Part 3: A Man's Best Friend
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The living room was now full of people, having just ate, they were anxious in their own way, to see what Spike and Buffy were going to do for their wedding. Xander sat on the sofa with Giles at the other end. Andrew sat in the chair next to Giles. Willow and Dawn were seated on the floor, popping popcorn into their mouths and playing with Alex, as they listened to Giles explain that he did not, in fact, have a crush on one of the slayers in training.
"Okay it's getting late for you," Buffy said to Alex, while getting up from her position in Spike's lap, who was sitting in the overstuffed chair, opposite Andrew.
Alex looked up at the sound of his mom's voice.
"I'll take him up, Luv." Spike offered, already getting up. "Come on, it's time for bed," Spike said scooping up Alex into his arms. "Say g'night to everyone."
Alex having done this before let out a sigh and his version more or less of a goodnight, "ka…" Then chuckled as if he were telling some age old secret, looking at everybody with his blue eyes.
Spike walked back the few steps to Buffy.
"Right, 'ka' to you, too," Buffy said, while leaning in to give Alex a goodnight kiss, before she sat down again in the chair.
Alex, who was crawling around the floor, making sure that everyone saw, didn't put up a fight at the prospect of having to go to bed.
It had been a long day, and Alex was already drifting off to dream world, as Spike casually sang him a lullaby.
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[earlier that day]
"See, what did I tell you?" Spike said, as he looked through the peephole.
Spike opened the door and was instantly greeted by Xander and Dawn.
"Hey, Spike... oh wow Will, you just keep getting bigger every day," Dawn said while walking into the house, and made an instant move to take Alex.
The nickname Dawn still uses to call his son, always makes him break into a grin, giving him a sense of pride that Buffy had named their son after him; William. He didn't care that Xander's name is also a part of his son's name. Okay, he did care, but he didn't let it get to him. He knew that Buffy and the others had called Alex, Will, on occasion, but after his unveiling in L.A., the others started using the name Alex more and more, till it was just natural, even to him.
Spike turned so that Xander could come in, while he was handing Alex to Dawn. "As if he was ever small, and don't you have the keys Dawn?" The endearment niblet didn't really fit, not for a long time now, seeing as how she was actually taller than Buffy. And events in the past have changed their relationship. But since his return, it seems that their relationship has taken a turn for the better, they have an unspoken respect for each other, and a friendship with a trust that gets stronger everyday. He knew things will never be totally the same between them. Nothing can change that, and he decided that it's better this way. Better that they have such a history together, but still ended up close friends anyway.
"I just got to the door when you opened it," Dawn explained. "Buffy?"
"She's in the kitchen"
Spike acknowledged Xander with a nod.
"Right," Dawn said as she started to make her way to the kitchen with Alex cooing in her arms.
"Spike, you're up early." Xander grinned.
"Well you know, seeing as to how a lump like you can get up at a decent hour, I thought I'd give it a try." He slapped a hand to Xander's shoulder at the comment. "Come on back, and help me pack some boxes."
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"So looks like you got the packing covered, you wanna start moving 'em outtha here?" Xander asked as he was looking around at all the neatly packed and labeled boxes. The only items left were a week worth of baby essentials, the crib and a few toys.
"Uh yeah, but before we start, I wanted to ask you something," Spike said as he handed Xander a beer from a cooler, and motioned for him to take a seat. 'Oh bugger, how do I ask such a thing?'
"Yeah, whatsup?" Xander asked, taking a seat on one of the boxes and opening the beer.
Xander watched Spike pace around the room for a few moments before clearing his throat. "Just so you know, this is the point where you ask me, you know, the question you wanted to ask." Xander grinned.
It was weird how ever since his return, he was able to talk to Xander, well, not exactly talk to him, because that's not really possible. But they were able to have a few decent conversations that didn't end with him wanting to smack the whelp. Or vice versa, which is good.
Spike stopped pacing and looked at Xander. "Look, I don't want you to think that what I'm going to ask you actually means anything, a'ight?"
"Kay." Xander shrugged. Then seeing Spike start to pace again he added, "That meant O-kay."
Spike stopped pacing again and took a swig of his own beer. "It's about the wedding."
"Good, good, now we have the subject. As for the question, we're still lacking on that end"
"Never mind, forget I even brought it up."
"Spike."
"Okay already! I just wanted to know if you... wantedtobemybestman," Spike said, half mumbling the end of his statement, and then quickly turned his head away, breaking any eye contact.
"So you want me to be your best man?" Xander grinned in astonishment.
"Yeah. You don't have to if you don't—"
"No, I'll do it."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
"Good then." Spike said looking as if he just asked Xander to stake him. "Now, help me put these into the truck."
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[back to the present]
"So, what does Spike think about the outdoor wedding?" Andrew asked.
"We didn't plan to have it outdoors. I never agreed on that bit," Spike replied, as he came down from the stairs, having just put Alex to bed.
"Think about it Spike, you could have it under the trees. And hey, here's a thought, you should have it in the spring; nice cool windy breeze, it'll be an event; the kind I wouldn't want to miss," Xander offered.
Buffy shot a death glare at Xander, telling him the joke was not funny, then looked at Spike. "Come on baby, you said that you would think about it. We could have a nice structured gazebo. You know like a… a tent." She offered, while moving to allow space for Spike to sit again.
"And how do you suppose I get there, I don't fancy a nice run under the blanket to meet my bride, and I would very much like to be there when I get to say 'I do,'" Spike reasoned.
"But Spi-ike," Buffy singsonged. "I've always wanted to have an outdoor wedding."
"Oh, look at that pouty lip-"
Giles knew full well what was going to happen next, and this time he wouldn't have the benefit of blindness. And when major vampire and slayer kissage could be avoided, the better. Plus, he thought it time to change the subject. "So, Alex went to sleep pretty fast, he must get quite the workout from crawling. You know, that is quite exceptional at his age. I wonder when he will start walking," Giles exclaimed, knowing full well, that if anything was going to distract Spike, it would be about Alex.
"We're talking about my son here Rupert, of course he's exceptional- Oh, you will never believe what he did yesterday." Spikes eyes grew wide with excitement at being able to tell the others what they missed. "He made an attempt to stand, almost got there too, I bet if the carpet had more grip, he would have done it. I have it on video; I figured out how to use a digital camera thing... I tell you what, we can have like a movie day, and I'll show it to you. Oh, and you have to see what he did this morning with a spoon and a bowl, I swear, he's going to be a musician, just you wait."
"Yes, I'm sure," Giles simply agreed. "You're using a digital camcorder, you say? I wouldn't trust that if I were you, you would never know how long those things will last. If you want to capture it in moving picture, the best way to go are 8mm tapes. Now that is reliable."
Spike rolled his eyes at that, "Rupert, I asked all the questions you can bloody think of about cameras, camcorders, and the way to go now, is digital. Although, some 8mm cams are digital now, but why would you want it? it's so yesterday, and besides, a MiniDV cam has so many more features."
"'So yesterday'?" Giles repeated. "Spike, you do realize that you are older than me, but as far as wiser? Hardly."
Buffy chose that moment to stand up. "I've got to do the dishes before things stranger and harder to get rid of than demons start to grow." She knew that they were going to go on a full fledged debate over what, technology? Buffy grinned.
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