Riley bursts into the magic shop. Anya looks up and notices he's not a customer, so she goes back to what she's doing. No need in being nice if he isn't giving me money. He walked over to the table were the Scoobies were assembled and slams his fist down on the table in front of them.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Tell you what?" Willow asked without looking up.
"That she's with Him?"
"What?" Xander was just as lost as everyone else. Everyone but Dawn. Uh, oh. She's going to kill him if he finishes that sentence.
"NO, don't." Dawn couldn't believe she was actually saying that out loud.
"Dawn. Do you know something your not telling us?" This time it was Giles, but everyone was thinking it.
Riley smiles slyly. "Dawn. You mean they don't know about Buffy's new …lover boy?"
Dawn flashed him a look that reminded him of the strength in the Summers girls. And what they are capable of. He figured he'd chance it anyway. After all, she doesn't have slayer strength.
"In that case. I think I'm going to enjoy this." Dawn moved over to him to try and get him to stop, but he softly pushed her aside. "I went looking for Buffy and decided I'd go question the little lost puppy you guys keep. And low-and-behold. Who do I find in his crypt? That's right your very own good little Slayer. Being not so good."
"Riley. Are you sure that's what you saw? They DO go patrolling together. Maybe Buffy stopped at his place when they were done before coming here to report." Willow asked hopefully, though she was somewhat suspicious of her friend's recent actions too.
Suddenly, the Magic Box doors come flying wide open and Buffy, followed by Spike, enter and she heads straight for Riley.
"What did you tell them?"
Spike just stood back and watched. He loved to see his Slayer in action, especially if it was to beat up soldier-boy.
"Only that you had a new bedfellow. A dead one at that."
Buffy hit him repeatedly in the face. When she finally stopped, he ran into the training room to find something to stop his nose from bleeding. Everyone sat staring at Buffy.
"Buffy? … … …Is it true? … …Are you and Spike…" Willow began.
Buffy takes a deep breath, expecting her friends to bombard her with questions, but no more came. She walked over to Spike and slipped her arm around his waist while saying, "Yeah. Spike and I are a couple. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, and I didn't want you to find out like that." She glances in the direction that Riley ran.
"But, Buffy…" Giles was still acting like she was his little girl. And she liked that most of the time. But this was up to her, not him, and she didn't need his approval.
"I love him." And with that the entire room got quiet. Buffy grabbed Spike and kissed him lightly on the lips. Even Spike was shocked that she did that right then. Then he got over his shock and kissed her back, more passionately this time.
"Buffy, you can't. He's evil. He doesn't have a soul, and he's a demon." Xander tried to plead some sense into his friend.
"Xander. What does any of that matter when I know that he loves me and is willing to do anything to save me?"
"But if he loses the chip?" He continued fighting his losing battle.
"I still couldn't hurt her and she knows that. I never could really." Spike spoke for the first time since they entered the shop. Then he started to nuzzle her neck, stopping to kiss the two small puncture wounds that now resided over her old scars. His mark.
"It was just a dance, right Spike?"
"Right." Spike kisses her again. At this point, Riley re-enters and sees Buffy still in Spike's arms.
On his way out the door, he stops by Xander.
"Watch him closely. The minute he screws up. Call me. Then you and I will have some real fun."
"Count on it."
He walks to the door and exits slowly, not looking back.
