disclaimer on first part

Part 10

Cordelia brushed the vampire dust off herself, glad they'd left only one guard on duty. They must have felt she was safely locked away- but it had been easy to tempt the guard into entering her cell. All she'd had to do was to lift her hair and display her neck, with a few well-chosen taunts thrown in for good measure.

She'd had to sacrifice her Ferragamo shoes, wrenching off one of the wood heels to use as a stake; but it was better to do that than serve as body donor for the Mayor's wife.

She slid silently out of the cell door....

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Oz's arrow took out the last vampire stationed in front.

"There'll be more inside," Xander predicted. "Time to split up!"

The group divided, with Spike, Oz, and Willow heading up to Wilkins' office while Buffy, Giles and Xander made their way down into the basement. They flung the door wide, fanning out....

Only to find a dishevelled Cordelia, clutching a shoe.

"Cordy! You ok?"

"How can you ask that?" countered the brunette tearfully. "I just ruined a pair of three hundred dollar shoes!"

Buffy sighed in relief; then her eyes flew open in alarm. "There's no guards!"

"It's a trap!" Giles was immediately aware of the implications.

"Spike!.once Buffy's back where she belongs! With me."

"You mean, with US, right, Angel?" Faith grinned.

"First things first, everyone," Mayor Wilkins chirped. "We have a suitable vessel for my dear Amelia."

He smiled at a terrified Willow. "Sorry I must kill you, my dear...but your body will live on...as the mortal shell of my beloved wife."

Willow screamed loudly as two vampires forced her down across the Mayor's desk. He smiled and lightly touched her hair in what might have been affection. Then he placed an Egyptian pectoral over her chest.

He nodded at a nearby coffin, and a stawart vampire prised off the lid.

Inside were the mummified remains of Amelia Wilkins.

Pt. 11

Buffy hurtled into the Mayor's office, closely followed by Giles and Xander; and the concealed net parachuted neatly down over them.

"Take them alive," Instructed Wilkins, as Buffy was bound and dragged from the net.

"We only need Buffy," Faith smirked, as she pressed the stake closer against Spike's chest.

"Wrong." Mayor Wilkins smiled at her. "I may require some assistance from Mr. Giles; these Egyptian rituals can be confusing."

"But we don't need Spike," Angel grinned. "Go ahead, Faith...make Buffy a widow!"

Buffy strained against her bonds. "What's wrong, Angel? Jealous?"

His dark eyes burned while Faith scoffed, "WHY would Angel be jealous? You think you matter that much to him, B?"

Buffy nodded slowly. "I do. You're the one who doesn't count, Faith. Like always."

"Tell her, Angel!" Faith demanded, shrilly. "It's you and me...she's yesterday's lunch! Tell her!"

Angel smiled, and tilted Faith's head back in a passionate kiss.

Then...he snapped her neck.

"What are you doing?" screamed the Mayor, starting toward him.

Angel shrugged. "Just getting rid of the excess baggage."

He looked a command, and three of his vampire minions closed on the Mayor...

"You can't kill me!" Wilkins yelled. "I'm impervious!"

"Too bad," Angel said softly. "I can get rid of you, though."

The minions shoved Wilkins into the coffin with the body of his long-dead wife....and replaced the heavy stone lid. The Mayor kept screaming, but his voice was muffled.

Angel nodded to the vampires. " Take him to the docks and dump him; the hellmouth is mine!""

The trio staggered out with their burden; and the two holding Willow asked, "What about her?"

Angel considered, then made up his mind. "I'll have Buffy, Willow...and Giles," he decided. "But first..." he snatched up the stake that Faith had dropped, "what did I say about the excess baggage?"

Spike regarded him with icy contempt. "Not man enough to fight me, Soulboy?"

Angel laughed in genuine amusement. "Like I said,Spike, I haven't time for you now! I still have Buffy to play with, and Buffy's friends to kill."

His arm came back in a killing blow. "Say goodbye, Spike!"

"Noooo!" Buffy screamed, desperately flinging herself in front of Spike as the stake went in...

"Oops!" Angel grinned.

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Everyone had forgotten Cordelia.

Silently on her bare feet she crept forward, closing her hand carefully on Xander's discarded crossbow.

Her aim was beginner's luck; but it was very lucky indeed.

Angel's laugh changed to a deep gurgle as the arrow imbedded directly in his chest. He gave the bolt one incredulous look; and exploded into dust.

Then all hell broke loose....

Xander jumped one of the minions holding Willow while Oz pounced on the other. The distraction enabled Giles to grab a ruler from the Mayor's desk and stake them both.

With a roar of fury, Spike flung off both his captors...only to seize their collars and smash their heads together with a resounding crash. They fell; and he leaped over them to grab two more.

Xander and Giles double-teamed to take out yet another vampire, while Oz helped a shaken Willow to her feet.

Spike turned from the last of Angel's minions to find the room had grown quiet..Giles was kneeling beside Buffy while the others pressed close.

With a jolt of fear, the blond vampire hurried toward them. He pushed her friends aside as though they were paper figures; she was the only one he could see. Her eyes were closed and she was lying limply...

He whimpered in terror, not caring that the others could hear.

Her lashes fluttered...with infinite slowness the opal eyes opened.

"Spike?" It was a thread of a whisper; but it went through his heart with the force of a thunderbolt.

"I'm here, baby." He shoved Oz aside to get closer still, indifferent to courtesies.

Giles was holding her; he looked up anxiously. "We must get her to the hospital at once..."

"My van," Oz offered.

"Give her to me." Spike held out his arms.

Giles hesitated, then placed Buffy tenderly into them. With no further look or thought for anyone in the room, the vampire carried the Slayer out the door.

Pt. 12

Buffy shifted uncomfortably in her bed. "I hate hospitals," she whined.

"Stay right where you are, Slayer," Spike ordered from his seat on the windowsill.

"It's only for one night, Buffy," Willow tried to console her.

"Yeah...let that good ol' Slayer healing factor have a chance to work," Xander put in.

"Come on, Willow," Oz grabbed his girlfriend's hand. "Let's let Buffy get some rest."

"Excellent idea, Oz." Giles led the exodus from Buffy's room. "We'll come by tomorrow, Buffy."

Spike was left alone with his wife.

For a long moment neither spoke; then Buffy cleared her throat. "Thanks for...not letting my mother find out that I'm in the hospital. She'd...well."

He nodded. "I know."

Silence again. Buffy wished that he'd say something...anything. "Spike?"

"Yeah, pet?"

"Would...would you...come over by me?"

Wordlessly he got to his feet and crossed the room to stand beside her. She patted the bed, and gingerly he sat down, watching her as if he feared she'd vanish if he looked away.

Buffy made up her mind. She was sick of Spike treating her like she was a fragile piece of china.

"Spike..."

"Buffy..."

They both stopped, staring at one another.

"This is silly. I HAVE to know," Buffy said suddenly. "Spike, are you thinking of putting an end to our marriage?"

Spike's jaw dropped. "Thinking of...bloody hell, Buffy! Are you out of your mind? Of all the sodding, ridiculous..."

Buffy grinned as she listened to him rant. Suddenly she was feeling much better.

"And what's more, if you even THINK about getting rid of me, I'll..."

"Okay, okay!" Buffy interrupted. "I just wondered if that's what you'd want."

"Get it straight, Slayer," he growled. "You married me, you'll stick with me!"

"I got it, Spike," Buffy assured him breathlessly. "It's just...I thought...you really didn't want to...really didn't want me."

Spike closed his eyes in exasperation. "Didn't want you," he repeated, in a deceptively calm voice.

Buffy nodded uncertainly.

"Bloody hell!" He fairly lunged at her, grabbing her shoulders and kissing her ruthlessly.

And Buffy didn't mind a bit, returning his embrace with every bit of strength remaining to her.

"My God!" Spike held her away from him, gazing at her in dawning horror. "Oh luv," he whispered, "please tell me I didn't hurt you!"

She gave him a radiant smile. "You didn't. Don't you know Slayers are tough? In fact, I think I'll feel even better if you kiss me again!"

In answer, he simply climbed onto the hospital bed and slipped both arms around her. Tenderly, he brushed his lips against her forehead.

Buffy pouted. "Call that a kiss?"

Spike grinned. "I'll do better when you're well."

"I'm very well," Buffy insisted, rolling towards him. "I could go home right now.

He gave her the lightest swat, his eyes widening when he realized her hospital gown was backless.

Buffy giggled at the expression on his face. "Promise you'll take me home tomorrow?"

Spike gently brushed back her hair. "I promise. Can't do without my wife for longer than one night, can I?"

She shifted in his arms, pressing soft little kisses across his high cheekbones. "Mmmmm, I like to lie in your arms," she said, sleepily.

"It's where you belong, kitten."

Buffy snuggled closer. "Spike...how come you didn't...I mean, you never tried...uh..."

His mouth twisted ruefully. "Pet...two reasons. I wanted to give you time to...recover from your ordeal. And..."

"And what?" she prompted when he didn't finish.

"I thought that perhaps you still had...feelings...for my sire."

Buffy lifted her head to gaze into his questioning eyes. "I never had feelings for Angelus. For Angel, I did...and I always will...but I know he's gone forever. The man I loved is dead."

His face fell and he quoted softly, "To love a second time represents the triumph of hope over experience."

"Who said that?" she asked.

He shrugged. "Some writer," averting his face to conceal the hurt in his eyes.

Her hand reached up to cup his face, and bring him back to her. "I love you, Spike."

His head reared back, startled... and he gazed at her with the dawning of a wild hope in his blue eyes.

"You...you..." he fought to get the words out, but all he could manage was a harsh rasp. "Did you...just say you love me, Buffy?"

"Uh-huh. And, like Harry told Sally, an 'I love you too' would be nice."

But he couldn't speak, couldn't say anything more...could only clutch her to him, his vampire tears wetting her hair...

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Epilogue:

"Pet, did you realize it's our anniversary? We've been married one year ago today."

Buffy glanced up from her art history text to smile at her husband. "Of course I did!"

"We ought to celebrate," he insisted. "I have... a big surprise for you, luv!"

She grinned at his eagerness. Whatever it was, it couldn't be bigger than the surprise SHE had for HIM! But, obediently she trotted off to get ready for a night out at the Bronze.

It was late when she was finally dressed, mostly because Spike was determined to 'help' her. And his assistance usually meant that she ended up wearing nothing at all...

But eventually her persistence paid off, and she had the satisfaction of seeing his jaw drop when he saw her new dress of pewter velvet.

"Uh...kitten," he managed, swallowing with visible effort, "maybe we ought to forget the Bronze and just stay home? Maybe an early night..."

Buffy shook her head in amused exasperation. "Not on your life. After all the trouble I've been to, looking everywhere for the perfect dress, I want to show it off." Then, as his face fell, she relented. "But I guess we could leave the Bronze early..."

Spike beamed, then recollected his surprise.

Buffy gasped when she opened the case. "Spike! It's so...it's beautiful!"

Her sea-blue eyes were wide as he slipped the magnificent diamond on her finger. "Well, luv, you never got an engagement ring..."

"Because we were never engaged?" Buffy suggested.

"So I decided you must have one," Spike said firmly, ignoring her comment.

"Now it's time for my surprise...for you," Buffy murmured softly. She took his hand and led him to the closed door of the peach bedroom she'd once occupied.

Spike frowned. He hadn't entered that room in weeks; and thought his wife simply used it for storage. He didn't like being reminded of the early days of their marriage when they'd slept in separate rooms.

Buffy seemed sudden;ly nervous. "Um, Spike...do you remember you once said..."

"What, pet?"

"That you'd never share me with anyone?"

His face tautened. "I never will."

"Uh...that's just it...you'll have to."

He stared at her. "Buffy, what are you babbling about?"

She smiled impishly, and swung the door wide.

It was then that Spike got the shock of his life.

The walls had been painted with glowing vibrant figures from Mother Goose; Spike recognized the cow jumping over the moon, Little Boy Blue, and Bo-peep with some woolly sheep. In the center stood a gleaming brass cradle...and books and toys had been lovingly arranged on some shelves against the wall.

Spike looked around wildly. "Buffy!" he gasped. He groped for support; and his hand closed around a small brown teddy-bear.

"What...is it?" he implored the bear. "What...is all this?"

Buffy put both hands on her hips. "It's a nursery, of course!"

"Where..." he licked his dry lips. "Where's the baby?"

She smiled at him. "He'll be here, in about seven months."

Spike simply picked her up and held her so tight she finally was moved to protest.

"Oh pet. Oh, Buffy, Buffy I..."

"I know." she placed her fingers gently against his mouth.

He looked at her adoringly, his heart in his eyes. "I love you."

Buffy's smile widened. "I know you do, but Spike...."

"Hmmm?"

"You're still going to have to share!"