Here and Now

Thank you all for the fabulous reviews! And actually Essie, the title is the title of one of my fave Luther Vandross songs. But it *is* kinda funny when you think about it.

"Um, Buffy? Are you alright?" Willow asked with a concerned tone, finally breaking Buffy out of her stupor.

"Oh, I'm fine, just..." Buffy couldn't believe it. He had a kid? A daughter? She's gotta be like ten or something. Just great. A guy she might actually get a chance to know and potentially like (which was definitely few and far between- if there ever was one) and now she had to deal with his kid's mother, the ex-wife or whatever. *Yay, Buff. You sure know how to pick 'em.* She thought wryly.

"Is- I mean, was he married?"

"Huh? No, no. Dawn's mom, um... She's gone." Willow decided on letting the blond decide on what she meant by that. She for one was not going to tell Spike's business. She hated seeing cranky Spike. Just as Willow suspected, Buffy face fell as she came to a conclusion that would leave Willow free and clear of much explanation.

"Oh, when did she… you know?"

"Shortly after Dawnie was born. Spike doesn't like to talk about it." Buffy merely nodded her head in understanding. Somehow, that tidbit of info made her want to get to know Spike more. Maybe even talking to his daughter. It was totally weird, but now she felt some sort of connection with the girl. She knew what it was like to lose a mother.

"Say, are you guys doing anything? I'd like to treat you all to ice cream or something." Buffy said with a smile.

"Ooh, great! I love ice cream, well, who doesn't? Except maybe those who are lactose intolerant." Willow said, returning the smile full force.

"Hey, they like it too. Just jealous they can't eat it like us." Buffy immediately stopped joking at the other's abruptly crestfallen face.

"Willow? What's wrong?"

"Do you remember, anything of what you said yesterday? Specifically to me?" She asked as she looked anywhere but at Buffy.

"I'm sorry. I'm kinda drawing up blanks after that third or fourth drink. What'd I say?" She asked, uncertain of the change in events.

"I guess you're very perceptive when you're drunk." Willow said with a humorless laugh. "It doesn't matter. It's not important." She said, shrugging it off.

"No, it's very important. Willow, you seem like a nice person who's totally different from my other friends, and I'd really like to get to know you. If there's anyway I can fix this- I don't want what I did to stand in between us. Things like this can eat away at you and cause resentment and... how will we ever have a chance at having a proper friendship after that?" Buffy rambled. Willow exhaled loudly and decided to tell the tale, albeit not in so many words,

"It's just that, you like knew that Xander and I weren't- that he wasn't very happy with me... In the bedroom. He never says it, but I always assumed that... I don't wanna lose him Buffy. Last night, I wouldn't let him come into our room, because I was angry with him, which was covering the fact that I was angry with myself, which was double covering the fact that I was angry with you for ever mentioning such private things."

"Willow, I am so sorry that-"

"No, it's okay. Can't really fix a problem if you never acknowledge it, right?" Buffy remained silent as she thought very carefully of what she was about to say next.

"Do you want to fix it?"

***************

"Okay kids! Turn off the game and get your shoes!" Willow said, extra cheerful.

"But mom! I was just about to beat Dawn!" Jesse whined.

"Was not! I could beat you with my eyes closed." Dawn retorted with a huff.

"You can play later, guys. Buffy here's gonna take us all out for a special ice cream treat!" Willow exclaimed. The instant smiles on the children's faces showed their consent.

"Hey, thanks lady!" Jesse exclaimed as he ran past them all to get his gym shoes.

"You're pretty nice for someone we've only just met. You're trying to buy our affection are you?" Dawn asked with an arch of her eyebrow, a smirk and a maturity beyond her years. Buffy gave her an amused look. She noticed how much the girl resembled Spike in that instant.

"Don't mind her. She's just Daddy's girl after all, aren't you Dawnie?" Willow said as she playfully tickled the girl's sides. The girl laughed in merriment before retrieving her shoes also.

"She's cute. I'm guessing the apple didn't fall too far from the tree, huh?" Buffy asked.

"Not by a long shot."

***************

They all had a good time at the Rainbow Cone. The jokes, the ease in each other's company, Willow felt as if she had known Buffy her whole life, and vice versa. Everything was going smoothly until Jesse hopped out of his seat.

"Where are you going?" Willow asked.

"To the bathroom, mom." He said as he tried to quickly to the men's room.

"Oh no you don't, mister. You know the rules." She said as she stood up, grasping his hand.

"Aww, ma! It's just a toilet." He complained.

"In a public place. In a few years, I'll let you go alone." She said as she pulled him to the ladies room.

"Wow. Kinda like the over protective mother bird, isn't she?" Buffy said.

"Not really. Anything could happen to a little boy in a men's room. Safe and embarrassed is better than sorry and, I dunno, something horrible." Dawn said as she wiped her hands and face from the remnants of chocolate ice cream. Dawn shifted uncomfortably in her seat as the blond stared at her.

"What?" She said, slightly irritated, slightly curious.

"Nothing, it's just... You're very interesting, if not peculiar. Not that that's a bad thing-"

"You're pretty 'peculiar' yourself." Dawn said with air quotes and a giggle. Buffy laughed with her.

"So, how's life?" Buffy asked. Dawn slightly scrunched up her face at the question.

"I dunno. Okay, I guess?"

"Is it fun? I mean, with only you and your dad?" Buffy didn't miss the girl's eyes light up.

"My dad? Oh, he's a blast! Plus, he's a real push over." Dawn said with a conspirator wink- wink. "You should meet him. He's totally awesome." Dawn said with a smile.

"Oh, I have. He was at that party. He seems really interesting and... peculiar." Buffy said with a smile. *Oh my god!* Dawn thought. She couldn't believe her good fortune. Buffy was great, and she knew and *liked* her dad, well, as far as she could tell. Unless she was laughing at him- which Dawn didn't think she was. She really like Buffy, and hoped that things would take a happy turn from there.

"Yes, he is. You should get to know him, I mean, us better. I bet we'd have lots and lots of fun." Dawn said with a big smile. *Just like a family.* She added to herself.

TBC