And Then There Were Three
Chapter Seventeen: The Happy Endin'

And then we danced. Not there in the shop, 'cause that'd be daft. We went to the Bronze and we just… danced. And it was nice. Then we went home and Tara and Will weren't there. Yeah, she kissed me back and plenty more, I can tell you.

'Course you can't see, but I've got a soppy grin on me face, had it since that night. Tara moved properly back in with Willow the very next day, so Anya and I've got the love nest thing goin' on. Didn't want to announce it straight away, but Sunshine was chompin' at the bit, so we told 'em. Couldn't help thinkin' it was nice, y'know, to have someone wanting to scream it from the mountain tops that I'm her guy and she's my doll.

Tara and Willow already knew, obviously and the Niblet guessed the next night when she said we were "totally pashing on each other." So, on the Monday after the Friday when we kissed, I toddled into the shop and the Scoobs were crowded 'round the table and next thing I know, Anya jumped on me. Had those lovely little hands of hers all over me. When she finally pulled back, Buffy and Xander were shocked, to say the least, but they'll get over it.

Never thought I'd end up with someone like her. And the best thing? She told me she loved me before I said I loved her.

"Spike?"

"Yeah, pet?" I asked, glancing at her before lookin' back at the telly.

"Can I tell you something?"

Something in her voice made me look at her and the look on her face made me think that this was it. It was goodbye Happydale and hello misery, have we met?

"You can tell me anything, Sunshine, y'know that."

"I love you," she said with this huge grin.

Yep, that's definitely filed under "moments to treasure." And filed under "who the hell are you and what the fuck is this?" is the memory of Buffy saying, "I'm happy for you, Spike."

But the scariest thing about bein' with Sunshine, is the whole happy thing. I haven't been happy in a relationship in a long while, but here I am, practically singin' – well, humming – that the hills are alive with the sound of bloody music! It's scary, but I can't help liking it.

I want to be with her all the time, spend so much time at the shop; Anya's thinkin' of puttin' me on the pay roll. But she makes me feel wanted. We'll walk home from the shop and we'll watch some telly – pretend to watch telly – then we'll go to bed. 'Course, we don't sleep. Lucky ol' Spike fell for the rampant sex bunny.

Knew I was head over heels in love with her when she saw a rabbit in an advert, screamed and jumped into my lap. Another time I would have told her to get the hell over it, but, dammit, I thought it was cute. I was in love with her, but that wasn't when it hit me with the force of an army of Wielder demons.

She's lookin' at me now, glancing shyly at me from the counter. Xander rolls his eyes, he's been doin' that a lot lately, but he hasn't said anything. 'Less you count that Saturday evening at the Bronze.

"You got her," he said sadly.

"I know," I answered, wary of where this was headed.

"I wanted her back," he sighed. "I asked her to come back. I thought she would, but she chose you."

I felt sorry for him. He glanced at the dance floor where Anya was dancing with Tara and Willow. She waved at me and blew a kiss. I smiled at 'er and caught Xander lookin' at me.

"Do you love her?" he asked.

I looked at her. The way she moved with the music, the smile on her face, that beautiful hair just begging to be touched. And that was the moment I realised. I knew when I kissed her in the shop I loved her, but lookin' at her then, considering his question, I realised I more than loved her. I was in love with her. The bunny moment when she jumped into my lap, I knew, but this was a moment of clarity, and I was positive this was the Real Thing, with capital letters, triple underlin' and three exclamation marks.

"No," I told him. "I don't love her, I'm in love with her. There's a difference, Harris, maybe that was your mistake."

"Maybe," he sighed and looked at her again. "It won't last, Spike. Nothing in this town ever does."

"I know, but I intend to make every moment the best. I know you still love her, but I got her, she loves me."

"I hate you," he muttered.

"Nothin' new, mate."

"But if you love her and you swear to protect her, I promise not to stake you."

I stare at him for a minute. Is this an olive branch I see before me? But it wasn't, it was just his hand. I took it and shook it firmly.

"If I hurt her," I told him seriously. "I'll give you the stake myself."

That was the night I told her I loved her. And I thought she was a ray of Sunshine before? Her face was like a 60 watt bulb and I'd never seen her so beautiful. And I was the cause of it. Me and three little words.

Sometimes I wonder why I didn't love her before, don't know why, just happy I've got her now.

Anya and I have got a theory: Buffy and Xander. C'mon, just friends? I don't think so. So, maybe things might turn out ok. Tara and Will are sickeningly happy, Dawn and Buffy are the sisters merry instead of the sisters grim. And the Slayer's a lot more fun now. Makes me wonder if it were me that was wearin' her down. Asked her, she said no.

"You look chipper," I observed as the Slayer and I wandered toward the cemetery.

"I feel chipper," she answered brightly.

"Was it 'cause of me?" I asked. "Did I make you unhappy?"

She stopped and looked at me, thinking.

"No," she said. "I was making me unhappy. I needed you to be there, you were the only one that understood. But it wasn't because of you that I was miserable. I just had so much, Slayage, Dawn, the bills, the job, it just got too much."

"So, it wasn't me?"

"No, Spike."

"Good. Can I go home now? I want to see Anya."

"Go," she pushed me in the right direction. "Have fun, I'll see if Xander will come patrol with me."

Can't help thinkin' things are too good, somethin's got to go wrong sometime. But I doubt I'll care, long as I got Anya, Hell itself can wreak bloody vengeance on earth and I'd only worry if she were all right. Her, the L'il Bit, Tara, Willow - 'cause it'd upset Tara if anythin' happened to her. The Slayer too - 'cause despite everythin', still care 'bout her. And, I s'ppose Xander, not really feelin' like bein' brought down by a funeral. Not that I'd care or anything.

"Spike?"

I'm brought back to now and look up immediately. The others look at each other in that "aww" way they have. All except Xander who just mutters something about a "lovesick puppy" as he stares at his lap. Poor kid. Ah, well.

"Yeah, sweetheart?" I ask and she grins.

"I want to go home," she grabs her bag. "The others can watch the shop, it's only open another hour. I need a couple of dozen orgasms."

"What can I say, pet?" I ask and walk over to her, placin' my hands on those gorgeous hips of hers. "Can't say no, now, can I?"

"No, you can't," she breathes and kisses me.

Kisses me so hard that the groans from the others sound like they are comin' from far away.

"Could you not scar my little sister?" Buffy asks.

"I think it's sweet," Dawn answers.

"Sweet?" I ask. "I'll have you know that our relationship is anythin' but sweet. Ain't that right, Sunshine?"

"Mmm hmm," she murmurs and kisses me again, while pushin' me round the counter and in the general direction of the door.

"So, you guys aren't gonna help out with the research?" Tara calls.

"What do you think?" I yell back, as m'lady pulls me outta the door into the night. "See ya later, Glinda. Still need a walk to work?"

"If you can tear yourself away," she answers with a wry smile.

"I can but try," I tell her and turn to capture Anya's lips again as we stumble down the street to our apartment block.

Can't get enough of her. Every second seems like too little time to be with her. I still walk Tara to work as you've probably guessed, gives us a chance to talk. And Dawn still visits after school and I help her with her homework, but she's stopped stayin' every Friday night. Can't think why. Anya reckons it's the noise.

"How can she sleep through all that noise?" she asked me. "It was quite sensible of her."

"Honey?" she asks as I fumble with the keys.

I love it when she calls me that, not the word, just the way she says it. I look at her, find it hard not to. And to think I thought I wanted Tara. Thank Satan I realised – ok, thanks to Angel – that I wanted her. This shinin' goddess who, in the space of a coupla weeks, has become everything to me. Centre of me soddin' universe. They do say it revolves around the sun.

"Yes, pet?" I ask.

"I love you," she says and takes my hand to guide the key into the lock.

I grab her to me and kiss her. She pulls back gaspin' and flushed pink.

"Do I need to tell you?" I ask.

She shakes her head and pulls me in for another kiss, even as the door opens and we fall into the apartment.

So maybe I didn't have to say it, didn't mean I didn't think it and tried to show it in every kiss, touch, stroke and groan.

"I love you."

And I know I felt her return it, even if I didn't hear it.

I know she feels it, I know she loves me, wants me, needs me.

And that's like… Sunshine.

The End.