In the Name of Love

By Tales of Spike

Spoilers: Story started just prior to As You Were and runs through to the end of Hells Bells. From there on the story goes AU, so Normal Again, Entropy etc. haven't happened and won't.

Disclaimer:

Buffy: So this is it? This is the last time we have to spout this drivel about being owned by Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, UPN and Fox.

Lorne: Don't forget about David Greenwalt Productions and CBS. They own all us Angel people along with some of the others.

Buffy: But we haven't mentioned them before, even when we've had people in the story from AtS, so why now?

Lorne: I think there was a slight oversight on the part of the person who did our script.

Buffy: But you've said it now. So does that mean we can go?

Lorne: Yeah, but you don't look too happy about it.

Buffy: Well, when we do this bit Spike normally turns up, but I haven't seen him since I was giving him a hard time about getting a soul.

Lorne: Maybe you'll just have to wait for next season, or the next story, to find out where he is.

Buffy: But I don't wanna wait to see him. I want him here now.

Spikette: Well tough, 'cos your just going to have to wait like the rest of us.

(She points to a sea of young and not so young women hanging around the area)

Feedback: I'd really like feedback, I get all insecure without it and start to think no one's reading this crap I produce, so bring it on at Sandy.Osborne@blueyonder.co.uk.

Epilogue

September 2005.

Angel walked into the basement living room and cast a worried look in the direction of his grandchilde who was sprawled on the sofa, arms in a crucifix pose across the cushions at the back, feet up on the coffee table, watching his favourite soap. His red shirt was undone, his feet were bare and he had a mug of blood in his left hand.

"Don't you think you should be getting ready?"

"It's not like there's a lot to do. I've just got to put my suit on and put some gel in my hair. Unlike some that only takes me a minute."

"And Buffy and Dawn won't have you running round after everything the women forget."

"Maybe, but the weddings not till half an hour after dusk. We put the marquee up last night. The florist's been and done the flower arrangements when he brought the bouquets and buttonholes. Clem's out back now, wiping the dew off the seats and getting the carpet put down. Everything's under control. You don't have to get all over-excited just because you're best man."

"Shouldn't you go and see how the bride's doing?"

"Took her up a snack and some Buck's Fizz half an hour ago. She's still at the Medusa stage, all curlers and face pack and dressing gown."

"That's not a very charitable description."

"Well, when you live with someone for three years you get to see the bad side as well as the good. You know fine well when she comes down those stairs she'll look gorgeous."

Spike looked closely at the black trousers and shirt that Angel was wearing. "Aren't you going to get those all creased before it's time for you to be seen in them?"

"Not if I don't sit down, I won't."

Spike nodded a greeting as Lorne descended into the room. "Sorry, bro, but I can't find my cufflinks…"

"… And you're not allowed back in the room you slept in last night to look for them. I'll go check."

"Are you three decent?" Spike called and waited for an answer before entering the room where the bride to be and the two women from LA were sitting in robes, doing each other's nails.

Spike glanced quickly about the room and then headed for the bathroom connecting that room and the spare room that Dawn normally used when she stayed over.

"Lorne forgot his cufflinks," he said bouncing said items on the palm of his hand as he left. "Anything you girls want bringing up, pet?"

"No just send the rest of the girls straight up when they get here."

"No problem."

"There you go, big guy."

"How come he gets "big guy" and I get "Great Poofter" and we're both the same size and he wears eyeshadow…"

Spike raised an eyebrow and just met his gaze straight on until Angel found something else to interest himself. "I'll go check on Connor." The Great Poof headed back upstairs.

"Yeah, better check he's got his cufflinks…" Spike raised his eyes, "…and better let in the rest of the women on your way up. I can hear them coming up the path. Put them in Dawn's room. That way they've got two of the biggest bedrooms and biggest bathroom.

D'you fancy a drink, Lorne? I've got some decent single malt stashed away." He knocked back what was left of his mug of blood and fetched two large glasses of scotch. Spike raised his glass and proposed a toast. "To matrimony. You seen any of the rest of the LA guys this morning?"

"Gunn was still asleep when I shifted my stuff into his room, I haven't seen any of the others but they were up all night and only drove down this morning, so I just left them."

Clem came toddling down the stairs to the basement wearing a black frock coat, pants and black shirt with a stand up collar, and a deep red cravat and waistcoat in watered silk.

"Everything's ready up there."

Spike nodded at the bottle and the glasses stacked in the drinks cabinet. "Help yourself."

The vampire looked over at a clock on the wall. An hour and a half to go.

"I suppose when we finish this we'd better get dressed."

"You better had," came a voice from the top of the stairs, "or Buffy'll be down here chasing you. She sent me down for more champagne and orange juice, but I don't see why we're drinking that and you're drinking whisky." Dawn came downstairs wearing a simple A-line dress with a square cut top and skinny straps. The colour matched the cravat and waistcoat that Clem was wearing.

"'Cos, Pet, Buck's Fizz is a girlie drink that won't get you young ladies, especially your big sister, too drunk. Whereas us big bad demons can drink single malt and still be good to go, so when you go back up, tell the rest of the guys that we're having a last drink before we finish getting ready."

"Oh. One last message from Buffy to Lorne. If you're not there waiting when Anya walks down that aisle, she'll find you and I quote, kick your green ass all the way back to Pylea."

Spike smirked. "I think that's my beloved's way of wishing you good luck."

"She did say thank god Lorne helped Anya pick the bridesmaid dresses this time."

"How's Tara doin'?" Spike asked.

"Fine. She's a bit nervous about performing her first ceremony, but she's going to be fine. I still can't believe you talked her into becoming a fully-fledged Wiccan priestess, so that she could do your wedding."

"Well, who else would marry a pair of demons. At least this way, even if it isn't street legal, it's official as far as the Powers That Be are concerned," Lorne replied.

"I'll send the rest of the testosterone brigade down to drink your whisky then, but you better finish that drink, and get your suit on and come help keep Anya calm, Mr. Vampire of the Bride."

A few minutes later the rest of the Los Angeles contingent came downstairs in the shape of Angel, Connor, Gunn and Wesley. Liberal measures of whisky were provided to all, and Spike knew the inevitable question would come. It was just a matter of who would be the one to ask. It turned out to be Clem.

"So when do we get a bash like this for you and the slayer?"

Spike shrugged. "I'll ask when I think she'll say yes. It's not like we're even living together."

"Most of the time it seems like you might as well be," commented Lorne. "Whenever I visit it seems like the three of you are here, or none of you."

"Yeah, but it's not the same as being together and not having anywhere else to go, as you're about to find out. It's just a matter of giving her time. It's not like I'm getting any older."

Soon after the guys had finished their whisky, the first of the guests began to arrive and Clem, Connor, Gunn and Wesley guided them to their seats.

Spike, as instructed, went to help with the bride which for the most part meant sitting chatting with the girls while Buffy sat on his lap.

Angel took the groom in hand, and this time everything went off without a hitch. As opposed to the rest of the men who wore mostly black with red high-lights, Lorne wore a red suit with the same waistcoat as the rest of the men an ivory shirt and a black cravat and handkerchief. Anya wore a simple elegant ivory silk sheath dress. Tara who was officiating at the ceremony wore a shimmery dress in silver grey and the bridesmaids wore red. The closest thing to a problem was when Xander and his wife had to leave because their toddler wouldn't stop crying. It turned out Spike had been all too right that night the two had fought.

Giles sent his apologies, but couldn't come because Olivia was expecting their first child in a few weeks and he didn't want to leave her. He promised as soon as the child was old enough to fly that they would all come over for a long visit.

At the end when the happy couple left for their honeymoon Anya threw the bouquet as is traditional. Spike was the only person who was surprised when Buffy caught it. He decided it was a sign… a sign she'd had enough of waiting.

The End.