Shot in the Dark

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Chapter 33: The Gang’s All Here
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“And I’m telling you, Ms. Wicca, that I-Dream-of-Jeannie could totally take out that witch from Bewitched. Come on! She lived in a bottle and – oh hi, Buffy!” Xander pauses in his diatribe long enough to acknowledge the entrance of the blond pair. Willow rolls her eyes at Xander and waves at Buffy before turning back to him. Xander opens his mouth to continue but then freezes before slowly turning back to the door. Willow does the same, her eyes completely bugged out.

Xander finds his voice again, “Spike? Buffy…why is Spike here? And…and…merciful Zeus, holding your hand?! GILES!”

“Oh what is it, Xander? I am not going to discuss American television with you for one more bloody…oh, it’s you, Buffy. Come in. And…who?” Giles finishes rubbing his glasses with a dishtowel before sliding them back on his face. “Spike? What on earth?”

Willow makes a strangled squeak as her eyes dart from Buffy and Spike to the two gaping men, waiting for the eminent explosion.

Buffy swallows, meeting Spike’s eyes for a second before moving further into the room. He squeezes her hand before following her in, shutting the door behind them. No sense in disturbing the neighbors. Spike’s eyes quickly scan the room, checking for weapons handy to the two other men. No way the Whelp and the Watcher are going to take this news very well.

The two step through the room before settling down on the couch next to Willow. Xander sits across from them in a chair as Giles walks around to face them all.

Giles speaks first. “Buffy, do you plan on explaining this….um….” He gestures at their tightly clenched hands. “…behavior? Did Willow do another spell, perhaps?” His expression is hop, th, the alternative unthinkable.

Before Buffy can say a word, Willow sits up straight, her face suddenly indignant in light of this accusation. “I did not, Giles! I told you it wouldn’t happen again and so it has not! THIS is not my will!” She crosses her arms on her chest before slumping back on the couch, glaring at Giles.

“Well, something’s obviously kerplooie, Will ! Look at ‘em with the hand-holding and stroking. I do see that thumb moving, Dead Boy!” Spike’s thumb, lightly grazing Buffy’s hand, continues as the vampire stares at Xander.

“Alexander Harris, don’t you accuse me of…well, so it happened before, but it didn’t happen this time…”

“…well, Willow, it certainly appears…”

“…they would never…”

As the torrent of words swirls above their heads, Buffy and Spike gaze at each other, wry smiles on their faces. Leaning forward in slow motion, Buffy gently presses her lips to his before standing up. She speaks, but they don’t hear her as the finger pointing and wild gesturing continues. She tries again, but still nothing in the clamor.

Buffy speaks louder, forcefully. “I love him.”

Four heads whip in her direction, as even Spike is surprised she started this way. He figured she would try and explain something about the arrows and Cupid, soften the blow by using the magic as a crutch. But no, his girl is not afraid. He smiles up at her. He is, of course, the only one smiling in the room.

“You what?” Xander’s eyes grow wider as Buffy’s words sink in.

“I love him, Xander. Giles. Willow.” She decides not to let on that Willow already knew, figuring that will just trigger another outburst. “I do. I know it’s kind of out of the blue, but Spike and I are in love. I care about him and I want you all to accept that, to accept him. He is different than we all thought and he is true and loving and he makes me very, very happy.” She grins down at the blond vampire before retaking her seat next to him on the couch. His hand squeezes her thigh before he places a kiss on her cheek.

“Buffy is telling the truth. I love her more than I thought possible. Promise not to try and kill you lot any more. Might even help you.” Spike smirks as Buffy playfully slaps his arm. They both look at the group, all of whom are not speaking, only staring.

***

Psyche clutches Cupid’s hand as they watch the scene unfold. “This is it, sweetheart! This is the moment for the arrows to take effect! Their love is proclaimed!”

Cupid grins. “And so it is. I was right, it is true, this love. True and pure. Now, let’s see those arrows work…”

***

Xander shakes his head. A strange warmth is filling him, fogging his mind. Buffy loves Spike? What the…that’s just…it can’t…well, Spike is quite the attractive man, all sleek and catlike. And strong. Buffy likes ‘em strong and pulseless. Look at Angel. Xander blinks, these thoughts parading unbidden through his head. But making more and more sense with every passing second. He shakes his head again. Something seems amiss. A few minutes ago, didn’t he hate Spike? He looks at the blond vampire, but can’t muster up that hate. He actually kinda likes the guy. In a very manly, clothed way, of course. And Buffy looks happy. That’s nice to see. Maybe this is…a good thing? Xander smiles. Yes, yes it’s a good thing. His doubts fall away with his decision, the fog rolling in thick and convincing.

Meanwhile, Giles and Willow experience similar struggles as their thoughts turn from suspicion, dislike and disapproval to the exact opposite. A funny tickle runs through their bodies, tingling and warm. The love in the room makes them feel so very relaxed, so very open to suggestion. Both look at each other and then at Xander. With a nod, they smile at Buffy and Spike, who are appropriately and completely freaked out by this reaction.

Buffy’s eyes dart at Spike, full of fear. Everyone is so quiet. No yelling. And now…smiling? It must be a trick. She considers how quickly she could get herself and Spike out the door, preferably with him not being a pile of dust.

Then, Xander speaks. “Well, you crazy k tha that’s great news! Giles, you got anything stronger than tea in this place? We should drink a toast!” Giles nods and hops up, heading for the kitchen.

“Yes, of course. I’ve got some champagne left over from New Year’s…” His voice fades as he leans down to look in the refrigerator.

Even Spike is on edge now. Something is seriously on the wrong side of normal. Buffy can’t contain herself one more second.

“What the hell are you talking about, Xander? You approve of our relationship?!?” She leans forward, eyes wide. Xander grins and pats Buffy lightly on the knee.

“Well, yes Buffy. I’ve always liked Spike. You two are perfect for each other.” He gives Spike a playful punch in the shoulder as Spike just stares blankly at him, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

“Always liked Spike? You HATE Spike!” Buffy stands up, her voice rising. Xander stands up too, looking concerned by Buffy’s outburst.

“Hate Spike? Why do you say that Buffy? Okay, true, I don’t think…” He pauses, looking briefly confused. “I don’t think we’ve always been close, but that’s in the past now, Buffster. Before you two were the happy couple. Sure, it’s sudden, you little minx…hey, wait a minute! Was he the guy at your house?” His eyes widen a bit, eyebrows waggling suggestively. “Spike, you old dog!” Spike is still struck rather dumb by the entire experience. The Whelp likes him now? It’s very unsettling.

“Uh, yeah, that was him. But Xan, seriously! I don’t get it. How the hell can you like Spike?” Buffy’s voice is strident and higher than normal.

“Hey!” Spike protests at Buffy’s choice of words. “I can be a likeable bloke, Slayer. When I want to be…” He trails off, choosing to stay seated on the couch and let the Slayer duke it out with her friends.

Xander shrugs at the wound-up Slayer in front of him. “Don’t know, Buffy. It just kinda…feels right. What you said made perfect sense. Why shouldn’t I support you wacky kids?” He grins at her.

Buffy continues on without comment, turning to Giles with a look of exasperation. “And what about you, Giles?”

Giles returns from the kitchen with an open bottle of champagne and hands full of glasses. “What’s that, Buffy? Oh yes, you know, Spike’s a good lad. Well, he can be. Just had a rough past – something I can certainly relate to. I’ll admit, I had my doubts about him. Very recently, in fact.” Giles brow furrows, as if he is trying to remember something. “But I…I know you are right. You love him, he loves you. Let’s have a toast!”

Buffy rolls her eyes and flops on the couch. She’s not sure why, but she would have been more comfortable with her friends going ballistic rather than this. It’s just too odd. She turns to Willow as Giles and Xander pour champagne. “Surely you still disapprove, Will.” Her eyes are almost pleading, hoping for some normalcy.

“Oh no, Buffy! I think this is great. I don’t know why I had a problem before…I can’t even really remember being against it. This just all makes such perfect sense. I’m so happy for you both!” Willow leans over, hugging Buffy and Spike in one clumsy maneuver.

After she releases them and turns to Giles and Xander, Buffy and Spike turn to stare at each other. Spike leans over to whisper in her ear. “Buffy, luv, maybe you should stop arguing with them. I know it’s bloody strange, but didn’t you want them to be happy for us?”

Buffy sighs. “Well, of course. It’s just…they didn’t even put up a fight. Don’t they know you’re all dangerous…or were…and a vampire! See, no one even mentioned that you are a vampire! I…” Spike leans closer, cutting off Buffy’s frantic words with a kiss. She feels the anxiety melt a bit. He presses harder into the kiss, his tongue brushing her bottom lip. Forgetting their location, Buffy opens her mouth and their kiss quickly deepens, tongues tangling and hands roaming.

“Whoa!” Xander’s exclamation causes the two blonds to jump away from each other guiltily. “You two might want to locate a room, eh?” He winks conspiratorially at Spike, who just blinks. As much as he knows Buffy wants her friends to approve, this is really just a bit too weird. So weird that he actually brings up work to change the subject.

Spike clears his throat, looks around the room. Buffy blushes and straightens her blouse, clearly at a loss for what to do next. She expected to be in the throes of a huge yelling match right now, not drinking to their health and future together.

“So, Rupert, mate. You called us here for a reason, right? Something evil afoot?”

Giles pauses in his pouring of the champagne, brow furrowed. “Why yes, Spike, you’re right! I was...distracted.” He sets the bottle down and turns to the whole group. “I’ve called you all here because I’ve turned up something unsettling in a shipment of books I bought from a dealer in Greece. Very strange and I don’t quite understand it all, but it seems to be a prophecy or prediction and it seems to be happening soon…let me find the passage…” Giles wanders back to his desk to flip through a few old books stacked there, muttering to himself.

Xander passes around the champagne and whispers, “Let’s have a quick toast before he finds what he’s looking for. After that, one way ticket to Dullsville. To Buffy and Spike, the best new couple in Sunnydale. And of course, welcome to the gang, Spike.” With a wide grin, Xander raises his glass. Willow clinks it, her face equally alight. With a still concerned look on her face, Buffy glances over to Spike. His reaction to Xander’s words is unreadable, but she could swear he seems…pleased? This night could not get any weirder. They finish clinking glasses and take their first sips when Giles exclaims, startling everyone.

“There we have it! Strangest thing…something about a pairing of dark and light springing from the arrow of an immortal… don’t know what that refers to.” Buffy and Willow gape at each other. “And then, it goes on for awhile and this is the part I noticed…it mentions the Slayer, though not in so many words, and it seems to be saying that Spike… I mean, I didn’t know it was Spike until now, but it seems that a vampire, Spike I believe, is key to this prediction. It seems he will…well, he may just save us all.” Giles puts his glasses down, looking over at Spike as every set of eyes settles on him. He stops in mid-swallow and looks at Buffy, completely surprised.

Buffy was wrong. This night just got weirder.