Banner by Noaluvjames

Epilogue

“Are you having fun?” William asked from his place beside her as they rode in the back of the limousine.

“Uh huh,” she replied, nodding in delight for a moment before returning to gazing out the window in wide-eyed wonder.

He sat back in his seat. Funny… he used to hate these things, but now that he had her beside him, her infectious enthusiasm rubbing off on him, he thought he’d actually be able to enjoy the event tonight.

Traffic was moving at a snail’s pace down Hollywood Boulevard and William was happy that he wasn’t driving. Rather than let the tortuously slow drive get him down, he just watched his “date.”

Finally, it was their turn and he braced himself for the hoopla his appearance was about to generate. He stepped from the car and reached his hand inside to help her out. She smiled up at him, a wide smile tinged with a small amount of fear at the three-ring circus happening all around them. William tucked her hand in his and pulled her close as she exited the vehicle. He paused for a moment so that she could settle her dress around her legs, smiling up at him once she was ready. He smiled back and together they joined the throng of other actors beginning their walk up the red carpet.

She caused a sensation, walking beside him, her hand held tightly in his own. All around them the crowd of fans – not to mention the paparazzi – were going crazy. Shouted “ooohhh’s” and “awwww’s” could be heard over the cheering, and William just smiled down at her when she tucked herself closer to his side.

“You alright, pet?”

“Uh huh. There sure are a lot of people here, huh?”

“That there are. Anyone in particular you want to meet?”

“Not really…” she replied.

He’d decided that he’d make his announcement through the people at Entertainment Tonight. The Rivers women drove him up the wall, and if Joan had one more facelift…

He didn’t want to finish that thought as the mental image flashed before his eyes. Meandering his way through the crowds, he paused every now and then when he ran into a fellow co-star or director he’d worked with.

They eventually made their way over to the Entertainment Tonight area and he was quickly ushered in for a brief interview after they finished up with Catherine. She gave him a smile and a slight wave before joining her husband, Michael – her eyes widened momentarily before her face softened into a sincere smile for his date. He gave her a brief nod to indicate that they’d talk later then stepped up on the small raised platform, carefully pulling his girl up beside him.

“We’re here, live, with Spike, who’s been nominated for best actor for his role in Staying Power,” Mary Hart began her spiel, then stuttered when she caught sight of his date – even though he’d dated several high-profile actresses, he’d always brought his mother to the award shows. Her gaze honed in on the person by his side, sensing an exclusive, and he waited for her to recover her poise.

His opinion of her went up a few notches when she smiled at him and stuck with business. So, when he was done with the customary formalities – the outfits, the movie, the cast, etc. – he took a moment to introduce his date.

He looked right into the camera when he spoke.

“Mary, I’d like you to meet my daughter, Dawn. Dawnie, this is Mary. She’s a reporter for a television station.”

~*~*~*~*~

At home, the heavily pregnant Buffy, and her mother sat on the couch – a bowl of popcorn held between them – and burst into tears.

“Oh, how I love that man!”

“You did good this time, honey,” Joyce replied, hugging her daughter close. The two hurriedly wiped their eyes so they could see Dawnie smile shyly into the camera.

~*~*~*~*~

“Hi, Dawn, it’s nice to meet you. Anything you’d like to say for the folks at home?”

Beside him, Dawn just scooted a little closer. He smiled, leaning down to whisper into the girl’s ear.

“Really?” she asked.

“Uh huh,” he replied, nodding.

“Can I say hello to my mom?”

“Sure you can, sweetheart. Just look right at that man standing behind me and say hello.”

“Hi mommy!” She waved happily at the camera. “I’m having lots of fun.”

“Is that ok?” she whispered to the side to William.

“That’s fine, Niblet.”

“Aren’t you gonna say hi?”

“’Course I am.” He looked up at the camera and spoke. “I love you, Buffy. See you soon, baby.”

~*~*~*~*~

The two women just sighed dreamily. The phone rang just then, and Joyce reached over to answer it.

“Hello.”

“Oh, hi, Anne. Yes, we just saw…and yes, she’d adorable. Buffy’s sitting next to me crying her eyes out… What… no… not me. I never cry.” Joyce sniffed, laughing at something the other woman said, then rang off.

“William’s mom?”

“Yeah. She said she bawled like a baby at his announcement.”

“As if you didn’t.”

“Hey!”

“So, did she finally break down and decide to come this way for the birth?”

“She didn’t say, but I’m sure between you and William, she’ll cave. If not, you’ll just bring out the big guns. She wouldn’t refuse Dawnie.”

~*~*~*~*~

After his announcement, the paparazzi were in frenzy trying to get at him. He easily bypassed them and pushed his way through the thinning crowds into the theater.

He paused as he felt a slight tugging on his hand. Looking down, he asked, “Something you need, ‘Niblet?”

“I have to go to the bathroom.”

“Right then. I think we can manage that.” Although, he had no earthly idea how he was going to manage it. He just prayed he’d encounter someone he knew before he reached the ladies room – he didn’t want to have to cause a scene by going inside with Dawnie. William breathed a sigh of relief when he spotted his female costar from Staying Power.

“Oh, thank God! Charlie, would you mind taking Dawnie inside? She’s gotta go to the loo.”

“Sure thing, Will,” she told him, bending down so she could introduce herself to the little girl. “Hi, I’m Charlize, but my good friends call me Charlie.”

“Nice to meet you, Charlie.”

“Well, come on then,” she told the girl, slipping her larger hand in hers. “Let’s get you all beautified for the ceremony.”

William watched the two slip inside the restroom, and he commenced to pacing in front of the door until Dawn emerged a few minutes later.

“Thanks, Charlie. I owe you one!”

“No problem. She’s a doll. I’ll see you down front.”

“’K,” he mumbled distractedly, eyes glued to the little girl.

~*~*~*~*~

“And the award goes to….Spike,” Charlize announced – the presenter for the best actor award since she’d won the previous year’s best actress award.

All around him, people were slapping him on the back, patting his arm, or attempting to shake his hand in congratulations. He was oblivious to it all, his eyes currently locked on the slumbering form of his daughter in her seat beside him. He didn’t want to leave her there alone, so he stood, easily lifting her into his arms and made his way – a very short way – to the podium. The applause rose to a fevered pitch as sighs issued forth from many of the females at the fatherly figure he made.

He couldn’t take the award with his hands full, so he gestured for Charlize to hold it for him. She nodded and indicated the podium. Settling Dawnie more comfortably in his arms he spoke.

“I’d like to thank the Academy,” he started, but his voice trailed off. “Actually, rather than make an itemized laundry list of everyone that helped get me where I was…if you’ll indulge me…I’ll keep it rather simple. Buffy, I love you…and this precious gift I’m holding… she’s… you’re both my world. Without you, I’m nothing.”

He walked away from the podium to the stunned silence of his peers, even the orchestra was quiet as his footsteps clicked across the stage. Almost making it to the wings before the thunderous applause resounded throughout the theater.

There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

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