Buffy finally accepted the surprising fact that Andrew wasn't gay not when he dated women, not when he got married, not when his wife got pregnant, but when his son was born with a tuft of floppy blond hair and his lips.
"And you were so sure he was gay," she accused her lover, smacking Spike on the shoulder as Andrew cradled his newborn son and cooed over him, his wife watching with sleepy satisfaction.
"Me?" Spike hissed, rubbing his shoulder. Stubborn, illogical woman...
"Stop hitting Spike, Buffy," Dawn ordered, yawning. "Last thing I need is my son picking up your bad habits." As it was said with affection, Buffy didn't take offense, just went over to her sister, to lean down and kiss her cheek.
"You did great, Dawn."
"Yeah, niblet. He's gorgeous."
"A great New Year's Eve present," Buffy added.
"I should have been able to hold out till midnight. One more hour and all that loot for first baby born in the new year would have been mine," Dawn replied grouchily, then yawned again.
"We should let you get some rest," Buffy began, only to have her wrist grabbed as her sister shook her head.
"No, you have to hold him first, and, anyway, it's only five more minutes till midnight."
Spike pulled a bottle of Cristal from an inner pocket of his duster. "And I have just the thing to celebrate both the baby's birth and the new year."
"Here, Buffy, hold little Rupert while I scrounge up some more plastic cups. I used the last ones here for ice chips."
Before Buffy could forestall him from handing her the baby and Dawn could protest the choice of names, Andrew was scurrying out the door. Buffy stared in horror at the infant resting so trusting in her arms and immediately yanked them and him into her chest and making him mewl.
"Oh god, what did I do?"
Busy fiddling with the metal paper stuff, twisty wire cover stuff, and the cork, Spike grunted in her direction.
"Help!"
Dawn giggled tiredly. "You're doing great."
"You take him." Buffy started to pass her the baby but tiny fingers were wrapped around the front of her shirt and a little face was nudging against her...
"Looks like fun," Spike leered over her shoulder, then crowed as he popped the cork without a sound or a mess.
"Yay," Dawn cheered both the freeing of the bubbly and her husband returning with cups and no lurking nurses or doctors to prevent them from enjoying it. As he and Spike filled and passed out cups, Buffy managed to sit next to the bed and not drop her nephew. Spike lounged across Dawn's feet, not waiting till midnight to celebrate, drinking the expensive wine. Andrew sat on the other side of the bed, taking his wife's hand and gazing tenderly into her eyes. "We're not calling him Rupert."
Andrew just smiled and kissed her. "Okay. Then William it is, and little William is the best present ever."
Dawn smiled back and nodded. "What do you think, big William?"
"I'm...honored." And he truly was.
Buffy smiled in delight and stopped feeling uncomfortable with the baby long enough to free one hand to reach into her bag sitting at her feet. From it she pulled a faded and slightly worn stuffed pig. "I think it's time to pass the torch to the new generation."
Eyes lighting up, Dawn nearly cried as her sister tucked the pig between herself and William.
Watching her relax with the baby, Spike wondered if soon would be the time to brooch the subject of having a child of their own, any way they could manage it.
Outside a distant church bell rang, and they all lifted their cups.
"Happy New Year," Andrew chimed.
"Welcome to the world, William," Buffy added, smiling down at her nephew.
End