Giles came home from work to the sound of angry punk music blaring from his son’s bedroom. Shaking his head wearily, he decided it best to just let his son sit and sulk for a while before he would go over with him his meeting with Joyce. Going to the kitchen, he made way with starting dinner.
Spike heard his father pull in the driveway and turned up the music even louder. He was not in the mood to speak to his dear ol’ dad. After the blow out from that morning he could have cared less if he ever spoke to his dad again. He couldn’t wait till he graduated and he could just get the fuck out and lead his own life. He was so sick and tired of everyone telling him what he should do, so while sitting in his room for the better part of the day, he decided he was going to finish school and then go find Buffy.
He wanted nothing more than to pack up and leave right then and there, but he knew he couldn’t support Buffy without at least a high school education. So as soon as he graduated, he was gone and he would never look back. Spike was thinking over his plans when he heard a knock at his door.
After Giles got dinner underway, he decided to go check on his son. Standing outside his door, he took in a shaky breath and knocked on the door. When it was apparent William was not going to answer, he walked in.
Spike looked over and glared at his father. “I bloody well never invited you in, so get out,” he snarled at him.
Giles studied him for a moment. “William please, if you’ll just listen to me I can…” but he was cut off.
“No. I’m done listening, so just save it. I could give two shits as to what you have to say.” He bit out as he got off the bed. He was through being treated as if he couldn’t think fore himself.
Giles let his temper get the better of him. Instead of sharing with his son that Joyce had consented to let him see Buffy as soon as graduation was over, he opted to lower himself to his son’s level and be just as stubborn and not say a word. Looking at his son with cold eyes, he spit out at him in a menacing tone, “Bloody fine then, don’t listen, but mark my words, one day you’re going to look back and regret this.”
Spike scoffed at him. “Not bloody likely.”
Giles let out a sardonic laugh. “Oh William my boy, you have no idea.” His voice held almost an eerie edge to it.
Spike walked to his father and stopped mere inches away from his face glowering at him. “We’re through. As soon as I’m done with school, I’m gone. I’m done letting you and Joyce hold Buffy over my head like a scrap of meat to a hungry dog,” he said with finality.
Giles stayed where he was standing, never backing away. “Listen here boy. Don’t threaten me,” he told him snidely.
Spike let a smirk play over his lips and chuckled. “Make no mistake. This is no threat. I fully intend on getting the fuck out of here as soon as possible.” His tone was full of malice.
Both men stood there expressing their contempt for one another in their heated glares, neither one willing to back down. It wasn’t until the phone rang that Giles backed away slightly and ground out through clinched teeth, “We aren’t through here.”
Spike stood there, smirk firmly planted on his face, and told him, “Oh but Father we are.”
Giles gave him one last glare and walked out of the room. Still seething, he picked up the phone and bit out a very callous “What?”
Joyce sat on the other line taken aback at the greeting she received on the other end. Truly concerned, she inquired, “Rupert is everything alright?”
Letting his anger subside slightly at the sound of her concerned voice, he apologized. “Joyce I’m sorry, that was quite rude of me to bark at you that way; it’s just I had another ‘disagreement’, for better chose of words, with William. It seems that he has decided he is through hearing what I have to say.” He let out a heavy sigh.
Knowing exactly how Rupert felt, she sympathized. “Oh Rupert I’m so sorry. Give it some time. I’m sure he’ll cool down in a few days and he’ll apologize.”
Giles laughed cynically. “Oh Joyce, you can be so naïve at times. You have known my son for quite some time; I would think you would know better than that by now.”
Joyce sighed heavily, “Well I don’t know what to tell you. I’m not exactly fit to be giving out good parenting advice. I can’t even keep mine at my house. They all run away the first chance they get.” Her tone was playful, yet she couldn’t help but sound slightly bitter.
Giles sighed. “We’re quite the pair, you and I.”
Joyce chuckled softly. “That we are. I think if we can hang in there these next few months then we should come out of this somewhat in one piece.”
“If you say so,” Giles replied doubtfully.
They sat in silence for a moment when Joyce spoke up, “Did you mention to William about what we talked about earlier?”
“I was about to when we got into our little tiff, so I never told him.” His voice carried a sad tone.
“Well then you can go in there now and tell him. He’ll be so excited he’ll forget all about being upset with you.” She told him hopefully.
“I don’t think that would be such a good idea,” he said gravely.
Joyce was clearly confused. “Why not Rupert, it’s perfect.”
Giles took a deep breath and explained. “Because if I tell William that he has to wait and see her, instead of him doing things on his own terms, it will only make things worse. William is a stubborn boy; he has to do things his way, so I believe if we wait to tell him the night of his commencement, then maybe things will go smoother, because he can just go to Buffy. No questions asked.”
“You’re probably right. I planned on going to the ceremony to see William graduate anyways so I will tell him then.” Joyce told him reassuringly.
“I’m glad you called Joyce, it’s nice to have someone that understands what I’m going through. I know we got off on the wrong foot when this all started, but I think we have both come a long way as far as I’m concerned,” he told her endearingly.
Joyce smiled to herself. “I’m glad that I can help. Promise you won’t hesitate to call or stop by to see me sometime. After all are children are making us grandparents,” she told him light heartedly.
Giles couldn’t help but grin at the idea of becoming a grandfather. “I‘ll be sure to come by and see you sometime, we can have tea or something.” Giles told her thankfully.
“That sounds wonderful, just call and let me know when. I am so glad we got a chance to talk things over Rupert; I really am.”
“So am I,” he agreed.
“Well I need to let you go. I have an early day at the gallery tomorrow and I have a feeling a late night as well.” Joyce told him regretfully.
“Quite alright, I talk with you soon then. Good night.”
“Good night Rupert.”
Once Giles got off the phone, he sighed heavily. He walked to his son’s door and stood there thinking ‘alright old chap, time to be the bigger man and try to patch things up proper.’
TBC
Thanks to sharon, gypsy_jin, blondiebear, BuffyandSpikeForever, nmb, stace, Becky, jamesluvr, Sevvy_O, and seraiza for the reviews. Kuddos!
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Author's Chapter Notes:
Disclaimsr in full affect. Everyone has been asking "When's graduation?". Well kiddies, you only have to wait three more chapters! Thanks to Vicki for the great beta job. Enjoy! Kuddos!