Chapter 2
A Case Of The Ex
"Spike! I'm home," called Buffy, she shut the crypt door, and flopped down in the nearest armchair. Spike's head popped up from the hole in the floor.
"So how did it go?" he asked, climbing up and walking over to Buffy to plant a kiss on her lips.
"Fine," she answered distractedly.
"You don't sound too sure luv,"
Buffy shook her head.
"It went fine for me, it's Willow I'm worried about, Oz is back, I found out today in the admissions office, told her about it, thinking she must already know," sighed Buffy.
"And she had no idea? Wolf boy is back in the mix then?" asked Spike.
"Looks like it, Willow didn't take the news too well, she rushed off to find Devon as soon as I told her," said Buffy.
"One of his friends?" asked Spike.
"A band member," answered Buffy vaguely.
Buffy could see that Spike had already lost interest as he had walked over to the fridge, his head already buried in it's interior. He held up a blood bag.
"Fancy one?" he asked mischievously.
"Thanks for reminding me, I haven't craved the taste of blood in weeks now," she said huffily.
Spike's features morphed into his game face, as he quickly drained the bag he held, he burped loudly.
"You're a pig Spike," she grinned.
"And don't you love it? I make you squeal,"
Buffy flushed, Spike chuckled.
"It's so easy to get a rise out of you slayer,"
"Look who's talking, one smouldering glance from me, and you're ready for anything," she replied.
"Haven't heard you complain so far, I love you so bloody much, can't help it, if I love showing you just how much," he said.
Buffy was instantly repentant, she sprang up from her seat, putting her arms around her husband; he ruffled her hair and kissed the top of her head.
"I'm sorry Spike, it's just the hormones talking," she said.
" Yeah read about them, nasty little buggers. So what have you signed up for at college love?" he asked, eager to change the subject.
"Psychology, and Modern and classical poetry," she answered.
"Poetry?" he asked interestedly.
"Yeah, I love it," said Buffy.
"I know a bit about the subject myself, even written a bit, in my time," he admitted.
Buffy giggled.
"What?" asked Spike.
"Sorry Spike, just never had you down as the poetic type, I guess,"
"There's a lot you don't know about me," said Spike.
"Well I intend to live a very long life and spend my time discovering it, except for the icky parts," she smiled.
"Speaking of time, got anything planned for the next couple of hours?" asked Spike.
Buffy raised an eyebrow.
"Well if you need me to spell it out for you, do you think you're smart enough for college?" he asked.
Buffy pulled his head down,
"I am so damn good, I'll be top of the class," she said crushing her lips to his.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
A week later, Buffy rode the bus on the five mile journey to UC Sunnydale, she hadn't had much chance to talk to Willow since the "Oz incident" Willow had moved onto campus soon after. It was her first day back; and her stomach was a mass of butterflies. She smiled secretly to herself, remembering Spike, how he had got up early, even after his late night at work, and had made her lunch, which happened to be tuna and banana sandwiches, her latest fad. Buffy knew some of her peers at college might judge her for marrying and starting a family so young, but she had been living by the motto, live fast and die young, for so long that old habits died hard.
The bus arrived on campus, Willow was waiting for her, and she was looking pale and tired. Buffy frowned in concern. She hadn't been a very good friend lately, mentally kicking herself for not checking on Willow before now. She knew all too well what had happened last time they had all ignored the grievy Willow. Buffy got off the bus and hugged her friend.
"Hey Willow," she greeted her.
Willow replied with a weak smile.
"Heard anything?" asked Buffy.
"No, I went to see Devon, after I left you, also I checked the house he used to rent off campus, nothing, nada," sighed Willow.
"I'm sure Oz has his reasons Will, it's not like him to be deliberately cruel, there must be a simple explanation for it all, he should be in Walsh's Psych class, not the perfect place for a reunion, granted, but better than nothing," said Buffy.
"Yeah that's if he even shows," replied Willow gloomily.
"Come on Willow, stop seeing bad, where there is none, come with me, I want to check out the notice board in the hall for possible employment opportunities," said Buffy.
"Anything to take my mind off Oz," she shrugged nonchalantly.
They walked to the student hall, the notice board was a mass of multi- coloured scraps of paper. Willow plucked one off, and read it out.
"Local night club, requires female exotic dancers, you up for that Buffy?" grinned Willow.
"Well, my boobs are certainly getting big enough, since I got in the family way, Spike says they will get bigger yet, he's counting the days quite literally," said Buffy innocently.
Willow flushed wishing she'd never got on the subject, truth not always a good thing, she made a mental note to herself. She quickly located another job slip.
"This is perfect for you Buffy, there's a job going right here on campus, in the crèche, you'll be surrounded by babies all day, just think of all practice you'll be able to get in, and get paid for it at the same time," said Willow enthusiastically.
Buffy looked less than convinced.
"At least go and enquire about it," said Willow.
"What if I find out, babies and I are unmixy things, like my driving abilities?" asked Buffy.
"Well if that's the case, Spike better start brushing up on his skills," replied Willow.
Buffy rolled her eyes.
"Don't even go there Will, he's read every baby book in the English language, it's very disturbing to have a man know more about what's happening to my body, than I do, I'll go ask about this job thingy at lunch recess," said Buffy.
Buffy looked at her watch.
"Time to go to class, wish me luck," said Buffy.
"Luck, see ya later Buffy, you'll be okay, me, I'm not so sure about," said Willow.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Buffy entered her classroom; it consisted mainly of young girls, who obviously had a "thing" for poetry too. She looked at the other occupants of the room, several of the girls looked at her and whispered behind their hands. Buffy felt her face flush; she sat down alone in an unobtrusive corner. She sighed inwardly, wishing that Willow were poetically inclined, so she would at least have a friend with her.
Buffy delved into her bag and pulled out her text books, she opened the front page and was greeted by the site of a neon pink "post it note" with a smiley fangy face drawn on it with a little message scrawled at the bottom in an elegant hand. It said, "If you felt the happiness I experienced when you walk into a room, you'd never have a reason to feel sad again" love Spike. Buffy felt the tears well up in her eyes, DAMN THESE PREGNANCY HORMONES! She thought. Buffy turned and faced the class, a big grin on her face.
The morning passed pretty quickly, she hurried to meet Willow in the lunch hall; she was already seated, picking idly at her food. Buffy sat down and unpacked her lunch; she took a big bite of her sandwich. Willow looked up.
"Ewwww! What you got in those, it reeks, I think my appetite just left the building," said Willow
"Banana and tuna fish, want some? It's delicious," said Buffy.
Willow shook her head and pushed her tray away, giving up all pretence of eating, she sat and watched Buffy devour her bizarre meal.
"Come on Buffy, you can eat while we walk," said Willow.
"Where we going?" Asked Buffy in between mouthfuls.
Willow pulled her friend out of the chair.
"Uh uh, you don't get off that easily," said Willow.
"Actually I do, Spike says."
"Buffy if you want us to stay friends, you won't finish that sentence, I blame myself, talk about one bad thing leading to another!" said Willow quickly interrupting her.
Buffy shrugged. "It's just that."
"No!" said Willow.
"Okay let's go to the crèche then, I won't get any peace until I do," said Buffy.
"Thanks Buffy, I need to chill, have to be doing something to take my mind off; if I harass another short red headed guy today, security will throw me off campus for sure," said Willow.
Buffy looked at her open mouthed, about to speak.
"Don't ask," said Willow.
They walked over to the crèche building, Willow knocked on the door. A harassed looking young woman opened it.
"Please tell me you've come about the job," the woman asked hopefully.
"No, but she has," said Willow shoving Buffy forward and making a hasty exit.
Buffy stood in speechless horror at the site of half a dozen drooling infants, she had the feeling that facing the armies of darkness was going to be a piece of cake compared to this.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Thanks for bailing on me back there," said Buffy as she sat down for class.
"My pleasure, what are friends for? How'd it go any way? " Asked Willow.
"Quite good actually, will be having a go at the actual child caring tomorrow, and she lent me this," said Buffy, removing videotape from her bag.
Willow read the label.
"Childbirth made easy, Buffy do you think you're ready for that?" asked Willow.
"Well it doesn't hurt to be prepared," said Buffy defensively.
Willow opened her mouth to speak, but the words died on her tongue. Oz entered the room with Professor Walsh on his heels. Buffy looked at her friend, noticing her sudden pallor.
"What is it Willow?" she asked, turning her head in the direction Willow was transfixed to.
"Oz," said Willow.
Willow locked gazes with Oz, she rose slowly up out of her seat, and she ran to him, putting her arms around him, tears running down her face. He said nothing, but hugged her back so hard; she thought she would break in two.
Professor Walsh coughed loudly behind them.
"This is a classroom for learning, either control your hormones or you can leave my class," she said coldly.
Willow and Oz continued to gaze at each other.
"Out!" yelled the professor, losing her usual icy detachment.
Willow and Oz smiled at each other and linked hands, they walked out of the room without a backward glance.
"Anyone else?" asked the professor.
Buffy tried hard to keep her hands by her side, but the honesty thing threatened to take over once more and she involuntarily raised her hand.
"Yes?" Asked Professor Walsh.
"I want to leave too, you are the coldest excuse for a human being, I have ever had the misfortune to meet, Willow and Oz haven't seen each other for weeks, show some compassion," said Buffy angrily.
"Compassion is a luxury for the weak," Maggie replied.
"Is that based on fact or is it just one of your dumb ass observations?" asked Buffy.
The class burst into a fit of giggles, the professor turned an unbecoming shade of red.
"Get out, and don't even try to come back until you have learnt some respect," she roared.
"Maybe you should try earning it first," said Buffy
Buffy shrugged and flounced out of the class, her head held high. She walked out into the corridor, expecting to see Willow and Oz, but the passage was deserted. Buffy let out a disappointed sigh,
"Nothin' left to do, but go home I guess," she said to herself.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Buffy arrived back at the crypt an hour later, feeling more than a little tired and fed up, Spike was watching "passions" on the TV and taping it at the same time, something she never understood as he never seemed to watch them again.
"Home early love," said Spike in surprise.
"Was a bad girl, got sent out of class," she replied.
"There I was thinking you were an angel, I'm shocked! So what happened?" he asked.
"Told the professor what I thought of her, she didn't like it much," she said.
"Never mind there's always tomorrow," he said comfortingly.
"Yeah, if I don't get kicked out," she replied
"Passions has finished, want to do something?" he asked
"Yeah I got this birthing video from college, we could watch that," she said.
"Not exactly what I had in mind, but ok I guess," Spike said.
He took the tape from Buffy and inserted it into the VCR.
"This should be interesting, I have read all about it," he said enthusiastically.
The video started up, as it progressed, Buffy's face turned whiter and whiter, she gripped Spike's hand hard but he didn't seem to notice, she looked at him and was surprised to see he had gone all bumpy in the forehead.
"What's with the lumpies Spike?" she asked.
"This video, it's bloody brilliant, do you think we could keep it?" he asked.
"Ewwww! And no it's a loaner, and why?" she asked not sure if she wanted an answer.
"Never knew there would be so much blood and carnage, worse than anything I've ever done for sure,"
Buffy scoffed.
"I doubt that, it's okay for you to get off on it, but I actually have to go through that!" she said.
Spike saw his wife's frightened expression for the first time.
"Sorry love wasn't thinking, kinda got caught in the moment, you'll be okay, you have slayer powers remember, that has to count for something," he said pulling her into a tight embrace.
"I guess," she said, feeling a little better.
Spike looked at the high windows in their home.
"Sun's going down, have to go and earn our crust of bread," he sighed.
Buffy kissed him.
"Did I ever tell you how much I love you?" she asked
"Yes, but a guy can never get tired of hearing it," he grinned disappearing below to get ready.
Spike re-emerged a few moments later.
"You gonna be okay love?" he asked
"Sure, you'd better get going, don't want to be late, you know Willie can get cranky," she smiled
"That guy would as soon crap himself, if I so much as looked at him funny," said Spike.
Buffy and Spike kissed, reluctant to part, Spike turned and exited the crypt. Buffy sat down feeling slightly deflated, as the lonely evening stretched ahead of her, she settled down, the TV being the only entertainment in the absence of Spike. She heard the outer door of the crypt open; she smiled and turned her head.
"Did you forget your work keys again?" she asked.
The colour in her face, leeched out, she gasped in shock.
"Angel?" she said.
TBC
A Case Of The Ex
"Spike! I'm home," called Buffy, she shut the crypt door, and flopped down in the nearest armchair. Spike's head popped up from the hole in the floor.
"So how did it go?" he asked, climbing up and walking over to Buffy to plant a kiss on her lips.
"Fine," she answered distractedly.
"You don't sound too sure luv,"
Buffy shook her head.
"It went fine for me, it's Willow I'm worried about, Oz is back, I found out today in the admissions office, told her about it, thinking she must already know," sighed Buffy.
"And she had no idea? Wolf boy is back in the mix then?" asked Spike.
"Looks like it, Willow didn't take the news too well, she rushed off to find Devon as soon as I told her," said Buffy.
"One of his friends?" asked Spike.
"A band member," answered Buffy vaguely.
Buffy could see that Spike had already lost interest as he had walked over to the fridge, his head already buried in it's interior. He held up a blood bag.
"Fancy one?" he asked mischievously.
"Thanks for reminding me, I haven't craved the taste of blood in weeks now," she said huffily.
Spike's features morphed into his game face, as he quickly drained the bag he held, he burped loudly.
"You're a pig Spike," she grinned.
"And don't you love it? I make you squeal,"
Buffy flushed, Spike chuckled.
"It's so easy to get a rise out of you slayer,"
"Look who's talking, one smouldering glance from me, and you're ready for anything," she replied.
"Haven't heard you complain so far, I love you so bloody much, can't help it, if I love showing you just how much," he said.
Buffy was instantly repentant, she sprang up from her seat, putting her arms around her husband; he ruffled her hair and kissed the top of her head.
"I'm sorry Spike, it's just the hormones talking," she said.
" Yeah read about them, nasty little buggers. So what have you signed up for at college love?" he asked, eager to change the subject.
"Psychology, and Modern and classical poetry," she answered.
"Poetry?" he asked interestedly.
"Yeah, I love it," said Buffy.
"I know a bit about the subject myself, even written a bit, in my time," he admitted.
Buffy giggled.
"What?" asked Spike.
"Sorry Spike, just never had you down as the poetic type, I guess,"
"There's a lot you don't know about me," said Spike.
"Well I intend to live a very long life and spend my time discovering it, except for the icky parts," she smiled.
"Speaking of time, got anything planned for the next couple of hours?" asked Spike.
Buffy raised an eyebrow.
"Well if you need me to spell it out for you, do you think you're smart enough for college?" he asked.
Buffy pulled his head down,
"I am so damn good, I'll be top of the class," she said crushing her lips to his.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
A week later, Buffy rode the bus on the five mile journey to UC Sunnydale, she hadn't had much chance to talk to Willow since the "Oz incident" Willow had moved onto campus soon after. It was her first day back; and her stomach was a mass of butterflies. She smiled secretly to herself, remembering Spike, how he had got up early, even after his late night at work, and had made her lunch, which happened to be tuna and banana sandwiches, her latest fad. Buffy knew some of her peers at college might judge her for marrying and starting a family so young, but she had been living by the motto, live fast and die young, for so long that old habits died hard.
The bus arrived on campus, Willow was waiting for her, and she was looking pale and tired. Buffy frowned in concern. She hadn't been a very good friend lately, mentally kicking herself for not checking on Willow before now. She knew all too well what had happened last time they had all ignored the grievy Willow. Buffy got off the bus and hugged her friend.
"Hey Willow," she greeted her.
Willow replied with a weak smile.
"Heard anything?" asked Buffy.
"No, I went to see Devon, after I left you, also I checked the house he used to rent off campus, nothing, nada," sighed Willow.
"I'm sure Oz has his reasons Will, it's not like him to be deliberately cruel, there must be a simple explanation for it all, he should be in Walsh's Psych class, not the perfect place for a reunion, granted, but better than nothing," said Buffy.
"Yeah that's if he even shows," replied Willow gloomily.
"Come on Willow, stop seeing bad, where there is none, come with me, I want to check out the notice board in the hall for possible employment opportunities," said Buffy.
"Anything to take my mind off Oz," she shrugged nonchalantly.
They walked to the student hall, the notice board was a mass of multi- coloured scraps of paper. Willow plucked one off, and read it out.
"Local night club, requires female exotic dancers, you up for that Buffy?" grinned Willow.
"Well, my boobs are certainly getting big enough, since I got in the family way, Spike says they will get bigger yet, he's counting the days quite literally," said Buffy innocently.
Willow flushed wishing she'd never got on the subject, truth not always a good thing, she made a mental note to herself. She quickly located another job slip.
"This is perfect for you Buffy, there's a job going right here on campus, in the crèche, you'll be surrounded by babies all day, just think of all practice you'll be able to get in, and get paid for it at the same time," said Willow enthusiastically.
Buffy looked less than convinced.
"At least go and enquire about it," said Willow.
"What if I find out, babies and I are unmixy things, like my driving abilities?" asked Buffy.
"Well if that's the case, Spike better start brushing up on his skills," replied Willow.
Buffy rolled her eyes.
"Don't even go there Will, he's read every baby book in the English language, it's very disturbing to have a man know more about what's happening to my body, than I do, I'll go ask about this job thingy at lunch recess," said Buffy.
Buffy looked at her watch.
"Time to go to class, wish me luck," said Buffy.
"Luck, see ya later Buffy, you'll be okay, me, I'm not so sure about," said Willow.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Buffy entered her classroom; it consisted mainly of young girls, who obviously had a "thing" for poetry too. She looked at the other occupants of the room, several of the girls looked at her and whispered behind their hands. Buffy felt her face flush; she sat down alone in an unobtrusive corner. She sighed inwardly, wishing that Willow were poetically inclined, so she would at least have a friend with her.
Buffy delved into her bag and pulled out her text books, she opened the front page and was greeted by the site of a neon pink "post it note" with a smiley fangy face drawn on it with a little message scrawled at the bottom in an elegant hand. It said, "If you felt the happiness I experienced when you walk into a room, you'd never have a reason to feel sad again" love Spike. Buffy felt the tears well up in her eyes, DAMN THESE PREGNANCY HORMONES! She thought. Buffy turned and faced the class, a big grin on her face.
The morning passed pretty quickly, she hurried to meet Willow in the lunch hall; she was already seated, picking idly at her food. Buffy sat down and unpacked her lunch; she took a big bite of her sandwich. Willow looked up.
"Ewwww! What you got in those, it reeks, I think my appetite just left the building," said Willow
"Banana and tuna fish, want some? It's delicious," said Buffy.
Willow shook her head and pushed her tray away, giving up all pretence of eating, she sat and watched Buffy devour her bizarre meal.
"Come on Buffy, you can eat while we walk," said Willow.
"Where we going?" Asked Buffy in between mouthfuls.
Willow pulled her friend out of the chair.
"Uh uh, you don't get off that easily," said Willow.
"Actually I do, Spike says."
"Buffy if you want us to stay friends, you won't finish that sentence, I blame myself, talk about one bad thing leading to another!" said Willow quickly interrupting her.
Buffy shrugged. "It's just that."
"No!" said Willow.
"Okay let's go to the crèche then, I won't get any peace until I do," said Buffy.
"Thanks Buffy, I need to chill, have to be doing something to take my mind off; if I harass another short red headed guy today, security will throw me off campus for sure," said Willow.
Buffy looked at her open mouthed, about to speak.
"Don't ask," said Willow.
They walked over to the crèche building, Willow knocked on the door. A harassed looking young woman opened it.
"Please tell me you've come about the job," the woman asked hopefully.
"No, but she has," said Willow shoving Buffy forward and making a hasty exit.
Buffy stood in speechless horror at the site of half a dozen drooling infants, she had the feeling that facing the armies of darkness was going to be a piece of cake compared to this.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Thanks for bailing on me back there," said Buffy as she sat down for class.
"My pleasure, what are friends for? How'd it go any way? " Asked Willow.
"Quite good actually, will be having a go at the actual child caring tomorrow, and she lent me this," said Buffy, removing videotape from her bag.
Willow read the label.
"Childbirth made easy, Buffy do you think you're ready for that?" asked Willow.
"Well it doesn't hurt to be prepared," said Buffy defensively.
Willow opened her mouth to speak, but the words died on her tongue. Oz entered the room with Professor Walsh on his heels. Buffy looked at her friend, noticing her sudden pallor.
"What is it Willow?" she asked, turning her head in the direction Willow was transfixed to.
"Oz," said Willow.
Willow locked gazes with Oz, she rose slowly up out of her seat, and she ran to him, putting her arms around him, tears running down her face. He said nothing, but hugged her back so hard; she thought she would break in two.
Professor Walsh coughed loudly behind them.
"This is a classroom for learning, either control your hormones or you can leave my class," she said coldly.
Willow and Oz continued to gaze at each other.
"Out!" yelled the professor, losing her usual icy detachment.
Willow and Oz smiled at each other and linked hands, they walked out of the room without a backward glance.
"Anyone else?" asked the professor.
Buffy tried hard to keep her hands by her side, but the honesty thing threatened to take over once more and she involuntarily raised her hand.
"Yes?" Asked Professor Walsh.
"I want to leave too, you are the coldest excuse for a human being, I have ever had the misfortune to meet, Willow and Oz haven't seen each other for weeks, show some compassion," said Buffy angrily.
"Compassion is a luxury for the weak," Maggie replied.
"Is that based on fact or is it just one of your dumb ass observations?" asked Buffy.
The class burst into a fit of giggles, the professor turned an unbecoming shade of red.
"Get out, and don't even try to come back until you have learnt some respect," she roared.
"Maybe you should try earning it first," said Buffy
Buffy shrugged and flounced out of the class, her head held high. She walked out into the corridor, expecting to see Willow and Oz, but the passage was deserted. Buffy let out a disappointed sigh,
"Nothin' left to do, but go home I guess," she said to herself.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Buffy arrived back at the crypt an hour later, feeling more than a little tired and fed up, Spike was watching "passions" on the TV and taping it at the same time, something she never understood as he never seemed to watch them again.
"Home early love," said Spike in surprise.
"Was a bad girl, got sent out of class," she replied.
"There I was thinking you were an angel, I'm shocked! So what happened?" he asked.
"Told the professor what I thought of her, she didn't like it much," she said.
"Never mind there's always tomorrow," he said comfortingly.
"Yeah, if I don't get kicked out," she replied
"Passions has finished, want to do something?" he asked
"Yeah I got this birthing video from college, we could watch that," she said.
"Not exactly what I had in mind, but ok I guess," Spike said.
He took the tape from Buffy and inserted it into the VCR.
"This should be interesting, I have read all about it," he said enthusiastically.
The video started up, as it progressed, Buffy's face turned whiter and whiter, she gripped Spike's hand hard but he didn't seem to notice, she looked at him and was surprised to see he had gone all bumpy in the forehead.
"What's with the lumpies Spike?" she asked.
"This video, it's bloody brilliant, do you think we could keep it?" he asked.
"Ewwww! And no it's a loaner, and why?" she asked not sure if she wanted an answer.
"Never knew there would be so much blood and carnage, worse than anything I've ever done for sure,"
Buffy scoffed.
"I doubt that, it's okay for you to get off on it, but I actually have to go through that!" she said.
Spike saw his wife's frightened expression for the first time.
"Sorry love wasn't thinking, kinda got caught in the moment, you'll be okay, you have slayer powers remember, that has to count for something," he said pulling her into a tight embrace.
"I guess," she said, feeling a little better.
Spike looked at the high windows in their home.
"Sun's going down, have to go and earn our crust of bread," he sighed.
Buffy kissed him.
"Did I ever tell you how much I love you?" she asked
"Yes, but a guy can never get tired of hearing it," he grinned disappearing below to get ready.
Spike re-emerged a few moments later.
"You gonna be okay love?" he asked
"Sure, you'd better get going, don't want to be late, you know Willie can get cranky," she smiled
"That guy would as soon crap himself, if I so much as looked at him funny," said Spike.
Buffy and Spike kissed, reluctant to part, Spike turned and exited the crypt. Buffy sat down feeling slightly deflated, as the lonely evening stretched ahead of her, she settled down, the TV being the only entertainment in the absence of Spike. She heard the outer door of the crypt open; she smiled and turned her head.
"Did you forget your work keys again?" she asked.
The colour in her face, leeched out, she gasped in shock.
"Angel?" she said.
TBC