"Well, there is more," Angel said softly. "This is the most difficult part. I have to. . .bind my demon to a demon and my soul to a soul."

Spike chewed his bottom lip, then growled at Angel. His eyes flashed yellow. "Hell no!" he hissed. "I am not letting your demon bond to my demon!"

Willow was quiet. She knew, as soon as Angel said what would happen, that her soul was to be bonded to his. She would do it for the safety of her baby. But without Spike's help, they couldn't. There wasn't another demon that they could trust for him to bond his demon to. She looked down at her hands, tears filling her eyes. She had decided in the short time she'd been there that she wanted to stay in LA. She and Cordelia were getting along really well, and she had decided that she adored Wesley and Gunn.

And of course, she loved Angel.

Spike glanced over and saw the crushed look on Willow's face. He knew she wanted to stay, and that she wouldn't if the soul couldn't be anchored. She was too scared for her child's life. Spike panicked, worried that she would bolt from him, knowing he wouldn't help her. "Baby," he said softly, going to her, taking her hands. He knelt in front of her. "I can't. . .I can't spend the rest of my life bonded to Peaches. I will kill him." And yet, deep within, his demon was roaring with the knowledge that he could be bonded to the demon of his Sire, permanently and forever.

She glanced up at him, tears in her green eyes. "That's fine. I should go back to Sunnydale anyway. I have school there."

"Willow, I don't want you on the Hellmouth," he whispered quietly.

She shivered when he said her given name. "Spike, I wanted. . ."

"To stay here. Yes, I know." He swallowed hard, looking down. He sighed unnecessarily and then looked up at her. "Fine. If you want me to bond to Peaches, I will. But. . .I better get something in return. Blood, or sex, or cigarettes or something."

Willow burst into tears, throwing her arms around him. "Thank you, Spike, thank you thank you!"

Spike held her close, burying his face in her neck. He took a deep breath, inhaling her scent. He closed his eyes and tried to keep himself from falling for her more than he already had. Of course, it didn't work.

She pulled away and smiled at Angel over his shoulder. "And the soul. . .?"

"Yours," he said softly.

Spike turned his head, growling softly at Angel. "So you will be bonded to her too?"

"Yes," Angel replied.

"No," Spike said. "Do the cheerleader, or the watcher. Or even the hunter here. But not Red."

"Spike," Angel said in an enticing voice. "If I bond with Willow, she won't age unless I'm dead."

Spike opened his mouth, then shut it. "She'll be immortal?"

"As long as I'm alive," Angel said. "So she will always be here to be with us. . ."

Willow digested that information. "What about my baby? Will she age?"

"I. . .I can write a clause that will protect the baby from the bonding," Wesley said.

"Ok, then I say let's do it," Willow said.

"I have everything, we just need another person. We have Cordelia, Gunn, and me. . .we just need someone to sit in the fourth corner," Wesley said.

"Who do we trust enough to do that?" Angel asked.

"I don't know, we could get someone from Sunny -" Wesley started.

"NO!" Spike, Willow, and Angel all yelled at once.

"Ok, not Sunnydale," Wesley said, sitting back. "Who?"

There was a loud crash outside the door. Angel walked to the door and pulled it open. "David Nabbit?" He frowned at the genius lurking around the office. Then he brightened up. "David Nabbit!! You want to help us with a spell?"

"Really?" David brightened. "Can I?"

"Sure, come on in. We have our fourth," Angel chuckled, shutting the door behind David.

"This is so cool! I'm going to be a part of a spell!" David exclaimed.

"Who are you?" Willow asked softly.

"David Nabbit. Who are you?"

"*You* are David Nabbit? I'm Willow Rosenberg. Wow! I have read all about you! I have some of your programs on my laptop. I really like the database you did. I use it to keep up with the. . ." Willow paused, looking at Angel for help.

"It's ok, Little One," he said. "David knows about demons."

"All the demons we've encountered," Willow finished.

"Cool!" David cried. "You use my program for demon hunting?" He frowned. "Unless you like them. . .then that's not too cool. . ."

"Just Angel and Spike." Willow nodded to Spike.

David turned to the blonde vampire. "You are a demon?"

Spike, who wasn't enjoying the attention that Willow was giving David, let his game face slide on. "I'm a vampire."

"Like Angel! Have you known him long?" David asked.

Spike stared at the man eager for knowledge. "Aren't you scared at all?"

David crossed his arms and smiled. "I would be, if we met in a dark alley. But with you standing here with Angel and Cordelia, I figured you wouldn't hurt me. So have you known him long?"

Spike rolled his eyes. "Dad, when did you change me again?"

David spun to Angel. "You made him? Cool!"

Angel grimaced. "Cool isn't exactly the word that I would have used."

Spike laughed, sauntering to his Sire. "Come on, dad, you enjoyed it that night." He waggled an eyebrow at Angel.

"Spike, stop it," Angel growled. "Let's just do the spell and get it over with!"

"What kind of spell are we doing?" David piped up.

"We are binding Angel's soul to Willow, and his demon to Spike," Gunn answered.

"Why would you do that?" the genius' eyebrows knitted together.

"I'm pregnant. . .before you ask," Willow said, noticing that David's mouth was opening to ask who the father was, "the father is my ex-boyfriend. He was a werewolf."

"Do you think your baby is going to be a little puppy?"

Willow started to finish her story, then paused, thinking of that. "Oh, goddess, I hope not." Her bottom lip quivered and fresh tears filled her eyes.

"Bloody hell, look what you did!" Spike exclaimed, hugging the witch.

"I'm. . .I'm sorry. I didn't think that. . .I didn't mean to. . ." David stuttered.

"It's ok, David," Cordelia said smoothly. "She's emotional, and didn't plan this at all. Why don't you and I go into the kitchen and I will tell you the story. We will give her time to calm down."

David nodded, his face filled with concern. He looked at Angel. "I didn't mean to hurt your friend."

Angel clasped David's shoulder. "I know, David. Cordelia will explain the story to you."

David followed the former cheerleader out of the room.

Willow was sobbing on Spike's shoulder. He was looking at Angel with a look of pain on his face. "Can you help me here? She's a wreck!"

Angel went to his childe and friend. He started stroking her back. "Willow, I'm sure that the baby won't be a dog." He winced at his choice of words. "I'm sure that it will be just fine."

Willow looked up at Angel, her eyes red from crying. "Do you think that she will be ok?"

"I'm sure she will be 100% human."

"Goddess, I hope so. I want a baby, not a dog!" She sniffed, wiping her nose.

Spike ran his fingers through silky red hair. "And if she is a puppy, pet, we will still love her all the same."

She glanced at Spike. "You will love my baby?" Her green eyes were filled with hope.

"Just like I love her mother," he replied softly.

She smiled through tears. "Spike, thank you for everything." She hugged him tightly. She sniffed. "Now, someone go get David and Delia so we can get this spell going. I'm tired."