As the gang poked fun at Cindy Lauper and Billy Idol, Spike watched Buffy. He hadn't seen her this jubilant in a long time. She had been happy in the last few weeks, no doubt. But tonight she was glowing. Laughing and joking with her friends. Spike hadn't paid any attention to the tv, only to her. She sat on his lap most of the night, only leaving him to get drinks and play hostess. She giggled when he would groan as she pressed herself firmly into his lap every time she returned. Then he would feel her sharp intake of breath when she felt the fruits of her labor. He could smell her arousal as surely as she could feel his. A few lusty looks were shared, but they both silently agreed to behave until the audience was gone.

Neither noticed the looks Xander shot them. He wasn't happy, to be sure. But his surprise had subsided into general discontent over the last few weeks. And now that he saw how happy Buffy was with him, he couldn't help but be a bit more accepting. He knew she deserved to be happy, and wherever she found that, he would deal with it--even if it was in the most distasteful place. Xander often wondered what would have happened if Riley had stayed in town. He had liked Riley. Riley was a solid, normal guy. Normal, as long as you didn't count the Initiative aspect. That thought made Xander remember Spike's chip. The way he figured, as long as Spike couldn't hurt Buffy and he was making her this happy, he wouldn't complain. Not too loudly, anyway.

Once all the pizza was gone and the videos were done, everyone slowly trickled out of the Summers' house. As Willow left, she made Buffy promise they would have a night like that more often, and Buffy readily agreed. She had shot Spike a questioning look and he just shrugged. She didn't push him, knowing she could get anything out of him anyway.

As the door shut on the last guest, Spike grabbed Buffy and pushed her against the door, locking it at the same time. As he kissed her neck, he whispered, "Now I want my Buffy time......"

Buffy giggled, "I think you had your Buffy time all last night, and most of today, come to think of it."

Spike growled, "Not enough......want more......"

Buffy slowly draped her arms over Spike's shoulder as he continued his ministrations. "I think that can be arranged."

Spike raised up with a frown. "Bloody hell!"

"What?!" Buffy asked, a bit alarmed.

Spike clenched his jaw. "Summer. Can't leave her alone all night. And I need to feed her again before she sleeps. Soddin' git! I knew there was a reason Big Bads didn't keep housepets!"

Buffy giggled. "Why don't I spend the night at your place? Problem solved."

Spike looked a bit stunned. "You.....you wanna stay at my crypt?"

"Well, wouldn't be the first time I've slept there, would it? And if I know you even a little bit, I don't think I'll get much sleep anyway."

Spike smirked. "You got that right."

"Ok, but I have one condition."

"Oh, that can't be good," Spike chuckled.

"Summer stays upstairs while we.....ya know....."

Spike tilted his head and gave her a evil grin. "No, I don't know. While we what?"

"Spike....."

"What, Slayer? Something in particular you're expecting from me? I should be prepared, I think. What is it? Kissing? Will we be kissing?

"Well, yeah....."

"Hmm.....but that's not all, is it? Will we be shagging, Slayer?"

Buffy looked away, slightly embarrassed.

"Fucking? Will we be fucking, luv?" Spike purred into her ear.

Buffy let out an aggravated sigh. "Spike, enough....."

"Enough? From where I'm standing, we haven't even started! What is it? We can do things I never thought a circus contortionist could do, but we can't talk about it?"

"Something like that." Buffy looked annoyed.

"Well, what about....." Spike traced her ear, then jaw with his finger. "......making love......will we be doing that, pet?" He nibbled her earlobe.

Buffy sighed and pushed him away gently. "We'll be doing it all, I imagine, but not until we get Summer taken care of." She grabbed her coat and Spike's duster from the rack. She smiled for a moment before putting hers back. She slipped on the duster and grabbed her keys from the keyholder. "Ready?" Spike raised his eyebrows at her. "What? Just borrowing. And besides, you telling me you aren't just dying to see me wearing this......and nothing else?"

Spike's eyebrows dropped and he let out a low growl. Buffy giggled as she stood on her toes to give him a peck on his nose. Before he could grab her and show her what a proper kiss was, she had turned off the lights and opened the door, now standing on the porch with a contented smile on her face. He slowly joined her and closed the door behind him. When she moved to lock it, he ran his arm around her waist and nuzzled her neck from behind. As he nibbled lightly along her soft skin, she was making a sound that Spike was pretty sure would have been a purr had she been a vampire.

As they walked, Spike asked Buffy, "So you think the whelp and demon girl are really gonna make it to the altar?"

Buffy looked confused. "Of course they will. Why wouldn't they?"

Spike shrugged. "Dunno. The boy looked like a scared rabbit at regular intervals throughout the night. Not sure he's got what it takes to make the long walk."

Buffy punched him playfully in the arm. "Yes he does! Xander loves Anya. And don't mention your theory to Anya, if only for the rabbit thing..." Spike looked at her quizzically. She shook her head. "It's a thing, never mind."

"All I'm saying is, if it's like you said, and he's not really crazy about her demon history and doesn't want to confront it, seems like they'll have a lot of problems."

"Why would that cause problems? You and I don't talk about your...history. And we're just fine."

"We're also not on the cusp of being bound to each other for life. Not that marriage is that anymore. Not like a vampire mating, that's for sure. If we were, I think it would be important to talk about all the little nasties that we'd rather not. We'll cross that bridge when we get there, but right now it's not so important. Like I said before, let the past lie."

"So why couldn't Anya and Xander let it lie too?"

"Because it will bite them in the asses if they don't talk about it. Get it out in one go, all his problems with it, all her feelings about it. Otherwise it will come up in the future in ways they don't expect. They'll transfer their insecurities about her past onto other issues in their marriage."

Buffy stopped and raised her eyebrows at Spike. "Where did you come up with that?"

Spike shrugged. "Dr. Phil. Bloody smart bloke..."

Buffy nodded and smiled. She linked her arm in Spike's as they continued to walk. "So, about that vampire mating thing..pretty strong bond?"

Spike nodded. "The strongest. Blood, heart and mind bound together for eternity."

"So...I assume you and Dru.."

Spike sighed. "No, Dru and I were never mated. Not that it made a difference to me, I felt just as tied to her."

"Why didn't you ever..do that with her?"

"Angelus. She was his childe and he forbade her to become mated to me. He didn't like me much. Well, at all. And even after he became all soul- having, she would never do it. Oh, I begged and pleaded, but she said 'Daddy told me not to.' So we never did. Probably for the best."

Buffy forced a small smile, because talking about Angelus always brought her down. "Well, I'm glad you never did. I'd hate to be carrying on with a married man."

Spike smirked. "Well, you know, I do have that other gal waiting at home for me..."

Buffy poked him in the ribs. "Oh, you'd just love for me to get in a cat fight over you, wouldn't you?"

Spike rolled his eyes. "Bad joke, Slayer. Bad joke."

"Hey, I learned from the master of saying stupid things.."

Spike looked thoughtful. "Yeah, Harris really is a dolt." Before Buffy could protest, Spike pulled her in for a kiss that put all thoughts of Xander, Angelus and Drusilla out of her mind. They continued the walk to Spike's crypt in silence, save for the smooching sounds that could be heard every few seconds.

**

TBC