maryperk73703 | Christmas Comes Late, Chapter 1/4

Second in a series, but not a sequel.

Summary: In season 2, a dream changes everything

Chapter 1

Spike made an inarticulate cry in his sleep. Ever since the Slayer had dropped the organ on him, he’d had strange dreams every night. Tonight was no exception.

Spike watched another version of himself go into game face and growl at the active little boy bouncing his ball against a crypt wall. He studied the other Spike, trying to figure out if this was a younger or older Spike. He knew he’d never met the boy before. In fact nothing in his dream world looked familiar. He decided it must be a pre-Sunnydale Spike.

“I like it when you snarl, Daddy,” the little boy announced to the other Spike. “You think you know what you are. You think you know what’s to come, but you’ve only just begun.” The boy faded out of sight.

Spike decided to warn his younger self of the folly of the Hellmouth. “Oi, Sunnydale and the Slayer are dangerous to you,” he called out to the other Spike. He slapped the wheelchair’s armrest.

Then, another Spike appeared to speak directly to the wheelchair bound Spike. “Don’t worry, mate,” this version announced. “You’ll be out of the chair in a few months and back in the game. Wait till your third visit to good old Sunnyhell. The Slayer’s git boyfriend sticks a chip in our head.”

"From beneath you it devours," a much more subdued Spike muttered from his place in the shadows. "It burns. The spark does. She makes the monster feel like a man."

"Don't worry, we'll get her in the end." A well-dressed Spike sauntered out of the darkness. "Do you want to see?" He waved his arm in the air, and the scene changed.

The room the Spikes found themselves in was warm and homey with a big Christmas tree and lots of presents under the branches. The little boy from earlier in the dream ran into the room, and he launched himself into the well-dressed Spike's arms.

Wheelchair bound Spike felt envy while he watched the well-dressed Spike interact with the boy.

“Daddy, Daddy, seeing Santa was so much fun!” the boy bubbled. Then, he whispered in confidentiality, “It was really Grandpa Giles, but Taj didn’t recognize him.”

“Where are Mama and Taj, Will?” Well-dressed Spike asked. He hugged the boy tightly.

“They went across the street to check on Auntie Will and Uncle Oz,” Will announced. “Tomorrow’s Christmas right, Daddy. Everyone will be there, right?”

“Yep. Grandpa Giles, Auntie Red and Uncle Dogboy, Uncle Whelp and Auntie Faith, and Auntie Dawn.”

“What about the new baby? Will she be here tomorrow?” Will’s unending questions made the other Spikes blink.

Wheelchair-bound Spike had no idea who most of the people the young boy, who was obviously his son, were talking about, but several of the other Spikes didn’t look that confused at all especially crazy Spike.

“No, I don’t think the new baby will be here for Christmas. I don’t think Mama wants to spend the day in the hospital.”

Spike snorted while he sat back in his wheelchair, but within seconds he was leaning forward with his attention on the living room door. The Slayer’s musk was strong and heady in the paralyzed vamp’s nostrils.

“Spike,” a female voice called out. “We’re back.” A very pregnant Buffy waddled into the living room carrying a little girl about three years old.

No wonder the Slayer smells so ripe and tasty, Spike growled to himself. She bloody well looks like she’s about to drop the sprog on the floor any second.

“Buffy, luv, you know you shouldn’t be carrying Taj.” Spike shifted Will to one side, and he took the little girl into his other arm. He smiled down at her. “How’s my Tara Anyanka Joyce today?”

“I wuv you, Daddy,” Taj said. “Can I see your pretty eyes?” She giggled with glee when Spike shifted from human guise to vampire guise and back again.

“I love you too, baby. Now you two go help Mama get dinner ready. I have something to take care of really fast.” Spike put the kids down, patted them on the behinds, and sent them towards the kitchen. Then, he pulled Buffy into his arms, and kissed her with all of his passion. Spike pulled away. “Sooner we eat, Slayer, the sooner they’re in bed… asleep. Then, we can play.” He waggled his eyebrows at the blond woman.

Wheelchair Spike felt the temperature rise as his counterpart snogged the Slayer. A part of him was completely and utterly disgusted by the sight while another part was so turned on he was glad his cock couldn’t get hard.

“You’re insatiable.” Buffy blushed while she caressed the blond vampire on the cheek.

“You better believe it, luv. Now get. A bloke needs privacy once in a while.” Spike watched his mate waddle off in the direction of the kitchen.

“How is that possible?” the original Spike sputtered. “You’re still a vamp.”

Wheelchair Spike wondered the same thing. He was glad one of the Spikes spoke up and asked.

“Well, there’s a little known legend about Slayers who defy death and vamps who ask for a soul,” the well-dressed Spike said. “The Slayer died at the Master’s hand before our first visit to Sunnydale, and I have a soul that I asked for, courtesy of a demon in Africa.”

“I would never…” Wheelchair Spike declared. He was more disgusted by the idea of a soul than he was by the idea of shagging the Slayer.

“Yes, you would,” the subdued Spike said softly. “To be what she deserves, you’d do anything.”

It occurred to the wheelchair bound Spike that this version of himself already had the soul. A delighted shriek of laughter from the kitchen made him wonder if it would be worth the guilt.

“Time’s almost up, mates. Sunset is upon you. She does love you, and she does need you. Be the Slayer’s champion. She really needs one right now.” Spike told his subdued counterpart.

Wheelchair Spike knew that well-dressed Spike wasn’t talking to him, but something in the older vamp’s voice struck his heart and mind as truth no matter which Spike was being talked to.

“Let her know you come back. You’ll be surprised at how happy she’ll be at seeing you,” well-dressed Spike said while he smiled gently as that Spike disappeared.

“Use the chip to your advantage. It’s not like the thing has a nuclear half-life or anything like Mr. Bits’ power core. Quit telling Buffy you’re evil, and don’t do anything stupid with chains,” Spike announced to the next Spike in line. “Protect the key as if she was your own child.” Then, he slapped the Spike on the back of the head to make him disappear.

Wheelchair Spike wanted to ask what the Key was, but the well-dressed Spike started to talk to him.

“Angelus is coming soon, mate. He’s gonna be in a right awful mood when he does, and Drusilla is gonna be as pleased as punch to see him. Neither you nor the Slayer can fight them alone. Make a truce.”

Wheelchair Spike was so astonished by the news that he didn’t even protest when the other Spike snagged a cigarette from his pack and lit the thing using the Zippo from the pack.

“Don’t tell Buffy I’m smokin’ this. I’ve been a good vamp since she’s gotten pregnant.”

With a wiggle of the other Spike’s fingers, Spike felt him disappear from the dream.

Spike felt himself wake up. His eyes popped open, and he found himself in the factory. “Bloody buggerin’ fuck,” he muttered. Despite his disgust with the contents of the dream, he knew it was a prophetic dream. He struggled to sit up. “Dalton? Get your arse in here.”

In a few minutes the bookish vampire appeared in the doorway of Spike’s room. “Yes, Master Spike.”

“Where’s Drusilla?”

“Out with the other minions, Master Spike.”

“Can you drive?”

Dalton nodded his head. “Yes, Master Spike.”

“Stop calling me Master Spike.” Spike grabbed his duster. “Put the wheelchair closer to the bed, and put my things in my car. I need to go somewhere to think. You’re goin’ to be m’chauffer .”

“Yes, um… Spike.” Dalton bowed his head before he went about doing as Spike asked of him.

Spike had Dalton drive him a few miles out of Sunnydale where the two vamps found themselves a hotel room to hide out in. Since hunting was out of the question, and Spike had much to think about, he sent Dalton out to buy blood from Willy’s.

Christmas came and went without Spike making a move. Finally one night in late January, Dalton arrived back from the demon bar with a worried look on his face. “Angelus is back,” he announced. “He’s helping Drusilla put the Judge back together.”