Chapter 2: Spike's Surprise
(Two months later)
Once the initial shock had worn off, and everyone had been clued in (including Angel, though he was kinda pissed) everything went back to normal. Or at least, as normal as it could be, Buffy being a slayer and all.
London England
" 'Ave a good day at school bit!" Spike called to Dawn as she got into her boyfriends car.
"Spike! Come eat your eggs before they get cold, and the bacon's done" Buffy called from the kitchen.
"Right luv, the eggs. Mustn't let them catch cold!" He said, sitting down at the table.
"Did you like your breakfast?" Buffy asked when he'd finished eating.
"Delicious as always, but never as delicious as this" he said kissing her.
"Nope, never" she agreed, kissing him hungrily.
"So, we goin' out tonight?" he asked when they pulled apart.
"Of course, what's the occasion?"
"You don't even remember our first date?" Spike asked, pretending to be hurt.
"We never really had a first date," Buffy reminded him.
"Well, no. But it was exactly a year ago today that you told me you loved me for the first time."
Buffy gasped. "That's today! I can't believe it's been a whole year since we destroyed Sunnydale!"
"Yeah luv. Me neither." The two of them were quiet for a time. Both of them thinking of those they lost in the war with the First.
"So…" Buffy said, breaking the silence. "What'd you have in mind?"
"Dinner, a walk in the moonlight. The usual romantic stuff."
"Ok."
"Dawn" Buffy said quietly while she grabbed her coat.
"Yeah Buffy?" Dawn said
"Look, you're 18 and I trust you. I know Conner is coming over, and I'm pretty sure what you're going to do," she said winking and making Dawn blush.
"Buffy, I-" Dawn started.
"No, no. I get it. But Spike won't. So you have to promise me, that by the time we get home, you'll be in the living room watching movies."
"Ok"
"We'll be gone for at least two hours, maybe more. So as soon as we leave, start getting ready."
"Ok, thanks Buffy" Dawn said hugging her.
"Hey! Where's my hug?" Spike whined teasingly, pretending he hadn't heard their whispered conversation. (He'd deal with that Conner guy later)
"Don't worry, I didn't forget about you," She said hugging him as well.
Spike held her close for a moment. "Watch yourself bit, so I won't have to kill him," he whispered, before letting go.
Dawn blushed wildly. "Um, you guys have a good night, bye."
"Oh my god! That movie was so romantic!" Buffy exclaimed as they left the theater.
"That it was luv, that it was." Spike agreed.
"So, where to now?" Buffy asked, snuggling close to him and sighing contentedly.
"A restaurant near Kings Cross station" he said.
"Really? You're not talking about Shea's are you?"
"Oh, you've been there? Good, you'll be able to tell me what's good to eat."
When they got to the restaurant Spike ordered a Steak, medium rare, and Buffy ordered angel hair pasta, light on the sauce, with a little Parmesan cheese.
As they ate their dinner, they talked of how they first met, and of how they'd hated each other. Both wondering how they'd ever not been in love. When Spike finished eating he asked for the check before leaving his wallet with Buffy and excusing himself to the men's room.
Spike entered the men's room and went over to the mirror. "Right mate." he said to his reflection. "Buffy loves you. No need to be nervous, she'll definitely say yes!" he said, trying to convince himself. He pulled the ring box out of his duster pocket and opened it. The ring sat there in its cushion, a gold band with a two-karat, heart shaped diamond.
"She'll love it," a man said coming out of one of the stalls.
"What?" Spike said turning.
"Your girl mate, she'll love the ring," he said smiling.
"Thanks" Spike said, putting the ring back in his pocket.
"What took you so long?" Buffy asked when he rejoined her at the table, just in time to help her with her coat.
"This bloke was askin' me about the engagement ring I-HE bought for his girlfriend." he faltered.
"Oh. So are you ready to go?" she asked.
"Yeah, c'mon we've got one more place to go." he said taking her hand.
"Where are we going?" she asked as the left the restaurant.
"Do you really want to know?"
"Yes, I do" she said. Sending shivers down Spike's back with her last words.
"I'm taking you to my old home. The place I lived before I became a vampire." he said turning to her.
"Really! It's still there!" she said excitedly.
"Yeah, every fifty or so years, I came back to England with forged papers saying that the last owner William, had died, leaving it to me, his son, also called William."
"Really?"
"Yeah, I believe the papers now state that, William the 4th owns the property."
"But, why would you go through all that trouble?"
"I guess It was because, deep down I knew that my mum wasn't the monster I staked. And I wanted to remember all the years we lived happily together."
"I always knew you were different than the other vampires. Even without a soul, you could still love."
"There" Spike said suddenly. "That's my house."
Buffy turned around and gasped. The house looked like it came straight out of a history book. All she could say was "Wow!"
"Wait til you see the inside luv."
The interior of the mansion-like home was even more beautiful than the out side, with 19th century furniture and a chandelier with candleholders.
"Spike, this place is gorgeous!" Buffy said in awe.
"Yeah, mum had good taste in décor. Well now, look at this." he said, walking over to a table, on witch a battery powered boom box had been placed.
"Care to dance?" he asked, holding his hand out to her, while turning on the music with the other.
"I would" Buffy said, taking the offered hand as the music began to play.
For
all those times you stood by me
For all the truth that you made
me see
For all the joy you brought to my life
For all the
wrong that you made right
For every dream you made come true
For
all the love I found in you
I'll be forever thankful baby
You're
the one who held me up
Never let me fall
You're the one who
saw me through through it all
The two of them danced around the old living room, swaying in time to the music.
You were my strength when I was weak
You were my
voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't
reach
You gave me faith 'coz you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me
"I
love this song," Buffy said, laying her head on Spike's
shoulder.
You gave me wings and made me fly
You
touched my hand I could touch the sky
I lost my faith, you gave
it back to me
You said no star was out of reach
You stood by
me and I stood tall
I had your love I had it all
I'm grateful
for each day you gave me
Maybe I don't know that much
But I
know this much is true
I was blessed because I was loved by you
You were my strength when I was weak
You were my
voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't
reach
You gave me faith 'coz you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me
You were always there for me
The tender wind that carried me
A light in the dark shining
your love into my life
You've been my inspiration
Through the
lies you were the truth
My world is a better place because of you
You were my strength when I was weak
You were my
voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't
reach
You gave me faith 'coz you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me
I'm everything I am
Because
you loved me
The song ended, but Spike still held Buffy and kept dancing as another song started playing.
It
must have been cold there in my shadow,
to never have sunlight on
your face.
You were content to let me shine, that's your way;
you always walked a step behind.
"Spike!" Buffy said, lifting her head to look at him. "It's Wind Beneath My Wings!"
So
I was the one with all the glory,
while you were the one with all
the strength.
A beautiful face without a name -- for so long,
a
beautiful smile to hide the pain.
"I know it's your favorite song, even though you denied it then."
Did
you ever know that you're my hero,
and ev'rything I would like to
be?
I can fly higher than an eagle,
'cause you are the wind
beneath my wings.
"Thank you Spike, I love you."
It might have appeared to go
unnoticed,
but I've got it all here in my heart.
I want you to
know I know the truth, of course I know it,
I would be nothing
with out you.
"Buffy"
Spike said, taking the ring box out of his pocket. "Will you marry
me?"
"Of course I will!" Buffy said kissing him.
Did
you ever know that you're my hero,
and ev'rything I would like to
be?
I can fly higher than an eagle,
'cause you are the wind
beneath my wings.
Fly, fly, fly away,
you let me fly so
high.
Oh, fly, fly,
so high against the sky, so high I almost
touch the sky.
Thank you, thank you, thank God for you,
the
wind beneath my wings.
