by melWinter

Chapter 10

Joyce and Billie glanced uneasily at one another as they were led upwards in a tunnel that spilled out into another garden area. Only this one was much larger, with an enormous house on the hill that presided over the area. The sunlight was shining down brightly with not a cloud in the sky. There were two children playing quietly in a sandbox, shoveling the sand into small piles but the activity was done without joy.

Joyce and Billie locked hands with one another stiffening as that strange feeling came again. It was weird but it was almost like this was home. Dawn raised both eyebrows, “Wow. Who lives here?”

Evil glanced at the girl, “A friend of the family.”

“Aand, just a bit on the cryptic side, aren’t you?”

Smirking to herself, “I’m known for it, yes.” Dawn just rolled her eyes.

A head raised, the trio recognizing Tyler who climbed stiffly to his feet a second later before reaching down for the small child playing, “C’mon Tony, let’s go.”

Blue eyes lifted to look over the visitors and Dawn’s breath caught in her throat. The little boy had Spike’s eyes. Tyler did too but something about the smaller one made it more obvious, “Gam’a!” It was his cheekbones. Even with his baby fat he had Spike’s cheekbones, Tyler didn’t.

Evil rolled her eyes, even as the toddler broke free of his brother’s hold and ran to her. She picked him up easily, “It’s grandma, not gam’a, Anthony.” The little one just shook his head and she chuckled, “And as stubborn as your father, I see.” Tyler came up slowly, Evil gently ruffling his head, “Where is your father?” The little boy quietly pointed down the hill and Evil sighed to herself, “Of course he is.”

“Gam, who’re they?”

Smirking at Tyler before glancing back at the Summers in their midst, “They would be a bit of a surprise.” Calmly handing the toddler to Dawn. Tony leaned into her trustingly, pudgy fingers reaching for a fistful of her hair and twirling them, “Stay here and mingle. We’ll be back.” The kids all eyed one another with a speculative eye as she walked towards the lake.

The lake wasn’t a terribly long distance from the house and she followed the familiar trail, bordered on both side by tall blades of grass. Snagging a random blade as she walked, she twirled it absently in her hands as she followed the trail down the slope to the shore.

She found him just as she thought she would, sitting under their tree and staring out at the small lake. It had been a favorite spot of the pair of them and with a bitter smile she sat down next to her son-in-law. His blue eyes never left the lapping shores, silently taking it all in. But she didn’t expect him to, he was never one for making conversation although he was known for finishing them, “Beautiful day.” He nodded without comment and she rolled her eyes before nudging his shoulder, “I won’t ask how you are so come on, you have visitors.”

He sighed softly and shook his head, “Not today.” That was his standard answer lately. Not today. He didn’t want to talk. He didn’t want to eat. And he certainly didn’t want to move. Even vampires, though it was rare, could waste away to dust from a broken heart.

Giving him a patronizing glance, easily able to accomplish it since she was several thousand years old compared to him, “Not today. Not yesterday. Not last week. Enough. Yes today. Yes now.” He didn’t reply and she rolled her eyes to herself. Not that she’d really expected a response. Nope, she already knew she was going to have to piss him off to get his attention, “She wouldn’t want you like this.” His head jerked around to glare at her and her jaw firmed. He was powerful and strong and dangerous right now. She respected this young vampire, but she could never fear him, “She was my daughter so I’ll talk of her as I like.” His glare faded, acknowledging that truth. Her pain was different than his, but it was a shared pain of loss and they were both entitled to it, “Kat lived to love life, not to dwell on death. And it was a good life. She died a mother and a mate and it’s all a wolf wants...you know that. She certainly wouldn’t want you withering away when you have three of her cubs to look after and I wouldn’t be a very good mother if I let you.”

His eyes returned to the lake while giving a small nod. Evil was one of the few people who had the nerve or the right to talk to him like that. And the vampiress was right. She wouldn’t have wanted him hiding away for the rest of eternity, “Alright.”

Climbing back to her feet, patting him gently on the head before walking back towards the house, “Besides, I think you’ve missed enough of Nibblet growing up.”

***

The sound of quiet giggles was the first thing to greet him as he entered the house and he closed his eyes for just a moment. He hadn’t heard any happiness from any of his children in over a week. He carefully followed the sound and peeked into the parlor. The little ones were all spread out, Dawn in the center and regaling them tales from Sunnydale. Her voice would change as she imitated people, throwing in stuffy English for Giles or cockney for Spike. He listened for a few moments before figuring out she was talking about an old fight the gang had with a Chaos demon. Happier times, back before Glory had messed up everything. They’d just finished dispatching the potential Hellmouth opener and made the long trek back to the Magic Box. She and Anya hadn’t gone on the fight, receiving them with wide eyes since they were all covered in slime, “...and so Spike said-...”

“Ain’t this just a kick in the balls.”

Dawn whipped around with wide eyes as a small smile graced his face. It didn’t quite reach his eyes but he didn’t stay still long enough for anyone to notice. He shoved his hands in his pockets, almost swaggering over like he used to, raising an eyebrow. Letting the heavy cockney he hadn’t used in years flow, “So I says, well ain’t this just a kick in the balls and you said...”

Pipping in with tears in her eyes, “Not if we don’t have any.”

His grin grew a little more, “And the whelp said...”

Chiming in together, “We’re having! We’re full of having!”

Dawn took just a moment to look at him. Gone was the bleach blond hair that she remembered, in it’s place were short, thick curls of dark blond and brown. Instead of a black t-shirt on black leather, a dark blue shirt and denim pants. But there was no denying the familiar blue eyes, even with their saddened cast. Her lower lip quivered as regret and anxiety pulsed inside her head and heart, “Spike.” And she threw herself into his arms, hugging him as tightly as she’d wanted to all those years ago. In all honesty he was more than surprised. Once or twice over the years he’d wanted to reach out to the young girl that she’d been but he thought that opportunity was long past.

Joyce was looking back and forth between her brother and Spike. She carefully fished the picture out of her jacket pocket, looking down at it then up at the man hugging her aunt. Billy cocked his head a little, studying the man. At last the two of them broke apart, Spike’s smile a ghost of soft regret, “Hey, Nibblet.”

She sniffed back tears, holding onto his biceps almost desperately, “I’m so sorry.” For betraying him. For her anger and her teen angst. She’d thrown everything he’d ever offered away back in Sunnydale and never thought twice of it, never really understanding until recently how much it took for a vampire to willingly look after what would be considered little more than a tasty morsel. The Scoobies and even Giles hadn’t a clue.

He chucked her gently under the chin, “Nothin’ to be sorry for, Bit. We were all in a bad spot there.”

She shook her head quickly, “No, I-...I didn’t understand what you were offering. I really didn’t and-...”

He held up a finger to quiet her and she found herself doing so instantly, and then shocked immediately after that she had. He smirked slightly, “Knowing now...do you accept?”

She nodded jerkily, never dreaming he would give her another chance, “Yes, yes of course I do!” She threw herself back into the hug and Spike closed his eyes as he pulled her in tight. Vampires only protect their childer, their territory, and their mates. That was it. Everyone else was a convenience or simply lucky they lived in their territory. That’s where the Scoobies had fallen in. After Buffy had died he’d patrolled to protect his territory and the Scoobies had been useful. Not Dawn. Never Dawn. He’d held her in an entirely different regard but he’d never given in to simply asking the girl if she wanted to belong to him. It was over and done now and he’d never felt quite so content. She was his now. His family. His.

“Daddy?”

He turned to his left with a frown, expecting to find Tyler asking him a question and surprised to see a miniature of Buffy staring at him with wide blue eyes, along with his cheek bones but with a rather unique nose that could only come from one woman in the world. He blinked twice, his gaze shooting to Evil who just shrugged at him helplessly. Joyce took a hesitant step, dragging her brother along with her while still clutching the photo and Spike sucked in a breath of shock. The solemn blue eyes of the boy at her side could only be from him. Dawn stepped back and he knelt down to examine the pair of them, both pairs of eyes now staring at him and silently begging him to answer the unasked question.

His mind flashed back to that night before the final battle. Buffy. In his arms. Soft and wanting and so very different than how she’d ever been with him. It was in those stolen moments in her basement that he’d desperately wished for a family and a future with her. Yet he knew that wasn’t how fate was dealing this hand so he’d taken what good memories he could and he’d let her go. But if these were his and Buffy’s, it meant..., “Yeah...”

He caught the both of them as they rushed him, torrents of tears falling down cherubic faces as they finally held onto the father they’d been told about all their lives but never met. Brave. Strong. Their’s. He crushed the both of them in a hug to end all others, pulling in their scent and easily identifying them. The Slayer and the Nibblet’s scent was all over them but there was another scent. It was the scent from their blood and they were his. Despite their size he picked the pair of them up, one on each hip while they clung to him. Dawn came over and smoothed down their hair, “This quiet one’s William, named after you.” Her grin widened, “And little miss sassy here is Joyce.”

Joyce looked over her shoulder and pouted a pout that was all Buffy, “I’m not sassy, I’m bossy. Mommy says so.”

Dawn choked on a giggle and Spike’s chest rumbled with a quiet echo of amusement. Both children immediately looked to him, looking for approval of their names. Another quiet smile, “Bloody right and proper names and it’s nice to meet you both. Is it Joyce or Joycie.”

Her nose curled a bit, “Nuh uh. Joy.”

He nodded, “Joy then, princess.” She grinned happily. Looking to his son who hadn’t said a word. Just continued to silently peer at him through his glasses, “And what about you bitty bad?”

Dawn sucked in a surprised gasp and Spike looked at her questionably, “Aunt calls me that.” He returned his attention to his son, “She always calls me that. How’d you know?”

Shrugging slightly, “Well, I was the big bad once and you’re just a bit of a thing right now so...”

Billy grinned hesitantly, “Billy.”

Nodding, “Billy.” A second later he threw his arms around his father’s neck, memorizing his scent and the feel of being in his arms. Spike’s brow furrowed, glancing from Dawn to Evil, “Where is she?”

Dawn shrugged a little, “With Xander somewhere.”

His mouth opened, then he shook his head, realizing who Dawn was talking about, “Not her yet. Where’s Red?”

Evil’s eyebrow quirked, “Where else?”

He shook his head with a sigh before putting the pair of them down who both protested vehemently. He tapped each one gently on the nose, “Shh, now, not to worry. I’m not letting the pair of you out of my sight but you’ve a few people to meet first.” They both huddled back against him, unnamed fear pouring from them that they’d be ripped away from him at any second, “Why don’t you drag her away from her ‘boyfriend’. Got a few things to discuss with the witch.”

Evil nodded slightly and vanished. Tyler took another hesitant step at the annoyed tone. He’d been curious who all these new people were and he was a little worried since they seemed to be taking up all of his dad’s attention, “Da?”

Reaching out Spike ruffled the curled locks before pulling him closer, “It’s alright, pup.” Tyler immediately giggled since he knew if his dad was calling nicknames he wasn’t mad, “This is Joy and Billy. They’d be the brother and sister you’ve never met.” With a grin he immediately hugged each one of them even if both Summers stayed still, too shocked to react. They’d finally found their dad. They weren’t so sure about sharing him.