Chapter 12

Buffy and Spike walked into her house the next day and headed to the living room where they heard voices. She wasn't prepared for the scene in front of her. Hank was sitting on the couch with her sisters and it looked like he was telling them a story. Buffy glared at the scene. "What are you doing? Where's mom?" She said as Hank then looked up at her.

"Your mother had to go to the gallery early today. The girls were fighting, so I figured I should tell them a story to calm them down." Buffy wasn't sure what to think.

"So, my mother just leaves you alone with them? I find that very hard to believe." She said coldly and Hank sighed as he stood up and walked over to her.

"I told her she can trust me, Buffy. I wanted to get to know my daughters better." Buffy crossed her arms over her chest.

"You had seven years to do that." Hank nodded and knew he wouldn't win that argument when Buffy then turned her attention to her sisters. "You two go upstairs." She told them and they figured that some yelling would be done, so they did as she said, but not before Casey ran over to Hank and gave him a hug around his legs.

"Thanks for the story, daddy." She said to him and Buffy was surprised as she noticed that Hank looked like he was near tears.

"You're welcome, sweetheart. Go do as your sister says, okay?" Casey nodded as Dawn grabbed her hand and they both ran upstairs. Hank turned back to Buffy and then noticed Spike standing there after being quiet the whole time. "Wait, this can't be little William. God, you've really grown up." He said.

"Yeah, lot can happen in seven years. Good to see you again, Hank. Planning on sticking around this time or just decided to pop in for a quickie and then pop out again?" Hank looked away from the younger man's gaze.

"I guess I deserve that. It's good to see you again, too. Glad to see that you and Buffy are still friends after all this time." Spike put his arm around Buffy and pulled her closer to him.

"We always will be. I care too much about her to leave." He said as he glared at Hank who nodded.

"I guess I have a lot to make up for." Buffy glared at him also.

"What's the point? There's nothing you can say or do that will change things. You think that you showing up after all this time will automatically get me to forgive you? I don't think so, that just proves that you don't know anything about me." With that said she moved away from Spike and ran upstairs. Spike sighed as he watched her go and then looked at Hank.

"I better see if she's okay." He said as he started to head for the stairs also when Hank stopped him.

"William, could you wait a moment?" Spike stopped to stare at the man and waited for him to finish. Hank took a deep breath before he spoke up again. "I want to know her. Could you tell me about my daughter?" Spike thought about it and then nodded as he went to sit on the couch. Hank sat next to him and waited for Spike to begin.

"What do you wanna know?" He asked Hank.

"Whatever you can tell me." Hank replied and Spike nodded as he thought about what to say. A smile then graced his lips as he thought about Buffy.

"She's an amazing person. She's one of the good ones, got a big heart. She's always there for Joyce and the little ones even when they're being difficult. Buffy may complain a lot about her sisters, but she loves them and they idolize her. She's always there for her friends whenever they need her. When I lost my mum, Buffy would come over to my house every day to try and cheer me up. She wouldn't leave until she made me smile that day. I never told her, but I was very grateful for that. She's so beautiful and she doesn't even know it, which just makes her even more beautiful. When she smiles her whole face lights up and that alone is enough to put anyone in a good mood. When she cries it's like the whole world is crying with her, it's heartbreaking. I would give anything to keep a smile on her face." Spike then stopped to look at Hank who had a look of wonder on his face. "What?" Spike asked him.

"You're in love with her?" He asked and Spike knew there was no use denying it. He just nodded as he gave a little laugh.

"You have no idea." Hank nodded also.

"Does she know?" Spike shook his head.

"No, if I told her that would just make things uncomfortable with us and I don't want that. I can accept just being her friend, as long as I get to be around her that's all that matters." Hank nodded in understanding as he patted Spike on the back.

"Thanks for telling me about her, William. I really appreciate it." Spike looked at the older man.

"I go by Spike now. I haven't been William for a long time." Hank wasn't sure where that nickname came from, but he didn't say anything about it. They just sat there in silence, both thinking about the girl upstairs.