Sunshine & Shanshu

By: Larilyn

Rating: PG-13

Timeline: Takes place after the Buffy ep "As You Were," and the Angel ep "Loyalty". "Hell's Bells" and "Sleep Tight" and every thing after haven't happened and won't happen in this little fic-verse.

Disclaimer: Buffy belongs to Mutant Enemy and UPN, blah, blah, blah. Angel belongs to Mutant Enemy and the WB, yada, yada, yada. Its Joss's toy box; I'm just raiding it for fun.

Summary: Quick recap in case its been a while since you read the rest of the series. In "Moonlight & Mohra" Spike is made human by a Mohra demon. He runs to LA for help from Angel, Wolfram and Hart brings back Lothos (The Big Bad from the movie) and send Dru to turn Spike back, Spike kills Dru, Buffy kills Lothos, Anya & Xander elope to Vegas, Willow & Tara patch things up, and Spike and Buffy live the love. In "Twilight & Temptation" Spike starts having visions (a nice parting gift from Dru) for the newly paroled Faith. In order to survive the visions, Spike has some of his demon restored. Buffy has a cow. Back in Sunnydale, Buffy releases a genie and inadvertently wishes Spike into a coma and Angel into Angelus. Faith nearly sacrifices her life for Buffy’s and Tara saves the day. Buffy asks Faith to move into the house on Revello Drive. In "Menorahs & Mistletoe", Anya saves the world from the demon Santa, and Spike pops the question.

Now, its wedding time for Spike and Buffy, unless the end of the world gets in the way.

Classification: S/B, A/C, Wes/Faith

Sunshine & Shanshu

"I look like a bloody waiter."

"No way, Wills. You look H..O..T."

Spike turned to the Slayer and gave her a disdainful look. "Faith, I look like a…"

"Penguin?" volunteered Cordelia with a smile. Cordy and Faith smiled at each other and collapsed into giggles.

"This is what I deserve I guess." Spike straightened his shirt in the mirror.

"For marrying Buffy?" Cordy laughed, "Yep, its what you deserve."

"I meant, its what I deserve for asking two women to be my groomsmen."

"And we’re very honored." Cordy draped her arms around Spike’s shoulders and smiled at the reflection they cast in the mirror. "You look very handsome. And not at all like Bela Lugosi."

"B’s a lucky girl," Faith acknowledged. She locked her arm with Spike’s and proclaimed. "So what do you say you change out of that tux and we go party."

"Love to. Can’t. I promised Buffy that I’d pick her Watcher up at the airport."

"Taken care of," Cordy promised, "He should be here in time for the bachelor party."

Spike stared dumbfounded at Cordelia and pleaded, "You didn’t."

"I didn’t drive all the way from LA for your fitting, William."

"No strippers. Buffy’d kill me." Spike demanded.

"Ew," Faith made a face. "Of course not."

Cordy promised, "Just your friends, some cigars, beer and a deck of cards."

***

"Dawn!" Buffy screamed from her bedroom. "Dawn!"

"What?" Buffy’s exasperated sister asked from the doorway.

"Why are you here? You’re supposed to get the dress. Where’s my dress? The shop closes at six!"

"Okay," Dawn said calmly, taking her sister’s shoulders and giving her a gentle shake. "You have to calm down, before I kill you. Now breathe. In… Out… In… Out."

Buffy attempted to obey, but failed miserably. As she breathed in she asked, "Where…" Out. "The hell…" In. "Is my…" Out "Wedding dress?"

"Willow is picking it up. You will have your dress by tomorrow night. Calm now?"

"Calm now." Buffy momentarily sat on her bed and then hopped right back up again. "Airport! Giles!"

"…Is being picked up by William, remember?"

"William?"

"Yes, Buffy. William? Spike? Your fiancée?"

"Spike." Buffy smiled. "I’m gonna marry Spike. Tomorrow night."

Dawn relaxed a bit. Buffy was calmer, and that was good. Calm until Spike walked through the front door.

"Why are you here?" she asked as she stormed down the stairs. "Where is Giles?"

"He’s on his way. Angel is picking him up at LAX, driving him right here." He turned to Dawn. "Been like this all day?"

"Oh yeah. She’s a basket case."

Indignant, Buffy said, "I am not a basket case. I just want everything to be perfect for my special day."

Spike raised his scarred eyebrow and asked, "Your special day?"

"Our! Our!" Buffy wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him lightly on the lips. "Our special day." Abruptly, she pushed him away. "Oh my God! You can’t be here! Its bad luck!"

"Yeah," Dawn said, "TOMORROW. You aren’t getting married until tomorrow. Geez, take a chill pill."

***

"Excuse me, at which gate do I find the connecting flight to Sunnydale?"

As the desk attendant looked at his flight schedule, a feminine voice with a Texas accent said, "You must be Mr. Giles."

Giles turned to the wisp of a girl who had addressed him.

She continued, "Angel told me to look for a handsome British gentleman and here you are handsome British gentleman, so you must be Mr. Giles."

"Ahem, yes and you…"

"Oh, jeez, I’m Fred." She giggled at her forgetfulness.

"Fred?"

"Fred. Angel rescued me from the Pylean hell dimension?"

"Oh. Oh yes," Giles smiled in recognition. "Winifred."

"You got it. Angel’s waiting in the car. You know, daylight. He doesn’t tan well."

"No I suppose you’re right." Giles couldn’t help but like the girl and her boundless enthusiasm.

"Any bags?"

"Just my carry-on. Cordelia? Is she?" Giles wanted to see his old friend. He hadn’t seen her since graduation and by all accounts, she had grown into a remarkable woman.

"She drove to Sunnydale this morning with Charles and Wesley and Lorne for William’s fitting. Well, she went for the fitting, the guys just went so we’d have room in the car for you. It was all Cordelia’s idea. She’s the best man, so its her job and stuff. I guess she’s more a best woman than a best man, but any way. You’ll see her tonight at the bachelor party."

Giles stopped the girl’s monologue with, "Lorne?"

"Demon from the Pylean hell dimension. But he’s good. They really haven’t kept you in the loop have they? You do know William is human don’t you? Well sort of human. He still has some vampire bits so his head doesn’t blow off when he has his visions for Faith. But he’s not evil or anything. But you knew that I’m sure. I mean Buffy wouldn’t be marrying an evil guy. And the Powers wouldn’t give visions to an evil guy. I don’t think. But then William did get his visions from Drusilla and she was evil. But she wasn’t evil at first, Angel made her evil. Which I know he’s very sorry for. Here’s the car. Wait till you see Connor. He’s gotten so big. You do know about Connor don’t you? He’s a baby."

Giles climbed into the convertible with the soaped up windows. As he sat down next to Angel, the vampire greeted him with a smile. "Giles how was your trip?"

With a smile at Fred he laughed, "Rather exhausting."

***

Giles and Fred knocked on the door to the Summers residence.

Dawn answered the door and exclaimed, "Giles!" She grabbed the man in an enormous bear hug. "I’m so happy to see you."

"Dawn," he murmured, "How are you?"

She would have responded but a figure in a smoking blanket separated them as it plowed into the house.

Angel tossed the smoldering fabric on the floor and dusted the smoke off of his clothes.

Cordelia commented drolly as Dawn shut the door behind the trio of travelers, "Hello king of the dramatic entrance."

"Hey Dawnie," Angel smiled. He made a face at his seer.

Fred bestowed the youngest Summers woman with a hug of hello, while Giles turned to, "Cordelia. My God, you look lovely."

As they hugged their hellos Cordy responded with, "You look lovely too, Giles."

"Um, where’s…?" Giles began.

"I think Buffy’s in the kitchen," Dawn answered. "Going shopping with Willow. See you later." She darted out the door.

Angel grumbled, "She can see Willow all the time."

Cordy laughed at the vampire, "Diddums get his feelings hurt?"

Giles left the group in the living room and followed Dawn’s directions. He glanced around the kitchen. Buffy wasn’t there, only a man he didn’t recognize.

" ‘Lo Rupert. How was your trip?"

Giles was awestruck. The man before him looked different, but the voice was unmistakable, "Spike?"

Spike looked at Giles with a measure of humor, "Yeah."

"Spike?" Giles repeated. The vampire that he had known was gone. The pale skin was replaced with a healthy tan. The bleached, slicked back hair that he was accustomed to was now a riot of golden waves. Instead of black, he was attired in sneakers, blue jeans and a royal blue t-shirt. Giles reached out and touched the incredibly warm skin of his former enemy. "My God." He murmured.

"Hey. Watch it Rupert, you’re getting a little familiar."

"Oh, sorry." Giles removed his glasses and nervously cleaned them. "Its just… its…"

"Pretty wild, huh?"

Another voice from his past shocked Giles and he spun around to face, "Faith? What? What are you doing here?"

She grabbed an apple from off of the counter and took a bite. With her mouth full, she said, "I live here."

Giles removed his glasses again and started cleaning them again. "Yes I knew that…. Where…? Where’s Buffy?"

"Right behind you." Buffy stood at the doorway to the basement.

Giles immediately grabbed his Slayer and hugged her fiercely. "Oh Buffy. Its so good to see you."

Over Giles’s shoulder, Faith mouthed to Buffy, "Freaking out."

As Buffy drew back from her Watcher she asked, "You okay?"

"Yes. Yes its just a lot to take in at once. I knew Spike was human… I knew Faith was living with you… but seeing it. Its all very … strange." He sighed.

"You’ll get used to it." She promised. She bestowed a warm smile on her fiancee and beamed, "I have."

"Oh God. Here they go…" Faith complained.

"I’m so lucky." Buffy mooned.

Spike drew her into his arms and answered, "I’m the lucky one."

As they nuzzled and kissed, Giles said, "I’m beginning to feel like I should be blind." To Faith he asked, "Are they always like this?"

"Naw, just as they get closer to the big day. Usually, they’re arguing. Its a lot easier to stomach."

"Just think," Spike murmured. "In 48 hours, you’ll be Mrs. Buffy Smith."

"Uh, no. I will still be Buffy Summers."

Faith took another bite of her apple and smiled at Giles, "Here we go."

"You’re changing your name, Buffy."

"Like hell, I am."

"Yup," Faith continued to munch, "This is more like it."

"Its tradition." Spike insisted.

"Its masogynistic and arcane. Besides, Smith isn’t even your real last name, its just the one Angel put on your paperwork."

"I just," Spike stuck out his lower lip, "I want the whole world to know your my wife."

"Aw, that’s so incredibly sweet," Buffy cooed.

They began to kiss and snuggle again.

"Oh good Lord," complained Giles.

***

"Hello? Earth to Snuggly wuggly lovebirds?" Cordy called out to the couple in the kitchen.

Buffy broke the kiss and glanced shyly at Cordelia.

"You two drove Giles right out of the house." Cordy accused. "He went to the hotel. Angel & Fred too. I’m heading over to Willow and Tara’s." Spike was going to stay there that night too, so he wouldn’t see Buffy before the wedding.

"See you later?" Spike asked.

"Yup. You’ve got a bachelor party to attend."

Spike groaned in anticipation.

Cordelia called out to Faith as she headed for the door, "If you want a ride, Faith, lets go!"

"Hold up, I’m coming." Faith descended the stairs and stopped in horror when Cordelia swung open the door and an unfamiliar man stood there, his hand poised to knock.

"Uh hello." Cordy said.

"Hi. I’m looking for Buffy Summers."

"In the kitchen." Cordy gestured. "Buffy! You have a visitor."

The man’s eyes alighted on the Slayer on the stairs. Faith swallowed and pushed past Cordelia. "Lets go."

She was half way down the sidewalk when Cordy complained, "Coming Faith. Jeez, impatient much?"

"Faith?" The man said in confusion and turned to watch her leave.

"Riley?" Buffy asked.

"Buffy" he turned back toward the house’s interior. Buffy gave him a warm hug and he murmured, "I’m here to help."

Thoroughly confused Buffy asked, "Help? I need help?"

***

"What’s wrong?" Cordelia asked her passenger.

"You don’t know who that guy was, do you?"

"Nope. Never seen him before."

"Riley."

"Buffy’s ex? Huh. He was kinda cute, in a wishes he was Angel kind of way."

Faith remained silent.

"Ok. Spill. Why the gloomy?"

"I… he and I… you know?" Faith was mortified.

"Oh." Cordelia realized, "Nothing like coming face to face with a former fling."

"Face to…" Faith grimaced. "Buffy…"

"Hey." Cordy said soothingly, "Buffy loves you. You have nothing to worry about. But what I wouldn’t give to see the fireworks…"

"Oh God." Faith laughed, "Wills is going to go ballistic."

***

"I came as soon as I heard. Buffy, we’re going to break this spell. Whatever it takes." He had his hands on her shoulders and looked very earnest but Buffy was still lost.

"What spell? There’s a spell?"

"Spike must have hired someone to do this to you. But we’ll fix this. You won’t have to marry him."

She went from confused to indignant, "You think I’m under a spell?"

"I know you think your feelings are real… but they can’t be. He’s doing this to you."

She was still pissed but he seemed so sincere. And completely clue-less, "Riley, there’s no spell."

"Buffy…"

"No. No spell. I’m completely spell-less."

"You can’t really be in love with Spike."

"I can’t?"

"He’s a soulless killer. I know that’s not what you want to hear…"

From across the living room Buffy heard, "Oi, soldier boy!"

Spike had heard that last part of the conversation, and he was ticked, "This is not good." Buffy stated simply.

"Spike?" Riley took in the former vampire’s appearance and asserted, "Whoa. That can’t be Spike."

"And yet it walks like Spike and talks like Spike." He sauntered into the room and put his arm possessively around Buffy’s shoulder.

Riley continued, "You think a new hairstyle changes things, Spike? If you think that I’m gonna let you manipulate her into anything, you’ve got another thing coming."

Spike smiled dryly and asked, "Hear that, luv? I’ve got another thing coming."

Buffy tried to ease the tension by shrugging Spike’s arm off of her shoulder and assuring, "Riley, I don’t think you understand…"

"Oh I understand," Riley grumbled while shooting daggers at Spike.

"He’s human." Buffy stated.

"Human?"

Spike chimed in, "Complete with a soul. And yet, I still hate your guts."

Buffy was completely exasperated, "Honey, you aren’t helping."

Riley bristled at the endearment that Buffy used for Spike. "I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing, Spike…"

"No game, soldier boy. Girl’s in love with me." With a smirk he added, "Ain’t that a pisser?"

Riley grabbed Spike’s shirt and bellowed, "How’d you do it Spike? How’d you convince them that you’re human?"

Buffy stepped between the men before they came to blows, "He is human."

"Check it out." Spike sauntered over to the curtains that had been shut tight for Angel and swung them open with a dramatic flair. Sunlight poured over him.

"How is it…? How…?" Riley stammered.

"Mohra demon." Buffy said simply.

"Plus," Spike said, "a few extras from the Powers that Be." Spike flopped down on the couch and propped his feet up on the coffee table. "Yeah, old Spike’s a hero now…"

"He’s a seer for the Powers," Buffy explained.

"Helps heal my soul," Spike chirped, "Plus pissing you off’s a nice little bonus."

Buffy shot at her fiancee, "Honey, shut up." She turned to her ex, "Riley, there’s no spell. I’m in love with William. I’m happy. I’m getting married tomorrow night. You can be happy for me or not. But you can’t stop me."

Spike couldn’t resist, "Careful luv, you’re chaffing the boy."

"Stuff it, Honey." To Riley she asked, "How’d you even know about the wedding?"

"Sam got an e-mail from Willow. Most of the text was degraded but I caught enough of it to…"

"…come running to the aid of the damsel in distress like a good little superhero?" Spike finished. "Newsflash, soldier boy, she’s already got her a knight in shining armor."

"William," Buffy scolded, "Can we turn the testosterone down a notch? Riley, I know you can’t be happy about this…"

Riley’s cell phone rang, breaking her train of thought. He went into the foyer to answer it. Buffy shoved Spike’s feet off of the coffee table and demanded, "Behave!"

Spike just grinned and shrugged, "Can’t help myself, Goldilocks."

"Try!"

Riley came back in, looking apologetic. "That was Sam, she’s reconstructed Willow’s e-mail."

Spike crossed his arms over his chest and asked, "And?"

Humbled, Riley admitted, "And… You’re human. You’re good. You’re a hero. You and Buffy are getting married and everyone is very, very happy for you."

Spike couldn’t resist, "You want a drink to wash that humble pie down with?"

Riley ignored him and turned to the girl he once loved, "Buffy, I’m…"

"A sanctimonious ass?" Spike volunteered.

Buffy shot him a look.

Riley ignored him, "I’m sorry. You have to understand where I was coming from. I mean the last time you announced you were engaged to Spike… and then the last time I was in town..."

Buffy smiled in understanding, "I appreciate your concern. And hey, if you’re going to be in town anyway…Its going to be a small ceremony…"

Riley saw where she was going with this and replied before Spike could object, "Thanks but, I should push off. Now that I know you aren’t in any danger…"

Spike rolled his eyes.

"I understand. "Buffy said, "And thank you for worrying about me, but I’m good."

"Yeah," Riley headed toward the door. As he opened it, he asked, "If you ever need anything…"

Spike pulled Buffy close to him and growled, "She won’t."

Buffy said, "It was good to see you."

"You too." With a look at Spike he said, "Take care of her."

"Count on it."

As soon as Riley shut the door behind him, Buffy turned in Spike’s arms and promptly thwacked him across the head.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"That was for going all prehistoric on me," In her best Neanderthal she mocked, "Buffy mine! My Buffy!"

With sensual grace he took her in his arms, with a cock-eyed grin he said sexily, "Buffy mine. My Buffy."

Though she didn’t sound at all angry while he nibbled on her neck, she admonished, "Stop that! I’m mad at you."

"Shame," he murmured, "Can’t recall the last time we had the house to ourselves."

"Mmmm."

"But..." he pulled back. "You’re mad at me. So I’ll grab my things, head over to Willow’s…"

Buffy grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him in for a fierce kiss.

"That’s my girl."

"Ugh. Get a room." Dawn declared as she entered the house with Willow and Tara in tow.

"We had a whole house," Buffy sighed.

***

"I don’t like it." Anya crossed her arms and glared at her husband.

"Sweetie, its just a poker game.

"With Faith and Cordelia. Your ex-somethings. And you don’t even like William."

"I promised Buffy I’d go. Besides, you’ll be partying with the girls. You won’t even have time to think about me."

"Its not a party," Anya corrected, "Its a shower. I read up on it when we were engaged. We’ll eat cake and drink tea and play word games. And most importantly, we’ll make a silly hat out of ribbons and bows and force Buffy to wear it."

"Sounds like a wild night." Xander chuckled.

"Meanwhile, you’ll be canoodling with your ex-girlfriends and strippers."

"No strippers. Just a poker game."

***

The stripper was dressed in full on vampire regalia, complete with plastic fangs and a cape. Anya stuffed a wad of money in his G-string while he danced on the coffee table.

Buffy sat on her living room couch, watching the spectacle in horror and holding her hand over her protesting sister’s eyes. Tara, Fred and Anya danced around the gyrating male stripper.

"I can’t believe you hired a stripper." Buffy said to a smiling Willow. "I mean you’re a lesbian for crying out loud."

"Doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate a cute booty-tang." To the stripper she added, "Shake it baby!"

"You have to stop that, Will. Cuz that’s just creepy."

"Buffy," moaned Dawn, still being blinded by the Slayer. "Can I at least get up to go to the bathroom?"

"While the half naked man is dancing on our coffee table? Let me think about that. Lets see I’m thinking ‘when hell freezes over.’"

"You really shouldn’t say things like that." Willow advised. "May happen."

***

Spike asked his companions at the poker table, "I wonder what the girls are up to." With a grimace at his cards he added, "I’m out."

Gunn laughed, "They’re probably having crumpets."

Xander added, "Or trying on the ribbons and bows hat."

Spike was about to ask Xander what the hell he was talking about when Faith piped up, "Oh my God, you guys are deluded."

"Whassat, luv?"

"I know for a fact that Willow was planning a wild bachelorette party."

Angel was shocked, "Sweet little Willow?" He tossed his two pair on the table and added, "Call."

"Sweet little Willow?" Faith snickered, "You’ve been away too long."

Jonathan smiled at Angel and said, "Full house. Aces and Jacks." The receptionist of the Sunnydale branch of Angel Investigations added the pot to his growing number of poker chips.

Giles assured the men at the table, "I am sure the ladies are behaving themselves accordingly."

Cordelia and Faith looked at each other knowingly and laughed. Cordy said between chuckles, "Oh sure they are."

Spike interjected, "Wait a minute." He asked Faith, "Is this wild by Willow’s standards or wild by yours." He didn’t wait for an answer, "Maybe I should call home. Check on Dawn."

"Seer. Husband. Daddy." Snickered Gunn.

Spike gave Gunn a dirty look.

Angel stood up from the table and took his cell phone from his pocket. "I should call Lorne. Check on Connor."

"I’m calling too. Pay phone this way?" Spike asked Cordy.

Before he could leave, a feminine voice asked, "Excuse me, I’m looking for a William Smith?"

Cordy escorted the very tall woman into the room, while Faith pushed Spike back down in the chair. "You aren’t going anywhere. The entertainment has arrived."

"You promised no strippers!"

Faith whispered in his ear, "Didn’t say anything about drag queens though, did we?"
***

"Blllecch!" Buffy grimaced as the liquid went down her throat.

"Okay," Willow removed the shot glass from Buffy’s grip, "That’s the last one for you. Don’t want you hung over on the big day."

Anya yelled out at Willow and Buffy as she danced with the stripper, "If I had known there was going to be a big hunk of man at my bridal shower, I wouldn’t have eloped. Quite frankly, the ribbons & bows hat held little appeal. But this…" Anya gave his biceps a squeeze. "If I wasn’t a married woman."

Willow smiled at the ex-demon dancing, along with Fred, Tara, and the reluctantly released Dawn. She turned to Buffy, "I can’t believe you’re getting married tomorrow!" She glanced at the clock which read well after midnight, "I mean today."

"Today?" Buffy gulped. With a voice laced in panic, she repeated, "Today? Oh God."

"Buffy?" Willow asked. "You don’t look so good."

"Willow!" Dawn scolded at the ex-witch when she saw her sister’s state. In a soothing voice she told Buffy, "Breathe! In…out…that’s it. Put your head between your legs."

Fred left the stripper’s side and asked Dawn, "What’s wrong with her?"

"One mention of the wedding and the chosen one goes mental."

"Do you want me to slap her?" An enthusiastic Anya asked.

Tara eased Buffy into a prone position, "Buffy, lay down on the couch. I’m gonna get you something to calm you down."

The stripper spoke up, "Um I hate to interrupt, but my time is up. If you want me to stay another hour…"

Anya whimpered at Willow as she clutched his arm.

Willow paid the stripper and escorted him out the door while Buffy began to breathe into the liquor store bag.

Tara emerged from the kitchen with a cup of steaming liquid. Buffy grabbed it from her and sipped the drink.

"Feel better?" Tara asked.

Buffy exhaled, "Much."

Willow pulled Tara aside and asked, "What did you give her?"

Tara smiled at her lover’s concern for Buffy. "It’s just chamomile tea."

Willow laughed, "Ah the placebo effect."

***

Xander glanced around "You know, I’ve been coming here for like forever, and I never realized that the Bronze had a back room."

Cordelia, who sat next to Xander to watch Spike’s entertainment teased, "That’s because only the cool people hung out back here."

"And suddenly I’m back in high school."

The drag queen planted a great big kiss on the top of Spike’s head. He gave Cordy a hateful glance. She smiled and waved.

Xander chuckled and shook his head, "Poor Spike." After a pause he added, "I can’t believe I just said that."

Cordelia sighed, "I can’t believe you’re still holding grudges. He’s a good man Xander."

"See that’s where I’m having trouble. I’m still not used to the him being a man thing. And the fact that Buffy’s in love with him? That’s up a whole other level on the weird meter."

"You just don’t know him like I do. I saw what he went through, Xander, when he first became human. All the guilt he was shouldering."

"Well, he should have felt guilty."

"I’m not disagreeing. But he also deserves to be happy. And like it or not, Xander Harris, Buffy plus William equals happy."

"He’s tried to kill her. He’s tried to kill me."

"That’s where you’re wrong. Spike tried to kill you. William is a hero. A good guy. Just like Angel isn’t Angelus. They wear the same face, but they’re not the same person. You seem to have a lot of trouble with that distinction."

Xander sat in silence for a while, absorbing his lecture. When the drag queen moved on to harass Angel & Gunn, Spike escaped from his place of torture and confronted Cordelia.

"Cord, I’m going to kill you for this."

She teasingly responded, "You loved it and you know it."

With a glance at the very quiet Xander, who was staring at him strangely, Spike asked, "You having a good time, Harris?"

"Yeah. Thanks for inviting me… William."

Spike cocked his head to the side but said nothing but, "Welcome."

"Hey, I’m gonna get a beer. You guys?"

"No thanks," Spike said. When Xander left he flopped down next to Cordy. "What’s gotten into him?"

"Verbal ass kicking." She smiled at him. "Nervous about tomorrow?"

"Only that I may have a vision in the middle of the ceremony."

"Oh man would Buffy kill you…" She stared at Spike in disbelief as he started to vamp out. "And if you have one in the middle your bachelor party, I’ll kill you."

"Sorry, luv." As he stood, his features smoothed out. "Faith! Vamps playing near the hellmouth, we gotta go."

"You need help?" Angel asked from his seat at the poker table.

"We got it. Do me a favor though and drive Cordy to Willow’s."

Cordelia reached up and grabbed Spike’s arm, "Be careful."

"Yeah," he smirked, "If I get killed, Buffy’ll kill me."

***

Buffy leaned against Willow drunkenly. "I remember the first time I saw him…so handsome."

Anya piped up, "Didn’t he threaten to kill you?"

The Slayer put her finger to her lips and complained, "Shhh! I’m having a moment here. And the first time we kissed…" She sighed.

Anya couldn’t resist, "You were under a spell! Spike lips! Lips of Spike! Ring a bell?"

"Somebody shut her up."

Willow laughed at her friend, "You have to admit, you didn’t exactly travel the conventional road to romance."

"But I love him. And he loves me. We’re in love. Drunk on love."

"Drunk on something." The ex demon chirped.

Concerned, Fred asked, "What was she drinking?"

"Did you spike her tea?" Willow asked her lover.

"Spike…" Buffy sighed.

Tara dragged Buffy off the couch and the Slayer threw her arm around the witch’s shoulders for support. "Let’s just get her to bed."

"No." Buffy pouted, sticking out her bottom lip, "I want my Willy Pilly, not going to sleep without him."

"Willy Pilly?" Tara asked Dawn.

"Disgusting pet name, isn’t it?"

Willow held her drunk friend’s face in her hands to steady her gaze, "Buffy, William is sleeping at my place tonight, and Tara and I are sleeping here."

Buffy threw herself against Willow, "So you’re my Willy Pilly!"

"Ew," Dawn moaned.

"Okay," Tara said patiently as she and Willow propped up Buffy and prepared to ascend the stairs, "You’re exceptionally drunk, so I’m going to forget that happened. But for the record… she’s my Willy Pilly."

"Okey dokey." Buffy said cheerfully and then promptly passed out.

Fred couldn’t help but comment, "You Sunnydale girls sure know how to throw a party."

***

Cordelia let herself into Willow’s apartment. With a smile at Angel she said, "Thanks for the ride."

"You’re welcome." He returned her smile, still standing in the doorway.

"Oh! Come in. Can I invite you in?"

He stepped through the door and shrugged, "Guess so."

A companionable silence passed before Cordy observed, "I’m very proud of you."

His smile hinted at confusion, "What for?"

"The way you’re handling the whole wedding thing. I mean, Buffy was the love of your life…"

Angel stopped her with a touch, "There’s a difference, you know, between a first love and the love of your life."

With a nervous sigh at his proximity, Cordy exhaled, "Buffy’s not both?"

Angel reached up to play with his seer’s hair, "Its a shame that the love of my life has to wait…"

He had leaned in so close that Cordelia only had to whisper to be heard, "For your life to begin?"

Their lips were only millimeters apart. Cordelia’s warm breath was warming Angel’s lips. She breathed, "Angel?"

He backed up a step, "I should…" he gestured to the door. "I’ll see you tomorrow."

He stepped out the door and Cordy closed it behind him, leaning against the wood she sighed, "He better shanshu soon, or I’m going to die of sexual frustration."

***

Wesley had his arm thrown over Spike’s shoulders for support as they entered his hotel room, but insisted, "I’m fine really."

"Sit!" Faith demanded, "I’ll clean you up." Spike deposited Wesley on the end of his bed while Faith got a washcloth from the bathroom. Blood trickled down his face from the wound near his eye.

"Maybe we should take him to the ER." Gunn suggested from the doorway

"Nonsense, I’m fine. Besides, you took a beating yourself."

"Clever," Gunn laughed, "Diverting the attention from yourself."

"He’s got a point though," Spike said, "You got roughed up too. You guys shouldn’t have come with us."

"Yeah, well, your vision kinda ended the party. Besides, Fred loves playing nurse."

Faith shot at him, "More information than we needed, really." To the squirming Wesley, who she was trying to tend to, she demanded, "Hold still!"

"I’m f…"

"If you say you’re fine again, I’ll kick your ass." Faith shook her finger at him, "That vamp threw you like twenty feet."

"I was simply going to suggest that you and William need your rest. I can tend to my own wounds."

Gunn clapped Spike on the shoulder and herded him toward the door, "If you insist, my man. I got a Fred to get home to."

Before he left, Spike asked, "Coming Faith?"

She continued to dab at the blood on Wesley’s face. "I’m staying."

After the men left, she asked, "Did you bring any bandages?" He gestured toward his bag. As she rummaged through it she said, "Wills is right, you really shouldn’t have come with us."

"I was trying to help."

"You did great. Way to block that punch with your face."

Wesley laughed, "Well things would have gone more smoothly if William hadn’t been so worried about getting struck in the face."

She pulled antiseptic and bandages out of Wesley’s bag and said, "In his defense, he was trying not to incur the wrath of Buffy. She’s serious about those wedding pictures."

Faith stood before her former watcher and dabbed a little antiseptic on his wound. He winced and hissed, "Bloody hell."

"You British guys all say that."

"More appropriate than the profanities you Americans spew forth. Must you always be so blunt?"

"Take off your shirt." She demanded.

Taken aback he said, "Excuse me?"

Faith’s voice softened, "There’s blood on it. I need to see if you’re hurt."

Wesley eased out of his shirt, trying desperately not to show any sign of pain. A jagged cut ran down his ribcage.

"That’s what I thought." Faith knelt down, placing one hand on his knee, while the other cleaned his cut with the washcloth. She got out the antiseptic and warned, "This might sting."

Wesley inhaled sharply when the cool antiseptic hit his skin. Faith gently blew on the spot she sprayed. "Better?"

He nodded. "Where’d you learn to do that?"

"One of the few nice things my mother bothered to do for me."

Wesley took her chin and forced her gaze up to meet his. Quiet compassion poured from his eyes. She held his gaze until it became uncomfortable. She then busied herself with applying the bandages. "Thank you." She said quietly. "For trusting me to do this." She glanced up again, tears threatening to fall, "Wes, I’m so sorry."

He shook his head, "It’s all in the past, Faith."

She quickly stood and busied herself by putting away all of his medical supplies, noting the scrolls on the table she asked, deftly changing the subject, "Whatcha working on?"

"Apocalypse."

"Again?"

"Its actually rather fascinating, most of the texts are written in ancient Aramaic. And they seem to pertain to Angel."

"Aramaic?"

"Its what the Bible was written in. But look, parts of the texts are in Egyptian hieroglyphs," He leafed through the papers enthusiastically, "Homeric Greek, Ancient Etruscan…" He noticed Faith eyeing him with amusement and his face fell a bit, "I realize its rather boring."

She gazed at him in admiration. "No," she insisted, "I think its cool that you’re so smart." Embarrassed at her rabid compliment she dropped her eyes to the floor.

"In some ways," he said quietly, "I’m rather an idiot." Wesley took Faith’s chin in his hand and forced her gaze up. "I’m sorry too."

The dark Slayer forced back a sob.

"I failed you, Faith. You needed someone to listen…"

She interrupted, "It wasn’t your fault."

"Yes, I believe, in many ways, I set you on that path."

Between sobs, Faith babbled, "No, I had a choice…You didn’t deserve…I don’t know how to say I’m sorry."

Wesley held her tight against him while she cried. "I never gave you a chance. All this time, pretending nothing ever happened. Forgive me for that."

Through her tears, she laughed at the absurdity of his request, "I’ll forgive you, If you’ll forgive me. Deal?"

"Its a deal."

***

Willow threw open the door to her friend’s room and chirped, "Buffy! Rise and shine!"

The Slayer grabbed a pillow and held it over her eyes, "Ugh. My head."

"You have to get up! The redhead demanded, "I don’t want to say the W word but… dum dum da dum." She hummed the wedding march.

"Willow?" Buffy asked from beneath the pillow, "My memory is a bit fuzzy. Did I challenge Tara to an arm wrestling match?"

"Sadly, yes."

"Oh God."

"If its any consolation, I’m sure Spike is in much worse shape than you are."

***

"Rise and shine!" Spike sang out.

Faith turned over in bed and mumbled, "Someone kill him."

"Come on ladies!" He opened the curtains with a flourish, letting the sunlight pour in. "We have to get you two to the hairdresser."

"You kill him. I’m staying in bed." Cordy muttered to Faith.

"I was up all night slaying vampires. You kill him."

Spike proclaimed, "I made breakfast!"

As Faith, literally, rolled out of bed, she threatened, "There better be bacon."

"And fresh squeezed orange juice," Cordelia yawned.

***

Buffy stood in front of the mirror, admiring herself in her wedding gown. She twisted this way and that, watching the silk shimmer in the light. It hung simply with no lace or beads, just plain silk that clung to her in all the right places, and puddled around her feet.

Dawn placed herself between Buffy and the mirror. "Damn I look good in this dress. I could even wear it again, maybe to homecoming."

"Well of course," Buffy said dryly, "I’m only getting married so you can look hot at homecoming. Out of my way!"

"Would you relax! You look perfect. Geez." Dawn primped in front of her reflection, "Almost as good as me."

Buffy sighed in exasperation but she had to admit, Willow and Dawn looked lovely in their simple red dresses.

"Are you sure the red and my hair…?" Willow asked gingerly.

"Will, you picked out the dresses, now you don’t like them?"

"Its just…" Willow tugged at her dress, "They’re a little low cut."

A knock on the door interrupted Willow’s worries. A head peeked into the room, "Everyone decent?"

"Giles!" Buffy hopped off the pedestal that she had been preparing herself on. "Ready to give me away?"

"Oh Buffy," he gasped at her beauty.

"She looks good." Dawn admitted.

"You all look lovely." Over Buffy’s head, he asked Willow, "How is she doing?"

"Eerily calm. It’s kind of creepy."

"Hello, I’m in the room."

Dawn speculated, "I think someone slipped her some valium."

Buffy growled at all of them, "I’m not drugged." Then, with a glance in the mirror and a smile, "I’m just sure."

***

"I can’t do this. I can’t breathe." Spike paced around the room hysterically. "I was with Dru for over a hundred years and managed to not get married. What the hell am I thinking?"

Faith leaned over to Cordelia and said, "I think I should slap him."

"You are not going to slap him." To Spike she said, "You have got to calm down."

"I’m gonna be sick." He flopped down on the couch.

Angel let himself in the room, "I brought a bag."

"I sent you out for something to calm him down and you come back with a bag?" Cordy asked incredulously.

"To breathe in." he explained.

Spike snatched the bag from Angel and began to breathe in it furiously.

Cordelia placed her hand on Spike’s shoulder, "Angel and I are going to go check on your guests. Okay?" He nodded back at her, still huffing and puffing into the brown paper bag. "Can you handle him?" She asked Faith. "Without slapping him?"

Wesley came charging down the hallway as soon as the pair had exited the room. "Angel! Cordelia! You know those texts I’ve been working on? I finished translating them last night."

Cordy asked, "I thought you were days away from finishing those?"

"Well yes," He said sheepishly, "I had a great deal of nervous energy last night and…"

An audible crash came from the other side of the door.

"I think the texts will have to wait," Angel said as Cordy rushed back into the room. "Unless the world is going to end or something…" He didn’t wait for Wesley’s response as he rushed to Cordelia and Faith’s aid.

"But…" Wesley attempted.

***

"Get his arm back in!" Faith screamed at Cordy.

"He’s got a hold of the tree!" She shot back.

The two women and the vampire pulled the reluctant groom back through the window.

"I leave you alone for two seconds!" Cordelia yelled at Spike. He looked at her with the most pathetic expression on his face. Her resolve softened and she took her friend’s face in her hands. "William, you need to calm down. It’s going to be all right. You are going to spend the rest of your life with the woman you love…"

"Angel?" Faith asked as a white light flowed from Cordy into Spike.

The vampire shook his head, "I don’t know."

"You are going to be so happy, William. Just relax." Spike’s head dropped until his forehead touched Cordelia’s. "That’s it. Relax."

She deposited her friend on the couch.

"What did you do?" Faith asked in awe.

"I have no idea. But, unless Wesley was trying to tell us the world was going to end, I think this wedding is good to go."

***

Willow asked her companions, "Did you hear the sigh of relief when the ceremony ended? It was like everyone was convinced it’d be crashed by something icky.

Xander dug into his pocket and handed cash to Angel, "That reminds me. Your twenty bucks Deadboy."

The vampire puffed up with his victory, "I knew it would go off without a hitch, no one would be stupid enough to piss off Buffy on her wedding day."

"You bet on the ceremony? I can’t believe you!" Willow put her hands on her hips and glared at the two men.

"I know, I’m appalled. Appalled!" Cordelia said as she slipped Angel a twenty.

Willow pointed at Cordy, Angel and Xander as she protested, "Ugh, Shame, Shame, and double shame. I’m telling Anya."

"No, Willow, wait!" Xander chased his friend attempting to intercept her before she reached his wife.

Angel turned to his seer, "Have I mentioned how beautiful you look?"

"Even with the trauma of having not one but three, other women in the same outfit?"

"Willow & Dawn are wearing red, not black."

"But its the same style. And don’t tell me you hadn’t noticed, because I know you and your creepy eye for fashion."

Angel smiled at her, "They did it."

"Yep, and you were right, the world didn’t end."

***

"Come forth my Horseman! Come forth for the Apocalypse!"

The ground began to shake and split.

"Famine!" The first horseman emerged from the crevice in the earth, followed by, "War! Pestilence! And Death!"

The last horseman didn’t burst forth like the other three. "Death? Where the hell is Death?"

"I’m coming, I’m coming. Keep your pants on."

End of part one

Sunshine & Shanshu

By: Larilyn

Rating: PG-13

Timeline: Takes place after the Buffy ep "As You Were," and the Angel ep "Loyalty". "Hell's Bells" and "Sleep Tight" and every thing after haven't happened and won't happen in this little fic-verse.

Disclaimer: Buffy belongs to Mutant Enemy and UPN, blah, blah, blah. Angel belongs to Mutant Enemy and the WB, yada, yada, yada. Its Joss's toy box; I'm just raiding it for fun.

Summary: Quick recap in case its been a while since you read the rest of the series. In "Moonlight & Mohra" Spike is made human by a Mohra demon. He runs to LA for help from Angel, Wolfram and Hart brings back Lothos (The Big Bad from the movie) and send Dru to turn Spike back, Spike kills Dru, Buffy kills Lothos, Anya & Xander elope to Vegas, Willow & Tara patch things up, and Spike and Buffy live the love. In "Twilight & Temptation" Spike starts having visions (a nice parting gift from Dru) for the newly paroled Faith. In order to survive the visions, Spike has some of his demon restored. Buffy has a cow. Back in Sunnydale, Buffy releases a genie and inadvertently wishes Spike into a coma and Angel into Angelus. Faith nearly sacrifices her life for Buffy’s and Tara saves the day. Buffy asks Faith to move into the house on Revello Drive. In "Menorahs & Mistletoe", Anya saves the world from the demon Santa, and Spike pops the question.

Now, its wedding time for Spike and Buffy, unless the end of the world gets in the way.

Classification: S/B, A/C, Wes/Faith

Notes: Thanks to the now apparently defunct Plague of Demons for the pic of Abbadon and for a laugh, be sure to read "The Teletubbies of the Apocalypse" at www.teemings.com/issue01/teletubbies.html

Sunshine & Shanshu part two

Giles looked over the texts that Wesley had placed in front of him. With a sigh he removed his glasses and obsessively cleaned them, "This is bad."

"I wholeheartedly agree," said one former Watcher to the other. "Perhaps we should call everyone together." After a pause he asked, "William & Buffy?"

Giles shook his head. "There is no mention of them in the texts, let them enjoy their honeymoon." While he spoke, Giles moved to answer the door, upon which someone was furiously pounding.

He revealed Cordelia, panting and pale, "We have to call William and Buffy!"

All Giles was able to vocalize was, "Wha.." before she continued.

"I had a very, very bad vision."

***

Spike picked up Buffy’s bag and then promptly dropped it in disgust, "Good god! What in hell is in this thing? The bloody kitchen sink?"

"Just a few things. A few pairs of shoes, my curling iron, straightening iron, hair dryer, clothes iron."

"I am not carrying this!" He argued in the middle of the crowded airport.

Buffy rolled her eyes at her husband, "It’s not that heavy."

"Then you carry it, too many irons for me."

"But I’m the girl…" she pouted.

Spike threw his arms up in frustration, "You’re the Slayer, for crying out loud, I’m just a human."

"With vampire strength! I’m not carrying my bags on my honeymoon. Its the husband’s job."

"Ridiculous!"

"Chivalrous."

He picked up the bag and walked away from her, "Fine, but if I’m too sore to perform my husbandly duties tonight, I don’t want to hear any complaints."

"Wait, you’re talking about sex, right?…. Give me the bag."

He chuckled as he handed her the bag. Suddenly, his face began to morph.

"No!" She complained as she shielded his face from passers by until the vision passed. "No visions on the honeymoon."

"Don’t have a lot of control over ‘em, luv. We better find a pay phone."

***

Anya watched as Giles turned the Magic Box’s Open sign over. She frantically inquired, "What are you doing? The customers can’t come in if the sign says, ‘closed’."

Calmly, Giles explained, "We need to have a meeting."

"Well use Buffy & Spike’s empty office. Its empty!"

"Its too small."

Anya whined toward the assorted Scoobies, "Look at this… I’m not going to make any money today."

Wesley Wyndam Price cleared his throat and began the meeting, "Mr. Giles and I have called you together today because of these texts. They seem to echo the prophecies of St. John the Divine, however, they do not appear to be exclusively Christian in origin."

Xander yawned dramatically and asked, "Can we cut to the chase, please?"

Giles looked dismissively at Xander and said, "Apocalypse."

Xander pointed at the younger Watcher and voiced, "I liked what he was saying better."

Angel piped up, "What exactly are we talking about here?"

"You must face the four horsemen of the Apocalypse," Wes explained.

"And Satan himself." Giles added.

Gunn exhaled sharply, "Five to one? Crappy odds."

"Not necessarily," Wes explained, "According to the texts, Angel will be accompanied by four warriors." Reading from the text, "The Champion’s Seer will confront the Horseman War. She is Love."

"She is overjoyed," Cordelia cracked.

Wes continued, "The newest Champion, she who seeks knowledge, will use it as her weapon against the Horseman Pestilence."

Faith sighed, "Peachy."

"The descendant of the slaves, the bringer of charity…"

"Oh that’s just great," interrupted Gunn, "As if my people haven’t been through enough! Now a brother has to save the world."

"Actually," Giles explained, "In this case, the slaves referred to are probably the Jews."

"Oh," Gunn turned to Willow, "Sucks to be you."

Wes glared a bit at Gunn before he continued, "As I was saying, ‘The bringer of charity, the child of the Goddess, she will face Famine.’ Finally, ‘the Key to all dimensions, she who is Life itself, she will face Death."

At this, Tara leaped to her feet, "No, no and no."

Dawn begged, "Tara."

"Emphatically no. She has no powers, no way to protect herself."

Dawn tried again. "Tara."

"She’s just a little girl." Even Willow’s hand on Tara’s arm, could not calm her.

Dawn insisted, "I’m going." To Tara she said directly, "I almost caused the end of the world once. I want a chance to save it."

Angel spoke up, "What about the rest of you? None of you have to do this."

Faith said sourly, "Of course we do." Everyone’s eyes were on her and so she added, "Relax, I’m totally in."

"Cordelia?" the vampire asked.

"I’m with you every step of the way, Angel. Besides, I’m vision girl."

Angel’s gaze, along with everyone else’s were now on Willow. She simply nodded, and Tara stormed out the back.

***

"Hey," Willow said to her lover, who had retreated to the alley behind the Magic Box, "You okay?"

"No," Tara pulled her knees in closer to her body, hugging herself as she sat on a wooden crate.

"Are you worried that I’ll use magic?"

Tara turned to Willow, looking her straight in the eye, she said, "I’m worried that you are going to get killed." She sighed and returned her gaze to the alley wall, "If you have to use magic to defend yourself…"

Willow slid her arm around Tara’s shoulders and soothed, "It’ll be all right baby."

"Not even one little part of this is all right."

***

"You all right, luv?"

Buffy laid across her husband’s bare chest, panting. "I never thought it was possible, but I think you actually wore me out."

"Nonsense, the honeymoon’s just getting started." He drawled as he ran his fingers through her golden locks.

"Mmm," Buffy snuggled in closer to Spike’s warm body, "This is Heaven."

"Are you speaking from experience?"

"Yep. Heaven’s just like this. I’m warm and loved… and kind of tingly." She giggled, "Let’s just spend the rest of the honeymoon here."

"Nope." Spike rolled his wife off of him and climbed out of bed. Reaching down, he grabbed her arm and pulled her to her feet. "There’s so much I want to show you."

"So we have to do touristy stuff?" She pouted.

"Absolutely. That’s why we flew all the way to London, luv. If we were just going to stay in bed, we could’ve stayed in Sunnydale."

"As if anyone in Sunnydale would have let us. They’re probably planning the next Apocalypse, just so they can drag us home."

"Hmm," Spike mumbled. He had called Sunnydale after his vision and Giles had insisted that he had everything under control. Spike had a strong suspicion that Giles was lying.

***

"I think my eyeballs are gonna fall out," Willow moaned as she pushed the book she was reading away from her.

"Anything?" Giles asked both to Willow and to everyone assembled in the Magic Box, researching the coming Apocalypse.

"Nothing in this book," Willow answered.

"I got nothing." Gunn slapped his book shut and watched Fred as she worked on the laptop.

"And there before my eyes was a white horse, and its rider held a bow. He was given a crown, and he rode forth, conquering and to conquer ... And out came another horse, all red. To its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and make men slaughter one another; and he was given a great sword ... And there, as I looked, was a black horse; and its rider held in his hand a pair of scales ... And there, as I looked, was another horse, sickly pale; and its rider's name was Death, and Hades came close behind. To him was given power over a quarter of the earth, with the right to kill by sword and by famine, by pestilence and wild beasts. Revelations 6:1-6. Ugh, they so didn’t look like that in my vision. No horses, no scales, no sword. Just icky demons." Cordelia shut her book with a grimace.

Angel grabbed the book from her and glanced at the cover, "The Holy Bible."

She snatched it back and asked, "Well what have you come up with?"

"Absolutely nothing," Angel leaned back and closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose in exhaustion.

"I’m not really research girl," Faith declared as she shut her book and hopped off of the counter top. "I’m gonna patrol."

"Now?" asked Giles.

"Well, yeah. There are still big bad vamps to slay, right?"

"Yes of course," he conceded.

Dawn asked hopefully, "Can I go?"

Simultaneously, without raising their eyes from their work, Tara, Xander and Anya all said, "No."

"I never get to have any fun."

Still not looking at the Slayer’s sister, Tara said, "Slaying is not fun."

"Of course it is." Faith leaned over Dawn’s shoulder and baited, "The adrenaline pumping, the heat of the battle, God, its better than sex. But then you wouldn’t know anything about that either." She stood and sauntered out of the shop, leaving Dawn shocked and hurt.

A stunned Fred asked, "What’s wrong with her?"

"Excuse me." Wesley grabbed his coat to follow Faith.

Before another comment could be made about Faith, Willow exclaimed, "Hey Xander’s reading a comic book!" The red head held it up for everyone to see his guilt.

"But its research!" He protested, "See? X-men versus Apocalypse. Here’s War & Death & Pestilence & Famine!" He feverishly pointed to the pictures as he spoke. Giles grumbled and handed the young man a book. "Demons for Dummies?" Xander asked.

The Watcher explained, "It seemed appropriate."

"Hey, I’m not proud. You guys can sift through the whyfores and wherefores, I’ll be happy reading good old American."

Giles glanced at him snidely.

"English." Xander corrected sheepishly.

The older Englishman turned to Fred, "Anything on the Internet?"

"Not unless the four horsemen are the Teletubbies."

"Somehow I doubt it." Giles leaned over the girl, reading the text on the screen. "A convincing argument, though."

***

He fought his way across the dance floor, grabbed the Slayer by the arm and dragged her off the floor.

"What is your problem?" She accused as she wrenched her arm from his grip.

"I thought you were patrolling?"

"Always lots of vamps at the Bronze… No rule against me having a little fun, is there?"

She glanced back at the four men that she had left on the dance floor. "Jealous Watcher boy?"

He refused to take the bait. "Why don’t we talk about what’s bothering you?"

"You think I’m gonna throw myself into your arms and break down just cause I got a little sappy the other night?" She heckled.

"Faith…" he warned.

"Not going to happen." With a wide, fake, smile she stretched her arms out, presenting herself, "I’m five by five babe. This is me."

"I can help."

"Yeah," she mocked, "Cuz you’ve done such a good job in the past."

"I thought we agreed..."

"Fine. We agreed. Can I go now?"

She started to walk away but he grabbed her arm and whipped her around again. "I won’t let you push me away."

She shifted gears and eyed him seductively, "Who’s pushing?" Faith slid her hands up Wesley’s chest and murmured in his ear, "Wanna dance?"

He gripped her upper arms and pushed her back a step. "I want to talk."

With a predatorial grin she slid her hands back up and twined them behind his neck. "Yeah. I like to talk dirty too baby." Wes again pulled her off of him and held her arms twisted behind her back. With a chuckle, she charged. "I knew you’d go in for the kinky stuff."

"Bait me, insult me." He crossed his arms in front of his chest in a gesture of his resolve, "I’m not going any where."

"Good," she pressed herself against him, "I have you right where I want you."

"That’s enough." He growled in frustration, "I’m taking you home."

"I don’t want to go home! Don’t you get it? I just want to be left alone!"

He took in the pain that flew from her eyes in waves. Before he turned and left, he said softly, "You know where to find me."

***

Tara was perusing the bookshelf when Willow tentatively approached her lover. "Tara? I was thinking." She hesitated, knowing that what she was about to ask was difficult, "Maybe you could bind me? Bind my powers?"

"Willow…"

"I’m afraid that I’ll slip… and use magic… let you down."

"You may have to." Fred called from across the room. "Use magic I mean. Sorry about the eavesdropping but… See, I’ve hacked into the Watcher’s Council’s files. I was looking for stuff about this prophecy, which, be they way, they have nothing on. I was kind of disappointed. So I was poking around and I found a lot of files pertaining to witchcraft and a file on Willow too."

Giles nearly gagged, "You did what?"

"She does it all the time." Gunn assured.

"Did you say they have a file on Willow?" Tara asked.

Fred read from the screen, "Ms. Rosenberg appears to be a natural witch of immense power. Her use of black magic is a cause for great concern. Observation must be maintained."

Stung, Willow asked, "They think I’m a bad guy?"

"No." Giles had moved behind Fred and was reading over her shoulder, "They think you will hurt yourself." He explained, "Black magic can completely consume a witch."

"I’ve cross referenced natural witches…" Fred tapped a few keys. The reflection of the shifting information scrolled across her eyeglasses.

Gunn read, " ‘A natural witch, or white witch, has an abundance of magical power.’ But according to this, ‘if they dabble in the black arts adverse reactions can occur.’"

Fred asked Willow, "When you do spells, do you feel sick? Headaches? Nosebleeds?"

"Oh yeah."

"Its a natural reaction to an unnatural force."

Giles mumbled, "You’ve been doing the wrong kind of magic." Louder he explained, "Black magic is easier, quicker. But ultimately harmful."

"Like the tree." Everyone looked strangely at Gunn until he elaborated, "In the Empire Strikes Back."

Crestfallen, Willow declared, "I’m Darth Vader."

"So we teach you to be Luke Skyflyer." Smiled Fred.

"You did start out on the right path magically," Giles consoled.

"I’m sure floating a pencil at the demon will be really effective." She grumbled.

"I’ll teach you." Offered Tara.

"All of you should bone up on your self defense and basic magic." Giles glanced around. Xander and Anya were both sleeping with their heads resting on the Scooby table. Cordelia was curled up with her head resting in Angel’s lap. Only Dawn and the vampire were still researching. "Its late. We’ll start again tomorrow."

***

Wesley opened his hotel room door. He knew as soon as someone knocked who that someone was.

Faith stood there, eyes downcast, "I don’t know what I’m doing. I don’t know myself."

"Perhaps that is what the prophecy was talking about. The knowledge you seek is self awareness."

"Well anyway," uncomfortable, she turned to go, "I came to apologize and I sort of did that so…"

He stopped her with, "Would you like to come in and talk?"

"Can I come in and not talk?" She shifted nervously, "I mean, I could watch you work or something."

***

Angel carried his sleeping friend into her hotel room. He didn’t have the heart to wake her when she fell asleep at the Magic Box, and she didn’t seem inclined to wake on her own.

"Mmm. Sleeping. Go away." Cordelia mumbled as Angel deposited her on the bed.

"Shh, go back to sleep." He whispered to his seer.

"Don’t want to do research," she pouted in her sleep.

"Then dream. Dream of sunshine, Princess."

He kissed her forehead and slipped away from her room.

***

Buffy & Spike listened to the tour guide in Hampton Court palace as he explained, "This is the haunted hallway. According to legend, Catherine Howard, Henry the Eighth’s fifth wife was being held in this room, pending her execution for adultery. One day, she broke free from her guards and ran screaming down this very corridor, where she pleaded with Henry through the chapel door. They say her ghost still haunts these halls."

Buffy rolled her eyes and snorted a laugh of disbelief.

Spike elbowed her in the ribs and gave her a disapproving glare.

Another woman in the tour group asked, "Does anyone else feel cold?"

The tour guide amused the group by saying dramatically, "It may be the ghost of Catherine Howard."

"Oh please," Mumbled Buffy.

Spike scolded, "Buffy…" But before he could finish the sentence, Buffy’s eyes rolled up into her head, and she passed out cold.

***

"Mmm Hmm," Cordelia nudged Angel in the ribs with her elbow, slightly gesturing with her head towards the door of the magic shop where Faith and Wesley entered together. "I told you so."

"That doesn’t mean anything," he argued.

"So it’s just all about the timing? Coming in at the same time? Please, they did it."

"You don’t know that, they could have come at the same time."

Cordelia tried to suppress the surge of laughter that came over her. At the sight of her blood red face, Angel scowled at her.

Wesley headed straight toward Giles. Faith came over to Angel & Cordy, who were sitting at the Scooby table, already perusing the texts.

Cordy pried, "So…Wesley followed you out of here last night…" she began nonchalantly. "Did he find you?"

Faith quickly guessed the implications of Cordy’s question. She shrugged. "Weird shit happens on the hellmouth." Faith enjoyed the fact that both Cordelia’s and Angel’s eyes widened visibly. She plopped down in the seat next to Angel and admitted, "Nothing happened. Perfect gentleman."

Angel scoffed, "Well yeah. Its Wesley."

"You’re one to talk Curse Boy." Shot the seer.

"I dunno," Faith speculated. "It wouldn’t surprise me if Wes was into the kinky stuff."

"Ew…ew….ew….EW!" Cordelia handed Angel a pencil. "Here poke out my mind’s eye with this, would ya?"

"Cordelia?" A voice across the room called.

Caught, Cordy sat up straight and yelled, "Nothing! I mean…" she smiled sweetly, "Yes Wesley?"

"I may have found something. Is this the demon from your vision?"

She joined the witches and the Watchers at the counter. Cordelia studied the engraving of the rotund little man, "That’s one of them."

"Are you certain?" he asked.

"Oh!" Willow chimed in over Wes’s shoulder, "He’s so cute!"

Giles looked at his former student with complete and utter frustration, "That is Abaddon, Demon God of Destruction. His innocent face hides a heart of pure malice. He is not cute."

"Aw…" cooed Tara, "look at the little guy."

As he wiped his glasses, Giles murmured, "Oh how very frustrating."

From the Scooby table, Angel called out. "I may have something too. Cordelia described the demons to me. This may be one of them."

He brought the book over for Cordelia. She nodded in confirmation, "That’s the yucky elephant guy."

Wesley also studied the engraving, "Cordelia, are you certain?"

"Why are you always asking me if I’m certain? I’m certain already. This is the guy."

"Behemoth the Glutton." Wesley informed Giles and the others.

"Bloody hell, I should have known," Giles muttered as he wiped the lenses of his glasses. "Willow, he will be your opponent."

***

"You sure you’re feeling all right, Goldilocks?"

Buffy had been strangely quiet since she had fainted at Hampton Court.

"I am well." She mumbled.

"You are well? Since when do you say, ‘I am well?’ Been spending too much time with Giles lately?"

"I am…fine." Buffy walked around their hotel suite, fingering her things as if she had never seen them before.

"Do you want to head back out, luv? Maybe check out the Tower of London?"

A look of cold horror passed over Buffy’s face, "No!" she cried. Then visibly calming herself, she added, "I need to rest."

Spike eyed her suspiciously as she entered the bedroom.

***

The petite blonde eyed her reflection in the mirror. She glared disapprovingly at her ensemble. "I look like a harlot."

She dug through the shopping bags sitting on the bed and pulled out a long floral dress. She held it in front of her and smiled approvingly. "This is lovely." With a smile and a relieved sigh she murmured, "I am finally free."

A voice behind her asked, "Whassat luv?"

She turned to the man that had accompanied her new body back to this place and avoided his question with a devastating smile.

He nodded to the dress in her hands, "I thought you bought that for Faith."

She nervously folded the garment, "Faith. Yes of course."

The blonde man grabbed her by the shoulders fiercely and bellowed, "Who the hell are you?"

"Unhand me! I am your wife!"

"Yeah?" He asked, "What’s my name then?"

The woman wearing Buffy’s body withered under his gaze, "How did you know?"

"For one thing…" he gestured to the dress on the bed, "Faith would never wear that. Who are you?"

She raised her chin a notch. "Her majesty, Catherine Howard, wife of Henry the Eighth, King of England."

"Crap."

***

"Its not fair!" Whined Dawn as she joined Fred, Gunn, Xander, Anya and Lorne at the Scooby table. "The rest of the chosen four are getting to train!"

"As you would be if you hadn’t bloodied my nose!" Giles said through his bloody handkerchief.

"Wimp." Muttered Dawn. Louder, she pointed out; "You don’t hear Wesley complaining… and he’s training a Slayer. I guess we know who the tougher Watcher is."

"Faith knows to pull her punches when training. You will wait for Angel to finish with Cordelia. He can let you bruise him."

"Do vampires bruise?" asked Dawn innocently.

With a resounding thunk, Lorne’s green head hit the Scooby table. Giles, Dawn, Anya and Xander twisted their heads to look at him. Even Gunn & Fred looked up from the computer. "My brain is fried! Research and the Green Guy are like oil and water."

"Anya and bunnies." Nodded Xander.

Anya glared at him, "Xander and housework."

"Giles and my fist," giggled Dawn.

Lorne added, "Tina and Elton."

Dawn sang a snippet, "Rolling on the river…"

"Whoa!" Lorne looked at Dawn in wonder. Still staring at Buffy’s sister, the host told Giles, "This kid’s got some serious mojo working."

Dawn shrugged. "It’s the Key thing."

"We can use this."

Giles became very interested, "But she can only open the portal at a certain time, and then only with the ritual…"

"Maybe to Glorificus’s dimension, but there are lots of others to play with. Believe me, I know a little something about dimensional portals. If you don’t mind, I could work with the Peanut here."

"I don’t know…"

Dawn piped up, "Think of it Giles! I could just banish the demons to another dimension. Please. I can do more than just research."

***

"Damn!" yelled Willow as the rose fell to the ground again. "I’m never gonna get this."

Tara sat across from Willow in the alley way. Quietly she said, "Relax. We can try again."

"I can’t even float a rose."

Tara sighed in sympathy and frustration. She put an open book in front of Willow and said, "Let’s try something else."

Willow read the spell, "Gentle Mother, I ask for nothing for myself. I beseech thee that my companions be granted the wisdom, protection and love that only you can give them. As I extinguish this candle, the spell will be cast. Blessed be." Willow snuffed the candle and waited. "Tara?"

Tara sat still across from her. Her eyes shut tightly. "Shhh."

"Tara nothing happened."

"Patience."

Willow sighed heavily, "It was so much easier to just…"

Tara’s eyes flew open. "It was hurting you."

"Maybe we should try the rose thing again.. or…" Willow shuddered as a wave of white light came over her. "Tara?"

"Lets try the spell again."

As the women clasped hands, the rose levitated and gently twirled. Willow withdrew her hand from Tara’s as the petals pulled loose from the flower and swirled in a gentle vortex. Each landed in Willow’s open hand. From out of nowhere, a butterfly alighted on Willow’s finger.

"Tara? Why didn’t you tell me?"

"You were so powerful, and this is so much more difficult."

"But its worth it." Asserted Willow as the butterfly flew to Tara.

"How do you feel?"

"Alive." Willow smiled. "I’m buzzing."

"All the positive energy that you put out is coming back times three."

Willow gave her lover a sexy smile. "Gotta love this selfless magic."

***

"Giles?" Asked Xander. "Who is Merihim?"

Giles read the passage from Xander’s book over the young man’s shoulder. "Demon God of Pestilence."

"You read over my shoulder? Mr. Big Brain read over my shoulder?"

"Keep researching, Xander. We need to know more before Faith has to face him."

Tara and Willow burst into the Magic Box from the back alley, breathless, "We’re going for motherwart." Willow said.

"We have motherwart here." Protested Giles.

Tara dragged Willow out of the store, explaining as she went, "Its special motherwart. We’ll be back."

Anya came in from the street, dropping the gang’s lunch on the counter, she said, loudly, "Xander. Its time to have sex now."

"Ahn…" warned Xander.

"I’m ovulating. Its time now." To Fred and Gunn, she explained, "We’re trying to have a baby." Back to her husband, she demanded, "Its time now."

"Ahn. I can’t just leave."

"Well, we could tell Faith and Wesley to get out of the back room. We could have sex there."

Giles groaned. "Go home. Please."

As the ex-demon dragged Xander out of the shop, Giles turned to Fred and Gunn, "Fred I need you to…" He stopped when he saw Gunn and Fred kissing passionately. "Ahem!"

The couple pulled apart and looked at Giles like misbehaving children.

"Fred. I need you to look up Merihim on the Internet."

"I’m on it."

"I’m going to look in on Faith and Wesley."

***

Faith furiously punched the bag as Wes held it still. "Thanks for this."

"Thanks for what ?" The Watcher asked, before he added, "You’re dropping your elbow."

"For not making me meditate or some shit. I hate meditating."

"It wouldn’t be a bad idea. It may improve your concentration."

"There is nothing wrong with my concentration. Ask Mr. Punching Bag here." With one vicious punch, the bag pulled loose from its anchor and landed on top of Wesley. "Oh God!" Cried Faith. "Are you okay?" She rolled the bag off of him and straddled his prone form. "You’re bleeding!" True enough, blood seeped threw his shirt, where he had been injured before the wedding. "Let me see."

She yanked his shirt up just as Giles walked in. "Wesley, I…" seeing the compromising position, Giles cried out, "Oh bloody hell!" Before he turned and left.

***

"Concentrate." Directed Angel, "Now.. let it go."

Cordelia shot an orb of white light across the basement, knocking over the empty bottle that Angel had set up as a target.

"Bullseye!"

"Good." Angel said with no emotion. "Again."

Cordy shot another energy ball, knocking over another bottle. "Hoo Ya! Don’t fuck with glowy girl!" With a bright smile, she turned to the scowling vampire. "What? Why the broody?"

"You aren’t taking this seriously."

"I seriously can kick ass, Angel. Relax."

He came back at her with his most scolding tone, "You need to focus."

"And you need to tell me what’s going on in your head. Angel…" Cordelia approached him with patience. "What’s wrong? I mean besides the whole Apocalypse thing?"

"It’s nothing."

She reached for his arm, and he shook her grip off. Cordelia repeated the gesture. "Talk to me." As the white light reached out from Cordelia and consumed Angel, it told her what he wouldn’t. "Oh Angel. You didn’t drag me into anything. Every step I took with you, was my choice. I don’t regret a second. Not one second. Every moment we’ve been together has been a gift."

As the energy around him abated, Angel fell to his knees, wrapping his arms around his seer’s waist and pressing his cheek against her stomach. "What if you die?" he choked.

"Then I’ll die by your side. There’s no where else I’d rather be."

***

"You are going back!" Spike demanded, pacing the room in frustration.

"I will not!" Catherine insisted. "I have searched for centuries for a body that could contain my spirit."

Spike growled at her.

"Besides," she reasoned, "Tours of the palace are over for today. How will you return me?"

"I’ll think of something. I’m bloody well not spending my honeymoon with you."

"You desire your wife?" She asked.

"Hell yes, I desire my wife."

She slid her hands up his chest seductively, "Then use this body to satisfy your manly urges."

Appalled, Spike took her by the upper arms and pushed her away, holding her at arm’s length. "Are you completely daft?"

"Well why ever not?" She asked, "It is after all, your wife’s body."

"But you are not my wife." Spike stalked away from her.

"Are you certain?" She ran her hands down Buffy’s thighs, "It is a lovely body."

Growling with frustration, Spike grabbed a pillow and blanket from the bed and headed for the couch.

***

"Whoa, "Lorne gasped as he and Dawn re-entered the Magic Box. "There are some serious happy joy vibes in here."

"Yes," admitted Giles. "Willow has been practicing."

"I like it." Dawn said. "I feel all…loved and stuff. Is it really okay? Willow doing magic?"

"Its really okay." Giles assured her.

"Speaking of magic…show him Peach Pit." Lorne stood back and gestured for Dawn to show her new skills.

Dawn recited a few words in Latin while holding her hand out as if she were telling someone to stop. Where the palm of her hand was, a small portal opened. "Amplifico!" With her command, it widened.

"Holy shit!" Giles turned to see Faith and Wesley, mouths agape with amazement.

"Don’t get too close," Lorne warned. "Its like a Dirt Devil on steroids, it’ll suck you right in."

All around the shop, papers floated on the wind created by the portal. Everyone’s hair blew around their heads, but around Dawn, who stood directly in front of the portal, it was still.

"Why isn’t Dawnie getting sucked in?" Faith asked over the din of the furious wind.

"Because she’s the Key." Giles speculated.

"Hey, Cupcake!" Lorne yelled to Dawn. "You want to shut that now? Its getting kind of breezy."

"Strictum." She commanded. As soon as the portal closed, Dawn turned to them with a satisfied smile. "Pretty cool, huh?"

***

Spike sat on the couch in the hotel suite. In the other room, Catherine the body snatcher, picked through Buffy’s clothes. He impatiently waited for someone to pick up the phone at the shop.

Finally, someone answered, "Magic Box."

"Faith…"

"Hey Wills!" In her best British accent, she asked, "How’s merry olde England?"

"You sound like Julia Child. Where’s Giles? He wasn’t at the house."

"Yeah, about that…I can’t believe you asked Giles to watch Dawn. I know I’ve had some irresponsible moments in my past but I thought we were past all that."

"Faith!" Spike interrupted impatiently, "Giles?"

He heard her inform someone, presumably Giles, "Wills is on the phone."

"William?" Giles’s refined voice came on the line. "I didn’t expect to hear from you. Are you two enjoying yourselves?"

"Not exactly… I have a problem."

***

"No way!" Dawn exclaimed. "Buffy’s been possessed?"

"I’m afraid so," Giles admitted.

"She’s gonna be so pissed!" Faith laughed. "What’s Wills gonna do about it?"

"I put him in touch with someone who can take care of the problem. In the meantime, your concern is Merihim."

"You’re going to tell me to hit the books, aren’t you?"

"I most certainly am."

"There’s no time." Angel declared as he entered the room.

At his side, Cordelia explained, "I had a vision. Its time to go save the world."

***

Catherine emerged from the bedroom, dressed in the floral print dress that Buffy had bought for Willow.

"Buffy bought that for a friend, put it back."

"It is the only garment befitting a lady."

"There are plenty of clothes that befit my lady just fine. So why don’t you give her back and get the hell out of here?"

Catherine sighed at Spike. "I told you, I’m not…"

Her sentence was interrupted by Spike vamping out from a vision. He saw Faith, Dawn, Cordelia, Angel and Willow, all battling a series of demons. He saw Easter Island, Stone henge, and a ruined city in a jungle. When the vision passed, he realized that Catherine had fled the room in horror, and she had taken Buffy’s body with her.

"Oh…bloody hell!"

End Part Two

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