Chapter Five
Keys jingled as Joyce placed them in her purse. She glanced into the living room and gasped when she saw her daughter on the couch. "Buffy. You scared me." She put her hand to her collarbone in shock but it fell to her side when she realized that something wasn't right. "Sweetie?" Buffy tried to secretly wipe the tears on the pillow before turning over. "He didn't come," she deduced. Buffy's eyes turned to the floor as if it was her fault. "I'm so sorry baby." She walked over to her and held her close. Buffy leaned into her as she gasped for air between sobs.
"I got scary movies and popcorn conveniently wrapped in one of these microwavable bags," Xander announced as he entered the household.
"I brought a baby. Not that you don't have one," Willow added. They stopped short when they noticed the share-time hug taking part on the couch. "Buffy?"
Joyce slowly released her daughter as she wiped her eyes. "Hey guys," she got out with a smile.
"You okay?" Willow asked, gently setting down the baby's carrier.
"Fine."
"Your red eyes say differently. Were you sitting too close to the tv again?" Xander joked.
Buffy let out a small laugh. She put her hands on her legs and rose from the sofa. "It's nothing. My dad couldn't make it, that's all."
"Wanna watch scary deformed people killing a group of hitchhikers?" Xander proposed. "Always cheers me up. Until I remember I'm me. But you won't have that problem."
"We could go," Willow offered.
"Go? Not when there's scary movies to watch and popcorn to eat. C'mon, let's go." Buffy led the troops upstairs.
"Oh Joyce," Xander said halfway up. "Could ya microwave this for us?" He tossed her the bag not giving her a chance to say no.
The next day at lunch Buffy was in a better mood as the rest of the gang was adorned with plastic children. "I can't believe Cordelia bought this stuff," Xander said.
"I am very impressed. Now for once we're cool… Is that carrier Versace?" Buffy asked.
"It's green, that's all I can tell you."
"I think it is Versace." Willow ran her hand over its surface. "It's softer than my bed."
"Wow Xand, everyone's gonna be bookin' play dates with your little boy." Buffy put a forkful of salad into her mouth. "You've got the Angelina/ Brad baby. A complete disapproving surprise from the public but everyone wants a piece."
"Should I just pretend I know what you're saying?"
Cordelia walked over in her nearly skin tight, v-neck, maroon dress that cut off three inches above the knee. "Well if it isn't the three stooges. Doing absolutely nothing interesting I see. No, I get it. Why make people expect something from you?"
"Cordelia. How un-nice to see you."
"I just wanted to remind your pea sized brain that you better not get anything on that carrier or his clothes because otherwise, I swear, there will be Hell to pay."
"I always heard those guys take care of their own. Contrary to popular 'damned for all eternity' belief."
"I'm sorry, was that a joke? It's hard to tell with you. I mean, I thought your jokes stopped at your clothes."
"I got nothin' on your clothes. You go to the hooker section of the store?"
"Okay you two I think you should break it up," Buffy intervened.
"I'm sorry Mother Theresa are we bothering you?"
"You're bothering the rest of the kids in this cafeteria."
"And you never notice them bothered when you walk in here?" Cordelia turned her head away and walked out of the cafeteria.
Buffy inhaled deeply and shook her head. "One of these days I will not be able to hold back." She stabbed at her salad angrily and shoved it in her mouth.
"Please let me be there for that day," Xander requested.
"Hey Buffy, where's your baby? Don't you get it today?" Willow asked as she wiped her mouth.
"No, Spike's keeping her."
"How'd ya manage that?" Xander asked as he shoved the last bit of hamburger into his mouth.
"I didn't manage. He stated, I accepted." She rose from her chair and led the line to the garbage cans. "You guys wanna Bronze it tonight?"
"Can't. I have a previous engagement with something that looks incredibly like this hernia-waiting-to-happen I'm carrying."
"Got it. Well maybe tomorrow. I'll see you guys eighth period."
The rest of the day went smoothly with no Spike run-ins or Cordelia encounters. Buffy was a block away from Revello Drive when a car pulled up on the side of the road. "Summers," Spike called.
"Prince Charming?" Buffy said before looking. "Nope. Just the horse's ass."
"You're hilarious, ya know that?"
"One of my multiple quirks."
"Get in, I'll drive ya home."
"I make a habit of not riding with strangers. Or in your case, people I avoid."
"Then I'll give you Melanie now and you can carry her home," he proposed.
Buffy rolled her eyes and got in the car. They shared silence for the next half a minute until they reached Buffy's house. She got out of the car and opened the back door. "There's my little Melanie," she said happily. "Have you had fun with your dead beat dad?" She undid the seatbelt and pulled out the carrier. "Isn't his lack of charm intoxicating?" She shut the door and started walking up her drive.
"Summers."
"I know, don't drop her, set her on fire or play her Phil Collins."
Spike smiled and stepped on the gas. His tires screeched as he zipped down the road.
"Ya know, thanks to genetics you have a 50/50 chance of becoming like him. Isn't that fun?" Buffy opened the door and yelled, "I'm home!"
"Buffy?"
"Nope, your other daughter." She walked into the kitchen where her mother was waiting patiently.
"Buffy, I talked to your father." Buffy paused. "He said he's really sorry and maybe you can do something this weekend."
"Sure." Her happy feeling was suddenly replaced by sadness. She walked to the cupboard and removed a glass to fill with water.
"I told him that he can't do this to you any more which of course made him apologize more and then that made me even more angry and, well I could now clearly remember why we're divorced."
Buffy's lips became tense as she nodded her head. "I remember the yelling."
"I'm sorry honey, how was your day?" Joyce smiled as she reached for her daughter's hand.
Buffy kept it out of reach and said, "Boring, boring and more boring. I'm gonna go upstairs." She left her glass on the island and grabbed the baby. "Another trait you can have. Only this one's twenty five percent." She plopped down on her bed and held the doll in her arms. She sat there thinking about her parents and her lack-of-father's night.
Her mother entered her room ten minutes later. "Hey sweetie. I'm so sorry but I have to go to the museum again." She sat on Buffy's bed and an arm on each side of her daughter. "We just got this new shipment in and they can't find one of the forms so I need to go help. It shouldn't take long." She bent down and kissed Buffy's head. "I love you."
"I love you too." She waited to hear the car leave before going out onto the roof. Whenever she needed air or just wanted to think she would always come out here. She wrapped her arms around her knees and looked out at the neighborhood. And the car that just parked in front of her house. "Crap." Buffy jumped through her window and shut it. She descended the stairs and met her mother at the door. "You are the most forgetful-" Buffy stopped when her mother turned out to look like Spike. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm forgetful?"
"I thought you were… someone. Is this coming to see me a new torture, abuse thing you came up with?" Buffy folded her arms and stuck one of her feet out.
"Actually I wanted to skip that and talk to ya. Seriously."
"Seriously?"
"Yeah."
Buffy's forehead crinkled and her mouth fell open. "Okay," she said slowly. "Come in." Spike stepped through and walked into the living room. "What can I do ya for?… That totally came out wrong."
"I got it," Spike said, raising a hand for her to stop. "What happened the other night?"
"What night?"
"When I stopped by and ya looked like someone killed your puppy."
"No offense, but why the hell do you care?"
"'Cause I've seen that look before. I've worn that look."
"Your mom?"
"Yeah."
"She was here the other day."
"And I'm sure your dad has been here at some point."
"Well yeah but…" Buffy averted her eyes to the floor. Nice to see you again floor. She walked over to the couch and sat at the far end, pushed against the arm. It was her non-verbal offer for him to sit but not too close. He got the signal and sat against the other arm. "Why can't my dad make it from LA but your mom can come from England?"
"Trust me, she doesn't always make it."
"Yeah but she at least can have a good excuse. I get "smashed" or "really busy," which I usually take to mean work. At least that's what I hope he means."
Spike showed a little bit of a smile. "I bet whether he lived in LA or England or bloody Australia, his 'I can't make it' excuse would still make ya feel like this."
Buffy looked at him. "Have you been watching Dr. Phil?"
"I don't watch that stupid git."
Buffy nodded. Why is he being so nice? Are we having an actual discussion about something? Without arguing? This could be an episode of "X- Files." If it was still on. Is it still on? Xander would know. I'll have to ask him.
Spike placed his hands on his legs to brace his rise from the couch. "Better go. Just wanted to clear stuff up."
"Oh, okay." Buffy rose too, reaching the door before him. She opened it and he started walking out. He turned around and kissed her quickly.
"Now your day wasn't completely horrible." He smiled and went to his car. Buffy placed her fingers on her lips, the same lips he just touched with his own lips. Willingly. On his own accord even. It's not like she moved in and he was there, he was the
movein-er and she was there-er.
"Bye," she said when he already pulled away. She shut the door and went upstairs to her room. She grabbed Melanie before dropping onto her bed. "Looks like you also have 50/50 on being schizophrenic too. They'd love you on Jerry Springer. If it was still on? Is it still on?" Buffy reached for her phone and dialed. "Hey Xander."