One Good Day
William sat on the edge of Dawn’s bed watching her
as she slept. He smiled, envying her the peace she
found in slumber. William had told her truth about
the events that led up to that fateful night. Who
the Master was and the identity of his mate. Dawn
felt hurt and betrayed, but ultimately she
understood Like Lizzie, Dawn did not judge him. Her
unconditional love and support was a balm to his
soul.
Shortly after the aborted apocalypse, Dawnie
announced to Rupert and William that she wanted to
change her last name to Giles. Her reasoning was
that she never really knew her father and he
certainly didn’t want to be bothered with her. She
felt she was more of a Giles than a Summers anyway.
It was a simple gesture, but profound. It helped
heal the fractured family; giving it them a symbol
that it was time to move on and face the future. A
future with just the three of them against the
world.
William gently stroked her soft hair and then kissed
her on the forehead. Leaving the small nightlight
burning, he left to prepare for another night of
slaying.
Downstairs, he found his father buried in some dusty
tome. “Will Oz or Xander be accompanying you
tonight, son?” he asked.
“Nah, it’s Valentine’s Day, Da. Figured I’d best
give the lovers the night off.” William said with a
wink.
Rupert nodded, chuckling. “Our Willow might
understand if Oz went, but Anya is another story.”
He commented.
“She’s an odd girl, that’s for sure. But she does
love Xander. He deserves that.”
“Yes. Yes, she does. William, while we’re on the
subject…”
William rolled his eyes as his father jerked his
glasses off and began to clean them with his
handkerchief. He knew what was coming.
“Look, William. I know I’m your father and you might
not entirely comfortable talking to me about such
matters, but it’s really not good for you to be
alone as much as you are.” Rupert said.
“Da, I’m the Slayer. It wouldn’t be fair of me to
even think about a romantic relationship. I have an
early expiration date.” William stated in a
matter-of-fact tone.
Rupert winced at William’s comment.
Instantly William felt bad. “Besides what I am going
to tell the poor bird? ‘Sorry honey, can’t go to the
movies tonight gotta go save the world!’ Not exactly
a solid relationship builder.” William teased.
“I see your point, but both you and I know that’s
not the reason why you refuse to even consider it.”
Rupert said quietly. “She’s gone Son.”
William closed his eyes tightly and shook his head.
“Don’t Da, not now please.” He whispered.
“I don’t say these things to hurt you, but I know
what it feels like. I know the look in a man’s eyes
when he longs for someone who is not here anymore.”
Rupert replied.
William looked at his father. “Then you know, Da,
that there’s no way I can. There is no one that can
replace her in my heart.” His voice shook with the
force of his words as he gathered up his bag and
opened the door. He stood there in the open door,
his back to his father. Rupert had to strain to hear
his firm, quiet tone.
“I know she never belonged to me, Da, but she was
the only thing I have ever been sure of.” William
said.
He began to walk out the door.
“She was The One.”
*
William leaped into the air dealing the closest
vampire a roundhouse kick.
“Bloody Hell!” He cursed to himself.
He had walked into a nest. Seeing three vampires go
in, he had a while to make sure no others were
coming. The coast seemed clear, but he forgot one
thing. He didn’t listen outside like he should have.
When he walked in he was greeted by six vampires
instead of three.
He had slipped. Badly. He knew it.
He quickly dispatched the two by the door as he
walked in, but the remaining four were giving him a
run for his money. He evened out the playing field a
bit more by taking out a third. The sound of his
‘inner Rupert’ scolding him filled his head.
Adrenaline kicked in but he knew it wasn’t a good
thing. He would need that extra strength for later
in the battle.
Will pushed himself off of the three. One came
charging at him. He crouched down and swept his legs
out from under him. He used the few precious minutes
while that one was down to take out his fourth.
He could feel his fatigue weighing him down, slowing
his reactions and weakening his punches. Since it
was Valentine’s Night more vamps were out than
usual, looking for easy pickings among distracted
young lovers. William had already fought five vamps
hand to hand and dusted two fledglings before coming
to take out this nest. He should have called it a
night. He knew he was pushing himself to hard and he
knew why.
The dance was getting old.
He heard Spike’s voice in his head.
“The thing about the dance is, you never get to
stop.”
William fought with all his might. This vampire was
the strongest yet. His training told him he had made
another mistake. He should have taken him out first.
He fought with everything he had in him, still
hearing his brothers voice in his head.
“Every day you wake up, it's the same bloody
question that haunts you: is today the day I die?”
William took tough vamp out finally, but he shook
with exhaustion. The last vampire grabbed him from
behind. He struggled, trying to find strength to
throw the vamp over his shoulder, but he
couldn’t...He had nothing left inside him.
“Death is on your heels, brother, and sooner or
later it's gonna catch you. Just like it caught me.”
William struggled in vain not to give in but he was
so tired. So tired of the pain. That moment of
curiosity and the promise of peace engulfed him. He
felt the sharp fangs scrape his neck and closed his
eyes, resigning himself to his fate.
Suddenly William heard a growl. The vampire was
yanked away from him so forcefully he nearly fell to
the ground. He turned around.
On the floor the last vampire was struggling with
something. They rolled and tumbled in the dust.
Briefly, William wondered if it was Oz in werewolf
form. The creature was tattered, it’s hair matted
and dirty.
He watched as the creature gained the upper hand and
with a ferocious growl it tore into the vampire’s
neck. The creature reached for a stake William had
dropped earlier and plunged it into the vampire’s
chest.
It exploded into dust, leaving the creature crumpled
on the floor. William saw now that the battle was
over that it was a person. A vampire, dressed in
ragged clothing and looking around the nest with
feral eyes,
William swiftly moved over, grabbing the vampire
from behind and ripping the stake from its hands. He
let out a growl, preparing to stake the creature.
The he looked down.
And gasped.
“William?” The creature asked, voice quivering.
William stared. The creature trembled. Dirt covering
its face. Hair wild. Clothes torn and three sizes to
big for it. With wide, frightened eyes....wide,
frightened, incredibly beautiful green eyes.
“Lizzie?” William choked
Out Of The Mouth Of Madness
William looked at the wooden cross and stake sitting
on Lizzie’s old computer desk. The candlelight
danced off the wood in the darkness.
He heard a whimper come from the bed.
He watched as Lizzie laid there restless as if she
was struggling with something in her sleep. Fear
crept through him. What if she awaked as Buffy?
Disoriented looking for her Daddy.
Spike...
Was he back as well? If so why was he not with her?
Lizzie woke up briefly through the last two nights
only to drink bagged pig’s blood keeping her demon
satisfied.
William vowed not to make the same mistakes he did
the last time around. He brought her to The Summer’s
home promptly calling his father over.
William feared Rupert would tear into him for not
killing her but to his shock and amazement he did
not. Instead he called Willow over and the two began
to place wards on the house keeping other creatures
at bay.
The three of them took turns watching over Lizzie
during the last two days. Xander, Anya and Oz had
offered but Rupert aired on the side of caution. If
she did awake only William could deal with her
physically while both Rupert and Willow could keep
an attack on them at bay through magic.
The most painful action was telling Dawnie. Dawn
wanted nothing more to go and see her sister. She
begged on a nightly basis. But William pointed out
that if Lizzie was disoriented or violent they would
have to deal with that.
“I wouldn’t be able to deal with her if you were
there Bit. Please if it’s safe we will get you
straight away.” William promised.
“What make you think you could even without me there
Will?” Dawn asked quietly.
“Intuitive as ever.” William thought.
He was not sure either. But somehow he got Dawnie to
relent.
William sat and watched for a moment. She was laying
there dressed in one of Willow’s nightgowns.
He did not want to see her in one white ones she had
wore all those times she was so confused and lost.
He opted to use Joyce’s bathroom to clean her up
still not wanting to step into the room he found her
in that horrible night.
So many questions floated through his mind. He heard
her stir.
William looked over at the bed just in time to watch
Lizzie raise herself into the sitting position.
For a moment he thought about grabbing the crucifix
but stopped himself.
“You don’t need that.” He heard quietly.
William saw Lizzie staring at the cross. Her eyes
met William.
“Really it’s o.k.” Lizzie said.
William crossed his arms fighting the storm of
emotions inside of him.
“How long was I out of it? I mean here...” Lizzie
asked gesturing to the bed.
“Forty eight hours. Forty Nine counting this one but
this one doesn’t count does it?” William joked.
“God you still act like a Bloody Ponce around her.”
William thought.
Lizzie chuckled.
“It feels like longer.” Lizzie said quietly.
William walked closer to the bed.
“Lizzie, what do you remember?” William asked.
Lizzie looked down.
“Everything is really blurry. There were moments but
I knew a lot of time passed between those moments. I
remember you.” Lizzie said looking up at William.
“Sometimes I would know we were fighting and then we
would stop. I remember seeing Willow for a second. I
remember Spike...” Lizzie said her voice trailing
off thick with emotion.
“Lizzie, about Spike....” William started.
“He’s not here.” Lizzie said quietly.
“How do you know?” William asked.
Lizzie touched the bite marks on her neck.
“I...I don’t feel him. I mean I always feel him but
I don‘t feel his call.” Lizzie explained.
William took a deep breath. Of course Buffy and
Spike were claimed mates. She would feel his pull if
he was in this world. It would call her until she
found him.
“What happened to me? I mean I got the vampire part
pretty straight. When I came back I wanted blood I
felt the demon in me demand it. But I couldn’t feed.
I didn’t want to kill.” Lizzie said.
William sat down at the edge of the bed.
“You have a soul Lizzie.” William said.
“A Soul?” Lizzie asked.
“A vampire with a soul? How lame is that?” Lizzie
sighed resting her head against the headboard.
William chuckled.
“The Bit said the same thing.” William laughed.
“Dawnie?” Lizzie questioned.
“Does she know? I mean is she o.k.?” Lizzie asked.
William’s heart nearly melted right there. This was
Lizzie. The Lizzie he remembered. Her concern and
love for her sister shone so brightly.
“She knows Pet. She can’t wait to see you.” William
replied.
“I’m not ready for that yet not until I get some
things straight.” Lizzie said.
An awkward moment passed between the two old
friends.
“So tell me how did I get this lovely party favor?”
Lizzie asked.
“There was this vampire Angelus. He was cursed with
a soul and lost it when he felt a moment of true
happiness. His girlfriend brought a this thing it
was called The Orb Of Thesulah it restores the
holder their soul. It was meant for Angelus but you
picked it up before he could.” William explained.
“So if I feel a moment of true happiness I start
acting like humans are happy meals on legs?” Lizzie
asked.
William shook his head.
“The Orb did not have that curse attached to it.”
William replied.
He thought of Cordelia in that moment. How painful
it must have been to have so much hope in her hands
just to watch it all slip away.
“So I have a soul. Which would explain why I don’t
want to hurt you.” Lizzie said softly.
She looked around the room belatedly realizing where
she was.
“I’m in my room.” She observed.
William nodded.
“Da and I thought about bringing you to the house
but we weren’t sure..” William stopped himself.
Lizzie sighed.
“It was the right call.” Lizzie assured him.
“Lizzie, do you know where you were?” William asked.
Lizzie closed her eyes.
“Not too sure. There was so much pain, rage,
hopelessness. I felt like I was on fire the whole
time. The suddenly I felt myself being pulled. The
next thing I remember I was in this room in a
mansion or something.” Lizzie explained.
“That.. that was your mansion. Yours and Spike’s.”
William said.
Lizzie closed her eyes for a moment. Struggling to
remember.
Suddenly she gasped.
There was a girl, bound and gagged.
Lizzie remembered taking a bite out of her neck.
William instinctively knew she most have remembered
something about her time in the mansion.
Lizzie closed her eyes burying her head.
“Lizzie, Pet...” William whispered.
“Please Will. I need to be alone.” Lizzie cried.
“No I’m not leaving you alone.” William said calmly.
“Please leave!” Lizzie cried.
“NO!” William screamed jumping up.
Lizzie looked at him shocked.
“I can’t. I won’t never again.” William said
quietly.
Lizzie looked at him the anguish in his eyes.
“My God William what have I done to you?” Lizzie
cried.
William sat down next to Lizzie. He wrapped his arms
around her.
Lizzie was back and safe in his arms.
“God what am I Doing?” He thought.
He was taking advantage of her. He knew she was
clinging to him because he was all she had. It was
not right he knew it. But Lizzie was here. He had
missed her so much. His world was so empty.
She didn’t know about so much. When she found out.
When she remembered.
When he had to tell her it was him that help turn
her into a vampire….
He jumped out of her arms as if he was being burned.
“I’m sorry I know I am cold.” Lizzie muttered.
“No Lizzie it‘s not that.” William said.
Lizzie looked up at him questioningly.
William closed his eyes.
“Your going to have a lot of questions when you
start remembering things. And I don’t want you
to...What I mean is well there are a lot you don’t
know.” William said sitting down again.
Lizzie sank down in her bed.
“For instance, what was I doing in that crypt when
you came and rescued me..” William started.
“You’re The Slayer.” Lizzie said.
William looked at her shock.
Perhaps the all the memories were returning.
“You remember then.” He replied.
“No I don’t remember. Not the way you think.” Lizzie
corrected.
“I don’t understand.” William said.
Lizzie closed her eyes and whispered.
“There’s a lot you don’t know either....”
A Life Less Ordinary
The next night William came back from patrolling.
Rupert had let him know Lizzie had slept most of the
night. She had gotten up once asking Rupert some
basic questions like, what year was it, how long had
she been a vampire, how Dawnie was and what had
occurred in her absence then she fell asleep.
Rupert had been doing research trying to make sense
of Lizzie's return.
"The best I can gather Son. Was that it was the
soul. Where ever she was it was not a place for
beings with a soul. Which would explain why Spike
did not return as well." Rupert said quietly.
"I get that. So what do we do now?" William asked.
Rupert cleared his throat.
"I...I called Cordelia Chase and Wesley Pryce. They
said when Angel was souled he was a great help to
humanity if you could believe that. I think Lizzie's
madness might have been the result of losing her
soul. Something like what happened to Angel. Without
a soul he was a horrible creature who gave into the
evil within. With Lizzie she lost any peace within
her. The madness was a result of that and what she
was feeling before.." Rupert stopped.
"The fact that she had felt so much despair before
she tried to..." William stopped himself as well.
"She lost a great deal of blood. In fact, I am
surprise Spike was able to turn her at all." Rupert
said.
William felt a lump in his throat. Thinking about
his role in that night's events. He had told his
father he had assisted Spike but never gave anyone
the details. Not because of his own shame but
because he knew his family and friends already had
to much to deal with.
"I'm going to go check on her." William announced.
"William." Rupert spoke up stopping his son.
"You need to keep a clear head Son. Despite my
reluctance to harm Lizzie in any way she is still a
vampire. You have to remember that." Rupert said.
"I know Da!" William snapped.
Rupert crossed his arms not flinching.
He was ready for an outburst from his normally
subdued boy.
"Sorry, I know what she is. But she is still
Lizzie." William said.
Rupert nodded.
"Has The Bit been to see her?" William asked.
Rupert shook his head.
"Lizzie, needs more time." Rupert said repeating
Lizzie's words.
William looked up at the ceiling.
"Maybe I should go talk to Dawnie." William stated.
"It's a school night Son. I told her that Lizzie is
still very ill." Rupert explained.
"And she did not go running over?" William asked
surprised.
Rupert shook his head.
"I think she could sense my apprehension." Rupert
replied.
William chuckled.
"She's just getting more and more acute the older
she gets doesn't she?" William said.
Rupert nodded.
"Dawnie is something special. What I am not sure of
just yet. I have thought to bring it up to The
Council but I want her to have more time before we
present her to them." Rupert said.
"Do you think she is a potential?" William asked a
bit afraid for his sister.
Rupert shook his head.
"No, but I do think she is special. A matter we
should deal with another time. Right now you have
your plate full enough." Rupert replied.
Rupert motioned to the door. He knew William was on
pins and needles wanting to go check on Lizzie. Any
further conversation would have been fruitless.
"Right, then. Don't wait up for me." William said.
*
William walked into The Summer's home. He went up
the stairs, lighting a candle.
He reached Lizzie's room to find her bed empty.
"Lizzie?" He called out.
He tried not to panic. He looked around not seeing
her anywhere. He knew she was there the tingling on
the back of his neck was strong.
He walked out into the hallway and saw a glimmer of
light coming from the bathroom.
Lizzie's bathroom.
His heart began to pound out of his chest. Swiftly
her ran over afraid of what he might find. Tearing
the door opened he yelled for her.
“LIZZIE!” He screamed
His whole body shook at the sight before him.
Lizzie was sitting against the tub staring into it
as if she was in a trance.
He walked closer to her.
“No please, not again.” William thought.
"Lizzie." William whispered.
"I remember what I did." She said softly as tears
rolled down her cheeks.
William knelt by her. He was careful not to touch
her afraid of what she might do.
"Who...who found me?" Lizzie asked.
William sat down and pulled his knees to his chest.
"I did." He choked out.
Lizzie gasped.
"Oh God Will, I'm so sorry." She cried.
William got on his knee again grabbing her, hugging
her tightly.
"Please forgive me." William whispered.
"Forgive you? Will, I'm the one who should be
begging for forgiveness." Lizzie said taking his
face in her hands.
William pulled her hands away and jumped up.
"No, I was the one that did this to you! I brought
you to Spike." William cried.
Lizzie shook her head.
"This isn't your fault." Lizzie said softly.
Lizzie looked around.
"Oh no, then tonight when you came to see me and you
found me here...." Lizzie stopped standing up.
"I just keep hurting you." Lizzie whispered.
William looked down at Lizzie. She looked so thin,
pale.
"When I saw you sitting there. All I could think was
if I had woken up sooner. If I was quicker. Maybe I
would have made it in time. Instead I...I handed you
over to Spike. Just like I always have." William
confessed.
Lizzie touched his face.
"Don't do this to yourself. We all made choices. I
made choices. A lot of them I'm not proud of."
Lizzie said looking down.
"Lizzie, I promise I will never leave you again."
William said.
Lizzie took two steps back.
"You have to Will." Lizzie said.
"I won't." William said shaking his head.
Lizzie took a deep unneeded breath and said
"You don't understand Will, I'll...."
"Ruin me?" William interrupted.
Lizzie nodded slowly.
"I told you already Lizzie. I'm already ruined."
William said.
Lizzie turned around looking out at the window.
"Thanks for putting up the black cloth over my
windows in my room." Lizzie said trying to change
the subject.
"No problem." William said leaning against the sink.
"I don't think I should stay here. The neighbors
will start talking." Lizzie said.
"You could stay with us. I know The Bit would love
it." William encouraged.
"Will, I'm a vampire. I may not feel like one or
particularly live like one but I am a creature of
the night." Lizzie said somberly.
"I know that." William said softly.
"Do you Will?" Lizzie asked turning to face him.
"When you look at me do you still see Lizzie…the
girl that moved in across the way…your best
friend…but Will, I'm not her anymore…I am a demon."
Lizzie said shaking a bit.
"You're still my best friend." William answered.
"And before I had a soul? Was I your best friend
then? I don't remember much Will. I remember
fighting with you, torturing you. I remember you
called me....Buffy." Lizzie said as if she had come
to another realization.
She sat on the edge of the tub closing her eyes.
"Perfect Princess Buffy." She mumbled.
William knelt in front of her taking her hands. He
watched as she searched the deep recesses of her
mind.
"Lizzie." He said trying to bring her back.
Lizzie looked at him with tears rolling down her
cheeks.
"Spike and I were together." Lizzie said.
William nodded.
Lizzie began to cry.
“Spike’s gone. He’s gone I mean really gone this
time.” She cried.
William held her for a moment allowing her to cry.
Lizzie looked up, reached out and touched William's
face.
"God Will, you must hate me." Lizzie whispered.
"Could never hate you Pet." William said smiling at
her.
"You should I'm your enemy." Lizzie replied.
"You're a vampire and I'm a Slayer. Not the most
conventional of friendships but you still are my
best friend." William said firmly.
Lizzie chuckled.
"Just as stubborn as ever." She laughed rolling her
eyes.
"Lizzie. My life isn't exactly what you would call
ordinary or normal. A lot has happened while you
have been away. The people you know are not even the
same. Anya alone is a doozy." William said.
"Anya? Is she your girlfriend?" Lizzie asked
quietly.
William laughed.
"God No Luv. She's Xander's issue. Besides I already
have a girl." William said.
Lizzie looked down.
"My sister." William said.
Lizzie looked up at him confused.
"Dawnie, our sister. She's been the only girl in my
life." William said.
Lizzie smiled at him.
"I promised you I would always protect her." William
stated.
William tipped Lizzie's chin so she was looking into
his eyes.
"I couldn't let my other girl down." William said
his eyes filled with love.
Lizzie stood up.
"I'm tired." Lizzie said.
William took her by the hand and led her back into
her bedroom.
Lizzie laid down.
"I'll come check on you in the morning." William
announced.
"Wait." Lizzie called out.
William turned around. He watched as Lizzie played
with the blanket nervously.
He laughed, walking over and laying down beside her.
"Just don't hog the covers." William griped.
"I do not hog the covers." Lizzie pouted.
"I bet you I wake up cold." William groaned.
"I bet I wake up colder." Lizzie quipped obviously
referencing her vampiric state.
William cocked his eyebrow at her.
Both the friends laughed wrapping themselves up in
the covers. Just like they had done before.
"Lizzie, there is one more thing. You said you knew
I was The Slayer. That you remembered but not in the
way I think. I don't understand." William said.
Lizzie closed her eyes.
"Later." She said taking William's arm and wrapping
it around her.
William laid there watching her sleep trying to not
let his question burn inside his mind.
Strong
William watched Lizzie as she fought against a
vampire twice her size.
It had been three weeks since her return. Much
to William’s dismay she had moved into a crypt.
Lizzie sighted practicality while William
worried about her safety. Not one to give in
Lizzie was firm with her decision.
She still had not been able to reconcile herself
to seeing Dawn. Something that upset the younger
sibling to no end but Dawn knew better than to
push.
The friendship between Lizzie and William took
up almost with the same devotion and trust they
had always had.
Almost.....
FLASHBACK
__________________________________________________________________
Rupert had made the suggestion that William
sparred with Lizzie as a training tool. William
at first balked at the very notion but Lizzie
desperately wanted to help him. The only problem
was William was still uncomfortable fighting
with her.
“You’re holding back!” She screamed one night
as they trained in the basement.
“You’re just giving me a run for my money.”
William said panting.
Lizzie shifted into full demon visage
shocking both Rupert and William.
“Never forget what I am William!” Lizzie
screamed throwing punches.
William went on the defensive blocking all
her blows.
Lizzie got one good kick forcing William onto
his back.
Still in full demon face Lizzie snarled down
at him.
“Now you’re dead!” Lizzie sneered lunging
down at him.
William acting on reflexes head butted Lizzie
and rolled her pinning her shoulders. He picked
up his stake and began to plunge down.
Lizzie shifted back into human form.
“That’s my boy.” She said softly.
William pulled back deeply shaken.
END OF FLASHBACK
__________________________________________________________________
William disposed of the vampire attacking him
and ran over to Lizzie. Another vampire came out
of nowhere spinning Lizzie around.
The vampire gasped.
“Princess.” He cried.
Lizzie shaken; stopped fighting for a moment.
The vampire that had been attacking her picked
her up and flung her against a tree.
Ignoring the two vamps William ran over to
Lizzie to check to see if she was alright.
He bent down to pick her up when Lizzie grabbed
him and threw him to the side. William watched
as Lizzie drove a stake into the bigger vampire
that had come up from behind the two of them
ready to take a chunk out of William, if Lizzie
had not intervened.
Lizzie jumped to her feet still holding the
stake.
“Princess, where is The Master? He heard rumors
that he had been defeated.” The vampire said on
his knees.
William watched as Lizzie’s eyes turned cold.
She grabbed the vampire and staked him quickly.
Lizzie stood there still visibly shaken by the
encounter.
“He was one of you minions.” William stated.
“I figured that one out!” Lizzie yelled throwing
down her stake.
“Lizzie wait!” William yelled running and
grabbing her.
Lizzie yanked her arm away but still turned to
face her friend.
“That must have been hard for you, I
understand.” William said trying to comfort her.
Lizzie looked up into the sky and let out an
exasperated chuckle.
“You think that’s why I’m mad?” Lizzie said
crossing her arms.
“What then?” William asked.
“What then? How about the fact that you almost
became someone’s dinner? You were so concerned
about me you let your guard down!” Lizzie
screamed.
“I was just checking to make sure you were o.k.”
William said in disbelief.
“I’m a vampire Will! I can handle myself. What
if another vamp or demon saw that huh? Want word
to get out that The Slayer needs a vampire to
back them up?! Think Will!” Lizzie screamed.
“I can’t believe you are mad at me for
protecting you!” William yelled back.
Lizzie hit William on his chest.
“I”
THWACK!
“DO NOT”
THWACK!
“NEED”
THWACK
“PROTECTING!!!” Lizzie screamed.
William staggered back and got into a defensive
stance.
Lizzie did the same.
William controlling his anger relaxed.
Lizzie did the same crossing her arms in front
of her.
“You need to stop William. Stop treating me like
I’m a piece of porcelain.” Lizzie said.
William looked up at the sky and howled in
frustration.
“God Women! You think this is easy for me?” He
yelled.
William looked at Lizzie and began to pace.
“I know what you are Lizzie. I know you can take
care of yourself. But it’s not easy. I can’t
switch gears all of a sudden. It’s going to
bloody take time!” William said still pacing.
Lizzie unfolded her arms.
“Since the day we met I have always looked out
for you. Always wanted to protect you make sure
you were all right. You know, I used to sit up
and watch your light go out at night just to
make sure you didn’t need anything before you
went to sleep?” William confessed.
Lizzie took a step closer to him.
“And now yeah things are different. You’re a
vampire I get it. I understand that part but
sometimes I slip. I still want to make sure you
don’t hurt. It’s hard not to feel like I need to
save you when you’re in trouble. So cut me some
slack.” William finished.
“Will, your The Slayer. You have to be...”
“Bloody Hell woman if you tell me I’m the strong
one, I swear I’ll toss my cookies. I am so tired
of hearing that!” William screamed.
Lizzie flinched.
“I know. But it’s true Will.” Lizzie said
quietly.
William sat down on a stone bench.
“You know what strong translates into for me?”
William asked.
Lizzie shook her head.
“It means I get to be alone. As the slayer, no
matter how many people I have got around me, I
fight alone because I’m strong. Life of the
chosen one. The rest of life be damned. Strong
means I have to watch everyone else live there
lives and watch like some sort of third party
observer. I have to shut off my emotions because
I am the strong one.” William said crossing his
arms.
Lizzie touched his hand and held it tightly.
William stared down at her hand.
“Being strong meant I couldn’t have you.”
William whispered.
Lizzie looked at him shocked.
“I’m not a fool Lizzie. I know you felt
something for me. That’s what kept me alive all
those years. But I knew what you meant to Spike.
His whole world would have crumbled if he did
not have you. If you didn’t love him with all
your heart the way he loved you. He...he was my
brother as jealous and hurt as I was I knew I
could deal with it. I did. Why? Because I had to
be strong.” William said he stood up and began
to walk away.
He felt Lizzie pull him from behind. Before he
could say anything Lizzie grabbed him by the
jacket and kissed him passionately.
Author’s Note Manipulated dialogue from Lies My
Parents Told Me
Author’s Note: This chapter was co-written by
myself and Tahmoe. Because she’s the best!
Still....
William still shocked by Lizzie’s actions stood
there with his arms hanging limply at his side.
Suddenly his brain kicked in.
Lizzie was kissing him.
Soft, beautiful Lizzie.
Regaining his sense he grabbed her by her arms
and begun kissing her back.
Lizzie felt as he tensed up. She relented her
passionate attack and pulled back.
She gulped hard and looked up at him. Reaching
out to touch his face.
William pushed away from her. His eyes cold.
“Don’t.” William said turning around.
“I don’t need your bleeding sympathy.” William
said softly.
Lizzie turned him back around.
“You think I kissed you because I felt sorry for
you?” Lizzie asked angrily.
“I think, I think you miss Spike. I think I have
always been there for you. I know you feel
grateful. I know you’re lonely and scared. I
won’t take advantage of that and I won’t let you
feel guilty about it later.” William said.
Lizzie looked at William trying to absorb his
words.
“You think I feel all that? How can you go from
saying all the right things to thinking all the
damn wrong ones?!” Lizzie yelled.
“Lizzie look forget it. It’s been a long night.
I should head home.” William said.
William turned around he heard Lizzie mumble
something.
“Coward.”
Anger began to course through William.
“Oh that’s rich coming from you!” He spat.
Lizzie flinched wounded by his words.
William gasped.
“Lizzie, I didn’t mean that.” He said.
“Yes you did. And you’re right I was a coward.”
She whispered.
Lizzie looked up at the sky.
“It was a cowardly thing to have done. But I
felt so much pain and guilt.” Lizzie confessed.
William closed his eyes.
“Because you betrayed Spike with me.” William
replied.
Lizzie eyes got as wide as saucers. In two
strides she was at William her hands holding his
face she kissed his forehead and whispered
“God no, William. Not for that. That night it
meant everything to me. I was so scared I felt
so lost. If you hadn’t been there. If you didn’t
give me your strength..”
“I didn’t Lizzie. I let you down. Y..you tried
to kill yourself. You did. How could you say I
gave you anything when I took everything away
from you?” William said staring into her eyes.
“I help make you a monster because I was
selfish. I couldn’t live in the world without
you in it. I help make you this. Then all that
time I would see you and you wouldn’t really be
there only glimpses every once and awhile. I was
convinced that was my punishment.” William
explained.
Lizzie stroked his cheek.
“But this, this is my punishment you here like
this. Holding me feeling like you owe me
something. I can’t take this.” William said.
Lizzie pulled away furious again.
“I don’t owe you this. I don‘t owe you a god
damn thing!” Lizzie yelled.
William looked at her shock.
“I don’t owe you Will. I give you things. My
loyalty, my trust, my friendship. That night,
that night I gave you my love. I told you that
night I was there with you not Spike. Not
because I was in so much pain but because I
wanted you.” Lizzie said softly.
“Then why Lizzie? Why did you do it?” William
asked.
Lizzie closed her eyes.
“Because, I didn’t deserve to go on. I let
everyone down. I knew if I was around I would
destroy everything that was left. I couldn’t do
it. I couldn’t do that to you, Dawn and Giles.
Not after what I did.” Lizzie whispered.
“Lizzie, talk to me.” William pleaded.
“Not now William.” Lizzie said.
“You keep saying that! When then?!” William
yelled.
Lizzie turned around throwing her hand up in the
air as if she was dismissing William.
“Go home Will. Maybe you’ll screw up a few more
thoughts in your head before you get there.”
Lizzie spat out walking to her crypt.
She got opened the crypt door only to be shoved
in.
“Don’t walk away from me!” William screamed.
He slammed the door shut and pushed her against
the wall.
“Don’t walk away from me! Don’t leave me!” He
said his voice cracking.
Lizzie knew it wasn’t anger it was fear. Fear
that she would disappear again.
“William I won’t ever again.” Lizzie she
whispered.
William grabbed her by the shoulders. The
neurons in his brains misfired left and right.
He didn't know which emotions to give into first
his anger, his fear or his confusion.
Suddenly the strongest emotions of all took over
as it always did, his love for the woman
standing in front of him. He squeezed her
shoulders tight, pulling her towards him. He
lowered his mouth to hers, capturing her lips is
sweet soft kiss.
The fear and tension melted away, allowing in
his passion to break through. His hands pressed
against the crypt wall above her head while her
pressed his body into hers. His eager tongue
danced on her lips before he demanded entry into
her mouth.
Lizzie kissed him back as her body pressed into
the wall to support their weight. She hungrily
accepted his mouth clutching at his arms then
moving up to grip his shoulders. Grapping the
sides of his jacket she shoved it off his
shoulders. William pulled it off the rest of the
way then quickly removed her leather trench.
They looked into each other eyes. He wanted to
resume the kiss but Lizzie stopped him. He
questioned her actions. However the look of
desire in her eyes answered any doubt that was
running through his mind. He wanted her.
Lizzie's heaving in want pulled William by the
back of his neck to her chest. He licked across
the soft flesh. He squeezed them while licking
up the sides of her neck. His mouth found hers
again but only for a moment.
Lizzie pulled William's shirt over his head,
breaking their kiss. He hand roamed his back
absorbing his warmth into her cool flesh. She
gasped from the contact and rewarding his mouth
with another hungry kiss. His fingers tugged on
the front tugged on the front clasp of her bra.
He pushed it off her shoulders and took one pink
cool nipple at a time into his mouth.
He kissed down her stomach, unbuttoning her
leather pants. He pushed them down her pale
toned legs coming face to face with her center.
Her scent filled his senses and he hardened on
sight. He kissed her center, lifting her leg
over his shoulder. Lizzie moaned her eyes
closed.
The moaning was William's undoing. He sucked on
her clit then pressed his tongue firmly against
her folds. Lizzie's hand rooted itself to the
back if his head, keeping him centered. More
moans escaped her lips. William was making her
come.
Lizzie struggled to keep her demon in check
while the orgasm filtered into her limps. Lust
had overtaken her. She pushed him to the floor
unable to control her strength as she tore the
button from his jeans pulling them down in one
swift swoop along with his boxer briefs.
Her handling of him turned William on. His head
tilted back in pleasure when she lowered herself
onto him. He gripped her hips as she ground him
into oblivion. His eyes squeezed shut and he
grunted from every grinding gyration of her
hips.
Lizzie covered her mouth with his, tasting
herself on lips and tongue. The kiss was hard
and demanding. Her eyes flickered yellow but she
kept the her demon in check. Feeling another
orgasm building she quickened the pace, lifting
herself but leaning just enough to grip his
shoulders so the head of him hit her soft spot.
William's vocal chords betrayed him. Lizzie was
sending him into pure bliss. He wanted to draw
out the moment but her hips moved in demand of
his release. He released inside her, pulsating
every drop of his love and desire for her.
Lizzie squealed in delight, feeling his life
coat her insides. She climaxed calling out his
name before she fell forward, panting for
unneeded air.
William pushed Lizzie up into the sitting
position trying to steady his breathing.
Tears filled Lizzie’s eyes.
“Don’t ever think Will that I don’t love you. I
always have. I always will.” Lizzie whispered.
William stroked her cheek trying to make sense
of it all. Nothing made sense to him anymore but
here with Lizzie pressed into him all of the
chaos do not seem to matter. She was sitting in
his arms.
Lizzie wrapped her arms around him slumping into
his chest.
“I love you Lizzie. I always have. I love you
still.”
His last word haunted her....still.
Would he still love her if he knew?
He needed answers, she knew this. How could she
explain it all to him? Where could she even
begin?
She loved him.
She loved Spike.
Same but different.
How would William react?
Lizzie closed her eyes savoring the moment
knowing time was against her.
Sooner or later she would have to reveal her own
secrets......
Walking To The Truth
“Lizzie look out!” Xander yelled.
Lizzie ducked as a vampire flew through the air. She
rolled, catching the vamp by the scruff of his neck.
Willow threw a stake at her and she caught it,
slamming it into the vampire’s chest.
She turned and saw Oz struggling with two vampires.
Quickly she ran over, intent on helping him.
Oz took out one of the vamps as Lizzie dispose of
the other. Blowing vamp dust out of her face, she
turned as Oz motioned to where William battling
three vamps on his own.
With vampiric swiftness, Lizzie arrived at William’s
side first. Oz and Xander right behind her. The two
boys tackled one vampire and held it while Anya
drove a stake into its back. More dust.
Lizzie fought the second vamp. He was no match for
her and when she swiped his leg, he fell on the
ground in front of Willow. She leaned over and
plunged a stake into him.
William fought the leader. He was tough, but William
blocked his punches with ease.
The vamp caught a glimpse of Lizzie and turned to
attack her. “You tricked us, Princess!” He sneered
as he closed in on her.
William roared, leaping on top of him and staking
him with a vengeance. He hated it when they called
Lizzie that. The brief flash of pain in her eyes
made him furious. He hated that part of his father’s
plan, but Lizzie always agreed to do it.
With Spike gone, the Hellmouth had become something
of a demon Thunderdome.
Many of Spike’s minions had tried to take over his
position as Master of the Hellmouth. Since most were
mere fledglings they were easily disposed of. It was
the out of town vamps that were the real problem.
They came from everywhere trying to make a name for
themselves. Trying to step into Spike’s shoes.
The weaker minions were always the easy.
All Lizzie had to do was walk into a demon bar and
they would immediately fall to their knees. The
wanna-be Master’s would always be intrigued as they
listened to the resident demons tell stories about
how the previous Master’s power was centered around
his Dark Princess.
They always readily accepted Lizzie. Even in the
demon culture there was politics. To be The New
Master it would be to your benefit to stay in the
good graces of the Old Master’s mate.
At Willow’s suggestion, she and Rupert had done a
spell on Lizzie to mask their scents from the senses
of any demon she encountered.
Lizzie would draw them in acting like Buffy had
before she returned. It took a lot of coaching from
William, which was painful beyond belief for him.
She always did it though; she would find out their
secrets then report back to The Scoobies.
Eventually it would always end with a confrontation
in the mansion using Lizzie as their key into the
lair. The Scoobies would come in and decimate the
growing nest, leaving Lizzie to report back to the
demon community that the newest up and comer had met
his end at the hands of The Slayer without them ever
never knowing her role in the whole thing.
Willow had her suspicions about what had transpired
between Lizzie and William but she never pried. One
time however, when Lizzie and William were yelling
at each other over something, she caught a glimpse
into their thoughts. The scene she saw in her mind
was enough to send her into hiding from them for two
days.
There were just certain things you should not see
your friends do.
Dawn had been forced to spend three weeks with Hank
Summers as per the terms of her adoption. She hated
to leave. Lizzie was concerned but secretly was
relieved. She had still not been able to gather the
courage to see her sister.
“Score another one for the white hats.” Anya said
proudly, fluffing up her hair.
Slaying was messy business.
Lizzie chuckled at her comment.
William walked over to her concerned. “You all
right, luv?” He asked.
“I’m fine, Will. Don’t fuss.” she answered, walking
over to Willow and offering her a hand up.
Willow staggered for a moment. Oz caught her with a
look of concern.
“Guess I used too much power in that concealment
spell.” She quipped.
“I don’t know why Giles insists on you casting the
thing. We always bum rush so fast none of them are
the wiser.” Oz said.
“The hallway is long. Remember the first time we
tried this? We got attack two steps in.” Xander
reminded Oz.
“True.” Oz said.
“Should watch the mojo, Red.” Lizzie said, her voice
tinged with the faintest hint of a British accent.
Willow looked at her, a bit confused. She
immediately cast her eyes down. “I gotta go.” She
mumbled, walking past all of them and running out of
the mansion.
“What was that all about?” Xander asked.
Oz shrugged his shoulders. “Maybe she’s been hanging
out with Will and Giles a bit too much.” he
suggested.
Anya rolled her eyes. “It’s obvious to me. Look
where we are.” she said, motioning around the room.
“She feels her Sire here. His blood runs through
her. She’s bound to pick of some of his traits.
Besides, Lizzie has always been a bit snarky when
she gets flustered. Being here does that to her.”
William took a deep breath as Anya’s brutal honesty
cut through him. He couldn’t put his finger on it,
but Lizzie had been a bit different since her
return. She was always slow to anger but when she
did lose her temper or get flustered there was a
side of her that emerged that none of them had never
seen from her before. Until now, William had always
assumed it was her demon. It took Anya to point out
what should have been glaringly obvious.
It was Spike.
The part of him that still held his claim on her
from the beyond. The part of her that was him.
Lizzie and William had not discussed what happened
between them that night.
They had patrolled, talking about everything under
the night sky but that. Neither one of them knew
where the other stood. Both were too afraid to upset
the other.
William sensed Lizzie was holding something back
from him, but he never pushed.
How could he when she never questioned him before
when she was alive.
His acceptance always made Lizzie feel more guilty.
Now, William ran after Lizzie. “Lizzie wait!” He
yelled.
Lizzie stopped in her tracks.
“I’ve had enough for one night.” she announced.
“Please, Will. Just let it go for now.”
“Look I wasn’t going to try to get you to talk about
what happened back there.”
Lizzie cocked her eyebrow up.
“All right, I can’t lie to you. Maybe I was.”
William confessed.
Lizzie chuckled.
“Let me walk you back?” William asked. After a brief
hesitation, she nodded.
Turning to resume her steps, Lizzie felt William
fall in beside her. They walked in silence for a
while, watching the night sky. William had a million
questions running through his mind but he knew
better than to ask. He could tell Lizzie was
thinking about what had happened back at the
mansion.
“Lizzie, the Bit will be back in a few days.”
She gnawed at her bottom lip. “I think I’m ready to
see her.” Lizzie said softly.
William’s face lit up as he smiled brightly. “That’s
great! Dawnie will be so happy.” he said.
They walked again in silence. Suddenly he felt
Lizzie’s hand touching his. Without a moment’s
hesitation he grasped it.
Lizzie looked up at him and smiled.
“Thanks for not pushing.” she whispered.
“No problem.”
The two friends walked around the cemetery for a
long time. Holding hands, talking, laughing about
their adventures since Lizzie had returned, but
still not talking about that night.
“You know I’ll be there for you when you see the
Bit, right?” William said.
Lizzie smiled. “You’re always there for me, Will.”
she said, gripping his hand tightly.
William smiled, then suddenly froze. Lizzie felt his
hand stiffen in hers. He was looking straight ahead.
She followed his stare, suddenly realizing where
they were.
There sitting in front of them was the grave of
Jenny Giles.
Lizzie slowly walked over to it.
William broke free from his own state to watch
Lizzie.
She touched the headstone. “Spike used to bring me
here.” Lizzie whispered.
William nodded. “Every year on the night she died.”
Tears flooded her eyes. “I’m so sorry.” Lizzie
whispered, staring at Jenny’s headstone.
William bent down putting his hands on Lizzie’s
shoulders.
Lizzie began to sob loudly.
“It’s all right, pet.” He said, trying to soothe
her.
“No it’s not. I let her down! She counted on me and
I let her down!” Lizzie screamed, leaping to her
feet.
“Lizzie I don’t understand.” William said.
She began to shake and turned away, covering her
face with her hands as she cried.
William grabbed her by her shoulders. “NO! NO
running away. It’s time, Lizzie. Time for you to
trust me.” William pleaded.
“I can’t Will. If I start I’m afraid of what will
happen. I’m afraid I’ll snap again.” Lizzie cried.
William held onto her tightly. “I’ll be here. It’s
your turn to be strong Lizzie. You can do this. Tell
me.”
Lizzie hung her head in defeat, turning back to face
Jenny’s grave.
“Remember when I told you I knew you were the
Slayer?”
William nodded.
Lizzie took and deep breath.
“You assumed it was from before. When I was Buffy,
but it wasn’t. Will, I knew. I knew because your
mother told me. She told me the night she died.”
Secret Memories
Lizzie turned around to meet William’s
astonished eyes.
“You knew?”
Lizzie bit her lip and sank to her knees beside
Jenny’s grave.
“Why? I mean, how?” William asked, walking over
and kneeling down in front of her.
Lizzie watched as he took her hands in his.
“Tell me.” He said.
“I’m scared Will. If I start talking about it,
if I start remembering…I‘m afraid I will lose my
mind again.” she whispered.
“It’s all right. You’re not alone Lizzie not
this time. I’m here with you. Just start from
the beginning.” William urged.
She shut her eyes tightly. William felt her
hands tremble in his. He gripped her hands
tightly, trying to lend her the strength to go
on. Finally Lizzie looked up at him.
“All right then.” Lizzie said.
FLASHBACK
__________________________________________________________________
Lizzie Summers walked across the street to
the Giles house and opened the door.
Both families had long ago stopped knocking.
It was as if each house was the extension of the
other. They were a family and had been since the
day the Summer’s women moved to Sunnydale.
“Jenny?” Lizzie called out.
“In here, Buffy.”
She followed Jenny’s voice to the living
room, where she was staring at her latest piece.
It was a collage. Different pictures of the
two families throughout the years. In the center
was a picture of Dawn, Lizzie, Spike and
William. Buffy remembered that picture. It had
been taken after Thanksgiving dinner a year ago.
They had piled onto the Giles’ front porch swing
after their rather large grub fest and before
long all four were asleep. Spike and William
were on each end of the swing, their elbows on
the arm rest to prop up their heads. Dawnie was
in the middle, tucked under Spike’s arm and
drooling on his chest. Lizzie was sprawled
across all three of them, her head in William’s
lap and her feet draped over Spike’s. The proud
parents had thought the scene too precious for
words.
Lizzie examined to collage. One side was
bright and sunny while the other had a hint of
sadness to it. In a gray background there was a
picture of Spike and William leaning against
Spike’s De Soto, both looking in opposite
directions. One of Dawn and Lizzie reading books
on opposite ends of the couch, absorbed in their
own worlds. A snapshot of Lizzie and Spike
holding each other, with William in the
background, looking at them from a distance.
Lizzie continued look, fascinated with
Jenny’s work.
Jenny just stared at it, a far-away
expression on her face.
“You are their world, you know that? You and
Dawnie. The two of you mean everything to my
boys.” Jenny said quietly.
Lizzie smiled sitting next to her. “And
they’re mine. We’re family, Jenny.”
Jenny Giles smiled and took Lizzie in her
arms. “My Lizzie, so sweet.” She smiled.
“You’re their salvation.”
“Until some girl comes and sweeps William off
his feet. Hopefully she will be worth it. Or
else I’ll have to tear out her eyeballs.” Lizzie
teased.
“You know as well as I do that’s never going
to happen.” Jenny said seriously.
“I..I don’t know what you mean.” Lizzie
stated, looking away from the intensity in
Jenny’s brown eyes.
Jenny tipped Lizzie’s chin up. “Yes you do.”
Lizzie pulled away and hugged herself. “I
love Spike.” She said.
Jenny smiled at her. “Of course you do. With
all your heart. You make him so happy and he
makes you happy as well.” Jenny said. “Lizzie
there are things about this family that no one
knows. My boys are special and so are you.”
“They’re everything to me.” Lizzie whispered.
Jenny rubbed Lizzie’s back. “I know that
Lizzie. They count on you; both of them in
different ways. And you have always been there
for them. I need you to promise me that no
matter what happens, you will be there to keep
them safe. Make sure they don’t make rash
decisions. Especially Spike.”
“Jenny, you’re scaring me a little.” Lizzie
confessed.
“Things are about to change. You’ll need to
be strong. I need you to be strong.” Jenny said
quietly.
Jenny stood up, looking at an old tattered
book in front of her. She opened the first page,
looked down at Lizzie, then announced she would
be getting them some tea.
Lizzie watched her leave, looked at the book,
and began to read.
“It had been foretold...Into each generation
a Slayer is born. One girl in all the world, a
Chosen One. One born with the strength and skill
to fight the vampires, to stop the spread of
their evil and the swell of their numbers.”
*
An hour later, Jenny was watching Lizzie’s
reactions carefully.
“So Spike is The Slayer?”
Jenny nodded.
“And William?” She asked.
“A Watcher like his father. However, he maybe
called too.” Jenny said, biting her lip.
“Wait, if he is called, that means that
Spike...” Lizzie stopped herself. She began to
tremble.
Jenny wrapped her arms around and held her
tight.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. It’s
just that I had a dream and I was afraid. Rupert
would only torture himself if he knew about it.
I think it was about the future.” Jenny said,
her eyes becoming distant.
Lizzie held Jenny’s hand, still unsure of
what Jenny was talking about. A part of her
brain questioned if Jenny was not a bit off. But
everything else in her told her otherwise.
All the late nights Spike was out. Why Rupert
and Jenny decided William would be home schooled
instead of letting him finish the year out with
the rest of them. They had cited that the
curriculum at school was holding William back,
which was not far from the truth. However, now
Lizzie knew it was to train him for his role as
a Watcher.
“Jenny, I don’t want anything to happen to
either one of them.” Lizzie cried.
“Neither do I. That’s why I told you this
tonight. I don’t know how, Lizzie, but you are
the center of all this. I know they didn’t want
you to know. They would both die protecting you.
But in the end, I think you are the one that
needs to protect them.”
“From what?” Lizzie asked.
Jenny sighed.
“Everything. Demons, vampires, themselves.
Each other...” Jenny said her voice trailing
off.
Lizzie looked at the book. She wished now
that she had run away rather than read it.
“You’re afraid for them. I know. I fear for
them every day, but I have faith. Faith that
everything will turn out as it should. Somehow,
Lizzie, you love both of them. I know. I see it
when I look at you. You’re the one thing in this
world that makes Spike feel safe. For William,
you’re the one thing that truly makes him feel
strong. It’s a heavy burden you carry on those
shoulders of yours.” Jenny teased, gently.
Lizzie wiped away her tears and lay down with
her head on Jenny’s lap.
Jenny stroked her hair.
“Like I said before. There are dark times
ahead, Lizzie.” She said, her voice faltering.
She stared once more at the collage.
“Dark times. I don’t think I’ll be here to
help them through it, so I am counting on you.”
Lizzie looked up into Jenny’s face. It had
the same expression that her mother had worn
when the doctors told her they had done
everything they could for her.
It was a look of resignation. A look accepting
of an imminent departure.
Lizzie wanted to pry it out of Jenny, but a
part of her was afraid. So much had changed for
her in the last hour; she was not sure if she
could deal with much more.
“How can I help?”
“Just have faith. Faith this will all turn
out the way it should....somehow.” Jenny said,
looking at the collage.
END OF FLASHBACK
__________________________________________________________________
Lizzie covered her face, blocking out William’s
shocked face.
“Sh...she knew Will. She knew she was going to
die. The way she talked to me that day. She
knew.” Lizzie cried.
William stared at his mother’s grave. He knew
about prophetic dreams. He had them himself.
But, his mother? She had dreamed?
“It’s my fault.” Lizzie whispered.
William shook his head. “No it’s not. I wish you
had told me. God Lizzie, you’ve been carrying
that around for so long.”
Lizzie turned away. “Don’t, please. Don’t look
at me that way.” She begged.
“What way?” William asked.
“With so much kindness and love. I can’t take
it. There‘s more Will. More that I have to tell
you.”
He took a deep breath. “Tell me.”
“It’s my fault Will. I’m the reason your mother
died....”
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind
William pulled his knees up to his chest and hugged
them with one arm. The other held Lizzie’s hand
tightly. His heart pounded out of his chest. He knew
she could hear it, feel it.
She nervously bit her bottom lip so hard that
William was afraid she would draw blood. She got on
her knees and kissed him on the forehead lightly.
She then grabbed his stake from inside his coat and
balanced it on his knees.
“If you feel like you have to... after I finish. I
understand,” She whispered, looking at Jenny’s
headstone and touching it with trembling fingers.
William stared down at her hand, still clutched in
his. “Go on Lizzie.” He whispered.
Tears fell down Lizzie’s cheeks.
“It was just a quick stop at the grocery store...”
FLASHBACK
__________________________________________________________________
Lizzie sat on The Giles’s couch looking at
Jenny’s collage.
Spike, the love of her life, was the Slayer.
Her best friend in the whole world, William, was
a Watcher.
Spike’s Watcher one day.
And there she was; sitting in the middle of all
this.
Jenny had finally vocalized what Lizzie had
secretly always known. That both the Giles’ sons
loved her. Before this moment, she had never had to
choose. Spike was everything to her. She felt no
guilt or remorse in being with him. He was her
everything. But still there was a part of her that
belonged to William. The second they met she had
felt it, known it.
Jenny should be ripping her apart for causing
such turmoil for her sons, but she did not. She
somehow felt that Lizzie belonged to both of them
equally.
How could that be?
Lizzie walked up to the collage. She looked at
the picture of her and Spike with William in the
distance. He was watching them. His eyes had a
strange look in them. A mixture of pride and
longing. Lizzie wondered what he was thinking at
that moment.
She heard Jenny in the background and turned to
see her picking up her handbag.
“Where are you going?” Lizzie asked, a bit
frantic. She couldn’t shake the panicky feeling that
had suddenly swept over her.
“I’m just going to the store, honey.” Jenny said.
“WAIT! DON’T!” Lizzie cried with a voice filled
with sudden terror.
“I have frightened you with all my talk. I am
just going to the store, I’ll be fine.” Jenny walked
over to the girl and hugged her tightly. “I will be
back in an hour at most. We’ll finish talking then,
all right?”
Lizzie nodded reluctantly, watching her walk out
the door.
*
Jenny had been gone twenty minutes.
Lizzie felt like she was crawling out of her
skin. She was nervous and feared for the women that
had become like a surrogate mother to her.
She looked over at Dawn, sleeping on the couch.
Quietly she went upstairs to her mother’s room and
checked to see if she too was sleeping.
No one would miss her. She had to know Jenny was
all right. If she ran the whole way there, she could
catch her...
Lizzie got to the store. The parking lot was
empty except for two or three cars. She let out a
sigh of relief when she saw Jenny approaching her
with a shopping cart.
She took a step toward her when she heard Jenny
scream at her.
“”LIZZIE!”
Before Lizzie could react she felt two cold hands
grab her from behind. She screamed, trying in vain
to pull them off of her.
“Little girls shouldn’t be out by themselves.
Never know what is out there ready to take a bite
out of them.” A male voice whispered in her ear.
Lizzie bit down on his arm causing him to let go.
She turned to face him and choked back a scream.
His face was inhuman. He looked like a demon.
In a flash Jenny Giles appeared in front of her
with a wooden object in her hand.
Jenny whipped around and pierced the demon
looking teenager in the chest.
Lizzie watched as the creature evaporated into
dust.
Jenny spun around, grabbing Lizzie by the
shoulders.
“Run Lizzie, don’t look back. Run!” Jenny cried.
Five more of the strange creatures came toward them.
“I won’t leave you.” Lizzie cried. “What are
they?”
“Vampires. You won’t do me any good, now go!”
Jenny said.
The hooligans came closer, beginning to run
toward them.
Jenny looked at Lizzie with a tight smile. “Take
care of my boys.” she whispered.
Before she could say anything, Jenny ran at the
five remaining boys at full speed.
“Jenny, no!” Lizzie screamed. She was frozen;
unable to move. She watched as Jenny moved with
grace and agility, fighting each of them.
One was taken care of then the other. Two of them
grabbed Jenny and she almost effortlessly flipped
them over. She caught one with the stake she held,
leaving the last two to deal with.
Jenny looked and saw Lizzie still standing there.
“LIZZIE RUN!” She screamed again.
Jenny pushed one vampire to the ground, her stake
falling from her hands.
“JENNY!” Lizzie screamed.
The vamp on the ground was distracted by Lizzie
for a moment. Jenny plunged the stake into him.
The remaining vampire started to make his way to
Lizzie. Suddenly, Lizzie’s sense kicked in. She
began to run. She heard groans and grunts behind
her. She dared to glance behind her.
“GO!” yelled Jenny.
At that moment, the last vampire grabbed Jenny
from behind and stabbed her with the same wooden
stake Jenny had been using to deal with them.
Lizzie watched in horror as Jenny sunk to the
ground.
“NOOOOOOOOOOOO!” she screamed.
The last vampire heard humans approaching. He
looked at Lizzie, smiling wickedly.
“Until next time, little girl.” He sneered as he
ran into the night.
Lizzie ran up to Jenny, falling to her knees
beside her. “Jenny!” She cried.
“Leave, Lizzie. Run, before anyone sees you.”
Jenny whispered weakly.
“I won’t.” Lizzie said. “I can’t just leave you
like this…”
“You have to. If they question you...Go now
Lizzie.” Jenny commanded. Using the last bit of her
strength she pushed Lizzie away.
Lizzie stood there shaking. Finally she listened.
She hid herself behind a car, making sure Jenny was
being attended to, then finally she did what Jenny
had requested of her.
Elizabeth Summers ran....
FLASHBACK ENDS
__________________________________________________________________
William began to shake so hard the stake fell to the
ground.
Fingers trembling, Lizzie opened her shirt a bit,
exposing her heart to him.
“Do it quick.” she whispered.
William stood up, grabbing his stake.
Lizzie stared up at him.
Without hesitation he flung the stake as far as he
could. Bending over her, he pulled Lizzie up and
crushed her to him, burying his face in her hair.
“My God, I’m so sorry Lizzie.” He whispered
brokenly.
Lizzie pushed him away. “No, I killed your mother. I
let her down! She told me to run. If I hadn’t been
there, or if I had run, she would still be alive,
Will. If I had said something to Spike, he would not
have been so angry. He wouldn’t have gone out that
night. But I didn’t. I should have stopped him, but
I fell asleep. I let everyone down!” Lizzie
screamed, falling to the ground and sobbing her
heart out.
William knelt behind her and threw his arms around
her, tears wetting his own face.
“I would see it in my dreams. I would hear her tell
me to run. The...then Spike and my mother.... I
shouldn’t have been alive. It should have been me
that night, Will. Not your Mom. I should have died.”
Lizzie sobbed
William finally understood why Lizzie was so lost.
Why she had tried to take her life. All her secrets.
How they tortured her night after night.
“God, Lizzie no. You’re not the reason why Mum died.
She died because of vampires. Because that’s what
our family was called to do in this world. She died
a champion.” William said, crying.
“Will, it’s my fault. All of this. Your mom. Spike.
Even you. All your pain is because of me.” Lizzie
whimpered.
William held her in his arms. “No Lizzie. You’re my
strength. Even now, you’re my strength.” He soothed
her. “I love you Lizzie. Nothing will ever change
that.”
Lizzie looked up at him in amazement.
William smiled and gathered her in his arms. He
looked at his mother’s headstone for a moment. Her
words to Lizzie ringing in his ears.
“Just have faith. Faith this will all turn out the
way it should....somehow.”
Forgiveness
Lizzie and William sat in her crypt in
silence, both processing the nights events.
The end of another potential Master of the
Hellmouth. The confessions. The promise
William made.
Lizzie didn’t know what to say. The world
seemed to be spinning all around her.
She expected William to be angry. She had
expected him to kill her, but he hadn’t.
He sat quietly beside her, accepting her as
he always did.
“You should hate me.” she said softly.
William shook his head. “I could never hate
you Lizzie.” He reached out and pushed a
strand of her hair behind her ear.
She hopped down from the stone sarcophagus
and went over to look out the open door, her
expression pensive.
“You still feel him don’t you?” William
asked.
“Always.” Lizzie whispered, bowing her head
and turning back to him. “William, I loved
him more than anything in the world.” The
words spilled from her lips in a rush. She
didn’t want to hurt him, but she was unable
to lie to him.
“I know, pet.” William replied, crossing his
arms. A teasing smile lit his eyes. “The two
of you were so in love it was practically
bleeding from your eyeballs.”
Lizzie bit her bottom lip, smiling. “That’s
a really gross analogy, Will.”
“But fitting?” He grinned. The smile left
his face and it became thoughtful. He closed
his eyes and breathed deeply. “I used to be
so jealous. The way you looked at him. The
way you adored him. I used to wonder what
that felt like. To have you the way he did.”
William said closing his eyes.
“I never let myself see how you felt. It
hurt me too much; knowing that we hurt you.
I knew though, somewhere inside. I told
myself you would find someone that was
worthy of you, but I also knew that there
was a part of me that would secretly hate
her.” Lizzie confessed.
William laughed. “Wouldn’t never happened
Lizzie. After Spike died , I lost you. That
part of me died. Besides I’m The Slayer.”
“So was Spike.” Lizzie argued.
“That was different.” William responded with
a shrug.
“Why?”
“Because he had you.” William said quietly.
“Yeah, and look! That turned out so well,
didn’t it?” She rolled her eyes.
“Lizzie, you need to stop doing that. You
can’t keep blaming yourself for everything
that happened.” William said.
“Why not? You do.” She argued. She walked
back over and sat down beside him.
“You never talk about him. I mean, about how
you felt about him.”
William rubbed his tired face with both
hands. “I don’t even know where to begin,
luv.”
“You told me the beginning is a good place.”
Lizzie coaxed, taking his hand in hers.
“He..he was my brother. My twin. When he
died there was no time to think about it. I
was called. There was you and Da and Dawnie
to worry about. I didn’t know how I felt.
Then he came back and I was so angry.”
William said, beginning to shake.
“Go on.” Lizzie encouraged.
“I was angry because I felt so guilty. I was
alive and he wasn’t. I was The Slayer and a
better one at that; Da and The Council never
let me forget it. Then he came back and all
that guilt…I felt that I meant nothing to
him. All he cared about was what he wanted.
To be fair to him though, he didn‘t have a
soul. I did and I never let him forget it.”
William explained.
“You shouldn’t feel guilty about that Will.
He was different. You were different.”
“Most of all I felt guilty about you.” he
said softly.
Lizzie looked at him confused. Then it
dawned on her. “Because we were here and
Spike wasn’t between us anymore.”
He nodded. “God, I used to think I was a
monster. I love you so much. I never wanted
you to be in pain. For a few months though,
I was at peace. For the first time, I didn’t
have to feel guilty about loving my
brother’s girlfriend.”
“This may sound crazy even coming from me.
But what I feel for you is separate from
anything I ever felt for Spike. It wasn’t
less, just different.” She said. “But I
belonged to him, Will. I always have, even
before we claimed each other.” She
unconsciously brushed her fingers over her
neck, caressing the bite marks that were
embedded there.
William nodded. “I know. From the moment you
guys met. Trust me I had the front row
seat.” He tried not to sound bitter.
Lizzie got to her feet and moved to stand
between his legs.
“What I feel for you...Will, you are my
anchor. You always kept me safe. With you, I
never doubted that I would be okay. I do
love you William.” She said softly.
He touched her face, his fingers moving
gently as he traced her features. “Lizzie, I
need you to know something. I need you to
know Spike wouldn’t have hated you. He would
have understood. Just like me.”
William knew this was his opportunity to
finally have the woman he loved, but he
couldn’t do it. Not like this; when she was
so afraid and felt so vulnerable. It
wouldn’t be right, he knew that. And because
he loved her, it would be wrong.
Lizzie looked down. “Are you sure William?”
“I’m positive, pet.” He assured her. “You
need to forgive yourself.”
“So do you. And you need to forgive Spike.”
“I did a long time ago.” William said
quickly. He blinked hard realizing what he
said.
“He was my brother, Lizzie. Rash and
impulsive he may have been, he was still my
twin. That…the night you guys....you know he
saved my life? Angelus had me by the scruff
of my neck and out of nowhere there Spike
was on top of him. Saving me like he had
when we were kids. It was surreal. That’s
when I knew I forgave him. Regardless of
what he said, we were still brothers and he
knew it.” William said, his voice filled
with emotions.
“He loved you Will. He never said it, but I
knew he did.” Lizzie replied.
“I knew too.” William smiled.
She took an unnecessary breath and closed
her eyes. “So, what happens now?”
“I dunno. We fight the good fight. Shoulder
to shoulder.” William said.
“No. Will. With us. I know you don‘t believe
me, but you‘re not a substitute for Spike to
me. I meant what I said. What I feel for you
is different, but not any less. When I am
with you, I‘m with you.” Lizzie said,
finally finding the courage to talk about
their relationship.
William wrapped Lizzie in his arms. “I don’t
know what happens now, Lizzie. All I know is
that I love you.” He said, closing his eyes
as he breathed in her scent.
“I’m a vampire, Will. You’re the slayer. It
could never work.” Lizzie said.
“It’s already working, Lizzie, we just
haven’t realized it. It sounds strange
doesn’t it? A Slayer and a Vampire? But if
you think about it, it really kind of makes
sense. Who else is going to understand me
better than you?” William said with a hint
of a smile.
Lizzie chuckled. “No one else would put up
with you.”
William sobered, stroking her cheek once
more. “Lizzie, I don’t want to hurt you. If
we are going to put it out there, we might
as well go for the gold. I’m a Slayer. I
don’t get the privilege of dreaming of white
picket fences and kids. I know you don’t
either. Someday, I’ll stop feeling guilty
and ashamed for my role in that. Hopefully,
you can be patient. But one day, Lizzie,
another will be called and I will be gone. I
need to know you are going to be all right.
That you’ll be strong.”
Lizzie held him tight. She trembled in his
arms. “Maybe one day I will but for now.
Will you just hold me?”
William pulled her up into his arms and held
her tightly
Chapter 23
Beta'd by Spikeslovebite
In A Name
Lizzie sat in the basement of the Giles
house wringing her hands nervously. She
looked up toward the ceiling. Giles had left
a short while ago to retrieve Dawn.
Hank Summers was called out of town on a
business trip two days before he was suppose
to bring Dawn back. Hearing this news, Giles
got in his car immediately to retrieve his
daughter.
“I have not seen Da so excited in such a
long time. He was practically jumping out of
his skin. I would pay good money to see my
father get a speeding ticket. I don’t think
the man has ever driven over forty miles per
hour. I think he did ninety getting out of
the car port.” William laughed, trying to
lighten the tense mood.
Lizzie laughed, but just as quickly sobered.
“You guys really love her don’t you?”
William sat down next to Lizzie and smiled.
“It’s weird when everything seemed so
hopeless there was the Bit still standing;
still ready to face the world and move on.
She acted like we were taking care of her
but she was really taking care of us.”
William mused.
“Dawnie has a tendency to do that. She
always somehow knew there were more
important things going on than what was on
the surface.” Lizzie said proudly. “I saw
her Science award in the hallway, the one
your father framed yesterday.”
“Yeah, Da wanted to surprise her.” William
replied.
“She changed her last name.” Lizzie bit her
lip.
William looked stricken. “Oh God Lizzie, I’m
sorry. I meant to tell you. She asked Da if
it was okay Da didn’t let her do it right
away. He made her tell him her reasons and
made her think about it for a long time
before he agreed.”
Lizzie shook her head. “No, no it’s good.
Hank never really gave us anything but our
last name. I think I knew where Dawnie was
coming from. Your family gave us so much.
Dawn always told Mom she wished Rupert was
her father. She always loved you like a
brother. She was always annoyed at Spike
like he was a sibling. It makes sense.”
Lizzie said smiling.
From above they heard the sound of the door
opening and closing.
Lizzie had asked that William and Giles not
tell Dawnie that she would be here. She did
not want to disappoint Dawn once again if
she chickened out. She heard Dawn’s
footsteps running up the stairs and the
sound of her knocking on William’s door.
William held Lizzie by her shoulders. He
looked at her; waiting for some kind of cue
from her. She bit her bottom lip then
nodded.
“Bit, I’m in the basement!” William called
out, still staring into Lizzie‘s eyes. “It
will be okay.” He whispered. He took a step
behind Lizzie, holding her shoulders
tightly.
They listened as Dawn’s footsteps pounded
through the house. She flung the basement
door open; letting it bang against the
handrail. She was giggling as she jumped off
the last step, her eyes searching for Will
in the gloomy room.
“WILL!!! I can’t believe I’m home! I missed
you so...”
She rounded the stairway and skidded to a
halt. Giles trailed behind her and rested
his hands on her shoulders, mimicking the
same pose William held with Lizzie.
They stared at each other for a long time.
Lizzie looked at her sister. She had grown.
Womanhood had touched her since she last saw
her. Her Auburn hair was a little shorter.
She was nearly as tall as Lizzie.
She had their mother’s eyes....
Dawn gulped hard. “Lizzie?” She questioned,
almost as if she did not believe what she
was seeing. She took a step forward.
Lizzie gasped and took a step back bumping
into William. She looked down trembling. “Oh
God.”
“Lizzie?” Dawn repeated as tears fell from
her eyes.
Lizzie’s hands flew up to her face.
“Don’t...don’t look at me.” She pleaded.
William wrapped his arms around her, feeling
her falter. She twisted and broke free of
his grasp.
“No, don’t! Please don’t look at me.” Lizzie
begged. She had been through so much since
her return. She had thought she had dealt
with all her feelings all her emotions. She
thought she was prepared for this but now
she knew she wasn’t.
Now, standing in front of her beloved sister
one emotion, one feeling flooded through
Lizzie’s entire being.
Shame.
“I don’t want you to...to see me.” Lizzie
whimpered.
William looked at Dawn. She stood there,
frozen, her blue eyes huge in her pretty
face.
“Please don’t look at me.” Lizzie repeated.
Dawn felt her sister’s pain and anguish.
“Lizzie, stop. You're my sister.”
Lizzie shook her head venomously. “No I'm
not.... not anymore. I’m a monster.”
“Stop it! I know what you are.” Dawn yelled.
Her sister turned to her, shifting into her
demon face. “Do you really?” she sneered.
William watched the whole scene unfold. He
had no idea what to do. He saw his father
grab a stake. Just in case.
Dawn stopped him. “Dad, NO. That won’t be
necessary.”
“Let him do it.” Lizzie begged quietly. She
hugged her knees to her chest, rocking back
and forth. “I deserve it. The things I did
when I was first turned. The things I did
before I died. I deserve all of it.”
Rupert dropped the stake instantly ashamed
of his actions.
“Don’t feel bad Giles. You were just
protecting her. The way I should have. But I
was a coward. I was selfish. I only thought
about myself. I thought I was being so
noble, leaving Dawnie to you. But the truth
is, I had no clue what to do. How to take
care of her.” Lizzie said, her face buried
in her knees.
Dawn walked over to her sister and lifted
her chin. She looked at her for a long time
then she reached out touching, Lizzie’s
bumpy forehead. She gently touched one of
her fangs. Lizzie jumped a bit, nicking
Dawn’s thumb.
Instantly her face shifted back into human
form. “Dawnie, are you all right??” She
grabbed her hand, anxiously looking it over.
Dawn gave her a watery smile. She showed
Lizzie the drop of blood coagulating around
her thumb. “Look, It's Summers blood. Just
like yours. It doesn't matter what happened,
where you went, or how you got back. You are
my sister. There's no way I could still love
you so much if you weren't.”
Looking up at her, Lizzie reached out and
smoothed out a strand of hair that had
fallen across her face. “My little Dawnie.”
She whispered, her heart aching with
remembered love. Love for the tiny infant
she had been and for the woman she was
rapidly becoming.
With a cry of joy, Dawn threw her arms
around Lizzie. “Lizzie, God I missed you so
much! I don’t care what you are, I swear.
I’m just glad your back. I’m glad I have my
sister back.” Dawn said, holding her
tightly.
“I’m so sorry Dawnie. I should have been
stronger. I should have been the one taking
care of us.” Lizzie sobbed holding onto her
sister tightly.
“It’s o.k. Lizzie. I’m o.k. I promise. I’m
happy.” Dawn said.
Lizzie pulled back, wiping her sister’s
tears away with her trembling fingers. “I
should have been here for you.” She
insisted.
Dawn pushed Lizzie’s hair away from her
face. “Giles and Will take really good care
of me. And I’m a full fledged Scoobie, now.
Not just Dawn the research hound.” She said
proudly. “I really do understand. I know how
hard it all was for you. Mommy. Joyce.
Spike. You are right, you couldn’t take care
of us.”
William flinched at her statement, as did
Rupert, while Lizzie stared at her sister.
Her honesty shocked her.
Dawn looked up at her sister, a smirk of a
smile came across her face. “You were a
lousy cook. Not that Giles is that much
better, but he at least knows how to boil
water.” She teased.
Lizzie laughed, breaking the tension. Soon
the two men joined in. They were all wiping
the tears from their eyes.
“You’re so grown up.” Lizzie said.
Dawn smiled. Tears began to fall from her
eyes and she was once again the little girl
who had come running to her sister when life
got rough. She put her head in her sister’s
lap, crying as Lizzie held her and rocked
her back and forth. “It’s o.k. Dawnie I’m
here, now. I’m back and I won’t ever leave
you again.” Lizzie promised.
“I’m Here...”
*
Lizzie stayed with Dawn until she fell
asleep.
William walked her back to her crypt;
dealing with a few vamps on the way.
Afterwards, he went to Dawn’s room to check
on her.
He saw that she was still safely tucked into
her bed and began to leave the room.
“She wouldn’t stay would she?” He heard her
whisper.
He stepped back into his sister’s room.
Making his way to her side, he sat down on
the edge of her bed. “Give her time Bit.”
Dawn sat up, snuggling into her favorite
quilt. “She’s not going to come live with
us, Will. As much as I want her to, I know
it’s not going to happen.” she said sadly.
William knew better to argue with the girl.
“Maybe she won’t, but I do know she’s not
going anywhere, Bit.” he said confidently.
He wasn’t certain if he was trying to
reassure Dawn, or himself.
“You’re worried about her aren’t you?” Dawn
asked. At his reluctant nod, she continued.
“I am too. I worry about how she feels about
everything.”
“What do you mean?” William asked.
“I know why it was so hard for her to see
me. I mean, besides the guilt part.”
“What do you mean Bit?”
“Will, she loves me, I don’t doubt that for
a minute. But, I wonder how it must feel for
her to look at me. I’m alive; she isn’t. I’m
have my whole life ahead of me; she doesn’t.
Will, I’m even a Giles now. You don’t think
that hurts her? It’s the one thing she was
certain she was destined to be, at least
before. And now...God, Will, what she must
be going through.” Dawn mused, shaking her
head.
William absorbed Dawn’s words.
She was right. How did he miss it?
“You know, for a moment down in the basement
everything felt the way things were before.
The same. But, in a way it wasn’t. It
was...” Dawn though for a moment trying to
find the right words
William sighed and whispered.
“Different.”
24
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Vows
It was a normal night. As normal as any night
could be when one lived on a Hellmouth. The
demon activity was almost nonexistent. To the
point that Lizzie seemed completely relaxed
while holding William’s hand as the walked
through the cemetery.
“It’s strange. I almost feel at peace, if that’s
possible.” She was saying.
William squeezed her hand and smiled as she
scooted closer, nudging his arm around her. He
squeezed her, holding her close to his side.
Things had progressed for the strange couple
nicely. They were more comfortable around each
other. Their relationship focused more on the
present than in the past. The future was an
entirely different subject. Neither of them
wanted to delve into that particular subject.
For William, it was like living on borrowed
time.
For Lizzie, it felt like all she had was time.
Too much time. William could die at any time and
she would be there alone.
Pressing questions hung over their heads
constantly, but both knew better than to voice
them.
Then there were moments like this one, when
things were quiet and they could pretend like
they were normal.
Not a Slayer
Not a Vampire.
Just a boy and a girl.
No past, no future.
Just that moment.
William gulped hard. He had been planning this
night for a week now. Getting everyone’s help.
He wondered how Lizzie would react.
“Will, you o.k.?” She asked, her voice ripe with
concern.
He nodded, looking in the distance. “I want to
show you something.”
Lizzie allowed William to drag her forward.
“That’s the old church.” She said as they drew
closer, pausing to look at the dilapidated old
building.
Lizzie marveled at the sight of the old
structure. Even in it’s ruined state there was
still an air of beauty and charm to it.
“Come on.” William said, taking her hand to lead
her inside. When they came through the door, her
green eyes went impossibly wide.
The main room was lit by thousands of tiny white
tea candles, their heady vanilla scent wafting
through the air. She looked around, her
expression awestruck.
William turned to face her, drawing her
attention back to him. He smiled down at her
animated face.
“You did this for me?” She asked, amazed.
“No, I did this for us.” William said seriously.
He held her hands in his and gazed into her
eyes. Before he lost his nerve, he bent down and
kissed her.
Lizzie closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of
William’s lips against hers.
He pulled back slightly and begun to whisper in
her ear.
“No more be grieved at that which thou hast
done:
Roses have thorns, and silver fountains mud:
Clouds and eclipses stain both moon and sun,
And loathsome canker lives in sweetest bud.
All men make faults, and even I in this,
Authorizing thy trespass with compare,
Myself corrupting, salving thy amiss,
Excusing thy sins more than thy sins are;”
He put his arms around her, drawing her deeper
into his embrace. Lizzie stared up into his eyes
in wonder while he continued.
“For to thy sensual fault I bring in sense,
Thy adverse party is thy advocate,
And 'gainst myself a lawful plea commence:
Such civil war is in my love and hate,
That I an accessary needs must be,
To that sweet thief which sourly robs from me.’
Lizzie rocked a bit, taken in by the melody of
William’s voice. She smiled up at him, tears
spilling from her eyes.
“Not mine, pet, but those of my name sake.”
William said, his eyes filled with love.
“It’s still beautiful.” she whispered, her
cheeks glistening with tears.
“They’re Shakespeare's words, but I understand
the sentiment behind them.” He answered. He
caressed Lizzie’s cheek and kissed her forehead,
then drew back and looked into her eyes.
“We have to forgive ourselves Lizzie for
everything or else none of it would be worth it.
We won’t be able to move on and I think it is
time for us to do that. If we don’t then I can‘t
tell you what I need to.” William said.
“What is it William?” Lizzie whispered trying
not to sound afraid.
“I’m not an idiot Lizzie. I know there are
things against us. Big things. The past. The
present. Even the future seems to be working
against us. But, I...I wanted you to know how I
felt about you. I used to be so scared to tell
you what was in my heart. And now I’m scared not
too. I don’t want to feel like I let go of a
second chance.” William said.
She started crying harder. “William…”
“Don’t. I’m not telling you this to hear you say
anything back. I just want you to know
something.” He took her hand and placed it over
his heart. “You’re a part of me. More than my
blood; your’re part of my soul. You’re my
family.” He said.
Lizzie sobbed, her thin shoulders shaking.
Family.
Belonging.
She, who felt that she didn’t truly belong
anywhere anymore. But, here was William. Her
strength. Telling her she did indeed have a
place somewhere.
“You’re a Giles, Elizabeth, just as much as
Dawnie is. In my heart, you’re the only girl I
would ever give my name to.” William said.
“William don’t say that. You can’t believe that.
You can still have everything. A wife A future.
Something besides this world filled with demons
and darkness.” She insisted.
“This is my world Lizzie, and you’re a part of
it. Always have been. I should have said
something before. I just wanted you to know.
Here in this place, that will never change.
Ever. You’re my heart, Elizabeth. Regardless if
what was in the past, or what the future brings,
I promise you that will never change. Not even
when I leave this earth.” He vowed.
Lizzie looked down at their clasped hands, then
back up. He green eyes glowed as she stated her
words. “William, you’ve taken care of me since
the day I came into your life. You have been
everything to me; my best friend, my brother,
and my lover. I can’t begin to tell you what
that means to me. I love you more than I know
how to say. I promise you this; I will always be
here. I will never leave your side. I swear to
you that I will be the last thing you see when
you leave this earth.” Lizzie promised.
They sealed their vows with a kiss, their tears
mingling on their lips.
Reluctantly pulling away, William walked over to
a small radio and turned it on. He pushed play
to start the CD and stretched out a hand to
Lizzie. “Dance with me?” he asked.
Lizzie accepted, stepping into the safe haven of
William’s embrace. They held each other tightly,
swaying to the music.
“Darling don't you understand I feel so ill at
ease
The room is full of silence and it's getting
hard to breathe
Take this guilted cage of pain and set me free
Take this overcoat of shame
It never did belong to me
It never did belong to me”
Lizzie pulled back first, shrugging out of her
jacket. She then slowly removed William’s. Her
hands slid down his chest until she tugged at
the hem of his shirt, pulling it up and over his
head smoothly.
“I need to go outside
I need to leave the smoke
'cause I can't go on living in this same sick
joke
It seems our lives have taken on a different
kind of twist
Now that you have given me the perfect gift
You have given me the gift”
William undid the buttons down the front of
Lizzie’s shirt and slid it down her arms. She
unclasped her bra herself, letting it fall to
their feet. Resting her forehead against his
bare chest, she sighed as she felt his lips
caressing the top of her head.
They danced on, their movements reminding them
both of their first dance so long ago. The night
Lizzie drew her last breath. This time, though,
it wasn’t a dance filled with sorrow. It was a
dance filled with promise.
Promise. And love.
“For we have fallen from our shelves
To face the truth about ourselves
And we have tumbled from our trees
Tumbled from our trees”
Lizzie and William stood before each other,
naked. Not only physically, but emotionally.
They laid themselves completely bare to each
other. She kissed him, allowing him to deepen
the kiss as she took his hands in hers, twining
theirs fingers. She began to sink to the floor,
taking William down with her.
“And I can almost... I can almost feel the rain
falling
Don't you know it feels so good
So let's go out into the rain again
Just like we said we always would...”
Outside a storm began to rage. The wind seemed
angry; the rain violent as it lashed at the
windows. The fury outside was matched by the
fury within as William moved over her, his touch
burning her skin as he sank deep inside her, his
movements strong and sure as he gave her a
glimpse of the heaven she would never know. She
cried out his name in a lost, broken voice and
clenched tightly around him.
Thunder cracked, shaking the ancient building as
William threw back his head bellowed her name to
the raging skies. His release seemed to go on
and on, pleasure bordering on pain as he filled
her writhing body with his very essence. At last
he fell limply against her, his head pillowed on
her chest as he struggled to catch his breath.
He was still nuzzling her soft breasts gently
when sleep overcame him.
Lizzie caressed and petted William’s hair as he
slept. The storm continued outside as she wished
for the same sweet relief of sleep that he
enjoyed. She shifted slightly, smiling as his
grip tightened subconsciously around her,
needing her close even at rest. Finally her eyes
started to drift closed, lulled by the gentle
ebb and flow of his breathing.
Just as she was about to find her own peace, she
bolted up, dislodging William’s body from hers.
Afraid that her sudden movement might have
awakened him, she looked down to make sure he
was still asleep. Much to her relief he turned
to his side, muttering softly.
Lizzie stood up, pulling on her long coat around
her. She walked over and stood at the window,
watching the rain pour down.
Something was calling her…Beckoning her out into
the night. She fought it; afraid, not knowing
what is was. Finally the urge stopped. Lizzie
stood against the windows frame, trying to
understand what had just happened; lost in her
own confused emotions.
So lost that she did not even feel herself
gently stroking the pin prick scars on her
neck.....
End Of Book Two
