughter again and I’ll kill you.” He said into the man’s ear before releasing him, spinning him around and slamming his fist into his jaw, knocking him out. Both of them stood in shock as they gazed down at the unconscious Watcher on the ground.

              “We need to call Giles. It isn’t safe here.” Buffy finally said.
 

             “Good heavens, are you alright?” Giles asked as Buffy and Spike climbed into the back seat of his car. Buffy was clutching Hope to her chest as if she was never going to let go again.

            Spike shut the door behind them and muttered; “Just drive.”

            Giles sighed and pulled out of the Hospital parking lot. “Where to?”

            “Home.” Buffy said, all of her attention focused on her baby girl in her arms.

            “Are you sure that’s wise? It may be dangerous.” Giles said, glancing at them in the rear-view mirror. After all this time it still sort of surprised him to see Spike’s reflection looking back at him, thanks to the Amulet of Bytanor.

            “If home isn’t safe, then no where is.” Buffy said grimly as she met Giles’ eyes in the mirror. Giles sighed and nodded in silent agreement, heading toward the Summer’s home.

Summer's Home, an hour later...

             Willow and Tara let themselves into Buffy’s house. Everyone was gathered in the Living room with grim looks on their faces.

             Giles nodded to them in greeting and the two women sat down. Giles stood and removed his glasses.

             “Good, everyone is here now. Sorry to have called you all in so late, but an emergency has arisen, and everyone needs to be on the alert.” Giles started as he paced around the room.

             Buffy and Spike were seated next to each other on the couch with Hope in Buffy’s arms. Dawn was sitting next to them, Willow and Tara had taken two of the chairs that had been brought into the Living room for this occasion, Xander, Anya and Jonathan occupied the others, and Giles had just vacated the sofa chair.

             “As you all know, Spike and I have just returned from England. We escaped the Watcher’s Headquarters thanks to my…er, contact. Shortly after we returned, Buffy went into labor, and Hope was born.” Giles allowed a small grin to light up his face for a moment as he glanced over at Buffy holding her daughter. But then he frowned, continuing, “A short while ago a Watcher tried to kidnap Hope when Spike left the room. As you can all see, Buffy and Spike got her back…but the Watcher was dangerously close to…doing God knows what to the child.” Giles said a bitterly.

             “Goddess, they tried to kidnap her?” Tara was the first to speak, outraged.

             “I knew it. I knew we shouldn’t have left…” Xander muttered to himself.

             “Why would they do such a thing?” Willow asked.

             ::Because they want the child dead.:: Nigel answered, making his presence known. Spike had a knee jerk reaction to vamp out, but sighed and shook it off when he recognized the detached voice inside his head. It was going to take awhile to get used to that.

        “But why? N-no offence Buffy, but if all this time they wanted your child dead…why didn’t they kill her while you were still pregnant? And why kidnap Spike?” Willow asked, confused.

            ::All very excellent questions Ms. Rosenburg.:: Nigel said, ::The Council kidnapped Spike because…well, they’re idiots. Plain and simple.::

            Everyone raised their’ eyebrows at Nigel’s bluntness.

            “I’m inclined to agree with him. Quentin specifically.” Giles said dryly, taking a long drink of his brandy.

            ::I don’t know Mr. Travers personally, since he wasn’t even born when I transmogrified myself, but the man is completely incompetent. He’s been taking bits and pieces of the Prophecy and twisting them into his own version. The man is so stupid he doesn’t even realize the bloody thing isn’t Mage locked—it’s evil locked!:: Nigel ranted.

            “Wait…it’s locked with evil?” Willow furrowed her brows.

            ::No, I mean,  it’s tamper proof. I put a spell on it so that whoever tried to read couldn’t if they had evil intensions at heart. They’d just keep getting gibberish. The ingenious part is, it works for minions as well. If he hires someone to try and translate it, they would just keep getting gibberish as well. Apparently Quentin is taking that gibberish to heart! He thinks that Spike has something to do with the upcoming Apocalypse, but he didn’t know what. The gibberish that Quentin read led him to believe that Spike’s presence in Ms. Summer’s life would change the future of Slayers…and above all, the Council doesn’t want *anything* to change. But they didn’t know *what* the change would be…weather it was for good, or for evil.::

            “So they kidnapped Spike because…?” Dawn prompted.

            ::Because they are stupid. Quentin removed Spike to keep him from the Slayer. They didn’t want to remove him permanently because they couldn’t translate the prophecy correctly…if they had killed Spike and then found out that his presence to Ms. Summers was a good one…then they couldn’t bring him back.::

            “Okay…but why Hope? Why try and take her?” Buffy asked.

            “I can answer that.” Giles said grimly. “They thought the father of your child was human, Buffy. They must have found out Spike is the father. Remember what I told you? They would have taken her...and killed her.”

            “Oh Goddess…but she’s just a baby! Why?” Willow gasped.

            ::Because of what she will become. As I said, they translated the prophecy wrong…and because of that, they think that Hope will bring about the last apocalypse. The apocalypse that is unstoppable.::

            “But they’re wrong…” Buffy was crying, “Nigel, tell me they are wrong!!”

            There was a long silence.

            ::They are coming Ms. Summers.:: Nigel said grimly. ::They are coming for Hope. Be on your guard. I cast a spell upon the grounds…anybody working for Quentin sets foot on your property and I will know. I in turn will warn you. That is all I can do, I’m afraid. They are coming for her…And they will not stop until she is dead..::
 

Sunnydale, the Bronze...

             “Can I buy you a drink?” Parker Abrams asked a cute redheaded girl at the bar. The girl gave him the quick ‘once over’ and smiled.

             “Sure.”

             Parker took the bar stool next to her and waved the bar tender over. They ordered their drinks and started to make small talk. He was just starting to convince her to come back to his apartment when he heard a familiar voice.

             “Hey, Parker!” An old classmate walked up to him. “It’s me, Jim!”

             “Oh, hey Jim. How’s it going?” Parker asked, obviously uninterested.

             “Great man. Hey, I just heard about the kid. Congratulations!” Jim shook his hand roughly and glanced over his shoulder at his date.

             “What?” Parker asked, confused.
 
            “Aw shoot, I’ve got to run. We’ll catch up some time. Later man!” Jim said as he weaved his way through the crowds back to his date. When Parker turned back to his ‘date’ she gave him a disgusted look and threw her drink in his face before stalking off. Parker watched her leave with his jaw hanging wide open in confusion.

             “What kid?!”

Epilogue::

(**Author’s note** I’m doing the ending of this one a bit differently. I’m changing my writing style a bit to accommodate it, so don’t dwell on that, just picture the scenes. Its in voice over style, the poem is the poem that Spike read to Buffy in the first fic of the series, “The First Evil”; it is called ‘Pandora’s Box’. Nigel does the ‘voice over’.)
 

“Of dark and light, mysteries cried out
Look here, look here and learn of fear.

            Buffy and Spike, lying on Buffy’s bed, with Hope asleep between them. Buffy moves to turn out the bedside lamp, but Spike stops her. Buffy is confused at the look of fear in his eyes, and then realizes that he doesn’t want to be in the darkness again.
 
 

”Unutterable deeds of men does shout
For mankind to shed but a single tear.
Past and present coalesce.
Single minded passions run
till bowed they angrily acquiesce
To that which foul deeds are done.

            Quentin sitting in his office, all the lights are out except for a small desk lamp. He has the Ahmshi’er prophecy spread out in front of him.
 
 

“As the hawk does stalk the dove
elusive dreams shatter with morn.
And over all the triumph of love
the seeds from which hope is born.

             Dawn in her room, with books opened all over her desk. She has a spiral notebook out and is writing things down in it. It looks as if she is doing homework, but a quicker glance at the book titles reveals she is researching magic. The book she is copying out of is called: “Defensive Magics.”
 

”What is love without the pain?
And what is light without the dark?
To savor the sun there must be rain,
'ere we come home, must embark.

             Giles, sitting downstairs at the Summer’s home. He stands up and walks to the window, pulling aside the curtain and peering out. After a moment he sighs and returns to his spot on the couch, hazarding a glance up the stairs as he sits down.
 

“Of fear and pain our estate
inherent from the opened locks.
But worth the cost to fill our plate
With the final content of Pandora's box.”

             A close up of Hope sleeping between Buffy and Spike. The soft blonde wisps of her hair are slightly curly, and her chest is rising and falling in time with Buffy’s breathing. Her eyes slowly open to reveal serene blue eyes that seem as if they look directly into your heart. She is awake and has alertness in her eyes that no newborn child should have at so young of age.

            Fade to black.

            THE END

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