Here and Now

Sorry for the hiatus. I have no sound board, or beta reader… and I didn’t know which direction to take this fic. Hopefully, I chose the right path. Let me know.

Thanks to Jessica, willowmouse, shippy, Mariana, lovesbitca37, MarzBar, jennybean, and becky ;)


******

Bloody sweet nirvana.

A moment passed before Spike pulled out of her with a deep sigh. He stood up, and then pulled Buffy up after him, turning her around so that she faced him. He caressed her cheek gently before picking her up, for her feet were tangled in her pants and panties, and down on the couch with her in his lap. He pulled off her gym shoes, and pulled off her pants and panties, tossing them all to the side. The only thing she had on was her lacy Angel’s bra. Spike idly fingered and pinched her right nipple while she leaned on his chest, intermittently kissing his neck.

“What happened?” She asked after awhile, hand on his chest, over his heart. He held her a bit tighter in his arms, swallowing deeply.

“Drusilla, she… She told Dawnie that she has a little sister, apparently, and that she would like for them to get to know each other. She’s claiming to be better now, and thinks that she can just waltz back into my and Dawnie’s lives, negating the past with her good intentions and sad, sorry apologies.” He explained bitterly. Buffy turned her head and looked up at him.

“She has another kid? Dawn’s- ”

“A big sister, apparently. Yea. And what really pisses me off about the whole thing is that she’s only a year younger than Dawnie. Soon as I leave, she just hops on some wanker and decides to have and keep his baby. Not only did she reject Dawn, my Dawn, but she ups and has another kid so soon after. Dawn may not realize that right now, but when she does… It’s gonna hurt her, I know it. Being rejected like that…” He said somberly. Buffy sat up a bit more in his lap and kissed his neck, cheek, and finally lips slowly and gently. She put her hand on top of his, the one that was resting on her hip.

“How’d Dawn take it?”

“Well, she seemed to be happy bout the whole sister bit.”

“Then it’ll be alright. If Dawn wants to get to know her sister, then you shouldn’t stop her.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t… I wouldn’t take that away from Dawn. I just, I don’t feel comfortable her getting cozy with Dru. I don’t trust her, Buffy. I can’t trust her.”

“Well, anytime they’re together, make sure someone’s around to make sure things are on the up and up.”
He had to admit that was a… simple solution to his tumultuous and nerve wracking problem. But after a moment, he vigorously shook his head.

“No. It has to be more to it than that. She’s a devious bitch. And I know what I have to do.” He said solemnly.

“What?”

“I have to talk to her first. One on one. Alone.” Dawn had her number scribbled on a piece of paper, which Spike confiscated of course. He had just been so damn angry… and hurt. The next day, he took the sheet of notebook paper out of his pocket, and unfolded it carefully. He looked at the ten digits, hating her for coming back. She should’ve just stayed… wherever the bloody hell she’s been all this time. He heaved a sigh, and began to dial. Three long rings passed before someone answered.

“Hello?” He asked, heart constricting in his chest.

“Hello?” A young girl asked over the phone.

“Hi, sweetheart. Is um… is your mum there?” He asked, assuming the girl to be Drusilla’s daughter.

“Um, yes. Hold on a minute.” She replied before putting the phone down. Spike could hear her calling for Drusilla soon after. A few ruffling noises, and there she was.

“Hello?” The familiar, and yet so foreign voice asked him.

“Hello Dru. We need to talk.”

“Alright, William.” He cringed at the use of his name. “Just tell me where and when?” He didn’t want her to come to his house, and he figured he’d better make things up with Dawn… He never meant to get so angry around her. That night when he thought she was… gone, and finding out about Drusilla, it had all been too much, and he blew up at her. He told Drusilla to meet them at the park, and to bring her other daughter as well. Eve was her name. He figured Dawnie could play, or talk, or do some girly thing with her while he talked to Dru.
Four tortuous days passed before the day of “The Meeting” came. Spike felt extreme trepidation, and wished to god he could have had himself a spot of courage before leaving, but he’d never drink, not even the tiniest bit, while driving Dawn around. He would never do anything to hurt his little girl.

****

Dawn could tell by the way he was gripping the steering wheel and how stiff his back was how tense her Dad was. She had to give him credit for trying, though. She was so incredibly nervous and anxious at meeting her little sister.

“Um, Dad? You sure you okay?” She asked timidly from the back seat.

“What? Oh. Um, yea luv. Doing fine. Just fine.” He half muttered to himself. He glanced at her from the rear view mirror, into her blue eyes. Her worrisome face had a somewhat calming effect on him. Spike focused on his driving.

They managed to make it to the park in one piece. Spike got out first, and helped Dawn hop down from the tall SUV. She took his hand and looked up at him, and it reassured him greatly. He nodded at her.

“Right then.” And off they went, walking across the vast green grass over to the playground area. He briefly scanned it before noticing her by the swings. Her back was to him, but he recognized her. She was a bit… fuller (in a good way), but he still recognized her figure. How could he forget? Try as he might, he could never forget. He paused a moment, and Dawn looked up at him questioningly.

“Are you ready?” She asked him, incredibly torn.

“For you.” He said, gripping her hand a bit tighter. Together they approached the woman pushing the girl on the swings. Spike, seemingly frozen, stood there quietly, attempting to put on his “indifferent face.” Dawn caught her attention since he didn’t seem to be able to.

“Um, hi.” Dawn said shyly. Drusilla turned around in what seemed to be slow motion. She locked eyes with Spike, and looked every bit as nervous as he felt (he’d mastered the look of indifference). Drusilla broke the gaze first and looked down at Dawn.

“Hello, Dawn. I’m glad you and your father were able to make it. This is Eve.” She motioned to the blonde haired girl still swinging away. When she swung back towards them, Drusilla grasped the chains of the swing on either side of the small girl. Effectively stopping the swing, the girl hopped down and turned to face them all. She glanced at the two new comers with her brown eyes shyly before looking down at her pink and white gym
shoes.

“Um, hi.” She looked up at Spike, then Dawn, pushing up her thin wire glasses up on her nose. “Mommy says you’re my new big sister?” She asked, and Dawn smiled at her.

“Yea. I’m your big sister. Dawn.” She said, sticking her hand out to the shorter girl.

“I’m Eve.” She shook Dawn’s hand before abruptly pulling the large girls towards her for a hug. Dawn looked briefly shocked, but the two girls were soon smiling. “Let’s go play!” She announced before running off, Dawn running after her. Spike’s eyes followed them over to the slides before looking at Drusilla again.

“Hello, Will-.”

“Don’t call me that. I don’t go by that name anymore.”

“Sorry.” She said a bit uneasily, clasping her hands in front of her. “Wanna have a seat?” She asked, gesturing to the park bench. It was facing the slides so they could keep an eye on the girls. Spike, jaw clenched, merely stalked over to it, and plopped down on the far end on one side of it. Drusilla sat down in the middle- not too close and not too far.

“So, what shall I call you then?”

“What? Plan on sticking around?”

“Wi-”

“It’s Spike, now.” He gritted out.

“Spike?” He just looked at her with a hint of a glare. “Alright then, Spike. I’m sure we should be able to suss this out like adults.”

“Fine.” He said, keeping his eyes on Dawn all the while, crossing his arms and overtly ignoring the traitorous woman beside him.

“Could you at least look at me?” She asked softly, reaching out to touch his tense arm. As soon as her fingertips made the barest contact, he flinched away, nearly falling off the bench.

“Jesus! What are you doing?” He asked frantically, looking at her.

“Calm down, will you? I was just trying to get your attention.”

“My attention, eh? Why couldn’t you’ve just stayed a ghost?” He asked morosely.

“Because… I thought that you and Dawnie would want to know Eve. I know I messed up, but the children shouldn’t suffer because of it. Lindsay and I-”

“Lindsay? Who’s she?”

“He is the man I’ve been seeing for the past four years. We’ve done the best we could, but Eve still needs the both of you in her life. You guys are the missing piece.” Spike squinted his eyes at her, shifting his body around to face her.

“Me? Why would I-”

“Because…” Drusilla cut him off, breathing deeply before looking over at her girls. “I didn’t know it, when I left you. But I was four weeks pregnant, William. Eve is yours.”