Title: Unexpected Welcomes
Author: NevermindDaria
Disclaimer: The following intellectual property has been, in part, previously claimed by its various owners. All other intellectual property is my own.
Rating: PG13
Summary: Flaming Post-Grave fic: Spike returns from Africa to all-around unexpected welcomes. Xander stops acting like a rancid pile of dung. Dawn finally gets to be a real person. Buffy starts to like breathing again. Part 10 - Vampire in Tears.
Setting/Spoilers: Set four months after "Grave".
***
XANDER: Hey, girls, where do you want this punching bag?
In the alleyway behind the Magic Box was quite an assortment of workout gear waiting for Xander to haul in. He'd just gotten everything off the truck when Dawn came out into the Saturday morning sun to help him.
DAWN: Oh, that should probably go by that wall over there. You need any help carrying that stuff?
XANDER: Yeah, that would be great.
They were soon joined in the new and expanded training room by Willow and Anya.
WILLOW: Ok, what do you two think we should do for advertising? I say posters, Anya says really expensive newspaper ads.
DAWN: (grunted, while carrying a big medicine ball) I'm with posters. Ooh, and fliers. I bet there's lots of kids at Sunnydale High who'd be interested. I could post stuff in the halls and hand out fliers to people.
ANYA: I like that idea, Dawn. I still say that a professional-looking newspaper ad's the way to go, though.
XANDER: Well, we could do both. It's not like we'd have to take out full page ads or anything.
ANYA: Why not? We want to grab people's attention, don't we?
WILLOW: Hey! I've got it! Dawn's gonna hand out fliers to high school kids, right? Buffy can hand out fliers to people she saves!
DAWN: Perfect!
XANDER: Now how come I'm not that smart?
WILLOW: Yeah, well, we all love you anyway.
Anya's eyes went wide, and she blushed a bit. Not wanting Xander to see, she quickly turned her head towards a very interesting panel of wood in the doorframe.
DAWN: Hey, Anya, after I finish with the lugging, could you help me some with my history homework? It's middle ages stuff, and I thought since you were there, you might be able to explain things better than the book.
ANYA: (smiling gratefully at Dawn) Sure! I really liked that time. I don't know why they call them the Dark Ages. It was really exciting, all the dueling and such. If it weren't for the really bad smells, that would be my favorite era.
***
Willow wondered casually if the middle ages smelled anything like a crypt as she stood waiting outside Spike's door. When it opened, Spike briefly looked disappointed that it wasn't Buffy who'd knocked, then looked relieved that he'd get to talk to Willow, who herself looked exhausted.
SPIKE: Hey, Wil. C'mon in. What's up?
WILLOW: I spent all morning at the Magic Box. Oh God. It was intense.
SPIKE: (concerned) Are you alright? Here, you can sit down and tell me all about it.
He led her to the comfy chair, where she flopped down and allowed her face to show what she was really feeling, which apparently was anxiety and disappointment.
WILLOW: I haven't felt anything like that since spring. It was like the magic was pulling at me, begging me to go back. It got really hard to pretend I wasn't struggling. Dawn really wanted me to be there today - we're setting up the Magic Box for the self-defense school now, and she wants me to feel like I'm an important member of the group - so I couldn't say no. I'll be fine, it wasn't like I was hanging on by a thread or anything, but it was so hard. One little reminder, and I feel all the guilt all over again.
SPIKE: Tell me about it. (after a pause, with a small smile) But Red, you're really doing well.
WILLOW: Is it always gonna be this hard?
SPIKE: I honestly don't know. (with a smirk) You might wanna ask Angel that. (seriously again) I think it probably gets easier with time. It has to. I do know this: it's a hell of a lot easier when the people you've wronged are willing to forgive and forget. Looks like your friends are.
WILLOW: (quietly) I guess so. It doesn't make any sense, but here recently Dawn seems to have done both. She comes to *me* to talk about this new guy she's dating. (smiling humbly) She treats me like one of her closest friends. And sometimes I can forget what I did long enough to really be her friend in return. Then it all comes crashing back on me and I feel like I don't deserve any of this.
SPIKE: See? You've come so far. You're truly sorry for what you've done, and the people you've hurt know that. Now you're moving on with your life. You deserve what you have with Dawn. You deserve to be happy.
Willow looked over at Spike, but couldn't meet his eyes, as they were staring at the floor in an expression of intense sorrow. She got up and went to sit on the floor next to him.
WILLOW: (quietly) You deserve it too, y'know.
SPIKE: (brushing her off) You and I both know I don't. It's better that way. I mean, it's not like it changes anything. I'll still fight evil with the Scoobies and everything. Well, that is, if she doesn't...
WILLOW: She wants you to stay.
SPIKE: (casually) Right. Yeah. So anyway, did you say Dawn was dating?
***
Buffy knocked. Buffy Summers, the Vampire Slayer, knocked at the door to Spike's crypt. When he opened the door, Spike was shocked to find the tiny woman entering the doorway. He stood aside as she entered, she looking purposeful to conceal nervousness, humility, and hope, and he looking flabbergasted, awed, and fearful. She spoke up immediately once she was inside.
BUFFY: I shut up and listened when you had something you needed to say, and I need you to return the favor. Ok?
Spike nodded.
BUFFY: Attempted rape is never ok. Nor is abuse, physical or emotional. That doesn't mean that they can't be forgiven. I forgave you for what happened in the bathroom as soon as you left the room. Now I've finally forgiven myself. I don't want to hurt you anymore. I missed you, Spike. I- I care about you. You were never just a sex toy, much as I wanted to believe that; we were always more than that. I love you, Spike.
With that, she turned around and walked out into the night. She left behind a vampire in tears.
***
Gee, you don't want Buffy and Spike to have an actual two-way conversation, now do you? All in time, my dear readers, all in time. And not a long time at that - this story will wrap up in its thirteenth chapter, which will be ready by week's end.
Author: NevermindDaria
Disclaimer: The following intellectual property has been, in part, previously claimed by its various owners. All other intellectual property is my own.
Rating: PG13
Summary: Flaming Post-Grave fic: Spike returns from Africa to all-around unexpected welcomes. Xander stops acting like a rancid pile of dung. Dawn finally gets to be a real person. Buffy starts to like breathing again. Part 10 - Vampire in Tears.
Setting/Spoilers: Set four months after "Grave".
***
XANDER: Hey, girls, where do you want this punching bag?
In the alleyway behind the Magic Box was quite an assortment of workout gear waiting for Xander to haul in. He'd just gotten everything off the truck when Dawn came out into the Saturday morning sun to help him.
DAWN: Oh, that should probably go by that wall over there. You need any help carrying that stuff?
XANDER: Yeah, that would be great.
They were soon joined in the new and expanded training room by Willow and Anya.
WILLOW: Ok, what do you two think we should do for advertising? I say posters, Anya says really expensive newspaper ads.
DAWN: (grunted, while carrying a big medicine ball) I'm with posters. Ooh, and fliers. I bet there's lots of kids at Sunnydale High who'd be interested. I could post stuff in the halls and hand out fliers to people.
ANYA: I like that idea, Dawn. I still say that a professional-looking newspaper ad's the way to go, though.
XANDER: Well, we could do both. It's not like we'd have to take out full page ads or anything.
ANYA: Why not? We want to grab people's attention, don't we?
WILLOW: Hey! I've got it! Dawn's gonna hand out fliers to high school kids, right? Buffy can hand out fliers to people she saves!
DAWN: Perfect!
XANDER: Now how come I'm not that smart?
WILLOW: Yeah, well, we all love you anyway.
Anya's eyes went wide, and she blushed a bit. Not wanting Xander to see, she quickly turned her head towards a very interesting panel of wood in the doorframe.
DAWN: Hey, Anya, after I finish with the lugging, could you help me some with my history homework? It's middle ages stuff, and I thought since you were there, you might be able to explain things better than the book.
ANYA: (smiling gratefully at Dawn) Sure! I really liked that time. I don't know why they call them the Dark Ages. It was really exciting, all the dueling and such. If it weren't for the really bad smells, that would be my favorite era.
***
Willow wondered casually if the middle ages smelled anything like a crypt as she stood waiting outside Spike's door. When it opened, Spike briefly looked disappointed that it wasn't Buffy who'd knocked, then looked relieved that he'd get to talk to Willow, who herself looked exhausted.
SPIKE: Hey, Wil. C'mon in. What's up?
WILLOW: I spent all morning at the Magic Box. Oh God. It was intense.
SPIKE: (concerned) Are you alright? Here, you can sit down and tell me all about it.
He led her to the comfy chair, where she flopped down and allowed her face to show what she was really feeling, which apparently was anxiety and disappointment.
WILLOW: I haven't felt anything like that since spring. It was like the magic was pulling at me, begging me to go back. It got really hard to pretend I wasn't struggling. Dawn really wanted me to be there today - we're setting up the Magic Box for the self-defense school now, and she wants me to feel like I'm an important member of the group - so I couldn't say no. I'll be fine, it wasn't like I was hanging on by a thread or anything, but it was so hard. One little reminder, and I feel all the guilt all over again.
SPIKE: Tell me about it. (after a pause, with a small smile) But Red, you're really doing well.
WILLOW: Is it always gonna be this hard?
SPIKE: I honestly don't know. (with a smirk) You might wanna ask Angel that. (seriously again) I think it probably gets easier with time. It has to. I do know this: it's a hell of a lot easier when the people you've wronged are willing to forgive and forget. Looks like your friends are.
WILLOW: (quietly) I guess so. It doesn't make any sense, but here recently Dawn seems to have done both. She comes to *me* to talk about this new guy she's dating. (smiling humbly) She treats me like one of her closest friends. And sometimes I can forget what I did long enough to really be her friend in return. Then it all comes crashing back on me and I feel like I don't deserve any of this.
SPIKE: See? You've come so far. You're truly sorry for what you've done, and the people you've hurt know that. Now you're moving on with your life. You deserve what you have with Dawn. You deserve to be happy.
Willow looked over at Spike, but couldn't meet his eyes, as they were staring at the floor in an expression of intense sorrow. She got up and went to sit on the floor next to him.
WILLOW: (quietly) You deserve it too, y'know.
SPIKE: (brushing her off) You and I both know I don't. It's better that way. I mean, it's not like it changes anything. I'll still fight evil with the Scoobies and everything. Well, that is, if she doesn't...
WILLOW: She wants you to stay.
SPIKE: (casually) Right. Yeah. So anyway, did you say Dawn was dating?
***
Buffy knocked. Buffy Summers, the Vampire Slayer, knocked at the door to Spike's crypt. When he opened the door, Spike was shocked to find the tiny woman entering the doorway. He stood aside as she entered, she looking purposeful to conceal nervousness, humility, and hope, and he looking flabbergasted, awed, and fearful. She spoke up immediately once she was inside.
BUFFY: I shut up and listened when you had something you needed to say, and I need you to return the favor. Ok?
Spike nodded.
BUFFY: Attempted rape is never ok. Nor is abuse, physical or emotional. That doesn't mean that they can't be forgiven. I forgave you for what happened in the bathroom as soon as you left the room. Now I've finally forgiven myself. I don't want to hurt you anymore. I missed you, Spike. I- I care about you. You were never just a sex toy, much as I wanted to believe that; we were always more than that. I love you, Spike.
With that, she turned around and walked out into the night. She left behind a vampire in tears.
***
Gee, you don't want Buffy and Spike to have an actual two-way conversation, now do you? All in time, my dear readers, all in time. And not a long time at that - this story will wrap up in its thirteenth chapter, which will be ready by week's end.