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Chapter Fourteen

Awakening slowly Buffy cringed at the ultra bright sunlight shining into the room and slid from the bed to stumble toward the bathroom.

She re-emerged a few minutes later wearing the silky satin black robe that had been hanging in the small room and, stifling a yawn, made her way over to the bags she still hadn’t unpacked to pick out clothing for her and Spike both.

"Don’t know why you’re bothering, pet," her loved said from the bed and she turned to see him propped up against the headboard watching her. "I have my way we won’t be needing clothes for a week or two."

"A week or two?" she moved to his side and gave him a kiss. "Ah," she pulled back with a slight frown, "you’ve got morning breath."

"First you complained about my blood breath and now your scrunching up your cute little nose and call it morning breath, a fella just can’t win breathing around you," he hauled her back into the bed and kissed her deeply despite said morning breath.

"Go brush your teeth," she ordered after they broke apart. "You’ve probably got other things to take care of while you’re in there," she gave him a look that said she really didn’t want to think of him dealing with the calls of nature.

"Again with the scrunching of the nose," he smiled and flicked the tip of her nose with a finger before rising from the bed to stretch and scratch around his belly button.

She laid there admiring the sunlight touching on his skin and sighed happily at the realization that he’d be safe from those rays now without having to worry about turning into a big pile of dust from the exposure.

"Oh, you can even tan," she thought aloud causing Spike to pause just outside the bathroom.

"What was that?" he asked with a look over his shoulder.

"Just thinking aloud," she gave him an innocent smile and waved him on into the bathroom.

Once he was shut in the other room she hopped back up went back to getting them clothes to venture out of the room at some point during the day for food and to check up on Dawn.

In the shopping bag containing the black leather pants she was wanting to wear herself she found the desired garment as well as the infamous amulet that her lover was now bound to. Distracted by the find she took the necklace in hand and sat down on the edge of the bed studying it.

As it had the first moment she had seen it dangling from Angel’s hand, the item looked perfectly harmless. She knew from still painful experience that it was anything but that.

She stared at the sunlight touching the crystal and silver of the pendant and closed her eyes on the memory of it hanging against Spike’s chest and shooting the sun’s rays out into the Hellmouth to destroy the evil place and take him down with it.

The bed sank next to her and arms wrapped around her while gentle hands pressed her face against bare chest and it was only when Spike began rocking her gently that she realized she was sobbing at the memory.

"I’m here, baby," he assured her firmly his hands moving over her back and his face pressed into her hair. "It’s all over and I’m here. You won’t ever get rid of me again."

Unable to speak she just wrapped her arms around him and cried until the reality of his heart beating under her ear and his body warming hers sank end, making her forget what she was crying about in favor of just savoring the feel of him holding her.

"Better now?" he gave her a squeeze and dropped a kiss on the top of her head.

She nodded then pulled away with a smile to dry her face on the blanket he was offering her.

"Just … seeing that," she glanced at the necklace she’d dropped on the mattress at some point, "it brought all the bad back."

"Don’t exactly give me a happy to see it, either, but it did bring me back," he picked the slightly heavy item up by its chunky silver chain.

"It took you away from me," she said quietly.

"Never easy saving the world. You know that, pet," he tossed the amulet aside and took her face in his hands. "We both sacrificed ourselves to do it and something brought us back. Something more than Red’s magic and some hocus pocus with that bauble."

"Love conquers all," she turned her head left and right to kiss his palms.

"I was trying for something a bit less corny, but if you insist that’ll do," he kissed her lightly and tried to lower her back onto the mattress for a nice afternoon tumble.

"Mmm, Spike," she pulled back when he pushed the robe off her shoulders and began kissing down her chest. "We don’t have time for this."

"Course we have time for it," he protested as she tried to wriggle out from under him.

"We need to check on Dawn and eat something," Buffy argued and slid from the bed.

"I’ve got something for you if you’re feeling peckish, pet," he leered at her while reclining on the bed, comfortable in his nudity.

"Uh-huh," she rolled her eyes at him and tossed some clean clothes his way. "I need something more substantial," she turned away to get her own clothes and hide her smile, "to eat today."

"I’ll give you substantial," he growled from behind her before tossing her onto the bed and joining her there.

"Spike, I’m serious, we’ve got to get ready," she protested weakly then inspiration struck. "We need to shower."

"Shower, eh?" he smirked down at her. "I scrub your back …"

"And I’ll scrub yours," they leapt from the bed and raced toward the bathroom.

~*~*~

"Would you behave?" Buffy playfully elbowed Spike as he stood behind her in the crowded elevator with his fingers slipping discreetly under the back of the skirt he’d talked her into wearing.

The warning glare she sent over her shoulder was met with a look of complete innocence and confusion as to what she was talking about.

They arrived at the floor Angel’s office was located and as she went to step out of the elevator Spike pinched the soft flesh of her butt as exposed by the thong she wore, causing her to squeak in surprise before spinning around and smacking his shoulder.

"Behave," she ordered with a wag of her finger though the effect was spoiled by the smile and eye roll his continued look of utter innocence got from her.

"Yes, mum," he promised with an unrepentant grin.

He moved up behind her, wrapped an arm around her waist and ushered her out of the elevator doors that one nice worker (obviously not one of the firm’s lawyers) had held open for them. As they exited the lift and began moving toward the CEO’s offices Spike dipped his head to her neck and nudged aside the scarf she was wearing to expose the vivid lovebite she was trying to hide from her ex-boyfriend.

"Stop that," she pulled away and straightened the silky material to where it had been.

"Don’t see why you’re bothering," her lover arched his scarred eyebrow, "he’s gonna smell me all over you, luv."

"He’s gotta be used to that by now, but we don’t need to rub it in his face that we’ve been - "

"Shagging our brains out in the bed and bathroom the poof gave you for your unexpected stay?" he interrupted.

"Let’s just go find out where Dawn is," Buffy sighed and reluctantly approached Harmony’s desk.

"He’s free for the next hour, but in a really bad mood so enter at your own risk," the blonde vampire informed them without looking up from her computer.

"Maybe I should go see him alone?" the slayer suggested upon hearing that.

"Not bloody likely," Spike firmly ruled that option out and started toward the office.

The book that suddenly hit him in the back of his platinum blonde head surprised the couple completely and Buffy instantly whirled around looked for the guilty party and something to kill them with.

"Ha," Harmony stood triumphantly at her desk as he ex rubbed at the injury. "Not so transparent now, are you?"

Without hesitation Buffy leapt at the vampire, tackling her to the floor behind her desk and reaching for a pencil to jab into the other blonde’s shriveled heart.

"Now now, luv," Spike was quick to pull his girlfriend back, "I had that coming."

"You’re protecting her?" the slayer jumped up off the whimpering secretary and stared at her lover incredulously.

"Not at all," he assured her. "Stake her if you must. Just saying she didn’t mean any real harm by it," his hand went to the lump forming at the back of his head. "Actually, that bloody hurt. Give me the pencil."

"I already told you, Buffy, killing the employees is one of my perks and if anything I’m gonna promote the girl for what she did," Angel stepped in suddenly to help the vampire up. "You may want to go hide somewhere for the rest of the day," he told her quietly.

"I wouldn’t have dusted her," Buffy pouted.

"I bloody would’ve," Spike glared after the vampire who fled in compliance with her boss’s suggestion.

"What do you want?" Angel moved back toward his office, ignoring the couple as much as he could.

"Dawn’s not in her room," the slayer said as they followed the vampire into the room.

"Willow and Harris have taken her out for the day," Angel picked a piece of paper up off his desk and handed it to Buffy. "Those are the numbers you can reach them at."

"Excellent," Eve said as she strode calmly into the office behind them all and smiled at the trio before focusing on the vampire. "Have you asked them yet?"

"We’re not discussing that again," he informed the woman with a warning glare.

"Asked them what?" Spike asked curiously.

"Really, Angel," the assistant ignored the blonde and moved to stand before her boss, "what’s the harm in asking?"

"Do you want specific answers to that or hypotheticals?"

"Fine," the brunette turned to the two blondes watching the byplay with a bit of interest. "Buffy, Spike, on behalf of Wolfram & Hart I would like to offer you both positions within the company."

"You can’t do that," Angel glared at the woman who smiled back at him.

"But I can and I just did," she told him before looking back at the couple. "Interested?"

Buffy blinked at the woman looked at Angel who was staring back at her and mouthing the order to "say no" then looked at Spike.

Spike saw the other man’s frantic attempts to dissuade the slayer from expressing any kind of interest and smiled broadly.

"What kind of positions are we talking about, luv?" he moved forward and threw a casual arm around Eve’s shoulder. "And let’s not forget the details like salary, hours and benefits," he gave her a look that said those three things had better be generous in his favor.

"Spike," Angel all but growled.

"Now, Peaches," the blonde man smirked at the vampire’s anger, "I’ve gotta think about these things. I’m not all vampy anymore so I’ve got to earn a living somehow to keep the missus happy," he extended an arm toward Buffy and the slayer instantly slid under it.

"Missus?" the other man gulped.

"We don’t have a ring yet," Buffy smiled and hugged her lover, "but we’re gonna pick one up today."

"Ring?"

"Definitely. A big one, too," Spike kissed the fingers of Buffy’s left hand and hid a smile at his former grandsire’s reactions. "Don’t want any guys thinking they can poach on my territory," blue eyes glared over at brown ones for a moment. "Want the world to know she’s my wife."

"Wife?" Angel croaked out.

"Not yet," Buffy informed her ex. "We’ve got lots of arrangements to make first and we really should go find Dawn to include her in this. She’s gonna flip."

Chapter Fifteen

"Will, please tell me this is you again," Xander looked from the ring Buffy was proudly displaying for them to the redhead standing next to him.

"Nope, not me," Willow smiled and took the slayer’s hand to admire the diamond solitaire on her ring finger. "This is so much better than that icky skull thing from last time."

"That was a bloody nice ring, thank you very much," Spike thought of the silver ring he’d given Buffy under the influence of the witch’s ‘thy will be done’ spell. "Did I ever get that back from you, pet?" he asked the blonde on his lap. "Can’t remember what happened to it."

"Of course I gave it back," she thought for a minute. "I’m pretty sure I did, but either way it’s gone."

"What’s next?" Dawn asked excitedly. "When’s the wedding and can I be maid of honor? Or at least a bridesmaid with a nice dress not some icky fluffy thing a baby would wear?"

"Fluffy dresses are very pretty for weddings," Buffy said then gave Spike a wink before continuing with feigned seriousness. "You’d be so pretty in a nice tangerine gown with lots of taffeta and ruffles."

"You’re really not as cute as you think you are," the teenager rolled her eyes and picked up her soda from the coffee table in Xander’s living room.

"Hush, nibblit," Spike nuzzled his fiancée’s neck. "She’s the cutest little bird I’ve ever seen."

"Aww," the slayer smiled and turned in his lap to give him a quick kiss.

That soon became two quick kisses then one long kiss then one long deep too passionate of public situations kiss.

"Déjà vu," Xander muttered as he averted his eye from the loudly smooching couple. "I hate déjà vu. It’s that horrible spell all over again. Wills," he said pleadingly to the Wiccan, "you’ve gotta be able to make this stop again."

"I think it’s sweet," the redhead sighed softly. "After all they’ve been through to be able to have that kind of happiness without some silly messed up magic from me. They really should have gotten married then."

"Dear God, woman, don’t say such things!"

"They’re only acting like this to freak you out," Dawn said with a grin.

"And it’s working like a charm," the brunette went to his fridge for a beer. "I may never be able to have sex again."

"You’re hopeless," the teenager rolled her eyes at his antics, knowing he too was happy for the couple.

"Are we gonna have to separate you two?" Willow asked to appease Xander when the couple parted for breath.

"I wouldn’t try it, Glinda," Spike warned with a glance in the redhead’s direction.

"Can we get down to details now?" Dawn asked with a sigh. "We’ve got a lot to do if we’re gonna have this wedding anytime soon."

"We could have that daylight ceremony now like you wanted before," Spike told the slayer.

"I still kinda want Giles to give me away," Buffy looked at her fiancee. "Is that ok?"

"I might not really like the man, but I always understood his motives, luv. He was just looking out for you."

"We still want to avoid a church ceremony."

"And no Bette bloody Midler playing at the reception," the former vampire smirked at that particular memory.

"For the last time," Buffy glared at him, "that was the spell talking. Now that you remind me, though," she got to her feet with a wicked gleam in her eyes. "Did you ever know that you’re my hero," she began singing to Spike, "and everything I would like to be? I can fly higher than an eagle, for you are the wind beneath my wings."

"Of all the people in all the world," Dawn watched with the same wide eyed horror as everyone else in the room as the slayer continued to ‘sing,’ "the monks chose her to be my sister."

~*~*~

"So are you gonna take it?" Willow asked as they took a pizza break from the ‘wedding plans.’

"It’s an excellent opportunity and with the whole chosen ‘one’ thing of my slayer gig over I don’t have many career options at the moment," Buffy replied regarding the Wolfram & Hart offer they were discussing. "Not to mention the difficulties Spike would have trying to get a normal job elsewhere."

"Only you would consider working as interdimensional security guards for the evil empire your ex-vampire boyfriend is now running a ‘normal job,’" Xander took a big bite of his pizza and shook his head a bit.

"I’ve been giving this some, thought," the redhead pretended the man hadn’t spoken, "and I think I have another solution. One that doesn’t involve involving yourself in the shady operations of a corporation like Wolfram & Hart."

"Let’s hear it," the slayer encouraged as she watched Spike finish off his fifth slice of pizza.

"Seem to have worked up an appetite," he gave her a leering wink and reached for another piece.

"Professional Scoobies," Willow announced with a smile.

"Huh?" Buffy, Dawn, Spike and Xander all looked at the woman.

"We pick up here where Angel’s business is leaving off. Do things just like we did in Sunnydale only demanding payment for them this time. The old gang back together again, fighting demons and saving the world."

"I’ve rather had it with saving the world, Red," Spike put down his half eaten slice of pizza and sighed.

"Yeah. I’m really pretty happy to be out of the whole slayer gig myself," Buffy agreed.

"Come on, it’ll be fun," the Wiccan argued. "And we don’t have to save the world if you don’t want to. We can leave those cases to Angel and focus on the little things. A demon terrorizing here or a vampire nest bringing down property values there and we can offer protection services and my witchy ways can be very profitable. People pay good money for good mojo."

"We don’t exactly have the money to start a business," the slayer protested.

"You didn’t exactly have the money to travel the globe and have your little pow wows with the new slayers of the world, yet you pulled that off," Xander joined the argument.

"I had to guilt trip my father big time for a lot of that money and the rest came from Giles who isn’t likely to chip in on this."

"He agreed pretty easy to coming here for this whole wedding thing and he always agrees to whatever you want," Willow persisted.

"It’s curiosity and disbelief at the idea of ‘human’ Spike bringing him to town for the wedding, not an indulgence of my every whim," Buffy argued.

"Ok, think about this then," the redhead switched tactics and focused on Spike. "Would you rather be annoying Angel as one of his employees and ultimately having to take orders from him or tick him off by being out there justifiably slaying his firm’s clients?"

"Well when you put it that way …" the blonde man sat up with a grin. "Let’s hear more of your plan."

~*~*~

"Ok, so we need to locate Clem to serve as your best man," Dawn began running down the to do list she’d somehow gotten placed in charge of making, "find a suitable non-hallowed ground for the ceremony. Get the marriage license, send out invites to all the guests, shop for dresses and tuxes, find a place for the reception and arrange for caterers and entertainment all within one month?" the teenager scoffed at her older sister’s delusions then went on to the next list. "For the business, we need to scout out a suitable base of operations, preferably somewhere we can actually live as well as work. Then we hit up Giles for funding when he gets into town and start working on establishing our reputation. That should be pretty easy to do with a slayer and now human formerly notorious slayer slaying vampire who’ve saved the world on a few occasions and a witch that tried to destroy the world on one occasion running the company," she ignored the looks directed her way. "Finally we have … ewww," she scrunched up her nose at the next page she turned to then tossed the papers at her sister. "Who made that list?!"

"Oh," Buffy scanned the sheet of paper responsible for her sibling’s reaction. "Oops. I was just doodling."

"What’s it say?" Spike snatched away the paper his fiancée was trying to crumple up and throw away. "No bloody way," his eyes practically popped out of his head over one item on the list. "I’ve agreed not to start up with the smoking in this body and I don’t mind your wanting me to add a little color now that the sun won’t turn me into a bloody pile of ashes. Hell, I’m even letting the poof attend the wedding, but I draw the line at having my bits cut."

"Honey, it’s nothing to be afraid of. They just nip the tip. I know in your time circumcision was unheard of or really painful, but now it’s a very common easy process and the results are much more hygienic," she assured him as the others reacted to the new topic with varying degrees of distaste.

"Typical bloody female," the blonde man rose to pace the apartment. "You get yourself a perfectly fine specimen of a male and start trying to change him. Not this mate, though, oh no," he wagged a finger at her. "I’ve let you get away with a bloody lot in our relationship, but I’m putting my foot down on this. Anyone comes near my willie with a sharp instrument and I’ll snap their bloody neck."

"Now, Spike, do you really think I’d ever suggest it if it was a bad thing?" Buffy rose and approached him to slide a hand over the front of his jeans. "I’m just as attached to this as you are," she whispered into his ear and continued to stroke him through his pants.

"Whoa! Stop that, right now," Xander practically screamed in panic as he clearly heard the sound of a zipper being lowered.

Buffy froze at the reminder that they weren’t alone and slowly removed her hand from inside Spike pants allowing her smirking boyfriend to carefully zip his fly back up.

"Get a room," Dawn groaned as the newly engaged couple exchanged a series of intimate laughing glances at having been caught misbehaving.

"Don’t even think of using mine," Xander jumped quickly to his feet and moved to bar a door to the right.

"Relax, you nit, I wouldn’t wanna sully my bride-to-be by shagging on your linens," Spike sat back down and pulled Buffy into his lap. "Now, luv," he picked up the list again, "what’s this about a pregnancy test?"

"Oh, we won’t need that for a few weeks, but you’re gonna have to wear condoms until we know for sure last night didn’t … you know, get the job done already … and then I’ll go on the pill," she explained.

"What for?" he frowned. "Thought you liked the idea of a whipper snapper."

"I do," she gave him a series of slow soft kisses until the frown was gone. "We just need to put off starting our happy little family until we’re actually married and earning a living to support children and most importantly have a nice little place of our own to live in. But back to the circumcision, it really isn’t something to argue about. Xander’s circumcised and he survived it without complaint or trauma. Are you gonna tell me that he can handle it, but you can’t?"

"Oh, sure, strike at the bloody ego when your touchy feely ploys don’t work to get your way," he groaned. "Fine, I’ll do, but you’re gonna owe me big time."

"I think," she raised his right hand and licked his index finger, "I can make it worth your while," she drew the digit into her mouth and sucked on it for a few minutes.

"Ok, all kidding aside," Xander looked at Dawn and Willow, "that ain’t right."

"Maybe I should try a spell reversal spell," Willow said slowly as she watched the couple make out in a slightly sickening lovey dovey fashion. "Just in case."

Chapter Sixteen

Four weeks later Spike sighed in exasperation and rolled his eyes toward Buffy as Giles slowly circled him with a suspicious look on his face.

"He really is human now," Dawn assured the weary Englishman who continued circling.

"Oh, come on," the blonde man snapped when the former watcher suddenly pulled a cross from his coat and lunged toward him with it. "We’re out in the bloody sunshine and I’m not crumbling into a big pile o’ ashes, you nit, isn’t that proof enough I’m not a bloody vampire anymore?"

"He’s right, this is silly," Buffy sighed and looked around the busy airport parking lot. "People are starting to look at us funny."

"Yes, I suppose you’re right," Rupert removed his glasses and gave them a few quick wipes with the hem of his shirt before putting them back on. "We can continue this in a more private place."

"There’s nothing to continue, you prat," Spike declared as he whipped open the driver’s side door of the black Lexus he’d ‘borrowed’ from Angel, without the poof’s exact knowledge of the loan, and climbed behind the wheel with a huff.

Buffy gave her former watcher a warning glare over the roof of the vehicle before getting in the passenger seat. Reluctantly, Giles obeyed the tugging of the teenager next to him and got in the back seat of the car.

After a few failed attempts at starting a conversation on the drive to the apartment they’d found to rent in the city Dawn sank back against the seat with a sigh.

When they arrived at their destination Spike leapt out and went to the trunk to get the other man’s bags out. As he turned to lead the others who’d stepped from the vehicle into the building, he blinked at seeing Giles right in his face then dropped the man’s bags when he got an unexpecting dousing with holy water.

"Ah, it burns, it burns. I’m melting … melting," the former vampire said sarcastically before slamming his fist into the former watcher’s jaw.

"You both better get this out of your systems now," Buffy helped the older man up then gave them both warning glares. "I will not have this spoiling my wedding."

"I believe I’m satisfied now," Rupert tested his jaw and picked up his bags. "Still hits like a bloody vampire, though."

"Oh, that’s his superhuman strength. It’s kind of a leftover from his vampy days," Dawn took the Englishman’s arm and began leading him into the apartment complex.

"This is gonna be a bloody picnic," Spike groaned as Buffy slid her arms around his waist and followed them inside.

"He’ll be fine now," she assured him with a kiss on the cheek. "If he isn’t, you can kill him after the reception."

"Promise?" he stopped in his tracks and gave her a hopeful grin.

"Only," she warned, "if he interferes with our wedding. Nothing is going to spoil tomorrow for us."

~*~*~

"I brought Zima," Andrew announced as he burst into the apartment that evening for the dinner they had planned.

"I brought geekboy," Xander sighed as he followed the young man inside and shut the door behind them. "Sorry. He heard us talking about this and I couldn’t shake him," the brunette gave Buffy a hug then returned Dawn’s welcome.

"Oh my," Giles said as he entered the living room and saw the unexpected arrival.

"Not to worry, pops," Spike gave the older man a ‘friendly’ slap on the shoulder, "I’ve got lots of alcohol for the evening."

"I’ll have a scotch, please," the former watcher said.

"Sure thing," Buffy rushed to get the drink when she say her soon to be husband open his mouth to make some snarky comment.

She went to the kitchen to get his drink and make sure dinner, all nicely prepared by a restaurant down the street, was still hot. When she returned to the room she found Andrew and Dawn bickering over some TV show while the men in the room did anything but talk to one another.

"Best bring the bottle, luv," Spike told her dryly.

"No," she said firmly then turned at a knock on the door. "I’ll not have anyone hung over for the ceremony."

"Ceremony’s not until tomorrow night so peaches can attend," her fiancée argued. "I say all of us, with the exception of nibblit and Tucker’s brother there, get sloshed."

With a glare at the suggestion she opened the door and welcomed Kennedy and Willow inside.

The Wiccan went to give Giles a slightly awkward hug before giving the slayer a big smile.

"So what’s for dinner? And, no offense, but please tell me you didn’t cook."

"I’m really not that bad anymore," the blonde woman pouted slightly. "I’ve been practicing and with edible results. But dinner tonight is from the place on the corner."

"So when we eating?" Xander sat up at that bit of news.

"Waiting for Clem to get here," Spike explained.

"Can I get you all anything to drink?" Buffy stood in hostess mode and asked.

"I’ve got Zima," Andrew shook the bottle he was drinking from at the others then raised the brown paper bag that held his supply of the beverage.

"Shut your gob about the bloody Zima," Spike ordered causing the young man to give him a wounded look that had the former vampire rolling his blue eyes and wondering what the hell he’d done to deserve these twits forever in his life.

"Stop it," his fiancée scolded him.

"What’d I do?" he assumed a look of innocence.

"I know what you’re thinking," Buffy moved and dropped a kiss on his lips then whispered, "but they’re our friends and you’d be lost without them. Admit it."

"Lost is a gross exaggeration," he pulled her into his lap. "I’ll concede to never being bored with them around, if I must, but I can think of much better ways for us to spend our time."

"Dear God," Giles said suddenly as he watched them snuggling and kissing in the chair, oblivious to their guests. "Willow - "

"It’s not me or any kind of magic," the redhead interrupted him quickly. "I’ve already checked. They’re just …" she looked at the soon to be newlyweds and smiled, "in love."

"Sorry, it was just - "

"Déjà vu. I know. I felt the same way," Xander interrupted the man this time and rose to his feet. "Let’s go find that scotch."

~*~*~

An hour later Clem had arrived and the whole gang was lingering over the remains of their meal.

"I still don’t see why I can’t have a glass of wine. One glass won’t kill me and kids in Europe drink from birth," Dawn continued her meal long argument as everyone around her was showing signs of drunkenness.

"You’re a minor and this is America. No alcohol until you’re 21," Buffy wagged an unsteady finger at her sibling.

"That isn’t fair. I’m not a minor, I’m an ancient mystical key trapped in a teenaged body. Just one glass?" she whined.

"About this business venture," Giles pushed his empty plate aside and interrupted the little byplay. "You say you’re already taking on cases?"

"Yup," the blonde woman said with a smacking pop on the ‘p’ sound. "It’s how we were able to move into our own place."

"What kind of work have you had so far?"

"Bodyguarding’s what paid the best," Spike spoke up from the end of the table. "Done a few vamp and demon removals, but the protection biz is where it’s at."

"How much have you saved from these jobs and how much more do you need to actually launch the business?" Rupert asked with interest.

"Saved about half of what we need," the blonde man answered. "Could probably earn the other half in a few months."

"Oh," the older man finished his glass of scotch, "and here I was thinking I was being softened up to fund the venture."

"Well, mate, if you wanna chip in …" Spike smirked and trailed off.

"You guys as so muth fun," Andrew suddenly exclaimed with a slight slur for consuming three Zima’s. "I’ve missed you guys."

"You should really go away so we can miss you, too," Dawn told the young man sitting beside her snidely.

"Dawnie," Andrew turned toward the teenager with a goofy grin. "Did I ever tell you how pretty your hair is?" he reached out to touch it then wrapped his arms around her neck. "I love you."

Willow and Xander choked on the food they were eating while Giles, Kennedy and Spike all spit out the drinks they’d been taking as Buffy just stared at the geek now kissing her little sister in absolute disbelief. Clem continued to just smile and nod contentedly at everything around him.

"I love Xander, too," Andrew said after Dawn had succeeded in frantically pushing him away from her. "But," he turned to stare dreamily at the man he spoke of, "I’m not supposed to talk about that. ‘It was just a one time thing, geekboy,’" the blonde made quotation marks in the air to indicate he was quoting someone, "all fifty times we’ve done it."

"He’s just drunk," Xander laughed weakly then rose and threw a hand over the geek’s mouth. "I think we’ve had a bit too much fun tonight. Really should be taking this puppy home before he gets sick," the brunette hauled his ‘roommate’ to his feet and began pushing him toward the door. "Great dinner and I’ll see you all at the wedding tomorrow."

"I really," Andrew grabbed onto the kitchen doorway where they were gathered and resisted the man pulling him away, "really do love all you people. You’re," he sniffled, "you’re all my friends. The bestest friends a guy could have."

It was silent for just a moment after the duo left then Giles removed with glasses with an awkward clearing of his throat and Buffy snickered. Then Willow giggled. Then they all were laughing at the little revelation from Tucker’s brother.

"Did you see Harris’s face when the git said that? ‘Fifty times we’ve done it,’" Spike laughed across the table at his fiancée. "And me without a camera."

~*~*~

"Stupid bloody idea, this is," the groom-to-be complained as he was being ushered out of the apartment to spend the night elsewhere.

"It’s bad luck to see the bride on her wedding day before the wedding ceremony," Buffy said firmly, "or something like that. You can’t stay here tonight."

"It’s a bloody stupid superstition, luv," he argued and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"We’ve already talked this over and both agreed that this is the way it’s gonna be," she removed his arms, gave him a kiss then pushed him toward Clem who was waiting at the door. "I love you and tomorrow night we’ll be alllll alone together as Mr. and Mrs. Spike."

"And then we won’t be leaving bed for a bloody week," he growled before moving back in for another kiss then reluctantly picking up his suitcase.

"We won’t have to. We’ll have room service," she gave him a happy smile as he and Clem turned to leave.

She moved to shut and lock the door after them only to jump in surprise when it was suddenly pushed back open.

"Just one quickie before I go," Spike said as he stepped back inside.

"We’ve already had three of those and Giles may never sober up again from overhearing us," Buffy chuckled a bit then firmly pushed her impatient bridegroom out the door. "We have to wait until tomorrow."

He stomped off muttering all the way about ‘bloody stupid superstitions’ and his having become ‘a damned Nancy-boy again.’ His soon to be missus listened with a smile on her face before stumbling off to bed to sleep alone for one last night in her life.

A Slayer’s Wedding

Spike paced the lobby of the Hyperion hotel in his neatly pressed black tuxedo rental and wondered how bloody much longer it would be before this thing was started.

"There’s no reason to be so nervous. She’s not about to run out on you or anything," Xander said watching the man pace, "unfortunately."

"I’m not nervous, you nit, I’m wanting to get to the bloody honeymoon already," the groom snapped. "Why don’t you go find your boyfriend and stop bugging me?"

"He’s – I don’t have a boyfriend. I’m fully heterosexual male here. I even work in construction with all kinds of manly tools. No boyfriend for me," the brunette jumped up and began pacing nervously.

"Fifty times in three months sounds like a relationship to me, but can’t blame you for wanting to keep that git in the closet," the blonde smirked as the other man stomped outside to the garden where the guests were gathering for the ceremony.

"I always wondered about him," Angel said watching the Scooby go. "Never would’ve imagined him with such a spaz, though."

"Sorry he didn’t pick you, peaches?"

"Now, now," Clement entered tugging at the lapels of his tuxedo jacket, "none of that. This is your wedding day and there’s one lovely little slayer getting ready upstairs that’ll start chopping heads off if you two start your bickering."

"Did ya see her?" Spike asked his best man eagerly. "We ready to get this bloody show started?"

"All the guests have arrived and Dawnie assures me they’re just putting on the finishing touches so I’d say it’s time to take our places," the demon said with an easy smile.

Without further ado the groom made his way outside to the garden with Angel and Clem following behind. The brooding vampire went to stand with Fred, Gunn, Lorne and Wesley off to the side while the demon moved with Spike to take their places at the front of the gathering. Seeing that Xander, who had been chosen as an usher for the ceremony, urged everyone to be seated then rushed to take his place beside Clem.

"So we’re starting now?" the brunette asked.

"I bloody hope so," Spike ran a finger inside the tight collar of his white shirt and kept his attention focused on the doors his bride would be walking through.

Andrew turned his attention and the camcorder he held in that direction so as not to miss any of the actual ceremony. He had lots of footage of all the guests arriving. Rona and Vi were the only former slayers in training who had helped defeat the First in attendance, besides Kennedy, due to the way the group had scattered after winning the battle. Principal Wood was there with Faith, whose conviction Gunn had managed to get overturned sooner than expected.

Hank Summers was absent, as he had been all the major events in his daughter’s life, but he’d sent a nice big check for the couple to enjoy as a wedding gift.

It was a small, intimate gathering under the starry night sky with a rather uncomfortable minister present to perform the nuptials.
Finally there was movement in the lobby and moments later Willow, clad in a green satin dress and carrying a bouquet of white roses, stepped out into the garden with a nod for Andrew to cue the music.

As the smiling redhead made her way down the makeshift aisle Dawn stepped through the doors and seconds later the wedding march began to play bringing everyone to their feet to watch for the bride’s arrival. Willow was standing in position at the minister’s side and the teenager was halfway down the aisle when Buffy emerged from the hotel on her former watcher’s arm.

She was a vision in white satin and lace with a frothy veil doing little to hide her glowing face as she looked up to meet her soon to be husband’s gaze.

Spike’s heart lurched emotionally in his chest as their eyes met then he frowned when her eyes went wide with horror and focused on something behind him. When his bride suddenly removed her veil and put it carefully aside along with her bouquet before turning to run back into the hotel, he looked over his shoulder to see what the hell she was going on about.

"My invitation must have been lost in the mail," Drusilla said in her most childish voice. "Luckily, Miss Edith told me all about your li’l party. I hope you don’t mind my bringing a few guests."

Everyone froze as they turned to see the woman standing behind the groom. Recognizing his childe Angel cursed then ran into the hotel to raid his weapons chest.

"Oh bloody hell," the groom groaned as his ex-lover vamped out and lunged toward him.

Just the vampires began coming at them from all directions and guests met the assailants head on despite not having thought to bring weapons to the ceremony. Clem smiled weakly and quickly moved the minister out of harms way as Xander got knocked against a wall by a vamp and Spike delivered a series of punches to keep Dru back.

"Miss Edith also said I can have my prince back now," the dark haired vampire whispered as she got behind the blonde and tried to bite his throat.

"This is NOT happening on my wedding day," Buffy declared as she ran back out into the garden brandishing the axe she’d gotten from inside.

With quick movements she cut off the heads of two vampires who tried to get in her way then ran forward to slam the blunt end of the weapon into Dru’s face to send the other woman flying backward.

"You couldn’t bring enough for all of us, B," Faith admired the axe and setting for folding up one of the aluminum chairs guests had been sitting on and using it as a weapon against the two vampires attacking her.

Gunn and Wesley were fighting their way easily through the minions to join Angel in getting weapons for all as Lorne scrambled to find cover and Andrew eagerly continued to record every moment with his camera darting left and right to focus on the action.

Dawn, Fred, Giles, Kennedy, Robin, Rona and Vi followed Faith’s example and used the chairs to beat back the vampires in addition to throwing punches and kicking asses. Willow’s eyes were looking a bit black as she dispelled anyone lunging her way with a furious wave of her hand.

Meanwhile, Buffy and Spike were both fighting the crazed Drusilla who was apparently determined to turn the man back into a vampire. The two blondes kept the brunette boxed between them as they argued over who had more right to chop her head off.

"I’m the one with the axe and this is my wedding she’s ruined," Buffy argued with a roundhouse kick to the other woman’s stomach as she against slammed the handle of the weapon into the vampire’s face.

"It’s my wedding, too, and it’s my bloody neck she trying to bite again," Spike punched his former lover when she turned his way and continued to argue with his fiancée. "Give me the axe and I’ll let you dust all the little fledglings for spoiling your flower arrangements."

"Who did what to my arrangements?" the bride whipped her head around with a gasp to survey the damage done to the pretty little flowers she’d had placed around the garden for the wedding.

While she was distracted Spike lunged forward to yank the axe from her relaxed grip then turned to face his sire. Angel was now distributing stakes and various sharp objects to the other slayers present and the vampires were being dusted at a rapid clip.

Buffy forgot about the stupid flowers to watch her groom face the vampire he had loved for so long.

"Why won’t you be my prince any more?" Dru asked him tearfully with her features shifting back to human as her minions were wiped out. "We had such good times you and I. You loved it - the blood, the battles, the bloodcurdling screams of all those weak little humans we fed upon. Now you’re one of them again – all weak and mortal."

"Nothing weak about me this time, pet," Spike raised the axe slowly and Angel was unable to watch Angelus’s beloved childe’s last moments. "And that just isn’t me anymore."

"But it can be," Drusilla vamped out again and moved so quickly no one was expecting it when she caught the swinging axe in one hand and knocked the blonde man back with the other. "Mummy’s here to make you all better again."

"Like hell you are," Buffy tackled the vampire before she could leap at the groom, straddled the brunette then looked around frantically for a stake.

"Yo, B," Faith called out and the blonde looked up to see a big wooden stake flying through the air towards her.

Weapon in hand the bride didn’t hesitate a single second before plunging it straight through the vampire’s shriveled heart and turning the woman to gray dust beneath her.

"Dammit, slayer, it was my right to do that," Spike complained as he got back to his feet the helped his bride to hers.

"I had just as much right to dust the bitch," Buffy said. "Look at what she made me do to my dress."

"What the devil was all that?" asked a shaky male voice and everyone looked around to see the minister staring back at them - wide eyed with his Bible clenched to his chest.

~*~*~

"Dearly beloved," the minister began shakily after being assured that there would be no more interruptions. "We are gathered here today – tonight, rather - "

"Actually," Buffy looked from Spike to the man they stood before, "could we just skip to the important parts?"

Taking a look at the bride’s grass stained gown and the groom’s torn lapel on his tux, the man nodded eagerly and skipped ahead.

"Do you, Buffy Anne Summers, take this man, Spike," he paused and looked up questioningly at the single name. "This man, Spike," the minister continued nervously after getting a glare from the groom, "to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better or for worse until death shall you part?"

"I do," she bit back a smile and thought at how unsuccessful death had been thus far at parting the.

"And do you, Spike, take this woman - "

"I do," the groom interrupted firmly.

Well rehearsed on this part of his best man duties, Clem quickly gave the minister the wedding rings before being asked. With a weak smile at the loose skinned demon, the man gave Buffy’s ring to Spike and said, "Repeat after me. ‘Buffy, with this ring, I thee wed. Take it and wear it as a symbol of all we shall share.’"

"Buffy," Spike looked into her watery green eyes, "with this ring, I thee wed. Take it and wear it as a symbol of all we shall share," he slid the solid gold band onto her ring finger then raised her left hand to kiss her knuckles.

"And now you," the minister said after clearing his throat to stop the couple from simply staring at each other. "Repeat after me. ‘Spike, with this ring, I thee wed. Take it and wear it as a symbol of all we shall share.’"

She slid the ring onto her groom’s finger then looked into his eyes and said softly, "Spike, with this ring, I thee wed. Take it and wear it as a symbol of all we shall share."

Their lips met the instant the last word was spoken and when they showed no signs of stopping the kiss, the minister finished in a rush for the guests.

"In as much as these two have pledged to each other their lifelong commitment, love and devotion, I now pronounce them husband and wife by the powers vested in me by God and the state of California. Those who God has joined together today, let no one put asunder," the man looked at the couple with a slight shake of his head. "Spike, you may continue kissing your bride."

"Wasn’t needing your permission, pops," the groom pulled away for just a second to say before pulling his wife even closer for a deeper kiss.

"Ok, then. Beautiful ceremony, the bride is positively glowing and yada yada yada," Lorne stood up and clapped for the newlyweds for a moment. "Now how ‘bout we go inside and hit the booze?"

"Oh phooey," Buffy pouted as she and Spike turned after a moment to follow the others inside. "I broke my shoe."

"My poor baby," her husband mocked before scooping her up in his arms and carrying her inside so she wouldn’t have to walk in the now heel-less high heel. "How long do we have to put up with these geeks before we can go upstairs?"

"I’m thinking we could get away in an hour," his wife sighed as she watched her friends and family rushing around the lobby getting food and alcohol from the caterers who’d set up the reception there. "Might be able to slip away sooner if they get drunk."

"Right then," Spike put her down and called out to the bartender, "Keep those drinks coming."

Finally

Buffy’s theory that they might get away from drunken guests easier than sober ones was proven very wrong two hours into the reception. The more her friends drank the more they wanted to toast and congratulate the happy couple. Lorne keeping the music playing for the people to keep dancing while Andrew rushed around having everyone say something for the camera also proved a delay to their getting upstairs.

Dawn, who Spike was threatening to send off to reform school to finish up her high schooling, deliberately found little things to stop them with when they tried to sneak past her. First she reminded them with a big innocent smile that they had to pose for their wedding pictures. Then it was the need to have the first dance and cut the cake. Next she informed them that there were gifts to be opened. And, of course, Spike couldn’t forget to throw Buffy’s garter to the bachelors present nor could Buffy forget tossing her bouquet to the single women. She finally let them pass when Spike shoved a glass of champagne in her hand and told her to drink all she wanted as a bribe.

"Spike, we can’t let her drink that," the bride protested as her maid of honor happily drank down the beverage and practically skipped to the bar for another.

"It’s sparkling cider, luv, and I told the bloody barkeep I’d rip his head off if he served her anything else," her new husband said while dragging her toward the staircase. "Last thing any of us needs to deal with is a drunken nibblit. She’d probably start snogging Xander’s boytoy."

"Mmm, speaking of snogging," Buffy pulled him to a stop and moved in for a kiss at the base of the stairs.

"Looks like our newlyweds are heading off to consummate this joyous little union, so let’s send them off with a little ditty, what d’ya say?" startled the couple turned to see Lorne with a microphone standing in the center of the gathering behind them with the garter he’d caught dangling from his left horn. "Here’s an oldie but a goody for all you hip cats."

"This is why I told you no bloody karaoke at the reception," Spike sighed as the demon began singing.

"’Out of the tree of life I just picked me a plum’ and what a precious little plum she is," the empath winked a red eye at Buffy whose eyes went wide in fascinated horror. "’You came along and everything started to hum. Still it’s a real good bet the best is yet to come,’ but there are innocents present so let’s not go into any detail about that," Lorne continued to sing and interject little statements directed toward his audience with the lyrics. "’The best is yet to come and won’t that be fine. You think you’ve seen the sun, but you ain’t seen it shine. Wait till the warm-up is underway, wait till our lips have met.’ Come on Mr. and Mrs. Spike give us one last kiss for the cameras before scurrying off to do that horizontal polka," the demon moved toward them with Andrew and the wedding photographer in tow while continuing with the song. "’Wait till you see that sunshine day. You ain’t seen nothing yet. The best is yet to come and won’t that be fine.’ Truly you two, beautiful ceremony aside from the ex-vampire lover crashing in with her minions to try and feast on all your guests," Lorne wedged himself between the couple for a quick picture then went back to serenading them with his lounge style singing. "’The best is yet to come, come the day you’re mine.’ Looks like that day is today and what a great day it has been, let’s give these two a round of applause to thank them for giving us reason to have this fabo party."

As the green man tucked his microphone under one arm to began clapping and the assembled guests slowly began applauding along with him, Spike took his wife’s arm and cautiously started inching his way up the stairs away from the clearly intoxicated demon.

"Yo, B, make sure you do everything to him that I would do," Faith called out and raised her glass of champagne to the other slayer when the blonde looked her way. "And, blondie," the brunette turned to toast the groom, "don’t forget what I told you about those muscles. Warm champagne, handsome. Divorce her and come to me if she doesn’t show you," she offered with a sly wink despite her date’s glare.

"And there they go," Lorne raised a hand to feign wiping away tears from his eyes as Spike restrained his bride from lunging at the rogue slayer and started dragging her up the stairs. "Aren’t they just the most perfect couple you’ve ever seen?"

"I’ve seen better," Angel and Xander were both heard to say in the crowd.

"’Come the day you’re mine, I’m gonna teach you to fly. We’ve only tasted the wine. We’re gonna drain that cup dry.’ This is a party people, let’s drink up and keep the alcohol a flowing," the empath demon went back to his performance as the newlyweds finally made their escape.

~*~*~

"Thank God we only have to go through that once in our lives," Buffy sighed as Spike set her on her feet in their suite after carrying her over the threshold.

"We could’ve just gone to a nice justice of the peace to say our ‘I do’s’ without involving all the twits, but you wanted an actual ceremony to get all fancied up for," her husband gave her a smile and dropped a kiss on her lips.

"We’re gonna have to buy this now," she fingered the torn lapel of his tuxedo jacket a bit nervously then looked up into his eyes. "Ah … about Dru," she bit her lip and looked away.

"Don’t give her another thought, luv. You’re the only one I’ve ever loved like this, with all my heart and bleeding soul even before I really had either," he cupped her face in his hands and turned it back so he could look into her eyes. "I would have killed the daft bird long ago for you and never regretted it. She’s my past and been nothing but the past for me for a long time now. You are my present and future. I love you, Buffy, and I’ll spend the rest of our lives showing you how much."

"I don’t know what I ever did to deserve someone as good as you," emotional tears deepened the color of her eyes, "but I will spend the rest of my life showing you how grateful I am to have you. I love you so much."

"My wife," he whispered against her lips as his hands worked to removed the pins from her hair and let down the upswept strands.

"My husband," she smiled tearfully and pushed his jacket off before moving to unbutton his shirt.

Silently their clothing was slowly removed. She got his shirt open to reveal the still slightly pale but getting bronzed flesh of his chest and lovingly traced every muscle there. He lowered the zipper at the back of her gown and reverently ran his hands over her bare shoulders as the dress fell to pool at her feet. She removed the belt from around his lean waist as he toed off the dress shoes he’d consented to wear with the tux.

They both hesitated for some unknown reason over the remaining barriers between them. Buffy’s fingers curling into the waistband of his pants, but didn’t open the fastenings so near her hands. Spike’s fingers toyed with the straps of the white satin slip she had worn under her gown, but didn’t push them off her shoulders to send the flimsy garment to join the dress on the floor.

The stalling on both their parts surprised her considering that, with the exception of the few days last week that it had taken for her cycle to pass, they hadn’t gone without sex for more than twelve hours since he was restored. As soon as they’d been able to again they’d gone at each other like animals and stayed in their bedroom for almost a full day making enough noise that Dawn swore she was psychologically scarred for life.

So why weren’t they on that big soft bed screwing like rabbits right now, she wondered.

"This is kinda silly," she said quietly as she watched her index finger circle his navel. "We’ve done this hundreds of times I shouldn’t feel nervous."

"It’s a bit different this time," he bent to kiss the sensitive spot behind her left ear.

"Good," she moaned and tipped her head to the right as his lips moved down the left side of her neck to the tiny white strip of fabric on her shoulder, "so I’m not the only one who feels that."

"No," he joined their hands, meshing their fingers together and pulling back to stare at the matching bands on their ring fingers that marked them as husband and wife. "I feel it, too. This is …"

"Right," she suggested softly when he paused to find the right word.

"Sacred," he finished looking deep into her eyes.

"Oh," she blinked a bit at the word and the passion with which he spoke it then smiled. "I like your word better."

"Yours was good, too," he returned the smile before moving to kiss her gently with their joined hands pressed between their chest. "This is right," he tilted his head to the side to change the angle of their kisses, making them deeper. "This is so bloody right."

When he released her hands to scoop her back up into his arms she slid her hands into his hair and pressed her face against his shoulder, thinking that they were both right.

When he laid her gently on the bed then straightened to stare at her lying before him bathed the soft glow of light from the bedside lamp then moved his hands to remove his pant it was clear that this was sacred.

There was a reverence in the way he slid his nude body on to the bed next to her and in the way her breath and heartbeat slowed in anticipation as he laid on propped up on his side looking at her.

There was a purity in the way his hand reached out to stroke her cheek then make it’s way down her body until it reached her bare thigh at the bottom of her slip.

It was like her first time all over again.

Like their first time ever.

She looked into his eyes as his hand started sliding up under her slip then curled into the waistband of her bikini briefs and began pulled them down. With their gazes still locked together she raised her hips to help with the removal.

After getting the panties past her feet and tossing them aside Spike sat up to begin inching the slip up her body, pausing to kiss and caress every inch he bared. By the time he had the garment around her shoulders and was pulling her upright to get it completely off she had had enough of the slow and worshipping lovemaking.

Once her arms were free of the slip’s confines she wrapped them around her husband and rolled him onto his back.

Straddling his hips Buffy ran her hands through his slicked back bleached blonde hair while lowering her mouth to nip sharply at his soft full lips. He opened his mouth, tangled his hands in her hair and began returning the nips and kisses hungrily. She broke off to kiss her way down his body, but he stopped her before she could take him into her mouth.

"Trust me, you’ll like this, luv," he promised when she looked up a bit confused at his holding her off.

Curiously she watched him sit up with his back braced against and legs outstretched in front of him. He gave her a leering look as he took her hands and urged her to straddle his hips again. Her hands went to his shoulders, at first for balance as she positioned herself then just to hold onto him as he took himself in hand and guided his erection into her waiting warmth.

Buried inside her Spike nuzzled his face against her neck while he rearranged her legs until they were wrapped around his waist putting all her weight on to his body and sinking him as deeply inside her as he could go.

Their eyes locked again as they stayed unmoving for a moment.

Then her hands squeezed the warm resilient flesh of his shoulders before her fingers raked down his back to pull their chests together. His arms wrapped around her with his hands going to her hips to begin raising and lowering her body on his.

For the longest time they continued just like that. His hands alternated between moving her hips to running up her spine and curling over her shoulders to arch her backward so her small firm breasts were thrusts toward his lips, which waited to kiss, nibble and suckle at her hardened nipples. Occasionally they would kiss - gently or hungrily, softly or with bruising force. Mostly, though, when he wasn’t suckling at her breasts, their faces would hover just inches apart as they breathed in each other’s breath and scents, looking deeply into each other’s souls and saw the same feelings of desire, love, devotion and lust they knew themselves to be feeling at this joining.

Finally it became too much. Buffy’s fingers were digging into his back and Spike’s lips were more demanding on her breasts while his hands guided her hips to ride him faster and harder.

"Spike, please," she whimpered when she’d taken as much as she could and needed more.

He knew her so well he didn’t need to ask what she wanted. His blue eyes were darkened to a deep navy with desire and the dilation of his pupils as he locked gazes with hers to watch her every reaction as he kept their bodies tightly joined while he carefully shifted them until she was on her back with him above her.

He drove into her with a series pounding thrusts that slicked their bodies with even more sweat, set their hearts to thrumming even harder in their chests and made their breathing more a series of pants between loud moans and groans. She relished his weight and control and power for a few minutes then used her agile slayer form to flip them over so she was the one weighing him down, controlling their union and overwhelming him with her power and strength.

"That’s it, luv," he groaned encouragingly as she set out to ride him hard, but slow.

Her hands ran roughly over his chest, fingernails scraping over his nipples to make him buck underneath her, as she squeezed him tight with her slayer muscles while raising her hips until he was nearly slipping out of her then she relaxed the muscles and slammed back down so their pelvises smacked together.

Buffy repeated the process until she was only able to move halfway off him before needing to slam back down and feel him filling every inch of her. When Spike’s hands wrapped around her hips to urge her on and his fingers curled into the soft firmness of her ass she gave up trying to drive him crazy in favor of taking them both over the edge together.

Planting her hands on the bed beside his head she leant forward to begin kissing his lips and neck while her body bounced and writhed on him. He moved one hand from her hip to wedge it between their bodies to find the knot of nerves between her legs and send bolts of pure ecstasy shooting through her system.

She looked at his face, saw how he was fighting to hold back his climax, and willingly threw herself into the orgasm he brought her to with his fingers on her clit. Wrapping both arms around her and crying out her name, Spike quickly joined her in orgasm.

~*~*~

Still tired in the most delicious way from her wedding night Buffy awoke the following afternoon to Spike waving a cup of coffee under her nose. She sat up with a smile and drank the hot liquid then spotted the tray of food on the bed beside her and the TV on against the wall at near the foot of the bed.

"Mmm, I’m famished," she declared while picking up the huge sandwich on the tray and taking a fairly decent chunk out of it.

"Wonder why that is?" he gave her that trademarked smirk of his as he watched her devour the food for a minute then turned away to watch something on television.

"Aren’t you gonna eat?" Buffy asked after finishing off the sandwich and moving on to her french fries.

"Shh, Passions on and I need to know who killed Julian Crane," Spike replied without looking up from the screen.

"You still watch that show?" she smiled at his intent study of the program as he eagerly awaiting the revelation of the murder.

"It’s a good show," he said before waving her to silence. "Now quiet before I miss it."

"Spike," she knew he’d punish her in some delightfully thrilling way for what she was about to do, but weighing the good against the bad she decided it was a win win situation. "This is our honeymoon. Sure we may not be able to fly off to some exotic isle and frolic nude on beaches to pass the time, but there are many many other things," she slid from the bed and moved to shut off the TV before he knew what she was up to, "we can do besides watch daytime television."

"Hey," he protested when it sank in what she’d done as she tackled him back onto the bed. "I can do both, you know," he bragged while turning the TV back on with the remote he held and running his free hand over her body.

"Really? Prove it," she challenged.

With his eyes mostly on the television and his hands completely focused on her body, he did prove it and a few other things during their week long stay in the hotel suite.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Birthday to Remember (Epilogue)


Blowing out the match he’d been using to light all the candles littering every possible surface in their bedroom Spike admired his handiwork then turned to collect his wife from her bubble bath.

"Five more minutes," Buffy moaned from their large clawfooted bathtub, not even opening her eyes to speak as she sensed his presence in the doorway.

"Water’s getting cold already, luv," he whispered as he knelt next to her and dipped a hand into the water. "You’ll like this next part just as much," he promised with a trail of slow kisses down the side of her neck.

"Mmm," she sighed happily and cracked one eye open just a bit. "Will there be more of that?"

"Possibly," he smiled seductively and she raised a wet hand from the bath water to bring those smiling lips to hers.

With her feet she dislodged the stopper and started the water draining as he helped her stand to step from the tub.

She stood stretching her warm and relaxed muscles as he grabbed one of their big fluffy bath towels from the rack then rose to start wiping the moisture from her skin. He began at her shoulders working his way slowly down her arms then her torso, drying front and back in just a minute.

When he knelt before her to begin working his way up her legs she braced her hands on his strong shoulders and slowly opened her eyes to admire his lightly tanned skin under her fingers. As he finished he leant forward to gently kiss the barely visible silvery little stretch marks around her stomach.

"Stop that," she pouted a bit as his actions reminded her she still had five pounds she wanted to shed before she considered herself to be back to her old physique.

"Can’t," his tongue darted out to trace one tiny little line at her side causing her to squirm a bit as the light touch tickled her. "They’re just so cute."

"They are not," she argued just for the sake of arguing as he stood to scoop her up in his arms and carry her into the bedroom.

"Yes," he shifted her closer in his arms for a quick kiss before laying her on the bed, "they are. Everything about you," he stood there in nothing but boxer shorts admiring her nude body against the black satin of their bed sheets, "is cute and sexy," he braced his hands on the edge of the mattress and leaned down to kiss her stomach, "and so bloody beautiful you take my breath away every time I look I you."

"Still?" she asked with a touch of uncertainty as they had been married four years now.

"Always," he said with quiet conviction while looking straight into her eyes to put all her doubts to rest.

"For me, too," she whispered with the same conviction while reaching out to take his left hand into hers and mesh their fingers together so their wedding bands were side by side.

"On to your tummy now," he ordered after a quick kiss and straightening to stand next to the bed.

Without hesitation she rolled until she was lying face down on the bed then turned her head to watch him as he slid his boxers off, grabbed a bottle of baby oil and joined her on the mattress.

"We’re gonna ruin the sheets again," she smiled as she remembered how their massages always messed the satin material up.

"It’ll wash out," he knelt beside her and poured some oil into his hands to warm it with his skin.

Smiling she folded her arms up under her chin, closed her eyes and relaxed as he brushed aside the few strands of hair that had escaped the clip she had them fastened up with then began massaging the nape of her neck and on down to her shoulders firmly.

She always marveled at his hands when he touched her like this. They were pure magic at easing away pain from muscles strained in fighting or slowly bringing her body to arousal as he was doing now.

His oil slicked hands skimmed down her spine then began kneading their way up her back to loosen every muscle there. When he again reached her shoulders he spread his fingers out wide with the thumbs pressed together in the dip of her spine and while applying a moan inducing pressure he dragged his hands down to her hips.

One hand left her to pour more oil in his palm before he resumed the massage. She stretched toward him like a cat when he slowly worked the liquid into the taut skin of her butt then slowly made his way to her thighs.

"Patience, pet," he paused to whisper into her ear when she wiggled her hips to try deepening the contact between his roaming fingers and her core.

"Phooey on patience," she said with a smile as she opened an eye just enough to see him smiling back at her.

Their smiles quickly changed from teasing to wanting and Buffy opened both eyes while rolling on to her back.

"Wasn’t finished with that side," he stated even though his hands willingly went to massaging the oil on her chest.

"You can finish it later," she managed to get out before moaning as his hands gently massaged her sensitive and slightly swollen breasts.

"Too much," he asked with a bit of concern at her moan.

Green eyes growing dark and hazy with desire looked up into his as she gave a slight shake of her head to indicate that it the sound had been one of pleasure not discomfort.

Spike bent to tenderly press a closed mouth kiss to her lips as his hands moved slowly down her ribs to her stomach.

Both of them opened their mouths and deepened the kiss as his fingers began kneading her abdomen and prepared to go lower only to be stopped by a loud wail from the baby monitor on the bedside table.

They both froze completely at the sound and turned their heads to stare at the device. Then with a groan from him and a disappointed whimper from her they both sprang into action.

"Knew we should have let Red take her tonight," Spike sighed as he stepped back into his shorts.

"It’s way too soon for us to start handing her off to our friends to take care just so we can … do things," Buffy pulled on and belted her robe with a slight blush toward the bed then the baby monitor.

He chuckled at her heightened color, loving how becoming a mother had made his wife all soft and ever mindful of the language she used anywhere around their daughter or when thinking of their child.

"I’ll go heat her bottle," he gave her a quick kiss then left the room to head for the kitchen.

Buffy quickly moved to the nursery the bedroom next to theirs had been converted into and gently lifted her crying infant from it’s crib.

"Shh, mommy’s here," she cradled little Joyce in her arms and, after checking to make sure it wasn’t need for a diaper change causing the upset, moved to sit in the rocking chair set next to the big bay window in the room.

Making soothing little noises she pushed aside her robe and urged her daughter to begin feeding as she started the chair rocking gently back and forth.

"Never get tired of seeing that," Spike sighed quietly from the doorway a minute later as he stood watching his wife and child bathed in the soft glow of the nightlight that was always left on in the room.

"She’s getting to where all she wants is the bottle," Buffy looked up from the head against her chest with its soft brown hair to smile at her husband.

"Better enjoy these moments while they last then," he entered the room and carefully lifted them both into his arms without disturbing the nursing baby then sat down in the chair with them on his lap.

Taking the bottle from him she offered it to Joyce who eagerly latched onto the rubber nipple and began suckling hungrily. As he set the chair to rocking again, Buffy sank back against his chest and nestled her head in the crook of his shoulder as their little girl devoured the formula.

These were the moments they’d saved the world for. For people to have this kind of happiness, never really imagining that they’d have the chance to experience it for themselves.

Sitting in Spike’s arms, feeling his warmth and heartbeat against her back, with their five month old baby girl Joyce Marie nursing in her arms, Buffy felt more love and joy and serenity than she ever would have thought possible.

Two years ago she’s started to think the world would conspire against them having moments like this.

Angel and Giles had both come running to tell her they were facing another Apocalypse thanks to some nimrod who was trying to bring hell onto Earth via the Hellmouth in Cleveland, Ohio. The hardest decision of her life had been to leave Spike, who was bound to Los Angeles, to go stop the event from happening. He’d given the strength and faith to get it done, though. With a few simple words said during a long night of loving he’d shown her yet again that with or without him she could conquer anything and this world would make it through whatever evil was thrown it’s way because there was too much good in it for failure to be an option.

Rona and three other young women, who had been turned into slayers from Willow’s spell at the end of Sunnydale and trained by Giles to use their skills, had been lost in the battle, but their side had won. Buffy, Faith, Kennedy, Rupert and Wesley had all sustained more than a few broken bones to get it done. Spike had counted every bruise, break, cut and scrape he found on her the second she returned to LA and held each little injury against Angel, who had sworn to take care of her in his absence.

They were still reaping the benefits from the major guilt trips her husband laid on the vampire whenever he was reminded of his allowing her to get harmed. This townhouse they now lived in was one of those benefits. When they’d found out she was pregnant they had put the word out that they were looking for a home to raise their growing family in and Angel had used the real estate division of Wolfram & Hart to secure them a beautiful little two story in a decent part of the city.

Their protection business had been thriving almost from the very first job they took on and, thanks to paranoid celebrities and studio execs trying to weasel themselves out of deals made with demons to get ahead in Hollywood, they’d been able to buy and furnish the house without even blinking at the costs. They were even managing to put Dawn through college, though the young woman had no idea what she wanted her major to be. Art was always a constant theme in the classes she signed up for so Spike had been urging her to get a degree in that area and go into the gallery business like their mother had.

Thinking of her mother always brought a twinge of pain, but it was always a bit more poignant a pain at moments like this. Moments when she held her daughter in her arms and wondered how Joyce would have spoiled her first grandchild. How much her mother would have teasingly bemoaned her grandmother status as vehemently denied that she was anywhere near old enough to have a granddaughter. How much Joyce would have approved of this marriage, because even though the evil vampire thing had always worried her, Buffy knew her mother had always liked Spike.

Buffy watched as baby Joyce drifted off to sleep and slowly stopped nursing on the bottle and wondered tearfully if her mother would be proud of how she was doing.

"She would be, luv," Spike whispered quietly behind her, as always sensing that something was bothering his wife and somehow knowing exactly what it was.

"I wish she could see this," a tear rolled down her cheek as she pressed a kiss to her daughter’s head then gently shifted the baby and rubbed at her back until she gave a little burp.

"I’m sure somewhere she’s got a front seat view of it," he assured his wife as she got to her feet to return their daughter to her crib.

"Have I told you today that I love you," she asked him as he came to stand behind her and watch their girl sleep for a moment.

"Been a few hours," he smiled and slid his arms around her waist.

"Hours, you say?" she turned in his embrace and draped her arms around his neck. "I’ll have to make up for those."

"That you will," he gave her a quick kiss then stepped away to drop a loving little kiss on his sleeping child’s head before once again scooping his wife up to carry her back to their bedroom.

"I am capable of walking a few steps without injury, you know," she chided even as she snuggled into his hold.

"I know," he put her down on their bed with a leer. "I like carrying you, though. Makes me feel all manly," he ran his hand down his bare chest and under the elastic waistband of his boxers then pushed the fabric down.

"Mmm, I love it when you’re all manly," she rose to kneel facing him while slipped the robe from her shoulders with an inviting smile.

With a slight growl rumbling through his chest he moved quickly onto the bed to claim her lips hungrily and press her back to the mattress.

"Um …. Spike," she squirmed under him as she felt a spreading wetness under her shoulder and back, "did you leave the baby oil on the bed?"

~*~*~

Buffy laid next to Spike under the cotton bedspread they’d gotten to replaced the oil soaked satin sheets with her right leg nestled between both of his and her head resting on his shoulder watching her right hand absently stroking his chest.

"Looks like we made it this year," he yawned and took her roaming hand in his free one to raise it and kiss her fingers.

She looked past him to the clock on the bedside table next to the amulet they always kept nearby and wasn’t surprised to find it well past two am.

Smiling she turned back to watch him suck her middle finger into his mouth and did an inner happy dance. He was right. They’d made it through her 26th birthday without an Apocalypse or any other kind of imminent doom facing them, the world or their loved ones.

"Maybe they finally got the memo that I’ve retired from the whole Slayer gig," she grinned up at him then resisted the urge to mention how adorable he looked getting all sleepy after their day and with his hair all mussed from her fingers.

"I am not cute," he gave her a bit of a glare to try looking intimidating.

"I didn’t say anything," she kissed his shoulder and strived for an innocent look.

"You were bloody thinking it and I’m not cute," he nipped at her pinky.

"Your mind reading abilities are slightly off tonight," she moved to lie on top of him with a gleam in her eyes. "I was thinking you looked adorable, not cute," she laughed when he smacked her bottom for that then rolled to pin her beneath him.

"Take that back," he ordered with her wrists held in his hands above her head.

"Nope, it’s true," she grinned up at him. "You’re getting all sleepy and yawning and you’re hair’s all a mess. It’s adorable. My blondie bear."

"I’ll divorce you," he threatened with a reluctant grin curling his lips.

"On what grounds?"

"Mental cruelty. ‘Blondie bear,’" he rolled his eyes at the phrase and gave an over exaggerated shudder of revulsion. "Take it back," he insisted.

"All right," she rolled her eyes up at him. "I take it back. You’re so not adorable. You’re manly and sexy and hot and absolute salty goodness that I wanna lick and nibble on for hours on end."

"Haven’t you grown past that whole ‘salty goodness’ terminology phase?" he rolled on to his back to let her begin some of that licking.

"Mmm, how could I when it’s so apt?" she ran the flat of her tongue up the middle of his chest until it reached the Adam’s apple in his throat which bobbed as he swallowed convulsively and began responding to her touch. "Salty," she licked at his skin a few more times before he urged her to straddle him again.

"God, I do love you," he groaned when she ground against his renewed arousal and nipped at his jugular.

"Name’s Buffy, baby, not God, but I know it’s easy to confuse the two," she quipped with a smacking kiss to his lips.

"Oh, hardy har har har," he said when her words filtered through the haze of desire he’d been sinking under. "You’re a bloody riot tonight."

"It was just too good an opening to resist," she said without remorse and a very self-satisfied grin on her face.

"If you weren’t such a loud screamer I’d turn you over my knee and tan your little hide, brat," he threatened with a grin that showed the lack of any real intent behind the words. "Although, we should still have a gag around here somewhere …"

"No bondage with a baby in the house," Buffy declared.

"Didn’t seem to mind doing it when Dawn shared the apartment with us," he reminded her with a lascivious grin.

"Oh God, I’ve married a pervert," she groaned and slumped against his chest.

"Can’t say you weren’t aware of that before the wedding, pet. And need I remind you you’re the one that bought the first pay of handcuffs this time?"

"Our kids are gonna be such screwed up adults."

"’Kids’ plural? Thought you said no more after Joyce’s labor. In fact, I recall you threatening my bits with unimaginable tortures if I ever put another bun in your oven."

"I was in labor at the time and you wouldn’t let them give me drugs," she pouted then grinned at the memory. "Changed your tune when I started threatening Willy Jr, didn’t ya?"

"That’s not it’s bloody name," he rolled her onto her back and rose above her with a grin. "It’s called the spike of Spike and I’m about to drive it into you."

She looked up into his smiling face then down at this infamous spike pressed between her legs then returned her gaze to his face. She tried to keep it in. She really really tried, but the corner of her lip started twitching upward no matter how hard she bit the inside of her cheek and then the laughter started pouring out.

"Figured you’d like that one," he moved to lean back against the headboard and watch her double over laughing.

A few minutes later when her mirth showed no signs of easing he was no longer smiling at his own joke.

"Wasn’t that bleeding funny," he pouted as she finally stopped due to the soreness of her throat and the tears pouring from her eyes.

Holding up her hand to indicate she needed a moment, she slid from the bed to go to the bathroom and get a drink of water.

"With a delivery like that, it was that funny," she argued when she’d regained her composure.

"Just for that, no more spiking for you tonight," he continued to sulk and tucked the blankets firmly around him.

"Oh, it’s your own fault for making a funny at ‘the spike of Spike’s expense," she grinned and slid back into bed.

"Why do I stay married to you?"

"Because I’m irresistible and you totally love me," she snuggled up against him.

"That must be it," he smiled and pulled her closer.

"I love you, too," she tipped her head back for a kiss.

"That’s what I like to hear."

"So," she began trailing her fingers over his chest, "can I have another spiking tonight?"

"Don’t you ever get tired?" he groaned as he urged her on top of him again.

"Of this?" she moaned at finding him still hard and took his length inside her. "Never."

She’d never get tired of this man, this love, this family or this life she now had.

And as they gazed in to each others eyes with their bodies moving toward simultaneous climaxes, she knew he never would either for as long as they lived this time around.

~*~

The End