The following night Spike paid Joyce a visit in the hospital. Both Dawn and Buffy were already there, and Joyce was trying to convince her daughters to bring her something else to eat.
Ah, lovely hospital food. There was a reason me an' Dru would never feed on inpatients.'
He grinned to himself and patted the small box of chocolates he'd stashed away in his coat.
"Evenin' ladies," he greeted, sauntering in.
Dawn beamed at him and he saw the first glimmers of the crush she was beginning to develop. "Hi, Spike."
Save a girl from a giant snake, and they just fall all over you. Now if only that'd work on the Slayer'
"Hello, Spike," Joyce said, a genuine smile on her face.
"Spike," Buffy said. Her voice was neutral but her face was wary.
Haven't quite got me figured out yet, have you, Slayer. I'm just full o' surprises these days, ain't I?'
"I was in the neighborhood and decided to pop in. Did I hear you complainin' about the quality of the food, Mum?"
Joyce looked guilty. "Well, I am used to a higher level of culinary choices"
Spike grinned and pulled the chocolates out. "Well, I might be able to sweeten the deal a bit for ya."
The woman's eyes lit up at the sight of the foil wrapped box. "Oooohh, you evil man you"
Buffy intercepted the contraband gift. "Hey! Hey, no caffeine allowed. Doctors orders," she announced, then gave a little smile that gave her away. "Dawn and I will just have to suffer and eat these for you."
"Hey, no fair. He smuggled those in for me."
"A little lax on the manners training, eh, Joyce?" Spike commented. "You know, in my day, we sent our girls to finishing school. Came back right proper ladies, they did. Never a bad word spoken or a fork out of place."
"This from Mr. Homicidal Killer who's great love belonged in a loony bin," Buffy snapped, stung.
"Buffy!" Joyce admonished, but Spike swallowed the pain and gave a shrug.
"What can I say? Love is blind. Or rather Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails," he recited, the words of Corinthians rolling off his tongue like a bittersweet memory.
I love you. And I will not fail.'
He stopped and there was a moment of tense silence, then a doctor entered.
"Oh hello, Dr. Kriegel. You've met my girls, Buffy and Dawn," Joyce said.
Dr. Kriegel gave them a smile. "Yes, of course. You two are becoming part of the regular crew around here."
"And this is" Joyce began, but Spike interrupted, shaking the doctor's hand.
"William. I'm a friend of the family."
The doctor gave him a weak smile. "Pleased to meet you, William. I'm sure Joyce is glad to have so many visitors."
"Just keeping her company," Buffy explained.
"Good for you. Just be careful you don't wear her out," the doctor warned.
"Don't worry about that. I woke up exhausted, there's really no more exhausted to get," Joyce sighed.
"Well, maybe some good news will help. The bloodwork has come back from the lab and everything seems fine. So, we've gone ahead and scheduled your surgery for the day after tomorrow at ten in the a.m. How does that sound to you?"
Joyce managed a small joke, "I think they have me scheduled for volleyball, but I'll work around it."
Dr. Kreigel smiled at her attempt at humor. "Alright then. Joyce, you take care. Make sure to get some good solid rest. And I mean that."
Joyce's face fell as the doctor left and she looked forlorn.
"What's wrong, Mum?" Spike asked.
"The day after tomorrow? I don't know if I can stand to be stuck here for two more days just waiting."
"Waiting? Gimme a break- We've got tons to do," Buffy said.
"Yeah, we've got soap operas to watch and trashy magazines to read ..." Dawn added.
"Can't miss those, Mum," Spike agreed.
"Ooh, and an adjustable bed to fiddle with. That alone'll keep me going for the next four hours or so," Buffy announced, discovering the controls.
"Now Buffy, I really don't need you to stay here all night. I know you've got patrolling to do."
"Not tonight. Tonight I have Mom taking-care-of to do. Besides, Riley is filling in for me with the others. I'm sure they've got everything under control."
"You left the Scoobies with Soldier Boy?" he blurted, knowing full well that Riley was spending more and more time at Willy's and the vamp whorehouse.
Buffy looked defensive. "He can handle it, and they know what to do."
"Still, I've noticed that the Captain's been a little off his game lately, lookin' a little paler than his usual White Bread pasty."
Buffy raised her chin. "Riley's fine. He's just having a hard time right now. He's still recovering from the stuff the Initiative did you him and I'm" She trailed off.
"All the better reason for me to lend a hand. Sides, I like a spot o' violence before bedtime."
Impulsively, not thinking and not seeing the shocked looks Buffy and Dawn gave him, he leaned over and kissed Joyce on the cheek.
"Night, Mum. Gotta go. Stuff to kill."
Joyce gave him a tender smile. "Goodnight, Spike."
He gave them an absent wave as he swaggered out. "Ta, luvs. I'll pop by tomorrow."
He didn't see Buffy staring after him, a deep frown on her face.