A/N : Not sure how interesting you'll find this chappy but I like it and there is a point to it, I promise, plus some Spuffy and W/X and Spike & Xander fighting like they do, lol. After this, if everything goes to plan, they'll be three or four more chapters to the end of the story. Thanx to everyone who reviewed - you guys are all just the best :-) Hope you like this chapter too, and hope you review ;-) [And you'll be pleased to know, no big cliffhanger on this chapter...]
(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)
Chapter 23 - Happy Together
As his alarm clock beeped into life, for once Spike decided he didn't care. He was actually looking forward to school this morning, he was looking forward to the whole day, because he knew he got to spend most of it with Buffy, the girl he could now call his girlfriend.
He got up, got dressed, and noticed the stupid grin on his own face as he did his hair in the bathroom mirror. Part of him thought what an idiot he was being, how pathetic his love-sick behaviour was, but he really loved the Slayer, in a way he never knew he could love anybody and he just didn't care if he acted a little odd or looked ridiculous, because he had Buffy and that was all that mattered.
Picking up his bag, he left his room and headed for the stairs, practically running all the way down and to the kitchen. He was less eager to be there when he saw what was happening within.
His entrance and attempt to exit did not go unnoticed despite the fact that his mother and father appeared to be glued together at the lips.
"Oh, Will, please, come back" he heard his Mum call as he turned.
"Should I just come in blindfolded to save everyone's embarrassment" he smirked.
"Will, please, this is serious" Jessica told him, siting down on a stool by the counter as Giles did the same.
"So am I" Spike nodded, also taking a seat now.
Jessica just ignored his final comment as she glanced at Giles then back at her son.
"Now you know Rupert and I have been getting...reacquainted" she began and Spike couldn't resist his next comment.
"Is that what they call it these days?" he asked, the smirk reappearing on his face all too easily "Sorry" he added quickly when he got twin disapproving looks.
"Anyway" Jessica continued "he is your father and I still love him very much and..." she faltered, "well...we're getting married" she announced, showing off a rather impressive looking diamond on her hand.
Spike was silent.
"If that's agreeable to you of course" Giles immediately started to ramble "I mean, I don't expect you to be joyous about this, I'm sure it's quite a shock and of course you are accustomed to it just being you and your mother, but I do hope you can accept that I love Jessica very much and I care for you too, and I would like us to have some sort of ,er, bond, if you like..."
"You make her happy" Spike said suddenly, cutting his father off mid-ramble "and that makes me happy" he paused before continuing "and I kind of like having you around,...Dad"
The final word made for a somewhat stunned yet elated set of parents as he knew it probably would, but what he'd said had been true, every word.
"Now, I'm gonna let you two have some 'alone time' now" Spike smiled as he got up from his seat, grabbed a piece of toast from the counter and headed off to meet Buffy for the walk to school. At the very thought of her he felt like he was walking a foot off of the floor and thinking about last night he decided was probably dangerous for his heart rate. They had patrolled for hours, although there was a lot more kissing than staking, if he was honest. As he thought about it he realised he had a lot to thank Willow for really and that started him wondering, how had things gone for her last night? He'd have to make sure he found time to tear himself away from Buffy for five minutes for a chat with Red.
"Good morning Spike" Joyce smiled as she opened the front door, "Buffy's just.."
"I'm here!" came a loud voice from the top of the stairs, quickly followed by the owner of the voice at lightening speed.
"Hi" Spike smiled as Buffy made it to the front door, her jacket half on, half off and her bag hanging from her arm with books threatening to spill everywhere.
"Hey" she smiled back before turning to her mother, "I have to go"
"What's the rush to get to school?" Mrs Summers wondered aloud as her eldest daughter kissed her cheek and made for the door.
"Y'know, school" Buffy said as if it were obvious, "Gotta love the learning" she smiled and laughed like a mad person and Joyce just nodded, said goodbye and closed the door. Spike laughed.
"What was all that about?"
"Nothing" she lied, unconvincingly, and the look on his face let her know he wasn't buying it.
"Okay, okay" she said, pulling her jacket on straighter and dealing with her bag, "Maybe, I was just wanting to see you this morning, maybe"
Spike was obviously flattered, but also somewhat embarrassed and amused too.
"Well, maybe I wanted to see you too, maybe" he teased and she hit him playfully on the arm. He grabbed her hand as she did so and pulled her into his arms, raining kisses onto her face.
"Not that I want you to stop" Buffy smiled between kisses, but we have to get to school".
Spike conceded that she was right and they went back to walking, hand in hand.
"Oh, I s'pose I should tell you about Mum and Giles" Spike suddenly realised, "They're engaged"
"Seriously?" Buffy gasped, "Wow, that's like a major deal. Are you okay with that?" she asked him, "I mean, I know he's your Dad but you haven't known him long"
"I like the bloke" Spike assured her, "and Mum loves him, and he loves her, that much is obvious...yes, I'm happy about it"
Buffy looked over at him, walking beside her, she knew the smile on his face was genuine, that he really was happy and she was glad. She noticed something else too.
"Hey, are you wearing a blue T-shirt?"
"Yeah" Spike nodded, glancing down at said T-shirt beneath the black leather of his jacket "why'd you ask?"
"But you don't wear colours" Buffy said suspiciously and Spike smiled at the strange look on her face.
"Just didn't feel like being all black today" he shrugged, slipping an arm around her shoulders as they walked "Probably your doing, pet" he told her, squeezing her momentarily.
"I make you feel...colourful?" she said with a lop-sided smile, unsure whether that was a good thing or not.
"You make me feel a million different things, Slayer" he told her, looking down into her eyes "and I love every one of them, because I love you" he concluded, leaning down and kissing her on the lips briefly.
"Wow" she smiled "how did I not notice you were so sweet before now?"
"Sweet?" he exclaimed, pulling away from her "Here, you take that back!" he said horrified "God, you'll have people thinking I'm some sort of poofter"
Buffy could only laugh at the look of shock and disgust on his face.
"You are not a poofter" she insisted "whatever it means" she added quietly "but you are very sweet to me" she said carefully, moving toward him again and encouraging him to put his arm back around her and walk with her again, "You're sweet and kind and sexy and wonderful...and did I mention sexy?" she smiled, mischievously as they reached the school gates.
"Only want me for my body, eh Slayer?" Spike smirked in response.
"No..." she replied looking almost shy "but I'm too polite to decline an offer" she continued, the mischievous twinkle returning to her eyes. She reached up to kiss him and he wasn't at all adverse to the idea but...
"Buffy!" came a very loud interruption in the form of Willow.
"Bloody hell" Spike cursed as Buffy moved away a little.
"Spike..." she scolded his tone as well as his words just as their friends arrived beside them "hey, Will, Xan" Buffy greeted, glancing downward "ooh, with the hand holdage" she practically squealed as she pointed at her friends entwined fingers.
"Guilty as charged" Xander smiled, lifting his hand and Willow's up as if to emphasise the point "but I see it's contagious" he gestured toward his friend and Spike, whose hands had found each other too.
"Oh yeah" Buffy smiled, happy for herself and her friends alike.
Unfortunately though, this was school and not the happy-love club and the ringing of the bell meant that some people had classes to get to.
"Oh damn" Spike said annoyed at the interruption "I gotta go, pet, but I'll see you later?" he checked, turning his back on Willow and Xander as he faced his girlfriend.
"Definitely" she told him, and there was an all too brief kiss before Spike disappeared into the crowds of students.
"I have to go to" Xander admitted "See ya later sweetie" he said, turning to Willow and kissing her cheek.
"Sure" she smiled as he too disappeared amongst the student population of Sunnydale High.
The two girls stood side by side as the crowds dispersed, thinking of the two guys they loved and stupidly missing them already despite their departing only thirty seconds ago. They unconsciously sighed in unison, which caused them to giggle afterwards. Linking arms, Buffy and Willow walked into the building chatting.
"So, I guess things went well with you and Xander last night" said the blonde.
"Better than just 'went well'" Willow admitted "oh Buffy, it was amazing" she gushed, which was not something the witch usually did.
"I want details" Buffy demanded.
"And you'll get them" Willow promised "but you have to share too, about you and Spike" she smiled "I knew you two were perfect for each other"
"You knew?" Buffy asked, somewhat surprised "Why didn't I see it?" she frowned.
"Love is blind" Willow sighed, it was so true.
"I guess" her friend agreed "but it's pretty rampant lately, Giles and Jessica are engaged"
"Oh that's great" the red-head exclaimed, over-excitedly "We should head to the library later and congratulate him"
"Yeah" Buffy nodded in agreement, it would be cool knowing Giles would be right next door should she need him, and Jessica and Spike would be so happy with him, she knew.
"But first" she said, turning to Willow "spill about last night" she demanded as she returned from the bright looking future to the also bright present.
"Well..."
Meanwhile, Xander had caught up with a certain bleach blond on the way to math class and an uncomfortable silence had ensued after the initial greetings.
"So" Xander tried to make conversation "you and Buffy"
"Yeah" Spike nodded "and you and Red"
"Yeah..." Xander nodded too "took your time" he pointed out.
"I did?" Spike practically yelled, incredulously "What about you?"
"Good point..." the brunette was forced to admit, before adding, perfectly seriously "I still dislike you a lot"
"Hate you too" Spike agreed, equally straight faced.
"Okay, but we should maybe be civil for the girls sake?" Xander suggested as they got to class and sat down next to each other.
"Agreed" Spike conceded "Truce?" he offered, holding out a hand.
"Let's call it a semi-truce" the boy beside him decided, shaking the offered hand "no manly-fighty stuff around Will and the Buffster"
Spike snorted with laughter.
"You? Manly?" he smirked in disbelief.
"Hey, none of that!" the brunette complained with a whine "We just agreed"
"Well" Spike considered "the girls aren't here right now"
Xander glanced around the room, despite the fact he knew Buffy and Willow weren't going to be there.
"Good point" he nodded "now, about your stupid hair..."
Spike just rolled his eyes and tried to ignore the Whelp as class began.
To Be Continued...
