Chapter Fifty-Two: Impossible Possibilities
"So," Buffy said, in the car as they drove home. "Why don't you take me home and then go spend the night at your crypt?"
"Why?" Spike asked curiously.
"Because." Buffy tried to think of a reasonable explanation. She couldn't tell him that Willow had asked her not to bring him home. "Well you and Clem could have a guy's night out, go to Willy's, play kitten poker."
"Right," Spike said. "Mind telling me what's really going on, pet?" She wouldn't have sent him to play kitten poker unless something was up. He'd had to, with Dawn's help, sneak out of the house everytime he'd wanted a game. She hadn't liked him playing with kittens ever since that first time he'd taken her with him.
"Nothing," Buffy lied. "I just thought that after class you'd want to go out and do some guy stuff." She knew that she had just blown it. Her words sounded lame even to her.
"Sure," Spike said. "Now is there something you want to tell me, luv? Maybe something about Red's call?"
"Willow just called to ask me something," Buffy said.
"Fine," Spike said dryly. "Red just called to ask you something and now you want me to go out and win a few kittens."
"Yes," Buffy said.
"Sorry luv, I'm not that thick. Now what's going on?"
"I don't know," Buffy admitted. She wasn't fooling him so she might as well admit what was going on. "Willow just said not to bring you home tonight."
"The witch tell you why?" Spike asked.
"No," Buffy admitted. "But will you just go along with it? Go to your crypt for the night."
"No," Spike said flatly. "Did it occur to you that this whole thing could be a bloody set-up?"
Willow would have said something," Buffy insisted. "She would have thought of a way to warn me."
"What if she couldn't?" Spike asked. "What if you're walking into a trap and I'm not there to help you?"
"It's not a trap," Buffy insisted. "Willow didn't sound upset on the phone. Maybe she just wants to have a girl's night out." Buffy looked around. They were almost to the house and she had to persuade Spike not to come in with her. Willow hadn't sounded panicked or even upset on the phone. There was nothing wrong at home. Then an idea occurred to her, "Why don't I send Willow over as soon as I know what's going on," Buffy suggested. "She can let you know what's happening and if she doesn't show than you'll know if we're in trouble." Spike started to protest but Buffy stopped him by saying, "Take it or you'll have the first shift with our doll."
Spike grumbled but didn't protest. He was not showing up at Willy's or any other demon hang out with a doll that really cried. He was already a joke among demons. He didn't need to give them anymore ammunition. "Fine but if Red doesn't show by midnight then nothing's going to keep me away."
"Fine," Buffy snapped back. They were at the house. Spike parked the car and they both got out. "Stay at the crypt until Willow gets there." She watched him storm off, then she turned and headed up to the house, wondering who or what she would find when she opened the door.
"I'm home," She called, walking through the door. She barely had time to close the door before Willow cornered her in the entryway and prevented her from seeing into the living room.
"Where's Spike?" Willow asked quietly, looking around for the bleached- blond vampire.
"I sent him to his crypt," Buffy explained. "But you have to go and tell him what's going on. So what is going on?"
"Um.." Willow looked around. "Right after you guys left they showed up."
"Who?" Buffy asked.
Willow didn't get a chance to answer because another figure joined them. Buffy gasped at who it was, "Riley."
"Hi Buffy," Riley said. "How've you been?"
Buffy stared at him for a minute, not sure if she wanted to hug him or slug him She did neither, she just asked, "What are you doing here?"
"It's nice to see you too," Riley said, amused.
"I mean," Buffy tried to say. "Why are you here? Last time I saw you."
"Yeah," Riley said. "A lot's changed since then." He looked at her stomach. "For both of us."
"Yeah," Buffy agreed. This must have been why Willow had called. If Riley had seen her and Spike together it would have resulted in a dusty ending for Spike.
"Come on," Riley said. "There's someone I want you to meet." They went into the living room. Dawn was sitting on a chair and an attractive woman stood up as soon as Riley, Willow and Buffy came into the living room. "Sam, this is Buffy. Buffy, this is my wife, Sam."
"It's nice to meet you," Sam said.
Buffy nodded and then glanced at Riley. He had gotten married. When had that happened? She knew that she was in no position to judge, though. She was having a child with a vampire, a vampire that Riley especially hated.
Riley sat down next to his wife and Willow joined them on the couch. Buffy sat down in another chair and put the doll she had been carrying on an endtable. She hoped that it wouldn't start crying. The last thing she needed right now was having to explain what she was doing with it.
Tara came in with a tray of drinks and some chips. She set them down on the coffee table and sat down on the desk chair.
"So how long have you been married?" Buffy asked. It was the only thing she could think of to say.
"Three months," Sam said.
"Wow," Willow said. "Three months, you beat Xander and Anya."
"They're married," Riley said, surprised. "When did that happen?"
"A few months ago," Tara said.
Riley shook his head, "A lot's changed since I left." His face turned solemn, "I was sorry to hear about your mom."
"Thank you," Buffy said. There was a silence and then she said, "So what brings you guys to Sunnydale?"
"Business," Riley said. "The Initiative sent us."
"You're part of the Initiative too?" Buffy asked Sam.
"That's how we met," Sam explained.
"Why did they send you here?" Willow asked.
"There's been a lot of extra demon activity around here lately," Sam explained. "The Initiative wants to find out why. They knew that Riley had contacts here so they sent us to find out what's going on."
"You mean me?" Buffy said.
"Yeah," Riley admitted. "They're really concerned about all the demons that have been flocking here. They think that something's happening, something big and they want to know if you know anything and how to stop it."
Buffy glanced at Willow and Tara. The Initiative must have heard about Drusilla's army. The interest in her army must be great.
"You know something," Sam said. "I can tell. So what's going on?"
"I'm not sure," Buffy stalled. "Not first hand anyway."
"You haven't noticed the increase in demon activity?" Riley asked.
"We've noticed," Willow said. "But there's nothing we can do about it now."
"Why?" Riley wondered. "How do you know that?"
"Um.." Willow tried to think of a reasonable explanation but she was saved by the electronic cries of Buffy's doll.
"Sorry," Buffy said. She picked up the doll and inserted the key in its back and it stopped crying.
"What's that?" Willow asked.
"I know," Dawn said. "They use those in health class to show us what it's really like to have a baby."
"That's why we got them," Buffy explained. "It's a kind of preparation thing."
"I hope you don't wreck it like you did your egg," Dawn said.
"That was different," Buffy said. "Those eggs were demons."
"So what does." Dawn almost said Spike but she quickly covered, "Do you think about having to take care of this doll."
Buffy shrugged, "We might as well get some practice being parents. We both need it." Dawn nodded. Buffy was right about that. Spike and Buffy may have helped raise their siblings but neither one of them had any experience in taking care of a baby.
Riley, who had been silent ever since the doll had started crying, spoke up, "Buffy, who is the father of your baby?" He looked around, "And where is he anyway?"
Meanwhile:
After leaving Buffy at the house Spike stormed towards his crypt. He didn't like leaving her there, going into something blind. He was tempted to watch through the windows but decided not to. If it came down to it, Red and Glinda could handle anything and if Red was even one minute late then he was going to the house, no matter what Buffy had said.
Spike didn't even bother to knock when he threw open the door to the crypt, a decision that he instantly regretted.
Clem and someone Spike couldn't see were in the bed that had been set up in the upper level of the crypt. Clem looked up when Spike entered while his guest pulled the covers over her head.
"Hi," Spike said, amused. "I'm not interrupting something, am I?"
"What are you doing here?" Clem asked.
"Been banned from the house for the evening," Spike said. "Thought I'd hang out here." He sat down on the couch. "You two just continue on with what you're doing." Spike watched Clem and his companion quietly talk.
Clem quickly dressed and got out of bed while his friend remained hidden under the covers. "Who's your friend?" Spike asked.
"None of your business," Clem snapped, annoyed at being interrupted.
"Oh come on," Spike said, clearly enjoying himself. "Who is she? Anyone I know?"
The figure in bed sat up, hugging the sheets to her chest, "Oh yes, William, you and I go way back."
"So," Buffy said, in the car as they drove home. "Why don't you take me home and then go spend the night at your crypt?"
"Why?" Spike asked curiously.
"Because." Buffy tried to think of a reasonable explanation. She couldn't tell him that Willow had asked her not to bring him home. "Well you and Clem could have a guy's night out, go to Willy's, play kitten poker."
"Right," Spike said. "Mind telling me what's really going on, pet?" She wouldn't have sent him to play kitten poker unless something was up. He'd had to, with Dawn's help, sneak out of the house everytime he'd wanted a game. She hadn't liked him playing with kittens ever since that first time he'd taken her with him.
"Nothing," Buffy lied. "I just thought that after class you'd want to go out and do some guy stuff." She knew that she had just blown it. Her words sounded lame even to her.
"Sure," Spike said. "Now is there something you want to tell me, luv? Maybe something about Red's call?"
"Willow just called to ask me something," Buffy said.
"Fine," Spike said dryly. "Red just called to ask you something and now you want me to go out and win a few kittens."
"Yes," Buffy said.
"Sorry luv, I'm not that thick. Now what's going on?"
"I don't know," Buffy admitted. She wasn't fooling him so she might as well admit what was going on. "Willow just said not to bring you home tonight."
"The witch tell you why?" Spike asked.
"No," Buffy admitted. "But will you just go along with it? Go to your crypt for the night."
"No," Spike said flatly. "Did it occur to you that this whole thing could be a bloody set-up?"
Willow would have said something," Buffy insisted. "She would have thought of a way to warn me."
"What if she couldn't?" Spike asked. "What if you're walking into a trap and I'm not there to help you?"
"It's not a trap," Buffy insisted. "Willow didn't sound upset on the phone. Maybe she just wants to have a girl's night out." Buffy looked around. They were almost to the house and she had to persuade Spike not to come in with her. Willow hadn't sounded panicked or even upset on the phone. There was nothing wrong at home. Then an idea occurred to her, "Why don't I send Willow over as soon as I know what's going on," Buffy suggested. "She can let you know what's happening and if she doesn't show than you'll know if we're in trouble." Spike started to protest but Buffy stopped him by saying, "Take it or you'll have the first shift with our doll."
Spike grumbled but didn't protest. He was not showing up at Willy's or any other demon hang out with a doll that really cried. He was already a joke among demons. He didn't need to give them anymore ammunition. "Fine but if Red doesn't show by midnight then nothing's going to keep me away."
"Fine," Buffy snapped back. They were at the house. Spike parked the car and they both got out. "Stay at the crypt until Willow gets there." She watched him storm off, then she turned and headed up to the house, wondering who or what she would find when she opened the door.
"I'm home," She called, walking through the door. She barely had time to close the door before Willow cornered her in the entryway and prevented her from seeing into the living room.
"Where's Spike?" Willow asked quietly, looking around for the bleached- blond vampire.
"I sent him to his crypt," Buffy explained. "But you have to go and tell him what's going on. So what is going on?"
"Um.." Willow looked around. "Right after you guys left they showed up."
"Who?" Buffy asked.
Willow didn't get a chance to answer because another figure joined them. Buffy gasped at who it was, "Riley."
"Hi Buffy," Riley said. "How've you been?"
Buffy stared at him for a minute, not sure if she wanted to hug him or slug him She did neither, she just asked, "What are you doing here?"
"It's nice to see you too," Riley said, amused.
"I mean," Buffy tried to say. "Why are you here? Last time I saw you."
"Yeah," Riley said. "A lot's changed since then." He looked at her stomach. "For both of us."
"Yeah," Buffy agreed. This must have been why Willow had called. If Riley had seen her and Spike together it would have resulted in a dusty ending for Spike.
"Come on," Riley said. "There's someone I want you to meet." They went into the living room. Dawn was sitting on a chair and an attractive woman stood up as soon as Riley, Willow and Buffy came into the living room. "Sam, this is Buffy. Buffy, this is my wife, Sam."
"It's nice to meet you," Sam said.
Buffy nodded and then glanced at Riley. He had gotten married. When had that happened? She knew that she was in no position to judge, though. She was having a child with a vampire, a vampire that Riley especially hated.
Riley sat down next to his wife and Willow joined them on the couch. Buffy sat down in another chair and put the doll she had been carrying on an endtable. She hoped that it wouldn't start crying. The last thing she needed right now was having to explain what she was doing with it.
Tara came in with a tray of drinks and some chips. She set them down on the coffee table and sat down on the desk chair.
"So how long have you been married?" Buffy asked. It was the only thing she could think of to say.
"Three months," Sam said.
"Wow," Willow said. "Three months, you beat Xander and Anya."
"They're married," Riley said, surprised. "When did that happen?"
"A few months ago," Tara said.
Riley shook his head, "A lot's changed since I left." His face turned solemn, "I was sorry to hear about your mom."
"Thank you," Buffy said. There was a silence and then she said, "So what brings you guys to Sunnydale?"
"Business," Riley said. "The Initiative sent us."
"You're part of the Initiative too?" Buffy asked Sam.
"That's how we met," Sam explained.
"Why did they send you here?" Willow asked.
"There's been a lot of extra demon activity around here lately," Sam explained. "The Initiative wants to find out why. They knew that Riley had contacts here so they sent us to find out what's going on."
"You mean me?" Buffy said.
"Yeah," Riley admitted. "They're really concerned about all the demons that have been flocking here. They think that something's happening, something big and they want to know if you know anything and how to stop it."
Buffy glanced at Willow and Tara. The Initiative must have heard about Drusilla's army. The interest in her army must be great.
"You know something," Sam said. "I can tell. So what's going on?"
"I'm not sure," Buffy stalled. "Not first hand anyway."
"You haven't noticed the increase in demon activity?" Riley asked.
"We've noticed," Willow said. "But there's nothing we can do about it now."
"Why?" Riley wondered. "How do you know that?"
"Um.." Willow tried to think of a reasonable explanation but she was saved by the electronic cries of Buffy's doll.
"Sorry," Buffy said. She picked up the doll and inserted the key in its back and it stopped crying.
"What's that?" Willow asked.
"I know," Dawn said. "They use those in health class to show us what it's really like to have a baby."
"That's why we got them," Buffy explained. "It's a kind of preparation thing."
"I hope you don't wreck it like you did your egg," Dawn said.
"That was different," Buffy said. "Those eggs were demons."
"So what does." Dawn almost said Spike but she quickly covered, "Do you think about having to take care of this doll."
Buffy shrugged, "We might as well get some practice being parents. We both need it." Dawn nodded. Buffy was right about that. Spike and Buffy may have helped raise their siblings but neither one of them had any experience in taking care of a baby.
Riley, who had been silent ever since the doll had started crying, spoke up, "Buffy, who is the father of your baby?" He looked around, "And where is he anyway?"
Meanwhile:
After leaving Buffy at the house Spike stormed towards his crypt. He didn't like leaving her there, going into something blind. He was tempted to watch through the windows but decided not to. If it came down to it, Red and Glinda could handle anything and if Red was even one minute late then he was going to the house, no matter what Buffy had said.
Spike didn't even bother to knock when he threw open the door to the crypt, a decision that he instantly regretted.
Clem and someone Spike couldn't see were in the bed that had been set up in the upper level of the crypt. Clem looked up when Spike entered while his guest pulled the covers over her head.
"Hi," Spike said, amused. "I'm not interrupting something, am I?"
"What are you doing here?" Clem asked.
"Been banned from the house for the evening," Spike said. "Thought I'd hang out here." He sat down on the couch. "You two just continue on with what you're doing." Spike watched Clem and his companion quietly talk.
Clem quickly dressed and got out of bed while his friend remained hidden under the covers. "Who's your friend?" Spike asked.
"None of your business," Clem snapped, annoyed at being interrupted.
"Oh come on," Spike said, clearly enjoying himself. "Who is she? Anyone I know?"
The figure in bed sat up, hugging the sheets to her chest, "Oh yes, William, you and I go way back."