Chapter 13: Family
Sam and William’s lessons were taking a little longer than he’d expected and he was beginning to worry, just a little bit, about Buffy. He hadn’t seen her since the three of them ate lunch together and he really hoped she was doing okay.
“William, is this right?” Sam asked, showing him her paper for what must have been nearly the tenth time in as many minutes.
“Sam,” he said trying to keep his patience, “I’ve told you since the first time that it’s just fine.”
“I know, but I want it perfect. It’s a present.”
“Why don’t you finish later today then or maybe on the weekend?” he knew he sounded like he was trying to get out of there, but, well, he was.
“I hafta finish it today,” she said never looking up from her paper.
”Okay, but remember, I have to check on your mum and her cooking, so we only have a few more minutes.” He checked his watch and hoped Buffy was doing okay.
Just as he was about to tell Sam she’d have to finish her picture later, she finally looked up, “Done,” she announced, before handing him the paper.
Taking a second to finally look at the picture that he had previously just glanced at, William froze for a second when he saw just what it was Sam had drawn.
In place of the abstract art that he’d been become accustomed to seeing from her, was a very realistic drawing: sitting in what he assumed was a park, were he, Buffy, and Sam having a picnic. They were sitting on a blue and green checked blanket, there was a picnic basket, and they all had sandwiches. Other than the dog sitting off to the side by Sam, it was easily something that could happen.
“Sam?” William asked, “Why’d you draw this picture?”
“I was thinking during recess that it would be fun if we could eat lunch outside some day so I decided to draw a picture of it.”
Berating himself for thinking—wishing—that there had been more to it, William decided to go with the obvious, “The dog. Why’s he there?”
“She,” Sam emphasized, “Is there because after I drew you and me and mommy I though that if it were just us then I could have a dog.”
“What do you mean?” William asked as he got his papers together and started to get up to go to the kitchen.
“Daddy won’t let me get a dog, so if it was just you and me and mommy then I could have a dog. Can I go see what mommy’s doing?”
“Yeah…sure, you tell her, um, tell her I’ll be there in a minute,” William managed to get out as he sat back down in his chair thinking about what Sam had just said. If it were just the three of them.
Just the three of them.
No Angel.
God, if only she knew just how many times he’d thought about what it would be like if that were true. Yeah, if she knew, then she’d hate you…no little girl is going to want to hear that you hope her parents get divorced.
But the picture.
Yeah, the picture. Was obviously just that, a picture. He knew he was turning this into much more than it was….Sam had drawn a picture of the three of them…then her six-year-old mind had thought, “Hey, daddy’s not there, so I can have a dog in the picture.”
Nothing more to it.
Nothing more to it. Nothing more to it. Nothing more to it. Nothing more to it. Nothing more to it.
As long as he repeated that and focused on teaching Sam and helping Buffy learn how to cook and remembered that Angel was the one paying him, he’d be just fine.
God, he was fucked.
*(*(*(*I*)*)*)*
Just as William convinced himself that he’d be able to go see what Sam and Buffy were up to with the spaghetti without making an absolute fool of himself, Buffy came running into the room.
“Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you,” she chanted as she launched herself at him, engulfing him in a tight hug. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much, William,” she murmured in his ear. After hugging him tightly once more, she let go and backed up a little to look into his eyes. “I made the spaghetti all by myself and I didn’t screw it up,” she gushed, “And the sauce didn’t burn and I did everything you said and I didn’t mess it up! Sam tried some and she said it’s better than Rose Marie’s spaghetti! God, William, I don’t think you know how much this means to me….I made something other than stupid sandwiches and my daughter likes it. My daughter likes something that I cooked.
I’ve always felt so horrible for not being able to make her a good meal and now I can. Thank you.” And she hugged him again.
Tentatively hugging her, his earlier thoughts coming back in full force, he said, quietly, “You’re welcome Buffy.”
“Come on, let’s go eat some spaghetti,” she said, beginning to walk out of the room.
”I’m really not that hungry,” though he felt horrible about it, he was trying to get out of it.
“I don’t think so mister. No way are you getting out of this.” Buffy said as she took his hand and literally pulled him out of the room and towards the kitchen.
Resigning himself to spending more time with ‘his girls’ as he secretly called them, William gave up and told Buffy, “You don’t have to pull me in there, I’m coming on my own.”
“Just making sure,” she said as she continued to drag him to the kitchen, only letting go once they were safely inside the kitchen. “Now sit and I’ll get you some spaghetti.”
“Aye, aye captain,” William stated mockingly as he sat next to Sam, grabbing a noodle off her plate with his fingers and slurping it up. She just grinned at him when he winked at her.
*(*(*(*I*)*)*)*
William dutifully ate the entire plate of pasta that Buffy served him which he assured her tasted excellent and not just because it was her first time making it, before telling her that he really did need to go. Which was a lie.
But she didn’t know that. And after profuse apologizing by Buffy, William left the Summers-O’Connor residence.
Once William was gone, Buffy decided to have a talk with her daughter.
“How’s school going, sweetheart?”
“It’s great mum!” Sam said with a laugh.
“What’s this ‘mum’ stuff?” Buffy asked Sam, trying not to laugh herself.
“It’s what William says…and it’s cooler.” Sam explained.
“Is that so? Well, then I take it you like William still?”
“Uh huh. He’s a really good teacher. The bestest.”
“I’m glad you’re having so much fun sweetie, but you’re learning stuff too right?” She just wanted to be sure.
”I’ve learned….” And Sam went on to list all of the things that she’d learned over the past weeks. ALL of the things.
Several minutes later, with Buffy assured that her daughter was in fact learning—and learning a lot, Sam wondered, “Can I ask you a question, mommy?”
“Sure, baby, what is it?” Buffy was still thinking about all of the things that her daughter had learned, William and Sam really were a very productive pair.
“Why doesn’t William have any kids?” Sam’s questioned surprised her and broke Buffy from her thoughts.
”What do you mean, honey?” Buffy wanted to make sure she understood what kind of answer Sam was looking for.
“Why doesn’t William have any kids?” she repeated, “He’s nice and he’s old enough…I know I asked him how old he is. And,” she continued in a whisper like she was divulging some great secret, “He’s older than you mommy.”
“Lots of people are older than me, Sam,” Buffy said with a smile. “And I guess William doesn’t have kids because he hasn’t found the right mommy for them yet.” That was the best she could do.
“Oh. Do you think he will soon?”
“I really don’t know sweetheart,” Buffy wanted to ask Sam where all these questions were coming from, but, knowing her daughter, they were just friendly questions. No real reason for them, other than the want to know more. “Lots of people don’t have kids until they’re much older than me, so he still has some time.”
“Okay. Can I have more spaghetti?”
*(*(*(*I*)*)*)*
TBC……………
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Author's Chapter Notes:
A/N: Chapter 12 was becoming pretty long (for one of my chapters at least) and I knew that chapter 13 was going to be kind of short, so I’ve decided to conclude chapter 12 in the beginning of chapter 13
And thanks to Cordykitten, Mariana, Jenn, Allison, Caitie, Spuffette, Brat, fibble, Bint, and Kar for reviewing the last chapter...and Nikki for catching up ;)
And thanks to Cordykitten, Mariana, Jenn, Allison, Caitie, Spuffette, Brat, fibble, Bint, and Kar for reviewing the last chapter...and Nikki for catching up ;)