A/N: Chapter 50 ! I can't believe it! Originally this chapter was so much longer but I had to split this up into two separate chapters (so hopefully chapter 51 should be out soon)! I hope you're all enjoying the story, I've definitely enjoyed writing it ! xo
Chapter 50:
Oleander was sat on his throne, it had the flowers of his namesake intricately weaved into the wood. He was holding a meeting, an update on where they were in the plan, "The Wicca is addicted, as expected. Bless her, so trusting in those that she shouldn't, will she ever learn, darlings?" He asked his audience, pleased she found Rak all on her own. He smiled with glee as he remembered how he had befriended her almost two years ago now.
"No!" they chorused.
"There shall be a visitor to the Ex-vengeance demon's wedding to the human, playing on their already embedded insecurity, I'm almost chafing at the bit to be there myself. Except, I have my scheduled dick appointment that day. Pity"
"O Leander! You shall be there in spirit! You are everywhere!"
"The key she is still so adamant to protect will die, doing what the little brat does best…" He smirked, he had everything all lined up. Saffron would be on her knees before the world was, alone and suffering.
"Our light in the dark, the hatred in our hearts! O Leander, we implore thee, rid us of its pitiful slander!"
"And, my dearest followers, my disciples of hate and truth, we have big plans for her and her delicious vampire" he cackled.
"O Leander! O Leander! May your eye see us through. May your presence guide us against this evil. For thine is the glory, the power and the sight. Rid us of thee, Honeysuckle blight"
"Now, for the slayer…" he muttered, making them all feel pain. A 'test' to prove they can stand it by his side. Stand it in the new world. He watched, enjoying it. Their pain. Their struggle as he planned the next few weeks for both his equal and her cousin.
Meanwhile, at Revello Drive…
The three siblings were tidying the house. Each helping remove anything magical that they could find so that their friend, and housemate, could try and kick her habit. This was already a struggle for everyone living in the house but the youngest was the most vocal about how unhappy it was making her.
"Candles?! We can't have candles?" Dawn whined, scowling. Saffron moved to side hug her cousin, avoiding her arm that was in a sling and trying to comfort her silently. Saffron had become exhausted, the ring was helping but the emotional turmoil in the room was starting to make her body heavy. As if she were wading through thick mud and this was before she even considered her own problems.
"Dawn, it's magic clearance. Everything must go" Buffy stated before looking over at Willow who had just walked down the stairs looking sorry for herself.
"B-but they're just candles!" Dawn insisted. Saffron catches her attention and winks, taking the candle from behind Dawn's back and slowly sliding them behind the cupboard in the corner of the room while Buffy was busy explaining herself and rooting through boxes. Willow pointed out some hidden items that the others had overlooked that had been Tara's before they moved onto a different room.
Dawn and Saff left them to it, with Saff gesturing at Dawn to follow her to the basement. On their way down to her room, Saffron had filled her own cardboard box of magical items from their hiding places around the house. Behind the sofa. In a lamp shade. Hidden in plant pots. Each time she snuck something out, Dawn's smile got wider.
"So we can keep it? We just can't tell Willow?"
"Or Buffy. It's true that Will's gonna need to stay clear of this shit for a while but it doesn't mean we have to go without. We'll keep it… here. Locked up" She pointed towards a trunk, much like Buffy's weapon's chest that would hold their smuggled items, "...and I'll get Spike to get a key cut for us so we can both have one" Saffron explained and Dawn nodded enthusiastically. She promised to keep it a secret and Saffron could tell how much she valued being included this way and 'allowed' in some sense to break the rules.
A small creak was heard and both recognised Buffy's footfall from years of living in the same house together as she entered Saff's room which was slowly resembling an inhabitable space again. Both girls instinctively stepped in front of the chest and their smuggled goods so that they wouldn't catch a hard time from Buffy, who Saffron knew was only doing her best to protect her friend.
Buffy squinted between them, able to tell they were hiding something - feeling emotions really was helpful sometimes. But, before she could ask, Dawn noticed what Buffy was holding. Dawn's eyes widened in horror as she realised Buffy was going to throw out her favourite statue, Kokopelli.
"Kokopelli?! No! I love him! And he was Mom's. Why do we have to get rid of so many things I like?"
"Dawn, I explained this to you. Willow has a problem. Like when we had to make sure no alcohol passed through this house after Saffron had her..."
"Alcohol addiction? Come on Buff, we've died and this is what you're bothered about mentioning?" Saff said lightly, smiling at her cousin who smiled back. She knew how Saffron was feeling. Her shame and embarrassment was definitely still there, but her determination was stronger. She didn't see the point in beating around the bush and not saying what it was. Buffy was being kind, she knew this, and now Buffy could feel she did too.
"Yeah, and now she goes out and even pours Spike drinks. So why can't Willow just get to that stage already?"
"Dawn, it has taken me a lot to get to that point. Some days, I can't go near alcohol 'cause I don't trust myself with it. It's really fucking hard so we gotta do everything we can" Saffron said, giving Dawn a look. Telling her not to push it, she had already helped her keep some items.
"Yeah. The next few weeks are gonna be crazy hard on her as it is" Buffy agreed, "What with recovering and… Tara"
"That's true. On that note, you wanna pass me Kokopelli and I can, uh, dispose of the statue for Willow. I know a person that'll take it"
Buffy turns away as she continues talking. Dawn rolls her eyes and turns to pick up the statue and hide it in the chest as Buffy's back was turned. They then followed Buffy through the house as she grabbed more items and filled more cardboard boxes.
"Any reminder of, of what it is that she's trying to stay away from, you know, could cause her to... give in to temptation" Buffy muttered, more to herself, "And that would be... bad" Saffron frowned, about to ask what that meant. It was clearly something more personal to Buffy but she didn't get a chance.
Dawn interrupted her thoughts by commenting on her new ring. She had taken her hand and had a good look at it, continuing to gush loudly about it.
"It's so pretty! Do you think I'll get a boyfriend that'll buy me expensive destiny engagement rings?"
"Not an engagement ring, Dawny, I've already told you-"
"Yeah, yeah whatever" Dawn so wasn't convinced.
Saffron looked towards Buffy, pulling her to the side to see if she would explain what she had meant earlier, "You ok, Buff?"
"Yeah, you know…"
"Yeah, dying was the easy part…" They left everything else unsaid between them, despite saffron wanting to press further, "Uh, Spike's coming over tonight…." Saffron said quietly, before adding, "Just warning you in case, you know. We should just be watching horror flicks though" she reassured Buffy seeing her horrified expression. Having to feel arousal (that wasn't your own) out of the blue wasn't great.
Saffron did like horror films. But her current situation meant that she was jumping at any little thing, making Spike tease her mercilessly any time she even slightly moved or flinched from her position on the sofa. They had a stack of videos to get through and Spike had told Dawn that he really would rip her head off and drink from her brainstem if she even thought about interrupting their movie night together. She was a little hurt, but she kinda understood. They needed their time. They were having another night adventure the next evening and so she tried to bite her tongue and not complain (too much - it is Dawn, after all). Saff was right though, she could count on them.
During the film, as soon as she saw Spike so much as shift positions Saff pounced on it, shouting about him being scared of the film. This, of course generated a delicious reaction from Spike that made her eyes shine mischievously as she attempted to continue teasing him.
"If I was flinching at anything it was the sodding cardboard acting in this film! Enough to put anyone right off their blood and guts"
"No, I think the Big Bad might have lost his bottle" she teased, grinning at his outrage.
"Watch it, love. I can easily toss your ring into the Hellmouth and start a new life in New York faster than you can scream merry hell"
"That was worryingly thought out, you planning a trip?"
"Wouldn't dream of it – now watch the flick would you?" she knew he wouldn't go. He wouldn't leave just as she wouldn't leave him. The pair snuggled back up together, with Saffron arranging the blanket to drape over Spike as well. She maintained it was to be cosy, not that he needed it for warmth. He hadn't protested though, he secretly (or not so secretly as Saff could feel it) enjoyed it when she wrapped them both up in blankets and cuddled up together watching a flick. Saffron kissed Spike's cheek as his eyes were trained on a particularly gory scene that he was enjoying a little too much. She weaved her hand through his hair at the base of his skull before wrapping her arms around his shoulders and leaning into him. She closed her eyes out of comfort, hoping he wouldn't notice and tease her for not watching.
It had been another hour, they were onto the next video and Saff was watching intently with her legs crossed under her. This film was about demonic possession and Spike had been pointing out all of the unrealistic parts. He had seen a few demonic possessions in his time and Saffron wasn't sure if this information was helping, especially considering she hadn't believed the 'based on true events' warning at the start. She was still jumping every now and again due to the way oleander had messed with her, but she was enjoying the fright from the video.
A knock at the door sounded out and Spike and Saff both jumped sideways and wrapped their arms around each other as if they could protect the other from the threat of the door. They both looked at each other with an eye roll and a smile as Dawn called that the pizza had arrived and she went to pay. They kissed softly, the others actions in trying to protect the other fuelling their kiss. It was soft, slow and their lips glided over the other, expressing their love for the other so easily.
They wouldn't mention this even to each other, the embarrassment of appearing so worried for the other was enough to tell them not to talk about it. They knew the first thing both of them would reach for when they were expecting a fight was each other.
They settled back in on the movie, taking slices of pizza as their eyes were glued to the screen. Saffron nestled into Spike's side and Spike eventually (when he had eaten almost the whole pizza despite it holding no nutritional value for him) wrapped his arms back around Saff. They sat happily, both commenting on things they found unrealistic or just plain funny. Saffron had finally started to relax.
That was until about a couple of hours later when Saffron felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise. There was something evil afoot. Then she saw it. Something so horrible, so disgusting that Saffron couldn't speak for what felt like an entire minute as she was in so much shock.
Saffron then managed to scream, her voice pitched higher than it had ever been. At this, Spike jumped. His concern spreading across his features as he tried to figure out if it was Oleander or a different demon. Saffron started to shakily point to the far corner where there was a… large spider scuttling towards them.
"What the bloody-?!" Spike started, before he looked in the direction she was pointing.
"Get it, Spike, fucking get it!" Saff screamed, finally finding her voice again. She then proceeded to use Spike as a human shield. He rolled his eyes, shoved his boots back on and went towards the creature. He started to line up his boot and quickly stamp down onto the carpet, near missing the spider as it darted away from him. He tried to stamp again but Saffron shouted, making him face her, "You can't kill it!" She screamed pulling him back. They start to squabble over how best to remove it from the room as Saff insisted that the spider should be safely taken outside.
"This aint the time to get precious, pet" he warned, "I've seen you take out three vamps in one go so spare me the bloody guilt trip!"
"Evil, nasty, ugly little creatures" She shuddered looking around for the spider, "But still innocent"
"And how exactly do we determine the innocence of a being, roll the dice? Flip a bloody coin?" He asked, exasperated. Dawn came in while they were squabbling with an empty jar and some card. She struggled with her cast on but managed to get the spider into the jar.
"I have a special direct line to the powers, they dish the guilt out unevenly, take it up with them!"
"No need! I got it!" Dawn called, taking the spider she had collected to the back door and setting it free. The pair looked up from their argument and Saff exhaled a breath she hadn't realised that she had been holding at the fear of the spider. She couldn't explain it, she could handle any demon that Sunnydale threw at her, but bugs? Spiders? They can absolutely fuck off.
Dawn walked back in as they muttered their thanks for removing it. Dawn then proceeded to try to convince them she should watch seeing as she saved them. They shout no at the same time and turn to face each other and grin. They begin to gaze into each others eyes, not hearing Dawn's very convincing arguments why she should stay. She groaned in annoyance and stormed out.
They settled back into each other for the night. Saff admired her ring as she sat and Spike managed to peel his eyes away from the gore for a moment to ask, "You like it then?"
"Love it. Almost as much as I love you" She smiled, leaving a soft trail of kisses along his jaw line, before meeting his lips enthusiastically. They watch movies until the early hours, before falling asleep on top of each other on the couch.
xoxoxo
The next morning, Spike had tucked Saff in the blankets and set to work in the kitchen, using all his vampire stealth to be very quiet. However, all the pots and pans had been put away wrong and were waiting for someone to open the cabinet to all come tumbling out, "Bloody hell!" He muttered. Then cursed silently to himself and paused, making sure she was still sleeping soundly in the other room. But she wasn't. She was looking at him confusedly from the doorway. He was going to make her breakfast in bed, but she caught him, he explained somewhat sheepishly.
"You were going to make me breakfast in bed? What do you want?" She asked, mock-suspiciously. He replied by giving her a suggestive smirk that she almost missed as she turned to make herself a coffee, a task she could do with her eyes closed. She also started to warm up Spike some blood without him having to ask. He started to make pancakes over the hob. He had gotten good at it, making them for Dawn while Saff was dead.
The microwave pinged and she took out the mug of blood, sprinkling a bit of pepper in there, hoping it would be a substitute for burbaweed as they didn't have any left. She set their mugs down on the counter, wrapping her arms around her vampire as he concentrated on the cooking. She hugged him from behind, resting her cheek against his back. The pair relaxed at the touch.
Spike turned around and pecked her on the lips, flipping the pancake with ease. He had a smug smile on his face, showing off at how well he could flip them. She praised him softly, allowing him to smirk further as she took the mug from the counter, popping a straw in it and held it in front of him. One hand slid up his back softly before she realised he was a bit busy with the cooking. She took the straw between her fingers, moving it to his lips and smiling brightly as she offered him the drink. His lips caught the straw and he started to drink hungrily. Their eyes connected. It was so domestic they could cry. She softly stroked the side of his cheek as he drank. He took the mug from her, setting it back on the counter.
"What would I do without you pet?"
"Oh, I don't know… I can see you making a nice cosy life with Mr Jack Daniels" She teased as she leaned up and left tiny kisses across his shoulder and up to the side of his neck, "I really love you, Spike" she hummed softly as she trailed more kisses.
They kissed softly, their lips moving over each other in perfect sync, as if it were a prayer they had could recite by heart. It was sacred. Their kiss a litany of their shared affections. They kissed sensually with such passion as if worshipping the other. Their devotion to the other never once in question. Saff looped her arms around his neck, her lips brushing against his. His hand slid down her chest lightly as she nipped lovingly here and there. They shared such soft, languid kisses that they were glowing with the love that they were professing through their actions. He threaded his hand through her chestnut hair, softly cradling the back of her head as the pancakes were long forgotten.
They hadn't come up for air since half an hour ago when they were parted by force by Buffy and Dawn when the fire alarm had gone off. They had forgotten about breakfast, entranced with each other. Saffron had been sat on the kitchen counter, Spike stood between her legs. One hand was resting on her thigh and the other on her waist. She had looped her arms around his neck again as they kissed languidly, their lips gliding over the others as if there was nobody there with them.
Dawn was trying to eat some toast but she was chewing slowly, staring through a cloud of smoke. She had been woken up early by the fire alarm and had decided it was safer to make her own breakfast. Xander walked in, looking puzzled at the smoke and the couple and then at Dawn questioningly. He had come to pick her up from school, but they were late again.
"They've been like this for ages, ever since Spike gave Saff the so-not-an-engagement-ring ring" Dawn explained.
"What's the occasion?"
"Love" Dawn shrugged, taking another bite of toast.
"And the smoke?"
"Oh we all went to the dealer last night and smoked up a storm" Dawn deadpanned, before scowling at Willow who was walking past as she said the word 'dealer'.
"That was creepy, Dawnster, it was almost as if SP was in the room with us" They both looked at the pair. Wherever they were, it wasn't in the room with them. Their bliss was evident, "What's the real reason?"
"They were making pancakes, but they forgot what with the smooching. The fire alarm went off and they didn't break apart until we shouted!" Dawn spoke louder as she went back to look at the pair. But they hadn't noticed, Saff and Spike all over each other since the gift.
"God, I need to get Anya one of those!" Xander muttered.
"She's already got an engagement ring, can't you keep a little of that momentum?" Buffy asked before shouting loudly towards the pair, "Morning!" saff mumbled something that sounded like a reply whereas Spike ignored the others completely. Dawn ignored Buffy, still not happy about being made to get rid of all her magic stuff.
Saffron finally came up for air, much to Spike's annoyance. He almost whined when her lips moved from his skin, but he righted himself as he remembered there were people around. Instead he decided to leave some soft kisses against her pulse-point as she looked up at the room in a daze.
"Buff, why are you dressed as a nun?" Saffron frowned, Buffy had been dressing more conservatively lately but this was something else. A shapeless turtleneck under several layers and a long skirt.
"Social services are coming, remember?" Buffy reminded her.
"Ah crap, that's today?" Saffron said, softly weaving her fingers between Spike's hair as he focused on pressing single, soft kisses to the mark on her neck.
"I thought it was yesterday but, uh, yeah, today" Buffy frowned and Saffron nodded, about to turn back to Spike. But then she noticed the mood that Dawn was in. She felt hard-done by and she was taking it out on Willow and Buffy. Saff stroked Spike's hair absentmindedly as his lips continued to ever so softly caress the side of her neck, as she kept an eye on the scene in front of her.
Dawn was being short with Willow. And Buffy for that matter. Snapping and scowling. Cradling her injured arm. Saff frowned at her but Dawn just shrugged as if she didn't care. "You ok?" Saff mouthed. Dawn just shrugged, stalking to the front door as Buffy tried to talk to her.
Saffron stared at the doorway the others had just gone through a light frown as she thought about another rousing speech that she would have to make to Dawn about life being tough but getting through it. She was starting to turn into the flowery speech maker she once made fun of Buffy for being. Guess being the world's true sight changes a person. That thought made her shudder, over her dead body would she be changing. She didn't have to think of that long though, as Spike was pressing languid kisses along her collarbone, hoping to retain some of the affection he had been getting before the others had barged in and distracted her.
Saff checked the clock on the wall, they probably had time before social services comes to the door she decided and seeing as everyone was leaving and Willow was going for a nap (the girl slept like a log so they could have some privacy)...
The pair looked at each other for split second, the glint in their eyes matching as Spike smirked at his girl. Spike pulled her flush to him, sliding her off the counter top and took her into the living room. His lips were on hers as he carried her and they kissed heatedly. The heat rising between them. A demanding embrace as Spike sat back on the sofa, pulling Saff into him possessively. They were glued to each other, hot and fast.
Spike sat back on the chair, pulling Saff with him, landing her on his lap. She was straddling him, she took a hand and slid it up the side of his face, grasping some of the short bleach blonde hair at the back of his head. His eyes closed as she did this and she started to leave steamy kisses along the other side of his neck, sucking on a spot on the side of his neck, making a mark in the way he had marked her so many years ago. She carried on like this, stopping only to whisper every now and again. Spike had his hands on either of Saff's thighs, massaging them as she continued to kiss him. Saffron moved a hand from his chest, the other still in his hair, to reach between both of their legs, moving her hand at a steady pace and eliciting a guttural moan from Spike's lips. She smirked, as his head moved back and their eyes locked, both darkened with lust. Their lips were about to meet in another open-mouthed kiss but they were quickly snapped out of their moment.
The pair hadn't heard the door go, allowing Mrs Kroger, the social worker to enter. Buffy had shown her to the living room. A loud cough broke the lovers apart and Saffron stared wide-eyed at the older woman standing next to Buffy, having been caught in the act.
"Do you bloody mind!?" Spike said, his tone threatening as he looked between the slayer and the old hag. He gestured for them to fuck off so Saff could get back to her earlier position. She was even more appreciative than usual considering the gift he had bought her. He knew it was the meaning behind it that and the ring doing its job and helping with her pain, leaving her happy to enjoy other activities. He didn't bloody care what the reasoning behind it was, he was enjoying it. Enjoying her. He wished Sunnydale would let them be like this all of the time.
"Shit, hi" Saff said, eyes wide. Spike frowned, he hadn't been listening in the kitchen. He had been thinking of other things, "Social" Saff whispered just enough for him to hear. Buffy introduced everyone as Saff slid off Spike's lap, wiping her hand on the back of her jeans and then offering it to the woman as a greeting. Mrs Kroger used her pen to move her hand down to her side. She didn't know where exactly that hand had been. Spike got up too, draping an arm around Saff's shoulder standing behind her slightly. Buffy rolled her eyes at the pair as the woman pulled a horrified face at the lovers. This wasn't going to go well.
"Do I, um, do I smell burning?" The woman sniffed the air.
"Small mishap, Buffy was busy patro- uh, cleaning… so I tried my hand at cooking. Each day I'm improving!"
"Ah, a risk to the child's safety, all in the name of improvement. Interesting"
"Uh, well-" Saff started to explain, but she was quickly cut off again.
"Is someone sleeping in here?" The woman asked, looking around at the blankets still balled up on the sofa and the stray boxes.
"Oh, that would be me" Saffron smiled, she was sort of living between several places at the moment.
"I offered to put her up in my crypt but she doesn't like the carpet bu-" Saffron shoved an elbow into Spike's ribs making him yelp and glare at her, shrugging. He didn't like this old bint and if he could, he would definitely find a fitting end for such a miserable woman.
"Crypt?" Mrs Kroger coughed, appalled.
"Crib! He means crib!" Buffy cut in. She appeared panicked, "You know kids today and their buggin' street slang"
"Exactly how many people are living here, Ms Summers?"
"Dawn, Saff and me. Just us. We're sisters and, uh, we share the looking-after-of-Dawn"
"You share responsibility and yet she is still frequently absent? Interesting" The woman wrote something down on her notepad before looking up, "I would also like to point out that it says here that Ms. Page is your, um, cousin. British nationality, dual citizenship. Not your sister"
"Like a sister. We all grew up together"
"We've also had an anonymous tip-off to make us aware that you are an alcoholic and therefore are not fit to care for a dependent such as Dawn-"
"Wh-"
"-You have suffered numerous bereavements, you have not received any counselling or treatment and you appear to let criminals into your life and, most importantly, Dawn's life" She said criminals with disdain, a pointed look at Spike as she said it.
"What a pretty bit of paper you got there. Do me now" Spike said, a fake excitement on his face.
"It says all that?" Saffron asked sadly, as Spike's jaw tensed at how this woman had made his girl feel. They had both been in such a good mood.
"Look, Saff's- she's- she's really great with Dawn. I couldn't do any of this without her here" Buffy said, a tight smile for her cousin.
"Yeah she's had a rough lot in life, doesn't mean she can't care for the girl!"
"I'm sober and staying that way. If I thought I was a danger to Dawn I would leave"
"Believe me, she's tried it" Buffy muttered.
"So you have been a danger to Dawn in the past?" The woman asked. Saffron looked panic-stricken, Buffy didn't have an answer for that without getting into the whole Key, prophecy of the Three, drinking incident and so she just opened and closed her mouth like a goldfish. Spike decided he had better speak up.
"Saff's a great Mum! And uh, Buffy- Buffy's a bit of a bore with the rules and all that but she's proper no-nonsense" Spike said, nodding along with himself and winking at the slayer as she pulled a horrified look when he brought her parenting skills up as well. She had to give him points for trying though, he was sticking up for them all. In his own way. He launched into a speech, "Saffron might have taken a wrong turn here or there but she takes good care of her little sis. Like, um, when Dawn was bunking off, she went straight down the school to sort it, she would sacrifice anything for the girl. In a heartbeat!" Spike pointed at the woman for emphasis as Mrs Kroger smiled awkwardly.
"Spike!" Saffron whispered as he finished, "That's so sweet!" She gazed up at him, a grateful smile as he pecked her cheek before returning the loving gaze. They were definitely on another level of loved up and they couldn't escape it. They didn't want to.
"So that's three people living in the house then" the woman said, snapping the pair out of their love-trance.
"Yeah, Spike so does not live here. I'm working on getting him un-invited" Buffy smiled sweetly as the older woman frowned. Spike glared, after all he said in favour of that bitch.
"Buffy I'm going to take a shower before I get my head down for that nap!" Willow called from upstairs. This couldn't have gone any worse. Buffy had to quickly explain that Willow lived there too, implying that she lived with a woman before having to explain she wasn't gay, not that there was anything wrong with that. Buffy's panicked babbling didn't look good. Saffron was focusing on the old woman, trying to influence her emotions.
"I can't influence her. It's like she's made of bloody stone" Saffron hissed at Spike. She was frowning, really trying to get something from the woman. Even a little flicker of care or a change in attitude. While Buffy was babbling, the social worker noticed the box full of magical stuff that was supposed to be thrown out. She tentatively picked up a plastic bag containing green herbs.
"You know, I know what that looks like, but I- I swear, it's not... what it looks like" Buffy hurriedly snatched the bag off the woman and chucked it back in the box, "It's not mine" Buffy added lamely when she saw the woman was unconvinced.
"Actually… I think that's mine!" Saff smiled, taking it from the box and pocketing it. All her stuff had gotten mixed up in the boxes they were getting rid of for Willow. Buffy gave her a look and she caught up with what it looked like, "Oh, uh, it's not weed! It's like, magic weed… for spe- spinach focaccia. New recipe. I'm getting good at the cooking thing slowly… Pancakes burn but spinach pasta is forever!" The woman looked horrified, but she would have looked more horrified if Saffron had said it as for spell casting. The woman was about to lose it, Saff could feel it. It was an obvious cover up and to make matters worse, the cover up wasn't even convincing. Saffron didn't know what focaccia was.
"I think I've seen enough" She turns to leave and the two girls hurried after her.
"No, a-actually, I really don't think that you have. It's just... i-it's been kind of, kind of a, a bad time"
"It's been a bad time now for a while, hasn't it, Ms. Summers? Your sister's grades have fallen sharply in the last year, due in large part to her frequent absences and lateness probably brought on by your sister's, termed loosely, alcohol problem. Am I correct?"
"Uh, well-" Buffy started as Saffron looked ashamed, "But there-there are good reasons for all of it"
"Oh, I'm sure there are. But my interest is in Dawn's welfare. And the stability of her home life, something I'm just not convinced that an unemployed young woman like yourself can provide"
"I can… I- I do!" Buffy insisted.
"I'll believe that when I bloody see it" Spike muttered. His girl was working herself into the ground and the slayer was playing whack-a-demon by night and sleeping in the day.
"I have two jobs, lady" Saffron cut in, trying again to influence her to cut them even a little slack. But again, nothing.
"Well, we'll just have to see about that then, won't we?" She goes to the door, stops and turns back "Oh, and I'm, uh, going to recommend immediate probation in my report. I'll be monitoring you all very closely. And if I don't see that things are improving, well, I'll be forced to recommend that you be stripped of your sister's guardianship"
"You can't do that"
"I do what is in Dawn's best interest... as should you. Have a nice day" She said over her shoulder as she walked away.
"What a bitch…in' day!" Saffron looked off into the clouds from the doorway as she pretended she had meant to comment on the weather. The old woman had turned back at the start of her sentence, still in earshot. Saffron waved awkwardly before slamming the door shut. Her and Buffy looked at each other blankly. They both had other things they wanted to do to take the pain away from the thought of losing Dawn.
"Well, that could have gone better" Saffron said, hitting her head against the wooden door. Buffy squeezed her hand silently before letting go.
"Could have gone worse, pet, least I was there to put in a good word" Spike whispered. Saffron continued to hit her head against the closed door as Buffy closed her eyes, biting back tears. She glared at Spike, he had been no help. Saffron had tried her best, she knew that, but her parenting skills were more fake-it-till-you-make-it than her own. It was all so hard. She wanted to scream. She wanted to go somewhere very specific. Forget about the visit they had just had.
"Buff, she was- it was as if she was protected. Blocking my influence… like-like…" Saff tailed off. Like Buffy was. Like Oleander. Maybe some people just could. She was clearly not one of them. Not without excessive alcohol use anyway. Buffy just nodded, silently walked upstairs, hugging herself and slamming her bedroom door shut.
"She-she can't take Dawn… I can't lose her too! She's family. Our family, Spike!"
"I know, love. You want me to put the fear in her? Can't bite but a little scare could do the trick" She smiled but it looked more like a grimace, shaking her head at him. She appreciated the gesture. She couldn't escape wanting something she shouldn't. Craving it. Because at least then, she could get some kind of respite from everything that kept being thrown at them.
"I want a drink Spike" She said sadly, sliding down the door and crouching with her head in her hands. He nodded, understanding. She was struggling again but he was proud that she was talking to him. Like she promised she would if she ever wanted to drink. They spent the day together, holed up in the basement talking. Sometimes reading to each other as they tried to forget about the visit and Saff's craving.