Something New
Chapter 14
Something New
Chapter 14
Buffy was slightly startled to see Xander outside the Magick Box that night. �Xander? Did you find Spike?�
�No.� Xander said, brushing off his coat. �I did find about six vampires sleeping in those crypts for all of my trouble, but none of them were belonging to you.�
�Spike doesn�t belong to me, but I�m gonna kick his ass when I see him.� Buffy said, then folded her arms, started to fret. �I don�t get this. Maybe he left, or he actually got hurt.�
�Or the Initiative��
Buffy�s eyes glistened suddenly with moisture at that thought. �Oh my god. I should have known. He was so paranoid, but I said� and what if they really got him?� She tried to swallow, her throat suddenly dry. �We have to find the location to the Initiative.�
�Yeah, that�s so not gonna happen.� Xander said. �Look, I don�t love Spike like all of you seem to, but I don�t want him dead. Still, the only thing we know about the Initiative is that it might be on the school grounds, or Spike might be crazy from whatever they did to his brain. But the government wouldn�t exactly tell us the location.�
�Maybe we can beat up some demons for information.�
�Spike�s the only demon that escaped.� Xander frowned. �But you could always catch one of the soldiers and beat the snot out of him.�
Buffy�s mouth fell open. �That would be the perfect stress reliever. Do you want to help me?�
�Sure. I�m overdue for a little blood.� Xander decided. �Where should we start?�
�Stalking the cemeteries.� Buffy replied. �We�d have to keep quiet, and watch demons so maybe we can use them as bait.�
�Sounds good.�
�First we have to go by my house and see if Spike is there. Plus James will be bonkers if I don�t. He hasn�t seen either of us all day long. He must be giving mom gray hairs.�
They headed down the street with a mission, finally reaching the Summers� home. Dawn greeted them by folding her arms, which she immediately dropped, forcing a friendly smile at Xander, who she thought was cute. �Hey Dawnster.� Xander was greeted. �Is, uh-�
James attacked Buffy, running to her and hugging her, complaining loudly.
�Honey,� Buffy tried to ease him off, but he clung to handfuls of her shirt and pants, making that impossible, even with Slayer strength. �Is Spike home?�
�Who?� Dawn asked innocently.
�He isn�t back?� Buffy asked, more worried now. �He didn�t even stop by.�
�Daddy�s gone.� James said. �He hadn�t been here all day long.�
Buffy looked at James� confused, angry, sad face, knowing that none of this made sense to him. �Don�t worry.� She said, smoothing out his hair and hugging him. �Daddy�s not gone. Xander and I have to go find him. And I�ll make him tell you stories.�
James looked at Xander, then back at Buffy. �I hate Ugly-Pants.�
Buffy gasped, looking at Xander�s pants. �He has normal pants. Apologize right now.�
�Why?� James complained, not entirely sure what apologies meant, but knowing that Spike had told Dawn to once, and she�d told him that she was sorry.
�You can�t call people names,� Buffy said. �Because it hurts their feelings.�
�I don�t care about Ugly-Pants� feerings, I want my daddy!� James said moodily, running to the basement.
�Ugh.� Dawn pressed her lips together. �I�ll go get him and try to make sure he doesn�t break anything. Oh, and comfort him, too.�
�Where�s mom?� Buffy asked.
�She had to work, so I had to baby-sit.�
�You�re too young to baby-sit.�
�Mom seems to think that I�m old enough.�
�Well you�re not.�
�I�m thirteen!� Dawn protested. �I usually have to take care of him, anyway when Spike sleeps in. Do you realize how hard it is to wake up a big fat sleeping vampire?�
�I�m sure I don�t wanna know.� Buffy said. �Fine. You can stay here with James just once, but lock the doors. And it�s only because I need Xander to help me. I don�t know what I�m dealing with.�
�Spike didn�t just go to a friend�s house, did he?� Dawn asked knowingly.
�He�s been gone for a day, Dawn.� Buffy said. �Even Spike wouldn�t stay out all night like that. Well, he would, but he likes to be here with you guys.�
Dawn tried to shrug indifferently.. �His cooking isn�t deadly. Whatever doesn�t kill ya.�
�Well I think Spike could either be hurt, or he could have lapsed. As in human blood being his drug and him failing in rehab.�
�You think he�s feeding again?�
�It�s a possibility. I don�t want to speculate about it, but if he does show up, take precaution.�
Dawn looked scared. �Remind me to kick your butt into actually letting me have weapons.�
Buffy sighed. �I grant you permission to my weapons for tonight, under strict emergency only use. And if James even sees them ��
�I got it, GO FIND SPIKE.� Dawn said, shoving her sister back towards the door. �I have to go counsel the midget.�
�Be nice to Jamie.� Buffy added as Dawn wheeled and left around the corner to the basement door. She turned to Xander. �Sorry about that. Jamie and Dawn both tend to be very outspoken.�
�It�s okay, I don�t like these pants either.� Xander said. �So we should go rescue your vampire sheep.�
�Yeah,� Buffy nodded. �Should we start with the cemeteries or bars?�
�I�ve already checked most of the cemeteries, but we should try to do a lot of them again.� Xander said. �Then we�ll hit the bars, because if he�s drunk, that can wait over him bleeding the death.�
�Go idea.� Buffy decided, opening the door. �I don�t know if we can afford to split up or not.�
�Buffy!� Willow cried, running up the stairs, the redhead and Tara holding hands. �I-I found Tara like you said, and we used the dart in a spell to locate him.�
�Spike?�
�I-I think I know where he is.� Tara said. �H-his aura is blue, and his mind is kind of, um, scattered.�
�Scattered?� Buffy echoed.
�Yeah. L-like someone wh-when they have a nightmare?� Tara asked. �And everything doesn�t make sense until you wake up?�
�So� great.� Buffy said. �Are you saying that Spike is sleeping?�
�Either that or he�s more confused than we think.� Tara said.
�And again, Spike can either be drunk and passed out, or could have been attacked.� Xander muttered.
�Can you sense anything, Tara?� Buffy asked.
�Th-there is a high level of toxins in his body.� Tara admitted.
�And again, Spike could either be drunk and passed out or attacked by a venomous demon.�
�Tara, can you tell us where he is?� Buffy asked.
�N-n, I-I�m sorry.� Tara stammered. �I�m not that in tune with him. And even if I was, well, i-it�d take a lot of power that I don�t have access too, but I wouldn�t be able to get a strong connection unless he was awake. Then even telepathy would be possible.�
�Really?� Xander asked in interest.
�Yes.� Tara nodded. �But he�s not awake.�
�Great. Do you have a vague idea?�
�One of the cemeteries.� Tara replied. �Near his old crypt.�
�Alright. Are you two coming with?� Buffy asked.
�Yeah, I�ll come.� Willow agreed. �You might need a spell. Or just a friend.�
�I�ll take whatever I can get.� Buffy said. �We have to find Spike.�
*****
�Spike?� The demon laughed.
Willow�s eyes watered at the amount of smoke in the bar, and held Tara a little closer, making her eyes glow red and reptile-like whenever she caught some hairy demon biker staring at her girlfriend.
�Girly, we tossed his ass out of here a long time ago. Not �fore breaking �im first.� He chuckled, bumping fists � or claws � with his buddy.
Buffy folded her arms. �Spike was here?�
�Yeah, �bout a month ago.� The other one scoffed. �And we told him he�d better not come anywhere near here again, or I�d make sure a X�qerishak demon bit his head off.�
�This was a month ago?�
�Yeah.� They snickered. �Spike�s a real traitor now, killing his own kind. Word is, he�s the Slayer bitc-� The demon screamed as Buffy lifted her ax and casually took two of his tendrils off.
�Maybe you didn�t realize that you�re talking to the Slayer. Spike is my concern. Now has anyone here seen him?� She glared around the bar, and all of the rough demons stared at her, then went back to talking amongst themselves, some snickering about spike going soft, until she noticed a jittery demon trying to buy a few bags of blood and quickly leave.
Tara noticed him, too, and the blonde watching him made Buffy march over and shove him against the counter.
�Hey!� Willy protested. �Slayer, you can�t keep roughing up my paying customers!�
�Shut up, Willy.� Buffy snarled, holding tight to the demon�s shirt. �Tell me, have you seen Spike?�
�Who?�
She dropped him in disgust. �Five foot seven, shaved brown hair, blue eyes, cheek bones, muscles?�
�The hottie vampire?� The demon laughed, and Buffy made a face. He was slightly gross, with pale baggy skin, red eyes and pointed ears, though he was strangely cute, like an ugly dog, and seemed like he was kind of friendly. �Man, I haven�t played poker with him forever. Funny, too. If his hair was bleach blonde, I�d know him.�
Buffy shoved the demon back. �You know Spike?�
�Know him? Well, gosh, we used to play poker, but, I totally told him to get lost when he killed his first demon.� The floppy-eared demon looked around the bar and added loudly, �Can�t help you, Slayer. Don�t know a thing. Hope he dies in hell.� He looked scared as Buffy was about to punch him, then pleaded her with his eyes and calmly walked out, and Buffy followed, slightly suspicious with her friends behind her.
As soon as they left the building, Buffy grabbed the baggy-skinned demon that smelled like Cheetos and slammed him against the wall. �What do you know about Spike?�
�Let go of me, please, I�m not gonna hurt anyone!� The demon protested in a higher voice. �But you can�t just walk in and start asking people where he is like they care! They think he�s the scum of the underworld!�
Buffy let the demon go roughly, but made sure that he knew she could kill him at any second. �How do you know Spike?�
�Man, I played poker with him a lot.� The demon said. �I was totally there for him when they busted in his face. Helped him set the bones, you know? But they can�t know that I�m his friend, or what do you think would happen to me?�
�You�re Spike�s friend?� Buffy raised an eyebrow. �You�re a coward.�
�Yeah, well I�m not fighter, but I am the only guy who will even give him the time of day. He used to be able to come in here for his blood. But last time he was here he got his hand and arm broken in twelve places. These guys don�t want him around here.�
�Do you know where Spike is?� Buffy demanded.
�Sure I do.� The demon nodded. �Man, he got hit big time.�
�What exactly does that mean?� Xander asked. �Buffy, beat him up.�
�No, no! No need! Hey, you don�t need violence to encourage me to talk. I�m a nice guy, really. My name is Clem.�
�I don�t need pleasantries, I need Spike.� Buffy said, mentally squirming at her choice of words. �Where are you keeping him?�
�Keeping him? Nowhere.�
�Then what were you doing buying blood?� Buffy asked. �You don�t look like a blood drinking demon.�
�Well, no.� Clem admitted. �I like hot wings. Chips, too. So does Spike. But the blood is for my lady friend.�
Buffy made a face, unable to imagine Clem having a lady friend. �I think you�re lying. You saw Spike.�
�With the brown shaved head.� Clem nodded, then laughed. �Man, and to think I almost let him die, too.�
�Die?� Willow echoed.
�Yeah. Funny thing. I saw him in the sewers, and I figured some poor fool was about to be killed by a Naldruana demon. That would�ve been a way to go. Lucky for him, Naldruana�s don�t like living things very much. They�re pretty easy to shoo away. But deadweight vampires? Man, I�m not fit for dragging bodies.�
�What�s a Naldruana demon?� Tara asked worriedly.
�Man, they find whatever they can.� Clem said, shaking his head. �If I hadn�t been there, when he woke up, he�d have been nested in. That�s not fun. The larva grows fast, and they eat the corpse that they were hatched in. Lucky for him, I saved his skin.�
�Where did you put him?�
�At my place.� Clem shrugged. �Oh, but he�s not there anymore.�
�Where did he go?� Buffy demanded, lifting her ax to avoid further delay.
�I dunno, Spike is a solitary guy. I let him crash but we don�t exactly hang out.� Clem said. �He went off by himself, even though I said he shouldn�t.�
�He just left?� Buffy cried.
�Well yeah. What�s it to you anyway? Does he owe you something?�
Buffy shook her head, not wanting the demon world to find out that she and Spike had a son. �Do you know where he went?�
�No, but it�s not gonna be another bar if he doesn�t want to be killed slowly.� Clem said. �These guys really hate him. He said he was gonna go home. You should try his crypt. That�s where he lives, it�s over by-�
�I know where it is.� Buffy said gruffly, deciding that Spike had gotten past them and headed back home. Dawn would probably be freaked, threatening him with a crossbow or something. �Where are the demons that hurt him? I need to vent a little anger.�
*****
Dawn was steaming when Joyce got home. �Mom, you need to fire Spike, he�s an awful babysitter.�
�William is home?� Joyce asked.
�William is downstairs, passed out, as usual.� Dawn said, annoyed. �I think he�s drunk.�
Joyce looked concerned, setting down her purse. �Are you sure, honey?�
�Buffy went out looking for him and said that he could�ve started drinking blood again and everyone was saying that he got drunk or hurt, and he�s not bleeding.� Dawn said angrily. �I�ve had to take care of James by myself, and Spike barely even say hi or noticed me, he just staggered downstairs like a big stupid drunkard and passed out.�
�Oh dear.� Joyce hung up her coat. �Where�s Buffy?�
�Probably got a case of dumb blonde and forgot about Spike or her own sister and she�s making out with Riley somewhere.� Dawn said jealously.
�Then where�s Jamie?�
�I told him that Spike wasn�t gonna play with him, but he still wouldn�t leave.� Dawn replied. �He�s such a crybaby.�
�I�m gonna get to the bottom of this.� Joyce decided, rolling up her sleeves, and Dawn made sure that she got well out of her way.
Buffy came through the door, with Xander dragging behind a saggy-skinned demon by it�s ear. �Mom.� Buffy said. �I think I got to the bottom of this.�
�Who on earth is this?� Joyce asked, looking at the demon, bewildered.
�This is Clem.� Buffy said, jostling him for good measure. �He�s Spike�s friend. Of sorts.�
�Spike is downstairs.� Dawn told her sister, arms folded. �You left us here with a drunkard.�
Clem laughed. �Drunkard? Spike? Man, he couldn�t touch liquor if he wanted to.�
�How do you know that?� Joyce asked, folding her arms as well.
�Not only had he been kicked out of every demon hang-out in town, but he wouldn�t be able to see straight until like, the next day.� Clem replied. �Like I said, he got hit bad. But don�t worry, happens to a few demons, and they�re fine. Eventually. Can I go home now? There�s a Knight Rider marathon.�
Buffy grabbed Clem�s ear again, making him yelp and protest. �Clarify what you mean by �hit�, or I will clip your ears for you.�
�Okay, okay, ow ow ow!� Clem tried to get her to let loose of him. �He got shot, okay? It�s a, uh, like a real heavy drug. Freakin� soldiers, man. I�ve heard people say those things will drop a werewolf in a heartbeat. Lucky man, Spike. I�m thinking either the Naldruana demon scared them off, or he managed to loose them, or they�ve already tagged him. But, jeez, those soldiers are creepy. Personally, I�ve had a pretty scary experience. But they didn�t see me. Took right off after a flock of vampire fledglings.�
Buffy let go of Clem�s ear. �Do you know where the Initiative is?�
�The what? Is that like the place the soldiers are? Man, I�m not a fighter. Was a gang of demons that said they were gonna go pound those �little dorks� and went off to go find the soldiers. And that was a month ago. Hasn�t been any word from �em since. Anyone dumb enough to go there never comes back. It�s the freakin� government, man. They�re crazy.�
�Do you know where it is?�
�No, I don�t.� Clem said, rubbing his ear as he already felt Buffy viciously pulling on it again. �No one knows for sure. Lots of demons disappear at Claybourne. That�s like, the Bermuda Triangle. And there hasn�t been as many campus kills. Wow, what I wouldn�t give for some Doritos right now.�
�Come here.� Buffy grabbed Clem�s ear again and pulled him to the cellar, then descended the stairs, with Clem not daring to do anything more than follow.
Spike was pass out on the bed, uncovered, his boots and clothes still on and with James lying next to him, but not asleep, too disconcerted for that.
�Mommy.� James sat up and then looked at Clem strangely, but knew he was another demon.
�Hey honey.� Buffy smiled, relived that no harm had come to Spike. Purely for James� own well-being.
James looked at Spike. �He doesn�t wanna play.� He said, annoyed, and hopped off of the bed, looking at Clem. �You look funny.�
�Well so do you,� Clem retorted childishly. �With your tight, soft skin. Mine�s better.� He said, jiggling the skin that hung off of one arm.
�You�re weird.� James informed him, going to cling to Buffy and look Clem over from time to time.
�Show me now.� Buffy told Clem. �Where he was shot.�
�Okay.� Clem walked over to Spike, who was completely unconscious, and pulled up a sleeve until he found the small red wound. �Ha. See? My story checks out.� He let go of Spike�s shirt and stepped away, the tight skin of humans truly gross to him.
�Alright.� Buffy admitted.
Jamie slipped from her legs, going back up onto the bed to pull at Spike�s boots, interested. �Daddy, wake up. This is boooring.�
Buffy looked at Clem, her eyes blazing. �If you tell anyone-�
�Tell anyone what?� Clem cried, lifting his clawed hands.
Buffy narrowed her eyes at him. �If you tell anyone anything about me bringing you here, or anything that happened here, I will give you a face lift so tight your skin will split.�
�I won�t tell anyone.� Clem swore. �I�m a good guy, honest. I don�t kill people, I just drink and play poker and eat chicken.� He looked at James, then Spike and Buffy. �So, uh, did you adopt, Slayer?�
Buffy bit her lip. �James is not adopted. This is exactly what you can�t tell anyone about. If anyone find out-�
�Holy cow!� Clem realized. �You and Spike-? Wow! That�s so � wrong, and awful, but neat, too! It�s kind of like, forbidden love. But how�d you get the mini-me? Isn�t that kind of impossible?�
�It�s supposed to be.� Buffy mumbled.
�Wow!� Clem repeated. �When did you jump his bones? And, uh, James is such a big little fella, too. And Spike�s living here? Geez, no wonder he missed poker night. The lucky devil.�
�Okay, that�s it.� Buffy found one of Spike�s knives. �You know too much.�
�I�m cool! I�m cool!� Clem insisted. �I didn�t realize that you and Spike were ever a thing, but score for him, huh? Better than living in that rat hole. By the way, do you think I can have Spike�s old place? It�d be better than my sewer suite.�
�You can never tell anyone that Spike and I � that James exists.� Buffy said. �The demon world can�t find out that I have a son. Especially not a son who�s half vampire. If you want to keep your baggy skin, you�ll forget that you ever even came to this house. Got it?�
�O-of course, Slayer.� Clem said. �I won�t tell anybody. I�m a good guy, honest. Like they�d believe me anyway if I said Spike knocked up a Slayer. No offense, seriously. I�d end up dead, and then the little guy� aww, he�s real cute, even with tight skin.�
�I don�t want anybody to even know he exists.� Buffy said. �And if anything ever happens to him, you�re gonna be chowder.�
�I promise, I won�t tell.� Clem repeated. �Who�d believe me anyway?�
Buffy led Clem back upstairs, and Jamie followed, going to pester Willow and Tara.
�Spike�s back, you can go home now.� Buffy said, pushing him out the door.
�Wait. Can I have Spike�s crypt? I�m sure he�d let me move in there.�
�Go home.� Buffy repeated, shutting the door.
�Buffy, I�d certainly like an explanation.�
Buffy looked from her sister to her mother. �Well, mom, I figured Dawn could watch herself for a couple hours, but I�m sorry if I was mistaken.�
�Has Spike been drinking?� Joyce asked.
�No, mom.� Buffy frowned. �He hasn�t touched a drop of alcohol, I swear. Why would he? Spike got shot.�
�He was shot?� Joyce repeated in shock.
�With a tranquilizer dart. Our Initiative friends might have a new lead on him now.�
Dawn forgot her anger towards Spike, all of it fuming towards the Initiative now. �Why don�t they just leave him alone? It�s not his fault he�s a vampire.�
�I dunno, but at least he�s not� captured.� Buffy said. She looked at Willow and Xander. �Guys? Fill in Giles, please? We have to talk about this tomorrow. I can�t have Spike being hunted down every time he steps outside. I mean, he is the father of my only child. It�s not a way for a six year old to live.�
�No.� Willow agreed. �We�ll figure this out.�
�Yeah, Buff. You�ll take down these jerks no problem.� Xander encouraged. �They�ll be running for cover.�
�Thanks guys, for helping me out.� Buffy said. �I think we can only wait until tomorrow. And I want you all to keep your eyes open. Willow, Tara, can you try maybe to locate demon masses? These guys seem to be reeling in the fishes for testing.�
�Sure.� Willow agreed wholeheartedly. �I think I saw a spell for something like that, with a map and some herbs.�
�Sh-should we really be playing with magickal forces?� Tara asked nervously.
�It�s completely simple.� Willow assured. �It makes little lights where demons are, and different colors and everything. All we have to do is call the goddess Thespia. I think I even have the herbs to do it and everything. We can do this tonight.�
�Calm down, Will.� Xander teased. �Let�s let some people rest.�
�It�s okay, it�ll only take, like, ten minutes and I�ll be able to tell exactly where all of the demons are being held.� Willow bounced. �Oh, I can�t even wait. Sorry, Buffy. I hope Spike regains consciousness by� tomorrow. Bye Miss Summers. Bye Dawn. Bye Jamie. Come on, Tara.�
James pouted as Willow and Tara left, holding hands. �They�re always leaving without me.�
�Don�t be sad, little guy.� Xander said. �You�ve got years to like girls. But this is what happens when certain vampires have children. Anyway, I�ve gotta head home, too.�
�Bye Xander.� Buffy hugged him. �Thanks for helping, anyway.�
�Shucks, Buffy, I�d go to the end of the world with you. �Sides, I got to pull Clem�s ear.� Xander smirked, trying to lighten the mood. �Later Dawnster, small fry.�
�I�m not small.�
�Hmm,� Xander placed his hand on James� head. �I think you�re right. You�re growing like a weed. Before you know it, you�ll be looking down at me.�
James frowned, looking at his feet, then back at Xander and decided he was insane, going back down cellar.
�He�s antisocial.� Buffy said apologetically.
��S alright.� Xander said. �Bye, Miss Summers.�
�Have a good night.� Joyce said.
�Bye,� Dawn pouted and went upstairs moodily.
Buffy took a deep breath, looking at her mom. �Sorry. Did Dawn make a mess?�
�No. Actually she thought that Spike was drunk.�
�No. Um, he got shot with a tranquilizer dart meant for werewolves.� Buffy said. �I guess it�s take them down pretty fast. He�s not exactly awake, and he�s been gone for a day, and I don�t know how much longer he�ll be unconscious.�
�A werewolf tranquilizer dart?� Joyce echoed. �Is that serious?�
�I think so. The government would put enough drugs in one to keep a werewolf down and out long enough to transport it. Plus they wouldn�t want those few seconds when the drugs haven�t kicked in, and you�ve just got a ticked off werewolf on your hands. Those things are dangerous. I dealt with Oz, and he�s the most mellow guy you can ever meet. But by full moon? You didn�t want to wait five or so seconds for the drugs to knock him out.�
�I understand. Will Spike be okay?�
�He won�t die, �cause he really can�t, but he might be dopey for a little while.� Buffy considered. �I think he got in a fight, too, with something, cause he�s a little messed up.�
�Should I heat up some blood?�
�I wouldn�t bother, mom.� Buffy shook her head. �Unconscious vampires don�t eat anything.�
�Oh.�
�Don�t worry.� Buffy said. �But I�m gonna go make sure James is alright.�
Joyce nodded and went upstairs, and Buffy went into the kitchen, filling up a bowl with warm water and grabbing a washcloth. She went downstairs, and Spike was still unconscious, though James now sat at the foot of the bed, holding his crystal and turning it slowly.
�Hi honey.� Buffy said, setting down the bowl on one of Spike�s crates. �Pretty quartz.�
�It�s a diamond.� James said proudly.
Buffy smiled and turned to Spike, sitting down on the side of the bed. He had crusted blood on a lip that had probably been split from a punch, and a bruise on his cheek. She wet the cloth, wiping up the blood from his lip, and the tranquilizers were definitely strong. �Think Spike�d mind if I took off his shirt? He smells like a sewer.�
�Smelly.� James agreed.
Buffy experimentally nudged Spike�s shoulder, but to no result. She carefully lifted him up, sitting him forward to slip the shirt off of his arms, finally dropping it onto the floor and setting him back down. She checked to make sure that he hadn�t broken anything vital, then wet the cloth again, cleaning over the dart wound.
�I�m sorry.� Buffy murmured. �This kind of sucks, huh? But we�re gonna fix this.�
She continued to clean off dirt from his face and chest, then touched his hair, making his eyes flutter. Buffy paused, but Spike didn�t wake up, and she went back to cleaning, occasionally stealing a sinful stroke of hair. A low murmur started up, then a soft purring, and Buffy laughed lightly, making James crawl over in interest. �Does he do this often?�
James nodded, lying down next to Spike and trying to snuggle under his arm.
�You shouldn�t be taking advantage of him in his sleep.� Buffy said teasingly in a shocked voice. �Are you gonna sleep down here?�
�I wanna keep him company.� James said bravely, as if giving up a great deal for Spike�s own benefit.
�You�re such a good boy.� Buffy praised, leaning over to kiss James. �What did I ever do you deserve you?�
�You�re a good mommy, too.� James replied. �I love you.�
�I love you too, baby.� Buffy kissed James again, smoothing down his hair.
James looked at Spike, feeling sadness for him. �Don�t you love daddy, too? You never say that to him.�
Buffy opened her mouth, taken off guard. �I- well, James, love is a very special thing, and it�s hard to actually love everyone in that same way. Do you understand?�
�Yes.� James pouted. �Daddy isn�t special. You don�t like him.�
�No, no!� Buffy objected. �I like him, but I don�t love him. A-at least not the way that I love you. See, I love you because I know that you�re good and I have very strong feelings for you. But spike, I, well he�s a friend. I don�t love him, but� I like him very much.�
�You only love me?� James asked hopefully, feeling special.
�In your own way.� Buffy agreed. �Because you�re my son. I love grammy, too, and Dawn, and Giles, and Willow, and Xander.�
�Why don�t you love Spike then?� James asked, truly confused. �You talk to him more than Willow.�
�Well I�ve known Willow for a very long time. See, people earn love over time. You can�t really be sure that you�re in love with someone the first time you see them. You have to really know them first. I love my friends because I�ve known them for quite a long time, and we�ve been through a lot together.�
�But� I�m only six. Spike is way older than me!� James protested. �And how do I even exist if you two don�t know each other? You�re really bad at lying.�
�Hey,� Buffy defended. �Fine, you�re right, I can�t lie to you. Little kids aren�t supposed to be so darn smart.�
�Dawn always says Spike is a billion years old.� James said. �He�s been around prac-tic-cally since the very beginning of the whole �tire world!�
Buffy had to laugh at that, shaking her head. �Is that so?�
�It is and you know so.�
�Yeah, I do. Wanna get into bed? It�s late for you.�
James pouted, but only laid close to Spike.
�Close your eyes and go to sleep.� Buffy said, pulling the blanket over James anyway.
He sighed, shuffling into the mattress and closed his eyes, pretending to go to sleep.
Buffy waited for a long moment in case James opened his eyes again and then leant down to place another kiss. She brushed his hair and straightened up again, getting off of the bed. �Goodnight.�