How? Why? Bloody Hell, Yes!

Chapter 8 - Wedding Pressies

They were kissing; mouths hot and wet. They'd barely made it
through the door before they'd grabbed each other. The hotel suite
was luxurious, but neither noticed the four poster bed, the plush
carpeting, or the beautiful view.

Xander's heart was fuo buo bursting. They'd finally gotten through the
ceremony and the weight of the ring on his finger filled him with an
inexplicable surge of warmth. He trailed his hands up and down his
husband's body, their hard cocks thrusting against onothnother
through the thin material of their tuxedo pants.

Spike moaned when Xander pulled away, trying to grab his lover back
for more. "Where are you going, Xan?" Spike's voice was plaintive,
making Xander chuckle.

"Don't worry," Xan hurried over to their bags, searching for the right
pocket, "just wanna get your present." His smile was triumphant when
he turned around, gift box in hand.

Xander paused for a moment at the goofy grin on Spike's face. He
didn't see it often, but when he did it took his breath away. It was such
an innocent, loving look, that Xander had to take time to appreciate it
before continuing.

"Got something for you, too, luv." Spike pulled a long velvet box out of
his pocket. His grin turned almost shy, making Xander's heart flutter.

They went over to the bed. Once Xander was settled comfortably,
Spike reached up and undid the cords holding the curtains around the
bed together. Some light filtered through the thick material, but the
drawn curtains created an intimate little world, filled only with the two
lovers.

When Spike settled beside him, Xander couldn't help leaning forward
and planting a chaste kiss on his cool lips. When he pulled away,
Spike could see Xander chewing nervously on his bottom lip.
"Uhm...Hope you like it." Xan handed over the neatly wrapped box.

Before opening the pres Spi Spike once again leaned forward. This
time, instead of pressing their lips together, Spike just rested his
forehead against Xander's and shut his eyes. His hand came up to
wrap around Xander's neck, holding him close. "Whatever it is Xan, I'll
love it." His eyes opened to stare into Xander's. "Do you know why,
luv?" Xan just shook his head and waited. "Because it's from you.
Because it will always remind me of this day." And then he did lean
forward and press their lips together.

When they pulled apart again, Spike let Xander sit up while he
reached for his gift. He suppressed a chuckle at the way Xander was
attempting to keep from bouncing. Now Spi Spike had reassured
him, Xander was hyper at the prospect of Spike opening the present.
"It's a beautiful looking pressie, luv." Spike teased the boy.

"Just open it Spike!" Xander was anxious to see Spike's reaction.

Spike slowly unwrapped the present, letting first the ribbon and then
the Scooby-Doo wrapping paper fall away. He shook his head in
amusement thinking, 'Only my Xanpet would wrap a wedding pressie
in Scooby-bloody-Doo paper'. And then his head was shaking for an
entirely different reason. He felt his eyes watering and couldn't stop
the one tear from falling.

In front of him lay a leather bound journal with a silver plate inscribed
with the words "William Spike Harris" on the front. Also snuggled in
the small box was a fountain pen with the same name etched on its
side.

Xander saw the head shake and the tears. "Don't you like it, Spike?"
His voice wavered with concern. "You don't have to keep it if you
don't like it. I just thought, you know. I mean, you haven't really said
anything about your writing, but I still have the one poem you wrote
me...you know...when you'd lost your memory. And I thought you
might want to write some more. You don't have to show me or
anything. You can just write for yourself. That'd be okay. I mean - "

Xander's babbling was cut off by a fierce kiss from his hud. d.
"Thank you, luv. It's grand. I couldn't have asked for anything better."
Spike's fingers followed the curved lines of his name; their name.
"William Harris," he whispered softly. They really were mated now.
Xander had accepted his mark, and he'd accepted Xander's name.
They were official in both worlds; demon and human.

He looked up to find Xander grinning goofily at him. "What about my
present?" Spike did chuckle now, earning an even goofier grin from
his lover, whose hand was out and impatiently waiting.

"Here, you git." Spike reached over and placed the soft velvet box in
Xan's hand.

Xander popped open the lid to the box and gasped. Inside lay a thin,
silver chain. On the end the chain melded into an intricate design, an
intimately familiar design. It was the same design etchedtheitheir
wedding bands. Xander could feel his eyes water and had no qualms
about letting the tears fall. He traced the pattern until he reached the
center of the design. Within it he found a second pattern. In the heart
of the piece, Spike had had the jeweler weave in the initials X/S. If
you didn't look closely enough you wouldn't notice, but Xander saw,
and he felt an ache of pure love spear his chest.

"Spike." Xander whispered his name. He didn't really know what else
to say, his brain couldn't form any coherent sentences at the moment.

"I know how much the rings mean to you, luv. The tangible symbol of
our relationship." Spike shrugged, trying not to let his nervousness
show. "I thought you might like a second piece to carry around. Just
another bit of metal to let you know that I'll always be with you."

Xander unclasped the chain and tried to place it around his neck, but
his fingers fumbled and the chain slipped. Spike caught it before it
could hit the bed, and reached around to do up the clasp for Xander.
For a moment Xander just sat with his eyes closed, feeling the almost
imperceptible weight of the chain that now rested around his neck.

"It's perfect, Spike," he whispered. Opening his eyes, chocolate
brown stared into sky blue. "You always know exactly what I want.
What I need."

They stared at each other for long moments. Spike listening to Xan's
heart beating steadily in his chest and Xander just watching the play
of emotions across his lover's face.

Finally Spike moved, pulling away he pushed the curtains aside and
stood. "It's our wedding night luv. Let's go to bed."

Xander only nodded before standing himself and helping Spike pull
down the coverlet, the words "our wedding night" echoing through his
head.