ANs: P's at the bottom. I'm sick to death of all of this happiness. It's making me crazy. Had to throw in some lusty angst. Sorry. Hope you love it anyway, and if you don't... just lie to me. A lot.
sita:)

Everyone's In Love With You

1630 Revello Drive, Sunnydale, CA

October 5, 2001 7:00PM

For the first time since her rebirth, Buffy felt love. She felt it in her skin, her hair, her bones. She knew her friends and Dawn loved her, as she loved them. But this was different. It sparked and blazed and she felt it from the moment she woke until she fell asleep at night. Every minute she was falling more deeply in love with Logan and she wanted desperately to believe that he felt the same. It had been so long since they had been together as a 'couple', and in her most reflective, candid moments Buffy didn't want to assume too much. He loved her, but maybe he wasn't in love with her anymore. Nope, she decided firmly, he was acting like a man in love. After all, he had let her drag him through two hours of accessory shopping that afternoon. He had even carried her bags without complaint. Not even Angel had done that.

Buffy turned up The Shins playing on her CD player as she opened her closet door. Big date tonight - better hurry, she thought as she tried to focus long enough to pick out something to wear. Grabbing a cerulean blue tank and her new matching boots, she tossed them on the bed and then moved over to her pants section and flipped through the hangers. Whenever he was around, Logan seemed to muddle her thoughts. In fact, she had almost left the house today with two different mules on her feet.

Luckily, Tara had run interference with Logan, distracting him long enough for Willow to grab Buffy and hand off the correct left shoe. It was a bold move, but Buffy was good to go before he turned around and Willow hid the offending shoe behind her back as they left. Giving Willow and Tara gentle low-fives on the way out and mouthing her thanks, Buffy took a moment to appreciate her friends and their ever-vigilant assistance.

Which reminded her, Logan still refused to tell her who answered the phone when he had called 'almost' everyday from New York. But she really didn't need him to, as she had already asked Willow and Dawn if they knew anything about it. Willow had denied all participation and Dawn had remained oddly silent, guilt written all over her. Xander and Giles would definitely have behaved like mothering hens if the opportunity presented itself, so they made the short list. Buffy had jokingly offered to stake the perpetrators, but Logan said that he would handle it himself. She didn't know how she felt about that. She liked to take care of her friends' over-eager sense of loyalty immediately when it raised it's ugly head, and she was certainly more than up to the task; what's more, when he said it, something dark and dangerous flashed in his eyes for a millisecond. Concern must have crossed her face, as he distracted her with quick kiss.

Oh well, she thought, as she hopped around the room tugging her black leather pants on, she hoped that Xander and Giles wouldn't be too badly bruised.

Downstairs the doorbell rang and on semi-autopilot Buffy started to head for the stairs. Then she caught herself in the hall and smiled, realizing that Logan would get it. She didn't even have to yell down.

Logan was prowling around Buffy's living room. He was anxious to get her some place where he could see the demons coming. And, he admitted to himself, he was brooding over what Giles had said. The man was absolutely inhuman. While Buffy was training in the back of the Magic Shop earlier that day, Logan had pulled Giles into the office. He was tired of waiting. He wanted to be with Buffy. They were mates. Everyone seemed to agree on that one. Clearly, mates should mate - otherwise, what's the point? Giles' argument against it was not what he wanted or expected to hear. Not at all.

Logan slammed his fist down on the desk and the loud bang echoed around the tiny room. "Now, Giles!" he snarled. "She's mine. Mine! And I want her now."

Giles stood and leaned forward over the desk, his arms angled slightly away from his body, palms flat against the smooth wooden surface. "Logan, you simply cannot be serious. She's only been out of the grave for... for less than 72 hours! The town is in shambles. She still has work to do here. Do you even have a place for her to live? A church selected for the ceremony? You do realize that young, single women dream about their weddings from childhood? You're not going to get away with a quick trip to Las Vegas on the road back to New York."

"I don't care about any of that. She'll live with me Giles, wherever I am. I want her with me. In my bed. Not tomorrow. Not next week. Today."

Giles was frustrated and angry. He was trying to give him the benefit of the doubt, but Logan was coarsely discussing Buffy like she was some brood mare ripe for the rutting. And if this man thought that he was good enough for such a sweet, wonderful girl... Logan needed to rethink his position. "She's not a doll you can drag around behind you. Have you forgotten what happened the last time Buffy's was in your bed? Have you given her feelings any consideration whatsoever? Sunnydale has been her home for years, and she was born and raised in California. Her sister and friends live here. Her mother is buried less than five miles from her house. Furthermore, Buffy is the only true soldier on the side of good in a town filled with evil. You've seen what happens when there's no Slayer on the Hellmouth. If it were you, would it be so easy to walk away?"

Logan took a deep breath and bit back a curse. "Giles, it's not like I haven't thought about those things. But you can't imagine what it was like for me after she was gone... or what this waiting is doing to me. It's not just a little extra lust... and it's not all on my side. Because of my mutation and this spell, when she looks at me – even if she's across a room - I can feel her shiver and its impact is seismic. Her breath gets quicker and it sounds like an express train rumbling through her body. She blushes and I feel knives of heat radiating from inside her stabbing through my skin. Her natural scent drives me crazy, but as soon as the smallest thought about sex passes through her mind I can smell it and it's the sweetest, most painful drug imaginable. I can hear her every heartbeat, and when they get faster, my stomach ties into knots of brain altering... So don't sit there and judge me, Giles, because you don't have a clue."

Giles stared at him for a few seconds in utter amazement, and then shook his head. "If that is the case, and there is nothing you can do to overcome it... perhaps you should return to New York as soon as possible. She's not ready and you're not thinking clearly enough to put her needs first. Until you do, I cannot support your... erm... coupling." Sensing Logan's rebellious streak surfacing, Giles softened his tone, "You're a grown man, Logan. You can do what you want and I can't stop you. But if you were Buffy's father, is the kind of life you're describing what you would want for her? Would you allow her to go into such a arrangement blind, without knowing what she's agreeing to?"

Unexpectedly, Logan was shaken from his memories. Someone was pounding on the door. Even though he didn't particularly feel like company that wasn't Buffy, Logan went to answer it.

Xander seemed surprised when Logan opened the door. "Making yourself comfortable?" he accused.

Logan shrugged nonchalantly, "Always."

Xander moved past him into the foyer. "So where are the girls?"

"Willow and Tara went to the library. Dawn's at Janice's. Buffy is upstairs."

Xander started to jog up the steps, but a heavy hand gripped his shoulder, bringing him to an abrupt halt. "...changing her clothes."

Looking at him with distain, Xander shook off Logan's hand. "So? Wouldn't be the first time she's changed with me in the room."

A low growl began to push its way up Logan's throat, when suddenly the front door handle turned.

"What the..." Logan began, as a sinewy blond vampire in leather, with a profile like chiseled Greek marble strode confidently through the door, calling out, "Oi Buffy, feel like a bit of a slay..."

Logan had sensed his approach and heard his footsteps on the front porch, but he was shocked when the vicious fiend just strolled in as if he owned the place. Didn't the women in this house know better than to invite an evil bloodthirsty monster inside? He was overcome by a sudden desire to take them by the shoulders one at a time and shake them. Hard. Maybe he'd do that after he decapitated the bastard in the overcoat.

As soon as he saw Logan on the stairs, Spike stopped and smirked, "Well, if it isn't Big Fork Guy II: The Return of the Slayer Slasher." Then nodding toward the Xander, he continued, "This one's told me all about you..."

Logan, irritated further, stepped down and Xander followed him and Spike into the living room. Xander dropped onto the couch and Spike made himself comfortable on the arm of a chair. Xander rolled his eyes to the ceiling. Here come the fireworks.

Stopping in front of Spike, Logan sniffed the air, "You must be Spike. I was wondering when we'd meet. Picked up your filthy stench earlier – stale cigarettes and blood breath. Pungent." Pausing for a moment, he looked over at Xander, "'Course, I'm surprised Xander took his nose out of Buffy's butt long enough to mention me, or notice you."

Xander was outraged. He sat up as if he were preparing to stand, his face stained red. "Hey Jo-Jo the dog-faced old guy, like you can talk about inappropriately placed noses. You've been sniffing around Buffy's skirts like she's a bitch in heat lately."

Before Logan could respond, Spike smiled lazily, gestured to Xander, and drawled, "Besides, he's been all cozied up with Anya the raging capitalist for ages now. She used to be a vengeance demon, y'know..." Delaying for impact, Spike stood and continued, "But it's been awhile since Buffy's crawled - bleeding and screaming for help - away from you. Must be hard to keep up on all the latest..." Shoving a hand inside his duster and withdrawing a cigarette, Spike asserted, "What did you do trail her all the way home from the cemetery?"

Xander jumped into the fray, "Yeah, Psycho, the pathetic canine stalker! What was that stuff you wrote..."

"Shove it, princess," Logan snarled, as he whirled around and glared menacingly at Xander, "Like you haven't scribbled 'Buffy & Xander' and 'Mrs. Buffy Harris' with little hearts and flowers on every loose sheet of paper that's crossed your hands for years. And hey, excellent job, boys, preparing for Buffy's arrival... Did you at least bring some shovels to the gravesite, or were you hoping that she'd be so tired from clawing her way out that she'd fall on you by mistake and get you off?"

Xander had the decency to look ashamed, but Spike proclaimed proudly, patting his chest, "The point is... She's back and she's mi-ours. Always has been, always will be..."

"Spike!" Buffy shouted from the stairs.

Logan chuckled under his breath but didn't turn around. Connecting with Spike and Xander's gazes, he whispered, "you're dead", and then relaxed his features as Buffy reached his side.

Wrapping her hand possessively around Logan's forearm she glared at Spike, and pulled Logan toward the front door. "Light that cancer stick in here and you'll be in a world of hurt."

Spike beamed at her. "I'll just step off the back porch then? By the way, where's lil' bit and the glittery enchantresses?

"Out, but they should be home pretty soon. Except for Dawn. She said she might eat dinner at Janice's after they finish their school work," Buffy replied. Noticing him for the first time, Buffy said,"Hey Xand, where's Anya?"

Xander frowned sullenly, "She's putting away the new book shipment with Giles. Where're you going?"

"Dinner," Buffy replied, as Logan opened and guided her to the door. Grinning back at them before crossing the threshold, she offered, "If you guys get hungry, there are leftover hot wings and a pint of cow's blood in the fridge. Help yourselves."

As soon as they got into the car, Logan said, "I thought for sure you'd hand Spike his head for what he said."

Buffy smiled sweetly, "But honey, you said you didn't need my help. Did I dream that conversation? Hmm... I don't think so. Have you changed your mind?"

Logan leaned over and bit the side of her neck in mock retaliation. "Just drive, smartass. I'm starving."

Later that night, after everyone had gone home or turned in, Logan and Buffy were in her room cuddled up on the bed. Logan was leaning against her propped up pillows and Buffy sat between his legs. Logan kissed her neck softly, "They're all madly in love with you. You know that, right?"

Surprise crossed her face and then she shook her head. Did they really need to talk about this now... or at all? "Who? Oh... I'm pretty sure Dawn and Anya are straight, and Willow and Tara only have eyes for each other."

Nuzzling her shoulder, he sighed, "So you knew already?"

"No, it's not... I really don't think that Xander and Giles are 'in' love with me."

Logan looked skeptical, but he didn't comment further. Buffy continued, "They love me and they try, sometimes a little too hard and in the absolute worst ways, to look after me. It usually doesn't bother me too much because I do the same for them. Because of who we are, where we live, and what we do, we tend to be a little insular. Outsiders aren't easily trusted. I mean, you think what you've been through on the phone is bad – you should have seen how hard Willow went after Anya in the beginning."

"I get that, which is why they're still around. And Spike..."

"Spike is..." she hesitated.

"...head over heels in love with you," Logan finished.

"I don't know. He says he is, but I think it's just the loneliness. He was completely devoted to one crazy vampire chica for over 100 years and they broke up fairly recently... well... recently for vampires. He was pretty wrecked. I think it's just transference."

"And I think you're kidding yourself, but if it doesn't bother you, why should it me?"

Buffy nodded and kissed him softly, "Exactly."

Logan groaned at the first taste of her tongue and poured urgency and heat into her mouth. Desire tore through him like a forest fire in the driest part of summer. Her alluring scent, sunshine on a field of wildflowers, called to him and he couldn't get enough. He pulled her higher and to the side to allow him better access to her. Buffy gave his demanding kiss back in equal measure. She turned in his lap and straddled him, wrapping her arms around his neck. Her hands slid into his silky hair and fisted as if she were hanging on for dear life. Pressing her breasts against his solid wall of muscle made her ache to be closer. He slid his hands under her tank top and around the back, clutching her velvety skin. She wiggled her hips against him until he spread his legs a little further apart; then she dropped lower and began rolling her hips, chafing her core against his hardened length. Buffy grabbed his shirt and tugged it out of his jeans. She gasped as a thin section of her bare stomach brushed over his soft lower chest hair. Her hands moved fervently up and she undid his top two buttons. His hands stopped her at the third. "Please," she whispered, "God, please let me take these off... I-I need to touch you..."

"Christ, Buffy... don't ask me..."

"You don't want..."

"Buffy," he panted, squashing his forehead against hers to separate them, and to provide him with some stability. Then he pushed her forehead harder for emphasis. "There's nothing about you I don't want, including your body." Silently, he begged whatever gods were listening to slow the siren call of her pounding heart and to stop the flow of beckoning moisture, surging from the apex of her thighs. She smelled so damn good. It would be so easy to tear away the barrier to her and feast on her heat, just for a little while. "But as much as I want you, the rational part of me wants us to take our time because once we do this, you'll never be rid of me."

"I don't want to be," she protested, a little too angrily.

Logan hugged her gently, then turned her around until she was sitting on his left thigh, her legs stretched out across his other one. "You don't think so, but honey, I'm a lot to handle. I have terrible memories that come to me in dreams about being surgically tortured by a maniac. I shred beds a couple of times a year like paper..."

This conversation felt startlingly familiar, and dark dread rose up her spine and grabbed Buffy by the throat, cutting off her air supply. Was he trying to break up with her? "I don't care about any of that. I can handle you."

"You can," he said, as he cupped her face and kissed her gently. "I know you can. But I want you to be my wife. I want to marry you, Buffy. And when I do, I want you to come back with me to New York. I want you to leave here and let Faith protect the Hellmouth. Are you ready for that now? Because I can hardly wait. If you are... we'll seal this deal tonight."

Buffy was completely overwhelmed. She didn't know what to say. No one had ever wanted to stay long enough to prove it to her by postponing sex. Certainly not Riley. Not even Angel. No one had ever wanted to love her this much. No one had ever looked her in the eye and offered her forever. But neither had anyone asked for such a monumental sacrifice, and the thought of Faith anywhere near her town made her nauseous. She'd no more leave Sunnydale in the hands of Faith than cross Main Street naked in the middle of rush hour.

Wait a minute... she thought, as his words finally reached her pleasure overloaded brain. Quickly, she verified,"You really want to marry me?"

"Buffy, I've been carrying our rings around in my pocket for sixteen months. And I'll carry them until you're ready to give this town to Faith."

Buffy looked into his eyes, hurt underlying her next question. "Is that an ultimatum?"

"No, it's an explanation," Logan shrugged. "I know how I'd feel if you asked me to stop looking after Xavier's school, the kids... These people have been good to you, Buffy. Plus, Sunnydale is your home. You've got territory to defend. I understand that; it's only natural you would be uncomfortable with the idea of leaving. We'll do this when you're ready. But I wanted you to know."

Buffy nodded and snuggled into his shoulder. Praying that the gods of desire would allow her to survive that long, without dying from wanting him, she sighed. Why did he have to be so stubborn? Sugar now, sugar later – what did it really matter?

Buffy decided to think about something else before she burst, and so she thought about what he'd said. Turning her eyes to his jacket on the chair, she asked absently, "You've been carrying all of our rings, including the engagement?"

Logan laughed and nodded, and Buffy grinned mischievously.

"Can I preview my rock now... Come on, just a peek?"

(end chapter)

Personal ANs/Review Responses:

Pay-day1999: Hey sug! Everything is never alright in this fic, you know that. But I'm trying to keep the bumps minor for a while. Yeah, I think Logan was trying to tie up all of his loose ends before following Buffy to the next life. Re: 40 Paces, still not sure what I'll do about B/S. I just can't decide what would be the truest path for the characters. I'm down playing it with this chapter, but after Logan goes home, who knows? Not even me at this point. I have some twists and turns either way, though, so hopefully you won't be bored.

Alex97: Hey bebe! Back together, but trouble runs through the story anyway;)

Shadansa: Cool name, chica! I'm absolutely glad to hear you like it 8) Yeah, the non-rushing is a big hit with everyone. I wish that it wasn't. As I mentioned to a friend of mine today, smut's so much easier to write.

Trgerfanfrv: Hey sweets! Welcome to my reviews. Logan was saving his frustration for later. Just strap in and wait…

Anna: Sorry if you were confused, honey. There's more to the spell than Giles found, as you'll see later. Logan was dying because he was gradually losing his regenerative abilities because of Buffy's death. He caught pneumonia and his body couldn't fight it off. Kinda like HIV's affect on the average person's body. Also, he was miserable. He wanted to die in order to be with Buffy. I think that psychological health has a lot to do with healing.

Prophetess Of Hearts: Hey darlin'! Well, wouldn't you be preoccupied? I mean, she was in Heaven. Then she wakes up back in her body to find that she's been buried alive. I think she ran and didn't want to look back. She may see it later. We'll see.

Chase: Glad you like it. Rogue and Spike? It's a solid idea, but I probably won't do it. Maybe you should write it? Both characters are mostly window dressing. Merely decoration I use to move this pairing along and make it more interesting.

Cyndur: I'm thrilled to hear that you're enjoying this story. Have you read the ones at Twisting the Hellmouth? Besides mine, there are 7 others in this pairing. FYI:]