Summary: After Joyce dies, Buffy runs away,
reappearing in LA complicating things between herself
and Angel.
Rating:PG-13.
Couple: B/A
Spoilers: S5 Btvs, Ats S2 Everything up to “The Body”
and “Reprise”
Disclaimer: I don’t own any of the btvs or ats
characters.
Feedback: I’m begging!!!! Please!
Part 1
Human spirit tied in chains, when will it all end?
He walked in silently. As always. Even if he didn’t dare admit it, the place brought up inside him loneliness and longing. He missed his old team, Cordelia’s and Wesley’s constant fighting, that was obviously reduced to nothingness since his abandon of his employees. What he missed the most were the traces of humanity that used to linger in the old hotel… The empty coffee mugs, the magazines spread at the front desk, clothes laying on chairs, notepads with actual notes, open books, weapons still baring the mark of fresh kill, the laughter, the talking… He had been a great fool to denial himself what he craved more. Humanity. And now he paid for his own selfishness and tried to earn his place among them once again. It was going to be a long fight against his own actions that would always come up in discussions in the future. For now he was pleased with himself. Saving their lives won’t bring them back to him, but he felt in that night, the first one he had spent beside them after so long, the old team spirit growing back.
The sky was clouded, and rain was threatening to drown the dirty streets of Los Angeles, putting a stop, for the moment, to the demon and human night community. The late afternoon had turned to darkness. It was going to be a silent night. At least he hoped so.
He dropped his coat on an empty chair, more to fill the emptiness and non-personality of the place itself then to get rid of it. He was about to go into his bedroom when he noticed the answering machine’s light on. He had messages. That was something new to him. He looked towards the bedroom undetermined for a moment then he turned on his heels and pressed the button of the answering machine. There was a loud screech as the beep went on.
“You have two new messages,” the answering machine said. “First message.”
Angel paced a bit unpatient.
“Where is she, you son of a bitch?!” Lindsey’s voice shouted into the phone. Then calmer: “Look, they put a price on her head, and they don’t exactly want her alive. I want to save her, Angel. Just give me a chance to.”
“Second message,” the robot announced.
“Hi, Angel, it’s Willow. Sorry to call out of the blue, but Buffy’s missing. She’s been gone for two days now and we’re getting real worried. Uhm....Her mom died so she probably just ran off somewhere. If she’s there, could you have her call me? Thanks...” Willow finished, her voice betraying her recent crying.
Angel stared at the phone for a long
moment. “Buffy?” she asked in a soft whimpering
voice.
“It’s Angel,” he understood her grief,
torment and frustration all too well. He had felt the
same about Doyle and had pitied greatly Cordelia. Poor
Doyle. He seemed ages away now and those events...
still buried in his soul and as fresh in his mind as
it had been yesterday, but yet it all seemed an
eternity of lifetimes away.
“Oh,” she was disappointed, she hadn’t slept
at all in the last three days since Joyce’s death and
her friend’s disappearance had placed a great burden
on her shoulders, feeling she was, besides Giles, the
only support her tormented friends and especially Dawn
had. “Is she there?” hope rose in her voice.
“No...I don’t know. I haven’t seen her around,
but I’m going to look for her. If she’s here, I’ll
find her, I promise you,” he said. “Are you okay?” he
asked after a pause.
“We have to find her. I really can’t handle
Dawn. She... needs her sister,” Willow decided at the
last moment to not tell him the truth, it would’ve
taken too long, time he could use to look for Buffy.
“Willow, Joyce... was she killed by a demon?”
Angel asked hoping he had thought wrong.
“No,” Willow said after a moment. “God no!
That would’ve been worse... She...she had a brain
tumor, it was taken out, but it came back... a
stroke,” she finished taking a big breath of air.
“Find her... please.”
“I’ll try,” he put down the phone. At least
she wasn’t after anyone, but still a depressed slayer
on the loose is any demon’s dream. He grabbed his
jacket and headed for the door. The clouds still
promised rain. He didn’t care.
*****
Faith paced around in her cell. For some
reason this night, she wasn’t tired. It had to be the
weather. She loved it before it rained, when there
were just thunders and the afternoon turned to night.
She always had a peaceful feeling, the silence before
the storm. She smiled and closed her eyes breathing
the air coming from the door wide open to the visiting
rooms. She wondered how it would
feel to be free again. But she never went beyond
thoughts, even if it wouldn’t have taken a genius to
get out of there, just strength, which she had. She
was determined to pay for taking a man’s life.
Sometimes she wished she had a few conjugal
visits too. Her hormones were, as always, wild. She
could’ve had an affair with one of the guards anytime.
She saw the way they looked at her and peaked when she
was in the showers, but they wouldn’t dare touch her
without her will, because even if it would’ve cost her
a week in solitary she’d still beat the shit out of
them, to teach them a lesson.
The only one who visited her was Angel. Her
savior. If it wouldn’t have been for him she’d be
somewhere two feet under, or lying at the bottom of
some lake. She was always happy to see him. He talked
to her like she was a human being, not an animal.
Lately though he hadn’t come anymore. She always
waited for him on Saturdays, but he never came. “Faith. Got a visit,” the guard told her.
“Hey, you awake?” he poked her trough the bars. She
opened her eyes. “So where is he?” she asked the guard when he
pointed towards an empty chair near the glass
separating the prisoners from the visitors.
“Never mentioned a he,” the guard told her
pointing towards a small blond on the other side of
the glass looking around the room curiously. Faith sat
down in her chair and picked up the phone, so did she.
“Hi, B,” Faith said. “What brings you to the
big bads behind the iron gates?” she only now noticed
the state Buffy was in. Her make up long ago cried
out, her face red, her eyes puffy.
“Hi, Faith,” she whispered in the phone.
“Who died?” she asked in a half serious half
joke way. “Did...” she was about to say Angel when she
cut her off.
“My mom...” Buffy said in a small whimper,
her tears building up again.
“Sorry, B,” she was saddened by Joyce’s
death. She had been the only person who had truly
believed in her in the beginning, when Buffy had been
skeptical about her behavior. “Why here?”
“Uhm... Angel... His office is ashes,” Buffy
said trying to hold back her sobs.
“Yeah. Big boom last year,” Faith said.
“Do you know where I can find him? I mean...
he was around here right?” Buffy asked not sure what
she was doing.
“Yeah,” Faith said. Then she added after a
long moment of silence: “Hyperion Hotel. Look it up.”
“Thanks,” Buffy said before she got up. Faith
stayed in her chair watching the blond disappear out
the door. She was thinking about something when she
felt the guard’s hand on her shoulder.
“Time to go,” Faith stared at his hand. He
immediately removed it. He knew all too well what
happened to the last guy who touched her in any way,
he couldn’t ride anything anymore. Faith got up and
walked down the corridor followed by the guard. She
stopped in front of the office and after a moment of
thinking everything over, she turned around and hit
the guard unconscious. She entered the office,
shutting the door behind her. She took a chair and
placed it under the doorknob, holding it close for the
moment. The frightened woman stared at her before
trying to press the alarm. Faith grabbed her by the
wrist and spun her around knocking her on the floor.
The woman lay on the floor, unconscious. Faith picked
up the phone and dialed Angel’s number. He had left it
in case of an emergency. She knew it inside out.
“This is Angel. I’m not here at the moment.
Leave a message after the beep,” the answering machine
said.
“Shit,” Faith let out looking at the door, the
chair trembling under the pressure of the guards.
“Angel, it’s Faith. B was around looking for you.
She’s a real mess. Her mom died...” she pushed the
chair back under the doorknob with her foot. The
guards were at the door pushing hard.
“Faith! Open this door!” she heard the voice
of the guard.
“She’s comin’ your way,” she finished and put
the phone down.
“Okay, show time,” she whispered. The door flew open
and the guards came in.
“Now, Faith be a good girl and go back to your
cell,” one of the guards said, his anger showing.
“And do solitary without doing somethin’ real
bad like beat the hell out of you guys? I don’t think
so,” she took a fighting position. “Bring it on!”
The guards attacked all at the same time.
* * *
Angel stepped into the office. It was dark and
un-welcoming.
The rain hadn’t started yet even if he was out for a
few hours. The front door was open. Perhaps, he had
let it open on his way out. He had hurried in his
search for the slayer, coming back, unfortunately,
empty handed. Maybe she didn’t come to Los Angeles for
shelter as he and her friends had hoped. She didn’t
come, as his selfish pride had hoped, to find comfort
in his arms. The only light in the room was the red
light of the answering machine. Willow must’ve called
again to check if he had found her. He pressed the
button while taking off his jacket.
“You have one new message,” the robot said.
“Shit,” a low swearing and thumping noises. “Angel,
it’s Faith. B was around looking for you. She’s a real
mess. Her mom died...” another pause, more thumping
noises. “She’s comin’ your way,” then the phone closed
after more thumping noises were heard in the
background. She had come to him after all. Then the
thought that Faith couldn’t make phone calls came to
his mind. She had risked penitence just to tell him…
And he had been such an asswhole. He didn’t even go to
visit her in jail since Darla’s appearance. He had to
make it right. He was going to go to see her with the
first occasion he got. As for Buffy, now it was just a
question of time until she’d knock on his door.
He dropped the jacket on a chair and headed
for his bedroom. He felt oddly tired this night, like
all his years had suddenly shown their ugly head. He
needed to rest. He entered the bedroom. It was dark.
Nothing shone on the bed sheets. He took off his shirt
slowly dropping it on a chair, then his shoes and
pants and eventually his underwear. He felt
comfortable sleeping naked. It was something that
reminded him of the old days and the past... He pulled
away the bed sheets and a small gasp escaped his
throat. The small slayer was crouched on the right
side of his bed, holding, a few moments ago the sheets
close to her body. Her clothes were messy, maybe from
the sleep, her face, even in the darkness he could see
it was stained with tears and dry make up, her hair
fuzzy. She looked so helpless, small and fragile.
He put the sheet around himself to hide his
nudity and sat down next to her. He wanted to wake
her. On his way to her shoulder, his hand delayed on
her cheek, gently caressing it. The poor thing. He
pulled away his hand like it had been burnt when he
felt the warm wetness that began to flow down her
cheeks, she was crying in her sleep. Gently soft sobs
began accompanying the tears. With an involuntary,
instinctual movement he took her in his arms holding
her close to his chest, squeezing her hard. He could
feel her tears wet his naked chest.
“Oh, god... shhh...It’s okay, I’m here,
I’m here,” he began whispering in her ear. She
suddenly opened her eyes and pulled away with a
violent yank from his arms. She tried to ignore the
fact that her tears were still falling down her face.
“Hi...uhm...sorry..I.I...” she stopped her
ranting and looked down trying to gather herself. He
looked at her and he felt a bit guilty of her state,
maybe if he would’ve stayed in Sunnydale he would have
prevented... No, what happened wasn’t because of any
demon, it was meant to be. “I’m sorry,” she said
sighing. “I shouldn’t have bothered you. You have your
own life. I have no right to come in and...and ask
anything of you,” she didn’t look up, she stared at
the bed sheets, as her own tears stained it. His hand
rested on her cheek, pulling her head up, so they were
eye to eye. The despair he read there scared him.
“Hold me,” she whispered, she knew he would hear her.
His strong arms pulled her over the bed sheets that
covered him. She was like a child so helpless in his
arms. He held her close, his arms around her. She was
sitting between his legs, on the sheets. He rubbed her
arms while he whispered comforting words in her ears.
“It’ll be okay. I promise,” he whispered
as his hands stretched along hers, his fingers
entangling with hers. “Don’t cry,” he wiped her tears
away with their entangled hands. “Shh...”
She finally felt safe. After all the
horror she went trough trying to find a place where
she felt secure and locked away from the world, the
pitiful looks, the image of her mother’s dead body,
her own hollow despair...she had found the one place
where she could forget, in his arms. But the death of
her mother wouldn’t go away, it was like a stone
pocking at her brain, it never let her sleep. But now,
at least the world couldn’t touch her here. Though now
there was a great distance between them, an emptiness
she and he felt, they’d always have their soul bound
and that they’d never lose, and deep inside they’d
always have their love.
She laid her head on his shoulder and
closed her eyes trying to make the nightmares go away.
She sighed in relief letting his fingers nurture her
skin in an attempt to heal and protect her. It felt so
good just standing there in the dark, while the
lighting and thunder stroke outside, just touching. It
was a sort of language that was there long before man
or beast roamed the earth. His fingers barely touched
her skin now in the small path he had formed on her
arms and naked shoulders, where only the thin straps
held her top up. She had taken her jacket off and put
it down on a chair in the room when she had come.
His hands rested on her shoulder blades
gently rubbing, his eyes wondering down her body. He
pressed his thumbs on her spine, while his large palms
still massaged her shoulders. His eyes now stared at
her back. His head leaned forward, his lips an inch
away from her skin. He couldn’t resist the temptation
and he pressed his lips to the base of her neck. She
didn’t even feel the light touch.
While her head fell in front, her hair separating in
half leaving her neck uncovered. His hands moved up to
her neck, his legs never separating from her back. His
thumbs began lowering fast stopping at the middle of
her spine pressing harder. Her back arched into him, a
loud gasp escaping her throat, while her head flew
back resting on his shoulder. The pressure from her
body released and she softened back into his arms, his
hands encircling her waist, after a moment, going back
to the path he had formed on her arms and shoulders
earlier.
“What did you do?” she whispered snuggling
in his arms.
“Pressure point. Chinese secret,” he
whispered, his hands still caressing her skin. His
fingers accidentally brought down her straps. Her eyes
opened when she felt the material slip down from her
shoulders. She turned her head around, her eyes
locking with his, their lips almost meeting. She
wetted her lips, her forehead leaning on his.
A crashing sound broke the silence and
the tension between them.
“We should...see what happened...” Angel
whispered,
though their foreheads were still touching.
“Yeah,” she whispered back. Neither of
them moved. There
was another thumping noise. Angel pulled away holding
the sheets next to him. “Are you naked?” she asked for
the first time after a long time amused.
“Yeah,” he said while he pulled on his
pants. “I like to sleep...”
“Naked” Buffy repeated standing up too.
Angel took a stake from under his pillow.
“Here. Just in case,” he handed her the
stake.
“Keep it handy?” she asked as she pulled
up her straps.
“Yeah, since...” he wanted to say since
Darla came back, but decided it wasn’t the time. “I
came to LA. You never know.”
They both entered the office. A large
demon was looking trough the books, looking for
something precise. He turned when they entered,
alarmed. He grabbed a book and ran out trough the
already broken window.
“What a coward,” Buffy mumbled.
“Yeah,” Angel said noticing the red light
of the answering machine beeping again.
“Let’s go kill it,” she said looking out
the window.
“I don’t think you need...” Angel
started, but she cut him off, putting two fingers on
his lips, coming close to him.
“This is exactly what I need,” she
whispered taking away her fingers.
Part 2
Strip yourself of sins that lay in your
mind, alone...
She walked trough the rain, holding the coat
close to her skin. Why did she pick this particular
moment to go out for donuts? Ah, yes, Wesley was in a
wheelchair and Gunn went to check out that demon nest
on his own, since Angel was nowhere to be found.
Again. She held the box close to her chest. Suddenly
she saw the two familiar figures walking in the rain
in the same direction with her. It was Angel and
Buffy. < Buffy? What’s she doing around here? > she
asked herself as the two figures disappeared in a back
alley in pursuit of a shadow. < I hope he’s not getting
any > she thought as she looked in the dark alley to
find it empty. < Demon hunting. What a hobby> she
thought as she began walking towards the office again.
She swung open the door and entered. She
put down the donut box on the table.
“Here,” Wesley wheeled in, a towel
resting on his knees.
“Thanks,” Cordy took off her coat and
begin un-soaking her hair with the towel. “Guess who I
saw?”
“Gunn?” Wesley suggested. “Cause...”
“Gunn’s here,” Gunn came in as wet as
Cordelia. “Nest not there.”
“Well we saved the girl,” Cordy comforted
them. “I saw Angel. And I know why he’s not around.”
“Having another one of ‘em epiphanies?”
Gunn suggested. “Uh, donuts,” he opened the box and
took out one.
“No,” Cordy said, then added after a
pause. “Cause he’s with Buffy. And they’re out killing
demons.”
“Buffy?” Gunn asked amused by the name.
“Like Gunn’s any better,” Cordy told him.
“At least it’s not Buffy,” Gunn repeated
the name still amused.
“What would she be doing here?” Wesley
asked.
“Some big bad, probably,” Cordy said.
“Let’s just hope they don’t get too much into the good
ol’ days spirit.”
“Why?” Gunn asked.
“Remember the slayer who took away the
soul condition by sex?” Cordy asked.
“Oh, god, she’s... Man, I hope he doesn’t
do anything as stupid as...” Gunn said, realization
striking.
“No, he…wouldn’t...do...that,” Cordy said
doubting her own words.
“Let’s hope so. I mean he does know the
limitations of his curse.” Wesley said. There was a
long silence.
“Anyone here think he’s gonna’ do
somethin’ when they come back all socked up from the
rain? In that big, *empty* hotel?” Gunn asked looking
at them. Another long silence.
“Oh, god, this is so her 17th birthday
replay!” Cordy said.
“I really don’t want to know what that
means,” Gunn said taking a big bite from his donut.
“First we find out why she’s actually
here,” Cordy said picking up the phone.
“Who ya’ callin’?” Gunn asked.
“Sunnydale,” Cordy said. “Okay it’s
ringing. Willow! Hi, it’s Cordy. I was just
wondering... Are you okay?” she asked hearing the
sobbing at the other end of the phone.
“Who’s Willow?” Gunn whispered to Wesley.
“Buffy’s best friend,” Wesley said rolling
over to the donut box and picking up one.
“Yeah, I’m...I’m fine. What do you want,
Cordelia?” Willow asked.
“Uhm...I was just wondering what Buffy’s
doing in LA,” Cordy said picking up a donut slapping
away Gunn’s hand from it.
“Hey!” Gunn said pulling his hand away.
“Oh god!” Willow’s voice sounded relieved.
“They found her” she told the others standing in the
room with her. “Thank god! I thought we lost her for
good this time.”
“Boyfriend troubles again?” Cordelia asked
remembering the hellish months she had spent hunting
with the scoobies after Buffy’s first disappearance.
“No. Her mom died,” Willow said obviously
still very much relieved.
“I’m sorry,” Cordy said. She didn’t see
Joyce a lot, but she knew how it felt to lose a
parent.
“Can I talk to her?” Willow asked, while
Dawn came rushing to the phone almost taking it out of
her hand.
“She’s not here. She’s with Angel.
Hunting,” Cordy added shortly.
“Could you tell her to call when she comes
back?” Willow asked a bit angry.
“Sure. Bye,” Cordy put down the phone.
“It’s worse then we thought.”
“What?” Wesley asked biting from the
donut.
“She’s depressed. Her mother died,” Cordy
said feeling pity for the slayer. “Nasty,” Gunn just said.
“Poor thing,” Wesley said. Then to
Cordelia: “I’ll get the barrier spell, you get the
crosses.”
“Exactly what I was thinking,” Cordy
opened a drawer and took out a few crosses. “And
stakes!”
“Wow! We’re givin’ up? Just like that?”
Gunn asked.
“You haven’t met his better half yet. You
think he was bad when he was depressed? You haven’t
seen a thing!” Cordy said pinning up a cross.
“And you have? Wes?” Gunn looked at the
British man who was looking through the books.
“Not really. But books have pictures,”
Wesley said remembering a few detailed sketches of
Angelus’s handy work, some suspected to had been drawn
by Angelus himself. “In two words. Not pretty.”
“Well I have. And the fear issue came with
real bodies and torture,” Cordy said pinning up
another cross.
“And there’s no way he could skip over the
loosing his soul?” Gunn asked, the soul issue came up
rarely, but now that it surfaced he wanted to know
everything.
“There would be one thing. The gypsy
curse, but it’s much too complicated for us, besides
only Willow is suppose to have it. Translated,” Wesley
said opening a book. “Here it is,” he pointed towards
a section of the page.
“There’s really no chance of them actually
not having sex?” Gunn asked.
“Are we still talking about Buffy and
Angel?” Cordy asked looking at her work. Two crosses
now hanged on each side of the window. “There,” she
thought about everything for a moment then it suddenly
hit her. “Wesley, is the post office still opened?”
“It’s past mid-night. I doubt it,” Wesley
said analyzing the spell. “Why?”
“I was thinking. The Powers That Be owe me
one. I wasn’t exactly willing with the visions so...”
Cordy said.
“You think some omnipotent spirits care if
Angel loses his soul or not? You’ll be lucky if they
don’t turn you into a mouse,” Wesley said looking up
from the book. Cordy gave him a determined look.
“Fine. Try it.”
“Question number. 2: Can we break in a
post office?” Cordy asked.
“We don’t need to. I know the janitor,”
Gunn said. “An ol’ friend of mine.”
“Great!” Cordelia cheered. “Let’s go.
Wesley you stay.”
“Oh, yes. Leave poor invalid Wesley to be
the first one to get chopped. Not funny,” Wes
protested.
“We wouldn’t want you to roll off on us,”
Gunn said. “In the rain,” he added as he opened the
door.
“But…” Wesley started again.
“Good-bye, Wesley,” Cordy said after
placing a small kiss on his cheek.
“Take care of yourselves,” Wesley gave up
in the end watching them as they left.
* * *
“Maybe this was a bad idea,” Buffy said
while she was back to back with Angel, surrounded by
demons. “I see where you got the ax idea from,” she
looked at the sharp edges of the axes the demons
carried.
“10 to 2. I think we can take ‘em,” Angel
said watching every movement the demons made
carefully.
“I so agree,” Buffy could barely finish
her words, the demons attacking from all sides. Buffy
kicked the first one coming at her, taking away its
ax. The demon came back quickly grabbing hold of the
ax trying to pull it out of her hands, not minding to
take them with the weapon. She let him think she’d let
him take the weapon, then with a twist of her wrist
slashed the demon across the face, managing at the
same time to hit in the chest the one holding her from
behind, sending him a few steps back. The two demons,
angry, attacked running, but with one simple flip
Buffy wasn’t between them anymore, so the two banged
heads falling on the dirty floor.
Meanwhile Angel was attacked by the other
eight demons. One managed to cut a long wound across
his cheek, this making him particularly mad. In full
vamp mode he took on the one that had wounded him
taking off his head with a spin of the ax. Seeing
this, the demons attacked him, pulling from every
direction, like they wanted to break his body into
pieces. He couldn’t escape their iron grips, until
Buffy noticed and angrily hit one of the demons in the
back, splitting it open. Blood splashed on Buffy’s
blouse, but she didn’t stop, she kept hitting until
the demon fell down. Only then the rest if the demons
noticed, turning their attention from Angel to the
slayer. They attacked Buffy with great speed, leaving
Angel on the floor. He grabbed his ax and took off the
head the demon Buffy had slashed. It was the only way
to kill this breed of demons.
“Go for the head!” Angel yelled to Buffy.
“Sorta’ hard right now!” Buffy yelled back,
while trying a high kick one of the demons. Angel
tried to infiltrate the small circle formed around
her, but they were like a stone wall. Two demons
turned towards him, pushing him down on the floor.
The demon grabbed her leg and spun her
around, knocking her on the chest of another demon,
which instantly grabbed her by her hair, yanking her
back. “Don’t touch the hair,” she warned him, but he
didn’t listen. Her elbow connected with his stomach
and her ax connected with his neck. At the same time
another demon’s foot connected with her own stomach,
sending her crashing on the ground.
Angel got up with one jump. One demon had
returned to the circle. With several kicks and punches
he beat down the one demon left and when he was ready
to kill him, he heard Buffy’s muffled cries. Angel’s
ax broke the neck of the demon he had beaten up. As he
expected the demons turned towards him, two departing
from the circle and coming towards him. He slipt
between them, breaking the circle and helping Buffy
up. They were back to back again.
“Odds aren’t looking so hot anymore,” Buffy
said under her breath.
“I know what you mean,” Angel said while
the demons began circling them again.
* * *
Cordy and Gunn climbed down the stairs to
the underground of the post office.
“This is the kind of place the big players
hang?” Gunn asked. “They could’ve afforded something
classier.”
“This is just the gate, dummy,” Cordy
said.
“How does it look inside?” Gunn asked
while he climbed down the last step.
“I don’t know. But it has to be better
then this,” Cordy said. “I mean look at this place.
Eww. All dust and spiders,” she looked disgusted at
the ceiling and floor.
“Wow, what happened here?” Gunn asked
seeing the remains of the profanation.
“Well a bad ass warrior trashed the place
last year, killed the oracles,” Cordy said looking
around the destroyed place.
“Then what are we doing here?” Gunn asked
giving her an angry stare.
“Hoping they remodeled the interior and
got new oracles?” Cordy asked skeptical of her own
plan. Gunn rolled his eyes. “Hey, it’s better then
‘stake at first sight’.”
“Fine,” Gunn picked up the urn and put in
the herbs. “What are we suppose to say again?”
“We call the Powers to our help?” Cordy
asked.
“You don’t know?” Gunn asked sighing
exasperated.
“Hey! This was not explained to me word by
word. And when the one doing it dies, not a good thing
to bring him back with memories. Cause it hurts,”
Cordy said remembering Doyle after so long. In some
way she missed him.
“Okay,” Gunn said understanding her grief.
“Great Powers we call on thee,” he added and a fire
began to burn inside the urn.
“Thee?” Cordy asked.
“Don’t ask,” Gunn said watching the closed
doors of the oracles as they opened only a blinding
light showing. “Sure you wanna’ go in there? Stake at
sight sorta’ looks good right now.”
“Yeah,” Cordy said and jumped in the
light.
She landed on the floor on the other side.
She got up and looked around. There was no sign of
violence in the room. It was like Angel described it,
not of this world. A man and a woman appeared in front
of her, the woman in a long silvery gown and the man
in a toga.
“What do you want? You’re not a warrior,”
the man said crossing his hands over his chest.
“Okay, before we get to the zapping and
mouse turning, I’m not here for me...” Cordy started
but was interrupted by the female oracle.
“Did you bring a gift?” she asked her.
“Uh, gift?” Cordy remembered only now. She
took off her necklace. “I got it at Tiffany’s,” she
looked at it. “A year’s salary. He’s gonna’ pay it
back,” she promised herself.
The female oracle took the necklace when
Cordy threw it towards her.
“Pretty,” the female oracle said. “Now
what do you wish to know. You are here for a warrior.
We decided to give you a chance.”
“Great,” Cordy said in a mocking voice.
“Are they gonna’ have sex?”
“Yes,” the male oracle responded simply.
“Is he going to lose his soul?” Cordy
asked missing her necklace already.
“Of course,” the female oracle answered
this time.
“Is there a way they can... you know
without him losing his soul?” Cordy asked.
“Yes,” Cordy was relieved at the female
oracle’s words. “If he would love someone else.”
“Well isn’t that a big help,” Cordy said.
“Can’t you pull a few strings?”
“Why would we do that? For you?” the male
oracle asked.
“That’s it! I didn’t ask for all the damn
visions, okay? I was happy just being secretary girl!
I didn’t need to be vision girl! And one time I ask a
favor of the ‘Powers’ and I can’t have it?! Not like
I’m asking for the world, damn it! I just need him to
stay through one night of sex without going psycho
after!” Cordy snapped.
The oracles looked at each other for a
moment then back at Cordy. The female oracle came
towards Cordy and held out her two hands put together.
A candle appeared in her hands.
“Until this candle is burnt to
nothingness, they can exchange body fluids,” the male
oracle said.
“And when do I light it?” Cordy asked
taking the candle in her hand.
“It will light itself from the moment
they...start” the female oracle told her. “It lasts
approximately ten hours. A night.”
“I’m sure they’ll put it to good use,”
Cordy said. “Well thanks a bunch. You saved yourself a
warrior,” she went towards the light. In the
background she heard:
“And don’t come here anymore. Don’t
forget you are not a warrior,” the oracles said at the
same time.
* * *
Buffy and Angel ran like hell, with an
entire herd of demons after them. The headed for the
back alley of the karaoke bar, the demons behind them.
Angel began knocking on the door like crazy, while
Buffy looked worried behind them.
“Yeah, yeah, coming!” the voice of the
host was heard from inside. The demons caught up and
Buffy started to fight them off. Lorne opened the door
and Angel grabbed Buffy by the arm and pulled her in.
“What’s going...” the host shut the door quickly when
he saw the angry mob of demons ready to stampede in.
“Making new friends?” the host asked turning towards
the two.
“My best,” Angel said under his breath.
“Aren’t you just the epitome of
messiness,” the host said welcoming them in the empty
karaoke bar. Angel’s face was dirty with demon blood
and mud as Buffy’s, their clothes, now rags, dirty and
torn. “What made you join the demon gang? Yet another
ultimate plan?”
“Oh, no I’m done with those. They took
my book. Seemed they wanted to rise a few hell gods,”
Angel said taking the book from under his jacket.
“They should come to Sunnydale. We got
a few of them loose,” Buffy whispered for herself
while sitting down to catch her breath.
“And this would be?” the host looked at
Buffy.
“Buffy. The slayer,” the host smiled at
Buffy.
“Things slow in Sunnydale? Well you
came to the right place,” the host said turning to the
bar to fix some drinks. “Heard a few things about you.
Came around last year... Got chased by choppers,
right?” he turned towards her. “Are you of legal age?”
“No she’s not,” Angel said looking at
Buffy who was about to say yes.
“What is this anyway?” Buffy looked
around. Then realization: “Karaoke bar?”
“Yeah. He reads your mind when you
sing. Tells you what’s bothering you,” Angel said
accepting the glass the host handed him. He put a
glass of water in front of Buffy.
“Only non-alcoholic drink,” the host
apologized.
“You read thoughts?” Buffy asked and the
host nodded. “How can you do it? I’ve been trough that
and one thing I can say, not pleasant.”
“I can hear them only when the person
sings. And it’s not mind reading it’s seeing inside
the soul,” Lorne said. Then: “You look like you have a
lot on your heart. Feel like giving it a try?” he
pointed with his head towards the stage.
“Oh, I don’t think so. Singing, not my
thing,” Buffy said sure. “I think I’d need more then
just a glass of water for that.”
“Wasn’t his thing either, but he sang his
heart out. Figuratively speaking of course,” Lorne
said. Buffy looked at Angel surprised and after a
moment began laughing hard.
“You?” she couldn’t stop herself from
laughing. She barely managed to stop and ask: “What
did you sing?”
“Barry Manilow. Mandy,” Angel said taking
a sip of his drink.
“I’d love to see that. Hear that,” Buffy
almost burst into laughter again.
“Hey!” Angel said. After a pause: “I
think you should sing.”
“Me? Sing? What ‘I will survive’?” Buffy
asked mockingly.
“If you think it suits you,” the host
added. “Here” he passed her his drink. “Bloody Mary.
No blood.”
“I don’t think so,” Buffy pushed away the
glass. “There’s no way I’m singing. No way...”
* * *
“First when you left I was petrified...”
Buffy started singing, holding the microphone close to
her heart, while Angel and the host watched her. Angel
was amused to see her slightly drunk and singing. On
the table his glass stood empty next to her two.
“She’s got a lot on her heart. It’s a
miracle she hasn’t crashed yet,” the host said.
“She’s strong. Stronger then me,” Angel
said watching the slayer as she began another line.
“Wrong,” the host said. “You had the
strength to realize when things were going down hill.
Not recently, but back then. You sacrificed your love
twice, she couldn’t have done it once,” he added.
There was an awkward silence between the two.
“What’s eating her up?” Angel asked.
“Besides her mother’s death? Which is
totally natural?” the host asked and Angel nodded.
“Well she takes everything way too seriously. In her
job anyway. She could use the kind of epiphany you
had,” he added.
“What do you mean? She’s not breaking
down like I was,” Angel said as Buffy continued to
sing.
“Or she just takes her own persona too
seriously. She thinks everything she does is of lethal
importance to this world. That she’s some kind of
savior of humanity. She doesn’t realize it: if she
dies today or tomorrow, not important. The world
doesn’t go to hell just cause she bit the dust.
There’s always gonna’ be another one... and she’ll be
just a page in a book, if she gets that much.
That’s the shame with these slayer girls. They never
live to be thirty,” the host said watching the slayer.
“Oh, I will survive...” Buffy sang.
“She has to learn there’s no big picture
and every little thing she does counts,” the host
added in the end, while Buffy took a bow and stepped
off the stage.
“Hey, you were right, I do feel better,”
Buffy said cheerful.
“I think we can go. The demons left,”
Angel said standing up from the small table.
“Okay. It’s still raining?” Buffy asked
looking out a window.
“Seems so. Nice meeting you,” Lorne said
as Angel took Buffy’s hand and pulled her towards the
back door. “See you around.”
“Bye,” Buffy yelled before she was thrown
out back in the rain.
“Thanks,” Angel said before leaving.
“You’re welcome. Don’t do anything stupid
with her,” Lorne yelled after him, but Angel couldn’t
hear him anymore. “They never learn,” he grumbled
before taking away the empty glasses.
* * *
Buffy walked on the empty streets of Los
Angeles, looking up towards the clouded sky, while the
rain wetted her almost dry clothes. Angel walked
slowly behind her. She wasn’t cheerful anymore and
maybe she even cried. Any effect the alcohol had had
on her was gone with the realization that her mother
was truly dead, that it wasn’t all just a bad dream.
“Have you ever wondered how heaven looks
like?” she asked when they were right outside the
hotel, stopping and turning towards him. At the slow
rhythm they had walked he was soaked to the bone and
so was she.
“No,” he said coming closer to her. She
had been crying, as he feared, but where the rain
started and the tears began, he couldn’t tell. “I
don’t think I have a chance. Not anymore.”
She looked at him with those beautiful
green eyes. So sad, it crushed his soul. He came
closer to her, taking her in his arms, gently holding
her to his chest.
“But then I met you. And found my heaven.
I could’ve spent all eternity with you,” he whispered
in her ear. Her whole body leaned on his. If he had
let go, she would’ve fell. Their cheeks touched and
for an instant their lips met. Buffy pulled her head
away at that small contact with his lips and her eyes
searched his. The only thing he understood there was
the longing.
Her lips opened to his for a long, slow,
deep kiss, the perfection of their experience mixing
in one ultimate renewal of old memories. A kiss.
Part 3
Be naked once more, be just another naked
soul
Floating in an eternity of bliss...
Their kiss turned in a furious battle over
supremacy, a tempest of passion, in the middle of the
empty street, while the rain still banned any living
or dead creature into drier places. With a short move
of his hands, he pulled her up, so she was now above
him in height, while his hands were securely closed
behind, under her ass. She enjoyed being taller then
him for once. Her hands entangled in his hair. Their
kisses craved a fast and furious domination.
Slowly losing his balance, under the weary
gaze of lust, he began taking small steps towards the
hotel door. Buffy encircled his waist with her legs,
not for an instant losing contact with his lips and
tongue. She feared that if she let go, she would’ve
been pushed away.
He finally reached the door and with great
difficulty managed to open it. They were both laughing
of their own efforts, when they entered the office,
their lips finally separating, but though she uncurled
his waist, she didn’t leave his arms. Buffy shivered
slightly at the change of atmosphere. Angel instantly
rubbed her body with his hands, bringing her closer in
his own arms.
She smiled. His fingers traced her neckline, moving up
to her cheek. His thumb rested on her lips for a
moment, tracing their perfection, before kissing them
again.
They began moving again, as close as they
were, towards his bedroom. This door opened easily.
Her hands held the material of his duster hard. She
wanted to just rip all of his clothes off. She didn’t
care about consequences. As long as it concerned her.
She had lost enough, and maybe she had nothing left to
lose. Their lips separated, their foreheads leaning on
each other, their eyes still closed. Suddenly Angel
pulled away, leaving her to almost fall on the floor.
She looked at him with an excruciating sadness and
despair. Angel just looked at her from the few steps
he had taken away from her. The vulnerability he saw
in her shocked him. He had never seen her this
destroyed about anything. He wondered if that was the
way she looked after he changed.
“Am I that repulsing? That unattractive?”
she asked while tears made their way into her eyes
again.
“God, no!” he disconnected from his thoughts
and looked up again from the place of the floor he had
been staring at. She was like a marble statue. “I
always wanted you more then anything in this world!”
he said though he knew in a way he lied. Once he had a
chance to have her, but he picked the world and her
life instead.
“Then what?” she asked all of a sudden
looking him deep in the eyes. He just gave her a look
of bitterness that reminded her about his soul
condition and what exactly they were doing.
“What about Riley?” he asked looking up
again. He wanted her to get past her lust and
reminding her of the people she betrayed by even
trying to do what they were about to do. That was
enough to usually send her back on thinking
rationally. He, on the other hand, had a long night
ahead with no sleep, thinking of all of the things
they could’ve done.
“Riley left, Angel. Just like you! Except
that he’s in some jungle he can’t even give a call
from. At least he has an excuse. And he can’t just
waltz in my life any time he wants and butcher up my
insides and then just leave again. But he can’t take
the pain away either,” she said her final words as a
whisper.
A violent emotion passed and went trough
him. Riley was supposed to take care of her and love
her as she deserved, not leave her feeling miserable
and lonely. For a moment he couldn’t help asking
himself: if Riley wouldn’t have left would she still
be standing, this night, in front of him?
Tears started falling down her face on the
path they had, for the last days, formed on her
beautiful face. He came closer to her, desperately
wanting to take her in his arms. He stopped a foot
away from her. She wiped away her own tears with the
dirty sleeve of the shirt she took instead of her top
when they went hunting. There was a long silence as
they looked each other in the eye, then her small
hands began unbuttoning her shirt down to her breasts.
She took his right hand in hers and placed it, under
her shirt, on her left breast. Angel closed his eyes,
hating the way she made him want her, that she was so
prepared to have him.
His hand began moving slowly, sensually
caressing her breast, taking her nipple between his
fingers and gently massaging it. Buffy’s eyes closed,
a moan escaping her lips. He took the final step
towards her, their lips not meeting yet, just teasing
their surface, while his other hand unbuttoned the
rest of her shirt. When he was done, his right hand
left the warm nest from under her shirt and rose up to
her shoulders, pushing away the material, leaving the
shirt to fall to the floor. Only then he kissed her.
His hands caressed her back, coming to a halt to her
bra, which he quickly opened. He took a step back, to
take the straps off her shoulders and to let them
slide off her arms and fall down to the floor again.
He looked at the ravishing and tempting image she
made. That moment he knew he was going to go all the
way, but he didn’t do one thing to stop himself.
He took her in his arms again and kissed
her, his hands moving freely on her naked back. She
shivered at the contact with his wet clothes, but the
warmth that came from inside herself had beaten the
cold. He kneed in front of her and kissed her
bellybutton sweetly and smiled. He rose one of her
feet and took off her shoe, kissing every toe. Then he
did the same with the other foot. He pulled her pants
down and she kicked them away when they hit the floor.
He placed another kiss on her belly, under her
bellybutton this time. Then he looked up. He met her
hungry gaze with his lips dry. His hands went to each
side of her hips, to the waistband of her underwear.
He put two fingers under each side of the waistband,
and still looking up at her, pulled them down.
*****
“Stop staring at it,” Cordy told Gunn, who
was sitting down on a chair and was watching the
candle she had put on the front desk.
“It’s been like what an hour, two? Nothing’s
happening. Maybe it’s broken,” Gunn said looking up
from the candle towards Cordelia.
“It’s not broken. They’re just not doing
anything...yet,” Cordy said putting back one of the
books they had recently used for research.
“Maybe we underestimated them,” Wesley
said while poring himself some coffee. The candle
suddenly lit.
“You were saying?” Cordy gave Wesley an
ironic look. “I’ve spent way more time then you with
them still together. They’re just sex waiting to
happen. Take my word for it, if it weren’t for that
curse they’d still be in Sunnydale, getting hot and
heavy and we’d be in some ranty unemployment office.
And maybe the whole world would be in hell,” she
added.
“Guess we should thank the gypsies,” Gunn
said getting up. “Well I’m gonna’ go catch some zs.
Call me if the candle thing doesn’t work.”
“I doubt will be alive to call anyone if
it doesn’t work,” Wesley said looking at the small
light of the candle. Gunn left, pulling his jacket
over his head trying to protect himself from the rain.
“It better work, or I’m getting my
necklace back!” Cordy said.
“They don’t exactly come with money back
guarantee,” Wesley said wheeling over closer to her.
“You should sleep a little. I’ll keep watch.”
“Thanks,” Cordy gave him a small smile. “I
just hate leaving you all by yourself. You did the
spell, right?”
“Yeah, just in case,” Wesley said. “You
really wanted to save him. Why? After everything?”
“He saved my life and yours. I want us to
have a fresh start. No one owning anyone anything,”
she said.
“What if he goes back with her?” he asked
looking at the lit candle.
“He won’t. That’s how their love is. When
it’s all feel, it’s the best thing they can both get,
but when it comes to ration, you just can’t find a way
to make it work straight,” Cordy said. “That’s why
their love is so impossible. Too many boundaries that
need to be broken. Even if he would be human. When he
was last year he...”
“Last year?” Wesley asked shocked.
“The whole forgotten day thing. His blood
mixed with some demon’s and he became human and Buffy
just happened to be around. Big bang. But he was so
weak that Buffy could’ve died because of him. So he
asked the powers to take back the day. And here we are
now,” Cordy said.
“And why did I never know this?” Wesley
asked.
“Some things. Not good to drag out in the
light again,” Cordy said grabbing her purse. “Sure
you’ll be okay?”
“Yes! Go,” Wesley said and Cordy left
after saying a quick bye. “Hm...Forgotten day,” he
looked at the candle. “Love...” he shook his head and
wheeled back to his bookshelves.
* * *
Darla entered the office silently, making
sure she wasn’t heard. This night was one of the
darkest one she had spent and her new lair wasn’t
exactly flattering and had almost no light. She had
come here in hope that her child had made a mistake a
few nights ago and he couldn’t sleep anymore as she
couldn’t. The thought that she couldn’t take away his
soul infuriated her more then she’d liked. The streets
weren’t safe for her anymore, she kissed any power she
had good-bye. She was hunted by demons wanting a
reward.
She was wet from head to toe, when she
began walking nervously towards his bedroom. Then she
heard it, the giggling, the female giggling. The door
to his room was cracked open. Trough it, Darla could
see the bed in which she hoped he laid alone, but
instead saw the image of the blond slayer above Angel,
the sheets barely covering their nudity, while their
clothes were scattered on the floor, his torn shirt,
her bra, underwear, everything. Darla barely held back
a scream. Buffy broke the kiss and looked into his
eyes, smiling. She looked heavenly, her beautiful
golden hair flipped around her neck on her left
shoulder, leaving her right side naked, and that glow
she had, it had been an eternity since he had last
seen it.
“Have I told you how much I love you?” he
said smiling back.
“Was that the time you growled it or the
time the walls trembled when you shout it?” she asked
innocently. Angel smiled. “Ever told you how much *I*
love you?”
“The time you screamed it so loud I
couldn’t hear anything else? Or the time you kept
saying it over and over and over...” his mind already
flew back to that particular moment, when she laid
quivering beneath him, her hands in his hair, when he
was buried deep inside her, while he drank from her
beautiful neck. He hardened again.
“Angel...” she gave him an amusing smile,
feeling him hard under her again. He put his hands on
her hips and rolled her over, so he was on top now.
Buffy let out a small gasp at the fast move, then
laughed, spread her legs for him, while her hands
played in his now dry hair. “Are you trying to tire me
out?” he just gave her a devilish smile. “It’s not
gonna’ work you know.”
“I was counting on that,” he didn’t lose
the smile while he traced her neckline with his lips and
tongue. “You taste so good...” he thought for a
moment. “Like powdered sugar.”
Darla felt like marching in the room and
staking him that very moment. Why didn’t he feel her?
It didn’t take him a minute to usually know she was in
the same room with him. She couldn’t stand the sight
of the two making love, because they were, even if she
hated to admit it, making love. At least she was going
to have her Angelus back in the morning and if not…
She was going to be sure his not losing his soul
wasn’t her problem. Defeated she climbed down in the
sewers and crouched down next to a wall. If Angel
would turn and kill his precious slayer, she was going
to by his side, watching.
* * *
“Are you going to turn?” Buffy asked him
as she lay on his chest, her ear pressed to his
un-beating heart.
“I don’t know,” he was sincere, but he
didn’t remember how it felt to change, he hadn’t felt
it for a long time. She looked up. “I really don’t,”
he caressed her hair and pressed a gentle kiss on it.
“I’d really hate to go trough everything
again,” Buffy said sitting up on her elbows. Deep
inside she wondered if she had done what she did to
kill herself or to feel his love again. But thinking
back at the events of the night and their hours long
love making, the hurricane of emotions and the things
she felt in so many ways, in so many positions... she
picked a third option, the need to forget everything
bad in the perfection of sexuality. And there was only
one place she could feel perfection, one place she
felt whole, perfect, in his arms, in his cold embrace.
She felt his hands move up her front, gently rubbing
her breasts. “Angel...” she wanted to protest, but her
eyes closed in pleasure, and though she was suppose to
be tired, her core moistened.
“If I actually change, I think we should
do the best with our time,” Angel said bringing her
face down for a kiss.
“Mmmm... I agree,” she said her hands
already playing on his naked chest. “I think I could
take... a little more.”
“Just a little?” he asked tempting her.
She just smiled at him.
* * *
The night turned to day. A weary sun
shone, beginning to dry the wetness the previous night
had brought to the City of Angels. Wesley lay with his
head in a book, sleeping on the front desk, his hands,
numb, stood on each side of the book. Next to him a
watch marked the hour, 10.05 a.m. The candle stood
beside the watch, still lit. It was burned past the
middle, wax lying around it.
A small wind entered the office blowing an
opening in the front door, passing over an opened
book, turning a few pages, then passing over the
candle. The fire disappeared, being replaced by smoke.
Part 4
Foolish mortal spirit still tied in iron
chains.
Darla woke up when she felt the sun burning
her skin trough a man whole. She walked away from the
light back to the hotel. Her great plan wasn’t looking
so good anymore. The power, she couldn’t have, and
Angel, unless he changed wouldn’t have her again as
long as she was a vampire. Suddenly she wanted to have
Angelus back, to protect her and always be there for
her, to hunt together, to laugh and torture together.
“God” she whispered leaning on the sewer
wall. Someone had to help her... someone besides
Lindsey. But as it looked he was her only hope, unless
Angelus...
*****
Cordy entered the hotel holding in her
purse a stake and under her sleeve, a cross. She
wasn’t about to take any chances. She was just going
to see if he was okay and if he wasn’t, she’d just
call the police for Buffy’s body and alert everyone in
Sunnydale about the danger. She just hoped it was the
first option.
She closed the door, intentionally with a
hard slam so he’d hear that she was there and stop
doing what ever they were doing, even sleeping.
She paced a few moments nervously, but all
her worries disappeared when she saw Angel, holding a
sheet around his waist with one hand, while he rubbed
his eyes with his other hand.
“Cordelia? You couldn’t have been less
noisy?” he asked sleepily.
“You didn’t turn!” Cordy was happy.
“What?” he asked not remembering anything
at the moment besides the warm arms of his lover.
“You didn’t change!” Cordy said and then
mimicked to his evil side. “No killing tendencies
here!”
“Right,” Angel said suddenly remembering
what she was talking about. “How did you know me and
Buffy were...”
“I saw you two on the street. When you went
hunting. I sorta’ put two and two together. You’re
lucky I did! If not your darling Buffy would be six
feet under by your own hands,” she added.
“What do you mean?” he was so confused by
everything she was saying.
“I asked the Powers to let you two go at it
for a night. I got ten hours in a magic candle,” Cordy
said. “Oh, and you owe me a necklace. From Tiffany’s.”
“You did that? For me?” he asked giving her
a warm smile.
“Don’t get all softy on me! I just did it
so... you wouldn’t kill us in real scary ways,” she
said. He hugged her.
“Thank you,” he whispered in her ear.
“You’re welcome,” she returned the hug then
pulled away. “May I suggest you and Buffy stop having
sex? The candle’s almost burnt down. It’s suppose to
be anyway...”
“Don’t worry. I doubt we could still stay
awake for anything,” he said, while she turned towards
the door. “See you around?”
“Yeah,” she gave him a small smile before
disappearing out the door. Angel went back to his
bedroom, where Buffy lay on her stomach in the middle
of the bed, sleeping. He sat down next to her, putting
his head on her naked back, while his hands encircled
her waist.
“Who...was that?” she asked sleepily,
snuggling into the pillow.
“Cordelia,” he said and tried to get back
to sleep. Then he sensed her, the smell that belonged
to his former sire. She was in the office. He thought
he had felt her that night, but he didn’t think it was
important back then, just a passing illusion. He stood
up again, a small pouting escaping Buffy’s lips.
“Shh... I’ll be right back,” he kissed her
naked shoulder then, still holding the sheet around
his waist he headed for the office. As he suspected
she was there, looking lost...
“Darla,” Angel let out half annoyed, half
exasperated sound.
“Angelus?” she asked full of hope.
“What are you doing here?” he asked in a
harsh tone.
“It wasn’t me, it was you!” she yelled
satisfied. “If you didn’t lose your soul with your
damn cheerleader! It was all your fault!”
“It’s magic, Darla. I would’ve lost my soul
last night, if it wasn’t for the magic,” he said
setting her straight for good. “Last night was the
happiest moment of my entire lifetime.”
“You’re cruel, you know that?” she said and
looked him in the eye.
“Not more then you,” he said giving her a
deadly look.
“Cordelia, go away,” Buffy came in the
room, her eyes still half closed, her hair fuzzy, a
sheet around herself. “Not Cordy,” she looked over at
Darla. She went next to Angel and leaned on him, her
head on his chest. He held her around her shoulders
with a hand. “Come back to bed,” she grumbled.
“You go ahead I have to see her out,” he
looked at Darla.
“Okay,” she said smiling. “Bye” she told
Darla then went back to the bedroom. The woman’s face
was so familiar to her, but right then, she was so
tired she couldn’t remember.
“I don’t want to ever see you again, do you
understand? And that’s a last warning,” Angel gave her
a cold stare. Darla looked at him disgusted then left
trough the sewers. He closed his eyes and sighed, then
followed Buffy’s footsteps in the bedroom.
* * *
She saw the blond woman in front of her.
She just couldn’t remember where she came from... Then
Angel appeared next to her and a revelation and shock
went trough her. Darla.
She stood up from her sleep and looked
around, Angel was gone. She was in his bed, alone. She
stood up holding the sheets around herself.
“Angel?” she began shouting. No one
answered. She stood up from the bed but as she tried
to walk, she stumbled and felt on the floor. She
opened her eyes and saw under the bed, the lace bra,
not hers. “Angel!” she screamed this time. She stood
up, with the bra in her hand, and with the sheets
around herself, went in the office. Cordelia was
standing there, making coffee.
“Finally awake,” Cordelia said cheerful.
“Here. Thought you could use this,” she handed her a
cup of coffee.
“Where’s Angel?” she asked taking the cup.
“I don’t know. Thought he was with you,”
Cordy said. “Good thing he didn’t change. Saw him this
morning.”
“I know. I remember the noise,” Buffy
said. Then after a pause she asked: “Yours?” she held
up the bra.
“Nope,” Cordy said after looking carefully
at it.
“Where is he?” she asked herself this
time.
* * *
The door of the solitary opened and closed
quickly, barely being noticed by Faith. She lay on the
floor, trying to nurture the wounds from her battle
against the guards.
“Hi,” Angel said looking at the state she
was in.
“Angel?” she asked weakly. “What... Who’d
you...”
“Vampires can be real quick,” Angel said
smiling and sitting down next to her.
“Never had a chance to find that out, did
I?” she said giving him one of her wicked smiles.
“Here I brought you donuts. Thought you’d
be hungry,” he handed her the box.
“You thought right. Bad thing about
solitary. All you get is bread and water,” Faith said
opening the box. “How’d things go with B?”
“Sparkling would be a way to describe it,”
he said hating the darkness of the place.
“You get use to it,” she noticed his
obvious hatred of the surroundings. “Glad things
worked out good. And you’re still your soulish self.”
“Yeah. Thanks to Cordelia. She went to the
oracles. Got a magic candle,” he said.
“No kiddin’?” she asked while finishing
off the first donut. “Thanks for coming. I...missed
you,” she was trying to express her feelings.
“Missed you too,” he said, meaning it.
“I think things are coming around,” Faith
said leaning back down on the wall and looking at him.
“Are they?” he asked.
“Yeah… I’m getting that feeling…this really
weird gooey feeling after you’ve done something right
for once,” she looked at him and then sighed. “I guess
you have no idea I’m talking about.”
“I think I do. Sometimes something you
thought to be the worst thing…turns out to be the
best,” he said.
“You’re happy, aren’t you?” she asked after
a moment.
“Totally,” he smiled.
“See? This is what gives me those
feelings…Somehow I actually helped you be happy. It’s
not my happiness, but something close though,” she
said looking at the ceiling. “Maybe one day I’ll
actually wind up being happy too.”
“One day,” he said looking up too. “How
about now? How do you feel now?” she smiled.
“You know, it’s been a while since anyone
asked me that. At peace, I think that’s it, I feel at
peace. Totally,” she nodded, agreeing with her answer.
“Yeah, that’s what I feel.”
“Peace is a good thing to feel,” Angel
said.
“Yeah, it is,” Faith said looking back at
him.
“So what exactly happened? I didn’t get
much from your phone call,” he said and Faith laughed
slightly.
“I was on my way to my cell when…” she
started telling her story, cause if there was one
thing Faith could do is tell a story.
* * *
When he made it back to the hotel it was
afternoon already. The rests of ordered food lying on
the front desk. Cordy had kept Buffy company for the
day.
When he entered the bedroom, he saw her
lying on her back looking up at the ceiling.
“Hi,” Angel whispered.
“Hi,” she didn’t move to greet him. He knew
she understood everything they had for the past night
had been everything they could have. And now that the
sun shone, their love was once more forbidden. “You
slept with her, right?” she brought up the lace bra.
“Yeah,” he said sitting down on the bed
next to her, leaning on his back and staring at the
ceiling with her. He wanted to start telling her
everything but she stopped him.
“I don’t want to know. You didn’t lose your
soul. That’s enough,” she said a bitter smile on her
lips. “It wasn’t a miracle, was it?” she asked after a
long pause.
“No, it was magic,” Angel admitted.
“I’m going to miss you...” she said turning
towards him.
“Me too” he said with a small smile.
“Thank you” she whispered snuggling in his
arms.
A long silence followed. They just stayed
there, holding the moment.
“Ever felt like running? And never
stopping? Just walking by everything?” she suddenly
asked breaking the silence.
“Running...yes,” he said and placed a kiss
on her lips.
*****
In the empty office a small wind began to
blow, it passed across the room, moving the curtains,
turning a few pages of a book and in the end lighting
the candle.
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