Days in the Sun




April 20th, 2008 – Lullaby

Buffy’s eyes popped open and she stared at the darkness. Something had awakened her. A noise. A cry. She heard it again. Not a cry, a laugh. A delighted giggle. Her baby’s delighted giggle.

She patted the bed next to her, but she already knew that Spike wasn’t there. Getting out of bed, she slipped her robe on and tiptoed toward the nursery. She stood by the door, a smile creeping on her face as she observed Spike and Joyce Anne play peek-a-boo. Or rather, Spike’s very own version of peek-a-vamp, developed a few years back for Lisa, confirmed later on William, and now tested on their youngest child. He was hiding his face in his hands and shifting between his vampire and human features. Every time he pulled his hands away to show himself, the baby would laugh and clap her hands. They seemed to both have fun, but after a little while Buffy forced herself to interrupt their game.

“Little girls should have been asleep long ago,” she said softly.

Spike seemed surprised when he turned to look at her. The fact that he had not sensed her presence said exactly how caught up in the game he had been. He gave her a sheepish grin.

“Hey luv. We were just playing a little.”

Buffy shook her head, unable to repress a smile.

“I saw that. But she needs to get used to normal sleeping hours.”

They had agreed on that a few weeks back, but Spike couldn’t resist Joyce Anne’s pleading eyes, just like he had trouble with Lisa and Will. Of course, Buffy herself could hardly say no to any of them.

She observed quietly as he made Joyce Anne lay down in her crib and started singing a lullaby for her. The Big Bad singing a lullaby. Even years after witnessing it for the first time, Buffy was still not used to it. Instead, she was mesmerized by how soft his voice could be.

Soon, the baby was asleep and purring. Spike gave her a last tender look before coming to Buffy. He wrapped his arms around her and leaned in for a loving, slow kiss, making her melt against him. She stifled a giggle when he scooped her in his arms and carried her back to their bedroom. As he undressed her, placing featherlike kisses to the flesh he was revealing, she asked him coyly:

“Will you sing a lullaby for me too?”

He flashed her his sexiest smirk, and whispered in her ear:

“How about I make you sing for me instead?”