PART FOUR
"Dawn!" Buffy called, putting on her boots.
"Yeah, yeah. Keep your pants on." Dawn came down the stairs, adjusting her sling. "I hate this thing!"
Buffy met her at the bottom of the stairs, helping her arrange the strap more comfortably on her shoulder. "I know." She glanced back up the stairs. "Have you seen Willow?"
Dawn's eyes hardened slightly but she just said, "I think I heard her go out this morning."
"Oh." Buffy had arrived home late the night before and Dawn and Willow had both been sleeping. She hadn't told them of Angel's arrival. It was only 10:00 now. She must have gotten up really early. "Well, let's go, then."
"Do I have to?" Dawn asked. "I—I mean, couldn't I stay here? You guys never say anything interesting around me, anyway."
Buffy looked at her little sister. She had circles under her eyes. "Have you been sleeping?" she asked, suspicious.
Dawn fiddled with her sling, not meeting Buffy's gaze. "Off and on."
"Dawnie."
She looked up into Buffy's eyes. "I have bad dreams."
Buffy wanted to kick herself. Why hadn't she noticed how tired she looked, the hurt in her eyes? This was her sister! It was her job to take care of her. "I'm sorry, Dawnie. I'm so sorry." She reached out and took Dawn into her arms.
"Ew, Buffy! Mushy, much?" But she returned her sister's hug briefly before pulling away with teenaged indignation.
Buffy smiled. "Tell you what," she said. "You come with me to the Magic Box now and we'll go to lunch when we're done. I'll even buy."
Dawn tilted her head, considering. "Anywhere I want?"
"Sure."
"Even if it's greasy, fattening, and totally bad for me?"
"Oh, preferably. Deal?" Buffy put out her hand.
"Deal," Dawn said, shaking on it. She led the way out of the house.
▪ ▪ ▪
"I don't know if this is such a good idea," Angel said.
Cordelia took Conner from him. "It's a fine idea. You're not taking him into the sewers with you!" She smiled at Conner and bounced him up and down. "He's too young. The stench alone might stunt his growth."
Angel shook his head, conceding. She was right, after all. But he wouldn't tell her that. "Whatever. Just be careful, okay?"
She rolled her eyes. "Of what? It's daytime! Sewer time." She pointed to the diaper bag at his feet. "Hand me a diaper and a bottle, would you?"
Angel did as she asked. She put the diaper in her back pocket and tucked the bottle into Conner's blanket.
"Don't forget the bag. We'll meet you there." With that, she walked out the front door.
He sighed. He didn't know how good of a plan it was to bring Conner with them today, but they really had no choice. And Cordelia insisted that he not hide the truth from the others. He put on his jacket, grabbed the diaper bag, and headed into the sewers.
▪ ▪ ▪
Spike ground his cigarette out beneath the toe of his boot. He immediately grabbed another cigarette from the package on top of the telly and lit up again. He paced, drawing the smoke into his lungs. There was a rather large pile of cigarette butts forming in the corner. He was trying as hard as he could to feel calm, but smoking was helping.
He had finally passed out sometime last night after finishing his bottle of whiskey. Well, okay, he'd finished that and one more. He had wanted to follow Buffy, more than anything. But that would probably only earn him a good beating, so he'd refrained. Instead, he drank. And drank some more. And passed out.
Now he paced. It wasn't even noon yet but he'd been awake for hours. As soon as the liquor had worn off he couldn't sleep. He was just too wound up.
He wondered where she was at this very moment. Was she with him? Holed up somewhere until the sun set? He flicked his cigarette into the corner, not bothering to put it out. He turned on the telly and sat down. Maybe a little daytime television would cheer him up.
The image that flickered to life on the screen showed a small blonde women in the arms of a large dark-haired man, kissing passionately. The kissing led quickly off-screen to the bedroom. Spike threw the remote at the television.
"Bloody hell!" he swore. He ran one hand through his hair, frustrated. He jumped up from the chair and turned the soap off. What had he done to deserve this waiting around? He hated not knowing what was going on.
"Bugger this." He threw on his duster, grabbed his blanket, and descended to the sewers.
▪ ▪ ▪
"Hey, guys," Buffy called as she entered the shop.
Dawn followed behind her, her eyes scanning the room. Her stance relaxed when she didn't see Willow anywhere. She plopped down in a seat next to Xander.
"Hey, Buff!" Xander said, looking up gratefully from the bridal magazines Anya was forcing on him. "Dawnie!" He leaned over and threw one arm over her shoulder, careful of her sling. "How's things?"
Buffy sat down next to Anya. "What're you looking at?" she asked. She could never understand the extent of preparation Anya was putting into this. How many magazines did you actually have to look at? Weren't they all the same?
Anya smiled, happy at someone's interest in the wedding. "Actually, I was looking at favor ideas. Times have changed so much, and there are just so many choices out there. Would you rather receive something like this," she asked, pointing at a little candy box with the bride and groom's info typed on the side, "a chocolate bar, or the traditional favor?" She moved the magazine aside and pointed at a picture in one of Giles' books he'd left behind.
Buffy leaned closer. "What's that?" It looked like some kind of ball, but she couldn't figure out why Anya would want to give balls out at the wedding.
"Oh, it's a cat's eyeball." She thought a moment. "Or a kitten's. The younger, the better. But sometimes it's hard to find enough kittens, so you have to use adults, too."
Buffy stared at her, her mouth open.
Xander and Dawn abruptly stopped their conversation and gaped as well.
"Oh, gross!" Dawn said.
Anya's brow furrowed at their shock. "What? It's a delicacy! Normally, you'd wrap it in the skin and tie the bag with the whiskers. It shows great respect to your guests to take such time with their favors!"
"Um, An, honey. I don't think that would go over too well," Xander explained.
"But—"
"Besides, I like those," Xander added before she could continue. He pointed at the boxes. "Those're great. Everyone will feel respected. And our names will be on them!"
"Well, all right. But if something goes wrong, I'll never forgive you." She closed the book and got up as a costumer entered the shop.
Buffy, Dawn, and Xander all exchanged relieved glances. "That was close," Dawn said.
Buffy nodded. "And…ew."
Xander looked at his fiancé cheerfully greeting the customer. "It's never a dull moment." But his tone was filled with love.
Dawn rolled her eyes at Buffy. She was about to comment when the bell over the door rang again to announce Willow's entrance. Dawn closed her mouth and sat back, pulling one of the magazines in front of her.
Buffy noticed her withdrawal. It worried her, but she understood. Dawn was still extremely hurt by Willow's actions. It would take time, but she'd get more comfortable around the witch. They just had to give it to her.
"Hi, guys." Willow greeted, sitting down in Anya's vacated seat, between Buffy and Xander. "We researching?" she asked, smiling as she gestured at the magazine filled table.
Xander smiled, shaking his head. "This is big, important work, Will. The more research we do, the less likely there will be bodily harm inflicted on the Xand Man. Or she'll make me sleep on the couch."
"Oh, God forbid. Xander on the couch would mean no more sex stories. That would just suck," Buffy said with a mock pout. "They're so…educational."
"You betcha," Xander winked at her. "Besides, there's nothing else going on to research. Why not use our time wisely? The G-man would be so proud."
Buffy's eyes lost some of their laughter. "Yeah, he would."
"We all miss him, Buffy," Willow said, touching her shoulder.
"I know." She shook herself, coming out of her thoughts. "But, enough of blue Buffy. Patrol wasn't exactly lacking in action last night."
"Action?" Anya asked, joining them again as the customer left with her package. "You had sex last night?"
Xander groaned. "She's talking about patrol." He gestured toward Dawn. "And not in front of the kiddie."
Dawn punched him. "I'm not a kiddie!"
"Whatever you say, kid." He smirked at her.
"Okay, enough. Patrol, remember?" Buffy grabbed a pencil off the table and started tapping it nervously.
"What happened, Buffy?" Willow asked, watching Dawn and Xander's play-fight wistfully.
Buffy threw the pencil back onto the table and sat forward, leaning on her elbows. "Well, it was a real slow night, really boring. Zilch on the vamp- o-meter. I was getting ready to call it a night, making a last run in Spike's area. I heard sounds of fighting. Duty called. So I head over." She paused, running one hand through her hair. The others watched her expectantly. "It was Spike."
"That's it? Just the bleached wonder?" Xander asked, disappointed.
"Did you miss the 'sounds of fighting,' Xand?" Willow said, watching Buffy curiously. This was bigger than an encounter with their sometimes reluctant ally.
"Well, no, but…it was just Spike. We care why?" He went back to leafing through the magazine in front of him.
"It wasn't just Spike."
He looked up at Buffy. "Okay, I'll bite. What else was it?"
"Was he having sex?"
"Anya!" Xander cried. He sighed. "Let's let Buff finish, okay?"
Buffy blushed slightly at Anya's question. Willow was the only one who noticed. She stored it away for future thought and put her hand on Buffy's arm. "What was it?"
The bell above the door rang. Everyone glanced distractedly toward the door. They froze as the figure pulled his smoking jacket away from his dark head and dropped a bag on the floor inside the entrance.
"It was Angel," Buffy said softly.
TO BE CONTINUED
"Dawn!" Buffy called, putting on her boots.
"Yeah, yeah. Keep your pants on." Dawn came down the stairs, adjusting her sling. "I hate this thing!"
Buffy met her at the bottom of the stairs, helping her arrange the strap more comfortably on her shoulder. "I know." She glanced back up the stairs. "Have you seen Willow?"
Dawn's eyes hardened slightly but she just said, "I think I heard her go out this morning."
"Oh." Buffy had arrived home late the night before and Dawn and Willow had both been sleeping. She hadn't told them of Angel's arrival. It was only 10:00 now. She must have gotten up really early. "Well, let's go, then."
"Do I have to?" Dawn asked. "I—I mean, couldn't I stay here? You guys never say anything interesting around me, anyway."
Buffy looked at her little sister. She had circles under her eyes. "Have you been sleeping?" she asked, suspicious.
Dawn fiddled with her sling, not meeting Buffy's gaze. "Off and on."
"Dawnie."
She looked up into Buffy's eyes. "I have bad dreams."
Buffy wanted to kick herself. Why hadn't she noticed how tired she looked, the hurt in her eyes? This was her sister! It was her job to take care of her. "I'm sorry, Dawnie. I'm so sorry." She reached out and took Dawn into her arms.
"Ew, Buffy! Mushy, much?" But she returned her sister's hug briefly before pulling away with teenaged indignation.
Buffy smiled. "Tell you what," she said. "You come with me to the Magic Box now and we'll go to lunch when we're done. I'll even buy."
Dawn tilted her head, considering. "Anywhere I want?"
"Sure."
"Even if it's greasy, fattening, and totally bad for me?"
"Oh, preferably. Deal?" Buffy put out her hand.
"Deal," Dawn said, shaking on it. She led the way out of the house.
▪ ▪ ▪
"I don't know if this is such a good idea," Angel said.
Cordelia took Conner from him. "It's a fine idea. You're not taking him into the sewers with you!" She smiled at Conner and bounced him up and down. "He's too young. The stench alone might stunt his growth."
Angel shook his head, conceding. She was right, after all. But he wouldn't tell her that. "Whatever. Just be careful, okay?"
She rolled her eyes. "Of what? It's daytime! Sewer time." She pointed to the diaper bag at his feet. "Hand me a diaper and a bottle, would you?"
Angel did as she asked. She put the diaper in her back pocket and tucked the bottle into Conner's blanket.
"Don't forget the bag. We'll meet you there." With that, she walked out the front door.
He sighed. He didn't know how good of a plan it was to bring Conner with them today, but they really had no choice. And Cordelia insisted that he not hide the truth from the others. He put on his jacket, grabbed the diaper bag, and headed into the sewers.
▪ ▪ ▪
Spike ground his cigarette out beneath the toe of his boot. He immediately grabbed another cigarette from the package on top of the telly and lit up again. He paced, drawing the smoke into his lungs. There was a rather large pile of cigarette butts forming in the corner. He was trying as hard as he could to feel calm, but smoking was helping.
He had finally passed out sometime last night after finishing his bottle of whiskey. Well, okay, he'd finished that and one more. He had wanted to follow Buffy, more than anything. But that would probably only earn him a good beating, so he'd refrained. Instead, he drank. And drank some more. And passed out.
Now he paced. It wasn't even noon yet but he'd been awake for hours. As soon as the liquor had worn off he couldn't sleep. He was just too wound up.
He wondered where she was at this very moment. Was she with him? Holed up somewhere until the sun set? He flicked his cigarette into the corner, not bothering to put it out. He turned on the telly and sat down. Maybe a little daytime television would cheer him up.
The image that flickered to life on the screen showed a small blonde women in the arms of a large dark-haired man, kissing passionately. The kissing led quickly off-screen to the bedroom. Spike threw the remote at the television.
"Bloody hell!" he swore. He ran one hand through his hair, frustrated. He jumped up from the chair and turned the soap off. What had he done to deserve this waiting around? He hated not knowing what was going on.
"Bugger this." He threw on his duster, grabbed his blanket, and descended to the sewers.
▪ ▪ ▪
"Hey, guys," Buffy called as she entered the shop.
Dawn followed behind her, her eyes scanning the room. Her stance relaxed when she didn't see Willow anywhere. She plopped down in a seat next to Xander.
"Hey, Buff!" Xander said, looking up gratefully from the bridal magazines Anya was forcing on him. "Dawnie!" He leaned over and threw one arm over her shoulder, careful of her sling. "How's things?"
Buffy sat down next to Anya. "What're you looking at?" she asked. She could never understand the extent of preparation Anya was putting into this. How many magazines did you actually have to look at? Weren't they all the same?
Anya smiled, happy at someone's interest in the wedding. "Actually, I was looking at favor ideas. Times have changed so much, and there are just so many choices out there. Would you rather receive something like this," she asked, pointing at a little candy box with the bride and groom's info typed on the side, "a chocolate bar, or the traditional favor?" She moved the magazine aside and pointed at a picture in one of Giles' books he'd left behind.
Buffy leaned closer. "What's that?" It looked like some kind of ball, but she couldn't figure out why Anya would want to give balls out at the wedding.
"Oh, it's a cat's eyeball." She thought a moment. "Or a kitten's. The younger, the better. But sometimes it's hard to find enough kittens, so you have to use adults, too."
Buffy stared at her, her mouth open.
Xander and Dawn abruptly stopped their conversation and gaped as well.
"Oh, gross!" Dawn said.
Anya's brow furrowed at their shock. "What? It's a delicacy! Normally, you'd wrap it in the skin and tie the bag with the whiskers. It shows great respect to your guests to take such time with their favors!"
"Um, An, honey. I don't think that would go over too well," Xander explained.
"But—"
"Besides, I like those," Xander added before she could continue. He pointed at the boxes. "Those're great. Everyone will feel respected. And our names will be on them!"
"Well, all right. But if something goes wrong, I'll never forgive you." She closed the book and got up as a costumer entered the shop.
Buffy, Dawn, and Xander all exchanged relieved glances. "That was close," Dawn said.
Buffy nodded. "And…ew."
Xander looked at his fiancé cheerfully greeting the customer. "It's never a dull moment." But his tone was filled with love.
Dawn rolled her eyes at Buffy. She was about to comment when the bell over the door rang again to announce Willow's entrance. Dawn closed her mouth and sat back, pulling one of the magazines in front of her.
Buffy noticed her withdrawal. It worried her, but she understood. Dawn was still extremely hurt by Willow's actions. It would take time, but she'd get more comfortable around the witch. They just had to give it to her.
"Hi, guys." Willow greeted, sitting down in Anya's vacated seat, between Buffy and Xander. "We researching?" she asked, smiling as she gestured at the magazine filled table.
Xander smiled, shaking his head. "This is big, important work, Will. The more research we do, the less likely there will be bodily harm inflicted on the Xand Man. Or she'll make me sleep on the couch."
"Oh, God forbid. Xander on the couch would mean no more sex stories. That would just suck," Buffy said with a mock pout. "They're so…educational."
"You betcha," Xander winked at her. "Besides, there's nothing else going on to research. Why not use our time wisely? The G-man would be so proud."
Buffy's eyes lost some of their laughter. "Yeah, he would."
"We all miss him, Buffy," Willow said, touching her shoulder.
"I know." She shook herself, coming out of her thoughts. "But, enough of blue Buffy. Patrol wasn't exactly lacking in action last night."
"Action?" Anya asked, joining them again as the customer left with her package. "You had sex last night?"
Xander groaned. "She's talking about patrol." He gestured toward Dawn. "And not in front of the kiddie."
Dawn punched him. "I'm not a kiddie!"
"Whatever you say, kid." He smirked at her.
"Okay, enough. Patrol, remember?" Buffy grabbed a pencil off the table and started tapping it nervously.
"What happened, Buffy?" Willow asked, watching Dawn and Xander's play-fight wistfully.
Buffy threw the pencil back onto the table and sat forward, leaning on her elbows. "Well, it was a real slow night, really boring. Zilch on the vamp- o-meter. I was getting ready to call it a night, making a last run in Spike's area. I heard sounds of fighting. Duty called. So I head over." She paused, running one hand through her hair. The others watched her expectantly. "It was Spike."
"That's it? Just the bleached wonder?" Xander asked, disappointed.
"Did you miss the 'sounds of fighting,' Xand?" Willow said, watching Buffy curiously. This was bigger than an encounter with their sometimes reluctant ally.
"Well, no, but…it was just Spike. We care why?" He went back to leafing through the magazine in front of him.
"It wasn't just Spike."
He looked up at Buffy. "Okay, I'll bite. What else was it?"
"Was he having sex?"
"Anya!" Xander cried. He sighed. "Let's let Buff finish, okay?"
Buffy blushed slightly at Anya's question. Willow was the only one who noticed. She stored it away for future thought and put her hand on Buffy's arm. "What was it?"
The bell above the door rang. Everyone glanced distractedly toward the door. They froze as the figure pulled his smoking jacket away from his dark head and dropped a bag on the floor inside the entrance.
"It was Angel," Buffy said softly.
TO BE CONTINUED