Part 3
Buffy ran up the steps of her house, and threw open the front door.
“Mom,” she shouted as she slowed down to a jog.
“In the kitchen honey,” Joyce called back. Buffy hurried into the kitchen, and threw her arms around her mother. “Buffy, it’s so great to see you,” Joyce laughed as she held Buffy.
“You too, how was your trip? Why didn’t you tell me you were coming home today, and why didn’t you call to tell me to pick you up?” Buffy asked in an excited rush.
Joyce let Buffy go, and laughed, “One question at a time. My last meeting got canceled, and I had to hurry to catch the last flight that night. I just wanted to get home as soon as possible. I did call, but you weren’t here. I figured you were in school, and it would be easier just to get a cab instead of bothering you to find a ride.”
“Oh I got my license this summer,” Buffy interrupted.
“Really? What brave soul taught you to drive?” Joyce asked in surprise.
“A friend, so how was your trip?” Buffy asked trying to steer the conversation back to her mother, and away from her summer.
“Fun, exhausting, and long. How was your summer?”
“Nice,” Buffy replied with a cryptic smile.
“Were you bored,” her mother asked trying to ferret out more information.
“Not really,” Buffy replied nonchalantly.
“Buffy, I have to ask you something,” Joyce started turning serious.
“Okay,” Buffy said hesitantly.
“Mrs. Baker came over today to welcome me home, and mentioned that a young man had been living here all summer.”
“Oh,” Buffy uttered as she felt like the wind had been knocked out of her.
“At first I thought maybe it was Riley, but he was in Iowa, so I thought Angel.”
“I didn’t see Angel all summer,” Buffy interrupted defensively.
“I know. Mrs. Baker said it was a blonde haired man.”
“I can explain, Mom,” Buffy pleaded as she searched her mind for a believable lie.
“Please Buffy, explain why Spike was living here?” Joyce demanded anger seeping into her words.
“Spike?” Buffy whispered not believing her mother knew.
“Yes, I figured it out. Blonde, long black coat, and only came out at night.”
“Mom,” Buffy started as she tried to think of something to say to calm her mother down.
“Why was Spike living here?” Joyce shouted.
“He needed a place to say,” Buffy answered weakly.
“He needed a place to stay. That’s your answer?”
“Mom, I don’t know what to say,” Buffy cried as tears start to fall down her face.
“Buffy, just tell me why?” Joyce asked softening her tone.
“I don’t know what to say. It’s complicated, and confusing.”
“Buffy, were you with Spike?” Joyce asked.
Shock, and disbelief registered on Joyce’s face as it all fell into place. She stared at Buffy’s lowered head trying to comprehend what she was thinking. Buffy didn’t answer her, and taking her silence as a confirmation, Joyce erupted.
“Buffy, Spike is a vampire, without a soul, who has tried to kill you, and your friends. What were you thinking?”
“I don’t know,” Buffy cried. “I can’t talk about this.”
Buffy ran out of the kitchen, and up the stairs to her room. She collapsed onto her bed sobbing. She never expected her mother to find out.
The door opened, and Joyce walked into the room. She sat next to Buffy, and brushed the hair from her face. Joyce rubbed Buffy’s back as her body continued to shake from her uncontrollable sobs.
“Honey, I’m not angry. Just confused, shocked, and little upset. It’s going to be all right,” Joyce assured her in a soothing voice.
“No it’s not,” Buffy cried.
“Why not? I’m not mad. I promise.”
Buffy sat up, and threw her arms around her mother. Joyce held onto Buffy tightly as she continued to cry. When her tears started to subside, Buffy choked out, “I’m so sorry.”
“Why?”
“For everything. For being the slayer, for making you worry, for not being a normal daughter, for the whole Angel saga, for running away, and for Spike. I’m sorry for everything.”
“Buffy never be sorry for who you are. I may get upset, and angry with you at times, but no matter what I love you. Nothing you could ever do will change that.”
“Even loving a vampire,” Buffy asked.
“Yes. I understand about Angel. I was never disappointed, just scared,” Joyce assured her. Buffy pulled away from her mother abruptly, and stared at the wall. “You didn’t mean Angel did you?” Joyce asked completely shocked by the revelation that Buffy loved Spike.
“Does it matter now?” Buffy asked quietly.
“Yes, it does Buffy.”
“I thought you’d love me no matter what.”
Joyce grabbed Buffy by the shoulders, and forced Buffy to look at her. “I will love you no matter what, even if you love Spike, but Buffy, I’m your mother, and this worries me. No, it terrifies me. Do you understand what you are saying?”
“Yes I do,” Buffy answered firmly.
“I’ll be here for you no matter what, but Buffy think about the implications,” Joyce urged.
“You don’t have to worry. He’s gone,” Buffy replied as tears began to form in her eyes again.
“Oh Buffy,” Joyce whispered before pulling her into another hug. “It’ll be okay.”
“Why do they always leave me?”
“I don’t know,” Joyce whispered.
Joyce cradled her daughter in her arms as she cried. Joyce was angry, scared, and disappointed in Buffy even though she told Buffy she wasn’t. But even more than that she was concerned about how much Buffy was obviously hurting.