Chapter 19:
The Lion And The Lamb
Sighing, Jackie played nervously with the magazine in her lap. She hated flying. Really, really hated flying. She’d learned that the first time she’d crossed the Atlantic three weeks ago to visit her brother and her new sister-in-law. She’d been dreading the return flight ever since.
Jackie hated to fly for various reasons. For one, she was completely terrified of heights. And water. So flying high over the ocean wasn’t exactly a pleasant experience for her. Also, she had this rotten luck of sitting next to complete weirdoes. Once, it had been a drunken businessman who had tried to make out with her. Another time, it had been an annoying five-year old who shrieked every time they hit a patch of turbulence. She eyed the pair sitting next to her. So far, they seemed okay. And the man wasn’t so bad looking. Alright, he was a babe. At least that’s what she had thought when he first stepped on the flight. She’d been delighted when he spoke, a deep voice laced with an accent similar to her own. Of course, he had come with a girl. There was always a girl, wasn’t there?
At first, she had thought them quite an odd pair. The woman, who could be no more than five foot three, had long blonde hair and was dressed in kakis and a red tank top. The man, despite his alarmingly good looks, resembled a punk reject from the eighties with his bleached blonde hair and long leather duster. Still, they were very cute. For the first few minutes after take off the woman next to her, who introduced herself as Buffy and the man whom she’d introduced with a grin as Spike, her boyfriend, had discussed England with her. Apparently she’d been there before. After that, she curled up in a little ball and promptly fell asleep against her companions shoulder. He grinned at Jackie before turning his attention to the window, which still held his attention more than an hour later.
Jackie smiled as Buffy hummed in her sleep. In any other situation that didn’t involve the possibility of plummeting to your death, she was sure the two of them would have gotten along wonderfully. As it was she found herself grateful for such a quiet couple to spend the flight with. She was about to drift off as well when she noticed the girl shivering. Apparently Spike noticed too, for he squirmed out of his jacket and laid it over her, the expanses of leather completely engulfing her small frame. Satisfied, he went back to gazing out the window, his fingers playing absent-mindedly with a tendril of her long hair. Yes, she liked these two very much.
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Xander looked at the clock for the fifth time in two minutes. “Didn’t they land an hour ago? Why hasn’t she called? What if the plane crashed? What if-”
“Calm down!” Willow grabbed him by the shoulders, forcing him down into an armchair. “One of their connecting flights could have been delayed. Or maybe they’re still getting their luggage. The phone could be dead.”
“I don’t like this,” he grumbled. “We should never have let her go.”
Willow raised an eyebrow. “She would have gone anyways, you know that. And what about Spike?”
“What do I care if he goes and gets himself killed?”
She rolled her eyes. “Boys.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“You’re always all, macho, and, ‘grr!’, and ‘oh, I don’t care if one of my friends dies.’.”
Xander frowned, offended. “Hey! I don’t do that with you…”
“Because I’m a girl!”
“Well, I don’t do that with Giles…”
Willow tilted her head. “Well, that’s true…but still, you’re all, uh, mean and stuff. To Spike.”
“I’m not trying to kill him,” he pointed out. “That’s Buffy’s choice and I respect her enough not to meddle, but that doesn’t mean I have to like the guy.”
She shrugged. “Whatever.”
“I don’t!”
“Okay.”
Glaring at her, he stood up to resume his pacing. “I’m just worried for Buffy, that’s all. If he gets himself killed, it’ll hurt Buffy.”
She tried not to grin. Whether he liked it or not, her best friend had begun treating the vampire more like a Scooby with each passing day. Of course, she wasn’t going to point this out any time soon. “Sure.”
Angrily he looked at the clock. “Why hasn’t she called?!?”
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“Ladies and gentlemen, we’d like you now to return to your seats and fasten your safety belts. We will be landing at Benin City Airport in just a few minutes.”
Buffy yawned, stretching her cramped muscles. After sleeping most of the flight to London, and then the past two hours, she was wide-awake and ready to get going. With a soft smile she readjusted the long coat around her so she could get to her seatbelt. She’d woken up in London wearing it, where Spike sheepishly explained she had looked cold. She’d had it on ever since. Suppressing another yawn she looked over to see what he was doing.
Sound asleep, Spike looked almost childish in his innocence. She grinned at the sight of him. His head rested against the back of the seat, chin drooping down onto his chest. Without the gentle rise and fall of breath he appeared almost dead, save for the little smirk plastered on his lips. Completing the image were his arms, hanging limply by his sides. Carefully she leaned over, grabbing the two pieces of metal from either side of him and pulling them across his lap. Just as she was buckling it his eyes flew open, hand reaching out instinctively to grab at whoever had disturbed him.
“Morning sleepy.”
He blinked several times, trying to clear his vision. “Buffy.”
“What, surprised to see me?”
Quickly he released her hand. “No.” For some reason the way she was looking at him was making him extremely uncomfortable. “What?”
Buffy chuckled. “You’re cute when you sleep.”
“You too,” he teased, kissing her lightly. Hearing a disapproving throat clearing from the man next to him he pulled back. A soft giggle escaped him at the sight of her in his new duster. It was nowhere as soft or warm as his old one, but he couldn’t resist it when he’d passed by it one day in the store window. And now he knew why; Buffy looked absolutely adorable wearing this jacket that was at least five sizes too big for her and trailed on the ground behind her as she walked. Besides, it was his trademark, after all.
Silently she watched him, trying to determine the cause of his laughter. Giving up she looked out at the clouds as they descended. A chill ran through her body as she remembered the last time she had been to this place. And how she’d left.
“Nervous, pet?” Looking over her shoulder at the ground beneath them, he couldn’t help but wonder what she was thinking. This was Buffy, after all. It was a miracle when the girl paused for breath. Seeing her all clammed up and glum was more than a little unnerving.
“You might say that.”
“Anything I can do?”
Buffy tilted her head slowly to look at him again. He was studying her intensely, concern etched on his face. “I don’t know what to do,” she admitted quietly. “I feel like we’re going to be going out there, waiting for someone to come along and help us. I mean, we’re completely defenseless. And who even knows if this ‘tool’ thing will work.”
He raised an eyebrow at her skeptically.
“Oh come on. Are you telling me you actually trust that prophecy? And what about those dreams? All of our friends basically told us this was a suicide mission.”
“Then why are we here?” Spike asked.
She shrugged. “Like I said. I want it done. It’s only a matter of time before these things…breed or whatever, before they move on to other areas. I don’t want that.”
“There’s something else,” he said slowly. When she looked away he knew he was right. “What aren’t you telling me?”
“If I don’t do this…I’ll never know.” Meeting his gaze, she said, “I’ll never know whether or not I can take this. If I can beat it.”
“My crew and I would like to thank you for choosing Nigerian Airways. Please, come back and see us again. Passengers at this time may rise and exit the plane.”
Standing, he edged his way out into the small aisle. After grabbing their overhead bags he tucked an arm around her protectively. “You can,” he hissed in her ear. “You…you can conquer anything. Anyone. Hell, you tamed me Slayer.” Smirking impishly down at her they made their way out into the airport.
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BRRRING
BRR- “Hello?? Buffy?? Is that you??”
“Hey Dawnie.” The tired voice of her sister could be heard despite the great distance, along with numerous background noises.
“How were your flights? Have you seen any demons? What time is it over there, anyways?” Happily, Dawn plopped down on the sofa. All day she’d been waiting for this call, practically driving Kennedy nuts with her insistence to not tie up the phone line. The older Slayer had ended up going over to Giles’s to talk to her girlfriend about an hour ago, leaving the anxious teen to sweat it out by herself.
“Long, no, and I have no idea. The sun just came up, generally not a good sign.” A few incomprehensible mutterings followed Buffy’s words, leaving her curious.
“What’s wrong with Spike?”
“Oh nothing, he’s throwing a hissy fit because he ran out of cigarettes.” Her voice ringed with laughter.
“Hey!” Spike’s protest, though somewhat softer, could be heard surprisingly clearly.
“So, what are you going to do now?”
“Rent a car, drive a gazillion miles to Kano, kill said demons and be home for breakfast,” she chirped.
Dawn laughed. “Okay. Hey, you think I can talk to Spike?”
“What, I’m not good enough for you anymore?”
“Just put him on.”
“Fine.” With a pout in her tone she called out, “Spike-Dawnie wants to talk to you.”
“Me? Alright…” More clearly, he said, “ ‘ello Nibblet.”
“Hi Spike!” She grinned happily. “Having fun?”
“I wouldn’t call being in the bleeding Sahara with no smokes fun.”
“You’re in Nigeria. Not the Sahara.”
“Don’t get smart.”
She giggled over the phone line.
“Looks like we’ve got to be off, pet. I’ll have Buffy call you sometime later, alright?”
“K. Bye!” Just as she was hanging up the phone, Kennedy and Willow walked through the front door.
“Hey Dawnie,” Willow greeted her. “Why was that?”
“Buffy.”
The red head’s eyes widened. “She’s okay, right?”
Dawn nodded. “Yeah. Just called to say they landed and that they would call again sometime later.”
“Oh. Okay.” Defeated, she collapsed on the sofa next to the girl. She’d been waiting for her friend to call, so of course she’d come home just when they hung up. It made perfect sense. “Did she say when?”
“Nope.” Cocking her head, she asked, “Did you get anything done over at Giles’s?”
Willow brightened up immediately. “Yeah, I did! Here.” She handed her the now notorious notebook.
After a moment of eyeing it suspiciously, she turned to the latest writings and began to read. ‘The Powers were given an opportunity to set the world right again. And so righteousness, embodied in the form of a Chosen One descended onto the plains. This solution would not be permanent. The scales would balance, surely, but at any given moment could tip. A solution was proposed. The prophecy was written: Only when virtue in form blends with malevolence incarnate may the worlds rest.
Only when the lion lays down with the lamb may the waters still. Only when the greatest good embraces the dark, and only when the worst evil embraces the light, may the prophecy be fulfilled.
The Powers grew impatient. For years they watched man cower from the demons, none among them brave enough to do anything but hate the creatures. And always, their Chosen One perished.
She was not created to fight. It had not been her purpose. She had been created to balance the forces, yes, and control demonic activities, yes, but she was built above all to restore the ancient balances. The first Chosen was perfect; all that was good, along with a passion for all that was bad. But man found her; chained her down with reason and nobility, told her to kill the creatures she was made, secretly, to love.’ Dawn sat gaping for a few minutes, unsure of what to say. Finally, she managed, “You got a lot done.”
“This chapter isn’t as difficult as the first,” she explained.
“You should tell Buffy when she calls again.” Numbly, she stood up. It couldn’t be… Her thoughts drifted to the two blondes in Africa. ‘Only when the lion lays down with the lamb…’
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“Do you want to drive?”
Jumping from her trance like state, Buffy whipped her head around. “What?”
“Do you want to drive. The car.”
She stared at him incredulously. “Um, no. That’s okay. Buffy and cars…very un-mix-y.” Now when have I said that before?
Spike raised an eyebrow. “You drove in Paradise.”
“Yeah. I drove from my house to Giles’s. And I still managed to kill an innocent mailbox.”
He chuckled. “I’ll teach you, pet. It’s not so scary.”
“Oh yes. Me in a car…very scary.” She shuddered at the thought. Why she had ever wanted to drive when she was younger was still a mystery to her.
“You’re going to have to learn someday,” he pointed out. Pulling over to the side of the road, he announced, “Get out.”
Buffy shook her head viciously. “No. Uh-uh. No way.” She glared at him as he walked around the car, opening her door. “You want to die before we even get there?”
“I trust you,” he murmured, leaning forward so their noses brushed. With a grin he unbuckled her and drug her out of the car.
“Hey!” She tried to kick him, but he was holding her back to his chest so it was quite impossible. He held her tightly until she stopped squirming. “No fair,” she whimpered, eyes glittering with mischief.
Leading her around to the other side, he sat her down unceremoniously in the driver’s seat. When he noticed the pout on her lips he couldn’t resist; he ended up kissing her until she gasped for breath. With another light kiss he slammed the door. “Drive.”
With her pout still firmly in place Buffy restarted the car, waiting until he buckled up before pulling back out onto the road. This was definitely not a good idea. She could see it now-an elephant or something would walk out into the road, and she’d swerve, and they’d go rolling down into a ditch and be pinned underneath tons of steel and end up eating really gross bugs to stay alive and-
“Little slow there, love.” Spike nodded to the odometer. They were currently going a whooping 25 miles an hour.
“Slow is good,” She argued.
“No, slow is bad. Slow means we don’t get to the motel in time and end up sleeping in the car with all the nice little animals.”
She sped up.
Smirking, he stretched out in the seat comfortably. “See, it’s not so scary.” Looking over of course, he saw her white knuckles. And her wide eyes. And that stick-straight posture that just screamed ‘oh god oh god oh god…’. He sat back up, unbuckling and sliding over next to her.
“What are you doing!” Buffy protested as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, putting his one hand over both of hers on the wheel.
“You want your hands further apart,” he said quietly. Reaching up with his other hand he readjusted her near-death grip on the steering wheel. “And your left foot-move it over there. You aren’t supposed to have it sitting on the brake like that.”
Silently, she followed Spike’s directions. Already, she was feeling more confident. And his arm draped comfortably around her certainly didn’t hurt things. She remembered the last time she’d come, smiling at the memory of the couch cushion. Allowing herself to tear her stare from the open road, she looked over at him. Strange, that her once enemy, turned accomplice, and eventual pain in her ass, was now the very person she wanted by her side. Needed, perhaps. Not that she’d ever admit that, of course. “So…are we there yet?”
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Chapter 20:
Any Other Night
For hours, they drove in silence, taking turns when one looked about to nod off. The sun rose slowly in the sky, illuminating the sparse land on either side of the highway. She took the wheel once it was high above them, claiming to want the experience. In truth, she just wanted something to do. A bored Buffy is definitely a bad Buffy, this she’d learned the hard time more than once. Every now and then she would cast a quick glance at the figure beside her. He appeared to be asleep again, his head lolled over to rest against the window. A smirk tugged at her lips. Guess he does trust me. The light dancing on his features was the current object of her curiosity, however. It still seemed amazing that he wasn’t harmed by it. And more so, he seemed to be completely comfortable in it. With a start she realized she had never questioned his transformation. At first, she had pressed her ear against his chest in hopes of some wacky miracle-all she had found was a deafening quiet. But once he had explained he was still a vampire-just new and improved, he’d joked-she’d let it go. Now, it was driving her nuts. I’ll have to ask Giles to look into it once we get home.
If we get home.
Don’t do that, Buffy scolded herself mentally. It’s not going to do us any good for me to start worrying now.
But what if you’re right? The voice in her head questioned. After all, the last time you came out here you went home in a wheelchair. And that was two Slayers against one demon. Kind of sad, really.
Shivering, she glanced over again. Why was she even doing this? Now, when things were finally starting to make sense? For the first time in her life, she was really happy. She was a normal girl with a normal life, living in a normal house with a normal sister and…Spike. Alright. Maybe her life wasn’t completely normal. She could grade on a curve, though. Things were going good, dammit. Why do you always have to go looking for trouble?
The truth was, she didn’t know. She felt compelled to come out here, like it was a calling or something. She couldn’t help it. Something was drawing her to this place, to either fight in her finest hour or to fall in her last.
*** “William…”
Spike looked around. Alright. He was still in the car. Buffy was driving. But wait-he was in the backseat. And the girl was sitting next to him. His eyes widened when he saw himself still sitting in the passenger seat. “What the hell is going on?”
The girl smiled sadly. “William, you know why I’m here.”
He shook his head fiercely. “No. Not yet. I can’t go now.”
“It is not up to you to decide.” She turned away from him to look out the window. “The time is coming, William. You remember our deal.”
“Can’t you help us?” The words tasted bitter on his tongue. He hated begging. However, it seemed the only option left. “You saved Buffy before. Can’t you help us now?”
She smiled again, wider. Still averting her gaze, she said, “Everything you need to win the upcoming battle you already possess.”
“I don’t understand! In order to win this battle, I need some ‘one tool crafted before the time of steel’. At least that’s what the Watcher said. Are you saying that I have it? Or that I’m going to find it?”
“Think, William. In time, you will know. All of the answers you seek are before you.”***
“Spike?”
*** “What do you mean? What is it that I already possess?”
“You are…”
“I am what?”***
“Spike?”
*** She was gone within a blink of an eye. He sat, stunned. Back in the front seat, he could hear Buffy calling to him.
“Spike?”
“Yes?”
She smiled kindly. “You are.”***
“Spike!”
*** “What does that mean?” Frustrated, he grabbed her by the shoulder. “What am I?”
Buffy kept driving. Not looking up from the road, she said, “My heart.”
Okay. This was a little too familiar. He tried to coax more out of her. “Your heart?”***
“Spike!!!”
*** She nodded. “You are my heart.”
“You are my soul,” he murmured. “And together-”
“We are One.”***
“SPIKE!”
He sat up with a jerk. Whipping his head around, he saw the concerned girl next to him. “Buffy? What is it?”
“You were asleep. I couldn’t wake you up,” she said sheepishly. “You kept saying things…”
Stretching his arms up above his head, he reached for the map. “How long was I asleep, love?”
Buffy shrugged. “I don’t know. Half an hour, maybe?”
“So that would put us…two hours from Zaria.”
“Yup. Wait-I thought we were staying in Kano.”
It was his turn to shrug. “Thought you might like to stay there, it’s only 90 miles or so from where we’re headed.”
“Ah. Okay.”
“Something wrong?”
Mentally, she slapped herself in the forehead. “Oh god, I feel like such an idiot!”
Spike eyed her curiously. “Alright…”
“I didn’t bring any blood.” She chewed her lower lip nervously. “Maybe we could find you a butcher shop…”
Okay. Confessions were definitely in order. Confession? More like a bloody declaration… “Pet, I haven’t exactly been honest with you of late.”
Her eyes widened drastically. “Oh.” Images of dead bodies lining the streets flashed through her mind. Don’t be an idiot Buffy, this is Spike. He’d never do that…
Chuckling, he laid a gentle hand on her thigh. “It’s not what you think, Buff. Actually, I…I haven’t drunk the red stuff since…” Since I drank from you, he thought. Hmm. He’d never even noticed.
“Since when? Are we talking a few days of blood fasting or…?”
“I haven’t drunk…in a while. Lord knows I’ve tried. It just tastes…” Slowly he opened and closed his fist in the air, as if hoping to catch the lost word between his fingers.
“Like blood?” She suggested.
Glaring, he tightened his grip on her leg. He was momentarily distracted when she sped up from his touch. Trying to stop grinning, he said, “Don’t get cheeky. It tastes…fouled. Bad.”
“Like blood,” she said again. Before he could do anything she added, “I know, it is the vampire drink of choice, must have been delicious. But you don’t drink it anymore?”
He shook his head.
Mystified, she checked the odometer. Huh. Don’t remember going 75 miles an hour… Slowing down quickly, she tried to blow off the mind-boggling information. “Well, that solves that problem.”
Somehow, he wasn’t quite so sure. But for now, they had bigger problems. Namely bigger, hoppier, eviler problems. The whole Spike Is A Vampire Who Goes In The Sun And Hates The Taste Of Blood thing would just have to wait.
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“Julian…”
“What is it, Tabitha?”
“I’m…I’m pregnant.”
“Dawnie, what are you watching?” Xander frowned as she walked through the living room.
Dawn grinned. “Passions. It’s really good.”
Willow wrinkled her nose. “I’ve never liked that show. Tabitha’s all ‘ooh, I’ a bad witch who fights on the side of darkness!’. Yeah, right. I bet she can’t even call the quarters.”
“It’s funny-well, except when Timmy died. That was really sad. But I like it!” Actually, Dawn was semi-obligated to be watching the soap opera. She’d promised Spike before he’d left that she would tape his favorite show while he was away. Besides, they had been watching it together for weeks now, and she’d become addicted to the ever twisting-not to mention ridiculous-plotline.
Willow threw her hands up in mock surrender. “Whatever floats your boat.”
“I think I have something,” Giles called out. “Here. It mentions an ancient prophecy and the Betugk Swetuk.”
“Good job Giles!” The red head rushed over, reading over his shoulder. “ ‘Betugk Swetuk, an ancient breed of demon confined to inner Earth back in the dark ages. Unkillable except by the one tool, they may only be released by a conjuring or by an evil that predates them.’ That means-”
“The First must have released the demons in preparation for the final battle.” Giles removed his glasses, whipping imaginary dust from the lenses.
“Or for after,” Kennedy murmured.
He nodded. “These beings were made solely for destroying. They have no other purpose.”
As a commercial for toothpaste filled the uncomfortable silence, Dawn stood to approach the table. “Buffy’s fought big bads before. This isn’t any different. Is it?”
“I don’t know. It says ‘The demons have no known weaknesses. Only the one tool, prophesized in a scripture lost upon it’s writing, can destroy them.’”
Willow took a quick glance at the papers laid out in front of her. “But it says here ‘it will only be discovered at the time of it’s beckoning’. So even if we did have it, we wouldn’t know we had it until we had to use it.”
He took a moment to absorb what she had said. “True, all true. But all it really means is we’re flying blind.”
“So that’s it? We’re just going to leave our friends to die?” Xander jumped off the kitchen counter where he had been sitting to pace nervously around the table. “They should never have gone out there in the first place!”
Giles shook his head. “They had to go. There was nothing else to be done. It is stated in the books that the tool will be revealed when, and only when, it is needed. Until then all we can do is hope for the best.”
“I hope they’re okay,” Dawn said.
Willow walked over to her, wrapping an arm around the teen. “I’m sure they are. In fact, I bet they’re having a great time. You know how they get, killing demons and all.”
BRRRING
“Hello?”
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“Yes…really? What does it say? …Are you sure?” Buffy scribbled the lines of text on a motel notepad, trying to ignore the curious looks Spike was sending her from the other side of the room. “Is there any way to tell in advance…oh. Okay… Yeah, I’ll tell him.”
“Tell me what?” Walking around the bed, he sat down next to her. “What is there to tell me?”
She glared at him as she continued writing. “I got it. Thanks. We’ll call again once we’re there…alright. Bye.”
“What was that about?” Spike asked, trying to catch a glance at the paper she was holding.
Handing him the new part of the prophecy to read, she said, “Giles said to tell you that Dawn said hi.” She waited as he read.
‘She was made, secretly, to love.’ What the…? “And this?” he waved the paper in front of her face.
“The latest part of the translation,” she explained.
“Right.” He put the paper back on the nightstand. Kicking off his boots, he collapsed back on the comforter.
Buffy frowned slightly. He’d been like this, edgy, ever since they’d checked in a half hour ago. No, it was before that. After he told you about the blood. Try as she might she couldn’t fight the feeling that Spike was hiding something from her. His behavior now certainly wasn’t helping. Putting her shoes next to his, she laid down with her head resting against his chest. “What’s wrong?”
His eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Why does anything have to be wrong, pet?”
She turned to look at him. “Don’t. I know there’s something you’re not telling me.”
Yeah. There’s a whole bunch I’m not telling you. Frustrated, he admitted quietly, “This…this might be our last night together.” True in two ways. They’d either die together or he’d be taken from her. In either scenario, it meant leaving. And he so desperately wanted to stay.
Her expression softened. Is that what you’re scared of? “It isn’t,” she said determinedly.
“You don’t know that. You can’t say for sure we’ll both be walking out of that battle.” Spike knew good and well how the next day would go. They would wake up early; drive the 90 miles to Kano. Call their friends. Say goodbye. Then go off to the fight. And even if, by some miracle, they found this ‘tool’ and used it and survived, he would still have to leave. Unless Buffy said… You know her. You know she won’t. For the first time, that single fact burned a hole through his un-beating heart.
“I don’t know. And I’m scared.” Closing her eyes, she inhaled deeply. And was momentarily drowning in the scent of him. “But can’t just forget about tomorrow? Can’t we just pretend tonight is like any other night?”
Any other night… He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close against himself. Maybe, just maybe, he could make things okay for her. Even if it was just for one night. Shoving all of his inhibitions to the back of his mind he kissed her, calming her fears with a simple brush of his lips.
When they pulled away Buffy sat up, swinging her leg over him so she was sitting on top of him. Leaning forward she kissed him again, letting her fingers trail up under his shirt. Fireworks went off in her mind as their tongues collided, saying with actions what they never could with words. Breaking the kiss momentarily she breathed, “I love you.”
He kissed the end of her nose gently. “Love you. Always.” Taking both of her hands in his he repeated, “You know that, don’t you? I will always love you. No matter what.”
She nodded. “No matter what.”
“Every second. Every way. Every night. I love you,” he murmured against her soft skin.
Inhaling sharply, she shifted until their eyes met. “Love me tonight?” The words came out so softly she wondered if he’d even heard. Her doubt was quickly extinguished when he came up to kiss her, rolling her over so she was pinned to the mattress. When she opened her eyes he was smiling at her. Before she could say anything they were kissing again, and her worries about the day ahead of them were forgotten. They might die tomorrow, true. But they still had tonight.
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Chapter 20:
With You
He woke before the sun rose. And for over an hour, in the quiet of their hotel room, he watched her sleep. Curled up against his chest like a kitten. He listened to her breathing, a smile breaking upon his face as she mewed softly in her sleep. She was dreaming. Are you dreaming of me, love? Spike wished he could stay there forever. He would watch her until the end of time with absolutely no complaints, content only to see the slight rise and fall in his goddess that kept her alive. Why was fate so cruel, to take him away? “I’m destined for her…” Would they have let him back if he was not meant for her? Was this some sort of cosmic joke, a payback of sorts to a vampire who had killed so many? His gaze returned to her. Her eyelids fluttered for a moment, before she settled back in his embrace. No. This was no punishment. He’d do it again, if given the chance. Anything just to be with her. “I’ll always be with you,” he murmured softly, brushing his lips against her cheek. “Even if you don’t know it.”
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*** “Spike?”
“ ‘m here, pet.”
“Where are we?” Buffy looked around. All she saw was white.
Stepping up to her, he cupped her face in his palm. “You are my soul.”
She frowned. ‘I know this…’ “And I am your heart?”
“Yes.” He smiled at her. “We are One.”
“One?”
Before her eyes, Spike transformed into a girl bathed in light. “One. You are the way. Our chosen. Our tool. You are your own salvation.”
“What?” Buffy frowned. “I don’t understand. Where’s Spike?”
The girl smiled kindly. “You will be going soon. Remember what I said.”***
Buffy opened her eyes, squinting at the harsh sunlight that was streaming in through the open window. Stretching her arms out, she noticed a lack of vampire in the bed beside her. A quick glance confirmed the fact that Spike was nowhere to be found. “Spike?”
He stuck his head out of the bathroom. “You’re awake, then.”
“Yup. I’m all with the waking.” Letting out a soft moan she sat up, grabbing the covers in an attempt to cover herself. In the end, all it earned her was a raised eyebrow. “Don’t like to wake up alone,” she muttered. When she stuck out her lower lip in a mock pout she knew she had him. He walked over quickly in all his freshly showered towel covered goodness, grinning at her. Before she could come up with some witty comment he’d grabbed her arm, pulling her close in a heart-stopping kiss before they fell back onto the bed.
After a long, particularly sweet moment, he drew back reluctantly to look her hard in the eye. “I love you.”
Grinning, she kissed him again. “Believe me when I say the feeling is mutual.”
“I like it more when you say it,” Spike teased. Leaning in he kissed her neck, moving up until he was nibbling her ear.
She gasped as he hit a particularly sensitive spot. Somehow, she could feel him smirking. “Love you. I love you.”
“That’s better.”
Buffy swatted at him with a pillow. “You’re in a good mood this morning.”
“What can I say? I like to kill things.” He felt his heart skip a metaphorical beat as her lips split in another gut wrenching grin. Anything just for a smile…
“We should be going,” she murmured, though she made no attempt to wriggle out from under him. He felt almost warm, pressed up against her in all the right places. She had never felt safer. She had never felt, even for a moment, more complete than she did just then, lying on a bed in a cheap motel with her honey. And it was killing her to think they would have to leave the safety of each other’s arms even for a moment, to go face the unknown. Even worse that she couldn’t tell him that. She couldn’t find the words. I hope you know. I hope you can tell how much I really care.
Nuzzling her neck with his nose, he silently thanked whoever was up there for giving him this. This moment. This girl. Even if it wasn’t forever. His arms tightened around her subconsciously at the thought. He knew his Buffy. She had been hurt too many times, suffered too many infidelities from her closest companions to survive another harsh blow. In his gut he knew; she couldn’t live without him. She loved him just as desperately as he loved her. She just didn’t know it. Will you know once I’m gone? Will you realize only when it is too late that I’m for you? He inhaled deeply, wallowing in the fragrance he already knew by heart. There was no time to think such things now. Lightly pressing his lips to her skin one last time he sat up. “Lead the way, Goldilocks.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Are you okay?”
Dawn’s head snapped up from her desk. Sheepishly, she looked at the seat to her left. “Course I’m okay. Why wouldn’t I be okay?”
“Because school ended ten minutes ago.”
“It did?” She blushed fiercely as he nodded. “Why didn’t you wake me up?”
Jake looked around the room awkwardly. “You hum in your sleep. Did you know that?” Trying desperately to change the subject, he added, “You must have been having a good dream.”
Deciding to put the thought of him watching her in her sleep, which was creating butterflies in her stomach, in the back of her mind, she shrugged. “Not really.” But only in the sense that I was watching Buffy and Spike deliver a sound serving of whoop-ass to a bunch of evil demon thingies. Personally, she wound have rather had a dream make out session or something… Unbeknownst to her, a smirk overtook her features.
“Oh.” Standing up, he shifted his back from one arm to the other as he looked down at her. “You know, um, since the buses have already left and all-”
“The buses left? Shit!”
“-As I was saying,” He continued, unable to suppress his grin at her uncharacteristic outburst, “Maybe you could, you know. Ride with me.”
She smiled shyly. “Uh, sure. Thanks.” Quickly she gathered her books, following him out into the hallway.
“So… what were you dreaming about, anyway?”
Dawn’s eyebrows shot up.
“I mean, if you want to tell me. Which you don’t have to. You know what, forget I even said anything.” Embarrassed, he looked down at his feet. Good job, doofus. She probably thinks you have some sort of speech impediment now.
Are rambling guys usually this adorable? “No, it’s okay. It was…about my sister.” Why am I even telling him this? Embarrassed, she looked down at her feet.
“Really?” Tentatively, he glanced up at her.
“Yeah. She’s…out of town, on business. I guess…I guess I’m worried about her or something.” The words rushed out of her mouth before she had time to actually consider them. Great. He’s going to think I’m some sort of worrywart now.
“Why are you worried?” He asked quickly. For some reason it particularly irked him that she was worrying about anything. Get a grip, dude.
Thinking fast, she said, “Oh, she’s a…” Better to just tell the truth, he’ll find out eventually. “A personal trainer.”
“You’re worried about your sister because she’s a personal trainer?”
Brilliant. “No. I mean. She’s flying overseas.” Seeing the blank look on his face she added, “I know how much she hates flying.” Mentally, she slapped herself in the forehead.
“Ah. Okay. I understand.” He smiled, looking back once again to his trusty tennis shoes. “Must be nice.”
She frowned. “Nice?”
Shit. “No. I didn’t mean. Nice. I meant…” Biting his tongue, he ran a hand through his hair. “It must be nice to be able to worry about her.”
“What?”
“Okay. That didn’t come out right.”
“Nope.”
It took him a few seconds to realize she was laughing at him. “Stop laughing!”
Chuckling, Dawn watched him become even more flustered. “Okay. I’m good.”
Glaring at her teasingly, he continued, “What I meant was it must be nice to have someone like that. Someone to go home to.”
Luckily, they arrived at the car. She had never been more grateful for something to do with her hands. Once they were both in, and buckled, she turned to face him. “You don’t?”
Jake shrugged, tearing his eyes from the road for a second to look at her. “I mean. I guess I do. I’ve got a mom and a dad, if that’s what you mean.”
“And I don’t,” she murmured quietly.
His eyes widened as he realized what he had implied. “I didn’t mean it like that, Dawn. Your sister, Buffy, right?”
She nodded.
“You and her, from what I’ve heard, at least, are close. Really close. I’d kill to have that.”
“You don’t?” She asked slowly, afraid she’d just crossed the line from concerned maybe-girlfriend to downright nosy kid.
He shook his head. “I don’t know. I should be grateful, right? I’m sure tons of kids have parents worse than mine. So what if mom prefers her bourbon’s company to mine? Who cares that father dearest stays out most nights with one of his ‘clients’? I can deal.”
Dawn kept her attention on her hands folded neatly in her lap, trying to think of something to say. Instead, she ended up opening and closing her mouth, looking for the entire world like a fish out of water.
“Didn’t mean to make you feel bad,” he said quickly as he observed her reaction. “Sorry. Shutting up now.”
The car pulled up to the curb. Inside, she could see Willow sitting at her spot at the kitchen table. “Jake?”
“Yeah?”
Leaning over, she kissed him gently. After the initial shock of it wore off she felt him kiss her back, his lips caressing hers softly. When they separated she let out a little gasp, smiling at the bewildered look on his face.
“You kissed me,” he blurted out. Smooth. Real smooth.
Her smile widened. “Yup. Is that okay?”
His head bobbed up and down quickly, causing her to giggle. “Why?”
“Do I have to have a reason?”
“No…”
“Because I do.”
“…Okay…”
Trying to maintain a serious expression, she said, “You’re nice.”
Jake cocked his head. “Um, thanks?”
“I’m not done!” She waited until she had his full attention once again. “You’re nice even though you apparently have a really shitty home life. And I think that says something.”
He beamed.
“I should go in now.” With another small smile she unbuckled, sliding out of the car quickly.
Before she got to the door, he called out, “Dawn!”
She whipped around. “What?”
“You’re nice too!”
The car was gone before she could think of a clever comeback. Oh well, it doesn’t matter. Happily, she turned and continued towards the house. Wait till I tell Sp- She stopped dead in her tracks. Her dream came rushing back to her. Spike. Buffy. Oh crap. She rushed into the house.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
KANO-3 MILES
“We’re almost there.”
“Mmhmm.”
“Buffy?”
“Huh?” She looked over at him.
“You okay?”
“Course.”
“That’s a no.”
“Hey!”
Spike smirked. “It’s okay, love. You can be scared. I won’t tell anyone.”
Sighing, she slumped over, leaning her head against his shoulder. “Promise?”
“I promise with all my undead heart.”
She smiled. “With all your heart…” A frown crossed her face as she struggled to remember something. “Your heart.”
He glanced at her warily. “What?”
“Oh, nothing. Something from a dream.”
Inhaling sharply, he repeated, “A dream.”
“Yeah.” She sat up, shrugging. “I don’t remember much of it.” LIE! LIE! “Something about you…and a heart…” I am your heart! I am your heart! Earth to Buffy, this is your subconscious; you remember the entire dream! In fact, you’ve had it more than once. Now stop with the stupid bimbo act and tell him! Jumping, she exclaimed, “I am your heart?”
Spike’s eyes widened. “You are my heart. I am your soul.”
Her jaw dropped. “You had it too?”
“More than once. I figured it was just-”
“-Nonsense dream babble.”
“Yeah.” He tilted his head to study her. A coincidence? Having the same dream? I’m sure it was different…somehow…“Weird.”
It couldn’t have meant anything…besides; I doubt he’s dreaming about strange girls. I hope he’s not dreaming about strange girls. Deciding to leave that bit of her dream out, she nodded in agreement. “It’s up there on the strange scale.”
However curious he was, the subject was completely forgotten as he spied another sigh. “Um, Buffy?”
“What?”
“We’re here.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 21:
Into each time before one was sent to save the world. One to balance the forces of light and of dark. Among them, there will be one unlike the rest. The One. She is the way to maintaining the balance for which they have fought. She will be beyond goodness or evil. To save her, the champion of heart will rise. Dark will lighten and the world will be anew as it never was.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Hello?”
Dawn. “Hey Dawnie.”
“Buffy!”
“Yep, it’s me.”
The line was silent for several seconds. “So. You’re in Kano.”
“We’re here, yes.” She shifted uncomfortably, finally hopping off the hood of the car to pace around it.
“Having fun?”
“Of course. I even got to drive part of the way,” she declared proudly.
“Poor Spike.”
“Hey!”
“So…”
She sighed. “What is it, Dawn.”
“I…I love you.”
“Don’t do that!” Biting her lip, she added, “We’ll be fine. I’ll be fine.”
Her sister’s voice wavered. “I hope so.”
“I’m not doing this. I didn’t call you to say goodbye,” Buffy stated harshly.
“Then don’t. Come home.”
“You know I can’t.”
Dawn sighed.
“Maybe you should put me on speaker phone or something.” She knew her friends. Each one would want to say something to her. A moment later she heard a soft ‘click’. “Hello?”
“Hey Buffster.” Xander’s voice rang with false enthusiasm that made her cringe.
“Hi,” Willow chirped.
“How are you, Buffy?” Giles asked.
“Okay. We’re okay. We’re ready to fight.”
“Buffy…” She heard him conferring with the others. “Be careful.”
“Carefulness. Check.”
He cleared his throat. “When you get there, look around for the weapon. It should be revealed to you when you need it.”
“Okay.” For some reason, his words struck her as odd. Oh well.
“We all just wanted to say…” Willow now. She sounded so…sad. “We wanted to say good… luck. Good luck.”
Darn you. Struggling with unshed tears, she glanced over at Spike. Silent Spike. When she’d asked him if he’d wanted to talk to them he’d just shaken his head, mumbling under his breath about how he hated goodbyes. She didn’t blame him. “Thanks. I’ll pass the message along.”
“Tell Spike hi for me, okay?”
She smiled at her sister’s request. “I will.”
“So…”
“We should be going,” she said quickly.
“Oh. Well…bye.” Dawn’s voice wavered again.
“Bye,” The rest of the gang said quietly.
She hung up without a word, staring hard at the ground. You aren’t going to cry, dammit. Don’t even think about it. “Bye.”
Spike stepped up to her cautiously. “Are you okay, Buffy?”
“I just said goodbye to my best friends,” she choked out. “I said goodbye to my sister. Do you think I’m okay?” hiding her face in his chest she tried to control herself. “I want it over. I want it done with.”
Wrapping his arms around her, he buried his face in her hair. With a deep breath he said, “Let’s go, then.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He will give himself to save them all. There will be a great battle, in which he will perish. The forces of evil will bide their time under the Earth, waiting for the time when they might rise again. The One and her army will be spread far and wide. They will face their own evils as they would-alone. Only together can the balance be achieved.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dawn looked around the sullen room as she turned off the phone. “Are they going to be okay?” She asked quietly.
Giles flashed her a comforting smile. “Of course.”
“How do you know?”
“I… don’t,” he said slowly.
“You don’t.”
“No.” His lips twitched slightly at that.
“It’s Buffy,” Xander said after a moment. “And the way I see it, nothing can stop her. Not apocalypse, not death, not anything.”
“I wish we were there.”
He turned to look at Willow. “But we aren’t supposed to be. Whatever happens, it’s their fight. Not ours.”
Whipping her head up, she glared at him. “And how are they any more prepared than Faith and Buffy were?”
He shrugged. “Got me.”
“Maybe…” Giles thought a moment before proceeding. “Maybe they weren’t supposed to go. Or they weren’t supposed to win, at least. I think it’s perfectly clear, from what we’ve seen, that it is Buffy and Spike who must face this force. It is possible they themselves are the only ones who will be able to come out of the battle the victors.”
“I hope so,” Dawn murmured. “Otherwise, they’re as good as dead.”
Willow wrung her hands nervously. “I’m gonna, um, go work on the translation.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alone will they go towards small victories. Alone shall they die. Without completion, each shall spiral down into the fiery pits as evil grows impatient and shows itself. Risen again, he will fight for one dear. The armies of the dark will keep hidden the answer, keep hidden the key to their being. They shall rise up in their numbers and be spread to keep apart the forces. As long as they remain unbalanced, so shall the armies succeed in their quests. Dark is held as long as light remains; without her it devours. And the world will become hell. She will fight, but she will fall. Without heart, she will fall.
The key to achieving this balance is within. The answer they search for is before them. It has always been; crafted before any known thing. But it will only be discovered at the time of it’s beckoning.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rocks. Trees. Grass. Okay. Buffy anxiously scanned their surroundings as they walked through the savannah. “Do you see anything?”
“Not yet,” he replied briskly. Clenching and unclenching his fists, he watched a bird fly overhead.
“Soon, William.”
Spike frowned. “Buffy?”
“Yeah?”
“Did you hear that?”
“Hear what?”
“…Nothing.” With a sigh he turned his attention back to the space in front of him. “So. What exactly should I be looking for.”
She looked over at him incredulously. “You have to be kidding.”
“I know it’s a kangaroo demon and all that-”
“Betugk Swetuk.”
“-…Right.” For some reason, the fact she actually knew what the demons were called, and more importantly how to pronounce their name, struck him as funny. “What I mean is, how does it attack. Does is stalk you from behind or just kind of mosey up to you or…”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess it sort of…pounced.”
Spike raised his eyebrows. “Pounced?”
“Shut up.”
He grinned. “Um, Buffy?”
She glanced over at him. “What?”
“I, um. You know.” He waited a few moments until it was quite clear that she didn’t. Sighing, he murmured, “I love you.”
Buffy skidded to a halt. “What the hell!?”
“Okay, not quite the reaction I was expecting…”
“Spike…” Angrily, she rolled her eyes. “Even you? Even you think we’re not going to make it out of here alive?”
His eyes widened. “No! I mean, yes! I mean, see, I do. I do think we’ll make it out.” Or at least you will… He tried again. “We are going to win. I know it.”
“Then why did you say that,” she asked quietly.
“Because I thought you should know.”
Awww… Cocking her head, she smiled slightly. “I do.”
Spike smirked. “Good. Now all we have to do is find those kangaroos.”
“And the weapon,” she added, watching the horizon for any movement.
“Don’t worry about that, love. According to your Watcher it’ll come to us.”
She sighed. “I hope so.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was created long ago to keep the dimensions in balance. Before the times of right and wrong. The world was neither good nor bad; it simply was. There was no concept of evil or righteousness; such things did not exist. The entirety of it all was placed into this one energy. So basic was its purpose: to store all the pure and un-pure things within itself, and keep within the lands peace. But it could not last forever. The Powers, so concerned with containing these powerful forces, failed to notice when they could no longer be contained. It burst so suddenly there was no time to correct what had been done. The worst of all evils and the greatest of all goods were released to wreck havoc upon our worlds. And that they did. For centuries untold demons roamed the Earth freely, while the divine took to the skies.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Don’t worry about that, love. According to your Watcher it’ll come to us.”
“I hope so.”
You need not worry, she thought. Everything will take care of itself. Indeed, everything was turning out quite nicely. Except for the very minor problem of Buffy Summers.
The Slayer was more of a challenge than she had originally thought. Of course, it was a miracle she had gotten as far as she was. For years the poor girl had kept a protective bubble around herself, not allowing anyone in too close. She had been scared for so long. At first she’d thought it was ironic that the Chosen One, who fought against so many unnamable things, was absolutely terrified of being close with someone. And the disaster that was The One Of Soul certainly didn’t help that. But she was so right for it… So it was back to the drawing board. And she realized it wasn’t a soul that the girl needed-it was a heart.
Desperately she searched until a brutal killer with the heart of a poet struck her. She tried everything to get them together. Sexy clubs, cheating partners, quirky similarities, seemingly random alliances. Nothing worked. Eventually they had to create an entire human organization just to get the right players back onto the field. What a hassle. But for years she tended them, mussing up the young witch’s spell and bringing forth hell gods to keep her mission together. They were perfect. The greatest good with a passion for the dark side, and the worst evil with a huge soft spot. They were it. They were what they had been waiting for all of these years.
They were One.
And now that damn stubborn girl was going to mess it all up.
After the battle with the first, the Powers had been convinced it had been a fluke. She had thought it had been a fluke. They had been good, but it wouldn’t have worked. After all, he’d died hadn’t he? They gave up. But then he came to her, looking so incredibly miserable. And he’d said those chilling words. I’m destined for her… So back he went. One last shot. And if it didn’t work out this time, then it never would.
The Girl watched her charges dutifully as they trekked across the barren land. Soon, their weapon would be revealed. Or maybe they already knew. Soon, William. Soon.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Powers were given an opportunity to set the world right again. And so righteousness, embodied in the form of a Chosen One descended onto the plains. This solution would not be permanent. The scales would balance, surely, but at any given moment could tip. A solution was proposed. The prophecy was written: Only when virtue in form blends with malevolence incarnate may the worlds rest.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Against the darn…against the dork…against the door?”
Xander raised an eyebrow at his friend. “Huh?”
“Oh. It’s the prophecy,” Willow explained. “I’m having problems with a word. Dank…damp…dole?”
“As in pineapple?”
She glared at him. “Very funny. I’m trying to help Buffy!”
“By translating a prophecy about an ancient pineapple?”
“Dark!” She exclaimed. “It’s dark!”
He frowned. “What’s dark?”
“The word, silly. It’s dark.”
“Ah.” He leaned over to read what she had. “ ‘For years the Chosen fought against the dark’. Hey, do you think they mean Buffy?”
“I might be able to find that out if you stopped asking questions,” she snapped.
With a sigh he stood up, opting to sit next to the slightly less-cranky teenager on the sofa. “Hey Dawnie.”
“Don’t mind Willow,” Dawn said quickly. “She’s just. You know. Nervous.”
“I think we’ll all be nervous until this is over.” Chewing on a hangnail he looked around. “I gotta get out of here. Wanna come get doughnuts with me?”
She smiled. “Okay.”
Giles watched the two of them exit the house. Shaking his head, he went back to his text. After a few minutes he slammed it shut in pure frustration. “Bloody hell. I can’t find a damned thing.”
Willow shot him an amused expression. It was a rare day when Rupert Giles lost his temper, never mind the swearing. “I don’t exactly think there’s a lot to find at this point. We’ve kind of got everything we’re going to get on the Betugks. Ooh!” Happily she scribbled a few more words down on the page.
“You seem to be having a bit of luck,” he commented.
“I think I found something on Buffy!” Twirling her pencil around on her fingers, she read. “ ‘For years the Chosen One fought against the dark forces. The Powers feared that their balance would never be restored. But finally, there was a girl unlike the rest.’”
He took of his glasses, carefully cleaning them with his handkerchief. “It certainly sounds like our Buffy.”
“What should I do?” Willow asked anxiously.
Taking a moment to think, he stood from the table. “Keep translating. If-When they call again, we can inform them of the new material.”
“Okay.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Only when the lion lays down with the lamb may the waters still. Only when the greatest good embraces the dark, and only when the worst evil embraces the light, may the prophecy be fulfilled.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A movement in the grass caused him to slow his pace. Unwinding his fingers from hers he squinted, trying to get a better look.
“What?” Buffy frowned. “What do you see.”
“Not sure, love.” His eyes roamed around until another shift in the distance caught his attention. With a target now in site, he took a few cautious steps.
“Spike…” Biting her tongue she tried to see what he was watching so fixedly. A lump rose in her throat as she recognized the hunched creature lurking in the underbrush. “There,” she hissed.
“I see it.” Spike balled his hands into fists, waiting for the demon to make its move.
She rocked back and forth on the balls of her feet. “So, how do you want to do this? Run at them together, or draw them out and take them one-on-one?”
“I wasn’t thinking so much on strategy but on just plain killing the thing,” he retorted.
Rolling her eyes, she did a quick check behind them. “Why do you have to get testy right before the big fights?”
Despite the tense situation, he smiled. “Like that, do you?”
“No.”
His smile widened. “Oh come on. I know you, Slayer.” Almost playfully he brushed against her. “I know you like it rough.”
Buffy felt a smirk rising to her lips. She tried desperately to keep her mind on more important things. Like staying alive, for example. “Maybe we could talk about this later? When we aren’t in a live or die situation, perhaps?”
“When aren’t we in a live or die situation, love?”
A chuckle escaped her. “Aren’t we supposed to be finding some all-powerful weaponry right about now?”
“Right.” Immediately his tone turned to a more serious note. Of course, this image was completely destroyed when he held a hand up to his forehead visor-style, pursed his lips and started looking around intently. Hearing her snort, he turned to look at her. Keeping the demon in eyesight, of course. God, she is beautiful. The hot African sun had made her cheeks a rosy pink, and her skin gleam with little beads of sweat. Her hair, which she had pulled back from her face a-la-Slayer, had also wilted in the heat, little wisps curling against her face. And he was mesmerized by the way her loose T-shirt blew in the breeze, revealing the strap of the tight-fitting tank top she wore underneath. He silently thanked whatever genius had invented Spandex. His thoughts were rudely interrupted when their demon friend decided to come out of hiding. Snapping his head around he caught a glimpse of it charging towards them.
“Showtime,” Buffy proclaimed meekly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Powers grew impatient. For years they watched man cower from the demons, none among them brave enough to do anything but hate the creatures. And always, their Chosen One perished.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When he first laid eyes on the thing coming at them, he hadn’t been scared. In fact, he’d been exhilarated. Until he noticed it was going straight towards his girl. Horrified, he watched as it reared up, hopping like an insane kangaroo on steroids. With a roar he leapt in front of her, yelling at her to get back. It did him little good. The demon swung at him, knocking him of his feet and out of its way. “Buffy!”
Before she had time to react it was upon her, hacking at her with those damned claws. She managed to get a decent kick to its head before it slashed her across the stomach, blood splattering everywhere as she flew backwards. Coming at her again it nailed her arm, causing her to cry out in pain before she tripped, smashing her head against a boulder.
He’d never felt anger like this. Even as a heartless killer, he’d never had this blood-boiling rage flowing through him. But that’s what happens when you see the love of your un-life knocked bleeding and unconscious. On his feet once more, he pounced on the demon. Holding onto it’s back like a madman as it howled and bucked he slid into game face, biting into the thick hide with an animal’s abandon. It’s blood poured thick and dark into his mouth, reminding him more of tar than the life giving fluid that it was. He bit again and again, feeling its arteries explode beneath his teeth. After a minute of struggling the demon staggered, falling to the ground with a snarl. He jumped off quickly, noting that it was still very much alive and angry, only weakened for the moment by the injury. Luckily, a moment was all he needed.
Quickly he kneeled by her side. Her eyes were closed, blood trickling down the side of her face. Spike reached over, trying to brush her hair away from her eyes. She would want him to do that. He needed to brush back her hair. Near hysterics, he swiped frantically at the wisps he had admired mere minutes before. His fingers brushed her forehead. When this happened, he felt a small shock. Of course, that was nothing close to what he felt next.
Before she even opened her eyes her fingers rubbed gently against the back of his hand. When her eyes did open she was met by an astounded look. “Hi.”
He blinked. He blinked several times. He let his hands explore the smooth skin of her arm. Her stomach. A laugh escaped him that probably sounded more like an insanely evil cackle.
“Spike?” She sat up, watching him warily. “What happened?” Her eyes shifted to the limp body lying behind him. “Did you kill it?”
“No,” he gasped in between chortles. “Couldn’t. Kill it.” Taking several deep breaths, he stared deep into her eyes. “What was that?”
“That?”
He gestured to her stomach. Her silky, untouched stomach. How he wanted to kiss it. “That. You were hurt. And then…”
Oh shit. “No time for questions now,” she hissed. Gesturing to the two beings heading their way, she stood. “First, we fight.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
She was not created to fight. It had not been her purpose. She had been created to balance the forces, yes, and control demonic activities, yes, but she was built above all to restore the ancient balances. The first Chosen was perfect; all that was good, along with a passion for all that was bad. But man found her; chained her down with reason and nobility, told her to kill the creatures she was made, secretly, to love.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Picking up a rock Buffy braced herself for the impending attack. When she looked over, she noticed Spike wasn’t fairing much better; he was currently wielding what looked to be a… gourd? Before she could even consider this to be funny she was faced with the first of now three very pissed off kangaroos. Why the hell didn’t we bring weapons? She thought to herself as she dodged an attack. Of course, she knew why. There was supposed to be a weapon here for them already. And it was supposed to kill these damned things. Unfortunately, this almighty ‘one tool’ was nowhere in sight. Angrily she threw her rock, momentarily pleased when it crashed into the face of one of her opponents.
He flipped over the demon, ignoring the new cut he now wore across his chest from the bold move. Looking over his shoulder he watched her kick and spin, a flurry of arms and legs if there ever was one. Like hell if she gets the first kill. He whacked his beastie over the head with his weapon. And grimaced as it exploded in a messy goo all over his shirt. “Aw fuck,” he muttered as he dove wildly out of the way of a now goo-covered claw. When he stood he noted that Buffy was standing a few feet away, facing the other direction. Actually, he could feel it. Feel her. That’s a little-… Ow… Make that less than a foot away now. Considering he’d been slammed backwards by the force of that goo-covered, foot-and-a-half long claw sliding through him like a hot knife through butter. A glance behind him confirmed it; he was now an Official Un-Dead Shih Kabob.
Duck. Jump. Twist. Bend. Buffy moved quickly, trying to get close enough to the thing to kill it without getting sliced to pieces in the process. Suddenly, she noticed there were no noises coming from her counterpart. Before she had time to figure out what was wrong she was shoved-not sliced, she noted-backwards, stumbling before she crashed into none other than Spike. Momentarily, she wondered why Spike had what felt like a very sharp, well, spike sticking out of his back, which she could feel now imbedded at least an inch or two into her own soft flesh. Wait a minute…Long, spike-y thing sticking out of Spike. Oh crap. For a moment, everything seemed to slow down. The demons, which had been moving too fast for her to hardly keep track of, seemed suspended in motion. And all she heard was the soft beating of her own heart. She gasped as she felt a thick liquid against her wound, dripping down her back. Blood. Her blood. Spike’s blood. It mingled with her own, surprisingly cold against her skin. A sudden burst of pure white light, so bright it was nearly blinding, flashed across the land. She closed her eyes.
“A One tool …”
“You are my heart…”
“Crafted before the time of steel.”
“You are my soul…”
“One. You are the way.”
“And together…”
“ Our chosen. Our tool.”
“We are One.”
“You are your own salvation.”
Buffy’s eyes flew open. “It’s us,” she whispered.
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For years the Chosen One fought against the dark forces. The Powers feared that their balance would never be restored. But finally, there was a girl unlike the rest.
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“Buffy?” He turned his head as much as he could to try and catch a glimpse of her.
Sliding off the claw with the small slurp that comes along with removing any large weapon from your body, she whirled around. “It’s us!” She cried out.
“Us?”
“We’re it! We’re that Tool thing!” For emphasis, she turned and punched the demon that had been sneaking up behind her square in the jaw. The thing toppled over, landing with a wonderful thud on the hard ground.
Now isn’t this interesting…Grabbing a hold on his captor’s long ears, he jerked its head to the side. As it fell to the ground he managed to free himself from its arm, all the time admiring its now broken neck. Looking down, he admired his hole-free stomach. A bloke could get used to this…“Fancy that.”
Buffy grinned.
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Deep inside, she possessed the need for darkness that had been beaten out of the other Chosen Ones. The need of darkness that would allow her to love what others despised.
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With newfound hope he tackled the remaining creature, wrestling it to the ground with strength he never knew he had. Like it’s predecessor, it received a lovely, if not out of date, broken neck. Dusting off his hands he stood up, watching her finish off her unconscious buddy. “So. That’s it then.”
“Not by far,” she said with another crazy grin. At his confused expression she gestured to the dozen or more bodies emerging from the underbrush. Like a crazy person, or the sort of person who knows she can kill these things, she launched herself at the nearest one.
Watching her fight like that was making him dizzy. And a little bit horny. He shook his head quickly, trying to focus. But even when he turned away, he could still feel her fighting. Feel her smiling. As he literally punched a hole through one opponent’s chest, crushing its heart between his fingers, all he could hear was her excited heartbeat. As he tore open another’s throat, all he could taste was her blood, a flavor sampled for just a moment yet permanently imbedded in his mouth. It was like… It was like…
It was like Heaven.
Oh, shit.
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As a test to confirm their theories, they sent forth a vampire to court her. She loved him desperately. But they were not it. They did not have the right blend. They were soul and soul, deadly to their enemies but still lacking the most basic principle.
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Buffy spun through the cluster of legs and claws, wielding nothing more than her trusted rock and a confident look. She had never felt strength this great. This… consuming. Yes. It was consuming her. Positively devouring her. Turning her already freakishly strong muscles and quick reflexes into something more. Something better. Something that could whoop the ass of anything it encountered.
Spin. Kick. Twirl. Punch. Kill. Destroy. Annihilate. Each movement seemed fluid. Each movement felt graceful. And each movement knocked down another one of the bad guys. These guys aren’t so tough, she thought smugly as she tore the claw off of one, looking at it approvingly before using it to slice open another. I’ll have to bring some of these things home. Giles would love ‘em.
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Heart.
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No. I’m still here. I’m still Spike. I’ve got arms, I’ve got legs, I’ve got great hair. Get a grip! Try as he might to move, the master vampire seemed to be frozen where he stood. Taking a few deep breaths, he managed to reach out and grab a fleeing demon by the throat, crushing it instantly in his oddly strong grip. See. I’m helping. I’m no wanker. Unfortunately, his feet had decided to stay put. And the kangaroos had basically figured out enough to stay far, far away from him. And Buffy. He glanced over at her. Buffy… No! I’m here! I’m. Staying. HERE!!!
“William…”
As the head of her last victim rolled clear of its body, she noticed Spike standing still. Spike looking at her in the oddest fashion. Spike feeling like he was going to throw up. Wait a minute…She could feel what he felt. She could feel the bile rising in the back of his mouth. She could feel the blood on his hands. She could feel his regret. His sorrow. She could feel the pain lacing through her as the sharp edge of the demon’s claw was drug across his throat, as she watched in pure and total horror.
“SPIKE!”
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Both the soul of the Chosen…
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Oh god… Oh god oh god oh god no you stupid idiot get up you’re scaring the crap out of me why are you just laying there you stupid stupid vampire god I love you so much please don’t leave me I can’t live without you you have to be okay you’re fine now please just sit up and say some stupid cocky Spike thing and make everything alright why are your eyes closed why aren’t you moving it’s a bad joke a bad horrible filthy joke and any second now you’re going to realize you’re a frickin’ super hero and you can’t be hurt you just can’t be hurt god no you’re just faking but why won’t you just open your eyes I need to see your eyes blue like the sea and so amazing I loose myself every time I look at them-
Barely looking up, she pummeled Spike’s attacker until it was no more than a puddle of mush.
-I need your eyes I need your eyebrows I need your eyelids and your eyelashes and you’re nose and mouth and lips and tongue sweet tongue tastes like buffalo wings and cigarettes so good yummy need your impossibly perfect cheekbones god those cheekbones you could cut diamond with those things I swear they’re awesome and very very British like tea only better looking and can’t forget your hair smells like crap like a science lab but I don’t mind it’s soft and fluffy when you don’t put that gooey stuff in it and I need it so badly you couldn’t imagine-
Carefully she bent over his limp figure. “Spike?” She whimpered.
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…and the heart of the Champion…
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*** He’d been watching Buffy. He hadn’t seen the demon, that one last demon come up behind him. Stupid. So stupid. He hadn’t even noticed until his blood was spilling on the ground. He’d been too absorbed in watching her. Too caught up in her to really see anything. Stupid. Careless. He mentally kicked himself. Couldn’t watch her now. Can’t watch her with my bleeding eyes closed. No. He couldn’t open his eyes. Couldn’t feel them. Knew he was still in there somewhere. He wasn’t dead. Not quite yet. Buried inside his own mind, yes, but not quite back where he’d started. Though he was greeted by that eerie whiteness once again.
And her.
“William.”
“No,” he murmured. He would not leave. He could not leave. He shouldn’t have to leave, dammit! Why was he always being torn away from the one person he really loved? Why was there always distance between them? Why was there no fairytale ending? Why did life suck so much, to pull two people together and rip them apart like some cheap teenage angst story?!?
He loved her. More than words could say. More than art or music could possibly describe. More than anyone could possibly dream. He had loved her with every fiber of his being.
You didn’t need a soul to love. You didn’t need to be some Nancy-boy with stupid hair and a chip on your shoulder to care for another person. Care for them so much you sometimes thought you’d gone crazy. As he’d once said, ‘love isn’t brains. It’s blood’. ‘Love’, he had read somewhere, ‘was more than blind. It was deaf and dumb, too. It was cationic. It was vegetative’. It was stupid for a vampire to love a Slayer. He knew that. And still he loved her. Because he knew, deep down, he was the only person in forever that was made, specifically, to be with her. And only her. ****
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…are needed to restore the balance.
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“Spike?!?” Lifting his limp head from the ground, she settled it gently in her lap. Spike oh god you have to be okay…Looking at his neck, she winced. No. The cut was long and ugly, and deep too. It doesn’t look too bad, Spike. I can fix it, Spike. I can make you all better, Spike. Quickly she brushed her hand against his cheek, remembering what a simple touch had done earlier. Nothing. She cautiously placed her fingers alongside the torn skin. Still nothing. No…She never even noticed she was crying until her tears splashed down on his lifeless face.
“No,” she whispered, leaning down until she was lying next to him in the dirt. Burying her face in his bloodstained T-shirt, she howled in agony. “NO!” One arm still draped over Spike, she beat the ground beside her with each cry. Finally she collapsed, sobbing uncontrollably and holding on to him for dear life. If she could just hold on to him, maybe he wouldn’t really be gone. If she just held on, maybe he’d wake up. If she could just hold him…
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Only they can bring peace.
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Buffy lay there for a good fifteen minutes before she could even lift her head. It couldn’t be. It couldn’t be that the one person who knew the real her was gone. The one person she’d ever truly loved. The only person. The only person, her vampire, her Spike, who was absolutely perfect for her. He couldn’t be gone. He just couldn’t. She looked up at his stilled face. It looked like he was sleeping. He never breathed when he slept. And he always slept so perfectly still. But he didn’t usually have dried blood caked on his skin either. He didn’t usually have a strange blue color creeping over him. He had never felt so cold. He had never seemed so… human.
She let herself run her fingers through his hair, which had been tousled during the fight. It was still soft. It made her cry harder.
Sliding up so she lay face to face with him, she wound her fingers through his. Trying to ignore how limp his were. How dead. Instead she concentrated on his face. His lovely face. You can’t be gone, dammit! I love you! I…I need you. She placed a tender kiss on his lips. “I love you,” she murmured against his cheek. “Did I ever tell you? Did I ever tell you how much I love you?”
Too late now. Spike was gone. Spike was dead. Spike had gone on to another place. And he would never be coming back.
“Don’t leave me.” She kissed him lightly again. Running her hand along the side of his face, she said, “I need you.”
Numbly, she stood up. With a last glance, she turned and walked away. She couldn’t do this. She couldn’t live without him. He’d crushed her the first time he’d left. And now… Now she was no more than an empty shell. A hull. A body, waiting for someone to come along and end its misery. “I need you, Spike,” she said so quietly she could barely hear herself. “I need you here with me. Why did you leave me? I can’t do this without you.” Slowly, she trudged off into the distance. It really didn’t matter where she was going. Nothing mattered.
Spike was dead. And nothing she ever did would bring him back.
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Only their passion, their strength, their sheer need of one another can unlock the long ago destroyed force that is One.
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The sun was so warm. Out in the savannah, everything was stilled. Everything was silent. No crickets chirped. No birds sang. The land was utterly tranquil. And still the sun’s rays beat down.
Silence. It surrounded him. Surrounded him and blinded him. And all he could hear was the soft thud-thump, thud-thump of his own heart.
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They are the world’s last hope.
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If you have any questions or comments, please review. I’ll take it as a personal insult if you don’t.
And fear not, loyal Spuffy fans-why would I have a third story if our favorite character was not around to partake in it?
Go check out Heart and Soul! And thanks again!
<3 Evaline