November 17, 2007 2:07 PM

Strawberry, Grape or Boysenberry? Buffy waved her knife over the three jars of jam on the counter, and she licked the left over peanut butter off the knife while she mulled over her decision. She shrugged her shoulders and systematically put a dollop of each on the bread, creating stripes across her sandwich. Yep, three sandwiches in one. Definitely of the good. Right, little one? Buffy thought as she put the two slices of bread together and regretted she hadn’t thought of the stripes when choosing smooth or crunchy peanut butter. We could have had six in one.

She returned the assorted jars to their proper places, wiped the crumbs up, wrapped her sandwich in a paper towel and headed back to the living room. Everybody is busy, means I get control of the remote for once. But as she passed the basement door, she could hear the thud of a body hitting the mat and then Spike’s frustrated sigh. Uh-oh Raven is screwing up. So, she headed down the steps, taking a seat halfway down and settled into watch the action. Spike glanced up at her and smiled as she took a huge bite of her creation. It was only a little over an hour since they had eaten lunch and she had eaten hers and half of his. She shrugged as she returned the smile and then licked some jam off the corner of her mouth and saw him roll his eyes.

As Raven and Connor faced off again, the couple turned their attention back to them. Since she couldn’t be involved in the actual physical training of their daughter, they had talked Spike into letting Connor help her train. Being evenly or better matched for her Slayer abilities, he was the logical choice to help and this was their first session. The two young people circled each other, then Raven tried to kick Connor’s legs out from under him but he caught her leg and knocked her on her butt again.

“Raven, you need to concentrate. This is ridiculous.” Spike bit out.

“She’s fighting like a girl,” Buffy contributed.

“Well, gee, Mum, I am a girl.”

“No, you’re not you’re a Slayer, act like it.” Buffy said. “Connor, why are you here?”

The three standing on the mat, looked up at her, and Buffy could see if they were wondering if she was having a moment.

“I’m fine, people, just trying to help.”

“I’m here to help Raven train,” Connor answered, “to help her get stronger and faster.”

“Raven, why are you here?”

“To train,” Raven answered almost flippantly.

“Anyone want my opinion or do I go watch a movie?”

Raven rolled her eyes but Connor and Spike waited for her to continue. Obviously, they knew where Buffy was going with this and both of them had been too uncomfortable to say anything and looked grateful that she was going to handle it.

“Connor, don’t give her any slack. Keep it tough and at full strength. Spike, you need to quit thinking of her as your little girl. You’re training a Slayer, not your daughter and if you don’t get on her ass, she is going to get killed out there.” Buffy waited a moment, took another bite and swallowed before turning her gaze on her daughter. She knew what she was going to say was going to hurt Raven but it needed to be said. “Raven, quit trying to show Connor how cute and giggly you are. If he is anything like your father, the better and harder you fight him the more you’ll tu…impress him. If you want to be a Slayer sometimes you have to quit thinking of yourself as a woman and just become a machine. Now try it again.” When Raven hesitated clearly embarrassed. “Now, Raven.”

Blue eyes met her mother’s hazel ones before nodding. This time Raven was on her game and the sparring between Connor and her was more intense. Spike hunkered down and gave Raven pointers on her kicks and jabs. After a few minutes Connor wrapped his arm around her neck, but she reacted by wrapping her foot behind his ankle and took them down to the ground. She landed sitting on his stomach and she brought her fist against his thigh, instead of what her actual target would be and as he rose up in pain she brought her elbow back and into his nose which instantly started to bleed.

She scrambled off of him apologizing profusely as he held his nose.

“Head back, Connor, come on,” Buffy said as she popped the rest of her sandwich into her mouth.

With Connor in the lead, Buffy followed him upstairs as Spike called a halt and began to fold up the mats. In the bathroom, Buffy took a washcloth and held it the young man’s nose then waited for it to quit bleeding.

“Are you showing now?”

“Not really. My jeans are too tight so I am starting with the stretchy clothes. A lot more comfortable especially since I’ve gained about ten pounds now.”

“It doesn’t look like it.”

“Thanks,” Buffy smiled as she lifted the washcloth. “It’s stopped. Let’s get you cleaned up.”

She got a new washcloth and wet it before wiping the blood off of him. She knew that he hadn’t had a lot of nurturing in his life and wanted to give what she could to the young man who was becoming important to her. Knowing that he turned out ‘normal’ even though he came from two vampires gave her hope for her own baby.

“Go upstairs to Spike’s dresser and get yourself a clean t-shirt. It’s okay.”

Buffy sighed as she watched him leave. Her hand softly ran over the slight swelling of her belly and smiled. Even with the sporadic spacing out and overly enhanced emotions, she still had faith that everything was going to be fine.

She made her way to the kitchen to find Spike on the phone.

“It’s Xander. He wants to know if we want to come over for dinner tonight then Eli can spend the night. They want to discuss Thanksgiving while we’re there.”

“Sure, no problem. Find out what they want us to bring. And Connor is coming with us. I haven’t asked him yet but I’d like for him to be there.”

She kissed her husband on the cheek before heading for the refrigerator again. As she rummaged through the contents, Spike finished his conversation and came to lean over her.

“Eating again, Love?”

“It’s not that I’m really hungry. Just want something and haven’t found it yet.” Buffy sorted through the pudding on the shelf. “Hey, who ate the last vanilla and chocolate swirl? I had dibs on it.”

Laughing Spike kissed her on the back of her neck while his arm encircled her waist.

“Why don’t you just take a vanilla and chocolate and mix them together?”

“It’s not the same,” Buffy responded as she grabbed a chocolate one. “So, what time are we supposed to be there and what are we bringing?”

“Five-thirty and Anya is making lasagna. So, they said nothing.”

“We’ll stop and get a bottle of wine.” Buffy said as she took Spike’s hand. “Come cuddle with me.”

She led them into his study, closed the door behind him and pushed him down on the couch. He smiled up at her as she put his legs up. Then when he was stretched out she straddled him, leaning down to kiss him while her hands pushed his shirt up and out of her way.

“My two favorite things to have in my mouth are you and chocolate.”

Slowly she spooned the pudding across his chest and stomach, taking the time to fill his belly button to capacity, and then with a smile began to lick it off of him as he lay back waiting impatiently for the time she would undo his jeans.

November 17, 2007 7:35 PM

They were all gathered in the Harris living room watching the end of the movie that the younger kids had picked out. Raven, Sean and Connor were playing cards in the corner while Anya was sprawled out on the floor with the kids. Buffy was curled into Spike’s side, alternating feeding them from a dish of ice cream. Xander was stretched out in his recliner sleeping. He had fallen asleep almost a half hour before and his occasional snores had everyone laughing.

Suddenly he shifted in his chair and his hand flew up then flopped back into his lap. Everyone’s attention was drawn to him as he squirmed and made a moaning sound.

“Oh, God, Buffy,” Xander muttered and everyone stopped laughing. “No, please, Buffy, don’t.” He twitched again and screamed. His eyes flew open and he looked quickly around the room. “Where’s Buffy? Is she all right?”

“Yeah, she is,” Spike responded. “But after the moan fest and calling my woman’s name, you might not be.”

His friend looked around the room, looked Buffy over and ran his hand over his face. “I’m going to get a drink. Be right back.” He was clearly embarrassed as he stood and headed for the kitchen.

“Spike, go talk to him and be nice,” Buffy said.

“Am I ever anything else?” Spike replied as he stood and went into the kitchen. When he walked in Xander was leaning against the sink gulping a glass of water. “Hey.”

“Hey.”

“So, you dreaming about Buffy?” Spike asked as he put his hands in his pockets. He looked around the room instead of looking at his friend.

“Not like you think, man, it was totally, nothing, but it wasn’t like that.”

Spike nodded, “So, explain to me.”

Xander wiped his hand over his face again. “I was dreaming that she was like full term and she was lying on the dining room table.” He stopped for a second when Spike’s eyes opened wide and chuckled. “And her stomach started moving and then this alien thing popped out of her stomach. It was like totally…” **

“Gross. I’ve had the same dream myself, actually.”

They both laughed as they relaxed again and Spike moved to lean on the counter next to his friend. In light of everything that they had been researching and fearing, the dream seemed a natural process, especially considering how many movies with that scenario they had watched over the years.

“Sorry, for scaring you there.” Xander apologized.

“No, problem just thought you had the hots for my wife for a minute.”

“No, of course not, no such thoughts of the Buffster would ever cross my mind.”

Spike turned a raised eyebrow toward his friend because he was protesting a little too much. It was at that moment that their wives walked into the room.

“What thoughts of me?” Buffy asked.

“Fantasies of you,” Spike said as he enjoyed the embarrassment that he was putting the other male through.

“Really, never? Oh, because Anya had said something the other day about just that thing,” Buffy said while exchanging looks with Anya.

“And just like Xander says he’s never thought of you, I’m sure that Spike has never thought of me,” Anya said.

This time both eyebrows raised as Spike stared at the two women. They had to be joking about this and he didn’t even dare look at Xander, who he could feel squirming next to him.

“You know, An, if they are fantasizing like that,” Buffy said while her eyes raked over Xander. “Maybe I should take Xander home and leave Spike here and we’ll get together for brunch tomorrow and compare notes.

“Good idea,” Anya agreed as they turned and walked back out of the kitchen.

As they left the two men could hear them discussing which restaurant to meet at the next day.

“They’re joking right?” Xander asked.

“I hope so because I’m not going to go for it. Nothing against Anya.”

“With you there, buddy, talk is one thing but no, I don’t think so,” Xander said as he led the way back into the living room.

The two women were now talking about maternity clothes when they came back in and none of them brought it up again. A short while later, Spike cleared his throat and said that it was time to leave. As he walked out the door, Buffy’s hand firmly clasped in his, he didn’t notice the wink between Buffy and Anya, as they smiled about their little joke.

November 17, 2007 10:49 PM

For once the house was totally quiet. Elijah had happily stayed to spend the night with Aidan. Connor had taken Raven and Sean to the movies leaving only Spike and Buffy at home. And, of course, Candy Corn who was sleeping on Spike’s chair in his study. The last time Buffy had looked, Spike was on his computer talking to Xander about the plans for the attic. It had already been cleaned and chalk outlines were drawn where everything was going to go. The materials had been ordered and the two men were outlining what they were going to do in what order.

Buffy had slipped away upstairs to take a bath and to slip into some pajamas. Now, clad in her favorite pair (the ones adorned with kittens) she headed toward the kitchen intent on finding something else to eat. She had tasted everything in sight all day and still hadn’t discovered what her body was craving. As she opened the refrigerator door she sighed, knowing the contents hadn’t changed and she doubted she would find anything that appealed to her.

This time however something caught her eye and with a look around to make sure that Spike was still in his study, she pulled it out and put it on the counter. Hesitating, she ran a finger over the lid before popping it open. Okay, just a taste. Find out and then go from there. She told herself to work up the nerve, and then a finger dipped into the thick liquid before bringing it to her mouth. Her tongue flicked out and tasted it. Tears formed in her eyes as she realized that this was what she had been hungry for. Blood.

She contemplated whether to heat some up and hide to drink it but the thought of drinking the pig’s blood made her shudder in distaste. She wanted it warm from a body and her mind flashed back to the few times she had tasted Spike’s blood and knew that was what she wanted. Salivating at the thought, she licked her lips and put the container away before turning toward the study.

November 17, 2007 10:58 PM

He and Xander were playfully arguing over what type of bathtub they needed to order for the attic bathroom and he chuckled as Xander insisted they needed a tub for four. Anya had confessed the plotting that she and Buffy had done about the swapping joke and now the two of them were carrying it to the fullest extreme that two men could. Of course, it helped that they were on the computer and couldn’t see the other’s face as they joked.

Buffy entered the room and came over to him. He slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her down onto his lap. Squeezing her gently, he laid his head on her shoulder as she snuggled into him.

“I’m hungry,” she said.

“Again, Love? Do you want me to go and get you something?”

Her hand cradled his cheek and turned him to face her. A tear slipped down her face as she ran her thumb over his lips.

“No, Spike, I’m hungry.”

She drew her other finger along the vein on the inside of his wrist and he closed his eyes for a moment as it clicked what exactly she meant. He nodded and reached over to type in that he had to go. After the computer was shut off, Spike picked her up and carried her over to the couch. He settled her across his lap and pressed his lips to her, and for a moment they allowed themselves the connection.

“Are you sure?” He asked when they had drawn apart.

“Yeah, I tried to drink the stuff in the fridge but…”

“It’s okay, Pet, you and the baby need the fresh stuff.”

She only nodded and he switched to game face. His heart ached that it had come to this for her. It had to be the baby that was creating this need and he watched the intense concentration on her face as she watched him. Her tongue darted out as he bit into his wrist so that the blood would flow freely. After taking a swallow to make sure that it was flowing he held his arm out for her. Tenderly she took his arm in her hands and pulled it toward her. She slowly licked the blood that had escaped down his flesh before fastening her mouth around the puncture wounds. Softly she began to suckle at it as he settled them a little more comfortably.

He only hoped that this wasn’t a constant need because he knew he couldn’t feed her properly from him. And it wasn’t just tasting or part of a sexual game that she was doing now. It was feeding and he only hoped that he would be able to satisfy her without hurting himself. His fingers softly played through her hair and knew that he would do what he had to do to keep her satisfied and was grateful that the chip was now deactivated.

TBC

** Author’s note: Thank you to Vette who remembered the Alien scene and applied it to our boys. So, thank you for your reviews and your idea. I appreciate it!!
Out of the Mouths of Babes
Chapter 20
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