Chapter 12
Behind the wheel of his Bel Air, Spike wondered how things would go with Xander and Willow. Buffy had called them from LA to plan a meeting place between the three. After two hours of arguing, Spike finally had agreed that the news should come from Buffy alone. He wasn’t worried about Willow, she would take the news in stride. But Spike was afraid that the small wall of friendship he and Xander had created was sure to crumble after hearing the news of the engagement.
Buffy had assured Spike that she would convince her older sibling that she and Spike were ‘in love.’ Knowing that Buffy was trying to alleviate some of the pressure from him only made Spike feel guilty. One of the main reasons for the two of them to marry was to make life easier on the pregnant woman. Spike wasn’t too worried about his family. Joyce had been ecstatic on the phone. Unfortunately Rupert was the one who Spike was sure would see straight through the sudden confession of love. Spike just hoped his father would keep his opinions to himself. Spike pulled into his parents’ driveway, turned off the car and headed to the door.
Buffy wasn’t surprised to see Xander and Willow already sitting at a booth towards the back of the restaurant. Unconsiously, Buffy rested her hand on her slightly swollen abdomen as she made her way to the table. When Xander saw her, he jumped from his seat and grabbed her in a fierce hug.
“I missed you so much! Buffy, please don’t ever do that again,” he whispered in her hair.
Buffy pulled from her older brother and felt tears fall from her eyes to match the ones in her brother’s deep brown eyes.
“I promise, no more running away.” The two siblings chuckled in happiness at seeing each other again.
“OK my turn!” Buffy left her brother’s embrace to form a new one with her oldest friend. After all three sat down, Buffy ordered a Sprite from the waitress.
“I am not sure how to tell you this, so I think I will just go ahead and say it. While I was away, I had plenty of time to think about what I was going to do. All the girls at the dorm I stayed at were pregnant or new moms. Some of the girls were opting for adoption, but I couldn’t see allowing another person raise my baby. I just couldn’t stand the thought of him or her being out there in the world and not knowing what was happening. I also knew that it was going to be so hard to have the baby by myself.” Buffy saw Xander about to protest so she hurriedly continued. “I know that I would have your help Xander, but you need to start your own life and find someone to have your own family with. I love you very much, but I will not allow you to continue living your life through me.” Buffy took a sip from her soda. “Spike came down to see me.” After a long deep breath, Buffy continued. “We decided to get married.”
Behind her suddenly closed eyes, Buffy waited for the explosion.
“Buff, is this what you want?” Willow asked quietly.
“Yea, you don’t have to marry the guy. I mean, how much do you know about him? I probably know him more than you.” Frustration and a slight amount of anger was woven into Xander’s voice.
“I know that the three of you have been hanging out while I was gone. So you may know him better. Let me ask you this, is he a good man Xander?”
Brown locked into green as Buffy tried to see what her brother was feeling. After a few moments of silence Xander nodded.
“I can’t think of any man I would rather see my little sis with. But do you love him?”
“Do you think I would marry without love?”
Buffy and Spike had already decided that lying to Xander would be difficult but necessary. By stating she would never marry without love it would not be a complete lie. Both Buffy and Spike loved their baby very much.
“Now, let’s eat. I am starved.”
****
Spike wasn’t the least bit surprised to find his mother in his room holding his tux.
“We haven’t even set a date yet Mom. It may be a bit soon to have that pressed.” He grinned at her surprised face.
“I’m sorry honey, I didn’t hear you come in. Where is Buffy? I can’t wait to start making plans. We need to hurry if you want to be married before she starts to show.”
Joyce’s excitement took over the small room. She suddenly stood up and pulled her son into a tight hug.
“I can’t believe my baby is going to be married and have a baby of his own soon!” Spike suddenly heard a sniffle.
“Mom are you crying?”
Joyce pulled back from Spike and wiped her eyes. “I just never thought this would happen. You were with Dru for years but I knew the two of you would never get married.” After hugging him one more time she started out of his room. “So have you gotten her a ring yet?” Spike followed her into a room down the hall.
“No I haven’t really had time. I just asked her to marry me this morning. I thought maybe we could go shopping for one tomorrow.”
Truth be known, Spike hadn’t really thought that far.
Joyce pulled out a drawer in one of her side tables and took out a key.
“Can you take this down honey?” she said pointing to a painting on the wall.
Behind the painting was a safe Spike knew held his mother’s most beloved items. After she put the key in the lock she turned the dial above the handle. She reached in and pulled out a small bag.
“This was your grandmother’s. She gave it to me the day you were born.” Inside the bag was a small diamond ring. “As you know when your grandparents got married they had very little money. They were married years before my father became wealthy. Anyway, I know it is not very large, but I believe Buffy would like it better than anything new. And I think it will less intimidating for her than something larger. I know it will take her a long time to adjust to having money. I don’t want her to think we are snobbish. Or that we feel money is more important than love.” Joyce Giles gazed into her son’s eyes. “To me this ring has been a physical reminder of a love that people can build on, that grows, and can be nurtured into a wonderful emotion. My Mom and Dad grew more and more in love everyday, just as your father and I have done. And although this ring was the smallest on my mother’s hand, this was the one that she always most proud of.” She handed the ring to her son and smiled. “But she may also want a ring of her own. Even so please give this to her. It is only fitting that my daughter should have this ring. Hopefully it will make her feel closer to the family.”
Guilt began to seep into Spike’s veins. ‘I hope you still feel this way in twenty months,’ he thought.