| TITLE: Growing Up on the Hellmouth pt 17/? AUTHOR: Faery E-MAIL: [email protected] FEEDBACK: It gives me a happy...honest, I really look forward to it :- ) DISTRIBUTION: If you've already asked me, go ahead and take it. Anyone else...I would be honoured, just let me know first. PAIRING: Spike/Dawn RATING: PG-13 for this part DISCLAIMER: Joss owns all. Joss rules all. But if he ever wants to give up Spike I'd be more than happy to play with him for a while. AUTHOR'S NOTE: The timeline is a little out of wack, but canon does make an appearance every once in a while SUMMARY: A bit of a calm before the storm Giles allowed a slight smile to grace his face. It was such a rare thing to find a moment of peace lately, yet here it was, in the middle of a hospital no less. Around him everyone was sleeping. Buffy was resting quietly in her bed, and in the next bed over, Spike and Dawn lay curled together. There had been a huge argument about that, no one wanting to see the vampire in bed with Dawn, but in the end everyone was too exhausted to argue over the matter, and Spike had won out. Dawn and Spike had been the first to drop off, around 3am, creating their own cocoon of peace in each other's arms. The rest of the children had stayed up until nearly sunrise. Giles had explained to the best of his ability the events that had transpired, and all of them had been so shocked, more by the severity of Joyce's illness than anything. For a while, tension had filled the air, until the pizza man knocked at the door. Xander grinned impishly and ran to the door, looking down the hall nervously before tossing some cash at the delivery boy and snatching the food inside. After that, much needed frivolity had abounded. Giles had stayed awake and watched it all. Once they had all fallen asleep, he too drifted off. But old habits die hard. Once again he found that he was the last to sleep and the first to rise. He could hardly believe the time when he glanced at the clock. It was nearly noon, yet he couldn't muster the will to wake everyone while they were still sleeping so peacefully. Xander, Anya, Willow and Tara were all curled up on the floor at his feet, slight snores filling the air. He hadn't the heart to wake them. The choice was taken out of his hands though, when a doctor entered the room. "Mr. Summers?" he asked quietly, peering into the dim room. "No, no. Rupert Giles," he said, rising to his feet and cautiously stepping over the sleeping figures and slipping into the hall to speak to the doctor. "I...I'm a close friend of the family. Mrs. Summers...Joyce...is she alright?" The doctor smiled at him and patted his shoulder reassuringly. "Yes, that's what I've come to tell you. She went into surgery earlier this morning and she's in recovery right now. She will probably be asleep for several more hours, but I just wanted to let you know that everything went very smoothly. We couldn't have asked for a better surgery. We'd still like to keep her for observation for another day, to make sure complications don't arise, but after that she should be free to go home." "That's absolutely splendid!" Giles exclaimed. "I'm sure you're little "family" will be happy to hear the news as well. But if I were you I'd give them a few more hours of sleep. From what the nurses told me, a group of young people were up the entire night terrorizing the floor and making quite a ruckus." "They are quite the handful," Giles admitted with a smile. "But they are quite devoted as well. You couldn't ask for a better group to be at your back in times of trouble." "I'm glad to hear it," the doctor replied. "One of the greatest factors in a speedy recovery is having loyal support. It boosts the spirits of patients. Enjoy telling them the good news. I have to go on rounds now." "Thank you very much, doctor." "You're very welcome. Oh, and Mr. Giles?" "Yes?" "Glad to see you've managed a trip to the hospital *without* a trauma to the head," the doctor teased, having recognized Giles once he stepped out of the dark room. "Indeed," Giles smiled in reply. He moved to go back into the room, and inside he heard many loud scuffling sounds as the room's occupants hurried back to their original positions, not wanting to be caught eavesdropping. Once inside, he was nearly barreled over by the two girls who had their arms around him. "Oh my God!" the squealed in unison. "She's going to be alright!" Giles smiled down at the beaming faces of Dawn and Buffy. "Yes...I believe she will." Down the hall the workers at the nurses' station frowned at the loud noise resounding from the Summers' room. The sounds of joyous laughter and whoops of relief could be heard over the entire hall * * * * * * * * * * *several days later* "I'm not so sure about this," Joyce said, looking up at her daughter with trepidation in her voice. "Really, I feel fine. The doctors gave me medicine for my headaches and I have numbers I can call in case of an emergency. I don't think this is necessary." "But Mom, you need someone to look out for you, and I can't be there all the time. And she can help watch Dawn too. It's only temporary, until you're back on your feet again." "But Buffy, it's just so *strange*. I mean, she looks just like you." Joyce said, looking up at what could be her daughter's twin standing next to Buffy. Then she turned her eyes onto the vampire standing slightly back from everyone else. "And Spike, while I appreciate the gesture, I really would like to know why you had a robot created that is an exact replica of my daughter." Spike got a guilty look on his face and began examining a spot on the rug. "I...um...that is..." he stuttered, not able to find words to explain without him getting a full blown lecture. "Spike thought she could help with Slaying," Dawn piped in quickly. "He knew Buffy was going through a lot, and figured a robot could do some of the easier patrolling things so Buffy could concentrate on her family. When he found out how sick you were, he had her programmed with brain surgeon stuff so she could watch over you." "While that's very...um, sweet...I'm not certain that I'm comfortable with a robot version of my daughter taking care of me." "Please, mom," Dawn pleaded. "I can't stand the idea of something bad happening to you, and it won't be all the time. Just when Buffy has to slay or save the world or something." Joyce looked at the figures peering down at her in her bed. Two Buffy's staring at her was almost too much for her to take, but then she saw the concern etched in all of their brows...well everyone except the Buffybot who was smiling blithely at her...and she decided that it couldn't hurt to at least give it a try. "Alright, Dr. Buffy can stay, but only until I'm better. I might have a heart attack if I had to deal with two Buffy's on a full-time basis." "Gee thanks mom," Buffy said sarcastically, before bending down to give her a hug. "Ok, now everybody shoo," Buffy said, making motions towards the door. "You just got back from the hospital, so you really should rest. Take a nice nap, and I can make dinner for you later." "Ok, is this really my daughter, or is the robot speaking?" "Hey, I can cook!" Buffy protested. "So, Joyce, would you like your cereal with or without milk?" Spike quipped. "That's not fair! I can cook...honest!" "Whatever you say, honey. But you might want to have the robot help you just in case." "Fine," Buffy said, dragging the Buffybot behind her. "Buf I'm not programmed to cook!" the Buffybot replied. "You'll learn. C'mon, we've only got five hours until dinner. If we hurry we might make it." Spike chuckled as Buffy hurried to the kitchen, and he and Dawn were about to leave when Joyce stopped them. "Hold on you two. I want to ask you something, and I want an honest answer." "Sure, what is it Mom?" "Well, I've noticed how...close... you two have become recently. And I guess there is no easy way to ask this, so here goes. Spike... are you sleeping with my daughter?" "Mom! How could you ask something like that?" Dawn exclaimed. "Dawn, sweetie, I'm not a fool. I learn from my mistakes. Buffy was dating Angel for months before I realized she even had a boyfriend. She slept with him and the world nearly ended. I'm not going to make the same mistake with you. I can live with my daughter dating a vampire. God knows I've learned to accept stranger things in the past couple of years, but there will be ground rules set. Understand? So Spike, I'll ask again...are you sleeping with my daughter?" "No," he answered demurely. "Do you *want* to sleep with her?" Spike's eyes widened and his jaw dropped. He opened and closed his mouth a couple times before snapping it shut, he teeth making an audible clicking noise. "You listen hear young man..." "Now Joyce, I'm over a hundred years old. I hardly think the term `young' still applies." "You know what I mean...now just listen. My daughter is only 14 years old. That is far too young for her to be engaging in sexual activity with a boyfriend." "Mom...I'll be fifteen in a few days. I'm not a kid anymore. I don't need the big `sex talk'." "You know, back in the day she'd already be married with two pups by her side at this age." "Will you *please* just listen to me without interrupting!" Joyce yelled. "Oh...oh my," Joyce said, suddenly gripping her head and lying back in her bed. "Mom!" Dawn exclaimed, rushing to her side. "Are you alright?" "I'm fine...just fine. My head just hurts a little, that's all. Now if you'd just let me finish, we can avoid more of this. The only point I wanted to make is that my daughter, while mature for her age, is still growing up. And I think she is still too young to be having sex. I will give you my blessing to date, but promise me you will be the gentleman I know you once were." "No sex till she's older...do you both understand that?" "Yes, Mom," they both sheepishly replied, a bit embarrassed by the whole line of conversation. "Ok children, I think I am going to take that nap now. It's such a lovely day though...why don't you go outside and play?" she said drowsily. "Uh, mom? The sun's out," Dawn said. It was too late though. Joyce had already fallen into an exhausted sleep. Spike and Dawn quietly tip-toed out of the room. Once outside, Spike frowned and turned to Dawn. "Your mum, you don't think she has it in for me do you?" "No, of course not. My mom likes you, even knowing you're a vampire and all." "So the sun thing, just a slip of the tongue, right?" "Absolutely." "If you say so," Spike said as he grabbed Dawn's hand and gave a nervous glance back at her mom's room. He was about to suggest that they retire to her room until dinner when a loud crash came from the kitchen. A low growl came from Spike's throat as Dawn began to steer them in the direction of the noise. "What's wrong, Spike?" "Stupid Slayer is always ruining my plans. And they were good ones too!" "Oh, and just what were you planning, mister?" Spike leaned in towards Dawn, his eyes mere inches from hers. "Use that lovely connection we have, and you tell me, nibblet." Dawn's eyes opened wide as her mind was flooded with images of just how far they could go without actually having sex. Spike continued his mental assault while leaning in closer to lick the side of her neck. "All sorts of nasty things," he whispered seductively. Dawn blushed furiously, but was saved from having to reply by the loud shriek that came from the kitchen. "Dawn! I think I need your help!" Buffy yelled. Dawn pulled away from Spike slightly, and looked up at him with a grin on her face. "So Spike, can you cook?" Faery So...I hope you liked. It's a little fluffier after all the agnst :-) |