Destiny

By PSUBrat

Moonlight Dancing

As if on cue, the full moon in its splendor revealed itself from behind the clouds. What had been darkened was now alight with an eerie glow. What had been perceived to be lost was now found. The Slayer and her Watcher stood in the backyard entwined in one another. The moonlight danced over the young woman's blonde hair giving it the look of a shimmering golden waterfall. The Watcher held his charge close, savoring every moment she allowed him to hold her like this, letting her sobs subside. He buried his face in her silky hair and breathed deeply. She smelled of vanilla with just a hint of roses. He wasn't a religious man but as he closed his eyes, he prayed to whomever would hear him to let him be able to hold her this way, forever.

The Slayer wrapped her arms around her Watcher's neck and allowed him to pull her closer. She melted into him as he stroked her hair and whispered softly into her ear. Her body ached for him. As she closed her eyes, she let her senses take over. It was then that she realized that the old familiar smells of tobacco and alcohol had been replaced by the scents of aftershave and soap. It was just one of the many changes she would have to get used to now. Her mind reeled as she replayed his words over and over again. "I don't love her. I love you." Had he really uttered the words? She had been too busy beating on his chest and screaming at him to know for sure but she had her answer after looking into his sapphire eyes. This was really happening.

***

Dawn had heard the screaming as if Buffy and William had been in the room next door or right outside of her bedroom. The highly agitated voices had awakened her, not from a deep sleep mind you, but from somewhere in between. Who really sleeps well the night before the first day of school anyway? It certainly wouldn't be her this evening if the two of them kept it up. "Note to self," she sighed as she pulled the pillow over her head, "close bedroom window before going to sleep." After about five minutes, and with some hope, she removed the pillow, only to be assaulted with more of Buffy's shouting. Great, her sister really had a flair for the dramatics. She wished they would just make up already and put the rest of them out of their collective miseries.

She held her breath when she heard Buffy shout "I already loved you!" Had her sister finally said it? Had she really finally admitted it to him? Her heart began to soar. This was it! Finally! Then she heard Buffy cry out, "I already loved you and you left. Just like they all do. Then…then you come back, and you're not even the same person I fell in love with." Uh oh. This could get ugly. Eventually it was Buffy's sobs that disturbed her the most as they drifted in through the window. Concerned, she threw back her covers and sluggishly pulled herself out of bed. She made her way to the window with the assistance from the moonlight that was streaming through it. She arrived in time to see William pull her sister into an embrace, trying to calm her. That's when she heard him say it, "I don't love her. I love you." A wide smile broke out on Dawn's face as she watched her sister slump against her Watcher's chest. They had both said it. Now maybe she could get some sleep.

As she watched the two embrace, her mind drifted off to thoughts of Steven. Their relationship wasn't one of puppy love; it felt much deeper than that. It wasn't just some teenage crush either. It felt old and familiar, comfortable. She felt as if she was destined to be with him. She could tell by looking in his eyes that he felt the same. He was so different from anyone else she had ever met and it made her feel good. It was nice to know that she wasn't the only freak her age. The thought made her smile. She closed her eyes and pictured him in her mind. Suddenly her room came to life and she snapped her eyes open. A portal began to appear behind her. She stood quickly, and walked to the shimmering air. Once it stabilized, she noticed that it had opened on the same place she had seen with Steven the other night.

***

The car ride to Wesley's place had only taken a few minutes. They parked the car and made their way into the apartment. He hustled Steven through the door and flipped on the lights. His new place wasn't as comfortable as his place in Los Angeles. It was stark in contrast. He hadn't hung anything up on the walls, nor taken the time to unpack many of the boxes. To him, this wasn't home: it was just a layover to his final destination, whatever that would be. He cleared some boxes off the couch and motioned for the teen to sit down. Steven eyed the couch warily but took a seat on the far end, as far away from Wesley as possible.

"Do you want anything to drink or to eat," Wesley asked off handedly.

Steven shook his head and lowered his eyes.

"Surely you eat?" He studied Angel's son closely. The boy looked well nourished and healthy.

"I make do," Steven said quietly. He felt overly confined in this apartment, like a caged animal.

Wesley noticed Steven's tense posture. "You may leave anytime you wish to after we talk, so relax. Are you sure you don't need anything?"

Again Steven shook his head.

"Alright then. I suppose I should properly introduce myself to you. I'm Wesley Wyndham-Pryce." He waited to see if his name brought any type of reaction from the boy. None. "I used to work for your father…Angel, back when we helped people."

"Monsters do not help people," Steven snapped at him.

Wesley nodded his head. "Right. Well Angel did. Angel was special. Did you know that he was cursed with a soul?"

Steven shrugged. "Maybe my father mentioned it in passing." His face dropped at the mention of his father. Almost immediately anger replaced any reflection that was there. "It doesn't matter! Angel was still a monster."

"That might be so. But he had a soul. That gave him the ability to do good things. He was to eventually be rewarded by the Powers for his help. Angel was supposed to become human."

"That's a lie!"

"No. It was prophesized, as was your birth. You see you are quite the miracle. A child of two vampires; not something that happens everyday you know."

"What does this have to do with me," he demanded. He was growing impatient with the history lesson.

Wesley snorted. The boy was just as impatient as his father had been. "Connor…"

"Don't call me that!" He hated the name Connor more than he hated the monster that had given it to him.

"Fine. Steven. I work for people who are very interested in you. These people were Angel's enemies. They would like you to help them."

"To do what," Steven asked curiously.

"To help them gain control of Sunnydale. I'm sure you've realized its mystical significance by now."

Steven nodded.

Now for the lie. "They want to rid Sunnydale of the monsters. To make it safe for everyone, not just a few people. But first, first we need to get rid of those who stand in our way."

"Who?"

"The Slayer and her friends."

***

It seemed like they stood in the embrace forever, letting their emotions wash over them. Finally, William pulled back so that he could look her in the eyes. Despite her puffy eyes and tear-streaked cheeks, he was so taken by her beauty that he could barely speak, let alone breathe. Absently he reached up and gently brushed away a stray tear from her face. She leaned her face into his hand and kissed his palm.

"Buffy," he choked, "please say it again. I need to hear you say it again." He was certain he had imagined everything. He held his breath as he waited for her to speak.

She looked up at him through the tears and smiled. "I love you Spike."

He crushed her body to his again and began to weep tears of joy. He had waited for what seemed like centuries to hear her say those words, and now that she had finally spoken them, nothing would ever become between them again. Nothing.

She rested her head against his chest while he held her and she listened to his heartbeat. It was strong and steady. It was comforting to her. The phrase "where do we go from here" played over in her mind as it had the night Xander had summoned Sweet. She needed to know what was next for them. She wanted to make sure they had a future. "Spike," she whispered, "now what?"

He cupped her chin in his hand and raised her head to look him in the eyes. "Now I'm going to kiss you," he snarked.

She swatted him playfully and smiled broadly. "I'm serious Spike. What does this all mean?"

He put his arm around her and led her over to the back steps. Once they sat down, he continued. "I suppose we should suss out how we're going to handle things, between us and around everyone else. I'm sure Xander…"

"To hell with Xander!"

William looked at her in surprise and chuckled. "That's my girl." He gave her a peck on the cheek. "I want you to know something," he said becoming deadly serious, "I'll never leave you again. Ever."

"Promise?"

"I promise. I love you Buffy."

She closed her eyes as he touched his forehead to hers. She began showering his face with kisses and when their lips met, she swooned. She needed him. Every part of him. Souled or not. Human or not. She was his and he was hers. She finally realized the truth with every fiber of her being…they were destined to be together. There was something so familiar about this scene, almost as if she had lived it before. It never even occurred to her that she had dreamed it once, not so long ago.

William broke off the kiss and pulled her onto his lap. They sat there for several moments gazing into each other's eyes. He noticed that everything around him was glowing softly from the moonlight. It was like a dream, a dream he never wanted to wake from.

She cocked her head to the side when she saw a grin appear on his face. "Wanna share the happy?"

"Thought I already was luv." He grinned at her again and laughed.

She frowned. "What's so funny?"

"Not funny. Just…good." He paused for a moment and then added, "Ya know, Rupert saw this coming."

"He did?" Buffy asked incredulously. Despite the fact that she and Giles had talked about it, she just couldn't imagine him discussing it with Spike.

"Yep. Said he'd beat me to a bloody pulp again though if I hurt you. Don't have any plans on it though."

"Good because he wouldn't be the only one."

"Throw me to the wolves would you," he teased.

She pouted. "Only if you piss me off enough."

"Oh look at that pouty lip. I'm gonna get it."

The two of them laughed at their inside joke. Neither of them would have fathomed to guess that Willow's wonky "My Will Be Done" spell from over two years ago would eventually be right on target.

Without speaking, he pulled them both to their feet and then led her inside the house. Slowly they made their way to the living room. He would have preferred Buffy's bedroom but he didn't want to wake the Bit. The curtains were open and the moonlight filtered into the room. He looked into her eyes once again. He leaned down and kissed her softly on the lips. The kiss intensified as their need to be together grew. He hungrily met her tongue with his and he pulled her body into his. After what seemed an eternity, they both broke off the kiss to come up for much needed air. They were both breathing heavily. Slowly he began to unbutton her blouse. His hands were shaking. All he could think about was making love to her, right here, right now.

Buffy felt like she was going to explode. Anytime his hands or lips touched her she tingled all over. She needed to be with him, to feel him love her. She felt him push her blouse off her shoulders and kiss her neck. Her knees buckled and she thought she was going to faint from the sensation. She could feel him slip his arm behind her back to steady her. She hungrily kissed him back when his mouth met hers once again. Heat and desire were emanating from them. This was it. Tonight they were going to consummate their love. Tonight…

Dawn's scream pierced the air.

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