A/N : Before we get to the new chapter, I just want to say a big thankyou to everyone who has left reviews on my story so far. This is my first proper Buffy fic and I was nervous about posting it here, but so many people have left nice comments and I really appreciate them all. So, thankyou to; nikki, spikes-luv, SpikeyZebra, Jen, wolf116, Rachel, pokey, buffsterangelicxws, Jaymi, Maeve, fictionfreak, Jayne, Randy Bly, Vette, Desirae, Summer, christianne, BB, kattie, Lady Maria, Caitlin - I hope I didn't miss anybody! Now here's the next chapter.

(For disclaimer, etc - see chapter 1)

Chapter 5

"Hey Buff, good timing I'm just getting drinks" Xander smiled as his friend came toward the table at the Bronze, deliberately ignoring the man with her.

"Soda would be good" Buffy replied and Spike nodded that he wanted one too, "Tell you what, I'll come with and help carry" she offered, and Xander was only too pleased to take the girl with him and away from the bleached boy wonder.

"Hey Red" Spike greeted, hopping onto the stool next to Willow.

"Hi Spike, you okay?" she smiled.

"Yeah, kind of glad those two disappeared though I wanted a word" he leaned closer to her as he spoke and she eyed his suspisciously.

"What's up?"

"That's what I wanted to ask you actually" he admitted, "Twice today people have been talking to Buffy and changed what they were saying when they saw me there. What's the big secret?"

"Secret?" Willow echoed, like she didn't understand. She shifted uncomfortably as Spike continued to stare at her, awaiting an answer, "I d-don't know what you mean, th-there's no secret"

"You sure?" he checked, not at all convinced, "Cos I thought we were going to be friends, I hope you wouldn't lie to me"

"Of course not" Willow giggled nervously, "Why would I lie?"

At that moment Xander and Buffy came back with drinks for everybody and the conversation changed to other topics.

Spike knew Willow was lying, he could tell, and she made sure they were never alone long enough for him to ask anymore, which made him all the more suspicious. Whatever this secret was it had to be something big otherwise she wouldn't have looked so scared when he asked about it. Spike was determined he would find out what was going on, and if Willow wouldn't tell him, maybe he should get the information straight from Buffy.

* * * * *

A knock on the front door startled Joyce as she sat half asleep watching TV. Dawn was in bed and Buffy had gone out with her friends and their mother had just been relaxing in front of a soap opera after a hard days work. She turned off the TV and went to the front door and she was a little surprised to see Jessica on the other side.

"Hi Jessica, did you need something?" Mrs Summers asked the woman.

"Hi Joyce, I just, this is really awkward but can I come in?" the woman rambled and Joyce nodded and opened the door wider to let her new neighbour into the house.

She took her new friend through to the living room and they sat down on the sofa.

"Is everything okay?" Joyce asked, noticing that Jessica seemed to be very nervous or upset about something.

"Not really" she admitted, "And I know this seems strange because we've only known each other for a day but I really needed someone to talk to and I don't know anyone around here and..." she stopped talking as a lump came to her throat and tears came to her eyes.

"Oh, it's okay, I don't mind" Joyce said comfortingly as she handed her a tissue. Jessica managed a small smile.

"Thankyou" she sniffed, "It's just I found out today...I think Will's father is in Sunnydale and it was a shock finding out"

"William's father?" Joyce echoed, "I think you said he didn't know his father?" she checked she remembered correctly what she had been told by this woman the day before.

"No, he doesn't know him" Jessica confirmed, "In fact Rupert doesn't even know Will exists" she admitted, "My family moved to England when I was just sixteen. I met him there and we fell head over heels for each other. We dated for two years and I thought it was forever but then one day he just disappeared and I never saw him again. I was broken hearted, then I found out I was pregnant with Will. I didn't know where to look for his father, I had no way of contacting him. Anyway, we got along without him and I never expected to see him again but then Will came home from school today and told me about the librarian, Mr Giles, and, well, it could be a coincidence but..."

"Rupert Giles is William's father?" Joyce finally thought she understood. Jessica nodded that it was true before she started crying again.

There was a moment of silence as Jessica tried to be calm and Joyce was unsure what the most tactful thing to say next was. Eventually she thought of something neutral.

"Can I get you a coffee?" she offered and her friend nodded.

"Yes please, that would be great"

* * * * *

It was getting pretty late at the Bronze and Buffy realised maybe she should get to the patrolling and then home to bed.

"Okay guys" she said, standing up from her stool, three pairs of eyes following her, "I'm beat, I'm gonna head home"

Xander and Willow nodded, knowing that Buffy meant she needed to patrol.

"Want us to come with?" the male of the two asked her but Buffy shook her head.

"No, I'll be fine. You guys stay and have fun"

"Actually I'm getting kind of tired myself" Spike said suddenly, "I'm gonna call it a night too"

"You don't have to leave just cos I am" Buffy told him, knowing that if he left she was going to have to walk home with him and she couldn't go patrolling as planned.

"Well, I told you I'm tired anyway" he shrugged, "Besides, can't have a lady walking home alone in the dark" he smiled, but Buffy just pushed past him on her way out of the Bronze, muttering something about being able to take care of herself on the way.

"Hey wait up, Goldilocks" Spike called as he hurried to reach her.

"That's not my name" she snapped 'God, this guy is irritating'

"Sorry, Buffy" he stressed her name, not wanting to annoy her anymore than was necessary.

Buffy walked quickly with big strides, wanting to get home and away from Spike as fast as possible. It had annoyed her intensely that he had wanted to walk her home anyway since now she would have to pretend to go to bed and go out of her window for patrol like she had done before. Neither her mother or her sister had any idea that she was the Slayer or even that vampires and demons existed and she planned to keep it that way 'They'd probably have me certified if I tried to explain'.

"Y'know for someone who's supposed to be tired you walk bloody fast" Spike complained, struggling to keep up with her.

"I didn't ask you to walk with me" she pointed out, accelerating all the time. Spike decided maybe now wasn't the best time to question the girl. She didn't seem in a very good mood with him - again, and besides at their current speed they would be home very soon.

* * * * *

"So" Joyce sighed as she sipped her coffee and Jessica sipped hers, "Are you going to talk to Rupert about William"

"I should" Jessica admitted, "But, I haven't seen him for over sixteen years, I wouldn't know where to start"

"It's a difficult situation" Joyce nodded, "But in the end it could be a good thing, for William to have a father"

"I know" Jessica agreed, "And I want to tell them, both of them, I just never expected all this when I came here"

The sound of the front door opening and closing again, interrupted the conversation between the two women and Joyce spotted Buffy as she came past the living room door.

"Buffy, you're back early" she smiled and her daughter came into the room.

"I was a little tired" she fake yawned, "So was Spike, so we came home"

Jessica got up from her seat.

"If Will's home then I should go" she said as she stood, "Thanks so much, Joyce" she smiled.

"Anytime you need to talk, I'm here" Mrs Summers replied, following her new friend to the door and seeing her out. As soon as the door was closed Buffy turned to her mother.

"That was Spike's Mom, right? Is she okay?"

"Yeah, honey, she's fine" Joyce faked a smile which Buffy was sure looked dubious but she let it go for now.

"Well, I'm going to bed" she said, hugging her mother, "Night Mom"

"Goodnight Buffy" Joyce replied as her eldest daughter went up the stairs, unaware that as soon as she got to her room she would be leaving it again via the window to go and fight the undead evils of Sunnydale.

TBC