AN: I'm sorry this took a while. I just had a really severe case of writer's block, I guess...


Chapter 11

Buffy was looking straight at him. He couldn't back out now, he had to tell her. Dawn wasn't gonna like it though. He cleared his throat.

"Buffy, I... I like you very much." He couldn't say love, not right now. "And that's why I have to tell you this. I can't be with you, because I'm already with someone else."

Buffy looked down at her hands.

"I'm with Dawn." Her head snapped up.

"Dawn? Dawn!?" Her voice wasn't so much sad for being rejected as wary for her little sister.

"Yeah." Spike was happy she didn't seem ready to stake—kill him, at least not right now.

Buffy braced herself against the cement wall, frowning.

"But how...how long has this been going on?"

"A couple of years."

"Oh. So you're...serious." It was a statement, not a question.

"Pretty much, I'd say. We're um, engaged." He was hoping it wasn't too much for Buffy.

"Engaged? Why haven't you told me about this earlier?" She was clearly hurt about it.

"We were kinda waiting for the right moment, y'know. I, I just felt I had to tell you now."

"I guess I should thank you for doing it but... you know, Dawn's my sister and I know she can handle herself and all, but it still feels...weird." She slid down the wall sitting down.

As Spike sat down beside her, he saw that she was about to cry again.

"You know, you'd expect that your own sister would tell you about something like this. And if not her then the former vampire that I've known for years and... loved."Her voice faded at the end.

Buffy cleared her throat.

"It's like I don't know her anymore. Like, I do, I mean she's Dawn, my little mystical key energy sister and we've been through so much together but now that's ancient history. I'll have to try to get to know her again, but it seems almost like she doesn't want me in her life anymore." She looked down at her hands, seemed embarrassed.

"Buffy. Dawn is your sister. She loves you. I'm sure she feels a bit awkward too, but that'll change soon, don't worry bout it."

She looked up at him with teary eyes. Spike felt a sting of regret for just abandoning her here when he and Dawn left.

"Promise?" Her voice was just a whisper.

"Pet, I promise." He smiled at her. It was a genuine, reassuring smile.

Buffy wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and smiled back.

"I'm sorry I um, bothered you with this, I didn't mean to..." She laughed bitterly. "I really made a fool of myself with the whole 'please be my boyfriend' thing, didn't I?" She stood up, not really wanting to hear his answer.

Spike followed her example and then turned her around, grabbing her shoulders and fixating her with his eyes.

"Buffy, I want to know you, as a friend, and I want you to feel comfortable telling me stuff. "She nodded, then leaned forward, hugging him.

"So, you wanna walk with me for a while? I could update you on what's been going on demonwise lately. And I do want to hear about you and Dawn. How did it start?"

They headed out from the alley they were in and started walking, chatting comfortably.


"You told Buffy? What did I say to you about that!? Now she's gonna think I wanted to hide it from her! And everything'll be all awkward between her and me again! We were just starting to go back to normal. Now things'll never get cleared out! Spike don't you understand? And don't you dare smirk at me mister!" She pointed her index finger to his chest.

Spike, who had been trying to get a word into her ramble, just grinned and explained.

"I had to tell her. If I hadn't, it'd been worse, trust me. And Dawn" His grin transformed into a loving smile. "you don't have to worry about your relationship with her. She took it surprisingly well, actually." He frowned, a bit confused about it himself. "And I'm sure that if she still wants to get back on track with you, you'll be fine."

Dawn's face had changed during his explanation, and she now seemed to be in a much better mood.

"So she took it well? Surprisingly well? And she still wants to speak to me? That's good. A huge relief. Now we've just got to figure out how to tell the others."

"Tell the others?"

"Well, if we want to get married before we're all wrinkly and have to be rolled down the isle in wheelchairs."

"You have got a point there dear." He smiled and kissed her. "We'll tell them."


"Wesley, can I ask your opinion about something?"

"I dont't see why not."

Buffy leaned against the counter Wesley was standing behind.

"Do you think that Spike and Dawn have changed? You know, since they left?"

"Of course. I think they've both changed a lot. In a good way."

Buffy frowned.

"Yes, I know that, but do you think they've changed the way they are with each other?"

"Well, I guess that's changed too. I mean, when you've been you've been so close to each other for such a long time something's bound to..." Suddenly Wesley seemed to realise what she'd meant. "You mean... Are they involved with each other?"

"Remember that I haven't told you this. Yes, that's what I meant. They are...involved. Engaged."

"Oh. Well actually I wonder why I hadn't though about that myself. I should've figured it out. I mean, they've spent so much time together, and Dawn isn't the teen she used to be anymore."

"That's it? No big shock? No I'm gonna kill Spike?"

"Even if Spike was a vampire when they started out, he's not anymore, and I'm pretty sure that Dawn can handle herself. She seemed very grown up."

"I know. And as long as Dawn's happy, I'm happy. When you think about it, I'm not so shocked either. Just about not being shocked." She smiled.

"Shocked bout what? Hi guys!" The dark-haired man walked up to the counter.

"Xander!" Buffy hugged her friend. "You're here!"

"Guess I am. I'm sorry I haven't been for a while. There's just been so much goin' on, y'know."

"I totally understand, don't worry."

"So, what were you guys talking about?"

"Uh, just..stuff." Great Buffy, why don't you lie a little bit worse.

"Stuff?"

"You know, demony stuff."'

"Well, why don't you let me in on it?"


The next week was filled with demons, mainly a new group of them coming to LA. Luckily, the gang was able to convince them that LA was not a good town for demon activities, and so the weren't a problem anymore. No beatings involved whatsoever.

Buffy and Wesley had decided to let the two lovers keep their secret until they wanted it revealed.

So, when the weekend came, they all decided to take it off and just relax at home.

On Monday morning it was Willow's turn to stand behind the desk and try to assist any clients.

It had been a pretty quiet morning though, until 10 am.

Willow's head snapped up as Giles stormed into the store. He leaned on his knees and panted.

"Giles? What's the matter?" When she looked closer, she could see that he was holding a white envelope. She walked to the old man.

"It's not one of those law firms accusing us of 'unappropriate activities' again is it?"

Giles seemed to catch his breath and chuckled humorlessly.

"If only it was. Here, take a look at this." He handed her the envelope.

'Rupert Giles' was written on it. She looked at him questioningly and he gestured for her to open it.

It was a white paper, folded in half. When she read it, she couldn't believe her eyes.

'You are hereby invited to the wedding of William 'Spike' the Bloody and Dawn Summers.'


AN: Review review review. To know that you have readers always motivates.Oh, and I'd also like it if you'd tell me about any ideas that you've got. And what should happen with Adrie? If anything should happen at all...