As usual, I own nothing but the plot itself. All else belongs to Joss and ME.
It had been a week since their Doctor's appointment. Buffy and Spike had spent most of that time up in their room. Their rationalization was that they couldn't be sure when the right time was, so they were going to make sure they didn't miss it.
After their morning ritual of watching the sun chase away the darkness, they made their way downstairs to the smell of breakfast. Xander and Willow had taken to having their morning coffee in the garden and Giles had chosen to join them this morning. Dawn and Andrew sat on one of the couches in the lobby whispering quietly, they looked up and saw them.
"You guys must have come in pretty late last night. We didn't even hear you come in."
Andrew looked at Dawn, eyebrows raised slightly and eyes full of panic.
"Well, I didn't hear you come in and I asked and Andrew, he didn't hear you come in either. Did you?"
"Nope, not at all." Dawn patted his hand as he let out a nervous laugh.
Spike gave Buffy's hand and squeeze. He knew very well why the two hadn't heard them come in. He also knew that shortly after they had come in Andrew had gone back to his own room.
One week earlier
Coming up the final steps he could see light from Dawns door as it opened. Then, Andrew crossing the hall, lips swollen and hair mussed, but his clothing was still intact so he had made no attempt to dismember said nerd. He made a mental note to investigate further and continued back to his and Buffy's room. No use causing a scene right now, in the middle of the night. Right now he had somewhere to be. He himself had gone downstairs for a box from Victoria Secret that sat amongst the spoils of the day. Watching Buffy get into and then out of this particular item with some assistance from him had made the long hours he'd spent waiting, even after he'd acquired his little quest, well worth it.
He had made a point of 'talking' to Andrew the next morning and had been assured that only heavy petting had taken place. He hadn't old Buffy what he had seen. Only that he wasn't worried about Dawn and Andrew 'behaving' themselves.
Present
Glancing at Spike, Buffy received a nod and the mouthing of 'not to worry,' and then another gentle squeeze of her hand.
"What's got you two up so early?" Trying to change the subject, Spike sat down and pulled Buffy into his lap.
"Well, we were hoping to get a chance to talk with you guys. About our return trip to Cleveland. Sooner, rather than later." Dawn held her breath as she wasn't sure how well this was going to go.
"So soon?" Buffy tried to get up, but Spike held her firm in his lap. This had earned him a look, then a pout, but she sat still.
His Nibblet had already begged his assistance in this area. He had put some conditions on his helping and she had sworn she would keep her promise to attend college and that she and Andrew would maintain separate living space. At least for now.
"Well, yeah, I was kind of hoping to get settled in before the next semester starts. Andrew says registration is next week." Hoping the idea that she was going on to college would somehow help sway her sister.
"That's great Nibblet! You decided what you want to study yet?" She hadn't decided when she had come to him a couple of days before, only that she wanted to go.
"I brought the catalogs with me, thought I could help pick out some courses that could help Dawn decide on a major. Classes fill up quick." Andrew was feeling a little more self confidant.
"What's the hurry?" She couldn't rise to her feet to pace, but she hadn't been gagged. Yet.
"No hurry, well, there is a little. There's so much to do before I start and I still have to get a place to live. Andrew's been checking out apartments near the college for me." With that, he presented Buffy with some brochures from apartment complexes and one from the community college. "But, I need to sign and lease and put a deposit down before they all fill up and I end up homeless." Giving it her best 'please' smile.
Pulling Buffy back to him for a quick hug around her middle he whispered in her ear.
"Luv, Nib's growing up. She needs some space." Buffy leaned back on him and took a couple of long breaths and then turned to face him. Taking his face in her hands she kissed him and then turned back to the two young people with hopeful looks on their faces.
"Ok, let's hear about this school and where you think your going to be living."
Andrew and Dawn had filled Buffy in on what their plans for the future were and after a few tense moments when the two of them thought that Spike had failed in getting her to see reason she had told them that she wouldn't stand in their way. A few squeals from Dawn a group hug and some tears from Buffy later they were up in their rooms packing for the airport.
Buffy still stood where she had watched them ascend the stairs.
"They're gonna be happy luv." Spike's arms encircled her from behind.
"Why can't they be happy here? Close by." Buffy leaned her head back onto his shoulder.
"She needs space Buffy. She needs to find out who she is on her own."
"Faith gets to be there." Her pouty lip told him she was feeling better.
"I think Faith has her hands full. Besides, we have a little business here to take care of ourselves."
"Yeah, I guess we should see about finding that girl." He tightened his hold on her.
.
It had been a week since their Doctor's appointment. Buffy and Spike had spent most of that time up in their room. Their rationalization was that they couldn't be sure when the right time was, so they were going to make sure they didn't miss it.
After their morning ritual of watching the sun chase away the darkness, they made their way downstairs to the smell of breakfast. Xander and Willow had taken to having their morning coffee in the garden and Giles had chosen to join them this morning. Dawn and Andrew sat on one of the couches in the lobby whispering quietly, they looked up and saw them.
"You guys must have come in pretty late last night. We didn't even hear you come in."
Andrew looked at Dawn, eyebrows raised slightly and eyes full of panic.
"Well, I didn't hear you come in and I asked and Andrew, he didn't hear you come in either. Did you?"
"Nope, not at all." Dawn patted his hand as he let out a nervous laugh.
Spike gave Buffy's hand and squeeze. He knew very well why the two hadn't heard them come in. He also knew that shortly after they had come in Andrew had gone back to his own room.
One week earlier
Coming up the final steps he could see light from Dawns door as it opened. Then, Andrew crossing the hall, lips swollen and hair mussed, but his clothing was still intact so he had made no attempt to dismember said nerd. He made a mental note to investigate further and continued back to his and Buffy's room. No use causing a scene right now, in the middle of the night. Right now he had somewhere to be. He himself had gone downstairs for a box from Victoria Secret that sat amongst the spoils of the day. Watching Buffy get into and then out of this particular item with some assistance from him had made the long hours he'd spent waiting, even after he'd acquired his little quest, well worth it.
He had made a point of 'talking' to Andrew the next morning and had been assured that only heavy petting had taken place. He hadn't old Buffy what he had seen. Only that he wasn't worried about Dawn and Andrew 'behaving' themselves.
Present
Glancing at Spike, Buffy received a nod and the mouthing of 'not to worry,' and then another gentle squeeze of her hand.
"What's got you two up so early?" Trying to change the subject, Spike sat down and pulled Buffy into his lap.
"Well, we were hoping to get a chance to talk with you guys. About our return trip to Cleveland. Sooner, rather than later." Dawn held her breath as she wasn't sure how well this was going to go.
"So soon?" Buffy tried to get up, but Spike held her firm in his lap. This had earned him a look, then a pout, but she sat still.
His Nibblet had already begged his assistance in this area. He had put some conditions on his helping and she had sworn she would keep her promise to attend college and that she and Andrew would maintain separate living space. At least for now.
"Well, yeah, I was kind of hoping to get settled in before the next semester starts. Andrew says registration is next week." Hoping the idea that she was going on to college would somehow help sway her sister.
"That's great Nibblet! You decided what you want to study yet?" She hadn't decided when she had come to him a couple of days before, only that she wanted to go.
"I brought the catalogs with me, thought I could help pick out some courses that could help Dawn decide on a major. Classes fill up quick." Andrew was feeling a little more self confidant.
"What's the hurry?" She couldn't rise to her feet to pace, but she hadn't been gagged. Yet.
"No hurry, well, there is a little. There's so much to do before I start and I still have to get a place to live. Andrew's been checking out apartments near the college for me." With that, he presented Buffy with some brochures from apartment complexes and one from the community college. "But, I need to sign and lease and put a deposit down before they all fill up and I end up homeless." Giving it her best 'please' smile.
Pulling Buffy back to him for a quick hug around her middle he whispered in her ear.
"Luv, Nib's growing up. She needs some space." Buffy leaned back on him and took a couple of long breaths and then turned to face him. Taking his face in her hands she kissed him and then turned back to the two young people with hopeful looks on their faces.
"Ok, let's hear about this school and where you think your going to be living."
Andrew and Dawn had filled Buffy in on what their plans for the future were and after a few tense moments when the two of them thought that Spike had failed in getting her to see reason she had told them that she wouldn't stand in their way. A few squeals from Dawn a group hug and some tears from Buffy later they were up in their rooms packing for the airport.
Buffy still stood where she had watched them ascend the stairs.
"They're gonna be happy luv." Spike's arms encircled her from behind.
"Why can't they be happy here? Close by." Buffy leaned her head back onto his shoulder.
"She needs space Buffy. She needs to find out who she is on her own."
"Faith gets to be there." Her pouty lip told him she was feeling better.
"I think Faith has her hands full. Besides, we have a little business here to take care of ourselves."
"Yeah, I guess we should see about finding that girl." He tightened his hold on her.
.