Dreams and Nightmares

A/N: WARNING - SAPPY HAPPY mush


Part 8

A few days later, Giles received some unexpected visitors. His earlier inquiries had roused suspicions about Travers’ activities in Sunnydale and when the Council discovered through its contacts that Buffy was pregnant, it launched a thorough investigation. After learning that Travers had recently returned to Sunnydale, the Council sent a small delegation to meet with Mr. Giles to discuss what was happening. The Council’s new Head Watcher was among the five. During their meeting, Giles informed them of all that Travers had done, specifically his luring Buffy, Angel and Spike to Dutton and their following imprisonment, as well as his attempt to take the baby. They were treated to a brief sample of the horror Buffy experienced when Giles showed them a censored part of one of the tapes he’d retrieved among the items Travers had in the warehouse. It was the part when the vampires initially entered the room with her and she was first attacked. He stopped the tape when it was clear what happened next. Giles himself couldn’t watch beyond that point when he accidentally discovered what was on it. They were all astounded and appalled. When asked about Travers’ fate, Giles simply said that he suspected that one of his hired demon hoods turned against him and killed him. He hoped they didn’t realize that he was lying. During their discussion, Giles mentioned Buffy’s situation regarding her mother’s death and her guardianship of her sister. After getting over their shock, the Council members were extremely apologetic and requested to meet Buffy. They felt terribly guilty and honestly wanted to compensate her for all that Travers did. They decided to stay in Sunnydale for the birth since she was so close to delivering.

Buffy was hesitant about meeting the new Council leaders but after talking with Spike and the others about it, she decided to go through with it. Although the Council was usually a pain, it also had its uses. Her baby could benefit from both its resources and protection. There was no doubt that her child would eventually face threats much greater than Travers and having the Council as an ally could prove beneficial. However, Buffy was determined to make clear to them that she and Spike were the baby’s parents and foremost protectors. The Council would have to defer to them for anything regarding her baby. During their meeting, after the initial tensions were dissolved and Buffy made her stance clear, the watchers offered her a monthly stipend for her slaying. Apparently, the Council had been debating for months about providing its slayer with financial support and Buffy’s situation was the perfect opportunity. They also offered to provide financial support for the baby’s welfare and future education. As far as they were concerned, the Council was just as responsible for Buffy’s unplanned pregnancy as Travers was, he was their responsibility and they failed. She was surprised and skeptical but she welcomed the help. She decided to take this new partnership one day at a time, one problem at a time.

Soon, everything returned to normal for the Scoobies. They made repairs to the house and replaced the doors and windows. They needed to get everything ready for the baby. Buffy was due any minute.
Then early one morning around 2 am, Buffy woke to the feel of something wet against her thighs. After switching on the light, she realized her water had broken.
“Spike!” She tried to keep the tension out of her voice as she felt a slight pain.
“Luv?” He answered in his sleep.
“Um, I think the baby’s coming. I’m sure I felt my water break.” She was already standing and getting ready to leave.
“What?” Spike, again had yet to fully wake.
“The baby Spike, I think I’m in labor.” Buffy was pulling out her already packed overnight bag.
“Huh?” At least now his eyes were open although his brain was still off. Buffy considered throwing a candle at him.
“SPIKE!” She yelled as a stronger contraction hit, almost causing her to lose her balance. Spike abruptly woke. It only took a moment for him to realize what was happening.
“It’s ok Buffy, we’ll get you to the clinic in no time.” He jumped out of bed and pulled on his jeans. He called Sydney and informed her that they were on their way to the clinic.
“Dawn!” As Buffy’s delivery grew near they’d devised an action plan of who’d do what and so on. He was to call Sydney and Dawn would call Giles and the Scoobies.
“Yeah?” The sleepy teen answered. She too had heard Buffy yell at him.
“Buffy’s in labor, call the gang.” Spike was just about to grab his car keys.
“Really!” Dawn’s eyes were bright with joy. She’d been eagerly awaiting becoming Aunt Dawn for days now.
“Yes Dawn, now please hurry and call the gang. We’re leaving soon.”
“Ok.” She grabbed Buffy’s cell phone and started making calls. As she dialed, she returned to her room and pulled on some pants, shoes and her coat.
“Buffy, are you ready?” Spike picked up her bag.
“Yeah, I think so.” She sounded nervous. They looked at each other for a moment.
“I’m scared Spike.” He smiled at her warmly and took her hand. He kissed the back of it tenderly and then gently squeezed. He then briefly kissed her lips.
“You’ll be fine, pet. It’ll hurt like hell, but you’ll be fine. And, I’ll be there for you to scream at.”
Moments later, the three headed out to Sydney’s clinic.


Hours later, Angel and Cordelia burst through the doors of the clinic. The entire gang and the Council members were already in the waiting room. Buffy had been in labor for 16 hours now. Spike, Dawn and Dr. Claiborne were in the room with her. When the contractions started she screamed and screamed. Everyone had thought that her being a slayer would make childbirth easier but apparently all it translated into was slayer strength contractions. Buffy doubled over several times, her legs giving way and her entire weight supported by Spike as the pain ripped through her. They were convinced Spike was going to have several broken fingers by the time the baby came.

The screaming coming from the birthing room had died down after Sydney gave Buffy some drugs to ease the pain. She was trying to rest before she needed to push. Angel looked over to Giles,
“So, how’s it going?” Angel was nervous. He’d never really been around for a real birth before.
“Well, Buffy seems to have calmed a bit but I guess she’s just resting before the real work begins.” Giles looked very worried. Buffy’s earlier screams completely unnerved him. He’d never seen her like that, in so much pain. The other watchers also looked concerned. Giles was immensely glad that Spike was there for her.
Just then, they heard Buffy yell something about never having sex again if only Sydney would be nice and just take the baby out. Apparently, it was time to push.
They heard Spike telling her to breathe, counting to ten, and more screams from Buffy. It was only a matter of time now.

In the delivery room Dawn had a cool, damp cloth and was periodically wiping Buffy’s brow. Spike was holding her hand. He could handle the pain of her grip. Buffy was drenched in sweat and in the most incredible pain she’d ever experienced. Tears ran down her cheeks, the pain just wouldn’t stop. She had begged Sydney to take the baby just to end the pain. She banished Spike from her body. She was mindless. If only the pain would stop. Her mission disintegrated to simply following Spike’s instructions.
“Breathe!” Well, she could do that.
“Take a deep breath!” That too.
“Hold it! Hold it!” A little more difficult.
“Push! Push! Bear down! Bdowndown!” Not as easy as it sounds.
But she persisted. Following his instructions. It would end soon, hopefully.

Then she heard it. A baby crying. Then those words she’d dreamt of for months now. “It’s a girl!”
Buffy collapsed back against the bed. She was exhausted. After several moments of weighing, cleaning and checking, her little bundle was wrapped in a blanket and finally placed in her arms. The first thing she noticed were the startling blue eyes gazing back at her. Spike’s eyes. She had Spike’s eyes.
“What are you going to name her?” Sydney spoke softly as she watched Buffy hold her child.
Buffy sniffled, her eyes getting moist, “Spike, do you want to do the honors?” She was so awestruck by her infant she could hardly speak.
“Sure pet, we’re calling her Brianna Alexis. Brianna is Celtic for Strong One and Alexis is Greek for Protector of Mankind. We thought that worked well considering who her parents are and of course, who she’ll be.” Spike was suddenly all choked up too.

As Buffy held her tiny hands and tiny feet and gently caressed the little wisps of her curly blond hair, her own tears fell. This little bundle was the one kicking her, the one Spike purred to. All the pain, the hurt, the anger and the fear as well as all the love, the joy and happiness that she had felt over the past months culminated in that moment. That little bundle was suddenly her entire life. Buffy was so overcome with emotion. She held the baby close and let the tears fall. Spike put his arms around her as his own eyes fd wid with tears and the two held their baby between them. Dr. Claiborne and Dawn gave the new family some privacy as they went to tell the others.

Everyone had heard the crying already and was extremely anxious to hear any news. Dawn announced that it was a girl, that her name was Brianna Alexis and that Buffy was fine. Everyone sighed with relief. A while later, Sydney returned to finish taking care of Buffy. Some time afterwards, Spike brought Brianna out for the others to see. They all fawned over the newest addition to their extended family; even Giles was tearful. No one could help but notice her resemblance to Spike. She was clearly his child. Although you could definitely see some of Buffy in her, her eyes were definitely Spike’s. After they all got a good look at her, he took her back to Buffy because she was starting to get fussy and was probably hungry.
When he returned to the delivery room, Buffy eagerly took her daughter back into her arms. She knew she’d be hungry soon. And so, with Sydney’s guidance, Buffy tried to breastfeed. It was a bit more dcultcult than she had expected but the baby seemed to know her mother was a novice and patiently waited until Buffy found a comfortable position to feed her in. Then, after a few mishaps, nature took over and she was feeding. Spike was awestruck by the intense maternal instinct Buffy seemed to have. He never expected that an amazing warrior like Buffy who could be so wonderfully brutal and deliciously violent could also be so gentle and patient. Then, the irony hit him and he smiled to himself. That’s probably exactly what she thought about him. Buffy saw his smile and held out her free hand. He came over and took it, sitting next to her as he kissed it. There they sat together, adoring their little miracle as she drifted off to sleep.

tbc.....

A/N: I had to give you guys a bit more smut, hence the next chapters.