Disclaimer: The characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer are owned by Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and Fox studios. This story is not meant to infringe upon anyone's rights, only to entertain.

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A/N: Thanks to Amarysso for betaing.

CHAPTER 14 - Yours


Spike could sense that something was wrong as he turned the corner and headed down the street towards Buffy’s house. He found himself doing this almost every night now. He stayed up a few hours after patrol to stand outside her window, smoking a cigarette and making sure she was safe.

Patrol was fairly uneventful that night so he knew for a fact that she wasn’t hurt. None of them have heard or seen anything out of the ordinary lately so he wasn’t even planning on heading over to her house until much later. Unfortunately, something inside him told him that he needed to get there sooner tonight.

He arrived at Buffy’s house and made his way towards the back where her room would be. Along the way, he could hear the fairly loud argument going on between her parents and he shook his head. He knew it was one of those things that upset Buffy lately. She didn’t say much about it but it didn’t take a rocket scientist to see that the topic about her parents’ rocky relationship was a sore subject for her.

He could sense that she was near but when he looked up at her window, her room was cloaked in darkness. He then heard the faint scrapping of fabric against fabric and followed his senses to find a curled up Slayer hugging her knees, with her back against the retaining wall in their backyard.

She looked up revealing watery eyes and tear stained cheeks. Upon recognizing who was before her, she launched herself at him burying her face into his chest as her tears continued to fall.

Spike took one step back to balance himself as his arms wrapped around her protectively. He let his hand rub the small of her back in an act of concern but he didn’t dare say a word as she sobbed her pain.

It took a few minutes for her to calm down but she made no attempt to pull away from him which both surprised and pleased Spike at the same time.

“I’m sorry.” Buffy said into his chest.

“No worries, pet.”

“I guess I’m just being a little silly. I mean it’s not like it wasn’t obvious it was eventually going to happen.”

“Can I take a guess that this has got somethin’ to do with your Mum and Da’?”

She nodded, pulling away slightly to wipe the tears that had stained her cheeks. “That’s all they do nowadays -- just scream at each other. It’s good that they’re finally getting a divorce I guess, … but …” She paused for a bit, trying her best not to let a fresh set of tears fall. “He didn’t even fight for me. I mean, I’m his daughter and he didn’t even argue about custody. He’s putting up more of a fight for the house and the bank accounts than me.”

“The bloody git is blind is all, pet.” He said pushing a lock of hair behind her ear. “He doesn’t see how precious you really are.”

“You’re just saying that.”

“Fine, I take it back then. You’re irritatin’, bossy and … and … “ But the words were lost when he saw her pouting a bit.

“Look who’s talking! 1970’s reject!” she said with slight anger which quickly melted away as she started to giggle. She reached out and started messing with his hair, running her fingers through his locks releasing them from their prison of hair products.

Spike jerked back. “ Oi! Wot are you doin’? No touchin’ the hair.”

Those words only encouraged her as she pulled more of his curly locks out of place. Once in a while she curled a finger around a lock of hair, rubbing it gently between her thumb and index finger before releasing it. Spike noticed the subtle action and smiled to himself despite the fact that she was ruining what he had carefully worked on earlier that night. She smiled up at him as she took a step back and looked at her handiwork. She liked his hair that way.

“Having fun at my expense, pet?”

“Yeah and what of it?”

“Smilin’ suits you. I rarely see it but it suits you.”

“Well as you can see, there aren’t a lot of things I can smile about at the moment.”

“Things could be worse.”

“I guess. … Spike, how did the others cope?”

“The other’s luv?”

“The other Slayers. How did they deal with family and life and being a Slayer?”

Spike sat down beside her and leaned against the retaining wall as he tilted his head back to stare at the night sky. “Lots of different ways. Each girl dealt with it differently. Some of the girls drowned themselves in the slayin’. Others did anythin’ and everythin’ to avoid it altogether. But I will say this Slayer, even though things don’t seem to be peachy at the moment, you have your Mum. ... I know she loves and cares about you. Most of the slayers I worked with through the years didn’t have anyone or anythin’ else. Slayin’ was it. That was all they had.”

“Go me then,” she said unenthusiastically with a small sigh.

The back door to the house flew open and a very concerned Joyce Summers stepped out. “Buffy?”

“Um ... yeah?’

“What are you doing out here in the dark at this hour?”

“Um … well …” Buffy replied as she stood up.

“Is someone there with you?” she said, flicking a light switch on which flooded the backyard with light.

Spike squinted his sensitive eyes at the sudden brightness.

“Now what are you and …” She paused for a moment, trying to figure out who was with her daughter. He looked very familiar but she didn’t think her daughter ever brought home a boy that was decked out in leather. The platinum blond hair he was sporting was unmistakable and her eyes grew wider at the realization that it was William. “Oh, umm… like I was saying, what are you and William doing in the backyard in the dark, young lady?” she said crossing her arms across her chest.

“Nothing. … We were just talking, Mom!”

“Young lady it is a school night. You should be up in your room studying and not out here.”

“Um ... but ... we were studying. Spi ... William was helping me with homework.”

Joyce raised her eyebrows and gave her daughter a doubting look.

“It’s true! … We were talking about um … History.”

Spike stood up, dusted his clothes and smiled. “Yeah, History.”

“In the dark?”

“Well, it helps set the mood, Mrs. Summers. Many wars and political decisions were thought out and strategized at night.” Spike said with a grin.

Joyce just shook her head. “Well if you’re going to be helping my daughter with her History homework you might as well come inside. I’ll make some hot chocolate for both of you.” She turned back into the house, leaving the back door open for them.

Spike turned to Buffy. “I can leave if you want me to.”

Buffy shook her head. “No. Stay. I could use the company for a bit longer and I really do have History homework that I’m sure you can help me out with.”

“I’m your bloody guard Slayer, not your tutor.”

“But you most probably lived through these things. You can help lots. … Please! Please! Please! We don’t have any blood in the house, but Mom’s hot chocolate is out of this world. She always puts mini marshmallows.”

Spike grinned at the mention of marshmallows. “Have your Mum make me a big mug and I’m yours Slayer.”

She smiled happily, heading on ahead into the house. Spike watched her, thankful that she seemed to be feeling a lot better now. ” I’m yours Slayer.“ He thought about what he just said and he knew there was something more to it than just helping her out with homework.