Chapter 4.04
Thursday, May 9th, 2002

As usual Xander let himself in, calling out as he came.

"In here," Buffy shouted from the main room.

Xander's gaze flashed across the title of the magazine she threw onto the coffee table with the others. His voice was warmer than she would have expected as he teased her, "I guess Monday lunchtime wasn't just some nightmare from my sleep-deprived brain, then?"

"Nope." She held up her left hand and wiggled her ring finger at him in confirmation. "All real. D'you want a coffee? There should be some in the pot if you do."

"Some caffeine would be good. Then we can discuss exactly what it is that you and Deadboy jnr. have in mind for the basement. Once I get a handle on what you want, then I can measure up, and maybe draw up some plans."

"Xander, are you okay about doing this?"

"Yes and no. I can't say I'm happy the two of you are together and when things all go to hell I'll be the first one to say I told you so. He doesn't deserve you, and I don't like the guy, but I'm not about to lose my best friend just because she's got crappy taste in men. But, then I liked Riley and it looks like that was a big mistake, so maybe if you two are still going strong a decade or so from now I might reconsider. In the meantime, I can't see me and Bleachboy watching football together on Sunday afternoons, but I'll at least try to keep my mouth shut when I can't think of anything nice to say." He took the coffee she poured for him and pulled out a notepad and pen from his jacket pocket.

"So, basement?" he queried.

Buffy went through what she and Spike had discussed with one minor difference. Xander raised his eyebrows when she mentioned soundproofing, but he conceded the point when she asked how he would feel if Anya and he had to share a house with a fifteen-year-old sister.

"I see what you mean, Buff, but if no-one upstairs can hear you, then you can't hear them either. So, when the next bad guy breaks in the front door and attacks Dawnster how're you going to know. You're going to need to either forget the soundproofing or install panic buttons.

You'll probably want to replace the staircase with something more substantial or at least get all the rails finished off and stuff. Rough wood's okay for what you're using it for now, but if you're going to be trooping up to the kitchen in your jammies and bare feet...

You'll need to put in a door leading outside for a fire exit, but it'll make it easier for slipping in after patrol without disturbing anyone. It's probably easiest done at the back, that way you're not digging under the porch.

If you pick out a bathroom suite before we finalise the plans, then we can work round that for the dimensions. I can take you round a couple of the trade places for a look, but once we know what you want, we best sort out planning permission before you buy anything.

That said, I can't see any reason for it to be refused and I know a guy at town hall we deal with who might be able to speed up the application."

Buffy managed not to have her mouth hang open. "I guess I see now why you got that promotion. You've really got a handle on all this construction stuff."

"It's my kind of problem solving. All practical, no complicated math and no-one's feelings get hurt if you make a mistake. Let's go take a look at what we've got to work with."

"You got any idea how much this is going to run to?" Buffy asked as they headed downstairs.

"Can't say for sure. There's too many variables at the minute. I'll cost out a few different options and get back to you. It's not going to be cheap, Buff. It might cost more than it adds to the value of the house, but hopefully not."

"Not much to be done about Sunnydale property prices. It's not like I've got the option to move. Or Spike any more, either, not now. We'll worry about buying Dawn out when she wants to get her own place, wherever that ends up being."

"I would ask how Dawn felt about this whole thing but I think I got her answer at the Bronze."

"Yeah, I think she can cope with the novelty of not having to live off Double Meat Burgers and having Spike at her beck and call. He's totally whipped, but she loves him back, though I don't think she'll be saying the words any time soon. And she knows if anything happens to me, that he'll be there for her."

"I guess." Xander made short work of measuring up. "Right, I think I've got everything I need for just now. I'll be heading back to the Magic Box, so if you want a lift into town speak now or forever... you know."

"Yeah, why not? I was going to start by phoning round some places, but I may as well see Anya then go along in person. How long do you think this'll take? The basement I mean. We kinda want it ready before the wedding."

"Buffy, if I have to come over every night after work for a month to get it finished in time, I will, but as long as the planning permission isn't held up, we should get it done just working on weekends." He gave her a goofy grin. "Chill. This is my field of expertise. You will have a subterranean studio apartment to share with your honey by the time you're legal. Scout's honour ...as long as you don't organise the wedding for some time in the next month."

"I don't think even I'm that crazy, though I don't think Spike would complain. Back in a minute." Buffy ran upstairs and grabbed her DMP uniform pushing it into a convenient backpack.

"You do realise that if I'm over here and the Magic Box is closed Anya will probably come with me and I expect you all to keep your platinum baby out of my hair while I'm working."

"Eww. Less with the Harmony speak." Buffy grabbed her coat from the stand by the front door, which she pulled wide for Xander to go through. "After you."

"So anyway, hear tell you've been in LA the last couple of days. Wanna make with the news? Willow said it would be worth waiting to hear it from the horses mouth."

"I think I'll wait till we get to the Magic Box. That way I only have to go through it once. Think you can go past DMP so I can hand this in?"

"Sure. How come you're not working this week anyway?"

Buffy blushed. "Long story. One I don't intend to tell."

Once again Buffy relayed her tale of recent events in LA. After she had answered all the questions the Harrises had, she and Anya moved onto other topics. Anya gave Buffy her key for the apartment.

"Spike said you should have that once I finished moving my things out."

"Wait a minute," Xander interrupted. "What's Spike got to do with this?"

"Honestly, Xander, who did you think would be moving in at such short notice? How did you think I managed to have someone to sub-let to by Monday morning when we only got back from Vegas on Sunday?"

"Spike? In a proper apartment?"

Buffy sighed. "As soon as we officially started dating he wanted to have somewhere Social Services could check out if they started asking questions."

"Guess he isn't as much of a waste of space as I thought," Xander commented.

"If that surprises you, then you don't know half as much about him as you think you do," Buffy answered.

"Okay. Truce. Spike's a sweetie-pie and butter wouldn't melt in his mouth. Even if he didn't have his electronic leash he would never even hit a human much less suck their life-blood from their helpless body." All but Xander's request for a truce came out heavily tinged with irony.

"Yeah, very funny, but you have just reminded me that Giles wants him to hit you. But we've got to work it out. Ooh, and Giles says not to use the orbs unless you're expecting trouble or helping patrol, because they've never been used by a human before and we don't know what side-effects there might be."

Xander and his wife both responded simultaneously, Anya proving the more persistent of the two.

"Rewind to the bit about-"

"Wait, are you saying we're not allowed to use them when we're having sex. I mean they make things a bit uncomfortable but Xander could never do the cascade thing before."

"Anya, I'm just repeating what Giles told me, maybe Xander should speak to him directly if he wants advice on his sex life. I didn't mean that the way it sounds, not that I'm saying Giles would be without valuable experience to impart... okay, shutting up now," Buffy babbled.

"What were you saying about Giles wanting Spike to hit me?" Xander asked.

"Giles wants to see if Spike's chip still detects you as human when you're using the orbs, but he can't know you're using them when he hits you or it won't work because if he knows he can't hurt you the chip won't fire. So we have to do it sort of like a taste-test thingy."

"Great. I should have known that a present from Spike would have strings attached," Xander sighed.

"Look, all I know is Giles said don't use them unless it's important and watch for any odd behaviour either when you're using them or after.

I've got some stuff to do round town. I'll catch up with you guys later. Maybe we could have a video night tonight or something, if Dawn finishes her homework early enough. I'll call you." Buffy walked backwards toward the door as she spoke, casting only occasional glances over her shoulder. She ducked through the door with a feeling of relief. She should have time to make it to the college and speak to someone before lunch if she didn't take too long getting there.

Thursday Mid-afternoon

"Whatcha doin'?" Buffy asked.

"Well, I was putting together furniture, but now I'm too busy chattin' up some bird on the phone to bother with that," Spike replied.

"D'you think you could have your place fit for polite company by tomorrow afternoon?" Buffy asked cautiously.

"Probably. How polite are we talking?"

"Em... well... tea with the minister."

"Bloody hell! You're not asking much, are you? And will you be joining us for this little soirée?" Spike's tone was sarcastic but good-humoured.

"I'll be there. Look, normally we'd have to go to a load of services. He just wants to meet you before he'll make a decision on whether he'll perform the ceremony."

"If he's trying to work out whether I'm a fine upstanding Christian he's going to have problems, pet."

Buffy sighed. "I don't know what exactly it is that he wants, but he's at least prepared to consider doing it. You can't blame him for wanting to meet you. Even in Sunnydale it can't be every day someone tells him they want to marry a demon."

"It's okay, love. I'll be on my best behaviour, provided he doesn't pull a stake on me."

"Need a hand with that furniture?" Buffy asked.

"M' all but done, pet. Put together one of the bookcases and the normal desk and I'm just finishing off the computer desk. Really just the swivel chairs to do. All the rest can go in the cloakroom for now and wait till the basement's done. But, if you wanted to come over I'm sure we could find some other things to fit together, though I should be leaving for your place in about an hour to be there for Bit getting home."

"How about you leave now, pick me up outside Starbucks and we get an hour together before Dawn's due home?"

"What about the witches?"

"I don't think they'd be interested in joining us."

"Far be it from me to waste time arguin' then, pet." Buffy snorted at the other end of the line. "I'll pick you up in five or ten minutes. Don't fancy pickin' up a large espresso while you're waiting, love?"

"Sure. See you soon."

The DeSoto cut through the afternoon traffic like a shark moving through a shoal of unwary fish. When it pulled over, Buffy opened the door the narrowest possible amount and squeezed through, a coffee cup balanced in either hand. She had to suppress a smile when she looked over in Spike's direction.

"Yeah, I know it lacks a certain sartorial elegance, but it makes the neighbours less suspicious than wandering around with a blanket."

The 'it' in question was a super-thick, black hooded sweatshirt, several sizes too large for him so that he had to push back the sleeves to free his hands for driving. She suspected with the hood up he would merely need to look downwards for his face and neck to be hidden in shadow.

"Not really you, but like you say it beats the blanket." She sat the coffees on the floor and leant toward him, her hands framing his face, for a kiss, which he was quick to return. The tender touch of his soft lips against hers sent flares of heat along her nerve endings. Their hands roved all over the other's bodies in search of bare flesh, but Buffy was recalled to her senses when she felt a cool hand on her inner thigh and moving slowly upward.

"Not in the middle of Main Street. Home. Now. Fast," she said as she pulled away from his questing hands, picking up the coffees once more. For a second, Spike looked as if he might protest, but then he just seemed to cast a glance through the minute cracks in the paint at a mirror she hadn't been able to use without rolling down the window and pulled out into the traffic.

Five minutes later they pulled up in the shade next to the house. Spike was out the car and across the bonnet so quickly that he had her door open before she could put down one of the coffees to work the handle. He took one of the cups from her and grasped her newly freed hand, pulling her toward the house. She strained against his grip long enough to push the car door shut with her foot before following him.

The front door opened at his touch and as he pulled her in he asked, "What is it with you lot and the watcher? Nobody ever teach you to lock your doors?" She pushed the door shut with her foot only to find herself sandwiched between it and an extremely hard male body. His lips pressed against hers with sufficient pressure that she had to open her mouth to prevent her teeth cutting into the inside of her mouth. Her hands, one still holding the coffee snaked around his neck and she lifted one leg, her knee hooking over his hip as if it were possible to pull him even closer.

"Hey, Buffy ...Spike."

Willow stopped dead for a second after she came out of the dining room to greet her friend before deciding it was best to pretend she'd been on her way to the kitchen. The pair pulled their lips apart for long enough to manage a "Red," and a "Hey, Will," in return.

Spike took a half step back and, slipping one arm behind Buffy's knees and the other around her back, somehow managed to pick Buffy up without breaking off the kiss again.

As he carried her to her room Buffy managed to call out, "We'll be back down before Dawn's due in from school!"

Willow had to smile at the comment. Buffy had looked more than a little embarrassed at Willow's appearance. On the other hand, Spike just didn't give a damn for propriety and yet a fifteen-year-old had him so twisted round her little finger that in three quarters of an hour he'd be back downstairs, properly dressed and playing the English tutor. He was whipped.

For an instant she almost felt sorry for them. It was like they... well, they did have the kid before they got the honeymoon. Then when she thought about how they both felt about Dawn she realised neither one would want things any different.