A/N: Hey all someone asked me to kill off Buffy's dad in this fic, it wasn't something I'd intended to do but the idea is quite appealing. So, if you want Hank to be killed off at some point leave a review and leave a note saying you want him dead. Thanx

Chapter 9

When Buffy and Spike awoke the next morning, they were still wrapped in each other's arms. Neither of them made any effort to move, perfectly content just to lie there together. They stayed as they were for a few more minutes until Spike leaned down, kissed Buffy lightly on the lips, and whispered

"Thank you" softly in her ear

"For what?" she asked just as softly

"For letting me be here with you last night. It meant a lot," he told her honestly

"Spike I wanted you to stay, I wouldn't have let you if I didn't" she sighed "and anyway it's not as if anything happened" she finished

Spike looked hurt as he spoke to her

"Buffy, we kissed last night, and that may be nothing to you but it's something to me" he told her

"Spike, I didn't say it was nothing" she sighed

"Well, it sounded that way to me" he said getting upset

"Listen Spike, I don't regret kissing you last night. I care about you, and I do like you. I just need time. I don't know what's going to happen, but I need time to figure things out in my head. I don't want to hurt you," she said softly moving one hand to cup his cheek. He leaned in to the touch and answered

"Buffy, luv, I just want to be with you, sometimes it's worth taking the chance at being hurt to be with the person you love and see if what you have can work out"

"Spike" she started "I care about you, I do. And I want to be with you, but not yet. I need to figure things out. If we are meant to be together, it'll happen. But for now, I don't want to lose the friendship we have. Can we concentrate on that for now. And let whatever happens happen?" she asked him

"Ok, but it's gonna be hard, all I wanna do is kiss you" he said in a seductive voice

"Well, I wouldn't be opposed to a kiss now and again, if it happens. But I need you understand that it'll be just that a kiss. We'll still be just friends, for now anyway"

"I can do that, for now" he told her as he leaned in to kiss her again

"So" he started when they pulled apart "Prom is coming up in two months, and since we're friends, do you want to go with me. Just as friends?" he asked sounding very nervous

She looked at him and answered

"Wouldn't you rather take a date, someone from school"

"There is no one I would rather go with than you Buffy, I love you, I couldn't enjoy it if you weren't with me. It'll just be a friend's thing. And Willow will be there. She's going with Oz, because he's a senior"

"I would love to go with you" she said with a smile He smiled back

"Great" He leaned in and kissed her again but jumped back when they heard the front door opening.

They rushed to get dressed and both went downstairs where Giles was waiting with Anthony

"Hi, Giles" she greeted

"Buffy, hello dear, how was your evening" he asked her as she sat down on the couch

"It was great" she informed him

"we had a lot of fun. Got some great gifts" she said looking at Spike who gave her a small smile

"Well, I'm glad" Giles said in reply "you deserve a little fun"

"Well I got some last night, but now it's time to get back to work" she said as she took Anthony from his arms

"Do you need some help?" asked Spike "If you want. I was thinking I might take him out for a while later. I f you wanna come with" she told him

"Sounds like a plan" he conceded as they walked up to the nursery.

Two hours later, they were walking around the park. Spike pushing Anthony in his pram. Passers by looked at them thinking how much they looked like a perfect little family. Buffy had never felt so content, and it showed on her face. It was times like this that she really wanted just to tell him everything, have complete honesty and see what his reaction was. Maybe then they really could be that family. They strolled along in complete silence the entire time both enjoying just being. They walked for around an hour before heading back home. Spike had to go out and Buffy spent the rest of the afternoon looking after her baby and thinking about Spike.

The day of the trip Buffy had gotten a phone call from her father saying that he was coming to visit. Today was that day and Buffy was dreading it. He had told her he was bringing someone with him so she had to look nice and preferably have Anthony out of the way, so Spike had taken him out for the day. Now she was waiting for her father to arrive. She had just entered the living room when the doorbell rang. She answered the door to find her father and another young man of about college age on the doorstep.

"Hi, dad" she greeted with false cheerfulness

"Hello Buffy" he replied stiffly

"Come on in" she stood to the side to let them enter

"Buffy, I'd like you to meet Riley Finn" her father introduced the young man in front of her

"It's nice to meet you" she said

"You too" he said with a grin

Buffy took in the man's appearance, he was tall and well built, and he had sandy blonde hair. He had a kind of goofy look to him and she couldn't help but compare him to Spike. She knew exactly why her father had brought him here. After sitting down in the living room her father started to inform her of his reasons for his visit

"Buffy, I'm going to get right down to why I came here. Riley is a senior at UC Sunnydale, he works as an intern at the firm. I think he would be perfect to you. He saw a picture of you and thought he'd like to take you out. That would be nice wouldn't it" it wasn't a question so much as an order.

She didn't know quite what to say, she didn't want to go out with him that would ruin anything she had with Spike. However, she also knew she couldn't go against what her father said.

"Dad" she objected "I really don't think that right now is a good time for me to be getting involved with anyone" turning to Riley, she went on

"no offence to you Riley, it's just that I never have any free time so just now just isn't great"

"Nonsense" her father brushed off her words "you get time off from your job, after all it's not your child" he put emphasis on the last part of the sentence Buffy looked furious but didn't say anything "Fine, I'll go." She mumbled

"That's a good girl. Riley will pick you up tomorrow at seven" Buffy looked up when she heard a noise in the hall

Spike had been out with Anthony for a little over two hours, he was perfectly happy to do it while Buffy saw her dad since she didn't see him very often. He was on his way home when he met an old friend who had left for college, needless to say he was surprised to see his friend pushing a pram

"Hey Spike" called the friend

"Owen, hey pal how's things?"

"Good. Apparently, you've been busy. Because you didn't have a kid when I left" his friend joked

"What" he looked at Anthony and objected

"oh no, he's not mine. He's the baby of a relative of my dad, she died, my dad was her only relative, we got the baby" he told his friend.

"Oh, whatever you say man, but you look kinda daddy like to me"

"Well I'm not" he said wistfully "well it's been good seeing you but he's due fed, better get back"

"Ok, man, see you around" Owen called as he walked away.

Owen's words played through Spike's head as he continued on his way home. He realised that he really wouldn't mind being the child's father, in fact he kind of wished he was. Somehow, he could just see himself, Buffy and Anthony as a family. When he got home, he could hear voices in the living room and figured Buffy's father must still be there. He was about to go in when he heard them talking, he couldn't help but overhear the last part of the conversation as he turned to walk away

"Riley will pick you up tomorrow at seven" he heard His heart broke right then and he gasped. He couldn't get to grips with what he had heard and he turned back round just in time to see Buffy look up.

Buffy could see the hurt written on his face and it killed her. She didn't want to hurt him, but there was no way to get around what her father wanted.

"Spike, I-"she started

"Doesn't matter Buffy, was just gonna tell you we were back" he said coldly and turned an walked back out the door.

Her father left not long after. Giles wasn't there as he was out of town on business for the weekend. So all she could do was wait for him to come back. It was late by the time he did and Anthony was already fed and asleep by the time he returned. When he came in, he went straight upstairs without looking at Buffy. His head was in turmoil over the fact that she was going to go out with someone else. He honestly thought she wanted to be with him. What he didn't realise was that she did. And she was hurting just as much as he was.

She waited a few minutes before knocking on his door. When he didn't answer, she opened the door, went in, and sat on the edge of the bed.

"Don't talk just listen" she ordered

"I'm sorry for what you heard earlier. I want you to know that I don't want to date Riley. But you don't know my dad. He is a very powerful man and there is no going against what he says. I tried to get out of it but my dad is determined that Riley is perfect to me. I have no choice. However, if the relationship happens to work out there is nothing my father can do about it" she said, never changing her tone of voice.

Staying completely calm the whole time. She cupped his cheek and went on

"I'll go out wit Riley long enough to keep my father happy, and then I'll end things. I don't want to be with him. It will only be for a little while" she told him forcefully. He looked at her with hope in his eyes and spoke up

"I guess I can deal for a little while but I don't like it. I know we're not together but still"

"I know, but I promise I'll fix everything" she promised

"I guess this means you won't be coming to prom then" he said sadly

"What gives you that idea?"

"Well, Riley-"

"can deal with it" she interrupted

"I am going with you, because I said I would. More importantly because I want to. Riley will have to put up with it. I'm going"

He smiled at her and replied "Thank you. Can I kiss you now?" he asked

"You better" she replied" They leaned closer together and their lips met. The kiss was slow and gentle, it was a promise that things would work out eventually. That night they lay together again. Perfectly content.