Coo Coo Ca-Choo

Spike spent the next several hours sulking on the living room sofa. Buffy kept trying to cheer him up but he wouldn’t have any of it. He was content to wallow in his own misery.
“Spike? Are you hungry? I can make us some dinner.” Buffy said to him.
“Yeah, You? Cook? That’ll be the day” he replied rather rudely.
“Look here Mister. Just because you’re in a foul mood and are having a personal crisis doesn’t give you the right to be mean to me. And I can cook SOME things. I think even stupid dumb blonde me can manage to make us some sandwiches or soup.” Buffy stood up from the sofa and marched away to the kitchen.

Buffy was busy getting sandwich ingredients together rather teary eyed when Spike emerged in the doorway.
“I’m sorry, Buffy. Forgive me?” he said softly.
“I didn’t treat you that way after what happened to me” she said in a huff while slopping some miracle whip on a slice of bread.
“I know. I was being a wanker. I shouldn’t have taken it out on you.” Spike crossed over to her and took her in his arms.

“Mustard or Mayo?” Buffy asked him.
“Both. Does this mean I’m forgiven?” Spike asked.
“I suppose so but don’t let it happen again.” Buffy squirted the mustard.
“I won’t. I’m just trying to get a handle on this all. I think I’m still in a state of shock. Buffy, I have a dad.” Spike said in wonderment.
“Yeah, well they’re not all what they’re cracked up to be” Buffy said thinking of her own father. “Maybe yours will be better. He does have the whole priest thing going on for him.” Buffy contemplated. “Then again, maybe not.”

“Soup or salad to go with?” Buffy inquired.
“Soup. Chicken soup. It’s a ‘cure all’ right?” Spike finally smiled for the first time since this entire mess started.
“O.K. I think we have a few cans in the cupboard” Buffy pointed out.
Spike went and got one, “I’ll heat this up while you finish the sandwiches.”

Fifteen minutes later they were sitting at the table eating their soup and sandwiches.o...o...are you going to talk to him...them...when they get here?” Buffy questioned him.
“I supposed I’ll have to, no?” Spike took a bite.
“It’s your choice. I think you should. At least this once so you can get some answers and then you can decide after that what you want to do.” Buffy offered her advice.
“I think you’re right. Not too bad for a dumb blonde” he teased remembering her earlier comment.

With his foot, he reached under the table to rub against one of hers, playfully.
“Playing footsie with me, now?” Buffy grinned.
“Yeah...forgot to mention my foot fetish, eh?” Spike joked.
“Just don’t expect ME to suck on YOUR toes or something” Buffy joked back.
“Hey! I’ll have you know that I have bloody fine toes” he stuck his tongue out at her. “That being said, I’d rather have you suck on something else”.
“William! You naughty boy.” Buffy leaned over the table and planted a kiss on his lips.
“I don’t think we have time though before your mom and Father Giles get here.” Buffy pulled away.
“Ughh..please don’t mention my mum and a priest in the same conversation as you sucking anything of mine.” Spike groaned.
“Guess we shouldn’t tell your dad about our Catholic school girl romp, huh?” Buffy said.
“Bloody hell” Spike swore.

A short while later after the two of them cleaned up their dinner dishes, the inevitable doorbell chime came calling.
“Take a deep breath” Buffy told Spike as she went to answer the door.
Opening it revealed their expected guests, “Hello. Come in. Spike is in the living room”
Anne Giles and Rupert Giles walked through the foyer to the living room.
“Thank you, Miss Summers” Father Giles said.
“I wish you would not refer to MY William as this ‘Spike’.” Anne huffed.

Buffy rolled her eyes behind Anne’s back. How on earth had Spike put up with this bitch his whole life, she thought to herself. Father Giles smiled at her knowlingly. It might be a good thing to have a priest as your ally.
“William!” Anne cried out as she rushed to her son and threw her arms around him.
“Mum...Mum....Mum!! Breathing is becoming an issue” Spike untangled himself from his mother’s clutches.
“Sorry, . I’. I’m just so happy to see you. I didn’t mention it before but William, dear God, what have you done to yourself? Your hair? Your clothes? Did she make you do this?” Anne pointed at Buffy.
“No, Mum. I did it because I wante.” S.” Spike answered throwing Buffy an “I’m sorry” look.

“Why don’t we all sit down?” Father Giles spoke up.
“Oh, yes. Sorry. Forgive my manners. Would you like something to drink?” Buffy asked their guests.
“WE don’t drink the satan’s drink of alcohol, Missy” Anne answered motioning to her and William.
“That’s good to know but I meant coffee or tea or soda if you’d like. WE don’t drink the ‘satan’s drink’ either. Seeing as I’m aoverovering alcoholic, we don’t even keep liquor in the house” Buffy motioned to Spike as well.
Father Giles coughed, “Tea would be lovely. Anne, please. We are guests in Miss Summers home. Try and be polite.”

Buffy smiled and left to go start the kettle to boil.
“William....I know you must have a lot of questions and I understand you being upset with myself and your mother.” Father Giles began.
“I think upset is an understatement” Spike replied.
“Well, if you’ll let me explain...” Father Giles started.
“Here we go...” Buffy came back into the room with cups, tea bags, sugar, milk and the hot water on a tray and placed it on the coffee table.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt. Do you want to be alone with...them or me to stay, Spike?” Buffy asked him.
“Actually, I’d like to speak with William privately, if that is alright?” Father Giles inquired.
“We can go into the guest bedroom, I guess” Spike stood up to lead Father Giles back.

Anne began to get up too.
“No, Anne. I want to speak to my son ALONE” Father Giles gave her a look and she sat back down.
The two men made their way down the hall and into the bedroom, closing the door behind them.

Buffy was left to fidget in her seat with Spike’s crazy mom staring at her. Just great.
“How old are you?” Anne asked rudely.
“I’m 29. I was 28 when I met William” Buffy answered.
“Why you’re almost old enough to be his mother yourself. Have you no shame?” Anne chided her.
“I’m not even going to dignify that with an answer.” Buffy responded and turned her head in the other direction.
The two women sat their in awkward silence.

Meanwhile Father Giles and Spike were sitting on the sitting chairs Buffy had in the guest room.
“Let me say first before anything else that I only just found out about your existence a short time ago.” Father Giles began.
“Well, that makes two of us then” Spike retorted.
“Had I known all those yeago,ago, I would have owned up to my responsibility and been a father to you William. I know I have made some mistakes in my life but I am a decent and good man” Father Giles told him.

“So...how did you find out? Why didn’t Mum ever tell me? What happened with you guys?” Spike littered him with questions.
Father Giles took his glasses off and wiped them, sighing, “It’s a long story. I’m not sure where to begin.” He began.
“How about at the beginning?” Spike offered.
“Yes, O.K. William, I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that your mother is not quite.....ahhh...right in the head. I was young and foolish and I was in love and you overlook things...” Giles began his story of years long since passed.

Rupert Giles was a young up and coming priest. He was set to take his final vows in several months the day he met a beautiful young woman, Anne. He fell madly in love with her. She was a good Catholic girl. She also suffered from mental illness and her take on the relationship she entered with Rupert was entirely different from the reality of it. Rupert overlooked Anne’s “crazy” bouts, letting his love cloud his reason. He was ready to give up the priesthood for Anne and settle down to have a regular married life.

Rupert and Anne made love, only once. Rupert, knowing he was going to marry this girl, pushed aside it being a sin to bth hth her. He was still a man and human after all. Afterwards, Anne had an episode, worse than any previously. She was spouting off things at Rupert about him being the devil and tricking her and she thought she was with God but now she knew she was with the devil and things of that nature.

Anne ran off and Rupert never saw her again. Little did he know that Anne was now carrying his son in her womb. He was devastated at first but soon confided in the Church his sins and rededicated himself to a life as a priest and took his final vows several months later.

“Your mother found me 2 months ago and showed me your picture claiming you were my son. I knew it was true as soon as I saw your eyes. It was like looking into my own. I was very angry with her for denying me my son all these years but I pushed that anger aside to help her as she told me that you had run off to L.A. and were involved with a “fallen” woman and in all sorts of trouble. I see now though that it was yet another figment of her imagination. While, I don’t necessarily agree with you and Miss Summers engaging in premarital sex, I really am not one to talk, you would say. Though that was long ago and I have upheld my vows since then. That being said, you appear to be happy and in love with each other and I will not deny you that happiness.” Father Giles explained to Spike.

“Why didn’t she ever tell you? Why did she run away?” Spike asked.
“I don’t know William. She is ill. She probably needs medication or to be institutionalized. I can’t answer that for you. I am so sorry that you grew up, not only without a father but with having a mother with her problems. I know it must have been difficult for you.” Father Giles answered.
“It was. I always knew she wasn’t like other mums. I loved her anyway.” Spike teared up.
Father Giles sighed, “So did I, William. So did I.”
“Why do we have the same last name?” Spike inquired.
“I don’t know. Anne must have adopted my name and given it to you. Her maiden name was Smithers.” He answered.

“I want you to know that I want to be a father to you. I know it is awkward with me being a priest but I have already informed my bishop of my circumstances and while I do not intend to give up the priesthood, I am able to spend time with you and be a father to you.” Father Giles told him.
“I don’t know what to say...” Spike began.
“I know I can’t get back the past but I can try and make a future for us, William. Please give me a chance” he pleaded his case.
“I...I’d like that. I think. What about Mum? She hates Buffy. I love my mum but I’m not giving up Buffy or my life here just because of her. If she had it her way, I’d stay with her forever and never even have a girlfriend.” Spike informed his father.

“I’ll handle your mother. William, have you ever considered having your mother....umm...committed?” Father Giles asked him.
“No...I mean..I know she is sick...but she can live on her own. She would never forgive me if I did something like that. She’s s my my mum” Spike’s emotions were torn.
“What about an assisted living type thing where she could still be independent yet be monitored and administered medication for her condition?” he pressed the subject.
“I guess that would be much better. I don’t know where to go though or how to do all that” Spike replied.
“I’ll do some research and we’ll discuss it at a later time. In the mean time, I will make sure Anne gets back to Sunnydale.” Father Giles told him.

“Where do you live anyway?” Spike asked him.
“San Francisco so Sunnydale is on the way” he answered.
“Oh. That’s where Buffy is from too. Her mum still lives there. She owns and runs an art gallery. Fine lady she is. I know this is mean but I wished sometimes that Joyce was my mum instead. Though, I couldn’t be with Buffy then so I guess it’s good she’s not” Spike smiled.
“Well then, when you and Buffy come visit her mother, you can visit me as well. That works out quite nicely” Father Giles smiled back. “I know we just met but I love you son. However misguided her intentions were, I am so glad that Anne tracked me down.” The two men stood and gave each other an awkward hug.

“Shall we rejoin the ladies?” Father Giles asked.
“Yes.” Spike answered.
“And, William. Please don’t be too hard on your mother. She isn’t well and doesn’t understand what she is doing or has done.” He told him.
“I know. I won’t be” Spike replied.

While the two men had their heart to heart, Buffy endured Anne’s litany against her. They had sat in silence for several minutes until Anne began praying out loud and spouting off about Buffy’s sins and her being a jezebel and tainting her son. Buffy bit her tongue until she couldn’t stand it anymore.
“Look lady. I don’t care who you are. This is MY home and if you call me a whore one more time, I am going to throw your crazy ass out. Where do YOU get off calling me that? At least I’ve never fucked a priest and gotten pregnant by him!” Buffy yelled as Anne’s eyes widened in shock.

Father Giles and William took that exact moment to reappear.
“I’m sorry Spike but she.....I’m sorry” Buffy sobbed and ran out of the room.
“Mum! What did you say to her? I should’ve known I couldn’t leave you in the same room alone with her.” Spike threw his hands up in the air.
“Come on Anne. It’s time we go.” Father Giles spoke up.
“But you were supposed to bring my William home to me, Rupert” Anne looked at him.
“Anne, William IS home. This is his home, with Buffy” he told her.
“That woman! Why she is nothing but a...” Anne began.
“DON’T! Please Mum, don’t say anything more. Mum, I love you but I want you to leave. If you can’t accept Buffy then you can’t accept me and you need to go.” Spike said, standing up to his mother.

Anne walked over to her son and stroked his cheek, “Oh my poor William. Nothing can save you now” she turned and walked to the door.
“I will be in touch, soon.” Father Giles said and shook Spike’s hand. “Please give Buffy my best and apologize.”
“I will. Thanks. Take care of her, please” Spike told Father Giles motioning to his mother.
“I will do my best. Goodbye Son” Giles turned and escorted Anne out.

Spike spun on his heel and went to find Buffy. She was laying on their bed.
“You O.K.?” he asked her as he slid down beside her enveloping her in his arms.
“Yeah. I’m sorry. I lost my temper” she hugged him back. “Are they gone?”
“Yeah. I’m sorry you had to deal with that. I warned you about her though.” Spike said.
“I know. I just didn’t realize how it was until I experienced it myself. So, did you and Father Giles have a nice talk?” Buffy questioned him.
“Yeah...we did” Spike proceeded to telll Buffy what his father had told him.

“Wow” was all Buffy could say afterwards.
“Yeah, Wow.” Spike replied.
“I love you, you know that?” Buffy looked up at him.
“I love you too.” Spike hugged her tight.
They lay there in silence for a few minutes.
“You do realize now thatl nel never be able to listen to “Son of a Preacher Man” again with a straight face though, don’t you?” Buffy broke the silence with a grin.
“You little minx!” Spike grinned at her joke and started tickling her.
“Hey!” Buffy yelled. “Don’t or I’ll pee my pants”
“You’ve awoken the wrath of the tickle monster..Muwahhh hah hah” they both laughed as they rolled on the bed tickling each other.

Continued in Chapter 26- Committments