Ok, I give up, I have a terrible sense of time. No more promises on when new chapters will be up. I said it would be up within the week, it didn't even get up within the month. My muse has been taking a blind eye to this story for a while, as I have two other Spuffy stories I am writing, hope you like them. My favourite one is coming along quite well and is already half done so it should definately be up by christmas. The other one is already written and is simply waiting for some time on the computer to be typed up but its pretty long.

Well, P!nk has been helping me get through this, her songs are inspiration in themselves. I hope you're all looking forward to this new story of mine, I think it's my best. It was inspired by the song 'I Hate Everything About You (Why Do I Love You)' by Three Days Grace, let's see how much you can guess from that little clue.

Cordelia kneeled down and leaned in close to Buffy's neck, whispering, "Don't worry, it'll only hurt for a minute."

Buffy waited to feel the teeth cut into her skin, but they never did. She heard a yelp and a thud and quickly opened her eyes. Someone had saved her, grabbing Cordelia by the neck, pulled her away and thrown her on the other side of the balcony. Buffy looked for her rescuer but who ever they were was hidden in the crowd.

She stood up and looked over the tops of the crowd when suddenly someone grabbed her by the arm tightly and pulled her forcefully down the stairs, out the back door and into the back streets. Only once they were far away from the Bronze did they stop, and only then was Buffy able to see who it was.

"Spike!" she said breathlessly, he was very fast and she had been quite unprepared for that speed. Spike turned around and looked at Buffy with shock and anger.

"What the bloody hell were you doing in there? Huh? Do you have any idea how dangerous that place is? Does 'walking straight into the hornet's nest' mean anything to you?!" he asked sharply, she could tell that he had wanted to sound a lot harsher than that.

She was lost for words, how could she explain that she was just hanging out with an old friend. "I…I was with Willow" she told him quietly, ashamed of her stupidity. Spike just shook his head and sighed. "I'm sorry Spike…" she apologised, hoping he wouldn't think she was nothing more than a liability that needed saving all the time, this was the second time over the 3 nights already she had spent in this town. Spike looked down at her, trying to see her face; she hung it low, ashamed.

"Buffy" he tried to sound a lot calmer then he really was.

Buffy didn't answer; she didn't want to see the disappointment in his eyes when she looked up into those brilliant blues. But Spike didn't repeat himself, so she slowly looked up and saw anger on his face, and she knew she was in real trouble this time.

"You can't go out at night by yourself, you're not allowed and you never will be unless you stop making these stupid decisions of thinking its ok to hang out with sodding vampires! You are either gonna get yourself killed or somebody else, how will you be able to live with yourself if you knew it had been your fault that somebody was dead? Do you think you could possibly live with that?!"

Spike's voice changed as he spoke, becoming sad as each word escaped his mouth. Buffy wondered if what he was telling her was experience, had he gotten someone killed before.

It was a long while before either of them spoke.

"Spike?" she asked.

He looked into her emerald eyes and said, "I know I can't, it burns me every single day."

Buffy didn't know what to say. She had never thought for a moment that Spike's personality ran off his emotions, he had lost someone like this before and he was determined not to let it happen again. She could only respect that.

"It won't happen again Spike, I promise" she told him.

"It had better not, because I won't always be around to baby-sit you pet, you gotta learn how to protect yourself. Either that or start making your funeral plans" he warned.

When they walked in, it was the middle of the night and the house was empty. Buffy was quite surprised by this, she looked up at Spike with a questioning look and he told her, "They'll all be out patrolling, hunting and killing what ever nasties they come across. They go out every second night, sleep the rest."

Buffy suddenly felt very shy, being alone with Spike all night made her cheeks burst with colour to the thoughts in her head. She tried to ignore them, telling herself that he wasn't interested but from what she had learnt from various conversations over the past 3 days was that Spike had been going easy on her. He wasn't fond of strangers and his temper often scared them off. But he must like something about her because he hadn't sent her running for the hills. She hoped that it wasn't all in her head, but with his mood swings and seductions she couldn't tell if he was actually interested in her or if he was just teasing. Surely there must be something about her he likes.

Buffy was snapped back to reality when Spike walked off into the kitchen saying her name along with a few other words she hadn't caught. But she couldn't be sure if he had been talking to her or asking her something, so she waited for him to repeat himself...or better yet, just follow him into the kitchen. She walked into the smallish kitchen and found Spike by the fridge.

"Buffy, would you like something to drink?" he asked, slight irritation in his voice.

She nodded a little too enthusiastically, saying, "Hot chocolate would be nice."

Sitting down on one of the stools at the island counter, she watched Spike move around the kitchen collecting things. The silence surrounding them was uncomfortable, so Buffy tried to start a conversation, but had no idea what to talk about. She hardly thought that 'hey, those vampires have sharp teeth, don't they?' was worth much; so instead she started off on a quiet note.

"You know when you said I didn't know anything about vampires and demons? Well I do know some things, not much though but more than nothing. I had this friend back in L.A. who told me stories and stuff, she taught me how to identify one but she wouldn't actually let me fight" she explained.

Spike made a gesture with his head to indicate that he was listening, but kept his back turned. The words seemed to pass as though unheard, then he tensed up.

"What was her name?" he asked suddenly, catching Buffy a little off-guard.

"Faith" she stumbled to say.

He froze.

"Spike?"

He didn't answer.

"Do you know her?"

Spike lowered his shoulders and spun around to face her as he lifted himself up to sit on the counter. Buffy waited for words to form but he was taking his time.

"Faith was my girlfriend in high school, before she dropped out. She's the reason I'm here, shoved me down this road without any say after she left me for some guy. I think his name was Woods, Robin Woods. Never got to meet the slimy bastard, which is probably a good thing on his part, I'd have smashed his face in. I'm guessing she's the reason you're here too?" He asked.

"Yeah, she was leaving L.A. to go travelling around with…some guy, but she didn't give me much of a heads-up and I found myself alone in our cheap flat with all her enemies breaking down the door. Got myself out of there and went to the only place I could call home. Faith ended up being a bitch in the end."

Spike chuckled. He handed Buffy a mug of hot chocolate and they both drank in silence.

Neither spoke for a while until Buffy asked curiously," Are you going to the wedding tomorrow night?" She didn't make eye contact at all and even looked in a completely different direction. This was a question that, with the right answer, was definitely going to make her cheeks go red.

"I might, never know. But unless you like dancing and cake there really isn't that much to do there, other than getting drunk but that doesn't usually end up well in this town" he told her.

Buffy's heart sank, she had hoped that he would be there to keep her company, but she guessed it wasn't really his thing. The uncomfortable silence settled through out the house again and it made both Buffy and Spike feel uneasy. Buffy didn't stick around long though and was asleep on the couch within minutes. Spike however didn't snooze off so quickly, he instead wandered down into the basement and paced around for a while. He thought about the events of that night, not really sure how to approach the problem of expressing his fears but at the same time keeping his emotions and secrets to himself.

"How does one use experience to teach a lesson without explaining the story?" he questioned aloud. He tried not to think about the actual event as it caused him too much pain. Normally he wouldn't dwell on past events, what had happened was rock solid, nothing could change it; but in order to prevent Buffy from suffering the same fate, he needed to do something.

He liked her, he couldn't deny there was something there, but that's what the problem was. There was a reason that weddings in this town were so overly celebrated, a reason that children were so overly protected, a reason why the town screamed of heartbreak and regret. It was rare to find love in this town, so when it was found true it was cherished; but when it was lost…the survivor never fully recovered and while Buffy was one such discovery, the chances against them were deathly.

Spike had found love once before in this town, but it ended the same as the rest. There had been almost no chance of him finding someone else while he lived in Sunnydale, so Buffy was more than just some girl. But no matter how close he wanted to be to her, he knew he couldn't let that happen. Even though he had only known her for a month, he knew that she meant something to him. The chances of her dying within the year were just too great, and if he got too close to her, losing her would certainly drive him insane. But wasn't that what life is about? Not taking the time you have together for granted, for cherishing every second? Maybe, but as long as Angelus ruled the town Spike would never be able to hold onto her. Of all the time the two had fought, neither one had ever backed down; and making Spike's life hell was Angelus' favourite game.

By the time all this had gone through his head, Spike was nearly asleep. Lying on his bed with his shirt on the floor and his hands tucked underneath his head, he let sleep take him over.

___

The next day was spent completely on getting ready for the wedding. Once again Buffy was left feeling alone; she wasn't at all used to all this chaos. Everyone was everywhere doing everything; the bathroom was always full of people working on their hair and make-up, while the kitchen was bustling with the people who were making the food and delivering it to the car.

So Buffy sat quietly on the couch, moving only when asked to fetch something. Spike was nowhere to be seen, that was clear; however it was impossible to find a particular person in the house as the crowds continuously swapped and shifted. The entire day went like this, and it left everyone feeling a little worn out, so coffee was handed around. By the time the wedding was only hours away, everyone was dressed and ready to go; all except Buffy.

"Why aren't you dressed yet? You've had all day Buffy" Giles asked his niece as she sat by herself in the living room; everyone else was entertaining themselves with books and games.

"I haven't gotten the chance. Every room in the house was full" she explained.

"Well then you better get moving."

Buffy was a little reluctant at first, not sure if she even wanted to go to this wedding, involving two people she had never met. But she was really curious about how these sort of things went in this town, chances were she was never gonna get this sort of opportunity again. So she got up off the couch and made her way upstairs to Jenny and Giles' bedroom, where she had been keeping her dress as she was yet to have even a bed.

Opening the closet doors she shifted through the various pieces of clothing until she found her dress. It was in a coat of plastic to protect it from…everything. But even under the smoky wrap, she could see the outfit perfectly. She walked into the on-suite and closed the door. Dawn and Tara were waiting outside the door for her, ready to help with hair and make-up.

An hour, and much make-up and nail polish remover, later, everyone was huddled around the front door, waiting for Buffy to come down and join them. When she appeared at the top of the stairs, a lot of 'wow's and gasps were heard throughout the room. But they didn't hang around long, time was ticking away and Giles was allergic to late, or at least in the opinions of everyone who knew him. Outside in the driveway, two cars were waiting for them. Jenny's car wasn't old exactly but could do with a new paint-job. Jenny, Giles, Dawn, Amy and Buffy all went in her car, while Tara, Andrew and Jonathan got a ride with Oz in his van.

The two cars drove through the town, right to the other side. They stopped on the outskirts of a dark, thick forest. There was a large patch of stone and dirt that was used as a car park; and right now it was pretty full. Buffy stepped carefully out of the car and looked around at the crowd of people surrounding her. She had never seen this many people in the same place before, and yet the fact that this was practically everyone in the whole town was frightening to say the least.

Jenny opened the boot of her car and started handing out food platters to everyone; some of the passer-bys helped out too if they weren't carrying anything already. It was heart-warming to see how peacefully everyone got along with each other, but Buffy suspected it had more to do with protection in numbers than actual friendships.

Everyone started walking into the forest, following a naturally-made dirt path that went so deep into the woods that everyone had closed up into a long line. The old, the weak and the young were encased in the middle of the sea of people, to prevent them from wandering or from death if the crowd was attacked. The strongest were at the front and the back, with the fighters scattered along the outline of what could be considered a herd.

Buffy realised this from her place near the centre with the other women. The people were just like a herd of deer, that was what they had been reduced to. They were all tense, as if waiting to be attacked. Fear had driven the town to use animal instinct, they were nothing more than prey, food with legs; and that was most certainly what every vampire in town thought of them. Thoughts began to spring into her mind, comparing memories of what the people of Sunnydale used to be and what they had now become.

A decade ago the town was full of life; happy children were allowed to play outside after dark, every shop in Main Street was open until late and the town was considered to be a place of dreams. But now the streets were filthy and soaked with blood, houses remained locked at all hours and people feared the night when once it was celebrated. The souls of the glowing youth had grown into damaged, terrified shells. This town was now a hollow ghost of what it used to be, and yet there was still hope shining in tired eyes and help supporting those in need. The people of Sunnydale were determined not to give up on the town, not to lose faith in the future and to keep trying no matter what to restore the broken lives that had been left here.

There was little conversation among the group throughout the journey; but as the end of the path came into view, voices got louder and more excited. Buffy tried to see over the tops of all the people in front her, she didn't have a very good view but what she did manage to see was an old, wood and stone structure as tall as a two story building; it was shaped like a barn, but it felt a lot more mysterious than a pet house. The vineyard was on an island surrounded by some sort of white water. At the front of the crowd was a line of about 4 women with various gold and silver charms around their arms, necks, heads and wrists. Their hair was either light brown or red and their dresses went to the ground in navy with a white layer of clear silk over the skirt.

The women approached the vineyard and raised their arms into the air. All the townsfolk stepped back, giving the witches plenty of room to work their magic. Humming could be heard coming from the witches' rose-coloured lips as glowing sparks began to flow from their fingertips. Everyone watched with amazement when the sparks became combined into a focused beam of pure energy, washing over the land, the vineyard, and the trees. Pure white power surrounded the island, turning the river into a sparkling mist. This was drawn high into the air from all around the island, all being summoned to a single point at the centre above the building.

Buffy looked at the witches who were bringing about this incredible sight; they had become the power. Their dark clothes and hair was all blindingly white and pure; their hands were glowing and their hair waved around as if in water.

The humming soon became words in Latin. The power that was sourcing above the vineyard suddenly exploded, sending waves of watery magic washing over the island as if there were a force field around it like a snow globe. The mist splashed down freely until it reached the ground. As soon as the magic water made contact with the tall, green blades of grass, it began to crystallize. Icy-coloured glass snaked its way under the waterfall, pushing the magic up in waves, not stopping until it reached the top again. It then closed up like a snow-coloured flower bud. To finish the spell, the 4 witches stretched out their arms and took hold of each other's hands. They then swung their arms down, the crystal flashed and then disappeared; or became invisible as Buffy thought.

The witches released their grip and stood perfectly still until their glowing, white auras vanished and returned each one of them back to their natural colours. They stepped back into the crowd as a tall, middle-aged warlock took their place. The witches had done their part and now they were all magicked-out, so this warlock would have to do the last part. He slid his hand into his jacket pocket and pulled out a handful of lavender tied together with a purple ribbon. He held it out near the barrier and waved back and forth in the shape of an arch. Smoky, purple, glitter began to fall from the lavender and travelled down the wall, creating a drawing of a door. The outline shone like rippling water before also disappearing, but leaving an open door through the force field.

Like clockwork, everyone filed through the door and onto the island. The broke apart once inside the barrier; the children ran around, exploring the new world they had walked into. Buffy watched as one by one, everyone walked through the old doors of the vineyard; she followed.

It was like a high school corridor the way everyone eagerly hurried inside, all wanting to get started with the wedding. The friends and family of the bride and groom went in first, leaving only the bride and groom outside to make their entrance; although no one had noticed that Buffy was still outside, admiring the glorious beds of flowers that covered the ground.

Buffy took little notice of the beginning of the wedding, she didn't know anyone there and no one in there knew her so who was going to miss her? She decided to wander around outside for a while until the wedding had died down and the party started, then she might go inside and…mingle. Of course she didn't have track of time or any idea how long a wedding ceremony went for, she had never been to one before.

Maybe the real reason she was outside wandering around alone was because she still had hope that Spike would show up. 'Wait, why do I care if he shows up? So what if he saved my life twice…' she tried to think up a decent reason to explain why she cared, but she was caught in a pothole of truth. She loved him, or did she? Was it too soon to say 'love'? She didn't really know how love really felt.

Slowly she began to notice someone approaching her. She spun around knowing who she wanted it to be, but no, it was Jenny.

Buffy gave a bored smile. "Hi Aunty, what's happening?"

Jenny was wearing a fake smile as well, but her's was masking concern. "If you were trying to avoid the actual wedding part you've succeeded. The band is about to start playing any second. Would you like to come and join the rest of the town?"

"Ok, not much to do out here anyway."

"Not if you're alone." Jenny smiled.

Buffy watched Jenny go back inside, then she took a deep breathe and prepared herself for what she was going to find. She walked up to the doors and turned the handle. Pushing gently on the door it swung open with ease.

The second the light from the candles touched her, one could say she glowed. Buffy stood in the doorway, wearing a floor-length, pale pink dress made of the softest materiel. It was smooth and silk-like with a layer of clear veil over the top. At the chest there were four layers of the same materiel overlapping one another; with thin straps and a wide skirt, fit for dancing, it had to have been the most beautiful item she had ever worn. She had picked out a pair of pale purple heels with diamonds at the toes and matching earrings and necklace to finish her look. Her hair was tied back in a ponytail, with the tail bit bouncing around in tight curls. With a touch of eye shadow and the right coloured gloss, she was catching the eyes of many.

The inside of the vineyard was huge, a big wide open space with a low roof. To the right was a staircase that bent round, leading underneath the floor, down into the wine cellar. There was a bar over on the left and the band was set up on the other side of the staircase. Tables with purple clothes and white candles were scattered around the room with lots of chairs filling every gap around the tables.

She felt nervous, standing there alone with all those single eyes staring at her, but she held her head high and walked confidently into the party. Nearly everyone was already dancing, so she tried to join in, but having not known anyone, she didn't have any girlfriends to dance with; she was the odd one out. Even after a month she still didn't know anyone, it was kinda silly. Buffy tried to fit in for as long as she could, but it just wasn't working for her.

She found herself sitting alone on the third step of the staircase, thinking about…not much really, just kinda zoning out. That was until she heard heavy footsteps on the floorboards, the smell of dust and smoke and the low voice she had been seeking out all night.

"Hey Pet, what are ya doing over here by yourself?" Spike sat down beside her and looked her up and down, being unable to stop thinking how beautiful she was in that dress.

"Spike! You came, thank god, this party is pretty boring."

"Boring? Everyone seems to be having the time of their lives, all 'cept you Love."

"Yeah well, I don't know anyone so who am I supposed to talk to? Everyone I do know is lost in the crowd."

"Looks like you could use a bit of cheering up."

She looked at his face and saw a smile; she wasn't sure if it was to be welcomed or feared. But when he stood up and held out his arm, she smiled too, slipping her hand into his grip and letting him lead her outside. She didn't know where he was taking her but she felt so excited inside she dared not say a word. They exited the building, leaving the party inside, and walked out into the night.

The moonlight shone brightly down upon the two as they made their way around the left of the island. Buffy was both very nervous and very calm; her arm having become linked with Spike's, she let him take her over to a small garden. There was a quaint bench chair with a Celtic design in the backing. Around the feet of the chair were hundreds of pure white roses. The petals were so smooth that they glowed in the white gaze of the moon.

Beside the flower beds, the river of holy water passed right by the spot. The water flowed freely by; washing silently over the black pebbles that coated the river bed.

Buffy was amazed by the sight, it was a garden based on paradise, something out of a fairytale. Spike smiled at her, walking her over to the river where she kneeled down, careful not to damage her dress. The water was so beautiful, reflecting the enchanting purple sky, showered with silver stars. She could just hear the whisper of the water, so inviting and safe. She leaned forwards slightly, allowing Spike to certain her balance by holding her hand, she slowly dipped her other hand into the water. Watching the pink trails that rippled from her fingertips, she closed her eyes and focused on the feeling of the cool water wisping around her hand.

She loved the way the river made her feel so relaxed, but she wanted to see more. So she lifted her hand from the water, but she unsteadied her balance as she did so and she quickly grabbed Spike's free hand. He pulled her back to her feet and a little away from the edge. He looked down at her wet fingers locked with his own, letting the holy water drip slowly down between their hands; and he couldn't help but smile. What she had done had a great meaning, the holy water clasped between their entwined fingers. She had promised him a love that would be true and binding; she had promised to never love another.

He knew that she was unaware of this superstition, but it still held the meaning.

Her smile matched his own, but for a different reason. She beamed, looking up into his gorgeous cerulean eyes, reflecting the dazzling stars that coated the sky. He couldn't stop looking at her, she was just so beautiful. He knew he had probably gone too far already, but right now he didn't care. Screw the consequences; damn the fear that was holding him back, there was only one thing he wanted anymore and he knew full well it was her; for tonight at least he would have that.

She had felt love before, she knew what it felt like; or at least she thought she had. What she felt now, it made her question everything she had ever known about love. He had completely disarmed her and she couldn't help but surrender. The look in his eyes made her feel so loved and so cherished she wondered how she had never noticed this before. He was in love with her, she didn't need him to tell her that, she could see it in his eyes, in his smile; she was his everything, and he was hers.

Soft, slow music drifted to their ears from the vineyard; they were playing love songs already. Spike smiled a little wider, and then he took Buffy's hand and led her over to a grassy patch circled by the white roses. She was smiling nervously, she didn't have a clue what he was thinking and it scared her a little. He stopped moving when she stepped into the centre, she was so close that she could hardly breathe. Spike smiled reassuringly and placed one hand on her waist and lifted the other one (still entwined with her hand) up to shoulder level. Ever so slowly, Buffy brought her other hand up to his shoulder and looked up at his face which was beaming with happiness.

The moon danced in her emerald eyes and he knew he was under her spell; there was nothing he could do to stop himself from loving her. All this time he had kept his distance and tried to tell himself it would never work, but seeing how happy she was to be with him made his heart soar. His only purpose was to make her laugh; his only wish was to see this smile every single day.

Slowly they began to sway, gently at first. Their bodies in complete sync with each other as they moved to the soft melody, everything else just washed away with the river's own song. They danced on and on, through many different songs, but by now they weren't dancing to music anymore but to a silent rhythm that only they could hear; the beating of their hearts. Sometime during their dance, Buffy rested her head on Spike's chest and breathed in his scent; one she would remember forever. Spike had his chin on Buffy's head, he could feel her golden hair on his cheek; so smooth and cool. He loved every sensation of this moment; her smell of vanilla, her beautiful hair on his face and her smooth, soft fingers entwined with his.

Hours passed by without notice, Spike and Buffy had stopped dancing and were now seated on the bench chair, just enjoying the night. Buffy was leaning back with her hands placed gracefully in her lap, one leg crossed over the other. She didn't want to stare, so instead she focused her eyes on the stars. Spike was leaning forward, his shoulders were hunched and his hands were clasped together. He could only just see Buffy when he twisted his head around.

He couldn't get over how beautiful she was; her hair, her dress, her lips. Without realising it, he had leaned back and shifted around slightly. Buffy had noticed his movement and she blushed when she saw the admiration in his eyes. They drew closer and closer together, neither really sure about what it was they wanted in that moment, but as their lips touched all the questions and doubts disappeared.

Spike's hand came up to the side of Buffy's neck, tucking his hand behind her head he threaded his fingers through her hair. The kiss was slow and gentle but full of desire. Buffy craved more when their lips parted. He didn't move back though, instead he hovered centimetres from her face. Their eyes locked, completely captivated by the detail of each other up close.

It hadn't been noticed before as no one had ever been out while a wedding was inside the vineyard, but as the two young blondes sat under the crimson sky, the spell protecting the island began to whither. It was expected at a slow pace but none had actually seen it happen.

Blazing white crystals began to fall from the sky. At the size of a grain of rice, the crystals sparkled with every colour surrounding them. Buffy was enchanted by such beautiful stones and stood up to dance in them. Spike wasn't so quick to twirl under the glitter in the air, so instead he watched Buffy laugh and spin. She really was a dream. He never wanted this night to end; he wanted it to be endless, forever. He didn't want to go back to the world of demons and vampires massacring the town to death. He didn't want to have to worry about the rest of the world, to fight endlessly for a victory that would never come.

Looking up at the fire-striking sky, it was painfully obvious that morning was nearly here. The night had come to an end.

Please review, I need to know what you guys think of this chapter, it has taken me forever to write. I know it's a little sappy for my dark and twisted dimension but sometimes you just need the light. I spent a lot of time working on this one so....what did ya think of the spell?! Spike wants you to review my story as he is next to god, god being Joss.

Well, Happy Easter everyone, try not to eat too much chocolate if that is at all possible.