A/N: Hey everyone, I'm done with finals now!!  *grins and sticks tongue out at CeredwenFlame* 

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Chapter 27: Dancing Fool

"Xander had to run to the kitchen and make sure that the pasta had absolutely no garlic in it, because the food critic showed up and he was allergic to it.  So, he's bugging all the cooks, making sure that all the pasta sauce has no garlic in it, and he completely forgets about the bread!  The entire time he's in the back bothering the chefs, there's garlic bread sitting on the damn table.  And every time the critic tried to get rid of it, a waitress brought him some more!" Anya said gleefully.

Buffy laughed and wiped the tears of mirth from her eyes.  Leave it to Xander to completely forget something like that. 

Xander blushed.  "Yeah, yeah, everybody make fun of the guy who pays you.  Very funny.  Help me out here, Spike."

Spike chuckled.  "Sorry, mate, you're on your own."

Xander did an exaggerated eye roll.  "Fine.  I'm going to go get some more wine, anyone else want?"

Spike held up his glass, as did Anya.  Buffy declined with a shake of her head.  "Nothing more for me, Xan."

Xander nodded and left.  Buffy pushed herself back from the table and sighed.  She was absolutely stuffed.  Dinner had been wonderful, and the company even better.  It was exactly what she and Spike needed, time spent in the company of good friends.  No worries about jobs, about the roses or anything else.  Good conversation with some good friends did wonders for Buffy's spirit.  That and the fact that Willow was due to be released from the hospital in a day or two. 

Xander returned with the wine.  A waitress appeared and cleared the table.  Conversation resumed, this time about Willow and Oz.  They had become almost inseparable.  Every single visit made to the hospital to see Willow was also one to see Oz, who rarely left her side.  Spike bragged about being the one who set them up, until Xander butted in and revealed the true reason Oz had gone on the date.  This led Buffy to tease Spike and Anya to compliment Xander on his "wise and pro-orgasm" decision.  

While Xander blushed at Anya's comments, Spike saw Buffy yawning.  Gathering her up, he announced their departure, and thanked Xander for dinner.  It was decided that when Willow finally got out of the hospital, they would meet at Spike's house for another dinner party.  This time, Spike announced, he and Buffy would cook.  Buffy inwardly cringed at the thought, but smiled and agreed.  Hugs and good-hearted quips were exchanged, and Spike and Buffy left the restaurant. 

The summer air was sultry and warm when Buffy and Spike walked outside.  A slight breeze blew through, just enough to cool the skin for a brief moment.  "Whatcha want to do now, luv?" Spike asked quietly.

Buffy reached out and twined her fingers with his as they walked to his car.  "Hmmm, I don't know.  Anything in particular you want to do?"

Spike smirked and raked his eyes up and down her body.  "Could think of one or two things that would be fun," he practically purred. 

Buffy laughed.  "Besides that.  Man, is sex all you think about?"

Spike pretended to think.  "Umm, yeah.  'M a guy, what more do you want?"

Buffy rolled her eyes.  "Riiight.  Anyway, let's go to my place.  A.J has been dying to show you his new video game."

Spike grinned.  "Nothing better than playing video games.  Well, almost nothing better."  He waggled his eyebrows at Buffy and unlocked his car.

Buffy shook her head.  "Get in the car, Casanova."

Spike gave Buffy a mock salute.  "Yes, ma'am."

Another eye roll.  "Let's go, Spike."

Spike was tempted to give Buffy another salute, but thought better of it.  He pulled out of the parking lot and headed toward the Summers' apartment.  "How're Uncle Rupert and the shop?"

Buffy shrugged.  "Good, I think.  Mom thinks they need to buy up more space and expand.  Giles, he wants to stay put.  They've been butting heads about it for a couple of weeks now."

Spike nodded.  "They still planning on going on a buying trip to Chicago?"

Another shrug.  "I think so, but I'm not too sure."

Spike raised his eyebrow, but said nothing.

A few minutes later, they pulled into the parking lot.   They got out of the car and walked to the apartment.  From the hallway, Buffy heard loud music pouring out of her apartment.  She turned to Spike, eyebrow raised.  "What's going on?"

Spike shrugged.  "Got me, luv.  Let's go find out." 

It was absolute bedlam in the Summers' apartment.  The small living room had been completely divested of furniture, and now lay bare.  A small stereo was blasting out swing music.  And, in the middle of the chaos was Joyce, dancing with Rupert Giles.  A.J was standing to the side, holding his sides and laughing.   

"What is going on here?" Buffy asked in a bewildered voice. 

"We're teaching A.J to dance," Joyce called out, not breaking a beat. 

Buffy and Spike looked at each other, then at the turmoil of the living room and back at each other.  Spike raised his eyebrow, and Buffy shrugged.  They walked in and stood next to A.J on the edge of the small living room.  The swing song stopped and Joyce and Giles walked over, both sporting goofy grins.  A slow song came over the stereo, "Iris", by the Goo Goo Dolls.  Spike stood and, to the surprise of everyone, offered his arm to Joyce.  She flushed but accepted the dance.  Spike led her to the makeshift d dance floor.  He twirled her, and then began to lead her in a slow waltz around the room.  The lyrics of the song overwhelmed Buffy as she watched her boyfriend dance with her mother.  Joyce smiled like a young girl as they swept across the floor.  It didn't matter that they were in a cramped apartment, that the floor was barely wide enough to circle, Spike treated it like it was the most magnificent ballroom there was. He led Joyce through the dance and gallantly bowed at the end, before he escorted her back to the others at the edge.  They clapped and Joyce hugged Spike.  He hugged her back, and then relinquished her to dance with A.J when another fast song came on.  Giles and Joyce danced, patiently teaching A.J the steps as he cautiously led him mother around the living room.  

"Wow," Buffy murmured as she wrapped her arms around Spike.  "I didn't see that coming."

Spike smiled rakishly.  "My nanny, she insisted that I learn.  Taught me herself.  Said that all young men should know how to woo a lady through dance." 

He moved Buffy so that his back was against the wall and she was snug against his chest, his arms firmly at her waist.  "Your mum, she a pretty good dancer."

"She used to dance when she was younger.  Not professionally, but she could have, my grandma said," Buffy said.  "My mom, she always said that she liked to dance, but she loved art more.  Told me that dancing was a pastime, arts and antiques were her passion.  Still are."

"What do you think, pet?" Spike asked quietly. 

Buffy took a moment before replying.  "I never really thought about it until now.  But, I think that mom's been happy.  Even when she was sick, she would pore through books; make plans to visit exotic places.  Constantly talked about taking a vacation when she got better, so sure that she would.  Said we would go to Europe, see all the museums there.  She's been there a time or two, absolutely loved it."

They were silent for a moment, each lost in thoughts.  Buffy wondered how different her life might have been if Joyce had continued to dance.  Would she have had the same life?  Did she miss dancing; regret losing something that she so obviously loved?  Was that a reason why she had ended up stripping, dancing for money?  

Spike thought about his own mum and father.  How different they were from this family.  He didn't even know any of his mum's favorite pastimes, sometimes he wondered if Vivian Giles knew if her son was still alive.  And his father, Lord that was just a therapy bill waiting to happen.  So cold and calculating, using his own son to better himself.  There's a name for people like those, Spike thought, sociopath. 

Buffy turned to Spike and pressed a soft kiss to his lips, interrupting his musings.  He smiled at her, and felt his heart swell.  She completed him.  It was incredibly ironic, how his life was falling apart and coming together at the same time.  And somewhere out there, someone was trying to take her away from him.  A fierce wave of protectiveness washed through Spike, and he pulled Buffy closer against him.  She had come to mean so much in so little time, it was amazing.  She was amazing, she was his and he would take whatever means necessary to protect her. 

Buffy felt Spike's arms tighten around her.  She looked up and saw a hard expression on his face.  His eyes were sharp and darkened to almost black, a sure sign he was aroused or pissed off.  "What are you thinking?" she asked him quietly. 

Spike looked down at her and his expression softened.  "Nothing, luv.  Just enjoying the music."

Buffy didn't buy it.  "Come on, Spike.  Tell me."

Another head shake.  "Nothing, really.  Dance with me, Goldilocks?"  He held out his hand. 

A Metallica song came on.  Joyce looked at A.J who just shrugged.  "Mixed cd, I don't know what exactly what's on it."

"Well, change it," Joyce said.

"Hold on a second," Spike said.  "This song is great."

Grasping Buffy, Spike started a slow waltz.  "Nothing Else Matters" flowed through the room as the blonde couple slowly moved.  Like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, one completed the other.  They moved in sync, graceful, beautiful and sensual.  Unconsciously sexual, the way that he touched her hip, she brushed his cheek, he kissed her forehead and she caressed his neck. 

Joyce sighed.  They were gorgeous together, these two.  Her little girl and the man she considered a son.  She knew a lot about Spike, more than Buffy thought she did.  When he quit his job, Joyce had made it a habit to stop by his house for a chat while Buffy was at work.  Bit by bit, he told her the story of his sterile upbringing, his parents and how Xander's friendship saved him.  Spike became firmly entrenched in Joyce's heart after that.  He had become a good man despite his circumstances.

He also didn't hide the truth from her like Buffy did.  Joyce knew that if she asked him about Buffy, Spike would give her the unvarnished truth.  It was Spike who told Joyce about Angel, Dru and Buffy's stalker.  He held his head in shame when he repeated the story of Edward Giles, Joyce refused to think of the man as a father.  It amazed her how Rupert could be related to that man.  Rupert was so kind and gentle, more like Spike.  Edward seemed like a bastard.  Joyce felt guilty for cursing, and she quickly looked around to make sure that no one noticed her flush.  Rupert glanced at her and smiled.  Joyce smiled back and turned her attention back to the dancing couple. 

The last few notes played as Spike dipped Buffy and then pressed a kiss to her lips.  Everyone else cheered the couple.  Spike looked deep into Buffy's eyes and spoke the words he had been dying to say for so long.  "I love you, pet," he said quietly. 

Buffy's eyes widened, but she smiled too.  "I love you too, Spike."

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A/N: Until next time my pretties.  Also, thanks to Tobert, Miss Kitty, Believensweetness, Littlestrange, Charmed 1, Patliria, Rachel and everyone who gives me reviews.  You are wonderful.