Title: Wed
Author: Joy
Email: SleepingBeauty2@ziplip.com
A/N: I am in no way advocating 1) marriage as a teenager or 2) marriage after knowing someone for a night. This just helps round out the story.
Spike stared for a minute. "Ya still with me?" Buffy asked.
"Yes…But I really don't like where this is heading," he responded.
"Game plan… Dawn in one room. Wolf in another. We'll ask Lorn if he knows anybody that would do a ceremony for them. I'm her guardian so I can give permission for her to marry and Wolf's of age so that's not an issue…" Buffy realized Spike's eyes were glazed over. "Spike, this is going to happen. You said so yourself. Lets just make it as easy on Wolf as we can." Spike nodded dumbly. "Wolf," Buffy said tugging him to his feet. "You're coming with us."
Buffy led a dazed Spike and Wolf into the lobby. "What the hell did you do to them?" Gunn asked abruptly.
"Nothing! Take Wolf into another bedroom and stay with him… Put him off if he says he needs to see Dawn," Buffy instructed handing Wolf over.
"Ah… Why? I've seen what he can do…I do not want it happenin' to me."
Cordelia, Lorn and Fred stepped forward. "Fine… Apparently the claiming process involves the kids actually consummating the relationship. They've avoided at each stage but now their beasts are ready to mate and they won't be able to put that off. So I have to find someone to marry Wolf and Dawn, like now so Wolf won't go nuts about dishonoring his parents memory. I just think it will be easiest if we keep them apart… Spike just looks like this because I said he would be the actual Father of the Bride. Shock and all," Buffy laid out. "I was hoping you know someone," she said to Lorn.
"Well…Yeah… One of the guys that's already coming… He made some comment on the phone about us needing him but I didn't think about it until now. Guess he knew what we didn't," Lorn commented.
"Okay… I'll go tell the others and hope they respond okay. Fred could you stay with Dawn and Lorn stay with Spike till he snaps out of this," Buffy organized.
"What's up Buffy? Spike looks like the walking dead. Oh wait he is," Xander joked.
"Funny one… Uh…Guys…" the slayer mumbled.
"The claim has caused you to lose your slayer strength," Willow said worriedly.
"No…"
"You'll fulfill a prophecy having Spike's demon baby," Xander asked.
Spike was in hearing range and the whelps comment struck him as funny. "Haaa…" the vampire chuckled.
"Back from your stress induced fugue," Buffy said hugging him around the middle. Everyone looked at her dumbly. "Hey I did take psychology, remember!"
"Just tell us what's wrong," Anya insisted. "I hate to wait. You know that."
Buffy and Spike looked at one another. "Dawn and Wolf will be getting married today…like as in really married. Legally married," Buffy said holding Spike's hand.
"Why?" Tara asked very concerned.
"Because the claiming process… Wolf was raised very traditionally. Claiming is normally for lovers. Dawn and he aren't," Spike answered.
"Can't the claiming be put off?" the blond witch asked.
"I wish…" Buffy said flippantly. "The beasts are taking over. I think they would be slightly traumatized by shifting from wolf to human form still joined… Look I'm not happy about this, none of us are. But this makes the most sense… Apparently one of Wolf's clan members is someone who could perform the ceremony. He's on his way."
"You're going to let Dawn get married? Is that even legal?" Xander asked confusedly.
"I'm her guardian. I'll sign off on it," Buffy explained.
The sound of the front door to the hotel opening caused all action in the lobby to stop. Two men entered very confidently, each man with his own distinct look. One man was dressed as if he were a Chicago crime boss of the 1920's, clipped mustache and all. The other, who was presumably the priest since he bore the white collar, was taller, thinner, and darker. Everything about this man gave you the feeling you were glad he was one of the good guys, or at least you hoped he was. His eyes weren't violet like Wolf's; they were green in the center and dark purple on the outside.
"Good morning Lorn," the priest said in a thick Romanian accent. "We are here to collect out young Ulrich."
"That's not going to be happening Gabriel," Lorn responded.
"Not even if we ask nicely," the other man said.
"I certainly hope Caleb wasn't sent here by either of you," the host said strongly.
The wolves looked at each other and cursed in foreign tongues. Gabriel clenched his jaw. "You believe we would send that Fenris, that killed our beloved Ulrich to slaughter his only son?"
"Sing for me and we'll know won't we?"
Each man growled and snarled. "Hi there…Former Hyena…How ya doing?" Xander steeped in trying to lighten the mood.
They sniffed at Xander then turned back to Lorn. "I will sing, since it is obvious your group does not trust us," Gabriel responded.
"Sorry, but the last wolf that walked through that door was covered in blood and tried to kill my sister and brother in law. Not going to be to big with the happies!" Buffy let her presence be known.
Gabriel eyed her, "Yes…The slayer… I am Gabriel and this is Phillip… We will be part of your extended family now." Buffy took his hand briefly. He noticed the scar on Buffy's neck and recoiled. "Then it is true. You have tainted yourself with the blood of a vampire."
"Hey… I'm the vampire," Spike said making his way into the conversation. "I know vamps and wolfies don't get along very well, but lets just put that aside for the sake of the kids."
Phillip looked Spike up and down, "You… You are…different. But somehow familiar."
After scrutinizing one another for a minute, Spike smirked. "Yes… You were in a clan in Italy that I knew the Luppa… As you recall, I returned her to your clan no worse for wear."
Phillip nodded slowly, "I always wondered about you two."
"Ancient history."
A growl emanated from Phillip's chest, "You have a taste for powerful women."
The smirk returned, "I just love women… I fact I love this woman. She is my wife. You can see that. None before, none after."
"And your sister, slayer, is she strong enough to be a Luppa?" Gabriel considered Buffy.
"Dawn is older then time or haven't you done your homework," she snapped.
"Yes, but she is in the body of a child… You will want to take her home and protect her… We will want to take her home and let her reign," the priest said.
"She may not reign in Sunnydale…but she will no longer need protecting," the slayer answered.
"Her rightful place is with us now," Phillip answered.
"Wolf doesn't seem to think that," Spike interjected. "He is your Ulrich. He has taken all of his belongings from his father's house to be with his wife. He has chosen to move to Sunnydale."
Gabriel smirked, "Very good vampire. But that will leave us without an Ulrich. What would you have us do?"
"Bend the rules," Spike answered. "Clans have done it in other areas. Allow yours to elect a leader rather then kill for one. Wouldn't your people be more comfortable with a ruler they know?"
"After our young Ulrich's performance last night, I don't know," Phillip answered.
"I still want to hear you sing," Lorn said defiantly. The four bickering adults turned to the green man. "You were outside last night, Phillip. I'd like to hear you sing first."
"No!" he said strongly.
Gabriel turned quickly to his friend. His eyes flicked up and down. "Why not? He will not hear anything that isn't true."
Phillip's jaw set. "I will not be treated like some traitor to my people."
"Than stop behaving like you are one," Gabriel growled. His hand came up to the nape of his 'friend's neck clutching tightly. In the most animalistic voice possible the priest said, "Tell me why you killed my friend or I will kill you right now!" Claws began to form about the other wolf's throat.
"I didn't…" Phillip begged. "Ulrich…He said he was tired…" The nails of the claws began to rip at his skin. "He said he wished his son could just take over."
Gabriel's teeth were now apparent. "Ulrich has been saying that for years. Why now?" Blood began to drip down Phillip's neck. After a long period of silence Gabriel spoke, "Vampire…You may drink your fill of this one…He is not one of us."
"No…" Phillip yelped watching Spike vamp out. "Fine…Fine… Caleb. His clan was almost dead. If he could become Ulrich of our clan then we could combine the two. It sounded like a good idea until…"
"Until you saw what he did to Ulrich… Goodbye Phillip," Gabriel spoke and broke Phillip's neck.
"Great! More blood on the floor. We just cleaned up," Anya complained. "We just got rid of the other body. Can't you guys get organized?"
"An…Not now," Xander tried to silence his love.
"Well I for one have seen enough wolf wars for a while," Cordelia said momentarily before she grabbed her head. "Get the kids…We need this wedding to happen now!"
"Why?" Spike asked concerned.
"They're going to turn soon but they will fight not mate… Now people!" she said grabbing Dawn from the bedroom.
"Gunn…Bring Wolf out here," Buffy shouted. "I am not going to let my sister die of sexual frustration…literally," she grumbled.
Gabriel looked stunned. "Who are all you people?" he asked taking in the energy of each different person and their talents.
"Family," Buffy commented.
"Wolf… Wolf… Look at me boy," Spike said shaking him. Wolf looked him in the eye. Spike smiled, "You're going to marry Dawn now. Look we have a priest…"
The teen just stared for a moment then blinked a few times. "Father Gabriel?"
"Yes son…we'll talk later. Right now lets make your claiming legal in the eyes of man and God," he said in the most reassuring tone.
"Dawnie… Look at me sweetie," Buffy said stroking her hair. Dawn's eyes came on Buffy's face and flashed purple. "Hang on Dawnie… You and Wolf are going to get married okay." Dawn just considered her a moment.
Spike came over and hugged Dawn. "Hey Nibblet. Going to play father of the bride walking you to your husband, right?"
The teen blinked a few times and focused on Spike's face. A tear rolled down her cheek. "I'd like that."
No music or flowers, just a dead body on the floor surrounded by blood. Spike walked Dawn to Wolf and put their hands together. "I love you," he whispered and stood with Buffy. Gabriel spoke the words used in such occasions. They nearly had to skip the ring exchange for lack of jewelry but ended up using one of Spike's silver skull things for Wolf and a jade ring of Tara's for Dawn.
With vows exchanged and commitments made, the teens kissed sweetly. When they broke apart, their eyes were glowing. "Sound proof room?" Spike demanded taking Wolf by the shoulder while Buffy did the same with Dawn.
"Yours," Cordelia responded.
"Beside that," Buffy snapped.
"Room directly below," Fred answered.
"Thanks," Buffy smiled taking her sister swiftly toward the stairs.
"What are you doing?" Dawn asked as they arrived in front of the room.
Buffy spoke as the four entered the room, "Making sure you don't eat each other."
"Buffy!" Dawn exclaimed.
"Not like that," the slayer fussed.
"That you can do all you want," Spike said.
"Spike!" the Summers women yelled in unison while Wolf turned red.
Buffy turned to Dawn, "Cordelia saw you two eat each other in your animal state rather then mate. Spike and I will just be in the bathroom while you guys get started and once your beast start mating we'll leave."
"Like hell you will. This is going to be hard enough just because neither were ready for this. There is no way either of us will be able to do anything with you in the next room," the brunette argued.
"We can't listen through the wall like last time because this is a sound proof room. We thought it would give you more privacy from the others," Spike said swiftly. "Believe me man. You'll want that… I lost my cherry after I was turned. There are noises you will make you didn't think possible." Wolf grew redder.
Dawn was furious, "Wasn't the whole point of us getting married right then to head off this impending doom?"
"Yeah, but…" Buffy went to say.
"Then get the hell out. Check in a couple hours."
"No way… You could be dead by then," Spike argued.
"Fine…Then you two have sex in the bathroom," was Dawn's solution.
"Excuse me?" Buffy replied incredulously.
"You heard me… Maybe the noise will be inspiring…but at least we won't be the only ones making noises and being embarrassed."
Buffy just gaped while Spike took her arm. Dawn nodded as they entered the bathroom.
"What the hell are you doing?" Buffy yelled as Spike began to undress.
"This is the only way we can stay," he said pulling off his boot. "Nibblet hears us every morning." Spike turned on the shower to create white noise. "It also gives her the illusion that we'll be occupied… Would you have wanted an audience your first time?"
Buffy pouted and began to undress. "This has been a really weird day!"
TBC….