A/N:So I wasn't even sure I was going to do an epilogue for this story but I couldn't get it out of my mind so I sat and started to write it down. The next thing I knew it was almost 9k long, which is huge considering most chapters of this story were like 3k. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this huge actual final chapter!
One year later
Buffy groans as she's woken up by th loud sound she thinks she's ever heard, it's not very often that she hates the enhanced hearing she got from the claiming but now is one of those times. It takes her a few moments to realize it's the phone ringing. Don't people get I'm the Slayer, you don't call a Slayer before noon unless there's an apocalypse imminent.
"Bloody hell, I hope whoever's calling is happy with the life they've lived because I'm about to end it," Spike growls then he throws something across the room to knock the phone off the table, her eyes are still closed but she knows he threw her pillow because it was unceremoniously snatched from under her head.
"Spike, it's cordless, it's not like you can knock it off the hook to shut it up," Buffy grumbles and takes Spike's pillow from under his head as payback.
She has all intentions of taking the pillow and using it for herself when her innate slayerness stops her. She can't ignore the phone when someone might really need her help. So with a groan she reluctantly gets up and stumbles still half asleep to where the phone is lying on the ground where it's been lying since Spike's pillow attack.
"Hello?"
"Buffy, good, I've been calling for a while now."
"Giles, hey. Is something wrong? You know I don't get home from patrol on weekends until the sun is almost rising."
He clears his throat. "Yes, patrol. Is that what the kids are calling it nowadays?" Buffy is glad that Giles isn't here to see the blush on her face because he's right. It's been pretty quiet around here recently, ever since they took down Glory really, so she and Spike do their normal patrol then spend the rest of the night having… um… alone time together. It's not that they don't get privacy at the house, and that silencing spells Willow and Tara did in their room did wonders with making it easier to look Dawn in the eyes in the morning after their more loud and vigorous activities but sometimes it's fun to not have to watch your strength because you're worried about breaking your bed for the fifth time, or your mirror, windows, dresser, heck, there was even the wall that one time. Buffy shakes her head. Talking to her watcher is not the time to be replaying such memories.
So she decides to ignore his comment. "Patrol was pretty slow last night, ever since we got those pesky nerds arrested for the diamond robbery and that poor security guard the only people we've had to worry about were a few random vampires. Clem and the other demons we're working with let us know when new roughly ones come to town and we're quick to take care of them."
"That's good. I must admit, I was very skeptical of your plan to work with demons but it's worked out well. It was just hard for me to believe that they like the town quiet and as peaceful as you and I do."
"I know, I probably wouldn't have ever believed it either if it wasn't for that vision quest you dragged me on but I saw how great it worked. Of course, there are a few rotten eggs but you get that with every species. A lot of them just want to live quietly, work, and keep their families safe, just like humans. And the ones that don't get to meet Mr. Pointy. Well, Mr. Pointy Junior. I'll never forgive that weird phantom of the opera vampire for taking Mr. Pointy with him when he dusted."
"Yes, I know, you make it a point to tell me that often." He says dryly and Buffy hears Spike chuckle from the bed. She pouts, she was really attached to that stake but she can admit, if only to herself, that she might talk about it too much.
"Whatever. Anyway, what's up? You know there's the promise of death to whoever wakes me up before noon on the weekends if it's not life or death. You don't have a death wish, do you, Giles?"
He clears his throat again. "Right, of course, I did call for a reason. Did you forget what today was?"
Buffy jults with realization and looks at the clock. "Shit" She mumbles under her breath. "Spike, we have to get up! We're late!" Back into the phone she says, maybe a little too loud and frantic, "I gotta go, Giles, we're late."
She heard him say "I figured." As she's pulling the phone away and hitting the end button. She looks over to Spike and notices his head is under the pillow she just took from him a few minutes ago. She runs over and jumps onto him and the bed. She bounces a few times for good measure. "Spikey, get up! You have an important role to play today!" In a quieter more grumbly voice she continues, "An even more important role than mine."
Spike chuckles, reaches over, and wraps his arm around Buffy's waist, pulling her to lie down with him. "Aww is someone jealous?"
"What? No, as if." Spike looks at her and can't stop from kissing her where her skin scrunches up when she pouts and wrinkles her nose.
"Yeah you are, don't deny it, bobcat. You're as green as the jolly green giant."
"Well, I've been friends with him longer!"
"Yeah but you're a bird, the position is called 'best man.' Though I suppose I could be convinced into giving you the position if you had something better to offer me."
Buffy scoffs, "Yeah right, you didn't want to position in the first place, he had to basically beg you with an unlimited number of 'guys nights' which is just really you two going to the bronze to drink your manly beer and play pool all the while absently insulting each other."
"Best friendship I've ever had, it is." He says with another chuckle and Buffy laughs too.
"Yeah yeah, well time to get up, you have best man duties to attend to. Isn't your whole job to make sure the rings don't get lost and to make sure the groom doesn't get cold feet?"
"Yeah, but I've already handled both of those."
Buffy sits up straight. "What do you mean? Xander had cold feet?"
"You're kidding me, right? The boy was terrified for five months straight."
"What? How did I miss that?"
"You were focused on bridesmaids duties? Anyanka sure kept you ladies busy. I was starting to feel neglected, I'll be glad when this day is over and I'll have you all to myself again."
It was rough going for a while after Spike and Buffy told the Scoobies how they defeated Glory. Xander used it as an excuse to try to prove why Spike was still evil, and how he must be using magic on Buffy because he thought there was no way Buffy would actually be okay with him killing a human, no matter how many other lives it saved. The strain was really strong on the whole group for a few weeks after that. Until one night Spike decided he was tired of seeing his girl so sad because she was fighting with her friends. So he came up with a plan to get the Scoobies talking again. Believe Spike, he was just as surprised that he took that initiative as everyone else was. Though the Scoobies weren't big drinkers, he bet on the fact that they felt just as awkward about the conversation they had to have and the fight as Buffy did.
So when he walked in with two 6 packs worth of beers, stomped into the center of the room, slammed them down, and said "Alright, I'm here, let's get it out in the open, I know there's things you've been wanting to say to me. Go on, what the bloody fuck are you waiting for? Go on, tell me why it's my fault that we had to kill Ben to save the world."
That last sentence set them off, like he knew it would but that's all he needed. Once they got started talking they couldn't stop and everything came out. Every opinion they'd been holding back, every imagined slight, every 'well intentioned' worry, which if you were to ask Spike was just a bunch of condescending shyte. Either way, it all came out and at the end of the night, after Spike was sent out for another two 6 packs, they were all hugging and blubbering on each other. Spike thought the show was disgusting but if it made his Slayer happy he couldn't be too upset. Either way, his plan panned out, and thanks to him, though he'd never admit it, the Scoobies were a cohesive crime fighting unit of best friends again.
Getting back in a good place with Giles was a little harder, and Spike wasn't really able to help her with that, though it pretty much went the same way, they were just alone and no alcohol was involved. They still ended the night on the floor while hugging and though Giles would never admit it, there were tears coming from both of them.
Either way, that was a month or two after the claim, it took a little longer for them to actually warm up to Spike, but it wasn't so much a problem for the girls of the group, Buffy was surprised to learn they already liked him well enough, in fact, before they even claimed each other, the outer scoobies (as they liked to call themselves) were already friends. Even hung out from time to time without Buffy, Willow, Xander, or Giles knowing. So for them, it was no issue letting Spike in and believing the best in him.
For the core Scoobies (as they liked to be called) it was a little different. It was understandable, they knew Spike at his worst, they knew him when he wanted Buffy dead, and had no problem kidnapping her friends to get it done. At one point Xander yelled something at Spike along the lines of "You've tried to kill each of us before" to which Spike scoffed in his face before replying "You're a bloody human, one with absolutely no supernatural powers or strength, one that's not particularly smart or conniving, if I wanted you dead, you'd be dead. You were a pawn, mate, that's it."
That didn't help bring them closer or anything but it did clear things up a little bit. Anyway, after they saw Spike and Buffy together for a while, and the obvious love they had for each other, they accepted that Spike wasn't going anywhere.
It took months for the men of the group to accept that their being together wasn't as bad as they expected it to be. They had to admit that Spike helped make Buffy happy and she was undoubtedly safer always having someone watching her back on patrol and in battles. With acceptance of their relationship came acceptance into the group. It started small, with Spike living with Buffy and Dawn, when Thanksgiving came along, of course, he was there and Buffy roped him into helping prepare and cook. They all laughed together for the first time when Xander cracked a funny, nonmalicious joke about the apron Spike was wearing while cooking and later that night they shared their first friendly moment together at the end of the night when Spike was finally able to sit down, done with his responsibilities for the night and Xander walked over to him, handed him a cold beer, and sat down next to him without another word.
It grew from there, and the next thing Buffy knew, Spike, Xander, and sometimes even Giles were going out without the girls and hanging out. Buffy couldn't deny how happy it made her, how much more complete it made her life feel. Before their companionship, Buffy felt like she had everything she wanted in life but she couldn't enjoy it because she spent so much time keeping the important parts of her life apart.
Now though, Buffy can say with complete certainty that this is the happiest and most content she's been since she's been called, and most likely her entire life. She wouldn't change anything for all the money in the world. Except maybe the fact that his bestest guy friend, the person she's been best friends with since she moved here, the guy she's been friends with way longer than Spike has been, chose her Spike as his best man instead of her. Heck, she'd be fine if he chose Willow, they've been friends since kindergarten but Spike? Come on. Buffy shakes her head, she's just being petty, she's still a bridesmaid, she should be happy and absolutely one hundred percent not jealous.
"Do you got your dress and all your frilly girlie things, Bobcat? I'm sure they're waiting for us at the church to get ready." Spike asks snapping her out of her definitely not jealous moment.
"Huh? Yeah, I packed everything up last night. Is Dawn ready? We have to go." She says, taking charge like Spike wasn't just waiting on her instead of the other way around.
"Yeah, love, she's downstairs waiting impatiently with her shoes on, tapping her foot and giving me her evil eye. The little bit can be scary when she puts her mind to it."
Buffy laughs. "Aww, is my big bad scared of the tiny teen girl?" She asks as she slips on her shoes, grabs her bags that have been waiting by the door since last night, and walks over to Spike so she can lean down and give him a soft kiss.
Spike scoffs and tries to sound incredulous. "Yeah right, I used to eat girls like her for breakfast, like she could ever scare me."
Buffy knows he's lying, Dawn can scare anyone if she puts her mind to it. She doesn't get upset or affected at all when Spike brings up his evil past like that anymore. It used to but she knows down to her bones, in her soul, that it's in the past for him and he wants nothing to do with it anymore, he's happy with her and their family, he's happy where they are now and he wouldn't risk if for turning evil again. "Whatever you say, Mr. Big Bad. Now hurry up, let's go, we're not waiting on you anymore, we'll leave without you if we have to." Buffy says with a laugh, that she has no problem pushing the blame for being late on him.
~~~
Buffy can't make her smile go away during the drive to the church or when they're getting ready. Even when she cries from listening to Anya practice her absolutely beautiful vows she still has a smile on even though she also has tears falling down her face. After she's ready she's the bridesmaid that gets sent out to do crowd control. Xander's family are known for their partying ways and their overindulgence of alcohol. Even when it's just them and no one else like during a family holiday, it's a miracle when a fight doesn't break out. Not to mention Anya's 'family' is just all the different friends she's made over the years during her time as a vengeance demon. Buffy likes to think she's a lot less judgmental and speciesist when it comes to demons nowadays but even with her open mind, some of Anya's guests are a lot to handle and that's not even taking into account the ones that still actively reap vengeance on people. Buffy has no problem working with and being friendly with demons but she draws the line at demons that actively hurt humans. All that to mean that the two separate groups joining for this wedding are like a powder keg waiting for a spark to make it all explode. Unfortunately, Buffy made a promise of no slayage to Anya during the bachelorette party after one too many glasses of champagne.
Thankfully it's not long before she feels the arms of her mate wrap around her waist from behind. She automatically leans back into his chest. "Is everything okay with Xander?"
"Yeah, he had another freakout but they're coming further and further apart lasting for shorter and shorter times, I'd officially say he's ready," Spike says and then turns their bodies. Buffy looks where he's aiming her and sees Xander with a big smile on his face standing near the front of the isle talking to some of his and Anya's guests.
"Good. Why was he so worried? Is it just like wedding jitters or whatever?"
"Nuh-uh, I'm not going to tell you. He told me that in private."
"Aww, Spikey, are you and your best friend keeping secrets? How cute!"
"Oi! I am not cute, and he's not my best friend. What am I? A schoolgirl? He's just a mate of mine is all. And hey, I'm a good friend, don't act so surprised." He says indignantly.
Buffy can feel he's not actually upset, in fact, he's enjoying their banter so she opens her mouth to keep bugging him but someone else interrupts first.
"William?" They both turn their heads to look for whoever could be using Spike's given name and they see a woman that's clearly a vengeance demon staring at him with her mouth open. Buffy feels Spike's confusion but she can't help looking back and forth between the two. Just as she's about to ask him if he knows the woman she feels his realization.
"Hey, wait a minute…"
"You two know each other?" Buffy can't help but ask even though it's pretty clear they do.
"Cecily?"
The woman looks at Spike for a second more before taking a deep breath and laughing lightly before turning her head away a little bit. "Oh, no, sorry, nope. Must have been mistaken."
"Wha—" Buffy starts to ask but Spike is too focused on the demon.
"Wait a minute, you're a vengeance demon? For how long?"
"For much longer than we've been acquainted."
"What? That makes no sodding sense."
"I was there for a job, the child of the house was being abused."
Spike thinks back, he remembers that day perfectly, it was the day he was turned into a vampire, after all. One of the best bloody days of his life. The night when Dru delivered him from mediocrity and gave him immortality. However, some of the details were lost to time. He can't really remember who's party that was. He knows it was Lady Elizebath's invitation but he can't for the unlife of him remember who the chit was married to. Doesn't matter, he supposes, it's not Victorian London anymore, his mum isn't around anymore either, and she was the only reason he listened to gossip in the first place, his mum lived for it. Spike shakes his head, It's a little hard for him to reconsider the fact the girl he fancied himself in love with was actually a demon whose whole purpose in life was to reap vengeance. Bitch didn't have to be so cruel in his rejection then, did she? There might be a lot of vengeance he deserves nowadays for his past actions but there's no way 'William the bloody awful poet' deserved that.
Buffy's hand on his arm brings him back to the present. He looks at her and loves her more than he already did because of the worry on her face. He turns back to look at Cecily, "You were a right bitch that night but I suppose I should thank you."
Cecily, though now he doubts that is her real name, looks just as surprised by his statement as he feels, and Buffy is just confused. "Oh yeah? Why is that?"
"That was the night I was turned. If you didn't…" he trails off because he was about to say something along the lines of 'brutally reject me and send me crying off into the night'. "If you didn't talk to me that night I wouldn't have wandered off and run into Dru."
Buffy's whole body tenses. "Dru?" Cecily asks interestedly.
"My sire." He says flatly. "If it wasn't for you I'd never have been turned and I'd be long dead in the ground by now, so yeah, thanks, I guess."
Buffy is known for her patience. Okay, so that's not exactly true but she's definitely gotten better at being patient over the last few years, she'll even go as far as to say she is super patient when she has to be. Right now is different though, she needs to know more about this story and she decides she won't wait anymore. She needs to get Spike alone and get the details now. Especially because she doesn't like the way this 'Cecily' is looking at her mate. During their conversation, her look and tone have gone from weary to flirty and Buffy is not a fan. Spike is hers and she's not going to let some other woman Spike knows from the past encroach on her territory, nu-uh, no way.
"This conversation is over now, I have need of Spike, alone." She says with a look to Spike she knows he's going to interpret as 'get me naked now' "It was nice meeting you, Sherry."
Buffy doesn't even look at the demon whose name she does know and messed up on purpose. She just grabs Spike's hand and starts walking. She feels womanly pride when he doesn't give the demon another look and instead follows Buffy without a second thought.
Unfortunately, before she can get the answers she wants and the naked sexy time she needs, Spike seems to notice something and stops walking. She turns to look back at him, "What's wrong?"
"Do you know him?" He asks and points to someone who's leading a nervous-looking Xander away from the crowd. Of all the perks she's gained from claiming Spike, one of her favorites is seeing things much more clearly, she used to have to get close enough to someone to be able to see if she got that Slayer feeling with the hairs on the back of her neck sticking up or not telling her if they're human or demon. Whoever Xander is following is definitely a demon and not only that, she can see the guy has some bad intentions. Before the claim, she didn't know vampires could see auras and things like that, like Tara can but she's definitely not upset about the nifty upgrade. She and Spike share a quick look before deciding at the same time to follow them.
"No, I don't but I can tell he's not someone we want messing with Xander on his wedding day."
"Right." They don't have to speak to know their plan or who takes what position. Sometimes Buffy thinks they're just different parts of the same person, they've had full conversations without ever opening their mouths. No, they don't share a telepathic link or anything crazy like that but she thinks because of the claim they know each other as well as couples who have been together for 50 years. So she doesn't bat an eye when he takes a turn separating from her or when she sees he's standing right behind the man who's talking quickly and quietly to Xander.
She lets herself be known by clearing her throat. Xander jumps up and looks at her with a guilty look as if he's the one that came to the wedding with the intention of messing everything up. "I'm not sure who this demon is, Xan but I'm sure he's up to no good. I can see it." She stresses the word see, and his eyes widen when he catches her drift. Out of everyone in the scoobies, he had the hardest time accepting and getting used to her enhancements.
Xander's forehead scrunches up in confusion. "Wait, did you say demon? That can't be true, he's me." At her furrowed brow he continues "Me from the future, he said he's warning me of the trouble I cause Anya by marrying her. He's about to show me."
"He's lying Xan, I'd like to think I know you better than almost anyone and I can say without a shallow of a doubt that you'd never choose to become a demon. I don't know who he is but he's not you." She shoots Spike a quick glare because he's feeling amusement at her words. She doesn't know what part of what she said was funny but she's sure he's laughing at her.
It's right then that Mr. Whoever he is decides he's found out and tries to make a run for it. Unfortunately for him, he doesn't know Spike is waiting behind him so when he turns and runs, he runs right into Spike's firm grasp of him. He tries to fight his way out but with the power boost they each got from the claim, the other demon doesn't stand a chance.
After the demon guy gives up Spike speaks, "Right, it'd probably be best for everyone, including you and your continued health, if you told us who you are and why you're here."
The story comes out fast and hard to understand, the demon is scared for his life and isn't thinking straight enough to tell a normal story, Buffy thinks he might be a better babbler than she or Willow is, and that's saying a lot. Either way, after more time than it should have taken, they figure out this guy blames Anya for all his problems because of a vengeance wish made on him a long time ago. Buffy thinks it's mighty convenient of him to only blame Anya, not the woman who made the wish, or better yet, himself for doing things that earned vengeance in the first place. Either way, it's stupid and though Buffy doesn't kill every demon she comes across, this one sure did enough to earn a slaying from her.
The demon must see the change in her eyes because it's clear he knows if he doesn't get out of there he'll die, he surprises Spike, who's holding him now, by swinging his leg back and giving him a swift kick in his family jewels.
"Christ!" He yells, not expecting it and the shock is enough to get him to loosen his hold, the demon takes the opportunity to rip free, and unfortunately for him, Buffy is right there and doesn't let him get a step away before punching him hard enough in the face to drop him to the ground.
"Hey! You better watch where you're swinging that leg, buddy, that's my very enjoyable part of his body and I plan to make use of it later."
Spike is cursing to himself but can't help but chuckle when he hears her words. "Is that right, love?"
She blushes once she realizes what she said but doesn't back down. "Uh yeah, I thought I made that pretty clear earlier."
"Uh guys, I know you're very active, and uh satisfied with that part of your lives but can we focus? This creep was about to do something weird to my head, he was trying to ruin my wedding!" Xander yells.
"Oh yeah, sorry Xan." She walks over to a white pedestal that's a decoration for the wedding, picks it up, and walks back over to the demon. She looks at Xander, "Would you like to do the honors? You were the one he was messing with, after all."
Xander looks a little green at the suggestion. "Uh, no, you guys go ahead but hurry up, I'm sure Anya is thinking up worst-case scenarios for why there's a delay."
"Give it here, that bloody hurt, the bugger deserves worse than this but suppose it'll have to do considering the time limit." He takes the pedestal from Buffy and quickly squishes the demon's head. "Not the cleanest kill we've ever done but at least it won't be in view while they're saying their vows. Come on, let's go in, we'll deal with clean up after."
He wraps his arm around her waist and starts leading her back to the room where the ceremony is happening and Buffy has no problem letting herself be led. The rest of the ceremony happens without any other hitches. Well, other than the ones that were inescapable problems that come up when one-half of the guest list is demons pretending to be carneys and the other half are humans that have a problem getting rambunctious and rude after drinking too much.
So yeah, there are a few…issues throughout the ceremony and party after, not least of all the fight that almost breaks out between the people on each side of the aisle. Thankfully, the Scoobies are able to calm everything down after some yelling and rough-housing themselves, to get the guests back in their seats. After that, The groom and bride said their vows and I dos.
Spike looks over at Buffy and sees tears of joy in her eyes, he wonders if she ever wants anything like this. They're more than married, they're tied to each other deeper than Xander and Anya can ever be but he also knows when girls are little they dream about their wedding days. He doesn't want to keep something like that from Buffy if that's what she wants, just because he thinks the claim is enough to cement their love and devotion to each other, maybe she wants more. He decides he's going to ask her about it when they're alone later.
Later Buffy sits down at a table with a bottle of water after dancing with all her friends. She looks around and sees how happy everyone is. She looks over to Giles, who is talking with Spike, and is a little surprised when she sees Giles laugh, it still catches her off guard sometimes to see them all friendly but she can't say she minds, not one bit. A year ago she never thought she'd be so happy or that everything in her life would have come together so perfectly. Last year when she was trying to figure out how to run a house and grieving because her mom died unexpectedly and at the same time also trying to figure out how to keep the world from literally being sucked into hell because a crazy hell god wanted to go home, she never thought she'd ever be this happy or content again.
That's not to say life is perfect, though the immediate pain and tears that used to come at the thought are gone, she still misses her mom every day. And just because the most recent people who tried to be the next 'big bad' were a group of three nerds, that doesn't mean slaying is all smooth sailing, there are some nights where she wants to throw her stake in and quit. Sometimes she wishes, if only for a second, that she can have a normal life. Those thoughts don't last too long though, with the network she, Spike, and Giles have made over the last year with the friendly demons of Sunnydale, they usually get a lot of advance notice when the whisperings of a new person trying to be a Big Bad start. And if she had never called as a Slayer, she'd never have moved to Sunnydale because she seriously doubts she'd have ever burnt down the school gym, so she'd never have met any of the people that now make up her family. Heck, her real family, Dawn, wouldn't even exist, at least not in this form. And that's not even thinking about Spike, he'd probably still be running around with Dru being all evil, and, well, she shakes her head. She doesn't even want to think about the possibility of that, over the last year he's become her rock, she doesn't know what she'd do without him and she doesn't even want to consider the alternate.
Spike interrupts her thoughts spiral when he steps in front of her with his hand out. She looks up to him with a small smile and takes his hand. They walk over to the dance floor and start swaying back and forth. The first time they danced together after the claim Buffy was surprised a how good he is but when she asked him about it he scoffed and mumbled something about being a proper Victorian gentleman and the many hours of classes his mother made him take. She already had gathered as much from the vision quest but it was different hearing it from him.
Either way, she enjoyed the benefits of finally having a boyfriend who could not only dance but he enjoys it too. So over the year, she might have dragged him to the Bronze more than was necessary for her normal blowing off of steam but he didn't complain and she had fun so who cares?
Spike pulls her close and leans his head in to nestle next to hers. She can hear him inhale and the tenseness she didn't even realize was in his shoulders loosens and they enjoy the rest of the dance without saying a word. Buffy has all intentions of ignoring the song's ending so that they can keep dancing when she hears someone clear their throat behind her.
"Mind if I cut in?" Giles asks and she smiles.
"Sure thing, watcher, just don't let our girl tire herself out too much, I have plans for her later." Buffy slaps him and hides her face because of the blush. She feels a little better when she realizes Giles is blushing too.
She has all intentions of telling Spike off but he takes her moment of embarrassment to walk away. She looks at Giles and they make the mutual silent decision never to speak of that again. It's a little awkward at first when they start to dance, he might be a better father to her than Hank ever was but she realizes as they're dancing that they don't touch much.
Giles clears his throat. "So, Xander is married, it's a strange thing to think about."
"Right? It makes me feel like we're old like I'm a grown-up now."
"Buffy, you've been a grown-up for a long time now, much longer than you should have been. I suppose that's a burden of being a Slayer. You've handled it with grace though and I could not be more proud."
"Thanks, Giles, sometimes I feel like I'm failing, I'm only 20 I have no idea how to raise a teenager."
"You're doing great, look at Dawn." Buffy takes a moment to find her in the crowd and sees her laughing with Tara and Willow, she also notices her shooting shy looks at a boy that most definitely is a guest of Anyas. Buffy decides she's going to keep an eye on that. She turns her attention back to Giles when he speaks again. "She's happy, even after everything she has been through, knowing her origins, losing your mom, the frankly abysmal attempt your father made to be there for her after he found out about your mother. She feels safe and stable, she knows she has a family to rely on. As much as I hate to admit it, Spike is a big part of that as well. You've managed to give her a normal schedule and got her back on track after she started skipping school. Managed to figure out the money and bills keeping your house. You should be proud, Buffy, I know I am."
Buffy leans in closer and rests her head on Giles's chest. "Thanks, Giles."
The party goes on until late into the night, and with the few glasses of champagne Buffy drinks along with the little time she has to sit down and eat, she's pretty tipsy by the time they make it to the house. Dawn seems drunk herself but with their enhanced senses they know she hasn't consumed a drop, she's just in a really good mood.
"That was so much fun! And Anya looked so pretty, did you see how happy Xander was? He didn't take his eyes off Anya the whole night. Oh my god, and the food, it was so so good. I ate so much I don't think I'll be able to eat again for days, maybe months even. I—" she cuts herself off with a big yawn.
"Alright bit, get to bed. It's late and I don't want to deal with cranky monster Dawn tomorrow morning."
"The only reason I'm not fighting you is because I'm so full I'm in need of a nice long food coma."
"Mhmm, food. Buffy needs food." Buffy says standing straight up from where she was leaning half asleep on Spike's shoulder.
She walks quickly over to the kitchen and warms up some of the leftover spaghetti from a few nights ago when everyone came over for a 'family' dinner. She almost takes a bite of it without warming it up but Spike snatches it from her. He smiles and has to adjust his cock when she growls at him for taking her food. Spike quickly puts it on a plate and into the microwave, once it's done he hands it to her and quickly warms up some blood for himself. By the time they're done eating Buffy is feeling much more sober but still half asleep. With a pouty lip and big eyes that she knows Spike can't resist, she asks, "Carry me?"
He looks up from his empty cup with an indignant look on his face until he sees the face she's making. "Oh pouty, look at that lip."
"Gonna get it?" She asks working hard not to smile while remembering their engagement from so long ago.
With a growl of his own, he leans in fast and kisses her hard. When he finally pulls away he scoops her up bridal style and chuckles when she squeals in surprise. Buffy listens in as they pass Dawn's room on their way to their own and hears that she's breathing evenly signaling she's asleep. Before the door is even closed she's attacking his lips with her neck and unbuttoning the dress shirt she still can't believe she got him to wear.
He tosses her into the bed like she's a ragdoll and his time her squeal is indignant. She opens her mouth to snap at him but his stupid, smug, sexy look makes her forget what she planned to say. Instead what comes out is, "What are you waiting for? Get over here, preferably already naked."
"Nuh uh, not tonight bobcat. That blood didn't fill me up, I'm afraid, I'm right starved." Buffy gets a rush at the thought of Spike biting her tonight, it's always such a rush. It doesn't happen every time they have sex but when it does the sex always turns electric, well more than it already is anyway and she wasn't sure how that's even possible but it is. They're so connected all the time, knowing where the other one is, and what they're feeling but when they exchange blood they feel like one person.
Spike's eyes darken in lust reading the intentions on Buffy's face. "Not what I was talking about, luv but suppose I can make an exception for you. Right now though…" He trails off and pounces on her. She doesn't know why but she finds it so hot when he eats her out while she's fully clothed and that's what he does tonight, he doesn't even take her underwear off, just pushes them to the side. The first lick of his tongue has her head falling back and a sound half groan half moan coming out of her mouth.
He uses his fingers to open her up and looks at her sex like it's the most delicious dessert he's ever seen and as if he can't wait to devour her. Just the look on his face gets her so turned on she feels like she could scream. He must be able to see her patience waning because he chuckles huskily and by the look on his face she has a feeling it's going to be a long night of him edging her, not letting her fall over the edge until she begs for it. It's actually one of the games they play she loves most but during it almost feels like torture. He leans in and licks her again moaning louder than she does. His tongue circles her clit but doesn't actually touch it, making her groan in frustration.
He goes on like this for what feels like hours but she's sure it's only minutes, and the thing is, she's already ready to beg him. "Spike, stop teasing me!"
He pulls back, away from her so he's able to respond which makes her want to scream but she knows it's her fault for talking to him. He looks so innocent. "What do you mean, Slayer? Am I not making you feel good? You usually have nothing but good things to say about my talents."
She doesn't respond in hopes of him getting back to it but unfortunately, he's more patient than she is in this situation and has no problem waiting her out. "Spike, please." She grits through her teeth, and even if she does usually end up giving in, it doesn't mean she likes it.
"Please what, kitten?" He asks as he idly brings his hand up to start massaging her folds. After a second he enters her with one finger then two. "This?"
"Yes… more."
"Hmm." He hums and bends down to circle her clit with his tongue before wrapping his lips around and sucking once. She moans loudly and is so close to finally falling over the edge but her moan turns into a groan when he pulls back. "Like that?"
"Yes!"
"Yes, what?" He asks and stops pumping his fingers. He bends down and replaces his fingers with his tongue keeping her walking the line so close to finally cumming but keeping it just out of reach.
She's sure she's sweating at this point so worked up even though she hasn't moved from this same spot since being thrown on the bed. She finally gives in, she can't take it anymore. "Spike please, make me cum!"
The chuckle he lets out in his victory makes her hackles rise but it's easily forgotten when a second later he's hitting all her spots that he's been avoiding. Seconds later the groans of frustration she's been letting out turn into moans and screams of pleasure. She has a second of clear thought to be thankful for the silencing spell Willow and Tara did in their room. Finally, she sees stars as she has one of the most intense orgasms she's ever had before. The hairs on the back of her neck and arms stand up, and every nerve ending she has feels like it's exploding at the same time, she swears she has an out-of-body experience and sees herself with her head thrown back in pleasure, her chest heaving, her hand on Spikes head pulling him closer. By the time she comes down from her natural high, she's already building up to another one, Spike is inside her fucking her fast, angling each thrust so that his pelvic bone rubs against her clit, doing this special little twist at the end of each thrust that always hits the perfect spot deep inside her, a spot no one before him ever was able to hit.
"Fuck Slayer, so hot, so tight. Feel so good, perfect, you are."
Buffy moans into Spike's ear at his words and bites down on his ear lobe as her mouth closes. She knows what biting does to him and so she isn't surprised when he growls and his thrusts become harder, more frantic, his pace becomes less synchronized and thought out. She loves how she can drive him wild with just the little things, she opens her mouth freeing his ear and leans in to whisper words she knows will set him off. "Bite me, Spike."
She hears another 'Fuck' which sounds much more like a groan than anything else before she hears the sound of his bones shifting which signals that he's changed into game face. She hears him inhale deeply and feels his nose on her neck, she feels the air of his exhale against her neck and shivers in excitement. She moans when his tongue licks over her scar and she becomes louder when he latches on and starts sucking on her scar bringing all her blood to the surface. it's not easy to get the angles right but they are pros at it by now so she moves her head to repeat those actions to the scar on his neck and just as she feels his fangs enter her neck she opens her mouth wide in pleasure, she's able to focus enough to bite down as hard as she can to complete the exchange. She cums again just as she feels him thrust once, twice more before he spasms and she feels him pulsate inside her.
They stay like that for a long time coming back to earth. Buffy is the first to open her mouth and let go of his neck, she feels Spike take another draw or two of her blood before doing the same. She doesn't have to worry about him taking too much, he never does. Spike rolls over taking Buffy with him, she snuggles in and enjoys the cuddles until she feels something uncomfortable poking into her chest. She laughs when she realizes it's the underwire in the bra that's built into her dress, she stands up just enough to push her dress off and then flop back onto him. She ignores the 'oof' he lets out and ignores the uncomfortable sounds her mate makes and nuzzles in to make herself more comfortable.
It isn't long before she feels his arms wrap around her and she can't help but let out a sigh of contentment. She's about to fall asleep, she's in that space where she's not quite awake but still conscious when she hears Spike's voice and it wakes her up fully. She isn't asleep enough to miss the uncertainty in his voice"You still up, love?"
She knows that he is in tune with her enough to know what her heart rate is when she's sleeping so she wonders why he asks at all.
"Did you like that?"
She smiles seductively. "Spike, you can feel my emotions well enough to know exactly how much I liked what we just did."
He smirks at her but it quickly turns into something soft and he absently moves his hand to brush some strands of hair that got free behind her ear. "That's not what I was talking about. I'm talking about today with the whelp and Anya."
Buffy doesn't get offended or upset anymore when he calls Xander names because she knows he doesn't mean anything by it now. "Yeah, it was beautiful, they were so happy. You know all I want is for the people I love to be happy and safe."
He's been staring at her with love clear in his eyes since they started talking, like she's the only woman in the world. It always makes her feel all warm and gooey inside. "I know that pet, that's not what I mean." He sighs and looks away, she can feel how nervous he is and it confuses her. They're so connected that she thinks she's starting to get nervous too. He starts talking again but keeps looking away from her at a spot on the ceiling. "I was asking if you ever wanted anything like that for yourself."
"Oh." She says this is starting to make more sense to her now. At the realization, her nerves fall away and a brilliant smile grows slowly on her face. Though because Spike is looking away he doesn't see it and since he's so focused on his worry, he doesn't feel any of Buffy's sappy emotions at the thought. "Of course, I thought about wanting a day of my own like that before."
She feels bad when his nervousness turns into regret and even some self-loathing. He quickly looks at her with regret in his eyes. "I'm sorry baby, I know you've accepted the downsides of being with a vampire but I didn't mean to take this away from you too."
Buffy is kind of confused now, she doesn't know why he thinks he's taking it away from her and she knows he means what he's saying because he doesn't call her pet names like baby often unless he's completely serious. "Spike, you aren't keeping me from anything, what do you mean?"
I mean a wedding in a church with the sun shining down on you and a honeymoon on a tropical island is out of the question with a vampire as a husband." Spike didn't like to think about it, he didn't think he could live through it honestly but he wouldn't let himself stand in the way if that's what Buffy wants. He'd bow out and let her find a human to give that to her. He's sure he wouldn't survive it, he wouldn't want to, but he'd do it if that's what she wants. He loves her and just wants her to have everything she wants out of life.
He's surprised when she laughs in his face, it kinda pisses him off if he's honest, he's trying to be all self-sacrificial like and she's laughing at him? "Shut up Spike, I wouldn't want any of that if it wasn't with you."
Spike can't deny the relief her words bring him. He might not be able to give her the wedding she dreamed of when she was a tyke but he could still make sure she'll get one that'll make her happy. He got up, still completely arse naked, and walked over to her jewelry box. He searches through it for what he's looking for, walks back over to the bed, gets down on one knee all gentleman-like, and speaks. "Well then, bobcat, whaddya say? Wanna marry me?"
She smiles brightly when she sees what he's proposing with, it's the same ring from two years ago during their first spell-induced engagement. She puts on her Spell-Induced Buffy smile and says in the same voice, "Oh Spike, yes! Of course, it's yes!"
He smiles remembering that's how she replied the first time. He puts the ring on her finger before pulling her into a heated kiss. It's not surprising that one thing leads to another and the next thing she knows he's inside her thrusting at a speed only a vampire can manage and she's rocking against him giving back as good as she's getting.
Later after another round of lovemaking and another after that they're laying in bed with him on his back and her cuddling up next to him with her head on his chest just relaxing and being so close to their other half.
If you'd have asked the Buffy of a year and a half ago if she'd ever see herself here, in the bed she shares with her claimed vampire whom she just got engaged to sans spell she'd have laughed in your face. She's thankful this is where she is though, she wouldn't want to be anywhere else. She hates to admit it but she has the First Slayer to thank for that, if it wasn't for her, Buffy would have never given Spike a chance or opened up her eyes to the other demons around town. Thankfully she went on that vision quest a little over a year ago because now her life is good and she thinks she can handle anything life has to throw at her, even the next Big Bad. They don't know what they're in for coming after her, her family, friends, and the demon denizens of Sunnydale.
She snuggles closer to Spike and smiles softly at his half asleep mumbled 'I love you' and falls asleep thinking she couldn't wish for a better life and that she's exactly where she wants to be.