[Reviews - 521]
-
Table of Contents [Report This]
Microsoft Word Chapter or Story | ePub eBook Chapter or Story | Printer Chapter or Story

Has been viewed 3060 times

- Text Size +




Joyce took a seat next to her daughter with a confused look on her face. She knew she couldn't have heard her correctly, "Let me get this straight. You want to let Dru get away with what she's done?"

Buffy shook her head slowly as she said, "No, I just want her to be given the chance, unlike me to explain herself. I want to know why she let me take the blame and go from there."

Joyce took a deep calming breath as she let her daughter's words sink in. She agreed that now was not a time to react emotionally, it was what fractured their family to begin with. Both she and Hank had let the pain and grief lead them down the road to tearing their family apart.

"I'm so proud how you've grown up. I'm just sorry I had nothing to do with this wonderful transformation." Joyce decided her daughter was right and told her so. "I also think you're right, we need to calm down so we don't make this any worse than it already is."

"Plus, I'm just not ready to deal with it right now. I have enough on my plate." Buffy shared, relieved her mother agreed with her. "I just want to shower and get some sleep, and then wake up and begin to live my life again."

"Then let's get you to Ethan so you can go and get your rest." Joyce replied.

"Mom, just so you know. Spike is with me now, and I mean with me." Buffy thought it best she was up front about her and Spike's relationship. "We're still working on the 'with' part of it, but we both want to find out what it is that's between us and if we can make it work."

"I know he cares about you very much, and from what I've seen so far I think you care for him too." Joyce smiled as she ran her hand down the sleeve of the leather jacket that encased her daughter.

"He just is, if you know what I'm trying to say?" Buffy asked.

"Yes, I think I do." Joyce replied as she leaned in and kissed Buffy's cheek. "I'm going to go and get Hank and Dru home. Call me in the morning when you wake up."

"I love you mom!"

"I love you to, Buffy. No matter what happened that never did change. I just shut down, baby. It really wasn't you, it was me. I will have to tell you a story about when Dawn was born. I think it might make you understand a little of why I lost myself in the pain of losing her."

"I'd like that." Buffy said with a sense of closure with her mother, coming to realize it hadn't been her really that caused her mother's treatment of her. "I think we'll come out of this stronger and closer."

Joyce hurried to hug her daughter close and say, "I hope so, for I love you more than I think you'll ever know. It’s funny how something like this opens your eyes, and I'm just feeling blessed I have this time to make things right with you."

"Me too, me too." Buffy agreed as she hugged her mother close.

"Okay I'm going now before Hank comes looking for me and we don't want that happening right now. I'll sign your discharge papers before I leave, and we can talk more tomorrow." Joyce said as she stepped away and hurried out of the room before she begged Buffy to come home with her.

Buffy watched her mother leave and knew it was taking everything she had to keep from begging her come home. The trust her mother just placed in her made her love the woman even more. Knowing her mother's action was to protect her from facing her father, not to avoid being with her warmed her heart.

*******

Anya noticed the need to let some emotions out once she saw Joyce's face when the woman stepped out of the room. "Okay, Spike, to Buffy you go and I promise to take good care of Joyce."

"What do you mean by good care?" Spike asked feeling suspicious.

"Oh, don't worry. Me and mommy dearest have come to an understanding. I promise I won't eviscerate her or anything like that." Anya teased. "Honest, I'll take good care of her in a nice way."

Spike nodded as he stood to join Buffy. He was surprised to see how Joyce went straight to Anya and hugged her close and started to cry. The look Anya gave him sent him on his way with the knowledge that Miss Jenkins was one hell of a woman.

"Come sit down." Anya softly instructed the older woman.

"She forgave me and says we will be stronger for it." Joyce cried out all the emotions she'd been holding in that needed an outlet. "My Buffy is all grown up and I had nothing to do with it."

"Yes you did." Anya soothed her, "You gave her the foundation on which she was able to come through this with her mind and soul intact. I truly believe that."

Anya's words gave Joyce some of the comfort she needed as she said. "I might need to take you up on your offer to talk sometime."

"That's why I gave you my number. Call me anytime." Anya reminded her.

"I need to sign Buffy's papers and get to Hank before he comes looking for me." Joyce managed to get out.

"I'll go with you if you'd like." Anya offered, feeling a connection with this woman since they've talked these few times.

"I would appreciate that more than you know." Joyce sighed in relief.

*******

Spike again found himself about to knock when the door opened and Buffy pulled him in the room. Her arms around his neck mixed with the warmth of her breath against his skin filled him with a joy he'd never knew he could feel right at this moment.

Here was his future clutching him like she was trying to crawl inside him and it was something he'd welcome if it was at all possible. He craved her voice, her touch, and the beauty of her face. Even knowing he was acting like a lovesick poet didn't bother him as long as she held him like this.

Buffy felt a thrill run through her when his face fit in her neck and she could feel his warm breath on her skin. The need to have him so close they'd be one, called to her like nothing ever did before. She needed him like she needed water and food, and it scared her and yet made her feel powerful.

"William or Spike? Which name do I use?"

"Both if you'd like. But so you know, only you and Ethan are allowed to call me William."

"How about Will?"

"Only you."

"My Will, my William, my Spike."

Spike chuckled as he replied, "Yeah, baby. I'm all yours."

"And I'm yours."

"I know, Kitten."

"Cocky, aren't ya, Spike?”

"Only for you, baby."

Buffy giggled on the pun of that, "You're a perv too."

"Only for you."

"Good thing, Mister Spike. I so need a shower and a change of clothes."

"Faith went to get some things you'd left at her house and some of her stuff too."

"Good, I'm just not looking forward to the drive."

"Buffy, I haven't told Ethan yet, but Giles offered up his guest house." Spike told her.

"Wow! That place rocks. He let Angel use it for his 18th birthday party." Buffy informed him. "I’d never seen Angel act so adult; it was rather scary seeing him treat someone's house with such respect."

"Then let's go and find Ethan so we can get my girl all comfy and tucked into bed. Plus I need my beauty rest."

Buffy giggled as she leaned back to look him over, "You must sleep a lot since you look so beautiful."

"Funny, Pet, I'd rather have you say handsome. Don't want anyone to get the wrong idea about me."

"Don't worry, baby, I'll set them all straight if any man tries anything."

"I can see life with you will never be boring." Spike sighed contentedly, as he nuzzled her hair with his face. "I'm going to enjoy learning everything I can about you."

"It could take a few decades." Buffy warned him.

"Will be the best decades of my life," He replied, as he leaned down to rub his nose against hers.

"I love you, Buffy Summers."

"I love you too, William 'Spike' Rayne."

"Do you think I'll ever get my coat back?" He teased.

"One day, you might."

"Well, as long as the woman inside comes with it I can wait."

Buffy felt the tears threaten again, only they weren't sad ones as she said, "If you don't kiss me now I will scream."

Spike knew he could never disappoint his girl as he leaned down and softly nibbled on her bottom lip. If she wanted to be kissed, he'd give her one she'd never forget. Pulling her bottom lip between his he suckled gently before slipping his tongue between her sweet lips. He was on fire just from this small kiss as she opened and let him in. Their tongues dueled for a few seconds before he teased hers to follow his back inside so he could worship her sweet tongue.

Buffy never knew a kiss could make her feel so lost in someone else, and it was numbing her brain to everything but him. His lips and tongue were driving her to want more of him as he sucked her into his mouth and made her moan for more. She felt the joining of their mouths all the way down to her toes and then some. Both were so lost in the kiss neither heard the knock on the door.

*******

Joyce stopped at the doorway leading into the smaller waiting area. Anya had left with Mr. Giles, after making a promise to call the younger woman very soon. She couldn't help but notice how forlorn Hank looked as she watched him sitting next to Dru with his arm around her. She also noticed how detached Dru was becoming as the time passed. As she walked toward them she couldn't help but watch Drusilla more closely, and was shocked at the deadened eyes that looked back at her.

Something had happened since she'd been with Buffy, and by the looks of things it wasn't good. The worry on Hank's face and the blank expression on Dru's forewarned her something bad was coming.

"Buffy is staying with Dr. Rayne tonight, so we can go home now." Joyce told them seeing the hurt on Hank's face and the lack of expression on Dru's.

"She doesn’t want to see me?" Hank asked forlornly, even thou he knew he didn't deserve her forgiveness just yet.

"Buffy's just not up to any more tonight. I didn't feel the need to fight her about it, and there is tomorrow." Joyce explained gently, feeling uneasy with how Dru was acting.

"Then I guess we need to go home." Hank said as he stood up and then turned to help Dru stand, getting more and more worried with how she was withdrawing.

If only they'd known her back when she lived with her mother and the short time with her Grandmother they'd understand what she was doing. Drusilla was preparing to be alone and on her own. She was finding that part of her that existed when her mother's special friends would have their way with her. The special part of her had a name no one else knew. Her mom thought it was her imaginary friend whenever Dru would talk to Miss Edith.

Even now Miss Edith was telling her how she'd keep her safe and not let any of the evil men touch her. Only Miss Edith would get her hands dirty and a few other body parts as well, just like when her Mummy's friends wanted her to do bad things. Miss Edith did them for her.

"Dru, Princess, let's get you home." Hank softly talked to his daughter, become more afraid for her.

He was watching Dru, so he didn't notice Joyce wince at his nickname for his daughter, but Dru did. She knew at that moment that Buffy had told her the truth and her life here was over. Tonight she'd pack her things and leave, before they could kick her out. She'd find a way to survive; she didn't need anyone. If she learned anything while living with her mother it was that she didn't need someone to provide for her. Anything she ever got, she'd earned with the use of her body, so she had something she could thank her mother for.

"Okay, daddy." She meekly said as she let her father lead her out of the hospital.

Hank wanted to cry, but he knew he couldn't right now without telling Joyce why. He'd watch Dru closely tonight, for something about her behavior was scaring him and making him anxious. He truly could not lose another daughter because of his careless behavior.

For the first time he allowed himself to believe his worst fears about Dru. Hank became worried that Dru's life before coming to live with them was something he should've been concerned about. Could it be he overlooked her past and now it was going to cost him another daughter, God he prayed it wouldn't end like that.

He just hoped he could make Joyce see the injustice they'd done to her when they just accepted her into their family without checking her background. They'd just conducted the tests to prove she was his, and then just went on like it was every day a teenaged daughter is dropped off at your door with a birth certificate saying you're her father.

The school counselor had recommended that they investigate her past but instead he'd been the macho ass and hadn't. Now he and his family were about to pay the price for another one of his fuck ups. He just hoped he wasn't placed in a situation where he'd have to choose, for he really wasn't sure how he'd be able to. Both his daughters needed him, their father. The only difference was that Buffy had her mother; Dru had only him.

He felt like the world was closing in on him as he led his oldest out of the hospital. The wife who might make him decide followed, but then again if she found out how far he'd fallen she might leave him herself.

*******





You must login (register) to review.