Title:  Kitten Caper Two
Author: Pattyanne
            snapkik@yahoo.com
Feedback: Of course!
Summary: A 'Daddy's Girl' story.
Katie is about 4-5 years old in this one.
Buffy and Spike have to go out and
leave her with a sitter.


*****************************




"Pretty fancy set up, huh?"

"Yeah, didn't know the council was rolling in this kind
of dosh."  Spike grabbed two glasses of champagne from
a circulating waitress and handed one to his wife. "Did
I tell you how sensational you look tonight?"

Buffy gave him her prettiest smile. "You didn't, now that
I think about it. I'm very hurt."  She pretended to pout,
thrusting out her lower lip in a gesture that always turned
him on.

Spike grinned and leaned over to whisper in her ear. "You
sure you don't want to get out of here?  Take off, just the
two of us, for a dirty weekend somewhere?"

She tossed her head and moved away. "Nice try. Hey," she
added, turning around. "Are you going to dance with me
this time, or are you going to sit in the bar with Xander
watching a football game and hiding from your wives?"

Tipping the glass, he finished off the sparkling wine. "I
can't speak for the bricklayer," he said, catching Buffy
around the waist with his free arm, "but I'm going to dance
with MY wife...as much as she wants."

"Promise?"

"My word, love."


*********************************************


Clem and Katie sat cross legged on the living room
rug, facing off across the colorful game board.

"So....where's the dice?" he asked, scratching one
floppy ear.

"There isn't any," Katie informed him, straightening
the little rectangle playing cards.

"Then how do you know whose turn it is?"

Katie sighed, a ridiculously adult sound of total
exasperation. "After me it's your turn, and then it's
mine again. It's easy."

Clem folded his arms across his chest. "Why do you
go first?"

"Because."

"Because....why?"

"I'm the littlest. Daddy said the littlest always goes
first, and I'm the littlest one except for Mr. Giles," the
child explained, handing Clem a small blue plastic
game piece fashioned as a gingerbread man.

Wondering where she got that logic from, Clem
mentally shrugged and accepted the game piece.



************************************************


"Oh, god.....again, please...."

"Like that, don't you, Slayer?"

"Mmmmm.....yes. More."

"What do you say?"

"Now!"

Spike chuckled. "Open up then. I've got plenty more
of it for you."

Obediently, Buffy opened her mouth. Her eyes drifted
closed as her husband placed a forkful of lobster drip-
ping with melted butter on her tongue. "This is so good,"
she moaned, licking an errant drop of butter from her
lower lip. "How come we don't ever make this for dinner?"

"Because our daughter would want to make a pet out of
it. Can't you just see her walking into the kitchen as we're
tossing one of these things into a pot of boiling water?"

Buffy laughed. "Good point. Remember the 'baby chicken'
fiasco?"

"I'll never forget it," Spike replied. "She didn't speak to me
for a week."

Caught in the grip of her giggles, Buffy placed one hand
on Spike's shoulder. "I know...you followed her around all
over the house....'Princess...please talk to Daddy.  I swear
those weren't baby chickens....they were just....just small
game hens....all grown up'......."

"You're about to fall out of your chair, love."

"More lobster.....quick!"


********************************************


Clem frowned. "What does it mean when I land
here?"

"Means you have to go all the way back to the
first square," Katie explained.

"Again?  Didn't I just DO that?"

"Uh-huh."  She drew a card, then moved her
game piece. "See....I get to cross the bridge
to the other side," she said, smiling brightly. "I'm
almost to the candy castle."

"I think I should have listened to your dad."

The little girl nodded. "Always listen to Daddy," she
said.  "Daddy always knows what's best and he's
always right."

It sounded like memorized copy to Clem. "Who told
you that?"

"He did."

"Oh, yeah? And what does your mom have to say
about that?"

"In his dreams....but I don't know what that means."


******************************************


"Well.....here we are. We've made it to the end of
another year, and the world is still turning.  This is a
special gathering tonight, for we are not only com-
emorating the anniversary of the forming of the
Watcher's Council, but we are honoring one of our
own."   Travers turned on the dais and extended his
hand. "Rupert Giles."

There was a loud burst of applause, followed by a
shrill whistle coming from Xander's general direction.

"Mr. Giles has the distinction of being the watcher
over our current slayer, a slayer who has been with us
since she was fifteen.  She has averted nine apocalyptic
events, and she has survived longer than any other
slayer in the history of the line.  We have no doubt that
she will continue to survive. She has certainly proven
herself."

Spike leaned close to Buffy. "That's you, baby. Best slayer
ever lived."

Her cheeks tinted a light shade of pink, Buffy leaned back
into her husband's arms, watching as Giles took Travers'
place at the podium.

"Thank you so much," he said quietly, after the applause
had abated. "This is an honor, one I'd not expected...but
I certainly cannot claim to being the reason my slayer has
triumphed beyond all others."  He smiled at Buffy.  "No, she
is a marvel unto herself. Strong, intelligent, and courageous.
Ever since the beginning of the slayer line, it has been well
documented that she has fought alone.  But not this slayer.
This is part of the reason she has survived well beyond the
normal span of a slayers life, and will continue to do so."

"Damn right," Spike muttered.

"Buffy has surrounded herself with people who share her
desire to protect the world from those who would destroy
it.  Two very powerful witches make sure that she is armed
with white magic, as well as with weapons; a former ven-
geance demon provides insight and valuable information as
to the nature of demons that we on the council have never
identified; and a young man who, although he possesses no
powers of magic or special knowledge of demonology...still
never hesitates to pick up a weapon and join in the fight."

Across the table, Xander beamed as Anya patted his hand.

"And that brings me to....well, what is perhaps the greatest
miracle she's worked yet.  Several years ago, a vampire came
to Sunnydale with one particular goal, a goal that was not so
very different from any other vampires, but one he pursued with
a zeal that few others have ever displayed.  The slayer did
battle with this vampire many times. To be perfectly honest,
I've never seen two people more stubbornly alike."

A brief spurt of laughter echoed in the room.

"Over the years, I watched as these two creatures changed
from mortal enemies, to distrustful allies, to caring friends.  Of
all the people surrounding the slayer, none has changed more,
has evolved more than this vampire has. Oh, in the beginning it
was quite against his will, to be sure. You all know the story of
the behavior modification chip implanted by the government. This
piece of modern technology prevented him from harming human
beings. But what some of you may not know, is that the chip was
removed some time ago.  And still, he stands beside this slayer
night after night, helping her win her battles. He has never
faltered, has never turned his back, has never left her to fight
alone.  He has been instrumental in averting nearly every
world ending disaster that has been thrown in their paths, and
I can tell you with complete honesty and utter faith, that I have as
much trust in him as I do in her."

Buffy turned her head up and repeated the words Spike had
said to her. "That's you, baby."

He was trying hard not to look pleased, but couldn't quite
carry if off.

"With the help of her friends," Giles went on, "and her husband,
I predict that my slayer will live on to someday become a very
great....very old....lady."

"Why did he have to say 'old'?" Buffy whispered. "Couldn't he
have left it at 'great'?"

Spike just smiled and tightened his arms around her.


******************************************


Hands on his hips, Clem stared down at Katie with
a dubious expression. "You must think Uncle Clem was
hatched yesterday. No way does your mom let you eat
ice cream at this time of night."

Copying his stance, Katie looked up without a bit
of shame. "Sometimes she does."

"Oh, yeah?" he challenged. "Like when?"

"Okay, Mommy doesn't," the child admitted. "But
Daddy says that life is too short not to eat what you darn
well please."

That certainly sounded like something Spike would say,
and Clem felt his resolve begin to founder. "Well...maybe
just a small bowl," he finally said with a shrug. "What
could it hurt?"

He rummaged in the freezer, coming out with a gallon
of strawberry ice cream, then located a bowl and began
scooping.  "Here you go," he said, sliding the bowl across
the island to where Katie was perched on a tall stool.

Before digging in with the spoon he handed her, she
gave him a perplexed look.  "Don't you want a snack?"

"Nah, maybe later."


*********************************************


After dinner, there was dancing in the adjacent ball-
room.

"That was really nice....what you said about Spike."

Buffy smiled up at her watcher as they danced.

"Well," he demurred, "I never hesitate to admit it
when I'm wrong, or to give credit where it's due."

"Yeah, right," she snickered. "That's you all over."

"What are you saying?"

"Oh, nothing. Nothing at all."


***********************************************


"Isn't it about time you went to bed?"

"Daddy says no one should have to go to bed if
they're not tired or they still have stuff to do."

Clem sighed and checked the clock. Fifteen minutes
till the movie came on. "So, what stuff do you still
have to do?"

"We could play Candyland again," Katie suggested.

"But we've already played six games of Candyland."

"I know."

"And you won every game."

"I know. You're not very good at it."

"Listen," he said, "if you'll go to bed now...I'll read you
a story."

Katie thought it over. "Will you read me TWO stories?"
she countered.

"Sure."

"Okay."

Four stories later, Katie's eyelids began to droop.

"You getting sleepy?" Clem asked hopefully.

"Uh-huh," the little girl murmured.  "Goodnight."


**********************************************


"Did you have a good time, baby?"

Buffy nodded, leaning against Spike's shoulder. "I
had a great time. Thank you for being such a good sport."

He smiled as he swung the car out into traffic. "Well, it
wasn't so bad.  Pretty good food and all the free grog you
can swill."

"What a charming way of putting it."


**********************************************

As Clem sat watching the movie, his stomach began
to growl.  Reluctantly, he turned down the volume
and wandered into the kitchen to examine the contents
of the refrigerator.

It was disappointing. A lot of fresh fruit, some leftover
pizza, soda, beer, lemonade, a half eaten mold of cherry
jello, a jar of pickles, and seven Tupperware containers
that held nothing of interest to him.

Sighing, he grabbed a bag of pretzels from the pantry and
returned to his movie.  He'd only just settled in when he
heard Katie climb out of bed and head for the
bathroom.

Knowing how fiercely protective Spike was of his daughter,
Clem figured he'd do well by making sure she was all right,
so he once again turned down the volume on the movie and
headed up the stairs, his empty stomach still making itself
known.

********************************************



Fifteen minutes later, Spike and Buffy arrived home.  They
opened the front door quietly, both noticing that Clem wasn't
in the living room.

Buffy headed for the kitchen to put away the doggy bag
she'd brought home, while Spike went upstairs to check
on Katie.

The first thing he noticed when he opened the door was
that Katherine wasn't where she should be...in bed asleep.

Instead, she was on her knees next to the bed, lifting the
dust ruffle and peering underneath it.

"Katie?  What are you doing, princess?" he asked, coming
around the end of her bed and looking down at her.

"Daddy..." the child looked up at him, her little face
fretful. "I'm sorry....I didn't mean to....."

"Didn't mean what, baby?  Tell Daddy what's wrong,"
Spike said, sitting down on the bed and pulling her into
his lap.

"I....I wanted to give Mr. Giles a goodnight kiss...so...so I
did....and then I put him back....but....but I...I thought I
locked the cage...and he's gone....I can't find him, Daddy."

The little girl was on he verge of a full fledged crying
jag, something her father couldn't bear.

"Well, baby...I'm sure he's in your room somewhere. Maybe
he just found a little hiding place for himself," he soothed
her, stroking her hair.

"No, Daddy....I looked all over....he's not here."

Spike knew she was right. He had absolutely no sense of the
kitten's presence. The only scent he could pick up was a
faint one from the cage, nothing stronger.

But Katie's door had been closed. The kitten certainly hadn't
turned the knob and gone out for a stroll, and the only other
one in the house besides Katie was.......

** Oh, no....no....**

Trying to keep his voice calm, he tucked Katie under her
covers. "Daddy's going to go find Mr. Giles, sweetheart. You
stay in bed. Promise me you'll stay in bed?"

"Okay, but...."

"No. Don't ask me any questions, love. Just...just stay in
bed.  I mean it, now.  I'm serious."

Closing the door behind him, he turned and ran down-
stairs, heading for the kitchen and getting there just in time
to see Clem standing by the sink, his head tipped back,
smacking his lips. Spike stood in the doorway, staring
in horrified disbelief.  How the hell was he going to ex-
plain this to Katie?

"Now THAT was a tasty......" the demon started to say.


The moment Clem uttered the word 'tasty', Spike dove across
the room and grabbed his friend around the waist. Wrapping
both arms tightly around him, Spike tried to Heimlich poor Mr.
Giles back up out of Clem's gullet.

"YOU ATE....MY DAUGHTER'S....PET!" he yelled, his face
contorted with anger. "HOW....(squeeze).....COULD YOU...
(squeeze)....DO THAT!?"

Clem had no way of responding. Spike's grip was cutting off
all his air.

The Heimlich maneuver wasn't working, and Spike was
getting desperate. Releasing his hold on Clem, he spun
him around, preparing to yank open his jaws and reach down
inside to rescue his baby's kitten.

"What the hell kind of a monster are you?" he shouted. "Eat-
ing a little girl's....a....little...."

His voice trailed off when Buffy walked into the room,
holding a familiar ball of orange fluff in one hand. "Do you
know where I found this....what's going on?  Spike?  What
are you....let GO of him!  He can't breathe!"

His jaw dropped open, and Spike removed the death grip
he'd taken on Clem's face.

Clem flopped down on the floor, gasping for air.

"What in the hell is going on?" Buffy demanded, pushing
the kitten into Spike's hand and kneeling down to help
Clem, whose foot skidded slightly on the piece of aluminum
foil that had contained leftover lobster.

"I....I thought....well, when I came in....you see, Katie
was....she had opened...I..."  Spike sputtered, unable to
complete a sentence. "I should....um....I'll be right back."
He backed out of the room, slapping his forehead, and went
upstairs to return Mr. Giles to his owner as Clem choked out
a request for a glass of water.


**********************************************


"I can't believe you thought Clem ate Mr. Giles."

Buffy sat at her vanity, brushing out her hair.

Spike was sprawled out on the bed, staring at the ceiling,
his arms stretched out at his sides. "I know. I'm sorry."

"I mean...Clem!  Of all people!  He stopped eating
kittens almost two years ago!"

"I know. I'm sorry."

"And even if he hadn't, he would never have eaten
Katie's pet!"

"I know. I'm sorry."

"Clem is your best friend!"

"I know. I'm sorry."

"You know, you might want to stop shooting first
and asking questions later.  I mean really Spike,
after everything Giles said about you tonight, about
how much you've changed, how much you've....."

Still staring sightlessly at the ceiling, Spike sighed.

This was going to be a long.....long.....night.


The End


(Hope everyone enjoyed it, and yes, now
I'll get back to Devlin, St. James, Darlington,
Cathcart and......and all the rest of them)