Title: Why Me? (Part 6 of the 'Coming Home' Series)
Author: DivaDelilah (divadelilah@aol.com)
Description: Short fic, set after Buffy's return, now a series. Spoilers Season
6.
Disclaimer: In short, not mine. Joss/Fox/SandDollar/Mutant Enemy/UPN own all.
Distribution: Fanfiction.net, Death Marked Love (http://www.angelfire.com/tv2/spikefic/coming.html
), Willow's Ripper, http://www.angelfire.com/super/btvs13/spike_buffy.html,
anything else I okay, including award sites and various lists. Hell, just tell
me where it's going.
Feedback: Mmmmmmmm…feedback. @dr00l@
***********************************************************************
They were just about ready to head to the Sunnydale post office with their supplies
when Angel's cell phone rang. Everyone in the shop jumped, their nerves one
edge. Angel reached down and unclipped the phone from his belt, chuckling at
everyone's surprised expressions.
"Yeah?" he growled into the receiver. "Okay…no…no
Cordy. I said…well, did you tell her…of course I am! Why would I…no!
Okay. Right. I understand." He clicked the off button with a grimace and
faced the group, noting Xander hiding a chuckle. Spike, too, was smirking at
him.
"What was that about a leash, Peaches?" he cracked, elbowing Buffy.
"Shut up, Spike," he sighed.
"Was…was that…," a snicker cut off his words. "Was
it Cordelia?" Xander asked, still laughing. Even Giles smiled, remembering
the brunette's forcefulness.
Angel smiled that unusual smile Willow and Buffy had noticed earlier that day.
Both women noted the significance to themselves: strangely enough, Cordelia
was the one making him happy. Which begged the question of Darla, but it was
a question better asked later.
"Yeah. She tuns our office like a drill sergeant. And she says that I
need to 'get my undead butt in gear' because they think Darla's in labor. Which
means we'll have to forego the PTB visit, not that it'll matter in a couple
of hours. I'll have Wesley fax you the prophecy manuscripts so you can see what
you can find beforehand, Rupert. I'll have my cell with me at all times, so
just call if you get anything."
Buffy pouted at him. "But I thought we were… you know…I wanted
to help."
He put a hand on her shoulder and gazed into her eyes. "I know. But I
have to go. Now. Once the…baby's born, we'll all come down for a visit.
That is barring the world ending or something," he quipped. A low growl
interrupted their moment and Angel smiled at her wryly. "Besides, you have
your attack vamp to keep you company until then."
"Oi! Just reminding you, Peaches," he said, wiggling his tongue and
bobbing his eyebrows.
Buffy shook her head and muttered, "What is my attraction to insanity?"
"I heard that," Angel and Spike chorused.
"So Deadboy's going to LA to birth a mini-Deadboy with the raging she-bitch
and Deadboy, Junior is going to stay here and disgust us by making goo-goo eyes
at Buffy," Xander clarified, looking pointedly at Spike, who was staring
at Buffy.
"Don't forget, Darla will be there, too," Dawn said, fighting a laugh.
She'd never liked Xander's ex-girlfriend for obvious reasons.
"Dawn!" "'Bit!" Spike and Buffy admonished at the same
time.
"Awww, now that was cute," Willow said, her eyes dancing with mirth.
"Quite," Giles agreed, also trying not to laugh.
"What? What is so cute?" Buffy demanded, her hands on her hips.
"The whole Mommy Buffy/Daddy Spike routine. Mustn't let the kid call someone
a bitch… Simply charming!" Xander replied.
"Dad? Me? Did something hit you on the head at work today, bricklayer?"
Spike sputtered.
"You don't want to be my daddy, Spike?" Dawn asked, flashing him
the puppy dog eyes.
"No! I mean… of course, Nibblet. But Buffy's not… and we're
not… you know, married…and I can't--"
"You wouldn't want to marry me, Spike?" Buffy asked softly, a pout
on her face.
"Women with children have baggage, Spike. You've been alive long enough
to know that," Giles deadpanned.
"Buffy, I…if you really wanted to, I'd…but I don't even know
if we c-" He looked at the group, all of them barely containing their giggles.
Realization dawned on him suddenly. "You gits are playing me for a fool.
You'd think I'd be able to tell by now," he grumbled. He gave Dawn a sharp
look and she shrugged, winking at Willow. Giles just shrugged, and Buffy flashed
him a radiant smile. If it made them all this happy, I suppose it's worth
it, he thought.
Angel watched them banter from the shadows near the back of the shop, a smile
flitting across his dark features. When he and Buffy had met after her resurrection,
she had been morose and almost suicidal. He'd been very worried he might receive
that awful phone call again soon, but he hadn't wanted to interfere. She'd obviously
found something to make herself enjoy living again. He hadn't even said anything
when she'd called him 'Spike' during their talk, because he figured it was just
a slip. He hated that Spike was the reason for her happiness, he owed it to
her to let her explore her feelings.
As the gang teased Spike, he made his way to the sewer entrance in the back
room. He could follow the tunnels to Buffy's and get to his car there. Cordelia
would skin him if he didn't get home soon.
As he disappeared, Buffy turned to the group puzzledly. "Where's Angel?"
"Don't know, luv. He probably pulled that Batman thing again. You know
how much he loves doing that," Spike grinned.
"Yeah. He just fades into the corners," Willow offered.
"Like a shadow," Tara added.
"Or a thief," Anya threw in.
Giles sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Well, since Angel had
to leave, I suggest we all adjourn until tomorrow when we know more about Darla's
labor. And I have some transcripts to translate for him."
Buffy nodded eagerly, and Spike grinned. While they were making plans to 'patrol'
later that night, Dawn was checking out the new jewelry shipment Anya had just
finished inventorying. When no one was looking, she snatched a gorgeous amulet
she'd had her eye on since Anya unpacked it. Satisfied no one had noticed, she
pocketed it, just making it before Buffy called for her to leave with them.
Buffy had Spike's hand in hers, and Dawn groaned. "Buffy, I know you have
this love affair with sewers that surely stems from dating dead guys, but do
we have to trudge through the sewers? Can't I have Giles ride me home?"
she whined.
"Dawn…"
"No, it's okay, Slayer. Let the Watcher take her home. Lots of nasties
in the sewers, anyways. No place for a lady," he said, sliding his tongue
behind his teeth. Noting her expression, he backpedaled. "Unless she's
a well-trained lady who could probably kick my arse. Well, only if I was crippled,"
he muttered, trailing off.
Buffy rolled her eyes, and pounded her head lightly against a post. "Why
me? Why do I date people who are crazy?"
"You know, they say like personalities gravitate toward one another,"
Xander quipped.
She cocked an eyebrow at him and grinned. "Two words, Xander. Preying.
Mantis." With that, she grabbed Spike's hand and dragged him toward the
sewer grate.
********************************************
Buffy, Spike and Dawn had been hanging out all day, munching and watching movies.
Darkness fell, and Buffy reluctantly disengaged herself from the warm nest they
made on the couch. "Spike, we have to patrol."
"But Slayer-" "Buf-fy!" They whined in unison.
"No buts! I drag my butt out when I'm miserable and sick, so you can when
you're warm and comfy. Perks of dating the Chosen One," she said laughing.
"Who's coming over to watch Dawn?" he asked.
"Willow will be home soon. Dawn can stay here until then," she replied,
heading upstairs to change into warmer clothing.
"No she can't! She's only fifteen!"
Dawn giggled. "Lazy much?"
"Hush up, you," he growled playfully.
Buffy came running down the stairs. "Come on! You're not even close to
being ready, Spike."
"And he's getting kinda ripe, too," Dawn commented, smirking.
"I am not! Dead people don't stink!" he barked. At their looks, he
amended his statement. "Okay, vampires don't stink."
"Okay, Loverboy. You go to the crypt and get some stuff to wear, and meet
me there, got it?"
"Scout's honor," Spike said, an evil gleam in his eye.
"Why me?" she sighed.
***************************************************
She walked to the cemetery humming to herself. Within ten seconds of her being
there, a vampire attacked her. "God, don't you guys ever take a night off?"
she sang as several more came at her. Buffy gaped as she moved on, staking and
beheading vamps and demons alike, still singing. She found she couldn't stop,
and her eyes widened. What the hell is going on? she thought.