Fic: The Story, By Missambermariek [Chapter 3, Part 2]
Title: The Story [3/?]
Author: missambermariek
Rating: R
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Authors Note: This is a story that I have had poking around in my head for quite some time now. It stems from a dream and has developed from there. This fic will span almost 20 years, following Spuffy through good time and bad.I want to thank my beta SlayerDaniWho for all her help and fine tuning. Of course, Reviews are greatly appreciated, and if you enjoy The Story, please share it. If anyone is interested, the title of this fic comes from the song The Story by Brandi Carlisle. It is sort of the theme song of this story.
Summary: "The paths I have chosen to walk have been filled with joy and with pain, but they have led me to where I am today. Every choice I’ve made, every mistake, every heartbreak, every sorrow...it has all led me to this very moment. And I would not change a thing." Follow Buffy and Spike from adolescence to adulthood, as they grow into who they are today. AU All human, pure Spuffy goodness.
Chapter 3 Part Two
Five months after her parents initiated their divorce, the happiness had yet to fade. And even though the thought of one now-absent Hank Summers made her feel bitter, Buffy had to admit that life seemed to flow much more smoothly since his departure. Her mother filled the Hank-shaped void easily with her new boyfriend Rupert Giles, and while their friends joked how they were almost brother and sister now (gross!), she and Spike, surprisingly, were rather okay with it.
As for Joyce, Buffy’s mother was happy again - happier, in fact, than Buffy had ever seen her. Giles was wonderful to her, treating her like the queen she was. Over time, Buffy had watched as her mother’s self-confidence grew and she transformed into a beautifully vibrant woman.
Her relationship with Spike was also as healthy and happy as ever, and they had both received acceptance letters from UC Sunnydale earlier that day. This exciting news was on the forefront of both the teens’ minds as they walked into the Bronze in search of the rest of their friends,
Before long, they both caught sight of the bright, now-orange hair of their friend Oz, who was standing across the dance floor with the rest of the group. Spike grabbed Buffy’s hand and sauntered towards the group.
“Hey guys!” Buffy chirped, glancing around at the table at the group of smiling faces in front of her. “Where’s Willow?”
Oz shrugged and took a sip of his drink. “She was in complete study mode last night, so not sure if she’s coming tonight.”
Xander furrowed his brow at his colorful friend. “Study mode? Studying for what? Is there some test I’m unaware of and therefore am bound to fail?”
Oz laughed softly. “Nah, she’s just preparing for finals.”
“Finals! Oi mate, finals are two months away.” Spike shouted.
Buffy just nodded, unsurprised. “Sounds like Willow.”
They all chuckled, then Anya spotted the red head in the crowd. “There she is!”
“Willow! Hey! Over here!” Buffy called, waving for her friend to join them. Willow looked up and flashed a nervous smile as she turned to make her way towards her friends. Buffy’s Willow sense was tingling, but she quickly pushed it aside, eager to spill her news. “Good. I’m glad you guys are all here, because me and Spike have some awesome news!”
“You’re pregnant.” Anya blurted.
All eyes turned to her and she just casually shrugged. “What? With the way those two go at it, you never know.”
Shaking their heads and rolling their eyes in unison, everyone turned their attention back to Buffy.
“Well,” Buffy shot a quick smile at Spike and screamed, “We both got into UC Sunnydale!”
Various hoots and claps came from the perimeter of the table. As the celebratory sounds calmed down, Xander took the opportunity to share his own news. “Guess what, guys? Anya and I-“
“We got into UC Sunnydale, too!” Anya squealed, eliciting the usual eye roll from Xander and a peal of laughter from the rest of the table.
Buffy smiled brightly at the couple. “That’s great! So far, so good. Is there any other news that needs to be shared?” Buffy asked pointedly, looking directly at Oz and Willow.
Oz smirked and mumbled, “I can’t speak for the both of us, but I just got my acceptance letter today, too.” Turning towards Willow, he quietly added, “I wanted to tell you first, but you’ve been so busy the last few days. I guess now’s as good a time as ever.”
Willow smiled sadly and nodded. Looking back at her closest friends, gathered around the table, she said, “Congratulations, guys!” Only it came out in an almost-whisper.
Oz cocked his head at his girlfriend, unsure of what he was missing. “What’s wrong, Wills?”
Xander quickly added his two cents, “Yeah, Will! I mean we’ll all be together. Right?”
Buffy frowned and whispered, “You did get in, right, Willow? I mean, if anyone at this table got in, it should have been you. You’re the wiz…if ever a wiz there was.”
The group nodded in agreement.
Willow, however, simply looked away from the group and out into the crowd, watching the strangers who were happily dancing to the rhythm pulsing through the club. Heaving a sigh, she turned wide eyes back to her friends, clearly trying to avoid eye contact with the love of her life, who was seated next to her. “Actually…umm….well, yeah, I did get into UC Sunnydale. B-but…”
Before she could finish, Xander interrupted with a shout, “See! All settled. We are all official UC Sunnydale students.” Buffy shushed him as Anya swatted his arm. “What?” he questioned, raising his arms in surrender.
Scowling at the boy, Spike growled, “Let the lady finish, Harris, before you go making assumptions. Red’s clearly got more to say about the situation.” Turning to Willow, Spike whispered encouragingly, “Go ahead, Red.”
“Well…I-I, uh, also happened to get accepted at…at Princeton.” Willow muttered the last part under her breath, gazing down intently at her blue sneakers.
The teens stared at their usually chipper, red-haired friend, all of them in shock at the news. After a brief, stunned silence, Buffy was the first to speak. “Th-that’s great, Willow! Princeton is an amazing school.” She plastered an encouraging smile on her face, hoping she’d forced enough confidence in her voice to betray the uncertainty she felt.
Spike was quick to chirp next, “Damn straight, Red. You’ve got to be a right smart bird to make it into one of the big three colleges in the states. Good on you.”
The others at the table murmured their agreement, and Willow slowly looked up and around the table, finally smiling genuinely at each of her friends. When she came to Oz, her smile faded and her eyes became weary. Tentatively, she said, “Oz, what do you think, ya know, about the whole possibly going to Princeton thing?”
Oz had yet to say a word since Willow’s big announcement, though that wasn’t necessarily odd behavior for him. Looking straight into his girlfriend’s eyes, Oz whispered, “I’m happy for you, babe.”
Though she still appeared uncertain, Willow relaxed a bit and smiled at her boyfriend. Buffy could physically see some of the tension ease from her body.
“Thanks, honey. I…I wasn’t sure what you guys would think, ya know, with it being, like, all the way in New Jersey and what not. But I can’t tell you guys how happy I am knowing you approve IF I do choose to go to Princeton.”
“Of course, Wills!” Buffy chimed back, happy that the mood seemed to be lightening but wondering what Willow could possibly be thinking. Glancing at Spike, Buffy knew he was thinking the same thing: their friend was going to have a lot to consider before deciding what she was going to do. Sure, Princeton was an amazing school, but they both knew how strongly Willow felt about Oz. It was going to be tough for her either way.
Buffy resolved right then and there that she would be there for her friend no matter what she chose, and she knew Spike would do the same.
As the conversation drifted into other topics and the teens at the table began to laugh and relax once more, Buffy relaxed her own body back into Spike’s. Feeling him shift, wrap his arm tightly around her, and lean his chin against the top of her head, she took a deep breath, content knowing that at least she and Spike’s future was planned.
**********************************************
“William, er, Spike…son, I need your assistance for a moment.”
Spike turned towards the voice at his bedroom door, noting that his father was standing awkwardly against the doorjam. Usually his father’s sometimes awkward and socially unique behavior was a source of humor for Spike, but he could tell something was clearly on his mind today. “Sure, Pops. What’s going on?”
Taking a few slow steps towards his son, Giles stopped when he reached the bed and anxiously sunk down next to Spike. “Well…I actually would like your opinion on a…” Digging in his pocket, the older British man pulled out a small black box before continuing, “On this.”
Spike’s eyes widened and he reached out to gently grasp the box his father was extending towards him. He carefully pushed back the lid and found himself staring directly into a beautiful rose gold engagement ring. Four leaves were set with diamonds, all of them wrapped around a slightly bigger diamond, creating the impression of a rose in bloom.
“Is this what I think it is?” Spike whispered, examining the jewelry in his hands from every angle.
Giles took off his glasses and wiped at them with the end of his shirttail before responding. “Well, if you think it’s an engagement ring, then yes. Yes, it is, indeed, what you think it is.“ His face was unsure as he continued to peer at Spike.
Giving it barely another moment’s thought, Spike’s stretched a huge grin across his face and handed the box back to his father, then roughly patted him on the shoulder. “Well, congratulations, you ol’ scamp.”
Giles smiled back at his son, noticeably less nervous, and mumbled, “So you approve, then?”
Spike spoke up quickly, “Of course, Da’. You didn’t think I would?”
“Well, you are dating her daughter…”
Spike laughed, “What, are you expecting us to start acting like brother and sister once you end up marrying Joyce?”
Giles eyebrows shot up and he sputtered, “Well, uh, n-no.”
“Then I have absolutely nothing but congratulations for you. I’ve never seen you so thrilled, and honestly I’ve never seen Joyce so happy. She was never like this with Hank.”
Giles blushed and coughed awkwardly, then gave Spike an affectionate pat on the back. “Thanks, son. I needed to hear that. Now, do you think we can get the girls to assist us with planning how I should go about with…the asking part of this scenario?”
Spike chuckled once more before he said, “Ol’ boy they would enjoy nothing more.”
******************************************************
“OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! OH. MY. GOD.”
Buffy couldn’t help but laugh at Dawn’s reaction to Giles’ big announcement. Spike had already broken the news to her after climbing through her window the night before. Unable to contain herself, Buffy immediately crept down the hall and into Dawn’s bedroom, then snuck her sister out of their house and over to Spike’s to share the big news with her as well. Buffy knew her sister could help them decide on the best way for Giles to go about asking for their mother’s hand.
The four of them were seated around the coffee table in the living room, and Giles had barely gotten the words out when Dawn began bouncing up and down, eyes wide and voice yelling in supplication to divine beings.
“Quite.” Giles mumbled, as he took off his glasses for what seemed to Buffy like the hundredth time and began furiously wiping them with the edge of his shirttail.
“Calm down, Dawnie!” Turning her attention back to her sister’s bobbing shoulders, Buffy slapped a palm down on either side and pushed Dawn back down onto the sofa. “We need to get the whole thing planned before Mom realizes something’s up.”
Taking a deep breath and swiping her hand across her lips to signal that they were zipped, Dawn relaxed back between Buffy and Spike. “Ok, I can deal. So what do you guys have so far?”
With a cough, Giles began explaining what the three had already considered, “Well…”
*********************************************
“Buffy! Dawn! I’m home!” Joyce called as she stepped through the door of her home. She froze as soon as she spotted the rose petals scattered around the hallway. Upon further inspection, she noted that there were also candles, lit and placed at various levels around the room. A card with her name on its cover was tented on the bottom step.
Scrunching her eyebrows, Joyce crouched down and grabbed the card, gently opening it and scanning the neat handwriting within.
‘Hello my dear.
Though I know you're not one for tricks, I must say,
I have planned a delightful journey for you, this magical day.
Find your way to your room, where your voyage finds its start.
And remember my love, to always follow your heart. -R’
Her breath caught, but she smiled at the rhyme as excitement bubbled up through her chest. Joyce tucked the card under her arm, then climbed slowly up the stairs and walked towards her bedroom. The door was cracked open, and Joyce pushed it further inward to find her youngest daughter, Dawn, standing before her with a smile on her face.
Taking a deep breath, Dawn began reciting. “Hello, mother, sweet lady, I have a task for you now. Please put on this fine dress, I shouldn’t need to tell you how. Once you are ready, give me the sign, and then I will feed you my very next line.” Dawn giggled as she finished the rhyme they’d made up. It was killing her not just to blurt out everything, but she was also a hopeless romantic…and this whole deal was strikingly beautiful, especially to her young lover’s heart.
“Well…ok.” Joyce murmured as she took the short black dress from Dawn and made her way to her bathroom to grab a quick shower and dress as was requested.
Forty-five minutes later, she emerged from the steamy room, showered, dressed, and completely glammed up. “Ok, Dawnie. I’m ready.” Her voice was anxious, but she felt herself relax some when she noticed her daughters’ huge smile.
“Now think back, Mom, to special dates in the yard, and make your way to the spot where you get letters and cards. Venture there, dear mother, to find the next clue, and to get an idea of what next you will do.”
With the lift of an eyebrow, Joyce barely waited a beat before she raced back downstairs, flung open the front door and took off towards the mailbox at the end of her driveway. She smiled, recalling how she and Giles had joked that those early, awkward meetings at the trashcans and mailboxes -- long before they’d worked up the courage to ask each other out -- were their first dates.
With Dawn following close behind, Joyce reached her destination, drew open the cover and stuck her hand anxiously inside. The simple card she drew out read…
‘There you are, my heart, my sweet. Do you remember that shaded place where we’d meet? Go to the spot where we shared our first kiss, it is there you’ll receive your next clue -- you can’t miss!’
Turning towards Dawn, Joyce said, “What is going on, Dawnie?” When her daughter kept her mouth sealed tightly, she encouraged her again. “Come on, honey, you can tell me. I know you can’t keep a secret.”
Dawn just smiled mischievously and shrugged before pointing a finger down the street, indicating that her mom follow in the same direction.
Giving it a few seconds of thought, Joyce realized she knew just where she needed to go. Luckily for her currently high-heeled self, it was just a few minutes from their house even at walking speed. As she entered the park, Joyce walked slowly and peered around every tree, not certain which was the exact one where she and Rupert had first touched lips.
It wasn’t long before she spotted Buffy, standing in front of a large cherry blossom tree with a sparkling piñata hanging behind her head. As soon as they made eye contact, the younger blonde smiled brightly and waved Joyce over.
She tried again, this time with her elder daughter. “Buffy? Will you please tell me what’s going on?”
Buffy simply waved her finger at her mother and made a small “tsking” sound before handing her a card. With a resigned sigh, Joyce read…
‘Well, hello again. I’ll be seeing you soon. Just walk, my dear, towards the rising full moon. Stop when you find the magic carpet to ride, be seated -- it will take you somewhere special tonight. Recline and relax, you look lovely, my dear. Please, have no worries, there is nothing to fear.’
Joyce smiled at the message and how Giles knew her so well. He knew she would be nervous, not knowing what all this fuss was about, and that she would be thrilled and excited to find what was waiting for her at the end. Peering back up at her grinning daughter, Joyce hooked arms with Buffy and began walking with her in the direction of the full moon.
After a few minutes of walking, they made it to the other side of the park and emerged onto the street. Joyce watched silently as a limo pulled up, then the window rolled down. Instead of the weathered face of her boyfriend, though, Joyce was surprised to see the face of Rupert’s son, Spike.
With a smile, the boy greeted the stunned lady standing before him. “Hello, Mrs. Summers. And won’t you hop in. Get yourself seated, I’ll take you on a quick spin. Our ride will take just a short bit of time, and then you will find something sure to make your eyes shine.”
Joyce pulled on the handle and opened the back door, sliding into the limousine and followed closely by Buffy. To her surprise, Dawn was already waiting inside, smiling brightly at them both. This was certainly weird that all the kids were here. Joyce felt herself start to get anxious, the thrill of the adventure pulsing in waves through her body.
The ride lasted just a few short minutes, and when she opened the door again, they’d arrived at Sunnydale Beach. The smell of salt immediately wafted into her nose and she closed her eyes for a moment to savor the scent. Opening them again, she looked up and noted that the moon shone brightly above, illuminating the waves as they rolled mercifully against the shore. She wanted to remember every moment.
Joyce stepped nervously out of the limo, glancing back as the three kids bade her a quiet goodbye and gesture towards a small sign posted where the sand met the pavement.
‘Walk just a little further and you will see. The light of the moon will lead you straight to me.’
This was so unlike Rupert, and Joyce couldn’t wait to see what was waiting at the end. Walking down the beach, she spotted a flickering light in the distance. She sped up, and the closer she got, the more she saw. Tiny tea candles, placed in small glass globes, lined the shore and led straight to the man in question, who was standing anxiously between two, larger candles.
As their eyes linked, Joyce glided between the candles without another thought, her body driving her towards the man with whome she had so quickly fallen in love. All worries and thoughts of what could be going on were swept from her mind, as if the waves had drawn them out of her head and into the ocean. After what felt like forever, Joyce stopped in front of him, her eyes never wavering from his gaze. Those same eyes followed him downward, as he bent to kneel in front of her. She gasped in shock as he pulled a small velvet box from his pocket and held it up and towards her.
Opening the lid slowly, Giles began reciting softly, “A poet once asked how does love speak? She said that love speaks in the faint flush upon the telltale cheek, and in the pallor that succeeds it; by the quivering lid of an averted eye-the smile that proves the parent to a sigh. That is how love speaks.” Taking a quick breath, he looked up at her and continued in his own words. “That, my love, is how love has spoken to me. It has told me that I cannot go on without letting you know how much I truly, deeply love you. Now, I know this may be fast, and I know that you are not legally divorced yet, but I have not felt this way about a woman since William’s mother, almost two decades ago. Two decades my heart has been cold and bare, biding its time and waiting for someone to awaken it. Someone like you, Joyce, so sweet, so smart, so independent. So truly beautiful. You are the love of my life and I want nothing more than for you to be my last. Will you be mine, my heart, forever and always?”
Tears were pouring down Joyce’s face, and she glanced behind her when she heard a sob. The children were standing mere feet away, Spike in the middle of the two girls, with his arms wrapped around them both. All three smiled lovingly at their parents, and Joyce could only smile back as she turned towards Giles and nodded vigorously. “Yes! Yes!” Throwing her arms around his neck, the impact of her excitement caused them both to roll backwards and into the sand. Joyce laid kiss after kiss on Giles lips and face, all the while whispering, “Oh, Rupert! I love you! I love you so much!”
Buffy smiled through her tears at her sobbing sister, then gazed up at the love of her life. When her eyes met his, they smiled, both imagining when a day like today would come for them.
*************************************************
Buffy smiled, watching as her mother set a fresh vase of flowers on the table, smiling softly and humming to herself. Buffy had never before realized just how much her mother was apt to smile when she was truly happy. The beautiful gold ring flashed on her mother’s finger and Buffy sighed. It really was a beaut, and she admired it as she twirled the promise ring -- which Spike had given her only a few months after they’d become a couple -- around on her finger.
He had been so sweet when he gave it to her. He’d told her that he knew they were too young to get engaged, but he wanted her to have this simple band so that every day, she could see and feel a reminder of his love and know that one day they would be engaged.
She could only imagine the lengths Spike would go to when that day actually came, but found comfort in the fact that the day would eventually come. That, she was sure of. A soft knock on the door shook Buffy from her reverie. “I’ll get it!” she yelled towards the kitchen, hoping her mom heard her.
Turning the knob, she swung the door inward, finding herself face-to-face with a frowning Willow, whoc stood fumbling anxiously with her hands.
“Buffy.” Willow blurted it with a sign.
“Everything okay, Wills?” Buffy asked cautiously.
With a nod, Willow replied, “I guess. Well, can I come in?”
Buffy stepped aside and gestured for Willow to enter the house. Together, the two walked to her room. As soon as the door closed, Willow’s body tensed and her hands rose to her cheeks, rubbing up and down a few times, as if she was cleaning her face. “Oh, Buffy. I just don’t know what to do.”
Buffy immediately knew what this was about, and sat gently down next to her friend and put her arm around her. “Hey, it’ll be ok, Wills. No matter what you choose, I’m here for you. We all are.”
“But you have to help me! I can’t make this decision, Buffy, I mean, it’s either Princeton…THE PRINCETON, where I can get an amazing education in computer science or something else equally, well, computer-y, and find an awesome job that will probably set me up for life. Or it’s all of my friends, and my family, and my…Oz.” The last word came out a mere whisper, and Buffy leaned forward to wipe the stray tear that followed from Willow’s already-soaked cheek.
“I getcha, Wills. Nothing can make this easy. It’s a tough decision, but you need to think of it logically. Maybe…okay, how ‘bout you make a list? Ya’ now, pros and cons, what’s of the good, what’s of the bad? Something like that?”
Willow perked up a little and screeched, “Great idea, Buff!” And before Buffy could respond, Willow bounced up and was digging through the desk beside the bed. She came back and sat at Buffy’s side with a pen and paper. “Ok, let’s start.”
Drawing a line down the middle, Willow wrote Princeton on one side, Sunnydale on the other. Biting the end of the pen and scrunching her eyebrows in deep thought, she nodded to herself and quickly jotted down ‘Great computer science program’ and ‘Once-in-a-lifetime opportunity’ on the Princeton side. Raising the pen tip to the top of the other side of the paper, she wrote ‘Best friends,’ ‘Family’ and ‘Oz.’
Willow began to chew on her lip, so Buffy added, “Um, there’s familiarity here in Sunnydale.” Willow added that and a few more to the list before turning the paper in Buffy’s direction.
While the Sunnydale side definitely had a more substantial list, the Princeton side’s pros seemed a lot more important. Willow sighed again and balled up the paper in her fist before tossing it into Buffy’s trashcan. It appeared as if Willow was still unsure about what decision she should make, but Buffy had noticed something before the redhead threw the list away.
One point was circled and underlined, over and over again. One name, its penned letters thick from being traced, again and again.
Oz.
******************************************
Buffy closed her eyes, feeling the breeze blow her hair back from her face as the Desoto roamed the streets of Sunnydale. She and Spike were on their way to hang out with the gang at the local coffee shop, and to enjoy the last day of Spring Break.
Buffy smiled as she felt Spike’s large hand engulf her own and his soft lips press into her palm.
“You okay there, pet?” Her heart did its usual flutter at his cocky brogue.
Widening her green eyes in his direction, she stared intently at the man of her dreams. “I’m always okay when I’m with you, baby.”
Spike grinned before turning away to face the road as the light they’d been waiting on turned a bright green. Before long, he turned the car off the main road and pulled it into a parking spot in front of the coffee shop.
It was a quaint little place, like most everything in Sunnydale. While there was no seating on the inside, a number of tables were scattered around the cozy patio. Their friends were currently lounging near the back, and after leading her toward their table, Spike pulled out the chair next to Willow for Buffy to sit before dropping into the chair next to her.
“Hope you don’t mind, we ordered the usual.” Xander said as he handed them both a Styrofoam cup of coffee. Buffy noticed they had, indeed, ordered the usual and saw Spike’s straight black coffee and her own frozen mocha drink. She guessed Spike’s already had his trademark ten tablespoons of sugar, too. With a smile, she and Spike both thanked Xander and leaned back with their cups in hand.
“So, what’s up, guys?” Buffy said casually, gazing at each one of her friends. Xander had his arm wrapped tightly around Anya, and Anya’s head rested on his shoulder. Oz and Willow also sat close together, holding hands on top of the table.
Willow smiled brightly and let go of Oz’s hand. “Well, I, um…I actually have something to share with you guys.”
“You’re pregnant.” Anya blurted to everyone’s amusement.
Willow blushed, Xander rolled is eyes.
“What? Is this not a plausible option for anyone? I mean, we are all having premarital, teenage sex aren’t we?” Anya questioned, confused as usual by their laughs and eye rolls.
Willow finally restarted her explanation. “Actually, I am NOT pregnant. I decided to attend…UC Sunnydale. I’m staying here with you guys.”
“Wow, that’s great, Will!”
“Cool!”
“And?”
“Awesome, pet!”
They all piped up, pleased that their friend seemed happy, barely noticing that Oz had yet to respond. When the hubbub finally quieted, he spoke.
“Are you sure, Willow? I mean…Princeton….just….yeah.”
Reaching for his hand, Willow squeezed. “I’m sure. I have so many reasons to stay here, and UC Sunnydale just so happens to offer its own Computer Science program, although slightly less prestigious. Plus, the admissions officer at Princeton said I can always complete my basics here and reapply there if I change my mind.”
Oz stared at her intently, hoping to get a sense if she was telling the truth or lying just to ease his guilt. He knew she was passing up an amazing opportunity, but she appeared to be sure of herself. Accepting Willows explanation, Oz nodded and gave her a quick kiss.
“I’m glad.” He said simply, before turning back to the group.
Buffy smiled, happy that that situation was finally resolved. She felt as if some of her worry had been lifted, and could see that her friend’s happiness with her choice. She watched as Willow nuzzled close to Oz, then lost herself in a comfortable daydream as the two teenagers smiled at one another. Shaking herself from her reverie, Buffy rejoined the group’s conversation, which was currently revolving around Harmony Kendall’s apparent venereal disease.
*******************
After kissing Spike goodnight, Buffy made her way inside her house, prepared to head to bed after a long day of…well, gossiping. The moment the door closed behind her, though, Buffy could feel the tension in the air. It was thick enough to slice.
Unsure of the source, Buffy changed her path and veered off in the direction of the living room. She stopped short, in shock at the sight of Hank sitting on the couch across from her mother.
With a scowl Buffy whispered, “What the hell are you doing here?”
In unison, both Joyce and Hank reprimanded her. “Language!”
Rolling her eyes at the man, Buffy turned to her mom and said, “I’m sorry, Mom. I just can barely contain myself with him in the room.”
“Now, Buffy. I am still your father and-“
“Say’s who? A DNA test? Biologically you may be my father, but I haven’t seen you in seven months. SEVEN MONTHS! Where have you been? What have you been doing that was so important that you could just ignore your children?” She laughed wickedly. “Yeah, some father you are. Giles has been more of a father to me in the last few months than you were in the entire 18 years of my life. And he sure as hell as treated my mother better than you ever did.” She spat the last part, the venom clear in her voice.
Hank’s eyes widened and he paled visibly. “Look, Buffy, I really am sorry. I had other things to deal with. I thought you girls wouldn’t want to see me. I was giving you space.”
Buffy shook with silent laughter before turning angry eyes once again at her father. “Yeah. Maybe we thought we needed to be away from you, but did you ever think, in actuality, that we needed you? That maybe we needed to know you were still there, that you still loved us despite the divorce? But you weren’t! YOU WEREN’T THERE!”
Joyce walked over to her daughter and placed a gentle hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “Buffy,” she said softly.
Calming slightly at her mother’s soothing voice, Buffy took a breath before she said, “Why ARE you here?”
Reddening some, Hank spoke, “Well, honey, I heard your mother was engaged. I have been missing your Mom for so long now and I realized I couldn’t wait any longer. I’m ready to come back and be a family again.”
Looking down, Buffy saw bags at her dad’s feet. Did he just think he was going to move right back in? Before she could say a word, Joyce spoke up this time.
“Where’s your girlfriend, Hank? Your new child? Shouldn’t he or she be born now?”
Hank coughed and looked away. “Turns out…”
Neither woman could make out what he mumbled. Joyce grumbled, “Speak up, please.”
With a sigh, he repeated what he’d said, more clearly this time, “Turns out the kid wasn’t mine. “
Buffy was shocked but pleased when her mother actually laughed at this.
“Oh, really, Hank? So you got a taste of your own medicine? What did you think, you could just storm back in here and take up residence in our home…in my bed?” Joyce spat, her temper making her tower over the shrinking man before her.
“Well, legally, we are not divorced, so I just assumed…”
“You assumed wrong. And for the record, we are not divorced yet, because you have not signed the papers. In fact, I have a copy with me.” Turning her steely gaze towards Buffy, she deliberately drew the tone of her voice higher, sweeter…as if she was talking to a toddler, “Buffy, dear, can you get Mommy’s purse?”
Buffy raced upstairs to her mom’s room and was back in seconds with the purse in hand. Joyce fumbled around inside it until she found what she was looking for. She pulled out a bundle of documents and handed it to the man seated in front of her.
“Here it is. Now, everywhere you need to sign has been highlighted. I assure you, it is completely idiot proof.” Reaching back into the purse, Joyce withdrew a pen and handed it to the shocked man as well. “Now sign the damn thing and get the hell out of my home.”
Without another word, Hank scribbled in the highlighted blanks, handed the pen back to Joyce and nearly ran out the door with his bags in hand. Buffy watched as her mother’s shoulders visibly deflated. Stepping up to her and wrapping her arms around the older woman, Buffy squeezed tightly and whispered, “You did the right thing.”
**************************************
The wedding was a simple, yet elegant affair that was held at the Summers home. All of their friends and family were invited.
Giles had decided to sell his home and had already started moving his things into Joyce’s house. Space wouldn’t be an issue now that Spike and Buffy had decided to live in the dorms on campus while they saved for a place of their own.
Staring at her mother, who was dancing joyously with the love of her life, her ivory dress fluttering in the breeze blowing through their decked-out backyard, Buffy couldn’t help but be glad of the changes that had happened in her life. Things that had seemed so horrible at first, had turned out to be dreams come true. Her life was just how she wanted. She was starting college with all of her friends in just one more week, her mother and sister were happy and in good hands with Giles. She was finally feeling like an adult…and a relaxed one to boot.
She knew that things wouldn’t always be this perfect. College wouldn’t always be a breeze and she was sure that they would all face their share of bumps along the road, but she knew they could get through it. If they could get through all that they had already, nothing could stop them.
With a smile she laid her head on Spike muscular shoulder and closed her eyes, basking in the feeling of love and happiness that surrounded her.
TBC...
Author: missambermariek
Rating: R
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Authors Note: This is a story that I have had poking around in my head for quite some time now. It stems from a dream and has developed from there. This fic will span almost 20 years, following Spuffy through good time and bad.I want to thank my beta SlayerDaniWho for all her help and fine tuning. Of course, Reviews are greatly appreciated, and if you enjoy The Story, please share it. If anyone is interested, the title of this fic comes from the song The Story by Brandi Carlisle. It is sort of the theme song of this story.
Summary: "The paths I have chosen to walk have been filled with joy and with pain, but they have led me to where I am today. Every choice I’ve made, every mistake, every heartbreak, every sorrow...it has all led me to this very moment. And I would not change a thing." Follow Buffy and Spike from adolescence to adulthood, as they grow into who they are today. AU All human, pure Spuffy goodness.
Chapter 3 Part Two
Five months after her parents initiated their divorce, the happiness had yet to fade. And even though the thought of one now-absent Hank Summers made her feel bitter, Buffy had to admit that life seemed to flow much more smoothly since his departure. Her mother filled the Hank-shaped void easily with her new boyfriend Rupert Giles, and while their friends joked how they were almost brother and sister now (gross!), she and Spike, surprisingly, were rather okay with it.
As for Joyce, Buffy’s mother was happy again - happier, in fact, than Buffy had ever seen her. Giles was wonderful to her, treating her like the queen she was. Over time, Buffy had watched as her mother’s self-confidence grew and she transformed into a beautifully vibrant woman.
Her relationship with Spike was also as healthy and happy as ever, and they had both received acceptance letters from UC Sunnydale earlier that day. This exciting news was on the forefront of both the teens’ minds as they walked into the Bronze in search of the rest of their friends,
Before long, they both caught sight of the bright, now-orange hair of their friend Oz, who was standing across the dance floor with the rest of the group. Spike grabbed Buffy’s hand and sauntered towards the group.
“Hey guys!” Buffy chirped, glancing around at the table at the group of smiling faces in front of her. “Where’s Willow?”
Oz shrugged and took a sip of his drink. “She was in complete study mode last night, so not sure if she’s coming tonight.”
Xander furrowed his brow at his colorful friend. “Study mode? Studying for what? Is there some test I’m unaware of and therefore am bound to fail?”
Oz laughed softly. “Nah, she’s just preparing for finals.”
“Finals! Oi mate, finals are two months away.” Spike shouted.
Buffy just nodded, unsurprised. “Sounds like Willow.”
They all chuckled, then Anya spotted the red head in the crowd. “There she is!”
“Willow! Hey! Over here!” Buffy called, waving for her friend to join them. Willow looked up and flashed a nervous smile as she turned to make her way towards her friends. Buffy’s Willow sense was tingling, but she quickly pushed it aside, eager to spill her news. “Good. I’m glad you guys are all here, because me and Spike have some awesome news!”
“You’re pregnant.” Anya blurted.
All eyes turned to her and she just casually shrugged. “What? With the way those two go at it, you never know.”
Shaking their heads and rolling their eyes in unison, everyone turned their attention back to Buffy.
“Well,” Buffy shot a quick smile at Spike and screamed, “We both got into UC Sunnydale!”
Various hoots and claps came from the perimeter of the table. As the celebratory sounds calmed down, Xander took the opportunity to share his own news. “Guess what, guys? Anya and I-“
“We got into UC Sunnydale, too!” Anya squealed, eliciting the usual eye roll from Xander and a peal of laughter from the rest of the table.
Buffy smiled brightly at the couple. “That’s great! So far, so good. Is there any other news that needs to be shared?” Buffy asked pointedly, looking directly at Oz and Willow.
Oz smirked and mumbled, “I can’t speak for the both of us, but I just got my acceptance letter today, too.” Turning towards Willow, he quietly added, “I wanted to tell you first, but you’ve been so busy the last few days. I guess now’s as good a time as ever.”
Willow smiled sadly and nodded. Looking back at her closest friends, gathered around the table, she said, “Congratulations, guys!” Only it came out in an almost-whisper.
Oz cocked his head at his girlfriend, unsure of what he was missing. “What’s wrong, Wills?”
Xander quickly added his two cents, “Yeah, Will! I mean we’ll all be together. Right?”
Buffy frowned and whispered, “You did get in, right, Willow? I mean, if anyone at this table got in, it should have been you. You’re the wiz…if ever a wiz there was.”
The group nodded in agreement.
Willow, however, simply looked away from the group and out into the crowd, watching the strangers who were happily dancing to the rhythm pulsing through the club. Heaving a sigh, she turned wide eyes back to her friends, clearly trying to avoid eye contact with the love of her life, who was seated next to her. “Actually…umm….well, yeah, I did get into UC Sunnydale. B-but…”
Before she could finish, Xander interrupted with a shout, “See! All settled. We are all official UC Sunnydale students.” Buffy shushed him as Anya swatted his arm. “What?” he questioned, raising his arms in surrender.
Scowling at the boy, Spike growled, “Let the lady finish, Harris, before you go making assumptions. Red’s clearly got more to say about the situation.” Turning to Willow, Spike whispered encouragingly, “Go ahead, Red.”
“Well…I-I, uh, also happened to get accepted at…at Princeton.” Willow muttered the last part under her breath, gazing down intently at her blue sneakers.
The teens stared at their usually chipper, red-haired friend, all of them in shock at the news. After a brief, stunned silence, Buffy was the first to speak. “Th-that’s great, Willow! Princeton is an amazing school.” She plastered an encouraging smile on her face, hoping she’d forced enough confidence in her voice to betray the uncertainty she felt.
Spike was quick to chirp next, “Damn straight, Red. You’ve got to be a right smart bird to make it into one of the big three colleges in the states. Good on you.”
The others at the table murmured their agreement, and Willow slowly looked up and around the table, finally smiling genuinely at each of her friends. When she came to Oz, her smile faded and her eyes became weary. Tentatively, she said, “Oz, what do you think, ya know, about the whole possibly going to Princeton thing?”
Oz had yet to say a word since Willow’s big announcement, though that wasn’t necessarily odd behavior for him. Looking straight into his girlfriend’s eyes, Oz whispered, “I’m happy for you, babe.”
Though she still appeared uncertain, Willow relaxed a bit and smiled at her boyfriend. Buffy could physically see some of the tension ease from her body.
“Thanks, honey. I…I wasn’t sure what you guys would think, ya know, with it being, like, all the way in New Jersey and what not. But I can’t tell you guys how happy I am knowing you approve IF I do choose to go to Princeton.”
“Of course, Wills!” Buffy chimed back, happy that the mood seemed to be lightening but wondering what Willow could possibly be thinking. Glancing at Spike, Buffy knew he was thinking the same thing: their friend was going to have a lot to consider before deciding what she was going to do. Sure, Princeton was an amazing school, but they both knew how strongly Willow felt about Oz. It was going to be tough for her either way.
Buffy resolved right then and there that she would be there for her friend no matter what she chose, and she knew Spike would do the same.
As the conversation drifted into other topics and the teens at the table began to laugh and relax once more, Buffy relaxed her own body back into Spike’s. Feeling him shift, wrap his arm tightly around her, and lean his chin against the top of her head, she took a deep breath, content knowing that at least she and Spike’s future was planned.
**********************************************
“William, er, Spike…son, I need your assistance for a moment.”
Spike turned towards the voice at his bedroom door, noting that his father was standing awkwardly against the doorjam. Usually his father’s sometimes awkward and socially unique behavior was a source of humor for Spike, but he could tell something was clearly on his mind today. “Sure, Pops. What’s going on?”
Taking a few slow steps towards his son, Giles stopped when he reached the bed and anxiously sunk down next to Spike. “Well…I actually would like your opinion on a…” Digging in his pocket, the older British man pulled out a small black box before continuing, “On this.”
Spike’s eyes widened and he reached out to gently grasp the box his father was extending towards him. He carefully pushed back the lid and found himself staring directly into a beautiful rose gold engagement ring. Four leaves were set with diamonds, all of them wrapped around a slightly bigger diamond, creating the impression of a rose in bloom.
“Is this what I think it is?” Spike whispered, examining the jewelry in his hands from every angle.
Giles took off his glasses and wiped at them with the end of his shirttail before responding. “Well, if you think it’s an engagement ring, then yes. Yes, it is, indeed, what you think it is.“ His face was unsure as he continued to peer at Spike.
Giving it barely another moment’s thought, Spike’s stretched a huge grin across his face and handed the box back to his father, then roughly patted him on the shoulder. “Well, congratulations, you ol’ scamp.”
Giles smiled back at his son, noticeably less nervous, and mumbled, “So you approve, then?”
Spike spoke up quickly, “Of course, Da’. You didn’t think I would?”
“Well, you are dating her daughter…”
Spike laughed, “What, are you expecting us to start acting like brother and sister once you end up marrying Joyce?”
Giles eyebrows shot up and he sputtered, “Well, uh, n-no.”
“Then I have absolutely nothing but congratulations for you. I’ve never seen you so thrilled, and honestly I’ve never seen Joyce so happy. She was never like this with Hank.”
Giles blushed and coughed awkwardly, then gave Spike an affectionate pat on the back. “Thanks, son. I needed to hear that. Now, do you think we can get the girls to assist us with planning how I should go about with…the asking part of this scenario?”
Spike chuckled once more before he said, “Ol’ boy they would enjoy nothing more.”
******************************************************
“OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! OH. MY. GOD.”
Buffy couldn’t help but laugh at Dawn’s reaction to Giles’ big announcement. Spike had already broken the news to her after climbing through her window the night before. Unable to contain herself, Buffy immediately crept down the hall and into Dawn’s bedroom, then snuck her sister out of their house and over to Spike’s to share the big news with her as well. Buffy knew her sister could help them decide on the best way for Giles to go about asking for their mother’s hand.
The four of them were seated around the coffee table in the living room, and Giles had barely gotten the words out when Dawn began bouncing up and down, eyes wide and voice yelling in supplication to divine beings.
“Quite.” Giles mumbled, as he took off his glasses for what seemed to Buffy like the hundredth time and began furiously wiping them with the edge of his shirttail.
“Calm down, Dawnie!” Turning her attention back to her sister’s bobbing shoulders, Buffy slapped a palm down on either side and pushed Dawn back down onto the sofa. “We need to get the whole thing planned before Mom realizes something’s up.”
Taking a deep breath and swiping her hand across her lips to signal that they were zipped, Dawn relaxed back between Buffy and Spike. “Ok, I can deal. So what do you guys have so far?”
With a cough, Giles began explaining what the three had already considered, “Well…”
*********************************************
“Buffy! Dawn! I’m home!” Joyce called as she stepped through the door of her home. She froze as soon as she spotted the rose petals scattered around the hallway. Upon further inspection, she noted that there were also candles, lit and placed at various levels around the room. A card with her name on its cover was tented on the bottom step.
Scrunching her eyebrows, Joyce crouched down and grabbed the card, gently opening it and scanning the neat handwriting within.
‘Hello my dear.
Though I know you're not one for tricks, I must say,
I have planned a delightful journey for you, this magical day.
Find your way to your room, where your voyage finds its start.
And remember my love, to always follow your heart. -R’
Her breath caught, but she smiled at the rhyme as excitement bubbled up through her chest. Joyce tucked the card under her arm, then climbed slowly up the stairs and walked towards her bedroom. The door was cracked open, and Joyce pushed it further inward to find her youngest daughter, Dawn, standing before her with a smile on her face.
Taking a deep breath, Dawn began reciting. “Hello, mother, sweet lady, I have a task for you now. Please put on this fine dress, I shouldn’t need to tell you how. Once you are ready, give me the sign, and then I will feed you my very next line.” Dawn giggled as she finished the rhyme they’d made up. It was killing her not just to blurt out everything, but she was also a hopeless romantic…and this whole deal was strikingly beautiful, especially to her young lover’s heart.
“Well…ok.” Joyce murmured as she took the short black dress from Dawn and made her way to her bathroom to grab a quick shower and dress as was requested.
Forty-five minutes later, she emerged from the steamy room, showered, dressed, and completely glammed up. “Ok, Dawnie. I’m ready.” Her voice was anxious, but she felt herself relax some when she noticed her daughters’ huge smile.
“Now think back, Mom, to special dates in the yard, and make your way to the spot where you get letters and cards. Venture there, dear mother, to find the next clue, and to get an idea of what next you will do.”
With the lift of an eyebrow, Joyce barely waited a beat before she raced back downstairs, flung open the front door and took off towards the mailbox at the end of her driveway. She smiled, recalling how she and Giles had joked that those early, awkward meetings at the trashcans and mailboxes -- long before they’d worked up the courage to ask each other out -- were their first dates.
With Dawn following close behind, Joyce reached her destination, drew open the cover and stuck her hand anxiously inside. The simple card she drew out read…
‘There you are, my heart, my sweet. Do you remember that shaded place where we’d meet? Go to the spot where we shared our first kiss, it is there you’ll receive your next clue -- you can’t miss!’
Turning towards Dawn, Joyce said, “What is going on, Dawnie?” When her daughter kept her mouth sealed tightly, she encouraged her again. “Come on, honey, you can tell me. I know you can’t keep a secret.”
Dawn just smiled mischievously and shrugged before pointing a finger down the street, indicating that her mom follow in the same direction.
Giving it a few seconds of thought, Joyce realized she knew just where she needed to go. Luckily for her currently high-heeled self, it was just a few minutes from their house even at walking speed. As she entered the park, Joyce walked slowly and peered around every tree, not certain which was the exact one where she and Rupert had first touched lips.
It wasn’t long before she spotted Buffy, standing in front of a large cherry blossom tree with a sparkling piñata hanging behind her head. As soon as they made eye contact, the younger blonde smiled brightly and waved Joyce over.
She tried again, this time with her elder daughter. “Buffy? Will you please tell me what’s going on?”
Buffy simply waved her finger at her mother and made a small “tsking” sound before handing her a card. With a resigned sigh, Joyce read…
‘Well, hello again. I’ll be seeing you soon. Just walk, my dear, towards the rising full moon. Stop when you find the magic carpet to ride, be seated -- it will take you somewhere special tonight. Recline and relax, you look lovely, my dear. Please, have no worries, there is nothing to fear.’
Joyce smiled at the message and how Giles knew her so well. He knew she would be nervous, not knowing what all this fuss was about, and that she would be thrilled and excited to find what was waiting for her at the end. Peering back up at her grinning daughter, Joyce hooked arms with Buffy and began walking with her in the direction of the full moon.
After a few minutes of walking, they made it to the other side of the park and emerged onto the street. Joyce watched silently as a limo pulled up, then the window rolled down. Instead of the weathered face of her boyfriend, though, Joyce was surprised to see the face of Rupert’s son, Spike.
With a smile, the boy greeted the stunned lady standing before him. “Hello, Mrs. Summers. And won’t you hop in. Get yourself seated, I’ll take you on a quick spin. Our ride will take just a short bit of time, and then you will find something sure to make your eyes shine.”
Joyce pulled on the handle and opened the back door, sliding into the limousine and followed closely by Buffy. To her surprise, Dawn was already waiting inside, smiling brightly at them both. This was certainly weird that all the kids were here. Joyce felt herself start to get anxious, the thrill of the adventure pulsing in waves through her body.
The ride lasted just a few short minutes, and when she opened the door again, they’d arrived at Sunnydale Beach. The smell of salt immediately wafted into her nose and she closed her eyes for a moment to savor the scent. Opening them again, she looked up and noted that the moon shone brightly above, illuminating the waves as they rolled mercifully against the shore. She wanted to remember every moment.
Joyce stepped nervously out of the limo, glancing back as the three kids bade her a quiet goodbye and gesture towards a small sign posted where the sand met the pavement.
‘Walk just a little further and you will see. The light of the moon will lead you straight to me.’
This was so unlike Rupert, and Joyce couldn’t wait to see what was waiting at the end. Walking down the beach, she spotted a flickering light in the distance. She sped up, and the closer she got, the more she saw. Tiny tea candles, placed in small glass globes, lined the shore and led straight to the man in question, who was standing anxiously between two, larger candles.
As their eyes linked, Joyce glided between the candles without another thought, her body driving her towards the man with whome she had so quickly fallen in love. All worries and thoughts of what could be going on were swept from her mind, as if the waves had drawn them out of her head and into the ocean. After what felt like forever, Joyce stopped in front of him, her eyes never wavering from his gaze. Those same eyes followed him downward, as he bent to kneel in front of her. She gasped in shock as he pulled a small velvet box from his pocket and held it up and towards her.
Opening the lid slowly, Giles began reciting softly, “A poet once asked how does love speak? She said that love speaks in the faint flush upon the telltale cheek, and in the pallor that succeeds it; by the quivering lid of an averted eye-the smile that proves the parent to a sigh. That is how love speaks.” Taking a quick breath, he looked up at her and continued in his own words. “That, my love, is how love has spoken to me. It has told me that I cannot go on without letting you know how much I truly, deeply love you. Now, I know this may be fast, and I know that you are not legally divorced yet, but I have not felt this way about a woman since William’s mother, almost two decades ago. Two decades my heart has been cold and bare, biding its time and waiting for someone to awaken it. Someone like you, Joyce, so sweet, so smart, so independent. So truly beautiful. You are the love of my life and I want nothing more than for you to be my last. Will you be mine, my heart, forever and always?”
Tears were pouring down Joyce’s face, and she glanced behind her when she heard a sob. The children were standing mere feet away, Spike in the middle of the two girls, with his arms wrapped around them both. All three smiled lovingly at their parents, and Joyce could only smile back as she turned towards Giles and nodded vigorously. “Yes! Yes!” Throwing her arms around his neck, the impact of her excitement caused them both to roll backwards and into the sand. Joyce laid kiss after kiss on Giles lips and face, all the while whispering, “Oh, Rupert! I love you! I love you so much!”
Buffy smiled through her tears at her sobbing sister, then gazed up at the love of her life. When her eyes met his, they smiled, both imagining when a day like today would come for them.
*************************************************
Buffy smiled, watching as her mother set a fresh vase of flowers on the table, smiling softly and humming to herself. Buffy had never before realized just how much her mother was apt to smile when she was truly happy. The beautiful gold ring flashed on her mother’s finger and Buffy sighed. It really was a beaut, and she admired it as she twirled the promise ring -- which Spike had given her only a few months after they’d become a couple -- around on her finger.
He had been so sweet when he gave it to her. He’d told her that he knew they were too young to get engaged, but he wanted her to have this simple band so that every day, she could see and feel a reminder of his love and know that one day they would be engaged.
She could only imagine the lengths Spike would go to when that day actually came, but found comfort in the fact that the day would eventually come. That, she was sure of. A soft knock on the door shook Buffy from her reverie. “I’ll get it!” she yelled towards the kitchen, hoping her mom heard her.
Turning the knob, she swung the door inward, finding herself face-to-face with a frowning Willow, whoc stood fumbling anxiously with her hands.
“Buffy.” Willow blurted it with a sign.
“Everything okay, Wills?” Buffy asked cautiously.
With a nod, Willow replied, “I guess. Well, can I come in?”
Buffy stepped aside and gestured for Willow to enter the house. Together, the two walked to her room. As soon as the door closed, Willow’s body tensed and her hands rose to her cheeks, rubbing up and down a few times, as if she was cleaning her face. “Oh, Buffy. I just don’t know what to do.”
Buffy immediately knew what this was about, and sat gently down next to her friend and put her arm around her. “Hey, it’ll be ok, Wills. No matter what you choose, I’m here for you. We all are.”
“But you have to help me! I can’t make this decision, Buffy, I mean, it’s either Princeton…THE PRINCETON, where I can get an amazing education in computer science or something else equally, well, computer-y, and find an awesome job that will probably set me up for life. Or it’s all of my friends, and my family, and my…Oz.” The last word came out a mere whisper, and Buffy leaned forward to wipe the stray tear that followed from Willow’s already-soaked cheek.
“I getcha, Wills. Nothing can make this easy. It’s a tough decision, but you need to think of it logically. Maybe…okay, how ‘bout you make a list? Ya’ now, pros and cons, what’s of the good, what’s of the bad? Something like that?”
Willow perked up a little and screeched, “Great idea, Buff!” And before Buffy could respond, Willow bounced up and was digging through the desk beside the bed. She came back and sat at Buffy’s side with a pen and paper. “Ok, let’s start.”
Drawing a line down the middle, Willow wrote Princeton on one side, Sunnydale on the other. Biting the end of the pen and scrunching her eyebrows in deep thought, she nodded to herself and quickly jotted down ‘Great computer science program’ and ‘Once-in-a-lifetime opportunity’ on the Princeton side. Raising the pen tip to the top of the other side of the paper, she wrote ‘Best friends,’ ‘Family’ and ‘Oz.’
Willow began to chew on her lip, so Buffy added, “Um, there’s familiarity here in Sunnydale.” Willow added that and a few more to the list before turning the paper in Buffy’s direction.
While the Sunnydale side definitely had a more substantial list, the Princeton side’s pros seemed a lot more important. Willow sighed again and balled up the paper in her fist before tossing it into Buffy’s trashcan. It appeared as if Willow was still unsure about what decision she should make, but Buffy had noticed something before the redhead threw the list away.
One point was circled and underlined, over and over again. One name, its penned letters thick from being traced, again and again.
Oz.
******************************************
Buffy closed her eyes, feeling the breeze blow her hair back from her face as the Desoto roamed the streets of Sunnydale. She and Spike were on their way to hang out with the gang at the local coffee shop, and to enjoy the last day of Spring Break.
Buffy smiled as she felt Spike’s large hand engulf her own and his soft lips press into her palm.
“You okay there, pet?” Her heart did its usual flutter at his cocky brogue.
Widening her green eyes in his direction, she stared intently at the man of her dreams. “I’m always okay when I’m with you, baby.”
Spike grinned before turning away to face the road as the light they’d been waiting on turned a bright green. Before long, he turned the car off the main road and pulled it into a parking spot in front of the coffee shop.
It was a quaint little place, like most everything in Sunnydale. While there was no seating on the inside, a number of tables were scattered around the cozy patio. Their friends were currently lounging near the back, and after leading her toward their table, Spike pulled out the chair next to Willow for Buffy to sit before dropping into the chair next to her.
“Hope you don’t mind, we ordered the usual.” Xander said as he handed them both a Styrofoam cup of coffee. Buffy noticed they had, indeed, ordered the usual and saw Spike’s straight black coffee and her own frozen mocha drink. She guessed Spike’s already had his trademark ten tablespoons of sugar, too. With a smile, she and Spike both thanked Xander and leaned back with their cups in hand.
“So, what’s up, guys?” Buffy said casually, gazing at each one of her friends. Xander had his arm wrapped tightly around Anya, and Anya’s head rested on his shoulder. Oz and Willow also sat close together, holding hands on top of the table.
Willow smiled brightly and let go of Oz’s hand. “Well, I, um…I actually have something to share with you guys.”
“You’re pregnant.” Anya blurted to everyone’s amusement.
Willow blushed, Xander rolled is eyes.
“What? Is this not a plausible option for anyone? I mean, we are all having premarital, teenage sex aren’t we?” Anya questioned, confused as usual by their laughs and eye rolls.
Willow finally restarted her explanation. “Actually, I am NOT pregnant. I decided to attend…UC Sunnydale. I’m staying here with you guys.”
“Wow, that’s great, Will!”
“Cool!”
“And?”
“Awesome, pet!”
They all piped up, pleased that their friend seemed happy, barely noticing that Oz had yet to respond. When the hubbub finally quieted, he spoke.
“Are you sure, Willow? I mean…Princeton….just….yeah.”
Reaching for his hand, Willow squeezed. “I’m sure. I have so many reasons to stay here, and UC Sunnydale just so happens to offer its own Computer Science program, although slightly less prestigious. Plus, the admissions officer at Princeton said I can always complete my basics here and reapply there if I change my mind.”
Oz stared at her intently, hoping to get a sense if she was telling the truth or lying just to ease his guilt. He knew she was passing up an amazing opportunity, but she appeared to be sure of herself. Accepting Willows explanation, Oz nodded and gave her a quick kiss.
“I’m glad.” He said simply, before turning back to the group.
Buffy smiled, happy that that situation was finally resolved. She felt as if some of her worry had been lifted, and could see that her friend’s happiness with her choice. She watched as Willow nuzzled close to Oz, then lost herself in a comfortable daydream as the two teenagers smiled at one another. Shaking herself from her reverie, Buffy rejoined the group’s conversation, which was currently revolving around Harmony Kendall’s apparent venereal disease.
*******************
After kissing Spike goodnight, Buffy made her way inside her house, prepared to head to bed after a long day of…well, gossiping. The moment the door closed behind her, though, Buffy could feel the tension in the air. It was thick enough to slice.
Unsure of the source, Buffy changed her path and veered off in the direction of the living room. She stopped short, in shock at the sight of Hank sitting on the couch across from her mother.
With a scowl Buffy whispered, “What the hell are you doing here?”
In unison, both Joyce and Hank reprimanded her. “Language!”
Rolling her eyes at the man, Buffy turned to her mom and said, “I’m sorry, Mom. I just can barely contain myself with him in the room.”
“Now, Buffy. I am still your father and-“
“Say’s who? A DNA test? Biologically you may be my father, but I haven’t seen you in seven months. SEVEN MONTHS! Where have you been? What have you been doing that was so important that you could just ignore your children?” She laughed wickedly. “Yeah, some father you are. Giles has been more of a father to me in the last few months than you were in the entire 18 years of my life. And he sure as hell as treated my mother better than you ever did.” She spat the last part, the venom clear in her voice.
Hank’s eyes widened and he paled visibly. “Look, Buffy, I really am sorry. I had other things to deal with. I thought you girls wouldn’t want to see me. I was giving you space.”
Buffy shook with silent laughter before turning angry eyes once again at her father. “Yeah. Maybe we thought we needed to be away from you, but did you ever think, in actuality, that we needed you? That maybe we needed to know you were still there, that you still loved us despite the divorce? But you weren’t! YOU WEREN’T THERE!”
Joyce walked over to her daughter and placed a gentle hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “Buffy,” she said softly.
Calming slightly at her mother’s soothing voice, Buffy took a breath before she said, “Why ARE you here?”
Reddening some, Hank spoke, “Well, honey, I heard your mother was engaged. I have been missing your Mom for so long now and I realized I couldn’t wait any longer. I’m ready to come back and be a family again.”
Looking down, Buffy saw bags at her dad’s feet. Did he just think he was going to move right back in? Before she could say a word, Joyce spoke up this time.
“Where’s your girlfriend, Hank? Your new child? Shouldn’t he or she be born now?”
Hank coughed and looked away. “Turns out…”
Neither woman could make out what he mumbled. Joyce grumbled, “Speak up, please.”
With a sigh, he repeated what he’d said, more clearly this time, “Turns out the kid wasn’t mine. “
Buffy was shocked but pleased when her mother actually laughed at this.
“Oh, really, Hank? So you got a taste of your own medicine? What did you think, you could just storm back in here and take up residence in our home…in my bed?” Joyce spat, her temper making her tower over the shrinking man before her.
“Well, legally, we are not divorced, so I just assumed…”
“You assumed wrong. And for the record, we are not divorced yet, because you have not signed the papers. In fact, I have a copy with me.” Turning her steely gaze towards Buffy, she deliberately drew the tone of her voice higher, sweeter…as if she was talking to a toddler, “Buffy, dear, can you get Mommy’s purse?”
Buffy raced upstairs to her mom’s room and was back in seconds with the purse in hand. Joyce fumbled around inside it until she found what she was looking for. She pulled out a bundle of documents and handed it to the man seated in front of her.
“Here it is. Now, everywhere you need to sign has been highlighted. I assure you, it is completely idiot proof.” Reaching back into the purse, Joyce withdrew a pen and handed it to the shocked man as well. “Now sign the damn thing and get the hell out of my home.”
Without another word, Hank scribbled in the highlighted blanks, handed the pen back to Joyce and nearly ran out the door with his bags in hand. Buffy watched as her mother’s shoulders visibly deflated. Stepping up to her and wrapping her arms around the older woman, Buffy squeezed tightly and whispered, “You did the right thing.”
**************************************
The wedding was a simple, yet elegant affair that was held at the Summers home. All of their friends and family were invited.
Giles had decided to sell his home and had already started moving his things into Joyce’s house. Space wouldn’t be an issue now that Spike and Buffy had decided to live in the dorms on campus while they saved for a place of their own.
Staring at her mother, who was dancing joyously with the love of her life, her ivory dress fluttering in the breeze blowing through their decked-out backyard, Buffy couldn’t help but be glad of the changes that had happened in her life. Things that had seemed so horrible at first, had turned out to be dreams come true. Her life was just how she wanted. She was starting college with all of her friends in just one more week, her mother and sister were happy and in good hands with Giles. She was finally feeling like an adult…and a relaxed one to boot.
She knew that things wouldn’t always be this perfect. College wouldn’t always be a breeze and she was sure that they would all face their share of bumps along the road, but she knew they could get through it. If they could get through all that they had already, nothing could stop them.
With a smile she laid her head on Spike muscular shoulder and closed her eyes, basking in the feeling of love and happiness that surrounded her.
TBC...