Grosse Pointe Buff
By TalesOfSpike
Disclaimer: Spike, Buffy and all the other members of the Sunnydale crowd belong to Joss Whedon, UPN, Fox, and so on, and so on. Grosse Point Blank was written by Tom Jankiewicz, D V deVincentis, S K Boatman & the vastly talented John Cusack. It is of course owned by Hollywood pictures and Caravan Pictures and not me. I’m ripping them both off for no profit whatsoever, other than the happies I may get when and if you lovely people review.
Chapter 9
Feb. 1989
Spike shouldered open the doors that led to the main waiting area, making his way past the people waiting for the ER, or as he and Giles called it, A and E. He struggled with the burdens that he carried, and it was all he could do to make it to the lift without dropping something. Thankfully, someone else was there to ask him which floor he wanted. As he made his way to Joyce's room he fixed a smile on his face. Everyone knew that the odds weren't in favour of Joyce's recovery, but no-one was allowed to be negative when she was around, so they smiled, and they hoped, and on occasion they even prayed.
Buffy looked up as the door to her mother's room opened. She smiled warmly, as Spike pushed through the door backwards, her eyes widening when she noticed the large bunch of flowers in his hand along with his normal burden of take-away food.
"What's up, pet? Don't tell me you were that preoccupied you forgot it was Valentine's Day? I'll bet Rupert there's done yer mum proud."
Joyce smiled over in Spike's direction and then back at the older Englishman. "Of course he did. As always," and she was right. Compared with the mounting hospital bills, the money Giles spent on flowers and perfumes, on pretty nightdresses and anything and everything that would bring some small pleasure to the woman he loved, was insignificant. If behind every gift, was the thought that it could be Joyce's last, then no-one would speak the words aloud for fear it would be a curse. And if it should happen that Joyce were to make her way through this time of trouble, then no-one, least of all Giles would care if his bank balance were reduced or non-existent.
Buffy looked from the smile on her mother's face across toward the man who had put it there, her heart clenching slightly at the obvious feelings between them. Giles caught her look and was surprised when Buffy smiled back at him with genuine warmth. "Yes," she said thoughtfully. "He really always does." Her father had been told about her mother's illness, but had yet to check in, even for a progress report. Buffy belatedly realised that she'd been holding onto an idealised image of her father, when the reality fell far short of the man who had taken his place in her mother and Dawn's lives.
Spike deposited his stack of pizza boxes onto the tray stand by Joyce's bed, and then tossed the bunch of flowers to Buffy. "Catch, pet." Buffy cast around the room before laying the bouquet gently on the windowsill, freeing up her hands for pizza. "So who ordered the pepperoni?"
~+~
Apr 1989
Spike and Buffy sat companionably on the back porch of the new house amidst the plethora of banners, balloons and streamers that proclaimed the "Welcome Home" message. The debris that accompanied a simple family barbecue was scattered around the back yard.
"You sure it's okay?"
Buffy smiled back at him. "Go. She's home. She's settled. She's fine, so I'm fine. But not fine enough to go listen to your music for a night." She screwed up her face in mock disgust.
"You've got the number for the club, if you need anything, haven't you?"
"Spike..." Buffy gave a laugh that was heading toward a giggle. "Go. Get gone. Vamoose." Placing her arms around his neck, she punctuated each exhortation to leave with feather-soft kisses on his forehead, the tip of his nose and, finally, his lips, the last kiss deepening into a lingering farewell lip lock. The blond youth finally pulled himself away, walking backwards toward his car just so he could watch her for those extra few seconds.
"Tell Giles I'll come over in the morning to give him a hand with the clean up," he called out.
"And I thought you were coming to see me..." Buffy teased, her bottom lip gently protruding.
"That, too." Spike couldn't help going back for one more taste of strawberry lip balm. This time, his hands on her hips supported her weight. drawing her against him. His lips nibbled at hers as he carried her down the path, only lowering her to the ground when he found himself backed up against his car. "Do you have any idea how difficult it is to leave you, love?" he ground out in a hoarse whisper.
"Uh-huh," answered Buffy brightly, with an accompanying nod of her head. Then, she lowered her voice to match his serious tone, resting her forehead against his. "About as difficult as it's been getting lately to let you go."
"I love you." The words slipped unbidden from his lips and he froze as he waited for her reaction.
"I love you, too." Buffy's lips met his again, a caress as gentle as a summer breeze. "Now, git, before you end up being so late leaving, that you get yourself into an accident trying to make it to work on time." She slid once again into a teasing tone.
Spike levered himself into the car somewhat cautiously due to his state of arousal. He looked over, to find her watching him, as the engine roared into life. He mouthed the word, "tomorrow," making it a promise, before he drove off into the twilight.
End of Chapter 9