Chapter 36: Aftermath and explanations

It seemed to take them an abnormally long time to get across town. Once there William started to leave, but Buffy placed a hand on his arm and gave him a look. A look that he wanted to be able to say he didn't understand, but in all honesty he understood perfectly what she meant.

He was somehow involved in all of this--how, he still hadn't figured out just yet--and Buffy wanted him there because it concerned him, but also because...because she wanted him there. Sometimes he wished he didn't love her as much as he did, it would spare him the heartache of situations like these if he didn't.

'But heartache can only last so long,' he assured himself.

No one said a word as they all three made their way into the house. And no one said anything for a while after they were in the house--Buffy was glad to see that her mother was out. "Sam, baby, do you want us to go up to your room? I think we need to talk about what Daddy," Did she still call him 'Daddy' for Sam or should she call him Angel, or... "About what he said back at the doctors'. Do you want to do that up in your room or down here?"

Buffy hoped that giving Sam as many choices as possible would help ease the situation just a bit.

"I want to go upstairs," Sam said, sounding relatively calm.

"Alright sweetheart." William started to stay downstairs, but Buffy put a stop to that idea, "Sam, honey, William's going to come up with us too, okay?"

Sam looked at him, or rather she scrutinized him the best a six-year-old could. "Okay," she said at long last.

As Sam made her way slowly upstairs, William held Buffy back, "Are you going to tell me what's going on? I don't like being in the dark here, luv. 'Specially when I feel like I've done something. Something that hurt her," he looked up at Sam.

Buffy sighed, knowing she couldn't put this off any longer, "Angel told her that you're her father," she said softly. "Apparently he misunderstood something she said about why we were there today and well...he told her."

He wanted to get angry, wanted to rant and rave about how much of a moron Angel was and what all he was going to do to him when he got half the chance--but he didn't. "Guess we need to get up there then," was all he said before letting Buffy lead the way to Sam's bedroom.

*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*)*)*)*)*)*)*

Buffy wasn't sure how she'd been put in this position, it felt like just a few hours ago she'd been explaining the divorce to Sam and now she had to explain this, damn Angel for putting <http://ads.clicksor.com/serving/search4.php?q=lWL--%FE%26-%21%21%290%7E%2B%2F%21%7C%27%22U%5C%5B%2B%F8%21%2F%7B%25&q3=%5BQTY_U0pS%5B%F9icNeS_MqW0%28%21%7C+4%21%2B%28%7E%FD&tl=09fa626449e83e0a&pn=67d0772af49df919&pid=16193&sid=22120&curl=http%3A%2F%2Ftxclick.epilot.com%2Fclick.aspx%3Fk%3Dputting%26b%3D200%26p%3Dlycos2%26s%3Dclicksor%26pos%3D1%26sid%3DDB926252-AD9F-41BB-B0C5-457F9183B853%26l%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fsearch.lycos.com%252Fsetup.asp%253Fsrc%253Dep%2526query%253Dputting&cpx=cpc&sc=putting> her in this place--he hadn't even offered to help. She would have refused of course--he didn't seem to have any tact where Sam was concerned, or common sense for that matter--but he could have at least offered.

"Mommy, why did Daddy say he's not my daddy?" Buffy was sitting on the bed across from Sam and William was leaning against the door frame, not wanting to intrude.

With one last glance at William for assurance, Buffy began, "Sam, you know hold I told you that when two grown ups love each other they can make a baby?"

"Uh huh."

Buffy was fumbling and she knew it, "Well Daddy wasn't the one I made a baby with, but he is the one that I married and that acted as your Daddy. So, in that way he is your daddy." 'Like that made any sense,' Buffy thought.

"But you made a baby with William?" Sam was looking doubtfully at the aforementioned man.

"Yes, sweetheart, I did."

Sam took a few minutes to take it all in. She had a little bit of an understanding of the idea that whoever got a woman pregnant was the baby's father, but she was still trying to get her head around te fact that it had been William and...

"Why did you marry Daddy if William and you were having a baby?"

'Isn't that the sixty-four thousand dollar question...' William knew it was time for him to step in and help Buffy as best he could. "Because cupcake, your mum and Angel had been dating and she loved him very much and she knew he would take good care of you two. She didn't know me as well, so she wanted to make sure she did the safe thing so that you would be okay."

"Okay," Sam replied thoughtfully.

"Do you have any more questions, Sammy Sam?" At least she didn't hate him or cry when she looked at him anymore.

"I don't know," Sam answered truthfully.

"Tell you what, your mum and I will go downstairs and you can think about it and if you do have any more questions, you come ask us, okay?"

William gave Sam a smile, not wanting to push it by giving her a hug, not knowing that he was in fact making her worry more by not giving her one. They were both so afraid of rejection from the other.

Buffy looked at her daughter and thought she knew what the girl was thinking, "You can if you want to."

Looking at her mother, who just nodded at her, Sam quickly got up and ran over to William giving his legs a hug.

Once he'd been able to regain his composure, he leaned down and looked at Sam, "Remember if you have any questions, you come ask me alright? I promise to try to answer any question."

(*(*(*(*(*(*)*)*)*)

After Buffy had a few minutes alone with Sam, making sure her daughter wasn't just afraid to ask her anything with William there, she joined him in the kitchen.

"Are you okay?"

"Don't rightly know at the moment." William said, sinking into one of the kitchen chairs. "I thought we'd have some time to figure all this out, come up with the best way to tell her and all that."

"I thought so too," Buffy sat down next to him.

"He...I just...with the...I don't want her to hate me," he finally said.

"I don't think she could ever hate you," Buffy started to explain.

"But, Buffy, you saw the way she looked at me back there. It was like I'd destroyed everything she knew...like I was ruining her life...like I was this horrible person...like I hurt her," he finished quietly.

"William," Buffy started to respond to what he'd said, but found it hard to do with him staring at his lap. "William, look at me. She wasn't thinking you turned everything upside down, Angel did that and you were just the unsure part of it. Imagine being six-years-old and your father telling you he's not really your father. And then seeing the person he says is, a person you've loved and looked up to for months. It's gotta be hard for her to sort all that out in her head. And she didn't think you were a horrible person, it was just too much for her to handle. And," Buffy continued, "She and I both know you'd never hurt her."

William was silent for a few moments before he let out a bitter laugh, "Look at me, making you comfort me...You're the one who's got all of this," he waved his hand around, "going on and I'm here two seconds away from bawling like a baby because I'm scared a little girl I've known less than a year is mad at me. She's your daughter, you're the one dealing with getting divorced and now this...I'm as much an insensitive prick as Angel."

"William, you're not." Buffy insisted vehemently. "I understand how you're feeling. And don't think you're making me do anything, this is helping me right now. I'll be okay as long as I can take care of someone, I can't fall apart now, I just can't. Later when Sam's asleep and I know she's okay, but...not now."

Any reply he might have had was cut off by Sam entering the kitchen.

"Yes, bit?" he asked when she didn't say anything.

"Can you come up to my room? Not Mommy, just.."

"Um, sure I can," Sam waited for him to get up and start walking before she went back to her room

William sat on the bed this time. "Do you only like me because you're my real daddy?"

"What?" William asked, astonished, "Why would..Sam, baby, I love you. You're my favoritest little girl and not because I'm your real dad. You're a very smart little girl and you're beautiful and you're a sweetheart and you're just perfect, Sam. Even if I wasn't you dad I'd love you."

"But you are," she pointed out.

"But I am," he agreed. "But that doesn't mean we have to do anything different. You can still call me William and I'll still be your teacher. And I'll still do stuff with you."

That seemed to relieve some of her worries, "Are you and Mommy going to date now?"

"I don't know," he answered truthfully. "Maybe."

"Okay," Sam said and William knew it was time for him to go back downstairs.

William sat with Buffy for a few more minutes before he excused himself. He needed to get some alone time to think through things.

"And tell Sam that if she has any more questions," he ignored the smile on her face, "That she can call me--whenever it is."

"Okay, I'll be sure to tell her that."

"And if you need anything..."

"I know. And, William?"

"Yeah, pet?"

"Can I kiss you?" Maybe it wasn't the smartest idea with her...no their daughter just upstairs and after everything that had gone on today, but...he'd been so sweet and loving and thoughtful and he'd helped her with telling Sam and he'd just been so...great today.

William didn't answer her, just leaned down and lightly brushed his lips over hers. "I'll see you later, luv. And for future reference, you don't have to ask every time you're going to kiss me--think we've pretty well determined what my answer's going to be"

TBC.......







Please do review, this was a pretty serious chapter and I'm worried about how well I handled everything...

40

A/N: Sorry for not updating last week. There's been a great deal of...stuff going on for me lately. I just couldn't find the time to get to a computer and post last week. I would post this chapter and the next today to make up for it, but I'm on someone else's ocmputer and can't find the next chapter in my email (like I did with this one).

And I knwo I said that I'd be posting a new story and that it keeps moving from Friday to Friday...I would post it this Friday, but I'm going out of town for a funeral (told you there was a lot of stuff). So I won't be able to do that just yet, but I am posting a ficlet in just a minute to make up for this shorter chapter.





Interlude

He'd thought of this the second she explained why she couldn't fall apart. He threw another pebble. "Come on, don't leave me out here looking like a ponce...Come on luv, just-"

"William? God, what are you doing? You scared me to death."

"You going to let me in?" He'd been throwing tiny pebbles at her window--from the tree a foot or so away, knocking would have been smarter, but he wasn't sure he could lean over that far and not fall.

"Can you make it?" Buffy asked skeptically wiping her eyes, she didn't want him to fall and break anything.

"Sure I can make it, long as the window's open," WIlliam took a breath and made it into Buffy's room safely, and relatively quietly.

"And again I ask, what are you doing here?" Buff tried to sniff quietly and discreetly dry her eyes.

"You said you couldn't fall apart 'til Sam was asleep, it's round 8:30 now, so she's all safe and tucked away, so that means..." he looked meaningfully at her.

"I'd have been okay," she mumbled, secretly grateful that he was there.

"Well, then how 'bout we say I'm selfish and wanted to spend more time with you?" he asked with a slight smile.

"That would work...can we watch TV or something? I'm not sure I feel up to much more talking."

They settled against the headboard of her bed, making it through two random syndicated shows before Buffy spoke up, "We can make it through this, right? I mean...it's not too much, too fast is it?"

"It has been a lot, huh? But don't you worry, kitten, we're going to make it through this. Think about it this way, we've already gotten through nearly all of the hard stuff, so now we can get on with the good stuff, yeah?"

"Yeah," she said and they lapsed into silence again. It was close to midnight before she spoke again, "As much as this is helping and as much as I'd love for us to stay just like this all night, I need to get some sleep and I don't think we're ready for you spending the night just yet. But," she continued quickly before he could answer, "Could you stay just for a few more minutes? Until I fall asleep maybe? Having you here makes me feel...safe and I don't know if I'll come apart again if you leave."

"Of course I can do that, pet. You get all settled in there," he turned off the television. "All comfy?" she nodded, "Want me to do anything? Read you a story, sing you a song?" he asked semi-jokingly, but he did want to do whatever he could for her.

"You'd sing to me?"

"Course I would...do you want me to?"

"Yes please," Buffy said shyly.

"Alright, you just settle in and try to go to sleep," William softly sang to her.


They hung a sign up in out town
'if you live it up, you won't
Live it down'
So, she left monte rio, son
Just like a bullet leaves a gun
With charcoal eyes and monroe hips
She went and took that california trip
Well, the moon was gold, her
Hair like wind
She said don't look back just
Come on jim
(chorus)
Oh you got to
Hold on, hold on
You got to hold on
Take my hand, I'm standing right here
You gotta hold on

Well, he gave her a dimestore watch
And a ring made from a spoon
Everyone is looking for someone to blame
But you share my bed, you share my name
Well, go ahead and call the cops
You don't meet nice girls in coffee shops
She said baby, I still love you
Sometimes there's nothin left to do

Oh you got to
Hold on, hold on
You got to hold on
Take my hand, I'm standing right here, you got to
Just hold on.

Well, God bless your crooked little heart st. louis got the best of me
I miss your broken-china voice
How I wish you were still here with me

Well, you build it up, you wreck it down
You burn your mansion to the ground
When there's nothing left to keep you here, when
You're falling behind in this
Big blue world

Oh you go to
Hold on, hold on
You got to hold on
Take my hand, I'm standing right here
You got to hold on

Down by the riverside motel,
It's 10 below and falling
By a 99 cent store she closed her eyes
And started swaying
But it's so hard to dance that way
When it's cold and there's no music
Well your old hometown is so far away
But, inside your head there's a record
That's playing, a song called

Hold on, hold on
You really got to hold on
Take my hand, I'm standing right here
And just hold on.


When Buffy woke the next morning, William was gone, her window closed save a half an inch. She smiled thinking of all he'd done for her. 'I really need to tell him I love him.'


TBC




A/N Song is "Lullaby" by Tom Waits or "Hold On"
( http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000059MDT/102-9429754-4953727?v=glance&st=digital-music )


See, I told you it was short. I really am sorry--I honestly can't find the next chapter (I looked for at least a half of an hour straight). I'll definitely get things updated normally next week...and might even find a time to post the new story

41




Chapter 37

Two Months Later

Today was the day.

For two very important things. One had taken much less time than she'd expected while the other had taken much longer than she'd thought it would. Today
her divorce was final, she had full custody of Sam and it was acknowledged on the divorce records that Angel wasn't Sam's father--the paternity test had proved
what they all knew to be true, so she couldn't get child support from him, but he also couldn't have any future claim over custody.

Today was also the day she was finally going to quit being a huge scaredy cat and tell William she loved him. He'd proven he wasn't going anywhere, proven he
loved Sam and would be there for her whenever she needed, proven that he loved her. She knew not telling him yet was stupid, but she'd wanted
everything with Angel to be settled first. She wanted one relationship to be one hundred percent, legally over before she started a new one.

Things had been great the past few months, Buffy was selling some paintings and photographs to save up money for when she started school that coming January.
If all went well, she'd be able to get a teaching job the following school year. Sam was doing better than ever, apparently not having Angel and his expectations
hanging over her was doing her well.

William was there every day, often staying for dinner with Buffy, Sam and Joyce. Sometimes he stayed afterwards and helped Buffy put Sam to bed. More and
more frequently he would stay even after that and spend time with Buffy, getting to know every little thing he could about her. She could honestly say that she'd
learned more about William in the last eight weeks than she'd learned about Angel in the six plus years she knew him.

They were going out to dinner tonight, a celebratory dinner--only William didn't know that's what it was yet.

*(*()*)*

"Gah."

"That so, luv?" William asked, smirking in amusement.

"You...with the...and the," she waved her hands around.

"The suit?"

"Yeah, and...the hair," he'd slightly slicked back his hair, still leaving it slightly curly and the effect was marvelous. And she hadn't known that telling him to dress
up would be such a...scrumptious idea. Finally gathering her wits about her, Buffy asked him if he'd like to come in for a minute.

"Sure, but don't want you getting all jealous over your mum again," he joked.

"Not a chance, I know I've got you now."

"Damn right you do," he said definitely.

"William?"

"Hmm," he was broken out of his admiration of her.

"Watch the language and you look very nice."

"Kind of gathered you thought so, what with the sputtering and speechlessness and all," he said arrogantly, smiling.

"God you're full of yourself." Buffy yelled up the stairs to Sam that they were going to be leaving and to listen to her grandmother and go to bed on time. Sam wasn't
happy with just a quick goodbye, however.

"Hi" she said looking at William, "You look pretty. And Mommy's pretty too."

"Guess we make a good pair then," William loved being able to see Sam, even if he had seen her just four hours ago.

"Are you going to be home to tell me goodnight?" Sam asked the both of them.

"Not tonight, sweet bit, but you be a good girl for your grandma and get to bed on time and I'll come say goodnight when we get back."

"But I'll be asleep."

"You mean you can't hear in your sleep?" William asked in all seriousness.

"Of course not, silly! But I will be good for grandma, promise."

"Shall we get going, then?" William asked Buffy.

"We should. 'Night Sam, I'll see you in the morning."

"Night mommy," she hugged Buffy. "Good night," she said hugging William as well.

*(*()*)*

Dinner was uneventful, Buffy was going to tell him everything after dinner. Which was now she realized with more than a little nervousness.

"Think we could go to the park before we go home?"

"Sure, any particular one?"

"The one by the elementary school, it's always been one of my favorites, I went there a lot with my mom."

"Sure thing, you just point the way." He was hoping she had something good to tell him because she certainly seemed like she was going to tell him something.

"Right there," Buffy directed after five or so minutes of driving.

They made their way, hands held, to the swings. "I always did like the swings. I know it might seem childish, but it's, I don't know, relaxing somehow. And since I need to
be relaxed to tell you this, what better place for us to go than the swings."

"You don't have to be worried about telling me anything, kitten. Promise, you can tell me anything."

"Okay, well, how about this, today my divorce from Angel is final," she stopped him when he tried to get off the swing and move over to her. "And there's one other thing,
this is the need to be relaxed bit: William, in the few months that you've been back in my life," he noticed she said 'back in' not just 'in' something he was glad for, "in those
few months, you've come to know me better than anyone--even my mother--knows me, possibly better than I know me," she said with a smile; "And the thing is, it's not just
that, sure you know me and that is probably something any other guy could do," she held her hand up when he started to protest. "Granted they wouldn't be able to do it as
well as you have, that's somethign that I know is unique to you. But what I was trying to say, not only od yo know me, you know Sam."

"She is my daughter," William added.

"I know, but you found out a lot about her before you knew that and I know that even if she weren't biologically your daughter, that you'd still love her. You'd still know her,
still be there for her. And I guess that helped me realise that, well William," she thought of something. "What's your middle name?"

"Harrison, why?" he asked, totally puzzled by the turn in the conversation.

"Because, William Harrison Giles, I'm in love with you. I know I can't be as poetic about it as-"

"You mean it?" Sure he'd suspected it for a while, but to have the girl you'd been in love with for years, who turned out to be the mother of your child, to have her say she
was in love with you, it was something William wanted to make sure he heard correctly.

"You think I'd say it if I didn't mean it?" Buffy asked.

"Well, no, it's just...well," William gave up on having a meaningful statement come out of his mouth and decided that said mouth could be put to much better use. And since
swings didn't lend themselves to what William had in mind, he pulled Buffy up with him. "Remember that no asking thing? It goes both ways," he said cryptically, at least
somewhat.

He'd held back whenever he'd kissed her before, some tiny part of his brain still knowing that she was technically a married woman, but now...Now she wasn't and he didn't
have to hold back anymore. He could finally let loose, let her feel all of what he had stored inside of him during all these months. He put all his feeling into the kiss,
pulling her tight against him so she could feel everything she did to him--and it left her gasping.

"Love you William," she said, curling her fingers into his hair and holding him to her as he started to kiss along her neck.

"Love you too, pet. So," he kissed along her neck, "So much. Never gonna let you go...never."

TBC.....


Please review :-) And I posted the first chapter of a new story : here <http://www.spikeluver.com/SpuffyRealm/viewstory.php?sid=16996>. It's called All the Fun (of the Fair) and if the link doesn't work, it's on the recent stories page or my author page .

And thank you for all the reviews I've been gettign

42

Chapter 38


It had been just under three weeks since Buffy had finally been a big girl about her feelings and told William she loved him and things were getting better and better.

William was there honestly every day and evening--once he got there at seven thirty in the morning he wasn't likely to leave until at least eight at night. He and

Buffy had been pushing just how far they could go without having sex--they'd decided that since everything else about their relationship was rushed, they were going to

wait--though neither said it the phrase 'until we're married' was added in both their heads--to sleep together.


Buffy had told Sam that she could see Angel whenever she wanted to, but so far she hadn't asked and, frankly, didn't seem to be missing him all that much. She was

happier than Buffy had ever seen her and William said she was excelling her school work--which despite Angel's offer of payment, he ws now providing for free.


"Mommy?" Sam asked, coming downstairs late one night after William had left.


"What are you doing up, honey?" Buffy and William had put her to bed at least two and a half hours ago.


"I was thinking about something...I wasn't sure so I was thinking about it. And now I'm sure."


"Sure about what?" Buffy asked when Sam made no move to continue. She was more than a little confused that her six-year-old daughter was up at nearly eleven

o'clock at night and was standing there, having a normal conversation with her.


"Sure about wanting to ask you. Why doesn't Daddy live with us?"


After sputtering around for a minute, Buffy stopped to try to get her thoughts together.


"Sweetheart, you know that your Daddy and I," but then a thought occurred to her, in the last two or so weeks, Sam had never once called William, 'William.' She'd

sort of inferred that she was talking to him, she'd look at him if she was in the room or say 'he' until Buffy would say 'William' and Sam would nod before continuing on.


"You mean William, honey?"


"Of course I do, silly. He's my daddy after all," she said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.


Buffy wasn't sure if she should question Sam on her decision, it seemed--from all the given information--that she'd put a lot of thought into it, and Buffy knew she and

William hadn't pushed her into it--they'd both tried not to force the whole father/daughter thing on Sam.


"Why doesn't he live here too?"


"Because Sam, we wanted to make sure you wanted him to live with us too."


"I want him to live with us; can he?"


"Of course he can. Do you want to ask him tomorrow or should I?" Buffy wanted to give Sam as much control as possible.


"Can I?"


"Sure sweetheart, but I think you need to get back to bed so you're not too tired tomorrow."


"Okay...and Mommy? I love you."


"I love you too sweetheart, sweet dreams."


Buffy sat for a few minutes, thinking about what had just been decided. William was quite possibly going to be moving in with them. Did she want that? Well of course she wanted it, but was it too soon? She'd only been divorced for two and a half months...but he'd been around her every day for months before that. And he was spending nearly every day, all day at the house.


Maybe this living together thing would work...as long as William wanted it.


()X(X()X()X()X()X()


"Mommy? Can I ask him now?" Sam asked a few minutes after they finished lunch the next day--while they were just talking.


"Sure, you can ask him now," Buffy said after taking a deep breath and reminding herself that this was right thing to do.


"Ask me what? You girls and you're secrets...probably some girly thing," William joked.


"Will you live with us?" Sam asked bluntly.


William froze.


When he didn't answer her right away, Sam continued on with her reasons, "Because you're my daddy and daddies should live with mommies and their kids. And I miss you when you're not here. So you should live here." Before he could ask or say anything, Sam remembered one other question, "Can I call you 'daddy' now?"


William had to blink back tears and compose himself before he could answer, "Of course you can call me daddy, sweetie, and of course I'll live with you and

your mum...I love you and your mum so I think it's a great idea."


"Yay!" Sam broke into a huge grin and practically knocked William over when she launched herself at him and hugged him tight. "You're a very good daddy, too. I love you, daddy," she whispered.


William gave up entirely on not crying, "I love you too, sweet bit. Love you, too," he murmured catching Buffy's eye.


Buffy who was a little less worried about her tears, made her way over to them and hugged the both of them. After a moment Sam let go and looked at her mom and dad as she sat back down, "Why are you guys crying?"


"Just happy sweetheart."


"Very happy," William added.


"Okay," Sam said, relieved.


"Sam," William started.


"Hmm?" she said taking her attention away from her chocolate chip cookie, a huge grin still on her face.


"Is it--I'm going to take your mum in the living room for just a minute, you finsih your cookie and we'll be right back," while it was true that someone who was just a

firend and trying to figure out how much he could get, might ask a six-year-old for permission, while tha twas true, a father didn't ask his six-year-old daughter

for permission to talk to her mother.


"Okay."


Buffy silently followed William into the living room of her mother's house, still blinking back a few lingering tears. "I want you to know something," she began, before

he had a chance, "What Sam just asked you, I didn't push her into any of it at all. She asked me last night 'why her daddy didn't live with us' and I realized she

meant you--she hasn't been calling you William recently, you know--anyway, when I knew she meant you I just asked if she wanted me to ask or is she wanted to

do it herself...I know it's not a big difference, but I want you to know that, that was all her. Not that I don't want it too," she hastily added when she realized what she

could have sounded like, "But I think you already knew that so I want you to know that Sam wanted it, too I guess."


William loved the way she scrunched up her face when she was saying something and realized she didn't really know what she was saying. "Think I know

what you mean, luv. And I'm glad you told me, it does help with some things...but I actually wanted to ask you something."


"Well that's okay, but hang on a second," Buffy interrupted.


William looked at her, puzzled. Puzzled, that is until Buffy threader her fingers through his hair, "I love your hair you know, it's so soft and...pretty," And pulled him

against her. "We can't do much because, well you know, Sam's righ there, but I thought that such a big decision deserved at least one celebratory kiss."


"I think it does too," William whispered, leaning closer into her and brushing his lips against hers lightly. "But you know, I do need to ask you something," he

said, leaning his forehead against hers as her arms slipped around back.


"Must be something important if you'd rather ask me that than kiss me," Buffy teased, though she was just the tiniest bit worried.


"It is important," he said after a moment, hesitating before moving forward, "I was thinking that if we're going to live together that maybe we could get a new place

that's just ours."


"I hadn't really thought about that," Buffy said thoughtfully. "It does seem like a good idea though, I feel like we're imposing on my mom and I think it would help Sam

settle down if we get into a sort of routine, you know let her know that ti's not going to change again."


"So you want to do it?" William asked backing up so he could look into her eyes fully.


Buffy took a deep breath and let it out, "Yeah, I want to."


"Good," his grin rivaled Sam's in its intensity. "Think I can show you a place I have in mind?"


"You have a...We just decided on this, how do you have a place in mind?"


"I'm ever hopeful, luv. Ever hopeful. So do you want to see the place or not?"


"No need to get snippy about it. Want to go now or do you want to finish school with Sam first? Could we maybe go now? I won't be able to concentrate on school

worrying if you two'll like the place or not."


"Then by all means, let's get going." Buffy went back into the kitchen and explained things to Sam, leaving William in the living room to absorb everything. "We're

ready," Buffy said a few minutes later, a very happy looking Sam behind her.


"Good," William was silently assuring himself that he was doing the right thing, that what he was about to do was the right thing to do.


And, hopefully, it would be worth it.



TBC…..

43




Chapter 39



Buffy couldn't figure out where they were going, they were several miles outside of the main part of town and were getting towards the farm houses and, well, farms.

She held back from asking William though, she trusted him--in whatever exactly it was he was doing.


Sam, however, seemed to be getting happier by the minute, something Buffy couldn't figure out. Sure it was something to be happy about, but it seemed like over time she got more and more excited.


William didn't seem to notice--or maybe he just didn't mind--Sam's growing enthusiasm. Buffy was just about to question what exactly the two of them had left her out of--again--when they pulled up to a house and Sam looked about ready to burst with happiness.


"Come on, pixie, let's go look at the house." Sam quickly followed him out of the car and up to the house's front door, leaving Buffy to trail behind and take in the house. It was a typical farm house, white, two stories, beautiful--real--green shutters framing beautiful large windows that Buffy just knew would light up the rooms during the day, and beautiful flowers under the front ground floor windows. Buffy walked around to the side of the house, where the front door and a beautiful porch were, hoping beyond hope that William really meant this and that it wasn't a 'hey wouldn't this be a nice house if we could have it,' she liked it too much for that. And Sam seemed to love it.


Buffy made her way inside, the house was just as lovely inside, and Sam came running down the stairs, "Careful, those are steep stairs," she heard William call from somewhere upstairs.


"Mommy! Mommy! Guess what...it's the house from my picture! Remember from Disney World! It's my favoritest house ever and now we get to live here!" She ran off again exploring the house some more.


Hoping that William could clear things up for her, Buffy told Sam to stay inside and went up to find William. She found him in the bedroom--she assumed it was the master bedroom--that faced the front of the house and overlooked the field across from the house. "Um, William? I know I seem to be all with the question having lately, but I'm just a bit confused here. What does Sam mean it's the 'house from her picture'?"


"Beautiful view isn't it? I bet in the summer it looks even better, probably flowers blooming in the field."


"William-"


"And have you seen the way the light comes in? Always did like natural light best."


"William-"


"And it's a good size room too, even has it's own bathroom with one of those claw foot tubs and-"


"William!" Buffy finally got him to stop talking by just continuing to talk, forcing him to shut up. "What did Sam mean? And don't you dare tell me one more thing about how great this house is. I want you to answer my question first," she was getting irritated.


"She drew the house in a picture she gave me," he mumbled.


"Okay, here's the deal," she was tired of not knowing what was going on, "You're going to tell me what's going on...no more mumbling either. I don't like being left out of what's going on. William, you have to trust that you can tell me things," she finished quietly.


"I do trust you. Just...just don't want you to think I'm crazy," he got up the courage to look her in the eye, hoping she'd see the meaning behind what he was going to tell her, even if she didn't like the factual part of it. "Sam, she drew me another picture--after the one of the three of us with the dog. It was the three of us again, but we were all in front of this new house. Thinking it was just some house she made up, I asked her about it. And she told me that one time you all went to this city that had angels. I asked her if it was Los Angeles and she said that's what it was.


Anyway, she said that while you were on your way to and from Los Angeles she saw her, and i quote, 'favoritest house ever' and she liked it so much because she could have a dog there because there was a big yard and she could have a swing set and everything. She just seemed so happy about it, that..." he trailed off.


"That?" Buffy prompted.


"That I drove from Sunnydale to LA a few times to make sure this was the only house that was white with green shutters and the flowers...and well, I bought it."



"You bought a house just because Sam drew it in a picture?"


"Well, yeah."


"What if you and I never got together, or what if things didn't work out."


"I actually thought of that," he said, slightly impressed with himself. "If for whatever reason you wouldn't have me, then I'd rent the house out for a few years and give it to Sam as a graduation present or something."

"William you basically bought a six-year-old a house!" Buffy couldn't get her head around it.

"Not really, more like I bought all of us a house...it was just a tiny possibility that I bought a six-year-old a house," he explained as if it made all the difference in the world.


"Okay, so you only possibly bought a house for a six-year-old...but don't you think you should have asked me first?"


"If for whatever God forsaken reason we didn't get together, then you really wouldn't have known about it...least not 'til I gave it to Sam. And anyway, not entirely sure you would have liked me telling you I was buying a house for the three of us to hopefully live in, if I had told you back when I bought it."


"When exactly did you buy it?"


"Few months ago," and he was back to the mumbling.


"William."


"Fine, I bought it the day after Angel told me about Darla. I'd thought about it before, but well, you were married then and...I bought it the day after that."


After a few seconds, Buffy was crying again. "Oh, luv, I didn't mean to make you cry! God, I bollocksed it all up! Stupid git. I'll just go get Sam and tell her-"


"William," Buffy stopped him, "I'm not upset with you, you didn't screw anything up in the least. It's just...this is so much today and I guess that it's just a little overwhelming...and that you had that much faith in me and loved me that much...even then. it's just..." she hugged him, not finishing what she was about to say.

"Just what, pet?"


"Just um...well I'm big on the girly girl-ness so I'm not going to, but if per se you would be interested in..." She was still hugging him, her face against his neck, "If you would decide to ask me a certain question, well I can tell you that you'd be in for a favorable answer."


William knew what she was implying and he was glad for it. "So, I take it we'll be moving in?"


"Definitely, let's go tell Sam!" Buffy was happy all over again.


William laughed at her happiness, she seemed so carefree, and followed as she pulled him along with his hand. "Sam? Where'd you go?"


"Look at the windows! Daddy, look!" He didn't think he'd ever get over hearing her call him that, "They're all coloured."


The living room had small stained glass windows on either side of the fireplace, above the built in bookshelves. "They're beautiful Sammy, I think your mum has something to tell you." He wanted Buffy to be the one to tell her.


"Sam, would you like it if the three of us lived here?"


"Can we? Can we!?" Sam asked bouncing around. "Can we? Can we? Pretty, pretty please!" Buffy took William's hand and leaned into him, nodding at their daughter with a smile. "Yay!" Sam hugged both of them tightly. "Can I pick my room?"


"Sure, cookie, just not the one up front," It would be his luck that she'd pick the only one she couldn't have. "Come on, let's go look." Sam practically drug him up the stairs, her tiny feet taking the steep steps much more easily than his larger ones.


Buffy thought about feeling left out, Sam always wanted William with her, but she couldn't seem to be anything other than extremely...content.

"Mommy, come help me pick!" Sam called out, just moments later.

"Okay, be there in a minute."


(*(**(()*)*)*)


Sam picked the room overlooking the backyard--the backyard that needed a swing set. The house was much bigger than it looked, with huge bedrooms and Buffy knew that they'd be able to get Sam a new bed. She'd have to measure the ceiling height later to see if a canopy bed would fit-


"Not to make you think I'm some creepy, obsessed with Sam guy, but, the ceiling," he pointed, "'Bout ten feet, easily high enough for a..." he didn't want to quite admit that he'd thought of Sam living there, having a beautiful canopy bed, a princess bed for his princess, but he had.


"Not creepy at all, good to know you're thinking about stuff like that. Makes me love you more too."


"Well then I guess I can tell you thato ther picture Sam drew."


"God, you're sweet," she went up on her tip toes to kiss the corner of his mouth, before snuggling back into him.


"Oi!, I'm not sweet, I'm-"


"You're sweet, get used to it. It's a good thing."


"'Kay then. Want to talk about what furniture we need?"



TBC…. please review :)




Part II of All the Fun (of the Fair) will be posted on Friday :)

44

Chapter 40



They moved in remarkably fast. Buffy didn't have much to move in, no furniture, really. And William only had a tiny apartment, but he brought with him plenty of books and they of course had Buffy's art supplies and Sam's things. But they did still need a lot to fill the house--which had silver faucets in the bathrooms. Buffy loved being able to literally build her home with William. Sam loved her dark wood, pink canopy bed.


As well as the flying Tinkerbell she’d been allowed to put up.


"Can I have the flying Tinkerbell?" She asked as the three of them were setting up her room.


"What?" Spike asked her, totally confused. "You know what she’s talking about, luv?" he asked Buffy.


"No idea. What’s the flying Tinkerbell Sammy?"


"Remember at the store? There’s the Tinkerbell that goes on the string that you put on the ceiling and the wall. Then you press the button and she flies. Pretty please?" She knew her ‘pretty pleases’ tended to work on her dad.


"Why don’t we go to the store tomorrow and you can show us what it is?" Buffy didn’t want to commit to attaching something to the ceiling when she had no idea what it was.


The next day they’d bought the flying Tinkerbell-Buffy found it adorable as well.


The house wasn't as 'grand' as her house with Angel had been, but she loved it a million times more. It was home, something Angel's house had never been for her.


Life was going so well for her...all she was waiting for was for William to propose. She hoped she wasn't wrong in assuming that he would.


*(*)*(*)(*)*


He knew that since they'd been in the house a full week, that Buffy would be starting to worry herself over their future marriage and whether or not it would happen. She worried like that, something he found adorable about her. It was also why he'd waited, he didn't want it to be one hundred percent expected.


Buffy was at lunch with her mother today (something he'd secretly arranged) and then she was going to go visit Cordelia (something else he'd arranged), so she wouldn't be home for several hours at least. Which meant that he and Sam had some planning time.


"Sam, are you going to help me, we'll talk about the dog later."


"But you won't, you'll forget and then-"


"Sam, remember how I told you I needed your help with something important?"


"Uh huh," she said looking at him, remembering their earlier talk.


"Well I wasn't going to tell you what it was because, well because you're not very good at keeping secrets," William explained.


"I can too," Sam pouted.


"Remember when we bought grandma that necklace after we moved?"


"Oh, yeah...but I didn't mean to." Sam had told her grandma that she couldn't tell her what it was, but they had a great present for her. Then about five minutes later, she'd said something about it being a 'beautiful necklace'.


"It's alright, pet, I know you didn't mean to and it's okay. This is just something that has to be kept a secret."


"I can do it this time Daddy, I promise!" she said vehemently, nodding her head, her eyes wide.

"Okay, well I guess we'll find out," William muttered, not sure it was a great idea, but not knowing if he had any other choice. "I want you to help me set up the outside because I need to ask Mum something," he was going to try to be vague about it.


"What are you going to ask her?" Apparently vague wasn't going to do it.


"I'm going to ask her to marry me, pixie."


Sam, who had been decidedly grumpy the entire day, visibly brightened. "Really? Can I ask her?"


He laughed, "'Fraid not. Think I'm going to ask her this one."


"Okay, but i get to help you get ready right?"


"Right. And we need to get started now if we're going to finish by the time she gets home."


"Well, what are you waiting for, then?"


"Not sure," he laughed, loving her enthusiasm. "Now first..."


)_)_()()()_(_(


She'd expected to come home to William and Sam doing something, possibly cooking dinner, but that's not what they were doing. There was an envelope on their front table that read in Sam's script 'For Mommy.' She carefully picked it up, not sure quite what was going on, but curious nonetheless. 'Because I thought being relaxed might help me as well...' William had written on the card. It confused her for a second before she remembered the conversation they’d had the night she told him she loved him.


Slowly, with tears filling her eyes, Buffy made her way to the back door, knowing what she was going to see there, yet not expecting quite what she did see. The swing set was decorated in roses and white lilies, their blossoms somehow tied to the wood beams supporting the swing set. There were candles on their patio table and on the little floor before the top of the slide.


William sat, nervously she noted, on one of the swings. "You don't have to be nervous she whispered," sitting on the other swing, still crying.


"I know...just am," he whispered back. But she smiled at him and he looked up at Sam's window and saw her smiling anxiously down at them--he knew having her in her room was the only way to keep her from spilling the secret--he looked at the two girls--his two girls, with such love shining in their eyes and all his fears were washed away. "Buffy, luv," he got off his swing, and kneeled in front of her, "I was in love with you long before you knew it, I thought I'd lost you forever, damned to have you confined to my dreams for the rest of my life--never knowing true love again. But then I found you, granted I was a bit thick at first and didn't get it all put together right in my head…


I found you. And it wasn't just my dreams any more, you were really there, and you were so much better than my dreams could ever be because you're...you're you, you're real and you're beautiful and you're vibrant and you're so full of life that I feel better just knowing I get to be around you.


And Sam, God, Buffy, I never thought I'd have kids, couldn't imagine truly loving someone enough for it. It always hurt a bit when someone where I was teaching would remark on what a great father I was going to be. I didn't think it would ever happen...And I didn't tell you this, but at first it kind of hurt a little each time Sam did something else to make me love her...I so desperately wanted her to be mine.


I hated Angel. Hated him for having the two of you when he was nowhere close to deserving it. I know I don't deserve either of you either no one's ever going to be good enough for my girls, but Buffy..." he was getting choked up, but was determined to get through this. "Buffy, I love you and I love Sam...not only to have a daughter, but to have it be with you and it's Sam, Sam that is the perfect little girl...I love you so much and we have a beautiful, brilliant daughter, who," he tried to lighten things a bit, "Is going to come down here soon if I don't finish this up. Buffy, I know you think I can be poetic and always know what to say, but I haven't been able to come up with a worthy way of asking you, Buffy Anne Summers, mother of my child, love of my life, woman of dreams, will you marry me?"


Buffy'd imagined this scene probably hundreds of times over the last few months, imagined saying something like 'a million times yes,' that had always seemed so corny to her or possibly something beautiful and meaningful, but she couldn't manage either at the moment. Instead, she slid off the swing and onto her knees in front of William. "I thought you'd know by now that I am never letting you go...of course I'm going to marry you, William."


"Buffy, not that I don't like what you're doing," William said as Buffy knocked him over into the grass, kissing him long and hard--over and over again. "But Sam's watching," he moved an arm from around her back to wave at Sam, "and she'll be down here in a second, if she's not already on her way."


Buffy kept kissing his neck, her knees on either side of his hips, "It's not like we're doing anything bad...and she knows I kiss you and you kiss me, and," she was interspersing her words with kisses to his lips, "You just asked me to marry you. I'm going to kiss you no matter what you say."


"See, I told you I could keep it a secret!" Sam yelled as she ran out the back door, the door banging behind her." You’re getting married mommy," she informed her mother as she made it to Buffy, who was currently straddling William and leaning back against his bent legs.


"I know I am! Isn't it great?" Buffy got off of William and, still on her knees, gave Sam a huge hug.


"It's very good and I didn't tell, Daddy thought I might on accident. But I didn't. I stayed upstairs just like he asked. But I helped get the flowers up."


"Yes you did, baby," William was still lying in the grass." You helped me a lot, couldn't have done it without you."


"William, you going to get up?"


"Yeah Daddy, you can't stay outside all night."


"Will in a minute," he wanted to just sit there and listen to them talk and bask in how perfect his life was, "You two keep talking."


TBC........ Elena said to beg for reviews but I'll just say: Pretty please? (and give you a sad look while I do it)...and yes, being sick does apparently make me weird


And I posted a Valentine's short fic yesterday--it's a sequel to '113 Times' and is called 'Not Just Puppy Love' :)

45

Epilogue


Following September

"Welcome to Senior English, I'm Mr. Summers-Giles and I'll be your teacher this year."

"Are you married to Ms. Summers-Giles," one boy snickered.

"As a matter of fact I am," he gave the boy a look that just dared him to make a comment.

The question asker didn't say anything, but he heard several, 'Sweet's and 'Lucky her's muttered by other students.



"So, love, have you found your dress yet?"

"No," Buffy said glumly.

"I’m sure you’ll find one soon," Spike said distractedly, beginning to kiss her neck.

"No! I won’t," she said petulantly.

"Sure you will….what’s the problem?"

"I want a white one…all the other ones are ugly," she was pouting now.

"So, get a white one." Spike didn’t understand the problem.

"I can’t!"

"Humor me and tell me why?"

"You know what white represents-it’s ‘virginal’ and I, William, am not a virgin. I have a child for Christ’s sake!"

William wanted to correct her, ‘We have a child’ but decided to stay on topic instead. "You didn’t have sex while you were married. So I think that counts the same-wear a white dress."

"William, Angel and I--you mean because I didn’t have sex with you while I was married to Angel?"

"Well...yeah."

"Spike, even you can’t think I deserve some sort of…some sort of a reward for not cheating on my husband."

"Sure you can. I’m a right tempting bloke I’ll have you know!"

"You’re insufferable."

"But you’ll wear the white?"

"Yeah, I’ll wear the white."



William ignored them and continued with his introduction, "This year we'll be reading several classics as well as a few contemporary books. We'll also be writing several essays and a few research papers." They all groaned at hearing that.

"But..." he continued on, waiting until they were all silent before continuing, "Three of the essays will be based on books of your choosing. As long as it is a legitimate book, there will be no limitations on which book you use." Several smiled at that.

"You know, luv," he said after they left behind the rose and lily decorated backyard that had housed their wedding, making their way up to their bedroom, alone at last. "I always thought I'd want my wife to have a wedding dress that buttoned up the back, you know the ones." She started to look disappointed, but he carried on regardless, "Thought it would be sexy to kiss your back," he pressed a kiss to her shoulder, "As I unbuttoned," another kiss to the middle of her back, just where he neck met her back, "each and every little button," he kissed her other shoulder. "But now," he pressed a lingering kiss to her left shoulder, "Now I know, that," he bent to reach the zipper that ran up the left side of the dress, "No way would I be patient enough to unbutton all those buttons; this is perfect," he finished as he slowly unzipped the zipper.

The dress dropped to her feet and she stepped out of it before turning to face William, left clad in just her underwear and a strapless bra. "Well, then I'm glad I chose this dress because I for one wouldn't want to ruin your day with something as trivial as a few buttons." She slid his jacket off his shoulders, "Did I ever tell you that I thought you made this suit look incredibly sexy? Because you do." She pulled his shirt out of his pants, "How come I have to deal with all these buttons though?"

"Don't know, luv. Guess it's good you have more patience than I do."

"Guess so," Each button was slowly unbuttoned and when the shirt hung, unbuttoned on him, she pushed the left side off his shoulder, kissing his collarbone, before doing the same to the right side, using her tongue a bit that time before pulling his shirt slowly down his arms. "Did I ever tell you how much I love your arms? I don't guess that I have, but I very much do. She ran her hands along his left bicep, leaving the shirt pooled at his elbows as he was holding her along her waist. "And I promise to explain to you just why, but...some other time. Right now, though, I think I need to commence with the undressing."

As he removed his hands from her waist, she took his shirt the rest of the way off and batted his hands a way when he tried to hold her again. "Nu-uh, my turn."

"But, luv, you've still got that on and once we get these pants off me, that's it...hardly fair to me."

"But we don't have to be fair," she said as she unzipped his pants and dropped them to his feet. And he voiced no further objections as her hand made its way around his erection. "Still think it's not fair?." He just nodded, but didn't say anything. As her tiny little, hot hand made its way up and down his length, Spike closed his eyes, not quite believing this was all real.

But when he was getting a little too into it, he stopped her, "Your turn now, pet." Leaning down he nuzzled his face into her neck inhaling the sweetness that was her--his wife--as he unhooked her bra. "God, luv," he said as he stepped back to take her in, stopping her attempts to pull him back to her. "Just give me a second, kitten. I know we've done this before, but that...well there were lots of clothes involved that time, I just want to...want to see you."

After several moments--long moments to Buffy--he gave her a long, sweet kiss, his tongue sweeping along her lower lip, before dropping onto his knees in front of her."



"So now that we've gotten past that, I think it's only fair you get to ask me some questions. I know your GPA, your class rank, your parents' names, your phone numbers, addresses...probably know enough to steal your identities." 'Not that I'd give up my life for anything in the world, but...' "Given all that I figure it's only fair that you get to ask me some questions.

"Why'd you move from England?" One bold looking girl asked.

"Didn't know it at the time, but I was looking for a girl."



"Do you know you're perfect for me in every possible way?" he asked looking up at her, her fingers in his hair. "Couldn't have dreamed of anyone better, 's why you were the one in my dreams, no one better for me than you." When he saw her start to tear up, he decided to move on to other topics. "Did you know there are pretty little roses here," he kissed along the waistband of her underwear, "and here," he kissed a little farther over, "and here," farther over, "here, too. Roses suit you, luv," he decided as he hooked his finger in the sides of her underwear and pulled them down her legs.

He started to separate her legs, but she stopped him. As he looked up at her questioningly, she merely asked him, "Come here?

"There'll be time for that later, right now though, my sweet William, I just want to celebrate the fact that we are married and make love to you."



"You mean your wife?" another student asked.

"Yes, my wife, Buffy. But none of you go calling her that, though" He knew he'd be gettting it from her if students went around calling her Buffy and said it was because of him.

"When did you two get married?"

"Just last February," so far he was comfortable with everything that was being asked.

"Do you have any kids?" a quiet looking girl in the back asked.

"We have a daughter Sam who's seven. Buffy and I knew each other a few years ago," he explained at the few curious looks he got and tried not to get lost in memories.



"God, luv, do you know what...of course I want to make love to you, c'mere," he said attempting to pick her up, but she skitted away and bounced onto the bed. "Oh, you little minx, trying to live up to being my 'kitten' are you? My sex kitten Buffy."

She just smiled and leaned back against the pillows as he put his knee onto the bed. "Shh, love, don't think about it so much," Buffy told him, "Just feel." She pulled him gently so that he was lying over her, his legs between her hips.

She brought her legs up around his hips. "I love you William,: she said as she tightened her legs around his waist and reached between them.



"So she's in first grade?" one boy asked, "My sister's in first grade."

"Actually," William corrected, "She's in second grade, she was, um, she was in a private school last year and she learned enough to skip first grade."

"Is your whole family braniacs?" One of the boys in a football jacket asked.

"If you mean because my daughter skipped a grade, my father's the librarian here, and my wife's bleedin' brilliant...then yeah, my whole family's brainiacs."

"Is your wife good?" at the glare the student received, they clarified, "I mean is Ms. Summers-Giles a good teacher."

"She's great, the best actually," William was secretly answering both the question the student had asked and the one he'd first thought was being asked.



As he pushed inside her, she knew nothing had ever been this right. Not even their last time together had been this right; it came close, but didn't quite match. There was that deep feeling of love and commitment and trust there as he slowly thrust into her, wanting to draw the night out as long as possible.

"I love you, Buffy. So bloody much, never been this...good...feel so good, luv...so, so good," he looked into her eyes feeling nearly stuck dumb at the emotions he saw flickering back at him.

"Love you too," Buffy said, not able to say as much as he was, knowing she felt just as much as he was feeling.

"Never letting you go, pet. Never...you're the best," he sped up his thrusts, knowing neither of them were going to be able to hold on to their control much longer. "Love you so much...love you...love you...love you."

As he came inside of her, Buffy felt herself wishing that they'd have another child, something about being pregnant with William's child was magical to her...and this time he'd be there for it all. "I love you William," When he started to roll to her side, she begged of him, "Please, just, let's stay like this, want to feel you...feel that you're here."

He knew she was remembering, even if only barely, how their last time together had ended, "Not going anywhere. Going to stay right here and hold you, 'til you tell me to move."

They lay like that until they dozed off, William unknowingly rolling to his side and puling Buffy along with him. She’d say she had the best sleep of her life that night, but...well, the truth was, they hadn't done all that much sleeping.

Something William said about, "Have to make up for lost time, you know."



The bell rang signaling the end of his last class and while William wouldn't say he was pleased per se to be free of students for the day, he was pleased that he'd get to see Buffy and Sam now--Buffy had her last period free so she used it to pick up Sam.

"See you tomorrow Mr. Summers-Giles," several students called as they left class. William smiled and waved at them That is until he heard several, "Hi Ms. Summers-Giles"s.

William stopped collecting his papers and made his way quickly over to the door to greet his girls.

"Daddy! Hi! Guess what. My new teacher said that I'm really smart and she's glad I'm in her class. She's not as nice as you, but I like her," Sam ran over to him, letting him scoop her up and twirl her around.

"You're going to make me dizzy," Buffy mumbled, holding her stomach.

"Sorry luv, sorry pixie but looks like we’re going to have to wait for the spinning 'til mum's not around. Makes her feel sick."

"Because of the baby?"

"Because of the baby,"

"Okay...ooh, and Daddy guess what..." William picked up his things and locked the door, making his way towards the parking lot with Buffy and Sam in tow, Sam never once stopping in her story of her first day of school. William listened intently to everything she said, smiling when Buffy leaned over to whisper, "She saves all her talking up during the day, so we get an extra six hours of talking now," in his ear, a smile evident in her voice.

William used his hand that was holding Buffy's to sling his arm around her shoulder and pull her into him.

Buffy smiled at him, "I love you."

"Love you too kitten, love you too."


THE END





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First of all I want to apologise for not getting a list to thank each of you that has ever reviewed this fic, but I was going to do that just now, but we just found out our water heater is broken so that's sort of been taking up my time. I do want to thank each of you so, so, so much. And those of you that reviewed those first chapters should also be thanked for my continued posting of this story. I started this at a time when I was really unsure of myself (it's why I had the penname and told no one I was doing it), so any bad reviews--or no nice ones, I guess, might have just made me stop.

I'm so thankful I didn't though because this has come to be a story that I really do like. I love Sam and her cuteness and just the general idea of the story. Overall, I'm pretty proud of this being my first posted fic. The writing and posting of this fic has taken me through a lot of craziness and hard times in my life. And though I finished the actual writing of this a long time ago (like first time JM was on Smallville long), leaving it behind now is going to be sad.

But I do have new fics ready for you. 'My Boyfriend's Back' is the new one which I will start posting tomorrow and then probably post on Wednesdays each week. Then I have the other new one that I was supposed to have finished (and I do except for parts of two chapters) by the time this epilogue was posted. That fic has no title yet, only know that it is really pretty different from Learning Curve--let's just say that it's a bit darker. I would give you the title Panta_rei has jokingly (sort of) given it, but that would give too much away. If you read MBB though, you'll know the title when I get it and also find out when I'm doing to start posting it (like how I stuck that in there to get you to read it?)

Thank you for the (almost) 600 reviews--and wouldn't it be cool to actually get 600--this story has gotten and the six (if you don't count the messed up three) nominations it has received. Ans an extra thank you for the two Best Original Character nominations, for some reason those have made me extra happy.

I know how great nominations are, so I'll remind everyone before I finally shut up and go, to nominate at Fool For Love Awards <http://www.livejournal.com/community/_fool_for_love_ > and Spuffy Awards <http://spuffyawards.jaded-paradise.net> both of which are ending nominations in the next four or so days.

Two things I forgot: The 'brainiacs' thing wasn't meant as a joke...kind of words as one though. And the new fic (the untitled one) is an NC-17 rated one.

Last but not least, I owe my wonderful two, sometimes (only because I was slow) betas Nikilicious and Panta_rei a million thank yous for catching my stupid mistakes and helping me know where I was going. And thank you as well to Cordykitten who has let me know about some mistakes in those chapters that weren't quite beta'd before I posted them.

Thank you :-)