Buffy couldn't place the strange noises at first. All she wanted was to stay where she was. It was so warm, leaving her feeling very sedate and loved, being cuddled so close to William's body. The persistent noise wouldn’t leave her alone until she figured it out.
"Someone's ringing the doorbell," she mumbled. "Tell them to go away."
"I can't"
"Why not?"
"I like it here better." Spike grumbled, snuggling closer to her.
"Me too."
After a moment's thought, Buffy said. "It could be Wes and Willow."
"They can find their own place to shag."
"Shag?" Buffy asked as she began to stretch.
"What we're recovering from." Spike chuckled.
"Oh!" Buffy giggled as she scooted off the bed.
"Hey, come back here. I'm not done with you yet."
"They come bearing food." Buffy's explained as she quickly dressed.
"Need fuel for later." Spike waggled his eyebrows causing Buffy to roll her eyes.
"Sex hound."
"Sexy kitten."
"What a pair we make." Buffy winked before hurrying out of the room to avoid the temptation to undress and rejoin him.
"Coward!" Spike yelled.
"No will power is more like it." Buffy returned as she continued on to get the door.
Spike decided to leave his socks off once he dressed. He loved walking barefoot. If no one were at the door, he'd encourage his girl to walk around naked with him and cuddle on the couch. He was sure Wes would take a hint and leave early. There were a few more rooms in need of christening.
"We come bearing pizza from Joss the Pizza King." He heard Willow announce once Buffy answered the door.
Spike heard Wesley's knowing chuckle and decided it was time to play.
"Buffy, just pay for the pizza and send the delivery couple on their way." Spike called out as he sauntered down the steps.
"Sorry, mate. I've been holding back since we picked up this wonderful concoction. Feed me or die." Wesley retorted as he took the pizzas from Willow. "Share or have nothing."
"Such a cheeky bastard, you are."
"And you love me for it." Wesley winked.
"Fine! But don't think you'll win the next time." Spike informed him as he went to take the pizzas.
"What!" You always take advantage of my love for you." Wesley pulled back, refusing to give his friend the pizza while trying to keep from laughing.
Willow looked at Buffy and giggled. "I'm not sure, but I think they're already married."
"We're just the smoke screen." Buffy playfully snorted.
"Beards." Spike replied.
"Beards?" Both Willow and Buffy sounded confused.
"It's what they call women who are the cover dates for gay men." Wesley answered as he turned to give Buffy the pizzas. "For you madam, I trust you to make sure he doesn't eat it all without sharing."
Buffy took the boxes as she shook her head. "I don't even want to know how they came up with that name." She tuned to take the food over to the dinning room table. "What does everyone want to drink?"
"Ice tea, if you have any." Willow answered, joining Buffy at the table.
"Water for me." Wesley replied.
"I'll help." Spike offered.
"By the way, Syd called looking for you." Wesley shared. "He wants you to call him. He was rather perturbed to find you incommunicado."
"I'll call him later."
"He seemed rather anxious about talking to you." Wesley added.
Spike started to worry. Syd never was anxious about anything. The man barely ever let his excitement known very often.
"Oi! I left the bloody phone in the car."
"Here, use mine." Wesley offered his.
The worried expression in Wes's eyes increased his concern as well. Spike couldn't stop trying to figure out why his manager would be so nervous. The thought he might have lost the Superman part crossed his mind, but even that wouldn't get Syd anxious.
"Thanks, mate." Spike said as he took Wes's phone and dialed.
"Syd Sensations and Company." A female voice answered.
"Hey, is the boss man in?" Spike asked, and then cringed at the reply he was given.
"Remind me to smack you when I see you again." Spike knew he was in trouble now.
"Echo, luv let-"
"Don't luv me buster. Syd's been having coronary after coronary looking for you. He's now calling all your friends, or should I say I've been dialing the numbers. Cause that is what an assistant does and my head and fingers hurt from all the extra work."
"I'm sorry." Spike sincerely apologized.
"Hold that thought, and think of lots and lots coffee and Krispy Crèmes coming my way." Echo Chambers, Syd's assistant commanded as payment before she put him on hold.
"Miss Echo giving you the 'what for'?" Wesley teased.
"Will you protect me?" Spike playfully pouted.
Wesley grunted as he shook his head, "Sorry, but she scares me more than you do."
"Spike, where the hell have you been?" Syd's voice was so loud that even Willow could hear the man.
"Sunnydale, California with the most beautiful woman."
"I know there's a woman involved. I spoke to Harmony. By the way, couldn't you've told me you broke up with Barbie wanna be?"
"No! Then you would've kept me on the phone asking all the too personal type questions until my ears bled."
"I think you need to sit down for this. The news I have to tell I'd rather be sharing in person. But no time for that right now."
"How serious?" Spike asked, hearing the concern in his manager's voice.
"I'm not going to lie. It's very serious with the potential of doing some bad to you."
Wesley could tell by Spike's reactions something terrible was going on. His best friend sat down on the couch looking so much like a scared child. The fearful expression on Spike's face brought out the protector in him as he became apprehensive and ready to react in his friend's best interest.
All thoughts of Willow or Buffy went out the window as Wes sat down on the coffee table, in front of his chosen brother. Spike was more like family than any that was directly related to him. The fact Crawford was listening and making no comments caused him to worry more.
Buffy didn't know what to do. The way Wesley was hovering close to Spike and the quiet alerted her that something wasn't right. Her boyfriend's expression was tense, and she could see how upset he was. Spike looked so lost, while Wes was acting like he was protecting his mate.
Then it hit her, the two men were very close, even closer than Spike had implied. So close she was worried about the depth of their relationship. Did she have a reason to be jealous or leery of Wesley and Spike's feelings for each other?
"I think its very bad news." Willow's voice broke through her worry.
Buffy nodded as she joined Spike on the couch. The need to comfort and support her lover drove her actions not caring if there was more to how things were between the two men. Scooting closer Buffy felt she was doing the right thing when Spike wrapped his arm around her, pulling her even closer.
His body was so tense. She wrapped her arms around Spike's waist, letting him know she was there for him all the way. Hugging tight, she laid her cheek against his chest, giving her a chance to look at Wesley's face.
The warm smile that greeted her, eased her worry. Her gut told her the care and love Wesley had for Spike was that of friendship, maybe even brotherly as Spike told her in the past.
"Thanks." Spike ended the call, sounding tired and drained.
"Spill!" Wesley commanded as soon as Crawford hung up the phone.
"Angel's dead." Spike announced as he leaned over and buried his face in Buffy's hair.
"Oh God!" Wesley groaned as he placed his face in his hands.
"It's even worse."
"Spike, how could it be worse?" Wesley snorted.
"It seems Dru was the one who killed him." Spike's announcement caused Wesley to look up in shock.
"Dru." Wes gasped. "How the hell?"
"She was working on the ship under an assumed name,." Spike explained.
"Bollicks!" Pryce groaned.
"Yeah! The media is going to have a hay day with this one." Spike growled his frustration as he leaned his head back against the couch.
"Might be a good thing we're here." Wesley pondered out loud.
"They'll find me." Spike groaned with defeat as he pulled Buffy closer until she was practically on his lap. "They always do."
"This would be the last place they looked." Wesley argued.
"Maybe if no one recognized me, but we know that didn't happen at the grocery store." Spike countered, knowing there were others other than Dawn and Riley who gave him a knowing glance. "I'm sorry about all this, kitten."
"What do you have to feel sorry for?" Buffy tone told everyone that she didn't understand all the doom and gloom.
"Our lives are about to get complicated." Spike started to explain. "Dru was my ex girlfriend who left me for Angel. Was a big thing the media blown out of proportion and I didn't help much with pulling some stupid shit."
"We can hide out here and keep a low profile." Wesley again suggested.
"I'd rather run for the hills than let the vultures find me here. I don't want those bastards anywhere near me or mine right now." Spike snapped, angry Angel and Dru was still able to fuck up his life even from the far beyond.
"I can see if my parents will let you use their cabin up by the lake?" Willow offered.
"But I have to work." Buffy muttered under her breath. "I could call and see if I can take more time off. If the temp hasn't another job lined up she might be able to stay on."
"Buffy I couldn't ask you-"
"Well, it's not like I won't be unemployed soon." Buffy reasoned. "At least until I find my ideal dream job in L.A." She teased while cupping his face with her small hand.
"Are you sure you want to be involved with a man like me?" Spike's eyes reflected his pain.
Buffy leaned in to kiss his lips softly and said, "There's no other man for me but you."
Wesley felt grateful toward Buffy with her staunch support of Spike. At this moment, she truly became family to him. Now he knew his brother by choice was in good hands with the remarkable woman.
Looking over to check on Willow, he noticed her watching them with a sad expression on her face. He had to make sure she understood that she was the love of his life and his future.
Willow could feel the intense emotions emoting from the people on the other side of the room. She worried for a moment she might have some competition for Wes's affection. It was silly really and was sure she might be blowing it out of proportion.
Then Wesley's eyes met hers and all doubts about his love for her fled melted away. With just one look, she knew this man had more than enough love for everyone. Together they would get over this. Willow opened her arms and in a blink of an eye her future husband was in her arms, holding her tight.
"I love you." Wesley sighed. "Don't ever forget."
"I know and I love you back."
"This is going to be very bad on Spike and thus also Buffy." Wesley warned.
"Then we'll be the bestest friends and protect them." Willow offered as she lay her cheek against his chest.
"Let's get the food ready, shall we?" Wesley suggested, thinking it would be a good time to give the other couple some privacy.
Willow nodded and then asked, "Should we call someone?"
"I need to call Jenny and Giles, or mother hen will skin me alive." Wesley confessed. "Jenny is very protective of Spike, especially after Dru and Angel's betrayed him."
"Let's go to the kitchen and give her a call."
"Spike has my phone." Wesley motioned toward the couple cuddling on the couch.
"And I have mine." Willow pulled out her cell phone from her front pants pocket.
"Miss Rosenberg, would you mind if I kept you with me forever?" Wesley's smirk was contagious.
"Why Mr. Pryce, I wouldn't mind one bit." Willow returned with a wink.
*******
Jenny was just getting ready to start dinner. Everyone was tired and hungry after spending a long, yet happy, time being tourists. She just started pulling apart the lettuce for the salad when her husband walked into the kitchen.
"You have that look on your face." Jenny said seeing her husband remove his glasses and began wiping like when he was nervous about something.
"Angel has died from his injuries." Giles informed his wife.
"Rupert, would you think it bad of me if I say I don't care? I can't shed a tear or feel sorry he's dead."
"There's more." Giles started rubbing his glasses so hard, Jenny worried he was going to pop out the lenses.
"Lord! Isn't there always more when Angel's involved? The bastard can't even die with it being something more about it." Jenny snorted as she kept preparing dinner.
"It would seem Dru was involved as well."
"What?" Jenny dropped the lettuce in shock. "This can't be happening, not now that William's found Buffy. Does Spike know?"
"Yes, he does."
"Who called you?" Jenny paced back and forth trying to work off some of her anger.
"Wesley."
"How's Spike? We can leave to pick him up and take him home with us. The press whores won't get to him here." Jenny fumed as she planned how to protect the young man who had come to mean so much to her.
"Calm down my love." Giles tried to sooth is wife. "Wesley and Buffy will take care of your boy. I did offer them safe haven with us."
"And?"
"Buffy is going to see about getting more time off from work. Willow's parents have a cottage or a cabin that she's going to see about letting Spike use it. The wedding plans are still on."
"I have you trained very well." Jenny teased as she was comforted by the fact that Spike was in good company with Buffy, Wesley, and Willow.
"I know how you are with those you love. A mother bear holds no light to you, my dear." Giles ginned.
"Fine, I'll try not to smother him too much." Jenny smirked as she turned to check on the chicken that was in the oven.
Giles just nodded with a 'whatever you say', smile on his face. It was times like these that she realized just how well her husband knew and understood her. Jenny gave thanks everyday for the man she called her mate.
"Get out of my kitchen, before I put you to work." Jenny threatened playfully while removing the cooked meat from the oven.
"We should make plans to go home. The media will be looking for everyone involved in the show for comments." Giles offered.
"I think we're better off here for a few days. They will have to look for us and right now." Jenny disagreed as she placed the hot pan on top of the stove.
"How about we go home on Tuesday so we can get ready for the wedding?" Giles suggested.
"Sounds great. We'd only be leaving a day early and the girls are having a great time." Jenny agreed as she started removing the meat from the pan to the serving platter.
"I say we wait and tell them about Angel until after dinner." Giles went to the cabinet and started to get the dinner plates down off the shelf.
Jenny reminded herself this was why she kept the girls as far away the L.A. scene as possible. They didn't have much of anything to do with Angel. But Dru, she was a different story. There had been a time when she was a part of their lives through Spike.
"How am I going to explain this mess to our girls?"
"We will do it together, my love." Giles assured her. "Then later we will give Spike a call so you can hear his voice and the girls can remind him we are here for him."
"I love you."
"Ditto." Giles chuckled.
"You're so learning the girl's bad habits, honey." Jenny rolled her eyes fighting back her laughter.
"I'm just bonding and keeping up with the times." Giles chuckled as they continued to set the table for dinner.
*******
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Author's Chapter Notes:
I wish to thank everyone that has stayed with me on this one......