Book and computer buying had gone on without incident, though the totals on the register had made Tara feel a little faint. Spike handed over the money without blinking like he always did, however, so Tara just helped him carry it all back to car.
Looking for an apartment slightly after dark didn't go so well. Everything had either too much Eastern exposure or was in a bad neighborhood that Spike didn't want Tara wandering in. The last place they looked was the place they decided on. It was a small three-bedroom house with an ample backyard and a good amount of privacy.
They began moving in right away. Which led to the trip to IKEA. Which led to one of the weirdest situations of Spike's recent unlife.
* * *
They were in the bedroom section. Spike was making Tara laugh by 'testing' out all the beds for her 'soon to be frequent' bedroom activities. Tara didn't know about frequent but she certainly hoped there would be some.
“This head board'll be just right for grabbing on to in those special moments. Good and sturdy, doesn't move much.” Spike gave the wrought iron a shake.
Tara was bright red but laughing uproariously, she sprawled next to him and stared up at the ceiling, “I can see myself in this bed. It's comfy and nice and big.”
“Looking for a big girl, are you? Nice choice, they're much more fun.”
Tara giggled, “Well you'd know better than me. Akasha from the Gaia Festival wasn't exactly small.”
“Yeah, she was a lovely thing wasn't she? All that fine-“
“Spike?”
A familiar face with a fashionable haircut was bending over him, “That is your name, isn't it?”
They both sat up. Spike wiped him hands on his jeans and stuck one out, “Hullo, Joyce. Been awhile, hasn't it?”
* * *
Somehow they'd been roped into helping Joyce pick out things for Buffy's dorm room. The woman kept up a steady stream of chatter over how proud she was of Buffy starting university on Monday and how she was taking some difficult courses and how she hoped she would do well.
Tara nodded at appropriate moments but finally gleaned some understanding of the situation when Spike leaned over a whispered, “Slayer's mum, “ in her ear.
They ended up having coffee and dessert with Joyce in the restaurant before going into the warehouse to pick up their new furniture.
“So what have you been up to this past year?” Joyce looked at him with an open smile.
Spike couldn't help but smile back, he'd liked this woman from the moment he had met her, “Well, a bit of this and that. Met Tara awhile back and we've been traveling around seeing what there is to see. I've given up the whole eating people thing. That wasn't easy. But Tara's sort of a one step program.”
Joyce beamed at him, “So you two are together?”
“No, not like that. We're friends. Best friends.” Tara smiled over at Spike and stole a bite of his cake.
“Well that's good. I'm glad to hear everything's worked out for you. I wondered what had happened to you sometimes. Whenever I asked Buffy she'd get mad and say, 'He's a vampire, Mom. He's killer, who cares what happened to him.' But I always knew you had something special in you.”
Spike's face fell a bit at the mention of the Slayer but he perked up when he heard Joyce had thought about him. It felt nice to be worried about.
“So, if you don't mind me asking, why isn't Buffy here with you?” Tara inquired licking the whipped cream off her spoon.
Joyce sighed, Spike got the impression that she was lonelier than she let on. He could sympathize.
“Buffy's been busy lately with registering for courses and the slaying. She's moving into the dorm tomorrow and she's just so excited about it.”
“And you're afraid she's excited about moving away from you?” Tara asked reaching out her hand to Joyce's.
“Exactly! She isn't happy about the classes or the extracurricular activities, she's only happy about moving out of the house.” Joyce picked at her pie.
“I'm sure once she actually does it, she's going to realize how nice it was at home. She'll probably be a bit home sick.” Tara soothed.
“Is that how you felt when you left?” Joyce asked with obvious interest.
“Um, no. But my situation was much different.” Tara glanced down at her empty plate.
“Oh.” Joyce said with obvious sympathy. Then her face lit up, “Why don't you two join me for dinner tonight? I've been looking for an excuse to try a new spaghetti sauce recipe and Buffy's never home anymore and it's not much fun just cooking for yourself.”
“We'd love to.” Tara answered for the both of them, “Is there anything you'd like us to bring?”
* * *
1630 Revello Drive was just as Spike remembered it. It was clean, whitewashed and the lawn was perfectly manicured. Walking up the driveway, Spike reflected on the last tense moments he'd spent in this house. He adjusted the bouquet of flowers and rang the doorbell. There was no alliance with the Slayer this time. He was not the monster he had been the last time he'd stood on this porch.
Tara beamed over at him. She was happy with the dinner invitation and spoke at length about how much she like Joyce while they had assembled their new living room set. He suspected Joyce reminded her of her own mother.
Joyce opened the door wide with a welcoming smile.
Come to think of it, Joyce reminded him of his own mother, too.
Maybe she represented All Mothers. All warm understanding and forgiveness. Spike presented her with the flowers proudly; they'd been his idea, after all. And he crossed the threshold completely wanted.
* * *
After hot chocolate with mini marshmallows and a wonderful taramisu that no one could believe was frozen, Spike and Tara began to thank Joyce for the lovely dinner and assure her as soon as they got settled in, she would be invited over for some of Tara's cooking.
Spike would buy the dessert.
Joyce looked very pleased at the invitation, “If there's anything you two need in your new place, don't hesitate to let me know. I have so many extra this-and-that's the basement's full of things we don't use. And I know all the best places in town for framing if you need anything for those bare walls.”
They assured her that they would take her up on her offer and they said polite goodbyes.
On the walk home Tara took him hands and swung it back and forth in exuberance, “You see? Coming back wasn't so hard, was it? I'm sure things will be much easier for you in no time.”
“That was the Slayer's mum, pet. Not the Slayer. They're not a thing alike.” Spike didn't want to burst her bubble but he felt she had to know this at least.
“How bad can she be?”
* * *
|
