Betaed by Maria and Flight Of Fancy.


Just as Spike was settling into his lonely bed, Buffy was waking up. She’d had a hard time sleeping; there were too many memories in the house for her to find peace. They filled her dreams, and tiny things forgotten years ago were brought to the surface once again.

Wishing she could sleep, Buffy trudged down to the kitchen to make coffee. Once it was made, and she’d poured herself a mug liberally laced with cream and sugar, she stood at the kitchen counter, looking out into the darkness. Buffy wondered what Spike was doing, right at that moment. She wanted to know if he was alright; if he was happy and safe. Those questions had plagued her since her brief view of him the other night.

Recognizing that her freedom would be limited as long as she was trying to keep her identity a secret, Buffy decided to call a Scooby meeting for later that day. Once all had been revealed, she would be able to do what she wanted, and what she wanted most was to patrol tonight and see if she could get another glimpse of Spike. Maybe, if she was really lucky, she’d managed to get close enough for a little bit of rough and tumble. Spike could always be counted on for a spot of violence.

Buffy was so lost in her thoughts that she was startled when she felt something drop onto her hand. Her fingers wiped the tears from her cheeks, as she shook her head in wonder. Imagine that. She was crying in happiness at the possibility of a fight with Spike. Buffy hurried to clear away all traces of her tears, as she heard steps approaching the kitchen.

“Good morning, Buffy. You’re up early today. Is something wrong?” Merrick rubbed his eyes and took a seat at the kitchen table.

Buffy turned away from the red horizon, bright with the promise of a new day. “Just memories.” She smiled at Merrick. “Coffee?”

“Yes, please.” The Watcher yawned behind his hand. “So, what’s going to happen today?” Merrick gratefully accepted the coffee that Buffy placed in front of him.

“A Scooby meeting, I think,” Buffy said from her seat across from Merrick. “It’s about time they know what’s going on. You know how Xander sees demons everywhere, and if he sees me out and about without an explanation who knows what kind of crazy theories he’s going to come up with. I don’t want to have to deal with that kind of damage control.”

“I understand completely.”

By the time Joyce joined Buffy and Merrick at the table, there were pancakes and a fresh pot of coffee waiting for her.

“Mmmmm, this is lovely. A homemade breakfast that I didn’t have to make for myself. Thank you, Merrick,” Joyce said, while sipping her coffee.

“Don’t thank me.” The Watcher smiled. “I didn’t make it.” He pointed at Buffy.

“What? You can’t mean that Buffy made breakfast?” Joyce looked from Merrick to Buffy. “But, Buffy can’t cook.”

Buffy smiled softly at her mother. “You’re forgetting that I’ve been on my own for years, Mom. When you don’t have anyone else to cook for you, you learn how to handle yourself in the kitchen. It was either that, or starve.” The Light laughed.

“Sorry, Buffy. It was a lovely breakfast. Thank you.” Joyce was impressed.

“You’re welcome.” Buffy started to collect the dirty plates from the table. “Would you do me a favour, Mom?”

“Of course, Honey. Whatever you need. I’d be happy to help.” Joyce wasn’t about to fail her daughter again. Whatever Buffy needed, she would be there for her.

“First, I want you to call a Scooby meeting. Make sure you invite everyone; I want the whole gang there. It’s about time we let them in on just who the Light is.” Buffy sighed. “I’m really not looking forward to this, but it’s probably best to just get it over with.”

“I’ll call Giles, and he can contact the others. Anything else?” Joyce turned when she heard a noise at the doorway. “Good morning, Kendra. I hope we didn’t wake you?”

“No, it was just my time to wake up. Is there anything for breakfast?” Kendra took a seat beside Joyce at the table.

Buffy smiled brightly. “Hey, Kendra. You get to choose between pancakes, or pancakes. Lucky you.”

“Well then, I think I’ll have pancakes,” Kendra laughed.

“Coffee?” Buffy lifted the pot in the Slayer’s direction.

Kendra made a face. “No thank you. I prefer juice.”

After Buffy had served Kendra the remaining pancakes, she turned her attention to Joyce once again. “Mom, can I borrow the car? I need to go shopping.”

“Do you mind if I tag along, Buffy? It’s been a while since I’ve been on a shopping spree,” Joyce asked her daughter, with longing in her eyes.

“Sure, Mom. Sounds like fun. What about you, Kendra? Want to join us?”

“I can’t. It’s a school day.” Kendra pouted.

“Don’t take it so hard, Kendra. I’m calling a meeting tonight to bring the Scoobies up on the wonder that is me. After that, why don’t we go patrolling together and plan to wrap the evening up at the Bronze? What do you think? Could be fun.” Buffy waited patiently for the Slayer’s answer.

“Sitting through that meeting isn’t going to be much fun.” Suddenly, Kendra got a sly look on her face. “If you bring home some ice cream, it’s a deal.”

Buffy laughed. “It’s a deal. Ice cream for dessert.”

The two bystanders to the conversation smiled. Joyce was happy that the girls really seemed to like each other, and Merrick was pleased to see Buffy having fun.

“What am I supposed to do while you two lovely ladies are at the mall?” Merrick tried his best to pout. Joyce and Buffy broke out in hysterical laughter at the sight. “How about if I prepare dinner for us while you’re out?”

Joyce and Buffy looked at each other and shrugged. “Why not? Let me show you what I was planning to make.” Joyce showed Merrick a page from a cookbook.

“Looks like something I can handle easily.” Merrick nodded, while he read the recipe. “You two go ahead. Have a good day.”

“I’ll call Giles and ask him to set up the meeting, and then I’ll go get dressed for our day out.” Joyce moved towards the phone.

“Alright then, I’m off to school. Don’t forget my ice cream,” Kendra said to Buffy, before grabbing her bag and heading for the back door.

“And on that note, I’m off to get dressed, too.” Buffy left the kitchen and bounced up the stairs like the young girl she had been a lifetime ago.

Half an hour later, Buffy and Joyce were making their way out the door, when Buffy yelled, “We’ll be home for dinner...Dad.” And then the door closed and they were gone.

Merrick could hear the ladies giggling their way down the sidewalk from the kitchen.

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“Where to first, Buffy?” Joyce asked her daughter.

“I think I should get a phone, so you can get in touch with me when you need me.” Buffy linked her arm with her mother’s, as they walked into the mall.

“We should probably get one for Merrick, too,” the Light mused.

“Can’t he buy his own?” Joyce was a little intimidated at the thought of purchasing something as personal as a cell phone for her new house guest.

Buffy laughed. “He doesn’t have money, or anything else, Mom.”

“What, Dear?” Joyce wasn’t really listening to the conversation, as much as she was simply enjoying her daughter’s company.

“I said, all Merrick has, is what he’s wearing.”

“No money? No change of clothes?” Joyce looked stunned when Buffy nodded her head in confirmation. “But, he always looks so neat and clean.”

“It probably has something to do with working for the Powers That Be. Some kind of clean laundry perk.” Buffy shrugged. “Some things you just have to accept without trying to understand, Mom.”

Spying the cell phone kiosk, Buffy pulled at her mother. “Let’s grab the phones, and then we can go window shopping.”

“Calm down, Buffy. We’ve got the whole day,” Joyce laughed.

“I need to shop for some clothes, too. I’ve got nothing to wear, and I definitely want a new outfit for tonight.”

Some things never change. “You do know all the clothes in your closet are yours, right?”

“I’d completely forgotten about that,” Buffy said, smiling. “Thanks, Mom. I still want to get something new for tonight, though. It’s kind of symbolic. New beginnings and all that stuff, right?”

“Giles told us that you are trying to find your other half. Is that who you want to dress up for?” Joyce asked.

“I hope,” Buffy replied with a secretive smile.

“You don’t know?” Joyce asked, bewildered. “How can you not know? Don’t you know who he is?”

“Oh, I know who it is, Mom. Believe me, that’s the least of my worries. Maybe I’ll meet up with him tonight, maybe not. I can only hope.” The happy face that Buffy had been wearing was suddenly replaced with a vision of misery.

“I don’t understand, Honey. If you know who it is, why not just go see him?” Joyce was puzzled.

“Can we talk about this later, Mom? I just want to enjoy my time with you.”

“But, Buffy...,” Joyce tried.

“Over dinner, Mom. I promise. For now, let’s just forget my problems and have some mother/daughter shopping goodness.” Buffy looked pleadingly at her mother.

“Alright, Buffy, but at dinner I expect you to come clean. I want to know everything,” Joyce teased. “Especially the name of the boy that’s stolen my daughter’s heart.”

“We’ll see.” Finally at the kiosk, Buffy tried to distract her mother by asking about the different features on some of the phones.

Half an hour later, the ladies were done shopping for phones. Buffy was moping. “I should have just used my old cell phone. It would have been cheaper. I don’t remember them costing this much.”

“Stop complaining. You said it yourself, Buffy. You need a phone,” Joyce reminded her daughter.

“I know.” Buffy pouted. “It just wasn’t a really fun way to spend so much money.” The Light sighed. “Sorry, Mom. Let’s go look at furniture. You can help me find a style I like, so it will be easier to furnish the warehouse when it’s done.”

“Why not buy what you like now, and then get the store to deliver it when your placer is ready?” Joyce asked.

“What a brilliant idea, Mom.” Buffy hugged Joyce, forgetting the bag in her hand until it smacked into her leg. “Ugh.” She rubbed the offended limb. “Did I hit you?”

“No.” Joyce chuckled. “Let’s get moving to the furniture store. The mall is only open for another eight hours, and we’ve got lots to do,” she teased. This time it was Joyce who linked arms with Buffy.

By lunchtime, the shopping team was ready for a break. Buffy had ordered a couple of beds and bedding for the upstairs rooms. Buffy’s bed was a king-sized four-poster, with beautiful carvings. The bed for the spare room would get a wrought-iron frame in a queen-size. The pair had also purchased everything they could think of for the kitchen.

Now, the ladies were definitely enjoying the opportunity to rest their feet and linger over a cool glass of fruit juice.

“So, are you ready to tell me who my future son-in-law is?” Joyce couldn’t wait any longer.

“I’m sorry, Mom, but it’s not safe for me to tell you his name.” Buffy refused to meet her mother’s eyes, instead focusing intently on her juice.

“Why not? Do I know him? Do I dislike him?” Joyce tried to catch Buffy’s gaze. “Is it that vampire, Angel?”

“No, no. A thousand times no.” She reached across the table to hold her mother’s hands.

“Please try to understand, Mom. I can’t tell you his name.” Buffy’s eyes seemed far away, and were filled with so much pain that Joyce almost wished her daughter were still staring at her juice. “If they...If they knew who he was, they’d try to kill him,” Buffy finished in a harsh whisper.

Joyce didn’t understand. “Why would someone want to kill him? For that matter, who would want to kill him?” she asked.

“Giles. The Scoobies. None of them like him. In my time, Giles even tried to distract me so someone else could try to kill the man I love. Xander can’t get it through his head that, even if my other half is gone, I’m never going to see him in a romantic way. He’s always going to be the brother I never had. And Willow, well, she’s too afraid of upsetting or disappointing Giles or Xander to think for herself.” Buffy was lost in her memories.

Joyce gently squeezed Buffy’s hands to get her attention. “It sounds like you have good reason to be upset with all of them, but there was something special in your voice when you mentioned Willow. What aren’t you saying, Buffy?”

Buffy smiled sadly. “You know me too well, Mom. Later on, as her powers grew, Xander and Giles used Willow to try to control me. They wanted a puppet on a string, not the real me.”

“In all this, you haven’t mentioned Angel. What did he think of your partner?” Joyce was curious. Surely someone in Buffy’s life must have been supportive?

“Angel was the worst of the bunch. He believes that I’m his property. That the Powers have promised me as some kind of reward.” Buffy made a sour face.

The appearance of the waiter at their table ended the conversation, and after his departure the women switched to lighter topics like carpets and window treatments.

When Joyce and Buffy were all shopped out, they decided to stop in at the warehouse to see how the renovations were progressing. Walls were going up to separate parts of the lower level, and the upper floor was progressing nicely. Clem was onsite, so the women took a few minutes to talk with him, and Buffy gave the contractor her new cell number.

Joyce had to draw Buffy’s attention to the time. The women had promised to be home for dinner, and didn’t want to upset Merrick by being late for the meal. They also had a Scooby meeting planned for that evening, and Buffy wanted to be well out of sight before anyone arrived for it.

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Arriving home, Buffy dumped her bags just inside the door and headed for the kitchen. “Hi, Merrick. Did you have a good day?”

“Yes, thank you, Buffy.” Merrick turned slightly from the stove to look at his charge. “How was your day?”

“Good, until Mom said it was time to head home.” Buffy leaned over the kitchen island, attempting to peek at Merrick’s creation.

“You didn’t want to come home for dinner? That hurts. Have a little faith in me, Buffy.” Merrick turned to face Buffy, and arched a brow.

“It’s not dinner I’m worried about.” She sighed. “I’m not looking forward to the meeting. All Hell is going to break loose.” Buffy grabbed an apple. “You know that Giles has already started. They want their puppet back. I can’t and won’t be theirs to command. Giles will want to be my Watcher again, but I don’t trust him. Too much has happened.” Tears were threatening to spill from Buffy’s eyes.

“Hey now.” Merrick placed an arm around her shoulders. “It’ll be okay. You’re not alone this time, and you’re not theirs to control. You’re your own woman, Buffy. Remember that. Plus, you’ve got me on your side. You’ve got a friend you can count on.”

Buffy dried her eyes. “More than one friend, really. There’s you, and Kendra, and maybe I can even call my Mom a friend, after today.”

Joyce had followed Buffy into the kitchen. “I’d be honoured to be called your friend,” she said, joining them at the counter.

“Thanks, Mom.” Buffy hugged her. “Oh, hey. There’s also Clem. Give him a bag of chips and he’ll be your friend for life,” she joked.

Responding to Buffy’s attempt at levity, Joyce went to the stove and lifted the lid on the casserole. “How is dinner coming along, Merrick?” She sniffed. “Hmm. Smells fantastic.”

“Yipes. I forgot to put Kendra’s ice cream in the freezer.” Buffy went to look through the stack of shopping bags.

“It’s in the red bag, Buffy. Pass it to me and I’ll put it away.” Joyce turned to Merrick. “Is Kendra home?”

“Yes. She came in an hour ago. Said she was going up to her room to do her homework. She seems to be a very dedicated girl,” the Watcher said.

“That she is.” Joyce laughed. “In everything she does. Buffy, will you please let her know that dinner is ready? I’ll set the table.”

Buffy grabbed her shopping bags and went upstairs.