touchable - Buffy the Vampire Slayer S2 (on hold)

ted - p2

THIRD PERSON POV

Joyce is in the kitchen, humming to herself as she sets out juice and sticky buns. Buffy enters and although in a bad mood from Ted terror, she seems almost perky. 

"Good morning sunshine." Joyce smiles, welcoming her daughter into the kitchen. 

"Hi." Buffy replies, taking a place at the counter. 

"I've got juice. I've got sticky buns. Don't they smell good?" Joyce continues, humming to herself some more as she waltz around the kitchen. Buffy tears off a tiny piece as Camila enters the kitchen. "Ted made them." Immediately Buffy places the piece down, both Camila and Joyce furrow their brows in confusion. "What?"

"I'd just like to eat something around here that Ted didn't make." Buffy mutters, keeping her eyes on her hands under the counter. 

"What kind of attitude is that?" her voice was tense as she replied, and Camila felt almost out of place in the discussion. 

"Look, mum, I know you think he's great and all but-"

"He's gone out of his way to be nice to you and you couldn't find two nice words to say to him on Saturday." Joyce interrupts Buffy and Camila slowly inches towards the doorway. "Now i don't expect you to love him right away like i do, but i do expect you to treat him decently." Joyce finishes firmly. 

"You...love him?" Buffy stammers, her voice was quiet as if she couldn't believe the words that left her mothers mouth. 

"I don't know, that kind of slipped out...but i guess...it's not exactly like men beat down the door when you're a..." Joyce trails off, almost embarrassed. 

"...single parent." Buffy replies quietly. Camila leans against the doorframe, unsure if she should leave or stay. 

"I would never have anything to do with anyone who didn't care about you. But he does, I don't understand why you can't see that." Joyce explains and Buffy glances towards Camila. 

"He threatened me." Buffy mutters, her voice barely audible. 

"What?" Joyce was in disbelief as she looked up at her daughter and then to Camila. 

"He said he was going to slap my face." Buffy continues and Joyce turns her attention back to Buffy. Although seemingly concerned, to Camila's surprise, Joyce smiles. 

"He never said any such thing. Ted told me what happened. He caught you cheating, didn't he." Joyce's voice was condescending, and Buffy begins to argue. 

"Yes i kicked my ball in, so put me in jail, but he wigged-"

"He didn't say anything about it in front of the others, did he." Joyce continues. 

"No, but-"

"I think that was pretty decent of him." Joyce finishes, indicating the end of the argument. She then beings eating little pieces of the sticky bun, a little faster than a normal person would. "Ted says we're just going to have to give you time to come around. Speaking of which, he's making dinner for us tonight, please be here promptly at six." Joyce smiles at Buffy. "These are so delicious." Buffy stands from the counter, excusing herself and heading back upstairs. There was a moment of silence before Joyce turns to Camila. 

"Thank you Cam, for being nice to Ted." Camila smiles in response. "I don't understand why Buffy can't at least try." there was another moment of silence as Camila isn't sure what to say. 

"Uh, do you want me here for dinner tonight?" Camila asks and Joyce looks at her confused. To excuse herself, Camila lies. "I told Xander i would help him with some work." a nervous laugh escapes Camila's lips as Joyce looks at her.