Parts: 21
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~Part: 21~
After what felt like forever, Willow felt the car stop. "Spike?"
"Yeah, luv?"
"Can I take off the blindfold?"
He grinned, not that Willow could see it. "Not yet. Be patient."
"Patient? I didn't even know you knew that word."
"Funny, luv," he told her dryly.
At that moment she heard his car door shut and then felt a gust of wind when hers opened.
Spike placed his hand in hers, pulling her out of the car. He watched her for a moment. Here was a beautiful girl who he had claimed and was now putting all of her trust in him. He pulled her close, nuzzling her neck.
Willow felt herself being pulled out of the car. She could smell the night air surrounding her. Feeling him nuzzling his claim, she immediately relaxed.
Spike stepped behind her, placing his hands possessively around her waist. He leaned his chin on her shoulder. "Ready for the surprise?"
"Is it gonna kill me?" she asked nervously.
"You're serious, aren't you?"
"We are standing outside.in the dark."
"Listen to me. You're mine. I would never let anyone hurt you. Mine," he growled. "And I intend for you to stay that way. Now if you don't want your gift, I could always take it back."
"No," she said quickly. "I want it. Please?"
"If I were you, luv.I'd leave the begging till' later." He could feel her skin start to heat up from the blush that was spreading through her body. Spike lifted his hands up until they rested on the back of the blindfold. Untying it slowly, he let it fall to the ground. He heard her gasp but then there was silence. He wasn't sure what that meant.
Willow saw what was in front of her but didn't understand what her surprise was. "Spike, where are we? And why are we here? And whose is this?"
"This is ours."
"But things like this need money and."
"Luv, I have more money than I know what to do with."
Willow looked at her gift and then back at Spike. "You bought me a house?!"
He grazed the side of her face with his fingers. "I bought US a house. Told you I'd take care of you."
She started to smile. "It's really ours."
"It is."
"Can we go in?"
"Not yet, luv." Seeing her frown, he continued. "This is where you make a choice."
"What kind of choice?"
Spike took an unneeded breath. "I want you to walk into that house only if you want to."
"I don't understand."
"I don't want you to go in if the only reason that you're with me is because I've claimed you. Or because I'm taking care of you. I want you to go in because you want to be here with me, because you want me."
"And my other choice?" she said shakily.
That one question was like a stab into his heart. "Your other choice is that I write you a check. Enough money for food, a place to stay.whatever you want for the next year. Either way you're set for a year. It's your choice." Spike took two steps back from her, giving her the space he knew she would need.
Willow was silent for a moment. <He's giving me a way out if I want it.> She took a couple steps towards him and saw him looking down at the ground. She placed her fingers under his chin and lifted his head to look at her.
"Did you make your choice, luv?"
"Yeah."
"You gonna tell me what you decided?"
"I decided awhile back, Spike. I could have fought harder against you about the claim. I could have even left. But I didn't. Did you ever wonder why?"
"Figured cause you had no place to go."
"Maybe I didn't want to leave. I didn't want to leave you."
Spike wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close to him. "Mine," he whispered.
"Yours," she promised. "Always. This is where I belong. You are who I belong to."
Spike pulled the item out of his pocket that the woman in the office had given his earlier today. The key to their new home. "Shall we, luv?"
"Yeah," she whispered. The next thing she knew, Spike picked her up and carried her to the front door.
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