Music Box

PART 2: things move.

***SIX MONTHS LATER***

-1-

Have yourself a merry little Christmas

let yourself be light From now on, our troubles

will be out of sight....

The music filled the air in Giles' house. Buffy and Giles were around the tree, trying to decorate it and not quite succeeding.

Xander and Anya were sitting on the floor, trying to disentangle the lights, Spike and Willow were in the kitchenette, they couldn't hear them talking, but they could hear noise of kitchen implements being moved.

Deciding to spend Christmas together had been fairly natural for them, since they were spending most of their time at Giles', anyway.

"Buffy, what in the name of God are you doing?" Giles asked looking at the woman.

Buffy looked at him blinking and asked, "Uhm...I'm trying to decorate the tree?"

Giles shook his head. Buffy looked at the results of her attempts, sighed and looking at him said, "I'm trying to destroy this poor pine tree?"

"I guess so, love..." He said smiling.

Buffy shrugged and said out loud, "Willow? When did you say the effects of the truth's spell were going to wear out?"

"Ah, bloody, ah..." He mumbled placing a little crystal star on the tree

Willow got out from the kitchenette and asked, "What did you just say?"

Buffy looked at her friend and waved a hand in the hair saying, "Aw, forget it, doesn't matter...my watc..." Giles flashed her a look. She shook her head and said, "er...boyf..." Giles raised an eyebrow, Buffy rolled her eyes and pointing at Giles said, "*He* thinks I'm destroying the tree with my attempts to decorate it "

Willow entered the living room, she took a look at the tree, crossed her arms over her chest and looking at Buffy said, "He's right, Buff..."

She then returned to the kitchenette, ignoring her friend's growlings.

"Fine, Will...whatever! Remind me of this, next time you need that black skirt..." she said out loud, yet she was smiling.

Buffy realized, that in the last six months, she'd always had a goofy grin on her face. She was afraid to tell she was happy, even to herself.

Life had been quite hectic for the past six months. She'd slayed, she'd studied and she'd sometimes barely restrained herself from pushing Giles against a wall and make love to him.

They'd decided to wait. At first she'd thought it was romantic, and she still thought it was.

Yet, she often wondered, what they were waiting for, after all they loved each other, they were happy together...their relationship hadn't gotten in the way of their duties as slayer and watcher...then why they hadn't still made love?

Twice they had tried to. Both times they'd been interrupted by someone or something.

She was really beginning to suspect there was a conspiracy going on.

<First we couldn't admit our feelings to each other even if our lives depended on it, then after it took a bloody spell to make us admit them, we can't make love...maybe we should have made it that night.

Great! Now I'm beginning to sound like a nympho! Hey, did I just say *bloody* spell? Ok, girl...in case you didn't notice, you’ve got it bad for your ex watcher >

She giggled then she shook her head and approached Giles.

She slid both her arms around his waist and rested her head against his back, inhaling his scent. She closed her eyes, she could hear Giles' heartbeat, she smiled and placed a kiss on the nape of his neck, smiling when he shivered, then whispered, "You know, Giles? I've just decided that your heart beat is my favorite sound in the world"

Giles smiled and turned around, he met her eyes and one of her brightest smiles, ever. He leaned toward her and placed a kiss on the tip of her nose, then said, "Thank you. I take you've forgiven me?"

"For what?" she asked really surprised. Giles looked at her and said, "For the tree..."

Buffy raised her eyebrows and Giles shaking his head said, "Uhm, it doesn't matter..."

Her arms were still wrapped around his waist, and he had an arm around her shoulders, when Xander raising his head looked at them and snorted, "Jeez, guys...you're really trying to make it up for the time you lost, aren't you?"

Both Buffy and Giles grinned at Xander's words, then Giles placed a kiss on Buffy's forehead and let go of her saying, "Why don't we take a walk outside? I am sure Xander and Anya will be happy to keep decorating the tree"

"Gladly" she said smiling.

She stood on her tiptoes and kissed his mouth before grabbing a stake both their coats and headed toward the door.

Giles shook his head and followed her. He turned toward Xander and Anya who were kissing, shook again his head and left, without them even noticing.

-2-

~ This is torture, Willow, you know? And please believe me, I know something about torture! ~

Spike's voice exploded in her head, while she was cooking.

She yelped and turned toward Spike who had morphed into his game face.

Not caring about it, she flashed him an angered glare yet she politely asked, "Could you hand me the salt?"

~ We have decided they didn't have to know about us, and yet you were all but undressing me in the kitchenette! Luckily for us they were all too busy smooching to notice it! ~

She replied to his silent question.

~ Yeah Willow, it's easy for you...if you didn't want me to undress you, why are you wearing that blue dress? You know how much I like it...~

Spike heard Willow giggle at his words.

~ Do you think it's funny? ~

He silently asked, his tone had been serious, yet his eyes were twinkling and he'd morphed back into his human face.

~ Well, Spike...next time, I'll choose more carefully what to wear, then. I chose this dress, just because it masks well, my not wearing any underwear ~

A second later, Xander and Anya from the living room, heard the noise made by the casserole who Spike had been previously holding, dropping on the floor and a loud, "Bloody hell, Red! Are you trying to driving me crazy, or what?"

Xander looked concerned at the couple in the kitchenette. They were facing each other, a strange look on their faces.

Xander turned toward Anya and asked, "Do you think we should go and check on Willow?"

Anya held back a laughter and said, "No love, I don't think we have to. Willow can take care of herself"

"Do you think she's safe with Spike? I mean they're getting quite along and all...but..." Xander seemed genuinely concerned for his friend.

Anya just shook her head and said, "Love, he can't hurt her..."

< And I don't know why, I think that even if he could, he'd rather be dust than hurting her... >

She thought. Anya was the only one who knew about Willow and Spike.

She hadn't caught them together, and they'd been really careful, no one in fact suspected about them, but she knew.

 She could sense what was going on. She'd been able to, since the beginning. She hadn't told anyone, she hadn't even let Willow understand that she knew.

Spike knew though. The night they'd cast the spell on Buffy and Giles, when Xander had driven Tara to the dorm, he'd approached her and had said, "One word...mind your own business"

"Actually that would be four" she had dryly replied.

"Yeah, whatever..." he'd told. He'd gotten close to her and had hissed morphing in his game face, "Not a word to anyone..."

"You don't hurt her and there won't be any problems" she had said.

Spike had morphed back in his human face when he had said, "I will never hurt her, it's not what I want..."

"What do you want from her, then?" She had asked.

He had been about to answer, when Willow had joined them. They hadn't talked about it ever again, and Spike had kept his word.

He hadn't hurt her, actually Willow seemed very happy.

She put her arms around Xander's neck and said between kisses, "Don't worry, she'll be fine..."

Back in the kitchenette, Spike was leaning against the fridge. He was looking at Willow, smiling.

After that first night at the hotel, there had been another…and then another, they just hadn’t been able to stop meeting, they’d finally talked realizing they were in a relationship…sort of.

He realized in that moment, though, that the petite red-head had made him forget Drusilla.

 Though he didn't want to admit, he was *in* love with the young witch. He was so in love, that for her own happiness, he didn't tell her about his feelings. their relationship was ...multi faced.

They were having sex, lot of it, and it was, to put it mildly indescribable. Yet their relationship wasn't just physical.

They talked a lot, Willow knew things about him no one else had ever known before. They had fun together, watching the telly or playing games, or just silently talking to each other.

It wasn't easy to carry on the relationship, since they'd decided to hide it from Willow's friends.

In the beginning they'd done so, because they thought it was funny, then, as weeks had became months, they'd just decided that it was their life and that they didn't owe explanations to anyone, least of all the Slayer and the Watcher.

Spike smiled at Willow. She was so beautiful, so intelligent, so pure.

He felt pangs of guilt, whenever he thought about the fact he was robbing her of her innocence with that relationship.

He watched her profile, her red hair slightly lighted by the kitchen's lights was almost like fire. Her green eyes sparkled with happiness, and he felt an irrational surge of manly pride because he knew *he* was the cause of that happiness.

~ I'm really going soft...~ he thought.

A wicked grin crept across Willow's face when she silently told him

~ Oh, I'm sure we can work something out about that, don't you think? ~

Spike actually blinked at her words.

~ Now, Willow...you're really going to pay for this, you know? ~

Willow turned slightly toward him, she raised an eyebrow and silently asked

~ Promise? ~

"You can bet on it, Red" he said aloud a wicked grin matching Willow's while he silently told her how exactly she was going to pay.

-3-

"Where are you taking me?" Buffy asked, clasping Giles' hand in hers.

 Giles had blinded her with a scarf, once they'd gotten in the car.

She hadn't objected, had just rested her head, against Giles' shoulder.

She'd dozed off, lulled by Giles' scent, and the light noise of the car.

Giles had awoken her with a kiss, when he had stopped the car. Buffy had smiled against his lips and had asked, "May I?"

"No, you have to wait" he'd told her.

Once they'd gotten out of Giles' car, and he'd taken her hand in his, she'd said, "One of these days you'll have to tell me, how you manage to always know what I'm thinking and what I'm going to say..."

Giles had laughed at her words, and he'd lead her to their destination.

Now they'd stopped walking, Giles hadn't removed the scarf from her eyes, yet.

She felt him behind her, she felt his warmth, and smiled when he whispered against her ear, " I shall remove the scarf, now. Just promise me, you'll keep your eyes closed until I tell you to open them"

"Slayer's honor" she said between giggles.

"That's my girl" he whispered again against her ear, before kissing her earlobe. Buffy shivered in anticipation. Though Giles had removed the scarf from her, Buffy didn't open her eyes, until, a soft music filled the air.

She gasped in surprise, when she recognized where they were, in the library, rather what remained of the true library.

It was scarcely illuminated by the street lamplights and the full moon who was rising.

She was so surprised by what she was seeing that it took her some seconds to recognize the song. A smile crept across her face when she did.

When I'm lost, you shine a light for me

And set me free. When I'm low, you wash

Away my tears and take me through the

loneliness, and emptiness, through the

darkest night, somehow I'll survive.

Through it all, when you tell me I'm the

only one you need, sweet and tenderly,

and your love breaks away the clouds

surrounding me

All I have I wanna give to thee

Buffy had tears in her eyes when Giles approached her, shyly asking, "May I have this dance?"

She just nodded, the lump in her throat preventing her from speaking. She buried her face in Giles' chest, while he led her.

If I should fall, your love is strong enough,

to lift me up. If I'm afraid, oh babe, you chase

away my tears, and take me to a brighter place,

beyond the rain, and I feel alright, 'cause, you're

By my side. Through it all, when you tell me I'm the

the only one you need, sweet and tenderly, and your

love breaks away the clouds surrounding me

All I have I wanna give to thee.

Giles felt her shaking against him, he pulled her closer, to warm her. Buffy tilted  her head up, Giles could see that her eyes were twinkling with unshed tears, she swallowed hard before whispering, "I really love you, Rupert Giles, you know?"

Giles just nodded, unable to do something else. Buffy nodded as well and sighed before resting her head against his chest, while the song continued, and Giles led her.

She hadn't known he was such a good dancer, she knew without doubt that she'd have lied like that all night long.

< And if a vampire decides to pay a visit to us right now, he's *so* going to regret it.. >

She thought. She bit her bottom lip, to not giggle.

You take me through, the loneliness, and

Emptiness, and I feel alright 'cause you're

By my side. Through it all, you tell me, I'm

The only one you need, so sweet and tenderly

And your love just sweeps away the clouds

surrounding Me. Baby all I have I wanna

give to thee.

She raised her head and looking at him she mouthed the last lines of the song.

I wanna give you all of my love...

He smiled, while tears veiled his eyes as she kept mouthing the song's words

Now and forever my love...

All I have I wanna give to thee.

They both smiled at each other, when the song ended. Giles took her in his arms and softly kissed her. She let out a shaky sigh against his cheek and closing her eyes whispered, "Wow...I...I *so* need a drink right now..."

He chuckled and kissed her forehead then he gently pulled her away from him and said, "Don't move..."

"I don't plan to...and besides I don't think my legs would carry me even if I tried." She mumbled.

Giles came back a few seconds later, holding in his hands two mugs of...hot chocolate. She began laughing, so hard that her sides hurt and tears began streaming down her face.

 Giles looked at her, puzzled, then politely asked,  "Buffy? Did I do something wrong?"

Buffy just shook her head, while she wiped away the tears from her face with the back of her hand. Giles was smiling.

 He loved when Buffy laughed, her laughter always seemed to fill his heart , his soul.

Buffy approached him and stood on her tiptoes before kissing him square on the lips. "Thank you!" she finally said.

"For what?" he asked, surprised.

"For being Giles...the most romantic man alive..." she said smiling.

"Actually I had thought about bringing some champagne, but then I realized you are still..."

"Under age to drink..." she finished for him.

She took a sip of the hot liquid from her mug and smiling said, "See? You always take care of me...besides, how did you know I'd have needed a drink?"

Giles lowered his head and looked at the cup he had in hands, then shrugged and raising his head, he just said, "Because I love you..."

She smiled, yet her eyes filled with tears, she rolled her eyes and said, "I don't know how you manage to do that...you make smile, yet you bring tears in my eyes at the same moment..."

"I'd say, I often wonder the same thing about you, love" he paused then he hesitantly added, "my love..."

Buffy closed her eyes, letting some tears roll down her cheeks. She sighed, knelt and placed her mug on the floor, then she got close to him.

 Giles placed his mug on a stone and took her in his arms, then he hugged her tight, when he released her, he looked at her and said, "A...actually...I...w...we came here, because there is s...something I need to tell y...you"

Buffy tilted her head and looked at him concerned but she couldn't help teasing, "Must be serious, I hadn't heard you stutter in a while..."

Giles pulled her slightly away, holding her arms, and said, "Actually it is, Buffy."

He took a deep breath, let go of her arms and knelt before her, he extracted from his jacket's pocket a small, velvet box, he swallowed and said, "Buffy...I have thought about what to say for the longest time...but even with the help of poems...I couldn't even getting close to find words which describe, how much I love, need and cherish you. I want to be with you...always. Will you marry me?"

Buffy swallowed hard, trying to get rid of the San Francisco sized lump in her throat.

She slowly knelt in front of him, she caressed his cheeks and cheekbones with trembling fingers before throwing herself in his arms.

"Is it a yes?" he asked, trying to balance himself.

She looked at him and almost shouted, "Yes!"

She kissed his face everywhere, then she suddenly stopped and giggled against his jaw.

Giles smiled and caressed her hair asking, "What?"

She lightly pulled back and between giggles said, "You know? You could have said, 'You. Me. Marriage. Now ' and I'd accepted anyway"

He laughed at those words and commented, "It wouldn't have been very romantic."

"I know..." she said shrugging, but she was still giggling.

Giles shook his head and patiently looked at her while she tried to calm herself, after a while she said, "Don't look at me like that! It's not everyday I get engaged..."

"I should hope so" he dryly replied.

"I have every right to giggle..." she all but pouted.

Giles raised an eyebrow and said, "I guess you are right, love..."

"Say it again?" she asked smiling.

"I guess you are right? Do you want me to put it in writing for you?" he teased.

"Later, but I want to hear again the other part..."

"Love?" he asked smiling.

She nodded, and he repeated, "Love...you're my love...I love you Buffy Summers..."

"I'd never tire to hear that from your lips..." she softly said, looking at him, grazing his hair with her fingers.

"Good, because I'm not going to get tired to say that anytime soon."

"I think we have a deal, then." She purred

"Yes, it looks like...you and me struck together...for the duration." He whispered against her mouth, before kissing her.

When they parted, Buffy rested her head against his shoulder for an instant, then she raised it and asked, "May I see the ring now?"

"I knew you were with me, just for my money..." he

teased.

She laughed a little then teased back, "Actually, I'm in it for the sex..."

"Ah, ah...I'm barely containing my mirth." He replied. He then opened the small box, revealing a solitaire diamond on a platinum setting.

"Oh, my God..." she managed to say.

She didn't even realize that Giles had slid it on her ring finger of her left hand. It fit perfectly. She lightly raised her hand to admire it. The diamond sparkled in the moonlight.

She looked at him and grinned before saying, "Forget the sex, Rupert...I'm with ya for the big bucks!"

Giles' face grew suddenly very serious, Buffy looked at him puzzled. She lightly hit his forearm and said, "Giles? I was kidding..."

Giles shook his head and flashed her a grin before saying,

"Do you realize you've just called me Rupert?"

"So? It's your name, isn't it?" she asked, not understanding where he was heading.

"Yes love, I know...but you..."

She suddenly opened her mouth to talk, but she closed it and shrugged, "I guess there's a first time for everything"

"Undoubtedly " he said, he was still grinning, though.

<You wanna grin, G-Man? Let's see if I can help >

She silently thought. She gave him her best smile and grazing his chest with her fingers said, "Speaking of first times for everything. Do you think now that we're engaged we could finally, uhm... make love? Shag like bunnies?"

Giles' grin widened when he said, "I certainly hope so, love."

"THANK GOD!" she said out loud before pinning his fiancé to the floor of their former library and kissing him almost senseless.

-4-

~ Usual place, Spike. It's very important! ~

That's all Willow had said. He hadn't been able to make her talk all evening.

It was the night before Buffy and Giles' wedding. They had spent it at the Bronze.

Willow had looked upset, very upset. She'd lighten up, only when Xander had proposed to Anya in front of all of them.

Spike was a bit confused. The confusion had started when a quite embarrassed Giles, had unexpectedly asked him to be his best man, together with Xander.

The Slayer and the Watcher had meant to thank him for his help in the casting of the spell, that way. Of course they had decided not to marry in a church, and to marry after dusk, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to even attend the wedding.

He'd been touched by Giles' request, yet he had accepted only because Willow had gently asked him to.

 He'd long ago realized he couldn't deny anything to her, and that had been just another proof of it.

Yet, that night, Willow had avoided him, so he had patiently waited until the Watcher had fallen asleep before leaving the house and had headed toward the small hotel outside Sunnydale where Willow and him usually met.

It was the hotel, the room where everything had started. The room where they had made love the first time, the night after the casting of the spell.

Spike entered the room, it was dipped in obscurity, except for the lights which came from the street.

He motioned to turn on the lights, but Willow's cracked voice stopped him saying, "Don't..."

"It's alright, luv. What happened?" he asked sitting on the bed.

Willow was facing a wall turning her back on him, avoiding to look at him.

Spike frowned, trying to sound casual when he said, "You should be with the Slayer, you're one the bride maids, after all."

"She was asleep when I left, anyway Anya will cover for me, in case she wakes up." She stopped talking, then added. "I didn't think she knew about us."

She was still facing the wall, still turning her back on him.

"Don't worry, she won't talk." Spike said.

He was worried. When they were alone they usually only communicated through their link. When they were alone they usually couldn't keep eyes and hands off each other.

Something was wrong. He knew it, even before she weakly said, "It doesn't matter anymore"

Spike closed his eyes, clenching his hands into fists. That was it, it was the end.

Willow had probably finally realized how wrong their relationship was and she was going to end it.

He couldn't blame her, yet he was trying very hard not to shout at her.

"What does it mean?" he asked, surprised by how soft his voice had sounded.

She lightly turned toward him, still avoiding eye contact and handed him a paper.

"What is it?" He asked, taking it in his hands.

~ The Watcher's Council called me. They're offering me to become a Watcher. Giles and Wesley pulled a lot of strings for me...~

She silently said, using for the first time their link. His first reaction was of pure, absolute joy for her.

He knew that was her dream, she'd told she'd almost given up hope they were going to call her.

He smiled and brushed her hair with his fingers, then realization of that letter's meaning sank into him and he hissed as if he was in pain, jerking his hand away from her hair.

"What are you going to do?" he finally asked.

"I don't know, Spike. I honestly don't know what to do. I've until Sunday to decide, though."

"When should you leave?" Spike asked.

"Monday, in case I accept ." she whispered

The vampire sighed then said, "I think you should accept"

"What?" she asked, she sat up on the bed, still avoiding eye contact. "Do you know what does it mean? I'm going to leave Sunnydale, I'm going to go to London to train as Watcher..."

"I know what it means, Willow." He said, he too was finding difficult looking at her.

~ You should go, Willow. You deserve so much more than this ~

He silently added.

"I love *this* , Spike!" she said out loud.

"Yet you don't know what to do." he noted.

"I'm confused, I admit it, but I'm happy here and I don't want to give up on it...I don't want to leave you..."

~ And I don't want you to leave me...~

He silently said.

~ Ask me to stay then, I will...~

"I won't, Willow. I won't do this to you." he whispered

"Why?" she asked, crying.

"BECAUSE I LOVE YOU!" he shouted.

He jerked away when Willow touched his shoulders and got up.

He went to the window, and fixed his glare on the street, he heard Willow approaching him, but stopping just before touching him.  He closed his eyes.

They were both quiet for a while, then Willow said, her voice still cracked, "I don't get it...you love me, yet you want me to leave?"

Spike shook his head and turned toward the woman, meeting for the first time her eyes that night and noticing how red and puffy they were.

He caressed her hair and said, "I want you to *live *, Willow. Even if we ignore it, even if we refuse to think about it we both know I can't give this to you, I can't give anything to you" he paused then hissed, "I'm a vampire, dammit!"

Willow raised her eyebrows, and crossed her arms over her chest. Spike couldn't help smiling while looking at her, he shrugged and whispered, "Duh!"

"Understatement of the century" she replied smiling, yet her eyes were full of tears.

Spike grazed her shoulders and said, "Don't you understand? What can I give you? What can I offer to you? I can't even keep your feet warm at night! How can I ask you to give up the best thing which has ever happened to you?"

Spike couldn't believe his own ears. He was begging her to leave him, he was putting her before everyone else, including himself.

He shook his head, angry at himself and at his un life, which had really a bizarre sense of humor.

Willow's quiet voice, though, broke his thoughts when she whispered, " *You* are the best thing which has ever happened to me" she let out a shaky breath, before saying, "I love you, Spike."

Spike irrationally felt his throat clenching at her words. He traced her lips with his fingers before stepping away.

 He headed toward the door and without turning whispered, "Then leave, Willow. Accept their offer and be the best bloody Watcher the Council has ever had."

He'd already opened the door when Willow's voice whispered in his mind.

~ I will, but I don't have to tell them until Sunday. I don't have to leave until Monday. We still have three days...and I want them, we both do .~

Spike froze. He turned around and looked at her, she was leaning against a wall, he saw that she was wearing her night gown under her coat.

She was smiling at him, Spike smiled back at her.

Willow took some steps forward, Spike slowly did the same, closing the door behind him.

They stopped at the center of the half darkened room looking at each other, then Willow threw herself in Spike's arms, wrapping her arms around his shoulders, standing on her tiptoes to reach his face and kissed him before pulling away, surprised, when Spike took her in his strong arms.

He felt her warm body pressed against his and he couldn't help smiling while he slowly began kissing her face.

 He kissed her forehead, her eyelids, her jaw, cheeks, finally he kissed her lips, losing himself in her sweet, unique taste.

When he reluctantly parted from her, he said chuckling, "It's official, I'm Poof Boy jr.!"

Willow giggled against his forehead. Spike took some steps then he gently placed her on the bed.

He kissed both her hands and sitting beside her said, "You're right, we have three more days before you leave, let's not waste them, alright?"

~ Way to go, Fang Boy! ~

She silently teased him. Spike rolled his eyes and snorted, then said, "You've really hung around Xander too much, Red"

"Yeah, whatever..." she then surprised him shifting and sitting on his lap with her legs on either sides of his thighs and said, "May I know what you have in mind?"

She then lowered her head and began placing soft, hot kisses on his neck, she lightly nib his earlobe then looking at him asked, "So? What you have in mind?"

"Not much if you keep..." he felt her fingers grazing his nipples. He started looking at her and finished, "doing, whatever you're doing!"

She grinned at him and raised her hands then repeated, "So What you have in mind?"

Spike grinned back at her. He put his hands on her shoulders helping her out of her coat and said in a husky voice, "I'll tell you what...just after the wedding, I'm going to take you away, lock us in this very room and make love to you until the very minute you have to leave...so what do you say? And by the way, do you really care about this nightgown?"

"No, why?" she asked, purring.

His grin answered her question even before he silently told her

~ Because I'm going to rip this blasted thing off of you...~

She grinned back and raised an eyebrow, laughing and arching her head back when Spike ripped her nightgown in two pieces and helped her out of it.

She was naked, sitting on his lap, when Spike asked, "So Willow, what do you say?"

She licked her lips before saying, "I'd say we have another deal, Spike, but I want a preview of it, now!"

"I thought you'd never asked!" He said.

"Just shut up Spike, and make love to me..." She whispered before meeting his mouth in a deep, carnal kiss.

-5-

"You're beautiful, Buffy!" Joyce Summers exclaimed looking at her daughter.

They were in her house, in Joyce's bedroom and they were all almost ready to go downstairs, where the ceremony was going to be held. Joyce felt her heart skip a beat looking at her daughter, her long blonde hair was loose on her shoulders.

Her dress was very simple, long and white, it left her shoulders naked, but it had long silky sleeves. It perfectly fitted her, she wasn't wearing any jewelry except her engagement ring on her right hand and on her neck, a little heart shaped blue crystal Willow had given her, yet she was stunning.

Joyce sighed holding back tears. In the beginning she hadn't been exactly thrilled at Buffy's decision to marry Giles, she'd soon changed her mind, though, when she'd seen how happy she was with him.

She had never seen her that happy, not even before she'd been called as Slayer.

She had accepted the idea that her baby girl was in love with a man much older than her and that she was willing to spend the rest of her life with him.

Buffy looked at her mother sensing what she was thinking and smiled at her, lightly shrugging.

 Mother and daughter looked at each other for some seconds, Buffy's eyes were swelling with tears, it was Willow who broke the atmosphere shaking her head and saying smiling yet putting on her 'resolve' face, "Don't even thinking about crying Buffy Summers or I'll kick your Slayer arse!"

Buffy looked at her friend surprised and stuck out her tongue at her then said, "Kick my Slayer arse? Jeez , Willow! Spike much?"

Willow flushed then stuttered, "W...well...you...you are so beautiful, I...I don't want you to have your make up messed!"

Buffy smiled at her friend and said, "You know Will? I'm really going to miss you, when you go to England."

Willow just nodded. She'd told the others about the Council's offer that afternoon, they all had been happy for her and Spike had even managed to mock her, masking his real feelings.

 She got close to her friend and said, "I'll miss you, Buffy, but I think you'll be in good hands..."

Buffy beamed at her and said, "The best..."

They tightly hugged and were interrupted only by Anya who said, "Sorry to interrupt this moving moment...and by the way Will, I'll miss you too, but we're late..."

Buffy and Willow broke their hug and looked at each other for an instant before giggling, then Willow looking at Anya said, "We don't want to ruin the tradition, do we?"

"A bride has got to be late on the wedding...it's a duty" Buffy added.

Anya looked at the two girl puzzled, then she turned toward Buffy's mother who was giggling as well and shrugging muttered, "humans..."

Meanwhile, downstairs, everything was ready for the wedding. Giles, Xander and Spike were near the Justice of peace, talking.

There weren't many other people, and both Buffy and Giles thought it was perfect that way.

When the Justice of Peace excused himself for some instant, Xander looked at Giles and grinning asked, "So, G-Man, how does it feel like?"

Giles smiled and said, "It is breathtaking...and don't call me that" he quickly said, but he was practically beaming. None of them had ever seen him so happy.

The groom and his best men were all dressed in black, with white shirts, though Giles had a tie while Xander and Spike not.

"Well mate, you'd better get used to it...you’re going to get married soon, ain't you?" Spike asked Xander.

 The young man just grinned at him and said, "I want to make her happy..."

"With you?" Spike asked raising his eyebrows.

~ Spike? Behave! ~

Willow silently told him from Joyce's bedroom. Spike shrugged at the woman's silent words and looking at the young man in front of him said, "Well...yeah, I've seen stranger things happening..."

"Jeez Spike...you’re really going soft, ya know?" Xander said.

"You have no idea..." Spike muttered shaking his head and thinking of the red-head who was upstairs with the slayer.

He looked at Giles who was staring with an adoring gaze at a framed picture of Buffy which hung on a wall and he suddenly realized he was really happy for the two of them, he shook his head again and repeated, "You have no idea..."

Giles was still staring at that framed picture. The picture had been taken a little after Buffy had arrived to Sunnydale.

 He still couldn't believe that he was about to marry Buffy. He shook his head and turned toward Xander to ask him something, but just then, the music started to fill the hair and the brides maids slowly began walking toward them.

His breath caught in his throat when he saw Buffy. Joyce was giving her away since Hank Summers was in Europe for a business trip.

Buffy looked radiant in her simple white dress, she slowly approached him, never taking her eyes away from him.

When she stopped in front of him, Giles lightly lowered his head and kissed first her forehead, then her hand.

Buffy smiled at him and whispered in a shaky voice, "Let's the fun begin" Giles just nodded, taking her right hand in his.

The Justice of Peace looked at the couple, smiling. He'd gotten to knew Buffy and Giles, in the week before the marriage.

Despite the age difference they were really a good matched couple and it was crystal clear they were deeply in love with each other. He smiled and said, "Ladies and Gentlemen we're here tonight to celebrate the love Buffy and Rupert feel for each other, their bond. Marriage is much more than a contract, it's a promise, a vow to be together as one, for better and for worse"

The justice of peace then looked at Buffy and Giles who had wanted the wedding service to be very simple, but they'd asked to write their own vows, so the Justice of Peace looked at the two of them and said, " Buffy, Rupert? You can make your vows... "

Buffy and Giles turned toward each other, Giles held both Buffy's hands in his and took a deep breath before saying, "Buffy, my love.

Before these witnesses...before our friends...our family, I vow to stay by your side, always.

 I vow to share my life with you, to ease your burdens and to make you happy, as happy as you've made me, loving me.

Before our friends, before our family, before these witnesses I vow to cherish and protect our marriage, and I vow to you, not even death will ever part us."

He kissed her hands and looked at her in her eyes, they were full of tears.

She let out a shaky breath and said, "Giles" she ignored her friends' giggles and continued in a cracked voice, "Rupert...you know I've never been good at speeches, but there's something I need to tell you before these witnesses, before our friends, before our family"

She paused and then added, "If I'm here, now, I owe it to you.

 If I wake up everyday smiling I owe it to you.

I love you so much. I've always been scared by this word.

Perhaps because I didn't really understand its meaning. I believed love meant pain and darkness. I didn't know love could give such a complete happiness, I didn't imagine it could be as bright as sunlight.

You taught me that, you taught me not to fear life. You gave me strength and courage.

The love I feel for you goes beyond time because when I'm with you I don't fear anything, not even death.

You're everything to me. You're my best friend, my partner, my conscience, my touchstone.

What I can give you for the unconditional love you show me, is myself and I vow before our friends, before our family, before these witnesses that I'm going to spend the rest of my life making you happy, cherishing and protecting our marriage."

She smiled at him, squeezing his hands and added with a slight smile, "You are right, you know? Not even death could ever part us..."

They both turned toward Xander who silently gave them the rings.

He had planned to feign having lost them, but their friends' speeches had made him change his mind.

Giles slipped the gold band on Buffy's ring finger looking at her in her eyes, he didn't even notice his hand was lightly shaking, the breath caught in his throat when Buffy did the same.

They both turned toward the Justice of Peace who, smiling said, "With the power given me by the laws of the California's State, I now declare you husband and wife."

He looked at Giles and added, "You may now kiss the bride"

Giles heard Spike mutter, "As if he needed your bloody suggestion" before he lowered his head and kissed her, and a chorus of, "Way to go, G-Man!" when they eventually parted from each other.

Buffy wrapped an arm around his waist and turned to look at her friends saying grinning, "Don't ever call him that...it's my husband you’re talking about, ya know?"

-6-

How many sorrows

Do you try to hide

In a world of illusion

That's covering your mind?

~ Are they bloody kidding us? ~

Spike silently asked Willow when the song started

~ Eurythmics’ 'The Miracle of Love'? Who did choose the music, Poof Boy? ~

Spike shook his head. He looked at Willow who was lightly smiling and shaking her head.

~I don't know, but he or she is *so* gonna pay, you know? ~

I'll show you something good

Oh I'll show you something good.

When you open your mind

You'll discover the sign

Willow suddenly told him and closed her eyes, letting him lead them while they danced.

That there's something

You're longing to find...

The miracle of love

Will take away your pain

When the miracle of love

Comes your way again.

~ How long it will take them to go away, anyway? ~

Spike silently asked Willow, referring to Buffy and Giles.

They kept dancing, they'd d been dancing for hours.

 He closed his eyes barely restraining himself from crushing her to himself.

He knew they had the whole weekend to say good-bye to each other, yet he was using all his will's power not to kiss her in front of anyone.

She was absolutely stunning that night. Her long emerald green dress, fit her body like a second skin.

Buffy had been a beautiful bride, Anya had looked really lovely in the same dress, but Willow was astounding.

~I wish I knew, Spike ~

Willow replied.

Cruel is the night

That covers up your fears.

Tender is the one

That wipes away your tears.

There must be a bitter breeze

To make you sting so viciously -

They say the greatest coward

Can hurt the most ferociously.

He felt her shrug, Spike pulled her lightly closer to him while they were dancing, the song's words, hitting a little too close to home for both of them.

He didn't want her to leave. He wish he hadn't been honest to her and had asked her to stay with him. He wished he hadn't cared.

 He wished he didn't love her so much that the idea she was going to leave him, was squeezing his un life out of him.

He looked at her, to ask her not to go away, to ask her to stay with him, but when she smiled at him he knew he wasn't going to change his mind. He wasn't going to hold her back.

~ You know Willow? It's a real luck I don't breathe, 'cause you're quite breathtaking tonight ~

Willow raised her head and looked at him smiling, then whispered, "Thank you"

"You're most welcome, Red."

~ Why did you say that out loud? ~

He silently asked.

 He realized they had shifted toward a corner of the room and were dancing much closer than friends normally did.

He looked around and when sure no one had seen them he lightly pulled away from her, flashing her an apologetic look.

~I wanted to...by the way did I tell you how absolutely yummy you look tonight? ~

Spike held back a chuckle and shook his head saying out loud, "Thank you, I think."

~ Yummy? ~

Willow looked at him and whispered, "You're most welcome.."

~ Just, wait until we're alone to find out how yummy you're to me, Spike. ~

But I'll show you something good.

Oh I'll show you something good.

If you open your heart

You can make a new start

When your crumbling world falls

apart.

Spike looked at the woman in his arms and smiled at her, raising an eyebrow, yet his thoughts held an almost desperate tone when he silently told her,

~I want to hold you tight to me, Willow...I don't give a damn whether they see us or not, that's  torture! ~

Willow looked at him surprised, she smiled at him and shrugging said, "Then just do it..."

~ Hold me tight, Spike...~

The miracle of love

Will take away your pain

When the miracle of love

Comes your way again.

She swallowed while the song’s words brought tears to her eyes and almost added, "Don't ever let me go", but she didn't do it.

 Yet when she felt Spike's arms wrapping around her waist she knew he'd heard her.

-7-

When the night has come and

the land is dark, and the moon

is the only, light we'll see. No

I won't be afraid no I won't be

Afraid . Just as long, as you stand

...stand by me.

"It's true, Giles. Isn't it?"  Buffy asked against Giles' shoulder.

They were in the living room dancing. Most of the people who were at the wedding had left, except for the Scooby Gang and Buffy's mother..

"What, love?" Giles asked lowering his head and meeting her eyes.

"Are we really married? I'm not dreaming, aren't I?"

Giles smiled at his wife, and tenderly traced her lips with his before saying, "As far as I can see, this is reality. We have been married for...three hours?"

Buffy grinned at him and said, "I love being married, you know?"

"I'd say I rather love it, myself" he dryly replied.

Buffy rested her chin against his chest while dancing and looking at him asked, "You know, Giles? We're married now...we can do a lot of things without being labeled as sinners."

Giles frowned and stuttered, "Y...yes?"

"Look around...Xander and Anya are exploring each other's tonsils on the couch..."

"Buffy!" He exclaimed.

He couldn't hide a smile though when he saw Xander and Anya deep in what it looked like a mind blowing kiss.

"Mom is talking with the Justice of Peace" She continued, pointing with her eyes at her mother and the Justice of Peace who were talking.

"Spike and Willow are still dancing together, even if for the life of me I can't understand why" She said pointing at the red-head and the vampire, who were dancing in a corner of the room.

"I am glad you are such an observant woman, Buffy." he said teasing her.

"Ah, ah...you’re so funny, hubby..." she dryly replied.

"That's why you married me" he deadpanned.

"Yes, among the other things" she bit her bottom lip and pulling herself closer to him whispered, "Why are we still here, Giles? I'd say we should get the hell outta here... "

Giles looked around then looking at her said, "We can't just go away..."

"Betcha?" she asked pulling away from him and placing her hands on her hips. She grinned at him before clearing her throat and said aloud, "Guys?"

They all looked at her, Buffy shrugged and said,

"Hmm...Giles and I are leaving. As much as we love you...and please believe me, we *so* love you, we wouldn't have ever stuck our heads out of the sand and smelled the coffee, or rather the Earl Gray without your help...we really need to go..."

 She took a deep breath and looked at Giles, her friends, her mom and the Justice of Peace who were all trying their best not to laugh at her and shrugging said, "Aw screw it! I want to be alone with my husband, is that a crime?"

At those words, they all laughed, then Willow said, "Have a nice honeymoon, Buff!"

Buffy grinned then grabbed the bouquet from a table and said, "Ok, before I go, let's see who catch this!"

She turned, while Anya, Willow and Joyce gathered behind her, then she threw the bouquet, which with a little of Willow's help was caught by Anya, who smiled and turned toward a beaming Xander.

 Buffy turned toward them and said smiling, "Way to Go, Anya!"

She then looked at Willow, who was sweetly smiling at the former demon and her best friend. That girl never ceased to surprise her.

 She got close to Willow and hugged her tightly then whispered in her ear, "I know you're hiding something from me...and I don't care...just be happy...and be careful in England. "

Willow buried her face in Buffy's shoulder and tightly held her, though she didn't tell her anything.

When they parted they were both crying, Buffy wiped away some tears from Willow's cheeks and said, "Don't let those pillocks change ya..."

Willow grinned at her through the tears and said, "Don't worry, Buff...." She paused then added, "be happy..."

Buffy nodded, and turned, Giles was next to her she smiled at him and said, "I guess you have to tell her something, uh?"

Giles just nodded, Buffy raised on her tip toes, kissed his lips and left them alone. Giles looked at Willow and said, "Thank you, Willow, for everything."

"Hey, no biggie..." She protested, trying to stop new tears which were clouding her sight.

"Be careful in England, I am sure you are going to be a terrific watcher." He sincerely said.

"I learned from the best" she whispered, before pulling him in a bear hug.

When they parted Giles said smiling, "Let those old pillocks know how a real Watcher has to be..."

Willow nodded again, not trusting her voice.

 She hadn't expected saying good-bye to them to be easy, she hadn't imagine though, it would have been so painful.

She smiled, though, when she said, "Go and take your wife on your honeymoon, we don't want an upset slayer, do we?"

Giles chuckled at her words. Buffy joined them some seconds later and took Giles' hand in hers saying, "Time to go, hubby..."

"Your wish is my command, love" he whispered.

"Keep having this 'tude and we're really gonna have fun..." She grinned at him.

Giles shook his head and said grinning as well, "You're incorrigible!"

"That's why you love me so much"

"I guess so" He said, he led her to the door, once they were on the porch he asked raising his eyebrows, "Care to find out how much I love you?"

Buffy pulled him to her and kissed him before saying in a husky voice, "I'm looking forward to it, actually"

His grin was almost Ripperish when he whispered, "Good"

Buffy smiled at his husband, shivering in anticipation she traced his lips with her tongue and purred, "C'mon Ripper, let's go to our honeymoon"

-8-

Buffy was looking at her reflected image in the mirror of Giles' apartment.

They were going to leave for Rome the next day, but they had decided to spend their first night as husband and wife in their house.

She smiled at herself. She didn't remember ever being so nervous about something. They'd waited so long it almost seemed impossible the time had come.

<Aw, c'mon Buffy, get a grip! It's not you haven't seen him naked or something >

She told herself. She took a last look at her reflected image in the mirror.

She was wearing an ivory colored silk nightgown, it hinted more than it showed, her hair was still loose on her shoulders.

She took a deep breath and looked at her left hand. The gold band and engagement ring sparkled under the bathroom's lights.

 She raised an eyebrow and said aloud, "Oh, God...I'm a married woman!"

She put a hand on her mouth to cover a fit of giggles. She leaned against a wall and took a deep breath.

 She closed her eyes for an instant, when she reopened them whispered, "And now, Mrs. Giles, let's go and enjoy your honeymoon."

The bedroom was lit by candles. They were everywhere. Buffy smiled recalling what Giles had told her the night they had admitted their feelings to each other.

< I'm a romantic at heart...and I want a bed, candlelight, flowers... >

She looked around and was not surprised when she saw, daisies' bouquets placed in various spots in the room.

She took some steps forward, Giles was sitting on the edge of the bed, he was still wearing his suit, though he wasn't wearing his jacket and tie and he had rolled the shirt's sleeves up to his elbows.

"You are sexy!" She exclaimed surprised, sitting on the bed next to him.

"Uhm...thank you?" he said, frowning.

Buffy shrugged and said, "I knew you were sexy...I've been in denial for years, but I wasn't blind...it's just that...aw crap! You took my breath away when I saw you!

You're...wow!

And why I don't just shut up?" She shook her head and hid her face in her hands.

Giles put an arm around Buffy's shoulders and said, "It's okay, I'm a bit nervous too. We've been waiting for so long...while you were changing in the bathroom I tried to rationalize this feeling, recalling that I had already seen you naked before..."

"I did the same thing" She admitted, glad she wasn't the only one feeling that nervous.

"Really?" he asked surprised.

"Nope, I actually was thinking about getting out from the bathroom's window" She deadpanned.

"Ah, bloody, ah" He mumbled.

"Funny thing is, I was ready to get out when it suddenly dawned on me that I am a married woman".

Giles looked at her, the 'duh', though not spoken was clearly heard in the room.

"Yeah, right, keep watching me like that hubby, and you'll be sorry..." She said, feigning anger.

"How sorry? What would you do to me?" He whispered, getting his face close to hers.

 Buffy shrugged and said raising an eyebrow, "First thing first, I'd kiss you" She traced his lips with her tongue, then lightly forced his mouth open and kissed him, after a long while she parted from him, they were both panting and smiling she said, "Almost senseless"

Giles just nodded, trying to calm the pounding in his chest and the tension building in his groin.

She surprised him pinning him on the mattress and sitting above him, he raised his hands and touched her bare arms with his fingertips, smiling at the Goosebumps who was forming on her skin .

"What would you do, then?" He asked.

 He ached to touch her, but he didn't do that. It was Buffy who took his hands in hers and placed them over her breasts, teasing, "You can touch me now, Giles, we're married, you know?"

"Oh, Mrs. Giles, I can promise you I know that" He said smiling at her.

He gently touched her, brushing her nipples through the soft fabric of her night gown with his fingers, he didn't think he had ever heard such a beautiful sound as Buffy's low moans when he touched her.

"Is it silk?" he asked in a low voice.

Buffy opened her eyes and asked, "W...what?"

"The night gown...is it silk?"

"Y...yes it is" She whispered, not understanding why he was asking her that.

"Take it off, then...or I'll rip it myself" he gently ordered

Buffy smiled at his words, and murmured, "Help me"

 She raised her arms above her head and looking at him whispered, "Undress me"

Giles lowered his hands to her hips, then on her thighs, he grazed the fabric of her night gown then he slowly helped her out of it.

As he had already guessed Buffy was naked under the night gown.

He touched her bare skin with both his hands, trying to ignore his arousal, though it wasn't that difficult too mesmerized as he was by the softness of her skin and by her scent.

He let out a sigh and whispered, "Oh Lord, Buffy. You're so beautiful"

Buffy's response to his words was a long, carnal kiss.

When they parted from each other Buffy said, "You have too many clothes on"

Giles grinned at her then surprised her turning thus shifting positions so that he was on top of her, now.

He kissed her mouth, first, then her chin and neck and whispered, "I am sure, we can do something about it"

Buffy just grinned at him. She could feel his arousal through his trousers. Her hands went on his shirt and she grazed his chest and shoulders, before she slowly began unbuttoning it, while Giles was lightly nibbing her earlobe.

He raised his head and Buffy was surprised by the look in his eyes, its green was darker, yet there was a light in them which sent jolt of electricity throughout her body.

Giles grinned at her and said, "It's not silk...you can rip it off, I don't really care."

He then kissed her, while his hand began exploring her body in a sensual caress.

Buffy began undressing him more quickly, helped by Giles, who never stopped, though, touching her.

"I can't believe this is really happening" She breathed when eventually Giles was naked in her arms.

"I second that" He said in a husky voice, lowering his hand to caress her inner thighs. His fingers had just reached her center, when she stopped him taking his face in both her hands.

Giles looked at her worried, Buffy was smiling yet her voice was slightly cracked when she said, "Make. Love. To. Me."

"I want to make sure you are..."

Buffy let out a shaky sigh and whispered, "I'm ready Giles, any more ready and I'm going to howl to the moon. I want you inside of me. I need you inside of me...now!" She giggled at her own words and said raising her eyebrows, "Nympho much?"

Giles shook his head and kissed her lips before saying, "I know what you mean, and I know it's not just about sex."

Buffy slowly nodded at his words. As always Giles knew what she meant with her words, as usual he could see her innermost thoughts.

She was glad he understood that her need of a physical contact went beyond sex. She wanted him so bad that it almost hurt, though that was the sweetest pain she'd ever known, but what she really wanted was to feel him close, so close she could sense his soul and he could sense her.

"Make. Love. To. Me." She slowly repeated spreading her legs for him and wrapping them around his hips.

Giles just smiled at her before saying, "Your wish is my command, Mrs. Giles."

"Told ya we were going to have fun, if ya kept this 'tude!" She deadpanned.

They both chuckled for a second, then their eyes met, and

Buffy was surprised by what she read in Giles' eyes. He was silently asking her permission to go on, she just nodded before breathing against his lips, "Make. Love. To. Me"

When Giles entered her, Buffy felt her heart was going to explode.

He was filling her, not only her body with a pleasure she'd ever known, but her soul as well. She'd never felt that whole and when their glares fixed she knew he was feeling the same.

While their lovemaking grew in intensity, they both felt their souls connect in a way it had never happened before.

Wave after wave, the pleasure took them and they both felt their love, their bond strengthening and when they climaxed, together, they really felt as one person, born from the ashes of mistakes and regrets.

A unique, perfect person, born from the ashes of fear of rejection and a silence which had threatened to part them, for good.

They both knew, however, that their past didn't matter anymore. They were together, it was all which really mattered.

-9-

Spike was looking at Willow's luggages. They were in a corner of the room. He had avoided looking at them the whole week-end, yet they had been all he had been able to look at for the past hour.

It was their last hours together. Their week-end had gone by so quickly he almost couldn't believe it.

He felt Willow shivering in his arms, and without thinking he pulled her closer to him, forgetting for an instant how cold his skin was.

Willow didn't seem to mind, though. She snuggled against him, he could feel her smile against his chest, Spike kissed her hair, feeling the sudden urge to sigh.

They had talked a lot over the week-end, both aloud and through their link.

They had talked about lots of things but their relationship, Spike knew that it was the moment to talk about it.

~ I want you to see other people, Willow ~

"What?" She asked in a low voice turning so that they were facing each other.

~ When you're in London...you'll meet someone and I don't want you to feel committed to me... ~

"What the *fuck* are you talking about?" She asked sitting on the bed.

Spike was surprised. In the years he had known her he'd never heard her swearing.

~ Don't look at me, like that, Willow! You're young and beautiful. You're going to meet someone and I don't want you... ~

"SHUT UP" She shouted interrupting him.

~ I'm just trying not to be a selfish bastard for a change! ~

He silently snapped. Willow turned toward him and shook her head,  then closed her eyes

~ Well, you know what, Spike? I want you to be a selfish bastard! I want you to be the worst selfish bastard ever! I want you to tell me I don't even have to dare looking at another man as long as I live, because I'm yours ~

~ Why? ~ He silently asked.

~ Why? Bloody hell, Spike, dense much? Because it hurts like hell when you tell me to go on with my life...because I don't want to tell you to do the same, to go ahead with your un life, because I'd *so* gladly squeeze the life out of every female who'll try to touch you ~

"Because I love you, you bastard!" She whispered.

Spike closed his eyes and shook his head

~ You don't make things easier, you know? ~

~ Duh, Spike! I'm a human madly in love with a vampire! I'm glad you've eventually figured this one out! ~

Spike grinned at her words and said, "I love you too, Willow, you know that, don't you?"

Willow just nodded and kissed his cheekbones, then placed her lips against his cool forehead.

~ We can make this work, Spike. This is not the end for us ~

Spike slowly nodded, but he said aloud, "It would never work, Red and you know that. You're right, though. This is not the end. I'll always be there for you"

Willow lightly pulled away from him and looked at him in his eyes saying, "And I'll always be there for you"

She kissed his fore head and pulled him to her chest, whispering, "Can you hear it? It's my heart beating and it belongs to you. It always will"  She paused then slowly, but in a firm voice added, "I always will"

Spike wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his face in her chest, fighting the tears which were threatening to spill

~ My heart doesn't beat, Willow, but all I am is yours, it always will. I belong to you ~

He raised his head to meet her green eyes. He grinned at her and said, "I'm really going soft, I know that."

Willow grinned back at him and said, "Yeah, I noticed, but I kinda like it..."

"You did cast a spell on me, Willow...you made me fall so in love with you, that I can barely recognize myself"

"No spells...I can promise you. The mushiness was buried somewhere within you..."

Spike growled at her but there was amusement in his eyes. He kissed her lips and said, "I've got something for you..."

He got up from the bed and took something from his duster's pocket, when he returned to the bed and sat next to her, Willow realized it was a jewelry box.

He opened it revealing two plain silver bands.

~ I'm not the gold type guy, Willow ~

He silently told her, sliding one of the bands on Willow's right ring finger.

~ I haven't got time to get something written behind it, but I'd like you to wear it ~

Willow slowly shook her head

"What? You don't want to?" He asked aloud. Willow shrugged, and slid the ring on her left ring finger saying, "Wrong hand"

~ It's not an engagement ring, Willow. ~ He silently explained.

"I know, but we've just told each other we belong together...you don't have to wear it on your left hand, but I'm gonna do it, so get over it, Spike!" she said putting on her resolve face.

Spike grinned at her, he took his ring and slid it on his left finger ring, then he pulled her in a long kiss.

When he reluctantly broke the kiss, to let her breathe,

Willow tightly hugged him then whispered in his ear, "Drink from me"

Spike pulled her lightly away and asked, "What?"

"I want you to drink from me" she whispered.

Spike couldn't help blinking. In the eight months they had been together he had never drunk from her, he had never asked and she'd never offered to.

He knew she hadn't done it for lack of trust, they both knew he would have never hurt her, it had seemed, though, a too intimate act to both them.

He longed to taste her blood, he could often smell it, and he was delighted by it, he had often fought his demon not to bit her.

He looked at her and asked, "Are you sure, Willow?"

"Yes" she simply said, then whispered, "I want you to taste my blood, I know you long for it."

"Am I that obvious?" he asked raising his eyebrows

"Duh, Spike! You're a vampire...you've done it for a hundred  years, do the math!"

"I don't want to taste your blood because I'm a vampire" He protested.

Willow raised her eyebrows and crossed her arms over her chest.

~ Liar ~ she teased him.

Spike couldn't help smiling, "Alright, a big ugly part of me wants to taste your blood because I'm a vampire...albeit a part time one"  He shrugged then added, "but when we suck your blood, we feel your life, your feelings flowing into us, it's an intense experience...almost as intense as making love"

"I know" She just said, "That's why I asked you to drink from me. You can read my mind...you know my body...it's about time you got the whole package"

"I'd offer you the same, but as we both know, we can't do that" he said.

"I should say, so." She commented dryly.

Spike, caressed her cheeks and whispered, "It won't hurt."

~I won't hurt you ~ He silently added.

Willow tilted her head on a side, offering him her neck and whispered, "I know"

Spike got close to her and placed his mouth on her neck.

He licked it, smiling against it, when he heard Willow's moans. He kissed it, feeling the blood flowing under her warm skin.

He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer to him, when he felt the demon emerge. He scraped her neck's skin with his fangs and closed his eyes when he slowly bit her.

He blinked when he felt her sweet blood flowing in his throat. It was the sweetest blood he'd ever tasted. In those brief moments, he knew all about her.

Her shyness, her insecurities, but at the same time the passion and the fire which lied just beneath the surface, her terrific magic powers, and the overwhelming love she felt for him.

He felt blood tears swelling in his eyes and let them fall. No one had ever loved him so much.

 Willow didn't care he was evil and proud of that, she didn't care about his past. She loved him enough to let him be what he really was. She trusted him enough to know he would ever hurt her.

~ Oh, God Spike...don't stop, please ~ She silently moaned gripping his shoulders with her nails.

~ I've to, luv ~ He silently said, pulling her away from him.

Willow looked at him, he was still in his game face, but she wasn't scared. She got close to him and kissed his lips, tasting her own blood.

He held her tight and whispered, "How do you feel?"

Willow raised her head, he had morphed back on his human face, "I feel weird...my head is spinning and there's a strange buzz in my ears"

"Blood loss" he whispered. Willow noticed his cheeks were damp, red rivulets marked them.

 She raised her hands and wiped the blood tears away from his cheeks saying, "Will you hold me for a while?"

Spike nodded looking at the alarm on the night stand. The sun was about to rise. He tilted his head down and looking at her said, "Lie down and rest for a while."

Willow who had lowered her head just nodded against his chest. They lay in silence for a while. Spike was beginning to feel sleepy, when he heard Willow getting up from the bed.

He didn't open his eyes for a long time. He heard her enter the bathroom, the noise of water running, her quiet sobs, which matched his silent tears.

He heard her getting out from the bathroom and let himself got lost in her unique scent for the last time.

He heard her taking her bags from the floor and opening the door, then closing it behind her.

That was it.

Suddenly it was all silent. There weren't noises, just a huge emptiness which threatened to swallow him whole.

He let out a sob and covered his mouth with a hand. He couldn't hear her for a long time, then when a pain filled sleep was almost enveloping him, he heard her again, so clear that he opened his eyes, sure she was in the room with him, hoping she'd changed her mind.

~ I love you, William... ~

She kept saying. Spike couldn't help smiling between the tears and whispered, "I love you too Willow."