Chapter Five
Anne stood outside door number twelve, staring at it like the next apocalypse waited on the other side. She hadn’t slept a wink the night before, her thoughts a tangled mess in her head. Every doubt and worry she had been harboring transcended from her subconscious and spent the night glaring brightly in her brain. Mark had called the next morning after Matt went to school, wanting to know what had happened. She hadn’t been surprised that he had recognized Spike, it wasn’t like Matt looked like her, except for his dark hair. Of course, she didn’t actually know what Spike’s natural hair color was, but that wasn’t the point. She had told him the edited version. Mark had known that she was leaving stuff out, but he didn’t push, pretty sure he didn’t WANT to know. He offered her his unflagging support, like always, and had told her to call him when she got home from telling Spike about his son.
She had then spent the day cleaning her already spotless house, attacking nonexistent dust bunnies like they were demons. That had been one side benefit to slaying, if you had some tension, go find a big nasty to beat on. Once she had picked Matt up from school, and had spent the day running errands, with a surprise trip to McDonald’s for Happy Meals and milk shakes, the day flew by. Before she knew it, it was bath time for Matt. Then she had sat him down on the couch for his millionth showing of Scooby Doo on Zombie Island to wait for his sitter, Molly, to show up. All too soon, it was time for her to leave, and she had gathered up the pictures she was going to take to Spike, kissed Matt and left.
Now she was here, and the sun was fading fast behind her. With a deep sigh, she knocked on the door. Her heart was pounding in her ears, her stomach was churning dangerously, and a cold sweat had broken out on her skin. She hadn’t been this nervous in a long time. She had good reason, as soon as he opened the door, life was going to change for better or worse. She could only pray that it wasn’t worse.
The door swung open on silent hinges, its occupant standing behind it to avoid the last rays of the sun. Taking a bolstering breath, Anne stepped through into the darkened room.
Just as the door closed, another one opened. Xander and Willow emerged from her room, ready to begin their search for their missing friend. As they moved towards his truck, one of the cars in the parking lot caught the redhead’s attention. Her eyes widened as she recognized the big, black car with the blacked out windows sitting next to a blue Honda Accord. As quickly as she could, she got into the cab, praying that Xander wouldn’t see it.
She sighed in relief when he turned the truck around, then pulled out of the parking lot, none the wiser to Spike’s presence in town.
~*~*~
“Hello, kitten. I see you were able to get away.” Spike sneered, brazenly running his eyes over her. She was wearing a pair of jean shorts, a blue tank top and sneakers. Her dark hair was pulled up into a ponytail, and her face was devoid of make up. She was clutching an envelope to her chest, and she smelled of nervousness. Sitting down on the bed, Spike dug into the pocket of his duster and pulled out his cigarettes. “Gonna stare all night, or are you going to tell me what’s eating you on the inside?” He asked, lighting the fag.
“I don’t really know how to say this.” She began, looking down at the envelope in her hand. This was hard, harder than she expected it to be. He watched her from the bed, shirtless and barefoot, his hair a tousled mass of curls on his head. She felt her body respond to the sight, memories surging forward to remind her of what he felt like, tasted like. Shaking it off, she looked into his eyes. The blue orbs burned her as she struggled for the right words. How do you tell a vampire that he’s a father? Her inner voice asked.
“Buffy, tell me.” His soft voice drifted to her, and she hazarded to meet his gaze. Gone was the arrogant smirk from when he opened the door. In it’s place was a look of open curiosity and a bit of concern. . .and fear. He was as afraid of what she had to say, as she was to tell him. Taking another deep breath, she started.
“I have a son. He’s four.” She waited a beat to see his reaction. He moved so fast that she almost didn’t see him until he was gripping her arms painfully. Rage twisted his handsome features as he glared down at her. The only thought reverberating through his mind was that she had been with someone else after him, and that shit was either letting her work in that hellhole, or he had left her alone with a baby to raise.
“Who?” He growled, his blue orbs flashing gold. Anne was so stunned, that it took a minute to comprehend his question. “I’ll kill him. WHO. TOUCHED. YOU!?” The seething jealousy and anger sent her reeling for another loop, and she had to fight back the tremor of fear.
“Let me go, and I’ll tell you.” She said, her eyes imploring him to calm down. With a snarl, he let her go and started to stalk the length of the room. She watched him for a minute, trying to calm her nerves. *Good way to start, Annie. Got him good and pissed off.* She yelled at herself. Sighing again, she opened the envelope and pulled out a picture. It was of Matt, on his last birthday, and he was smiling hugely at the camera. She held it out to him, flinching when he snatched it from her. She watched him as he looked at it, knew the second recognition hit him. His hands started shaking and he sank to the edge of the bed, the cigarette in his hand forgotten.
“This isn’t possible,” he gasped, reaching up to trace a finger over the cherubic face of the child.
“Apparently, it is.” She said, moving to sit on the other bed, facing him. His eyes met hers, shock permeating their depths. He looked back down at the picture, awe softening his features.
“How?” he gasped, his voice choked. Tears sprang to her eyes in response to the ones glistening in his. He looked so vulnerable, and all Anne wanted to do was reach out and hold him. But, he needed answers, and she had to give them. Linking her fingers in her lap, she started to speak.
Los Angeles, six weeks after Spike left
Buffy knew with distinct clarity that something was wrong. What she had at first thought was just a case of the flu, was quickly turning into something else. Every day, for the last two weeks, she had woken up throwing up. She was tired all the time, no matter how much sleep she got. Not to mention, she was late. Very late. A month late to be precise. She had thought that it was just the stress from everything that had happened, but, since the onslaught of her ‘flu’, she’d started to change her mind.
The only conclusion she could draw was impossible. Staring down at her hands in the waiting room, she waited to be called in to see the doctor, all the while trying to convince herself that it was JUST the flu. She glanced around the room, taking in the various women that were waiting as well. One girl didn’t look to be any older than herself, and she was ready to pop. They briefly made eye contact, exchanging tight smiles before looking away. Buffy’s Slayer sense was going crazy, thanks to the blue demon woman sitting next to her. Once she had become suspicious of what was really wrong with her, she had called Willy in hopes that he knew of someone who specialized in just such things. He had, and had quickly given her the number, his response to her threat being of course he wouldn’t tell anybody.
So, here she was, surrounded by various demon and human women, some with the fathers some not. She could only guess at what had gotten the other young girl pregnant, and she shuddered.
“Ms. Summers?” Buffy looked up at the pretty blonde nurse, and got up. She followed her into the examining room, and changed into the paper gown. She had done the bathroom thing when she got there, and now she was waiting for the results. A few minutes after the nurse had left, a quick knock sounded on the door to alert her to the doctor. When he walked in, she found herself staring at a kindly looking older man, with gray hair and face reminiscent of Santa Claus. The only disturbing thing about him seemed to be the onyx colored eyes with yellow pupils.
“Well, Ms. Summers. How are you today?” He asked, looking up from his file. His smile put her at ease, even if it didn’t shut her Slayer sense up.
“Been better. What did the test say?” She asked without preamble. His kind, odd eyes met hers, and he came over to sit on the stool by the examining table.
“I think you know already.” He told her. She shook her head, tears springing to her eyes.
“No, it’s impossible.” She gasped, her fingers clenching in her lap.
“I take it he was a vampire?” She nodded her head, sniffling. “You’re the Slayer, right?” Her eyes shot to his at that, a frown pulling her brows together.
“Yeah, so?” Buffy asked with a hint of suspicion in her voice. She tensed, wishing she had thought to keep her stake handy. He chuckled, as if reading her thoughts.
“It’s okay. You won’t need it.” Her eyes widened at that. “I’m a doctor, Ms. Summers. I had to take the same oath your pediatrician took. Do no harm?” He said at her confused look.
“Oh. So, how did this happen? I didn’t think vampires could have. . .children.” She nearly choked on the last word, her voice trembling. Sympathy suffused his face as he regarded the young girl in front of him. He could tell that she’d had some hard times. Pretty recently, if the dark circles under her eyes were any indication.
“They can’t. With other vampires.” He shifted on the stool, and continued. “I didn’t think they could with humans, either. But, I’m willing to bet that it has something to do with you being the Slayer. I’ve never seen it, but, you are also the first Slayer that I have ever met.”
“Will it be. . .” she trailed off, afraid to ask.
“Will it be human or vampire?” He waited for her to nod. “I don’t know. Like I said, I have never seen this before. But, it’s safe to say that since the host is human, the baby should be human as well. Although, it will have some attributes of the father also.” He told her. Looking down at his file, he started to write something on his prescription pad. “I want you to get this filled. It’s prenatal vitamins. Schedule an appointment with Nancy for next week, we’ll start doing some tests then. Alright?”
“Okay.” She stared down at the paper in her hand, fear and disbelief rolling through her. Pregnant? By Spike? The doctor was just as confused as she was, and now she had to have tests.
“Don’t worry, Ms. Summers. Everything will work out. I’m going to go get the nurse, then we can do the pelvic, and take some blood, alright?” He waited for her to nod, gently patted her hand, then stood to leave. As soon as the door closed, Buffy buried her face in her hands and cried.
San Rios, Arizona
Spike had stared at the picture through the whole telling of her story. When she was finished, he looked up at her, amazement spread across his face.
“I’m a father.” He whispered, the wonder in his voice making her smile.
“Yeah. You’re a father. I tried to find you.” she said, picking at her nail polish.
“I know. I got your message. I’m sorry, Buffy. That I wasn’t there.” A tear slid down his cheek. Happiness spread through her at his words.
“You would have wanted to be?” She gasped. He looked at her as if she had sprouted a second head.
“Christ, Buffy. Of course. Why wouldn’t I want that?”
“Well. You know. Big Bad, and all that.” she reminded him, making a face that indicated ‘grr’. He rolled his eyes.
“I haven’t been that in a long time now, pet. Not since. . .” he waved a hand in the air, indicating that day. “Spent too much time looking for you.” he added with a smile. His eyes drifted to the picture once again, a feeling he had never felt before expanding in his chest. This little one was his. HIS. He had never thought. . .never dreamed. He didn’t even have the slightest clue at how to be a father. He ran a hand through his hair, fighting back the wave of panic that hit him. “Is he. . .normal?” he choked out, afraid of what the answer would be. She smiled at the same fear she had felt herself when the doctor had handed him to her for the first time.
“As far as I can tell. No extra strength, no allergy to the sun. No sharp pointy teeth. He’s just a normal, healthy little boy.” Spike nodded, relief pushing aside some of his panic. “He’s very smart. I guess he got that from you.” She said with a smile, remembering her none too successful school record. Spike sorted on response. “He was walking before he was a year. Talking in sentences by two. And he asks questions about everything. And he REALLY doesn’t like it if you answer I don’t know.” She giggled a little, a sound so full of joy it made his undead heart squeeze.
“What’s his name?”
“Matthew.” Matthew, he repeated to himself, smiling. Pride pushed out the panic completely, and the first real smile Anne had ever seen on his face emerged. It took her breath away.
“I want to see him.”
“I figured that. But, we have to take it slow. He’s going to be confused, and I want to make it as easy as we can.” Spike nodded, willing to let her have her way. “Why don’t you come to dinner tomorrow night. . .shit, I have to work. But, I’m off Friday.” She looked up hopefully, a frown marring her brow at the black look that clouded his face. “What?”
“You’re not going back there.”
“Right.” She answered with a roll of her eyes. “I have bills to pay, Spike.” He stood up and glared down at her.
“I have money. You’re. Not. Going. Back. There.” Each word was accentuated with a slight growl at the end. She stood herself, her face an inch from his.
“You can’t tell me what to do.” She said, her eyes glittering dangerously.
“The hell I can’t. You’re the mother of MY child, and you will not work in a glorified bordello.”
“Oh. Really.” She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him. “Need I remind you, soulless vampire.” She said, poking a finger into his bare chest. “Not exactly the paragon of virtue.”
“And I wouldn’t object if you were a vampire. But you are a mother, and the Slayer. Your morals are supposed to be a touch on the higher side.” He reminded her, sarcasm dripping from his voice, and stepping closer. They were practically touching now, anger snapping from their eyes.
“You might wanna remember that before you go telling me what I can and can’t do.” Another inch, and they would be standing in the same space. “Now, I am NOT discussing this any more. You are Matt’s father, yes. You are NOT my keeper.” Deciding to try another tactic, Spike backed off.
“Fine. I’ll be over on Friday.” He said, stepping away to go in search of another fag. An idea swirled in his head that would go a long way towards pissing her off, but it would get her out of that. . .place. Anne eyed him suspiciously, not sure if his acquiescence was a good thing.
“Good. I’ll call you tomorrow with directions.” She said, confused.
“Great.”
“Fine. You can keep the picture.” She said, turning towards the door.
“Oh, kitten.” She paused, hand still on the doorknob, and turned towards him. The next thing she knew, she was slammed against the door, her body pinned between him and it. One of his hands was braced over her head on the door, the other was cupping her cheek. “Don’t forget my goodbye kiss.” She barely managed a squeak before his mouth descended on hers. Warmth collided with cool to cause them both to shiver. Anne felt her mind haze over as his tongue dove in between her parted lips, tasting and teasing, possessing. His hand skimmed over her, blazing a trail of fire through her clothes. “You are both mine,” he growled in her ear when he pulled away. Anne was in too much of a trance to argue. It took her three tries to get the door open after he moved away. Her legs weren’t in much condition to walk when she finally succeeded, but she knew on some instinctive level that she had better beat a hasty retreat. Now. It wasn’t until she was halfway home that his words penetrated the fog in her head. She spent the rest of the ride home cursing the arrogant, self centered, EVIL vampire.
~*~*~
As soon as he heard her car leave, Spike walked to the phone and dialed information. Once he got the number that he needed, he dialed it quickly. Crushing out his cigarette in the overflowing ashtray, he waited for the line to pick up.
“Hello?”
“Ralph Henderson. Please.” He added the last as an afterthought.
“Speaking.” An evil smile spread across the blonde vampire’s face as he explained to the man just who would be informed of the activities that went on in the Paradise room, if a certain brunette stripper didn’t suddenly find herself out of work. With a smile, he hung up on the still sputtering man, satisfied that he had taken care of the situation.