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The Rest of our Lives by Ariel Dawn
 
Mother-ish
 
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Disclaimer: So many other people own Buffy, I really can’t compete with them.
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Chapter 13: Mother-ish

On moving day, the unpacking was going well. Everyone had agreed to their share of the cleaning and unpacking. Buffy was carefully unwrapping the dishes. They had one set per person and really she didn’t want to break anymore dishes.

“Buffy!” yelled Dawn from her bedroom. “The box marked weapons got put here by mistake, come take it to the basement!”

“Get Spike to do it!” Buffy shouted back.

“Did I hear my name?” said Spike as he came up from the basement.

Spike wrapped his arms around the blonde slayer and ground his pelvis into her backside. “Our room is all set up and just waiting to be christened luv,” he purred into her ear.

“Mmm,” responded Buffy, “Too many people in the house, I wanna be loud.” She turned to face him. “Dawn needs you to move the box of weapons from her room to the basement.”

“Did she open the box to make sure there are actually weapons in there? I’m not carting boxes around so you Summers women can ogle my goodies.”

“But they’re so yummy,” Buffy smiled.

“Never mind Buffy! It’s my text books!” shouted Dawn from the second floor.

“When did you get so smart?” chuckled Buffy.

“Must have been all those years as a Master Vampire, must have been good for something.”

Spike leaned in for a kiss only to be interrupted by the doorbell. Buffy rolled her eyes and headed to the front door.

“Better not be neighbours bearing casseroles,” she muttered.

The neighbour across the street had already introduced herself and given them a cake and had promptly fallen in love with Giles. Mrs. Morganson, widow, approximately 45 years old, had flirted relentlessly with her watcher, resulting in Giles’ attempts to be away from the house a great deal today, making trips with the rented van, helping Oz and Spike carry things, doing spontaneous shopping for things that he felt she needed in her house and leaving to have coffee or tea or something with Gable at one point. Right now Giles and Oz were packing up Oz’s stuff to bring to the house.

When Buffy had offered Oz a room to stay in he had happily accepted. He had been living, in a less than nice apartment in the bad side of town. She had more than enough rooms in her house and it was kind of nice to have lots of friends around. Oz was taking one of the rooms in the basement and they were planning on adding a secure metal cage down there for emergencies in a few days. Oz was not completely werewolf free, but he could control it now. He just wanted to be safe.

Buffy opened the door to reveal two young girls, one preteen-ish, holding the other, a sleeping toddler, standing on her front porch.

“You aren’t here to sell me Girl Scout cookies are you?” Buffy asked.

Without muttering a word the elder, sandy blond girl, who looked eleven or twelve, handed Buffy a piece of paper and stood there waiting for her to read it.

“Ok, well why don’t you come in, it’s cold outside,” said Buffy not wanting to heat all of Cleveland.

The girls entered the house and the elder girl dropped the bag she was carrying and headed to the living room without even being shown where to go. She put the little one down on the couch and sat beside her, a scowl apparent on her face.

“Please make with the reading before she wakes up or you will have a two year old you don’t know what to do with on your hands,” said the girl.

Buffy took a long hard look at the children. The elder one was speaking what Dawn would call ‘Buffy speak’ and clearly was exhibiting the most pronounced pout she had ever seen. Her green eyes were angry and scared.

The little one was curled up around a teddy bear. She had cute curly brown hair and was just the cutest little person Buffy had ever seen.

Buffy opened up the piece of paper and started to read, vaguely aware of Spike behind her.

Dear Buffy,

I’ve never written a letter to myself like this before, it’s kinda weird. Anyway, to the point. The two children before you are your own, our own, whatever. They are mine, which makes them yours. Time paradoxes are muchly confusing.

We are fighting the First Evil, again *groan* and I need them safe. I know from hindsight that all is quiet in Cleveland right then, so I hope you won’t think I’m imposing on myself (you) too much.

A is 12, feel free to put her in school. She didn’t want me to tell you her name cause she thinks if you know it you won’t name her that when she’s born (I think she’s nuts). As for D (that’s what A calls her, seems fixated on her middle name for some reason, and FYI don’t flip out when you find out what it is, please) she’s two you can’t really explain time travel to her. In her case I recommend day care.

As D will probably let you know, Spike is their father. I can’t tell you how I conceived them but you don’t have to worry about it happening anytime soon.

I don’t know how long A and D will be with you, but I do know that when this is over and the Cleveland hellmouth is closed either Spike or I or one of their sisters will come and get them personally (if we survive).

I can just think of all the questions floating in your head right now, just for your info, you live a crap long time and you an indecent number of kids (although Spike keeps wanting more, I think he just wants a boy, or maybe he’s still Victorian big family boy).

So I really have to get these kids gone. I’m sure A will fill you in on anything I’ve missed.

Take care of them for me, for us.

Buffy Anne Summers-Graves


Buffy looked from the letter to the kids and back again before handing the letter to Spike.

“I hope you won’t be too offended if I ask you a skill testing question?” asked Buffy as Spike read the letter.

“No,” said A.

“Could, you name your grandparents? All of them?”

A sighed. “Joyce and Hank Summers, William and Anne Graves, Drusilla childe of Angelus and Rupert Giles. All people you consider to be my grandparents. Happy?”

“Let’s just say this is very hard to believe, but I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt for now.”

“Thanks, I think,” sniped A.

“Hey, don’t get all snippy with your mother pet, it’s not exactly something she was expecting today, to have two of her kids show up on the door step from the future,” said Spike folding the letter back up.

“Yes, Da,” said A with her head bowed.

“So what are we to call you? Or is “A” good for you?” asked Buffy.

“You can call me Amy, it’s not my name but it’s ok.”

“Alright then, Amy lets get you settled. I only have 3 rooms currently not assigned.”

“No worries, Mum said you had our rooms still available, though one of them is earmarked for uncle Xander. Mum said that you also don’t have any furniture in our rooms yet, so she wished you happy shopping.”

“Ah crap, one other thing to do today. You might have to sleep on the couch or bunk with Dawn.”

“Dawn?”

“My sister?”

“Oh, Auntie Dawn, yeah, ok I remember her, Vicky used to tell me stories about crusty old Auntie Dawn.”

“Crusty?”

“Well I’m sure she was at the time, I mean Vicky’s been around forever. Vicky said she was way old and smelled like medicine all the time.”

Buffy started to laugh. “Dawn is Seventeen here. Exactly how far in the future are you from?”

“Nope, Mum said I couldn’t tell you that.”

“Wonderful. You want something to eat?” offered Buffy. “I think Dawn was going to make grilled Cheese or something.”

“Ok.”

“Great,” said Buffy. “Dawn!” Buffy shouted up the stairs. “Come and make lunch, we have guests.”

“Slayer! Did you want to wake up the littler bit?” said Spike.

“Actually yes,” said Buffy. “Amy why don’t you take your bag upstairs to your room?”

“Ok,” Amy trudged out of the room.

Buffy pulled Spike into the kitchen.

“Oh my god Spike, what the hell am I going to do with a 12 year old and a 2 year old? I don’t know anything about kids.”

“Raised Dawn alright, and I’ll help you, they are mine too you know,” he said proudly.

“I’m not ready to be a mom so soon. I need, like 9 months to get used to the idea!”

“Ok, I’m here!” said Dawn as she entered the kitchen, “Who is this company?”

Buffy handed Dawn the letter and watched as Dawn’s eyes bugged out of her head.

“I’m an aunt!” Dawn whispered. “ An indecent number of kids? One word, birth control. Hey, I thought Vampires couldn’t, you know, get anyone pregnant?”

“That’s what we thought too,” said Buffy. “But right now we need lunch, then we have to go shopping for furniture, and clothes for Amy and D.”

The two year old ran into the kitchen.

“Mummy! Up!” said the toddler with a smiled on her face.

Buffy picked up the little girl. For the first time, Buffy saw D’s eyes, they were crystal blue, just like Spike’s.

“D, this is your Auntie Dawn.”

Dawn waved to the little girl.

“Dawn, lunch. I am going to spend time with my kid. You are just the most precious little girl,” cooed Buffy as she took the toddler back into the living room.

“I don’t think I’m ready to hear baby talk coming from your mouth quite yet,” muttered Dawn.

Buffy returned to the living room and sat on the couch, D happily on her lap.

“You are just the prettiest little toddler I have ever set my eyes on,” cooed Buffy.

Buffy looked up to see Amy return to the living room.

“Geez, its so bloody primitive here, its what 2003? This is completely noidal.”

“Noidal?”

“It’s slang, you’re old you aren’t meant to comprehend,” said Amy.

“Hey!”

“Well at least you aren’t as old as Da.”

“I guess.” Buffy looked down at D then at Amy. “Look I realize that this is way weird for you but it’s weird for me too. So if you could give me some slack on the mother front. If I’ve had the indecent number of children, I must be a better mom then rather than now.”

“Mummy! Cat!” called D, drawing Buffy’s attention back to the toddler.

“We don’t have a cat, sweety,” said Buffy.

“Cat, Cat, Cat.”

“Does she have a cat at home?”

“No, she’s just yelling out things she shouldn’t. She’s two. She doesn't know any better.”

“Aweel? Play Cat?”

“No, D.”

“Aweel?” D’s lip started to tremble, but broke into a smile when Spike entered the room. “Da!”

Buffy hoisted her daughter up into his arms.

“Da!”

Spike smiled proudly.

“Cat-rin Dusilly Gaves”

Amy groaned.

Buffy and Spike froze.

“Is...is that her name?” stammered Buffy.

Amy nodded. “You’ve done it now D.”

D just clapped her hands.

“Why the hell would I name my kid after your ho of an ex?” Buffy seethed.

“Hey, she’s my sire, I’m sure we named one of our kids after Joyce,” defended Spike.

“Whoa...guys...”

“My mom wasn’t a raving lunatic,” countered Buffy.

“Parentals...”

“I’ve just as much right to name my kids after Dru as you have to name her after your mum. Amy, what’s your middle name?” asked Spike.

“Oh good grief,” said Amy. “I knew this wasn’t going to last. Vicky warned me about this, Grace too. Please will you just calm down.” Amy exhaled. “Da is right, my sisters have been named after Grandma Joyce, and Grandma Anne and Drusilla. You decided a long time ago that we would each have a middle name of someone in the family.”

Dawn walked in on the discussion.

“D here is Catherine Drusilla. And I’m Ariel Dawn.”

“You named your kid after me?” exclaimed Dawn, “You guys are so great.”

Buffy smiled. “Thanks crusty old Aunt Dawn.”

“You have to promise to name us that when we are born though,” continued Ariel.

“And Vicky and Grace are two of your other sisters?” asked Buffy.

“Yes,”

“See we named a kid after your sister, Spike,” offered Buffy, trying to placate the vampire.

“Spike had a sister?” asked Dawn.

“Two actually and no I didn’t kill them. They died of natural causes,” said Spike, bouncing Cat up and down

“Is lunch ready yet Dawn?” asked Buffy.
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Lunch was consumed in relative peace, with Andrew joining them from his attic room shortly after he smelled food. He took the news that Ariel and Cat were Buffy and Spike’s kids in stride. He didn’t particularly like kids, but he could see that Dawn adored them.

Shortly after the dishes were cleared away, Oz and Giles arrived at the kitchen door with Oz’s stuff. Buffy had sent Ariel to write down all the things she thought she needed for her room and for Cat’s room. Cat was playing with Dawn in her room.

Spike took a box from Giles and trudged down into the basement and Oz’s room, leaving the other two men to bring in stuff from the van.

“Andrew! Get your butt down here and help the guys out!” shouted Buffy.

“You know you could help too luv,” said Spike as he came back up the stairs. “Slayer strength and all.”

“Nope, I was raised to believe that the women had the babies and the men did the heavy lifting. And hey, now I have the babies!” she smiled.

“That you do luv,” he said.

“I’m feeling very motherly right now, I wonder if I could learn to make cookies.”

“Gah! I refuse to let you burn down the house on the first day we live here!” said Dawn coming into the kitchen, carrying Cat.

“Ya, ya, rub it in that I can’t cook.”

“It doesn’t get better” came Ariel’s voice from the dining room entrance to the kitchen.

“Great,” pouted Buffy.

Cat saw the pout and reached towards her mother. “Mummy? Hug?”

Buffy scooped up Cat and held her tight.

Giles and Oz, returned with Oz’s mattress.

“Hey, there are kids in the kitchen,” observed Oz. “Did they come with the house?”

Buffy laughed.

Giles did a double take, as Spike took his end of the mattress and helped Oz down the stairs. Off came the glasses and the watcher whipped out a handkerchief.

“Buffy? Dare I ask whose children these are?”

“Who’s he?” asked Ariel.

“Giles, meet Ariel and Catherine, I have kids!” Buffy beamed.

Dawn handed Giles the letter from future Buffy. The whole group waited in silence for Giles to peruse the letter.

“And have you verified the identity of the children? Forgive me but this seems highly suspicious. Vampire’s can’t father children.”

“Well I beg to differ Giles, look at them! You cannot possibly deny that they are my kids Giles. Catherine has Spike’s eyes.”

“I’ll need to research this.”

“Why? Look the letter said that Buffy couldn’t tell us how they were conceived, why can’t we just remain in blissful ignorance until it happens?” said Dawn “You’ll spoil all the fun for when she is actually pregnant.”

“I suppose. It is all rather peculiar.”

Ariel walked up to Giles and scrutinized him carefully.

“So you are grandpa Giles. Huh...I thought you’d be, I don’t know, more posh.”

“Dear Lord...”

“Ariel...” warned Buffy.

“Can we go shopping now?” asked Ariel. “I need to find out what is cool here. Before you enrol me into an ancient education system where they probably still rely on paper.”

Buffy rolled her eyes. “Ok, ok, clothes shopping, bed shopping, again.”

Spike and Oz came up the stairs.

“Ya, I see it. Cute kids,” said Oz, reaching the top of the stairs.

“Thanks,” Buffy beamed.

“So who’s this then?” asked Ariel.

“Manners pet,” warned Spike.

“Oh, right. Hi, I’m Ariel Dawn Graves, but you can call me Ariel, and you are?” Ariel extended her hand to be shaken.

Oz returned the gesture. “Daniel Seth Osborn, but you can call me Oz.”

“Pleasure. So now that we are all acquainted, can we go shopping now?”
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tbc...
 
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