His Gift

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His Gift_5

After tucking Willow in to bed, Giles had offerd them his guest suite, Tara returned to the living room. “Dawnie is almost done her sh..shower…I wanted to ask you this when she wasn’t around..I don’t want to upset her any more than she already is…b…b…but…did…did you…s..see it?” Tara asked. “Wh…when the p…portal op..opened?”

“See what?” Anya asked.

“Sh…she’s pregnant…” Tara murmured. “She’s…different…it’s Buffy…but…there’s a dar…darkness in her that wasn’t there before…I think…I think we need to keep an eye on her…”

They heard the shower shut off, halting further discussion. “I think we should all retire for the night…we can discuss this tomorrow…” Giles said wearily rubbing his hand over his face.

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He stood outside the door at four o’clock in the morning. Raising his arm he tapped lightly on the door. He wasn’t surprised that no one answered. ‘They’re probably all asleep. I hope they haven’t tried to bring her back yet.’ Trying the door he found it locked.

Angel climbed the tree outside her old bedroom window. ‘Doesn’t look like anything’s been touched.’ He climbed onto the roof and took a peek inside Dawn’s room. ‘Where the hell is Dawn?’ He wondered, stopping at the last bedroom window he glanced inside. ‘Strange that no one is here…’

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“I’m sorry baby…I didn’t mean to wake you…are you okay?” Tara asked softly.

“Tired…going back to sleep…” Willow murmured, snuggling closer to her lover. “Do…do you think she’s…really ok?” Willow asked softly.

“I…I…” Tara sighed closing her eyes. ‘We left her there. We don’t know how long it was for her…yeah it was almost five months to us…but to her?’ Tara kissed Willow’s temple. “It’s gonna take some time sweetie…but I’m sure she’s gonna be ok. We don’t know what happened to her…how long she was gone…but Spike…he’ll take care of her.”

“But…but what if…what if she isn’t?” Willow looked up into Tara’s eyes. “What if leaving her there did something to her? I mean how could we not have known?”

“You have to stop beating yourself up about this…Will…what is done is done. You can’t go back and change it…”

“No, I can’t change it…but maybe I could make her forget…”

“No Willow. You can’t. No memory spells. How do you think she would feel if you did a spell to mess with her head?”

“But I wouldn’t…it would only be to forget about the hell dimension she was in…”

“I don’t think it would help…why don’t you talk to Giles about it? Maybe when she’s…you know…herself again…you can ask her? If she wants to forget then yeah…but if she doesn’t Will you have to promise me you won’t…”

“Okay…I’ll talk to Giles…and Buffy.” Willow murmured as she let herself be pulled into dreams of death and destruction.

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“I…I can’t believe it’s really her…she looked so different…” Dawn said softly.

“I know Dawn. I do…but she was covered in blood and gore from the fight she was in, and I’m sure there weren’t any showers where she was, let alone soap…you’ll see, when you see her again…she’ll be all clean and…” Anya held out her arms, knowing Dawn needed to be held. Giles had gone to bed, exhausted, leaving the ex vengeance demon alone with the teen.

“But I mean…that’s not the only…what was on her stomach? It looked huge and I…” Dawn curled up on Anya’s lap.

“We just have to wait Dawn. Once you see her and talk to her…” Anya said softly, stroking the teen’s hair between her fingers, in a comforting manner. She had watched Buffy do it a few times and noticed how much it calmed the teen.

“I just want to see her now …it’s been so long…” Anya held her and let her talk until the exhausted teen fell asleep in her arms.

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He felt something moving against him. Something… different then he ever felt before. Reaching out his senses he felt her. Here. Beside him.

Opening his eyes Spike glanced down at the girl curled around him. ‘My girl. My Buffy.’ Purring contentedly he pressed his hand lightly against her belly, where he felt the movement moments before. He sucked in a shocked gasp when he felt the powerful kick against his hand.

“Tough little thing aren’t you?” He chucked softly. “Just like your mum.” Buffy was laying on her back. He glanced up at her face, checking to see if she was still asleep. Her breathing rhythm didn’t change, she lay on the bed, still sound asleep, her heart rate had stayed the same as well, Spike figured he was pretty safe assuming she was still asleep.

Spike moved slightly lower on the bed, so that his head was level with the swell of the stomach. He placed a tender kiss to her swollen abdomen. “Don’t even know you and I love you already.” He whispered. “Can’t wait for you to arrive little one…can’t wait to count your fingers and your toes…” His hand came up to caress Buffy’s stomach, using gentle strokes.

Tracing the slightly darker line that adorned the underside of her belly he sighed happily. Her body had changed, the swelling of her abdomen wasn’t the only thing, he had noticed earlier that her breasts were fuller, as were her hips, she glowed. Spike wanted to memorize the feel of her swollen with his child, knowing this would be his only chance to have a child. ‘A child with the woman I love. She is an absolute miracle my slayer.’

“Never felt like this before…” He murmured softly. Spike lay his head against her middle, listening to the sounds inside of her. He could hear Buffy’s heartbeat, could hear the blood rushing through her veins, could hear the pull of her body, calling to him.

Underlying that he could hear his child’s heartbeat. It brought tears to his eyes. He let them fall, content with the fact that she was back, she was here, in bed with him, and she wanted him. Really and truly wanted him. He was elated that she was growing his child in her swollen belly.

“Hey. You’re getting me all wet.” Buffy murmured, curling her fingers in his hair.

“Sorry luv.” Spike said softly wiping his tears away. “Just…donno…got emotional for a minute there…didn’t mean to wake you…go back to sleep…”

“What time is it?” She asked, fingers still stroking his hair. Spike’s head was still lightly pressed against her.

“Near sunrise…” He said softly.

“Are you still tired?” She asked.

“Me? Don’t you be worrying about me luv. What about you? What can I get for you? Hungry?”

“Mmmm food? Food that is not strawberries or rabbits? That would be of the good…”

“Be right back then…” Spike said slipping from the bed.

He was halfway up the stairs, still completely nude when he heard her whimper. “Luv? Buffy? What is it?” He asked rushing back to her side.

“I…don’t go…” She begged.

“Just going into the kitchen…” Spike said leaning down and kissing her softly. “Want to come with me?”

She nodded. “I…I don’t want to be alone. Hate being alone. Had about as much of it as I can take. …”

“I’m sorry luv. I’m so sorry…I didn’t…” Spike dropped to his knees beside the bed. “Gonna spend the rest of my life making it up to you…that it took me so long to get you…that I left you there…”

“You didn’t know Spike…you couldn’t have known. When I woke up there…wherever I was…I couldn’t let myself feel you…I couldn’t think about anything back home…it hurt too much…god I was so selfish…but then I realized I was pregnant and that I needed you…it was the first time I let myself think of you…how much I needed you, how much I missed you…” Her voice cracked. “And I could feel you…the shock you felt…”

Spike wrapped her in his arms and pulled her into his lap. “I missed you so much Buffy. When you jumped…I…I drank. A lot. got good and pissed almost every nigh after I’d come back from patrol. It hurt so much to think of you…how I failed you…if I would have been there…done my job…protected the bit…you wouldn’t have had to do it…”

“It’s not your fault Spike…” She replied, resting her head against his shoulder. “You did take care of her when it counted…when no one else was capable of it, you got her through…you…you were what she needed…”

“Why don’t we go upstairs…I’ll make you something to eat and you can call her? How’s that sound?”

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“I went over there last night and no one was home…where were they?” He asked.

“I don’t know. None of them are talking to me right now. They’re all furious with me for trying to get them to leave Buffy in peace…but it’s what she would have wanted.” Xander sighed. “Do you remember after the master killed her? How she was? So…angry and…and mean?” Xander sighed running his fingers through his sleep-tousled hair. “I couldn’t take it if they took her from her well deserved peace.”

“They won’t get a chance to. I’ll stop them.” Angel vowed. “I’ve got to sleep while the sun is up…are you sure you don’t mind me crashing here?”

“It’s no problem at all…I just appreciate you coming…I have to go to work anyway…I’ll be back just before sundown.”

“Like I said, I’m not doing it for you. I’m doing it for her.”

“I know…at least you’re doing it though.” Xander said softly before making his way out into the day.

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“So what’ll it be luv?” Spike asked opening the fridge and perusing the contents. “We have left over pizza…cereal…I could whip you up and omelet…”

“You had me at pizza…” She grinned. “What kind?”

“Sausage, pepperoni and green pepper.” Spike rolled his eyes, pulling the box from the fridge. He placed the box on the counter and grabbed a plate from the cupboard. He placed two slices on the plate and popped it into the microwave.

“Dawn’s favorite. Dawn. I want to call her…” Buffy glanced at him. “Is that ok?”

Spike grinned. “Anything you want is ok luv.” He grabbed the cordless from its cradle and passed it to her.

She dialed and waited for the phone to be picked up. “Hello?” A groggy voice answered. “Dawnie?” Buffy asked hesitantly.

“BUFFY!” The teen shrieked. “Oh god Buffy I missed you so much…I want to come home…I want to see you…is that ok? Are you up to seeing people…”

“It’s fine Dawn…is anyone else up?” Buffy asked.

“No…but they will be…” She heard Anya saying something in the background. “Bring everyone…I want to see you all…”

“Ok. We’ll be there soon…” Dawn squealed before hanging up and running to Giles bedroom. “Giles GILES! She’s awake…she wants to see us…”

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“Come on luv. Let’s go get dressed…Don’t think they’d be impressed showing up here and us being naked…”

“Can I still wear your boxers?” She asked.

“Course…you can wear anything of mine you want…”

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Dawn opened the door and walked in hesitantly. “Buffy? Spike?”

Spike came in from the kitchen alone. “Hi everyone…Buffy wanted me to tell you all something before she joined us.” They could all hear her whimpering in the kitchen. Spike’s eyes flicked towards the sound.

“What’s wrong with her? She was fine when I talked to her…” Dawn asked anxiously.

“She doesn’t like being alone…so I’ll hurry up and tell you what she wants you to know. She’s pregnant.” Stunned silence filled the room. “I know you heard what I said. She wants you to be happy…”

“How could she be pregnant?” Dawn asked suspiciously.

“The night she…went away…we made love…somehow…from the dimension she was in…made my little swimmers swim…” Buffy was really wailing now. “I’m going to go and get her, can’t bear her bein’ upset. Please don’t say anything that’s going to hurt her…”

Spike returned to the kitchen. “I’m sorry…” He whispered against her hair. She was instantly in his arms the moment he walked through the door.

“It’s okay. I’ll be okay…just hold me for a minute…” She was calming already, just being held by him.

He held her till her shaking stopped and she was breathing normally. “You ready? They’re all anxious to see you…”

“Let’s go.” Buffy clutched his hand tightly and let him walk ahead of her. The instant she saw Dawn, Buffy’s tears started anew. “Dawnie…” She held out her arms.

A squealing teen rushed to her sister’s side. “Is it okay to hug you? I don’t want to hurt my niece or nephew…” Dawn giggled placing her palm on Buffy’s bulging stomach. Buffy pulled Dawn into an awkward hug.

“Oh Buffy! I can’t believe you’re back! Oh and with this amazing little thing growing inside of you!” Dawn’s hand planted on her stomach once again.

“Buffy.” Giles whispered.

“Giles. Oh Giles…” Buffy murmured happily, hugging him. “I missed you.”

“I missed you too my dear girl. You’ve no idea how much…” He whispered against her hair.

Willow joined the group surrounding Buffy. “Will. You did this didn’t you? You brought me back?”

“I…I had help, I didn’t do it alone…”

“Thank you. Thank you so much…” She pulled the startled redhead against her, causing the baby to kick in protest as someone invaded its space.

“Oh! Oh was that the baby? It’s so strong!” Willow said softly, rubbing the spot on Buffy’s belly that had banged against her.

“Yeah…that’s our baby…” She grabbed Spike’s hand, wrapping his arm around her.

“Tara…” Buffy said hugging the shy girl.

“Anya. Anya thank you for taking care of things when I got back…you knew just what to do.” Buffy said softly hugging her as well.

“I…I’ve been around a long time…” Anya said softly. “You just looked like you needed some time with Spike.”

“I did. I did so much…thank you.” She looked around. “Where’s Xander?”

“He…uh…he…well…uh…”

“You guys where is he? Don’t tell me something happened to him…”

“The whelp didn’t believe you were in a hell dimension Buffy…he was convinced you were in heaven…didn’t want us to bring you back…” Spike told her, kissing her temple gently. “He’ll come round once he finds out the truth…”

“But…he…didn’t you tell him?” She asked.

“Course I did luv. He just didn’t believe me…” Spike said softly.

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TBC…Please let me know what you think…