Warning: I wrote this at one in the morning so I don't even know if it makes sense. I'm tired and I'm only half awake so sorry of this chapter sucks. As promised, the culprit is named.
Waking up
Spike hadn't even opened his eyes but he knew she was there. He could smell her uniquely vanilla scent and he could feel her warmth. So when he opened his eyes, all he could do was smile down at the sleeping beauty in his arms. Her blonde hair was sprawled out around her and over Spike's shoulders as he held her close. She looked almost angelic as she slept.
Her back was flush against his body and the blanket that covered them had dipped a little lower exposing a small portion of her left breast. That wasn't what he was looking at though. He was looking at her, the real her. The one that wasn't ready with cutting comments and had that look in her eyes like she was defying something. This was her with her guards down. She was bare, both literally and metaphorically, to him. She was pure. Well…
Buffy began to wake as she felt someone watching her. It was usually this creepy 'I'm watching you' feeling but now it was different, comforting. The arms circling her waist made her feel safe from the world. Safe from the horrors that was her life. And most of all, she was safe from just being.
Buffy turned around to face Spike and smiled sleepily. "Morning" she whispered lazily as Spike leaned in for a soft kiss.
"Morning" he responded with a grin. "Sleep well?"
"Unbelievably so; I haven't slept that well or been that relaxed in…well ever." He chuckled.
"Last night was amazing" he said tracing a finger along her tanned arm slowly, tantalizingly. "I mean the way you made it hurt in all the wrong places."
"You weren't so bad yourself" she responded cheekily.
"I was just trying to keep up with you." Her face colored visibly at the comment. "Okay," Spike said. "New subject."
"Please" nodded Buffy. Spike lowered his head to her neck and began to kiss it.
"Mm-hmm" he added. Buffy tried to stifle the moan but it escaped her lips. It was Spike after all. She's allowed a little moandom. (Me: I made up a word!)
"We really should be going to see my mom" Buffy said a few minutes later moving her head to the side to give him maximum room.
"Right, your mom. Joyce." Buffy nodded.
"Yeah."
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In all honesty, it took the new couple quite a while to get out of bed. But when they finally did, they knew they had to see Joyce and that they probably wouldn't be alone for a long while. They could deal. Joyce and Dawn were more important at the moment.
They walked into Joyce's hospital room at around noon with a bouquet of roses in hand. Giles was asleep on the other unoccupied bed in the room. He used the jacket of his tweed coat as a pillow. Dawn was already inside leaning on her mom and listening to Joyce read a passage from some kids' book. They had to smile at the scene.
Joyce had gotten back some of her color and she seemed more a wake. The drugs must have worn off. "Buffy" Joyce called spotting them by the door. "William. Do you know how to say hi?"
"Hey mom" said Buffy going forward to kiss her mom on the cheek.
"Joyce" acknowledged Spike reciprocating Buffy's movement.
Joyce smiled then crinkled her brow. "Are you okay?" she asked her eldest. "You're walking funny."
"And you're all glow-ly" added Dawn.
Buffy's eyes widened slightly as she glanced at Spike then quickly away. "Um…I just had a really great night." Dawn looked confused but Joyce got it. She just really didn't want the details to that story.
"Where's Xander?" asked Spike quickly averting his eyes from the knowing gaze of his lover's mother.
"He had to go to work" Dawn said. "Mr. Giles brought me here."
"Fast asleep now. Did you eat?"
Dawn nodded but said "I could eat again cause I know you're trying to get me out of the room but don't wanna say it. So whatever since I'll find out anyway." She hopped off the bed and grabbed Spike's hand. "So we going?"
"Intuitive bit size."
"I know" she smiled as she pulled Spike out of the room leaving the two elder Summers and the sleeping Giles alone in the room.
"So, mom…" Buffy tried but was interrupted a man who walked into the room uninvited. He had a cop's uniform on so maybe he was justified in doing so but still…Buffy thought it a bit rude. Not even a knock.
"Excuse me" said the officer who's name tag read Ben. "Are you Mrs. Joyce Summers?" another cop came through the door but Buffy couldn't see his name plate or at least not all of it. All she saw were the first four letters Clem.
Joyce nodded slowly confused. "Yes."
Ben took his hat off. "I've been sent here to ask you a few questions if you're up for it."
"O-okay, sure."
"Miss, I'm going to have to ask you to leave."
"I'm not going anywhere." Buffy's voice was more than a little defiant.
"It's okay" Joyce assured the officer. "She's my daughter."
Ben nodded before letting out a sighed. He twirled his hat in his hands. "Do you remember anything from the night you came here? Anything at all."
"Um…" Joyce thought for a second. She closed her eyes as if trying to recapture that night in her mind. "I was home alone. Dawn was at her friend's house and Buffy was off somewhere living up her college life. Anyway, I was making dinner. Meatloaf I think…yeah. It was." She paused as if trying to remember further. "The bell rang, I remember, and I went to go answer it and there was this tall boy there, very handsome. He said he was a friend of…" she opened her eyes. "Buffy's." the officers looked at Buffy strangely but said nothing. They didn't want this woman to stop telling the "story."
Joyce closed her eyes once more. "He said he wanted to talk to her and that she was going to meet me at the house which was true. She had said she'd have dinner with me. I invited him in, not thinking much of it. He seemed like a nice enough boy. He followed me into the kitchen and began ranting about something. I think I got scared and tried to leave through the back door but he saw me. He grabbed me and…that's all I remember." Joyce opened her eyes. Her throat had constricted a little and her voice was a little choked but she refused to cry.
"Are you sure that's all you remember?" insisted Ben. "I mean anything else would be a help."
"No, I'm sorry." Buffy put an arm around her mother's shoulders comfortingly.
"There's been a series of incidents like this. At least once a year for the past five years, this guy sticks. It's usually mothers and such. You lucked out."
"How's that?"
"You're still alive to speak about it." A moment of silence passed over the group.
Clem piped up. "Can you describe him?" he had a small notepad in his hand with a pen poised to write.
"He was tall, like I said. Light brown hair….brown eyes. This really adorable baby face. He told me his name."
"He told you his name?" the cop was almost incredulous. "That's weird."
"If what you guys said about me being lucky is true, I don't think he thought it mattered. He thought I'd be dead." The cops nodded.
"Yeah, um…Richard? No. Raymond? No."
"Riley?" Buffy almost whispered but they had all heard it.
"Yeah, that's it. Riley." Buffy's face turned grim just as Spike and Dawn walked into the room.
"It was Riley."
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A/N: okay, so I thought it was about time that updated. I would've done it sooner but I had these SAT prep classes and school and this accelerated college program and picking classes for senior year and stuff. My plate has kinda been full. After I take the SAT in like three weeks things should settle down a little until the end of May or early June when I have finals and regents. Blah, blah, blah. Anyway, not the point. I just wanted to thank all of those who reviewed. I mean I love you guys. You totally made my day and hope you'll do it again. Like how I throw that in there? Huh? Lol. Please review so that my life won't totally be about school and all the crap I have to do. Thanks. Until next time…bye.