A/N : I am so inspired to write fic right now, thank god for a little time off work or I'd never have time to write all the one-shots and new chapters and everything that I am so inspired to do right now! This is one of my fave stories to write and I'm so glad you, the readers, like to read it so much. Thanx so much to you all; kargrif, Ape18, Pulchra Nex, Freezyboncoolipants, Moonjava, Moluvsnumber17, Bridge, Xtremely-Canadian, Demonica Mills, Stephangel18, Rowan Rice, star2421, Brunettepet, funkydevil206, SlaYeRGiRLkaL, Hellmouth2, Daniel Wesley Rydell, DGtek-CrazyaboutAngel, CrazymySpike, BuffyandDracoLover, Arisluv, msberry, Anyanka0705, Magick, pixiecorn, velja, Archnemeses, rcagua, spuffy4eva, wigi, rrnrios, Spuffyfan4eva, neltie, amberblood, Melissa. You're all awesome! Here's the new chapter, not far to go now!
(For disclaimer, etc. - See Chapter 1)
Chapter 15
"Ah, hello Spike" Giles spoke uncertainly when the vampire appeared at the bottom of the stairs. The ex-Watcher had just been opening the drapes but quickly closed them again as Spike came into the room.
"Got those peepers of yours back to fully functional now then I see" he commented but Giles was far too amused by what this supposed evil creature was wearing to really pay attention to his words.
"Yes, indeed" he answered absently, taking in the sight of Spike who was wearing a lemon yellow T-shirt and something that greatly resembled a skirt of some kind, though in fact it was the comforter from Buffy's bed.
"I don't know where my clothes are or what size they'll be, and what I've been wearing won't exactly fit now will it, Watcher" he complained, "'Sides I'm not gonna embarrass poor Joyce when she's been good to me"
That surprised Giles quite a bit. Though he was naturally releived to know Spike was a non-violent vampire due to the chip in his head, he was a little stunned to realise that Spike actually seemed to like Buffy's mother and even appreciate what she'd done for him these past few days.
"Erm, I could fetch you your other jeans and T-shirt" Giles offered, "I believe they're still at my house"
"Very decent of you, Rupert...Why?" he asked suspiciously as the Watcher looked around for his jacket and glasses so he could leave.
"As you say, Joyce does not need the embarrassment" Giles told the vampire as he headed for the front door, pushing his spectacles onto his face as he went. He was gone before the Summers women made it back down the stairs and Spike was still standing there wondering what the hell was going on.
"Now, let's see about getting you that coffee, Spike" Joyce smiled amiably, leading him through to the kitchen, "Or would you prefer hot chocolate"
"Coffee's fine, thanks Joyce" the vampire smirked, liking the fact she remembered what he preferred, not just during his throwback phase but right back to last year when he'd come visiting. A little worse for wear and pining for Dru, the only person with any sympathy for his breaking heart was this woman, the Slayer's Mum of all ironic beings!
"So, um, I suppose Xander caught up with Willow last night" she said as she busied herself with making coffee and something for Buffy to eat. It was clear she just wanted a conversation and Spike wondered if perhaps it was to cover her disappointment about Giles leaving so suddenly.
"S'pose he did" he shrugged, "Maybe he's not as useless as I had him down for...but then I seem to recall you did a lot of helping Joyce"
"Oh, not really" she shook her head, "but someone had to look after the two of you when you were kids and dear Rupert was blind..." she paused shortly after mentioning his name, but forced a smile when she handed Spike is drink. He thanked her and was trying to think of something clever and maybe comforting to say about Giles when Buffy slammed into the kitchen.
"Well" he smirked when she looked daggers at him, "Aren't you just a little ray of sunshine"
"If I were you'd be dead" Buffy told him nastily, "So hey, I'll look into the change"
"You wound me Slayer" he said with mock pain, a hand over his unbeating heart, "and not twenty four hours ago I had you pledging your heart to me"
"That was a spell, and you know it" she snapped, sitting down on the stool beside him but making a big deal of turning her back as Joyce passed her a plate of pancakes.
"If it was just the spell" Spike said, leaning in too much for Buffy's liking "Why are you still wearing my ring?" he asked, unable to tear he smirk from his face.
Buffy looked down at her hand and squirmed uncomfortably.
"The stupid, ugly thing won't come off" she complained, making further attempts to remove it, "but don't worry I'll cut it off if I have to"
"You bloody will not!" Spike yelled and Joyce turned to them both with a frustrated glare.
"Stop it you two, right now!" she snapped, almost as if she'd forgotten they were adult-sized again now, though apparently that was not the case, "You acted more grown up when you were forced to be five" she told them, "Can't you just be civil for a few hours until sun down when Spike can leave?"
"Sorry Mom" Buffy mumbled when her mother's distress became apparent, "I just...he makes me mad"
Spike's response was an incredulous snort, but he duly apologised to 'Mum' too, as he finished off his coffee. Joyce left the room in silence and the pair she left behind shared a glance.
"You should go talk to her, Slayer, y'know woman to woman" Spike told her, "Reckon what we spotted between her and Giles in our tiny-tots phase might have been exaggerated but still real"
"You think my Mom and Giles are really...like, a couple?" Buffy asked, not sure whether she was happy or not about that. When she'd learned of their little time together under the thrall of the Band Candy she'd been disgusted but that had been mostly sex, plus it was over a year ago and she was much more grown up and understanding about things now. She smiled to herself as she thought that, says the girl who was five years old up until a few hours ago!
"Huh?" she said absently when she realised Spike had spoken to her again.
"I said, you might want to get that little chat in before good old Rupes gets back" he repeated, as he got up to put his now empty mug in the sink, "He's only nipped back to his place for my jeans, won't take him more than another five minutes, even at the speed he bloody drives" he rolled his eyes and without thinking Buffy did as he'd told her too and followed her mother upstairs.
The phone rang as Spike walked through to the living room and he picked it up.
"Er, Summers' house" he said with a frown, regretting his actions.
"Who is that?" asked Xander's voice and the vampire rolled his eyes.
"Who do you think it is, Whelp, the soddin' Easter Bunny?" he snapped, causing the boy to launch into one of his little, 'you've got a chip, we can kick your ass' speeches that were almost guaranteed to bore Spike into a coma before the end.
"Look, you called for reason, right boy?" he interrupted, "So tell me what it is and then bugger off"
"You kinda already told me what I wanted to know" Xander admitted, "You're back to your full-size annoying self so I guess the Buffster is back too, and if Giles has his sight back then we're a full house"
"Yeah, everything's just fine and dandy here in Sunnyhell" he said, some sarcasm apparent, "You found the little red witch then I guess?"
"Willow's with me" Xander confirmed, "She fell asleep half way back, I just pulled over to call and check the reversal spell had cleared up everything. Seems it has so I'm gonna get home"
"See ya when we see ya then I s'pose" Spike sighed, hanging up before the boy could say anything else, "Right" he smiled walking into the living room and making himself comfortable on the couch, his feet propped up on the coffee table "What's on telly?"
"Mom?" Buffy called uncertainly, pushing the bedroom door open and finding her mother sitting on the bed. Joyce glanced at her daughter and seemed to wipe away a tear as she beckoned her into the room.
"I'm sorry I yelled at you, sweetheart" she apologised as Buffy sat down beside her, "It's all been a little confusing the last few days, trying to cope with two small children again and Rupert without his sight..."
"You did great, Mom" Buffy smiled, "I remember you looking after me and Spike, and Giles too. I can't believe how well you dealt with all the weirdness"
"Somebody had to" Joyce smiled back to her little girl, who was once again not quite so little, "I'd almost forgotten how cute you were at five" she reminisced, putting a hand to her daughters cheek.
"Mom" Buffy complained, rolling her eyes, "I can't believe that happened, it was so crazy but, y'know I actually haven't felt so free in a long time"
"You and Spike certainly spent a lot of time together" Joyce fought a grin, "You and he behaved better together as kids than you do as adults"
"Yeah, well" Buffy sighed, "Once the sun goes down hopefully he'll leave town or something" she said, absently playing with the ring on the third finger of her left hand. It did not go unnoticed by her mother, but she had something a little more important to say to her daughter right now.
"Buffy, I need to ask you something and it's, well, it's not easy" she said uncomfortably, "The thing is, Rupert and I, well we...at least I..."
"Mom" Buffy interrupted, unable to stand anymore of her mother's babbling, "I know you like him. Me and Spike noticed 'when we were five'" she air-quoted, "Just because we're back now and we understand that hand holding doesn't mean automatic wedding bells, it's still obvious you like each other"
"Does it bother you?" Joyce asked worriedly, hoping her daughter approved. The situation with her robo-boyfriend Ted wasn't that long ago and then there was the last time she'd had dealings with Rupert under that spell...
"It's kinda wiggy" Buffy admitted, the look on her face enforcing her words, "I mean you're both kinda of an age and...well, I guess if you're happy I'll try to be happy for you" she sighed, "but please promise me you won't do stuff in front of me" she made a face and waved her hand in a random gesture on the word 'stuff'. Joyce held back a smile.
"I promise not to 'wig you out' with 'the stuff'" she said with a nod, "To be honest I think perhaps now the spell is over things might have changed anyway"
"Why?" Buffy frowned, "I mean, it wasn't a love spell or anything that was on us. We were kids and Giles was blind, nobody said we had to fall for anyone else. If that happened it's cos it would've anyway..." she stopped talking when she realised what she'd said and Joyce gave her a pointed look as the Slayer continued to play with Spike's ring on her finger.
Buffy followed her mother's eyes down to her hands and realised what she was doing.
"It's not the same thing" the Slayer squirmed, dropping her hands to her sides and then sitting on them to stop herself so much as looking at the ring anymore.
"Buffy, I know Spike is not exactly perfect boyfriend material" her mother admitted, and the younger blonde snorted a laugh, "but underneath it all he's a good boy"
"Maybe as a kid he was okay" the Slayer agreed grumpily, as she got up and headed for the door "but he is not a boy, he's been around like ten times longer than me, and hello! Evil vampire!" she pointed out as she opened the door to leave the room, "He means nothing, Mom" she concluded with as much force as she could muster before exiting the bedroom and closing the door behind her.
On the other side she took a deep breath and put her hand up in front of her face. The light shone of the silver surfaces of the skull ring she wore.
"He means nothing" she repeated in a whisper, before closing her eyes and shaking her head, knowing what a lie it all was. Softly she spoke the truth as she fought tears.
"He means everything"
To Be Continued...
A/N : Comments? Opinions? I always love to know what you think of my fic, so please press that button and review!
