Chapter 15 –- Goodbye
*--------------------*
As the pair stepped of the plane and into the terminal they couldn’t help but
turn a few heads. The woman had crystal like green eyes and long flowing blonde
hair that accentuate her golden skin. Her male companion possessed a pair of
striking blue eyes, sharp cheekbones and platinum blonde hair that only brought
out the blue in his eyes even more. Needless to say they were two very beautiful
people who couldn’t help but draw some attention to themselves.
Raz had been waiting for over an hour now for their flight to land after Ciro
had gone and enter her meditative state there wasn’t much to do around so he
decided to go for a drive and get to the airport a little early. As he waited
for the pair he couldn’t help but wonder what the little Slayers’ reaction to
him would be. The last time they were together was when Merrick was her Watcher
and she was barely 16 at the time. She was now 20 years old and the oldest
Slayer to ever to walk, that in itself was an accomplishment.
As soon as he saw them, he knew that he’d have to catch them or he’d loose them
in the crowds. The look on the vampires’ face was guarded and cautious…he was
protecting his mate. Buffy had never been to England before let alone out of the
United States, he was worried for her. Knowing this he decide it best to
approach them with a bit more caution, he knew Buffy wouldn’t attack but that
didn’t mean her lover wouldn’t.
Spike could feel someone following them, he immediately knew that it was a
Nitric Demon and usually that wouldn’t have bothered him but he didn’t want
himself and the Slayer getting into a brawl their first night there and this one
seemed dead set on making contact.
While Spike was looking for an easy way out to avoid confrontation, Buffy was
getting an odd feeling in her lower stomach. It wasn’t a foreign feeling, she
knew that she’d felt that way before but she just couldn’t seem to remember
when. All of a sudden her mate pulled her to the side and placed a hand over her
mouth, as she was about to protest to his actions his eyes locked with hers.
Blue eyes meet green and in that fraction of a second their bond came through
and began to sizzle around them. Raz felt the slight influx of energy and jerked
his head to the right. That’s when he saw them in a small alcove, eyes locked.
He knew then that they were connected; now he’d have to be even more careful in
trying to catch their attention. It was a known fact that the vampire was
extremely possessive, many a demon could attest to it from his time with Dru but
now he was sure that his already possessive nature had intensified because of
his time with the Slayer.
Raz was about to gently touch the vampires’ shoulder when he found himself
pinned against the wall with a pale yet firm hand on his throat. Not really
wanting to provoke the vampire any further he put up his hands to show he meant
no harm. The grip on his throat lightened enough for him to rasp out a greeting.
“It’s me, Raz”
“Raz?” the little blonde came out from behind her mate and instantly recognized
the demon from her past.
“Hey Lizzy”
A smile broke out onto Buffys’ face with the old endearment. She immediately
pulled her mate off of her former friend and pulled him into a hug all the while
ignoring the low warning growl in the background.
“Oh my God, I can’t believe you’re here. I mean the last I saw you was back in
New York but that was only…”
“…for Spike’s chip I know but I heard you were headed to London and since I was
already here, I thought I’d offer you and your mate a place to crash”
The Slayers’ face brightened at the thought of being able to catch up with an
old friend. She loved spending her days with Spike but it’d be nice to have some
new faces around for a change.
“We’d love to, wouldn’t we Will?”
Before Spike could respond to the idea of staying with Raz or that she called
him ‘Will’ out in public Buffy had linked her arm with Raz and they were both
headed out of the terminal, leaving Spike with both of their bags. The bleached
blonde muttered something under his breath about overbearing Slayers and whipped
vampires.
*--------------------*
As soon as they entered the flat Buffy immediately asked to use the phone, Raz
just pointed to the door down the hall saying that it was to his study and she’d
have all the privacy that she needed in there. She met Spikes’ eyes for half a
second before sauntering down the hall. In that second Spike knew all he needed
to know…she was going to call the Watcher.
He decided it best to leave her to it since she didn’t ask for his presence but
if there was even the slightest hitch in her voice in any part of that
conversation he’d be in there so fast her head would spin. Raz couldn’t help but
grin at the look on the vampires’ face.
“What are you looking at” the vampire sneered
Raz softened a little and just smiled at the vampire before turning toward the
kitchen. Spike just dropped the bags in the hall and followed the Nitric demon
into the other room. Spike plopped down onto one of the stool placed near the
island as Raz began to rummage through the refrigerator. His search was
successful in producing a pint of O-positive and the fixings for a turkey and
cheese sandwich.
The two demons sat in somewhat of a tense silence as each of them consumed their
meals. Raz knew that it was coming from the moment he and his mate left with him
from the airport. It was only a matter of time and he didn’t have to wait too
long before…
“So how well do you? I mean…with Buffy…what exactly?” Spike trailed off unsure
of what question he wanted to ask first or at all.
Raz looked up from his sandwich with a small smile on his face. He knew that his
relationship with the Slayer would probably make the vampire question a few
things, so he decided to put his mind at ease.
“You want to know, how well Buffy and I know each other? And what exactly is
going on between us?”
“Basically, yeah I mean you’re all chummy with her she is MY mate you know”
“Yes I know and believe my feelings for Buffy are NOT of a romantic nature. You
see when Merrick first found her she didn’t have the friends, the support system
she did with her second Watcher, Ripper. I, we became very close and we relied
on one another. I think of Buffy as more of my…baby sister” He chuckled at his
last statement knowing what his ‘baby sister’ have to say to him if she heard
him call her that.
“Buffy and I are just friends and I want to take of her, to help take care of
her because I know that you just want to do the same thing. We both know that
even though she says that she’s moved on…she in reality hasn’t. I mean losing
the only real family you have left in such a small amount of time has to be
hard.”
Spike sighed heavily at this, when he and the Slayer first left Sunnydale she
had nightmares practically every other night. That was before they began to
share a bed. He remembered the first time clear as day. Her screams woke him
from his slumber, the look on her face nearly ripped him up inside.
“She’s gotten better, the nightmares they hardly ever show up anymore but she
started to get into one of her moods during the flight. I swear sometimes I feel
like…like its Dru all over again. I mean Buffy isn’t rambling about the stars or
anything but sometimes she slips away from me you know…she goes to a place
inside her head, somewhere where I can’t even get to, most of the time anyway”
Spike looked up to see if he could read his companions’ face. He was surprised
to see understanding and concern instead of…well he wasn’t sure what he was
expecting to see but it sure as hell wasn’t that.
“Like I was saying she’s better than she was before and when things get…rough
for her she talks to me, explains what’s going on in that head of hers buts
sometimes I think she doesn’t even know what’s going on in her head”
Raz smiled sadly at the vampire, he knew for a fact that the Slayer would
eventually recover but decided against saying anything and instead opted to just
sit next to his new friend and continue to listen to the vampire vent everything
that he felt he wasn’t able tell his mate.
*--------------------*
At the same time down the hall Buffy dialed the number she knew by heart and
waited for a few tense seconds as the phone rang. She wasn’t sure what she was
looking to accomplish by calling Sunnydale but she knew that it was just
something she had to do. By the third ring someone picked up, in the background
she heard the voice of her Watcher and knew that it was he who had answered the
phone.
“Hi Giles”
There was a brief period of silence at the other end of the phone besides the
soft murmur of voices conversing in the background.
“Hello Buffy”
Buffy could hear the soft murmur of voices in the background die out. She knew
then that they all were waiting for her to continue the conversation with her
Watcher.
“Hey, I just thought I’d call and…I don’t exactly” she tried a flippant opening
but failed miserably and she knew it. At the other end of the phone there was a
brief silence before a stuttered response came through.
“Buffy, God it’s good to hear your voice! Where are you? Are you alright? Is
Spike with you?” Giles couldn’t believe that after almost 4 months of no word
from his Slayer, the girl he thought of as a daughter is now on the phone with
him.
“I know, it’s good to hear your voice too. I’m fine and yes Spike is with me,
he’s been taking good care of me…we’ve been taking care of each other” the last
part was said in a whisper.
“Dear girl, why didn’t you come to me? You know I would never have turned you
away” Buffy’s heart broke when she heard the slight tremor in her Watchers’
voice.
“I… I honestly don’t know. Everything was just… slipping…” her breath hitched
and she had to swallow the lump forming in her throat to suppress the tears that
were threatening to fall.
“Spike was there for me when no one else was and this wasn’t the first time. I
needed him and he was there.” She said softly
Giles was silent for a moment as he listened to his Slayers’ words and then her
soft breathing at the other end of the phone. He was just so thrilled to know
after three months of not knowing that the girl he loved like a daughter was
okay.
“Darling, please come home”
Buffy sighed silently at her Watchers’ plea. She knew that she couldn’t go back
to Sunnydale, not right then anyway.
“I can’t… “
“Buffy please…”
“One day… but not today”
“Buffy…”
“Goodbye”
Giles tried again to reach his Slayer but all he was greeted with was the low
hum of the line that was disconnected.
*--------------------*
Chapter 16 –- No Apologies, No Regrets
*--------------------*
Buffy continued to stare at the phone tucked securely in its cradle. She
abruptly cut off the conversation she was having with her Watcher not five
minutes before. In her heart she knew that she should call back and explain
herself. Give all of them more information than she did but she just couldn’t
bring herself to do so. Inhaling sharply she once again picked up the phone and
dialed the number she knew so well.
The phone barely rang once before she heard the frantic voice of her Watcher at
the other end pleading with her to answer him.
“Giles…”
“Thank God, Buffy. I thought I’d lost you again. I beg you not to do anything
like that again. Please at least tell me where you are and who you’re with. Are
you alone with just Spike or are there others with you?”
Buffy couldn’t help but smile at her Watchers’ string of questions. No matter
what something seem to never change.
“I’m not with just Spike… I’m with some old friends but we’re both okay, I
promise.”
“Buffy who on earth are you with?”
“Raz… he’s a good friend of mine. I knew him back when Merrick was my Watcher.
We also ran into him in New York and now again here.”
”Buffy I beg you to tell me where is there? Where are you?”
As soon as the phone rang again Giles practically dove for the receiver. The
Scoobs and what was left of the AI team looked on with bated breath as the
former Watcher spoke into the phone. Xander and Willow stood right behind Giles
as he spoke with his former charge; both trying to listen as best they could to
the conversation taking place.
Giles listen intently as he waited for his Slayer to answer. He knew that right
now she depended too much on the bleached vampire and that he was going to
extremely careful with the way he handled things if he ever wanted to see his
Slayer again.
‘England’ the word was so softly spoken that the former bad boy had to ask her
to repeat herself.
“I’m sorry love, where did you say you were?”
“I said that I’m in England Giles. You know Jolly ole’ England, the mother
country.”
“Ah I see, I think I need to sit down now”
Buffy listened intently as she heard the shifting of a chair. Finally hearing
her Watcher sigh heavily she almost feared what would be said next.
“Buffy…”
The tiny blonde cringed slightly as she heard the red heads’ voice hit her ears.
She knew that she was going to have to deal with her friends at one time or
another.
“Hey Wills, how ya been?” trying to be as casual as possible
Instantly Buffy knew that was the wrong thing to say because at the other end of
the phone the once mellow sounding red head was ranting and raving and it didn’t
look like she was going to stop anytime soon.
“How have I been? HOW HAVE I BEEN!?!? WHAT THE HELL KINDA QUESTION IS THAT TO
ASK BUFFY!?! You just pick… pick up and leave without ANY kind of warning or
even notice. You have Giles here going out of his mind; you had Angel travel
across country… ACROSS COUNTRY BUFFY! Just to find YOU! And on top of all that
Buffy you take of with Spike… SPIKE of all people for Christ Sake! I mean SPIKE,
he isn’t even a person; he’s a FUCKING DEMON and…”
The tiny blonde felt her body begin to shake whether it was from repressed tears
or rage she wasn’t too sure all she knew what that she was being yelled at for
things that weren’t her fault. She was being reprimanded by her so-called friend
for things she did but in reality it was no ones business but her own.
So she did something she should’ve done a long time ago…
“WILLOW!”
“Huh?”
“It’s none of your business. What I do and where I go is all of MY business, let
alone who I’m with. All of you left and went and did your own thing because all
of YOU were hurting. And that’s perfectly fine but don’t you dare… DON’T YOU
DARE throw accusations or point your finger at me Willow!” by the time the
little blonde finished her speech tears were rolling down her cheeks unchecked.
Buffy had to take a breath to calm herself when she went to apologize for her
outburst the voice of her Watcher was once again coming through the line.
“Buffy, are you still there?”
“Yeah I’m still here”
Sighing heavily Buffy listened as Giles tried to make excuses for Willows’
behavior but the Slayer was tired of hearing it and she then decided to leave a
number with her Watcher saying it was for him only and then proceeded to hang up
the phone.
Buffy stared at the phone for a few long moments before she felt hot tears begin
to stream down her face; burying her face in her hands she never heard the door
to the study open…
“Hey, are you okay?”
“Huh” Buffy looked up and was surprised to see a young woman in front of her
standing no more than five feet five inches tall. She had purple hair and bright
but dull blue eyes.
“Hey I’m Ciro and you must be Buffy. Tough convo huh?”
“Yeah I guess you could say that”
Ciro walked over to the Slayer and plopped down into the chair opposite her. She
swung her legs over the side and stared at the Slayer for a long moment before
jumping back up and holding a hand out to her. Buffy just looked at her if she
was crazed, Ciro smiled at this and pulled the tiny Slayer up and out of the
overstuffed chair.
“Look you’re the Slayer, you’re also 20 years old and you have to right to do
what you want, when you want and one day that will just have to get through
you’re so-called friends’ thick skulls. Now are you going to or not?”
“Going to?”
“To start living… remember no regrets, no apologies”
With that Ciro sauntered out of the study leaving a slightly confused but elated
Slayer behind. For the first time since she’d been called Buffy felt free to do
what she wanted when she wanted and tonight she was going to start living for
herself again… she was going to take it back.
“No Regrets, No Apologies”
*--------------------*
Chapter 17 –- Truths and Mourning
*--------------------*
The sun would be rising in the next few hours and in the condition he was in the
dark vampire didn’t have much time to make it back to the room before he was
nothing more than ash in the wind. Slowly but surely he picked himself up off of
the ground and staggered out of the side street and onto one of the main
avenues. Normally he wouldn’t do such a thing and basically stick to the side
streets, the shadows as it were but the small hotel where he was staying was
located on 4th avenue and it was mostly apartment buildings and houses until you
reached the main shopping district over 20 blocks ahead.
For the time of night and the area itself Angel very much doubted he’d be
running into anyone in particular. And even if he did he was more than a match
for any human that crossed his path, wounded or not. He just had to get back to
the room and rest for the day before he could head back out into the night and
find Spike and Buffy before the trail became completely cold.
Slipping into the lobby and up the stairs he easily made it to the room
undetected. Finally inside and safely tucked away from the sun he sighed with
relief and slumped against the door. Whistler just watched from the shadows
concern marring his otherwise usually stoic or sarcastic features. He wages a
silent war with himself; in the end he decides to screw the orders he’s received
from The Powers and that it was time Angel knew the truth… about everything.
“Ang, I think its time we had a talk”
“Whis now is really not a good time” Angel bit out
The demon sighed heavily as he watched Angel hobble over to the bed nursing his
wounds and from the looks of them they looked real nasty, even in the low light
of the lamp that barely lit a corner of the room.
“I think now is the perfect time”
The serious tone in the demon’s usually mocking and sarcastic voice instantly
gained Angel’s attention. Dark mahogany colored eyes traveled his friends’ face
wearily. Whatever it was that Whistler had to tell him it couldn’t be good and
he really wasn’t sure how much more distressing news he could handle at this
point in time.
“Okay what’s up Whis?”
Whistler slowly got up from his seat knowing that he was going to have to move
around for this conversation. It seemed whenever he got nervous he had to keep
himself busy. And he knew for sure that this particular conversation was about
to get very stressful.
“Alright, remember how I told you that you could go either way. That you could
make something of yourself but it all was on you, the choices you made”
“Yea, of course… that day was the day my life changed… forever”
Whistler winced as he felt the emotions roll of the vampire as he remember said
day. That was one thing he never told anyone was that he was partially an
empathy demon. It did nothing for his tough guy, cryptic exterior so he kept
that little ti bit to himself.
“Well that wasn’t the only day your life changed… you see The Powers came for
you because you were strong of heart and they knew you would be a great warrior.
But the main reason you were saved was because you were suppose to be her
guardian”
“Her Guardian…” He repeated lamely
“Yes her guardian, you see the day you left her… that was the day destiny was
rewritten. But nothing was permanent, not yet anyway. In the beginning there
were… opportunities as it were for you to come back and claim her as yours. Then
young Riley Finn came along but it was clear he wasn’t the one…” He trailed off
unsure on how to continue
“Whistler what are you saying to me?” The vampires’ voice was low and hoarse. He
was terrified as to what the demon was insinuating. Fear and revulsion of the
worst kind gripped his dead heart as the next few words tumbled forth from his
friends’ lips
“Then they saw what was in front of them the entire time; William the Bloody.
He’d been with the Slayer from almost the time she set foot in Sunnydale. Though
enemies at first, they weren’t that any longer. They weren’t friends but they
were no longer enemies and that was a start. It was then decided to test the
vampires’ loyalty. They looked back on his time with Drusilla and his loyalty
was second to none when he truly loved. So tests were set in place and the door
in which you were to pass through closed forever now opened to him. And unlike
you he walked through with his head held high.” He explained slowly trying to
gauge Angel’s reaction
“So you’re saying my leaving Buffy I basically handed her to Spike on a sliver
platter. My sacrifice…” he started to rant until Whistler abruptly cut him off.
“SACRIFICE!?! Whoa Angel buddy, there was NO sacrifice. You left, you couldn’t
handle not being able to make love to her, and you couldn’t deal so you bailed.
You left her Angel, no one forced you to, and you just did! In fact I seem to
remember a slightly heart wrenching scene where the little blonde of your
desires practically begged you not to leave. To rethink things, to just TALK to
her, but you didn’t YOU decided what was best and YOU left her.” Whistler raged,
he cared for his friend he truly did but there was no for Angel to blame except
himself.
It all seemed to hit the ensouled vampire like a ton of bricks. Somewhere in the
back of his mind he knew it to be true it was all too much for him to deal with
at that particular moment in time. He could smell the sunrise, he only had about
an hour before it would be too late and he’d be stuck in that room for the
remainder of that day. He couldn’t stand it, the walls were closing in and there
was no way he would last there all day. So with that he stormed out of the room
and back out into the ending night. There was a bar a few blocks up; The Wicked
Monk… it looked like a place to drink the day away then regroup and get HIS
Slayer back. Screw destiny, fate and all the other entities that controlled the
cosmos. Buffy was his and he was going to get her back!
Whistler tried to stop his friends’ hasty exit from the room but staggered back
at the force of the vision he received. They normally never hurt him before just
sent a warm pleasant tingle up his spine but this time there was no way around
it, this vision hurt like a bitch but once the pain receded he couldn’t help but
smile. It seemed that the new seer had found its warrior now all he had to do
was make sure that it was him that now received the vision so needed from The
Powers that Be.
*--------------------*
It was a bright beautiful sunny California day. The sun was shinning and there
wasn’t a cloud in the sky, it was a bright vibrant blue. The grass was green and
lush and there was a light breeze that rustled throughout the trees. Today was
not the type of day for a funeral but it was.
Today family and friends laid Cordelia Chase to rest. Willow and Xander stood
with Giles along with Gunn and Fred off to the side whereas Cordelia’s parents
and other family members were nowhere to be found. It seemed that in order to
avoid the IRS the Chases’ opted to stay out of the country even with word of
their own daughter’s death.
Cordelia’s body was picked up by the coroner and they said she died of sudden
neck rupture. No one who really knew the truth disputed the cause of death. So
the only friends and family Cordelia had left gathered around her grave and paid
their last respects. The priest said his finally words and only after a few more
moments most everyone turned and left headed back to Xander’s apartment.
In the end there was only one person left standing over Cordelia’s grave. Xander
Harris looked on with tear filled eyes. Though there was bad blood between the
two brunettes somewhere inside he knew that he still loved her and all of her
Queen C bitchy ways. Sighing heavily he walked sullenly over to the casket and
placed a white lily on top. As he turned and walked a way tear slipped from his
eye only to be wiped away by the soft breeze. Halting in his steps for only a
moment he exited Wakefield Cemetery and never looked back
*--------------------*
There was no time and no space where Talaria roamed images continued to flash
before her eyes until with a wave of her hand she looked on with bright eyes. It
seemed as though the new seer had found his Slayer. Everything was beginning to
take shape.
Suddenly the scenery around her changed and she was walking through a field and
the sky was the screen in which she watched all the actions taking place on
earth. A breeze picked up and softly whipped through her hair and just as
abruptly it was there it was gone again. Looking to her left she smiled when she
saw Whistler walking in step beside her.
“How has the dark one taken his defeat?” she asked softly
“He hasn’t” the demon said simply
Perplexed Talaria stopped and turned to Whistler a perplexed looking masking her
features. There was no way that the vampire was still trying to hold claim to
the Slayer.
“Are you to say he still his trying to lay claim on the Slayer?”
“I’m saying Angel has lost it, I can’t even say for sure if he’s all together up
there in the head anymore. His actions suggest otherwise…”
Talaria just sighed heavily.
“He will learn in time, his destiny is no longer woven with that of the Slayer.
He has his own path now. When we send his new mate to him, he will understand…”
“I hope so because right now he just doesn’t get it”
“He soon will, besides the Slayer and her vampire has now found their seer
everything is falling into place. Nothing can stop what has begun now!”
“Well I better get back before Angel knows I’m gone”
Before Talaria could get out another word Whistler faded away with a jaunty
swagger. Laughing softly to herself she turned and cast one lingering glance to
the two warriors.
The end of days had already long over begun and the side of the light was just
now getting its most prized warriors ready for battle. Though they had a late
start and some battles have already been lost. They would not loose the war.
With a crack of thunder and cry of triumph Talaria faded from the field and
headed back to earth. Soon the Slayer would be returning to the mouth of hell
and she would be there to greet her.
*--------------------*
Chapter 18 – A Seer for the Slayer
*--------------------*
Ciro and Raz stayed hidden deep in the shadows of the
club, which in reality wasn’t all that hard to do. Raz had known the instant
that Buffy and Spike left the club; he also couldn’t help the small smirk to
cross his face. It was no secret how much the two were in love with each other;
they could hardly keep their hands off of one another on the way to the club. It
was only a matter of time before they would slip away; he was surprised they
lasted so long. The nitric demon also had no doubts that they’d easily find
their way back to the flat.
Leaning back in one of the club’s plush chairs he
spared a glance at Ciro. She basically had her wolf under control and very
rarely changed unless she wished it but being in places such as this only
intensified the need. He just had to be sure that she was handling herself,
though he should’ve known by now that there was never any real reason to worry.
Though what did catch his attention was his companions’ avid interest with the
dance floor below.
“What has caught you interest dear Ciro?” his breath
caressing the shell of her ear
The werewolf merely smiled and nodded her head in the
direction of young man near the bar below; he was recognizable to the pair. The
Slayer alone was not just known in the demon world; her friends were also known
as well.
“It can’t be… can it?” his face a mask of
confusion
“It is… I can feel it” she replied
simply
Downstairs the blue haired wolf couldn’t help the
feeling of familiarity that washed over him as soon as he entered the club. The
club itself smelled of sex and sweat but there was something else. There was a
distinct scent that he just couldn’t identify but was oddly calming… in the end
he decided that to just let it go but there still was a slight nagging in the
back of his mind.
“Hey, wanna dance?”
As soon as he heard her voice a warm feeling ran down
his spine. Turning to face the anonymous offer his eyes widened slightly as the
finally fell on the woman before him. She was beautiful; standing only about 5’5
with the most beautiful blue eyes he’d ever seen but what really caught his
attention was her hair. It fell almost to her waist and was streaked purple… he
beyond interested.
“I don’t dance” he replied
“Okay, then buy me a drink” she said with a small
smile
He couldn’t help but smile in return, offering up the
seat next to him she easily slid in beside him as he ordered another rum and
coke for himself. Then of course asking her what she’d like to drink, ordering a
vodka tonic she turned back to the man sitting beside her.
“So last I heard you were in
“Who are you?” asking the first question that came to
his mind
Ciro just smiled she knew her question would cause him
to be curious but that was exactly what she was going for. She wanted to see if
she could get the wolf home with her. Raz talked about how though the Slayer and
wolf weren’t always close they did have somewhat of a bond. It would be nice for
her to see her friend again and Ciro wanted to do that for
Buffy.
“I’m a friend… I’m more like a friend of a friend. I’m
sure you remember Buffy”
“Buffy, she’s here?” he asked with
surprise
“Yea, she’s here and I know she’d love to see a
familiar and friendly face”
For some reason he trusted the young woman in front of
him. Normally he wouldn’t have even given her the time of day, with a past like
his and with friends like his you had enemies whether you wanted them or not.
There was also her scent, she didn’t smell like a threat… she smelt more like
family than anything else but that was something he just didn’t want to analyze
at the moment.
“Alright, I wouldn’t mind seeing a friendly face
myself”
Ciro just smiled a quick smile and told him to wait
right there. Hoping up out of her seat she turned and made her way toward the
upper level. Quickly grabbing Raz and dragging him back down to the lower level
telling him they had to leave the club. Not even introducing Raz to their new
companion she dragged both men out of the club and into the cool night air.
Walking the few blocks back to the car then and only then did she introduce the
two men.
“Raz this is Oz, Oz this Raz… ooo look at that it
rhymed”
“Hey man” Oz said
“Nice to meet you” Raz replied
“Soooo lets get going guys!” Ciro said as she
enthusiastically hopped into the front seat
“Is she always that perky?”
“No… never”
“hum”
And with that the two men climbed into the car and
drove off into the night.
*--------------------*
Spike silently rolled over reaching for the warm body
that wasn’t there. Grasping the warm sheets he was startled awake when his hands
came up empty. Blue eyes flashed open and searched the darkened room for his
mate. His undead heart instantly quieted when he saw her sitting near the window
her knees tucked up to her chest her face leaning against the glass. He couldn’t
help but stare; she was lovely wrapped in a crisp white sheet that accenting her
tanned skin and the night was clear so the moonlight streamed in through the
window panes highlighting her long blonde hair… he was falling in love all over
again.
“What are you doing up princess? He asked softly
Buffy turned towards the bed startled slightly; she
hadn’t even heard her mate awake from his nap. After they’d made love they both
had fallen asleep but blissful unconsciousness didn’t stay with the Slayer for
long. Waking abruptly in her mate’s arms she didn’t want him to wake also she
slowly but easily slipped from his embrace and padded softly across the room to
look out the window, which was about an hour ago. She’d been lost in thought
ever since.
“Couldn’t sleep” she said simply
But the bleached vampire knew that instant that it
wasn’t that simple. Something was on his Slayer’s mind he just wasn’t sure what.
Though ever since early that evening something shifted in the air, something was
changing, something was coming he just wasn’t sure what. And if he was right
Buffy could feel it too. Sighing softly he rose from the bed and padded softly
across the room uncaring about his nudity, he long ago grew more than
comfortable with his body. He coaxed her to scoot forward and slid in behind her
pulling her back against his chest and together they looked out into the night.
Eventually he again broke the comfortable silence the
two of them shared.
“’Lizabeth what is it? I know something is wrong…” he
whispered softly
Buffy couldn’t help but sigh heavily and sink further
into his loving embrace. She knew there was no avoiding the subject; he’d used
her true name. Her head lolled to the side baring her neck and his mark to him,
leaning forward his tongue darted out and softly licked his mark causing a small
moan to tumble from his lover’s lips.
“Lizzy talk to me…” he said as he nibbled on the shell
of her ear
“I don’t know, just I guess so much has changed in such
a short amount of time when you really think about it. I mean practically 5
months ago my mother was alive and healthy and Dawn was still just as annoying
as ever and you were my annoying but loveable shadow…”
Spike chuckled at that but kept silent as he waited for
her to continue.
“… and then everything changed. Mom died and then the
fight with Glory and then Dawn just… god everything use to be so simple, but
now…” she trailed off unsure as to how to continue
“Now everything isn’t as black and white as it use to
be” he offered
“That’s the thing; I’m not your garden variety Slayer.
I’ve always known that there are gray areas in this world, not everything is as
it seems but…”
Pausing in mid-sentence she seemed to be struggling
with what she was trying to say, so he kept quiet and just waited for her to
continue.
“… I remember back in high school everything was so
simple;
Buffy felt her mate tense at the name of his supposed
sire but he made no objections or comments so she knew it was safe to continue
on.
“… I know he’s not your favorite person but for the
longest time, he was my world. I gave him everything I had inside me and then
some. I truly believed in my heart of hearts that he was the one. I mean ever
since I was called I had no one to connect with, no one that truly knew what it
was like for me… but he did. And then everything with Angelus just really
screwed it all up but when he came back… it was really awkward and uncomfortable
but only at first. By the time prom was coming around things were getting
better… or at least I thought so, I guess just being with me wasn’t enough… so
he left… God Will he just left me, he told me he loved me and yet he left
me…”
A broken sob filled the room and Spike just pulled her
closer offering her silent comfort. He knew that there was more she had to say
and he didn’t want to interrupt. This was what he had wanted from the minute she
asked him to leave Sunnydale. She was finally beginning to let go of old demons…
now she truly would be his and that was all he wanted all
along.
“… sorry, guess I kinda lost it for a sec, No so as I
was saying. Things really just got messed that year that was the year the
Scoobies almost split, I guess we all did a bit of growing that year, becoming
our own persons but somewhere along the way we lost one another. And though we
found our way back, I don’t think… no I know we lost something that year and we
never got it back. I even found out from
“Is that such a bad thing?” he had to
ask
Buffy immediately turned in his embraced and looked up
at him with wide innocent eyes. Moisture pooled within her emerald depths, she
never meant to make her mate feel unwanted she just wanted him to know what was
going on inside her.
“God no, I love being with you, I love belonging to
you, I love you… I’m just saying that so much has changed so fast I
sometimes don’t know what’s going on inside my head… but I do know what’s going
on inside my heart, I wouldn’t give you up for anything. William, I need you… in
so many ways I always have, even when we were enemies…” she said with a
smile
“I knew you always fancied me” he smiled jokingly
”Can get you get over yourself for just a
second?”
“I suppose, go on with what you were saying” he
huffed
Buffy just smiled and shook her head; he always seemed
to know how to lighten her mood no matter what she was feeling at the
time.
“Thank you, but seriously… before you slaying was just
a job I had to do. I found the big bad, killed it and moved on. But you were the
one that kept getting away you soon became my…”
“… Obsession, I know because you became mine, Drusilla
would constantly tell me how you surrounded me. At the time I just believed it
was because you were the Slayer and you were the one that I couldn’t kill. You
weren’t like the brochure that’s for sure. You had friends and family helping
you, which was an added factor I hadn’t counted on. Most Slayers if they live
long enough do eventually have a death wish… but you, what you had was something
to live for… When I made that deal with you and I got myself and Dru out of
Sunnydale I headed straight for
“Wow, what a bitch” she said softly
Spike just looked down at her stunned for a moment
before a hearty laugh bubbled up inside of him and tumbled from his lips. It
seemed as though it was infectious and Buffy couldn’t help but join
in.
“She really was a bitch wasn’t she?” he asked half
serious
“I have to so” she replied
And just as suddenly as their laughter started it
stopped. Spike’s thumb lazily rubbed Buffy’s bottom lip and he couldn’t help the
small moan that broke through when her tongue darted out to wet her
lips.
“William…” she whispered
Spike groaned aloud at the sight of her little pink
tongue darting out to moisten her lips and that breathy whisper of hers wasn’t
helping. Swiftly gathering her up into his arms he quickly devised her of the
sheet that was wrapped around her body while laying her back down on the soft
bedding. He sometimes still had trouble believing that she was his.
Crawling up her body he began to lay soft kisses on her
neck and collar bone, his hands were gentle and soft as they moved up and down
her body and glided across her skin. Buffy instantly knew that something was
different with her mate, they’d made love and just fucked each other more times
than she could count but this was different, he’d never been this gentle, this
tender before, it was almost painful and she loved every minute of it.
As he moved down her body he began to leave hot open
mouthed kisses on just above her breast, the bare skin of his upper chest
rubbing against her nipples, the friction causing them to pebble and harden
beneath him. Her warm little body writhed and bucked beneath him trying to find
the release it so desperately needed. She tried to slide her fingers into his
hair only to be stopped and pinned with an icy gaze. With one look she knew that
if she moved again, she probably be left wanting so with a resigned yet
frustrated sigh she flopped back down onto the bed giving herself over to the
pleasures Spike’s lips and tongue had to offer.
She gasped as she felt icy lips wrap around her nipple
and began to suckle. Nipping softly at the hardened nub his fingers wandered
over to the neglected breast to tug and pinch the hardened nub he found there.
His lover continued to pant and squirm beneath him as he buried his face within
the softness of her breast; licking the skin he found there he continued to
slowly descend down her body.
He began to press cool kisses to her inner thighs, all
the while moving closer to her swollen center. Hesitating at first his tongue
darted out to give a soft lick her clit. At this Buffy’s hips surged off the bed
only to be pushed back down by her mate’s powerful hands and to be sure it
didn’t happen again a firm but gentle hand was placed on one of her hips and a
hoarse whisper of don’t move was said his unneeded breath caressing the
wet flesh before him.
As his cool tongue continued to explore her warm center
Buffy couldn’t help but rock her hips slightly all because of the tiny shivers
of pleasure running up and down her spine. Pulling away he glided up her body as
she pulled him in for a bruising kiss tasting her juices on his lips and tongue
as she explored his mouth. Feeling the head of his erection brush up against her
she surged her hips forward welcoming him into her body.
Spike needed no further invitation and immediately slid
al the way into the hilt. A low growl vibrated throughout the room as the
vampire felt his mate’s walls ripple and clench around him as he filled her.
Wrapping her legs around his lean waist she tried to pull him in even deeper
than he already was; Spike gritted his teeth as he tried to gain some semblance
of control or it would all be over before he started. Once he was sure he was
okay he proceeded to slide in and out of her welcoming heat eventually his pace
became more frenzied as she push back up against him. Buffy’s legs dropped from
around him as she dug her heels into the bed drying to keep up with the force of
his thrust. As he felt her first orgasm take her he pushed her
legs up opening her up even wider for his advances and began to move even
faster.
Buffy was lost the sensations he was creating
throughout her body were intoxicating and mind numbing she could barely keep
pace with him as she thrashed and writhed beneath him. He knew he was close and
he knew she was too, as he felt her walls flutter his human guise melted away
revealing the demon he was.
“Who do you belong to?” he asked harshly as he
continued to pound into her
Startled slightly by the question and still having
trouble thinking at all she didn’t answer him right away which didn’t seem to
sit well with him at all.
“Who do you belong to Slayer?” he asked again
Finally realizing what he asked of her, her answer was
instantaneous.
“Yours, only yours” she said
breathily
With that he lunged forward and bit into her lush
breast and began to drink deeply. The scream that filled the room was somewhat
of a cross between pleasure and pain, though neither of them was really sure nor
did they care. After a few more thrust with a deep growl he emptied his seed
within her warm body, that sensation alone causing his mate to come again with
him.
His body sated he collapsed on top of her, still buried
deep inside of her. His head lay on the soft mounds of her breast as he
leisurely licked at the twin puncture wounds he created there. A soft purr
formed in his chest at the feel of her soft fingers running slowly through his
hair as her hot blood ran through his body. Sighing softly he let the blanket of
sleep take him his manhood still buried within her heat and his lips on her
breast. Buffy looked down at her met under hooded eyes and couldn’t help but
smile softly at the sight she saw and not too long after she too let the blanket
of sleep taker her, still wrapped in her mate’s arms.
*--------------------*
The sun was already high in the sky as the two blondes
sat at the island in the kitchen both sipping on mugs of hot chocolate. Buffy
couldn’t help but smile as she watched her mate pout when he was unable to find
any of the mini marshmallows he liked so much.
After they had woken up again they made love two more
times before deciding it was time to get up and greet the day as it were. After
a shower which took much longer than expected since Spike figured showering
together would save water… it didn’t. They wandered the two floors and found
that neither Ciro nor Raz had returned that night. At first Spike was worried
but then Buffy informed him of Raz’s disappearing acts and that Ciro was more
than likely the same way.
So they decided to figure out what they were going to
do next. Buffy hadn’t really had a chance to really see
As they were making plans to go to
“Oh my god, what the…”
A bruised and cut up Ciro dragged in a blood soaked Raz
into the foyer with the help of an equally cut up Oz. All three looked as
thought they’d been in a knocked down drag out fight and from the looks of
things the other guy won.
“We have a problem…” Oz said
“Well what is it?” Spike asked because it was obvious
from the look on Buffy’s face she was still in too much of a shock from seeing
Oz again and the damage done to a friend of hers he took charge.
“Drusilla”
CONTINUED...