A/N - Sorry for the delay in updating, got a little sidetracked with bronchitis.
Mega-hugs to AthenaHahn for her wonderful betaing

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Buffy darted to Joyce’s side and caught her before she hit the ground.  “Dawn, go get me a cold cloth, please.”  Buffy gently stroked the softly curled hair of the woman in her arms.  “Wake up Joycie, I’m here and everything is okay.”

 

Dawn ran back into the room with the cold cloth and dropped to her knees beside her mom and Buffy. “Is she okay?  I didn’t mean to make her pass out Buffy.  Honest.”

 

“She’ll be okay Dawn.  I think she was just a little shocked to see me.  After all it has been, what, 6 years since she saw me in person?”  Buffy sat there on the floor, cradling Joyce’s unconscious body to her chest and sighed.  “I really should have called first, and warned her.”  Glancing over at the door, she raised one eyebrow and queried, “Are you guys gonna just stand in the doorway all night or are you gonna come in and close the door?”

 

Xander just stood there, mouth hanging open.  “Did she… are you… no way,” he stuttered.

 

Meanwhile, Spike pushed him into the house and shut the door behind them.  “Is she gonna be alright, Luv?”

 

“She’ll be fine.  It was probably just the shock of seeing me after so long.” Buffy distractedly replied.  She leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on Joyce’s forehead and whispered softly, “Wake up my little Joy.  Everything is okay.”

 

Xander continued to stutter and stumble over his words, muttering to himself.  “There is no… I don’t believe… it’s impossible…”  He glanced over at Joyce and Buffy and shook his head in disbelief.  He stumbled over to a chair and collapsed. 

 

Buffy looked up at Spike and asked, “Can you carry her over to the couch for me, please?  This floor isn’t exactly the most comfortable place to be.”

 

Spike crouched down and slid his right arm under Joyce’s knees and his left arm behind her shoulders.  That he also managed to brush Buffy’s breasts with his hand was a just a lucky bonus.  “Sure thing, Luv.”  He winked at Buffy as he slowly stood up, cradling Joyce against his chest.

 

As he walked over to the couch, Buffy started to gracefully rise to her feet.   She was thrown off balance, however, when the door was thrust open, slamming into her.  The hulking figure that burst through the doors latched his fingers onto Dawn’s shoulder and dragged her towards him. “Where have you been? I’ve been looking all over town for…” His tirade was abruptly quelled by the press of a sharp edge to his throat.

 

“Remove your hands from the girl, and step back.  NOW!”  Buffy’s hard, cold voice seemed to shatter in the air.

 

Xander fell off his chair, laughing while pointing at the dumfounded expression on the intruder’s face.  “Oh man… you should see yourself Angel.  You look like you’re about to piss yourself.”

 

Placing Joyce on the couch and motioning to Dawn to sit beside her, Spike joined Buffy at the door.  “Looks like she’s got you now Peaches.  I suggest you do exactly what she tells you.”

 

“Yeah DeadBoy.  Just ask Dawn what happened to the last guy,” Xander gasped, trying to catch his breath from laughing.

 

“This purple thing tried to grab me, and *SWOOSH* she lopped off his parts!” Dawn exclaimed.

 

Angel winced at the graphic imagery produced by Dawn’s enthusiastic words.  Then his attention was caught by the woman holding the sword at his throat.  He allowed his eyes to wander over the nubile body of the woman in front of him.  “Hello, my name is Angel.  What’s yours little girl?”  One could almost see the insincere charm ooze off his tongue.

 

Buffy raised one eyebrow and looked at him in disbelief.  She turned to Spike and asked, “Is this guy for real?  Does he actually think crap like that works?”

 

“Unfortunately, he thinks he’s god’s gift to the world.  Always has, and probably always will.  And the soul those gypsies stuck in him don’t help the issue much either,” Spike remarked.

 

Xander climbed to his feet, still laughing.  “From what I’ve read, he also has a ‘thing’ for young girls.  And I do mean YOUNG.  Which is why Mrs. Summers doesn’t like him in her house.”  Turning to Angel he questioned, “Why are you here anyway DeadBoy?”

 

Before Angel could open his mouth, Spike smirked and said,” He probably figured that if he found Dawn, he might get Joyce to like him.”  Glancing at Buffy he whispered, rather loudly, “An’ she really doesn’t like him… at all.”

 

Buffy laughed softly.  “She always did have a good instinct for people out to hurt what’s hers.”  Turning to Angel, her voice hard and cold once more, “I suggest you leave.  Now.  Before I change my mind and remove one more idiot from this plane of existence.”

 

Turning her back on Angel, she sheathed her sword in one smooth motion as she walked towards the couch.  Spike gave Angel a little push out the door, and then locked it behind him.

 

He turned back towards the couch and heard Xander ask Buffy, “So, you are Mrs. Summers’ mom.  How exactly does that work?” 

 

Eager to hear the answer, Spike looked at Buffy with his head cocked to one side.  “I’d kinda like to know the answer to that one myself.  Gonna share with the rest of the class, Luv?”

 

Slipping her sword-harness off her back and leaning it against the wall beside the couch, Buffy laughed softly, her hazel eyes sparkling with green fire.  “Why do I have the feeling that neither one of you will believe me?”

 

Dawn leaned over and playfully punched Buffy on the shoulder.  “You just don’t want to admit your real age.  Can you even remember your real age?” she asked with a grin.

 

Xander, bouncing like a little puppy, piped up, “C’mon you can tell us, and we won’t say a word.  Will we Spike?”  He glanced over at Spike for confirmation.

 

“Speak for yourself Harris.  I’ll say what I please, when I please.  Don’t mean I’m gonna go spill the lady’s secrets.  Just sayin’, don’t make promises for me.”  Spike grumbled at Xander.

 

With a soft sigh, Buffy sank onto the chair.  “You guys probably won’t believe this, but I am far older than I look.”