CHAPTER FIVE: EATING
Blackie barked out a warning, and Buffy turned quickly, her stake at the ready, thrusting it easily into the last vampire's heart, its body turning to ashes. Buffy sighed with relief, thankful that she'd managed to get through the fight. She and her new pet had been ambushed by a group of eight vampires, and Buffy had fought to keep them all from attacking at once. Blackie had helpfully bitten several of the vampires, keeping them out of the fight until Buffy could get around to killing them.
Buffy grinned as she tucked her stake back in her jeans and knelt down to be eye to eye to the dog. She rubbed its ears and gave the dog a quick hug of thanks. "I think you're a Slayer's dog, huh Blackie?" Buffy asked in the voice that most people seemed to use when speaking to animals and children.
Blackie barked once and happily followed the Slayer out of the cemetery. They stopped outside Buffy's usual café of choice for a post-slaying snack, Buffy feeding the dog fries and bits of her burger as she sat on a dog bench with Blackie resting at her feet.
The dog ate as though it hadn't eaten in weeks, and Buffy was afraid that that may have actually been the case. When she'd finished eating, she made her way towards the grocery store, Blackie walking faithfully at her side. Even without a lead, the dog wouldn't wander too far away from her, and had been perfectly behaved, even around other dogs and their owners. The other dogs had barked frantically at Blackie, but the large black dog had merely lifted its head and kept walking.
When they reached the store, Buffy worried about leaving the dog alone and not tied to anything. She knelt down again and patted its head fondly. "You're not gonna run off are ya?" she asked.
Buffy could have sworn that the dog actually shook its head in comprehension. She laughed slightly and straightened, turning to go into the store. She stopped immediately though when she nearly ran into a very familiar face.
"Mom," Buffy whispered.
But Joyce Summers wasn't looking at her daughter. She was seemingly transfixed by the large black dog following Buffy.
"Whose dog is that?" Joyce asked.
Buffy sighed in disgust. "You haven't spoken to me in a week, and that's the first question you ask?" Buffy said, shaking her head in disappointment.
She began walking around her mother, but Joyce grabbed hold of her wrist. Buffy could have easily shaken the woman off, but even in her hurt and anger, Buffy didn't want to cause her mom any harm.
"Buffy, please, answer me. Whose dog is that?" Joyce asked again.
Buffy sighed. "It's mine," she replied. "He came up to us on the beach today. He's been following me ever since. Will said we could keep him at her place."
Joyce approached the dog, but Blackie growled in warning. Buffy shifted worriedly. So far the dog hadn't attacked anyone but vampires, and considering she could still feel the heat of her mother's hand that had touched her wrist, she was certain that her mother hadn't been turned.
"Uh, you may not wanna get that close to him," Buffy warned. "He's been pretty friendly to me, but.I don't know how tame he is."
Joyce crouched in front of the dog, trying to see its eyes better. She gasped slightly in shock as soon as she got a proper look and stood up, taking several steps backwards.
"Sirius," Joyce whispered.
"What's serious?" Buffy asked.
Joyce turned to face her daughter, feeling the mixed emotions that she felt whenever he looked at the young woman that Buffy had become. There was the familiar feeling of worry and love, but closer to the surface lately had been anger and betrayal. The thought that Buffy had been lying to her for the last two or so years didn't sit too well with her, especially after the trouble that Joyce had gone to, to keep Buffy away from anything to do with magic.
"You can't keep that dog," Joyce said.
Buffy glared at her mom and shook her head. "You can't tell me what I can and can't do anymore," Buffy replied. "You don't want me in your house, and that's okay, y'know. I know that I hurt you by lying, and I can't change that. But you can't have it both ways. You can't try and boss me around anymore."
"I'm not trying to.Buffy, there are things that you don't know. Things that you wouldn't understand," Joyce said.
Buffy rolled her eyes. "I'm not a complete moron mom. I know there's more to you not letting me back in the house than the whole lying issue. I get that you can't handle the whole vampire/demon/werewolf/magic thing."
Joyce winced at the word magic. It was something she'd been hoping to forget for years, but had never been able to. It seemed that no matter how far she tried to run from her past, it would always catch up to her.
"Buffy, that dog is dangerous," Joyce tried again. "You can't just let it into Willow's house."
Buffy rolled her eyes and walked into the store. Joyce looked back at the dog who growled once more at her.
"Stay away from her, Sirius Black," Joyce said softly. "Or I'll kill you myself."
Joyce turned quickly and followed her daughter into the grocery store, locating her quickly near the frozen meats.
"Buffy.will you just listen to me for a few minutes?" Joyce asked.
Buffy looked at her mother, torn between talking to her and walking away.
"About what?" Buffy asked.
"Just.will you come back to the house with me?"
"Are you letting me back in?" Buffy asked.
Joyce hesitated and Buffy immediately had her answer. She swallowed down the hurt that she felt and glared at her mother.
"If you're not letting me back in, then what do you want from me? I've tried giving you time to deal with this, but you're making it really difficult," Buffy said.
"Buffy, there are things here that you don't know about. Things that.that need to be explained. Things about.about your father," Joyce admitted.
"What's dad got to do with anything?" Buffy asked.
"Just.just come back to the house and we can talk about this," Joyce pleaded.
Buffy sighed, knowing that she wouldn't win the argument. She picked out a container of frozen chicken from the fridge and began walking towards the front registers, Joyce following after her.
"Fine," Buffy said, capitulating. "I'll come back with you."
Buffy placed the food on the counter and reached into her pocket for her ever-present credit card. She handed it to the cashier who looked at her and shook his head.
"You don't seriously expect me to charge you missie, do ya?" the man said.
Buffy laughed a little. "You're going to have to start charging me sooner or later Mr Ferguson," she said.
"Not on your life, little angel," Mr Ferguson replied, winking at the girl. "If I've told you once, I've told you a dozen times.I ain't gonna charge the lassie who saved my little girl, now am I?"
He bagged the food and handed it to her, Buffy leaning across the counter and kissing the man's cheek. "You're a sweetheart," she commented.
The elderly man blushed and waved her off. "Away with ya lassie," he said kindly. "And stay outta trouble!"
"Me? Trouble?" she joked.
Mr Ferguson laughed, and Buffy walked out of the store, her confused mother in tow.
"You know that man?" Joyce asked.
Buffy shrugged. "You'd be surprised how many people I know," the Slayer replied.
She knelt down in front of the dog and patted its head. "Hope you like chicken Blackie," Buffy said, running her fingers through the dog's thick fur.
Joyce paled. "Blackie?"
Buffy just shrugged. "It seemed kinda obvious."
Joyce cleared her throat uncomfortably. "You're not bringing that dog back with you."
Buffy shrugged. "Then I'm not coming back, simple as that. You wanna talk, then Blackie and I are a package deal."
Joyce sighed and the trio began walking back towards Revello Drive.
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