*Author’s Note: I know a lot of you are dying to know what is going through Buffy’s mind right now, but I have so much more fun writing from Spike’s POV. Thanks for all the reviews, and who knows? If you review really really hard, maybe I’ll dip into Buffy’s head again. We all know what a scary place that can be!

~*~

“So, what should we do?” Buffy asked. Spike was staring down at her as he practically watched the wheels turning in her head. The two of them were only a foot or so away from the Desoto, though the driver’s side door was shut, and about 15 feet away from the entrance to the whelp’s basement.

“I mean,” she continued, “we can’t let those commandos get you, right? Who knows what else they could do to you. Plus, then I’d have to rescue Giles alone, and then come save your undead ass; and I’m just really really tired right now.”

Spike listened as she babbled on, his mind more focused on the soldiers surrounding the house then on her words. That was, until something she had said caught his attention.

“Rescue me!” he whispered loudly. “I’ll have you know I escaped all by my bloody self Slayer….” Spike's voice trailed off, however, when he noticed the ghost of a smile on her face.

“No, Spike, I suppose you don’t need me. I’ll just head on over to the basement and you can deal with these people by yourself.” She arched an eyebrow at him when he didn’t respond. “No? Fine. Then what’s the plan? You can’t hurt them, and I am not so fond of picking on humans, so any daring plan forming in that bleached head of yours?”

In spite of himself, Spike smiled. “Gee Slayer, that little snuggle fest we had back there must have been more cathartic then I thought, you’re back to your usual caustic self.”

As he was speaking Buffy’s eyes lit up and her tiny smiled blossomed into a full grin. “Snuggle! Spike, you’re a genius.”

Struggling, he attempted to piece together what was going on in that bleached head of *hers.* However, he was coming up with nothing. “Maybe you’re not alright Slayer. What do you want me to do? Snuggle the soldier boys? Lick them to death? I mean, I’ve been told by many a bloke that I’m attractive, but I haven’t swung that way since - ”

“What? Spike, no. And can I add eww?” Buffy looked at him, moving closer, slipping her arms under his duster and around his waist.

Spike froze. Was this the real Buffy? Maybe she was switched with a pod Slayer? She’d been acting crazy all night. Maybe the stress of Slaying finally got to her and she snapped? He’d heard of that happening before. Or maybe it was another spell? *I’m going to kill Red!*

Overcoming her hesitance at being that close to him – *’Cuz I’m evil and what all. She’d be right to be scared of me. I’d bite her in a second.* - Buffy began whispering in his ear.

“Put your arms around me, Spike.”

Shooting the Slayer a look, he complied, though just as hesitantly as she had been.

Once he had embraced her, Buffy leaned against him, continuing to relay her plan. “Because of… something I said, Riley might think that we are, maybe, sorta, engaged. But that’s good, because obviously smart little co-ed Buffy wouldn’t be engaged to a big bad vampire, right? So we just, you know, pretend to be engaged and make our way to the house and maybe they won’t pay any attention to us.” A breath. “Plus, maybe Riley will be too embarrassed by the fact that the girl he was kind of sort of seeing is obviously no longer seeing him and will just let us go.”

Another deep breath, but before she could speak, Spike cut her off. “And how do we look engaged in the 15 feet it takes to get to the house, Slayer?”

This time her words weren’t choppy, but rushed out in one breath. “Youhavetoproposetome.”

Spike had caught it the first time, and in truth, after her plan had been revealed he had been expecting something of the sort. But the way she said it, and the fact that her head was buried in his neck and she didn’t want to meet his eye as she told him to propose to her for all the world – well soldiers – to see, made him want to torture her a bit.

“Come again, luv?”

“You. Have. To. Propose.” She ground out, still not lifting her head from his chest.

Resting a cheek on top of her head, Spike smiled. “Seem to recall I already asked you to marry me. It really hurts a bloke’s ego to ask a second time.”

A discreet jab to his rib from her hand underneath his duster convinced him of the necessity, if not the genius of her plan. “Fine, Slayer, have it your way.”

Pulling back from her, he looked her in the eyes. “Suppose this has to be loud enough for them to hear, eh?” He didn’t need her eye roll to tell him it had to be. “Right then.”

Taking a deep breath he didn’t really need, Spike took Buffy’s left hand in both of his. Looking into her eyes, he smiled and quickly bent down to one knee.

“Buffy Summers,” he began loudly. “You and I have been through hell and back together.” She snorted, and he smiled brighter at the reaction he’d been aiming for.

“For all of my existence I never thought I’d meet the… chosen one, the one who could best me. And you haven’t… yet.” Another eye roll from the Slayer, and he squeezed the hand he was holding.

I…” Spike faltered, “… love you. With everything in me I have, I offer you my heart and my life. Marry me, Buffy. And make me the happiest man alive.”

Spike really did laugh then when he saw Buffy’s face light up and he heard her laughter. “Oh Spike!” she cried. “Of course it’s yes!”

Her voice was overly loud and enthusiastic, but her smile covered her whole face. Standing up quickly he picked her up, causing her to shriek slightly, and spun her around. Putting her down he moved to back away towards the basement entrance and was startled when she didn’t release her arms around his neck, instead pulling him down into a brief, but fierce kiss.

Buffy’s mouth was warm on his, and her lips were chapped from crying, but it was amazing.

And over really really fast.

Eyes shining with delight and… lust? she grabbed his arm and pulled him toward the basement. “C’mon honey, we have to tell everyone! They’re going to be so excited.”

Staring at her retreating form, Spike could only nod as he let himself be pulled into the basement.

*What the bleeding hell just happened?*