Chapter 6: Getting To Know You

30 minutes had passed since Buffy and Spike had first set eyes on each other, neither one had said much to the other, mainly because a few minutes after Spike came in Anthony awoke for his feeding. Buffy was currently in his nursery feeding him his bottle. Completely unaware of what was going on downstairs.

In the Kitchen

"Well, what do you think of her?" Giles asked his son.
"She seems ok. Haven't exactly spoken to her much, can't really say
I'm qualified to judge what she's like. Why don't you tell me."
"She is a very charming young lady." Giles informed his son "She's taking this whole situation pretty hard." Giles was relieved that in some ways he could be honest about what was going on, it was not a lie to say that Buffy was finding the situation upsetting.
"Don't worry dad, was goin' to be nice to her anyway. Seems like a
nice enough chit."
"Yes well, quite."

The men were interrupted by Buffy's reappearance in the kitchen.
"Buffy, good you're back, we were just about to order dinner."
Spike looked at his father's flustered attempt to cover up their conversation, with amusement, but managed not to show it.
"I thought that seeing as it is your first night we would order in."
"Oh, can we have Chinese or pizza" Spike jumped in.
"William, I was thinking we might have something a little nicer, after all this is for a special occasion, and I was also intending to give Buffy the decision of what we eat."
He smiled reassuringly over at her while Spike pouted from his seat on top of the counter.
"Actually Giles, I really appreciate the effort and all but I think Chinese sounds good." she said sheepishly. Giles however did not seem put out in the least.
"Don't look so worried Buffy, I'm not going to be annoyed that you want Chinese food. However, I will have to put up with my son's smug look for the rest of the evening."
Buffy giggled nervously at the comment and Spike didn't think he had
ever heard a nicer sound.
"Chinese it is then, is there anything in particular you would like?"
She shook her head no and Giles went to call in the order. She looked around the kitchen nervously as now only she and Spike were left in the room. She felt she should start a conversation with him, but she had no idea what to say. However, she didn't need to worry.
"So, Pet, how are you liking the place so far?" he inquired.
"It seems ok. I haven't left the house yet, but it seems like a nice enough town. Different though."
"Well there isn't much to do around here, only really one good hang out for people our age, but the people are nice enough" he told her.
"That's good..." she was interrupted by Giles calling them into the
living room to watch TV while they waited on their delivery. The next hour and a half passed in relative peace. Their dinner arrived, and they ate around the kitchen table with scattered conversation. Buffy had decided that Spike seemed like an alright guy, but she wasn't going to let herself get too involve 'not after what happened with Angel' she told herself 'it just causes too much heartache and the
fact I have a child' After the meal was finished and the dishes were in the dishwasher, Buffy started to feel awkward. She didn't know what she should do now. Anthony wasn't due to be fed for another hour or two. And she was still getting used to her new environment. She wasn't sure if she was expected to just go to her room and wait until Anthony needed something. At home all she ever did was get sent to her room. She saw Giles looking at her with a concerned look on his face before he spoke
"Buffy are you ok?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just not sure, what I should do now. Did you want me just to go to my room until Anthony wakes up?"
Giles removed his glasses wiping them in exasperation.
"Buffy don't be silly. This is your home now and you must feel free to treat it as such."
"I have an idea." Spike interjected "why don't I take Buffy out for a couple of hours. Show her around town help her get used to the place. What do you say, luv?"
"Um, thanks for the offer Spike, but I don't think so. I need to stay here in case Anthony needs anything. That's my job after all."
"I'm sure dad doesn't mind looking after the little one for a while. Do you dad?"
"Of course not" he assured her.
"I still think I'll pass. Thanks though."
"Buffy can I speak to you a minute." Giles requested.
She followed him into the hall.
"Buffy" he began "were you not listening to me this afternoon. I told you that nothing is going to change the fact that Anthony is yours. But you can't keep yourself locked up at home all the time."
"I know, but I just don't want to leave him. I, I'm afraid."
"Buffy, you don't have to be afraid, he will still be here when you get back. I'll take good care of him. I promise. Trust me."
"I do" she assured him "It's just-"
"It's just nothing. Go with William. Have fun."
"OK, ok you win. I'll go" she said, pretending to pout. Giles led her back to the kitchen where Spike was waiting.
"So, where are we going." she asked.
Spike smirked and opened the door for her.
"You'll just have to wait and see." he said "Let's go."
Giles watched them go, glad that Buffy was at least making an effort to overcome her fears.

Main Street

"That is the Sun Cinema" Spike pointed to a building on his right. It's the only cinema they have in this town, so you'll see a lot of kids hanging around.

"That is my dad's shop 'The Magic Box' and before you say it I know, what you're thinking, my dad was a lawyer but when we moved here he wanted a change. So now, he owns the shop. There aren't many shops around but there is a bookshop next door, if you like to read" he continued enthusiastically. They crossed the street and came to stop outside of a coffee shop.

"This is the 'Espresso Pump' he told her. Most of us youngsters hang around here. It's where we're going now." he told her as he led her inside. She looked at him as they sat down wondering why he was being so nice to her. She decided the only way to find out was to voice her questions.
"What do you want to drink pet?" he asked as he stood to go to the
counter.
"Um, Cappuccino please" she asked politely.
"Sure thing, I'll just be a minute."
She watched him as he departed and couldn't help the small smile that crossed her face. When he came back with their drinks Buffy decided to get straight to her question.
"Spike, not that I don't appreciate it, because I do, but why are you being so nice. What is this all about."
He was taken aback for a moment, but he understood where she was coming from, they had only just met and had hardly spoken to one another.
"Well pet, we don't really know each other, but you seem to be really decent. Especially compared to people around here. Somebody I could come to like."
She was panicked for a minute so had to say something.
"Spike, I'm sure you're really nice and everything but I'm not looking for a relationship of any kind."
"Oh no, Buffy. I don't want you to think that's what I'm after. I'm not saying I couldn't like you in that way but, I'm happy to be friends with you. This is just all about getting to know you." he smiled warmly at her and she smiled back
"Friends" she repeated "I'd like that."
"Good."
They sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes before he started.
"So, how come you came to be Anthony's nanny instead of being at school?"
This was the question Buffy had been dreading, but she felt it was probably better to get it over with from the beginning.
"Well" she started "Your dad's cousin and I were close back in LA. She was my best friend and she didn't have any family so she confided in me when she found out she was pregnant. I helped her through it. She had a lot of health problems and didn't make it through the birth. She had always said if anything happened she wanted me to look after her baby." her voice faltered and she paused a moment to get it back .
"She wanted me to look after him, and I wasn't doing great at school. When they said they were bringing him here, I contacted your father. I couldn't take care of him from LA so I asked about working as a nanny so that I could be there like she wanted. Your dad agreed and the rest as they say is history." Spike listened intently as she spoke, unlike Angel he was genuinely interested in what she had to say.
"My turn" Buffy said "you're 18 right?" he nodded in reply.
"So are you still at school or college or what?"
"I'm still at school. I'm a senior. Graduate in the summer." he replied to her question.
"Now me." he smirked "Who named Anthony?"
She looked away nervously as she tried to think of a convincing answer
"Um... Faith did. That was your dad's cousin's name. She had picked it out a few days before he was born. I thought she would want to keep it." there that should do it
"What do you want to do after you graduate?"
"I wanna go to college, don't tell anyone I told you, but I wanna be a writer. I was thinking that's what I would major in Creative Writing."
Buffy couldn't believe her ears. This boy whom she had known only a few hours shared one of her biggest dreams and she let it slip out without realizing.
"Me too." It cam out barely a whisper.
"What?" He asked confused.
"Oh, I said way cool."
"Oh. Thanks." He bought it.
"So I'm up next. Right pet?"
She nodded her agreement.
"What's Anthony's surname?"
"Why are you so interested in Anthony?" she asked, slightly annoyed at his questioning.
"Sorry pet, it's just dad hasn't really told me much about what's going on. I guess I just want to know. I'll drop it."
"Thanks."
"So, what did you want to do if you had stayed at school?" he asked
changing the subject.
"I was thinking I'd like to go into some kind of design." she told him. Her face lighting up as she talked. They stayed that way for about another hour, firing questions back and forth at one another. Before they left, Spike had one last question.
"When are you going to tell me whatever secret it is that you have?" She was surprised to say the least, she hadn't been expecting any
more questions
"What makes you think I have a secret." she asked defensively.
"Look, pet. Buffy, I can tell by looking at your eyes that you're hiding something, but I won't push you. I just want to know, when you're ready to tell me."
"Someday."

They left the coffee shop and walked in silence back home. Wen they arrived back, they went in to the living room to see both Giles and Anthony asleep on the couch. Buffy smiled at the sight of her son and the man who so far had been more like a dad to her than her own, and she had only known him a few hours. She tiptoed across the room to pick up the sleeping child. She walked quietly up the stairs, Spike close on her heels and headed towards the nursery. Once inside she set about getting him ready for bed. She turned around and saw Spike watching her silently. When he knew she had seen him, he joined her in the room and took the diaper from her hands and set to
work. Buffy watched in amazement. She thought he was the perfect man. Unfortunately, she couldn't do anything about it. She couldn't take the risk. She knew however that she could fall in love with him. And Spike was thinking exactly the same thing of her. When he had finished, Buffy picked her son up and headed to the crib. Before placing him in it she turned to spike and whispered
"Spike meet Anthony."
He gave a soft smile and whispered back.
"Hey little one, nice to meet you but it's time for bed."
He watched Buffy place him in the car and saw the look of love and contentment in her eyes. when she leaned down and kissed his forehead. Something was definitely going on. He wanted to know what, but he trusted she would tell him when she wanted to. As they turned to leave he turned back placing a soft kiss on the baby's forehead
"Night, little bit." he whispered to the baby's sleeping form. He heard Buffy utter a soft
"Goodnight sweetheart." before they left the room.
He walked her down the hall to her room. When they got her door he stopped and said goodnight.
"Thank you for tonight." she said softly "I had fun."
"Me too" He replied "I enjoyed getting to know you." he gave her a smile and turned to walk away. She watched him go thinking of how easily she would fall in love with him before turning into her room and closing the door.