Something New: PART ONE

Something New - Part One

Rating: R - entire series for language, but not much.  WARNING for warm, mushy feelings

SPOILERS FOR BUFFY SEASON 4

Previously on Buffy the Vampire Slayer...

After Spike was captured and chipped by the Initiative so he can't hurt any living thing, Willow did a spell that made Buffy and Spike fall passionately in love and become engaged.  (Let's pretend: Spike and Buffy got a little "alone time".)  The spell was ended and the two went back to being grossed out by each other (suure, like anybody actually believe that!)  Buffy went back to dating Riley and Spike went back to his filthy crypt... poor spikey...  But let's pretend again, the spell had some after effects.  The sort of effects that left Buffy with a nine-year-old son in a matter of a month.  Ack!  Needless to say, she's freaked, and it's a family secret - not even her friends know yet.  What'll happen when Spike finds out?

Another quick note: Spike isn't such a Big Bad in this fic.  He's portrayed as more of a shell of a Big Bad with a mushy center and a soft spot for anything that loves him.  (Yes, we all know this.)  That probably gives away the whole fic.  Oh well.  I can't bring myself to care.

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James prowled the cemetery giddily, hopping from shadow to shadow.  The moon was full, but vampires dare not touch Super Jamie!  With the power of a hundred gabazillion megastrong vampires, James could stomp puddles, snap twigs and make small children cry

Yes, his daddy was the fastest, smartest, handsomest, bravest, strongest, coolest, bestest vampire in the ‘tire universe.  And from Spike James inherited his strength, his looks, his build and his hyperactive adorable personality.  Mummy had ignored and sister was busy, so now James wanted to play.  But most of all, he wanted to see daddy and prove mommy wrong – daddy was not a pig, he was a vampire and he was not evil, because then James would have to be evil.  Which was okay, but if he was Super Evil Jamie, then someone had to teach him how to kill and be vampire-like.

James had never seen his father, though Buffy had given him some pictures once and had assured him Spike ‘isn’t so bad’.  But he was bored of staying in his room and having to avoid Buffy’s friends, only ever seeing Dawn or Joyce and never getting to play outside.  He’d always wanted to visit his daddy – and by always, I mean since two weeks ago, when he first came into conscious existence.  Buffy always insisted he stay inside and that was no fun!

This, here, prowling like a creature in the dark where the sights and smells tickled his senses, this was fun.

James spotted the crypt where his daddy lived, practically skipping now.

He eased open the crypt door, intent on showing his daddy how well he could prowl, freezing when he detected motion.  He walked in, blissfully dumb to the art of creeping, but silent nonetheless.  He inspected the dirt-flecked stone floors, still Super Jamie and everything was painted red in his mind, pretty and exciting and new.  Everything was advanced and had some sort of secret trait about it, like the chair was actually a sleeping dragon.  All he had to do was creep in and steal the treasure it guarded.

“Hmph.” James grunted as he was suddenly lifted into the air.  Spike held a fistful of James’ collar in his hand, lifting the small creature that’d been sneaking about his crypt in some sort of childish game that had led him astray like he was nothing more than a puppy being caught by the scruff of his neck.

“Well hello, little snack.  Of all the luck.” Spike mused, inspecting the child.  Such a shame he had to be chipped now, when delicious little meals came wandering into his home on their own.  He stared at the fearful face in awe, finding it a little odd that this child had the same sharp cheekbones he remembered that he himself possessed.

James’ eyes slowly lit back up and he kicked impatiently at the air.  “Lemme down, Daddy, I wanna play.”

Spike was slightly stunned, staring at the offending child.  “What’d you call me?”

“Daddy.” James repeated.  “You’re my Sire.  I’m your Childe.  You’re my daddy.”

“And who’re you?”

“I’m James but I prefer Jamie.” James told Spike happily.

“Jamie, eh?” Spike set down the little boy cautiously as if he was a breakable thing.  “Where did you come from, bite-sized one?”

James shrugged.  “I don’t know.  But Buffy said I was an accident of a spell and that you were my daddy.  I wanted to see you.”

“Yeah, well you saw me.” Spike replied.  “Why don’t you just scurry back to the Slayer and tell her daddy doesn’t want any funny jokes.”

James looked a little hurt.  “I’m not a funny joke and I can’t go back there.  I’ll be in big trouble.  Mommy doesn’t want me to be out here and she doesn’t want you to know about me.  She says you’re evil but I don’t think you are.  Joyce is nice but I spend a lot of time in my room.  I don’t think mommy likes me much.” He confided softly, eyes watering.  “I try so hard not to get in the way…”

“Oh bugger, don’t cry.” Spike knelt down to be more eye-level with his child.  He thumbed away an escaping tear and tilted up James’ chin to inspect his child’s resemblance.  James had the same sharp cheekbones, built like his daddy.  His hair was soft and judging by the toned yellows, he’d become a natural blonde, like Buffy.  Curiously, his eyes took after both Spike and Buffy, outlined in blue with a shot of green around his pupils.  “My, my.  Son of the Big Bad.  And quite a handsome little devil he is.”

James smiled proudly as Spike graced him with a touch to his hair.  “And how old are you?”

“Nine.” James said shyly.  “But I only remember being around for a month or so.”

Spike shook his head.  “Shame.  “And the Slayer kept all of this hush-hush?”

James nodded sadly.  “I’m just an accident.  But I wanted to see you anyway.  I just wanted to make you proud.  I can prowl real good.”

“That you can, pet.” Spike agreed.  “I’m very proud.”

James smiled happily.  “So you’ll let me stay with you?”

Spike faltered, knowing this was a very big decision he couldn’t take back, but he had no time to fully think this through and didn’t want his alleged son to cry again.  “Of course, nibblet, but it’s not much-“ He was cut off as he was hugged by the delighted nine-year-old.  “Hey, no hugging.” Spike objected, but James didn’t relent his torture and eventually Spike hugged back, feeling himself melting to this little creature.  Spike felt James’ downy absently, finding that he had a Buffy-like smell from living with the Slayer.

James wiggled impatiently and Spike let go, studying the small creature that still awed him.  James stomped away happily to survey the crypt, inspecting the items that Spike possessed.  There wasn’t more than a stone coffin, a chair and a television set but it fascinated James.  His eyes fell on the way downstairs and he giddily headed over to check it out.

“Whoa, hold up, nibblet.”  Spike caught James’ shirt again before he fell into the hole that led downstairs.  “You can’t just jump in there.  You’ll get hurt.”

James kicked happily and Spike let him back onto solid ground like a lion pondering what to do with his cub.  Eat him or raise him.  Most certainly James was his.  There was no mistake in that.  And Spike couldn’t eat James if he wanted to.  But if James just so happened to fall and die all by himself… no.  “Downstairs is much nicer, pet.  Just don’t touch anything.”

James nodded, referring to the ladder rather than just dropping down the hole, of course he had to carelessly skip the last rung in the ladder and jump anyway to show he wasn’t going to be put down, and not touching anything was an impossibility.

By the time Spike caught up with his newly found hyperactive child, James was seated on the bed, staring into a crystal Spike had nabbed from the Magick Box a while back.  “Found a fun plaything, did you pet?” Spike asked, sitting down on the bed and peering at the little mirror image.

“Uh-huh.” James stared at the crystal a moment longer and then looked up at Spike adoringly, scooting closer to the bleach blonde vampire.  “I like it.  It sings.”

“Does it now?” Spike pondered, wrapping an arm around the smaller child, listening to his heart thum away as James snuggled against his chest.  “What sort of tune does it sing?”

“Thunder and brightness and horribly beautiful unexpected things.” James sighed, stroking the smooth surface.

“Huh.” Spike pressed his face into James’ hair, smelling the baby-powderish scent.  He kissed James’ head softly, nuzzling against the fuzzy softness.  “Is that so?”

James nodded softly and then whimpered fearfully.  “Daddy, I’m cold!”

“Shh, pet,” Spike soothed, rubbing James’ shoulder, finding a blanket and pulling it over his child.  “Daddy’s got ya.  Better, luv?”

“Thank you Daddy.” James squirmed, snuggling into the blanket and curling up close to Spike, his head resting on the vampire’s chest.

“Anything for you, pet.” Spike replied, wrapping his arms around the small bundle protectively, wondering when he went from evil vampire to I’m-a-daddy-vampire-and-I’m-cool-with-it.  Probably around the time James threatened to burst into tears if Spike didn’t claim him.  The crypt must be messing with his mind, making him lonelier than he thought without Dru or anyone to kill and beginning to fear the chip would prevent him from ever creating a Childe to carry on his legacy.  But even a little human fuzzball would do.

“I love you daddy.” James sighed, his heartbeat and breath slowing and relaxing as he fell into a peaceful slumber.