Chapter 8

Buffy and Spike were sitting on the couch and watching another movie. The cat suddenly jumped on Buffy's lap and she smiled as she lifted her up. "Hey, Whiskers. Who's a good kitty?" She said to the cat and Spike had to smile also.

"She loves you." He told her and she turned her smile on him.

"I love her, too." Buffy said as she gave Whiskers a kiss and then placed her back on her lap.

"Do you know how adorable you are?" Spike wondered and Buffy blushed a little at the comment.

"I have a feeling you're not talking about the cat." She replied and Spike nodded.

"She's also adorable, but she knows that. I don't think you know how much you are though." Buffy looked into his eyes.

"I'm just not used to hearing that." Spike then leaned closer to her and gave her a kiss on the lips.

"You'll just have to get used to it then." He whispered to her and she blushed again. She turned away from him and looked back at Whiskers, who was now falling asleep on her lap. She stroked her soft fur as she thought about what she wanted to ask him.

"Spike, why did you agree to this?" She said and Spike didn't know what she was talking about. She looked back at him and saw the confusion on his face. She took a deep breath before she spoke again. "I just don't know a lot of guys that would agree to look after a teenager. Why did you?" Spike had a feeling she would ask that sooner or later.

"Because Hank asked me to. I saw the look on his face and knew I couldn't tell him no." Buffy nodded.

"So, you were thinking about saying no?" She said and Spike nodded also.

"At first I was, but I knew I couldn't. Then I saw your picture." He replied and she wondered about that.

"What picture?" He gave her a smile before he answered.

"It was your senior picture." Buffy then grew embarrassed.

"Oh god, I hate that picture. I was having the worst day. I can't believe he showed you that. I told him he should burn it." Spike laughed and then grew serious again.

"I thought you looked beautiful." Buffy smiled and couldn't believe he liked that picture.

"So, that helped with your decision?" She asked him.

"It didn't hurt. I'm really glad you're here, Buffy." Buffy agreed as she grabbed his hand and gave it a squeeze.

"I was worried that you would be a perv or something. I'm glad I was wrong." Spike laughed again.

"Yeah, and I'm glad you're not a little kid like I thought you were." He told her and she smiled as they both got back to watching the movie.

A few days went by and Buffy was sitting in Spike's room, with a worried expression on her face. She was clutching her stuffed pig to her chest. Spike knocked on the door and then walked in after a few seconds. He walked over to her and sat down on the bed. They both just sat there in silence, until Buffy spoke. "Do you think he's okay?" She asked in a soft voice and Spike nodded, knowing who she was talking about.

"I'm sure he is. Hank is strong; he can pretty much handle anything." Buffy knew he was right, but she was still worried.

"It's been days, Spike. He would have called me by now. You don't know how overprotective my dad is." She stated.

"I think I have some idea. He's probably just trying to keep a low profile. I'm sure he'll call soon." Buffy clutched the pig tighter as she looked up at Spike.

"I'm scared, Spike. What if something happened to him?" She whispered as tears started to form in her eyes. Spike moved closer and wrapped his arms around her. She then buried her face in his chest and let the tears fall. He kissed the top of her head and tried to soothe her with his words.

"It'll be okay, sweetheart. Your father's a fighter. He wouldn't let anything keep him away from you." Buffy nodded against his chest and he just continued to comfort her, anyway he could.

Two more days later and Buffy still hasn't heard anything from her father. She knew he could take care of himself and really hoped that he was alright. She didn't know what she would do if she lost him. She already lost her mother and she couldn't handle losing someone else she loved. She was walking out of the school and was about to head to Spike's car, when someone was suddenly standing in her way. She looked at the man that decided to grace her with his presence and sighed when she recognized him. "What do you want, Billy?" She asked with a bored expression.

"Just looking for you, Summers. I was hoping we could hang at the Bronze tonight. Unless your babysitter has a problem with that." He said with a smile and Buffy rolled her eyes.

"He's not my babysitter. Just leave me alone." She said as she tried to walk by him. He then stopped her by grabbing her arm.

"Come on, why do you have to be like that? I was only teasing. We could have a lot of fun together." He told her as he ran his fingers down her arms and she cringed at his touch. She took a step away from him.

"If I recall, we already had our share of fun. You said that was all I'm good for, right? You got what you wanted and then could care less the next day. I'm tired of you high school boys that don't know what the hell you want. I'm moving on to someone a little more mature. Sorry to disappoint, Billy." She said as she walked away and he let her this time. He then grew angry and yelled after her.

"I told you, I go by Ford now!" Buffy looked at him one more time.

"Tell someone who cares." She said as she gave him the finger and then walked over to Spike's car that was waiting for her in the parking lot. She sighed as she opened the door and got in. Spike noticed the look on her face and wondered what was wrong.

"You alright?" He asked her with concern and she gave him a small smile.

"I'm fine, just really tired." She explained and Spike didn't believe that was the only reason.

"Did that bloke say something to upset you? It didn't look like he was a friend." Buffy shook her head.

"More like a jerk, but it was nothing I couldn't handle. I've dealt with him before; it's not a big deal. Right now, I just wanna go home and eat a ton of ice cream. You do have ice cream, don't you?" She asked and Spike nodded.

"Just bought two tubs of vanilla." Buffy gave him a smile.

"I so love you right now." Spike blushed as he started the car and drove away from the school.