Silent Whisperby *Stars*
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Spoilers: None
Summary: Some notes, a hotel room, dinner, dancing, a hot bath, and a few silent whispers...
A/N: Written for angelryka as part of the ‘Fluffython’ hosted by theantijoss.
A/N2: The song contained in this fic is called “Loved by You” by Journey.
Requirements: Post-Chosen and Angel singing to Buffy.
Restrictions: No Cordelia or Spike.
Buffy Summers was standing in her living room facing her locked apartment door, staring down at the white envelope that was lying on the floor. She smiled, then bent down and picked up the plain packet. This ritual had begun just over a month ago and the Slayer soon after began to anticipate each pending arrival.
Written in the same familiar flowing script on the old piece of parchment was:
Splendide Royal
8:00 p.m.
Room 397
Her brow furrowed at the message. It wasn’t the usual penned ‘I miss you,’ or passage from a favorite poem. No, this was a direct invitation for a meeting. Neither of them had dared tread that water thus far, and she wasn’t sure it was the best idea at the present. But, she wasn’t about to let some past circumstances tarnish the possibilities that lie in front of them. If her ‘secret admirer’ felt as if the time was at last right to push the new boundaries of their relationship, then she wasn’t about to be the one to spoil his plans.
Returning the parchment to its envelope, Buffy carefully placed it in the small wooden box that sat neatly on the edge of her desk. She then turned and walked towards her bedroom. She had an outfit to pick out, a shower to take, make up, and hair to do, and it was already five-thirty. She should have known that he wouldn’t allot her an enormous amount of time to get dressed. He had once commented about how he preferred her in a more natural state, versus her desire for perfectly done makeup and hair.
Buffy hit the light switch to her room and was shocked at what met her eyes. Lying on her bed, surrounded by hundreds of red rose petals, was the most beautiful evening dress she reasoned she had ever seen. It was a form-fitting dress that was cream colored with spaghetti straps, and lying along side it were carefully folded matching under garments and a shawl.
The Slayer touched the designer gown with childlike caresses. She couldn’t believe he had purchased such expensive garments for her. She knew it was him, of course. Only her most devote ‘secret admirer’ would go to such lengths to pamper her in a manner like this. Had he been anyone else, Buffy would have been worried that her apartment had obviously been entered without her permission. That in its self was curious. She wondered how he had obtained access without an invitation.
Pushing the inconsequential formalities to the back of her mind, Buffy rushed to gather her new wardrobe with the speed that she still possessed even after the End of Days fight, a fact she was deeply appreciative of. She was thankful for a number of things that remained after that battle, above all, her ‘secret admirer.’
Buffy realized that their little game was quickly coming to the end of its road tonight, but she was just grateful they had been able to play it for this long without incident. With a silent whisper, the Slayer thanked whoever was in charge upstairs that she had been afforded another opportunity to make things right with her soulmate. They’d both been through so much, and had put each other through a lot of turmoil well. So this fresh start, so to speak, was just what each of them had been waiting for.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Slayer stood nervously in the hallway on the third floor of the Splendide Royal, mere inches from the door where the numbers three, nine, and seven were plated in gold just above the tiny peep hole. She had raised her hand and dropped it back to her side more times than she cared to count, but had yet to make her presence to the occupant inside known. Though she had her suspicions he was well aware she was standing on the opposite side of the door, she had no proof that there was anyone dead or alive inside the room.
Finally, accompanied by a deep cleansing breath, Buffy knocked on the large wooden door. She waited patiently, though not without the butterflies that had taken flight in her stomach on the short taxi ride over. It was all she could do to subdue the queasy feeling inside her as she continued to wait for her soulmate to open the hotel room door. The Slayer had no knowledge as to the condition of her vampire lover who, like herself, stood nervously on the opposite side of the doorway.
Inside, Angel was desperately trying to gain control of himself. It had been several months, and one exceptionally tough End of Days battle, since the last time he had been face to face with his mate. The tension that had been developing within him from the moment he stepped off his private jet and onto Italian soil was getting the better of him. He had promised himself that day that if Buffy accepted his subtle suggestions without hesitation, then he would dedicate the rest of his un-life to being by his beloved‘s side; all previous concerns be damned.
Angel silently scolded himself for being so juvenile about this. It wasn’t as if this was the first date he’d ever had with Buffy, and it certainly wasn’t like they were two teenagers. No, they were mature adults who had a history together; a long dark history that involved…. No, he wasn’t going down that memory lane. Tonight was the new beginning he had been promised. The “happily ever after” that he’d spent one too many sleepless nights thinking about was just within his grasp, and if he didn’t get over his ritual pessimistic hesitance, he was going to give off the wrong vibes and send Buffy running for the hills.
Just as the Slayer raised her hand to rap on the door once more, it opened with a ‘woosh’ of air that sent the flowing train of her gown blowing in the gentle breeze.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The candlelit dinner and the dancing to the softly playing classical music that followed had been so much more than Buffy had ever expected of the evening. She hadn’t quite been prepared for the more talkative Angel that had greeted her either. It was a welcomed relief from the sometimes strained conversations they had been known to have over the past few years. It was almost like stepping back in time to the early days between them, back to the time when she was just a sixteen year-old Slayer in love with a two hundred and forty-one year old vampire with a soul.
It was almost like stepping back in time, only better, Buffy mused as Angel silently led her from the spacious dining room area of the suite back trough the enormous bedroom and into the sensually decorated bathroom. Once again her senses were greeted with familiar scents. Hundreds upon hundreds of red rose petals covered the white marble floor and matching double basins. Vanilla and lavender scented candles of every shape and size imaginable were scattered around the large area, and the enormous freestanding claw footed tub was filled to the top with bubbles.
The Slayer wordlessly turned into the gentle embrace of her lover. As Angel hugged her close to his body, they both shed silent tears. It was time, finally their time, and they were both too overwhelmed to voice their feelings for the other. Though that had never really been needed between them because, more often than not, their silence in each other’s presences held more words than their speech. The bond that they had between them, that had been their strength over their years apart, would finally be their salvation.
Slowly, the Vampire eased out of the embrace to shrug off his suit jacket. Folding it carefully, he draped it over the back of the ivory colored chair that stood proudly in the corner. Stepping back towards his beloved, Angel reached to the small cd player that sat inconspicuously on the high matching ivory shelves to initiate the song he had chosen specifically for this moment.
As the music softly filled the room, Angel moved to stand in front of his soulmate. Caressing her silky cheek, he began to shyly sing along with the music.
Every time is like the first time tenderly
Loving you’s like breathing spring
Seasons change but your heart beats constantly
Count my blessings every day as you love me
A stray tear fell from Buffy’s eye as she watched her lover bear his soul for her. The significance of the act was not lost upon her. She knew from past conversations that he and singing were two things that did not mesh, and for him to go to such lengths to impress upon her his devotion was monumental.
Angel leaned forward and kissed the tear from Buffy’s cheek, then dropped to her lips for a sensual kiss that left her breathless. The Vampire gently brushed the delicate straps of Buffy’s gown from her shoulders and watched with hungry eyes as the garment pooled at her now bare feet. With a crooked grin, Angel continued his serenade.
As the sunset disappears across the northern sky
You look for forever in my eyes
All I can say, long as I have a voice
I’ll thank God above that I was your first choice
Buffy’s eyes closed as she stepped towards her lover and out of her discarded garment. Reopening her heavy lids once more, making sure she wasn’t in one of her reoccurring dreams of the same nature, the Slayer lifted her arms and reached for her soulmate’s white silk shirt. The evening’s activities were to be shared by both, and he therefore must accompany her in the waiting bath.
Angel grinned happily and continued to sing.
If I should die before I wake
I’ll go into the night whispering your name
If lying in your arms is the last thing that I do
At least I know that I’ll be loved by you
It was the Vampire’s shirt that was tossed to the waiting chair first, quickly followed by his black trousers. Soon they were both standing face to face, inching closer to each other, skin to skin, the once buried passion roared within them both, and they soon found themselves in a tangled mess of limbs. They touched each others bodies as if it were the first time, kissing with a new found resilience that neither was aware they possessed.
Finally, as the song continued to play in the background, Angel scooped the Slayer up in his arms to move them both into the warm water held within the confines of the antique tub.
In about a hundred years from now
When all of my love letters are found
And someone reads these words I’ve written only meant for you
They’ll know how forever came true...
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Several hours, one bathroom with water everywhere and a king sized bed that no longer had a single linen on it, later, the newly ex-Vampire and the Slayer lie intertwined on the plush carpeting in front of the fireplace that held only faux logs. The two were quiet for long minutes, content to simply be together. It was Angel who finally broke the silence.
“Tell Willow thanks for me the next time you talk to her.”
“I was thinking more like we’d tell her together. I always wanted to visit Brazil,” Buffy answered with a smile.
“Brazil huh?” Angel questioned with a sly smile.
“Uh huh, I hear they have great beaches down there,” Buffy answered.
“One thing at a time beloved,” Angel said with a chuckle.
“What? You’re all human now, thanks in part to my very wicked Wiccan friend. You can do the beach thing now, no excuses,” Buffy replied quickly.
“Well, we’ll see,” Angel answered with a light kiss to his soulmate’s lips.
He may very well be human now, thanks in part to Willow and to the Powers that Be that assured him his Shanshu would be granted if he was victorious for them in the End of Days battle, but he was still gun-shy about crowds of people, and there was nothing like a beach in Brazil for crowds.
Regardless, he knew deep down that he’d follow Buffy to Brazil or to Hell, whichever came first. He had finally been granted his dream of forever with her there would be nothing he would do that would jeopardize that now. Even if that meant total embarrassment in swim trunks, he’d do it. Smiling at his beloved, he gave a silent whisper to the Powers to thank them. Pulling Buffy into his chest, he kissed the top of her head then nuzzled in the softness of her hair.
“I love you,” Angel proclaimed.
Pushing back away from her soulmate, so she could look deep into his beautiful dark brown eyes, Buffy stared silently for a moment before speaking.
“I love you, Angel. Today, tomorrow, and forever I love you.”
The EndSend feedback to *Stars*
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