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Buffy woke up to an empty house. As she crawled out of bed, a wave of nausea hit her hard. She scurried to the bathroom and threw herself over the toilet, empting the contents of her stomach. She felt like her body was going to turn inside out. She laid with her head resting on the toilet seat, tears running down her cheeks.

Once her stomach had quit churning, she heaved herself off the floor and went to the sink to brush her teeth. Looking at herself in the mirror, she cringed slightly at her appearance. Her once sun-kissed face was now a washed-out looking gray and her hair fell damp across her face from sweat. Leaning in for a closer inspection, she thought to herself ‘so this must be the dreaded morning sickness’. With a heavy sigh, she turned on the faucet and splashed her face with some cold water. When some of the color came back to her cheeks, she gave her appearance a final inspection and proceeded to brush her teeth.

She crawled back in bed to recuperate when an idea struck her. ‘No one’s home, I can call Spike.’ As if she had been surged with renewed energy, she went to run for the phone. But just as soon as the idea hit, it dissipated when she realized he was already at school. Flopping back in her bed, she cursed herself for not waking up sooner, but realized that Faith and Lindsey would have still been home and she wouldn’t have been able to call anyways.

Feeling the beginnings of hunger pains, she decided to go to the kitchen and try to find something that her stomach wouldn’t revolt against. She went to the fridge to get some juice when she noticed a note lying on the counter with a pack of saltine crackers. Seeing it was addressed to her, she picked it up and read it.

‘B,
I didn’t know if morning sickness had kicked in yet, so I took the liberty of leaving some “friendly” food out for you. Don’t worry it should pass soon. Here’s the number to my work if you need anything. Lindsey said he would stop by on his lunch hour to check and see how you were doing. I’ll be home around 3 pm. Stay out of trouble (you know exactly what I mean!).
Love, Faith

Buffy chuckled to herself. Her sister knew her all too well. She wondered if Faith would have left things alone if she were in her shoes. The answer was most likely not. Picking up the crackers, she popped one in her mouth. After about four or five of them, she noticed that she felt much better. Making a mental note to thank Faith when she got home, she went to the living room to watch a bit of TV.

She was sitting on the couch, still in her pajamas, ranting about how stupid the people on “Jerry Springer” were when Lindsey walked in the door. “Hey Buffy.” Noticing she was still in her PJ’s and it was nearly 11:30, he couldn’t help but tease, “I see someone is enjoying being home in the middle of the day.”

Buffy gave him a cheeky smile, “Jealous much?”

Lindsey came and plopped on the coach next to her “Very. I would kill to be able to sit and lounge all day,” he said as he snaked one of her saltine crackers.

Buffy punched him in the arm. “Hey! You don’t have morning sickness, so you don’t get any!” Seeing the uncomfortable ness on Lindsey’s face, she decided to change the subject. “So, how goes it with saving the world one case at a time?”

Lindsey visibly relaxed. “I’m not exactly Superman, but can’t complain. The pay really isn’t that great where I’m at right now, but one day I’ll have my own firm and get to roll with the big dawgs.”

Buffy raised a brow at him. “The big dawgs?”

Lindsey chuckled and nudged her with his shoulder. “Yeah you know all the big time lawyers in LA.”

Buffy laughed, “Now that’s a picture! You in your expensive Armani suits, schmoozing with high dollar lawyers, talking about the latest member of the country club.” She had to wipe the tears away from her incessant laughing.

“It could happen!” Lindsey looked at her with mock resentment, but couldn’t help but laugh right along with her.

Both sitting and sobering from their laughter, Lindsey looked over at Buffy. “Talk to your mom yet?”

That simple question caused Buffy to shut down completely. “I think I’m gonna go lay down for a while; kind of feeling wiped out from being sick and all,” her voice void of emotion.

As Buffy went to go to her room, Lindsey called out to her, “Buffy I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to upset you. It’s just that I really think you need to talk to her, maybe work out some of the stuff you guys have said to each other.”

Buffy turned and leveled him with an icy glare. “How can you say that I should talk to her? Do you have any idea of what she said to me? How she made me feel?”

Lindsey knew she was angry, but he also knew she was feeling more hurt than anything else. Wanting to comfort her, he walked over to her. “Buffy I can only imagine some of the things you said to one another; you were both hurting.” He wrapped his arms around her. When she didn’t resist, he continued, “Whatever Joyce said I’m sure she didn’t mean it. You have to know your Mom loves you, because if she didn’t, she wouldn’t be doing everything possible to try and protect you. I know right now it may not seem like it, but she really does have your best interest at heart. It’s just gonna take some time to see that.” His words were so soft she found herself wanting to believe that they were true. Then she heard her mother’s voice in her head, ‘It doesn’t matter because by the time you come back William will have already left for college and forgotten about you!’ This thought caused her to come crashing back to reality.

She pulled away from Lindsey, eyes glassy with unshed tears. “I’m sorry I just can’t forgive her right now; the things she said just hurt way too much.” She sniffled slightly, “I appreciate the fact that you want to help, I really do, I just don’t think I’m ready to take that step.” Her voice was small, child like.

Lindsey felt his heart break beneath his chest at the sight of the broken girl in front of him.

Understanding that Joyce had said some pretty unforgivable things to her, he simply nodded his head in understanding and pulled her back into his arms. Giving her a reassuring squeeze, he whispered, “don’t worry darlin’. It will get better, you’ll see.”

Buffy buried her face on his shoulder and let out her tears. They stayed that way for a while before Buffy pulled away. “Sorry for crying all over your shirt; must be all the hormones because I normally don’t cry this much.” She said wiping at her nose with the sleeve of her pajama top.

Lindsey gave her a soft smile, “Don’t worry about it. You can cry on my shoulder any day.”

This caused Buffy to cry even harder. She threw her arms around his neck in a tight hug. “Oh Lindsey, you’re the best brother-n-law I could have ever hoped for.” Returning her hug, he joked lightly. “I know, but what can I say. When you’re good, you’re good.”

Buffy laughed through her tears and pulled back slightly to look into Lindsey’s eyes. “You were wrong in what you said earlier.” Lindsey looked at her quizzically.

Buffy just simply rested her head against his shoulder and murmured, “You are Superman.”






TBC



Thanks to BuffyandSpikeForever, Sevvy_O, nmb, blondiebear, jamesluvr, stace, Pam, Brittany, gypsy_jin, RavenXRobin, Aisling, and Seraiza for reviewing my fic. I am so blown away by y'alls interest. Thanks bunches! Kuddos








Ch. 19 Redemption

Giles sat at in his office going over his confrontation with William that morning, when he was interrupted by the bell on the door of his bookshop. When he went to tend to his customer, he was quite shocked to see who was standing at the counter.

“Joyce?”

“Hello Rupert. I know this is unexpected, but when you got off the phone so suddenly…” her voice trailed off.

Giles studied the woman standing before him. She had deep, dark circles under her eyes from what he assumed was from lack of good sleep and she seemed thinner than the last time he had seen her. She was still the very attractive woman she had always been, just a little more weathered. He was unable to not have sympathy for her; she looked as if she had been through hell and back. He looked up at her and gave her a weak smile.

“Yes, well unfortunately, William decided at the crucial moment of our discussion to come into the room.”

All color drained from Joyce’s face. In a hushed tone, she said, “So he knows.”

Giles’s expression went from sympathy to all out anger in the blink of an eye. “Yes he knows, and as he should. You have no right to keep something like this from him. You must remember, this is his baby as well. I told you before that I was going to tell him, he just happened to over hear our conversation before I had the chance.” His voice was full of contempt.

Joyce stood there for a moment simply letting his words sink in. Once her mind had the chance to catch up she said something that just about knocked Giles off his feet in shock. “You’re right.”

Giles stood there opening and closing his mouth trying to say something. Gaining control over his befuddlement, he let out a shocked, “What?”

Joyce’s face was the example of calm. She explained, “You’re right. I had no right to try and keep something like this from William. It has done nothing but cause hate and discontent for everyone, and for this, I am truly sorry. I know I was wrong for hurting our children the way I did, but if I give in now, all the pain they’ve gone through will have been in vain. I don’t want that. They are both so young, and I think that if we give them a little more time apart, then maybe we can salvage the situation.” She hoped that he would understand.

Giles thought about what she said. There was some truth to her words. She really did have their best interest at heart. The question was, how long would be too long? Giles removed his glasses and polished them with the hem of his vest. Replacing then on the bridge of his nose, he decided to level with her.

“How long?”

“At least till after they graduate. After that, I won’t interfere anymore.” She stated.

Giles gave a heavy sigh. “Seeing that William is unaware of where Buffy is, we don’t have to worry about him going to her just yet, but on the very day of graduation I want YOU to tell him. You must promise me this or other wise I will tell him myself now, and more than likely you will never see or hear from Buffy again and I know that’s not something you want.” His voice was full of finality.

Knowing that there was no room for argument, she agreed. “Fine, after graduation I will tell William where Buffy is and apologize to him for all I’ve put him through.”

Giles feeling quite satisfied with the outcome of their meeting took her in a warm embrace. Pulling away and feeling a bit awkward for letting his emotions get the better of him he expressed his gratitude. “Thank you Joyce for what you are doing. I know this is hard for you, but you really are dong the right thing.”

Joyce looked up at him with unshed tears in her eyes. “I hope so Rupert. I just want my baby to be happy. I know right now she probably hates me, but I hope someday she can forgive me. We both said some really hurtful things to one another.” Her voice tight with emotions as tears streaked down her cheeks.

Giles rubbed her arm in reassurance. “One day she might be able to understand all of this; it’ll just take time is all.” Trying to lighten the mood, he joked lightly, “You mustn’t forget, they’re going to be parents soon, and I can guaranty they have a LONG life of anguish ahead of them. They’ll be lucky if they survive to be twenty-five.”

Despite her tears, she couldn’t help but laugh. “You hit the nail on the head with that one. The question is; what could we have ever done to deserve such head-strong, stubborn children?”

Giles gave her a sly grin. “Well I don’t know about you Joyce, but I was something of a rebel back in my day. But I think that’s a story best left untold.”

Trying picture Rupert as the poster child for juvenile delinquency she couldn’t help but laugh. Giving him a mischievous grin, she said, “Well then I think that goes double for me.”





TBC


Thanks to jamesluvr, Anne, Hillary, Aisling, Seraiza, Brittany, and stace for the lovley reviews. I am really touched. Kuddos!





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