Matters of the Heart

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Disclaimer: Mine. Nope. It all belongs to Joss. No infringement intended. I just wanted to play for a while.
Rating: PG
Summary: Spike, Xander, Willow, and Dawn all bond at an unlikely event.
Author's Note: Takes place after See the Sun and 'Til the End of the World. This is my own little fiction world and I'm enjoying working on it. Even if no one enjoys reading it.
Spoilers: None past season 5.
Feedback: YES! But be nice if you hate it.
Dedication: Juls, because she's brilliant, and she gave me the idea on how to finish the rest of the series. Thanks.

Two years. She'd been gone two years. It didn't seem like two years. The time had gone by so quickly, and yet so slowly. Some times it felt like her mother had been gone for a few minutes. Other times, it felt like she'd been gone for a one hundred years. Buffy stood slowly in front of a picture, as if she was admiring it. She really knew nothing about art. She knew a lot about running an art gallery, but nothing about art. And her show, it was her first show. Her mother would be so proud. She glanced at her watch. Where was Spike? And Xander? And Willow? And Dawn? They were late. Tara and Giles were fascinated by the paintings, and Anya looked bored. No surprise there. But where were the others? Buffy glanced at her watch. They'd better have a good explanation for this later.

* * *

"So, you want to get Buffy a present?"

"How many bloody times do you have to repeat it? Yes mate."

"I told you not to call me that."

"We're late, have I mentioned that yet?"

"Many times. Besides, Buffy won't be mad."

"Yeah right."

"So, a present?"

"Mate! Yes. Bloody hell, help me find one."

"Why?"

"Xander, shut up."

"Wil, I'm just thinking. He's evil. He must have a reason."

"He is not!"

"Dawn stay out of this."

"Hey!" Spike yelled. He held out his hands. "Will you lot shut up? I'm trying to think."

"So why do you want to get her a present?" Xander asked.

"I know why," Dawn giggled.

"Shut up. I should have sent you with Anya," Spike snapped.

"No, I'm sorry. I won't say anything," Dawn said and looked down.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Xander frowned.

"So what do you want to get her?" Willow interrupted.

"Were in a jewelry shop for a reason," Spike said rolling his eyes. Dawn giggled again. "I thought I told you to be quiet. I should have locked the door."

"It was funny. He was giving himself a pep talk," Dawn snickered.

"For what? Going into a jewelry store?" Willow laughed.

"It isn't a very manly thing to do," Xander pointed out.

"Thanks mate," Spike nodded. Xander sighed.

"That's not what he was talking about," Dawn laughed.

"Shh!" Spike growled.

"You really have to move out, look what it's doing to Dawn," Willow said.

"Shut up. Help me find it," Spike ordered.

"Find what? We don't even know what you're looking for!" Xander yelled.

"A ring," Dawn grinned. "Oops," she added after a few seconds.

"That's right. Yell it so the whole bloody store can hear you," Spike nodded. "Why don't you call up the big poof and tell him to?"

"Who?" Dawn demanded.

"Spike," Willow said. She started laughing. "You, you, you're, you're not going to ask Buffy to…marry you, are you?"

"Thanks Dawn. Remind me not to buy you a birthday present," Spike growled.

"I didn't tell her!" Dawn protested.

"Wait, that's what your doing here?" Xander yelled. "And you wanted us to help? So we could help you pick out an engagement ring?"

"I like that one," Willow said. "The blue one. Buffy loves blue. She told me once, in 10th grade. She hoped her engagement ring was blue."

"Willow!" Xander snapped.

"Xander, this is so sweet. He asked us, her best friends, and her sister, to help him find something Buffy would like. He wanted our support. I think she'd like that one," Willow cried.

"Willow! You're just playing into his evil plan. He wants us to win us all over," Xander yelled.

"Right. It has nothing to do with love," Willow said rolling her eyes. "You can't tell Buffy! Bad, that's bad! Bad! It has to be surprise, right Spike?"

"Right. Well, actually, I was going to wait until I knew if she'd say yes, and then ask her," Spike said, his cheeks turned a fiery red.

"See. He was giving himself the pep talk, trying to convince him that Buffy cares for him," Dawn explained.

"Oh, no she loves the him," Xander said. "Oops, that was a secret."

"What?" Spike yelled.

"She kind of told me, she was in love with you, don't tell her. I had to swear I wouldn't tell you," Xander said.

"I won't, thanks mate, I'll take the blue one," Spike grinned.

"I told you not to call me that."

"So when are you going to ask her?" Willow asked ignoring Xander.

"He's got this whole big date planned, for next week," Dawn nodded.

"Have you been spying on me?" Spike demanded. "Thank you," he handed the man some bills and snatched the ring. He placed this in his pocket. "Not a word, any of you," he ordered.

"Of course," Willow nodded.

"My lips are sealed. For once," Dawn promised.

"I swear. She'd kill me," Xander laughed. "Come one, we're late. Let's go Scoobies."

"Right, I'll catch up, huh?" Spike sighed. "No, 'you can come to Spike?'" he muttered.

"Spike, you are a Scoobie," Xander said. "Come on, do you want to get us all killed?"

"No," Spike laughed. "Not, bloody well at all."

"So, who's the poof?" Dawn frowned. "Spike, you said call a poof? What?"

"Never mind, just drop it," Willow suggested.

"Thanks again mate," Spike grinned.

"Don't call me that."

* * *

"You are so late!" Buffy yelled checking her watch.

"We know, we got tied up, it was Xander's fault," Spike sighed.

"It was not!" Xander protested.

"Sure it was, why not?" Willow grinned.

"Well, at least you came," Buffy sighed.

"So, where were you guys?" Tara frowned.

"Just out," Dawn nodded.

"Just out?" Giles repeated.

"What were you doing?" Anya frowned.

"Taking care of some business matters," Willow smiled.

"Let's drop it, come on, the show has moved this way," Buffy laughed as the others started to gossip as they talked.

"Successful, show I take it?" Spike asked.

"My mom would have been so happy," Buffy nodded.

"She's very proud," Spike nodded.

"Business matters? What kind of matters are you taking care of now?" Buffy frowned.

"Nothing, drop it," Spike sighed.

Buffy laughed and put her arm around him. She stopped for a second, feeling her mother all around her. She then continued walking; unaware of the heart and soul Spike had gained today. Unaware of the fact that he had come to terms with himself, as had she. She smiled. Her mother had come to this gallery everyday. Put her self into the gallery. Now it was Buffy's turn. It was like her mother was the sun that came through the windows each morning. Buffy suddenly realized why she loved the gallery so much. She wasn't dealing with business. She was dealing with matters of her own heart.

Letting Go