It Happened One Night
By: Golden Buffy
Summary: Dawn confronted Buffy about the baby and Spike. Willow and Tara made some magical lotion to protect Buffy, and Giles placed a phone call enlisting Wesley's help.
Disclaimer: I had a "ride all day" pass in the Buffyverse, Joss sent it to me.
Author's Notes: Thanks JustSue for doing another fab beta-ing job! I tweaked a bit with the timeline, Xander and Anya are already engaged and making wedding plans. Awesome feedback guys, thanks! You make me do the happy, which makes Mr. Muse want to write more! So keep it up! SORRY Real life got in the way, but I'm back and hope to continue with the updates. I hope I haven't lost anyone, if so please come back,lol.
Chapter Seven: Say You, Say Me
The stupid neither forgive nor forget; the naive forgive and forget; the wise forgive but do not forget.
Thomas Szasz, The Second Sin (1973)
Forgiveness does not always lead to a healed relationship. Some people are not capable of love, and it might be wise to let them go along with your anger. Wish them well, and let them go their way.
Real Live Preacher, July, 2003
The hatred you're carrying is a live coal in your heart - far more damaging to yourself than to them.
Lawana Blackwell, The Dowry of Miss Lydia Clark, 1999
Anya pushed the apartment door forcibly open and marched inside. She had stopped and picked up Xander, still angry at him and his stupid mouth. Xander knew the ex-vengeance demon was pissed, he just couldn't say how much, but if he counted her not speaking to him, he guessed it must be pretty bad. Neither spoke that night. Anya making it perfectly clear that Xander's bed would be the sofa.
The sound of banging drew Xander from a fitful sleep. Sitting up he flung his feet over the side of the couch, resting them on the floor, sighing. It was time to face World War Three, currently being waged in the kitchen.
Poised at the sink, tossing pans back and forth, Anya was trying to make as much noise as possible to disturb the brunette's sleep. She wanted to talk. Oh, she knew how rude and uncaring human males could be, but from Xander, and to his friend, Anya was taken back. How could the man she loved, wanted to marry, have such hatred coiled in his heart? And the blonde couldn't help but wonder… how did Xander truly feel about her, deep down inside? She was an ex-vengeance demon after all.
"How could you?" she asked him not bothering to turn around. Her body was tense and Anya needed to flex her hands to relieve some of the stress.
"What do you want me to say, Ahn? I-I just couldn't… I mean… how am I supposed to support Buffy with this? I'm not good at being all support-o guy when she's doing something so stupid." He sighed tiredly.
"What she's doing… it's not stupid! And- and you can't control her life, Xander. Buffy is a grown woman, she can make choices for herself, and right now she needs the support of all her friends." Her voice dropped to a low whisper as she fought off the emotions that threatened to overwhelm her. "And what about me, Xander? How can you hold such hatred towards demons and still love me? I was a demon, for eleven hundred years. I maimed… killed… tortured, and loved it all the while." She turned to face him. "Do you hate me?"
Xander was already feeling like an ass for the way he'd reacted towards Buffy and Anya's words, and pleading doe eyes, only made him feel worse. Then she dropped this bombshell on him, asking if he truly loved her. He was ashamed and disappointed in himself as the images of not only Buffy's, but also his fiancée's hurt face, flashed before his mind's eye. What had set him off so much? Well, he knew the answer to that; it was his desire for Buffy to have all things normal. Normal meaning him, if he was truthful with himself, and because of that revelation he'd caused Anya to question her place in his life.
He was such a loser.
His years of sitting on the side line, hoping and praying that Buffy would see him as more than her best friend, more than her brother like figure, as the lover he so desperately wanted to be to her. So when Angel dropped the Slayer like a bad habit it had made him want to stand up and sing, to buy a round of jelly doughnuts for all. The Xan-Man knew that, for once, something on the Hellmouth had gone right.
When Riley popped up and started dating Buffy, yes, Xander was hurt that it wasn't him, but Riley was normal guy. And Normal Guy in his book could be dealt with, even if said guy worked for a secret government agency. That was okay too, since it took care of the demon problem in Sunnydale. And now that he thought about, Anya had breathed a sigh of relief when The Chosen One started dating the ex-commando – now Xander knew why.
Then there was Spike - the main player in this whole drama. Xander had known he was trouble the moment he'd set eyes on the cocky demon all those years ago, but he thought it was only in the "I'm gonna drain you and yours" kind of way. Never in a million years did the idea cross the brunette's mind that Buffy would allow that monster to touch her. But she had, and now… a baby. If Buffy had only done her job and sent a nice pointy stake into the vampire's chest, none of this would be happening now. 'And sadly, you still wouldn't be her boyfriend.'
"Xander! Xander, are you listening to me?" Anya had appeared before him, hands on her hips and face twisted as if she'd just sucked on a lemon. "Well, if you haven't heard, I'll repeat it for you. No orgasms until you answer my question and march yourself over to Buffy's to apologize. Be sure to grovel at her feet!"
Xander only looked up at his fiancée in defeat; he knew she was right… but still the words wouldn't come.
"I just stopped by to get my axe…" Buffy started to explain but paused when she saw the visitor in her kitchen, the one who was looking quite at home. "What is he doing here?" she asked, hands firmly on her slender hips.
Joyce had just finished placing two mugs in the sink when she turned to smile at her daughter. "Now, Buffy, where are your manners?"
Buffy glanced over at the vampire sitting very comfortably on one of the chairs at the island. She glared, he smirked, and it was all she could do not to send a stake flying through the air. Why was it that Spike could infuriate her with just one look? She chalked it up to evil undead super powers.
"Spike, why isn't it nice to see you," she gritted out through clenched teeth.
"Now, now, Slayer no need to get hostile. Joyce here invited me over for a cuppa, how could a bloke resist?" Spike was loving this; Joyce was having Buffy make with the nice, and seeing how pissed off it made her made him desire her all the more. Could un-life get any better?
'Mom had invited Spike over, why and for what? What ulterior motives did the woman have?' Buffy wondered as she stood in the doorway, watching as her mom laughed at something the vamp said. 'And just when did Spike get dimples?' Buffy wondered as he laughed at the reply her mother gave him. And why were said dimples making Buffy all fuzzy headed?
'Gee, mom, thanks for the moral support.' Buffy thought eyeing her mother. It hadn't taken Joyce very long to come to terms with her daughter being impregnated by her arch nemesis before inviting him back for a chat… and cocoa. Why didn't Joyce make cocoa with little marshmallows for her anymore? Buffy began to pout. This so wasn't fair. 'Stupid vampire, sucking up to my mom!'
Spike, picking up on the negative vibes coming off the Slayer, and not fancying a broken nose this early in the evening stood, reaching for his leather duster, draped over the chair. "Thanks for the hot chocolate, Joyce. We'll have to do this again."
"Oh, do you have to go so soon?" Buffy mocked, bidding her pouty lip good bye to bat her eyes demurely at him. "Good, don't let the door hit you on the way out."
'Okay, hold up, one minute you're all with the 'yay, Spike will never leave my side' and now you're all with the 'get out of my house before I dust you.' Seriously Summers, you gotta get these hormones under control.'
"Buffy." Joyce sent a warning glare at her daughter, causing the Slayer to blush slightly. "Don't go Spike, we haven't finished our talk. I was looking forward to telling you about this new piece just delivered from Africa."
"Well, I wouldn' want to impose…"
"NO! I mean, no. Silly me, you came to visit my mom, and I was just here to get my axe. No need to go, Spike. Really." Buffy finished with a crooked smile with a nervous giggle and, those butterflies were starting to take flight in her stomach. Spike wasn't making it any better looking at her as if she had grown a second head, and it had started speaking in French.
"Where's Dawn?" The Slayer asked, glancing around the kitchen, desperate for a change of topic.
"You just missed her, she left about an hour ago. She had a date with some young boy from school. John Doe, if I recall correctly."
Both Slayer and Vampire looked at the elder Summers in surprise.
"Let me get this straight. You, let Dawn go on a date… with a boy… named John Doe?" Buffy and Spike shared a look before bursting into laughter.
"Well, I don't see what the problem is, he seemed like a sweet boy… really," Joyce added off handily thinking about her meeting with the teen. But she had to laugh as well, who would name their son John Doe?
The doorbell rang, breaking the three from their mirth as Buffy excused herself to answer it. It was weird, she and Spike standing in her kitchen laughing, at the same joke… way wiggy. And even higher on the wiggins scale, Spike and her mom sipping hot cocoa, looking so comfortable, so at ease, like… like some Brady Bunch rejects.
Could someone please explain why Joyce clearly had a relationship with Spike that should have been obviously marked "Buffy's boyfriend" and, reserved for just that purpose. Not for the bleached wonder. The kind Buffy desperately wanted her mother to have with Angel, or Riley.
Reaching the door Buffy opening it, her smile quickly disappearing from her face.
"Xander." It was cold, and to the point, no friendliness involved.
"Hey, Buffy. Uh, can I come in… just for a sec?"
Buffy stepped to the side to allow him entrance then closed the door behind him.
"Can we talk?" Xander asked, trying to read the Slayer's face for any emotion other than betrayal.
She didn't reply only headed for the formal living room, sitting down on one of the chairs. Following her lead the young construction worker sat as well, resting his hands on his knees.
Silence stretched between the two.
"Look Xander, I really don't have time for this so make with the talking."
Xander visibly flinched at the harshness in her tone, but he guessed he deserved it. He had said some pretty nasty things to her the other night. Running a hand through his hair, he pressed forward.
"I know this is the last thing you'd want to hear. But, I really feel awful for what I said Buffy. Yes, I was hurt, and confused, and just not with the understanding. And hey, I only want the best for you, kiddo, so if my intentions get a little misdirected, I'm sorry. You need supportive friends right now, not those dealing with their own personal demons, and I should have seen that. Xander bad. Xander sorry. Ready to jump back on the "We Love Buffy" band wagon if you'll let me."
As much as Buffy wanted to hate Xander and stay mad at him, she couldn't find it in her heart. He was sorry, and had apologized, quite nicely even. Plus, she had to take into consideration the whole "get out of jail for free" card, which all best friends carried. It would be in opposition to the best friend handbook if she didn't forgive him.
"I forgive you, Xander. You're lucky cause you're my friend. But if you ever, and I mean ever, say those nasty, hurtful things to me again, human or not, I will make sure you suffer a long and painful death. Got it?"
"Got it. No more me inserting foot into mouth!"
The two got up and shared a hug, before Buffy walked Xander to the door.
Swinging the axe with a whistle Buffy cursed her luck. She was in a junkyard hunting for that slimy blob with Spike in tow. Giles had called telling her there was a sighting and to go slay it. Like she didn't know what her job description was already. But Joyce had other plans, and quickly acted upon them.
Joyce turned questioning Buffy. "Did you give further thought to what we talked about yesterday morning?" She was standing by the open kitchen door.
"Yes, mom, I did, and still am." Buffy had moved to stand in the doorway, hoisting the axe onto her left shoulder. "See, this is me thinking."
"That's good dear." Joyce said patting Buffy's shoulder. "So you'll have no problem taking Spike with you on patrol. Maybe the two of you can talk."
As Joyce shared her plan she not so gently ushered her daughter out the kitchen door. Buffy stumbled a bit, caught off guard by her mother's assault, before turning to argue against the idea. There was no way she was going to willingly patrol with a vampire. Well, any vampire besides Angel that is. Before she could protest her mother stopped her with "the look" before turning to Spike to wish him good night.
Matchmaker, no, but President of the "tell Spike about the baby" fan club, maybe. Joyce's desire for both blonds to come to an understanding, for the baby's sake, was quite clear. Ditch the whole "I want you dead because you're my mortal enemy" and become neutral towards each other. The Slayer figured she could try; she did let Spike get close enough to get her pregnant, so trying to get along with him couldn't hurt… much.
Something was up; the Slayer was quiet, and Spike was still a bit taken back by her asking him to stay earlier. He wondered if it had something to do with the new scent she carried and the hint of magic it contained. It had been itching at his senses all evening and he was dying to question her about it.
"Didn't know you dabbled in magic, Slayer." It was a statement not a question.
Buffy didn't reply, only giving him that 'deer-in-the-headlights' look she had perfected as she continued walking.
Regarding the petite slayer with a raised brow he spoke, "Just wondering is all. I haven't seen you and when I do... well you go and change your smell."
'Darn vampires and their enhanced senses.'
"Okay, ewww! Stop sniffing me, that's just gross. It's nothing. Willow's into making lotions, she's on some organic kick. I think it's something to do with being a witch and taking from the earth. She asked me to test some. Thinking about selling it as protection in a bottle. Gotta love e-bay!" she babbled an explanation.
Silence hung between the pair as they continued to scope out the blobby demon. Buffy so wasn't thinking about her mother or her sister, or the fact that she even contemplated telling Spike about the pregnancy. Nope, no confession was brewing on her lips.
"Spike," Buffy stilled for a moment not sure just what to say, her brain and mouth doing battle. She wanted to scream at him for being so… so non-vampire like, and causing so many emotions to stir within her. Why couldn't they stick to the script? – Slayer meet vampire, vampire challenges slayer, vampire meets a dusty end. That was simple, but this… well. "There's, I mean…a…I think there's something you should know."
'Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!' Buffy's brain shouted at her. Her eyes darted around the piles of scrap looking for a distraction, anything that would stop her from saying something she knew she'd later regret. There! The blobby demon! Yay! Relief flooded through Buffy giving her a reason to actually shut up. She had a demon to slay.