Growing Up

Chapter 2

Buffy walked out of the college later that day and saw that Spike was already waiting by the car. She walked over to him and he gave her a smile. “So, how was the first day?” He said as he opened the door for her. She shrugged and got in.

“It was okay.” She replied as he closed the door and went to his side of the car. He got in and started the car up as he drove away from the college. Again the silence was too much for Spike.

“How were the classes? I bet the teachers were boring.” She smiled as she thought about Professor Donovan and then wiped the smile off of her face.

“Yep, very boring. Could hardly keep myself awake.” Spike nodded in understanding, when Buffy looked at him. “Right, I forgot. I’m not talking to you.” She said as she looked out the window and away from him. Spike rolled his eyes.

“You know, you really are a brat.” Buffy turned back to him and stuck her tongue out. He then gave her his trademark smirk. “I suggest you don’t do that, unless you want me to bite that tongue off.” Buffy immediately put her tongue back in her mouth and continued to look out the window, without talking to him the rest of the way home.


* * * * *


They got home and Buffy went right upstairs, without saying anything to her mother. Joyce looked at Spike. “I see it went well.” She said sarcastically and Spike shrugged.

“You know how she is; she’s still mad at me and basically pissed at the world. She’s a typical teenager. I wasn’t that bad, was I?” Joyce smiled at him.

“You weren’t as bad as you are now.” Spike returned her smile, taking it as a compliment.

“I was wondering if I could stay here tonight. I really don’t feel like going to my apartment. It can get lonely sometimes.” He said and Joyce nodded in understanding.

“You still have your room. You know you can stay here anytime you want. Your father called and said he would be working late tonight.” Spike rolled his eyes.

“What else is new? He’s hardly ever around these days. Doesn’t that bother you?” Spike asked her and Joyce shook her head.

“He has an important job, it’s understandable.” Spike laughed at that.

“An important job? The man is a high school librarian. He’s not saving the world.” He explained and Joyce thought about it.

“Well, it’s an important job to him. He likes being around kids.” Spike’s voice took on a sad tone as he answered her.

“Yeah, except his own.” Joyce put her hand on Spike’s shoulder.

“You know how much your father loves you.” She said and Spike looked at her.

“He has a weird way of showing it. I know I don’t get to see him much because I moved out, but I never really did even when I lived here. Buffy was telling me the other day that she feels like she hasn’t seen him in weeks. He’s never here for you or her it seems.” Joyce nodded at what he was saying.

“I can handle your father, Spike. I know how much he loves this family.” Spike nodded also and decided to drop the subject.

“I think I’m gonna head upstairs now. Maybe take a nap, feeling a bit knackered.” He went upstairs and Joyce thought about what he said. She married Hank right out of college and they were so in love. Buffy came along and all that seemed to change. Hank decided that he was too young to deal with the responsibility of a child and he left when Buffy was only a year old. They haven’t heard from him since. When Buffy was 6, Joyce met Rupert. He just moved there from England after the death of his wife. She fell for him instantly and a year later, they got married. Soon after that, Rupert and little William moved into their house and they have been a family ever since. Joyce wasn’t worried. She knew Rupert was a good man. He would never do anything to hurt his family.


* * * * *


Buffy walked out of her room later that night and headed to the bathroom. She stopped when she heard a guitar coming from Spike’s old room. She walked over there and opened the door a crack to see Spike sitting on his bed playing the guitar. She smiled because it was something she hasn’t seen in a while. She opened the door wider and he looked up and saw her standing there. He stopped playing and put his guitar down. “You still mad at me?” He asked her and she waved her hand in the air and walked into the room.

“I’m over it. I just wanted to give you a hard time. It’s in my nature.” Spike smiled at her.

“Don’t I know it.” He saw her just standing there and sighed. “Come over here.” He said and she smiled as she jumped on his bed. He laughed at her antics as she tried to make herself more comfortable. She rested her head on his shoulder.

“I miss this. Why did you have to move?” He let out another sigh.

“You know why, Buffy. It wouldn’t be cool if I still lived with my parents. I have to live my own life.” Buffy looked up at him.

“Why can’t I move in with you?” Spike laughed until he saw the look on her face and realized she was serious.

“You know Joyce wouldn’t allow that and I can’t look after you all the time.” Buffy got angry and moved away from him.

“I don’t need you to look out for me. What part of I can take care of myself does no one get? You’re supposed to be different and yet you still treat me like a kid, just like them. I need to get out of this house if I ever want to grow up because mom sure as hell isn’t letting me.” Spike put his arm around her and pulled her back down on the bed.

“It’ll take time, your mum just worries about you. You know that.” Buffy sighed this time.

“I know that. She also wants to keep me here because she doesn’t trust me.” Spike looked down at her.

“That’s not true.” He told her and Buffy looked back at him.

“Oh, really? Who was the one that burned down the gym in high school? Which was so by accident, but still caused me to get suspended. Who was the one that got pregnant at 15 and had a miscarriage? Who was the one that got caught smoking in the bathroom at school, which led to another suspension? I can go on.” Spike nodded and held up his hand.

“Okay, so you made some mistakes. Who hasn’t? May I remind you the many times I was caught smoking? Or the time I was found having sex in the janitor’s closet at school?” Buffy smiled at that.

“Yeah, that was a good one.” Spike slapped her leg lightly and grew serious again.

“You see my point. We both made mistakes and Joyce is still there for us. She loves you and only wants what’s best for you.” Buffy looked away from him.

“She never wants me to leave this house. I’m going to grow old here, I can tell. I'm gonna get married and end up raising my kids here. If you made just as much mistakes, how come you were allowed to move out?” Spike sighed for the millionth time.

“I’m older than you. When you’re older, you’ll be allowed to move out also. You only turned 18 recently. You just have to be patient.” Buffy glared at him.

“I’m not a very patient person.” She said and he smiled when he thought of something.

“No, but you are a very ticklish one.” He replied as he then started to tickle her stomach. She laughed and tried to push him away.

“Stop, you jerk! That’s not fair!” She continued to laugh, when Joyce walked upstairs and heard what was going on in Spike’s room. She looked in to find Spike tickling Buffy. Joyce smiled when she saw her daughter. It has been a while since she’s laughed like that. She always liked how Spike could bring that out of Buffy. They may fight constantly, but Joyce knew that they really cared for each other. She would soon realize just how much.