Chapter 25: Epilogue
August 2002
“So that’s everything?” Giles wiped the sweat from his forehead as they managed to secure the trunk latch.
“I think so.”
Spike turned and groaned as Buffy made her way down the porch stairs. “Sweetheart, there’s no way that’s going to fit. We’re not moving to Alaska, we can get it the next time we’re here.”
She batted her eyes. “But honey, I need these clothes.”
“If you can find a way to squeeze them in, be my guest.”
Jenny appeared on the porch. “William, Rupert, do you want a glass of water?”
“Yes, please,” the two echoed in chorus.
She reappeared shortly with the glasses and then moved to assist Buffy as she tried to reorganize the car to accommodate one more bag.
“Women.”
“That’s the truth. Can’t live with’m, couldn’t live without mine.”
Giles smiled at Spike as he drained his glass. “You know we’re proud of you William. Both of you. Even after that little stunt this summer. You’re going to do well in L.A.”
Spike flushed a little. “I hope so. And I’ll take care of her, won’t let her down.”
“And she’ll do the same for you.”
“Spike, honey, I think I got it,” Buffy crowed as she came around the car. “Hey, why the long faces?”
“No long faces. Don’t know how you got that in there.”
She stood on her toes and kissed his cheek. “Feminine ingenuity.”
And suddenly it was that moment where the good-byes had to be said. Hugs were exchanged, promised to visit soon and tears barely suppressed as Giles and Jenny watched the hatchlings that they’d been given get ready to fly away.
With a final wave, they stood on the front porch as the car turned onto Revello and drove down the street.
Jenny wiped her eyes. “It’s not the first time they’ve left Rupert, why is this so hard?”
He kissed the top of his wife’s head lovingly. “Because this time it’s for real. They’re ready though.”
“Are we?”
“Ready to let them go? As much as parents ever are I suppose.”
“Thank you for helping me raise my boy, Rupert.”
He smiled. “And thank you for helping with my girl.”
He bent and their lips met in a kiss.
~~~~~~~~~~
“So pet, whose turn is it to have control of the stereo?”
She wrinkled her nose. “No punk, you promised. Besides, I thought maybe you and I could just talk.” She slid across the seat and snuggled against his side. “Everything’s been so busy lately, I feel like we’ve barely gotten to see each other the last week.”
“Well, we could have talked last night, but someone seemed to have other things on their mind.” He laughed, loving the way she still blushed at his innuendo. “And other uses for their mouth, which were greatly appreciated.”
“Yeah, well, not doing that while you’re driving on the freeway, mister.” Ignore his feigned groan of disappointment, she steered the conversation back around.
“So what happened with Angel’s little send-off?”
“Not much. Wish things hadn’t been so awkward, would have been nice to have the group together one last time, but certainly understand that Cordy wouldn’t have wanted to be there.”
“Is he excited?”
“Sort of. He still wishes he’d have gotten an NFL draft spot, but considering how much he fell apart there at the end of the season and such, he was lucky to get into the European league.”
“Which team is he playing for again?”
“Scottish Claymores, I think that’s their name. He’s hoping he can do well enough to get back over here and play pro. Suppose at least he still gets to play this way. He’s nervous though.”
“He’s never been quite the same, has he?”
“No, never seen a bloke take a hit quite that hard. Almost broody. Never would have thought that Angel would have been so broke up over something like that. It sounds harsh, but I’d have thought he would have been relieved.”
“I think I know why.”
“Oh?”
“You know last weekend, after we finished unpacking Cordy at her new apartment and you and Xander headed on back? Well, we made a bunch of margaritas and were just unpacking boxes, and stuff, kind of our last slumber party you know.”
“Uh-huh.”
“So Willow started teasing her that she moved to San Francisco so she could stalk Wesley again, you know he moved back there to work for one of his dad’s businesses. Well, Cordy was joking about it at first and swore it was just for the design school and to have a change of pace.”
Buffy traced the band beneath her engagement ring as she continued. “Willow made some crack about me jinxing Cordy catching the bouquet at the wedding when we eloped this summer, but that she was still trying to snag Mr. Right. And Spike, she just lost it. I guess she’d had just enough to hit the crying stage, but it was like the floodgates opened. Turns out we weren’t the first. She and Angel actually got married.”
He gasped. “They were married?”
Buffy nodded. “She got it annulled after she lost the baby and just stonewalled him after that. Wouldn’t talk to him or anything. You remember how mopey he was for so long. She said he kept trying to get her to talk with him, and started telling her he loved her and wanted to make things right. They had it out sometime at the end of January and that’s when she decided she was leaving town. She said she loved him, but couldn’t let him break her heart again and she knew she had to make a real change, get some space or they’d have ended up back together.”
Spike nodded. “That explains a lot. Feel sorry for the both of them. Maybe they’ll be able to start over now.”
“I hope so. Xander got all settled in yesterday right?”
“Yep. He and Will are trying the domestic bliss route, though I think he’s still a little nervous about living with her. She’s already getting offers from a lot of schools for her post-graduate work and he’s not sure where that leaves them. But they’ve got this year to work stuff out.”
“That’s good.” Buffy laid her head against his shoulder and watched the highway.
“Pet?”
“Yes?”
“Are you sorry about what we did? ‘Bout running off to Vegas and getting married instead of the big wedding like Jenny and Giles had?”
Buffy shrugged. “I guess a teensy part of me wishes it had been more elaborate. But hey, it was my idea, wasn’t it?”
“I know. But Buffy, we didn’t have to. I’d have been happy to wait.”
“I know, Spike. It’s just everything was so crazy, with you graduating and everyone moving, and you saw how complicated all that stuff was to plan a big to-do.”
She sat up and looked at him, even though he couldn’t meet her eyes for more than a brief glance as he navigated the road.
“I was just ready. I was really scared for a long time about what was best for me, about if I could really love someone and more importantly it I could trust them with my heart. And I knew when I woke up that day that all my questions had been answered, you were in my heart and you were there to stay. So yeah, I know everyone thought we were crazy, but it was right for us. So I don’t regret it.”
She bit her lip and then continued, “Spike, I don’t want you to think that I thought getting married would make everything like a big fairy tale ending, cause I don’t. I know there’s gonna be stuff in the future, and there’ll be times when we fight or misunderstand each other or screw up. And there’s all kinds of stuff we can’t control, like what happened to our parents. But the one thing I’m know for sure, is that my life is better with you in it. And I wanted you to know that I meant that. So I’m very proud to be your wife.”
He pulled her back against him and smiled. “You take my breath away, Buffy, you always have. Love you, sweetheart.”
“Love you too.”
They rode on in silence, content in each other’s company until Spike exited the freeway and followed the twists and turns to the small house near the campus they had found.
He pulled into the driveway and looked her in the eyes. “I think we’re finally home.”
The End.