Buffy woke up the next morning, feeling like a whole new person. She looked around trying to figure who was entangled with her and was happy to see that Spike had stayed all through the night. She looked at him as he slept, his nose was a little puffy from Riley's attack, but it was nothing to worry about.
She smiled and slipped quietly out of bed and got dressed. She looked around her room for a moment, all of the candles had burnt out, but you could still smell the soft scent from them.
With some pyjamas and a robe on now Buffy left the room, and quietly descended the stairs, as she hummed softly to herself. It was gonna be a good day, well until she turned the corner into the kitchen and saw her mom standing at the counter drinking some tea, "Mom?"
Joyce nodded and set her drink down, "Is this what you do when I'm not home? Do I have to baby-sit you now?"
"Mom… it's not nearly as bad as you would think…" Buffy bit her lip not really knowing what to do.
"Who is he? He looks much older than high school… is he in college?"
Joyce's question's seemed to go on and on until Buffy cracked, "Shut up! Just stop, okay?" Joyce stopped berating Buffy and waiting for some answers, "He's a singer… and he's not in college… and this is more than what you think… okay, we've been together since… before Christmas, and we've been waiting forever…"
That hit Joyce pretty hard as she realized just what that meant, He was her first… "And he did all of that for you?" she asked referring to the candles and rose petals. Buffy nodded her head, "You're very lucky… I've never met a girl whose first time must have been as romantic as that…"
Joyce thought for a moment, "How old is he?"
Buffy bit her lip, knowing her mom was going to flip, "39…" she mumbled.
Her mom had to stop herself from yelling that time, "39? Buffy. He's two years older than me…"
"Oh mom…" Buffy started, deciding to just spill all of it, quick like a band-aid. "Okay… he's 39 we've been together for several months, he's my English teacher, he's really hot and so sweet and would never hurt me, and I know it. He recites poetry for me, and is always to romantic and funny and knows the perfect thing to say all the time… And…" here was the big one, "His name is Spike… from Falling Down from Summerset."
Joyce was taken back, quite a bit, "Oh my god…" she said in the same manner Buffy often did,"You're serious?" Buffy nodded, "You realize that their band started way back in my teen years?"
Buffy nodded, "Just mom… don't say anything please just don't call anyone…" she did her best to avoid the 'cop' word, "You need to just give him a chance…"
Joyce's hands gripped the edge of the counter as she thought it through; she knew Buffy and knew what her daughter must have gone through by keeping something like this from her. "If he can come down her and face me like a true man… I'll give you two one day to me somehow prove that what you have is real…"
Buffy smiled, Spike can have her convinced in 10 minutes… "Thanks mom, I know you'll really like him… once you get used to the whole… thing…" she gave her mom a quick hug and ran upstairs.
"Spike, Spike…" she shook him, "Honey, you need to get up…"
Spike groaned and grabbed Buffy as he pulled her back into bed, causing her to giggle, "Why do you have clothes on?" was all he said.
"No, hun… my mom is downstairs…" that got him; Spike bolted from the bed and started fishing some clean clothes from an overnight bag he had packed, "No, just calm down…" it took a moment but Spike did and looked at Buffy confused as he stood naked with one leg in his pants, "She's giving us a chance. But you need to get down there and talk to her… like a man."
"I'm not a man…" he whimpered honestly scared for his life.
Buffy laughed, "You took down a rabies infected teenage boy the other night without so much as flinching… I'm sure you can handle my mom…" Buffy smiled and leaned up slightly, giving Spike and encouraging kiss, and eluding the strength he knew she always held inside "And I'll be with you…" he nodded pulling his pants on and put on his shirt.
The both left the safety of Buffy's room and went into the kitchen hand in hand. Joyce was waiting, Spike honestly felt liking dying at that point, but pulled himself together. He let go of Buffy's hand and approached Joyce with it, "Good morning, ma'am." He was using his American accent, "My name is William."
Joyce looked at his hand and after a few moments shook it, "I'm Joyce and I'm Buffy's mother, as I'm sure you have figured out." Spike gulped and took a step back after releasing Joyce's hand. Her tone was ice cold and he felt the freezer burn whipping at him as he backed away.
"She knows… about Spike…" Buffy said as she took one of his arms and stood beside him.
"Oh, alright…" he relaxed a bit and tried to look everywhere but at Joyce, so he stared at Buffy instead. She smiled and placed a comforting hand on his chest, Everything is gonna work out right… he thought as he looked into Buffy's eyes.
"Buffy," Joyce said, "Why don't you go pick out a movie for you tow to watch while I talk to him…" Buffy nodded then leaned up and gave Spike a soft kiss before leaving him to fight the dragon.
"If I ever find out you have been using my daughter for your own little sick-"
Spike cut her off, "I could never do that, one, she's too strong… she'd squash my bollocks before I could hurt her. Which is a trait she obviously takes from you. Nothing can take her down," He visibly gulped, "Two she's the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on… and…" he bit his lip, "I love her… period, Mrs. Summer's, I'm so in love with your daughter, I don't know what to do with myself… and honestly… you can't help who you fall in love with…"
For being a 40-year-old troublemaker, he certainly was a wise one, "Its 10am now… you have until… dinner… which will be around 5. At dinner I'll make the decision."
Spike nodded and realized this was her dismissing him, "Right of course…" he bowed slightly, as he left the room, and went into the living room where Buffy was, "I ruined it… I'm going to jail… and I'm never going to see you again…" Spike felt himself start to cry and Buffy joined him on the couch he had flopped down in.
"Shhh… hun…" Spike was laying across the sofa with his arms around Buffy's waist and his face buried in her lap as he started to cry. Joyce watched from around the corner, being sneaky was the only way figure this one out.
"No no… I ruined it… I sounded like an idiot and I'm gonna have my balls chopped off because I fell in love…" Buffy giggled a little at this and took his hand in hers. "I don't want to leave… I want to stay with you…" Spike sat up finally and started to kiss Buffy. It was desperate, and Buffy knew he truly thought they were done for.
"Spike…" she said in between kisses until he finally stopped, "Hun, it's going to be alright…"
Eventually Spike had calmed down and they watched a movie. Spike though fell asleep, still too stressed to really pay attention to anything but Buffy. Buffy fell asleep towards the end of the movie, and Joyce smiled as she wandered into the living room. They did seem to truly love each other, and at least Joyce would know her daughter was going to be very well taken care of. She grabbed a blanket and laid it over the couple then returned to the kitchen.
It was dinner time by the time Spike had woken up; Buffy wasn't with him and he panicked for a moment. He sat up and saw her setting up the table for dinner. Spike sat for a moment, how was he supposed to prove something that had become second nature to him at this point.
He watched Buffy as she appeared and set down plates. So quietly he crept into the dining room and grabbed Buffy by the waist, then pulled her into the foyer. "Spike…" she groaned, "I have to set th-" he cut her off with a kiss and held her close.
He broke it and let her go, "Sorry… just… love you… Can't help but feel like a scared little rat..." he smiled and took the glasses from her hands and set them on the table. Everything was already on the table to he sat down and waited for Buffy to sit next to him.
Joyce began bringing out the spaghetti and several other things then joined Spike and Buffy at the table. Honestly Spike wasn't that hungry, but he tried to eat as much as he could, just to be polite, and it was pretty good food.
About halfway through their meal, Joyce finally spoke up, "Alright…" Buffy and Spike stopped eating, "I watched you two… and I saw that Buffy has grown up… a lot… and that you need her just as she would need you. I've never seen a full grown man, break down as you did…" Spike started to blush a bit with embarrassment, "And I've certainly never seen a 17 year old girl comfort a man as she did…"
There was a long pause as Joyce rethought her decision, "I'll give you two... Another chance to earn my trust again. There will be no more sex until there is a ring on her finger…" Spike eyes grew wide with excitement, "No spending the night… if you two want to see each other… you will talk to me first. You're both on an extremely short leash…"
They both nodded and Spike happily found his appetite as he really started to eat now. Buffy Spike and looked at his ring for a moment, It really was going to work out…