A/N: Beta'd by awesome dawnofme and Mabel Marsters.


Chapter 44


Giles stalked down a narrow corridor and stopped in front of the door 236. The fluorescent lights flickered above his head, the buzzing sound filling the space. He slightly adjusted the collar of his shirt before he raised his hand and knocked three times.


The chain rattled as the room’s occupant unlocked the door and peered at him.


“Hello, Joyce,” he said. “May I come in?”


*******


She loved the way his hair curled at his forehead, how soft it was as she slowly ran her fingers through it. It reminded her so much of William’s insistently out of hand hair. Good thing no amount of bleach and gel could tame it.


“Spike… do you regret it? Getting your soul back?”


His eyes were still closed where he rested against her breast. “No. You’d think I would, but I don’t. It was a right thing to do, wasn’t it? Even if it isn’t easy.”


“I feel guilty,” she admitted, not stopping her caresses.


“You? Why?”


“Because now you’re hurting and it’s all my fault.”


“Buffy, that’s a load of bullshit. I brought this on myself. You’re… you make me want to be someone better. You always have. Large part of this is all about you, yeah, but… it was for me too. Wanted to be real, however daft it may sound.”


“It’s not. I get it. I get you.”


“Yeah, you do,” he said with a soft voice and all but purred as she lightly scratched his scalp.


“You know what I’d love to see?” he asked after a while.


“Do tell.”


“You. Patrolling. All feisty and kicking the crap out of some poor unsuspecting sod. Wouldn’t hurt if you wore a miniskirt while you were at it.”


How well she knew this part of him, him trying to hide the pain by slipping on the mask of seduction and flirting. He didn’t want to dwell on the consequences of his actions and that was fine with her. Whatever he needed, she’d follow.


“Is that what you’ve been thinking about? Perv.”


“You got me there. So… can I watch?”


“Just watch,” she said in disbelief. As if he could stay put for longer than a minute.


“I’d probably give you a hand too… only if you wanted me to of course.”


“That would be nice. I haven’t seen you fight.”


“Think I can’t do it? We could have ourselves a little sparring match, what do you say?”


That idea actually held a lot of appeal. “I’m up for the challenge. I’ll totally kick your skinny white butt.”


He growled against her playfully and propped himself up on an elbow to pin her to the mattress with the heated look that always turned her to mush. Suddenly the only thing on her mind was longing for him. His closeness. His touch.


“You like my butt,” Spike said


“Do not.”


“Liar.” His fingers trailed up her arm, leaving goose bumps in their wake. “Well, I sure do love your arse. All round and tight, just begging me for a bite.”


“You’re so… ugh.”


“Hot? Charming? Irresistible?”


“Umm… how about full of yourself?”


“Oh, now you’re gonna get it, Summers!” He swooped in and blew raspberry kisses all over her neck, making her squirm and laugh.


“Stop!”


“Not a chance in hell,” he said and started to tickle her ribs.


She gasped and squealed, trying to fight off his grip. He chuckled evilly and eventually stopped, looking smug as she panted from laughing so hard.


“That was… so not fair!”


“I do believe you’re right,” he said in mock seriousness and settled half of his weight on top of her before leaning down to pepper her face with quick kisses. “Should I make up for it?”


She brought up her hands and locked them behind his neck. “I require lots and lots of groveling.”


“Lots and lots, huh?” He sighed heavily, shaking his head. “That sounds as if it might take a while.”


She fluttered her eyelashes at him. “Yup. Which means you better get started.”


Her eyes closed as he leaned in, his lips barely brushing hers, and she parted hers in anticipation. When he kept up the barely there contact, she lifted her head to capture his mouth but he pulled away with a chuckle. After she sent him her best glare, he gave up the teasing and finally kissed her.


His lips were soft but firm as he softly suckled on hers. Butterflies flapped their wings in her stomach and she doubted it would ever change. She could spend hours in his embrace, just tasting him, feeling his body on hers.


The fine hair at the back of his neck tickled her fingers as she pulled him even closer to deepen the kiss. Spike groaned and slowly stroked her side before caressing her hip. There was no urgency to take things further, just the simple need to be close.


Her phone started to ring but she was determined to ignore it and nipped at Spike’s lips.


“You should get that,” he mumbled and trailed his lips along her jaw.


“Don’t wanna.”


“It might be important.”


The phone rang insistently and Buffy slumped in defeat. “Hand me the purse, would you?”


Spike rolled off her and reached down to the floor to grasp the bag before handing it to her. Quickly, Buffy unzipped it and took out her phone, flipping it open.


“Yeah?”


“Hey, B. It’s me. I hate to interrupt you, but Giles called to say he’d be back tomorrow.”


“And that was so important you had to call me now?”


“No need to get all snippy with me. He said he was bringing someone with him, and… well, I’m supposed to be the one to tell you since he thought you’d take it better from me.”


“Okay, now you’re just being vague. Faith, stop beating around the bush and tell me.”


“It’s your mom.”


“What? What about her? I don’t unders-”


“Giles said she was in London and wanted to see you. Apparently, she doesn’t take no for an answer so Giles is taking her with him to Bath. That’s all he told me.”


“Oh.”


“I’m sorry for telling you this over the phone, but I didn’t know when you’d be home, so… I wanted to give you the heads up.”


“No, it’s… Thanks. I’m glad you told me. Just… kind of overwhelmed,” Buffy said. “I’ll see you later.”


“See you, B.”


Spike watched Buffy’s lips draw a thin line as she let the phone slip from her fingers. When she just kept staring blankly at the dark bedspread, he crawled closer to her on his hands and knees and put an arm around her shoulders. Without a word, she leaned against him and exhaled heavily.


“You heard?” she said.


“Yeah, I did. How do you feel?”


She picked up his hand and played with his fingers. “I don’t know what I feel right now. I can’t decide if I’m angry or terrified or glad.”


“You don’t have to see her if you don’t want to. You can stay here with me.”


“Thanks but… I think I’ll have to face her eventually. Tell her… I don’t even know what to tell her,” she said with a soft voice, and he pressed a kiss to her temple, needing to comfort her.


“You’ll figure it out. That’s what you do.”


“I’m not as strong as you think.”


“Yes, you are. You’re the strongest person I know. You just can’t see it. And your mum… well, if she’s barmy enough not to realize it either, then she doesn’t deserve you.”


“I don’t even know why she’d come here now. It’s not like she gave a damn all this time and suddenly she wants to see me. Well, what if I don’t want to see her? You know… I don’t know what would have happened to me if Giles hadn’t found me that night. If he hadn’t given me home. I had no money and no place to go and where was she then? Where was my mother when I thought you had died and I so badly needed her? Does she even… does she even care about me?”


“Buffy…”


“No, don’t. I’m sorry.”


God, she was so fragile in his arms and it broke him to see her hurting. He wished he was able to allay all her fears and figure it out for her. But all he could do was be there for her, so he enclosed her in his embrace and lay down.


“Don’t think about it now. Just let me… let me hold you.”


She pressed her face into his neck and touched her trembling lips to his skin. “What would I do without you?”


“You’ll always have me.”


*******


In the last hour or so, Buffy had developed a nervous tic. Her eyelid twitched again and she slapped her hand over it as she sat on the couch. The clock ticked. It was eight minutes past nine already. Her knee started to bounce.


“B, would you relax?”


“Can’t.”


Faith sat down next to her and put her hand over Buffy’s bouncing knee to stop it. “I’ve got your back.”


“I know, but this wait is killing me.”


She stood up and paced around the living room.


“Have I told you that William has turned into quite a hottie?”


Buffy froze mid-pace and turned to her friend with a quirked eyebrow. She was well aware Faith was trying to distract her by rapidly changing the subject, and it worked. Sort of.


“He’s always been hot to me.”


Faith propped up her legs on the coffee table. “Well, he’s extra hot as a vamp then. Who would have thought?”


“Hands off my boyfriend,” Buffy said with a smile. “He’s been branded and claimed.”


Faith grinned. “Well, once you have a taste of Buffy, there’s no going back.”


“Yup.”


“So is he… okay?”


Buffy shrugged and walked over to sit on the chair opposite Faith. “I guess. I didn’t want to leave him, but he said he would spank me if I stayed only because of him. But I’m so checking if he’s okay as soon as possible.”


At Faith’s amused expression, Buffy added, “Not spank as in… you know… kinky sexy spanking, but… I’m just shutting up right now.”


“Don’t do so on my account,” Faith said then frowned. “You know it’s not fair you’re getting more action than I do, right?”


Buffy tilted her head back and laughed. She could always count on Faith to improve her mood.


“Sorry,” Buffy said with a wide grin.


“Sorry my ass, B.”


As Buffy was about to retort, keys jingled in the lock before it swung open and Giles stepped in. She shot to her feet and wiped her sweaty palms on her thighs.


“Hey, old man!” Faith greeted, which earned her an eye-roll from Giles as he closed the door.


Wait, closed the door? Where the hell was her mother?


“Giles, I thought… where is…”


He put the suitcase on the floor and approached her. “Your mother is staying at the hotel. I offered for her to stay here, but we both thought it would be better if she gave you some space. Er… let you decide when you wanted to meet her.”


Buffy was pretty sure it was Giles who thought so, and she was grateful. Still, the anxiety wouldn’t leave her.


“Where is she staying?”


Giles patted the pockets of his tweed jacket and drew out a slip of paper then put it into her hand. “I can drive you if you want. Let me know when.”


She hugged him briefly and tucked the paper into her jeans. “Thank you. I’ll do that.”


“Alright,” Giles said then walked into the kitchen. “Anyone want a pizza for a dinner?”


“I do!” Faith called. “Don’t forget-”


“Chili, I know,” Giles said tolerantly and turned to Buffy. “Extra cheese?”


She nodded. “Umm… I’ll just… I need to… walk for a while but I’ll be back soon.”


They both seemed to know why exactly she wanted to walk, but didn’t comment on it.


It was time to face her mother.


TBC


A/N: Any guesses on how it's going to go? ;)