Chapter 16
The rest of the journey went with out incidence; the closer they all got to "Sunnydale" the quieter the mood became in the van. They all had their personal demons to deal with. Willow, because she'd lost Tara there, Xander losing Anya. Dawn was thinking of her mom, Andrew shifted about uncomfortably in his seat thinking about his friend he had murdered. Buffy was just thinking about when she'd lost Spike and the terrible final battle in the hellmouth.
They were in Nevada now, driving through Las Vegas, only a couple of hours hard driving and they would be there. The sun was going down, not that it mattered to Spike anymore what time of the day or night it was. Buffy and Spike sat next to Giles while he drove. They both groaned as Giles tuned in the radio station to classical music.
"Just something to soothe everyone's ragged nerves," said Giles defensively.
They drove up the strip, lights were flashing on every casino, trying to lure gamblers into their establishments. Wedding chapels were everywhere as well.
"Greed and lust all in the one handy location," said Spike sarcastically.
"Pull over," said Buffy.
"Why? I am not so sure you are allowed to park on the strip," said Giles.
"There's a motel car park, just do it," said Buffy.
"Didn't have you down as the Las Vegas type love, there's plenty of time for fun, when this is all over," said Spike.
Buffy ignored him and got out of the van, walking off down the street, Spike followed her.
"Hey where are those two going?" asked Dawn.
"Into a wedding chapel or so it seems," said Willow, slightly alarmed.
"Everybody out," said Giles.
They all piled out of the van and went off in the same direction that Buffy and Spike had gone. It was the "two hearts" wedding chapel. They came to a halt outside the pink heart shaped doors.
"You don't think they'd.." trailed off Xander.
"No, of course not," said Willow uncertainly.
"Well don't you think we'd better get in there and find out?" asked Andrew.
They entered the foyer; Buffy and Spike were nowhere in sight. A blonde brassy receptionist greeted them. When they tried to go into the main wedding chapel, she restrained then.
"I am sorry, no one is allowed in when a wedding ceremony is underway," said the woman.
"This is urgent, our friends are in there, making a big mistake," said Xander.
"Do I have to call security?" asked the woman.
"No," said Giles defeated.
The group of friends sat down on the chairs lining the one wall in the waiting area.
"I hate Buffy, she could have at least waited for her own sister to be there," said Dawn, starting to cry.
They all looked up as some music played to signal the end of the ceremony. The chapel doors opened, Spike and Buffy walked out, arm in arm, confetti flying in the air.
Dawn leapt out of her seat.
"I am so gonna kill you two," said Dawn.
"Hey wait," said Buffy.
Dawn thumped her sister on the arm.
"Owww what was that for?" asked Buffy.
"Faith!" said Willow.
"What, where?" asked Xander.
They turned to see the second couple walk out of the chapel, Faith was holding a bouquet and a very big smile on her face as she came out of the chapel with her new husband, Robin Wood. ( A/N yeah I know)
"Hey guys, nice to see ya, sorry I guess the wedding invites got lost in the mail," she grinned at the stunned assembly.
Buffy looked at her sister.
"You thought Spike and I had gone off to get married?" asked Buffy in disbelief.
"Must say, I got quite the shock when Buffy and bleach boy came to my wedding," said Faith.
"How did you know where to find us?" asked Wood.
"The school bus, it sticks out like a sore thumb, I saw it in the parking lot, when we were driving by," said Buffy.
Wood looked at Spike.
"Thought you didn't make it out of Sunnydale," said Wood.
"You mean you hoped I didn't," said Spike.
The two men eyed each other up, their mutual dislike for each other, evident on their faces.
"Look, why don't we all go for coffee and then we can fill you in on what's been happening," said Giles.
"Kinda had other plans for this evening," said Faith looking at Robin, "But hey we can take a little time out," said Faith.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Whoa, you guys have been busy," said Faith.
"Not as busy as you, by the looks of it," said Buffy looking at Faith's shiny new wedding ring.
"Robin, promised me surprises, this is just one in the long list of many," said Faith.
"Please don't share with us," said Xander.
"I think it's sweet," said Willow.
"So you have been living out of the school bus, getting jobs wherever you stopped?" asked Spike.
"That and other things," said Robin.
Faith grinned at Robin as they shared a private moment.
"So what are you all doing in Vegas?" asked Faith.
"We're trying to save Spike," said Willow.
"Ah you're on a mission, nothing changes, so much for that normal life eh B?" asked Faith.
"Normal is over rated," said Buffy.
"Where are you headed on this mission of redemption?" asked Faith.
"Sunnydale," Giles informed her.
Faith's hand shook, her coffee spilling onto the counter.
"Are you all mad?" asked Robin.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Half an hour later, they were all ready to be off again. Robin was seated at the wheel of the school bus, a slight scowl on his face, it was evident that he was far from happy with the recent turn of events.
"I am coming with you B, and that's final," said Faith.
"But it's your honeymoon," said Buffy.
"Yeah, I know, but two slayers are better than one," said Faith.
"Well we're not strictly slayers anymore, due to the population increase," said Buffy.
"We still have the super powers and the fighting skills," said Faith.
"True, okay we can always use an extra pair of hands," said Buffy.
Spike looked at the school bus.
"Not sure that hunk of junk can keep up with us," said Spike.
"That may be true, but you know the way Faith, so if we do get separated." said Buffy.
They got into their separate vehicles, it was Spike's turn behind the wheel, and he gave Wood a little mock salute as they drove out of the parking lot. As they drove out of Nevada and hit the desert roads, Spike was surprised to see the school bus, still visible in his driving mirror. He grinned to himself, Faith must have told him about his doubts about their ability to keep up with them.
After 3 hours hard driving they were a little way off from the place they used to call home. Spike slowed the vehicle down and switched off the lights. The school bus parked behind them and did the same.
"Hey where did the lights go?" asked Andrew, who had been In the middle of reading a comic.
"Look," said Spike.
All eyes turned to the horizon,
"Lights, lots of them," said Willow puzzled.
By the look of the glow in the distance, there were lots of them. Faith banged on the side of the van. Andrew opened it, Faith hopped in.
"What's going down?" asked Faith.
"Did you catch the lights?" asked Dawn.
"Yeah I saw that much," said Faith.
I think, a couple of us need to get a look at what's going on before we proceed any further," said Giles
"Good idea, volunteers?" asked Xander.
"I'll go," said Spike.
"Me too," said Buffy
"Count me in," said Faith.
"Me four," said Dawn.
"No way, you're waiting here with the others," said Buffy firmly.
Dawn's face fell and she went off and sulked in the back of the van. Andrew followed, not even bothering to ask, as he already knew what the answer would be.
"Be careful," said Giles.
"I know the drill," said Buffy.
"I just have to tell Robin the plan," said Faith as she walked over to the school bus.
"Guess I know who wears the pants in that relationship," said Spike.
"I heard that," said Faith as she walked off.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"So hubby let you tag along then?" asked Spike.
"Yeah, took some convincing, but I knew he'd see it my way eventually," said Faith.
"Yeah you slayers have a very persuasive way about you," said Spike.
"Can we just keep our minds on the mission in hand?" asked Buffy.
They neared the remains of Sunnydale, halted in their progress by a ten- foot wire fence.
"Bloody hell," said Spike.
"My thoughts exactly," said Buffy.
"Look at this," said Faith.
She pointed to a large sign on the wire fence. Spike read out the words on the sign.
"This land is the property of Wolfram & Hart, KEEP OUT, all trespassers will be dealt with,"
"Wolfram & Hart?" asked Buffy.
"Law firm, they gave Angel a lot of trouble, heard about them during my time in LA," said Faith.
"Well, newsflash kiddies, said Law firm is now being run by Buffy's former," said Spike.
Buffy looked at him.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Buffy said.
"You didn't ask," said Spike.
"Look let's not start with the arguments, I think the best bet would be to get to the van and figure out what's going on here," said Faith.
"Yeah, maybe Willow can throw some light on this, I can't believe Angel could be involved in something shady," said Buffy.
Spike shook his head as Faith led the way. Buffy really was out of touch with the tall dark forehead, thought Spike to himself.
TBC
A/N I know some of you are not Principle Wood fans, I will try and keep his involvement to a minimum, I just wanted a way for Faith to be in it, as I like her. Sorry!
The rest of the journey went with out incidence; the closer they all got to "Sunnydale" the quieter the mood became in the van. They all had their personal demons to deal with. Willow, because she'd lost Tara there, Xander losing Anya. Dawn was thinking of her mom, Andrew shifted about uncomfortably in his seat thinking about his friend he had murdered. Buffy was just thinking about when she'd lost Spike and the terrible final battle in the hellmouth.
They were in Nevada now, driving through Las Vegas, only a couple of hours hard driving and they would be there. The sun was going down, not that it mattered to Spike anymore what time of the day or night it was. Buffy and Spike sat next to Giles while he drove. They both groaned as Giles tuned in the radio station to classical music.
"Just something to soothe everyone's ragged nerves," said Giles defensively.
They drove up the strip, lights were flashing on every casino, trying to lure gamblers into their establishments. Wedding chapels were everywhere as well.
"Greed and lust all in the one handy location," said Spike sarcastically.
"Pull over," said Buffy.
"Why? I am not so sure you are allowed to park on the strip," said Giles.
"There's a motel car park, just do it," said Buffy.
"Didn't have you down as the Las Vegas type love, there's plenty of time for fun, when this is all over," said Spike.
Buffy ignored him and got out of the van, walking off down the street, Spike followed her.
"Hey where are those two going?" asked Dawn.
"Into a wedding chapel or so it seems," said Willow, slightly alarmed.
"Everybody out," said Giles.
They all piled out of the van and went off in the same direction that Buffy and Spike had gone. It was the "two hearts" wedding chapel. They came to a halt outside the pink heart shaped doors.
"You don't think they'd.." trailed off Xander.
"No, of course not," said Willow uncertainly.
"Well don't you think we'd better get in there and find out?" asked Andrew.
They entered the foyer; Buffy and Spike were nowhere in sight. A blonde brassy receptionist greeted them. When they tried to go into the main wedding chapel, she restrained then.
"I am sorry, no one is allowed in when a wedding ceremony is underway," said the woman.
"This is urgent, our friends are in there, making a big mistake," said Xander.
"Do I have to call security?" asked the woman.
"No," said Giles defeated.
The group of friends sat down on the chairs lining the one wall in the waiting area.
"I hate Buffy, she could have at least waited for her own sister to be there," said Dawn, starting to cry.
They all looked up as some music played to signal the end of the ceremony. The chapel doors opened, Spike and Buffy walked out, arm in arm, confetti flying in the air.
Dawn leapt out of her seat.
"I am so gonna kill you two," said Dawn.
"Hey wait," said Buffy.
Dawn thumped her sister on the arm.
"Owww what was that for?" asked Buffy.
"Faith!" said Willow.
"What, where?" asked Xander.
They turned to see the second couple walk out of the chapel, Faith was holding a bouquet and a very big smile on her face as she came out of the chapel with her new husband, Robin Wood. ( A/N yeah I know)
"Hey guys, nice to see ya, sorry I guess the wedding invites got lost in the mail," she grinned at the stunned assembly.
Buffy looked at her sister.
"You thought Spike and I had gone off to get married?" asked Buffy in disbelief.
"Must say, I got quite the shock when Buffy and bleach boy came to my wedding," said Faith.
"How did you know where to find us?" asked Wood.
"The school bus, it sticks out like a sore thumb, I saw it in the parking lot, when we were driving by," said Buffy.
Wood looked at Spike.
"Thought you didn't make it out of Sunnydale," said Wood.
"You mean you hoped I didn't," said Spike.
The two men eyed each other up, their mutual dislike for each other, evident on their faces.
"Look, why don't we all go for coffee and then we can fill you in on what's been happening," said Giles.
"Kinda had other plans for this evening," said Faith looking at Robin, "But hey we can take a little time out," said Faith.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Whoa, you guys have been busy," said Faith.
"Not as busy as you, by the looks of it," said Buffy looking at Faith's shiny new wedding ring.
"Robin, promised me surprises, this is just one in the long list of many," said Faith.
"Please don't share with us," said Xander.
"I think it's sweet," said Willow.
"So you have been living out of the school bus, getting jobs wherever you stopped?" asked Spike.
"That and other things," said Robin.
Faith grinned at Robin as they shared a private moment.
"So what are you all doing in Vegas?" asked Faith.
"We're trying to save Spike," said Willow.
"Ah you're on a mission, nothing changes, so much for that normal life eh B?" asked Faith.
"Normal is over rated," said Buffy.
"Where are you headed on this mission of redemption?" asked Faith.
"Sunnydale," Giles informed her.
Faith's hand shook, her coffee spilling onto the counter.
"Are you all mad?" asked Robin.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Half an hour later, they were all ready to be off again. Robin was seated at the wheel of the school bus, a slight scowl on his face, it was evident that he was far from happy with the recent turn of events.
"I am coming with you B, and that's final," said Faith.
"But it's your honeymoon," said Buffy.
"Yeah, I know, but two slayers are better than one," said Faith.
"Well we're not strictly slayers anymore, due to the population increase," said Buffy.
"We still have the super powers and the fighting skills," said Faith.
"True, okay we can always use an extra pair of hands," said Buffy.
Spike looked at the school bus.
"Not sure that hunk of junk can keep up with us," said Spike.
"That may be true, but you know the way Faith, so if we do get separated." said Buffy.
They got into their separate vehicles, it was Spike's turn behind the wheel, and he gave Wood a little mock salute as they drove out of the parking lot. As they drove out of Nevada and hit the desert roads, Spike was surprised to see the school bus, still visible in his driving mirror. He grinned to himself, Faith must have told him about his doubts about their ability to keep up with them.
After 3 hours hard driving they were a little way off from the place they used to call home. Spike slowed the vehicle down and switched off the lights. The school bus parked behind them and did the same.
"Hey where did the lights go?" asked Andrew, who had been In the middle of reading a comic.
"Look," said Spike.
All eyes turned to the horizon,
"Lights, lots of them," said Willow puzzled.
By the look of the glow in the distance, there were lots of them. Faith banged on the side of the van. Andrew opened it, Faith hopped in.
"What's going down?" asked Faith.
"Did you catch the lights?" asked Dawn.
"Yeah I saw that much," said Faith.
I think, a couple of us need to get a look at what's going on before we proceed any further," said Giles
"Good idea, volunteers?" asked Xander.
"I'll go," said Spike.
"Me too," said Buffy
"Count me in," said Faith.
"Me four," said Dawn.
"No way, you're waiting here with the others," said Buffy firmly.
Dawn's face fell and she went off and sulked in the back of the van. Andrew followed, not even bothering to ask, as he already knew what the answer would be.
"Be careful," said Giles.
"I know the drill," said Buffy.
"I just have to tell Robin the plan," said Faith as she walked over to the school bus.
"Guess I know who wears the pants in that relationship," said Spike.
"I heard that," said Faith as she walked off.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"So hubby let you tag along then?" asked Spike.
"Yeah, took some convincing, but I knew he'd see it my way eventually," said Faith.
"Yeah you slayers have a very persuasive way about you," said Spike.
"Can we just keep our minds on the mission in hand?" asked Buffy.
They neared the remains of Sunnydale, halted in their progress by a ten- foot wire fence.
"Bloody hell," said Spike.
"My thoughts exactly," said Buffy.
"Look at this," said Faith.
She pointed to a large sign on the wire fence. Spike read out the words on the sign.
"This land is the property of Wolfram & Hart, KEEP OUT, all trespassers will be dealt with,"
"Wolfram & Hart?" asked Buffy.
"Law firm, they gave Angel a lot of trouble, heard about them during my time in LA," said Faith.
"Well, newsflash kiddies, said Law firm is now being run by Buffy's former," said Spike.
Buffy looked at him.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Buffy said.
"You didn't ask," said Spike.
"Look let's not start with the arguments, I think the best bet would be to get to the van and figure out what's going on here," said Faith.
"Yeah, maybe Willow can throw some light on this, I can't believe Angel could be involved in something shady," said Buffy.
Spike shook his head as Faith led the way. Buffy really was out of touch with the tall dark forehead, thought Spike to himself.
TBC
A/N I know some of you are not Principle Wood fans, I will try and keep his involvement to a minimum, I just wanted a way for Faith to be in it, as I like her. Sorry!