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Chapter 29

"Get up, get up, get up!" Dawn banged on the door.

Buffy's eyes popped open and met Spike's blue ones. "I'm thinking I need to
get a tranquilizer gun and shoot her with it," she said sleepily.

"I'm gonna have to agree on that pet." He grinned at her. "How are you?"

She smiled. "Tired. Sore."

"In all the right places?"

"Yup."

"Good night then?"

"Yeah, there was this guy . . . "

"Oh?" he asked, stroking her skin. "Tell me about him."

"Did you hear me?!" Dawn yelled. "Mom is up my ass, so now I'm going to
be up yours until you get out of bed! She's downstairs with Harmony, Dad
has chosen NOW to mow the lawn and you need to get up!"

"Did I ever tell you how I think I was adopted?" Buffy asked Spike
conversationally.

Spike chuckled and leaned in, nibbling her lips. "Suppose we should get up
before she breaks the door down."

Buffy sighed heavily, then yawned and stretched. "Okay," and she crawled
out of bed, slipping on a robe. She was half way to the bathroom when she
stopped and spun around. "I forgot!"

"What?" Spike asked, startled.

Lowering her voice to a whisper, "Jonathan left with Fred last night. I
wonder if this wedding is still on?"

"I'm going with yes since Dawn has been—"

"Are you up?!"

"Hold that thought, I'm going to go kill my sister." Crossing the room and
flinging the door open she barked. "We're up! Now go away!"

Dawn glared at her and crossed her arms across her chest. "Mom wants
you to help her."

"Is she mental? Does she think I want to have anything to do with this
wedding?"

"I know you don't want to, Buffy," Joyce said coming up the stairs. "And I
understand. But I just need a little help. For me, okay?"

Buffy sighed heavily. "What do you want me to do?"

"Help get your father inside and away from yard work. The maid of honor
and the bridesmaids are going to be here in an hour—"

Buffy grumbled.

"—And you two need to get ready and the photographer will be here. After
you get your father in the house, I need you to just make sure the bouquets
are in place for the girls. Spike, can you help load the car with Harmony's
suitcases for me?"

"Sure thing Joyce," Spike called out from the bed.

"Thank you. Then, you're free to go to the church and wait with everyone
else. All right?"

"Yes mother."

Joyce gave her a look. "I'm not asking for a lot."

"I know, I just enjoy being difficult."

Joyce shook her head. "I have fresh fruit and donuts downstairs."

"Quite a combo mom," Buffy chirped.

"It was quick and the least messy."

"Are there chocolate donuts?" Buffy asked hopefully.

Joyce smiled, "of course."

"I'm on it!"




"Dad, what are you doing?" Buffy asked her father as she made her way into the garage. He was fiddling with the lawn mower.

"It crapped out on me," he grumbled.

"Why are you doing the lawn now?"

Hank grinned, "Because it drives your mother crazy. I like to keep her on
her toes."

Buffy grinned at him. "It's working."

"I know. I saw the vein in her forehead start to throb the last time she was
out here trying to get me inside."

Buffy laughed. "I think I inherit your sadistic streak."

Hank beamed proudly. "I should hope so. Got to keep Spike guessing."

"Oh, you don't need to worry about that," Buffy mused. She tilted her head
to the side. "Dad?"

"Yeah, pumpkin?"

"Do you have any thoughts on this wedding?"

"Mainly that I don't really want to be part of it."

"Why?"

"I think it's a mistake."

"Why didn't you say anything!" Buffy exclaimed.

"Pumpkin, I don't have any say in anything around here."

"Why do you think the marriage is a mistake?"

"Because I think the bride is out to marry the money not the man."

Buffy threw up her hands, "Dad! I know that! You should have said
something."

Hank shrugged. "What would it have done? Nothing. It would have just
made Harmony dig her heels in more. Along with your mother. I try to look
at the bright side."

"Which is?"

Hank grinned, "She'll be out of the house."

Buffy laughed. "Mom said the same thing yesterday."

"That girl has run your mother ragged all these years. Your mother needs
a break from her. I love Harmony, I do. She's my niece and I love her, but
that doesn't stop me from seeing what she's about. You can love someone
and still not like and agree with the things they do."

"I have a hard time loving her too," Buffy sighed and sat down on a nearby
patio chair.

"I know, pumpkin," Hank said and brushed some hair away from her face.
"And it was hard for me to watch her treat you so poorly. But your mother
would defend her if I said anything about it. I gave up and took care of
things in my own way."

Buffy grinned. "Like whisking me away to get ice cream just the two of
us?"

Hank grinned. "Yep."

Buffy stood and hugged her dad. "I love you Papa."

"I love you too, pumpkin. That man of yours treat you right?"

"Like a princess," she assured him. "He had big shoes to fill," she told him
standing back and regarding him with a tender smile on her face.

"Oh?"

"Yep. Yours."

Hank blushed. "Go on now. Tell your mother I'm coming in soon."

"Are you really?"

"Yep. Just as she's about to get me once more."



The sound of giggles and squeals traveled through the house as the girls
clamored in Harmony's room to get ready. Buffy rolled her eyes as she
made her way to the bedroom to start getting ready. She found Spike getting his suit out and hanging it outside the closet door to inspect it. She
came up behind him and hugged him from behind.

"Hi, baby," he said, turning to hold her.

"Hi."

"How goes it?"

"It's going."

"Feeling of dread?"

Buffy sighed. "Yeah." Her head popped up. "I should call Lorne. . . though
he would have called—"

"Heidi Ho!!"

Buffy grinned. "Or he'd show up because he IS the wedding planner." She
started for the door, but Spike grabbed her back. She looked up at him in
question.

"Want a kiss."

She smiled and leaned up, kissing him soundly.

"Now that is the sweetest thing I've ever seen."

Buffy started to crack up, knowing that voice belonged to Lorne. Leaning
into Spike, she turned to see Lorne decked out in a suit with a green silk tie,
leaning on the doorway.

"Lorne, you look so handsome," she beamed at him.

"Precious, when am I going to see that dress on you again?"

She giggled. "Soon. Come in here," she gestured to him and moved away
from Spike.

He stepped inside and shut the door behind him.

"Have you heard anything about Jonathan?" she whispered.

"No! I tried calling his house and got nothing. You?"

Buffy's eyes widened. "Nothing. Do you think--?"

"It's a possibility sweetness. But until we're sure—"

"We can't say anything."

"You know….I don't think I like the fact that you can finish my fiancés
thoughts like that," Spike interjected, coming up behind Buffy and pulling
her back against his front.

She grinned up at him and kissed him quickly.

"Not to worry sugar. We're partners in crime. You're her partner in
everything," he reached out and pinched Spike's cheeks. "I must go and see
how the cheerleaders are doing. Call me and I'll help with your hair."

"Mine or hers?" Spike teased.

Lorne grinned cheekily, "Both!"





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