I'm sorry about how long this took I've just been picking up a lot of hours at work and haven't had the time to write much. Thanks for waiting!
They arrived in Sunnydale by late afternoon and stopped in front of Buffy's house. After several hours in the car Liam's head was spinning with everything Willow had told him. He knew now that he was in America and that somewhere along the way there had been a war and America was no longer colonies and they had beaten England. She had explained all about cars and television and many other things and he thought he had a pretty good grasp of things.
When they pulled up in front of Buffy's house the sun was just setting and he was suddenly filled with a sense of dread. He had been told many things about this girl and although she sounded amazing and strong he was suddenly very afraid that she wouldn't like him.
Willow helped him out of the car and grabbed the bags carrying his clothes before noticing his hesitation. "Don't worry." She said with a slight smile. "She can't wait to meet you."
They hurried up to the front door and were about to knock when it sprang open. Willow grinned as Buffy searched quickly for the boy. "OhmiGod." She said weakly, standing still.
Angel for his part drew back, feeling worried.
"Buffy, this is Liam." Willow said, still grinning. "Liam, Buffy."
He waved a little and her eyes widened. "Wow. I wish I had a camera."
He wracked his brains trying to remember what a camera was and was so caught up in it he almost tripped as he was ushered in. "I set everything up for the night." Buffy was saying. She was a pretty blonde girl and seemed very excited to meet him.
"So Liam," She said, smiling at him. "How was L.A.? I used to live there you know."
He shrugged, not really sure what to say about it. He had only spent a few days there and during that time had almost been eaten, found out he had a curse on him and spent most of his time worried he had been kidnapped.
She laughed easily. "I want you to meet my mom."
He followed her into the kitchen and looked around inquisitively. A nice looking lady was standing by the stove cooking. "Oh he's here!" She said, looking surprised. "Willow, are you joining us for dinner?"
Willow nodded, grinning.
Buffy laughed. "Mom this is Liam."
The woman gave him a long look. "I think I like him better this way." She whispered.
Buffy snorted and Liam wondered what she had said. "Mom!"
"I'm just saying!"
As it turned out he was greatful that Willow was staying for diner. He was still a little nervous and a large part of him missed Cordelia. The others talked and laughed but despite this he found himself missing home. This place was very strange and everything seemed so foreign that there was no comfort in it.
At dinner he was introduced to Buffy's younger sister, a girl named Dawn. She wasn't too close to his age and she kept giving him curious looks but he thought she was alright.
"So Liam, Buffy told me you're from Ireland. I've heard it's beautiful there." Joyce said.
He was a little startled to have the conversation directed his way but nodded just the same. "It can be."
"I'd love to visit there."
"You should then. Although I do not really know how far away it is from here."
Buffy smiled into her food. He was cute like this and she filed away the childish way he held his fork and ate for later.
"Maybe Mr. Giles has been there. He's from England. Have you met him yet?"
He shook his head. "No, but I met Wesley."
She paused, looking slightly confused. "He's in L.A." Buffy said quickly. She laughed a little as Liam licked his lips and stretched his neck to look at the bowel of spaghetti at the center of the table. He had never had anything like it before and he liked it immensely. Willow helped him to another serving and he thanked her delightedly.
After a moment's chewing he looked up. "May I ask a question?" He asked.
Resisting to point out that he just had Buffy nodded. "Gunn said I was turned little. Am I supposed to be an adult?"
Willow glanced at Buffy. "Yeah." She said.
He nodded as though he had guessed it. "What am I like?" He asked.
"Well. . ." Buffy said, picking her words carefully. "You're good looking." He smiled at that and waited for more. "You read a lot."
"I can not read yet." He said, looking downtrodden. At least now he knew for sure that he would be able to.
"You can be kind of moody." Willow said. "But in a good way."
"Yeah," Buffy said quickly.
"They all fought monsters. Do I?"
"Oh yeah, you've helped me before too. Right now you do it in L.A."
He nodded sagely and they smiled a bit. Finding out he was some kind of monster killing hero was not so bad. "Are we friends?" He asked.
Buffy nodded, feeling just the faintest of blushes creep onto her cheeks. Willow however was nodding happily. Dawn was smirking a little and failing to hide it. He didn't quite understand but from Willow's face he guessed it wasn't because of anything bad.
They finished dinner talking about various things he liked to do and the different ways he had helped them. Some of the stories were slightly altered and there was no mention of him being a vampire but that was for the best. Finding out he had a curse on him was one thing but telling him he was a monster was another.
When supper was finished Buffy took him into the living room and Willow followed. "We should get him some toys." Willow said. "All he's got is a plastic dragon from a fast food meal."
"Okay, let's go shopping tomorrow." Buffy said, leading them all to the couch. Liam sat still for a minute before climbing up too look over the back and out the window. "What do you like to play with?" Buffy asked him.
He looked at her. "Tops. . . balls" He said distractedly. There was a man standing outside on the street. He was standing still and blowing wisps of white smoke into the air. He thought the man might be smoking a pipe but whatever he was using was far too small to be a pipe. Curiously he leaned towards the glass and squinted. "There's a man out there." He said.
"What?" Buffy asked, turning to peer over her shoulder. Immediately she groaned. "Not again." She got up an hurried out the door, leaving Willow and Liam alone. They watched curiously as she ran up to the figure and they started to argue.
"Spike get out of here." She groaned.
Ignoring her he continued to squinted into the house. "You got a kid in there. Who's the veal?"
"He's not veal and it's none of your business." She snapped. "Now get lost before you give my tree cancer."
He paused for a moment, still gawking at the boy in the window. "Didn't know we were picking up urchins. I'd have grabbed a few myself." He grinned, apparently pleased with his joke.
She rolled her eyes. "Would you just leave? I have a guest. Go away." She gave him a small push. "Get."
"Alright! Alright! I'm going. I was just asking a question."
She waited until he was a good ways down the street before returning to the house. Her mother and Dawn had joined them in the living room and she found them entertaining Liam who was looking at a travel book on Ireland and apparently pointing out places he had never been to which seemed to be everything. "I've heard of this." He said pointing at a picture. "But I have never been there." He said, studying the picture with interest.
"Well it's just beautiful." Joyce said, smiling.
He nodded and they talked for a while more before he began to get sleepy and Buffy offered to take him up to bed. "Come on," She said. "You need a bath."
"Do I have to?" He asked, sounding a little reluctant.
She smiled slightly. "I think so."
He gave it some thought and nodded. "Alright."
She set up the tub and put the soap within reach for him. For a minute she wondered if he needed someone to stay with him but he waited until she was gone to undress and she figured he was fine. With the door closed she hurried to put his clothes away in her closet and make sure everything was set. She wondered vaguely if he might like to have one of her stuffed animals and she stopped to pick one, finding a brown bear in her closet and taking it to his room. She tried for a moment to remember if the bear had a name but she didn't think it had. Maybe he could name it.
She hurried back to the hall and waited for him to get finished in the bathroom. He finished a few minutes later and came out with his pajama shirt on backwards. She grinned slightly. "Let me help you with that." He reached out and pulled the shirt up and around, fixing it. He plucked at it looking slghtly surprised. "Come on, mom made up the couch for you."
She lead him back downstairs and found Joyce and Dawn finishing making up the couch. "Sorry we don't have another bed for you." She said.
He shrugged and climbed up onto the couch, running his hands over the blankets she had laid out and then nodding in approval.
"I-I can read you a story if you want." Joyce offered, wanting to help more.
He shrugged, always up for a story. "Please." He said.
Buffy grabbed up the bear and sat down on the end of the couch. "Hey I didn't know if you'd want it but I got this for you."
He took it and looked it over curiously. "What is it?"
"It's a bear." She said. "A Teddy bear."
His eyes light up with excitement. "I've heard of bears but I've never seen one! Do they look like this?"
She laughed a little. "Well. . . not quite. I'll show you a picture of one tomorrow. Do you want this one?"
He nodded, squeezing the bear's arms. "Thank you!"
"You're gonna have to give him a name." Willow said excitedly.
He studied the bear, tugging a little on the ears and poking the nose. "She said his name was Teddy."
"Teddy is it?" Buffy said, brushing a hand over his head. "Sounds about right."
"I'm sure I've got some books somewhere you'd like." Joyce said.
He looked at her, a little surprised at the offer. Every one was being so nice to him and it was a little overwhelming. They all seemed to know him and know about him and he knew nothing about them. Still. . . they were nice and he was enjoying his time with them.
"Ooh, I've got Harry Potter!" Dawn said excitedly. "I'll go get it." She dashed off and hurried back, clutching the first book. "You'll love it! It's about a boy wizard."
He frowned, not sure he would love it.
"A good wizard." Willow said, catching his look of skepticism. "Like Merlin."
He nodded, feeling a little more confident about it. He didn't know a lot about magic but he knew it came from the Devil and that was scary. People who used magic made pacts with the Devil but if everyone said this book was different he would give it a shot.
Joyce sat back and opened the book and Buffy pulled Liam closer to him. He let her, taking a moment before relaxing against her hip.
Joyce opened the book and began to read."Mr. and Mrs. Dursley of number four Privet Drive were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much." He listened quietly and soon after came to the conclusion that he liked this story very much. He decided that Harry was a good character and he liked him immensely and soon after found himself feeling very sleepy.
Once he had drifted off to sleep Buffy arranged him on the couch and pulled a blanket over him. "Good choice Dawn." She said softly.
It was odd for her to see someone she had shared so much with this way. He was so small and innocent looking. She brushed a hand through his hair and watched him sleep. In a way he looked troubled but he didn't move or make any signs of distress and so she let him sleep on. He was cute like this but somehow it felt dirty to see him this way, to see into his past like this. Still. . . she watched his body language mirror some of the things he did as an adult. Even in his sleep it did and she touched his cheek slightly and his mouth twitched, making her smile.
"I'm gonna go." Willow said with a bob of her head. She was smiling slightly. Buffy nodded and turned to her. "Night."
"Night."
Slowly the others filtered out of the room and Buffy was left alone with the boy. She watched him sleep for a moment longer before turning out the light. They would have to get him some toys and things in the morning. She yawned quietly and gave him one last look before heading up the stairs.
Thanks for reading!
