THE HUMAN IN ME

Summary: Sequel to Catch Me When I Fall. Buffy and Spike have been together for a while, but Spike had been gone for a month. When he finally comes back, he has a surprise for Buffy. Which also surprises everyone else. Angel comes in at later parts.

Note: This is in Spike's and Buffy's PsOV. But Peaches- I mean Angel will have his POV in the later chapters. Thoughts are in italics.

Disclaimer: I don't own squat.

Dedication: Thanks to everyone who read my first fic, and to Out-of-Reality for the idea of this story.

Chapter 3

--- Buffy's POV ---

"Spike's human?!" Xander said in disbelief. "As in a living, breathing, non- bloodsucking human human?"

I nodded. "Yup." I was still in a bit of shock from it myself. But it's so great! Finally, we could settle down and have a normal life and...

"But Buffy," Giles said while cleaning his glasses rapidly. "Why? How on earth did this happen?"

I sighed. Leave it to these guys to burst my bubble. Might as well tell them the whole story then. "Well, remember when Spike left about a month ago? Well, it turns out that he went to Africa, to see a demon there, a demon who fulfills your desires or something like that --"

"A Sograt Demon," Giles interrupted suddenly. "But it was thought to be nothing but a myth since—"

I cleared my throat loudly.

"Oh, sorry. Um, go right ahead."

I nodded. "Anyway, he went there to prove his worth to me or something like that, which was stupid really, because I already knew how much he meant to me and I already do love him so much and he didn't have to act all knightly and stuff—"

"Uh, Buffy?" Willow piped up. "Your point?"

I grinned sheepishly. "Sorry. I got caught up in the moment. So the demon gave him a real hard time. But because he's the "Big Bad" as he said, he survived, well, barely, I can say. But of course he would, being all vampirey and all that. So the demon granted his wish. To be human. And –" Then I stopped, deciding that I would leave out the whole proposing thing for later. "And now he's back," I added for good measure.

"Wow..." Willow breathed.

"Wait a minute," Giles said. "Does that mean that his power, not to mention his vampire weaknesses, are gone?"

"Well yes, but –"

"Wohoo! I soo get to beat him up now!" Xander shouted.

I glared at him for the umpteenth time. "First of all, no one beats up Spike while I'm here. Well, except me anyway. Second, his demonic strength may be gone, but hello? He's been fighting for like what, a couple of centuries? Surely that did his body some good. So yes, he's still strong. Really." I stressed the last word to Xander, who looked more than a little disappointed.

"Does that mean he's not mortal anymore?" Willow said.

"Well... yeah, but it's a good thing really," I said happily. "Now he can do normal stuff, like eat, breathe, plus he can go out in sunlight now!"

"Well, Spike already did those things even before he became human, aside from going out in daylight of course, so there's not much difference," Anya said a matter-of-factly. "Your sex life will get better though."

"Well then, guess we'll have to do that soon, eh luv?" a voice said behind me.

I turned around and grinned at Spike, who was looking considerably better. "Hey, you. Feeling better."

He smirked. "Yeah, still feels a bit wonky though. Chest thumpin' and all that. Not to mention the shock I had when I looked at the mirror in the loo. God, does my hair look awful."

"Could have told you that ages ago!" Xander shouted.

"For once, Harris, I'll let that slide. I'm in a good mood." He winked at me, sending shivers down my spine.

"I can see that, Spike. Loving the aura." Willow said, eyeing Spike. "And Buffy's too. Man! You two are on fire!"

I blushed and looked at Spike, who had the faintest bit of red in his cheeks. So cute... Then he looked at me, then I nodded. We can't keep it a secret any longer.

I took a deep breath. Here goes. "Um, guys? There's something else I – me and Spike – have to tell you."

---Spike's POV---

My palms began to sweat, my heart beating rapidly like I've just ran a bleedin' marathon. God, it'll take a while to get used to this again.

I looked at Buffy's friends – who would technically be my friends, God permit – who stared back at us expectantly.

"Buffy and I –" I started.

"Me and Spike –" Buffy said at the same time.

I stopped and grinned at her. "Let me lady do the honors."

She smiled nervously at me.

C'mon, pet. You can do this.

She took another deep breath. "Guys... me and Spike... are engaged."

No one spoke. Tension filled the room. What, aren't you blokes gonna say anything?

Then Anya let her breath out in a whoosh. "Finally! Took you long enough! Congratulations!" She hugged Buffy and me without any hesitation.

I usually dislike this demon girl, well, ex-demon, but at that moment, she was my favorite girl in the world.

Well, until Red stepped forward. "Congratulations too! That's great! I mean, wow, I mean..." She shrugged, at loss for words, and hugged me and Buffy. Boy, my heart took a leap. Two down.

I looked at Buffy, who seemed to have relaxed a little. So far so good.

"Well," Giles said finally. "This is a surprise, and a bit sudden really. But I guess, you have earned our trust Spike." He turned to me. "And I couldn't think of anyone better who can handle Buffy's, er, mood swings." He winked.

"Hey!" Buffy screamed and hugged Giles.

I grinned. The Watcher isn't that bad after all.

Then I raised my eyebrow. Someone was missing... My eyes zeroed in on Harris, who had been pretty silent all this time. The ponce was practically frozen solid.

"Well, aren't you going to say anything, Xander?" Buffy said, cringing as if already knowing what was coming.

"M-married?!" Xander finally sputtered, eyed bulging, nostrils flaring. The wanker looked comical really, and if it wasn't a serious situation I would've been rolling on the floor. "Are you guys serious? A vampire and a slayer? Are you out of your minds?!"

"Um, human here?" I waved my hands at his face. "Blood and oxygen now running through my arteries as we speak?" God, is this guy slow.

"Yeah, well, you're still... argh!" he shouted, frustrated. "That's not the point anyway!"

"Then what is your point exactly?!" Buffy cried out exasperatedly.

"IF you two are going to get marries, I won't be any part of it!" He said angrily. "And there's nothing that you can say or do that is going to make me change my mind!"

--- 6 months later... ---

"Do you, Elizabeth Anne Summers, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

Buffy, looking enchanting and radiant in her wedding dress, shimmering and sparkling with small heart shaped diamonds at the skirt's trimming, with the train almost as long as the whole aisle, with small white flowers in her hair, glanced at Xander, the best man, who gave her a thumbs up sign.

She looked at Dawn, her maid-of-honor, who squealed happily.

She looked at her friends, at the front pew. Willow, grinning and waving. Giles, blowing his nose loudly on some tissue.

She looked at the man in front of her, her true love, looking handsome and dashing in his tuxedo, his then-platinum-now-golden-blonde hair contrasting sharply but tastefully with the black. She looked at his face, the face of the man who once an enemy, then a friend, then a lover. The face of the man she was going to spend her life with forever.

God did that sound great. "I do," Buffy finally said.

"William Arquett," the priest said (earning gasps from the guests who have not yet learned of Spike's real name, which was not written in the invitations). "Do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

William, Spike, looked intently at the woman in front of him, his blue eyes searching her. He smirked, as if seeing something visible to him alone. "I do."

"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

"Gladly," Spike said cockily and took Buffy in his arms. He leaned down to kiss her, then stopped when he was just millimeters away.

"You sure you'll be able to stop once I start kissing you, luv?" he said teasingly, not moving his face away.

"Spike!"

"What?!"

"Just kiss me already!" she said.

He kissed her softly, and they were lost in their own world, a world only existing for the two of them, oblivious to the cheers and claps of the guests.

Life was going to be peaceful... not! In the Hellmouth? Get real! This is just the beginning of a whole new story...

END OF CHAPTER

A/N: This IS the end of this fic, but there's still a continuation! Sorry if I didn't put Angel like I planned to, I promise he'll be in the fic next to this! It's entitled, The Truth My Parents Told Me, where B and S already have a kid, and Angel comes back. So don't get mad at me. Will upload the first chappie as soon as possible. R & R guys!!!