Chapter 21/Epilogue - One Not-so-Wild Night

"Hey Willow" Xander called to her as she crossed the main foyer. She blushed the colour of her hair as she turned to look at him.

"Mr Summers" she nodded formally, there were other servants around after all and her mother could walk in at any moment.

"Sweetie, just call me Xander" the brunette half-laughed as he walked over to her, "I have something for you" he said, handing her a large box. The red-head looked a little surprised as she thanked him and opened it up to reveal a beautiful evening dress.

"Oh my God, Xander" she gasped, forgetting her surroundings, "It's beautiful" placing the box on the floor, she flung herself into his arms and hugged him tight.

"It'll be even more beautiful when you're wearing it for our date tonight" he told her and she pulled away to look at him. He looked and sounded completely serious.

"But my Mom..." she began only to be abruptly cut off.

"Your Mom likes me" Xander shrugged, "She even said I could marry you some day" he smiled, eyes twinkling, and Willow could hardly believe what she was being told. It was all too perfect. She hugged him again, til Xander could barely breathe and he gently pushed her away.

"Now, take your dress" he told her, "and go get ready" he smiled, taking her hand and kissing it, "cos tonight, and every day and night after that, I'm gonna treat you like the princess you really are"

* * * * *

Buffy walked down one of the many corridors of the Giles' house, Spike beside her with his arm over her shoulders.

"I'm sorry, luv" he said suddenly and she frowned not understanding.

"For what?" she asked as he stopped walking and turned to face her, looking decidedly guilty. Buffy was starting to worry that he'd done something terrible that she didn't know about, and just when she thought they could be happy too!

"You shouldn't fight with your Mum over me..." he mumbled, hands in his pockets by now, making him look like a little kid who'd been caught by his mother with his hand in the cookie jar

"It's not you" Buffy told him, putting her hands to his face and making him look at her "it's me, actually, it's mostly her...besides I don't need her, not when she's going to behave like that" she assured him with a shake of her head to emphasise her point "I still have Xander and Willow, and now I have you and Giles too...what more could I want?" she shrugged, her hands dropping to his shoulders as his arms slid around her waist.

"I dunno" he smirked "Maybe a wild night out?" he suggested, making Buffy giggle.

"Actually" she said, looking up into his eyes "y'know I think I'd rather stay in, maybe with a bad movie, the lights out, and a certain gorgeous guy on a couch for two?" she said, leaning in close, her voice getting softer all the time.

"Sounds like a plan, pet" Spike agreed, right before their lips met and they kissed passionately.

Buffy sighed as they parted and turned to walk down the corridor together, his arm over her shoulders again and hers around his waist.

"Y'know" she mused "I think I could really learn to love staying in"

"Yeah, me too, luv" Spike agreed with a smile.

~THE END~