A/N Thanks for all the reviews of the previous chapter.

Chapter 10

Buffy didn't know how long the three of them had sat there huddled together like that on the bathroom floor. Time had ceased to exist. It just felt so wonderful to Buffy, having him there supporting them in their hour of need. Better not get too used to it, her inner voice reminded her men had a habit of leaving, especially in this house...but something told her that Spike was a million miles away from the type of man her father was.

Dawn's tears had dried some time ago, now she just laid there, her head resting on Buffy's knee as she stared into the far corner of the bathroom. Buffy's heart ached for all Dawn had gone through and had yet to go through, wishing that she could carry it for her instead. Dawn was a fighter and Buffy would be there helping her on, every step of the way, while there was still breath in her body.

Spike was still reeling from his newly discovered love for Buffy. It made him feel frightened and exhilarated all at the same time. All the times he had stayed away for his sanity, made perfect sense to him now. Somehow in the space of twenty-four hours, her little sister had wriggled her way into his affections also. Buffy and her sister were rapidly becoming the most important people in his entire existence and he would do anything to protect them both. Here of all places he had found with whom he really belonged and he would do whatever it took to hold on to that.

No longer would they have to fight their battles alone. He wanted to be there fighting them with her, side by side. If Buffy would have him, he was hers, body and soul. He had the feeling that the older Miss Summers would not accept him so easily. He knew she was attracted to him, but to how deep her feelings ran, was something he was totally clueless about. He cursed himself for thinking about his own feelings, when here was Dawn at another milestone in her crisis that she was going through. He needed to think...

Spike rose from the floor and exited the bathroom for a moment to put on a t-shirt. When he came back it was empty, he caught the tops of a couple of heads as they disappeared downstairs. By the time he had joined them, Buffy had seated Dawn down on one of the sofas. He walked past them into the kitchen and put the kettle on. Hot sweet tea had always been his mother's universal remedy for all ills and shocks like the one the nibblet had just received.

Spike opened the cupboard and was searching it for something that resembled teabags when Buffy came in the kitchen. His mouth dried up like a 14 year old boy at the sight of her and not the mature twenty-eight year old he really was.

"Thanks for earlier," she said, placing a hand on his arm.

Spike looked at her tiny hand as it rested on his skin. He covered it with his own and squeezed it reassuringly. Buffy looked into his eyes, her breathing became shallower at the intensity of his gaze. There was no Dawn here to impress with the lovebirds act, but at that moment she wanted nothing more than to taste his lips again. Buffy unconsciously leaned in towards him, both of them started as the kettle clicked off and the sound of the backdoor opening sounded simultaneously.

Willow opened the door; she stared at the couple, Spike barefoot in his jeans and t-shirt and Buffy in a robe.

"I...er...am...I interrupting something?" asked Willow.

"It's okay Willow, this is Spike," said Buffy.

"Hello, Spike," replied Willow, her face still the perfect vision of surprise.

"Spike was just making Dawn some tea, you want?" asked Buffy.

"Sure," Willow replied calmly, as if finding Buffy alone in the kitchen with a strange man was an every day occurrence.

Spike held out a hand to Willow. "I'm Buffy's husband," he explained.

"Oh, right, now it's all as clear as mud. I mean I was in on the whole marriage of convenience thingy, but I didn't know it included cohabiting," said Willow.

Buffy took Willow by the hand and walked her to one of the kitchen stools, while filling her in on the events of the last few hours. Spike listened intently as he finished making Dawn her tea.

"So you and Spike are sleeping together?" asked Willow.

"Yeah, but not in the having each other sense," said Buffy, her face colouring.

"Uh, huh," said Willow sceptically.

"Stop it, you are starting to sound like Faith," Buffy replied sharply.

"Scouts honour there has been no having of any kind," said Spike.

"Bet you weren't even a scout you don't look the type," said Willow.

"Got me there red," Spike chuckled.

"So you are going public with your marriage?" asked Willow.

"Yeah, it's the only way," said Buffy as she flashed her ring finger at Willow.

"Don't know what they are going to say at the diner," said Willow.

Spike came and stood behind Buffy, his hand resting on her shoulder. "We are going to tell them together, tomorrow," Spike informed her.

"We are?" asked Buffy in surprise.

Spike nodded, Buffy tilted back her head and looked at him and glanced back at Willow. "Guess Monday morning isn't going to be quite so boring after all,"

"Shame there is no college Monday, I would have rather missed it," said Willow, regretfully. Buffy seemed to be unconsciously looking to Spike for council. Willow wondered if Buffy even realized she was doing it. She decided to stay silent, not wanting to be the cause of one of Buffy's outbursts. "So how's Dawn taking it?" asked Willow.

"She thinks we are in love. It's been enough for her to handle for one day, if she knew I had married Spike to pay her medical bills it would really destroy her," said Buffy.

Both Buffy and Willow turned around at the sound of a mug as it smashed on the kitchen floor. Spike stood there staring at Buffy, his face almost as white as his platinum blonde hair. Buffy looked down at the hot liquid that pooled at his feet, unable to bear the agonised look on his face a moment longer. Her chest ached, her heart thumped heavily within her breast. She glanced at him again; he seemed to have regained some of his composure as he stooped down to pick up the broken remnants of the cup. She automatically went over to him and began to help him clear up the mess. She noted his hands were not quite steady as he picked up the pieces.

Spike hissed in pain as one of the jagged pieces of pottery cut into his thumb. He cradled his hand against his chest. Buffy grabbed his hand and forced him to let her look at it. The blood was dripping onto the sleeve of her white towelling robe, but she paid it no heed as she led him to the sink and ran it under cold water.

Willow watched their actions with interest, especially the tenderness and concern on Buffy's face as she mopped up the blood on his hand with a piece of kitchen roll. Buffy reached across Spike and extracted a medical kit from an overhead cupboard.

"Sorry," she said apologetically.

"This is the whole reason I told Ethan that I didn't want it to be you when I got mixed up in this crazy get a green card quick scheme," said Spike.

"Because of my troubles?" asked Buffy, confused.

"Yes and no," Spike sighed.

"So when you said that you didn't want to marry me on our wedding day it wasn't because it was me?" asked Buffy hopefully.

"Hell no, whatever gave you that idea?" asked Spike in surprise.

Buffy arched an eyebrow. "Hmmm let me see...maybe the bloody hell when you first saw me, followed by your interesting yet very non private conversation with that slime Ethan Rayne,"

"You heard that?" asked Spike.

"Kinda hard to miss," said Buffy as she firmly pressed a band aid to his cut thumb.

Spike looked at Willow and caught the assessing expression on her face, he looked away.

"Well if this isn't a picture of domestic bliss," drawled Willow.

Buffy blushed. "He hurt his thumb," she said defensively as she sat down on one of the stools at the breakfast bar.

"Ok, I'm gonna go check on Dawnie while you two can finish playing doctors and nurses," grinned Willow.

Alone in the kitchen together, Buffy felt awkward as the silence stretched out between them, Spike spoke first.

"When were you going to tell me your reasons for marriage? Here I was thinking you were some kind of money hungry girl on the make. Well actually not quite like that, I can see you are decent and honest and hardworking, Buffy...I...er...."

"Yes?" she urged.

"Is there any chance we could...?"

"Buffy Dawn needs you," Said Willow as she popped her head around the door.

Buffy sighed at the interruption, wondering what Spike had been about to ask her.

"Sure I'll be right there," Buffy replied.

Spike sighed as he watched her leave. What had he been thinking, he had been about to ask her if there was any chance that she would go on a date with him. He laughed wryly at the notion of asking his wife out on a date, but he wanted to get to know her better, not just in case of any chance that they may or may not be investigated by the immigration people, but because he loved her and wanted to know her inside and out. Spike felt his body respond to the thought of knowing her in the physical way, not just to have her, but to touch her and show her just how much she meant to him.

Spike needed to get out, the walls were closing in and the sunshine was begging to be walked in. He strode out into the hallway and slipped on his boots and leather Jacket and exited the house before anyone had a chance to ask him where he was headed.

"So what do you think of the newest addition to the Summers's home?" asked Dawn.

"He seems okay," said Willow.

"You don't seem so surprised at the news," said Dawn. "You already knew didn't you?"

"Yeah, I kind of did. Can you forgive me?" asked Willow.

"I am so over it," shrugged Dawn. "But he is kinda a cute, don't worry he's like a brother, if I knew what it was like to have one," Dawn giggled.

"Well don't get too attached," said Buffy unthinkingly as she sat down on the sofa.

"Why?" asked Dawn.

"Oh Buffy, you can't start your marriage thinking all men are like Hank, and might leave," lied Willow smoothly, pulling a face at Buffy.

"Sorry old habits die hard," Buffy replied, angry at herself for her slip.

"Spike ain't going anywhere, he's not the type," said Dawn confidently as she walked over to Buffy and put an arm around her.

"It's isn't, not ain't, and what makes you say that?" asked Buffy as she patted her sister's hand.

"What are you my mother now? And hello, have you seen the way Spike looks at you?" pouted Dawn as she went to switch on the stereo.

"Teenagers," said Buffy in mock horror.

"Yeah, but you love me anyway," grinned Dawn.

Buffy smiled absentmindedly, her thoughts with her husband and where he had possibly gone in such a hurry and what did Dawn mean, the way he looked at her?

Spike walked into the town and headed towards the mall, he dragged deeply on a cigarette and flicked it half smoked into the gutter. He really should quit, he mused. He entered the brightly lit shopping mall, glad to be among the anonymous sea of faces. It didn't last for long, when he felt someone tap on his shoulder. He spun around to see Angel and Faith all over each other, and felt violently envious at their physical intimacy.

"And what's a pair of love birds like you doing in a place like this?" asked Spike.

"Well you can't spend all day counting ceiling tiles now can ya?" grinned Faith, as she leaned in to kiss Angel.

Angel grinned at her in a goofy way as they parted. Spike rolled his eyes at what he termed a sickening display.

"Aww c'mon Spike we're just teasing you," said Faith as she playfully thumped his arm. "How are things with the virgin Mary?"

"The virgin who...er you mean Buffy?" asked Spike.

"Yeah, how is B? She succumbed to your charms yet?"

"Give Spike a chance Faith, he's a slow study, not like us, we see what we want and we take it," sighed Angel dramatically.

"Ah very funny, all I can say is Faith, I feel sorry for you," grinned Spike.

Even with all the teasing aside he could see that the well matched pair had a deep affection for each other. He wanted to be alone, seeing the two of them just served to remind him of everything he didn't have, but wanted and with Buffy. Anyway what of Faith's throw away comment about Buffy being the Virgin Mary; it had to be a joke right? If not it explained a lot of things, faint heart never wooed fair maid, he reminded himself. It seemed that Buffy was a maid in the truest sense of the word. It gave him an idea of how to win her heart, as they said actions speak louder than words. Spike smiled to himself as he marched off out of the mall and home.

"Where do you think he's headed?" asked Faith.

"Home to his wife, I'd bet," said Angel smugly.

"And wouldn't B just kill us if she knew that I knew, but I like it better this way," laughed Faith as she leaned up on tip toe to kiss Angel on the lips.

Angel smiled down at Faith. "How could they expect me to keep secrets from my favourite girl?" asked Angel.

"Favourite?" asked Faith warningly, as she gripped his manhood tightly.

"Only girl and you know it...so your friend really is a virgin?" Angel asked.

"Smooth change of subject, but yeah, I am sure they invented the chastity belt just for her. I am in great hopes that Spike will change all that. He's a nice guy and B deserves a break. I happen to think they are made for each other," said Faith as she pulled Angel along to look at something that had caught her eye in a store window.

TBC