Chapter 13: Things Always Get Worse
Buffy woke up with a sense of dread in the back of her mind. She braved the shower then wandered downstairs where Giles tried to talk to her. She listened but with a bleeding heart knowing her father was going to be responsible for breaking them up if anyone was.
"Buffy dear, I'm seriously trying to be the best father I can be for you. I know we aren't blood related but I love you like my child. Ever since I first saw you, I knew you needed me as much as I needed you. Buffy why are you so insistent that you feel something for Spike?"
Buffy frowned, "I do love him. I love him more than I love any other person. It's real and true."
Giles took a step towards Buffy laying a hand on her shoulder, "You think it's love but you don't really love him. It's all in your head. You are too young to feel love. I thought I loved my ex-wife but we were just in a crush that felt like love. Trust me, you don't love him."
Buffy frowned refusing to say much, "I need some air. I'm going to walk to school today."
Giles frowned as well but watched as she left.
Romeo save me, they're trying to tell me how to feel
When she met Spike for lunch, she took him aside, "I talked to my dad this morning. It didn't go well. He claims I don't love you. He told me that it was just some crush. He's trying to tell me how to feel. Can't you take me away and save me from this?"
Spike took her hand as they walked in together, "Running away isn't the answer…"
This love is difficult but it's real
Buffy whispered towards him as she took her seat thankful that the others hadn't arrived yet, "But it's so hard…but I know how I feel it's real! I know how I feel. I love you more than I've ever loved anyone in my life. I have never felt this before. It's real I swear it's real."
Don't be afraid, we'll make it out of this mess
Spike took her hands into his ignoring the others as they sat down, "Buffy, luv, I know it's real. I feel it too. Don't be afraid, we will make it. I promise you, things will get better eventually. We will make it out of this mess. Things might seem hard now but we are stronger than that."
Their friends watched their interaction and Willow felt envious. She didn't know if Oz would take this so well. He was strong and good but he wasn't always so understanding. She couldn't imagine being Buffy right now. Buffy was hiding things from her parents, trying to make a relationship work even though everyone in the entire world, including herself, hasn't been the most supportive.
Willow suddenly felt guilty but smiled slightly as she watched Spike kiss Buffy gently. Buffy felt better. She knew Spike would stand by her no matter what and no matter how hard things got, she would never lose him.
Things didn't exactly get easier. Dru eventually left Sunnydale after 3 weeks as planned. She took her kid away never telling anyone who the father really was. She didn't care much for the rumors but didn't care much about them either. The rumors did die down a little although Giles stood firm on his belief Spike was bad news for Buffy and he would ruin her so as far as he was concerned he didn't want to know anything about what she did with him.
Joyce found out she was pregnant so most of Giles's focus was on her and her baby rather than what Buffy was or wasn't doing with Spike. Spike and Buffy still went out every night just about and still ate lunch together and enjoyed their gym class, study hall and karate class together. The days started getting longer and the air warmer. Their outings started to include boat trips, beach adventures and long walks enjoying the fact that coats and jackets were not necessary although Spike never went anywhere without his.
Today was a month exactly until the junior prom, then another two weeks until the senior prom. Then a little more than a month after that would be Spike's graduation day. It was a busy time of the year for seniors and up until then things seemed to be going perfect.
Then Spike had some news he had to share with Buffy. He wouldn't be going to college in Sunnydale in the fall as originally planned. He had to go back to England.
Buffy still had 9 more months of school and he could start his college in the fall but he would have to go to an England college. He hoped that Buffy would join him in England once summer happened. He sighed as he made his way to the garden to meet up with Buffy. She was due any minute.
He sat down on the bench with a heavy sigh smiling slightly as Buffy came to join him, "Why the long face Spike?"
Spike sighed, "In the fall I have to go back to England. My grandfather owns Pratt Winery. It's a wine business that I was supposed to eventually take over. He died this morning. I wasn't too close to him but with my parents dead and my Aunt unmarried, the business falls to me. Until I graduate it's being run by one of my dad's advisors but I have to run it starting September 1st. I'm so sorry baby."
Buffy met his bright blue eyes with a sadness in her green ones, "Will you be back?"
Spike frowned as he pulled her to his side, "I'll always be back for you baby but this is kind of my life I'm starting. The business doesn't up and go away. I was hoping once you graduate, you'd consider going to college in England and see if you might just like it there. Your step-dad is from England after all so I'm sure they would still see you lots."
Buffy suddenly looked hopeful until she realized something else, "I'm graduating and I have a senior prom and dances and stuff we were planning to go to together…will I have to go alone?"
Spike shook his head with a slight smile, "No. By taking this position, I'm gaining the family estate including their riches. You will be dating a rich man. I'm bloody rich and can afford to fly to Sunnydale anytime you have a special occasion granted that there are no emergencies."
Buffy giggled slightly, "There are emergencies with wine? What like the grapes are sour and need sugar or something?"
Spike grinned a little at her naivety about wine, "No but don't worry about those. It's a huge corporate business meaning I'll have to learn a whole bloody lot to run it. Things such as meetings with big clients and businesses who sell or buy my wine, plus learning how it's made and all the tricks that go on with it. I don't know much about it. I was given a tour when I was still in England when my parents were alive but no focus was placed on it. In fact, it was assumed that someone else would be around to take it over. My parents were still young enough and trying to have another son. One of my cousins had wanted to take it over but now he's too sick to do such hard work."
Buffy nodded trying to be understanding. This was important to Spike and this would be his future. She had no right to disagree with it or beg him to stay. Instead she gave a smile even though her heart was full of fear, "We can use those plane tickets to England to scope the place out and help get you settled. Then you will have an idea of what goes on when you go in September."
Spike looked so proud of Buffy that she suddenly felt guilty for having to talk herself into being so good about it, "Buffy, I promise we will make it through this. We can make it through everything. Just remember that and never bloody forget it."
Buffy nodded snuggling closer into his arms just wanting to feel the safety of his arms until he had to leave. This was a huge deal for both of them and Buffy and Spike both knew it.