Extended family
Pure fluff. The gang welcomes a new member…
“Need any help?” Thirteen year old Dawn asked the blonde who was busy preparing food in the kitchen.
“Sure,” Buffy replied. “If you could prepare the salad for me that’d be great.”
The teenager did as she was asked, retrieving a bowl from the cupboard and the various ingredients to make up the salad from the fridge. After washing the lettuce and the tomatoes she turned to the older woman.
“Aunt Buffy can I stay with you and Uncle Spike for a couple of days?”
Buffy paused from cutting the burger buns in half to turn to her niece, concerned. “Of cause Dawnie, you’re always welcome at ours. Any reason?”
The young brunette shrugged. “Just wanted to give mom and Angel time to get the baby settled in is all. I’d ask dad but you know Cordelia still thinks I’m a human Barbie doll and I haven’t got the energy to pretend I care about fashion trends and designer labels. It’s been kind of a long week.”
Buffy chuckled. “Yep that’s Cordy for you. I feel sorry for little Katie, you know she’s going to be entered into every beauty pageant in the country.” Her expression turned serious. “But you sure you wouldn’t rather stay at home tonight? I’m sure baby Jack would want his big sister here on his first night home.”
“Ok, number one, he’s four days old; he doesn’t even know who I am. And number two; I’m only his half sister.”
“But that doesn’t make you any less part of the family Dawn. You know that right?” Buffy tried to reassure.
“Yeah, of cause do. Just thought mom would have enough on her plate without having to worry about me too. If you don’t want me over, it’s fine. I can go and stay with grandma and grandpa.”
Buffy placed a hand on her niece’s. “Don’t be silly, we love having you over and like I said you’re always welcome. Just wanted to make sure you weren’t feeling like you had to make yourself scarce. Go pack a bag before the guests start arriving.”
The teen jumped up, abandoning her task, and hugged the blonde. “Thanks Buffy.” She said, before turning on her heels and bouncing up the stairs.
Buffy stared after her with a frown until a pair of strong arms encircled her waist from behind, their owner having entered the kitchen from the garden through the back door.
“What’s got you looking so pensive sweetheart?” The bleach blonde asked.
“Just worried about Dawn.” She replied, turning in his arms, resting her head on his shoulder.
“What’s up with the niblet?” Spike joined her in her concern.
“I think she’s feeling a bit left out. I mean, you remember how upset she was at first when Xan and Cordy had Katie. Now Faith and Angel have Jack, that’s both her parents with new kids by the person they’re actually married to. I just really hope she knows that doesn’t mean they love her any less than her half-siblings.” She pulled back to meet his eyes. “I said she could stay with us for a couple of days. You don’t mind do you?”
“Of cause not.” Spike replied, kissing the end of her nose. “You know I love having the lil’bit over. We’ll just have to make sure we keep it down at night.” He said with a wink.
“Eww!” Dawn said as she re-entered the kitchen, having heard the last comment. “Maybe I should go and stay with Gran.”
“Spike, you better get back out there. Xander’s trying to light the grill and it isn’t pretty.” Cordelia said as she came through the back door cradling her two year old, dressed head to toe in DKNY, on her hip.
He rolled his eyes and sighed, detangling himself from Buffy. “Can’t even leave the whelp alone for five minutes.” He grumbled as he headed back out to the garden.
“So Dawn, fancy a trip to the mall tomorrow? I saw the cutest little dress I just know would look adorable on you.” Cordelia asked her step-daughter.
The teen was saved by a knock at the door. “I’ll get it.” She said, far too brightly, leaving the kitchen quickly. “Grandma, gramps!” Was heard from the hallway. “Oh, presents are going in the lounge.” Seconds later Dawn returned with Joyce and Hank behind her.
“Hey mom, dad.” Buffy said, giving both her parents hugs and kisses.
Hank took one look around the female infested kitchen and went out to join Spike and Xander in the garden.
“Anything I can help with?” Joyce asked her daughter.
“You can finish the salad that your granddaughter seems to have abandoned.”
The next guests to arrive for ‘Baby Jack’s Surprise Welcome Home Barbeque and Picnic’ (as the banner made by Dawn and hung between two trees in the backyard described) were Jenny, Angel’s mom, and Giles, Spike’s dad.
Anyone that didn’t know the family intimately got confused by all the ways everyone in it seemed to interlink, but once you knew the back-story, things were a little easier to understand.
Buffy and Faith hadn’t always gotten on as well as they did currently, there being the typical sibling rivalry between the pair. It wasn’t until Faith fell pregnant when she was just fifteen that they became close. Buffy immediately became protective of her younger sister by two years, being there for her unconditionally, never judging and supporting her throughout. Faith decided to keep the baby and thus Dawn was born.
She and Xander tried to make it work but they were young and not in love, and they inevitably broke up. They remained friends though and Xander still played a big part in Dawn’s life.
Eventually, Xander met Cordelia, fell in love and announced they were getting married. Faith was a little hostile at first; not because she was jealous because she wanted Xander for herself, but because she felt like she was going to be alone forever; being a single mother didn’t exactly do wonders for your social life. Buffy understood how she felt; not the part about being a single mother, but about being alone, having recently broken up with her then boyfriend Scott after three years together.
The day of Xander and Cordelia’s wedding, after Faith eventually agreed to attend, the sisters decided they were going to forget about the future and enjoy the here and now. While a, by this time, eight-year-old Dawn was off playing with some of the other younger guests, Faith and Buffy hit the dance floor where their lives were destined to change forever when they caught the eyes of Cordy’s cousin Angel and step-cousin (Angel’s step-brother) Spike.
Within six months, Buffy and Spike had eloped to Las Vegas and Faith and Angel had gotten married just over a year ago.
Back at the BBQ and the routine for the new arrivals seemed to follow the same pattern as the ones before; after presents were placed in the lounge, Giles went to join the men outside while Jenny stayed with the girls. Likewise when Willow (Faith’s best friend since high school), her husband Oz and their five year old twins, Lily and Daniel Jnr, appeared until the kitchen was too full and some of the women started to take the prepared food outside.
Riley (Angel’s partner on the police force,) his wife Sam, their seven year old Adam and four year old Ben came next, closely followed by Tara (Faith’s colleague from the magazine she worked for) and her girlfriend Kennedy.
Last to arrive were Anya (Buffy’s best friend and business partner in the small flower shop she owned) and Andrew (who no one was sure how became part of the gang), the only two single members of the group and who had vowed to stay that way; Anya because she could never be satisfied sexually by just one man, and Andrew because his orientation was so ambiguous he didn’t know himself whether he wanted to spend his life with a women or a man.
“They’re here!” Buffy announced as she took out the last plate of food and placed it on the long buffet table. “The car just pulled into the drive.”
The group heard a couple of car doors shut, then Faith’s voice, “why are we going round the back? What’s wrong with the front door…?” before she rounded the corner, baby cradled in her arms, and her eyes widened on seeing the gathered crowd.
“Surprise!” Everyone whispered, so as not to wake the new born.
********
An hour later and the party was in full swing. Baby Jack was being cooed over by Joyce, Hank, Jenny and Giles in the way grandparents do and Angel, Riley and Xander were seated in a circle, each with a beer in hand, discussing the latest football results. Spike and Oz were manning the grill, while Willow and Sam played with the five children. Cordelia, Anya and Kennedy sat with glasses of wine, chatting animatedly about the latest exercise craze and Dawn and Tara stood together near the table of food, trying to appear interested while Andrew prattled on to them about the latest editions of his favourite comics.
Buffy was in the kitchen retrieving more burgers and sausages from the fridge when Faith appeared to help her.
“Hey, you should be sitting down relaxing!” The blonde told her sister. “It may be your house but I’m playing host.”
“God B, don’t you start too, I’ve had enough of Angel and mom fussing over me.”
“Sorry, didn’t mean to coddle.”
“Hey, five by five. And thanks again for doing all this. It was really sweet.”
“Hey it was Angel’s idea, I just made the food.”
The brunette raised an eyebrow. “That’s a pretty big just.”
“Only the best for my little sis. I wasn’t sure you’d want it your first day back from the hospital, but Angel insisted you’d be fine. You are feeling ok right? I mean, if you’re too tired for company, feel free to kick us all out.”
“Nah, I’ve been lying alone in a hospital bed for the past five days, it’s nice to be up and about amongst friends ya’ know?”
“Just as long as you’re ok?”
“I’m gonna start charging everyone who asks me that. It’s not like I’m helpless. I had a baby, women do it every day.” She screwed up her face after realising what she’d said. “Oh, B, I wasn’t thinking…”
“Hey, it’s ok.” Buffy brushed it off.
Three years previously, Buffy had been in a serious accident in which she’d suffered extensive internal damage. She’d almost fully recovered, but the doctors had told her there was a ninety nine percent chance she’d never conceive.
“You sure? I’m so sorry; my foot really does like to live in my mouth.”
Buffy smiled genuinely. “I’m five by five.”
Faith chuckled at her phrase coming from someone else. “That really doesn’t make a lot of sense does it?”
“That’s what I’ve been telling you since you started using it in ninth grade. Oh, and Dawn asked if she could come over to stay for a couple of nights, just while you’re getting settled back in with Jack. That’s ok right?” Buffy tried to disguise the apprehension in her voice. She didn’t want to worry her sister until she’d had a chance to sit down and have a proper chat with her niece herself, find out if the new arrival really was troubling her as much as Buffy suspected.
“Yeah of cause, if she wants to and it’s ok with you and Spike. Is everything alright?”
Faith asked, clearly picking up on the blonde’s anxiousness for her daughter.
Buffy sighed. “Yeah I think so; I guess it’s just a bit overwhelming for her. I mean first her dad gets married, then Katie comes along and she finds herself with a sister, then you and Angel only really just got married and now she’s got a baby brother. Just a lots changing, and that added to the fact her hormones are all over the place being the teenager she is, I think she just needs some time out.”
“Ok,” Faith nodded, distress etched on her features.
Buffy placed a reassuring arm around her. “She’ll be fine. She’s a Summers girl, she’s resilient. Hey, maybe in a couple of months when things get settled, you and I could take her away for a weekend, just the girls. I’m sure Angel’ll be fine looking after Jack alone for a couple of nights and I know Spike will help. Plus moms only round the corner if they get really stuck. What’d ya say?”
Faith perked up. “Sounds like a plan.”
After grabbing the food the sisters headed outside. Faith immediately went over to Dawn and placed an arm around her. The teen gave her mother a smile before they both went back to listening to Andrew’s no doubt embellished tale.
Buffy stood in the doorway for a moment smiling to herself at the sight of her extended ‘family’ dotting around the garden, before taking the tray of meat over to her husband and Oz. They were in a heavy discussion about music, or as ‘heavy’ as the nonchalant Oz could get. She put down the tray on the table next to the grill before going to stand next to Spike, who immediately placed one arm around her, his other free hand continuing to poke at the food being cooked with barbeque tongues.
“I’m going to replenish. You guys want?” Oz asked the couple, holding up his empty beer bottle.
“Thanks mate, same again.” Spike replied, downing the last few sips of his own beer.
“Buffy?”
“Yeah, just a soda please.” She told him.
Spike frowned. “Soda? Thought we were going to leave the car here and get a cab home so you could have a couple of glasses of wine?”
She shrugged. “Don’t really feel like drinking.”
Oz gave the pair a nod before heading over to the refreshments table, stopping on the way to exchange a few words with Willow. Lily and Daniel immediate ran to their father.
Spike watched the exchange with a sad smile, while Buffy looked up at him thoughtfully.
“You want one.” Buffy said matter-of-factly.
He looked down at her. “Huh?”
“You want to be a dad.”
He sighed. “Pet we’ve been through this...”
“I know. But if we could?”
“Yes, if things were different I’d love a bitty Buffy or Spike running around with the rest of the kids. But it doesn’t matter to me.” He put down the utensils and embraced her fully. “All I need is you luv. If I’ve got that, I’ll always be happy.”
“I kinda love you ya know.” Buffy said, smiling up at him.
“I love you more.” He told her, leaning down for a kiss.
“Honey,” Buffy mumbled against his lips.
He pulled away to look into her eyes. “What?”
“Promise you’ll remain calm throughout what I have to say. I want to keep it quiet for now, this is Faith’s day and I don’t want to steal her thunder.”
“What are you on about pet?” Spike asked confused and slightly worried.
She took a deep breath. “Ok I was going to wait ‘til tonight, but I just can’t keep it to myself any longer.” She reached into the back pocket of her jeans, pulling out a slightly crumpled photo and handing it to him. Or, more accurately, an ultrasound scan picture.
Spike’s eyes widened as he stared down at the image, not really listening as Buffy continued to explain.
“I wasn’t sure at first, ‘cause you know, supposed to be nearly impossible, but I finally plucked up the courage to go to the doctors yesterday. Turns out there wasn’t as much permanent damage as they thought. I’m two and a half months, everything is normal and healthy.”
The image in his hands continued to hold his attention. “You’re serious? This is really our baby?”
“No,” She smiled; taking his hand and placing it over her still flat stomach. “This is our baby.”
“We’re gonna have a baby?” He whispered. He looked up at her, face breaking out into a grin as the news finally sank in. “We’re gonna have a baby!” He repeated, this time loudly enough for the whole neighbourhood to hear, as he picked her up and span her around a couple of times.
This, of course, gained the attention of all those in the garden, and seventeen pairs of eyes landed on them.
“So much for keeping it quiet.” Buffy mumbled as Spike placed her back down on the floor.
Joyce and Faith were the first to rush over, Hank and Giles, following closely behind.
“Darling, you’re pregnant?” Her mother asked.
“Yep, ten weeks.” Buffy told them.
“That’s wonderful news!” Joyce said, hugging her daughter.
Buffy turned to Faith. “I’m so sorry. I couldn’t wait to tell him any longer. I was hoping to keep it just between the two of us but I should’ve known he’d react like that. This is your day.”
“Are you kidding me B? You should have said something earlier! Now we have two reasons to celebrate.” The brunette copied their mothers move.
The action was followed by every woman in the garden, while the men shook Spike’s hand in congratulations.
********
Later that evening, as she was driving home, Dawn sprawled across the back seat snoring away, Buffy turned to the bleached blonde in the passenger seat next to her.
“How about Anne?”
“Huh?”
“If it’s a girl. Your moms name.”
“I appreciate the sentiment pet but don’t you think it’s a bit old fashioned?”
“Hey! It’s my middle name too don’t forget.”
“Yeah well your first names Buffy, I’m not entirely sure your mum was in her right mind when she named you.” Spike snorted, earning a playful slap. “How about Annabel?”
Buffy screwed up her nose. “I knew this really annoying girl back at high school called Annabel. She was so snooty, always looking down on people.” She was thoughtful for a moment. “Amanda? I mean, it’s a bit further from Anne but I’ve always thought it was pretty.”
He smiled. “Amanda it is. Of cause, choosing a boys name is much simpler.”
“It is?” She asked with a raise eyebrow.
“Any son of mine is going to be William Jnr.”
“Hey, how come our son gets your first name but our daughter can’t even have my middle name? William’s old fashioned too you know.” Buffy pouted.
“Okay then, we’ll just have to call him Spike Jnr instead.” He said with a grin.
“No child of mine is going to be named after a penis euphemism!”
Spike chuckled. “We could always name him after my grandfather.”
“James? Not a bad idea.”
“I was actually thinking of my other one; my dad’s dad. He died before I was born.”
“And what was his name?” Buffy asked warily, eyes narrowed. By the smirk on her husbands face, she already knew there was no way in hell it was going to be suitable.
“Randy Giles.”
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!