Wend Their Ways Together: Chapter Five

[jesterladyfic]

Chapter Five

Buffy gave in to Spike’s insistence that she let him bleach his hair again before they saw Joyce. She decided to let him know later how much she liked his hair, with or without the bleach. The spell took all of two seconds (probably from practice,) and then they were on their way, using the sewers to get as close to her house as possible before having to resort to the thick tarp he had over one shoulder.

“I’ve had all I can stand of magic for one day,” Spike said, in an
irritated tone. “I feel dizzy.”

“Yes, but of course we had to stop and do magic for your hair, which I
thought you didn’t trust, by the way?”

“Well, I didn’t want to give your mum the news looking like a ponce and
simple spells like that aren’t an issue.”

“Ah, I think you just didn’t want to look like a ponce.”

“Well, who would?” he retorted. This led to an interesting conversation
on the subject of ponces and if they could help looking as they did. It was
interrupted only by the quick dusting of two vamps and the disarming of a demon.
As they neared their destination, Buffy suddenly hit her hand to her head.

“Why didn’t we just drive your car? It would have been so much quicker.”

“I don’t know why I didn’t think of that myself. Oh well, we’re here.
Open the door before me, okay, sweetness?”

“Sure, honey.”

“We sound like an old married couple already,” moaned Spike. “Just what
I need to wreck my fragile reputation.”

“You’ll live, darling,” teased Buffy. “Well, actually, you won’t, cause
you aren’t now, cause you’re dead. Oh! You get what I mean,” she spluttered to
a halt, seeing his laughter at her teasing turning on her.

They made a run for the run and Spike idly smacked out the flames on his
jacket.

“Hi, Mom.” Buffy kissed Joyce on the cheek.

“Hey, honey. Well, hello, Spike. I haven’t seen you in ages. How are
you?”

“I’m fine and good. How about you then?”

“Well, thank you. The gallery’s booming, Buffy seems chipper, and nobody’s tried
to kidnap me in a while.”

“I could arrange for that last bit if you wanted,” Spike offered with a
grin on his face.

“I’ll let you know.” Joyce smiled back. “Can I get you something? I
have some hot chocolate and those little marshmallows you like.”

“That sounds lovely, thanks.”

“Buffy?”

“No, that’s okay, Mom. I’m not depressed enough for chocolate.” The
three of them settled into the living room. As Joyce gave Spike his cocoa, she
asked,

“Now, what are the two of you up to? Another apocalypse?”

“No, something much better. Mom, we’re getting married!” Joyce started
at this, but then looked at their faces and joined hands before calmly picking up
her tea and replying,

“Well, it’s about time you noticed him.” Both of them looked at her,
startled.

“What do you mean, Mom?”

“Well, I always thought Spike was perfect for you, (don’t get a big head
now, William), I just never thought you’d see it.”

“Joyce, the last time I saw you, I was crying my eyes out over Drusilla.”

“Doesn’t mean I couldn’t see you were the right one for Buffy.”

“Well, that’s a bloody load off my mind,” Spike muttered. Buffy looked

at him in surprise. He avoided her glance, as if not wanting her to see that the
vampire had been afraid of not obtaining parental consent. She was started to be
really good at reading him and smiled before admitting,

“And mine. I am so glad you’re happy about it, Mom. No one else is.
They think we’re under a spell, even though they tried three times to break it
and didn’t get any results.” Buffy paused. “There is something else. You do
know he’s a vampire, right?”

“Yes, I know.”

“And you’re okay with that?”

“I can see it will make things considerably harder for you, but I have a
feeling it will be okay, so long as you understand that going into it.”

“But you didn’t feel that way about (I’m sorry, Spike, I have to say his
name), Angel.”

“No, I didn’t. I knew you weren’t thinking about these serious things
with him, you were just a girl thinking about her boyfriend. Plus, I just don’t
like him.”

“I knew there was a reason I liked you, Joyce,” said Spike. “Doesn’t it
just make you want to put a railroad spike through your head the way he moans on
about his guilt and the right bleeding thing to do?”

“Spike!” said Buffy. She turned to Joyce. “One other thing, Mom.
Spike’s still basically evil. He doesn’t have a soul, he loves me and that’s why
he’s turning good. Well, that and the chip in his head.”

“Spike’s not evil,” said Joyce firmly.

“Hey, I am so evil!” cried Spike.

“How come you’re willing to turn your back on everything that’s natural
to you?”

“Cause Buffy doesn’t like it and I love Buffy.”

“Well, I won’t say anything more just now and I know I’m new to the whole supernatural world, but I’ve a theory about you, Spike. And I am sure it’s true.”
“I bloody well hope not,” grumbled Spike. “It’s bad enough I’m stuck with the Scoobies, I couldn’t stand being all noble too.”

“Well, right now I will just say congratulations. But I don’t want
either of you to think I approve of your getting married. It’s bad judgment on
both your parts and I think that’s probably where the spell is coming in. So, I
won’t try to stop it. I love the two of you together, but neither of you is
ready for marriage, especially not so suddenly. But I will offer you two things:
money and help planning.”

“Best mother-in-law ever, pet,” Spike informed her.

*****

Willow had been desperately trying to find her way home. She’d traveled all over the dimension of Arashmaharr and met all sorts of demons, most of them quite nice and none who tried to hurt her. There seemed to be some sort of unspoken rule concerning D’Hoffryn’s protégés. She finally discovered a door that would lead her back to her own dimension.

Unfortunately, it was accessible only every three months, which was six months in her dimension’s time. It would also require a great deal of strength and power. She wasn’t sure she had enough, but she knew she had to try. Her first concern, however, was letting everyone know she was okay and finding out how they all were. Thinking hard, she managed to open a portal into Giles’ apartment that allowed her to see and speak to the others.

***

In the apartment, Giles, Anya and Xander were stuck. They couldn’t find any way to get Willow back. Even Anya, with her extensive knowledge of that dimension, could only come up with the plan that Willow had also devised. They were sitting there, discouraged, when Willow’s portal suddenly opened.

“Will, are you okay?” Xander jumped to his feet.

“I’m fine, Xan. Don’t worry.” Willow explained her plan and Anya
confirmed its validity.

“I wish you didn’t have to be there so long alone, Willow,” said Giles.

“Try the Rashan-Bartuk Hotel,” said Anya helpfully. “They serve human
food and won’t charge you anything you don’t mind giving up. It’s very
convenient.”

“Thank you, Anya. Is everything there okay? Have you been able to do
anything about my spell? Is Buffy okay?”

“We’re fine, Will. I’m invisible to demons and Giles can see. Buffy
is…happy.”

“Did you break the spell?”

“No, we tried. Three times, it just won’t break. Buffy and Captain
Peroxide are still making with the smoochies.”

“Try this. It’s what I would do to break my own spell, maybe it will
work through you.” Willow told them the words and Giles wrote them down. “I’m
so sorry, you guys. I never meant for this to happen.”

“It’s okay, Will. We understand, just get home.”

“I’ll do my best. The portal’s breaking up. I will call again to see if
you guys are okay and let you know how it’s going here. I love you all.”

“We love you, Will.” The portal flashed and blanked out, leaving the
three of them relieved and scared for Willow.