Beta'd by epd4 and Behind Blue Eyes. Thanks to both of them for all of their help. Any mistakes that remain are mine and mine alone.

A great big thanks to everyone that has commented. I appreciate each and every one.

Bruises

Chapter 14 – Good Buffy

The elevator doors opened and Spike jumped to his feet, quickly tugging his shirt over his head. He snatched up the bag of snacks and stepped out of the elevator, only realizing that he was on the wrong floor after the doors had closed behind him. He turned around and stabbed the button then startled slightly when Tara spoke from beside him. "Spike, would you come to my office for a few minutes? I'd like to talk to you about what just happened."

Spike didn't look at her as he muttered angrily, "Nothin' happened. You saw what he did to me… and what he'll continue to do to me when he gets home, although I imagine he'll be a bit cross with me, havin' him pinched and all, so it'll be a lot worse 'cause I'm gonna have to find a way to convince him to leave Mum alone. Now piss off and leave me be. I want to see Mum and Buffy and say goodbye while I've the chance, 'cause I doubt I'll ever see the outside of my house again once he gets hold of me."

Tara said quietly, "He's not going to be getting out, Spike, not until he's a doddering old man, if at all." Spike turned slightly toward her, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye and Tara smiled. "When I said that the case wouldn't see the inside of a courtroom, I meant that there's so many charges against him that his lawyer… if he's got a brain in his head at all… will advise him to take a deal. I've seen the pictures of you and that room and I've read your statement, and based on that, I can safely say that I will counsel the court against leniency of any kind."

Spike blinked and whispered, "What if he asks for a trial? What then? Could he get off?"

Tara shook her head, "Your father is hopefully not stupid enough to demand a trial, because in this case… showing those pictures in open court…. in front of a jury… would be very bad for him. Very, very bad. And I know the prosecutor personally. He's a pit bull, Spike, and believe me; he's going to do everything in his power to see your father behind bars for the rest of his natural life."

Spike's face turned hopeful and he took a deep breath. "He's really not coming back?"

"No, Spike, he's not coming back. You're safe."

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Spike stepped into Anne's room and walked slowly over to the bed. He dropped the bag of snacks in front of Buffy then leaned over the bed and handed Joyce a manila folder. "That's a schedule of appointments and some other things from my psychiatrist, Miss Maclay."

Joyce took the folder with a nod and started flipping through it. "She stopped in here and spoke to us earlier and I told her that you'd gone to the cafeteria. I didn't expect her to keep you this long, though. She said that she just wanted to meet you and get an appointment schedule worked out."

Buffy noticed his red-rimmed eyes and puffy face and stood up quickly. "Are you ok? What did she do?"

Spike took a deep breath as she wrapped her arms around him. "Just had my first session with her is all… things got a bit… emotional."

Buffy squeezed lightly and smiled up at him. "Guess it's time to hit the mall then. Turn that frown upside down."

Joyce chuckled, "Just because you like shopping doesn't mean that Spike does, sweetie."

Buffy smirked at her, "Mom, shopping is a universal happy-maker, and I'm sure we'll find something he likes." She looked up at Spike. "You like stuff, right?"

Anne smiled warmly, "Books. William loves books."

Buffy let Spike go and started fishing in the snack bag, "That'll work. There's like three bookstores in the mall and if he can't find something he likes there, then there's this old bookstore downtown." She pulled out a bottle of juice and a blueberry muffin wrapped in cellophane then looked up at Spike. "Ready to go?"

Spike looked at Anne then reached out and gently took Buffy's hand, "Could I maybe have a few minutes to speak with Mum?"

Buffy nodded, "Sure, Spike. I'll wait for you out in the hall, okay?"

Joyce got to her feet and gathered her purse, the thermos, and Spike's folder. "I'm going to the Gallery to finish unpacking that shipment. Buffy, you and Spike need to be home by seven for dinner, so make sure you get your shopping and visiting done before then, all right?"

Buffy stepped around the bed and pulled her mother into a one-armed hug. "I'll have him home on time, Mom. Have fun with your dusty relics. Love you."

Joyce returned the hug and placed a kiss to the top of Buffy's head. "Love you too, sweetie." She started for the door, then changed course and stepped up in front of Spike, pulling him into a hug. "Try to have a good time, Spike, and please try to drag Buffy out of the mall before it closes. See you at dinner."

Spike returned the hug and mumbled, "I'll try. Thanks, Joyce." She planted a kiss on his cheek then turned and headed out of the room. Buffy sent Spike a warm smile then followed her mother, pulling the door closed behind her.

Spike waited until the door had closed then sat down on the edge of Anne's bed and gently took her hand, "Mum… I… I need to know something."

Anne squeezed his fingers, "What is it, dear?"

He kept his gaze firmly locked on their joined hands as he said quietly, "I know that yesterday when I told you what Da was… you said that you didn't..." He took a deep breath, "Did you know? Any of it? Did you have any inkling of what he was doin' to me?"

Anne shook her head as tears started tracking slowly down her cheeks, "No, William! If I'd known…" She took a deep breath and ducked her head in shame, "I did know what he was capable of… from what he'd done to you when you were small… you didn't remember any of it… you were so young when he left…"

Spike mumbled, "I remember, Mum. I remember the belt… and you and I in the loo while he… he was so angry… and then he was crying and pleading with you… and then he'd gone. I remember it all… now. I didn't really when we first arrived here… just vague images… but when he started in on me again… it brought it all back."

Anne lifted her hand and pressed it to Spike's cheek, "I'm so sorry, William." She withdrew her hand and leaned back against her pillow, closing her eyes, "I shouldn't have brought us here… I thought because he was sober…" She choked back a sob, "You would have been safe had we stayed in London." She looked up at him with pleading eyes, "He was so sincere… and I was sure he'd changed… he wasn't drinking any longer. He hadn't had a drop in years, and I thought… thought that was his problem… the alcohol."

"No, I'm the problem." Spike glanced at his Mum's stricken face then looked guiltily down at the bed next to his leg, "Are you… are you… cross with me, Mum?"

Anne's eyes widened in confusion, "Whatever for?"

Spike mumbled, "I know you love him, Mum, and I don't fault you for that… he is your husband, after all. It's just… it's my fault that he's… that he has this… problem… if I wasn't so worthless… could be a proper son…"

Anne sat up and reached up sharply, grasping Spike's chin and lifting his face to meet her fierce gaze. "You are not worthless, William James Pratt! I'll not hear such nonsense! None of what that bastard did to you was your fault! None of it! I'll not have you blaming yourself because he's a sick, twisted little man. And you ARE a proper son… as proper a son as any parent could wish to have. If your father wasn't demented… he would have seen you as you are… a fine young man worthy of love and respect… not a 'toy' to be used for acting out his perverse, disgusting fantasies." She released her hold on his chin and gently caressed his cheek, "And I did love him, William, but no longer. I love you. You are all that matters to me now."

Spike leaned forward and wrapped his mother in a hug, his hot tears splashing against her neck, "I'm sorry, Mum"

Anne stroked his hair and murmured quietly as her own tears continued to streak down her face, "You have nothing to be sorry FOR, dear. I'm the only one out of the pair of us that should feel guilty about any of this. And I do, William, I do. I'm so sorry for not paying closer attention… I had noticed that something wasn't quite right with you… the changes in your behavior… your demeanor… I should have spoken to you about it, but instead I attributed it to your difficulties at school and assumed you'd work through it. I'm so sorry for failing you, William. I love you so much and I'm so sorry."

Spike clutched her tighter, "I love you too, Mum. So much."

They held each other for a while until they'd both calmed and their tears had stopped, then Spike sat back and scrubbed the sleeve of his shirt across his face. He took a deep breath and gave Anne a weak smile, "Here I am sobbin' like a nancy-boy all over my Mum again. Startin' to wonder if I'm seventeen or seven."

Anne smiled and reached up to brush the hair out of his face, "You're a strong young man, William, and your tears don't diminish you at all. You've made me very proud, you know. It took great courage to endure all that you have this past year…" She nodded toward the door, "And it also takes great courage to allow someone to help you when you need it."

Spike threw a smile over his shoulder at the door, "Buffy's been a great help, Mum. She seems to know just what I need when I need it."

Spike's smile warmed Anne's heart, "She's very excited about this 'mall crawl' that she's taking you on today…"

Spike chuckled, "She told you about that?" Anne nodded and Spike smirked, "She calls it 'retail therapy.' Not sure how buyin' things constitutes 'therapy,' but I'm willin' to give it a go, I suppose."

Anne took his hand and squeezed gently, "You'll come back to see me after your shopping trip, won't you?"

Spike leaned in and kissed her cheek, "Of course I will, Mum. Now please try to get some rest. You're completely knackered, I can tell."

Anne reached up to cup Spike's face, "It's all right, son. You needed to know my part in all this… even if I didn't play an active role; it was my blindness that allowed it to go on as long as it did." Spike opened his mouth and Anne gently placed her thumbs over it, shushing him. "No denials, William. Everything I've said is the absolute truth and I'll not have you trying to absolve me of any responsibility. Someday, I hope you'll be able to forgive me, but for now… I just want you to try to heal. Now go… have a good time."

Spike nodded then stood up from the bed and walked slowly toward the door. When he reached it, he turned and looked back at Anne. She was lying back on her pillow with her eyes closed, already asleep. Spike looked over her thin, pale form and blinked back a sudden tear as he whispered, "I forgive you."

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Buffy juggled her snacks as she fished in her pocket for her keys. "Hey, where's your snacks? Did you forget them in the bag?"

Spike shook his head, "No, I just bought myself a cup of tea to drink while you ladies talked."

Buffy looked over the top of the car at him as she pushed the unlock button. "We didn't have breakfast, Spike, aren't you hungry? I'm about to starve to death."

Spike blushed slightly and looked at the ground. "Yeah, I'm hungry, but I've learned to ignore it. Da would have me make him somethin' before he went to work… and most days he'd allow me to eat at the same time, so I got used to only eatin' once a day."

Buffy's eyes went wide. "Once a day? You haven't been eating lunch at school? I know I haven't seen you in the cafeteria this year, but I figured it was because you brought your own lunch from home."

Spike shook his head, "No. Da wouldn't pay for lunch and wouldn't allow me to bring anythin' from home, so I usually just hid out in the library durin' lunch. It's the safest place… the sports types rarely go there."

Buffy scowled, "I know I've probably mentioned it but… incredible asshole." She took a deep breath. "All right, we'll hit the food court as soon as we get there and get some food into you. And when we get home, I'll ask Mom to put some money in your lunch account at school." She pulled open her door and dropped into her seat as Spike did the same thing. Then it hit her. "Hey! I'm a sports type and I go to the library all the time!"

Spike smirked over at her, "Wondered if you were gonna pick up on that, pet. You know I didn't mean you, right?"

Buffy leaned across the center console and threaded her fingers into the hair on the back of Spike's head then pulled him into a blistering kiss. When they broke apart, Spike was dazed and panting. Buffy smiled over at him as she fastened her seatbelt and started the car. "Yeah. I know you didn't mean me." She nudged his arm and giggled. "Brat."

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"If you want the super-size meal, you can get the super-size meal, Spike. I'm getting one with a chocolate shake, and some nuggets, and one of those yogurt things, and probably an extra order of fries." At Spike's small nod, Buffy stepped up to the counter and placed their order, throwing in an order of four cherry pies for the hell of it.

Spike eyed the tray he was carrying as he followed Buffy to a table in the center of the court. "You're really going to eat all this, pet? How? There's hardly anythin' to you, where you gonna put it?"

Buffy sat down and started divvying up the food. "I eat like this all the time. I've got a good metabolism and cheerleading keeps me really busy, so I burn it off pretty quick. I'm not one of those girls that exist on salad and water, Spike. I like food."

Spike chuckled as she kept piling food on her side of the table. "Yeah… I can see that, luv."

She threw him a playful glare. "Just eat your lunch, brat boy; we've got major shopping to do."

Considering the amount of food stacked in front of the slight girl, it really didn't take long for her to consume it. She even snagged one of Spike's cherry pies and bit into it wearing a huge grin as he pretended to try to snatch it back. Spike managed to get through most of his food, leaving about half of his fries and the last cherry pie. He tucked the pie into his pocket for later and quickly cleared the table, depositing the trash into the nearest receptacle. Buffy was still working on her shake when he sat back down and leaned back in his chair, rubbing his distended belly with a groan. "I'm stuffed, luv. Don't think I'll need to eat for a week or so."

Buffy giggled, "Don't worry; you'll be starving again by the time we get out of here. I've got our route all planned and we'll be covering most of the mall, so you're gonna burn it all off."

Spike chuckled and squinted at the large clock hanging from the middle of the cathedral ceiling. "Only have about five hours if we want to make it back to hospital to visit with Mum. That gonna be enough time?"

Buffy nodded at him with a thoughtful look. "Yeah… should be… and we can always come back tomorrow. Why don't you wear your glasses anymore?"

Spike twitched a little at the sudden change of subject and ran his fingers through his hair. "They were broken."

"I know… I was there. What I want to know is why you didn't get new ones."

Spike shrugged, "Da wouldn't buy them."

Buffy scowled, "What about your Mom? Didn't she notice they were gone?"

Spike shook his head, "No. I had an old pair that I wore when she was at home."

"What about now? You haven't been wearing them while you're visiting… doesn't she wonder where they are?"

Spike shrugged, "She did, but I told her that I started carrying them in my pocket and only wear them when needed so they don't get broken again. As far as she knows, Da took me to get new glasses the day my old ones were broken."

Buffy's brow furrowed, "So… you've been walking around pretty much blind this whole time?"

Spike shrugged again, "I see well enough."

Buffy snorted, "Right, so the whole squinting at a huge clock that's only fifteen feet away thing is 'well enough' for you? How far can you see? Clearly, I mean."

Spike looked around and pointed to the trash receptacle about eight feet from his chair. "I can see the rubbish bin clearly. Anything beyond that is blurry, but I see well enough to keep from walkin' into things or trippin' over things."

Buffy nodded and stood up then moved to the trash bin and stuffed her empty shake cup inside. She stepped back to the table and took Spike's hand, pulling him to his feet. "Right. We're getting you some glasses. Let's go."

Spike hurried to keep up with her swift strides through the mostly deserted mall. "Where? I've no insurance for that, Buffy, and I'm a minor. I need Joyce or Mr. Giles to sign for me or something, don't I?"

Buffy shook her head as she stopped in front of a mall map. "Nope. This place here…" She pointed to a small blue rectangle that was sandwiched between two orange rectangles. "They'll make glasses for a dog if it's got the cash. No parental units required. You could even get contacts if you wanted." She turned and looked up at him. "Do you want contacts instead of glasses?"

Spike's brow furrowed, "Um… never much fancied stickin' bits of plastic in my eyes… but I could get used to it, I suppose. What do you think?"

She smiled, "Well, you look really sexy in your glasses, but they do kind of hide your eyes… maybe we could get both. Then you could decide which you like better."

Spike nodded with a grin, "I'm game, luv, lead the way. It'll be nice to be able to see again."

Buffy leaned up and kissed him gently, "That explains why you stopped smiling back when I'd smile at you. You couldn't really see me, could you?"

Spike shook his head, "Not clearly… but I knew you were there. Could smell your perfume or lotion or whatever… vanilla with a hint of strawberry, right?" Buffy nodded with a smile. "And I'd listen to you talkin' with your mates. Love the sound of your voice, kitten. Listenin' to you made my life bearable, and the few times you were close enough for me to see clearly… you're beautiful, Buffy. Effulgent."

Buffy sighed happily and pulled him down into a kiss, only breaking away from his luscious lips when an old woman cleared her throat as she passed by. Buffy turned to smile at her and giggled, "My boyfriend just told me I'm effulgent and for that he gets a kiss… deal with it." She turned away from the scowling woman and pulled Spike's lips back to hers, moaning when his tongue traced the seam. The kiss deepened as Buffy slid her fingers into Spike's hair and pulled him closer. His hands settled on her waist, thumbs brushing lightly against bare skin as their tongues tangled and danced. When they broke away for air, she pressed her forehead to his and murmured. "My boyfriend. God, he's a good kisser."

Spike chuckled and moved his lips to Buffy's neck, nipping lightly as he murmured. "If that's what a compliment gets me… expect to hear things like that a lot, kitten. Beautiful. Lovely. Ravishing."

Buffy let him nibble on her neck for a little bit longer then pulled his mouth back to hers, mumbling against his lips. "God… I could do this all day… but we should get going before I let my hands start doing the naughty touching they're screaming at me to do." She planted a firm kiss on his mouth then backed up, chest heaving. "Okay. Going to be good Buffy now. No more touching of the smokin' hot boyfriend." She took his hand and started leading him down the large, airy passageway. "At least not until we're out of the mall and somewhere a little more private."

Spike's dazed expression melted into a wide grin of anticipation as he followed along behind her.