Redefined Ch: 8
A/N: Hi all. I hope you enjoyed the last chapter. I explained parts of what I wanted to and in this one, I will explain the rest. I'm in a happy mood, just came from over at Crumbling Walls, was reading all the posts on Beneath You. What a wonderful epp. I'm thinkin' as a treat for reviewing faithfully I'll update this weekend. Probably Sunday since I'll be out of town Saturday. That good for you? FF.net was down last night or I would have posted this yesterday. Better late than never huh? Enjoy. Skyz.
Redefined:
Spike's brows rose incredulously as he stared at the boy in front of him. He let his eyes rake up and down before his face settled into a mask of contempt. His stance changed from relaxed to predatory in an instant. Instinctively and unconsciously, he shifted his body in front of his son's. The boy in front of him was giving off vibes he didn't like.
"Who are you?" he asked again ignoring the extended hand.
"Spike, this is a friend of mine. Quint this is Spike," Wolfe introduced them with a small smile.
Quint looked from one to the other before he lowered his hand and swallowed.
"You related to Travers? How can you trust him? From what you sai-"
"What is this Wolfe? Who is this guy?"
Spike scowled and moved off slightly.
"M'gonna go. Back to my room and I want you to come see me when you're done," Spike ordered casting one last mistrustful look at Quint as he walked off.
"Who was that?" Quint asked in confusion.
Wolfe let his gaze linger on his father's retreating figure before he looked at Quint.
"We've got a little problem," he began.
~*~*~ ~*~*~
Spike lay absolutely still. His body in stark contrast to his mind. It was running a mile a minute. Since last night, he had managed to push all thoughts of what had happened since he had found himself in the future, out of his head. He had slept peacefully, but now up three hours, thanks to the Slayer's insistence he come along on their trek around the mansion all thoughts were pushing to the forefront.
He had managed to keep it at bay until now. Now... Added with the new information Angel and Wolfe had provided, there was no way to ignore it any longer.
He had a son.
Such a power packed statement. So many emotions, he mused. Emotions he hadn't felt in over a hundred years. Not since William. He frowned as he thought of his mortal self. Disgust at his own weakness filled him. He had been quite happy to feel only five emotions in all his immortal life. Hunger. Lust. Satisfaction with a good kill. Hate, a deep seeded hate for Angelus. And the rare, but everlasting so he had thought, love for Drusilla.
Drusilla...he groaned picturing his dark princess. God, it seemed like a million years since he had consciously thought of her. He'd had too many thoughts on his mind to actually think what was going on with her, how she would handle his abandonment. He didn't have the time to think about her now either.
Abruptly his thoughts turned to the Slayer. A frown appeared. He had married her. That was what got to him. Caught his gut and held him in a grip that wouldn't tear loose. It was what bothered him. He could see...maybe falling for her. Sure, he could absolutely see shagging her brains out. He could maybe, vaguely, sorta, really trying hard to see getting a soul. But never had he once seen himself, ever slippin' a ring on the Slayer's finger.
Especially not his mum's. He'd forgotten about the heirloom. Tossed it aside, amongst the junk Dru insisted carting around. Last he'd seen it Dru had it hanging around the neck of one of her dolls.
Now he wondered why he had even kept it. He had no fond memories of his life as William. Of how he had laid his heart, bear and Cecily had rejected it as beneath her. The ring was but a reminder of what he considered his failing. His weakness where his heart was concerned.
A picture of William and Wolfe formed in his minds eye. One and the same. Both with floppish blond hair, same compact, yet leanly muscular body. Not too short, not too tall. Just like him. Except for the eyes. Those were all the Slayer.
"What catastrophe came crashing down from heaven and brought this dashing stranger to tears?" he quoted bitterly. If only it were that simple. That easy. Tears were easy; you wiped your eyes and moved on. How did one go from erasing the image of their son out of their head? Of forgetting you-your future self loved the Slayer an impossible love. Had married her, given her a son and died by her side. Went off and got a soul for her, a soddin' white hat attached firmly to his head. Bloody wonderful.
He wondered how he could have changed so thoroughly. Why? What would make all of it worth it? Nothing, he thought. Nothing. Nothing could be worth losing himself, in returning William's soul to his body. Or fighting the good fight, turning his back on the demon world. Nothing could make him slip his mum's ring on her finger. Nothing!
As vehement as his minds denial was, he could feel how hollow it was. Obviously, something had placed and kept him on the path of good vs. evil. He knew it was a chit of a Slayer that went by the name of Buffy. She had been his death once. He silently vowed she would not be again.
~*~*~ ~*~*~
Quint left the house on the hill in bemused amusement. He kept the feeling even as he returned to his place. Wolfe had explained to him what had happened yesterday and he found it funny and a little bizarre.
Walking into his apartment, he found his grandfather sitting stiffly in one of his ratty armchairs.
"What a surprise. What do I owe the pleasure?" he asked sarcastically as he tossed his jacket aside and took a seat across from Quentin Travers the first.
"Your mother informs me you continue to keep up this ridiculous friendship with the Winthrop boy up on the Hill," he rasped out angrily.
Quint didn't hide his irritation as he stared at his grandfather.
"We've been friends for few years now, I'd think you would have gotten used to it grand father. And his name is Wolfe. Now again what do you want?"
"Henry informed me something was going on at Winthrop's house. What are they planning now? I don't see how they think they can stop me. You've joined the wrong side and you will pay."
Quint smirked as he watched Henry his grandfather's servant help him to his feet.
"You should live in reality grandfather. The reality is Wolfe and Angel have won. There's no way you can stop them from opening the exhibit to the public. As for paying, true I will pay. For having the same name as you. I will suffer for your crimes. But that is the price I'm willing to pay to get the truth out."
"Very lovely speech Quentin. I knew you had the head for politics, quite the tongue you have on you. However, it is a shame you use it for the likes of those band of misfits. Whatever they are planning with those things that fell from the sky, it won't work. I will stop it. Good day," Quentin murmured as he moved slowly towards the door.
"Well..they aren't responsible for the things that fell. It was skydivers. Five of them, they've come in honor for the exhibit. They've even had surgery to look exactly like Spike and Buffy! It's amazing and when you see them-I saw -" Quint broke off suddenly remembering Wolfe's words. He had told him not to say anything to anyone. Especially to his grandfather.
His grandfather made no movement as if he had heard Quint at all. He just let Henry lead him out of Quint's apartment.
Quint frowned and picked up his phone.
"Wolfe..I think I just made a huge mistake."
~*~*~ ~*~*~
Everyone was gathered in the living room again minus Angel, as he had left the house as soon as he had finished his meeting with Quint. Wolfe surveyed them all and took a minute to compose his thoughts. Quint had just called, explaining he had let it slip that he had told his grandfather the story Wolfe had fed him. All lies but Quint hadn't questioned, he had believed and now..
Now they had a bigger problem on their hands.
"I'm sure Buffy has explained to you all how I came to be. If not I'll explain after I explain what Buffy and Spike saw in the south wing of the mansion."
He paused and glanced at Grace who had taken a seat beside him.
"What did they see? Buffy hasn't told us much except how she and Spike ended up in love and you were a fluke, a mistake," Xander said. Earning glares form both parents and Grace.
"See...they found one of our storage areas for our up coming exhibit. We-you all but your future selves and me own the Historical Slayers' Museums. I-"
"Are you saying there are museums about Slayers'?" Buffy asked in shock as she shot a glance to her equally shocked Watcher.
"There are now," Wolfe answered.
"You're serious? I mean how cool is that? Think Buffy, you could be in one of these museums!" Willow exclaimed happily.
"I think from what I saw I already am. So is Spike, right Wolfe?" Buffy asked as she stared down at her hands her thoughts whirling around this new revelation.
"Yes. Buffy was the best-known Slayer in history. She-you did more than any other Slayer. You quit the Council and married a vampire. You followed no rules but your own. The Scoobies decided to do this in honor of your life. I can remember very clearly going to the opening of our Paris museum; it's one of my first memories. Going there and seeing all the past Slayers, looking at you two. Seeing how much good you did," Wolfe paused getting choked up a little.
"That's what we do. We build and fill museums on Slayers, the Council, and Watchers. Past, present and future Slayers are all included. It's amazing actually, how the public has come to terms with evil things, demons and vampires and such. They have really accepted Slayers. Grown to love them, especially you Buffy. You are the ideal Slayer, although you had your faults you always did what had to be done. But it hasn't been as easy as it sounds. Not at all. The Scoobies had to go through numerous courts to finally get the Council to allow us to build the first museum. After that, it was like pulling teeth, whenever we wanted something we had to go to court. Info on past Slayers, their Watchers etc. Quentin Travers got pleasure in drawing it out. Eventually we were able to attain all we wanted from the Council. That was because Quentin's grandson Quint is one of the Council's lawyers.
"He made it fairly easy for us to get anything we needed to make our museums as authentic as possible. But that's besides the point now. We have a problem. Before you came, days actually we went through one last court battle to display our latest exhibit. The Last War as we are fond of calling it. Quentin made a huge deal about letting us do this, that's why it was taken to court, he tried to sue us. We won and were granted permission to display it. The Last War is in regards to you two. You died in it. I was the cause of it and the Council was the mastermind of it. They opened the hell mouth and all the demons that came out and maimed and killed, the ones you couldn't stop, they are to blame. There's no doubt that if this comes out Quentin's high opinion and the opinions of others as well as a lengthy jail sentence would be handed out, would be ruined. Quentin was the reason behind it but he didn't act alone and now..Quint his grandson let it slip that you guys are here."
Silence met his announcement. Thick with tension and defining in it's silence.
"So you're actually saying people are aware of Slayers? Who they are, why they do what they do? I must say this is bloody marvelous! I can not imagine this, I wish to see..this Last War. This is...wonderful and unexpected I ha-"
"Bottle the enthusiasm Watcher! What do you mean he knows about us? What exactly did you tell him about us Wolfe?" Spike asked coldly.
Wolfe met his gaze head on.
"I made up some story about impersonations and that you sky dived from a plane and landed on the estate. Nothing too out landish, it has happened before actually. But I did mention, I had too since he saw you Spike, that you'd hade surgery to look like Spike. That you idolized him and made yourself into him."
"That's really lame. Are you telling me he believed you and how can you trust him? He's related to the guy that essentially killed your parents?!" Xander asked angrily as he got up, his anger palpable.
Wolfe rose too.
"I've known him a good while now. Every one of us trusts him. You have no idea what he has gone through for us! He's on the outs with his family, he lives in a dive, and he won't accept our help! He had to quit the Council because he was being harassed thanks to his grandfather's influence. There's more but that's all you need to know. We trust him. You have no choice but to trust us. I just want to warn you all that you have got to stay inside. No more wandering around ok? We will get you anything you need all you have to do is ask. Giles's I'm sure you have questions, I'll let you look at your office and your notes. Come. Grace could you please answer any questions they might have? Thank you."
Wolfe and Giles made to move off but Willow's excited voice stopped them.
"Can I come too? I'd love to see all you've done."
Wolfe nodded and the trio strode out.
Xander glared around the room.
"Trust him? I know you think he's your son Buff but really, what do we know about him? Nothin' and I won't stay here knowing anything about him. I want answers and he's gonna give them to me," Xander said before he ran out after the others.
"Do you have any questions?" Grace asked.
"I do. I want to know what part I have in these museums. I mean am I made to be the Slayer's lap dog, like the grand poof. Or are my accomplishments mentioned too? I mean let us not forget I killed two Slayers' before I fell victim to this one! So?"
"God Spike you are sick. Bragging about the Slayers, you've killed! No one wants to hear about that!"
"Oh? Well no one wants to hear about how many vampires you've killed either! I just want to know if I'm a separate entity than the Slayer here! That I'm me still, instead of just a piece of the Slayer package."
"Of course you are! I couldn't have changed you that much! I sure didn't make you fall in love with me," Buffy snapped.
Neither noticed as Grace quietly slipped out.
"Haven't changed me that much?! What world are you living in? I gave up my entire existence for you Slayer! I turned my back on the demon world. I got a soul for you! I gave you a son! I married you-is that not enough? Why can't I have a piece of m'self that doesn't belong to you? My past. The Slayers I killed are a part of me."
Buffy stared at him a moment before she frowned slightly as if just realizing something.
"That's why you're so upset," she whispered.
Spike scowled and glared at her.
"What's that?"
Buffy met his gaze and smiled slightly.
"All of what you just said doesn't bother you. No, I think the only thing that bothers you is the fact you married me. I mean you've been with Drusilla a hundred odd years and you never married her. Granted you're both vampires but still."
"But we are married. In a way. We're mated," Spike countered.
"I don't care. You married me, which in my opinion and yours too it seems, means more to you than anything else. Why? Why does this bother you so much? When we get back it's never going to happen!" Buffy angrily asked.
"Maybe I want it to happen! Did you ever think of that?!" Spike yelled back.
A/N: Hi all. I hope you enjoyed the last chapter. I explained parts of what I wanted to and in this one, I will explain the rest. I'm in a happy mood, just came from over at Crumbling Walls, was reading all the posts on Beneath You. What a wonderful epp. I'm thinkin' as a treat for reviewing faithfully I'll update this weekend. Probably Sunday since I'll be out of town Saturday. That good for you? FF.net was down last night or I would have posted this yesterday. Better late than never huh? Enjoy. Skyz.
Redefined:
Spike's brows rose incredulously as he stared at the boy in front of him. He let his eyes rake up and down before his face settled into a mask of contempt. His stance changed from relaxed to predatory in an instant. Instinctively and unconsciously, he shifted his body in front of his son's. The boy in front of him was giving off vibes he didn't like.
"Who are you?" he asked again ignoring the extended hand.
"Spike, this is a friend of mine. Quint this is Spike," Wolfe introduced them with a small smile.
Quint looked from one to the other before he lowered his hand and swallowed.
"You related to Travers? How can you trust him? From what you sai-"
"What is this Wolfe? Who is this guy?"
Spike scowled and moved off slightly.
"M'gonna go. Back to my room and I want you to come see me when you're done," Spike ordered casting one last mistrustful look at Quint as he walked off.
"Who was that?" Quint asked in confusion.
Wolfe let his gaze linger on his father's retreating figure before he looked at Quint.
"We've got a little problem," he began.
~*~*~ ~*~*~
Spike lay absolutely still. His body in stark contrast to his mind. It was running a mile a minute. Since last night, he had managed to push all thoughts of what had happened since he had found himself in the future, out of his head. He had slept peacefully, but now up three hours, thanks to the Slayer's insistence he come along on their trek around the mansion all thoughts were pushing to the forefront.
He had managed to keep it at bay until now. Now... Added with the new information Angel and Wolfe had provided, there was no way to ignore it any longer.
He had a son.
Such a power packed statement. So many emotions, he mused. Emotions he hadn't felt in over a hundred years. Not since William. He frowned as he thought of his mortal self. Disgust at his own weakness filled him. He had been quite happy to feel only five emotions in all his immortal life. Hunger. Lust. Satisfaction with a good kill. Hate, a deep seeded hate for Angelus. And the rare, but everlasting so he had thought, love for Drusilla.
Drusilla...he groaned picturing his dark princess. God, it seemed like a million years since he had consciously thought of her. He'd had too many thoughts on his mind to actually think what was going on with her, how she would handle his abandonment. He didn't have the time to think about her now either.
Abruptly his thoughts turned to the Slayer. A frown appeared. He had married her. That was what got to him. Caught his gut and held him in a grip that wouldn't tear loose. It was what bothered him. He could see...maybe falling for her. Sure, he could absolutely see shagging her brains out. He could maybe, vaguely, sorta, really trying hard to see getting a soul. But never had he once seen himself, ever slippin' a ring on the Slayer's finger.
Especially not his mum's. He'd forgotten about the heirloom. Tossed it aside, amongst the junk Dru insisted carting around. Last he'd seen it Dru had it hanging around the neck of one of her dolls.
Now he wondered why he had even kept it. He had no fond memories of his life as William. Of how he had laid his heart, bear and Cecily had rejected it as beneath her. The ring was but a reminder of what he considered his failing. His weakness where his heart was concerned.
A picture of William and Wolfe formed in his minds eye. One and the same. Both with floppish blond hair, same compact, yet leanly muscular body. Not too short, not too tall. Just like him. Except for the eyes. Those were all the Slayer.
"What catastrophe came crashing down from heaven and brought this dashing stranger to tears?" he quoted bitterly. If only it were that simple. That easy. Tears were easy; you wiped your eyes and moved on. How did one go from erasing the image of their son out of their head? Of forgetting you-your future self loved the Slayer an impossible love. Had married her, given her a son and died by her side. Went off and got a soul for her, a soddin' white hat attached firmly to his head. Bloody wonderful.
He wondered how he could have changed so thoroughly. Why? What would make all of it worth it? Nothing, he thought. Nothing. Nothing could be worth losing himself, in returning William's soul to his body. Or fighting the good fight, turning his back on the demon world. Nothing could make him slip his mum's ring on her finger. Nothing!
As vehement as his minds denial was, he could feel how hollow it was. Obviously, something had placed and kept him on the path of good vs. evil. He knew it was a chit of a Slayer that went by the name of Buffy. She had been his death once. He silently vowed she would not be again.
~*~*~ ~*~*~
Quint left the house on the hill in bemused amusement. He kept the feeling even as he returned to his place. Wolfe had explained to him what had happened yesterday and he found it funny and a little bizarre.
Walking into his apartment, he found his grandfather sitting stiffly in one of his ratty armchairs.
"What a surprise. What do I owe the pleasure?" he asked sarcastically as he tossed his jacket aside and took a seat across from Quentin Travers the first.
"Your mother informs me you continue to keep up this ridiculous friendship with the Winthrop boy up on the Hill," he rasped out angrily.
Quint didn't hide his irritation as he stared at his grandfather.
"We've been friends for few years now, I'd think you would have gotten used to it grand father. And his name is Wolfe. Now again what do you want?"
"Henry informed me something was going on at Winthrop's house. What are they planning now? I don't see how they think they can stop me. You've joined the wrong side and you will pay."
Quint smirked as he watched Henry his grandfather's servant help him to his feet.
"You should live in reality grandfather. The reality is Wolfe and Angel have won. There's no way you can stop them from opening the exhibit to the public. As for paying, true I will pay. For having the same name as you. I will suffer for your crimes. But that is the price I'm willing to pay to get the truth out."
"Very lovely speech Quentin. I knew you had the head for politics, quite the tongue you have on you. However, it is a shame you use it for the likes of those band of misfits. Whatever they are planning with those things that fell from the sky, it won't work. I will stop it. Good day," Quentin murmured as he moved slowly towards the door.
"Well..they aren't responsible for the things that fell. It was skydivers. Five of them, they've come in honor for the exhibit. They've even had surgery to look exactly like Spike and Buffy! It's amazing and when you see them-I saw -" Quint broke off suddenly remembering Wolfe's words. He had told him not to say anything to anyone. Especially to his grandfather.
His grandfather made no movement as if he had heard Quint at all. He just let Henry lead him out of Quint's apartment.
Quint frowned and picked up his phone.
"Wolfe..I think I just made a huge mistake."
~*~*~ ~*~*~
Everyone was gathered in the living room again minus Angel, as he had left the house as soon as he had finished his meeting with Quint. Wolfe surveyed them all and took a minute to compose his thoughts. Quint had just called, explaining he had let it slip that he had told his grandfather the story Wolfe had fed him. All lies but Quint hadn't questioned, he had believed and now..
Now they had a bigger problem on their hands.
"I'm sure Buffy has explained to you all how I came to be. If not I'll explain after I explain what Buffy and Spike saw in the south wing of the mansion."
He paused and glanced at Grace who had taken a seat beside him.
"What did they see? Buffy hasn't told us much except how she and Spike ended up in love and you were a fluke, a mistake," Xander said. Earning glares form both parents and Grace.
"See...they found one of our storage areas for our up coming exhibit. We-you all but your future selves and me own the Historical Slayers' Museums. I-"
"Are you saying there are museums about Slayers'?" Buffy asked in shock as she shot a glance to her equally shocked Watcher.
"There are now," Wolfe answered.
"You're serious? I mean how cool is that? Think Buffy, you could be in one of these museums!" Willow exclaimed happily.
"I think from what I saw I already am. So is Spike, right Wolfe?" Buffy asked as she stared down at her hands her thoughts whirling around this new revelation.
"Yes. Buffy was the best-known Slayer in history. She-you did more than any other Slayer. You quit the Council and married a vampire. You followed no rules but your own. The Scoobies decided to do this in honor of your life. I can remember very clearly going to the opening of our Paris museum; it's one of my first memories. Going there and seeing all the past Slayers, looking at you two. Seeing how much good you did," Wolfe paused getting choked up a little.
"That's what we do. We build and fill museums on Slayers, the Council, and Watchers. Past, present and future Slayers are all included. It's amazing actually, how the public has come to terms with evil things, demons and vampires and such. They have really accepted Slayers. Grown to love them, especially you Buffy. You are the ideal Slayer, although you had your faults you always did what had to be done. But it hasn't been as easy as it sounds. Not at all. The Scoobies had to go through numerous courts to finally get the Council to allow us to build the first museum. After that, it was like pulling teeth, whenever we wanted something we had to go to court. Info on past Slayers, their Watchers etc. Quentin Travers got pleasure in drawing it out. Eventually we were able to attain all we wanted from the Council. That was because Quentin's grandson Quint is one of the Council's lawyers.
"He made it fairly easy for us to get anything we needed to make our museums as authentic as possible. But that's besides the point now. We have a problem. Before you came, days actually we went through one last court battle to display our latest exhibit. The Last War as we are fond of calling it. Quentin made a huge deal about letting us do this, that's why it was taken to court, he tried to sue us. We won and were granted permission to display it. The Last War is in regards to you two. You died in it. I was the cause of it and the Council was the mastermind of it. They opened the hell mouth and all the demons that came out and maimed and killed, the ones you couldn't stop, they are to blame. There's no doubt that if this comes out Quentin's high opinion and the opinions of others as well as a lengthy jail sentence would be handed out, would be ruined. Quentin was the reason behind it but he didn't act alone and now..Quint his grandson let it slip that you guys are here."
Silence met his announcement. Thick with tension and defining in it's silence.
"So you're actually saying people are aware of Slayers? Who they are, why they do what they do? I must say this is bloody marvelous! I can not imagine this, I wish to see..this Last War. This is...wonderful and unexpected I ha-"
"Bottle the enthusiasm Watcher! What do you mean he knows about us? What exactly did you tell him about us Wolfe?" Spike asked coldly.
Wolfe met his gaze head on.
"I made up some story about impersonations and that you sky dived from a plane and landed on the estate. Nothing too out landish, it has happened before actually. But I did mention, I had too since he saw you Spike, that you'd hade surgery to look like Spike. That you idolized him and made yourself into him."
"That's really lame. Are you telling me he believed you and how can you trust him? He's related to the guy that essentially killed your parents?!" Xander asked angrily as he got up, his anger palpable.
Wolfe rose too.
"I've known him a good while now. Every one of us trusts him. You have no idea what he has gone through for us! He's on the outs with his family, he lives in a dive, and he won't accept our help! He had to quit the Council because he was being harassed thanks to his grandfather's influence. There's more but that's all you need to know. We trust him. You have no choice but to trust us. I just want to warn you all that you have got to stay inside. No more wandering around ok? We will get you anything you need all you have to do is ask. Giles's I'm sure you have questions, I'll let you look at your office and your notes. Come. Grace could you please answer any questions they might have? Thank you."
Wolfe and Giles made to move off but Willow's excited voice stopped them.
"Can I come too? I'd love to see all you've done."
Wolfe nodded and the trio strode out.
Xander glared around the room.
"Trust him? I know you think he's your son Buff but really, what do we know about him? Nothin' and I won't stay here knowing anything about him. I want answers and he's gonna give them to me," Xander said before he ran out after the others.
"Do you have any questions?" Grace asked.
"I do. I want to know what part I have in these museums. I mean am I made to be the Slayer's lap dog, like the grand poof. Or are my accomplishments mentioned too? I mean let us not forget I killed two Slayers' before I fell victim to this one! So?"
"God Spike you are sick. Bragging about the Slayers, you've killed! No one wants to hear about that!"
"Oh? Well no one wants to hear about how many vampires you've killed either! I just want to know if I'm a separate entity than the Slayer here! That I'm me still, instead of just a piece of the Slayer package."
"Of course you are! I couldn't have changed you that much! I sure didn't make you fall in love with me," Buffy snapped.
Neither noticed as Grace quietly slipped out.
"Haven't changed me that much?! What world are you living in? I gave up my entire existence for you Slayer! I turned my back on the demon world. I got a soul for you! I gave you a son! I married you-is that not enough? Why can't I have a piece of m'self that doesn't belong to you? My past. The Slayers I killed are a part of me."
Buffy stared at him a moment before she frowned slightly as if just realizing something.
"That's why you're so upset," she whispered.
Spike scowled and glared at her.
"What's that?"
Buffy met his gaze and smiled slightly.
"All of what you just said doesn't bother you. No, I think the only thing that bothers you is the fact you married me. I mean you've been with Drusilla a hundred odd years and you never married her. Granted you're both vampires but still."
"But we are married. In a way. We're mated," Spike countered.
"I don't care. You married me, which in my opinion and yours too it seems, means more to you than anything else. Why? Why does this bother you so much? When we get back it's never going to happen!" Buffy angrily asked.
"Maybe I want it to happen! Did you ever think of that?!" Spike yelled back.