Aideu Ch, 8

Julia sighed a bit as she looked at her stomach in her mirror. Now that she was nine months pregnant, and due in about another week or so, she was starting to get nervous about a lot of things. One of them being the birth of hers and Spike's baby. Given they were still stranded and looking for the bounty that they had been for the past few months, looking for a hospital or any medical facilities for that matter seemed pretty mediocre. Pulling the ribbon from her hair she let her golden blond locks fall to their full length as she ran a brush through it. She heard little noises in the next room and frowned. Spike was messing with his ammunition again. That normally meant he was going out hunting. Their bounty must have shown himself again, that or Spike and Jet had gotten Ed to help out. She had wanted to help as well she knew how to use a gun and knew full well how to keep herself and the baby growing inside her safe but Spike wanted her to stay in the bebop to keep her safe.1

Honestly what kind of woman did he take her for? She wasn't one of those weak women that needed the protection of a man, she had survived on her own, and survived death for Gods sake, she felt she was capable of handling herself in those kinds of situations given the chance. But then again Spike did have a tendency to be a tad bit over protective of her. That was one thing that was starting to rack her nerves. Now she was in a bad mood thinking about all those things. Damn mood swings. She let out a frustrated growl of sorts and leaned against the wall bringing a hand to her head.2

"Julia I'm leaving now." Spike said walking in, Julia jumped clearly started and frowned some.3

"Don't you ever knock?" Julia said a bit irritated.4

Spike blinked some a bit taken back by Julia's irritated mood. Must be one of her mood swings. She hadn't really had many of those throughout her pregnancy, that much he was glad for but when she did Spike either stayed clear, was beside her comforting her or just dodging her when she threw stuff at him. Right now was one of those times in which he would stay clear of her, but he wanted to let her know he was leaving. 5

"Well excuse me." Spike said as Julia shook her head waving it off. 6

"I'm sorry I didn't mean for it to come out that way, I'm in a bit of a mood right now." Julia said smiling a bit feeling Spike's hand on the side of her now largely swollen stomach as she brought her smaller more delicate hand over his. 7

"I see that...." Spike said. That statement had earned him a nice little glare which in turn made his eyebrow twitch a bit. 8

"The hell does that supposed to mean?" Julia asked frowning. 9

Spike sighed some knowing he'd have to ride this little soon to be rant out. Here we go again. He thought and brought a hand to Julia's cheek and stroked it a bit. 10

"Don't I'm pissed off enough already." Julia said pulling away. 11

Spike wanted to chuckle at that statement. That much was evident, he knew the rant was gonna come soon but was waiting for Julia to let it out without him inviting her into it. Unfortunately The bait had to be tossed and Spike leaned against the wall crossing one leg over the other and putting the weight on one foot crossed his arms over his chest.12

"Alright what's wrong?" Spike asked as Julia frowned as she stopped brushing her hair. 13

"Its these damn mood swings, if I'm not happy I'm pissed, if I'm not pissed I'm crying about some random fucking thing, I can barely get any sleep now because our daughter seems so damn hellbent on kicking at my ribcage its not even funny anymore. The very fact that I can't see my feet anymore even though I haven't seen them since I was five months pregnant still creeps me out to no end.14

I've got more back problems than the damn man in the moon Gosh I can go on for about a good five more minutes but you have to go look for some damn bounty, I wanna get the heck off this planet because the constant stench of fuel and gasoline is beginning to get to me and I swear if our child has any birth defects from this I'll gladly find the nearest knife and castrate you for harming our daughter in the first place." Julia said putting her elbows on her legs or as best she could with her large abdomen and cried.15

Now Spike like any other man scared for his life, and more important his sexual appendage would have long since run for the hills or would be at least holding himself for fear of anything sharp and pointy that got into said wife's hands would ensure Chaos. But Spike knew he was safe. Julia was one of those women that ranted when they had mood swings and by the length of that one was the mother of all swings to him. 16

Walking over he rubbed her back lightly and helped her to stand rubbing her back to calm her. Once Julia was quite calm and in control...full control of what came out of her mouth, she apologized to Spike and just stood embraced in his arms.17

"Let me come with you Spike."Julia said softly.18

"Julia." Spike said frowning knowing what was coming next. 19

"Spike I know how to use a gun I'll be fine, let me come with you and help...please." Julia begged frowning when Spike put a finger to her lips.20

"I said no Julia, I mean it, now stay here I'll be back by nightfall or a little after." He said leaving. 21

"Spike." Julia said going after him and frowned standing outside her room watching him leave the ship. She had a bad feeling about this bounty that had been eluding them these past few months. And it was a feeling she didn't like.22

But none the less she waited for Spike to return. After a few hours Julia became bored and walked into the little living area seeing Ed on her computer, probably scouting things, or hacking into something. She saw Jet's little database of bounties still on the table and on. Walking over and sitting down looking at it. She did a little hacking of her own to find out more info about this bounty. What she found terrified her and made her worry for Spike's safety more than ever.23

"It can't be...Nnn..." She said and somehow managed to quickly stand dispite the extra weight she carried and the less than happy protests from her baby, she went and got her gun, putting on a trench coat that spike had given her for the cooler weather left and ran down the docks to a building where spike would be battling a perhaps losing battle for his life. 24

While running she brought a hand to her stomach. She had to get to Spike, she just had to. Soon arriving at the building she frowned running inside hearing guns and other noises a few floors above her.25

Spike meanwhile was battling a much losing battle against his bounty which at the moment seemed to be hyped on every single drug known to man. Spike had had no prior knowledge to this, and as a result had sustained a few injuries. He frowned some bursting through a door and back flipped to avoid a dagger and then moved hiding behind some rubble to avoid the barrage of bullets coming at him.26

Spike Hold on I'm coming. Julia thought taking the elevator up to the roof as she frowned some seeing Spike battling and badly injured. Going behind a small building that lead to the lower parts of the what looked to be an old company building Julia looked out a bit and with careful aim shot off two bullets both hitting the man Spike had been fighting judging by the scream that came from the man it was pretty damn painful. 27

"Julia..! Get out of here." Spike said as the man and Julia both shot a single bullet one grazing Julia's arm enough so that it'd leave a nice little mark and Julia's bullet making its target mark in the man's chest as Spike fired two more shots seeing the guy fall. 28

It was in that moment Julia felt a sudden pain shoot through her stomach and lower back as it began to rain. Great just what she needed. Wounded and it seemed all the excitement had caused her to start laboring. 29

"Nnn..." Julia moaned holding her arm. 30

"Julia!" spike called going to her. 31

"Mmm....don't worry it just grazed my arm....Mmm...that guy was on every type of drug and steroid you can think of." Julia moaned holding her stomach. 32

"I figured that out when I started fighting him....hey what's wrong? You feel alright?" Spike asked worried, the two obviously now soaked thanks to the rain.33

Julia shook he head some taking Spike's hand moaning. "What's the matter Julia..come on talk to me." Spike said.34

"Ah...the baby....she's coming." Julia moaned loudly.35

"Nnn...what...now?" Spike said surprised. 36

"No smartass I'm just saying that because I want to." Julia said feeling the pain slowly subside. 37

"Come on Let's get you somewhere comfortable." Spike said helping her stand slowly and helped her back downstairs where she would feel safe...or at least semi safe.