TITLE: Big Bad Daddy
AUTHOR: Saffire
EMAIL: saffire415@aol.com
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SUMMARY: When Spike's daughter is left on his doorstep, he realizes that he has a lot to learn about himself and though he finds himself guided by his daughter, the constant, haunting dreams of the child's mother don't help him much.
SPOILERS: Early Season 6 (Buffy and Spike are getting it on, but no evil Willow)
CONTENT/WARNINGS: mentions some S/B and some S/OC
RATING: R
DISCLAIMER: I own Katerina and Rebecca Wellington, but the other characters belong to Joss. I just like to play with them.
Chapter 1
The cemetery was uncharacteristically quiet that night as Spike trudged home, his arms loaded to the brim with brown paper sacks from the grocery store. Besides the constant chirp of crickets and the sound of the vampire's heavy footsteps on the damp grass, there were no other sounds. But Spike kept his ears keenly attuned to his surroundings, just in case.
It'd been a somewhat calm night, starting with some light patrolling with the slayer, followed by some heavy shagging in his crypt. Then the customary look of revulsion and scurry to leave ensued, leaving Spike alone and acutely aware that he was out of fags. Hence the trip to the local twenty-four hour supermarket in which he'd blown that week's procured money supply on fags, booze, mounds of junk food, and black nail polish.
He rounded the corner of the crypt beside his and stopped in his tracks. Someone…or something…was sitting at his door. He couldn't make out what it was exactly, but he could hear the faint murmur of a heartbeat and he picked up the scent of peanut butter and glue on the air. Cautiously he approached the figure and found it to be perhaps the most unlikely of creatures one might find in a cemetery- a little girl.
Her knees were drawn up tightly to her chest and her head was buried in her arms. She was sobbing faintly- unaware of his presence as he stepped to her side. Who would leave a child in a cemetery at night? And in Sunnydale, no less? She was bound to become a tasty treat for any passing vamp. Hell, Spike himself might've drained her dry back in the day before the chip and before Buffy.
But now he set his bags carefully onto the ground and knelt beside the crying child. "What's this then? What's wrong munchkin? What are you doing out here?" With a jolt the child looked up and immediately scurried backwards against the stone door. Now Spike could see her face- red and swollen from crying with a look of utter fear in her shockingly blue eyes.
A tiny, trembling hand warily thrust a crumpled envelope toward him. He took it and with bewilderment discovered his name, written in a woman's hand, on the front. He quickly tore it open and removed a folded letter within.
Spike-
I have no idea how to begin a letter like this…but as you know I've never been one for subtlety or sugarcoats so I'm just going to get to the point. If you're reading this then my plan was successful and our daughter is now in the safety of your care. Yes- our daughter.
No doubt you don't believe me. You're probably thinking 'Bloody hell! Vampires can't have children!' but you're quite wrong. Or in this instance you are. She is your daughter and there's no mistake. All you need is to look at her- she favors you I think.
But if you require further proof- as I've no doubt you do- allow me to explain myself, as I am mostly the reason for her existence and not just in the conventional way. If you remember our last days together in Prague were not the happiest- with the knowledge that you'd be leaving me soon hanging over our heads. You must know how I loved you…I knew it would kill me when you returned to Drusilla...I had to have something, anything of yours if I couldn't have you. So I delved into my coven's oldest spells. Our last night together I cast a spell over you resulting in Rebecca.
Now Rebecca's origins have been discovered. With this year's failing crops and misfortune in this land of superstition, it is no longer safe for her or myself. I've heard through the demonic grapevine that you are unable to harm humans…not that I think you would harm Rebecca. But I'm sure I'm taking no chances in harm coming to my baby by sending her to you. I've used the short time I have to locate you and teleport her there. Take care of her as I know only you can. She's very sweet and extremely smart and I know that with your guidance she will grow into a beautiful, strong woman. (But for God sakes don't give her cigarettes, she's five.)
As of now, I don't know what will become of me. As I write this, I can see the torches outside my window. But I have no regrets. I had you for those few precious weeks and I've had five wonderful years with my darling Rebecca. I'm sending her to you with the strictest confidence that she'll be in good hands.
Enclosed is a letter to her. Give it to her when she's older. Also enclosed is a check for my life savings as I most likely will not be needing it and I know you probably have no cash or no cash gained honestly, at least. Please take care of her. She has no one else in this world any longer. I will always love you. Goodbye.
-Katerina
Spike stared at the letter for a long while after he finished reading. Blasted woman. Just dropping something like this on him. That was just like her, too. She would do things like that…abrupt and brash and without apologies. But that's why he'd fallen in love with her to begin with.
He felt torn between sadness and anger. Anger that she had had the audacity to bring this child into being in the first place and anger that now the little girl was just dumped on his doorstep.
Spike folded the letter and replaced it in the envelope, finding another envelope addressed to Rebecca and a check- for ten thousand dollars. He pocketed the envelope and looked steadily at the girl…at his daughter. She was staring at him evenly and he could see the fear slowly draining from her face to be replaced with an innocent curiosity.
"Are you my daddy?" she asked, revealing a refined British accent like her mother's.
The vampire hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yeah…I'm your da." Saying it made it somehow more real to him. And it was frightening. "Call me Spike," he said gruffly, rising to his feet.
"Mummy said you're going to take care of me."
"Well…we'll see," Spike said thoughtfully. He studied the little girl with her big blue eyes and mass of curly blonde locks. She really did resemble him if he remembered correctly what he looked like. Her face was very angular as was his, but she had her mother's full lips and olive skin. All in all, she was adorable…if one was inclined to use that sort of word.
Something akin to pride swelled in Spike's unbeating heart then. This was his daughter. His daughter. Not for one minute did he doubt that. Katerina was never the kind to lie outside the politeness of a little white one for feeling's sake. She was very frank but tactful and Spike couldn't imagine her ever devising such an elaborate scheme as this.
He turned his attention back to Rebecca- who was staring up at him expectantly. "How old are you?"
"Five."
"Do you go to school?"
"No. Mummy teaches me."
"Are you house trained and all?"
"Yes," she said with a giggle.
"Well that's good…least I don't have that nightmare." He paused thoughtfully for a moment, acutely aware of two small blue eyes transfixed on his face. "I guess you're staying here tonight," he said finally. "But we'll have to find something a bit more permanent tomorrow. Crypt's cold and no place for a little chitlet like you. I guess I could take you to the slayer's…don't know how that would go over though…but the witch lives with her so the only other option is demon girl and the whelp and there's no way I'm taking you there. I guess it's the slayer's then…what are you staring at?"
"You're a vampire," the little girl said accusingly.
"Yea. What of it?"
"Does that make me a vampire?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Cause you're alive," Spike answered impatiently. He gathered his groceries and carried them inside, dropping them on the floor beside his refrigerator. Turning around he found Rebecca standing hesitantly in the doorway. "What are you waiting for? Get your little ass in here."
"It smells funny."
"It's a crypt, love. That's how it smells."
"It's dirty."
"Very astute of you, chitlet. But it's dirty out there, too. So take your pick."
The little girl's mouth turned down in a pout and Spike was suddenly struck by the resemblance to her mother she had at that moment. 'Won't think about that now,' he thought to himself. He pushed the thought to the back of his mind as he had all of his thoughts about Katerina Wellington for the past five years.
He turned his attention back to his daughter and sighed. "You're never going to come in here are you?" Rebecca shook her head. "Fine, fine. Bloody sodding…" Spike muttered various British epithets under his breath as he gathered his essential groceries- fags, booze, and a bag of 'Cooler Ranch' Doritos- into one bag. "Come on, then. Let's hope the slayer's in a charitable mood."
Spike led the way toward the cemetery gates. "Stick close. Lots of nasties out and about, noodle." He nearly jumped when a tiny hand grabbed his.
"What nasties?"
Spike was so captivated by how the little hand with its tiny fingers fit completely into his own that he almost missed Rebecca's question. "Oh…um…nothing a little girl like you should be worrying about. Not with the Big Bad looking out for you."
Rebecca seemed content with his answer and she followed him faithfully in silence as they hurried through the streets towards the house on Revello Drive. When the two-story came into view, a large grin broke out on her face. "This is much better," she proclaimed, earning a chuckle from her father.
"Now…the slayer might be a bit moody but don't let it get to you," Spike said when they were standing on the porch of the Summers' house. He rang the doorbell tentatively and light appeared in the dark house. Spike could see through the window a figure coming slowly down the stairs. He breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn't Buffy.
Willow opened the door a crack and peered out into the darkness. "Spike? Do you know what time it is? And since when do you ring the bell? Is something wrong?"
"Nothings wrong, red. I've just found myself in need of a little help is all." Willow opened the door wider but she froze when she saw the little girl at Spike's side.
"Oh God. You kidnapped a child!"
"I didn't kidnap her!" he said as he pushed past the witch.
"Then who is she?"
"I'm Rebecca Wellington," the child piped up. "I'm five years old and your hair is pretty."
Willow smiled and knelt down to see eye to eye with the girl. "Nice to meet you Rebecca. And I think your hair is pretty too."
"Thank you."
"What's going on down here?" Buffy's asked from her place on the stairwell with Dawn peeking curiously over her shoulder. "Spike, what are you doing here? And who is that?"
"I'm Rebe-"
"Hush now, chitlet. Let the grown-ups talk a bit, eh?" Rebecca scowled up at Spike and crossed her arms over her chest. He ignored the pouting and looked at Buffy, who'd descended the stairs and was watching Rebecca with obvious curiosity, as was Dawn. "I need your help. Can we sit?"
The slayer nodded and led the way into the living room. But she remained standing as Willow and Dawn sat on the couch and Spike sat in the armchair. Rebecca climbed unbidden onto his lap and settled herself into a comfortable position, leaning against his chest.
Buffy regarded this stoically, though Spike knew she was on edge about an innocent child in his clutches. She still didn't fully trust him. "Start talking."
"I'm sorry about waking the whole house but the kid won't sleep in the crypt so I was hoping we could stay here the night…maybe a few nights…until I can get a more descent place."
"Try starting at the beginning, Spike. And then we can talk about me helping you."
The vampire shifted uncomfortably in his seat. How was he supposed to explain this? 'Yea, I had an affair with a witch a while back and I was madly in love with her but of course I was an evil vampire so I had to leave her but she conjured up this little jewel before I left and now since the kid's half vampire an angry mob wants to bloody slaughter her like they've probably done to her mother.' Actually, that didn't sound so bad. It's the truth. The blunt truth, but the truth. It's something Katerina would've said. Just right out there, to the point.
He opened his mouth to say what he'd planned in his head, when Rebecca began tugging on his coat collar. "Daddy, I've got to go to the loo," she whispered urgently, and loud enough for the others to hear.
There was a moment of stunned silence. It was Willow who finally spoke up. "Dawn, take Rebecca to the bathroom."
The teenager rose reluctantly and picked the girl up off of Spike's lap. She sat her down on her feet and led her upstairs. Once they were out of sight, Buffy snapped.
"This is just sick, Spike. It's low. Even for you. You told that girl that you were her father? What the fuck is wrong with you?"
Spike bristled. He leapt out of his seat and strode to where Buffy was standing to loom dangerously in front of her. "She is my daughter," he growled and threw the letter in his pocket at her before slamming back down into his seat.
Buffy's eyes scanned the letter and as she read, her fingers began to tremble. She handed it to Willow. "Is this possible?"
After a careful examination of the letter, Willow hesitantly nodded. "It is. I've heard of it before. But it's forbidden. This spell was banned a long time ago.
"It used to be common for witches and vampires to…'be together'." Willow shifted uncomfortably. "Every so often one would use this spell. It essentially makes the vampire human again for a night. Sometimes a child would be born out of this. Usually they were normal children except for an unusually keen sense of the supernatural- they'd be able to sense vampires and demons or tell when bad things were about to happen. They were considered very special and they were revered in wiccan society. But when a new order rose, an order dedicated to peace and maintaining the natural balance, they considered it an affront to create such a child. They massacred all the vampires' children and banished the spell. I thought it was lost. Apparently not."
"So she's really your daughter…wow…Spike has a daughter…"
Dawn and Rebecca came down the stairs, the little girl giggling as Dawn picked her up by her arms and sat her down on each step. Spike watched with a gleam in his eye. She was his. This tiny life was his. He had someone to care for. He'd always needed someone to care for. Since Dru'd left him, he hadn't had anyone who needed him. Now he did.
"Yeah…I have a daughter."
*****
"How are you gonna support her? Do you know how much money it costs to raise a kid? A lot more than you'll win at kitten poker, I can tell you that."
Spike glared at Buffy. "I don't have a sodding clue what I'm gonna do. Katerina sent ten thousand dollars with Rebecca but that won't last too long. I have to get a place to live and clothes and toys and food and forged papers to make it all legit…"
"You can live here!" Dawn volunteered.
"Dawn!"
"Oh come on, Buffy. Are you just gonna kick that poor little girl onto the street with only Spike to look after her?"
"Hey!"
"No offense, Spike. But you're a guy. And a dead guy at that. What happens when Rebecca's older and she starts liking boys and she needs a bra and she starts her per-"
"Yeah. Got it Nibblet," Spike interrupted, shifting uncomfortably in his seat.
"She needs women around, is all I'm saying. We can fix up the basement for Spike and then Rebecca can share my room."
"Dawnie…this isn't like getting a puppy. You'll have to do more than just feed it and walk it. You'll have to give up some of your nights to baby-sit and you'll give up your privacy if she shares your room," Buffy reasoned.
Dawn looked over at the couch, where Rebecca was curled up fast asleep, her tiny blonde head in Spike's lap. "But she's so cute."
"It would save Spike the money of having to buy a place, Buffy," Willow spoke up. "Me and Dawn are here to baby-sit. And Dawn had a good point about Rebecca needing female influences around. Plus, double the protection with a vampire and slayer in the house."
Buffy was thoughtfully silent. "It's up to Spike what he wants to do," she said finally. She looked at the vampire with his child nestled against him. "But know that you're free to stay here."