"So then, Toby turned around to her and said- it's captain!" Willow and Buffy burst into laughter. Around them, students dodged the giggling girls, who were hanging onto each other as they walked in an effort to stay upright.
"What's so funny?" Xander came up behind them, grinning in amusement.
"-captain-!" Buffy gasped out, causing him to look at her in confusion.
"Huh?"
"Toby!" Willow managed.
"Huh?"
But they both just continued to laugh helplessly, both taking one of his arms as they began to descend the stairs. "How did your physics test go?" Willow asked him as she sobered.
"Oh, I failed it." He nodded confidently as they rounded the stairwell.
"You, little lady, are in a world of trouble."
Buffy gasped as she saw Ted standing at the bottom of the stairs. "Oh boy." Xander muttered, stepping backwards and drawing both girls with him. But the crush of students on the stairs behind them meant that they couldn't retreat the way they came and Ted was advancing up the stairs towards them.
"You think it was funny? Setting the police on me? Telling them lies?" he raised an eyebrow.
"Lies?" she questioned incredulously. "You fractured my jaw and gave me a concussion!"
"Now we both know I was only disciplining you- goodness knows you seem to need it." He was right in front of them, the groups of students around them forcing them together as they stopped to watch. "But the fun's over now. I need to get going."
Buffy looked at him warily. "Get going…?"
"You see- you mom and me? We're going to be very happy together, somewhere away from here. Don't worry, she'll have everything she needs. But that only works if you're no longer around to tell lies." He wagged his finger at her.
"Lies? You killed your wives! Four of them!"
"See, now this? This is exactly the type of thing I'm talking about." He swung at her, but she was ready and ducked, shoving Xander and Willow to the side as she stepped backwards.
"You're not taking my mom!" she kicked out at him, huffing when he barely stumbled. He laughed.
"Do you really think you can stop me?"
He lunged at her and she ducked under his arm, scrambling backwards a few steps when he immediately spun around and made to grab her. She evaded the full-body grip he was aiming for, but he managed to catch her upper arm and drag her closer to him, slamming her against the wall. "She promised me forever. I'm going to have it."
His hands were around her throat, squeezing and try as she might she couldn't break his grip. Willow and Xander were both behind him, pulling at him but he didn't seem to even notice… at least until Xander took Willow's rucksack, filled with books, and swung it at his head. It snapped to the side and he was knocked away, his grip loosening just enough for Buffy to slide her hands under his and break away.
He turned, glaring at her friends who slowly backed away with wide eyes. "Oh dear…" Willow whimpered.
"Leave them alone!" Buffy reached out to pull him away from them. It worked- he spun to face her instead.
"Little lady, I've had just about enough of you!" he lunged at her. Without thinking, she threw herself to the side, skidding along the floor as she heard glass shatter behind her. Her mouth dropped open when she realised that Ted's momentum had taken him straight through the glass window.
"Oh my gosh!" Willow peeked out as Xander held out a hand to help Buffy to her feet.
"Is he…?" Buffy questioned uneasily.
"I don't know." she admitted, peering down. "He isn't moving. And he seems to be… glittering."
"Huh?" Buffy looked down, confused. "Is that… metal?"
The three exchanged a long look, then spun on their heels and pushed past the other gawking students to the outside of the school. They reached the spot where Ted had fallen, worming their way through the small crowd that had already gathered.
"… Did we know that Ted was a robot?" Xander questioned. The glass had sliced deeply enough to reveal the metal face underneath, and what looked like motor oil was oozing out underneath him.
"Oh my God." Buffy breathed.
"That explains a lot." Willow remarked. They both looked at her strangely. "Okay, it explains nothing." She admitted. "This is very confusing."
"Buffy?" Giles came up behind them, closely followed by Miss Calendar. "We heard what happened- are you alright?"
"I'm fine." She assured him. "Which is more than I can say for Ted."
"Good lord…"
Sirens drew closer and closer to the school. "Should we hide him?" Xander questioned, looking around.
"We can't. Too many people." Miss Calendar said quietly. "We'll just have to hope the usual obliviousness and disinclination of asking questions works out."
Buffy was looking at the robot. "That explains why he was so strong." She commented softly.
"Hey! Synder alert!" Xander hissed suddenly.
"Time to go." Giles quickly ushered them away. Behind them, the police pulled up and Synder began to order everyone back to class.
"My mom was dating a robot." Buffy said in a dazed voice once they'd entered the library. Willow giggled.
"Sorry." She apologised when everyone stared. "It's just… I thought I was the only one that happened to."
Xander snorted. "Welcome to the hellmouth."
"The police will tell her, right?" Buffy questioned.
"Excuse me m'am- were you aware your psycho, abusive boyfriend was a robot masquerading as a human?" Xander imitated in a deep voice.
"Xander!" Miss Calendar scolded. But Buffy giggled, only laughing harder when they all looked at her.
"This is my life." She slid down into her seat, head in her hands as she shook with laughter. "Apocalypses, vampires and robot boyfriends."
"You couldn't make it up." Xander commented cheerfully. Willow began to laugh as well, leaving the two adults gaping at the three of them.
"It must be a teenage thing." Jenny shook her head and turned away. "What'd you think will happen now?"
"As Buffy suggested- I imagine the police will inform Mrs Summers about everything, the robot will be disposed of and everyone will go back to pretending nothing happened." The last bit was said somewhat dryly.
"And Buffy?"
"She will have a home with me for as long as she wishes. But I suspect her mother will want her to return home as well." Giles frowned slightly. They both fell silent for a moment as they watched the three chat.
"Do you think her mother will commit her again?" Jenny asked softly. His face grew grim.
"I honestly don't know. I believe she'll probably assume that anything that Ted told her was a lie, and ignore anything to the contrary."
"You wouldn't let her if she tried, right?" Jenny checked warily. He frowned at her.
"Of course not."
She ducked her head in embarrassment. "Sorry. It's just… Buffy's so full of life. The thought of her locked away and sedated…"
His gaze softened. "I feel the same." He admitted quietly, slipping an arm around her.
"Giles, Miss Calendar! Are you up for it?" Xander called.
"Up for what?"
"Celebratory group dinner tonight! I'm thinking burgers."
"Didn't we do that last week?" Buffy made a face.
"Well, if Rupert doesn't mind us commandeering his kitchen, why don't we cook?" Jenny suggested. "We've had a take-away for the past few days."
"I'll help!" Willow volunteered. Buffy nodded her agreement and they all looked hopefully at Giles.
"Why not." He agreed, masking a groan at the thought of the upcoming mess.
And so that evening found all of the scoobies at Giles' home once again. Cordelia refused to cook, choosing to appoint herself DJ for the night and Buffy was sent out of the kitchen after one too many mishaps. But eventually, all six managed to sit down to dinner.
"Loved the sauce." Xander grinned, patting his stomach once he'd put his knife and fork down. Jenny smiled, shooting a triumphant look towards Giles.
"Thank you Xander."
"Suck up!" Cordelia hissed. He stuck his tongue out at her.
"I'm getting a refill, would anyone else like one?" Giles offered, standing. They all declined and he vanished into the kitchen just as the doorbell rang. "Could you get that, Jenny?"
She did so, blinking in surprise at who she found waiting on the other side of the door. "Mrs Summers."
"Hello. I was wondering if- well, hoping that Buffy is here?" the woman asked tentatively. Jenny hesitated. "Please, I'm not looking to cause trouble."
Jenny looked over her shoulder- the kids had heard who was at the door and Buffy was pale, but nodded slowly at the questioning look she was given. "Come in." She stepped to the side, allowing Joyce entry. The older woman paused when she saw the scene in front of her, not expecting to be faced with all the kids at the end of what looked like a family meal. Buffy had risen from her seat and was standing with her arms wrapped around her, watching her mother warily.
"You three, could you clear the table and wash up?" Giles leant against the wall, making it clear he wasn't going anywhere but the kids rose obediently and with minimal grumbling, disappearing into the kitchen.
"What do you want mom?" Buffy asked tiredly.
"Buffy… I'm sorry."
Buffy looked at her for a long moment. "Sorry for what? For inviting a robot into your life… our lives? For accusing me of lying? For not believing me? For picking a man you'd known a matter of weeks over your own daughter?"
"Buffy!" she exclaimed in frustration. "I made a mistake. News flash- your mom isn't perfect."
"I'm not expecting you to be perfect! But… you didn't believe me. Do you have any idea what that's like?"
"I can imagine…"
"No you can't." Buffy shook her head. "You really can't. He threatened to slap me, then thirty seconds later had his arm around you. And you didn't believe me. If I hadn't run, what would have happened? I could have had a brain injury and he would have left me to die on my bedroom floor. I was scared to be in my own house, mom, and the one person in the world I thought I could trust with anything-"
She broke off, looking away as tears threatened to fall. Joyce had no such qualms, crying openly. "Baby, I'm so sorry."
"Is that really all you think of me?" Buffy asked in a whisper. "Am I just a liar as far as you're concerned?"
"No! Honey, no!" Joyce denied fiercely. Buffy roughly swiped away the tears on her face.
"Would you have put me in an institution again?" she demanded. "On his say so?"
"Again?" she heard Willow whisper from the doorway of the kitchen but paid them no heed, eyes fixed on her mother's face.
"No, honey…"
"He threatened it. Complete obedience, or he would have me locked up. Tell me, mom, how much convincing would that have taken? Didn't take too much last time, did it?" Buffy laughed humourlessly. Joyce shook her head soundlessly, crying uncontrollably.
"Buffy." Jenny murmured gently, glancing pointedly at Joyce. "You have every right to be angry, but don't forget she was drugged too. More than the others." Buffy sagged, because she had forgotten. All at once, the anger seemed to drain out of her and without it, she finally registered the state her mother was in. Instead of continuing, she turned away as she struggled to control her own tears. Giles crossed to her, rubbing her arms gently in comfort.
"Buffy I'm sorry." Joyce whispered brokenly.
"I'm sorry too mom." Buffy leant into Giles, turning her head to look at her. "You deserve a perfect daughter, a better daughter. I'm so sorry I can't be her. I tried, I really did. But… I'm just me. Just Buffy. I'm sorry I can't be more."
Giles hands tightened reflexively around her arms.
"I've never wanted more." Joyce denied. "You're my daughter, I love you just the way you are." She came round, tilting Buffy's head up to look at her. "I love you." She repeated. "And I messed up, I know I did. And you cannot imagine how sorry I am. I'll make it up to you, I swear. Please, please baby, give me the opportunity."
Buffy looked at her exhaustedly. "You can't just make it up." She whispered. "It's not a case of earn so many points and gain forgiveness. It doesn't work like that."
"I know." Her mother reached out, brushing a lock of hair from her face. "I do. But Buffy… I don't know what else to do." She choked. "I don't know how to fix this."
Buffy felt like being sick when she realised that neither did she.
"Buffy?" Xander said timidly, waiting until his friend looked at him before continuing. "I know I don't have much right to interfere here, but... I had a handful of cookies and it affected me enough that you were all able to tell the difference in minutes. Your mom's been eating at whole meals with that stuff for days…"
Buffy's eyes widened. "Could it make her sick?" she questioned in alarm. Joyce was looking more and more confused, her eyes wide.
"No, if she'd come close to an overdose we would know by now." Giles assured her.
"What are you all talking about?" Joyce asked, a little panicked. "Why would I be sick? What's going on? And how would you all know anyway?"
Buffy looked at her, studying her for a long moment. "Mom…" she croaked, swiping the tears on her cheeks away. "I…"
She turned helplessly to Giles, who had the same deer-in-headlights look as her. It was Jenny who stepped forward. "Buffy, why don't you go get cleaned up?" she suggested gently, drawing Buffy over to the bathroom and lowering her voice. "I assume you don't want her to know everything?"
Buffy shook her head. "Not right now."
"Okay." Jenny nudged her away and she obediently went in, washing her face and reapplying the smeared make-up the best she could, grateful her mother apparently hadn't noticed that her bruises had streaks in them.
By the time she emerged Joyce was sat on the couch looking pale, tear tracks on her cheeks. When she spotted Buffy, she jumped up and brought her into a crushing hug. "I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry Buffy." She repeated over and over, clutching at her tightly.
For a moment, Buffy was stiff. But then, all at once she realised she was tired of fighting, tired of blaming. And she finally admitted to herself the one, bone-deep desire she'd had through everything over the past few days.
She just wanted her mom.
She crumpled into her arms, burying her face in her shoulder and breathing in the familiar perfume. "Love you." She mumbled. Joyce hugged her tighter, closing her eyes briefly.
"I love you too, baby. More than you'll ever know. I swear, I'll always believe you, always. I'm so sorry."
"I know. But next time you want to date, Willow and Miss Calendar have to vet him first." Buffy told her. Joyce let out a tearful laugh, kissing her head as she closed her eyes in relief.
"Oh, I don't think there'll be any danger of that for a long time."
"Mrs Summers, we were just about to have dessert." Giles told her. "Won't you join us?"
Jenny smiled as Buffy tugged her mother over the table while Rupert produced another chair and Xander brought the desserts out from the kitchen. Things wouldn't be perfect straight away, she thought as Rupert smiled at her warmly, squeezing her fingers with his own, and she would have to tell the truth about herself soon enough but for now, for tonight- this was pretty close to perfect.