Blood Red Rivers
Part 2 – Surprises
Xander was sitting peacefully in the nursery watching the babies sleep. Spike stopped at the doorway for a minute to gaze adoringly at his family. And hoped to the higher powers that no one happened by to see him.
Xander glanced up and saw the look of total devotion and wonder on Spike’s face. “What’re you thinking?” he asked.
Spike jumped, startled, then went to stand next to Xander. “Nothing, pet. I was just admiring the view.”
“They are amazing.”
“Yeah, but I meant you, too,” Spike said, kissing Xander on the nose.
“Now, what would the minions say if they saw you doing that?”
“The same thing I’m going to,” said Doyle from the doorway. “Awww!”
“Doyle!” said Xander, with mock indignation. “You be careful, or we’re going to let Jericho fix you so you can get pregnant, too.”
A look of horror mixed with wonder and wanting crossed the half-demon’s face, causing Xander and Spike to exchange a speculative look.
Doyle regained his composure, “Our liege and master has requested your presence in the dining hall.”
“Ha bloody ha,” said Spike. “Why do you do that?”
“It’s fun,” asked Doyle. “I’ll watch the babies, since Malachi is no where to be found.”
Xander moaned, “Not again! Please tell me he’s not off with Ey’resh.”
Doyle refused to meet Xander’s eyes, “We can’t find him either.”
Spike tugged on Xander’s arm, “Don’t worry, luv. They wouldn’t be stupid enough to shag in the mall again. Let’s just go meet with Peaches, okay?”
“Why bother? Let’s go.”
“Have fun!” said Doyle cheerfully, hefting a now-awake and giggling Jesse out of his crib.
“Lucky dog,” muttered Xander.
* * * * *
“Is everyone ready?” asked Giles.
Willow and Tara were the first to respond, “The magic-users all know at least three battle spells and three defensive spells each.”
“Look who I found?” said Buffy, carefully guiding a girl with her.
The girl’s clothing was torn and filthy, her hair matted and snarled, so it took a minute for Giles to place her. “Faith?”
“Yep, she’s here to help,” said Buffy. “Found her cornered by about twenty vamps.”
“Well,” said Giles, removing his glasses and cleaning them before replacing them.
“And the fighters are ready to patrol. I had the group leaders with me when we found Faith. No casualties, other than the vamps,” said Buffy proudly.
“So where have you been, Faith?” asked Willow.
Faith just stared at the red-haired witch. Then she broke down crying hysterically, making no sounds.
* * * * *
“What’d you need, Peaches?” asked Spike as they entered the dining hall.
Angelus looked up from the papers strewn across the main table, and growled.
“Angelus, please,” said Xander, trying to forestall the fight he knew would be coming. “It’s Spike. What can you do?”
“Thanks, luv,” said Spike.
Angelus stopped growling, “Fine, I need you two to decide when you’re going to Europe and Asia. And where do you want to live?”
“What? We have to decide now? Why can’t we wait?” asked Xander.
“Did I say you have to leave soon? Just pick a date,” sighed Angelus. “The demons overseas want to meet the new rulers. And since you will be living over there, it will just be easier to build your castle or whatever and arrange a mass homage.”
“Oh,” said Xander.
“What about Azerbaijan?”
“What?” asked Xander and Angelus together.
“Azerbaijan, it’s on the Caspian Sea,” said Spike. “For where we want to live?”
“I like Greece,” said Xander plaintively.
“Yes, luv. But we need somewhere centralized for our main living arrangements. You can have a vacation house in Greece.”
“Wherever you want Spike,” said Angelus. “As long as it’s far away from Doyle and me.”
“Ooo, speaking of Doyle, Angelus, how would you like to have your own kids?” asked Xander.
Angelus looked at the boy, stunned.
“Jericho offered to modify Doyle’s physiology so that he’d be like me. Able to carry babies.”
“Uh…”
Spike smirked, “I’ll take that as a yes. We should contact Jericho.”
“She hasn’t heard about the birth yet, either,” said Xander. The two wandered out of the room, leaving a stunned Angelus staring at nothing.
* * * * *
“You had the babies?!” squealed Jericho, appearing out of no where. “Where are they?”
“With their uncle Doyle,” said Xander. “And that’s part of why we contacted you. Whe want you to modify Doyle.”
“He and Angelus want their own little brood, do they?” she asked, sounding amused.
“Well, actually, we didn’t get any real words out of Peaches, but we could tell Doyle wants ‘em,” said Spike.
“I’ll get right on that. Now I want to see the boys! What did you end up naming them?”
“Well, I picked the name Jesse, for my best friend,” said Xander.
“And I went with Daemon,” said Spike.
“You named your son Demon?” asked Jericho curiously.
Spike shook his head, “No, it’s D-A-E-Mon. Kind of like Damon, only with a twist to the a-e combination.”
Jericho raised one eyebrow and Xander mouthed, “Just agree, it’s easier.”
“I understand the difference now, Wil. Thanks for explaining it for me,” she said, trying to keep a straight face.
They entered the nursery, without Doyle noticing. “…and that’s how your daddies got together.”
“They don’t understand a word you’re saying,” said Jericho, laughing as Doyle whirled around, tripping in the process.
“Don’t startle a man like that! I could’ve been holding one of the babies,” he said, embarrassed.
Jericho went over to the cribs and stared down at the bundles of joy. “Oh! They’re so adorable!” She looked up at Doyle, “So, have you given any thought to starting a family with your vampire yet?”
“Um,” he said, blushing. “I’m not exactly made for that.”
“That’s easily fixed,” said Jericho. She waved one hand and chanted a few words. “There, see. That wasn’t hard, was it?”
Doyle stared at her for a second, “Wait, what did you do?”
“Fixed, or rather, unfixed you. All plumbed for baby-making,” she snickered, with an amused glint in her purple eyes.
“What if I don’t want to be able to have a baby?”
“Tough, women come this way. Why not men? Don’t want to have a baby, then get your stud to wear a condom.”
“Oh, I can just see that,” smirked Spike. Xander giggled.
“Oh, Deadboy!” said Xander in a falsetto. “Wait!”
“Wait? I don’t know the meaning of the word,” Spike made his voice deeper.
“But I don’t want to get pregnant! Put on a condom!”
“Don’t you want to bear my children?”
“Yes, but we’re remaking the world! It’s not a good time!”
“You don’t love me anymore!”
“Stop that, stop that now!” said Doyle, angry and extremely embarrassed. “You two are out of control. No wonder you can’t keep track of Malachi.”
“Hold up, Malachi’s missing?”
“Nice one, Doyle,” muttered Xander. “He’s not missing, Jero. He keeps sneaking off with that Ryshian boyfriend of his. They know all the tricks to escaping. The ambassador is…”
“Less than pleased. Especially after the two of them shagged in the fountain at the mall,” supplied Spike.
“The fountain?” asked Jericho, horrified. “What did Joh say?”
“He thought it was funny and told us if we weren’t amused, that it IS our duty to keep track of the boy,” snared Spike.
“Well, maybe Malachi needs a little talking to,” mused Jericho. “Doyle, why don’t you go tell Angelus about your new ability?”
Once Doyle was gone, Jericho turned to the two demons, her demeanor changing from humored to serious. “I need to ask you something. You do know the twins are true d’hamphyri, right?”
“Kind of hard for them not to be, eh, pet?” smirked Spike.
“Yeah,” said Xander. “They need blood mixed with their formula.”
“Well, not all children born to vampires are d’hamphyri. In fact, most aren’t,” explained Jericho.
“And we have two. This can’t be good, can it?” asked Xander, collapsing into a chair.
Jericho glanced over at the babies, “A prophecy was discovered recently. It’s as old as the World Rebirth prophecy, and we’re still not sure about that one’s age.”
“Bloody hell,” swore Spike, moving to comfort Xander.
“Gods, just tell us and get it over with,” moaned Xander.
Jericho pulled out a piece of parchment. “I’m just going to translate this as I read it, so I might make a mistake or two. ‘One Good and pure, One Evil and corrupt, Brought together by the Reformation, They shall be the fathers of the Two: Of sun and shadow, death and life, The Two shall be the harbingers of chaos and peace. Of the night and of the light, the Two redeem and damn the fallen and yet to fall.’ ”
“Never cryptic, are they?” asked Spike sarcastically.