Chapter 18: A Fresh Start
The rest of the honeymoon was uneventful. Spike pulled the cushions off the couch and returned to his original plan of making a pallet on the floor. Buffy only smiled when he joked that the pallet would cause less sexual tension. They decided on the second day to begin looking for an apartment. Having already agreed to stay with Spike’s parents until they found an apartment, both wanted to avoid having to share a bed.
“So what excuse are you using for us havin’ to get a three bedroom?” Buffy asked as she pulled out a notebook with a list of buildings Rupert owned.
“I just mentioned that someone might want to help when the baby gets here.” Spike smirked at her confused look.
“I don’t get it.”
“Do you really think mum won’t be at the house all the time after the baby is born?” Spike pulled into the parking lot of the first apartment complex on the list. “OK, this one fits the criteria of close to the campus, but does not have a lot of students.” As they entered the building, Spike walked over to the manager’s office. “So, when are you going to enroll?”
Buffy stopped to adjust her skirt. Having finally gotten to the stage where she was beginning to show, all her clothes were becoming snug around her middle. “I was hoping I could go tomorrow. I know I am cutting it close, but I should be able to get into a few basic courses.” She began to wander down the long hallway towards the back of the building. As she spotted a door with a smokey, opaque, white window, Buffy turned back to Spike. “I’m gonna head outside ok?” Spike nodded and went to meet the manager.
Opening the door, Buffy gasped in surprise. The English garden courtyard was full of rose bushes and hedges. A pathway of old world-style cobblestone pattern seemed to allow a traveler movement in every direction. Buffy found herself following the center pathway. So moved by the grand garden, she was surprised to find her feet had led her in front of a fountain so vast in size she had to step back and crane her head to see the statue at the top. A smiled played on her lips as she took in the stone child playing with a ball at the top of the fountain.
“Buffy?” Turning toward Spike’s voice, Buffy headed back to the main building. “It’s beautiful isn’t it?” A soft smile and nod was her reply.
As beautiful as the courtyard was it held no comparison to the second floor apartment. Leaving the men behind, Buffy set out to explore the spacious apartment. The ceiling were high; ‘At least 9 feet,’ she thought. A light mahogany stain glazed the hardwood floors. The windows, doors, floors and ceiling were trimmed with wide baseboards. The living, dining, and kitchen space were all open; only a bar separated the kitchen from the other two rooms.
Buffy moved down a small hallway to the first room. Opening the door, she saw a large window opposite the door. Buffy saw the advertised pool beyond the clear glass. Excitement began to build as she searched for the master bedroom. The next door led to a moderately sized bathroom, decorated in soft rose tones and light cream tiles. Quickly moving to the door at the end of the hall, Buffy found a room with windows larger then the one in the first room. Buffy moved into the room. A large closet was across from the row of windows, and a set of glass French doors led into a study on the other side of the room. A gasp left her mouth as she spotted another set of French doors which opened to a terrace overlooking the courtyard. “This is it,” Buffy said to herself.
“I am so happy to hear that. Hate to say it but I was afraid you were gonna drag me all over Sunnydale.” Spinning around, Buffy found Spike leaning against the frame of one side of the French door. “Now I know that it doesn’t exactly have three bedrooms, this is technically a study, but I think we could put a crib over here, ” Spike gestured to the wall opposite the French doors. “So you can see the little bit, and over here a changing table, and all that other stuff the nibblet will need.” Brushing past Buffy, Spike opened the French doors. “How about a little table and chair set out here? You could put planters and maybe a bird feeder?…. Oh? how about a rocking chair?”
“That would be great!” Buffy said, retuning her husband’s enthusiasm. ‘Wow, he’s really getting into this, nicknames for the baby and everything.’ “So when do we move in?” Buffy asked, her smile so large and wide that Spike couldn’t resist pulling her into his arms.
“So you don’t mind a sorta three bedroom, two bath?” As he whispered in her ear, Spike took advantage of her distracted mindset and nuzzled her hair. ‘It doesn’t count,’ he decided as he buried his nose in her soft vanilla scented hair.
Buffy stepped back. ‘What are you playing at Spike? Did you think I wouldn’t notice the hair sniffing?’ Deciding to ignore the slightly hurt look passing over Spike’s face when she pulled from his embrace, Buffy tried to focus on the apartment. “Two bathrooms?” The smile returned to Spike’s face as he took her hand and led her back into the master bedroom. In her excitement Buffy had missed the door next to the closet. The master bath was almost as large as the study. The floor, counter, and sunken tub were covered in tiles in an array of sizes, all in a spectrum of blue and green. The walls were painted a light green to offset the magnitude of the tiles. On the far wall were two stainless steel sinks on top of a large cabinet.
“Oh, yes I hoped your wife would like this room.” Spike and Buffy turned to the manager who had snuck up on them. “Did you show her the skylight?” Spike shook his head no. “It’s right here.” Buffy looked up above the tub.
“This is so cool! You can watch the stairs in a bubble bath!” A shudder ran though Spike’s body at the thought of glimpsing golden skin as soft white bubbles cascaded over her. “Are you cold?” Buffy asked as she saw him shiver.
“Not at all pet,” Spike answered composing himself. ‘Platonic, we are completely platonic. That means no bath time fun.’ “Where do we sign mate?”