After many hours of playtime the sun set and it was night yet again. And also, during those hours, Spike had decided that he would talk with Buffy and see what she got out of the situation. He would also ask if he and Amelia could possibly stay at her house. After all, it would be best for the little girl. And of course, he would not let her out of his sight.
"Ok chicklet…how's about we take a walk to my friend's house?"
"I thought you didn't have any friends?" she said.
"She's one of my…very special friends and she may not like me, but she may be able to help you. We have to get you home soon and I don't want to ask you anything unless she's there. Ok?"
"Well…I guess. I-if she's nice."
"She'll like you. I promise." She seemed satisfied with this and nodded. "Ok…let's get you back into your clothes." He helped her back into them and fixed her ponytail a bit. She decided she wanted to wear her purple shoes. And they were off once again into the starry night.
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"But seriously…you haven't seen him recently? I won't be mad or anything, I just-,"
"Buffy! Listen to me here. I. Haven't. Seen. Him. Maybe Sophie was just…seeing things."
"Maybe…I don't know. I just…" Buffy cut off and stopped pacing in her living room and sat on the couch next to Dawn.
"Buffy, no matter how much we deny it, he's probably dust by now. Which might be a good thing, actually. I mean, after what he did to you…"
"I know I shouldn't really care and all, but I don't really hate him, you know? Yeah, sure, I'm still pretty p-oed, but I just want to see him…happy, I guess." Buffy forced a small smile and Dawn nodded and gazed at the floor. After a moment, the doorbell's sound echoed through the house. Dawn began to stand and before Buffy stopped her. "Nah…I'll get it. It's probably Xander or something." She stood up and walked to the door. She opened it. "He-," she cut off her greeting when she saw who it was. She took a few steps backwards and her eyes grew big.
"Buffy, are you ok?" Dawn asked worriedly from her dormant position on the couch.
"Spike?" she breathed. Spike shifted nervously in his boots and gazed at the ground.
"Uh…hey, Buffy. D'you think we could…come in for a while?" Buffy nodded after a second and stood aside. Spike took a step towards the threshold but jerked to a halt.
"Oh, uh…come in." He nodded in appreciation and he and the little girl he was holding onto stepped inside. The little girl simply said nothing and followed Spike into the living room.
Dawn stood up when they entered and got a confused look on her face when she noticed who was attached to his hand.
"Who…is that?" Dawn asked in a stuck up voice. Buffy came and stood next to her with her arms crossed.
"Th-this is Amelia. I…uh, she'd been staying with me since…two nights ago. Amelia, this is Buffy and Dawn."
She looked up at him and whispered, "Is she your special friend?" He nodded in response.
"Dawn, um, do you think you could take Amelia here and let us talk for a while?"
"But-,"
"Please." She said it more of an order than a request.
She looked at Buffy, then Amelia. "'k." She sighed and took the little one into the kitchen where she intended to listen to the whole conversation. Buffy waited until she was sure the door was closed before speaking.
"So, Spike."
"Buffy." Awkward silence followed. "What I came here for," he rushed, "was to ask you for something. I wondered if you could possibly-,"
"When did you get back?" she asked quietly.
"Huh? Buffy, can we not do this yet? I can't…I just need a warm place for her to stay a while. Can you-,"
"When. Did. You. Get. Back?" she asked again.
He sighed. "A couple of months ago."
"Where did you go?"
"Buffy, please!" His voice raised just a bit.
"Why don't you want to talk about it? What happened to you? Where did you get a kid?"
"It's none of your bloody business!" he shouted. "If you won't help us, then-,"
"What? You'll just run away again? Where did you get her?"
"Why should I tell you?" His voice faltered. "You never even cared about me. Not even when we…Why won't you even help me? Just this once?" He realized tears were streaming down his face and he wished he had killed himself on one of those drunken nights he was so fond of. Crying showed her how weak he really was.
"I never said…" She sighed. "I don't hate you. I don't love you, either. Last year, I was actually beginning to like you, but then you…" she looked away from his face and trailed off.
"Tried to rape you?" Spike forced through his trembling lips. He just couldn't control the waterfall coming from his eyes. He angrily wiped his face with the back of his hand. "Why did I even think of coming here." He said under his breath. "You're still scared of me, eh?" She wouldn't meet his eyes. "Look at me."
She looked up. "I was never scared of you." The pride thing…I see. He thought.
"Well, I'll just fetch Amelia and we'll…find something." He turned to go to the kitchen.
"She can stay here." She said quietly.
"What's that?" He turned back to face her.
"I said she can stay here. Until we figure out how to get her home, that is. She can't stay in…wherever you're staying now, because if I'm guessing right, it doesn't have any running water or food or anything." There was silence. Spike nodded and he had calmed down a bit.
"'preciate it." More silence.
"So…what do we know about her? Where did you find her?"
He walked over to the couch and sat down. "I don't really know anything. I figure I would consult Red before anything." Buffy slightly flinched. "Where is she, by the way?"
"She…we'll talk about it tomorrow, k?"
"Ok, I guess." He said, a little confused. He sort of felt like he really didn't want to know. "I found her on my way home from…on my way home. In the cemetery, leaning against a marker crying. I couldn't just leave her there, all defenseless. So I took her home. Oh, and I bought her some shoes cause she didn't have any on." Buffy nodded and looked at the clock. It was a little after nine o'clock.
"Ok then…I'll find her some sheets and you can come back tomorrow. It's probably past her bedtime." She began to walk towards a hall closet when Spike stood up.
"No…no, I'm not going anywhere. I can't just let her out of my sight. She's…she's…"
"Not your problem. Don't worry, I'm the Slayer, remember?"
"No. It's both of us or neither."
Buffy sighed. "Fine. Sleep on the floor. I don't care." Buffy went off to search for sheets, and soon enough after the couch was made, Amelia was asleep. The hours became later and later, and eventually everyone fell asleep. Everyone, that is, but Spike. Being nocturnal, and all, it was kind of hard to fall asleep during the normal sleeping hours. But his only purpose tonight was to make sure his little Princess was safe.
Author's note: Ok, ok, I know that was horrible. But I had to change it from what I had written down…and I was trying hard to finish it fast so I could do some other stuff…you don't have to tell me. Sorry.