Wow! Everyone is still totally kicking ass and leaving reviews! Thank you so much. I appreciate that you all take the time to let me know your thoughts.

Thanks to Meli for doing a superb job as the Beta!

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*Banner By Ariel Dawn*
Thanks AD! Hugs~Opal

Story Dedicated to Meli!
Thanks for being a great Beta. Hugs~Opal



Chapter 23 - Mommy?



Buffy stared at the sight before her. She almost thought she was seeing two Spikes, but the man next to him looked different enough that she could tell the difference. She felt calm in the second man’s presence. Something soothed her soul. Her primal instincts told her that the stranger was family.

His first words to her confirmed it.

She reached out to her son with open arms. William rushed to close the space between them and threw himself in her arms as if he was still a little boy. His body was shaking as he sobbed profusely.

Spike slowly moved behind his son and placed his hand on his back in order to soothe his son. He understood the lad had been through a great deal of pain in his life. Spike understood what it was like to have a broken family, from his own experience with his own mum and then when Angelus left the fold.

As William finally calmed down, he sat up and leaned against his father. Buffy grasped the corner of the bedsheet in her hand and lifted it to William’s eyes. With loving care, she blotted his tears away.

“Sorry bout that mum,” William whispered; embarrassed that he had acted so unrestrained.

Buffy cupped his cheek in her hand, and softly spoke in a soothing tone to him.

“You have nothing to be sorry for. I love you. Your father loves you. I am so proud of you; for your strength and courage to stop me from doing something that I probably would have regretted for the rest of my life. I don’t know what would have happened, how you got here, or why you came; all you need to know is that whatever actions you took have calmed the rage that was inside of me.”

William smiled and turned to his father; the two exchanged glances and communicated without vocalizing their thoughts. They agreed that there would be no need to tell Buffy about what would have been, since now it was not going to happen.

Hope, joy and serenity filled William. Although he did not know what kind of life he would go back to, he was not afraid that it would not be a better one anymore.

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Spike slowly rose and stretched his limbs out. He looked down at the glorious sight before his eyes. His mate and their son fast asleep holding one another, even if he was a grown adult now, it still was one of the most precious sites he had seen. Spike moved to a plush, comfortable chair in the corner of the room. He sat back and pulled a cigarette out of his pocket.

For at least an hour, he was content to watch upon the site in front of him. It was incredible how time could move so slowly as he observed, but when William and Buffy finally awoke, the time then seemed to have passed too quickly.

“Dad, you know I’m gonna be all over you about that nasty habit of yours for a few years,” William spoke.

“I’m sure son, but then again, I already know that you’ll end up smokin’ them too. So I’ll just give you my best evil sneer and light up another,” Spike replied.

Buffy rose up off the bed and playfully slapped her mate across the shoulder.

“You will do no such thing. I won’t have you scaring my little pumpkin!”

William blushed at the sound of the nickname he had not heard in so long. Although it was heartwarming now, he knew he better say something before his parents made his younger years tough.

“If I could ask you both to please just refrain from the cutesy nicknames, I’d appreciate it. It’s bad enough that I had long curly hair for a while, and some glasses. But, the cutesy nicknames; let’s just say a few of the other neighborhood children picked up on them and I never lived them down.”

Spike was pleased to see that his son had to earn his way into being a Big Bad, along with the confidence and swagger that goes with it. ‘Then again, the little guy does have the original Big Bad as his role model.’ Spike kept that thought tucked away in his head to himself. The only sign that gave Spike away was the slight smirk on his face.

William could clearly tell his father had some grand scheme up his sleeve, but he did not have any time to force the issue. There was only thirty minutes left until he had to begin the process of opening the portal to transport him back to his time.

So, like his father, he took advantage of any good opportunity he saw.

“By the way, when I am four, all I will do is beg and plead for a bike. Not a tricycle, or bicycle, but a mini motorcycle that is just like the one Dad has. Before you even say I’m too young, lets just say you won’t like the repercussions of what happens. Also, when I am seven, I am going to ask for a dog. Please don’t get me a stuffy little girly dog. Please take me to a dog shelter, so I can pick out a nice big dog that wants to play with me, like a golden retriever. When I’m fifteen, I’m going to ask if my girlfriend Mel can stay over, so if you could…”

William was cut off with a resounding “NO” from both of his parents.

“William,” Buffy spoke, “Your father and I will seriously consider all that you have told us. Except for the girlfriend.”

William rolled his eyes and accepted the defeat.

“Well, can’t say I didn’t try. Ok, well before I get ready to go, I just need to speak with Auntie Willow before we go.”

Spike was closest to the doorway. He cracked the door open, and then gestured to Willow to come join them in the room. The young witch sat down in the chair Spike had occupied earlier.

“Aunt Willow, you must listen to me very carefully. There is a coven in England. When our time is done here, you must go to the coven and let them teach you the ways to control your power. You are very powerful, but if you don’t learn now, you will do something that will cause more harm than good. You will end up hurting someone near and dear to you first, before you take your magic gift seriously. Please promise me, that you will do this for me,” William pleaded with Willow.

Willow was a little unnerved to hear that her magic would grow to a point that she would hurt her loved ones. After all, she was just little, geeky, bookworm Willow.

William got the sense that Willow did not understand the awful impact she would have. He looked into her eyes, taking her into a thrall like state. He sent her images that would show her the death of her closest friends, Tara and Xander, at the hands of her magic.

William quickly looked away from her. Willow jumped in her seat, startled and truly scared at what she had seen. She rose up and knelt before William. She took his hand, and spoke her promise to him.

“William, I’ll leave tomorrow. I promise.”

“Thank you,” was all William could muster up.

“No William. I should thank you. After all, you’ve saved us all from certain misery. I forever will be grateful.”

Willow stood up and placed a gentle kiss on her nephew’s forehead.