Chapter 6
Spike raised his fist to the door. He wanted to pound on the door, force her to come back and let him explain. He didn’t want her to have an abortion. He just wanted her to know he would support her. Before his hand reached the door, it opened. Xander stood in the doorway.
“What have you done now?” Xander stood in the doorframe. Not wanting another fight Spike stepped back.’ No need to piss her off more.’ Spike thought.
“Look I didn’t mean to upset her. I just wanted her to know I would help her in any way.”
“You mean an abortion” Xander said almost casually. “I have tried to talk to her about it. She just graduated highschool and is going to start Sunnydale U next fall. I don’t think she understands the burden it would be to have a kid along with all that.” Xander closed the door behind him and sat down on the porch steps. “We have worked so hard to get her out of this house.” As though to heavy for his body, his hands came up to hold his face. “You ruined her life.” Spike clearly heard the words although the seemed whispered. “She is never going to make it out now.” He pause before looking up at Spike. “I am never going to be free now.”
Before Spike could respond, Xander was up and walking away from the house. Spike took one look up to the second story before following the troubled young man. Neither had noticed the woman standing behind the sheer curtains who had listened to her brothers pain from an open window.
Quickly she moved. She had her bags packed within an hour, taking only clothes she knew would stretch to fit her growing body. She grabbed the cordless phone from her nightstand and called Willow while she grabbed a few more things from her bathroom.
“Wills can you come get me? Yea, I’ll be ready.”
She moved all her bags to rest by her bedroom door. Then Buffy went to the kitchen to grab some crackers for her upset stomach and sat down to wait.
Willow knew Buffys parents were at work, so she let herself in. Buffy and Willow had been close since the redhead had moved a few blocks down when she was eight. Having seen the truth in the often bruised siblings she knew that the Summers home was an unhappy one. Buffy and Xander both had spent the night at her house to escape the abuse from Mr. Summers.
Willow prepared herself to see a black eye or crying Buffy. What she found was her bestfriend sitting calmly at the kitchen barstool a box of saltines sat on the counter next to a small glass of water. Willow pulled the stool next to the small blonde and waited.
“I am pregnant. It’s Spike’s child. Both he and Xander want me to have an abortion. I won’t.”
The words shocked Willow, but the surreal emotionless way Buffy spoke them kept Willow silent.
“I have these pamphlets the doctor gave me about young unwed mothers. Some of them are about places I can stay till a few months after the baby. Can you take me to LA?” Willow was unsure of what to say.
“Buffy what about..”
“Can you take me to LA?” Buffy said. Willow saw the determinedness in Buffy’s eyes.
“Lets get your stuff.”
They had Buffys few bags loaded in Willows battered Volvo and headed out, stopping only to withdraw money from Buffys college fund. The two friends traveled lost in their own thoughts. Willow hadn’t known Buffy had given her virginity to Spike. But as first times go Willow knew Spike was probably a good choice. She didn’t know him well but Oz had always spoken of his friend with the highest regard. That was why she had suggested to double with the two of them. In all the years Willow had known Buffy she couldn’t remember the pretty blond dating anyone. Sure Buffy had always gone to school dances and events and always had guy on her arm. But, outside of Scott Hope, who Willow knew was gay, Buffy had never gone out with them for any outside school function date. Willow knew that Spike was handsome, with his deep blue eyes and light almost bleached looking blond hair, so she hoped that the two blonds would hit it off.
Willow suddenly began laughing.
“What is so funny?” Buffy asked surprised at her friends giggling.
“I was just thinking I had hoped that you and Spike would hit it off that night. I guess I was right!” Willows face was red as she continued laughing. Buffy found herself joining in the absurd laughter.
“I guess we ‘hit it off to well” She joked.
“I am sorry Buffy, I just cant believe you are going to have Spike’s child.” Willow said as she stopped laughing, a serious tone entering her voice. “What are you going to do?”
Buffy collected her thoughts before she answered. “I couldn’t stay at home, not that I would even if I could.” She shuddered at the thought of trying to raise a baby in THAT home. “I know Xander would do anything to help me, but it is time for him to start his own life. Xander has already given up so much to keep me safe. He thinks I don’t know.”
At Willows confused look Buffy continued. “He never even gave a thought of trying for a swim scholarship, he didn’t want to leave me with my father alone. Everyone knows he could have gotten one. He could have gone anywhere in the state on a full ride. He stayed home for me. I know what he would have tried to do if I stayed in Sunnydale. He would have tried to pull as many hours at the construction site to make sure I could still go to college and find a tiny apartment for us to live in and done everything he could for me. But it is time for him to get a life of his own. You know Cordy still calls?” Buffy felt tears threaten to fall. “I can’t see him closed up anymore. With me gone he can move out of that house. Start dating, and… I don’t know be happy? Willow he’s not happy.” Buffy sniffed and pulled a tissue from her purse. “Ugh hormones!”
“What about Spike? What does he say?”
“I think he wants me to get rid of it. But I cant! It’s a baby Wills not a… not something… not something to throw away. I mean who gets pregnant her first time! That has to mean something. Like this baby is a gift! And Xander and Spike and probably my parents want me to kill it. I won’t.”
“Buffy calm down sweetie.” Willow pressed her hand on Buffys shoulder. “I want you to know I will support anything you decide. But do me a favor. When you get to the shelter will you call him?”
“Why?”
“Just tell him you are ok but you need some time to yourself. You know Xander will make himself sick with worry, and Spike does have the right to know you and the baby are all right.”
“Ok but, you have to promise me you wont tell either where I am. Agreed?” Willow nodded but looked uncertain. Luckily Buffy was to focused on the LA skyline to notice.