"Come ON!"

Spike growled softly at Willow. "Come on, Pet," he said, trying to dig his heels in the smooth white tile of the hospital floor. "It's just Slutty having a baby. Her and Soldier Boy will have another one. Do we *have* to be here for this?"

Willow stopped and turned to her roommate and best friend, growling angrily. "I want to be there for Buffy, damn it, and if you don't come with me, then I'm going by myself."

"Nice growl, pet," Spike said appreciatively.

"Well, we've been living together for what. . .four years now? I pick up things. Are you coming with me or not?"

Spike rolled his eyes. "Why the hell does she want us there anyway? This is the birth of a child. She should have her husband there and *only* her husband."

"But we are a family, Spike. She loves all of us. She wants us to be there."

Spike growled. "Fine, Red. Can we take the stairs?"

"What?"

"I hate elevators."

"Get over it, demon." She grabbed his hand again and dragged him to the elevator. She pushed the up button and tapped her foot, waiting. "Damn it. I hate slow elevators."

Spike was grumbling under his breath.

The door opened. Willow jumped in quickly, pulling Spike in with her. He immediately went to the back of the small elevator and started to pace. She turned and hit *5*. The doors closed.

Willow was quiet as the elevator started moving up slowly. She turned her head, hearing Spike taking deep breaths. "Spike? You don't breathe. What' s wrong with you?"

"Nothing," he growled.

She rolled her eyes and turned back towards the door. "Whatever." She was still angry with him for taking so long to get ready. "Should have just left your demon ass back at the apartment."

"Yea, you should have," he grumbled.

"Shut up, Spike," Willow hissed.

"Pet, I swear to god, I'm going to drain you. . ." He froze when he felt a tiny movement that didn't feel right. "Pet, something is wrong."

She turned around angrily. "Yeah, you are an insensitive jerk that can't even get ready quick enough for me to see my best friend have her baby!"

"No," he said, a wild look in his blue eyes. "Something is wrong with the eleva-" The elevator jerked, then stopped.

"Damn it!" Willow said, spinning around. She punched the five button again, willing the elevator to move.

"Oh, god," Spike hissed, leaning against the wall. He slid down, wrapping his arms around his knees. He was breathing hard now.

Willow turned around. "Spike? Are you ok? You are totally freaking out here."

He looked up at her, his blue eyes haunted. "Pet, I'm. . .I'm claustrophobic."

Willow's eyebrows rose. "You are?" she asked.

"Yea." He closed his eyes. "I think I'm going to hyperventilate or something."

"You mean to tell me that a big bad demon such as yourself, with two Slayers under his belt, half of the Scourge of Europe, favorite childe of Angelus, is scared of small spaces."

"Yea," he said softly. He hugged his knees tightly.

Willow resisted the urge to laugh, knowing that a phobia was a very serious thing. She knelt down beside him, stroking his hair. "It's ok, Spike. You will be fine."

"No," he said softly. "When I was. . .human. . .my older brother, he would lock me in his closet when I made him mad. It was bloody awful. I was only six, and I was in this tiny dark space. . ." He took a deep breath. "Angelus knew of my fear. He never used it against me when we were together, but when he came back, in Sunnydale, he would have a bad habit of rolling my wheelchair into a closet and shutting the door."

Willow brushed her lips across his cheek. "Shh. . .it's ok, Spike. You don 't have anything to be afraid of. I'm here with you. I won't let anything ever hurt you."

Spike looked up at her. "Red. . ."

She smiled down at him. "Shh. . .just close your eyes and relax. Imagine you are in a wide open field." She had never seen Spike look this vulnerable, or scared. He was huddled in the corner, his knees to his chest. Willow literally thought he might burst into tears. She started running her fingers over the back of his neck, knowing that would calm him. Angel had one time told her that one of Spike's most calm moments was when someone was playing with his neck.

Spike closed his eyes and concentrated on the feeling of her warm fingertips on the back of his neck. It was heaven, if there was such a thing. Spike rarely got goosebumps from anything, but Willow's gentle ministrations were causing his nerves to electrify. "I love you," he murmured softly.

"I love you too," she replied.

He opened blue eyes and stared into her green. "No, Willow," he said, his voice quiet. "I *love* you. I want to be with you, I want to show you the world. I want to make your body quiver in passion. Hell, I don't know how just yet, but I want to be the father of your children."

Willow blinked in surprise, sitting back on her heels. "You. . .you mean. . .you and I? Together? In a relationship?"

"I'll understand if you say no, but I. . .I just want you to know that. I've never, in all the years I've been alive, met someone like you. When. . .when we first met, I tried to kill you, torment you, kidnapped you, threaten you. . .and yet, when I got the chip, you opened your arms and accepted me for who I was. You've never judged me on any of my feelings or thoughts, you've always accepted them as they are."

"Because I care about you, Spike. You're. . .you're my best friend."

Spike's eyes watered and he looked away. "I know we couldn't be in a relationship, but I just wanted to tell you."

Willow chewed her bottom lip, sighing. She'd fallen in love with him over the years living with him, but never thought he loved her. She always felt as if he were the older protective brother type, growling angrily at any man who took her out on dates, checking in on her at night to make sure she was tucked in, offering to go patrolling with her when Buffy was too pregnant to go. . .< Oh my goddess. He's loved me all this time, and I had no clue. > "How can someone so smart be so oblivious?" she murmured softly.

"What do you mean, pet?" Spike questioned, opening his eyes and looking up at her face.

"All these years, I've thought you were being the older brother type. And thinking back, I realize you've been the insane jealous protective man type."

Spike chuckled. "You want to know what's even more humorous? Everyone knows. Even Watcher knows that I love you. They've seen it. Hell, Xander and I have talked about it for hours. He was trying to encourage me to tell you."

Willow's eyebrow rose. "Xander? Encouraging you?"

Spike reached out and stroked her cheek. "He knows how much I love you. He knows I'd never hurt you."

Willow smiled. "You love me. Spike and Willow. Mrs. Willow the Bloody. Kinda catchy."

Spike laughed, his blue eyes sparkling. "Pet, if we got married, your last name wouldn't be *the Bloody*. It would be Bradley. Willow Bradley."

She smiled. "I like that name. Willow Anne Bradley. Mrs. Spike the badass Master Vampire. There would be a problem though."

"What's that, pet?" Spike asked, running his fingers through her hair. He had completely forgot about his claustrophobia.

"My father-in-law would like me more than he likes you." She giggled. "Oh, I could call Angel Daddy!"

Spike closed his eyes and laughed hard at that thought. "It would almost seem wrong for you not to."

Willow leaned forward and kissed his lips softly. His eyes flew open, surprised at the kiss. His tongue shot out and teased her lips, begging for entrance. Within moments, she succumbed, melting into his arms. He held her for what could have been hours, kissing her lips, her cheeks, her neck, her ears. . .lavishing the attention on the witch he'd wanted to show her for years.

"I love you," she murmured.

"Will you marry me?" he asked suddenly.

"Marry you?" she asked, her eyes widening.

*-*-*-*

"Where is Willow?" Buffy cried. "I. . .I want her to be here!" She looked at Riley with wide eyes.

"I don't know, hun. I haven't seen her. Xander called her. . ." Riley answered.

Buffy looked over at Xander. "Xander, you did call, didn't you?"

Xander glanced up from playing with his one year old child Alex. "Yea, I called, she said her and Spike were on their way."

Anya leaned back, crossing her arms. "I wish those two would just admit that they love each other."

Buffy leaned back, sighing. "I know. It's so obvious." She gritted her teeth, closing her eyes. "Contraction!" she cried.

Doctors and nurses fluttered around the Slayer. "It's time. Everyone leave but the father," Dr. Livingston said.

Xander stood up, pulling his wife with him. "Come on. I saw a vending machine down the hall," he said.

Giles chuckled, shaking his head. "Always thinking about food, Xander."

Xander grinned. "Yep."

Buffy was panting from the pain of the contraction. "Someone. . .someone find Willow!"

Anya leaned down, kissing Buffy's forehead. "Good luck, Buff. Having a kid hurts like hell. Trust me. I was there last year. See you in a little while!"

Xander, Anya, and Giles walked out of the room.

*-*-*-*

"Xander. . ."

Xander looked up and jumped slightly, startled. "Deadboy! Damn it! Don't you ever *not* sneak up on people?"

Angel smiled slightly, amused. "No, I enjoy sneaking up on people." He sat down next to the man. "Where's Willow?"

Xander frowned. "I don't know. I called her almost an hour ago, and she's not here yet." He glanced at Angel. "What are you doing here?"

"Anya called and said that Buffy was going to have Morgan. Apparently, Buffy wanted me and Cordelia here." Angel shrugged. "So here we are."

"So you and Del."

"Yea," Angel smiled slightly.

"You love her. I was worried, you know, that it was some sort of evil vampire thing. . .I'd hurt you if you hurt Cordelia." Xander shifted Alex so the baby was against his chest. Alex cooed.

"I would never hurt her," Angel said, reaching over to rub Alex's head. He laughed softly. "Your baby is precious."

"That's right!" Xander said. "You've never met Alex! Alex," Xander said, smiling at his child. "This is your Uncle Angel. If you ever need anything at all, he will help you. Deadboy, this is Alex."

"Uncle Angel?" Angel asked, smiling.

"Yea," Xander grinned. "Want to hold him?"

"Sure," Angel said, taking the baby. He bounced Alex. The baby cooed. "He's precious."

"Thanks, we are proud of him." Xander leaned forward, seeing Willow and Spike rushing down the hall. "Willow!" he exclaimed. "Where the hell have you been?" He stood up.

Willow skidded to a stop in front of Xander, grinning. "Oh, you know, around."

Xander reached out and ran his fingers through Willow's tangled hair. "Wills?" he asked, glancing at Spike. He started laughing out loud.

"What's so funny?" Spike growled, flashing yellow eyes at Xander.

"Your shirt! It's on backwards, Deadboy Jr!"

Spike glanced down, smirking. "Sorry, the elevator started moving again."

Willow was out of breath. "Did we miss it? Has she had the baby yet?"

"No, she's having it right now," Xander said. "Did you two stop the elevator?"

Angel stood up, cradling Alex. "You were stuck in the elevator? Are you ok?"

Spike glanced up, seeing concern on his sire's face. "Yea, Peaches, I'm fine," he grinned. "I don't think I have that pesky claustrophobia anymore." He chuckled.

"So!" Willow purred, hugging Angel. "Can I call you daddy?"

"What?" Angel asked. "Call me daddy? Why would you call me daddy?"

Willow's face lit up. "Me and Spike are getting married!" she exclaimed.

Anya and Cordelia walked up to the group. "It's about damn time," Anya said. "I found Cordelia. She was getting coffee. I found Twinkies for you, honey." She handed her husband the Twinkies.

Cordelia smiled. "Congratulations!" she said, hugging Willow.

"Wait, does this make you my mother?" blurted Willow.

The group laughed.

*-*-*-*

"She's beautiful, Buffy," Willow whispered, holding a two-hour-old Morgan. "She has your eyes."

"I know," Buffy gushed. "Isn't this cool? I lived long enough to get married and have a baby."

"I knew you would," Willow smiled. She ran her fingers through Buffy's matted hair. "I have to tell you something. I don't know. . .I'm not sure how you will take it."

"What?" Buffy asked, smiling up at her best friend.

"Spike and I are. . .he asked me to marry him."

Buffy's eyes widened. "Oh, god! Are you serious? Did you say yes?"

"You aren't upset?" Willow asked, sitting next to Buffy on her bed. She handed the Slayer her child back. "I was scared you'd rant and rave, Spike' s your mortal enemy, after all."

"I can rant and rave if you want me too, but I'm *glad* you two *finally* figured out that you were meant to be together. God, Willow, he's loved you for years."

"I know," Willow said. "I just had no clue."

"For someone so smart, you are so oblivious."

"I know," Willow giggled. "That's what I told Spike."

Buffy smiled. "I'm happy for you." She leaned up and kissed Willow's cheek. "Now go tell everyone else to come in. I'm glad you made it."

Willow gushed. "Yea," she said. "I am too." She smiled, walking out of the room to get the rest of the group.

END

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