Chapter 11: Driven 'Round the Bend - Literally
Within seconds of walking out the front door, Dawn quickened pace. Noticing her sister's pace, Buffy also sped up and within half-a-stride she was right next to Dawn."Hey!" Dawn complained, breaking into a light jog. Buffy sighed and took a couple large steps to catch back up to her sister. Then, just as Buffy caught up, Dawn broke out into a full out sprint. But Buffy, knowing what her little sister was up to, broke into a fast paced sprint in order to get ahead of her. Dawn, noticed Buffy was gaining on her and sped up as well. Just as Dawn thought she was in the clear, Buffy yelled out, "I call shotgun!". At the moment of hearing that, Dawn stopped running and slowly continued walking towards the jeep, defeated. Once she announced her point, Buffy also stopped running and fell back into step with Spike. During the race, Spike had done all he could to keep from laughing at the situation, but no sooner he got over to the jeep and saw the fierce look on Dawn's face, he couldn't hold it any longer. Dawn glared at him, but he was too busy laughing at the ridiculous scene he just witnessed to notice."Do you two realize how bloody ridiculous you looked, not just one minute ago?" He managed to say to his girls through his laughter. That was the strangest, most ridiculous, yet oddly hilarious thing I've witnessed between you two, ever! All o'er the bloody front seat!"One look at Spike, struggling with laughter and trying to unlock the jeep door was more than enough to set Buffy off into a fit of giggles as well. Soon, Dawn joined in, unable to stay mad, just happy to see Buffy and Spike so cheerful.
Buffy was the first to regain composure and took the keys from Spike and unlocked the doors by the simple press of a button on the key chain. "We should get going if we're ever gonna make it to any of the good shops before they close." she told Spike, then hurried around to the passenger side to climb in before Dawn tried to steal her spot.
All was quiet in the Jeep for the first few minutes of the trio's excursion, while they enjoyed the scenery and the weather of the warm spring day. Spike had rolled all the windows down and was enjoying not only the sunlight that was bathing him, but also the company of his two girls. So far his day was going pretty well, for now at least anyway.
Buffy sighed loudly and mumbled under her breath, "Guess things change….a lot." She wondered if there had been any past slayers to ever have any children. "Probably not, seeing as I'm one of the few to actually live past their 18th birthday in the first place. But, even if there was even a remote possibility that I could eventually have children, I doubt if I would ever have a husband to have them with anyway. Angel said he couldn't have any, and seeing as all the times that Spike and I've been together and I still haven't gotten pregnant from him, I guess that means that it's not just him, but his entire kind. Not that I'd ever even think of being with another Vampire anyway. Maybe I'll figure out a way to ask Giles about it after we get to England." Buffy sighed again, a bit louder this time. Spike picked up on her far-off look and decided to ask her about it.
"Penny for your thoughts, luv." he told her, placing his hand on her knee."Huh? Oh! Sorry, I was just kinda day dreaming." she told him."That sigh didn't sound like an ordinary day-dream to me.""Well…I was thinking about Angel actually." she told him, while placing her hand over his and turning in her seat to face him."Oh." he replied dejectedly then went to remove his hand from her knee."No, Spike. Not like that." she tried explaining and took his hand in hers."How then? Please tell me. I'd like to know why my girlfriend is day-dreaming about her ex, my grandsire, while driving with me." he ranted towards her, practically yelling."Spike, please…calm down." She told him, squeezing his hand. "Look outside. Do you see all those kids out there, playing in the warm day?" At his nod she continued. "I was thinking about a conversation I had with him a few years ago, before you were part of the permanent picture. I had to do this faux parenting thing for school with an egg, which turned out badly, but whole long other story. Anyway, we got to talking about kids and stuff and then how Vampires couldn't have any. After that he was asking about what I saw in the future, and at the time all I could even think about was him. All I saw was him, and that's all I wanted as well. But then, a year or two later is when Willow cast that "thy will be done" spell and we got engaged and everything. That's when I realized that I truly cared for you, I just didn't realize exactly how much yet. I was just now thinking about how much things can change in just a relatively short period of time.""Oh. I'm sorry then. I didn't mean to yell, it's just…he really gets on my bloody nerves. He always got his way and the girl. Nothing and no one else mattered to him back when our clan was together." he told her, focusing on the road once again."I understand, and actually, I can't really blame you for jumping to conclusions. I would have done the same if you told me you were day-dreaming about Dru. But you have to realize Angel is in my past now. He is no more than a friend to me anymore, you are the only man…err…Vampire…err…whatever you are now, in my life.""Our life." Dawn corrected from the back seat. "You know, I never really did like Angel much. He never treated you fairly, Buffy, like you were his girlfriend. He treated you like an inferior mostly, as well as the rest of the Scooby Gang. No one else really liked him either for that same reason. But Spike, he treats most people with the respect that they deserve. Even if he does sometimes tend to be a master of the tactless. I tried to tell you that from the beginning, but only towards the end of last year did you finally get up enough nerve to do anything about your feelings. Then you had to go and do a bloody stupid thing, like break up with him when Captain Cardboard came back. And with a wife no less!!" (She added the last part bitterly.)"Way to go bit!" Spike cheered her on."Don't encourage her, Spike. You've got her talking like you now!""What's the big deal about that?" Dawn whined.
"Big sis is right, Nibblet. I'm sorry, I do have to agree on some level. You shouldn't cuss at least.""What did I say that was a cuss? And what is a 'cuss'anyway?"
"It's a swear, Dawn." Buffy told her. "And you said Bloody."
"Oh. Oops, sorry. I'll try not to do it again."
" 'Captain Cardboard' does have a name guys, and besides he wasn't like cardboard." Buffy tried to defend Riley.
"Sure….if you say so." Spike and Dawn replied at the same time, causing everyone to laugh.
"This is going to be a looooong day." Buffy thought out loud.
"You don't even realize yet just how right you are." Spike muttered under his breath, then went back to concentrating on the road, while Buffy went back to staring out her window and Dawn decided to start rummaging through her mini backpack that she had brought with her. After a minute or two of searching, Dawn was beginning to become frustrated.
"I swore I put it in here. It's got to be in here somewhere, it just has to." Dawn mumbled to herself as she dug through her bag.
"What's that Nibblet? What are you looking for?" Spike asked overhearing her and glancing in the mirror at her.
"Huh? What'd you say Spike?" Dawn asked him, being preoccupied with the contents of the bag in her lap."I asked what you were looking for. You seem to be very intent on finding whatever that blasted thing is."
"Oh, yeah, sorry. I'm looking for a CD I had." she told him, not taking her eyes off of her bag. "I swore I put it in here before we left the house.""I wouldn't worry about it to much Dawn. We probably won't listen to it anyway. Knowing you it's probably some boy-band or something. I know I sure don't want to hear that junk," Buffy told her sister, "and I'm pretty sure Spike hates that music too. Right Spike?!"" 'Hate' is such a strong word, Slayer." he replied mischievously.
"Please don't tell me you actually like that stuff! I thought you were completely dead-set against all of it.""I am….mostly. There are a couple songs I do like, maybe more."
"You've got to be kidding me! What happened to the whole 'Grr…I'm the Big-Bad' routine?""First of all, It wasn't a routine. And second, I still am the Big Bad.""Big Bad what, Spike? You're dating you're once mortal enemy, you have a soul, and a makeshift family. So what exactly are you 'The Big-Bad' of now?, family man?" Dawn asked sarcastically, while continuing to search for her CD.
Spike thought about that for a minute and took in everything that happened in the past day and a half. "Actually Nibblet, that's exactly what I am now!" He replied with his trademark cocky smile and tone. "I'm the Big Bad family man and bloody proud of it too!"Buffy gasped in awe as Dawn, completely thrown by what he just said, actually stopped searching in order to stare at him and make sure he was for real."Do you seriously mean that Spike? You consider us as your family?" Dawn asked hopefully." Course I do sweet bit. I promised years ago to protect you ' 'till the end of the world' and I intend to stick to it! That promise wasn't just to Buffy either, I made it to myself as well. I intend to protect both of you. You are my family and I'll do everything I can to see that you're protected. I love you.""We love you too, Spike." Dawn told him, then leaned forward to give him a hug and a kiss on the cheek, which caused his cheeks to pinken just a bit."Aww Spike, you're blushing! That's so cute!" Buffy told him.
"Shut it Slayer." He grumbled in response."But it's sooo cute…" Buffy sing-songed at him.
"How 'bout that CD Nibblet?" Spike asked, desperate to change the subject off his face.
"Still looking Spike.""Well how 'bout we turn on the radio then? Just till you find that blasted CD you are looking for.""Why do we have to listen to it at all, we're almost to the mall anyway. By the time she finds it, we'll be pulling into a parking spot.""It's only fair Buffy! You stole the front, so I get to choose the music. Besides, we have the entire ride home to listen to it, when I find it.""Ugh. Fine." Buffy replied rolling her eyes. "Can I at least choose the radio station we listen to 'till we get to the mall?"
"Nope." Spike replied. "I'm gonna choose it, you can choose what we listen too after your sister gets her turn.""No fair ganging up on me you two." Buffy complained. "Well, at least we only have a couple more minutes 'till we get to the mall anyway."
That's what you think Spike thought to himself as he turned on the radio. To his surprise one of his favorite songs had just started, so he decided to sing along.
I see trees of green, red roses too.
I see them bloom for me and you,
And I say to myself, what a wonderful world
I see skies of blue and clouds of white.
Bright sunny days, dark sacred nights,
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world.
The colors of the rainbow, all so pretty in the skies
Are also on the faces of people walkin' by,
I see friends shaking hands, sayin', "How do you do?"
They're really sayin', "I love you."
I see babies cry, Oh I watch them grow,
They'll learn much more, than I'll never know.
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world.
Yes, I think to myself, what a wonderful world.
And I say to myself, .... what a wonderful world.
Throughout the entire song Buffy and Dawn had constantly, yet quietly, snickered, asked each other what had gotten into Spike, and shot him strange and confused looks. Once the song ended and Spike had stopped singing, however, the girls could keep quiet no longer and finally erupted into laughter.
"Oi! Shut it you two! What was so bleedin' funny about that song?"
Taking and deep breath trying to calm herself, Buffy spoke up. "Well…for one, whoever that just was on the radio, totally turned a mellow and soothing song into a major punk rock song."
"Hey! Don't poke fun at Joey. He's a bloody terrific artist I'll have you know."
"Joey?!" the sisters asked in unison.
"Joey Ramone…" Spike offered, but only received blank stares, rather than recognition. "Ya know…lead of one of the most famous British punk groups, The Ramones." Still, he received confused looks, only this time accompanied by shoulder shrugs. So, he did the last possible thing he could think of in order to make them understand…he sang. "Ba-ba-baba, baba-ba-baba, I wanna be sedated."
"Oh!! Ok!!" Buffy and Dawn agreed in unison, yet again.
"Twits" Spike sighed and mumbled under his breath.
"I heard that William!!" Buffy scolded slapping him on the arm.
"Ow!" Spike whined, while rubbing his arm.
"God, you are such a baby. I barely hit you."
"Still hurt." he pouted.
"Oh! Give me a break." Buffy said, while rolling her eyes at him.
"I know a way to make it feel better…" Spike told her with a playful tone to his voice.
Buffy immediately flushed, her mind going quickly to the gutter, but decided to play along to see just what he was up to. After all, Dawn was still in the truck with them. "Oh really? And what, pray tell, would that be?" she asked, then added sarcastically, "Kiss it and make it better?"
"Actually, luv, that's exactly what I was thinking!"
Buffy groaned and rolled her eyes, but reluctantly gave in. So, she kissed her fingertips and then placed them on his arm where she had hit him. "There," she grumbled, "feel better now?"
"Nope, sorry pet." he pouted, "Guess you'll have to do it the old fashioned way."
"Ugh, fine!" Buffy grumbled at him again, then leaned over and kissed his arm. "Better now?"
"Yes luv, much. But…the pain has seemed to migrate."
"Spike…" Buffy warned. But he just pouted in response. She sighed again, but still gave in. "Ok…so where'd it migrate to?" she asked, suddenly very aware of their close proximity.
"Just here." Spike told her, taking her fingers and placing them on his lips and kissing them.
Buffy's breath caught in her throat then and she could only close her eyes and smile broadly in response. After a few seconds, Spike released her hand, to which she practically whimpered at the loss of contact with him. Slowly she opened her eyes though, and was met with his cloudy sapphire ones and she couldn't help but smile at him as their hands intertwined around each other.
Desperate to change the atmosphere before she did something drastic, Buffy started fiddling with the radio in order to find an upbeat, non love song. Eventually, after a few very agonising minutes, Buffy found a station, and surprisingly both other occupants of the truck had no discrepancies with it either. But then again, Dawn was preoccupied with attempting to find her CD, and Spike would go along with whatever she decided at the moment, already knowing how heavy the atmosphere was right then. But then, just as the song had begun it's first chorus, that's when Dawn shrieked from the back seat, startling both Buffy as well as Spike, causing him to swerve onto the shoulder of the road and back again.
"Geeze Spike. Drive much?!" Dawn asked sarcastically, while holding her cherished CD high in the air as though it were a trophy.
"I drive quite often, as you bloody well know Nibblet. It's just lil' girls like you shrieking in the back while I'm doing it that I'm having a problem with at the moment." Spike practically growled back. To which Dawn just lowered her head and quietly apologized. "Yeah, yeah…now what was so bleedin' terrific that you had to go shrieking about and nearly cause me to get into an accident?" "And please don't tell me that it was all over that blasted CD you've been looking for since you got in."
"Ok…I won't." She replied with just a hint of sarcasm.
"I don't see how it matters, the mall exit is only a few miles ahead anyhow." Buffy told her. "It's not like we'll listen to it anyhow."
"Aww...c'mon Buffy," Dawn whined at her, "Please?!?! Just at least look at the list of songs that are on it." She then handed her the CD with it's case.
"Fine, but no promises we'll listen." She told her sister, taking the item from her hand.
As Dawn was sitting back in her seat and Buffy was turning back around in hers, she noticed Spike had missed the exit for the mall. Tapping him gently on the shoulder to get his attention, she quietly asked, "Uh…Spike?"
"Yeah lil' bit? What is it?" he asked, glancing in the rear view mirror at her.
"Well…" Dawn stared, unsure if he was still angry with her for shrieking a few minutes previous.
"Spit it out Nibblet, I'm not mad at you anymore and I promise I'll try to to curse at you for the rest of this trip."
"Ok, fine." she sighed, then continued. "I think…no, wait…I'm pretty sure that you missed our exit to get to the mall." She then looked towards her sister for conformation, which she received with a slight nod. "Actually Spike, I take that back; I'm positive that you've definitely passed it."
"Mm-hmm…and your point being…?"
"Honey, don't you think that you ought to find a place to turn around or at least take the next exit coming up?" Buffy asked him sweetly, giving the hand that was still intertwined with hers a slight squeeze.
"Nope."
"Huh?! Why?!" Buffy and Dawn exclaimed in unison.
"Don't wanna." He answered them simply.
"But you promised to take us to the mall!" Buffy sighed exasperatedly.
"Actually, luv, I didn't. I only promised to take you two out is all. 'Sides, I'm not about to go to this blasted mall. 'S too…UGH! What's the word…?" he sighed, snapping his fingers.
"Overpriced?" Dawn asked.
"No…"
"Lame?" Buffy offered.
"No…still not quite it. Though you do have a point."
The truck grew quiet as the trio tried to think up a word to describe the local mall. After quite a few minutes suddenly and with out warning Spike yelled, "I got it!! The word's 'identical '! Everything in that blasted place is all uniform, which in turn makes it lame and boring!" Spike told them gleefully.
"Ok…that makes total sense Spike, but it still doesn't explain why we're not goin' there. It's the closest one around and besides that, probably the only thing. Aside from that even that's where everyone goes." Dawn complained.
"Not the only thing." Spike mumbled seductively under his breath, while stealing a glance at Buffy and giving her a knowing wink. This only caused Buffy to immediately flush and her heart beat to skip a little, as well as earned him a pinch in the arm.
"So where are we going, if you refuse to go to the mall?" Buffy asked inquisitively.
"Ah-ah-ah! That's for me to know and you," he said motioning between the two girls, "to find out!" He finished with a wicked grin at both of them.
"Do we at least get a hint?" Dawn asked hopefully.
"Yeah I guess that's fair. Leme think, ok Nibblet?"
"Sure. But can you guys at least put on my CD now?"
Buffy sighed and turned to face her sister, "Yeah, I guess we can manage. Leme see the case though too, I need to know what I'm in for."
"It's not as bad as you think, trust me Buffy."
To this Buffy just scoffed and said, "Yeah, I'll believe it when I see and hear it! Now just hand it over."
"I can't. You still have it. I think you put it in the glove box."
"Oh. Yeah…sorry about that." Buffy told her, turning around and popping open the glove box to get out the CD.
As she searched, a hint popped into Spike's head. "Ok, I got a hint for you gals!…Big, Bright, Gambling."
"We're goin' to Vegas!?!?" Both girls shrieked together.
"Bloody Hell, Bints!!" Spike cursed, rubbing his ears. "No! We're bloody well NOT going' to the gambling capitol of the bloody United States!! 'Sides, we're staying in this state! So there! That's two hints now, you've only got eighteen questions left to ask about this trip and they all gotta have 'yes' or 'no' answers. Oh! And while you two are pondering all this, Buffy, why don't you read Nibblet's play list."
"All right, but I swear Dawn, if you've fibbed on this list, you're in deep and I mean it!"
"Geeze Buff! Calm Down! I promise I told the truth!" she told her holding her hands up in a 'surrender' type motion.
"Fine, but you've been warned." Buffy shot back, then started to read over the list. After reading the first few, Buffy groaned loudly. "This can't be happening." she mumbled.
"Now, now, luv." Spike told her patting her knee, then once again taking her hand. "As much as I'd love to be able to read your mind, I can't. So…you care to explain why you aren't reading aloud and instead grumbling?"
Buffy sighed, but complied and started to read the list.
Bush - Out Of This World
Christina Agulara - I Turn To You
Avril Lavigne - Things I'll Never Say
Avril Lavigne - Complicated
98 Degrees - The Hardest Thing
Tonic - If You Could Only See
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Bryan Adams - Everything I Do ( I Do It For You)
Journey - Open Arms
John Stamos & The Beach Boys - Forever
Sarah McLachlan - Angel
Guns 'N Roses - November Rain
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Foreigner - I Wanna Know What Love Is
Survivor - The Search Is Over
Enya - Only Time
Celine Dion - Beauty & The Beast
Love of a Lifetime - Firehouse
Dan Hill - Sometimes When We Touch
Bette Middler - Wind Beneath My Wings (BONUS)
As Buffy was finishing up the second part of the list, she couldn't help but to steal a glance over at Spike. She quickly noticed that his cheeks seemed a bit pink, while the rest of his face seemed paler than usual. "You ok, Spike?" she asked, squeezing his hand."Bloody wonderful…" he answered sarcastically. "Ummm…Nibblet?" Spike asked with a slight nervous shake to his voice.
"What's up Spike?" She answered back with a twinge of fear.
"Just where exactly did you get your selections from?"
"Um…I plead the 5th?" Dawn squeaked.
"I KNEW IT!!" Buffy said practically growling and throwing her hands in the air, while attempting to lunge at Dawn over her seat and the center console.
Dawn shrieked and shrunk back in her seat as far as she could possibly go with out actually climbing over the back of the seat into the trunk section. "Sorry! Sorry, Sorry! Don't kill me! Please!!" Dawn pleaded with her sister as she lunged closer.
"Give me one good not to." Buffy growled, reaching for Dawn with one hand, while trying to unlatch her seatbelt with the other.
"I was only trying to help!" Dawn squealed as Buffy's hand shot closer.
"Help, Dawnie, Help?!" Buffy growled at her, using the one name she knew grated on her nerves the most when she was in trouble. "How is reading my diary, my personal, private property and thoughts and then putting a good portion of that info out for the public's ears Helping?!" Buffy screamed.
"Luv, calm down. Please relax." Spike tried soothing, while rubbing her back in small circles.
"Calm down?! Did you just tell me to Calm Down??!!" Buffy snapped at him.
"Yes luv. That's exactly what I said. If you don't, someone, namely your sister, or quite possible even you, will get hurt. Especially if I happen to stop short. So please Buffy, I say again…calm down."
"How the flying fuck can you tell me to 'Calm Down'and not hurt her for this??!!" Buffy screamed back at him, tears welling up in her eyes.
Spike sighed exasperatedly and pulled the truck over. "Bloody Hell, Slayer." he growled. "I'm in the bleedin same damn position as you, you stupid bint! Can't you see that?!" he snapped back and quickly unlatched his own belt, then opened the door and stepped outside, slamming the door behind him for good measure. "Time for a bleedin' smoke break." he mumbled to himself, going to fish out his cigarettes and lighter from his pocket.
TBC….
Don't forget to review and let me know how you like it so far.
I'm not getting many and it kinda hurts. I've worked extremely hard on this fic and it seems that no one's actually reading this, or really cares enough to let me know their thoughts.
So PLEASE review…I'm begging here!!
To those who have reviewed…thank you ever so much, you're greatly appreciated!!Special Thanks to KC, Revenant and Kitty who are the brilliant people behind the chapter titles!