Nine: FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE
"What do you mean 'we all felt the earth move'?" Buffy asked.
"I don't know, maybe it was an earthquake or something," her sister suggested.
The rumbling recommenced, causing guests to leap from their chairs.
"Hate to say it, pet. But more likely it's-" Spike was interrupted as an enormous serpentine creature with glowing red eyes rose from the ground in the middle of the yard. "-that," he finished, nodding at the beast.
"Welcome to the Hellmouth," Buffy mumbled. "Everyone in the house!"
Turning to her maid-of-honour, Buffy asked, "Will, can you manage some kind of general protect spell? I'd hate for this thing to eat any of the wedding guests."
"How about a hold on it first?" Willow recommended, raising a hand to the creature and speaking some ancient phrase to contain it.
"Good on you, Red," Spike congratulated.
"Happy to help."
"Now, let's get changed and get after that thing. I am not going to let this ruin our special day... or my designer dress!" Buffy kissed Spike chastely then they all went into the house, save Willow who remained outside to ensure continuance of the spell.
Inside, Buffy got the caterer to begin serving drinks and hors d'oeuvres, then had a quick word with Giles.
"Now everyone," he began as Buffy headed upstairs. "There's no cause for alarm. This sort of thing happens all the time. Someone's pet snake gets loose in the sewer system and..."
"I can always count on Giles," said Buffy as she closed the bedroom door.
"Yeah, Rupert's always good for an ordinary explanation to an extraordinary situation. Right then, luv. What'll we do now?" Spike asked as he tossed the jacket of his tux over the back of a chair. Turning to his new bride with a raised eyebrow and devilish gleam in his eyes, he smirked suggestively. "I can think of a couple of things..."
"Not now, Spike," Buffy barked.
He recoiled. "Bugger. Slayer's back."
She went to him, put a gentle hand to his pouting face and purred, "Later Spike. We have our whole lives for that." With a light smacking on his cheek, she added, "First we get rid of the big snaky thing; then the guests; then we can..."
They exchanged gleeful grins.
------- o -------
Weapons in hand, Buffy, Spike and Dawn slipped out the bedroom window. They climbed down the tree, dropping on the back porch where Willow was maintaining the barrier spell.
------- o -------
Inside, Anya was trying to preserve order amongst the guests by regaling them with stories of the bride and groom. Xander did his best to "discreetly" slip through the crowd with a broadsword and axe. Giles simply endeavoured to make his way through the guests to the backyard to lend some assistance.
"Oh, so you're Giles," one guest would stop him. "We've heard so much about you from Buffy."
No sooner would he escape one group and another would delay him.
"Oi Rupert. Wills tell us you're back in England."
"Wills?" he'd mutter. "Oh yes, Spike."
------- o -------
Meanwhile outside, the fierce snake had begun to thrash as Willow broadened the containment field to allow Buffy and the others access to the beast. It hissed, snapped its venomous sabre-like teeth and erratically lashed its forked tongue, making successive offensive strikes nearly impossible for its opponents. Together Buffy and the group jabbed and stabbed, and poked and choked... but little they did made much more than a scratch.
"Will!" Buffy called. "Open the barrier. We're coming out."
The exhausted and dismayed fighters gathered with Willow on the porch as Giles finally made his way outside with Clem.
"Hey all," greeted the floppy skinned demon. "Great crab puffs, Buffy. Canapé anyone?" he offered, extending a tray.
"I'm afraid it'll take more than that if we're going to keep that thing under control," mumbled Xander as he stuffed the nibbles into his mouth.
"Oh, is that still here?" Clem asked casually.
The rest of the group responded with wide-eyed stares.
"What?"
"You suggesting there's an easy way to get shut of this thing, mate?" inquired Spike.
"Renochi Charmer Snake," the demon stated matter-of-factly. "A little skilled mind-control can get it to do what you want."
Discouraged, Willow noted, "I can't seem to-"
"What if what I want is for it to go away and not eat my guests?!" a frustrated Buffy cut in.
"Good point," Clem acknowledged. "Might be easier to just kill it then, huh?"
More stunned faces.
"We've tried. We just can't do it," Dawn explained, hopelessly.
"Well that's because you're attacking its top side: head, back and that. You've got to get underneath," the demon explained. "It's got a soft spot on its underbelly. Keeps it well protected when it surfaces. Yeah, one time a cousin of mine-"
"So, we've got to go underground?" Buffy reiterated.
"Right then. Let's go, Slayer," Spike said determinedly. "Think we can get at its tunnel through the sewer."
"Sounds good," she agreed. Well, as good as crawling around in a stinky tunnel could at least. "Will, you'll be alright here?"
"Sure Buffy."
As they turned to go around to the front of the house, they were met by an all-too-familiar slim silhouette. "So sorry to be late. Nasty sun. See you got my prezzie then."
"Drusilla! What are you doing here?" Buffy demanded.
"Came to give you both my best, I 'ave," the raven-haired woman hissed in reply. "Couldn't let my Spyke go without a good send off, now could I?"
Suddenly the creature screeched and surged up; Drusilla had to be controlling it.
"Ah... Buffy?" Willow interjected. Her face was strained. "I. don't think I'm going to be able to hold this thing much longer." One of the repercussions of her crazed magic rampage and subsequent "treatment" the previous year was a significant limitation on the witch's power base.
Spike turned to his former lover. "Dru, please..."
As he moved toward her, Drusilla shifted into game face ready to attack then abruptly backed off confused, as if each step Spike took toward her was pushing her away. "What 'ave you done? I can feel it... all around you." Then, the vamp startled. Her human face returned and a gloomy look overtook her. "He's come to spoil our game."
Instantaneously, the writhing creature fell silent and dropped to the ground.
"What the-" chimed several stunned voices.
"Dru, what's happened?" Spike coaxed.
"It's my Angel," she sobbed. "He's taken my present away."
"What is she talking about?" pressed Buffy. "Angel's in L.A."
"Actually Buffy," Willow piped up. "He isn't. Or.or at least he... wasn't. He was here, in Sunnydale... late this afternoon."
"What do you mean? Where?"
"Ah... Here. In the shadows of the yard," Willow replied hesitantly. "Buffy, he wanted to see you be happy. He needed to know that this was really what you want. That you're happy with Spike."
"It's true, Buffy." Angel appeared behind Drusilla, grabbing hold of her.
"Oh... my Angel," cooed Drusilla as she leaned into him.
"Leave town now, Dru," Angel insisted, "and you leave alive."
"You are a naughty daddy, my Angel." Drusilla pouted. "Ruin my wedding present and then not let me stay for cake."
"Dru," Angel and Spike growled.
"Alright. Unhand me and I'll be off. Just one last kiss for the groom," she said as she lurched toward Spike.
Angel gripped her tightly and jerked her away. Giving her a shove through the open gate, he followed her to the street.
"Wow... That was something, huh?" exclaimed Dawn.
"Indeed. Rather fortunate Angel turned up," Giles commented.
"Yeah," both Buffy and Spike muttered, in slightly sarcastic tones.
The gang followed to where the two vampires had gone, out to the front of the house, to find Angel standing alone in the street.
"She's gone," he said simply, almost sadly.
Seeing the stake in his hand, they knew what he really meant.
"None of us would ever be safe..." His voice trailed off in a whisper.
All were quiet.
Turning to Spike, Buffy found him stoic. "Spike..." Her tone oozed compassion, but she could find no words.
"S'alright, luv." Spike swallowed hard. "Had to be done. Angel only did what I... I couldn't do."
Changing the mood, Buffy drew closer to Angel and, with an irritated edge, reminded, "I thought we talked about this sneaking-in-and-out-of-town-without-a-word business. You weren't going to do it anymore."
"I know," Angel conceded. "Sorry. Kind of a... last minute decision. I wasn't sure I could come... wasn't sure I wanted to. But Buffy, I needed to come." He moved to put his arms around her and she accepted his loving hold. "I wanted to see you happy...and I could tell that you are."
As Spike approached the pair, Angel released Buffy and moved to meet the scowling man. "Congratulations," said Angel offering an outstretched hand to his old adversary. "See that she's happy."
"No worries," Spike replied solemnly.
When Spike reached to accept the hand, Angel pulled his Childe to him in a caring embrace. "And be happy... William."
The kindness and sincerity of Angel's words moved all to silent tears.
------- o -------
Buffy, Spike and Dawn retreated through the upstairs window to change back into their wedding attire. Giles, Angel, Clem, Xander and Willow wandered back through the kitchen.
Guests were still mingling --- confused and curious about what was going on and what had happened to the bridal couple. As the pair made their way down the stairs, looking somewhat flushed, guests (who by then had drawn their own conclusions about what Buffy and Spike had been doing) began to whoop, cheer and applaud the newlyweds.
"I wish we'd actually been doin' what this lot think we've been doing," Spike grumbled to his bride as they positioned themselves for the cake cutting.
"Me too," Buffy whispered to him.