Two: HONOUR
As he lay in bed, Spike was determined that today he would make another change. Can't sit around waitin' for Buffy to come home. Got no excuse anymore not goin' out during the day. Should get some exercise. He decided he'd swing by Buffy's gym later and catch a class; bloody unlikely he'd participate, but he'd love to watch her work.
First, though he figured he'd best see about finding some gainful employment. Although Buffy's job at the gym obviously paid better than the Double Meat Palace had, Spike wasn't going to sponge off her any longer than necessary and he knew that he wouldn't be able to get away with falling back into old habits (namely stealing and cheating).
"Right then. On with ya." He dragged himself out of the safety (and seductive scent) of the bed of the woman he loved, determined he'd make something of himself. not just for her, but for them.
------- o -------
Buffy had a fantastic day. Several of her aerobics class regulars had commented how well she was looking. She emitted an euphoria and exuberance they'd never seen in her before.
"Something's different about you, girl," commented one woman.
And another added keenly, "Yeah, and whatever it is, I wanna know where to get some!"
She felt like a "normal" girl when she explained that her "old boyfriend" had come back into her life and that they were going to get married. It had been such a long time since she'd sat down and "dished" with the girls about boys, and having Spike's ring to flash around made it all the more fun. "It's a family heirloom," she'd tell people. I can't very well say it was his mom's, can I? Or can I? "We haven't really made any definite plans yet," she'd say when people would ask about the date, "It's all so new, you know." But she loved to imagine what the 'big event' might be like.
------- o -------
By late afternoon, Spike had secured a job at a new English-style Pub. The pay wasn't great, but then Spike didn't exactly have a glowing résumé to hand out to prospective employers. Besides, he reckoned that this job suited him as well as he could have hoped. The "Fox and Hound" catered mainly to the business crowd, so Spike would tend bar from late morning until early evening most Mondays through Wednesdays, until late evening on Thursdays and Fridays. With alternate weekends off, the promise of tips from a passably well-to-do clientele, meals and access on his breaks to the billiard room, what more could he ask? (A flowering onion-thing, perhaps. He'd work on that.)
Reggie, the Pub's stout middle-aged owner, was happy to give a job to this svelte "young" fellow Englishman. He figured a nice looking lad like "Wills" would draw in the ladies and that would keep the gents around. And a steady stream of customers was simply good business.
Though Reggie seemed an easy going bloke, Spike hoped the man didn't try to pry too much out of him as regards the mother country, given he'd not spent much time there in decades. He told Reggie that he'd emigrated years ago with his family, which was true, since he hadn't actually said how many years ago, or that the family to which he referred were all vampires.
The two sat reminiscing about jolly old England. Spike chuckled a little when Reggie mentioned having been over for some of the Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations. Spike had been in England during the festivities --- though in his case they were in honour of the current Queen, Elizabeth II, but rather for her great-great grandmother Queen Victoria. "Yep, 'lot's changed since I lived in England," Spike declared almost sadly to his new boss as they continued their chat over a couple of pints. Ha! A hell of a lot since I *lived*" in England. He sighed as he made the mental distinction. "Ah, but one thing's not changed, eh?" he added, lightening his demeanour and holding up his glass, "We still know a damn sight more than the Yanks about beer!"
------- o -------
Buffy was just finishing up with her "Mid-week Mix-up" Circuit-Training Group when Spike walked into the gym. He was dressed to work out in a muscle shirt and sweats. At the sight of him, she was struck with pleasure (both in a prideful and erotic sense): he looked hot; this was the man she loved, the one she'd marry. She knew he was there more to be close to her, to take an interest in her life than to pump iron; and he looked hot. Oh yeah. Counted that one already, but hey... he's a hottie. She couldn't hide her smirk when she saw several of the women (and a couple of the men) in the group ogling his well-defined form. See. They agree!
"Come on, people! Focus," she barked as much to herself as to the group. "Just two more minutes, then we'll cool it down. Let's go," she urged before assembling the group for some stretching.
When the class was done, the oglers resumed their inspection of the mysterious and fair skinned hunk that had arrived earlier; his muscles now glistened with the slightest film of perspiration.
Amused by their attentions, Buffy made a point of going over, throwing her arms around him and planting a big sloppy kiss. No sense wasting an opportunity to show them all this is my man!
------- o -------
They walked home together, hand-in-hand (stakes in the other, ready for any demon that might decide to spoil their beautiful evening). Spike enjoyed a sense of personal satisfaction announcing to Buffy that he had a new (legitimate, even respectable) job. In turn, she delighted in telling him about all the jealous clients at her gym. Both felt gratified, reflecting on the events of the day, particularly how fulfilled they each were by Buffy's public display of affection for Spike. Buffy had never before been one to flaunt her feelings for him --- not her warm fuzzy ones anyway. But that one simple gesture --- "marking her territory" as it were --- had liberated Buffy, while at the same time it assured Spike of her love for him and affirmed his sense of belonging. He was home... and he was loved.
------- o -------
Later that week, Xander stopped by the house with big news: Willow was coming home.
"When did you hear?" inquired Buffy. "Did she call you?"
"No... actually I called her," Xander replied sheepishly. "Finally got up the courage and got lucky: she was on a break."
"Sounds like we're both getting lucky these days," Buffy exclaimed cheerfully. "That didn't come out quite right." Her complexion reddened. "I mean... I called Giles the other morning and we got to talk too."
"Oh great. How is the G-man?" Xander asked.
"Good. He sounded good. Happy." She smiled remembering Giles' tone at the announcement she was going to marry Spike. Thinking about it even then, Buffy was astonished that Giles not only accepted her plans but actually sounded genuinely pleased for her.
"Buff-? Hello-o?" Xander waved his hand in front of her face.
Shaking herself back to the present, Buffy apologized, "Sorry Xander. I guess my mind was somewhere else."
"Please tell me that's in a mind-on-other-things sense rather than an actually somewhere else way," he said hopefully, making reference to the time earlier that year when Buffy had been having flashes to some alternate life in a mental institution.
She laughed then assured her friend, "Oh-no. Nothing like that. Just thinking about Giles... So anyway, what about Willow?"
Their conversation continued, talking about their concerns for Willow once she got back. Outwardly, neither of them really knew what to expect, but both wanted to be as supportive and helpful as possible because that's what friends do. Inside though, both were afraid their friendship with Willow might be irreparably damaged. Buffy had, in a sense, been where Willow was: coming back after a long absence to a world in which she wasn't sure she fit anymore. Xander was apprehensive that Willow might distance herself from them the way that Buffy had. He simply wasn't sure he could bear that kind of rejection again, especially not from the girl who'd been his best friend for virtually his entire life.
Spike and Dawn arrived a little later: Spike from work, Dawn from studying with a friend.
"Hey Buffy, Xander."
"Dawnster," Xander replied heartily, relieved that the teen's arrival meant the end of the heavy Willow talk. Then acknowledged, "Spike." He still wasn't entirely comfortable with the former vampire spending so much time with the two young Summers women, but Xander no longer feared for their safety around Spike. He had come to accept that Spike sincerely cared for the two and it even gave him peace of mind knowing there was a "man in the house" to look out for them --- not that Buffy really needed looking after, but still... Besides, Buffy had told him that with Willow away, Spike was staying in her room --- which when she said it was true --- since he really had nowhere else to go. Of course, with Willow coming back... Xander preferred not to consider new arrangements.
"Hey Xander. Did Buffy tell you the great news?" asked Dawn excitedly.
A questioning look crossed Xander's face, but before he could say anything --- and before Dawn could "spill the beans" --- Buffy interrupted.
"Actually Dawn, I was... ah... waiting for the two of you. Let's go sit down in the living room," she suggested, "and I'll tell you all about it, Xander."
Xander settled into the upholstered chair beside the fireplace as Buffy and Spike seated themselves... rather close together on the couch. Dawn just kept hovering around, obviously unable to control her enthusiasm about the incredible news.
"Xander." Buffy began. She took a deep breath then let it out. How do I start this? I mean, I should tell him. He should know. Spike would love for me to tell my friends. Hey, the guy was thrilled I told a bunch of sweaty strangers... Just do it. Now! She took another breath and proceeded. "Well, you know that Spike has been staying here." She paused while Xander nodded. "And you know that before he went away, Spike and I were... ah..."
A sick look came over Xander's face at the reference to the early part of the year. It wasn't enough that in the course of a few days he'd learned that his former fiancée and one of his best friends had had sex with the soulless-undead-thing, but then he discovered that said soulless-undead-thing had tried to rape the afore-mentioned-best-friend. "Yeah. Yeah, Buffy," he mumbled quietly. "And?" he coaxed.
"Well, when he left... I missed him and... I realized how much needed him... and then he came back... and things have been going so well... Xander, I love him, and... well, Spike asked me to marry him and I said 'yes'." She couldn't help but wonder if rambling on then blurting out the "punch-line" was how she was going to tell everyone that really needed to know.
Xander appeared unsure what to say. That certainly wasn't the kind of news he was expecting --- and probably wasn't really something he wanted to hear --- but out of respect for his friend, he managed a strained smile. "Congratulations," he said as he got up from the chair and went to hug Buffy. Turning to Spike, he put out a hand and added with complete sincerity in his voice, "You're a lucky man."
"Don't I know it," Spike replied proudly giving Xander's hand a firm shake.