Chapter 83
‘A Few Minutes Later’
Spike pulled into the driveway of his home and saw a small figure sitting on his
front porch. Slowly he got out of his car and made his way up the footpath. He
stopped just a few feet away from the person. “What are you doing here?”
“I thought we could try that talking thing again.” Buffy said standing up from
the top step of the porch.
“How’d you know where to fine me?”
“Cordelia gave me the address.”
“So you talked with your mates?”
“Yeah.” Buffy said with a small smile.
“How’d that go?” Spike asked.
“Better than my talk with you. Did you talk to Mackenzie?”
“That’s none of your business.” Spike said with a bit of a tone in his voice.
“Sorry.” Buffy whispered.
“Yes I talked to her.” Spike said in a softer tone than before.
“Oh.” Was all Buffy could think of to say.
“Why don’t we finish this inside.” Spike said pulling out his house key opening
the door.
“It’s nice.” Buffy said as she walked past him into the house.
“It serves it purpose.” Spike said closing the door before flipping in the
living room lights. “Would you like something to drink?”
“Water would be good.” Buffy said before taking a seat on the couch.
“I’ll be right back.” Spike said than headed towards the kitchen.
While Spike was gone Buffy took the opportunity to stand up and look around the
rather large room. Everything in the living room was pretty bland. ‘Nothing like
the real Spike.’ The walls were a plain white with nothing hanging on them
except a old looking clock. The furniture was all black, from the leather couch
and chairs down to the shelves hanging on the walls along with the entertainment
unit, even the mantle over the fireplace was black.
“Does the whole house look like this?” Buffy asked when she felt Spike enter the
room again.
“Pretty much.” Spike said placing her glass oh water on the black coffee table.
“Would you like the grand tour?”
“Do any of the other rooms have another color scheme going for them?” Buffy
asked turning to look at Spike.
“My bedrooms a nice dark red with black furniture.” Spike stated.
“I think that tour should wait until after we’ve talked everything out than.”
Buffy said walking back over to the couch and taking a seat.
“In that case, lets talk.” Spike said taking a seat in a chair across from
Buffy.
“Good. . .” Buffy started.
Ring-Ring
“Sorry.” Buffy said pulling out her cell phone and checking the caller id. “I
need to take this.”
“Go ahead.” Spike said leaning back in his chair.
“Hello.” Buffy answered.
“. . .”
“I’m at Spike’s.”
“. . .”
“No he didn’t call me.”
“. . .”
“Cordelia gave me his address when I saw her.”
“. . .”
“I know what I said earlier.”
“. . .”
“This isn’t something that could wait forever.”
“. . .”
“This has to be worked out now.”
“. . .”
“I’ll tell him when I want to.”
“. . .”
“I know how he’ll react.”
“. . .”
“It won’t be like earlier.”
“. . .”
“I’m not going to get hurt.”
“. . .”
“Is Molly still there?”
“. . .”
“Will you tell her I might be later getting home than I thought.”
“. . .”
“Thank you.”
“. . .”
“I’m not letting my feelings get in the way of my better judgment.”
“. . .”
“Giles please. Now’s as good as time as any, even better actually because it’s
sooner rather than latter on down the road.’
“. . .”
“I understand you’re worried, but that’s not your job anymore.”
“. . .”
“I’ll talk to you when I get home.”
“. . .”
“I promise.”
“. . .”
“Bye.”
“. . .”
“I know.”
“. . .”
“Giles I really need to go, Spike’s sitting right across from me and I’m being
very rude to him by talking to you on my cell.”
“. . .”
“Goodbye Giles.” Buffy said, hanging up her phone before he could say anything
else. “I’m really sorry about that.”
Spike nodded his head. “Who’s Giles?” He asked.
“Rupert Giles is the head guy that my father hired.”
“So that’s the guy who’s responsible for the past year-n-half?” Spike
questioned.
“You could say that.” Buffy answered unsure of where Spike was going with his
line of questioning.
“He’s been with you this whole time?”
“For the most part.”
“He got to see you everyday?”
“Yeah. . .”
“Got to hear you laugh at something you thought was funny, and be there for you
when you were sad?”
“In a total father type figure to have around to make sure I was okay and safe.”
Buffy stated not wanting Spike to have the wrong idea about Giles.
“Did you live with him in London?”
“We lived in the said building, I had my very own flat/apartment thing.”
“Do you live with him now?” Spike asked.
“No, yes, not really. He’s staying with me yes, but not in my house. He’s
staying in the guesthouse for a while. He’ll be going back to England after I’ve
settled in to being back in Sunnydale again.” Buffy explained.
“You have a guest house?” Spike asked in shock. “How do you have a guest house?”
“Giles used the money my father gave him to fake my death and look after me
until I was safe again to buy me a house in Sunnydale. The house just happens to
have a guesthouse, or actually it’s a pool house but I’m using it as a guest
house for Giles so he can have a bit more privacy than actually living in the
house with me while he’s staying in the States.”
“Who’s Molly?” Spike asked.
“Molly?” Buffy repeated with slightly widen eyes.
“Yes Molly. You said that name while you were talking on your cell with Rupert.”
“Oh that Molly.”
“How many Molly’s you know Pet?” Spike asked.
‘He called me Pet. I missed that so much.’ Buffy thought to herself while trying
to figure out what she was going to say. “It’s not important who Molly is right
now.”
“Must be if you wanted Rupert to tell her you were going to be late. She live
with you?”
Buffy shook her head. “No, she’s staying with some family she has in town.”
“She from London too?”
“Yeah.” Buffy answered.
“And she came back with you and Rupert?”
“Yeah.” Buffy repeated.
“She a friend you made while you were gone?”
“Kinda.”
“What’s she do?” Spike asked.
“She helps take care of things when I can’t be at home.”
“What type of things?” Spike asked trying to figure out what Buffy was hiding.
“We can talk about that later. We’ve got other things to get through first.”
Buffy replied.
“Alright.”
“Good. Now where do you want to start?” Buffy asked.
“How ‘bout the beginning? Good of place as any.” Spike stated.
“Fine. It all started the night I went to a club with a friend.” Buffy said with
a smile.
“Funny Luv, real funny.”
“You told me to start from the beginning.”
“You know what I meant.”
“Fine, but you’re missin’ out on some great sex stories.”
“I was there Luv, I remember.”
“Okay, we’ll start with the first time I met Giles and go from there.”
~~~~~
“Buffy Summers?” A voice asked as Buffy walked out of one of her classes.
“Yes?” Buffy asked turning around to face the person the voice belonged to.
“My name is Rupert Giles, I was hoping to have a word with you.”
“Are you a professor here?” Buffy asked.
“No, I work for your father.”
“Oh. . .Oh!” Buffy’s eyes widened when she realized who he was.
“I was hoping we could talk in a more private place a about a few things.”
“None of my roommates are home right now, we could talk at my apartment.”
“Very well. I’ll meet you there.” Giles said getting ready to walk away.
“Do you know how to get there?” Buffy asked.
“Of course, we’ve been watching you since your father called.” Giles told her.
“Oh, okay. I’ll see you there.” Buffy said before both of them left to go to
their cars.
*****
Buffy got to her apartment a few minutes before Giles and made sure that
everyone was really out of the place.
Knock-Knock
Buffy made her way back to the front door and opened it, stepping aside so Giles
could walk in. “Everyone should be out for at least an hour or so.” Buffy told
him.
“What I have to say shouldn’t take long.” Giles stated.
“Can I get you anything to drink?” Buffy asked as they moved into the living
room.
“No thank you.” Giles said taking a seat on one of the couches.
“Alright.” Buffy said taking a seat across from him. “What did you want to talk
about?”
“Your death.” Giles stated.
“What about my death? I don’t plan on having my death for about another sixty to
seventy years.”
“I meant the one your father hired us to fake.”
“Oh, right. That death. What about it?”
“It’s been moved up.”
“How moved up?”
“It’s in two days.”
“Two Days!” Buffy yelled.
“There’s more.”
“What?” Buffy asked.
“No one can know about it.”
“But my father paid you so he’ll know, and my friends know what’s been planned.”
“They won’t know, and your father doesn’t know that we’ve moved the date up.”
“But. . .You can’t do this. They’ll all think I’m actually dead.”
“That’s the point.”
“I don’t think you understand what I’m saying. My family and friends will think
I’m really dead.” Buffy stated.
“That’s the way it has to be. It has to be believable it the plans going to
work, and the only way to do that is to make it real for everyone else.”
“When will they learn the truth?” Buffy asked in a low voice.
“When it’s safe for you to return.”
“Where will I be going?”
“I’d rather keep that part to myself for the time being.” Giles replied.
“I can’t tell anyone? Not even Spike?” Buffy asked.
“No, I’m sorry.”
“When will it happen?”
“You’ll get a phone call on the day telling you what to do.” Giles explained.
“I can’t tell anyone?” Buffy asked again.
“It’s for the best that the number of people who know the truth are kept to a
minimum.” Giles told her.
“I understand.” Buffy whispered.
“I should be going now, I’ll see you in a few days Ms. Summers. I suggest that
you use your time wisely.” Giles said before getting up and walking out of the
loft apartment leaving Buffy sitting alone in the living room.
~~~~~
“That’s why you were so quiet when I stopped by that night?” Spike asked.
“Yeah.” Buffy answered.
“What happened after the explosion?” Spike asked.
“Giles took me to a safe house a few miles outside of town while they finished
things up before we could leave. They made sure Drusilla was found guilty for my
death, and made sure any test that my father wanted done would all come up with
the same result.” Buffy explained.
“And the day of your funeral?”
“It was the day I was leaving town. I wanted to see everyone one last time, even
if it was from a distance.” Buffy told him.
“A part of me died that day.” Spike whispered.
“I’m sorry, I never wanted to hurt you or anyone else that way.”
“What did you do in London?”
“Giles got me a job in an art museum close to what I was living.”
“Was that safe?”
“I changed my hair color to a dark brown so my look didn’t scream California
girl quite so much, and Giles was with me everywhere I went for the first seven
months.” Buffy explained.
“So that was your life for the past year-n-half?”
“Pretty much.” Buffy said, thinking about little William for a moment. “There is
one more thing, but it’s something you have to see first hand.”
“What is it?” Spike asked.
“Would you feel alright coming home with me?” Buffy asked.
“I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”
“It’s just to show you what I’m talking about, nothing else.” Buffy told him.
“It’s really late and I have to work tomorrow, maybe I could stop by after
school.” Spike said.
“That would be good.” Buffy said pulling a small card out of her purse and wrote
a few things down on it before handing it to Spike. “It’s my address and phone
number, give me a call when you’re done with your classes.”
“Alright.”
Buffy and Spike both stood up and walked towards his front door.
“I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow.” Spike agreed as he opened the door.
“Thank you for letting me talk and explain things.” Buffy said.
“I’m glad you’re able to be here to explain things.” Spike said before pulling
her into a hug.
Buffy placed a small kiss on his cheek before pulling away. “Bye.”
“Night Luv.”
*****
TBC. . .
“Buffy are you sure about this?” Giles asked from the doorway of the nursery.
“Yes, I can’t put this off forever. Spike needs to know the truth, he already knows I’m keeping something from him.”
“How?”
“Because he knows me, and so does Cordelia.”
“What does she have to do with this?”
“She knows about William, and the fact that he’s Spike’s.” Buffy explained as she finished changing her son’s outfit.
Little William was now dressed in a white short-sleeved baby t-shirt with a pair of denim over-alls and white baby Nike’s on his feet.
“I thought you were going to wait before telling others about your son.” Giles commented.
“I did, and I didn’t tell her.” Buffy replied.
“Then how did she find out?” Giles asked.
“Because she was one of my best friends and she knows me.” Buffy answered smiling down at her son on the changing table.
“I just don’t want to see you get hurt if this doesn’t go as well as you hoped.” Giles said walking into the room and stopping to stand next to Buffy as she reached down to pick up Little William.
“I love that you care the way that you do, but if I’m going to get hurt by this when I tell him really doesn’t matter. But by telling him now at least it will give me more time to try and work things out.”
A ringing phone cut Giles off before he could say anything else.
“That’s him.” Buffy gasped looking down at the ring phone.
“Are you going to answer it, or do you want me to?” Giles asked.
“I can do it.” Buffy said taking a deep breath. “Hello?”
“. . .”
“Are you done with your classes?”
“. . .”
“Okay. Do you know how to get here, or do you want me to pick you up?”
“. . .”
“Alright. I’ll see you soon.”
“. . .”
“Bye.” Buffy said hanging up the phone. “He’s on his way.”
“How do you want to do this?” Giles asked.
“I thought I’d have Molly stay up here with William until I’m ready for Spike to meet his son.” Buffy said looking around to make sure everything looked all right.
“And me?” Giles asked following Buffy around her home as she walked from room to room with her son resting in her arms.
“I think he should meet you first before he knows about William. That way the only thing Spike has to think about is that he has a son.” Buffy stated.
“Alright.”
“Molly?” Buffy called out as they made it into the living room.
“I’ll be right there.” Molly called back from another room on the first floor.
“How long until he gets here?” Giles asked.
“In about five minutes.” Buffy told him making sure all the baby toys had been cleared out of sight.
“If you plan on giving a tour I’d stay away from the basement until after he knows about the little guy.” Molly said walking into the living room.
Buffy nodded her head. “No basement, got it.”
“Molly should probably get upstairs with Little William.” Giles stated.
“That’s a good idea.” Buffy said before giving her son one last kiss before handing him over to Molly to take care of. “This is probably a bad mother moment, but if you could try to keep him awake until Spike sees him.”
“Sure.” Molly said before heading up to the nursery with William in her arms.
The minute Buffy heard the door upstairs close she also heard the sound of a car pulling into the driveway.
“He’s here.” Buffy said checking her hair and make-up.
“Try and stay relaxed Buffy.”
“Okay. How do I look?” Buffy asked before checking herself in the mirror again.
“You look prefect, like always.” Giles told her.
Buffy smiled. “Good answer.
KNOCK-KNOCK
“Oh God!”
“Breath.”
“I can do this. I can do this.” Buffy repeated over and over as she went to answer the door. “I can do. . .Spike.” Buffy greeted.
“Buffy.” Spike said with a small nod.
Buffy stepped to the side so he could enter. “Come in.”
“Nice house.” Spike commented as he walked in.
“Thanks.” Buffy said closing the front door before turning to face Spike who was staring at Giles. “Spike this is Rupert Giles. Giles this is William Winthrop.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you Mr. Winthrop. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“I’m not sure about the pleasure part Mr. Giles, but I’ve heard a lot about you as well. And call me Spike.”
Buffy cringed at Spike’s tone.
“Yes well, Spike. Feel free to call me Rupert or Giles as most who know me do.” Giles said letting everyone in the room know that Spike wasn’t getting to him.
“How ‘bout we take this into the living room.” Buffy said motioning towards said room. “Unless of course you tow want to continue this pissing contest right here in the foyer. Myself, I’d like to go have a seat a talk things out like normal adults.”
Both men grumbled a few things before walking past her and into the living room.
After what seemed like hours Giles had explained everything to Spike that Buffy hadn’t mentioned yet, with the exception of the child upstairs.
“Why couldn’t I have known?” Spike asked.
“We’ve already been over this. I couldn’t risk Buffy’s safety that way.”
“I wouldn’t have told anyone.” Spike yelled.
“Spike please.” Buffy said in a clam voice placing a hand on Spike’s arm. “Yelling won’t change anything now.”
“I could have joined you in England a month or so after. No one would have thought anything of it. To them it would look like I was going back to my own country.”
“I couldn’t take the risk of you being followed over and Buffy ending up dead after everything we’d went trough.”
“You could have found a way to make it work.” Spike stated.
“Spike what’s done is done, we can’t change how things went. What we can do is move on and start living our lives again.”
“I’ll take that as my queue to leave you two alone.” Giles said standing up.
“Thank you.” Buffy smiled.
“Was he the reason you asked me over today?” Spike asked once Giles was out of the room.
“A reason yes, but not the main one.” Buffy answered.
“What is the main one than?” Spike asked.
“Molly could you come down now?” Buffy asked as she pressed down the intercom button on the phone in the living room that was connected to all the other phones in the house.
Molly’s voice filled the room. “I’ll be right there.”
“Molly’s the reason?” Spike asked.
“You’ll see.” Buffy said standing up and moving towards the living room entrance.
“Here you go.” Molly said handing William to Buffy.
“Thanks.” Buffy said smiling down at her son.
“I’ll be outside with Giles if you need anything else.” Molly said before turning and walking towards the back of the house.
Buffy slowly turned back to face Spike with William resting comfortably in her arms. “This is the main reason I asked you over.”
Spike stood up with wide eyes as he took in the sight of Buffy holding a baby.
“His name is William. . . . . and he’s yours.” Buffy said looking at Spike while slowly walking towards him.
“Mine?” Spike asked in awe.
“Yes, yours.”
“How? When?” Spike asked in shock now.
“I think you know how, at least I hope you do.” Buffy joked. “As for when, he was born seven months after I left.”
“Did you know before going?”
“No, I found out after.”
“Can I hold him?”
“Of course.” Buffy said carefully handing William to his father for the first time.
“He has me eyes.” Spike commented while he looked down at his son.
“He has more than just your eyes. He has your nose, your cheekbones, and he has your smile. I’m also certain that when he gets older he’ll have that same sexy smirk his father has.”
“ ‘His Father’ I like the sound of that.”
Buffy watched as Spike slowly rocked their son in his arms.
“When’s his birthday?” Spike asked still looking down at his son.
“In two months.” Buffy answered.
“I’m glad you made it back before then.”
“I would have found a way to make it so you could be with him somehow. It’s not fair that you couldn’t be there from the start, I couldn’t have you miss this too.” Buffy stated.
“Never gonna miss a thing again.”
“Would you like to help me put him down for his nap? I made Molly keep him awake for you and if he doesn’t get a little bit of sleep now he’s going to make me pay for it tonight.”
“I’d love to help you.” Spike said with a smile.
“Follow me.” Buffy said walking out of the living room and up the stairs to the nursery with Spike and William close behind.
“I love to watch him sleep. It has a way of making me forget everything bad that’s happened in my life.” Buffy whispered to Spike as they watched their son sleeping in his crib.
“I can understand that.” Spike whispered back.
Buffy smiled as she went over and grabbed the baby monitor before taking Spike’s hand a leading him out of the nursery down the hall and back towards the stairs.
“Help me with dinner?” Buffy asked as they walked into the kitchen.
“You know how to cook!? When did this happed?” Spike asked.
“While I was in England. I had some weird cravings while I was pregnant, and while some of them could be solved by ordering take-out from a few places and mixing them together, it didn’t work with everything.” Buffy explained.
“I bet you made a beautiful pregnant woman.” Spike commented.
“I have pictures if you want to see them. I made sure a lot of pictures were taken so even thought you couldn’t be there with us at the time you’d still be able to see what was going on.”
“I’d like to see them very much.”
“I have them in my room, I’ll just go get the albums for you.” Buffy said getting ready to walk out of the kitchen.
“I’ll come with you.” Spike said moving towards her.
“To my bedroom?” Buffy asked.
“Why not?” Spike questioned. “You know you still haven’t offered me a tour of this place.”
“I haven’t?”
“Nope, and I figured if this is where I’m going to be spending most of my free time I should at least know my way around.”
“Here?” Buffy asked with wide eyes.
“It’s where my son is isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“And it’s where you are?”
“Me?”
“You. You’re all I’ve wanted, and you’ve given me the greatest gift I could have ever asked for.”
“Are you saying you still want to be with me?” Buffy asked.
“I never stopped.” Spike stated.
Tears started to run down Buffy’s face.
“Shh Luv, no need to cry.” Spike said pulling Buffy into his arms.
“I’m sorry I’m just a little emotional right now. I mean yesterday you were yelling at me and today you’re saying you still want to be with me.” Buffy told him.
“I’m sorry I yelled at you, I was just in shock at seeing you standin’ there in my classroom.” Spike explained.
“I didn’t know how else to tell you. It’s not exactly something you make a phone call about.”
“No, I guess not.”
“How ‘bout that tour?” Buffy asked deciding it was time for a change in subject.
“Sounds like a good idea.”
“Alright, lets get started.”
After a tour of all the parts of Buffy’s new home that Spike hadn’t seen yet, she showed him around the main floor first then they made their way up to the second floor. Now both Buffy and Spike sat on the edge of Buffy’s bed looking through the photo albums Buffy had made for Spike to see when she was finally able to return to him.
“This is his baby book.” Buffy said handing Spike a pale yellow book with a lamb on the front cover. “I got it a few days after I found out I was pregnant. I wrote down everything that was going on with the pregnancy. I wrote what things I was craving each month, and what size I was. There’s also every picture taken from my visits to the doctor’s.”
“You thought of everything.” Spike said while reading through a few of the things Buffy had written down stopping on the first picture of his son.”
“I wanted you to feel like you were there when you read about it. The photo shop I went to thought I was crazy. Every morning on my way to work I’d drop of like five rolls and pick the developed pictures on my way home every night.” Buffy explained.
“Thank you.” Spike said turning the pages of the album.
“For what?” Buffy asked.
“Doing this. Making me feel like I was a part of it even though I couldn’t be.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I know, and I understand why it had to be done.”
“You do?”
“Yeah, I do.”
“I really missed you.” Buffy whispered.
“I missed you too.” Spike said before leaning over and kissing her. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“Never gonna to let you leave me again.”
“Never want to.” Buffy said in-between kisses.
As the two fell back into Buffy’s bed cries from the baby monitor filled the room.
“Welcome to the world of parenthood.” Buffy smiled as she pulled away from Spike and began to stand.
“Let me.” Spike said stopping her.
“You sure?” Buffy asked looking back at him.
“I’m sure.” Spike said standing up. “Besides, I’ve got to start rakin’ up my points for my ‘Best Father of The Year Awards’.” Spike smiled before heading towards the nursery.
“I’ll be downstairs.” Buffy called out as she walked past the doorway to her son’s room.
“We’ll meet you down there.” Spike called back before picking his son up from the crib and taking him over to the changing table.
“I’ll see you soon.” Buffy said with a smile as she made her way to the stairs and down to the backyard.
“So?” Giles asked as Buffy took a seat at the table by the pool that he and Molly were seated at as well. “How’d it go?”
“Better than it should have.” Buffy replied.
“What do you mean?” Molly asked.
“He didn’t yell once. He saw William and went straight into Father mood. He’s upstairs right now changing our son’s dipper getting him ready to be brought down. Spike helped me put William down for a nap. We talked about a few things; I gave him a tour of the house. Then I showed him the baby book I made while we were in England.” Buffy explained.
“He plans on staying close?” Giles questioned.
“He does.” Buffy said with a smile just as Spike walked out with William resting safely in his father’s arms.
“That settles it than.” Giles stated.
“Settles what? Buffy asked.
“Do you plan on being here to make sure both Elizabeth and her son are safe?” Giles asked looking towards Spike who had just taken a seat next to Buffy.
“Of course. Never let either of them go now that I’ve got them back.” Spike answered.
“Than my services are no longer needed.” Giles replied.
“You’re leaving!?” Buffy asked in shock.
“You knew this day would come Buffy.” Giles stated.
“Yeah, but I thought by the time it came you wouldn’t want to go. Or maybe the day wouldn’t be until William graduated from college.” Buffy rambled on.
“You have your family and friends now Buffy, you don’t need me anymore.”
“Of course I do. You’re like a second father to me, and William loves when you’re around. You make us feel safe.”
“You have others to make you feel safe now.”
“I know, and they do.” Buffy stated looking towards Spike and their son before turning back to face Giles. “But they’re not you. If its about living here I’m sure you could find a great place here in town.”
“We could trade.” Spike stated.
“Trade?” Giles asked.
“Yeah. You could move into my place and I could come live in the guesthouse. You’d have your own place and I could be closer to Buffy and our son.” Spike explained.
“Giles?” Buffy asked.
“You’d give up your home?” Giles asked.
“Was plannin’ on sellin’ it sooner or later, might as well give it to you. You saved Buffy and took care of her and our son and that makes me happy. You stayin’ here would make Buffy happy and I’ll do anything to make that happen. So, what’ll me?”
Giles looked towards Buffy who had a small smile on her face then turned back to face Spike. “You’ve got yourself a deal.”
“You’re staying!?” Buffy asked with a squeal.
“It’s a nice town from what I’ve seen of it, and I can’t be in the business I’m in forever. I’d also like to be around to see all the trouble Little William is going to create just for you when he gets older.”
“So it’s a yes than?” Spike asked.
“It’s a yes.” Giles answered.
“Yeah!” Buffy yelled before jumping from her chair and hugging Giles. “I’m so glad you’re staying.”
“Me too.” Giles said hugging her back.
Buffy moved over to Spike and kissed him on the cheek. “I’ll thank you properly later.” She whispered in his ear before reaching down to take the baby in her arms.
“I’ll hold you to that.” Spike whispered back.
TBC. . .
Chapter 85 – Moving In
‘Spike’s House’
“Is everything packed?” Buffy asked looking around Spike’s bedroom.
“Everything I’m keepin’.” Spike answered.
“Thank you again. This means a lot to me, helping me keep Giles around.”
“I had my own selfish reasons.” Spike stated.
“About that.” Buffy started.
“Yeah?”
“I don’t think you should move into the pool-house after all.”
“What!? Why not!?” Spike asked in shock. “I thought we talked about this. I move into the pool-house so I can be closer to my son and to you.”
“You didn’t let me finish what I was going to say.”
“There’s more?”
“Yes, there’s more.”
“What is it?”
“What I was trying to say is that I don’t think you should move into the pool-house. I think you should move into the house, my house, with William and me. You’d still be able to have your own room if you didn’t want to share mine, and this way you’d be even closer to your son.” Buffy explained.
“You want me to live in the house with you?”
“You’d have your own room.” Buffy repeated.
“But I could share yours also?”
“If you’d like.”
Spike thought it over for a moment. “Maybe that’s not the best idea just yet.” Spike told her.
It was Buffy’s turn to be shocked. “What!? Why not!?”
“I’m thinkin’ we should try to do things at a more normal rate.”
“What’s normal about any of this Spike? We share a son together. Any normal thing was thrown out the window the moment I found out I was pregnant.” Buffy was now yelling.
Spike started to laugh at the sight of a red faced Buffy in front of him.
“What’s so funny?” Buffy demanded.
“You are Luv.” Spike answered moving closer to where she was standing.
“You were joking about all of this?” Buffy asked.
“Just making sure it was what you really wanted.” Spike smiled.
“You Bastard!” Buffy yelled before pushing Spike back until they both fell onto the bed.
“I would appreciate it if you’d refrain from having sex on my newly bought mattress, as well as in my new home altogether.” Giles stated from the doorway.
“Sorry Giles.” Buffy said pulling away from Spike so they could both get up from the bed.
“It’s quite alright. Are these the last of them?” Giles asked pointing in the directions of a few taped boxes.
“As far as boxes go.” Spike answered. “Anything left over are things I don’t want or won’t need any longer, so feel free to sell or trash what ever you don’t want around.”
“We actually have pretty similar taste so I won’t be getting rid of much, just a few things here and there like the bed and things like that.” Giles stated.
“Totally understand.” Spike replied.
“Spike man, how come we had to do all the work while you sat up her and played kissy face with your girlfriend?” Xander asked as he came back up from taking things out to Buffy’s SUV with Oz and Deacon.
“Because I promised you free beer and food as well as fun in the sun layin’ out by my pool with your girlfriends in barley there swimsuits.” Buffy answered for Spike.
“That’s right! What’s next?” Xander asked with a jump in his step.
“Just these boxes, then we’re done here.” Spike told them.
“You got it.” Xander said before grabbing a few boxes followed by the other guys.
“He’s so easy.” Buffy laughed.
“Why do you think Anya’s still with him?” Spike asked with a smirk before turning to face Giles. “It’s all yours.” He said holding out a set of keys.
“Thank you.” Giles said taking the keys from Spike. “Are you sure you have everything?”
Spike nodded his head. “Yeah, just got one more thing to carry out of here.” He said throwing Buffy over his shoulder.
“Put me down!” Buffy squealed.
“Not in this life time or the next.” Spike stated giving Buffy’s ass a light tap.
“I’ll see you two later this week.” Giles said with a small smile as Spike walked out of the room.
“Bye Giles.” Buffy called out before disappearing from view.
“Bye.”
‘Summer/Winthrop House’
“Someone pass me another beer.” Xander said from his seat by the swimming pool.
“Don’t get use to this Mate.” Spike said handing Xander a beer before taking a seat next to him.
“This is like every man’s dream. I’ve got beer to drink, pizza to eat, and last but not least beautiful women in barley there suits laying out across from me.” Xander stated.
“Anya catches you lookon’ at any other beautiful woman but herself and you won’t live to see tomorrow.” Angel said with a laugh.
“What’s so funny over here?” Buffy asked as she walked over to where Spike was sitting with the rest of the guys.
“Xander’s short life if Anya catches him checkin’ out any one but her over there.” Deacon told her.
“Oh, but she already has.”
“What!?” Xander asked with wide eyes as he choked on his beer.
“Don’t worry, you’re safe. I believe her exact words were ‘As long as I’m the only one getting orgasms from him than he can look all he wants.’ But I wouldn’t test her if I were you.” Buffy said with a smile.
“So Buffy, have you talked to anyone else yet?” Angel asked.
“Not yet.” Buffy answered. “I plan on going to see Riley tomorrow on campus, but I’m not sure I’m ready to see Carter just yet.”
“My offer still stands.” Oz stated.
“Thanks but I have to do this myself.”
“You think it’s time to share our surprise Luv?” Spike asked.
“Now’s as good as good a time as any.” Buffy smiled down at him. “I’ll make the call if you get everyone in the living room.”
“You got it.” Spike said standing up.
“Everything set?” Spike asked as Buffy walked into the living room.
“Yeah.” She said with a smile.
“What’s this all about?” Alyson asked from her spot in the living room.
“You’ll see in about fifteen minutes.” Buffy replied.
“Spike said something about a surprise.” Willow added.
“In a way.”
“Did you get us gifts while you were dead?” Anya asked.
Everyone in the room looked at her in shock for a moment before breaking into laughter except for Anya herself.
“What? That’s what people do. When one goes away the considerate thing to do is to bring back gifts for their friends and family.” Anya stated.
“Anya she wasn’t on a vacation, she was in hiding.” Cordelia reminded her.
“So? I would have brought everyone back something.”
“Sorry Ahn, just brought back myself and. . .”
KNOCK – KNOCK
“. . .Saved by the door. Everyone wait here.” Buffy said before making her way out of the living room and out of sight of everyone else.
“Is this the big surprise?” Angel asked.
“Not that big yet.” Spike answered with a smirk.
“Huh?” Xander asked.
“You’ll see.” Cordelia smiled.
“You know?” Alyson asked.
“I guessed what it was earlier.” Cordelia replied.
“Hey Guys!” Dawn said as she made her way into the living room followed closely by Joyce and Hank.
“The Summers’? That’s the surprise?” Anya asked.
“No.” Buffy said walking into the room. “This is.” She added pulling away the blanket that was covering William from everyone’s view.
Everyone with an exception of six people gasped at the sight of the baby that was resting in their friend’s arms.
“Guys, I’d like you to meet William Winthrop Jr. My son.”
“Our son.” Spike said taking a spot next to Buffy in front of the group.
“You have a baby?” Alyson asked in shock.
“Yeah.” Buffy answered with a smile.
“And she knew about him before I did?” Alyson asked pointing at Cordelia.
“I didn’t tell her, she just knew.” Buffy stated.
“Right.” Alyson mumbled crossing her arms over her chest.
“She didn’t tell me.” Cordelia stated.
Buffy handed William to his father and moved closer to where Alyson was now standing.
“What the hell is your problem? I can not believe you are being so childish over this. I didn’t tell Cordelia before you so get over it. This is the first time she’s evening seeing him. The only people who knew about William are his family and a few people from England. So if you can’t accept this as they are than I don’t want you as a part of my life anymore.
You may have lost me but at least you still had people to help you move on. I didn’t have that type of support. You lost one friend; I lost them all at the same time. I wasn’t able to say goodbye to anyone. I had to live with the fact that I was carrying a child and I couldn’t share that with the person I created him with. Everyday I woke up wondering what everyone was doing, it they were happy, if the man I was in love with was with someone else.
I’m sorry if all this is hard for you, but it’s had for me too. And maybe if you were a better friend you would have known about William like Cordelia did without me saying a word to you.” Buffy yelled with tears running down her face.
Everyone in the room was still after Buffy finished talking. No one knew what they should say to either of the two women. Some felt guilty because they never took into account how hard things might have been for Buffy all the time she was away. Others were amazed that Buffy had finally stood up for herself instead of holding back so others would feel better.
Alyson stood with tears running down her face unable to move or make her mind work so she could say anything in return.
Deacon was finally the one who broke the silence.
“I think I should get her out of here.” He said placing his hands on Alyson’s shoulders.
Spike handed William to his Aunt and made his way to Buffy’s side pulling her back a few steps. “I think that would be for the best right now.”
“I’ll see you later this week at practice. You have a very beautiful baby.” Deacon told Spike and Buffy before making his way out of the house with Alyson.
“I’m sorry.” Alyson whispered as the door closed behind them.
“Maybe we should do this another time.” Angel said as he stood up.
“No.” Buffy finally spoke again. “You’re all here to meet my son and I don’t want my emotions to ruin that. I know things can’t be like they were before, but I’d like to still have you as friends. If you feel that conflicts with your friendships with Alyson and Deacon than I understand if you’d like to leave now.”
Everyone in the room looked around at each other for a moment as if agreeing as a whole.
“We were you friends first Buffy, we’d like to be your friends again.” Cordelia stated.
Buffy gave a small smile to her friend before looking at everyone else. “Do you all feel that way?”
“Yes.” Willow and Tara nodded together.
“I’m with ya Buffster.” Xander smiled.
“Me too.” Oz stated.
“You’re much more fun to talk about orgasms with.” Anya replied.
“I’m with you too.” Angel stated. “Besides my brother’s still dating your sister, us not being friends anymore might mess with their relationship.” He added as a joke.
“Thank you guys so much.” Buffy said giving each friend a hug.
“Now, lets see that baby boy of yours.” Cordelia stated.
TBC. . .
Chapter 86 - Meeting Riley
'Summers/Winthrop Residents'
"Are you sure about this?" Spike asked as he watched Buffy moving around their bedroom getting ready for her meeting with Riley.
"We've been over this already Spike." Buffy said with a sigh as she put her earrings in. "It'll be easier if I'm alone when I see him. You have nothing to worry about. It's not like I'm going to see him a release how much I love him and spend the next few hours having hot steamy sex with. He's not you."
"Damn right he's not." Spike shouted. "Like her could really go for hours anyways." He added under his breath.
"You'd be surprised." Buffy whispered in his ear from behind with a grin on her face.
"You're askin' for it Pet." Spike warned.
"I'll hold you to that for later." Buffy said before picking up her purse.
"You know where you're goin'?" Spike asked as he followed Buffy out of the room and towards the front door.
"Giles got me all the information on everyone as soon as we got to Sunnydale. Riley's an R.A. for his and Angel's old dorm, and he's a T.A. for Professor Walsh. I'm going to try and catch him after class, if not then I'll go to his dorm." Buffy explained.
"Let's hope for the classroom." Spike mumbled.
"I'll be back in a few hours. If anything happens to William you have my cell number."
"We'll be fine Luv. Go before you miss that class of his."
"I love you." Buffy said standing on her tip-toes to give Spike a kiss goodbye.
"Love you too. Drive safely."
"Always." Buffy smiled.
'UC Sunnydale Campus - Professor Walsh's Class'
Buffy entered at the back of the room as quietly as she could making sure to keep her head down as she went before taking a seat behind a large group of students.
Riley was in front of the class collecting homework from the rows while Professor Walsh finished up her lecture for the day.
"Your final drafts will be due at the beginning of next weeks class. You can pick-up your edited papers anytime after five tomorrow from my office. If you have any questions ask them at that time. Class dismissed." Maggie said before turning back to her desk to pack her things while all of the students filed out of the room and into the hallways.
"I'll get started on these and get them to your office in the morning." Riley said holding up the stack of papers in his left hand.
"Thank you Mr. Finn. I've got to get to a meeting, I'll see you tomorrow."
"Have a nice day."
"You too Mr. Finn."
"That's a lot of editing for only one person to do by tomorrow morning." Buffy said from her spot in the back of the room.
"A T.A.'s job is never done." Riley said without looking up to where the voice was coming from.
"Maybe I could help you with that." Buffy said moving closer to where Riley was.
"I don't want to sound mean or anything, but I have a girlfriend." Riley stated still not looking towards Buffy.
"Than it's a good thing I'm not looking to date you. How long have you been together?" Buffy asked.
"Almost two years." Riley said finally looking up. "Buffy. . . ?"
"Anyone I know?"
"How?"
"Long story. Now about this girlfriend."
"Faith, and I've got time." Riley replied.
"You and Faith again. Really?" Buffy asked.
"We have our ups and downs but we've managed to pull threw in the end."
"Are you happy?"
"More or less."
"I'm sorry for hurting you in any way." Buffy said with a sad smile. "They had to make Drusilla believe I was really gone and the only way to do that was to make everyone else think I was dead as well."
"Where were you?" Riley asked motioning for Buffy to take a seat on the desk while he took one in the chair next to it.
"You're taking this really well."
"I'm probably still in shock."
"Oh. I was in England." Buffy answered hopping up onto the desktop.
"I hear it's very nice there."
"It is."
"Why are you back now? Why not sooner?"
"I had to wait until we were sure Drusilla wouldn't get out even if I still was really alive."
"That must've been hard. Being away from all your family and friends for so long." Riley stated.
"It was. Everyday I would think about everyone. I'd wonder whether or not they were happy. How much older Dawnie was looking, if she was taller than me. If Spike was moving on without me. Things like that." Buffy replied.
"Was he?" Riley asked.
"He was starting to."
"And now?"
"Now he's living with me in my new house here in town." Buffy said with a smile.
"I'm happy for you Buffy. I saw how hurt he was by your death. We all were."
"I'm so sorry I caused you or anyone else any pain."
"Do the others know yet?" Riley asked.
"Yeah. I stopped by the apartment and everyone was there a few days ago. I asked them not to tell you, this is the type of thing that needs to be done in person." Buffy explained hoping he wasn't hurt be her keeping from him longer than the others.
"I agree with you there." Riley smiled.
"There's something else I should probably tell you now." Buffy started.
"What is it?"
"I. . .I have a son."
"A son?" Riley asked in shock.
"Yeah, he'll me one soon."
"What's his name?"
"William." Buffy smiled.
"Oh, after his father."
"Yes, after his father." Buffy said pulling her wallet out of her purse. "I have a picture if you'd like to see."
"Okay." Riley said standing up and taking the picture from Buffy's hand. "He's cute."
"Thank you." Buffy replied carefully putting the picture back where it came from.
"Riley are you still in here?" Faith called out as she opened the door to the room. "You were suppose to meet me for coffee after class." She added until she came to a stop a few feet from the door where she was frozen in place as she saw the blonde seated on the top of the desk next to her boyfriend.
"Hello Faith." Buffy said with a smile.
"Buffy?"
"In the flesh."
"What are you. . .What are you doing here?"
"Don't worry, I'm not hear to steal Riley back. I just stopped by to let him know I wasn't as dead as everyone thought I was."
"Oh." Was all Faith could manage to say at the time.
"Riley can fill you in on all the details. I've got to get home." Buffy said jumping off the desk. "Who knows what types of trouble William's gotten his father into while I was gone." She smiled.
"I'm glad you're back." Riley said giving Buffy a hug.
"I'll see you around Riley." Buffy said before making her way towards the door. "Bye F." She laughed as she walked past a still frozen Faith.
'Summers/Winthrop Residents - Buffy & Spike's Bedroom'
"Um, this is nice." Buffy said as Spike wrapped his arms around her.
"That it is Luv." Spike replied kissing her on the top of her head. "How'd things do with Captain Cardboard?"
"Better than they went with you."
"I said I was sorry about that."
"I know you are. He was shocked at first, but si was everyone. I told him why if happened and where I was all this time."
"What else?"
"I told him I was sorry for any pain I may have caused."
"What else?"
"I told him about us."
"And?"
"That's all."
"That's all?" Spike asked raising up onto his elbows which caused Buffy to fall to the mattress.
"Was there something else I was suppose to tell him?" Buffy asked sitting up and looking back at Spike.
"Bloody right there was." Spike stated starting to get angry.
"Really?" Buffy asked trying to hide her smile. "What would that be?"
"Our son maybe." Spike yelled.
"Oh my God!" Buffy gasped. "I completely forget. I mean between the telling him I was back and the hot sex on the Professor's desk in the room we were in."
Spikes eyes grew wide as his face got redder and redder.
Buffy couldn't hold the laughter in any longer. "Oh God, I can't breath." She said between laughing and gasping for air. "You. . .should. . .have. . .seen. . .your face. . ."
Spike's eyes narrowed and in the blink of an eye Buffy found herself pinned beneath him.
"That wasn't very nice Luv."
"Maybe not, but it sure as hell was funny." Buffy replied.
"Not funny makin' jokes about shaggin' ex's while we're in bed naked together." Spike stated.
"You're right, I'm sorry. Of course I told Riley about William. I even showed him a picture I have in my wallet."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
"How'd he take it?"
"Really well. Than Faith showed up and I left."
"You didnt' get in any fights with her?" Spike asked remembering the history the two girls had with one another.
"Nope. She was pretty much speechless when she saw me. I told her Riley would fill her in on what was going on and that I needed to get home to my boys."
"Your boys. I like the sound of that."
"Do you now?" Buffy asked biting her lower lip.
"Very much so." Spike answered before capturing her lips with his. "I think we should practice on adding more children so we know what to do when we decide to have more."
"Really?"
"Oh yeah."
"I love the way you think." Buffy said pulling him down to her for another kiss.
"I love you." Spike whispered between kisses.
"I love you too." Buffy whispered back. "Make love to me."
"Always."
TBC. . .
Chapter 87-Life Goes On
‘UC Sunnydale Loft Apartment’
“Alyson are you in there?” Deacon asked as he entered the bedroom they shared. The same one that Buffy had used as her own when she lived there.
“Hey.” Alyson said sitting up in the bed.
“Hey. How are you feeling?” Deacon asked joining her in the bed.
“I’ve been better.”
“Just give this some time. This isn’t easy on any of us, we just hide it better.”
“Thanks a lot.” Alyson replied sarcastically.
“You know I’m right.”
“I know. I just feel so bad about what happened I was only thinking about myself, about how I was feeling. Buffy and I had been best friends for as long as I can remember. When she moved to Sunnydale it was like losing a sister. Than when everything happened with Spike again I wasn’t here. She had a new best friend to turn to. A friend that knew she’d had a baby after only a few minutes of seeing her in over a year. I was hurt that I no longer had that type of relationship with Buffy that Cordelia has with her now.” Alyson explained.
“Give Buffy some time and I’m sure the two of you will be able to work something out.” Deacon replied. “You won’t be best friends like you were before, but at least you’ll be in each other’s lives again.”
“That’s all I can ever hope for now.” Alyson stated.
“Things will work out. They always do, even if we don’t see it right away.” Deacon told her giving her a light kiss on the forehead and walking out of the room to leave Alyson some time to herself.
‘Montgomery Mansion-Pool House’
“Do you think this will all work out?” Cordelia asked looking up at Angel than back out to the pool where Connor and Dawn were hanging out.
“Depends on what ‘this’ is.” Angel answered.
“Our lives.” Cordelia stated. “Everything with Buffy and Spike? Everything with Willow and Tara? Everything with Deacon and Alyson? Everything with everyone? Everything with us?”
“I’m not sure I can answer all that for you. I think everything will work out for the people it’s meant to work out with. When it’s all said and done not everyone who’s together now will be together in the future. We can only hope for the best.” Angel replied.
“You don’t think everyone will stay together?” Cordelia asked turning to face him.
“People change over time Cordy. Not everything can always stay the same. I think the odds are in favor for Buffy and Spike. And I hope they’re in favor for our future as well.”
“You see us together in the future?”
“Of course. But in the future you’re my wife and we have beautiful children. Don’t you see us together in the future?” Angel asked.
“Every time I dream.” Cordelia said with a smile.
“The same goes for me.” Angel said leaning over to give her a kiss.
“What about those two?” Cordelia asked looking out towards Connor and Dawn again.
“I see a sister-in-law in my future.” Angel said watching as Connor threw Dawn up in the air and crashing down into the water below.
‘UC Sunnydale Campus-Riley’s Dorm’
“I can’t believe she’s back.” Faith said from her seat at the end of Riley’s bed. “And she’s got a kid to boot.”
“So you’ve said Faith, many times now.” Riley stated as he paced his room.
“What’s crawled up your ass and die?” Faith asked glaring at Riley.
“Nothing.”
“You’ve still got a thing for her.” Faith said standing up from the bed.
“What!?” Riley asked in shock stopping mid-pace.
“I can’t believe you. You’re still in love with B.”
“I am not.” Riley yelled.
“Yes you are.” Faith yelled back.
“I just found out someone I was in love with is back from the dead.”
“Love?”
“Was. I’m in shock, that’s all.”
“So you don’t love her anymore?” Faith asked.
“Of course not. I’m in love with you remember, or am I the only one who remembers this past year?”
“I remember.” Faith smiled. “I’m just checking.”
“You never have to check when if comes to my feeling for you.” Riley said pulling Faith into his arms.
“Remember you said that.”
“I will.” Riley smiled. “I’m just happy she’s able to have the life she’s always wanted.
“She does have good taste in men. I mean Professor Winthrop is one fine piece of. . .” Faith was cut off by Riley’s lips. “What was I saying?”
‘Espresso Pump’
“What can I get for you two?” A waitress asked holding out her pen and order pad.
“I’ll have a green tea.” Tara answered.
“And I’ll have a mocha latté.” Willow replied. “And also a grilled chicken sandwich with a garden salad.”
“I’ll be back with you order when it’s ready.” The waitress said writing down the order and turning to leave.
“Who’s the salad for?” Tara asked already knowing the answer.
“You.” Willow smiled.
“That was nice of you.”
“I saw someone with the sandwich while you where ordering, and I know you don’t eat meat so I got you a salad so you wouldn’t feel left out.” Willow explained.
“Very thoughtful.” Tara smiled.
“I try.”
“Here are your drinks.” The waitress said as she placed the drinks down in front of their owners. “Your food should be ready in a few more minutes.”
“Thank you.” Willow called as the waitress turned to leave again. “I want one.” Willow said out of the blue.
“One what?” Tara asked.
“A baby.”
“Oh.”
“Not right this minute mind you, but in a few years. After we’re done with school and have stable jobs. I want a baby.” Willow explained.
“You’ll need some help with that.” Tara stated.
“I know. Just. . .Did you see how happy Buffy and Spike looked with their son?” Willow asked.
“Of course I did Honey.”
“Would you ever want that with me?”
“I’d love to have that with you someday. But we’re going to need help getting there.”
“Oz!”
“What about him?”
“We could ask him.” Willow replied. “We both know and trust him.”
“Yes. Do you think he’d want to help us this way?”
“I’m sure he would.”
“Than we’ll have to ask him about it later.” Tara said.
“And it’d be both of us.” Willow stated. “Not just me or you. We’d both have a baby. Not at the same time of course, maybe a few years apart. That way we’d both know what it’s like.”
“You’ve thought about this a lot.”
“I have. Does it sound like a good idea to you?” Willow asked.
“It does.” Tara smiled.
‘Xander’s Car’
“When are we going to tell everyone?” Anya asked as she held a ring on a chain out to look at it.
“Soon.” Xander said as he made his way through the streets of Sunnydale.
“You said that when Buffy first showed up.” Anya stated. “Yet this ring is still on this chain instead of around my finger for the world to see. Do you not want me to be Mrs. Alexander Harris anymore? Is that it?”
“Of course not. There’s nothing in this world I want more than to have you as my wife.” Xander replied.
“Than why haven’t you let me tell anyone our good news yet?”
“A lots happened these past few days. I promise that we will tell everyone about our engagement very soon.” Xander stated.
“You promise?” Anya asked.
“I promise.” Xander said pulling over to the shoulder of the road. “In fact. . .” He said taking the ring from the chain and placing it on Anya’s left ring finger. “I think now’s as good a time as any.”
“Really?” Anya asked with a big smile.
“Really. I love you, and I want everyone to know it.” Xander said kiss the ring on her finger.
“I love you too.”
TBC. . .
Chapter 88-The Final Meeting
“I don’t like this.”
“You’ve already said that about a hundred times now Spike.”
“That’s because I don’t like this.”
“You’re lucky I let you come this far with me. I could have taken up Giles offer to drug you and we wouldn’t be having this discussion right now. You’d be passed out at home with Molly and William and Giles would be the one sitting next to me right now.” Buffy stated.
“You were going to drug me?” Spike asked in shock.
“Giles thought it’d be better that way. I’d be able to meet with Carter and be back home before you had any idea what was going on.” Buffy explained. “I’m starting to wish I’d gone along with him.” She added under her breath.
“I just don’t want you to get hurt.”
“I won’t. As much as you may hate this Carter loved me in his own twisted was. He won’t do anything to hurt me now that Drusilla’s out of the picture.”
“Fine. But why do you have to go in alone?” Spike questioned.
“Because it will be easier for me to say what I need to say without worrying about the two of you getting into a fight.” Buffy answered.
“I still don’t like this.”
“I know. I’ll be back soon.” Buffy said leaning over and giving Spike a kiss before hopping out of the SUV. “I love you.”
“I love you too. Be careful.”
“Always.” She smiled making her way into the apartment building.
KNOCK-KNOCK
“Just a minute.” Carter called out as he made his way out from his room.
KNOCK-KNOCK
“I’m coming.” He yelled before throwing the door open.
“Is this a bad time?” Buffy asked with a straight face.
“Buffy. . .?”
“Well, aren’t you going to invite me in? It’s the least you could do after everything you’ve done to my family and friends.”
“Come in. . .” Carter said stepping away from the door so Buffy could enter.
“Aren’t you going to ask me how I’m doing?” Buffy asked taking a seat on the couch in the living room.”
“How are you doing?” Carter asked closing the door.
“Still breathing.” Buffy replied. “No thanks to you.”
“How?” Carter asked taking a seat in a chair across from her.
“I never died.”
“So I see. What happened?”
“Faked death, life lived ripped from everyone I care about.”
“So Drusilla didn’t?”
“No, we beat her to it so to speak.”
“But she’s still locked away.”
“Disappointed?” Buffy asked sarcastically.
“No, I just. . .”
“One of the reasons I was gone for so long was to make sure that even if I did pop back up alive someday that she wouldn’t be let out. Your ex-honey’s more than a little crazy, or hadn’t you noticed that?”
“I noticed. I never meant for things to go as far as they did.” Carter explained.
“You just wanted me to yourself?”
“Yes.”
“Because you loved me so much?”
“Yes.”
“Do you have any idea what your loving me cost me? I lost over a year of my life with the people I cared about. I had to drop out of college because of Drusilla and your so-called love. I had to lie to my family and friends to keep myself safe from any further murder attempts. But none of that compares to having to raise my son without his father for almost the first whole year of his life.” Buffy yelled now standing up in front of Carter.
“Son?” Carter asked in shock.
“Yes.” Buffy nodded. “Son. My son with Spike.”
“I didn’t know.”
“No you didn’t. You robbed Spike, someone you said was your friend, of the one thing is this world he’s looked forward to for most of his life.” Buffy stated.
“I didn’t know.”
“Now you do.” Buffy glared. “If you ever come near me or mine again you’re going to wish I had died.” Buffy added before turning and leaving the apartment with a stunned Carter left behind.
“How’d it go?” Spike asked Buffy as she got back into the passenger side of the SUV.
“Fine.” Buffy said closing the door. “He’s no longer an issues in our lives.”
“What’d you say to him?”
“It doesn’t matter, it’s over now.”
“What do you mean Luv?”
“I mean it’s time we started living our lives again. We’ve made it this far, who knows what’s next.” Buffy smiled as Spike pulled out of the parking lot and headed home to their son. A new life waiting for both of them.
The End