Chapter 78

‘Buffy’s Flat-England’

“Buffy?” Giles called out as he entered the front door of her flat.

“In the nursery.” Buffy called back.

Giles quickly made his way through the living room to the nursery and pushed the door all the way open and stepped just inside the room. Buffy was lying on the floor with baby William resting on her knees slowly bouncing up and down laughing.

“Start packing.” Giles said looking down.

Buffy stopped moving her knees and brought baby William down to rest on her stomach before moving her head to look up at Giles. “What!?”

“I said start packing.” Giles repeated.

“I heard that part.” Buffy said as she moved so that she was standing up with baby William in her arms. “What I meant to ask was ‘Why’?”

“I received the call this morning.”

“‘The’ call. As in the one that lets me finally go home? Or the one that makes me have to move to another country?” Buffy questioned.

“Both actually seeing as your home is in another country.” Giles said with a grin on his face.

“I get to go home?” Buffy asked in disbelief.

Giles nodded his head. “You get to go home.”

“What about Drusilla?”

“She’s been locked away for a long enough time that the doctors will keep her there even if you show up alive. She is a seriously disturbed woman.”

“Don’t I know it.” Buffy muttered.

“Everything has been taken care of to ensure both yours and your son’s welfare. We’ve even dealt with Mr. Abramhs.” Giles explained.

“Parker!?” Buffy asked in shock. “What about him?”

“That’s not important, just know that you never have to worry about him showing up at your door or anyone else’s door.”

“So everything is okay?”

“Everything dealing with your safety is.” Giles stated.

“What’s that suppose to mean?” Buffy asked.

“You’ve been gone over a year Buffy. You’re friends and family have thought you were dead, they’ve moved on with theirs lives as best they could without you being there.”

“That’s not my fault.” Buffy yelled causing baby William to start fussing.

“I didn’t say it was.” Giles acknowledged. “I just don’t want you to go back and think everything will be like it was before, it’s going to take time for everyone evolved to adjust to you being back.”

“What aren’t you telling me?” Buffy asked slowing rocking baby William to help calm him down.

“Nothing.” Giles said removing his glasses and cleaning them with a handkerchief.

“Giles.” Buffy said with a stern look on her face.

“We’ll talk in the living room.” Giles said walking out the nursery door and back the way he had came earlier.

“I’ll be right out.” Buffy replied before walking over and placing baby William in his crib to take a nap. “Sweet Dreams William.” Buffy whispered placing a kiss on his forehead before grabbing the baby monitor and turning it on. She looked over the nursery one more time before walking out the door towards the living room.

*****

‘Living Room’

“Okay, now what’s the what?” Buffy asked taking a seat in a chair across from where Giles was seated on the couch.

Giles took a deep breath. “It’s two things really.”

“Alright.”

“First thing deals with your parents.”

“What about them? They’re both okay aren’t they? They’re not sick or anything are they?” Buffy asked question after question with worry in her voice.

Giles placed a hand on Buffy’s knee. “Buffy please calm down, both of your parents are perfectly healthy.”

“Oh.” Buffy said with a sigh of relief.

Once Buffy appeared calm again he removed his hand and began to tell her what he was trying to say before. “What I was trying to tell you, and I know this wont be easy for you to heard, is that they are no longer together.”

“What!?” Buffy cried out.

“Your parents filed for a legal separation about a month ago.” Giles explained.

“Why am I just now hearing about this?” Buffy asked in a stressed tone.

“What would you have done about it?” Giles asked. “It still wasn’t safe for you to return home yet, why worry you when nothing could have been done?”

“They’re my parents. I had a right to know even if I couldn’t have done anything at the time.”

“If I had told you about this before you would have spent this past month making yourself sick with worry about every little thing, when all you should be worry about is raising your son.”

“I still would’ve liked to of known.” Buffy whispered knowing that Giles was right.

“You know now, that’s what matters.”

“How? I mean . . . What? . . . Um . . . Where?” Buffy stuttered not knowing what questions she wanted answered first.

“Your mother and sister are still living in the mansion in Sunnydale. Your father has a condo in Los Angeles he’s living in for the time being.” Giles stated. “Every weekend he travels to Sunnydale to spend time with your sister and talk with your mother.”

Buffy waited a few minutes while she took everything in before looking back towards Giles. “Okay, that’s the first of the two. What’s next?”

“It’s about William.” Giles told her.

“What about him, he’s not to young to travel is he? I didn’t even think about that.” Buffy said standing up and beginning to pace the living room floor not letting Giles get a word in. “I’ll have to make a doctor’s appointment for him to make sure it’s safe for him to be on a plane for that long of a time.”

“Buffy!” Giles called out as he placed a hand on each shoulder to get her to stop moving.

“Huh?” She asked looking up at him.

Giles removed his hands from her and took a step back. “I wasn’t talking about little William, although everything you were just rambling about is a good idea, I was talking about his father.”

“Oh! What about Spike?” Buffy asked.

“First, I thought you should know that he is no longer legally married to Drusilla. He filed for divorce shortly after the explosion.”

“No Drusilla is always a good thing.”

“He’s also no longer a Professor at UC Sunnydale.”

“But he still lives in Sunnydale right?” Buffy asked a little worried that he had moved away after she left.

“Yes, but now he’s a teacher at the local high school.”

“That’s good, he likes to teach and age doesn’t matter to him when it comes to making an impression on how people learn.” Buffy said with a sigh of relief knowing that he’d be there when she finally got back.

“That’s not all.” Giles stated.

“What else is there?” Buffy questioned.

“McKenzie Owens.”

“Who?”

“She’s works at the high schools as a guidance consular for the students.”

“Okay, but what does she have to do with Spike?”

“She’s dating him.”

“Oh. . .” Buffy whispered as she lowered herself onto the edge of the couch. “Um. . .How long have they been. . .you know?”

“Two months.”

“Is he happy?” Buffy asked in a low voice.

“I don’t know that, all I know is the facts. My source in Sunnydale tells me that William seems to be finally moving towards a new life again.”

“Than I can’t go back.” Buffy said in a stronger voice standing up again.

“Excuse me?” Giles asked in shock.

“I can’t go back.” Buffy stated again.

“Why not?” Giles questioned.

“It’s not fair to him if I just show up in his life again. He’s finally moving on, I can’t be the reason he’s unhappy again.”

“Seeing you, knowing you’re alive wouldn’t make him unhappy.” Giles tried to reason with her.

“If he has feeling for this woman than me showing up again will only confuse him.”

“You can’t not go back, other deserve to know the truth. William deserves to know he has a son whether he chooses to be with you again or not.”

“But he will, even if he no longer wants to.” Buffy shouted. “Family means everything it Spike, it’s why all this happened in the first place with Drusilla.”

“Then why don’t you want to go back? He’ll want to be with you and your son.”

“For the wrong reasons. He’ll be with me because of little William, not necessarily because he still wants to be with me as well.”

“That’s not what you’re worried about.” Giles stated as if a light went of in his head.

“Of course it is.”

“No, you’re scared that’s he’s learned from what happened with Drusilla. You’re worried he really cares about McKenzie and won’t leave her for you like he did to you for Drusilla.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Buffy said looking away from Giles.

“Yes you do. William stayed with Drusilla because he thought she was with child even thought he was in love with you. You’re worried he won’t do that with you even thought you actually are the mother of his first born child.”

“What Spike and I shared is stronger than anything we’ve had with anyone else.” Buffy yelled.

“Keyword there is ‘shared’. There’s only one way for you to be sure if that bond is still there.”

“What if its not?” Buffy asked in a soft voice.

“Then you’ll figure it out from there, but you need to know either way.”

“You’ll come with me won’t you?”

Giles nodded his head. “Until you’ve worked everything out and get settled into your new home and life.”

“Thank you.” Buffy said giving him a small hug.

“Molly will be coming with us as well to help look after little William while you spend time with your family and friends.

“Good.” Buffy said turning to look at the clock above her mantle. “I need to check on my son and start packing.”

“Alright.” Giles said turning to leave. “One more thing.” He said stopping at the front door.

“What?” Buffy asked looking over towards him.

“Don’t tell William about his son right away.”

“But. . .” Buffy started.

“Not until you’ve spent some time with him, and have a better idea of his feelings.” Giles continued.

Buffy looked at Giles with unsure eyes. “If I do that and he doesn’t choose me it’ll seem like I’m trying to trap him with little William.”

“Just don’t tell him when you first see him.”

“Why not?” Buffy questioned.

“Because seeing you alive will be shock enough for your first meeting as it is.”

“Oh, I understand.”

“I see you in the morning.” Giles said opening the door.

“Okay, have a nice night.”

“Have fun packing.” Giles said before closing the door behind him.

“I will.” Buffy said with a wide smile as she heading towards the nursey.

*****

TBC. . .

Chapter 79

‘Sunnydale-A Few Weeks Later’

A large black SUV pulled into the driveway of an old Victorian styled home with a lush green front yard with bright flowers along the pathway leading towards the front door from both the sidewalk and the driveway.

“Giles it’s beautiful.” Buffy said as she looked out through the passenger side window.

“I thought you might like it. It has a fenced in backyard along with a swimming pool and pool house that could double as a guesthouse if you’d like. It has the basics, living room, kitchen, dinning room, and a utility in the basement with a washer and dryer. It has four bedrooms, three full baths, along with a study. The master bedroom has it’s own bathroom and also has a door connected to the nursery.” Giles told her had he walked around the vehicle to help Buffy out.

“Wow.” Buffy breathed as she stepped out.

“The house is also fully furnished with the type of things that you had in you flat in London.”

“How much did you spend?” Buffy asked pulling a sleeping baby William out of the car seat in the back.

“That’s not important.” Giles stated pushing the SUV door closed.

“Giles.”

“Really. It’s our gift to you for having kept you away from your family and friends for so long.” Giles said looking back over towards Buffy and the baby she had in her arms.

“That was to save mine and my son’s lives.” Buffy said walking up the sidewalk towards the front door.

“Still, this is your new home whether you want it to be or not.”

“I want, I very much want.” Buffy said looking around the landscape.

“Good, now lets get you both inside.” Giles said placing a hand on the small of Buffy’s back and guiding her up the steps towards the front door.

“Will you be staying here?” Buffy asked.

“If you’d like.” Giles said placing the key into the lock.

“I would, you make me feel safe.” Buffy said stepping into the house.

“You are safe.” Giles told her as he walked in behind her and closed the door.

“I know. You can stay in the guest house if you’d like, that way you’ll have more privacy but still be close if I need you.”

“That’s a good idea.”

“Molly coming tomorrow?” Buffy asked moving into the living room.

“Yes, she has some family in town she visiting while she’s helping with little William.”

“Good. Um. . .?”

“Tomorrow.”

“What?” Buffy asked looking towards Giles.

“You’ll see them tomorrow.”

“Who?”

“Your family. Your father will be in town for his weekend with your mother and sister.”

“Oh. . .”

“You’ll see him later, I thought it best that your family knew about this first.” Giles explained.

“You’re right, thank you.”

“No problem.”

Buffy moved little William from one arm to another. “Can you show me to the nursery so I can put him down for the rest of his nap?”

“Of course, follow me.” Giles said leading them up the stairs.

*****

‘Same Time-Across Town’

Spike shot up straight in the bed with a cold sweat running down the back of his neck and chest.

“Will are you alright?” McKenzie asked as she sitting up in bed next to him and rubbing small circles on his lower back to help calm him down.

“Not sure.” Spike answered taking in a deep breath.

“Did you have a bad dream?”

“No, nothing like that.” Spike said shacking him head.

“What was it than?”

“I just had this feeling run over me all the sudden.”

“What type of feeling?”

“The type that changes everyone’s lives for better or worse whether they want it to be changed or not.” Spike explained.

“Is there a reason you had this feeling?”

“Not sure, only time will tell I guess.”

“You’re still shacking.” McKenzie noticed and started to rub he hands over up his back, over his shoulders and down his arms. “Do you think it’s something bad?”

Spike thought about his answer for a moment. “Drusilla’s still locked away in the mental hospital in Los Angeles and will be for quite some time, so it can’t be anything to do with her.”

“Did you see a face before you woke up?” McKenzie asked.

“Yeah.” Spike said in a low tone.

“Who?”

“It’s not important, it’s probably nothing anyways.” Spike said getting out of the bed and pulling on his pair of pants that he found on the floor next to the bed.

“Will what is it?” McKenzie asked as she got out of the bed after him and pulled on a red silk robe that had been flung across a chair in the corner of her bedroom the night before.

“It doesn’t matter, it was just a dream.” Spike said looking at everything expect her.

McKenzie walked across the room over to Spike and placed a hand on his face to make him look at her. “Who?” She asked in a low calm voice.

“Buffy.” Spike whispered. “I saw her face right before I woke up.”

“What was she doing when you saw her?” McKenzie asked using the same tone she would use when she talked with the students that came to see her when they were in trouble or scared of something.

“She was smiling.” Spike answered in a whisper.

“So she was happy?”

“Yeah, she was happy.”

“Did she say anything to you?”

Spike shook his head. “No, but there was laughter in the back ground.”

“What kind of laughter?”

“It sounded like a child laughing.” Spike told her.

“Did the two of you ever talk about having children together before the accident?”

“All the time.” Spike answered remember all the late nights he and Buffy had talked about have children once she was done with school and he was no longer married to Drusilla.

“Why didn’t you tell me who you saw at first?”

“I didn’t want to upset you.” Spike stated.

“You wouldn’t have upset me.” McKenzie said with a small smile.

“Telling your lover you were dreamin’ about another woman isn’t always the best thing for the relationship.” Spike replied.

“If you had been dreaming about Drusilla or another female that you’ve actually met then I might have a different feeling about it, but it was Buffy, I understand.”

“How?” Spike asked.

“You loved her and lost her. I know how that feels.” McKenzie said in a low voice.

“You husband.” Spike stated.

“Yeah.” McKenzie said nodding her head. “Even though he’s gone is doesn’t mean that the love I had for him is gone. Just like with you and Buffy.”

“You’re an amazing woman do you know that?” Spike asked pulling her into a tight embrace and kissing her softly on the lips.

“I did know that.” McKenzie said with a smile looking up at Spike. “It’s one of the reasons you like me so much.”

“Do you still dream about him?” Spike asked after a few moments of silence.

“Sometimes.” McKenzie told him. “It’s only natural.” She added moving them over to sit in the chair in the corner of her room. “I wonder what my life would be like if he decided to come home on time instead of working those two extra hours. I wonder what would have happened in he hadn’t tried to save that woman when he did. I wonder if he’d still be with me if they had been able to stop the bleeding from the knife wound sooner.” Tears were now running down her face. “I sometimes dream about the life we could have had with each other. You know the one with the house and the white picketed fence and the two point five kids, carpools and little league games. A nice normal life where everyone is happy and healthy like in the television show my parents grew up watching.”

“It’s not to late to have those things you know.” Spike said wiping the tears away with his thumb.

“I know. Maybe in a few years I’ll get to start making those things come true with someone else.”

“Maybe in a few years I’ll help you.”

*****

TBC. . .

Chapter 80

‘Summers’ Mansion-Next Day’

“Are you ready for this?” Giles asked Buffy from the drivers seat of the SUV parked outside the iron gate that lead to her families home.

“As anyone in this situation could be I guess.” Buffy said with a sigh.

“Everything will be alright, I promise.” Giles said giving Buffy’s hand a light squeeze.

“What am I suppose to say?” Buffy asked. “Hi, remember me? Guess what I’m not dead after all. Can I come in?”

“How ‘bout you keep the ‘Hello’ and see what happens from there.” Giles suggested.

“Okay.” Buffy sighed.

“Good. Now what’s the code?” Giles asked as his window went down.

Buffy thought for a moment. “I don’t know it it’s the same.” She stated.

“Only one way to find out.” Giles said reaching is hand out to the security box.

“Um. . .eight, two, zero, six. . .two.”

Giles punched in the five-digit code and wait for the gate to open. A few seconds later the gates slowly began to open.

“Guess they didn’t change the code.” Giles said before outing the SUV in drive and moving through the gate.

Once they reached the end of the driveway in front of the ‘Summers’ Mansion’ Giles placed the SUV in park and turned off the engine.

“Do you want to go in by yourself first or do you want me to come in with you?” Giles asked looking over towards Buffy.

“I think it’d be easier of you were there with me from the start of things.” Buffy said looking out the window towards the front doors of her family’s home.

“Alright.” Giles said stepping out of the SUV and walking around to Buffy’s side to open the door for her.

“Thanks.” Buffy whispered as Giles helped her step out.

“Molly will bring little William over when you’re ready to tell them about him.”

“Good.” Buffy said as they came to a stop in front of the doors. “Here goes nothing.” She said before pressing the button for the doorbell.

“Just remember to breath.” Giles whispered into her ear before the door was pulled open.

“Can I help. . .Elizabeth?” Maria gasped as she came face to face with what she thought to be the ghost of the girl she helped raise.

“Hello Maria.” Buffy said in a soft tone.

“Oh my God! Are you real?” Maria asked as tears began to run down her face.

“I sure hope so.” Buffy joked.

Maria smiled at the joke and pulled Buffy into a tight embrace.

“Are my parents home?” Buffy asked after stepping back from the hug a few moments later.

“Yes, your father got in last night.” Maria said before a look of worry crossed over her face affair she had let something private out before it should have been.

“It’s okay Maria, I know about the separation.”

“It’s very sad.” Maria commented leading Buffy and Giles into the foyer of the house.

“Yes it is.”

“Your mother, father and sister are out by the pool. Do you want me to show you out?”

“No, that’s okay. I remember the way.” Buffy said before turning to face Giles.

“Do you want me to come out with you?” Giles asked her.

“I think I should see them alone first.”

“Alright. I’ll wait by the doors than, when you ready for me I’ll come out.”

“Maria will you make sure that Mr. Giles is comfortable while he waits.”

“Of course Ms. Summers.” Maria answered like old times.

“Thank you Maria.” Buffy said with a small smile before heading towards the backyard to the swimming pool.

Buffy stopped at the glass doors so that she couldn’t be seen if anyone outside happened to look over towards that direction. As she stood there she looked out at the lives and family she hadn’t been a part of for over a year.

“Everything will be alright.” Giles said from behind her.

“They look happy.” She said as she watched her parents laugh at something Dawn had just said. “And Dawn’s grown up so much.”

“You’re not exactly the same anymore either.” Giles commented looking back on how much she’d actually changed from the girl she was when they first met in Sunnydale a few days before the explosion to the woman she had become after finding out she was carrying a child.

“I’m scared.” Buffy whispered still looking out the glass doors.

“You don’t need to be.”

“I know.” Buffy said before turning the knob on the right door and stepping outside.

*****

Dawn was the first one to look up when the door was opened, followed soon after by Joyce then Hank.

“Elizabeth. . .” Joyce gasped before running over to her eldest daughter and throwing her arms around her.

“Mom breathing becoming an issue here.” Buffy teased.

“Oh!” Joyce said loosening her hold but not letting go of Buffy all the way.

“Buffy?” Dawn asked in disbelief.

“Hey Dawnie.” Buffy whispered.

“Are you real?” Hank asked moving closer towards Buffy and his wife.

“You know you’re the second person to ask me that today.” Buffy said stepping away from her mother into her father’s open arms.

“How?” Dawn asked seeming to be the only one in the family who was actually able to form any thoughts at the moment.

“It’s a long story.” Buffy answered taking a step away from her father.

“Where have you been all this time?” Joyce asked finally getting over her shock.

“London.” Buffy said before moving everyone towards a table by the pool and taking a seat.

“But the explosion, I had the best people in their fields working on your case. The DNA matched, there was no doubt that it was your body in that car.” Hank rambled on.

“The explosion was set. The body that was found in my car was an unknown woman who they planted my DNA from my teeth into hers. They knew that would be the only way to identify the body after the explosion.” Buffy explained.

“They?” Hank asked.

“The men that you hired to fake my death.” Buffy told her father.

“They said they had nothing to do with the explosion, it was before the date we had set.”

“They didn’t want to risk the truth coming out after everything it took to make this look real. They had to make it believable and the only why to do that was to make my death real to everyone who cared about me, or wanted me dead in the first place.”

“Why were you gone for so long?” Dawn asked.

“They had to make sure it was safe for us to return.”

“But Drusilla was locked away before the funeral.” Dawn stated not understanding fully.

“I think maybe I can help answer your questions.” Giles stated as he walked trough the glass doors towards the table and took a seat next to Buffy.

“Mr. Giles I don’t appreciate your deceitfulness in the manor of how you and your people handled this.” Hank stated looking irritated.

“We did what you paid us to do, we just did it our way instead of yours.”

“Daddy how they did things doesn’t matter. What matters is the face that it worked and that I’m safe and home now.”

“Elizabeth is right Hank. Our daughter is alive and safe, that’s all that matters.” Joyce stated.

“Yes, of course.” Hank agreed.

“I’d like my question answered.” Dawn stated looking at Giles. “Why did Buffy have to stay away for so long?”

“We kept Buffy away to make sure that Drusilla wouldn’t be released upon Buffy’s return. Once we knew that the Doctors would be keeping Drusilla locked away in the mental hospital for good no matter what happened in the future we began making arrangements for Buffy’s safe return.” Giles explained.

“So she’s back for good?” Dawn asked.

“Yeah, even have my very own house to live in.” Buffy replied.

“Really?” Dawn asked in shock.

“We gave it to her as a gift for keeping her away for so long.” Giles told everyone.

“So you won’t be staying with us?” Joyce asked with sadness in her voice.

“No, I’m sorry.”

“I can assure you Mrs. Summers that your daughter will be safe at all times.” Giles stated.

“And Giles will be staying in the guest house until we’re settled and things are back to as much of a normal life style as to be expected.” Buffy added.

“Did you say guest house?” Dawn asked.

“Did you say we?” Joyce asked.

“Yes and yes.” Buffy answered looking at Giles with the last yes.

“She can be here in fifteen minutes it you want me to make the call.” Giles told her.

“Who?” Hank asked.

“Do it.” Buffy said not answering her father’s question.

“Who’s he calling?” Dawn asked as Giles pulled out his cell phone and stepped away from the group.

“Molly.” Buffy answered.

“Who’s Molly?” Joyce asked.

“A girl that came back with us from London.” Was all Buffy said.

*****

‘Fifteen Minutes Later’

Maria walked out through the glass doors and walked towards the group. “Ms. Summers there’s a girl here for you.”

“I’ll be right back.” Buffy told her family and Giles as she stood from her seat and walked back into the house after Maria.

“Who’s this Molly person?” Hank asked after Buffy was gone from sight.

“Someone that Buffy trusts to take care of the one thing that matters most to her in the world.” Giles stated.

“What would that be?” Joyce asked.

“Your grandson.” Buffy answered before Giles could say anything as she walked back out of the house with little William in her arms followed by a girl with curly brown hair carrying a baby bag.

“What!?” Joyce asked in shock.

“Mom, Dad, I’d like you both to meet your grandson William.” Buffy said turning little William in her arms to face her grandson for the first time.

“He’s beautiful.” Joyce said as she moved to get a better look at her first grandchild taking him from Buffy’s arms.

“Is he Spike’s?” Hank asked.

“Of course he is.” Buffy stated sounding hurt by his question.

“How old is he?” Dawn asked from the same spot she was sitting when Buffy went inside earlier.

“He’s nine months.” Buffy said noticing the distance that her sister was keeping from everyone else.

“He’s the other reason you stayed away for so lone.” Dawn stated.

“I had to make sure he would be safe.” Buffy said moving closer to her sister.

“Does Spike know?”

“No, you guys are the first people that know about me and my son.”

“They knew before us.” Dawn said motioning towards Giles and Molly.

“Dawnie. . .”

“Don’t call me that.” Dawn yelled.

“Sorry, won’t happen again.” Buffy whispered.

“You can’t come back and expect everything to be alright.” Dawn stated, tears beginning to form in her eyes.

“I know that.” Buffy said taking another step towards her sister.

“You died.” Dawn cried out.

Buffy pulled Dawn into her arms. “It had to be done Dawnie, it was the only way. I’m so sorry I hurt you.”

“I thought I lost you.” Dawn whispered.

“You’ll never lose me, I’ll always be with you.” Buffy told her with tears running down her face now as well.

Joyce and Hank stood looking at their two daughters while Giles moved Molly and himself back inside.

“I’m an aunt?” Dawn asked with a small smile as she pulled away from Buffy after a few more minutes in each other’s embrace.

“Yeah.” Buffy nodded. “Would you like to hold him?”

“Really?”

“Of course, I’m expecting you to do a lot of free babysitting for me.” Buffy joked.

Joyce handed little William to Dawn, who after a few seconds in her arms fell right asleep.

“Can I take her home with me.” Buffy asked with a smile looking at her parents.

Both Joyce and Hank laughed at that.

“He looks just like Spike.” Dawn commented looking down at the sleeping baby in her arms.

“He does.” Buffy said nodding her head in agreement.

“When are you going to see him?” Hank asked.

“Monday.”

“Will you stay the night with us than?” Joyce asked.

“I’d love to.” Buffy said smiling at her family.

*****

TBC. . .

Chapter 81

‘Monday’

“You’re up early.” Giles commented as Buffy took a seat at the table on the backyard with a cup of coffee in her hands.

“Couldn’t sleep.” Buffy said looking out over the swimming pool and taking a sip from her mug.

“That’s understandable. How’s little William?” Giles asked noticing the baby monitor clipped onto the hip of her shorts.

“Sound asleep, he’s not use to being around so many new people at once just yet. I this weekend wore him out.”

Giles nodded his head. “What are your plans for today?”

“Molly’s coming over at eight, so once she gets here I’ll be able to get ready for the long day ahead. Make sure I have on the right outfit, and that my hair and make-up are perfect. No point in looking bad even if he does think I’m dead.”

“Do you want me to come with you?”

“No, I have to do this alone.”

“Alright.”

“There is something you could do for me today though while I’m gone.”

“What?”

“Find out where my friends are for me. They’re my next stop after the high school.”

“It’s already been taken care of.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Most of them are living in your old loft apartment together.”

“Oh.”

“Ms. Chase and her boyfriend share a room. Ms. Jenkins and her boyfriend share a room together. Ms. Rosenberg and Ms. McClain also share a room.”

“Together!?” Buffy asked in shock.

“Yes, I believe so.”

“Wow!” Was all Buffy could come up with to say.

“Your friend from Los Angeles and her boyfriend are living there too.”

“Alyson and Deacon?”

“Yes, Alyson transferred from UCLA to UC Sunnydale the Spring Semester after the explosion.” Giles explained.

“What about Riley and Carter?”

“Riley is living in the dorms, and Carter is still living in the apartment that he shared with Deacon and William before.”

“He’s living there alone?” Buffy asked with a hint of sadness in her voice.

“That’s what I was told.”

“Is it wrong that I feel sorry for him even after everything he did to Spike and me?”

“Not at all.” Giles said placing a hand over Buffy’s. “It’s human nature to forgive people over a period of time.”

“I do forgive him in some ways, he was just being used by Drusilla. I don’t know if I can every truly trust him after everything he’s done though. I feel that he should know the truth about me though; even if that’s the only time I ever talk to him again. Does that make any since?” Buffy questioned.

“Of course. Is there anything else you’d like me to do for you today?” Giles replied.

“Nope. Take the day off, you deserve one after all these months.” Buffy said standing up.

“A day off?” Giles asked standing up as well.

Buffy nodded her head and smiled at Giles. “Yes, a day off.”

“I don’t think I’ve had a day off since college.”

“Than you are way over do for one now.” Buffy laughed. “Take a day off, see what little this town has to offer. Maybe you can find a few books to enjoy reading by the pool while you’re here.”

“Maybe I will.” Giles said with a smile of his own.

The same time that the doorbell rang little William decided to wake up from his slumber.

“I’ll get the door, you go check on your son.” Giles said following Buffy into her house.

“Thanks.” Buffy said before running up the stairs towards the nursery.

*****

‘Two Hours Later’

“How’s this?” Buffy asked both Molly and Giles for what seemed like the hundredth time that morning.

“That’s the one.” Molly said looking over Buffy’s outfit.

Buffy had decided to wear her hair down in soft curls. Her make-up was done in natural hues with a sheer gloss covering her lips. She had on a pair of black low-rise dress pants with a pair of black pointy high-heeled boots. On her upper half she was wearing a simple white tank top, and to top it all off she had a tailored denim jacket.

“Are you sure?” Buffy asked over her shoulder as she looked in a mirror and put in a pair of chandelier earrings.

“Buffy you look perfect.” Giles stated before giving her a small hug and handing her the keys to the SUV. “I don’t really think he’ll care that much about what you’re wearing anyways.”

“You’re right, I’m being silly about all of this.”

“If you need me I’m only a phone call away.” Giles told her.

Buffy smiled a thank you at him before walking over and taking her son from Molly’s arms.

“Wish me luck.” She whispered to him before giving him a kiss on the forehead. “Mommy loves you and she’ll see you later.” She said then handed him back to Molly.

Giles walked Buffy out to the SUV and opened the driver’s side door for her.

“Remember what we talked about.”

Buffy nodded her head. “I will.”

“You’ll be fine.” Giles whispered.

“What if I see her?” Buffy asked.

“She does work there, and you’re going to have to meet her sooner or later. Right now though just think about William.” Giles told her.

“Okay.”

“I’ll see you later.” Giles said closing the door for her.

“Bye.” Buffy said moving the SUV out of the driveway.

“Be careful.” Giles called out.

“Always.”

*****

‘Sunnydale High School’

After parking the SUV in the visitors parking lot and checking her hair and make-up one last time she made her way into the building and to the front office.

“Can I help you?” An older woman asked from behind a desk as Buffy walked in.

“Um yes, could you tell me where I can find a Mr. Winthrop?” Buffy asked.

“Mr. Winthrop is in room two-o-three on the second floor.”

“Thank you.”

“You have great timing Dear, he’s just started his prep period.”

“Wonderful.”

“Do you need any help finding your way?” The woman asked.

“No I think I can find my way.”

“Alright. Feel free to stop by if you have anymore questions.”

“I’ll do that. Thank you again.” Buffy said before walking out of the office and making her way towards the second floor.

*****

Buffy stopped just outside of Spike’s classroom. The door was slightly open and Buffy could hear Spike’s voice coming through the opening, she could also hear the laughter coming from a female inside the room with him.

‘Oh god! She’s in there with him.’ Buffy thought as her mind began to race. Carefully stepping away from the door she pulled out her cell phone dialing Giles number as she moved further down the hallway so she wouldn’t be heard.

“Giles it’s me.” Buffy said once he picked up the other end.

“. . .”

“No, nothings wrong.”

“. . .”

“I’m at the high school.”

“. . .”

“Yes I know what room he’s in.”

“. . .”

“I’m a few feet away from his classroom.”

“. . .”

“I can’t.”

“. . .”

“She’s in there with him.”

“. . .”

“I heard him talking and then I heard her laughing.”

“. . .”

“I shouldn’t have come back.”

“. . .”

“Yes I remember this weekend.”

“. . .”

“He’s happy.” Buffy whispered.

“. . .”

“I don’t want to hurt him anymore than I already have.”

“. . .”

“No, you don’t need to come here.”

“. . .”

“Yes I’m sure. I can do this, I just needed to vent for a moment.”

“. . .”

“I will.”

“. . .”

“See you later.”

“. . .”

“Bye Giles.” Buffy said before hanging up her cell phone and putting it back in her purse. Taking a deep breath she made her way back towards Spike’s classroom.

*****

KNOCK-KNOCK

“Come in.” Spike called out in between laughs.

“I hope I’m not interrupting anything.” Buffy said as she walked through the classroom door, her jealousy getting the better of her once she saw how close the couple were standing when she pushed the door open a bit more before finally knocking on it.

“Not at all.” Mackenzie said before looking up a Spike whose eyes were locked with the girl who’d just walked in. “Will?”

Spike took a deep breath when Buffy moved closer to the front of the room where he was standing with Mackenzie.

“William?” Mackenzie asked again still getting no answer from him.

“You’ll have to excuse him, he’s just seen a ghost.” Buffy said still keeping her eyes locked with Spike as she came to a stop in front of the couple.

“What!?” Mackenzie asked.

“Spike. . .” Buffy said in a low voice.

“Who are you?” Mackenzie asked not liking the feeling she was getting from both the blondes in the room.

“Buffy. . .” Spike finally whispered.

Pain washed over Mackenzie’s face after hearing the name Spike had just whispered with so much emotion. “You can’t be.” Mackenzie whispered in disbelief.

“And yet I am.” Buffy said looking over at the other woman. Seeing the pain in Mackenzie’s eyes Buffy couldn’t help but feel for her. She really didn’t understand why she was being so mean to the brunette. She didn’t even know the woman; all she knew was that this person held a piece of Spike and that was enough to make Buffy act the way she was acting.

“I’ll just leave you two alone.” Mackenzie whispered looking up at Spike one last time before leaving the room with tears running down her face.

Buffy waited a few moments before she turned her attention back to Spike. The moments they locked eyes again Spike reached out and pulled her in for a passionate kiss. After a few moments Spike ended the kiss and took a step away causing Buffy to look up at him with confusion in her eyes.

“Spike. . .” Buffy whispered holding a hand up to her lips.

“How?”

“It was all staged.”

“I saw the explosion. I tired to get to you, to save you.” Spike stated.

“It wasn’t me. I was in a car across the street when they set the explosion off.”

“I was helpless.” Spike whispered lowering his head.

“I saw.”

Spike’s head shot back up.

“I saw everything.” She told him. “I saw you run out. I saw you start to go towards the car. I saw Xander and Angel holding you back. I saw it all.” Buffy whispered.

“And you just sat there? You let me think I had lost you?” Spike yelled.

“I had to. It had to be believable, no one could know I wasn’t really in that car when it exploded.”

“What about after? You could have let me know then.” Spike stated.

“I couldn’t. The wrong person could have found out.”

“How? I wouldn’t have told anyone.” Spike argued.

“I know that. They didn’t want to take the risk.” Buffy explained.

“Who’s they?” Spike asked.

“The people my father hired to do the job in the first place.” Buffy answered.

“Your father said it wasn’t them. It was done to soon.”

“They did it without telling him.” Buffy explained.

“He had people brought in to find out about the explosion. They had your DNA.”

“It was all set. The day, the time, the body used. It was all set.” Buffy repeated.

“Where have you been all this time?” Spike asked.

“London.” Buffy replied.

“Why were you gone for so long?”

“They had to make sure it was safe.”

“Drusilla was locked away before your funeral.”

“I know.”

“You were there too?”

“Yes.”

“Was it fun?”

“What!?”

“Did you enjoy watching your family falling apart as they lowered the casket?” Spike yelled.

“Spike. . .” Buffy whispered.

“Did you enjoy watching my heart being ripped out as they started to fill in the grave?” Spike yelled again.

“Of course not.” Buffy said trying to defend herself.

Spike ignored her. “Do you enjoy this now? Do you enjoy destroying the happiness I’ve finally been trying to find again? Do you enjoy hurting an innocent woman who’s only fault is fallin’ for someone who can never giver her what she fully deserves but still wants to be with me anyway?”

“No.” Buffy said unbelieving to what was coming out of Spike’s mouth.

“Why’d you come back now? Were you just waiting for the right time to destroy my world again?”

“I came back because it was finally safe for us to come back.” Buffy yelled.

“You couldn’t have let me know three or four months ago?” Spike asked. “You couldn’t have let me know you were still alive and in London?”

“No, and I didn’t come here to destroy anything. I just came home.” Buffy cried out.

“Who else knows?”

“My parents and Dawn. I’m going to the loft apartment tonight.” Buffy told him.

“And what about Carter?” Spike asked with venom in his voice as he said Carter’s name.

“I plan on stopping by to see him later this week.”

“I’m sure he’ll be happy.”

“Are you?” Buffy asked.

“That you’re alive?”

“Yes.”

“Yes, I’m glad you’re alive.”

“Are you happy that I’m back?” Buffy asked.

“For your family and friends, yeah.”

“What about for you?”

“Not sure.” Spike said breaking eye contact with her so she couldn’t see his lie.

“Spike. . .” Buffy said taking a step towards him.

“If you’ll excuse me I’ve got to go find Mackenzie and make sure she’s alright.” Spike said leaving the classroom before Buffy could say anything else.

Buffy watched him leave before she fell to the floor in tears.

*****

Outside in the empty hallway Spike fell to the ground in his knees as his own tears ran free.

*****

TBC. . .

Chapter 82

Buffy had spent the past few hours driving around the small town. The things Spike had said still rang in her head. Her family had been so happy to have her back in their lives. She knew that not everyone would react the same way that her mother, father, and sister had, but she never expected things to go the way they had in that classroom.

‘He doesn’t even know about his son yet.’ Buffy thought as she came to a traffic light.

She had called Giles on her cell phone after she managed to pull herself together after Spike walked out on her to go find Mackenzie. Giles had asked her how everything when; Buffy just told him that Spike was going to need a little bit more time to think things through and that she’d try and talk with him again later in the week.

Giles told her to leave a note in Spike’s desk with her phone number and a message telling him to call when her was ready to talk.

After finishing the note she folded it in half and wrote his full name on the side that was facing up and placed it in the middle of his desk so he wouldn’t miss it when he came back.

After that Giles asked what she was planning on doing. Buffy told him that she needed a few hours to herself to think before heading to the loft apartment later.

Now Buffy pulled the SUV into a familiar parking lot and turned the engine off.

“Okay, you can do this.” Buffy sighed before stepping out of the drivers side door and heading into the building.

*****

“I don’t care what you think!” Could be heard from outside as Buffy stopped in front of the door before knocking.

“WHAT!!” The same person who was yelling before screamed when they opened the door.

“Is this a bad time?” Buffy asked with a shy smile.

“Oh my God!” The person gasped before falling to the floor unconscious.

“What id going on?” Another person asked followed by even more people as they walked towards the front door.

Everyone froze in their spots when they saw the petite blonde leaning over their unconscious roommate.

“Can one of you help me move her into the living room or someplace less front door like?” Buffy asked standing back up to look at them all.

Everyone still stood frozen in his or her spots staring at Buffy.

“Guys! Freak later, help now.” Buffy said moving to drag Alyson back a bit so she could close the door to the apartment.

“I’ve got her.” Angel said moving from his spot and picked Alyson up before carrying her into the living room and placing her on one of the couches.

“I love what you’ve done with the place.” Buffy said looking around at all the different colored walls.

“We were trying to decide what color we wanted the walls in this place to be.” Anya answered as she walked back into the living room with Xander, Cordelia, Willow, and Tara close behind.

“Oh, so that’s what all the yelling was about that I heard from the hallway before.” Buffy commented.

“Not that I’m not enjoying the conversation and all Buff, but aren’t you dead?” Xander asked.

“Do I look dead?” Buffy asked back placing her hands on her hips.

“No, as a matter of fact you look really, really. . .Ow!” Xander whined holding his arm where Anya had just hit him. “What was that for?”

“You were checking out the dead girl!” Anya yelled.

“I was not.” Xander defended.

“I’m not dead.” Buffy stated.

“Yeah, how is that exactly?” Willow asked.

“Maybe we should wait for Alyson to come to before we start with all the questions.” Tara told everyone.

“Deacon is suppose to be back soon too.” Cordelia added.

“Where is he?” Buffy asked.

“Band practice with Spike and Oz.” Xander answered.

“I have a feeling Spike wasn’t there today.” Buffy stated.

“You saw Spike?” Cordelia asked.

“Yeah.”

“When?” Angel asked.

“Earlier today at the high school.” Buffy told them.

“I take it that it didn’t go so well.” Cordelia commented looking at Buffy.

Buffy shook her head. “No, not really.”

A moan from the couch was heard stopping all questions for the time being.

“How are you feeling?” Willow asked moving to Alyson’s side.

“My head hurts.” Alyson replied.

“You probably hit it when you fainted.”

“I fainted?” Alyson asked.

“Yeah. Can you tell me the last thing you remember?” Willow asked.

“Um. . .I was yelling about the walls, then there was a knock at the door, I went over and answered it. Now I’m on the couch.” Alyson said as she went through what had happened before she woke up in the living room.

“Do you remember who was on the other side of the door when you opened it?”

Alyson thought for a few more moments before her eyes grew wide. “Buffy. . .”

The roommates moved out of the way to Alyson could see who else was in the room with them.

“Buffy?” Alyson asked as she slowly stood from the couch.

“Hey. . .” Buffy said with a small smile.

“You’re alive!” Alyson cried out before moving across the room and pulling Buffy into a tight hug. “I can’t believe it. You’re alive! I’m so sorry about what I said before. I’m so glad you’re back.” Alyson rambled on still holding Buffy.

“I’m sorry too.” Buffy said before taking a step back.

“But how? Where have you been? What happened? Why were you gone for so long if you were really alive?” Alyson asked question after question.

“I promise I’ll answer as many of your questions as I can, but I’d like to wait for Deacon to get here too.” Buffy stated.

“Did I hear my name?” Deacon asked as he walked into the living room followed by Oz. “Hey guys, Buffy.” Deacon said with a nod before giving Alyson a kiss on the cheek.

Everyone except Buffy and Oz looked at Deacon in complete shock. Buffy because she figured Spike had already told Deacon about her back. And Oz because that was just the type of guy he was.

“Are you crazy?” Alyson yelled.

“What!?” Deacon asked not sure what he was being yelled at for.

“You just walked in and said ‘Hi’ to a person we all thought was dead up until a few minutes ago.” Alyson clarified.

“I knew she wasn’t dead.”

“You what!?” Everyone except Buffy and Oz screamed.

“Yeah, Spike called my cell a few minutes ago while Oz and I were drivin’ here.” Deacon told the group. “Said he was sorry he couldn’t make practice but he had to check on Mackenzie. When I asked him what was up he just said the Buffy was alive and back.”

“You talked to Spike?” Buffy asked not caring about the other stuff at the moment.

Deacon nodded his head. “Yeah.”

“How’d he sound?”

“Like it was the best and worst day of he’s life rolled into one.”

Buffy looked downing trying to hold back her tears.

“Are you sure you talked to Spike?” Anya asked. “I mean the worst day of his life was the day of the explosion. He can’t have two worst days.”

“Ahn, Deacon was just trying to put into words how her thought Spike was feeling.” Xander told her.

“Well he should have picked a better way to say it than.” Anya replied.

“Ahn, that’s not really the point right now.”

“Sure it is.”

“I’ve got an idea. Why don’t we let Buffy here tell us what’s been going on this past year and a half.” Willow said before Anya and Xander could start their own version of what World War Three would be like.

“That’s a good idea.” Alyson said. “Why don’t we all take a seat so Buffy can tell us everything we want to know.

“Okay.” “Sure.” “Fine.” “Yeah.” “Alright.” Could all be hear at the same time as everyone took a seat.

“What do you want to know first?” Buffy asked.

“What happened with the car explosion?” Alyson asked first.

“It was all a set up. When I left the apartment that day I walked across the street and got into a black towncar that was waiting for me. Once I was in they set off the explosion.” Buffy explained.

“You were only a few yards away when it happened?” Cordelia asked.

“Yeah.”

“So you saw it all?” Angel asked.

“Up until the police started to show up.”

“And the funeral?” Willow asked.

“I was there for part of it.” Buffy told them.

“Where’d you go after that?” Xander asked.

“London.”

“You’ve been there this whole time?” Anya questioned.

“Yes.”

“With someone, or all alone?” Deacon asked.

“I had someone with me.” Buffy answered.

“Who?” Cordelia asked.

“Rupert Giles. He’s one of the men my father hired to fake my death in the first place.”

“But you father told us it wasn’t them.” Alyson stated.

“Giles didn’t tell him. He wanted it to be believable, and the only way to do that was to make it real for everyone else.”

“Why where you gone for so long?” Tara asked.

“They wanted to make sure it was safe before I was allowed to come back.” Buffy answered.

“Drusilla was put in jail before the funeral thought.” Alyson stated.

“There were other things that kept me away. They would have let her out of I had shown up alive so soon after arresting her. We had to make sure that she stayed locked away no matter what.” Buffy explained.

“What now?” Cordelia asked.

“I’m not sure. I don’t expect anything from any of you. I know this isn’t what anyone thought would happened today when you first woke up this morning. I just thought you all should know the truth now that I can tell it.” Buffy stated learning her lesson earlier from what had happened with Spike. “I’ll leave my phone number here in case anyone wants to use it.” She said pulling a card out of her purse and placing it on top of the coffee table.

“Where are you staying?” Willow asked.

“I have a house on the other side of town about fifteen minutes from my parents place.”

“So you’re staying in town?” Tara asked.

“Yeah.” Buffy said nodding her head.

“Who else knows?” Angel asked.

“Dawn and my parents, all of you, and Spike and his girlfriend. I plan on talking to Riley and Carter later this week.”

“Carter!?” Cordelia yelled.

“It’s just to let him know I’m alive.”

“Who cares it he knows or not. He’s part of the reason this happened in the first place.”

“I haven’t forgotten that, I just thought he should know.”

“I could tell him for you.” Deacon said.

“Thank you for the offer, but I have a few things I need to say to him face to face.”

“If you change your mind let me know.”

“I will, thank you.” Buffy told him. “It’s getting late, I should probably go.”

One by one everyone gave Buffy a hug and told her they were glad she was back. Alyson and Cordelia were the only ones to walk her to the front door.

“You’re still hiding something.” Cordelia stated so that only Buffy could hear.

“I am, but I can’t tell you yet.” Buffy whispered back.

“I’ll call you later this week.” Alyson said giving Buffy another hug before leaving her and Cordelia alone to talk.

“I’d like to meet him.” Cordelia stated.

“Who?” Buffy asked pretending not to know what she was talking about.

“The person you’re hiding.”

“I’m not hiding him.”

“I won’t tell anyone until you’re ready.” Cordelia told her.

“I’m not the one who needs to be ready, Spike is.” Buffy said with a sad smile.

“What’s his name?” Cordelia asked.

“William.”

“After his father?”

“Yeah.”

“Here.” Cordelia said handing Buffy a folded piece of paper.

“What’s this?” Buffy asked.

“His new address.”

Buffy looked up at Cordelia with wide eyes.

“Like I said, I’d like to meet him.”

“I’ll see what I can do about that.”

“I’ll see you later.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

“Thank you.”

Buffy and Cordelia hugged for a moment before Buffy left the apartment to go find Spike and try talking to him again.

*****

‘Meanwhile Across Town’

“Mackenzie? Are you here?” Spike asked closing the door to her home behind him. “Mackenzie?” Spike asked again looking around the first floor. “Mackenzie please tell me where you are.” Spike called making his way up the stairs. When he walked into her bedroom he found her sleeping in a chair in the corner of the room by a window with a photo album resting in her lap.

“Mackenzie. . .”Spike said in a low voice not wanting to startle her.

“Mmmm. . .”

“Mackenzie.” Spike tried again lightly shacking her shoulder.

Mackenzie slowly opened her eyes. “Hey.” She whispered.

“Hey.” Spike whispered back noticing her red and puffy eyes. “How are you doing?”

“The question should be how are you doing?” Mackenzie asked.

“Not sure, been a crazy day.” Spike replied.

“But a good one.”

“Good?” Spike asked.

“For you anyways.” Mackenzie said looking down for a moment.

“Not really.” Spike said taking a seat on the footstool in front of her chair.

“The only woman you’ve ever truly loved is back from the dead. What’s not good about that?” Mackenzie asked.

“It’s complicated.” Spike stated.

“Only cause you make it that way.”

“Not just me.” Spike stated.

“You’re mad that she lied to you for all these months?”

“Yes, but I understand why they didn’t want to risk anyone knowing.” Spike replied.

“But you’re still mad.” Mackenzie commented.

“More hurt than mad.”

“Don’t let your feelings stop you from having what you really want.” Mackenzie stated.

“I don’t want to hurt you.” Spike whispered.

“You’re not. We’re both in love with someone else, the only difference is that the person you’re in love with came back.” Mackenzie told him.

“She’s still hiding something.”

“Did you really give her the chance to tell you much of anything?” Mackenzie asked.

“No.” Spike mumbled.

“Than maybe you should.” Mackenzie said leaning forward and giving him a light kiss on the cheek before moving to stand up.

Spike reached out and hand to stop her from standing.

“What?” Mackenzie asked.

“What were you looking at?” Spike asked pointing to the now closed photo album.

“Just some pictures.”

“Can I see?”

“Sure.” Mackenzie said opening the photo album back up.

“You looked beautiful.” Spike said looking down at a picture of Mackenzie in her wedding dress.

“Thank you.”

Mackenzie smiled at the picture a few pages after some of her favorite wedding photos. “It was our first Christmas together as newlyweds.” Mackenzie told Spike as they looked at a picture of a Christmas tree with presents overflowing around the base.

“It was never like this with Dru and me, even before we moved to the states.” Spike commented.

“The two of you just weren’t meant to be.”

“I know that now.”

“You could have that with Buffy.”

“Maybe.”

“Do you still love her?” Mackenzie asked even thought she knew that answer.

Spike looked up at Mackenzie.

“You can say yes, I know you do.”

“Yes.” Spike stated.

“Than you can have this,” Mackenzie said pointing to the Christmas photo. “And mane more after that.”

“You’re amazing.”

“I know. Some say it’s a gift, other say it’s a curse.”

“I hope we can still be friends.” Spike said.

“I’d like that, but I think we should give it a few months.” Mackenzie replied.

“You’ll find someone who really deserves you.”

“I already did.” She said looking at a picture of her husband.

“I should go.” Spike said standing up.

“Yes you should, you’ve got a lot of things to figure out.” Mackenzie said as Spike helped her stand up as well. “I’ll walk you out.”

“Thank you for being here for me. You helped me when no one else could.” Spike said pulling her into a hug.

“We helped each other.” Mackenzie said giving him a light kiss on the lips before opening the front door.

“I’ll see you in school.”

“Bye.”

“Bye.” Spike said before getting into his car and heading home.

*****

TBC. . .

Next