Chapter One

 

Sunnydale California

Giles residence

"Spike!!" screamed Anya. "Turn that noise off!!" Her twin could be so annoying sometimes. At the moment, he was blasting some kind of punk music from the late 70's. She banged on the door.

"Spike! Turn that noi-" She was cut of as the door flew open.

"It is not noise, it is the Sex Pistols. Better than some of that crap you listen to. Cry Me a River? Please." He slammed the door and turned the music back up.

"Why does he have to be such a pain?" she asked herself. She stomped down the stairs and headed into the kitchen. She found her cousin Tara sitting at the table reading. "Hey, Tara. Where's Uncle Rupes?" she asked. Rupert Giles and his daughter had moved in to care for his brother's children after his brother and sister-in-law were killed in an auto accident some years ago. They had adapted well and were a true family again. Giles had also been the one to take them to England for the first time since they were born. He cared for them like they were his own.

"He is at the library picking up more books. Our magick lessons have been going well!" She smiled the way only Tara could. It lit up the kitchen. "And Willow has joined us!" "Willow Rosenberg from next door?" Anya knew Willow, grew up with her. She seemed too shy and timid to be getting into magicks.

"Yep," Tara confirmed with a nod. "Everything is going so well!" Again the smile.

Anya looked at her watch. "Well, I'm off to meet Cordy at the mall. Big sale!" She left Tara to her book and headed out the door to meet her best friend.

Spike layed back on his bed, his mind drifting with the music. He looked over at his night table. Next to his ashtray sat a picture of him and his best friend, Buffy Summers. It was them at one of Xander's parties. They were curled up on the couch laughing like there was no tomorrow. She needed to laugh more. She had a rough life. Yeah, rough life in the middle of suburbia. He wouldn't have believed it until the day Buffy told him about her parents. Her dad was a rotten abusive bastard. He tried his best to keep her on track though. He and Buffy had been best friends since kindergarten. They used to do everything together. They they hit the age to where it was awkward and didn't hang out as much. But she still snuck into his window every night to escape her family life and feel loved by someone. Then she woke up early enough to get back to her house before her parents woke up. He wondered what she was doing now.

Summers Residence

"Hey, dad," said Buffy as she entered the house.

"Hey, sweetie," he answered as he fixed himself another scotch. "How was your study session? That Willow is one smart cookie!" He drained his glass.

"I'm going to ace that test on Monday!"

"That's great! Are you sure you don't want to go out and celebrate? Dawnie is off to Janice's for the night, so it is going to be quiet around here." Buffy knew that wasn't going to be true. Soon her father would be drunk, and take it out on her and her mother. He always did. He had a horrible drinking problem. Ever since Dawn had been born and the company he owned folded.

"Naw, I'm going to keep up the studying. Need all that I can get!" She headed off to her room mumbling info for the test. "Trickle down theory...Money starting out at the top and going down..."

At around 10.00, Buffy heard her mother come home. She heard her and her dad screaming back and forth. She heard glass breaking. Sounds of flesh being beaten and bruised. Buffy cringed at the sound of each blow.

"Where the hell were you?? You were due home half an hour ago!!" Hank yelled, as he smacked Joyce hard across the face. "Where the hell were you, bitch?""I worked late at the gallery. I called you at five to tell you!" Joyce sounded frantic, scared.

This was way too much. Buffy pulled on her boots and coat over her pj's. She proceeded to do her nightly ritual: sneaking over to Spike's.

Spike laid out on his bed smoking a cigarette and waiting for the tapping. He knew they would come soon. There, three light taps on the pane of his window. He got up and opened the door to his Bethy. He called her that when no one else was around.

"They are at it again, William," she said as soon as she got into the window. He immediately took her into his arms and let her weep onto his shoulder as he whispered soothing words to calm her down. "I couldn't take it any more, William." His name sounded funny, since his friends always called him Spike. She was the only one who called him that, besides his Uncle Rupes. But that only came when he was brassed off or concerned. But the name coming from her was music to his ears.

"I know, Bethy. Let's get you to bed. You need your sleep." He backed away long enough for Buffy to pull off her coat and boots before they climbed into bed facing each other, blue eyes meeting hazel. "Just sleep, luv." The two curled up together under Spike's green comforter and drifted off to sleep.

They awoke when Spike's alarm went off. 4.00 AM. Time for Buffy to get back to her own bed before her parents got up and realized that she was gone. She got up, even though she wanted to stay, put on her coat and boots and went to the window to leave. Spike grabbed her hand before she opened it, and pulled her into a tight embrace. "Be careful kitten," he whispered. He stepped back enough to kiss Buffy's forehead. "See you at the whelp's party tonight."

She shimmied down the rain pipe and walked out of the yard towards her house.


Chapter 2

 

ANote: I have been having a blast with this story so far, and I would like to thank SpikesBabyGurl for looking over it. And for giving me the courage to post it! You rock sweetpea! And thanks to those of you who reviewed the first part! Makes me feel all fuzzy inside, lol...I should have chapters three and four posted by Monday the latest. Again, thanks! D

Summers Residence, 8.00 AM

After a few more hours of sleep, Buffy decided to get up to see her mom beforeshe left to open the gallery at ten. She walked into the kitchen after shewashed up, only to find her mother sitting at the kitchen counter staring intoher coffee

"Something really interesting about that coffee, mom?" she asked as she sat downnext to her. Joyce looked up at her. She had a nasty cut on her eyebrow. Thebroken glass she heard last night. It almost brought her to tears just thinkingabout that.

"I'm sorry you had to hear all of that last night, sweetie." She brushed somestray hairs out of her daughter's face.

'No big since I wasn't actually here.' "I slept really hard last night mom. It'salright, but I don't like what he is doing to you." She cared so much for hermother, and hated all that was happening.

"Who is doing what to your mother?" asked Hank as he and Dawn entered thekitchen.

"Uncle Sam making you and mom pay all of those taxes!!" she said in a quickcover. Bad cover, but quick as her teenage mind could figure. "It just isn'tright!" She crossed her arms and stuck her nose in the air in the normal bratfashion. It earned a smile out of her mother, which is something her mom rarelydid anymore. It was nice seeing her smile again.

She jumped off of the stool and started to leave the kitchen. She quickly turnedaround. "Can I spend the night at Willow's tonight? Xander is having a party andafter Willow and I want to watch some B-horror movies." She gave her parents herbest 'please' smile.

"I guess so," said her father. He turned to Dawn, "and how would you like to goto your Aunt Jenny's house for tonight? I know you two enjoy your girl time." Hesmiled when Dawn squealed and dashed up the stairs to pack her bag. She got halfway before she dashed back over to her father to give him a big hug. Then shewas off again.

"Thanks mom, dad," said Buffy as she left the kitchen to gather a few things soshe and Willow could spend the rest of their Saturday together.

 

Rosenberg Residence

Buffy rang the doorbell. Before she knew it, a tall redheaded woman opened thedoor. "Hi, Mrs. Rosenberg. Is Willow home?" She probably didn't even know.Willow's parents were rarely home. Even when they were home, they really didn'tpay any attention to what Willow did.

She stepped aside and let her into the house. "She is up in her room," she said."You can go on up, you know the way." She went back to the living room andcontinued to type on her laptop.

Buffy knocked on the door a few times. "Willow?"

She heard some rustling around, and then the door flew open to reveal Willow andher meticulously clean room. "Hey, Buff. What's on the schedule for today?" Sheand Buffy plopped on the newly made bed and prepared for a little girl talk. ASaturday morning staple for them after they outgrew the Saturday morningcartoons. Xander would probably be there too, if he didn't need the cartoons inthe morning to function.

"I was thinking we could go to the mall. We need new outfits for the party!"said Buffy, smiling at the aspect of a new dress for the occasion.

"Is there someone you want to impress tonight??" Willow wiggled her eyebrows atBuffy, which made Buffy blush.

"No!!" Buffy squealed.Of course there was someone she wanted to impress, but shewas going to make Willow find out on her own. She was a smart girl. "How aboutyou? I've seen that Oz guy eyeing you..." It was Willow's turn to blush, almostas red as her hair. 'Perfect save - score one for Buffy.'

"Yeah, but....but..." Willow stammered. Oz was quite the looker, but so wasTara...Hell, maybe she was gay. She didn't know, but she liked both of them. Ozand Tara....just the thought of the two together with her made her blush evendeeper.

"Ok, little miss blushy. What was that little dirty thought I could heartraveling through your head?" She gave Willow the look. THE look.

"Hey!! You can't use my resolve face against me! No fair!!" Both girls went intoa fit of giggles. "I was thinking about both Oz and Tara..." She got sheepishabout admitting it to Buffy.

"Oooh! Threesome action. I never knew you had it in you, Wills!" There wasnothing wrong with that. She has thoughts about Spike all of the time, and hewas her best friend. "See, you have two new reasons to go to the mall now! Weare going shopping, and we are going to look awesome tonight!" She finished herlittle pep speech, jumped off of the bed, and tore out of the door with Willowquick on her heels.

 

Giles Residence

"I got it!" announced Anya as she flung herself off of the couch to answer thedoor. She opened the door to a girl she positively despised: Faith."Hey, An. Spike home?" asked Faith. She really didn't like this Anya chick. Shewas kinda annoying.

"Upstairs." Anya replied and made a quick turn to go back to the den. She wasmissing the Passions marathon.

Faith was Spike's new girlfriend. Loud. Annoying. Love of leather clothing. Theyseemed perfect together. Except for the fact that Buffy snuck into his roomevery night. Spike had feelings for the girl, and Anya knew it. She knew hertwin better than he thought she did. He was more of the hopeless romantic, andFaith was more of the type to just go out and have casual sex. She really wantedhim to get with Buffy. If only she could grant wishes...


 

She plopped back down on the couch and returned to her marathon. Then she realized that if she really wanted to wow Xander, she would have to look wonderful tonight. She thought she looked great all of the time, but she really wanted him to notice her tonight.

She stood again to search for Tara. They would hit the mall. Get new outfits, she would wow Xander, and she would help Tara wow Willow. She knew there were feelings there. There was no denying. Tara wouldn't light up at the mere mention of Willow's name if there wasn't. She found her in the back yard working on the garden, planting forget-me-nots. "Having fun?" asked Anya.

"Yep," replied Tara, looking up, her hat slightly flopping into her face.

"What do you say we hit the mall? Find some new outfits to wow everyone with..." She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively at Tara. "Maybe impress someone..." She smiled.

"Lemme get cleaned up first, couldn't go like this!"


 

Anya retreated with a smile on her face. She would be doing her favourite things today. Shopping and playing Cupid. And maybe if the party was good, she would be getting orgasms tonight!

Faith knocked on Spike's door. There was no answer. She opened the door to find him asleep. With something clasped to his chest. She managed to wrestle the object from him without waking him. It was a picture of himself and Buffy that he kept on his night table. She put it back into it's place, face down of course, and placed a light kiss on his lips. He began to mumble. She had to strain to hear what he was saying. "Mmm...sweet Bethy...love you...stay..." Faith fumed. Buffy was another one she didn't like. She quickly shook Spike awake before he could say anymore to fire her temper. His blue eyes snapped open. "Faith? What are you doing here?"

"Can't a girlfriend come visit her boyfriend?" she asked sweetly. She sat on the bed next to him, running her fingers through his already messy hair. "We were supposed to go to Xander's, remember? Meet up with Oz?" She was already annoyed about his 'Bethy' comment, and this took it over the top. She would take care of the problem tonight. Out of the picture.

"Oh, right." He sat up in bed. He sat for a moment to wake up, then he put on his boots, grabbed his coat, and started to leave. He looked at the picture of him and Buffy on the table, face down. He sat it up proper, and then looked at Faith. It was no secret that she didn't like Buffy. Faith was quite the jealous one. "You coming?" He pulled Faith from her thoughts as he walked out the door.


Chapter Three

 

Harris Residence

"Does everything look ok? Do I look ok?? Oh, God...I am going to have her over. HER!!" Oz watched as Xander paced back and forth, rambling all the while. He had been this way all afternoon. Faith and Spike had come over to help out. More help in the thirty minutes they were there than Xander had been the entire time they were setting up. Xander was a wreck.

"Yo, Xander, you best calm down. People will arrive soon." Oz was getting tired of watching him do this. He stood in front of the taller man, stopping his pacing. "You will be ok. There are going to be other people here too. So it won't be too awkward." He moved out of the way and sat back down on the couch.

"I hope so," said Xander as he continued to pace and ramble once again. Oz shook his head at the sight. But his pacing was interrupted when the doorbell rang. "I got it!" He practically ran to the door, opening it to find Willow and Buffy behind it. "Oh, it's not her..." he groaned.

"Nice to see you too, Xand," said Buffy, smiling slightly. "We came early to lend a hand." The two girls walked into the living room, joining Oz on the couch to watch Xander pace and mumble. As he paced from one side of the room to the other, three heads followed.

"Xander, will you stop pacing." Finally, she had said it. She is usually not mean, but Willow was starting to get nervous just watching him!

"Yeah, you are starting to make me dizzy," added Buffy. Xander shrugged and then went into the kitchen to make sure he had enough food. Everything had to be perfect.

"You two look lovely this evening," said Oz back in the living room, looking Willow and Buffy over. As expected, Willow blushed.

"Why thank you, Oz. You look quite dashing yourself. I am loving the blue hair, by the way," replied Buffy. His hair colour changed every week it seemed. When she saw him yesterday at school, his hair was neon green. It was cool he changed it so often. Offered variety!

"I got tired of my little cousin calling me 'barf-head'." They all laughed at the thought of a little three year old coming up to Oz and calling him 'barf-head'.

He looked over Willow again. She was looking exceptional tonight, in a pretty hunter green dress that accented her hair and eyes. He was surprised that he was talking as much as he was. He was usually very nervous around girls.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

More guests began to arrive. Tara and Anya had gotten there some time ago. Wilow and Oz were still chatting on the couch, as were Anya and Xander. He wasn't messing up like he thought he was going to do! She saw Tara with some girl from school, but she was soon over on the couch with Oz and Willow. Buffy could see the three in a relationship; it would be cute. That left her by herself. She wondered where Spike was. Just as the thought came to her, Spike and Faith came into the house.

Spike noticed Buffy the instant he stepped through the door, even though she was on the other side of the room. She was clad in a nice tight pair of leather pants and a red halter top. She looked awesome, especially with her golden hair resting on her shoulders. Just another reason he loved her. Then again, she could be dressed in a burlap sack and he would still think she looked ravishing. But as quickly as he had spotted her, she was on the move again. To the kitchen.

Apparently Faith noticed the movement. Time to make her move. "Spike, I'm gonna grab us some drinks." She gave Spike a quick peck on the cheek and then took off in the direction that Buffy had gone just moments before. Spike went about the room to say his hellos, and make sure the Whelp wasn't making any moves on his sister. That just wasn't cool.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Hey, B." Faith entered the kitchen, looking like a lion moving in for the kill.

"Hey, Faith. What's up?" She had poured herself a Diet Coke and offered the bottle to Faith.

"Nothing really. Just do me a favour." Faith placed the bottle back on the counter, in fear that in her anger she might do something with it that Coke bottles weren't meant for. Like shove the thing down 'sweet Bethy's' throat.

"Shoot, cowboy...I mean cowgirl..." Buffy laughed nervously. She knew Faith was up to something. She wouldn't be talking to her if she didn't want something. Faith had never liked her, so why would she start now?

"You are all over Spike. Even his room. Don't go near him again. I don't like to share my men, best friend or not." She winked at Buffy and started to leave. "Have fun tonight, B." She left the kitchen. Buffy had to get out of there. Bathroom.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

She felt so awful. She had nothing with Spike. Of course she had a crush on the guy. She had a crush on him for as long as she could remember. But she had seen a different side of him. She saw what was underneath that whole Big Bad persona. He was a really sweet and caring person. He was the only one who she could tell about her abusive father, and the amount of utter bullshit that he put on Joyce on a daily basis. More tears sprang to her eyes at the though of her mother being in pain. The thought of the large gash on her mom's face this morning. All of the bruises that she had from previous beatings. Then the fact that Faith would beat her to a bloody pulp for even getting near her best friend. If she ever got near William again. That isn't exactly what she had said. The gleam in her eyes said that. This was not Buffy's day. More like not her weekend, and it had just started. She was trying to clear herself up when she heard a light knocking at the door.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Spike had seen Buffy leave the kitchen with tears in her eyes. Faith approached with their drinks a few seconds later.

"Faith, did you say anything to Buffy?" he asked. He pretty much already knew the answer though. Faith had that look on her face, like the cat that got the canary.

"No. Probably on her rag or something," she replied. He just looked at her for a split second and went after his Bethy. As he neared the bathroom, he could hear her muffled weeping. He tapped lightly on the door.

"Go away," was the teary reply. Spike tried the knob. Locked.

"Bethy...let me in..." he pleaded with her. He could do nothing from this position. And it was killing him.

"No. She'll beat me to a pulp." A few more strangled sobs.

"Faith?" Stupid bint.

"Yeah. She threatened me, if I ever came around you again, she would kick my ass." Strangled sob.

"Well, I am coming around you, so there isn't a damn thing she can do. Her bark is bigger than her bite. Bethy...please...open the door..." He was about to pull out the big guns: her full name. "Elizabeth Ann S-". The door creaked open just enough for him to step inside the bathroom. He stepped in to see Buffy sitting on the vanity, eyes poofy and red from crying. "Luv, is that what is bothering you?" He shut the door behind him and clicked the lock. Buffy shook her head. He went to her and gathered her into his arms. "Then what is it kitten?" She almost instantaneously clung to him, sobbing onto his shoulder. She had him in an iron grip. He gently caressed her back in an attempt to make her feel better. It hurt him so much seeing her like this.

"This morning, I saw my mom with a huge gash across her face. From dad. Then, I get here and I'm all alone, while everyone else is pretty much paired off. And to top it off, Faith has to be a bitch and threaten me...it's too much for me to take right now..." She started sobbing again. She was so glad he was here now. Just the feel of his arms around her made her feel a little better.

"Shhh...it's ok..." he said, in an attempt to sooth her. He burried his face in her hair and whispered sweet nothings that she needed to hear. He had no idea how long they had been like this, but eventually her sobs had stopped. She pulled back and looked at him.

"I bet I look horrible now," she said, hazel eyes again looking into blue.

"You always look beautiful to me," he answered, barely above a whisper. He kissed the tip of her nose."Come on, they'll wonder where we disappeared to."

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Buffy freshened up and they left the bathroom. The lights had been lowered, candles strewn around the room, and romantic music was playing in the background, a nice break compared to the punk music they were playing earlier.

"There you two are!" cried Xander. "Come on, we are playing spin the bottle." Back in the living room, there were few guests left. Just Anya, Tara, Willow, Oz, Faith, and now the three of them.

"Wondered where you went," said Faith, again shooting daggers at Buffy with her eyes. "Starting to miss you, B."

"Let's get this game going!" said Anya, full of excitement, "I want to kiss Xander!!" Xander blushed as they all returned to the circle, in the middle an old wine bottle.

Anya took the first spin. It pointed to Xander. She did some kind of weird victory dance, claimed her prize, and sat back down. "Your turn now, Xander!" she said, hoping to win another kiss. He spun the bottle and it pointed to Spike.

"There is no way in hell I am going to kiss Billy Idol over threre!" Xander held up his hands in disgust.

"Didn't want to kiss you anyway, Harris. You probably have dragon breath," Spike shot back.

"Nope," Anya threw in. "Cheetos. And a touch of salsa." Again, Xander blushed when the circle laughed at him, and Anya's bluntness. Spike just looked at him and tossed him the tin of Altoids that he kept hidden in his coat. Which of course earned more laughter from everyone but Xander.

"How about we just let Spike spin?" suggested the ever problem solving Tara. Everyone seemed to agree with her, so Spike took his spin. It pointed to Buffy. The two looked at one another for a moment before they both leaned in for their winnings.

He pressed a kiss to her full lips. Tender at first, but it quickly turned passionate and full of need. When they seperated, the rest of the circle began to cheer and make cat calls. Except for Faith.

As the two began to sit back down, Faith lunged for Buffy. "Back the hell off of my boyfriend, 'Bethy'." Everyone could hear the poison dripping off of the last word Faith had uttered. But before she could reach Buffy, she was quickly cut off by Spike's angry voice.

"You know, Faith, how about you back off." Spike glared at her. No one had ever seen him this mad, and it quite frankly, it was scary. His normally blue eyes were now stormy and black. "'No, I didn't say anything to her'," he said, imitating Faith's words from earlier, in falsetto to top it off. "Go find someone who will put up with your shit, ducks. I can't tolerate it anymore. Buffy is a part of my life that will always be there. I'm sorry if you can't accept that."

"Fine, have your 'Bethy'. I don't know what I saw in you in the first place." She stood and stalked out the door, slamming it. This wasn't the end of this.

"What was that all about," asked Xander.

"Don't worry about it, mate." Spike needed to cool off. "I need to get out of here." He left out of the back door, Buffy following right behind. He sat on the back deck, smoking a cigarette.

She stood behind him a moment. "I know you're there. I always know when you are near."

"You didn't have to do that for me you know." She sat behind him and began to massage his shoulders. He was so tense right now.

"It had to be done, luv." He threw the half cigarette into the yard. "Let's get going, ok? I need to calm down." He stood, then helped her to her feet. They left the back yard, walking towards his house.



 

A/N: I know this is awfully short. I had a different version written, but it never got posted. My computer crashed so I lost the entire thing. I had up through chapter eight done. But that is life. Anyway, sorry so short. It is just what is on the top of my head right now. So it might suck for all I know. Just send me feedback, and all of that good stuff. Oh, and there will be a rating change soon!

Loves,
D
 

Chapter 4

After wandering around Sunnydale for hours, Buffy and Spike finally arrived at the Giles residence. They entered the house to find Giles asleep on the sofa, mouth wide open and snoring loudly. Neither Buffy nor Spike could help but snicker at the sight of the usually refined Englishman. Spike took Buffy's hand and tugged it gently, silently saying 'come on.' She followed him up the stairs to his room, where they began to get ready for bed.

"William?" she asked, quietly.

"Yeah, luv?" he replied, turning to face her in only his boxers, not an unusual sight to either of them, so it was no big.

"Could I borrow a shirt?" She looked up at him sheepishly.

"No problem, you know that 'Bethy," he said, tossing her the first shirt that came to his hand. The one he had just laid on the bed. Better than nothing. He watched as she stripped off her halter-top without a second thought and slipped his black shirt over her blonde head. His breath caught in his throat as he caught the slightest glimpse of her breasts in the moonlight streaming through the window. She then slipped out of her pants, snatching up a pair of boxers from his dresser. 'Damn,' he thought, ' she looks really good in my clothes...' She looked up to find him staring at her.

"What?"

"Just thinking," he said, holding up the blankets on his bed so she could crawl in with him following.

"Bout what?" she asked when they were finally settled.

"About how smashingly sexy you look wearing my clothes," he replied as he wrapped his arms around her and kissed the back of her neck.

"Shut up, William!" she said, giggling. He chuckled a bit, but was a little lost at how blind she could be sometimes. "You never told me why you yelled at Faith like you did. You were so angry, it kinda scared me." She took his hand that was resting on her stomach, and interlaced their fingers.

"Because you are much more important to me than that stupid chit." He sighed. "She was only after my sexy bod!"

Buffy felt a chuckle rumble through his chest. “You think everyone is after your sexy bod!" getting in on the laughing too.

"Faith isn't the type of girl you have in a relationship. She is a...a..." he paused to think a moment. "A - "

"Wham, bam, thank-you-mam?" Interrupted Buffy.

Spike couldn't help but let out a loud, heart-felt laugh at that one. It seemed so strange for that phrase to come out of his sweet 'Bethy.

"What??" She turned around so she could face him. His eyes were full of life and laughter, over a stupid phrase she said. "Are you having a fleeting case of psycho?"

"No, pet! I’m just laughing at you." He gave her his winning smile. After his laughing calmed, he continued. "Faith likes sex. She likes it a lot. More than Anya even." She giggled a little as she settled down to lay her head on his chest. "I need more than that. She would be out of my life in another week anyway, and I am not losing you." He wrapped his arms around her tighter as her breathing began to even out. He knew she was falling asleep. "I love you, Bethy," he whispered into her hair. "I know," came the sleepy reply. 'If only she did know,' he thought, as he drifted off.



Chapter 5

 

A/N: I am so sorry this took so long! I have been busy the past two months, graduation and new job. Fun fun stuff. Plus, lots of excitement. I will be in Tampa at the Vulkon Buffy Convention on Saturday. ::squeals:: James Marsters! Oh, well. On to the story. And please review. I am a little lost as to where I should go next. Just lemme know what you think!

Loves and excited kisses,
D
 

Buffy woke up early that morning to find Spike practically wrapped around her; his arms wrapped so tightly around her she almost couldn't breathe. She smiled at the thought of it. Of all of the guys in Sunnydale, she wanted for him to be hers. No matter how much she denied it, she wanted only him. But he kept finding these ho-biscuits that weren't good for much other than sex. So she would have to settle for the time being. But the feeling of being in his arms matched no other that she had encountered before in her short eighteen years.

She had to get out of the wonderful touch since she had to get home. Her mom had mentioned something about having some of her clients in town and wanted her home early. She started to worm her way out, trying not to wake William in the process. He released her and mumbled something as he rolled over onto his back and stretched. She eyed his bare chest hungrily. Buffy grabbed a piece of paper and a pencil off of his desk and began to write him a note

William,

Sorry I had to leave without you being up, but you seemed like you needed the sleep, especially after last night. Mom probably wants me home early. She mentioned something earlier in the week about some of her friends coming in from Los Angeles, and she wanted me to meet them. Very big in the art business! I'll fill you in tonight. Call me, alright.

Love You,
Bethy

Buffy placed the letter on his bare chest and leaned down to give him a quick kiss on the forehead. Then she took the task of dressing. She pulled off his boxers to put on her own pants. She then pulled off the t-shirt to put on her halter top. A pair of sky blue eyes opened on the bed, Buffy was oblivious to it. He watched as she slid the halter top on and tied it. Then she grabbed the t-shirt and slid that over the top of her halter. Her mom and dad would kill her if they ever caught her in that shirt. They would freak if they even knew she owned it. She then grabbed her boots from the edge of the bed and quietly stepped out the door; and right into the wrath of Anya.

"AH HA!" Buffy dropped her boots, they landed with a heavy thud. She spun around to see Anya standing in the hallway behind her. "I knew you stayed with him last night! You two were really quiet though! So, what happened?" Anya was full of curiosity. She had been all for then when they went into that stage in middle school where it was awkward for them to hang out all of the time like they used to. They even bickered about stupid things, like movies. She had been rooting for them ever since she saw them get into the argument over whether they were to watch Dirty Dancing that night or Full Metal Jacket. Buffy won, of course.

"Shah!! Willi- Spike is still asleep!" She looked Anya up and down. It looked as if she had been out all night. So Buffy decided to tell her. "Looks like someone hasn't seen their bed last night." Anya blushed. She did look a little disheveled, which was unusual. She was usually all put together, makeup perfect. She didn't have any on at the time, and her hair was sticking up in odd places.

"After spin the bottle, Xander gave me lots of orgasms!" she stated proudly. "I bet you got some good orgasms too! You are still wearing his shirt." Anya looked at Buffy smugly; the 'I win' look.

"For your information, I am covering that halter top from last night. Mom will kill me if she sees it!" She looked down at her watch. "I've gotta go. Mom is expecting me home really soon." She turned to leave when Anya stopped her.

"If you don't want your mom to know about that top, you can always let me borrow it...." she hinted.

"Sure! I'll get it to you tomorrow at school." Buffy set off down the stairs and then to her own home, glad that a simple shirt could keep Anya quiet.

Buffy walked up to her house to see her mother as well as a dark haired woman sitting on the front porch drinking a cup of coffee. Joyce still had the gash on her head, but it didn't look like there were any fresh wounds on her at all.

"Hey, honey. Have a good time at Willow's?" her mother asked. She was also very chipper this morning. "Yeah, we had loads of fun at Xander's party, and then we had a date with Patrick Swazie and some Ben n Jerry's afterwards." She sat down next to her mom.

"Ooh, Patrick Swazie. Dirty Dancing?" asked the new woman. "I am Jennifer Whyndam - Price, by the way." She shook Buffy's had lightly.

"Jennifer and I went to UC Sunnydale together," said Joyce. "She and I were really good friends back then. She has a son about your age, he should be inside with Dawn playing some video game."

Buffy got up, kissed her mother on the cheek, and gave Jennifer a slight wave before she went inside into the den to find her sister and a very handsome dark haired boy sitting on the couch playing Super Mario Kart. There was a man sitting on the love seat, who Buffy assumed to be Mr. Whyndam - Price.

"Come here Buffy and look! I am kicking his butt!" cried Dawn, who's Peaches was definitely kicking the butt of Mr. Handsome's Luigi.

"Only because you are a pro at this game, kid!" Handsome replied. The race finished and Dawn let out a whoop in victory. The older man looked up.

"I am terribly sorry. I feel horrible now. I am Wesley Whyndam - Price, and this is my son, Angelus," the man said, approaching Buffy. He shook her hand, and then Handsome took his place.

"Everyone calls me Angel," he said; he then kissed Buffy's hand in a way that made her swoon.

"Eeewww! Would you guys stop giving each other googly eyes!" yelled Dawn. "I was just beating Angel! We have one more race in the circuit!" She started bouncing up and down in her chair. Angel smiled a bit and sat back down on the couch to finish their race.

Buffy smiled back and went up stairs to shower and change.


Spike woke up after a few more hours of sleep. The sight of his Bethy dressed in his clothes still stuck in his mind. Especially the part when she was putting them on. He loved how beautiful she looked in just his clothes. He thought back to his other girlfriends, how even a few of them had worn his clothes. Even Faith had worn them. Even she didn't look as good as Bethy. He sat up in bed, scratched his head and stretched. Yawn. He looked at the clock on the night stand. 2.30. Looks like he had slept most of the day. He jumped out of bed and went into the bathroom that was adjacent to his room. He quickly showered and went to the kitchen to get some breakfast before he went to Xander's for a quick game of footie. He was just about to take a bite of the sandwich he fixed when Anya stopped him.

"So what did you and Buffy do last night, bro?" asked Anya. "Lots of orgasms? Buffy wouldn't tell me."

"Nothing, for your information. We just walked around Sunnydale for a while, and then came back here." He sighed and took a bite of his sandwich.

"What? I am your sister and it is my right to know!" She walked up to him and took his sandwich and took a bite.

"Hey!" he managed to get out before she plopped the sandwich back on his plate.

"Oh, I am going with you to watch you and Xander play soccer. I bet he is sexy in his soccer shorts and no shirt." She left him in the kitchen to go to the living room to call Cordy.

"Oh bloody hell."


Buffy could hear Dawn and Angel downstairs still playing video games, and she could smell dinner that she guessed that her mother and Jennifer were cooking. She looked over at the clock. Almost time for dinner. She had been gushing in her diary about William and Angel for well over an hour. Now it was time to gush to Willow. Which she had been doing for a while already. "You will not believe how hot this guy is!" Buffy cried. "He is tall, dark eyes, dark hair, slight Irish accent...." she trailed off.

"So he is very yummy then?" asked Willow.

"Very." Buffy trailed off again. "So how are things with Oz and Tara going?"

"Awesome. We are going to the Bronze tonight. You should come. And bring Angel!" Willow wanted to meet Angel. After all of the gushing that Buffy had been doing for the past hour and a half.

"That will be cool. I just need to talk to mom and Angel. Hopefully she will let me go after dinner."

"What are sleeping arrangements anyway? Are they staying at your house?" Willow was finishing painting her toenails. Green, to match her nails and eyes. She found that both Oz and Tara liked the colour green, so all was well.

"They are staying here. Jennifer and Wesley are in the guest room, Angel in Dawn's room, and Dawn in mom's room." She snuggled closer to Mr. Gordo.

"That makes for midnight smoochies!" Willow giggled.

"If I stay here. I will probably end up going to Spike's again like usual." She sighed and rolled over on her bed to face the pictures of herself and Spike on her dresser. There was one of them when they were kids, standing by the monkeys at the zoo. She and her little blonde pigtails, smiling; him and his soft blonde hair making a face behind her. Another picture of them at a New Years party a few years ago. They were sitting on Spike's couch asleep; her leaning on his shoulder, him with his arms around her. The last one was at the beach. They were on a picnic table on the boardwalk; she was on the table itself, while he was settled in between her thighs leaning back on her torso with an evil smirk on his face. His arms were propped up on her knees, their hands interlocked. She loved that picture.

"Hey, Buff, I'll see you tonight, ok. Oz and Tara are here," Willow said. Buffy had gotten really quiet.

"Ok, Wills. Hopefully I'll see you there. Bye."

"Bye."

She hung up the phone and focused on the picture of them at the beach. She remembered that day well.

Buffy rolled over and looked at the clock on the bedside table. 8 AM. Who would be beating on her bedroom door at 8AM on a Saturday morning?? BANG!BANG! There it was again. "Gimme a second!!" she said/yawned. She grabbed the robe off of her chair and threw it on over her naked body. In the summer heat, she had taken to sleeping like that when she wasn't sleeping at Spike's. She flung open the door find Spike standing there in a pair of board shorts and a tank top.

"Get dressed, Bethy. We are going to the beach!" he said, excitedly. He loved seeing her like this. Just woken up and pissed off. She was cute like that. "Quit giving me the glare of death, and wake up!"

"Goaway," she mumbled, and turned around to head back to her bed. Spike followed her into her room and shut the door. He watched as she plopped down onto the bed.

"Not going away that bloody easily, luv," he replied, moving over to pull her off of the bed. He stopped short when he noticed that her robe had fallen open a tad. He ignored it and grabbed her wrists then pulled her off of the bed. She just stood there and looked at him under sleepy eyes.

"Unless you plan on dressing me, there is no way I am leaving the house." She crossed her arms over her chest. This is the first time she noticed that her eyes were puffy from crying.

"Oh, pet," he said, pulling her to his chest. She began to sob again. "What happened?" He started to rub her back gently. He truly hated to see her cry. He stuck his nose in her hair, savoring the vanilla scent.

"Parker. He broke up with me because.....because....." She started to sob again. Spike had watched her date this Parker guy for quite some time. He thought he was a poof.

"Why, pet?"

"Because.. He said I was a prude!!" Fresh tears were soaking his shirt through. He just tightened his grip on her.

"Oh, Bethy...You are perfect just the way you are, and that is why Xander, Willow, and I love you. Parker is just one of those guys who is going to end up with some disease before age twenty." She looked up at him and laughed a little bit.

"Thanks, William. You always know how to break the sad Bethy moments!" She gave him a teary smile.

"So does that dressing you still stand?" he asked with a sexy smirk.

"Maybe. But not now!" she said, shooing him out of the room. After she shut the door, she quickly changed into her red two piece bathing suit, a pair of black shorts, and one of Spike's wife beater tank tops that he had left over there. She opened the door again to find Spike just where she left him.

"Ready?" He asked. He could see the strings from the bathing suit hanging out of the top of her/his shirt, and it made his mouth water.

"Lemme ask my dad first. I'm sure he'll say it's ok." She went into what was the family office, but her father was remodeling it into a guest room. "Daddy?" she asked. Hank turned around, a bit of white paint smudged across his forehead, which Buffy giggled at. He smiled seeing her smile. He knew what Parker had said, since she called him last night to come get her from the Bronze. She told him on the way home, and he almost turned the car around to go beat the crap out of the kid.

"Hey, pumpkin," he said. Buffy picked up one of the rags from the ladder in the corner and wiped the paint off of her fathers head. "So why are you all dressed up for a day at the beach?" He asked the two teens.

"I wanted to know if it is alright if I took Buffy to the beach today," said Spike from the doorway.

"Under one condition, William." Hank looked up.

"Yes sir?"

"Have her home by ten." He smiled at the two. Something was probably going on, but he liked William.

"Consider it done, Mr. Summers," Spike said with a smile.

"Thanks, Daddy!" Buffy ran up and gave her father a hug. Then she headed out the door with Spike and jumped into the DeSoto.


After a full day at the beach, Spike, Willow, Xander, and Buffy sat on one of the picnic tables on the boardwalk that was surrounded by plants watching the sun set over the ocean. Willow and Xander sat side by side, while Buffy sat on the picnic table with Spike between her legs.

"Today was such a good day," Willow said. She looked out at the sea, wishing that her and Xander were as comfortable with their friendship as Buffy and Spike. She always said that they were like a married couple, even though they were still teenagers. She thought it was cute.

"It was," replied Xander, who was looking at the water as well. Then the light bulb in his head clicked. "Perfect picture opportunity!!" he said. He got up and Buffy and Spike just looked at him. Then he snapped the picture.

"Harris, if you are going to take the picture, then do it right!" Spike exclaimed. He leaned back into Buffy's chest and propped his arms up on her knees. Buffy's hands then found his, and they instinctively interlaced. Xander looked at the two for a moment before snapping the picture. Good shot.

After the sun set, they reluctantly got into their cars and left for home.


There was a knock at Buffy's door. She looked up to see Angel's head popped in at the corner.

"You mom sent me up to tell you that dinner was ready." He gave her his best smile.

"Thanks, Angel," she replied, and got up. She looked at the clock. Five o'clock. She must have zoned out for a long time.

"Mil'lady," he said, holding out his arm for her to take.

"Kind sir," she replied with a smile, taking his arm. He escorted her down the stairs to the dinner table. Wesley, Jennifer, Dawn, and her mother were already seated. Angel pulled out her chair for her to sit; then he sat himself in the empty seat next to her. Wesley and Jennifer were seated on the opposite side of the table, Joyce on one end and Dawn on the other. Dinner went well, with mostly business talk. Buffy thought that this was her chance.

"Mom, could I show Angel around SunnyD this evening?" asked Buffy hopefully.

“I don’t know, it is a Sunday night and all…..what do you think Jenny? Wesley?” Joyce looked between the two adults.

“Well, give Buffy a chance to show Angel around our old haunts,” said Jenny with a laugh.

“I don’t see why not,” added Wesley. “It would be good for Angel to see some of Sunnydale.”

“Thanks!!” squealed Buffy. “I just need to get ready now!” She was still wearing Spike’s t-shirt from last night. It still smelled like him and it made her happy.

“Go on, you two, get cleaned up. Dawn and I will clear the table.” Joyce smiled at the joy in her daughter’s eyes, and the grin on Angel’s face. Then the face of her youngest as she squealed “But Mom!” in disgust.

Buffy and Angel excused themselves from the table and set upon the act of changing.

About twenty minutes later, they both emerged from their rooms and headed down the stairs together. “Mom! We’re leaving!!” Buffy yelled as they left the house. She showed Angel around the small town that was Sunnydale.

“The only thing I have left out is The Bronze,” she said.

“The Bronze?”

“Only the coolest place in town. They usually have bands that play there every night. Willow and Tara’s boyfriend’s band usually plays there almost every night of the week. Dingo’s Ate My Baby.” She smiled at the thought of them. They were amazing the last time she saw them a few weeks ago.

Angel just looked on as Buffy talked. She was kinda boring, but she looked like she might be easy. And with him staying in the room across from hers for the next few days, it should be really easy. He smiled as she led him into the club.

Willow, Oz, and Tara were sitting in one of the corners on one of the house couches. Anya and Xander were making out at one of the tables. She and Angel made their way towards the trio on the couch.

“Hey, Buffy,” greeted Willow.

“Hey yourself! Tara, Oz,” she acknowledged the other two sitting there. “I want you guys to meet Angel Whyndam - Price, the son of my mom’s friends who are in town from L.A. Angel, this is Willow, Oz, and Tara. Oz is the one I told you about, in Dingo’s.” She smiled as she introduced him to her friends.

“Would you like to dance,” Angel asked. A slow song had come on.

“Sure,” Buffy replied. She shot a grin back at Willow as she and Angel walked onto the dance floor.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, though it was a feat with her short frame compared to his tall one. She lay her head on his shoulder and felt his arms snake around her small waist. They swayed to the song, oblivious to the blue eyed man standing in the shadows in the corner. He quickly turned and left the club. He knew something like this would happen.

Around midnight, Spike heard the tapping on his window that told him that his Bethy was there. He was still a little jealous from earlier in the evening, but he still let her in. After he helped her in the window, she did her usual strip out of coat and boots, and then they climbed into Spike’s queen sized bed.

“I took Angel Bronzing tonight,” she said quietly.

“I saw that,” he replied; he was still a bit bitter from it. She should have told him.

“You were there? Why didn’t you say something? We could have had a good time!” she said.

“I didn’t want to interrupt your time with the poof.” He tightened his grip on her and buried his face into her hair. “I just don’t want you to get hurt, you know that, right Bethy?”

“I know,” she said barely above a whisper. “I just need someone sometimes.”

“You have me,” he replied, also barely above a whisper.

“I need someone beyond a best friend sometimes.” She turned around and burrowed into his chest.

I can fill that gap if you need me to. “You’ll find that person.”

Why doesn’t he try to fill that gap? “Yeah, when pigs fly. Goodnight, William. Love you.” “Love you too, Bethy.” He kissed the top of her before the both drifted off to sleep.

Chapter 6:

The next day at school, Buffy could not stop gushing to Willow and Xander about her date with Angel. "And after we left the Bronze, we spent some time in the park just talking. I never knew that Jennifer wasn't his real mother!" Willow and Xander both rolled their eyes. All they had heard about during lunch was Angel, Angel, Angel.

"We're glad you had a nice time last night, Buffy, but don't you think we've heard enough about Angel for this lunch hour?" asked Xander. He had a good time with Anya last night too, but he didn't go on gushing about it. Not that he would gush. Gushing was a girly thing!

"Tara, Oz, and I had a nice time too." Willow decided to get on with the gushing.

"How is that going, Wills?" Buffy asked.

The redhead's cheeks turned almost as red as her hair. "We have to have some girly talk tonight!"

"Hello all," said Spike, announcing his presence. "And how are you lovely ladies today? Whelp?" He grinned at Xander. They insulted each other on a regular basis for the fun of it.

"Not bad, Captain Peroxide. Where's your sister?" he asked eagerly. He hadn't seen Anya since the night that they had first gotten together.

"Oh, she's off with Cordy and the Cordettes." He sat down next to Buffy.

"So we on for girlie talk tonight, Buffy?" asked Willow, again.

"I'm sorry Wills, but I can't! Angel and I have another date tonight!" Buffy was so excited. She really liked Angel. She never noticed Spike's jaw tighten at the mention of the date.

"It's alright," Willow said with disappointment written all over her face.

"I'm so sorry! I'll make it up to you though! We have a three day weekend coming up, and we can spend the entire thing together!" Willow brightened up at that one.

"I've got to go," Spike said hastily as he got up. She had a date for tonight, he would too!

~~~

Spike wandered out into the court yard of Sunnydale High School, looking for his sister and the Cordettes. He heard a bunch of high pitched giggles, and made his way toward Anya, Cordy, Harmony, Drusilla, and a few other girls he didn't know. He had his sights on the dark beauty that was Dru.

"Hello, ladies. How are you this fine morning?" he asked, looking at Dru.

"What do you want, black box?" Anya glared at her brother.

"You are one to talk! Can a brother not check in on his sister randomly?" he asked innocently.

"What does black box mean?" Harmony whispered to Dru, who laughed at her a bit.

"She was referring to his bleached hair. Blond hair, black box.." she explained the best she could. She knew Harmony wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed.

"Anyway, I came to have a word with Drusilla." He shot her one of his winning smiles, one of the ones he usually used on Bethy when he pissed her off.

"I would be delighted!" she said, taking the arm he offered to her. They began to walk away from the group, Spike turned around and stuck his tongue out at his sister.

Spike and Dru sat on the side of the fountain in the middle of the courtyard.

"What are you doing tonight, pet?" he asked her.

"Nothing at all, why do you ask?"

"Want to go to the Bronze tonight? My friend Oz's band is playing there." He looked at her hopefully.

"That would be great!" she said. "I guess I'll see you then?"

"Meet me there at eight, alright?" Another winning smile.

"Sure," she said, replicating the smile. She kissed him on the cheek lightly, and then made her way off to her next class.

He sat there and smiled to himself. If Buffy was going to have the poofter, then he would have one of his sister's friends. He laughed heartily and got up to go to English.

~~~~~~~~

The Bronze was jumping by the time Spike and Dru walked through the door. He looked around everywhere for Buffy and her poof, but didn't see them. So he found a table for him and his date and went to get drinks for the both of them. By that time, he had spotted her. She was wearing one of her little sundresses that he liked so much. This one was in hunter green, and it made her tanned limbs stand out even more than usual, as well as her eyes. He could see them from a mile away. And she was dancing with HIM. Ugh!!

After the dance, Buffy and Angel went back to the table they were sharing with Willow, Tara, Anya, and Xander. They did what they usually did when they got together: gossiped about school.

"Did you see who Spike is here with?" asked Anya. She was encouraged with a chorus of 'no's. "Drusilla." she said casually. She took a sip of her drink while she got a bunch of blank stares, and a curious one from Angel since he had no clue what was going on. Could care less, really.

"I can't believe he is here with that goth ho bag!" Willow practically yelled. Then she realized what she did and lowered her voice. "Is he insane? I heard she just moved here because she burned down the school she went to in Los Angeles!"

"No, that was my ex, Darla," said Angel; this was his first contribution to any conversation that night. The group laughed.

"I'm going to go grab some drinks, anyone want anything?" Buffy asked? Like Anya, she was answered with a chorus of 'no's'. "Alright, I'll be right back."

"I'll be back," said Angel. He got up and left the table almost right after Buffy.

"That was weird," said Xander. That said, the table went back to their previous conversation.

~~~~~~~~

Angel had spotted a beautiful brunette as he and Buffy entered the club that night. He had been a bundle of hormones since he and Darla had broken up, and figured that Buffy would be an easy lay. 'Well, I guess I figured wrong.' He had gone to Buffy's room that night after they got home last night, expecting to at least get something. She wasn't there. That is when he noticed the pictures of her and some blond kid, which he later found to be Spike. They were all over the place. He must be something special. So he figured he may as well arrange something for later tonight. And that dark haired girl that was now dancing sensually against him.

"Hey, baby, wanna go out after the club closes?" He asked her.

"Maybe.." She looked up at him and smiled. He returned her smile and leaned down to kiss her thoroughly. He planned to have this one tonight.

In the mean time, Buffy returned to the table with drinks. "Where's Angel?" she asked.

"Bathroom," Anya managed to get out; between kisses with Xander. Buffy looked in the direction of the bathrooms. She began to walk over there, when she saw Angel kissing Faith. She fumed. But that was all of a sudden taken over by pure sadness. Tears started to glaze her eyes over. She turned around and went back to the table where the rest of the gang was. She grabbed her purse and mumbled something about feeling sick to her stomach.

From where Spike and Drusilla were sitting, Spike could see her leaving. Then he could see Angel and Faith kissing still. He looked at Buffy again, making her way out the door.

"Drusilla, I'm really sorry about this, pet, but this night is wrong." He looked at her apologetically. "I did this to make Buffy jealous."

"I completely understand," she replied, one of her hands playing with her hair. "I agreed to get back at Robert!" Robert was Drusilla's on and off boyfriend.

"I think I am in love with her," he said, smiling.

"Then go get her!" Drusilla smiled.

Spike jumped up and went around the table to give her a hug. "Thanks for understanding, Dru." He ran out of the door and after his Bethy.

Dru looked up and saw Devon and Robert playing pool. She gave him two more days to come back to her. After all, he was always back at her side within two weeks of leaving.

Chapter Seven:

Sorry it took me so long to get this up. My beta took hella long to go through it. So I am on the hunt for a new beta. If you want to take the job on, email me at drusilla0220@yahoo.com. I promise updates will be quicker now. Also, if anyone has any ideas that I should throw in, just email me at the same addy.
Thanks!
D.

After Spike left the Bronze, he circled Sunnydale for hours searching for Buffy. He thought he had most of her haunts picked out, but he didn’t find her anywhere. He decided to go for the last resort of the cemeteries. He had searched every cemetery but one, and it was getting really late. He finally came to the last cemetery and saw Buffy leaning up against a tombstone talking to someone.

“I just don’t know what to do sometimes, Grammy.” She sighed and buried her head into her hands. “One second, dad is fine, and the next minute he beats on me like it is nothing. I know you warned mom about marrying him. Mom told me. She has the papers ready for him. But she just doesn’t know how to give them to him. She is afraid he is going to go off on her. Or me and Dawn. At night I just can’t stand to listen to them. So I go to William’s every night. He is all I really have besides mom and Dawn. I think he loves me. I am pretty sure mom knows since she heard me talking to Willow the other morning. Dad is still with his mom. Grandma Summers is going to try to get him to quit drinking. Hopefully send him to some kind of rehab. I don’t know what to do anymore.” She began sobbing in earnest. “It’s like everything is so messed up, like William is the only one who understands! Mr. Giles knows what is going on. Then mom had these clients here this weekend, and their son was a jerk. I thought he was going to be different. William warned me…Grammy, I think I love him. I really think I do. He has always been there for me, and wouldn‘t do anything to hurt me. Not like everyone else.”

Spike decided to make his presence known. He stepped up to the grave and put his hand on Buffy’s shoulder as he leaned down next to her. She immediately flew into his arms and continued her sobbing.

“I’m so sorry William,” she said through her tears. “So sorry…I should have listened about Angel, and how you had a bad feeling about him…I should have listened to you so many times.” She sobbed into his chest, soaking his black shirt. He buried his nose in her hair, smelling the richness of the vanilla.

“Pet, it will all be ok, believe me….” He ran his hands up and down her back in an attempt to comfort her.

She looked up at him in disbelief. “How do you know? How will it be ok??”

“I don’t know,” he said, barely above a whisper. “But it will be, luv. Come on, lets get back to my house for the night. I will call your mom on my cell.” He pulled out the cell and dialed Joyce’s cell phone. He waited a few seconds for her to answer. “Mum?”

They sat under a tree at the cemetery until it was nearly dawn. School would have to take the back burner for today.

“I’m sorry Bethy,” he said. He looked down at her about the same time she looked up at him with poofy red eyes.

“I am the one who should be sorry. You warned me about that poofter.” He smiled at her use of one of his words. “I’m sorry I ruined your date with Drusilla. You didn’t have to come running after me.”

“You know why I did it, pet. And the date with Dru was to only make you jealous.” He chuckled at the look on her face when she looked up at him again.

“Well, it worked,” she said, trying her best to sound angry.

“I explained to her why I was leaving and she understood completely. She was just using me to do the same thing to Robert!” They both laughed at this. “It really got to me seeing you with Peaches, I hope you know that.” He held onto her tighter than he already was.

“I told you I’m sorry!” she said again, only this time with more conviction. “I really thought he was different from the rest. I had no idea that he was going to do that to me. He seemed so nice!” She sighed.

“They all seem nice at first, kitten.”

“You were always nice.”

“No I’m not. I’m mean. I’m evil. I’m…”

“I know, you are the big bad,” she said in a monotone voice. “You have been saying that since middle school.”

He looked at her in mock shock. “I am so the big bad. I can be very, very evil you know.”

“Like how?” she asked innocently.

“I’ll show you like how,” he growled and kissed her fiercely. She sat in shock a few seconds before she returned the kiss in earnest. They carried on like that, hands roaming, tongues battling. She loved the taste of him. He tasted like cigarettes and liquor. Even though he couldn’t legally buy it. He even tasted like it the night of their first real kiss.

He moaned a little into her mouth as she pulled his shirt out of his pants so she could run her small hands over his stomach and chest. Things were starting to get a bit more hot and heavy when they heard someone clear their throat behind them. They both looked up to see one of the maintenance people standing over them. They both scrambled up and ran off laughing.

“Kids these days….” the man mumbled as he walked off, getting ready for a funeral later on in the day.

Spike and Buffy walked hand in hand back to her house, only to hear screaming and fighting coming from inside.

“Mr. Summers! I do suggest you calm down a little bit! My wife will be here in a few minutes to get me and my son! Then we will be out of your hair.” Buffy heard Wesley from inside. She looked at Spike and they both darted into the house to find Joyce crying her eyes out, Angel and Wesley trying to calm down Hank, and a very drunk Hank trying to kill someone.

“Dad! What the hell are you doing?” demanded Buffy as she entered the house with Spike in tow.

“Your mother was cheating on me with this man!” he yelled. “He even had the audacity to have his son over here!”

“Dad, Wesley is one of mom’s clients, his wife is one of her friends. Just calm down a little bit so we can all talk this out.” She took a few steps toward him and put her hand on his shoulder. He immediately slapped her across the face hard enough to leave a mark. She just looked up at her father with tears in her eyes. Spike was ready to charge when Buffy grabbed his wrist and stopped him. He looked down at her, she just shook her head. He understood. “Wesley, Angel, why don’t you wait on the porch. I am sure Jenny will be here in a few minutes,” she said almost coldly. The two men then made their silent exit. “Mom, where’s Dawn?”

Joyce looked at her a little scared, like she was afraid to talk. “Up in her room. I told her to stay there.” Hank immediately walked over and hit her.

“You don’t talk until I say you talk. And you.” he looked over at Buffy. “You try to take charge too much. You are nothing but a scared little girl in a woman’s body. No go to your room like a good daughter would. William, go home.”

“No,” Spike said; the anger he held for this man shown in his eyes.

“Did you just say what I thought you said?” Hank asked, coming toward the blond couple.

“William,” Buffy said, looking up at him. She hugged him gently, whispering something to him. He just nodded and kissed her forehead and went out of the kitchen door. She had told him to go check on Dawn, which was exactly where he was headed.

“Buffy, go check on your sister, alright.” Joyce looked up at her eldest daughter.

“But mom,” she replied, with tears finally running down her face.

“Just go. I’ll be alright.”

Defeated, Buffy turned and headed up the same path that Spike had just moments before. She walked into Dawn’s room to find Spike holding the small girl while she cried. She saw the sight and broke down. He motioned her over to the bed to sit with him and her sister.

“Dawnie?” she asked, sobbing as much as her sister was now. The two immediately fell into each others arms crying softly. Spike was beginning to think that he shouldn’t be there when Buffy reached over and pulled him to the two. He wrapped his arms around the two girls trying to comfort them as much as possible.

Just then they heard a scream.

“Mom!” Dawn sobbed. She buried her face deeper into Spike’s chest. Buffy pulled herself away and ran out of the door and down the stairs. She ran directly into her father, who looked like a kid with his hand caught in the candy jar.

“What the hell did you do!” she cried, running into the kitchen; her mother lay in the middle of the floor next to the island, blood coming from the back of her head. Hank took off out the back door, right as Wesley and Angel bounded in through the front.

She checked her mother. She was breathing, but unconscious. Wesley saw what had happened and jumped on the phone to call 911. Buffy was sitting next to her mother, holding her hand. “Mom….please, stay with me…I’m not ready to be big Buffy yet…” tears were running down her face as she cried for her mother.

Wesley kneeled down next to her. “I’m sure she’ll be alright. The ambulance is already on it’s way. They’ll make sure she will be alright.” He stood and called for Angel. “Stay here with her, I think I hear the paramedics.” He got up and went to the door.

“I’m sorry for what I did the other night,” Angel said. He looked at the crying girl. “If there’s anything I can do..”

She cut him off. “Go get Spike and Dawn from upstairs. Keep Dawn in the living room, I will explain as soon as the paramedics get here.”

Angel looked defeated and went to get Spike.

In the time that Angel had left to get Spike, the paramedics had come to get Joyce. They asked Buffy if she wanted to ride with her in the ambulance, but she said that she had a ride. She couldn’t ride with the people sticking needles into her mother’s nearly lifeless body. Jenny had arrived in the time just before the ambulance left. Wesley just told her the basics and that they were going to stay for a few more nights while everything was straightened out.

Spike went to his house and brought back his car to the Summers and picked up Buffy and Dawn. The ride to the hospital was quiet, the only sound was of Dawn weeping in the back seat. Spike had Buffy’s hand, squeezing it reassuringly every once in a while.

They got to the hospital and just sat in the waiting room. That was all they could do was wait.



Chapter Eight

A/N: Thanks for the few reviews I have gotten from the people who are actually putting up with my crappy updating habits. I wish I were in high school again and had all of the time in the world instead of having to work full time and go to college. Makes me want to cry. There was no point to that little rant. Just a big thanks for those who have stuck with me and a big thanks to Jill for being the bestest beta ever.
 

Spike, Buffy, and Dawn were sitting in the waiting room of the hospital while the doctors ran some tests on Joyce. Spike and Buffy talked to the police, told them what had happened. The officer told her that Wesley and Angel had been talked to at the scene. Jenny was at the hospital with the two Summers girls and Spike

A few hours had passed before they got any news on Joyce, and Buffy had fallen asleep with Spike holding her. There was no way he could sleep at a time like this. He saw this coming for months, yet he never said anything to anyone.
He was thrown from his thoughts when he heard a very shrill voice coming in from the ER entrance.

“I can’t believe you nearly got my brother killed! You big jerk!”

Cordelia Chase. Sunnydale High bitca supreme. She was yelling at some hulky sandy blond haired guy walking next to her.

“Oh my god, Spike! What are you doing here!?!” she squealed, apparently happy to see him. She and her fan club had always had a crush on him.

“For Buffy,” he said quietly, hoping her screeching hadn’t already woken the girl sleeping in his arms. He looked down when he felt her shift to see a pair of green eyes looking up at him. “Morning, pet.” He leaned down and kissed her lightly.

“Any word from the doctor?” Buffy asked.

“No word,” he replied, his grip on her tightening a little. “Jenny took Dawn to go get some food. She’s bringing back some stuff for us.”

“Hello? I’m still here you know!” Cordy put her hands on her hips and tapped her foot.

“Cordeila, stop thinking about yourself for a second and sit down. We are going through a hard time now, and would like some quiet.” Spike tried to remain calm, even though he wanted to yell at the girl.

Just as he said that, Giles, Anya, Willow, and Tara burst through the door.

“Buffy, we just heard what happened to your mother.” Giles sat down next to Buffy and pulled her away from Spike into a firm embrace. Willow, Tara, and Anya soon followed suit.

“Oh my god,” Cordy whispered, this time in realization that something really horrible had happened. She walked over to where the group now sat. She made Giles scoot over and took a seat next to Buffy.

“So, what are you going to harass me about now?” asked Buffy, tears back in her eyes.

“Sweetie, come here,” the dark haired girl said, pulling the smaller blonde into a hug. “You want to talk about it?” She felt Buffy shake her head against her shoulder. “I’m sure your mom will be fine.”

She looked up at Spike, who’s eyes held nothing but sadness. This must have been serious.

“Oh, sweetie,” Cordy cooed. “Let it all out, Buffy, just let it all out…”

The man that was with Cordelia sat down next to Spike. “Hi, I’m Riley.”

“Spike.” He was still looking at Buffy with sadness in his eyes.

“I’m sorry about what happened, even though I am not completely sure.”

“Thanks, mate.”

Seeing his attempts to get to know these people were useless, Riley gave up and sat back.

Buffy started to calm down and pulled back from Cordelia’s embrace. “Thanks, Cordelia. I know we haven’t gotten along too much in the past, but thanks.”

“It is me who should be sorry. I found out from Faith what was going on with your family. I think she overheard Spike and Mr. Giles talking about it. She was really bitter about you and Spike, but he really cares.” She smiled warmly at the blonde.

“What are you doing here?”

“That big doof over there wrecked his car and broke my little brother’s arm. So we are waiting on him now.” She tilted her head over towards Riley.

“I need to get some air.” Buffy stood and walked out the doors of the hospital. Spike was soon to follow. He needed a smoke.


They spent the night at the hospital, only to find that Joyce had gone into a coma from the blow to the head. Buffy and Cordelia spent the evening talking, while Spike tried to keep Dawn entertained. He loved her like a little sis, so he felt he needed to keep her mind off of everything that had happened that evening. Buffy’s grandmother had eventually showed up and took Dawn to her house. Buffy and Spike went back to his house to get some sleep a few hours after the rest of the Giles clan and Willow had left.

“I am sorry about mum,” Spike mumbled against her naked shoulder. He was spooned to her back in his bed, both of them tired after the events of the day.

“I just don’t understand why dad was up when he was anyway. He is usually asleep. Or passed out. He was supposed to be at grandma’s anyway.” She sighed and grabbed the hand that was tracing haphazard circles on her bare stomach. She laced her fingers with his. “I love you, William.” She practically whispered it.

“I love you too, Bethy.” He closed his eyes, let himself drown in her scent, her body next to his, skin on skin. They hadn’t done anything that night, but she needed to feel him, the comfort he offered. Now there was nothing hidden. “I will never be like him, pet. Never…” he said.

She turned around in his arms and looked at his face in the dark. “I know you will never be like him. You are William Giles. Strong, loving, protecting, jealous…” She smiled at him. He smiled back, knowing that he was all of those things. He kissed her lightly before returning his head to the pillow they were sharing. Bypassing the pillow altogether, she snuggled in the crook of his neck, kissing his Adams apple. “Love you…”

They both slept peacefully.


Joyce had been in a coma for almost three weeks. Hank had disappeared. The house had to be sold to pay for medical bills that were piling up. Dawn was now staying with her grandmother while Buffy stayed with the Giles family. Things were starting to get remotely back to normal. The gang was back in a normal schedule of going to school and going to the Bronze at night. All except for Buffy and Spike. Buffy was miserable without her mother. Spike tried his best to help her out, make her feel better. Nothing seemed to work. The most he could offer was himself, and she was glad he did.

The bell rang to announce the beginning of fourth hour at Sunnydale High. The last of the students took their seats at their computer while Ms. Calendar wrote the assignment down on the board.

“We are working on HTML still, and I expect your website to be posted on the server by Friday. If you are having trouble, just ask another student around you. I will be back shortly, I have to run a few errands. Just try to keep it down in here, please.” The small woman then turned and left.

“Hey, B,” Faith practically yelled across the classroom to Buffy, who was sitting in the first row. “I heard what happened to your mother.”

Buffy’s eyes began to tear up. Cordelia, who was sitting next to her noticed. “It’s ok, sweetie. She is just being the bitch that she is. She is jealous over the family you had and the boyfriend you have.” She sent Faith the Cordelia glare of death.

“I bet the reason your dad was so drunk all of the time was he didn’t want to put up with a fuck up like you. Sleeping around with one of the neighbour boys…I know all about you and your sweet William, Bethy. And people call me the whore.” She laughed at the tears that began to spill down Buffy’s face.

Buffy was about to get up and leave the room when she saw Cordelia stand up. “Ok, goth Barbie, get over yourself. You are just pissed off that Spike actually has feelings for Buffy and not you. Get over it already. Find some other guy to whore around with.” She pulled Buffy from her chair and they headed towards the women’s bathroom. She stopped at the door. “No one can be a bigger whore than you, Faithie.” Faith just looked at the pair. No one had ever stood up to her like that. Especially Cordelia. They were friends at one point. But that just ended it. She flopped down into her seat and began to work on the assignment.

“I cannot believe that girl!” Cordelia screeched. She had a tendency to do that when she was pissed off in some way, shape or form. “She needs to move on with her life.”

“She has always hated me, especially now that I have her Spike.” Buffy looked in the mirror and started to redo the make up that had started to run down her cheeks.

“Spike loves you more than you think he does. I could see it in his eyes when I came into the hospital that night with Riley.” She now was examining her make up as well.

“I think I love him, Cordy,” Buffy said quietly. “I think I love him,” she repeated barely above a whisper.


At lunch that day, Cordelia had managed to talk Buffy into eating with her and her friends. The rest of the gang was surprised, but glad that she was at least making a new friend.

“Hey, Buff,” greeted Anya, wearing the halter that Buffy had lent her.

“I can’t believe that Faith said those things to you,” said Dru. “She wouldn’t know love if it bit her on the ass.”

“What?” Buffy dropped her spoon back into the soup she was eating.

“He loves you. He told me that night at The Bronze.” Dru smiled at the way Buffy seemed to glow when she said this. “I knew you were for each other. You should have seen the look on his face when he saw Peaches snoggin Faith. Bloody priceless.” She laughed genuinely.

“Xander gave me many orgasms last night.” Anya beamed as the other girls at the table just stared at her like she had grown another head.


“She said that?” Spike asked, again spooned up to Buffy in what he now considered their bed. Again, skin on skin. Ever since that first night they came home from the hospital, they had taken to sleeping like this. Very intimate, without actually having sex.

“Yeah. I think that is the first thing in the world that Drusilla has ever said that actually made sense.” She sighed.

“It is the truth you know.”

“Hmmm….” she asked sleepily.

“I do love you.”

“I know you do, William.”

“I love you more than you think I do.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Night, luv.” He kissed the back of her neck like he had taken to every night now. “Love you,” he whispered.

“Night sweet William.”
 

tbc...