Chapter 24.
Buffy pushed open the door to the apartment. She had been wandering the streets of Sunnydale for the last few hours, struggling to make sense of what Spike had told her earlier. She had tried to convince herself that it would be ok, that everything could still work. But how could it? How could she ever trust him again? Leaving was one thing, that was bad enough, but cheating on her, that stabbed her right through the heart. It squeezed all the air from her lungs and had crushed her, so that she thought she would never breathe again. She threw her purse on the table and kicked off her shoes, choosing to sit in the comfy armchair.
Dawn emerged from her room rapidly pulling a brush through her hair.
“Faith called, she wants you to call her back. Oh and Spike called like a zillion times or something!”
The phone began to ring
“And I will put money on it that’s him again. Can’t get enough of you can he!” The younger girl giggled.
Buffy checked the caller display, it was Spike.
“I got a headache Dawn, I think I am just gonna sit quietly,” she whispered.
“Ok, you want me to fix you some tablets?” She asked, “I am going over to Janice’s for dinner, but I can grab some for you now if you like?”
Buffy shook her head, “No you go on, have fun, I’ll see you later,” she smiled, putting her feet up on the table and stretching her arms.
Dawn closed the door quietly and Buffy turned on the television, desperately searching for something to take her mind of the pain she was feeling right now. She flicked aimlessly through the channels but failed to find anything that inspired.
The phone began to ring again. Buffy ignored it.
She went to the kitchen, fixed herself some headache tablets and returned to her comfy chair, picking up a magazine Dawn had left in the kitchen on the way. She began to flick through the pages.
The phone rang again. A check of the caller display showed it was Spike, again!
“Jeez Spike take a hint!” She shouted as she pulled the wire from the wall and threw the phone across the room onto the couch. She sat back into her chair and closed her eyes, hoping that sleep would help her.
She was awoken by a knock at the door. Buffy groaned.
“If that’s you Spike just go away! I don’t want to talk to you right now!” She shouted into the hallway, before returning to the living room.
The knock came again. Buffy ignored it. It came again.
“For fucks sake!” Buffy exclaimed as she stamped along the hallway, and threw the door open.
“Hello Buffy!” She said, a twisted smile on her face.
Buffy looked on horrified.
“What…what are you doing here?” She stuttered.
Dru leant forward and took hold of a piece of Buffy’s hair, twirling it gently in her fingers. She leant in to her and whispered in her ear.
“You stole something from me, and I want it back?” She stood back and observed the confused blonde girl in front of her.
“I…I what? No I don’t have anything of yours!” She replied, confused, and slightly disturbed by the manner of the woman in front of her.
She looked pretty much the same as she had in high school. She still had the long black hair, although it was curlier now, still had the ‘over the top’ make up and bizarre dress sense. She looked different though, she had a wild, unstable look in her eyes which was scaring Buffy.
“You live here with your sister do you?” She continued. “That’s nice, very cosy, cosy nice family, lucky girl, lucky girl,” she rambled almost incoherently. “Does your sister know you are a stealing whore, evil, evil, needs a lesson, they told me to teach you,” she continued.
Buffy just stared back at the woman in front of her, shaking slightly, and thrown by her deranged manner.
It was too much of a coincidence, it all made sense now. Spike has a kid, and Dru turns up. ‘How could he, not her, not her of all people,’ she thought to herself. It occurred to her then that Dru was alone. Panic filled Buffy, she didn’t know why, she just knew something was wrong. Then she saw it. Blood on Dru’s hands.
“Where is she?” She asked, trying to disguise the fear in her voice. “Where’s Molly?”
Dru span around on the spot, almost dancing, “Ah he told you. My William told you. Do you want to see, do you? See what they made me do!” She shrieked manically.
“Where is she?” Buffy repeated.
“They told me, the people in my head. Come with me I will show you!” She turned and started to walk down the stairs. Buffy slammed the door, not bothering to get her keys or pick up her cell phone. She chased down the stairs behind the insane woman.
…………….
Spike stormed into the main office straight to Faith’s desk.
“Faith I can’t get hold of Buffy!” He said panicked.
Faith stared back at him, “Um yeah, I told you that like a half hour ago!” She said sarcastically.
Spike look unamused. “Get home, see if she is there and just not answering!” He shouted.
She looked back at him blankly.
“Go! Now!” He grabbed her by the wrist, pulling her up from the chair.
“Ow!” She cried, “Jeez Spike, what’s the hurry?” she complained.
“Go home and stay there, if she comes in call me! And call everyone you know, see if they have seen her,” he said forcefully.
Faith looked at him, he was in a blind panic, she had never seen him in a state like this before.
“Faith, she could be in danger, go home and don’t let anyone in!” He stressed.
Faith grabbed her bags and ran, she ran as fast as she could. When she got home she found the apartment empty. Buffy’s purse and cell on the table. She went back to the front door. There was blood on the floor, and some further down on the wall of the hallway. She ran to the phone, plugging it back in.
“Spike! Shit Spike she’s not here. All her shits here but she isn’t. There’s blood on the floor. What the hell’s going on!” She sobbed into the phone. She was shaking, she didn’t remember ever being this scared.
“Right, stay put. I am sending Gunn over. Call Dawn, tell her not to go home. When he gets there you two go out and look for her. Look everywhere! Please!” He begged.
Faith sat and waited as instructed. Spike closed the office and went out on his own to search for his beloved, his wife and his princess.
…………….
“Where are we going?” Buffy asked as they walked through the back streets of Sunnydale.
It had begun to rain quite heavily and her clothes were beginning to soak through.
They walked for nearly two hours. They had been walking in circles, Buffy knew this, but she had humoured the woman, not wanting to antagonize her any further. They walked past Willy’s bar for the third time.
“Dru!” Buffy shouted, “Dru, Where is she? Stop playing games!”
Drusilla span around and grabbed Buffy by the throat.
“You want to see, you want to see everything! But you are bad, you steal, you stole from me, bitch!” She rambled, slapping Buffy hard around the face.
Buffy tried to pull away but Dru pulled her into the alleyway. She threw her to the floor.
“You keep saying that Dru, you keep saying I stole from you, but I haven’t, I have nothing of yours!” She pleaded.
“Bitch! Bitch! You lie. You took him, my William, you took him.”
Buffy pulled herself up from the floor.
“I never took him Dru!” She exclaimed. “He left me for you!” The situation was increasingly frustrating her.
Dru flew at her again, scratching at her face. Buffy put her hands up to protect herself, but Drusilla pushed her back against the wall. She pulled a gun from her jacket and placed it to Buffy’s head. Buffy froze as she felt the cold metal press against her skull.
Dru backed away, still holding the gun pointing at the shaking blonde.
“You stole him. He was mine. Even when he came with me he was still here. Everywhere, everywhere I look I see you. I look at him and I see you. Smothered, smothered in you he was, always, always.” She span around on the spot, waving the gun around and hitting at her head. Buffy didn’t move. The rain kept falling and she was cold. She was shaking. She was crying
“Everything is Buffy, Buffy, Buffy. Then it was Molly. Always her, always you, never me. Never Dru ever!! You took him, you spoiled him. He was mine. My beautiful boy, my William. Bitch!” She span back around, waving the gun back at the terrified blonde girl.
“I…I didn’t mean to, I am sorry…..” She whimpered.
Dru walked towards her and swung the gun at her head, the cold metal sending Buffy tumbling to the floor as it connected with her temple. She lay on the floor of the alleyway, drenched and terrified.
…………
Gunn filled Faith in of Dru’s mental state as they drove around Sunnydale. They searched everywhere she could think and had come up empty. They met Spike outside Willy’s Bar. He had checked everywhere he could think and turned up nothing. This was the last place. Spike entered and walked straight to the bar.
“The usual Spike?” Willy asked as he approached the bar.
“Not tonight, have you seen Buffy?” He asked.
Willy shrugged his shoulders, “Dunno, Buffy who?”
Faith intervened before Spike could cause him physical harm.
“Buffy, my friend, short, blonde, kinda uptight, makes you make those crappy margherita’s!” She snapped.
“Oh, pretty little thing, yeah she went that way earlier. I thought she was coming in here, but her friend had other ideas apparently. Guess Willy’s ain’t good enough for her type huh!” He snorted.
He hadn’t got the words out before the three were running out the door.
They rounded the corner to see Dru screaming in the alleyway, waving a gun about, and Buffy lying on the floor not moving.
Spike went to run in but Faith held him back.
“Stop!” She cried, “She’s not dead, look she’s moving.”
Spike stopped dead and stared Drusilla straight in the face.
“What have you done?” He shouted.
Dru began to flail her arms about again, screaming incoherently. “Always her, never me, always Buffy, Molly, Buffy, everywhere, everywhere I look, everything I touch, never me, never me.” She banged herself on the head with the gun.
“What kind of person sells a lunatic a gun?” He mumbled.
“Welcome to America Spike!” Faith replied.
Buffy began to come around slightly, she tried to sit up but her head was spinning. She raised her hand to it and tried to steady herself, remembering what was happening. Blue lights appeared in her periphery vision. She could hear Faith, and Spike, and someone else.
Gunn retreated back to fill in the Sunnydale PD on the situation.
Another police car pulled up blocking the other end of the alleyway. There was no escape.
“Dru! Dru put the gun down luv!” Spike pleaded.
She span around.
“No always, always her, no, no…! She screamed.
She was making no sense anymore, whirling around wildly, holding her head, waving the gun in all directions, but mostly at Buffy.
“Sir, step aside please!” An officer requested, and Spike reluctantly did.
“Ma’am, put the gun down!” He said firmly.
She didn’t, she began ranting again. No one could hear what she was saying anymore, she made no sense.
She turned back, pulling Buffy from the floor.
“Evil, evil!” She screamed as she struck her around the face. Buffy couldn’t move, frozen with fear and cold. The rain continued to pour down.
“Ma’am, put the gun on the floor and walk away!”
She didn’t, screaming in Buffy’s ear. “You, you, everywhere!!!”
Spike heard a voice on the officer’s radio.
“Sir, I have a shot, repeat, I have a shot!”
“Hold fire officer,” he replied
Spike decided to try again.
“Dru, Dru baby, we can work this out!” He lied. “We can go away, just you and me, go somewhere and be together!” He pleaded.
She cocked the gun and placed it at Buffy’s head.
He didn’t hear what happened next, all he heard was a shot. A single shot. His heart stopped.
She fell to the floor.
Chapter 25.
Spike looked around, everything seemed to be moving in slow motion. He couldn’t hear. The chaos surrounding him all seemed dampened. The only real thing was the rain. It fell, relentlessly.
Buffy stood, rooted to the spot. She was shaking, but too terrified to move a muscle. Eventually she stumbled backwards and leant against the wall, slowly sliding down it until she was sat on the floor. She looked to her right. Drusilla lay there, still and silent, a small pool of blood forming behind her head. Her eyes were open, she was staring at the stars.
“Get out of my way!” Faith shouted as she pushed her way through the police blocking the alleyway. One grabbed her arm as she tried to squeeze through but released her when they saw her tear stained face.
Faith ran to Buffy’s side pulling her towards her and hugging her tightly.
“B! It’s ok, everything’s gonna be ok!” She sobbed as she held her friend close.
She ran her fingers down the side of Buffy’s head where her hair had become matted with blood. Buffy flinched as Faith touched the gash.
“It’s ok, it’s just a little cut. We will get you sorted out, everything’s fine!”
Buffy couldn’t speak, she was trying to take in everything that had happened, but it all seemed just too much for her to handle, she just wanted to shut down. She stared into space, tears rolling slowly down her cheeks. She could see Spike, standing a few feet away, holding his head in his hands. When he moved his hands she could see he was crying, then she remembered. She shook off her shock and turned to Faith.
“Did they find her? Did they find Molly?” She asked her friend.
Faith shook her head then wiped the tears from Buffy’s face.
“No B, not yet. The police are out looking, and Gunn has his people out there too, but no they haven’t found anything yet.”
The paramedics made their way through the growing crowd towards the dishevelled blonde girl. They made an assessment of her condition as she reverted to staring back into space. Gunn came over and touched Faith on the shoulder. She turned and buried her head in his chest, allowing him to stroke her hair as she cried. He didn’t need to say anything, he was everything she needed at that moment. He was her strength, and she was Buffy’s. Faith pulled away and rubbed at her eyes, making herself look like a panda, and causing a smile to spread across Gunn’s face.
“Do you want me to come to the hospital with you?” He asked her.
Faith smiled.
“No, it’s ok, I got it covered thanks. I think Spike needs you right now anyway,” she motioned towards the distraught man, standing over the body of his dead wife.
Gunn shook his head. “No, he has to go down the station, fill them in on all the details and stuff. He said he wants to do it alone.”
Faith gave him another hug.
“There is something you could do,” she said, handing him her house keys. “Could you pick up Dawn from her friends, and stay with her at our place until Xander and Anya can come over. She’s kinda freaked out by the whole thing, I just don’t want her showing up at the hospital while Buffy is like this.”
He took the keys and watched as Buffy was lifted into the back of the ambulance, Faith followed and sat at her side. She held her hand as they drove through town to Sunnydale Memorial. When they arrived they took her straight through to the emergency room, so the wound on her head could be attended to. It was quite shallow, and less serious than it had first appeared, from the amount of blood, but Faith was pretty sure Buffy was going to have one hell of a headache for the next few days.
Buffy was silent, still struggling with the reality of the situation, she broke her silence occasionally just to ask if there was any news.
The night dragged on and still there was nothing.
An x ray and scan of Buffy’s skull showed that she had been very lucky. It was just a surface wound, and required only a few stitches. The blow to her head had caused her to have a concussion, and the nursing staff advised her to rest in bed for the evening, just to be on the safe side. As she was still a little wobbly on her feet Buffy agreed, and Faith stayed by her side.
Buffy had been given something to help with the pain which had made her a little drowsy, before long she had drifted off into a semi peaceful sleep. Faith took the opportunity to go outside to get some fresh air, and to use her cell phone. She leant against the cold, wet brick of the walls, tipping her face upwards, so that the rain fell onto her face. She inhaled some deep breaths and tried to calm herself before she went back into the hospital. That was when it hit her. She nearly lost her best friend. It could have been Buffy in the morgue that night, not Dru. Sure. her and Buffy had their ups and downs, but she was more than just a friend to Faith, she was the sister she never had. She was her family. She shook as she sobbed into the night, not caring who was watching, ignoring the people that had snuck out of the ward for a sneaky cigarette. She just cried until she couldn’t cry anymore, then wiping her face dry she returned to he friend.
As she approached Buffy’s cubicle she saw Gunn standing outside.
“She’s sleeping,” he whispered as she approached.
“Cool,” the brunette replied. “The doc said I can take her home in the morning, they just want to keep an eye on her a bit longer.” She said, as she sunk into his embrace. She sighed heavily as she sank down into the chairs situated outside the cubicle.
“Is Dawn ok?” She asked to the man, who was now gently holding her hand.
He nodded, stroking her fingers gently.
“Yeah, your friends are with her now. She was pretty freaked out though, you were right about her wanting to come down here, I practically had to lock her in the apartment man!” He exclaimed. “I had a call from Spike, I thought you would want to know, and I couldn’t get you on your cell, so I came straight down.”
Buffy’s eyes flew open, she strained to hear the conversation between the two people sat just outside.
“They found Molly. She was in a motel just outside town.” He continued.
Faith’s eyes widened, “Oh god, is she ok?” She asked, scared at what the answer would be.
“She’s with Spike now, she isn’t hurt, but it’s hard to say how she is. They got a doctor looking over her. She seems fine, well as fine as she can be if you know what I mean.” He sighed and leant his head back against the wall. “This is all so fucked up man!” He mumbled.
Faith squeezed his hand.
“You should go be with him babe,” she whispered, planting a kiss on his cheek. “I am ok here with Buff, someone should be with Spike.”
Buffy breathed a sigh of relief as she slowly drifted back to sleep.
Chapter 26.
Xander pulled up outside the hospital entrance, Faith was leaning against the wall. She hadn’t slept all night, too worried about her friends. Buffy although physically ok, apart from a small head wound, was pretty freaked out. She hadn’t said much all night, not that that had surprised Faith. She didn’t know what she would be like if someone had tried to kill her. She decided it was best to just give her a bit of time, let her sort it out in her own head first, before she started asking questions. That was the main reason she didn’t want Dawn and the others at the hospital. They would mean well, but Faith knew they would be too ‘in her face’, she didn’t think Buffy was quite up for that yet.
Then there was Spike, she couldn’t imagine what he was going through. He finally had his daughter back, but the consequence was seeing his wife shot dead, and his ‘girlfriend’ attacked. How he was going to cope with a young child, and deal with that she didn’t know. Gunn was right, it was all fucked up!
The drive home was pretty quiet. Faith dozed in the front, and Buffy gazed out of the window. When they reached the apartment there was a small welcoming party. Dawn threw herself at her injured sister, nearly sending her flying.
“Buffy! I was so worried!” She whimpered, “I thought I was going to lose you too, please don’t ever leave me, please.” She begged.
“Sshhh Dawnie, it’s ok. I just had a bump on the head,” she said, pointing to the bandage.
She hugged her sobbing sister until she calmed slightly.
“You….you could have been killed!” She stuttered. “You could have been killed, and it’s all Spike’s fault. I hate him!” Dawn spat the words out with venom.
Buffy pulled away to look at her sister.
“It wasn’t Spike’s fault Dawn, don’t say that!” She said firmly.
Dawn was having none of it.
“It was his freakazoid girlfriend that was going to shoot you….duh! I am gonna kick his peroxide ass!”
“Dawnie, I have to lie down. I have a killer headache. Do me a favour, stay away from Spike. Please!” She said before turning towards her bedroom door.
She changed out of her bloodstained clothes, and climbed into her warm inviting bed. Just twenty-four hours ago he was in this bed with her. She could still smell him on the sheets. She pulled a pillow up to her face a breathed him in. It was comforting. She snuggled into the pillow as she let her eyes close.
Buffy slept most of the day. Faith and Dawn took turns to check on her every now and then, but she slept soundly. About five o’clock there was a knock at the door. Dawn went to open it.
“Hey Dawn,” Gunn said as he came in.
“I guessed you guys wouldn’t have been out, and noticed you were a bit short of supplies last night, so I brought some pizza. Kinda figured you would be a bit hungry!” He said with a smile.
Faith jumped up and took the boxes from him, placing them on the table.
“Oh you so read my mind! You are a star baby!” She replied, planting a kiss on his lips.
Dawn got some plates, and the trio began to tuck into to their late lunch.
“How’s Buffy been?” He asked, mouth full of pizza.
Faith waved her hand side to side.
“Physical she’s fine, mentally I just don’t know. She’s a bit ‘out there’ you know?” She replied.
He nodded. “Yeah, I know what you mean. Spike’s losing it man!”
“Like we care!!!” Dawn interrupted, as she slammed down her plate and stormed to her bedroom.
Gunn looked at Faith a little confused.
“She’s pissed at Spike for nearly getting Buffy shot.” Faith explained.
“Oh right, well I guess she has a point huh! But I am really worried about him. He is a wreck man! I don’t think he is going to be able to cope with this. He blames himself, and he can’t seem to calm Molly. He threw me out, totally freaked and shut the door on me. All he wants is her.” He said, motioning to Buffy’s room.
Faith sighed, and took another slice of pizza.
“I don’t think she is going to be too keen to see him,” she began, “I mean, would you be if you were her!! She has hardly spoken to any of us, I can’t see her speaking to him anytime soon.”
They finished their pizza and Faith leant her head down in his lap. She was exhausted, they both were. She felt safe in his embrace, safe enough to allow herself to fall asleep. He stroked her hair gently as she drifted off, and watched her as she peacefully slept. When they had first met he had thought she looked so broken, so vulnerable beneath her harsh, confident exterior. Spike had told him about her, and she had opened up to him a lot while they were searching for Buffy. He saw strength in her that he knew she didn’t see herself. He decided he was going to help her see it. He was going to show her that she was an angel, not a demon. Soon he joined her in their comfortable slumber.
Buffy lay in her bed, still clutching the pillow. She stared at the ceiling, searching for answers, but she realised there really were none.
While she was here, in her safe, homely apartment she knew he was alone with his daughter, in some crappy hotel room. He was scared, she could feel it. He needed her. He needed her and she wasn’t there.
She pulled herself out of bed, slowly as she was still a little dizzy. She couldn’t hear any noise from the other room, so figured everyone was either out, or taking the chance to have a sleep. Quietly Buffy opened her closet, choosing her favourite jeans and a blue turtleneck. She quickly changed and pulled on her boots.
Reaching up on top of the closet she pulled down a small overnight bag. She stuffed some pyjamas and a change of clothes into the bag, before going to the bathroom and grabbing her wash bag.
Silently she crept down the hallway, stopping suddenly every time a floorboard squeaked. She considered leaving a note, but decided she wanted to leave now. She would call later. The door creaked as she pulled it open, she held her breath, praying nobody had heard. Quietly she closed it behind her.
Before Buffy knew it she was on the sidewalk hailing a cab, she didn’t have to wait long, soon she was on her way. It wasn’t until she was settled in the back of the cab that she realised her hands were shaking, in fact all of her was shaking.
What is he didn’t want to see her? What if he still loved Dru? What if Molly hated her? What if??
All these questions suddenly flooded her mind. Panic set in.
As they pulled up outside the hotel she could barely breathe.
“We’re here!” The cab driver shouted for the fifth time, shaking Buffy back into reality. “That’s five bucks.”
Buffy shoved a handful of dollars into his hand and got out of the cab. She stared at the outside of the building for what seemed like an age, before finally pushing the revolving door.
She rode the elevator up to the fifth floor, hands still shaking. People were staring, and then she remembered she still had the hospital bandage on her head.
She stood outside the door, listening. It was quiet inside. Buffy tried to hold back her own tears as she knocked quietly on the door.
And then there he was. Standing in front of her, looking so terrified. Molly was sleeping quietly on the bed. Buffy pushed the door closed behind her and moved towards him, resting her head on his shoulder, she put her arms around him and held him tight.
He couldn’t believe what was happening. Was she really here? Was this really happening? He pulled away searching her face for an answer.
“Can I stay,” she whispered.
He reached a hand out to stroke her face.
“Please Spike. I want to be with you. Always. Whatever.”
Spike couldn’t speak. He pulled her to him again and she knew. This was forever.
Chapter 27.
They stood together in the room for what seemed like an eternity. Spike held Buffy close to his chest, gently stroking her hair and delicately placing soft kisses down the side of her neck. They didn’t speak, they didn’t need to. No words were necessary.
The relief and joy he had felt, when he opened the door to see her standing there was so overwhelming. It had taken Spike several minutes, to actually allow himself to believe that she was really there. That she had really wanted to be near him. He was scared to move, not wanting to break the moment they were sharing, terrified that if they broke the embrace, somehow she may disappear.
Buffy melted deeper and deeper into his embrace. She felt warm, alive, wanted, she hadn’t felt like this in such a long time, in fact the last time she had felt so loved was the last time he had held her this way, when they had been dancing around the gym at prom. They were just kids then, now they had all grown up. Things had changed so much, yet their feelings still remained the same.
Eventually they broke apart, Molly was taking up most of the bed, so Spike led Buffy over to the couch. He picked up some clothes that had been thrown there, and made space for her to sit down. He opened the fridge and retrieved a bottle of wine.
“Would you like a drink pet?” He asked her softly.
Buffy nodded, and he proceeded to pour two generous glasses out. Handing one to her he settled on the couch.
“How’s the head?” He asked, as he brushed his hand gently across her temple where the bandage was.
“I think there is a small band drumming in my head, but apart from that I’ll live.” She smiled meekly.
Spike unstuck the edges of the bandage and pulled it off, examining the cut beneath. Buffy winced as some of the plaster pulled at her hair.
“Sorry love, you just looked a bit ragged with that dirty bandage. Need to keep it clean,” he said, placing a kiss softly over the wound.
Buffy tried to stifle a yawn, but it was obvious to Spike that she was pretty exhausted. He pulled her gently down to lie on him, her head resting in his lap. She drifted off to sleep as he gently stroked her face.
…………
Faith opened her eyes, she was lying on the couch wrapped in the arms of her new man. He was snoring gently, his head lying back over the edge of the couch. She chuckled to herself, he was lying so awkwardly, obviously positioned that way so he didn’t wake her up. She stretched out her arms, the movement causing Gunn to wake. He rolled onto his side almost falling off the couch. Faith put an arm out to grab him before he fell.
“Hey,” she whispered in his ear. “How you doin?”
Gunn turned to her smiling and placed a kiss on her lips.
“I was having one hell of a good dream.” He grinned at her.
“Me too!” She beamed back. “I am just gonna go check on B, see if she wants anything,” she announced as she clambered over him to get off the couch. She stretched her arms above her head again, as she wandered down the hallway to her friends bedroom. She knocked on the door gently before pushing it open. It was dark inside, Buffy had closed the curtains before she left.
“B, you ok girl?” Faith said quietly, as she crossed the room to the bed.
Getting no response she sat on the side of the bed, reaching out her hand towards her friend. Finding the bed empty panic flooded through her. She reached over and turned on the lamp by the side of the bed, confirming he fears. Buffy was gone.
‘Ok, don’t panic!’ She thought to herself as she made her way through the apartment, checking each room methodically, before returning to the living room. She sat back down on the couch beside Gunn, putting her head in her hands.
“Shit!” She shouted, “Shit! Shit! Shit!”
Gunn put a comforting arm around her.
“She can’t have gone far,” he said, “Let’s phone around some people, and see if they have set eyes on her.”
Faith nodded and reached for the phone. She was angry with herself for falling asleep and not hearing her leave. She knew she could be anywhere by now, she was obviously gone for the night as it was already 3am.
“What if she doesn’t know what she is doing?” She exclaimed. “I mean, she had a pretty hefty bang on the head Gunn, she could do anything!”
She began to dial round all their friends, waking each one up in turn.
…………..
Buffy woke to the sound of a child crying. She noticed Spike had gotten up and was sitting on the edge of the bed, trying in vain to comfort his distraught daughter. She was hysterical, tears streaming down her face, punching wildly at her father as he tried to calm her. The hospital had given her something to help her sleep, but this had obviously worn off.
Spike looked over to Buffy, his eyes were red and sore from his own tears, and he struggled to keep the little girl from causing herself an injury.
“I don’t know what to do Buffy!” He sobbed, as the little girl continued to scream. “What can I possibly do to make this better for her?”
Buffy moved to the bed, placing an arm around him. She comforted him as he tried desperately to console Molly.
She got up from the bed, and walked over to the spot where she had dropped her overnight bag, when she arrived. She bent down and picked up the bag, before walking back over to the couch. She unzipped the bag and started to remove the contents, finally she found what she was looking for. She walked back over to the bed and sat down the other side of the little girl.
Leaning over she stroked back the hair that had fallen over the girls face, in long black ringlets.
“ I thought you would be sad,” she began, speaking quietly so as not to alarm the child. “So I brought a friend with me. Do you want to say hello?”
Molly turned to look at the blonde woman, wiping her hand across her face she nodded.
Buffy handed the soft toy to her, and noticed that the girls’ sobs subsided a little.
“This is Mr Gordo,” she continued, “when I am sad I give him a cuddle, and he makes me feel better again.”
Molly hugged the toy to her, wiping her runny nose on his ear as she did.
“Do you think you could look after him for me?” Buffy asked the little girl.
Spike looked over her shoulder, appreciation clear on his face. “Thank you,” he mouthed as he wiped his eyes.
Molly nodded and snuggled into the toy, leaning into her dad for a cuddle.
“Say thank you to Buffy,” he whispered in her ear.
“Fang you,”
Spike looked at the clock, it was 3am.
“It’s late pumpkin, shall we try and get you back to sleep?” He said to his child.
Molly shook her head.
“I want mummy!” She sobbed.
“I know baby,” he said softly.
She began to cry again as Spike held her.
“But mummy is in heaven now, remember??”
Molly screamed some more, and resumed punching out at anything near her.
“The policeman said she was in hell!” She wailed.
Buffy looked over at Spike concerned, and he just stared back blankly, not sure of what to say. Buffy reached over towards the little girl again, in an attempt to help him.
“That’s not true Molly,” she began, “Your mummy is in heaven, with the angels.” She continued.
Molly rubbed at her eyes.
“The policeman said she was evil and did bad things,” she stuttered, “and mummy said bad people go to hell.”
Buffy pulled the young girl towards her, putting her arms around her.
“Your mummy wasn’t evil, she was confused,” she said softly as she stroked the child’s hair. “And confused people go to heaven, so that’s where she is now, in heaven with the angels.”
Molly sniffled and wiped her nose on Buffy’s sweater. Buffy rocked her gently, trying to soothe her.
“Is that true daddy, is mummy in heaven?”
Spike nodded, and moved over towards them, placing his arms around them both.
“Yes, it’s true pumpkin, she is with the angels now.” He whispered as she began to drift gently back to sleep.
Chapter 28.
Spike tucked Molly back into bed, making sure to tuck Mr Gordo in with her too. He wandered back over to the couch, snuggling against Buffy, as he watched the little girl sleep.
“You’re amazing love, you know that?” He stated, as he held her tight to his body. Buffy smiled into his chest, revelling in his touch.
After a while she broke away, pulling him up to face her.
“You can’t stay here Spike.” She said, flicking her hair out of her eyes. “She needs to be somewhere that feels safe, somewhere friendly. Hotels are too sterile, it’s not good for her! Besides she has probably been in hotels and motels for the last year, she needs a home, some stability!”
He nodded, it was true. He couldn’t continue to live in hotels, he needed to make a home for him and Molly. He was planning on looking for a rental place after the holidays, all the real estate agents were closed till then anyway.
“Come and stay at mine,” she continued, “We have plenty of room. You and Molly can have my room, I can bunk in with Dawn or Faith for the time being. After Christmas the spare room will be free too, so you can have that till you can find a place.”
Spike sat up, a little shocked by this announcement.
“Don’t you think you should ask the others pet?” He questioned. “I mean, they may not be so keen.”
Before she could answer there was a quiet knock at the door. Spike got up from the couch to answer it.
He quietly pulled the door open, so that the creak didn’t wake the now slumbering Molly. Faith stood on the other side, looking extremely stressed out.
“Spike, thank god you’re awake, I couldn’t get you on the phone, Buffy’s disappeared, we’ve tried everyone but no one has seen her,” she sobbed.
Spike pushed the door open the rest of the way, so Faith and Gunn could see the blonde sat on the couch.
“Come in,” he said quietly, “but keep the noise down, we only just got Molly off to sleep again.”
Faith flew across the room and flung her arms around Buffy.
“God, I was so worried! I thought you had gone and done something stupid, I woke up and you had disappeared!” She sighed, clearly relieved to see her friend safe and well.
Buffy hugged her friend back.
“I am fine Faith! Everything’s going to be fine. In fact seeing as you are here I have something to ask you.”
Buffy proceeded to explain her plan to Faith, who agreed that it was definitely in Molly’s best interest to be somewhere more homely, at this time. Spike sat the other side of the room with Gunn, he ran his hands through his tousled platinum hair and looked at the floor sheepishly.
“Look mate, I am sorry about earlier, I just needed some time to think,” he apologised to his friend.
Gunn put his hand on his shoulder.
“Hey man, no problem, I’d be the same if it was me.”
Buffy and Faith stood up and wandered over to the two men.
She ran a hand across his face.
“I am going to head home with Faith, got some furniture moving to do.” she said as she picked up her bag. “Why don’t you wait till Molly wakes up, then come over, bring as much as you can, and we can collect the rest of your things later.”
Spike nodded, kissing her on the cheek as she left with the others.
…………..
Dawn awoke to the sound of Buffy dragging a chest of drawers across the bedroom. Faith hadn’t woken her when they realised Buffy was missing, she was already in too bad a mood and wouldn’t have been any help whatsoever.
“Buffy what in the hell are you doing?” She screamed at her sister, who was struggling to squeeze the cabinet into a space far too small.
She stopped, flopping onto the bed to regain her breath.
“A little reorganising Dawn. Spike and Molly are going to be staying with us for Christmas,” she said, before jumping up to continue dragging the cabinet.
Dawn stood at the doorway, arms crossed.
“That bang on the head really did damage your brain didn’t it!” She snapped. “I mean, have you totally lost your mind. This guy cheats on you, nearly gets you killed, and you want to welcome him into our home!”
Buffy glared at her sister. She knew Dawn was ‘anti Spike’ at the moment, but she didn’t expect such a reaction. It made no difference though, they were staying and that was final. Deciding to ignore her sister, she resumed arranging the room for the two visitors.
…………..
Spike packed all the belongings, that had been found in the motel with his daughter into one of his suitcases. The other he filled with as many of his clothes as he could fit, and as many of his personal items as possible. He stopped and smiled, as he placed a photograph of himself and Buffy on the top. Finally they were together again.
It was almost 9am when he arrived at the apartment block. Molly had slept all through the rest of the night, and he was loath to wake her while she was so peaceful. He had no idea how she was going to react when he told her they were going to stay with Buffy, and was pleasantly surprised when the little girl appeared, at least, to be pleased by the news. He carried Molly up the stairs to the apartment, cursing the fact that Buffy didn’t buy the one with the lift, just as she had a few days earlier. Molly giggled as they approached the door, and she saw the giant plastic Santa stuck to it.
Spike had no free hands, so he asked her to knock on the door for him.
Faith opened the door.
“Hey Molly!” She greeted her with a big beaming smile, eager to make the little one feel comfortable. She kissed Spike on the cheek as he came into the room. “I’m making special pancakes, do you want some?” She asked.
Molly nodded as she clung to her dad, squeezed in between them was Mr Gordo.
Buffy bounced in from the bedroom, where she had just finished reorganising things. She ran to Spike and gave him a big hug, kissing Molly on the cheek and giving Mr Gordo a little squeeze, just so he didn’t feel left out. Dawn stood in the doorway, still furious, glaring at Spike. He picked up on the frosty vibes from the younger sister, as did Molly who began to become restless in his arms.
“Are you sure this is ok love?” He asked Buffy.
“Just stay out of my way, and keep the brat away from my room!” Dawn interrupted.
Buffy looked horrified and apologised to Spike, before following her sister into her room. Molly began to cry, for the first time that day, not because of her mother, but because of the hostile reaction from Dawn. She clung to Spike legs screaming that she wanted to go home.
Buffy slammed Dawn’s door behind her, as she followed the stroppy teenager into her room.
“So Dawn, how does it feel?” She asked.
Dawn raised her eyebrows and shot Buffy a dirty look.
“How does what feel?” She snapped.
“How does it feel to make a five year old girl, who has just lost her mother, cry?”
Dawn sat on the edge of her bed, a guilty look passed across her face. She hadn’t meant to upset the little girl, she was just so mad Buffy had invited them to stay, without even consulting her. In her mind she was looking out for her sister. She had been hurt so much by Spike already, she just didn’t want her to get hurt anymore. Buffy couldn’t bear to be around her sister any longer, she was so furious at her behaviour. She went back into the living room to help Spike cheer up the little one. There was no need however, Faith was dancing around the living room with a pair of plastic antlers on her head, singing Rudolph the red nosed reindeer, while Molly clapped along giggling. Buffy couldn’t help herself and fell about laughing with the others.
Gunn spoke up. “Honey, should that black smoke be coming from the kitchen?” He asked, looking towards the plumes that were pouring from the frying pan.
She ran into the kitchen, antlers flailing, to rescue what was intended to be pancakes.
“Faith’s cooking strikes again I see!” Spike joked, as he pulled Buffy towards him, placing a kiss tenderly on her lips.
He went downstairs to get the bags, while Buffy tried to help Faith salvage some breakfast. She had planned on bunking in with Faith, but it seemed that Gunn was pretty settled, and she thought Faith deserved a bit of happiness. She decided she would just have to share with Dawn, whether she liked it or not.
Dawn meantime had been sat in her bedroom feeling guilty as sin. She decided she should make it up to her and Spike. She came out of her bedroom, a pile art and craft materials in her hands.
“Hi Molly, sorry I was nasty,” she began cautiously. The little girl stared back at her, not giving anything away. “Well if you are staying for Christmas you are going to need a stocking,” she said, motioning to the line of stockings pinned above the fireplace.
Molly beamed back, jumping up from Spike lap, and running towards the younger sister.
“Better make that two!” Faith added, “I kinda asked Charles to join us too.” She beamed
“When did she start calling you Charles mate?” Spike laughed, “Must be love, huh?”
“Two stockings it is then!” Dawn announced, before leading Molly to her room to begin construction.
Spike strolled into the kitchen and slipped his arms around Buffy’s waist. She was desperately trying to create some semblance of a nutritious breakfast for the little girl, but failing miserably.
“Cereal is fine you know pet?” He whispered in her ear, as he caressed her face.
She turned round to face him and sighed a breath of relief.
“Thank god for that,” she smiled, “I am just trying so hard to make things ok for her.”
“I know love, I know, and you are doing great.” He brushed his lips against her. It was the gentlest of touches, but it sent shivers through both of them. As soon as their lips parted they both craved more. Spike leant into her as he ran his hands back through her hair, pulling her in towards him, pressing his lips against hers again.
Buffy melted into him as he softly deepened the kiss, running his tongue gently along her lips, he moaned quietly as she slipped her tongue into his mouth. They could hold back any longer. Their tongues battled for dominance as he pulled her further into him. She could feel his obvious arousal pressing into her, but they had to be careful, they couldn’t have Molly wandering in, not until she’d had a chance to get use to things.
Spike ran his hands down her sides, pushing them beneath her turtleneck and sliding them back up her sides. She was so warm, so soft, and he wanted her so much. Finally they had to break away and catch some breath.
Breathing heavily Spike held her close to his body.
“I love you Buffy,” he whispered. “I love you so much.”
She placed another kiss softly on his lips.
“I love you too baby.”
A/N --- Another big thanks to Mercy for all her beta-ing…And also thanks to everyone that has reviewed so far, it’s really nice to read what you think :o)