Damage

William Finn was sitting at the kitchen table; glasses perched on his nose, reading the morning paper, even though it was afternoon. He had been holed up in his study all day writing and had just come out to take a break for a late lunch when his 17 year old son, Riley came barreling in through the side door.

“Hi Dad!” Riley dropped his book bag onto the table and went to the fridge to grab a soda.
“Son” Mr. Finn nodded behind his paper.
“Dad, you won’t believe what happened today?” Riley sat down at one of the kitchen table chairs and popped open his can of soda.

Mr. Finn put his paper down to look at his son.
“Well? What won’t I believe?” he asked.
“Buffy took my ring! She said she’d be my girlfriend! Said she’d go steady with me!” Riley beamed proudly.
Spike smiled, “That’s great son. Now…tell me about this…Buffy? Did you say? What kind of name is Buffy anyway?” Mr. Finn questioned his son.
“Look who is talking, SPIKE” Riley jokingly punched his dad in the arm referring to him as the nickname his dad’s friends all used for him.
“Point taken. So…is she pretty?” Spike grinned.
“Of course. She is beautiful” Riley for a dreamy look on his face.

Spike could tell his son was enamored with this Buffy chit.
“Dad! I’ve only been telling you about her for the last couple years!” Riley said exasperated.
“OH! She is THE Buffy.” Spike replied.
“Yeah…how many other Buffy’s do you know?” Riley asked.
“Sorry son. You know how they say the mind is the first to go” Spike teased then both men tensed thinking of the woman upstairs.
"Sorry...shouldn't have sthatthat" Spike apologized.
"It's alright. You didn't mean any harm" Riley replied.

“Well, anyway…she is just great…perfect…and she is my girl now!” Riley continued on.
“Well, I’m happy for you son. Why don’t you go upstairs and tell your mum about Buffy? She could use some good news.” Spike told him.
“Do I have to?” Riley looked down slightly ashamed.
“Riley! She is still your mother. You can at least take 5 minutes out to spend with her.” Spike raised his voice becoming all authoritative Dad.
“Yes, Sir” Riley stood from the table and sulked away to go visit with his mom.

Spike sighed after his son left the room, “I know how you feel. Just can’t let you know that” he mumbled under his breath.
eft eft his paper on the table and took his lunch plate to the counter, setting it in the sink. I’ll do the dishes later, he told himself. He then opened the back door and stepped out onto the porch. He sat down on the steps and pulled his cigarettes out from his pocket and lit one, inhaling deeply.
“Ahhh…Dru…what am I gonna do with you?” he sighed.

“Mom?” Riley said as he opened her bedroom door.
“My beautiful boy has come to visit with me and the pixies” Drusilla said from her bed where she was lounging.
Riley came in and stood by the door.
“Come closer my dear. Let Mummy get a good look at you” she cooed.
Riley moved to the chair by the bed and sat down.
“Dad wanted me to come tell you my good news” Riley informed her.
“Where is that bad dog, Sp” Dr” Drusilla started to make barking noises.

Riley felt uncomfortable around his mom and each passing day she only seemed to get worse.
“Mom…I got a girlfriend. Her name is Buffy. She is real pretty and nice…” Riley began.
“I see sunshine…all around you…no…not you…but bad dog Spike…sunshine floats all around him…and you are in darkness…oh my poor boy…come to Mummy…let her make that nasty girl go away” Drusilla babbled on.
“Mom…please...stop…uhh...I have to go…just wanyou you to know. Love you mom. See you tomorrow.” Riley bolted to the door, closing it behind him.

Drusilla picked up her doll, Miss Edith that was lying next to her on the bed.
“My poor boys…she’ll damage them…won’t she Miss Edith?” she talked to the doll.


Buffy Summers sat with her best friends Willow and Xander on Willow’s bed as they munched on snacks and watched some kung fu movie.
“So, Buffster…what made you finally decide to give old hunk a burning love the green light?” Xander asked.
“Stop it Xander. He is very nice. I just thought…well…he is very nice and I’m 17 and it’s time I had a boyfriend and he is sweet and funny and smart.” Buffy smiled.
“Yeah, he seems alright. He didn’t even pick on me and Will” Xander said.
“He’s not like that” Buffy replied.
“Well, he does hang out with the 3 Queen bitches” Xander grinned.
“Three? Cordelia and Harmony…that’s only two” Buffy counted off.
“Parker is the third Queen Bitch” Willow giggled.
“Willow! Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?” Buffy mocked shock.

“I think Riley is nice and he has liked you for a long time, Buffy. It’s all of the good” Willow smiled at her best friend.
“Thank you Will. Maybe….we can double date with you and…ohh...about yay high, changes his hair color all the time, real quiet but quite the hottie…” Buffy started.
“BUFFY! Stop it. He doesn’t even know I exist” Willow sighed thinking about her crush, Daniel Osborne, better known as Oz.
“I think he does…anyway…you won’t know unless you ask” Buffy egged her on.

Xander rolled his eyes. “Please…enough with the guy talk…I’m approaching total mental breakdown”
“You started it Mister!” Willow piped up.
“Stop or I’ll break your yellow crayon!” Xander teased. When he and Willow were in kindergarten, she had broken a yellow crayon and cried over it.
“HA HA. Very funny.” Willow responded.
“Huh? I don’t get it…” Buffy said.
Willow and Xander just burst out laughing.

DO DO DE DO DEE DEE, Buffy’s cell phone rang.
She grabbed it out of her back pack, “Hello”
“Hi beautiful” came the voice.
“Riley! Hi!” Buffy bounced on the bed.
“Where are you?” Riley inquired.
“I’m at Willow’s with her and Xander. Wanna come over?” Buffy asked him.
“Sure, I’mmy wmy way out the door now. What’s Willow’s address?” Riley responded.
Buffy told him and they hung up, him promising to be there in 15 minutes.

“Dad! Dad! DADDDDDDDDDDDDDD!” Riley yelled, not finding his father in the kitchen where he had left him.
“Bloody hell, I’m out here” Spike called from the back porch.
“Do you have to be so noisy?” Spike said to his son as he came outside onto the porch with him.
“Sorry…didn’t know where you went” Riley answered.
“Well, next time, look before you yell” Spike informed him.
“Sure, I just talked to Buffy. I’m going over to her friend, Willow’s house. What time should I be home for dinner?” he asked.
“Why don’t we order in tonight to celebrate your good news? Chinese sound good?” Spike said.
“Sounds great, Dad.” Riley told him.
“Be home by 7 then. Have fun with your girl” Spike winked at him then thought a second and said, “But not TOO much fun” giving him his stern look.

Riley blushed, “Geez, Dad…alright! We just started going out.”
“I know. I’m just not ready to be a grandfather yet. I’m way too good looking” Spike smirked.
Riley rolled his eyes and waved goodbye, walking to the driveway and getting in his Trans Am to go see Buffy.

Drusillack hck her head out the bedroom window and smelled the smoke drifting up from below.
“Poor William…no one to love but a shadow….bad dog bad dog!” she growled out loud.
Hearing her, Spike sighed and threw his smoke down, grounding it out with his heel as he stood.
He hung his head as he made his way back into the house and upstairs to what was left of his wife.

Continued in Chapter 2- First Date