Chapter 18: Thanksgiving Doesn't Always Leave You Thankful
(Song is Here Without You by Three Doors Down)
Lunch with Jenny went well. She had been busy at the shop so she made for them a lovely sweet potato pie, and turkey and cheese sandwiches, which was great for Buffy. Spike's accent had grown considerable over the last few months and Buffy kept grinning realizing that was because he was really making a life for them in England.
She was nervous though not that she would ever admit it. She didn't like the idea he was so far away. It made her nervous and worried which is why she was spending so much time on the phone with him. But being able to make love to him, see his smile and happiness and feel his arms around her reassured her in ways she didn't think were possible.
After a wonderful lunch with Jenny, she had to go back to work so Spike and Buffy popped in the Thanksgiving special of Charlie Brown and laughed together while laying in each other's arms on the couch.
After Charlie Brown, they watched a few more holiday specials before realizing it was already 3:30 and they were due to Buffy's house in a few.
Reluctantly, Spike helped Buffy up and they climbed into his convertible and drove to Buffy's house with a sense of dread in their minds.
Upon arrival, Giles was short but sort of polite while Joyce was overcompensating for Giles's lack of enthusiasm. Finally after a dinner in which Spike had filled it with stories of his new job, Giles sat down with the couple leaving them to sit in chairs next to each other since he had taken over the couch with Joyce.
Joyce being due any time now, needed to sit as often as possible and after cooking a big Thanksgiving meal, she was in much need of relaxing so Spike and Buffy would never think of having her move just so they could sit together.
Giles cleared his throat turning towards Spike saying, "So Spike, you are then running your family business."
Spike nodded as he took another sip of apple cider, "Yes sir. It's going quite well too. Profits are high and it's something that will always be in demand."
Giles muttered, "Yea people just love to get drunk."
Spike frowned then had had enough. He had gotten stronger and more vocal running a company and now he was finally going to tell Giles what he did for a living, "Can I say something? Seriously, I can barely hold this back but I have got to say something. I sell wine because I run a winery. Now when I first arrived in England I was thinking to myself, wow I own a winery that means free alcohol. Now sure that is the idea but I also sell wine to chefs to make exquisite meals that require the best of the best. Do you realize that if I stopped selling 'alcohol' I would ruin meals that you buy yourself in restaurants. I sell wine to businesses who use it to impress their big clients and to encourage bigger sales. I also sell jellies, jams and preserves to people to make pies and other items. I sell flavored wine too and you know what? I bloody enjoy what I do. I enjoy the people, the idea that I'm making money and carrying on the legacy of Pratt Winery. Next time you taste strawberry wine, you can think of me."
Spike then sat down back in his chair finished with his speech.
Giles studied Spike for a moment before asking him one question, "Do you still go by Spike?"
Spike shrugged, "Sometimes yes."
Giles frowned, "And you still own a motorcycle and wear that leather trench coat of yours?"
Spike cocked his head to one side but nodded, "Yes I do. I don't see why you are asking me these questions."
Giles shrugged standing up giving Buffy a look followed by Spike, "Then you still aren't grown up. You can pretend to be grown up and give out big speeches and wear fancy suits to sell a product. You might even convince a few along the way that you are worth something but you aren't grown up. You haven't changed. You are still the cocky git who burned a book in front of me instead of paying your overdue fine saying that you aren't going to ever return it therefore aren't responsible for the fines. You aren't good enough for my daughter or this family and never will be."
Buffy stood up as tears poured down her cheeks. She shouted towards her father, "I can't wait until I graduate then I'm so out of here. You won't ever see me again! I'd rather live with my grandparents than you!"
Joyce ran to her daughter repeating, "You don't mean that. You can't mean that. We both love you…"
Buffy ran out of the house crying and Spike turned around to Giles and said, "She tries her best to please you. She loves you and tries her best to respect you but you can't respect her back. When will you realize you stupid git that she's 17 years ago, turning 18 in a few months and if you aren't careful you will lose her forever. I'd give my life to have my parents back with me, will your daughter ever say the same when you die?"
He picked up his coat turning to Joyce giving her a hug, "Thank you for the wonderful meal Joyce and I'll have Buffy back safe and sound on Sunday. If you let me stay to tuck her in, I'll bring her home at 9, otherwise, she'll return after school on Monday night. Take care and see you soon I hope."
He turned around and walked out the door allowing Joyce to wave to her daughter who was sitting in the passenger seat fighting back tears. Spike started the engine and as he drove her back to his Aunt's house he promised, "Someday I'll make it better. I'll make him proud of me. Proud enough to let us be married."
Buffy rested her head against his shoulder and whispered, "You'll never be good enough for him. No one ever is."
Spike wrapped his arm around Buffy as they neared the house. He knew she was right but he had to try. One thing Spike wouldn't do was to lose who he really was for someone. He knew Buffy liked the bad boy deep inside of him and he liked it too. He wouldn't lose that part of himself but perhaps if he was able to earn more respect, he'd be better accepted. He just had to do it for Buffy's sake.
Well the weekend simply flew by and before Spike and Buffy knew it, Spike was holding her in his arms after having snuck in to her house.
Spike wanted to leave her while she slept so that she wouldn't have to cry herself to sleep again. She was fighting off sleep as he whispered, "Buffy I have to go soon so I want you to sleep. I'll call you when I arrive and it will be time for you to go to school. It's only 3 weeks this time before you see me again. That's nothing after 4 months apart right?"
He watched as the tired Buffy nodded her head. They had spent a wonderful day at the zoo in Sunnydale followed by a walk through the park then finally ended the night by making love twice before climbing Buffy's tree to tuck her in for the night. She muttered softly, "I don't want you to go."
She sniffled as more tears fell down her cheeks as he whispered, "I don't want to go either baby but I have to. You know it's for the best. I have to make money for us to be together. The business is very important to me… you know that right?"
Buffy's little blond head bobbed up and down as she snuggled closer into Spike's arms. He sighed as he decided to do what he used to do on the boat trips, he'd sing her to sleep. He started to sing,
"A hundred days have made me older
Since the last time that I saw your pretty face.
A thousand lights have made me colder
And I don't think I can look at this the same
But all the miles that separate
They disappear now when I'm dreaming of your face"
He paused watching her twitch in sleep as he sang now for himself more so than her,
"I'm here without you baby
But you're still on my lonely mind
I think about you baby
And I dream about you all the time
I'm here without you baby
But you're still with me in my dreams
And tonight, it's only you and me.
The miles just keep rolling
As the people leave their way to say hello
I've heard this life is overrated
But I hope it gets better as we go
I'm here without you baby
But you're still on my lonely mind
I think about you baby
And I dream about you all the time
I'm here without you baby
But you're still with me in my dreams
And tonight, it's only you and me."
Spike wiggled out from her embrace even as his heart broke as he turned to walk towards the window. He turned around as he sang to Buffy never noticing the door that was open to her room as someone was watching the entire thing,
"Everything I know, and anywhere I go
It gets hard but it won't take away my love
And when the last one falls, when it's all said and done
It gets hard but it won't take away my love"
Spike kept singing as he climbed out of the window onto the tree never letting his sight leave Buffy,
"I'm here without you baby
But you're still on my lonely mind
I think about you baby
And I dream about you all the time
I'm here without you baby
But you're still with me in my dreams
And tonight, girl, it's only you and me."
Spike was out of sight by the time Giles closed the door to his step-daughter's room. He felt himself feel bad for Spike and Buffy and feel even worse that he was alienating his daughter by being so against a guy who obviously cared about his daughter. His only hope was that Spike would get so wrapped up in his business he would not come for Christmas or the other times he promised. Only time would tell.