So Damn Domestic

Three Months Later. BPOV


“Faith, don’t you dare touch that turkey,” I warn her as I walk back into the kitchen. She’s standing there with the lid off the roaster and she was reaching for the bird that I’ve been slaving over for the last eight hours. There’s no way in hell I’m about to let her have some before everyone gets here. And I still have a couple things to make. I need to drain the liquid from the bottom of the turkey pot for the gravy, and I still need to cook the rolls. Willow is bringing some pies for dessert and Dawn said she’d bring the cranberry sauce but I made some stuff just in case something goes wrong with their stuff. This is the first Thanksgiving in our new house and I want it to be perfect.


“I wasn’t gonna eat any B, I was just admiring your handy work. It smells great. Can’t wait to have some.” She gives me her sweetest smile because she knows I know that she’s lying, and puts the lid back on and wraps her arms around me. She’s been extra affectionate all week. I wonder what’s up. She’s probably trying to butter me up so she can try to talk me into doing something I normally wouldn’t do. Sounds like her M.O. to me. I lean in and kiss her. Mmm, she’s tastes like cinnamon gum. That means she’s been smoking. I’ll let her get away with it today but tomorrow she’s going to get an ear full. I don’t want her smoking anymore.


We break apart when we hear Addison start to cry. Faith leaves another little kiss on my lips before she leaves the room to take care of our baby. I still can’t believe it. We have kids together. We’re together, as a couple. A couple that’s lasted for almost an entire decade. I mean, if I went back in time right now and sat down with myself when I first met Faith, and I told the younger me that one day she’ll get together with Faith, and be madly in love and have children together she....well she would probably think that I’m a demon and try to kill me. Ok, no more talk of going to the past and meeting myself. The pronouns are too confusing. I see Faith rushing towards the bathroom with Addison in her arms and she’s still crying.


“What happened to her?” I yell out as I start to make the gravy. Faith just yells out that everything is fine and not to worry. She doesn’t sound desperate or anything so she’s not lying. Addison probably hurt herself with a toy or something. She has this block thing and one side opens up so you can take the smaller blocks out and almost every time she closes the lid she pinches her finger. That’s probably what happened.


I still haven’t explained about the whole ‘Faith turning into a cave slayer thing’. Well, that was Jake’s funny little way of initiating her into the group. Apparently he’s done it to everyone and if you want to be a full fledged member of the guys you have to go through it too. Faith confronted him about it after her symptoms wore off. It was fun while it lasted but I like the normal Faith better. Much more hygienic. Although the cave-slayer Faith was pretty sweet and loving and tender. I’ll have to remind Faith of that later. Tell her that a Neanderthal version of her is nice enough to get me flowers for no special reason, so it probably wouldn’t hurt her to do the same.


And the gravy is finished. I put it in the very large bowl and set it on the counter. There, everything is either in a bowl or on a platter. The wine glasses are on the other counter along with three bottles of wine. Not everyone likes the same thing so we got different kinds. Everything is ready to go. Now all my family has to do is show up and we can eat. Crap, I forgot the rolls. Everyone is showing up this year. Dawn and Kyle, Giles, Willow, Xander Katie and their daughter Miranda. Oh, the doorbell rang.


“Matthew, get the door!” I hear him drop whatever he was holding, hopefully one of his toys, and he answers the door. I try to listen in on the conversation but I have to pay attention to the oven or else I’ll burn them. I do that a lot, not the burning of food, well that does happen a lot with me but that’s not what I was talking about. The whole not paying attention to what I’m doing. I’ve cut myself with many kitchen knives that way. Faith said I would be better off just letting her do all the cooking. Yeah, she didn’t get any that night. She’s tried teaching me but she got frustrated because I’m a kinda slow learner when it comes to the housewife stuff.


“Mom, there’s a stranger at the door and he says he knows you!” Great, I wonder who it is? I hope it isn’t a vampire, or demon. The last thing I need right now is an attack. I pull the rolls out of the oven since the timer just went off. I’m wiping my hands with the dishrag when I hear the person outside the door say ‘mom?’ The little hairs on the back of my neck stick up, but in a good way.


I know that voice. I haven’t heard that voice in almost eight years. The last time I heard it was a couple days before Matthew was conceived. I remember because Faith left for New York the day after he came into town and she was pissed because she thought he was going to try to get me back or something insane like that. I toss the dishrag down and rush towards the front door. Matthew is blocking the entrance like he’s a bouncer or something.


“Riley?” I ask and smile really wide. Yep, it’s Riley Finn. Was he always that tall? He looks at me and smiles, but I can tell he’s a little...confused and curious about Matthew. I haven’t talked to Riley in years so he doesn’t know about Matthew or Addison. He never really believed that me and Faith would last. The two of them don’t get along at all. Riley doesn’t like Faith because he knows that my heart was never really his because it was Faith’s. And Faith doesn’t like Riley...wait, I said that wrong...Faith hates Riley because he’s my ex.


“Hi Buffy,” he says as I move Matthew out of the way and give Riley a big hug. It’s nice to see him again. Seriously though, was he always this frickin tall? We pull apart and he casually checks me out. “You look amazing. I swear the cut off point in the aging process for slayers is twenty-three.” We share a laugh and then he looks down to my left and then back up at me. “So, who’s this?” I smile and look down at my boy. I put my arms around his shoulders and he leans into me a little bit.


“This is my son, Matthew. Matthew, this is my friend Riley.” He holds out his hand for Riley to shake, which he does. I step out of the way and open the door a little more. Where are my manners? “Would you like to come in?” He smiles and nods his head a little and steps inside and I close the door.


“I can only stay for a couple minutes. I’m just passing through. Sam’s parents live in Boulder City and we’re having Thanksgiving there. I talked to Giles last week and he told me you moved here so I thought I’d stop by.” Riley has been talking to Giles? Why was Riley talking to Giles? And he’s still with Sam? Ok, calm down Buffy. Riley’s the ex, you’re with Faith now. No need to get jealous. Besides, I am so much prettier then Sam.


“So you’re still with Sam?” I ask as we sit down on the living room couch. Matthew sits down next to me so I’m in the middle. Luckily this couch is big enough for five people or else I’d be a little too close to Riley. He nods his head yes. “That’s great. Um, not to sound intrusive or anything but why were you talking to Giles?” Why didn’t he call me? He could’ve called me if it was demon related. I bet that’s what it was. He needed help with a demon. Ok, well it’s better that he called Giles then because I’ve been way to busy to fly out to some jungle to help kill a demon.


“Well, ah....” He seems a little nervous, I wonder why. “The town I was in had a heavy concentration of...bad things.” He casts a glance over to Matthew. Oh, I get it. It’s demon related and he isn’t sure whether or not he sound say it in front of Matthew. I hold back a smile. Riley’s always been the gentlemen type. And not the kind that cut out your heart, I mean a real gentleman.


“It’s ok, Riley, he knows about slayers and demons and all that other stuff.” He relaxes and sits back against the couch. He sure has aged well, I’ll admit that. Only to you because if Faith finds out I thought that she’d probably have a heart attack.


“Well, the town we were in had a high concentration of demons so I called Giles and asked to send a slayer since it was too overwhelming for my men.” So he’s still in the army demon fighting business. And he said ‘his men’ or he’s like a colonel or something. Well, hopefully he’s out of the field because I don’t want him getting hurt. He’s not a slayer and he isn’t as young as he used to me. And now he’s all serious. Great, I was hoping he wouldn’t be curious about this. “So, uh, things didn’t work out with Faith?” He looks over at Matthew again and then at me. I sigh and run a hand through my hair.


“Things have worked out great for me and Faith, Riley. We’re still together.” I better keep talking before he asks something that’ll piss me off. “Matthew is Faith’s, and mine.” I can’t really go into the details of it. When Matthew asked me and Faith how he was made since there is no ‘daddy’ we just told him he’s a miracle created by magic. We didn’t tell him the whole ‘a novice witch did a spell she couldn’t handle’ thing. And hopefully Riley won’t ask for details. “Magic. A spell actually. I can’t really go into the details right now.” And now he looks a little...grim.


“So you’re still with Faith.” That was a statement, not a question. He sits up a little straighter and looks over at the entertainment center. On top of it are a bunch of framed pictures, ones of me and Faith, and Faith and the kids and me and the kids...just pictures of all of us. “And she treats you right?” Why would he even ask that? I guess he’s just concerned about me. He was too busy hating Faith to really see how much she’s changed.


“Of course she does. Riley, Faith is a completely different person then you remember. She’s been better for a really long time. I wish you could believe that.” And now he has that ‘is it my fault I care?’ look on his face. Great, and here we go.


“I’m sorry, I just wanted to make sure you’re being treated like you should. It’s not just her, I would have asked the same question even if you were with someone else.” Good answer, very good answer. “So, where is Faith? Since she’s a new person maybe we should be reintroduced.” And now with the sarcasm. And winning the ‘best timing of the year award’ Faith walks out of the hallway, holding Addison above her head and talking baby talk to her.


“I’m gonna get your belly. I’m gonna get it.” And she lowers Addison’s stomach down to her mouth and blows kinda hard so it’ll tickle. And Addison cracks up laughing and kicks her feet. Then Faith pulls Addison away from her face and rests her on her hip and smiles at her. She still hasn’t looked over here yet. I know it’s not gonna happen but I just wish she’d not notice Riley because I know this isn’t going to end well. “B who was at the-” she looks up and sees Riley sitting on the couch, staring at her. I can’t see his face because he’s turned around but I’m pretty sure he’s stunned.


FPOV


“I didn’t know you invited Beef Stick.” They stand up at the same time, and Matthew gets up and stands next to B. Was Riley always that fuckin tall? I hold my baby a little closer to me and tighten my grip just a little, maternal instinct I guess. I can’t believe she invited this dick. I fuckin hate him and she knows it. And yet here he is, standing in our living room. This is just like her. I wonder if all her ex boyfriends are invited. Maybe I should call up some of my old flames, see if they can drop by.


“She didn’t. I was passing through, thought I’d stop by and say hello.” Yeah right. He probably thought he’d stop by and try to steal her away. What a fuckin asshole. “I better get going.” Yeah, you better fuckin leave before I throw your ass out. He looks over at B and I can tell he wants to reach out to her but he’s not for whatever reasons. Probably thinks I’ll rip is arms off if he touches her, and he’s right.


“It was nice seeing you again Buffy.” He looks down at my boy and gives a little nod as he talks. “It was nice meeting you, Matthew.” Then he looks over at me and all he says is: “Faith.” And he gives me this little fuckin glare that B can’t see ‘cause his back if facing her. If I weren’t holding Addy I punch him upside is big head, and knock him the fuck out. Buffy walks him to the door. He leaves and when she comes back into the living room she’s glaring at me.


“You didn’t have to be so rude to him, Faith. He was just dropping by to see how I’m doing. Why do you hate him so much?” I’ve never told her the real reason why. She thinks it’s just some jealous thing because he had her when I didn’t, or some shit like that. And I let her believe it because she thinks he’s a good guy and who am I to try and convince her otherwise? I mean, I’m just a...how did he put it?...‘a disgusting whore, who hurts everyone and causes nothing but pain and destruction’. Can you believe that shit? That motherfucker told me to leave Buffy before I hurt her. Even threatened me, said if I ever hurt her and he found out that he’d hunt me down and make me pay.


“Whatever, B.” I don’t know if she does or not but I need an excuse to leave without B buggin me about it. “Addy needs to be changed.” I walk out of the room and into the nursery. I can’t believe him. He better not come back here. To show up at my house like that and act like everything is peachy keen? I fuckin hate him. I lay Addy down on the changing table and she starts to whine. She hates having her diaper changed. “What was I supposed to do? Welcome him with open arms?” I reach down and grab the box of wipes and a new diaper. “The guy’s a prick, like I’m gonna just sit back and keep my mouth shut after what he said.” She starts to cry as I change her diaper. She hates this about as much as I hate the Clean Marine.


I hear the doorbell and I sigh. Great, now I have to act like I’m not pissed which is only gonna cause tension between me and B and everyone is gonna pick up on it. Why did we have to have Thanksgiving dinner here? If we had gone to Xander’s none of this shit would be happening. Well, there’s nothin I can do about it now so I’ll just put on a smile and try to be pleasant. I’ll just forget about that asshole. He was just stopping by. The boy was madly in love with B, he probably isn’t a hundred percent over her, but she’s with me. So I got nothin to worry about. There, I found perspective, now I’m ready to join the rest of ‘em.


“Ok, Addy, you ready to go?” she gives me a little pout. She already has it down pat. I roll my eyes a little. This kid is like B alright. She pouts over everything. But she’s a little girl, I guess a lot of ‘em are like that. At least she’s not completely spoiled like the Barbie’s kid. That little girl screams if she doesn’t get her way, and her parents don’t hesitate to get her what she’s crying for. “Come here, baby.” She holds up her arms and I pick her up and she rests her head on my shoulder. I give her forehead a little kiss and I walk out to the living room. I don’t see anyone, except for Mattie. He’s sitting on the couch watching T.V. “Who was at the door?”


“Uncle Xander and aunt Katie and Miranda. Mom’s showin them the backyard.” He’s quiet for a few seconds and I can tell by the look on his face that he’s trying to remember something. “Oh, and she wants you to bring out the little table and chairs so me and Addy and Miranda have a place to sit.” Alright, I’ll go ahead and do that now. The little table is in Addy’s room. It’s really cool. The top is a blackboard and we have different colored chalk and we’ll draw and stuff. Well, she scribbles little lines and stuff ‘cause she’s only one but I let out my artistic side. And it has a cover so it can be used as a regular table. So after I get that set up the doorbell rings again so I answer it.


“Hey Brat, how ya doin?” I ask and give her a hug. What? I can be affectionate when I wanna be. She tries to hug me back but she has three...no...four bags in her hands so she can’t. “What’s with the bags?” She walks in the house and in walks Kyle, carrying more bags. Oh, B’s gonna love this. That was sarcastic.


“I got some presents for the kids and for you and Buffy.” Well that’s new. She’s always spoiled Mattie, and she’s working on Addy now, but she usually doesn’t get me and B anything. Not that I’m complaining or anything, it’s just unusual. They put the bags down and take off their coats and hang them on the coat rack. I pick up some of the bags. “So, where’s my little niece and nephew?” She sounds really excited. She hasn’t seen them in a long time. Addy’s gotten bigger since the last time she was here. I walk into the living room and they follow me. “You know, Faith, I never thought I’d say this ‘cause Buffy’s decorating skills are pretty sucky, but I really like what you guys have done with this place.”


“Uh, thanks.” I think. That was a compliment, right? “We still need to repaint some of the rooms, but other then that everything is how we want it. Well, at least in the house. We haven’t even started on the backyard yet.” We have some patio furniture but that’s it. We want to build a pool, B’s gonna plant a garden and build a fence around it to keep Tucker out, and towards the back of the property we’re going to build a training room. Well, I’m going to build a training room. Buffy says she’s going to help but you know how women help right? They stand out of the way and ‘offer helpful suggestions’. A.k.a. they tell you how to do something and they don’t even know what the fuck they’re talking about.


“Aunt Dawn!” Mattie yells and jumps off the couch. Brat puts the bags down and kneels down and wraps him up in a big bear hug. She pulls back and gives him a kiss on the forehead and laughs a little when she sees the lipstick print. She wipes it off and stands up. “Did you buy us presents?” I roll my eyes. I told you gets him something almost every time she sees him. Even when we lived in Shasta Lake and she saw him at least six times a month she’d still buy him something, usually clothes.


“Yep. I got some stuff for your sister too. Where is she?” I look around the living room. Ok, where is she? She was right here when I left to answer the door. Ok Faith, just stay calm. She probably crawled into her room and dumped out her toy box again. She does that when she gets bored. So I look in her room, but she’s not there. I look in the bathroom, Mattie’s room, my bedroom and the hallway closet but nowhere.


Alright, panic, I’m starting to panic. Where would she go? She can’t get out to the garage ‘cause she’s not tall enough to open the door and I locked it when I came back in. Maybe she’s in the kitchen. Nope, not in here either. Wait....thank God! Buffy took her outside. I walk out there and I’m greeted with smiles and a big hug from Xander.


“Hey, how ya been?” I ask and he says he’s been great. I give a big hug to Miranda. God this kid has gotten so big. And her hair has gotten so long. I look over at B. Great, she’s still pissed at me. I try as hard as I can not to roll my eyes. I walk up to her and give Addy a little kiss on the head. “Dawn’s here, she wants to see Addy.” She doesn’t say a fuckin word as she walks back in the house. Whatta bitch. Why is she acting like this? Oh well, I’m not gonna let her ruin today. It’s supposed to be joyous and all that shit ‘cause we’re seeing all of our family again.


“Jeez, what was that all about?” Xander asks and picks Miranda up when she starts to whine. He pampers the hell outta her and she’s such a little daddy’s girl.


“Riley dropped by this morning. I guess his in-laws live close to here so he decided to pay B a little visit.” I don’t have to say any more then that. Xander knows how much I hate Riley. He doesn’t know why, at least not the whole story. He knows that there were words and a little violence but I haven’t told him exactly what happened. And I don’t plan on it. I get where Riley was comin from, he just wants to make sure B’s in good hands, but he didn’t have to say those things about me. He didn’t have to remind me about my past.....fuck him. I’m not gonna let him ruin today for me. No more thinking about Riley. It ends right now.


“Come back inside guys, everyone is starting to show up.” I hear Buffy yell through the kitchen window. We walk into the house and I see a smiling Giles standing next to the counter, holding a bottle of wine. He looks over at me and his smile get a little...I don’t know...warmer? I give him a big hug that he returns. Yep, through the years Giles has become like a dad to me. I can’t help but think that maybe if we had been like this in Sunnydale then things would’ve been different.


“I love what you’ve done with the place,” he says as we break apart I nod a little thank you and help get the kids sat down in their spots around the little table and I make up their plates. After their all sitting down and eating I take my place at the table. I’m at the head of the table starting from my right is Katie, Xander and Willow. Buffy is at the other end. Starting from my left is Kyle, Dawn and Giles. We let Giles carve the turkey and everyone starts talking and wine is poured and the atmosphere is pretty nice. It’s calmin me down a little.


I catch B’s eyes and I give her a small smile, a little sheepish one, and she knows what I mean. I’m sayin sorry for how I acted ‘cause it was over dramatic. Buffy wants me, I shouldn’t worry about Riley. He’s just a footnote in history. She was never really into the relationship in the first place. He left because she didn’t love him, she was always reserved. I think she just liked the idea of having a ‘normal’ boyfriend and Riley was there to play the part. Besides he left her like...eleven years ago. I got nothin to worry about.


Addy starts to whine, and cry a little. She’s been good for the last hour or so, which is the longest it’s taken her to eat anything. I think she’s been too busy talking to Miranda in their little baby language. I start to stand up but Buffy’s a little quicker. She tells me to sit and that she’ll handle it but she’s walkin down the hall. Where the hell is she going? She comes back out carrying the stroller and the diaper bag. Oh, so that’s what she’s doin.


“She’s just getting tired. I’ll take her for a little walk, she falls asleep faster,” she explains to the table. She picks up our girl and puts her in the stroller and carefully fastens the straps so she doesn’t pinch her skin. She walks over to me and gives me a little kiss on the lips. “I won’t be long. I love you.” I smile and tell her I love her and she walks out the door. We discovered only two days ago that all it takes is a little stroll and Addy is out like a light. I found it out when I was carrying her and we walked to the end of the block to check the mail. I take another bite of turkey and listen to Dawn go on and on about her new promotion. Ok, so I’m pretending to listen. I just can’t shake this weird feeling that I’m starting to get, and I really want Buffy to come back.