Chapter 18

One week later

Buffy sat quietly on the stool as Fred ran a comb through her hair; she hummed the tune of a song that she recognized from hearing it often in Spike's room.

Yes Spike, she knew everyone's names now, and she understood a lot more now, she knew what her name was and how to do tons of things like get dressed, eat, use the microwave, comb her own hair, use the television, etc.

She the only thing she still couldn't do was talk, at least not properly, she could make sounds but nothing intelligible would come out yet.

She hated that she couldn't talk to anyone, she couldn't write either, the pens and pencils felt awkward in her hand and she often broken them out of frustration.

Fred sat the comb down and stood in front of Buffy, "Would you like your hair down today, Buffy?"

Buffy smiled and nodded hopping off the stool and putting itin back in the corner of the room.

So much had changed in the last few weeks, she had been a fast learner when it came to most things, and was able to understand so much.

Fred had let her leave the white horror that had been her bedroom for two weeks and moved her up stairs with everyone else into a nice dark blue room. Buffy liked it a whole lot better than her old room and it was easier to find Spike from this new location, he was right next door.

Of course she spent more time in his room than in her own, she liked being with him, he was her favorite person in the whole building. Fred was her favorite person too, Fred was nice and helped her comber her hair even though she could do it herself now. Fred and Spike took care of her, made sure she was okay.

The other people in the building were nice too but they were never around, the other people worked in the building, she knew some of their names but easily forgot them because she rarely saw them, the four people that she saw more than the others were, Giles, Wesley, Harmony, and Angel. She didn't really like them all that much; Giles always looked at her with sad eyes and asked her if she remembered him at all.

Wesley couldn't seem to talk right when she was around, and he was always studying her as though she was some sort of fascinating object.

Harmony was alright, she was different than the rest, cold and pale like Spike and Angel, but she seemed a little crazy, and it made Buffy wonder what a person like Harmony was doing working in this kinda place.

Angel, Buffy didn't know how to describe him, he wasn't mean or rude, and he treated her nicely always trying to befriend her. But she didn't want to be his friend, didn't like the guy for some reason, she was civil of course, Fred and Spike always told her to be polite and to remember her manners.

Buffy followed Fred out of the room and stood patiently as Fred knocked on Spike's door, the door opened almost immediately and Buffy jumped into his arms, "Happy to see me I take it; your hair is down today, looks nice."

Fred smiled as Spike put on hand on the door frame for balance, "I was going to put it in her usual ponytail but she wanted it down today, did you reminder her about today?"

Spike glanced at Buffy who had now left his arms and was jumping on his bed, "No, slipped my mind, I'll tell her after she has some breakfast, I don't think she'll mind all that much anyways."

Fred nodded, "I'll send someone to get all her stuff packed up, will Giles be flying with you two?'

Spike shook his head, "No, he's going to stay here for a bit, I thought Peaches had already spoken to you 'bout all this."

Fred sighed, "Angel has been busy with new clients, he must have forgotten, well I'd better be going, don't forget to stop by before you leave."

Spike nodded, "We'll do that, I'm sure she'll miss you, spends half of her time with you when she's not hanging about my room, or watching Harm answer the phones."

Fred left and Spike shut the door, turning around. He stood and watched Buffy jump up and down on his bed before deciding that changing in front of this girl would not be the best thing.

"Buffy love, why don't we go on down to breakfast now, you must be half starved and I've got some news for you but you have to eat first."

Buffy jumped off the bed and smiled at him, breakfast sounded fantastic, she was incredibly hungry and he had some news for her too. Maybe they were going to go out together today, they never went outside together, in fact he never went out during the day, Fred was the only one to ever take her outside, Spike always had something else to do.

Buffy opened the door, rushed down to the kitchen and plopped down in her favorite chair and waited for her breakfast to be served.

Spike came in shortly after her, smiling as he entered, "Knew you would be excited, I'll have your eggs done in a bit, pet then I'll tell you the big news alright?"

Buffy nodded and waited eagerly as Spike prepared some scrambled eggs for her and himself.

Sliding a plate in front of her, Spike smiled as she dug in greedily, "now for the news,'

He sat at the table next to her and picked up a bit of eggs with his fork," Pet, tonight you and I are going back to Cleveland."

Buffy stopped eating and stared at him, where's Cleveland?

Spike seemed to read her thoughts and said," It's were Dawn lives remember, that's where she left for last week, same day you got lost in the building, do you remember that day Love?"

Buffy's face lit up, and she nodded. So that's where Dawn was, Cleveland. It must be a nice place if Dawn lived there. Dawn was a nice person.

Buffy liked Dawn, she hadn't spent much time with her but for the times that they were together, Buffy could tell that Dawn was a good person and she cared about her a great deal.

"We leave later tonight, right after the sun goes down, Fred's already sent someone to get your things together, not that you have much, I promise that will change though, once we get home, I'll get you all sorts of pretty presents. " he smiled as Buffy downed the last of her eggs and hugged him.

"You certainly liked the eggs I see, you go play now, don't get in to trouble though, I've got some things to get to before we leave, but I'll be waiting for you in front of Harmony's desk around 7, that's when we've got to be saying our good byes and leaving."

Buffy nodded and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before running off to find something fun to do.