Repercussions, Part 2
"Spike, you want the window seat?" Willow flipped casually through their boarding passes as they walked down the jetway towards the plane.
"Ha, bloody, ha" he said. "How long did you work on that one?"
"I've been saving it up for awhile," she admitted with a grin.
"Now that is sad."
She looked over her shoulder at him and shrugged. "Yeah, well, consider the source. Queen of the Nerds, here."
"Listen here, missy. I was a big nerd long before they even invented the term. And look at me now." He picked her up and threw her over his shoulder for a few steps while she screamed and batted playfully at his back. Then he set her down and they walked arm and arm to the plane. Giles shook his head and pretended to be mortified. "They're not with me," he said to anyone within hearing distance. In truth, he was extremely proud of their progress. His two companions were virtually unrecognizable from the people they had been four months before, and he knew that he had something to do with that. He'd provided a sanctuary, an understanding, non-judgmental ear, and the occasional piece of advice. When asked for, of course.
But, he also knew that their recovery had as much to do with each other as it had to do with him, and that also pleased him. And worried him. Now that they were headed home, what was the old gang to make of them, he wondered.
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"What's the matter?"
"What makes you think something is the matter? Nothing is the matter."
"Well," said Dawn, crossing her arms over her chest, "you keep answering a question with a question. And if you polish that coffee table anymore you're going to rub the finish right off."
Buffy looked down at the table and saw that Dawn was right, she was about to literally damage the finish with slayer dusting. She stopped and blew an errant strand of hair out of her eyes. "I guess I have sufficiently slayed the dust bunnies."
"And Anya will be glad to hear it. Now, tell me what's bugging you."
"Nothing," Buffy said. She stood up and threw the dust rag on the table. "It's just, everything."
"So is it nothing or everything?"
The sat down on the sofa together. Buffy lay her head on Dawn's shoulder. "Nothing should be bothering me, but everything is."
"It's Spike, isn't it? This whole soul thing is wigging you out. And how dare he get a soul without discussing it with you first."
Buffy sat up and looked at Dawn. "I've told you before, you're not supposed to be all wise and stuff. It's just not right."
"Sorry. That old keyness rearing its ugly head again, I guess."
"Why do you think he did it?" Buffy asked Dawn.
"I think we all know why he did it, Buffy. A souled vampire was the only one ever to win Buffy's heart."
"He'll never be Angel," Buffy said, her eyes flashing.
"God, I hope you're right."
"Dawn!"
"Oh, come on, can you blame me? Angel tried to kill me without a soul, and he barely acknowledged my presence with one. Spike, he saved my life on numerous occasions without a soul, and sent cool post cards from Africa and England with one. Though I didn't know about the soul, at the time."
"He sent you postcards? How come I didn't know about this?"
"Oops. He sent them to the Magic Box and Anya gave them to me. I didn't want to bring up bad memories for you. He didn't say much, just 'hi bite size,' mostly."
"Did he, did he send post cards to Anya too?" Buffy asked with feigned casualness. She didn't fool her sister.
"Ooh, jealous are we?"
"NO! No, of course not. I was just, you know, curious. And that was like the lamest lie ever, wasn't it?"
"Yes. And no, Buffy, nothing for Anya. Just me." Dawn observed her sister breathe a visible sigh of relief. "Buffy, it's o.k. if you like him, or even love him, you know."
Buffy smiled. "Tara once said almost the exact same thing to me." She stood and headed upstairs. "I'm going to take a shower. They'll be here in a couple of hours."
Dawn leaned back on the sofa, hugging a pillow. "I miss you, Tara," she whispered.
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"What time will they be here, Buffy?" Dawn kept pulling the curtains aside, and looking out the window.
"Probably soon. They were going to stop at the hotel and drop their things off before coming over."
"Oh."
"You nervous, now?
"Yeah, about Willow, though. I just don't want to even see her," said Dawn, her eyes filling with tears.
"Well, you have to see her, but you don't have to hang out with her or even talk to her if you don't want to. You do have to be polite, though. She understands how you feel, believe me. And we all know it's going to be awkward, especially at first."
"Speaking of awkward, how do you think Xander's going to react to Spike?"
"Xander's going to be a problem."
Dawn sighed. "Isn't he always?"
As if on cue, Xander walked in the door. "Not here yet?"
"No, not yet. I'm glad you're here early, though. We need to talk."
"About soul boy 2? I really don't." He plopped himself down on the sofa.
"He's going to be here soon. I want to know what you're going to do."
"What are my options?" He closed his eyes and put his hands behind his head.
"How about, you just ignore him?"
"Sure, whatever."
"Why do I not believe you?" asked Buffy, hands on hips.
"Gee whiz, Buffy, I don't know. He slept with my fiancée and tried to rape one of my best friends. But I'll be nice. Promise." His voice dripped with sarcasm.
"Anya wasn't your fiancée anymore Xander, you left her, remember?" said Dawn.
"And what happened with Spike and me is between the two of us. You need to stay out of it."
Xander opened his eyes. "What is it with you Summers women and that guy?" he asked, shaking his head.
The cab pulled into the driveway then, and Buffy opened the door. She ushered them all in and threw her arms around Giles, the only one she actually knew what to do with.
Willow said a shy "hello," to Dawn, who answered with a cold "hello," back. Then Willow flew into Xander's arms, and he picked her up off the ground and swung her around.
Spike was the last one in, and he quietly closed the door. The day was overcast, but he had a blanket with him anyway, and he tossed it in the corner. When he turned around, his eyes found Dawn's. She smiled tentatively. "Hi, Spike." She began to walk towards him.
"Hello, Dawn," he said. She faltered. He usually only used her name when he was angry or worried about her. He looked the same, but his voice sounded weird to her, so serious. She stopped awkwardly in the middle of the room. He seemed to realize his mistake then. "How've you been, Nibblet?" He walked up to her, and reached out a hand to stroke her silky hair. "I've missed you, you know. Did you get my postcards?"
She gently put her arms around him and lay her head against his chest. "Yes, and I missed you too, Spike."
'Well,' thought Buffy, pulling back from Giles, 'at least everyone found someone to hug.' They all seemed to have the same thought at the same time. As they stepped away from their respective huggees and looked around the room, an uncomfortable silence fell upon them.
"Welcome home, Will," said Buffy. The two of them hugged now, and then Dawn hugged Giles. Meanwhile, Xander glared at Spike, who just stared back at him with an unreadable expression on his face.
"Surprised to see you here," said Xander, "but then, I guess I shouldn't be. Don't criminals always return to the scene of the crime?"
The hugging was now over.
Willow stepped in front of Spike. "Xander, don't."
"Now you're defending him too? I guess your last name doesn't have to be Summers, you just have to be female."
"Xander," Buffy warned. Spike continued to look steadily at Xander. Buffy couldn't figure the vampire out. He didn't look angry. He didn't look guilty. There was no smirk present. But there was something...dangerous...in his eyes. He put his hands on Willow's shoulders and leaned down to whisper something in her ear. She nodded.
"Could you excuse us ladies, Giles. Harris and I need to talk." He began to walk towards the kitchen. When Xander didn't follow, he stopped and looked back over his shoulder. "You coming, Harris?"
Xander, caught off guard, dutifully followed Spike into the kitchen. Buffy looked at Giles. "This can't be good. Can it?"
TBC
"Spike, you want the window seat?" Willow flipped casually through their boarding passes as they walked down the jetway towards the plane.
"Ha, bloody, ha" he said. "How long did you work on that one?"
"I've been saving it up for awhile," she admitted with a grin.
"Now that is sad."
She looked over her shoulder at him and shrugged. "Yeah, well, consider the source. Queen of the Nerds, here."
"Listen here, missy. I was a big nerd long before they even invented the term. And look at me now." He picked her up and threw her over his shoulder for a few steps while she screamed and batted playfully at his back. Then he set her down and they walked arm and arm to the plane. Giles shook his head and pretended to be mortified. "They're not with me," he said to anyone within hearing distance. In truth, he was extremely proud of their progress. His two companions were virtually unrecognizable from the people they had been four months before, and he knew that he had something to do with that. He'd provided a sanctuary, an understanding, non-judgmental ear, and the occasional piece of advice. When asked for, of course.
But, he also knew that their recovery had as much to do with each other as it had to do with him, and that also pleased him. And worried him. Now that they were headed home, what was the old gang to make of them, he wondered.
************************************************************************
"What's the matter?"
"What makes you think something is the matter? Nothing is the matter."
"Well," said Dawn, crossing her arms over her chest, "you keep answering a question with a question. And if you polish that coffee table anymore you're going to rub the finish right off."
Buffy looked down at the table and saw that Dawn was right, she was about to literally damage the finish with slayer dusting. She stopped and blew an errant strand of hair out of her eyes. "I guess I have sufficiently slayed the dust bunnies."
"And Anya will be glad to hear it. Now, tell me what's bugging you."
"Nothing," Buffy said. She stood up and threw the dust rag on the table. "It's just, everything."
"So is it nothing or everything?"
The sat down on the sofa together. Buffy lay her head on Dawn's shoulder. "Nothing should be bothering me, but everything is."
"It's Spike, isn't it? This whole soul thing is wigging you out. And how dare he get a soul without discussing it with you first."
Buffy sat up and looked at Dawn. "I've told you before, you're not supposed to be all wise and stuff. It's just not right."
"Sorry. That old keyness rearing its ugly head again, I guess."
"Why do you think he did it?" Buffy asked Dawn.
"I think we all know why he did it, Buffy. A souled vampire was the only one ever to win Buffy's heart."
"He'll never be Angel," Buffy said, her eyes flashing.
"God, I hope you're right."
"Dawn!"
"Oh, come on, can you blame me? Angel tried to kill me without a soul, and he barely acknowledged my presence with one. Spike, he saved my life on numerous occasions without a soul, and sent cool post cards from Africa and England with one. Though I didn't know about the soul, at the time."
"He sent you postcards? How come I didn't know about this?"
"Oops. He sent them to the Magic Box and Anya gave them to me. I didn't want to bring up bad memories for you. He didn't say much, just 'hi bite size,' mostly."
"Did he, did he send post cards to Anya too?" Buffy asked with feigned casualness. She didn't fool her sister.
"Ooh, jealous are we?"
"NO! No, of course not. I was just, you know, curious. And that was like the lamest lie ever, wasn't it?"
"Yes. And no, Buffy, nothing for Anya. Just me." Dawn observed her sister breathe a visible sigh of relief. "Buffy, it's o.k. if you like him, or even love him, you know."
Buffy smiled. "Tara once said almost the exact same thing to me." She stood and headed upstairs. "I'm going to take a shower. They'll be here in a couple of hours."
Dawn leaned back on the sofa, hugging a pillow. "I miss you, Tara," she whispered.
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"What time will they be here, Buffy?" Dawn kept pulling the curtains aside, and looking out the window.
"Probably soon. They were going to stop at the hotel and drop their things off before coming over."
"Oh."
"You nervous, now?
"Yeah, about Willow, though. I just don't want to even see her," said Dawn, her eyes filling with tears.
"Well, you have to see her, but you don't have to hang out with her or even talk to her if you don't want to. You do have to be polite, though. She understands how you feel, believe me. And we all know it's going to be awkward, especially at first."
"Speaking of awkward, how do you think Xander's going to react to Spike?"
"Xander's going to be a problem."
Dawn sighed. "Isn't he always?"
As if on cue, Xander walked in the door. "Not here yet?"
"No, not yet. I'm glad you're here early, though. We need to talk."
"About soul boy 2? I really don't." He plopped himself down on the sofa.
"He's going to be here soon. I want to know what you're going to do."
"What are my options?" He closed his eyes and put his hands behind his head.
"How about, you just ignore him?"
"Sure, whatever."
"Why do I not believe you?" asked Buffy, hands on hips.
"Gee whiz, Buffy, I don't know. He slept with my fiancée and tried to rape one of my best friends. But I'll be nice. Promise." His voice dripped with sarcasm.
"Anya wasn't your fiancée anymore Xander, you left her, remember?" said Dawn.
"And what happened with Spike and me is between the two of us. You need to stay out of it."
Xander opened his eyes. "What is it with you Summers women and that guy?" he asked, shaking his head.
The cab pulled into the driveway then, and Buffy opened the door. She ushered them all in and threw her arms around Giles, the only one she actually knew what to do with.
Willow said a shy "hello," to Dawn, who answered with a cold "hello," back. Then Willow flew into Xander's arms, and he picked her up off the ground and swung her around.
Spike was the last one in, and he quietly closed the door. The day was overcast, but he had a blanket with him anyway, and he tossed it in the corner. When he turned around, his eyes found Dawn's. She smiled tentatively. "Hi, Spike." She began to walk towards him.
"Hello, Dawn," he said. She faltered. He usually only used her name when he was angry or worried about her. He looked the same, but his voice sounded weird to her, so serious. She stopped awkwardly in the middle of the room. He seemed to realize his mistake then. "How've you been, Nibblet?" He walked up to her, and reached out a hand to stroke her silky hair. "I've missed you, you know. Did you get my postcards?"
She gently put her arms around him and lay her head against his chest. "Yes, and I missed you too, Spike."
'Well,' thought Buffy, pulling back from Giles, 'at least everyone found someone to hug.' They all seemed to have the same thought at the same time. As they stepped away from their respective huggees and looked around the room, an uncomfortable silence fell upon them.
"Welcome home, Will," said Buffy. The two of them hugged now, and then Dawn hugged Giles. Meanwhile, Xander glared at Spike, who just stared back at him with an unreadable expression on his face.
"Surprised to see you here," said Xander, "but then, I guess I shouldn't be. Don't criminals always return to the scene of the crime?"
The hugging was now over.
Willow stepped in front of Spike. "Xander, don't."
"Now you're defending him too? I guess your last name doesn't have to be Summers, you just have to be female."
"Xander," Buffy warned. Spike continued to look steadily at Xander. Buffy couldn't figure the vampire out. He didn't look angry. He didn't look guilty. There was no smirk present. But there was something...dangerous...in his eyes. He put his hands on Willow's shoulders and leaned down to whisper something in her ear. She nodded.
"Could you excuse us ladies, Giles. Harris and I need to talk." He began to walk towards the kitchen. When Xander didn't follow, he stopped and looked back over his shoulder. "You coming, Harris?"
Xander, caught off guard, dutifully followed Spike into the kitchen. Buffy looked at Giles. "This can't be good. Can it?"
TBC
