Damage

Subdued preparations were made for Buffy's 18th birthday. Joyce wanted her daughter to have a nice birthday on one hand but on the other, she knew this meant her authority over Buffy was over and she would be with Spike whether she liked it or not. Giles flew in for the event which made Buffy extremely happy. Joyce, however, was a bit miffed. She had had phone conversations with Giles regarding the situation with Buffy and Spike and Giles appeared to be much more open to the relationship. It must be his Europeaness or his solidarity with Spike for being British, Joyce mentally scoffed.

After Giles arrived, he witnessed a heated argument between mother and daughter about Spike being invited. Finally he had had enough.
"Enough! Bloody hell, Joyce, I know you despise the man but he IS the father of your upcoming grandchild and Buffy IS 18 today so can't you just try to be cordial for the party?" Giles said.
Joyce's eyes widened and Buffy snickered.
"That's enough out of you too, young lady. I may agree with you on this particular matter but you still need to respect your mother. This is her home." Giles told Buffy.
"Sorry Giles" Buffy looked down.
"Fine! Invite the child molester! I don't care anymore" Joyce left the room.
"He isn't a child molester, Giles. Please don't think he is like that. He would never..." Buffy began.
"I know Buffy. You just have to put yourself into your mother's shoes. You may be an adult technically now but you're still your mother's little girl. She worries. She loves you very much and doesn't want to see your life thrown away. Just be patient. She will come around." Giles hugged her.
"Thank you Giles. I'm going to go call Spike now." Buffy went in search of the telephone.

"Hello" Spike answered his phone.
"What are you wearing?" Buffy grinned into her phone.
"I thought I'm the dirty old man who is supposed to be calling you and asking YOU that?" Spike replied.
Buffy giggled in response.
"How is my birthday girl?" Spike asked.
"Good. I will be great when you get here though. Giles talked Mom into letting you come." Buffy informed him.
"Do you think that is a wise choice?" Spike responded.
"You're asking the wrong person about making wise choices I think but I want you to come and I think you should come. Mom will be "cordial" as Giles puts it. Please?" Buffy explained.
"You know I am incapable of saying "no" to you. What time should I be there and should I wear a bullet proof vest?" Spike joked.
"Har de har har. Very funny. 7pm and don't forget my presents." Buffy teased back.
"I knew you were only after me for my money" Spike replied.
"Stop it. That's not funny. I don't care about your money. You know that, right?" Buffy's voice turned serious.
"I know sweetheart. I was just teasing you." Spike told her.
"Umm..Spike..do you think I should invite Riley? I don't want him to feel left out....but it will be awkward.." Buffy started.
"I think that's a very generous idea, Buffy. I will ask him. It's not like it won't already be awkward regardless. Why not add some more? Seriously, I don't know if he will come but I will ask him so be prepared if he does show up with me" Spike said.
"Alright. Sounds good. I will see you at 7 then. I love you" Buffy smiled into the phone.
"I love you too Sunshine. Bye." Spike said before hanging up.

Joyce walked into the room, "So, is HE coming?"
"Yes and Riley might come too." Buffy informed her.
"Oh how nice. Father and son. The son you used to date before you started sleeping with his father. This should be a grand occasion." Joyce rolled her eyes and left the room again.

Dawn had just finished helping her mom put up the last of the decorations when the doorbell rang, "I'll get it!" she jumped up and ran to the front door.
Opening it revealed Xander and Willow, arms laden with gifts. "It's an official party now. The Xanman is here!" Xander smiled at Dawn.
"Hey Dawnie" Willow smiled too.
"Hey guys. Come on in. Buffy is still getting ready. She should be down in a few minutes."
Dawn escorted them to the living room and showed them where to put their presents.
"Ohhh...horduerves!" Xander made a beeline for the table containing multiple food items Joyce had just set out.
"Save some room for cake and ice cream too Xander." Joyce smiled at the young man. Now why couldn't Buffy had found a nice young man her own age like Xander, she thought.
"I always have room for cake and ice cream, Mrs. Summers" Xander replied with his face stuffed full of food.
On second thought, he could use a few more manners, Joyce thought.

The next to arrive was Oz. Buffy had finished getting ready and was downstairs to greet him. He gave a nod and a monotonous "Happy Birthday" and went in search of Willow. Giles joined the group of youngsters in the living room. The doorbell rang again and everyone froze. Only one person was left. Buffy stood and announced she would get it but Giles stopped her.
"I'll get it Buffy." he said.
Buffy gave him a questioning look but agreed.
Giles made his way to the door and opened it to reveal Spike and Riley standing there, both looking rather nervous and queasy.
Spike straighened up at the sight of the other British man and put on his brave face.
"Mr. Giles, if I remember correctly?" Spike said extending his hand.
"Mr. Finn. Yes." Giles said, taking the offered hand to shake it.
"This is my son, Riley" Spike introduced his son.
"Nice to meet you young man" Giles shook his hand as well.
"Please come in. The other are waiting in the living room." He gestured to Riley. "Mr. Finn, might I have a moment of your time alone?"
"Of course and it's Spike. Please call me Spike." Spike replied.

The two men came in and Riley went towards the living room while Giles motioned Spike to the dining room on the opposite side of the hall.
"I probably don't need to be even having this conversation with you but you'll have to endulge me" Giles began.
"I think I know what you're going to say" Spike responded.
"I have been much more agreeable with Buffy about this situation and relationship than with Joyce. However, that doesn't mean I am jumping for joy with excitement over what has transpired. I just believe that what's done is done and we must move on. We cannot go back and change what has happened but I am going to tell you this once and only once; If you do anything to hurt that little girl in there, I will personally rip your dick off and stuff it down your own throat. Are we clear on this matter?" Giles finished.
Spike's eyes widened in shock as he watched what appeared to be an old fuddy duddy librarian type transform into something akin to Jack the Ripper before his very eyes. He swallowed the lump in his throat and answered, "O.K. that's NOT what I thought you were going to say but I am clear. Crystal clear."
"Good, now, shall we join the others and have some jolly festivities?" Giles transformed back into himself.
"Yes, please" Spike quickly dropped the subject and followed the elder gentleman to join the party.

Buffy crossed over to where Riley stood looking around nervously.
"Riley. I'm glad you could come." she smiled trying to make him feel at ease.
"I brought you this" Riley gestured to the gift he was holding.
"Oh, you didn't have to do that but thank you. I'll show you where you can put it" she walked him over to the gift table.
"I know this is kinda weird for us, Riley but I really do appreciate you coming and being nice and all." Buffy told him.
"It is weird. I'm still getting used to it all. I just want you to be happy, Buffy. That' all I ever wanted." Riley teared up.
"Thank you Riley. Why don't you go over and hang with the gang? They're still your friends even if we aren't together anymore. I'm going to get some more finger foods from the kitchen" Buffy said.

Spike veered off from Giles when he saw Buffy heading towards the kitchen and followed her in there.
"Surprise" he said as he walked up behind her and put his arms around her. "Miss me?"
"Yes, is Giles finished scaring you half to death?" Buffy turned in his arms.
"I believe so. I never knew that much tweed could be so scary. So you knew about his plan to corner me?" Spike questioned.
"No, not until he said he would get the door when the bell rang. I knew he was going to do his, "You hurt her and I'll hurt you" routine. He is kinda like a dad to me, you know." Buffy explained.
"I know and I'm glad you have someone that cares about you that much." Spike replied.
"Where's my birthday kiss?" Buffy smiled up at him, twining her arms around his neck.
Spike ed ied into her and kissed her softly the pulled away, "I have birthday spankings for you too but we'll have to save those for later, pet." Spike winked at her then lowered his head and kissed her again.

"AHEM" Joyce cleared her throat.
"Mom!" "Joyce!" was said in unison.
"Not 5 minutes in my home and you're already pawing my daughter. Do you think you two can grace us with your presence? The others are waiting. We'd like to get started." Joyce said cooly.
"Of course." Spike replied back choosing to keep his mouth shut about her comment to try and avoid any further arguments.
The three of them walked back to the living room together.

Two hours later, Buffy was the recipient of a portable massager, a new leather coat, a handmade wooden chest and various other items. Music was on and Willow, Xander and Dawn were dancing. The others were finishing their cake and ice cream. Spike took Buffy aside and asked her to come out to the back porch with him.
Once out there, he looked at her like a little school boy. He was acting completely shy and nervous. It was adorable, she thought.
"O.K. you got me out here? Now what are you going to do with me?" she hugged him with a grin.
"Buffy, I know this isn't the ideal place or maybe time. I mean, it is your birthday but I guess I expected to do this with flowers and dinner and have it be all romantic and such but I can't wait a minute longer." Spike stumbled over his words as he got down on one knee.
Buffy began to cry before he ven said anything.
"Buffy Anne Summers. I love you and I love our baby and I want to spend the rest of my life showing you how much. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife? Please say yes and make me the happiest man on earth." Spike took out a ring box and flipped it open to reveal the most beautiful and biggest diamond ring Buffy had ever seen.
"Yes! Of course it's yes! Oh, Spike! William! I love you, Yes I'll marry you" Buffy held out her finger as Spike slid in on."
"Perfect fit" he smiled and stood up.
"I love you so much" he said, taking her in his arms and holding her tight.
"Thank you for loving me, Buffy." he murmured into her hair as he held her.
"Let's go tell everyone!" Buffy exclaimed excitedly as she dragged Spike back into the house and towards the living room.

As they neared, Buffy heard a strange, yet familar voice rising to anger, "the the last time, tell me where that mother fucker who knocked up my daughter is! I'm gonna kill that son of a bitch!" Hank Summers screamed.
"Daddy?" Buffy and Spike stood in the doorway.
That was all she could get out before Hank lunged himself at Spike, fists flying.

Continued in Chapter 21- Daddy's Home