A/N: To all the lovely people reading this fic, thank you! With the help of my Beta Geliot99, I've just wrapped this story up at 6 chapters. This story was a lot of fun to write. I hope you enjoy the last two chapters
Chapter 5 Time and Place
Nearly two weeks had passed since Spike had started going over to visit with Joyce daily after work while Buffy was still at class. Joyce was gushing over the date she had just been on with someone she met through the gallery. Despite how happy she was, Spike couldn't help but notice that she seemed a little off.
He cleared his throat as he watched her. "Are you sure you're feeling alright?"
Joyce nodded her head absently, "Oh sure, I'm alright I think I'm getting a migraine. I think I might lay down."
That made Spike frown. Joyce had been doing very well, her strength had been improving exponentially and she hadn't been having headaches for a while now. He was mulling over the things he had been told to keep an eye out for according to Joyce's doctor when the doorbell rang.
Joyce made a move to get the door but Spike waved her down. "It's alright I'll get it."
Joyce nodded her acquiescence and sat back down while Spike went to answer the door. There was a flower delivery man waiting on the porch when he opened the door.
Spike brought the large flower arrangement back into the kitchen. "Got a delivery from that bloke you were telling me about, I think."
Joyce's face lit up with a smile, "Oh how sweet!" She crooned over the flowers. "Oh they are so beautiful, I'll have to call him later. See I told you he was nice." She said taking them from him.
"Nothing more than you Summers women deserve," he answered as he followed her through the living room.
Joyce set the flowers on a table by the door, still smiling, "I think you might be a little bit biased don't you?"
"Maybe just a bit," he shrugged easily, taking a seat on the couch.
Joyce suddenly clenched her head. "Oh my goodness, this headache."
"You alright Joyce?"
She shook her head, "No I don't think so. I'm gonna— " she cut off grimacing.
An alarm went off in Spike's mind, the urge to take immediate action consumed him. "Yeah alright that's it, I'm calling emergency."
"Spike its just—" she collapsed back onto the couch holding her hands over her eyes.
"No arguments," he said firmly before rushing to the phone.
Spike stood leaning against the wall watching Joyce leaning her head against the back of the couch while he called for the ambulance. She was clearly in pain.
Joyce groaned as Spike came to sit by her side, "They're on the way."
"It's probably just a migraine, Spike, I'll be fine." She was speaking softly as though the sound of her own voice was too much for her.
Spike stood up, needing to do something. "If you hadn't just had your melon cut into I wouldn't fret so much. I'll get you some water," he murmured softly before heading toward the kitchen. Panic was starting to creep in as he filled a water glass.
Joyce was sitting in the same spot on the couch when he came back in. "Here you are, drink up."
She took the glass from him with a grateful nod and took several sips. Spike sat there watching her drink her water for a minute before getting up to look out the windows.
"Spike?" Joyce croaked.
He whipped his head back toward her, "Yeah?"
"See if you can get a hold of Buffy, make sure she knows what's going on."
"Like you even have to ask?" He smirked.
A microscopic smile tugged at the corner of her lips as Spike picked up the phone again. Buffy's phone went straight to voicemail. He sighed, turning back to Joyce who had started to slump a little.
He rushed over to her, tilting her chin up with his fingers. She jerked her head a little. "You still with me?" He asked.
"I'm here," she groaned just as Spike heard the ambulance pull up.
The EMTs got straight to work checking her over and getting her recent medical history. The minute Spike told them about her recent hospitalization they started getting her loaded onto a gurney. Spike went over to her as they started to head out.
One of the EMTs turned to look at him. "Did you wanna ride with her?"
Spike cast an eye outside, the sun was still shining. He shook his head, squeezing Joyce's hand, "I'll make the calls and hang about, till Dawn gets home, let her know what's going on. I'll be along as soon as I'm able."
Joyce nodded her thanks and he let her hand go, feeling a sudden and painful sensation rip through him.
In seconds the EMTs had whisked her out the door and into the ambulance, siren blaring as they sped off towards the hospital.
Spike watched the ambulance disappear from the window, his stomach twisting uncomfortably.
Action, do something— Can't just sit around waiting for the sun to go down. Could take the tunnels, but they don't come out close enough to the hospital… No, no— gotta stay put for Dawn. Got a job to do, make the calls—
He took a deep breath, steadying his nerves, hoping that Joyce would be alright, memories of watching his own mother's failing health begin fueling the panic growing in his chest. He tried Buffy's cell phone again, but had the same result as before.
Right, girl is probably still in class. Try again later. On to the next…
He tried the Magic Box, the phone rang and rang.
Bloody hell, ain't nobody minding the sodding shop? Come on Watcher, pick up the bleeding phone—
There was a click followed by Giles's harried voice. Spike sighed in relief when Giles answered.
"Bout time you picked up the phone, Rupert. Been ringing off the hook. How's anyone supposed to—"
"Spike?" Giles asked, interrupting his impatient babble.
"I can't get a hold of Buffy," he blurted, suddenly very agitated.
"I imagine she's in class, what's wrong?" Giles asked sharply.
Spike took the phone with him, pacing in front of the couch before collapsing down on it in frustration, "Had to call emergency for Joyce, EMTs got her on her way to hospital now," Spike said, trying to keep his tone even.
"I swear if you hurt her—"
Spike sat up, clutching the phone in an iron grip, back rigid, "Hurt her?! Are you off your trolley? I love the woman like she was my own mum. I'm a wreck with worry— I just handed her off to strangers— she's all alone and there's no direct access to the hospital through the tunnels so I'd still have to wait until sundown and you got the audacity to—"
"Tell me what happened," Giles said sternly, cutting into Spike's rant.
Spike took a deep unnecessary breath to steady himself and filled Giles in on what little he knew, "Giles, I told Joyce I'd get a hold of Buffy and stay at the house for Dawn but—"
Giles interrupted him, "I can get Dawn from school, I'm on the list. Keep trying Buffy's mobile and we will meet you at the hospital after sundown."
"Ta, Rupert," Spike replied, running a hand through his hair. Giles was being cool headed and he was letting his emotions get the better of him.
Get it together, William. You're no good to Buffy like this.
By the time Spike finally made it to the hospital, Buffy and Dawn were huddled together in the waiting room with Giles. Giles was sitting with his head down, hands clasped, elbows on knees, looking very much like a man at the peak of desperation. The look was echoed on Buffy and Dawn's faces. Spike made his way over to the seat next to Buffy.
Sitting down, "What's the news?" he asked quietly, feeling a little ashamed of himself for even asking.
Buffy leaned over to him, seeking comfort, "They took her into surgery. They said it's an aneurysm— and they— they don't know if—" her throat constricted painfully and the words caught like pieces of glass.
Spike didn't push. He just put an arm around her pulling her in close to him, stroking her hair as her head rested on his shoulder.
Giles looked up, noticing the marked intimacy between the two of them, but didn't say anything.
Spike looked over Buffy's head at Dawn who was curled up in a tight ball on the chair next to Buffy looking very small and vulnerable. "Chin-up, bit," Spike murmured.
Dawn sniffed, "I just wish someone would tell us what's going on. I hate this waiting…"
Spike didn't have a response to that and simply reached the arm he had around Buffy over to tussle Dawn's hair lightly in a brotherly fashion. Dawn reached for his hand, plucking it off her head and taking a second to examine his chipped nail polish before releasing him. "Your nails look awful," she mumbled.
Spike glanced at his hand as he pulled his arm back around Buffy. "Right you are, Nibblet. Behave yourself and maybe I'll let you fix 'em for me later."
Buffy shifted her head, taking his fingers in her hand examining them too, "I've never seen anyone destroy their nail polish as fast as you."
There was something about the simple inane conversation that briefly cut through the tension hanging in the air.
He rolled his free shoulder and linked their fingers together. They had been growing closer, learning to rely on each other in more ways than they had previously. It was a blossoming relationship they were both eager to explore and it seemed they were about to put it to the test.
It was almost a half hour later before Buffy pulled away. "I'm gonna go to the bathroom."
"We'll stay here in case the doctor comes out," Giles replied.
Dawn pulled herself up, "I'll come with you. I don't think I've peed since I left school," she said, without an ounce of emotion in her voice.
Spike watched as the sisters walked down the hallway.
Giles resumed his position looking desperate as ever. Spike leaned forward with his elbows on his knees, and turned his head toward him, "Joyce doesn't know, does she?"
Giles didn't look at Spike, "About you and Buffy?"
Spike scoffed, "Course she knows about that, she practically set us up."
Giles raised his eyebrows in surprise, "Then what on earth are you—"
Spike cut him off with a knowing look, "You're in love with her aren't you?"
Giles cleared his throat, "Don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh come off it, Rupert, you don't think I recognize the look? If you're worried about what the girls are going to say, don't. Got a feeling if she comes out of this they aren't gonna give a toss about who it is that makes her happy."
Giles swallowed hard, "Does tend to put things in perspective."
"You know she started dating again, don't you?"
Giles shook his head, "No, we don't tend to discuss our personal lives much."
Spike nodded, "All I can say is you better not waste your time telling her how you feel, because whether she comes out of it or not, you just might lose her anyway."
Giles pressed his lips together in a fine line and gave a curt nod, his throat too tight to answer.
The girls returned a moment later. Buffy pulled Spike's arm back around herself, as she snuggled back into him. He stroked her hair gently as they waited in silence. Spike was still holding her close to him when Xander and Anya came in with Willow and Tara close behind.
Xander watched the two of them with a keen eye until Willow broke the stillness of the room. "Sorry we're so late. We were doing Glory research and— well humm we're here now," she smiled apologetically as she and Tara sat down across from Spike and Buffy.
"Has there been any news?" Tara asked tentatively, seemingly unperturbed by their intimate proximity. It was one of the things Spike liked about the witch. She wasn't judgmental, and generally made him feel like less of an outsider. Out of all of them he liked Tara the best, Anya was a close second.
Buffy straightened herself up in her seat but didn't release Spike's hand. "Nothing since I talked to you earlier."
Xander gave a curt nod as though he had come to some kind of a decision. He went over to give Buffy an awkward hug, leaning down to her where she sat, "You need anything, Buff? Soda, chocolate, something else cavity inducing?"
Buffy chuckled weakly, "Nah, I'm alright, but ah— what do you say Dawnie?" She asked, turning towards her sister.
Dawn shrugged, "I guess I could go for some chocolate."
Xander extended his arm towards her, "Come on Dawnie, the vending machine and the chocolatey goodness within await."
With an anemic smile, Dawn unfurled her coltish limbs from her seat to follow Xander.
Buffy leaned back into Spike, laying her head on his shoulder again. Spike's chest swelled and he couldn't help a little internal crow of elation at the blatant public affection she was showing him during this stressful time.
Although several glances made their way towards them, no one spoke. Buffy examined Spike's hand intertwined with hers as they sat in the mind numbing silence. She could feel her friends' eyes on them and was thankful that they weren't saying anything given the circumstances.
A door opened, and the doctor came out with a concerned look on his face. Spike stood up with Buffy as she strode over to the doctor with agitation. The doctor looked very tired but gave a small smile, "Your mother is in recovery. She's not out of the woods yet I'm afraid, but we got the aneurysm. If you hadn't called an ambulance when you did she certainly wouldn't have made it this far. She has a fighting chance but I should warn you that there could be permanent damage. We won't know more until she wakes up."
"Thank you Doctor. When— when can we see her?" Buffy asked.
"A nurse will come get you when she gets settled into her room."
Buffy nodded and turned around facing Spike as the doctor walked away. She placed her hands on his shoulders, leaning her forehead onto his chest.
Spike wrapped one arm around her waist and thread the fingers of his other hand into her hair.
"She's tough, your mum. She'll be alright," he murmured.
She was breathing rather heavily in an attempt to steal her nerves. She backed up a little, looking up at him. "Thank you for being with her. You might have saved her life."
"Save your gratitude for when she's home safe and sound, pet," he said, leading her back to resume their seats.
Spike relished the way she melted into him. It was the one and only perk to the entire awful situation. The simple fact that Buffy was letting him hold her so tenderly and not caring about who saw.
Willow glanced around nervously at the rest of her friends before clearing her throat and licking her lips, "So this is good news? I mean maybe not the bestest, best news but it's good— better news."
Tara gripped her girlfriend's hand "Sure, it's the newsiest. Definitely could've been worse," she nodded enthusiastically, "where there's life there's hope, right?"
Buffy, turned her strained gaze on her friends, and gave a weak smile as Xander came back in with Dawn.
Dawn curled back up in her seat, breaking off a piece of chocolate and offering it to Buffy, "Anything yet?"
Buffy nodded, "The doctor just left, we were just talking about it."
Dawn gave her sister an apprehensive look, "Judging by the lack of smiles I'm guessing it's not great news."
Buffy gripped Dawn's knee, "A nurse is coming to get us once mom is settled in her room."
"So she's going to be okay?"
"She's alive, we- we don't know if—" the words stalled as she looked into her sister's wide hopeful eyes.
Spike cleared his throat, shifting himself to see her better, "She's likely through the worst of it, but they don't know for certain, Nibblet, it's just gonna be a bit of a waiting game at this point."
Dawn nodded glumly, "Oh…"
Buffy tilted her head up towards Spike, "But Tara is right, where there's life there's hope and thanks to Spike, mom has a chance," she said, giving him a chaste kiss on the cheek, it would have made him flush with pleasure if he could. Buffy snuggled back into him and he readjusted his arm around her comfortably.
Anya looked round the room at everyone, pointedly staying quiet. She had been chomping at the bit since they had walked in and simply couldn't take it anymore. "Hope is good. I like Joyce, she's very nice," she nodded innocently and chewed on the inside of her cheek before blurting out, "but am I the only one seeing this whole Buffy-Spike lovey-dovey thing happening?"
Buffy straightened her spine, "Can we just not do this right now? Mom might have brain damage and I really don't want to get into all this," she paused, taking a deep breath, "Let's just talk about someth—"
Buffy was cut short when a nurse came out to them, letting them know Joyce could have visitors, but that she wasn't awake and needed her rest.
Buffy gripped Dawn's hand, not letting go of Spike and pulled them both with her to follow the nurse. Spike pulled his hand back, "You don't want me in there, pet."
Buffy glared at him. "You're the reason we're visiting her in a room and not the morgue, you're coming with us."
"Right, maybe I can find one of those murder mystery romance flicks she likes so much. Probably snap her out of the whole thing," he murmured in an effort to lighten her mood.
"Oh my god, Spike—" Buffy groaned, but smiled all the same.
Buffy felt a bone deep ache as she watched her sister practically run up the stairs to her room when they got back home that night. She couldn't blame her. It had been an exhausting day. They had stayed at the hospital until the staff told them only one person could stay with her overnight. Giles had stepped in, volunteering to stay with Joyce so she wouldn't be alone when she woke up and insisting that Buffy and Dawn should get some rest.
Spike shrugged off his coat hanging it by the door and laid a hand gently on Buffy's shoulder. She turned to face him, eyes shining with unshed tears.
"Come on, Slayer, let the girl be. I'll make you a cup'a."
"Pretty sure I'm going to need something a little stronger than tea."
"Got some bourbon in my flask and I'm fairly certain your mum still has a bottle of spiced rum under the kitchen sink."
Buffy raised an eyebrow, "Drinking more than tea and cocoa huh?"
He rolled his eyes and laughed, "We both enjoy a nip in our cocoa as it turns out."
She chuckled halfheartedly, "I think I'll opt for one of the bottles of wine in the basement."
"I'll get the glasses."
She gave him a dubious look, "Maybe I should just grab you your own bottle."
"I wouldn't object."
Buffy slipped off her shoes as Spike poured her a glass of wine and the two of them settled down on the couch. Spike tapped the neck of the bottle against Buffy's glass, "Cheers, to your mum and a full recovery," he murmured, taking a hefty swig.
Buffy drank from her glass, letting the semisweet, fruity flavor of the wine roll over her tongue. Spike's toast echoed in her ears and in a sudden flash of insight something became utterly clear.
I'm in love with Spike. I love him…
All of the air seemed to leave the room with that sudden realization and she took a long pull from her glass, draining it.
Spike raised an eyebrow, "Not to ask an obvious question here, but are you alright, luv?"
She set her glass down on the coffee table and turned to look him in the eyes. "I'd be better if we had a few more answers. I mean, it's a huge relief knowing Giles is with her but I just hate the thought of leaving her in the hospital, again."
"Sweetheart, you and I both know she's right where she needs to be right now. Giles will phone if there's any change. Bloke isn't likely to leave her side." He said, taking a drink from the bottle in his hand.
"Huhh?" Buffy replied.
Spike shrugged, "This whole thing's got the Watcher pretty rattled. Man's got it bad for your mum."
"Got what?"
He rolled his eyes, taking another drink, "Are you genuinely this terrible at recognizing when a fella is hopelessly in love, or is it just the English ones?"
"Wait, what?" Buffy gaped at him in shock.
"Your Watcher is in love with your mother. I know the blokes got a stick up his ass but you mean to tell me you haven't noticed anything before now?"
"I— I— eh, I mean there was the band candy thing—"
Spike gave her a quizzical look.
"Ehh yeah… they sort of had a magically induced teenage infatuation thing— very big with the ick. I found out later that they actually had sex— on a cop car," Buffy gave a mock shiver.
Spike fell back against the couch and laughed, "And you never thought something might've stuck? Unless it was a love spell I'd wager it probably just lowered their inhibitions. Bloody hell, no wonder the fella is going off the rails. Can't believe you never put it together." He chuckled some more before sobering up and taking a drink from the wine bottle.
"Yeah well my experience is kinda limited, but I think I'm starting to recognise the signs now," she murmured softly as she shifted herself a little closer to him.
A small smile pulled at his lips, "Well that's something ain't it?" He set down the wine bottle and leaned in, resting his forehead against hers.
Buffy's heart was pounding. They had been growing closer, spending time together, mostly in his crypt and had developed an easy sort of intimacy between them. It was drastically different from any of her previous relationships. It wasn't filled with drama for one thing, not since Drusilla left town at least.
It's almost like we just fit together. Like a couple of puzzle pieces. I didn't even realize we were part of the same puzzle before, but now— I don't know what I would have done if he hadn't been here today. And the way he is with Dawn and mom—
The thought made something snap within her mind; gears clicking into place.
"Spike?" She whispered timidly.
He hummed in reply, caressing her hair. He had gone very still, as though he could sense a change in her and was preparing for the worst.
"Can you stay tonight?" She asked.
The tension in his neck and shoulders melted away visibly and he gave her an easy smile, "I'm yours, course I'll stay."
She smiled softly, "I love you," the words spilled out of her mouth before she even knew they were forming. However, the look on Spike's face at the pronouncement dissolved any remaining doubt in her mind.
He was looking at her like she was the only thing in the entire world. "Do you mean it? Really?"
"Yeah, I really do," she smiled sadly.
He ran the pad of his thumb over her cheek lightly, "Sure it's not just this rot with your mum?"
She shrugged, "I'm not going to lie, it probably does have something to do with the Buffy-brain-mouth combo blurting it out like that but— yeah, I think I've kinda been working up to it for a while."
He smiled, desperately trying to keep himself in check, "Right then," he murmured into a kiss, pulling her against him. Buffy wrapped her arms around his back, letting her fingers tug at his shirt. Pulling at the fabric and deepening the kiss. Spike let out a tiny growl as her fingers slipped over his back, pulling his shirt off and caressing his skin tenderly.
"God, Buffy, I love you so much, I—"
She pressed a finger against his lips pulling him up with her, "Maybe we could try that quiet thing?"
Spike's eyes blazed with lust, and he nodded slowly. Up until now they had always gone back to his crypt. "That your fantasy, Goldilocks?" He asked with a smirk, knowing full well she wanted to be quiet because Dawn was in the house.
"Shhh…" she threaded her fingers into his, pulling him along with her up the stairs into the dark recesses of her bedroom. Spike watched as she pulled out a soft cotton nightgown, laying it on the bed and began to strip down.
He plucked the little nightgown up, "Hardly seems worth the trouble," he whispered as he watched her take a few steps toward him. The dull light coming through the window illuminated her now naked form.
She shrugged her head a fraction. Her emotions were writhing inside her chest. Concern for her mother, her love for Spike, the thought of Giles watching over her mother, Dawn in her room, what her friends would eventually say about her and Spike— it was all getting to be too much. There were only two positive things she could think of in that moment. One was the fact that they hadn't seen or heard anything about Glory or her minions. The other was that Spike was currently standing in front of her looking like he did in the beginning of most of her dreams.
She took a few more tentative steps toward him, closing the distance and slipping her fingers into his waistband, eliciting a low hum from him.
A distraction could be of the good tonight. Quiet, sexy distraction— with the man I love… pick up the worry in the morning.
"Spike… can we just—"
As though he had been reading her mind, he gripped her head very gently, thumbs caressing her jaw tenderly. "Been a hell of a day. Nice and gentle, yeah?" He murmured against her cheek.
She nodded silently, letting herself melt into the kiss.
Without breaking apart, Spike pulled back the covers. They slid down into the bed together. Buffy curled in on her side, pulling him along with her. He pressed against her letting his length lay along her hip as he ran his fingers over her smooth skin. Trailing kisses down over her jaw and throat.
Buffy let out a little shiver of anticipation as he skimmed his lips down to take a breast into his mouth. Spike moved his left hand to grip her right wrist. Pulling her hand from his shoulder, he twisted her onto her back, pinning her to the bed. She widened her legs for him, readjusting herself to wrap one leg around his back. Spike released her breast with a gentle nip and Buffy bucked her hips seeking his erection. Spike pushed his tip into her soaked folds with the intention of taking his time to tease her a little. Buffy was growing evermore inpatient; she bucked her hips at the same time she dug her heel into his ass, pulling him into her waiting heat. They both gasped as he sank into her, impaling and stretching her wide.
"Buffy— ohh god—" he moaned.
Buffy gripped her hand into his hair, "Shhh—"
He thrust, growling low in her ear, "You're making that awfully difficult, kitten."
Buffy bit back a keening moan as he thrust slowly. Pulling back torturously and inching back into her with smooth deliberate movements. Tilting his hips to ensure as much contact against her clit as possible. Buffy dug her fingernails into his biceps as he continued his pace.
Buffy moved her lips over his throat, licking a path up to his ear and catching a tender patch of skin with her tongue that always threatened to send him over the edge. She bit lightly at the spot and he held back a growl forcing it into something more like a shudder. Buffy giggled breathlessly into his ear, "Did you like that or something?"
"God yes, you little minx," he murmured as he caught her lips in another kiss.
Buffy pulled back gasping for breath as he maneuvered a hand between them to gently work her clit. "Spike— oh God, Spike—"
"Shhh, pet. We're still playing our quiet game aren't we?" He whispered into her ear.
Buffy clenched her thighs around him, limiting the movement of his hips and pulling him into her as her release grew near. She clenched around him as he drew in a harsh breath. "Spike—" she gasped.
He pumped into her, increasing the pace within the restrictions of her legs wrapped around him, "Say it again Buffy, let me hear you say it—" he whispered, letting his breath tickle her ear.
Buffy's body went rigid, muscles tensing with the building orgasm, back arching. Her breath hitched and her head swam with sensation. "I— Spike… I love—"
He stilled his hips, "Can't hear you, luv," he growled.
Her breathing was coming in irregular harsh gasps as he took one of her breasts in his mouth toying with the tip. Buffy strained against him, "I- ahh— I love you— I love you, Spike— I—" She turned her head and Spike released her wrist, bringing his forearm towards her mouth.
He released her breast, licking his way back up to her ear as he resumed pumping into her, "I love hearing you say it."
Her body started to convulse, and he moved his arm, a little closer to her mouth, "No screaming remember? Bite me if you need to, kitten," he murmured, letting her muffle her scream with his arm. Her release coupled with the feel of her teeth and tongue against his skin sent him over the edge, spilling into her in a torrent, jaw clenched to keep himself quiet.
He collapsed to the side pulling her with him, "I love you," he murmured.
Her chest was still heaving as she caught her breath, eyes glazed, "Love you-"
He cupped her head, pulling her in for a tender kiss. She relaxed her upper leg still wrapped around him, twining her legs with his as they eased into a more comfortable position. Her head pillowed onto his bicep as they lay there in the dark.
Buffy hummed, "You kinda suck at the quiet thing."
"Bollocks, you said quiet, not silent. The bit didn't hear a thing," he said in a hushed tone, grinning softly, as she snuggled against him.