Over The Summer

Chapter 81

‘Monday’

“You’re up early.” Giles commented as Buffy took a seat at the table on the backyard with a cup of coffee in her hands.

“Couldn’t sleep.” Buffy said looking out over the swimming pool and taking a sip from her mug.

“That’s understandable. How’s little William?” Giles asked noticing the baby monitor clipped onto the hip of her shorts.

“Sound asleep, he’s not use to being around so many new people at once just yet. I this weekend wore him out.”

Giles nodded his head. “What are your plans for today?”

“Molly’s coming over at eight, so once she gets here I’ll be able to get ready for the long day ahead. Make sure I have on the right outfit, and that my hair and make-up are perfect. No point in looking bad even if he does think I’m dead.”

“Do you want me to come with you?”

“No, I have to do this alone.”

“Alright.”

“There is something you could do for me today though while I’m gone.”

“What?”

“Find out where my friends are for me. They’re my next stop after the high school.”

“It’s already been taken care of.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Most of them are living in your old loft apartment together.”

“Oh.”

“Ms. Chase and her boyfriend share a room. Ms. Jenkins and her boyfriend share a room together. Ms. Rosenberg and Ms. McClain also share a room.”

“Together!?” Buffy asked in shock.

“Yes, I believe so.”

“Wow!” Was all Buffy could come up with to say.

“Your friend from Los Angeles and her boyfriend are living there too.”

“Alyson and Deacon?”

“Yes, Alyson transferred from UCLA to UC Sunnydale the Spring Semester after the explosion.” Giles explained.

“What about Riley and Carter?”

“Riley is living in the dorms, and Carter is still living in the apartment that he shared with Deacon and William before.”

“He’s living there alone?” Buffy asked with a hint of sadness in her voice.

“That’s what I was told.”

“Is it wrong that I feel sorry for him even after everything he did to Spike and me?”

“Not at all.” Giles said placing a hand over Buffy’s. “It’s human nature to forgive people over a period of time.”

“I do forgive him in some ways, he was just being usedDrusDrusilla. I don’t know if I can every truly trust him after everything he’s done though. I feel that he should know the truth about me though; even if that’s the only time I ever talk to him again. Does that make any since?” Buffy questioned.

“Of course. Is there anything else you’d like me to do for you today?” Giles replied.

“Nope. Take the day off, you deserve one after all thmontmonths.” Buffy said standing up.

“A day off?” Giles asked standing up as well.

Buffy nodded her head and smiled at Giles. “Yes, a day off.”

“I don’t think I’ve had a day off since college.”

“Than you are way over do for one now.” Buffy laughed. “Take a day off, see what little this town has to offer. Maybe you can find a few books to enjoy reading by the pool while you’re here.”

“Maybe I will.” Giles said with a smile of his own.

The same time that the doorbell rang little William decided to wake up from his slumber.

“I’ll get the door, you go check on your son.” Giles said following Buffy into her house.

“Thanks.” Buffy said before running up the stairs towards the nry. ry.

*****

‘Two Hours Later’

“How’s this?” Buffy asked both Molly and Giles for what seemed like the hundredth time that morning.

“That’s the one.” Molly said looking over Buffy’s outfit.

Buffy had decided to wear her hair down in soft curls. Her make-up was done in natural hues with a sheer gloss covering her lips. She had on a pair of black low-rise dress pants with a pair of black pointy high-heeled boots. On her upper half she was wearing a simple white tank top, and to top it all off she had a tailored denim jacket.

“Are you sure?” Buffy asked over her shoulder as she looked in a mirror and put in a pair of chandelier earrings.

“Buffy you look perfect.” Giles stated before giving her a small hug and handing her the keys to the SUV. “I don’t really think he’ll care that much about what you’re wearing anyways.”

“You’re right, I’m being silly about all of this.”

“If you need me I’m only a phone call away.” Giles told her.

Buffy smiled a thank you at him before walking over and taking her son from Molly’s arms.

“Wish me luck.” She whispered to him before giving him a kiss on the forehead. “Mommy loves you and she’ll see you later.” She said then handed him back to Molly.

Giles walked Buffy out to the SUV and opened the driver’s side door for her.

“Remember what we talked about.”

Buffy nodded her head. “I will.”

“You’ll be fine.” Giles whispered.

“What if I see her?” Buffy asked.

“She does work there, and you’re going to have to meet her sooner or later. Right now though just think about Wam.”am.” Giles told her.

“Okay.”

“I’ll see you later.” Giles said closing the door for her.

“Bye.” Buffy said moving the SUV out of the driveway.

“Be careful.” Giles called out.

“Always.”

*****

‘Sunnydale High School’

After parking the SUV in the visitors parking lot and checking her hair and make-up one last time she made her way into the building and to the front office.

“Can I help you?” An older woman askeom bom behind a desk as Buffy walked in.

“Um yes, could you tell me where I can find a Mr. Winthrop?” Buffy asked.

“Mr. Winthrop is in room two-o-three on the second floor.”

“Thank you.”

“You have great timing Dear, he’s just started his prep period.”

“Wonderful.”

“Do you need any help finding your way?” The woman asked.

“No I think I can find my way.”

“Alright. Feel free to stop by if you have anymore questions.”

“I’ll do that. Thank you again.” Buffy said before walking out of the office and making her way towards the second floor.

*****

Buffy stopped just outside of Spike’s classroom. The door was slightly open and Buffy could hear Spike’s voice coming through the opening, she could also hear the laughter coming from a female inside the room with him.

‘Oh god! She’s in there with him.’ Buffy thought as her mind began to race. Carefully stepping away from the door she pulled out her cell phone dialing Giles number as she moved further down the hallway so she wouldn’t be heard.

“Giles it’s me.” Buffy said once he picked up the other end.

“. . .”

“No, nothings wrong.”

“. . .”

“I’m at the high school.”

“. . .”

“Yes I know what room he’s in.”

“. . .”

“I’m a few feet away from his classroom.”

“. . .”

“I can’t.”

“. . .”

“She’s in there with him.”

“. . .”

“I heard him talking and then I heard her laughing.”

“. . .”

“I shouldn’t have come back.”

“. . .”

“Yes I remember this weekend.”

“. . .”

“He’s happy.” Buffy whispered.

“. . .”

“I don’t want to hurt him anymore than I already have.”

“. . .”

“No, you don’t need to come here.”

“. . .”

“Yes I’m sure. I can do this, I just needed to vent for a moment.”

“. . .”

“I will.”

“. . .” See See you later.”

“. . .”

“Bye Giles.” Buffy said before hanging up her cell phone and putting it back in her purse. Taking a deep breath she made her way back towards Spike’s classroom.

*****

KNOCK-KNOCK

“Come in.” Spike called out in between laughs.

“I hope I’m not interrupting anything.” Buffy said as she walked through the classroom door, her jealousy getting the better of her once she saw how close the couple were standing when she pushed the door open a bit more before finally knocking on it.

“Not at all.” Mackenzie said before looking up a Spike whose eyes were locked with the girl who’d just walked in. “Will?”

Spike took a deep breath when Buffy moved closer to the front of the room where he was standing with Mackenzie.

“William?” Mackenzie asked again still getting no answer from him.

“You’ll have to excuse him, he’s just seen a ghost.” Buffy said still keeping her eyes locked with Spike as she came to a stop in front of the couple.

“What!?” Mackenzie asked.

“Spike. . .” Buffy said in a low voice.

“Who are you?” Mackenzie asked not liking the feeling she was getting from both the blondes in the room.

“Buffy. . .” Spike finally whispered.

Pain washed over Mackenzie’s face after hearing the name Spike had just whispered with so much emotion. “You can’t be.” Mackenzie whispered in disbelief.

“And yet I am.” Buffy said looking over at the other woman. Seeing the pain in Mackenzie’s eyes Buffy couldn’t help but feel for her. She really didn’t understand why she was being so mean to the brunette. She didn’t even know the woman; all she knew was that this person held a piece of Spike and that was enough to make Buffy act the way she was acting.

“I’ll just leave you two alone.” Mackenzie whispered looking up at Spike one last time before leaving the room with tears running down her face.

Buffy waited a few moments before she turned her attention back to Spike. The moments they locked eyes again Spike reached out and pulled her in for a passionate kiss. After a few moments Spike ended the kiss and took a step away causing Buffy to look up at him with confusion in her eyes.

“Spike. . .” Buffy whispered holding a hand up to her lips.

“How?”

“It was all staged.”

“I saw the explosion. I tired to get to you, to save you.” Spike stated.

“It wasn’t me. I was in a car across the street when they set the explosion off.”

“I was helpless.” Spike whispered lowering his head.

“I saw.”

Spike’s head shot back up.

“I saw everything.” She told him. “I saw you run out. I saw you start to go towards the car. I saw Xander and Angel holding you back. I saw it all.” Buffy whispered.

“And you just sat there? You let me think I had lost you?” Spike yelled.

“I had to. It had to be believable, no one could know I wasn’t really in that car when it exploded.”

“What about after? You could have let me know then.” Spike stated.

“I couldn’t. The wrong person could have found out.”

“How? I wouldn’t have told anyone.” Spike argued.

“I know that. They didn’t want to take the risk.” Buffy explained.

“Who’s they?” Spike asked.

“The people my father hired to do the job in the first place.” Buffy answered.

“Your father said it wasn’t them. It was done to soon.”

“They did it without telling him.” Buffy explained.

“He had people brought in to find out about the explosion. They had your DNA.”

“It was all set. The day, the time, the body used. It was all set.” Buffy repeated.

“Where have you been all this time?” Spike asked.

“London.” Buffy replied.

“Why were you gone for so long?”

“They had to make sure it was safe.”

“Drusilla was locked away before your funeral
“I
“I know.”

“You were there too?”

“Yes.”

“Was it fun?”

“What!?”

“Did you enjoy watching your family falling apart as they lowered the casket?” Spike yelled.

“Spike. . .” Buffy whispered.

“Did you enjoy watching my heart being ripped out as they started to fill in the grave?” Spike yelled again.

“Of course not.” Buffy said trying to defend herself.

Spike ignored her. you you enjoy this now? Do you enjoy destroying the happiness I’ve finally been trying to find again? Do you enjoy hurting an innocent woman who’s only fault is fallin’ for someone who can never giver her what she fully deserves but still wants to be with me anyway?”

“No.” Buffy said unbelieving to what was coming out of Spike’s mouth.

“Why’d you come back now? Were you just waiting for the right time to destroy my world again?”

“I came back because it was finally safe for us to come back.” Buffy yelled.

“You couldn’t have let me know three or four months ago?” Spike asked. “You couldn’t have let me know you were still alive and in London?”

“No, and I didn’t come here to destroy anything. I just came home.” Buffy cried out.

“Who else knows?”

“My parents and Dawn. I’m going to the loft apartment tonight.” Buffy told him.

“And what about Carter?” Spike asked with venom in his voice as he said Carter’s name.

“I plan on stopping by to see him later this week.”

“I’m sure he’ll be happy.”

“Are you?” Buffy asked.

“That you’re alive?”

“Yes.”

“Yes, I’m glad you’re alive.”

“Are you happy that I’m back?” Bufskedsked.

“For your family and friends, yeah.”

“What about for you?”

“Not sure.” Spike said breaking eye contact with her so she couldn’t see his lie.

“Spike. . .” Buffy said taking a step towards him.

“If you’ll excuse me I’ve got to go find Mackenzie and make sure she’s alright.” Spike said leaving the classroom before Buffy could say anything else.

Buffy watched him leave before she fell to the floor in tears.

**
O
Outside in the empty hallway Spike fell to the ground in his knees as his own tears ran free.

*****

TBC. . .