Chapter 2: Catching Up
Willow had hugged Buffy and Giles, grabbed her bags and walked over to see her parents. She felt a little strange, as though she was leaving her family behind as she walked across the lawn, but knew she would be rooming with Buffy again in about a week’s time on UC-Sunnydale’s campus, so she could live with a week or so of her absent-minded folks.
Buffy and Giles entered the house, sighing as they looked at the familiar surroundings. Giles wandered back to the kitchen, drawn by the odor of something fragrant as Buffy returned to the car and reached for another bag. There was quite a bit of luggage and more being shipped, but she supposed it was impossible to not gather some things along the way in three years. She was struggling with an overfilled bag when an arm reached around her and hefted it from the trunk.
“Let me give you a hand with that, Goldilocks.”
Buffy whirled around, “William?” She grabbed him in a bear hug, then her head quickly shot back, registering what she’d seen.
“Oh my gosh, William, what happened to your hair?” Spike chuckled at her as he looked down at the beauty she’d become. He’d thought she was beautiful at 17, but at 20 she was drop dead gorgeous. He looked into her hazel eyes and knew he was in trouble. But then he’d been in trouble since he’d seen a little girl crying on Giles’ couch as though her heart would break. She wormed her way into his heart that day and never left.
“Bleached, pet – it’s my look, went with the band and all.”
“Yeah, what’s up with the band?” Buffy giggled. “You never would tell me in your letters.”
Her heart fluttered a little at this incredibly handsome man standing in front of her, his arm trapping her between him and the car. Was this her William? Her big brother figure who’d always been there for her to look up to? She felt a little incestuous for the thoughts that flitted across her mind. She lightly punched his arm, breaking the moment and he’d grabbed the luggage and carried it towards the house as he told her more about the now defunct band he’d been a part of over his first few years of college that had broken up after their lead guitarist, Oz, had graduated and moved to L.A.
Jenny was already inside, the source of the fragrant odor Giles had been drawn to, as she unloaded freshly baked coffee cake to welcome them home. The four of them had started catching up, filling in the details that e-mails, letters and postcards had neglected over the years. They discussed some of the local gossip, what was new at the university in Giles’s absence and the dorm Buffy would be moving into the next week.
Before very long, Willow reappeared, soon followed by Xander, Cordelia, and Angel. The whole gang was back and Buffy sighed contentedly, thinking that it was good to finally be home.
Cordelia pulled Buffy and Willow aside to hear about Europe and get them the skinny on the goings on at UC-Sunnydale, who was cool, who was not (Buffy had a weird feeling of deja vu), which sorority they should pledge (she recommended hers as the best – Gamma Gamma Phi) and who were the easiest professors. Although Buffy would only be a sophomore, since she’d taken a year to travel with Giles, Willow and Cordelia would both be starting their junior year.
The three guys filled them in on the upcoming parties at the frat they were members of, Kappa Epsilon Tau, and what was going on with the football season, where Angel was a star member of the team. They also learned of William’s new moniker, Spike, earned during his days as a member of the thrash punk band. Jenny had sighed heavily – insisting it was a phase – and he’d informed them all that he’d answer to nothing else now.
They’d talked for hours, before finally realizing it was after 2:00AM in the morning. The impromptu welcome home bash began to break up, with tentative plans for the next week and start of the new school year being thrown out.
<><><><>
It had seemed a lot like old times. Xander had made with the funny. Cordelia had been her frequently shallow but somehow engaging self. Angel had been hotter than ever. But Buffy felt like something had changed as she crawled into bed, exhausted, after everyone went home. She couldn’t quite put her finger on what had been different, but somehow she knew it was connected to William, or Spike, rather. It was more than just the new look and name. He’d just seemed different to her somehow. Too tired to ponder further, she pulled her covers over her head and feel asleep.
<><><><>
Angel had walked back across the street, whistling softly as he returned to his mom’s house. He was living at the frat, but he’d crash here tonight because he was too tired to drive back to campus. He had been glad to hear the girls were coming back. He’d been pleasantly surprised when he’d seen them as well, they’d both turned into quite the lookers.
He’d known Buffy had a crush on him for years. It had been too cute in high school, how she’d shyly hung around, his own silent little groupie. He’d never really dared take advantage of it, because Spike had always been so protective of her. Not that he couldn’t take Spike if he’d wanted to, but it wasn’t worth the effort, he had plenty of female attention anyway.
He’d never really figured Spike out. He’d hadn’t really been cool in high school, he’d always been a bit of a loner outside of their little group that hung out here at home, but he’d been tough and no one messed with him. He’d been surprised when Spike and Xander had both pledged the same frat he did. Xander was cool and good for a laugh, and he knew he’d get in.
But Spike – fraternities and brotherhood hadn’t really seemed his thing. He’d learned later that Spike was a legacy, his dad, who had died before he was born, had been in KET before he’d gone to England and met Spike’s mom. Jenny had urged Spike to join to connect with part of his dad’s past and his Uncle James, a doctor, had also encouraged him for the networking and contacts in his future career.
They’d all made it through the hazing together and Spike observed the formalities, attended the required meetings. But he’d never moved into the house like Angel and Xander, he had some weird little attic apartment on the edge of campus over a professor’s house. He’d said he’d liked the solitude, while the others had accused him of wanting a pad to take chicks too, and often borrowed Spike’s keys for that very purpose.
Angel had wondered about Spike for a while. He’d never been that into girls, though he’d had his own little swim groupies in high school as well as in college, where he’d continued to swim competitively. And the whole rock start gig had brought in the chicks as well. But Spike had seemed pretty much indifferent, always hanging with Buffy and Willow in a fairly platonic way, until they left. Then there’d been Drusilla.
Angle had to admit, she had been the looker. Big beautiful eyes, long dark hair and a come hither smile. Spike had fallen hard for her that first year on campus, and he’d relentless pursued Dru. She’d eventually slept with him and he’d become her devotee. What Spike hadn’t known, or maybe hadn’t wanted to know was that she was also sleeping with at least two other guys besides him at any given time. She’d seen men as toys and Angel was a little ashamed that he’d been one of her conquests. He’d eventually warned Spike that Dru was not as faithful as he might think, without sharing exactly how he knew.
But at least Spike had some warning when he’d walked into his apartment and found one of his frat brothers, Riley, going at it with Drusilla in his bed. Angel had heard later that he hadn’t said a word, he’d just turned and walked out. Spike had gone on quite a bender and when Angel and Xander had finally found him and sobered him up, he’d never spoken of her again. Dru had transferred away not long after that and Riley had apologized to Spike, explaining he hadn’t known they were a couple, he’d just borrowed Spike’s key to find a private spot. Things had always been a little tense between Spike and the guys at the frat after that and he’d spent more time with the band and hung out with them less.
Angel still wondered why Spike hadn’t gone after any other girls since them though. Dru had been cold in using him that way, but there were other fish in the sea just waiting to be caught. But Spike had seemed disinterested, focusing on the band, his classes, his swimming and helping his Aunt Jenny at her art gallery. He had the whole bad boy attitude, but he was actually quite chivalrous beneath his exterior. He was the one who kept an eye out at their parties and made sure the couples disappearing upstairs appeared to both be willing participants. The guys had acquiesced to his little interrogations because nobody wanted date rape accusations leveled at them in this day and age, but it seemed a weird role for Spike.
So he wondered if Spike would be a problem for him with Buffy, because she was old enough now that big brother Spike wasn’t going to keep him away from her – no way, no how. She was one hot little lady and if the rumors about her trust fund were true, quite wealthy as well. It was about time he thought about settling down, he was going to be a senior after all, and Buffy Summers would make a pretty piece of eye candy on his arm. Musing on his strategy, he opened the door to his house, “Mom, I’m crashing here tonight.”
<><><><>
Spike lay in bed staring out the window. He couldn’t see her window unless he sat up in the bed, but he could see the soft glow of light and then the darkness as she settled down. He wasn’t sure what to think. He knew he was glad she was back, knew he wanted to help her settle in just like he had when she’d first come to Sunnydale. His brotherly instincts to make her readjustment once again a positive were all there.
But he knew there was more to it than that. He was in love with her. Even in that whole debacle with Dru, he’d known he never loved her like he had Buffy. Dru was bewitching and sexy but he’d known on some level that she was a tramp. But he hadn’t wanted to die a virgin and he’d gotten rid of that little burden pretty quickly with her, along with any inhibitions he had about sex.
He’d been in the same zone all throughout high school, since he was old enough to notice and finally cool enough for girls to pay attention. It had been all about Buffy, her little fifteen year old form just showing the first curves of womanhood. He’d felt like a perv, knowing she was too young for him to think of her that way and besides, she was like his little sister.
He laughed and been chased around the house by her as he’d found her first real bra, complete with a little extra padding that he’d teased her unmercifully about. He’d even held a heating pad to her stomach one night as she’d had cramps, when Giles and Jenny had gone to a function at the college and she’d called him so sick she’d thought she was going to die. He’d been there through it all. He’d also seen the adoration she had for Angel ever since that first day he’d shown her around the neighborhood. So he’d kept his feelings deep inside about Buffy, but just hadn’t wanted to be with other girls while she was around.
Then Giles had taken her away. He’d known why, he’d heard Giles and Jenny talking about the will. But he’d missed her so much, his best friend, his confidant, his biggest fan, his Goldilocks.
He remembered the night before she’d left. They’d sat in the swing on the porch after the others had said their goodbyes and gone home. He’d given her advice on England – phrases she might hear that would be strange, customs, foods, etc. He’d known he wouldn’t see her again before she left, Giles was taking them to the airport to catch the plane at 4:00AM. So he’d given her his goodbye gift then, two little bears, one holding the star and stripes, the other the Union Jack, She’d giggled and named the bears after them. Buffy and William. And then he’d kissed her.
It hadn’t been the kind of kiss he’d want to give her for longer than he could remember. The kind where she’d open her mouth and he’d slide his tongue inside her moist cavern and they’d explore the taste and texture of each other until they ran out of breath and then start all over again. Instead it was a soft kiss, just a light brush of lips against lips before he’d pulled back and dropped a second kiss on her forehead. He’d pulled her to him tightly and murmured, “Take care, Goldilocks.” Then he’d walked away.
He hadn’t looked back. He hadn’t want to make a fool of himself, Mr. Big Bad soon to be college guy, about to cry his eyes out over her leaving.
But now she was back. He’d watched her with Angel tonight and seen the sparks of interest in his eyes. Angel wasn’t entirely a bad guy. He was arrogant, and thought he was God’s gift to women, but he could be a good guy when he wanted. If he knew that Angel was what she still wanted, after all these years, he didn’t want to get in the way. But he couldn’t help but wonder if she’d hadn’t looked at him a little differently too. Something in the moment out by the car, before everyone else showed up, had felt different to him. Or maybe is was just wishful thinking on his part. He just wished he knew if he had a chance.