Hello, All,
It's two-fer night at Casa de Nim. I am releasing chapter seven of The One, and I put up a short ficlet in response to a BAPS fic challenge. Take a look; it's called Rest in Peace.
Well, the plot begins to thicken, and we see that things are not always roses between our heroes. But, like everything else, they'll get through it together. Also, Oz puts his two cents in with Tara, letting his feelings on the whole situation be known.
I hope you enjoy the chapter, and the ficlet. Please let me know what you think! Thanks for all the feedback; it keeps me writing!
Without further ado.
*Cheery Vibes*, Nimue
"As sick as it sounds, in my little head, there's a little Sunnydale, and a widdle Spike and a widdle Buffy and Spike wubs Buffy." James Marsters 14 July 2002
Title: Pride (Chapter Seven of The One)
Author: Nimue
Rating: PG -13
Pairing: Buffy/Spike. Most major characters included.
Feedback: Yes, please
For instant notification of fic releases, straight to your mailbox, please visit Always_Everyday@yahoogroups.com
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, UPN, Fox... Just Borrowing. (With, of course, the exception of Emma and William, who belong to Buffy and Spike)
Summary: The strange occurrences of the night before come to light. The Watchers are called in to try and figure out what happened.
Pride
"Buffy?" Dawn whined. Even half asleep, the girl could whine. Buffy leaned against the bathroom counter, looking at herself in the mirror. She was exhausted. Not half as exhausted as Spike though. He'd cleaned her wound and put her to bed, waiting for her to fall asleep. But then she had heard him get up. He had gone to watch the kids. He did that whenever something bad happened. It was a habit.
"In here," Buffy half whispered, trying not to wake up Spike in the adjoining room. Vampire hearing or no, she knew he was out. He hadn't lain down until the sun came up.
The door to the bathroom opened slowly. Dawn stood in her pajamas, Will balanced on her hip. The boy was crying softly. "Didn't you hear the monitor? Will had another nightmare," Dawn said, bouncing the boy carefully.
A flash of guilt went through Buffy. She hadn't heard it. She didn't even know it was on. Dawn had taken one with her since she was sitting last night and Buffy didn't know if she remembered to turn hers on when she got in. Tears rushed up behind her eyes. "I...I'm sorry. I...didn't." Slowly, she leaned forward, taking the boy away from Dawn and pulling him close. Buffy winced as his little feet kicked at the wound from the night before.
Dawn's brow furrowed as she reached out, steadying Will. "Buffy, you OK?"
Buffy took a deep breath, swallowing the pain. "Yeah," she said quietly, adjusting Will so that he wasn't kicking her in the side anymore, and then cradling his head to her chest. She bounced him, shh'ing him quietly. "It's all right," Buffy whispered to the boy. "Just a nightmare."
Dawn watched a moment, and then leaned forward, pulling Buffy's shirt up. Neatly taped white bandages laced her side, right under her ribs. "What.what happened last night?" The girl asked softly. "I mean, I thought it was just.fake patrol. Since...since nothing had been going on lately I mean."
Will began to calm down, resting against his mum. "It was," Buffy began. "I mean, we always patrol when we say we are going to. But we hadn't expected much. And we kinda got into a fight and."
"One of them got you?" Dawn asked, pulling back and staring at her sister with concern.
Buffy sighed, not wanting to admit it. It wasn't the first time she'd been had by a creature with a lot less power than she, but it still stung her pride. "Yeah."
Footsteps padded onto the tile behind Buffy. She turned, watching Spike stumble into the room. A quick check of his attire deemed him okay to join the conversation. He had a habit of walking around their room naked, as if he never needed to be dressed in front of her. Not that Buffy didn't appreciate that. But she thought Dawn might be a little stunned. Spike had on blue pajama bottoms. He passed.
"Everything alright?" He asked, walking in and seeing Will still crying softly against his mum. "Tot's not hurt, is he?"
"No," Buffy answered quietly. "Had another nightmare."
Spike's brow furrowed. "Wish he'd tell us what they were about." He reached over, loosing William from Buffy and took him against his chest. "Can't be easy for the little bloke."
"Wait," Dawn gasped, walking forward. Spike hadn't even registered her being in the room and jumped a little as she spoke. That gave Buffy a bit of a giggle. Neither of them were morning people, but Spike certainly didn't have Vampy powers turned on at the moment.
"Niblet!" Spike gasped, looking down to check that he was actually somewhat clothed. He relaxed briefly once he was sure of that fact.
"You have the same cut!" Dawn continued, her fingers tracing the bandages on his side. "The Vampire got you too?"
Buffy sighed, leaning against the counter. "Not exactly."
"What do you mean, not exactly?" Dawn asked, eyeing them both.
"You see, Nibs, we got into a little fisticuffs last night and, well." Spike began.
"I made him stay out of it," Buffy continued for him. "And it got a little out of hand. One of them got me with a knife and I finished him."
"How did Spike get hurt then?" Dawn asked, confusion in her eyes.
"Dunno, Pet. One minute, I'm standing there. Next minute, Buffy's stabbed and I'm bleeding with her," Spike answered. It was honest. That was how it happened. Not that it made any sense.
Dawn thought for a moment. "Do you think it's about that One thing?"
Buffy looked at Spike a moment. They had been joined for five years now. The completed One. Since then, they had both been stabbed, shot with arrows, burned, hell, she'd given birth, and no signs of wounds on the other. Good thing on the last part, she thought to herself. Not a pretty sight. "I don't know," she answered. "I mean, if it is, it's a new part."
"I'll go call Giles," Dawn began again. "I think he's at the shop now. You guys okay?"
"Merely a flesh wound," Spike quoted. Both girls looked at him oddly. Not enough viewings of Monty Python in the house, he thought. Have to rectify that. "We're fine, Pet," he corrected, still holding Will against his bare chest. "But I would appreciate it if you could find the Watcher for us."
Dawn smiled. "Sure. Want me to take Will? I can get him breakfast while I'm up."
Spike looked over at Buffy. William had stopped crying and was quietly staring around, his head on Spike's shoulder. "Want to go off with your Aunt Dawn?" Spike asked, kissing his son's forehead.
"She might even make you funny shaped pancakes," Buffy added.
Will stared at them for a minute, and then held his hands out to Dawn. "Wanna turtle."
"I can do turtles," Dawn answered, taking the boy. "Emma's still asleep. But I'll listen for her. Get some rest before Giles gets here. You both look.."
"I know, I know," Buffy sighed, ushering her sister out the door. "Thanks for helping."
"Sister of the year award," Dawn called from the hall. "I deserve it."
A soft knock at the door stirred Tara from her morning coffee. She had been taking classes at the college again, now that Willow was almost through medical school and had been offered a job as a teaching assistant. It suited her well. She liked working with the students. Particularly on the subject of non-mainstream religions and theology. Tara thought it might have helped her out in college if there had been someone around who had better understood her and Willow. But the new arrangement did make for early, and long, hours.
Tara rose, walking to the door. She had a while before she had to leave, but she wanted to make sure she had made lunch for Willow and started the laundry. No classes for either of them today, but Tara was going in to start planning for the next semester.
The door hissed against the carpet as she opened it. "H.hi," she said softly at the man in front of her. "Willow. she's asleep."
Oz smiled softly. "I didn't come to talk to her. I came to talk to you."
Tara stood stunned for a moment and then shook her head, as if to clear it. "Come in."
The man walked through the door and stood, waiting for Tara to lead the way. She showed him to the kitchen, gesturing at a chair. "Coffee?"
"Sure," Oz answered, watching the woman move gracefully across the kitchen, pouring a cup of coffee and bringing it back to him. She sat cream and sugar in front of him and then settled down to face him.
"What . what can I do for you, Oz?" Tara asked, a bit thrown off by the visit. He seemed like he really did have good intentions, but after all they had been through in the last few years, sometimes you couldn't even trust your best friend.
Oz sighed, stirring sugar into his coffee. "Well, it's like this. I.I know that I was really.um.not too nice when we first met. And I know that this plan of Spike's is a little out of the blue."
Tara had to grin. "He does that. I mean, he means well, but sometimes it's hard to follow how he gets from point A to point B."
The Werewolf smiled in return. "I saw that. But, after I thought about what he said, I figured I owed Willow, and you, the opportunity to decide for yourself."
"Me?" Tara asked, raising an eyebrow. "I mean.I can see Willow."
"She loves you," Oz interrupted. "And I know what it means to be loved by her. It's everywhere, and perfect and true. You deserved that. So, did I. At least most of the time. " He paused, taking a sip of the coffee and then settling it back on the table with a soft click. "We screwed up, Willow and me." The thought of their mutual betrayal made his heart ache all over again. "Anyway, the point is that when I left, and then came back, I didn't understand that then. I didn't get why she could fall in love with someone else and just forget. And smelling her on you.it didn't bring out the best in me."
"No," Tara answered, trying to avoid the smile. "I guess not."
"I've had a lot of time to think since then," Oz continued. "And I know that how I acted was wrong. And I owe you an apology."
Tara smiled this time. "An apology, yes. A baby, not so much."
He blinked. "Are you saying that...?"
"No," Tara answered. "I mean, we haven't decided, but both of us appreciate the offer. I just want you to know that you don't owe us any more than an apology. I mean, Willow loved you for a reason. You must be a good man or else she wouldn't have. So, you don't owe us anything. We all make mistakes."
"Wow," Oz muttered, staring at her with wide eyes.
"Wow what?"
"You guys have gotten really good at the whole forgiveness gig since I left," he answered, a sly grin breaking on his features.
Tara smiled again, her beauty radiating from every pore. "We've had a lot of practice."
They sat silently a moment, watching each other. Studying. It was almost as if they were former enemies. Rivals. But that time had passed. And now they were just looking at another person with too much in common to deny.
"Do you want to do this, Oz?" Tara asked, finally breaking the silence.
Oz thought for a moment and then nodded. "I want to help."
"But do you want to do this?" She asked again. "I mean, this is...this is serious stuff. It's not like.like helping us move or something."
Again, he was quiet. "I need to ask you something, Tara."
"S.sure," she answered quietly. "I mean, I don't know if I have the answer, but I'll try."
He shifted in his chair, not sure how to ask. "Well, I mean, I know how big this is. And I also had pretty much counted myself out as part of the human gene pool. I mean, I didn't think.the rest of the world isn't quite as accepting."
"Of demons. Werewolves," she interrupted.
"Yeah," he answered. "So, I had pretty much thought, since it can be hereditary, apparently, that no human would."
"Well," Tara sighed. "I mean, it's something we have to consider. But I don't know if you've noticed, but none of the kids in this little circle are completely human."
Oz had to chuckle. "Yeah, I noticed. Made me laugh. Who'd a thought that the demon fighting dream team would all end up with half human kids."
"Who better to understand them?" Tara answered honestly. "I mean, who better to understand the Slayer than a Vampire?"
He nodded quirking an eyebrow. "I can see your point." Again he paused, waiting for the words to come. "Tara, what I am trying to say is that."
"You want to be a part of the baby's life." It felt right to her when she said it. The thought was almost oozing off of him. And she understood that.
His eyes were wide. "Yeah, I mean.I don't expect to be let in like a dad or anything. But I would like it if. Maybe I could be hairy Uncle Oz who lives out of town?"
Tara giggled. "I would have to talk to Willow. I mean, we haven't even decided what to do yet. It's.it's a lot. But, yeah. I mean, I have no problem with that. I can't imagine Willow would. But you do understand that we are a family. Me and Willow?"
"I get that," Oz smiled. "I'm glad she has you to watch over her." He looked at his watch tentatively. "I have to go. Promised to catch up with some folks in town. I'll be around for a few days. Just...um, let me know."
"We will," Tara said, rising with him. "And. thanks. I mean, we appreciate the offer."
"The pleasure's all mine," he answered, kissing her hand.
Cyrus sat across the coffee table from them. She was curled on the couch, her head on Spike's lap. He stroked her hair, as much for his own comfort as his. They looked exhausted. Beaten. The wounds weren't that bad. It was more the thought of what had caused them. Cyrus knew it plagued Spike that he had stood there as Buffy got hurt, although he knew Buffy well enough to know that she insisted on fighting her own battles on occasion. And it bothered Buffy that something had hurt him that she didn't understand. That none of them understood.
There was a brief knock before the front door swung open. Giles stumbled through, frazzled, a pile of books in one hand and a slim leather case in the other. "Sorry," he gushed. "Had to wait for Anya to come back from an assignment and the nanny was running behind."
Buffy chuckled, coughing. "The joys of parenting."
"Yes," Giles answered, pulling up a chair. "I hope that the lethargy is more an effect of lack of sleep rather than the seriousness of the wounds."
"Just a scratch," Buffy responded, pushing herself up. Spike was silent, his hand still absently running along her back. She sat, scooting closer to him, her hip flush to his.
"Is it?" Giles asked Cyrus.
"It's a shallow knife mark. Identical on both of them. Not serious, although it is rather nasty to look at," Cyrus answered.
"And you were not involved in the battle?" Giles asked, turning his attention to Spike.
"No," Spike answered curtly. His guilt was getting the better of him.
"They were two younger Vamps. You know I like to take them on my own. Makes me feel all Slayer-y," Buffy contributed, trying to cover. It was true. She didn't like it when Spike jumped in on the simpler battles. Not unless he was itching to fight.
"Not anymore," Spike corrected through gritted teeth. "Not doing this again."
"Spike," Buffy sighed.
"He's right," Giles contributed. "You've been alive this long because of the One. The joining. No Slayer has reached twenty-seven and had a family. It's not fair to ask him to let you put your life on the line, Buffy."
"It's my job," Buffy huffed, anger building. She felt ganged up on.
"It's *our* job," Spike corrected. "Both of us, Love. It might've been all right to take our chances before. But not now. You've got two little tykes depending on their mum. Don't think you want to leave 'em just yet."
Buffy's mouth snapped shut. She didn't want to ever leave them alone. But being a Slayer was what she was. A killer of killers. Still, Spike wasn't going to let this go. "I think you're over reacting. It was just a scratch."
"This time," Spike answered, looking at her pretty green eyes. "This time, it was just a scratch. Next time, maybe that knife hits your heart." She watched him begin to choke up as he spoke, but she couldn't bring herself to interrupt. "Then what? Then your Slayer pride gets you nothing but two motherless children and."
Buffy watched him plead with her; his eyes wet with unshed tears. He wouldn't cry, but she knew he had. She knew he had sat in Emma's room, silent tears running down his face, thinking about what might have been. "Spike.I'm.."
"And you'd leave me behind to," Spike said quietly. "And for what, Pet? Pride?"
Spike stood, walking away from couch a few steps before turning around. "I can't let you do that, Love. Not even if you resent me until the end of time. Can't let you leave."
He looked at her for a long moment, studying her face. She was everything to him. His world. No one was going to take that without a fight. Buffy stared back, not sure what to say. She was the Slayer, but for once in her life, that came second. She was his partner and their children's mother before the saviour of the World. Selfish, maybe. But that selfishness had gotten her this far.
Spike stared a moment longer, feeling her mind process it, and then walked away. Buffy knew he needed to vent. The exhaustion wasn't helping what was already a sore subject. "Spike?"
But he was gone.
"Buffy, it's best to just let him be for now," Giles interrupted softly. "Sometimes, we all need.time"
"I know," Buffy answered, biting her lip. "It's really not serious."
Cyrus nodded. "Buffy, you should know by now that it's all quite serious. And to him, it's as if he let you down."
"But it was me," Buffy countered. "I'm the one that."
Giles just looked at her sincerely, taking off his glasses. "Do you think that matters? " He wiped them on his shirttail. "If that knife had killed you, do you think it would have mattered whose decision it was to let you fight alone?"
"I guess not," she answered, staring at her feet. "I mean, I didn't think about it like that."
Her Watcher slid his glasses on. "So, why don't you tell me what happened?"
To be contd.
It's two-fer night at Casa de Nim. I am releasing chapter seven of The One, and I put up a short ficlet in response to a BAPS fic challenge. Take a look; it's called Rest in Peace.
Well, the plot begins to thicken, and we see that things are not always roses between our heroes. But, like everything else, they'll get through it together. Also, Oz puts his two cents in with Tara, letting his feelings on the whole situation be known.
I hope you enjoy the chapter, and the ficlet. Please let me know what you think! Thanks for all the feedback; it keeps me writing!
Without further ado.
*Cheery Vibes*, Nimue
"As sick as it sounds, in my little head, there's a little Sunnydale, and a widdle Spike and a widdle Buffy and Spike wubs Buffy." James Marsters 14 July 2002
Title: Pride (Chapter Seven of The One)
Author: Nimue
Rating: PG -13
Pairing: Buffy/Spike. Most major characters included.
Feedback: Yes, please
For instant notification of fic releases, straight to your mailbox, please visit Always_Everyday@yahoogroups.com
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, UPN, Fox... Just Borrowing. (With, of course, the exception of Emma and William, who belong to Buffy and Spike)
Summary: The strange occurrences of the night before come to light. The Watchers are called in to try and figure out what happened.
Pride
"Buffy?" Dawn whined. Even half asleep, the girl could whine. Buffy leaned against the bathroom counter, looking at herself in the mirror. She was exhausted. Not half as exhausted as Spike though. He'd cleaned her wound and put her to bed, waiting for her to fall asleep. But then she had heard him get up. He had gone to watch the kids. He did that whenever something bad happened. It was a habit.
"In here," Buffy half whispered, trying not to wake up Spike in the adjoining room. Vampire hearing or no, she knew he was out. He hadn't lain down until the sun came up.
The door to the bathroom opened slowly. Dawn stood in her pajamas, Will balanced on her hip. The boy was crying softly. "Didn't you hear the monitor? Will had another nightmare," Dawn said, bouncing the boy carefully.
A flash of guilt went through Buffy. She hadn't heard it. She didn't even know it was on. Dawn had taken one with her since she was sitting last night and Buffy didn't know if she remembered to turn hers on when she got in. Tears rushed up behind her eyes. "I...I'm sorry. I...didn't." Slowly, she leaned forward, taking the boy away from Dawn and pulling him close. Buffy winced as his little feet kicked at the wound from the night before.
Dawn's brow furrowed as she reached out, steadying Will. "Buffy, you OK?"
Buffy took a deep breath, swallowing the pain. "Yeah," she said quietly, adjusting Will so that he wasn't kicking her in the side anymore, and then cradling his head to her chest. She bounced him, shh'ing him quietly. "It's all right," Buffy whispered to the boy. "Just a nightmare."
Dawn watched a moment, and then leaned forward, pulling Buffy's shirt up. Neatly taped white bandages laced her side, right under her ribs. "What.what happened last night?" The girl asked softly. "I mean, I thought it was just.fake patrol. Since...since nothing had been going on lately I mean."
Will began to calm down, resting against his mum. "It was," Buffy began. "I mean, we always patrol when we say we are going to. But we hadn't expected much. And we kinda got into a fight and."
"One of them got you?" Dawn asked, pulling back and staring at her sister with concern.
Buffy sighed, not wanting to admit it. It wasn't the first time she'd been had by a creature with a lot less power than she, but it still stung her pride. "Yeah."
Footsteps padded onto the tile behind Buffy. She turned, watching Spike stumble into the room. A quick check of his attire deemed him okay to join the conversation. He had a habit of walking around their room naked, as if he never needed to be dressed in front of her. Not that Buffy didn't appreciate that. But she thought Dawn might be a little stunned. Spike had on blue pajama bottoms. He passed.
"Everything alright?" He asked, walking in and seeing Will still crying softly against his mum. "Tot's not hurt, is he?"
"No," Buffy answered quietly. "Had another nightmare."
Spike's brow furrowed. "Wish he'd tell us what they were about." He reached over, loosing William from Buffy and took him against his chest. "Can't be easy for the little bloke."
"Wait," Dawn gasped, walking forward. Spike hadn't even registered her being in the room and jumped a little as she spoke. That gave Buffy a bit of a giggle. Neither of them were morning people, but Spike certainly didn't have Vampy powers turned on at the moment.
"Niblet!" Spike gasped, looking down to check that he was actually somewhat clothed. He relaxed briefly once he was sure of that fact.
"You have the same cut!" Dawn continued, her fingers tracing the bandages on his side. "The Vampire got you too?"
Buffy sighed, leaning against the counter. "Not exactly."
"What do you mean, not exactly?" Dawn asked, eyeing them both.
"You see, Nibs, we got into a little fisticuffs last night and, well." Spike began.
"I made him stay out of it," Buffy continued for him. "And it got a little out of hand. One of them got me with a knife and I finished him."
"How did Spike get hurt then?" Dawn asked, confusion in her eyes.
"Dunno, Pet. One minute, I'm standing there. Next minute, Buffy's stabbed and I'm bleeding with her," Spike answered. It was honest. That was how it happened. Not that it made any sense.
Dawn thought for a moment. "Do you think it's about that One thing?"
Buffy looked at Spike a moment. They had been joined for five years now. The completed One. Since then, they had both been stabbed, shot with arrows, burned, hell, she'd given birth, and no signs of wounds on the other. Good thing on the last part, she thought to herself. Not a pretty sight. "I don't know," she answered. "I mean, if it is, it's a new part."
"I'll go call Giles," Dawn began again. "I think he's at the shop now. You guys okay?"
"Merely a flesh wound," Spike quoted. Both girls looked at him oddly. Not enough viewings of Monty Python in the house, he thought. Have to rectify that. "We're fine, Pet," he corrected, still holding Will against his bare chest. "But I would appreciate it if you could find the Watcher for us."
Dawn smiled. "Sure. Want me to take Will? I can get him breakfast while I'm up."
Spike looked over at Buffy. William had stopped crying and was quietly staring around, his head on Spike's shoulder. "Want to go off with your Aunt Dawn?" Spike asked, kissing his son's forehead.
"She might even make you funny shaped pancakes," Buffy added.
Will stared at them for a minute, and then held his hands out to Dawn. "Wanna turtle."
"I can do turtles," Dawn answered, taking the boy. "Emma's still asleep. But I'll listen for her. Get some rest before Giles gets here. You both look.."
"I know, I know," Buffy sighed, ushering her sister out the door. "Thanks for helping."
"Sister of the year award," Dawn called from the hall. "I deserve it."
A soft knock at the door stirred Tara from her morning coffee. She had been taking classes at the college again, now that Willow was almost through medical school and had been offered a job as a teaching assistant. It suited her well. She liked working with the students. Particularly on the subject of non-mainstream religions and theology. Tara thought it might have helped her out in college if there had been someone around who had better understood her and Willow. But the new arrangement did make for early, and long, hours.
Tara rose, walking to the door. She had a while before she had to leave, but she wanted to make sure she had made lunch for Willow and started the laundry. No classes for either of them today, but Tara was going in to start planning for the next semester.
The door hissed against the carpet as she opened it. "H.hi," she said softly at the man in front of her. "Willow. she's asleep."
Oz smiled softly. "I didn't come to talk to her. I came to talk to you."
Tara stood stunned for a moment and then shook her head, as if to clear it. "Come in."
The man walked through the door and stood, waiting for Tara to lead the way. She showed him to the kitchen, gesturing at a chair. "Coffee?"
"Sure," Oz answered, watching the woman move gracefully across the kitchen, pouring a cup of coffee and bringing it back to him. She sat cream and sugar in front of him and then settled down to face him.
"What . what can I do for you, Oz?" Tara asked, a bit thrown off by the visit. He seemed like he really did have good intentions, but after all they had been through in the last few years, sometimes you couldn't even trust your best friend.
Oz sighed, stirring sugar into his coffee. "Well, it's like this. I.I know that I was really.um.not too nice when we first met. And I know that this plan of Spike's is a little out of the blue."
Tara had to grin. "He does that. I mean, he means well, but sometimes it's hard to follow how he gets from point A to point B."
The Werewolf smiled in return. "I saw that. But, after I thought about what he said, I figured I owed Willow, and you, the opportunity to decide for yourself."
"Me?" Tara asked, raising an eyebrow. "I mean.I can see Willow."
"She loves you," Oz interrupted. "And I know what it means to be loved by her. It's everywhere, and perfect and true. You deserved that. So, did I. At least most of the time. " He paused, taking a sip of the coffee and then settling it back on the table with a soft click. "We screwed up, Willow and me." The thought of their mutual betrayal made his heart ache all over again. "Anyway, the point is that when I left, and then came back, I didn't understand that then. I didn't get why she could fall in love with someone else and just forget. And smelling her on you.it didn't bring out the best in me."
"No," Tara answered, trying to avoid the smile. "I guess not."
"I've had a lot of time to think since then," Oz continued. "And I know that how I acted was wrong. And I owe you an apology."
Tara smiled this time. "An apology, yes. A baby, not so much."
He blinked. "Are you saying that...?"
"No," Tara answered. "I mean, we haven't decided, but both of us appreciate the offer. I just want you to know that you don't owe us any more than an apology. I mean, Willow loved you for a reason. You must be a good man or else she wouldn't have. So, you don't owe us anything. We all make mistakes."
"Wow," Oz muttered, staring at her with wide eyes.
"Wow what?"
"You guys have gotten really good at the whole forgiveness gig since I left," he answered, a sly grin breaking on his features.
Tara smiled again, her beauty radiating from every pore. "We've had a lot of practice."
They sat silently a moment, watching each other. Studying. It was almost as if they were former enemies. Rivals. But that time had passed. And now they were just looking at another person with too much in common to deny.
"Do you want to do this, Oz?" Tara asked, finally breaking the silence.
Oz thought for a moment and then nodded. "I want to help."
"But do you want to do this?" She asked again. "I mean, this is...this is serious stuff. It's not like.like helping us move or something."
Again, he was quiet. "I need to ask you something, Tara."
"S.sure," she answered quietly. "I mean, I don't know if I have the answer, but I'll try."
He shifted in his chair, not sure how to ask. "Well, I mean, I know how big this is. And I also had pretty much counted myself out as part of the human gene pool. I mean, I didn't think.the rest of the world isn't quite as accepting."
"Of demons. Werewolves," she interrupted.
"Yeah," he answered. "So, I had pretty much thought, since it can be hereditary, apparently, that no human would."
"Well," Tara sighed. "I mean, it's something we have to consider. But I don't know if you've noticed, but none of the kids in this little circle are completely human."
Oz had to chuckle. "Yeah, I noticed. Made me laugh. Who'd a thought that the demon fighting dream team would all end up with half human kids."
"Who better to understand them?" Tara answered honestly. "I mean, who better to understand the Slayer than a Vampire?"
He nodded quirking an eyebrow. "I can see your point." Again he paused, waiting for the words to come. "Tara, what I am trying to say is that."
"You want to be a part of the baby's life." It felt right to her when she said it. The thought was almost oozing off of him. And she understood that.
His eyes were wide. "Yeah, I mean.I don't expect to be let in like a dad or anything. But I would like it if. Maybe I could be hairy Uncle Oz who lives out of town?"
Tara giggled. "I would have to talk to Willow. I mean, we haven't even decided what to do yet. It's.it's a lot. But, yeah. I mean, I have no problem with that. I can't imagine Willow would. But you do understand that we are a family. Me and Willow?"
"I get that," Oz smiled. "I'm glad she has you to watch over her." He looked at his watch tentatively. "I have to go. Promised to catch up with some folks in town. I'll be around for a few days. Just...um, let me know."
"We will," Tara said, rising with him. "And. thanks. I mean, we appreciate the offer."
"The pleasure's all mine," he answered, kissing her hand.
Cyrus sat across the coffee table from them. She was curled on the couch, her head on Spike's lap. He stroked her hair, as much for his own comfort as his. They looked exhausted. Beaten. The wounds weren't that bad. It was more the thought of what had caused them. Cyrus knew it plagued Spike that he had stood there as Buffy got hurt, although he knew Buffy well enough to know that she insisted on fighting her own battles on occasion. And it bothered Buffy that something had hurt him that she didn't understand. That none of them understood.
There was a brief knock before the front door swung open. Giles stumbled through, frazzled, a pile of books in one hand and a slim leather case in the other. "Sorry," he gushed. "Had to wait for Anya to come back from an assignment and the nanny was running behind."
Buffy chuckled, coughing. "The joys of parenting."
"Yes," Giles answered, pulling up a chair. "I hope that the lethargy is more an effect of lack of sleep rather than the seriousness of the wounds."
"Just a scratch," Buffy responded, pushing herself up. Spike was silent, his hand still absently running along her back. She sat, scooting closer to him, her hip flush to his.
"Is it?" Giles asked Cyrus.
"It's a shallow knife mark. Identical on both of them. Not serious, although it is rather nasty to look at," Cyrus answered.
"And you were not involved in the battle?" Giles asked, turning his attention to Spike.
"No," Spike answered curtly. His guilt was getting the better of him.
"They were two younger Vamps. You know I like to take them on my own. Makes me feel all Slayer-y," Buffy contributed, trying to cover. It was true. She didn't like it when Spike jumped in on the simpler battles. Not unless he was itching to fight.
"Not anymore," Spike corrected through gritted teeth. "Not doing this again."
"Spike," Buffy sighed.
"He's right," Giles contributed. "You've been alive this long because of the One. The joining. No Slayer has reached twenty-seven and had a family. It's not fair to ask him to let you put your life on the line, Buffy."
"It's my job," Buffy huffed, anger building. She felt ganged up on.
"It's *our* job," Spike corrected. "Both of us, Love. It might've been all right to take our chances before. But not now. You've got two little tykes depending on their mum. Don't think you want to leave 'em just yet."
Buffy's mouth snapped shut. She didn't want to ever leave them alone. But being a Slayer was what she was. A killer of killers. Still, Spike wasn't going to let this go. "I think you're over reacting. It was just a scratch."
"This time," Spike answered, looking at her pretty green eyes. "This time, it was just a scratch. Next time, maybe that knife hits your heart." She watched him begin to choke up as he spoke, but she couldn't bring herself to interrupt. "Then what? Then your Slayer pride gets you nothing but two motherless children and."
Buffy watched him plead with her; his eyes wet with unshed tears. He wouldn't cry, but she knew he had. She knew he had sat in Emma's room, silent tears running down his face, thinking about what might have been. "Spike.I'm.."
"And you'd leave me behind to," Spike said quietly. "And for what, Pet? Pride?"
Spike stood, walking away from couch a few steps before turning around. "I can't let you do that, Love. Not even if you resent me until the end of time. Can't let you leave."
He looked at her for a long moment, studying her face. She was everything to him. His world. No one was going to take that without a fight. Buffy stared back, not sure what to say. She was the Slayer, but for once in her life, that came second. She was his partner and their children's mother before the saviour of the World. Selfish, maybe. But that selfishness had gotten her this far.
Spike stared a moment longer, feeling her mind process it, and then walked away. Buffy knew he needed to vent. The exhaustion wasn't helping what was already a sore subject. "Spike?"
But he was gone.
"Buffy, it's best to just let him be for now," Giles interrupted softly. "Sometimes, we all need.time"
"I know," Buffy answered, biting her lip. "It's really not serious."
Cyrus nodded. "Buffy, you should know by now that it's all quite serious. And to him, it's as if he let you down."
"But it was me," Buffy countered. "I'm the one that."
Giles just looked at her sincerely, taking off his glasses. "Do you think that matters? " He wiped them on his shirttail. "If that knife had killed you, do you think it would have mattered whose decision it was to let you fight alone?"
"I guess not," she answered, staring at her feet. "I mean, I didn't think about it like that."
Her Watcher slid his glasses on. "So, why don't you tell me what happened?"
To be contd.