Promises
Chapter Sixteen
Buffy woke with a start, she sat up and realised she was in bed all alone. Last night she asked Spike to stay with her; they kissed and for the first time in a month they had sex. It felt different this time. It wasn't about inflicting pain this time around; it was more like they made love. He was gentle and looked at her with adoring eyes; if he had tried to do this a few weeks ago she probably would've punched him in the nose and thrown him out.
But it was nice… comforting even, but now she was alone. She'd been no stranger to waking up by herself after a night with a man, but this time she was taken aback. Spike hadn't been the sort of man to just get up and leave without saying goodbye.
She sighed as she threw the sheets off her legs and walked across the room to her dresser. She pulled out a pair of yoga pants and a cami, and then threw them on.
She padded down the stairs and into the living room. She frowned at the sight in front of her. Willow and Tara sat around the table over in the far side of the room their noses firmly planted in their reading material. Xander and Anya were squabbling over donuts and Dawn and Spike sat on the couch looking at the papers that Buffy had retrieved from the Geeks Lair.
"Morning Buffy" Willow smiled, looking up from a book
"Hey… what's going on?" asked Buffy
"Spike called us at an ungodly hour this morning" Anya groaned
"I figured we needed to get ahead of the geek squad, find out what they're planning" said Spike
"Right…" Buffy frowned in confusion "So what have you guys found?"
"Not a lot… most of their stuff is encrypted but I'm working on it" Willow smiled
"Good… that's good then" Buffy smiled briefly "Spike can I talk to you?"
Spike nodded and followed her into the kitchen
"What are you doing?" She asked
Spike looked at her confused "Helping?"
"Why?" she asked
"Are you serious? We're back to that already?" He asked "I'm trying here Pet I really am but this merry go round is starting to make me sick"
"You're pushing too hard" she told him "I get it, you wanna be involved but we have to ease them in to this-"
"Buffy!" Dawn yelled from the entryway
Spike followed Buffy as they were presented with Cordelia standing in the hallway with Connor snuggled into her chest.
"Cordelia.." Buffy frowned "What are you doing here?"
"You need to take care of him" Cordelia said gesturing to the baby in her arms
"What? What's going on?" Buffy asked
"Connor isn't safe in Los Angeles. There's a vampire hunter Holtz, he's gunning for Angel" Cordelia explained
"Holtz?" Spike smirked
"You've heard of him?" Buffy asked
"He can give any Slayer a run for their money" said Spike
"What does he want with Angel?" asked Dawn
Cordelia looked down at the ground awkwardly "Angel and Darla killed his family"
"Is that what he said?" Spike laughed "He didn't just kill them luv, him and Darla they turned them… Holtz had to stake his family including his baby son… I suspect he wants payback yeah?"
Cordelia nodded "Angel said that Connor would be safer here"
"So Angel just expects Buffy to resume babysitter duty until you've figured out what to do with the vampire hunter?" asked Anya
Cordelia took a deep breath "Angel has a lot of enemies in LA… Holtz… Wolfram and Hart… he can't protect him. He thinks that Connor will be safer here. I happen to think he's an idiot but he wants you to take care of him"
Buffy laughed "Until things are a little more kosher at home? Then he comes for him again? No I can't do it, if I take him now I'm not going to give him up"
"Angel knows that" Cordelia said sadly
Buffy looked at Cordelia she was clearly upset with Angel's decision. She knew that the ex cheerleader loved the little boy just like she did.
"Please take care of him Buffy" said Cordelia handing him over to her, with tears in her eyes
"I will" said Buffy hugging the baby close to her.
"I have to go" said Cordelia composing herself "Angel needs me"
Cordelia quickly left. Buffy passed Connor over to Spike and followed her.
"Cordy!" Buffy called after her
Cordelia paused and slowly turned to face her, her mascara had run down her face where her tears fell. Buffy pulled her into a hug.
"I'll protect Connor until the end of the world…" Buffy told her pulling away
"You better" Cordelia smirked
"You can visit whenever you want… Angel too" said Buffy
"I'll tell him" Cordelia smiled "I better go, Angel's probably getting his ass kicked"
Buffy watched Cordelia get into her car and drive away. A small smile grew on Buffy's face as she ran into the house excitedly.
She flung the door open and Spike stood there cradling the baby in his arms. He looked up at her and smiled, she smiled back and placed a soft quick kiss on his lips.
Dawn smiled brightly at the scene in front of her. Xander on the other hand was mortified.
"Uh Buff?" he piped up
Buffy sighed "Yes, okay? Me and Spike are a thing, I'm not sure what but we're figuring it out… and I don't need any judgement okay? I'm a grown woman I will make my own decisions on who I date okay? Anybody got a problem with that?"
Tara smiled at her brightly and nodded.
"Well I for one am surprised that this hasn't happened sooner" said Anya
"What?" Xander asked bewildered
"Oh c'mon!" said Anya "They've been making eyes at each other ever since their magical engagement… it was just a matter of time. I mean it took far longer than I thought but…" Anya sighed
Spike laughed "Looks like Anya knew before we did" he whispered to Buffy
Xander ignored Anya's comments "Look, Buffy I know these last few months have been hard. Y'know back from the grave and taking care of a baby and a teenager but it's Spike!"
"I had noticed that…" said Buffy
"I'm trying not to judge but have you forgotten who you're kissing? He's a soulless monster" Xander spat angrily
Buffy rolled her eyes "Ah yes, the same soulless monster that took care of Dawn while I was gone? The same soulless monster that has taken care of Connor and been the most amazing father figure to him? The same soulless monster that grieved for me? The same soulless monster that has helped me get back to being me, and let me tell you buddy it's not been easy but he's been patient and he's put me back together piece by piece"
Buffy looked at Spike "He's not a soulless monster, he's a good man Xander"
Spike's heart swelled in his chest, if he actually needed to breathe her rant would've taken his breath away.
"I can't" Xander threw his hands up in mock surrender and left.
Anya sighed and followed him "He just needs time" she told Buffy "Don't worry I plan to have a strongly worded conversation with him"
Buffy smiled at her gratefully. Buffy turned to Willow "Will?"
"You don't need my approval Buffy but I'm happy for you… if you're happy" said Willow
"I am" Buffy smiled
"Good… that's great" said Willow
"And I'm happy too! My two favourite people finally throwing caution to the wind!" Dawn beamed excitedly
"Thanks Nibblet" Spike smiled
"And we've got Connor back! I don't think anything could top that!" said Dawn