A/N : I'll admit, I was a little worried about this fic. I've never really written anything like this before, all based on humour and some romance, usually my stuff ends up drama/romance or very angsty, but apparently my humour is okay since I got all these wonderful reviews. I want to thank you all - Rachel, artemis66, Michelle, tinkerbell42, dawn1, lykultrawomansfic, kathypg, Leanne8582, Azrielle, Roboshiflo, SpIkEs AnGeL - I'm really glad you like the fic and I really appreciate your kind comments, it's your reviews that made me work faster so I could update this fic as well as my other fic (Friends and Lovers). Also, just wanted to mention, this fic will not be very long, I'm estimating about five chapters right now and it might not be quite the story you are all expecting but, I hope you like it anyway. Keep on reading and reviewing please! Here's chapter 2...
(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)
Chapter 2 - Something You Wouldn't Understand
"Giles?!" Buffy called as she came through her father-figures front door, a smoking Spike beside her.
"Oh, bloody buggering hell...!"
The vampire soon began to shout and curse as his hand caught alight just before the Slayer closed the door and she hurried him into the kitchen, shoving his hand under the faucet as she called Giles again.
"Where is he?" Buffy mumbled before advising her fiancé to keep his hand under the cool water for a while as it would help him heal.
"I'm not helpless y'know" Spike snapped, annoyed by her fussing over him like a child, "I had enough of that from Dru when I was in that soddin' wheelchair" he complained, instantly regretting his words as the Slayer moved away from him, lip trembling.
"How can you compare me to her?" Buffy choked out, looking like she'd cry at any second as she back away from him.
"Oh baby, I'm sorry" Spike apologised, looking more sincere than he ever had, "I didn't mean to..."
"But you did" the Slayer interrupted, a tear trickling down her cheek, "You'll never love me like you loved her"
"No" he admitted it was true, quickly adding his explanation, "I love you more than I loved her" he smiled, taking his hand out from under the faucet and moving towards Buffy, pinning her back against the counter top, "I love you more than I ever loved anyone"
"Oh Spike" she gasped as his body pressed against hers and a feeling like electricity shot through her.
"Slayer" he whispered, bringing his lips to hers, one arm winding around her waist, pulling her closer the other tangling in her hair. All pain in his hand was subsequently forgotten as he was far too busy exploring this woman's body to notice the scarred flesh.
Bang!
The slam of the door made the pair jump apart, Buffy yelping with surprise and catching the attention of the man who had just entered the apartment.
"Buffy?" Giles called, and the girl came out of the kitchen to meet him, Spike on her heels, of course.
"Giles, where have you been?" the Slayer asked, her expression all innocence as she stood before her father-figure, the vampire beside her whose hand she gripped in hers tried his best to also look innocent, and failed miserably.
"Where have I been?" Giles echoed with a look of disbelief, "I rather think I should be asking you that question?" he sighed, walking around the sofa and slumping down, rubbing his eyes, clearly sleep deprived, "Myself and Willow have been looking for you all night"
It was true. The ex-Watcher and the young witch had scoured Sunnydale until first light, desperate to find the unlikely couple before anything too hideous occurred, of course it only translated to hideous if you were the Scoobies, the same thing would be heavenly to Buffy and Spike in their current state of mind.
Of course, it wouldn't have helped even if they had found them, it had been quite decided that the spell was broken in all senses except the Buffy and Spike wedding-related part of it and that would only be broken after the event had taken place.
"We were in the cemetery, making more wedding plans" Buffy explained to Giles as she moved to sit beside him, Spike taking the chair opposite, the smile never shifting from his face or hers.
"Buffy" Giles sighed, "I know I'm wasting my breath, but this is not real" he repeated, hoping against hope that she may just blink and realise she was talking about marrying an evil undead creature, only recently slightly less dangerous now he had a government chip in his head.
"Look here, Watcher" Spike interjected, slightly annoyed "that bloody spell of Red's is over, and you know it. Me and the Slayer, it's for real"
Buffy smiled at him before turning back to Giles who wasn't sure whether to laugh, scream, or just give in to sleep.
"Giles, I meant what I said before" the Slayer told him, taking hold of his hand, "I want you to be the one to give me away"
He was so touched by her words and too tired to argue anymore, knowing it would do no good.
"I'd be honoured Buffy" he conceded, knowing this wedding was the only way the spell was ever going to end so he might as well make it at least a little bearable. The look in his almost-daughters eyes was so genuine, if he didn't know better he'd swear she really was elated to be marrying a man who's name came from his love of a torture device!
"If you two are done with the father-daughter touchy feelies" Spike sighed, "I think the old man here needs to sleep, luv" he pointed out to Buffy, as Giles proved him right and yawned.
"I'll have you know I am not in the least bit old" he snapped as soon as he could, "especially when compared to you"
Spike made a sound of disgust at this comment about his age.
"Yeah, but I look better" he mumbled as Giles got up and headed for the stairs.
Spike was right about one thing, the man needed some sleep. After many hours of trying to find the still spell-bound pair, Giles had told Willow she must go and get some rest as he should too. He never planned to take her on his search but knowing she was too blame put Willows guilt into over-drive and she just had to do something to help. Xander and Anya were practically dead on their feet from the days exertion and had gone straight home while the red head and the older man had searched for their other friends.
When the sun began to rise, they knew the couple would be under cover, so as to avoid the chance of becoming Mr and Mrs Big Pile of Dust. Giles promised to call Willow the next day and, despite the fact they knew it was ridiculous, they were going to have to help Buffy and Spike to plan their wedding, and fast. The quicker they got married, the quicker the spell would be broken, and hopefully it could then all be forgotten, at least Giles hoped so as he flopped down, fully clothed onto his bed and fell asleep.
Downstairs, Buffy was already on top of Spike in the chair again, as he elaborated on his ideas for their honeymoon. The mood was soon broken though, as his stomach rumbled and Buffy went back to the kitchen to warm him some blood. Unfortunately there was none in the fridge.
"I'm gonna have to go to the butchers shop" she called to Spike, "We're all out of pigs blood"
"You don't have to go" the vampire told her, appearing behind her and grabbing her around the waist as she tried to put on her jacket.
"You need blood" she reminded him as he nuzzled into her hair and started to kiss her neck.
"Plenty right here" he half growled and all of a sudden she realised what he meant.
"Spike!" she yelled, jumping away from him, her stance not quite ready for a fight, but far from relaxed.
"What?" he made a face, not understanding her shock.
"You were gonna bite me!" she practically shrieked, but trying not to be too loud and wake Giles. She rubbed her hand absently over the part of her neck where his lips had been.
"Only a little bit" he grumbled, like it wasn't a big deal and he didn't know what all the fuss was about, "Didn't think you'd mind"
"Well, I do" she shot back, but her anger dissipated as she watched him, looking down at his shuffling feet, so close to looking like an ashamed little boy who'd been caught with his hand in the cookie jar, "Hey" she said more gently, moving to stand in front of him, lifting his chin with her hand, "just don't do that again okay? You kind of scared me...and not in the good way"
"I'm sorry" he said, so genuinely that her heart nearly broke.
"I know" she nodded, wrapping her arms around him and hugging him close, initially still a little tense as his head rested on her shoulder, but soon calm again as she realised he was merely hugging her back and not moving to bite her this time.
It was about a half hour later when Buffy was in the centre of Sunnydale, buying some blood for her vampire love. As she came out of the butchers shop she almost walked straight into Riley.
"Hey" she smiled, though a little warily. Was this not the same idiot who almost ruined her happy day just yesterday? But Riley was sweet and she did feel a little bad that she might be upsetting him by marrying Spike.
"Hey" the farmboy replied in kind, "er, about yesterday..." he began as they walked from the shop together, "I think I got a little confused" he admitted.
"Oh" Buffy nodded in understanding, "I guess it was a bit of a shock for you, my engagement and everything" she continued on barely stopping to draw breath, "I mean, you probably thought something could happen between us and, Riley, I swear, if I wasn't going to be a married woman, I'd be more than happy to date you but...Spike is in my heart, I love him, and I'm sorry, but nothing you can say will make me change my mind about this wedding"
Riley stopped walking as did Buffy and he stood facing her, shaking his head to clear the jumbled thoughts that inhabited it.
"Buffy..." he said eventually, glancing away from her face and noticing something, the light catching on something on her hand as she held a bag of 'supplies' to her chest, "What's that?" he asked and she followed his gaze to see what he was looking at.
"Oh that's my engagement ring, silly" she giggled, "Isn't it beautiful?"
Before Riley could form a sentence in his head she frowned a little and continued.
"Well, I guess it's not super-beautiful but, Spike gave me it and that makes it more special than anything else in the world to me"
"Who is this guy?" Riley asked in frustration, "You said he was older?"
"Oh yeah, well he is older" Buffy explained, "but he doesn't look that much older, actually he's gorgeous..." she got this dreamy look on her face as she gazed off into to space and described the wonder that was her darling Spike, making Riley feel both jealous and a little nauseous.
"You wanna come to the wedding?" Buffy blurted out suddenly.
"I..." was the only word Riley could think of. He liked this girl, thought maybe he could date her, if things went well, maybe he'd be walking her down the aisle someday. His illusions had all been shattered between yesterday and today, hearing that she was marrying some older dream guy who went by the name of Spike.
Buffy looked over at him, awaiting a proper answer, but none came.
"Well, you can decide and let me know" she told him, "right now I really have to go"
"Don't you have class?" Riley called behind her as she walked away.
"Some things are more important" she called over her shoulder, smiling bright as the sun. She walked away with a spring in her step that only love could cause and Riley felt like he could quite happily throw himself under the oncoming bus. What did it matter? The way Buffy was now, she probably wouldn't even notice him.
To Be Continued