Chapter 18
“Stand up strong, feel the pain
When the angels sing
Love and death don’t mean a thing
Till the angels sing”
-Social Distortion
Buffy sipped her tea politely before setting back down on the table. She had never liked tea in the first place.
“More tea?” Giles asked.
“No, thank you,” Buffy answered, covering her cup so that Giles wouldn’t overflow it again. “How are you doing?”
“Oh, fine, fine. Andrew takes good care of me…he used to want to be evil, did you know that?” Giles asked.
“Yes, I was there, remember?”
“Yes, you were there. I remember now,” Giles removed his glasses and cleaned them on his sweater. “The other Slayer was there too, right?” He shook his head. “Two active Slayers, who would have thought?”
“Faith says hi, by the way. Spike and I saw her last month.”
Giles frowned, “Spike is an evil vampire with no soul, Buffy. We must remember that his chip is not a conscious.”
Buffy sighed, “Giles, Spike doesn’t have a chip, remember? He’s a good guy now.”
“Oh, quite right,” Giles replied. “Any good apocalypses I should know about?”
Buffy shook her head. “Not this visit.”
“How’s Madison doing?”
Buffy swallowed thickly, “Giles, Madison’s d-she d…she left us over ten years ago.”
Giles put his hand over Buffy’s. “I’m sorry Buffy. I didn’t mean to…sometimes I forget, my mind…”he chuckled, “I think I now know how Drusilla must feel. I’m here, but I don’t always know where and when I am.”
“I know Giles, its okay.”
“I think I’ll be leaving soon.”
“I know,” Buffy answered.
“I’m sorry I can’t live up to my promise.”
Buffy looked confused.
“I promised that I would be standing by your side, my forever Slayer…I am sorry that you never got your normal life.”
“I have a good life,” Buffy insisted. “I have good friends, I had a beautiful sister and daughter, I have a wonderful husband, I had a wonderful mother, and,” she touched his cheek. “I had an amazing father.”
Giles closed his eyes, “Thank you.”
XXX
Spike’s head snapped back from the blow of Angelus’ fist. With a roar, he kicked his foot out and hit Angelus in the stomach.
Buffy moved toward the devil figure. Drusilla was on her knees babbling incoherently and stroking the ring. The devil was solid yet and Buffy knew that if she could get the ring from Drusilla, this would end.
Anya raced across the cave to where the girls were chained. The younger girl was dead, but the other one was alive and struggling fiercely.
“Get me out of here!” She demanded. “There’s some crazy shit going on here. I swear if I live to see tomorrow, I won’t ever spend my money on drugs again and I’ll join church and go every Sunday…I’ll join a temple too and go there on Saturdays. Just get me the fuck out of here.”
Anya released her from the chains and the girl took off running. “You’re welcome,” Anya muttered at the girl’s retreating back. She made her way back to where Xander was frantically chanting and dropping a powder around the portal.
“NO!” Drusilla leapt toward Xander, but Buffy caught her with a foot in the stomach.
“Buffy! Get the ring!” Anya yelled.
Angelus knocked Spike to the ground and pinned him down. “You’ll never defeat me boy.”
Spike smashed his head into Angelus’ forehead, “I will-and don’t call me boy.”
“Naughty baby, hitting Mummy,” Drusilla mumbled as she stood up. She was swaying slightly. “Need to raise the precious’ army. Can’t stop now.”
Buffy watched her, unsure of how to proceed.
“BUFFY, THE RING!” Anya screamed again.
Buffy slammed Drusilla against the wall, pinned her, and tried to pull the ring from her finger.
“Stuck. Can’t take it off. Too many voices,” Drusilla said. “I bit it off him, I did and he bled so prettily for me.”
Buffy shifted her face, “Guess I’ll have to follow suit then, mummy.” She grabbed Drusilla’s hand and bit the finger off.
Drusilla screamed and slumped to the floor.
Buffy removed the finger from her mouth and pulled the ring off. She tossed the finger into Drusilla’s lap.
“I got it!” She yelled toward Anya.
“Destroy it!” Anya yelled back.
Buffy dropped the ring to the ground and grabbed a nearby rock. She positioned the rock directly over the ring.
“Are you sure you want to do that?” The voice said inside her head. Buffy looked up to the devil figure in the portal. ”We can rule this world together, you and I. This ring is…precious. Can you feel it? Feel the power? The others, look at them, they would steal your power and keep it for themselves. You’ve done enough. You deserve this power.”
Buffy felt a power course through her. Why shouldn’t she keep the ring? It had been hers to begin with. Why had she given it up in the first place? This was her ring. Her power.
“Buffy!”
Her head snapped around at the sound of Spike’s voice. “Spike?” She watched in horror as Angelus pinned him down and raised a stake over his heart.
“Destroy the ring!”
Buffy turned back to the devil. She looked it square in the eye and brought the rock down. The light was blinding.
XXX
Buffy was the first one to open her eyes. The cave was dark except for a few candles. She crawled over to Spike’s unconscious body and pulled his head into her lap. His eyes opened a few moments later.
“Hi,” he said softly.
“Hi,” she replied.
“Did we win?”
“Yeah, I think we did,” she answered and leaned down to kiss him.
“Okay, ow!” Xander said, sitting up and rubbing his head. “That wasn’t in the book. Everyone on the side of good okay?”
“I have a bump on my head,” Anya complained and winced dramatically when Xander reached a hand over to examine it. “I think I’ll need Dr. Harris to take care of me when we get home.”
Xander smiled. “I think that can be arranged.”
There was a groan to the left of them and all four moved to stand around the figure on the ground.
“What happened? Why am I in a cave?” Angel moaned, slowly sitting up. “Spike? What are you doing here?” Angel looked up at him, confused.
“Long story, mate. Glad you’re you though.”
A scream filled the cave and the group turned to see Drusilla writhing on the floor, scratching herself. “Get it out! It burns! Getitoutgetitoutgetitout! Bad girl, been naughty, forgive me Father I have sinned and sinned and sinned and sinned. Cast me in hell and let me burn, I burn!”
“Oh, my…” Buffy started.
“Does she…” Xander said.
“She’s got her soul,” Spike finished.
“Thou shall not kill, not kill, not kill. Hail Mary full of grace, though I walk through the valley, I shall know no hunger, drink this wine it is my blood.”
“We have to help her,” Buffy said softly.
“No, I have to help her,” Angel said. “I made her, this is my fault.”
“Not alone,” Spike said. “Buffy and I will help you.”
“We’re family,” Buffy finished. “We’ll always be here to help you…even when you go evil and try to destroy the world.”
“Thank you…and I’m-“
“You don’t need to say it, Angel,” Buffy said softly.
“Yeah, think there’s been too much apologizing ‘round here lately. Too much gloom,” Spike said.
“I say we all go out and celebrate because-hey-I’m on an unexpected vacation here,” Xander said.
Drusillia let out another scream.
“Or we could watch movies and order a pizza?” Xander suggested.
XXX
Epilogue
*six months later*
“We’re here,” Buffy announced as she and Spike walked into the library.
”Good, you can help with the table because Drusilla was setting it when a knife reminded her of some guy she killed and she started crying and praying and Angel had to take her into the guestroom,” Anya said as she handed Buffy a stack of plates.
“Well, hello to you too,” Buffy laughed.
“Yes, yes, hello. Now go set the table.”
Spike followed Buffy into the living room to help her set the table while Anya disappeared into the kitchen.
“Hey, I thought I heard you two come in,” Xander appeared in the living room. “Sorry, Anya’s been on a cooking marathon for the past two days. She’s really taking this dinner seriously.”
“Hey, I offered to have it at our place,” Buffy said.
“Yeah, but she suddenly got it in her head that family during the holidays is important. I give up trying to figure her out,” Xander shrugged.
“XANDER! The turkey will not cut right! Come make it slice according to the picture in the book!” Anya screamed from the kitchen. Xander grinned at them and slipped out.
Buffy met Spike’s eyes and stifled a giggle.
“Don’t know what you’re laughing at, pet. I’ve been in Xander’s shoes before,” Spike said, raising an eyebrow at her.
“I have never been like that,” Buffy insisted.
“Uh-huh, you keep thinking that, Slayer.” He pulled her into his arms and stole a kiss before she could protest.
“Hello Buffy, William.”
Buffy playfully pushed Spike away and turned to the doorway. “Hello Drusilla. How are you?”
“I am well, thank you. How are you?” Drusilla walked primly into the living room and placed her hands on the back of a chair.
“We’re good. How was your visit to the sanctuary?” Buffy asked.
“I enjoyed it very much. Angel and I spent much time walking through the woods and talking with the sisters there. I have begun my path toward redemption,” she said quietly.
“That’s good, pet. You’ll do great. I mean, you’ve got great teachers and all…me and Buffy,” Spike grinned as Angel walked into the room. “Oh, yeah and the Poof too.”
“Nice to see you, too,” Angel grinned.
“Oh, good the table’s set,” Anya said. “Everyone sit.”
Xander followed behind her carrying the turkey. “I have turkey goodness and for those non-turkey eaters, I have otter blood, er, goodness.”
The group sat down at the table.
“We’re supposed to be thankful, someone say something thankful,” Anya demanded.
“Anya, you can’t force people to say something thankful,” Xander started but a look from Anya’s face silenced him. “I mean, I’m thankful for my wife and my good friends…and that the world didn’t end from the scary ring.”
Drusilla started to cry again and Angel shot Xander a dirty look.
“I’m thankful,” Spike said quickly, “for my beautiful wife.” He leaned over and kissed Buffy softly, “and my wonderful friends who are my family.” He raised his glass. “To family.”
“To family,” Buffy echoed.
“To family,” Angel said, squeezing Drusilla’s hand.
“To family,” Drusilla said softly. “Family forever.”
____________________________________________________________________
Song Listing
“It’s all over but the crying” Artist: Garbage Album: Bleed like me
“Cold man’s nightmare” Artist: Cathy Davy Album: Something ilk
“Where soul meets body” Artist: Death Cab for Cutie Album: Plans
“The year of no light” Artist: Three Mile Pilot Album: Another desert, another sea
“Perfecting Loneliness” Artist: Jets To Brazil Album: Perfecting Loneliness
“Little Earthquakes” Artist: Tori Amos Album: Little Earthquakes
“Look out below” Artist: Auntie Christ Album: Life Could Be A Dream
“You’ve got so far to go” Artist: Alkaline Trio Album: Maybe I’ll Catch Fire
“Mad World” Artist: Tears for Fears Album: The Hurting
“Couldn’t Breathe” Artist: Lennon Album: 5:30 Saturday Morning
“The Lament of Pretty Baby” Artist: Cursive Album: Domestica
“Half Jack” Artist: The Dresden Dolls Album: The Dresden Dolls
“Suggestion” Artist: Fugazi Album: 13 songs
“Because You’re Young” Artist: Cock Sparrer Album: Guilty as Charged
“Hurt” Artist: Nine Inch Nails Album: The Downward Spiral
“Who would’ve thought” Artist: Rancid Album: Life Won’t Wait
“Your Eyes Open” Artist: Keane Album: Hopes and Fears
“When the Angels Sing” Artist: Social Distortion Album: White Light, White Heat, White Trash
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