Author: Bitten And Staked
Title: City of Angels - Chapter Twelve - Dinner with family.
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Summary: Buffy and Spike head off the dinner with the parents, Buffy is a little shocked when she finds out more about Spike. Walking home Buffy realises the night had been pretty perfect and all very normal considering her supposed boyfriend is a vampire.
Timeline: set in between season 5 and 6, in my alternate world where Buffy didn't die. Spike's crypt is trashed during the final showdown and Dawn convinces Buffy to let him stay since he protected them both.
Series: Part 12 of ?
Pairing: Buffy and Spike. Romance, love and nooky.
Rating: PG13
Disclaimer: everyone else owns Buffy and all associated with her.
Feedback: always welcome so email me - webmaster@talesoftheslayer.com
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The walk to the restaurant was thankfully uneventful. Walking the streets openly made Spikes guard go up but he managed to appear relaxed. The restaurant was down by the seafront and their table was outside on the promenade. Buffy smiled at Spike as he watched the grill nearby, all those lovely slabs of raw meat being thrown onto the fire.
"You've got a little drool." Buffy joked with him as she placed her finger to the corner of his mouth and he pretended to bite at it.
Dawn busied herself with snapping pictures of everyone around the table including herself. When the main courses arrived Spike offered a suggestion of a certain label of wine that went down well with Buffys dad. She gave him a little look that seemed to say 'how do you know about wine?' but Spike just smiled in response and tapped his nose.
"So William, where are you from. With that accent you can't be local?" Hank cut a section of steak and waved it in the air at Spike.
"Hertfordshire, England. Came over here after university." Spike smiled at him and took a sip of the red wine he'd ordered. He noticed that Buffy looked a little nervous at the mention of university she gulped down a mouthful of wine.
"You're a scholar then? Where did you study?" Jane gave him a pleasant smile that he knew meant 'somewhere decent I hope'.
"University of Oxford." Spike didn't feel very forthcoming; Buffy raised an eyebrow at him and gave him her patented look, he was a vampire and still better than her.
"What was your major? I really wish one of my girls would go over to England to study."
"My degree was in literature and philosophy. Very interesting to me, they're a passion of mine. I'm sure Buffy will make it to England one day, she's such a little studier."
Buffy choked on a piece of her salad. She fumbled for some water and Spike couldn't help but allow himself a small chuckle as he handed it to her. Rubbing his hand in circles on her back.
"You alright love?" Spike cocked his head and looked at her, she was red with embarrassment.
"Fine. Evil salad." She stabbed at it with a fork when she had regained her composure and Spike jokingly clutched his chest.
"And what do you do now?" Hank continued his line of questioning, Spike was too concerned with Buffy for a moment but once he saw she was going to be okay he answered.
"I work in research over at UC Sunnydale, it's all very boring but it's how I met Buffy." He placed his hand on hers and she smiled at him. She was glad he had avoided his Magic Box idea.
Dawn made a small gagging noise that got her a kick under the table from Buffy. Hank looked as though he was studying Spike hard.
"How old are you William?" It was blunt and to the point.
"28." Spike didn't give an inch.
"Fair few years older than my daughter then."
Spike had to smile at that and mentally replied what's 130 years between lovers?
"And just a couple younger than your lovely wife." Spikes words cut Hank down to size and he felt Buffys hand tense under his. Gonna be in trouble for that one later.
Hank laughed along with his wife. "Yes, I suppose she is my junior somewhat."
"Same here then." Spike looked to Buffy and widened his eyes for a second as if to say 'help?'.
"So dad, how's business." Buffy diverted the conversation masterfully and it lasted for the rest of the night.
When they were walking home Buffy made Spike drop back with her so they were out of hearing distance of the rest of the party. Buffy slipped her hand into Spikes and he smiled down at their hands.
"Not mad at me?" He raised his eyes to hers.
"What? For saying what I couldn't, come one she's far too young for him."
"Buffy, you're 130 years my junior. Not that I'm saying were you know."
"I know, I forgot. This night was so normal. No slaying, no evil vampires."
"Hey now that hurts!" Spike pouted at her.
"Okay, present company excluded, no evil vampires. You're the evillest." Buffy reached up and pulled on his lip.
"Thanks pet. Wanna watch telly when we get in?"
"Yeah." Buffy looked whimsical and a little tipsy.
"What's that look for pet?" Spike was amused by her broadening smile, he'd watched her drinking wine all night like there was no tomorrow.
"Thinking. This is nice." She swung their hands up into view and wiggled them. "This, the normalness and settling down in front of the TV for the evening. Relaxing."
Spike chuckled and she hit him with her free hand.
"Sorry pet, just one of your happiest moments this year and I'm the instrument of it. Let a bloke enjoy the moment, even if it's make believe."
Buffy gave him a hurt look. "I suppose you're right. You're so different when you're away from the hellmouth."
"Not the hellmouth pet, just you're letting me be, well me, without hitting me or running away. This is me Buffy, no charade."
Buffy sighed as they turned and walked up the path to the house.
"It's still nice."
"Isn't it just. Did I mention you look beautiful?"
"About fifty times. I think I'm tipsy."
They walked in silence the rest of the way to the annex.
[Next chapter is rated NC17 - therefore it is only being posted on my site, to keep this story PG13 the next chapter posted here will be chapter 14]