a/n: Betas: Slaymesoftly and Mabel Marsters. Thank you ladies.

Soul Survivors
Chapter Nine: Affianced



The past week had gone by so fast. Little by little, they had moved their stuff from the crypt and into the basement. Even so, they weren’t quite settled in yet. The widescreen TV needed to be moved in and their new door sat against the wall. Spike hoped to have it hung with a lock firmly in place once Xander arrived with the hardware.

Buffy had left the decorating up to him. Ever the resourceful creature that he was, he’d found some great things in places that Buffy probably wouldn’t have approved of; or maybe she wouldn‘t care. It was hard to tell these days. He smiled, thinking about her. So far, she’d been happy with his choices.

She’d squealed with delight when she saw the new, brown leather couch, but agreed with him that they would have to do something about the textile factory smell. His gaze fell onto the glowing apple pie scented candle sitting on one of the new gray stone shelves that he’d installed. Buffy insisted that the scented candles helped, but to his way of thinking, they just added more scents to an already crowded room. The new paint smell from the light blue walls, the new couch, and his cigarettes were quite enough.

He’d sent the rugs off to be cleaned before they brought them down here, but they still had the smell of home. Rubbing a bare foot over the one under his feet now, he sighed in contentment.

He glanced at the clock on the wall. If only Buffy would hurry up with whatever she was doing upstairs, they’d have a few minutes alone before everyone got home from school and work. It was almost three now.

They’d both gotten up early today, unable to sleep for the nerves. Spike would never admit to it, but the thought of a social worker coming here and taking Dawn away gave him fits. There was no way he was going to let them take Dawn from all that was familiar. She’d had so many upsets in her life already.

“Lost in thought?” Buffy asked as she stood in front of him holding a huge cardboard box.

“Just thinking about tonight, is all.”

She gently placed the box on the couch and sat next to Spike. “I was up in Faith’s room looking for more of my stuff when I found this tucked back on my closet shelf.” She flipped it open and said, “You just have to see this.”

She pulled out a spiral notebook, a black velvet drawstring pouch and a small box before pushing the larger box further down the couch. Buffy handed the notebook to him and Spike searched her face as she kept it devoid of emotion. He knew he’d never get tired of looking at her creamy white complexion, her green eyes or her long golden hair. He tore his gaze from her, looking down at the folder in his lap. It seemed familiar and one glance at the first page as he opened it told him why.

His eyes lit up as he turned the pages of the wedding planner. “You kept this?”

She smiled at him and fiddled with the box in her hand. “I have no idea why I did. At first, I threw it away, along with this, but the next morning I fished them both out of the trash and put them in the box.”

Buffy took the top off the little box and moved tissue paper out of the way, before holding out the wedding cake topper.

He chuckled and took it from her, holding it up and turning it slowly. “You still haven’t smeared his mouth with red paint.”

“I’ll have to smear both of their lips now.”

Her smile was genuine, and he was so glad that she was at a point now where she could joke about what happened to her. He wasn’t there yet, himself.

“Just leave it off. Pigs blood doesn’t hold the same appeal as the blood of the innocent.”

“You would say that,” she teased as she carefully placed the topper back in the box.

“Was evil for over a century. Having a soul for a few months isn’t going to make me forget.”

“Well, I’ll never forget that night when you went down on your knees and proposed to me, before giving me this.”

She dumped the silver skull ring into his open hand.

He groaned. “I know it was just a spell, but I wasn’t really smooth, was I?”

“We were having this heated argument. Remember?” She smiled at him when he nodded and grinned back.

She said, “I was having a great time and I remember thinking that you were the best person to go back and forth with, because your mind was so sharp and quick. Next thing I know, you’re on your knees smiling at me. I think that is the first time I’d ever seen you smile like that and I instantly thought that I was in love with you.”

He put his empty hand in hers and squeezed. “I remember thinking that you deserved a better ring than that and then you said ‘yes’ and kissed me. I was thinking how hot you were and was amazed at how much in love I was.”

She leaned in closer to him. “The strange thing is, Willow told me later that she never said anything about us falling in love with each other. Just that I should marry you.”

“I’m thinking that we’re just meant to be, pet.”

They kissed and when they pulled apart, Buffy told him, “I can’t argue with that.”

He tilted his head at her, caressing her cheek. “I still don’t understand why you would keep this stuff. We hated each other after the spell was broken.”

Buffy shrugged. “You were the first person to ever propose to me. A girl always remembers that kind of thing. If fact, you are the only one to ever propose to me.”

“I’m surprised Solider Boy never proposed; he was completely besotted with you.”

“I think he knew that I wouldn’t say yes.”

Spike squinted while staring at the gaudy ring in his hand. It wasn’t the type of ring Buffy deserved. He made a promise to himself right there that he would shower her with jewels over time. Lots of diamonds and emeralds and whatever else she might fancy, but right now, all he had was the skull ring.

He glanced up at her trying to decide if he should ask her. She looked longingly at the ring and his decision was made. “Will you wear this again?”

Her eyes met his in surprise.

“Just until I can get you something better.”

She held her hand out to him and whispered, “Put it on.” Once he slipped it on, she held her hand up to stare at the ring. “Do you think we will ever get tired of each other?”

“Not bloody likely,” Spike said dryly. “If things get a little predictable, we can always have a right good fight and then make up.”

Buffy launched herself into his lap and kissed him. Smacking noises filled the room followed by moans. She leaned back and glanced over her shoulder at the open door way, before grinning at him. “We have a few minutes, don’t we?”

“Should we make the most of it?” His eyebrow went up with his smirk.

“Oh, yes!”

He rose up gripping her tightly, taking a few purposeful strides in the direction of the large four-poster bed and tossed her on it. Her laughter tickled his ears as he quickly shed his clothes. The mattress had come from the crypt, but he’d salvaged the frame from the old mansion on Crawford Street. He wrapped an arm around a post at the foot of the bed and watched her undress, appreciating the beauty before him.

~*~*~*~*~



Spike locked the new door and jiggled the handle to test its strength. Xander had done a good job. He had nodded, but said nothing when Spike and Buffy thanked him, an hour ago, for all the work he’d done on their new living space. He’d made his excuses before leaving in a hurry.

Hearing Faith shout goodbye, Spike stopped at the top of the basement steps until the back door slammed shut. He adjusted the waistband of his tan slacks. The fewer people who saw him like this the better.

When he came around the corner, he stood still, waiting for the reactions. Dawn was applying make-up to her sister’s eyes while Buffy sat on the edge of the couch, and they didn’t notice him.

“Dear Lord!” Giles exclaimed as he reached for his keys on the desk. “Whatever happened to you?”

Dawn’s bark of laughter followed as Spike backed up, wanting nothing more than to race down the basement steps and change back. The ungrateful chit. He was doing this for her. His glare only intensified her laughter as she ran out of the room.

“Spike?” Buffy asked in amused wonder. “What did you do?”

At least she had enough care for him to suppress the grin threatening to take over her face. He looked down at his brown loafers, grimacing.

“This is my attempt at putting on a good impression for the social worker.” He paused to watch Buffy and Giles starring back at him with open mouths. “Do you think this will do the trick?”

Giles made a poor attempt at brevity and said, “Well…yes, I think that will do.”

The man grinned and Spike had the overwhelming urge to punch him.

Giles shook his keys. “I’m off to the shop now to meet with Anya. Call me when the social worker is gone, so I know when I can come home.”

“Okay.” Buffy told him, not taking her eyes off Spike.

When the door shut behind Giles, Spike moved closer to Buffy.

“I haven’t overdone it, have I? I don’t want her to think you’re dating a right geek.”

She giggled while covering her mouth. “No. You did good.” She adjusted the collar of the blue dress shirt peeking out of the top of the white sweater and lightly kissed him.

“I just didn’t think she’d approve of your bad ass, dangerous looking boyfriend.” He shrugged.

“I like my dangerous looking, hot boyfriend, and you really didn’t have to do this.”

“Smile!” Dawn shouted as she came around the corner. The flash blinded them both for a second. “Hah! Oh, my God. This is so freakin’ funny!” The girl pulled the Polaroid paper out and fanned it.

“Give that to me,” Spike warned in a deep voice. “I don’t want to have to hurt you.”

Dawn just giggled and jumped around. “Nope. This is mine.” She stopped to stare at the imagine forming on the paper. “This is a good one.”

“Let me see.” Buffy got up next to her sister. “Yeah, it came out nice, except for me. I look dead.”

Dawn looked at her with big, sad eyes. “Don’t say that, Buffy.”

She put her arm around her, hugging her close. “I’m sorry, Dawnie. It’s true though. But I’m still here, so don’t be sad.”

Dawn went back to staring at the photo, then glanced at Spike, who stood a few feet away, frowning. “You want to see it?” She put it behind her back before he could take it. “Promise me you won’t destroy it?”

“Let me see it.”

Spike groaned when he got a good look at his likeness. What a Nancy boy he was. If he had a pair of glasses, he’d look like a Junior Watcher in training.

“Look up,” Dawn said, bringing him back from his self-loathing. Another flash filled the room and the big black camera whirled and clicked again. “You can have that one. I’ll take the new one.”

He thrust the offending object at Dawn and scowled. “I don’t want it. Burn it for all I care.”

“I’ll take it.” Buffy snatched the photo from him and put it in her jeans pocket.

“Wait until Xander and Faith see this.” Dawn said as she watched the new photo develop.

“Don’t you dare.”

Dawn backed up, swinging the camera and picture behind her back. Spike advanced on her, so she turned and ran up the stairs.

Buffy grabbed his arm, holding him back. “Let her go.” She gazed up at him and ran a hand through the soft curls. “Is this what your hair does when there’s no gel or hair spray on it?

“Yes. This is my natural look. Or as natural it can look with the bleach.”

“I kind of like it.”

“I refuse to go around with soft, baby curls, even for you.”

Dawn raced down the stairs, breathing hard and waving her hands about. “She’s here. She’s here. I was looking out my window and saw a car pull up. Act naturally.”

The three of them adjusted their clothes and stood by the couch. The drapes in the living room were pulled wide open on the large window, but they couldn’t see her from where they were.

They all jumped when the loud pounding at the door started up. Dawn frowned. “Rude much?”

Buffy gave her a warning glare before looking to Spike for strength. The insistent pounding on the door continued.

“Answer the door, love.” Spike put his arm around Dawn in an effort to calm her down and followed Buffy with his eyes until she went out of sight to the door. From the strength of that knock, the picture forming in his mind of what Miss Barns might look like frightened even him.

“What are you doing here?” They heard Buffy say with some hostility.

“No time to explain. I didn‘t expect to see you here. I came to give this to Giles, but I‘m glad you’re here,” the familiar voice of his grandsire said, before Angel pushed his way past Buffy and came into the living room. “You need to see this right away.”

The door slammed shut and Spike felt his demon on the edge of his sanity, pushing to be let to the surface.

Angel opened a manila folder and started to explain as Buffy came from behind him.

“You can’t be here. We’re expecting some very important company in a few minutes.” Buffy said in desperation.

“You heard the lady. Now, get out!” Spike yelled.

Angel glanced up from the folder, finally taking notice of the two other people in the room. His focus landed on Spike, eyes getting wide at the sight of the blond man in his outfit.

“William?” Angel asked incredulously and dropped the file; the contents floating softly to his feet.

a/n: Here is one of the polaroid pictures that Dawn took. Click on the picture to see a larger version of it. CordyKitten asked if she could see the picture : )