GAMES PEOPLE PLAY
Chapter 2
Since Anya and Xander financed their own wedding, it was not a huge, lavish affair. Anya had found a banquet hall that provided everything. They could have the ceremony there with a Justice of the Peace, and the reception would follow immediately. The hall provided a caterer, a disc jockey and centerpieces for the tables.
Xander had asked Willow to stand up for him as his 'best person,' her being his best friend. Giles and Spike were his other ushers.
Anya had asked Tara to be her maid of honor, and Buffy and Dawn were her bridesmaids.
When it came time for the bridal dance, it worked out that Willow danced with Tara, Giles danced with Buffy and Spike danced with Dawn.
Spike made sure to leave a foot of air space between him and Dawn. He thought of her like a little sister, and he also knew Buffy would be watching him.
When it came time to switch partners, Spike sat down with his date, Isabelle, while the others continued to dance. When the wedding party took a breather, Spike introduced them all to Isabelle. The look on their faces, especially Buffy's, was one he would not soon forget.
When Spike went outside to have a cigarette, Buffy, Willow and Tara invited Isabelle to join them at their table.
"Are you sure?" Isabelle asked.
"Any friend of Spike's is a friend of ours," Buffy lied. As Isabelle sat down, Buffy asked, "So, how long have you known Spike?"
"A couple months," Isabelle answered. "He's really nice."
The others had never heard Spike described as "nice" before. They continued talking. Buffy tried to find something about Isabelle not to like, or at least something inhuman about her, but she couldn't.
Spike returned as the DJ started a slow set. He strode over to Isabelle, whom he figured had gotten grilled by Buffy, Willow and Tara, and said, "May I have this dance?"
She took his outstretched hand, smiled and let him lead her to the dance floor.
"Your friends seem awfully protective of you," Isabelle said as they danced.
Spike laughed. "Actually, love, they're trying to protect you."
"You mean they know about you?"
"Oh, yeah. That one there," he said, indicating Buffy, "Is the slayer. She and I go back a few years."
"The slayer?" Isabelle asked, confused.
"The chosen one. It's her destiny to kill vampires and other evil demons. She has some special powers."
"So, she's trying to kill you?"
"Not anymore. Remember I told you about my chip? As long as she knows I can't hurt anyone, she won't bother me."
"But she keeps a close eye on you."
"That she does," he said, smirking.
"If she asks me if I know about you, what would you like me to say?"
Spike realized Isabelle cared about him, and he was touched. "You can tell her you know," he answered. "She'll know if you're lying, anyway."
"May I cut in?"
Spike and Isabelle hadn't seen Buffy walk over to them.
Isabelle looked at Spike, and he nodded. She went over and sat down with Willow, Tara and Dawn, who had joined them.
Spike put his right hand on Buffy's waist and took her right hand with his left. She put her left arm on his shoulder, and they began swaying to the music.
"What are you doing?" Buffy asked him accusingly.
"Thought I was dancing," he answered, "I didn't step on your toes, did I?"
"With Isabelle," she clarified, "What are you doing with Isabelle?"
"She's a nice girl, isn't she?" he said.
"Yes, but . . ."
". . . And intelligent. Got a 4.0 last semester."
Buffy opened her mouth but Spike continued, "And beautiful. Such a sweet smile, and those eyes . . ."
"Spike!" Buffy said, exasperated, "You can't be with just any girl."
"And why not? I'm available, aren't I? What, I don't deserve to be happy? Vampires get lonely, too." He was egging her on, and she knew it.
"Does she know?"
"Oh, yes. She knows all about me. And she's still with me," for tonight, anyway, he continued to himself.
Buffy glared at him.
"You're jealous, aren't you?" Spike teased.
"Not hardly," she answered. "But if you being a vampire isn't enough to drive her away, then I know what will."
As Buffy's sister and friends watched, Buffy put both arms around Spike's neck and drew him closer. As she rested her head on his shoulder, he closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around her back. "Buffy . . .."
Spike knew Buffy was trying to make Isabelle jealous enough to dump him. He found this terribly amusing. And he wasn't about to let the moment go to waste.
For Buffy's part, she hadn't expected to feel the flutter in her belly when Spike put his arms around her. She told herself that her reaction was simply due to the fact that she had been alone for so long. But as she tried to keep in mind that she was doing this to 'save' Isabelle from Spike, her body was reacting in ways she hadn't expected. He whispered her name into her ear, and ran one hand up her back, sending shivers down her spine. She had started this game and she wasn't about to let up, now. She moved even closer to him, and nuzzled her head deeper into the crook between his shoulder and his chest.
Spike thought he had truly died and gone to Heaven. A look of contentment mingled with desire took over his features. At that point, he didn't care who was watching them.
Buffy was trying desperately to keep track of this game she had started. But her heart was racing, and the flutter in her belly had spread out to other regions. But what really shocked her was how happy she felt. She tried to say his name, but it came out as a whisper.
"You know what would really make her jealous?" Spike said hoarsely, pulling back a little.
Buffy forgot to be surprised at his knowledge of her mission. "What?" she asked, looking into his eyes.
He bent down and kissed her. She kissed him back, taking his head in her hands.
Suddenly, Spike felt an irritating tap, tap, tap on his shoulder. He broke off the kiss and Xander said, "May I cut in?"
"Of course," Spike answered, giving Buffy a satisfied look before he strolled off the dance floor.
"You want to tell me what the hell that was all about?" Xander asked Buffy as they began to dance.
She was staring at Spike's back when she realized Xander had said something to her. "What?"
"You. And Spike. With the kissing?"
"Oh, that," Buffy said, coming to her senses. "I was trying to help Isabelle."
"By warming up Spike? Teaching him some new techniques?"
"No! I was just . . .."
Isabelle was staring at Spike as he returned to their table. She continued staring as he sat down and finally looked at her.
"It was a game, don't you see?" he explained. "Buffy was trying to make you jealous, to get you to turn away from me. I had to play."
"Pretty convincing," she said, "It might have worked if we hadn't already broken up." He smiled; glad she was being such a good sport about it.
"Are you in love with her?" she asked him.
"What? No! A vampire in love with the slayer?" He paused, "Is it that obvious?"
"Uh huh. And if I didn't know any better, I'd say she's in love with you, too. She's been watching you all night, and not out of some duty to humankind."
Spike looked at Isabelle, desperately hoping she was right.
"Do you want me to make a scene? To pretend her little scheme worked?" she asked.
"No, but thanks for the offer," he said.
-----------------------------------------------
"Buffy?"
Buffy hadn't heard Isabelle come into the ladies' room. She whirled around and looked at her, relieved to catch Isabelle's reflection in the mirror out of the corner of her eye.
"Isabelle," she started, "I'm . . . I'm really sorry about . . ." she trailed off.
"You mean Spike? Spike and I are just friends," Isabelle replied.
"So, you know that he's a . . ."
"Vampire?" Isabelle finished for her, "Yeah. I know."
"It's just that it's my job to protect people," Buffy tried to explain.
"Protect people," Isabelle echoed. "Buffy, let me tell you a story." She told her about her brother, Max, and how he had thrown away his true feelings for Liz in the name of 'destiny.' She told her how Max's obsession with his preordained fate made him lose sight of the one girl whom he loved more than anything. And now he was miserable, still chasing after his perceived obligations, which, not unlike Buffy, had a lot to do with protecting humankind. "Sometimes, you have to decide your own path."
"See you around," Isabelle said, turning to leave, "I had a lovely time."
Isabelle said goodnight to Xander, Anya and Spike, and she and Spike agreed to keep in touch. Soon after, Buffy approached Spike.
"We need to talk," she said. She took his hand and led him outside.
"You look good in your tux," she said.
"Thank you."
An uncomfortable silence hung in the air.
"I'm sorry about before," she finally said.
"You did what you thought you had to do," he replied.
"Not exactly," she said. Her belly began doing flip-flops again. "Spike, I . . ."
"Yes?" he said, stepping closer to her.
"I didn't mean . . ." she started, stepping back until her back was nearly against the building.
He closed in on her, noticing her breath coming more rapidly and her face flush.
"I really hate you," she said.
"I know," he said as he captured her mouth with his.
He took her hands in his and held them on either side of her head against the wall, pinning her. She was reeling with desire as he kissed her urgently, exploring her mouth hungrily with his tongue. He pressed his body against hers and released her hands.
With her hands now free, she used them to pull him even closer. Spike circled his arms around Buffy's waist and caressed her back. They kissed passionately, not caring where they were or who saw them. He reached up and deftly removed the clip that held her hair up. As her hair fell loosely down her back, Spike wove one hand in it. He grabbed a handful of her blonde curls and pulled slightly, forcing her head to tilt back, exposing her neck. He kissed down her neck and across her bare shoulder as she let out a moan. He flipped her around so that she was facing the wall. He continued trailing kisses across her shoulder, then held her hair aside so that he could kiss the back of her neck. Then he grabbed her around her shoulders and held her tightly.
"Buffy, am I really what you want?" he whispered in her ear.
She flipped around to face him. "I want you, Spike. I . . ." she paused a second, "Love you." She was surprised as she said it, but she knew it was true.
His eyes grew wide and he cocked his head at her.
"I love you, Spike," she repeated more confidently.
He choked back a sob of joy and said, "I love you, too, Buffy."
THE END
Chapter 2
Since Anya and Xander financed their own wedding, it was not a huge, lavish affair. Anya had found a banquet hall that provided everything. They could have the ceremony there with a Justice of the Peace, and the reception would follow immediately. The hall provided a caterer, a disc jockey and centerpieces for the tables.
Xander had asked Willow to stand up for him as his 'best person,' her being his best friend. Giles and Spike were his other ushers.
Anya had asked Tara to be her maid of honor, and Buffy and Dawn were her bridesmaids.
When it came time for the bridal dance, it worked out that Willow danced with Tara, Giles danced with Buffy and Spike danced with Dawn.
Spike made sure to leave a foot of air space between him and Dawn. He thought of her like a little sister, and he also knew Buffy would be watching him.
When it came time to switch partners, Spike sat down with his date, Isabelle, while the others continued to dance. When the wedding party took a breather, Spike introduced them all to Isabelle. The look on their faces, especially Buffy's, was one he would not soon forget.
When Spike went outside to have a cigarette, Buffy, Willow and Tara invited Isabelle to join them at their table.
"Are you sure?" Isabelle asked.
"Any friend of Spike's is a friend of ours," Buffy lied. As Isabelle sat down, Buffy asked, "So, how long have you known Spike?"
"A couple months," Isabelle answered. "He's really nice."
The others had never heard Spike described as "nice" before. They continued talking. Buffy tried to find something about Isabelle not to like, or at least something inhuman about her, but she couldn't.
Spike returned as the DJ started a slow set. He strode over to Isabelle, whom he figured had gotten grilled by Buffy, Willow and Tara, and said, "May I have this dance?"
She took his outstretched hand, smiled and let him lead her to the dance floor.
"Your friends seem awfully protective of you," Isabelle said as they danced.
Spike laughed. "Actually, love, they're trying to protect you."
"You mean they know about you?"
"Oh, yeah. That one there," he said, indicating Buffy, "Is the slayer. She and I go back a few years."
"The slayer?" Isabelle asked, confused.
"The chosen one. It's her destiny to kill vampires and other evil demons. She has some special powers."
"So, she's trying to kill you?"
"Not anymore. Remember I told you about my chip? As long as she knows I can't hurt anyone, she won't bother me."
"But she keeps a close eye on you."
"That she does," he said, smirking.
"If she asks me if I know about you, what would you like me to say?"
Spike realized Isabelle cared about him, and he was touched. "You can tell her you know," he answered. "She'll know if you're lying, anyway."
"May I cut in?"
Spike and Isabelle hadn't seen Buffy walk over to them.
Isabelle looked at Spike, and he nodded. She went over and sat down with Willow, Tara and Dawn, who had joined them.
Spike put his right hand on Buffy's waist and took her right hand with his left. She put her left arm on his shoulder, and they began swaying to the music.
"What are you doing?" Buffy asked him accusingly.
"Thought I was dancing," he answered, "I didn't step on your toes, did I?"
"With Isabelle," she clarified, "What are you doing with Isabelle?"
"She's a nice girl, isn't she?" he said.
"Yes, but . . ."
". . . And intelligent. Got a 4.0 last semester."
Buffy opened her mouth but Spike continued, "And beautiful. Such a sweet smile, and those eyes . . ."
"Spike!" Buffy said, exasperated, "You can't be with just any girl."
"And why not? I'm available, aren't I? What, I don't deserve to be happy? Vampires get lonely, too." He was egging her on, and she knew it.
"Does she know?"
"Oh, yes. She knows all about me. And she's still with me," for tonight, anyway, he continued to himself.
Buffy glared at him.
"You're jealous, aren't you?" Spike teased.
"Not hardly," she answered. "But if you being a vampire isn't enough to drive her away, then I know what will."
As Buffy's sister and friends watched, Buffy put both arms around Spike's neck and drew him closer. As she rested her head on his shoulder, he closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around her back. "Buffy . . .."
Spike knew Buffy was trying to make Isabelle jealous enough to dump him. He found this terribly amusing. And he wasn't about to let the moment go to waste.
For Buffy's part, she hadn't expected to feel the flutter in her belly when Spike put his arms around her. She told herself that her reaction was simply due to the fact that she had been alone for so long. But as she tried to keep in mind that she was doing this to 'save' Isabelle from Spike, her body was reacting in ways she hadn't expected. He whispered her name into her ear, and ran one hand up her back, sending shivers down her spine. She had started this game and she wasn't about to let up, now. She moved even closer to him, and nuzzled her head deeper into the crook between his shoulder and his chest.
Spike thought he had truly died and gone to Heaven. A look of contentment mingled with desire took over his features. At that point, he didn't care who was watching them.
Buffy was trying desperately to keep track of this game she had started. But her heart was racing, and the flutter in her belly had spread out to other regions. But what really shocked her was how happy she felt. She tried to say his name, but it came out as a whisper.
"You know what would really make her jealous?" Spike said hoarsely, pulling back a little.
Buffy forgot to be surprised at his knowledge of her mission. "What?" she asked, looking into his eyes.
He bent down and kissed her. She kissed him back, taking his head in her hands.
Suddenly, Spike felt an irritating tap, tap, tap on his shoulder. He broke off the kiss and Xander said, "May I cut in?"
"Of course," Spike answered, giving Buffy a satisfied look before he strolled off the dance floor.
"You want to tell me what the hell that was all about?" Xander asked Buffy as they began to dance.
She was staring at Spike's back when she realized Xander had said something to her. "What?"
"You. And Spike. With the kissing?"
"Oh, that," Buffy said, coming to her senses. "I was trying to help Isabelle."
"By warming up Spike? Teaching him some new techniques?"
"No! I was just . . .."
Isabelle was staring at Spike as he returned to their table. She continued staring as he sat down and finally looked at her.
"It was a game, don't you see?" he explained. "Buffy was trying to make you jealous, to get you to turn away from me. I had to play."
"Pretty convincing," she said, "It might have worked if we hadn't already broken up." He smiled; glad she was being such a good sport about it.
"Are you in love with her?" she asked him.
"What? No! A vampire in love with the slayer?" He paused, "Is it that obvious?"
"Uh huh. And if I didn't know any better, I'd say she's in love with you, too. She's been watching you all night, and not out of some duty to humankind."
Spike looked at Isabelle, desperately hoping she was right.
"Do you want me to make a scene? To pretend her little scheme worked?" she asked.
"No, but thanks for the offer," he said.
-----------------------------------------------
"Buffy?"
Buffy hadn't heard Isabelle come into the ladies' room. She whirled around and looked at her, relieved to catch Isabelle's reflection in the mirror out of the corner of her eye.
"Isabelle," she started, "I'm . . . I'm really sorry about . . ." she trailed off.
"You mean Spike? Spike and I are just friends," Isabelle replied.
"So, you know that he's a . . ."
"Vampire?" Isabelle finished for her, "Yeah. I know."
"It's just that it's my job to protect people," Buffy tried to explain.
"Protect people," Isabelle echoed. "Buffy, let me tell you a story." She told her about her brother, Max, and how he had thrown away his true feelings for Liz in the name of 'destiny.' She told her how Max's obsession with his preordained fate made him lose sight of the one girl whom he loved more than anything. And now he was miserable, still chasing after his perceived obligations, which, not unlike Buffy, had a lot to do with protecting humankind. "Sometimes, you have to decide your own path."
"See you around," Isabelle said, turning to leave, "I had a lovely time."
Isabelle said goodnight to Xander, Anya and Spike, and she and Spike agreed to keep in touch. Soon after, Buffy approached Spike.
"We need to talk," she said. She took his hand and led him outside.
"You look good in your tux," she said.
"Thank you."
An uncomfortable silence hung in the air.
"I'm sorry about before," she finally said.
"You did what you thought you had to do," he replied.
"Not exactly," she said. Her belly began doing flip-flops again. "Spike, I . . ."
"Yes?" he said, stepping closer to her.
"I didn't mean . . ." she started, stepping back until her back was nearly against the building.
He closed in on her, noticing her breath coming more rapidly and her face flush.
"I really hate you," she said.
"I know," he said as he captured her mouth with his.
He took her hands in his and held them on either side of her head against the wall, pinning her. She was reeling with desire as he kissed her urgently, exploring her mouth hungrily with his tongue. He pressed his body against hers and released her hands.
With her hands now free, she used them to pull him even closer. Spike circled his arms around Buffy's waist and caressed her back. They kissed passionately, not caring where they were or who saw them. He reached up and deftly removed the clip that held her hair up. As her hair fell loosely down her back, Spike wove one hand in it. He grabbed a handful of her blonde curls and pulled slightly, forcing her head to tilt back, exposing her neck. He kissed down her neck and across her bare shoulder as she let out a moan. He flipped her around so that she was facing the wall. He continued trailing kisses across her shoulder, then held her hair aside so that he could kiss the back of her neck. Then he grabbed her around her shoulders and held her tightly.
"Buffy, am I really what you want?" he whispered in her ear.
She flipped around to face him. "I want you, Spike. I . . ." she paused a second, "Love you." She was surprised as she said it, but she knew it was true.
His eyes grew wide and he cocked his head at her.
"I love you, Spike," she repeated more confidently.
He choked back a sob of joy and said, "I love you, too, Buffy."
THE END