Bittersweet
Chapters 11-14


Written by: Tygerlily
Author's Website






Summary: Set after 'The Gift', Dawn's dies instead of Buffy. Buffy and Spike are shattered by Dawn's death and leave Sunnydale. Angel and the rest of the gang try to bring them home...weirdness insues.
Disclaimer: Not mine! I kinda borrowed them from Joss for awhile...shhh don't tell it'll be our secret.
Author's Note: My first attempt at a B/S fic. So please be kind.
Author's Note II: Ok I was having writer's block, I had no idea where to begin for a B/S fic so I found this Challenge at the BuffySpke Diaries site -- It's Given by Jinxanna and it's Challenge #12.
Author's Note III: {dreams} & //Flashback//
Feedback: Angelusblood@yahoo.com





Chapter 11 -- Misunderstanding + Jealousy = Angel

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Buffy was packing the small amount of possessions they actually took with them while her mate was furiously make calls to get them out of the country as soon as possible. He promised her long ago that he would show her the world; he’d already shown her a large portion of the United States. It didn’t matter where they went as long as they were gone by sunrise.

Ever since the Angel encounter earlier Spike had been anything but calm. He just couldn’t shake the feeling that the little world he had built for them was about to come crashing down. The day they left Sunnydale was the day they left a life behind and began anew. He knew that he just wanted to forget the days he spent on the Hellmouth and his mate was no different. Even though there were good memories there just weren’t enough of them to out weigh the bad.

Sensing her mate’s distress she walked up behind him wrapping her arms around her waist and laid her head on his back. “Something is bothering you and don’t tell me its Peaches or something like that” she said imitating his accent when speaking of his sire. He chuckled at his love’s horrible impression of himself but it did lighten his mood considerably.

Turning in her embrace he pulled her closer burying his face in her neck, inhaling her scent. Sometimes he still had trouble believing that this remarkable woman was his and his alone. Before this he always had to share her whether they were enemies or friends. Now she was his and he never intended on giving her up without a fight.

Jealousy was a major problem he had. There were several occasions where Buffy had to restrain him from ripping some demon, human or other type of creatures head off. He was the same way with Dru, just with Buffy it was even more so. It took him so long to have Buffy willing in his arms, in his bed that nothing was ever going to take her from him.

“I don’t know. Seeing my sorry excuse for a sire again…it just brought up some stuff I’d rather not go into” he said as he slowly extracted himself from her embrace.

Buffy sighed heavily, she knew he was keeping things in. When they first started on their little road trip she was the one to share her past experiences and feelings but eventually with each passing day she was able to get him to open up. He was doing that thing where he closed himself off…she hated that thing!

“Will talk to me, you know I hate it when you do this. I mean I thought we talked about the not sharing and the keeping of things from one another” she looked at him challenging him somewhat with her eyes to disagree with her statement.

“I love you and no matter what you say or think or believe, that’s not a lie. I’m in love with you William and I am not Cecile and I most definitely not Drusilla. What you do with that is your choice but I can tell you I will not walk away from you. You forget I made you mine and I keep what’s mine” with that she stormed out of the room and apartment and into the night.

Spike let out an unneeded breath. They both talked about her always having to be strong and that she should be able to go to him when she needed. Of course she wouldn’t be Buffy without making him promise to do the same.

‘God, How stupid am I?  I just shut out my mate while my sire is here trying to reclaim her!’

Fear of the worst kind shot through Spike’s heart as he thought of his sweet Buffy in the arms of his sire. Images flashed through his mind; images of Angel kissing Buffy, touching Buffy, making love to Buffy. Now sounds could be heard; Spike could hear his darling girl crying out for his sire’s touch begging him to let her come.

The images and sounds all became too much for the vampire and with a howl of animalistic rage he threw his fist into the nearest wall. There was no way in hell Angel was going to take what was his. With that he wrenched the door open and stalked out into the night

‘I’ll kill him if he has touched her’


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‘The nerve of him, after everything we’ve gone through together. I mean forget the whole Glorificus deal; there was Angelus and the Initiative. We promised each other to always talk about everything. I mean I know he has that whole macho-vampire thing going on but still…’

The Slayer knew inside that she probably overreacted and should probably go back to the apartment but she was just too wired, to hype up to go back and deal with him yet. She felt him before he made his presence known.

“Come out, Angel”


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Chapter 12 -- War
 


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Angel’s large domineering form slipped from the shadows and the low light of the street lamps illuminated his face. There was no denying that Angel was truly a beautiful creature, the power that lie within could be clearly seen. Buffy knew that there would always be a place in her heart for the dark and mysterious vampire but their time together had ended, he had let her go.

At the time the ensouled ones departure had been nothing short of torture. Her world as she knew was crashing down around her and Angel leaving was just one more piece of it deteriorating.

The Slayer knew in her heart that at a time they were meant to be together. It was obvious to just about everyone except him. The Powers had seen two warriors one derived from the light and one from the dark coming together to protect their world. Oh she had no doubts that Angel still continued the fight but because of his choice destiny itself was changed.

The blonde still remembers the night Talaria a Ferohers appeared to her, Talaria was a Persian Guardian Angel. It was quite a shock to be alone in Restfield waiting for some of Sunnydale’s fang population to rise and then to be in the presence of an angel no less.


//It was only a few weeks after Angel had left her and she still was on the schedule of patrolling from sunset to sunrise. Her days were filled with aimless wandering and hunting for demon nest set up in the warehouse district. She was slowly coming back from merely existing.

Buffy was seated atop a headstone waiting for the former bar tender of the Bronze to rise when all of a sudden there was a flash of light and before her a women hovered a few inches off the ground dressed in black and gray. She looked human enough but the little blonde Slayer could feel power coming off of her in waves.

Slayer senses on full alert she cautiously jumped down and approached the vision before her. As she neared the being in front of her she felt an overwhelming wave of calm wash over her. Tilting her head slightly to the side she looked at the creature curiously.

“Who are you or should I say…what are you?”

The angel merely smiled at the young girl. “My name is Talaria and I am a Ferohers” at the Slayer’s confused expression she clarified.  “Basically I am a guardian angel but right now I am a messenger for The Powers that be”

Buffy brow scrunched together, a perplexed expression on her face. She smiled slightly before questioning the angel.

“I’m sorry…The Powers that what?” Talaria just smiled

“The Powers that Be; they are like the fates, I suppose that would be the best way to describe them. They decide what was, what is and what will be. Though there is free will everyone has a specific path already laid out for them”

“Ok oddly enough I follow you but what do they want with me?”

“You are the strongest Slayer to ever walk the earth and Angelus has abandoned you, he was only saved for the sole purpose of protecting you. Yes, he is a great warrior for the light but you need a guardian…one who will fight beside you and for you. A person you can share everything and anything with. He gave up to easily on you and himself, it was then decided that you would need someone new…”

“Someone new, I don’t understand.”

The angel smiled down at the young Slayer, she really had no idea what was in store for her. “You won’t know it at first but put your trust in him and you won’t be disappointed. I promise you this, there will be hard times coming and you will need his strength”

Buffy shook her head in confusion not fully comprehending what was being said. Angel was all she really ever knew and now there would be some major changes coming and the way it sounded in her heart as well.

“I don’t understand, I mean…”

The angel’s form began to shimmer and fade her departing words were almost lost in the gentle wind.

“…with eyes of the sea”//


Buffy was pulled from her musings when Angel finally sat down beside her.

“I never could sneak up on you…not really”

She smiled at this “No you never could but I could certainly sneak up on you” Angel just laugh both remembering the time she came in from patrol where she caught him holding her favorite stuffed pig. It was so long ago, a time when they were both fairly naïve to the cruelties of fate and the world.

“So what are you doing here, without your bodyguard?” the brooding vampire asked, his voice heavily laced with sarcasm.

“Oh God, first off he is not my bodyguard and we got into a bit of a fight and just badness” she said sighing heavily. “Of course it was over you, he thought that as soon as I saw you I fall into your arms and we’d profess our undying eternal love. Then you’d either beat him into a bloody mass or just dust him and we’d ride off into the sunset…well moonlight…whatever you know what I mean and then live happily ever after…or something along those lines”

When she was greeted with silence she turned her head to find her ex staring at her with wide unshed tears in his eyes.

“Oh my, you believed something along those lines would actually happen” she breathed out. Her heart when out to him, no matter what had happened in the past Angel would always hold a place inside her heart. She could no longer lie and say she had feelings for the brooding vampire; they had fled her heart long ago.

She inhaled deeply before continuing “Angel, I care about you so very much but things are not as they were…The day you left was the day I literally died inside, I gave you all that I was and would’ve been and even if you didn’t mean to, you basically threw that back in my face”

Seeing that he was about to interrupt she held up her hand to stop him and went on with her explanation “I know that you’re going to say that you love me and I would be lying if I said if I didn’t love you” Buffy watched as his eyes brightened but quickly dashed any hope that was beginning to shine there. “But I’m not in love with you. I took back my heart long ago and it took a long time for me to put it back out there. I told you that I was in love with Riley but…I lied. I said that to hurt you, there was the whole Faith thing and I just…it was wrong of me and I’m sorry”

Angel felt as if his world was falling apart around him. The love of his unlife was telling him that she no longer loved him. He only took comfort from the fact that she didn’t love anyone else. Cold comfort but comfort none the less.

“So what are you saying exactly?” his voice full of emotion

“I don’t know exactly but I can tell you I didn’t fall out of love with you a day after you left. Parker was…a mistake and Riley was just…well he was normal and everyone just kept wanting it for me so I didn’t…couldn’t disappoint them so I went with it but I never loved him” she looked up at him with a small smile which he couldn’t help but return.

Taking an unneeded breath he asked the question that had been weighing on him since the other night.

“What’s the deal with Spike?”

Her eyes widened momentarily and she suddenly found the ground extremely fascinating. She felt a tingle in the pit of her stomach and a shiver run up her spine but she just chalked it up to residual feelings of Angel, she never noticed the dark figure stalking in the shadows near by

“Spike is…Oh God, where do I start? He’s been there since right after you left basically…a little…ok a lot reluctant at first but he’s still been there. At first we were your typical mortal enemies with the fighting and the verbal barbs but as time wore on…things changed” After a slight pause she continued

“Everything with the sudden appearance of Dawn and then with my mom…then Glory, he was there and he protected Dawn like she was his own. I could depend on him you know…I told Giles that if Dawn died I was quitting and I meant it. I know he didn’t truly believe me but it’s not fair. I continued to fight and not ever catch any type of a break”

“But that’s what we do...”

“No, we are…I am supposed to be the Slayer; the strongest to ever walk and the damn powers won’t even let me keep what little family I had left. My dad has disappeared off the face of the earth, I bet he doesn’t even know that they’re dead and that I haven’t been in Sunnydale for the past three months” tears were streaming down her face unchecked as she spilled her heartaches.

Angel couldn’t stand to see his love in pain; all he wanted to do was take her into his arms and sooth the pain away. Before she knew what was happening she was wrapped in the arms of the dark vampire, though the cold comfort was short lived.

Buffy heard a low growl coming from the shadows behind them. She instantly extracted herself from her ex-lover’s arms.

Angel didn’t know what hit him when he was mauled from behind. Spike was overflowing with rage. How dare that bastard of a sire try and take what was rightfully HIS! He did it with Dru and now he was trying to steal his sweet Buffy from him, well he had enough!

“You think you can take her from me? DO YOU?!?! ANSWER ME!”

Spike rained a serious of blows to Angel’s head and midsection. There was no break in between where Angel could attempt to gain the upper hand. Spike could hear the panicked cries of his mate in the background, concern for her made him leave Angel in a broken a bloody heap on the floor.

The bleached vampire stalked over to his mate, game face to the forefront and blood dripping from his bloody and broken hands. He reached out with a gentle hand and caressed the side of her face when she nuzzled her face into his hand he smiled softly and his demonic visage slowly melted away.

“Are you alright Princess, did he hurt you?” he whispered softly as he pulled her closer

“No, he didn’t hurt me” she was trembling partly because of the cold and the other in fear. She had never seen her mate react so badly before. Of course he took notice and gripped her chin gently but firmly forcing her to look at him.

“Are you cold, love?” he said as he slipped out of his duster and placed it on her shoulders. She smiled softly at him and he returned it kind.

“See Spikes’ got you, I’m sorry baby I didn’t mean to fight with you. I know we promised to talk an all, just you know I don’t like to talk about him” the ending was said with a bit of a growl.

It seemed as though Spike had forgotten all about the broken heap of a vampire only a few feet away. Buffy on the other hand did not and was trying to figure out a way to get them all out of there alive or undead, which ever. She couldn’t keep her eyes of the prone figure that began to come to on the floor as Spike continued to nuzzle her neck and plant soft kisses over her pulse point.

Finally deciding on a plan of action, Buffy gently placed her small hands on either side of her mate and firmly but gently pushed him away. He sent her a warning growl but it immediately became one of approval as she ran her hands up and down his sides.

“Why don’t’ we head back to the apartment, you said you wanted to leave tonight. If we want to catch the freighter in time” This caused him to look at her as if she’d grown a second head.

“Buffy, love we’re taking a…” Spike let out a grown as she hit him in the ribs. Holding a hand to his side, he looked up at her in confusion. “What the hell did you do that for?”

Buffy inhaled sharply, her eyes grew wide as she indicated with a quick jerk of her head in Angel’s directions. Spike seemed to understand and promptly let the issue drop. The bleached vampire gave his sire the once over after only a moment of contemplation he came to the conclusion that he was no longer a threat.

Turning on heel and with a firm grasp on Buffy’s hand he began to pull her away from the darkened street. Knowing that she had to get back to Angel somehow she came up with a fib about how she must have dropped her keys. Spike seemed to except this and let her go back for them but not before giving her a five minute warning.

As the blonde jogged back to where Angel still lay on the sidewalk, she knew that if she wasn’t fast enough Spike would indeed come looking for her.

Buffy walked over and slowly knelt down next to the broken creature of the night. She brushed as lock of hair away from his face before whispering to him.

“The only reason you’re not dead is because I stopped him. Do not try to find us again; I fear I won’t be able to stop if there is a next time”

Before he can respond the Slayer is gone and Angel is left alone…broken and full of heartache. Even though he should listen to her, he won’t. There was no way in hell he was going to let Spike keep her…not with out a fight.

Spike may have one the first battles but he wasn’t going to win the war.


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Chapter 13 –- The past, The Present, The Future
 


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The cabin was quiet and only the gentle rustling of fellow passengers and humming of the over head light could be heard. It was hard to believe Angel had tried to challenge the claim a second time, he always did want the things he couldn’t have. The blonde directed his eyes to the sleeping form next to him. Oh he knew that Buffy would never leave him now, of that he was sure.

He laid his head back against the first class seat, his head was splitting from the fight earlier, he did take something for the pain just before boarding but it wasn’t helping any. They had just taken off about an hour before but it was still at least another good four hours before touching down in London. London, England…God the last time he was there was when he and Dru were running around together.

‘The blood that flooded the streets…those were good times’

He sighed softly even though his time with Dru had ended he wouldn’t trade his time now with his mate for the world. Dru was never all that faithful to him and now that he looks back on it he even questions her ‘love’ for him. Oh he knew that she said it to him enough but could a creature like her really love. He doubted it but that was then and this is now.

The little blonde that occupied the seat next to him shifted a bit and moaned a little when she couldn’t get settled; he could feel her discomfort and exhaustion through the bond, so he pulled her closer while gently brushing a stray strand from her eyes and softly cooed in her ear. Almost instantly she settled down and snuggled into his embrace.

He couldn’t wait to show her all of his old haunts…well most of them anyway. He decided long ago that if he got the chip out and she became his that he would do his best to shield her from his more demonic tendencies. There was no doubt in his mind that she loved and accepted all of him it was just something he really wanted to do for her. Angels’ return stirred up some old emotions and wounds that he believed were dead and buried. Both he and his mate had been burned badly by the Hellmouth and wished never to return there unless absolutely possible.

His thoughts automatically turned to the Scoobies and the one or two members he knew of the AI team. There wasn’t a doubt in his mind that the whelp and the witch were behind all this. He wasn’t sure what his feelings for the Watcher were; he knew that Giles loved Buffy as if she were his own. So he couldn’t begrudge him for searching for his little girl but the dynamic duo he had a few things he’d like to say to them.

‘Where the hell do they get off trying to take Buffy away from me, her happiness? I mean the whelps’ record isn’t all that great. First there is giant preying mantis lady, Inca mummy girl, the slut of a cheerleader and finally an ex-vengeance demon. I mean for gods’ sake his choice of paramours have not been all that great. Oh and of course we can’t forget the little meddling witch and her choices in love. First for her was some ancient demon that was trapped in the damned internet and then made himself flesh…or metal as it were. Then wolf boy and finally another witch. It’s not fair that they should be able to be happy and then not their so called best friend.

Don’t even get me started on peaches, he left her two years ago He can’t just come back and say that I challenged his claim, ok so he didn’t exactly say that I challenged him but he fucking abandoned her she doesn’t belong to HIM anymore! Then of course there is that bitch of a former cheerleader, she’s some sort of half demon now. I mean gimme a break like she did it for the good fight…my ass. She has been making eyes at nancy boy hair gel since day one’

As his thoughts continued to race through his mind; he realized he didn’t have a set place for them to live yet. Then he remembered that the wolf was suppose to be in London now, none of the Scoobies knew that he still kept in contact with the former band member not even the Slayer.

It was an interesting day when he ran into the wolf and they exchanged information after a pint. Both were drunk out of their minds but one day Spike received a letter from the werewolf and they’d been in touch ever since.

His eyes began to feel heavy so he let them close and he slowly drifted into a restful sleep with his mate tucked securely within his arms. As one of the flight attendants walked past she couldn’t help but smile at the couple before continuing on her way to the back of the plane.


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The sound of his boots could be heard as he walked down one of the many back alleys of London. Water splashed up onto his boots as he stepped in one of the many puddles left by the recent rain. The sky was a murky gray and the air was cool and smelled of fresh rain and gasoline. He was headed back to his flat when he was blindsided by a two snarling vampires. The sounds of flesh hitting flesh and heavy breathing could be heard all throughout the alley way. In the end the shadow continued on his was and two clouds of ash settled into near by puddles.

The wind had picked up a bit and it made the figure hunker down deeper into his coat. He hated London with all the rain most of the time he longed for the warmer climates or ones that were less wet. He soon came upon a building and pressed the button near the main door, not to long after a faint buzzing sound could be heard and he pushed on the door and entered. As he dropped his coat onto one of the hooks near the door and kicked of his boots a girl looking like she was in her early twenties came bouncing down the steps.

“Hey where have you been? I’ve been worried sick about you!” her New York accent coming through clearly as she reprimanded her friend and roommate.

“Out” came his one word answer, the woman just sighed audibly at his attitude.

“God, why do you have to be like that…I just worry you about you” her face clearly showing her concern. She knew how Raz could be sometimes but she never wished for him to change. It was almost ironic how his looks complemented his just as fiery personality.

Raz was a Nitric demon; basically he could do all sorts of things with fire including creating it. Though he wasn’t all that tall only standing about 5’10; he did look extremely human. His eyes were a gray but not a dull gray; they were almost like a bright silver but the most noticeable aspect to the demon was his deep red hair. Unlike many who were cursed with bright red, carrot like hair; Raz had deep almost maroon colored hair.

Many demons had the same life span as humans, they were born and they grew old and someday they would eventually die. However other demons like vampires became or were immortal. Nitric demons were immortal but they didn’t start out that way. As they grow older something in their genetic make-up changes and once they reach their 25 birthday they cease aging.

“I know you worry Ciro, it’s just that I needed some air and…some information”

This seemed to get his companions attention; she glanced at the clock making sure there was plenty of times left before the sun was suppose to set. Ciro could also be considered…different just like her friend. For she was a werewolf but she wasn’t bitten or scratched by one she was born as one. She was shocked on the night of her thirteenth birthday to discover her parents’ secret. Though she did eventually adjust because she was born a wolf she had abilities others did not.

Ciro had the ability to talk to the stars and the moon sometimes she even had a vision or two but unlike Drusilla she got to keep her sanity. She was a pretty thing, only standing about 5’5 with purple hair (at the moment) dull but bright blue eyes. Raz seemed to notice her worried glance at the clock and decided to cut his explanation short but would fill in the details later.

“Look you’ve got a bit of time but I know how you like to do that meditation thing beforehand, so here’s the deal. The Slayer and William the Bloody are on their way here”

Ciros’ eyes grew wide at this new information, she couldn’t believe that the Slayer; Buffy Summers was on her way to England at that very moment. Everyone knew of the other Slayer, they also knew she switched sides and was now behind bars.

“Are you sure? I mean she wouldn’t leave the Hellmouth unguarded…would she?”

“A lot of things have happened and are still happening. Just know that I’m gonna try and head them off at the airport maybe offer them a place to stay. I know Buffy from her time with Merrick and Spike is Ok…once you get to know him”

Raz watched as Ciro seemed to mull over the idea in her head, he knew how much Ciro admired the blonde Slayer and how envious of him because he knew her fairly well at one point.

“It’s cool with me just make sure blood breath keeps his teeth and fangs to himself” with that she sauntered away and back up the spiral steps form which she came, leaving Raz there to do his own thing.


*--------------------*


Whistler sat in the darkened room, the only light was shining in from the street leaving the room with a soft orange glow. He turned his back towards the window as heard the door open and close just as softly. Even though he was pretty sure of the nights’ events he had to ask.

“So, how’d it go?”

The sound of the bed creaking and the bedding shifting followed by a heavy sigh could be heard before the figure answered

“How could she Whis, she just left me there and went off with him” his voice full of emotion.

On closer inspection Whistler could see dried tear tracks on his friends’ face along with a nasty gash right above his left eye that was already healing among other cuts and burses.  The demon grimaced at the sight of the ensouled vampire, he knew that Angel was going to get a few souvenirs from tonight’s’ adventure but he never thought Buffy let him get it this bad.

For the longest time the fates believed that Buffy and Angel were the one. Those two were supposed to be capable of great things together as their relationship grew. They had to go through the whole Angelus tryst in order to prove themselves worthy. He lied the day he said that no one saw Buffy coming, Acathla and Angelus were a test for both Buffy and Angel but Angels’ leaving…that no one saw coming.

The fates hearts broke right along with the blonde Slayers’ that day. They had believed that they had found their champions but it turned out they were wrong. Angel was staying from the path that had been set before him. It was truly a tragedy for the Powers intended to reward both of them one day with Angels’ humanity. Though both would become immortal they would have sunshine and possibly children and of course each other.

So as they watched the vampire disappear into the fog and the Slayer breakdown and cry it was decided that a new champion should be chosen, one who’s loyalty was second to none. The Slayer’s companion had to be strong both emotionally and physically and would always put her first. They watched as she became closer with Riley Finn but it was soon decided that he would never do.

First off he was too human and wasn’t able to the gray areas in the world. Even though he cared greatly for their Slayer, he was most definitely not the one. Soon William the Bloody came to their attention. He’d been with their Slayer almost since she first appeared in Sunnydale. Even though he claimed to be ‘evil’ he did help her defeat Angelus and in his own way Adam. It was then decided that Glorificus would be the final test.

The Powers were beyond pleased that he passed, though they did mourn with their favored child, it was for the best. They feared their Slayer would sacrifice herself and that would’ve just ended in shame and heartache.

Whistler knew of the Powers plan and of the many things to come, he longed to tell his friend of what was to happen but it just wasn’t meant to be.

“Look maybe this is some type of a sign, I mean you did leave her and she moved on just like you wanted her to”

Angels’ head snapped up at this fire in his eyes

“I did leave and it was a *mistake*! Yes I did want her to move on but not to Spike” the bleached blonde’s name was said as if a bad taste had entered his mouth.

“Ange…” he was cut off by the raging vampire

“I wanted her to have sun light and picnics and…normal. I wanted a normal life for her” feeling defeated he flopped down on the bed with a sigh

“Did you ever ask her what *she* wanted?” Whistler asked softly

When he was greeted with the gentle hum of silence, he merely leaned back in his chair and waited for his friend to respond. It was finally dawning on Angel that the reason Buffy was no longer in his arms was because of his own doing.

Whistler didn’t have to wait to long before he heard the sounds of his friends’ sobbing. Deciding it best to leave the vampire alone for awhile, he picked up his coat and walked out of the hotel room leaving the ensouled vampire to all the pain in misery in which he created.


*--------------------*


Xander’s apartment was not filled with laughter and joking friends as usual, instead it was filled with the Scoobies and what was left of the AI team mourning a fellow warrior and friend. None knew of Cordelias’ decent into darkness, they all believed they were missing a fellow guardian of the light.

As they were leaving the Magic Box Fred was the one to discover the grisly scene. Cordelias’ body lay in a heap on the sidewalk her neck and forearm covered in blood and two wounds oozed the remaindered of her blood. Fred through herself into the Gunns’ arms, Wesley and Giles followed by Willow and Xander came upon the scene and gasped in horror at the sight that greeted them.

Now only a few hours later they were all gathered at Xander’s’ apartment mourning the lost of their friend and comrade. Giles and Wesley were in the kitchen fixing tea and other snacks for everyone most sat still in shock. Willow sat on the floor near Xander’s’ feet wondering what the hell had happened. She kept getting weird vibes off of her all night but just chalked it up to old emotions brought to the surface at seeing her.

Gunn sat on one of the deck chairs out on Xander’s’ patio with Fred in his lap. The brunette hadn’t stopped crying since finding Cordelias body. Gunn just held her and continued to whisper comforting words to soothe his girlfriend. Wesley tried reaching Angel earlier but they couldn’t’ seem to reach his cell phone and no one was answering the phone at the hotel, he’d already left several messages for the vampire.

All were at a loss, their Slayer had run away with a soulless evil vampire and the only other leader they’d had went chasing after her. On many levels they all blamed everyone and no one for the past months event. One thing was true though…nothing was ever going to be the same.


*--------------------*



Interlude –- Flying High

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Buffy was snuggled up to her vampire as she felt the steady rise and fall of his chest; she chuckled softly at his habit of breathing even though he didn’t need to. Spike felt rather than heard his mate laugh and looked down at her frowning slightly.

She just looked up and smiled softly at him, pressing a quick kiss to his chin before laying her head back down on his chest. Buffy began running her hand up and down her lovers’ thigh loving the way he began to shift and move about in his seat.

The little blonde continued to torture him till the point where his jeans were no longer comfortable, deciding to put an end to the game he grasped her hand gently but firmly and leaned down to whisper in her ear.

“Do you know what the Mile High Club is, love” his voice a hoarse whisper

A shiver went through her at the sound of his voice it was filled with desire and when she looked up into his eyes passion, love and lust shown clearly in his eyes. Remembering his question she shook her head her eyes transfixed on his lips.

The bleached vampires’ lips twisted into a seductive smirk he leaned in again and told her to meet him in the bathroom in about two minutes, just before getting up and heading to the back of the plane he gave a soft lick to the shell of her ear leaving her there panting and dripping with need.

Buffy tried to be patient but she couldn’t seem to sit still, perhaps it had to do with the sexy vampire that was waiting to fuck her in a few minutes. Her leg bounced up and down in her seat and she continued to fidget with her nails, finally glancing at her watch again she notice two minutes had indeed passed.

So Buffy tried to get up with out attracting too much attention, she waked down the aisle and knocked twice on the bathroom door, she pushed it open slowly hoping to god that Spike was on the other side. All of a sudden she was yanked inside and the door was shut firmly behind her.

Before she could even speak his lips were on hers, his tongue pushing past her lips demanding entrance. There was nothing sweet or gentle about this, it was just raw, straight up fucking.

While Spike attacked her lips with abandonment Buffy began to undo his belt and jeans. Spikes’ hands wandered up and down her back before falling to her hips and then sliding down to the front of her jeans. Spike turned Buffy to face the door his she placed her hands on either side of the frame bracing her self as her lover pushed her legs even farther apart.

Both were panting heavily as Spike’s hand glided over her body and cupped her breast and began to roll her nipple between his fingers; Buffy couldn’t help but arched into his hands the sensations he was creating making her lose all coherent thought. Somehow both remembered where they were and tried to mindful of the noise they knew they had to be creating.

Spike didn’t even have to check to see if she was ready for him, the evidence of her desire was already dripping down her thighs and he’d know the delightful scent of her arousal anywhere. In one quick thrust he was buried inside of her; Buffy moaned softly in satisfaction at the feeling of being filled by him once more.

‘It’s been to damn long’

That thought was predominant in both their minds as Spike entered her the first time, he had to stay still for a moment to keep himself from coming and it ending before it even began. When his mate rotated her hips and began to whine impatiently, he eased out of her body slowly pulling out almost the whole way before slamming back inside.

Buffy moaned deep in her throat at the wonderful bolts of pleasure her lover kept creating inside her. Their pace was quick and was becoming more on uneven with each passing moment. It wasn’t too long before Buffy felt the familiar tightening in her belly; she reached behind her to pull her lover into a heated kiss.

Spike then felt the supple body beneath his stiffen and watched in awe as his mate was over taken by orgasm. He loved to watch her as she came her expression was anything but short of euphoric. Needing release himself, he began to pound into her from behind until he felt the familiar tightening in his balls and began to bathe her womb with his seed.

Spike collapsed on top of his lover still holding her flush up against his chest. Buffy supported them both by leaning on the frame of the door. Spike being the first to recover pulled back up taking his lover with him; he turned carefully depositing her on the toilet while he ran the water to get the two of them cleaned up.

After getting himself situated he turned to his mate seeing she was coming around herself but she was tired from the past days events and the flight itself. He soon had her cleaned up and pulled her back up into a standing position. He pulls her close and whispers in her ear…

“I want you to walk out first and I’ll follow you after a moment or two” he looked at her to see if she understood. She nodded slightly and gave herself a once over in the tiny mirror and turned to leave the bathroom.

Spike just watched amused as his love still on wobbly legs exited the facilities. The vampire chuckled to himself; he still couldn’t believe that Buffy actually had sex with him on an airplane. He just shrugged it off to her exhausted state and with a smirk firmly in place he sauntered out of the bathroom.

When he reached his seat he slid back into his mates’ embrace with ease. Spike pressed a soft kiss to her crown before turning his attention to the book in the pouch in front of him. Just as he was about to continue with his novel the man across grinned from ear to ear and gave him a nod of recognition; Spike couldn’t help the smug smile to appear on his face.


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Chapter 14 –- …and we’re the Slayerettes 
 


*--------------------*


As the first rays of light began to filter into the shadows of the ending night and the demons of the Hellmouth retreated back into the darkness Sunnydale began to become awake and alive once more, many still oblivious to the horrors of the night.

A young Xander Harris’ apartment was filled with exhausted Scoobies, all only falling asleep at various times during the night. All were spent from the previous evenings’ events. The realization that Buffy was willing to stay with Spike and not coming home was a huge blow and then to add the impromptu death of their seer it turned out to be an ordinary night on the Hellmouth but even knowing this, it did nothing to lessen the pain.

Willow and Xander were seated out on his patio just taking in all that was early morning in Sunnydale. Both were awake before anyone else and decided that it was best to talk outside, it had been a long night and neither had any desire to wake anyone inside.

For the longest while they had no idea what to say to one another, finally Willow had enough of the uncomfortable silence and decided to break it.

“So…”

“So…”

They were both at a complete loss at the moment, just a few months ago they were all together and relatively happy, now the girl they all thought of as a little sister is dead, their best friend for the past five years just up and left them and now just last night another life was taken.  

“God this is so…I mean we used to be able to talk about anything, let alone not being able to talk at all” Xander said with a heavy sigh

“I know, I mean what’s happen to us?”

Their eyes locked and they knew what exactly happened to them. Buffy Summers happened to them. Both remember the blonde Slayer entered their lives and turned them upside down but neither could regret that day. For Xander he was able to do things he never thought he could and was able to become the man he so desperately wanted to be. For Willow she was able to come out of her shell and know that it was ok to be who she was. The two friends smiled at the memory of their lost friend, still not knowing what to do to rectify the situation.

Willow turned her back towards Xander and looked toward the horizon. The dark haired young man could do nothing but look on as his friend was in obvious deep thought.

“I think the day everything changed was when she made that deal with Spike. I know from what she told me it wasn’t because they liked one another or ‘cause Spike has this overwhelming desire to switch sides, it was for mutual need. Buffy needed to save the world and Spike wanted Drusilla back, at that time their needs sorta meshed”

Xander sighed heavily and ran a frustrated hand through her hair. He knew what Willow was doing, she was trying to find it, to pinpoint when exactly did they lose their friend.

“Maybe, I mean that may have been the day it began or got the ball rolling but I don’t think it was just that” he said softly

His best friend whipped her head around to face him, tear streaming down her face and as he looked at her, he knew then that they had to find a way to set things right with Buffy or none of them would ever move past this.

“You think I don’t know that, I mean it was a number of things. The day Angel left was really just the beginning of all this, then everything with Oz and Tara and…God even you and Anya. Oh and of course I just HAD to push her into Riley Finns’ arms and what did he do…he went and up and left her too. Then Glory…her mother just…died and then Dawn…I…I mean how in the hell could we just leave her with Spike. I mean SPIKE for CHRIST SAKES!”

Xander could clearly see that his little read headed friend was on the verge of hysteria. So he did the only thing that he knew he could do and pulled her into his arms as she continued to cry and soak his shirt with her tears. At that moment all Xander Harris wanted to do was to hate and rue the day he met Buffy Summers but he couldn’t bring himself to. The person or thing he was truly angry at was a certain bleached vampire that took her away from all of them. He never thought he’d see that day that he’d be rooting for Angel.

As she quieted he looked down onto her tearstained faced and brushed some of the stray tears away.

“Better now?”

At her nod he decided that it was time to head back inside, he also could’ve sworn he heard Giles voice a few moments ago. Both headed inside to see what news if any the Watcher had for them. 

“Hey G-man”

Giles couldn’t even bring himself to be upset with Xanders’ chosen nickname for him. Pausing for a moment, trying to get his bearings and attempting to get back to the topic of hand just as he was about to continue with his speech of having no new news the phone rang.

Time seemed to stand still; everything and everyone froze at the foreign sound. Giles was the first to recover and strode purposefully toward the phone and picked it up on the fifth ring, his voice wavered only slightly as he spoke into the receiver.

“Hello” his voice full of barely concealed emotion

“Hello Giles”

With a sigh of relief and disappointment he smiled slightly and mouthed to the others that it was Angel at the other end. As the ensouled vampire began to speak the Watchers’ expression became one of relief that was quickly becoming one of distress.

Giles listened patiently to Angels’ tale and he couldn’t help but wonder who in Gods’ name did they piss off for all of this to happen. First Cordelias’ death and now this, when Angel finished telling him of his former chargers behavior he decided it was time to tell the vampire of his seer death.

Surprisingly Angel was only silent for a moment and he did sound chocked up for a moment or two but the more he spoke the more he realized that Cordelias’ death was her own fault and if she wasn’t so careless then it wouldn’t have happened.

Angel knew it was wrong to be so indifferent towards his friends’ demise but at that moment in time he couldn’t bring himself to care. His only thoughts were on Buffy and how she could’ve let Spike kill him but she didn’t. That alone gave him hope that maybe…just maybe there was still a chance that he could reach her.

After a few more minutes of conversing and a new game plan, the two disconnected and went on their separate ways. Just as Giles was about to fill the others in on the details the phone rang again. All the occupants of the room just believed that it was Angel again and paid no mind to the Watcher returning to the phone but no one was prepared for the next words to leave Rupert Giles mouth.

“Hello Buffy”
 


CONTINUED...


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