Here and Now

Thanks to anon, wiccangirl314, and txjmfan. Ok, but who else is reading this? If u love it, hate it, sorta like it, whatever, please review at least once! Because lots of love, or flaming, anything is better than indifference- cause it means u don’t give a damn. And I hope u do.

5:30 p.m.


Willow hadn’t felt that sated in, well, ever. She enjoyed their games as much as Xander did, consequently wearing them both out. That’s why she didn’t hear the doorbell, even though it was well on its fifth ring. Willow didn’t get up until the phone on the night stand by their bed began ringing. Feeling quite drowsy, she picked it up with clumsy hand.

“Hello?” She said in a dry, raspy voice.

“Jesus, Red. You goin’ to open up the door or not?” A slightly irked Spiked asked into the receiver.

“Yeah, I’m coming.” She said with a loud yawn into the phone before hanging up.

“Xander, Spike’s here.” Xander mumbled something unintelligible in response before turning over on his side. Willow sighed heavily as she slowly rose from the bed, getting her robe from behind her bedroom door. Tying the sash and idly wondering if she had bed head [she did], she headed to the front hall and unlocked the door. Before she could question his presence, Spike went barreling past her, clearly agitated.

“You won’t bloody believe the day I’ve had. Rewrites are kicking my ass. So, she ready yet? ” He looked at her expectantly.

“Spike, what are you…” and then she remembered- Dawn. She was supposed to have picked up Dawn. Her eyes went wide as she threw her hands over her mouth, covering up her shouted “Oh god!”

“What’s with you red? Kids are kinda quiet. What, you give them a dose, or something?” He asked with a light smile. Willow felt sick to her stomach.

“Oh, Spike, I-“

“Dawn! Come on, it’s time to go!” He shouted, assuming she was upstairs with Jesse.

“You look ill, pet. Is everything alright?” He asked while going to her side, ever considerate. Willow listlessly shook her head.

“No, Spike. She- I, I forgot. To pick her up… and-“

“What?” Spike said, clearly startled, and seemingly unsure of what she meant.

“I’m so, so sorry, I forgot. I don’t know what I was thinking, and-“

“Willow, what the fuck do you mean you forgot?! Then where the hell is she?!”

SSSSSSSSSSSSS

3:55 p.m.

“Wait. I wanna check something out first. You mind if drive by there?” Dawn asked, giving her mo- Drusilla Willow’s address. She just wanted to make sure everything was all right.

“Are you going inside, or…” Drusilla trailed off, unsure of what was going on. Dawn spotted the infamous green mini van in the driveway. “She forgot about me,” Dawn whispered to herself. “Right, cause it’s not like I’m of any importance or anything.” She said glumly.

“Dawnie, that’s not true.” Drusilla said in a soothing voice, though it did anything but.

“Oh, what would you know? And don’t call me ‘Dawnie.’ Take me home, please.” She said, looking out of the window and clearly ignoring her. Drusilla nodded her head more to herself than Dawn and put the rented silver Camry in drive. About ten minutes later, they arrived at casa de Giles.

“So, you like want anything to drink or something?” Dawn asked, trying to mask her nervousness. It felt odd, having her there. It almost felt like Drusilla, the woman who birthed her, was some sort of intruder. She knew that her dad would be mighty angry if he found out. Which is why she planned on never telling him. ‘Better make this visit quick,’ Dawn thought to herself, thinking that somehow that just by Drusilla simply breathing there her dad would somehow discover the truth, knowing that she had been there. He’d more than likely view it as sacrilegious.

“No. But thank you. Is it okay if I sat down?” She asked, motioning towards the couch. Dawn nodded her head, sitting down at the other end, hesitantly.

“Why’d you come back?” Dawn asked, emotionless and looking at her fidgeting hands.

“I didn’t mean to bother you, or anything like that. I was just wondering how you were? If maybe, you’d had any questions for me?” Drusilla asked, shifting her body so that she faced Dawn. She still wouldn’t look at her.

“Well, I guess I always wondered why you left?” Drusilla exhaled a deep breath, tucking some of her long raven hair behind her ear.

“I, uh, I had some issues, Dawn. I wasn’t well. I wasn’t fit to be your mother.”

“And what, now you are?” Dawn asked, clearly sarcastic, finally looking at her. Drusilla’s eyes began to water.

“I just, I just wanted you to know that I’m better now, and if you ever need me, for anything, I’ll do it. No questions asked, or…”

“Then why come now? Why not earlier, or-“

“I did. It was a few years ago. Four, actually.”

“But you never said anything, right? I would’ve remembered seeing you.” Dawn said, uncertainty creeping upon her. She didn’t want to think that maybe she did and her dad just didn’t tell her, but she couldn’t help the thought from forming.

“No. I saw you, the both of you, but I didn’t say anything.” Dawn breathed a sigh of relief.

“Why? Why didn’t you say anything?”

“I was afraid. I didn’t know how William would react, or-“

“It’s Spike, now.”

“What?”

“He doesn’t go by that name anymore. He says it reminds him of things past he’d really rather forget.” Drusilla knew exactly what she meant. “So, you’re not afraid anymore? Is that why you came?”

“Actually, Dawn, I had something I needed to ask of you. Well, I have something to tell you first, but… See, these last few years, I’ve been living in New York. I was pretty down, and lonely… and I met someone. I thought that you were old enough to know.”

“Pft. That’s all? You met someone? Well, that’s good, I guess.” Dawn said, thankful that her and her father had Buffy in their lives.

“Actually, no. That’s not all, Dawn. You see…”