He blinked a couple of times until the image came into focus. Her fingers twitched a bit as she too started to awake. She nestled her face against his throat, fighting off awareness, but it was inevitable. Slowly, but surely, she started to stir, her nose trailed down his neck, across his collarbone to reach his shoulder. She opened her eyes and met his. Almost immediately a smile spread over her lips.
“Morning.” She murmured, her voice hoarse from sleep.
“Actually, it’s closer to evening.” He replied with a smirk, while his left hand delved into her locks.
She closed her eyes for a second and leaned into his touch.
“Nice to find you’re still here.” He couldn’t help noting. “Usually, right about now you’re halfway across town-“
“Virtue fluttering. I know… I’m sorry.” She whispered, rolling over so she was now lying on top of him. “I’ve been a real bitch, haven’t I?”
“Well…” He looked sideways as if trying to remember a particular moment in time and then suddenly looked at her and said matter-of-factly: “Yeah.”
“I’m sorry.” She mewled again, coming down to capture his lips with hers.
It was supposed to have been a short, innocent kiss but, as Spike rested his hand on the back of her neck, pulling her closer and opening his mouth, it grew deeper. Their tongues came into play and soon he had her gasping for air. After a few seconds, when her breathing became a bit too erratic, he let her up.
“You’re forgiven.” He breathed, watching her flushed face while she drew deep, hard breaths into her lungs.
She smiled down at him and let her mouth drop to his chest. She planted a series of small kisses on the soft skin before she rolled off of him to lie once more at his side.
“What time is it?” She asked.
“About seven or eight.” He replied.
“Oh, my God!” She gasped sitting up, her eyes darting around to find her clothes.
“Let me guess. You’re late.” He groaned disappointed.
She stopped and turned to see the hurt on his face. She smiled and crawled up next to him.
“Actually, *we* are late.”
The vampire frowned.
“We have to help Giles back at the Magic Box.”
He cocked up a scarred eyebrow.
“We?”
“Yes, we. If we’re going to be an official couple you’re going to have to help out my friends.” She explained matter-of-factly.
At that, the smug look on Spike’s face faded to be replaced by a serious and anxious one.
“A couple? An official couple?”
“Yeah? What’d you expect?” She continued to talk as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
“You’re going to tell your chums about us?” His finger alternated between pointing at her and at himself.
“Yeah.” She repeated.
His eyes narrowed at that.
“What’s the catch?” He questioned, not totally convinced.
“No catch.” She insisted.
Her chin rested on his chest, while her fingers traced circles over the pale skin that covered his sternum.
“So when is the big revelation going to occur?”
“Well… I wasn’t planning on doing it right away-“
“There’s the catch.” He muttered, rolling his eyes.
“Will you listen to me? I can’t just drop the bomb on Giles like that. He just had his shop completely destroyed. I don’t want to have him worrying about… us.”
“Why would he worry about us? Ever thought he would actually think it’s natural?” He questioned.
“Natural? You?” Her finger pointed at him, before turning to herself. “And me? Together?” It turned to indicate the bed they lay on. “Doing the nasty?” She scrunched up her nose. “He’s pretty much gonna have a major coronary. Believe me. I know Giles.”
“Fine.” He grumbled.
“Oh, come on. Don’t be that way.” She begged, pouting a bit. “I promise I’ll tell him as soon as the Magic Box is fixed up.”
Once more he narrowed his eyes at her untrustingly.
“I promise!” She insisted.
There was a moment of pause and she could tell he was still unconvinced.
“Look, I don’t go around telling everyone I love them. Sleeping around and having wild, animal sex with vampires, yes. Saying I love you, no.”
“Good to know.” He couldn’t help but chuckle.
“I mean it, Spike. I wanna be with you.” She paused, lying down beside him.
She rolled onto her side, turning her back to him as her arm pulled his so he was spooning up against her back.
“And I want all my friends to know. When they’re ready.”
She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply when she felt him nuzzle his face into her hair for a second before his lips found her earlobe.
“We really should go.” She said a bit breathless.
“Huh?” His mind had hazed up the moment she had turned on her side; her marvellous backside rubbing against his crotch.
He breathed in her scent while his teeth nibbled on her skin.
“We have to help out…” She trailed off when his tongue delved into the labyrinth of her ear. “That’s good…” She moaned.
“Mmm…” He hummed, trusting his hips against her ass, his hard cock slipping between her thighs.
“That’s even better…” She gasped, grinding her backside against him. “Spooning is good…” She managed to say as his erection pushed between the soaked lips of her sex.
She held her breath while he positioned the head of his cock at her opening. She waited for him to make a move but he didn’t. His right hand came around to gruffly cup her breast, rolling her pebbled nipple between his index finger and his thumb. When he refused to move his hips, Buffy was forced to push back and with one swift, fluid motion he was sheathed inside of her.
The two gasped in unison as they started to rock together.
~+~
A smile spread over her lips as she watched the two cuddling shapes.
“Finally…” She murmured.
“Checking on the nether ones again, are we?”
She jumped up slightly, surprised by the male voice coming from behind her. She turned to look at the tall blond that came to stand next to her.
“Jesus, Adrian! Lurk much?” She sighed, her attention drifting back to the couple under the sheets.
“The Slayer and the vamp are back together?” He asked raising a perfectly shaped eyebrow.
Her smile grew as she nodded.
“Never thought of you as a voyeur.” Adrian noted watching the couple.
“What?” She frowned, looking closely at the two. Her face immediately scrunched up in disgust as their movements became more obvious. “They’re going at it AGAIN? God, they’re like bunnies.” She grumbled and with one swift move of her hand the image before them disappeared into a flood of white light. “And why did they have to do it in MY bed?” She added, crossing her arms over her chest and pouting.
“It’s not your bed anymore, Samara.” Adrian pointed out with a grin.
She menacingly narrowed her eyes at him.
“It *is* my bed. *I* bought it.” She mumbled.
“Well, it’s not really your bed if you can’t go anywhere near it anymore. Remember your little agreement with the Boss.”
She shook her head before exhaling sharply. The two began to walk down the white-lit path.
“Not fair.”
“Well, you’re the one who decided to piss her off.” Adrian continued to speak as the two strolled together. “You know good and well we can’t interfere with the lives of the nether ones.”
“Yeah, but if I hadn’t interfered we’d be pretty screwed right about now!” Sam exclaimed pointing her index finger at him triumphantly.
“Yes, and that’s the only reason you’re not stuck in some forsaken, puny, little in-between plane right now.” Adrian agreed.
“I still don’t know why I can’t go back there. Just one more time.” She argued. “I mean, they’re all going to think I’m dead or something. They’re gonna mourn me and-“
“They didn’t look too grief-stricken to me.” Adrian threw her a smug grin.
“You can just wipe that smirk off your face.” She warned him. “I’m telling you, I’m going to find a way to get back there.” She said confidently.
“You’re going to get yourself into some big trouble with the Boss.”
“Well, *she* can just bite my pretty little-“
Samara was cut short as a powerful shockwave passed through them. Bringing her eyebrows together for an apologetic frown, she said:
“Sorry.” Then she leaned into Adrian and whispered: “I *am* going to find a way.”
“I bet you will.” He chuckled as a bright light engulfed them.
~+~
“It’s about time the two of you showed up.” Anya grumbled when the vampire and the slayer walked into the ruins of the Magic Box.
Night had fallen and what was left of the room was bathed in shades of blue and black. The group was gathered in the destroyed room. Tara and Willow were picking up a large rock off the floor while Giles wiped his brow with a handkerchief.
“We kinda got sidetracked.” Buffy explained as she watched the Xander and Dawn haul the last debris out of the room. The only things left were two large steel bars. “What can we do?” She asked bringing her hands together.
“You can start by carrying those out of here.” Anya practically ordered pointing at the fallen steal.
“Right on it.” Spike piped up with a huge smile.
“And why are you so chipper?” Xander frowned as he returned to the room.
“Just happy to help.” Spike replied, bending down to pick up the large steal beam with Buffy.
“Since when?” Xander questioned.
He Spike ignored him and lifted the metal with Buffy’s aid. The two made it look almost effortless.
“I wish I had super strength.” Dawn complained, dropping down to the floor in exhaustion, watching as her sister and the vampire carried their cargo out and loaded it onto a pickup truck outside.
They were back and working on the second beam. Soon the room was cleaned out.
“What now?” Spike asked a bit too anxious to aid.
“Ok, helpful-upbeat Spike is freaking me out.”
The blond rolled his eyes at Xander.
“Xander!” Anya stepped in, yanking at her fiancé’s sleeve and hissed: “No pissing off the free manual labour. Especially the only *super strength*, free, manual labour that works all the way through the night.”
Xander sighed.
“Fine.” Turning to face the rest of the group he added: “We have to go over to the construction site and see if we can smuggle some of the heavy machinery out. We’re gonna need it to fix that.” He pointed at the large crack on the floor.
~+~
The days went by and slowly the building started to look like it had before the big confrontation. The gang worked day in and day out and, eventually, the fracture on the floor was fixed, the walls and the ceiling had been rebuilt.
“Anya, pass me the hammer, please!” Xander shouted from his spot between the wooden beams that held part of the roof.
The ex-demon took the tool and put it in the bucket. Pulling at the rope, it was lifted in the air by the rudimentary pulley system they had devised.
“I still don’t think letting Xander repair the ceiling on his own was a good idea.” Giles expressed his concern for the 1000th time in the space of three weeks.
“It looks pretty solid to me.” Dawn pointed out as she looked up at her friend, hammering a few nails into place.
“For now…” Giles sighed, taking off his glasses and cleaning them.
“Relax, Giles. Everything’s going to work out.” Willow tried to reassure the shopkeeper, even though she had her own worries about the stability of the entire structure.
They had all frowned and doubted that the young man could pull off the plans by himself, but he had surprised them all with his knowledge of engineering.
The redhead returned to her place next to Tara, helping her work on the linoleum floor.
Giles shook his head and also returned to the task with the two Wiccas.
“Where have Spike and Buffy gone off to? Again?” Anya protested as she carried in the tin cans.
“They went outback to get the rest of the linoleum sheets for the floor.” Dawn explained. “Anya, is that really the colour you want on the walls?” She questioned when she saw the content of the cans they had bought.
They had spent over three hours in the hardware store debating over the colours to use on the walls. Anya’s first choice? Bright green. Giles had practically choked to death at the sight of it. After a long argument they had settled on lavender. It was still hideous, but not as stomach-turning and nauseating as the panoply of colours that had preceded their final choice.
“Yes!” Anya replied, ignoring the disgusted look on Dawn’s face as she dipped the brush into the tin can. “Now, where’s my free super-strength manual labour?” She whined.
~+~
“Spike, we have to go- Oh, God!” She gasped as he pushed her against the wall and lifted her off the ground.
Almost instantly, he pushed the puny material of her thong aside and was buried inside of her.
“You’re insatiable.” She managed to moan as he pumped in and out of her.
One arm was wrapped around her, holding her in place, while the other wormed its way between their bodies to rub her clit.
“It’s what you do to me, pet.” He muttered in her ear, nibbling on it.
They had just ended round number two of the day, she had finished putting on her thong and was flattening her skirt down. She was saying something about having to go somewhere, but the sight of her bending over to pick up the large sheets of linoleum, her perfectly shaped ass swaying in the air made the borrowed blood in his body rush South. Without thinking, he spun her around and had her pinned against the wall.
Now, he moved languidly in and out of her. He couldn’t get enough of her. Her sight, her voice, her scent, her breath coming in hard pants on his neck… all of it was intoxicating. Addictive.
“We’re constantly disappearing… Spike…” She tried to speak, but the feel of him thrusting into her made it almost impossible to speak coherently. “We have to stop sneaking out to… Ah! There! Right there!” She swallowed hard, trying to concentrate. “T-the guys are going to get suspicious… Oh, God! Don’t stop!”
“Christ, pet.” He gasped against her neck as her walls clamped down around him as she neared her release.
“They’re already…” A moan interrupted her phrase. “…wondering about… Faster! That’s it… right there… about my… Faster… newly-found love of skirts. Oh, GOD!” She exhaled sharply one last time, grinding her teeth together as she came.
Her nails dug into the black leather covering his back, her legs tightened around his waist while her muscles fluttered around his cock bringing him to the brink and precipitating his orgasm.
They clung together in a breathless heap of limp muscles and sweaty skin as they came down.
“We have to go…” She whispered letting one leg drop to the floor and then the other.
Her arms were still wrapped around his neck as he nuzzled against her throat.
~+~
The two walked into the room carrying the linoleum sheets. Buffy trailed behind the vampire, trying to hide her flushed face.
“Finally! We were thinking some big nasty had gotten to you.” Dawn sighed as she rolled the paint onto the walls.
“That colour is hideous.” The vampire supplied, setting the sheets next to Tara and Willow.
“That’s what I’ve been telling her.” Giles sighed, shaking his head. What were they doing to his shop?
“I think I could get used to it.” Xander said, trying to be supportive to his soon-to-be-wife while he picked up one of the linoleum boards and set it into its place.
“I can’t believe it’s almost done.” Anya said giddily. “You know what that means?”
Xander smiled affectionately:
“Are you still sure you want to have the wedding here?”
She nodded emphatically.
“And you don’t want to invite anyone besides the gang?”
“Yes!” She stopped painting the wall and turned to look at her fiancé. “No one, but us.” She pointed at the gang with the dripping brush.
“What made you change your mind?” Dawn wondered. “I mean, you wanted this huge wedding, with all the gift-baring guests…”
“I just got this sinking feeling during that night...” She trailed off, but everyone knew she was referring to the night of the confrontation. “… not to invite anyone else.”
“My parents were kinda-“
“Especially not family!” She cut Xander off.
The brunette simply shrugged.
“Well, they weren’t too pissed.” He stopped for a second, contemplating the issue. “Actually, they were a bit relieved to be getting out of the expensive gift-giving event.” Xander explained.
“I just want a simple, short ceremony in my-“
Giles cleared his throat at that.
“-in our newly restored Magic Box.” She smiled as she finished her sentence and leaned in to kiss her future husband.
Dawn simply rolled her eyes and continued to paint with a smiling Anya at her side.
“Goddess, I’m tired.” Tara breathed sitting back and brushing the sweat away from her forehead with the back of her hand.
“And hungry.” Willow added.
“Whose turn is it to go on food duty?” Dawn questioned.
“We’ll go!” Buffy and Spike offered immediately, not giving anyone a chance to protest as they were out the door.
“Great super-strength help they turned out to be.” Anya grumbled.
“They didn’t even ask what we wanted.” Xander pouted.
“It’s always pizza anyway.” Willow shrugged.
“Could they be any more obvious?” Dawn sighed.
“Some people find it stimulating… The hiding.” Anya supplied.
“Obvious about what?” Xander asked with a frown.
“Nothing, honey.” The ex-demon said patting her fiancé’s back. “In your case, it’s more a matter of being oblivious.”
“Huh?”
The two witches, in the distance, giggled at Xander’s confusion while Giles simply shook his head and cleaned his glasses.
Epilogue
The new training room was barely recognisable covered in the decorations for the wedding. Long, white threads of fabric were intertwined into the wooden beams of the ceiling. They tumbled down at the sides, like thin individual curtains, to form a long corridor at the centre of the room. The passage, which lead to a small altar-like structure, was lined with white and yellow petals and a series of small orange candles were placed at the end of each individual curtain, distant enough from the fabric so it would catch on fire. Finally, six chairs were lined in front of the altar, three on each side of the aisle.
“Is everything ready?” Willow asked giddily. She was so excited; her best friend was getting married today.
“I hope we didn’t forget anything.” Tara spoke.
“Chairs, altar, petals, curtains, candles… I think that’s everything.” Dawn counted off her mental check-list.
The three girls eyed each other for a few seconds until the two witches called out in unison:
“The priest!”
“Oh, God! We forgot the priest!” Willow said nervously.
“Calm down. I phoned Buffy to ask her to go by the church and get the priest.” Dawn explained. “But the way she and Spike are going at it, we’ll be lucky if we get the priest here around this time tomorrow.” The brunette sighed and got a sympathetic look from the two witches.
“But they look so cute together. Running around hiding.” Tara piped up.
“You say that cause you’re not the one who has to go home with them.” Dawn muttered.
“They go home together?” Willow frowned. “Not too good at the sneaking around, are they?”
“No. They don’t come home together. Basically, Buffy and I get home, she tries to get me to go to bed as early as possible and then she locks herself in her bedroom, waiting for her knight in shining armour.” The teen mocked. “Do they think I’m completely deaf?”
Willow tilted her head as she came to closer to Dawn and ran her hand over her cheek in sympathy.
“I feel for you, sweetie.”
Dawn smiled at that and wrinkled her nose.
“It’s not that bad. I’m actually grateful that those two actually decided to-“
Tara and Willow’s widened eyes shut her up and she turned to find Buffy and Spike walking into the room.
“Hey. What are you guys doing?” Buffy asked somewhat flushed as she tried to flatten her cashmere skirt, which was slightly wrinkled.
‘Guess why.’ Dawn rolled her eyes.
“Wow! This place is looking great.” The Slayer applauded, walking around to examine the room.
“You like it?” Tara asked.
“It looks amazing!” Buffy assured.
“Great job. How’d you get those up there?” Spike questioned, leaning against the wall and pointing at the curtains that dropped from the beams.
Tara mumbled a few words in Latin and in a few instants she was hovering in mid air.
“Handy.” Spike uttered.
“Buffy?”
“Yeah?”
“Where’s the priest?” Dawn wondered.
“Huh?”
“The priest? Short, old man? Likes to wear black dresses and crosses?” Dawn elucidated.
“Oh, my god! I forgot the priest!” Buffy exclaimed, bringing her hand to her forehead.
“See?” Dawn rolled her eyes again.
“What? I forgot.”
“Well, what are we gonna do now? Anya should be arriving with Giles in about half an hour and we don’t have a priest.”
“Don’t worry, nibblet. I’ll get him.” Spike announced, pushing himself off the wall.
“I’ll go with-“
“No!” The three girls said simultaneously, cutting off the Slayer.
“You go alone. W-we need Buffy to… to do girl stuff.” Willow stuttered, pulling at the Slayer’s sleeve.
The vampire seemed to pout for a second but eventually he conceded and left the room.
“Hurry!” Dawn called after him.
“Are you guys ok?” Buffy questioned.
“Fine.” The three replied.
The blonde frowned but ignored it, chalking it up to wedding day nerves, especially since something else was drumming away in the back of her mind. She had decided that today would be *the* day. She couldn’t postpone it anymore.
“Um… You guys? I need to talk to you about… um… something.” She fidgeted nervously with the edge of her shirt, feeling three pairs of eyes on her. “It’s about… I really don’t know how to say this so I’ll just say it.” She paused and swallowed hard before looking up to meet their gazes. “Spike came to this wedding not just… um as a guest but… as… um… asmydate.” She said in one breath.
“What?” Willow asked with a frown. Buffy had spoken the last part so quickly she genuinely hadn’t understood her.
The Slayer inhaled and exhaled sharply before she repeated:
“Spike’s my date for the wedding.”
She stared at the three; waiting for a reaction. Any reaction. Mostly, she expected screaming and shouting and criticizing. But there was no reaction. They simply eyed each other, shrugged and went about their business, checking on the last arrangements for the decoration of the room.
Buffy frowned.
“Did you guys hear what I just said?” She asked, setting her hands of her hips, watching the three women walk around the room.
“Yeah.” Willow replied.
“And?!”
The three stopped and turned to look at her. The redhead was the one to take the initiative again:
“We know, Buffy.”
At her friend’s confused look she continued:
“About you…”
“And Spike.” Dawn finished her sentence.
“What?! Since when?” Buffy practically choked.
“Well…” Willow muttered. “Tara kinda… told me when we…”
Buffy’s eyes drifted to the blonde witch.
“Sorry.” Tara mouthed.
“And how do you…” Buffy turned to look at her sister.
“Oh, come on Buffy. You guys are just so obvious. Sneaking around, giggling and smiling the whole time. And our walls at home? They aren’t sound proof.” Dawn explained.
Buffy felt the blood rush to her face and her cheeks turned red almost instantly.
“Oh, my God. I can’t believe it. I’m just so…” Her hands came to cover her face and the words became incomprehensible.
The three girls were huddled around her immediately.
“Don’t worry. It’s ok.” Dawn tried to calm her.
“We’re ok with it. Really…” Willow assured, pushing the blonde threads that tumbled to cover her face.
Doe-eyed, the Slayer look up.
“What?”
“We kinda expected it…” Willow tilted her head. “The way you two have been hanging out together since… you came back and then… the way you were when Sam showed up. All jealous and-”
“I was *not* jealous.” Buffy insisted with a pout.
Willow’s lips curled to the side.
“Fine! So I was a bit… jealous.” Buffy admitted as a smiled finally tugged at her mouth. “So, you’re ok with it?” The question wasn’t directed at anyone in particular, but her hopeful gaze fell on her sister.
“I’m kinda scarred, but I think I’ll be able to recover.”
“Oh, honey, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier.” Buffy apologized.
Dawn simply smiled back.
Suddenly, Buffy remembered:
“Who else knows? Oh, God! Giles? Does Giles know?”
Three simultaneous nods were the answer she received and once again her face was buried in her hands.
“He probably had coronary, didn’t he? He hates me. Doesn’t he?”
“Actually, he was the one who figured it out.” Willow explained.
“Huh?” Buffy’s head snapped up.
“He was the one to finally speak up. He was tired of the rest of us pretending not to know you two were… doing it every chance you could get.” Dawn clarified.
“What about Xander?”
“Well, he’s a different case. He refuses to leave La-la land.” Willow said.
“Where is he?” Buffy asked.
“Out back. Nervous as hell over the wedding.”
“Dawn! Don’t swear.” In the middle of the haze and confusion that surrounded her mind, Buffy still managed to reprimand her sister. “I better go talk to him.”
“Good luck.”
Buffy walked across the room; her hand rested on the doorknob for a second while she turned to look at the three girls standing a few feet from her.
“Thanks, you guys.”
~+~
He rubbed his sweaty hands together as he paced around in the alley. ‘You’re getting married. You’re getting married… Today!’ He inhaled sharply; his eyelids falling closed. ‘Don’t panic. Don’t panic.’ He kept repeating to himself. He was so wrapped up in his thoughts he didn’t even hear the door open and close.
“Hey…” Buffy’s soft voice filtered through his clouded mind and he seemed to snap out of his mantra.
“Hey!” He greeted, nervously running his hand over his gelled hair.
“You ok?” She questioned.
“Yeah.” He forced a grin onto his lips as the word came out in a weak and faltering tone.
“It’s normal to be nervous, you know?” When Xander raised his eyebrow at her she added: “So I’m told.”
He stopped pacing to look at her and the two smiled at each other.
“I can’t believe I’m actually getting married.”
“Neither can I. You’re all grown up.”
“Now you’re sounding like my mom.”
“Sorry.” Buffy smiled.
There was a moment of silence between them. Xander leaned against the hall, his hands buried in the pockets of his tuxedo.
“I’ve been meaning to talk to you about something…” Buffy started; her gaze was fixed on the floor as she spoke. “It’s about Spike and the fact that he came to the wedding. Thanks for inviting him, by the way. I know you two never really got along. Always fighting and bickering.” Buffy babbled on and on as she unconsciously tried to postpone the inevitable.
Her long ramblings were occasionally interrupted by a muttered ‘uh-huh’ from Xander. The two friends stood in the alley, each too involved in their own worries to realise that none of them was actually paying attention to the conversation/monologue taking place.
“…nice of you to invite him.” She took in a deep breath. “Anyway, I wanted to tell you – and please don’t freak out about this too much! – that… that…” The next sentences came out so fast that it sounded like a senseless string of words. “That Spike is also here as… my date. I know it’s impossible to even imagine. And I understand if you’re feeling freaked, or angry or even nauseous, but I’m telling you, this is not just a brain spasm of mine, I really do like him. Actually, I love him. And I know that sounds insane and crazy and just plain wrong but it took me a long time to realise this and now that I’ve finally gotten the courage to accept it, I’m not going back on in. I really hope you can understand that what Spike and I feel for each other is real and that you can accept it too.” She inhaled sharply, looking up at him for the first time since the beginning of her rant as she paused for a second; once more waiting for a reaction. Xander’s reply was the ever constant ‘uh-huh’.
“Uh-huh? That’s all?” She questioned in disbelief.
“Oh, God Buffy! She’s gonna be here in ten minutes. Is the priest here? Is the Giles here? No! Of course not. He’s gonna give Anya away. Of course he’s not here yet.” It was Xander’s turn to babble.
“Xander? Did you hear anything I just said?”
“Huh?”
She sighed frustrated.
“I said that Spike and I-“
“Do you think the training room looks good? I’m not too sure about the candles. Maybe they’re a bit too much. Anya said she wanted something simple. Or maybe the curtains will catch on fire! Oh, God!” He exclaimed.
“Xander! Are you listening at all? I-“
“I heard you, Buffy. I’m trying to ignore it.” He mumbled in defeat. “I’ve known it for a while now. I was just waiting it out. See if it would go away, you know? But it’s my wedding day. Can you just let me hang onto the illusion that you’re not boinking Spike for one more day? Please.”
Buffy smiled at him.
“Ok.” She agreed as she came up to him and wrapped her arms around him. She sighed in contentment as he brought her closer for his traditional bear hug. It was amazing how safe and loved she could feel in his embrace. When they finally parted, she looked up at him. “I’m not just boinking Spike, you know that right? I actually lov-“
“Shattering my illusion here, Buffster.”
“Oh, sorry!” She apologized. “No illusion shattering. I promise.”
They smiled at each other. The sound of a door opening snapped them back to reality.
“The priest is here.” Willow’s red head popped from behind the door. “Giles just pulled up out front. You ready?”
Xander smiled and nodded.
They were about to walk into the building when Buffy felt Xander tugging at her sleeve.
“Are you happy?” He questioned with a serious look on his face.
“Very. You?”
“About to be.” He replied, smiling as they entered the room.
~+~
“And if there be any person present who knows just cause why this couple should not be joined in holy matrimony, let him speak now or forever hold his peace.” The old priest’s voice echoed in the room.
Xander and Anya stood at the altar, grinning wildly, fidgeting with their new rings as they waited for the silence to pass.
A cough filled the room and everyone turned to look at the vampire that sat at the end of the only row of chairs.
“Sorry. Got something caught in my throat. Please, go on.” Spike spoke up with a huge grin.
Xander’s eyes narrowed at him, sending him a murderous look.
As the priest continued with the ceremony, Buffy frowned at the vampire, smacking him across the arm.
“What?” He mouthed innocently.
“You may now kiss the bride.”
Slowly, the standing couple turned to face each other as they kissed.
“I am proud to present to you for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Harris.”
The six guests were on their feet applauding as the couple came down from the altar.
“Congratulations!” Giles was the first to reach them. His arms wrapping tightly around the young man, bringing him in for a strong embrace while Willow and Tara hugged Anya.
Even though there weren’t too many people, a small commotion started as everyone wanted to congratulate the newlyweds. Finally, there was some room and Spike came face to face with Xander while the rest of the group huddled around Anya.
“Congrats! I guess you actually had the stones to go through with it after all.” Spike couldn’t help jab as he extended his hand to the young man.
To his surprise the groom not only accepted his hand but brought him in for a hug. The vampire frowned a bit and it took a few instances for him to react and reciprocate. Xander was lightly patting him on the back when Spike heard him whisper in his ear.
“If you do anything to hurt Buffy, I swear I’ll dust you in your sleep.”
The two broke apart and Spike was greeted with a genuine smile.
“Don’t worry. I won’t.” The vampire replied.
The two turned to look at the small crowd that gathered around Anya. The four women and the shopkeeper huddled around the newlywed, giggling hysterically.
The sound of Xander clearing his throat for the third time caught the group’s attention and they turned to look at the two men standing a few feet away from them.
“Can I have my wife back now?” Xander wondered as the group parted ways.
“I can’t believe you actually got married.” Willow said throwing her arms around her best friend.
“Are you crying, pet?” Spike wondered with a frown when Buffy came to stand next to him.
“No!” She denied vehemently as she brushed her eyes with the back of her hand. “I just got something caught in my eye.”
“Right.”
“It’s true.” She insisted.
With a smile she stood on tip-toes and brushed her lips over his.
“Oh! It’s official? We can talk about it now? Since when? No one told me!” Anya protested.
“It’s official.” Buffy said glancing at Giles.
Just before the ceremony had started she had managed to speak to him for a few minutes. She felt relieved to find that indeed her ex-watcher was ok with the idea. Even though he did manage to lecture her on her particular propensity to fall for the undead.
“Good! Now we can go on double dates.” Anya announced enthusiastically.
Both men groaned at that for a second.
With a huge grin on his face, Spike wrapped his arm around Buffy’s small form. He had wanted to do that since forever and was glad to finally get the chance to display his affection for her in public, even though the hiding had been fun.
His eyes drifted over the small group in front of him, laughing and giggling. Who would have thought four years before, in that dark night at the Bronze, when he had first seen a glimpse of them, that the same gang that he had vowed to destroy would be the new family that would welcome him.
He felt a warm sense of peace and tranquillity wash over him as he pondered over the past few years when, suddenly, a flash of red caught his eyes. His gaze immediately drifted towards the backdoor. A feminine shape stood there, clad in a black hooded-cloak which covered her from head to toe but still a glimpse of auburn hair was visible between the shadows that masked her identity. He watched as she lifted her head and the dim light lit her pale face; pitch black eyes stared right at him and a smile spread over her lips when their gazes met.
Silently, she opened the door and crept out of the building unnoticed by anyone but the vampire.
“Hey, are you ok?” Buffy’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
He looked to see her straining to find the object of his attention.
“Me? Couldn’t be better.” He replied leaning in to kiss her again.
The End
Author's Note: That's all! Hope you've enjoyed it! It's been fun to write it!