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Author's Chapter Notes:
Hey guys, I hope everyone had a great holiday!

Now this is the second to last chapter of this fic, the next one shall be the epilogue. I really hope you like where I've taken everything and I appreciate all the support from you readers ! *hugs!*

Please enjoy :)
Oh thank GOD! Buffy gratefully thought when the doorbell finally rang.

“I’ll get it!” She yelled as she quickly vacated her seat at the full dining room table, where her mom, Dawn, and Joyce’s boyfriend- UGH! mental gag -Drake, were all finishing up supper.

Friday, the day which Buffy had been planning, since Monday, to be heading back to the circle with Spike was the day her mom decided would be just a perfect time for that sit down meet-the-boyfriend dinner she’d promised.

The whole day had been the slowest one of Buffy’s life.

She was so ready to get out of here.

“Hi, Spike!” She smiled brightly at him even as she leaned forward to whisper, “Where the hell have you been?!”

Spike frowned, and then shrugged apologetically. He’d known today was supposed to be that dinner with Joyce and her fellow, and he’d also known just how much Buffy was nervous about it.

He’d promised to pick her up right after he got off work, then they’d head out together.

“Sorry,” he stage whispered as he leaned forward to leave a kiss on his girl’s cheek. “Had to clean up ‘fore I got you.”

“You couldn’t have showered AFTER?!” She scowled at him, but when she leaned back into the sight of those in the dining room, Buffy’s smile was back and beaming. “Let me just grab my purse and we can go,” She exclaimed in a chipper voice, unknowingly putting more force behind the word ‘go’.

Spike nodded, wondering how bad the meet-and-greet must have been going for her to be in such a rush. He stepped inside and was about to close the door when she turned abruptly and glared at him. Spike warily and slowly reopened the door, allowing the hot summer air into the room.

Buffy strode away and Spike realized his girl wasn’t just in a rush, she was desperate to leave.

“William!” Joyce said kindly as Spike turned her way. “Hi there, how are you?”

He smiled politely. “I’m fine, Mrs. Summers. How are you?”

Her face frowned just a little, probably at hearing the renewed use of ‘Mrs. Summers’ from Spike’s mouth. She smiled again though, a split-second later. “I’m good.” She stood from her place, and the man Spike recognized from that awkward day not too long ago stood too. “I’d like you to meet-”

“Okay, let’s go!” Buffy breezed by, oblivious to her mother’s voice as she grabbed Spike’s hand on the way out. “See you later Dawn, and mom, I’ll be back by two! It was nice to meet you Drake!”

The Brit didn’t even get a chance to call out a goodbye as his girlfriend tugged him through the entryway, though he did manage to close the front door. He didn’t think Buffy would’ve had the presence of mind to do it herself.

She pulled and pulled and pulled him towards the Mustang that was outside the front of his house, practically running in her little blue tennis shoes down the sidewalk.

When she reached the car she pulled on the handle to the passenger door and growled when it was locked. She faced Spike with a whirl of vibrant blonde hair and before she could utter a word- or a scream, whichever- he clamped a hand over her mouth.

“Love, take a breath and let me unlock the car. Don’t think your mum and her beau are chasin after you.”

She blinked and then nodded, but the tension in her body refused to leave.

Spike took out his keys and quickly unlocked her door, when he opened it Buffy wasted no time in scurrying inside.

Spike shook his head and went around to the other side of the car. He sat in the driver’s seat and shut the door. The man’s eyes bulged when he encountered his shirtless girlfriend beside him.

She started ranting immediately. “I cannot believe you left me in there with them! You said you’d be there at eight,” Buffy yelled while tugging on a fitted black tank top.

Spike started the engine and responded calmly. “It’s only eight fifteen, Buffy.”

“It’s eight thirty! An extra half hour that I had to spend watching my mom make googley eyes at her boyfriend- Bleh!” She shuddered and went to unzip her shorts. “That was horrible. Do you know how many times they kissed in front of me? I was ready to throw myself out the window.”

Spike tried hard not to focus on her wriggling out of her shorts. “So it didn’t go well then?”

“Oh no, it went fine.” Buffy opened her purse and retrieved a pair of tight dress shorts. “He arrived ten minutes early, he introduced himself politely and smiled at my mom. He hugged her. Then he met me and Dawn…” Buffy’s shorts were tugged viciously up her legs and the zipper yanked up, her lips pursed in anger the whole time. “And he patted me on. the. head.”

Spike turned incredulously to her and raised an eyebrow, “He PATTED you on the head?”

She nodded once. “Yep. Like a dog.”

Spike could only imagine the kind of control his girl must’ve used to refrain from hitting the man. “Well, isn’ that… sweet. What’d your mum say?”

“Nothing,” Buffy stated, her jaw tight. “Nothing at all. She just smiled and acted completely normal.”

Spike bit his lip to stop from laughing at Buffy’s indignation and upset. “So when’s the wedding?”

She turned on him, “Don’t joke about that!” She ripped her purse open again to grab a pair of ankle boot heels.

Spike chuckled, but quickly stopped when she sent him a warning look. “So I take it you don’ like him.”

“Gee,” She zipped up her shoes. “What gave you that impression?”

Spike shook his head and tried not to let himself laugh again. “How’s Dawn like him? Detests him just ‘bout as much as you do, I’d wager.”

“Nope.” Buffy declared, putting a popping sound behind the ‘p’ in that word. “She likes him. She actually LIKES him, Spike! He bought a couple of gifts to try and schmooze us and for Dawn, it worked!”

Spike frowned. “He got you both presents?”

“Yeah, and the second she laid eyes on that little charm bracelet, Drake was in her good graces. It was ridiculous! The whole evening was ridiculous! Him talking the whole time about his job and how he loves to travel, and oh wouldn’t it be just lovely if he could bring us all to Italy over the holidays.”

“Wait, what? You’re going to Italy?”

“God I hope not. I doubt mom will go for it, she’s particular about her Christmas traditions and stuff. But if she actually wants to consider it, there is no way I’m going. I couldn’t stand watching the two of them kiss and talk over dinner, you think I could spend my entire Christmas break in a foreign country living in a single hotel room with the love birds?”

Spike let out a little sigh of relief. He didn’t want her gone for the holidays. “You wouldn’t want to travel?”

She shook her head. “No. I never liked that sorta thing. I’ve been to California a couple of times to see the Grand Canyon, and some family road trips to closer states when I was really little, but traveling has never been my thing. I don’t enjoy sleeping in hotels and it would be ten times worse if I was sharing the place with my mom and her boyfriend- Did I mention the ew factor there?” Buffy ran a hand through her hair and sighed quickly. “I like Moon Stream. Hell I’m not sure if I ever wanna leave this place. It’s my home.”

Spike looked at her for a moment before directing his eyes back to the road. “You wouldn’t want to leave this town?”

“Well…” She bit her lip. “Maybe. Someday. But I’m not even planning on going to college so I don’t like to wonder why I’d leave here unless there was a good reason to in the future.”

“You’re not planning on going to school after graduation?” He asked, his heart suddenly fluttering a little with hope. He would never have brought it up himself, but the possibility of being separated from her after high school had been a thought he’d entertained. He found very quickly that he didn’t like the idea.

“No. I’m not a college girl, and though I love photography, I can’t think of anything I really want to do that’ll require a degree. I mean maybe, if I have to I could go back to school, but after graduation I’m set to just live at home for awhile until I’ve saved up some money to open my own business in town. I’m good enough with a camera that I could take photo’s and sell them.”

Spike smiled. “How’s your mum feel ‘bout this plan?”

“Well at first she hated it. She was all ready to send me off to live in a dorm somewhere out of state. She wanted me to have the whole college experience thing, ya know? Go to the parties, meet new friends, get a degree; but she knows that I love it here. It’s my home and I’ve never wanted to go to college. She also knows business, so after a LOT of arguing and debating, she finally decided that she’d help me open my own store after senior year. Ya know, help get everything up and running.”

“You’re set on this aren’ you.” It was a statement, not a question, and Spike could scarcely keep himself from parking the car and grabbing Buffy to kiss her.

“Have been for over a year now,” she said. “The thought of opening my own store is really the only thing that I feel I’d love. I’ve worked with mom plenty at the gallery so I know more than most my age about managing a business. And you know those carnival shots I told you about? They’ve already sold. All of them. Giles called me today.”

Spike grinned warmly at her, noticing the pride and the glitter in her eyes as she spoke of her success. Then his smile dimmed a little with his next words. “Are you sure you wouldn’t wanna go to school to learn more ‘bout photography, pidge? I know you love it.”

Buffy shook her head. “I’ve thought about that. I’m good at what I do, and I don’t want to become a world famous photographer or anything like that. I’ve taught myself everything I know about cameras and lighting and film, and I’ll learn more. I don’t want to go off to college. Hell, I don’t even think I’d want to if I’d be living at home.”

Spike knew she was telling the truth, speaking from her heart. Buffy was determined to make her life out the way she wanted it to be, and that was by opening up her own shop and staying in Moon Stream.

To be completely honest, Spike had never planned on going to college either. Rather he was set on finding a job as a mechanic of some sort, and hopefully discovering a way into the field of racing cars. Though after meeting Buffy, the idea of staying in Connecticut wasn’t an unpleasant one, and he knew he wouldn’t be carting off to who knew where after high school trying to find a job when he already had one in Moon Stream, even if Buffy wasn’t in the picture.

He didn’t know how much he wanted to race cars if it meant being away from her, but if he was lucky enough to get a shot at the occupation, he’d decide whether or not he still wanted it when the time came. He knew Buffy would forever support him, but Spike had always wanted to become a mechanic at some point in his life, if not indefinitely, and maybe even own his own body shop one day. Whether he was working on cars or racing them, he was completely happy. And if one of those future options came with Buffy, you can only guess which one Spike would rather go for.

“Well, your mum might not have the best taste in men, sweetheart,” Spike declared as he wrapped an arm around Buffy. “but she’s supportin you on what you wanna do even if she doesn’t exactly agree with it.”

Buffy shrugged and looked down, scooting closer to Spike as she lifted her feet up on the seat. “Yeah.”

“Means she loves you.” He glanced at her and noticed she seemed to be in thought, and she was pouting slightly, though he was ninety percent sure she wasn’t aware of it.

“I know.” She spoke softly. “You think I should give this Drake guy a chance?”

“S’up to you, love. He did bring you a gift, yeah?”

She nodded. “Yeah.”

“What was it?”

She mumbled, and Spike asked her to speak up.
“Chocolate ice cream,” she repeated.

The Brit chuckled. “Oh, bet you were hard put not to hug him, weren’t you?”

Buffy sighed. “My mom told him what to get me, he didn’t just magically know how much I love chocolate!”

Spike absentmindedly rubbed his thumb over her hipbone. “Well he got it. Ben & Jerry’s I presume?”

“Yes,” she mumbled before sighing again. “He patted me on the head, Spike!”

The Brit nodded. “Like a dog.”

“Like a dog,” she reaffirmed.

Spike turned the car into a fast food drive thru.

“Where are we going?” The girl asked.

“Figure you didn’t eat much at dinner. Probly just sat at the table playin with your fork and thinkin ‘bout frozen treats every once in awhile.”

“I so did not!”

Spike gave her a look.

Buffy pouted. “Fine. I’ll give Mr. Travels-A-Lot a second chance.”

Spike nodded before pulling up to the sign and rolling down his window. “I think that’s fair, pet.”

“But if he pats my head again he’s gonna lose an arm.” She said seriously, her finger pointed at Spike.

He smiled and nodded. “The man should’ve known better to begin with. Now, what do you want ta eat?”

The Summers girl grinned for the first time that night before giving Spike her order.

***

They arrived at the circle after dealing with butt loads of traffic. The teens were filled up on greasy fires and burgers, the deliciousness of both not diminished in the least by the fact that there was probably way too much fat in the food for it to be at all health conscience.

Buffy stretched as she exited the car, enveloping Spike in a hug the second he was in reach. She kissed him on the lips and he wrapped his arms around her waist. “I didn’t give you a proper hello yet did I?”

Spike smiled. “Don’t believe you did, sweetheart.”

“Hmm. Let’s fix that.” She pressed her lips to his once again, and the kiss went on for about a minute before someone strode forward, all purpose and apology.

“Buffy, Spike,” Fred spoke as she approached the lovers. “I need to say something to the both of you.”

Buffy smiled kindly at Winifred even as her nerves started twitching with fright at what might happen tonight. She really hoped nobody was still mad at her. “Hi, Fred. Listen I-”

Ms. Burkle interrupted with an almost desperate quality to her voice. “Now I want you to know that what happened last week wasn’t your fault, it was ours. Wasn’t it gang?”

Buffy’s eyes finally focused on her surroundings, and each one of Spike’s friends had suddenly appeared.

“Right,” Wesley said as he moved to his girlfriend’s side and wrapped an arm around her, the Texan beauty relaxing visibly under his touch. “We want to apologize for the bet, Buffy.”

“It was tacky and stupid of us.” Cordelia chimed in, her face a picture of regret.

“We shouldn’t a done it and we’re sorry,” Gunn added. “We didn’t know you when we made it but still, we should have called the damn thing off.”

“I’m sure Spike agrees.” Anne smiled softly and apologetically at Buffy, glancing at Spike to see the grateful look on his features.

“We’re sorry, B.” That was Faith.

Buffy smiled. She couldn’t help it, and her cheeks hurt with the relief and happiness showing on them. It was true, Spike had explained everything about the bet in greater detail to her, and he’d apologized even when she’d realized after the tale that there really wasn’t anything to apologize for.

“And I’m sorry I scared all of you by leaving like I did,” Buffy announced, and looked to Anne. “If it wasn’t for Annie I’d probly still be walking to the highway.” She laughed a little when the people around her smiled. “It was stupid of me to just take off like that.”

“It’s understandable,” Oz finally spoke, his face portraying acceptance, and a calm which seeped through into Buffy. “Not many people would’ve reacted in much better ways to the situation.”

She exhaled a held breath that hadn’t been known to her before it was gone. She felt Spike tighten his arm around her and smiled up at his face when he spoke.

“Alright then,” He inhaled dramatically through his nose before a smirk appeared. “How’s a race to celebrate all this happy contrition rot sound?”

Buffy frowned gently. “ ‘Happy contrition?’ Quite an oxymoron there, Spikey.”

“Look who the statement came from,” Faith said with only a hint of jest in her voice.

Spike’s eyes narrowed, “The same person who’s gonna be beating your arse ‘cross that finish line, pet.” The last word was said with joking disdain.

“Ooh,” Faith chuckled, smiling evilly as she eyed Spike and then the rest of the group. “C’mon everybody, as Fred would’ve said after she got a look at her bike the other day, it’s on like donkey kong!”

“That is not a southern sayin, FYI Faith,” Fred chastised as she followed the girl towards the cars.

“Highway race!” Gun shouted gleefully as he and Anne walked off, Cordelia and Oz not far behind. “Someone get a girl to down that flag!”

Spike smiled and turned swiftly with Buffy back to his Mustang. “You gonna join me, pet?”

Buffy blinked. Then her gaze started to glitter with both unease and hope, the gold flecks in her green eyes shimmering in the nearby brightness of a construction light. “I can go with you?”

“’Course,” he said like she was an idiot. “Want my girl by my side when I win.” He read her eyes for a moment longer and glided a hand down her hair. “But only if you want to be in that car. There’s always other races f’you don’ wanna go it t’night, pet.”

Buffy chewed her lip before smiling with fire and willpower. “Oh no, buddy. I’m gonna be in that car with you if I have to threaten to walk off alone again just so you’ll let me in.”

Spike smirked before grabbing her and laying a hard kiss to Buffy’s lips.

“That’s my girl,” he said proudly as he pulled away. “Now let’s get some wind in that beautiful hair f’yours, shall we?”

“We shall,” she proclaimed.

The couple quickly sprung into the car, Spike starting up the engine before pulling forward and following the cars of his friends out of the area of the circle. They knew of a particularly secluded area of wide pavement which just happened to be off the usually busy freeway, and it was perfect for races between multiple cars.

And Spike relished the increase in speed he was able to take advantage of while in a highway race. It was the perfect night for it, his darling girl by his side and enthusiastically anticipating the realm of freedom great speed always brought to those who enjoyed it and weren’t afraid.

Miss Summers had come out of her shell so much since Spike had met her, and she’d smoothed his edges down as well, until it felt like he’d become a softened river stone compared to the jagged brick he’d thought himself to be.

Spike was changed from unrepentant badass to a milder version of it, still badass but much more in tune with his ‘poet inside the rebel’, as Buffy would say. She had, fairly easily, worked her way into his heart without even trying, and her fire and compassion and spirit had drawn him like a moth to a flame. He could still get dizzy just thinking about the quickness of it all.

Buffy had embraced the passionate trouble inside herself with relish, and she loved it. Her innocence was never tainted, but more learned as she was able to compare it to the parts of herself that were decidedly un-innocent.

Buffy had turned her lover into a kinder sort, without attempting to at all, and he was opening her heart and mind every damn day. Spike conjured both the urge to fight with him and the urge to fight for him all in one motion, all the time. It was a combined effect that he felt too because of his girl. His Buffy. The woman he loved and cherished and would forever hold on to, come hell or high water.

She was his, and he was hers.

Buffy felt the truth of that fact with every beat of her heart as she took Spike’s hand. He met her eyes, their wrists touching intimately where they rested against the leather of the car seat.

No words were said, only smiles exchanged. Then he looked ahead and watched as a flag was thrown down, and he gunned the engine, not needing to brace Buffy for the abrupt shoot forward this time. She was ready for it. She was ready for everything.

Absolutely everything.


Chapter End Notes:
i wish each and every one of you a happy new year! Thanks so much for sticking through this fic, i know the updates have been beyond frustrating with my total lack of a schedule. Please leave reviews! *smoochies*



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