PART THREE:

“Ohayo gozaimasu, Spiegel-san…”

“Spiegel-san, ohayo gozaimasu…”

“Ohayo…”

// Give a smile. Give a nod. Everything is alright with the world. Never let them know the pain you are going through. //

Where had he heard that before? Probably from his stepfather…or was it is his real father? He shook his head and forced another grin onto his face. He cradled the untouched coffee cup in his hands, knowing it would never be as good as Faye’s.

~ Nothing is as good as Faye… ~

He squashed down the inner voice that mocked him and made the sharp turn into the elevators. He needed the privacy. He could only take so much. Everyone wanted a piece of him now. He was Mr. Big Shot Writer now. He was on magazines and newspapers. He was even on television shows and radio spots. He had a book signing next week. He was supposed to go with Faye.

He punched the button.

Going up.

~ Please be empty. ~

“Yatta!” And not waiting to see if anyone else was coming after him or not, he darted into the empty steel room. Just as he was about to press the button, the soft sing song voice froze his movements.

“Gomen nasai, Spiegel-san…could you hold it for me?”

He caught sight of the legs first and unwillingly compared them to Faye’s.

~ Not bad. ~

He took in the figure…and compared it to…Faye’s…

~ Not bad at all. ~

He finally took in the face and cursed himself for feeling this way.

“I hope I am not bothering you.” She said sweetly, blonde locks flying across an oval shaped face, with eyes that twinkled with suppressed mirth.

He must have said something, for she replied with a nod and before he knew what was happening, she had wedged herself into the elevator with him.

He watched the doors close.

He felt his heart stop.

~*~*~*~

// What’s the use of buying all this food, when nobody’s going to eat it? If you ask me, it’s just a waste of time and energy. //

She wondered where she had heard that? Her mother? Her grandmother? She shrugged as she chucked in another can of…something into her cart. She couldn’t care less what she got. She was just doing what she normally did every afternoon…when the pantry was empty…except for that fact that it wasn’t really empty at all.

She was tired of staring at her sofa.

A baby’s wail erupted her monotonous musing and she unconsciously placed a hand over her stomach.

// Never… //

She found herself pushing her cart towards the fevered cry. She would bet he or she was hungry. She would bet the mother had had it with the little tike. She was almost running now. They all thought she was crazy…she didn’t give a fuck.

Baby Aisle.

Naturally.

She froze at the head of it. The smell of soft talcum powder and fresh diapers, mingled with the soothing sounds of toys and plush bears. A crib here, a cot there. A fuzzy blanket here, a row of clear shining plastic bottles there. She had spent countless hours before the…the news…shopping to her heart’s delight.

And all for nothing.

She could see the lady and her baby. She looked expensive. The baby looked expensive. They looked out of place and it was obvious that the lady couldn’t quite handle the wailing thing before her.

“Oh, please be quiet.” The mother begged, her patience wearing very thin. “I will get you another huge teddy bear or maybe another plushie…”

“May I hold him for a minute?”

The lady stared at her. Had she gone mad? How could she just walk up to a stranger and ask for her baby?

~ She will probably call the cops and have me arrested. ~

But she didn’t care. She held her arms out, waiting. The baby wasn’t slowing down either, the cacophony of hitching cries increasing in strength. The lady bit her lip, wondering if this was alright. After an eternity…

“You can carry the little brat. Hope you can make him stop wailing. I need a massage…”

Faye needed no second bidding. She moved around and… oh, if Spike were here to see the magical smile on her face…but he wasn’t. She placed her hands gingerly beneath the squirming mass of warm, soft flesh. She raised the little bundle to her chest and inhaled the sweet talcum scent. Her eyes closed and she imagined it to be her little Spike or Annabelle.

// Hush, now little one. Nobody is going to hurt you. Mummy’s here. //

So lost was she in her daydream, she was slow to recognize that the wailing had stopped. It was only when she felt the slight pinch on her breast, that she jerked her eyes open.

Baby apparently thought she was mother.

“I don’t believe it…” came the awe-sounding whisper. “The little bastard stopped. Well, whaddaya know? I should hire you or something…in fact, I think I just might do that!”

It was her turn to blink (but not before she had placed baby within the warm confines of his overstuffed buggy ).

“What do you…?”

“I am willing to pay you any amount you want!” The lady was practically gushing now. Her expensive-looking face brightening with excitement. “How would you like to be my personal babysitter?! No amount is too large. I can pay you anything! Please say yes! I am desperate! All the other ones I have hired were all…”

Faye could not believe her eyes or ears. She? A babysitter? The woman looked like she really didn’t care about the child…

// She is nothing but trouble! You hear me! Nothing but trouble!! You keep her away from me!! //

She wrapped her arms around the sudden chill that filled her bones.

This was the chance she had been looking for…right? A baby to take care of. It wouldn’t be hers, but at least she could hold it and look after it.

And pretend.

// Let’s play mothers and babies! //

“…so what do you say?”

Faye tore her eyes away from the desperate look on the lady’s face, placing them onto the peaceful visage of…

~ Little Spike… ~

“Yes…”

It sounded like she was speaking from a mile away. She barely recognized her own voice.

“Yes…I will take care of the baby.”