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See I haven't forgotten this. I've done revisions of the previous chapters here mostly small stuff but I think I've improved it a lot. I need to finish writing the end chapter and get it all beta'd one last time and I'm done!Part 9 Every Girl Should Be Married.
Spike rose from his seat and stretched. “Giles, I’d like to speak with you privately.”
Giles was about to ask if it could wait until morning but formality of Spike’s speech stopped him. Whatever he wanted to talk about it was serious. Once they were alone in the study he asked Spike what he felt was the obvious question. ”Are you worried that the trigger is still in effect?”
“Course not; I’m in my right mind. Question is are you?”
“I don’t understand.”
“Look Watcher I know it’s not my place to say but Anya’s a decent sort…” Spike began pacing.
“What is it Spike? Giles was beginning to get alarmed, “Has Anya said something to you about not being happy?”
“No but then she wouldn’t not after what happen before would she? Anya chose to be human this time around and the human conventions mean something to her.”
“Spike the sun is coming up surely you’re tired too. Just tell me what’s wrong in plain English.”
Spike stood with his arms crossed and demanded “Very well, when’s the wedding?” Giles laughed and kept laughing until he had to wipe tears from his eyes. “Are you done yet Watcher? I’d like an answer.”
“Don’t look at me that way. I’m not a complete idiot I have thought of asking.”
“Well why haven’t you?”
“Because she I didn’t want to rush her.”
“I should have guessed. Your relationship has been so cautious and tentative so far.” Spike said sarcastically then sighed and continued. Look its not like I’m suggesting you do something you don’t want to do.”
“She’s the one I’ll love for rest of my life a wedding would just be a formality but perhaps she wont even want to go though something like that again.”
“In other words you’re too chicken to ask.”
“Exactly.” He agreed then gave Spike a sharp look. “ but I’m not the only one here shaking in my boots am I?”
“You giving Buffy and I your blessing dad?” Even as bleary eyed as he was Giles could tell that the look in Spike’s eyes didn’t match the look in his eyes.
“I’m much too tired to be held accountable for anything I say right now. I’m going to bed I suggest you do the same. Its possible we’ll be going to Vegas latter, I imagine you’ll want to be well rested to hold the shotgun.”
“Alright but I don’t care what Anya says I’m not putting a ponce-y white bow on the stock.”
Giles smiled heading to his room marveling at the strange turn his life had taken. When he crawled into bed careful not to wake Anya, he wasn’t sure if it was his imagination that made it sound as if she murmured ‘I do’ or not but god help him. He just might be taking Spike’s advice.
Two days later Anya looked at the breakfast tray Giles arranged with care including the little blue box and casino flyer. “Rupert, is this I think it is?”
“If you think it’s a proposal then yes, it is.” Giles agreed nervously.
“Ok just so we’re clear, you want me to go with you to Vegas? A place built on desert where only Casabee demons can live comfortably without air conditioning, A city were people routinely throw away their hard earned money.” Anya shuttered. “Just so we can be married by an official that looks like a deceased rock star while I hold a bunch of plastic daisies.”
“I was hopping for something a bit less tacky but you’re right. You deserve a real wedding we can wait.” Giles cursed himself that’s what he got for listening to Spike. He agreed with Anya it was a stupid idea, so why was he disappointed?
“I didn’t say that. Do you really want to do this?”
“I would have asked if I didn’t. “ He said simply.
The brilliant smile he had been waiting for spread across her face. “I’d like it if Buffy and Spike came along. Do you think we can get them tickets too?”
“Already done darling, Spike’s volunteered to hold the shotgun.”
***
Anya was standing in front of a three way mirror the next day about to tell Buffy she wanted to be married in a pair jogging pants and one of Rupert’s t-shirts. They had been to three shops and Anya had tried on a dozen dresses already. “Buffy I like this dress. It fits perfect.”
“You should love it not just like it I think maybe it’s too long.” Buffy said eying the dress critically.
“You said the last one was too short.”
“I want it too be just right. It needs to be perfect for you and Giles.” Buffy said holding back tears.
Anya sat on the bench and sighed. “I’m really glad you care Buffy it was fun before I became exhausted but the dress doesn’t need to be perfect. Look not Goldie Locks anymore.” Anya joked, running her hands though her short chestnut hair. This didn’t make Buffy smile or laugh as she hoped instead the slayer burst into tears.
“I’m sorry I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” Buffy sniffled Anya handed her a tissue and had put an arm around her shoulder. It was surprisingly comforting to Buffy.
“It’s ok it’s just Thanksgiving Syndrome.” Anya stated with certainty.
“Huh?”
“You want everything to be ‘perfect and normal’ for your friends. You get this way on the big occasions. I’m the same way sometimes, I understand. I also think our blood sugar could be low, let’s get some ice-cream.” Anya made a mental note to speak to Giles about this someday soon. Buffy deserved some ‘normal’ of her own, she shouldn’t have to live through others, and there had to be a way to help her get it.
“Wow.” Anya has mom like powers already, Buffy thought, only a little wigged.
“What?” Anya asked startled from her thoughts by the now grinning Buffy.
“Nothing, let’s go get some frozen goodness. You know I think that first dress was the best one after all.”
“So, you and Spike?” Anya asked between mouthfuls of chunky monkey. “Any progress, or is it none of my business?”
Buffy marveled for a moment over how different her relationship with Anya had become. “I’m not sure, I think we’re making progress. We’re getting to be friends, taking it slow. We’ve stopped flinching when we touch that’s good right?” Anya nodded and motioned for Buffy to continue. “Sometimes I think we’ve ground to a halt. He’s still so shy of me sometimes. I feel like Buffy the Vampire Whisperer.”
“So you trust him again but he doesn’t trust you.” Anya tried to clarify.
“I don’t know maybe it’s that we don’t trust us yet.”
“Have you tried the obvious?”
“What obvious Anya? I don’t think jumping him would go over well.”
“Why not just tell Spike you love him?”
“Maybe when the First has been stopped.” Anya sighed but didn’t pursue it further. Buffy changed the subject. “I can’t wait to see the guys in suits. I had the funniest dream last night, Elvis was performing the wedding. You were in sweats and so was I. Giles and Spike were wearing matching pink bathrobes and bunny slippers!” Buffy laughed, forgetting the other woman's phobia.
“Oh no! It wasn’t some strange Slayer dream was it? You poor thing no wonder you’ve been obsessive about the dress. Finish up and let’s go.”
Spike rose from his seat and stretched. “Giles, I’d like to speak with you privately.”
Giles was about to ask if it could wait until morning but formality of Spike’s speech stopped him. Whatever he wanted to talk about it was serious. Once they were alone in the study he asked Spike what he felt was the obvious question. ”Are you worried that the trigger is still in effect?”
“Course not; I’m in my right mind. Question is are you?”
“I don’t understand.”
“Look Watcher I know it’s not my place to say but Anya’s a decent sort…” Spike began pacing.
“What is it Spike? Giles was beginning to get alarmed, “Has Anya said something to you about not being happy?”
“No but then she wouldn’t not after what happen before would she? Anya chose to be human this time around and the human conventions mean something to her.”
“Spike the sun is coming up surely you’re tired too. Just tell me what’s wrong in plain English.”
Spike stood with his arms crossed and demanded “Very well, when’s the wedding?” Giles laughed and kept laughing until he had to wipe tears from his eyes. “Are you done yet Watcher? I’d like an answer.”
“Don’t look at me that way. I’m not a complete idiot I have thought of asking.”
“Well why haven’t you?”
“Because she I didn’t want to rush her.”
“I should have guessed. Your relationship has been so cautious and tentative so far.” Spike said sarcastically then sighed and continued. Look its not like I’m suggesting you do something you don’t want to do.”
“She’s the one I’ll love for rest of my life a wedding would just be a formality but perhaps she wont even want to go though something like that again.”
“In other words you’re too chicken to ask.”
“Exactly.” He agreed then gave Spike a sharp look. “ but I’m not the only one here shaking in my boots am I?”
“You giving Buffy and I your blessing dad?” Even as bleary eyed as he was Giles could tell that the look in Spike’s eyes didn’t match the look in his eyes.
“I’m much too tired to be held accountable for anything I say right now. I’m going to bed I suggest you do the same. Its possible we’ll be going to Vegas latter, I imagine you’ll want to be well rested to hold the shotgun.”
“Alright but I don’t care what Anya says I’m not putting a ponce-y white bow on the stock.”
Giles smiled heading to his room marveling at the strange turn his life had taken. When he crawled into bed careful not to wake Anya, he wasn’t sure if it was his imagination that made it sound as if she murmured ‘I do’ or not but god help him. He just might be taking Spike’s advice.
Two days later Anya looked at the breakfast tray Giles arranged with care including the little blue box and casino flyer. “Rupert, is this I think it is?”
“If you think it’s a proposal then yes, it is.” Giles agreed nervously.
“Ok just so we’re clear, you want me to go with you to Vegas? A place built on desert where only Casabee demons can live comfortably without air conditioning, A city were people routinely throw away their hard earned money.” Anya shuttered. “Just so we can be married by an official that looks like a deceased rock star while I hold a bunch of plastic daisies.”
“I was hopping for something a bit less tacky but you’re right. You deserve a real wedding we can wait.” Giles cursed himself that’s what he got for listening to Spike. He agreed with Anya it was a stupid idea, so why was he disappointed?
“I didn’t say that. Do you really want to do this?”
“I would have asked if I didn’t. “ He said simply.
The brilliant smile he had been waiting for spread across her face. “I’d like it if Buffy and Spike came along. Do you think we can get them tickets too?”
“Already done darling, Spike’s volunteered to hold the shotgun.”
***
Anya was standing in front of a three way mirror the next day about to tell Buffy she wanted to be married in a pair jogging pants and one of Rupert’s t-shirts. They had been to three shops and Anya had tried on a dozen dresses already. “Buffy I like this dress. It fits perfect.”
“You should love it not just like it I think maybe it’s too long.” Buffy said eying the dress critically.
“You said the last one was too short.”
“I want it too be just right. It needs to be perfect for you and Giles.” Buffy said holding back tears.
Anya sat on the bench and sighed. “I’m really glad you care Buffy it was fun before I became exhausted but the dress doesn’t need to be perfect. Look not Goldie Locks anymore.” Anya joked, running her hands though her short chestnut hair. This didn’t make Buffy smile or laugh as she hoped instead the slayer burst into tears.
“I’m sorry I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” Buffy sniffled Anya handed her a tissue and had put an arm around her shoulder. It was surprisingly comforting to Buffy.
“It’s ok it’s just Thanksgiving Syndrome.” Anya stated with certainty.
“Huh?”
“You want everything to be ‘perfect and normal’ for your friends. You get this way on the big occasions. I’m the same way sometimes, I understand. I also think our blood sugar could be low, let’s get some ice-cream.” Anya made a mental note to speak to Giles about this someday soon. Buffy deserved some ‘normal’ of her own, she shouldn’t have to live through others, and there had to be a way to help her get it.
“Wow.” Anya has mom like powers already, Buffy thought, only a little wigged.
“What?” Anya asked startled from her thoughts by the now grinning Buffy.
“Nothing, let’s go get some frozen goodness. You know I think that first dress was the best one after all.”
“So, you and Spike?” Anya asked between mouthfuls of chunky monkey. “Any progress, or is it none of my business?”
Buffy marveled for a moment over how different her relationship with Anya had become. “I’m not sure, I think we’re making progress. We’re getting to be friends, taking it slow. We’ve stopped flinching when we touch that’s good right?” Anya nodded and motioned for Buffy to continue. “Sometimes I think we’ve ground to a halt. He’s still so shy of me sometimes. I feel like Buffy the Vampire Whisperer.”
“So you trust him again but he doesn’t trust you.” Anya tried to clarify.
“I don’t know maybe it’s that we don’t trust us yet.”
“Have you tried the obvious?”
“What obvious Anya? I don’t think jumping him would go over well.”
“Why not just tell Spike you love him?”
“Maybe when the First has been stopped.” Anya sighed but didn’t pursue it further. Buffy changed the subject. “I can’t wait to see the guys in suits. I had the funniest dream last night, Elvis was performing the wedding. You were in sweats and so was I. Giles and Spike were wearing matching pink bathrobes and bunny slippers!” Buffy laughed, forgetting the other woman's phobia.
“Oh no! It wasn’t some strange Slayer dream was it? You poor thing no wonder you’ve been obsessive about the dress. Finish up and let’s go.”
