Chapter 2: A Place To Call Home

California

Young high school teens were enjoying themselves at the beach late at night. They were camped out miles away from any town or city so they wouldn't get caught with the alcohol they had. A bonfire was made in the middle of the beach, and all around the fire boys and girls were making out and chugging beers. This was how they spent most of there summer nights, partying and getting drunk.

"OH YEAH!" yelled a teen boy that stood up and chugged a big bottle of beer and then threw it in the fire. All the kids cheered as the fire got a little bit bigger when the beer was added. The boy sat down next to a girl and put his arm around her.

"I think we can say that you are buzzed." The girl said to the boy.

"You got that right babe…" he said with a smile, "Now it's your turn Buff…"

"Yeah go for it Summers!" a boy yelled.

Pretty soon all the boys around the fire were chanting the girl's last name, encouraging her to drink.

"Okay, Okay…give me one." She said and grabbed a beer from the cooler and drank it down.

Once she was finished she threw it in the fire and all the kids cheered. The girl didn't seem happy at all for her attempt to chug down the beer. She sat back down next to the teen boy.

"Looks like Angel's girl here is finally turning around to the dark side." One boy said, which made all the kids laugh.

The girl that went by the name 'Buffy' didn't laugh at the comment; she just sat in silence, a little embarrassed at her actions. She looked around at the group of friends she had and seemed a little bit disappointed. She knew that these kids weren't her friends, they didn't even know her, or want to know her. The kids Buffy sat with were the usually stuck up snobs of Sunnydale that thought a crisis was that they couldn't get a new BMW for their birthday.

"Angel…lets go." Buffy whispered to her boyfriend that sat next to her.

"Go? Go where? Afraid your dark side is starting to come out Summers?" Angel laughed and got up off his seat and went over to the cooler to drink another beer.

Buffy got up from her seat and walked away from the rest of kids and closer to the ocean. She stood there in the sand with Angel's varsity jacket on her shoulders and no shoes on her feet. Buffy looked out at the ocean in deep thought, listening to the teens behind her laugh and have a good time. She looked over to her side and saw a lifeguard tower in the distance. She started to walk over to the tower and going unnoticed by the group of party teens that she was leaving. Once she got to the tower she walked up to the ramp and inside the little lifeguard shelter. The shelter was small and there was nothing inside. Buffy walked back outside looked back out at the ocean and sighed. She shivered a little when a breeze came at her face.

Next day…

On the road Spike watched the scenery around him change from city slums to a Beverly Hills style of atmosphere. Spike's face was glued to looking out the window.

"So what do you think?" Giles asked glancing from the road to Spike.

"I think you guys drive on the wrong side of the road is what I think." Spike said.

Giles had to laugh at the joke. 'True' he thought to himself.

"This is a nice car…mid-life crisis?" Spike asked.

"Uh…well, no…however my wife thinks otherwise…" Giles mumbled the last bit.

Spike turned away from Giles and chuckled quietly.

"So what do you do?" Spike asked, "By your clothes you look like a librarian."

"That's what my son says…I'm a teacher." Giles said, "A teacher of a private school."

Spike chuckled, "I highly doubt a teacher could afford wheels like these mate…"

"My wife is a lawyer." Giles said simple.

Spike nodded, keeping his thoughts to himself ashe looked back out the window. "She know I'm coming?"

Giles looked from the road to Spike and then back to the road, "Uh…no." he mumbled.

"Well…" Spike took a deep breath, "This ought to be interesting."

About forty minutes later Spike and Giles pulled into a very nice neighborhood. Houses were aligned on the beach and gates were surrounding everything and had signs that were marked 'Private Property'.

The car pulled into a driveway of a very nice and expensive house. Spike grabbed his book bag and got out of the car to take a look around, all he saw was a lifestyle he never experienced.

"Welcome to Sunnydale." Giles said with a smile and shut his car door.

Spike gave Giles a nervous look. His bad attitude seemed to have disappeared since the time Spike was in the car to the time he stepped onto the new territory. Both Giles and Spike walked up the driveway towards the door when Giles suddenly stopped, making Spike run into Giles back.

Giles turned to Spike, "You know maybe I should go in first."

"Afraid of the little lady?" Spike asked with a smirk.

"No, of course not…just need to let her know what's going on…" Giles said.

"Sure…fine…whatever." Spike said and grabbed a cigarette and his lighter out of his pocket.

"Uh…" Giles gestured to the cigarette, "Umm…maybe you should think about quitting."

"Let me guess…she doesn't allow it." Spike said and stuffed the lighter and smoke back into his pocket.

"Well…yeah, besides it's bad for your health." Giles said.

"Really? Didn't know that. No one has ever told me…" Spike mumbled sarcastically and looked around the street.

"You just stay out here for a few minutes." Giles said.

"Don't have to tie me to a leash, besides couldn't go anywhere if I wanted…don't know how to drive in your messed up vehicle." Spike said.

"Okay." Giles said and opened the door and went inside.

Inside Giles home he heard the sound of his wife in her office. She sounded like she was really into a conversation on the phone.

"Rupert?" a voice of an American woman called out.

"It's me." Giles said and entered his wife's office and saw her with files in her hands and doing her best to balance her phone on her shoulder.

"Alright…alright…bye." She said in the phone and put one of her files down so she could hang up the phone.

"You really need one of those phone headsets dear." Giles said.

"Yes, yes I know…" she said while organizing her papers. She stopped and looked up at Giles, "So…how was your trip? Must be good since your back so early."

"Well…actually I want to talk to you about that…" Giles said.

"Can it wait?" Mrs. Giles asked.

"Jenny…" Giles started.

The phone rang and Jenny quickly answered it, "Hello?""

"Jenny…" Giles pleaded again.

"Honey, give me two minutes…" Jenny said and turned away to continue to talk on the phone.

Giles took a deep breath, "I brought the boy home." He stated. 'Maybe she'll listen to that' he thought.

Jenny stopped right in the middle of her sentence on the phone and turned to Giles with a wide opened mouth.

"I'm going to have to call you back." She said to the caller without looking away from her husbands face. She hung up the phone in a daze and took a moment to recompose herself. "You what?"

'Maybe this wasn't such a good idea.' Giles thought.

Spike had walked all around the front yard and driveway until he decided to walk around the parameter of the house and see how big the house really was.

When he reached the side of the house Spike had to open a gate to continue his walk. The path he was walking on was surrounding beautiful landscape, wild flowers were everywhere. When he got to the backyard he saw a large pool and many lawn chairs surrounding the pool. There was a grill and patio table with an umbrella near the entrance to the house.

Spike walked over to the fence to see out over California. From where he stood he could see the ocean and into the neighbor's driveway and backyard.

"Hey." A sound came from behind Spike.

Spike turned around and saw a boy about his age with a towel walk outside the houses back door. The boy had bushy hair and he was wearing a red T-shirt and blue swimming trunks. He was carrying a CD player and sunglasses.

"Hey." Spike greeted the boy.

Spike and the boy shared an awkward silence.

"Umm…who are you?" the kid laughed.

"Spike." Spike simply said, "You?"

"Xander Giles." The kid said and paused, "Okay we established we have odd names…so…who are you really?" Xander asked and set his towel down on a lawn chair and walked towards Spike.

"Your dad brought me. He thought it would be some great idea to bring me to bloody California and help me." Spike said and rolled his eyes.

"You're William Daniels?" Xander asked.

"Yeah…surprise?" Spike asked.

"Well a little…thought you weren't coming home with my dad…also didn't know your hair would be that color."

"I think your dad thought the same thing…he is your dad right?" Spike asked.

"Yeah…" Xander said.

"I didn't know…you don't sound alike." Spike said.

Xander laughed, "Yeah…he married my mother when I was really little…he's my step dad but he just goes by 'dad' to me…he's the only father I ever had really."

"I see." Spike nodded.

"Does my mom know you're here?" Xander asked.

"Uhh…no." Spike said and scratched the back of his head, "He's telling her now."

"Uh-oh…this is not going to be pretty." Xander said while looking at the house and then quickly turned to Spike, "But not about you…I mean…" Xander fumbled with words.

"It's alright…pretty soon it will be about me." Spike said.

"We better get out of here…" Xander said and grabbed his towel and threw it over his shoulders, "Let's head to the beach."

"I don't know…" Spike was hesitant, "I should stay here…don't want your da to think I ran off."

"Trust me, if I know my mom, and I think I do, they're going to be talking a while." Xander said.

Spike thought about it for a moment, "Alright…lead the way."

Inside the Giles's resident Jenny and Rupert were having it out about Spike's arrival.

"Rupert how could you do this!" Jenny exlaimed and then exited her office and into the living right behind her.

"Because it seems like the right thing to do Jen." Giles said, "This kid needs a family."

"But that's just the thing, he's not our family." Jenny said, "I know you were close to Niles and Lucy but we are not this kid's parents! We are Xander's parents!"

"What's wrong with letting him stay here? He could make a good companion for Xander." Giles argued back.

"The boy is a criminal!" Jenny blurted out, ""He stole a car! How do we not know he will do it again!"

"Give the boy a break. Give him a second chance." Rupert said quietly, trying to calm his wife.

Jenny paused and looked at her husband's face. She saw the desperation in his eyes that he wanted to help this kid.

"Alright…alright…he can stay. But I'm only saying this because I want to be the cool mom." She pouted.

Giles smiled at Jenny and walked up to her and kissed her lips.

"Things will work out once he gets use to Sunnydale." Giles said.

"But will Sunnydale get use to him?" Jenny asked quietly.

"What?" Giles gave her a puzzled look.

"Rupert you do know your neighbors right?" Jenny asked, "These people are going to be all over us for bringing him into this community."

"Jen he's not the Black Plague." Giles laughed.

"To these people he might as well be the Black Plague." Jen said.

"Jenny!" Giles scolded his wife.

"Oh you know it's true." Jen said, "But anyway…where is he?"

"Outside." Giles said.

"Alone!" Jenny yelled.

Giles and Jenny exited the house and found no sign of Spike. They searched all around the house and found and met at the front door.

"Well…I'm glad this boy is starting to change." Jenny said sarcastically as she looked around the neighborhood. Giles just simply turned his head and stared at Jenny.

"…you actually stole a car?" Xander asked as he walked beside Spike across the beach.

"Yeah…" Spike said quietly, "I don't really want to talk about it though…"

"That's fine…we can talk about something else." Xander said.

"So what do you do for fun around here?" Spike asked, "This place looks too innocence…too much like Candyland." Spike said.

Xander chuckled and puts his shades on as they continued to walk across the beach, "That's where you are wrong my friend."

Spike looked at Xander with a questionable face, wanting to ask what was sobad about Sunnydale but just dropped the subject. They kept walking together in silence.

On another part of the beach Buffy and another girl were sunbathing in their bikinis. Buffy was sitting up and reading a magazine while the other girl was laying flat down, basking in the sun.

"So…you coming to Harm's party tomorrow?" the girl asked Buffy.

"Not sure." Buffy said without looking away from her magazine.

"What do you mean you're not sure? You got something better to do?" the girl asked.

"Maybe…" Buffy said and flipped the page in the magazine and continued to read.

"What is up with you Summers?" The girl asked and sat up.

"Nothing…" Buffy said and sat her magazine down, "Just…I don't feel like another party…that's what we been doing all summer—partying."

"Yeah?" the girl laughed, "So what?"

Buffy sighed and paused, "Cordy…are you happy with your life?"

Cordelia laughed, "Okay, are you trying to talk to me about philosophy or are you're drinking in the mornings again?"

Buffy sighed; she was frustrated that not even her best friend Cordelia Chase could understand her.

Cordelia turned away from Buffy and looked up and smiled, "Check it out…Geek Xander Giles at eleven o'clock…" Cordelia squinted her eyes to look at the other boy that was walking with Xander, which was Spike, "And…some other hottie boy."

Buffy looked up and saw Xander Harris and Spike walking along the beach side by side talking. Buffy seemed to stare at Spike as he walked by.

"Hey Xand!" Cordelia shouted and got up off the ground.

Xander and Spike turned around when they heard Cordelia shout out at them.

"Who's that?" Spike asked.

"Uhh…if my eyes are correct, that would Cordelia Chase." Xander said and started to walk over to Cordelia. Spike followed close behind.

"Hello Cordelia…long time never see." Xander said once he reached where Cordelia stood.

"Hello Whelp..." Cordelia moved her eyes over to Spike, "Who's that?"

"Uh…this is Spike." Xander said, "He just moved here."

Spike stepped up to Cordelia, "Hello luv."

Cordelia smiled, "Well hello luv to you too…that's a nice English accent you got there."

"Thanks…I grew it myself." Spike smiled.

Cordelia giggled and looked back at Buffy who was staring at up the three from her blanket.

"Oh! Sorry I didn't introduce you to MY friend…" Cordelia said. Buffy got up from her towel and stepped closer to Spike and Xander. "This is Buffy."

Buffy and Spike stared at one another.

"Hello luv." Spike said softly.

"Hi." Buffy smiled a little.

Xander and Cordelia noticed the glances that Spike and Buffy were sharing with one another.

"So…you girls tanning again?" Xander asked.

"Well of course monkey boy…that's what girls in Sunnydale do." Cordelia said and Xander rolled his eyes at her.

"Whatever floats your boat Cordy…but I would put a hat on so your brain cells don't get fried too much." Xander joked.

"Shut up Xand and while your at it why don't you bury your head in the sand." Cordelia said.

Buffy and Spike shared an amusing glance with one another from listening to Cordelia and Xander fight.

"Hey you were the one who invited US over…" Xander smirked and started to back away, "See ya Buffy, still next door?"

"Yeah." Buffy smiled at Xander.

"Come on Spike my parents are probably freaking out about where you went to." Xander said and started to walk away.

"Alright." Spike said to Xander but turned back to Buffy, "Bye."

"Bye." Buffy said and watched Spike race up to catch up with Xander and walk away the same way they came.

Cordelia was gathering her towel and other stuff as Buffy continued to stare at the boys leave.

"Come on Buff…let's go, I can't relax after the geek got me so pissed." Cordelia said.

Buffy rolled her eyes and obeyed Cordelia and also started to gather her stuff.

"Man that Chase girl just knows how to get to my nerves." Xander said to Spike as the walked back to the house.

"You two use to go out?" Spike asked.

"WHAT! Never! Like I would go out with Queen C….besides…she thinks she isso much better than everyone else, I would have to be the last person on earth if she would go out with me, and even then I have my doubts." Xander said.

Spike was surprised; by the way Xander and Cordelia were interacting back on the beach he thought that Xander had a 'thing' for the girl.

"How about you? You seemed to be eyeing Buffy." Xander said and looked at Spike for his reaction.

Spike shrugged, "She's alright…."

"Just alright?" Xander asked.

"She's cool." Spike simply said.

"Ahh…" Xander nodded and smiled to himself, knowing that Spike thought of Buffy a little more of than just being 'alright' from the way he saw Spike staring at her, "She lives next door you know—Buffy does."

"That's cool." Spike simply said and seemed to avoid any mention of the girl.

"Yeah…" Xander nodded.

When Spike and Xander got back to the house it was already dinner time; both boys strolled in through the front door.

"Xander?" Jenny called from another room.

"Yeah mom it's me…and Spike!" Xander called out and walked in the living room with Spike.

In the living room Giles and Jenny were seated together.

"Where did you two go?" Giles got up and asked.

"The beach…" Xander said, "Nothing to call the cops about."

"We were worried Xander." Jenny said, "You two could have told us you were going out."

"Sorry Mrs. Giles." Spike spoke up to Jenny.

Jenny paused and looked at Spike, "You must be William."

"Yeah…" Spike said.

"He goes by 'Spike' mom." Xander said.

"Spike or William is fine." Spike said.

"Well…which do you prefer?" Jenny asked.

"Either, it doesn't matter." Spike said.

"Well then Spike it is." Jenny said with a soft smile of reassurance to Spike.

There was a moment of silence before Giles spoke up, "Well…now that we all have met let's get you to your room Spike."

"I'll show you it man." Xander said.

Xander and Spike started to walk up the stairs.

"So tell me…what's the story behind the hair?" Xander asked before reaching the top of the stairs and walking down the hall with Spike.

Giles and Jenny smiled at their son's question. Giles went up to Jenny and gave her a smile, "So?"

Jenny nodded and smiled, "So…he seems to be a nice boy."

"Xander seems to like him." Giles said.

"Yeah." Jenny nodded, "But remember…we can't forget why he's here…we're doing this so he can change his old habits….we can't let our guard down."

"Yes, I know." Giles said.

"So…you ever think about bleaching your hair?" Jenny asked with a smile.

Giles laughed, "Not bloody likely."

Jenny started to laugh too and both of them started to walk up the stairs to check up on the boys.

Later that night, Spike went outside by himself to have his version of a breath of fresh air. He pulled out his cartoon of cigarettes and lighter and started to walk near the end of the fence that looked over into the neighbor's driveway. He heard a car pull into the driveway and saw two drunken girls come out of the car giggling. One of the girls opened the back seat of the car and dragged out an unconscious Buffy.

"I swear she is so silly." the voice of Cordelia said.

Spike watched the girls attempt to pull Buffy into the grass.

Cordelia kneeled beside Buffy and tried to wake her up, "Summers…hey Summers." Cordelia giggled.

"Come on." The other girl said while looking around to see if anyone was watching them.

"We can't just leave her." Cordelia said.

"Come on Chase…she'll wake up soon." The girl said and got into the drivers seat, "I'm driving…you're too drunk." The girl laughed.

Cordelia looked at Buffy and patted the top of her head, "Bye bye Buff…" Cordelia got up and stumbled into the passenger seat.

Spike watched the car pull out of the driveway and down the street. He looked back at Buffy lying in the grass and he started to leave the Giles's backyard and into Buffy's driveway. He walked up to her and kneeled down.

"Hey…" he shook her a little, "Luv...?"

Spike looked around to see if anyone was around and when he saw no one he picked up Buffy in his arms and carried her towards her front door. He shuffled her in his arms and tried to open the door but found it locked. Spike looked back around the neighborhood and then back down at the Buffy and frowned when hesawshe was still passed out cool.

'I have no other choice.' Spike thought to himself as carried Buffy to the Giles's.

TBC...