1630 Revello Drive
The car ride back to the Summers residence was a quiet one. Neither Buffy or Graham had much to say.
They had left the gang at the Magic Box while Buffy opted to run back home to back a few more weapons and throw on a change of clothes while the group worked on how to assemble the big idea she created in the heat of the moment. It was crazy and far out but Giles, Graham, and the others had full confidence in the Slayer's eccentric plan to end Glory once and for all.
Graham pulled the truck into the driveway and silently got out. He followed Buffy up the pathway and into the house.
He turned his eyes, watching Buffy start up the stairs talking to him without facing him. "I'll grab some stuff upstairs. You get the weapons."
"Buffy?"
Buffy paused from continuing up the stairs at the sound of his deep voice calling her name.
Slowly, she turned back to him waiting for him to ask whatever was on his mind.
Graham swallowed nervously finding it suddenly difficult as hell to speak under bright green eyes gazing down at him patiently.
He took a deep breath and moved towards her, standing at the bottom of the stairs. "My timin' is probably a little… off… but I've been waitin' a while too, uh…"
"To what?" She watched him run a hand through his short hair. It was a gesture she knew well which told her that Graham definitely had something on his mind.
"To tell you…" he searched for the perfect words when he finally lifted his eyes to her, Graham felt a sudden sense of calm wash over him. "I wanted to tell you that I love you."
Graham swallowed and stepped closer to the bottom of the stairs and continued, "I can count on one hand of the times I ever got it exactly right. The first was joining the secret unit with Riley and Forrest which brought me here. And the second was giving it all away for you. Because I knew without a doubt my place was supposed to be with you."
Buffy stared at him as her vision began to fog up and her throat tightened.
"I wanna be with you always. I wanna marry so I can kiss you whenever I want. More than anything, I wanna to spend the rest of my life arguing with you over normal things like wallpaper or beheading tactics..." he smirked. "I wanna marry you so we can get that stupid four-door sedan and that house with the picket fence—or we'll get a ranch out in the valley—I don't care whatever you want." Graham reached out and took her hand at her side. He gently tugged her hand forward for her to step down the stairs. "What do you say, Princess, with bad timin' and all… you wanna marry me?" Graham asked with a small shrug and a boyish shy smile.
Buffy wiped the tear from under eyes and took the final step at the bottom of the stairs case, standing eye level with Graham. She shifted her gaze from the diamond ring between his index finger and thumb to his face. She held her hand to his cheek feeling the familiar texture of his bristled cheek under her palm and whispered, "Yes," with a small smile.
"Yeah?" Graham released the breath he had been holding in and grinned with disbelief that she had accepted his proposal. He kissed the tips of her fingers and started to slide the engagement ring on her left-hand ring finger when Buffy withdrew her hand from his.
"No," she said suddenly.
The smile that was spread across Graham's face fell with disappointing uncertainty, "No?"
"No," Buffy softly told him and placed the ring back into the centre of his palm and closed his hand. With her free arm, she hooked it around Graham's neck, leaning forward pressing forehead against his. "Give it to me after the world doesn't end."
"I can do that." Graham pocketed the diamond ring back into his jeans saving it for after the battle when she'd finally officialize their engagement. He wrapped his arms around her petite body, hugging her tightly.
Magic Box
The Scoobie gang turned their heads with anticipation watching Buffy and Graham reenter the Magic Box with a duffle bag of weapons in hands.
Buffy stepped the steps adjusting the collar the leather jacket she wore. "We on schedule?" She looked at Giles.
"Yes, we're on time." He assured as he squeezed Joyce's hand.
Buffy nodded then looked at Xander, "Xander?"
With a slight head nod, Xander stood from his chair and crossed the short distance to Anya sitting with her legs tucked under herself. "Ahn, is there somewhere you should be?" He asked her gently.
Anya's wild and lost eyes darted up to Xander's face. She nodded her head and began to rock back and forth, "They held me down."
Xander shook his head, "Nobody's holding you down. It's a big day, right? Do you want to go?"
"Yes, yes, yes, yes—Yes, I do," Anya said standing up from the chair and headed around the group towards the door.
The Scoobie's packed up their gear and followed the ex-demon out of the Magic Box heading to the construction site.
