A/N: This chapter is lovingly dedicated to all the loyal BSV readers--go team! I love your reviews! Thank you!

Chapter 14—Turned to Stone

Anya looked around Buffy's living room at the caring, kind faces, and she wanted to cry all over again.

Buffy had bundled her back here without a word, packing her a bag as she sat on her twin bed and cried her eyes out. She knew that the Slayer didn’t understand her sob-filled babble, but didn’t bother to try again—she knew she would have to tell them all. Warn them about Xander—especially Spike.

So she ended up here, wrapped in a blanket with a mug of hot chocolate in her hand. Buffy sat next to her holding her free hand. Tara was curled up in a chair across from her, sympathy written all over her face. Dawn was at the dining room table doing homework, but kept tossing her looks, as did Spike where he sat helping Dawn. Giles paced back and forth, occasionally glancing her way, but mostly keeping his eyes on the ground.

“Okay, Ahn. We need to know—what happened? Xander just told me that he needed to get his priorities straight. What was he talking about?” Buffy hated pressing her, but they needed some straight answers.

Anya sighed, but she knew they needed to know. “Xander is very anti-demon.”

“And that fits in how?”

“Anti-demon anything. Especially Spike.”

Buffy looked confused. “And that means what?”

Spike stood, and came to the door, leaning against it to watch Anya's face closely. She sighed again. “Xander is…obsessed with you and Spike. He thinks that you should stake him. He hates him passionately, and I’m afraid he’ll try to do something.”

“Like what, demon girl? Try to dust me?”

She looked at Spike and nodded. “That, or get others who don’t like you involved in all this.”

Spike looked at Buffy. “The great Ponce.”

Anya shook her head. “No, Xander hates Angel more than he does you. No, almost as much. I’m talking about the Watcher’s Council.”

Giles' head snapped around, and he whipped of his glasses, his hand automatically reaching into his pocket for his handkerchief. “Are you certain?”

“I don’t know for sure, but I’m fairly certain that without Willow distracting him right now, he would have already done something.”

Giles looked from Buffy to Spike and back again. “Buffy, we simply cannot let the Council become involved in your—ahem—personal affairs. I have, er, acquired a modicum of respect for Spike during your absence, however, I think the Council would view things differently. I was hard-pressed to keep them from eliminating him as a threat during the Glory incident.”

“The Council of Wankers wanted to off me? I must be more famous than I thought.” Spike leaned back against the door with a pleased smile, stroking his hand proudly down his abs.

Buffy glared at him, huffing. “Spike, that is exactly the type of fame you don’t need. We have enough problems without the Council threatening to dust you. That’s my job!”

Instead of coming off as a threat, it came off teasing, and Spike grinned at the Slayer. “Yeah, so? What else is new?”

No one could miss the by-play between the two, but no one would ask. No one but Anya.

“So, what is going on with the two of you? You look like two people who should be enjoying multiple orgasms frequently together.”

Buffy turned back to her, grin suddenly absent. “I’m sorry, Ahn.” She looked back at Spike, and said, “there’s something that we need to tell you.”

Spike took two steps, and was by her side. She reached for him, and he grabbed her hand, sensing her sudden case of nerves.

“Spike and I are getting married.”

Silence greeted her words. Giles quietly removed his glasses, polishing them thoughtfully. Tara looked into the bottom of her teacup. The only one who would meet their eyes was Anya.

“Well, it’s about time. Anyone could see that you two were perfectly mated from the beginning.” Anya sipped at her hot chocolate oblivious to the stares that turned her way.

“What do you mean, perfectly mated?” Giles' voice was quiet, but they all turned their head to look at him, then back at Anya.

“Perfect mates. Complements. Like yin and yang.” She waved her arm nonchalantly. She gave a huff when they continued to look at her blankly and she began to explain when Dawn's voice cut her off.

“The Slayer and her Vampire create balance. Their acceptance of their roles is the largest hurdle to overcome. There will be no resistance from any quarter. Balance is maintained.”

Dawn stood in the doorway, her eyes glazed again and her hair blown back by a mystical wind. Giles stepped as close as he dared, then said, “Balance is maintained. So this is predestined?”

“There is no predestination. There is balance. For every good there is an equal evil. Balance exists in the universe. In all universes. On all dimensions. On all planes. Balance must be maintained, or entropy and chaos will result.”

“Er, yes. And Buffy and Spike maintain the balance?”

The question went unanswered as Dawn fell to the floor again.


A/N 2: Stay tuned--we're getting to the Spuffy!