**** PART EIGHT

****

Buffy poured two glasses of coca cola and carried them to the living room, she handed one to Dawn.

"Thanks," Dawn took a sip of the soda, "He looks good."

"Yeah, he does." Buffy smiled.

"Oh yeah." Dawn grinned appreciatively.

"Dawnie!" Buffy feigned surprise, "You're a married woman!"

"But I'm not blind." Dawn broke into giggles.

Buffy joined her laughter, "It feels good with him here. I'm sure it won't last but it feels good." Buffy's voice was soft and wistful.

"It will last this time, Buffy." Dawn put both hands on her sister's shoulders, "You deserve this, it's time for you and the girls to have some happiness."

"That would be good and he really seems to want to be here. It's just scary, he says he won't leave, but he has before."

"That was before, Buffy. I think you've both changed now, it's time for you to be together." Dawn assured her with a yawn.

"I hope so." Buffy covered her own yawn with her hand. "I suppose we should go to bed."

"Good idea, I was thinking we could go to the zoo tomorrow. Then tomorrow evening I can help you get ready for the big date!" Dawn followed Buffy down the hall as they went to thier bedrooms.

"Sounds good, night, Dawn." Buffy told her as she went into the room.

"Night."

****

The zoo trip went off without a hitch, Dawn and Buffy enjoyed watching their children intract with each other and enjoying the animals. After lunch they returned home with exhausted children who all went down for long naps.

The children woke up in time to find Dawn helping Buffy pick out clothes for her evening out. "I just don't have anything to wear!" Buffy complained as she lay yet another outfit on her bed.

"You have lots of lovely things, Buffy. Anyway Spike could care less what you're wearing, you could wear a burlap bag," Dawn told her then switched to a terrible British accent, "And he would say 'doesn't she look beautiful?'"

Buffy grinned at her sister, "I suppose this would be okay." She held a simply cut black dress in front of her, "Just a little jewelry and some heels, this would be okay for dinner out?"

"It's perfect." Dawn agreed with her.

Buffy lay out the dress and her shoes and jewelry. She and Dawn then watched a movie with the kids and Dawn started their supper while Buffy showered and got ready.

Spike knocked on the door slightly after dark, he was dressed in dark slacks and blue button down shirt, he seemed almost nervous as Dawn let him in. He was carrying a small bouquet of flowers in his hand.

"Nice touch, Spike. She'll love them." Dawn patted his shoulder, "I'll go get her."

"Feel like I'm going to prom!" Spike complained as he took his seat on the couch.

"You love it." Dawn teased as she went down the hallway.

"You look nice, Mr. Spike." Brenna's voice came from the doorway to the kitchen.

"Thank you, Brenna. I'm gonna take your mommy out to dinner. Is that okay with you?" He helped the little girl up on the couch beside him.

"Yeah, it's okay. Aunt Dawn said we could play games and watch a new movie tonight." She scooted next to him, "Mommy pulled out all of her clothes from her closet today. She was fussing that she didnt' have anything to wear, but she has lots of clothes!" Brenna explained as Spike listened with a smile.

"Mommy is like that sometimes, but we love her don't we?"

"Yep." Brenna nodded in agreement.

**

"He's here, Buffy." Dawn stuck her head in Buffy's room.

"How do I look?" Buffy asked as she put in her earrings.

"You look lovely. That dress is perfect." Dawn hugged her sister, "Now go and have some fun."

Buffy grinned when she saw Brenna next to Spike on the couch explaining the intricacies of Candyland to him, "Hey." She called out softly.

Spike's eyes grew wide when he saw her, 'Hey. You look wonderful." He stood up and offered her the flowers.

"You do too. Thank you." She sniffed the bouquet, "These are lovely."

"I'll go put them in water for you." Dawn told her as she took the flowers, "Tierney come say bye to mommy."

Tierney came into the livingroom with Carson toddling beside her, she ran to her mommy and hugged her legs, "Bye mommy."

Brenna joined her, "Bye mommy. Bye Mr. Spike."

Buffy knelt down beside the little girls, "Bye girls, be good for Aunt Dawn."

"Now, shoo, out of here." Dawn waved them out the door.

****

"This is so nice," Buffy told Spike as she sipped her wine, " A real sit down restaruant."

"It is nice to go somewhere without a drive thru." Spike agreed as he cut his steak.

"I hope the girls are behaving for Dawn."

"I'm sure they are luv, they are great kids." Spike assured her.

"They really like you too." She smiled shyly now.

"I like them and their mother too." He reached across the table and touched her hand.

"I kind of like you too." She gave his hand a squeeze.

The next half hour was spent with talk of the girls and Dawn and her family. The conversation was easy and comfortable. When Spike leaned over to wipe a bit of red velvet cake off of Buffy's chin he couldn't resist and he gave her a gentle kiss on the lips.

"Well isn't this sweet, my poor dead brother's wife making out like a teenager in a restuarant." Deanna's shrill voice spoiled the moment.

Buffy pulled back from Spike horror and embarrassment on her face, "Deanna."

"Deanna!" A tall man from behind the woman called.

"Buffy, " the man began to shake his head apolgetically.

"Don't Jay, it's not your fault." Buffy began to shake her head.

Deanna turned to her husband glaring, "You can't approve of this?"

"Deanna, it's none of my business just like it's none of yours." Jay spoke calmly and deliberately to his wife.

"It is my business she was my brothers wife, the mother of his children and she's behaving like this, Deanna started off on her tirade but was interrupted.

"Deanna until the other night at the fair, you hadn't seen your brother's children in two years. It's a bit late to play worried aunt." Buffy replied icily.

Jay covered a smile, "Deanna lets go."

"You're going to let her talk to me like that?" Deanna turned to her husband.

"Yes, because it's long overdue. You've been cruel to Buffy any chance you get and it's wrong and as for your earlier question, yes I approve and so would David. He loved Buffy and would want her happy. Deal with it, Deanna." He turned to Buffy, "Best of luck to both of you." then back to his wife, " I'm leaving dear, if you want a ride you better come with me now."

Deanna's eyes grew wide, "I... I..I never...."

"Perhaps that's the reason for your attitude." Spike smirked at the woman.

Buffy held back a giggle as she watched Deanna walk off in a huff.

"Such a lovely woman." Spike said with such fake sincerity that Buffy could not hold in her giggles any longer.

When she had gained her composure, Spike asked for the check and they decided to take a walk along Beale Street. The sound of blues music floated out of the many clubs along the famous street. Spike held her hand as they walked, her mood had turned serious. "What's wrong, Buffy?"

She stopped and looked up at him, "Do you think that other people will think it's wrong that I'm moving on with my life?"

"Some might, but you're friends will be glad for you and there really the only ones that matter. Are you having second thoughts?" He tried to hide the worry in his voice.

"No, no second thoughts. In fact I think I'm ready to go see the new furniture at your apartment." She smiled at him trying to allay his worry.

"You sure?"

"Positive." She kissed him for emphasis.

The ride back to his apartment was quiet, Buffy sat as close to him as possible her head resting on his shoulder. Once there, he parked the car and opened her door for her. She followed him to the apartment. Her eyes widened with surprise when she saw the newly furnished apartment, "It's beautiful. You didn't need me at all." She gave him a faux pout.

"I always need you Buffy." He replied sweetly.

She lowered her eyes at the reply, "How do you do that?"

"What?" He asked with a shrug.

"Know just what to say, make me feel so good with your words." She took his hand, "Show me the apartment."

"Okay, heres the livingroom, and there's the diningroom," He led her to another room, "This is the kitchen."

"You've done a great job. I'm impressed." She squeezed his hand, "Now the only room left is the bedroom."

"Well, you see I've been thinking about that....I kind of think we might skip that room tonight and do that other thing you were talking about." He led her back into the livingroom.

Buffy looked confused, "What other thing?" She sat down next to him on the couch.

"That word thing...we need to do some talking. I need to know...we both need to know some things before we go any further." Spike's tone was serious but he was smiling letting her know it was all going to be okay.

"So you want to talk instead of..." She smiled back at him, "Okay, we can talk, it's just that after the other night I thought...you wanted."

"I did, I do want... but I want it to be right. I've been thinking about the girls and well, Brenna asked me about being her daddy."

"She mentioned that to me too." Buffy leaned back against the couch cushion, "I'm sorry if it made you uncomfortable, but she's just a little girl and I think she see's everyone around her with a daddy and she....."

"She wants one too, it didn't make me uncomfortable, Buffy. In fact it was nice....I didn't ever think I would have a chance, hell, that I would ever even want the chance to be a daddy." Spike took a deep breath, "But I think that I would like that, if things work out the way I want them to with us, I want to be there for the girls. I want us to be real family."

"You really want that?" Tears sprang to her eyes.

"Yeah, I do. But I need to know if that's okay with you. I mean you asked earlier about people thinking badly of you for moving on. I don't want you or anyone else to think I want them to forget their dad. I know he was a wonderful man, he was good to you and he loved his daughters. But I want to be there for them now." Spike looked into her eyes almost scared of what he would see there.

Her eyes shone with the unshed tears, "You're right, David loved me and he loved his daughters. That's why I know that he would be okay with this, he would want the girls to have someone to look after them and.....love them." She lay her head on his shoulder, "You really see us as a family someday?"

"I hope so, but that's why I'm not rushing you into anything, I just want it clear what I want to happen and make sure thats okay with you." He turned and kissed her forehead.

"It's more then okay with me, and you're right about the rushing. When it's right we'll know." She sighed, "It is okay to neck on the couch a little isn't it?" She grinned at him.

"I think so." He grinned back as his lips found hers.

An hour of fervent kissing passed before they pulled away from each other. Buffy sighed, "I think I should probably go, check on the girls. It's not that I don't want to stay..."

He pushed her hair back away from her face, "I know...I think it's a good idea for mommy to be home in the morning too. I'll take you home." He kissed her once more before they left.

**

"Buffy, what are you doing home? I thought you would probably be gone all night." Dawn had been asleep on the couch.

"No....we decided that maybe it wasn't quite time for that yet. We talked about the future and about the girls and what we want." Buffy explained with a smile, "It was nice."

"It sounds nice and very serious. So you talked about the future?" Dawn sat back down on the couch pulling a pillow into her lap.

"Yeah, he wants to be in our future, the girls and I. He wants to be a father to them. But we don't want to rush it."

"Good plan." Dawn hugged Buffy, "I think it's going to work out this time."

"I think maybe you're right." Buffy replied softly.

The next few days passed quickly, Dawn and Buffy enjoyed spending time with the kids and just visiting with each other. Dawn left feeling better about her sister then she had in a very long time, she made Buffy promise that she and Spike would go out on a real date all alone once in awhile and she agreed.

****

The weeks stretched into a few months. Buffy was happy at her new job and Spike was even doing some work for Angel in the area. Spike became a familiar face to Buffy's friends and coworkers, he helped with the kids and even went to the program the daycare put on, grinning at Tierney and Brenna as they sang "I'm a little teapot".

Things became easier yet more complicated at the same time between Buffy and Spike, they were very comfortable together, the words "I love you", passed between them easily. The problem was that both were afraid of letting the other know that they were ready to move to the next step, they were both afraid of being the 'pushy' one.

Spike spent the night before Brenna's fifth birthday party putting a small bicycle together for her. Dawn and her husband along with Carson came in to town for the party. When everyone except the family had left ,Spike took Brenna out in the dusky darkness and ran up and down the sidewalk holding on to the bike while she cried out "Don't let go, don't let go!" Then she squealed with joy when she realized he had let go and she was riding the bike by herself. Spike was as proud as any father could be when she took off by herself down the sidewalk and turned to come back towards him, "I'm riding it!" She told him with a thousand watt smile lighting her face.

Buffy and Dawn stood in the driveway watching, "He's so good with the girls, Buffy."

"I know. They really love him too." Buffy replied wistfully.

"What's wrong?" Dawn asked concerned.

"We decided to take it slow and now it's like we're stuck...things are so good now, we're afraid to go any further." Buffy shook her head, "Silly, huh?"

"No, just cautious. Maybe you need to tell him you're ready for the next step? He's probably as scared as you are." Dawn patted Buffy's arm.

"Maybe the next time we get some alone time, I'll talk to him." Buffy watched as Brenna rode the bike up in the driveway, Spike following her.

"Shawn and I can keep the girls tomorrow night, why don't you plan on talking to him then?"

"Actually, I think maybe I have a plan to show him that I'm ready. It would be great if you could keep the girls for me tomorrow night." Buffy smiled secretively.

"Luv, what's that look for? What are you two planning?" Spike asked as he put Brenna's bike in the garage.

"Us?" Dawn replied innocently, "Nothing."

Buffy nodded her head in agreement, "Nothing at all."

Spike said his goodbyes and kissed her goodnight. He went back to his apartment still feeling suspicious about she and Dawn's conversation.

****

The Next Evening

****

"That's what you're wearing?" Dawn frowned a little as Buffy entered the room.

"Yeah, I want to keep things simple." Buffy took another look in the mirror, "Do I look that bad?"

She was dressed in a simple white peasant top and jeans, very little makeup and her hair piled up and held with a clip.

"You look great, I just thought you might dress up more." Dawn smiled at her sister.

"Part of my going to Spike tonight is that I feel comfortable around him anytime and no matter how I'm dressed. I know he loves me no matter what." Buffy smiled brightly, "Now I'm going to check on the girls and go. Thanks so much for staying with them tonight." She hugged Dawn and left the room.

Both girls were sleeping soundly when she left the house. It was almost ten o'clock, Spike had worked tonight but he would be home by now. She knocked confidently on his door.

"Buffy?" He let her in, "I was just going to call you, I didn't expect to see you tonight. Is everythng alright?"

"Everything's fine. I just had to.......I wanted to tell you that I'm ready.." She hesitated momentarily.

"Ready for?" He asked hopefully.

"Ready to see that bedroom furniture." She replied chewing on her bottom lip.

"You're sure." He asked raising his eyebrow at her.

"I am." She answered taking his hand in hers and leading him towards the bedroom door.

Once in the room they both seemed to have lost some of their earlier confidence, "It does look good in here." Buffy said softly as she patted the quilt on the bed.

"Yeah, it does." Spike sat down on the bed.

Buffy cautiously sat down beside him, "Comfy." She commented as she bounced a little bit.

"Yes, but it has one flaw." Spike told her very seriously.

"What?"

"It's big and I get lonely." He gave her a sly smile as he reached for her.

"You won't be lonely tonight." She laughed softly into this lips.

****

PART NINE

*****

Disclaimer: The poem excerpts in this chapter are Love's Philosophy by Percy Blysshe Shelley and She Walks in Beauty by Lord Byron.

Their kisses became more fervent and Buffy pulled back for a moment to start unbuttoning Spike's shirt. He let her remove the shirt and then reached for her dress, she lifted her arms and he pulled it over her head tossing it on the chair with his shirt. "The rest of them." She nodded towards his pants, he grinned as he stood and pulled them off leaving them to lie in the floor. He stood before her in his naked glory and she began to laugh, his expression turned to confusion, "Whats so funny?"

"I guess in your case, the answer is still 'none of the above' to that boxers or brief's question."

He laughed softly, "Don't need them just another obstacle to get past, like this." He reached behind her and undid her bra tossing it to the floor with her pants.

"And these." She wriggled out of her panties tossing them aside.

He pulled her close to him then, enjoying the feel of her bare skin against his chest, they sat on the edge of the bed like that for several moments just enjoying the embrace. "I really missed you." He whispered into her hair.

"I missed you too." She whispered back against his chest.

He lay her down gently then, kissing every inch of her from her eyelids to cheeks, the tip of her nose, her lips, her chin, he worked his way down her throat to her full breasts, she arched and moved under him as he nipped and kissed her. She ran her hands through his curls, pulling him up to her mouth again so she could devour him with kisses.

Hands roamed over familiar bodies and sighs became moans. Whispered 'I love you's' filled the rooms and after several hours passed they lay in the big bed cocooned under the quilt tightly wrapped in each other's arms. She lazily traced random circles on his chest with her fingertip as he quoted poetry to her from Byron, "She walks in beauty like the night. Of cloudless chimes and starry skies. And all that's best of dark and bright. Meets in her aspect and her eyes" Which Buffy proclaimed as lovely to - Shelley's "Love's Philosophy" He quoted the last verse in his strong voice.

"See! the mountains kiss high heaven,
And the waves clasp one another;
No sister flower would be forgiven
If it disdained it's brother;
And the sunlight clasps the earth,
and the moonbeams kiss the sea:-
What are all these kissings worth,
If thou kiss not me?"

Buffy rolled on top of him and kissed his soundly. Another hour later finally exhausted they fell asleep still in each other's arms. Buffy slept more contentedly then she had in the last two years. Spike woke first smiling down at her in the crook of his arm. He looked at he clock and saw three o'clock glaring back at him, as much as he hated to leave this little bit of heaven, he shook her softly to wake her, "Buffy, luv. Wake up."

"Hmmm." She opened one eye, "Hey....." She opened both eyes and smiled her hair tousled from lovemaking.

"I need to get you home before daylight. I think it's probably a good idea if you're there when the girls wake up." He kissed her lightly as he got out of the bed.

"You're probably right. Thank you...for thinking about them." She stood and kissed him as she began to look for her clothes.

"We have a little time though, are you hungry?" He asked as he pulled on his pants.

"Well, now that you mention it, I guess I have worked up an appetite."

He watched as she ran his hairbrush through her tangled locks the simple act filled his heart with happiness. She caught him staring, "I'm sorry, I didn't think." She sat the brush down suddenly shy again.

"No, use it. I'm just happy you felt comfortable using it. You're welcome to anything here, Buffy." He smiled at her, "I'm going to cook you some eggs and toast and then I'll get you home."

"Thanks." She finished dressing and joined him in the kitchen where he had two plates sat at the counter, "Smells yummy."

"Have a seat and we'll eat." He motioned towards the barstool and poured her some juice.

"You keep lots of food for someone who really doesn't need it." She told him as she took a bite of eggs.

"Never know when I might have company." He smiled back at her as he bit into his slice of toast.

"Ah, so you have breakfast company frequently?" She raised her eyebrows.

"Actually you're the first."

"And I better be the only." She flashed a grin at him.

"A jealous girl.....I think I like that." He laughed softly.

She rolled her eyes at him, "This is nice." She took a sip of her orange juice.

"Well, it's nothing fancy just a bit of breakfast." Spike shrugged.

"No, not the breakfast," She shook her head and continued, "Yes, the breakfast is nice, but the just sitting here together, just 'being' it's nice."

"It is. Think I could get used to it." He happily agreed.

They finished breakfast and she insisted on helping him wash the few dishes, "I'm not ready to leave you yet, lets get the dishes done and then I'll go."

"Alright, Luv, not really wanting you to leave either, but it's for the best." He kissed the top of her head as she began to wash the dishes.

After she had put the last dish away she sighed, "It's getting close to sunrise, I guess I better go."

"Yeah, but there will be other nights." He leaned his forehead against hers.

"Promise?" She leaned against him.

"I do." He smiled to himself he really liked the sound of those words.

Spike drove her home and watched as she let heself into the house before driving back to his apartment feeling lighter and happier then he had in years.

*****

Two months later

****

Buffy and Spike sat on a bench watching Brenna and Tierney play in the sandbox. It was a warm night and there were a couple of other families enjoying the park too. Spike patted his pocket repeatedly, he had three special gifts inside and was just waiting for the right moment to talk to Buffy.

"That's mine." Brenna called out as a boy took her sand bucket from her and started to walk away.

"It's mine now." The little boy shouted back.

"No, it's mine." Brenna stood and pulled on the bucket, the little boy fell into the sand on his bottom.

"I'm gonna tell my daddy, you pushed me down." The bully smirked at Brenna, still holding her bucket.

"I didn't push you, you took my bucket." Brenna frowned.

Spike and Buffy had witnessed part of the scuffle and were now headed towards the sandbox.

The little boy noticed them coming towards them, "Is that your dad? Cause my dad's much bigger, he could beat him up."

Before Brenna could answer, Spike stepped in, "Here now, give her back her bucket."

"He said his dad could beat you up." Brenna offered as the boy grudgingly handed her the bucket.

"He did. Well I don't think it's gonna come to that." Spike leaned over and picked Tierney up from the sandbox then took Brenna's hand in his.

"Your dad's a chicken." The little boy laughed behind them.

Brenna pulled her hand free and ran back to the little boy kicking him in the shin before Spike or Buffy could stop her. "He's not a chicken!"

The little boys father had heard the last part of the conversation and was approaching them, "I'm sorry she shouldn't have kicked him." Buffy took Brenna's hand firmly in hers, "We don't kick."

"He'll be fine, he shouldn't have been teasing her, I'm sorry." The man apologized and took the little boys hand leading him away.

"Got to admit she did have good aim, she's her mother's daughter." Spike whispered on the way out of the park. Buffy shook her head at him.

"Why did you kick him, Brenna?" Buffy asked as they loaded into the car.

"He said my dad......Mr. Spike was a chicken. I know he's not my daddy but.....that made me mad." Brenna crossed her arms across her chest.

"Well, hitting people isn't a good way to deal with things when you're unhappy." Buffy told her seriously.

"Like I said she's her mother's daughter." Spike mumbled under his breath earning a glare from Buffy.

When they arrived home, Buffy bathed the girls and let Spike read them a book before tucking them in. He sat down on the couch and dug into his pocket, now was as good as time as any he supposed. "Buffy, can you come here. I need to ask you something."

She came into the livingroom with an armful of towels, "Just a minute I want to put these in the laundry room."

"This will only take a minute." He grinned at her.

She sat down, the dirty laundry on her lap.

He took a very deep breath, "I know we said we didn't want to rush, but I think things are going well and I can't find a reason to put this off. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?" He opened his hand and revealed a diamond engagement ring sitting in his palm.

Buffy stared at the ring for a moment, "You're asking me to marry you?"

"Yes. I love you, people in love get married." He gave her a worried smile, she hadn't answered yet.

" After you've implied my daughter gets violent tendencies from me and I'm sitting her in sweat pants and my hair tied up, dirty laundry in my lap and this is when you propose?" She giggled nervously.

"I thought about a nice romantic dinner but earlier at the park, I realized that this is our life, the kids and baths and reading time and laundry and." He took her hand in his, 'You haven't answered and I'm not being pushy but....."

She pushed the laundry into the floor and crawled into his lap, "Yes, I will marry you." She peppered his face with kisses. He took her hand in his and slid the ring on her left hand.

"Do you think the girls are awake still?" Spike asked between kisses.

"Probably, why?" Buffy still sat on his lap.

"I have something for them and I want to make sure this is okay with them." He fumbled in his pocket and pulled out two small charm bracelets with silver hearts hanging on them.

"They'll love them and they love you, it's going to be okay. Let's go check on them." He followed her to the girls room.

"Brenna, Tierney. " Buffy could hear them whispering.

"We're going to sleep, mommy." Brenna assured her mom as Buffy turned on the light.

"It's okay, we need to talk to you." Buffy and Spike sat on the end of Tierney's bed, Buffy offered her hand to Brenna who joined them.

"See this pretty ring on mommy's hand?" Spike showed the girls the engagement ring, "I gave that to mommy because I love her and I want to be a family with her and you. We're going to get married. Is that okay?"

"You're going to be my daddy?" Brenna asked a hopeful expression on her face.

"If that's okay with you." Spike nodded at her, "In fact I got one of these for you and Tierney. It's like your mommy's ring." He fastened the small bracelet around Brenna's wrist, "This is a gift to you to show you how much I love you. Thats what the heart stands for."

Brenna stared at the bracelet and smiled. "Thank you." She crawled over Buffy and put her arms around his neck, "I knew you were going to be my daddy, I knew it." She whispered as she hugged him tightly.

He put Tierney's bracelet on her arm and she grinned at him . After many hugs, they tucked the girls back into the bed and turned out the light, "Night mommy, night Mr.Sp......daddy." Brenna called out as they left the room.

Spike wiped at his eyes as they left the room, Buffy smiled at him, "Something in your eye, honey?" She teased softly.

"Yeah, must be dust or something." He smiled as he pulled her close to him.

TBC

Part 10:

Spike sat on the couch holding Buffy close to him, "The girls do seem happy, don't they?"

She looked at him love shining in her eyes, "Yes they are happy, I knew they would be." She tried to cover a yawn. It was late and they had made several phone calls to announce thier news.

"I'll go, you're tired." He kissed the top of her head.

"Can I just sit here beside you awhile? It's nice, you're a great pillow." She closed her eyes as she cuddled against him.

He laughed softly, "Sounds good to me." He made himself more comfortable and he watched her sleep. Thinking about the earlier reactions from friends and family.

Dawn had screamed excitedly so loudly he could hear her from where he sat. Angel had quietly accepted the news with sincere congratulations, Xander and Willow were both surprised yet supportive and Giles....Giles had sighed and then wished them the best. They had all promised to be there for the wedding.

***

As the sunset, the bride walked into the garden behind the Dixon Gallery, she was preceded by

Brenna and Tierney in matching pastel blue dresses they threw white rose petals down the pathway and both of them grinned up at Spike while they stood to the side. Buffy dressed in an ivory lace tea lengh dress, her hair up, a small bouquet of white roses and baby's breath in her hands she joined Spike in front of the Justice of the Peace.

The vows were simple and sincere. The "I do's" said with such love and sincerity that Willow and Dawn sighed and teared up. Even Xander and Giles had to smile at the look of complete happiness on the couples faces.

A small reception was held at their house, where family and friends congratulated the happy couple and caught up with each other's lives. Buffy and Spike kissed Brenna and Tierney goodbye before leaving for a short honeymoon. Dawn was staying with the girls.

Buffy pulled the satin robe tighter around her as she stood on the balcony of their hotel room, a glass of champagne in her hand while she stared at the full moon. Spike joined her in his matching robe, the robes were gifts from Dawn. He wrapped his arms around her lying his head on her shoulder. "Happy?"

"Ecstatic." She murmured as she sat the glass down and turned into him, lying her head on his chest, "Tell me it's going to be perfect like this all the time." She smiled against him.

"Can't do that, luv. We promised to be completely honest." He smiled back at her, "I can however promise that even when things go off and imperfect, I'm going to be there trying my best to make them right again."

"That's fair enough." She ran her hands under his robe and on to his smooth chest, placing small kisses on the exposed skin.

The rest of the night was spent in perfection.........

*****

Epilogue

*****

Years later.........

"Spike, honey, you need to talk to her. Explain how you feel." Buffy kissed his shoulder.

"Won't change her mind, she's still going." Spike replied sullenly.

"No, it won't change her mind." Buffy smiled at her husband, "But it might make it easier for her if she knows why you don't want her to go. You really don't want her to go off to college with the two of you at odds, do you?"

He turned around to face her, "No, I don't. I want to know why you are so calm about this? You who have dealt with blood and guts, fainted when she broke her arm. But she can go a thousand miles off to college and you're okay with it."

"I'm calm because one of us has to be. I'm going to miss her but I know in my heart this is right, she's worked so hard for this scholarship and she's going to be a wonderful doctor. She wants to do cancer research and who knows maybe she'll make a huge breakthrough someday. In your heart you know it's the right thing too, you just don't want your little girl here where you can keep an eye on her." She leaned up and kissed his cheek.

"I'm going outside for a minute." He kissed the top of her head, "Be right back."

"Okay. Don't take too long, we've got to leave for the airport soon." She patted his arm as he left.

****

Spike stood against the farside of the garage as he lit the cigarette. It glowed red in the dusky darkness. He felt before he heard the small footsteps coming around the corner, "I said I'd be in

in just a minute." He really hated for Buffy to catch him smoking, he didn't do it very often anymore only when he was under stress and sending Brenna off to North Carolina for college counted as stress.

"It's me." Tierney raised her eyes at him she saw the cigarette.

"Oh, you've come to nag at me?" He grinned at the teenager in front of him. She was a pretty sixteen year old, petite like her mother with golden blond hair hanging down her back.

"No, not to nag, but just to tell you Brenna wants to talk to you." Tierney leaned against the garage wall, "She's been crying...she thinks maybe you'll never forgive her."

"She's crying?" His voice softened, couldn't stand to see any of his girls cry.

"Yes, I told her you were just being 'daddy' though. You just hate letting us out of your sight. Scared something might happen to us out there in that big bad world." Tierney sighed.

"You're going to miss her too, aren't you?" Spike asked ruffling the girls hair the way he had done when she was little.

"Yes, I am. But Brenna's smart she'll be okay. Are you going to be this bad when I leave?" She asked seriously.

"Depends, where do you plan on going to college?" He asked raising his eyebrow.

"Oh...I don't plan on going to college, think I'll just find some guy in a rock band and be his groupie, write you postcards from around the country." She gave him a smirk worthy of himself and then burst into giggles.

"You are a cruel child." He laughed along with her, "You know I love you and Brenna and just want the best don't you?" His tone was serious again.

"Yes, daddy, I do. Now go talk to her, her bed is covered with her luggage so she's crying on 'my' pillow!" She gave him a gentle push towards the house.

"Fine." He ground out the cigarette and carefully picked up the butt putting it in the trashcan.

"Why do you do that? Mom knows you smoke sometimes, she just lets you think you're getting away with it." Tierney shook her head at the relationship between her parents, she hoped someday to find happiness the way they had.

They went into the house, Buffy smiling at Tierney and mouthing "Thanks" as she watched Spike walk down the hall to Brenna's room.

***

He knocked lightly on the bedroom door, he could hear her sniffling as she called out, "Come in."

"Hey." He called out as he entered the room.

"Hey." She answered as she sat up and wiped her eyes.

"I guess I'm responsible for those tears?" He asked softly as he sat beside her on the bed.

She just nodded and looked at her fingernails.

"Brenna, I'm sorry. I know I've been hard on you lately. I just........I just hate to see you go so far away. I'll miss you and I'm gonna worry so much." He sighed as he ran his hand through her dark hair.

"I know you'll miss me daddy. But I'm going to be fine. Mom and you have taught me what I need to know. You did your job well you should be happy!" She gave him a small smile.

"Part of the problem is that I still want you to be the little girl that drew this," He opened his wallet and pulled out a yellowed paper and unfolded it, in childish scrawl was written 'Happy Father's Day, love Brenna' she had drawn a stick figure with bright yellow hair.

"You still have that?" Brenna asked in surprise.

"Of course," he smiled at her and then touched the charm bracelet on her wrist, it had several links added to it through the years but she still wore the bracelet faithfully, "You still have this."

She smiled at him her eyes brimming with a different type of tears now, "Of course I do. You and mom seem to think that somehow it's a miracle that you two found each other again. Me....I've known since I was four years old you were going to be my daddy so really it's because of me you're together!" She laughed softly, " I love you...but I really do have to do this, I have to go."

"I know you do sweetheart, I've been stubborn. I just want you to be careful and it would probably be a good idea to stay away from men while you're there." He tried to keep his expression serious.

"Daddy!" She exclaimed as she hugged his neck tightly.

"I'm serious, if you go near one I'll be able to smell him, when we visit." Spike warned her with a grin.

"Mom is so right, that vampire smelling thing is gross." Brenna pulled away from him. She and Tierney had first been told about Spike's "sun allergy" when they were very young, when they were a little older the whole truth was revealed. Both little girls loved their daddy so much that this little twist never bothered them.

"I'll help you carry your bags out now." He stood and grabbed a suitcase.

Buffy and Tierney were waiting in the livingroom, Buffy smiled as she watched Spike coming down the hallway, suitcase in hand. The trip to the airport was one of the hardest trips the parents had ever made. After a tearful goodbye to Brenna, they dropped Tierney off at a friends house and went home to the quiet house.

"She's going to be fine." Buffy told him as she settled into the bed next to him, "Are you?"

"Yeah, I'll be okay." He turned to her gathering her up in his arms till her head rested on his shoulder, her arm across his chest, "I love you, you know that?" He smiled as he played with a lock of her hair.

"Yes, I do." She snuggled even closer, "I love you too."

And through the coming years....graduations and weddings and births and loss of loved ones. Their love is what sustained them....at times Spike worried how he would get by when Buffy's time ended and he was left behind but he knew he would find a way to go on for the children and the grandchildren and as always it would be "For Her".

THE End