Chapter 9: Friends
Buffy was finishing a pre-patrol snack when the phone rang. Washing the last bit of sandwich down with some soda, she answered cheerfully: “Summers, Rosenberg and Giles, Buffy speaking.”
An hesitant voice asked back: “Hmm, Miss Summers?”
“Yes, that would be me.”
“Hello, my name is Eather Robinson, my daughter Mary goes to school with your sister.”
Buffy tried desperately to remember if Dawn had ever mentioned a Mary.
“Uh, what can I do for you Mrs. Robinson?”
What did Dawn do? She better not have played sticky fingers at school or I swear.
“I wanted to ask you if you can recommend Dawn’s French tutor. I talked to him about giving lessons to my daughter, and he gave your name as a reference. You know, I just want to be sure Mary is safe, with all the stories in the news.”
Buffy’s mind went completely blank for a few seconds. Could she truthfully say that the girl was safe? With a vampire who had almost raped the woman he loved? The words rolled on her lips before she knew it.
“I would trust Spike with my life, Mrs Robinson.”
I have, many times.
“Spike? I thought his name was William?”
Buffy repressed a giggle. “Yes, it’s William, Spike is just a nickname.”
“Hmm, as you say Miss Summers. Thank you for your time.”
No, thank you.
A bright moon was shining over a sleeping Sunnydale. A few beasties had been running around, but the Slayer and the ensouled Vampire had been particularly deadly that night. As they had been every night for the last two weeks. They were a great slaying team since they had stopped the constant bickering. Well, not completely stopped, after all they had to do something on the slow slaying nights. And bickering could be fun when done right.
His attention focused on any unnatural sounds, Spike was walking through the park next to Buffy. As he ran his palms on the leather duster, his mind kept replaying the events of the evening.
She had forgiven him.
She really had.
Truth be told, he had no idea why. He would never forgive himself for what he had almost done to her the night he left. For a lot more than that, too. He would live with the guilt, and pay for it in his time. But meanwhile, she had forgiven him. And it meant so bloody much to him. It meant that he could and would be her friend. He would be there to help her through anything that would come her way. Like a friend would. He couldn’t believe his luck.
Of course, he still loved her. But he knew she deserved so much more than him. She would never have a normal life, but with a little help from friends, she could try. And he sure was going to help as much as she let him. He had started to hint about patrolling by himself every now and then, so that she could have some time off. She hadn’t rejected the idea. It was a first step.
She had offered him a new coat, as a symbol of their new peace. It looked very much like his old one, which she wore on patrol every night. The leather was new and a bit stiff, but it would get softer with time. And time was all he had. Time, and a friend.
Smiling broadly, he glanced at her, and noticed she was eyeing him with amusement.
“You know William,” she said teasingly, “if your soul had a happiness clause, I think you would have lost it tonight!”
He let the name pass. She had taken on calling him that at least once a night since he had started to give French lessons to the Bit’s friends. And she had way too much fun when he complained. So he would let it pass, just this once.
And after all, she was right. This was as good as it was going to get. And he was as happy as he would ever be.