The devil went down to Georgia, he was looking for a soul to steal,

He was in a bind 'cause he was way behind and he was willin' to make a deal.

-The Devil Went Down to Georgia-Charlie Daniels Band-

        A dark shadow passed over Sunnydale in the midst of the night.  It touched everything and everyone.

        Willow Rosenberg whimpered softly, clinging to her lover as Oz growled in his sleep, pulling her closer as if to protect her.

        Giles stirred beside Joyce Summers, and she shook slightly, hand reaching out unknowingly for the man beside her.

        Xander tossed the covers off, his entire body tensing as Anya shuddered, her hands clenching into fists.

        Buffy's eyes opened and she sat up in bed, glancing around the room, shivering at the unseen presence.

        Wesley's body curled into a fetal ball, and he unconciously pulled the covers over his head as if too hide from something, like a child afraid of monsters, sure the meager blankets would offer him proper protection.

        Spike rolled over in his sleep, pulling Erin against him, covering her body with his as the redhead sobbed quietly, the tears running from her closed lids as she buried her face against her husband's hard chest, seeking solace in her slumber.

        The next morning, not one person would remember feeling a thing.

        Spin, duck, jab...Erin ran through the routine in her mind as she absently blocked Wesley's staff as he tried to break through to the blindfolded Slayer.

        She could sense Spike off to the side, keeping a careful guard over her new Watcher, small growls indicating where she made mistakes, and she corrected them automatically.

        Bloody clueless toff, Spike thought, eyes narrowing as Wesley grunted, still trying to get one hit in, but he was failing miserably, unaware of her extra abilities to scent his position easily, and she could hear the slight rustling of his trousers everytime he moved.  She wasn't even getting much of a work-out.

        Spike rolled his eyes, then shed his shirts, grabbing a staff of his own.  Erin arched a brow over her blindfold, already tensing for an attack.  Wesley glared at him, "What are you doing?"

        "Teaching you a thing or two about training Slayers, mate," Spike said casually, then brought his staff down across Erin's shoulders.  "Ow!"  She glared at him through the blindfold, "Not much of a warning there, darling."

        "You've had a minute to prepare," Spike reminded her, and she rolled her eyes, falling into a defensive position, blocking a jab to her throat, then spun, bringing her staff across his kneecaps, making him grunt.  "Good, but your reaction time is too slow."

        She paused, glaring at him, "Let's see how fast you move with this in front of you," She retorted, gesturing at her stomach, "It's like hauling a twenty-ton...ow!"  She rubbed her arm where he wacked her, "Goddamn sadistic vampires!"  She snapped a kick at him, but he grabbed her leg, and she growled, using his grip on her to get the proper momentum to spin her body and kick him in the head.

        Spike dropped her leg, rubbing his sore jaw with a grin, "That's better, luv...whoa!"  He blocked a jab at his balls, "Oh, that was low, kitten."

        "Says the guy beating on a pregnant woman," She replied, smiling, and Spike raised an eyebrow as the fight really started getting going.

        He swept in low, his staff smashing into her side even as hers snapped him in the backside and he yelped, jumping, "Again with below the waist..."

        She shrugged unrepentantly as she swept-kicked him, and he crashed to the tile of the patio, and he growled, vamping out as he got back to his feet, but he staff immediatly struck him beneath the chin, then slammed him in the side of his head.

        Spike spun on his feet, then teetered on the edge of the pool before falling in with a large splash.

        Erin lifted her blindfold, "Oops...sorry..."

        Spike surfaced, glaring at her as Wesley laughed at him.  He swam to the edge and winced as he tried to climb out, "Ow!  I think you buggered up my bloody knee!"

        "Oh, Spike...I'm sorry," Erin looked concerned, "Wes, help me."

        Wesley rolled his eyes, but he offered a hand to the vampire even as Erin did, and Spike braced his weight against the side before yanking on both of them and sending them both flying into the water.

        Erin sputtered, her long hair clinging to her face, and she lifted it away to scowl at him, "Funny, darling, real funny..."

        "I thought so," He chuckled, starting to climb out, but Wesley grabbed him by the back of his jeans and jerked him back in the water and dunking him.

        "That won't work too well," Erin reminded him, "Especially since he doesn't have to breath."

        "What do you suggest?"  Wesley asked, holding the vampire under the water, and she grinned evilly, ducking under.  She gave her husband a small wave before pantsing him and making off with his jeans as he stared after her in shock.

        Wesley chuckled as he let Spike back up, and Spike glared at Erin, "Give me my pants, pet."

        "You want them?  Come and get them," She teased, hopping out of the pool, and Spike growled, glancing at Wesley, "You might want to turn around for this, mate."

        "What?"

        Spike shot out of the pool, and Erin shrieked as her wet husband grabbed her around the waist, grabbing his pants, and falling back with her into the water in  one swift move.

        Wesley stared straight forward with wide eyes, "I could have done without that, thank you very much," He muttered climbing out of the pool, careful to avert his eyes from the pair.

        Erin smiled innocently at him, and he growled playfully, lifting her up against him and devouring her mouth.  She pulled away after several minutes, panting lightly, "Pants, Will...I think Wesley's blushing."

        Spike glanced over her shoulder, scowling, "Go 'way," He growled, and Wesley glared at him as he wrung out his clothes, "We're in the middle of training!"

        "I'm training her right now," Spike replied, and Wesley raised an eyebrow, "And what sort of training is that?"

        "Endurance," Spike answered seriously, and Erin groaned, dropping her head on his shoulder, "You're impossible," She mumbled into his wet skin, and he grinned, "Yeah, well, that's why you love me."

        "I'm bloody surprised you survived this long," Wesley grumbled, and Erin and Spike exchanged a look, "Yeah, pet...by all rights, you should be dead by now."

        Erin rolled her eyes before kissing him and escaping from his grasp and kicking towards the side, making sure she splashed him in the face on her way there.

        As she grabbed a towel from Wesley, he glared at her, "From now on, I want him excluded from our training sessions!"  He ordered, "Got that?"

        "Wesley," Erin smiled innocently, putting a hand on his chest, "Go soak your head," She shoved him back into the pool, and headed into the house, humming innocently.

        Wesley stared after her as Spike chuckled, "You get used to it after a while," The vampire assured him, "No one orders her around, and the ones that do always end up hurt."

        "What do you know?"  Wesley muttered, and Spike shrugged, "Hey, mate, no one knows her better then me.  But fine, you want to make things difficult, keep ordering her around like a dog, and see how long you last with her."

        Wesley's eyes narrowed as Spike smirked at him and climbed out of the pool in the buff, grabbing the last towel and leaving him out there.  "Oh...bloody hell!"

        Giles raised an eyebrow as Wesley stalked from the house, his hair wet and sporting a pair of Spike's clothing, "How was training?"  He asked the younger Watcher and Wesley glared at him, "Once again, Mr. Giles, your influence has been less then sterling."

        "Must run in the family," Giles commented, chuckling as Wesley pratically peeled out of the driveway, then headed into the house himself, "What did you do to him?"  He asked Spike and Erin, who were both looking far too innocent.

        "He's a bit...tense," Erin replied, shrugging with a small smile, "Did you do it?"

        Giles nodded, "They're sending me...uh...Wesley some books relating to prophecies about the end of the world...unfortunatly, I couldn't inquire into the childbirth aspect of it, since that would seem a bit suspicious."

        Erin nodded gratefully, glancing at her watch, "Damn...I'm supposed to meet Buffy and the girls for lunch," She shot a look at Spike and Giles, "If I leave you two alone, will you promise to not bleed on my carpet?"

        Spike shrugged, raising an eyebrow at Giles, "If he doesn't mess with me, luv, I don't mess with him."

        "Good," Erin kissed him quickly, then Giles, "See you later."

        "Later," Spike waved at her, then was on his feet as soon as she was out the door, "Well?"

        Giles plopped down his briefcase and removed a sheath of papers, "I called in a few favors from a friend in LA, and he sent me these," Spike took them, frowning as he shuffled through them, then froze, "Dies ira, dies illa solvet saeclum in favilla...?"  He read, glancing at Giles, "I've heard that before, mate...I don't know where, but I know that phrase."

        "Day of Wrath, that day shall consume the world in ashes," Giles translated, "It's a prophecy, concerning..."

        "The end of the world, yeah, I guessed that," Spike frowned, "Where in the hell did I hear that before?"

        "It's an ancient one, Spike...perhaps you ran across it when you were still a Watcher."

        "Perhaps," Spike shrugged, "Is this all?"

        "I think it's time we caught up on our reading," Giles commented, setting a pair of leather gloves on the table, then set two Holy Bibles in front of Spike, who raised an eyebrow, "You want the new testament or old?"

        "I'll take old," Spike sighed, "At least that has some good violence in it."

        Giles shook his head as Spike slipped on the gloves and picked up the bible, "How long do we have till Erin gets back?"

        "Couple hours at least," Spike answered, sitting down and opening the first page, "Shall we, then?"

        "Remind me to always eat with a pregnant woman," Buffy teased, watching as Erin polished off her meal in record time, "It makes me feel better about ordering the ultra-fatty burger."

        Erin sighed, shaking her head, "Yeah, well...I'm starving," She said, eyeing Buffy's plate, and the Slayer discreetly moved it away from her, "I still can't believe you got stuck with Wussly.  I feel sooo sorry for you."

        "Feel more sorry for him," Erin giggled, "I think we pissed him off today."

        "Oh, good girl," Buffy grinned, "It's good to start early when breaking them in."

        "What about the Council?"  Willow asked worriedly, "Do they know about...you know," She gestured at the plump Slayer, and Erin shook her head, "Wesley said he didn't tell them, so I'm hoping he's telling the truth.  There's no telling what they'll do once they learn about this!  Especially what's going to happen when he's born."

        Willow patted her shoulder reassuringly, "Don't worry, Er, none of us are going to allow anything to happen to you guys."

        "Yeah, we'll even protect Spike," Buffy grimaced, "Ew...I can't believe I just said that."

        "You know," Erin snatched a fry off her plate, "He has a lot of respect for you," Erin rolled her eyes, "The other day he actually said, 'The Slayer wouldn't do something stupid like that, pet!'"

        "What did you do?"  Willow asked, and Erin looked away, "Uh...slayed a demon?"

        "You were slaying?!"  Buffy glared at her, and Erin shrugged, "He ticked me off.  He called me fat!"

        "Erin, you are fat," Buffy reminded her, "You're a whale, for God Sakes.  You could be Shamu's girlfriend!"

        "I just love my friends," Erin muttered, glancing at Willow, "See what I have to put up with?"

        "I don't think you're fat," Willow assured her, "Besides, you're only in the second trimester."  

        "Translation?"

        "You're going to get a hell of a lot fatter," Buffy supplied, and Erin groaned, then glanced at a dessert cart as it passed, "You think?"

        Willow sighed, "You're so lucky, though...you're only eighteen, but you're married, and about to be a mother...of course, the whole end of the world puts a damper on that..."

        "Yeah...and my parents thought I was a bad seed," Buffy said, and Erin raised an eyebrow, "Are you calling my child a bad seed?"

        "More like a demon seed," Willow teased, and Erin shook her head, "You know, I don't think I'm going to speak to you two anymore.  You just make fun of me."

        "That's cause we love you," Willow replied, and Erin smiled, "That why you make fun of Anya?"

        "Now there's a bad seed," Buffy shook her head, "Xander's completely batty if he's dating her...I mean, hello!  Ex-vengeance demon, career: torturing men for fun."

        "I don't think she's all that bad," Erin replied, then cocked her head thoughtfully, "Hey, you know, she's probably one of the first femininists in the world...at least, still living."

        "Yeah, yah for Anya," Buffy rolled her eyes, reaching for her purse, but Erin shook her head, "No, I got it.  You paid last time, remember?"  She reminded her friend, grabbing her own purse, then swore when it fell out of the stall.

        A hand shot out and caught it before it could hit the ground, and Erin looked up, meeting a pair of black, smoldering eyes, and jerked in surprise, banging her head against the bottom of the table, "Ow!  Son of a..."

        "You all right, Erin?" Buffy asked, raising an eyebrow at the newcomer.  His handsome, sharply chiseled face broke into a smile as he ran a hand through his black hair, "Are you all right, miss?"

        She tore her eyes away from his, blushing slightly, "Uh...yeah, Buff, I'm fine..."

        The man looked over all three of them, smiling again as he turned and strolled away.  Buffy turned towards her friends, "Who was that?"

        Willow shook her head, looking at his retreating back, "I don't know...but yikes..."

        Erin shuddered, "I think I'm going to go home...I don't feel to well at the moment..."

        "Morning sickness again?  I mean...you know, afternoon sickness?"

        Erin shook her head, glancing in the direction the man had disappeared, "I don't know...probably...I'll see you guys tomorrow night at the Bronze, right?"

        "Yep, Oz is playing," Willow smiled, "He's going to head up to LA soon for a gig, and I get to go with!  Finally, freedom from my parents."

        "You know," Erin sighed, "In about twenty years, that's what my child is going to be saying?"

        "Hey, but you still got ages five to thirteen when he'll be relatively normal and manageable," Buffy reminded her, and Erin frowned, "Why?  What happens after thirteen?"

        "Puberty sets in at one point...I can just imagine Spike trying to deal with that!"

        "I'd be more worried about telling him that Angel is his grandfather.  I don't think a kid would fall for the 'he just looks young for his age' bit."

        Buffy giggled, "Angel, a grandfather...perish the thought.  I really doubt he'll be taking him fishing or anything grandfatherly."

        Erin sighed, grabbing her jacket and dropping a tip on the table, "Yes, well...I don't expect this to be a normal little family, not when the dad's a vampire, I'm a half-breed, and I guess he'll be 3/4 a vampire, right?"

        "That's the way the math adds up," Willow replied as she slid out of the booth, taking her arm, "But hey, my family's weird too.  Heck, you should have seen the look on my dad's face when he found all my crucifixes in my room."

        Erin and Buffy laughed and Willow grimaced, "It's not funny.  I had to sit with a Rabbi for three hours!"

        That only made them laugh harder, and Willow gave Erin a light shove, "Halfy."

        "Witch," Erin shoved her back, giggling, "Who's up for ice cream?"

        "Oh God..." Buffy stuck her tongue out at her, "My thighs are telling you to screw off."

        "My thighs are screaming, 'feed me, dammit,'" Erin sighed, shaking her, "I'm doomed."

        "Delia gorna sienat..."  Dymas opened his eyes as someone pressed a warm hand against his chest, and he looked down at the small, wizened woman drawing patterns on his bare torso in what smelled like blood, but it was adulterated somehow.

        Firelight flickered along the planes of his face, and he turned his head towards the raging bonfire to his side, watching as a group of women swayed, their hands in the air as they chanted in a strange language he didn't understand, but still seemed familiar.  

        "Delia gorna sienat," The woman repeated and when he looked down, he was staring into empty eyeholes.

        She held a chalice up towards him, and he took it, drinking deep the honeyed blood, closing his eyes as he vamped out.

        "She calls for you to do her duty, as one of her sons," The Seer whispered, touching his long black hair, and his golden eyes opened, and he growled, "Am I to recieve what was promised me?"

        "Always, she is yours after the ceremony, to be done with as you please," The Seer smiled, "All but death, of course."

        He turned when he heard a sharp cry, and a girl was tossed into the witch's circle, clothed in rich robes of dark purple and red, her entire body fairly dripping with blood-colored jewels.

        She lifted her head, her emerald green eyes filled with unshed tears, "Athena...save your child..." She pleaded softly, and the Seer chuckled cruelly, "Your Goddess won't hear you, child..."

        She looked around the circle, shuddering, "Hecate," She murmured, then met Dymas' blue eyes, "You're all the whores of HECATE!"

        "Bow to your Lord Dymas!"  The Seer barked, but the girl stood, eyes spitting defience, "I will not bow to a daimon!"

        "That is the problem with Athena's children," Dymas chuckled wryly, "Always so full of themselves because of their purity.  Is that not right, my dear Airlia?"  He asked as he stepped into the circle, and she shrank back from him as the witches came from the bonfire to surround them.

        She looked around for help, but none was coming as Dymas grabbed her arm and jerked her against him, his eyes gleaming hungrily, "I've been watching you," He whispered, touching her blood-red hair, "Every night, my love."

        She tried to pull away from him, but he growled, gripping her tightly as the Seer chanted the sound filling the air around them.

        "Please...let me go..." She pleaded softly, looking over his shoulder at the other women, shuddering, "I have done nothing but my duty..."

        "Shh..." He smiled, pressing a finger against her trembling lips, "It is too late for that."

        "She is yours, Dymas," The Seer cackled, "Finish what you started."

        He growled again and Airlia's eyes opened as he let go of her arm and fastened his hands on her robes, rending them down the middle.  

        Tears poured down her face as she vainly tried to cover her nudity, and he yanked her against him once more, plundering her mouth ruthlessly with his.  He dug his hands into her thick hair, dislodging the jewels hung in it, and they dropped to the ground at their feet.

        She struggled against him, her hands beating on his bare back as he lowered her to the ground, pinning her firmly beneath him.

        His hands skimmed along her side as he lavished her throat with his tongue and helpless sobs racked her body as her new husband growled against her skin.  She watched as one of the women wrapped a long serphant about her neck and allowed the animal to begin choking the life from her.

        She shuddered, and Dymas lifted his head, following her gaze and raising an eyebrow, "Fanatics," He murmured as the witch slumped to the ground, dead, and the serpeant slid into the circle.  The bonfire jumped high into the sky, beginning to burn with a green luminiunce, and it stretched it's fingers out for them, running along the edge of the circle and separating them from the view of the outside world.

        Dymas turned his gaze back to her, watching as the green flames reflected in her eyes, then jumped in surprise when he saw his reflection looking back at him.  "By Hecate we are bound, and by the child we are made as one," He murmured, reaching into his boot to remove a knife, and made a cut along his palm, then did the same to her, pressing the two wounds together.

        She stared up at him helplessly as he ran his tongue along her palm, closing up the thin cut, his eyes on hers, "Delia gorna sienat...mine...always..."  He whispered as he slid into her gently, feeling her maidenhood give before him.

        She buried her face in his shoulder at the sharp pain, and Dymas gently stroked her hair, "All is well, my love...I would not harm you..."

        Spike shot awake in bed, his eyes wide, and Erin sat up beside him, "Spike?  What's wrong?"

        He shuddered, turning to look towards her, his chest clinching when he saw his reflection in her eyes.  No...please, God no...

        He's not telling me something, Erin thought, watching as her husband stalked around the house, opening and slamming doors and cabinents, as if looking for something, but everytime she tried to ask him what was wrong, he'd growl and snap at her that it was nothing and to stop being nosy.

        Finally, she grabbed her jacket and stormed out of the house, and Spike nearly dived for the phone, "Watcher!  Get your arse here...now!"

        Xander was nearly run-down by an irate, pregnant Slayer, and he grabbed Erin's arm, "Hey..."

        She snarled, twisting it behind his back, and Xander paled, "OW!  Erin!  Pain!"

        Her eyes widened as she let him go, "I'm sorry, Xander...I wasn't paying attention..."

        He rubbed his arm with a wince, "You sure?  Cause it sure as hell felt like you were...Christ, woman...you nearly ripped my arm out of my socket!"

        "Sorry," She repeated with a sigh, shaking her head, "I'm a little...tense..."

        "I'd say," Xander muttered, frowning, "Why so tense?  Martial bliss not so...blissful?"

        Erin sighed, glancing around, then found a bench to sit down on, "No, not really..." She looked up at him, "I think he's hiding something from me, Xander...something really important...and he has nightmares almost every night...but...vampires aren't supposed to dream, right?"

        "Asking the wrong guy," Xander replied, "But why would Evil Dead hide something from you?"  Xander rolled his eyes, "As much as I'd hate to admit it, he loves you to death."

        Erin sighed, leaning back on the bench, "Precisely the problem," She said, glancing at Xander as he sat beside her, "He's entirely too overprotective...so, if something came up...concerning our child...he'd want to keep me from being upset..."

        "Well, Er, don't know what to tell you," Xander said, shrugging a bit, "You could always beat the information out of him, then staking's always an option."

        Erin raised an eyebrow, "You wish," She said, standing up and Xander shrugged again, "Hey, a guy can dream, can't he?"

        "Hmm...I guess so...it's never going to happen, but yeah," She glanced around, shifting restlessly on her feet, "What's a girl got to do to relieve a little tension."

        "I got just the thing," Xander took her arm, "Come on, your chariot awaits."

        "That thing is not a chariot...it's a Ford deathtrap."

        "Hey, you got a car?  Then don't bash the POS mobile."

        As soon as Giles opened the door, Spike grabbed him by the shoulders, looking into his eyes with an intensity that Giles had rarely seen in him.

        "Son of a bitch!"  Spike snarled in frustration when he didn't see a reflection,  and raked both hands through his short hair, which was sticking up wildly, "Jesus, Spike...what in the hell is wrong with you?"

        "What do you know about a Slayer named Airlia?"  Spike snapped impatiently, turning his back on Giles.

        "Airlia?  What in the world...?"

        "Grecian babe, near as I can tell," Spike continued, ignored him, "Dead-ringer for Erin too...and they kept calling me Dymas..."

        "Who?"

        "The witches...priestesses of Hecate..."

        Giles stared at Spike's back, "Have you gone completely insane?  Witchs?  Hecate?  Dreams you can't remember?  Spike, this is madness!"

        "Don't you think I fucking know that!"  Spike whirled, and Giles flinched involuntarily, seeing Spike was near the edge of a dark brink.  "Just answer the fucking question!"

        "I don't know of any Slayer called Airlia.  And Hecate was..."

        "The Goddess of Darkness and the terrors of the night..." Spike stalked towards the fridge and grabbed out a bottle of vodka and unscrewed the cap with his teeth before taking a deep draught of it.  "Wouldn't it make sense in those days for vampires and such to bowdown to that Goddess, while a Slayer may have followed Athena, the warrior Goddess?"

        "I suppose...but Spike...why...?"

        "I dreamt it last night," Spike waved the bottle wildly, and Giles wondered how much he had drank before he got there, "Fucking weird-ass shit...witches choking themselves with snakes...the Seer...from the Council, the one that chose me...and I think I fucking married her...or Dymas...or whoever the fuck I was supposed to be..."

        Giles grabbed the vodka from him, and Spike glared at him as Giles headed towards the kitchen, dropping it in the garbage can.  He opened the fridge and dumped the last of the liqour into the sink, then stomped towards Spike again, pointing at the couch, "SIT THE FUCK DOWN!"

        Spike's eyes widened in some surprise as he did so automatically.

        "I don't want to hear any more of this bullshit, Spike!"  Giles snapped, "Witches, snakes...Jesus, do you have any idea how you sound?  You're getting hysterical over nothing!  An active imagination paired with hysteria over Erin's current predictement!  You're probably scaring the hell out of her too!"

        Spike glanced away guiltly, knowing that Erin was more then a little upset, "You don't believe me..."

        "Spike, even for the Hell Mouth, this is fantastic...Christ, at least, for Erin's sake, forgot about the goddamn dreams, and forget about this lunancy!"

        "Lunancy?!  You're calling me crazy?!"  Spike leapt to his feet, "Goddamn you!  I came to your for fucking help!"

        "Well, don't!" Giles snapped  at him, "You're going crazy over this, Spike, and you will not drag me down with you!"

        "What the fuck is wrong with you?"  Spike asked, "Are you trying to fucking protect her or what?!  I can't do this alone, Giles!"  

        "You're crazy," Giles shook his head, stalking towards the door, "You're fucking insane and there's not a thing I can do about it."

        "I can see my reflection in her eyes!  What the hell is that supposed to mean?!"  Spike shouted in desperation as Giles slammed the door behind him, and he slumped back on the couch, burying his head in his hands, "Now what the hell am I supposed too?"  He moaned.

        "What I don't understand," Erin swung the bat, grunting as it struck the baseball, sending it hurtling towards the back of the batting cage, "Is why.  We always promised honesty, you know?  It was the entire basis of our relationship."

        Xander winced, watching as the redhead slammed another ball viciously, "Out of curiousity, what relationship are you talking about?"

        She frowned, relaxing her stance to look over her shoulder at him, "Pardon?"

        "I mean, it's like what Buffy said before...the demon being different from the man?  Which part of your relationship do you mean?  When he was your Watcher, or now, when he's your pet vamp?"  Xander clarified, taking the bat from her for his turn.

        "Well, still...the same rules should apply.  Complete and total honesty is the only way for us to work."

        Xander shrugged as he missed three baseballs in a row, rolling his eyes, "Sttreekkee three," He muttered, turning towards Erin as the ball machine shut off, "Er, he loves you, totally and completely.  Whatever's bothering him, let him work out himself.  It's probably one of those guy things I hear so much about."

        "You think?" She looked at him hopefully, and Xander sighed, "Tell you what...I'll talk to him myself and see what's up, all right?"

        "Thanks, Xander.  You're such a good friend."

        Xander smiled wanly back at her dazzling one, "Yeah, right...that's me...good friend Xander."  He sighed as soon as she turned her back to him, Always the good friend...

        Willy nearly groaned when he saw Spike stalk into his bar soon after sunset, seeing the rageful look on his face.  He just hoped his bar would survive another Spike binge.

        "He-Hey Spike," the snitch-bartender greeted him, "You got married...?"

        Spike growled at him, jerking him over the smooth surface of the bar by his shirt, "Who the fuck told you?!"

        "N-no one..." Willy stammered, "No one's been asking about you..."

        "But someone's talking, aren't they?" Spike snapped, "How in the hell did you know?!"

        "You-your ring, man...I swear!  I saw your ring, that's all!"  Willy stammered in desperation, and Spike growled, releasing him, "Vodka, straight up, now!"

        "Ri-right..." Willy hurried to pour it, spilling most of it out on the bar, and Spike scowled at him, grabbing the bottle instead, "Bloody nuisance," He growled, swigging straight from the bottle as Willy retreated down the bar, careful to stay away from the obviously angry vampire.

        Spike slammed the bottle back on the bar, scarring the highly-polished surfaced, and Willy winced.

        Spike glanced around the empty bar, frowning, "Where in the hell is everyone?"

        "We-well...with the disappearences...most left town...and the others...well...they di-disappeared," Willy said nervously, "Whoever's doing this, it's really ruining my business..."

        "Cater to humans, mate...there's your bloody solution.  No one kidnaps them or impregnants them with children..."

        Willy peered at him, overly curious, and Spike lapsed into a stony silence, glaring at the bottle in front of him.  Willy shook his head before disappearing into the back.  

        "Then I said to myself, what can a young man be so down about?  And the answer, of course, is a woman," A voice broke through his thoughts, and Spike frowned, lifting his head to meet black, smoldering eyes, set in a darkly handsome face, and a dangerously charming smile curling his thin, pale lips.  

        "What in the hell do you want?"

        "No one believes you, do they?  About the dreams?"  The man sat down at the bar, and Spike scowled at him, "How in the hell do you know about that?"

        "I know a lot, son, believe," his grin was sickly sweet, and Spike looked away, finding himself unable to hold eye-contact with the strange dark-haired man for long.  "That damned Watcher of hers won't even help, huh?"

        "Sod off," Spike growled, "No one asked you."

        "Dies irae, dies illa solvet saeclum in favilla," the man smiled, watching Spike as the vampire slowly turned to fully face him, giving him a wary look, "What's that, then?"

        "Day of wrath, that day shall consume the world in ashes," The man translated with a chuckle, "I always preferred Latin myself, but Greek is always a nice language too."

        Spike's entire body tensed, "Who are you?"

        "I have many names," His smile darkened even more, "Morning Star, Lightening from Heaven..."

        Spike staggered to his feet, knocking the vodka bottle from the bar, and the man glanced at it as it stilled in mid-air, "Mild trick, of course," He said at Spike's shocked look, "Amatuer, really..."

        "You're..."

        "Satan, Lucifer, the Devil, Beezelbub..." The man chuckled, "You're so surprised, Spike?  Surely you knew I existed.  Then again, you don't believe in God, so why believe in his counterpart, hmm?"  He grabbed the bottle, taking a swig of it, grimacing, "Ugh...I can't believe they call this crap alcohol...now the Babylonians...they had a mean brew."

        "What in the hell do you want?!"

        Satan sighed deeply, "Isn't it obvious?  I have a stake...oops, sorry," He grinned, "Bad pun...but I have a stake in the ending of the world too, son.  Why wouldn't I show up, huh?"

        "Aren't you...trapped?"

        "Oh, that Revelations crap?"  Satan rolled his eyes, "The Bible was written by men, Will, and men are infalliable, unlike his Perfectness," Satan jabbed a thumb upwards, "Funny, he's so special, why did he create you with such a weakness for the flesh of a young girl, like your dear, sweet wife?"

        Spike's eyes narrowed, and he went to punch Lucifer's smirking face, but he went spilling forward, striking only thin air.

        "Nice try, but feel free to try again," Lucifer chuckled, leaning against the bar casually as Spike got back to his feet.

        "Hey!  Who are you?"  Willy came out of the back, glaring at him, "That liquor ain't paying for itself!"

        "Willy, you might want to shut your trap," Spike tried to warn him, but Willy shook his head, "Come on, buddy...pay up!"

        Satan chuckled, his dark eyes finding Spike's, "Now, this is fun," He snapped his fingers, and Willy clutched his chest, and Spike watched as he fell to the ground, foam running out of his mouth as he convulsed.  

        "Hungry, son?  He's dead, so you can munch on him."

        "I'd rather drink pig's blood," Spike replied, "Don't know where the dirty snitch has been."

        Satan laughed, slapping him on the back, and Spike scowled, "So, are you going to talk or extol your 'virtues?'"

        "Ah, to the point.  I always liked that about you," Satan replied cheerfully, "As I was saying before you rudely tried to hit me, is that this ending is as important to me as the man upstairs.  And your girl," Satan whistled low, "She's going to be helping me out by giving birth to this kid of hers, and frankly, I don't like the way things are going."

        "Such as?"

        "The Council...they could completely fuck me over, you know.  That and the Intiative...you know, soldiers with the chips?"

        Spike nodded, eyes narrowing, "Frankly, I don't want a repeat of last time.  Bad mess, that one, but you know that already, don't you?"

        "What are you prattling about?"

        "Never mind, it's not important," Satan shook his head, "Anyway, I don't want my...take-over to go balls-up, which is where you come in."

        "Uh-uh," Spike raised an eyebrow, shooting him a disgusted look, "Right, I'm supposed to fucking help you? Why, because you're the dark prince?  I don't fucking think so.  Frankly you, and the mother upstairs can sod off for all I care," Spike whirled, stalking towards the door, but Satan called out after him, "You can't protect her by yourself, Spike, and no one else believes you!  It'll be your fault when your woman ends up in the fire.  Again."

        Spike growled, slamming the door behind him and Satan shrugged, glancing at Willy's dead body, "Well, that went rather well, don't you think?"  He grinned, holding up the bottle in a silent toast, "He'll come around.  They always come around."

        Spike stared at the payphone outside of the Fishbowl for several minutes before finally picking up the reciever and slipping some money in the slot, then dialing Giles' number from memory.  

        What are you going to tell him, mate?  That Satan just propositioned you?  Yeah, he'll bloody believe that...Spike snarled, slamming the phone back down just as Giles answered, then stalked into the bar.

        Erin sighed when she returned to an empty home, glancing at Xander, "You want to come in?  I'll do dinner."

        "A girl who cooks.  You're a dream come true," Xander teased, and she rolled her eyes, heading into the kitchen, "Much good it does me.  I'm only eating solids because the doctor insisted on it."

        "Really?"

        "Well, not in so many ways, but blood isn't too fattening," Erin shrugged, "Besides, I get the weirdest cravings.  Last week, jellied ham."

        Xander grimaced, "Ugh...fry me up some of that."

        Erin laughed, punching him lightly in the arm, "I got a left-over meatloaf, you like?"

        "I love," Xander grinned, plopping down in a chair, "Erin, divorce Spike and marry me."

        "Love too, Xand," She smiled, popping a carrot in her mouth as she rooted through the fridge, "Except, I'm Catholic, and it's against the rules."

        "A Catholic half-vampire who can't be near holy stuff?"

        Erin shrugged, tossing Xander a carrot, "Hey, religion's freaky."

        Several hours later, Spike returned, nearly fallen down drunk, and he growled, slamming the door behind him.  Xander was in the hallway, grabbing his coat, and he scowled at Spike, glancing towards the stairs, "Great, you're shit-faced."

        "No fucking way!"  Spike put a look of false surprise on his face, and Xander glared at him and Spike glared back at him, "What in the hell are you doing here?"

        "Promising your wife that I'd talk to you," Xander grabbed his arm, but Spike shoved him away, "Don't you go up there like that, Spike...it's not fair to her," He hissed, and Spike growled, vamping out, "Don't tell me what to do, whelp!"

        Xander shoved him against the door, easily pinning him there in his drunken state, "You just love fucking pissing on her love for you, don't you?" He hissed, "And to think I defended your pathetic ass."

        Spike blinked in surprise, "You what?"

        Xander snorted in disgust, letting go of him, "Be decent for once in your fucking life, and sleep it off on the couch, all right?  I'll be back in the morning to talk."

        Spike scowled at him and Xander shook his head, "Sleep it off, Spike, all right?"

        Spike locked the door behind him, then staggered into the living room and flopped on the couch, groaning softly.  

        "Spike?  Is that you?"  Erin came into the living room, wrinkling her nose, "You were drinking again."

        "Yep," Spike replied, not moving from his position as he waited for the room to stop spinning, and he heard her sigh as she came to stand over him, "What am I going to do with you?"

        "I can think of a million things..." He grinned drunkenly, and Erin smiled, shaking her head, "You know, this has to stop.  You can't get drunk everytime you're upset."

        "Why not?"

        "Because you're a two hundred year old man, and frankly, it's sad," She knelt on her knees beside the couch, "Darling, why won't you tell me what's wrong?"

        Spike hesistated.  He was drunk, but he wasn't that drunk.

        "Me and the Watcher had a fight...some things were said that I'd prefer weren't repeated," He muttered.  It was sort of the truth.

        "That's all?  You and Giles had a fight?"  

        "Yeah," he held his arms out for her, "Come here, luv."

        She eyed him doubtfully, and he rolled his eyes, "I'm not going to bite," He grinned, "Hard."

        "Oh boy...is that an old one," Erin mumbled as he pulled her on top of him.  She lay propped up on his chest, and he peered down at her robe, "Whatcha wearing under that?"

        "Nothing you're going to see tonight.  You're drunk, and drunk people don't get to have fun."

        "Ah, come on, luv," He sent her a pleading look, and she laughed, laying down on top of him, "Are you sure you're all right, Spike?  I've been worried about you...about why you're dreaming, and why they upset you so much..."

        "They don't, pet.  I can't remember them once I wake up," He shrugged, "Always had bad dreams, pet."

        "Oh," Erin smiled up at him, "Joyce said that married people always figure out weird things that they never realized about their partners.  She said she didn't know that Hank, Buffy's father, snored.  Said he sounded like a turbine engine sleeping beside her."

        Spike chuckled, "Do I snore?"

        "No, you don't snore," She wrinkled her nose, "But you reek of booze.  Someone needs a shower."

        Spike grinned, "Shower?  Sounds good."

        She laughed when he jumped to his feet with her still in his arms, swinging her legs up to catch them below the knees, "Care to join me?"

        "Hmm..." She raised an eyebrow, "In my current position, do I have much of a choice?"

        Spike chuckled, nuzzling her neck as he carried her towards the stairs, "Hey, maybe later you can make me do push-ups..."

        "Spike, later, you won't be in a position to do much of anything."

        "Christ...did I tell you I love it when you talk like that?"

        "Airlia?"  Dymas paused in the doorway of their small hut, his eyes wide as he looked around the demolished interior, "No..."

        He backed out slowly, turning his eyes towards the small village in the distance.  He broke out of his daze and dashed towards the stables.

        All of the horses lay slain, as well as their one cow, and he snarled, "Hecate!  You promised me! " COp;You promised me she would be safe!"  He called to the sky, then whirled towards the village.

        As soon as he entered it, he knew something was wrong.  He could hear screams in the distance, and he nearly moaned, the scent of blood strong in the air.

        He sprinted towards the town center, listening to the combined shouts of the villagers, then froze near the back.

        The witches of Hecate were all dead, their blood pouring from slashed throats, but the best, they saved for last.

        "Airlia!"  He screamed, watching as Roman soldiers lashed his bride to a pole in the middle of the square, others piling sheaths of wood at her feet.  Her belly was large with his child, and he started tossing villagers aside like they were kindling.  

        The villagers were shouting their protests, screaming that the gods would rain their wrath upon them.

        "Airlia!"

        Her head lifted up, her eyes searching for him through the thick crowd as tears poured down her face, "Dymas!  Dymas, where are you?!"

        One of the men guarding her backhanded her, and she glared at him, "Athena will punish you all!  The Gods will rain their fury upon your pathetic empire!"  She screamed in defience, and a young soldier paled, "She's cursed us," he murmured, "She cursed us with her Demons and witchs!"

        "Burn her!"  An officer ordered, grabbing a torch and throwing it on the wood.

        "NO!"  Dymas grabbed him around the neck and snapped it easily, throwing the body back into the crowd.

        "Grab him!  He's one of her demons!"  Someone shouted, and several pairs of hands grabbed on to him, forcing him to the ground.  Dymas vamped out, snarling and snapping his teeth in fury, watching helplessly as Airlia's robes caught on fire, and the redhead threw her head back in pain, but she didn't scream.

        She sought his eyes through the flames, and once finding them, she smiled at him serenely, whispering his name softly.  "No!  Let her go!"  Dymas screamed, "She's an innocent!"

        "The innocent burns nicely," Another soldier sneered at him, "Don't worry, you'll be meeting Pluto with her soon enough."

        "Gods..." Dymas shuddered as the flames spread up her body, hanging his head, unable to watch anymore.  I brought her to this...oh, my love...forgive me...

        Rage replaced grief as he turned his eyes upward, snarling in anger, "HECATE!  BITCH OF HELL!  YOU BROKE OUR AGREEMENT!  YOU KILLED HER!  I WANT WHAT WAS PROMISED ME!"

        A Roman scowled as he brought the hilt of his sword down across Dymas' head, knocking him out, "Throw him on the fire!  Let him burn with his whore!"

        Spike's eyes shot open, but he forced his body to remain still, not wanting to disturb Erin.  He turned his head to the side to look at the redhead sleeping so trustingly next to him, then his eyes traveled downwards to her stomach, shuddering involuntarly.

        I brought her to this...if it weren't for me...she'd be happy, pregnant with a normal child...

        "You can't protect herself by yourself, Spike, and no one believes you.  It'll be your fault when your woman ends up in the fire.  Again."

        Spike shuddered, recalling the Morning Star's words as he turned to his side, stroking Erin's face, feeling her soft skin beneath his fingertips, and closed his eyes as she sighed his name softly.

        She snuggled closer against him and he wrapped his arms around her, burying his face in her hair.  I won't lose you...no matter what...no matter what I have to do, I won't lose you again.

        As promised, Xander was there first thing in the morning, and Erin smiled at him gratefully as she answered the door, "You have no idea what this means to me, Xander," She beamed brightly, "But I don't think he had a nightmare last night.  He didn't wake me with his thrashing."

        "Yeah, that's great, Er.  Where's Spike, anyhow?"  He asked, looking over her shoulder, and she smiled, "He's in the shower, cursing every drink he drank last night.  At least it's not as bad as his last hang-over."

        "I'll never get that.  The man has a beautiful, smart, good woman at home, and he goes out to drink," Xander shook his lying a hand on her shoulder, looking at her intently, "But he'll pull out of it, I'm sure."

        Erin frowned, "Uh...yes, I think so," She pulled away from him, "Can I get you some coffee?"

        "Sure, why not?"  Xander asked, cocking his head, staring at her butt as she went into the kitchen, straightening when she glanced towards him.  "Joyce is dragging me out today for more baby stuff.  We still need a crib and all that," She smiled, "And then we'll be back to work on the nursury...you want to help paint?"

        "Would, but I got Anya-related stuff later," Xander shrugged, "Sorry."

        "Oh, that's fine," Erin gave him his coffee, then pecked him on the cheek as Spike came down the stairs, "I really appreciate this, Xander...please try to get him to talk."

        "See what I can do," He gave her a wave, watching as Spike caught her around the waist and kissed her deeply, "Be careful, pet," he murmured, and she laughed, "We're just going to the Mall, Spike."

        "Yeah?  Ask the Slayer about her one trip to the mall..." Spike glanced towards Xander, and groaned, "Great, you invited him in?"

        "Funny," She smacked his chest pecking him on the lips, "I gotta jet.  I'll see you later.  We have to paint the nursary."

        Spike groaned again, then laughed when she punched him in the gut, and she tried to escape from his arms, but held onto her, kissing her again as they walked backwards towards the door.  He didn't let go of her till she opened it and he had to step aside to avoid the sunlight.

        He listened to her walk down the sidewalk, then sighed, turning towards Xander again, "Christ...what do you..."

        He froze mid-sentence as Satan smirked at him, lounging in his living room, "Where's Harris?"

        "Oh, you know...he was busy this morning..."

        Spike snarled, stalking towards him, "Did you kill him too?!"

        "No.  He's just sleeping off the wack in the head I gave him.  Watch it, Spike," Lucifer smiled, "People might start to think you care about those insignificant mortals."

        Spike's eyes narrowed, "You hurt them, you hurt her."

        "Oh, right.  It's always about that fine piece of ass," Satan grinned, "Hoo boy, the things I miss down below."

        "Don't talk about her like that!"

        "Right, right," Satan held up his hands, "But she makes a mean cup."

        Spike scowled, grabbing the coffee from his hand, "I'd prefer if you don't make my bloody home smell like brimstone, your horned wanker."

        "Now with the insults?  Spike, I'm wounded.  I was only trying to help."

        "Yeah, big help, 'Hecate'."

        "Oh, right.  Figured that one out, did you?"

        "What are you?  Sexless?"

        "Yes, actually.  I can be male, or female.  Same with the guy upstairs.  We are what you make us," Satan shrugged, "I prefer male form.  Got me a lot more respect in the Middle Ages.  Although, the paintings of me...really unflattering, what with the tails and tongues...what those people were thinking are beyond me."

        "Surprise," Spike muttered, pouring the coffee out into the sink.

        Satan leaned against the counter, propping his head on his palm, grinning, "So, have you thought about what I said last night?"

        Spike paused by the sink before turning, "Well, seems like your last deal went sour, now didn't it?"

        "Hey, Romans...what are you going to do?  Fuck-ups crucified Christ, rememeber?  Hell, you got her back, didn't you?  So stop your bitching."

        "Yeah, great," Spike said sarcastically, "After I killed her!"

        "Those goddamn Romans set me back a millenia...the one time everything was perfect, and they screwed me up," Satan continued, ignoring his outburst.

        "You planned this...all of this?"

        "Yeah, well, it's kind of important to me," He shrugged, "Call me old-fashioned, but I like to have everything working for me."

        "Don't we all?"  Spike muttered, "Why us, huh?  What's so fucking special about us?"

        "Ah..." Satan straightened, "Karma, my friend, that good old wheel of life.  No one's born the same, ever.  If you are a pissant, well, you're born a little, insignificant cockroach.  Be a good little boy, and you get your treats by being born rich, famous, pretty...whatever, spin the fucking wheel and take your pick."

        "Uh-uh," Spike eyed him doubtfully, and Satan sighed, "Your dreams, dumbass, what was the first thing you noticed?"

        "Erin looked the same...or Airlia..."

        "Yes, the same, completely the same, the same attitude, mannerisms..."  Satan chuckled, "Imagine she even fucked the same.  Tell me, does it get boring for an immortal like you?  I mean, come on...one little girl..."

        Spike growled, and Satan sighed, "Right, off the point.  You two are the only people on this planet who get born the same everytime.  You're always a vampire, and she's always a Slayer.  That never changes," He smiled, "You've been sired countless times, boy...how does that make you feel?"

        "Wondering why I didn't live all that long."

        "You were an idiot," Satan shrugged, "You were always the impetuous one, but I got to admit, you're getting better with your reincarnations."

        "Right...and why the fuck are we always being reincarnated in the same forms?"

        "Who knows?  You were chosen before anything of this goddamn planet even existed...you were the first vampire, the first human that was infected with the demon before they driven from this plane.  She wasn't the first Slayer, although, that would have been a good coincedence. She was the second one, however.  In Egypt.  She was revered as a priestess, fucked by a powerful Pharoah...then you took her as your own.  Pissed off a great many people and you fucked me over by getting you both killed.  I can't tell you how many times you did that shit.  Course, I can't always blame you, Sir Fuck-a-Lot up there lent you a hand..."

        "But this is the first time you actually made an appearence, right?"

        Satan scowled, "Listen, buddy...with the new Millinium coming, the timing is right.  This is the age of nuclear warheads, political corruption, and that nifty little Palm-Pilot thing.  The time is ripe for me to decieve the nations of the world and all that jazz.  I want my time to be now...I'm tired of fucking waiting for you two to get it right."

        "Yeah, right," Spike scoffed, "Why am I even talking to you?"

        "Maybe because you're tired of losing her," Satan suggested, "Tired of the rapes she must go through to prepare her for the corruption, tired of the way you always have to renew a relationship that's doomed to death anyhow.  Face it, Spike.  Without me, she dies.  You follow, but since she's still considered a pure soul, she'll ascend, and you'll be stuck with me till you're ready to be born again.  And believe me, you may not remember the other times, but I doubt being fucked up the ass for another hundred earth years is on your agenda."

        Spike stared at him impassively, "And what are you offering me?"

        "A throne, Spike...just imagine it...no, wait...I prefer visuals, don't you?  Help the slow learners along."

        Spike's eyes narrowed suspiciously, and then his head swam, his vision swimming.  He staggered dizzingly, then felt a hand on his shoulder, steadying him.  "Sorry 'bout that.  That takes a little getting used too."

        "Yeah, well, I hope you enjoy the bit of vomit on your shoes, mate."

        Satan looked down, "Goddamn it, these are Italian!"

        "Let me guess...from Vatican City?"

        "Close...the Italian section of Hell.  Got a couple of real good cobblers down there," He said as Spike straightened.  Spike's eyes widened as he looked around a barren wasteland, "What is this?"

        "Welcome to Sunnydale, my friend...circa, oh, about five-six months from now.  Depends on how long sweet little Erin gestates."

        "Gestates?"  Spike repeated, and Satan shrugged.

        "It was on my word-a-day calendar...check it out," He pointed over Spike's shoulder, and Spike turned to see a large, black castle, "Kinda...Dark Crystalish, isn't it?"

        "Favorite movie...Henson and his muppets..."

        "Kermit the Frog's a muppet, not Skesises...and I can't believe I'm having this discussion with the Devil."

        "Kinda surreal, isn't it?"  Satan chuckled, "Think of it, Spike...you'll rule all of this!"

        "Right...watch me jump for joy," Spike kicked at the ground, "I get to boss around a couple shrubs."

        "Do you really think you'll be the only one surviving the end of days?  What a fucking ego."  Satan clapped him on the back, and Spike felt the same dizzying sensation as before, but managed to keep his feet.

        He now found himself in a dark bedchamber, and he frowned, glancing at the torches lining the wall, burning with green fire, "Wha--?"

        "You talk too damn much," Satan mumbled, and Spike's head whipped to the side when he heard moans, "Oh, great...don't tell me you're treating me to a peepshow."

        Satan shrugged as the thick, red velvet curtains parted of their own accord.  Spike arched an eyebrow when he saw himself surrounded by several demonesses, one of them deep-throating him while another licked along his chest, her nails raking down his hard pecs, drawing a thin line of blood that a vampiress fastened her mouth over it, sucking deeply as he shouted, bucking into the demoness' mouth as he orgasmed.

        "Tickle you fancy?"

        "Not bloody likely," Spike glared at him, "I don't need you for sex, mate...that wasn't supposed to sound like it sounded."

        "I figured as much," Satan sighed, "Pity...I kind like the one sucking you off.  She looks like a pro.  Maybe I should look her up."

        "You know, I'm not really being impressed here...politics can be a bitch...hell, look what I did to the annoying one."

        "Oh, him?  Damn it, that kid was going to be my crowning achievement...short of world endage, of course."

        "Sorry," Spike said insincerely as the world spun around him, "What about this possibility?"  He asked as Spike watched himself flogging Angel mercilessly, "So?  Beating on my sodding Sire...this is supposed to convince me?"

        Satan shrugged as Drusilla entered, her face covered in a tight leather mask, only her eyes showing, and her entire body nude.  She knelt before him, slipping her lips over his erection, "Why am I always getting blow jobs?"

        "Cause, as I hear it, your girl's not big on it, not after Angelus shoved that large shl..."

        "Mate, you've the negotiating skills of an used-up car salesman," Spike growled, and Satan shook his head, "Jeez, you're a hard sale, Spike.  I should have done this a year ago.  You would have jumped at the chance."

        "You're showing me bullshit, mate!  And that's fucking pissing me off!  Where in the hell is she?!"

        "Ah, of course...the most important factor in all this," Satan shrugged, "Fine, I'll show you."

        The world spun around him and Spike kept his gaze on the demon before him, not trusting him.  Why is he waiting this long to show me?

        Spike glanced around as the scene was changed to one of a vast throne room.  He looked over his shoulder, seeing himself smirking, sitting on a golden throne as his 'vassels' bowed at his feet.  A redheaded child with black eyes stood at his side, "There's your son, Spike...handsome devil, isn't he?"

        The child turned his eyes towards his father, and Spike shuddered, feeling the palatable evil radiating off of him, "My son...?"

        "Oh yeah...hair's a dead giveaway, doncha know?"

        "Erin?"  Spike growled shortly, and Satan put both hands on his shoulder, turning him around.

        He watched as Erin entered from a pair of doors watched over by a pair of Fliak demons.  A black and silver crown was perched on her hair, and blood-red jewels were clasped around her throat.  

        She slowly glided down the middle towards his other self, glancing to the side every once in a while as the demons bowed down to their Queen.  Her dress was of heavy black and red velvet, and it looked like it would drag her down.

        Spike frowned as she looked towards him, her eyes seeing right through him, but he could see the heart-rending sadness behind them.  He reached towards her, but his hand passed through her as she continued towards the other him.

        He pulled her down to his lap, devouring her lips hungrily, apparently oblivious to the court being paid to him as he groped her through her dress, lifting it over her hips.

        Spike closed his eyes as his other self impaled her, drawing a gasp from her as he buried his face in her neck, sinking his fangs into the soft skin above her breasts.

        She's a whore...she's been made into nothing more then a whore...

        "What?!  Still not pleasing to you?"  Satan looked irriatated as the scene faded away, "What in the hell do you want?  Fucking-A!  I'm giving you a fuck-load, man, and you're spitting on me!"  

        "That's not her!"  Spike snapped, "That's not my wife!"

        "What are you talking about?  That was her!"

        "No!  That was me, treating her like a whore!  What the fuck is going on?"

        Satan glared at him, "Hey, is it my fault that you're a callous bastard?  Did you ever have any respect for women?"

        "I love her!  I'd never fucking do that to her!"

        "What do you want, Spike?"  Satan snapped, "You don't want every demoness on the planet lining up to blow you, you don't want your Sire and ex beaten and submissive...you wanted Erin!  I gave her too you!"

        "She's not yours to fucking give!"

        "That's where you're wrong!"  Satan's eyes flashed black as he stepped towards Spike, "I own her, Spike!  She's mine to do with as I please!  You have no say in any of this!  I'm trying to give you everything, but it's not fucking good enough for you!  And you know what?  I'm through fucking playing NICE!"

        Spike felt a hot, searing flames scorch his body, and he grunted, whirling in disorientation.  The scene changed and Spike watched as Buffy fought a huge demon near the rift of the Hell Mouth, while Willow chanted a spell behind her.

        Giles lay bleeding on the ground as another demon stepped on his head, applying a light pressure, then Spike winced as it popped with a sickening crunching sound.

        "NOO!"  Erin screamed, her eyes wide as she lay on the floor, clutching her large stomach as labor pains racked her body.  Spike fought over her, grunting as a spear pierced him in the side, and Willow stopped her chanting as Xander crashed into her, his neck bent at a funny angle.

        "You have to close it!"  Buffy shouted at Willow as the witch scrambled out from beneath her best friend's body, sobbing quietly.  "Willow!  Close it!"  

        Oz shook her shoulder, "Willow, snap out of it!"  

        "Oh GGGGGGooooddddd!"  Erin shrieked as she birthed, and Spike knelt beside her, "Slayer!  It's here!"  

        "Little busy, Spike!"  Buffy snapped, then went flying when the demon backhanded her, and she crashed into a pile of rubble.

        Spike looked at Erin, removing his jacket to wrap his son in it, looking at Erin, "It's a boy, luv..."

        Tears were streaming down her face, and she reached for him.  Spike slipped their child into her arms, holding her close as the demons took a step back from them.  Buffy staggered to her feet in time to see Willow go down with a demon's claw through her throat, and shrieked in rage, launching herself at the attacker.

        "Oh Christ..." Spike stared down at Erin, "Luv...you're still bleeding..."

        Erin looked up at him, weakly smiling, "He's cute," She said dreamily, "He looks like you..."

        Spike looked over his shoulder as Oz shot off a crossbow, planting a bolt in the back of a demon, then was attacked from the side as another set emerged from the Hell Mouth.  "Oz!  Watch out!"

        Oz turned, and his torso was ripped open, and he clasped his stomach, as if trying to hold in his intenstines, but they spilled over his fingers in slimy, gray strands.  

        "Slayer!  Get out of here!"  Spike yelled, but she was too busy fighting, her eyes narrowed in concentration.  

        Spike looked down at Erin, "Oh...Christ, baby, please hold on...don't leave...not now..."

        "Spike...can we name him after my Uncle?" S he asked, and Spike nodded, tears springing to his eyes, "Yeah, luv, we can name him after Giles..."

        "William Rupert Giles..." She smiled, reaching for him as she kissed her child's head.  "Spike..."

        "Fuck, Slayer!  She needs hel--!"  He looked over his shoulder as Buffy let out a strangled cry, and he whirled to his feet as a demon tried to choke the life from her.  He grabbed the demon's arm and snapped it over his knee, forcing him to release his grip on Buffy.  

        Buffy clutched her throat, her trachea already crushed, and Spike swore, turning back in time to see a demon lift the baby from Erin's limp arms, "NOO!  YOU STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM THEM!"  He screamed, launched himself at the demon.  Another one grabbed him, then threw him beside Erin.  Spike groaned, lifting his head, glancing at his wife.  

        He sobbed chokingly when he saw she was dead, "Erin...oh...God...baby...no..."

        "How's it like to know that you could have prevented this, Spike?"  

        He turned as Lucifer accepted the baby from his minion, grinning down at the child, "Cute little bastard, Spike...thanks for giving me my son.  I owe you one.  Course, I tried to make it right before, but you refused me.  Now everyone you love is dead, including your wife," He chucked the child under the chin, "And your son is mine..."

        "No!" Spike howled in pain, hurling himself at Satan, and he shook his head in a disappointed manner, "I could have given you everything, son, but you lost your chance..." he snapped his fingers and green flames surrounded Spike and he howled as the sank into his skin, incinerating him.  "It's a long, slow burn, Spike, and you have eternity to enjoy it..."

        The images stopped, and Spike sank to his knees, staring at the place where Erin and the entire Scooby Gang had perished, tears standing on his cheeks.  "No...it can't be like that..."

        "Without me, Spike...you'll lose her, and you're severly fucked..."

        "You leave her out of this, you fucker!  I'll kill you if you touch her!"

        "You can try, Spike...but God himself couldn't do it, what makes you think you'll succeed?"

        They returned to his living room, and Spike wrapped his arms about himself, shuddering uncontroablly.  Asking the wrong questions...I'm asking the wrong questions...

        "Why?"

        "Why what?"  Satan asked triumphantly, sure he had won, "Which reality do  you want?"

        "Why do you need me?"  

        "What?!  I don't need you!"

        "Then why bother?  Bother showing me anything?  You already know you'd succeed..."

        "Of course I'll succeed!"

        "Then why bother with me if I'm not so important?"  Spike asked, standing on his feet and turned to face Lucifer.  "If you're already going to win, why ask me to protect Erin when you know I will, with my life?  Why bother with me?"

        "I'm not bothering with you!  I was trying to offer you something for planting your seed in her womb, for starting the cycle!"

        "But you keep insisting...insisting that I can't protect her without your help, but it seems that even I can't do it, but you'll still win.  Why bother with little old me?  She's pregnant, I served my purpose.  Why do  you need me?"

        Satan glared at him, "I...I'm not taking this bullshit from a mealy-mouthed..."

        "You can't answer that, can you?!"  Spike pratically crowed, "There's other realities you are hiding, you two-faced son of a bitch!  The future can be changed!"  

        "No!  IT CAN'T!"  Satan roared angrily, "THERE'S ONLY THIS ONE!"

         "Get the fuck out of my home and stay away from us, you bastard!  I don't want to see you around here anymore!"

        "Mark my words, Spike!  You'll regret this!  And when you die, your time with me will not be easy!"

        "FUCK OFF AND GET OUT OF MY HOME!"  Spike snarled, vamping out, "YOU'LL NOT TOUCH HER!"

        Satan glared at him, "Very well, Spike, but her death will be the worse yet!  I'll make burning at the stake look like a fucking picnic!"

        Spike glared at him till the ultimate demon disappeared, then allowed himself to slide onto the couch bonelessly, covering his face with his hands.  Fuck you, you asshole...she's mine and you bloody well know it...

Johnny said, "Devil just come on back if you ever want to try again,

I done told you once, you son of a bitch, I'm the best there's ever been!"

-The Devil Went Down to Georgia-Charlie Daniels Band-

        Erin smiled as she came into the house, seeing Spike had dozed off on the couch, then quietly slipped her shoes off and stalked towards him.  She leapt just as he opened his eyes, and he grunted as she landed on him, knocking him over.  

        "Miss me?"  She asked with an innocent smile and Spike grinned, "Not really," He teased, then his eyes fell down to her stomach, and she frowned as his eyes went dark, "What's wrong?"

        "Huh?  Oh, nothing...tired as hell, that's all," Spike shrugged, "Dreams, you know...they're a bitch."

        "Uh-uh..." Erin shook her head, "What did you talk with Xander about?"

        "Nothing much...we just shot the shit for a while," Spike inwardly winced, knowing she'd be checking up on Xander soon, and he really hoped the whelp wasn't dead.  He couldn't really trust the black prince to not lie about that.

        "Okay," Erin popped off his lap, "I got the paint...ready to do the nursury?"

        "Yeah...just give me a minute...I need to make a call."

        She kissed him before heading up the stairs, and Spike frowned after her before picking up the phone and dialing a number.

        "Angel Investigations...Cordelia speaking..."

        Giles eyed the phone warily before picking it up and dialing a number from memory, "Hello?  Joseph...yes, it's Rupert...fine, thank you.  I need to ask you something of great importance...what do you know of a Grecian Slayer named Airlia?  Very old...killed by Romans...may have been associated with a vampire called Dymas..."

Part 14: The Wendigo

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