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Author's Chapter Notes:
All credit for the Spike/Buffy dialogue goes to Joss.
Chapter 7 – Hell’s Bells


Walking into the reception hall, Anne smiled at the beautiful flowers that decorated the area before turning to her date.

“Wanting to run away?” she asked, raising an eyebrow at Spike.

“Thought about it,” he muttered before snapping out of it to realize what she said. “I mean- no! Big Bad here, remember?” he asked in irritation, causing Anne to giggle.

Seeing Buffy in the distance, Anne felt a mild pang of remorse when she saw the look on the other woman’s face before reminding herself that there weren’t any romantic intentions with this Spike.

“I guess we can just hang out here until the wedding starts.”

Spike looked down at the questioning tone of Anne’s voice, surprised that the strong young woman seemed unsure about what to do. “Something wrong?” he asked, watching her shake her head.

“Nope. Tip-toppity Buffy, that’s me. Or… Anne,” she corrected, sounding as if she was reminding herself.

Spike chuckled. “No worries, pet. You know how many times I kept referring to myself as William when I changed my name?”

“Fourteen,” Anne murmured, looking around the area before turning her gaze to Spike, seeing his stunned expression. “My Spike and I… We’ve talked a lot,” she said with a sheepish smile, causing Spike to laugh.

“I guess so.”

* * * * *

Standing in the same place, talking and laughing twenty minutes later, Anne saw Buffy look wistfully in their direction.

“Tell you what,” she said, turning her gaze back to Spike. “I’m going to get some fresh air before the rain really starts coming down. Why don’t you stay here, and I’ll be right back.”

“You’ll be okay?” he asked, holding up his hands in a form of surrender when she narrowed her eyes on him. “Just a question, love. Don’t get your knickers in a twist.”

Anne giggled, shaking her head in amusement as she walked outside, hopefully giving the two of them a few moments to right some wrongs.

Spike watched her go, waiting until the door closed before turning back to survey the rest of the room. Seeing Buffy take a few steps toward him, he tensed slightly. Slowly pushing away from the wall he was leaning against, he moved to stand in front of her as she steeled herself and walked toward him.

“Hello, Buffy,” Spike said quietly, still smarting from her remark from the other night.

“Hey,” she said, trying to smile at him.

“It's a happy occasion,” he said, attempting to make conversation as he shoved his hands deeper into his pockets, looking around the area.

“Yeah,” she said, biting her lip for a moment. “You’re here with Anne?”

“Seemed only fitting,” he said, shrugging slightly. “She’s a friend.”

“So… this isn’t a nice attempt at making me jealous?” she asked, keeping her tone light.

“Would it work?” he asked with a small smile.

“A little,” she said quietly. “It doesn't change anything… but if you're wildly curious, yeah, it hurts.”

‘Good,’ Spike thought, looking away.

“You want us to go?” he asked after a moment.

“No. No, I… you have every right to be here. I pretty much deserve-”

“That's not true, you…”

Trailing off with a sigh, Spike looked up at the ceiling. “God, this is hard.”

“Yeah.”

“I’ll go.”

“No, you really don’t-”

“It’s for the best. Give 'em my best or whatever. The happy couple.”

“I will.”

“It's nice to watch you be happy,” he murmured. “For them, even. I don't see it a lot. You, uh… you glow.”

Buffy smiled, looking down before meeting his gaze again. “That's because the dress is radioactive.”

Snorting in amusement, Spike felt a sliver of happiness that she was smiling with him.

“I should…”

“Yeah,” Spike agreed, watching her walk away before turning and walking out the door, never seeing Buffy turn around and look longingly at him as he left the building.

“Are you alright?” Anne asked, pushing away from the wall when she saw Spike appear.

“Fine,” he said, giving her a slight nod. “Think it’s for the best that I cut out early, is all.”

“Spike-”

“I’m okay, pet,” he said, looking up at the sky. “Best get inside. Looks like it’s about to pour.”

“Okay,” she murmured, looking at him with a questioning gaze. “You’re sure you’re okay?”

“I will be,” he said, ignoring the lump in his throat as he leaned forward and kissed her cheek. “Enjoy the party.”

“I will,” she said softly before smiling. “But don’t think you’re getting out of this date that easily, buster.”

“What?” he asked, his brows knitting together as he looked at her.

“You owe me a date,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest. “Tomorrow night at the Bronze. I will accept nothing less.”

Spike chuckled, nearly shaking his head at the woman in front of him. “Does this mean I won’t see you tonight?”

“No, you’ll see me,” Anne said, giving her friend a warm smile. “Unless I find a hot groomsman to go home with.” Hearing the warning growl from the man in front of him, her eyes widened. “Kidding… yeesh, what got into you?”

“You might not be my mate, but I’m basically him,” he said, raising an eyebrow at her. “And I’m looking out for what’s his.”

Anne smirked in amusement. “If you honestly think I could do that to my Spike… or you… not really sure how this works,” she said, taking a deep breath to settle her overactive brain. “Then you don’t know me.”

Spike smiled, shoving his hands in his pockets. “I know you, Goldilocks. Just a different version, is all.”

Seeing the first drops of heavy rain begin to fall, Anne looked up at the sky as Spike began walking backwards. “Best make a run for it. Get inside, pet, don’t want you getting sick.”

“Okay,” she said with a nod. “Be careful.”

Waiting until Spike was out of sight before turning to walk back into the reception area, Anne frowned when she saw the exit door open a few seconds before Xander slipped out.

Seeing that he was about to walk into the rain, she quickly approached him.

“I hope this is just a need for fresh air,” she said, seeing him jump a mile before turning around to face her.

“Buffy?” he asked, seeing her hair pulled back in a chignon, confused at the black dress she was wearing.

“Not your Buffy,” she clarified, seeing the understanding and then nervousness cross his features. “Where are you going, Xander?”

“I just… I just needed some time to myself, that’s all.”

“That’s great,” she said in a falsely chipper voice. “And there are plenty of empty rooms in there for you take some ‘time for yourself’ in.”

“I’d rather be outside,” he muttered, his eyes widening when Anne’s eyes narrowed.

“You’re running out on her, aren’t you?” she asked, crossing her arms over her chest. “After everything you two have been through, you’re just gonna wimp out.”

“What do you know about it?” he asked angrily. “You haven’t been here. You don’t know anything about my relationship.”

“I know you’re more scared than the man who’s my friend,” she countered.

“What?”

“The guy who has been my best friend for six years would never run away.”

“How do you know?” he muttered, looking at the ground.

“Because he and Anya have been married for over a year,” she said, raising an eyebrow when he looked at her in surprise. “Yeah. And he had cold feet the day of his wedding, but he never tried to sneak away.”

“And his life is going to be hell!”

“What are you talking about?” Anne asked, looking at him in confusion.

“I saw something,” he said, looking around for a moment. “You’re gonna think I’m crazy.”

“I already know you’re crazy,” she teased, trying to lighten the mood. “What did you see?”

“Myself,” he said, looking at her, hoping she would understand. “I saw myself- he was older, did a time travel thing, and presto.”

“Let me get this straight,” she said, blinking a few times before continuing. “You saw yourself- another version of yourself- and you think that I, of all people, would think you’re crazy when a woman who is quite literally me is inside that building right now?”

“Good point,” he muttered.

“Why is he here?”

“To show me what my life is going to turn into,” Xander said, feeling the panic well up inside of him again.

“And it’s bad?” Anne asked, reaching out to gently touch the sleeve of his jacket, hoping to keep him grounded in reality.

“It’s bad,” he said, taking a few calming breaths.

“Then change it,” she murmured, the power behind her words causing Xander to snap back and look at her.

“What?” he asked, his brow furrowed as he stared at the woman who so closely resembled his best friend.

“Change it,” she said, shrugging her shoulders. “Make things better.”

“I can’t,” he said, shaking his head.

“What is it? An apocalypse?”

“No.”

“Then change it,” she insisted. “Xander, I know how much you love that woman. I know you would give her anything in the world, just to make her happy. Don’t let some little vision scare you away from your own happiness.”

“What if it’s right?” he asked, his voice rising slightly.

“What if it’s not?” she said, looking up at him with an understanding gaze. “What if you run away and you can never get back to what you want? It was a vision, Xander, not a prophecy. And look at me,” she added with a smile, holding her arms out to her sides. “Even prophecies haven’t stopped me.”

Anne watched him slowly nod, obviously thinking about what she’d said.

“It’s your life, Xander,” she said in a gentle tone. “It’s up to you what you do with it.”

Looking up at her in surprise, Xander felt himself relax, realizing that what she was saying was true.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” he said, taking a deep breath. “I think so.”

“Okay, then,” Anne said with a bright smile, looping her arm through his. “Let’s get you married.”




Thanks so much to: BuffyandSpikeForever, Katie, Cordykitten, Spikes Sweety & everyone who reviewed when this chapter was originally posted!





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