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I love all of you so much! You don't even know! I hope you enjoy this chapter...it was a lot of fun to write..As always, please let me know what you think....


Chapter Eighteen

Despite how confused she felt—for many reasons—Buffy couldn't deny that she felt closer to Spike than she ever had been. Was it the secret he held for her? Was it the part he was playing? Was it how he calmed her and offered his support by just the briefest of glances and the touch of his big, warm hand surrounding her smaller one? Was it the way he faced her family and even seemed to like them? Looking over at him as he grinned at her, pulling into the parking lot, Buffy decided it was all of the above.

Climbing out of the car, she met him round the side with Angel and Cordelia chattering about something. Buffy watched them. The couple. The real couple. Possibly the only real couple aside from her parents and she'd had years of watching them. Her mom had said that Spike looked at her in a certain way. More than that, that she looked at him in a certain way too. Cocking her head to the side, she studied Angel and Cordelia, watching to see the looks he gave her and vice versa. Maybe if she witnessed a look she could find it easier on Spike.

There was definitely touching, closeness. The way their bodies turned into each other. Oh wait, she did know something about this from the magazine. Some expert had come in once and studied pictures of couples—celebrity couples—and picked apart everything down to where their eyes were directed. Angels never left Cordelia's for very long. And when he looked at her, it was with warm affection, but it was all over his face. She squinted, trying to see Angels eyes, what they held in them. She was at a loss. She had to admit that she'd never been able to tell much from looking in someone's eyes. Well, unless it was Spike's. She could tell a lot from his –huh. Well, that was something then, wasn't it? The trouble was, no one's ever looked at her with a gaze of love before. She froze. Love. Could her mother be right? Could he have been looking at her in that special way? Could he be—Nah. Come on! This was Spike! He didn't fall in love. He boinked, shagged and fucked. He didn't make love. Because he'd never been in love. And if she were to fall in love with him . . . he'd break her heart.

She was spun around and found herself staring into Spike's cerulean eyes. Worry. Wonder. That's what she read in them.

"Buffy? Where were you pet? I've been trying to get your attention." He
was gripping her arms as his eyes bore into her.

She blinked at him and then noticed that Angel and Cordy, arms around
each other, were staring at her with quizzical expressions.

"You feeling all right honey? Is it too hot for you?" she heard Joyce ask in
the distance.

She stepped back and smiled weakly. "I'm fine. Just . . . off in my own little
world."

Harmony snorted. When Buffy glanced her way, the girl strutted off.

"Ready gents?" Angel said gallantly, nodding across the street to a sign
entitled ‘Grooms etc.' Not exactly catchy.

She started to scurry after her mother who was rounding the corner to
what she assumed was the shop the women were going to. Jonathan and
Hank were already across the street, waiting for Angel and Spike.

Spike grabbed her arm. "Get ice cream with me later kitten?"

For some reason just that simple question made her want to cry. The fact
that she wanted the ice cream to mean something slammed into her. It was
their thing. Something they did. Something he broke up with Anya for.
Because she didn't do ice cream. She did. She bent her head to the side and
cracked her neck. When had friggen ice cream become symbolic all of a
sudden? Get a grip Buffy! She never did do hormone's well. This was going
to suck.

She nodded. "Sure."

"Okay," and he started to lean in.

She bolted before he could kiss her damn forehead again. Not the forehead
Spike, not the goddamn forehead AGAIN. I don't want the forehead, she
silently screamed at him. I don't ever want the forehead kiss again. The
kiss of death. The kiss of ‘I'm not going to plant one on your lips because
that might get weird and you might read into it when all I'm doing is a favor
to you' kiss. Jesus. Ice cream and kisses suddenly mean the world.

She peeked over her shoulder at him. He looked confused. Hurt even.

When had things become so complicated? A week ago she'd been cleaning
up his latest girlfriends mess and now she was feeling like a girlfriend. Is
this how his girlfriends felt? Like they wanted to get closer to him, but
couldn't? That they were straining for something that was just never going
to fit? No, that was ridiculous. The one thing that has always fit was her and
Spike. Those bimbo's came and went but Spike had always made it clear
that she was there to stay. Yet another reason to get over this over
analyzing of their relationship –FRIENDSHIP—and just focus on getting
through this damn wedding. Harmony and Jonathan. Yes, that's right.
Focus on that and nothing else.



"Darlings! You made it! I just about drank these mimosas by myself. They
were just sitting there calling my name and OH! Is this the eldest
Summers? My GOD she's a beaut!! Honey, when is your wedding because I
have some FABULOUS color schemes that would go AMAZING with your
skin tone!"

Buffy stood frozen as the dark haired man with the brilliant green eyes
circled her. She hadn't made it two feet in the store before his loud,
booming and yet oddly comforting voice met her. She looked up at him as
he appraised her and couldn't help the giggle that escaped. He was a
character. How in the world did a lounge lizard end up working in a bridal
shop? His flaming blue blazer screamed at her. He was so gay and she so
loved it.

He met her gaze and smiled back. "You're a kindred spirit," he proclaimed.
"I can tell. Joyce, you've got yourself a winner here."

Buffy giggled again as Joyce agreed to his sentiment. "Who are you?" Buffy
finally asked.

"I am Wedding Planner extraordinaire, I am the eye into the future of
wedded bliss—or not so bliss if you know what I mean—" and he nudged
her with his elbow. "I am jack of all trades and master of ALL, I am
sunshine on a cloudy day, I am the DJ that can make all your wishes come
true with a simple song ---and I mean ALL your wishes. But. You can call
me Lorne."

Buffy full out laughed. "I like you," she told him through her laughter.

"Of course you do! You're my new best friend," Lorne gushed. "I have the
perfect dress for you—"

"I'm not getting married—"

"Yet. I know you aren't sweetness. Harmful is. But you will. I can see it
now…you are destined for great love."

Both Harmony and Buffy snorted at that. Buffy's head snapped to
Harmony and she glared at her. Harmony smiled sweetly. "Where is my
dress Lorne?"

"Andrew heard you coming Harmful. He's getting all the dresses now! Let
me take care of my darling—what's your name?"

"Buffy," she replied giggling.

"This way my dear Buffy. I see you in soft green to bring out those wild
green eyes. You will shine like the North Star, being a beacon for that man
of yours."

She hadn't intended on getting a dress, but now . . . well, Lorne was a
smooth talker and how could she really resist the Victorian style dress? It
was, in a word, breathtaking. Strapless, was cinched at the waist,
accentuating the bodice, with buttons going down the middle of the back,
giving the illusion that it buttoned, when it really zippered. It fanned out at
the waist and the dress met the floor. It was simple and yet the most
elegant thing Buffy had ever dared try on.

Lorne thrust it at her and scuttled her into a dressing room. She checked
the tag. He was good. Stepping into it she breathed out in ecstasy as the
satiny dress cooled her skin.

"You need help in there muffin?"

"I do."

Lorne came in and quickly zippered her up. "Breathtaking."

"It's gorgeous."

"The dress was nothing until you stepped into it, darling," Lorne told her,
grinning.

"How much is it?" she started hunting for the tag.

"On you, priceless. Don't worry about it."

"But—"

He held up his hands. "Please."

She nodded and smiled. It didn't really matter anyway. She had to have
the dress no matter what. And if Lorne was willing to cut a deal then so be
it.

"Shoes! You need shoes. And pearls." With that he dashed out of the
dressing room. She followed him and found Harmony in her wedding dress.
Her mother and Dawn were circling her in her white confection and
Cordelia was being fussed over by a blond man she guessed was Andrew.
Harmony's dress was . . . ornate. It was full of lace and shine, the headpiece
almost masking her completely as it draped across her face. Oh God. Was

she wearing a bustle?

"I know what you're thinking," Lorne muttered behind her.

"What's that?"

"It's hideous."

Buffy looked up at him with wide eyes. "How did you know?"

He grinned, "Kindred spirits, remember?"

She grinned back. "Did you choose it?"

"Hell no! Harmful did."

Buffy giggled. "Harmful?"

Lorne grimaced. "Sorry."

"Don't be. It suits her."

"Oh Buffy, we're going to take this town by storm. By storm I tell you!
Come. Let's look in the three way mirror. Make you salivate with how
scrumptious you look."

He was right. She couldn't help but turn and turn and turn to make sure
she got herself at all angles. And when she slipped on the matching pointed
shoes with the tiny heel and the pearls, she was in awe of herself. She
started to lift her hair, imagining it up.

Lorne slapped her hands away. "Down. Wavy. Magnificent."

She nodded, seeing his vision.

"Who's the lucky man?" he asked.

"There's no—"

One eyebrow raised. "There has to be. You glow like a woman in love. Or
you're pregnant." His eyes widened and he slapped a hand over his mouth.
"Oh my God! You're pregnant!"

She was stunned. "You're good!"

He shrugged. "It's a gift. Told you I was the eye in the future. And quite
possibly the past and present too."

"And you planned their wedding?" she asked gesturing toward Harmony.

He grimaced again. "Yes."

"You don't seem happy about it."

"I don't mean to rain on the happy parade, but it's doomed."

"I knew it!"

"I love Mama Summers to bits and pieces my darling Buffy and I only
agreed because well, she knew I was the best and demanded to have me."

"You didn't want to do it?"

"I only like to do weddings I believe in."

"So you think she's just using him for something too?"

"For something? Where have you been?"

"Completely out of the loop."

"His money, sweet cheeks, his money. She spends it like there's no
tomorrow. See that shop over there," he pointed at the window and Buffy
focused in on what appeared to be a vacant space. It said "Space for Sale" in
the window of it. "That's where she plans to open her salon," Lorne
explained.

"I knew it!"

"And the groom…so tragic."

Buffy sobered immediately from the high she always got from being right.
"Does he love her?"

Lorne let out an exaggerated sigh. "I think he loves her in his own ‘this is
all I'm gonna get' way."

"So then no."

"Nope."

"Lorne?"

"Yes sweetums?"

"We have to stop this wedding."

"I told you we'd take this town by storm!"









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