Chapter 10: A Simple kind of life.
“So what did you say?”
“Tara! What was I suppost to say? He is crazy! Completely nutso! This is like the 3rd time I have been alone with him.” Buffy’s green eyes were wide with disbelief. “Who thinks like that! I mean marry him? Really, marry a guy I hardly know.”
“Buffy, It’s not that uncommon. You two obviously had an attraction to each other, or you wouldn’t be here now.” Tara said calmly.
“Have you seen him? Of course I am attracted to him. He has these eyes,” one side of Buffy’s lips turned up in a slight smirk, “I swear I could see the ocean in them that night.”
“And he seems like a nice guy.”
“Yeah, he is nice, or Willow at least says he is.” Buffy reached for her water bottle, she took a drink then said, “I just don’t see why he would want to marry me.”
“This is why all men should be castrated.” Buffy and Tara turned to find Anya in the doorway. “Well except for Ben Affleck. He should be able to reproduce as much as he wants. JLo is one lucky girl from the Bronx.”
Buffy let out a breath of air she didn’t realize she had been holding. “I know I am going to regret this but what are you talking about, Anya?”
“Well, since you asked,” Anya said, as she moved into Tara’s office and sat down in one of the chairs. Or she tried to; Anya had to arch her back and grab the armreast before sitting down in the chair. “Buffy, you are smart, very attractive and easy to get along with. A marriage between the two of you could be very beneficial for the both of you. You get all the perks of his money, you know, like a home, college, a car. And since you have already proven you’re easy he can have as many orgasms as he wants.”
“Anya!”
“Well, it’s true. She has much to gain by marrying Spike. And men are so funny about sex. They will do just about anything to interlock bodies.”
“Anya, I may be easy, but I am not a slut. I am not going to sleep with him for money.”
“Oh that’s even better. Marry him but never give it up. That seems like a great punishment for him.”
“Anya, that’s enough. I know you mean well, but I am not after revenge or his money!” Buffy was trying to hold back her anger.
“All I’m am saying is that marrying Spike would be beneficial to you both.” Anya huffed as she tried to stand back up. After seeing her friend struggle Buffy got up and helped her out of the chair. “Thank you. I think I am going to grab a bag of chips and watch some TV.”
Buffy watched Anya leave. “She does have a point.”
“That marrying Spike could be a good thing?” Tara asked.
“That and JLo is a very lucky girl from the Bronx.” They both laughed.
“Buffy maybe you should just talk to Spike. He does seem like a nice person.” ‘Plus very hot,’ Tara added silently.
Buffy glanced at the clock. “Crap, I have to get to work. Thanks Tara, I’ll see you later.”
“Bye, Buffy, I’ll see you later.”
At the halfway point between LA and Sunnydale, Spike stopped. From his spot on the side of the highway he watched cars pass him by. ‘What am I doing?’ He got out of his still running vehicle and walked towards the passenger side. He leaned his head on the door frame. ‘Go back man.’
“Why?” he said to himself. ‘Because she has given you a gift you never knew you wanted.’
“Go back.” Spike repeated the montra as his feet began to pull him to the driver side. The drive back into LA was a quick one.
With purposeful steps Spike walked up to the (front of the) Madonna House. He began knocking, no one answered. Spike opened the door and walked in. “Hello?” He waited. “Hello,” he said louder. Spike saw a woman coming down the long hall.
“Spike?” He saw Tara, the girl from earlier. “Buffy’s not here right now.”
“Oh. Where is she?”
“Work.” Tara motioned for him to follow her.
“This is my office. Why don’t you sit down? Buffy’s only going in to help a coworker for an hour or so. She’ll be back soon.” Spike sat down in an old office chair. “Buffy hasn’t really told me very much about you.”
Spike gave a small smile. “I suppose that’s because she really doesn’t know much about me.”
“Do you think it is wise to ask women who don’t know you to marry you?”
“She told you about that?” Spike asked surprised.
“Yes. Were you serious?” Spike sat back in the chair wishing once again for a smoke.
“Marriage seems to be a good step.”
“Because of the baby? “
“Yes.” Spike closed his eyes. ‘Would I be doing this if there was no baby? Maybe. Just to get her out of that home life.’ “But Buffy has other problems. I can help her with those problems also.” ‘That’s true.’ He thought. ‘She may have been heading for college, but she would still have to go home for holidays and family events, funerals, birthdays, weddings. I could take her away from that.’
“Do you love her?”
‘Don’t ask that!’ “Do I love her? I think that’s between Buffy and myself.” Tara seemed satisfied with that answer.
“I think you should talk to her, but not right now. Wait until she comes back from work. I can show you her room, if you like.” Tara stood and began moving out of the tiny office. She lead him down a small corridor and stopped at a staircase. “Buffy’s room is the second door on the right. Try not to let any of the girls see you.” At his questioning look she said, “Men aren’t allowed in the dorm rooms.”
“Maybe I should wait for her down here?”
“I wouldn’t worry about it. I don’t think Buffy will be here much longer anyway.” Tara smiled at Spike and headed back to her office.