Chapter 46: Surprise
Finding a reason to go to Revello before driving Anya home wasn’t something Spike had thought about, but the ex-demon took care of the problem as soon as they exited the church after having settled everything with the priest. She casually announced that there was something she wanted Spike to change on the shop’s website, and Buffy never questioned that she needed to come home with them for that. She did bring up going on patrol by herself while Spike went with Anya, but he had little trouble making her forego that, arguing that Chloe was undoubtedly out there already and that after all the recent events Buffy needed some quiet time.
As he drove them through the town, the two women discussed flowers and colors, and Spike was quite content that they were not asking him his opinion. He was actually quite content, period. Finding a minister who wouldn’t question the time they wanted to get married and who had even suggested himself making the cross as inconspicuous as possible had been nice. And unexpected. Spike wasn’t too sure what to think about the man overhearing his talks with Buffy, but he had a feeling that they could trust him with their secrets. Not because he was a man of religion, that had little meaning to the vampire, but rather because of the impression he had had while listening and talking to him.
When they arrived home, all the lights were out, and the house appeared empty. But, as he opened the door for Buffy to step inside first, the lights were suddenly all turned on as the Scoobies revealed themselves and their surprise. As she stared, completely stunned, at their house, newly decorated with streamers, balloons, ribbons and banners, Spike eased the duster off her shoulders and pushed her toward her clapping friends. A group hug followed, from which he deftly and almost miraculously escaped.
He had heard Anya explain to Xander earlier that the Witches were going to Revello Drive to prepare a surprise wedding shower for Buffy, which would also serve as a big all-is-better-we-survived-let’s-celebrate party. Dawn and Steven were also present, of course, as well as Giles, surprisingly without Andrea, a happier looking Manon, and the poof and the cheerleader, who had also escaped the general hug time by retreating to the living room.
In the midst of general confusion and laughter, Buffy was led to the living room. At the same time, Anya shooed the five men out of it and confined them to the kitchen, with promises of dreadful vengeance if they dared put their noses into what was women’s business.
“I didn’t have enough time to get a giant fake cake and a dancer,” Xander told Spike with a hint of humor in his voice, “so the bachelor’s party won’t be that great, but at least I got your favorite beer.”
With that, he pulled a few imported beers out of the freezer and gave one to each man. Spike noticed that Angel was glaring at the bottle in Steven’s hands, and he intervened before the ex-vampire could object.
“One beer won’t kill him, Peaches. Especially not a good one.”
The glare shifted from the bottle to Spike, but Angel didn’t say a word, and finally shrugged his agreement. There were peals of laughter coming in waves from the living room, and it didn’t take long for the men to silently decide to leave the house. They didn’t go far, just to the back deck and garden, and all took seats within a few feet of each other.
“So, what do we do now?” Spike asked after a minute or so of comfortable silence. “If it’s a party in my honor, I expect to be entertained.’
“Yeah, well, if I had had more time to plan, I could have come up with something decent,” Xander tried to justify himself. “What’s the sudden rush in getting married?”
“You mean aside from your wife pestering us?” Spike shot back, his tone softening the words. “I finally understand why…”
He cut himself in time, remembering that the rest of the company didn’t know about Xander’s cold feet episode on his own wedding day.
“Anyway,” he continued after taking a swig of beer. “I don’t really mind a quiet night. Nice change after a bit too much agitation.”
There were a few nods at that.
“Talking about agitation, you might be happy to know the Initiative or whatever they call themselves now is out of town. And hopefully for good this time,” Giles said casually.
Spike arched an interested eyebrow at him. “How do you know, Watcher?”
“Angel and I had a little talk with Riley and his direct superior. I think they both understood it will be in their best interest not to try to interfere in Sunnydale’s business again.”
There was a definite Ripper’s undertone in Giles voice, and when Spike glanced at Angel, the wicked turn of his lips briefly made him wonder about his soul. A quick glance at Xander and Steven revealed that they apparently didn’t know any more than he did about what had happened.
“I have this feeling it would be a lot of fun to hear how this little talk went exactly,” Spike commented with a small grin.
Giles and Angel exchanged a glance, and both shook their heads.
“What I would like to know,” Angel changed the subject, “was what exactly happened to Riley to put him in that state. I’ve never seen anyone so…”
His voice trailed off, and Spike had the very distinct impression that he did remember someone as broken as the soldier had probably been. His glance turned inquisitive, and Spike’s lips curved in a smile around his bottle. Nice to know he hadn’t completely lost it.
“Who is Riley?” Steven asked suddenly, his voice perfectly inexpressive. “Was he hurt?”
“Riley is a wanker who had nothing better to do than chain me to a wall while Buffy needed supervision,” Spike replied, trying not to sound too smug. “For some reason, he had the very strange idea that I had put the Slayer under thrall. And, no, he isn’t hurt. Not physically, at least.”
Spike was surprised to hear Xander chuckle, and he cocked a questioning eyebrow at him.
“That’s just funny,” the brunette tried to explain. “You can’t even do thrall.”
It was Angel’s turn to laugh, briefly, and all eyes turned to him.
“Sorry,” he mumbled, obviously stifling more laughs, before throwing a small smile at Spike that said he had understood what Spike at done, the general idea if not the exact details.
“Harris, for your information, because I usually don’t play with thralls doesn’t mean I can’t do them.”
The shocked look on Xander’s face was utterly satisfying. Giles was frowning, apparently thinking about something. Steven didn’t seem traumatized or appalled. All good.
“You… can do thrall?” Xander muttered, almost incredulous. “You too, Angel?”
“Hey, human here, remember?” Angel reminded him, his amusement at Xander’s surprise very loud in his voice. “No more thrall powers than you.”
“But all this time,” Xander insisted, “you could have…”
“We could have,” Spike interrupted him, “but we didn’t. Not our style.”
There was a short pause, until Giles added, his voice suddenly very cool:
“And I would imagine that neither of you would have needed to bother developing thrall while you had an expert close by.”
It took an instant for Spike to understand what the Watcher was saying, and when he did he felt a pang of guilt run through him. He shot a look at Angel, who apparently had caught the meaning of Giles words too.
“I didn’t mean it like that,” The Watcher said, slightly apologetic, when he noticed their sudden uneasiness. “Just thinking out loud. Maybe we can find another subject to talk about?”
“Something everyone understands, for example,” Steven suggested dryly.
And so, they found another subject. And two hours later, they were still talking and laughing when Giles announced that it was time for him to turn in. He claimed that his plane was early and he wanted to rest before a long trip, but Spike suspected that he wanted to spend some time with his bird before flying away. He didn’t say anything however, and simply reminded the Watcher to be back to Sunnydale in time for the wedding. The man had soon left, Xander with him as he had offered him a ride back to his hotel. Steven also momentarily deserted to satisfy natural needs, leaving a vampire and his human Sire together.
*****
Playing idly with an empty bottle, Angel observed Spike as he took long drags off his cigarette. His Childe feigned casualness, but he knew him too much not to see the underlying tension. Or maybe he was just projecting his own. But why would he be nervous, after all? Why would either of them be?
“Elisabeth Angela was almost cute,” Spike said at last, breaking the too heavy silence. “But William Connor? Couldn’t you have found something less… poncy?”
“I think it fits you perfectly,” Angel replied smugly. “And just be glad I didn’t have you become American. I had to pay extra for the British passport.”
Spike’s reply was an exaggerated horrified shudder.
“Your money is in my duster,” he said after a couple of seconds. “Remind me to give it back to you before you leave.”
Angel couldn’t help staring at the blonde in front of him. Spike, offering to give back money without someone twisting his arm? That was surely the sign of an impending apocalypse!
“Keep it. Buffy’s gonna need a nice dress, you a tux, and rings. Or get yourself a nice honeymoon.”
The vampire’s eyes narrowed, his lips set in a thin line.
“You don’t have to pay for that,” he said abruptly.
“I don’t have to,” Angel acquiesced. “Doesn’t mean I can’t.”
“Why? Buffy bites you, you buy her a dress? Sorry, I don’t see the logic in that.”
Angel let out a deep sigh, raising his eyes to the sky.
“Sometimes I wonder why I ever bothered turning you,” he said, mildly annoyed. “You are the most stubborn and thick headed creature I ever had to deal with.”
“And here I thought that the cheerleader had that crown. Did you shag her yet?”
The unexpected change of topic, delivered deadpan with just a slightly raised eyebrow left Angel speechless for a second. And then he did the only sensible thing. He laughed. He realized now that Spike was just falling back into old habits and doing what he did best. Irritate his Sire for the sheer pleasure of it. First questioning his choice of names, then proposing to give back money he probably suspected Angel wouldn’t want, asking questions to which he either already knew the answers or knew he wouldn’t get a reply…
In another time, another place, another life, the vampire would have gotten a beating for purposefully annoying his Sire. Or a ‘shag’, as he so elegantly put it. Or both. But it wasn’t the time and place anymore. And Angel doubted he wanted neither. All his annoying Childe wanted was, well, to be annoying.
“You’re impossible, you know?” he announced, shaking his head. “And what I do with Cordy is none of your business, boy.”
The eyebrow raised just a little more, and there was a definite light of mischief in the clear blue eyes that were fixing Angel. He could feel there was more coming on this train of thoughts, so he once more changed the subject to something safer. His developing relationship with Cordelia wasn’t exactly something he wanted to discuss with anyone, and especially not his Childe when he was in a playful mood.
“Did you ask Steven yet?”
The amused look was wiped off Spike’s face instantly, replaced by nothing Angel could recognize. Before Spike could answer, the screen door was pushed open and Steven reappeared.
“Ask me what?” he asked as he handed out both older men fresh beers and settled down with a soda.
Spike made a face, as if he had a bad taste in his mouth, and Angel wondered briefly if he had changed his mind.
“Ask if you would be my best man for the wedding,” the blonde said too impassively. “But I’ll understand if you don’t…”
“Sure,” the teen interrupted him. “I’d be glad to.”
Spike’s features relaxed into a relieved smirk, and he raised his bottle in a silent toast. Steven returned the gesture with a smile of his own, and Angel couldn’t help grinning at the picture they made. Strange how these two sons of his could be so similar when so many things separated them.
“So,” Steven said hesitantly after a second, his smile fading slightly, “what’s a best man?”