Disclaimer: I will not claim to own anything of this story. Joss Whedon created the characters, Billie Letts wrote "Where the Heart Is", which this is based on.

Rating: This will be rated R! Sorry kiddies, but I like using inappropriate language.

Author's Notes: Hey kiddies! I won in the Mommy category for the Barefoot Awards, so thank you so very much! Sorry for the long wait. I'm just getting back into the swing of school, and just now found some spare time to write. Happy MLK Jr. Day! Be nice to people. Hope you all like this (longer) update, which is a series of vignettes. Kisses to all.

PS: Again, I don't hold anything against people from Alabama. I love Alabama people. Quite frequently, actually. ____________________________________________________________________________

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Chapter Fourteen- People Called Family

"Joyce! JOYCE!" Buffy screamed from her room, frantically throwing items of clothing out of her hamper.

"What is it, Buffy?" Joyce's voice echoed from the kitchen into Buffy's room on the second floor.

Buffy picked up a pair of panties, eyed them for a second, and then tossed them over her head.

"Do you know where my gray pants are?"

"The charcoal ones?"

"No," Buffy yelled back, "The light gray ones, with the flippy leg thingies!"

"The ones that Aurora spit up on last night? The ones you put in the wash but haven't taken care of yet?"

Groaning, Buffy answered yes, threw off the blue shirt she had been wearing, and went back to her closet. Now that her favorite pair of pants were un-wearable, she had to totally rethink her clothing choice for the day.

"Why don't you wear that cute green dress you have?" Joyce suggested.

"I so do not think so!" Buffy answered. "That makes me look like a hippo, and it's taken me three months to get the baby weight off, so I'm taking full advantage of my waist while I still have one!"

Three months had passed since Buffy and Aurora moved into Joyce's home on Revello, and with each passing day, the two women became more at ease with each other. Joyce realized that it was a futile mission to make Buffy put her dishes in the sink and to remind her to do the laundry, and Buffy learned not to ask questions when Clem stayed over for the night. During the first month, Buffy was walking on eggshells, always aware that one wrong move could put her and Aurora on the street. When she realized this, Joyce immediately put it out of her system, although she sometimes wished she hadn't, seeing how the young woman had a habit of taking hour-long showers.

A clean pair of khaki pants were at the bottom of her dresser, so Buffy threw that and a white cotton halter top on, added a little eyeshadow, mascara, and lip gloss, and ran downstairs.

There were errands to run before she went to work, that Wal-Mart job Mr. Price had offered her and that she had started two weeks ago. She had fixed it so she worked only four days a week, three to five hours during the early shift. That way, someone could watch Aurora during those few hours Buffy was at work without any inconvenience. Today, Joyce was opening the gallery late so she could take care of Aurora.

Simultaneously feeding Aurora her morning bottle of "Mama's milk" (as Buffy called it) and reading the newspaper, Joyce grinned when she saw Buffy run into the room. Clem, who had been preparing eggs at the stove, gave her a friendly nod before turning back to the stove.

Buffy drank a glass of orange juice as she threw two English muffins into the toaster.

"I don't know why you're running around," commented Joyce as she took the bottle out of Aurora's mouth. "You have an hour before work starts."

The muffins popped up, and Buffy ignored how hot they were as she sat at the table and slathered them in butter and jelly.

"I know, but I'm going to take the Honda to the mechanics to get the brakes fixed." Joyce had given Buffy her old yellow Honda that had been sitting in the garage for ten years, even though Buffy wasn't the best driver in the world.

Carefully, Joyce brought Aurora up and placed the baby on her shoulder, patting her back to make her burp.

"You don't have to do that," she teasingly protested, knowing Buffy thought otherwise.

Laughing, Buffy kissed her on the forehead.

"I'm doing it, and I'm paying!"

There had been only one fight between the two during their time together, and that had been over finances. Joyce had no problem paying for everything, but when Buffy saw how much it was costing her to buy diapers and the other baby stuff, she called Wal-Mart the next morning and asked when she could start.

Clem joined them at the table, bringing along a plate filled with eggs.

"At least have something else to eat before you go," Clem begged as he held out the plate to her. He was still very concerned when it came to Buffy's well being, especially seeing how little she ate.

As quickly as she could, Buffy shoveled down the eggs, and when she finished, she leaped up, kissed everyone at the table, gave Aurora a quick cuddle, and ran out the door.

It took a few attempts to make the engine turn over, but Buffy was finally able to get it moving once it did. Slowly, with every paycheck, she was going to fix the yellow Honda up.

Initiative Motors, the only place Xander recommended she get her car fixed up, was on the corner of Fifth and Pine, about three blocks from the Wal- Mart. The only problem was filling out the paper work and arguing with the mechanics.

Not even bothering to turn off the engine, Buffy jumped out of her car once she pulled into Initiative's parking lot. She tried to go into the front office, but the door was locked. So, Buffy resorted to going back to the car and leaning on the horn.

"WHAT?" screamed a voice from the inside of the shop, clearly pissed off.

There was now only twenty minutes before Buffy was officially late for work.

"I need my car fixed!"

"You're too fucking early!" the voice growled back, and Buffy could hear this person begin to make his way out front.

"Damnit! I have an appointment, and I need to get to work!"

"Like I care, I-"

The guy shut up when he finally emerged from the office, obviously dumbstruck when he eyed the customer. Buffy smiled when she got a good look at him. Tall, sandy brown hair, the perfect example of why people bother going to Iowa.

He smiled back at her, a shy one that made Buffy's heart melt. She got a glimpse of his nametag when he began to approach her. Riley.

"Hey," Riley said, his eyes drinking in the picture of this small, beautiful blonde girl.

"Hey," Buffy answered, a light blush tinting her cheeks.

At this, Riley grinned, and stepped just a bit closer towards her.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Joyce set the final breakfast dish in the sink, and watched for a moment while Clem loaded the dishwasher. Impulsively, she grabbed a towel and snapped it across his ass.

"That's gonna cost you," he growled lightly.

She grinned. "I'd like to see you-"

The doorbell rang.

"I'll get it," she offered.

Checking on Aurora as she slept in her baby swing, Joyce ran to the door.

Opening the heavy wooden door inwards, she studied the two people standing outside, the screen door separating Joyce from them.

"How can I help you?" Joyce asked the man and woman, noticing the plain, conservative clothing they wore, and the white Bibles they held in their hands.

The man spoke first.

"We have come to bring the word of the Lord to the Wal-Mart baby and her mother." His voice was low, colored with a deep-South accent.

Rolling her eyes, Joyce grasped the doorknob, prepared to slam it in the faces of these people. She had thought all the crazy people interested in helping Buffy and Aurora would have found something else to do already.

"Well, you've wasted your time," Joyce replied snottily.

"We've come all the way from Washougal, Alabama to teach the mother the error of her ways, and to ask God forgiveness for her sins," the woman continued for her husband (?). She adjusted the headband that kept her short, mousy-brown hair out of her face.

"Your God sounds pretty much like an asshole." Joyce had no patience with people who bad-mouthed her friends, especially someone who lived under her roof. "My God, on the other hand, is an understanding one, and is only looking out for their well-being. And, if you don't get off my property this instant, I'll make a phone call to my good friend, Officer Harris, who won't even hesitate to put your stupid, white-trashed, Bible-thumping asses right in jail for trespassing."

She began to shut the door, leaving only a crack open.

"Have a nice day," she sarcastically said through the crack, letting the door slam the rest of the way.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"I have to ask you something," Buffy muttered offhandedly.

"No, I won't grow any pot for you," Tara quipped, looking at the underside of the dogwood blossoms and not seeing the serious look on Buffy's face.

She finally did, and her attitude changed once she did.

The two were in Tara's greenhouse. Tara had babysat Aurora that morning, and now the two were going through and watering the specimens Tara raised.

"What's wrong?" asked Tara.

"Why did you ask about the pot?" Buffy first began.

"Xander asks me all the time. What's wrong?"

Setting down the spray bottle, Buffy walked over to her. She gave Aurora, who was bouncing happily away in her car seat, a quick motherly glance before she leaned in.

"You know that guy I went out with?"

Tara nodded. She had known Riley from school. He had been two years above her in high school, one of those jock guys. After graduation, he ended up losing his college scholarship and now worked at the repair shop his aunt Maggie owned.

"You know what I told you happened on the date?"

"You both went to a restaurant for dinner, right?"

"Well, yeah." Buffy paused, and began twisting a piece of hair around her fingers. "But that wasn't all that happened."

As she took it in, Tara's eyes went wide.

"You didn't."

Buffy put her head down, feeling very much like a child.

"I think I could be pregnant."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"You're not fucking pregnant!" Cordelia moaned, throwing a hand over her face for emphasis.

"How do you know?" replied Willow, giving the brunette the evil eye.

"I don't think Riley's sperm is smart enough to find it's way into Buffy's vaginal areas," quipped Cordelia.

Once Buffy had made her admission, Tara called Cordelia and Willow, and set up an emergency meeting for the girls and their kids at the Magic Box to talk it out. They sat in the back, closer to the building, gathered around the iron table, sipping on lattes.

"Joking isn't going to help now, Cordelia," Tara remarked, her voice darkly serious.

"Why not?"

When Tara didn't respond, Cordelia rolled her eyes, then adjusted her hold on little Meredith, the baby girl who was a week and a day younger than Aurora, who also slept in her own mother's arms.

"I don't know what to do," Buffy sighed, taking a sip of her latte.

"Did you use any protection?" asked Willow.

"Define protection."

Willow rolled her eyes. "Condom, diaphragm, bleach up the uterus right afterwards."

"In that case, no."

All four women were quite as they each contemplated what to say next. But, before anything else could be said, Anya walked over to check on them.

She opened her mouth, then shut it when she saw the deep concentration everyone was in.

"Is the coffee that bad?" asked the blonde after a moment.

Willow snapped out of it first.

"No, it's not that. We're just trying to figure out a problem."

"What exactly is that?" Anya inquired, pulling a chair to the table and completely ignoring the other customers she was supposed to be waiting on.

Cordelia was the first to speak. "Buffy fucked that Riley-guy who works at the auto shop Xander goes to, and now she thinks she's pregnant."

"And what does Miss Doctor say?"

Shrugging while she took a sip, Willow set down her cup. "Buffy didn't use protection, and it's possible to get pregnant right after giving birth, but it's too soon to tell."

"Ok, this happened to one of my customers a few years ago," Anya explained, "And we found this spell that may reverse the process."

Suddenly interested, Tara sat up.

"What do you have to do?"

Anya explained the details carefully. "Before the sun rises the morning after the first full moon of the month, the woman must jump backwards nine times, then drink a tea containing rosemary and chamomile."

"Did that work for the woman?" Buffy was on the edge of her seat, very hopeful.

"Well, not exactly. Not only did she get pregnant, but she ended up giving birth to twins."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"How does this compare to last year's release?" The young man held up a copy of a video game proudly featuring computerized girls in skimpy bikinis.

The smile on Buffy's face was completely fake as she stood behind the electronics counter in Wal-Mart. "I really wouldn't have any knowledge of . . ." she glanced at the title of the game, " 'Pimpmaster 4', but I could find someone who does."

"Is it true that it was banned from release in Italy last year?" asked the young man's friend.

"Well, I wouldn't know." Buffy glanced down at her watch. Five minutes until her shift was over.

The boy turned the box around, reading the game description on the back. "I heard that you get 100 bonus points if you shoot the hooker after you fuck her. When exactly are you supposed to activate the gun?"

This shocked her. "How old are you kids?"

"Fourteen," they answered in unison.

"Well, I don't think your parents are going to want you . . ."

"Lemme take over, pet," a voice from behind her purred.

First surprised then relieved, Buffy grinned as Spike walked over to the kids. He'd be a lot better at reprimanding them for their game choice.

"There's a better graphic definition then 'Pimpmaster 3', along with five different alternative levels. It was banned in France, not Italy, but the Italian government is trying to hold off the release. And, you press Alt-5- Delete when the hooker puts her pants on to get that bonus."

The boys' eyes lit up when the blond finished his explanation, then hurriedly pulled the $63.99 out of their pockets, and ran out of the store once Buffy put the game in a plastic bag.

"How the fuck did you know that?" Buffy asked, staring amazed at him.

He proudly grinned. "I do know stuff besides what's in books. Me and Xander play video games whenever he has a day off, and we've bought every single Pimpmaster the day they were released."

She rolled her eyes. "You're a pig."

Again, he laughed.

"So, here's my question of the day," Spike began, taking a seat on top of the counter when Buffy went around to turn the display radio volume's down. "Why are you, the most world's most ignorant person when it comes to items that require electricity, working in the electronics department for the day?"

Shooting him a look that would turn anyone to stone, Buffy began changing the all the display TV's to channel 4, while pushing mute on the sound. She hated when the customers would mess with the display items without any intention of making a purchase.

"Kendra got sick earlier today, after I promised I'd take Harmony's 5 to closing shift, so I got put here, in my own personal version of hell. Thank Goddess my shift's over."

Sighing, she walked over to the counter, and jumped up to sit next to him.

"Thanks for picking me up today," she said, collapsing her head on his shoulder.

Chuckling, he flicked her on the nose. "No problem, luv. When did they say your car would be all spruced up?"

"Tomorrow. That is, unless they find something else to fix and charge me for. I'll be glad when I don't have to go there anymore."

"Why's that?"

Buffy shrugged her shoulders, and sat up. "Just don't wanna fall into old habits," she responded cryptically. Spike raised a questioning eyebrow to this.

"Thought you and Mr. Whitebread-Repairman were a hot item," he observed, trying to hide the (was it?) depressed tone in his voice.

She shook her head. "Riley and I decided to take a break."

Actually, Buffy was hoping not to run into Riley ever again. The two hadn't spoken since their date, although Riley had called her twice.

Everything did turn out for the best. During her lunch break, Buffy ran to the bathroom, and found that ultimate proof of her non-pregnancy. That stupid little stain on her panties, the one that was going to give her Hell to wash out, saved her.

It was one week until Buffy turned eighteen, and she already felt grown up. She wasn't stupid enough to fall into the same trap she had before. Guys only seemed to cause her trouble, and she'd be damned if she was going to let it happen again.

Buffy looked at her watch, and saw it was five minutes past the end of her shift. Spike followed her as she checked out and left her apron in her employee locker, and the two exited the store and headed to Spike's car.

"So," Spike began, stepping into the driver's side as Buffy buckled her seatbelt, "No more Riley?"

"Actually, no more guys. All they ever seem to do is take my money and get me pregnant."

Absently, Spike started the car, and headed towards Sunnydale.

"I think I speak for the entire male species here, pet, when I say that not all guys are like that."

Buffy saw the hurt look on his face, and wondered why he would take it personal.

She amended it. "They're the only type of guys who would ever be interested in me."

That hurt look stayed where it was, and it might have been her imagination, but it got even more intense.

Unsure of what to say, Buffy turned her attention outside, staring at the dark streets they drove by, until she realized that they were heading in the direction of Xander and Cordelia's house, not hers.

"Where are we going?" she asked.

Shaking the pained look, Spike turned to her, a smirk replacing his moody attitude. "Whelp asked me to stop by. Needs me to help him with something. It'll only be for a moment."

They finally pulled into the Harris' driveway, a small strip of concrete in front of an old, but well-kept, two-storied house.

Buffy looked up and down the street, lit by street lamps, and noticed the various cars, most of them belonging to her friends, parked by the sidewalk.

"What's going on," she questioned, her own smile peaked by curiosity, gracing her mouth.

But Spike wouldn't respond as he walked up the front steps to the door. Despite the obvious evidence of people, the house was dark inside.

Following him, Buffy watched Spike open the door, and pushed it open. Only, he let Buffy walk through first.

She eyed him as she walked in, trying to find out his plan, but he only smirked at her.

The door shut behind them, and suddenly the entire room was bathed in light.

Joyce, Aurora, Clem, Xander, Cordelia, Meredith, Tara, Giles, Anya, Willow, and some guy Buffy had never met before, were gathered in the room, most of them (save Giles, who thought it was a stupid act) wore party hats.

"Happy Birthday, Buffy!"

Paper confetti flew through the air, and the group ran to her at once. Buffy wasn't sure who was hugging her, taking her coat, or giving her kisses on the cheek, because she couldn't see through the tears that had welled up in her eyes.

"M-my birthday isn't until W-Wednesday," she stuttered out, a cross between laughing and happily sobbing.

"Hence the surprise!" Xander led her to a couch so she could finish crying, and then gaze at the mountain of presents that had formed on Cordelia's carefully chosen coffee table.

Once Buffy had finished her tear-fest, she greeted everyone properly. Willow soon introduced her to Oz, the musician boyfriend she had mentioned before. He was just a tad shorter than Willow, the tips of his gelled red hair blue, and he causally shook Buffy's hand.

Tara and Anya stepped inside the kitchen to bring the cake out, while Xander and the males of the group followed to fix up some drinks. It gave Buffy enough time to grab Joyce and talk to her.

"You didn't have to do this," Buffy said, although she was grateful.

"Don't thank me," Joyce responded, "Thank Spike. This was all his idea."

Buffy turned to stare at Spike, who had just come back from the kitchen, and was talking to Willow. He saw her, gave her a quick smile, and winked before he turned his attention back to Willow.

Before she could do anything else, Tara and Anya re-appeared, carrying a large icebox cake from the Magic Box. In pink icing, Anya had written "Happy Birthday, Buffy: Goddess of Wal-Mart." Everyone burst into laughter when they read it.

The traditional "Happy Birthday" song broke out, and all Buffy could do was look at the faces of her new, mish-mashed, odd, and certainly loving, family.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

chrestomanci- Who's my bitch? You is, fool! So glad we're back together, even if you still need to learn how to shower. Alan Rickman is the best, even if his character in "Love Actually" was a total slimeball. See you in the hall.

Imzadi- I am a total Dru supporter, except when she's trying to ruin Spuffy moments or making out with Spike. But, with her as Spike's sister, I don't think we will have many of those. Except if you want this story to get really weird . . . Many kisses.

moxie fic- Thanks for the compliment. Hope you like this one.

FirstAidKid- In my book, Spike/Dru is badness. But, as I said, they are good in the friendship or sibling category. You rule too, and Happy belated New Year.

O'DOIL RULES!: Could you please just sign in, Amy? You are too lazy. Fine, OK, Seth and Summer are going to be together, but I still hope that Anna will come back next season to break up this stupid relationship. And, fine, Emma can live with you, but you will never be able to look at my Buddy Christ statue again, bitch! Love you much, and I miss you much!