Closed Door Conversations

It had been two nights since Giles and Wood had conspired to kill Spike. Spike had decided to sleep at a friend’s for a while, until he was sure they had given up with the plan.

“Spike’s been detriggered. The spell worked.” Buffy informed the assembled Scoobies and Potentials the next morning. “He won’t be staying in this house for a few days, until we feel it is safe to return. Certain members of our group decided to kill Spike, without even giving the spell a chance.”

“You can’t fight evil by doing evil. Any of us might be asked to give the ultimate sacrifice. But there will be no murder within this group. Have I made lf clf clear?”

“You all have your training schedules to follow. We’ll patrol tonight at ten. Coming Dawn?.”

The of of the day went quietly, amazingly so. Buffy had the idea that the First was in preparation mode. She wondered if the First had any way of knowing about Spike being detriggered.

At nine she and Spike put flowers on Joyce’ grave. Yellow roses from Spike and white daisies from Buffy. They didn’t talk much, both deep in thought. Then it was patrol time, get the girls back to the house time, bed time.

There was that rustled of leaves by her window. Buffy put down the magazine she was reading, one that belonged to one of the potentials, and watched Spike step through her window.

His face had healed. He smiled slightly as he caught her eye, and her breath stopped for a moment in her throat. He was so beautiful. It just wasn’t fair.

“Hey, I wanted to let you know about something. Nothin’ bad,” he said, noticing the alarm creeping into her eyes.

“Never told you about this before, but I own some property in England. Family place.”

“You own property?” She squeaked.

He laughed. “Yeah, the old family manor, some acreage. There’s money, too, not much, but it keeps the place up.”

“Anyway, I talked to my solicitor recently, and signed some papers and stuff. I hope you don’t mind. I put you and Dawnie on the title. Case I don’t make it. Case the world does. That way you can sell stuff, send Dawnie to college. Whatever. If I don’t make it.”

“And if I do make it, I’ll get over there and sell off some of the antiques. Send her to college, anyway. You, too, if you like.”

Buffy just stared at him, jaw open. “You own property?”

Spike laughed again. She hadn’t seen him laugh this much in...ever.

“Here. Put this paper in a safe place.” He handed her an envelope. It was addressed to a PO box.

“You have a post office box?” she squeaked. “Your last name is--”

“You’ll have to tell Dawnie where the important papers are kept. Just in case we both...”

“Why are you doing this?”

“Why?” His blue eyes blazed into her own. “Because...you and Dawnie are as close to family as I’ll ever have. Because it would be such a waste if something happened to us and Dawnie was left with nothing but the state of California...when I had something that could help her.”

Buffy launched herself at him, sweeping him into a bear hug that would snap a non vampire’s back. Had he read her mind, seen her gnawing worries?

He hugged her back, laughing at her, and then suddenly went still. Too still.

“I’m sorry. Did I hurt you? Are you still sore from Wood’s?”

“No, no. I’m okay. Not used to the friendly hugs and all. I’d better go.” He spoke rapidly, and she could see his Adam’s apple move as he swallowed.

He was gone, swiftly.

Oh. It finally sunk in, why he’d run like the wind. She hadn’t been thinking about That. Their year of wild sex. Half the time she didn’t even fell like a woman, anymore. Just a slayer. A slayer with lots of hormonal teenage ‘daughter

I guess he still thinks of me like That. I thought maybe he didn’t, anymore.

This is all too complicated.

She went to find Dawn. Time to let her know where important papers were kept.