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.

*****************************

Chapter 17

Flashback

"Oh, I don't know," Buffy lamented.

"You never will unless you ask," Willow told her.

"But what if he thinks it's like a date. I don't want him to think that I'm asking him just so I can have an escort or whatever."

"He won't. It's fairly obvious to everyone, except for you, apparently, that he would take you regardless the situation," Cordy said as she picked up a dress from the rack and held it up to her. "Is it me or is everything hideous this year?"

"It's not you," Buffy said as she did the same.

"You have a dress. Why are you looking?" Willow asked.

"I had a dress for when I was going with Angel. If I ask Spike-"

"When you ask Spike, you mean," Cordy interrupted.

"When, if, whatever...there's a whole different vibe with him."

"You sound like Cordelia right now," Willow said, laughing.

"Dressing for your date is not unheard of. Plus, she's going to want to look fantastic." Cordelia grabbed a maroon and black dress from the rack and brought it to Buffy. "She wants there to be drool."

"No, I don't! Well...not a lot and not on me." She looked at the other two who were giving her disbelieving looks. "See, this is why I don't think I should ask him."

"Because of the drool?" Willow asked.

"We're friends. Good friends. In almost two months, he has become this constant. And not just for me, either. He watches Dawnie which he says he does because he likes it but it's Dawnie...the world's smallest pain in the ass, your boyfriends are friends with him now, my mom loves him..."

"It's like you're dating without all the perks of dating," Cordy said. "I see your point now."

"So, he likes to do things for you and with you...not a big deal. And so what if he likes you? He hasn't said anything about that yet, right? He's happy to just be your friend."

"Sure, but how long can a guy do that, Will? Believe me, I don't think that he's my friend first so he can have an easier in with me. I love him being my friend. He's easy to talk to, non-judgmental...on most subjects. I've even talked to him about my dad." Both girls looked at Buffy in surprise. "It's so weird. Hank is not a subject that I like to explore but maybe because he has that abandonment issue as well...it makes it easier."

"Well, I think you should just ask him. I think it will make the night even better to have him there with you," Willow said as she picked out her dress.

"Finally!" Cordelia shouted as she picked up a dress. "Let's try these on and resign ourselves to the fact that there is nothing here."

"I kind of like this one," Buffy said as then entered the dressing rooms.

"Of course you do. I picked it out," Cordy said with a wink. As they tried on their dresses, Cordelia said, "I have an idea. Why don't you take Xander? He'll probably pee his pants at the idea of taking you to the prom and I'll take Spike. That way no weirdness."

Buffy thought about that for a minute and was uncomfortable with the idea of Spike being Cordelia's date. "Thanks, Cordy, but I don't think so."

"Ooh, I think I see the ugly green monster," Cordy teased.

"Whatever," Buffy responded.

"Are you guys ready?" Willow asked and got a simultaneous yes. "Count of three? One...two...three." At that the three girls opened their doors and stepped out. "Wow, you guys look amazing."

"Not so bad yourself, Will," Buffy said as she twirled in front of the three-way mirror. "Cordy, this dress is..."

"Drool worthy?"

"Yes, definitely. I found my dress and Cordy can gloat forever that she picked out the only pretty dress Buffy ever wore," Buffy joked.

"Damn straight I will. Move so I can see myself."

--------------------------

"Popcorn?" Spike asked Buffy, putting the bag in front of her. She shook her head no and he shrugged. He leaned over and whispered, "Something wrong, pet? This movie isn't that interesting."

"Shh, I'm trying to watch." He sighed and leaned back in his chair. "Can you stop shaking your leg like that?"

"Did I do something to piss you off?"

"SHH!" Buffy and Spike heard from the people around them.

"Sorry!" Buffy said.

"I'm going," Spike said abruptly and got out of his seat.

"Spike, wait!" Buffy called out.

"SHH!!"

"Oh, will you people calm down? The movie sucks!" Buffy yelled and ran after Spike. When she finally caught up with him, she grabbed his arm and turned him around. "Why did you take off?"

"What's your problem tonight?" Spike asked, his jaw clenching in frustration.

"Nothing. What's yours?"

"Oh, no. You're not turning this around on me. Did something happen today?"

"No."

"Xander said that you all went shopping. That doesn't usually put you in such a foul mood."

"I'm not in a foul mood," Buffy snapped.

"Right, so we're playing kick the Spike for fun, is it?" He removed her hand from his arm and walked away, leaving Buffy with a stunned expression on her face. She watched him walk out the front door of the theater and shook her head in shame.

Spike stood outside the theater and lit a cigarette. "Bloody hell," he swore under his breath. He paced back and forth, going over the evenings events, not finding anything that would be a reason for her behavior. He had noticed that she was being quiet but he hadn't pressed the issue. For the life of him, he couldn't figure it out and that was making him more annoyed.

"You're making me dizzy," he heard Buffy say. He stopped pacing and stood in front of her looking for an explanation. "I'm being a bitch, I know."

"Bloody right you are."

"I have a lot of things on my mind, that's all. I probably shouldn't have come tonight."

Spike tried to ignore the last comment and asked, "What kind of things? Anything you want to talk about?"

"No...maybe. I don't know."

"You're all over the place."

"I'm just...I'm going to go home."

"I'll walk you."

"No, don't. I have some things to work out in my head. I need some alone time." She gave him an apologetic smile and walked past him, leaving Spike with the stunned expression this time.

-------------------------------

"Buffy? Is that you?" Joyce called from the living room.

"Is Spike with you?" Dawn asked, jumping up from the floor and running into the foyer. Her smile quickly disappeared when she saw Buffy alone. "It's just Buffy," she added, grumpily.

Buffy walked into the living room, sitting next to her mother on the couch. "What are you guys up to?"

"Nothing, watching TV. I thought you were going to the movies with Spike," Joyce said.

"We did...it was, uh, bad so we left."

"And he didn't come back with you?" Joyce asked, surprised.

"He's not with me, is he?"

"I'm sure I don't have to tell you I don't like the tone in your voice," Joyce said, sternly.

"Ooh, Buffy's in trouble. This is always fun," Dawn commented.

"Shut up, Dawn. I'm going to bed." Buffy got off the couch and walked over to the stairs. "If he calls, don't wake me up, okay?" Joyce nodded and wondered what had happened that she wouldn't talk to Spike.

"If Buffy did something bad to Spike and he never comes over here, I'm never talking to her again," Dawn said, crossing her arms across her chest.

"Dawn-" Joyce began.

"I'm not kidding, Mom. I'll like disown her or something."

----------------------

"Leave me alone, Dawn," Buffy said, sleepily. "Stop shaking me, you little brat." She felt her shoulder still being nudged, bringing her further out of her pleasant dream state. "That is it!" She quickly sat up and shoved the person off the bed.

"Jesus!" Spike yelled.

"Spike? What the hell are you doing here?"

"Trying to talk to you."

"Well, apparently you didn't notice, but I was sleeping!" She flopped down on her bed, throwing her covers over her head. "Get out."

"Not until we talk," Spike said, getting off the floor and sitting at the bottom of her bed.

"If I knew how to say leave in French, I'd say it in hopes that it was just English you were having a hard time with tonight."

"I talked to Willow."

Buffy threw the covers off of her and shot straight up. "You did what?"

"Now don't get angry, luv-"

"It is not the time for pet names, Spike," she interrupted.

"She didn't tell me much. Only that Angel called you this afternoon after you got home. Is that why your upset?"

"Yeah," she huffed angrily. "Sure, whatever. Sounds good."

"I'm trying to get to the bottom of this, pe...Buffy."

"PeBuffy?" she asked, smirking. "Yes, Angel called. No, I'm not upset that he did. Not really. It's not the cause of my upsetness. Okay?"

"So what is? Because I can't think of anything I did for why you're treating me like I'm the devil incarnate."

"It's nothing. He offered to take me somewhere and I said no. Again."

"You know you're being extremely vague, right?"

"Was kind of doing it on purpose," she answered, meekly.

"Where did he want to take you?"

"See, that's the thing. He doesn't want to take me. And I don't want him to take me. It's sort of a pity invite and I'd rather go by myself than take a date out of pity."

"Where are you going by yourself?" Spike asked, trying to remain patient. He felt like he was literally dragging the words from her mouth.

"My prom," Buffy told him, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Your prom? Why didn't you just ask me?"

"It would be another pity date but with a different guy." She could see him starting to angry and she really couldn't blame him. If she had done what Willow and Cordelia had told her, this all would not be happening. Buffy knew full well that going with Spike would be anything but a pity date. He would have made the night special. It never would have been about pity.

"Do you think I'm friends with you because I pity you?" Spike asked, his voice deep in anger.

"No, no, of course not. I didn't mean that. I spoke before I thought. It just came out-"

Spike stood up and put his hands on his waist. She took in his form and tried her hardest to block out the way it made her feel inside. "When is it?"

"Next Friday."

"Be ready, Summers." He turned and went out the door. Not even a minute later she heard the front door slam shut. Her door flew open and Dawn stood in the doorway.

"What did you do now?" Dawn demanded.

----------------------------------------

"Buffy, you look beautiful," Joyce gushed.

"Mom, please stop. You're making me nervous and I was trying to go for a non-nervous thing."

"Fine, fine, I'll try. Shoot me for being motherly. Can't help it, you know." Joyce held out a box to Buffy. "I got you a little something. I had to exchange them after you switched dresses on me but these are better."

Buffy opened the box to find dangling garnet earrings set with marcasite stones, a matching necklace and a hairclip. "Oh my god, Mom! This had to cost a fortune. We don't have money for this..."

"Honey, that new dress you have on was a lot cheaper than your other that we brought back and so here's the difference. Do not worry about it," Joyce explained as she did the clasp on the necklace. "Ah, perfect match."

"So should I pull the sides back?" Buffy asked as she held the sides of her hair from her face. "And put the clip down low? So it's sort of up but the back is still down?" Joyce nodded enthusiastically and helped Buffy with her hair. "I look so girly. Thank you!" She gave her mother a tight hug and she felt a tear drop fall on her bare shoulder. "Mom..."

"Sorry, sorry...can't help it!"

They heard the doorbell ring and Dawn yell that she would answer it. Buffy looked in the mirror again, fixing the waves of her hair, making sure the clip that held the sides back was firmly in place. She stood back from the mirror, giving herself the once over yet again.

"I don't know why I'm so nervous...it's just Spike," Buffy said, under her breath.

"Uh-huh, just Spike," Joyce agreed, amused that her daughter didn't get it. "I'll go down and keep him company. And, honey, don't forget your shawl."

"Yes, Mom." Taking a few deep breaths and letting them out slowly, she grabbed the matching shawl from her bed and wrapped it around her shoulders. She stood in front of the mirror again and wrinkled her nose. She didn't want him to see her with the shawl first. Best to just carry the shawl and then put it on. What does it matter, Buffy? It's just Spike. She checked her hair again. You're stalling. Don't leave him down there too long with Dawn. There might not be a Spike left. Another deep breath. Okay, we're good. And just keep telling yourself it's only Spike. Be calm and cool.

-----------------------

" Spike, you look amazing," Joyce said as she came down the stairs.

"Thank you, Mrs. Summers. Is she ready?"

"Call me Joyce for the hundredth time and she's a girl. It could be another twenty minutes," Joyce teased.

"Hi, Spike!" Dawn said, running in from the kitchen.

"Hey again, Bit. How'd that math test go?"

"Fine, fractions suck."

"Dawn, watch you language," Joyce scolded.

"Buffy says it all the time!" Dawn whined.

"That may be, but she doesn't around me so I can't yell at her about it. Spike, please explain this to my youngest. She seems to listen to you."

"Dawn, you really shouldn't say-"

"Oh, please," Dawn interrupted. "You're always saying bloody this and sodding that. I'm not sure what it means, but I can guess that it's not very nice."

"I guess I'm going to have to lecture everyone about their language," Joyce muttered.

"Mrs...Joyce, I'm sor-"

Joyce laughed, cutting him off. "It's fine. I'm only giving her a hard time," she said quietly to Spike.

"Ah, a little reverse psycho-" Spike stopped talking as he saw Buffy walking down the stairs. She was a vision and he suddenly had trouble breathing as she made her way down.

"Hi," Buffy greeted him as she made it to the foyer. "You look...with the tux. Clean up well."

"And you..." Spike coughed to clear his throat. "Very nice, as well." Very nice? Really poetic. Way to win her heart, wanker.

Buffy did a small curtsey. "Thank you. I just have to get something from the kitchen. I'll be right back." Oh god, oh god. Spike plus tux equals too good looking. Too hard to resist. Must resist double-o Spike. Must not be swayed by bow tie and cummerbund. Buffy opened the fridge, grabbing his boutonniere. Taking a few deep breaths, she made her way back to him. You keep breathing like that, Buff, you're bound to pass out sometime during the night.

"I'm not exactly sure how to put this on...I've never had to boutonniere anyone," Buffy said with a smile.

"I'll do it, honey," Joyce offered. "Old pro at this sort of thing."

"This is yours," Spike said, handing her a beautiful corsage. "Cordelia made it a point to let me know that a wrist corsage was the only acceptable kind to get. That and if you showed up with one pinned to your dress, she would personally kick my as...bum. Kick my rear."

Buffy laughed saying, "Sounds just like Cordy. The roses match perfectly."

"Okay, handsome, you're all set. Can I at least get a couple of pictures?"

"Mom..."

"It was a mistake to ask, I know. I'm telling you I'm taking some pictures so get into position," Joyce told her.

After what seemed like an eternity of pictures being taken with every combination of people one could think of, Joyce let them get on their way.

"Do you have something after the prom?" Joyce asked as she walked them out the door.

"Cordy's having a little bash back at her house, but if you want me to come right home, I can," Buffy answered.

"No, no, you go out. Have fun. Believe me, I don't think my parents saw me until dawn the night of my prom. Just be careful and no drinking and driving."

"No worries, Joyce. Wouldn't put Buffy in any danger," Spike said quickly, hoping to reassure the somewhat apprehensive Joyce.

"Thanks, Mom. I'll call if I plan on being very late, okay?" Joyce nodded and went back in the house. "Wow, never thought we'd get out of there," Buffy commented as she went to open her door.

"Uh-uh, luv. Let me. You get the full gentleman treatment tonight," Spike said as he opened her door.

"Oh, goody!" Spike got in on the driver's side and went to start the car but stopped. "Something wrong, Spike?"

He looked her straight in the eyes, trying to convey what he was feeling as well as thinking. "You really do look lovely tonight, pet." Buffy blushed and looked away. "Love the colors."

"That's why I bought it," Buffy said quietly, still not looking at him. He was still watching her though and he was taken aback by what she said. However, there was a dance to get to and now was not the time to start the conversation of what she meant by that. He shook his head and started the car.

-----------------------------

As Buffy and Spike entered the gym of Sunnydale High to the sounds of "We are Family", they looked at each other, rolled their eyes and laughed. Spotting Willow at a table, she pointed and they made their way over. They both heard the whispers, noticed the looks from both the male and female prom-goers and it made them both smile out of pride for who they had on their arm. This might not be so bad after all, they both thought.

"Hey guys!" Buffy greeted as they arrived at the table. "Have we missed anything important?"

"Nothing besides the DJ's entire catalogue from the 70's," Oz told them.

"Well, it doesn't seem like he's moving on any time soon," Cordy said, snidely. "Just because it's a prom and the whole event is a bit on the cheesy side, the music doesn't have to follow suit."

"Here, here," Buffy agreed. Looking around the room, she spotted Giles looking like he'd rather be anywhere else but there. "Giles looks like he's about to combust."

"But he looks great. Who would have thought?" Willow asked. "I think tuxes just make everyone look better. I mean, did you see Jonathan?"

"Yeah, on my way in. What's up with the buxom, tall blonde for a date? Way to go Jonathan, huh?" Buffy said, smiling.

"They should be doing the announcements soon," Xander said, nervously.

"Honey, there's not reason to be nervous for me. It's not like anyone else could be prom queen," Cordy said, patting his shoulder in an attempt to comfort him. Hearing protests from Buffy and Willow, she quickly said, "Don't get me wrong. You guys look really great tonight but we all know that I'm the queen at this table."

Willow rolled her eyes and said to Xander, "Don't worry. Twelve years of being a dork will not go unnoticed."

"Hey! Not a dork. Funny, joke-guy. I make light of any situation. It's my thing."

"And a creative way to not deal with serious issues," Buffy commented. Off Xander's look, she said, "Kidding! Sort of..."

"I don't care what you say. I deserve this. Like Cordy, I am the clown at this table."

"You get no arguments from me," Cordy quipped, looking at Xander like he was insane. "C'mon, let's dance, dorkhead."

Spike leaned over to Buffy, "Do you want to dance?"

"Um, not yet. Still taking in the scene. Later?" Spike nodded and leaned back in his chair. "Snyder hasn't kicked anyone out yet? Harmony hasn't said something stupid? No one's done anything?"

"Does Harmony ever say anything smart?" Willow joked. "That would be cause for surprise."

"Snyder's just walking around, glaring. You know, what he does best," Oz put in.

"So what you're telling me is that the prom is a rocking good time?" Buffy asked, sarcastically.

"Pretty much," Oz concurred.

Turning to Spike, Buffy said, "Sorry about this whole thing. I know it's not exactly you're idea of-"

"Nonsense, pet," Spike said, smiling to reassure her.

Buffy caught a glimpse of Xander talking to Larry and she laughed. "Does Larry still think Xander's gay?"

"Probably. I don't think anyone told him otherwise," Willow told her. "I think Larry thinks Xander dating Cordy is only for face."

Xander looked over at his friends and mouthed the word help which caused everyone at the table to laugh. He rolled his eyes in frustration, not believing that no one would come to his aid.

"Maybe one of us should go rescue him," Buffy said.

"I'll go," Spike volunteered. Before Buffy could respond, Spike was out of his chair and making his way over to Xander and Larry. She watched as Spike shook Larry's hand and made small talk. Her eyes bulged when she saw Spike slowly put his arm around Xander's shoulder. She could see on Xander's face that the move had caught him completely off guard.

"What is he doing?" Willow asked, laughing.

"I have no idea but it seems to have made Larry happy," Buffy commented as she watched Larry grab Xander in a bear hug and do the same to Spike. He patted them on each their backs and gave Xander and Spike a thumbs up before shaking his head and turning away. "They're coming back. Xander looks like he's ready to pop."

As they arrived back at the table, Xander was saying, "But there was no need to do that. Why would you do that?"

"You said help, so I helped. He's not asking to dance with you anymore, is he?" Spike asked, throwing Buffy an amused look.

"That's so not the point at this point! He thinks I'm your...that we're...I can't even form words," Xander argued.

"Look, mate, you asked for it."

"I didn't ask for that!"

"Eh, well, he won't be bothering you about coming out anymore, now will he?" Spike asked, his smirk pissing Xander off even more.

"I wasn't coming out in the first place!"

"Are you sure about that?" Spike asked, having far too much fun at Xander's expense.

"Have you not seen the beautiful girl that I have been dating for the last year?" Xander asked, angrily.

"Xander, you do know he is kidding with you, right?" Oz asked, trying to hide his own smile.

"I think the whelp doth protest too much," Spike said, taking his seat next to Buffy again.

"Right, you're British so you have to go with the Shakespeare," Xander said, grumpily, taking a seat as well.

"A lot of people know Shakespeare, Xander. Not just British people," Willow threw in. "I know Shakespeare and I'm not British...um, obviously."

"You know everything, Will. It doesn't count for you." Xander thought for a moment before his eyes went wide in realization of what Spike had said. "I am not gay!"

"Well, I should hope not," Cordelia said as she rejoined the table. "Otherwise, I've been wasting all this time getting you just the way I like."

--------------------------

"Jack Mayhew? It's a crock!" Xander lamented. "Anyone can do what he does. Look, I can pick up the salt and pepper shakers and do a whole routine with them." Off everyone's looks, he quickly said, "I won't. But do you see my point? Props are not funny!"

"We're sorry, Xand," Willow said, an apologetic look on her face.

"I thought you were a shoe-in," Buffy put in, trying to help.

"Is my crown on straight?" Cordy asked, her hands on both sides of it. She looked at the other couples staring at her. "What? Did my hair fall?"

"Cordy, Xander's having a bit of a crisis here," Willow said, trying to be discreet.

Cordelia turned to look at Xander and saw just how upset he really was. "Oh, honey," she began, patting his knee, "If it will help, we can get you an entire jester's costume, not just that silly hat that Jack's running around with." Xander looked at her and shook his head before placing it on the table. "You can have my crown if you want..."

"Yeah, Xander can be the queen!" Willow said, not realizing the implication of what she had said.

Xander's head shot up and he glared at Spike. "Murder isn't always a criminal act, right? I mean, there's circumstances for everything."

Spike threw up his hands and said, "Hey, I didn't say it. Talk to Red, over there."

"You might not have said it but you started it."

"Do I even want to know what you're talking about?" Cordy asked, confusion on her face.

"Spike and Xander are lovers," Buffy informed her.

Cordelia looked back and forth between the two and shrugged her shoulders. "Well, Xander's always had good taste." Spike grinned and Xander groaned. "Are we leaving soon? This place is dying quickly."

"Another half hour?" Willow asked.

"Sure. I'm parched. Xander?" Cordy asked, expectantly.

"Uh, what?"

"Get me some punch. Please."

"Good thing you said please," Xander said, as he got up. "Anyone else want?" Willow and Buffy both raised their hands. "Why'd I even ask?"

"I'll be right back," Spike whispered in Buffy's ear, which instantly gave her goose bumps. She watched him walk away but quickly lost sight of him in the crowd.

"Earth to Buffy, come in Buffy," Willow said as she waved her arms in the air. Buffy looked at her, barely registering that Willow was talking to her. "Are you going to bite the proverbial bullet and dance with the poor guy?"

"Yeah, what's up with that?" Cordy asked.

"I've danced with him."

"Sure, you have. But I'm talking a nice slow dance, where you may actually have to touch him," Willow explained.

"Oh...yeah, that kind. I'm going to."

"Tonight or..." Oz questioned, trailing off.

"What tonight?" Xander asked as he set down the cups in front of the three girls.

"Buffy, Spike, dancing," Willow told him.

"If she doesn't want to, she doesn't have to," Xander said. "I think they're doing perfectly fine without the dancing and touching parts."

"Could you possibly not fawn over Buffy while your girlfriend sits next to you?" Cordelia asked, sarcastically.

"Answer the question, Buff," Willow pressed.

"I don't wanna," Buffy pouted.

"You don't want to dance with him?" Willow asked, surprised.

"Valid decision, Buffy," Xander intervened.

"Shut up, Xander," Cordy said in response.

"No, I don't want to answer the question," Buffy broke in.

"Answer what question?" Spike asked as he sat back down.

"Uh, if I would be...uh, drinking this punch that Xander brought over. I'm not big on punch," Buffy answered, her face growing redder the more she talked. The opening strings of a slow song started and Buffy glanced down at her hands, twisiting themselves over in her lap. She saw Spike's hand come into view and felt him lean into her.

"We're dancing," he told her softly. She looked at him, meeting his eyes and knew there was no more lame excuses for putting it off. She nodded and took his hand. She glanced at Willow, apprehension clearly written on her face but Willow only gave her a big smile of encouragement.

As they reached the dance floor, Buffy stood awkwardly in front of him, not exactly sure what to do. Spike took the initiative and placed his right hand on her waist and took her right hand into his. She slowly put her left hand on his shoulder and then began to move around, mimicking the other couples on the dance floor.

"Pretty song," Buffy commented, trying to break the silence.

"Etta James. Classic." Buffy looked at him, a smirk on her lips. "Not in the Suspiria classic kind of way..."

"I thought you were all about the rock of the ages."

"Blame Rupert. Closet blues freak. I was surprised that they even had it."

"You requested it?" Spike only smiled and Buffy listened to the words, trying to get a feel for the meaning. "At last, huh?"

He shrugged, then smiled. "Should've danced before this, luv. Could've danced with you all night long."

"You think we're dancing? We're just moving around in circles," Buffy said with a smile.

"Isn't it all we ever do?" Spike muttered to himself but Buffy heard him. Her stomach flipped at the implication of his words. She took a step closer to him, moving her arm from his shoulder, around to his back and laid her head on his chest, pulling their arms closer to them. Spike bent his head down, smelling her hair and kissing the top of her head lightly. He closed his eyes and tried to desperately capture this moment in his memory.

----------------------

"She is too stubborn for her own good," Willow said to Oz, nodding her head to the blonde couple. "Look how perfect that is. That right there with the talking and eye gazing. Ooh, hold on!" She let go of Oz and ran back to the table, grabbing Buffy's camera. Trying to be as discreet as possible she went back to where Oz was standing and fiddled with the camera, waiting until it was just the perfect moment. When she saw Buffy lean further into Spike and wrap herself in his embrace and Spike lean down to kiss her head, Willow snapped the picture.

"For prosperity. Who knows when Buffy will break down and admit it? Might help her to..." Willow told Oz when she saw the questioning look on his face.

"Angel's only been gone for a couple of months, Will. Maybe she isn't ready to move on just yet," Oz tried to reason.

"No, I don't believe that. They're crazy for each other. She only needs to give the word. Which we all know she will not do because she's too-"

"Stubborn. Gotcha. Can I dance with my girlfriend again?" Oz asked, smiling.

"I suppose so," Willow teased, instantly turning into his arms.

Xander and Cordelia swayed over to the red-headed couple, smiling. Willow looked at Cordelia and nudged her head in the direction of Buffy and Spike. She couldn't help but smile when she saw the two, who were not a minute before still barely touching, wrapped up in each other.

"Finally," Cordy said to Willow. "I almost feel bad for the guy. He has no idea how Buffy can be when it comes to people."

"He's more than willing to find out, though," Willow said, happily.

The four watched the other couple as the song came to end. They didn't let go of each other immediately and Willow felt her giddiness bubble to the surface. She couldn't help it, really. She was one of those people that felt happier than the people she was happy for. Willow knew Buffy's past, the troubles she had been through, not just with Angel but with her parents and school. Willow only wanted to see her friend get what she deserved. There was no doubt in her mind that Buffy deserved Spike and he deserved her.

"What do you have going on in that brain of yours?" Oz asked, running his finger from her temple to her jaw line.

"Nothing," she replied, shyly.

"Please no schemes to fix them up," Xander pleaded.

"Couldn't cope with your jealousy?" Cordy asked, bitingly.

"Will you stop with that, please? It's just those sorts of things never turn out for the good. If they're supposed to get together, they will. Let it run it's own course."

"You have learned well, Grasshopper," Oz joked.

"Hey, I actually like the guy." The three turned to Xander, shock evident on all their faces. "Damn it, I know! You know that it kills me, right?"

Willow patted his arm in comfort and turned back to look at Buffy and Spike, who were making their way over to them. She tried to hide her smile but it didn't work out so well. Buffy rolled her eyes at seeing Willow's goofy grin and couldn't stop the small smile that drifted to her lips.

"Well, now that they've finally danced, can we go?" Cordy asked, not noticing the flush of embarrassment that spread across Buffy and Spike's faces.

----------------------------

"So for the senior prank-"

"There's a senior prank?" Buffy asked, interrupting Xander.

Xander rolled his eyes. "Have you ever paid attention to anything that happens at school? Remember last year, that kid...I forget his name...hibernated all those wasps and then released them in the school?"

"Oh, yeah! They cancelled school until it was taken care of. See, I remember the not going to school parts," Buffy said, laughing.

"So this year, I don't know...it has to be something good. Maybe put a rat poison box near the jell-o? Or release a huge snake at graduation?"

"Where would you get money for a giant snake?" Oz asked, amused.

"My uncle Rory could probably hook me up. Granted, the animals he gets are dead but maybe he can get me one of the non-dead variety."

"I will kill you if you release a snake at the ceremony, Xander. It's amazing enough I'm actually graduating and my mother is looking forward to it, as well," Buffy warned him.

"Fine...how about garden snakes in the spaghetti? Good times, right?" Everyone groaned in response. "How about-"

"How about you stop?" Willow asked, sweetly but strongly enough that Xander knew she meant business. He nodded. "Thank you. There's a lot of people here, huh?"

"Leave it to Cordy. At least we got here early enough so that we snagged the comfy chairs by the pool," Buffy said. "It's like sitting on a marshmallow."

"I'll give someone twenty dollars to push Harmony in the pool," Xander challenged.

"She'll drown with all that crap she has on her dress," Buffy pointed out.

"And?"

"Oh, I see your point. Spike?"

"Yeah, luv?"

"See that blonde over there with the pink sparkly dress on?" Spike nodded. "Xander will pay you twenty bucks if you push her in the pool."

"Twenty? That's it?"

"It's Harmony," Xander answered.

"What she do?"

"She's a vapid whore who has made my life a living hell for the last twelve years," Willow said, jumping in. Her eyes were narrowed to slits as she remembered the more embarrassing of things that Harmony had done to her over the years.

"Good enough for me," Spike said, getting up from his chair. "Now do I have to shove her or can I have a little more finesse?"

"Do whatever works for you," Xander told him with a smile plastered from ear to ear.

They watched Spike walk over to Harmony and tap her on the shoulder. She turned, smiling instantly and began talking with him. Buffy watched Spike nod at whatever she said, they laughed and Harmony ran her hand down Spike's chest. Buffy immediately felt her face turn hot and pain in her chest. How dare she touch him! I'll push her in the god damn pool. Buffy got up from the chair and walked away.

"What's Buffy doing?" Xander asked, loving every minute of it but still waiting for the big pay-off.

"Claiming her territory," Willow said with a smile.

"Girl fight, you think?" Xander asked, panting. "Sweet!"

Buffy walked through the people, getting closer and closer to her intended target. Pure fury ran through her veins. She wasn't just angry that Spike felt the need to flirt with Harmony before he dunked her but she was angry that she was so upset at all. It made her feel like a jealous girlfriend and she was well aware that she wasn't. Just a jealous friend. It's your own fault, Buffy. It's not like he wouldn't be your boyfriend. You're just fighting it. Stop fighting it. She sighed heavily and shook her head. Shut up, heart. No one here asked what you thought.

As she walked closer she moved over a bit so she would be close enough to nudge her properly. She could feel her heart begin to race as she saw the back of Spike and Harmony's smiling face. She felt that flash of heat run through her again and she quickly considered the possibility that she may spontaneously combust. Buffy came right up behind Spike and swerved around him. She was about to hip-check Harmony right into the pool when she felt a hand on her arm, pulling her back.

"Huh?" Buffy asked aloud, momentarily dazed.

"Hey, luv. Going somewhere?" Spike asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Uh, no. Cordy said there were wine coolers in the pool house fridge so I'm seeing if it was true. Give Willow one wine cooler and the funny just keeps on coming."

"Give Willow a Coke and she'd probably give her freak boyfriend a lap dance," Harmony said, laughing.

"Excuse me?" Buffy asked, her voice full of venom.

"After three years, I still have trouble on why you would choose that Willow-freak over the rest of us."

"In case you couldn't tell Harmony, even your leader deserted you in favor of us freaks," Buffy snapped. "Doesn't that tell you everything?"

"Cordy's going through something. Giving to the needy or whatever," Harmony huffed.

"For the last year and a half?" Buffy asked, shocked. "Get a clue, Harmony." She saw something flash out of the corner of her eye and turned to see Spike holding up a quarter. She smiled slyly and took the coin. "Or better yet, buy yourself one...although it will probably take more than a quarter."

"What's going on?" Cordy asked, popping up from behind Spike. "I hear there's some sort of problem..."

"No, problem, Cordy! Just talking," Harmony explained, quickly.

"You're just talking to Buffy?" Cordy asked, eyebrow raised.

"Sure!" Harmony said, nodding her head. "It's the end of school, right? It's not like we'll ever have to see her again-"

"'We'll'? Are you including me in this?"

"Now that high school's over, so is everything that goes with it. The pity parade can come to an end, finally," Harmony told her, still smiling.

Cordy took a step closer to Harmony, her hands on her hips. Harmony backed up to get away from her. She knew all too well what that look meant and she didn't want to be on the receiving end of it.

"Harm, you're right. School is over." Harmony threw Cordy a smile, glad to see she was back on board. "Buffy?"

"Uh, yeah?" Buffy asked, tentatively.

"Go about your business," Cordy said, turning on her heel and heading over to Xander.

Buffy looked at Spike, who was standing there with an amused smirk. "Hey, can you hold these?" Buffy gathered the flowing material of her dress and handed them to him. "In case she goes to grab something..." She turned her attention back to Harmony, a large smile on her face. "Harmony, it's been real." She quickly threw her arms in front of her and hit Harmony square on her shoulders. Harmony began to stumble backwards, desperately grabbing for anything. At the right moment, Buffy lifted her arms to bring them to her mouth to hold her laughter in but Harmony quickly grabbed on.

"Spike!" Buffy yelled and Spike instantly grabbed her around the waist and pulled but was pulling Harmony at the same time. "Aahhh!!!" Buffy yelled as she felt Spike grabbing her one way and Harmony the other.

Suddenly, Willow was there, grabbing at Harmony's hand, prying away Harmony's grip on Buffy's wrist. "This is for all the hair pulling, the gum on my seat, the spitting in my food...All of it!" She finally freed Buffy from Harmony and shoved her back, quickly jumping out the way so Harmony couldn't repeat her previous moves. In she went, screaming bloody murder as she hit the water. There were scattered applause and many gasps but it was mostly all laughter.

"That was so liberating!" Willow screamed as she jumped up and down.

----------------------------

Spike pulled up in front of Buffy's house and put the car in park. He looked over at her and saw that she was once again twisting her hands around each other. Spike couldn't help but smile at her obvious nervousness. Why so nervous, luv? Afraid I'm going to try to kiss you? Not that I haven't thought about that every minute since I saw you in the library that day but...Christ, man, get a hold of yourself. It's not going to happen.

"So...you want to do something tomorrow?" Spike asked.

"Uh, Mom has to run to L.A. tomorrow. I'm not sure when she'll be back. I have to watch the brat," she said, with an apologetic smile. Kiss him, you fool! Kiss him!

"I could come over. Rent some movies...not any classic 70's horror flicks, either."

Buffy laughed. "Sure, that sounds good..."

"I'll walk you to the door," Spike offered.

"No, that's not-"

"Gentleman treatment tonight, remember?" Spike asked with a smirk. He got out of the car and made his way around to her side.

"When aren't you..." she mumbled to herself.

"What's that?"

"Nothing!" They made their way to the front door and she turned to look at him. "Thanks a lot for tonight, Spike. I really appreciate it."

"Anytime...although I don't plan on wearing a tux ever again," he said as he pulled on the now unbuttoned collar. "High collars and bow ties are not my friends."

"Well, you looked great." Even better with the bowtie undone around your neck, just hanging there, practically begging to be grabbed and pulled towards my lips. Buffy inwardly groaned. Shut up!

"And you...took my breath away, you did," Spike said as he ran a finger down the side of the bodice.

Buffy looked down at his hand as it rested on her waist. She looked back at his face and saw that he was staring right into her eyes. She instantly felt unnerved as she felt his fingers grab onto her waist a little tighter, moving her forward. He opened his mouth a bit and she saw his tongue run along his teeth. God, there is nothing sexier than that...

Spike watched her, trying to gage what she was thinking. Her head tipped to the side a bit, her hair falling over her bare shoulder. She absently licked her lips, making them glisten in the light. She looked at him wide-eyed and bit her bottom lip in apprehension. God, there is nothing sexier than that...

Before he knew what happened, Buffy's mouth was on his. She stood on her toes just a bit to get better access and she wrapped her arms around his neck, breathing in the scent of him deeply as she gently put pulled his bottom lip into her mouth. She heard him moan and she couldn't help but respond in the same manner. He grabbed her tighter around the waist, pulling her as close as he could get her. He began to run his hands up and down her back, gently massaging as he went, getting his fingers caught up in her long locks.

"Buffy's home!" they heard Dawn yell from inside the house.

Buffy quickly broke her lips apart from his. She looked at him, shock and lust, on her face. "Oh, god..."

"Luv, please-"

"I've ruined everything," she said, tears coming to her eyes. She began shaking her head, saying, "Nothing will ever be the same. From this point on, everything will be built around the fact that we just..."

"Something wrong with that?" Spike asked, trying his hardest not to be hurt or angry.

"Yes! You're my friend. I need you to be my friend."

"Then we're friends. We'll never talk about it again," Spike said, barely getting the words out.

"But it's out there. It's all around us. There's no going back!"

"Why not?"

"Because it was too-" Buffy stopped abruptly and looked at him, mouth agape.

"Too what? Good?" Spike couldn't help it, couldn't stop the smirk. He saw the look on her face and immediately felt guilty. "Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. We can go back."

"Is there some kind of forgetting spell?" Buffy wondered.

"You want to forget?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.

"I need to," she answered softly. She grabbed his hand from her waist and gave it a comforting squeeze before dropping it. She turned and went into her house, leaving Spike dazed.

"I won't let you," Spike said to no one but himself.

End Flashback

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