Disclaimer: All the characters belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, Fox,
etc... except of course the ones I make up.
Summary: Spike and Buffy are going to have a baby together!!! I know, I know, it's been done about a million times but I promise that this one is different. Anyway, it also deals with all different types of families that could exist in the Buffyverse.
Spoilers: None really
Continuity: It's the sequel to "Apocalypse now... Again". However, you don't really need to read it to understand this fic. It picks up a few weeks after where "Apocalypse Now... Again" leaves off. Also, I just thought I'd point out that Tara is alive and with Willow, both witches are living with Buffy. Also, Xander and Anya are married.
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To all those who have been reading or will read this fic:
I don't think thank you expresses enough what I would like to say. But I'll say it anyway. Thank you thank you thank you for all of you support throughout the writing of this. I have never put so much energy or time into a piece of my writing. You're patience and support means the world to me and it's important that you know that.
~RaB~
PS: I'd really appreciate your reviews of this final chapter and this entire story. Also, keep an eye out for the sequel "TRADEOFF," which I plan to begin writing ASAP (finally, LOL!).
~*~
FAMILY
Chapter 33: Graduation Day sans Giant Mayor-Snake
The Slayer slipped her fingers through those of her lover as they strolled along through the cool night air. She rested her head against his shoulder as they walked, oblivious to the world and the danger that was surrounding them. She was so antsy after nine months of not being able to fight but an outsider would have had no idea from her calm demeanor. All day she had been looking forward to getting away to the cemetery to kick some vampire ass with her beau; she had been ecstatic since Willow and Tara offered to watch Kat for a few hours if that was okay with her. It was, of course, these were two women that she trusted with her life. Besides, the baby would have long since been put to bed.
Spike, on the other hand, couldn't help but have intense feelings of anxiety. As much as he loved and trusted Tara and Willow, the whole situation made him feel extremely uneasy. He had argued that if Buffy were to go out then he should stay home. But Buffy wouldn't have it, she insisted that he go with her. Eventually he caved and ended up patrolling with her. As much as he loved this, as much as he cherished every moment he had alone with Buffy, walking alongside her, holding her dainty hand in his own, he couldn't stop looking back toward the house.
This really irked her.
"Spike!"
He whipped his head around. "What?"
"Stop doing that."
"Doing what?"
"Looking back toward the house, you're making me dizzy. Besides, we're like three miles away, what do you think? You'll here the baby cry?"
"Sorry," he told her, shrugging, "I can't help it. I'm nervous."
She squeezed his hand as she pulled it up to her lips to give it a long, sweet kiss. "I know, honey. I have bit of belly rumblin's about the whole thing too but I just needed to go out, you know? I haven't had a good, healthy fight in months!"
"You're starting to sound like me."
"Yeah well, there are worse things," she cooed softly as she rested her head back down on his shoulder as they continued to walk. Suddenly, not surprisingly because this happened fairly often, Buffy felt a great swell of passion for the man by her side. All of the love and desire and affection that she felt for him boiled to the surface and made her want him like she wanted nothing else in the world. She stopped walking, and swung her body in front of him so that her chest was pressed against his. She smiled and he looked a little confused.
"Kiss me."
Spike, of course, didn't object. He smirked and chuckled and pressed his lips down upon Buffy's, capturing her mouth in a fiery kiss that they both felt could last forever. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he wrapped his around her once again slender waist and their kiss increased in intensity. Spike massaged the small of Buffy's back and he wanted for a moment to be able to stay like that for eternity. Holding her. Kissing her. She made him know what heaven was like.
As their kiss deepened, they became more and more oblivious to their surroundings. Buffy melted into the embrace. She lived for moments like this. Brief moments where everything was still and perfect. But perfect happiness always did seem to come with a price.
Buffy felt her head hit the ground before she even felt herself get hit. She could hear Spike throwing punches at whatever knocked her over. She groaned more with annoyance than with pain as she shook the dizziness from her head. She stood up and brushed the dirt off of her jeans, the creature took notice of her immediately. This time, when the vampire came at her, she was more that ready, nine months of waiting ready.
She did a roundhouse kick directly to his chest, causing him to fly back at least fifteen feet. Spike walked to her side and nudged her arm.
"Need a hand?"
Buffy shook her head and grinned widely. "Nope. I got this one."
"S'what I like to hear."
Spike brushed his lips against the slayer's warm cheek before stepping back as she got into fighting stance. The vampire charged her once again but didn't even come close to touching her. She was a blur of punches and kicks that threw the vampire from one headstone to the next. Finally, when Buffy felt like she, and the vamp, had had enough, and that she had relieved at least some of the tension, she pulled a stake out and dusted the vampire. He turned to ash with a tired and defeated look on his face as he blew away in the wind.
Buffy smiled, proud of herself as she turned to Spike. "Didn't lose my touch."
"Not a bit."
"Yay on me then," Buffy said with almost childish enthusiasm as she bounced over to Spike and pulled on the napes of his duster. "Oh my God, that was so exciting!"
"I'm glad for you, really I am but do you think we could get on with it?"
"What? The patrolling?"
"I was talking more the kissing, love, but I suppose that can wait."
"Damn." She sighed. "All right then."
They continued to walk on through an unusually calm cemetery, fighting only two fledgling vampires after the first and they had been out for at least three hours. For a while Buffy was worried that this was a really bad sign, that maybe something much worse than a vampire was about to rise as it often did in Sunnydale. She decided, however, to just relax and think that maybe she was finally having a bit of good luck.
Just as she was about to suggest turning back and heading home, she saw a dark figure in the distance. She squinted in an attempt to make out what it was standing so serenely by a grave, staring down at it, the thing's bowler hat hiding his eyes.
Wait... bowler hat?
Buffy stopped suddenly, Spike also halting beside her. "Spike?"
"Yeah?"
She pointed at the shadowy figure. "Is that Sid?"
Spike looked ahead and noticed what Buffy was pointing for the first time. He took a few steps forward and cocked his head. "Yeah, I think so. Wonder what he's doing here. Isn't he supposed to leave tomorrow?"
Buffy nodded, wondering in her mind what Sid was doing standing over a grave at one o'clock in the morning. Was he waiting for a new vampire to rise? No, that wasn't something so huge that he would feel the need to be out there. Besides, he knew that she and Spike would be patrolling, and it's not like they couldn't handle one vampire. There had to something else. Maybe a demon rising from the grave? No, that also didn't seem to likely, Sid would have told them about it first. Buffy almost gave up on the cause when out of the back of her mind she remembered who had been buried in this graveyard over seven years ago. She felt a pang of sadness and sympathy for what must have been a loss for Sid, at least somewhat.
Buffy stepped forward and rested her hand lightly on Spike's elbow. She moved her fingers across the leather a few times before speaking.
"You know, there isn't really much going on Why don't you just go home, I need to talk to Sid for a minute."
Spike shrugged his shoulders. "That's fine. Do you mind if I wait for you or is this gonna take a while?"
"No, it should only take a minute. I'll be right back."
Buffy gave Spike's hand a gentle squeeze before walking away toward Sid. She felt a little nervous though she wasn't really sure why, maybe it was because death was always such an awkward subject. Though she shouldn't have been, she was still surprised to see Sid at the graveyard, standing over that particular grave, hanging his head so low.
"Sid?" She asked quietly. He didn't start, she knew he had heard her coming by the crunching of twigs and leaves and grass under her comfortable yet stylish boots.
"Hey, kid," he replied softly as he adjusted his hat uncomfortably.
Buffy walked closer until she was standing by his side. She looked down at the grave Sid had been staring at so somberly:
MORGAN AUGUST SHAY
1981-1997
BELOVED SON AND BROTHER, HE FOUGHT UNTIL THE END AND HIS LIGHT IN THE WOLRD WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.
Buffy wrapped her fingers daintily around Sid's upper arm. "I'm sorry."
"They have no idea," he began, his voice trembling slightly, "they have no idea just how hard he fought. He went above and beyond anything I ever asked him to do. He was such a good kid, they have no idea."
"I do. I know what he did for you. He was very brave."
"He didn't ask for it. Any of it. The cancer, the demons, he just wanted to have fun, to live. I'm sorry I put him in the danger that I did."
"Don't. This isn't your fault."
"He did everything I asked and I was... am, so grateful to him. I just hope he knows."
Buffy's hand slid down Sid's arm until her fingers were locked with his. "I'm sure he does. I think he's probably glad that you came."
Sid nodded wordlessly.
"You're going back to New York tomorrow?" Buffy asked, knowing that he knew that the question was rhetorical.
"Yeah, bright and early."
Buffy smiled. "I still can't even thank you enough for what you did for me."
"You don't have to."
"I know, but I still wanted to let you know... for the thousandth time."
Sid choked a quiet laugh. "I get it, though, believe me. Oh! And uh... before I forget," Sid dug deep into the pockets of his pleated suit pants, and he pulled a purple card envelope.
"It's for Dawn, for her graduation tomorrow," he explained. "I was gonna stop by and give it to her, but since you're here already... you know."
Buffy smiled. "That's so sweet of you."
"Yeah well..." Sid blushed and shuffled his feet. "Anyway, I better be off, still have a bit of packing to do and what not."
"Right, wouldn't want to forget the what not," Buffy mocked his discomfort.
"Yeah. So, if you ever, you know, need anything, help or whatever, just gimme a call, okay?"
"Of course, same here."
"Right."
"Good."
There was a moment of awkward silence before Buffy stepped forward and put her arms around Sid. She held onto him, letting him know through this simple action that he was very, very important to her, and that what he did and who he was would never be forgotten. She felt tears welling, her gratitude almost boiling over the brim of her eyelids. She held on a bit tighter for just another moment before she realized that she had to let go. She had to get home.
"Goodbye, Sid."
"Bye, Buffy."
She turned around without looking back and went to her lover who was looking at her curiously. He cocked his head slightly to the left the way he always did when something didn't quite make sense to him.
"You all right, Slayer?"
Buffy, without stopping her motion, took his hand and pulled him along for a few paces until his steps were in sync with hers.
"Yeah, I am. Let's just go home."
~*~
Dawn hated this. It was just plain... irritating. She fussed in front of the mirror over her hair for at least fifteen minutes already and still she couldn't decide just what to with it. This was a big day, the big day, and everything had to look just perfect or the whole thing would be wrong! She needed help. She needed guidance.
She needed Buffy. But Buffy, unfortunately, was still sleeping and probably would be for at least another hour. Dawn played with the thought of waking her; and she really wanted to.
"What the hell," she said aloud to no one in particular. How much sleep does she really need, anyway?
Dawn secured the fluffy, damp maroon towel around herself as she padded softly across the hall and to the door of her big sister's room. She considered just walking in but hello? She didn't want to be rude or anything. It was six thirty in the morning for God's sake.
So she rapped her knuckled lightly against the wood instead.
Buffy, half asleep, heard the gentle knocking. Normally she would have been, well, not angry... annoyed. But it was Dawn's day, she had to be little understanding of her anxiety and excitement. Before Buffy invited her sister in, because she knew that this early, Dawn would at least be a little patient, she opened her eyes all the way and stared for a long moment at Spike. She bathed in the feeling of being in his arms and loved the peace that this gave her. She passed her fingertips lightly over his chest and kissed his arm before rolling over.
"Come in," she instructed her sister in a loud whisper. She didn't want to wake Spike, and she was simply terrified of waking Kat who was a light sleeper. She succeeded in one of her goals as Dawn opened the door and stepped inside; Kat was still sleeping soundly. Spike, on the other hand, stirred restlessly, opened his eyes and sat up. He had a confused look on his faced which Dawn studied for a fraction of a second before confessing her hair troubles to Buffy.
"Up or down?"
Buffy was now confused as well. "What?"
Just as Dawn was about to continue when she was so rudely interrupted by Spike. "What are you, naked?"
The Slayer rolled her eyes. "Uh, no. Look! Towel. Duh!" She explained simply.
"You could at least be decent when you barge into out room before bloody sunrise, Bit."
"Oh chill out, will you? Anyway... should I wear my hair up or down?"
Buffy considered this for a moment. "What are you wearing?"
"The dark purple dress. The one that has the slanted cut at the bottom with the spaghetti straps. I was thinking a down-do."
"I can't believe this," Spike muttered as he rolled over and went back to sleep.
Buffy continued with the conversation as though he hadn't said a word. "I don't think so. I'd go up with the spaghetti straps; show off your collar bone and your... uh... assets."
Dawn smiled and stifled a laugh. "Okay, up it is then."
After Dawn pulled her hair into an elegant French twist, she went on with the rest of the morning's preparations. It was seven-fifteen by the time she had gotten every individual strand exactly where she wanted it, so she was actually ten minutes ahead of schedule. When she walked out of the bathroom, towel still secured around her long, slender body, she saw that Willow was already up and about.
"Oh sorry," Dawn apologized, "did I wake you?"
"No," Willow flushed a light pink, "I'm just excited."
That was when the witch came forward and wrapped her arms tightly around Dawn. They stood there for a few moments like that, and Dawn realized how happy she was to have someone like Willow in her life. Willow deserved this moment, after all, Dawn was ahead of schedule.
When Willow finally released the soon-to-be-graduate, tears were filling her eyes. "Oh! I was gonna save this speech until later but I just have to tell you now. I am so proud of you, of the woman you've become. And I know how much you're gonna hear this today but yeah, I am. Proud, I mean. I just... after everything... all the crap you had to put up with during my less happy moments... you're still here and so am I, and I adore you and... I'm gonna stop before I cry so get ready already will ya?"
Dawn nodded, her own eyes prickling with tears only threatening to form. "Will do."
Dawn walked into her room and shut the door quietly behind her. She shook the towel off and let it fall lazily to the floor. She put on all necessary undergarments before opening her closet door and taking out her dress. She slipped it on carefully, making sure not to touch even a single strand of hair. Once it was on, she stood in the mirror for at least ten minutes, checking every angle and curve of her body to make sure the dress looked perfect. She didn't know why she was being so uptight, she hadn't even spent this much time getting ready before prom. She may have had her hair professionally done and ended up looking "phenomenal" to quote her ever-doting boyfriend, but that was beside the point. It was her last High School function ever, and she wanted it to be just perfect.
By the time she was done with everything, hair, dress, makeup, even the final touches, Dawn still had almost two hours until they would be leaving. Oh well, she'd just wash the make up off, redo it later, and watch TV in the meantime. Her hair seemed safe enough that way.
But of course, Dawn got downstairs and saw that someone else had already nabbed the TV. Damn. And this someone was watching... ew... the Soap network. Go figure.
"Hey Spike."
He nodded absently. "Hey."
"Why are you up? Don't men take like two seconds to get ready?"
Spike shrugged in such a way that Dawn could tell he was about to say something sarcastic. "Oh, I don't know. Someone came waltzing into my room at six-thirty in the morning bitching about her bleeding hair. But that couldn't be why I'm up now could it?"
Dawn sighed. "You are so daddish it is frightening."
Spike smirked his signature little smile that used to make Dawn melt inside. But that was back in the land of ickdom, and now that little smirk just made her want to elbow him really hard. Instead of getting violent, however, the Slayer simply shrugged and plopped down on the couch beside Spike.
"Your hair looks nice, by the way. Very flattering."
Dawn smiled. "Thanks."
Spike took her hand and gave it a little squeeze. "I'm very proud of you," he told her as he turned his head in her direction and looked directly at her. Sometimes she felt like he was looking right through her, or maybe he was just looking into her.
"Wow, so many nice things all in a row. How's your ego handling all of this."
"Oh come off it, I mean it. I am proud of you. You've done wonderful things with your life and there can only be more to come. I know that this a day that people are supposed to tell you this but, I hope that I've told you more. And I'll tell you always."
Dawn looked with pure adoration at a man she had once feared and now loved as if he were her blood. "Thanks big brother."
Spike didn't have to give a second thought to the title as he leaned in and pressed a kiss against Dawn's forehead. Knowing how she would react, he was careful not to touch her hair. Dawn tried to pretend that it made her uncomfortable or annoyed, the way it did when anyone tried to kiss her when she was little. It was one of those moments that Dawn reverted to her more bratty self just for the sake of it.
This time she smirked and he rolled his eyes. It was just one of their funky quirky ways of showing how much the loved each other. It was one of those things that no one could understand but them. And that was okay because sometimes it is little things like that that can keep a person sane.
Dawn stood from the couch and rubs her eyes. As excited as she was, it didn't cure any of the weariness of having a few stressful weeks behind her and many stressful months ahead.
"I better get ready and leave you to your drama," she told him as she stretched the muscles in her back.
Spike nodded. "Do what you must."
"Always."
~*~
Buffy loved the feeling of fitting into a dress from a year ago. It was almost euphoric. As much as she enjoyed being pregnant and having the wonderful feeling of being full of another life, she was more than happy to be thin again. It just made life easier because there was nothing more complicated than maternity clothes. Buffy smiled at her own ridiculousness as she pulled the lavender knee-length dress over her head. It fell around her body, showing off her new more motherly curves; and though she thought she would despise them, she found them quite attractive.
"Thanks, baby," Buffy told her tiny daughter who was squirming restlessly in the middle of her bed. She was kicking her legs and staring at something she probably couldn't even see on the ceiling.
"You talking to me?" Spike called from the bathroom where he was spending forever on God knows what.
"No."
"Bloody awful weather we're having, innit?" He asked her. But Buffy knew better. She didn't even have to answer because she knew that he didn't mean it. Not even a little. He was actually thrilled by the pouring rain which was beating audibly on the roof. Graduation was originally supposed to be an outdoor event like Buffy's had been. Twelve in the afternoon was one of Spike's more inflammable times of day so he wouldn't be able to attend. Both he and Dawn were crushed by this until about a week ago plans changed. The weather forecast for the next five to seven days was pouring, almost torrential rain which meant that the school would be doing the graduation in the gym. Dawn and Spike were both as giddy as school girls when they heard the news but Dawn took on most of the giddiness while Spike just acted really happy.
Buffy put on her earrings and gave a final touch to her lipstick. She looked herself over in the mirror. Everything looked like it was pretty much in order and she nodded at her reflection satisfactorily. When she turned around to go pick up Kat she let out a startled gasp. Spike was standing maybe three feet behind her but of course she didn't see him in the mirror. She wanted to kick herself for not picking up on his presence. Usually she could tell he was near before he was even within a hundred feet of her. She had to hand it to him, he was crafty.
"Funny," Buffy told him flatly, crossing her arms.
"Every time."
"Yeah. Every one time that you've actually gotten me."
Spike just stared at her and smiled. His eyes were shining at her, beaming his love for her that always made Buffy weak in the knees. But she wanted to be annoyed with him, she needed to find something to be irritated about.
"What took you so long in the bathroom? I mean, it's not like you need the mirror or anything."
"It's where the bloody product is, love."
Buffy burst into a fit of laughter. "Product?" She asked incredulously. "Oh man, I have got to stop watching 'Queer Eye' when you're around."
"Bloody right you do. Show's right obnoxious."
"Yeah, yeah, you could leave the room you know."
"And miss a precious moment with you?" Spike asked as he walked to the bed and scooped his daughter up into his arms. "Never."
Buffy watched as Spike nuzzled his nose into their daughter's tender belly. She let out a soft cooing noise that almost made her sound like a bird. But the way Spike was holding her lovingly to his chest made her seem like a baby doll. She was so still with him, so at ease. Buffy loved this. It was one of the only things in her life where she wouldn't change a thing. It was a father completely and wholly devoted to his daughter. It was perfection.
Buffy stepped forward and placed her fingertips on Spike's elbows and rubbed her thumbs over the material of his shirt. It was then that she really noticed what he was wearing: Black dress shirt, black pleated pants, black shoes, and a black tie to top off the whole ensemble. Buffy choked a laugh.
"What?"
"Typical," she said, "so typical."
"What is?"
"You. All black. I should have known."
"It's not all black!"
"Oh no?"
"No! The tie's charcoal."
Buffy laughed and Spike smiled at the sound. It with the beating of his baby's heart was a symphony of heavenly sound. He captured Buffy's mouth with his own and Kat babbled softly between them. When their kiss ended, and their lips came apart, Buffy rested her forehead on Spike's chin gently and laid a hand over her daughter's soft baby hair.
"Black, tie dye, hell... even plaid, it's all good to me as long as you promise me one thing."
"Anything, love."
"Promise me you'll always kiss me the way you just did right now."
"Forever. You could never give me a good enough reason not to kiss you like that."
Buffy smiled. "Perfection."
~*~
Dawn's head was spinning with excitement. It was over, that part of her life was done now and she was about to embark on greater things like college and a real life. But she didn't need to think or worry about that now. She wanted to live in this moment of frenzy and family and love. She rarely experienced moments so full of love.
Everyone was at her house which Dawn liked. She was glad that she could walk around in her bare feet and take down her hair. She was amongst friends and family who just didn't give a damn. Everything was just as it always should be in her life. This is how Dawn always imagined everything would turn out but of course it didn't. it couldn't. But she had to be thankful for the little blessings, the subtle things.
Like at least there wasn't a giant graduate-eating mayor-snake at her graduation ceremony.
And Dawn was still giggling to herself from when Xander mentioned this to her a few minutes before. He had been carrying his son to Anya when Dawn nabbed him, eager to hold the baby. Of course he didn't object to this, he loved seeing the people he loved loving his son. It was simply a special thing to have so much love in your life.
They got into a whole conversation about how much smoother Dawn's graduation ceremony was than Xander's. Though it was a rather serious subject, Xander had a way of saying it that made it all seem like a big joke. It was the calm look in his eyes and the quirky smile playing at the corner of his lips just made every topic sort of frivolous. Even death and mass destruction.
Dawn, who had just handed a fussing Nicky back to his father was so completely wrapped up in her thoughts that she was startled when Janice put her arms around her best friend. Dawn immediately hugged back and the girls both giggled excitedly.
"This is unreal!" Janice squealed. "I mean, we're college girls. I am and you're almost legal. So totally unreal."
"I know. I can even... it's so like..."
"Yeah, I totally know," Janice agreed before Dawn could even finish her thought. She had no doubt, however, that Janice did know exactly what she meant.
"Where are your parents?"
Janice snorted. "Talking to Xander just before you. They want to get their bedroom redone or expanded or something so rather than pay money for a consultation..."
"Gotcha."
"Oh! Dave's looking for you, I almost forgot to tell you."
"Okay. Where is he?"
"By the stairs last I saw him which was all of like two minutes ago. It should be in that general vicinity."
"Cool. Okay well, I'll hunt him down. It'll be exciting." Dawn wrapped her arms around Janice. "Just want to let you know that I adore you before I go."
"Yeah, and see me again in two seconds. I love you, too, now find your poor beau."
"Will do, will do. Don't rush me!" At this point, Dawn and Janice burst into a fit of ridiculous and overexcited giggles.
Buffy watched out of the corner of her eyes as Dawn walked to David and embraced her boyfriend tenderly. There were few things in this world, or in other worlds for that matter, that made her as happy as seeing Dawn be very happy. She remembered fondly what it was like to have a first love. The newness of it even after years had passed. And though it didn't last for her, she wouldn't be surprised if Dawn's first love would turn out to be her only love. She couldn't imagine seeing her sister with anyone else. And it didn't hurt that Buffy adored David.
Dawn could feel Buffy's eyes on her. It was brief moment, a matter of seconds if that, but she could always tell when Buffy was staring at her pensively. She considered staring back, staring her down just to be obnoxious and decided against it. She was too old to play those sorts of games so often. She just needed to take the moment to enjoy being the arms of David. His heart was beating in sync with hers against her chest and she felt his breath on her neck as he kissed its nape.
The younger slayer was disrupted buy a light tapping her shoulder. She let go of David and entwined her fingers with his as she turned to see Giles standing behind her. He had a, not quite sad, more nostalgic grin spread across his features. Dawn tilted her head slightly at him, letting him know that she was ready to listen to whatever he had to say.
"Sorry to interrupt but, I needed to talk to you whenever I could get the chance. Seeing as how you've been bombarded by everyone since we all got back to the house I-"
"Giles!" Dawn interrupted his rambling. "It's fine."
"Right. Good, then. I just, I wanted to of course tell you how happy I was to see you walk across that stage, an honor student no less. And I wanted to give you this," he told her as he handed her a plain white envelope. Dawn took it from him an slowly examined the contents. She nearly fainted.
"Oh my God," she breathed, "a trip for two to England? Giles, this is too much."
"Hardly. After everything you've been through in the past few years I'd say it's barely enough. I just..." Giles paused as he took of his glasses to wipe them, "I wanted to give you something that well... I knew you really wanted. I remember how you said you've never been anywhere, never seen the world. And though England is hardly the world, I thought it'd be a good start. It's just... this is my way of saying how happy I am and how proud I am of you."
Dawn could see that tears were beginning to form in her watcher's eyes as he brought a gentle hand to her cheek. "No father could be prouder."
Dawns own tears were coming to her eyes as she placed her hand over Giles's. She lowered her voice as she advised him, "don't tell my father that."
Giles chuckled softly and kissed her forehead warmly. "Mum's the word. Now, you get back to your... partying and what have you. I'll mingle."
Dawn nodded and watched as Giles walked away to do his "mingling." When he was out of sight, she spun around to face Dave, her cheeks flushed with excitement.
"Oh my God this is unreal!"
Dave smirked at her. "So uh... got any idea who you're gonna be taking to England with you?"
Dawn gave her boyfriend a playful little shove. "As if you even have to ask."
"Well, I though I'd be polite."
Dawn laughed and pressed her lips and his. Dave pulled away moments later only to tell her, "I have to go to the bathroom."
Dawn put her hands up mock-defensively. "Don't let me stop you."
Once Dave was up the stairs, Dawn headed absently into the living room and walked head on into Spike. He nearly dropped his empty wine glass but didn't because of his super vampire reflexes.
"Lucky for those," Dawn mumbled to herself.
"What?"
"Oh, nothing. Sorry, I'm just... Giles gave me a trip to England for graduation. I'm... I can't even-"
"That's lovely, pet."
"Yeah, wow. This whole day is... near perfect. The only thing I would change is... God, I realize how this sounds typical as all hell but, I wish my mom could have been here for this."
Spike could say nothing but, "me too."
"What, you're not gonna tell me something corny like 'she was here, really'."
"Nope."
"Oh?"
"It doesn't help. I know that. It doesn't change the fact that she isn't here, not really."
"Thank you. I'm glad that I can always count on you for honesty."
"It's easier than making up stories. One thing I've learned over my numerous years."
"It's important. One good quality I can take from you."
"Only one, then?"
"Well, yeah, I mean look at your taste in television."
Dawn got a playful poke in the ribs for that one. She recoiled spastically and laughed. After all five seconds of being annoyed with him, she slipped her arms around his torso and held on to him tightly. He embraced her warmly and kissed her hair which was now beyond repair but still stiff from the eighteen bleeding bottles of spray that she used. But Spike didn't mind, he chose to never again mind these little annoyance after the close call from a few weeks back.
"Hey Dawn?"
"Yeah?"
"I love you."
"Love you, too."
"And..."
"Yes?"
"I don't blame you for the taste in television."
Just over an hour later Dawn had had nearly all that she could handle. But this was nothing that couldn't be solved by a few minutes alone at the top of the stairs. The aloneness didn't last long, however, because Buffy came walking out of her room with Kat secure in her arms.
"Oh," Dawn said in slight surprise. "I didn't realize that you were up here."
"Yeah, I was checking on Kat, see if she was awake and what do you know?"
"I see. Was she crying."
Buffy shook her head as she took a seat next to her little sister. "Nope, just cooing and gurgling and kicking her adorable little baby feet."
"They are pretty cute," Dawn agreed, "can I hold her?"
Buffy nodded and handed the baby to her beaming aunt. "Always."
"Yay. It's so much fun having a baby in the house. Good job."
The older slayer rolled her eyes. "Yeah thanks."
Dawn choked a laugh. "Hey, did Giles tell you what he got me for graduation?"
"Yeah. He checked it out with me before he did any purchasing or what have you. He wanted to make sure it was okay with me and whatever. He especially wanted to make sure it was okay since he figured you'd want to take Dave. He wanted to make sure that I deemed this" here Buffy inserted sarcastic air quotes "'appropriate.' I told him of course and that I trust you and your decisions. Though, I may not always show it."
"I think you do... mostly," Dawn added the last part quietly. Buffy just smiled. Dawn stared down at all of her "extended" family and thought of how blessed she was to be surrounded by so many people who love her and who she loved. She felt a sense a euphoria overcome her and she pulled her niece closer to her chest.
"You know, it's so rare."
"Hmm? What is?"
"This feeling. This feeling of everything being right with the world."
Buffy put her arms around her little sister, who wasn't so little anymore and sighed. She kissed Dawn's forehead and pulled her in tightly against her body. She felt it too. She felt that wonderful elated high of endorphins pumping through her body. She looked from her sister's face to her daughter's and for a moment felt the extreme and powerful presence of her mother.
"Enjoy it, Dawnie," Buffy instructed her sister with the hint of a laugh. "It's like heaven on earth. And I would know."
~*~
END
~*~
Summary: Spike and Buffy are going to have a baby together!!! I know, I know, it's been done about a million times but I promise that this one is different. Anyway, it also deals with all different types of families that could exist in the Buffyverse.
Spoilers: None really
Continuity: It's the sequel to "Apocalypse now... Again". However, you don't really need to read it to understand this fic. It picks up a few weeks after where "Apocalypse Now... Again" leaves off. Also, I just thought I'd point out that Tara is alive and with Willow, both witches are living with Buffy. Also, Xander and Anya are married.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
To all those who have been reading or will read this fic:
I don't think thank you expresses enough what I would like to say. But I'll say it anyway. Thank you thank you thank you for all of you support throughout the writing of this. I have never put so much energy or time into a piece of my writing. You're patience and support means the world to me and it's important that you know that.
~RaB~
PS: I'd really appreciate your reviews of this final chapter and this entire story. Also, keep an eye out for the sequel "TRADEOFF," which I plan to begin writing ASAP (finally, LOL!).
~*~
FAMILY
Chapter 33: Graduation Day sans Giant Mayor-Snake
The Slayer slipped her fingers through those of her lover as they strolled along through the cool night air. She rested her head against his shoulder as they walked, oblivious to the world and the danger that was surrounding them. She was so antsy after nine months of not being able to fight but an outsider would have had no idea from her calm demeanor. All day she had been looking forward to getting away to the cemetery to kick some vampire ass with her beau; she had been ecstatic since Willow and Tara offered to watch Kat for a few hours if that was okay with her. It was, of course, these were two women that she trusted with her life. Besides, the baby would have long since been put to bed.
Spike, on the other hand, couldn't help but have intense feelings of anxiety. As much as he loved and trusted Tara and Willow, the whole situation made him feel extremely uneasy. He had argued that if Buffy were to go out then he should stay home. But Buffy wouldn't have it, she insisted that he go with her. Eventually he caved and ended up patrolling with her. As much as he loved this, as much as he cherished every moment he had alone with Buffy, walking alongside her, holding her dainty hand in his own, he couldn't stop looking back toward the house.
This really irked her.
"Spike!"
He whipped his head around. "What?"
"Stop doing that."
"Doing what?"
"Looking back toward the house, you're making me dizzy. Besides, we're like three miles away, what do you think? You'll here the baby cry?"
"Sorry," he told her, shrugging, "I can't help it. I'm nervous."
She squeezed his hand as she pulled it up to her lips to give it a long, sweet kiss. "I know, honey. I have bit of belly rumblin's about the whole thing too but I just needed to go out, you know? I haven't had a good, healthy fight in months!"
"You're starting to sound like me."
"Yeah well, there are worse things," she cooed softly as she rested her head back down on his shoulder as they continued to walk. Suddenly, not surprisingly because this happened fairly often, Buffy felt a great swell of passion for the man by her side. All of the love and desire and affection that she felt for him boiled to the surface and made her want him like she wanted nothing else in the world. She stopped walking, and swung her body in front of him so that her chest was pressed against his. She smiled and he looked a little confused.
"Kiss me."
Spike, of course, didn't object. He smirked and chuckled and pressed his lips down upon Buffy's, capturing her mouth in a fiery kiss that they both felt could last forever. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he wrapped his around her once again slender waist and their kiss increased in intensity. Spike massaged the small of Buffy's back and he wanted for a moment to be able to stay like that for eternity. Holding her. Kissing her. She made him know what heaven was like.
As their kiss deepened, they became more and more oblivious to their surroundings. Buffy melted into the embrace. She lived for moments like this. Brief moments where everything was still and perfect. But perfect happiness always did seem to come with a price.
Buffy felt her head hit the ground before she even felt herself get hit. She could hear Spike throwing punches at whatever knocked her over. She groaned more with annoyance than with pain as she shook the dizziness from her head. She stood up and brushed the dirt off of her jeans, the creature took notice of her immediately. This time, when the vampire came at her, she was more that ready, nine months of waiting ready.
She did a roundhouse kick directly to his chest, causing him to fly back at least fifteen feet. Spike walked to her side and nudged her arm.
"Need a hand?"
Buffy shook her head and grinned widely. "Nope. I got this one."
"S'what I like to hear."
Spike brushed his lips against the slayer's warm cheek before stepping back as she got into fighting stance. The vampire charged her once again but didn't even come close to touching her. She was a blur of punches and kicks that threw the vampire from one headstone to the next. Finally, when Buffy felt like she, and the vamp, had had enough, and that she had relieved at least some of the tension, she pulled a stake out and dusted the vampire. He turned to ash with a tired and defeated look on his face as he blew away in the wind.
Buffy smiled, proud of herself as she turned to Spike. "Didn't lose my touch."
"Not a bit."
"Yay on me then," Buffy said with almost childish enthusiasm as she bounced over to Spike and pulled on the napes of his duster. "Oh my God, that was so exciting!"
"I'm glad for you, really I am but do you think we could get on with it?"
"What? The patrolling?"
"I was talking more the kissing, love, but I suppose that can wait."
"Damn." She sighed. "All right then."
They continued to walk on through an unusually calm cemetery, fighting only two fledgling vampires after the first and they had been out for at least three hours. For a while Buffy was worried that this was a really bad sign, that maybe something much worse than a vampire was about to rise as it often did in Sunnydale. She decided, however, to just relax and think that maybe she was finally having a bit of good luck.
Just as she was about to suggest turning back and heading home, she saw a dark figure in the distance. She squinted in an attempt to make out what it was standing so serenely by a grave, staring down at it, the thing's bowler hat hiding his eyes.
Wait... bowler hat?
Buffy stopped suddenly, Spike also halting beside her. "Spike?"
"Yeah?"
She pointed at the shadowy figure. "Is that Sid?"
Spike looked ahead and noticed what Buffy was pointing for the first time. He took a few steps forward and cocked his head. "Yeah, I think so. Wonder what he's doing here. Isn't he supposed to leave tomorrow?"
Buffy nodded, wondering in her mind what Sid was doing standing over a grave at one o'clock in the morning. Was he waiting for a new vampire to rise? No, that wasn't something so huge that he would feel the need to be out there. Besides, he knew that she and Spike would be patrolling, and it's not like they couldn't handle one vampire. There had to something else. Maybe a demon rising from the grave? No, that also didn't seem to likely, Sid would have told them about it first. Buffy almost gave up on the cause when out of the back of her mind she remembered who had been buried in this graveyard over seven years ago. She felt a pang of sadness and sympathy for what must have been a loss for Sid, at least somewhat.
Buffy stepped forward and rested her hand lightly on Spike's elbow. She moved her fingers across the leather a few times before speaking.
"You know, there isn't really much going on Why don't you just go home, I need to talk to Sid for a minute."
Spike shrugged his shoulders. "That's fine. Do you mind if I wait for you or is this gonna take a while?"
"No, it should only take a minute. I'll be right back."
Buffy gave Spike's hand a gentle squeeze before walking away toward Sid. She felt a little nervous though she wasn't really sure why, maybe it was because death was always such an awkward subject. Though she shouldn't have been, she was still surprised to see Sid at the graveyard, standing over that particular grave, hanging his head so low.
"Sid?" She asked quietly. He didn't start, she knew he had heard her coming by the crunching of twigs and leaves and grass under her comfortable yet stylish boots.
"Hey, kid," he replied softly as he adjusted his hat uncomfortably.
Buffy walked closer until she was standing by his side. She looked down at the grave Sid had been staring at so somberly:
MORGAN AUGUST SHAY
1981-1997
BELOVED SON AND BROTHER, HE FOUGHT UNTIL THE END AND HIS LIGHT IN THE WOLRD WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.
Buffy wrapped her fingers daintily around Sid's upper arm. "I'm sorry."
"They have no idea," he began, his voice trembling slightly, "they have no idea just how hard he fought. He went above and beyond anything I ever asked him to do. He was such a good kid, they have no idea."
"I do. I know what he did for you. He was very brave."
"He didn't ask for it. Any of it. The cancer, the demons, he just wanted to have fun, to live. I'm sorry I put him in the danger that I did."
"Don't. This isn't your fault."
"He did everything I asked and I was... am, so grateful to him. I just hope he knows."
Buffy's hand slid down Sid's arm until her fingers were locked with his. "I'm sure he does. I think he's probably glad that you came."
Sid nodded wordlessly.
"You're going back to New York tomorrow?" Buffy asked, knowing that he knew that the question was rhetorical.
"Yeah, bright and early."
Buffy smiled. "I still can't even thank you enough for what you did for me."
"You don't have to."
"I know, but I still wanted to let you know... for the thousandth time."
Sid choked a quiet laugh. "I get it, though, believe me. Oh! And uh... before I forget," Sid dug deep into the pockets of his pleated suit pants, and he pulled a purple card envelope.
"It's for Dawn, for her graduation tomorrow," he explained. "I was gonna stop by and give it to her, but since you're here already... you know."
Buffy smiled. "That's so sweet of you."
"Yeah well..." Sid blushed and shuffled his feet. "Anyway, I better be off, still have a bit of packing to do and what not."
"Right, wouldn't want to forget the what not," Buffy mocked his discomfort.
"Yeah. So, if you ever, you know, need anything, help or whatever, just gimme a call, okay?"
"Of course, same here."
"Right."
"Good."
There was a moment of awkward silence before Buffy stepped forward and put her arms around Sid. She held onto him, letting him know through this simple action that he was very, very important to her, and that what he did and who he was would never be forgotten. She felt tears welling, her gratitude almost boiling over the brim of her eyelids. She held on a bit tighter for just another moment before she realized that she had to let go. She had to get home.
"Goodbye, Sid."
"Bye, Buffy."
She turned around without looking back and went to her lover who was looking at her curiously. He cocked his head slightly to the left the way he always did when something didn't quite make sense to him.
"You all right, Slayer?"
Buffy, without stopping her motion, took his hand and pulled him along for a few paces until his steps were in sync with hers.
"Yeah, I am. Let's just go home."
~*~
Dawn hated this. It was just plain... irritating. She fussed in front of the mirror over her hair for at least fifteen minutes already and still she couldn't decide just what to with it. This was a big day, the big day, and everything had to look just perfect or the whole thing would be wrong! She needed help. She needed guidance.
She needed Buffy. But Buffy, unfortunately, was still sleeping and probably would be for at least another hour. Dawn played with the thought of waking her; and she really wanted to.
"What the hell," she said aloud to no one in particular. How much sleep does she really need, anyway?
Dawn secured the fluffy, damp maroon towel around herself as she padded softly across the hall and to the door of her big sister's room. She considered just walking in but hello? She didn't want to be rude or anything. It was six thirty in the morning for God's sake.
So she rapped her knuckled lightly against the wood instead.
Buffy, half asleep, heard the gentle knocking. Normally she would have been, well, not angry... annoyed. But it was Dawn's day, she had to be little understanding of her anxiety and excitement. Before Buffy invited her sister in, because she knew that this early, Dawn would at least be a little patient, she opened her eyes all the way and stared for a long moment at Spike. She bathed in the feeling of being in his arms and loved the peace that this gave her. She passed her fingertips lightly over his chest and kissed his arm before rolling over.
"Come in," she instructed her sister in a loud whisper. She didn't want to wake Spike, and she was simply terrified of waking Kat who was a light sleeper. She succeeded in one of her goals as Dawn opened the door and stepped inside; Kat was still sleeping soundly. Spike, on the other hand, stirred restlessly, opened his eyes and sat up. He had a confused look on his faced which Dawn studied for a fraction of a second before confessing her hair troubles to Buffy.
"Up or down?"
Buffy was now confused as well. "What?"
Just as Dawn was about to continue when she was so rudely interrupted by Spike. "What are you, naked?"
The Slayer rolled her eyes. "Uh, no. Look! Towel. Duh!" She explained simply.
"You could at least be decent when you barge into out room before bloody sunrise, Bit."
"Oh chill out, will you? Anyway... should I wear my hair up or down?"
Buffy considered this for a moment. "What are you wearing?"
"The dark purple dress. The one that has the slanted cut at the bottom with the spaghetti straps. I was thinking a down-do."
"I can't believe this," Spike muttered as he rolled over and went back to sleep.
Buffy continued with the conversation as though he hadn't said a word. "I don't think so. I'd go up with the spaghetti straps; show off your collar bone and your... uh... assets."
Dawn smiled and stifled a laugh. "Okay, up it is then."
After Dawn pulled her hair into an elegant French twist, she went on with the rest of the morning's preparations. It was seven-fifteen by the time she had gotten every individual strand exactly where she wanted it, so she was actually ten minutes ahead of schedule. When she walked out of the bathroom, towel still secured around her long, slender body, she saw that Willow was already up and about.
"Oh sorry," Dawn apologized, "did I wake you?"
"No," Willow flushed a light pink, "I'm just excited."
That was when the witch came forward and wrapped her arms tightly around Dawn. They stood there for a few moments like that, and Dawn realized how happy she was to have someone like Willow in her life. Willow deserved this moment, after all, Dawn was ahead of schedule.
When Willow finally released the soon-to-be-graduate, tears were filling her eyes. "Oh! I was gonna save this speech until later but I just have to tell you now. I am so proud of you, of the woman you've become. And I know how much you're gonna hear this today but yeah, I am. Proud, I mean. I just... after everything... all the crap you had to put up with during my less happy moments... you're still here and so am I, and I adore you and... I'm gonna stop before I cry so get ready already will ya?"
Dawn nodded, her own eyes prickling with tears only threatening to form. "Will do."
Dawn walked into her room and shut the door quietly behind her. She shook the towel off and let it fall lazily to the floor. She put on all necessary undergarments before opening her closet door and taking out her dress. She slipped it on carefully, making sure not to touch even a single strand of hair. Once it was on, she stood in the mirror for at least ten minutes, checking every angle and curve of her body to make sure the dress looked perfect. She didn't know why she was being so uptight, she hadn't even spent this much time getting ready before prom. She may have had her hair professionally done and ended up looking "phenomenal" to quote her ever-doting boyfriend, but that was beside the point. It was her last High School function ever, and she wanted it to be just perfect.
By the time she was done with everything, hair, dress, makeup, even the final touches, Dawn still had almost two hours until they would be leaving. Oh well, she'd just wash the make up off, redo it later, and watch TV in the meantime. Her hair seemed safe enough that way.
But of course, Dawn got downstairs and saw that someone else had already nabbed the TV. Damn. And this someone was watching... ew... the Soap network. Go figure.
"Hey Spike."
He nodded absently. "Hey."
"Why are you up? Don't men take like two seconds to get ready?"
Spike shrugged in such a way that Dawn could tell he was about to say something sarcastic. "Oh, I don't know. Someone came waltzing into my room at six-thirty in the morning bitching about her bleeding hair. But that couldn't be why I'm up now could it?"
Dawn sighed. "You are so daddish it is frightening."
Spike smirked his signature little smile that used to make Dawn melt inside. But that was back in the land of ickdom, and now that little smirk just made her want to elbow him really hard. Instead of getting violent, however, the Slayer simply shrugged and plopped down on the couch beside Spike.
"Your hair looks nice, by the way. Very flattering."
Dawn smiled. "Thanks."
Spike took her hand and gave it a little squeeze. "I'm very proud of you," he told her as he turned his head in her direction and looked directly at her. Sometimes she felt like he was looking right through her, or maybe he was just looking into her.
"Wow, so many nice things all in a row. How's your ego handling all of this."
"Oh come off it, I mean it. I am proud of you. You've done wonderful things with your life and there can only be more to come. I know that this a day that people are supposed to tell you this but, I hope that I've told you more. And I'll tell you always."
Dawn looked with pure adoration at a man she had once feared and now loved as if he were her blood. "Thanks big brother."
Spike didn't have to give a second thought to the title as he leaned in and pressed a kiss against Dawn's forehead. Knowing how she would react, he was careful not to touch her hair. Dawn tried to pretend that it made her uncomfortable or annoyed, the way it did when anyone tried to kiss her when she was little. It was one of those moments that Dawn reverted to her more bratty self just for the sake of it.
This time she smirked and he rolled his eyes. It was just one of their funky quirky ways of showing how much the loved each other. It was one of those things that no one could understand but them. And that was okay because sometimes it is little things like that that can keep a person sane.
Dawn stood from the couch and rubs her eyes. As excited as she was, it didn't cure any of the weariness of having a few stressful weeks behind her and many stressful months ahead.
"I better get ready and leave you to your drama," she told him as she stretched the muscles in her back.
Spike nodded. "Do what you must."
"Always."
~*~
Buffy loved the feeling of fitting into a dress from a year ago. It was almost euphoric. As much as she enjoyed being pregnant and having the wonderful feeling of being full of another life, she was more than happy to be thin again. It just made life easier because there was nothing more complicated than maternity clothes. Buffy smiled at her own ridiculousness as she pulled the lavender knee-length dress over her head. It fell around her body, showing off her new more motherly curves; and though she thought she would despise them, she found them quite attractive.
"Thanks, baby," Buffy told her tiny daughter who was squirming restlessly in the middle of her bed. She was kicking her legs and staring at something she probably couldn't even see on the ceiling.
"You talking to me?" Spike called from the bathroom where he was spending forever on God knows what.
"No."
"Bloody awful weather we're having, innit?" He asked her. But Buffy knew better. She didn't even have to answer because she knew that he didn't mean it. Not even a little. He was actually thrilled by the pouring rain which was beating audibly on the roof. Graduation was originally supposed to be an outdoor event like Buffy's had been. Twelve in the afternoon was one of Spike's more inflammable times of day so he wouldn't be able to attend. Both he and Dawn were crushed by this until about a week ago plans changed. The weather forecast for the next five to seven days was pouring, almost torrential rain which meant that the school would be doing the graduation in the gym. Dawn and Spike were both as giddy as school girls when they heard the news but Dawn took on most of the giddiness while Spike just acted really happy.
Buffy put on her earrings and gave a final touch to her lipstick. She looked herself over in the mirror. Everything looked like it was pretty much in order and she nodded at her reflection satisfactorily. When she turned around to go pick up Kat she let out a startled gasp. Spike was standing maybe three feet behind her but of course she didn't see him in the mirror. She wanted to kick herself for not picking up on his presence. Usually she could tell he was near before he was even within a hundred feet of her. She had to hand it to him, he was crafty.
"Funny," Buffy told him flatly, crossing her arms.
"Every time."
"Yeah. Every one time that you've actually gotten me."
Spike just stared at her and smiled. His eyes were shining at her, beaming his love for her that always made Buffy weak in the knees. But she wanted to be annoyed with him, she needed to find something to be irritated about.
"What took you so long in the bathroom? I mean, it's not like you need the mirror or anything."
"It's where the bloody product is, love."
Buffy burst into a fit of laughter. "Product?" She asked incredulously. "Oh man, I have got to stop watching 'Queer Eye' when you're around."
"Bloody right you do. Show's right obnoxious."
"Yeah, yeah, you could leave the room you know."
"And miss a precious moment with you?" Spike asked as he walked to the bed and scooped his daughter up into his arms. "Never."
Buffy watched as Spike nuzzled his nose into their daughter's tender belly. She let out a soft cooing noise that almost made her sound like a bird. But the way Spike was holding her lovingly to his chest made her seem like a baby doll. She was so still with him, so at ease. Buffy loved this. It was one of the only things in her life where she wouldn't change a thing. It was a father completely and wholly devoted to his daughter. It was perfection.
Buffy stepped forward and placed her fingertips on Spike's elbows and rubbed her thumbs over the material of his shirt. It was then that she really noticed what he was wearing: Black dress shirt, black pleated pants, black shoes, and a black tie to top off the whole ensemble. Buffy choked a laugh.
"What?"
"Typical," she said, "so typical."
"What is?"
"You. All black. I should have known."
"It's not all black!"
"Oh no?"
"No! The tie's charcoal."
Buffy laughed and Spike smiled at the sound. It with the beating of his baby's heart was a symphony of heavenly sound. He captured Buffy's mouth with his own and Kat babbled softly between them. When their kiss ended, and their lips came apart, Buffy rested her forehead on Spike's chin gently and laid a hand over her daughter's soft baby hair.
"Black, tie dye, hell... even plaid, it's all good to me as long as you promise me one thing."
"Anything, love."
"Promise me you'll always kiss me the way you just did right now."
"Forever. You could never give me a good enough reason not to kiss you like that."
Buffy smiled. "Perfection."
~*~
Dawn's head was spinning with excitement. It was over, that part of her life was done now and she was about to embark on greater things like college and a real life. But she didn't need to think or worry about that now. She wanted to live in this moment of frenzy and family and love. She rarely experienced moments so full of love.
Everyone was at her house which Dawn liked. She was glad that she could walk around in her bare feet and take down her hair. She was amongst friends and family who just didn't give a damn. Everything was just as it always should be in her life. This is how Dawn always imagined everything would turn out but of course it didn't. it couldn't. But she had to be thankful for the little blessings, the subtle things.
Like at least there wasn't a giant graduate-eating mayor-snake at her graduation ceremony.
And Dawn was still giggling to herself from when Xander mentioned this to her a few minutes before. He had been carrying his son to Anya when Dawn nabbed him, eager to hold the baby. Of course he didn't object to this, he loved seeing the people he loved loving his son. It was simply a special thing to have so much love in your life.
They got into a whole conversation about how much smoother Dawn's graduation ceremony was than Xander's. Though it was a rather serious subject, Xander had a way of saying it that made it all seem like a big joke. It was the calm look in his eyes and the quirky smile playing at the corner of his lips just made every topic sort of frivolous. Even death and mass destruction.
Dawn, who had just handed a fussing Nicky back to his father was so completely wrapped up in her thoughts that she was startled when Janice put her arms around her best friend. Dawn immediately hugged back and the girls both giggled excitedly.
"This is unreal!" Janice squealed. "I mean, we're college girls. I am and you're almost legal. So totally unreal."
"I know. I can even... it's so like..."
"Yeah, I totally know," Janice agreed before Dawn could even finish her thought. She had no doubt, however, that Janice did know exactly what she meant.
"Where are your parents?"
Janice snorted. "Talking to Xander just before you. They want to get their bedroom redone or expanded or something so rather than pay money for a consultation..."
"Gotcha."
"Oh! Dave's looking for you, I almost forgot to tell you."
"Okay. Where is he?"
"By the stairs last I saw him which was all of like two minutes ago. It should be in that general vicinity."
"Cool. Okay well, I'll hunt him down. It'll be exciting." Dawn wrapped her arms around Janice. "Just want to let you know that I adore you before I go."
"Yeah, and see me again in two seconds. I love you, too, now find your poor beau."
"Will do, will do. Don't rush me!" At this point, Dawn and Janice burst into a fit of ridiculous and overexcited giggles.
Buffy watched out of the corner of her eyes as Dawn walked to David and embraced her boyfriend tenderly. There were few things in this world, or in other worlds for that matter, that made her as happy as seeing Dawn be very happy. She remembered fondly what it was like to have a first love. The newness of it even after years had passed. And though it didn't last for her, she wouldn't be surprised if Dawn's first love would turn out to be her only love. She couldn't imagine seeing her sister with anyone else. And it didn't hurt that Buffy adored David.
Dawn could feel Buffy's eyes on her. It was brief moment, a matter of seconds if that, but she could always tell when Buffy was staring at her pensively. She considered staring back, staring her down just to be obnoxious and decided against it. She was too old to play those sorts of games so often. She just needed to take the moment to enjoy being the arms of David. His heart was beating in sync with hers against her chest and she felt his breath on her neck as he kissed its nape.
The younger slayer was disrupted buy a light tapping her shoulder. She let go of David and entwined her fingers with his as she turned to see Giles standing behind her. He had a, not quite sad, more nostalgic grin spread across his features. Dawn tilted her head slightly at him, letting him know that she was ready to listen to whatever he had to say.
"Sorry to interrupt but, I needed to talk to you whenever I could get the chance. Seeing as how you've been bombarded by everyone since we all got back to the house I-"
"Giles!" Dawn interrupted his rambling. "It's fine."
"Right. Good, then. I just, I wanted to of course tell you how happy I was to see you walk across that stage, an honor student no less. And I wanted to give you this," he told her as he handed her a plain white envelope. Dawn took it from him an slowly examined the contents. She nearly fainted.
"Oh my God," she breathed, "a trip for two to England? Giles, this is too much."
"Hardly. After everything you've been through in the past few years I'd say it's barely enough. I just..." Giles paused as he took of his glasses to wipe them, "I wanted to give you something that well... I knew you really wanted. I remember how you said you've never been anywhere, never seen the world. And though England is hardly the world, I thought it'd be a good start. It's just... this is my way of saying how happy I am and how proud I am of you."
Dawn could see that tears were beginning to form in her watcher's eyes as he brought a gentle hand to her cheek. "No father could be prouder."
Dawns own tears were coming to her eyes as she placed her hand over Giles's. She lowered her voice as she advised him, "don't tell my father that."
Giles chuckled softly and kissed her forehead warmly. "Mum's the word. Now, you get back to your... partying and what have you. I'll mingle."
Dawn nodded and watched as Giles walked away to do his "mingling." When he was out of sight, she spun around to face Dave, her cheeks flushed with excitement.
"Oh my God this is unreal!"
Dave smirked at her. "So uh... got any idea who you're gonna be taking to England with you?"
Dawn gave her boyfriend a playful little shove. "As if you even have to ask."
"Well, I though I'd be polite."
Dawn laughed and pressed her lips and his. Dave pulled away moments later only to tell her, "I have to go to the bathroom."
Dawn put her hands up mock-defensively. "Don't let me stop you."
Once Dave was up the stairs, Dawn headed absently into the living room and walked head on into Spike. He nearly dropped his empty wine glass but didn't because of his super vampire reflexes.
"Lucky for those," Dawn mumbled to herself.
"What?"
"Oh, nothing. Sorry, I'm just... Giles gave me a trip to England for graduation. I'm... I can't even-"
"That's lovely, pet."
"Yeah, wow. This whole day is... near perfect. The only thing I would change is... God, I realize how this sounds typical as all hell but, I wish my mom could have been here for this."
Spike could say nothing but, "me too."
"What, you're not gonna tell me something corny like 'she was here, really'."
"Nope."
"Oh?"
"It doesn't help. I know that. It doesn't change the fact that she isn't here, not really."
"Thank you. I'm glad that I can always count on you for honesty."
"It's easier than making up stories. One thing I've learned over my numerous years."
"It's important. One good quality I can take from you."
"Only one, then?"
"Well, yeah, I mean look at your taste in television."
Dawn got a playful poke in the ribs for that one. She recoiled spastically and laughed. After all five seconds of being annoyed with him, she slipped her arms around his torso and held on to him tightly. He embraced her warmly and kissed her hair which was now beyond repair but still stiff from the eighteen bleeding bottles of spray that she used. But Spike didn't mind, he chose to never again mind these little annoyance after the close call from a few weeks back.
"Hey Dawn?"
"Yeah?"
"I love you."
"Love you, too."
"And..."
"Yes?"
"I don't blame you for the taste in television."
Just over an hour later Dawn had had nearly all that she could handle. But this was nothing that couldn't be solved by a few minutes alone at the top of the stairs. The aloneness didn't last long, however, because Buffy came walking out of her room with Kat secure in her arms.
"Oh," Dawn said in slight surprise. "I didn't realize that you were up here."
"Yeah, I was checking on Kat, see if she was awake and what do you know?"
"I see. Was she crying."
Buffy shook her head as she took a seat next to her little sister. "Nope, just cooing and gurgling and kicking her adorable little baby feet."
"They are pretty cute," Dawn agreed, "can I hold her?"
Buffy nodded and handed the baby to her beaming aunt. "Always."
"Yay. It's so much fun having a baby in the house. Good job."
The older slayer rolled her eyes. "Yeah thanks."
Dawn choked a laugh. "Hey, did Giles tell you what he got me for graduation?"
"Yeah. He checked it out with me before he did any purchasing or what have you. He wanted to make sure it was okay with me and whatever. He especially wanted to make sure it was okay since he figured you'd want to take Dave. He wanted to make sure that I deemed this" here Buffy inserted sarcastic air quotes "'appropriate.' I told him of course and that I trust you and your decisions. Though, I may not always show it."
"I think you do... mostly," Dawn added the last part quietly. Buffy just smiled. Dawn stared down at all of her "extended" family and thought of how blessed she was to be surrounded by so many people who love her and who she loved. She felt a sense a euphoria overcome her and she pulled her niece closer to her chest.
"You know, it's so rare."
"Hmm? What is?"
"This feeling. This feeling of everything being right with the world."
Buffy put her arms around her little sister, who wasn't so little anymore and sighed. She kissed Dawn's forehead and pulled her in tightly against her body. She felt it too. She felt that wonderful elated high of endorphins pumping through her body. She looked from her sister's face to her daughter's and for a moment felt the extreme and powerful presence of her mother.
"Enjoy it, Dawnie," Buffy instructed her sister with the hint of a laugh. "It's like heaven on earth. And I would know."
~*~
END
~*~