jesterladyfic | Wend Their Ways Together: Chapter Ten

The day of the wedding dawned dark and cloudy and really all, though there was some denial, were relieved that the ceremony would not feature a spontaneously combusting groom. Said groom was pacing up and down in Buffy’s basement, running his fingers through his hair. Sitting on the stairs, watching Spike with something between a frown and a grin on his face, was Xander.

“Could you sit down for a minute? You’re making me nervous.” Spike glared at Xander, before coming to a stop and fumbling through the pockets of his duster lying on the banister.

“I’ve bloody well got to do something. It’s not fair. I can get ready in twenty minutes and then have to spend the rest of the sodding day in the basement while she takes her sweet time about it.” Spike found his cigarettes and lit up, relieved to have something to do with his hands.

“Uh-uh, no cigarettes, Bleach boy. Buffy said no.”

“Oh and life is all about what she wants, innit?” Spike inquired sarcastically, but still stomped the cigarette out. Oz came down the steps looking a tad uncomfortable in his groomsman suit.

“You should see it up there. Be glad Buffy incarcerated you down here. Less noise.”

Upstairs in Buffy’s room, she was standing in front of the mirror while Tara fastened her dress and Anya messed with her makeup. Joyce bustled in and out of the room, taking care of last minute details and trying not to hug Buffy.

The backyard was decorated with flowers and chairs set up to face an arch where the ceremony would take place. It was to be a small wedding, but a lot of the guests had arrived. A few of Joyce’s friends, the survivors of the Class of 99’, some relatives and college buddies, plus a couple of demon friends of Spike’s, who, to their credit, had tried their best to look human and stay in the background. Food was being set up on long tables to the side and Oz and Devon had directed the set up of a mini stage where Dingoes Ate My Baby would play for the reception.

Giles had been given the task of keeping the guests happy until it was time to start. He wandered amid the myriad of differences, using his best British manner to conciliate any human/demon interactions. Finally, Anya came down to tell him it was time for him to get Buffy. He thankfully went into the house and Anya turned to the crowd of people and yelled over their conversations.

“Hey! All of you, people and not people. It’s time. So sit down, be quiet, and no fighting anything that appears unusual to you.” The guests all found seats and waited while Devon started some music. Willow’s portal opened up right by the arch; she wasn’t looking her best. One set of human clothing had been mixed with some rather interesting demon fashions, but she managed to excite some interest in Oz anyway, who looked adoringly at her as he took his place beside Anya to come down the center aisle.

“You do know I wish you were Xander, right?” Anya made sure as they waited.

“Yes. I’m strangely indifferent to the fact, though. Weird, huh?” Anya rolled her eyes.

Inside, Buffy nervously opened the door to her room and stepped out to where Giles was waiting.

“Well, how do I look?” She twirled around and Giles looked at her with fatherly pride and smiled his appreciation.

“Buffy, why, you look lovely. Very beautiful.” She smiled at him and gave him a hug.

“Thank you, Giles, for doing this for me.”

“Of course, Buffy; it’s my honor.” Sentiments done, she hopped a little in place.

“This waiting thing is so not my gig. I don’t suppose there is something I can kill instead?” She looked up hopefully.

“That’s exactly what Spike said, only with more ‘bloody hells’ and agitated pacing.”

“That’s my Spike for you. Lover of violence and poster child for ADD.” She
laughed. “So, is all ready out there?”

“Yes, everyone is just getting to their seats and then we’ll begin.” Giles hesitated. “I don’t wish to pry, Buffy, but I notice Angel isn’t among them.” Buffy shuffled her feet uncomfortably before answering.

“Yeah, I really didn’t wanna deal with the scenes that would rise from that happening. I’d like to keep my groom simply undead rather than all the way dead. Angel and Spike: not mixy things. Besides, I promised Xander. Even though I’m sure he would love to see Angel’s face when I marry Spike, Xander doesn’t want to see Cordelia. I don’t particularly want to either and I definitely don’t want to see Angel. I want this day to be perfect for me and Spike. None of the demon carnage that normally fills my time at social events.”

“I understand.” Giles smiled his assurance at her, knowing he himself wasn’t too fond of seeing Angel at anytime. “Still, he’ll have to find out someday.”

“Oh, he will. I promised Spike as soon as we take care of this Initiative stuff, we’ll drive down there and break-or in Spike’s case, flaunt-the news.” Tara called up the stairs to them to come down. Buffy took Giles’ arm and they walked to the back door.

At the arch, Spike watched impatiently as first Anya and Oz came down the aisle and then Tara. Both girls looked beautiful in silvery, blue dresses that flowed in simple, straight lines. Spike turned to Xander and told him,

“If you don’t close your mouth, mate, something might nest in there.” But as Buffy came out the door, it was all he could do to not assume the same open-mouthed expression. Only his vampire instincts keep his reputation intact; if it wasn’t shot to hell by now from the fact he was marrying the Slayer and all.

Buffy’s dress was simple, strapless and high-waisted. It swung around her as elegantly as any southern belle’s and her hair was pinned so he thought it looked like a cloud of golden sunshine hanging in ringlets down her back. She looked vulnerable and tiny walking down that aisle, but he knew the truth. She was power and vitality and courage and she was his.

Giles placed her hand in Spike’s and then sat down by Joyce in the front row. The minister stepped forward.

“If any of you here know of any just reason why these two should not be wed, speak now or forever hold your peace.” Buffy and Spike’s heads swiveled as one to glare at the Scoobies, daring them to say anything. They remained properly hushed and the minister continued.

Buffy and Spike had chosen to say the traditional vows as a testament to the fact that it would be the only thing traditional about them. Then the minister called for the rings. Tara handed Buffy Spike’s ring, a plain white gold band. Xander gave Spike Buffy’s ring, a vivid contrast to the skull and bones engagement ring. It was also white gold with diamond chips sprinkled on the band and a slightly raised flower shaped diamond in the center. Buffy was still unsure as to how Spike had procured it.

“As testified by these rings and your love for each other, in the presence of these witnesses and by the power invested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.” Spike cupped her cheek in his hand before bringing his lips to hers, gently and lovingly, but promising her with his eyes, of more passionate embraces to
come later.

“I present to you Mr. and Mrs. William Summers.” They turned, grinning and smirking respectively, and walked down the aisle. Tara and Xander followed, then Anya and Oz. The band sent a rousing chorus after them and the guests followed.

Buffy and Spike were surrounded by their guests and they tried to get pictures with them all. After all, in Sunnydale, you never knew who wouldn’t be there tomorrow. Anya managed to straighten the swarm into some semblance of a receiving line, strictly on her powers of intimidation.

“Clem, how are you, mate? Buffy, this is Clem. We play poker together.” Buffy smiled at the floppy-eared, over-skinned demon who grabbed her in a big hug.

“Any friend of Spike’s is a friend of mine. Even the Slayer. So you don’t by any chance happen to have a thing for kittens, do you?” the harmless looking Clem asked nervously.

“Um, not particularly,” the confused Buffy answered, looking at Spike for help. He just shook his head and moved Clem along before turning to their next guest.

“Harm, what the bloody hell are you doing here?”

“Spikey, just cause I hate you, doesn’t mean I would miss your wedding.” The
blonde vampiress flipped back her long hair and turned her attention to Buffy. “Buffy, you look…nice. Really nice.”

“Harmony.” Buffy smiled dangerously. “If you bite any of my guests, I will stake you.” Harmony tried to laugh bravely, but nervously decided to go and pout before the dancing started instead.

“Jonathan, how are you? Happy?” The short geek laughed and looked anxiously in Spike’s direction before answering.

“Don’t worry. I-I haven’t come to shoot anyone, even myself. I’ve got this whole therapy thing going on for me. It’s uh, going really well. I’m supposed to surround myself with people and help anyone I can, especially people with important jobs and so on, so I thought ‘hey, wedding of the Slayer,’ good idea, right...?” His voice trailed off. Buffy smiled at him, sensing his real request. It kind of threw her a bit.

“Well, you know you can always help us out if you need people. You’ll be in danger all the time and we can be downright nasty, but hey, join the club.”

“Thanks, I’d like that.” Jonathan smiled brightly. “I have this friend of mine I’d like you to meet sometime. I think he needs…direction, in the right direction, of course.”

“Sure, nerd-meeting at my house, well, Giles’ house, well, apartment. Oh, sorry about the nerd thing.” Buffy winced. Jonathan shook his head and with therapy-gained maturity responded with,

“Hard to get over the habits of high-school, huh?” Buffy nodded. “Well, anyways, congratulations. You look good and happy and all that.” Jonathan walked off to the food tables.

Oz took his place on the stage after a long talk with Willow at her portal. She gave a happy wave to the couple and they waved back as the portal started to break down.

“The dancing is about to start. The first dance is for the bride and the librarian man.” Giles glared at Devon, but followed Buffy to the space where dancing would happen. The notes of Wind Beneath My Wings flowed into the air and the dancing was
started.

Hours later, the dancing had died down and the newlyweds changed into more comfortable clothing before bidding goodbye to their guests. Xander and Giles gave Buffy ‘I might never see you again,’ hugs and,

“Happy Orgasms!” was Anya’s farewell. Tara and Joyce gave them both tight hugs and they received a chin up from Oz. Then they left to stay the night at their new apartment, located near the campus and the butcher’s, before spending a few days away until Buffy had to get back to resume school. The Scoobies would patrol in their absence.

***

“My Slayer duties had better not interfere with my wedding night or I will be seriously upset!” Spike laughed heartily at Buffy as they climbed out of the decrepit Desoto in front of their apartment building.

“I would never dare, that’s for sure. I pity the Big Bad who tries to take anything away from you, love.”

“I recall a certain Big Bad trying rather hard to take things away from me and getting his butt kicked in the process.” Buffy coiled her arms around his waist, fingers inching under his shirt.

“Tut-tut, Slayer, manners. Let’s get inside, shall we, without getting ogled by the neighbors?”

“You don’t care. Betcha you’d love to show off what stuff you got.”

“Very much so, pet,” he replied with a leer. “Still, I’d prefer to show you
first.”

At the door they stopped. Spike turned to Buffy and swept her a gracious bow and taking her proffered hand, raised it to his lips in a courtly gesture. As his lips brushed her knuckles, she shivered and a flash in his eyes showed he had noticed. But he wasn’t done yet. After opening the door, he swept her into his arms and cradling her as precious, carried her over the threshold.

He set her down inside, closed the door and pulled her against him, crushing her lips to his, the force of the impact pushing him back till he was against the wall. Buffy’s hands held him there as she explored his mouth, feeling it as if it were new. The need for him grew too much and she moved her hands under his shirt, relishing the feel of his skin on her fingers. Spike broke from her lips just long enough to draw her to the bed, giving her every assurance of his love and passion.

***

Spike lay on his back in their bed, Buffy’s head pillowed on his bare chest, her fingers running over his skin, his hand playing with her hair.

“Happy, love?” Buffy heaved a sigh of contentment.

“Big yes. Do you know what I love about vampires?”

“They don’t make a mess when they die?”

“Do too.”

“Dust is not a mess, pet. Did you see the slime dripping off that chaos demon we
killed last week?”

“Back to the point, Spike? I’m trying to compliment you.”

“Far be it from me to disappoint you.”

“Disappoint you more like. What I was going to say is that I love the no birth-
control and the no waiting, but mostly I appreciate the stamina and imagination.” Buffy accompanied her compliments with a kiss that would’ve left a mere man breathless, Spike felt it nevertheless.

“Enjoy yourself, did you?” Spike curled his tongue behind his teeth and slowly
blinked in a way designed to drive a woman mad. Successfully too, for Buffy smiled at him in response.

“It had its points. You?” The last word was spoken a touch insecurely.

“Bloody amazing. You’re bloody amazing.” Buffy relaxed at his words.

“Hmm, Spike?”

“Yeah?”

“Feeling tired?”

“Vampire here. We stay up all night.”

“Well, if you’re bored, I could think of something for you to do.”

“All ears, Slayer.” Buffy grabbed his head and pulled it down to hers and kissing
ensued frantically, expertly and lovingly.

“Love you, Buffy. Love you so much,” he murmured between kisses.

“I love you too, Spike. Love you always.”