Buffy overslept by twenty minutes and was in a rush the next morning. She barely got the girls there breakfast before they had to rush to daycare. Kissing them soundly she left them in Miss Jan's care and hurried to work making it without a minute to spare. She sat down at her desk and began to look through a stack of folders that needed filing. Her mind was still reeling from last night - Spike was alive and he was here.
The morning passed quickly for her as she answered the phone and typed and filed, she went outside at lunch and enjoyed the sunshine and a coke with a side of old memories. When she returned the phone rang again and this time it was Miss Jan from daycare with bad news Brenna and Tierney were both feverish and throwing up. She had already had to send five other children home, there was a nasty stomach virus going around and the daycare had been hit hard. Buffy hung up the phone and nervously knocked on her Mr. Brannon's door. She explained the situation and he told he she could leave early but he expected her to work late the next day. She agreed quickly as she grabbed her purse and headed for the daycare. She wasn't sure who she could get to watch the girls tomorrow - all of her friends worked. She was almost in tears as she picked up the girls, she really needed this job.
Brenna and Tierney were both quiet and pale when she picked them up, "Come on sweeties, we're going home and we'll take a cool bath and have a popsicle, that will make you feel better."
"Okay, mommy." Tierney agreed right before the gagging started. Buffy turned to the back seat to find her
her throwing up into the car seat.
"Tierney, you okay?" Buffy pulled the car into a gas station. leaning over the backseat she tried to clean her up with a box of tissues.
"I'm sorry. " The little girl began to cry.
"It's okay, honey. Let's get you home so we can get you clean and feeling better. Brenna you okay?"
Buffy asked as she started the car.
"Uh huh, just want to get home." Brenna replied tiredly.
Buffy drove as quickly as she could, she sighed at the upholstery in the back seat as she unloaded the little girls. As soon as she settled them in the bath she got the phone and called her pediatrician, he assured her that it seemed to be the virus going around and that they needn't come in unless it got worse.
She hung up the phone and helped the girls out of the tub, getting them into jammies and giving each a popsicle they sat beside her on the couch watching The Littlest Mermaid while she scanned her list of phone numbers for a babysitter.
After several calls she was still emptyhanded, everyone she knew had to work themselves so they couldn't stay home anymore then she could. Sarah and Ellen said they would try to call around for her but they weren't sure if would help or not. Fresh tears stung her eyes as she wondered what to do.
Tierney had fallen asleep against her and Brenna was lying with her head on her mommy's lap almost asleep when the phone rang. Buffy perked up maybe someone had come up with a babysitter for her. She answered the phone, "Hello!"
Spike had stared at the phone for nearly an hour after waking. He wasn't sure if he should just go the park and meet her or go to the house - was he being pushy? A phone call, that wasn't pushy. "It's me, Spike."
He answered.
"Oh, Spike, hi." She sounded off somehow.
"You okay? "
"Well, I thought you might be someone who could babysit for me, the girls are both sick with the stomach virus and they can't go to daycare, all of my friends work and my boss wants me to work late tomorrow for taking off early today. So....I'm not exactly sure what I'm going to do." Her voice caught a little, she chided her self, don't cry to him.
"Buffy, maybe I can help. I'll get my trusty blanket and I'll be over first thing in the morning. You said the girls like me." Spike was suddenly very glad he's called.
"Do you know anything about babysitting? Especially little girls who don't feel well?" Buffy shook her head as she adjusted the phone on her shoulder.
"I'm sure I can do it." Spike argued afterall he was an adult he could sturely care for a couple of kiddies.
"Mommy......" Brenna suddenly sat up from her place on Buffy's lap and began to gag, Buffy's lap caught most of it.
Spike could hear the commotion, "Buffy, you okay?"
"I've got to go, Spike." she told him as she hung up the phone.
Spike grabbed his coat and went to the car. She obviously needed help and he was going to give it to her, whether she wanted it or not.
"I'm sorry, Mommy." Brenna apologized in a weak voice.
"It's okay, sweetie. " Buffy took the little girls hand and after checking that Tierney was still sleeping they made their way to the bathroom. She dampened a washcloth and cleaned the little girls face, thankfully her clothes were still clean unlike Buffy's. "Mom's going to take a bath, okay?" Buffy turned the water on and began to strip out of her dirty clothes, "You can sit right there." She pointed towards the toilet.
"Okay." Brenna sat down while Buffy eased into the tub and cleaned up. Once she was out of the bath she put on an old terrycloth robe, not attractive but very comfy.
"You want to try to eat something, Bren?" Buffy walked into the kitchen, 'Maybe some soup?"
The little girl shook her head no. "How bout another popsicle?" Buffy asked knowing how important it was to keep fluids in the children.
"Okay." Brenna nodded as Buffy opened the freezer door.
"Go check and see if Tierney is awake, she might want another pop too." Buffy asked as she took out the
treat from the freezer.
Brenna found Tierney still asleep but while she was in the living room the doorbell rang. She went to the door and opened it, "Mr. Spike."
"Who is it?" Buffy entered the living room to find Spike standing in the doorway, "Spike, you didn't have to come."
"You sounded like you might need some help." Buffy closed the door and led him into the living room,
"You might not want to get too close, nasty bug they've got."
"I think I'm immune." He laughed softly as he sat down on the end of the couch where Tierney was softly snoring. "
Brenna climbed into her mom's lap and began to lick at her popsicle. "You feeling bad, pet?" Spike smiled at Brenna as she nodded her head and leaned against her mom.
"Would you like me to stay with you tomorrow while mum works?" Spike asked knowing that he was probably pushing his luck.
Buffy raised her eyes at him but Brenna nodded enthusiastically, "Will you read to us?"
"Of course I will." He answered with a wink and a smile.
"Spike, are you sure?" Buffy looked nervous.
"Yeah, I can do this, Buffy. 'Side's what choice do you have? Right now, I'm all you''ve got..." His last words were a de javu' for both of them, he quickly added, "for a babysitter anyway."
She smiled graciously, "Thank you, I'm really not sure what I would have done. The doctor said they would probably be okay by tomorrow evening it's like a twentyfour hour bug. Just have to push fluids, they are running light fevers."
"It's no problem." He turned as Tierney sat up on the couch, rubbing her eyes with small chubby fists, "Hello, there muffin."
Tierney frowned at him, "Not a muffin." She climbed down and went to her mommy.
"She's really cranky when she sick." Buffy explained as the little girl tried to climb into the crowded chair with her mom and sister.
"Brenna, would you like to come over here and get a book."
"Okay." Brenna climbed out Buffy's lap making more room for Tierney. She found a book and handed it to Spike as she climbed up on the couch next to him.
"This looks like a good book." Spike told her as he began to read the first page of Frog and Toad are Friends.
Brenna was explaining the relationship between the two amphibians when she began to turn even paler,
"Momm...." and she began to gag again.
"Bathroom, Spike." Buffy called out as he swooped the little girl into his arms and rushed to the bathroom.
Buffy followed with Tierney on her hip, this time Brenna had made it to the bathroom and was throwing up into the toilet. Spike was on his knees beside the little girl rubbing her back as Buffy reached for another washcloth to dampen.
"You sure you want to do this?" Buffy asked as she began to wash Brenna's face with the cool rag. "Here sweetie, keep this on your forehead you'll feel better."
"Yes, I want to do this, Buffy." He picked up Brenna and they all went back to the livingroom, "Better?"
He asked Brenna as he picked up the book and she lay against him on the couch.
"Better.' The little girl nodded her head. Halfway through the book her eyes began to close within a few minutes she was sleeping, Spike as he covered the little girl with the afghan from the back of the couch.
"You want a popsicle, Tierney?" Buffy asked the small blonde curled in her lap.
"Uh huh."
Buffy stood carrying Tierney with her to the kitchen. She returned shortly the little girl holding a grape popsicle. When she finished the pop it was long before she was sleeping again. "I think it's safe to take them to bed." Buffy stood up, "I'll take her first."
"I'll bring Brenna." Spike told her as he gently gathered the sleeping girl in his arms and followed Buffy to the bedroom. She lay Tierney in her bed as he placed Brenna in hers. Neither girl stirred as the blankets were pulled up around their sleeping forms.
"They'll probably feel better by noon and be driving you nuts." Buffy smiled as she switched on the bedside lamp and turned off the overhead light. "You can back out, I can come up with something."
"I'm not backing out, pet." He assured her as they walked back into the livingroom, "Are you hungry? You haven't eaten anything, been busy with the girls."
"I'm okay." Buffy yawned.
"Let me fix you some soup at least and then I'll be on my way, but I'll be back bright and early." Spike told her as he walked to the kitchen.
"You don't have to cook for me.." Buffy called after him lying back on the couch and closing her eyes, she did feel a bit hungry though, "There' s chicken with stars in the cabinet by the stove."
"Found it." Spike called back as he searched for a pot and can openener.
Soon the soup was simmering and he found a tray to carry it and a glass of juice into the livingroom.
"For you, m'lady." He smiled as she sat up and took the tray.
"I can't remember the last time someone brought me a tray." Buffy smiled at him as she dipped her spoon into the hot soup. "Umm...umm...good." She laughed softly as she finished off the bowl and drank her juice.
"I'll take that and then I'll be on my way." Spike took her tray and the little girls juice cups towards the kitchen.
"You don't have to go." She called after him.
He stopped in his tracks, had she said he didn't have to go, what exactly did she mean? No, Spike she doesn't mean that.....I mean you haven't even discussed feelings....because you love her doesn't mean,
"What?" It came out mumbled.
"You can stay in the guest room, it's not huge but bigger then the closet at Xander's and the bed is much better then that cot in my basment." She yawned again and pulled her robe tighter around her.
"Guest room.....bigger then Xander's closet? That will work, that we won't risk the babysitter exploding into a pile of dust in the morning." He put the dishes in the sink and retunred to find her standing by the couch.
"I'll show you the room, I'm really tired." She showed him to a small room with a double bed and a dresser in it. Like most of the rooms in the house this one also had several family and friends pictures in it. A framed picture of Xander with a dark haired woman he had never seen and two little boys sat on the dresser. More pictures of Willow and Dawn sat beside it. Buffy pulled the bedspread back for him,
"Goodnight, Spike and thank you, I'm not sure what I would have done if you hadnt' been here."
"Your welcome. Sleep tight, Buffy." He told her as she closed the door.
Buffy checked on the girls one more time before retreating to her room, she knew she should probably be a bit worried about leaving the girls with Spike tomorrow but for some reason it felt okay. She let her thoughts linger on the soup he had made for her, it felt good to be the one being taken care of for a change even if only for a little while. She knew she shouldn't read anything into it, Spike was just being Spike he had always been good at taking care of people, he hadn't even mentioned his feelings for her, she supposed that after he had given her up all those years ago that he had moved on, just like he would when his job here was over. She didn't want to think about his leaving not when she had just found him again. Too much thinking Buffy - just go to sleep.
Down the hall, Spike was not faring much better. In the quiet house it was easy for him to hear the three heartbeats and the gentle breathing of the other occupants. Buffy was trusting him with the her daughters that must mean something and the look on her face when he had brought her that tray with a simple bowl of soup. Her face had lit up as if it was steak dinner. She needed to be taken care once in awhile too, such a strong woman. He wondered if he could even dare to hope that she still cared? Too much thinking, Spike. Go to sleep you're gonna need it for tomorrow.
The alarm in Buffy's room went off at 7am she got up and checked the girls then took a leisurely shower, no rushing to get everyone ready this morning. She could hear Spike moving around the house too as she got dressed.
"Good morning." He called to her as she entered the livingroom, "Coffee's made if you'd like some and some toast too?"
"Oh...that sounds great." Buffy smiled as she went to pour herself a cup and sat across from Spike at the small table in the kitchen.
"You want anything with that, I can do eggs." He grinned as he handed her the toast.
"This is good." She smiled at him as she reached for the jelly, "I've got a list of numbers for you, just in case." She handed him a notepad.
"Your work number, doctor's office, poison control, the police, fire department, I don't think we'll need all of these, luv." The familiar endearment slipped out before he realized it, he bit his tongue wishing he hadn't said it. He waited for a look of dissapproval but it never came.
Instead she was still smiling at him, "You never know what could happen. Babysitting is a tough job." She winked at him before she'd realized she'd done it. No, no winking Buffy, no flirting with Spike that can only lead to heartache.....he's leaving soon, just enjoy the time you have.
He raised his eybrow at ther her, "I think the former big bad can handle it." Spike grinned at her, she had winked at him......
"I'm going to check on the girls and then I better go. It's going to be a long day." She sighed as she stood,
"Thanks for the coffee and the toast."
"No problem."
Buffy stepped softly into the girls room they were both still sleeping and she didnt' want to disturb them, kissing each of their foreheads she left the room and gathered her purse and jacket. "They'll probably sleep a bit longer, Spike. Thanks again." She called out as she closed the door and went to her car.
The car smelled when she opened the door - it smelled badly. She'd forgotten to clean the carseats after last nights incident. She took both seats out of the car and quickly hosed them off leaving them to dry outside.
*****
"Your welcome!" He called out as he heard her words of thanks and the door closing.
Spike washed up the few dishes in the sink and noticed the trash can was full so he pulled out the bag and tied it sitting it by the backdoor. After pouring himself a cup of coffee he went into the livingroom and turned on the tv for some lame talkshow watching. He was soon interrupted by the sound of small feet padding down the hallway, "I'm hungry." Brenna called out as she came to stand by the couch.
"Feeling better, little bit?" Spike asked with a smile.
"Yep, where's mommy?" She looked around the room.
"She went to work, remember last night, I told I would be babysitting today?" He stood and she followed him to the kitchen, "What would you like for breakfast?"
"I want some toast and fruitloops." She told him as she climbed up on a chair and put her elbows on the table watching him pop the bread into the toaster and search for the cereal.
"It's in that cabinet, the milk is in there," she pointed at the refrigerator.
"Thank you." He smiles at her and waggles his eyebrows at her before opening the fridge door.
Her laughter is precious , "You're funny, Mr. Spike."
"So are you munchkin." He notices that they are low on milk and cheese. Maybe later if the girls are up to it they'll go get some groceries, Buffy might not like it but at least that would be one less worry for her. He sat the bowl of fruit loops on the table in front of Brenna and handed her a spoon, he sat the toast beside the bowl.
Spike spied a grocery list pad on hanging on the front of the refrigerator a small pencil is attached. He took the pad and sat down across from Brenna. "Let's make a grocery list, what do you and Tierney like to eat?"
"Fruit loops and poptarts. Ice cream and cookies and fruit roll ups. Juice and Sprite." She began to recite her favorite foods.
"How bout lunch foods?"
"Skettio's and wavioli's and noodles. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Tierney like's fluff on her's though." Brenna explained around a mouthful of cereal.
"Fluff?" Spike raised his eyes questioningly.
Before she could answer they were interupted by a shrill voice, "Brenna!!!" Tierney entered the kitchen yelling for her sister.
"Hungry, bit?"
Tierney nodded as she climbed into the chair with the booster seat. "Juice."
"Here you go." Spike sat down a glass of orange juice in front of her, "Cereal too?"
She nodded again. "Not much of a morning person are you? You feeling better."
She nodded again and gave him a small smile as she took a sip of her juice. He sat her cereal in front of her and watched her begin to eat. She and Brenna giggled about something as he finished his list. They went to watch cartoons as Spike cleaned the breakfast dishes. He joined them in the livingroom and smiled as they crawled up on either side of him on the couch. After a couple hours they were both sleeping again, he supposed they were still tired from being sick the night before. He got up and let them lay on the couch. The phone rang and he answered it quickly so it wouldn't wake them, "Hello."
"Spike, it's me. How are the girls doing?" Buffy asked as she drank a soda and opened a bag of chips.
"They're napping right now. I fed them breakfast, we watched cartoons and then they fell asleep."
"Wow, I can have a hard time getting them to nap." She shook her head in amazement.
Spike laughed, "I think they're still tired from being sick, don't think it was me......unless I just bored them to sleep."
She laughed soflty, "Spike, you may be lots of things but boring....never. I've got to go back to work. Thanks again."
He grinned widely into the phone, she thinks I'm never boring....." Oh, Buffy, later when it gets dark, if the girls are up to it, I was going to take them out for a bit. Is that okay?"
"Uh.....where?"
"You're out of milk, thought I'd go get some."
"I can get it on my way home." Buffy suggested unsure of what he was up to.
"Well they might want some before then, you're gonna be late. I'll be careful." Spike assured her.
"Okay, the car seats are sitting outside the garage, I had to clean them this morning. Make sure they stay in them and don't let them talk you into buying hordes of candy."
"Alright,. See you tonight." He hung up the phone, he'd won this round.
The girls slept for an hour giving Spike time to catch Jerry Springer. Brenna woke up first with Tierney shortly following, he read half of the bookshelf before feeding them sandwiches for lunch, They were feeling back to their normal selves by the afternoon and giggled as they built a castle with the sofa pillows and watched a Disney movie from safe within it's walls, until the bleach blond tummy tickler dragon attacked. The living room was full of laughter and Spike thought that he could very well get used to that sound.
As dusk approached Spike had Brenna find clothes for she and Tierney. They dressed and made sure they had pottied before they left. Spike walked the girls out to the car and put in the car seats, he made sure they were safely buckled in and then went in search of a grocery. A few blocks down he pulled into the parking lot of a Kroger and helped the kids from the car. The girls were loaded into a buggy and he pulled the list from his pocket.
He picked up the necessities first, milk, bread, eggs, butter and such. Fresh fruits and veggies were next and cereal and strawberry poptarts. The girls picked out their favorite canned pastas and soups and talked him into goldfish crackers and chocolate chip cookie and he discovered what fluff was as he put the jar of marshmallow creme in the cart.
He then went to the ice cream aisle and scanned the freezer shelves, he was looking for , aha there it was mint chocolate chip ice cream, he remembered that Buffy really liked this or she used to. He picked up an quart of the ice cream and then let the girls choose some ice cream pops.
Brenna held the ice cream and Tierney held the goldfish crackers. They put them on the checkout counter and smiled at the checker, "Hello, aren't you two pretty little girls? I bet your daddy is proud of you."
"Daddy is in heaven." Brenna stated matter of factly. The little girl had no real memories of her daddy, only the pictures around the house and her mom's explanation that her daddy loved her but he got sick and went to heaven.
The checker shrugged her shoulders in apology at Spike.
"I'm not their daddy, I'm just the babysitter." Spike tried to explain as he paid for the groceries.
The woman behind him in line grinned appreciatively, "Wish my babysitter looked like you."
Spike muttered a "Thanks, let's go" And pushed the full buggy to the car.
Brenna was looking at him curiously, "Mr. Spike..."
"Yes, Brenna, sweet."
She looked at him her brow wrinkling between her eyes as if she was in serious thought, "You could be..."
"I could be what, honey?" He asked as he put Tierney in her seat.
"You could be our daddy." Brenna answered as she climbed into the car seat.
Spike wasn't sure what to say, honesty seemed to be the best policy, "That might be nice Brenna, but I don't know how your mom would feel about that. Right now it's nice being friends."
"Friends.........but a daddy would be good now." She chewed on her bottom lip as she mulled this over and more then ever she reminded him of her mother.
TBC
The morning passed quickly for her as she answered the phone and typed and filed, she went outside at lunch and enjoyed the sunshine and a coke with a side of old memories. When she returned the phone rang again and this time it was Miss Jan from daycare with bad news Brenna and Tierney were both feverish and throwing up. She had already had to send five other children home, there was a nasty stomach virus going around and the daycare had been hit hard. Buffy hung up the phone and nervously knocked on her Mr. Brannon's door. She explained the situation and he told he she could leave early but he expected her to work late the next day. She agreed quickly as she grabbed her purse and headed for the daycare. She wasn't sure who she could get to watch the girls tomorrow - all of her friends worked. She was almost in tears as she picked up the girls, she really needed this job.
Brenna and Tierney were both quiet and pale when she picked them up, "Come on sweeties, we're going home and we'll take a cool bath and have a popsicle, that will make you feel better."
"Okay, mommy." Tierney agreed right before the gagging started. Buffy turned to the back seat to find her
her throwing up into the car seat.
"Tierney, you okay?" Buffy pulled the car into a gas station. leaning over the backseat she tried to clean her up with a box of tissues.
"I'm sorry. " The little girl began to cry.
"It's okay, honey. Let's get you home so we can get you clean and feeling better. Brenna you okay?"
Buffy asked as she started the car.
"Uh huh, just want to get home." Brenna replied tiredly.
Buffy drove as quickly as she could, she sighed at the upholstery in the back seat as she unloaded the little girls. As soon as she settled them in the bath she got the phone and called her pediatrician, he assured her that it seemed to be the virus going around and that they needn't come in unless it got worse.
She hung up the phone and helped the girls out of the tub, getting them into jammies and giving each a popsicle they sat beside her on the couch watching The Littlest Mermaid while she scanned her list of phone numbers for a babysitter.
After several calls she was still emptyhanded, everyone she knew had to work themselves so they couldn't stay home anymore then she could. Sarah and Ellen said they would try to call around for her but they weren't sure if would help or not. Fresh tears stung her eyes as she wondered what to do.
Tierney had fallen asleep against her and Brenna was lying with her head on her mommy's lap almost asleep when the phone rang. Buffy perked up maybe someone had come up with a babysitter for her. She answered the phone, "Hello!"
Spike had stared at the phone for nearly an hour after waking. He wasn't sure if he should just go the park and meet her or go to the house - was he being pushy? A phone call, that wasn't pushy. "It's me, Spike."
He answered.
"Oh, Spike, hi." She sounded off somehow.
"You okay? "
"Well, I thought you might be someone who could babysit for me, the girls are both sick with the stomach virus and they can't go to daycare, all of my friends work and my boss wants me to work late tomorrow for taking off early today. So....I'm not exactly sure what I'm going to do." Her voice caught a little, she chided her self, don't cry to him.
"Buffy, maybe I can help. I'll get my trusty blanket and I'll be over first thing in the morning. You said the girls like me." Spike was suddenly very glad he's called.
"Do you know anything about babysitting? Especially little girls who don't feel well?" Buffy shook her head as she adjusted the phone on her shoulder.
"I'm sure I can do it." Spike argued afterall he was an adult he could sturely care for a couple of kiddies.
"Mommy......" Brenna suddenly sat up from her place on Buffy's lap and began to gag, Buffy's lap caught most of it.
Spike could hear the commotion, "Buffy, you okay?"
"I've got to go, Spike." she told him as she hung up the phone.
Spike grabbed his coat and went to the car. She obviously needed help and he was going to give it to her, whether she wanted it or not.
"I'm sorry, Mommy." Brenna apologized in a weak voice.
"It's okay, sweetie. " Buffy took the little girls hand and after checking that Tierney was still sleeping they made their way to the bathroom. She dampened a washcloth and cleaned the little girls face, thankfully her clothes were still clean unlike Buffy's. "Mom's going to take a bath, okay?" Buffy turned the water on and began to strip out of her dirty clothes, "You can sit right there." She pointed towards the toilet.
"Okay." Brenna sat down while Buffy eased into the tub and cleaned up. Once she was out of the bath she put on an old terrycloth robe, not attractive but very comfy.
"You want to try to eat something, Bren?" Buffy walked into the kitchen, 'Maybe some soup?"
The little girl shook her head no. "How bout another popsicle?" Buffy asked knowing how important it was to keep fluids in the children.
"Okay." Brenna nodded as Buffy opened the freezer door.
"Go check and see if Tierney is awake, she might want another pop too." Buffy asked as she took out the
treat from the freezer.
Brenna found Tierney still asleep but while she was in the living room the doorbell rang. She went to the door and opened it, "Mr. Spike."
"Who is it?" Buffy entered the living room to find Spike standing in the doorway, "Spike, you didn't have to come."
"You sounded like you might need some help." Buffy closed the door and led him into the living room,
"You might not want to get too close, nasty bug they've got."
"I think I'm immune." He laughed softly as he sat down on the end of the couch where Tierney was softly snoring. "
Brenna climbed into her mom's lap and began to lick at her popsicle. "You feeling bad, pet?" Spike smiled at Brenna as she nodded her head and leaned against her mom.
"Would you like me to stay with you tomorrow while mum works?" Spike asked knowing that he was probably pushing his luck.
Buffy raised her eyes at him but Brenna nodded enthusiastically, "Will you read to us?"
"Of course I will." He answered with a wink and a smile.
"Spike, are you sure?" Buffy looked nervous.
"Yeah, I can do this, Buffy. 'Side's what choice do you have? Right now, I'm all you''ve got..." His last words were a de javu' for both of them, he quickly added, "for a babysitter anyway."
She smiled graciously, "Thank you, I'm really not sure what I would have done. The doctor said they would probably be okay by tomorrow evening it's like a twentyfour hour bug. Just have to push fluids, they are running light fevers."
"It's no problem." He turned as Tierney sat up on the couch, rubbing her eyes with small chubby fists, "Hello, there muffin."
Tierney frowned at him, "Not a muffin." She climbed down and went to her mommy.
"She's really cranky when she sick." Buffy explained as the little girl tried to climb into the crowded chair with her mom and sister.
"Brenna, would you like to come over here and get a book."
"Okay." Brenna climbed out Buffy's lap making more room for Tierney. She found a book and handed it to Spike as she climbed up on the couch next to him.
"This looks like a good book." Spike told her as he began to read the first page of Frog and Toad are Friends.
Brenna was explaining the relationship between the two amphibians when she began to turn even paler,
"Momm...." and she began to gag again.
"Bathroom, Spike." Buffy called out as he swooped the little girl into his arms and rushed to the bathroom.
Buffy followed with Tierney on her hip, this time Brenna had made it to the bathroom and was throwing up into the toilet. Spike was on his knees beside the little girl rubbing her back as Buffy reached for another washcloth to dampen.
"You sure you want to do this?" Buffy asked as she began to wash Brenna's face with the cool rag. "Here sweetie, keep this on your forehead you'll feel better."
"Yes, I want to do this, Buffy." He picked up Brenna and they all went back to the livingroom, "Better?"
He asked Brenna as he picked up the book and she lay against him on the couch.
"Better.' The little girl nodded her head. Halfway through the book her eyes began to close within a few minutes she was sleeping, Spike as he covered the little girl with the afghan from the back of the couch.
"You want a popsicle, Tierney?" Buffy asked the small blonde curled in her lap.
"Uh huh."
Buffy stood carrying Tierney with her to the kitchen. She returned shortly the little girl holding a grape popsicle. When she finished the pop it was long before she was sleeping again. "I think it's safe to take them to bed." Buffy stood up, "I'll take her first."
"I'll bring Brenna." Spike told her as he gently gathered the sleeping girl in his arms and followed Buffy to the bedroom. She lay Tierney in her bed as he placed Brenna in hers. Neither girl stirred as the blankets were pulled up around their sleeping forms.
"They'll probably feel better by noon and be driving you nuts." Buffy smiled as she switched on the bedside lamp and turned off the overhead light. "You can back out, I can come up with something."
"I'm not backing out, pet." He assured her as they walked back into the livingroom, "Are you hungry? You haven't eaten anything, been busy with the girls."
"I'm okay." Buffy yawned.
"Let me fix you some soup at least and then I'll be on my way, but I'll be back bright and early." Spike told her as he walked to the kitchen.
"You don't have to cook for me.." Buffy called after him lying back on the couch and closing her eyes, she did feel a bit hungry though, "There' s chicken with stars in the cabinet by the stove."
"Found it." Spike called back as he searched for a pot and can openener.
Soon the soup was simmering and he found a tray to carry it and a glass of juice into the livingroom.
"For you, m'lady." He smiled as she sat up and took the tray.
"I can't remember the last time someone brought me a tray." Buffy smiled at him as she dipped her spoon into the hot soup. "Umm...umm...good." She laughed softly as she finished off the bowl and drank her juice.
"I'll take that and then I'll be on my way." Spike took her tray and the little girls juice cups towards the kitchen.
"You don't have to go." She called after him.
He stopped in his tracks, had she said he didn't have to go, what exactly did she mean? No, Spike she doesn't mean that.....I mean you haven't even discussed feelings....because you love her doesn't mean,
"What?" It came out mumbled.
"You can stay in the guest room, it's not huge but bigger then the closet at Xander's and the bed is much better then that cot in my basment." She yawned again and pulled her robe tighter around her.
"Guest room.....bigger then Xander's closet? That will work, that we won't risk the babysitter exploding into a pile of dust in the morning." He put the dishes in the sink and retunred to find her standing by the couch.
"I'll show you the room, I'm really tired." She showed him to a small room with a double bed and a dresser in it. Like most of the rooms in the house this one also had several family and friends pictures in it. A framed picture of Xander with a dark haired woman he had never seen and two little boys sat on the dresser. More pictures of Willow and Dawn sat beside it. Buffy pulled the bedspread back for him,
"Goodnight, Spike and thank you, I'm not sure what I would have done if you hadnt' been here."
"Your welcome. Sleep tight, Buffy." He told her as she closed the door.
Buffy checked on the girls one more time before retreating to her room, she knew she should probably be a bit worried about leaving the girls with Spike tomorrow but for some reason it felt okay. She let her thoughts linger on the soup he had made for her, it felt good to be the one being taken care of for a change even if only for a little while. She knew she shouldn't read anything into it, Spike was just being Spike he had always been good at taking care of people, he hadn't even mentioned his feelings for her, she supposed that after he had given her up all those years ago that he had moved on, just like he would when his job here was over. She didn't want to think about his leaving not when she had just found him again. Too much thinking Buffy - just go to sleep.
Down the hall, Spike was not faring much better. In the quiet house it was easy for him to hear the three heartbeats and the gentle breathing of the other occupants. Buffy was trusting him with the her daughters that must mean something and the look on her face when he had brought her that tray with a simple bowl of soup. Her face had lit up as if it was steak dinner. She needed to be taken care once in awhile too, such a strong woman. He wondered if he could even dare to hope that she still cared? Too much thinking, Spike. Go to sleep you're gonna need it for tomorrow.
The alarm in Buffy's room went off at 7am she got up and checked the girls then took a leisurely shower, no rushing to get everyone ready this morning. She could hear Spike moving around the house too as she got dressed.
"Good morning." He called to her as she entered the livingroom, "Coffee's made if you'd like some and some toast too?"
"Oh...that sounds great." Buffy smiled as she went to pour herself a cup and sat across from Spike at the small table in the kitchen.
"You want anything with that, I can do eggs." He grinned as he handed her the toast.
"This is good." She smiled at him as she reached for the jelly, "I've got a list of numbers for you, just in case." She handed him a notepad.
"Your work number, doctor's office, poison control, the police, fire department, I don't think we'll need all of these, luv." The familiar endearment slipped out before he realized it, he bit his tongue wishing he hadn't said it. He waited for a look of dissapproval but it never came.
Instead she was still smiling at him, "You never know what could happen. Babysitting is a tough job." She winked at him before she'd realized she'd done it. No, no winking Buffy, no flirting with Spike that can only lead to heartache.....he's leaving soon, just enjoy the time you have.
He raised his eybrow at ther her, "I think the former big bad can handle it." Spike grinned at her, she had winked at him......
"I'm going to check on the girls and then I better go. It's going to be a long day." She sighed as she stood,
"Thanks for the coffee and the toast."
"No problem."
Buffy stepped softly into the girls room they were both still sleeping and she didnt' want to disturb them, kissing each of their foreheads she left the room and gathered her purse and jacket. "They'll probably sleep a bit longer, Spike. Thanks again." She called out as she closed the door and went to her car.
The car smelled when she opened the door - it smelled badly. She'd forgotten to clean the carseats after last nights incident. She took both seats out of the car and quickly hosed them off leaving them to dry outside.
*****
"Your welcome!" He called out as he heard her words of thanks and the door closing.
Spike washed up the few dishes in the sink and noticed the trash can was full so he pulled out the bag and tied it sitting it by the backdoor. After pouring himself a cup of coffee he went into the livingroom and turned on the tv for some lame talkshow watching. He was soon interrupted by the sound of small feet padding down the hallway, "I'm hungry." Brenna called out as she came to stand by the couch.
"Feeling better, little bit?" Spike asked with a smile.
"Yep, where's mommy?" She looked around the room.
"She went to work, remember last night, I told I would be babysitting today?" He stood and she followed him to the kitchen, "What would you like for breakfast?"
"I want some toast and fruitloops." She told him as she climbed up on a chair and put her elbows on the table watching him pop the bread into the toaster and search for the cereal.
"It's in that cabinet, the milk is in there," she pointed at the refrigerator.
"Thank you." He smiles at her and waggles his eyebrows at her before opening the fridge door.
Her laughter is precious , "You're funny, Mr. Spike."
"So are you munchkin." He notices that they are low on milk and cheese. Maybe later if the girls are up to it they'll go get some groceries, Buffy might not like it but at least that would be one less worry for her. He sat the bowl of fruit loops on the table in front of Brenna and handed her a spoon, he sat the toast beside the bowl.
Spike spied a grocery list pad on hanging on the front of the refrigerator a small pencil is attached. He took the pad and sat down across from Brenna. "Let's make a grocery list, what do you and Tierney like to eat?"
"Fruit loops and poptarts. Ice cream and cookies and fruit roll ups. Juice and Sprite." She began to recite her favorite foods.
"How bout lunch foods?"
"Skettio's and wavioli's and noodles. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Tierney like's fluff on her's though." Brenna explained around a mouthful of cereal.
"Fluff?" Spike raised his eyes questioningly.
Before she could answer they were interupted by a shrill voice, "Brenna!!!" Tierney entered the kitchen yelling for her sister.
"Hungry, bit?"
Tierney nodded as she climbed into the chair with the booster seat. "Juice."
"Here you go." Spike sat down a glass of orange juice in front of her, "Cereal too?"
She nodded again. "Not much of a morning person are you? You feeling better."
She nodded again and gave him a small smile as she took a sip of her juice. He sat her cereal in front of her and watched her begin to eat. She and Brenna giggled about something as he finished his list. They went to watch cartoons as Spike cleaned the breakfast dishes. He joined them in the livingroom and smiled as they crawled up on either side of him on the couch. After a couple hours they were both sleeping again, he supposed they were still tired from being sick the night before. He got up and let them lay on the couch. The phone rang and he answered it quickly so it wouldn't wake them, "Hello."
"Spike, it's me. How are the girls doing?" Buffy asked as she drank a soda and opened a bag of chips.
"They're napping right now. I fed them breakfast, we watched cartoons and then they fell asleep."
"Wow, I can have a hard time getting them to nap." She shook her head in amazement.
Spike laughed, "I think they're still tired from being sick, don't think it was me......unless I just bored them to sleep."
She laughed soflty, "Spike, you may be lots of things but boring....never. I've got to go back to work. Thanks again."
He grinned widely into the phone, she thinks I'm never boring....." Oh, Buffy, later when it gets dark, if the girls are up to it, I was going to take them out for a bit. Is that okay?"
"Uh.....where?"
"You're out of milk, thought I'd go get some."
"I can get it on my way home." Buffy suggested unsure of what he was up to.
"Well they might want some before then, you're gonna be late. I'll be careful." Spike assured her.
"Okay, the car seats are sitting outside the garage, I had to clean them this morning. Make sure they stay in them and don't let them talk you into buying hordes of candy."
"Alright,. See you tonight." He hung up the phone, he'd won this round.
The girls slept for an hour giving Spike time to catch Jerry Springer. Brenna woke up first with Tierney shortly following, he read half of the bookshelf before feeding them sandwiches for lunch, They were feeling back to their normal selves by the afternoon and giggled as they built a castle with the sofa pillows and watched a Disney movie from safe within it's walls, until the bleach blond tummy tickler dragon attacked. The living room was full of laughter and Spike thought that he could very well get used to that sound.
As dusk approached Spike had Brenna find clothes for she and Tierney. They dressed and made sure they had pottied before they left. Spike walked the girls out to the car and put in the car seats, he made sure they were safely buckled in and then went in search of a grocery. A few blocks down he pulled into the parking lot of a Kroger and helped the kids from the car. The girls were loaded into a buggy and he pulled the list from his pocket.
He picked up the necessities first, milk, bread, eggs, butter and such. Fresh fruits and veggies were next and cereal and strawberry poptarts. The girls picked out their favorite canned pastas and soups and talked him into goldfish crackers and chocolate chip cookie and he discovered what fluff was as he put the jar of marshmallow creme in the cart.
He then went to the ice cream aisle and scanned the freezer shelves, he was looking for , aha there it was mint chocolate chip ice cream, he remembered that Buffy really liked this or she used to. He picked up an quart of the ice cream and then let the girls choose some ice cream pops.
Brenna held the ice cream and Tierney held the goldfish crackers. They put them on the checkout counter and smiled at the checker, "Hello, aren't you two pretty little girls? I bet your daddy is proud of you."
"Daddy is in heaven." Brenna stated matter of factly. The little girl had no real memories of her daddy, only the pictures around the house and her mom's explanation that her daddy loved her but he got sick and went to heaven.
The checker shrugged her shoulders in apology at Spike.
"I'm not their daddy, I'm just the babysitter." Spike tried to explain as he paid for the groceries.
The woman behind him in line grinned appreciatively, "Wish my babysitter looked like you."
Spike muttered a "Thanks, let's go" And pushed the full buggy to the car.
Brenna was looking at him curiously, "Mr. Spike..."
"Yes, Brenna, sweet."
She looked at him her brow wrinkling between her eyes as if she was in serious thought, "You could be..."
"I could be what, honey?" He asked as he put Tierney in her seat.
"You could be our daddy." Brenna answered as she climbed into the car seat.
Spike wasn't sure what to say, honesty seemed to be the best policy, "That might be nice Brenna, but I don't know how your mom would feel about that. Right now it's nice being friends."
"Friends.........but a daddy would be good now." She chewed on her bottom lip as she mulled this over and more then ever she reminded him of her mother.
TBC
