Damage

"Daddy! DADDY! STOP!" Buscrescreamed as Hank began to pummel Spike.
Spike attempted to defend himself by blocking several blows withoutualtually trying to hit Hank back offensively. Buffy tried pulling her father off of Spike as Riley rushed over to the scuffle.
"Get off my Dad you jerk!" Riley yelled.
"Who the hell are you?" Hank swung around to be met with a fist to his face from Riley.
"RILEY! ENOUGH!" Spike grabbed his son and held him back.

Giles jumped into the fray to hold Hank fro from hitting Riley. Buffy was screaming hysterically. Joyce was oddly quiet. Dawn, Xander, Willow and Oz were wide eyed at the display in front of them. It resembled a drunken bar fight more than a birthday party.

"Mom! Please, make him stop" Buffy pleaded.
"Shut your mouth you little whore" Hank yelled, trying to get free of Gile's grip.
"Don't you ever call her that again you son of a bitch!" Spike screamed at Hank.
"I second that" Giles said before promptly punching Hank and knocking him out.

The room got eerily quiet as everyone looked in stunned admiration at the elder British man. Everyone that is, but Joyce.
"Oh, Rupert! How could you?" she checked Hank's pulse to make sure he was o.k.
"Me? You do realize he just called your daughter a whore and he started a brawl in your living room, don't you or have you completely lost all your senses in your haze of anger over Buffy's choice of partner?" Giles was finally fed up with Joyce.
"Dare I even ask who invited dear old dad to the party?" Giles added as Joyce hung her head in shame.

"I can take a hint. I know where I'm not wanted. No need to sick the attack dog on me, Joyce." Spike said. "Come on Riley, let's go home"
"Please...don't go, Spike...I don't feel very go" Buffy started to say and then weaved a bit on her feet and then collapsed.

Spike's eyes grew wide in fear and he rushed to her side and cradled her up in his arms.
"Buffy! BUFFY! Baby? Please...wake up...please..." Spike started to cry and looked up at the faces staring at him and the limp girl in his arms.
"HELP HER DAMMIT!" he yelled.

"My baby!" Joyce screamed and rushed over.

Giles ran to the phone and called 911.

"Is she breathing?" Joyce asked.
"Yes...maybe she just fainted.." Spike began then raised his eyes to Joyce's. "That better be all it is. I swear to God, if there is something worse or something happens to our baby, I will hold you personally responsible. Are you happy now, Joyce? Did you get what you wanted?" Spike said with venom in his voice.

"I never wanted this. I swear. God, I am so sorry. Please forgive me. Let my daughter be alright." Joyce sobbed.
"I guess you should have thought about your daughter before you called your ex-husband to come beat me up." Spike fumed.
"Spike, I agree but now's not the time. We have to think of Buffy. The ambce ice is on the way." Giles informed them.


Several hours later, Buffy woke up to find herself in a hospital gown and bed.
"Spike..." she croaked out through dry lips.
"Buffy? You're awake? I'm here baby. Right here" He sat up from his place in the chair at her bedside.
"The baby?" Buffy asked fearfully.
"Is fine...you collapsed from stress and exhaustion, the doctors said but the baby is still O.K. You just need to rest and take it easy and reduce the stress. It's not good for the baby they said if it keeps happening." Spike explained.
"I'm so sorry" Buffy breathed out.
"Sorry? What for? You have NOTHING to be sorry for, Buffy." Spike assured her.
"For what my dad did and for.m...m..." Buffy said.
"That's not your fault. Don't you blame yourself for that." Spike squeezed her hand.

"Speaking of them, where are they?" Buffy asked.
"Your Dad was in the emergency room. He hit his head and cut it when Mr. Giles knocked him out. He needed a few stitches but he is fine. I think his pride is hurt more than anything. He went back to his hotel. Your mum is out in the waiting room. Do you want me to get her?" Spike responded.
"Yes, please." Buffy replied.
"Alright pet. I'll go get a cup of coffee. I'll call your place and check on the others. Your friends stayed with Dawn while we came to the hospital." Spike told her.
"O.K. Thank you. Tell them, I am fine and sorry for all the drama." Buffy smiled softly.
"Will do." Spike said.
"Oh and Spike...ummm..would it be alright if I came and stayed with you when I get out of the hospital?" Buffy said, fidgeting with her blankets, half expecting a rejection.
"Of course. I was going to offer anyway. We ARE getting married after all." Spike smiled.
"In all the commotion, we never got to tell everyone I guess." Buffy pondered.
"Umm...Drusilla will still be there, Buffy...can you deal with that?" Spike asked nervously.
"I will try my best. When is the divorce final?" Buffy questioned.
"Soon. Very soon." Spike answered.
"I love you." Buffy said softly.
"I love you too. I'll go get your mom, luv" Spike said and left the room.

Spike went and found Joyce.
"She is awake and wants to see you." he said and turned and left, not trusting himself to stay any longer in Joyce's presence while his emotions were still too raw.

Joyce peeked her head into Buffy's hospital room.
"Come in, Mom" Buffy said.
Joyce entered the room and crossed over to Buffy's bed.
"Oh, Buffy. I'm so sorry. I called Hank, yes, but I had no idea he was going to resort to violence. I never meant for any of this to happen." Joyce explained.
"I know you didn't Mom but you hurt me and Spike all the same. This can't go on. I'm moving out, Mom. I'm going to live with Spike after I get out of here" Buffy informed her.
"Oh Buffy...are you sure that's such a good idea so soon? I promise I won't try to interfer anymore in your relationship. I learned my lesson. Really, I did. I've been acting crazy, I know. I just worry about and love you so much and I wanted so much for you." Joyce told her daughter.
"Mom, he asked me to marry him tonight. I'm pregnant with his child. I don't think living with him is too soon when we already have done everything else. I understand your concerns but it will be alright. I promise." Buffy replied.

"Can you forgive me, Buffy? Mom isn't perfect. I've made some big mistakes." Joyce reached for Buffy's hand.
"I love you Mom. I forgive you. Dad, though, is an entire other story" Buffy said.
"I know. What on earth was I thinking? I must plead temporary insanity to ever call him." Joyce admitted.
The two women shared a chuckle and then a hug.
"I will be honored to be a grandmother to your baby, Buffy. Tonight, I saw Spike's genuine concern and love for you and it blew me away. I guess I was all wrong about him. I'm so sorry" Joyce told Buffy.
"Yes, you were but I'm glad you can finally see it and admit it." Buffy responded.
"Here's to a new beginning" Joyce said.
"A new beginning" Buffy echoed.

Hank Summers left town in a huff, telling Joyce not to bother to call him again for his troublesome daughters and that he remembered now why he left in the first place. It hit Buffy and Dawn in the gut but then, that was to be expected from their ever absent father. He had certainly never been there for them before so why should it change now? Still, it hurt all the same. Every girl wants their father to love them and be there for them. Spike swore he would finish the job Giles started if he ever showed his face again anyway.

Willow and Dawn helped Buffy pack up her belongings after she was released from the hospital a couple days after the party. There were hugs and tears from the three Summers women as they loaded Spike's car with Buffy's things. Dawn and Joyce watched the tail lights of Spike's car until they faded into the distance after he and Buffy left.

Spike and Buffy pulled up to her new home. She swallowed the lump in her throat.
"You O.K., luv?" Spike stroked her cheek with his fingertips.
"Yes. I am." Buffy said as she got out of the car.
"I really am." she said again as Spike got out and walked to her and put his arms around her as they stared up at the house.
"New beginnings?" she looked up at him.
Spike smiled and kissed the tip of her nose.
"Let's go inside, pet."

Continued in Chapter 22- Seconds