10:

The following night, Buffy sat on her porch, waiting for Spike, slightly nervous for their date.

‘This doesn’t feel right,’ she thought. ‘The only serious relationship I’ve ever had was with Riley… and I guess Parker would count, too, even though that should’ve never gotten as serious as it did.’ She sighed and looked down. ‘Are you really willing to open your heart up to someone new? Someone you hardly know?’

Spike pulled up in her driveway, and she smiled softly.

‘What the hell, Summers- you’re only young once,’ she said to herself before standing up and walking towards his car. Spike got out, dressed in khakis and a black button-down shirt, his hair slightly tousled and curly. ‘He’s really good-looking, isn’t he?’

“You look smashing, pet,” he said, walking around to the side of the car and opening the door for her. She raised an eyebrow, smirking. “What?”

“Sorry, I’m just thinking about how funny it is to see you be chivalrous,” she said, giggling at his hurt look. “Only kidding, Spike- thank you.” She got in, closing the door for herself while he walked around the car once again and got in on his side. He started the car and backed out of the driveway before driving towards town.

“So, was Harmony at school today?” he asked curiously, and she shook her head.

“Nope, she was playing hooky again,” she replied before looking at him. “Why? You’ve asked me the last two days about her.”

“I’m just worried about her,” he partially lied, shrugging. “We broke up, and I don’t want to see her hurt herself or anything.” She nodded and looked outside as he sighed. “And I told her that I was interested in you.” She froze and quickly looked at him. “So if she freaks out on you, sorry.”

“Hold up just a second, buddy,” she said, crossing her arms. “You told Harmony that you like me?” He nodded sheepishly and looked straight ahead, through the windshield, trying his hardest not to see the surprise and anger in Buffy’s eyes. “You do realize she’s going to make my life a living hell, don’t you?”

“I didn’t mean to say your name, luv,” he replied. “It happened before I could stop myself.” She looked down, covering her face with her hands and mumbling something. “What was that, Goldilocks? Couldn’t hear you.”

“This had better be worth it,” she said quietly, and he looked at her, smiling.

“You don’t think it will be?” he asked, and she managed a weak smile.

“For your sake, I hope it is,” she said, and he chuckled as he continued driving.

* * * * *

“You really didn’t have to pay for dinner, Spike,” Buffy said as they exited the Italian restaurant she had went to with Riley before Homecoming. “But thank you.”

“It was my pleasure, princess,” he said, taking her hand in his and lacing their fingers together as they began walking through town. “So, has it been worth it so far?”

“Yes,” she answered, smiling. “You’re gaining points in my book.”

“There’s a point system?” he asked jokingly, and she leaned into his side as he wrapped his arm around her waist instead.

“There might be,” she answered, and he chuckled.

“Am I doing alright so far?” he asked. “Am I proving to you that I can be as good as the great ponce you used to date?”

“Don’t talk about Riley like that,” she said, frowning. “He’s a genuinely good guy, Spike, and I wish you’d stop giving him such a hard time.”

“Probably should,” he replied, shrugging. “I did take his best toy away.”

“If you’re referring to me, I’m not a toy,” she said firmly, and he lightly kissed her temple, sending a slight chill through her.

“No, you’re not,” he agreed. “You’re something much better than that.” She looked at him and saw sincerity in his eyes, which was a little disconcerting for her.

‘If I didn’t know any better, I’d say he’s falling fast for me,’ she thought. ‘I don’t want this to be so serious, not yet.’

“So, why do you go to an all-boys school?” she asked, doing her part to steer the conversation into more neutral and lighthearted territory.

“Why do you go to an all-girls school?” he asked jokingly, and she smiled. “Guess it was the logical choice for me. My dad went there, so I pretty much had to, too. Besides, how often do wealthy people go to public schools?”

“About as often as poor people go to private schools,” she said, and he looked at her. “What? I’m not poor, but I’m not rich, either. I know where I stand and how lucky I am to attend Holy Angels- it’s an honor to attend such a prestigious school.”

“Isn’t money an issue, though?” he asked. “I can’t imagine having to pay off the tuition there when money isn’t as… expendable.” She shrugged, sighing.

“We get by, my mom and I,” she answered. “It’s difficult, but life’s supposed to be that way. Otherwise, it’s boring, and without challenges, life serves no point.” He smiled and nodded. “Sorry, I’m getting weird, aren’t I?”

“No, it’s nice to have a conversation like this,” he said. “Harmony wasn’t one to talk about important stuff, and I kind of… miss just talking to someone like this.” She smiled softly and looked around, freezing as she saw Riley emerge out of a store across the street, only to stare directly at her, shocked. Spike felt her tense up and followed her gaze, smirking when he saw Riley. “Uh oh, the Jolly Geeky Giant looks brassed off.”

“Shut up,” she said quietly, frowning when Riley quickly walked away in the opposite direction as them.

“What does it matter? Not like he could hear me, anyways,” he said. “Come on, pet- let’s go.”

“Will you do me a favor?” she asked, looking at him. He raised an eyebrow. “Please stop treating Riley the way you do. He doesn’t deserve it, and if you care about me at all, you’ll do this for me.” He studied her eyes for a long moment before sighing.

“Fine,” he replied, and she smiled. “I must be whipped.”

“Not yet,” she said quietly, and he grinned as they continued to walk to his car.

* * * * *

When they pulled up in front of her house, she took a deep breath and looked at him.

“Want me to escort you to your door?” he asked, and she smiled.

“I can make it on my own,” she replied. “But thanks.”

“Isn’t it more comfortable to have a good-night kiss by your door instead of in the car?” he asked, pouting, and she giggled quietly, slightly blushing. “Fine, luv, the car it is.” He leaned over and kissed her softly, and she smiled against his lips before pulling back.

“I had a nice time tonight,” she said. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” he said, grazing her cheek. “I’ll see you at work tomorrow, yeah?”

“Definitely,” she replied, leaning over quickly to kiss him one last time before getting out of the car and walking to her door, letting herself inside. He grinned before driving away, still feeling as if her lips were on his.

Joyce watched Buffy walk inside, smirking, and raised an eyebrow.

“How was your night?” Joyce asked, and Buffy stopped by the stairs, looking at her mom.

“It was really fun,” she answered. “Much different than dates with Riley.”

“Am I ever going to meet Spike?” her mom asked, smiling warmly. “Or is he that horrible? You know, one of those guys you can’t take home to introduce me to? With a nickname like Spike, I must admit I’m curious to find out how he is.”

“He’s wonderful, Mom,” Buffy said, smiling. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

Joyce watched Buffy walk upstairs and sighed quietly.

‘I haven’t seen her this happy since before Parker,’ she thought before watching TV again.

* * * * *

Buffy arrived at school the next morning in a good mood, excited to tell Willow about her date with Spike. But when she saw the word Whore written on her locker in red lipstick, she froze, tears forming in her eyes.

‘Who would do something like this?’ she thought, biting her lip to try to keep her tears at bay.

“You really thought I’d let you get away with stealing my boyfriend?” Harmony asked, appearing beside Buffy, quickly grabbing her ponytail and yanking her head back, straining her neck in the process. “No one takes what’s mine, especially not some loser like you.”

“He doesn’t want you,” Buffy said through gritted teeth, grabbing Harmony’s wrist tightly, which made Harmony let go of Buffy’s hair. “The only thing he wanted you for was sex, and since apparently you’re not that good at it, he moved on to someone better.”

“Why am I not surprised that you already put out for him?” Harmony asked sharply. “A little slut like you will sleep with anything just to try to make yourself feel better.” Harmony stepped forward, dangerously close to Buffy. “You will never be popular, no matter who you fuck, got me?” Buffy crossed her arms, tilting her head. “If you two stay together-”

“You’ll what? Get in a catfight with me?” Buffy asked. “Grow up, Harmony.” She opened her locker, but Harmony slammed her fist into it, closing it.

“You’re trash, bitch, and the only reason why Spike would go for you is because you’re easy,” Harmony said, hissing.

“Well, he went for you, so I wouldn’t be surprised,” Buffy replied, shrugging. “You’re not going to win here, Harmony- you don’t scare me.”

“Just wait,” she said sternly. “I’m going to get him back, and I can promise you that I will destroy you in the process.”

“Give it your best shot,” Buffy said in a challenging tone, successfully opening her locker again.

“Oh, I will,” Harmony said before walking away. Buffy took a deep breath and grabbed her books before closing her locker and looking at the lipstick on it. She ran her hand over it, smearing the word until it was undistinguishable.

“She’s not worth it,” she said quietly before walking to her first class of the day.

* * * * *

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Spike arrived at his locker a few minutes after the last bell rang, signaling the beginning of first hour, and grabbed some textbooks. He was surprised when he saw a shadow cast over both his locker and the one beside his.

“She’ll never be yours,” Riley said, and Spike turned around, facing him with an amused expression.

“Who? The lunch lady?” Spike asked jokingly. “She’s all yours.”

“You know who I mean,” Riley said sharply, crossing his arms. “She’ll never love you, Spike- you’re beneath her.”

“What can I say? My girl likes being on top,” he replied, and Riley clenched both his jaw and his fists.

“If you hurt her, you know I’m going to kill you, right?” Riley asked, and surprisingly, Spike could tell how sincere he was.

“Are you implying that you accept the fact she’s with me now?” Spike asked, and Riley looked away.

“She’s made her choice- not like I can change her mind,” Riley said quietly before looking at Spike again with fire in his eyes. “But I’m not lying when I say I will beat you beyond recognition if you do anything to hurt her, got me?”

“I wouldn’t worry,” Spike said, shutting his locker. “If anything, she’ll be the one who hurts me, not the other way around.” He walked away, leaving Riley to stare after him with an angry, but surprised, expression.
 

11:

Days passed, then weeks, and then months, and before they realized it, it was time for Christmas. Buffy and Spike’s relationship was progressing nicely, and despite the fact Harmony continued to give Buffy idle threats, nothing had gone wrong. Everyone at both of their schools found out about their relationship, and surprisingly enough, no one had said anything bad about it- their friends were happy for them.

The day before Christmas Eve, Spike drove to Buffy’s house so that they could exchange gifts before he went out of town for a few days. She let him inside the house and hugged him, kissing him softly.

“Well, hello, gorgeous,” he said, running his hand over her hair. “You look lovely.”

“I’m in jeans and an old sweater,” she said, looking at her clothes with a raised eyebrow. “I ‘look lovely’?”

“You always look beautiful,” he replied, smiling. “It doesn’t matter what you wear.”

“Good,” she replied, shrugging. “Then I guess I can stop dressing up whenever we go out on dates. I’ll even be sure to stop wearing that one mini-skirt you like so much.”

“Don’t you dare,” he said quickly with wide eyes. “You’d be cruel if you didn’t wear it anymore.” She giggled and grabbed his hand, leading him into the living room before they sat on the couch. Spike looked at the Christmas tree in the corner and smiled, studying all of the ornaments and lights on it. “No expense spared on the tree, yeah?”

“It’s the one thing my mom loves spending money on,” Buffy answered, smiling. “We decorate it a couple weeks before Christmas together and joke about how ugly the ornaments I made in grade school are.” He chuckled and stood up, walking to the tree. “And if you’re going to make fun of me for decorating a tree with my mom, then I demand my present now.” He grinned at her before taking an ornament off a branch, looking at the picture of a younger Buffy on it.

“You’ve always been adorable,” he said quietly, and she stood up, walking over to him to see it. “How old were you?”

“About ten,” she said, smirking. “That was taken the day before I found out Santa doesn’t exist.”

“Kind of slow to figure that out, eh?” he joked, and she playfully smacked his arm.

“I was in denial,” she replied, hanging up the ornament once again.

“It’s cool that you share something like this with your mum,” he said. “My parents hire someone else to buy our tree and make it look festive.”

“No expense spared?” she asked, repeating his words, and he sighed.

“Pretty much,” he replied before walking back to the couch and sitting down. She followed him and sat on his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. “So, what are you asking Santa for this year, little girl?”

“Something of the platinum-blonde variety,” she answered, kissing him. He pulled her closer to his body, eagerly returning the kiss and parting her lips with his tongue. She moaned quietly and allowed her tongue to touch his, reveling in the sensation.

They continued kissing for a while before Spike pulled away to breathe, looking into her eyes as she panted for air. He grazed her cheek and took a deep breath.

“I love you,” he said quietly, noticing the look of shock cover her face almost instantly. She quickly got off of his lap and took several steps back, staring at him. “Buffy?”

“You don’t love me,” she replied, almost as if to make both of them believe it. “You can’t love me. We’ve barely been together for two months.” He stood up and walked over to her, trying to embrace her, but she pushed him away. “You don’t love me, Spike.”

“Yes, I do, pet,” he said, and after she pushed him away again, he frowned. “What’s wrong?”

“Parker told me he loved me after two months, and I believed him,” she said, looking away, feeling tears begin to form in her eyes. “I don’t want a repeat performance of what happened between him and I- I can’t handle that again.”

“I’m not Parker,” Spike said firmly. “I’m not even like him, anymore. You know I’ve changed, Buffy.” He paused. “I changed for you.”

“Don’t say that,” she replied. “You didn’t change for me.”

“I didn’t?” he asked, becoming upset. “You know I did!” She looked away, clenching her jaw. “What the hell does it take, Buffy? I’ve done everything I can to prove to you that I’m a good man, that I’m worthy of being with. I love you, and if you don’t love me, too, that’s fine- I can wait for you to decide that you do. But if you refuse to believe I genuinely love you, then tell me what I have to do to show you it’s true.” She looked at him and studied his expression, noticing the hurt in his eyes.

“I’m scared of being in love again, Spike,” she admitted quietly after a long pause. “Things with Parker and I didn’t work out, and after a year with Riley, I wasn’t as happy as I should’ve been.”

“We’re already doing better than both of those relationships,” Spike said, moving forward to hug her, and this time, she didn’t pull back. Instead, she buried her face in his chest and sighed before looking at him.

“I just don’t want to get into a serious relationship when we’re both going off to college next year and won’t be together anymore,” she said, and his expression darkened quickly.

“You don’t think we’ll stay together after we both graduate high school?” he asked, and she looked down. “You don’t want to be with me after that, Buffy?”

“I do, but I don’t see how it’s feasible,” she explained, not willing to look at him. “If I get my scholarships, I won’t be going anywhere in California- you know I’ve been accepted at Northwestern, NYU, and Wellesley, thanks in part to your mother’s letter of recommendation. You, on the other hand, want to go to UC-Sunnydale or UCLA.” She hesitated. “And I’ve heard the horror stories about couples going off to college together- it doesn’t always work, and when it doesn’t, one or both people involved want to switch schools post-breakup.”

“I’m not asking you to go to college with me,” he replied. “It’d be cool if you did, and I’m sure your mum would like it if you went somewhere around here, but I don’t want you to think that we’re not going to last after graduation. I’m in this for a very long time, luv, and I’m not about to stop being together just because we won’t be in the same county or state.”

“How about time zone?” she joked lightly, and he tilted his head. “It’s almost Christmas, Spike- we’re supposed to be happy. How about foregoing any more serious conversations until after we open our gifts?” He managed to nod and extracted a small wrapped box out of his jacket, handing it to her. She raised an eyebrow and looked at him. “I thought we agreed not to spend over twenty dollars?”

“I know,” he said, shrugging. “You don’t even know what it is yet.” She pulled off the wrapping paper slowly and opened the box before smiling at the silver chandelier earrings inside. “I saw you looking at them in one of your girly catalogues.”

“Thank you,” she said genuinely, kissing him. “They’re perfect.”

“And they’ll look beautiful on you,” he said, grazing her cheek. She smiled and went to the Christmas tree, grabbing a present from underneath it, before returning to Spike and handing it to him. “I don’t need a gift, luv- you’re the best Christmas gift I’ve ever had.” She shot him a playful look. “But if you insist-” He opened the small package to find Billy Idol’s Greatest Hits on CD, along with a silver Zippo lighter. “Luv, the lighter alone costs about twenty.”

“Not when one of your friends works at a store that sells them,” she said, winking at him.

“Thank you, pet,” he said, kissing her. “I love both gifts.”

“Well, now you can listen to your favorite singer on the plane,” she said. “But no smoking, buster- they don’t allow that during flights.”

“So you’re okay with my smoking fixation?” he asked, and she frowned.

“Of course not, but you won’t seem to give it up, so I guess I’ll just continue to let it go,” she replied. “Along with telling you how many health hazards are associated with that nasty little habit of yours.”

“You know that if you asked me to quit, I would,” he said quietly, and she saw the sincerity in his eyes.

“Then quit,” she said, and he took the pack of cigarettes out of his coat before handing them to her. “You’re serious?”

“Whatever makes my girl happy,” he replied, shrugging. She grinned and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him. “I don’t want to go away, luv- I want to be with you over the holidays.”

“Just return home safely,” she said. “And remember- no more lighting up.”

“I know,” he said, nodding. “I’ll refrain from smoking, I promise.” He grazed her cheek and looked into her eyes. “I really do love you, Buffy.” She sighed and looked down, nodding. “If you’d rather have me hate you, I might be able to pretend.” She giggled quietly and looked at him, smiling. “That’s my girl.”
 

12:

“Let me get this straight,” Liam said the morning of Valentine’s Day as he followed Spike to their lockers. “You’ve been together nearly four months, and she still hasn’t said she loves you?”

“I’m not going to force her to,” Spike replied, opening the combination lock as he came to stand in front of his locker. “Maybe she doesn’t love me.” He sighed. “I think she does, but from what I can tell, she’s just too afraid to say it, to really let someone into her life.”

“Can you blame her?” Xander asked as he stopped beside his friends. “It’s not like you’ve had a stellar history with girls, especially since every relationship you’ve had has been with a girl from Holy Angels. Undoubtedly, all of them told their friends about you, which in turn spread throughout the school.”

“I would think that Buffy’s moved beyond trusting whatever gossip she hears,” Spike said sternly. “She knows how I am, and if she really thinks I’m out to hurt her, then she’s very wrong.”

“She’ll tell you,” Liam said, leaning against his locker. “I don’t know when, but if she loves you, she’ll tell you.”

“Tough to sound like a girl,” Xander joked, and Angel smacked him. “So, got any romantic plans for tonight?”

“Cordelia wants to go to the Bronze,” Liam answered, frowning. “Which I don’t understand, considering the fact she knows I can’t dance.”

“Too true,” Spike said, smirking as Liam shot him a look. “I’m going to take Buffy to the restaurant we went to on our first date, and then I was thinking of maybe driving us to the beach or something.”

“Do you anticipate lots of ‘shagging’?” Xander asked, and Spike frowned, crossing his arms. “What? You’re telling me that you two haven’t slept together yet?”

“No, we haven’t,” Spike said, shutting his locker. “What’s the rush?”

“This girl really has changed you, hasn’t she?” Liam asked, studying his friend. “What happened to the guy who used to lure girls into bed after the first date?”

“He grew up,” Spike answered as he walked away.

* * * * *

“So, are you going out with Spike tonight?” Willow asked as she left school with Buffy, walking to their cars.

“He said he wants to take me out,” Buffy answered, shrugging. “What we’re doing is a surprise, apparently.”

“Oh, intriguing!” Willow replied, smirking. “Are you planning on any debauchery?”

“If you mean what I think you mean… I don’t know,” Buffy said, ducking her head and blushing.

“I was only kidding,” Willow said, patting her friend’s shoulder. “Don’t go out and do anything stupid, okay?”

“I won’t,” Buffy said, managing a weak smile. “I just… I think it’s time.”

“Time? For what?” Willow asked before her eyes widened. “Oh! Time for that, gotcha.”

“That doesn’t make me slutty, does it?” Buffy asked quickly. “I mean, he and I’ve been together for nearly four months, and I think that I… love him.”

“Wow,” Willow said quietly, surprised. “Who knew you’d fall for the guy you used to be enemies with?” Buffy tilted her head, frowning. “What? I’m only giving you a hard time.”

“Yeah, and you’re doing a superb job,” Buffy replied, looking away. “So, what’s your opinion on it? Do you think I should tell him tonight? I mean, it’s Valentine’s Day, and all.”

“It doesn’t get sweeter than that,” Willow said. “Especially if you mean it.” Buffy nodded and grabbed her car keys. “Will you call me tomorrow and tell me how it goes?” Buffy raised an eyebrow. “You can be very general about anything… naughty, but I want specific details about everything else.”

“You’re horrible,” Buffy said, walking away and blushing.

“That’s why I’m your best friend!” Willow shouted after her, grinning.

* * * * *

Later on that day, Buffy found herself sitting across from Spike at her favorite Italian restaurant, fidgeting with the food on the plate in front of her.

“Are you alright?” he asked quietly, concerned. “You’ve hardly eaten anything, and you’ve spoken about five words since we got here. If you want to go, we can, luv.”

“No, I’m fine,” she said, giving him a small smile. “I’m just not as hungry as I thought I was.”

“Is anything wrong?” he asked, and she shook her head, hoping he couldn’t tell how nervous she was. “Do you want me to get the waitress to box up your food so you can take it home?”

“Sure,” she said, pushing her plate away a little. Spike frowned and studied her.

“Buffy, if something’s wrong, you can tell me,” he said, putting his hand on hers. “If it’s me-”

“I’m really okay, Spike,” she said firmly, looking at him. “It’s just been a long day.”

“Then let’s head out,” he replied, motioning for their waitress to come to the table. “Can we have our bill, please?”

“Sure,” the woman replied, giving them both a weird look before walking away.

“You didn’t have to do that,” Buffy said. “You’re not done eating.”

“I’d rather see you be happy than to be full,” he said, and she giggled quietly. “Well, there’s some semblance of the Buffy I’m used to.” She smiled slightly and took a deep breath. “Do you want to go home, Goldilocks? Or maybe to the beach? You know, take a late-night stroll?”

“That sounds nice,” she answered, nodding. “I’d like that.”

* * * * *

After parking Spike’s car in the beach’s parking lot, they walked down to the water and began walking along the water, holding hands.

“I’m sorry I ruined the night,” Buffy said, looking at him.

“What’re you talking about?” Spike asked, confused.

“The restaurant,” she answered, looking at the water. “You planned a romantic dinner for us, and we ended up leaving because of me.”

“Luv, it’s perfectly fine,” he said, letting go of her hand and wrapping his arm around her waist instead, pulling her closer to his side as they walked. “Besides, the scent of garlic was starting to make me kind of nauseous.”

“Well, if you say so,” she replied, smiling. “But all the same, I’m sorry we left early. It was really sweet of you to take me there.”

“Well, I wanted to be nostalgic,” he said, smirking. “To remind you of how well we started out and how that hasn’t changed.” He paused. “Right?”

“We’re still doing fine,” she answered, kissing his cheek and looking at a bunch of large boulders a few feet away. “Let’s go sit and look up at the stars.”

“Luv, you’re not going to see any,” he replied, laughing. “The lights around here prohibit that.”

“If I want to see stars, I’m going to,” she said, giggling, pulling him towards the rocks and sitting down. He sat beside her and held her close to him as they looked up at the night sky. “See? There’s one right above us.”

“That’s a plane, pet,” he said, and she frowned.

“Fine, ruin my fun,” she replied, and he chuckled before looking at the sky and pointing. “What?”

“There’s a whole cluster of them there,” he said quietly. “All for you.” She saw the content expression on his face and took a deep breath.

“I love you,” she said, and he tensed up before looking at her, shocked.

“What?” he asked, wondering if he had heard her wrong.

“I love you,” she repeated in a whisper, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him. He pulled her closer to his body and reclined on the rocks, kissing her back with equal fervor.

“You love me?” he asked, clarifying what she had admitted. “Are you sure?” She giggled and kissed him again.

“Yes, I’m sure,” she answered, and he grinned before kissing her several times.

“I love you, too, Buffy,” he replied, pressing his forehead against hers. “You don’t know how long I’ve dreamt of hearing you say that to me.”

“I’m sorry it took me this long,” she said, and he grazed her cheek.

“Baby, I would’ve waited forever,” he replied, kissing her once again.
 

13:

After leaving the beach, they got in Spike’s car and sat in silence for a moment, basking in the fact that they were happily in love. Spike looked at her and took her hand in his, squeezing it. She smiled softly at him and leaned over to kiss him. He pulled her onto his lap, her back pressing against the steering wheel, as they continued to kiss passionately. He put his hands on her hips and began to slide them up, beneath her shirt, his fingers coming in contact with her warm skin. She moaned quietly as his hands cupped her breasts, gently running his thumbs over her hardened nipples, hidden underneath a thin layer of lace. She broke away from his mouth to look into his eyes as she tried to catch her breath, seeing a mix of lust and fear in his expression before grazing his cheek.

“What’re you afraid of?” she asked quietly, her chest still heaving to breathe.

“You rejecting me,” he answered, and she leaned down to kiss the crook of his neck before leaning to his ear.

“I’m not going to reject you,” she whispered. “But I don’t want to do this here.” He looked at her, stunned.

“We don’t have to tonight,” he replied, and she frowned. “Unless that’s really what you want, Buffy. I’m not going to pressure you into it.”

“It’s what I want,” she said firmly, getting off his lap and putting on her seatbelt as she situated herself in the passenger’s seat again. “I promise.” He looked at her for a long moment in adoration before starting the car and speeding out of the parking lot, heading towards his house.

* * * * *

“Are you sure?” Spike asked as they walked inside his house. “If you aren’t ready, luv, we don’t need to do this tonight.”

“For the last time, I want to,” she replied. “Unless you don’t want to.” She paused and frowned. “You don’t, do you? Oh god, I’m sorry.” She turned and tried walking out, but he grabbed her arm and pulled her to him, hugging her close. “I’m being all trampy and pushy- am I becoming like Harmony?”

“What?” he asked, shocked. “Why would you think that?” She looked down. “You’re not like Harmony at all, luv- that’s one of the things I love about you.” She managed a small smile. “And I do want to do this- I’m just making sure we’re on the same page.”

“We are,” she said, and he looked into her eyes, seeing sincerity in them. “Are we… alone?”

“My parents went to Los Angeles for the weekend,” he answered. “A business trip for my father.” She nodded and looked around, the weight of the situation finally hitting her. He noticed the look of indecision cross her face and grazed her cheek. “You alright, baby?” She looked at him and quickly nodded. “Positive?”

“Yeah,” she said, taking his hand in hers. “I’m fine.” He brought her hand up to his lips and kissed the back of it before leading them upstairs and to his room. He let her inside first before shutting the door behind them, and Buffy took a few deep breaths before turning to face him. They looked at each other for a long moment before Spike walked closer to her and leaned down to kiss her. She responded to the kiss and gently pulled on the hem of his shirt, yanking it off of him as they parted for a moment. They resumed kissing, and as she ran her hands over his muscular torso and arms, he groaned and backed off to rid her of her shirt, as well. She felt self-conscious as Spike looked at her upper body after he took off her bra, too.

“Jesus, you’re beautiful,” he managed to say before crushing his lips to hers. She gasped in his mouth as he picked her up and laid her down on his bed, covering her with his body seconds later. She looked up into his eyes as he tugged on her skirt before he slid it down her legs and marveled at the tan expanse of skin beneath him. Her insecurity came back in full-force, so in an attempt to distract him, she quickly popped open the button of his khakis and pulled down the zipper before pushing his pants down his hips and thighs, nearly gaping at the sight of his erection.

‘Wow, I guess none of the girls before me have been lying about his considerable size,’ she thought.

He felt a surge of pride run through him as he saw her studying his manhood and withheld a smirk before he slipped his thumbs under the sides of her panties and slowly pulled them down her legs before tossing them aside and looking at her fully naked body. His eyes traveled from her feet to her eyes and noticed the look of nervousness as it settled on her features. He leaned down to kiss her and grazed her cheek.

“I love you,” he whispered, and she ran her hand down his body, gently grasping his cock and directing it to her entrance. Their eyes locked as he slowly thrust inside her, trapping her moan with his mouth as he kissed her. When their hips met, Spike couldn’t help but groan at how amazing she felt.

He slowly began to pump in and out of her, not wanting to go too fast or hurt her. She began matching his thrusts, arching her hips up as he moved deeper inside of her. She grasped his shoulders tightly and shut her eyes as pleasure began to course through her, building up in her stomach and traveling throughout her.

“Spike,” she said breathlessly as her orgasm washed over her, her inner walls fluttering around him and clamping down on him as he continued to thrust inside of her. He groaned at the feel of her surrounding him and began to move quicker, finally achieving his release as he spilled himself inside of her. She ran her hands over his back as he buried his face in her neck, both of them panting heavily.

“I love you so much,” he whispered, running one of his hands down her side. She kissed his shoulder softly and closed her eyes, feeling somewhat exhausted.

“I love you, too.”

* * * * *

Buffy woke up in the middle of the night and looked at the clock on Spike’s bedside table, seeing the red numbers glow 2:43 AM.

‘Oh god, Mom’s going to kill me,’ she thought, shutting her eyes and cursing silently. She looked over at Spike and was thankful that he was fast asleep, curled up on his side, facing away from her. She carefully got out of bed, hoping not to wake him up, and quietly got dressed before looking at him one last time and whispering an apology. She walked out of his room and let herself out of the house, beginning to walk home in the dark, praying that her mother wouldn’t know she was out all night.

‘And I hope that Spike will understand.’
 

14:

Spike woke up a few hours later and turned over, slowly opening his eyes, expecting to see his girlfriend, but when he saw that the bed was empty and that her clothes were gone, he sat up quickly, both angry and worried.

“What the hell’s going on?” he asked as he stood up, pulling on his clothes and looking at a clock. “Why would she have left? It’s a Saturday!” He ran downstairs and grabbed his keys before he left the house and got in his car, speeding towards her house.

‘I didn’t hurt her last night, did I?’ he asked himself. ‘Everything was okay, wasn’t it?’

He became increasingly more concerned as he drove, happy when he pulled up in her driveway and saw that her car was there and that her mother’s wasn’t. He got out of his car and sprinted to her front door, ringing the doorbell twice before knocking several times, growing frantic.

When a tired Buffy appeared after the door opened, he rushed forward to embrace her, pulling her close to him and kissing her cheeks, nose, and forehead softly. “Are you okay? I’ve been so worried.”

“I’m fine,” she said, yawning. “I just had to come home before Mom woke up and noticed that I wasn’t here.”

“You could’ve left me a note or something,” he replied sternly. “You could’ve woken me up- I would’ve driven you! Did you walk?” She nodded. “Why?! Do you know what could’ve happened to you?”

“Yes, I’m well aware,” she answered. “But the wrath of my mother could’ve been worse. Thankfully, she had no idea and left for work without saying anything.”

“That’s great, luv, but something seriously horrendous could’ve happened to you,” he said, upset. “Do you know how guilty I would be if I found out something had happened? If you would’ve gotten hurt?”

“I’m fine,” she said quietly. “If anything, I’m beyond tired and want to go back to sleep, alright?”

“Is something wrong?” he asked. “Honestly? You don’t seem all too happy with me, pet.”

“You didn’t use any type of protection last night,” she answered, looking down. Spike froze, his eyes widening.

‘Oh shit,’ he thought, mentally berating himself. ‘I didn’t even think of it last night- I was too busy trying to shag her.’ Before he could say anything, she put her hand up to stop him.

“I’m on the Pill, so we don’t have to worry about me becoming pregnant,” she said before frowning. “Well, it’s unlikely- there’s a very tiny chance it could happen, but I’m going to tell myself it isn’t possible to appease my nerves.” She took a deep breath. “I was tested for STDs after Riley, just as a precautionary thing, and I’m clean, but I don’t know if you are.” His whole body tensed up, and he clenched his jaw. “Not that I’m implying you’re diseased or anything, but I-”

“I was tested after Harmony,” he cut in, slightly angry. “Who knows what she might’ve contracted from half the guys she’s been with.” He sighed. “I’m clean, too, luv- I haven’t been with anyone since her except for you.”

“So we should both be fine, then, right?” she asked, and he nodded, putting his hands in his pockets. “Alright, then- I can rest assured.” She was about to turn and go upstairs, back to her room, but he grabbed her hand and looked into her eyes.

“Are we okay, Buffy?” he asked, worried. “You and I?”

“We’re fine,” she said, leaning up to kiss him softly. “It means a lot that you came over to check on me.” He smiled.

“Of course,” he replied. “I’m whipped, you know.” She giggled and kissed him again before walking him to the door. “I love you.”

“I love you, too,” she said, smiling as he kissed her cheek and walked out, going to his car. She watched him leave and sighed before closing the door and returning to her room.

* * * * *

A week passed, and in that time, things returned to normal for them. They saw each other almost every night, and if they weren’t working, they’d go out to dinner or hang out with their friends, as well.

It was one night at work when several of Spike’s fellow students came to the Doublemeat Palace and began to make fun of him when Buffy became angry, too, and purposely ruined their orders.

“Wow, Spike, I can see why you’d work here,” one of the guys said, appraising Buffy with his eyes. “You can become greasy with a hottie like her.”

“Watch what you say, wanker,” Spike hissed, grabbing the soda off of the kid’s tray and taking off the plastic top before throwing the soda in the guy’s face. Buffy grinned proudly and leaned to his ear.

“You stole that move from me,” she said, and he smirked.

“It’s what made me fall even more for you,” he replied, kissing her temple before looking at the angry teenager standing on the other side of the counter. Buffy grabbed a stack of napkins and handed them to the boy.

“Have a nice meal,” she said, pasting a bright smile on her face. He flipped her off and turned, but Spike jumped over the counter, grabbed the guy’s wrist tightly, and twisted it until it cracked with a loud pop, causing him to scream in agony.

“Don’t you dare come here again,” Spike said in a low tone. “And if you ever even look at my girlfriend again, I’m going to severely hurt you, got me?” The boy glared at Spike before turning on his heel and storming out.

Spike walked around the counter and took a deep breath as he looked at Buffy’s face, noticing the unreadable expression covering her features.

“You alright?” he asked quietly, becoming grateful that Manny wasn’t walking around or saw what he had just done. She nodded and smirked.

“You really are my Prince Charming, aren’t you?” she asked, wrapping her arms around his waist and kissing him.

“Anything to protect my girl,” he said, and she giggled.

“Usually I don’t find possessive guys attractive, but you’ll do,” she joked, and he playfully growled before tickling her ribs, getting the attention of their co-workers and the customers lining up. “And back to work we go.”

 

15:

About a week later, Buffy had just finished taking a customer’s order when she looked at the next person in line and froze, her eyes locking with Harmony’s.

“What’re you doing here?” she asked in a surprisingly calm voice, despite the fact she was inwardly becoming angry at the fact the blonde would step foot in the Doublemeat Palace.

“Is Spike working tonight?” Harmony asked, looking around.

“He’s on break,” Buffy answered, crossing her arms. “Are you going to order, or are you just stalking my boyfriend?” Harmony smirked.

“Is little Buffy jealous that I’m trying to steal him back?” Harmony asked, and Buffy tilted her head. “Why would I want him after a loser like you has been with him? As if.”

“‘As if’?” Buffy asked, stifling a laugh. “Have you been watching Clueless lately?”

“You’re such a laugh riot,” Harmony said sarcastically, scowling. “That’s the only thing you’ve got going for you, though, I’m afraid.”

“And the fact my IQ is probably triple yours means nothing,” Buffy joked quietly, somewhat angry that Spike hadn’t returned from his break yet to convince Harmony to go away.

‘Because as long as I’m here- a sitting duck, of sorts- she’ll stay,’ Buffy thought, sighing.

“Are you going to order, or are you just going to waste my time?” she asked, looking at the girl across from her.

“I wouldn’t be caught dead eating anything from here,” Harmony answered, disgusted. “Who knows if I’d get food poisoning, and the fact there are about a billion calories in all of this stuff is even worse.”

“So why are you here?” Buffy asked, frowning. “If you came here for Spike, go outside and talk to him.”

“Not here for him- I’m here for you,” Harmony replied, smiling. “I’ll take any opportunity to make fun of you, Miss Valedictorian.”

“Wow, how long did it take you to learn how to say ‘Valedictorian’?” Buffy asked, feigning shock.

“We got into the same colleges, you know,” Harmony said, looking proud of herself.

“Yeah, but the difference is that your parents could bribe any admissions official, whereas I earned my spot in those colleges,” Buffy said, grinning. “You got a combined score of 720 on your SATs, right?” Harmony nodded, looking confused. “I got a more than that in the Verbal portion alone, so it looks as though I’m better qualified, doesn’t it?”

“You may have the brains, but you’re really not that great, Buffy,” Harmony said, leaning on the counter. “And Spike’s going to realize that any day now before he comes crawling back to me.”

“I thought you didn’t want him anymore?” Buffy asked, and Harmony grinned.

“I don’t,” she answered. “But rejecting him in front of everyone would be perfect.”

Buffy didn’t even stop to think about what she was doing as she grabbed a ketchup bottle, aimed it at Harmony’s white dress, and squeezed it, the blood-red ketchup landing all over Harmony. She, in turn, screamed, absolutely shocked by Buffy’s actions.

“What the hell are you doing?” Harmony asked as Buffy continued to squeeze the bottle in Harmony’s direction. “This is a Prada dress!” Buffy began laughing hysterically as she set down the bottle, studying her work. “You’re going to pay for this, bitch!”

“I’m sure you’ve got ten at home, just like it,” Buffy said, grabbing a mustard bottle and pointing it in the direction of the other blonde. “Now, get the hell out of here, don’t even think of talking to me again, and if I hear you even say Spike’s name, I’m going to track you down, cut your precious hair off, and destroy even more of your wardrobe, got me?” Harmony shot her a furious look before turning on her heel and heading for the door. A bunch of football players walked in and looked at her, pointing and laughing.

“Wow, Harmony- you look horrible,” a guy named Devin said, and Harmony pouted, looking at her dress.

“The loser behind the counter did it,” she said, and Devin looked at Buffy, grinning.

“Nice work,” he replied, and Harmony’s jaw dropped in anger before she slapped him across the face and stormed out.

“Free food, on me,” Buffy said, grinning as the football players quickly walked to the counter.

Spike came in minutes later and walked behind the counter, going to his register.

“Was that Harmony I saw, covered in ketchup?” he asked, confused. “Before she sped off and almost crashed into my car?”

“Yep, that was her,” Buffy said triumphantly. “Did you see the damage I did to her dress?”

“Yeah, luv,” he said, smirking. “Just be careful- she’s pretty vindictive, you know.”

“Oh, I think I hit her where it hurts,” Buffy replied cheerfully. “I doubt she’ll be messing with me anymore, and if she does, she knows what I’ll do to her.”

“Should I even ask?” Spike said, raising an eyebrow as Buffy turned towards him with a maniacal look on her face.

“Oh, you’d be amazed at what I can do,” she said, and he chuckled.

“I’m well aware of what you can do, baby,” he said. “I still have the bruises and bite-marks to prove it.” She blushed as the football players in front of her cheered and hooted.

* * * * *

After work, Spike drove Buffy home, as usual, and decided to broach the subject of their future and college.

“So, have you put any thought into which college you’re going to reply to?” Spike asked. “I mean, you should probably figure out which school you want to go next year pretty soon, yeah?”

“I’ve got a couple of weeks left to decide,” she said, shrugging. “I think Wellesley sounds pretty promising, and with the scholarships I’ve already been offered, tuition shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Plus, I know my mum would be willing to help any way she can,” Spike replied. “She would love to be of service, along with making herself look like a more charitable alumna.”

“Well, if it looks like I’m screwed in the financial department, maybe I’ll consider it,” she said, and he smiled slightly. “What about you? Do you know which college you’re going to attend?”

“I think I’ve decided on UCLA,” he answered, shrugging. “I figure I might as well try out the L.A. scene for a bit.”

“Are your parents okay with that?” she asked, and he chuckled quietly.

“I think they’re fine with it,” he said. “My father’s home hardly twice a week, and Mum’s… she keeps busy when he’s not around. I’m sure they’ll live with it.”

“I have no idea how Mom’s going to be after I leave,” Buffy said quietly. “She’s never lived alone before.”

“She’ll be fine, pet,” he said, looking at her. “But if you really want to make her happy, maybe you could stay here.” She shot him a look jokingly, and he raised his hands in surrender. “Come on, baby- don’t you want to be close to me so you can sink your sexy little claws into me whenever you want?”

“You’re horrible,” she replied, playfully swatting his arm and blushing.

“What can I tell you, baby?” he asked, grinning. “I’ve always been bad.”
 

16:

Time passed, and before anyone realized it, it was Spring, which meant that deadlines for replying to colleges they had been accepted to were arriving. Everyone was on edge, trying to pinpoint which college they wanted to go to, including both Buffy and Spike.

He went over to her house one afternoon after he had called and was told by Joyce that Buffy was holed up in her room, not talking to anyone.

‘I think this whole college thing is intimidating her way too much,’ he thought as he drove. ‘The last thing I need is for my girlfriend to have a nervous breakdown.’

Joyce let him in when he arrived, and he quietly made his way to her room, knocking on the door.

“Baby, it’s me,” he said, surprised when he heard a startled gasp come from her room. She opened the door a moment later and stared at him. He noticed the sweatpants and tight tank top she was wearing as he leered appraisingly at her. “Comfy sheik looks nice on you, luv.”

“What’re you doing here?” she asked, frowning. “I thought we weren’t meeting up until tomorrow.”

“Called to check in on you, and your mum told me you were being a recluse in your room,” he said, moving past her and walking into her bedroom. She shut the door before leaning back against it and watching as he sat on her bed, amidst stacks of envelopes and papers. “So, why are you opting for the quiet life today?”

“I’m trying to send letters to the colleges I’ve been accepted to,” she said, looking down. “It’s been very difficult for me to decide which one I want to attend.”

“Well, I think any college would fight to have you grace them with your presence,” he replied, looking at an envelope and raising an eyebrow. “You didn’t tell me you applied at Berkeley.”

“It was on a whim,” she said, and he looked at her, tilting his head. “It’s a good school, and it’s not that far from home, I guess.”

“I thought you didn’t want to go to school in California?” he asked, and she sighed.

“I know, but after thinking about it a lot, it doesn’t seem that bad,” she said, looking away. “And they offered me quite a nice scholarship, one that would be silly to turn down.”

“You could do better than Berkeley,” he said. “I mean, it’s an amazing school- no doubt about that- but you’ve been accepted at equally awesome schools across the nation.”

“Well, if I went to Berkeley, it’d be a lot easier to… visit you,” she said sheepishly, and he frowned, standing up and walking over to her.

“Don’t choose a school here because of me,” he replied. “You deserve the best, and I don’t want you to regret your decision down the road because you recklessly chose to be closer to me.”

“What?” she asked, stunned. “Are you seriously telling me what to do?” He saw the anger flare up in her eyes. “Spike, if I choose to go to Berkeley, it’s for me, not you.”

“You just said it’d be easier for you to visit me if you went there,” he pointed out, and she sighed.

“Yes, that’s true, but it’s my decision, not yours,” she replied. “And if I want to go there, I’m going to.”

“I just don’t think you should choose a school while factoring me anywhere in the decision,” he said. “You know I want to be with you post-graduation and possibly for the rest of my life, but don’t pick a school based on their location in reference to me. We’ll find ways to meet up as much as possible, luv- nothing’s going to keep me from seeing you.” He grazed her cheek, and she nuzzled her face into his palm. “Just promise me you’ll give this a lot more thought before you say yes to Berkeley, alright?”

“I promise,” she said, pouting, and he leaned down to kiss her.

“Good,” he replied, smiling. “Now, get back to work- you have some schools to reject.” She giggled quietly and nodded, opening the door. “I love you, Goldilocks.”

“Love you, too,” she said, and he kissed her forehead before walking away and leaving the house.

She returned to her bed and sat down amongst the stacks of papers. Joyce walked in and sat on a chair near Buffy’s bed, taking a deep breath.

“I couldn’t help but overhear that serious conversation you had with him,” she said, noticing the sad look on her daughter’s face. “Everything okay, sweetheart?”

“Mom, if you were in my situation, what would you do?” Buffy asked quietly, looking at Joyce.

“Well, I’d listen to my heart,” her mother answered, smiling warmly. “Because chances are that your heart will lead you in a better direction than that incredibly smart brain you have.” Buffy smiled and nodded, looking at the Berkeley envelope that was now in her hand. “You know how I feel about you staying in-state, but if you want to go even farther away for school, I’ll support you.” She stood up and walked closer to the bed to kiss the top of Buffy’s head. “But I agree with him when he said that you shouldn’t choose a school based on him. I don’t think I need to tell you what can go wrong with high-school relationships when they move on to college, do I?” Buffy shook her head, frowning. “Well, I’ll be downstairs, if you need me.”

“Thanks, Mom,” she said, and Joyce walked to the door before turning around.

“Do you really love him?” Joyce asked, and Buffy smiled, nodding. “Then be sure you listen to your heart on this one, dear- love might be able to send you in the right direction.” Joyce winked before walking away, leaving Buffy to sit in silence, staring at the envelopes scattered around her.

She picked up the one for Wellesley and put a letter inside, sealing it and smiling as she set it aside before doing the same for every other college, including the envelope for Berkeley.
 

17:

On graduation day, Buffy stood on a stage in front of her fellow classmates, every student wearing virginal white dresses, which was a tradition for their graduation ceremony and the dance following it. She took a deep breath before looking down at one of her note-cards, mentally preparing herself before she began to give her speech.

“Well, ladies, we graduate not only as the class of 2005, but also as a united family,” Buffy said, holding her head up high. “Despite any cliques or grudges that have existed over the last four years, we now leave Holy Angels together, prepared to move on to college and begin our adult lives. We have been privileged to receive an education like we have, and I believe that we are the most gifted women in the state.” Many people cheered, giddy with excitement. “It has been a privilege to get to grow and learn with each and every one of you, and I think I can speak for all of us when I say that this wasn’t the easiest path we could’ve chosen, but it was definitely the most fulfilling and worthwhile.” She grinned as more people clapped. “Congratulations on a job well-done, girls, and I wish you the best of luck in the years ahead of you.” She walked offstage amongst more applause and returned to her seat, sitting between Fred and Willow.

“Good job,” Willow whispered, and Fred nodded. Buffy gave them grateful smiles, her hands still slightly shaking from how nervous she had been.

“It didn’t sound horrible?” she asked quietly, and they both shook their heads. “You have no idea how much I loathe public speaking.” Willow patted her hand and looked at the stage again as their principal took her place behind the podium and began to speak.

The ceremony continued, and as it ended, the girls left the auditorium in two lines, streaming out in a sea of white. Buffy spotted Spike on her way out, seated beside Joyce and Dawn, and winked at him. He grinned at her as he watched her walk out.

After the girls filtered into one large room, parents, friends, and boyfriends met up with them, talking and taking pictures. Buffy was surprised when she saw Riley walk in, heading towards her. She raised an eyebrow as he handed her a white rose, which she hesitantly accepted.

“Congratulations, Buffy,” he said, hugging her. “I know we’re not together anymore, but I’m still very proud of you.” She smiled softly at him and saw the happiness in his eyes. “And I’m glad things are going so well for you and Spike.” She looked down, hoping he wouldn’t notice the wide smile that was spreading across her face.

“I heard about you and Amy,” she replied, and he smirked. “She’s a really great girl- you’re lucky.” He saw his girlfriend a few feet over and smiled at her. “I’m happy we’re on good terms, Riley- I really am. You know I never meant to hurt you.”

“I know,” he said, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. “I’ll see you around sometime, alright?” She nodded, and he smiled at her before walking away, meeting up with Amy.

Spike tracked down Buffy minutes later as she had pictures taken with Fred, Willow, and Tara, meanwhile taking in how beautiful she looked wearing a white silk dress.

‘If that’s how she looks on our wedding day, I’m going to be a blubbering mess,’ he thought before grinning. ‘I’d give anything to marry that girl. Not that I deserve her, but if she’ll have me, I’ll be with her forever.’

She broke away from her friends and walked over to Spike, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him.

“Hey, gorgeous,” she said happily, grinning. “Did you enjoy the ceremony?”

“The highlight was watching you on the stage, glowing like a goddess,” he answered, and she slightly blushed. Dawn and Joyce walked over to them, and Joyce hugged her daughter.

“I’m so proud of you,” she said, running her hand over Buffy’s hair. “You did it- you graduated!”

“How does it feel?” Dawn asked. “I can’t wait to graduate now! I want to wear a pretty white dress, too!” She sighed dreamily. “And going off to college is a bonus, also.” Joyce raised an eyebrow. “Not that I don’t like living at home- I just want to experience the world more. And lucky Buffy gets to run off to Berkeley to-” Spike stared at his girlfriend, shocked. She sheepishly smiled and clasped her hands in front of her.

“I thought you were going to Wellesley?” he asked, and she shot Dawn a look before taking his hands in hers.

“Well, it was supposed to be a surprise,” she replied. “But I decided to go to Berkeley.”

“Luv,” he said quietly, grazing her cheek. “You know you could do better than that.” She shrugged, smiling. “But I can’t lie when I say how happy I am, especially since I decided to go to UC-Santa Cruz.” Her jaw dropped slowly as she realized how much closer Santa Cruz was to Berkeley versus Los Angeles. “Surprise.”

“Since when did you apply there?” she asked, and he smirked.

“The same time I applied at the other places, but I didn’t think I’d get in,” he answered, shrugging. “I guess I chose there in h\opes that you’d change your mind and switch to Berkeley.” She giggled before kissing him again, not caring that both Dawn and Joyce were watching.

“I thought you said not to choose a college based on a relationship?” she joked, and he smiled.

“I was wrong,” he replied. “But I know I made the right decision.” She wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him. “I love you, Goldilocks.”

“I love you, too,” she said quietly, frowning when Dawn made gagging noises beside her. “Hey, don’t be a hypocrite- I saw you making out with Andrew the other day.” Dawn blushed as Joyce looked at her youngest daughter, surprised. Buffy giggled as Spike pulled her closer to him and kissed her forehead.

“Ready to start our adult lives together?” he asked, and she grinned.

“I want nothing more.”

 

Epilogue:

Ten Years Later…

“I can’t believe we’re back,” Buffy said as she walked into the gym of Holy Angels High School, looking around at all of the people filling the area. “Can you believe we graduated ten years ago?”

“No, can’t say I believe it, luv,” Spike said as she linked her arm with his. “A lot has happened since then, hasn’t it?”

“We went off to college, managed to be inseparable on the weekends, got engaged, graduated, got married, and had our two adorable kids,” she replied, grinning. “Do you think Owen and Gwen will be good while we’re here?”

“Joyce can handle them, pet,” he said, kissing her temple. “She’s babysat for us a few times already.”

“Oh! There’s Willow and Tara,” she said excitedly, walking over to her friends and hugging them.

“Look at you!” Willow said to Buffy, smiling. “You look beautiful!”

“So do you,” Buffy replied. “You both do.” Spike hugged both women and wrapped his arm around Buffy’s waist. “So, where’s little Daniel?”

“Our neighbor Kennedy is babysitting him,” Tara answered. “We were going to bring him, but we thought he might get in trouble.”

“Now that he knows he’s adopted, he’s acting out a bit,” Willow added. “I have a feeling he’s going to be a rebel.”

“Well, if he starts dyeing his hair funny colors and painting his nails black, then I’d start to worry,” Buffy joked, and Willow’s eyes widened. “I’m kidding, Will- don’t worry about him.”

“Oh my god,” Willow said, looking past Buffy. “Look who just walked in.” Everyone turned around and saw Harmony come in, her hair cropped very short and dyed black, on the arm of a brunette man. “What happened to her?”

“Looks like I definitely chose the right woman,” Spike said, chuckling as Buffy giggled quietly before tensing up. “What is it, pet?”

“She’s with Parker,” she answered, tilting her head as she realized it was her ex-boyfriend. “He’s changed a little, but I guess a decade hasn’t made him look any hotter, has it?”

“Are you going to say hi to them?” Tara asked, and Buffy smiled up at Spike before looking at her friends.

“And rub it in Harmony’s face that Spike and I are married?” she asked. “You bet your ass I am.” Spike grabbed her hand before she could walk away and smirked.

“Play nice, kitten,” he said. “Don’t forget that you’re supposed to be a good role model for the kids.”

“They’re not here,” she replied, and he chuckled.

“Good point- have at it,” he said, allowing her to drag him over to the punch bowl, where Harmony and Parker were standing, along with Cordelia and Liam. The other couples looked at Buffy and Spike with surprised expressions.

“Hey,” Buffy said, leaning against Spike’s side. “Nice to see you again, Cordelia. You, too, Harmony.”

“You two are still together?” Harmony asked, and Buffy noticed that Parker’s face fell.

“Buffy?” he asked, and she looked at him, raising an eyebrow.

“Been a long time, Parker,” she said, and he nodded, still stunned to see her.

“You didn’t answer my question,” Harmony said, crossing her arms. “You’re still dating?”

“Happily married,” Buffy said, flashing her wedding ring in front of the other woman’s face. “For six years now.”

“With two gorgeous children,” Spike added, grinning. “They take after their mum.”

“I… congratulations,” Harmony managed to say, her jaw clenched. “I’m surprised it’s lasted this long.”

“Well, we’re very lucky,” Spike said, smiling at his wife. “I couldn’t imagine spending my life with anyone else.” Harmony turned on her heel, ready to storm off, but Buffy’s voice stopped her.

“And, Harmony?” Buffy said, giggling. “You look like hell.” Harmony scowled at her and dragged Parker away, even though he was still staring at Buffy. Spike turned to Angel and began talking to him, while Cordelia turned towards Buffy, giving her a small smile.

“You’re right- she really does look horrible,” she said. “And congratulations, you two- it’s nice to see that you stayed together.”

“Thank you,” Buffy said, shocked by the sincerity in Cordelia’s voice. “I’m glad you stuck by Liam, too.”

“We just got married last summer,” Cordelia replied. “I dated Xander Harris for a while in college, but then I realized Angel was my soul-mate.” She paused. “We should keep in touch, let our husbands hang out once in a while- they haven’t seen each other since college.”

“That’d be nice,” Buffy said sincerely, smiling.

“And I’m sorry for how I was in high school,” Cordelia said quietly. “You were always very sweet, and I wish things had been better- Harm and I made your life hell, didn’t we?” Buffy nodded, looking down. “Well, maybe I can make it up to you.” She winked at the blonde as their husbands looked at them.

“We should probably go to our table,” Spike said. “I’d bet Wesley and Fred are probably here somewhere, too.”

“We’ll see you around, then,” Cordelia said. “And remember what I said, Buffy.”

“I will,” she replied. “Thank you, Cordy.” The brunette couple walked away after saying goodbye, and Spike took Buffy’s hand in his.

“You alright?” he asked, and she nodded, smiling. “What’d she say to you?”

“She apologized for how she was in high school,” Buffy answered, shrugging. “It was nice.”

“Good,” he replied. “Because Liam asked if I would be a godfather to their upcoming baby.”

“She’s pregnant?” Buffy asked, raising an eyebrow. “She didn’t look like it.”

“She’s about three months along, I guess,” Spike said. “And I, of course, said I’d be honored.”

“Well, if you’d like, you could ask him the same question,” she said quietly, and his eyes widened. “Surprise!”

“You’re… you’re pregnant?” he asked, and his face lit up as she nodded. “Baby-” He hugged her close to him, kissing her passionately, ignoring the clapping around them. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I was waiting for a good time,” she replied, grinning. “I’m a few weeks behind Cordelia, but she and I should be big around the same time.” He chuckled and kissed her forehead.

“I love you,” he said, grazing her cheek. “I love you so much, Buffy.”

“I love you, too,” she said, leaning up to kiss him before they began to walk to their designated table. “Maybe we could stop at the Doublemeat Palace, for nostalgia’s sake.”

“I’m not letting my wife and unborn baby have garbage like that running through their bloodstreams,” he replied sternly, and she giggled.

“So protective,” she said, looking at the dreamy expression on his face as he idly ran his hand over her abdomen.

“Well, I told you once that I’d be your knight in shining armor,” he said, shrugging. “Guess it kind of stuck.” She giggled and kissed him, feeling as though her life was exactly how it was supposed to be.

‘Maybe I was made to love Spike,’ she thought, looking up at him. ‘And if that’s true, I couldn’t be happier.’



THE END