Okay, I finally finished this dang thing! This is my attempt at a bitca fic. I started writing this after Sanctuary aired and I hated Buffy. Then I got writer's block until this morning when I finally got an idea on how to finish it. Well, it ended up being totally rewritten, but anyway.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, but Corbin and Chloe. Joss and his people own the others and the Dixie Chicks own the song, You Were Mine. Rick, Lisa, and Austin own themselves.
Rating: PG (high on the angst factor for Buffy, though)
Summary: as I said, my attempt at a bitca fic when I hated Buffy.
Timeline: Begins in 2004, ends in 2008
Spoilers: Shanshu, Graduation 2
Distribution: Ba_Fluff, Leonie, B/A Coalition, anyone else, ask and it shall be given.
Thanx: Everyone, particularly my neighbors, *sigh* former neighbors, the Christensen's for letting me use their names. I hope they don't mind that I married Austin off *grin*
Author's Note: I changed one word in the song, it's originally Wedding, but I changed it to [Prom] (it looks like that, too) to make it fit.
Feedback: is an absolute must, it's my chocolate.
2004
Cordelia sorted through the mail. "Bills, bills, junk, letter from Buffy, junk . . . letter from Buffy?" she said, startled as she took the envelope in her hands. It was addressed to Angel Investigations. She slit the top with the silver letter opener on her desk and slid out its contents. Another envelope. She flicked the unsealed flap up and pulled out a wedding invitation.
Mr. Hank Summers and Ms. Joyce Summers are pleased to
announce the marriage of their daughter
Buffy Anne
to
Austin R Christensen
son of
Rick and Lisa Christensen
. . .
She read the invitation slowly again before pulling out the picture inside the invitation. It was a black and white picture of Buffy with a young man, Austin laughing into the camera. She looked happy. A diamond engagement ring on her finger.
"The mail come yet?" Angel's voice came from his office. He walked up from behind her, looking over her shoulder.
"Yeah," she answered quietly, turning towards him. She handed him the invitation and picture, grimacing at the thought of the brood that was about to come.
"Oh," he said as he read it, looking at the picture. "She looks happy. I'm happy for her." He lightly threw the invitation on the desk and moved to the coffee maker.
"Wait a minute! Where's the crabby scowl? The morbid gloom? Buffy's getting married and you're happy for her?" Cordelia all but yelped.
"I am, Cor, I'm happy for her. She deserves it," he answered, smiling lightly.
"You're sure you're okay?" she asked gently, putting her hand on his arm before yanking it away in pain. He caught her quickly and waited for the pain to subside with Asprin and water in hand.
"I'm fine. Are you?" he asked after the vision was over, handing her the pain killers.
"Yeah. I think the Oracles want to see you," she said, wincing in pain.
"But the Oracles are dead, Cor," he answered, confused.
"I know. Maybe you should just go to their place under the post office, I dunno," she answered, just as confused as he was.
"Alright. I'll be back later," he answered, moving to get his coat.
* * * * *
"We beseech access to the knowing ones," Angel said, finishing the ritual that he wasn't sure was even going to work with dead Oracles. Much to his surprise the doorway opened and he proceeded in.
When he stepped over the threshold, he wasn't where he expected to be. Instead of the marble room under the post office, he found himself in another marble room that resembled a courthouse. There were seven . . . beings seated before him, watching him.
"Warrior," the one in the middle said, his voice booming, "you have survived your final challenge." Angel looked at him confused, he hadn't fought any great evil for a while now. "You received a wedding invitation from the Slayer for her and another man. And didn't stake yourself." The man chuckled a little at the end.
"You mean . . .?" Angel stuttered.
"You're free. Humanity with a few perks. Consider yourself the male equivalent of the Slayer. A little supernatural, but still human," the man said. A light began to glow around Angel as he spoke, filling him with breath. Angel fell to his knees, gasping for breath, as he did years before on that Lost Day. He looked around amazed at what he had become and looked up gratefully.
"No. Thank you, Great Warrior," the man spoke again and then they were gone. Angel was back in the ritual room under the post office, breathing.
* * * * *
2009
Buffy sighed as she walked up to Cordelia's apartment. She hadn't spoken to or heard from anyone in L.A. in years. She'd sent them an invitation to her wedding, but that was the last attempt at contact she'd made. She reached Cordelia's door and knocked lightly.
"Coming!" Cordelia's voice came from behind the door. It opened quickly and Buffy watched her old friend gasp in shock. "Buffy?!?" she asked.
"Hi," she said.
"Come in," she finally said after standing there in shock. Buffy moved through the doorway, looking at the apartment. It was very Cordelia.
"Are they here, honey?" a male voice came from another room in the house. Buffy turned to see a man, about thirty, come into the room. He stopped as he saw Buffy, clearly expecting someone else.
"Buffy, this is my husband, Aidan. This is Buffy, an old friend," Cordelia said introducing the two.
"Nice to meet you," the both said before breaking into a casual laugh.
"Uh, Cor, would it be alright if I used the bathroom? It's been a long trip," Buffy asked.
"Yeah, sure. Last door on the left," she answered, pointing down the hall. Buffy wandered down the hall, finding the bathroom.
She exited the bathroom a few minutes later, hearing new voices.
"So?" Cordelia asked, excitedly.
"So?" a male voice answered. Buffy felt a familiar tingle go through her spine. It was him. She walked down the hall slowly, planning what she was going to say to him.
"What is it?" she screeched.
"A boy," he laughed. Buffy entered the room at that moment. Angel was standing in front of her, his back to her, his arm around someone.
"Oooh! Congratulations!" she squealed and then she saw Buffy. Her eyes darted behind Angel and he followed them with his body, turning to face her.
"Buffy," he said, shocked to see her.
"Hey," she answered, not seeing him, but the pretty girl at his side. She had chin-length light brown hair and pretty blue eyes. She was about seven months pregnant.
"How are you?" he said, moving to hug her.
"Good, you?" she said as he wrapped his arms around her in a brotherly hug.
"I'm, well, I'm great," he grinned. She lifted her eyebrows in question. She'd never seen him like this.
"That's good," she answered, smiling back, even though it was a forced smile.
"Hey, what about me?" the girl said, whacking him on the arm. He startled, realizing that he'd forgotten introductions.
"Chloe, this is Buffy, an old friend. Buffy, this is Chloe, my wife," he said introducing the two. Buffy looked shocked.
"Your wife?" she sputtered.
"Yeah. Hey, where's, uh, Austin, right?" he asked. She looked at him, confused. "You sent us an invitation. Your husband?"
"Oh. No one told you?" she asked.
"Told me what?" he replied.
"Austin and I, we didn't get married. We both felt it wasn't right," she answered.
"Oh. I'm sorry," he answered, offering her a gentle smile.
"It's okay. We're good friends still. I thought . . . ," she began, not knowing how to go about asking all the questions floating around in her brain.
"I fulfilled my destiny, Buffy. The Powers, they granted me my humanity. Actually on the day that we got your invitation. They said I passed my final challenge. You were getting married to another man and I didn't stake myself," he answered.
"Oh," she answered quietly. Wanting to get out of there, she looked at her watch. "Oh! I'm supposed to meet my dad. I've gotta run. It was good to meet you both and to see you guys." She smiled at everyone and headed to the door. "Bye!"
"Well, that was interesting," Buffy heard Cordelia say as she shut the door. She was glad she didn't hear anything else. Running out to her car, tears began streaming down her face. He had always promised forever.
I can't find a reason to let go
Even though you've found a new love
And she's what your dreams are made o
I can find a reason to hang on
What went wrong can be forgiven
Without you, it ain't worth livin' alone
Sometimes I wake up crying at night
And sometimes I scream out your name
What right does she have to take you away
When for so long, you were mine
She drove and she cried. He promised forever, she kept telling herself, he promised forever. But now forever was with another woman.
I took out all the pictures of our [Prom] day
It was a time of love and laughter
Happy ever after
But even those old pictures have begun to fade
Please tell me she's not real
And that you're coming home to stay
Sometimes I wake up crying at night
And sometimes I scream out your name
What right does she have to take you away
When for so long, you were mine
She stopped driving when she reached the beach. Stepping out of her car, she felt the wind breeze past her, tasting the salt in it. Or her tears, she couldn't tell which. She took her shoes off, placing them in the car and walked out on the sand. She stopped, closing her eyes, she remembered that dream.
'How did you find me here?'
'If I was blind I would see you.'
'Stay with me?'
'Forever. That's the whole point. I'll never leave, not even if you kill me.'
She opened her eyes, still feeling his arms around her from the memory. "You promised forever, remember?" she whispered to the air.
Sometimes I wake up crying at night
And sometimes I scream out your name
What right does she have to take you away
When for so long, you were mine
I remember when you were mine
"I remember when you were mine," she whispered, running her fingers over the last thing he gave her, his mark. "I remember when you were mine."
Please don't spork me. Remember, I was in full 'I Hate Buffy' mode! Did you like anyway?
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