One Last Shot
by Whedonist
Chapter 22
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Chapter 22
Upon entering the living room, Buffy saw two new faces and assumed that they were Susan and Jimmy Jr. As she was about to introduce herself, Jimmy came out of the kitchen with a tray full of drinks.
Setting them down, he righted himself and introduced Buffy and Willow to his kids.
The group broke down in to two or three people per conversation. Jimmy was busy talking to Faith and Giles, while Xander and Dawn were trying to get Kennedy to go with them to see Spam-a-lot. The four remaining people eyed each other.
"So Buffy," Jr. started in, "you work with my dad?"
"Yeah, Let's see it'll be 18 months in July."
"Sorry about that." Susie smiled. "He can be stubborn."
Willow tried to suppress the laugh caused by the irony of the statement, but was poked in the side by Buffy which didn't help matters.
"What are my sister and I missing?"
Reigning herself in, Willow said, "It's just that Buffy here's probably the most stubborn person in the world. Your dad really is no match for her."
"Wills, I'm not that bad."
Willow looked sideways at the blonde and let the corner of her mouth turn up in a smirk. "Honey, if the house was on fire, but you didn't want to hear it, not even the bright red fire trucks outside could convince you otherwise."
"Hey, that's..." realizing that Willow was just razzing her. "Fine I'm stubborn. Happy?"
Willow nodded and turned to the brother and sister; both had a slightly curious and amused look on their face. "So what do you two do?"
"I teach at PS 173, 4th grade. Jim here manages a club down in Soho. Buffy you work with my dad so that's easy, but Willow, what about you?"
"Uh between jobs right now, trying to go back to school."
"What for?"
"Medicine I think although the focus would be forensics, but then I was talking to an advisor and they said teaching and research, but my parents did that which I don't know if that's what I want to do."
"Oh," clearly that wasn't what she was expecting. Susan again eyed the two and though they sat close together she still wasn't sure. She looked over at her father and was trying to figure out his angle in this whole set up. He called previously and she had ignored his calls, but today when she got the voicemail, she couldn't not call him back. It had taken more than an hour to convince her brother to come along with her this evening and there was a small simmer of anger in the back of her head that screamed set up. "How nice."
"Jimmy," Buffy piped up, "what kind of club. I've been to a few here, but haven't found one that I like maybe you can help me out."
"Uh," the man glanced at his father and swallowed, "I don't think you would be interested in it. It's not really, cops tend not to like the place."
Buffy knew they were treading on thin ice, but she had also promised Jimmy that they would try and get them warmed up for the eventual conversation. The slayer didn't feel so much like a rat as she did an intruder, at least to a degree. Smiling she tried again, "I don't know about that, not much for cop hang outs either. The music usually sucks and no one can dance."
The man laughed and shrugged, "That's true, it's called the Phoenix, it's ah a gay club." He flinched and waited on the reaction. He wasn't sure why his dad had called and insisted on him and Suz coming to diner, but he was leery at best. The last time he had seen his father it hadn't gone over well. Actually it had involved being thrown out of this very house with all of his things. Suzie had taken him in and they had been inseparable ever since. He loved his dad, but just wasn't sure if he liked him anymore. To his surprise, Buffy smiled at him and nodded.
"Cool, Wills and I will have to come and check it out one night."
~Buff~ Willow warned silently.
~What? Look it's not like I can say "You're dad's uber sorry for the way he treated you and my girlfriend and I are kinda acting like a buffer until he gets the stones to come over and talk to you personally so he can apologize and then ask your forgiveness and then tell you that sure he kicked his gay son out of the house, but accepted his partner and her very gay girlfriend with open arms when they needed to get away from their own family." Now can I?~
~No need to get snarky~
~Sorry, but eh I'm running out of things to talk about.~
~Fine let me try~
Willow looked at Jr. and saw that he had gone a little white. She smiled and said, "Buff and I wouldn't mind. Might actually drag the gang there. Provided the music is good enough."
Susan looked from the blonde to the redhead and saw the glance that they had shared. "Guys, uhm, if you'll excuse me for a moment."
"Sure."
They watched as the girl walked over to her dad and watched again as they went into the kitchen. Willow knew they were losing the battle and decided to take a Buffy maneuver.
"She's not gonna go all angry sister on him right now is she?"
"I'm thinking she might. Just out of curiosity, you two are an item?"
"Very much so."
"And my father knows?"
"We're kinda staying here until my family leaves." Buffy said.
"Hmm but you didn't answer the question he knows you two are lovers?"
Willow interceded, "Yeah he's, Jimmy I know that your dad didn't have the best reaction to you and well he had a talk with Buffy and then my girlfriend kinda said he should talk to you guys invite you guys over for diner and then I dunno maybe you guys could come to some type of understanding. So tonight was just gonna be about showing you that your dad is cool with everything and he's sorry ya know for ah kicking you out. He knows it wasn't right and wanted a chance to make it up to you," Willow sucked in a breath and hoped he caught everything she said.
Jimmy just stared at her dumbfounded. He was unclear whether or not the shock was from the revelation or from the fact that that was probably the longest run on sentence he'd ever heard.
"Ah, so I think I caught all of that and well, we are talking about James McAllister, right?"
"Yeah," Buffy said, "he's changed I think from when you guys stopped talking. He's trying to get you to see that tonight. It was actually my idea that he bite the bullet, but he did want to, he does want to. So uhm, maybe you should go in the kitchen and see if you can help your sister ou.."
Before Buffy got to finish the sentence, Jr.'s sister came storming out of the dining area and grabbed her coat and purse.
"Come on Jim let's go."
"Why?"
"Because this is...I can't believe he would do this. God he's insufferable."
"Susan Josephine McAllister you get back here right now!" Jimmy bellowed from the kitchen.
Buffy and Willow looked at each, then their family and simultaneously let out, "Oh boy."
"Dad, don't okay. I can't believe you. This is ballsy even for you. Jesus H. Christ, I'm so stupid. I should've known."
"Suzie-Q don't be like that. I'm trying to apologize. I told you I know it wasn't right. What do you want me to do? I can't turn back time and I sure as shit can't change the past."
Faith walked over to Buffy and whispered, "Why do I get the feeling we are witnessing a strained family reunion?"
"'Cuz we are. It's kinda a long story, but eh pay attention and I'm sure even you can catch up."
Faith flipped Buffy off and then walked back over to where she was sitting. Jimmy was red, the cords in his neck were strained and the vein in his temple was throbbing. Trying to call on her time at Sunnydale as a councilor, she stepped between daughter and father.
~Wills get the gang out of here for a few minutes. Kitchen. Then come back in here~
Willow moved and ushered the scoobs towards the room. She smiled and gave them a thumbs up sign before going back out and going in to the living room where a small slayer was between one upset woman and a frustrated burly cop. Willow looked to Jr. and he shrugged.
"Both of you. Stop okay. Can I get you two sit down and maybe talk instead of yell this out?"
Much to Susan's surprise Jimmy stalked over to the couch and threw himself back. She was shocked that he listened; she was shocked that such a small girl would get in the way of a man known for his temper. Her father was not a small man. He played college football. At 6'4 and weighing in at 260lbs, her dad was a formidable object.
"Susan if you could please just entertain me. I used to be a councilor at my high school. It was after I graduated. I was hired on. So I at least have some experience," Buffy glanced at Jimmy's daughter then at Will and realized Willow was giving her a 'you're being crazy slayer girl, stop.' look.
Willow took a look at Jr. and smiled, "Uh, did you want to stay for this?"
He shrugged. He kinda liked these two girls. "Where else is there to go?"
"Uh outside, walks are good."
He looked between sister and dad and thought that maybe since Suz had more beef than he did with his dad, walking outside with Willow wouldn't be a bad idea. He walked to the door and held it open for the witch.
"Walks are good." Turning back to his family, he said, "you two play nice and don't worry Buffy I'll bring your honey back safe and sound."
Buffy rolled her eyes, "Baby you got ah protection?"
Willow grabbed her windbreaker and patted the pocket, "Yep. We'll be back in a few." Willow turned and walked out the door with Jr. in tow.
Buffy turned to daughter and father. "Ok so who wants to start?"
************************************************************
Willow walked a little down the street and stopped, "Sorry for all of this. I don't think that's how your dad wanted to start this evening out."
"It's cool I mean I was curious as to why he would want to see me. Are you sure he wanted to welcome his 'faggoty ass' boy back in his life?"
"He said that to you?"
"Only like five times. I would tell you the rest, but you seem to like him so I won't"
"I don't think he meant it if that helps."
"Oh no he meant it then, I'm just not sure if he means it now. He is after all partnered up with a lesbian and is allowing said lesbian and her partner to crash in his house. I just can't believe it's the same guy."
"People change Jim."
"I know, but I just never thought I'd see the day that he would be as...accepting as he is now. He really wants us back in his life doesn't he?"
"All the arrows would point to a yes."
"So what's the story with you and the blonde?"
"Ah, it's long. The short of the long is we are high school best friends that have recently gotten involved."
"Cool. How did you guys end up staying with my dad?"
Willow took a moment recounted the non-mystical version of the why her family came to town to visit, how that resulted in fights and the current sleeping arrangements, and how his dad had talked Buffy into trying to start patching things up with her family while Buffy had convinced Jimmy to do the same, "...so today after everyone made up Buffy wanted our family here tonight, thinking that it might be easier for you two, but now I'm not so sure that was a good idea."
"Wow, no it's cool. I mean my dad usually doesn't take to people, but he likes you guys that's good."
"Heh, thanks. You think they are done yelling at each other yet?"
Jimmy checked the time on his phone and shrugged, "If not then maybe I can talk some sense into my sister. You wanna head back."
"Yeah, I need to check on my people in the kitchen."
They had walked around the block about 4 times; completing the last circle, Jr. lead Willow to the front door.
~Buff, everything going ok?~
~Wills?~
~Yes, were you expecting someone else?"~
~No, but it's still freaky with you in my head. Come in.~
Willow stepped through the door and found Buffy and Jimmy standing in the middle of the living room. Susan looked calmer and it appeared that things were kind of on track. Willow waved and smiled at her family.
"Ah, hi."
Jimmy looked up at his son and friend. "Junior can I see you a moment?"
The man smiled at his father and shook his head no, "No reason to. You and I are cool. Thank you for inviting us over tonight."
"Wha?"
"Dad, let it go. We're good. I'll take tonight as an apology and I'll assume that my pig headed sister will to."
The detective gapped at his namesake.
~Wills, what did you say to him?"~
~Told him the truth. He's cool.~
Buffy walked over and took Willow's hand. They took one of the recliners and Buffy nuzzled into Willow's neck. Looking back up after calming her nerves, she smiled, "It's certainly been a cathic day?"
Willow turned and looked at her lover, "Cathic?"
"Ya know emotionally uncorking." Buffy smiled and hoped that was right.
"Oh cathartic."
"That's how you...never mind. Yes cathartic it's been cathartic."
"Oh boy."
The rest of the people just looked at Buffy with all eye's pointedly saying that was the understatement of the year.
An hour later saw the entire house was eating in the living room and talking rather peacefully. Willow, Buffy and Xander were off in the corner hearing stories about the slayerettes. Jimmy had taken his son and introduced him to Giles and Faith. Susan was talking to Dawn and Kennedy. For all of the drama it had taken to get to where everyone's at it was worth it. At least Buffy thought so. Things felt righter than they had in years and hopefully with in the next few days they would get some type of lead on the killings. She touched Willow's arm and winked.
Tuning out Xander, Willow glanced at Buffy, ~What's up?~
~Ah as much fun as I'm having, what do you say about going to bed?~
~Bed?~
~Yeah ya know it has the mattress and the blankets. Sleep occasionally happens there and naughty fun~
~You're looking for naughty fun?~
~And you're not?~
~I asked you first~
"Willow, earth to the redhead." Xander waved his hand in front of Willow's face, "You in there?"
"Uh? Oh sorry Xand, just tired is all."
"If you're so zonked that you're missing my wonderful retelling of the slayer who ran into Clem then you really are out of it. Go to bed."
"Ya know that doesn't sound bad." Willow hugged Xander and kissed his cheek goodnight.
She turned to the rest of the people in the house, "Uh, long day guys, I'm goin' to bed. Jim, Susan it was nice to meet you."
"Same here Willow. You bring that blonde of yours and the rest of these people and I'll show you the best club in New York."
"You bet." Turning to Buffy, "you want to go to sleep?"
"Ya know Wills that's not a bad idea. Good night everyone." Buffy grabbed Willow's hand and went to the back of the house.
Xander walked over to Faith and sat down, pulling her into his lap. She kissed his cheek and whispered in his ear, "You do know that they totally bailed to go satisfy that low down tingle?"
Xander looked back up with a what face.
"They bailed on us to go have sex, X."
"No, they woul...Ah man." Xander turned a little red as the mental images came into his mind.
They were in each other's arms before the door even shut. Willow had managed to rid herself and Buffy clothing in the time it took for Buffy walk them over to the bed. Falling on top of the witch, Buffy slid her thigh between her lover's legs and began attending to both of their needs.