One Chance Chapter 15: Not A Thing, a buffy: the vampire slayer fanfic

Author's Note: Lol Whoever wrote the review that just says Rubbish...I loved it! lol. A bit more criticism is actually needed with the statement but I'll take it! So this one's a little longer, and has music in it! Oh and the song in the beginning is Natalie Cole's 'This Will be (An Everlasting Love)'

Buffy was woke up to the sound of music in the house. Furrowing her brow she listened for that voice that she had heard last night.

She stayed two minutes just lying In bed and…nothin'.

Buffy frowned. Whatever was going on she needed to find out fast. Because the faster she did…the faster she could tell Giles…minus all of the…well…intimate parts.

If she didn't know better she would have said that someone had cast a spell on her…but the dreams still felt like Slayer dreams…so she knew it wasn't someone else's doing.

Buffy's frown deepened as she realized how sad that truly was. She couldn't even blame magic for her wiggy dreams.

Hearing the music suddenly jump up in volume as well as familiar laughter made Buffy's brow furrow.

Still in her pajama's from the night before, after officially freaking out at watching her mother kiss Faith goodnight and then her…she was a little worried about what she'd find down stairs.

Buffy heard the distinct sound of her mother laughing and had to pause just before reaching the kitchen at the sound of her laugh. It had been soo long since she heard that sound. She sounded ten years younger.

Buffy couldn't stop the small smile from spreading across her face, after yesterday she was thankful that her mother could laugh at all…but it was the sound of his voice…that made her eyes go wide.

He was singing…with her mom!

Slowly she made her way to the back entrance of the kitchen, half hiding and immediately smiled at the sight – her own heart filling with an indescribable feeling. She watched as Spike and her mother washed dishes in the sink as Spike dried the plates, both swaying and looking at each other as they both sang the words to the song.

Loving you is some kind of wonderful

Because you show me, just how much you care

You've given me the thrill of a lifetime

And made me believe, you've got more thrills to spare, oh

Spike put down the dish he held and grabbed her mother's hand.

He spun her mother as she laughed and then pulled her close and spun her. He continued singing the lyrics along with Natalie Cole as her mother laughed merrily smiling the most radiant smile Buffy ever remembered seeing.

This will be an everlasting love, oh, yes it will now

You brought a lot of sunshine into my life,

You filled me with happiness I never knew,

You give me more joy than I ever dreamed of,

And no one, no one, can take the place of you,

Then they both started singing feeding off of the silliness of each other.

This will be, you and me

Yes sir-ee, eternally

Then they started bopping together as they sang the words.

Huggin' and squeezin' and kissin' and pleasin', together forever throughever whatever

Then Spike swung Joyce back around as he continued singing along with her as she tilted her head back as they danced enjoying herself whole

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

You and me,

Again they stopped and bopped together singing again. Buffy couldn't help but look at how cute Spike looked with his nose scrunched up as he sang in a high feminine voice.

So long as I'm livin', true love I'll be givin' to you I'll be servin' 'cause you're so deservin'

Hey, you're so deservin', you're so deservin'

They started dancing again continuing singing - and Buffy couldn't help but feel the bubble of happiness that burst in her chest at the sight before her.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, oh

Love, love, love, love

From now on,

Buffy felt her heart stutter as she watched Spike dip her mother making her laugh loudly as he lifted her up and engulfed her in a full hug. Her mother returning the gesture without any hesitation. The song ending as they stood in the kitchen.

And then she heard it…and she felt her heart seize as she heard it…not wanting to believe he said them.

"Luv you mum."

"I love you too William. Now don't you dare tell me that it's ok to dance but not do the laundry!" Joyce laughed as she pulled back and cupped Spike's face as he smiled with a laugh on his mouth as he looked at her.

A tap with both hands on his shoulder's then placing said hands on her hips with a raised brow, and he rolled his eyes backing up as she laughed once more and was ready to go back to cleaning the dishes when another voice yelled out.

" There's no more fabric softener!" Then the distinct sound of Faith running up the basement stairs.

"I can go get some at the corner store." Faith said not noticing Buffy at all as another song on the radio began to play and Buffy hadn't moved from her semi-concealed location.

"Right…grab some milk and cereal for you and Joyce while you're out." Spike said reaching into his pants and retrieving some cash and handing it to Faith.

Faith gave him one of her evil smiles.

"Oi! No getting' junk food! Mum's pantry's already loaded up with all the sugar and salt bits you insisted on gettin' last time we went shoppin'." Spike said as Faith dashed to where her jacket was hung by the door and yelled out.

"Later dweeboid!"

Spike rolled his eyes and shook his head.

Joyce laughed.

"Oi!" Spike dragging out the sound of being insulted.

"William you've spoiled her! You didn't even tell her to bring your change back. Last week I found over $80 dollars in fives and ones from her pants I was washing." Joyce scolded as she returned to wash the dishes.

Spike shrugged. "Girl needed clothes and some makeup. Not gonna ask for cash I got from selling those relics you sold for me."

Joyce turned her head and glared. "William don't you dare give her that money! That's tens of thousands of dollars and she needs some semblance of normalcy."

"Girl needed a real bedroom set! Told you that room you're storing you're art's and such in should stay as is." Spike said as he went to dry the dishes alongside Joyce as the radio continued to play a classic song.

"I know…and I know the room next to Buffy's is the one she preffered anyway…even though I know exactly why! Don't think I didn't understand it's because she can shimmy down that tree and go patrol without me knowing! I worry about her…just as much and as often as I worry about Buffy. But she needs to know she doesn't need to hide it from me. Not like Buffy did." The last words she said as she turned her head back to the dishes.

"Joyce…she's going to be fine now. I told you that." Spike said softly…so softly that Buffy barely heard him. Buffy assuming that they were talking about Faith.

But they weren't.

They were talking about how Spike had gotten his soul…and what led to him doing so.

"After what you told me…about why you…got it…I…I never worried about something like that happening to her William. And…the fact that you stopped…I…"

Spike looked down and away from Joyce as shame filled him.

But Joyce looked over and with a still soapy hand she touched the side of his face.

"Hey…what you did proves how much you love her." Joyce said so much understanding it made Spike want to curl into a ball for how little he thought he deserved her understanding and unconditional motherly love.

Buffy felt like her heart was being squeezed tightly at the thought of Spike loving Faith. She'd never felt anything like it before. The pain was real…physical. Different from when Angel had left her…but strong- if not stronger.

And she had no idea what the hell that meant.

But the way that Joyce had taken the information of his attempt to…rape…he had…he had tried to rape the woman he loved…. the way he had cried while telling her…it had left him waiting for her wrath to come. For the ax to be brought down on his head again…but it never came. And he couldn't for the unlife of him understand why. So he swore something to her that he had pushed into his very being over and over again. A promise he would keep no matter the cost.

"Doesn't matter now. Better this way. I'll keep her safe…till the day I dust. But I won't ever touch her like that ever again Joyce. Never. Even if I…I just…I want better for her. I want her to have more than I could ever give her. All I could give her is pain Joyce. And she deserves the world."

With that Spike looked away from the searching eyes of Joyce Summers and continued drying the dishes.

Buffy heard the words and…she felt like crying. The words sounding like a confession that he most certainly did love Faith. And even though she KNEW that it was impossible for a demon to love…the words he said sounded real. They sounded honest. Buffy's heart rate jumped at the end of his words.

Spike's head whipped up and over and stared directly at her.

"Looks like somebody's up." Spike said causing Joyce to look away from him and turn to look at her daughter.

"Buffy! Sweetheart I didn't know you slept here. I thought you were going back to the dorm." Joyce said wiping off her hands and going over to hug her daughter, ignoring the fact that William had known her daughter was in the house.

Buffy hugged her mom and shared a look with Spike who looked away at the affection the two were sharing.

"I just…couldn't leave. Not after everything…didn't want to leave you." Buffy said simply, leaving out the fact that she couldn't take one more shower at 4 a.m. at the dorm without waking up Willow.

"I know those two boys were here last night talking with you. Are they ok Buffy? Did they need your help?"

"Oh ah…no..um…actually…one of them was Johnathan…you know…the one that caused the um…" Buffy stopped and started awkwardly not knowing how to say who Johnathan was. Especially with the fact that Spike just turned back and started drying the dishes again. Like that was normal! Totally normal for him to be in her kitchen, with her mom, dancing and singing while washing and drying dishes.

"Sweetheart is everything ok?" Joyce asked when she realized that Buffy was looking over at William strangely.

"Why is he here?" Buffy suddenly asked.

Spike stopped wiping the dish in his hand immediately, his hopes dashed of being able to spend his days as he had for the past several weeks.

It's not like he had been idle during the times he had to stay away from everyone.

He'd already found the scythe and given it to his father. Found the spells he knew he needed for Glory/Ben. He even had found the spell that he had needed from his father's book collection that he couldn't find in the future. It was the only spell that could guarantee saving his best friend in the entire world. And he was not about to let her down for any reason except his death…well…dusting.

"Buffy William is a guest here until Faith is comfortable." Joyce explained as she rubbed up and down her daughter's shoulders.

Buffy's brow furrowed. "How does Spike being here make her feel comfortable? He's our enemy…"

"Your enemy!" Spike quipped angrily as he sat the dish down gently but quickly moved to grab his coat…the one he hated with every bit of his existence, but knew if he left it anywhere it would seem incomprehensible to any of the Scoobie's. They couldn't know just why the damned piece of leather should be destroyed for what it caused him. But the jacket helped hide the bangle bracelet he would wear when he absolutely needed to. His father had already let him use it a handful of times since it had been made.

Worked perfectly. Fit his wrist so snuggly that the jeweler had wanted to make it bigger…but he insisted that it was perfect. Two-tone and thick over an inch…it was solid and incredibly hefty…of course the cage of metal over the stones had thrown him a bit…but the youngin' had insisted that it would protect the stones even more. It was like lattice work…kind of like medieval armor. All in all it was perfect for his look without it being suspicious any.

And right now he wished he had it to be able to dash out of the damn place.

But Joyce's voice was faster than his legs.

"William don't you dare walk out that door!"

Spike stopped and turned around to face an angry Joyce Summers and an angry looking Slayer.

Joyce turned back to her daughter. "Buffy apologize."

"What?! I didn't…"

"Joyce I think I should…"

"NO! Both of you stop!" Joyce commanded and wisely both obeyed.

"Now both of you sit down...SIT!" Joyce commanded and Buffy looked angry between him and sheepishly to her mother.

Both moved to sit at the island counter and looked up at the angry blonde woman.

"Now Buffy…I know this was a shock to you yesterday…but Spike is as much part of this household now as Faith is. And before you say anything…" Joyce held up her hand to stop her daughter's open mouth from uttering a syllable, "things are going to be different from this moment on."

Buffy and Spike shared a side glance glare.

"Buffy…Spike is going to be sleeping in this house sometimes. That's just how it's going to be if he's helping Faith…or you patrol."

Buffy's eyes widened at the implication, but wisely kept her head down, then before she could really try to say something her mother continued.

"William and Faith have formed a bond…now I can't tell you just how…because I think Faith or William has the right to reveal that and not myself. And because of that bond…Rupert and I have been talking for the past few weeks about the situation."

Buffy's head shot up and glared at her mother.

"You're telling me that Giles KNEW she was here and said NOTHING to me?" Buffy's anger zinging through her veins at the betrayal she suddenly felt.

Just then the back door opened and three heads swiveled to watch Giles walk through the door.

"Oh um…is it…a bad moment?" Giles asked unsure of the situation he had walked into with both Buffy and Spike sitting at the counter looking as if they were children being scolded.

"No Rupert…I was actually just about to…explain to… them… what we've been talking about." Joyce explained with a small smile.

"Oh…OH! Right…right. Um…is Faith downstairs?"

"She's just outside the front door." Spike informed everyone as Faith opened the door screaming 'I'm back!'

Smirking he pointed to his nose and gave a wink to his father.

Rupert Giles tried to fight back the smirk the sight of William sharing an inside joke with him caused…but he was able to muffle it just enough that Buffy didn't seem to notice.

"Hey G! What are…" Faith stopped talking as she saw Buffy.

Buffy felt the anger she had felt seep away as she watched Faith's whole body almost draw into itself.

"Faith…um…would you please sit down. There's something Joyce and I want to discuss with you…and Buffy." A small smile assuring Faith that it wasn't an unpleasant thing they were about to discuss.

Not saying a word, but nodding slightly to each other both Joyce and Rupert stood in front of the children.

"We ah…realized that though Faith and Buffy have recently had…situations…that has left them unable to speak to each other…let alone deal with them as they should…as you are both adults…um…Joyce and I have spoken about something that concerns the both of you…together." Rupert explained as he looked between both of the girls.

Joyce patted Rupert's hand on the island counter and shared a look with him.

Spike knew where this was going. Hell he had spoken to his father about the idea weeks ago and he must have speaking with Joyce about it ever since he had brought up the idea…but the way his father blushed as he looked over at him left him with the sneaking suspicion that they had come to the same conclusion that he had.

Really it didn't matter…as long as it didn't change the future the way he had told his father things should occur.

"Faith…sweetheart…we know these last few weeks have been very difficult for you…and we want you to know we're both very proud of you." Joyce began with a small smile as she looked at Faith.

Faith shrugged, not saying anything as she continued to look between the two adults, not knowing why they were proud of her. She hadn't really done anything but talk.

"And…I want to make sure that you keep going to see…Mike?..." Joyce asked looking at Spike who nodded his head with a smirk, "and continue to help yourself. I know Buffy hasn't spoken with you…but I know both of us want what's best for you. So…Rupert and I were talking," Joyce said looking directly at Faith and then immediately at Buffy.

"…and…I mentioned…wanting to make you truly feel at home…because…this um…this is your home now Faith," Rupert paused as he looked directly at Faith "…so I said it should be a permeant thing…and I wanted to adopt you."

Faith and Buffy looked like they had been slapped across their faces with the shock of his words. Neither ever expecting those words out of Giles' mouth.

Spike tried to stop the smile about to come across his face when his father began sputtering.

"But…well…I um…Joyce reminded me that…a single man adopting an almost adult…well..it would sound morally repugnant." Giles said as a blush formed on his face at the way Faith was looking at him.

"So I said…well…I could try adopting her…but I'm a single parent…and then I realized what the only real solution was." Joyce said looking down and swiping at the countertop with her hand without looking up at Spike.

Spike hadn't heard the conversation and had thoroughly thought it through…and worked out what it meant for him, but after hearing Joyce make an enormous point about their decision…he knew he had done the right thing talking to his father about Faith.

It was the right thing to do.

"And um…that…that is to…marry each other." Giles said blushing profusely as he looked over at Buffy.

The term shocked wouldn't explain just how out of left field Buffy found herself in.

"What?" Buffy sputtered truly confused. This was most definitely a joke. A prank of the highest order. That or some kind of spell!

"If we both legally married…it would make adopting you easier Faith. I know you're 18 now…but this way it would be legal, and you wouldn't go into the Foster Care system every again. And…you'd never have to leave…" Joyce said softly as she reached out and began brushing away Faith's tears as the newest slayer had not even noticed that she had been crying, " you'd be a part of our family."

"And…if you'd like…you could…have my last name." Giles said looking over at Faith, still blushing – but with a small fatherly smile on his face.

"Why? I'm damaged goods…why would you…either of you…why would you want me?" Faith asked with raw emotion clogging her throat. They didn't even know the half of what she had done. They didn't know her truly.

"Faith…you're not damaged." Giles moved around the counter and knelt down beside Faith, Buffy watching looking like her heart had been ripped out.

"You're wounded. You're deeply wounded. But wounds can heal…with time…and…great care."

Buffy found herself looking away as Faith full out cried in front of her…ashamed of her own thoughts as Giles wrapped his arms around Faith and assured her. Buffy knew Faith hadn't told them a tenth of what she had been through…and that fact alone made Buffy shove down her own insecurities involving the man right next to her.

But that lasted only a few seconds, since her mother's next words threw her for a loop.

"It also means…that Giles will legally be able…to adopt you Buffy." Joyce said causing Buffy's head to jerk up in an incredibly fast move.

The slow smile that spread across Joyce's face making Buffy's heart start to gallop at what that meant.

"That…that means…that…" Buffy stuttered out as her emotions got the best of her as well.

"That he'd be your stepfather…and Faith's legal father." Joyce said looking at Rupert Giles with a small smile.

Buffy felt the tears falling down her face as she watched Giles stand up and turn to look at her.

Before another word could pass between them Buffy launched herself up and hugged Giles tightly.

"Buffy…breathe…" Giles wheezed as all of the air in his body was wrung out.

"Oh! Sorry Giles…" Buffy jumped away, sniffling and wiping at her eyes.

"Buffy nothing is going to change! Giles and I will only be married on paper…at least until after all of the paperwork with the states are filed. He'll continue to live in his apartment…and you girl's will be able to live here together…or apart if you'd like. If anything…anything should happen to me…Rupert would be able to legally handle everything." Joyce finally said without holding anyone's gaze.

It was the growl from Spike that caused everyone to turn and look at him.

"Nothin's gonna happen. Damn well am gonna make sure of that." Spike said with an angry look on his face.

"We're gonna make sure of it." Faith said as she angrily wiped her tears away.

"All of us." Rupert said as he looked over at Joyce with a small smile on his face.

Spike turned and gave his father a little smile at what they were willing to do to secure a much different future than the one he had described to them.

With that Spike got up and gave Joyce a kiss to the side of her face and with a little smirk sent a wink at Faith and then went back to drying dishes.

Joyce smiled over at Buffy, who looked confused at the easy affection Spike was sharing with her mom.

It was wigsome to the one hundredth degree just how much so.

Then…something…something deep inside her told her…this was all wrong.

What the hell was Spike up to?

Why was her childish dream of her mother marrying Giles coming true?

Why was Faith's betrayal of sleeping with Riley not hurting her like she knew it should have?

What the hell had just happened?

But more importantly…why was the little wink Spike gave Faith as he had turned to DRY THE DISHES making that something deep down want to punch Faith to death.

Buffy looked down at her pajama's and realized that she could still be dreaming!

It would be the first time in months that it was a non-sex dream but…

Quickly she pinched herself.

OW!

Rubbing her arm where she pinched herself with her nose wrinkled up she still remained standing in the middle of the kitchen with her mortal enemy drying dishes, her other mortal enemy moving to help wash the dishes and both Giles and her mom were coming over to her with looks of concern on both their faces.

"Buffy…we thought this would make you happy sweetheart. Why do you look so sad?"

Buffy looked over at Faith and Spike as they splashed water at each other and continued to smile and laugh.

"I don't know." Buffy sad in the smallest voice Giles had ever heard her use.

And that was the real question. She should have been over the moon happy…even with the whole Faith thing…because really…she understood about Faith's past and wanted to help her any way she could. Even with all of the things Faith had done that should make her want to never speak with her again…but…that wasn't what she was angry about.

It was how Giles was doing this so he could adopt Faith. She was angry that she had come home to find Faith in her life without knowing it. She was angry that Faith had a close relationship with her mother and she had known absolutely nothing about it.

She was angry as she watched Faith slap Spike's arm hitting flesh to flesh…and he gave her this…this…smile. This bright smile that she had never seen before.

He looked…he looked…happy.

Why was he soo happy around Faith?

"Buffy…if…if you'd rather speak with your father…if you'd rather me to remain…" Giles tried to get the words out, but was fighting his own pain at the words he needed to say.

"Sweetheart…is it…is it about your father…or is it about Faith? About what she did?" Joyce asked quietly avoiding the question Giles was trying to ask, knowing she didn't want Faith to over react to what Buffy said.

"No…yes…I mean…" Buffy stopped in confusion as she realized the only real thing bothering her was just one person.

Straightening her back she stared straight into her mother's eyes.

"What's Spike still doing here? Why was Faith with him yesterday? Why does it look like he's been living here too?" Buffy crossed her arms as her anger was finally able to vent once more.

"Buffy…William is the one that…brought it to our attention that…that Faith needed help. He's here…because Faith wants him here…and to be honest with you Buffy I want William here as well. I might owe him my life Buffy…he may be a vampire to everyone else in the world…but to Faith and I he's been a brother…and…a son." Joyce said the last words softly as she rubbed Buffy's shoulder's and looked down as she replayed just some of the things that Spike had told her and the man standing next to her.

Buffy tensed up at the word…and then forced herself to relax as the other words finally permeated her mind.

Brother…he's been acting like a brother?!

THWACCCKKK

"OWW!"

Buffy jerked her head over and watched as Faith lunged to punch Spike hard on the shoulder as he laughed holding the towel with both hands at the ready to obviously hit Faith again with the towel.

"William!" Joyce screeched in annoyance, obviously having scolded the two on a regular basis at the way she rolled her eyes and turned back to Buffy almost immediately.

To see him smirking like a fiend and Faith drop the dishes in the sink and begin chasing Spike into the next room screaming 'You're dead blondie!' made the pain in her heart that had weirdly been there disappear.

And worry took its place.

"But…why would Spike care?!" Buffy voiced looking from her mother to her Watcher..er..um…future stepdad – that shouldn't make her insides squirm with glee- who was smirking and looking in the direction Faith and Spike had run.

A worried look formed on Buffy's face. Something was majorly weird if Giles was looking like that…he totally shouldn't be ok with a development like this.

Giles looked back at Buffy and his face fell at the look of worry she was directing towards him.

Bollocks

William had warned him that Buffy would be weary of him seeming at ease…especially after having listened in details on how much of a 'Wanker' (as his son put it) he had been to Buffy from the not so distant future.

Honestly William held no punches for his feelings relaying just what he had done and how far he had gone to try and force Buffy to grow up – and that it had caused the exact opposite. Looking at her now…a college student…she still looked like the smart mouthed little teenager he had first met.

Dear Lord I truly am a wanker for even considering leaving her.

Buffy felt a little better when she saw the serious almost permanent look Giles usual had form on his face, and immediately felt guilty that his look of happiness from seconds ago had made her suspicious.

"Buffy you need to understand that the chip in Spike's head…it's…forced him to re-evaluate what kind of existence he can lead. He can't fully be evil…and he can't fully be good. He's…an ultimate grey area. The true question is not why…Spike would care…but what else could he possibly care about if not a rogue Slayer." Giles almost slipping saying 'William' instead of Spike. A habit that his son had grown weary of in these last few weeks.

The amount of coaching that William had given he and Joyce about their decision…and how Buffy would react.

That tidbit had shocked both he and Joyce. The fact he knew how exactly Buffy would react. He and Joyce would share looks with each other when William would pace as he spoke.

One truth they both knew now for certain…Spike was truly in love with Buffy…and determined to change Buffy's future for the better.

His son was in love and was pushing her away the same way he had pushed the only woman that had truly changed his life – his mother.

As much as he wanted to fight him, Giles loved Buffy too much to not do as William implored.

Buffy felt so confused, but when the sound of falling down stairs happened Giles and she jumped.

"FAITH!" Joyce screamed in panic.

"He's fine!" Faith screamed back and the muffled voice of hers saying "get up before they change their minds about me."

"Bitch."

"WILLIAM!" Joyce screamed hearing the insult.

"Sorry mum!" Spike screamed back.

Then really quiet mumbling was heard, then a phrase she had only heard from Buffy yelled out from Faith came.

"Sorry mom!"

Joyce's smile was instant and then dropped looking over at Buffy with a raised brow.

"Apparently my super power is taming vampires and Slayers." Joyce then smirked.

Buffy fought the laugh, she really did…but her mom joking about the absurdity that was happening…it made her love her mother all the more.

With a laugh and a reluctant smile Buffy moved to embrace her mother.

"I love you sweetheart. Loving more people will never change that…never make it less. No matter how many times we argue…you'll always be my little girl." Joyce whispered and then kissed the backside of Buffy's head as she hugged her daughter.

Buffy felt a tear slip down her face again, and then she felt the weight of the comforting hand of a man that had been her real father for the past three years against her back.

And a weight she didn't know she was carrying suddenly lifted from her body.

As weird as everything that had happened that morning…and how up and down as her emotions had jumped…she knew for certain that at that very moment…she wouldn't change a thing.

Not a thing.

Author's Note: Ok people! Review and tell me it's Rubbish...but with a bit more info behind it please! REVIEW and more will soon follow!