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Rebel Prince by facingthesun
 
Chapter 1
 
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Chapter 1
***

“So…you saw their faces but you can’t describe them. Why do I not believe you?”

“Well, they were human. Two eyes each, both kinda in the middle.”

Buffy felt her frustration grow. “Uh huh. And the lab?”

“Underground, I came out through an air vent. I don’t know exactly where.” Spike leaned up, checking the clock. “I’m done. Put the telly on.”

Buffy glared, ready to ask more questions. She was stepping closer to the bathtub when Giles arrived, his ‘Kiss the Librarian’ mug, full and overflowing with blood.

“It’s about time. Hope you got it warm enough, Watcher.”

Without addressing Spike, Giles handed the mug to Buffy and she took it with a sigh. “This gets more fun everyday.” She kneeled on the bathroom rug and held the blood to Spike’s mouth.

“I don’t know why you’re so dainty all of a sudden.” Spike commented, seeing Buffy’s disgusted face as he slurped the liquid loudly. “You’ve done this for Angel—you must have.”

“That’s it!” Buffy pulled the mug away and she jumped to her feet.

“Hey! Give it! I’m starving here!” He struggled to reach for Buffy but the chains stopped him from moving.

“No, I’m not putting up with you. The kitchen is closed until you can tell me something useful.”

“I’m trying to remember!” Spike spoke between gritted teeth, “It was very traumatic.”

“God! How long are you going to pull this crap?!”

“How long am I going to live once I tell you?” Spike said the words slowly, staring into Buffy’s eyes.

“Ten minutes, tops.”

“Yeah? You’re all talk, you wouldn’t kill me.”

“Giles! I accidentally killed Spike. That’s okay, right?” Buffy didn’t wait for a response before she continued on. “You know what? I don’t think you want to leave here. You don’t wanna talk because we’ll let you go. Maybe we made everything a little too comfy for you.”

“Comfy? There’s nothing comfy about being chained to a bloody bathtub and being fed fucking--”

“You want something nicer?” Buffy’s eyes sparkled as she flashed Spike her neck. “How about my neck…all bare and tender and exposed…all that blood just…pumping away--”

“Giles! Make her stop!”

“Yes cry to Giles, now who’s the Big Bad, Spikey?”

“Buffy, Spike, if you two don’t kill each other, I just may lend a hand. Buffy, get your neck away from him. Spike, do cooperate, we have no intentions of killing a harmless…uh, creature…but we have to know what’s been done to you. We can’t let you go until you help us.”

“Yeah, we can’t let a powerless, impotent...”

“Hey!” Spike growled.

“Buffy,” Giles scolded.

“Poor choice of words, huh? How about, hmmm…flaccid?”

“You are one step away, missy!”

“From what? Are you going to scold me? Maybe you’ll lick me to death? What a ferocious little puppy you are--.”

Giles looked away, annoyed and embarrassed by Buffy’s behavior. “Buffy, I fear you’re getting nowhere with your interrogation, have you thought about making him retrace his steps? Spike, do you think you could find your way to the lab?”

“It’s unlikely but I guess you just want us out of the house, don’t ya Watcher-boy?”

“Yes, more than anything.”
***

“Hang…hang on, this—this is it!” Spike looked around the grassy area. “Wait… no… yes…”

“Cool it, Fido,” Buffy tugged on the rope she had tied around Spike’s waist as a leash. “What are you talking about?”

“The lab, you ninny. Hey, no pulling!” He growled as Buffy yanked hard on the rope.

“Sorry, my hand slipped.” Sweetly, Buffy gave a fake apology.

“And you wonder why I’m not helpful.” He took a few double glances at the tree they were near. “This has to be it.”

“The commando lab is down there? Spike--” Buffy searched the ground, seeing nothing.

“The door was right here, where I escaped!” He fell to the ground on his hands and knees.

“Spike…”

“Open up! I’m going to kill you!”

Buffy watched as he clawed and tore at the ground, “Spike, there’s nothing there!”

“Let me in! Fix me…”
***

Buffy couldn’t explain it, but her heart jumped after hearing Spike’s sob.

“I—I can’t take this!” Spike pounded on the ground as angry tears fell from his eyes. “Chained to a fucking bath tub! Being bottle-fed fucking pig’s blood from the fucking slayer! Fuuuck!”

“Spike, ok, that’s enough.” Buffy’s words came out softer than she had expected. “Let’s go.” She placed a hand on his arm and she started to pull him off the ground.

“Get off!”

“Spike--.” She flew back to the ground after he pushed her away. When her eyes focused she saw him taking off into the woods.
***

Buffy found him in no time. She walked into Willy’s bar and his crumpled form was sitting in plain sight, a beer in front of him and his head in his hands.

“Somehow I thought that would take longer.”

“Sod off.”

Buffy’s frown deepened as she closed the gap between them. “It’s time to go home, Sparky.”

“Leave me alone.”

“You know I’m not going to do that.”

“When I get this bloody spell reversed, Slayer, they’ll be finding your body for weeks.”

Buffy tensed, not at his threat but at the defeated tone to his voice. Sighing, she pulled out the stool next to him. “Excuse me, can I get a Diet Coke?”
***

“What are you doing, Slayer?”

“Sitting, and in a few minutes, I’ll be sitting and drinking. Don’t worry our originally scheduled game of ‘Kick the Spike’ will resume shortly…after my fifteen-minute break.”
***

“You’re pathetic.”

“Can’t argue with that.”

Buffy concentrated on stirring the ice of her drink, refusing to have anything that resembled a real conversation with the sad vampire. Every few minutes she gave him a random insult, and every insult had no effect on him. He agreed with every put down.

“You have any aspirin on you? One little shove and I’m nursing a bloody migraine all night. I hate to admit it but it’s not fun hitting you anymore…all the fucking repercussions…the head trauma.” Spike babbled before downing the last of his drink. It was filled moments later by the bartender. “I’m not even remotely scary anymore…I can’t bite, I can’t even flick someone in the ear.”

“Nope, you’re not that high on the scary-scale anymore especially with the tears. That ruined everything for me.” Buffy sounded sarcastic but she was being truthful.

“But I was high, wasn’t I?”

“Huh?”

“Before I was nabbed by the commandos, I was a bloody animal, wasn’t I? Yeah, I was the type that was best to be left alone…was the biggest, baddest, mother--.”

“God, conceited much?” Buffy rolled her eyes. “Sure you were an evil bloodsucking fiend before but now, you’re just formally dangerous and currently annoying.”

“Oh why don’t you just rain on my parade? I was happy there for a few seconds, skipping down memory lane….”

“I’m not here to make you feel happy, Spike.”

“Slayer, why exactly are you here?”

“I told you,” Buffy gritted her teeth, suddenly defensive. “I was taking a break but now that break is over.” She stood and put on her jacket. “We’re leaving. Now.”

“Are we? Ooo, what got you jumpy?” Spike cocked his eyebrow.

“I’m not jumpy or even a bit bouncy.” Buffy glared as Spike grinned. “Whatever you’re thinking—stop it.” Buffy grabbed his arm and dragged him out of the bar.

“Not so rough, mind the jacket, pet.”

“Do not call me that.” With a scowl on her face, Buffy let go of his arm and they walked down the empty, dark street with Buffy in the lead and Spike trailing behind.

“What would you like for me to call you then, sunshine?”

“Just shut up.”

“Because—I mean—what kind of name is Buffy anyway? Buffy?”

Buffy shivered, not used to hearing him say her given name, but she ignored her body’s strange reaction, “And Spike, now that’s a better name.”

“You wound me...”

“Spike, what the hell is wrong with you?” Buffy turned just as Spike tripped and fell to the ground. “Great. You’re drunk.”

“Am not!”

“You are.”

“Are not!”

“Stop yelling, I’m not going to argue with you. Get up.” Buffy crossed her arms and played with the thought of kicking the vampire while he was down.

Spike pouted as he knocked dirt from his clothing. “And I’m not drunk. Maybe just slightly…tipsy…”

“Tipsy? My ass.” Cursing under her breath, Buffy got a hold of Spike’s wrist and led him into the cemetery. “Fucking vampires, you’d think you guys would have superhuman alcohol tolerance…”

“Hey! Let go of me!” Spike struggled in Buffy’s grasp but she didn’t let him go.

“You can’t walk in a straight line.”

“Can too!”

“You can’t—never mind, just shut up.”
***

“If anyone saw me…like this…” Spike giggled. “Holding hands with the slayer…once you’re done milking me for information, I want you to kill me.”

Buffy sighed, “We are not holding hands.”

“Don’t know how you should do it…how painful and whatnot but I trust that you’ll be creative and that you’ll get the job done. Or if you like I can think of something…some poetic way of being off-ed.”

“Poetic?”

“You know, like a slayer being killed with her own stake. Like that, only different.”

“So you’re going to give up? You, who once rattled on about how much you liked living and happy meals and soccer and crap, you want me to kill you?” Buffy cringed, staring ahead as she led him through the graveyard and not understanding why she felt the need to talk him out of assisted suicide. “Sounds like you’re just trying to take the easy way out; the cowards way.”

“Coward--.” Spike’s angry complaining was cut short by a loud growl.

“Thank God,” Buffy smiled seeing the other vampire jump into their path. She ran into the fight headfirst, kicking and hitting. “Spike! Look for a stake!”

“Why would I do that? Why would I help you?”

Buffy ducked, barely missing a blow to her head. “Spike! I so…don’t have the time…to put up with you!”

“Yeah, yeah, hold on.” Spike wobbled, scanning the ground for sticks and branches, still intoxicated.

“Spike!” Buffy yelled as she tried to squirm out of a headlock.

“Oh! This’ll do.” Spike held the thickest twig he could find and he smiled proudly. “You want me to toss it to you?”

“That’d…be…nice,” Buffy gasped for air.

Spike got ready to throw the stick but he stopped himself, knowing that Buffy was incapable of catching it with the vampire attacking her. Prepared to get another headache, Spike pounced on the vampire, plucking him off Buffy and punching him in the face. “Ow! Hey! My head—it—no pain! That’s right! I can hurt demons!” Spike hit the vampire over and over, thoroughly enjoying himself. “I’m back!”

When Buffy thought she’d seen enough, she staked the vampire and it dissolved into dust.

“Hey! I was just getting started--.”

“I don’t know what’s going on but we need to tell Giles about this. Let’s go.” Buffy turned to walk away but Spike stopped her.

“What? We can’t just go back to the Watcher’s while there’s evil still afoot. That’s not very industrious of you. I say we stay out here and kick some more demon ass! What is it past your beddy-bye time? Too chicken? You’re the fucking Chosen One. Come on! Vampires! Grrr! Nasty! Let’s annihilate them. For justice—and for—the safety of puppies—and Christmas, right? Let’s fight that evil! Let’s kill something!”

“Spike, when you’re sober, I plan on using every word of that speech against you.”

“Actually,” Spike grinned holding his head. “I’m feeling much better…I’ve got a whole new outlook really. See what a spot of violence can do?”

“This means you don’t want me to kill you anymore? Darn.”

“Oh, like you would.”

“Spike--.”

“Hey, hey, no need to get shirty, pet, I’m just saying I could tell…you wouldn’t kill me even if I begged.”

“Didn’t we go over this already today? I’d kill you, Spike.” Buffy glared and she took a step closer. “In a heartbeat.”

“Keep on telling that to yourself, sweetheart. If it makes you sleep better at night…”

“Don’t call me sweetheart. Don’t call me anything.”

“I can call you whatever I bloody-well want to call you. I saved your life…princess.”

“Why?”

“Why? Why what?”

“Why’d you save me?” Buffy took another step, “You thought you were helpless. You could’ve had a front row seat in the bagging of another slayer and you—you put yourself on the line--.”

“Yeah? Well…why’d you act they way you did tonight? The drinks and the hand holding--”

“I told you I wasn’t holding your hand!”

“Well, I wasn’t saving your life!”

“What’d you think tonight was, some sort of demented date?”

“Did you?”

“No! Of course not!”

“I didn’t either!”

“Thank God!”

“Exactly—but without the God part!”

“I hate you!”

“I hate you more!”

The couple panted and glared at each other with hate and disgust shining in their eyes. “That’s not possible,” Buffy spit out the words. “There’s no way that you could--.” In flash, Buffy was in Spike’s arms and his mouth was on hers. She felt like she should gag and push him away but she didn’t, she couldn’t. Buffy found herself moaning and pushing against his body and desperately wanting to feel more of him. “What…what’s going on,” she whimpered between endless kisses.

“I don’t know.” Spike sounded as confused as Buffy did. “I—you’re amazing. Buffy, ah, will you marry me?”

“What? You’re kidding, right?” Buffy felt as if she had no control over her body. Her hands slid into his coat and under his tight shirt. Shivers traveled through her as her fingertips breezed over his stomach.

“I wish I was…but--.” Spike ripped his mouth from Buffy and he fell to his knees. “Please, Buffy? Marry me?”

“It’s just so…so sudden. I—I don’t know what to say.”

“Just say yes, and make me the happiest man alive.”

“But you’re not alive.”

“Buffy,” Spike scowled at her playfully and kissed the top of her hand.

“I think this is a spell.” Buffy murmured before cupping the sides of his face and kissing his forehead. “But, oh Spike, of course I’ll marry you.”

“You picked up on the spell too?” Spike smiled while slipping one of his rings onto Buffy’s thumb. “This’ll do for awhile, won’t it, kitten?”

Buffy nodded while helping him back to his feet. “I love it! We should go back and tell Giles the happy news. Well…unless you want to still kill things. It’s up to you, honey. I didn’t say it before, but I’m really happy that you can kill demons. I was so worried about you before…you were breaking my heart.”

Spike said nothing, he looked into her eyes and he kissed her deeply. They stumbled back, their limbs tangling and their tongues mingling. “Buffy…I love you.”

“I know…” Buffy gasped, her heart tightening. “I love you so, so, much, Spike.”

“Let’s not go to the Watcher’s,” he whispered into her skin after kissing his way down her neck.

“But, baby--.”

“Let’s go back to your place.”

“Willow.”

“What about her?”

“She’s my roommate, remember?”

“Mmmm…what about your house?”

“Mom’d kill me and you know it. Why don’t we just go see Giles and then maybe I’ll stay the night…we can get rid of him and have some fun in your bathtub.” She giggled and stood on her tiptoes so she could nip at Spike’s ear. “How does that sound?”

“Delicious.”
***

“There’s so much to decide. Ceremony, guests, reception…”

“Well, first thing I’d say, we’re not having a church wedding.”

Buffy laughed as she rang Giles’ doorbell. “I’ll remember that and we won’t have a daytime ceremony either, I don’t want a big pile of dust for a hubby. That would lead to a very boring honeymoon.”

“We’ll have nothing like that.” Spike leaned into Buffy’s back suggestively. She gasped and blushed, the bulge in his pants poking her. “Our honeymoon will be anything but boring, love, you can count on that.”

“Oh…stop…” Buffy closed her eyes as he rubbed against her. “Uh…”

“You like that?”

“Uh, yeah.” Buffy moaned deeply but then the front door opened and she jumped away. “Giles! Hey!”

“Buffy…sorry it took so long for me to reach the door. Something’s happened. I need your help actually. I can’t see very well and everything’s blurred. I’m certain it’s a spell of some kind, because…well…Buffy, are you and Spike holding hands?”

Buffy ignored Giles look of confusion, “What do you mean a spell? Because Spike and I, we thought something was wonky earlier…but do you remember about what, baby? I can’t remember…”

“Nope.” Spike followed Buffy and Giles into the house and he sat on the couch. “Whatever is going on, a general reversal spell will do the trick, love, it’ll make everything rosy again”

“B-baby? Love…ah, Buffy? What is going on?”

“Oh, you can tell, can’t you? Look,” she flashed her ring at Giles. “Spike and I, we’re engaged!”

“You’re kidding.”

“No, that’s what I thought too, but when he asked me, I said yes. I love him, Giles, and Spike loves me. I know you probably think I’m crazy and I’m sure you don’t approve, and my father…he’s not that far away, I mean, he could—but when I get married, that day will be about family—and I would like for you to be the one to give me away, Giles.

“Oh, Buffy!” Giles was touched for a moment but then he shook his head, “Oh! For God’s sake! This is nonsense. Something is making you act this way. Don’t you realize what you’re doing?”

Buffy swallowed, thinking of the perfect words as she glanced at Spike who was watching television. “I’m planning on marrying the man I love. We fought for all these years, and then…sometimes you just look at someone, and you know…it’s like we’re drawn together…Giles, I feel sparks when I’m around him, it’s amazing. I think maybe we fought because we couldn’t admit how we really felt about each other…how much we loved each other.

“He’s gonna have to take a bit of time to get used to it, kitten.”

“I know, baby, they all will.” Buffy walked past Giles and sat in Spike’s lap. She played with the buttons of his duster that was modestly shielding his tented pants. Winking, her hand rested on his erection.

“Naughty girl,” Spike pulled Buffy’s head down for a kiss as she stroked him through his jeans.

“Mmmm…have I told you how good you taste?” Buffy whispered, licking her lips. “How you feel? So, so, good…” Her hands inched to the button of his jeans but she stopped when she heard a crash behind them. “Giles, are you okay?”

Giles stood, a broken scotch bottle at his feet and an empty glass in his hands. “I rather think not. I seem to be rather…rather…blind. Completely, in fact.”

“What? How could this happen?” Buffy kissed Spike quickly on the cheek before walking over to Giles and waving her hand in front of his face.

“A spell…it has to be a spell, that’s the only reasonable explanation for my eyes and for…for everything.”

“Ok, don’t worry, we’ll fix it. I’ll call Willow. Spike, help Giles for me.”

“Are you…helping me?” Giles shifted uncomfortably when Spike guided him into the living room.

“Yeah.” Spike poured a glass of scotch for Giles and one for himself. “It’s what Buffy wants…”

“Spike, you…you really are set on marrying Buffy? I thought you hated her, earlier today…”

“Just a lover’s spat, mate.”

Giles leaned back and he rubbed his eyes. “Of course…”

“Well, now that you’re comfy, I’m going to join Buffy in the kitchen.”
***

Buffy could sense him before he wrapped his arms around her. “I can’t get a hold of Willow. I warmed you some blood, ninety-eight-point-six degrees on the dot.” Buffy pulled the thermometer out of the mug and twirled in his arms. She slid the thermometer between his lips. “Good?”

“Perfect, sweet.”

“How are you doing?”

“Hmm?”

Buffy nudged him between his legs as he finished his drink. “Everything ok down there? I feel like we keep on getting interrupted…”

“Oh, pouty, you worried about me?” Spike put his mug aside and he put his thumb to her mouth. “Look at that lower lip…gonna get it…”

“No, wait,” Buffy covered her mouth and she dug through the pockets of her jeans. “You have icky blood breath. Here.” She popped a mint in his mouth and one into her own. “Now you may get my lip.” She pressed against him, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him slowly.

“Buffy…” He inhaled her scent; his hands went under her jacket and onto the small of her back. “You know…the Watcher being blind…it could have its perks.”

“Especially when we’re both feeling very…perky.”

Spike chuckled, “Too bad he can’t be deaf too…just imagine the possibilities…”

Buffy’s heart skipped a beat, “Uhg, imagining—but that’s a horrible thing to say, Spike. We have to help him.”

“We will, in fact, let’s go get supplies for that reversal spell. Can’t have Mr. Magoo spoiling our happy day, yeah? You go say your goodbyes to the Watcher, love. I’ll meet you outside in a few.”
***

“I feel bad leaving him.” Buffy took a hold of Spike’s arm and they began walking towards the magic shop. “So…did you have fun in the bathroom, honey?”

“Were you spying on me, kitten?”

“No, no, of course not.” She smiled and squeezed his hand. “So, uh, did you think about me? When you were…in the bathroom?”

“Every minute, like always.”

“Oh…but…always?”

“You’re blushing, it’s cute.”

“I’d understand recently because of us getting married and all, but…always?”

“Since the day I saw you dancing.”

“No wonder Drusilla left you.”

“Hey!”

“Oh!” She panicked, afraid that she’d hurt his feelings. “I’m sorry! That came out wrong, it’s just that—I know she hurt you but…if you were thinking about me…I think…”

“Buffy--.”

“No, I’m trying to explain, give me a minute--”

“It doesn’t matter now, really, all that rot with Dru. I’ve moved up, love, and for the better too.”

Touched, Buffy rested her head against his upper arm as the walked. “We both have.”

“You can say that again.”

“They’re in our past now, Drusilla and Ang--.”

“Stop right there, don’t even say that wanker’s name.”

“Ooo, jealous much?”

“So much that it makes me quiver. I can’t even think about that bastard without getting queasy. I could vomit right now at just the mention of tall, dark, and forehead.”

“Do vampires puke? I’ve always wondered about that.” Buffy stopped and she turned to face him. “Spike, you have nothing to worry about. I’m yours now. Angel means nothing to me.”

“Hey! You said his name!”

“Oh shut up.” Yanking on the lapels of his jacket, she pulled him in for a passionate kiss that left them both panting. “I love you, Spike, not Angel. I’m with you and I think: Angel? Angel, who? Ok? Don’t you believe me?”

Spike nodded and kissed her again.
***

“I can’t believe the magic shop was out of Tagas root.” Buffy swung their connected arms, unconcerned.

“Ole Rupes isn’t going to be a happy-camper knowing we can’t cure his total and incapacitating blindness until tomorrow.”

“They’ll get more root stuff tomorrow. I’m completely on top of everything.” She stopped in the middle of the street, staring at a window display of a wedding gown. “Oh, Spike look. Isn’t it beautiful?” She led him over to the window, mesmerized.

“You’ll look gorgeous in that, pet.” He laughed softly, holding her while she stood in a trance. “You can try it on…”

“But the store is closed,” she pouted. “I guess we can come back tomorrow night…Look! We so need that cake topper!” She pointed to the plastic bride and groom figurine that was also in the display. “Aren’t they just the most perfect little us?”

“Don’t know…” Spike squinted, “The groom, he’s clearly human, insipid, too dull…”

“Oh but we can handle that easily with a little touch of red paint to the mouth, it can be the blood of the innocent or something.”

“That’s my girl..” He grabbed the back of her head and pulled her close but froze when he heard someone calling Buffy’s name. “Whoever it is tell ‘em to sod off. We’re having a moment here.” He grumbled before pressing his mouth to hers.

“Hey, Buffy?” Riley ran to the couple and he eyed Spike suspiciously. “Who’s your…friend?”

“This is—honey, get off—Spike.”

Riley put out his hand and Spike snorted, tightening his hold on Buffy.

“Spike…” Riley laughed as if his name were a joke. “Have we met? You seem familiar. Do you go to school?”

“No.”

“He’s a little too old for school, aren’t you, baby?”

“Buffy, why don’t you tell the boy the good news?” Spike nuzzled her hair while glaring at Riley.

“That tickles,” Buffy giggled as Spike brushed his lips softly against the skin beneath her ear. “Riley, Spike and I are getting married!”

“You’re what?”

Buffy felt Spike’s body tense up and she heard him hiss. “We’re getting married, I know it’s hard to believe but--.”

“That—that would be an understatement.” Riley frowned and he ran his fingers through his hair.

“Hey, mate--.”

“I can handle this, Spike. Riley, don’t be mad.”

“I’m not mad. I just don’t think I understand.”

“No, you’re mad and I don’t know why. You didn’t think there was something between us, did you?”

“No! Er…I really…wow. I don’t know what to say.”

“Then be a good boy and say nothing,” Spike spoke dangerously. “Run along and maybe you’ll get an invite to the wedding.”

“Okay…it’s late…and I’m—I’m tired now.” Riley looked at the couple, befuddled as they kissed and cuddled. They acted as if he wasn’t there. “I think I’m going to go far away and be…away.”

“Have a nice time. Don’t come back.” Spike smirked between kisses. His hand traveled to Buffy’s breast and he gave it a light squeeze, marking his territory, before Riley turned and walked off.

“And you said you weren’t scary without biting.” Buffy moaned, leaning into his touch. “Riley was terrified. He didn’t even say goodbye.”

“You’re just saying that…buttering me up so I’ll do more naughty things to you.” He laughed at Buffy’s moan when he rubbed his thumb over her pebbled nipple. “But seriously, has he been bugging you, Buffy?”

“He likes me and he wants me to date him. He’s really nice but…”

“But?”

“I’m getting married,” Buffy said excitedly. “And…”

“And?”

“He’s nothing compared to you, the man I love.”

“Good answers, princess.”
***

“Don’t laugh, but I always pictured our first dance as being to ‘Wind Beneath My Wings.’ It’s such a nice song and the words are very us.”

“Are they?”

“Don’t look so scared, mister. ‘I’d be nothing without you’…’you’re my hero’…’you’re everything that I’d like to be’…gah, it’s very romantic.” Buffy stopped, “Spike? Do you remember there being boards on the windows?”

“Don’t recall the demons either.” Spike pointed to angry mob that was gathered outside Giles’s house. He ran towards the group, ready for a fight.

“Spike! Be careful! Wait for me!”
***

Spike and Buffy burst through the front door minutes later, both panting. “What the hell is going on? The demons just keep on coming and coming.” Buffy commented as she pushed a bookshelf to barricade the door.

“I could have taken them all, but no, you had to drag me away,” Spike complained as he helped Buffy move more furniture. “I still hurt, you know.” He rubbed where Buffy had socked him in the arm.

“Oh my God, really?” Buffy ran to him, tears in her eyes. “I hurt you? I didn’t want to, I swear. You were just so into the fight and I got so worried…here, I’ll kiss it and make it better…”

“Ewww! Giles, you weren’t lying!” Xander screamed in disgust. He and Anya were standing, watching in horror.

“Oh, hey, guys.” Buffy gave them a little wave. “Did Giles already tell you? About the wedding?”

“Yeah and I’m still trying to get past the how, what, and how of it all.”

“Xander, I know it must seem sudden but…”

“Don’t waste your breath on him, pet.”

Buffy looked at Spike lovingly and she petted where she had hit his arm. “Xander, you’d better get used to the idea of Spike being my husband…I love him so, very much.” She mouthed the end again, lost in Spike’s eyes. They kissed.

“Can I be blind too?”

“Me too?” Anya chimed in after Xander.

“I know…wait…married…I know something…what is it?” Xander struggled, hitting his head. “Everything’s so familiar…demons…blind…work, brain—work!”

“This is the crack team that foils my every plan? I am deeply ashamed,” Spike whispered in Buffy’s ear, making her giggle.

“Oh! Oh oh! Willow!” Xander jumped to his feet. “Something about Willow and her griefy-poor-me mood swings—so, so tired of it. She came around because she was upset about Oz leaving and she couldn’t find Buffy. She told me I was a demon magnet a-and that you two should get married!”

“And…that I didn’t see anything.” Giles added, coming to the realization. He had been lying on the sofa with a cloth over his eyes, just listening to the group. “She did the spell…to have her will done. Whatever she says is coming true.”

“You mean a spell made Spike propose?” Buffy frowned, “I knew the moment was magical but—I hate thinking that we had no control…”

“Don’t then,” Spike spoke so only Buffy could hear. “You know how I feel about you, maybe the witch just gave us an extra push.”

“Riiight, you’re marrying Spike because you’re so right for each other.”

Buffy glared but her eyes filled again with tears.

“Buffy,” Spike took her attention away from Xander. “You can’t deny what’s between us: the heat, the desire, the passion. Something's happening to me…I can't stop thinking about you...and I know it has nothing to do with a spell, I felt it before, long before today. I’ll do anything for you Buffy, anything you want, and if that means turning my back on the whole evil thing, I’ll do it—anything for you. Buffy. I love you and I think I always have.”

“Oh, God--.” Buffy burst into tears and she clung to him.

The others stared on confused and wondering what was being said.

“Er…people, Willow is out there and she probably doesn’t know what she is doing…” Giles spoke up, breaking the uncomfortable silence that was peppered with the sounds of smacking lips, sobs, and sighs.

“Yeah, we gotta find her, before somebody gets hurt.” Xander nodded in agreement.

“Or before Buffy and Spike forni--”

“Anya!” Giles and Xander groaned at once.

“What?”
***

Buffy and Spike trailed behind Anya and Xander as they walked down the hallway in Stevenson Hall. Since her emotional outburst, Buffy had remained silent. She wanted to find Willow and reverse the spell as soon as possible because she was dying of curiosity.

“How are you holding up, love?”

“I’m okay, just a little anxious. I’m just afraid that when the spell wears off, everything will be ruined…what if…what if you decide that you don’t want to marry me anymore? I don’t think I could handle that.”

Spike started to reply but they had reached the dorm room. The group pushed open the door and a large dark burnt circle was in the carpet.

“This is burned,” Buffy said after touching the scorch mark.

“D’Hoffryn. Bastard. He’s opened a portal here.”

“Who?”

“D’Hoffryn,” Anya explained, “He made me a demon 1,120 years ago.”

“Great. Why would he attack Willow?”

“I don’t believe he did. He can’t really. He can only come to women who are in pain. I’d been dumped, I was miserable, doing a few vengeance spells—boils on the penis, nothing fancy, when he came to me.”

“Please skip ahead.” Xander squirmed.

“D’Hoffryn heard about me and he offered to elevate me.”

“Meaning,” Buffy frowned not liking the sound of what Anya was saying.

“He made me a demon.”

“Oh God, Willow.”

“Can’t you summon the demon?” Spike asked. “Get him to stop before anything happens to the witch?”

“Yeah, we’ll just have to find a crypt.”

“Good. Let’s go.”
***

“Should we tell them?” Buffy asked Spike as they walked through the graveyard.

“Might as well, pet.”

“Tell them what?” Xander asked, “You’re not pregnant are you?”

“Xander.” Buffy gave him a dirty look. “Eww. That is so not even possible.”

“Just like we thought that you and Spike weren’t?”

Buffy ignored his comment. “We found out that Spike can--.”

“Hey, demon!” Anya pointed.

“Fuck, that’s a lot of demons!” Xander exclaimed.

“Do you think we can take them all, Spike?”

“Probably not, there’s too many, pet. I don’t know if I can protect you.”

“Ok,” Buffy nodded. “Run!”
***

Spike and Buffy helped Xander block the doors while Anya started chanting.

“Buffy, we don’t have much time…they’re gonna bust through…” Spike gritted his teeth as he pushed the doors closed but the demons on the other side were restless at trying to charge their way in.

“Anya, chant faster!”

“We come in supplication. We bend as the reed…in the flow of the, uh…No wait...” Anya looked up as the demons made their way into the crypt. “We—come in the flow of the, uh…Ugh!” She dodged a demon that was running at her. Taking a deep breath she continued, “Blesséd be, the name of D’Hoffryn …”

“Spike!” Buffy screamed, seeing him being knocked onto his back. With a grunt she pushed her way to him, not noticing that Willow had suddenly appeared in the room. “Are you okay, baby?” She touched his face, “Are you hurt?”

“Slayer…” Spike smirked before pulling her in for a kiss.

Buffy melted against him in an instant. “Mmmm…Spike…”
***

“Let the healing power begin. Let my will be safe again. As these words of peace are spoken, let this harmful spell be broken.” Willow grimaced as thunder crashed and lightening flashed. Suddenly all the demons disappeared.

“Spike…Oh—oh, ugh!” Buffy pulled away from Spike’s arms in horror.

“Oh, bloody hell!”

“Spike lips! Lips of Spike!” Buffy wrinkled her nose and closed her eyes, disgusted.

“Um…” All eyes were on Willow, she smiled sheepishly and she waved, “Hi guys.”
***
 
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