Chapter 6
Viva Las Vegas
Giles returned home to a silent house. After unleashing Shakespeare, he made his way to the kitchen and felt around for the tea jar. He was fine on his own, as long as people remembered to put things back in their proper places. As he felt this was not one of those occasions; he abandoned his efforts, returning to the lounge. He sat down waiting for someone to come home. Rubbing his sightless tired eyes, Giles soon dozed off.
"Giles wake up," said Joyce, gently shaking him.
"What is it?" He said, sleepily rousing.
"Just got off the phone; some man from the magic shop called. Must admit, he wasn't making a lot of sense," She replied.
"Well tell me what he said," He encouraged.
"First; he rambled on about how it had taken him all afternoon, to get my number from the name on some credit card receipt,"
"Yes, yes," said Giles, a little more impatiently than he had intended.
"Seems a new girl sold a pendant today, to someone fitting Buffy's description; he was concerned it may be a mistake," She said.
Giles leaned forward on the sofa; a sense of dread settled in his chest.
"Why did he think it might be a mistake?" he asked.
"They said it had the symbol of a goddess on it or something, gave me a name; now what was it?"
She frowned hard trying to remember exactly what the man had said.
"Now Joyce, do try to be exact please," Giles said, urgently.
"Oh, oh, I know what it was now; Frigg; yes, that's it Frigg! She said, triumphantly.
"Oh dear," Said the watcher, turning pale.
"What is it?" She asked, seeing the alarm on Giles's face.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Come on Spike, hurry the taxi is waiting on the other side of the cemetery, we don't want to miss it," Buffy said
"Nag, nag, we aren't even wed yet either," He frowned.
"Well the longer we spend around here, the more chance we have of being stopped by someone," She replied.
"Stop panicking Buff, no one will find that note for hours, besides there are about a million wedding chapels in Vegas," He said, attempting to soothe her.
"I just want everything to be perfect," She whined
"It will be love," he said, squeezing her hand reassuringly.
They made their way through the cemetery; the taxi was waiting, exactly where they had arranged. Buffy realised she had been holding her breath; afraid that some unseen force would stop them. Such was her urgency to be joined to this wonderful blonde vampire, at her side. Spike was ever the gentleman, as he opened the door of the cab for her, and she got in. Normally she resisted such displays of chivalry, but coming from Spike, she found it sweet and endearing. As Spike sat down beside her, she shivered noticeably; an icy chill ran down her spine.
"What is it? Sweetheart; are you cold? Spike asked, putting his arm around her.
The moment was forgotten, as the driver turned round in his seat, "Where to?" he asked.
"Sunnydale International," She answered.
Spike raised an eyebrow in surprise "We're flying there?" he asked.
"Yep, I thought it would be the safest bet; I know it's only a few hours from here and we could have hired a car, but the way I drive, I had serious doubts about us getting there in one piece, She smiled.
"Could have asked me, I am a good driver. Been doing it long enough; learnt to drive back in the 1900's," He pouted
Buffy coughed, reminding him of the fact that they had an audience. Spike grinned at his mistake, and made a zipping motion across his mouth. It had the effect of drawing Buffy's attention to his lips; giving him a heated look, she launched herself at him. Buffy was past caring, if they were alone or not.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Riley followed the taxi as close as he could, so that the occupants would not be aware they were being tailed. Judging from what he could see going on in the back seat; they wouldn't have noticed an apocalypse. His hands tightened on the steering wheel, as he was forced to witness the sickening display. Hell, he'd not even kissed her. Instead he had chosen to go slowly, out of respect for the fact, she had so recently been let down by Parker. Buffy Summers was a tease; he decided in his warped revenge fuelled mind. She and her inhuman lover were going to pay. He noticed from the signs along the highway, that they were headed for Sunnydale International. Good job I packed an over night bag, He thought to himself smugly.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Giles, what is it? Tell me!" Joyce said, losing her usual calm manner.
Giles sighed, reaching for his absent glasses out of time old habit.
"Frigg is a goddess, from Nordic mythology, she was Odin's wife; she protected a man's marriage and," He halted, blushing.
"And?" She pleaded.
"She made him fertile," He finished.
Joyce breathed an audible sigh of relief. She couldn't help laughing. "Well that's okay, there are no married men here to worry about," She said.
Giles joined in the laughter.
"Yes, you are right. Besides the wearer of the pendant has to call the goddess's name, to invoke her powers,"
Giles relaxed back onto the sofa, smiling at his earlier panic.
"What are her powers; besides the virility thing? Joyce enquired.
"Well, legend has it; that by calling on her name on the wedding night, would bless the happy couple with children, she also sees the future, but cannot reveal it," He supplied
Joyce looked at her watch; it was getting late. Time to be getting dinner she thought. Buffy was sure to be home soon, that's if she hadn't gone straight on patrol, as she was sometimes known to. Spike was usually willing to lend a hand in the kitchen; Joyce walked to the bottom of the stairs.
"Spike!" She called up. She waited a few seconds, getting no reply.
"Don't think they are home at the moment," answered Giles from the living room.
"Funny, it's only six forty-five the sun had barely set by the time I arrived home," said Joyce, puzzled.
"Maybe they have plans for the evening, and decided to get the patrolling out of the way early," He reasoned.
"I don't know, call it mother's intuition, but I have a feeling something is not quite right," said Joyce
Joyce climbed the stairs, and knocked loudly on Buffy's door. Something she had learned to do after an unfortunate incident; not long after Spike had first moved in.
"Buffy, Spike?" She called.
Receiving no answer; Joyce turned the handle and opened the door slowly. The room was in a mess. Draws were open; clothing lay all over the bed. Her heart was in her mouth at the sight. Her eyes stopping on a white envelope resting, on a pile of clothing. She gasped. They must have run away, she didn't think Buffy would do that to her again, not after the last time. Her hands trembling, she reached out for the envelope, hastily tearing it open, not wanting to prolong the agony. As she read the words, tears slid down her cheeks, in relief and dismay at the same time.
"Oh Buffy," She sobbed, aloud.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
"We're here Miss," The taxi driver said.
Getting no reply, he knocked loudly on the glass. The couple broke apart.
"Oh sorry," Buffy said breathlessly, handing the driver the fare.
She looked at her watch, and her eyes widened. They were way behind schedule. She had forgotten about the early evening traffic. They were going to have to make a run for it. Buffy almost physically removed Spike from the taxi, in her haste to be gone.
"What's the hurry love?" he asked.
"If we don't get moving, we'll miss our flight," She said, desperately.
They made a mad dash into the airport; the last call for their flight came over the loudspeaker. Riley pulled in, just in time to witness them running through the main doors. He had no option, but to park in front of the airport's main entrance. Leaving the door of his vehicle open, he grabbed his bag off the passenger seat, and ran after them. To his surprise, his view was blocked, by the biggest police officer he had ever seen.
"You can't park that here!" he boomed.
"I am on official government business; let me pass!" demanded Riley.
"I don't care, if you are the White House Chief of Staff, no parking! Let's see some I.D," replied the officer, looking Riley up and down.
Riley searched around in his jacket. "Oh shit!" he exclaimed, his fumblings becoming more urgent, as he was unable to locate the missing wallet. "Would you believe, I left it in my other pants?" Riley asked, attempting to push past the man.
The officer stood firm like a tree, and grabbed Riley's forearm twisting it behind him. He then slammed him against the hood of his own car. He was cuffed in an instant.
"Spread em'!" demanded the officer.
Riley had no choice, but to comply. His anger had grown way beyond boiling point.
"I'll have your job for this;" he hissed at the cop.
"Yeah, yeah", He said indifferently, pausing mid sentence, as he pulled a gun from the back of Riley's pants. "This is all the I.D. I need". He said smugly, talking into his radio "Send a car, got a live one here; caught him trying to enter the airport with a firearm,"
Riley relaxed against the hood of his car in defeat. He knew he wasn't going anywhere tonight. After what seemed like an eternity later, he was hauled off into the back of the patrol car.
"I'd better get my phone call, when we get where we are going!" Yelled Riley.
"You will get it, when we are good and ready, now shut up!" Replied the officer
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Wow; that was close, luckily they let us take the bags on as hand luggage," Buffy panted.
Spike put the bags away in the overhead compartments and settled down in the seat next to Buffy. The announcement for them to fasten their seat belts came over the speaker. Spike looked at the two ends, trying desperately to fasten them. He looked at Buffy imploringly. A thought suddenly occurred to her.
"Spike is this your first time on a plane?" She asked
"Maybe," he mumbled, "Could you?" He asked, holding up the two ends.
Buffy smiled at him, fastening him into his seat. She had just assumed that having been around so long, he must have flown before. Glancing at him again, she thought she saw fear in his eyes.
"Hey, it will be okay baby," She said, taking his hand in hers.
The engines started up, and Spike gripped her hand tighter.
"Close your eyes and think about the honeymoon, that will help take your mind off things," She suggested
"Yeah, what an excellent idea", He agreed.
Spike relaxed his hold on Buffy's hand, as the plane took off, lost in pleasant thoughts. As the aircraft levelled out, the sign came on for them to remove their seatbelts. Buffy freed herself, then Spike.
"Hey, you can open your eyes now," She said.
"Shhhh, I was just getting to the part of the honeymoon, where you come out of the bathroom, dressed in the shortest negligee I have ever seen," He grinned opening his beautiful blue eyes; raising her hand to his lips he kissed it tenderly.
"Wish hard enough and it just might come true," She said, shyly.
"I love you Buffy Summers," He whispered.
"I love you too, William Lovejoy," She smiled at him.
Spike looked at her keenly
"Feel like joining the mile high club?" he asked
"Not a hope in hell Spike!" How did you know about that?" She asked, thumping his arm.
"There are a lot of things I know about, that I haven't tried before. Want to further my education?" He winked saucily at her.
He sighed and resigned himself to the fact that he wasn't going to get any, until they were legally wed. This was going to be one long flight. Settling down in the seat, he closed his eyes deciding to get some rest, he quickly fell asleep.
He awoke an hour later, with a start, as the plane jolted onto the runway. He looked over at Buffy, she was fast asleep. He leaned in closer to her, listening to her breathing. Unable to resist the soft pink lips, he covered them with his own. Buffy was the first mortal he had been with; he would never get tired of the feel of her warmth and her heartbeat. The blood pumping around her body, oh the blood, he thought.
Buffy's eyes flew open, disorientated for a moment. She looked into a pair of yellow demonic eyes, rearing back in alarm.
"Spike, check the lumpies!" She hissed.
Spike's hand flew to his forehead "Sorry pet, got a bit carried away. Any way, thought you might like to know that we're here, "
TBC
**************************************************************************** *********************************
A/N
Thank you everyone for the lovely reviews. If you are as ignorant about Norse gods as I am, Frigg really is a goddess who in legend stood for all the things Giles quotes in the story. I am not clever enough to make that up lol!
Viva Las Vegas
Giles returned home to a silent house. After unleashing Shakespeare, he made his way to the kitchen and felt around for the tea jar. He was fine on his own, as long as people remembered to put things back in their proper places. As he felt this was not one of those occasions; he abandoned his efforts, returning to the lounge. He sat down waiting for someone to come home. Rubbing his sightless tired eyes, Giles soon dozed off.
"Giles wake up," said Joyce, gently shaking him.
"What is it?" He said, sleepily rousing.
"Just got off the phone; some man from the magic shop called. Must admit, he wasn't making a lot of sense," She replied.
"Well tell me what he said," He encouraged.
"First; he rambled on about how it had taken him all afternoon, to get my number from the name on some credit card receipt,"
"Yes, yes," said Giles, a little more impatiently than he had intended.
"Seems a new girl sold a pendant today, to someone fitting Buffy's description; he was concerned it may be a mistake," She said.
Giles leaned forward on the sofa; a sense of dread settled in his chest.
"Why did he think it might be a mistake?" he asked.
"They said it had the symbol of a goddess on it or something, gave me a name; now what was it?"
She frowned hard trying to remember exactly what the man had said.
"Now Joyce, do try to be exact please," Giles said, urgently.
"Oh, oh, I know what it was now; Frigg; yes, that's it Frigg! She said, triumphantly.
"Oh dear," Said the watcher, turning pale.
"What is it?" She asked, seeing the alarm on Giles's face.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Come on Spike, hurry the taxi is waiting on the other side of the cemetery, we don't want to miss it," Buffy said
"Nag, nag, we aren't even wed yet either," He frowned.
"Well the longer we spend around here, the more chance we have of being stopped by someone," She replied.
"Stop panicking Buff, no one will find that note for hours, besides there are about a million wedding chapels in Vegas," He said, attempting to soothe her.
"I just want everything to be perfect," She whined
"It will be love," he said, squeezing her hand reassuringly.
They made their way through the cemetery; the taxi was waiting, exactly where they had arranged. Buffy realised she had been holding her breath; afraid that some unseen force would stop them. Such was her urgency to be joined to this wonderful blonde vampire, at her side. Spike was ever the gentleman, as he opened the door of the cab for her, and she got in. Normally she resisted such displays of chivalry, but coming from Spike, she found it sweet and endearing. As Spike sat down beside her, she shivered noticeably; an icy chill ran down her spine.
"What is it? Sweetheart; are you cold? Spike asked, putting his arm around her.
The moment was forgotten, as the driver turned round in his seat, "Where to?" he asked.
"Sunnydale International," She answered.
Spike raised an eyebrow in surprise "We're flying there?" he asked.
"Yep, I thought it would be the safest bet; I know it's only a few hours from here and we could have hired a car, but the way I drive, I had serious doubts about us getting there in one piece, She smiled.
"Could have asked me, I am a good driver. Been doing it long enough; learnt to drive back in the 1900's," He pouted
Buffy coughed, reminding him of the fact that they had an audience. Spike grinned at his mistake, and made a zipping motion across his mouth. It had the effect of drawing Buffy's attention to his lips; giving him a heated look, she launched herself at him. Buffy was past caring, if they were alone or not.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Riley followed the taxi as close as he could, so that the occupants would not be aware they were being tailed. Judging from what he could see going on in the back seat; they wouldn't have noticed an apocalypse. His hands tightened on the steering wheel, as he was forced to witness the sickening display. Hell, he'd not even kissed her. Instead he had chosen to go slowly, out of respect for the fact, she had so recently been let down by Parker. Buffy Summers was a tease; he decided in his warped revenge fuelled mind. She and her inhuman lover were going to pay. He noticed from the signs along the highway, that they were headed for Sunnydale International. Good job I packed an over night bag, He thought to himself smugly.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Giles, what is it? Tell me!" Joyce said, losing her usual calm manner.
Giles sighed, reaching for his absent glasses out of time old habit.
"Frigg is a goddess, from Nordic mythology, she was Odin's wife; she protected a man's marriage and," He halted, blushing.
"And?" She pleaded.
"She made him fertile," He finished.
Joyce breathed an audible sigh of relief. She couldn't help laughing. "Well that's okay, there are no married men here to worry about," She said.
Giles joined in the laughter.
"Yes, you are right. Besides the wearer of the pendant has to call the goddess's name, to invoke her powers,"
Giles relaxed back onto the sofa, smiling at his earlier panic.
"What are her powers; besides the virility thing? Joyce enquired.
"Well, legend has it; that by calling on her name on the wedding night, would bless the happy couple with children, she also sees the future, but cannot reveal it," He supplied
Joyce looked at her watch; it was getting late. Time to be getting dinner she thought. Buffy was sure to be home soon, that's if she hadn't gone straight on patrol, as she was sometimes known to. Spike was usually willing to lend a hand in the kitchen; Joyce walked to the bottom of the stairs.
"Spike!" She called up. She waited a few seconds, getting no reply.
"Don't think they are home at the moment," answered Giles from the living room.
"Funny, it's only six forty-five the sun had barely set by the time I arrived home," said Joyce, puzzled.
"Maybe they have plans for the evening, and decided to get the patrolling out of the way early," He reasoned.
"I don't know, call it mother's intuition, but I have a feeling something is not quite right," said Joyce
Joyce climbed the stairs, and knocked loudly on Buffy's door. Something she had learned to do after an unfortunate incident; not long after Spike had first moved in.
"Buffy, Spike?" She called.
Receiving no answer; Joyce turned the handle and opened the door slowly. The room was in a mess. Draws were open; clothing lay all over the bed. Her heart was in her mouth at the sight. Her eyes stopping on a white envelope resting, on a pile of clothing. She gasped. They must have run away, she didn't think Buffy would do that to her again, not after the last time. Her hands trembling, she reached out for the envelope, hastily tearing it open, not wanting to prolong the agony. As she read the words, tears slid down her cheeks, in relief and dismay at the same time.
"Oh Buffy," She sobbed, aloud.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
"We're here Miss," The taxi driver said.
Getting no reply, he knocked loudly on the glass. The couple broke apart.
"Oh sorry," Buffy said breathlessly, handing the driver the fare.
She looked at her watch, and her eyes widened. They were way behind schedule. She had forgotten about the early evening traffic. They were going to have to make a run for it. Buffy almost physically removed Spike from the taxi, in her haste to be gone.
"What's the hurry love?" he asked.
"If we don't get moving, we'll miss our flight," She said, desperately.
They made a mad dash into the airport; the last call for their flight came over the loudspeaker. Riley pulled in, just in time to witness them running through the main doors. He had no option, but to park in front of the airport's main entrance. Leaving the door of his vehicle open, he grabbed his bag off the passenger seat, and ran after them. To his surprise, his view was blocked, by the biggest police officer he had ever seen.
"You can't park that here!" he boomed.
"I am on official government business; let me pass!" demanded Riley.
"I don't care, if you are the White House Chief of Staff, no parking! Let's see some I.D," replied the officer, looking Riley up and down.
Riley searched around in his jacket. "Oh shit!" he exclaimed, his fumblings becoming more urgent, as he was unable to locate the missing wallet. "Would you believe, I left it in my other pants?" Riley asked, attempting to push past the man.
The officer stood firm like a tree, and grabbed Riley's forearm twisting it behind him. He then slammed him against the hood of his own car. He was cuffed in an instant.
"Spread em'!" demanded the officer.
Riley had no choice, but to comply. His anger had grown way beyond boiling point.
"I'll have your job for this;" he hissed at the cop.
"Yeah, yeah", He said indifferently, pausing mid sentence, as he pulled a gun from the back of Riley's pants. "This is all the I.D. I need". He said smugly, talking into his radio "Send a car, got a live one here; caught him trying to enter the airport with a firearm,"
Riley relaxed against the hood of his car in defeat. He knew he wasn't going anywhere tonight. After what seemed like an eternity later, he was hauled off into the back of the patrol car.
"I'd better get my phone call, when we get where we are going!" Yelled Riley.
"You will get it, when we are good and ready, now shut up!" Replied the officer
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Wow; that was close, luckily they let us take the bags on as hand luggage," Buffy panted.
Spike put the bags away in the overhead compartments and settled down in the seat next to Buffy. The announcement for them to fasten their seat belts came over the speaker. Spike looked at the two ends, trying desperately to fasten them. He looked at Buffy imploringly. A thought suddenly occurred to her.
"Spike is this your first time on a plane?" She asked
"Maybe," he mumbled, "Could you?" He asked, holding up the two ends.
Buffy smiled at him, fastening him into his seat. She had just assumed that having been around so long, he must have flown before. Glancing at him again, she thought she saw fear in his eyes.
"Hey, it will be okay baby," She said, taking his hand in hers.
The engines started up, and Spike gripped her hand tighter.
"Close your eyes and think about the honeymoon, that will help take your mind off things," She suggested
"Yeah, what an excellent idea", He agreed.
Spike relaxed his hold on Buffy's hand, as the plane took off, lost in pleasant thoughts. As the aircraft levelled out, the sign came on for them to remove their seatbelts. Buffy freed herself, then Spike.
"Hey, you can open your eyes now," She said.
"Shhhh, I was just getting to the part of the honeymoon, where you come out of the bathroom, dressed in the shortest negligee I have ever seen," He grinned opening his beautiful blue eyes; raising her hand to his lips he kissed it tenderly.
"Wish hard enough and it just might come true," She said, shyly.
"I love you Buffy Summers," He whispered.
"I love you too, William Lovejoy," She smiled at him.
Spike looked at her keenly
"Feel like joining the mile high club?" he asked
"Not a hope in hell Spike!" How did you know about that?" She asked, thumping his arm.
"There are a lot of things I know about, that I haven't tried before. Want to further my education?" He winked saucily at her.
He sighed and resigned himself to the fact that he wasn't going to get any, until they were legally wed. This was going to be one long flight. Settling down in the seat, he closed his eyes deciding to get some rest, he quickly fell asleep.
He awoke an hour later, with a start, as the plane jolted onto the runway. He looked over at Buffy, she was fast asleep. He leaned in closer to her, listening to her breathing. Unable to resist the soft pink lips, he covered them with his own. Buffy was the first mortal he had been with; he would never get tired of the feel of her warmth and her heartbeat. The blood pumping around her body, oh the blood, he thought.
Buffy's eyes flew open, disorientated for a moment. She looked into a pair of yellow demonic eyes, rearing back in alarm.
"Spike, check the lumpies!" She hissed.
Spike's hand flew to his forehead "Sorry pet, got a bit carried away. Any way, thought you might like to know that we're here, "
TBC
**************************************************************************** *********************************
A/N
Thank you everyone for the lovely reviews. If you are as ignorant about Norse gods as I am, Frigg really is a goddess who in legend stood for all the things Giles quotes in the story. I am not clever enough to make that up lol!