New Beginnings

New Beginnings

Part 15

The size of the reception served as a barometer for their lives. They never realized before how close knit and isolated they had all become. Anya had no other friends or family. Xander would have sooner invited Spike's family than have to put up with his own. Therefore the dance floor had plenty of space, what with eight member of the Scooby Gang, Willow's parents and some guys from Xander's work site. Nevertheless, the small banquet hall shined and glittered from not only the large disco ball, but also from the relief felt by being involved in a normal human activity. Sure, not all in attendance were actually human, but they all had been at one time.

Once the obligatory first dance was over, they were each snatched up by another.

***

"So. This is a typical human festivity?" Anya looked over Spike's shoulder at the other dancing couples as their bodies continued to sway together.

"Yeah. Makes you proud to be a demon, doesn't it?"

"Huh?"

"Look at 'em all. Bunch of Nancy-boys in penguin suits actin' all giddy, while the girls do the same. A celebration of the woman dominatin' a man. That's all it is."

Anya stepped away to look in his face. "Is that what you think? No wonder I became a vengeance demon with a bunch of 'you's' walking around." He shrugged his shoulders. "I'll remember you said that when it's your turn." They spun around a bit and Anya could see Buffy and Xander dancing.

"My…my turn?!" His mouth made some sort of 'pshaw' sound and his eyes glazed over a bit. "Never. I'm my own man."

"Vampire," she corrected.

"Yeah. Well, no woman is ever gonna dictate the rest of my life." From behind him, Spike heard a sweet voice, "Spike! Come over here." He immediately took his leave of Anya and made a bee line to Buffy.

"Sure, Spike. Whatever you say." Anya let out a giggle.

***

"So, this is a normal person's life, huh?" Buffy looked over Xander's shoulder at the other dancing couples.

"Nice and normal. Just how I like it. The only demon we've seen hide or hair of is your boyfriend."

"Yeah, and for once, my boyfriend hasn't tried to eat me or my friends. It's a big day for Buffy." Their faces lit up together.

"So, I take it he's been behaving himself. Paper trained and all? Refraining from biting the mail man?"

"He's a vampire, not a werewolf."

Conversation lulled for a moment as Buffy tried to lose herself in this wonderful feeling of normalcy.

"Buffster?"

"Yeah."

"I admit it when I'm wrong, and I was wrong."

"Sorry Xander. You can't back out of it now. The marriage is a done deal." She gave him a knowing smile.

"No. I meant Spike."

"Oh. The Evil Dead?"

"He still gets on my nerves, but he's been true to his word. He's never hurt you, and more importantly, he's hasn't tried to kill any of us. He's…he's alright."

Buffy's face lit up. "Really?"

"Really."

"So, you wouldn't be upset if I told you I was having his baby?"

"What?!" His scream would have attracted everyone's attention had Buffy not covered his mouth with her hand.

"Joke, Xander. Look up the meaning if you don't get it."

"Don't you ever do that again!"

She laughed at his breathless statement.

"Well, at least you and he doing the nasty doesn't turn him into a homicidal maniac."

Buffy stopped matching his lead and stared him straight in the eye. "There has been no 'nasty', okay? I can't even believe you could say that! Me and Spike. Pshhh. That's…I mean, Spike? Spike. Hmph." Her arms dropped from his shoulders and sweat began to bead on her forehead. "Do that? I…I…he…"

Xander looked at her incredulously. "Okay Buffy. Turn the mouth down there. You can't possibly tell me he hasn't made some sort of move, right?"

Her eyes widened. "No. He hasn't."

"Well, then I really owe him an apology." An aura of sadness washed over her.

"Is there something wrong with me, Xander?"

"Aside from that little turn to your nose and that you're far too thin?"

"No, no. I mean…hey. What's wrong with my nose?"

"Nothing. You're perfect. Perhaps he's trying to prove that he's not just after your body. Gotta give the guy some credit. He lives with you for months, sleeping in the room next to yours, knowing that you're naked just across the hall in the bathroom, and yet manages to be a complete gentleman. It's a miracle. It's nauseating."

"Yeah." Her first instinct was to associate his staying with the fact that they had ever had sex. Self doubt crept up into her fragile psyche. Would he abandon her like the rest once they consummated their love?

"Oh, wait. I know what you're thinking."

"You do?"

"You think he's lost interest in you."

"Um, actually, no, but thanks for giving me something else to obsess about."

"Here. Let me prove something to you." He addressed Spike, "Yo! Spike!" The vampire showed no response. He simply continued his conversation with Anya. "Now, you. Call him over here."

Buffy looked at him skeptically. "He obviously can't hear us."

"Just do it," Xander nudged.

"Spike! Come on over."

He seemed to stop in mid sentence and scamper to her side. The two laughed to the dismay of the newcomer. "What's so funny, Slayer?"

She broke her laugh to answer him. "Nothing. But Xander has something to say to you."

Spike raised his eyebrows for a second, then narrowed his eyes. "What did I bloody do now, wanker?"

Xander fought back the irritation that Spike's language always evoked, then slapped him on the back. "I want to tell you I was wrong and out of line that day."

"Can you be a bit more specific? You're usually wrong about something at least daily."

Xander pleaded with Buffy. "Can I stake him now, please?" A firm look was her reply.

"The day Buffy told us about you and her being…together. You've proved to me that you've really changed, Spike. And I want to thank you for looking out for our Buffy."

Spike was stunned silent for a moment. When no one said anything, he looked down at his shoes, then meekly answered, "Thanks, mate."

By the time he looked back up, Xander was gone and Buffy was giving him some goofy, love sick expression. One quick glance around satisfied her that they would not be missed if they disappeared. 'Just for a minute,' she reminded herself. Buffy took Spike's hand and led him to the empty banquet hall next door.

***

"Now, this is better." Her lips curved into a warm smile.

"What's all this then, luv?" Confusion crossed the vampire's handsome features. She rarely pulled him aside for a discussion, and when she did, it always turned into a one way conversation, with her scolding him for some outrageous or disgusting behavior. It did not bode well.

"I just…I've been wondering about something."

He was tempted to prompt her to continue, but wasn't exactly sure he wanted to hear what she had to say.

"I think I know you pretty well…too damn well."

"True."

"You are a passionate person. You don't just want to taste life, you want to devour it whole. When you want something, you stop at nothing to get get it."

He couldn't help but answer the question he saw in her eyes. "That I am. What of it?" One eyebrow raised for effect.

"I noticed…" She shut her eyes. "You don't…you never…"

Now the conversation was scaring the hell out of him. What the heck was it he had done wrong? He became terrified of losing her love before he had ever fully earned it.

"Don'tyouwantme?" The air silenced. Two creatures stared at each other, motionless. She, afraid of the answer. He, in a quandary as to what she was talking about.

"What kind of bloody question is that?!"

The force of his answer startled her, and she flinched.

"You never touch me. You never look at me with desire. You never respond to my advances. But then again, if you did, and we made love, I'm afraid you'd leave me anyhow. So, to tell you the truth, I don't know what to think of what to do."

A pale finger landed across her lops "Did anyone ever tell you you think too much?" At that, the finger was replaced with his lips.

To Be Continued