Summary: Buffy is a rich princess type, brought up by millionaire parents who care more for their reputations than for her. She meets Spike, an artist who's happy to work different jobs just to make a few bucks here and there. Of course, Buffy's parents don't exactly approve of their daughter's budding romance...How far will they go to stop them being together? And how far are Buffy and Spike prepared to go to do just that?
Giles regarded his son curiously as Spike sat awkwardly in the large dusty office, his long legs splayed out in front of the leather chair. For the life of him, Giles could never understand why someone would want to imprison their limbs in jeans that tight. Wasn’t it painful to sit down? Didn’t they cut off his circulation? It was just one of the many things he would never truly understand about his wayward son.
“Um, so, I know that we haven’ really seen eye to eye since ’ve been here,” Spike started uncomfortably, fidgeting in his seat. “An’ I really am grateful that you’ve put me up and everything, its just that…um, IwannamovebacktoEngland,” he finished in a rush.
Giles eyebrows rose. He definitely hadn’t been expecting that. “Why, may I ask? Your mother sent you here for a reason.”
Spike nodded. “I know, and I understand why. If I went back, I wouldn’ fall back into m’ old habits, or see m’ old friends.”
“Why should I believe that?” Giles asked suspiciously.
“Ummm, because I won’ be alone. I wan’ to take Buffy,” he stated firmly.
There was a long silence before Giles finally spoke. “No.”
Spike looked shocked. “You can’ just say no like that! You ’ave no right!”
Giles stood up and started pacing round the floor, whipping a handkerchief out to wipe his glasses. “Spike, Buffy is in school. She’s a child, a child who I know you think you have strong feelings for, but that’s not a good enough reason to move countries. Am I right in thinking this is mostly to do with her father?”
Spike shook his head in disbelief. “Rupert, you just don’ get it. This whole thing me an’ her ’ave got goin’ on, sneakin’ behind her dad’s back, it isn’t just for kicks. Its serious. Didn’ you hear the part where I said Hank’d get you fired? Make you lose this house? This plan is for your benefit too, so I wouldn’ say ‘no’ so quickly.”
Sighing, Giles said, “So what? You think the UK will just let an American citizen in to live? Does she even have a passport yet?”
“Yeah, she ’as a passport. But her mum’s da’ was English, so she can get an ancestral visa. Means she can live in the country for four years at a time, you know,” Spike explained smugly.
Giles nodded. “I do know what that is, yes. But what will you do after four years, William? Come back here?”
Spike shrugged. “It won’ matter by then. We’ll come back, renew it, whatever. Um, she might be able to live in the UK without it by then anyway.”
Giles raised his eyebrows disbelievingly. “Oh really? Heard of a law change coming up have you?” He rolled his eyes.
Spike smiled. “No. ’m going to marry ’er,” he said simply, finally causing his father to stop pacing about the room and actually look at him.
“You’re going to marry a girl you hardly know?” Giles sputtered.
Shaking his head, Spike said, “Nope, ’m gonna marry a girl ’m in love with. She’s the one, Rupes,” he whispered.
Giles looked steadily at his son. He was calm, collected and apparently deadly serious. Giles had never seen Spike look so solemn about anything in the whole time he’d been here. Usually the bleached blonde was completely flippant about everything thrown his way, a quip and an insult used to deflect any situation. Evidently, he was completely sincere about marrying this girl.
He finally sat down behind his desk again and sighed. “William, are you completely sure? I don’t want you dedicating your whole future so early on to one girl just because you feel you need to play rescuer to the damsel-in-distress. I know Buffy from school, and she’s a sweet, lovely, beautiful girl. But she’s still just a girl, Will. I hope you haven’t built this situation up into a huge scenario where you’re the hero simply because of the way her father is acting. I assure you, if you go to England with her, reality will soon come crashing back.”
Spike nodded. “I understand what you mean, Rupes, I do. But its more than that. Even before she told me about her da’ I was thinking about travelling with her, seeing the world together. ’d even thought of marriage before then, just in a further off sense. ’m not saying we’re getting married right away, maybe not for years. I know that she’s used to riches and luxury, and I wouldn’ be able to offer her all that. But honestly, I think she loves me enough not to care,” he added with a blush.
“What about her mother? What about her schooling? Where would you live? Have you planned any of this?” Giles shot at him in rapid succession.
Spike counted them off his fingers as he went on, “Buffy hardly sees her mother anyway, and from what she’s said I know it wouldn’ be a problem. She can finish school in England – Mum’s a teacher after all. She’ll help us. And, um, well I was hoping we could live back with Mum for a while until I get a proper job and make enough money for us to move out.”
Giles pretended to gasp in shock. “You? A proper job? What have you done with my son?”
Spike grinned self-mockingly. “What can I say? I gotta look after my girl.”
Finally managing a smile, Giles nodded. “Fine. Give me a couple of days to speak to your mother and I’ll let you know what has to be done.”
He looked on in curiosity and a slight bit of alarm as Spike approached him and leant over to hug him awkwardly. “Thanks Dad,” he whispered.
Watching Spike rush out of the office, a pleased smile played about Giles’ mouth. Hmmm. That was the first time Spike’d ever called him that. Must’ve done something right for once.
***
Buffy leapt out of bed in shock and frantically dug through her handbag in the dark, searching for the little mobile which was now ringing very loudly. That would be all she needed – Hank discovering Spike’s new little purchase and confiscating it. Finally she found it and pressed the answer button quickly, flinging herself back on her bed with a relieved sigh.
“Hiya baby, what’s up?” she chirped happily. It was very late on Thursday night and she hadn’t seen Spike in two days. It was killing her.
His gruff voice came over the line. “Do you always answer like that? What if it wasn't me, huh?”
She rolled her eyes. “Spike, you’re the only one with this number, remember? And who else would be calling me at midnight?”
He chuckled in embarrassment. “Ah, yeah, forgot about that luv. Sorry. I was just ringing to make sure we’re still on for tomorrow at Red’s house. Same time, yeah?”
“Yep, I really can’t wait. Its been too long since I’ve seen you,” she whined.
“I miss you too, kitten,” his husky voice said over the phone. “But remember I had a plan? Well ’m gonna tell you what it is tomorrow an’ maybe we can work a few things out.”
Buffy gasped. “Really? Its all sorted? You think it might work?” she pleaded hopefully.
Spike laughed. “Yeah, I think it might. Depends on a few things, but we’ll talk about it tomorrow okay?”
“Okay,” she yawned.
Chuckling at her adorable little yawn, he asked, “Tired, princess?”
“Hmm mmm,” she murmured sleepily. “You woke me up.”
“Sorry, pet. Just couldn’ go another day without having spoken to you,” he apologized, not really sorry at all.
Buffy smiled even though her eyes were closed and she was beginning to drift off to sleep. “Doesn’t matter. Wanted to speak to you too. Want to see you. Sleepy now…” she trailed off, barely registering his quiet chuckle.
“Sweet dreams kitten. See you tomorrow. Love you,” he whispered, hanging up the phone.
“Love you,” she mumbled, drifting off into another of her many dreams where she and Spike were happy, in love and allowed to be together without anyone trying to tear them apart. But tonight after speaking to him, it was starting to feel a bit more like reality. She hoped it was, anyway.