July 21, 2007 7:30 AM
The rich smell of coffee hung over the kitchen while the occupants waited in
the first quiet moments of early morning. Clem and Spike leaned against the
counter both sipping their demon beverage of choice while Raven and Faith sipped
coffee at the table. Elijah busied himself drinking a glass of juice.
“When is Mummy making breakfast?” The boy asked the adults that surrounded him.
“She’ll be down soon, I hope,” Raven answered.
“Whoa, is that why no one is getting breakfast? Everybody is waiting on Buffy to make it?” Faith asked in disbelief as she looked at the others.
“Mummy always cooks,” Elijah said.
“And does Mummy also cook lunch and dinner, too?” Faith turned to the only one of the household that didn’t look sheepish and seemed willing to tell the truth.
“Not lunch. We have sandwiches and stuff. She cooks hotdogs sometimes.”
Turning, Faith pinned Spike to the counter with her gaze. “So, that’s what’s wrong with Buffy.”
“What do you mean ‘What’s wrong with Buffy’? She’s fine.” Spike defended himself while straightening up some.
“Last night she had a dizzy spell and some demon almost…got the upper hand,” Faith corrected herself not wanting to say anything in front of the boy about Buffy almost being demon sacrifice. She noted with satisfaction the concerned look in Spike’s eyes. Maybe there was hope for him yet. “Tell me, Spike, if Buffy does all the cooking, who does the cleaning and the shopping and the laundry and takes care of the kids?”
“We have chores.” Raven offered even though she knew herself that it wasn’t really a lot that she had to do.
“And I help with the kids.” Clem said.
“Okay, who is doing most of the household stuff and the patrolling and keeping the man of the house happy?” Faith continued to look at Spike remembering Buffy’s words from last night. It seemed Angel was right. She was definitely needed here. Buffy was being overloaded and no one seemed willing to help her out. Or maybe Buffy wasn’t asking for the help she needed. “Did Buffy keep you happy last night?”
“Well, yeah, she is my wife.” Spike stood even straighter.
“Let’s say she got to sleep when, two, closer to three,” Faith amended her time when Spike looked away, “and its 7:30 now. She’s had four and a half hours sleep and this room is full of able bodied people waiting for her to drag herself from bed to serve us like she’s a maid or something.”
“Did we do something wrong?” Elijah asked while the tears filled his eyes. Mummy hadn’t been feeling well lately and everybody kept telling him she was okay but this new lady was saying she wasn’t and that it was their fault.
Spike rushed to pick Elijah up so he could hug him close. The conversation with Raven last night was still fresh in his mind and he didn’t want Eli to think he had done something wrong.
“You didn’t do anything wrong, okay? Daddy needs to talk to Mummy and find out what’s going on. Then it will be all right.”
At that moment Buffy hurried into the kitchen while still pulling her hair into a haphazard ponytail. “Sorry, everybody, I overslept. Give me just a minute and I’ll get breakfast going.” She reached into the cabinet to grab a mug for coffee when she realized that everyone was staring at her. Slowly she turned to look at all of them. “What’s up?” A nervous laugh escaped her as she looked at each of them in turn. “Did something happen? Is everybody okay? Did we get attacked again?”
“No, Baby,” Spike walked over to pull her against him. Elijah wrapped his arm around her and she took him against her. “I have an idea. Why don’t we have Faith and Clem take the kids through the drive thru at McDonalds for breakfast? They can bring back something for everybody.”
“It’s okay. I just overslept.” Buffy protested. “I’ll have something going in just a minute.”
“It’s not that. I would like to talk to you for a few minutes alone.”
“Something did happen. Is it Dawn? Just tell me.”
“Nothing’s wrong, Buffy. I just want to talk.”
“Are you going to fight?” Elijah asked.
“No, they aren’t going to fight. Come on, kid, let’s go get some grub. I’m hungry.” Faith reached for Elijah and when his parents didn’t protest allowed himself to be taken.
Spike reached into his pocket and pulled out some money which he handed to Clem. “Get what everybody wants. And take care of things.” Spike told him with a clear unspoken message to watch out for Faith and protect the children. Raven reluctantly followed the others out still not liking this Faith woman. She gave Buffy and Spike one last pondering look before she closed the door behind her.
“What’s going on, Spike?”
“Faith said you got dizzy last night.”
“Yeah, it was nothing though. Not worth making a big deal over.”
Buffy turned to fill her coffee cup so Spike wouldn’t see her cover up the guilt in her eyes.
“She also says you’re exhausted.”
“She’s here one night and you’re taking advice from her. Must have had a real cozy chat before I got home. You two best friends now or something?” Buffy laughed as she turned to walk over to the table.
“How many other times have you been dizzy?” Spike asked as he leaned back against the counter.
“Just a couple times. It’s not a big deal.”
“She said that a demon almost got the best of you.”
“Well, since Faith seems to have all the answers and I am some sort of fading excuse for a Slayer, why don’t you continue this conversation with her?”
Buffy stood and headed for the kitchen door. This was not a conversation that she wanted to continue. Anger at Faith for butting in was building in her and at Spike for not dropping it.
“Why are you lying?” Spike followed her down the hallway as she ignored him. “Do you need help around the house and with the kids?”
His question was too direct and she faltered on her way upstairs. Then mustering her resolve she started to run up the stairs but he was right behind her.
“Do you? Why won’t you answer me, Buffy? Is she right? Are you exhausted?”
It was too much. He was finally asking the right questions but she was too afraid to give him the right answers.
“I’m fine.” Buffy threw over her shoulder as she marched into their bedroom.
Spike took her coffee cup and placed it on the dresser top. His hands came out to cradle her face as she fought back the tears that threatened.
“Buffy, why didn’t you tell me?” He gave a short laugh because he had asked his daughter the same question the night before. Either they were determined to handle everything themselves or he was completely clueless. And not to his credit it was probably the latter.
“It’s not something you want to hear.” Buffy pulled away from him and began to make the bed up.
“What don’t I want to know?” Spike was determined to keep asking questions until she was honest with him. As he waited he stepped to the other side of the bed and began to help her.
“Drop it, Spike.”
“No, I am not going to drop it. Something is wrong with you. A stranger can see it and for some reason I can’t.”
“You don’t see it because you don’t want to.”
Her answer was too honest and it stabbed through his heart with a quickness born of knowing that he had done something to hurt her.
“I want to now.” His voice was low and pleading for her to explain.
“Look, you told me before that if we had a family then it would be mostly my responsibility. I’m handling it. Don’t worry about it.”
“Yeah, you’re handling it so well that you are going to get yourself killed because you are so tired. Quit being a martyr.”
“How dare you? I am not being a martyr. I’m trying to keep this house going and everybody taken care of, including you. I’m doing the best I can and if it’s not good enough then go ahead and leave.” Buffy shouted in frustration. It wasn’t fair that he seemed to always misunderstand everything she said or did.
“Leave? I’m not leaving,” Spike shouted back before seeing the hurt in Buffy’s eyes and he instead dropped his voice to a more normal tone. “Do you think I am going to leave you because you asked for help scrubbing the bathrooms or something?”
“Would you? I don’t know what you are going to do half the time anymore. How you are going to react? Is he going to be mad or close himself off or what?” She looked at him in confusion as she realized that he was almost a stranger to her. It was still her Spike and in the good times it was great but part of the time she was afraid to let him know how she really felt. “I’m afraid, Spike. I’m afraid that if I burden you too much you’ll run. That you’re demon or whatever is going to demand its freedom again and you’ll leave me. I’m just trying to make you happy. I’ll handle it. Don’t worry about me.”
Buffy closed her eyes as she fought a losing battle against the fatigue and the emotions she had been hiding for too long. The things she had needed to deal with and chosen not to. To be honest it wasn’t all Spikes’ fault. Sometimes he was an excuse so she wouldn’t have to examine things too deeply or too long. Sara had been coaxing her to let go and fall apart if she needed to in order to feel better instead of the dry monologues she was receiving from Buffy during their sessions.
Spike felt like he had been beaten for the pain that coursed through him. She had been so strong and he had thought things were all right. This year had been really hard on both of them taking its toll emotionally and physically. Buffy had been so together lately, handling everything, taking care of everyone that he had allowed himself to dwell on his own emotional problems. His own insecurities and all the while Buffy had needed him more than she had said. Her strength was still there in her determination to take care of things but one person could only do so much and she had reached her limit. With a sardonic self awareness he realized that Angel had been right. He was selfish. It seemed that their lives had become wrapped around him and his needs instead of the needs of everyone it seemed.
He had become focused on all the things that he couldn't do, impregnate her, play with Elijah in the sun, and protect them from humans that he had forgotten all the things that he could do for them and for her. His insecurities of never being good enough, had taken the best of him away, leaving him feeling alone and distant and defensive. Buffy had never left his heart but for awhile he thought that he could never be enough for her. In his effort to make himself feel adequate had looked at another woman, a woman who wouldn't demand as much from him, who wouldn't force him closer to the light. The darkness had called to him saying it was the only place that he had succeeded. Evil was something that he had done well and in the kill and the pain he had felt himself worthy enough to exist.
It was only when this tiny woman had invaded his world that he had been forced to lose the charade. In her arms and in her heart there was always the push for more. He saw her efforts, her steps to join him in the darkness and it tore at his soul. Buffy could never live in the shadows of the night no matter what she thought. Her world was the daytime, the light and she deserved more than he could ever give her. But he vowed to himself that he would give her everything that he had. Anything not to lose her, or make her feel unloved again, to never feel as he did. No matter how much it would tear him in two inside.
“What else, Buffy?”
Her eyes flew open as she looked at him in surprise. There had been no defense, no shutting down, no display of temper. Nothing but a simple question.
“What do you mean?”
Spike crawled across their bed and drew her down to sit in front of him.
“I’m sorry, Love. I know it’s a lousy excuse but I didn’t see.”
“It’s funny, you know. When we first got together you saw everything. You knew my every thought before I even did. You did most of the housework, and took care of me.” She closed her eyes when she realized what she was saying, “I’m sorry I wasn’t trying to accuse.”
“No, you’re right.” He drew a deep breath just to delay his next words; words that were such naked truth that it hurt to think them much less say them. “But I didn’t take you for granted back then.” His arms pulled Buffy to him, settling her against his chest as he stroked her hair. “I love you.”
His gentleness and humility was disarming her and the tears began to fall in earnest. All the grief she had been holding inside finally broke free from the dam that had held them in place. His arms tightened around her. “Tell me what’s hurting you so bad, Baby. I want to be here for you. I want to try.”
Buffy wrapped her arms around him as she got as close to the protection of his body as she could. This was the Spike she had fallen in love with. The one who had been the one to bring her out of her hell and she found herself opening up to him. Slowly, between the tears she told him of the grief she still carried for the baby they never had, her fears of being a parent after she had loused up with Dawn, her anger at him for Donna, her insecurities and fears of not being enough for him. She told him that she hated being married at the courthouse and not the wedding that she wanted for them. She told him of her fears about what the Soldiers would do next and the pain that she had felt at seeing their home destroyed.
And he listened to every word with an open heart and the determination to make things right for her. To start being a true partner to her instead of the needy man he had become. His anger at himself for this wasn’t one of self pity but open assessment that he needed to change again for her. The hardest change had been those first years when he became one of the good guys. Now it was time to change to be the kind of man that she would be proud to call husband and their children call father. It had been his decision to stay because that was what he wanted now he needed to follow through on it.
After a while Buffy just huddled against him as the last of the tears drained from her. He shifted so he could lay her on the bed, wrapping her in the comforter, and he held her until she fell into an exhausted sleep. With a gentle kiss on her forehead he left her to her much needed rest.
~~~~~~~~
July 21, 2007 7:33 PM
Buffy carefully finished applying Ruby Desire lipstick before turning to look
back at Spike. He was lounging on the bed watching her get ready for their date.
This whole day had been like a dream and she wanted to pinch herself to see
if it was real or not. After their talk this morning she had slept until almost
4:00 this afternoon. It had felt wonderful to wake up feeling refreshed instead
of forcing herself from the bed. When she had crawled out of bed to answer the
demands of her body she had been surprised to find the house scrubbed clean,
the laundry running and the grocery shopping done.
Spike and Faith were putting together dinner for everyone, broiling steaks, potatoes baking in the microwave and Raven was assembling a salad. Clem had been in the living room watching ‘The Fox and the Hound’ movie with Elijah. It had felt good as they insisted she not do anything. Then Spike had really surprised her by telling he was going to take her to a play that she had wanted to see but after considering the offer she had turned it down. She hadn’t really wanted to sit quietly for a long period and asked if he minded if they just went out and hung out at the Edge like they used to.
And just a little while ago she and Spike had gotten out of the bathtub to get dressed for their evening. Spike had thrown on some faded and ripped jeans, a black t-shirt and the duster was waiting on the end of the bed. Buffy had dug through the back of the closet and pulled out some old clothes from her days of being a waitress, a black leather mini skirt and a lacy black button down shirt. At Spike’s request her old lace up boots were added to her ensemble. Now, her hair was teased into riotous curls and her make up applied. Excitement danced in her stomach at going out and just having some fun with Spike. It seemed like forever since they had gone on a ‘date’ and it was something they definitely needed.
“Have you been smoking my cigarettes?” Spike asked as he lit one.
“No, why?”
“There’s always seems to be less than what I thought I had.” He shrugged as he threw the pack and his lighter on the nightstand. As Buffy reached for the skirt to slip on he told her, “The boots first, Pet.”
Arching an eyebrow at him she reached for one the boots and came to sit on the bed between his feet. “Just want to keep me in my underwear as long as possible, huh?” It was a light hearted comment as she began to lace the boot up. Spike came to sit up so he could slip the other one on her then began to lace it.
“Actually, I would prefer you naked but if I can’t have that then red lace is an acceptable alternative.”
“So, can I have you in red lace?” Buffy teased.
“Anything you want as long as you have me.”
Then ignoring her protests of ruining her makeup he pulled her close for a kiss. It took them quite a while before they pulled themselves apart still unsatisfied but in heightened awareness of the other. After she had finished dressing and reapplying some makeup they made their way downstairs with the duster around Buffy.
“Woohoo, look at that. The little married couple playing at being single.” Faith joked as they made their way downstairs. The others stood next to her ready to wish them a good time. As soon as they reached the hallway Faith pulled Buffy into the dining room. “Let me see, girl.” Her hands reached for the buttons on the duster.
Buffy laughed and opened it for her.
“Very bad, Buffy. You have lightened up from the old days. Have a good time. Clem and I will handle everything.” Faith reassured her then she leaned over and whispered, “And I think Dawn and her husband are coming over to help make sure I don’t go psycho or something.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
“It’s cool. Really. I understand the suspicion. Seriously, go have a good time.”
Turning Buffy started out for the hallway when she turned quickly and spontaneously hugged Faith. When she was finished Spike dragged her out the front door and she missed the look of appreciation from their new helper.
~~~~~~~~
July 21, 2007 8:55 PM
The Edge of Paradise was crowded and the smell of liquor and smoke filled the
air. Spike's hand rested on Buffy's lower back as he escorted her toward the
bar. When a pair of large demons brushed against her, she stepped closer to
her husband.
"You okay, Pet?"
"Fine."
With a smile she looked up at him letting the feeling of being pampered and loved wash over her. It had been a long time since she had felt this way and she was going to enjoy it. In her heart Buffy knew that Spike loved her that he had always loved her and would continue to do so. It was just that she hadn't felt it this strong in a long time. Today he had made an abrupt about face and was coming at her full steam. She just hoped that he wouldn't take another turn away from her.
"Hey, you two. Good to see ya back." Arnie greeted them glad that the two were back together. After Spike had been alone in here drinking and looking like he had been cast into hell he had been worried that these two wouldn't make it.
Buffy smiled and put her left hand down on the bar, moving it so the diamonds in her wedding band sparkled in the neon lights from the bar.
"Holy shit," Arnie exclaimed holding her hand and checking out the ring. "It's about time, you damn vampire. Made in honest woman of her. Guess this means you ain't ever coming back to work," he added with a frown. Buffy had been one of his better waitresses and had been sorry when she had quit.
"Guess not." Buffy said.
"Mitzi, get your ass over here. Spike and Buffy got married." Arnie called out to one of the waitresses that had been Buffy's close friend while she had worked here.
There was a shriek from the woman as she came running over to the pair. Buffy was quickly engulfed in a hug from her friend. They swayed back and forth as they squealed and laughed.
"Congratulations. Oh my God, all this time and you got hitched." Mitzi reached out to grab Buffy's hand so she could take her turn looking at the ring. "Well, gee, I guess I'll never be able to steal him away from you now." Her eyes sparkling she turned to look at Spike who was standing there with a goofy look of pride. It had never been a secret that Mitzi had always had a thing for the blonde vampire even after she had found out what he was.
"Well, you could always give the groom a kiss for luck," Spike joked as he enveloped Mitzi in a hug. Then laughed as Mitzi did just that. To play along Spike pulled her close and kissed her back while Buffy laughed at their antics.
"Me next." Barbara one of the new waitresses they had gotten to know over the years came to join in the celebration. When Mitzi stepped away she took her turn to congratulate the new groom. Before it was over the other four waitresses working the floor had smothered Spike in kisses and hugs. He was completely flustered by the time he had been released and made his way back to Buffy.
It had all been in fun but suddenly wondered if Buffy was okay with it as she watched him approach. Once he was close enough Buffy pulled on his belt until he was standing between her knees. Her hand holding a napkin came to wipe the lipstick off his cheek and the corner of his mouth. When she had finished inspecting his face to make sure it was clean she pulled him down to her. Their mouths met in a kiss that had Arnie and the girls clapping from the passion they showed.
"Champagne is on the house," Arnie declared placing a bottle and flutes on the bar. "Have fun you two. Anything you want it's on me tonight." With that he turned to shoo the girls back to work and to check on some customers at the bar.
Spike sat on the stool next to Buffy as he watched her pour glasses of the wine for them. When she was done she picked up a glass and handed it to him.
"To us."
Their glasses clinked before they took sips.
"Thanks for taking me out." Buffy said.
“My pleasure, Love. Would you like to go get a table out of the way?” Spike nodded his head toward the corner where a few tables weren’t in the traffic flow.
Buffy quickly nodded her head as Spike took her hand and led the way to a small table in the corner. He was enjoying the expressions on her face as they moved from one emotion to another. There wasn’t one this evening that was in any way negative or pained. Spike felt almost shy in the wake of this side of his wife. But she never let him falter, leading him down whatever path of conversation that she wanted to follow.
They discussed the house and the new mish mash of furniture they had bought with no particular décor followed. The children were mulled over especially Raven’s words of the night before. Somewhere along the line their hands had entwined on the table as their heads had gotten closer. Plans were made for the future and where they wanted to go but they knew that with their lives the plans would probably be shelved tomorrow for something more pressing. But it was a way for them to share and that was all that counted.
They weren’t sure how much time had passed when Arnie made his over to them. “Hey, you two, I hate to interrupt but we may be having trouble.” His head gestured behind him at a table with six human males around it. “Mitzi’s told me they’ve been bad mouthing demons loud enough for the demons to hear. So, you guys in to help or not?”
Spike and Buffy peered around Arnie’s ample girth to peer at the men. None of them looked familiar but they had that clean cut all American boy look.
“Yeah, we’ll help if there’s trouble. Don’t know how much I can do.”
“That’s okay. You can keep the demons under control while I take on the little wussy boys.” Buffy offered, “They about ready for the second round? I think I can still carry a tray.”
“What are you planning?”
“Just a little friendly warning and see what they do.”
The couple rose and followed Arnie toward the bar where he quickly prepared a tray of beer. When he was done Buffy lifted it over her shoulder and sashayed her way over to their table. The old Buffy who used to work these tables with ease settled into place as she prepared to hand out the frosty mugs.
“How you boys doin?” She greeted them as she leaned over the table to dispense the brew. “You all new in town because I haven’t seen you around before?”
Six pairs of eyes looked her over as she smiled at them.
“Yeah, we’re new. But it is definitely looking like somewhere where I want to stay.” A man with graying hair, the oldest of the group answered her question letting her know that he was the leader and the one she needed to deal with.
“Well, I’ll be waiting on you tonight. So, whatever you need don’t hesitate to let me know.”
The men laughed and a few brief comments were made under their breath while their leader grabbed Buffy’s ass and squeezed. She reached for it and laid it on the table while he struggled to free it. But she merely leaned on it as she bent over some so they could all hear her.
“Just words of advice since you all are new to town. This bar caters to all kinds. They are welcome here, everyone is welcome here, as long as they pay their bills and mind their own business. Okay?”
Buffy straightened as she waited for some sort of acknowledgement. Two pair of eyes from the direction of the bar were boring into her back as they waited for what would happen. At first it appeared the guys were cowed enough as they looked around then one of them, a fresh faced kid who wanted to be a man, said loudly, “Demons don’t deserve to be patronizing with humans.”
A table of large demons with red scales sitting next to them had been hearing the comments made ever since this group had arrived and at this last one had had enough. They stood and made their way toward the humans.
“We’ll show you who can hang out here and who can’t. You are not welcome. Leave.”
Their four fingered hands clenched and unclenched as they waited for a comeback.
“Hey, guys, we don’t need to fight.” Buffy stood between the two posturing groups hoping to stop the inevitable confrontation that started only a moment after her words. Right before the punches flew she told the group to run if they wanted to live but their single minded belief that humans were superior in all instances led them to arrogantly fight back.
Buffy ducked as the two groups started on each other but was dragged in the middle by one of the men who decided she was fair game.
“Hey, I warned you to get out,” Buffy said right before she threw the astonished man over a table. The rest of the patrons decided that the evening had been too boring and thought that an all out brawl would be more entertaining.
Soon, everybody had joined in the fighting just to fight. Buffy kept trying to separate humans and demons but ended up just trying to protect herself. In the distance she heard Arnie calling out for Spike and wondered if everything was okay right before she got thrown into the wall.
~~~~~~~~
“Hey, Spike, yo, man, Spike,” Arnie tried to get the attention of the vampire who was watching out for Buffy.
Distractedly, Spike glanced back at the bar keep and asked him what was up. Arnie placed a hand on his shoulder to fully get his attention.
“Yeah?”
“It’s Barbara, she’s stuck on the other side of the bar under a table, can you go get her and bring her back. That table ain’t going to last long.”
Spike looked toward the other end of the bar and saw the blonde waitress huddling under a table that was surrounded about four rather large demons intent on out doing each other.
“Sure thing, mate,” Spike headed off toward her, having to avoid being drawn into a few scuffles and ducking around some others until he reached the table. He knelt down and peered under to lock eyes with the frightened woman. “Hey, you want to get out of here, maybe over to the bar? I could buy you a drink.”
Barbara nodded quickly and took Spike’s hand as she crawled out from under the table. Once they were standing Spike told her to hang on to him no matter what. She nodded and Spike began to lead them back to the bar.
“Hey, where you going with our prize?” One of the demons protested the removal of the woman they had been fighting over.
“Sorry, guess she likes blondes more than horns and warts,” Spike told him as he attempted to go around him but found himself avoiding a punch thrown in his direction. The other three started to come after them and Spike found himself deciding whether to fight them or run. Feeling Barbara squeeze his hand he decided that to run was the better option. With a couple of well laid fists and kicks and one kick from Barbara they cleared an opening and made a bee line for the bar.
After the waitress was safe, Spike attempted to look for Buffy in the crowd, but was unable to see the petite blond amongst the towering demons and humans that were tearing apart The Edge. With a worried feeling Spike sprang onto the bar so he could find her. He quickly spotted her blonde mane flying as she tossed a demon over her shoulder and turned toward one of the original troublemakers who seemed intent on provoking her. As she grabbed the guy by his shirt collar one of his friends came up behind her.
“Jab, Baby, jab with your left elbow,” Spike called out hoping she would listen. She did and sent the guy to the floor holding his stomach. “Yes!” He started to dance on the bar imitating fighting moves while calling out instructions to Buffy. At one point she stopped briefly and winked at him and his antics. She was actually having fun down there in the pit of slimy, sweaty, drunks intent on beating each other up. Buffy turned to kick someone in the stomach and flashed red to everyone who was in visual range. Spike threw his hands over his face and then peeking out between fingers, “Baby, don’t raise your leg”. She shrugged and continued what she was doing.
“Hey, Spike,” Arnie called up to him. “Do you think maybe you and your woman can start clearing this place out before the cops get here?”
“What and kill all the fun?”
“Spike!”
“Okay, okay,” Spike jumped lightly down into the fray and made his way toward Buffy. “Arnie needs the place emptied.”
She glanced at him and nodded. Together they started tossing or pushing patrons toward the front door. A couple of the regular customers they knew started to help them out and it didn’t take long before the place was empty. The last of those leaving hollered out a sorry to Arnie before closing the door behind them. Spike locked up and made his way back to the bar with Buffy beside him.
Arnie was standing with his hands on his hips surveying the damage to his place. Most of the tables and chairs were smashed. Fortunately this time most of the windows and mirrors had escaped breakage. Sometimes he thought the regulars were being more careful on what got broken because they knew the more damage the longer before The Edge opened again.
Buffy hopped up to take a seat on the bar with Spike leaning across her legs. Mitzi and one of the other girls were starting to put the unbroken glasses in the tubs to be taken back to the kitchen.
“It’s getting harder every time, guys, to pick up the pieces.”
“You got insurance, don’t you Arn?” Spike asked.
“Yeah, but the more I call them for this shit,” Arnie waved his hand around at the mess, “the more my rates go up.” Then with a heavy sigh he added, “I think it’s time to close it in.”
Everyone around him froze at the thought of The Edge closing down. The waitresses all looked at Arnie knowing that another job like this wouldn’t be easy to come by. Arnie was fair to his servers and made sure they were protected from unwelcome advances by customers. They were treated like people and not just bodies to sell his booze.
Spike looked up at Buffy with a question in his eyes accentuated by the scarred eyebrow arching up. She looked down at him for a moment then nodded her head in agreement.
“What if you had business partners?”
The two men locked glances as Arnie considered the offer. Then slowly he shook his head no, “Nah, it’s been my place for so long. I couldn’t share running it with anyone.”
“We wouldn’t run it. You keep controlling interest. Buffy and me, we just give you a little extra working capital. You said you wanted to do some expanding.” Spike offered.
“Why?’
Buffy smiled at his question and looped her arms around Spike’s neck while laying her cheek against his hair. “As much as we agree this place is smelly, dirty and generally a dive, it’s got a special meaning for Spike and me. It’s where I was working when we became an us. I don’t want to see it gone. Besides Arnie you’ve been a good friend to us. To me.”
Arnie thought it over for a moment then nodded his head. Things were changing and maybe it was time for him to change too. “Okay, you two, partners.”
The three of them shook hands while Mitzi and the others clapped. They agreed for their lawyers to talk things over and go from there.
“You ready to go home, Love?” Spike smiled up at Buffy ready to be alone with her.
“I’m ready to go. Want to head down to the beach and take a walk?” Buffy proposed with her eyebrows wiggling up and down.
“Yeah.”
Spike turned around so his back was between Buffy’s legs and she accepted the invitation hopping down onto his back so he could carry her out.
“Bye everybody, talk to you soon.” Buffy called out and waved before the door swung close behind them as they made their way to the Desoto and the rest of their night.
