Betaed by Maria and Flight Of Fancy.


Spike was holding both of her hands in his, as he looked at her with a soft smile. "It’ll make me the happiest man on Earth to accept your proposal. I love you, man and demon, equally." He leaned forward and placed a chaste kiss on her lips.

There was yelling from the stairs. Both ignored the commotion.

"I would like to get more information through. What about the bonding itself? And what we can expect from it? Whatever you can tell me." Spike continued to hold her hands while they spoke. It seemed to calm her.

"The bonding itself is pretty normal. There are just a few things that will be different."

Spike could hear Buffy's confidence coming back. He nodded to encourage to her.

"We’ll have to pull the bed out from the wall, so we can make a circle around the bed with a special mixture of herbs and some candles. That's where the actual bonding will take place." It wasn’t just her confidence that had returned, she was also filled with excitement when she thought about the bonding she had dreamed of so long. "As for us...don’t get that look," Buffy scolded Spike, "it’s nothing bad. We take a bath with some of the same herbs we'll use to make the circle. That’s all there is to it."

"What’s with the herbs?"

Buffy looked down, her cheeks flushed again. She wondered how she could explain it without upsetting him or hurting his feelings. "Bathing in the herbs will cleanse us and free us from our past." Buffy held up her hands when he opened his mouth to speak. "Not in a redeeming way, but more like cleaning away the shadows of others who had an influence in our lives until now, from our bodies and our bed.”

"I see. How will the bond affect us? I've never heard of a Slayer bonding with a vampire before." Spike's mood had become very serious while Buffy spoke.

It was clear that Buffy felt very emotional about the bonding. "The effects of the bond will be about the same as when vampires mate, lots of things are possible. Some of the effects we'll see with time, and others may or may not ever happen. I know though, that anything that does happen will be all of the good."

"That would depend on what the person thinks is good." Spike was grinding his teeth. "Not everyone wants the same thing out of life. For instance, I like being a vamp.... I wouldn't trade the power and freedom for anything."

Buffy’s expression had changed to something Spike couldn’t read. Her lips had formed into a soft smile. Love was shining clearly from Buffy's eyes, but there was also something else that Spike couldn’t put into words.

"I know, and it’s one of the things I love about you." Buffy gently cupped his cheek with her hand. "I promise on my mother's life that you won't become human. Is that good enough? Cause I can’t tell you anything more. You have to choose this way on your own, without influence from anybody."

"Don’t you have to choose, too?" Spike released her other hand and leaned back. He needed room to think. "How come you know what the future might have in store for us?"

"I chose you a long time ago. When you died, I didn’t move on. I loved you too much to let anyone else hold me in their arms. Later, I found out from Lorne that you came back and about the betrayal from my friends. They knew how I felt and still they kept us apart. They weren't just my friends, they were my family. I saw Giles as my father, Willow and Xander as my brother and sister. They couldn't put my happiness first though. It was always about what they wanted and what they thought was best for me."

There was so much sadness in her eyes, that Spike couldn’t stop himself from reaching out to hold her hands again, giving her a bit of comfort.

"After I learned about their betrayal, I left them. The Powers said that, by doing that, I chose you, and I did it again and again, each time after that when I sent them packing." She sniffled a few times as tears welled up in her eyes.

"How do you know the Powers see it like that?"

"Dreams! Even though I’m not the Slayer, I'm still getting the dreams," she said, breathing out and letting her body relax.

"When will I get to know what the future holds in store for us?"

"I think you’ll have to wait until they give you the knowledge. The Powers guided me to the book, after I had made my choice," she said sadly, looking down at their hands, holding on to each other.

They both looked to the stairs when the noise intensified. Now everyone was standing there, even Joyce. The two groups were struggling against each other. Spike drew her attention to the bouncers that were circling in on the arguing crowd.

Angel’s eyes turned gold when he looked over at Spike and Buffy for the last time before he was pushed towards the stairs with the others and eventually escorted right out of the Bronze.

Spike’s laugh was contagious, and Buffy was soon giggling too.

"I need a drink. Back in a moment."

"Didn’t you go for a drink?" Buffy asked, when he came back empty handed.

"They’ll bring it." He lit a smoke and sprawled back in his chair.

Buffy admired his body from top to toe. She had missed his relaxed ways.

"See something you like, Luv?" Spike smirked at her smugly.

"Oh, yes." Buffy licked her lips and leaned back to copy Spike's pose.

He groaned and closed his eyes. "Don’t do that if you don’t want me to jump you right here."

A sparkling giggle was Buffy’s response. When she focused again, a waiter was at the table. A blooming onion and a plate of chicken wings were served and, as the cherry on the top, champagne for two.

Tears filled Buffy's eyes. "Thank you."

If a vampire could blush, Spike's cheeks would be red. "I figure we’re sort of engaged now. Let’s celebrate." He poured them both a glass of cool champagne.

They toasted to the future and nibbled on the food in silence, their eyes seeking each other. When most of the food was gone, Spike wiped his fingers clean and refilled their glasses.

"When can we do it?" Spike asked suddenly. A faint smile played around the vampire’s lips. He could see how Buffy struggled to answer without appearing too eager.

"As soon as you're sure. I can have the herbs ready in no time," Buffy breathed out.

"In no time you say? As in... tonight?" His eyes had turned dark.

A brilliant smile was slowly blooming on her face, as she nodded. "Are you sure?"

He nodded. "I’ve never been more sure of anything. I can’t live without you."

Buffy's eyes showed her insecurity. The damage her friends had done with their repeated betrayals was clear for all to see.

"We both love you, demon and man. I won't spend any more time without you if I can help it." Spike moved to Buffy's side and picked her up, placing the blond beauty on his lap and kissing the breath out of his soon-to-be-mate.

Willingly, Buffy moved as close to his body as she could get, feeling Spike's desire for her.

"Can we go now?" Spike asked with a smirk, as he held her firmly against his body, "Need to go mix some herbs."

"I’d love to." Buffy placed a light kiss on his lips, before she started to stand with his help. Her legs were a bit wobbly. "Can you feel where Angel is? I don’t want to deal with him right now."

Spike stood still beside her, closing his eyes for a moment. "Just outside the door. I’ll bet your mates aren’t far away either."

"You’re probably right." Buffy sighed, lifted her shoulders and letting them fall down again. Buffy interlaced her fingers with Spike's. "Do you know of another way out of here?"

A mischievous smile lit up his face. "We can avoid them if we go over the building. Are you up for a little jump to the neighbouring roof?"

“You bet. Lead the way,” Buffy responded. Spike’s plan might help the couple avoid any further unpleasant confrontations for the moment, but Buffy knew that when the Scoobies discovered that Spike was her other half, their reaction was going to give a whole new meaning to the term ‘shit storm’. There would be no way for anyone to interfere once they were mated though.

Spike's hand reached through the small window to help Buffy get out onto the roof. The cool night air that hit her was refreshing after the air in the Bronze, where there had been too many humans together in one place, smoking and sweating on the dance floor.

Together they walked to the edge of the roof and looked down on the street. After a moment, they noticed Xander standing in an alcove, watching the back door of the club, his arms hugging his body. The weather forecast had promised a cold night.

Changing direction, Spike led Buffy to the side of the roof that was closest to the neighbouring building. The jump was made together, holding hands. Spike had to steady Buffy as they landed, because her short, tight skirt limited her movements.

A few light kisses were shared, along with the smiles they sent each other, before they moved to get off the roof. The walk back to the converted warehouse was made at a good pace, interrupted every few minutes by a quick stop to share a kiss or two.

Once inside, Buffy locked the door and turned around. Immediately, she was pressed up against the unyielding surface. Spike had one hand on each side of her head, and quickly dropped his head to catch her mouth, which he immediately plundered. Buffy's hands found Spike's broad shoulders, where she took a firm grip and lifted her body up, wrapping her legs around his hips.

One of Spike's hands quickly moved down and took a firm grip on Buffy's buttocks, lifting her body up against his. An arm was twined around Buffy's waist to keep her close.

At some point, Buffy needed to breathe. She pulled away panting, head leaning back against the door, eyes closed. Spike's breathing was also ragged, his forehead resting against her neck.

As she caught her breath, Buffy let her legs fall, wriggling a bit to be let down.

A deep groan was pulled from Spike. "Don’t." He breathed in deeply to get control over his demon. "Sorry, my demon wants me to take you as mine, on the spot." He lifted his head and leaned his forehead against hers. "He’s scared. Afraid you’ll change your mind. It wasn’t just me Dru rejected, she also refused my demon." Spike opened his eyes when he felt a warm hand on his cheek.

"I love you. There is no chance that I’ll change my mind. This..." Buffy kissed him on his nose. "Is the one thing I have dreamed about for years. You’re not getting rid of me, no way in Hell."

Spike's face lit up with the biggest smile Buffy had ever seen, showing all of his teeth. "Okay. I'd better let you down so we can get mated, right and proper."

Buffy returned Spike's smile, as he let her slide down his body. "You can help by moving the bed into the middle of the room."

"Anything else, Love?"

"Not at this point." She pulled him up the stairs to their bedroom, where Buffy disappeared into her dressing-room. She pushed some of her hanging clothes to the side and mumbled a few words as she held her hands out to the wall. A part of it vanished.

The room Buffy stepped into was covered in shelves from ceiling to floor. Books were stacked on most of the shelves, though some shelves were packed with boxes that added a strong herbal odour to the room. Buffy grabbed a long pole with a hook on the end from the corner of the room, and she used it to get bunches of dried herbs down from the ceiling, where they had been hung to dry.

Several bunches were pulled down and placed on the table in the center of the room. From the fragrant boxes, Buffy gathered more herbs.

"Hmm, hmm."

Buffy turned around and saw Spike standing in the doorway between her hangers, leaning on the invisible barrier.

"Sorry, an extra precaution. Come in."

Spike stumbled into the room, getting his balance just before he would have knocked over a chair. "What is this?"

"It’s like my secret place, with my most valuable books and my magic stuff." Buffy made a gesture. "Look around."

Spike walked around the room. Read a title here and there. Smelled the herbs.

In the meantime, Buffy had gathered what she needed. She climbed up the ladder to get a mortar and pestle from the top shelf.

Spike watched how Buffy mixed and crushed the herbs, then divided them into three bowls.

"Could you get the box with tea lights from the cupboard next to the kitchen sink and meet me in the bedroom?" Buffy gathered the bowls in her arms.

"Be right there." He rushed out.

Buffy slowly followed Spike out of the room, shaking her head at the speed he was moving. When Buffy left the room, the secret opening disappeared, leaving only the back wall of the closet in its place.

Spike hadn't just moved the bed into the middle of the room, he had also changed the bedding to fresh red silk sheets.

"Where do you want them?" Spike was back and standing in the doorway, holding a small box of tea lights.

"Just hold them for a second." Buffy sat a bowl down on the floor, before she moved to the bathroom and placed the two other bowls on the counter.

Back in the room she took the bowl from the floor. "Come over here, please."

Spike leaned against the bathroom door frame, watching as Buffy walked around the bed, pouring the crushed herbs out into a small belt on the floor.

"Don’t break the circle." The empty bowl was put out of the way. "Now for the candles. Place a candle on the belt of herbs at the top of the bed." She took a handful of candles, and placed one at the end of the bed. They then placed one more candle on each side of the bed, and another one in each gap between the original four.

Buffy smiled over at Spike, who stood on the other side of the bed. "Your lighter... put it down on the nightstand." Buffy turned to take a box of matches from the fireplace and placed it on her side of the bed.

Carefully, she stepped out of the circle and took in the room. "Ok, we're done here." She nodded to herself.

"Could we set fire to the logs?"

"Huh?" Puzzled, she wrinkled her forehead.

Spike gestured with his head to the fireplace.

She looked from the bed to the fireplace and smiled softly. "Why not? Just don’t touch the herbs."

Spike just needed to set a match to the paper, and soon the flames started to throw shadows around the room. An arm crept around Spike's waist, under his coat. He smiled down at Buffy and pulled her closer.

"What now, Love?" Spike asked after some time, waking Buffy from her dream about her romantic William and the life they would have together.