Chapter Thirty-One: Struggle to Re-settle

"I'm still not sure this is a good idea Rupert," Joy repeated for probably the hundredth time that evening. "I really wish you all wouldn't get so involved in this. These are my problems…"

"Joy, stop trying to talk us out of helping you." Buffy ordered. "Giles is going to talk to your aunt and uncle and make the arrangements for you to come and live with me. There's no reason for you to argue anymore. It's already been decided, okay?" She squeezed Joy's shoulder slightly to reassure the apprehensive young slayer.

"You guys don't understand…" Joy's voice cracked. Buffy assumed she was close to tears, obviously with reason. It had to be hard for her to be going to confront her aunt and uncle, the only real family she had left. "They're not sane." Joy stuttered. "And we shouldn't have come so late! They're always drunk around this time, they're going to be vicious, and impossible to talk to."

"Then I guess it's good we've got a witch, a watcher, and two slayers…" Buffy grinned.

"And two vampires." Spike's unmistakable accent joined the conversation as he and Angel approached from behind the group.

Everyone was silent, trying to nonchalantly decipher Joy's reaction to the appearance of the two vampires. Her face was slightly emotionless, definitely not upset or frightened. Strangely, she seemed to become more calm when the two demons arrived.

"Sorry we're late, but you know there was the whole sunset issue…" Spike explained hurriedly with a half-grin to break the tension.

"Thanks for coming," Joy responded in barely a whisper. "It means a lot." She moved instinctively to Angel's side and he protectively put his hand over hers.

Giles cleared his throat and started leading the group towards the front door of Joy's aunt and uncle's house. He knocked three times and then stepped back to wait for an answer. It took a minute but eventually the door opened and a sloppily dressed man appeared in the doorway with an open beer bottle in his hand.

"What do you want?" Dale didn't sound too drunk, which was a good sign for the conversation they needed to have. He noticed his niece and glared. "Well, finally decided to come crawling back bitch?" He reached out to grab Joy's arm but Angel quickly stepped in between them. When Dale noticed Angel and Spike he backed up inside the doorway. "Hey, what're you two doin' here…" He seemed suddenly frightened and Joy almost grinned at the impression her two vampire bodyguards had on her uncle.

"We are not here to start an argument with you, Mr., uh, sir." Giles explained officially. "We are here to discuss the matter of your niece."

"What matter?" Dale growled. "There's no matter! The bitch ran off and now she's come back. End of problem. Thanks for bringing her back." Instead of reaching out again, Dale simply nodded for Joy to enter the house.

Joy glanced hesitantly back at Angel. He gripped her hand tightly and walked with her into the house. The others immediately followed, ignoring Dale's rude glare.

"What're you all doin'," Dale exclaimed with minimal slurring. "You can't just barge in on my property! This is trespassing…I'll call the cops on you…" He wobbled slightly as he marched after the group that was already taking seats in the living room.

"That's a great idea, why don't you call the cops, I'm sure they'd love to hear all about how you threw your niece through the window." Buffy raised an eyebrow. "The glass is still shattered and she's covered in bruises for proof."

Dale quieted for a moment and stared at each of the people in turn. Giles was sitting confidently in a straight backed chair with his hands folded formally, staring straight into Dale's eyes. Buffy and Willow were seated together on the sofa, both of their faces were frozen with threatening frowns. Dawn leaned against the wall next to Spike. She was doing her best to look menacing but of course she was failing miserably. Spike on the other hand didn't even have to glare much and Dale couldn't be more afraid of him. Then again, Dale had experienced Spike's violence first hand and wasn't exactly anxious to anger him again. Joy had taken the sofa opposite Buffy and Willow, with Angel still glued to her side. She seemed unusually afraid. Angel had never seen her so timid and nervous, except for the other night when he had found her being abused. Dale sat nervously on a chair and fidgeted uncomfortably waiting for an explanation.

"You see, the police would be the obvious and the simplest solution, however, that would involve child services and foster care for Joy, and all that could be come much too complicated for our interest." Giles spoke in his official watcher-librarian voice. "We are here to make a deal with you, and your wife. Is she around by the way?"

"Uh, yea, sure," Dale started acting a little defensive. "Why?"

"Would you ask her to join us, please?"

Dale grunted and hollered loudly without bothering to leave the room. "Jo, get in here."

"Stop your yelling I'll be there in a minute." A woman's voice responded from another room.

"Now woman!" Dale shouted again.

A moment later Jo appeared in the doorway. Before she had a chance to rebuke her husband she noticed all the others and her eyes widened in shock and a little bit of fright, especially when she recognized Angel and Spike.

"They're here to talk about the brat." Dale nodded towards their niece.

"What about her?" Joy sat next to her husband.

"You see, we are here to make sure that Joy never returns to your custody." Giles explained bluntly. "We can handle this one of two ways. Either we call the police and let them deal with everything through the law, or else we settle it here and now our way, without ever involving the law. Understood?" Dale and Jo stared blankly, barely even blinking. Rather they were in an alcohol stupor or they really just weren't following what the watcher was saying. "Joy has informed us of the arrangement that her parents planned out in their will." Jo and Dale looked at him blankly. "The arrangement that gives you a certain amount of money each year that Joy is living with you, until she is of legal age."

"That's none of your business!" Jo exclaimed.

"Hear me out, please, ma'am." Giles continued with a carefully steady voice. "According to the legal will, you will only be receiving payments for a little under two more years, and then you will receive one final payment and that is all. Nothing more, ever again." He removed his glasses. "Do you really think it is worth it, since you obviously do not value your niece in the least…"

"Excuse me…" Jo pretended to be offended but she sucked at acting. "Get to your point."

"We are willing to make you a deal." Giles spoke slowly as though making sure they understood every word. "We are prepared to pay you double the amount that you would ultimately receive, today," Their interest was obviously peaked, "if you will turn custody of Joy over to us without involving anyone else."

"That's all?" Dale seemed too excited.

"And you are never to try and contact her again." Buffy added.

"Why should we agree to this deal?" Jo asked hesitantly.

"Because if you don't, we'll have the cops over here in under a minute and they'll bust your asses and you won't see a cent!" Spike told them.

Dale and Jo exchanged glances and then stared at their niece. Joy stared back blankly. "Well, sweetie, I don't know if we want to just let you go so easily. After all, you're family…"

"Bull shit!" Joy exclaimed, leaping off the couch, trying not to put too much weight on her still aching ankle. "You just want to see how much money you can weasel out of us! Well, Rupert's told you the deal, you can either take it or leave it. Either way I'm out of this house today."

Angel stood at Joy's side, letting her lean on him for balance. His hulking height was obviously intimidating because Dale and Jo quickly answered, backing up slightly in their chairs.

"We'll take the deal. But, we don't ever want to hear from any of you again either!" Jo decided.

"God, she finally says something worthwhile!" Joy threw up her hands in mocking exclamation. She should have kept quiet because her sarcasm was just what was needed to tick off her aunt and uncle.

"I changed my mind. She's not leaving us. We're her guardians and that's final." Jo stood as though the conversation was over.

"Excuse me?" Joy frowned. "What the hell is that supposed to mean? Haven't you been listening. I'm not staying here with you, and that's final!"

"Joy, please sit down." Giles instructed. She didn't budge from her feet. She felt more powerful when she was standing, even if she was having to slouch to favor her hurt ankle. When she started to tremble, half from pain and half from nervousness, Angel came to her side and led her back to the couch. She slowly sat down.

"Alright, now can we please talk about this in a rational matter." Giles asked. "You understand that we are willing to offer you a good sum of money, correct?" Both Jo and Dale nodded dumbly. "You will be freed from all your guardian bonds to Joy and you will never have to worry about her well-being again. All you have to do is agree to let her go."

Dale shrugged but Jo continued to be stubborn. "Absolutely not. She's our niece and we're not letting her go."

"You don't care shit 'bout her!" Spike exclaimed angrily. "You're just determined to keep her to piss us off!"

"Spike…" Giles spoke softly trying to calm the vampire.

"No Giles, let him speak." Buffy urged. Spike looked at her in surprise and for a minute couldn't speak.

"Uh, right, well as I was saying, you've got no reason to keep her!" Spike stepped closer to Dale and Jo, ominously looming over them. He could smell their growing fear and he had to fight the urge to grin at his near defeat. "And so you should let her leave, now, with us." He growled. "And then no one will get hurt!" He couldn't resist to add a threat.

"Get the hell out of my house!" Dale stood to make his height more even with Spike's, but Spike was still a couple of inches taller.

"Try and make me!" It wasn't Spike's style to back down. He glared menacingly until Dale dropped back into his chair. "Now as I was saying, we're leaving now, all of us, including Joy." Spike motioned for all the Scoobies to stand and then held out his hand towards Joy. She hesitantly stood and took his hand, standing nervously at his side. "Giles will pay you the money he said he would, he's too moral to jip you entirely, even if you are bloody morons." Spike nodded to Giles who stepped forward and handed a wad of bills to Dale.

"There is half the amount you will receive. The rest will be given to you after Joy removes all of her personal items from your house. You can expect her back here in a couple of days." Giles led the others towards the front door.

"I don't expect any more trouble from either of you." Spike glared and kept a firm arm around Joy's waist as he walked her out of the house.

As soon as they had all loaded into the car Joy started crying. She hated herself for letting her new 'family' see her emotionally weak, but she couldn't make herself stop the tears. She sat between Angel and Spike, her face buried in her hands as she sobbed. The two vampires sat rigid on either side of the miserable young girl, not quite sure how to act or what to say. Angel had his hands clasped tightly in his lap as he continually glanced over at Joy and then back out the window uncomfortably. Spike stared at her; his insides felt twisted with emotional captivation. Slowly he let his hand rest on her trembling knee. Her crying continued and she didn't seem to notice his touch.

"Joy, are you okay?" Buffy turned around from the passenger seat with worry.

Angel glanced at the young slayer and then nodded at Buffy. "She'll be fine. She just needs time." His eyes connected with Spike who nodded in unusual agreement.

"Joy, you're free from them." Buffy spoke gently. "You're going to be living with us now, and you'll never have to see your aunt and uncle again." She paused. "That's good right?"

Joy sniffed and nodded. "I'm sorry for crying," Joy tried to laugh off her emotions but it was useless. "I'm very grateful for everything that you guys have done for me." She shrugged. "I don't know why I'm such a mess!" She tried to clear the tears from her throat.

"Don't worry about it," Buffy encouraged the girl. "It's completely understandable for you to be emotional about all this. You've been through a lot in the past few months, and now you're breaking out on your own…well on your own with us…" Buffy hesitated. She wasn't quite sure what to say. "I hope you'll feel comfortable with us…"

Joy sighed and nodded, adjusting her seated position casually causing Spike to pull his hand away quickly. She hugged her arms to herself and took deep breaths in and out as her crying slowly ceased. Angel and Spike watched over her together, both caring more about her than they had cared about anything in quite a long while.