The Fall of William
Epilogue:
Nine months later…
The sound was small and low but soon… it was heard throughout the house.
A rumbling noise, that consisted of growls and howls. To an untrained ear it would have sounded like a pack of wild animals had invaded.
Instead it was merely one rambunctious and unruly five year old and her father.
"What are you two doing?" Buffy's voice called out from the kitchen.
"Nothin' luv," came Spike's laughter filled voice.
Frowning slightly Buffy continued her task of baking cookies in the kitchen, and wondered what mess Spike would be getting Angie into this time.
Angelina came screaming down the stairs, wild brown hair streaming behind her as she bounced down the stairs.
"Stay away," she yelled giggling wildly as she backed up.
"Grrrr," came the loud growl as a figure draped in black stalked down the stairs.
His head covered in an obscene black wig, his face a startling shade of white, and the long fangs protruding from his mouth made for a hideous picture.
To him anyway.
Not so much for Angie as she stared in wonder, and delight. She grinned up at her father as he thrust his arms wide, and revealed the large black cape he was wearing.
"I'm gonna, gonna, gonna EAT YOU," he yelled swooping down like a bird in flight and scooping her up and into his arms.
Squeals filled the air once more and Buffy leaned against the wall taking in her daughter and her husband.
A small smile flickered on the edges of her mouth and she shook her head.
"Dontcha wanna suck my blood?" Angie asked curiously as Spike growled against her neck.
Before Spike could answer the doorbell rang and Spike tossed Angie over his shoulder and marched to answer it.
"Reckon I'll just eat your candy luv," he remarked with a wicked grin as he threw open the door.
"Noooo," Angie moaned in despair.
"What's wrong Angie?" Anya asked curiously as she strode past Spike and into the house.
Spike shut the door and finally noticed Buffy.
His eyes widened slightly as he realized she'd seen him fooling around with Angie.
He wasn't supposed to be lifting her around like this anymore. Not after the last time… It had been an accident of course but still… it wasn't safe.
The doc had said so.
"Buffy," he began.
"I see the festivities are… non existent," Anya muttered as she glared around at the livingroom bare of celebratory decorations.
Buffy grinned and shook her head at Anya.
"Spike put Angie down. Anya don't worry. Things are set for later on tonight," she assured her friend. Buffy walked to Anya and gave her a gentle hug. She backed off and studied Anya a moment.
Anya shifted uncomfortable with the scrutiny.
"What?" she demanded. "I know I'm fat and hideously pregnant but still… I deserve som-"
"Looks like the whelp wasn't the only one mentally unstable," Spike mumbled under his breath.
But not low enough so Buffy and Anya couldn't hear.
"Spike," Buffy hissed glaring at him. "Get into the kitchen and help Angie get something to drink."
Anya looked to be on the verge of tears as she plopped down onto the couch and closed her eyes.
Buffy hurried forward.
"Don't mind Spike. He's still touchy about Xander… Plus he really wanted to decorate, but I told him about Angie's party at Party Zone. Listen Anya he didn't mean it."
Anya opened her eyes and finally sucked in a deep breath.
"I know," she muttered warily. "It's these damn hormones. They make me loopy and I hate it! Not the baby of course but still… You know."
"Yep. Are you okay now?" Buffy asked in concern as she smoothed a hand over Anya's hair.
"Do you have any chocolate almond ice cream?" Anya asked eagerly.
"Auntie Anya here," Angie came scurrying back into the livingroom a bowl of ice cream in her small hands.
It tilted dangerously in her hands and Buffy took it from her before she could drop it.
"Thank you sweetie," Anya thanked Angie as she dug into her ice cream.
Angie jumped on the couch next to Anya and snuggled closer to her.
"It's my day Auntie," she declared happily.
"I know it is. Which is why you have to be a good girl or you won't get your present," Anya told her warmly as she watched Angie press an ear to her stomach.
Spike strolled back into the room his face a mixture of sheepishness and wariness.
"Bout before Anya," he muttered as he faced her. "I'm right sorry bout that. I shouldn't have said it. I mean it was uncalled for and I'm sorry."
Anya looked up.
"You should be," she announced righteously. "That's like me calling Angie here a mindless criminal because that's what you are. But I don't because she's not you or Buffy. She's perfect. Ignoring her tendency to be a little too friendly. Mark my words one of these days it will-"
"Ho, ho, ho," Gunn's loud voice boomed as he shoved the door open and strode in.
"It's not Christmas!" Angie exclaimed excitedly bouncing on the couch.
Gunn hoisted a large Santa like bag over his shoulder and grinned all around.
He peered at Angie.
"You sure about that?" he asked as he lowered his bag to the ground. "Cuz for sure I thought it had to be Christmas. What with all these presents. Well since it's not Christmas-"
Gunn made as if to leave catching the bag up and turning to the door.
"It's my day!" Angie yelled bouncing in front of him.
"Your day? And what makes that so special?" Gunn demanded playfully.
"S'my birthday silly. Those are mine," she pointed to the presents and grinned impishly up at him.
Gunn grinned.
"Well if it's your birthday I'm sure I can spear a few presents for you."
Buffy turned her gaze from Gunn and Angie to Spike who leaned against the wall watching the scene with a small smile.
Grinning she wandered up to him and slipped an arm around his waist.
"You okay?" she asked softly resting her head on his shoulder.
"Right as rain luv," Spike remarked. "Was just thinkin' our girl is gonna be the most spoiled and gorgeous brat in the city."
Buffy laughed.
"True. She is spoiled and she gets all her looks from you. I mean God those cheekbones! I'd die for cheekbones like that," Buffy said shaking her head.
Spike glanced at her his chest filling with a certain vain pride.
"Really? She does look kinda like me. But as for looks she's gonna be all you. Look at her. She's already a mini Buffy in training. Demanding, spoiled an-"
Buffy's lips cut off the rest of his statement.
"You shouldn't complain Spike. You love me just the way I am," she reminded him between kisses.
"Ewwww," Angie gagged as she watched her parents kiss. "No kissing allowed," she yelled as Oz who'd followed Gunn in swooped her up.
Anya licked the last of her ice cream off her spoon and regarded the married couple.
"Yes," she agreed. "No kissing unless we can all partake and since some of us are without spouses no kissing."
Reluctantly Buffy pulled away from Spike and turned a serious look at Anya.
"You'd have those kisses if you ever took Lindsay up on his offer Ahn," Buffy told her as she extracted herself from Spike's embrace.
She headed for the center of the room where Angie was trying to guess what was in each box.
"You wanna help me in the kitchen with your cookies honey?" she asked her daughter who stood torn.
"I'll watch your things Angie. I won't let anyone touch them," Oz assured the little girl.
Spike pushed off the wall as soon as his girls were out of the room.
"Dude what are you wearing?" Gunn asked as he took in Spike's cape.
"Vampire mate," Spike replied with a cheeky grin flashing his fangs. He twirled in his cape for added affect.
Gunn laughed.
"Did Angie make you do that? She's begged almost all of us to be a vampire since she was three. She's got you wrapped around her finger. It's good to see," Oz mused as he ran a hand through his short cropped hair.
Spike eyed both Gunn and Oz.
"So what are you two dressed as? Cuz from where I'm standing you two don't look in costume. Angie wanted us all to be dressed up," Spike began scoldingly.
He didn't want his daughter's birthday party ruined because not everyone had dressed up as she'd wanted.
That's why he didn't mind wearing the cape and the fangs.
Angie was such a sweet and special child he was amazed that she'd come from him and Buffy.
That she was his was mind boggling in of itself.
He vowed to himself daily to do right by her and Buffy.
He didn't deserve them but he'd do his best to make them happy.
"Calm down Spike," Anya interrupted, "Faith and Willow are bringing theirs by. They had to pick up mine. We'll all be in our Halloween best. Relax."
Spike gave an embarrassed smile all around.
"Sorry," he mumbled as he made a conscious effort to relax.
"You'll get used to it," Gunn assured him with a slap on the back as he plopped down next to Anya. "How's little Jesse doin'?" Gunn rested a hand on Anya's stomach and grinned as the baby kicked.
"Ready to get out. But the doctor said I have a few more days left. I feel like a beached whale," Anya grumbled.
"A pretty one. What with your manicured fingers and pedicured feet. You're just about the prettiest pregnant lady I've ever seen," Spike murmured charmingly as he grinned at her.
Anya mock waved a hand in front of her face.
"Why thank you kind sir," she mocked with a light laugh. Her voice dripping with Southern charm. "Gettin' me all hot and flustered. I do declare-"
"Scarlet O'Hara you are not," Oz cut in.
Anya sent him a scandalized look.
"I could be her! All she did was lust after that Ashley man! Faint and say things like 'I'll think about it tomorrow!' I could do that! Dammit why didn't I pick that out as my costume?! Gunn call Faith and have her take back my outfit! I'll be better than Scarlet I-"
Gunn sent a quick glare at Oz who retreated Spike on his heels.
"Who wants to be stupid Scarlet O'Hara…" they heard Gunn say as they wandered out into the back yard.
"I forgot the cardinal rule," Oz muttered ruefully. "Never make a pregnant woman angry. In fact never open your mouth when around one at all."
Spike grinned.
"Even I coulda told you that. How're things with you and Red?" he asked stuffing his hands in his pants pockets.
Oz shrugged.
"Good. Less strained than a few months ago. It's better now that Willow realizes there was nothing she could have done to save Xander. Oddly enough Anya was the one who opened her eyes. Now she's happy again. Willing to go on and be little Jesse's godmother. Your advice for her to go see him helped too," Oz added sending him a grateful look.
Spike nodded.
"Well that's great. Glad I could help and all that…" Spike muttered uncomfortable with the look Oz had sent.
He'd found much to his shock Buffy's friends were now his. And with that came friendship. True friendship.There was advice to be given and received, midnight phone calls from hungry pregnant women, brides with cold feet. It went on and on.
These things made his life go around and around.
At first it had been a little hard to adjust to. In fact it had been damn near impossible.
But Buffy had smoothed his path and now he considered himself a right proper friend.
With momentary lapses of sense.
They stood in companionable silence for a bit looking up at the setting sun.
"So what did Angie make your costume?" Spike suddenly asked.
~*~
Buffy smoothed the folds of her gown and glanced in the mirror with a grimace.
Pink was so not her color.
Especially layer upon layer of pink.
She studied her dress with a critical eye and wondered again why she'd been wrangled into this.
Then realized Angie usually only had to ask and it would be done.
Spoiled rotten came to mind.
A grin crossed Buffy's face as she recalled the excitement Angie'd had when she'd instructed her parents on what to wear.
She'd taken to Spike like a duck to water and shortly after meeting him the two had become inseparable.
It was such a pleasure for Buffy to see them together and happy.
It wasn't too long ago she had given up all hope of ever seeing the day.
Straightening her tiara she headed out of the master bedroom and headed towards Angie's.
Angie had insisted in getting dressed herself and Buffy wondered vaguely if that was such a good idea.
Knocking quietly she waited for her daughter to let her in.
The door swung open and there her daughter stood.
Buffy tried not to frown as she regarded her child.
She'd bought the outfit for her so she'd known what it was. But it was another thing to see it on and in its full affect.
Buffy smiled widely.
"You look great sweetie," she said as she touched Angie's cheek.
Angie grinned and bounced around.
"Meow," Angie yelled. "Woof woof," she added for fun.
She raced off down the hall.
"Don't run," Buffy called after her as she followed.
Buffy couldn't quite understand her daughter's fascination with that cartoon character that was half cat and dog.
It was freaky and- well freaky was all she could, think of when she saw that cartoon.
Buffy was delighted to see everyone had arrived.
And was in their costumes as ordered by the birthday girl.
Gunn tugged on the bandanna wrapped around his neck as he glared good naturedly at a smirking Anya. He'd whined for weeks about dressing up as some kind of cowboy, but finally relented after a little persuasion.
Anya sat in a bumble bee outfit looking for all the world relaxed and content. She had negotiated her way out of wearing a bunny suit and so the bee suit was fine.
Willow stood talking earnestly with Spike her witch's hat tilting this way and that way whenever she moved her head.
Dressed in a black robe she looked down to the black wig and green face paint like the wicked witch in Wizard of Oz Angie's favorite movie.
Faith scowled as she strode up to Buffy.
"Your daughter is crazy," she muttered angrily as she glared at Buffy.
Buffy laughed and gave Faith a quick hug.
"But you love her. Besides you don't look too bad in that outfit. In fact you make a good Pocahontas," Buffy laughingly stated eyeing Faith.
Faith rolled her eyes as she adjusted her shapeless dress.
"When I have kids B you'll get yours in spades. I swear to you Gunn and my kids will wreak havoc on your life," Faith threatened half seriously half playfully.
"Well," Faith finally conceded with a twist of her lips, "at least I'm not dressed up as that big dumb red dog."
Her chin jerked to Oz who was dressed up in another of Angie's favorite t.v. characters. Clifford: The Big Red Dog.
Oz lifted one large paw to swipe at his ear causing Angie to dissolve in a fit of giggles.
"Let's go," Angie demanded then standing arms akimbo, looking for all the world like a miniature Buffy.
"Ready troops?" Spike asked coming to stand beside Buffy.
Gunn sucked in a deep breath glancing down at his outfit. He hated this damn outfit, dressed up like that cowboy Woody from Toy Story.
Never mind the fact that he was black and too big to be wearing such a ridiculous outfit.
"I'm ready," Gunn mumbled playing with his fake pistol.
"I'm about as ready as I'll ever be. Listen kid you'd better appreciate this," Faith announced as she crossed her arms to stare Angie down.
Angie just grinned.
"I love you," she sweetly stated.
"Aww," Willow murmured. "I love you and this outfit too! I'm happy to be a witch. Except that I have no powers. Cuz if I did then I'd like to be like Tabitha. On Passions except that she's uber evil and-"
"This dog is ready to be walked," Oz joked cutting Willow off with grin.
"Hey there mate you just made a funny," Spike mused with a grin.
"I try," Oz mused.
"Let's go," Angie said again stomping her foot and looking impatient.
"It is your day," Buffy replied. "Watch out world trick or treating here we come!"
"Bzzzzzzzz let's go already! I have children to scare and babies to birth," Anya snapped as she let Gunn and Oz pull her to her feet.
They trailed out of the house each carrying a large bag for candy. Candy that Angie told them would belong to her.
"…off to see the Wizard… the wonderful Wizard of Oz," Angie started to sing as they hit the street.
The adults glanced at eachother in concern.
They all knew what was coming next. It always happened this way and as always they always went along with whatever Angie wanted.
"Let's all sing!!!"
"Surely we aren't going to give her any of this candy we'll be gettin'," Spike said to Buffy quietly. He vowed to himself he wouldn't be singing along anytime soon.
He had at least a little pride.
"Oh no," Buffy agreed. "The candy will be saved for a rainy day. She's having her party with cake and ice cream to boot. Too much of a sugar high and we'll have a crazy little five year old on our hands."
Spike paused and came to a stop.
Buffy glanced at him and slowed too, curious.
"What's wrong?" she asked as she watched him stare after their little group.
Spike shrugged.
"This is um…" he gave a small choked laugh. He hadn't expected something like this to happen. He'd been in Angie's life for the past eight or so months. Experienced things he'd never thought possible.
But this was different.
This was his little girl's birthday.
He couldn't help but think about the baby they'd lost. It should have been a double birthday.
"How do you do it?" he wondered aloud glancing at Buffy.
Buffy tilted her head and caught onto his train of thought. She made a small noise in the back of her throat.
Wrapped her arms around him.
"I think about not having Angie," she whispered into his chest. "Being alone and I can't bear it. I think about the baby every single day and I know it's some place safe and happy. It's a fact that if I hadn't of had Angie I wouldn't have been able to get through the years. A blessing and a tragedy. I think maybe we're coming full circle huh?"
Spike stared down at her a long minute before he placed a kiss on her forehead.
"You're so strong," he mused in quiet wonder. "I'm not like you. Buffy this is… I never thought anything could be so hard. I look at Angie and can't help but thinking about what if. She deserves to have her twin. To have someone to sing with and be a kid with. I took that from her. From you."
She cupped his face in her hands and looked into his eyes.
She hated seeing him like this.
Tortured and filled with so much pain…
"You have to stop thinking about the past," Buffy told him seriously. "If you let yourself be caught up in what ifs you won't be able to live for the now. And this with us? Is all about the now Spike. It took me awhile to realize that. You have me and Angie and within reason any other kids you want to help you get through this."
Spike's jaw clenched for a moment as he struggled with himself.
"I don't want to forget," he whispered tortured.
"Neither do I," Buffy whispered back. "We just have to move on."
It was a struggle to be this man.
This upstanding citizen of the world. To have everything he had ever wanted.
He was always it seemed, waiting for the bottom to fall out.
He didn't deserve this life.
He knew that.
But some how he'd been given a second chance, and Buffy loved him.
And not for the first time he was glad.
Glad for the fall of William the Bloody.
Toppled from grace and buried never to be seen again.
He was just Spike now.
And Daddy.
A man he could look in the mirror and say he was glad to know.
With friends who cared for him.
A life worth fighting and living for.
A slow grin spread across his face.
"Right then," he announced abruptly. "I was thinkin' 'bout an even half dozen. That work for you Slayer?" he asked glibly.
Buffy wrapped her arms around his neck and lifted up on her tiptoes.
"Could you be persuaded down to a lower number?" she asked as she brushed her mouth against his.
Spike cocked his head and considered.
"What kind of persuasion we talkin' about?" he asked with a leer. "I've never done it with a princess before."
Buffy broke away from him with a laugh.
"Malibu Princess Barbie thank you very much," she huffed dancing away.
"Princess blood has gotta have a certain taste to it. I think I'll have a bite," he growled as he swooped after her.
"Oh Mr. Vampire please don't hurt me! What would Skipper and Ken say?" Buffy squealed in mock horror as she was lifted off her feet.
Spike growled and nuzzled her throat.
"With a poofter name like Ken it'd be a blessin' if I did him in…"
"Ohhh! My turn Daddy! Bite me Daddy," Angie's voice broke through their playful banter.
Faith stood back and watched Spike chase Angie around and then slid her gaze to Buffy.
Never in her wildest dreams had she expected things to turn out like this. In fact she would have bet Buffy would never have taken Spike back.
But no matter what her opinion of Spike was, she knew this was the best thing for both Buffy and Angie.
She'd never seen them so happy and it was all due to Spike.
"I'm gonna eat you," Spike screamed as he bore down on Faith who started and dodged away.
"Gunn," she called laughingly racing away. "Save me!"
Gunn spread his legs wide and dangled his hands at his sides.
"Move away from my woman mister. Or you're gonna get it good," Gunn drawled with an exaggerated western accent.
"Got me a witch here pardner. She'll do you in," Spike retorted grabbing Willow.
"Yeah! I'll get you and your little dog too," Willow threatened pointing at Oz.
People skirted around the loud and boisterous family.
Looking at them oddly.
What a weird family, they thought.
But what a family they were.
No matter what, they were family, and there was no escaping it.
Brought together by fate.
Kept together by love.
What a wonderfully weird and loving family.
~*~
The End.