Later that night Joyce returned home from work to see a very lonely looking Buffy sitting on the couch, "Are you ready to go?"

Buffy gave her mother a strange look, "Go where?"

"William called me at work, and invited you to dinner tonight..." Joyce said as she hung up her coat, "So I will be taking a shower, then getting dressed and I will be taking you over there..."

Buffy nodded and watched her mom go up the stairs. Once she was sure Joyce was away she ran up the stairs as fast as possible and started getting dressed. She had the biggest smile across her face as she began digging through her closet. Buffy's phone began to ring and she picked it up, "Hello?"

"Hey, luv..." Spike said through the phone. This only caused Buffy the smile more, if that was possible.

"Hi, hun... What's with the dinner deal?" she inspected a very low cut top as she spoke.

Spike sighed, "I miss my girl... and since mum has to keep watch over us... Figured having her bring you around would put her at ease, make her feel like she still has control..."

Buffy giggled, "Yes!" She said as she finally located the skirt she wanted to wear.

"What are you so excited about, luv?" Spike said curiously.

"Oh, nothing, just found the skirt I wanted..." she heard her mom's shower shut off, "Hun, I have to go if I'm gonna look hot enough for you..."

Spike let out a low growl at the thought, "You're always hot, pet..."

Buffy giggled again, "I love you honey..."

"Love you to baby..."

Buffy said good bye and hung up the phone, then set about getting dressed.

Joyce wasn't very surprised that Spike and his troupes lived in the middle of nowhere. They needed all the privacy they could get. When they pulled into the drive way Spike stepped out onto the porch and waved. He was slightly nervous, Joyce might not have been staying for dinner, but the repercussions of what tonight had in store left him slightly shaky. David joined Spike on the porch and lit up a cigarette as Joyce and Buffy got out of the car.

"She needs to be home by 11..." Joyce said to Spike as Buffy joined him on the porch.

"Of course Mrs. Summers." Spike smiled and wrapped an arm around Buffy, then kissed the top of her head.

David stepped forward and held out a hand, "David..." He said as he introduced himself.

Joyce shook David's hand, "Joyce..." she smiled and looked up at Buffy.

The couple were far too wrapped up in each other to notice anything. Spike had his arms wrapped possessively around Buffy as he leaned his head against hers. Joyce smiled and let go of David's hand, Nick and Holly joined everyone on the porch and were soon shaking Joyce's hand. They were all doing their best to seem presentable.

Joyce sighed and stepped down from the porch, "I'll leave you guys to your dinner..." she gave Buffy her warmest smile and started walking to the car.

"Maybe later this week you can join us, Nick makes some Italian that's just brilliant." Spike offered before Buffy's mom escaped into her car.

She nodded, "That would be nice..." she waved and got into the car. It was a couple moments before Joyce was officially out of sight, and once she was gone everyone relaxed.

Spike turned to his friends, "Okay, you lot have 5 minutes to clear out..."

Holly was walking to the car already, "Gone..." she said as she climbed in.

"Where are they going?" Buffy asked as she watched David and Nick gathered their things.

Spike smiled, "They're giving us a private night together..."

Buffy's mouth dropped, "You sneaky little snake..."

Spike chuckled and waved as his friends left, "Just you and me, some dinner... a movie... a quiet night together..." Once the car was out of sight he lit up a cigarette and went inside with the ashtray. "No way in hell am I smoking outside if Holly isn't here..." Buffy followed behind, shaking her head as she closed the door.

David had taken the time to make some chicken cordon bleu and other various side dishes for Spike and Buffy's night together. Buffy settled down at the candlelit table and watched as Spike brought out the plates, "We never did get our dinner together..." he said as he took a place across the table from her. For most of the dinner they were quiet, merely enjoying each other's company, every so often they would look up at each other and smile. Eventually Spike started tensing up slightly, and the tension rose between them, What's with him? Buffy wondered.

Spike dropped his fork on his plate and looked up at Buffy with a serious look, "Buffy..."

Buffy looked scared, not quite sure what to expect. Spike let out an audible gulp and stood up, he dug around in his pocket for a moment. Once he located whatever he was looking for he dropped onto one knee next to Buffy and took her hand in his. She turned slowly and tried to smile, still feeling uneasy. "Our relationship... It's had a few bumps... mostly from outside interference... but, I can't say I've ever felt more strongly and sure about a woman before... It's remarkable how quickly you stole my heart, sweetheart..."

He slid her promise ring from her finger, as well as his own and set them on the table together, "I think it's time we replace this with something more... serious..." He pulled a larger, much much more impressive ring from his pocket and held it in front of him. Once again he went overboard with the cost. Buffy's eyes went wide; nearly popping out of her head as she stared at the crystal clear diamond that she thought must have been the size of a marble. Spike let out another gulp and Buffy gasped and met Spike's eye's as she covered her mouth, "Buffy... will you... marry me?"

Buffy was speechless, the ring meant nothing once again; to her it was nothing but a symbol, just so everyone knew she was taken. She stuttered for some time and then just started nodding as tears began filling her eyes. Spike smiled and sat up a bit more as he slid the ring onto her finger then kissed her cheek. Buffy just grabbed onto Spike's shoulders and pulled him to her in excitement, "Oh my gosh, I love you, William..."

They both fell backwards onto the floor and started laughing. Spike looked up at the clock on the wall, then smiled and looked over at Buffy, "We still have time for a movie..."

Buffy shook her head and gave Spike a kiss, "I don't want to watch a movie..."

Spike caught on immediately and cupped her cheek as he kissed Buffy with passion that he felt they had missed in the past days. Buffy let out a soft moan as Spike pulled her on top of him, "We should go upstairs..." Buffy nodded and hopped off of him, and then they both went up to his room hand in hand with each other.