Aftermath of Engagement
Spike closed the door to the bedroom he shared with Buffy, at Giles' apartment, and ran into Dawn in the hallway.
"What you doin' here, Niblet?" he asked her. "Shouldn't you be at school?"
Dawn rolled her eyes, in a way that reminded him of her sister. "It's Saturday. Did you just get in?"
"Yeah, we've been out all night. Buffy's shattered. Just popped her into bed."
"And what about you?" she asked, and he looked at her – distracted – not knowing what she meant. "Don't you need sleep?"
"Oh …yeah. Later though, I've got a mission to complete first." He was grinning.
Dawn knew something was up. "Do tell," she prodded. "I love secrets. Well, the nice ones anyway, not the horrible-"
"I'm not saying a word," he interrupted.
"But what'll I tell Buffy if she wakes up before you're back?"
He looked thoughtful for a moment before grinning again; more widely this time. "Tell her I've left her."
"Huh? You… what?!"
"Just tell her," he said, laughing to himself as he walked out the front door.
Dawn gulped and returned to her bedroom, no longer wanting breakfast.
Buffy woke up with a smile on her face, which quickly fell into frown upon leaning across and finding an empty space where her fiancé should be. Fiancé. She could barely believe it.
With a groan she rolled over to check the clock – 13:02 – and her mouth formed a little 'o' shape in shock. 'Oops,' she said, dragging herself out of bed and pulling clothes on before stepping out into the main apartment.
Noting books strewn across every available surface in the living room, Buffy pulled her watcher aside, into the kitchen, away from Dawn, who was staring blankly at a magazine.
Rummaging through the fruit bowl, she decided on an apple which she started tossing back and forth between her hands – full of nervous energy – before asking the older man "Research confirm anything?"
"Indeed," he said. "As I suspected, there are multiple cases of people inheriting demon traits whilst still being wholly human. You'll recall your own experience, when you could hear thoughts?"
Buffy nodded. "Never thought about it like that. But can we be sure that the same is true for Spike? He didn't inherit them, after all, he just kinda kept them."
"Ah, well. Not quite," he admitted. "Spike is a one-off. There are no records, that I've been able to find, of any other demon turning into a mortal. Without extensive tests I'm afraid this is merely informed conjecture."
"So, we can't be sure?"
"Not fully."
"Hmm…" she started pacing, "I guess it doesn't make sense for the Powers that Be to only make him part human. I just worry, y'know?"
"I understand. The unknown can be scary, but as far as I can see it Spike was a vampire with enhanced human attributes, and now the opposite is true. Truly unique."
"Totally," she agreed. "I like the attributes. Don't want it to sound like I'm complaining – because really, really, not – I just want to understand. He's gone through this whole big thing and I can't quite get my head around it."
Giles just smiled, not knowing what else to tell her.
She gave a small shrug before biting into her now heavily bruised apple and walking back to the lounge to join her sister. "I've got some news for you," she beamed, instantly putting the earlier topic from her mind. "Have you seen Spike? He'll wanna be here for this."
"Umm…" Dawn began, averting her sister's gaze.
Buffy looked at her suspiciously, wondering how she'd ever been able to hide Spike's resurrection from her, when it was usually so obvious when she was hiding something – like now. Buffy gave her a little nudge, saying, "Come on, spill. What is it?"
"Well… I saw him, before? After he dropped you off. He left you a message."
"Okay," said Buffy, raising an eyebrow in a way not unlike her lover.
"He… uh… he told me to tell you. That, um…"
Buffy's face grew serious now, just looking at the stress of her baby sister. "Tell me it wasn't something inappropriate. Because, lover or not, I'll kick his ass."
"No! No. Nothing like that," Dawn reassured her. "Because gross. He said… Well, he said to tell you he left."
"Huh?" said Buffy, confused.
Dawn took a deep breath. "Spike told me to tell you that he left you."
"Oh," she said then, before breaking out into an uncontrollable fit of laughter.
Dawn's eyes looked panicked, and a little furrow appeared between her eyes as she tried to figure out what the hell was going on. 'Has he really sent her over the edge this time?' she wondered, silently.
Buffy continued to laugh until her abs hurt, only able to speak one word at a time while gasping for breath. "He," – pahaha, "He said," – more laughter, "He left me?" then she fell over and Dawn went to her side.
"What's wrong with you?" she demanded.
"Sorry!" said Buffy, still gasping. "Just, so funny! The funniest thing I've heard since… since." – she paused for a moment – "Since Harmony got minions!" – and then she was off again.
Giles walked back into the living room at that point, threw a questioning glance at Dawn who could nothing but shrug back at him in response. It took Buffy another five minutes to calm down after that. And, again, she apologized, and stated "I couldn't help myself," by way of explanation.
"Buffy," said Dawn, tentatively, trying to get sense from the slayer, "You're sure he was joking? It doesn't sound very much like-"
"Oh, you told her then?" came a voice from the hallway, as Spike opened the front door and sauntered in to join in the discussion.
"Yeah, I…" Dawn began, but didn't quite know where to go from there.
Spike ignored her anyway, as he moved across to kiss Buffy hello. "Thought it might tickle you."
"Oh," she said in response. "It did. Needed a good laugh."
Giles shook his head but Dawn was irritated. "You guys think it's funny to joke about breaking up? You're both deranged. Need to see someone about getting a proper sense of humor!"
Spike just smiled at her, and pointed out that, as the only one looking grumpy, it was perhaps her place to get her sense of humor looked at.
"Whatever," she huffed; annoyed with herself for taking him so seriously and worrying herself sick when everyone knew he'd find it impossible to walk away from Buffy.
She got up to leave but Buffy called her back, "Hey, I said I had news for you."
The slayer looked at Spike, "I can tell her, right?"
He smiled, saying, "Allow me." Before producing a tiny square box from his coat pocket and handing it to Dawn. "Look what I got your sister."
The girl's eyes widened – all annoyance and stress instantly vanished. "This is a! Oh my god!" she squealed. "Giles, look! This is an engagement ring!"
"Yes, yes; I can see that," he replied. Surprised, and not for the first time, that Dawn could be so high pitched.
"Can I try it on?" she asked, but Spike shook his head and retrieved the box from her.
"Slayer hasn't even had a proper look yet, Niblet."
As he handed it to her and she gazed down in awe, almost scared to touch it, Dawn questioned him.
"You proposed without a ring, before?"
"Actually, no," Buffy piped up, finding her voice again. "I asked him. Spike, this is beautiful!"
He leaned down to kiss her lightly before saying, "Only the best for my girl."
She was touched. She'd never felt so loved, but part of her worried if they could really afford the simple white gold band with solitaire diamond. Finally, tough, she decided she didn't care. It was hers and she was keeping it.
"Did you spend all the savings for the new apartment?" she asked him, softly.
"No," he said. "There's some left. And," – he took a wad of folded paper out of his back pocket and handed it to her – "I did some searching and there's a few places around that only need small deposits. Bit far outta town, though."
Buffy looked through the brochures and had to stop herself from crying. He tried so hard to give her everything she wanted, and it meant so much. Standing up she pulled him close and told him she loved him, letting the pages fall to the ground in doing so.
Dawn picked them up and had a quick look herself before glancing back at Giles, silently asking him for permission to speak. He smiled and nodded, so she cleared her throat and the couple moved apart to sit down again – Spike first, with Buffy in his lap.
"You wanted to say something, pet?" he asked.
And Buffy added, "We want you to have your say. This all affects you too, and we should be together on this."
Dawn grinned at them both, briefly wondering if she'd ever be that in love. "Giles and me figured you'd be wanting to get a place soon. We, uh… I was actually wondering if I could stay living here. Giles says he doesn't mind, and be both agreed it might be better to give you some space, as a couple?"
Spike was silent. And Buffy couldn't hold in her emotions anymore. Slowly tears ran down her cheeks and he reached up to wipe them away with the pad of his thumb.
"Are you sure?" she asked, her voice sounding a little shaky. "That's what you wanna do? You don't feel pushed out, because we do want you. Love you more than anything!"
"Yeah, Buffy, don't worry," said Dawn. "It's cool. I feel loved and secure and all that. I think this just works out the best for us all, for the moment anyway."
Spike interjected, then, asking Giles if he really was okay with it.
"I am," he confirmed. "I agree with Dawn that it seems the most practical for her to stay on here, while I have empty rooms, and for you too to enjoy being young and together."
"Oh, you guys," said Buffy, standing up again so she could hug each of them. "Thank you! You're all just the best family."