Chapter 3
Secrets and White Lies
Buffy hurried home, as her mom would be back from the gallery soon. Moreover, she wasn't sure how well things would go between Spike and Giles; especially if they were alone together too long. Buffy comforted herself with the thought, that at least if things did get too heated, Spike couldn't bite Giles. Humming, "Here comes the bride," softly to herself; she entered her home. Her mom was already there and busy in the kitchen preparing the evening meal.
Buffy walked in, "Hi mom where is every one?" She asked.
"Spike is watching TV upstairs and Giles has gone to bed with a headache," Joyce replied.
"Oh," she sighed.
Buffy felt a little deflated. She had hoped, the alone time would have given Spike and Giles an opportunity to get over their differences.
"Oh well, I will just go up and see what Spike's up to; how long until dinner?" asked Buffy.
"About half an hour" Said Joyce, smiling at the disappearing figure of her daughter.
Buffy took the stairs at a run, eager to share her news with Spike. She burst into the room and jumped on the reclining vampire.
"Oof! Steady on Buff, I am just as pleased to see you, but slayer strength remember?" said Spike in a slightly winded voice.
He pulled her onto his lap, and kissed her soundly. Buffy was panting, as they pulled apart.
"No time for that now Spike, there's lots to do," she told him.
Spike raised an eyebrow.
"Later?" he asked hopefully.
Buffy's mind was obviously already on other things.
"Do you still have that marriage license, that you got for us the week after our engagement?" She asked.
Spike frowned, "Of course I do, but what do you have in mind? You know we promised your watcher we wouldn't get married before Willow was found,"
Buffy pouted, "I know, but we've had to wait six months already. I am sick and tired of no one taking our relationship seriously; telling me that what we feel is because of some stupid spell. If they don't want to share in our happiness then we should decide for ourselves. I am almost 19 and you are a hundred and something; plenty old enough to make our own, decisions!" She told him firmly.
Spike levered himself up off the bed, opened Buffy's chest of drawers. Rifling through the pairs of thongs and panties, until he found what he was looking for. He held up the piece of paper.
"Here it is," he said triumphantly.
Buffy giggled at the sight of the hot pink thong dangling from it.
"Is that part of it darling?" She pointed at the underwear.
Spike looked at the object of her mirth and snatched the thong off the license, stuffing them quickly into the back pocket of his jeans sheepishly.
"Spike!" growled Buffy.
"What?" He said trying to look innocent, and failing miserably.
"Seemed a good hiding place, no chance of your mom or watcher looking in there," he grinned.
"Very funny Spike, but Giles can't see anything any way remember?" said Buffy.
"Oh yeah, good point," said Spike.
Buffy walked over to Spike, reached into his back pocket and pulled out her panties out of his jeans pocket, shoving them back in the draw.
"Nice try Spike," she smiled.
"Now tell me why we need the license so urgently?" Asked Spike, trying to draw attention away from the fact he had intimate knowledge of her panty draw.
"Well, you know how things are getting a bit dangerous round here, and Riley seems to know whom you are. I thought it might be a good idea if we get away for a few days,"
Spike continued to gawp at Buffy, as she continued.
"I have arranged it all, we go tomorrow night," She said.
Spike looked at her "Go where?" he stammered.
"Vegas of course, I used the credit card mom gave me, and the Internet at the Espresso pump," She said, as if talking to a small child.
"Are we going to tell your mom? I like her, wouldn't want her worrying about you," He smiled
" I have thought of everything. We can pack what we need in my weapons bag, and I will just say that we are going on patrol. We can leave a note for them to find, and if we are lucky, we shouldn't be missed at least until morning," She said.
Spike swept Buffy up into his arms
"Sounds like a good plan to me," He said before kissing her neck.
"Don't get any ideas while your lips are there either," She laughed.
"Couldn't even if I wanted to, chip remember?"
He raised his head to look into her eyes, a look of pure joy spread across his handsome features. At that moment Buffy felt like she had never loved anyone as much as she did right now.
"Just think Spike, by this time tomorrow night, give or take an hour or two, we will be Mr and Mrs," Buffy paused as something occurred to her. "What is your last name Spike? Please don't tell me "the bloody" she said.
"No, actually pet its er Lovejoy," He said self-consciously.
"William Lovejoy, I like it, a bit unusual, what does it mean?" Buffy asked.
"It's an old English name, and it means, one who craved pleasure," Spike replied.
"Well that's definitely you," She said lovingly, pinching his behind.
"Don't tell anyone about the surname love, it would seriously ruin my credibility in demon circles. They might think I was as soft as 'peaches' he replied.
"Spike, I thought we weren't going to talk about him. You wouldn't like me talking about your Looney tunes ex," she said Huffily.
Glaring at him, but looking into his face was her undoing, as she felt her anger melt away.
"I have to patrol tonight. Better make sure everything is safe before we go away tomorrow, want to come with?" She asked.
"What about dinner? Wouldn't want to upset my future mother-in-law and I am feeling peckish," he pleaded.
"Peckish?" She asked,
"Yeah you know hungry,"
"Ok get you now," She smiled.
Buffy put her hand in Spike's.
"Let's go down then," She said pulling his arm.
"Wait, Buffy, there is something I want to give you first," He said.
"Oh Spike, didn't you give me that several times today already," She sighed.
"No! Not that, it's not me with the dirty mind around here I swear," he grimaced.
Letting go of her hand, he reached into the pocket of his leather duster, which was lying on the end of the bed. He held a red velvet box in his hand. Buffy felt tears well up in her eyes.
"I've had this in my pocket for a couple of weeks now, been waiting for the right moment," he said.
Buffy touched the heavy silver ring, which already lay on her ring finger.
"Oh, Spike! You didn't have to, I love the ring you gave me on the day you proposed to me," she cried.
"I wanted something better for you," He said handing her the little box.
Buffy opened the lid and gasped at the beautiful ring that lay inside. It was an antique gold ring set with diamonds and a blood red ruby in its centre. Spike looked at her expectantly, Buffy looked into Spike's eyes and launched herself into his arms.
"I love it and I love you," She said, tears sliding down her cheeks.
"However did you afford it?" Buffy asked.
"Well I didn't nick it, if that's what you are worrying about, I got a job," He said awkwardly.
"What! The big bad in the workforce?" She choked
"Very funny, as a matter of a fact I was doing bar work for Willie when you were out on patrol in the evenings. Plus I got a really good deal from a demon I know, the payments might take forever, but vampire here, not going anywhere anytime soon," He told her self-consciously.
He smiled. Buffy held the box out to Spike.
"Put it on for me," She asked shyly.
Spike slipped his ring off her finger and placed it back on his own. He took the ring from the box and slid it on her finger; it fitted perfectly, much to his relief. Buffy held her hand up and looked at the ring.
"It's so beautiful," She said
"Yes you are," He said, looking at Buffy.
They were lost in each other's eyes, their lips almost touching, when a voice called upstairs.
"Dinner is ready,".
"Your mom has great timing," sulked Spike.
"Come on, I had better wake Giles," said Buffy.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Riley rode the elevator into the bowels of the initiative. He wasn't in the best of moods. The doors slid open and he marched into the giant underground complex. He spied professor Walsh at one of the over sized computers.
"Agent Finn," She greeted him.
"Professor Walsh," He replied.
"Well, have you anything to report about the civilian and hostile 17?" She asked.
"I followed the woman, she entered the Espresso Pump at 1700 hrs and used a terminal there for about half an hour. And then due to an unforeseen incident, I lost sight of the target,"
Professor Walsh stared at Riley for nearly a full minute before speaking.
"Finn I am worried about you, I had a talk with Forrest this afternoon. He seems to think you are obsessed with this girl," She said.
"They are up to something I tell you. There is definitely something wrong with Buffy, she is freakishly strong, plus she dates vampires!" he told her forcefully.
Professor Walsh considered his words for a moment.
"Ok Finn, get me something concrete and then I will assign you your own squad to bring them in for observation," She replied.
Riley turned away, a smug smile spread across his face.
TBC
Secrets and White Lies
Buffy hurried home, as her mom would be back from the gallery soon. Moreover, she wasn't sure how well things would go between Spike and Giles; especially if they were alone together too long. Buffy comforted herself with the thought, that at least if things did get too heated, Spike couldn't bite Giles. Humming, "Here comes the bride," softly to herself; she entered her home. Her mom was already there and busy in the kitchen preparing the evening meal.
Buffy walked in, "Hi mom where is every one?" She asked.
"Spike is watching TV upstairs and Giles has gone to bed with a headache," Joyce replied.
"Oh," she sighed.
Buffy felt a little deflated. She had hoped, the alone time would have given Spike and Giles an opportunity to get over their differences.
"Oh well, I will just go up and see what Spike's up to; how long until dinner?" asked Buffy.
"About half an hour" Said Joyce, smiling at the disappearing figure of her daughter.
Buffy took the stairs at a run, eager to share her news with Spike. She burst into the room and jumped on the reclining vampire.
"Oof! Steady on Buff, I am just as pleased to see you, but slayer strength remember?" said Spike in a slightly winded voice.
He pulled her onto his lap, and kissed her soundly. Buffy was panting, as they pulled apart.
"No time for that now Spike, there's lots to do," she told him.
Spike raised an eyebrow.
"Later?" he asked hopefully.
Buffy's mind was obviously already on other things.
"Do you still have that marriage license, that you got for us the week after our engagement?" She asked.
Spike frowned, "Of course I do, but what do you have in mind? You know we promised your watcher we wouldn't get married before Willow was found,"
Buffy pouted, "I know, but we've had to wait six months already. I am sick and tired of no one taking our relationship seriously; telling me that what we feel is because of some stupid spell. If they don't want to share in our happiness then we should decide for ourselves. I am almost 19 and you are a hundred and something; plenty old enough to make our own, decisions!" She told him firmly.
Spike levered himself up off the bed, opened Buffy's chest of drawers. Rifling through the pairs of thongs and panties, until he found what he was looking for. He held up the piece of paper.
"Here it is," he said triumphantly.
Buffy giggled at the sight of the hot pink thong dangling from it.
"Is that part of it darling?" She pointed at the underwear.
Spike looked at the object of her mirth and snatched the thong off the license, stuffing them quickly into the back pocket of his jeans sheepishly.
"Spike!" growled Buffy.
"What?" He said trying to look innocent, and failing miserably.
"Seemed a good hiding place, no chance of your mom or watcher looking in there," he grinned.
"Very funny Spike, but Giles can't see anything any way remember?" said Buffy.
"Oh yeah, good point," said Spike.
Buffy walked over to Spike, reached into his back pocket and pulled out her panties out of his jeans pocket, shoving them back in the draw.
"Nice try Spike," she smiled.
"Now tell me why we need the license so urgently?" Asked Spike, trying to draw attention away from the fact he had intimate knowledge of her panty draw.
"Well, you know how things are getting a bit dangerous round here, and Riley seems to know whom you are. I thought it might be a good idea if we get away for a few days,"
Spike continued to gawp at Buffy, as she continued.
"I have arranged it all, we go tomorrow night," She said.
Spike looked at her "Go where?" he stammered.
"Vegas of course, I used the credit card mom gave me, and the Internet at the Espresso pump," She said, as if talking to a small child.
"Are we going to tell your mom? I like her, wouldn't want her worrying about you," He smiled
" I have thought of everything. We can pack what we need in my weapons bag, and I will just say that we are going on patrol. We can leave a note for them to find, and if we are lucky, we shouldn't be missed at least until morning," She said.
Spike swept Buffy up into his arms
"Sounds like a good plan to me," He said before kissing her neck.
"Don't get any ideas while your lips are there either," She laughed.
"Couldn't even if I wanted to, chip remember?"
He raised his head to look into her eyes, a look of pure joy spread across his handsome features. At that moment Buffy felt like she had never loved anyone as much as she did right now.
"Just think Spike, by this time tomorrow night, give or take an hour or two, we will be Mr and Mrs," Buffy paused as something occurred to her. "What is your last name Spike? Please don't tell me "the bloody" she said.
"No, actually pet its er Lovejoy," He said self-consciously.
"William Lovejoy, I like it, a bit unusual, what does it mean?" Buffy asked.
"It's an old English name, and it means, one who craved pleasure," Spike replied.
"Well that's definitely you," She said lovingly, pinching his behind.
"Don't tell anyone about the surname love, it would seriously ruin my credibility in demon circles. They might think I was as soft as 'peaches' he replied.
"Spike, I thought we weren't going to talk about him. You wouldn't like me talking about your Looney tunes ex," she said Huffily.
Glaring at him, but looking into his face was her undoing, as she felt her anger melt away.
"I have to patrol tonight. Better make sure everything is safe before we go away tomorrow, want to come with?" She asked.
"What about dinner? Wouldn't want to upset my future mother-in-law and I am feeling peckish," he pleaded.
"Peckish?" She asked,
"Yeah you know hungry,"
"Ok get you now," She smiled.
Buffy put her hand in Spike's.
"Let's go down then," She said pulling his arm.
"Wait, Buffy, there is something I want to give you first," He said.
"Oh Spike, didn't you give me that several times today already," She sighed.
"No! Not that, it's not me with the dirty mind around here I swear," he grimaced.
Letting go of her hand, he reached into the pocket of his leather duster, which was lying on the end of the bed. He held a red velvet box in his hand. Buffy felt tears well up in her eyes.
"I've had this in my pocket for a couple of weeks now, been waiting for the right moment," he said.
Buffy touched the heavy silver ring, which already lay on her ring finger.
"Oh, Spike! You didn't have to, I love the ring you gave me on the day you proposed to me," she cried.
"I wanted something better for you," He said handing her the little box.
Buffy opened the lid and gasped at the beautiful ring that lay inside. It was an antique gold ring set with diamonds and a blood red ruby in its centre. Spike looked at her expectantly, Buffy looked into Spike's eyes and launched herself into his arms.
"I love it and I love you," She said, tears sliding down her cheeks.
"However did you afford it?" Buffy asked.
"Well I didn't nick it, if that's what you are worrying about, I got a job," He said awkwardly.
"What! The big bad in the workforce?" She choked
"Very funny, as a matter of a fact I was doing bar work for Willie when you were out on patrol in the evenings. Plus I got a really good deal from a demon I know, the payments might take forever, but vampire here, not going anywhere anytime soon," He told her self-consciously.
He smiled. Buffy held the box out to Spike.
"Put it on for me," She asked shyly.
Spike slipped his ring off her finger and placed it back on his own. He took the ring from the box and slid it on her finger; it fitted perfectly, much to his relief. Buffy held her hand up and looked at the ring.
"It's so beautiful," She said
"Yes you are," He said, looking at Buffy.
They were lost in each other's eyes, their lips almost touching, when a voice called upstairs.
"Dinner is ready,".
"Your mom has great timing," sulked Spike.
"Come on, I had better wake Giles," said Buffy.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Riley rode the elevator into the bowels of the initiative. He wasn't in the best of moods. The doors slid open and he marched into the giant underground complex. He spied professor Walsh at one of the over sized computers.
"Agent Finn," She greeted him.
"Professor Walsh," He replied.
"Well, have you anything to report about the civilian and hostile 17?" She asked.
"I followed the woman, she entered the Espresso Pump at 1700 hrs and used a terminal there for about half an hour. And then due to an unforeseen incident, I lost sight of the target,"
Professor Walsh stared at Riley for nearly a full minute before speaking.
"Finn I am worried about you, I had a talk with Forrest this afternoon. He seems to think you are obsessed with this girl," She said.
"They are up to something I tell you. There is definitely something wrong with Buffy, she is freakishly strong, plus she dates vampires!" he told her forcefully.
Professor Walsh considered his words for a moment.
"Ok Finn, get me something concrete and then I will assign you your own squad to bring them in for observation," She replied.
Riley turned away, a smug smile spread across his face.
TBC