A/N: As always an ocean of thanks to Geliot99 for all you do!
Buffy and Spike escorted the Buffy-bot between them like a drunk sorority pledge as they made their way through the alley behind the Magic Box. Buffy cast a carefully neutral gaze to Spike who looked like he might rip someone's head off. For her part, she had been biting the inside of her cheek for the last fifteen minutes to keep herself from laughing.
They had been out patrolling. Which just meant they were essentially following the Bot around. Despite being more wobbly at seven months pregnant, Buffy was still determined to keep up with her usual routine as much as possible. If for no other reason than to get some much-needed exercise and fresh air. It was true that the Bot and Spike were doing most of the work now. Although she was still able to get in the occasional fledge.
Buffy and Spike had been standing back watching the Bot fight when the vamp she had engaged suddenly gestured toward Spike. "What about him? He's a vampire too!"
The Bot stopped mid-fight still holding the vampire in an arm lock and grinning broadly. "Yes, and a very sexy one, don't you think?"
"Wha-" the very confused vampire sputtered, giving her a quizzical look just as the bot used the opportunity to dust the vampire. At the same moment, a second vampire came from the side, delivering a kick to the Bot's face. The kick landed awkwardly, twisting her head around like an owl so that she was facing Spike standing directly behind her.
The Bot twitched. "Oh, Spike! Ravage me!", it exclaimed loudly before it fell in an electrical heap.
The vampire did a double take looking from the Bot to Buffy. "What the—"
"Bloody hell…" Spike swore, cutting him off and making short work of the remaining vampire with a stake to the heart.
As the dust settled Buffy couldn't help laughing at the absurdity of the whole thing.
Spike rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Laugh it up Slayer, I'll be having a few words with the witch about that one. Thought she had finally got all that bloody nonsense out of there by now…" he grumbled as he twisted the Bot's head back the right direction and picked it up like a life-sized doll. Buffy struggled to catch her breath between laughter.
He scowled as he propped the Bot up against a gravestone. "You mind containing your mirth long enough to help me with this daft thing?"
"Ah huh, absolutely…" she answered, sobering with effort.
Once they were back inside the Magic Box, they deposited the Bot in the training room before joining Tara and Dawn at their usual table. Dawn looked up. "You guys are back early, I didn't even finish my homework yet."
Spike leaned against the ladder behind Tara and Dawn. "Best finish up, nearly your bedtime, Bit," he said pointedly.
Willow had just finished up with a customer and Giles locked the door before returning to the counter to help Willow close up. Buffy sat down next to Dawn, propping her feet up on an empty chair.
"We had a little problem with the robot," Buffy sighed.
Willow glanced up from what she was doing. "How bad is it?"
Buffy turned in her seat to face Willow. "You're going to have to break out your robot fix-it stuff, Will."
"What happened?"
"Things on the frits for starters," Spike huffed.
Buffy opened her mouth to elaborate but was interrupted when Halfrek suddenly materialized in the space between her and the register. She wasn't alone.
Tara yelped and Spike gripped her arm to steady her before she toppled out of her seat in surprise. "Steady on, Glenda. It's just the newlyweds-" he narrowed his eyes at Halfrek. "-and company…"
Halfrek grinned widely. "Don't sulk, William, I'm just the delivery service."
Willow gave an ear-splitting squeak of excitement and ran around the counter to hug Xander.
Anya stood wearing a pretty plum scarf, paired with a cream-colored dress, and a wide smile on her face as she looked around the room. "Oh good, the store is still intact," she said with a sigh of relief and backpedaled awkwardly, "of course, I'm happy to see all of you too!"
Xander returned Willow's hug awkwardly, looking as though he might be sick, and took a moment to steady himself with a deep breath. "Wills, yeesh… not so loud," he rasped, tiredly looking around. "Hallie? Where's all our stuff?"
Halfrek raised a mocking eyebrow. "I sent it to your apartment of course. Unless you'd rather have it here."
"Oh Hallie, he's just grouchy from teleporting. You're the best!" Anya exclaimed, embracing her friend.
"Of course I am, but I was happy to do it for you," Hallie replied.
Willow guided Xander over to a chair at the table. "How was the honeymoon, you two? Did you do a lot of sightseeing?"
"Ohhh! I'm so glad you asked! I have pictures!" Anya chirped as she slipped onto Xander's lap and started digging through her purse. She spread a bundle of photos out on the table and wrapped an arm around her husband's neck grinning broadly at everyone there. With her free hand, she flipped through the stack and started passing them around the table.
As they looked through the photos Buffy glanced up at Xander. She couldn't help but think he looked more than a little exhausted from the experience. "Are you sure you're alright, Xan?" she asked.
He nodded. "Just tired, we woke up in the Netherlands this morning. Just a whole lot of lag without the jet."
Buffy nodded. "It seems like you had a really good time."
"Oh yeah lots of fun lots of lots and lots of— fun," Xander yawned.
Spike smirked. "Demon girl tire you out good and proper, mate?"
Xander shot him with a 'what do you think?' look.
Spike snickered, shaking his head and turning to look over Tara's shoulder. She was only casually looking at the photos with the rest of them but most of her attention was on the notebook in front of her.
"What have you got there?" Spike asked.
Tara shifted in her seat. "Oh, it's just the guest list for the shower. I have most of Buffy's relatives' addresses already. I'm just double-checking a few things here. By the way, is there anyone you want to invite other than Clem?"
He shrugged. "No, don't really have anyone to be honest."
Tara pursed her lips. "Alright, well it's probably going to be pretty small."
"I doubt any of our relatives will show up, they'll probably just send cards or something. Great-Aunt Dolly might call to lecture me on how I'm going to hell for having sex before marriage," Buffy interjected with a huff.
"Think we all know that's a load of rubbish," Spike scoffed, catching Buffy's eye and giving her a lecherous smirk.
"We could probably just have it at the house, to be honest," Tara muttered, absently tapping the notebook with her pen. "Buffy, were you ever able to track down your dad?"
"Nope. Every address and phone number I have for him is a dud," she answered.
Dawn snorted derisively. "I don't even know why you're still trying. He never even returned our calls when Mom died. The only excuse I'm accepting at this point is finding out we're orphans."
Buffy tensed slightly at the thought that their father might be dead. It wasn't the first time the thought had crossed her mind but hearing her sister say it out loud made her stomach twist. She was distracted from her thoughts as Halfrek drifted towards Dawn.
Buffy still wasn't sure how she felt about Anya's bestie yet. Especially knowing her history with Spike. Despite her dismissive attitude during the reception, Buffy couldn't help feeling more than a little resentment toward her.
Halfrek eyed Dawn and Buffy thoughtfully in turn. "I'm sensing some big-time daddy issues here. Do you girls feel like talking about it? I'm a great listener."
Anya's head snapped up. "Oh for goodness sake, Hallie, I know you have the whole 'wronged children' thing going on, but seriously, you have to take a break sometime."
Halfrek gave a gesture of mock innocence. "You can't expect me to pass up this level of paternal neglect without at least trying to get a wish out of it. These girls deserve justice for what he has put them through-" she turned a luminous smile towards Buffy and Dawn "-wouldn't you ladies agree?" she asked sweetly.
A flicker of interest passed over Dawn's face and she opened her mouth as though to ask a question when Buffy stopped her with a hand on her shoulder. She had stood up protectively, eyeing Halfrek. "We're fine, Hallie. Thanks but no thanks."
Halfrek shrugged. "Suit yourselves. My offer still stands, just give me a call if you change your mind. I would think a decent man would at least want to know about the trauma his children have been through. Or that he's about to be a grandfather," she added, twisting the knife just a little further.
A stab of pain shot through Buffy and she had to swallow hard. "Maybe you're right, but I'm still not going to make a wish. We're fine without him."
A few days had passed since they had seen Halfrek and Spike had nearly put her out of his mind. Or at least he would have if Buffy hadn't kept bringing up the subject of her father. She refused to talk about him when Dawn was around but with him, it was a very different story. Hallie's offer had been more tempting than Buffy would freely admit. He had half a mind to summon her himself and make a wish on her behalf. If only it was anyone but Hallfrek, or Hallie, or Cecily, or whatever the hell her name was. Spike found himself needing to get out of the house for a little bit.
So there he stood in the upper level of his old crypt, in what had been his living area. Clem was unpacking a box of personal items, setting them in their proper places. He was still taking in all of the changes Clem had made already, he had added a couch and another chair, as well as a large coffee table. It was already much more comfortable than when he had lived there.
Clem glanced at Spike. "I hope you don't mind what I've done with the place."
Spike's eyebrows went up. "Was actually thinking 'bout all the stuff I could have done in here. Then again, I never had all that much company besides you and Buffy."
Clem gave a little shrug. "Oh, I don't either, but one can hope."
"That's the spirit…"
Spike wandered further into the familiar space taking in the improved "kitchen" area, for lack of a better term. Clem had added what was essentially a large camp stove, and some sort of camping sink hooked up to a hose coming in from outside. It was a crude setup, but certainly functional. Spike had to admire his friend's ingenuity. Of all the changes he had made while he lived there he had never thought to take it quite that far. He had always just taken the dirty glasses and things downstairs into his little bathroom.
"Really making it your own. How's the downstairs? You manage to salvage anything after the blast?" He asked, resting a hand on the top of his old fridge.
Clem shook his head, ears flopping. "It's been a real pain getting everything cleaned out of there. Got the worst of it out. Now it's a job for pine-sol. I did finally find a new bed though. It's a work in progress. Very piney."
Spike snorted a laugh. "I would've gone with the lemon myself."
Clem chuckled as he finished emptying what seemed to be the last box. He walked over to the large television cabinet he had situated against the stone wall and set up a series of framed pictures on top with a satisfied sigh. "That's it for the upstairs; for now at least."
Spike strode toward him with a couple of beers in hand. "I'm impressed."
"Yeah well, you sort of did all the hard work."
"That I did," Spike replied, handing Clem a beer.
"Do you feel like watching a movie?"
"Why not, I've got time," Spike said as he settled himself down on the couch.
He took a moment to take in the pictures Clem had just set up. Clem with his parents, another with what might have been a sibling, one of him in front of Niagara Falls. Spike's stomach clenched when he noticed the last picture. It was from Anya and Xander's wedding of himself with Buffy and Dawn posing with Clem during the reception.
He was still getting used to the idea of having his own family. The idea of being counted among the loved ones in someone else's home in such a way was surreal. It was oddly nice.
Clem cracked open his beer and sat down on the other end of the couch, remote in hand. "I missed hanging out with you, buddy. Thanks for coming over."
Spike clanked his beer against Clem's. "Cheers, mate."
Dawn sat on her bedroom floor looking at an old photo album. It was still weird knowing all her memories of her family and even the pictures in the album were fake. The thought hit her that in actuality she had never really met her so-called father. It rankled, wiggling around like a worm in her brain.
A soft knock on her door announced Buffy's presence. Dawn looked up, meeting her sister's eye. "Hey, what's up?"
"Thought I'd see what you wanted to do for dinner tonight I am thinking some kind of delivery. Definitely don't have the cooking feeling tonight."
Dawn shrugged. "Pizza is good. Are you still all ouchy?"
"Mondo ouchy," Buffy said as she shifted a little, resting a hand on top of her belly. One of the babies was nestled snugly against a nerve or something and she just couldn't seem to get comfortable no matter what she did. "What are you doing with the albums anyway?"
"Just, you know… Thinking about Dad."
Buffy sighed. "Dawnie… you said it yourself. There's no point. He—"
"Then why have you been trying to get a hold of him so badly?"
Buffy turned her gaze away from her little sister. "I guess because a part of me still wants some kind of— closure, I guess-" she shook her head "-but it's just not going to happen. It sucks but I'm starting to think maybe we just need to accept it. As much as I don't want to—"
Dawn chewed on her bottom lip, her feelings were so mixed up. She had been so angry with their father after their mom died, then it was almost the opposite when Buffy died. She had been afraid of hearing from him then. Afraid he would take her away. She had no desire to leave Sunnydale and everyone she knew and loved.
Even still, it seemed utterly ridiculous that they couldn't get in contact with him. The mother of his daughters had died and he never called. Not once. Her feelings concerning their father were tumultuous and a single question kept popping into her mind.
Why?
Why won't he return our calls? Why hasn't he called or even sent a postcard? Where has he been these past few years? And when had he stopped caring about us?
"I don't know, Buffy… maybe you're right," she said sullenly as she studied a picture of the four of them.
Buffy cleared her throat. "I'll order the pizza, don't worry about Dad, okay? It's just not worth it," she said quietly as she turned to go downstairs.
Dawn studied the picture a little longer. She was just a tiny bundle of pink nestled in her big sister's lap. Buffy was sitting between their parents, blond hair in pigtails and a huge proud-big-sister smile on her face. They looked like the perfect family.
It wasn't fair. None of it. But what if she could do something about it? What if she could give her big sister the closure she deserved? What if she could get answers?
Halfrek was right, they deserved some kind of explanation.
Didn't they?
Buffy shifted uncomfortably in her seat on the couch next to Dawn as they sat there after dinner watching the end of a movie. "No patrol tonight?" Dawn asked.
Buffy sighed as she readjusted a pillow for the tenth time in as many minutes. "Not for me anyway, these two are crowding out my organs and my back and hips are killing me tonight."
"Why don't you take a bath or do some yoga or something?"
Buffy hummed thoughtfully and shifted herself to get up. "That's probably good advice. A bubble bath actually sounds pretty awesome. Are you heading to bed soon?"
"I was thinking about doing a little reading first. Where's Spike anyway?" Dawn asked.
Buffy got up, massaging a hand over her lower back. "He's hanging out with Clem. He said he would patrol on his way back though so I'm not expecting him home for a while." She stretched out her back, feeling a few little pops. "I think I hear the bathtub calling my name. Night Dawnie, don't stay up too late, alright?"
"Yup! Night!" Dawn watched from the couch as Buffy assented the stairs before turning back to the TV. She sat there for a long time, not really watching the screen, just thinking. She had been so lost in her own thoughts that she had barely registered that Buffy had already taken her bath and gone to bed.
Bile rose in her throat at the thought of what she was about to do but at the same time she just couldn't stop herself. It was almost as though an invisible force had taken over. The nagging, undying need for answers.
Dawn flicked off the TV and chugged the last of her soda, stealing her resolve. She deposited the empty can in the kitchen as she passed through to the backdoor. The night air was cool and for a moment she thought about going back inside to get her jacket and thought better of it. At this rate, if she didn't do it now she would lose her nerve for certain.
Her hands balled into fists at her sides nervously. "Hallie?"
Nothing.
"Eh… Halfrek?"
The hoot of an owl reached her ears.
"Well, crap… where's a vengeance demon when you want one?" She huffed. "Halfrek!" She called one last time, afraid to wake Buffy.
"I was hoping I would hear back from you, dear," Hallie answered sweetly.
Dawn turned to face her, eyes wide. "I eh… You were?"
"If not you then your sister. You've both been practically screaming. You have been through so much. I understand how unfair it is and I'm here to make sure you get the justice you deserve."
Dawn kicked a patch of grass with the toe of her shoe, "And what does that mean exactly? You're not going to kill him, are you? Totally assuming he's alive—"
"Oh, he is. I already checked. As a matter of fact, that's why I didn't come when you first called."
Dawn swallowed painfully. He's alive.
So we're not orphans… No, our dad just doesn't care and that's— that's somehow worse.
A hard shiver ran up Dawn's spine, stiffening her muscles. "I think we need to talk," she seethed, gesturing to Hallie to sit in one of the deck chairs in the backyard. "I'm going to need to know more."
Hallie smiled serenely as she relaxed into the chair as though it were a throne. "Oh, I'm sure we can work something out."
Spike cracked his neck as he turned toward home. Patrol had been fairly standard, Buffy didn't miss much, but he sure missed her. He flicked his cigarette butt to the ground when he heard voices emerging from the backyard and lifted his head to investigate.
He could clearly see Dawn sitting on the edge of one of the deck chairs. "What the bloody hell are you doing out here, Nibblet? You aut to be in bed!"
Halfrek sat up to lean over the edge of the chair to see him better. "Hello there, William."
"Piss off Cecily, leave the girl alone would you?"
"I summoned her," Dawn interrupted, "our dad is alive."
Spike gaped at her, brow furrowed. "Buffy know about this?"
Dawn's eyes darted away from him, shame clearly seeping in. "She's asleep."
Spike bit his lip in contemplation and cast a wary eye up towards their bedroom window. "You know how your sis and I feel 'bout wishes. Especially the vengeance type. Buffy won't stand for any sort of harm coming to the man and you know it."
Hallie raised her pointer finger to signal her interruption. "First of all, I prefer the term Justice Demon. Secondly, Dawn and I have been discussing an agreement. No lasting physical harm will come to Mr. Summer's. No matter how much I think he deserves it."
"Physical?" Spike asked pointedly.
Hallie rolled her eyes. "I can hardly account for emotional trauma."
"And what are the terms? What do you get?"
"Satisfaction of a job well done and an invitation to the Shower of course," Hallie replied.
He mulled that over, glancing back up to the window and back to Dawn, "What sort of wish do you have in mind?"