(Author's Note: Sorry for a delay. This is it folks, the third chapter of the third story. Cast your votes now… though I have my suspicions which will win… I won't officially decide until you tell me.)
“No kidding?” Spike smirked at the boy across the table, who bristled until he realized the vampire was just poking fun and there was clearly no malicious intent.
A cellular phone went off from somewhere in Spike's long black coat and he jolted from his seat to answer it. His face grew grave, “What happened? I'll be right there.”
Buffy felt her stomach twist at the worried expression on his face. How was it that she was already so aware of what concerned him?
“I have to go.” He got up and made a loping dash for the door. Buffy followed, “Wait! I'll come with you!”
Spike made no protest, he just kept moving. Buffy picked up the pace to catch up went they approached a big black car. She slid into the passenger seat smoothly without asking and Spike didn't comment.
“Where are we going? What happened?” Buffy watched him anxiously as they peeled out of the parking lot.
“My daughter, Lyra. She was hurt at school.” He answered shortly, his voice as tight as a bowstring.
Buffy sat back in her seat and was quiet, feeling the intensity of his fear.
He had lived for three thousand years. Giles had told her so. How did he have this much fear left? How could he be afraid of anything?
She looked behind her into the backseat and spotted a child's seatbelt fittings and an assortment of dolls and toys. A picture book rested next to her between the seats, she picked it up with numb fingers.
It was 'The Velveteen Rabbit'.
Was vaguely remembered she had had it as a child, she didn't remember the story at all.
“What is this about?” She gestured to the cover in her hands.
Spike glanced over and gave her a tight smile, “It's one of Lyra's favourites. This boys gets a stuffed rabbit and after a while, the rabbit gets to be real because the boy loved it enough.”
“Oh,” She said flipping through it, “Can I borrow it?”
Spike looked at her quizzically, “It's a children's story, love.”
“I know, I just never read it and I thought I should.” Buffy fingered the images on the page warmly.
Spike cocked an eyebrow but became distracted as they pulled into the elementary school parking lot.
They made a rapid trip to the office and were stopped by the principal, “She seems to be alright, apart from the arm. She's been a little trooper, I'll tell you. Hasn't cried a bit.”
Spike nodded absently and moved past her into the Nurse's Office and Buffy followed. A pretty little girl sat on the cot listening raptly to the nurse's instructions. The second she saw her father, though, she burst into gales of tears.
“Oh, petal, what happened?” Spike carefully picked her up, mindful of her injured arm.
“I-I-I-I fell!” She wailed.
“She fell off the swings. I'm afraid one of the other children pushed her a bit too hard. The arm has taken the brunt of the damage. It might be just a sprain, but you should take her to emergency just in case.” The nurse soothed.
Spike nodded, cradling the small child closely. Lyra buried her face in his neck and sobbed as if her heart was breaking. Buffy felt awkward and out of place. She realized she was still holding 'The Velveteen Rabbit'.
Lyra turned her tearful face against her father's shoulder and spotted Buffy, “Who-who are you?”
“This is Buffy, poodle. Remember? I told you about her.” Spike carried Lyra out of the office and Buffy moved to keep up.
“Oh. You're the Slayer.”
Buffy stopped in surprise, “Um, yeah. How do you know that?”
“My mommy was a Slayer. Daddy told me. She died.” Lyra stated gravely, “I was only a baby. I don't remember her but Daddy says I'm beautiful just like her and he says she loved me very much.”
“That's right, pet, she did. Now we have to go to the hospital, O.K? The doctor has to look at your arm to make sure it isn't hurt too badly.” Spike shifted her over and put her down next to the car and opened the door.
“Is the doctor going to give me a shot?” Lyra asked suspiciously.
“Don't imagine so, but I don't know. We'll see when we get there.” Spike buckled her in.
Buffy climbed into the front seat, suddenly aware she was missing Spanish.
“That's my favourite book!” Lyra pointed to the picture book still in Buffy grasp, “Will you read it to me at the hospital?”
“O.K.” Buffy said nervously, she had never spent much time with children, “Are you sure you don't want your Daddy to read it to me?”
“Daddy read to me all the time. You've never read to me.” Lyra pronounced as if this explained everything, “Daddy, can we listen to Simba?”
Spike rolled his eyes and put on The Lion King soundtrack, “The other day on patrol I caught myself humming the bloody 'Circle of Life'. If Disney wasn't already dead, I'd kill the bastard.”
Buffy smiled, “I haven't seen this movie.”
From the backseat Lyra gasped, “But you have to see it! It's the best movie! It's better than 'Lady and the Tramp.'”
“Oh, well that is good.” Buffy smiled.
“I've seen that stupid film a million times I swear it.” Spike muttered. “Before that it was 'The Little Mermaid'. We have every bloody Disney movie ever made. I swear they have subliminal messages or brain-washing in them or something.”
Buffy giggled, “It's Disney! Haven't you ever been to Disneyland? It's only two hours away.”
“Yup! We went before we came here. I have Mickey Ears and I hugged Goofy and we went on Pirates of the Caribbean and the Tea Cup ride and-“ Lyra chattered excitedly.
“O.K, love. We'll take Buffy with us the next time we go!” Spike announced.
“Yay! Buffy, you can go with me on Space Mountain when I'm bigger and the Rocky Mountain Railroad and-“
“You are evil.” Buffy hissed at Spike looking slightly alarmed.
“What can I tell you, baby? I've always been bad.”
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