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*Banner By Ariel Dawn*
Thanks AD! Hugs~Opal

Story Dedicated to Meli!
Thanks for being a great Beta. Hugs~Opal

Thanks again for all of you for continuing to stick by this tale and review. You are all fantastic!


Single Quotes = thoughts to oneself or between Buffy & Spike


Ch 35 - Attack of the Pig


Drusilla and Angel used the tunnels in order to get to the museum. Dru developed the ingenious idea of fooling Harmony into thinking she would be doing something to get back at Spike for treating both herself and Dru like crap. Angel came along in order to exert his command as a master, if needed. Angel knew that his reasoning was a load of shit, but really just did not feel like being cooped up in a house with the Scoobies.

While Drusilla and Angel took care of their agenda, Willow and Tara began to prep the ingredients they would need in order to cast the glamour spells on both Harmony and Buffy. Buffy would have to have her essence concealed in order to prevent Harmony from recognizing that there was a Slayer in the same room as her. Harmony’s big mouth could blow their cover.

In the meantime, it would be Giles who would bring Buffy and Spike to Travers. The glamour on Buffy would make her look like Willow. Angel would bring Harmony disguised as Buffy to Giles. Giles would pretend to be turning them in and then Buffy posed as Willow would stake Travers; then poof, catastrophe averted.

William thought that sounded too easy. Especially since his parents had managed to create an action plan that did not involve him. He paced around the living room while Xander, Anya and Dawn cleaned up after breakfast.

“William, is something bothering you?” Buffy asked as she rose from her chair. As she walked over to him, she looked at him in the eyes as if trying to understand what was troubling him through their mother – son bond. She was shut out, and she was puzzled as to why. She looked over to Spike, and from the expression on her mate’s face, it was clear he was not having any luck through his familial bond either.

“Mum, Dad. Can I have a word with you?” William asked.

“Sure, Son. In private I assume?” Spike replied.

“Yes.”

William quietly went up the stairs, in order to not draw attention to the others that they were leaving the living room. William knew enough about teenage girls that even if Dawn were not in the same room as them, she would instantly know that they were making a move and would want to join. Dawn would not have been an issue, but the others, well William just did not want to have a personal conversation with his parents in front of them. He knew how Xander could be with words, and with misinterpreting others input. He loved his Uncle Xander, but there were just some conversations better to be had without him.

Buffy and Spike realized William’s need for privacy without the usual cast of characters, and followed their son quietly up the stairs into Buffy’s bedroom.

William slowly shut the door and turned to his parents.

“Sorry I shut you both out down there, but it was awfully hard to concentrate when you were both trying to ask me questions. Rather than accidentally answer the wrong person and have it misinterpreted, I rather we come up here.” William softly spoke. He looked at both of his parents, expecting his father to be agitated for being shut out.

William was surprised that he was instead met with a look of admiration and respect from both of his parents.

“It’s ok William, go on.” Spike assured his son.

“Look, this is what is troubling me. I hope you can follow my logic. If everything was already better or was going to go better, I wouldn’t be here right now. It’s clear to me that this little scheme that’s been hatched up here is flawed in some way and won’t work.”

“What’s wrong with our plan? Really, it’s easy. Pretend to be Willow and then stake that fat bastard.” Buffy said.

“Yet, you both really didn’t think I’d see that in this entire plan you didn’t involve me at all?”

“You didn’t speak up.” Spike said, hoping that his son would not realize that both Buffy and him had decided they would do nothing to put their son in danger, in adult or infant form.

“You were all so enthusiastic, talking almost simultaneously. Then suddenly it was as if mum, the grand Scooby spoke and declared the plan valid by saying ‘yes that’s what we’ll do’. No one took the time to write out the plan and evaluate it.”

“So then, what would you do instead?”

“Keep mum out of it. Send me in as Willow while the two of you take my little baby butt into hiding. I’m sure that Dru or Angel can send you some sort of signal through the familial bond to let you know it is ok. By sending yourselves in there, it’s just a set up for failure.”

“That does make sense.” Buffy replied.

Spike rolled his eyes, and replied, “If you were only this agreeable all the time.”

Buffy playfully hit Spike on his shoulder. William tried not to laugh as he watched his parents interact.

“Hey, a mom knows her son’s reasons. All he’s simply asking is that we do whatever we can to preserve our family. The current plan puts our family severely at risk.”

William sheepishly looked down at the floor. Spike noticed his son’s moment of shyness, but he respected it. William may be grown, but deep down he needed to know his parents would be there.

“Ok then,” Spike agreed. “Seems like William here has come up with a new plan, the next step is to figure out how we are going to implement these changes midstream.”

Both William and Buffy looked at Spike in shock.

“Wot?” Spike asked.

“Well, you’re thinking and not just doing, that is so unlike you.” Buffy said as she sat on the edge of her bed and pushed her hair out of her face.

“You should talk action girl.” Spike replied. He then looked towards William.

“What is that look for? And don’t roll your eyes; your bloody mother does that all the time. It is so irritating.”

“I’m just in shock that you easily agreed.” William replied.

Spike picked up Buffy’s stuffed pig off the bed and threw it at his son. William ducked quickly from the pig. He was grateful that his mom did not keep weapons in toys, because Mr. Gordo managed to bounce of his shoulder and into Buffy’s hands.

“Hey! Leave Mr. Gordo out of the fight.” Buffy playfully exclaimed as she took her pink pig and placed it on top of her pillows.

“I say we have a little more of this family fun time for the next hour. Since we will be going our separate ways, this may be the last time we all get to spend alone together. Let’s make the most of it.” Spike said.

“That would be really nice Dad. Really nice.” William replied.

********

Buffy, Spike and William spend the next several hours just hanging out in Buffy’s room. Spike entertained them both by telling stories of his youth and ancestors. In turn, Buffy recounted her better memories of growing up and her family members. Buffy felt a little strange talking about family and memories without Dawn being around, but she knew how much William was relishing their time together. Buffy feared that if she left the room to invite Dawn in, the others would take it upon themselves that they were also welcome to invade family huddle time.

Buffy made a mental note that they would take the time to do this with infant William from now on. Start a tradition that every night after dinner, they would spend time together as a family. Not only did she enjoy seeing how William was enjoying bonding with his father, but also the way that Spike lit up as he interacted with his son filled her heart with complete love and adoration.

She was proud to be the mate of William the Bloody. Her own human father never looked so happy to interact with her.

The three of them were so lost in the moment; they did not hear any of the commotion downstairs. They did perk up when Dawn could be heard yelling, “No, no! Don’t pee on the couch!”