"Ya sure you don't want to come with us, Bit?" Spike asked, putting on his coat.

"Singing in the Rain. It's a classic," Buffy added.

"No, that's okay you guys. Have fun. It's not like you'll have a lot of time to do stuff like this when the baby comes." Dawn picked up her history text. "I have tons of studying to do."

Buffy waddled out the door. "See you later. We'll be back about eight."

"Right. See you." Unseen by Buffy, Spike gave Dawn a thumbs up sign, which she returned. As the door closed, she threw down her textbook and ran to the back door. Anya and Willow stood waiting, trays of goodies in their hands. "I thought they would never leave," Anya said, laying her tray on the kitchen table. "I have to go out and move the car closer, to bring in the other things."

"We have exactly," Dawn looked at her watch, "an hour and a half before people start coming. Let's get to work."

******

The last streamer was barely in place before the doorbell rang. Cordelia and Angel stood on the doorstep, Angel with young Connor at his side, Cordy with her tiny baby in her arms. "Willow," she exclaimed, as her once rival, now friend embraced her carefully, mindful of the bundle in her arms.

"I'm so glad you could make it," Willow said, leading them into the living room. "This is Dawn's friend Janice. She'll watch Connor and Alice."

"Hi," said Janice.

"Is Harmony here?" asked Cordelia.

"She is now," squealed a voice behind her. "Cordeeeee. Let me see that little baby!"

Cordelia turned as Harmony kissed her cheek. Riley stood behind his wife, Alice in one arm and a diaper bag over the other. "Hey, guys, look at Alice. She's so cute," Cordy exclaimed.

Dawn rushed over and took Alice from Riley's arms. "Hey, little friend. Remember Auntie Dawn? You're so big now." She took the eight month old into the living room. "Look at Alice, Anya. Her hair is as blond as yours."

"Only her blonde isn't out of a bottle," interjected Willow.

"Yes," countered Anya, "And that is exactly the same shade of red you have always had."

Harmony pulled the blanket away from the face of Cordelia's baby. "Ooooh, she's so tiny. What a sweetie. How is she?"

"She's doing really well," Cordelia smiled. "She had to spend an extra few weeks in the hospital, until her weight
came up a bit, but my doctor said I could bring her. She should be fine."

"I guess we're supposed to make ourselves scarce, Riley," Angel said. Janice took Connor's hand and led him towards the stairs. "Bye, bye son," he called, but the young boy ignored him, fascinated by his new friend.

"We're supposed to come back later and retcon the snacks." Riley kissed Harmony and headed for the door. "About 01000 hours."

"Bye darlin'," Angel said, kissing his tiny daughter on the head. "I'll be at the Bronze if you need me," he said to her mother.

"I know that, you big worry wart," Cordelia replied. She kissed him goodbye, and he followed Riley out.

"The men are gone," said Willow. "Let the good times roll."

"What the hell is going on here?" asked Buffy, as she stood at the still open door.

Willow glared at Spike, who shrugged his shoulders. "Uh, surprise?" he said.

******

"So they couldn't get the print of Singin' in the bloody Rain, and we got stuck with Rush Hour 2. I tried to keep
her out longer, but she wanted to come home. I did try."

Willow patted him on the shoulder. "I know. She can be just the least little bit stubborn."

Spike almost choked. When he regained his composure, he said, "Well, I'm off to meet the men at the Bronze. What a laugh riot that'll be."

"Play nice," Willow said. "You're the man of the hour."

"When I'm competin' with Soldier Boy, Peaches and Harris, that's not such a big deal." He walked over to the armchair and kissed Buffy, "Bye, love," and headed out the door.

"You owe me, you sneak," she called to him, and he looked back with a wide grin.

******

Buffy looked at the assortment of friends gathered around her living room, and the assortment of gifts on the coffee table. "Maybe this won't be that bad," she said to herself. Out loud, she turned to Willow and asked, "So how long have you guys been working on this?"

"We wanted to have it last month," Willow replied, "but Cordy wanted to come, and she'd just had the baby, who was still in the hospital. Sorry to cut things so close."

"That's okay. I've still got at least a week to go." She took a brightly wrapped gift from Willow's hand, and
started to open it. "This one's from Harmony and Riley," she said, opening the card. She pulled out the certificate inside. "Three months free diaper service. Wow. Cloth diapers. Pins and stuff."

"Much better than paper," Harmony said. "And you won't have to wash them."

"Thanks, that's really generous," Buffy told her. "Why couldn't it have been three months worth of Pampers?" she asked herself. Inside the box was talcum powder, baby oil, and something called zinc salve.

"For the diaper rash. They all get that. Poor little things." Harmony pouted. "Alice gets it, and she cries so much. Not as much as with the colic, though."

"Diaper rash? Colic?" Buffy thought of her poor little someone wracked with pain. Wasn't fair, to bring someone into this painful world. Tears started to well up in her eyes.

"Don't worry, Buffy," Cordy said. "They don't all get colic. And the diaper rash is treatable." She looked down into her daughter's face, remembering the fear of almost losing her. "You'll be fine. Take it a day at a time."

Buffy noticed Willow take the bow from the gift and attach it to a paper plate. "Anyone, and I mean anyone tries to put that thing on my head, and they'll know the meaning of the word Slayer." Willow carefully sat the plate on the floor, and handed her friend the next gift.

*******

Angel, Riley and Xander were sitting at a table when Spike entered the Bronze. Reluctantly, he sat down with them. "So, what's up? Talkin' cars, sports, mayhem...?"

"Potty training," Angel replied. "Giving Riley here some pointers, and Xander's sharing some of his totally inexperienced advice."

"I just said...." Xander started.

"Potty trainin'?" Spike spat in disbelief. "Is that what we're reduced to? Baby talk? Is this what life is gonna be?"

"You'd best get used to it," Riley answered. "Your life is about to change in ways you can't even imagine."

"Yeah," Angel added. "Like sleep, for instance. I was just getting back into long daily naps when Natasha arrived, and now I can kiss that goodbye. Most of the time I'm so tired, I feel like death warmed over."

"And sex." Riley continued. "Nothing like a crying baby and an exhausted mother to kill the mood. I mean, I know Buffy's the Slayer, but Harm's got vampire stamina and she was no fun those first months, let me tell you."

"Connor got into Cordy's makeup the other day. Lipstick all over the walls. It was her favourite colour, too." Angel frowned. "She didn't want to take it out on the kid, so I got the cold shoulder. Not fun."

"Oh, and Spike," Riley said, "You might want to go back to those black t-shirts. Getting baby puke out of your light colours, not easy."

"I'm getting a beer." Spike stood up from the table, but instead of heading to the bar, he went out the back exit. He pulled a cigarette out of his pocket and lit it, sucking the smoke deep into his lungs. "What the bloody hell have we gotten ourselves into?"

******

Buffy opened the gift from her sister. She pulled a large knitted square from the box. "A baby blanket. Nice."

"I know it's not that great," Dawn said, "but I tried. Tara taught me."

"You made this yourself?" Buffy reached out her arms to her sister, who hugged her as best she could. "It's beautiful, Dawnie. So much work."

Dawn beamed. "I'm glad you like it. See, I don't just sit in my room listening to music and doing nothing."

Tara smiled at her pupil. "I told you she'd like it." She handed a gift to Buffy. "This one's from me." Inside was a knitted sweater set, with matching hat and booties.

Buffy held it up for everyone to see. "It's so tiny."

"Baby's are," Cordy told her, rocking a sleeping Natasha in her arms.

"So much responsibility." Buffy felt the tears coming again, but she fought them back. "I don't think I'm ready for this." Suddenly, she felt a rush of warm water between her legs. With embarrassment, she realized her chair was soaked. "Um, guys...."

"Oh my god, Buffy," Harmony exclaimed, "I think your water just broke."

"Don't panic," Cordelia added, "but I think it's time you went to the hospital."

"Does it hurt?" asked Dawn with concern.

"Not yet." Buffy's eyes opened wide. "It's supposed to hurt, isn't it? Something's wrong."

"Nothing's wrong." Cordy had somehow become the voice of reason. "Anya, drive Buffy to the hospital."

"I need Spike." She grimaced in pain. "And I think the labour thing's starting too. Cause now it hurts."

"Drop me at the Bronze," Harmony said. "I'll get Spike, and my Riley can drive us to the hospital."

Willow sat with a shocked expression on her face. "She's really having the baby." She looked around the room. "Do we have enough drivers?"

"Willow, this isn't a TV show." Tara said. "We shouldn't all go to the hospital. Just Spike and Dawn. Family."

Anya helped Buffy from her chair. "Get some towels and bring them with us, Dawn. I don't want to wreck my apolostery."

"And my bag. It's beside my bed. Thank god I packed it." She grimaced with another spasm. "Why do they call it labour? Why don't they call it intense pain?"

"That's what I want to know," Harmony replied. "I'll get Spike and meet you there."

******

Harmony burst into the Bronze and scanned the room. She saw the men at their table and ran over. "Where's Spike?"

"Hi, Honey," her husband replied. "What's up? What happened with the shower?"

"Buffy's in labour." At the news, all the men sat up straight. All had at one time loved the girl.

"How is she?" Xander asked with concern.

"She'll be a lot better when Spike gets there. This is supposed to be his party. Did you lose him?" Harmony replied impatiently.

"He said something about getting a drink." Angel said. "Come to think of it, that was a while ago."

"Men, " Harmony exclaimed. "Sweetcakes," she said to her husband, "You drive us when I find him. You other guys can go back to the house and wait. It'll probably be a while."

"Yeah," Angel agreed. "I'd best get back to Cordy and the kids."

Harmony had already run off to the bar, but there was no sign of Spike. She thought about where he could be, what he would do under stress. What she would do under stress. She ran out the back door and saw him leaning against the back wall, a pile of cigarette butts at his feet. He was talking to himself. "No bloody business makin' babies. I'm a vampire, damn it. Stupid git. What was I thinkin'? I got no right..."

"Spike." Harmony put her hands on his shoulders. "Look at me."

"Ah, Harm. Had enough of the ladies? Don't blame you. Can I buy you a drink?"

"Spike..." He wasn't paying attention.

"Our kind, this family thing isn't for us. Don't know how you deal with it, diapers and crying and..."

She shook him by the lapels. "Listen to me. Buffy's in labour. She's at the hospital having your baby, so get a grip."

He threw his cigarette to the ground and marched into the Bronze. He turned back to her. "So, what'r you waitin' for? Take me."

******

Spike ran into the maternity wing. "Where's Buffy?" he asked the waiting Anya.

"They've taken her to the delivery room. Things are moving really fast for a first baby. Guess it's the Slayer thing. Anyway, Dawn's with her." She looked at Spike. "You'd better get one of those green outfits and get in there. She'll kill you again if you miss it. "

He hurried to the reception desk. "Buffy Summers. Baby. I'm the father."

******

With a great contraction, Buffy threw up over the nurse beside her. "Eww," Dawn exclaimed. "Glad I was out of the line of fire."

"You're going through transition, Buffy," he doctor said. "It won't be too long now."

"Where's Spike?" Buffy gasped for the fiftieth time.

"Here." Spike ran through the door and took his lover's hand. He directed all the love he could to her though the little opening between his mask and head covering. His eyes misted with tears. "I'm sorry. Got here as soon as I could."

"Good," she replied through gritted teeth. "Let's have a baby."

*****

"He's so cute," Dawn said over the phone. "He looks like Yoda. No, Willow, I think they all do. You should have seen Spike. He didn't notice the blood at all, just kept looking into Buffy's eyes. Then when the baby came out - that was neat and gross at the same time - I thought he was going to melt into a little puddle. He kept saying 'I have a son,' like he'd all done the work. I get why they call it labour now. I so do not want to have a baby. Yeah, they're all fine. Should be home in a few days. Help me get things ready? Thanks. I don't know, they didn't say. I guess they have a name for him..."

******

"Sweet baby James," cooed his mother, lying in her bed holding the baby, his father embracing them both. "It was a good idea. Joyce isn't a weird second name for a boy if everyone think's he's named for an author."

"My dad would a' been happy. Havin' a namesake. So long ago, but I miss him still." He touched the baby's fine ash blond hair. "He was a good man."

"So's his son," said Buffy. "I think his grandson will be, too."

"Ya know," smiled Spike, "I'm pushing 150, and I finally feel like a grown up."

"I think I understand." Buffy kissed his hand. "All we went through, just being together against all odds, and now this miracle. But we have to be the adults now. He needs us. More than anyone or anything we've ever known, this tiny little guy needs us."

"I'm not a good man, though, Buffy. I am what I am. But I love you both so that I feel my heart is bursting."

"Angel's a vampire, and he's a good dad. Harmony's a vampire and she's a good mom. And you've got one thing neither of them have," Buffy said.

"Yeah, pet, and what's that?" Spike asked.

"The love of the Slayer."