April 24, 2012

Daddy made me chocolate pancakes—my favorite. He doesn't understand why I won't talk to him.

Of course he wouldn't. Poor Daddy doesn't know about my dream. He doesn't know why I'm upset with him and I think that's made him very sad.

A knock on the door.

"Pet, are you alright?"

Daddy.

"I'm going to come in now, okay?"

I didn't respond.

Daddy cracked open the door and came in, then shut it again. He sat down beside me. "Pet, are you going to tell me what's wrong?"

I frowned.

"What did I do now?" he asked, slightly joking.

"What happens on Saturday?" I asked.

Daddy furrowed his forehead. "What do you mean, pet? Saturday is me and your mum's anniversary. Don't know if we'll have much time to celebrate this year, but—"

"Daddy, that's not what you said." My lower lip trembled.

Daddy looked at me with concern. "Pet, what do you think I said?"

"You said you're gonna kill Mommy," I sobbed, burying my face against Daddy's chest. "You said you're gonna kill Mommy on Saturday. Why, Daddy? Why? Don't you love Mommy anymore?"

"Oh, sweetie." Daddy stroked my hair. "Did you have another dream again?"

I nodded. "You said you're gong to kill Mommy on Saturday," I accused.

Daddy wiped my tears away with a Kleenex, then held my chin up to look at him. "Angie, luv, there is nothing I love more in this world more than you and your mum. Don't ever doubt that."

I nodded, believing him. It was Daddy, after all. But still…"But—"

"No buts, pet. That dream—that was from the past. A long time ago, before I fell in love with your mother. I was different then. Literally a different person."

I was confused. "How can you be a different person? You're William Summers, my Daddy."

Daddy just smiled and ran his cool fingers down my cheek. "Only after I met your mum, pet. Only after her. Daddy…Daddy wasn't a very…nice…person before your mother."

I cocked my head and looked up at him. "Were you a naughty little boy?"

Daddy nodded.

"Did you have cooties too, just like Jesse?"

"I most certainly did not have cooties!" Daddy exclaimed, sounding wounded and a bit like Uncle Rupert for a moment. "I was from a respectable family, and we bathed quite often, contrary to what you might hear from the females in this household."

I giggled. "You sound like Uncle Rupert."

Daddy looked mortified for a moment. "Bugger that. Wait a minute. Did you say Jesse has lice? Jesse as in Jesse Harris, Red and the whelp's kid?"

I giggled again. "Silly Daddy. All boys have cooties."

"Oh. Right." Now Daddy sounded embarrassed. Sometimes it was hard to tell if Daddy was embarrassed or not, 'cause he never blushed like Mommy does when Aunt Anya comes over.

"Pet, when did these dreams start?"

I thought hard. "I think around a week ago. Why, Daddy?"

He shook his head. "There's something strange going on here, that's all." He bent down to look me inn the eyes. "Now, listen very carefully, luv. From now on, you may see some strange things. Just know they aren't real, and that they can't touch you. Don't listen to what they tell you, okay? Just ignore them. But be sure to tell Mommy and Daddy if you see any strange…occurrences."

I nodded. "Sure, Daddy."

I felt a lot better afterwards. I think I'll go downstairs and get Aunt Dawnie to make me a peanut-butter and salami sandwich.

Later—

There was a strange man outside! He looked sorta familiar, like one of the people I had dreams about. But Daddy told me not to listen to strangers, so when he started to ask if this was Buffy and Dawn Summers' house, I ran inside and closed the door.

The man was old-looking, almost as old as Uncle Rupert, I guess. He was just about completely bald, and he was carrying a suitcase.

Mommy went out with the other people and Daddy's sleeping in the basement. Aunt Dawnie's upstairs listening to music in her room—not to be disturbed.

The man is ringing the doorbell and I'm in the living room. What should I do?

Ding-DONG!

"Pet, what are you doing?" A voice from behind me.

I jumped. "Daddy! Aren't you sleeping in the basement?" I went to give him a hug, but Daddy pulled back before I could touch him.

"Now, now, Angie. Who's at the door?"

I was slightly confused. "I don't know, Daddy. It was a man, about Uncle Rupert's age. I think he was looking for Mommy and Aunt Dawnie. Should I get Aunt Dawnie?"

"No, pet. Why bother 'Aunt Dawnie' about such trivial matters as this? Why don't you go into the kitchen and get yourself some cookies and milk, write in that cute little diary, and let Daddy take care of it."

"Daddy!" I whined. "I can't reach the cookies."

Ding-DONG!

"Luv, what are you yammering about? Daddy's trying to sleep. And why hasn't Nibblet answered the door?" I turned around. Daddy! Another Daddy was coming up from the basement steps.

"Daddy?" I looked back at the living room. This Daddy smiled. I looked back at the basement door. "Why are there two of you?"

The Daddy at the basement door frowned suddenly. "What are you talking about? Oh, oh. Bloody hell. Angie, come over here. Don't listen to the other me. Just walk over here to Daddy."

Ding-DONG!

I hesitated, unsure of what to do. The Daddy at the basement door saw my hesitance and walked over, pulling me to him. He was cold and smelled like vanilla, Mommy's perfume. Yep, this was the real Daddy.

"Pet, where is it?" he asked.

"Well, well. William Summers. Look at the ponce you turned into. Even had a brat with the Slayer." Daddy suddenly snapped his head up and glared at the other Daddy, as if just seeing him.

"You can't control me anymore."

The fake Daddy just laughed. "Is that so? Care to test that theory?"

Daddy didn't say anything for a moment.

"Angie, get upstairs, don't come down. Get Dawn, tell her to call Buffy. Open the curtains upstairs and stay in the sunlight. Now, pet."

I nodded, very scared. "Okay, Daddy."