Chapter 6

2003

Spike looked out the window, into the night. It was dark and peaceful on Revello Drive. The houses were all dark or dimly lit, the streetlights the only form of light on the sidewalks and roads. People slept peacefully, oblivious to the evil that surrounded them.

"Hell," Spike whispered, "Evil lives just across the street."

He smirked and rolled his eyes at himself, "I've got to stop this broody Angel-itis I've got going."

He let the curtain fall, blocking his view of the street and turned back to the tiny green box. He turned it over in his hands and studied it. The color made him remember something. A day not so long ago. He sighed and sat down and let himself be reminded.

2002

Buffy got out of the car and adjusted her sunglasses on the bridge of her nose. She and Dawn were coming back from the hairdresser's, after getting their hair done in preparation for Xander and Anya's wedding. Willow and Tarah were on the porch, sorting through magic books and spell ingredients.

"How go the wedding spells?" Dawn called out as she got out of the driver's seat. She had gotten her license recently, a blessing considering Buffy was a life long pedestrian.


"Good." Willow replied as the sisters came up the steps to the porch, "How'd the hair appointment go?"

"Beautifully, I'd guess." Tarah commented, "Very nice."

"Thank you, very much." Dawn said with an exaggerated curtsy, "You guys have appointments in an hour, don't forget."

"Yes, mom." Willow said, "You're starting to sound like Anya."

"I hang around her too much." Dawn agreed before going inside.

"T minus three hours and counting." Buffy said, sitting next to Willow, "Till we get this show on the road."

"Yup. We're working on a luck and love spell for them." Tarah said, "How're you feeling today?"

"Way less woozy, thankfully." Buffy said, "And very glad I can fit into my dress. No showage yet."

Willow smiled, "Well, it'll come soon so don't get too excited."

Buffy frowned, "So not looking forward to giving up my entire wardrobe for a few months. Spike things it's just wonderful. Ever since he moved in he's been running around like a little kid, all excited. I'm just having a hard time explaining to him that he's gonna be waiting another 7 months."

Willow and Tarah laughed. Buffy excused herself to go inside and see how pre-wedding plans were going.

"Bloody HELL!"

"Nice to see you, too." Buffy said, turning to shut the door. She had heard Spike's voice before she'd seen him, "What's the prob--Oh my GOD."

Her jaw dropped as he came downstairs in a pair of dress pants and a half-buttoned white shirt, bow tie dangling un-tied around his neck, tux jacket over his arm.

"You look like a Ralph Lauren ad." She breathed, "I just might have to drag you upstairs and--"

"Can't. You'll ruin your hair." He cut in, "Anya would stake me on site. I look like a waiter."

"No...You look amazing." She finished buttoning his shirt for him and tied the bow tie, "You look all blond-James Bond-ey."

"You have some strange vocabulary, pet." He said, then kissed her quickly on the lips, "I've gotta go. The sun's down and I gotta get to Xander's to meet him and that Mark bloke. You look beautiful, by the way."

"Thanks much." She said, "See you at the wedding."

"Bye, baby." He paused halfway out the door, "I refuse to wear one of these at our wedding."

The door slammed and Buffy heard Willow and Tarah catcalling as Spike jogged down the porch steps. She giggled and hurried upstairs to see what Anya and Dawn were up to.

2003

"Remember Xander and Anya's wedding?" Willow asked, taking the sheet of cookies out of the oven, "That was...a trip."

"Yeah." Buffy laughed, taking a bite out of a cookie from the first batch, "Ohmigod, Will, these are soooo good!"

"Late-night baking. My specialty."

Buffy smiled and grabbed another one.

"I smell cookies." Tarah half-spoke half-yawned as she came out of the bedroom, stretching her arms over her head, "Good...almost morning."

"'Morning, Tarah." Buffy chirped, a little hopped up on coffee and cookies.

Tarah kissed Willow on the cheek, "What's going on?"

"Spike has a thing." Willow said, "Said thing is unknown."

"I see." Tarah said and took a cookie, "What're we talking about?"

"Xander and Anya's wedding." Buffy replied.

2002

Xander fidgeted nervously at the altar. He reached up to fiddle with his tie again, but quickly dropped his hands as the music started. First to come out was Xander's little cousin Angela, the flower girl. She sprinkled pink and yellow rose petals and baby's breath on the white satin carpet as soft flute music played. Next, Dawn came on Mark's arm. She wore a form-fitting, flowy pink dress that reached the ground and a sheer wrap that matched. Her hair fell in loose curls over her shoulders with little sparkling jewels threaded through. She smiled at Xander and gave him a wink before standing on the bride's side and Mark stood beside Xander. Next, Willow and Tarah came together, hands linked. They wore the same dress as dawn in pale pink. Willow's hair was down and natural, with tiny braids placed one on the left, and one on the right, thin ribbons woven in. Tarah's hair fell in waves, a flower matching the white roses in her bouquet tucked behind one ear. Finally, Buffy came on Spike's arm, her face glowing as she grinned at Xander. He hair was pulled back and clipped in a sparkly barrette, the ends curling under. She gave him the thumbs up as she joined the rest of the bride's maids.

The music switched to the bridal march as Anya came down the aisle on Giles' arm. Giles had flown in from England for the wedding. Buffy looked at him with a smile, feeling bad for not giving him the full story about her and Spike. But she had wanted Xander and Anya's wedding to go off without a hitch, so she was saving the news about the pregnancy and Spike proposing for later.

Giles kissed Anya on the cheek and placed her hand in Xander's, and the ceremony began.

After the ceremony, which went with tears from both the bride and groom, the reception was held at the Sunnydale Regent Hotel, in one of the halls.

"Oh Slaaayyyer."

Buffy felt strong arms go around her waist and she turned her head and smiled at Spike, "What do you want? Anya's doing the money dance, go give her your cash."

He shook his head and brought his left hand up to her eyes, a ring between his thumb and forefinger, "I realized, a few days ago that I never gave you and engagement ring."

Buffy gasped and took the ring from him, laying it in the palm of her hand, "It's gorgeous."

The ring, which was an emerald flanked by two small heart shaped diamonds, was on a platinum band.

"The green matches your eyes." He whispered, kissing the skin behind her ear, "You like it?"

"I love it!" She whispered, letting him slide it on her finger, "I love you. So much."

She tilted her head so he could kiss her, and their lips met briefly before they were interrupted by a clearing throat.

"You two have GOT to stop before someone gets sick."

"Shut up, Xander." Buffy said, holding up her hand, "Look."

"Wow. Very nice." He looked at Spike, "Told you she'd like it."

"He helped." Spike explained.

"You two are the best. I love you both."

"Yeah, but Spike's the one who gets kisses from the Buf." Xander sighed, pouting.

Buffy laughed and slapped him playfully; "Go to your wife, now, before I murder you."

He winked at them before walking off.

2003

Spike sighed and set the box back down. The color was a lot like the ring that Buffy wore, and it only made the pain at thinking about going through with opening the box even worse. He sighed and went back to the window and looked out. The sunrise was only hours away, he could sense it. He picked up the box and went to the basement, making sure the door was locked before he descended the dark stairs.