Chapter 21
Buffy leaned against the sink in the bathroom between classes. She’d felt sick at the end of last period, asked to be excused early, and rushed to the bathroom, which thankfully, was just across the hall. She’d been back to school for about a week, and thought she was still catching up, it was nice to feel like a normal person again, save for the horrible morning sickness and the fact that every time she walked down the hall, whispers bounced off the lockers and people stared, mostly out of sympathy, but also out of curiosity, because she was starting to show just a little, and soon, there would be no doubt about her condition.
Just as she was about to walk out of the bathroom, one of the stall doors opened. She froze. She’d thought she was alone. But when Drusilla Lewis stepped out, face pale, eyes wide, as if she was just as surprised to see Buffy, Buffy couldn’t help but feel a pain in her chest as she remembered helping Spike haul Dru home after getting beat up on by Angel, who later that night T-boned her mother’s car, killing her instantly.
“Hello, Buffy.”
“Don’t talk to me,” Buffy seethed, picking up her books from the little shelf by the mirror. She started to walk out, but Dru called to her again.
“Buffy, wait.”
“I don’t have anything to say to you, Dru. Nothing that’s going to help.”
“He’s going to prison, Buffy. There’s no doubt about that. They’re saying it could be three years.”
“Yeah,” Buffy murmured. “Three years, and then he’ll be out on the streets again, free to ruin as many lives as he possibly can.”
“Buffy,” Dru said quickly, stepping toward her. Buffy couldn’t help but look into Dru’s eyes. What was that she saw there? Fear? Desperation? “I visited him, and he feels terrible…”
“Good,” Buffy spat. “I hope he feels like that until the day he dies, which couldn’t come soon enough.” She looked Dru over. “I don’t know why you’re so upset. That son of a bitch treated you like a dog. And you let him.”
“I love him.”
“You liked the attention, Dru,” Buffy said, shaking her head furiously. “It was negative attention, but it was still attention. Take my advice. Get over him. He’s going to jail. I suggest you deal with that.” She turned and walked away, and Dru placed her hand over her mouth, ran back into the stall, and threw up for the third time that morning.
***
It was amazing, really, how much had changed in such a short time. The landscape of the lunch table had changed slightly. Oz and Willow were going strong, but they were now being more publically affectionate, holding hands and kissing when Snyder wasn’t around. The most surprising thing, however, was the fact that Cordelia and Xander, at this very minute, were making out as if there was nobody else around.
Spike had explained that apparently Cordelia had taunted Xander into yet another spat, and somewhere in between her telling him to grow up and him telling her to run home to daddy and cry like the spoiled brat she was, they had found themselves in the back hall of The Bronze groping and kissing. They’d been together ever since, and apparently a love of kissing was something they both shared. And shared a lot.
“So, um, Spike,” Buffy grinned, feeling suddenly like part of an old married couple that didn’t have that spark anymore, though she knew the spark was still there, and that was more than obvious in the middle of the night when she’d wake to him kissing her eyelids and stroking her softly under the blankets. Yeah, they had nothing to worry about in that department, but seeing Oz and Willow and then Xander and Cordy off in couple heaven made Buffy feel a little disconnected from the table.
“Hmm?” He popped a french fry into his mouth.
“I don’t know. I was trying to drown out the sound of the Kissingtons sucking face.”
“Hmmpfh?” Xander asked, breaking apart from Cordelia for a second. “Did you say something, Buff?” Buffy just rolled her eyes. She started to say something, but a wave of nausea passed over her. She put her hand over her mouth, hopped up from her chair and bolted for the bathroom.
“What was that all about?” Cordelia asked.
“Um, must’ve eaten something bad.”
“You’re eating off her tray, man,” Xander pointed out. “You feel ok?”
“Um…matter of fact, not really,” Spike lied.
“I better go check on her.” Cordelia stood up, but Spike stood too.
“She’s ok, I’m sure of it.”
“Ok, Mr. Psychic, but I’d like to check on her for myself. Willow? Coming with?”
“Um,” Willow said quietly, knowing that Buffy was perfectly fine and suffering from the effects of her secret pregnancy. “No, I’m good.”
“Ok, then, since I seem to be the only one that cares if my friend is sick or not, I’ll go myself.” She rolled her eyes and hurried off. Spike sighed and sat down at the table, running his fingers through his hair.
“What’s going on?” Xander wondered. “You guys have been acting really weird, and…”
“S’nothing, mate,” Spike assured him.
“You’re lying to me, Spike. I can tell. What’s going on?”
“Really, Xander,” Willow interrupted, “it’s…”
“Don’t tell me it’s nothing. If it was nothing, you wouldn’t have to keep it a secret. This has been going on since before Buffy’s mom died, so I know it’s not related to that. What the Hell is going on, Spike? Buffy’s my friend, and I think I deserve to know if she’s sick, or if she’s…is there something wrong with her?”
“She’s fine,” Spike assured him.
“Then what is it?”
Spike sighed heavily and looked at Willow, who gave him a little shrug.
“If I tell you this, you can’t say a word to anybody. And if you do? I’ll personally stuff you into your own locker, smash in the lock, and refuse your release unless you can come up with a way to turn back time and unsay what you hypothetically said.”
“I don’t even know if I followed that,” Xander said slowly. “Buffy’s my friend, and I’m not gonna go around blabbing her secrets. I just…I need to know that she’s ok.”
“She’s pregnant, Xander.”
“She’s what now?”
“Buffy and I are having a baby.” Spike looked around, hoping to God nobody heard. Buffy would kill him if anybody else were to find out just yet. And to Spike’s surprise, the only sound that came to his ears next was that of Xander’s laughter.
“She’s…oh, that’s funny, man. Now what is it? What’s really going on?” Spike folded his hands, raised his eyebrows and stared at Xander. “Oh. Oh shit. You’re not kidding about this. Jesus.”
“You can’t tell anyone, alright?”
“But…how long…”
“Going in on six weeks,” Spike guesstimated.
“Oh my God,” Xander murmured. “This is…this is huge!”
“No. It’s really not,” Spike said quickly, trying to calm Xander before his surprise got the best of him. “And if you say a word, I’m gonna make good on my promise.”
“Ok. I won’t say anything. I just…oh my God, man. What are you gonna do?”
“We’re handling it.”
“You mean…”
“Not that.”
“Oh. Ok. Well…I’ll help you guys if you need anything. Hey! Your kid can call me Uncle Xander.”
“Swell.”
“Ok, here they come,” Willow interrupted. “So, shh!” Cordelia’s face was pale, almost as pale as Buffy’s. When she sat down, her eyes were round and filled with shock. She looked at Spike and then at Buffy, who looked at Spike and then at Xander.
“Did you tell him?”
“Did you tell her?”
“Yeah.”
“Me too.”
“So everyone knows?” Willow asked.
“Well, just the group of us, and it’s not getting out to anyone else until I’m ready for it to, got it?” Buffy asked.
“Sure, Buff. Whatever you say. We’re…we’re gonna support you, you know that, right?” Xander asked, reaching over to pat his friend’s hand.
“Thanks, Xander.”
“Are you ok?” Cordelia asked gently. “I mean, after everything you’ve gone through…”
“I’m actually pretty scared, but Spike’s helping me through it, and my Dad…he didn’t kill either of us when we told him, so that’s a big plus.”
“Yeah,” Cordelia said quietly. “But you’re doing better? I mean, every day you seem a little happier.”
“Well, some days are harder than others, but I’m doing ok. My dad knew it’d be better if I finished school here instead of in New York. I didn’t want to leave. I still don’t. My Mom wouldn’t have wanted me to go, and I have no reason to go to New York.” She shrugged. “I’m happy here. I know it sounds weird, but I feel better being here, because I’m close to my mom.”
“That’s not weird,” Willow urged. She looked around the group, realizing that if she continued with that, they’d be going down the path of a sad conversation, which wasn’t exactly what Buffy needed right now. “If you don’t want to leave, you shouldn’t have to.”
“Well, I’m not. I’m here, and I’m focusing on the good things.” She smiled a little. “I keep telling myself that’s what my mom would have wanted, and I’m pretty sure it’s true.”
***
While Buffy had thought that the days following the loss of someone you love would pass by slowly, she was surprised to find out that in her case, it was exactly the opposite. Because it was officially her eighteenth birthday, which made it seem a little sexy and maybe a little awkward that for the next three days, she would be older than Spike.
The party was being held at The Bronze, and the guest list was small. Buffy and Spike both liked it that way. Just a small gathering of friends, though Buffy knew she had a birthday cake waiting for her back at home from her dad and Dawn. She just wasn’t exactly in a place where she wanted to pretend to be a happy family when she was still getting adjusted to having a little sister in the house.
“Having a good time, luv?” Spike wondered, holding Buffy close as they danced to a slow song. Devon, who had bowed out of the band early, was reprising his role as lead singer for tonight only, so that Spike could enjoy his birthday party and not have to also be the entertainment. The guys had already decided to take the money Xander, Cordelia, and Willow had piled together to pay for the band and give it to Buffy and Spike as a joint birthday present.
“I am,” she said with a swoon-inducing smile that told Spike that if he played his cards right, she’d leave her window open for him tonight. She left her window open most nights, except for the nights she genuinely forgot, but he’d just tap on the glass, and she’d let him in.
“Good,” he murmured, leaning in to kiss her. “Feeling alright?”
“Yeah. I guess I’m lucky that my morning sickness is only morning and all day sickness, and not night sickness.” Spike chuckled, leaned in and kissed her. “Wow, you’re the best boyfriend ever.”
“What?”
“I talk about puking my guts out all day, and you kiss me anyway.”
“You taste minty.”
“Mouthwash. It fixes a lot,” she giggled. She hugged him and they swayed to the music for a few minutes before Buffy spoke again. “Who’s that?”
“Huh?”
“Over there?” She pulled back and nodded toward the door. Spike peered over to see the talent scout he’d seen earlier that month.
“Talent scout. Must’ve heard Devon was playing against tonight. I’ll be right back.” Buffy nodded and went over to the snack table for something to eat.
“Can I help you, mate?” Spike asked, stepping up in front of the older gentleman. He sure didn’t look like a talent scout. He wore a suit and a tie, glasses, and he looked very much like a librarian. “This is a private party.”
“I’m very sorry,” the man said in a thick, English accent. “You’re a member of this band, are you not?”
“Yeah, but this is partly my party, so I’m off the hook tonight. Your boy Devon came back for one last hurrah.”
“My…boy?”
“Oz said you’d offered Devon a contract before.”
“Well, I offered for him to meet with people who could give him a contract, yes. I also work as a manager.”
“Oh,” Spike said slowly. “Well, as you can see, this party’s a member’s only kinda thing, if you get my meaning. Just a small gathering of friends.”
“Yes, well, I apologize for intruding.”
“No harm done, mate.” Spike turned to walk away, but he felt a hand on his shoulder.
“I heard you perform earlier this month, and I liked what I heard.” He held out a card. “My name is Rupert Giles. I’ll keep in touch.” Then he was gone. Spike looked down at the card in his hand. It looked legit, but there was no way in Hell this guy could be for real. This was Sunnydale of all places, and Spike had never had an ounce of good luck in his life, except when it came to finally getting the girl of his dreams.
“What’d he say?” Buffy asked, coming up behind him. Spike shook his head, putting the card in his pocket.
“Nothing important, luv.” The music changed, and Spike cocked his head to the side. “You love this song, right? C’mon. Dance with me.” Buffy grinned and grabbed Spike’s hand, leading him back out to the dance floor, all thoughts of the talent scout forgotten.
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Thought I would clear up the Giles confusion by adding him into the story so it's clear he's not Spike's father. Feedback would be great, by the way! Thanks!