A Glimpse of Heaven
Chapter 21
Buffy was so lost in thought, that she barely managed to look up as the loud blaring of a car horn broke the silence around her and alerted her to her position in the middle of the road. Her eyes widened as she sidestepped the car and turned her head to glare at the driver as he shouted obscenities at her as he passed. Sighing deeply, she looked up and realized she was home.
Taking the steps very slowly, Buffy climbed to the porch and was met at the door by her father. He didn't look happy and as he ushered her in, she had to wonder what she had done.
Seeing her mother in the living room waiting only caused her anxiety about what was to come heighten as her father told her to take a seat.
"How is William doing, Buffy?" Joyce asked as Buffy took a seat in the armchair and prepared herself for the worst. "Rupert said he hasn't been out of his room but a few times."
"He's better, I think," Buffy told her, surprised. She wasn't even aware that her parents knew, but seeing how her mother had mentioned Giles, she suspected they must talk more than they let on. "He's still in pain and the bruises are still there, but he seems to be getting around a little better."
"Well that's good," Joyce smiled before looking up at Hank.
Buffy followed her mother's gaze and watched as her father took a seat beside Joyce before looking at her. He didn't say anything at first, which just added to the worrisome thoughts running through her mind, but when he straightened in his seat and locked eyes on her, she couldn't help but swallow the lump that formed in her throat.
"We had a visitor tonight," Hank told her, smiling slightly at her distressed features.
"Oh. Who?" Buffy asked him before glancing over at her mother.
"That so-called boyfriend of yours," Hank said distastefully.
"Hank," Joyce whispered, nudging him with her elbow before smiling over at Buffy.
"What?" He snapped, throwing Joyce a hard look. "I told you that boy was up to no good."
Buffy sat watching in amazement as a small argument broke out between her parents on Hank's tact before they settled down and returned their attention to Buffy. She watched them both and wondered what had happened while she had been gone. When her father stood and looked like he could burst at any moment, Buffy shrank into the cushion of the chair when he turned to her.
"I know we promised to never interfere in your social life unless it became a problem, Buffy," Hank started as he paced the length of the living room, "but seeing how that person showed up on our doorstep spouting lies, I can't just sit by and let you continue to see him without knowing what he really is."
"And that would be what exactly?" Buffy asked, confused.
"A no good, lying piece of…,"
"HANK!" Joyce yelled, standing up from her seat and glaring hard at him.
Hank stared at his wife, shaking his head before he sat down hard on the end of the couch. "Fine. If you think you can handle this better, then be my guest."
Joyce huffed at him before turning back to Buffy and giving her a small smile. "Why don't we take this up to your room?" Joyce suggested to Buffy before turning to glance at Hank. "I think someone needs to cool off before they get into the conversation."
Buffy nodded her head before standing and following her mother to the stairs. She glanced back at her father and watched him mumble to himself before she climbed the steps behind her mother. She didn't know what had happened tonight, but was glad for the distraction. The less time she had to worry about Spike and her growing feelings for him the better.
Willow smiled as she looked down the hall at Buffy before a frown creased her face. Her friend had been acting peculiar of late and today was no exception. Walking the length of the hall, Willow stopped behind Buffy and tapped her on the shoulder.
Buffy screeched and jumped before turning frightened eyes to Willow. Her hand had automatically latched onto her shirt over her heart and the thumping the organ was now doing left her dizzy. "Geez Will, don't do that!" Buffy chastised. "You almost gave me a heart attack."
"Sorry," Willow told her, frowning slightly as Buffy huffed at her and poked her head back around the corner of the hall. "Um, who are we spying on?" Willow whispered as she tried to see what Buffy was looking at.
"Not spying," Buffy whispered. "Just watching."
"Okay. Watching who?" Willow whispered back, trying again to look over Buffy's shoulder.
"Angel and his buddies," Buffy told her before ducking back around the corner with wide eyes. "Shit! I think he saw me."
Willow watched as Buffy looked around the corner again before she grabbed Buffy's arm and started to drag her away. "Okay missy. I want to know what is going on. You didn't call last night and I know for a fact you saw Spike and now you're making with the spying and stuff. What is going on?"
Buffy sighed heavily before pulling her arm free from Willow and looking at her friend. "It's a long story."
"So, I'm a good listener."
Buffy glanced down the hall as the bell rang before turning back to Willow. "Guess I'll have to spill later. Time for class," she said.
"Oh no you don't," Willow said, grabbing her arm and leading her toward the girls' bathroom and going inside. Once they were safely behind closed doors, Willow stared at Buffy and crossed her arms over her chest. "Okay, now spill."
"You're going to be late for class," Buffy reminded her.
"I don't care," Willow said, sternly. "I want to know what's going on with you. First you're all over Angel and making with the Spike hating only to reverse that little drama by kissing him. Now you're spying on Angel and worrying over Spike like he's the most important thing in the world. I just don't get you Buffy."
Buffy let out another long sigh before placing her book bag on the floor and leaning back against the sink. How could she explain everything to Willow and not look like a total head case? "It's a really long story Wills."
"I said I don't care. Now why are you spying on Angel?" she asked.
Buffy sighed heavily, wondering just how much she should tell Willow before looking up at her friend's resolve face and giving her a tight smile. "Well, he came by the house last night when I was over at Spike's," Buffy told her. "Apparently Dad let him in and he said some things about Spike that weren't true."
"What kind of things?"
"Well, he told dad that the reason Spike was beat up was because he was dealing drugs or some such nonsense and a whole list of other things that I can't even remember. Apparently the only reason he came over was to rub Spike's name in the ground."
"Wow," Willow said, shocked. "What did your dad say?"
"He didn't believe him of course," Buffy told her. "Mom said they had talked to Giles earlier in the week and they knew the whole story. Angel showing up only put one more nail in the coffin that Dad was building for him."
"So why do you think Angel would go to so much trouble?"
"To throw the suspicion off of himself over Spike's beating."
"So you still think Angel is the one who beat Spike up?" Willow asked.
"I'm more convinced now than ever."
"Here come our beauties now," Jesse grinned as he saw Buffy and Willow walking toward their usual lunch table.
"Hey guys," Willow grinned as she and Buffy took their seats.
Friendly greetings were exchanged between the four friends and conversations were started just like any other day as Buffy had immediately started searching for Angel. She hadn't seen him around much today and wondered if it had anything to do with him showing up at her house the night before.
She had told Willow everything short of the "dying and ending up there" part and about the sudden change of heart where Spike was concerned. She still hadn't figured that one out for herself and didn't think telling would help. She was still confused where he was concerned and the more she thought about it, the more her mind ran away with her.
She could only imagine what Spike thought when she ran out on him the night before but knew if she'd stayed, she would have make a complete fool out of herself. Why she had been fantasizing about kissing him in the first place was a puzzle in itself. The normal icky feelings she would have got at the mention of it made her skin tingle and her desire to see if it would have been as wonderful as she hoped it would just wouldn't go away.
"Is that okay with you Buff?" Xander asked, looking across the table at her.
"Huh?" Buffy asked, completely missing the whole conversation.
"Friday night? Movie? Ring any bells?" He joked.
"Oh yeah. Sure. Whatever you guys decide is fine with me," she told them.
"Great then. We'll pick you ladies up at six," Xander told them just as the bell rang.
Giles smiled as he walked down the hall toward Spike's room, knocking on the door before opening it. "I see you're up."
"Unfortunately," Spike grumbled. He was still in a foul mood from Buffy leaving so abruptly the night before and had spent the entire day trying to figure out what had happened and seeing the happy, smiling face on his uncle wasn't helping matters.
"Well, come then," Giles told him as he approached the bed. "I have a surprise for you."
"What is it?" Spike asked as Giles leaned down and grabbed his arm, trying to help him up. "Better not be another one of your black and white flicks 'cause I'm not in the mood to try and figure those things out tonight."
"It's not," Giles chuckled, helping Spike to his feet before reaching over to the bedside table and grabbing his glasses.
Spike rolled his still swollen eyes as Giles handed him the spectacles before slipping them on his face and started out of his room. Any other day he would have protested to leaving his confined space but the more time he spent alone, the more his thoughts turned to Buffy. A little change of scenery might just be good.
Rounding the corner of the hall and stepping into the small sitting area, Spike had a flurry of mixed emotions run through him before a tiny smile covered his face. There, sitting in his living room was all his friends and more importantly, Buffy.
"There he is," Xander said smiling brightly. "Though you might want to sit in on fabulous Friday movie night."
"Yeah, the girls are fun but they can't appreciate the violence of a great manly flick," Jesse said grinning as he sat down in front of the coffee table.
Spike's smile widened as Giles helped him into the room before he looked at Buffy. She was sitting on the sofa, looking at anything but him. He wasn't sure what was up with her, but hoped before the night was out, he'd know.
To Be Continued…….
A/N…Before you say it, I know that was a little on the short side but I think my brain went on vacation and forgot to tell me. I'm still completely blocked on 'Sweet William' and no matter what I do, I can't seem to come up with anything. RL is very hectic at the moment and I'm surprised I managed to write anything at all, so just bear with me while I get things worked out.
For those of you having trouble accessing my site, I think the problem has been fixed. (crosses fingers). zarrah.com is now up and running and hopefully will be from now on.
Thanks again for the reviews. Without them I can't tell if you're still enjoying the story so don't forget to hit the review link and let me know what you think.
Zarrah