Spike stood at the bottom of the stairs. Buffy appeared to almost float down the staircase. She was swathed in white lace and pearls, she looked almost angelic. She was also radiant with joy. She took Giles arm who also stood at the bottom.
"Beautiful." Spike said. He meant it on purely aesthetic level.
"Isn't she?" Giles said, beaming. Proud as any father. He kissed Buffy's cheek.
"Thank you, guys." Her smile was genuine. The limousine pulled into the driveway. "That's our ride." She turned to Spike. "Sure you don't mind taking Dawn over to the church?"
"Of course not." Spike said calmly, trying to hide his delight. More willing than you know, Slayer!
"Good. She'll be down soon. The photographer is going to be there in twenty minutes to get some shots of the wedding party before the ceremony."
"I'll have her there in time, Buffy." Spike could see the Slayer was nervous all of sudden. He would be too if he were marrying that prat.
The Slayer and Watcher went outside while Spike jangled his car keys in his pocket. He hadn't been this anxious in years. He felt like a school boy on his first date. Spike was even wearing a suit bought especially for this occasion. He wondered if Dawn would like it. At the time he had hoped to impress the Slayer with it, but now. . .now he had other priorities. The suit was grey and he wore a white shirt underneath it with a blue tie. It was summer weight and accentuated his eyes and favored his light coloring -- or so the drooling saleswoman had told him when he'd bought it.
He wondered if he should go upstairs and look for Dawn. What was taking so long? Spike hoped she wasn't still angry with him for last night. She'd accused him of still being in love with the Slayer but he was certain that his love for her was waning. Dwindling away to nothing. "Spike." Dawn said in a neutral tone. She descended the stairs, regal as any queen before a loyal subject. She didn't appear angry at all about last night's debacle.
Spike let his eyes roam over her. He felt like he'd been sucker punched, she was ravishing. Dawn wore a pale blue, off the shoulder dress. It gave him an enticing view of her cleavage. Her lustrous dark hair was piled on top of her head with long curls laying around her face. She wore pearls in her ears and around her slender neck. "Stunning." Spike whispered, unable to take his eyes off her.
She smiled slightly. " You think so?" Spike could do no more than nod. "Good, I hope Angel likes it." Spike clenched his jaw. "What are you waiting for? Let's go." She made her way to the door purposefully. Dawn paused at the door and turned to him, squeezing his hand. His eyes shone with hope. Was she going to confess her feelings for him? "Spike, I'm sorry. I'm being really insensitive, aren't I?" She handed him a small packet of tissues from her tiny handbag. "Here. You might need these. This is going to be rough. After all -- the love of your unlife is getting married to someone else." She patted his hand. But I know you'll be alright, you're strong." This was said without rancor. Just a statement of fact.
Spike winced as he followed her out the door. Damn, he had a lot of work to do.
*******
"I do." Buffy said, tears sparkled her eyes as she gazed lovingly at Riley. It was official. She was now Mrs. Buffy Finn. From his vantage point in the third pew, Spike felt relieved. A little sad. . . but mostly relieved. In his heart he had known it would never work out. Bloody ridiculous. He was musing about his 'attraction' to her. Maybe she had just been an attainable dream, something to worship from afar while he grieved the loss of his black goddess. Maybe it had happened because he couldn't kill her. If you can't beat 'em, shag em? He stifled a sardonic laugh. He had built her up in those years since he left, he'd been so damned afraid to come back here and face his love for her. But his love had dwindled away to almost nothing, dying embers. Whatever it was with the Slayer, it was sick and twisted. And a new fire had been sparked. Spike was free to move on.
The preacher turned to all the wedding guests. "May I present Mr. and Mrs. Riley Finn?"
His eyes settled on Dawn's lithe form at the front of the church. Yes, it was definitely time to move on.
They all filed into the aisles as the wedding party gathered into a receiving line. The sun had set and soon they would be at the Bronze which Buffy had rented for the reception. Spike found that he was behind Angel in the line. Great, he'd be hear for effin' forever while Peaches mouthed platitudes to everyone.
When they finally reached Buffy, Angel had tears in his eyes. "You look as beautiful as any angel." Buffy smiled at his play on words as he hauled her into a bone-cracking embrace. Spike heard him murmur. "Be happy, Buffy. You deserve it." Buffy was left with tears in her eyes. Tears of joy for the future and for the sadness of the past. Apparently, Spike wasn't the only one starting a new chapter in his life. Hmmm. . .was that what the poof was doing with Dawn? Trying to forget?
Angel shook Riley's hand and said in a menacing but airy tone. "You hurt her and I'll make you a late night snack. Soul or no soul. Understand?"
