Thanks to Tam for being an awesome beta!! and thanks to everyone for the wonderful support for this fic! You guys are awesome! *sniff* gonna go now before i get all weepy, lol
Chapter 7 ~ Becoming 1 (some dialogue taken from the epi)
Buffy slammed out of her watchers house, wondering when the world had completely turned upside down. She had no clue where she was going, all she knew was that she had to do something to make things right. She cut though the park, counting on the darkness to hide her from watching eyes.
She watched nervously as a police car approached. Keeping her head down, she continued to walk, hoping they didn’t notice her. Luck was obviously not on her side as the lights start to flash and the siren sounded briefly. The car pulled to the side and stopped. She ignored it all as she walked past, her face staring at the sidewalk. The officer stepped out, slamming his door closed as he drew his gun and shouted, “hold it right there!”
Buffy turned to face the policeman, shocked when she saw the gun in his hand.
“Put your hands on your head! Do it,” he yelled when she didn’t respond. The frightened slayer stared at the gun and began to raise her hands.
She watched in horrified fascination as the gun was kicked out of the officer's hands. The first kick was quickly followed by another to the mans face and then to the shins before he was thrown violently back onto the hood of his car where he lay unmoving. Only then did she look into the glittering topaz eyes of her savior. Shock turned to tears at the sight of his familiar face.
Spike.
“Hello, cutie.” He smiled sadly when she rushed to him and threw herself into his arms.
Once again, Buffy found herself crying out her tears on his shoulder. Through her sobs she haltingly told him the basics of that last few days; Willow deciding she was prepared to do the soul restoring spell and the fight that followed, Kendra showing up, and the demon Whistler with his cryptic messages. She cried through the telling of finding Kendra dead, Willow still being in the hospital, and not knowing what happened to Giles.
Spike brushed back her hair and wiped her tears away. “Angelus has your watcher, pet. He’s safe for now, because he has information the poof wants, but that doesn’t mean he won’t hurt him a bit. I wanted to warn you, but Angelus was having me watched pretty close. The only reason I got away tonight was because he’s got a new toy to play with.”
“Oh my God, it’s all my fault. If I hadn’t fallen for his stupid trap none of this would have happened.” She tried to pull away from the vampire in her distress, becoming frantic in her struggle to get free.
“Buffy, stop,” he yelled, shaking her slightly to get her attention. “You couldn’t have stopped it. All that would have happened would be that you’d be lying dead on that floor, too, but you’re not. You’re here and we will get your watcher back. We’ll make Angelus pay for what he’s done. I promise.”
“And Drusilla? She’s the one that killed Kendra. What happens there?” She couldn’t get the anger and hatred out of her voice. She knew she was placing him in an impossible position, one that went directly against their earlier agreement, but that was before the crazy ho had killed her sister slayer.
“You leave Dru to me. You just worry about the poof,” he assured her.
Shaking her head, she argued, “I can’t just let her walk away, Spike.”
“Buffy, I don’t know how much time your watcher has left before Angelus decides he’s got what he wants. They had him tied up when I left, but the party was about to begin. We don’t have time to argue about Dru. She won’t be a threat when you make your move. I’m sorry, but that’s all I can promise you.” He stared her down, unwavering in his decision. He had made many concessions in his deal with the slayer, but on this he would not budge.
She could see in his eyes that he was determined and no amount of fighting would change his mind, but the slayer promised herself if she got a clear shot at the dark haired vampiress, she was taking her out. She owed it to Kendra.
Spike looked around the area nervously, “We need to take this indoors, pet. Too many eyes in the night and we’re too close to screw up now.” Taking her by the arm he led the way down the street, only speaking to ask where they could talk that was safe. When she indicated her home was the safest place, he let her take the lead, his eyes and ears attune to the surrounding darkness.
*****
They had just entered her yard when her mother pulled up in the drive, the car barely stopped before the door was open and she was rushing toward them.
“Buffy, where have you been? Are you okay? The police were here! I've been looking for you.” The older Summers’ eyes darted back and forth between her daughter and her companion. Joyce prayed that her daughter hadn’t gotten mixed in with a bad crowd again, but she was unable to justify her behavior any other way.
“Mom, let's…let's go inside, and I can explain.” The slayer noticed Spikes concerned look as he scanned the area around her house.
“Who is this man?” Turning to the vampire she demanded, “Who are you?”
“Mom, this is-” she paused, unsure what to tell her mother. She was greatly relieved when he stepped forward.
“My name’s William, Mrs. Summers,” he informed her, holding his hand out in greeting. “Buffy and I have been working on a project together.” He knew from they’re talks that the older woman had no clue what her daughter did with her nights.
Her deeply ingrained manners forced her to respond, “Hello, William. Buffy, some terrible things have happened. Where were you tonight?”
“Why don't we go inside, a and we can talk about this.” She tried to usher her mother in as quickly as possible, but she saw Spike stiffen beside her, she twisted around to see a snarling vampire rushing across the porch at them.
Pushing Buffy and Spike aside, he jumped down the steps at Joyce. The older woman stumbled away from the snarling figure and watched in horror as her daughter grabbed him from behind. Buffy swung him around to face ‘William’, who landed several brutal punches. The disfigured man spun around with the last blow and staggered towards her daughter, who thrust something into his chest. Joyce cried out in disbelief as the creature dissolved right before her shocked eyes.
Spike stepped down from the porch, looking at the pile of ashes. “One of Angel's boys.”
“Do you think he was watching me or you?” she asked, concerned that his cover might have been blown.
“Don’t know, kitten, but it doesn’t matter now. He won't get a chance to tattle on us and I don’t sense anyone else around.”
“Buffy... what... is going on?”
She could tell her mother’s patience had been stretched to the breaking point and that the scene she had just witnessed had her questioning her own sanity.
Buffy and Spike exchanged looks, silently communicating. She finally sighed and looked at her mother, searching her eyes and hoping against hope for understanding. “Mom...I'm a Vampire Slayer.”
She watched as her mother slowly blinked her eyes before what her daughter had said sank in. The disbelief and horror were expected, but hurt nonetheless.
*****
The silence was deafening.
Spike looked around the living room, curious about where the slayer lived. It was everything he imagined it would be; a clean, neat, suburban home.
Joyce looked over at the blond vampire with a small spark of recognition on her face. “Have we met?”
Spike turns to look at her “Yeah, briefly. Your daughter, she’s a good girl, you should be real proud of her. She’s an amazing person.” He cursed his wayward mouth silently, grateful when he saw the slayer returning from the kitchen.
Buffy walked into the room with her arms, almost smiling as the both of them shot nervously to their feet.
In spite of that ghost of a smile, Spike could see the strain in her eyes, “Is Red alright?”
“Yeah, but Dru and her raiding party did a lot of damage. Willow’s awake, but they think she has a concussion. Miss Calendar was at home at the time. She’s at the hospital now, but she’s worried about Giles. She got a backup orb from a local dealer a few weeks ago. She wants to try the spell tonight, but I’m just worried that she’ll be too distracted to do it right.”
“So you didn't kill that girl,” Joyce breathed in relief, trying to make sense of their conversation.
“Of course not,” the slayer cried out, upset that her mother would be so quick to believe the worst of her.
Joyce’s head swam with all that had happened and all she had seen. “Did she explode like that man out there?
“She was a Slayer, Mom.” Buffy was trying to be patient, knowing it was a lot to take in, but she was running out of time.
“Like what you are.”
Buffy nodded at her mother before turning back to the vampire beside her. “There’s a demon that showed up at Giles apartment, claiming that he was here to help. I’m going back to see what he has to say. Be ready for when I make my move.” Her eyes were dark and fathomless as she gazed up at him. “I’m counting on you to keep him safe.”
She closed her eyes when he brought his hand up to caress her cheek. “Don’t take any unnecessary chances. Keep your head down and your guard up.” He dropped his hand as she nodded her acceptance. “Don’t let him goad you into foolish mistakes. Stay safe, kitten.” He walked to the door, stopping when he heard her voice again.
“Please don’t let him die, Spike,” her voice was soft but her words seemed to ring out in the silence of the room.
“I’ll do my best, pet. And Joyce?” He paused, waiting until the woman turned his way before continuing. “Your daughter…she’s a real hero. You should real proud of her.”
*****
Buffy left her watchers apartment tightly clutching the coat covered sword. Between Kendra’s death, the fight with her mother, and the Whistler’s cryptic messages and half assed riddles, she felt ready to explode.
She wished she could take a breather, take a break and be able to have Spike reassure her again that they really could win this thing. When had her life become so weird that the first person she wanted to turn to for comfort was a soulless demon? She shook her head at the irony of having friendly relations with one soulless demon while they plotted out the demise of another.
She wondered about the possibility successfully performing the gypsy curse. She didn’t even know how she felt about that anymore. Sure, she had fought with Xander over the return of Angel’s soul, but not for the reason he thought. She felt such guilt over her part in releasing Angelus into the world, she couldn’t not try to help him if the means where there to do so. She was sure that Angel would want to have his soul returned even if the soulless version wanted nothing to do with it. She owed it to him to try, if for no other reason than she was half to blame.
She was halfway up Crawford Street when Xander barreled though the bushes. After trading his rock for a stake he asked nervously, “Are you sure we can trust Spike with this? What if it’s all just an elaborate trap?”
Rolling her eyes she replied sarcastically, “Xander, with as many opportunities as he’s had, don’t you think he would have tried something before now? You saw him help the kids at the hospital. Do you really think he would go though all that trouble just to set us up when he’s had all kinds of chances the last few weeks? Hell, he was alone with me at the hospital when I was so weak I could barely stand and he did nothing.”
Buffy knew her tone was harsh, but she couldn’t help herself. She was still miffed with Xander about the fight over Angel’s soul and his accusations about just wanting her boyfriend back. Not waiting for a reply, the slayer continued down the street toward the imposing mansion. Mouth a thin, determined line, she tossed the coat aside and gripped the hilt in her right fist. She looked like an avenging angel with the early morning light shining brightly around her.
It was a beautiful day for an apocalypse.
*****
She walked into the main foyer in time to see Angelus slicing his palm. Needing to distract them from the ritual and allow Xander to sneak in and find Giles, she decapitated the minion by the door with one deft swing of the sword. She smirked when the two dark vampires turned toward her. “Hello, lover.”
Angelus tired to adopt a bored attitude at her arrival, but she could see the nervous tick in his cheek. He and Angel might be totally different on the evil spectrum, but they both used many of the same mannerisms and that telltale little movement showed he wasn’t as confident as he appeared. “I don't have time for you.”
The slayers smile was a stark contrast to her threatening words. “You don't have a lot of time left.”
“Coming on kind of strong, don't you think? You're playing some deep odds here. Do you really think you can take us all on?” he sneered as several minions moved closer to the petite blond, hoping to jump her all at once.
“No. I don't.”
She watched, her detached expression giving nothing away as Spike rose from his wheelchair and landed the first blow. At that same moment, she lashed out with the sword at the advancing minions, causing them to split up and making it easier to deal with them one on one.
From across the room she heard the blond vampire’s words as he continued to smash the tire iron into the form sprawled out on the floor. With every blow, Spike called out the wrongs that had been committed by the older vamp. Buffy couldn’t help but smile when she heard her name shouted as loud as the rest.
As the dust from another minion settled, she caught a flash of movement. She watched helplessly as Drusilla tackled the bleached blond. She is so going down, she promised herself before another vampire stepped up to take the place of the last one dusted and the fight continued.
*****
Spike struggled to subdue his sire. She fought him like a wild thing, clawing and ripping everything she could reach with her sharpened nails.
Drusilla snarled as she faced him. “I see her, floating all around you. Disgusting light, you burn for her and it sickens me.” She lashed out, clawing at his face and leaving four bleeding scratches along his cheek. “Do you think she longed for anyone other than Daddy? She didn’t want you, my Spike. She wanted a knight- just like Princess- for when Daddy wasn’t there. She was never yours and she never will be,” she hissed in rage.
“You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about, pet. I did it for you, so we could be together again,” he shouted in frustration.
She reeled back from his in disgust, “Lies! You yearned for her light, dreamed of her, ached for her. She’s there,” she screeched pointing at his chest. “Burning away, shoving Princess out!” she screamed the last. She assailed him like the mad vampire she was, fangs and claws twisting and biting seemingly everywhere at once.
Spike tried to defend himself, but found himself quickly losing ground. He twisted away only to receive a vicious blow to the back. Roaring in anger, he turned on her. Finally, he had her backed against the wall, pressing her hard against it.
Drusilla laughed insanely. “She’ll never be yours, William, just as I never was.”
He searched her eyes; even through her madness he could see the truth. She had never been his even when he had her. Spike gazed upon the face that held a century of lies and silently said goodbye.
He stood frozen long after her body turned to dust.
*****
Buffy finished off the last minion in time to see Angelus pull the sword from Acathla. They squared off against each other, waiting for someone to make the first move.
“You almost made it, Buff,” Angel mocked, oozing confidence in his victory.
She stared him down, determined that he wouldn’t let him rile her. “It's not over yet.” She kept repeating Spike’s words over and over, No foolish mistakes.
“My boy Acathla here is about to wake up. You're going to Hell.”
The Slayer stared at him dispassionately, knowing she didn’t have the time to wait him out. “Save me a seat.” She struck out hard causing him to move back swiftly. They were evenly matched, meeting each others blows and progressing quickly around the room in a flurry of moves.
She ignored his taunts as he tried to throw her off, only stumbling when he asked what she had offered his errant grandchilde as payment for his betrayal. He laughed and she was sure her guilt over their kisses and the lusty thoughts that followed must have shown on her face.
Both gained and lost the upper hand, until finally Angel knelt before her, clutching his bleeding hand. She raised the sword to land the killing blow, only to stop short when his eyes filled with light and he gasped in pain.
Looking at her though tearing eyes, he whispered softly, “Buffy? What's going on?” He sobbed softly as the soul filled him once more, washing him in guilt.
Buffy eyed him warily, unsure if it was just a trick, or if her Angel was truly back.
“Where are we? I-I don't remember.” He looked around apprehensively for a moment, unwilling to take his eyes off of her for long.
Finally, it sank in that the curse had worked. She lowered her sword slowly before asking tentatively, “Angel?”
“What’s going on? Everything's so muddled. I...” he broke off when she laid a finger gently on his lips. Acathla give a low rumble and his stone face contorted, jaws gaping to reveal a vortex growing steadily behind the newly re-souled vampire.
With a sudden epiphany Buffy realize that her misgivings had no place here. Her feelings toward Angel no longer mattered in the drama being played out. The spell, the soul, had come too late to save him.
She couldn’t let him go with words of regret or anger, knowing it wouldn’t serve any good purpose. She knew she had loved him, even if the past weeks had taken their toll on that love. Trembling, she removed her fingers from his lips and whispered softly, “I love you.”
Angel’s eyes shone with tears as he replied, “I love you.”
She touched his lips again. “Close your eyes.”
Buffy gently pressed her lips to his, saying goodbye without words. Stepping back, she drew back her sword and thrust it deep into his chest. His eyes flew open wide in shock and pain as he reached for her, confused when she backed away.
“Buffy,” he whispered. Her name was the final word on his lips as he exited their world and was sucked into the swirling vortex that was Acathla.
Dropping her weapon, she stared at the now dormant statue, unable to tear her eyes away. |
