Rating: PG-13

Email: cyndyr298@yahoo.com or snow_whte@hotmail.com

Authors: Cyndy and Sara

Pairing: S/D, A/F

Spoilers: Season Five through "Tough Love." A.U.

Summary: Set in 2004. Dawn sets out to trap for our favorite blonde vampire.

Disclaimer: All of the characters belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. No profit was received from this story.

Note: All of our fanfiction is available at www.fanfiction.net One more part left!

***************************************************************************************************

Dawn sat in the living room of Tara and Willow's apartment. She had a glass of iced tea in her hand and a bunch of wedding materials spread out before her. There were catering brochures, pictures of churches, bridal magazines, and tapes of local bands. She was showing the other young women her choices for the wedding ceremony.

Tara smiled at the picture of her dress. She passed it to Willow so that she could see too. "Dawnie, that is so beautiful." It had a sweetheart necklines and a full train behind it. The dress was speckled with pearls and set off Dawn's ivory complexion.

"Thanks, Tara." She smiled at them, her face radiating joy. "I'm just so excited about this! I can't wait for the ceremony." Her eyes misted up. "I can't believe I'm actually going to marry Spike."

"Me either." Tara said in a low voice, her lover elbowed her.

"Only a couple of days to go, Dawnie." Willow said. She stroked Tara's hair. "It makes me want to have a commitment ceremony." She nudged the other witch. "You'd look gorgeous in one of these gowns."

"Maybe we'll do it." Tara mused, taking her lover's hand. "We could fly to Hawaii, get hitched, and then have a honeymoon."

"Oh, you should!" Dawn squealed. She loved the two of them, they were her second parents. "Buffy and I could help with the arrangements!"

"We'll see about that. Right now, we're going to focus on your wedding." Willow sat down beside her. "You and Spike, huh? Who woulda guessed?"

"Life is strange, huh? A soulless vampire and a Slayer."

"Yeah, I guess so." Willow said, less than thrilled. Actually, all the Scoobies were irritated by it, but they knew better than to say something.

"Very Romeo and Juliet." Tara said, putting a romantic spin on it.

"Hopefully, without the double suicide." Dawn said impishly. They all laughed.

"So, what do you want for a wedding gift?" Tara asked. "Willow and I've gone back and forth on what to get you."

"We just want to get something perfect." Willow added. "Because you're our little Dawnie." She pinched the Slayer's cheek.

Dawn bit her lip. "Actually, I know the perfect gift."

"What is it?" Willow leaned forward.

"Well, it isn't for me, it's for Angel. "

It was the night of the rehearsal. The wedding party was assembled in their correct spaces, waiting for a run through of the service. The onlookers were all assembled in the pews. Angel and Spike stood at the alter. Both of them had their faces averted from the enormous eight foot cross that dominated the wall of the church. "I'm gonna kill her." Spike asserted quietly to Angel.

"What was that, my son?" The minister asked. He wasn't certain why but the two men in front of him were... well, different. They just made him uneasy. The sooner this wedding happened, the better as far as he was concerned.

"Nothing." Angel answered for him. Then he hissed at Spike. "Save the killing talk for another time, okay? We're in a house of God."

"Oh, please. You sound like the bleedin' Pope." He narrowed his eyes. "Besides, you know that Buffy did this deliberately."

"Probably." Angel agreed. "But now is not the time."

Next to Angel was Giles, then Xander, and finally Riley.

Spike didn't care what Angel thought, he swung around to see Buffy lined up at the end of the aisle. Tara, Anya, and Willow were in front of her in the processional. He took his first finger and swiped it over his neck, telling her in no uncertain terms what he was thinking of. She had the audacity to give him a little wave.

"Did you know about this, pervert?" Spike sputtered as he leaned over to stare at Riley.

"About what?" Riley asked, looking confused.

"Who's a pervert?" Xander questioned, looking nervous.

"Him." Angel said, gesturing to Riley. "He likes animals in a special way." The vampire lowered his voice. "And I'm not talking about things they taught him in 4H."

"Eww." Xander stepped away from Riley. "Too much time in the jungle?"

"Good Lord, man. Have some decency." Giles said, looking at him disdainfully. He'd done some truly awful things in his youth, but never an animal. This was really too much. Attending a vampire wedding! Disturbing sex talk about animals! If the Watcher's Council could see him now, they'd kick him out. Again.

"I DO NOT have SEX with ANIMALS!" The minister gulped. "And I should have said that more quietly." The older man opened his mouth to scold him, thought better of it and then closed it. Then, he opened it again. He resembled an angry goldfish. Riley turned a deep shade of crimson. "I'm so sorry, sir."

"I don't care about your rabid bestiality. I have a problem here." Spike snapped. "Now, did you know about this?"

"About what?!" Riley cried. "I never know what you guys are talking about!"

Spike shut his mouth and narrowed his eyes at Riley. He jumped up on the raised dais, pushed the minister aside and approached the crucifix. "The big honkin' cross, genius."

"Stop that." Angel took a hold of Spike and drug him back to the line of groomsmen. "You're making a scene."

Just then, the organist started the music. She was an ancient woman, whose feet barely reached the peddles of the huge instrument. "Like you can hear over that bloody awful music."

Angel's eyes closed. "I love the sound of a church organ." He grinned. "Especially, back in the days... I used to sit in a pew and listen. Snack on a nun while-"

"Yes, yes, we're all aware of your affection for churches." Spike said nastily. "Quick, poof, do a search for some priests you can eat."

"I resent that. Haven't done that for a very long time!" Angel crossed his arms over his chest. "And it was nuns, not priests."

The minister's eyes bugged out. "You're a cannibal?"

"I was, in a manner of speaking." Angel said thoughtlessly. The man looked as if he were going to pass out. "But I'm kidding. Ha ha ha." He elbowed Spike in the ribs. "Isn't that right? Ha ha ha."

"I don't find that joke very amusing young man." He held his bible tighter and looked down his nose at the two offensive men.

Tara was the first one up the aisle. She blushed all the way up, not liking this much attention. Next was Anya, who was having a fabulous time. She blew kisses and gave "pageant waves" to everyone seated in the pews. Cordelia rolled her eyes. Figures, Xander was dating an ex-demon. What else is new?

Next up was Willow who was fighting back tears. And this was only the rehearsal! Her little Dawnie was getting married! Then came Buffy, she still couldn't believe this was happening. Her little sister was marrying her worst enemy. But at least Dawnie was happy.

"Here comes your bride."Angel whispered. But his eyes were all over Faith. Dawn was making her way up the aisle on Faith's arm. They stopped directly in front of Spike and Angel.

"This young woman is giving her away?" The minister asked dubiously.

"Yeah, you got a problem with it?" Faith said, her voice dripping with attitude. She held Dawn's arm and the two glared fiercely at the minister.

"No, of course not. Why would I?" He said as he buried his nose in his book and began to give a pared down version of the ceremony.

Buffy and Faith sat across from each other at a table in the Bronze. A local band was singing a mellifluous love song. They both watched Spike and Dawn swaying to the music, their eyes fastened on one another. "Check out the love birds." The dark Slayer commented.

"She really does love him." There was a note of mystification in Buffy's voice.

"Strange but true."

"I've never seen her so happy." Tears of joy dribbled down Buffy's cheeks. "Not since before mom died."

"She needs him." Faith agreed, swiping at a stray tear. "They were meant for each other. Every time I'm in the room with the two of them, you can see the sparks flying."

"Its kinda romantic." Buffy said, thinking back to her own failed romance with Angel. "A vampire and a Slayer."

"I suppose so."

Buffy grimaced. "Even if it is Spike." They met eyes. "Faith, I just have to say something." She placed her hand over her old friend and enemy's. "We made quite an amazing person."

Faith grinned, eyes straying to Dawn. "We certainly did. She's the best of us both."

"You won't get any argument from me." Buffy agreed. She took a deep breath. "I...I forgive you."

Faith took a quick breath. "You do? I thought you'd hate me til the day you die." She couldn't resist a smirk. "Again."

"A lot of things are different. You're... different. I don't know how it happened, but you are. You're not the same person that you were. I see that now. It's childish of me to hold on to this right now. I know I'm not perfect, I shouldn't hold your misdeeds against you."

"Thank you, B. And, for what it's worth," She gulped, forcing the next part, "I'm sorry." She had never said those words to anyone. She never really apologized for her behaviors even though she had rectified the situation.

"It's worth a lot." Buffy said, taking a sip of sangria.

Faith nodded. "Are we good?"

Buffy sat back in her chair, perusing the room. Giles was happily chatting to a smiling Willow and a radiant Tara. Xander and Anya were dancing, absorbed in each other. Dawn and Spike were blissful. Gunn and Angel were throwing peanuts up into the air and trying to catch them in their mouths as Cordelia urged them on. Wesley and her husband, Riley, were animatedly discussing weapons strategies by their gesticulations. All was well with world. "We're more than good. We're great."

Dawn and Spike snuck outdoors as soon as everyone was asleep at chez Summers. The vampire led his ladylove by the shoulders as her eyes were covered in a thick velvet blindfold. Carefully, he helped her sit down cross legged on a sheet that was spread across the lawn. He plucked the blindfold from her eyes and she gasped in delight.

He had a circle of candles that surrounded the sheet. A bottle of champagne sat in a chilled bucket of ice. Two crystal flutes sat next to it, just waiting to be filled up. And a silver bowl of chocolate covered strawberries was on the other side of the bucket. Spike held up her wrist, counting down the time on her wristwatch. "Four... three... two... one. It's midnight, luv." He leaned in and her eyes fluttered closed. "Happy Marriage Day." His lips caressed hers with a loving kiss.

"Happy Marriage Day, Spike." He plucked a strawberry from the silver bowl and held it to her mouth. She took a bite, savoring the rich chocolate on the sweet berry. "Mmmm."

Spike kissed her again. "Mmm. Chocolate covered Dawn kisses. Nummy treat."

He popped the rest of the berry into his mouth.

She snatched a kiss from his lips. "I don't know, I like berry flavored Spike kisses myself."

"We'll have to agree to disagree on that score, nibblet. Want some bubbly?"

"I'm not old enough."

"S'okay, pet. I'm 140 something if you add our ages together and divide them, you could be old enough many times over. Besides, you only get married once."

"Okay then, you talked me into it."

"Like you needed much convincing." Spike popped open the bottle. Then, he filled the two flutes and then handed her one. Dawn was about to raise it to her mouth when his hand forestalled her. "Wait a bit, luv." He fished a tiny silver box, no bigger than his thumb, from the pocket of his jeans. It was encrusted with two black pearls. He opened it and then shook a small grainy substance into Dawn's drink, it looked like shiny sugar. Once it touched the champagne it burbled and snapped, infusing the drink with a white glow.

"What's that?" Dawn asked curiously.

"Time sugar." At her confused expression, he explained. "It has longevity properties. Each pinch of it adds 5 years to a person's life."

Dawn was awestruck. "So, if I drank this, I would live to be 80 or so instead of 75. "

"Exactly bit. 'Cept you would look a bit younger. When you drink it, you are literally drinking time. You can't age if you are a part of it. Time ages things around it. So, it doesn't apply to you."

"So I can live forever while still looking young?"

"Exactly. Though, I have to be careful with the dosage and how often you take it, or you'd be a child forever."

"Oh, Spike, that's so-"

"Wonderful?" He looked like a preening bird as she nodded quickly. "Only the best for my nibblet. I have a lifetime's supply of this wonder herb."

"Where did you get it?"

"I've had it for a long time, pet. Dru and I found a field of the plants it grows on in a forest outside of Prague. When she saw it, she went even more nuts and demanded that we harvest all of it. That was bloody backbreaking work. We had to pick it, dry it, bathe it in moonlight, and then grind it to a fine powder."

"Why did Dru want it? She's immortal too."

"She wanted to keep her cat, Kindred, alive forever."

"You both did all of that for a cat?"

"She was insane. What can I say? We had that cat around for a hundred years."

"What happened to it?"

"Angelus got hungry one night and sucked it dry." Spike said with disgust.

"But, wasn't it immortal?"

"Yes."

"Then what's the problem?"

"It was pissed off and ran away. Pissed in his bed before it left to." He chuckled. "Wanker had it coming."

"Then, it might be still alive?"

"No, luv, it needed to keep eating the herb to live forever. If the person stops taking it, it eventually is passed through the body and the person will live out their normal life span." He smiled then. "So, we won't let that happen." He hoisted his glass to hers and they clinked together. "To spending eternity with you."

Dawn sipped her champagne. "Tastes good."

"Knew you'd like it." Spike sat behind her and she rested in the clutch of his arms and legs.

"I love it, actually." She looked up at the velvet night sky, spangled with white hot stars. "Perfect."

Spike buried his face in her hair. "Perfect."

She leaned into his touch. "I'm actually marrying you tonight."

"You are." He ran his hands along her arms as he pressed his mouth against her ear. "I can't wait for the honeymoon."

"Me either." She responded, playfully running her hand down his left leg.

They were silent for a moment, basking in the joy of being with each other.

"Only one thing could make this more special."

"Name it, pet, and I'll get it for you."

"I want Angel an-"

"You want Angel?"

"No, we've already established that." She groaned. "You didn't let me finish. I want Angel and Faith to get together."

"I don't think that's any of our business, bit."

"It is! They need each other. They're both too stubborn to see it."

"What did you have in mind?"

"It's kinda drastic." Dawn hedged.

"My favorite kind of plan." Spike said, intrigued despite himself. "What do you need me to do?"

"You're probably not going to like it." She warned.

"Spit it out, luv."

"Alright, it goes like this..."

Spike stopped in front of Angel's door. The Fang Gang was staying at a Sunnydale motel together and all of their rooms were interconnected. "Can't believe I'm doing this. Good thing I bloody love the bit so much." He tapped on the door to announce his entrance and swung it open. "Hello."

Angel was lying in the bed which was on the other side of the wall. He had a book open on his lap and his chest was bare. "Spike! What are you doing here?" He pulled the covers up to his chin.

"Relax. Your virtue is safe." Spike said dryly.

"Is something wrong?" He started to get up. "Is Dawn in trouble or is it-"

"No, sit yourself down. Everything's fine."

"Oh." He frowned. "Why are you here then?"

"Well, I need some... advice. That's right." The vampire nodded and spoke to himself. "Advice. That's a good tactic."

"Advice? What do you mean by tactic?"

"Just advice. Yeah, about... uh, marriage."

"I have never been married. So, I imagine I'm not the best person to ask." Angel said slowly, peering at Spike, completely baffled.

"But you're my sire!" Spike said, thinking on his feet. He came closer to the bed, fumbling in his pocket for a handful of what he needed. "You know everything." He nearly choked on that lie.

Something weird was going on here. Angel clutched the blanket tighter. "I know that you tease me about being gay but I'm really not. I mean, everyone experiments." Spike was aghast. "What?! I was bored. After over two centuries the thrill was gone and..." His expression became stern. "It's none of your business."

Spike sat down on the edge of the bed. "Whatever. Not really interested in that." He pulled his fist from his jacket and then blew the powder in Angel's face.

Angel shook his head, trying to clear the blue dust from his face. "Spike, what did you-" He slumped down on the bed, thankfully, sheet still around his waist.

Spike stood up, clicking his tongue. "You think you know a vampire." He looked thoughtful. "But you know, that kind of explains the whole Penn thing."

Two rooms down, Dawn was sitting on the bed next to Faith. They were watching David Letterman and laughing at the top ten list. When it was over, Faith turned to Dawn. "We should probably get some shut-eye. All set for tomorrow?"

"Completely. I only need one more thing to make my big day better."

"Oh? What's that?" Faith looked disturbed. "It doesn't involve anything lacy or pastel colored, does it? Cuz that sounds like more of a job for B."

"No, it's not that." She cleared her throat. "Do you think that you and Angel could ever-"

"There is no me and Angel, D. I don't know why you keep harping on this."

"You are so full of it. I know you like him. I know you do!"

"Maybe. But he could never love me. Even if we did get together, I'd be nothing but a Buffy substitute." Faith said.

"That's not true. He really likes you Faith. I mean, the way he looks at you..."

She shook her head. "Don't go there. I mean, thanks for the tip, D, but it's never gonna happen."

Dawn blew a faint cloud of blue dust into the other Slayer's face. "Never say never."

"Big hulking poof." Spike groused as he grabbed hold of the larger man's ankles and tugged him further down the bed. He pushed the edges of the sheet and the left side of the bed and tugged. Then, he did the same to the right. Then he pulled the sheets down the bed, from underneath Angel's body. A big pile of bed linens lay on the carpet. Spike went to the bathroom and removed all of the towels. With a wicked grin, he left the washcloths. Let the poof try to keep his enormous bottom covered with those.

He tossed Angel's suitcase next to the pile and his eyes strayed to the slumbering vampire clothed only in a pair of pajama bottoms. "And now for the really icky part."

Spike cracked his knuckles and approached the prone form purposely. "Okay, this means nothing, poof. Got it? This is not Penn here undressing you." He averted his face as he blindly reached out for the string that held them closed, his hand accidently brushed Angel's crotch. "Eww! I touched it!" He shook his fingers furiously, trying to dispel Angel cooties. Finally, he grabbed hold of the string more firmly and tugged; it came undone easily.

Spike tried to pull the pants down Angel's hips but it wouldn't budge. "Dammit, poof." He rolled his eyes and slid to his knees, hoping to get some leverage pulling against the bed frame to pull them off. He could simply tear them off but then he'd be forced to listen to a four hour lecture on the importance of clothing or some rot. He yanked them again but stopped when he heard a horrified shriek. Out in the hallway stood Buffy with her mouth open. "Bloody hell, Slayer! You nearly gave me a heart attack and mine doesn't even beat."

"What are you doing?" Buffy hissed.

Spike's eyes strayed to the nearly naked Angel and then back to Buffy. "It's not what you think! Believe me."

"Oh, please!" She put her hands on her hips. "You're gonna deny it when he's lying there naked!"

"Uh, yeah. There's never been any hanky panky between me and Angel. Now, Penn might be another story but-"

"Who's Penn?"

"Forget it."

"You know, it's still cheating if you sleep with someone of the same sex." Buffy walked in the room and shut the door, determined to get her answers.

"Slayer, you are the only Angel shagger in this room." He crossed his arms over his chest. "What are you doing here anyway? Aren't you supposed to be home?"

"No, I woke up and didn't see Dawn so I went over here to bring her home."

"Her home is where I am, Slayer."

"Not this night." Buffy pointed out. "This is her last night with me and I wanted to be with her."

"As you can see, she's not here. So, why don't you-"

"Instead, I walk in to find you depantsing Angel." She stared at him. "Uh, why isn't he awake?" Then she grimaced. "Don't tell me. I don't wanna know about all your deviant sexual practices."

"Will you lay off? I am not, I repeat, am not... interested in the poof."

"You know, you keep saying that. But you were talking about his butt and now I find you pulling his clothes off."

"I'm doing this for Dawn."

"What?" Buffy said, brow wrinkling. Just then, Dawn swung open the side door, lugging Faith's prone form. The other Slayer was draped in a sheet.

"Argh! I knew there was something weird going on between the four of you! I knew it!" She pressed a hand to her forehead. "But you pooh poohed me and I let you. I was so naive."

"Buffy, I promise, that this is not about that at all." Dawn asked, dumping Faith on the bed next to Angel.

"Then what is it about?!"

"We're trying to get those two together." Dawn explained. "Get it? Naked time equals admitting feelings, which leads to dating, which leads to marriage." Dawn pointed to the pile of bed linens.

"You want Faith and Angel together?"

"Exactly." Spike said firmly, finishing depantsing Angel. He rolled the vampire on his back to... protect his... privacy.

"Fabulous." Well, that was better than the orgy answer. "Wait a second. Then you get to have a newly happy Angelus cruising town." Buffy reminded them.

"Not with this." Dawn produced a green crystal.

"What's that?"

"A Soul Belt." Dawn explained, crawling under the bed and placing it in the center of the floor underneath. She crawled back out, carefully averting her eyes. "Willow did it. Basically, it keeps Angel's soul buckled in the body for the event."

"Willow did that?" Buffy asked crossly.

"Yep. She's wicked powerful." Dawn said.

"Who else is in on this?" Buffy asked.

"Just Tara. "

"I...I..." Buffy said, breaking off. Her anger gave way to hilarity. "I can't believe you guys." She couldn't suppress a smile. "They're gonna be so pissed at you. You're very lucky neither one of them is evil anymore."

Dawn removed the last sheet from Faith's body, turning her over onto her stomach. Spike tossed the linens into his own adjoining room, along with the suitcase. "Nah, they'll probably thank us. Or maybe they'll be too busy shagging like bunnies."

All three of them left the room, leaving the slumbering Slayer and vampire blissfully unaware of their situation. As they paused at the threshold, Dawn released a bolt of energy flew from an amulet she held to the two windows and two doors. It circled each exit before settling into the corner of each door and window.

"What's that do, luv?" Spike asked, a sexy smile on his mouth. "Not an aphrodisiac, is it?" Buffy screwed up her face. "What? You're so innocent all of a sudden? You're sleeping with a sheep licker or whatever sick things those types do."

"My husband DOES NOT sleep with animals."

"Talk to the hand, Slayer!" Spike said, stepping away from her and showing his palm.

Dawn chuckled but stopped when Buffy glared at her. "That was a perimeter spell, to keep 'em in here." She stood still, putting her hands out and focusing. "Grow fierce and grow gold. Keep them in, reinforce the hold!"

"How long will that keep?" Buffy asked.

"Forever. In theory at least." Dawn replied. "I have to release it whenever I feel that it's been long enough."

"Alright then." Spike said, holding out his arm to Dawn. She placed her arm through his. "We'd better get you home, luv. You need to get a good night's rest." He frowned as he looked over his shoulder at the door. "I'll stay over too. I don't wanna be hear when His Royal Heaviness wakes up." He paused and looked at the other Slayer. With a smile, he offered her his other arm.

Buffy was charmed, despite herself. She took his arm. Maybe Spike wasn't so bad after all. Anyone who loved Dawn couldn't be all bad. "Let's go home then."

Spike walked the two Summers women from the hotel. "So, we're all going to be related, huh?" He mused.

"Yep, one big family." Dawn beamed.

"That's kinda nice." Buffy agreed. Things were looking up. Everyone was with someone he or she loved. Apparently, even Angel and Faith.

Spike looked at Buffy. "Way the bit tells it, you're really her mum."

"Yep, the monks made her out of me and Faith."

"Hmm." Spike couldn't keep the devilish gleam from his eye. "Then, I guess I should start calling you 'Mom'."

Buffy narrowed her eyes. "You're really lucky I can't stake you anymore." But, she still had some leverage over him. "But just for that comment... tomorrow night... you're gonna do the Chicken Dance!" She let go of his arm and sprinted ahead of them. Then, she called over her shoulder. "And the Hokey Pokey!"

"My hokey does not pokey." Spike asked darkly. "Are you sure she isn't evil?"

"Not in the strictest sense of the word."