Disclaimer: I do not own "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", and I own nothing
accept for my imagination. Joss Whedon and UPN, I hope you don't mind me
borrowing your characters. I'm just a fan and a minor. Besides, I'm
broke.
Feedback: Helps me progress as a writer, so please do! :)
Distribution: Anywhere, just let me know.
Summary: Right after Season 6- written before (completely) season 7. AU fic.
"Solace and Redemption"
Magic Box- several days after Tara's funeral
"Thanks for helping, Buffy." Anya said as she stood by the upsides down round table, staring at the destruction of her beloved store and thought about how much of her beloved money it would take to fix it.
"No problem, Ahn. Uh, have you talked to Xander?" she asked uneasily.
"No, I don't think he's ready to talk to me, or me to him." she said looking away. "Buffy, I kinda need to talk to you about the whole me and Spike thing."
Buffy stopped picking up debris, looking at Anya and not really wanting to hear what the "forth right" demon might say.
"It wasn't meant to be a whole vengeance thing."
"I know."
"No, look. we were both very vulnerable and very drunk and-"
"No, I know all that, K? I don't need details on you and Spike. I saw it." Buffy said heatedly.
"You didn't see what happened before that, did you?" Anya said accusingly.
"No, but it doesn't matter. Besides, it's not like I actually was with Spike anyway." she replied solemnly.
"Buffy, it's probably not my place, but I don't care. I don't want to see another relationship destroyed. He came here for a numbing spell. Instead, I found some of Giles' leftover liquor." she paused and looked at Buffy, who was staring intently at a spot on the floor. "Anyway, we started talking and he was just as hurt as I was. I talked to all of you about Xander, but he was the only one who got it. He could relate.... I know you didn't leave him at the alter, but whatever it was, it caused just as much pain." Anya bit her lower lip, hesitating to proceed while Buffy remained to stand idly around, still gazing at the floor. But now, her eyes were glazed.
"I'm almost certain you're well aware of how much he loves you. What confuses me is why you can't or won't return his feelings. He said that you and Xander just can't deal with the fact that he and I should of been dead long ago, but we're the only ones truly alive. I think he's right. Why is it that when it comes to feelings, you guys just shut down? To love and be loved is the most incredible feeling; it's better than money and sex combined." she said with earnest. "Look, I'm not trying to start an argument, but it upsets me that you can pass up someone who'll love you that much. I wish I were that lucky." She said looking at the floor herself.
"Don't judge me, okay Ahn? You, sleep with Spike, yell at Xander for caring, and now you're trying to lecture me?! And it's not like you even know everything that happened with-" she yelled furiously, but stopped in her own reverie of what transpired between her and Spike the last time they saw each other. The memories always left a bitter taste in her mouth, but recalling the wild, desperate look in his eyes also left a few stray feelings of guilt of how things could have been between them.
"Look, I know I messed up. But I am not the only one. All of us screwed up. He, it was just comfort. We just wanted to forget. Something to make the pain go away, even if for a moment." Buffy knew exactly what she meant.
"All I'm saying is that he needs you just as much as you need him. He's not some soulless, evil, undead demon. He does feel. He may not be necessarily "good", but he's not evil. He's proved that more than once. If you can, be with the one you love." she said with half a smile.
"Anya, I can't. He's gone. He left and I don't think he's coming back." she said as she broke down and cried. Anya walked up to her and they held each other, both wanting solace in their scorned hearts.
____________________________________________________________________________
"We can't change the way we were; but we can change the way we are. All I really wanted from this crazy love.... what I wouldn't give to have this crazy love again. I believe in second chances, and I'm holdin' on for sure to your crazy love.....
- Luther Vandross
____________________________________________________________________________ __
"You have endured the required trials."
"Bloody right, I have. So give me what I want; make me what I was, so Buffy can get what she deserves."
"Very well. We will return, your soul."
"Aaaaaahhhhhhh!"
******************
Flashback to a convo between Riley and Spike
"You actually think you got a shot with her?"
"No, I don't. Fella's gotta try, though. Gotta do what he can."
"If you touched her, you know I'd kill you for real."
"If I had this chip outta my head, I'da killed you long ago. Ain't love grand? Sometimes I envy you so much it chokes me. Then sometimes I think I got the better deal. To be that close to her and not have her, to be all alone, even when you're holdin' her, feelin' her, feelin' her beneath you... Surrounding you, the scent.... No, you got the better deal."
"I'm the lucky guy. Yea. I'm the guy."
*******************
"What have you done to me?" Spike said still on the floor.
"Ha, I gave your soul so you can give the Slayer what she deserves. You fool. You should have known that you could never be the true dark warrior you once were."
"So your bloody solution is to give me a soul so I can brood? What, walk around carrying more guilt than I had before. You stupid git! I---"
"Silence, you fool! You should be thanking me. The only way for things to ever be amended is for you have humanity, well, more of it."
"Amended? What needs---"
"You'll find out in time. But now, you need to go back to Sunnydale."
"Can, can I ever lose...."
"No, unlike Angelus, your soul is not a curse, but a gift."
"Thanks for the 'gift' and all, but I can't go back. I'm nothing but a monster in her eyes, and she's right."
"No, you were a monster. But you're far from it now. Now go; this is the path that you must take."
"Dear god, what's happenin' to me?"
****************
Several days later in Spike's Crypt
"Clem?"
"Spike! Wow, you're finally back. A little sooner than I expected but.... Hey, what happened to ya, buddy?"
"I, don't wanna talk 'bout it. I just want, I want to forget.... Stupid ponce. Why won't these feelings stop?" He said as he sunk to the floor, voice breaking.
"Spike, you're all black and blue, and burned. What happened?"
"I, I...." He finished his sentence in a trail of sobs.
"Have you even eaten? You look so weak and pale, well, paler than usual. But, not to worry. I'll get ya something." He says as he exits the crypt.
Why a soul? Why do I even exist? I'm still nothing. I'll never be anything, just stuck in the middle and... oh Buffy. What have I done to you, luv? He thought as she clutched his head while a steady stream of tears came down his face.
____________________________________________________________________________ __
"I, I have nothing. I, I have no one. They adore you, and love you so... I'm just a no one with nothing to give you, but I, I love you."
-Luther Vandross
____________________________________________________________________________ __
Living Room- Summers' home
"So, Giles doin' better?" Dawn asked.
"Oh, he sounded great. He's way better." Buffy said as she went to sit on the coffee table across from sister, who was seated on the couch.
"And uh, Willow?" she asked with uncertainty in her voice.
"She's uh, it-it's hard to tell. Xander says she's sleeping most of the time, and when she's not, she just kinda stares off into space."
"Oh."
"Well, you know, it's gonna take time for her to come to terms with-"
Doorbell rings.
"Who's that?" Dawn asked as Buffy got up to answer the door.
"I don't know, maybe Anya." Buffy replied as she opened the door.
"Hey, Buffy. Sorry to bother you."
"Oh, no it's all right. Come in Clem."
"Hey Dawn."
"Hey Clem."
"Look Buffy, I really need to talk to you. I don't know what to do."
"What's wrong?"
"It's Spike. He's been back for a few days now, but something's wrong with him. He hardly talks or eats. He just sits there."
Clem could see the shock, grief and relief strewn across Buffy's face all at once. He saw the concern in Dawn's face as she got closer and gently put a hand on her big sister's shoulder. He wasn't too sure on what she'd say. But that's when he saw it. The most definite and raw reaction, though tiny as it was, it was clear as day. Tears began to cloud the Slayer's eyes for a brief second before she batted them away.
"He decides to come back, huh? How can even show his face after-" Dawn began, but was abruptly cut off by Buffy.
"Just a sec Dawn. Clem, can you stay here with Dawn while I go see what's up?"
"But Buffy-"
"Dawn please. Just let me see what happened, K'?"
Dawn briefly thought of continuing her rant, but then relented at the stolen "resolve" face and nodded her head. So much had happened, but she knew Buffy missed him, in spite of what happened and Xander's ranting. But what really upset her was that Buffy still felt Dawn needed someone to watch her. Like she wouldn't be safe in her own home. But then again, it's Sunnydale.
***************
As Buffy walked at a fast pace towards Spike's crypt, she couldn't of thinking of what seemed like countless nights of lying awake, thinking about him; wishing he's come back. Regretting the horrible things she'd said to him. Let yourself love me he'd pleaded with her. She thought that if she'd only been honest with him in the first place.... things would have been so much different; probably would have been better. They could of still been together. But she was scared, then he was gone. Even though she never told him she loved him, he left her anyway. Just like the rest.
The only comfort she found at his departure was when she'd lie in her bed at night, wrapped in his coat; his scent of liquor and cigarettes; the smell that lingered on that old leather duster of his. But even after all of this, she still wasn't sure she was ready to face him, that is, without totally breaking down, or involuntarily pulling away from him. After everything... feeling hesitant was natural. She approached his chamber door, contemplated turning back, then went in.
***************
"Spike?" She whispered in an almost inaudible tone. Outside of the candles, it was dark. She didn't see him, but she could feel his presence. She stood quiet and listened, then heard his quiet sobs coming from downstairs. She slowly approached the ladder.
***************
In a fetal position, Spike lied on his bed, turning his thoughts of despair to thoughts of Buffy and Niblet... then he smelled it, the scent that was forever engraved into his mind- Buffy. He immediately stopped his sobs when he sensed her coming, that she was there. He remained absolutely still. He then heard the soft movents of her boots hitting the pavement, then slowly descending the ladder.
"Spike?" her voice said, which she inadvertently felt revealed her grief and uneasiness. He was too stunned to respond. He just continued to lie there silently.
She came closer to his bed, a new addition from the explosion.... She stood there, and gazed at him. He laid there facing her, his eyes still closed. She could see the stream of tears that moistened his cheeks. Cautiously, she sat beside him on the edge of the bed. He flinched and closed his eyes tighter at the closeness of her.
She lifted her hand and caressed his cheek with the back of her hand- her eyes swollen with tears that she refused to let flow.
"Spike, are you alright?" she said, her voice shaky. He didn't respond.
"Well, could you at least let me know that you're okay?"
That was when realization dawned on her. She saw the bruises on his face. She had not prepared herself to see him hurt. It reminded her too much of the day when Glory got a piece of him. But that had done it, several tears managed to free themselves of sad, hazel eyes.
"God, are you hurt all over?" Each second of seeing him like that made it ten times harder for her to stay under emotional control. He finally looked up at her.
"You, you shouldn't be here."
"No, wha-what happened to you?" her voice trembling.
He slowly sat up and stared into her eyes; eyes that were glistening heavily from her tears. He wanted to hold her, but was to afraid to touch her. Not after the horrible thing he did, well, nearly did to her the last time he saw her.
"You have to go. Don't let the darkness consume you." he whispered. Buffy looked at him in confusion, but pressed on.
"No, Clem said you hadn't eaten since you've gotten back. Maybe longer from the looks of it." Looking how much more paler he looked than usual. Much like the time when he first had gotten the chip and couldn't feed.
Damn him! He thought. He thought Clem had gone out to play poker. He'd kill Clem for telling her! Or, hurt him a lot.
"Spike, there's, so much has happened since you left. Jonathan and Andrew were in jail, Warren came back to my house and tried to kill me with a gun for foiling his plans." His eyes widened at this with concern for her.
"I'm fine, but one of his stray bullets hit Tara. She's dead." he lowered his eyes for a moment before replying quietly.
"How's Red doin'?" He said, as he fought an inner conflict of holding her hand or not. The voices were still telling him he was disgusting and he didn't want to sully the girl.
"Well, Willow went crazy with the magicks and bestowed upon Warren a horrible, skinless, fiery death. She nearly killed Giles, tried to turn Dawn into a mystical ball of green energy, and tried to kill me, Jonathan and Andrew, who managed to escape to somewhere else. But Xander managed to stop her, with help from Giles." she said in monotone.
"Watcher's back, and the Bit's okay?" he said, cursing himself as he gently caressed her face, staring at her with those sad, blue eyes of his.
"Yeah. It's just, it's been so hard---" Her barrier of "a stiff upper lip" finally broke down completely. She began to uncontrollably cry.
He ignored the voices for a moment and hesitantly embraced her. He wrapped his arms around her and put his chin on her head, petting her back. She stiffned at first, but then held onto him as if holding on for dear life, feeling as if the moment she loosened her grip, he would disappear forever. She couldn't decide whether this all was a dream or some sort of nightmare.
After several moments, she looked into his eyes for what seemed like the first time. He was just as teary eyed as she was, except for the extreme amount of fear lurking in his. She wasn't exactly sure as to why, but decided to not ask him just yet.
"I'm gonna go upstairs and get you something to eat, okay?"
He nodded and thought about why she was being so good to him.
End of Part I
Feedback: Helps me progress as a writer, so please do! :)
Distribution: Anywhere, just let me know.
Summary: Right after Season 6- written before (completely) season 7. AU fic.
"Solace and Redemption"
Magic Box- several days after Tara's funeral
"Thanks for helping, Buffy." Anya said as she stood by the upsides down round table, staring at the destruction of her beloved store and thought about how much of her beloved money it would take to fix it.
"No problem, Ahn. Uh, have you talked to Xander?" she asked uneasily.
"No, I don't think he's ready to talk to me, or me to him." she said looking away. "Buffy, I kinda need to talk to you about the whole me and Spike thing."
Buffy stopped picking up debris, looking at Anya and not really wanting to hear what the "forth right" demon might say.
"It wasn't meant to be a whole vengeance thing."
"I know."
"No, look. we were both very vulnerable and very drunk and-"
"No, I know all that, K? I don't need details on you and Spike. I saw it." Buffy said heatedly.
"You didn't see what happened before that, did you?" Anya said accusingly.
"No, but it doesn't matter. Besides, it's not like I actually was with Spike anyway." she replied solemnly.
"Buffy, it's probably not my place, but I don't care. I don't want to see another relationship destroyed. He came here for a numbing spell. Instead, I found some of Giles' leftover liquor." she paused and looked at Buffy, who was staring intently at a spot on the floor. "Anyway, we started talking and he was just as hurt as I was. I talked to all of you about Xander, but he was the only one who got it. He could relate.... I know you didn't leave him at the alter, but whatever it was, it caused just as much pain." Anya bit her lower lip, hesitating to proceed while Buffy remained to stand idly around, still gazing at the floor. But now, her eyes were glazed.
"I'm almost certain you're well aware of how much he loves you. What confuses me is why you can't or won't return his feelings. He said that you and Xander just can't deal with the fact that he and I should of been dead long ago, but we're the only ones truly alive. I think he's right. Why is it that when it comes to feelings, you guys just shut down? To love and be loved is the most incredible feeling; it's better than money and sex combined." she said with earnest. "Look, I'm not trying to start an argument, but it upsets me that you can pass up someone who'll love you that much. I wish I were that lucky." She said looking at the floor herself.
"Don't judge me, okay Ahn? You, sleep with Spike, yell at Xander for caring, and now you're trying to lecture me?! And it's not like you even know everything that happened with-" she yelled furiously, but stopped in her own reverie of what transpired between her and Spike the last time they saw each other. The memories always left a bitter taste in her mouth, but recalling the wild, desperate look in his eyes also left a few stray feelings of guilt of how things could have been between them.
"Look, I know I messed up. But I am not the only one. All of us screwed up. He, it was just comfort. We just wanted to forget. Something to make the pain go away, even if for a moment." Buffy knew exactly what she meant.
"All I'm saying is that he needs you just as much as you need him. He's not some soulless, evil, undead demon. He does feel. He may not be necessarily "good", but he's not evil. He's proved that more than once. If you can, be with the one you love." she said with half a smile.
"Anya, I can't. He's gone. He left and I don't think he's coming back." she said as she broke down and cried. Anya walked up to her and they held each other, both wanting solace in their scorned hearts.
____________________________________________________________________________
"We can't change the way we were; but we can change the way we are. All I really wanted from this crazy love.... what I wouldn't give to have this crazy love again. I believe in second chances, and I'm holdin' on for sure to your crazy love.....
- Luther Vandross
____________________________________________________________________________ __
"You have endured the required trials."
"Bloody right, I have. So give me what I want; make me what I was, so Buffy can get what she deserves."
"Very well. We will return, your soul."
"Aaaaaahhhhhhh!"
******************
Flashback to a convo between Riley and Spike
"You actually think you got a shot with her?"
"No, I don't. Fella's gotta try, though. Gotta do what he can."
"If you touched her, you know I'd kill you for real."
"If I had this chip outta my head, I'da killed you long ago. Ain't love grand? Sometimes I envy you so much it chokes me. Then sometimes I think I got the better deal. To be that close to her and not have her, to be all alone, even when you're holdin' her, feelin' her, feelin' her beneath you... Surrounding you, the scent.... No, you got the better deal."
"I'm the lucky guy. Yea. I'm the guy."
*******************
"What have you done to me?" Spike said still on the floor.
"Ha, I gave your soul so you can give the Slayer what she deserves. You fool. You should have known that you could never be the true dark warrior you once were."
"So your bloody solution is to give me a soul so I can brood? What, walk around carrying more guilt than I had before. You stupid git! I---"
"Silence, you fool! You should be thanking me. The only way for things to ever be amended is for you have humanity, well, more of it."
"Amended? What needs---"
"You'll find out in time. But now, you need to go back to Sunnydale."
"Can, can I ever lose...."
"No, unlike Angelus, your soul is not a curse, but a gift."
"Thanks for the 'gift' and all, but I can't go back. I'm nothing but a monster in her eyes, and she's right."
"No, you were a monster. But you're far from it now. Now go; this is the path that you must take."
"Dear god, what's happenin' to me?"
****************
Several days later in Spike's Crypt
"Clem?"
"Spike! Wow, you're finally back. A little sooner than I expected but.... Hey, what happened to ya, buddy?"
"I, don't wanna talk 'bout it. I just want, I want to forget.... Stupid ponce. Why won't these feelings stop?" He said as he sunk to the floor, voice breaking.
"Spike, you're all black and blue, and burned. What happened?"
"I, I...." He finished his sentence in a trail of sobs.
"Have you even eaten? You look so weak and pale, well, paler than usual. But, not to worry. I'll get ya something." He says as he exits the crypt.
Why a soul? Why do I even exist? I'm still nothing. I'll never be anything, just stuck in the middle and... oh Buffy. What have I done to you, luv? He thought as she clutched his head while a steady stream of tears came down his face.
____________________________________________________________________________ __
"I, I have nothing. I, I have no one. They adore you, and love you so... I'm just a no one with nothing to give you, but I, I love you."
-Luther Vandross
____________________________________________________________________________ __
Living Room- Summers' home
"So, Giles doin' better?" Dawn asked.
"Oh, he sounded great. He's way better." Buffy said as she went to sit on the coffee table across from sister, who was seated on the couch.
"And uh, Willow?" she asked with uncertainty in her voice.
"She's uh, it-it's hard to tell. Xander says she's sleeping most of the time, and when she's not, she just kinda stares off into space."
"Oh."
"Well, you know, it's gonna take time for her to come to terms with-"
Doorbell rings.
"Who's that?" Dawn asked as Buffy got up to answer the door.
"I don't know, maybe Anya." Buffy replied as she opened the door.
"Hey, Buffy. Sorry to bother you."
"Oh, no it's all right. Come in Clem."
"Hey Dawn."
"Hey Clem."
"Look Buffy, I really need to talk to you. I don't know what to do."
"What's wrong?"
"It's Spike. He's been back for a few days now, but something's wrong with him. He hardly talks or eats. He just sits there."
Clem could see the shock, grief and relief strewn across Buffy's face all at once. He saw the concern in Dawn's face as she got closer and gently put a hand on her big sister's shoulder. He wasn't too sure on what she'd say. But that's when he saw it. The most definite and raw reaction, though tiny as it was, it was clear as day. Tears began to cloud the Slayer's eyes for a brief second before she batted them away.
"He decides to come back, huh? How can even show his face after-" Dawn began, but was abruptly cut off by Buffy.
"Just a sec Dawn. Clem, can you stay here with Dawn while I go see what's up?"
"But Buffy-"
"Dawn please. Just let me see what happened, K'?"
Dawn briefly thought of continuing her rant, but then relented at the stolen "resolve" face and nodded her head. So much had happened, but she knew Buffy missed him, in spite of what happened and Xander's ranting. But what really upset her was that Buffy still felt Dawn needed someone to watch her. Like she wouldn't be safe in her own home. But then again, it's Sunnydale.
***************
As Buffy walked at a fast pace towards Spike's crypt, she couldn't of thinking of what seemed like countless nights of lying awake, thinking about him; wishing he's come back. Regretting the horrible things she'd said to him. Let yourself love me he'd pleaded with her. She thought that if she'd only been honest with him in the first place.... things would have been so much different; probably would have been better. They could of still been together. But she was scared, then he was gone. Even though she never told him she loved him, he left her anyway. Just like the rest.
The only comfort she found at his departure was when she'd lie in her bed at night, wrapped in his coat; his scent of liquor and cigarettes; the smell that lingered on that old leather duster of his. But even after all of this, she still wasn't sure she was ready to face him, that is, without totally breaking down, or involuntarily pulling away from him. After everything... feeling hesitant was natural. She approached his chamber door, contemplated turning back, then went in.
***************
"Spike?" She whispered in an almost inaudible tone. Outside of the candles, it was dark. She didn't see him, but she could feel his presence. She stood quiet and listened, then heard his quiet sobs coming from downstairs. She slowly approached the ladder.
***************
In a fetal position, Spike lied on his bed, turning his thoughts of despair to thoughts of Buffy and Niblet... then he smelled it, the scent that was forever engraved into his mind- Buffy. He immediately stopped his sobs when he sensed her coming, that she was there. He remained absolutely still. He then heard the soft movents of her boots hitting the pavement, then slowly descending the ladder.
"Spike?" her voice said, which she inadvertently felt revealed her grief and uneasiness. He was too stunned to respond. He just continued to lie there silently.
She came closer to his bed, a new addition from the explosion.... She stood there, and gazed at him. He laid there facing her, his eyes still closed. She could see the stream of tears that moistened his cheeks. Cautiously, she sat beside him on the edge of the bed. He flinched and closed his eyes tighter at the closeness of her.
She lifted her hand and caressed his cheek with the back of her hand- her eyes swollen with tears that she refused to let flow.
"Spike, are you alright?" she said, her voice shaky. He didn't respond.
"Well, could you at least let me know that you're okay?"
That was when realization dawned on her. She saw the bruises on his face. She had not prepared herself to see him hurt. It reminded her too much of the day when Glory got a piece of him. But that had done it, several tears managed to free themselves of sad, hazel eyes.
"God, are you hurt all over?" Each second of seeing him like that made it ten times harder for her to stay under emotional control. He finally looked up at her.
"You, you shouldn't be here."
"No, wha-what happened to you?" her voice trembling.
He slowly sat up and stared into her eyes; eyes that were glistening heavily from her tears. He wanted to hold her, but was to afraid to touch her. Not after the horrible thing he did, well, nearly did to her the last time he saw her.
"You have to go. Don't let the darkness consume you." he whispered. Buffy looked at him in confusion, but pressed on.
"No, Clem said you hadn't eaten since you've gotten back. Maybe longer from the looks of it." Looking how much more paler he looked than usual. Much like the time when he first had gotten the chip and couldn't feed.
Damn him! He thought. He thought Clem had gone out to play poker. He'd kill Clem for telling her! Or, hurt him a lot.
"Spike, there's, so much has happened since you left. Jonathan and Andrew were in jail, Warren came back to my house and tried to kill me with a gun for foiling his plans." His eyes widened at this with concern for her.
"I'm fine, but one of his stray bullets hit Tara. She's dead." he lowered his eyes for a moment before replying quietly.
"How's Red doin'?" He said, as he fought an inner conflict of holding her hand or not. The voices were still telling him he was disgusting and he didn't want to sully the girl.
"Well, Willow went crazy with the magicks and bestowed upon Warren a horrible, skinless, fiery death. She nearly killed Giles, tried to turn Dawn into a mystical ball of green energy, and tried to kill me, Jonathan and Andrew, who managed to escape to somewhere else. But Xander managed to stop her, with help from Giles." she said in monotone.
"Watcher's back, and the Bit's okay?" he said, cursing himself as he gently caressed her face, staring at her with those sad, blue eyes of his.
"Yeah. It's just, it's been so hard---" Her barrier of "a stiff upper lip" finally broke down completely. She began to uncontrollably cry.
He ignored the voices for a moment and hesitantly embraced her. He wrapped his arms around her and put his chin on her head, petting her back. She stiffned at first, but then held onto him as if holding on for dear life, feeling as if the moment she loosened her grip, he would disappear forever. She couldn't decide whether this all was a dream or some sort of nightmare.
After several moments, she looked into his eyes for what seemed like the first time. He was just as teary eyed as she was, except for the extreme amount of fear lurking in his. She wasn't exactly sure as to why, but decided to not ask him just yet.
"I'm gonna go upstairs and get you something to eat, okay?"
He nodded and thought about why she was being so good to him.
End of Part I
