Buffy climbed up the stairs in a fast angry fury. Each step she took on the staircase made a loud pounding noise by the fact that she was so angry at the moment. Dawn was right at her heels. As she made it to the top landing Buffy heard the door slam shut again.
“B!”
She turned around to find Faith standing at the bottom of the steps, her hands on her hips staring up at both sisters. Faith studied Buffy intently, and saw that the blonde was masking her face with the familiar ‘I’m not mad’ façade. Stone face, no emotion. When in reality, she was extremely annoyed at one of the people who brought her into this world, boiling away inside of her. She tried to remain calm. Tried to forget about the fact that things were going so good until her bastard of a father had the audacity to show up on the doorstep of her new home, and expected her to welcome him.
Buffy noticed the fact that Spike was no where in sight, and with that, the little stab of pain in her heart that accompanied the realization. Probably got so sick of the drama in my life.
Buffy couldn’t help but think her thoughts were true. She had known Spike for what? Barely a week and she had spilled her deepest darkest secrets of her past on him. Enough to send any guy running for the hills.
“I’m fine,” Buffy said to Faith as she spun around on her heel and walked the rest of the distance to her room. A few minutes later she heard the door slam, expecting it to be Giles. Dropping down on her bed she felt sudden exhaustion overcome her.
Dawn stayed at the doorway and slowly inched her way into her sister’s bedroom. Without a word she lay next to Buffy and cuddled up to her big sister, a comforting and familiar gesture they’d shared many times in their lives. Buffy rested her head on top of Dawn’s brown hair and the sisters lay together like that. There were hushed voices of conversation going on and Buffy tried to tune them out especially since she couldn’t make out what was being said.
“Buffy….”
“Yeah Dawn?” Buffy said monotonously as she began to stroke Dawn’s silky hair, mechanically.
At first Dawn was hesitant, pausing for a while before asking her question. “Why…why do you think dad came?” It was the same question she had asked while in Spike’s car.
“I don’t know Dawn.” Truly Buffy didn’t know. She couldn’t deny that she wasn’t a little curious on why their father had suddenly appeared five years later in their new town. Did he have news? Did he want them back in his life? But another question nagged at Buffy. She couldn’t help but feel a little hopeful, optimistic, about that question. Had he heard about what had happened with her and Angel and was being a caring father?
Whatever the reason, maybe Buffy would still protect Dawn from the drama if the situation was bad. She had promised her mother that after she had stayed at her grave the day they buried Joyce, a day that was hard for both Summers girls. Buffy closed her eyes and recalled that day.
FLASHBACK: Five Years Earlier. Los Angeles Rose Cemetery
The four of them sat in the limo, dressed in black to respect the deceased. Thirteen year-old Buffy Summers sat on one side of the limo with ten year old Dawn right next to her. Tears flowed down freely from Dawn’s eyes but Buffy’s remained dry. Buffy felt she had cried enough these past few days. She needed to remain strong. For her, and for Dawnie especially.
She looked out the tinted window as people began to walk from their cars, also decked in black, handkerchiefs in the hands of the women, gathering around the spot where her mother was to be buried. Fighting back another urge to cry she felt Dawn cling to her arm a little more.
“Is daddy here yet?” Buffy heard Dawn whisper in a muffled sob against the fabric of Buffy’s black dress. Buffy didn’t answer, but instead looked across the length of the limo at Giles who sat next to her best friend Faith. They too had the same sad grim expression on their faces, feeling the lost of someone dear to their hearts.
Buffy couldn’t bear to break the news Giles had told her last night. Their father wasn’t coming. She had already been the one to go to Dawn the night Joyce had died while Dawn was at her friend’s house, and had to tell her sister that their mother was gone. Now, she had to tell Dawnie that their father wouldn’t come to their mother’s funeral, and it tore her apart. How would little Dawnie take it? And yet, she felt that it was her responsibility to tell her, no matter how hard it would be to break it to her. Which was why Buffy told Giles that she would do it.
“We’ll meet you outside,” Giles said, leading Faith out of the limo and closing the car door behind them.
A minute ticked by as Buffy and Dawn sat there before Buffy spoke to her sister. “Dawnie.” Dawn looked up with tear filled eyes. “Daddy…daddy isn’t coming.” She expected her sister to break out in another set of tears but instead she just nodded her head. Dawn understood even in her ten year old mind. She understood.
Throughout the service of the burial Buffy wore the same expression - passive, unemotional. Dawn was holding her right hand while Faith reassuringly held her left. Giles was standing behind them, being their guiding hand.
Buffy had stared down at her free hand that now held a rose. She couldn’t remember how it got there. She and Dawn were the last ones to leave and the last ones to place the rose on the coffin. The weather was sunny, a total opposite to the somber mood that settled over them while Buffy stepped up to place the red rose on the beautifully polished wood of the box that held their mother.
Bending down low Buffy whispered. “I’ll take care of her. I promise.”
Buffy re-opened her eyes at the end of her memory, and heard the sound of someone walking up the stairs. Heavy, slow steps. Dawn laid still and Buffy wondered idly if she was asleep. Looking over at her clock, she was surprised to find that thirty minutes had passed since she had come up to her room. She did not move though, not getting up even as the steps became louder, making it clear that they were coming to her room. A shadow fell over her doorway and Buffy finally looked up. She was surprised to find Spike staring at her with a tender, caring look in his eyes.
She’d half expected him to be scared away, after witnessing the argument between her and Hank Summers. But, there he was, standing there with a look in his eyes that said he would be there, no matter what. As he had been this whole day for her. Tears began to well up in her eyes, remembering how he had held her not only today as she had faced inner turmoil but two nights ago.
Buffy continued to look at him with amazement clearly written in her eyes as he walked into her room and lay on the bed next to her, careful not to disturb Dawn. He moved Buffy gently to rest her head on his arm.
“You’re still here.”
“Of course I am.” He nuzzled his face against her neck. He said it as if he thought she was crazy to think he would leave her.
“Why?”
“Like I said, Buffy Summers, I think I am falling in love with you.”
Even though he had spoken those words to her two nights ago, realization finally hit and the words finally sunk in, shocking her to the core and frightening her at the same. Spike must have noticed because he shook his head and spoke up. “I know we just met a week ago. I am not rushing you Buffy. Just let me care of you.”
All he was asking for was allowing him to care for her. Nothing more. Not even feelings in return. Buffy smiled and rested, allowing him to just hold her.
“Well, well, well.” Both blondes’ heads shot up to see framing the doorway. “Isn’t this a fucking heart moving scene,” she said in a harsh whisper, after noticing that Dawn was asleep.
“Aw, we know you want to join Faithy,” Buffy teased.
Faith rolled her eyes. “Ok B. You know that sounded like some sick multi sexual offer.”
This time Buffy rolled her eyes. “Get in the bed Faith.”
Shaking her head Faith said, “Sorry, I don’t do these Hallmark moments.”
“What, scared pet?” Spike asked, using the same question Buffy had used when she had asked her about Devon. Faith clenched her jaw and shook her head no before walking over to lie across Buffy’s bed, horizontally at the top.
“So, you okay B?” Faith asked Buffy, looking down at her. Buffy just nodded.
“Now. But I am infuriated that he came here. But what’s worse is…part of me is curious why he came looking for me and Dawn.”
“Does it matter?” Faith asked.
“No I guess it doesn’t.”
Faith chuckled. “You should have heard what Spike told me that he told your daddy dearest.” Buffy’s head turned to Spike, one of her eyebrows arching inquisitively. Spike just continued to give her an innocent smirk.
“What did you say?”
“Oh nothing,” Spike said, waving his hand dismissively. “Just repeating what you said in a more dramatic way.” Buffy just rolled her eyes as Spike leaned close to kiss her.
“Get a room.” Spike turned to glare at Faith.
“We would but you’re bloody well in it.”
Faith held up her hands. “Hey you two pulled me in here.”
The three of them laughed quietly and not long after that, followed Dawn and napped contentedly.
Dawn awoke, feeling the dry tears that had spilled from her eyes earlier on her cheek. She looked around finding herself in Buffy’s room. Her head snapped behind her to find Spike and Buffy asleep next to her.
Four. Wow. Dawn thought as she looked at Buffy’s clock. She looked above to see Faith resting on her back with her arm across her face, she too being asleep.
Sitting up she slid away from Buffy’s arm that had still been wrapped around Dawn in a protective manner. The brunette smiled at the sleeping Buffy. Dawn had no idea what would have happened if she had ever lost Buffy. There were numerous times when Dawn was close to losing her big sister. Too many times relating to the sick bastard Angel.
During the time when they’d dealt with what Angel had put Buffy through, Dawn felt like the big sister. Especially after she had been the one to rush Buffy to the hospital after her sister had tried to take her own life, and the weeks that followed when she’d go to see her sister at the hospital. Those weeks scared her just as bad as when Buffy had lain on the bathroom floor bleeding to death. She didn’t know what would happen but she tried to stay strong. Because Buffy would want her to and Buffy needed strong people around her to help her get through the hard times in her life.
She and Buffy were the only blood family they had left of each other, especially now that they told their dad that they didn’t want him in their lives.
Like Faith, Giles, and apparently like Spike, Dawn would continue to protect her sister. Together, we protect her. Dawn thought.
Looking over both Buffy and Spike lying next to each other, she couldn’t help but giggle at the cute picture they made. Quietly she got up from the bed and walked through the door that adjoined her and her sister’s room. Grabbing her digital camera she went back into the room just as Faith woke up.
“What are you doing kiddo?” Faith asked, getting up and walking over to Dawn.
“Taking a picture of the cute couple,” Dawn said with a bright smile.
The two girls froze as Buffy let out a groan. They both sighed in relief when Buffy just turned to cuddle closer to Spike.
“Whew!” Dawn walked over to the trunk at the end of Buffy’s bed, stood up and turned on the camera, focusing to get a bird’s eye angle of the two sleeping blondes. She pressed the capture button and there was a small flash before the image of Spike and Buffy came on the LCD screen. “Perfect.” Dawn whispered.
Rupert Giles sat at the island counter in the kitchen, reading this morning’s paper while stirring his just made cup of tea. The house was silent except for the quiet voices at the front door, where Buffy and Spike was saying goodbye to each other. Both Faith and Dawn had gone out to pick up some take out food.
Giles sat there as he heard Buffy thank Spike in the foyer, reminding Giles of how bad he felt for not getting there sooner. When Faith had called him at the school he was angered that he could not leave sooner due to the spineless man also known as Faith and Buffy’s principal and his boss. Instead he had arrived home to find Hank Summers, the bastard gone and Faith and Dawn downstairs watching T.V. They had quickly filled him in on what occurred including the fact that both Spike and Buffy were sleeping again upstairs in her room. An hour later they had awoken and came down stairs. Giles chose that time to speak to Spike privately.
Earlier
“Spike… I don’t need to remind you of what Buffy’s been through,” Giles curtly stated as he and Spike stood in the kitchen while the girls were in the living room.
“No, you don’t.”
“It’s without a doubt Buffy’s been scarred.” Rupert looked down at the counter trying to control his emotions, what he had been reining in since finding out his surrogate daughter had been hurt. Like he felt for Faith, Buffy and Dawn were like his daughters. He had always made a promise to Joyce no matter what happened he’d make sure they were safe. He’d failed once already, and it’d almost killed him. Rupert Giles wasn’t about to fail again. “And don’t be upset with her, but Buffy has told me about your past.”
Spike shook his head, recognizing the pain that the older British man had. He was sure Giles felt a little guilt if not a lot for thinking he should have protected Buffy more. He got the same spiel from Faith. “It’s okay. That past is what it is, in the past.”
“Yes…well…I too have a past Mr. Thorndale,” Giles said, addressing Spike by his last name. “You’ll probably hear things about it from Buffy but it isn’t pleasant.” Giles looked up at Spike with a dead serious expression. “I’m telling you this Spike, because if you hurt her I will make sure you pay. Buffy is like a daughter to me and I will not allow her to be in pain anymore.”
“Look. I bloody well understand what Buffy’s been through. I wouldn’t hurt her. If I could, I’d wish I had known Buffy then just to protect her from what that sick bastard put her through. And I know it’s soon but I care more for Buffy than you can imagine I would. She is a special girl.”
Giles was taken aback, and stood there in wonder as he regarded this boy, this man’s feelings for Buffy. He really did care about her. He wasn’t just a guy trying to take advantage of her but he would make sure she wasn’t ever put in a horrible situation again. “She is,” he agreed, nodding his head. Suddenly Rupert Giles had a newfound respect for this 18 year old.
Present
So there Giles sat reading the paper. He didn’t put it down until he heard the door close and the engine of Spike’s car roar to life.
“Buffy?” He called out. She popped her head around the doorframe and entered the kitchen, sitting down on a stool across from him. She had a small smile on her face, which alleviated some of Giles’ worries for her.
“What’s up Giles?” She put her hands on the counter.
Giles asked his question slowly. “I was wondering…how you are feeling, with your dad’s sudden appearance.”
Her brows knitted together as she tried to think of a way to explain how she felt. “I’m okay. I admit I kind of blew up at him but I told him to go away. That me and Dawn didn’t want him around us. You’re okay with that right?” she asked with hopeful eyes.
“What do you mean?”
“Well. Just in the case our dad came back to take us home with him, you’re okay with me and Dawn still wanting to stay under your care right?”
“Of course. I would actually be kind of hurt if you wished to go back with your dad but I would still understand if you did.”
Buffy shook her head. “Oh no Giles. You have to understand that even though it says Hank as mine, and Dawn’s biological father, it was really you who raised us. Giles, you’ll always be my dad.”
Suddenly Giles began to feel tears in his eyes at the sweet things Buffy had just told him. She reached across the counter and gave him a tight hug. “And I see you as a daughter, same with Dawn, and even Faith. I’m so happy I am able to see the three of you grow up. However I do wish your mother would have been here to see how great the two of you have become.” Buffy nodded, feeling her own small tears began to form.
“Giles, I know you have a promise that you’d keep me and Dawn safe,” Buffy said, looking at her surrogate father who in turn looked down at his cup of tea guiltily. “Giles… what happened with me and Angel… I don’t blame you. I don’t blame anyone except him. I thank you…for being there, still protecting me.”
“Buffy you telling me this…it means…”
“I know,” Buffy said, knowing it was becoming very hard for Giles to fabricate words. A couple minutes went by before she spoke again. “Um, you don’t think it’s wrong… to be curious as to, why my dad came do you?”
Giles looked her over closely before sighing and pulling off his glasses. “No. I believe it’s perfectly normal to wonder why the sudden surprise visit,” Giles stated as he cleaned his glasses. Buffy nodded as she stared dazedly at the countertop. “Buffy if you wish to speak to your-“ His words were cut off when the door slammed and his niece yelled, announcing Dawn and Faith’s arrival.
“Yo! We’re home and got lots of yummy Chinese food.”
A/N: Like it? Need a tissue. Ha wait for the chapters to come. Please review. I love them!
Spuffy_Obsessed