DestinyBy PSUBrat
Sing a Song
The insistent sound of bass pounded through the house as the three men sat at the table in the dining room trying to make sense of some long forgotten prophecy. Their faces betrayed their exhaustion, especially Giles, who had been up for almost forty-eight hours now. At first, they had tried to ignore the sound, give those in the living room the benefit of the doubt, but soon it was just too much to bear. Wesley covered his ears while he tried to translate the text in front of him, his head pounding in time with the sound coming from the other room. He glanced up at the former vampire sitting in front of him to see what his reaction was to the noise; surely he would be offended as well. Shock registered on his face when he saw William's head bobbing in time with the music.
"What is that bloody awful noise?" The older watcher demanded finally, somewhat exasperated.
"Certainly not Schubert or Beethoven," Wesley replied with a frown. He'd soon have to go look for some aspirin for his headache if this kept up.
Giles slowly shook his head as he took off his glasses. "Whatever it is, it's dreadful."
"Oh please," William retorted, grinning at his two companions. "Listen to you two blokes. It's called music."
"Yes, William. I realize that it's music but why on earth are they playing it? The others are upstairs trying to sleep. Now is not the time to be 'partying down'."
William snorted. "I'm sure they're just trying to blow off some steam, Rupert."
"Hardly," Wesley stated dryly as he tried to turn his attentions back to his book. "It's probably Lorne just trying to get everyone to sing so that he can read…Good God!" He declared as his head shot up and his eyes widened in realization. "That's it!"
"That's what?" Giles inquired, somewhat annoyed with the man who seemed to be speaking in puzzles.
"Lorne. Bloody brilliant," Wesley stated with a chuckle. "I don't know why I didn't think of it before. It's quite simple. Lorne gets them to sing and then reads them."
"Reads them? Like he did me earlier?"
"Precisely William. If he can read them, he can find out who is, and is not, a player in this prophecy. Of course, it won't tell us a thing about how to stop the Master but it will give us some insight into the pairings."
"What are we still sitting here for then?" William asked as he stood. "I believe the music is calling us…"
"It's not music," Giles insisted as he followed the younger watcher into the living room. "Bay City Rollers, now that's music."
***
Outside, the trees swayed to their own music in the soft breeze; the sound of their leaves rustling together was soothing and melodic. The night was cool and clear, enough so that the stars were clearly visible. There were thousands upon thousands of them, twinkling brightly in the night sky. This had been the reason she had come out here to begin with, to lose herself in the stars and the sounds of the night but now she was sitting on the bench, next to Angel, staring incredulously at him.
"Come again?" She croaked. She was sure she had heard him wrong. Her heart began to pound and she felt as if she was going to be sick.
Angel tightened his grip on her hand. He had expected this reaction but he still wasn't prepared to see the shock on her face. "Buffy, I'm still in love you. I don't think I've ever stopped."
"Are you delusional?"
"What?"
"Delusional. You know; the act of being deluded."
"I'm not delusional, Buffy. For the first time in years, I'm seeing things so clearly. I should have never left you. I should have stayed with you; things would have been so different for you, for us, if I had. I wanted to tell you because after tomorrow night…well, I may not get the chance."
Her body felt numb. She was sure that if he wasn't holding her hand, anchoring her to this world that she would just drift away to join the stars in the heavens. How long had she waited for him to say these things? How many times had she dreamed of his return? Now, here he was, sitting next to her, telling her everything she had always longed to hear. Her mind reeled. She closed her eyes and tried to reign in her thoughts. His name was all that managed to tumble from her lips as he leaned in to kiss her.
***
Lorne sat comfortably on the couch, one hand on the armrest, tapping in time to the rhythm and the other draped over the back behind Anya. His left leg was crossed over his right and his foot swung slowly to the beat. He closed his eyes as he listened to Gunn try to sing the song he had chosen. Who'd have thought that this young man from the streets of L.A. would harbor a secret such as this? If it weren't for the fact that the puzzle pieces needed to be put together quickly, he would have been giving his friend a hard time about his choice of music. As it was, it was taking all that he had to keep from chuckling out loud.
Nervously Gunn stumbled over the words. Before he had put on the CD, he had threatened bodily harm to the first person that laughed at him. It was good that he wasn't as insecure about this as most guys his age. This was a serious time and serious times called for some serious music. Closing his eyes, he began swaying with the music as he continued to sing. "I've been searching, deep down in my soul; words that I'm hearing are starting to get old…" He really loved this song; it called to his soul. "It feels like, I'm starting all over again, the last three years, were just pretend, and I said…" Michelle Branch could really belt out a blues tune. "Goodbye to you, goodbye to everything, I thought I knew. You were the one that I loved, the one thing that, I tried to hold on to…"
Fred watched in amazement as her boyfriend's voice entranced her. There was so much more to him than anyone would see at first glance. He wasn't your typical boy from the 'hood. He was strong, confident, and tender. She swelled with pride knowing that she was his.
"Alright blues boy," Lorne interrupted. "You can stop. You're not one of the chosen."
Gunn continued to sing along; oblivious that anyone had just spoken to him. "I used to get lost in your eyes…" He stopped only when he heard the group break into laughter. "Hey!" He shouted. "I thought I said I'd kill the first person that laughed at me?"
"Sorry bro," Fred giggled. "Lorne said you could stop but you just kept right on going."
Gunn cocked his head to the side and placed his hands on his hips. "I thought I told you that you couldn't use that word?"
Everyone laughed again as Lorne cleared his throat. He was sure the boy was blushing, even if they couldn't tell. "Sit down G. As I said, you're not one of them. Who's next?"
Fred shyly raised her hand. "I'll go." She walked over to the CD collection and flipped through the selections. Finally, settling on one, she popped the player open and placed the disc into the drive. She wasn't sure why she had agreed to do this. The last time she sang for Lorne, all hell had broken loose at his club. She was concerned the same thing would happen now.
As the music started, Gunn's eyes widened in recognition. Was she really going to do this? Clearly, she had gone insane. He watched, mouth agape, while Xander and Anya exchanged amused looks.
Fred smiled coyly at Gunn and then began her song. "Two trailer park girls go round the outside, round the outside, round the outside…"
"What on earth?" Lorne asked with a frown. This song would do his head in for sure. Such a shame that poor girl didn't know any Ricky Martin songs. She had been in Pylea far too long, missed too many good tunes.
Connor laughed as he watched Gunn squirm at Fred's choice in songs. He would have never guessed that this quiet girl could even sing, let alone sing Eminem.
Fred continued with the song, adding some dance moves as well. "Guess who's back, back again. Shady's back, tell a friend…" She could tell that Charles wanted to crawl into a hole. The thought made her smile so she danced in front of him, gyrating to the beat.
"What in God's name are you doing?" Giles demanded from the doorway.
***
Angel was vaguely aware of the chirping crickets as they provided the background music for his attempted reconciliation with Buffy. It seemed to him that they were whispering to him, telling him to unburden his heart to her. He hadn't realized that the words had come out in a rush or that he was shaking. All that mattered was the look in her eyes. He knew there was a part of her that felt the same way that he did, the same burning desire to be together. He just needed to connect with that part, make her understand. Before he knew what he was doing, he had leaned over to kiss her.
Slowly she leaned in to meet him, unaware of her surroundings and still feeling as if she was floating. She was lost in his eyes; so much like old times.
"Buffy, I…" he whispered as his eyes lowered, noticing her lips moving closer to his.
Suddenly their mouths met in a searing kiss. All the pain, passion and regret of the past poured out through their lips. Before Buffy knew it, Angel had pulled her on to his lap. She could feel his need for her growing. This was wrong. So wrong. Pulling free from his arms, she stood up and moved away from him, covering her mouth with her hand.
He watched her back away from him, shock reflecting in her eyes. As she turned, he reached out to her, wanting to pull her back. "Buffy…"
"Don't. Don't say a word."
"But Buffy…"
"How dare you? How dare you come back here after all this time and say these things? What about Cordelia?"
"How did you…how do you know about Cordy?"
"I may be blonde, Angel, but I'm not stupid. I see the way she looks at you and the way you look at her when you think I'm not looking."
"I don't love her."
"Like hell you don't. You certainly don't love me."
"I do love you Buffy. I always have. How many times do I have to say it?"
"You can say it all you want, Angel. But you don't mean it. You're just in love with the idea of loving me. Not more than three hours ago you were ready to tell me about Cordelia but then you stopped yourself because you just couldn't handle the thought that I was happy with Spike. God forbid that Spike be allowed to have happiness. That's what this is all about, isn't Angel? Trying to reclaim something that was yours because you don't think Spike is worthy enough to have it?"
"No!" He yelled at her as he grabbed her arm, looking deeply into her eyes. "This has nothing to do with Spike. This has everything to do with you and me. I love you Buffy, I always will."
"I don't love you, Angel. I'm in love with Spike and I have been for a very long time now. He was here for me, when my mom got sick, when she died, when I died and came back. He's been here for me through the worst time of my life. Where were you when all of those things happened?"
He looked at her with pleading eyes. "Buffy I'm sorry but…"
"But you did what you needed to do. I know that. I'm not holding it against you anymore," she said quietly, regaining control in her voice. "I'm just saying that he's been there for me. He's never left. Well, other than to go get a soul, but still, my point is…he's never left me. Even when I pushed him away and beat the total crap out of him, he stayed. Why? At first, I thought it was because he liked the pain but now I know it's because he loves me and he believes in me more than you ever did or ever could." Her eyes flashed with anger. She needed to make him understand that he no longer held the same place in her heart that he once did.
"That's not fair, Buffy. I gave you space to find a normal life."
"I didn't want a normal life. I wanted you. And since I couldn't have you I moved on. So did you..." She put her hand up to silence him, as he was about to protest what she was saying. "I've found something bigger than the both of us and I have a feeling you've found that same type of thing with Cordelia, haven't you?"
He looked away from her. Why couldn't she understand his feelings for her were genuine? He truly loved her, now and forever. He lowered his head and sighed, feeling defeated. "No. I haven't. Because I love you and only you," he said lifting his head and meeting her eyes. "I just wish you would accept that."
"Maybe you do love me, Angel. The thing is, even if you did, you can't have me. I'm in love with someone else and no one, not even you, can come between that."
The welling tears stung the back of his eyes. He looked away from her again and up at the stars. This had not gone quite the way he had planned it.
***
"Uh, dancing and singing?" Fred replied meekly, answering Giles demand as she brought her act to a screeching halt. Singing and dancing in front of Lorne, Connor and the Scoobies was one thing, but being caught doing it by a very British Watcher was quite another. She could feel the warmth rising in her cheeks and began to fan herself. "It's hot in here. I think I better sit down." Quickly she moved to sit next to Gunn on the floor.
Giles watched as the young girl took a seat next to her boyfriend, her cheeks and neck turning a bright shade of crimson. He hadn't meant to embarrass the girl and he felt somewhat badly about it. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. It's just that your choice in, uhm, music was a bit disconcerting."
"You're not the only one thinking that," Gunn responded as he gave Fred a puzzled expression. He watched as she blushed again, even a deeper shade of red than before, if that were possible.
"I'll second that," Lilah stated from the other side of the room. "If you're going to have me tied up, could you at least provide some earplugs?" If she ever got out of this alive, she was going to make Angel Investigations pay dearly.
"Oh come on Lilah," Wesley grinned wickedly at her. "You're not having a splendid time? I thought this would be right up your alley, free entertainment. Oh, I'm sorry, it's the other way around. You usually provide that."
She narrowed her eyes and glared at him. Silently she swore to herself that he was going to be the one to pay the most for his transgressions. She would make sure of it personally.
"She doesn't look too happy," Anya chirped. "Maybe we should sing something upbeat next time."
"There's always 'I Touch Myself' by the Divinyls," Xander declared with a grin. "But I suppose that would require less rope on her part."
Wesley chuckled at the remark as he saw Lilah's face redden.
"Please accept my apology," Lorne interrupted, hoping to ease the tension that was building in the room. He stood up to face the three watchers who were hovering by the door. "It was my idea to get them to sing and dance." He paused a moment to consider his statement. "Actually it was my idea to have them sing, dancing was optional. Anywho, from what I can see, Gunn and Fred are not part of the Twelve.""So it worked then?" Wesley asked, moving deeper into the room; his curiosity peeked.
"That it did. And I was just going to have Boy Wonder here sing after little Miss Snoop Doggy Dog was finished. By the way, darling, that was marvelous!"
Fred giggled. "Word."
Gunn shot her a glance that said 'you and I are gonna talk later'.
"Fascinating," Giles stated as he moved towards the couch to have a seat. "Mr. Lorne, please continue with your experiment." Perhaps they could finally solve the puzzle of the Twelve before tomorrow evening. "Xander, when you pick something out to sing, please do make sure it's music and not noise. Do try to remember that there are those sleeping right now whose powers will be of the utmost importance tomorrow night.
"Right," Xander nodded as he flipped through the CD collection, praying that there was something manly he could use.
William continued to lean against the doorframe, smiling to himself at the thought of Xander singing. Buffy would certainly want to see this, he thought. Despite the jovial atmosphere, something bothered him; something felt off. His eyes slowly scanned the room. Everyone who was awake was accounted for, except for one. Concerned, he silently slipped away from the living room unnoticed and headed towards the back door.