title: Marriage, Sunnydale-Style
author: Heather (heather@hella-good.org)
rating: R
spoilers: none...completely an au/fantasy fic except for things borrowed from
the Buffyverse (season 1-7) that are twisted to fit in this universe.
disclaimer: If I actually owned anything, I probably wouldn't be doing this :)
summary: After almost 10 years of dating, Buffy and Spike finally find
themselves in the midst of planning a wedding and remembering the long journey
that got them there.
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Chapter 3
"Mom?" Buffy called out, entering the house.
"Kitchen!" Joyce responded. Buffy made her way there, smelling the waffle-y goodness. Joyce was chopping strawberries and looked up, smiling and then looked confused. "Where's the groom?"
"Angel called. He asked Spike to pick up a case since Angel couldn't do it," Buffy told her, picking up a strawberry. "Mmm, yummy."
"Is Angel suddenly deficient? Wait, don't answer that."
"Mom...I get enough Angel bashing from Spike, can you just not?"
"Sorry, honey, but we've had this planned since last week specifically because Spike doesn't have to work on Saturdays."
"I know," Buffy said, a bit annoyed. "But with Darla and the pregnancy, things are bit hectic right now. I actually was very impressed that Spike said yes. I figured he'd tell him to 'sod' off."
"Darla's pregnant?" Joyce practically screeched. "I didn't even know she was back."
"As the story goes, she came back, they had a night of passion, she took off again and then showed up on his door step seven months later with a 'Hey, Daddy' and so he's just trying to adjust."
"Crazy," Joyce muttered to herself, shaking her head. "Well, since Spike's not joining us, how about we go down to Helson's and buy you a wedding dress?"
"Ooh, yes, please!" Buffy jumped up and down excitedly. "We should also pick up your dress...if you ever decide on what you want to wear..."
"I actually did find something and it's not at what you so endearingly refer to as Muumuus 'R Us. I just wanted to have you see it first, make sure you like the color and what not. I know you'd give me an honest opinion."
"Of course. Is it at Helson's?" Joyce nodded. "Good, then it's a one stop kind of deal. We still need to order the flowers and get the cake thing situated. I need to get Spike to come with me for that. He's been dragging his feet a bit about the entire situation. If I weren't so sure that he loved me, I'd say he didn't want to do this."
"How'd the discussion about the tux go?"
Buffy rolled her eyes. "Awful. He picked up a black suit. All black. It's not that it's bad but it's not a tux and this wedding is going the traditional route. I want the whole nine yards...whatever that means."
"He does like black, Buffy. And if it's not an ugly suit..."
"No, no, no. It's not going to happen. I plan on telling him that he can change into it after the bulk of the wedding is done. You know the pictures, meal, cake shoving and the garter-flower toss thingy. But I'm letting him stew in his juices for just a bit first. Besides, Spike in that all black suit?" Buffy got a far away look in her eyes. Joyce waved her spatula in front of her face. Buffy blushed instantly. "Oh, sorry."
Dawn came in through the kitchen door, jogging in place as she shut it, bobbing her head to the music coming out of her walkman. She jogged over to Joyce and Buffy each giving them a quick kiss and pointed up and jogged off.
"Since when does Dawn jog?"
"She's apparently on some sort of health kick. What do we know about this Connor boy? Is he anything like his brother?"
"I think he's more disaffected, if that helps any. Angel brooded and Connor sulks. There's a difference."
"I'm not dealing with a mopey Dawn, Buffy. It was bad enough when you were dating Angel and constantly walking around like a wounded puppy."
"It was not that bad, Mom. We had our difficulties but on the whole it wasn't so bad. And hello? Not with him anymore so can we please for the love of all things get off the Angel thing?"
"What Angel thing?" Dawn asked, returning to the kitchen.
"Nothing, Dawn. We were actually talking about Connor and as always Mom went off on a tangent about Angel."
"Not as always," Joyce argued. "Dawn, what do you know about Connor?"
"I know he's fairly tall, skinny, needs a haircut and is allergic to smiling. Other than that, nada."
"So you know only superficial things, then?" Buffy asked, a small smile playing on her lips.
"Hey, it's not my fault he doesn't own a pair of scissors. I don't know why I need to explain this to you two of all people but you can not tell a person's personality by looking at them. If he's a good guy, I don't know...all I know is what I said before."
"Well, if he's going to be escorting you to the wedding, I at least want to meet him first."
"It's not a date! What did you tell her, Buffy?" Buffy raised her hands in a gesture that said she didn't say anything. "He was at the office, I was at the office picking up some stuff for Spike and you know...he asked if we could have dinner or and I'm quoting here 'something' and I said sure. I don't even know if he'll be my date for the wedding so can we please pass on this topic until more info is gathered?"
"Sure, honey," Joyce agreed as she brought the food into the dining room. They took their seats like nothing had ever changed and easily fell into a light conversation about the wedding, staying clear of all things Angel and Connor.
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