Drowning Slowly
By Aurelia Carlisle
Chapter II:
It's Time To Tell The Truth
When they got in the car, Spike paused then turned to Buffy.
"Oh, I nearly forgot," Spike exclaimed pulling the rose bouquet from the backseat.
She blinked and looked away, trying not to cry.
"You're too perfect," she said taking the flowers.
"No, I'm not. But thanks for sayin' it." He started up the car and drove them to a burger dinner, Willie's, their usual haunt.
She couldn’t stand to be there, was everyone looking at her? Could they tell what she had tried to do? What was going to happen now? How was she going to tell Spike? Maybe he would ask about what happened in the Clinic?
A thousand thoughts full of fear and doubt ran through Buffy’s mind. Spike was completely oblivious to her internal musings.
When the food was delivered, Buffy just picked at her fries, searching her mind for a way to ask him the biggest favor of all.
Finally it was too much, her nerves, her fear, the disgusting greasy smell of the food, she felt her stomach gurgle, cupped her hand over her mouth and sprinted to the lady's room. She vomited for so much; she thought she could have thrown up last Christmas's dinner.
Returning to the table, she avoided his concerned gaze and asked if he was finished.
Unknown to Buffy his thoughts were similar to her own. He had been so stressed he had hardly eaten any of his burger, but sadly his stomach was iron clad. He was ready to ditch this place anyway, so he readily agreed with her.
They got back in the car and Buffy fell asleep within five minutes of the drive. When they arrived at her family's apartment there was a car already parked in the
driveway.
"No," Spike whispered to himself in disbelief. Her folks were home from Charlotte three days early. He gently shook her awake and helped her up the stairs to their grim fate.
She unlocked the door and was welcomed by the sight of her mother, and step-father Giles', concerned stares. "Well, it's about time, young lady," said her mother, Joyce.
"Mom, we were just-" Buffy began, only to be cut off by Giles."Making a quick stop at the local abortion clinic? We know."
"A Susan from the Clinic just called, saying that you stormed out of an abortion clinic, of all places."
"Mom, I can explain." She took a calming breath and Spike squeezed her hand once again in support. "I was at the clinic to support Anya, being a good friend."
Her mom just rolled her eyes and Giles turned to Spike.
"Son, it's time to tell the truth."
Buffy's resolve crumbled like a faulty dam and she broke down. Spike was right there with her. He was so tired of lying.
"I've been seeing Buffy for some time now, Mrs. Summers, as you know." He took a deep breath before continuing. "When our relationship started to 'erm progress I was under the impression that she was on the pill. When she told me that the three tests she had taken were positive, she also finally decided to tell me that she was off of it at the time because of a bad reaction to it."
Joyce was horrified! “Don’t they teach you children anything in Sex Ed? Where were the condoms? You felt grown up enough to be having intercourse, but not responsible enough to use a condom? Have you been tested for STD’s, AIDS. It’s time to grow up children and get past the after school special, this is real life, with real problems!”
He took Buffy in his arms and held her closer to him. "But there's nothing to worry about now. It's been taken care of." He announced it with a grim tone but Buffy could feel the relief he felt with that statement.
Here it was, now or never, she stiffened in his arms and took a deep breath.
"Actually, Spike," she began. "We're taking care of it, him or her. I didn't get the abortion. I... I'm sorry, I couldn't tell you-"
"Oh god," he muttered, his face white as a ghost. "How could you do this without telling me, Buffy?"
Buffy despised the whinny tone his voice had taken on,
“How could you not ask about what happened, ‘while you waited in the car’?” She was incredulous.
"I'm sorry, Buffy. I just... I can't deal with this right now." He headed towards the door, throwing an 'I'll call you.' over his shoulder.
Buffy fell to her knees and sobbed.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"And he just left?" asked her best friend, Wllow, over the phone.
"Just like that," she answered between sniffles.
"I'm sure he's just in shock. I mean you did kinda spring it on him."
"I know, but he could at least try to be supportive. He hasn't even called me."
"He's afraid, Buffy. How often does a teenage guy find out he's gonna be somebody's father? It is a big shock, for anybody."
"Yeah. I just wish he would talk to me, Wills. Not out God-knows-where. I don't know what to do. I can't do this without him, I won't!"
"I'll help you as much as I possibly can, but I think the person you should be talking to is Spike. Not that I mind!"
"It's okay, Wills. You're right."
"Glad I could help," she paused. "Are you gonna be okay, Buffy?"
Buffy looked down at her belly and covered it with her hand.
"We'll be fine," she replied before saying goodbye and hanging up. She needed to see a man about a baby.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Wow, man," said Spike's friend and band mate, Oz, the bassist. "That's pretty fucked up. So she just sprung it on you in front of the folks? That's bleak."
"It's her body, Oz, therefore her choice. Just 'cause Spikey over here can't keep it in his pants-" began Devon's outspoken girlfriend, Cordelia.
"Hey. Sitting right here!" shouted Spike. "And you're one to talk, Cordy. How long does it take to part your dimpled knees, eh? Ten minutes, tops?"
"Hey, fuck you, Captain Peroxide. At least I didn't knock anyone up!"
"Doesn't keep you from blabbin' about it though, does it?" at Devon's glare he yielded. "It's not like I meant for this to happen! She just looked so..."
"I know, man," sympathized Oz, thinking of Willow. "I know how it is."
"So," said Veruca, coming out of the kitchen. "What are you gonna do about it, William?"
"I'm gonna go see a lady about a baby." and with that he stood up and headed toward the door.
squawks
05/18/17 04:16 am
pj! I remember wishing one of your stories would be finished seriously about a decade ago. Amazing. I just tried an old password I used to use and amazingly got in too. Memories!
pj
03/20/17 01:20 am
10 yrs later, i finally rem my username and password. Pari, you rock. Hope you are well.
Rabbit_moon1
12/23/16 01:12 pm
I donate every month. Please donate to keep this site up!
AudryDaluz1
10/06/16 08:34 am
Great post.
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:45 pm
And anyone else who loves this site, it's worth mentioning there's a nifty little "Donate" option just below the shout box here! ;)
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:43 pm
Just wanted to take a moment to thank Pari and all the mods for maintaining such a great site!
05/18/17 04:16 am
pj! I remember wishing one of your stories would be finished seriously about a decade ago. Amazing. I just tried an old password I used to use and amazingly got in too. Memories!
pj
03/20/17 01:20 am
10 yrs later, i finally rem my username and password. Pari, you rock. Hope you are well.
Rabbit_moon1
12/23/16 01:12 pm
I donate every month. Please donate to keep this site up!
AudryDaluz1
10/06/16 08:34 am
Great post.
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:45 pm
And anyone else who loves this site, it's worth mentioning there's a nifty little "Donate" option just below the shout box here! ;)
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:43 pm
Just wanted to take a moment to thank Pari and all the mods for maintaining such a great site!