Be A Man

Buffy arrived home just before the clock struck midnight, letting herself into the house and getting the shock of her life when she saw her mom standing in the hallway, her white bathrobe reflecting the moonlight through the window onto her pale face while she clutched a glass of water in her hand.



“Mom?” Buffy asked softly, unsure if she was ok. Joyce smiled weakly, popping a handful of pills into her mouth and swigging the remnants of her water to wash them down before replying.

“Headache.” She said softly. “I’ll be fine. Good patrol?” Buffy smiled. Her mom never asked her about patrol, it was like an unwritten rule of the house. Buffy never kept important things from her and Joyce never asked about how close to death her daughter had gotten that night.

Ensuring the Joyce was safe back in bed, Buffy stripped off her clothes and slipped under the covers, the heat of the night making forgoing pyjamas the best choice.

Ignoring the feeling of being watched that had stuck with her all night she settled down, Mr Gordo tucked under her chin as she drifted off.

Spike sat in the boughs of the tree outside Buffy’s window watching helplessly as she slept. He had no idea why he was still doing this. There was more chance of needing ski suits in hell than of Buffy returning even a smidgen of his affections.

He grimaced, beginning his descent down the tree when he began to smell the imminent dawn, taking cover on the shaded porch even though he knew he wouldn’t burn he took no chances with sunrise. The most powerful time of day and many a time he had awoken at this time of day with some appendage merrily burning. Watching the colours creep into the lightening sky he sat contentedly until it was fully light and Joyce entered the kitchen.

This being the last full week of vacation, Dawn was excited to get everything finished in the penthouse ready for her mom on Friday and her friends the week after. They just needed some finishing touches which was a perfect excuse for another trip to the mall!

Jumping out of bed she washed and brushed her teeth rapidly, headed down to the kitchen in time to steal Buffy’s toast and disappeared with Spike, promising to be back well before dark this time.

Joyce sat on the kitchen stool, her face a twisted grimace as the sharp throbbing inside her had continued it’s assault on her mind making it almost impossible to think, let alone hold a conversation.

Buffy stood before her demanding why she let Spike take Dawn each day. Not finding the strength to argue she managed to put her off, claiming a work excuse and leaving Buffy alone while she headed to the Doctors. There was no point telling her girls she needed an appointment at the Doctors as unnecessary worry was just pointless.

It was only when the Doctor sat her down to tell her the results of her recent tests did she begin to understand that telling them would be inevitable...