Joyce opened the door to see Spike standing there in his usual
black attire. She gave him a warm smile. She always liked Spike.
He was such a nice boy. She felt sorry for how that awful
Drusilla treated him by leaving him for that Fungus demon. She
remembered how he’d come to her that night for a ‘Hot Chocolate’
discussion while Buffy was away at college. The poor boy
followed Dru for a hundred years and she left him just like that
for – first a Chaos Demon – then a Fungus Demon.Her eyes
moved over Spike approvingly. He was tall, good looking, toned,
had saved and helped Buffy numerous times. He was so much better
than Angel. He wasn’t dark and broody. He was outgoing and
fun-loving. He had a zest for his un-life. Why couldn’t Buffy
see the good in Spike?
“Hello, Spike,” Joyce moved to allow Spike inside the house
and set about making him a cup of hot chocolate with little
marshmallows.
Spike smiled genuinely at the woman and sat down at the
counter. He liked Joyce. Thinking back to the first time they
met, it was almost comical now to remember Joyce hitting him
over the head with the fire ax. She was such a wonderful lady.
Watching her, Spike could imagine how Buffy would be at her
mom’s age had she not had a Slayer calling.
“How are you feeling today, Joyce?” Spike asked, genuinely
concerned over the woman’s welfare.
“I’m fine today, Spike. I went in for tests last week and
they are scheduling a routine operation in a few days. I should
be in and out in no time,” Joyce smiled, endeared by Spike’s
concern. She put his hot chocolate in the microwave to heat it
up.
“It sounds painless the way you put it, but I’ll be pulling
for you all the same,” Spike assured her.
Joyce smiled and handed him the cup of hot chocolate. He took
it gratefully and blew on it a bit before sipping it. He looked
at the older Summers woman, seeing the once beautiful face
covered by tiny lines of life.
He wondered if he could tell Joyce about his suspicions with
Riley. He wondered if she’d even believe him. He knew the older
woman liked him. But he wasn’t sure about how much or even if
she’d listen at all. The Scoobies followed Riley so blindly,
because he was – well, he was a living, breathing,
scientifically enhanced boy. Unlike Spike who hadn’t had a
beating heart in over 120 years. And what was the difference
anyway? He was still alive. Yes, he had to drink blood to
survive, but he had feelings, senses – albeit heightened senses
– he had needs just like any human on the planet. When Dru had
turned him, he didn’t lose all of his humanity. He retained a
lot of William in him that he had spent 120 years trying to
force out of himself. But now? Now there was Buffy.
“Spike?” Joyce asked.
Spike was pulled out of memory lane. “Huh? Oh. Sorry, Joyce.
What were you saying?” Spike shook his head to clear it and
concentrated on the older Summers woman.
“I was asking what had brought up this nice visit from you.”
Joyce responded.
“Oh. Nothing. Just wanted to see one of my favorite girls.”
Spike commented, tipping the cup up more than he had to for
drinking to hide his pained expression. No need to get her
worried prematurely when he didn’t even have proof himself of
what Riley was up to.
Joyce smiled at him fondly and patted his arm. She enjoyed
their conversations during Buffy’s absence. She could tell Spike
genuinely cared for her daughter. She could see that, even
though he was a vampire, he only had the best intentions toward
Buffy, even if he took the scenic route to get there. She was
rewarded with a little boy smirk that lit up his pale face.
“What’s on your mind, Spike?” Joyce tried to pull it out of
him.
Spike sighed. He finally met her eyes. “How do you feel about
Riley?”
“Riley? He seems nice. Well at first he was a courteous boy.
Buffy seems like him. She fancies herself in love with him. But
I don’t feel it sincerely. I’m sure she cares for him, but it’s
not love. At least from what I’ve seen,” Joyce assured Spike.
Spike grunted and drank a huge gulp of hot chocolate letting
it warm his throat on the way down. He didn’t know whether to
take Joyce’s answer as an “I don’t care for him” answer or “He’s
the greatest thing since sliced bread.”
“Where is Buffy anyway?” Spike asked, trying to sound
nonchalant. He stretched back and eyed the room for any sign of
Buffy being anywhere. He opened his senses to see if he could
locate her in the house. But there was nothing. Not even a
lingering scent that she might have been home.
Joyce frowned at him. She didn’t know how to break the news
to this tender vampire. “Spike. She’s not here. She’s gone.”
“Gone?” Spike squeaked in surprise. His face fell at Joyce’s
words. She had left without as much as a ‘bye-your-leave’ to
him. He had worked with her for a year. You’d think he’d at
least deserved to be told that she was moving.
Joyce’s heart broke at the crestfallen look on Spike’s face.
It hurt her to know that Buffy could cause so much pain to a
person. “Yes, William. She moved in with Riley into an apartment
across from the University. They’ve been there about a month.”
A month, Spike thought. She’s been living with him
off of the University campus for a month and she never told me.
He finished his hot chocolate and got up to put the cup in the
sink. “Well, thank you for the drink, Joyce. I appreciate your
company. I’ll be leaving you now.”
Joyce walked him to the door. She kissed him on the cheek.
“Be careful, Spike.”
“Always, Mrs. Summers.” He gave her one last smirk before
leaving out the kitchen door and disappearing into the night.
