A.N: Thank you to Berserkerofhell, Doni, PhinalePhantom, jory-brucas101, and bahjcb for reviewing!
Disclaimer: With each chapter that passes... I get no closer to owning BtVS. Seriously.
Chapter 3: Vengeance Is Back
Anya sat in the bronze, bored out of her mind. Xander had been paying attention to no one but Buffy ever since that marriage spell. Why did he care so much? And what about her, Anya?
He doesn't like me. If I were a vengeance demon, I'd give him more than warts on-
"Hey. You all alone?"
Anya blinked, looking at the boy across from her. He was decidedly attractive, and she felt her heart flutter at the care she was getting from someone. "Yeah. My boyfriend's worrying about another girl getting married, instead of having orgasms with me."
The man seemed taken aback, and Anya wondered if it was something she said. She had yet to get the gist of human discussions. "Ah, right... how rude of him." He leaned forward slightly. "You can call me Parker."
She eyed his hand. Why did humans hold them out again? To shake? No, that's ridiculous. It was to ask for help getting up, or to help another up. Or seal a deal.
"What are your conditions?" she demanded. "And what are we making a deal on?"
"Conditions? Deal?" He dropped his hand. "I was just introducing myself."
She sniffed haughtily. "Right. Very believable." She watched as he seemed to take a calming breath.
"May I know your name?"
She considered this. "Anya."
"Well, I think you're very beau- horrific and ugly." His eyes widened, a hand slapping over his mouth. Anya wanted to join in on the slapping too. And then punch him in the jaw. "I... I didn't mean... I meant to say you're hot- atrocious and bile-worthy."
"Why, you!" Wrath filling her, spells long forgotten came back.
"Goddess Athena,
To you I beckon,
Take away his physical attraction,
And change vocal exclamations to that of a Hyena!"
She abruptly turned away from him, storming out of the building. She felt a familiar glee fill her at the screams she heard, very hyena-like. He must've seen his new reflection.
"No, I said China," Buffy admonished. "Not Cuba. They're completely different."
"I'm sorry, ma'am, but we don't have any flights to Cuba for at least a month," said the lady at the desk.
"Still speaking about China!"
Spike placed a hand on his fiance's shoulder, stopping her before she punched the receptionist. She stepped aside, allowing him to speak to the lady.
"Excuse me, miss?" he tried.
She stared up at him unconcernedly. "What?"
"Do you, by chance, have a flight to China?"
"Why does everyone keep asking about Cuba?"
Spike felt irritation welling up within him as well, now empathizing with Buffy. "C-H-I-N-A. China. Do you have a flight?"
Eyes widened. "Oh, China! Why didn't you say so?" She checked the computer before her. "We have a flight scheduled in three days. It'll be expensive at such short notice-."
Spike pulled a Visa card out of his pocket, handing it to the lady. "We'll buy the tickets now, if that's alright." He had to punch in a code before the lady could take money off the card, handing him two tickets.
"Two?" Buffy questioned.
"We'll have Willow go with him, make sure he gets all the way there. Then she can teleport back." When she stared at him perplexedly, he wondered what he had done this time. "What? Got something on m' face?"
"We bought tickets, when Willow can teleport?"
"'Course. It's not like Riley can teleport."
Buffy rolled her eyes. "Yeah, but Willow can teleport with another person!"
"...so?" A punch to the face sent him stumbling back a few feet. "Bloody hell, slayer?"
"You're a complete idiot!"
"For not understanding? That's not quite fair, love," he pointed out, mostly just to keep her from punching him once more. His nose was broken... again. "This is going to become permanent if you keep punching me. Want me to have a crooked nose, slayer?"
She pouted, and he felt his anger melt. That didn't mean he wasn't still annoyed. "Whatever. 'm sorry."
Her pout didn't lessen, but her eyes seemed brighter. "Where'd you get that card?"
"Stole it off Giles."
"And the pin?"
"Had it written in his Watcher's Journal."
"You read it?"
He raised a brow. "Well, yeah. Bored vampire, tied up with a Watcher's Journal in front of his face. Of course I bloody read it." He was only thankful she punched him in the gut this time.
Riley smirked when the door flew open, nodding to show Xander that he was going to go along with the plan. The ropes were now loosened enough for Riley to escape, only there to keep Buffy fooled. He felt his anger rush back in full as Buffy came in with Spike, his only satiation being the bruises scattered across Spike's form.
"Fight with the slayer?" he commented casually.
"Fight requires at least two people. This was bullying at it's finest."
"Was not!" Buffy exclaimed, glaring at the vampire.
"You really plan on marrying him?" Riley said, figuring that if he ever had a chance, it was now.
Buffy stared for a moment. "You're still going on about that? Of course Spike and I are getting married." She punched Spike again, the vampire wincing slightly.
"Watch the bruises you've already made, love."
Her eyes widened. "Oh, I'm so sorry, Spike! You're just so irritating!"
"Thanks a lot."
She ignored the blond, pulling him into a kiss. His scowl faded as he kissed her back, Riley starting to feel sick.
When they pulled back, Xander gave it a try. "You two can't even get along. Surely you realize it's a spell."
"All I realize is that Spike and I love each other. Now stop repeating yourself when I've already made my decision!" Buffy snapped. "Spike's going to be part of the family, so get over it!"
"I thought we agreed on this, love," Spike said comfortingly. "It's gonna take time, remember?"
She opened her mouth to respond, only to find Riley rushing past her. She gripped his shirt, tugging him back. They tumbled to the floor, his back on her front. Taking advantage of Riley's surprise, she flipped them over.
"Hey," Spike said. "Enough with the suggestive positions, slayer."
"Shut up, Spike," she huffed, soon tying Riley back up extra tight. "I don't see how he could've gotten out. Those ropes were tied by Giles, and we all know he was a boy scout."
"No. We all know he was Ripper, the demon raiser," Xander corrected, seeming proud of himself for knowing something.
"What about all the guys in the room just shut up?" Buffy demanded. Riley opened his mouth, a quick glare silencing him. "Good. Now, Spike and I will be eloping to Vegas tomorrow, so don't go looking for us."
"Um, love," Spike tried. After getting a nod, he continued, "If we're eloping, why'd we tell them?"
He hoped her incredulous expression didn't mean he'd get punched in the face again. "So they don't think we're hurt when we disappear, of course!"
"We're not letting you go anywhere." Xander said this firmly, unaware of the smirk Spike was wearing. After all, Spike knew what happens when you anger the slayer.
Xander fell to the ground, holding a swelling jaw. "What the hell was that for?" In no time he found himself tied up.
Not even seconds later did the door burst open, an angry Anya stalking in. "I'll show them. Who needs to be a vengeance demon to extract vengeance?"
It was then and there that Spike vowed to never make Buffy vengeful towards him... in front of Willow or Anya.
She seemed to calm upon seeing Xander tied up. "Just where you belong, like all other men. Tied up and immobile." Her lips curled up at the corners, the ex-demon disappearing around a corner. In seconds she was back with a kitchen towel in hand. "Open up, Xander."
"What? No!" But his 'no' happened to do just what he had disagreed to, the gag soon being secured in his mouth and tied around the back of his head. Anya stood with hands on hips, proud of her work, before turning around. "I'm going home. Make sure to starve him to death." She walked out without a backwards glance; Spike was determined to keep his vow. But first...
"Buffy. When we get married, I want it to be with your mum's approval. Not in secret."
She bit her lip. "Really?"
"'course, love."
"But... but I want to be married to you now!"
"I know, love," he soothed. "If we go now, they'll find a way to stop us. Better to wait until they've accepted it, yeah?"
Oz winced as the full moon beat down upon him, taking deep breaths. He was getting better at controlling his wolf every month. Think of Willow. Stay human for her.
The world faded, his last thought being, I'll get strong for her, no matter what.
A.N: Hmm... I think this chapter was a bit slow... Reviews?