Title: God Bless
Caseworkers From Hell
Part: 5/?
Author:
Ice Queen (aka Amanda)
Rating:
PG-13 for now.
Category:
Buffy/Spike Challenge (given by Pamela J. Anderson)
Spoilers:
Up to the Season 6 episode Gone
Distribution:
You want it? You got it. Just tell me where it is going.
Disclaimer:
All characters are the property of Joss Whedon, UPN and Mutant Enemy. I am in
no way affiliated with any of these people.
Summary: In order to
keep Dawn, Buffy must find a male father figure, and Spike is her only choice.
Feedback:
Name one person who *doesn’t* like feedback!
Thanks To:
Exfilia, Mood Indigo and Sairs, my wonderful betas, I couldn’t have done it
without you!
Author’s Note:
This is a challenge fic that was given by Pamela J. Anderson. It’s set a few
days after ‘Gone’.
The Challenge:
Child protective services look down on single caregivers, so Buffy has to find
a ‘pretend husband’. Xander and Anya are honeymooning, Giles is in England. So
Spike is her only hope. Requirements: *Buffy falls for Spike after he becomes
the perfect spouse *Spike acts romantic towards Buffy
“Hi Niblet,”
Spike acknowledged from the kitchen where he and Willow were making breakfast.
“Hey Dawnie,”
Willow said cheerfully.
Dawn gave her
a slight smile, “Hi.”
Willow
grinned, glad that Dawn was finally talking to her.
“What are you
doing up, Spike? Aren’t vampires supposed to sleep during the day?” Dawn
asked, “Don’t tell me you’re going to start keeping human hours?”
“I have to if
I’m going to do a good job taking care of you.” He replied, ruffling her hair
affectionately.
“Do you want
any pancakes?” Willow questioned. “Spike made them.”
“Sure,” she
answered then turned to Spike, “What’s with you and cooking? You been
channelling Martha Stewart or something?”
He shrugged
and placed some pancakes in front of her, “I just like cooking. Now eat up.”
“Who’s that
for?” Dawn asked, motioning towards a tray with a cup of coffee, toast and
pancakes that Spike was preparing.
“Buffy.” He
answered.
Willow nearly
choked on her food, “Buffy?” she croaked out.
“Yeah. You
got a problem with that?” Spike said lightly.
“Uh, no. But
is that a good idea?”
“Probably
not, but when does that ever stop me?”
“I see your
point.” Willow responded. She looked at her watch, “Dawn, you have to get to
school, come on, I’ll take you.”
Dawn was
hesitant, “Aah…I don’t know if that’s a good idea, remember what happened last
time?”
Willow’s face
fell, “Dawnie-”
“Fine. I’ll
get into a car with you.” Although she followed her, Dawn did not look very
pleased with the prospect.
“Bye, Lil
Bit.”
When the two
left, Spike carried the tray to Buffy’s room. “Buffy?” he asked tentatively,
before entering her room, “You up?”
“Huh? Spike?
What are you doing?” came her groggy reply. “It’s only... *eight thirty*!
Oh crap!” She scrambled out of bed when she realised the time, “I have to get
Dawn ready for school.”
She turned to
face him, “You! Why didn’t you wake me?” she glowered.
Spike smiled,
“Relax, love. Willow’s took her.”
She had the
decency to look sheepish, “Oh.”
“I brought
you some breakfast.”
“You made me
breakfast?”
“Yeah. It was
going to be breakfast in bed, but you got out of bed. I didn’t know if you
liked pancakes or not, so I got you toast as well.”
“Thanks.”
*No one’s ever brought me breakfast in bed before. Spike can be so sweet*
she thought back to their adventures in his crypt while she was invisible,
*and kind and gentle and incredibly talented…*
“You’re
welcome.”
Spike turned
to leave, but Buffy stopped him, “Spike? Stay?” she asked, almost shyly, “Stay
with me?”
“Sure thing,
love.”
Buffy pressed
her lips to his mouth in a tender kiss. Spike immediately responded and
deepened it. As the passion between the two increased, Spike backed her
towards the bed and gently pushed her onto it. As she fell, Buffy hooked her
feet around his legs and pulled Spike to her, never once breaking contact with
his lips and forgetting all about breakfast.
Buffy broke
the kiss to murmur just one thing, “Make love to me Spike.”
*~*~*~*
Buffy awoke
hours later to find herself curled around a sleeping Spike. She smiled as she
remembered the events of that morning. Sex with Spike. *Lots and lots of sex
with Spike.* Spike moaned in his sleep and snuggled closer to her.
There was a
knock on the door, and Buffy heard Willow’s voice, “Buffy? Are you up yet?”
*Crap* “Uh,
I’ll be right there Willow” Buffy hurried out of bed and slipped into her
pyjamas that had been discarded in their hurry to get undressed.
She opened
the door only enough that she could slide through and quietly closed it behind
her, so she didn’t wake Spike. “Willow, hi! What’s up?” She asked brightly.
“Nothing, I
just wanted to tell you that I took Dawn to school, and I did some grocery
shopping.”
“Ok, well,
thanks.”
Inside
Buffy’s room, Spike had awakened. He could hear Buffy moving about in the
hallway, “Buffy, come back to bed, love.” He called out.
“Was that
Spike?” Willow asked.
*Damn you, Spike*
Buffy looked horrified, but feigned innocence, “Was what Spike?”
Willow eyed
her friend suspiciously, “Is Spike in there?”
“What? Of
course not?”
The witch
wasn’t convinced she moved around Buffy and opened the door.
“Red!” Spike
cried, frantically trying to grab a sheet to cover himself with. “What are you
doing here?”
“I live here.
What are you doing here?” she turned to Buffy, “What’s he doing here?”
“You had to
open your mouth didn’t you, Spike?”
“Sorry,
love.”
“Is someone
going to tell me what the hell is going on here?” Willow yelled.
Buffy looked
at the ground, “I, well, I’m sleeping with Spike, ok?”
“WHAT THE
HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?” she shouted.
“I don’t
know! Why don’t *you* tell *me*? Tell me why I came back wrong.
Tell me why Spike can now hit me. Tell me why the chip doesn’t go off. TELL
ME!” Buffy collapsed and the tears she had been holding back for weeks finally
spilled forth, “Tell me what’s wrong with me. Tell me why I have feelings for
a soulless killer. Tell me!”
“You came
back wrong?” Willow asked softly.
Spike glared
at Willow and went over to Buffy, making sure the sheet still covered him. He
wrapped his arms around her, “It’s ok, love. Let it out.”
Buffy cried
into his chest, “What’s wrong with me?”
“Nothing’s
wrong, pet. You’re still Buffy, you’re still my Buffy.” He looked up at
Willow, “I think you should leave.”
“But-“ Willow
protested.
Spike shifted
into his game face briefly. “GET OUT!”
Willow fled
from the room, grief-stricken. *Oh God, What have I done?*
“Pet? There
is *nothing* wrong with you. You’re the same woman I fell in love
with.”
“Why does the
chip go off? Why can you hit me?” Her words were muffled but he could still
understand her.
“I don’t
know, Buffy. But we’ll find out. We’ll go through every book in the Magic Box,
every website on the internet. We’ll ring Giles and his Council buddies
they’ll know something. Love, if we have to we’ll go to the Powers That Be
themselves.”
Buffy’s cries
lessened, “Promise?”
He kissed her
forehead, “I promise.”
“She’s going
to tell everyone. They’re going to hate me.”
“If they’re
your friends, they won’t judge you.”
“Spike, the
last vampire I slept with lost his soul, terrorised my friends and family and
killed Giles’ girlfriend! They are so going to judge.”
“Love, it’s
not any of their business who you sleep with. It’s your life, not theirs.”
“But that’s
not going to stop them.”
“How about
you actually talk to them first. You may just be jumping to conclusions.”
Buffy sighed,
“As much as I hate to admit it, you’re probably right.”
He shot her
one of his trademark grins, “I’m always right.”
Buffy rolled
her eyes as she got up, “Whatever.”
“Buffy, um,
before, you said you had feelings for me. What sort of feelings?”
“No
feelings.” She said quickly.
“But you
said-“
“I know what
I said. It doesn’t mean I meant it though.”
“You can’t
pretend with me. I can see through your lies.”
“I’m not
lying.” He gave her a look that seemed to say ‘yeah right’, “Fine, I have…non-hatey
feelings for you.”
Spike was
amused, “Non-hatey?”
“Yes! Non-hatey.
I don’t love you, I don’t even like you half the time. But Spike, I don’t hate
you. After what you did for Dawn when I was gone, I could never hate you.”
He smiled,
“Really?”
Buffy stood
on her tiptoes and placed a gentle kiss on his lips, “Really,” she confirmed.
“Now come on, we have to talk to Glinda The Good Witch Of The North, although
at the moment I think The Wicked Witch Of The West is more accurate.”
End Part 5
“Willow?”
Buffy called softly as she and Spike entered Joyce’s old room, “I’m sorry I
was so harsh before. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“Oh, Buffy.”
Willow said, hugging her friend, “Don’t be sorry. I’m the one who should be
sorry. Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
“I knew what
finding out I was in Heaven did to you, and I didn’t want to add to that guilt
by telling you this. I wasn’t going to tell anyone, except maybe Giles.”
“What about
Spike?”
“Well, I was
the one who figured it out. She hit me. I hit her. No headache.” Spike told
her.
“No. I mean,
why are you two…together?” Willow asked.
“It was just
a one time thing.” Buffy answered. Both Willow and Spike raised their
eyebrows. “That’s been happening a lot,” she amended meekly.
“Buffy, he’s
*evil*”
“Excuse me!
Was it or was it not you who was defending Spike a few days ago?”
“Yeah, well I
didn’t know you were sleeping with him then.”
“That doesn’t
change the fact that you insisted he was different, that he’d changed.”
“Hello! Still
in the room.” Spike spoke up. “Look, Red, it’s none of your business who the
Slayer sees.”
“So says the
vampire in question.” The redhead quipped.
“Willow,
Spike’s right, it’s my life, and if I want to sleep with him, I will.”
Willow
sighed, “I guess you’re right. If Spike makes you happy, who am I to
complain.”
Buffy
grinned, “Thanks Will,” she enveloped her best friend in a bear hug.
“You know,”
Willow said, letting go of Buffy, “Xander’s not going to like this.”
“Tell me
about it.” She groaned.
Willow
giggled. “I can’t wait to see his face when he finds out.”
Buffy took
Spike’s hand and turned to leave, but instead, stopped and said: “Oh, and
Willow. He does more than make me happy. He makes me feel alive.”
*~*~*~*
“Did you mean
what you said before? About me making you feel alive?” Spike asked.
He and Buffy
were curled up on the couch watching TV. Buffy was lying lengthways with Spike
spooned against her back. One of Spike’s arms was resting on her waist, while
the other was playing with her hair. Buffy pressed the mute button on the
remote and turned to face her lover.
“After I came
back, I felt dead inside, it was like my body was alive but my heart wasn’t. I
didn’t feel anything, except emptiness. It’s only now that I’m beginning to
feel again. I’m most alive when I’m with you, Spike.
“I lied
before. When I said I had non-hatey feelings towards you. The truth is, I care
about you a lot. I don’t love you, but I hope there comes a day when I do.”
Throughout
Buffy’s speech Spike’s eyes had become moist, now a single tear rolled down
his cheek. He turned away, not wanting Buffy to see.
“Spike, look
at me.” Buffy placed a hand on his face and gently made him look at her. She
wiped the tear away with her thumb and kissed his cheek. “I’ve been through a
lot in my life, and everyone I’ve loved has left me. Dad, Angel, Riley, Mom. I
can’t lose you too. Don’t leave me.”
“God Buffy, I
love you so much. I’d never leave you. How many times have you told me to
leave SunnyD? And how many times have I actually left?”
“You left
with Drusilla once.”
“Yeah but I
came back, so that’s not counted.” He grinned, “I won’t leave you, baby. I’m
in for the long haul.”
“Even if you
get the chip out?”
Spike looked
deep in her eyes, “I won’t leave you, chip or no chip.”
“Thank you.”
She whispered before kissing him softly.
Buffy pulled
back and sighed.
“What is it?”
Spike asked.
“We have a
meeting with the social services woman tomorrow.”
“Not that
Doris bint?”
“Yes, that
Doris bint. She’s coming to ‘examine’ you.”
“Hmm…sounds
kinky.”
Spike!” she
slapped him lightly on the arm. “This is serious. She’s coming to review you,
make sure you’re an appropriate caregiver for Dawn. If you don’t meet her
standards, Dawn’s gonna be sent away.”
“What about
you? Do I meet you’re standards?”
Buffy looked
him up and down, “Almost.” She grinned evilly, “But you need a change of
clothes.”
“Excuse me!
What’s wrong with what I’m wearing? It’s a bloody great outfit.”
“I don’t
dispute that. But what’s Doris going to say when she sees my leather clad
boyfriend?” she pulled Spike off the couch. “Come on.”
Spike looked
worried, “Where are we going?”
“Shopping!”
Buffy replied cheerfully.
“Shopping!
Bloody hell, Buffy, I’m not going shopping.”
Spike’s mind
went back to what she said before she declared what their trip for the day
was. *She said boyfriend? I’m her boyfriend?*
“Uh, Buffy?
Did you say boyfriend?”
End Part 6
Start of Part 7
"Buffy, it's daylight outside, I'm sorry but bursting into flames doesn't appeal
to me the way it did a century ago." Spike complained.
"We'll take the sewers," Buffy replied, tossing him a blanket, "Now get ready to
run."
"Bloody hell" he growled as he sprinted towards the sewer entrance a few feet in
front of Buffy's house.
Spike chucked the blanket away as soon as the two were in the safe recesses of
the sewer, "Explain to me again why we have to go shopping."
Buffy sighed, "The caseworker is reviewing you tomorrow. You need a new outfit.
Hence the shopping."
"I still don't see the problem with my clothes."
She ignored him, "Besides, I've always wanted to give you a makeover."
He groaned, "Should I be scared?"
"Well I've been wondering what you'd look like in pink."
Spike stopped dead in his tracks and gaped at her, "Mission accomplished: I'm
terrified." He looked into her twinkling eyes and realised she was in fact
joking, "Very funny, Slayer."
"I thought so."
Ten minutes later, they came up from the sewers, into the mall's indoor parking
lot.
"Hurry up, Spike." Buffy said when she noticed the vampire trailing a few metres
behind her.
"Are you sure this is really necessary?" he whined.
She sent a glare his way and he quickly caught up with her.
*~*~*~*
*This has got to be Hell* Spike thought as he looked around at the vibrantly
coloured shirts in the store. *I've been staked and sent to Hell. That's the
only explanation for THIS*
"What about this one?"
He grimaced when he saw the orange shirt Buffy was holding. "Uh.no!"
"This one?" she pulled a blue shirt off one of the racks.
"There is not one shirt in this bloody awful shop I would even *contemplate*
wearing."
"But you would look sexy in blue, plus it would bring out the colour of your
eyes." Buffy persuaded, but Spike wasn't deterred. "Please Spike," she pouted,
"Do it for me?"
"Buffy, I would do almost anything for you. I'd go to the end of the world and
back if it saved you from heartache. But I draw the line at wearing *that*. You
know, there's a nice sex shop across from us, I'm sure there'd be something we
both like there." Spike grinned.
Buffy rolled her eyes and moved her mouth to Spike's ear, "Tell you what, if you
decide on some shirts, we'll go and get something from that nice shop over
there."
Spike's eyes widened, then he grabbed five shirts from the nearest rack and
hurried over to the cashier.
Buffy almost went into hysterics when she saw the shirts he had grabbed.
One of them was bright pink.
*~*~*~*
The two arrived back at Buffy's an hour later laughing and clutching two bags.
One containing Spike's shirts, the other a red lingerie Buffy had purchased at
Sari's Sex Shop.
"I can't wait for tonight, love." Spike purred.
"Why wait?" Buffy replied saucily.
They moved in to lock lips, but abruptly broke apart when the door behind them
opened.
"Hey guys," Dawn greeted cheerfully
"Dawn! Hi!" Buffy cried nervously, trying to hide the bag containing the
lingerie.
"Hi Niblet" Spike said as if nothing had happened.
"Hey Spike. Sari's huh?" Dawn asked, motioning towards the bag that was now
poorly hidden behind Buffy's back. Buffy flushed and Dawn stifled her giggle,
"So, I'm guessing you two are together now?"
Buffy looked at Spike and smiled, "Yeah," she answered, "We are."
Dawn grinned, "Took ya long enough."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Buffy questioned.
"Oh, come on! It was so obvious! You've been in love with Spike for ages. Hey, I
may only be fifteen, but I'm not dumb."
"Dawn, I'm not in love with Spike.not yet anyway."
"Whatever," Dawn scoffed as she strolled away.
"Smart girl," Spike grabbed Buffy's waist and pulled her to him, "Where were
we?"
"Mmm.I think we were just about here" she breathed softly as her and Spike's
lips met in a passionate kiss."
*~*~*
"Buffy?" Dawn called, the next morning, as she knocked on the bedroom door. "I
hope you're up because Doris from Social Services is going to be here any
minute."
On the other side of the door, Buffy bolted upright in bed, "Shit!"
Spike rolled over to face her, "What is it?" he murmured sleepily
Buffy hurried out of bed and started grabbing her clothes. "Get up and get
dressed," she yelled at him. "She's going to be here soon."
Spike grabbed his black jeans from the floor near the bed, "Who is? Doris?"
"Yes!" she exclaimed exasperatedly. "Hurry up!"
"What shirt?" he asked, holding up 3 out of the five shirts they bought the
other day.
"Uh.the blue." Buffy replied absentmindedly, and then called out to Dawn,
"Dawnie? Are you ready?"
"Yes. Unlike some people I wasn't up half the night." Came the frustrated reply.
Buffy opened her cupboard and searched for something to wear. She pulled out a
halter-neck top and a denim skirt, "Too slutty," she decided and dropped them on
the ground. She held a pair of jeans and a t-shirt up against her body, "Too
casual."
She called out to her sister again, "Dawn, where's Willow?"
"Making breakfast."
She turned back to her closet and sighed, "I have nothing to wear."
"Piffle." Spike said, "You have enough clothing to open your own store."
"You're not helping." She spied a pink and white summer dress in the back of her
wardrobe, "What about this?" She said, pulling it out. When Spike didn't answer,
she turned to the mirror and hugged it against her form.
She felt his arms wrap around her waist and his lips kiss her neck, "Love, you
take good care of Dawn. I know it, you know it, and Niblet knows it. Don't
worry, everything's going to be ok."
Buffy twisted around in the embrace so she faced her boyfriend, "Thank you,
Spike. Thank you for everything. If it weren't for you, Dawn would already be in
a foster home."
"You're welcome, Buffy." He leaned down and captured her mouth in a sweet kiss.
They were interrupted by the ring of the doorbell.
*She's here*
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