Chapter 25: Hell’s Bells (2)
Ignoring the ramblings of a drunken man, who apparently was the whelp’s father, Spike crossed the crowded room. He had just spotted Buffy, after fruitlessly looking for her for a good half hour. Before he could say a word however, she grabbed his elbow and dragged him along her, whispering: “You get Mr. Harris. Keep him away from the bar and out of trouble for a moment. I’ll calm down his wife and the most excited of the demons. Got it ?”
He shook his head, pulling his arm away from her. “I am not.” he began.
“Thank you,” she interrupted with a smile, “I knew I could count on you.”
With that, she gave him a quick kiss on the lips and pushed him to the man who was now insulting the demons, unaware of how close he was to his own death. With a curse, he grabbed him by the arm and led him forcefully to one of the corners of the room, ignoring his protests.
“So, I understand you’re the wh. Harris father ?” Spike said conversationally while grinding his teeth.
“Yes I am,” the drunk man replied haughtily. “I’m the one paying for all that stuff.”
He gestured to the room for emphasis. Spike nodded, repressing an irritated growl. He glanced at the room, noticing that Buffy had once again disappeared. Having nothing better to do, he decided to play her game, hoping to earn cookies points.
“So you must have some nice money, uh ? What do you do for a living ?”
Somebody would have to pay for that, he repeated to himself as he listened to the tedious man. Rarely in his unlife had he come to hate someone as quickly. He was almost sorry for the whelp to have such a wanker for a father.
After a little while, as the guests had taken place in their seats and were waiting for the ceremony to begin at last, Spike managed to rid himself of Mr. Harris. Apparently, the man had been more than happy to find someone ready to listen to him as he vehemently criticized, in no particular order and in details, his wife, son, future daughter in law and family, co-workers, and the IRS.
Needing a cigarette very badly, the vampire walked outside the lodge, leaning by the door, seeking a little quiet time. His idea of a date certainly didn’t include a girl who kept disappearing and babysitting a drunken fool.
As he was taking a long drag on his fag, the groom stepped out of the building, closing the door behind him. He looked completely shaken, not that Spike cared. As his eyes fell on the vampire, his expression turned sour.
“What the hell are you doing here ?” he spat.
“Smoking, you git. What about you ? Getting cold feet ?”
Xander’s fists closed, and Spike tensed, ready to duck. But strangely, the blow didn’t come.
“I can’t marry her,” he said, as if to himself, his eyes unfocused.
Spike arched an eyebrow, pondering whether to probe or not. With an internal sigh, he decided that letting the whelp run away would ruin the wedding, which would upset Buffy, which would lead to nothing good for him later that night.
“You must be deaf, dumb and blind if you don’t want a woman like her,” Spike commented
Xander seemed to remember he wasn’t alone, and threw an angry look at the vampire.
“Don’t you dare judge me ! You have no idea how bad things will turn if I marry her ! I’m doing her a favor by stopping this now.”
Spike threw the remaining of his cigarette to the floor. “You’re right about one thing. I have no idea what your marriage will be like. And neither do you. You won’t know until you actually get there.”
He took a step toward Xander, the shadow of a smirk on his lips. “Don’t tell me you’re afraid, Harris. You’ve fought more demons with the Slayer than there are freaks behind this door. And now you’re afraid of a woman ?”
Again, Xander seemed about to hit him.
“I am not afraid.” he started.
“Yes you are,” Spike cut him. “You’re afraid of hurting her. You’re afraid of not making her happy. Guess what. Everybody is. Of course you can never give her all that she deserves. No one can. But you can try. And try your best. And try again if it doesn’t work. At least, that’s what you do when you love. Do you love her, whelp ? Or was it all a show ?”
Walking by Xander, Spike opened the door and stood by it, lighting another cigarette, waiting. “What will it be, Harris ? Run like a coward ? Or try like a man?”
The brunette gave him a hard look. “What do you know about being a man ? You’re a thing.”
Spike only shrugged. “Who cares ? We’re talking about you, aren’t we ?”
Xander glanced inside, where he could see a few of the guests. The quartet was beginning to play softly.
“What if, however hard I try, it’s not enough ?” he whispered.
“What if it is ?” Spike asked back.
After taking a big breath, Xander nodded.
“Don’t tell her.”
Spike gave him an offended look. “As if I would admit exchanging three civil words with you. I have a reputation to keep !”
Just then, Willow appeared by the door, giving a puzzled look at Spike before turning her attention to Xander.
“Everybody’s ready. Time to get married, Xander !”
Xander passed by Spike without giving him a glance, taking Willow outstretched hand. Then he paused, and still without looking at the vampire, said : “Are you coming or what, Spike ? It’s not like we’re going to wait for you to finish your cigarette.”
Spike crushed the half smoked fag under his heel and followed the two Scoobies inside, grinning with self-satisfaction. Buffy would have no reason to be upset. And, hopefully, she’d give him reasons to be happy.
The string quartet started playing the processional, and all the guests turned to watch, coming down the aisle, one after the other, slow and solemn, Willow, Halfrek, Buffy and Tara. The three bridesmaids took their place on the left, while the groom’s best friend settled by his side on the right. Anya finally appeared and everyone stood as she started gliding down the aisle, resplendent, her eyes fixed on Xander. Buffy couldn’t help smiling at the happiness that emanated from her.
As the bride reached the altar, the minister started talking, but his words were covered by a roar.
“NO !”
Behind the confused guests, a small old man was transforming into a huge demon.
“There will be no wedding, Anyanka !” he shouted again as he started coming forward.
In a few strides, Buffy had reached the creature that was so rudely interrupting the ceremony. After a couple of kicks and blows, she twisted its neck at it fell at her feet, lifeless. She raised her head to see all the guests staring at her, some with complete incomprehension, some with fear, a few with respect. She was suddenly very glad she couldn’t blush.
“Unless someone else wants to object,” she said as calmly as she could, “the ceremony can continue.”
After a brief pause, the minister started talking again, his voice slightly shaking. Anya didn’t seem troubled by the incident, and Xander’s frown disappeared after a couple of seconds. Buffy took advantage of the fact that people were looking toward the front again to grab the slain demon by an arm and pull it away. She was soon joined by Spike, who helped her hide the thing in one of the dressing rooms. They would have time later to dispose of the body.
Quickly, they returned to the salon where the ceremony was proceeding. Unwilling to attract attention again by returning to the altar, Buffy stood behind everybody, by the end of the aisle. Spike settled next to her and took her hand, making her smile unconsciously.
“I, Anya, want to marry you, Xander, because I love you and I always will. Before I met you, I was, like, a different person. Not even a person, really. And I had seen what love did to people. It was hurt. And sadness. Alone was better. And then suddenly there was you, and you knew me, you saw me, and it was this…thing. You make me feel warm, and safe. So I get it now, I finally get love, Xander. I really do.”
There was a short silence, and Xander’s voice rose, strangled, thick with emotion.
“I, Xander, want to marry you, Anya, because I love you and always will. I can’t promise you’ll never be hurt. I can’t promise you’ll never be sad. But I do promise every day of my life I will try my best to make you happy. And if my best isn’t enough, I will try even harder. And never stop trying. I promise, Anya. I really do.”
Spike’s pressure on her hand grew just a little and Buffy looked at him briefly, surprised to find him actually paying attention to the ceremony. Her eyes returned to the couple in time to see them exchange their rings and the traditional kiss. At the same instant, Spike’s lips brushed her cheek, and he whispered : “I promise, Buffy.”