Who: Buffy and Spike When: July 8th (Backdated) Where: Spike's apartment What: Dinner and a proposal Rating: None Status: Closed/Completed
Bare pale feet paced back and forth across the tiled kitchen floor as William the Bloody frowned and shook his head. Three times now he had tried to duplicate the recipe; getting closer to perfection with every valiant effort, but still falling short of the mark he had set for himself. The bleach blonde vampire may have had a soul yet he still had his fair share of vices as well. Of late it was binge watching cooking shows that counted as his newest vice, and even now as his steely gaze lingered on the television screen Spike paused to eye both the food on the tele, and the food sitting on the counter.
“Swear that bloody Rachael Ray is a witch or something! No matter how many times I try getting this blasted fennel stuffed chicken dish right...it’s always just a little bit different from what hers looks like.” Today was a rare day off for William; no work, no plans with his friends, just a chance to relax at his flat with the woman he loved. Granted he had spent the last hour and half doing his best to prepare a meal for Buffy, churning out dishes and recipes that had caught his eye, but the main course was still giving the vamp trouble. Oh it smelled good; mouth watering even, yet while it looked and smelled good Spike could see the visible differences between the show and real life...and for the unlife of him William couldn’t figure out just what he was doing wrong.
“Oi! You don’t think she really is a witch do you? What with the mojo and all that?” More often than not Spike wouldn’t have cared, however tonight was supposed to be perfect. The right food, drinks, both had nowhere else to be, everything was falling into place perfectly for proposing to her...but the damn main course just wasn’t being agreeable. Which drove the vamp right up the wall.
--
“Maybe. But something makes me think she’s not,” Buffy replied, watching, mildly amused, as Spike paced back in forth in the kitchen, frustrated by his “failure” in the kitchen. In Buffy’s mind, his attempts at cooking, well successes of cooking, were spectacular. Unlike her, he was fabulous in the kitchen and capable of pretty much duplicating everything he saw on television cooking wise. However, for some reason, he was unable to completely duplicate this Rachel Ray thing. While Buffy was sure it tasted great, Spike was upset that it didn’t “look” exactly like what was on television. That entire scenario was amusing in itself even if it was frustrating to Spike.
Plus, the apron, without a dash of leather on it? That was amusing in and of itself without the cooking fiasco going on. And after everything that had been happening lately? Buffy and Spike could both use a little fun and relaxation. Things were changing in Madison Valley and it was impossible not to notice it was going on. Part of Buffy believed, just from feelings, that they might be going home and Buffy didn’t want to go home. She had built a relationship with Spike here, something real, from the ground up and they had stuck it out even when he had the same memories of their time back home. To lose that, not to mention the friends she had here, Dawn’s chance of normalcy, and her chance too. It wasn’t fair, but since when the Dome care about what any of them wanted?
Standing, the blond headed into the kitchen and wrapped both arms around Spike from behind, moving to rest her head upon his shoulder. “I’m sure it tastes great,” she reassured him. “And the apron? I mean such a fashion statement,” she added, teasing him gently. This. This might not ever be at home for them. Moments like this. Buffy felt a pang of sadness in her heart and she pulled away, wrapping her arms around herself.
***
Time and a bit of patience were all that a person needed to really hone just about any craft. Oh a touch of natural talent didn’t hurt either; or in William’s case, some enhanced senses to aid in his efforts to cook. Time he had though. Not just in the sense of being immortal, but also in the fact that he spent so much of it within that apartment when the sun was shining brightly outside. He slept a lot of the day away, but beyond that the vampire also enjoyed a few other hobbies to keep himself busy. Watching the tele, learning to cook for her, reading and working on his poetry as well. Not that the man really shared the latter with anyone at all. In truth it had been ages since he worked on his poems. Ages since he had the luxury of time, and the addition of a soul that allowed him a perspective on emotions once more. Still for the present the bleach blonde vamp’s focus and energy were being poured into the food. Hoping to create something worthy of...of her.
That smile of hers wasn’t lost on the man at all. He knew she found it amusing, seeing him worry over recreating something that he’d seen on a show. Still even as Buffy wrapped her arms around him, and spoke up at last, he glanced behind to flash her a soft smile. “I’m sure it tastes good, pet, and I’m glad you are a fan of the apron...not a lot of men can pull off looking this good while playing the domestic role. Still I wanted it all to be perfect…” Something was coming, or changing at the very least, and Spike could sense it. He had no clue what lay ahead, nor any real notion of the type of change that’d be thrown their way. Yet whatever it was left the vampire feeling conflicted. Change itself was a force to be reckoned with, and one that Spike tended to gleefully embrace as well. Over the last century or so he had witnessed so many wonderful and terrible things, and within the town he had experienced a lot as well. For him change was to be embraced and welcomed...however things between the vampire and the vampire slayer had been amazing too.
Some part of William longed to remain right there in the moment; to bask in warmth of her body, and cherish her company as well. The dance between them hadn’t been an easy one by any means. Past filled with violence and pain, a present filled with joy and genuine love. It was hard not to desire to linger right there...to fight against the change and unknown future. However instead of resisting what could be, well Spike decided to just roll with the punches again. With a little sigh his shoulders finally slumped; giving up the struggle to perfect the main course, and turning around to wrap his arms around her when Buffy pulled away a little. When those piercing blues of his held her gaze at last a hint of worry was seen in his eyes. Not concern over the future in general, but apprehension and slightly frayed nerves over the question he had been wanting to ask for a while now.
“Something’s coming, luv. Don’t know what...or what it means. Still I can feel it in my bones. But instead of worrying over it...well I wanted to do something good, and figured making you dinner was as good a place as any to start.”
--
Something was coming. You didn’t have to have an ounce of magic in your being to know that things in Madison Valley were changing. Prior to all of that, Buffy had experienced vague dreams, similar to those she had witnessed in the past, concerning Madison Valley. At first, she’d thought nothing of any of it. She realized now, especially considering her past experience with that sort of thing, that she should have very well paid more mind to what the dreams depicted even if they were nothing more than dark, strange image sequences. It was only after they started coming every night that she knew something was coming. Something that would alter the beautiful, peace and harmony of Madison Valley. Not that she could have done anything anyway because everyone in Madison Valley knew that the town operated on its own whims and schemes. No being, no matter how powerful, could stand against whatever made this town and in most cases, the town’s actions were harmless, but not this time. This time, Buffy wanted to do something, anything, to stop the sequence of events unfolding around her.
The slayer was never one to come quietly, to give in to fate and this was no exception at all. Every fiber of her being was screaming to fight back, do something to put the brakes on the scenarios unfolding around them in any way she could, but this was not something Buffy could fight, physically or mentally. It was the essence of this very town; there were no demons, no “Big Bads” so to speak to throw punches at or stake. The clock in the sky was a mere representation of what was slowly coming down around them though she wouldn’t have minded taking a few shots at the stupid thing if possible. No, for once the slayer was as helpless as everyone else. For all the power she possessed, the experience and knowledge from past battles, it did not good here. Buffy could not stop what was happening, she could not protect people like Anya from their horrible fates or children from possibly never existing because their parents were sent home. All she could do was wait and patience was not Buffy’s forte in the least; she was about action, about striking first and holding nothing back in the heat of whatever battle she was lost in. Unfortunately, this battle was not one like she had ever faced before and once more, since this started, she wished Giles were here to offer advice.
Spike was right; they could not stand around all day worrying about something they could not stop. Frayed nerves and anxiety for the obvious change coming would not do any of them any good. They had to keep moving forward even if that forward left a lot of questions and fears. In a way, it was normal life; no one knew what the future would bring, but in another way, it wasn’t at all the same. Normal life was what it was described as: normal. Madison was anything, but normal and whatever it brought would certainly follow in much the same vein which did lend itself to more fear than anything normal life could possibly spring within someone. Buffy knew she should not be as worried about it as she was considering her past, their past, but she was because she had so very much to lose. Not that she never had this back in their world, losing people came with the territory of being a slayer, but it was harder now because she was not just going to lose people or things, she was going to lose the memories made here and that? That was the worst. She would go back to a time when she believed Spike was dead for good, her future and her friends, her sister’s, were up in the air at best, and everything they had built here was not even an inkling of a dream. Worse, the time she spent with Spike, these moments, would never have been and yes, all of this was so precious to Buffy and she couldn’t do anything to keep all of it from slipping away from them. It was...torture.
“I know,” Buffy replied softly, reaching out to lay a hand upon his pale cheek. “And you’re right. Having dinner together, doing things like this, we have to keep living. We can’t just stop everything and give in to fear.” Oh, but that apprehension in his blue eyes had not escaped Buffy’s attention in the least. No, Spike felt it too and he knew it. Their brave sentiments aside, they both felt something was about to change and with it, taking everything from them in the process. Loss was a common theme in both their existences, but she knew, like herself, Spike hated the idea of losing what they had here together. And she’d grown to love him even more and the thought of losing him and what they had made? It was horrible, a nightmare, and at the thought, Buffy leaned up on tiptoes to suddenly kiss him him with a fury passion for as long as her lungs would hold without air.
****
Loss was an old friend and companion to Spike. The man, the ageless monster, had lived long enough to see so much of the world fall away. Sometimes it had been at his own hand, and other times that loss was a result of fate playing with those under its unshakable control. The first loss he suffered had been his own pride when Cecily not only spurned his advances, but made it clear that he was truly beneath her. That emotional scar and ugly wound was one that the man had never truly recovered from. Over the last century and a half Spike had worked so hard to be more than he once was. Yet in the alley beyond the Bronze Buffy had laid him low when she uttered the very same words. Still despite the pain William had always been resilient, and those crippling words gave him the chance to seek her out again...oh he had been so intent on killing the Slayer, yet in the end all the bleach blonde vamp could do was sit beside her on that back porch; trying to offer some measure of comfort to his greatest enemy. Loss was life, that pain a reminder that he was still living. Well unliving by all accounts, but unlike so many of his kind the vamp continued to strive to savor all that life had to offer. Even if his own was not a mortal life anymore.
Their relationship hadn’t been one of fairy tales and soap opera like sweeping romances. If anything what he and Buffy shared had been harsh and brutal. Still despite the heated exchanges, despite the misery they had once caused one another...something genuine and precious had been forged. Like a diamond created from intense pressure upon a lump of coal, their relationship shined brightly, and wasn’t some pale shallow thing. For all the ups and downs they still had one another, and even after he died down in that Hellmouth the fates themselves had apparently stepped in to offer a few more moments of joy. Fleeting as those moments might be. With that infernal clock counting down he figured the end was coming. Still despite the pain, the sorrow he felt over losing her again, Spike still felt pure joy at having had the chance to be with her once again. Oh this town had a twisted sense of humor, first bringing him here from her past. But still despite all the odds they found one another again. And even without a soul real love had formed.
A part of him honestly envied his younger self a little. Envied how that relationship had started and blossomed. His younger self hadn’t struggled like he had, and seeing how Buffy loved him...loved a soulless version of himself only further cemented the fact that the Slayer loved him completely. Monster and man. All of it broke his heart; the thought that sooner than later they would be parted forever...yet despite the pain in his chest Spike still felt the glee of being with her. Still felt an overwhelming love that burned brighter than the flames of his soul. When she spoke up he nodded and smiled, though the look in her eyes spoke volumes as well. That searing kiss was met with a passionate one all his own, and when they parted lips at last William paused to playfully nip at Buffy’s lower lip for a second...before so softly whispering to her at last. “Sod it. Marry me, pet. Know it’s bloody selfish, wanting to...asking you to be mine, while that clock is looming above. Still this is our time, and whatever comes, whatever happens...I want the world to know that you were mine, and that I was yours completely. Even if it was just for a single bright moment in time.”
--
Buffy was grateful beyond belief for the opportunity to have these moments with Spike. They were moments that would probably not have happened at home because of the circumstances of their lives. Madison Valley had afforded them a chance at normalcy; they would never have had a chance to sit down to a cooked meal by Spike in Sunnydale or wherever they ended up. Here, they had that chance, Spike could indulge her in his amazing cooking skills, and they could simply have the chance to indulge in each other. To work and build a relationship together instead of constantly worrying over saving the world. It was a miracle in a way and Buffy didn’t experience many of those in her life. Sure, Madison Valley also had its crazy moments too and some down right dangerous ones, but for the most part, it was good living here. Having her friends, her sister, and Spike was just a layer of icing on the cake. Despite it all ending, she was grateful for the time they had together even if she wouldn’t remember it come the day the clock struck zero.
Her passionate kiss was returned in an identical, fury gesture and for a moment, Buffy was swept up in the heat of that moment. The world faded away around her and it was just them, together, frozen in time until eventually lips parted and he playfully nipped at her bottom lip before whispering to her gently. Though the words that he imparted upon her were some that she definitely had not been expecting even with the situation unfolding around them. Marry me. Honestly, Buffy was stunned, completely and utterly lost in a sense of shock. Oh the irony of it was not completely lost on her either seeing as they had been in a similar sort of situation when a certain redhead’s spell had sent Spike and Buffy making wedding plans. This, obviously, was not the case this time. There was no spell forcing this upon them and even the clock in the sky, bringing about an “end of the world” scenario was not the source either. Well, maybe somewhat, but part of her felt that maybe they would have gotten to this moment eventually even with Buffy’s mortality and Spike’s immortality being buffers to this said situation.
But an answer. Something. Her green eyes slowly returned to their normal size, but the reflection of tears could be seen shimmering within them. Marriage had never been in Buffy’s cards because of duty to the entire world. You could not be responsible for protecting the world and have a solid relationship as well. It was an impossibility, but with the world ending, it was something that could be done, couldn’t it? And in truth, they were about to lose everything. Why not do it? Why not get married and spend what little time they had left as husband and wife? Buffy swallowed the lump in her throat, a trembling hand reached up to touch his pale face and she managed a nod before whispering. “Yes. Spike I will marry you.”
***
The road to this moment had not been an easy one. So much pain and heartache. So many trials and more than a few tears stained the path that the two of them had walked. His own struggles led William down into the darkness, yet her faith that he could be more than a monster...that he could be a man, a good one at that, helped the vampire find his way. Before Madison Valley, before being offered this second chance, Spike had honestly went to his death earnestly believing Buffy didn’t love him. Oh they shared an unbreakable bond without a doubt; one forged through hardships and little moments of peace. Still while he knew she cared for him a part of Spike honestly thought she was forever out of his reach. ’No you don’t, but thanks for saying it.’
When he arrived in town though everything was different. The lack of a soul, the lack of any memories concerning their rocky relationship...all that the vampire knew was that they were sworn enemies. Slayer and Vampire. However that love of hers burned brighter than the sun itself, and even though he had no reason to trust her the bleach blonde vamp found himself trusting Buffy completely. Their time together within the town had offered him a chance to start anew. To know that love she offered so freely, and to savor moment of joy and wonder. All the hardships from before had been replaced with tenderer times; and when Spike memories and soul were both restored...he still found himself in possession of all the moments his younger self had shared with her.
Here and now, all trace of doubt had long since vanished. William knew those words uttered to him deep within the collapsing Hellmouth had been genuine. He knew that for the first time in his long unlife someone truly loved him back. That alone was amazing, but to hear her reply...to see the look in Buffy’s eyes when she said yes...if Spike’s heart still beat within his chest he knew it would’ve burst with joy. With a trembling hand, and tear of happiness in his eyes, the vamp fished out the silver skull ring from his pocket and slipped it onto her finger. The very same ring that she had once worn, back when Willow’s magic had worked her will on them. For the briefest of moments he just gazed back at her, grinning from ear to ear and trying desperately to find words again. When that failed though Spike just drew her close; pale arms pulling her against his chest, as those lips of his claimed her mouth once again. When at last the kiss broke his soft chuckle was heard and with a teasing wink the bleach blonde vamp spoke up once more.
“William Summers...has a nice ring to it. Unless you prefer Buffy Pratt, or maybe Buffy the Bloody?”
--
When Buffy had first come to Madison Valley, a moment such as this one was the last thing she’d expected to find in her future. She figured on watch Dawn enjoy a normal existence, free of the demons and darkness that had been part of her life because of being Buffy’s sisters. Seeing her friends reclaim something the resembled a simpler life, one filled with owning a shop or even watching the own their lives again instead of always being tugged and pulled along by the whims of unknown fate. If that had ended up being all the Madison Valley offered her, Buffy would not have minded in the least bit. They all mattered so much to the slayer even if she had the tendency to pull away from them all at points in their past. Watching them fulfill a new potential? Something beyond what lay in the darkness? It would have been a gift and a joy...even if Madison Valley left her feeling somewhat incomplete despite it all.
Spike’s arrival had changed that all for the blond slayer who’d assumed, following Connor’s departure, that she would most likely remain alone. Back in her world, being alone was par for the course as a slayer when it came to a love life, but in Madison Valley? No, she had time to spend with someone and she found herself wanting that even if part of her believed she was undeserving of it and the potential someone who could possibly see a future with her. When Spike appeared in Madison Valley, before she realized his timeline, she believed for a split second that here was that person, the man that could see a future with her. Obviously, because of his spot in the timeline, this sense of thinking had evaporated a tiny bit in the wake of trying to come to grips with that and keeping him alive. Getting him to trust her was her goal and he had, somehow, and he’d actually come to love her...without a soul or a chip to keep him from ripping into her neck and draining her dry. After that? Well, Buffy started seeing that future again even if her friends were skeptical of Spike and her sister frightened for her. Buffy trusted and love was, in all aspects, blind.
But this moment? No that was unexpected, but it was so wonderful. Absolutely, completely wonderful and Buffy watched as Spike, with a trembling hand, removed that same skull silver ring he’d placed on her finger during Will’s spell from his pocket. There was that brief smile, maybe a bit of a giggle at the sight, before he slid the ring upon her finger gently. There was an obvious tear in those blue eyes as he pulled her close against him, holding her tight before capturing her lips in a powerful, passionate kiss which Buffy returned with every bit as much love. Marriage? No, Buffy had never thought she could be married because of duty, but that didn’t matter now. If they were going home, she wanted to at least have the moment to be his wife.
Just when Buffy believed her lungs would burst, Spike pulled back and she couldn’t help, but smile brighter at the sound of his chuckle. William Summers. Buffy liked it...especially compared to the alternative. Pratt just made her sound like all snobby sort and that wasn’t Buffy in the least. No, Summers fit them both perfectly. “I think Summers is perfect for the both of us because Buffy the Bloody just sounds like a lot of bad jokes waiting to happen,” she replied, laughing.
***
Between her laughter, and that bright smile, Spike briefly wondered if this wasn’t a dream. Oh he had dreamed of her; of moments like this, filled with real happiness and love. He had dreamed of them being married and enjoying living a life of bliss. A life of both normalcy and adventure as well, the two side by side fighting the good fight when the need arose...and then returning home together hand in hand. The poofter had been right about Buffy deserving a normal life, but he had been wrong as well. After all she was the Slayer, and that calling wasn’t just something that could be put away in a box in a closet. In truth it was a balancing act; being their by her side through the mundane and the supernatural alike. Yet that was the very sort of life that William was fine with living. Not just fine, but earnestly thrilled to take on. After all he had always been a strange one when it came to his own existence. Straddling both worlds with glee; a creature of the night that fought other demons, but a lover of watching the tele and simply hanging out with a cold pint and some hot wings as well.
The last few months had offered the chance for them both to have some fun together. Both when it came to killing some baddies and just sparring together too, but also in the quieter moments...filled with picnics beneath the moonlight and even something as simple as going grocery shopping together. The vampire and the Slayer just fit together so well; and the prospect of being wed only sweetened the relationship that they had been building together. When she mentioned Buffy the Bloody the bleach blonde vamp chuckled anew, eyes lighting up with amusement as the man just teasing stuck out his tongue. “Oh I don’t know, pet...always thought you’d look real good in my coat, with nothing else on beneath it.”
That smile of his faded for a second as a strange scent caught his attention, and a look of both annoyance and surprise quickly flashed across Spike’s face when realization finally dawned on him. “Bloody hell!” Without explanation William suddenly pulled away, that vampiric speed kicking in as he raced back to the oven in an effort to save the chicken dish that was being burned. “Stupid sodding fennel chicken….can’t let a bloke just bask and savor a bloody moment with his girl…” The muttered curses beneath his breath continued for a few seconds longer as he slipped on a pair of oven mitts and fished out the main course from within the oven. Oh it wasn’t blackened or burnt beyond salvaging at all, yet Spike’s enhanced sense of smell could still pick up the scent of the fennel having been a bit over cooked. Of course he had been distracted by her at the time; and even now as he sighed, set the dishes on the stove top, and looked back her way...well that giddy childlike smile was already back in full force. “So...cheese and wine, luv? Still got some of that cheese that you fancied, brought back a fair share of it from that Waterdeep place.”
--
There was no use in a lie; Buffy had dreamt of marrying Angel oh so long ago in her high school days. How many times has she’s scribbled the said scenario away in her diary before tucking it safely somewhere far from prying eyes? Too many times to count, but in the end, it had remained just that: a dream, a scenario of pure fantasy that in truth could and would never play out for them. Angel loved Buffy too much to keep her in the darkness and he believed that is exactly what he did. Marrying her would keep her from the normal aspects of her life that she so desperately deserved to indulge in as much as the other half of her world allowed and Angel being with her, in his mind, kept Buffy from being able to. For Buffy, it wasn’t the case in the slightest, but being who she was, in the end, she could understand why things had to be exactly as Angel described for the two of them and their future. This level of mature acceptance certainly did not remove the hurt from the entire exchange, but it did make quite a decent bandage till the wound itself healed.
Still, Buffy never fully believed in that version of events; time would reveal that there was no way of escaping her duties and normal life required a certain amount of supernatural deviance to keep it in check. Being who she was, there would always be a balancing act between the savored normal moments and the fight to save the world. Angel had always believed it could only be one or the other, but Spike, Spike remained a “horse of a different” color entirely. He somehow saw that they could have both by simply embracing who and what they were. Being in Madison Valley with him, she’d come to see the beauty of both the worlds she occupied simply because of his acceptance of the ability for them to have both. While she’d never pictured marriage to Spike, outside of Will’s doozy of a spell, she’d found herself thinking of it now and then he had asked her. No, their moments here and yes, the struggles of home had proven that the two could work out together and forever, forever as long as Buffy lived or either of them really, was more than a possibility. It would be a reality.
And then the smell of the burning chicken hit her nose promptly after Spike, obviously upset, had hurried to the oven to retrieve it. Oh, Buffy felt badly for distracting from making the meal he’d been working so hard on for them to enjoy, but being as for the reason? She felt it kind of might have been worth it and that burning chicken saved her from his poking fun at the way he’d gotten her blushing all over again with the mention of a said scenario that she’d indulged in, of course for him alone, more than once or twice. “Maybe the chicken was cursed,” Buffy offered, unable to keep from poking a little bit of fun at the scene, but Spike was already looking over at her again, obviously giddy and smiling like mad. It occurred to her that she’d never seen him so happy before and the fact that she could make him so happy? Well, it made her smile all the more. “Cheese and wine is perfect for this oh so lucky bride to be,” she replied, walking over to him and wrapping her arms around his neck to tug him close for a brief kiss. “I love you, Spike,” she said softly.