Disclaimer: I only own Buffy's family; excluding Joyce.
Previously: Buffy and Spike read poetry to each other Christmas morning...while Joyce and Jack discuss a pregnancy and Spike worries about potentially loosing Buffy in the coming days...
A/N: I could never be more sorry for making y'all wait this long for this chapter! Make freaking computer wasn't working and my Internet connection was shot for a while. So sorry. The posts will be more regular again so be prepared for the home stretch.
(---)
Buffy had drifted back to sleep, so Spike had headed back up stairs. He needed to talk to someone about his fears of loosing the Slayer very soon. Grandpa Jack had expressed his confidence--so Spike sought him out.
"Spike--do you need something?" Jack asked, halfway out of Joyce's bedroom--where he and his wife were staying--.
"You got a minute?" Jack nodded and invited Spike inside the bedroom. The vampire moved to sit on the bed, rubbing his eyes with his hand. Jack closed and locked the door before turning and sitting down beside Spike.
"What's on your mind?"
"Buffy."
"Ah--should've known--what's wrong? She not like the necklace--'cause--personally--I thought that was a bit of all right," Jack looked at the vampire for answer--but the peroxide head was shaking 'no'.
"Not the necklace--she--my stay here isn't permanent--tomorrow, I'm heading back to my previous arrangements--I won't get to--see her--and it's--." The vampire was at a loss for words.
"It's killing you," Jack finished for him.
"Yeah. And I don't think Buffy knows--and if she does--exactly how much." The vampire looked at him with pleading eyes.
"I don't know if I can help ya here partner," Jack finally replied. The vampire looked--to say the least--pathetic--and Jack knew how much this guy loved his granddaughter--he had to at least try, "Have ya told her about these fears?"
"No, she'd just deny it anyway. Sayin there's nothing to worry about. But there is. I'm gonna loose her--and I can't do a damn thing about it!" Spike exclaimed.
Jack glanced at the young man sadly. Spike was right. Buffy wouldn't believe that she would do that--but Jack knew well enough that she was very capable of hurting him without even knowing it. Jack looked into the coffee cup he was holding. He was rather tired--perhaps that was why he couldn't think of an answer for Spike's problem.
Spike noticed the old man's exhausted appearance. The baggy eyes and tired smile made Jack look to be like a hundred. Jack's adopted form frightened Spike--he better not be sick! He's the only bleedin' one here I can talk to! Plus, Buffy would be tortured--worse than anything I could ever do to her.
"I realize you're upset about all this--with leaving Buffy--but there is another problem needing to be tackled," Jack felt wholly bad about dropping this on Spike now. But he needed to be clued in--since Joyce had no intentions of telling Buffy herself.
"What's the problem? With Buffy?" Spike frowned worriedly.
"No! No--well, it affects Buffy but--actually she might have a problem with it--but physically, it's not her problem," Jack rationalized as Spike's face relaxed.
"Then what's up?" Spike asked. He was so not ready for the next bit of information.
"Denise is pregnant." And the bomb had been dropped--as well as Spike's jaw.
"Holy shit!" Spike exclaimed.
"Shh, Anne doesn't know and neither do Judy and Joan. We don't want them figuring it out--yet."
"Does Joyce know?"
"Yeah, she and I were discussing it earlier. Joyce doesn't want to tell Buffy herself. So, I was thinking, maybe..." Jack faltered. This wasn't as easy as Jack had previously assumed.
"You want me to tell Buffy?" Spike asked.
"Yes. We were hoping you could help us out in that respect," Jack said.
"Well, I suppose--I'll try--but if you see me walking around with a bruised nose--you'll know she didn't take it well," Spike replied getting to his feet.
"You're a real champion, kid--err, what can I call you anyway?" Jack joked, "You're not exactly a kid--as you're older than me--but you're also not a son--."
"Son. Son sounds good. I didn't really have a dad," Spike answered quietly.
"Son, it is then," Jack also stood up. He patted Spike's shoulder, "I'll see if I can think of an answer to your problem."
"Thanks mate," Spike walked to the door, but turned, "like I said, broken nose: she didn't like what I told her."
"Got it," Jack nodded. Spike slipped out the door, closing it behind him. Buffy is going to be the death of that boy, Jack thought wryly, and she doesn't even know it. Still, the kid's got heart--no longer beating aside--you can't help but feel bad for him when she steps all over it. A tiny squeak from Jack's closet caught his attention. Slowly, he made his way over to it. He took the handle carefully, and then forcefully threw the door wide. Cowering inside was none other than Kevin.
"What the hell are you doing in there?" Jack asked.
"N-nothing!" Kevin squealed. Jack grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled the boy out and on to his feet.
"What did you hear?" Jack pointed at him menacingly.
"Uh--."
"Don't lie to me," Jack shook him.
"Just some stuff about Spike loosing Buffy and Denise being pregnant and, and, him being older than you, is all. I swear!" Kevin replied.
"If you breathe a word of anything you heard to anyone--I'll personally ripe out everyone of your appendages--got it?"
Kevin nodded furiously.
"Now, get out of here," Kevin sprinted towards the door, "And don't ever let me catch you snooping around again!"
Kevin closed the door behind him, leaning against it. He'd never heard his grandfather speak to him like that before. Not ever. It was bad enough knowing that Spike was a vampire who could potentially suck out all his blood if he really pissed him off--but now, Kevin's own grandfather was threatening him.
Grandfather's were supposed to be kind and friendly and were supposed to spoil their grandchildren--not threaten them with bodily harm. He looked at the recorder in his pocket. He'd gotten the entire conversation on tape--perfect for a little blackmail--suddenly, Kevin had a better idea. There was someone who didn't like Spike very much at all and would kill for all the info Kevin had on him.
(--)
Jim answered the knock at his bedroom door quickly. Kevin didn't wait for a hello or invite--he simply pushed past Jim and sat down on the bed.
"Please, Kev, come on in," Jim said sarcastically as he closed the door.
"I'm not here for pleasantries," Kevin replied, "I have some interesting stuff on our friend Spike--I thought you might like to know what I know."
Jim looked at the door. He locked it and hurried to sit next to Kevin, "what'd you know about him?"
"Please, like I'm going to give up this information for free? I'm not eight," Kevin snapped.
Jim pulled out his wallet, "Five dollars?"
Kevin put his hand on his head and pretended to be woozy. He gripped the bed for support.
"It's so strange, Uncle Jim, it all seems to be fading away..."
"Fine. Will a twenty help?" Jim held out the monetary note. Kevin sat up--back to normal--.
"It's a start," he grabbed the bill and shoved it in his pocket, "here's what I got from yesterday. Spike's not you're average guy--he's a vampire."
"That's it give me my twenty back. This is bullshit," Jim stood up.
"You wanna know why Buffy is so weird--why she runs out of the house at night--why Spike has been outside during the day at all since we've been here? He's a vampire--and she's a vampire Slayer. Just ask Aunt Joyce--she knows," Kevin said. Jim returned to his seat next to Kevin.
"But that's ridiculous. There's no such--."
"You can also look in the fridge downstairs--I'm pretty sure it's filled with AB negative--not T.V. dinners."
"All right. So he's a vampire--tell me more."
"It's gonna cost you," Kevin replied.
"Another twenty?"
"And that five you had before." Jim clenched his teeth and handed over the cash. He was a very frugal man by nature and spending this much money for blackmail on his daughter's boyfriend was unheard of--but Jim really wanted to get Spike out of house--especially since Denise was pregnant--couldn't have Buffy's little confidant screwing things to hell.
And with the passing of the money, Kevin began talking. He didn't stop until he'd told everything he'd heard in the last two days--also after he'd earned ten more bucks. Jim was beginning to form a plan in for the coming days.
(--)
Ring, ring, ring, Joyce grabbed the phone off the hook and held it to her ear. The voice on the other end was muffled and sounded tired; still, she immediately recognized it.
"Rupert?"
"Joyce, brilliant. It's good to hear your voice," Giles said from the other end of the line.
"Rupert, you sound like you're in a blizzard," Joyce replied--her voice set with worry.
"Well, as a matter of fact. Heathrow was hit with the largest snowstorm in two decades. The plane's are iced to the ground."
"How terrible!" Joyce exclaimed.
"Thing is, I won't be getting back for a couple more days--a bit longer than I planned--so, if it's not too much trouble--do you think Spike could stay just a few more--."
"Rupert, we'd be happy to have Spike stay longer," Joyce responded cheerily.
"You would?" Giles asked incredulously, "I mean, you don't mind?"
"No, of course not. Buffy won't mind either."
Giles was getting scared--something must be wrong if even Buffy has no problem with Spike staying a few more days, "Joyce, you're not in demon trouble are you?"
"No, Rupert, why would you think that?" Joyce asked.
"Because you're speaking of insanity madam," Giles replied, "can talk to Buffy? Maybe sort this all out?"
"Certainly. She's in the basement--I'll get her," Joyce started down the stairs. Buffy was resting peacefully on Spike's cot. Joyce hated to rouse her but she did. Buffy sat up, "it's Mr. Giles darling." Buffy took the phone.
"Hello?"
"Buffy?"
"Hey, Giles. How's England?" she asked, rubbing the sleepiness from her eyes.
"It's remarkably cold and snowy," came Giles' reply.
"Snowy, huh? You're so used to California, aren't you?" Buffy joked.
"Actually, even the people here are shocked at the snowfall. In fact, that's why I'm calling--."
"You weren't in an accident were you?" Buffy sat up, her concern not masked but her frightened voice.
"No! Nothing like that. I just--well, I'm stuck here for a while longer than I thought--which means Spike will be increasing his time with you." Giles waited for Buffy's angry sigh or a her complaining response to reach his ears, but it never came. He thought maybe the line had given out--, "Buffy?"
"Yeah?" So much for no line.
"Did you hear me? Spike will be staying for longer," Giles reiterated.
"I got it Giles," Buffy replied, she sounded not in the least bit upset at this news.
"What the bloody hell is going on there?!" Giles exploded, "Joyce doesn't mind--YOU don't mind! Is there some demon that's brainwashing all of you? Because if there is--."
"Giles, calm down. There's no demon--Spike and I just kind of--came to a truce--that's all. He's not actually that bad of a guy," Buffy answered.
"Oh, he's not that bad of a guy, is he? Buffy, do you remember the numerous times he's tried to kill you? Tried to kill the rest of us? There's more to count. He tried to bite Willow!" Giles exclaimed.
"Yeah--but he was chipped--and he still is. Not to mention every time he's tried to kill me--he never has. I'm good but he's better--if he really wanted to kill me--he'd have done it already--we both know it," Buffy defended.
(--)
Spike took an unneeded breath and stepped onto to top landing of the basement steps. He was going to have to tell Buffy about this pregnancy thing sooner or later. And he'd much rather do it sooner. Especially, since Buffy was going to be pissed as hell when she heard.
Okay, Spike thought, if she's still sleeping, I'll just tell her later--like tomorrow. Or next week. Or next month. Maybe next year would be better? No, I promised Jack. God, how do I start? She's sleeping--please let her be sleeping...Except, she wasn't--she was talking to someone. Rupes, by the way it sounded. He stayed on the landing for a few more minutes listening to Buffy's ongoing conversation--they seemed to be talking about him.
(--)
"Buffy, are you defending Spike?" Giles sounded shocked. Buffy winced--she was either gonna have to tell him the truth about her relationship with Spike or lie her ass off to cover it up.
"I'm not defending anyone, Giles. I just think he's harmless, that's all," Buffy replied--guess it was going to lying her ass off then. Giles was quiet for a moment.
"Buffy, forgive me for sounding paranoid or obsessive or even slightly insane--but this is what it's come to--are you and Spike in a relationship?" Giles asked, flustered. Buffy closed her eyes--how the hell was she going to get around this? She'd have to tread lightly--she hated lying to Giles but she needed to tell him in person--and when he was calmer.
"Am I in a relationship with Spike? Giles, please, how can you ask me that? A relationship with Spike--that like a twisted question about Willow's spell. Of course, I'm not!" Buffy was afraid she sounded too denying--but Giles bought it--or he seemed to. He dropped the issue.
(--)
In the few words that had slipped from her mouth, Spike felt his heart break. He closed his eyes tightly, trying erase her words before his slammed his fist into something. How could she? He thought, how could she so easily deny her feelings like that? Because she probably didn't have any in the first place! I knew she was just trying to get over Riley--god! I can't even insult him any more! But Buffy doesn't love me--the realization hit him right in the gut. He felt winded--which was interesting for someone who didn't breathe.
The strange thing came when his vision became blurred. The vampire wiped his eye and found it damp with tears. He was crying! The bloody bitch had made him cry! The last person to do that was Cecily--in 1880! There was no way he could tell Buffy about Denise now--he could barely even look at her. He turned on his heel and left Buffy to her continued conversation with her Watcher.
He furiously rubbed his eyes. He didn't want anyone to see him crying--especially Jim or Kevin. Those two rubbed him the wrong way--and he couldn't have cared less if thy were bloody demons! He had to get away--but the sun wasn't due to go down for few more minutes. He reached the living room and grabbed a blanket off the couch. He tore the door open and walking into the waning sunlight--his blanket covering his head.
(--)
Two hours later, Buffy was getting worried. She hadn't seen Spike in a long time and the blanket from the couch was missing. She'd assumed he'd gone out--probably patrolling--but why she couldn't figure out. For one frightening second, thought Spike might've overheard her lie to Giles--and if he had. She'd have to find him and correct his assumption.
"Mom, I'm going out," Buffy kissed her mother's cheek softly, before stepping out the back door--glad to be away from her insane-o family. Now, she just had to find her insane-o boyfriend before he skipped town--not like he'd really do that--but she was doing the extreme-fears thing--and him leaving her frightened her a lot.
She started with the cemetery closest to her home. Sure enough, a few vampires had decided to come out a play. They surrounded her--three of them.
"Guys, can we do this later? I'm kind of looking for someone," Buffy suggested.
"You're pretty," the head vamp replied.
"Guess we can't do this later--all right," she laid roundhouse kick to the head vamp's stomach sending him flying. The second one rushed at her--but Buffy jumped and somersaulted over his head. And close-lined the third. She staked him on the ground before moving to his companions.
"Hi there, I'm Buffy," she said as she punched him in the face.
"Name's Kris and this is Kringle," the vamp replied hitting her across the cheek. Buffy paused after throwing him to the ground.
"My god. Can you be any tackier? Kris and Kringle on Christmas? I must say I've never seen worse. Congrats," Buffy stared at the vampires at her disposal.
"Thanks," Kris said right before Buffy stuck a stake through his heart. Kringle shot her an evil glance and then charged. A black-booted foot shot out of the shadows and tripped him. The vamp landed on his face and was quickly staked.
"I figured this was where you headed," Buffy stated as Spike came from his hiding place.
"Yeah, well, I had some things on my mind," Spike replied, walking to Buffy's side. She stood on her tippy toes and kissed him lightly.
"What sort of things?" she asked, smiling into the kiss.
"Secret sort of things," Spike replied. Buffy pulled back and pouted.
"Why won't you tell me?"
"Because, Pet, you don't want to get inside my mind--it's very confusing," Spike answered, wrapping an arm around her waist. They walked in silence for a few minutes.
"Spike," Buffy started.
"Yeah, Pet?" he looked down at her.
"You didn't, by chance, hear the conversation I was having with Giles, did you?" she glanced up at him and found him frowning.
"Nope," he lied, "why?" Spike had figured there was no point in bringing it up. It was the past--she had denied any feelings and that had answered his questions. Best to just drop it and leave it alone.
"Oh, no reason. He's stuck there, you know? In England. He's not coming back for a couple of days. He said you can stay here with me until he comes back," Buffy continued.
Well, he hadn't been expecting that but it certainly was good news. Perhaps in the extra time he had--he could win over her heart. He could tell her how he loved and maybe, just maybe she could say the same thing. It was worth a try.
"That's good for us, then, isn't it, Pet?" Spike smiled.
"Absolutely," Buffy agreed. She too smiled and once again they fell into silence.
Now, it was Spike's turn to start a conversation. He needed to tell her about Denise--and this was a good time when she worry-free and calm and happy. He just hated breaking that spell of joy.
"Pet," he began despite his doubts.
"Yeah?" Buffy asked.
"We need to talk about your dad and his girlfriend," Spike turned her so she was facing him.
"What about them?" Buffy's voice was innocent.
"Denise--she's--well, she's--you're gonna be--god, why can't I say this? Uh, Buffy, your dad and Denise are--." Spike couldn't force the words out of his mouth. This was so hard!
"Spike, just tell me. It can't be that bad. It's not like they're having a baby or anything," Buffy laughed at the idea. But when she looked to see if Spike was laughing with her, she discovered her was not. And it seemed as if he couldn't look her in the eye.
"Oh my god!" Buffy exclaimed. Spike nodded gently.
TBC in Chapter 10: Faithful Friends...
In coming chapters:
A fight...
A car accident...
A broken nose...
And few more lies...