Renewing a Friendship: Cousin
by James_Girl
Rupert got back to the house first where he found both Spike and Buffy asleep. He decided that when Joyce came to get Buffy he would tell her that Buffy could stay so that Joyce wouldn’t have to wake her. Joyce let her stay and then went back to her place. Buffy didn’t wake up again until around seven o’clock.

“Hello, Buffy. How are you?” Rupert said as Buffy walked sleepily into the kitchen.

“Hey, Mr. Giles. I’ve been better. I can’t remember the last time I slept this much.” Buffy said drowsily

“Ok, well your mom said you could stay here tonight she just asked me to take your temperature and let her know what it is, I was thinking that I might as…Hey, William, how are you doing?” Rupert said not finishing what he was saying to Buffy when he saw Spike come in pretty tired himself.

“It’s Spike and I’m sick so you guess how I’m doing.” Spike said a little harshly
“Sorry, Dad. I just thought that after all this time you would realize that I don’t like being called William and you know why.” Spike said suddenly sorry for how he had spoken. Buffy knew why he didn’t want to be called William anymore it was because of his mother. Ever since she died he couldn’t stand to be called William, it made him think of her which he didn’t like all the time.
“Forgive you son. So why don’t I take both you guys temperature and then I don’t know maybe I’ll heat up some soup.” Rupert said as the three walked back into the living room. It turned out that they both had fevers still which meant they would spend at least one more day together doing absolutely nothing. Buffy wasn’t hungry so she didn’t have soup but Spike was. It actually amazed Rupert at how much he ate. About ten o’clock Spike went up to bed and Buffy went up to the Giles’ guest room.

For some reason Buffy wasn’t able to sleep, so about 3 AM she quietly walked down stairs where she wrapped the blanket that was on the couch around her and laid down. She wasn’t sure how this was going to allow her to sleep but it calmed her a bit, that’s when she realized why she couldn’t sleep. It was both her mom and Angel. Her mom because of what had happened and Angel because she felt that he seemed distant and she didn’t like that but it could have also been that she was sick so he didn’t want to get sick. When her eyes started to become heavy she decided that she would let it go until the morning and she fell asleep
.
Buffy woke to somebody sitting on her legs and the sound of Road Runner doing something to Coyote. She then remembered that Spike’s little cousin Bradley was coming to visit; she also knew that the reason he was sitting on her was to get her up.

Bradley knew that Buffy was his cousin’s best friend, but he also knew that it was a school day and he was trying to figure out why she was not yet up so he decided to sit on her.

“Hello, Bradley.” Buffy said drowsily having a feeling Spike was still in bed sleeping.

“Hey, Buffy. You know you’re late for school or are you sick like Willy?” Bradley said cheerfully. Bradley was one of the few people Spike let call him that and Buffy was glad to know that she was one of those few.

“Afraid so. You know now that I’m awake you can get off me because if you don’t the second I’m better you’re going to get some serious tickling. Where’s your uncle?” Buffy said while Bradley moved off her and onto the actual couch.

“Checking on Willy. You know it’s eight-thirty and that I can read a whole chapter book too.” Bradley said excited to tell somebody about his accomplishment knowing that his Uncle Rupert was busy with Willy so he couldn’t tell him and actually get a real response.

“Oh my, that’s great, Bradley. You know what though since I’m sick I have to get all the rest I can and I’m kinda tired so you can watch cartoons you just have to be quiet.” Buffy said exited for Bradley yet still very tired. She fell back to sleep listening to the laughter of Bugs Bunny and Bradley.

“Dad, why does he have to be here now? I mean I love the dickens out of him but he’s not going to have any fun and he’ll probably get sick.” Spike said. He had woken up at 8 hearing his aunt in the kitchen and the cartoons in the living room, which were too loud for his liking at that time of the morning.

“You know his parents have to settle this out and you know that Bradley’s an extremely sensitive boy who can’t stand his parents fighting a little more than most kids. Now I have to get going to work so you be nice to him and find out what Buffy was doing on the couch this morning.” Rupert said as he left Spike’s room, which he really hated going in since it was so dark and messy.

“Uncle Rupert, Uncle Rupert, where are you going?” Bradley asked running to the front door.

“I have to go to work Bradley but you’re going to stay here with William and Buffy.” Rupert said. He usually called his son by his real name when he wasn’t around.

“Oh, ok, and Willy likes you calling him Spike.” Bradley said as he headed back to his spot on the couch. The last thing that Bradley said Rupert should have known he would since Bradley was always standing up for Spike unless he was part of some joke being played on him.
“Hey, Brad, how ya doing?” Spike said, giving Bradley a small hug, and then scooted Bradley off the couch and then sat down.

“Good. Did you hear I can read a whole chapter book now?” Bradley asked.

“No I didn’t. Congrats. Hey do you know why Buffy is down here?” Spike asked knowing that Bradley probably wouldn’t know.

“No, just know she was here when I got here. Thought you guys let her sleep down here. I really didn’t think about it actually until Mom told me what time it was and I decided to wake her up so she could get to school.” Bradley said telling almost the whole story, which was one of the reasons Spike loved him so much. No matter what Bradley would usually turn whatever he was saying into a story.

“You know you could ask me Spike.” Buffy said starting to wake up.

“Hey, Buffy. Why did you sleep down here last night?” Spike said.

“Couldn’t sleep so I came down here and ended up falling asleep. Not to much to it.” Buffy said.

“You all right other than being sick and all?” Spike asked concerned.

“I guess. I think it was just mind stuff like my mom’s and my argument or should I say lack of argument about me lying and Angel stuff.” Buffy said

“You and Angel ok?” Spike asked

“Yeah. Just thought that Angel seemed a little distant yesterday. It was probably me. I’m fine now.” Buffy said smiling at the end of what she said to convince Spike.

“Willy, Buffy please be quiet I can’t hear Bugs and this is the really funny part.” Bradley complained and Spike and Buffy got quiet both promising to themselves that they would continue their conversation.


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