His Childe

Chapter 26 - Hell's Bells (3)

Pictures were taken. Lots of pictures. Gloomily, Buffy realized that despite her hopes, she would eventually see herself in the green horror, but she managed to keep smiling for posterity’s sake. All the while, Spike was standing behind the photographer, his eyes on her whether she was actually posing for a picture or waiting for Anya’s next directions. A very faint grin was gracing his lips, and she was sure she knew exactly what he was thinking. He had promised not to bite her until the pictures were taken. And now they almost were finished.

She couldn’t help looking at him too, still surprised that he had actually dressed up for the occasion. She would never have thought he would look so good in a tuxedo. The fabric was dark blue, almost black, on top of a white shirt. Black shoes and a blue tie the same shade as his eyes completed the attire. His almost white hair was slicked back. He was just gorgeous, there was no other word. Idly, she wondered whether she would see him looking so classy ever again.

As the session was coming to an end, Buffy presented a request to the happy couple, ready to beg if needed. Xander surprised her by simply nodding his agreement. Anya only beamed at the chance of one more picture. As the Scoobies organized themselves one more time around the Bride and Groom, Buffy hurried to Spike and, taking his hand, pulled him after her. She settled next to Dawn on Anya’s left, Spike by her side. Willow, Tara and Giles were on the other side, next to Xander. In a blinding flash, the picture was taken and the group dispersed, but Buffy’s hand didn’t let go of Spike’s.

It was finally time to join the rest of the guests in the dining room. Since Buffy’s little ‘intervention’ during the ceremony, the demons had been particularly subdued, the rumor running among them that the Slayer was a guest and that she was pissed off. And who could blame her, having to wear such an awful dress? Unwilling to give her any reason to demonstrate her abilities again, the ‘circus people’ had collectively decided to ignore any taunting or rude remark from the human guests. The humans, in turn, still not quite sure of what had been going on with the blonde bridesmaid, were mostly keeping to themselves Wary eyes now darted more often toward the diminutive woman with a violent streak than toward the bride’s freaky family.

The dinner went just fine, though Buffy didn’t pay much attention to what she was eating or to the conversations. She was observing the peroxided blonde seated across her, the words he had whispered at the end of the ceremony still singing in her ears. It would have been easy to believe he had just repeated something he had promised before, that as her Sire he would be there to take care of her. Yet, knowing that he loved her, the words were totally different. However hard she had pushed him away in the past, he had stayed. Nothing she had done or said had ever been enough to make him give up. And now she was sure he never would. A part of her was exhilarated by the thought. Another part was more scared than she had ever been.

To his great surprise, Spike was actually having a good time at the whelp’s wedding. He would have enjoyed a little more action, having thought that the tension between humans and demons would quickly evolve into a nice brawl. But weirdly enough, no fights, no blows, not even verbal arguments were to be heard. Oh well…

Sitting across the table, the Slayer seemed to enjoy herself too. She was making small talk with the rest of the table, but he had noticed that always her eyes were coming back to him, and he had to restrain himself not to just grab her and find a more private spot. And blood certainly wasn't the only thing in his mind.

All the while, he was keeping a distracted eye on Dawn. The girl was at the next table, sitting with a demon that seemed to be about her age. The boy was a bit too familiar to Spike’s liking, touching the bit’s hand while leaning toward her to whisper in her ear. Yes, way too familiar. He’d need to have a little chat with the kid later.

The dinner was over, cake frosting had been wiped from Xander’s face, and the newly wed were finishing their first dance. There had been an awkward moment when D’Hoffryn and Mrs Harris, having opened the dance with Anya and Xander, found themselves compelled by custom to dance together, but they both survived the ordeal.

Excusing himself from the table, Spike first stopped by Dawn’s table. The Nibblet had just run off in the direction of the restrooms, leaving her new friend free for Spike to scare. A flash of his fangs and a few quiet words were sufficient to convince the now stammering kid not to try anything less than honorable if he wanted to survive the wedding.

Quite satisfied with himself, the vampire approached the DJ. After a short discussion, he was skipping – of course not, he wasn’t skipping, Big Bads don’t skip - back to his table. Standing by Buffy, he touched her shoulder lightly.

“May I have this dance, my lady?”

She beamed at him as she took his offered hand and rose. They reached the dance floor just as the music he had requested was starting. He slid his arms around her waist, and hers sneaked around his neck. He grinned at her look of surprise when she recognized the song.

It must have been cold there in my shadow
To never have sunlight on your face
You were content to let me shine
That's your way
You always walked a step behind

“You remembered?” she asked quietly, her eyes shining.

He nodded, holding her tightly against him. She rested her head against his shoulder and he nuzzled her hair.

So I was the one with all the glory
While you were the one with all the strain
A beautiful face without a name
For so long
A beautiful smile to hide the pain

Of course he remembered. It had been about two years before. The Witch and her spells gone wrong. Or not so wrong…

Did you ever know that you're my hero?
And everything I would like to be
I can fly higher than an eagle
For you are the wind beneath my wings

For a few hours, he had been Buffy’s fiancé. It still sounded weird, even now. At the time, he wasn’t aware of the depth of his feelings for her. The whole experience had helped him start to realize. He had felt so good as she was sitting on his lap. So happy when she had said yes. So lost when the spell had been broken and she had looked at him with horror. He had hid the pain, to himself as well as the others, but it had been one more cut in his unbeating heart.

It might have appeared to go unnoticed
But I've got it all here in my heart
I want you to know, I know the truth
Of course I've known it
I would be nothing without you

And yes, he remembered. Every word she had said. Every look she had given him. Every touch and kiss. Every smile and pout. It had been then that they kissed for the first time. It had been then that she said she loved him, which she had never done again, even when they were shagging every night. It had been then that she had told him about her wedding dreams. And the song she wanted for their first dance. Oh no, he would never forget.

Did you ever know that you're my hero?
You're everything I wish I could be
I can fly higher than an eagle
For you are the wind beneath my wings

As the song played, the world ceased to exist for Buffy. There was just her, her Sire, and Bette Midler’s voice.

He had remembered.

Since Willow’s spell, she had thought of their engagement every time she had listened to that song. When it had happened, she had no feelings for him. He was just an annoying pest, too harmless to waste a stake on. Still, when the spell had been broken, she had felt like she had lost something, after having felt complete and so perfectly loved for just a few hours.

A lot of things had happened since. His admission to loving her. Glory and the way he had helped. Her death and his promise to take care of Dawn.  Her return and the comfort he had given her. The way she had broken the relationship they had, because it seemed so wrong. His decision to turn her. His presence every time she needed him. He had changed.

And so had she. She was glad he was part of her life. She was proud to be his Childe. She cared about him. A lot. Very deeply. And the song seemed to have a whole new meaning now.

“Pet…” he whispered against her hair. “The music stopped.”

Another song started, with a faster beat, but they continued their slow dance.

She raised her head to look at his eyes. “You won’t ever leave me, will you?”

“You only realize that now?” he said with a smirk.

She shook her head slowly. “I think I’ve known for a while. But I couldn’t let myself believe it.”

His arms squeezed her a bit more tightly. He wasn’t smiling any more, seriousness filling his face.

“Believe me, luv. I’m not going anywhere. Unless I turn to ashes, but even then I will still be in your blood.”

His head came down to her neck, his lips rubbing against the ribbon that hid his marks.

“I believe you now,” she whispered, threading her fingers in his hair.

“Does it change anything?”

However hard he was trying to hide it, hope was piercing in his voice. Buffy hated herself for not being able to give him the answer she knew he wished to hear.

“Maybe,” she said quietly. “Time will tell.”

“We have eternity in front of us, pet. There’s no rush.”

His face came back up, and she saw that he meant it. He would wait for her. After all, he had been waiting a long time already. Sealing the distance between them, she brought her lips to his like a caress, closing her eyes. The kiss lingered and deepened, his tongue sliding into her mouth to touch hers. At the taste of blood, her eyes snapped open, only to meet blue depths that grinned at her surprise. He must have shifted to game face and back too fast for anyone to notice. She accepted the offering, enjoying the taste of his essence. She would have time later to return the gift in kind.