Chapter 12

They got on a plane the next day and headed to Sunnydale. Buffy told Dawn that they would be coming. The first thing they did when they arrived back in town was go straight to the hospital. Buffy knew that her family would be there. She was right when they walked into the building and found her mother and Dawn waiting by the room that she assumed her father was in. She walked over to them and Dawn smiled as she went to hug her sister. Buffy hugged her back and then looked at her mother. Joyce walked over to Buffy and also gave her a hug. Buffy hesitated a bit before she hugged her back. "I'm so glad you're here, honey." Joyce whispered in her daughter's ear. Buffy only nodded as Joyce pulled out of the hug. She then noticed Spike standing behind Buffy and gave him a small smile. He was surprised and gave her a smile in return.

"How is he?" Buffy asked and Joyce brought her gaze back on her oldest daughter.

"He's still unconscious. They don't know how long he'll be out. He has a minor head injury and some cuts and bruises, but nothing too serious. The doctor said he should be fine." Buffy sighed in relief at the news and gave her mother a comforting smile. Joyce decided to change the subject as she looked back at Spike. "I'm sorry; I don't believe we've met." She said and Buffy could tell how nervous Spike seemed to be.

"Mom, this is Spike. He's my boyfriend." She explained and was relieved when Joyce smiled again.

"It's nice to meet you. I'm sorry about everything that happened. My husband can be a bit pigheaded. He just wants what's best for Buffy." She said and Spike nodded as he placed his hand in Buffy's.

"Well, we have something in common then. I love your daughter, Mrs. Summers. She means everything to me." Joyce gave a genuine smile and could tell how sincere he was.

"I'm sure you do. I know Hank will come around. He's a good man; he just tends to have a bad temper. He missed you terribly, Buffy." She said to her daughter and Buffy started to feel a little guilty about the way she left things.

"I'm sorry about leaving the way I did. I just had to get out for a while. I had to do what I wanted for a change." Joyce nodded in understanding.

"You don't have to explain anything to me. I was a young girl once myself. I just wish you would have talked to me, Buffy. I'm sorry if I made you think that you couldn't." Buffy felt tears in her eyes as she looked at her mother.

"I think I'm ready to talk." She whispered and Joyce gave her a watery smile.

"I'm ready to listen." She replied as she hugged her daughter again.

Buffy took a deep breath before she walked into her father's hospital room. Spike was waiting with Joyce and Dawn, so she could have a private moment with her father. He looked so lifeless lying there and she took another breath as she walked closer to him. She sat in the chair by the bed and took his clammy hand in hers. She didn't know if he would be able to hear her, but she had to try anyway. "I hate that we always fight, daddy. I just wish you could see that I'm not a little kid anymore. I'm sorry that I left the way I did, but you have to understand why I did it. I felt smothered in that house. Spike is a good man, dad. I know you would like him if you just got to know him. You'll see that he's the perfect man for me. It doesn't matter if he has money. The only thing that matters is that he has a good heart. He'll always be there for me." She whispered the last part and gripped her father's hand tighter, when she suddenly felt his fingers move. She looked up at his face to see that his eyes were now open and staring at her. She felt relieved when he gave her a smile.

"Angel face, you came back?" Buffy felt more tears in her eyes now at the name that her father used to call her when she was little.

"Yeah, I came back. How are you feeling?" She asked and he let out a sigh.

"Like I got hit by a truck. Nothing this old man can't handle." He told her and Buffy had to laugh at that. Hank then grew serious as he looked at his daughter, finally realizing that she was growing up. "I heard what you said, Buffy. I didn't mean to make you feel that you had to run away. I haven't been a very good father. I should have listened to you about what you wanted." Buffy nodded and felt that they were making some progress.

"I want to come home, daddy." She said in a small voice, but she wasn't finished. "I want to finish high school and be with my friends, but things are going to have to change. I can't live by your rules anymore. Spike is a part of my life now, dad. I love him and that's not going to change. I need to know that you can accept that." Hank sighed as he gave her hand a squeeze.

"I can see how much he means to you. I won't stand in the way of that. I just want you home, princess. That's all I care about." Buffy nodded as she got up to give her father a hug, trying not to hurt him. He wrapped his arms around her also.

"I love you, daddy." She whispered and Hank felt tears in his eyes. He couldn't believe how close he was to losing his daughter.

"I love you, too." He replied as Buffy pulled out of the hug. She gave him a smile as she wiped at her eyes.

"I'll let you rest now. You can officially meet Spike when you're feeling better." She told him and he nodded.

"I would like that." He replied and Buffy gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. She then walked out of the room and back to Spike and the rest of her family. Things were finally starting to look better.