Title: Just Good Friends

Author: Spiffy Da WonderSheep

Rating: PG for some cussing (bad Dawn!)

Spoilers: Up to the Gift. Five years in the future though.

Distribution: Eh, whatever. Warn me first please.

Summary: Dawn gets a new boyfriend, and Buffy doesn't approve.

Disclaimer: I own an empty Big Hunk wrapper and an internet logon to the NVC college system. Everything else belongs to Joss, May His Name Be Praised By The Highest Television Critics And Executives. It's Spike/Dawn. Sorry. I know I'm sick.
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Part V

"Buffy," Faith complained. "We've patrolled through fifteen casinos in five hours. All we've found are Koschecki demons aplenty and two non-peroxided vampires. My feet are killing me. Can we PLEASE stop now?"

"No. The guy at the poker table said that the chapel is over here somewhere." Buffy continued striding down the red carpeted hallway of one of Vegas' best hotel/casinos. Faith was trailing her by about five feet.

"Buffy! Buffy, wait! I think---" Giles paused in his talking to gulp air and attempt to run faster, while simultaneously juggling maps of every casino on the Strip. He was a good hundred yards behind the two Slayers, and losing ground fast. "I think we missed the turn for the Wedding Chapel."

"No, the sign with the little arrow pointed this way," Buffy said.

At that very moment, a person stepped into the hallway 20 feet ahead of Buffy. He turned towards them, and in the same moment, he and Buffy recognized each other, and started running.

Of course, he was running away from Buffy.

"Stop right there!" Buffy shouted.

"Run, Spike!" Faith shouted, running after Buffy.

"Oh bloody hell," Giles muttered, and tried to run faster.

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"Hey, I haven't gotten to that part yet!" The celebrant said, startled. Spike had just torn up the aisle, grabbed Dawn's face in his hands, and kissed her passionatley.

When they came up for air, Dawn asked, "She's here?"

"You bet I'm here!" Buffy was up the aisle herself and on the platform like a flash.

Dawn was faster, however, and had put herself between Spike and her sister's wrath. One hand was clamped vicelike on Spike's lapels, to keep him from escaping. "I am marrying William in about ten minutes."

"No you're not!"

Dawn continued calmly, as if she hadn't been interrupted. "You can either be present at the happiest moment of my life, or you can be escorted out by security. Ten seconds to decide."

Faith was joined in the doorway of the chapel at this point by a red-faced Giles. She held up her wrist so they both could watch the countdown.

It took about eight seconds before her shoulders slumped in defeat. "I'll be good."

Dawn squealed with delight and hugged Buffy. Faith grinned and hugged Giles. Spike let out a whoop of joy and picked up the celebrant, whirling him around. Then he realized what he was doing and put him down. "Sorry, mate."

"T-that's okay."

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"It was-- was a beyootiful ceremony," Giles slurred. He gestured wildly, and Faith caught him before he fell off the stool. "Jus' beyooootiful."

"My siser, she was beyuteeful." Buffy said. Then, "To the beyuteeful bride!"

"To the beyoootiful bride!" Giles said. Then, "Bartender! More champagne!"

"I think it's time for the 'special' champagne," a very sober Faith said, grinning.

"Ah, yes," winked the bartender. He took their glasses away to the opposite end of the bar, where anyone who was paying attention would have seen him fill them from a bottle of ginger ale.

Buffy and Giles were not paying attention. "Beeeyoootiful." "Beyuteeeeeful."

*clink* went the glasses.

"Now, I guess, now I, guess I can't dust Spike." Buffy said, sadly.

"Nope. No. I tink she said something about Alrbraninan Slugworts if you did," Giles added, helpfully.

"They do make a cute couple." Buffy conceeded.

"Yes they do." Giles agreed.

"Cuter'n me and Spike."

"Yes they do."

"An' I'dve never been able to stand him for more than ten minutes."

"No, you didn' "

Buffy wobbled as she raised her glass, but stayed upright. "To the happy couple, may they be... happy!"

"Hear hear!" Giles agreed loudly.

"Hear hear," Faith said, and the three of them drank their champagne.

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THE END (finally!)