You promised

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You promised_7

“Do you know how much money that is Mr. Dellamore?” He asked

“I’m not a complete git. I know exactly how much it is…Her mother paid off $39000 before she died. Miss Summers has paid $11700 herself in the last eighteen months, and there’s $25470 left to pay. You will receive the certified check tomorrow morning I want her called and at the bank by the afternoon. Is that clear?”

“Yes. It is absolutely clear sir.”

“And you are sure you’re clear on what to tell her? You’re sure she won’t be suspicious that you are paying her mother’s insurance now, after all this time? Because if she finds out where the money is really cominom Iom I will hold you personally responsible.”

“I understand. You have made yourself quite clear. I promise you she will never find out, and she will have the money before the end of the day tomorrow.”

“Thank you. You’ve no idea what this means to me.” Spike hung up the phone and glanced at the sketch he left on the desk. Sighing he closed his eyes, Leaning back on the chair he saw the look on her face the last time he saw her. The look of disgust that twisted her features, the look of hatred that caused him to flee.

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“I don’t know where all of this money is supposed to come from. I mean my check goes to bills and a few groceries. How the hell am I going to afford this baby?” Buffy was really worried.

“Don’t worry Buff. It’ll all work out. I’ll help, so will Willow, you know Giles will help…I mean we are your friends…” Xander said hugging her close. “Don’t worry so much. It’s not good for the baby.”

“I know, but…Xander I don’t make a whole lot of money. I’m not going to be able to stop working, there’s going to be diapers to buy, clothes for the baby…a crib, I guess I just never thought this through.”

“Buffy…come on sit down.” He pulled her over to the couch. “We’re practically family. I love you, and anything you need for the baby…you know uncle Xander is going to help. We’ll figure it out ok? You don’t need to have all of the answers right now, I mean you have time to get all the things you need.”

“Are you sure you’re ok with this? I mean it is Spike’s baby…” She glanced at him with tears shinin her her eyes, waiting to fall down her cheeks.

“Yeah…I know it’s his baby…that’s what makes it so…I don’t know I mean…it’s a miracle…vampire’s can’t...and he did. Not only that but he did change…I’ve gotta tell you something. I went over to my cousin’s house…you know Andrew, the one who made us that wedding tape?”

Buffy nodded unsure where he was going with this.

“Well he had a whole bunch of footage he shot at the wedding, he had like four different camera’s set up, and there’s quite a lot of you and Spike on them. I saw, really saw how happy he made you. You were glowing Buff. I’ve never seen you like that. Not even with Angel.”

“Wow. Really?”

“Yeah really. I just…I’m sorry that he’s gone, and I’m sorry that I made you feel like you couldn’t come to me with you relationship…things may have been different if I wasn’t such an ass.”

“You’re not an ass Xander.” She punched him lightly on the shoulder. “Do you think…I mean would…could I get copy’s of those tapes? For the babwantwant him or her to know their father…and I don’t have any pictures…” She said softly, tears starting their slow decent down her cheeks.

“He’s making you a tape. I asked him to. It was supposed to be a surprise but…”

“Thank you.” She said softly leaning her head against his shoulder.

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“Gimmie another.” Spike said turning the shot glass over and placing it on top of the few he already had stacked.

“I think maybe you should slow down.” The bartender picked up the shot glasses lining the bar around the bleached blonde.

“I’m not drunk, but if you don’t want my business I’ll just go and pick up a bottle or five and head home.” Spike said sullenly. He hardly even noticed that it was a woman serving him.

“Oh. No…it’s not that…I was just hoping you’d slow down so that maybe we could have a drink or a coffee when I get off work.”

Spike looked at her shocked realizing for the first time that there was a woman talking to him.

“Oh. Uh…thanks but…I’ve got to go…” He murmured. He threw down a couple of crumpled bills and
practically ran from the bar. She didn’t notice till after he was gone, he left her three twenties.

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“Uh…” Buffy moaned stepping under the hot spray of the shower. She let the water sluice over her, taking the sweat away with it. She ran her hand slowly over the bulge that was just starting to form.
She finished rinsing and got out of the shower. She wrapped a thick towel around herself and made her way to her room. She just finished getting dressed when the phone rang. “Hello?”

“Buffy? It’s Giles.” She rolled her eyes. ‘Thanks as if I couldn’t tell by your voice and the sound of you cleaning your glasses watcher man.’

“Hey Giles. What’s the what.” She said as she lay down on her bed.

“It’s Faith. She’s on her way. She should be there any time…I used my influence within the council to get her paroled.”

“That’s excellent Giles. You uh…you didn’t tell them that I was pregnant did you?”

“Uh…well…I did…but I neglected to relay who the father of your child is…”

“Oh god. They’re going to want to study my baby aren’t they?”

“No. They’re not. I promise you Buffy you have nothing to worry about where the council is concerned.”

“You’re sure?”

“Positive.”

“Any word on how this is possible?” She asked.

“No. Although I have been researching it there are no other indications of a slayer being pregnant by a vampire…in fact I have only found one reference to a slayer being pregnant at all. Nikki Woods…she was killed in New York…19…”

“77. I know. Spike was the one who…he…”

“Killed her? Yes I knew that…I was hoping you didn’t…”

“He told me…I asked him about the slayers he killed. I didn’t know she had a child though…”

“Yes. I believe he was three or four when she was killed…I don’t know yet the details of her pregnancy…her watcher has retired and I haven’t been able to reach him as of yet…”

Buffy heard the doorbell ring downstairs. “I’ve got to go Giles. Someone’s at the door. Maybe it’s Faith…”

“Right then…I’ll talk to you soon. Please take care Buffy…”

“I will you too Giles.”

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Buffy opened the door and burst out laughing. There stood Angel looking furious, with a baby carrier attached to him. He was holding on to the bundle pressed against him.

“Where is he?” He growled walking into the house and ignoring her mirth.

“He who?” Buffy asked. “Is that your baby?” She pointed to the wiggling little bundle that had started to coo.

“Yeah…my son Connor. Where’s Spike?” He turned to her and saw the tears in her eyes. “Buffy?”

“He’s gone.” She said softly. She tilted her head at the baby. “Can I hold him?”

Angel undid the fastenings and handed his son to her, being very gently he leaned over and kissed the top of his head. “He left you?” Angel asked incredulously once his son was happily nestled against the slayers warmth. “What about the baby?” He asked looking pointedly at her stomach.

“He didn’t leave me. He wouldn’t do that. He promised.” She said angrily. “He…I said some really awful things to him…I didn’t mean them, in fact I didn’t even know I was saying them until after…he dusted himself. He never knew about the baby.”

“That’s impossible.” Angel growled. ‘I’d know if he was dust. I’d be able to feel it.’

“No…it’s not. I have some of his dust here…” She pulled the chain out from her shirt and showed it to him the pendant containing what she believed was Spike’s dust.

“Buffy…”

“Angel…don’t. Please…I can’t. It’s hard enough for me now…I” She was interrupted as Connor started crying for his father. “He wants you. He’s adorable. Listen Angel…” She said handing the child over. “You can’t just come back here and try to…fix things or tell me what to do. I appreciate that you care so much…enough to come storming down here to defend my honor…but really…I’m dealing…”

Angel took in the sight of her. She was glowing. Her hand was resting against her stomach. She was starting to show and looked not quite happy but, almost…peaceful. At peace with the fact that the man she loved died, but not before leaving her this one final gift.

Angel nodded and kissed her on the forehead gently. “Good luck Buffy. If you need anything…and I do mean anything you just call me ok?”

“I will Angel. Same goes for you ok?” She placed a soft kiss on Connor’s sleeping brow. “He really is a beautiful baby. Looks just like his daddy.”

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Buffy was drifting off to sleep on the couch when she heard a soft tapping on the door. She went to answer it and found Faith standing on the doorstep. “Hey Faith…come on in. I almost gave up on you…”

“Sorry about that B, I just wanted to do a quick patrol before I stopped by.”

“What do you mean stopped by? I thought you were going to stay here?”

“Oh…I uh…Giles didn’t say anything and I don’t want to intrude…”

“No…I mean…please? I want us to…get beyond our past. I want us to be friends. Like we could have been back then…before it all went bad.”

“You do?” Faith asked surprised.

“Yeah. I really do. Plus huge house…we have four bedrooms…. Willow and Tara share one sometimes, when I need help and they’re not staying in Tara’s dorm room…Dawnie has one…so do I and baby here was going to share my room…”

“You’re starting to show!” Faith said excitedly. She noticed Buffy rubbing the tiny bump on her stomach.

“Yeah…recent development. And it’s only gonna get bigger.” Buffy said happily.

“Wow. I guess I can stay here…at least for a little while. My stuff’s getting delivered here sometime tomorrow…I didn’t know where I was going toy soy so I had it sent here…”

“Come on…I’ll show you your room.”

“Are you sure no one else will mind? I mean there are other people living here. Pint sized and the witches…” She followed Buffy reluctantly up the stairs.

“I talked to them already…they’re totally cool with it…”

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Buffy was pulled out of her dream by the incessant ringing of the phone. “Hello?” She growled groggily into the receiver.

“Um…yes I would like to speak with Miss Buffy Summers please?” Said a polite gentleman.

“This is she…”

“Miss Summers…this is Mr. Feldman. I am with The bank.”

“Uh…oh. Yeah…see I know my payment is late and I…”

“Miss Summers…I would like to make an appointment for you to come down to the bank and see me please.”

“I…”

“It is very important Miss Sum…cou…could you come by…say after lunch?”

“There’s no way I can make the payment today…”

“I understand that. Shall we say one o’clock?”

“You’re not going to take my house are you? I mean I realize that my last few payments have been
late…”

“No Nothing like that I assure you. It is good news…”

“Can you just tell me now?”

“I can not…I’m sorry…but we will need your signature on some documents and really it would be better in person.”

“Ok.” She sighed defeated. Glancing at the clock she realized she better get up and do a few errands before she would have to leave.

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“Why would he do that Cordy? I just don’t get it.”

“And I would have insight into William the Bloody why exactly?” Cordy asked taking Connor from the pacing vampire. She kissed his cheek. “Come on little guy, let’s leave daddy to his brooding and go and get you something to eat.” She kissed Angel softly before leaving the room with the child she thought of as her son. Well hers and Angel’s.

‘I’ve got to find him. I need to know what the hell is going on. There’s No way in hell he’d just leave her. He doesn’t know about the baby. Maybe if he did he’d go back. She needs him so much. Weather she realizes it or not.’ Decision made Angel began to pack.

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Spike smiled to himself as he finished the sketch. It was of him and Buffy, sitting on her porch swing holding hands and looking happy. ‘Stupid ponce. Give up on it already. Move on.’ He glanced at the picture once again before tearing it to pieces.

He picked up his kohl pencil and began to draw again. Buffy’s eyes when she called him a monster. The hatred and anger that filled them. The way the delicate curve of her mouth turned into a sneer of disgust when he reached out to her. ‘Yeah. This is the keeper. The way she really feels about me. As she rightfully should. Nothing but a monster. Even with the soul.’

When he was finished it got put up on the wall with the others. All pictures of Buffy, hatred anger, disgust, loathing. All for him. Spike. William the Bloody. Monster pretending to be a man.

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“Miss Summers? He’ll see you now.” Mr. Feldman’s secretary ‘Agnes White’ Her nameplate said, showed Buffy into his office.

He was tall, over six feet for sure. And Big. A really muscular guy. She never would have pictured him being a bank manager. He smiled when she walked in. He walked over to her and put out his hand. “Miss Summers? I’m Alex Feldman. You can call me Alex…please have a seat.” He motioned to the chair placed in front of his desk.

She shook his hand and sat down nervously. “You can call me Buffy.” She said softly. She unconsciously placed her hand over her stomach, as if shielding the baby from what this man had to say.

“Buffy. I was going through old files and have discovered something that I think you will find very pleasing. I…I really don’t want to upset you…so I’m just going to tell you what I’ve found and what this means to you Ok?”

Buffy ed. ed. She swallowed nervously and waited for him to continue.

“Your mother had taken out a life insurance policy with the bank. She had also had insurance for the house. In case of her death, the house was to be paid in full and her life insurance policy paid out to you. As Well there is a fund for your sister, to be held in trust until she is eighteen.”

“What?” Her eyes were huge as saucers. “What does that mean?” She rubbed her belly gently.

“It means that you will be paid back all of the money you have put into the mortgage since your mother’s death. Her insurance will be paid directly to you, the trust fund our our sister…” He glanced down at the paper in front of him “Dawn?” He looked back up at her.

She nodded. He continued “Her money will be held in trust until her eighteenth birthday, she will then receive the funds in full.”

“How much?” She whispered. ‘OHGODOHGOD’

“Well, the mortgage payments you have made are just over eleven thousand dollars…and the life insurance policy was for 1.5 million.”

“Dollars?” Buffy choked.

“Yes. It is in your account as we speak. I am truly sorry that this has been over looked for so long, but you see I have recently been promoted. I wanted to be assured that all of the files we had were current. I was going through your file when I found…well things just didn’t seem right so I delved in further and…”

“Thank you. Thank you so much…I was so worried…and now…” She let the tears fall.

“Glad to help Buffy. We just need your signature on a few documents and then you can be on your way…” He said pulling out an envelope with official looking documents inside.

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TBC….