Chapter 2: Back at the House
Spike and Buffy woke up to Dawn bouncing on the bed giggling. Buffy pulled the blankets over her head before realizing she was in Spike's big bed resting on his chest so she therefore blocked his view as well. Dawn giggled some more, "I got to spend the night in a crypt!"
Buffy pulled the blanket down and said to Dawn looking horrified, "Don't go telling people that! We are supposedly on watch for how you are adjusting so shhh about that kind of thing."
Dawn just proceeded to hop some more and Spike scolded, "Careful bit, or you will break my bed!"
Dawn rolled her eyes slowing down her hopping, "You guys need to get up so we can go shopping!"
Buffy groaned because Dawn had gone to bed earlier than they had. But she gave in knowing Dawn wouldn't stop and yawned stretching her arms up in the air, which Spike chuckled ducking his head out of the way of her arms. She blushed, "Sorry Spike."
Spike smiled still feeling in awe over having spent the night with Buffy, the slayer in his bed. He couldn't believe she was finally seeing him for who he was inside instead of just the evil vampire on the outside. Things were looking up for him. He turned towards Dawn to hide his feelings towards Buffy, "Well how's the weather outside nibblet. Why don't you go and check the weather and make sure it's all rainy and such before we start our day."
Dawn not having to be told twice climbed the ladder to the upstairs and Spike took the moment to climb out of bed. He pulled off his shirt to replace it with a new one and then turned to notice Buffy watching him and he smirked, "Um Buffy luv, I don't mind but you might. I need to change my pants and um go ole natural. So you might want to either go upstairs with the nibblet or turn around or something right about now."
Buffy turned bright red, lifting her right hand to put a shield up between him and her face then turned around as Spike changed his pants. Buffy frowned glancing down at her own outfit which was now wrinkled and very dirty having spent the night in the same outfit as she had all day yesterday. She really needed a change so she turned to Spike, "We need to hit up the house so Dawn and I can change."
Spike nodded as he moved into her view and motioned towards the ladder so Buffy could climb up then he followed. Dawn was chipper as she was munching on her toasted pop tarts handing one to Buffy as she asked, "Guess what? It's all nice and rainy. Spike can come!"
Spike smiled and ruffled her hair lovingly feeling very excited, "Course I'll come. But first we need to get you and your sis all fixed up for the day and get more in your stomachs than just pop tarts."
Dawn bounced on her heels, "Bacon, cheese omelets?"
Buffy shook her head laughing, "So that's why you insisted I buy that stuff at the store a few days ago."
Dawn smiled sweetly and nodded. Spike shrugged, "I don't mind. Let's get out of here before the sun decides to shine."
They all exited the crypt together as Dawn happily chatted about what costume she wanted to wear while going to the party while Spike claimed 15 year olds should not be dressing up for Halloween.
Anya chattered to Xander as they walked towards Buffy's house, "I can't believe you told Buffy but not Tara and Willow. I wanted to be there!"
Xander smiled and spoke gently, "You can tell everyone today if you want. We are all heading out Halloween costume shopping based on what Willow said. She had invited Dawn and Dawn promised to talk to Buffy about it."
Anya beamed at Xander, "So I can really tell everyone I'm getting married and show them my ring and invite them to our wedding?"
Xander nodded and leaned over to place a kiss on Anya's lips as she skipped happily into the house, "Hey everyone, I'm getting married so I can have lots of orgasms every night as a legally married woman!"
Willow and Tara stared at her blankly as they were sitting at the island discussing what they wanted to have for breakfast. Anya repeated, "I'm getting married. Want to see my big beautiful diamond?"
Willow and Tara stood up looking down at Anya's finger that she was waving in the air. Willow said, "Wow Xander's getting married. Wow!"
Willow wasn't sure what else to say but was immediately engulfed in a hug so it appeared it didn't matter what she said anyway. Tara said, "Congrats!" as she was squished into the group hug as well. Anya continued to talk not missing much of a beat as she insisted, "You guys must come to the wedding. Where's Buffy and Dawnie? I want them to share in my happiness too!"
Willow looked at Tara who shrugged. Just then the door flung open and in raced Dawn who yelled, "I won!"
She was promptly followed by Spike and Buffy who were almost tied. Spike shouted, "You cheated. You didn't tell us you were racing until you were almost out of sight!"
Dawn laughed, "You're just mad because a 15 year old human beat you."
Spike growled but stopped when the three noticed they were being stared by a very upset Xander, a horrified looking Willow, a shocked looking Tara and an Anya who was just bouncing with excitement. Anya spoke up first, "Dawnie, Spike and Buffy, I'm getting married. You guys all must come to my wedding! It will be in just a few months! It will be so beautiful and so much fun!"
Buffy smiled already having been told but said, "Congrats Anya" and was promptly surrounded by a hug, which Anya also pulled Dawn and Spike into. Dawn exclaimed, "Yay a wedding. I can go too right? Can I bring a date if I find one? Can I wear a beautiful dress? Do I get to pick out my dress?"
Spike said, "Shh platelet, let the girl talk. It's her wedding after all."
Anya smiled gratefully at Spike and then announced, "I'll pick out the dresses but they will be really pretty. I haven't decided who is in the wedding party but Xander and I will talk about that soon I'm sure and of course you can come! You're a little young for a date though…"
Dawn snapped back, "I am 15."
Anya smiled at her condescendingly, "Of course you are."
Dawn repeated, "I am old enough to go on a date" while ignoring Spike's growl and Anya patted her on the head repeating, "Of course you are."
Dawn rolled her eyes as Spike looked at her growling again but chose to stay quiet. Xander decided he had to speak up "Since when are undead creatures able to walk around in the daylight and able to walk into Buffy's house. Furthermore, why is it invited to my wedding and even more, WHY IS IT HANGING WITH BUFFY AND DAWNIE? DID I MISS THE WACKY HOUR?"
Dawn glared at Xander, "Spike's with me. He's fine in MY house."
Xander said in a frank voice not giving up, "No, actually this is Buffy's house and I just know this is an excuse to play a little game. Let's stalk and make Buffy like me since she's confused and lost after being in a Hell Dimension. I'll pretend to be good and get in her good graces because I have a stalkerish, demented love for her."
Buffy stepped forward saying, "Actually I wasn't in…"
She felt Spike's hand on her shoulder so she stopped. Xander's eyebrow raised at her but Buffy didn't continue not wanting it to come out. She knew her friends would be so upset and feel so guilty if they knew they had pulled her out of Heaven instead of Hell. So she was determined to keep the secret to protect them.
Dawn looked at both of them for a minute but dismissed it, "I'm hungry and we have to go shopping soon."
Then Xander chipped in a little too happily exclaiming, "Yea so the dead people in the room can kindly exit leaving us to our shopping adventures."
Dawn put her hands on her hips and glared at Xander, "Actually I invited Spike to come along so he can help me pick out the perfect outfit for Halloween."
Xander glared at Dawn then turned to Buffy, "Are you going to let Captain Fangless join us shopping? Isn't that dangerous?"
Buffy rolled her eyes, "Nah. It's fine and yea he's coming."
Xander took Anya's hand trying to pull her towards the door, "Come on honey, let's go. I don't want to go shopping with someone who hasn't breathed properly in over a century."
Anya shrugged and looked sadly at the trio but followed Xander dutifully out of the house.
Buffy sighed and then looked up to see Willow and Tara standing there in shock. Buffy asked, "You leaving too?"
Tara started to shake her head and Willow took her turn to yell, "I can't believe you are spending so much time with Spike over your friends. We are your friends who saved you and you would rather sit and spend time with this thing who can't even feel. He sat and pinned for you while you were gone Buffy. He followed Dawn around like some lost puppy and got upset whenever anyone mentioned your name. It's not normal or healthy to allow a vampire to pretend to care that much. You're leading him on! Don't you want to go shopping with your best friends, me and Xander? Xander is right even if he was harsh. He said that Spike is just trying to earn his way in since you're lost and confused."
She then turned to Tara, "I think we'd better go."
Tara shook her head looking at Buffy and Spike and she bravely spoke even though her voice had a slight waiver, "I think I'd rather stay and go shopping with them. Please stay Willow."
Willow looked outraged and stomped out of the house. Tara sighed, "Sorry about that. I've been trying to talk to her but she's just so angry all the time."
Buffy nodded having seen it herself so instead of replying she changed the topic, "Have you eaten?"
Tara shook her head and Spike in good nature offered, "Sure offer my services to everyone. Not like I wanted to fix only two omelets instead of four."
He rolled his eyes with a smirk on his face and Tara stuttered, "I'm sorry. You really don't have to fix my food. I can do it myself."
Dawn laughed and whapped Spike in the arm saying with a smirk, "He doesn't mind. He's just whining because he thinks he has to in order to hide the fact that he really enjoys cooking. He's a great cook too. Just wait until you taste the omelet!"
Tara smiled as the four of them went into the kitchen for breakfast.
Willow muttered to herself, "Something has got to make this right. Something is really wrong. This wasn't how things were supposed to go. Buffy was in hell and I saved her. I should be being thanked and things should be good with us. I shouldn't be out-casted along with Xander."
She sighed and kicked the door to the Magic Box basement open noticing it wasn't sealed. She was fuming and she took the magic books off the shelves and flipped through them using magic. She came upon a repelling spell. The ingredients she needed were in the shop but she also needed something that belonged to both of them. She did a reveal spell to find what she might use and was shocked by what appeared. She gasped and quickly closed the book to think about all she had found out.
