~*~Chapter 17 - Family~*~
The following morning, Buffy got another bout of nausea. Like last time, Spike followed her closely and held her.
“Are you done?” he asked once she seemed to get better.
“I think so.”
“Ok then.”
He helped her to a sitting position on the floor before leaning over the toilet bowl himself and throwing up as well.
Once done, he just lay on the bathroom floor. “That was a very unpleasant experience,” he said out of breath.
He opened one eye and looked at her. “What? No ‘I told you so’?”
She smiled weakly. “I’ll spare you. But I don’t think Cordelia will be so generous.”
“Better not tell her then. You, on the other hand, barely ate anything. So what with the sickness? And twice in three days.”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe the trip, or the excitement of seeing Dawn again.”
Spike didn’t look convinced. “If it happens again, I want you to go see a doctor.”
“I will, promise.”
She looked at them, him lying on the floor with his hands on his stomach, and herself sitting limp against the bath.
She laughed. “What a hot couple we make.”
He grinned. “Aren’t we? We even throw up in synch. That’s what I call love.”
“You bet. I think I’ll go back to bed now. You coming?”
“I don’t know. The cold bathroom floor feels good right now.”
“Suit yourself,” she chuckled, getting up and walking out of the bathroom.
Spike stayed there for a few more minutes, then realized he had a sexy Slayer waiting for him in a warm, comfy bed. He got up and put some water on his face.
From the room, Buffy suddenly heard a scream. She jumped out of the bed and ran in the bathroom.
“What?”
Spike was standing in front of the mirror.
Where he could see his reflection.
“Oh my God.”
“Who is this?” he asked in a trembling voice.
“That’s you, honey,” she answered with a smile, as amazed as he was. She put her arms around his waist and her head on his shoulder. For the first time ever, she was able to see what the two of them looked together. Although it was probably not their best moment, since they were just out of bed, and not counting that they had just both thrown up.
Still, she adored what she saw.
This is the man I love, and who loves me. Unconditionnally and forever.
Spike put his hand on his face, in his hair, muttering “What was I thinking?” but finally decided he looked kinda hot.
He wondered what he did look like when he…
He frowned.
“What?”
“I can’t morph into game face.”
He frowned again, concentrating. “No. Looks like the vampire is gone,” he said, not sure yet of what to think.
Buffy brought her hand to his face, caressed his cheek. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m not sure…I know it’s been going on for some time, now, but….it’s really gone.”
“You’re not a vampire anymore,” she said softly, putting her hand on his chest where his heart was beating.
They looked at each other and he smiled. He encircled her shoulder with his arm and kissed her forehead.
“Let’s go back to bed, love.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Buffy finally got up several hours later, took a quick shower and get dressed. She sat next to Spike on the bed and kissed his sleeping face gently, staying with her face in his neck for a short moment, inhaling his scent. She was feeling so happy and complete, when she was with him. And the best part was she wasn’t afraid to admit it anymore.
“Why are you dressed?” he murmured in a sleepy voice.
“I have to go see Dawn, remember? I’ll be back in a few hours.”
He pulled her to him and gave her a sweet, lingering kiss.
“Bye,” she said softly, leaving the room before giving in to temptation to go back under the covers with him.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“So, Spike left to get himself a soul? Wow. That’s like…huge, Buffy.”
They were at the pier, Buffy, Dawn, Cordelia and Connor. The sun was shining and the walk to the pier was actually an idea of Connor. Buffy watched him. There was a big attitude improvement since last night. Of course, Angel wasn’t there, but still he seemed more open.
“I know,” Buffy said, turning her attention back to her conversation with Dawn. “Can you believe I rejected that guy and treated him like crap for two years? I must be the dumbest girl on this planet.”
“Well, things got pretty ugly between you last year. That’s mostly why he left, right?”
A shadow crossed Buffy’s face. “Yeah…but still, he came back. At first, he had just come back to tell you goodbye. I thought that was so sweet…and he finally decided to stay for good. I’m so glad I stopped being denial girl and opened my eyes. I couldn’t live without him.”
Dawn smiled, watching Connor. “Yeah, I know the feeling.”
“Anyway, we’re living together now. And we think that Spike is becoming human.”
“That’s nic…what?”
Buffy proceeded to tell Dawn all that had happened to Spike over the last few months, including the events of the morning.
“So you think that Shoeshine thing is happening to Spike?”
“Shanshu. And yes, that could be it. The bad part is, it would be terribly unfair for Angel…and Cordelia.”
“Oh, right. Especially with the curse, and all. But maybe there’s a loophole, or it’s something completely different. When you’re happy, you just want everyone around you to be as well.”
Buffy took an inspiration. “I’m sorry that you didn’t feel happy then. That you thought you were a burden. That was never the case, Dawn. Never.”
Dawn smiled and took her sister’s hand. “I know. Spike told me it was a misunderstanding. And I should have talked to you. It was really selfish and insane to just take off like that. Not that I regret it, considering how it turned out.”
Connor and Cordelia, who had been talking separately, came back to them.
Connor was smiling.
“Is everything alright?” Dawn asked him.
“I think I put some sense in that thick skull,” Cordelia said with a smile.
“Don’t take this badly, but you really look like your father. And I mean this as a compliment,” Buffy smiled to him.
“Thanks,” he just said, and he didn’t look too insulted.
“You should give him a chance. I know I wasn’t there and can’t really judge what happened, but I know one thing : You have now the opportunity to build something great and be happy. Don’t let that go away because of stubbornness, or some stupid pride. And here I know what I’m talking about, believe me.”
Connor nodded. “I might do that,” he said, not compromising himself, or giving the impression he was giving in to easily.
Buffy smiled, knowing better.
“Did you guys already decide what you’re going to do?” Cordelia asked.
“We talked about it…one thing for sure, we want to stay together. And I also know I want to finish school and go to the university. But I don’t want to be that far away from you,” Dawn said, turning to her sister.
Connor hesitated for a moment and finally said, “The best solution would be to go back to LA.”
“I know Angel will be thrilled by that idea. And there’s plenty of rooms at the hotel for you to stay.” Cordelia added.
“Are you suggesting us to get an hotel room?” Dawn joked.
“You know what I mean. We all live at this big hotel, the Hyperion. That’s where we work too.”
Dawn looked at Buffy. “I would only be two hours from Sunnydale. We could see each other several times a month. Besides, from what you’ve told me, your apartment would be kind of small for the three of us.”
“We could find another one…”Buffy started, but she could see her sister had already made her decision. She had trouble recognizing her little sister in this young woman who seemed to know exactly what she wanted, and who smiled with such happiness. And that was the important thing, finally. It was probably time to let her little sister go. And even if it pained Buffy, Dawn’s happiness had to come first. And that happiness lay now with Connor.
And at least Dawn would be surrounded by people that Buffy knew and trusted. She smiled, thinking of the fulfilled and promising life she was facing herself. With Spike.
She felt a sudden urge to feel his arms around her.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Cordelia and Buffy left Dawn and Connor at their apartment, arranging to meet later for dinner.
The two girls were walking back to the hotel, when Cordelia grabbed Buffy’s arm. “Buffy…”
Buffy looked at her, puzzled, before following her look. Her heart stopped in her chest.
Spike was sitting on the hood of Angel’s car, bathing in sunlight. Not bursting into flame. Just enjoying his first rays of sunshine in 127 years, while waiting for his girl to come back to him.
So that’s what Buffy did. He smiled when he saw her approaching. He opened his legs so she could slip between them and put her head on his shoulder. His arms came to circle her waist.
“You nose is getting reddish,” she said against the rough fabric of his jeans jacket.”
“Yeah. I should probably buy some SPF 300 before going back to California…”
She laughed, raised her head so their eyes could meet. She couldn’t think it was possible, but the sunlight was making his even more blue. But the adoration she read in them was the same, though.
“I love you,” she whispered.
He kissed her tenderly, enjoying the warmth provided by the sun and Buffy’s lips and body pressed against him.
He broke the kiss and took her hand. “Let’s get inside before I look like a bloody lobster,” he grinned.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
They all went back to the same restaurant as the night before, but with Dawn and Connor this time.
Spike barely looked at the menu. “I think I’ll just have a soup,” he said nonchalantly, trying to ignore the ironic glance from Cordelia.
“Is this an ‘I told you so’ moment?” she asked sarcastically.
“Not if you want to live, missy.”
Buffy and Angel exchanged a smile. Angel looked way more happier since they had arrived at the restaurant. Connor was still reserved, but seemed more open for conversation. And he had called Angel ‘dad’ several times, which had pleased the vampire to no end.
Dawn had explained to Buufy that Connor’s principal fear was that she would left him and go back to Sunnydale. Since he was now assured they would stay together, he had been more willing to consider reconstructing a relationship with Angel and Cordelia. He had even told Dawn that he was starting to understand the importance of having a family, and that it would be stupid of him to ignore those people who obviously loved him.
Once they were done eating, Connor cleared his throat.
“So, this is what Dawn and I have decided. We both want to come back near our families, but we will stay together. So we thought – if that’s ok with you, dad – that we could stay at the hotel. Dawn will finish high school in LA and I’ll work with you and the gang. That way we’ll be able to save some money and find a place of our own later.”
“In fact,” Dawn added, “We already have some savings. Do you remember that old lady I told you about, Buffy? She let me some money…an inheritance.”
“Really? That’s nice of her.”
“So now I’m about to be the owner of $25.000.”
Buffy’s eyes grew wide. “Oh…that’s * very * nice of her.”
Dawn turned to Connor. “Which remind me we have to do something about this. If we’re leaving Sunnydale, we have to let the solicitor know. See how we can arrange all this.”
“You can ask for it to be paid to the Angel Investigations account,” Angel proposed. “Then we’ll create a bank account for the two of you and will transfer the money.”
Connor and Dawn looked at each other and nodded. “Good. Thanks, dad.”
“Don’t thank me, Connor. This is normal stuff. And I can’t even tell you how happy I am that you and Dawn will be staying at the hotel. You can stay as long as you want to. You’re my son, and this is your home as well.”
They smiled to each other, maybe the first true smile they had ever shared.
Dawn turned to Buffy and Spike. “You guys didn’t say anything. What do you think?”
Spike’s disappointment was clear on his face. “So you won’t come back to Sunnydale with us?”
“No. I’ve got my own life, now, and you certainly don’t need me to disturb yours.”
“But you’ll never disturb…”
“I know, Spike, that was just a manner of speaking. And I’ll spend Christmas with you, though.”
Buffy hugged her. “I’m glad to hear that. And I’m very proud of you. You have my support, no matter what.”
Dawn couldn’t hide her surprise – and her joy. “Thanks, Buffy. That means a lot. And like I said, we won’t be that far. We’ll see each other often, especially now that sunlight is not an issue anymore,” she said, smiling to Spike.
He pulled her to him and kissed her on the forehead. Buffy reached for a Kleenex in her bag.
“What’s the matter, pet?” Spike inquired.
She blew her nose. “I don’t know. I’m sorry. It’s not my habit to get all emotional like that. It’s stupid. I must be tired,” she added with a little laugh.
The rest of the evening ran smoothly, in a nice and carefree way. Now that everything was clear between them, they were able to look at the future with hope. For the first time in a long time, the six of them were perfectly happy.
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