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 6
Buffy fell back on the couch, beer in hand and looking over the pile of photos that were still on the floor. She bent over, picking them up and putting them back on the couch. She began to hum along to the music, taking the occasional sip of her beer. She sorted through the photos, running her hand over them, shuffling them about. She came across the one Spike had picked up earlier. The one from her senior prom. Willow had picked up her camera and took the picture of them dancing, neither one aware that it had even happened. She couldn't help but smile as she thought about how that night had come about. The sadness surrounding the situation and the relief that Spike had found her when he had...
Flashback
Buffy felt something brushing against her hands that were covering her tear-soaked face. She wearily looked between her fingers, seeing a handkerchief being fluttered at her. She removed her hands from her face and looked at the hand again, her eyes traveling up to see one of the most, no scratch that, the most beautiful man she has ever come across looking at her with great concern. Her shaky hand took the handkerchief and she gave him a brief smile.
"You're Buffy, right?" She looked at him in shock. How could possibly know that? Should I be nervous? Is he an axe-murdering circus freak? "I didn't officially meet you last week...I was in the library...with Rupert?"
"Oh...right." Buffy sniffed and wondered if she should use the handkerchief to blow her nose. It seemed rude to do so because who would want that back? "I'm sorry...you're who?"
"Spike. You alright?"
"Bad day. Your name is really Spike?" She giggled softly and he felt a lot of tension flow out of him that she was no longer crying.
"William, but I don't look too favorably on those who call me that," he answered, smirking. "Want to talk about it?"
"With you?"
"No one else here, luv, so yeah."
"My boyfriend and I broke up. So...tears, sadness, breathing being an issue at times."
"Ah, I see. Poof?"
"Excuse me?" Buffy asked, bewildered.
"Is he a poof?"
"I'm fairly certain I have no idea what you mean by that but I'm going to say...no."
Spike laughed and said, "Does he bugger other blokes?"
"Oh my god, no!" Buffy broke out in a huge grin then looked shyly at him. "You do mean does he have sex with other men, right?"
"Yeah, that's what I meant."
"Why would you even ask something like that?"
"Figure something's a bit not right if he's breaking it off with the likes of you."
Buffy looked down at the ground, blushing instantly. "Uh, thanks?" Deciding to instantly change the subject she asked, "You know Giles? You don't really look like the librarian type."
"Didn't you know all British people know one another?" She looked him, trying to figure if he was pulling her leg. "I'm kidding, luv. Rupes used to run the library that I went to growing up."
"I thought he worked in an orphanage."
"That'd be the one."
"Oh, I'm sorry," Buffy said, feeling very stupid.
"You put me there?" Buffy shook her head no. "Nothing to be sorry for then, is there? Do you mind if I...?" He gestured to the bench Buffy was sitting on. She nodded, moving over a bit so they weren't sitting too close together. "So you and the poof...why'd you end?"
"He's not a poof." Buffy smiled which he returned. Great face, great eyes, great smile...not good. "It's a long story."
"I've got nowhere to go."
"I do. Class...you know what that is?"
"Yeah, went to it until I graduated two years ago. Orphan, not stupid, luv."
"Oh, I didn't mean...I thought that you were...I mean, I don't know what I mean anymore."
"S'alright. Not actually offended. Well, if you gotta go, you gotta go. Don't wanna be late for class, right?"
"It's not like that's never happened." Buffy sighed and wiped her eyes with the handkerchief. "Do you, uh...do you want this back? I could wash it and then give it to Giles to give to you."
"Why don't you give it to me tomorrow night?"
"What's tomorrow night?"
"That's when I'll meet you at that poncey club you've got here in this town."
"The Bronze? It's not poncey...Can you not speak British or whatever until I get used to it because I get confused enough with English."
"You plan on getting used to the way I speak, then?" Buffy blushed yet again and shook her head. This is so embarrassing, she thought. "I figure tomorrow...give you enough time to wash that properly." He shot her the slyest grin she'd ever seen and she felt her stomach do a flip-flop. He stood and reached out his hand to help her up. She took it, gave him a small smile and ran off in the direction of the school entrance.
End Flashback
Spike stood over Buffy and watched her sleeping. The picture of them at her prom lying on her chest, beer bottle dangling from her fingers. God, I love this woman. And here I am calling Angel a poof... He carefully took the bottle from her fingers, placing it on the coffee table and did the same with the photograph. Trying not wake her, he slid his arms under her body and lifted her slowly.
"Spike?" she asked, sleepily.
"Shh, I gotcha, baby. We're going to bed now." He brushed his lips against her forehead.
"Good, bed with Spike is good." She yawned and buried her head into the crook of his shoulder, deeply inhaling that wonderful scent of him.
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