Chapter Text
“Why do they have to have it outside?” Buffy grumbled as she stared at the graduation notice on her kitchen counter while Spike slid her a cup of coffee. “I asked Allan and he said it wasn’t up to him. But it’s so stupid. Outside in the middle of the day. It’s not just vampires, it’s hot. And sunny. And ugh!”
“It’s probably outside, in the sun, so nothing nasty takes a bite out of all the kiddies before they walk away with their diplomas, pet,” Spike replied, taking a sip of his blood.
“Yeah, ok, but it’s not fair!” Buffy whined, her bottom lip coming out in a pout.
“Oh! Look at that lip.” Spike wiped off his mouth and leaned over the counter to place a small kiss on her mouth and Buffy leaned into it, holding back a smirk. “Besides, I told you, I’ll be there. The entire walkway is covered and perfectly shady. Completely safe. And the reception is inside.”
Buffy huffed and sipped her coffee with an eyeroll and he shook his head at her.
“I’m sure plenty of delinquent boyfriends will be hanging about in the shade. Along with any annoyed family members that get too hot or too tired of the speeches.” He smirked at her over his mug and she smiled back.
“Fine, you’re right. It’s not that big of a deal. It would have just been nice for you to be able to sit with Mom.” She sighed and Spike came around the island to kiss her on top of the head.
“Be alright, luv,” he murmured.
~ ~ ~
Allan’s speech was short. Her mother cried and smiled and took more pictures than Buffy could remember her taking in a long time. Everyone threw their caps. Giles stood in the shadowy part of the outdoor pavilion next to Spike, both of them in gray suits, and when Buffy glanced over she could see him clap the blond on the shoulder with a small smile.
When she walked across the stage and received her diploma, Buffy turned and smiled and her mom waved as she clicked another photo on her overpriced digital camera, a top of the line Buffy’s Graduation present from her ex-husband. Along with a giant flower arrangement and a gift card for college shopping for Buffy. Hank didn’t come, but somehow that was ok.
Generally it was as perfect of a high school moment as Buffy could have hoped for, second only to Prom weekend. Normally this would be the time an apocalypse would be settling over them, but instead, it was a sunny day and she was done with high school. And the building was still standing. No burned down gym or anything.
They mingled at the reception, Buffy smiling and nodding at every wish for good luck and questions about next year and Sunnydale University. Had snacks and punch and joked. And then it was over and Buffy was at home with her friends and family and ice cream cake, in a more relaxed celebration.
Angel approached her and Spike and wished her congratulations with a small, hesitant smile.
“I also… uh… wanted to tell you, I’m going to be leaving. Sunnydale, I mean.” Angel looked almost shy, but Buffy smiled at him openly. Even Spike’s smirk wasn’t altogether unfriendly.
“I think that might be good. Get away from… the memories…” Buffy nodded. “Where will you go?”
“Not sure… LA maybe? Never a shortage of people in need of rescuing there.” He had a small grin.
“LA? You’re going to LA?” Cordelia cut in with a bright smile of her own. “I’m going to LA! Maybe we could see each other… or something…I mean…” She huffed a small exasperated breath and started again. “I got pretty used to the big things. Helping people. It’d be a shame to stop just because I’m moving.”
“She is Queen C and can wield a mean spatula,” Buffy teased and Cordelia shot her a friendly smile.
“Damn straight I can!” She nodded.
“That sounds…” Angel started then paused and offered a small smile. “Could be good. To have a friendly face around.”
Spike snuck away, leaving Buffy to stand awkwardly while Cordelia gushed to Angel about all the shoes and acting opportunities in LA and he sent desperate glances at Buffy. Beneath the discomfort though, she could see a spark of something in Angel’s eyes, some bit of appreciation for the brunette in front of him. It was an encouraging change, considering the last year. And deep down Buffy thought that just the fear of losing his soul next time would likely mean Angel wasn’t going to be experiencing perfect happiness any time soon, even if the pair got closer than was strictly safe.
Willow and Faith came to her rescue, drawing Buffy away for cake while Cordelia was busy wrapping her hands around Angel’s arm and gently dragging him to the other end of the room. With a grateful smile, Buffy followed her friends into the kitchen and away from the somewhat awkward flirting. She was chatting with Faith and Willow in the kitchen, when Spike came up behind her, his jacket and tie off and his sleeves rolled on his button down shirt and wrapped his arms around her waist. In one hand, in front of her, he was holding a small black box with a big white bow on it.
“Wouldn’t be a celebration without presents, luv,” he murmured into her ear as she eeped with excitement and her eyes grew wider.
“Really? What is it?” She squeaked out as she lifted the box out of his hand Spike chuckled, shaking his head.
“Open it, silly chit.” He tapped the bottom of the box with one finger as she tilted it and thought about shaking it. Buffy rolled her eyes and smiled, but slowly pulled on the ribbon that made up the bow, unraveling it. She set the ribbon down on the counter and then hesitated a second, eyeing the box. It didn’t look like jewelry, but it was small. Slowly she lifted the lid and set it down as well, looking into the white tissue paper, crumpled in a neat little bundle in the box. She pushed it apart with her fingers and felt him tense up just a fraction as her fingertips touched something cool and metal. She dug around for a second longer before snagging a round, metal object and pulling out a key on a ring and a heart shaped keychain. She studied it for a second and then twisted half way in his arms to look at his face.
Spike was beaming at her as he flicked his eyebrows up once. “Like it?”
“Uhh… it’s a key…” She paused and looked at him imploring him to fill in the blank. When he just kept smiling at her she continued. “To?”
“Ahh, that’s the fun part. Come on.” He pulled away from her as though he had been waiting for her to ask, plucked the now empty box out of her hand and set it on the counter and pulled her along toward the front door and then outside. It was nearly sunset and the sidewalk in front of her house was shady. He pulled her along three houses down to a small white, two story cottage house with a wooden door and a brick porch. In the front yard stood a realtor’s sign with a sold marker slapped across it. “It’s the key to this.”
“To… the house?” Buffy asked tentatively, looking back and forth between Spike and the home in front of her.
“Yeah, luv. To the house.” He gave her hand a tug and pulled her toward the front door. “Give it a try.”
She looked at him with wide eyes, but took the key in her hand and pushed it into the lock, turning it. The lock clicked and she was able to push the door open gently. Her family and friends had gathered on the sidewalk in front of the house and were watching them.
“Are you serious, Spike?” Buffy stared at him in shock and for a second his smile faltered and he looked unsure, worried and more than a little wary, but he nodded anyway. “Oh my God!” She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him with bruising intensity as his arms wrapped around her waist and she lifted her feet kicking back and forth in excitement a few times. He pulled away with the bright smile back on his face and spun her around once before setting her feet down and promptly lifting her bridal style into his arm to carry her over the threshold. Behind them the group erupted into cheers and clapping and Buffy threw her head back and laughed. He kissed her just inside the doorway and then set her down again when she wiggled.
“Want the tour?” He asked and she smiled and nodded.
“I can’t believe you did this. I can’t believe you found the time to do this. And so close to Mom,” she chattered as he showed her the recently remodeled, homey little cottage, walking her through the kitchen and the bedroom that would be theirs and the one that would serve as the guest room.
“I thought you’d like a place of our own when you started college. So you didn’t have to move into the dorms,” he answered with a small shrug.
“Spike, this is amazing! It’s perfect and we’ll get to decorate it together!” Buffy was almost bouncing with excitement.
“Yeah, we can. Thought we’d go shopping for furniture this week, now that school’s done.” Spike nodded his agreement as they made their way back to the front room where everyone was slowly filtering in.
“How do you like it, sweetie?” Her mom was in front of her, a bright smile on her face as well.
“I love it. I assume you helped?” Buffy questioned, her eyes narrowing in a mock glare.
“Just to keep it a secret. This was all Spike.” Joyce’s amused glance darted between Spike and Buffy. “Congratulations!”
The group erupted in similar well wishes and congratulations, sliding in to hug Buffy and shake Spike’s hand as they made plans to all get together for events and to help the couple move in furniture.
It was funny, really. Her mom had adopted a kitten that one day before she’d come back. While she was lonely and scared and broken in LA. The world had been bleak and hard and every fight felt like too much. Even after she came back, it was all so much! So heavy. And as a kitten, Spike had been there, eased the burden. Shouldered some of her pain. Given his advice, best he could, freely. Snuggled her and loved her. And looking back, she was sure he had loved her as much as she had fallen in love with his furry, sweet, kitteny self. He’d become her best friend then, and he was still her best friend now. So as he hugged her with his chest pressed up against her back, the soft rumble of a purr radiating from him, Buffy could do nothing but smile and feel the contentment of the moment. The perfect end to a tumultuous high school experience. A beautiful way to feel like she was finally getting to grow up.
It was all so warm and calm, and though the peace wouldn’t last in Sunnydale, it never did, afterall, at least everything was such that Buffy knew, absolutely and without a doubt, that facing whatever was next was going to be no problem. When the warm summer months chilled into fall and the vampire population grew or the next Big Bad rolled into town, she’d be fine. She’d have her friends and her family and Spike, her home, her port in the storm to come home to and help ease the burden. Hell, that wasn’t true, he’d be out there in the fight and then walk home hand in hand. And with that in mind it all felt manageable. Life felt beautiful. And she was glad he was doing it with her.