Chapter Thirty-five

            Hours of discussion about wedding dresses, possible sites, attendants, and other issues that apparently required double X chromosomes to appreciate, later, Spike was relieved to find himself walking back toward the apartment in blissful silence.  Blissful silence that lasted only a few blocks.

           “Spike?  What do you think?  A big wedding in the Knights of Columbus hall or a smaller one in Mom’s backyard?”

          He stopped her in mid-stride and turned her around to face him.

         “Slayer.  Buffy.  Love of my live.  I need for you to take this in the spirit in which it’s meant.” 

           She made a puzzled frown, her lower lip already working its way out as she waited for what he was going to say.  Spike sighed heavily, hoping she wouldn’t get so angry she would damage his mother’s ring.

           “Just tell me when and where I have to be, and leave me out of any discussions about flowers, dresses, decorations and such like, yeah?”

            Buffy’s lip trembled.  “You don’t want to be involved in planning your own wedding?”

           “All I want, sweetheart, is to be married to you.  All proper and legal-like. Don’t care how we get there, or how many of your bloody girl friends have to carry whatever kinds of posies to help us do it.

             “ ‘M sorry, pet.  I jus can’t get excited about all this stuff.  Even when we were under Red’s evil spell, you might remember I wasn’t all with the planning and such.  All I wanted was to make you mine, any way I could.”

           “Oh, and your choices worked out so well for us,” she grumbled.

          “Was it really all that bad, love?”  He couldn’t hide the hurt in his voice at her casual dismissal of the claim they’d put on each other.

           Her stricken eyes flew to his disappointed face and she quickly stepped closer and cupped his cheek with her hand.

           “Oh, no, I didn’t mean it like that!  You know I didn’t.  I’m as sorry as you are that we don’t have the claim any more.  And I know this wedding doesn’t mean anything in demon terms.  That it’s just a poor substitute for what we had.  But it’s all we’re going to be allowed and I just want it to be perfect.”

           “As long as it ends up with you belonging to me, it WILL be perfect,” he rumbled, nuzzling her neck and licking the faint traces of his claiming bite.  “That’s all I care about, love.”

          Buffy shivered when his tongue ran over the almost invisible scars from the claim.  The urge to pull on his head and drive his fangs into her neck was almost overwhelming and she moaned, unconsciously tilting her head to give him better access to his marks.

           “Bloody hell, love.  What are you tryin’ to do to me?” he groaned, fighting back the demon as it eagerly fought to accept what she seemed to be offering. 

            (Got to be strong for her.  It would be so easy to just slip my fangs back into those marks.  Would taste so good.  Make her mine forever.)

           (It would be so easy to let him bite me again.  It would feel so good. And we’d be married in both worlds – his and mine.)

           “I…I’m sorry…” Buffy reluctantly pushed on his chest, eliciting another groan from the now-trembling vampire.  He didn’t respond, other than to release her shoulders and step away, taking quick, unnecessary breaths in an attempt to regain control over his demon.

           “My fault, pet.  Never should have touched those marks like that.”

             As he recovered his control, he looked at her with a cocky grin.  “Had no idea I could still have that kind of affect on you, Slayer. Must be my irresistible charm and sexiness.”

            “Or, you just can’t resist ME,” she shot back at him, falling back into their easy banter to avoid a serious discussion of how close they had come to slipping.

            “You wish, pet.  You wish,” he snarked, taking her hand and continuing their walk home.

            “Oh, I KNOW, vampire.  Don’t think I don’t.”

           Wrapped up as they were in the euphoria of their engagement, as well as their relief at not succumbing to the lure of claiming, neither one noticed the witness to their exchange.  Spike stopped once and sniffed the air with a frown, but the wind was blowing away from them and he shrugged off the faint scent he’d thought he picked up.

           As the passed the street that led to the Magic Box, Buffy suddenly changed direction, pulling him along with her.

          “What the…?”

          “I want to tell Giles,” she said.  “He might still be at the Magic Box.  I want to show him my ring.”

           “This can’t wait until tomorrow?”

         “Nope.  Can’t wait.”  She paused for a second, suddenly less sure of herself.  “You don’t think he’s going to react the way he did while we were under the spell, do you?  Do you think he’ll be happy for us this time?”

            “Happy might be overstating it a bit, pet.  I think he’ll be less surprised than he was the first time around, but I doubt he’s going to be all that happy.”

             “Well, he better be,” she muttered, “or I’ll just tell him how icky I think it is that he and Anya—“

               The sound of a trash can lid rolling out of an alley, followed by a muttered curse, had them both whirling to stare in astonishment as a shame-faced Xander emerged from the near-by alley.

               “Uh, hi, guys,” he said weakly, waving his hand.

               Sincerely hoping he hadn’t heard what she said about Giles and Anya, Buffy demanded, “Xander Harris, have you been following us?”

              “Well, no, yeah, sorta – but only in the I-was-going-that-way-anyway kinda way.  I mean, I was heading for the Magic Box and you seem to be heading for the Magic Box, and I…”

           “An you jus’ thought it would be better to skulk around in the dark than walk with us?”  Spike’s disbelieving snort made the younger man color with anger and embarrassment.

             “Unlike Buffy, I prefer not to walk around town in the company of the undead,” he said haughtily. 

              “Well then, you’ll be wantin’ to ditch your friend there,” Spike offered mildly, jerking his head toward the vampire that was just emerging from the alley where Xander had been hiding.

                Giving an unmanly squeal, Xander quickly came closer to Buffy, subtly putting her between himself and the advancing vamp.  The fledgling stopped in confusion, uncertain about why the humans in front of him weren’t screaming and running, but glad that he wasn’t going to have to work hard for his meal.  He advanced quickly, mentally choosing between the larger, dark-haired meal, and the more tender-looking blond girl.  He ignored, for the moment, the grinning, thinner man, concentrating on the two delicious looking meals first.

                 Deciding to try to have them both, he backhanded Xander to the ground while he leaped at Buffy with his fangs already aimed at her throat.  His surprise at finding himself impaled upon a wooden stake rather than ripping her throat out, was short-lived as he exploded into a dust cloud before he could even protest.

                 “Wanker,” Spike snorted in disgust, as he brushed the dust off his shirt.  “Doesn’t recognize a Slayer when he sees one.”

             Buffy helped Xander to his feet and apologized for the fat lip he was now sporting.

             “Sorry, Xan.  I thought he was just going for me.”

            “Cause you’re the vampire magnet,” he grumbled, not noticing Buffy’s tiny flinch and the vampire’s narrowed eyes.

           Without answering, she turned away and started toward the Magic Box again.  Spike gave the boy a hard look, but resisted the urge to chew him out, extending his stride to catch up to Buffy.  Xander trailed behind them, making an effort to stay closer now that they knew he was there.  He’d seen them earlier when Spike had been so close to biting Buffy again and vowed to tell the Watcher what happened.

            (Surely the G-man will stake him if he thinks Spike is going to reinstate the claim.  He just needs to understand how bad the situation is.)

              Satisfied that he had the solution to his problem, he scampered to keep up with the super-powered beings in front of him, anxious now to reach his destination. 

            They reached the shop to find that the door was locked, although the lights were still on, indicating either Giles or Anya was still around.  Xander hadn’t seen Anya, except from a distance, in several weeks as she apparently only went to her apartment when she could be sure he was at work.

             The one evening she had shown up while he was waiting, the Watcher had been with her and, remembering Giles’ threat if he didn’t stay away from the ex-demon, Xander had refrained from approaching them.  Instead he watched as she entered the apartment with Giles, emerging sometime later with a large suitcase.  The ex-watcher was carrying an additional armful of things, as well as a rather large box.

              Xander frowned in confusion as he watched them load the things into Giles’ car and head back upstairs.  When they returned with more armloads of her belongings, he began to worry.  If Anya was moving to a new apartment, he would really have a hard time seeing her since the only other place he knew he could find her was at work at the Magic Box where the older man who had appointed himself her guardian was sure to be.

            Hoping he could distract Giles from helping Anya by giving him something else to worry about, Xander determined to tell him about Spike and Buffy’s growing closeness.  He told himself he had only been spying on them for Buffy’s own good, and he was hurrying to tell the Watcher about the almost-bite when he had to duck into the alley after realizing that he’d almost run into them.

             The fact that the people he was going to be discussing were now present did not deter him from his purpose, and he moved closer to the shop and waited for someone to open the door.

           Buffy peered in the window, moving around until she could see most of the store.  Suddenly, she leaped back and got between Xander and the window, saying, “I guess nobody’s there.  We should go now.”  She gestured to Spike with her eyes.

          His vampire hearing had already picked up the unmistakable sounds of enthusiastic lovemaking from within the small shop, and he grinned widely as he agreed with the Slayer.

          “Right you are, pet.  Nobody there.  Nothing to see here.  Let’s just all go home and try again tomorrow.”

           Buffy was finding it difficult to remain between Xander and the window and at the same time appear to be leaving.  Her friend frowned at her odd behavior and edged closer to the window saying, “We should knock on the door.  He might be in the back – or maybe just wrapped up in some musty old book…” 

          His voice trailed off as he pushed the protesting Buffy out of the way and got his first clear look inside the store.  All the color left his face when he realized what he was seeing.  Anya was lying across the table in the back of the store, her skirt up to her waist and the watcher’s face between her legs.  While Xander stared in undisguised horror, the older man raised his head and slid up to nestle his hips between her thighs.  As he did so, her legs came up to wrap around his back and they began to rock together in a timeless rhythm.

            Even the vampire felt a twinge of sympathy for the boy as he backed away from the window looking as though he might be physically sick at any minute.

           Buffy reached a tentative hand toward her old friend and ventured, “Xander?  I…I’m sorry, I—“

           He cut her off with a chopping motion of his hand, still backing away from what he’d seen, as well as from the concerned looking couple staring at him. 

             “No!” he shouted abruptly.  “This is all your fault.  If you’d never got involved with Spike….”

             “Easy there, whelp,” the vampire growled.  “I know you’re upset, but don’t go blaming it on Buffy.”

             “Oh, it isn’t just Buffy I’m blaming here, bleach boy.  It’s Willow and her stupid magic spells. It’s Buffy and her disgusting yen for the undead.  It’s you and your…your…whatever.  I wish I’d never met any of you!”

             He whirled and ran off into the night, leaving Buffy to be comforted by her undead lover as she mourned the possible loss of one of the first friends she’d made when she moved to Sunnydale.

            “Don’t take it to heart, pet.  He’s just hurt and angry and he took it out on you ‘cause you were here.  Trust me, that’s not the most pleasant way to find out your lover has moved on.”  He grimaced slightly, flashing back to Dru and her Chaos demon lover.

          “I hate this!  I want to be happy for Giles that he’s found somebody else.  After Jenny he didn’t date at all for the longest time. But now somebody else I care about is hurting because of it.  This just sucks!”  Her lower lip came out in a pout.

          “Not to mention, takes some of the shine off your engagement, doesn’t it, love?”  Although his tone was teasing, she could read genuine caring and sympathy in his eyes and she looked down and blushed.

           “Is that incredibly immature and selfish of me?” she asked in a small voice.

           “No, pet.  It’s just human.”  He kissed her forehead and the tip of her nose before pulling her pouting lower lip into his mouth and biting down on it gently.  “But I’m thinkin’ now is probably not the best time to be showing your Watcher your new bauble, yeah?’

         “I guess you’re right,” she said ruefully, allowing him to pull her away from the shop.  “I’ll come to the shop tomorrow.”  She suddenly looked at him in horror.  “Oh my god!  I’m going to be afraid to come here from now on.  What if they’re…and the table!  We put food on that table!”

           Laughing at her babbling, he led her back toward their home, promising to make her forget all about everything she’d seen that evening.

           “Promise?” she pouted. 

           “You have my word on it, Slayer.  Gonna put those two amateurs and their pitiful attempts at shaggin’ right out of your pretty little head.” 

             “Race you home, then,” she said suddenly, sprinting toward the building and laughing at his indignant, “Hey, no fair starting without me!”

              They fell into the elevator, laughing and groping each other, completely oblivious to the stares of the other residents in the lobby.               Just as the doors began to slide shut, Buffy astonished Spike and everyone else by popping back out and waving her ring as she exclaimed, “Look, everybody.  We’re engaged!  We’re going to get married!”

                Bemused looks gave way to enthusiastic applause as the onlookers realized the Slayer was actually sharing her happiness with her demon neighbors.  Soon there was a small group of female demons surrounding her and admiring the ring with a chorus of “ooooohs” and “ahhhhs”, while Spike accepted handshakes and back slaps from those who knew him well enough to respond with familiarity.

              When they were once again in the elevator and the doors had shut them off from the cheering residents, he pulled her against his body and growled,  “I didn’t think I could love you any more than I already do, but I was wrong.  You are amazing, pet.”

               “You’re pretty special yourself, vampire,” she whispered, going up on her toes to kiss his soft, willing lips.  When she jumped up and wrapped her legs around his waist, pressing her heated core against the bulge she knew would be there, he slammed his hand onto the “stop” button, freezing the elevator between floors.

              “We’re almost home,” she whispered, even as she was unbuckling his belt.

             “Don’t care.  Want you now.” 

             He was pulling her skirt up and pushing aside her underwear before she could protest again, and was soon lodged inside her, basking in the warmth surrounding him.  Her gasping whimpers and moans as she rode his straining cock soon turned to cries of pleasure as she clenched him in her strong walls, bringing on his own shout of release.

            “I love you, Ms Summers,” he breathed in her ear as she slid down to place her feet on the floor.

            “I love you, too, Mr. Carlisle,” she responded, clinging to his strong arms until her legs would support her again.  “And if you start this elevator back up so we can get home, I’ll prove to you exactly how much.”

           “As good as done, love,” he grinned, pushing the “start” button. 

            “Hope nobody was monitoring the elevator camera just then,” he added, laughing at her horrified face.  “Jus’ kidding, Slayer,” he swore, still laughing as she chased him through the door of their penthouse, promising his dusty demise if there was any chance of anyone having seen them.  He made a mental note to get and destroy the tapes as soon as she was soundly asleep for the night.

Chapter Thirty-six

             Joyce threw herself wholeheartedly into the wedding plans, determined to make the best of the situation in spite of her reservations about Buffy’s lack of a normal life.  Intellectually, she knew and accepted that without Spike Buffy would be unlikely to live long enough to marry and have children, but in her heart she mourned for the grandchildren she would never have.  

             Giles was surprisingly accepting of their engagement announcement.  Prompted no doubt, by his own rapidly growing relationship with Anya.  He still had concerns about the Council’s reaction to the Slayer’s marriage, but hoped they would stay on their own side of the Atlantic and trust her to run her own life.

            Everyone had accepted William’s presence in Buffy’s life.  And the news that the good-looking young Englishman had moved to Sunnydale to be near his former girlfriend, now fiancée, came as no surprise to anyone who had seen them together.  With so much of Buffy’s time tied up in slaying business, she hadn’t had time to cultivate a lot of friends at Sunnydale University and her casual acquaintances accepted William’s presence without question.

           In the evenings, Spike patrolled with Buffy, staying out of the slaying unless she seemed to need help or he had some excess energy to wear off.  He loved watching her fight almost as much as he enjoyed the battle himself, and could often be found leaning casually against a tombstone and smoking a cigarette while she kicked and punched her way through small groups of vampires.

          Spike had accepted the necessity of dressing like William with a reasonably good grace, forgoing his signature black leather coat except on rare occasions.  He did surprise Buffy one afternoon by greeting her with a towel wrapped around his head.  When he let it drop, she saw that his platinum blond curls were back and she shook her head in mock disgust.

         “You are so vain,” she said, rolling her eyes.  “You know that hair is going to blow your whole disguise out of the water, don’t you?”

          “Been thinkin’ about it, pet.  As arrogant and ignorant as the Council of Wankers is, I doubt very much if we’re fooling them about who I am.  That’s even assuming they are watchin’ and even care.

           “It was the claim that had the Watcher worried, not that you had hooked up with another vampire.  As long as they think I’m still harmless to humans, they should be alright about us.  And having it known who I am might give you a little more leverage in the demon world.  Not that you need it!” he hastened to add as she began to scowl.  “But I do have a bit of a rep, if I say so myself.”

           He ignored Buffy’s eye roll.  “Some big bads might think twice about coming here to face both an experienced Slayer and a master vampire.”

            “Humph!” was Buffy’s only comment as she studied his rapidly drying hair.  She had to admit to herself that she liked his “bad boy” image more than she cared to say aloud.  She wasn’t completely unhappy about seeing glimmers of it emerging from William’s attractive, but less dangerous demeanor, although she was determined not to let Spike know that.

             While he went back to fussing with his hair and getting his boots on, she sat in the kitchen eating her salad and thinking about how boring their evening patrols had become.  Suddenly, she jumped up and ran back into the bedroom.

             “Are you the Master of Sunnydale again?” she demanded of the startled vampire.

              “I might be…” he said cautiously,  “Depends.”

            “On what?”

            “On how you feel about being the wife of the Master of the city,” he admitted honestly.

            “So, you ARE the Master again!”

             “Um, yeah, guess I am at that, pet.  There was sort of a vacancy there, you know.”

            “When were you planning to let me in on this?” she growled, causing him to raise an appreciative eyebrow at her tone.

             “I figured you’d notice sooner or later.  Or the watcher would figure it out.” 

              He looked at her dubious face and said softly, “It’s not a bad thing, love.  Means I have the right to say what vamps get to live here.  Can whittle the ranks of nasties right down just by lettin’ them know they aren’t welcome here.  I’m not trying to do you out of a job; just want to make your life a little easier, that’s all.”

             Her lower lip protruded as she mulled over what he’d said.

            “What if I WANT to slay things?” she asked petulantly.

           He laughed at her bloodthirsty words and pulled her in for a quick kiss.  “There will always be fledglings to dust, pet.  Just not as many.  Not to mention, we’re probably about due for another apocalypse any day now.  Evil isn’t going on holiday.  Your job is safe, I promise.”

            “Well, okay then,” she relented, putting her arms around his neck and stepping closer to him.  “Just so I still get to slay things when I want to.”

            “That’s my girl,” he breathed, running his lips from her ear to her mouth.  “That’s my beautiful, deadly girl.”

              *****************

            At that night’s Scooby meeting in the Magic Box, no one blinked when Buffy introduced Spike as the “Master of Sunnydale”. She stamped her foot in frustration when Giles just nodded and went back to the book he was studying.  Anya glanced up and said cheerily, “Oh yes, I already congratulated him, Buffy.”

             “Am I the only one who didn’t know about this?” she asked with a pout.

            “Well, Buffy,” Willow said gently.  “He IS your fiancée.  I guess we all just assumed you knew it first.”  Tara couldn’t suppress a giggle at Buffy’s poor attempt to pretend that she had.

             “Does this mean you will be inviting demons and vampires to the wedding?” Anya inquired innocently.  “Cause you’ll have to really have a good caterer if you—“

            Buffy turned a terrified look on her boy friend, then sighed with relief when he shook his head.

            “It’s alright, pet.  I’m not one of those wankers that wants everybody bowing and scraping to him.  You invite who you want to invite, and don’t worry about anybody else.”

             The four girls put their heads together and began working on a potential guest list to give to Buffy’s mother, while Giles and Spike adjourned to the front of the shop to share a bottle of scotch.

             “So, Watcher,” the vampire said casually, “has the whelp been sniffing around demon-girl lately?”

            “Don’t call her that,” the older man snapped.  “And, no, oddly enough, he hasn’t tried to reach her for several weeks now.  It’s quite strange, actually.  I don’t think anyone has been in contact with him, except perhaps, Willow.”

            “Rupes, I’m about to tell you something that would get me staked before the weddin’ if you tell the Slayer.  So I need your word that you won’t go all glasses polishing and coughing on me.”

            “You have my word, Spike,” he gritted out.  “I have no intention of polishing my glasses.  They are quite clean, thank you!”

              A skeptical eyebrow was the only response as Spike leaned forward to share with his fellow Brit the news that he and Anya had provided Buffy with images she was still trying to erase from her mind.

           “Oh, dear Lord!” he muttered, automatically reaching for his glasses.  A quick gesture from the vampire stayed his hand long enough for Spike to add, “We weren’t the only ones at the window, Watcher.”

             “Wha-?  Oh my.  You don’t mean…? Oh, Bugger!”

          “Indeed,” Spike sat back in his chair and lifted his glass.  “The question isn’t where is the whelp, but what is he doing?  There’s no way he’s going away quietly.  Not with the look he had on his face.”

          “Oh dear.  This is going to be bloody awkward.”  His eyes flew wider and he had to fight the overwhelming urge to whip off his glasses for rapid polishing.  “Buffy saw?  What…what did she see?”

           The vampire was grinning from ear to ear.  “Let’s just say she knows much more about your talents that she ever cared to,” he answered with a leer, causing another round of, “Oh dear Lords" and hand wringing.  When it began to look like the ex Watcher was going to begin shredding his own skin, Spike snorted in disgust and said, “Blood hell, mate.  Just polish the soddin’ glasses before you break everything in the room.”

           Fortunately for the discombobulated man, the girls were too engrossed in the wedding plans to notice the conversation going on behind them and by the time they turned around to see what the men were doing, Giles had regained some control.  However, the first sight of Buffy’s face destroyed all his hard-won composure and he turned almost purple when he met her questioning eyes.

           Which flew immediately to the vampire for confirmation of what her watcher’s face was telling her.  One look at the amused twinkle in Spike’s eyes and his apologetic shrug had Buffy turning bright red and spinning around where she couldn’t see Giles at all.  Which, of course, left her facing Anya who was staring back and forth between them in confusion.

          “Buffy?  Is something wrong?  What have you done to Giles?” she demanded possessively.

            Spike’s barely suppressed belly laugh forced a glimmer of light into her puzzled eyes and she quickly looked at her lover to see if she was correct.  The sight of his still-darkened face and the way he was pinching the bridge of his nose told her she had guessed right and she colored prettily before saying, “Well, they had to know sooner or later, Rupert.  I don’t know why you are making such a big deal out of it.”

            Giles ventured a look at the table full of young women and saw only mild curiosity on their faces.  Buffy was still avoiding his eyes, but had lightened up to a pink shade and was looking at Anya somewhat sympathetically.

            She reached a hand over to cover Anya’s hand, ignoring the ex demon’s surprise at the gesture, she said softly, “Xander knows, too, Anya.”  Buffy gulped hard and continued, “I…we…he…we were all on our way to see Giles a couple of weeks ago – it was the night we got engaged, and Xander was coming here too for some reason…”she paused to frown at that thought, remembering that he’d never said why he was going to the Magic Box.

              “We never saw you that night,” Anya said.  “I would have remembered.”

               While Buffy blushed and stammered, Spike strolled over and whispered in the ex demon’s ear.  She sat up with a start, looking first at him, then at Buffy’s blushing face and finally at her embarrassed-looking lover for confirmation.  She started to shrug it off, then her eyes flew back to Buffy’s as she realized who had been with them.

            “Xander was here?  Here, as in, peeping in the window with you?”

            “We WEREN’T peeping!” Buffy said indignantly. “I was just trying to see if anybody was in here and then we…you…I WASN’T peeping!”

           “I was!” Spike said cheerfully, holding up his hand.  “Quite a show, I have to say.”

            A glower and a Ripper-like curse from the older man had him stepping behind Buffy just in case a stake came in his direction.  The two witches quickly figured out what was going on and giggled in sympathetic embarrassment.

             Suddenly Willow’s eyes went wide and she looked at Buffy as she said, “Did you say Xander was there too?  Oh Goddess.” She moaned as she slumped back in her chair.  “That explains it.”

           “Explains what?”

           “He called me that night – well, morning really.  About three or four AM, I guess.  He was really drunk and I didn’t pay much attention to what he was saying at first.  He was all, ‘demons this’ and ‘demons that’ and ‘normal people need to stick together’.  Stuff like that.”

          She blushed lightly, looked apologetically at Anya and Spike, and continued, “Then Tara woke up and asked me what was wrong and he heard her…I thought he knew…I mean I didn’t actually tell him, but he’s with us all the time, and I…” She sighed softly.  “I guess he didn’t, because he got real quiet and then he said, ‘So, it’s just me, then.  I have to fix this myself.’ And he hung up.”

           Tara reached over and put a comforting hand on Willow’s arm, murmuring in her ear soothingly.

           “And you haven’t heard from him since?”  Giles frowned slightly, his embarrassment forgotten as he sensed potential danger.

            Willow shook her head “no” and said softly, “I tried to call him back the next day, but he isn’t answering his phone. I think he got fired from his job, cause when I tried to call him there they told me if I saw him, I should tell him not to bother coming back.  I hope nothing bad has happened to him,” she said anxiously.  She and Buffy exchanged looks as they flashed back to tenth grade and the loss of Xander’s friend Jesse when he became a vampire.

            “He’s probably fine,” Anya said with a touch of asperity.  “He’ll surface when he runs out of money for alcohol.”

            “Sure,” Buffy said.  “He’ll be fine. He knows how to take care of himself.  He’s just really upset with all of us right now and probably doesn’t want to see us.  I bet he’ll show up at the wedding,” she finished brightly.

              The ex-Watcher and the vampire exchanged a look that said neither of them was as optimistic about Xander’s ability to forgive and forget as the girls were. 

              “We can only hope he will not do anything foolish in the meantime,” Giles said quietly.  “Nothing that will get anyone hurt.”

               “Giles! It’s Xander!”  Willow’s shocked voice provoked another exchange of looks between the two men in the room.  “You know he wouldn’t do anything to hurt any of us.  He loves us!”

               “He loves his vision of you, Red.  All of you.  And I suspect, in his eyes, right now none of you are living up to that perfect image.” Spike spoke quietly, but with conviction.


               Even as Giles nodded his head in agreement, Buffy and Willow protested the uncharitable view of their friend’s temperament. Anya just looked thoughtful, and did not leap to support her ex-boyfriend’s character the way the other girls did. Since Tara did not really know Xander all that well, having only been around him in groups, she could only go by what she’d seen in his aura and that tended to make her agree with the concern being expressed by the vampire.

             Stubbornly insisting that the angry young man would show up at the wedding, sober and contrite, Buffy and Willow went back to their planning for the happy event.

AN: Okay, for all wedding purists/aficionados/etc. – I am NOT a wedding person. (Although I DO like the after-wedding parties!)  Didn’t get much into my own  ?   years ago, to my mother’s chagrin, and, to my daughter’s disgust, I’m not much into planning hers.  So this was a very hard chapter for me to write, as was the next one.  I hope I’ve put enough hearts and flowers and atmosphere into it not to disappoint, but for those of you who want detailed descriptions of wedding gowns, bridesmaid’s dress, the bouquets, etc., I’m sorry.  It’s just NOT happenin’!!  Spike and Buffy didn’t seem to care, anyway…..

Chapter Thirty-seven

                As the evening approached for the wedding of Buffy Anne Summers and William (the Bloody) Carlisle, worries about Xander and his possible response to the anticipated event were pushed to the background.  With the guest list consisting only of those humans who would be comfortable mixing with supernatural beings and those few vampires and demons that Spike considered friends, Joyce had decided they should hold the wedding in the back yard.  A portable arbor, covered with ribbons and night-blooming jasmine would serve as the backdrop for the simple civil ceremony.

                The Justice of the Peace was a life-long denizen of Sunnydale and he didn’t blink an eye at the unusual collection of guests, even greeting one of the demons by name as they nodded to each other.  Buffy had met Clem some time ago and wasn’t surprised to find that the affable, wrinkled, demon had many friends, including some humans.  She gave him a quick smile from the window as she peered out to see how close they were to beginning.

                She saw Justin and his mother finding seats on the folding chairs provided and smiled to herself at the way they blended in. Proof positive that humans and demons could co-exist and even raise families together.

                 Less well blended was Teddy, the gentle, but huge, vampire she’d met the night she moved in.  He stood uncomfortably at the back of the garden, arms folded and human face to the fore.  There was no mistaking what he was, though, and most of the humans gave him a wide berth.  Buffy saw the hurt on his face when he smiled at one of her mother’s employees and the woman almost cringed as she scuttled to her seat.

              (Note to self.  Need to find a nice vampire girl for Teddy.)

              She turned at the sound of the door opening to find her mother standing there gazing at Buffy with tears in her eyes.  Immediately, the Slayer’s eyes were wet also as she ran to her mother to hug her.

                “Thank you for doing his for us, Mom,” she whispered into her mother’s corsage. “I know it’s not what you wanted for me, but—“

              Joyce pushed her daughter back so that she could look into her eyes and said firmly,  “The only thing I want is for you to be safe and loved.  And I know William is the…man…to do that.  Of course I wish I could look forward to grandchildren some day, but it is much more important to me to know that you are going to be loved and cared for after I’m gone.”

             She walked Buffy over to the dresser and stood beside her as they gazed into the mirror.  She saw an attractive blond woman in a sea-foam blue dress standing next to a radiantly beautiful blond girl dressed in an elegantly simple, fitted, white gown and an antique lace veil.  Joyce had used all her contacts in the art and antique world to locate a wedding veil from the Victorian era and she was confident she’d found the perfect one.

             Buffy’s wide eyes and generous mouth were framed by the intricate lace pattern.  Small tendrils of blond hair peeked out from behind it, softening the stark look of the simple gown and upswept hairdo. 

             “You are very beautiful,” her mother whispered, smiling damply into the mirror.

             “I inherited it from my mother,” Buffy quipped, trying to lighten the mood.

             “Well, of course you did!” Joyce said brightly. “Now, let’s go get you married!”

              Downstairs in the kitchen, the man who had taken the place of Buffy’s too-often MIA father paced back and forth as he waited for his slayer/surrogate daughter to come down.  He knew that, had her father been in the country, her mother would have insisted the man at least be asked to give his daughter away.  However, since he wasn’t, Buffy was able to follow through on what she’d wanted to do when under Willow’s spell and have the man who did his best to fill the role of loving father be the one by her side today.

              When he looked up at the sound of footsteps to see Buffy walk timidly into the room, he felt the prickle of tears behind his eyes at the sight of her.  Taking her hand and kissing it gently, he managed to get out, “You are without a doubt the most beautiful bride in the world.  And if that vampire doesn’t take good care of you, I will personally torture him for all eternity.”

            “Uh, gee, Giles.  Thanks. I guess.” 

             Buffy basked at the love in the room coming from her mother, her watcher and her best friend. Willow was waiting impatiently at the door, clutching her flowers and smoothing her pale green dress.

           She beamed at Buffy and began a mentally rehearsed string of sentences completely uninterrupted by pauses for breath.  “Ok, Buffy.  I’m all ready to do the maid-of-honor thing.  I can carry your train. Or your flowers. Or hand you a hankie if you start to cry. Remind you to say “I do, smile for the photographer, and…and…stopping now. No more babbling.  Out of air,” she gasped, leaning against the counter.


             Outside, a nervous vampire stood behind the hedge, smoking his tenth cigarette and fidgeting with his tie as he waited for the signal to come out.

            “What the bloody hell is taking so long?” he grumbled, stubbing out his butt and immediately lighting another one.  “How long can it take to put on one dress?”

              “Relax, Spike,” Clem answered calmly.  “It’s not time yet. Guests are still arriving.”

              “Here we go now,” he said, touching Spike’s arm and waiting for him to drop another half-finished cigarette onto the growing pile. 

               They walked out to their designated place under the arbor, joining Willow in front of the Justice of the Peace.  They stopped where he indicated and turned to look toward the house.   Over the heads of the seated guests, the vampire caught his first look at a vision in white lace floating out the kitchen door on the arm of an older man who was visibly fighting back tears.

          The sight of Buffy in her gown and veil hit Spike like a falling building and if not for Clem’s steadying hand he was sure he would have dropped to his knees.  His gasp of surprise and wonder was audible to everyone in the small yard.

                 Demons and humans all stood as Giles and Buffy came down the few steps from the porch and began to walk toward the waiting groom.  The torches that were burning around the edges of the yard seemed suddenly unnecessary as the full moon took that moment to come from behind a cloud and cast a silvery glow over everything.

                 Buffy stared at her future husband, admiring the way the light seemed to form a halo around his platinum head and the grace with which he wore the tuxedo she’d insisted upon.  The expression on his face as he watched her walk toward him made her shiver all over.  The mix of adoration, lust, possessiveness and awe was almost overwhelming.  For just a second, her innate insecurity about men caused her to falter and wonder what she’d done to deserve such a look.

                Then her surrogate father’s grip on her hand tightened and she picked up her head and smiled at the man waiting for her.  When she got to the arbor, Giles gave Spike his best “I’m the Ripper and you’d better take good care of her” glare, then kissed her forehead and left to join Joyce in the front row.

                When the moon came out and illuminated the entire yard, it picked up the silken threads in Buffy’s lace veil, giving her a sparkling aura that everyone could see.  There was a collective gasp as she entered the yard surrounded by a silvery shimmer.  Spike felt rooted to the spot, wanting at once to throw her to the ground and ravish her with his lips and fangs, and, simultaneously, to fling himself at her feet, declaring himself unworthy.

               While the demon and William battled for the appropriate response, inertia held him in place until Giles placed Buffy’s hand in his and her nervous smile released him from his paralysis. Giving her hand a gently squeeze, he returned her smile and they turned together to face the smiling Justice of the Peace.

           
             (This has got to be one of the most unusual and beautiful couples I have every married. And, one of the most in love, if I can go by their expressions.)

               The justice was so entranced by the couple in front of him, he almost forgot to start the ceremony. Only Clem’s cleared throat jolted him out of his stupor.

          
             (The expression on Spike’s face was worth every second and every penny I spent to find that veil.  I’ll have to remember to tell him that was my wedding present to him, as well as Buffy.  I guess he’ll find out about my other presents later tonight.)

              Joyce smiled quietly to herself, as she thought about the other items she had bought for Buffy to wear at her wedding.

               As the justice began the short legal ceremony, there was a stir just outside the yard and just as he reached the part where he asked if anyone knew of a reason the couple should not be joined, there was a collective groan when Xander burst through the hedges shouting, “Hell yes, there’s a reason.  Tell them, guys!”

              He stood aside and gestured to the very British-looking man right behind him, smiling triumphantly as he did so.  Buffy’s face went white as the man stepped into the yard and the light hit his face. He was accompanied by several burly men in business suits who strode into the yard as though they owned it and positioned themselves around the perimeter.

              “Who the hell is that?” Spike growled, his eyes flashing amber as he heard Buffy’s heart beat speed up and caught the scent of her fear.

                “It’s Quentin Travers,” she whispered nervously. “The head of the Watchers’ Council.

                 Giles had risen to his feet as soon as he recognized Travers and the look on his face caused the closest bodyguard to move closer and reach into his jacket.  Travers stopped him with a raised hand and fixed his eyes on the Slayer and the tense vampire standing beside her.

              Beside him, Xander was gesturing toward the interrupted couple and panting, “You see.  I wasn’t lying.  She’s marrying William the Bloody.”

Chapter Thirty-eight

      In the tense silence that followed Xander’s announcement, Joyce began moving toward Travers with blood in her eye.  Giles grabbed her arm, halting her progress but his eyes were sending his own silent message to his former superior. To his complete amazement, the head of the Watcher’s Council gestured to the justice to continue and stood off to one side with his arms folded.

               Buffy narrowed her eyes at him dangerously, but when he didn’t say anything to halt the ceremony, she turned back to the man performing her wedding and nodded, blushing with embarrassment at the interruption.  Spike’s eyes were flashing amber, and she held his hand tightly, afraid he would spoil the entire wedding by eating Xander right in front of everybody.

              The somewhat startled justice swallowed hard, trying not to see the wrinkled brow ridges and fangs that had suddenly appeared on the groom.  A whispered word from the bride, though, and they went away and the handsome blond man was back in front of him, gesturing for him to proceed.

              He rushed quickly through the rest of the ceremony, pausing only when Xander began to rant at the head of the Watchers’ Council.  He was berating the frowning man for not stopping the ceremony; insisting that not only was the notorious William the Bloody unchipped and dangerous, but the Slayer had allowed him to claim her and was now a liability.  He went on to say that her former watcher was now dating an ex-vengeance demon, and had therefore also changed sides.

              He had just begun on how the blond lesbian witch had seduced his best friend into the dark arts when the rant was abruptly cut off as Teddy walked over.  The clearly angry vampire picked the rather substantial young man up as though he weighed no more than a toddler and carried him out of the yard.

             Xander’s piercing scream as he realized exactly what had hold of him broke off in mid-shriek and Buffy’s brow creased for a moment.  She could see Willow’s anxious look behind her, but Spike winked at the witch, reassuring her that Teddy would not do any permanent damage to her old friend.

             “I now pronounce you man and wife,” the justice finished with a sigh of relief.  While Spike and Buffy shared a chaste, but heartfelt kiss, the onlookers burst into applause.  Joyce wiped a tear away, then smiled at Giles as she caught him doing the same.

             “I don’t understand why you are crying,” Anya said angrily, completely unaware that she had tears in her eyes also.  “Aren’t you happy for them?”

             Joyce nodded her head vigorously, smiling through her tears at the ex demon.  She hugged the sniffling girl, the watcher, and Tara before turning to watch the now-married couple walk back toward the house.  When Quentin Travers moved toward the newlyweds, Spike stepped in front of Buffy and fixed the man with a lethal glare.

              The head of the Council of Watchers showed no fear as he gazed back at one of the most famous vampires in modern times.  He met Spike’s cold blue eyes with an equally cold and calculating stare, not looking away until he’d seen what he wanted to see.  When he had satisfied himself with what he saw in those pieces of deadly blue ice, he shocked the entire assembly by nodding and holding out his hand to the wary vampire.

               “May I be the first to congratulate you, Mr. Carlisle.  I trust you will be taking good care of our…of the former Miss Summers.”

              “That is my intention,” Spike said, carefully staying between the tightly smiling man and Buffy. 

             Which was not all that easy, as Buffy was trying to place herself between Spike and the man whose job it was to destroy demons. Travers watched in amusement for several seconds as each of them struggled to get in front so as to protect the other with his or her body. Finally he spoke again.

            “Mr and Mrs Carlisle, please! While your willingness to sacrifice yourselves for each other is to be commended, it is totally unnecessary.  I have no intention of harming either one of you.  I cannot imagine a better situation for the Hellmouth than to have an experienced Slayer and the Master of the City working together.

             “Please accept my congratulations on your marriage and my best wishes for your future.  And now, if I may, I should like to speak to your former Watcher.”

              With a polite dip of his head, he left the startled newlyweds and walked toward Giles, leaving them to stare after him with their mouths open.

             As soon as Travers and Giles moved onto the porch for a private conversation, the other guests rushed to congratulate the new couple and they too were busy with hugs and handshakes to keep their eyes on the two tweedy Brits.

            Giles led the Council head into the kitchen, deftly avoiding Joyce and Tara who were loading trays with food for the guests.  Travers turned down Joyce’s offer of a drink, sensing, no doubt, the lack of sincerity on her part, and he followed Giles into the living room where he sat in an easy chair and leaned back gesturing to the couch.

            “Please, Rupert.  Do sit down and stop impersonating your younger self.  I mean no harm to your Slayer –“ he paused and smiled at Giles’ startled twitch.  “We are well aware that, even though neither one of you acknowledges our right to supervise, she is still fulfilling her duties admirably and that you are still her Watcher in all but name. Hence, YOUR Slayer.

              “As I was saying,” he continued as a dazed Giles slid down onto the cushioned seat he’d been offered, “I mean no harm to either Mr. or Mrs. Carlisle.  They seem quite well-suited to one another and I am sure they make a rather formidable team.  In fact, rather than removing Ms. Sum-, Mrs. Carlisle, from her duties, we are hoping to be able to call on them as needed other places in the world.

            “In the meantime, we are quite content to have them living on the most active Hellmouth and keeping things under control here.”

           Giles just stared at his former employer, trying to discern any sign of demon possession or insanity.

            “So, you’re all right with this relationship, then?” he questioned suspiciously.

            “Quite all right.  It is, you might be interested to know, not the first time a Slayer and a vampire have become romantically involved.  Although I believe the wedding may well be a first.”

            “I thought the Council killed Slayers who were involved with vampires,” Giles said flatly.

             “If that were always true, Ms. Summers would not have survived her liaison with Angelus,” Travers said testily.  “We have, in the past, made it a policy to eliminate any Slayers deemed dangerously involved with demons.  However, we have been studying these two for some time now and I am convinced their feelings are genuine and not being affected by any spells performed by amateur witches.” 

             Giles flinched for Willow’s sake, as well as his own at the touch of disdain in the other man’s voice.

            “Nor, it appears, are they influenced by a claim, as the irate young man who told me about the wedding so adamantly insisted.  Would you care to elaborate on that, Rupert?” he asked with sudden intensity.

           “Why don’t you just ask the parties involved,” came the casual drawl from the doorway.

           Both men whirled to find the vampire leaning against the door frame in a deceptively casual pose.  Giles could see the muscle jumping in the vampire’s jaw and knew that Spike was much tenser than he was endeavoring to appear.

            “I didn’t wish to disturb the festivities any more than necessary,” Travers said smoothly as he stood up.  “I assumed Rupert could fill me in on what I needed to know.”

          “All you need to know,” Spike said coldly, “is that I love her and would never do anything to harm her or anyone she cares about.  And since her job description is to save the world regularly, I guess that covers pretty much everybody, doesn’t it?”

          “Is it true you claimed her?” the other man asked calmly.

          “Did. Was under the spell at the time.  Went away. Claim lapsed.  Promised not to do it again.  End of story.  In spite of what the whelp might have told you,” he added with a growl.

          Travers studied the vampire in front of him for several long minutes before sitting back down and smiling.

          “It might surprise you to know that I do not have any serious reservations about a claim between yourself and your wife.  Provided certain specific conditions are met.”

           While Giles gaped at the man, Spike moved quickly into the room and sat down opposite the head Watcher, tilting his head inquiringly.

            “And what would those be?” he asked in his best Oxford-educated-William voice.

            Giles leaned back and watched as, for the first time since they’d met him, the normally impulsive, hyperactive vampire actually behaved like one might expect from someone who had been around for over 150 years.  Looking and sounding much more like the Vampire Master of Sunnydale than the youthful bridegroom he’d seemed to be just a few short minutes ago, Spike engaged in the most bizarre bargaining session Giles had ever seen.

           While the ex-watcher looked on in admiration, Spike met the wily Council head’s offers and counteroffers with calm consideration and well-thought-out responses.  When the discussion had been concluded to their mutual satisfaction, Spike rose to his feet and accepted the proffered handshake from the man who should have been his nemesis.

            “I can’t answer for the Slayer,” he said quietly.  “She makes her own decisions and she’s no more likely to listen to me than she does anyone else.”

              There was an exchange of understanding looks between the three males who had all tried at one time or another to control this particular Slayer.

             “But I will definitely talk to her about it and Rupert can let you know what her decision is.  And now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a honeymoon to enjoy.”

             With a leering grin at the blushing ex-watcher, the Spike Giles was more familiar with left the room to find his mate. 

             “I believe I will have that drink now,” Travers said with what seemed suspiciously like a twinkle in his eye.
 

Chapter Thirty-nine

           While the wedding reception festivities were in full swing, Xander was moaning in fear as the biggest vampire he had ever seen carried him along, tucked under one arm like a sack of potatoes.  He’d screamed and struggled feebly at first, but when Teddy’s hand was placed over his mouth, effectively cutting off both his scream and his air supply, he quickly settled down and resigned himself to his fate.

           (If I have to die to prove to them how dangerous it is for Spike to live, so be it.  I’ll die a hero and then Willow and Buffy will be sorry! They’ll wish they’d listened to me.)

         Xander comforted himself with the idea that he was going to be a martyr to the cause and finally relaxed enough to peer around to see where he was being taken.  He was surprised to see that they were approaching Willie’s and immediately panicked again.

         (Oh my god!  He’s going to share me!  I’m going to be passed around and…)

         Teddy felt Xander’s heart rate increase and sighed in exasperation.

           “Now what are you all bent out of shape about?” he growled.  “I thought you were settling down.”

           “Wh…why are we here?” Xander squeaked.  “What are you going to do with me?  Are you going to auction me off to the highest bidding vampire?”

            “You wish!” the amused vamp snorted.  He set the boy down and took a hard grip on his arm.  “Now, you are going to walk in here with me and behave yourself.  Do you understand me?”

            Xander nodded meekly, more than aware that even if Teddy let go of his arm, the larger, faster vamp would catch him before he’d taken two steps. Teddy pushed open the door and dragged the reluctant young man into the room and to a booth close to the bar.  Willie approached the table and looked at them curiously.

           “Shouldn’t you two be at the happy nuptials?”  He looked back and forth between Teddy and Xander in confusion.

            “Asshole, here, tried to mess up the wedding,” Teddy said with a glare at the cringing man.  “I had to take him out before somebody killed him.”

            “YOU’RE not going to kill me?” Xander gasped in disbelief.

             Willie looked at him like he was mental.  “Teddy doesn’t kill people, Harris.  How do you not know that?  Hasn’t Spike or the Slayer told you about him?”

            Xander hung his head, not willing to admit that he hadn’t spoken to anyone of the Scoobies in over a month and had no idea who Teddy even was.  He looked across the table, frowning at the strange vampire.

             “You don’t?  Do you have a chip too?”

            The big vamp sighed and gestured for Willie to leave the bottle he’d carried over with him.

            “No,” he said flatly, pouring himself a large portion of Jack Daniels and pushing the bottle toward Xander.

             With shaky hands, Xander poured himself a stiff drink and swallowed it rapidly.  He immediately poured another one and downed that just as quickly, ignoring the vampire’s raised eyebrows.  By the time he was sipping on his third drink, his hands had stopped shaking and the alcohol was fueling his courage.

            “Why don’t you kill people then?  No chip – shouldn’t you be snacking your way through Sunnydale?”

            “Don’t want to,” he answered, taking another swallow of his drink.  “And, no, I shouldn’t be.   Spike wouldn’t keep me around if I was doing that.  And I’m pretty sure his missus would have staked me by now.”

            “What made you stop killing people?”

           “Never started,” he said flatly, finishing his drink and reaching for the bottle.

           Xander downed another glass of whiskey while he absorbed this new information.  With vision that was rapidly becoming blurry, he peered around the bar, noticing for the first time the mix of demons and humans in the place.  He saw Teddy exchange nods with an attractive woman who then sat down beside a man with oddly pointed ears and what Xander was sure was a tail hanging from beneath his jacket.

            He turned back to his companion, frowning in confusion.

          “I don’t get it.  Demons are evil.  Vampires are evil bloodsucking demons…and why aren’t you sucking my blood right now?”  He sound almost disappointed and Teddy rolled his eyes and prayed for patience.

           “You’re an idiot,” he said with asperity.  He took a long look at the tipsy young man and added with a leer, “Although, you ARE a rather good-looking idiot…”

            Xander’s initial confusion was replaced by gut-wrenching fear as he recognized the speculative look on Teddy’s face for what it was.

            “Wha?…No!  I mean. No, I’m not good-looking.  Not at all.  No good looks here.  Nothing but uglies.  Really.  I mean, you should see me without my clothes on – definitely ugly and oh my god, I sooo did not mean to say you should see me without my clothes on and why are you looking at me like that?”  His voice had risen to a near shriek and the other patrons turned to look at them curiously.

             “Shhh,” Teddy said soothingly.  “Calm down.  You’ll get us thrown out.  Have another drink,” he offered, smiling for the first time and sending Xander’s heart skittering again.

             “Drink. Yesh. Drink is good.  More drink,” he muttered, throwing back another full glass of JD and holding it out for more.  “Drinking brings oblivion and oblivion can be good.”

             Teddy was too gentle to enjoy torturing and killing humans as most vampires did, but he WAS a vampire and he was beginning to really enjoy the terror he was causing in the annoying young man who had tried to ruin his boss’s wedding.  And, as he took another look at him, he had to admit that the boy was rather good-looking.  Or would be, if he wasn’t rapidly becoming so drunk that his facial muscles had all gone slack.

            Having passed the point of caring what happened to him, Xander peered drunkenly at the vampire who was now licking his lips lasciviously and eyeing the boy’s neck.

              “My besh friend is gay, you know,” he said from out of nowhere.

            “So I heard,” Teddy answered wryly.  “You pretty much announced it to the whole wedding.”

            “Did I?”  Xander screwed up his face in concentration.  “I don’ ‘member that.”

            Teddy gazed back at him noncommittally and poured more JD into his glass.

            “Did I mention my bes’ fren’ is gay?”

           “Yep.”

           “Oh.  I mean, caush, I’m okay with that, y’know.  To each hish own.  Not that I would – oh no, not me!  But if you are…thash ok.”

           “I’m not,” Teddy said without explanation.

           “Then why are you lookin’ at my tashty body like that?” Xander demanded indignantly.

            “Vampire.”  Teddy gave him a toothy grin.  “We’re very flexible.”

             “Fleshible is good.  People should be fleshible.  I’m not, though. Fleshible, I mean.  Nope. No fleshibilty for Xander.  I’m a man’s man – uh, I mean, a womanly man -  no, no, a woman’s man – well not sho mush anymore.  My woman ish having sex wish an old man!  An old, grouchy old man.  He threw me out of hish shop, you know.”

          “Why?”

           Xander screwed up his face in confusion.  “Why what?”

           With a patient sigh, Teddy repeated, “Why did he throw you out of the Magic Box?”

            Xander frowned again, thrown off by Teddy’s knowledge of the Magic Box.  Recovering his train of thought, he mumbled, “He thought I wash gonna hurt Anya.”

            “Were you?”

            “I dunno,” Xander whispered honestly, staring into his glass.  “Do you think I wash?” he looked up tearily into Teddy’s sympathetic eyes.

               The big vampire gave a shrug and said, “You certainly were trying to cause some damage tonight.  To all your friends.”

              “I’m a bad pershon,” Xander put his head on the table and thumped it twice.  “I should be punished.”  He peered up at the suddenly interested looking vampire and asked, “Are you gonna  punish me?  Ish that why you took me away from the wedding?”

            “I took you away because you were being a jackass,” Teddy said mildly.  “But punishing you isn’t all that bad an idea,” he added with a trace of a leer.

             “I should go back an’ tell ev’rbody I’m shorry,” Xander tried to stand up, but found that his legs didn’t work.  “Whoopsh! You’re gonna hafta carry me again.”

             “Looks like.”

            “We should go then.  I need to aplogish, applesh,  ‘poloshis.  I need to shay shorry to Buffy and Willow.”

              Teddy stared at him hard.

             “And to Anya?” he ventured.  At Teddy’s encouraging nod, he bit his lip and said, “And maybe to Gilesh.  And Tara.  But not to Shpike!  I’m not ‘pologishing to Shpike!  He’sh a bad man…er vampire.  He bit Buffy.  And she liked it.  That wash bad.  Buffy is the Shlayer.  Vampires can’ bite her.  Not lesh she shays sho.  You don’t think she shaid sho, do you?”  He looked at Teddy in wide-eyed horror.

             “I’m pretty sure she did,” Teddy replied, reaching across the table just in time to prevent Xander’s head from colliding with it.

           “Well thash jush wrong,” he mumbled, before passing out.

          With a sigh, Teddy stood up and lifted the inert body, throwing him over his shoulder and waving good-bye to Willie.  He tossed a $20.00 bill on the table and walked out, patting the unconscious Xander on the ass as he did so.

            Xander woke up to find himself naked and stretched across a hard mattress, his stomach rolling, and his head reeling.  He opened one bleary eye to see an equally naked Teddy watching him with amusement.  Suddenly wide awake, Xander sat up abruptly and stared around him.

             He didn’t recognize the sparsely furnished room, but he was pretty sure the large man resting comfortably beside him was a vampire.  He felt his neck quickly, but found no bite marks and visibly relaxed.  Then he noticed the small holes on his femoral artery – only an inch away from his flaccid cock and he squealed like a girl.

             “Oh my god! You bit me!  Did you bite me?  I mean, somebody bit me and you’re the only one here – and you’re naked.  And I’m naked.  And…why are we naked?” he asked plaintively.

           A raised eyebrow and a smile was the only response from the vampire and Xander fell onto his back moaning in dismay.

            “Tell me we didn’t…I didn’t…you didn’t….” He raised his head to look at Teddy.  “Did we?”

           “Not yet,” the vampire said, licking his lips and moving toward the rapidly retreating young man. 

            Xander’s heart was beating so fast he was sure it was going to burst out of his chest as the vampire closed a large, cool hand over his hip, effectively preventing him from retreating any further.  He threw one leg over Xander’s, pinning him to the bed and giving him a look at an erect cock that would not have looked out of place on an elephant.

            “You…you’re very big,” Xander squeaked, just before he passed out from fear.

             Sighing in disappointment, Teddy released his hold on the man and got up to make sure the camera he’d set up was working.  Satisfied that he’d gotten several good shots of their naked bodies and Xander’s wide open eyes, he got back on the bed and rolled over to get some sleep.

             “I think I deserve a raise for this night,” he grumbled to himself as he dozed off.  “Next time I’ll just let Spike kill him and he can argue about it with the Slayer later.”
 

AN: And here it is – the final chapter!  I think this is the longest story I’ve written yet – it just kept going.  I guess nobody minded – it’s got several nominations and a couple of awards already and it’s just now being finished (Not to mention the artwork it inspired in a couple of talented gals who generously shared with me – CopyQueen and Esther).  A gazillon thanks to everyone who reviewed this fic so consistently.  I know I wasn’t as good as I’d like be about acknowledging the reviews, but I did read and appreciate them, I promise!


Chapter Forty

           As much as Buffy and Spike were enjoying the party that followed their wedding, they began to get impatient as the hours wore on toward dawn and they were still in the Summers backyard rather than in bed.  Just as Spike was about to take matters into his own hands and drag her off behind the hedge to see what was under the form-fitting dress, Justin nodded to him that the limo was ready and they could begin to make their exit.

           “Thank you for everything, Joyce,” Spike said sincerely as Buffy’s mother hugged them both with watery eyes.  “I’ll take good care of her.”

            “I know you will, William,” she answered, smiling through her tears.  “Did you like the veil I found?”

            “You know I did,” he replied, with a puzzled frown.  “Why do you ask?”

             “Just checking.  You’ll let me know how you liked the rest of my gift, won’t you?”

             He looked from his blushing bride to her smiling mother and shook his head in confusion.  Joyce and Buffy just laughed together and patted him patronizingly on each cheek.  He shrugged and turned to shake hands with Giles and receive hugs from Anya, Willow and Tara.

           “Be good to her, or I’ll turn you into toad,” Willow warned with a smile.

          “No problem, Red.  Don’t think the Slayer would like me all covered in warts.”

          With a last look around and a wave to their guests, the blond couple raced for the limo, dodging the thrown rice and birdseed with supernatural grace.  They collapsed into the back seat, giggling and pulling the rice from each other’s hair.  Justin slid the partition closed and smiled as he pulled away from the curb and the small crowd of well-wishers.

           “I really don’t understand this custom of throwing small grains at the married couple,” Anya complained.  “It seems a waste of good food.  Especially since we all know that fertility is not something vampires are blessed with.  Oh course, they ARE blessed with incredible stamina and—“

            Unlike Xander, Giles chose to stop her ramblings with his lips rather than with his hand and she murmured appreciatively, losing her train of thought immediately.

             In the back of the limo, Spike cupped Buffy’s face in his hands and kissed her softly.

             “I love you, Mrs. Carlisle,” he said with awe in his voice. Never in his entire existence had he pictured himself married to anyone so alive and beautiful.

             “I love you, too, Mr. Carlisle,” Buffy answered, breathlessly as she looked into the eyes she wanted to wake up to every morning.  “I can’t believe we’re really married.  To each other.  Forever.”

           “Forever, love,” he agreed, quashing any thoughts of her human mortality.  “Forever.”  He captured her lips again and she melted into him, her tongue coming out to run around his lips until his teeth parted and she could explore his mouth.

            When they paused for Buffy to catch some much-needed oxygen, she tucked her head under his chin and said wistfully, “I just wish…” she didn’t finish the thought, but snuggled closer to him as though trying to climb inside his skin.

           “You wish what, love?  Ask me.  If I can give it, it’s yours.”

        “Nothing.  I just miss what we had…before.  This is nice, but it’s not the same as being…being…whatever.”

        “Mated?  That the word you’re afraid to use, Slayer?”  She could hear the smile in his voice and was a little annoyed that he didn’t seem to care about the loss.

         “I’m not afraid of anything,” she grumbled, sitting up.  “I just don’t like that word.  It sounds like we’re animals or something.  And, anyway, we can’t do it…I guess that’s why Quentin Travers showed up.  To make sure you didn’t claim me again.”

         “Ummm, about that, pet…”

        She looked at him quizzically, noting the smirk he could barely hide.

         “Why are you wearing a shit-eating grin when I talk about claiming?”  She tried to smother the little ball of hope in her chest.

         “Had a long chat with the Head Wanker while you were flitting around the yard being hugged and kissed by people who’d best remember who you belong to in the future.  Turns out he’s not as opposed to it as we thought.”

          “WHAT?”

          “There were some conditions, but as long as we promise to keep the Hellmouth as clear as possible, and to go where they send us if we’re needed somewhere else in the world, he said he wouldn’t object to the claiming.  Thinks it would ‘enhance the effectiveness of the partnership.’  Or some such rot.”

           “You mean we can…?”

           “Yep. Anytime we want to renew the claim, we can.  Just have to tell the watcher so he can clue them in.

           “Buffy?  Slayer?  Are you alright?” his tone took on a worried edge as she didn’t say anything, but kept looking down at her fingers and twisting her rings. 

             “We…we don’t have to do it if you don’t want to, love,” he said, unable to keep the insecurity and sadness from his voice.  “I wouldn’t force you or do it without your permission.”

              Just when he was sure she was having second thoughts about both a claiming renewal and the marriage, she picked up her head and looked at him with eyes filled with such desire he almost came in his tuxedo pants.

             “How long till we get home?”  she asked, licking her lips expectantly.  “Are we there yet?”

              Spike threw back his head, roaring with relieved laughter, which didn’t stop until the limo was no longer moving and Justin was opening the door with a flourish.

              Spike stepped out and turned to offer Buffy his hand.  As soon as she was safely out, he scooped her up and began striding toward the doors of the building, obliviously to the cheering crowd that had gathered to welcome them home.  He headed directly for the elevator, fidgeting impatiently as he watched it moving with what seemed like excruciating slowness.

             Still holding her slender body against his chest, he covered the short distance to his door in a few strides and kicked it in. 

             “Spike!” Buffy protested, twisting her head to look at the door now hanging from one hinge.

              “ ‘S alright, pet.  I know the owner,” he rumbled, already at the entrance to the bedroom and kicking that door shut behind him.

               He paused just inside the door and set her down gently.
“Any thing you need to do, love, you’d best do it now; cause I don’t intend to let you out of that bed for days.”

              Buffy giggled and shook her head.

             “I’m fine with that.  But first you need to unwrap your present.”

            She turned her back to him, lifting the veil and indicating the long zipper going down the back of her dress.  He reached for it and slid it down soundlessly, pausing to plant a kiss between her shoulder blades as he did.  Before he could push it off her shoulders, she stepped back from him and walked a few feet away.

            “Are you ready?” she asked anxiously.  Her mother had been sure that the underwear she’d found for Buffy would appeal to the vampire, but Buffy wasn’t as confident.  She knew Spike loved her tiny thongs and lacy little bras.

            When he nodded his head, she took a deep breath and dropped the gown to the floor, standing in front of him in a white lace corset-like camisole that covered her from just below her nipples to just above the tops of her thighs. Peeking from under the corset, Spike could see a white garter belt and white stockings that came most of the way up her tanned legs.  She looked like something out of a book of erotic Victorian art, the antique lace veil only adding to the illusion of something out of time.

            The room was lit with only a few candles. The soft light they were casting picked up her golden skin tone and contrasted it with the pure white undergarments.  The corset pushed her small, but shapely breasts up to a formidable cleavage, the nipples just barely visible above the lace.  The nipped in waist emphasized her rounded hips and the garter belt and stockings drew his eyes to the light brown curls peeking out from under the bottom of the corset.

           Spike was so silent she was about to ask him if he liked it, when she saw his face and realized that he wasn’t speaking because he was completely thunderstruck. His mouth hung open as he devoured her with his eyes.  To Buffy, the piercing blue eyes felt like lasers as they moved around her body, leaving her flushed and warm everywhere they lingered.

           They finally came to rest on her own soft green orbs, and she was shocked to find tears in them as he finally found his voice.

           “You did this for me?” he asked in awe.

           “It was partly my mom’s idea,” she said truthfully. “Do you like it?”

           “You have no idea, love.  No idea at all.” 

            Finally jolted out of his trance by the conversation, he moved toward her to stroke the tops of her breasts where they overflowed the cups.  Now that he’d seen it, Buffy reached for the pins holding the veil, preparing to get undressed the rest of the way, but he stopped her with a gentle hand on hers.

           “No, my love, let me.”  The lust and desire in his voice made her shiver with anticipation as he reached for the veil.

            With infinite care and a trembling hand, he removed the pins and lifted the veil, folding it carefully and laying it aside before coming back to pull the rest of the pins out of her hair.  When it had been released to fall down over her shoulders and breasts, he paused to step back and look at her again.

           With her long blond curls cascading over her barely-visible nipples and hanging down her back, she looked like a painting come to life. He moved closer and pushed her hair back, leaning in to run his lips over her exposed breasts and to slide his tongue into the deep valley between them.  He began at one side and worked his way across her chest, planting light kisses just on the edge of the lace.  When he came to an exposed nipple, he took it gently in his teeth and growled softly as he worked it into a hard pebble.

          By the time he reached for the ribbons that were holding the corset together, Buffy’s breath was coming in pants and the vampire’s eyes were the darkest blue she had ever seen them.  He still took his time, though, carefully unlacing the tight garment one ribbon at a time and sliding it off to be tossed on a chair.  Buffy was left standing in nothing but her garter belt, stockings and high heels while he stopped to remove his jacket and shirt. 

         Picking her up almost reverently, he moved her to the bed and laid her down carefully before standing up to unzip his trousers and drop them to the floor.  He’d already kicked off his shoes and he prowled back toward her like the deadly predator he was, crawling up the bed until he was hovering over her on his hands and knees.

         “Did you really not have any knickers on all day?” he asked in a throaty growl as he looked up and down her body.  There were little creases around her waist where the corset had been pulled tight and he ran his tongue lightly over them until they faded.

          “I had on lots of underwear,” she protested.  More than usual actually.  I just wasn’t wearing…what is it you call them?  Knickers.  I wasn’t wearing any knickers.”

         “If I’d known that earlier, I’d have had you on the food table,” he growled again, sending shivers through her.

          The scent of her arousal was becoming overwhelming and he had to force himself to finish undressing her the way he wanted to.  Lowering his mouth to the top of her thighs, he smiled when she sucked in a breath in anticipation, then let it out in a disappointed sigh when he used his teeth to unhook her stockings rather than going where she expected with it.

            He lifted first one leg, then the other in order to reach the rear garters, each time giving himself another glimpse of her glistening curls and another whiff of the arousal coating her inner thighs.  As he carefully peeled the stockings down her legs and sent them to join her shoes on the rug, he looked back up to see her lying with her head thrown back, her hips already moving in anticipation.

          Leaving the garter belt in place for the time being, he kissed his way back up her legs, going back and forth from one to the other until he’d reach as high as he could go.  He buried his nose in her curls, nudging her lips apart with it until he could slide his tongue in to press against her swollen clit.

          Buffy made a sound somewhere between a sigh and a moan as she allowed her legs to fall further apart for him.  This time he didn’t disappoint, running his cool tongue up and down her slit, teasing her outer lips, before plunging it into her warm depths and running it around her grasping walls.

          Wishing his tongue was long enough to reach the bundle of nerves that he knew would drive her wild, he sighed mentally and went back to licking and nibbling at her clit.  It wasn’t long before she grabbed his head, forcing it against her while she ground away on his mouth.  Grinning at her impatience, he grabbed her eager nub in his teeth and worried it until she was growling his name.  It only took a few seconds of sucking on it with his strong mouth to send her screaming and trembling around him.

            Before she had even stopped shuddering, he was buried inside her, groaning in gratitude as she clenched around his cock.  Murmuring appreciative endearments in her ear, he set up an easy rhythm, allowing her time to recover from her first orgasm before he began working on another one.  When he felt her begin to participate wholeheartedly, he increased his pace, being sure he was hitting both the spots he wanted to with each stroke.

           It wasn’t long before he felt her making the small gasping whimpers that preceded her release and he dipped his head in to lick a long line up the side of her neck. He felt the shiver when his tongue passed over the original bite marks and knew she was ready for him.  He pulled the skin into his mouth, sucking on it until the blood was just below the surface and he could feel her pulse pounding in anticipation.

            Wrapping her arms and legs around him as though to imprison him with her Slayer strength, she arched her neck and tipped her head to the side, silently pleading for his teeth.  He let the demon out, his features shifting as he growled into her neck.  The growl sent her spiraling into another orgasm and while she was clenching around him he buried his fangs in her throat and began taking his first long pulls of her blood.

             As soon as the pulling sensation hit her, Buffy’s orgasm increased and continued, feeding off the simultaneous release that she could feel spurting from the vampire into her waiting womb.  The claim reestablished itself immediately, without a word spoken by either one and the shared orgasm seemed to go on and on as each one responded to the feel of a lover’s completion.

             With the elixir that was Buffy’s blood filing his throat, and her scent surrounding him, Spike thought he was going to pass out from the sensations bombarding him.  At the same time, he could feel the euphoria spreading through his mate as she keened his name and shook with pleasure.

            In spite of knowing the claim was in place, the vampire finally pulled away from the irresistible taste of the Slayer’s blood to whisper, “Mine,” before collapsing on top of her.  He was barely conscious of Buffy’s blunt little teeth against his throat as she bit down as hard as could until she broke the skin, licking the few drops of blood expressed and repeating after him, “Mine.”

           She allowed her arms and legs to go slack, but placed a staying hand on him when he tried to roll off.

             “Where do you think you’re going, vampire?” she gasped out.

             “Gonna give you some breathing room,” he answered, shifting enough that his full weight was no longer on her chest, but remaining inside her, his cock, infused with Slayer blood, already beginning to harden again.

               “Don’t need to breath,” she mumbled.  “Need to feel my…mate.”

               “He’s right here, love.”  He gave his hips a little twitch and laughed when she yelped in surprise.  “Not going anywhere.”

              (Not ever?)

             (Not ever, my love. I’ll never leave you.)

           (I love you)

           (Not as much as I love you.)

          (Yes, I do!  More, even.)

         (No way, Slayer.)

         (Oh yeah, way, Vampire.)

        (One way to settle this, pet.)

        (Take your best shot, William.)

      Simultaneously, they each opened up completely, holding nothing back as two years of memories and emotions flowed back and forth between them.  When the glimpse of Spike’s initial reaction to seeing her dancing in the Bronze made it clear that she’d wormed her way into his heart even when he was trying to kill her, she surrendered and allowed him to gloat briefly.

       (See, pet. I win.  Loved you first, love you the most.  You’re my world, Buffy.  Always have been, always will be.  I win.)

       Buffy cupped his cheek and looked into the soft eyes of the master vampire who was intending to spend the rest of his life making her happy and keeping her safe.  Smiling at him with tears in her eyes, she thought, (and that’s why I’m the winner, my love.)



The End