Chapter 20: A Boat Trip in December

Spike and Buffy stayed at the Summers' household for three days despite the tension and chill in the house created by Giles. He didn't seem to be able to control his comments, which were done with the goal to make Spike feel as uncomfortable as possible.

After three days, with still four to go before New Year's, which was the day he was supposed to leave, he had finally had it. Giles sat in the living room where Joyce was feeding Dawn and Buffy and Spike were watching television. Giles spoke loudly enough to everyone in the room, "Now that you know how hard being a parent is, do you plan to do right by Drusilla and marry her?"

Spike frowned, "Why would I marry her? She doesn't love me."

Giles stood up towering over Spike who was still seated on the couch, "Because you made the girl pregnant and you have certain responsibilities to her even if you don't want to admit it. You shouldn't be with my daughter right now and should be off caring for the child! Don't you have any morals or are you all unfeeling?"

Spike sighed taking Buffy's hand, "I think we have overstayed our welcome here."

Buffy nodded giving Joyce a hug, "I'll be back in a few days when Spike's plane leaves. Enjoy your holiday."

Without waiting for a response, they took their leave.

Once in the car, Spike turned to Buffy with a frown, "So where do you want to spend the next few days? Xander is away with Anya visiting relatives and Willow is in TN visiting relatives as well. Think Oz will put us up for a night then tomorrow when the day is better we can head out in the boat and stay there for 3 days…it will be a little chilly but should be nice. How does that suit you?"

Buffy smiled, "Anywhere you go, I'll go. If we have to spend New Year's on a boat, then so be it. Isn't the rest of the gang returning in the next day or so in time for New Years? Perhaps we can spend it with them on the boat."

Spike grinned, "That sounds like a plan. Let's so see if Oz can put us up for a night."

Buffy snuggled in at his side and found herself two hours later, settled into a pull out couch at Oz's apartment for the night. She looked over at Spike who was relaxed and adding in a few more changes to the camera settings to make the computer run smoother. Buffy watched him work as she asked, "So do you feel comfortable enough with your job? I know it's a big change. Do you think you can handle it? It is what you want to do forever?"

Spike smiled at her running a finger down her cheek, "You always worry about me and always ask questions no one else asks. Everyone else just tells me I'll be fine and that I'm doing good. No one asks me if I want to do it, just assume I will. You care enough to ask me if I'm ok with it. The answer is, I'm ok with it. I can handle it although it's a lot of work but it's also a lot of money. We will never have to want for money. I can retire today and still keep us afloat until we die. What that means for us exactly I'm not sure. But yea Buffy I'm ok with it."

Buffy smiled as she closed her eyes feeling tired, "Good because I'd hate to think of you doing something you hated."

She yawned and Spike leaned over kissing her on the forehead, "Go ahead and sleep love. I'll be joining you in just a minute. This should be the finishing touches to have it working and up to speed by the time I leave. I just know we won't have electricity to be running this over the next few days and I'd rather not bring something like this on a boat."

Buffy nodded not opening her eyes, "I know. Sweet dreams Spike. I love you William Pratt."

Spike smiled, "Love ya too Goldilocks. Sleep sweet." Buffy was sleeping in just minutes and Spike joined her in less than 15 minutes where they dreamed of days to come.

In the morning after Spike fixed breakfast for Oz and Buffy, the duo left Oz thanking him for the use of his apartment couch for the night. Oz was pleased to see they were still doing well having worried about them with the long distance.

Buffy climbed into the car heading back to her house to sneak in to her room to pack up a bag properly and in a little less than 30 minutes later, they had two suitcases, a few blankets, a cooler full of ice and food and lots of smiles, they were settled aboard Spike's boat. They didn't even drive it that far, only to a deserted cove that they had found on one of their boat outings. There they docked the boat settling down on the boat's surface to start their two-day boat stay.

They had made arrangements with Oz and the others through phone to meet up with the gang on Spike's boat where they would party. They hadn't been able to get together for Christmas as planned so New Year's Eve, would turn into a Christmas and New Year's celebration.

Spike was providing the wine and champagne for toasting while Oz would bring a meat platter, Willow offered to bring desert while Anya and Xander said they would pick up some chips and dip along with soda before heading over to the boat.

Buffy looked forward to this but for now, just wanted to enjoy Spike's company. She smiled as she rolled over onto her stomach dipping her chip casually into the dip placed before her. She smiled at Spike as he settled directly across from her on the boat and whispered, "So Buffy, what do you plan to do exactly after graduation?"

Buffy studied Spike for a moment and admitted, "Oxford but it depends on your plans. If you plan to run this business forever…William?"

Spike raised his eyebrow at her and replied, "Buffy?"

She smiled slightly but then grew serious again, "What are your plans exactly?"

Spike shrugged his shoulders chomping on another chip, "I guess I run this business until I retire and hopefully have someone to give it away too."

Buffy nodded then bit her lower lip before asking, "Does that mean you stay in England?"

"You mean to live?"

Buffy nodded and Spike studied her trying to read her mind, "What it means is this. Come here first."

Buffy listened crawling so she sat next to him and leaned her head against him smiling at the way he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, "What is means is this. That's my company. I have to be near it in some sort of fashion. So yea I'll probably have to live in England at the winery. Is that a forever thing? Unfortunately probably yes. That means I'd have to settle in England, make it my home but I can still visit other places as I'm doing now. The company can't move. I can expand it which I've been thinking of doing but I'm not totally sure Sunnydale is the best place to raise grapes…"

Buffy bit her lip harder as he continued, "So to answer your question, to the best of my knowledge luv, I plan to settle in England, get myself a family eventually, write some novels for fun and maybe get published but to overall continue to run the family business until someone else in my family can take it over."

Buffy nodded as she let out a gentle sigh, "Can I live with you in England?"

Spike grinned, "I was hoping you'd like that but I could still see you anywhere you do live."

Buffy didn't like that answer but instead of dwelling on it whispered, "I don't want us apart."

Spike nodded in agreement, "Me neither luv. Being away from you is hard and it hurts more than I imagined. And time isn't making it any easier as people promised it would."

Buffy whispered, "It's getting harder if anything."

Spike hugged her close as he tugged over the book they were currently reading, "Don't think of it Goldilocks. Just let me voice relax you ok?"

Buffy smiled as she moved her head down a little lower to rest against his chest so she could feel him talk as much as hear him and then he started to read. The story wove it's way through their heads and within minutes, they were lost in the make believe world where none of their troubles existed.