Chapter Two
Home sweet home, Buffy sighed as she opened the door to her apartment and Enya's Only Time resonated throughout the air.
She hung her keys on the designated rack by the door and plopped down on the nearby chaise lounge. She closed her eyes and took deep breaths, smiling as she inhaled the delicious scent of what promised to be a tantalizing gourmet dinner.
A great ending to an absolutely shitty day, she mused as she lay there thinking of the day's events.
First, her wretched (yet beloved) gas-guzzling Beetle, Al, had been rammed into by some red-light running, police-eluding jackass. Then, the mechanic informed her that Al was in need of repairs beyond the ones caused by the accident – which meant mucho dinero that her emaciated pockets couldn't cover. So she had to take the bus to work (making her later than she already was).
When she got to work, she had to spring into action immediately as the victims of an accident involving a school bus filled with high school kids, were rushed for medical attention. Even though she worked herself to the bone, she still lost five of the teens. She had to fight the urge to break down as she saw the faces of the grief-stricken parents and guardians when she relayed the tragic news. Sometimes she really hated being a doctor.
She looked forward to lunch bringing her some calorie-laden, sugar-filled goodness but the damned vending machine ate her money! After kicking and swearing at it a few times, she had to resign herself to eating horrid food from the hospital cafeteria. The place might be named Angel of Mercy but the cafeteria was ruthless… the very Devil of Digestion. The day wasn't very promising after that…until she got a call as soon as her shift ended.
She looked at the display screen of her cell phone and frowned at the strange number. Buffy prayed that it wasn't someone calling with bad news; she didn't think she could handle anything else going wrong. She answered her phone, her breath held and her heart hammering furiously. It was a representative of ShopCo – she was the grand prize winner of their 10th anniversary promotion. She had won two million dollars. Buffy asked if the rep was kidding, the rep insisted that it was bona fide. Buffy immediately squealed with delight and did a happy dance (on the inside of course, 'cause hey, hospital!).
As soon as Kendra joined her, she told her the good news and they both ran to Kendra's car and screamed their heads off. Then they called Cordy, the other member of 'The Triad' (as Kendra's husband, Lindsey, had dubbed them) and told her the good news. Cordy had added her scream of delight over the phone and insisted that 'major party-age' would be in order on the weekend.
~*~*~*~
The elevator had been stuck (again), forcing Buffy to take the stairs up to her apartment on the fifth floor. Normally, Buffy would have been annoyed by this but nothing could deter the buoyant mood she was in. So she practically flew up the stairs and skipped to her apartment at the end of the corridor -5G.
As soon as she opened the door, all the day's excitement took its toll and she had to take a breather on the chaise lounge. When her bones didn't feel quite so weary, she got up and toed off her shoes. Then she padded over to her son's room.
She called out to him once, but Enya drowned out the sound of her voice – knocking on his door would be useless. So she opened his door and went into his room.
"You would not believe the day I ha --" said Buffy as she entered the room.
Buffy had seen just about everything – working as a doctor at Angel of Mercy Hospital in Los Angeles ensured that. She dealt with things out of the normal person's scope on a daily basis; she was trained for that. However, nothing in her books from medical school had anything on 'Finding thy Teenage Son Making Out with a Boy' – 'cause she sure could use that info at the moment.
Buffy never dreamed that her son, Rick, could possibly be gay. And with his best friend Shane, the resident Casanova at Hemery High? Inconceivable!
"Wha..Y-you...A...Him...Li... Gay?!" Buffy screeched as she gestured at them.
The boys hurriedly broke apart and turned down the music.
Rick reclined on his bed, the picture of devilish innocence. He reclined on his bed, his elbows supporting the weight of his upper body and one leg bent at the knee perching at the edge of the bed. He looked at her through the gap in his shoulder-length sandy blond hair that fell in front of his vivid hazel eyes with their flecks of green in them. He had that 'I-know-what-I'm-doing-don't-worry-your-pretty-little-head-about-it' look in his eyes – a look that she thought Riley held the patent on. His charming smile said 'I've-been-a-good-Boy-Scout-honest!'
"Mom, it's not what you think," said Rick in a calm, almost bored tone.
She looked pointedly at his naked torso and then at his accomplice, his best friend Shane. Shane was what you'd call the All-American boy. He was a little over six feet, tanned, honey blond hair, blue eyes, boyish charm, jock, and resident Casanova at Hemery High. Buffy was stunned to see him with his tongue down her son's throat.
"You're right. Obviously, you were choking on a….a … Jawbreaker and Shane, being the best friend that he is, decided to use the Heimlich manoeuvre…with his tongue! Thanks for saving my son, Shane! You'd make a great rescue worker or... or a-a paramedic! w-with that tongue. I'll be sure to put in a good word for you with the EMT supervisor at work," Buffy rambled.
"When you're ready for a sensible conversation, you can join us for dinner," Rick informed her as he bid Shane to follow him past Buffy and out of the room.
Huh?
~*~*~*~
"I see you've decided to join us," remarked Rick as he spotted her walking into the 'dining room'.
It wasn't really a dining room, per se, more like a partitioned area with a dining table and chairs. The apartment had only one bedroom, a bathroom, a kitchenette, and a sizeable open space that was supposed to serve as a living/dining area. Buffy had kept the bedroom with its two small walk-in closets (of which Rick commanded one) and divided the open space into two major partitions – a small bedroom for Rick and a living/dining area. The chaise lounge served as its own little 'reception area' in the corridor that connected all the rooms. It wasn't a bad deal for someone with a host of bills (particularly the titanic student loans) and a brilliant kid to send to an excellent private school.
"I'm trying to be the cool, non-judgmental mom here… but you're not even doing the obligatory guilty looks and stuttery proving of the innocence!" said Buffy.
"Sit down, Mom. Have some sensible conversation," Rick told her, indicating the place he had set for her.
"Try it with risotto and tiramisu… it's great," Shane quipped.
"Although they can't compare to Lips of Rick, I suppose," Buffy parried, raising her eyebrow at the boys.
"Ooh... score one for the mouthy old lady. Let me save you the awkward, introductory 'So' and 'Uhm'. I am not gay," said Rick as he shared a plate of risotto and set it down before his mother.
"You're not gay," said Buffy.
"I'm not gay," Rick reassured her.
"And Shane's..." Buffy trailed off with a questioning look.
"Gayer than The Fab Five. The kiss was just a 'something-to-remember-you/coming-out/going-away' thing," Shane supplied.
"Oh... and you're not gay," Buffy repeated once more to Rick.
"I. Am. Not. Gay… just very secure in my manhood," Rick repeated once more.
"Oh thank God!" Buffy sighed in relief as the information sunk in.
"Yeah. Better me than you, buddy… it's a highly contagious disease y'know," Shane teased.
" Homosexuality… the perpetrator of grandkids from a desperate teen surrogate or a Third World family surviving on the generous 25 cents a day from Americans all over. They can never say no to little Mei Ling! Damn you Sally Struthers!" Rick added with a smirk.
Buffy glared at the boys and playfully smacked them on the backs of their heads.
"I promise you that my heart beats only for the female-shaped humans 18 – 30… even if Shane can kiss like the devil and has a tight, alluring butt that doesn't quit," Rick teased, leaning over and kissing Buffy on the forehead.
"But if you're ever choking on a Jawbreaker…" Shane added with a grin and a waggle of his eyebrows.
Buffy rolled her eyes at Shane and couldn't help but join in the laughter of both boys.
"Guess who won the 'Thanks A Million' anniversary promotion at ShopCo?" Buffy sing-songed as soon as the laughter died down.
"No way!" said Rick.
"Way! I won two million dollars!"
"Holy fuck!" Rick exclaimed.
"Sean Padraic Finn!" Buffy scolded.
"Sorry, Mom…but that's a lotta cash… could do a lotta things…. like taking your favourite son shopping at Home Depot…"
"You're my only son."
"All the more reason to show how much you love and value me… like getting me a SawStop TGP52 Contractor Saw…"
"I am not getting you a high-powered saw! I'm not even getting you the good ole fashioned one! Besides, the thing costs over $2000!"
"Yeah…but we're rich now. Well, maybe not rich…but we could be mistaken for it. You can afford the saw and a few spare fingers if I lose any."
Buffy gave him the patented 'That's-really-suppposed-to-make-me-budge? Not-gonna-happen-mister!' look that only a mother could give.
"In case you haven't noticed, I am not Daddy Warbucks," Buffy quipped.
"A haircut, a cigar and a turban-wearing bodyguard could fix that," Rick retorted.
"Only if you're a cute freckly redhead in a dress that sings 'Tomorrow'' " Buffy parried with a wry grin.
"I think you'd look cute in a dress, Rick," Shane remarked.
"You'd love to see me all dolled up, wouldn't you, Shane?"
"You are very pleasing to look at and nicely shaped," Shane beamed.
~*~*~*~
Cordy's promised 'party-age' was in full swing. The festivity was taking place (as with practically all of their festivities) in the backyard of the Redondo Beach home of Kendra and Lindsey McDonald. Buffy's heart swelled with happiness as she took in the sight of the merrymaking.
Kendra was chasing Lindsey. They made a striking pair. Lindsey looked like one of those cowboys on the cover of a romance novel. He had tanned skin, brown hair that fell a little above his shoulders, gorgeous blue eyes, sexy smile and a lean, not-overly-muscled body. The subtle Texas twang that peppered his speech was the tantalizing cherry on top.
Kendra was Lindsey's exotic other half. She looked like a warrior queen. She had smooth café au lait skin, brown eyes that were slightly upturned at the outer corners, a button nose, and full lips that were all set into her oval face. Her ebony hair was elaborately braided into a ponytail. Even though she had two children, her body was well-toned and curvy.
Cordy was laughing and twirling their daughter, Alicia, around in fast circles. Cordelia had golden skin, sable hair, hazel eyes, high cheekbones, a straight nose and bow-shaped lips that were set into her slightly round face. She had a nice body and a bosom that made men weep. Five year old Alicia was a blend of her parents – café au lait skin, blue eyes, curly brown hair, button nose, Lindsey's smile and charm as well as Kendra's strong-willed boldness. Naturally, she ruled kindergarten.
Her baby brother, 7 month old Gavin, was happily giving a chicken bone 'what-for' as Rick entertained him. He was a shade lighter than his sister, with bright blue eyes with a fringe of brown near his pupils, a small nose and a wide grin that showed his lone lower front tooth. It was uncertain as to exactly which of his parents Gavin resembled. At times he was all Kendra, and at others he seemed to be the spitting image of Lindsey. He loved to laugh, especially when Rick was around.
Rick was currently regaling Gavin with tales of the adventures of 'Mr. Gordo, the all-time best agent of the P.I.G.S. (Platoon for International Grub Security)'. Mr. Gordo was a stuffed pig given to Buffy by her mother. Buffy had given the pig to Rick. Rick then gave the pig to Alicia and Alicia passed it on to Gavin. They sometimes joked that Mr. Gordo should be insured since he was an heirloom, waiting to be passed to the children of the 'Triad'.
We made a beautiful boy, Riley. He's sweet, kind, considerate, bright… and such a stubborn smart ass! He's got a streak of that protective Alpha male thing you had. Everybody loves him. You'd be so proud of him, Buffy whispered to her deceased husband as she watched her son.
Buffy often spoke to Riley, believing that even though he wasn't present in body, his spirit was there. Buffy had been in love with Riley from the moment she met him at age 4; he had been 10 years old. Buffy mooned over him in private for years until the day she decided to do something about it.
Riley had been a pilot in the US Navy. He had taken his leave and returned home to spend time with his parents. She had determined that Riley would not return without his eyes being opened to the desirable young woman she had become. She, along with the help of her best friend Cordelia Chase, had ensured that where Riley was Buffy was. Additionally, any opportunity to pair off or be alone with him in some way was seized. Hence, Riley Finn found himself constantly in the company of Buffy Summers for the two weeks of his leave.
The last night of his stay, Riley admitted to having romantic feelings for Buffy for quite a while and kissed her senseless. Needless to say, Riley Finn got a very 'special' going away present. He and Buffy exchanged plenty of letters over the following months. As soon as he got leave, he returned to his beloved Buffy… and her furious parents. Parents tended to be like that when you got their 16 year old daughter pregnant.
Buffy's parents were dead set against her keeping the baby. They didn't envision a bright future if she did. She would be struggling with school and a baby while he went to fight in Iraq (where the casualties were steadily increasing). Essentially, Buffy would be on her own until Riley came home, if he ever lived to come home.
Buffy ignored her parents and they ran off to Georgia and got married. Buffy's parents threw her out and Riley's parents shunned him. Cordelia talked her father, Mitchell Chase, into letting Buffy live with them as her companion. Mitch readily agreed as he felt guilty about his prolonged absences from his daughter due to his frequent business trips.
So Buffy moved into the Chase mansion while Riley returned to the USS Saratoga. They continued writing letters to each other and Buffy even sent pictures of herself and the baby's ultrasound. Sometimes Riley would call when he could. She prayed nightly for his safe return. It seemed her parents' words had gone from their lips to God's ears – Riley's plane was shot down by an Iraqi aircraft on February 17, 1991. They found no evidence of his death or survival.
At first, Buffy had hoped that he had survived. The hope increased in fervour after the birth of their son, Sean Padraic Finn. She wanted so badly for Riley to be alive, even if he had to be in Iraqi clutches. At least he could be rescued from Saddam Hussein, but the Grim Reaper was out of the realm of experience of the US fighting forces. After a year, the Coalition troops were gone and Riley's fate was still unknown. Buffy gave up on Riley being alive and gave in to her grief.
Cordy had been her only supporter before and after Riley's death. Her so-called friends had quickly disassociated themselves from the 'statistic teenage mother'. The tragedy had not moved either of their parents to make amends – their high society reputation mattered more than family.
Towards the end of their senior year, Mitch Chase ran into trouble with the IRS and their 'good life' came to an abrupt end. As soon as they graduated, Cordy and Buffy moved to the city and took jobs as customer service representatives at an insurance company. They soon became favourites of their boss, Ethan Rayne, and he pulled a few strings and got them into UCLA. Buffy studied medicine and Cordy studied theatre, film and television.
They met Kendra and Lindsey as volunteer counsellors at UCLA's summer camp for lower-income children. Their friendship grew and continued for over a decade since that summer. Buffy also became friends with one of her professors – Rupert Giles. It was he who had helped Rick to get into the highly selective Cait Midland Academy when the time for high school arrived
Buffy was glad for the love, support and guidance of her 'family'. They all mothered and fathered Rick throughout his life whenever Buffy was unable to. Sometimes she shuddered at the thought of where she would probably be without them in her life.
"So exactly how rich are you?" was Ethan's greeting as he strolled into the backyard.
"Didn't your mother ever tell you it's rude to ask a person about how much money they have?" Buffy answered as he hugged her.
"Ah, love, I didn't ask how much you had really…just the degree of your wealth," Ethan retorted.
"Let's just say it's enough to buy a penis mobile or two like yours," teased a familiar female voice.
"Yes, 'cause getting one like Ripper's is a tall order. He's got a lot to make up for y'see," Ethan volleyed.
Everyone laughed heartily at Ethan's jibe.
Ethan kissed Buffy's forehead and went over to Cordy. Buffy smiled as she saw Giles and his wife, Olivia, joining the party. A huge smile broke out on her face and she ran and greeted the couple.
"Now that everyone's here, we can officially get this party started," Lindsey declared.
The music started up and the refreshments flowed. They laughed, dance, teased each other, discussed current affairs and caught up on each other's lives. When the men went off to play poker and talk about 'man business', the children were put to bed and the women cleaned up.
~*~*~*~
"So how're you gonna spend it?" asked Cordy as soon as they sat down to slices of cheesecake.
"First things first, I'm paying off my student loan. Then I'm gonna have Lindsey invest some for Rick and me. The rest I'll use to get an honest-to-goodness house and then spoil myself. I'm gonna fix Al and get a new car too," Buffy answered.
"Any chance the spoiling includes being a partner in your best friend's party planning business?" Cordy ventured.
"Cordy!" said Kendra in a reproachful tone.
"What? If you can't sponge off the generosity of your friend then you can't truly call her your friend. Besides, if she's gonna fix and keep that vortex she calls a car, she can throw some money my way," Cordy contended.
"Win a little money and suddenly you're Daddy Warbucks…. Of course I'll do it, Cordy. You wouldn't let me live if I didn't," Buffy responded.
"What about Joyce?" asked Olivia.
"Joyce? What about Joyce?" asked Cordy and Kendra in unison.
Buffy glared at Olivia. Olivia levelled her with a triumphant look.
Buffy took a deep breath and explained, "Joyce called a few nights ago. She's got a brain tumour. The doctor gave her at most six months to live. She wants to see me."
"Oh. So what you gonna do?" asked Cordy.
"I don't know," Buffy sighed.
"You should go," Olivia advised her.
"I agree," Kendra added.
"Guys--" Buffy began.
"No, Buffy. The last time she reached out to you and you turned away from her. She survived her breast cancer; but now she's not going to survive this tumour. You were young and angry then," Cordy cut her off.
"Now you're a grown woman who's going to let it go and make things right," Kendra insisted.
"Damn straight, Kenny. So when are you going? And it better be soon… very soon," Cordy said firmly, giving Buffy a no-nonsense look.
"She's going to call Joyce tonight and tell her that she's coming to Sunnydale…" Olivia began, prompting Buffy with a look.
"To spend the rest of the summer with her," Buffy finished in defeat.
"Good… very good, Buffy," said Kendra with a pleased look.
"We'll be over to help in the morning," Olivia declared,
"It's not like I'm moving there," Buffy protested.
"Y'know…that's not a bad idea. It's a nice break from your hectic life here in LA… how much excitement can that One-Starbucks town have? Plus, you'll get more time with your mom," Cordy suggested.
" Yeah, but what about Rick? It's his senior year," Buffy remarked.
"He won't die, Buffy. Children move all the time," Kendra assured her.
"I have to think about it and ask Rick how he feels," Buffy replied.