* * * * * * * * * * * *

~Chapter Ten: What’s in a Name?~

William raced down the steps of the manor and into the yard, dodging the guests as they slowly made their way inside. The ceremony was finally moving to the ballroom; time for dancing. He knew his mother would be angry when he and Buffy didn’t show up, but he really didn’t have time for the festivities. He would deal with Rebecca’s temper later, once he had taken care of Angel.

He spotted Giles and Xander and called their names at the top of his lungs. They looked over at him, smiling, but he simply shouted, “Stables, now!” He didn’t give them time to ask questions, continuing on at breakneck speed toward the stables.

Xander and Giles followed behind him, bewildered looks on both their faces. They wondered what had caused this sudden hurry and were a little bit worried to find out. William had been drunk and angry when he had left them earlier to speak with Buffy, so they were fairly certain she had something to do with it. Whatever she had said, it was definitely nothing of the good.

They finally reached the stables, sweaty and out of breath, and leaned heavily against the door frame.

“What - the - hell - was - that - about?” Xander asked between pants.

“Saddle my horse,” was the only reply.

Mopping his forehead with a ragged white cloth, Giles inquired, “Your talk with Buffy was unsuccessful, I presume?”

Tapping his boot impatiently, William snapped, “Went fine, now saddle my bleedin’ horse!”

At the sound of his sharp tone, both men sprang into action, afraid to incur their friend’s wrath. Giles opened the nearest stall and gently tugged on the rope around the horse’s neck until it stepped out. Xander hurried to a nearby shelf and pulled down a heavy brown saddle. He handed it to Giles and snatched a leather bridle from a hook under the shelf. Together they strapped on the saddle and fitted the bridle over the stallion’s ebony head.

Handing William the reins, Xander asked, “Any chance you might tell us where you’re going in such a hurry?”

William mounted the horse in silence, his lips pressed into a thin, angry line. He nodded his head in gratitude at his companions and steered the horse toward the stable entrance. Urging the steed into a gallop, he took off into the field, never once looking back.

“Where do you suppose he’s headed?” Giles asked, pulling out the white rag again to clean his glasses.

Xander shook his head, watching the shrinking silhouette of the rider and horse. “Where ever he’s going, I can bet it’s not for a friendly visit.”

Giles nodded his head in agreement, tucking the rag back into his pocket. “Perhaps Buffy said something he didn’t appreciate?” he suggested, voicing both their suspicions..

“That’s what I’m thinking. Let’s go find out.”

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Jerking the stallion into a sharp stop, William jumped down from its back and slapped its rear, sending it galloping back toward his home. He then turned to the looming gray stone manor before him and strode purposefully toward it. Banging a fist on the heavy door, William bellowed, “Angel, you big poof, get your bloody carcass down here now!”

His pounding was rewarded a few moments later when the familiar face of his rival appeared at the door.

Angel smirked at him. “Why, Spike, my good friend, what brings you here?”

William’s right hand shot out, clutching the brunette’s neck as he backed him into the manor and shoved him up against the far wall. “What right do you have to go off blabberin’ to my wife ‘bout things she doesn’t need to be hearin’?” he hissed.

Angel’s smirk grew wider. “I’m happy to see you, too,” he said sardonically.

“Answer me, you bloody pillock!” William raged, his grip tightening.

“Straight to business,” Angel managed to croak. “I like that. I’m a little surprised you came. I was starting to believe you never would, but here you are.” He flashed the blonde a phony smile.

“God damn it, Angel!” William growled warningly.

Angel held up his hands in supplication. “You know, I just thought it would be nice to inform the lady exactly what kind of man she was marrying,” he explained reasonably.

William’s face was livid now. His left hand at his side was clenched so tightly the nails were making tiny bloody crescents in his palm. The muscles in his jaw ticked in annoyance as hatred poured from his eyes. “Trying to best me again, mate?” he asked, his calm voice belying his fury. “Don’t you ever get tired of that routine?”

Angel grinned. “What can I say? I go straight for the jugular every time.”

“You’re wasting your time,” William informed him. “Bint’s already got it in for me.”

Chuckling, Angel said, “I should have known you could make the girl detest you all on your own. What’d you do, introduce her to Dru?”

A loud growl echoed through the room as William slammed his rival’s head back against the stone wall.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Buffy sighed. “He said he knew Angel would be trouble and that he would kill him. Then he stormed off.”

“Angel!” Xander exclaimed, slapping his forehead in a ‘duh!’ gesture.

“Of course!” Giles agreed.

“Who is Angel anyway?” Buffy asked.

The two men looked at her and immediately lost all capability to speak coherently.

“Uh...he, uh...he’s, um....” Xander stuttered, looking to Giles for help.

“Well, Angel is...h-he...” Giles stammered, unsure exactly what to tell her. “It’s not important at the moment,” he concluded, finally able to form a complete thought. “We have more pressing matters at hand.”

They started for the door, but Buffy blocked their way, an angry frown on her face. “Neither one of you is leaving until you tell me who Angel is,” she informed them sternly.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

“Did I hit a nerve, Spikey?” Angel asked, his voice filled with mocking laughter even as his head throbbed in pain.

William’s fist connected sharply with the brunette’s jaw, sending the larger man’s head snapping to the side. “Leave Dru out of this,” he hissed, his blue eyes sparking with rage.

Angel turned his head to look at the younger man, casually wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. William had let go of his throat to throw the punch, and Angel took quick advantage of that fact. Turning the tables, he seized the blonde by his shirt and crushed him up against the same wall he himself had just vacated. Smiling fiendishly, Angel whispered, “Still worried I’m gonna steal your woman, Spike?”

Growling furiously, William doubled his efforts to get away, but both Angel’s hands held him firmly in place. His struggles were futile, yet he continued to try, hoping to catch just one false move.

Rolling his eyes, Angel said, “That was years ago! You should have moved on by now. I did.” He flashed another smirk as he felt William’s body tense. “I guess old feelings do resurface when salt is poured into open wounds,” he mused.

“You haven’t got a prayer with Dru!” William spat.

“Oh, really?” Angel countered, raising a curious brow. “I’ve stolen your women before; it shouldn’t be too difficult to do it again.”

“That was different,” William insisted, the ‘old feelings’ Angel had mentioned tearing at familiar scars and making them bleed anew.

“Why’s that?”

William’s gaze locked on the floor as unbidden tears sprang to his eyes. “Cecily never loved me,” he muttered.

Angel’s head flew back as he cackled like a madman. “And you honestly think Dru does?” he asked incredulously.

Roaring in pain and rage, William shoved at the brunette with all his might. He succeeded in causing the larger man to stumble back just enough so that he could move away from the wall. Seizing his chance, he tackled his rival, sending them both sprawling on the floor.

Managing to land on top, William swiftly maneuvered himself so that he was straddling Angel’s waist. His thighs squeezed fiercely on either side of the immobile man beneath him, effectively pinning the brunette’s arms by his sides. Grinning viciously, William’s fists began to rain down heavy blows upon Angel’s face.

With each punch, Angel’s head was flung to the side. He felt his lip split and the blood come oozing out, but his head was spinning so fast he couldn’t have moved to stop the torture even if he had wanted to. His vision started becoming blurry, the form of his attacker swirling into a myriad of obscure colors. He concentrated all of his being into staying conscious, confident that the blonde man’s fury couldn’t possibly last much longer.

William’s knuckles were coated with blood, but whether it was his or Angel’s, he couldn’t tell. A sudden pain shot up his arm, and he decided a change of tactics was in order. Promptly swinging his right leg over Angel’s prone form, William stood, reaching back down to grasp the brunette’s shirt. Hauling him up so that they were toe to toe, William growled and flung him to his left. He let go at the last instant, sending the larger man flying into the nearby table.

Wood splintered as Angel’s heavy body collided with the table. He lay still for a moment amidst the broken pieces, his body too battered to move. His eyes were shut tight against the pain, his shallow breaths hissing between his gritted teeth.

“Get up!” he heard William shout from across the room. Gradually, his bleary eyes opened, and he lifted his head. Grimacing at the overwhelming flood of pain, Angel shifted himself into a sitting position. Slowly, so as not to further injure himself, he pulled himself up so he was standing. He stood still for a moment on wobbly legs, his stormy brown eyes fixing on the cold, steel blue gaze of the blonde’s.

“Fight me like a man, Angel,” William taunted, smirking. “‘S no fun when you lie down like a dog.”

Ignoring the immense pain, Angel came stiffly forward. William met him halfway, and for a moment, the two enemies stood glowering at each other. Then, unexpectedly, Angel’s hand shot out, his fingers tightly closing around the younger man’s throat in a vice-like grip. He backed William against the opposite wall, and, his hold never faltering, mercilessly smashed the blonde’s head into the mirror.

Shards of glass cut deeply into the back of William’s head. He felt sticky red liquid trickle down his neck, matting his hair to his skull. His teeth clacked together as Angel continued to pound him into the broken mirror. An overpowering exhaustion came over him, but he refused to shut his eyes. He knew Angel would probably beat him until he was unconscious, but he would fight it as long as he could.

“Angel?” he heard a soft, panicked voice call.

Abruptly, Angel’s hold on him was relinquished, and he sagged gratefully to the floor. He rested there a moment, his eyes finally shutting, listening to the chatter.

“Oh, my Angel! I heard terrible noises!”

‘Somethin’ familiar ‘bout that voice,’ William thought, though his battered brain couldn’t quite make out whom it belonged to.

“Spike here wanted to play a little game,” Angel replied mockingly.

“Naughty Spike!” came the chastising voice.

“Dru?” William mumbled, cautiously opening his eyes. His vision swam in front of him, but gradually the blurry forms of the couple came into focus. “Dru?” he nearly shouted this time, his wide blue eyes fixed on the dark-haired woman beside his enemy.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

“Angel is William’s greatest opponent,” Giles stated, cleaning his glasses. “They have been trying to best each other for years, and as a result of that, have developed extremely volatile tempers towards one another.”

“What happened between them?” Buffy asked.

“What happens between all good looking men?” Xander retorted. “They end up fighting about women, that’s what.”

Buffy raised a questioning brow. “So all this is because they both liked the same girl?”

“In a nutshell, yes,” Giles replied. “However, the details are much more complicated.” He raised a hand as Buffy prepared to ask him to elaborate and said, “Unfortunately, those details are not mine to tell. William’s private life is exactly that...private. If he wishes for you to know about his relationship with Angel, I’m sure he’ll inform you.”

“What kind of name is Angel anyway?” Buffy scoffed.

“Not a very manly one,” Xander joked. “Or as Will would say, it’s a ‘poofter’ name.”

Giles sighed. “That’s not his actual name, Xander. His *actual* name is Liam.”

Xander pouted. “I knew that.”

Giles just rolled his eyes.

“Wait. Angel is-is Liam?” Buffy asked, worrying at her bottom lip.

“Precisely. They are one and the same,” Giles confirmed.

Xander cocked his head at her. “What’s wrong, Buffy? You look a little pale.”

“Liam is the one who told me about the deal William made with his father,” Buffy explained nervously.

“So *that’s* why Will ran off to Angel’s so fast!” Xander exclaimed. Seeing the stern look on Giles’ face and Buffy’s frown, he blushed and amended, “I mean, oh no.”

* * * * * * * * * * * *

TBC....

* * * * * * * * * * * *

~Chapter Eleven: Truce~

“Bad dog,” Drusilla scolded, wrapping an arm protectively around Angel to support his weight. Her head snapped in his direction, and she growled lowly, “You hurt my daddy.”

Shocked, William stared at her, his mouth hanging open. “What’s goin’ on?” he finally asked, his poor addled brain unable to process the entire situation in front of him.

“Shh!” she snapped. Turning her head to Angel, she cooed, “Don’t worry, Daddy. Mummy will take care of the nasty puppy.” She stroked the side of his face and kissed his forehead.

William’s stomach clenched uncomfortably in a tangle of knots as he realized with crystal clarity what was going on. He felt the tears begin to well in his eyes and asked shakily, “How could you, Dru? I thought...”

“She never loved you, Spike,” Angel interrupted, his voice amazingly still smug despite his injuries. He leaned heavily against Drusilla, a self-satisfied smile playing along the corners of his mouth. His body ached, and a sharp pain was pulsing just behind his eyelids, but he refused to let that stop him from gloating over his rival. “She only got close to you because I wanted her to.”

Glancing up pleadingly at his mistress, William waited for her denial, but it never came. He called her name again, almost desperate now.

She didn’t even look at him, continuing to glide her fingers down Angel’s jaw. “I love my Angel,” she murmured softly.

William’s body became numb at her words, tears sliding down his cheeks without heed.

Angel smirked at his enemy’s reaction. “I knew going after your woman would work. It gets you every time. If memory serves, that makes two of them who chose me over you,” he said arrogantly.

Anger flared up inside William, but he was too paralyzed to do anything but glare at the dark-haired couple, pain and hatred pouring out from his stormy blue eyes.

“What’s wrong with you, Spike?” Angel taunted. “First Cecily and now Dru. You really can’t keep a woman, can you?”

William shut his eyes tightly, steeling himself against Angel’s words and the sight of his lover and his enemy together. He had to get out of there, but he wasn’t even sure he could walk. There was no feeling in his limbs, and he knew that as soon as he moved, the dull ache in his head would start throbbing anew.

Drusilla’s words had cut him deep, and Angel had only added to his anguish, dredging up memories from his past to haunt him. He wasn’t sure how much more he could take before it all became too much and he simply shut down completely.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

“What are we going to do?” Xander asked.

Giles shook his head. “We can’t just leave him with Angel; there’s no telling what might happen to him.”

“So we go after him then?”

“Well, he won’t approve, but I can’t see any other way,” Giles conceded. “He may need our help, whether he wants to admit it or not.”

“Wait, you’re going to rescue him?” Buffy asked incredulously. “After everything he’s done to me?”

Xander sighed. “Buffy, we can’t just let Angel kill him.”

“Why not?” she pouted.

Giles placed a hand on her shoulder. “We know the two of you don’t exactly care for each other, but that doesn’t change the fact that he’s our friend. Xander and I have to go help him.”

Buffy nodded grudgingly and watched them go. They would leave whether she liked it or not, so she figured it was best to go along with it and not argue. She would give her husband a piece of her mind when he got home and perhaps see about getting some of those details about his past that Giles had mentioned earlier. She didn’t know why she suddenly found his past so intriguing, but she was determined to find out exactly what was causing such a fuss between him and Angel.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Xander and Giles burst through the door of Angel’s manor, prepared to do battle with a very pissed off Angel in order to get to their friend. What they found was quite different. Angel was propped up against Drusilla, while William crouched opposite of them. All three heads turned to them as they entered. Gazing about, they noticed the shards of glass and the splinters of wood littering the floor and felt a pang of guilt that they hadn’t gotten there in time to stop the fight.

William relaxed a bit as he saw them enter. He knew he was too weak right now to make the trek home alone, but with the help of his companions, it wouldn’t be so hard. They probably even had a couple of horses tethered up somewhere outside, perfect for a quick getaway.

Unfortunately, a quick getaway didn’t seem to be what Angel had in mind.

“Just what do you think you’re doing barging into my home?” he snarled.

“Saving our friend,” Xander replied, not even bothering to glance at the dark-haired man as he made his way over to William.

Angel snorted. “You think I’m just gonna let you take him?”

Giles stepped forward, an icy smile on his lips. “You’re not ‘letting’ us do anything, we’re taking him by force.”

“Over my dead body,” Angel growled.

“That can be arranged,” Giles said in a deadly voice, staring hard at Angel.

Xander, meanwhile, had managed to hoist William to his feet. He slid an arm around the blonde’s back, bracing him so they could walk. “Come on, Giles,” he said to the older man. “Threaten later, leave now.”

Angel pushed away from Dru and tried to go after them, but his legs were unsteady, and every time he took a step it felt as if the muscles were being ripped apart. As his knees began to buckle under the strain, Dru rushed to his side, catching his arm around her neck and lifting him back on his feet. He tried to shove her away again, but she held fast.

“You’re too wounded, love,” Drusilla murmured. “Let them go for now.”

“This isn’t over, Spike!” Angel roared as Xander and Giles vacated his home, dragging along a badly beaten William.

“Actually, it is,” William replied so softly that Giles and Xander barely heard him.

The three friends made it safely out of the manor and slowly ambled over to a fence post where Giles had tied two horses. William almost smiled as he marveled at how well prepared his friends were. They always used their heads in a time of crisis, unlike himself. He had gone to Angel’s with no thought other than to beat the living daylights out of the larger man. He was damn lucky he hadn’t gotten himself killed.

As Xander voiced that exact thought, William had to bite back a chuckle. ‘Here comes the interrogation,’ he thought.

“What the hell were you thinking, running off like that without telling us where you were going?” Xander continued his rant as he mounted one of the horses and reached a hand down to William to pull him up.

“Wasn’t thinking,” William replied honestly.

“That much was apparent,” Giles stated, rolling his eyes as he mounted his own horse.

They started on their way home, and William sighed heavily. “Look, it was somethin’ that I needed to take care of alone, okay?”

“And look where it got you,” Xander retorted. “Beaten and bloody.”

“I was handling it.”

Xander looked back at him doubtfully. “Not from where I was standing.”

“Let’s be adults about this,” Giles interrupted calmly. “William, what you did was very foolish. You should have told us where you were going, but Xander and I also know that you needed to take care of this alone. We just wish that you had said something instead of galloping off like that. If we hadn’t gotten to you in time...” he let the thought hang in the air, knowing that they both understood what he was implying.

The rest of the ride home was spent in silence. William knew they were right, and he should have said something, but his pride prevented him from admitting it to them. Luckily, Xander and Giles knew him well enough to know that he had learned from his mistake. Nothing more needed to be said.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

“I’m going to kill him!” Rebecca growled as she paced in the kitchen. She had sent the guests home early, claiming the couple just couldn’t wait for their wedding night. She hoped the lie would be sufficient, even though she did notice odd looks from some guests as they walked out. She understood why, of course. William and Elizabeth had barely said two words to each other since the wedding. It was quite a stretch to imagine them so eager for their wedding night. Still, she *had* been put on the spot, what with William racing off in such a hurry and Buffy refusing to come down from her room. So now she waited, and as soon as her son walked through that door, he was going to get the worst tongue-lashing of his life!

She heard the door open and immediately rushed to the foyer. “William Charles Edmonton, you had better have the *best* excuse for running off like that and leaving me...” she trailed off with a gasp as Xander and Giles helped William into the room. “Oh, Lord! What on earth happened?” Rushing to her son’s side, she grabbed his hand and helped guide him to the settee.

“It’s a long story,” Xander said.

“Xander, why don’t you help William, and I’ll fill Rebecca in?” Giles suggested, easing himself next to a very pale looking Rebecca.

“I’ll take care of him.”

Everybody turned sharply at the sound of Buffy’s voice from the staircase. Her face was carefully expressionless, which made William squirm a bit in his seat. Giles and Xander looked somewhat wary of her, knowing full well how upset she’d been when they’d gone to rescue him. Rebecca was the only one who seemed relieved that Buffy was finally doing her duty as a wife.

Without waiting for a reply, Buffy stepped forward and gently pulled William to his feet. She draped his arm over her shoulder and placed her own around his back. Carefully, she began leading him out of the foyer and up the stairs.

When they had reached her room, Buffy told him to sit down and hurried into the bathroom to wet a cloth for his head. Emerging once again, she instructed him to lie on his stomach. He did as he was told, and she sat down beside him, wet cloth in one hand and a bowl of water in her lap. Then, ever so gently, she began to clean the cuts on his head, grimacing slightly each time he winced.

“William?” she asked softly as she worked.

He turned his head to the side so he could speak. “Yeah, pet?”

“What happened tonight?”

“Got the crap kicked out of me, but not before I gave Angel a little somethin’ to remember me by.” A touch of self-satisfaction entered his voice at the last part, causing a corner of Buffy’s lips to quirk up in a half-smile.

She dipped the cloth back into the bowl and dabbed at a particularly tender spot on his head. “What were you fighting about?” she asked in a tiny voice.

“I was brassed off ‘bout him tellin’ you everything, and that’s what started it.” William swallowed as he remembered his enemy’s harsh words. “Then he started bringin’ up the past, and I finally lost it when he mentioned Dru.”

Buffy’s hand stilled on his head at the mention of the brunette’s name, but she recovered quickly and resumed her task. “What did he say about her?” she asked, her voice slightly clipped.

William noticed the tiny change in her tone and felt himself go a little rigid as well. Drusilla was a painful subject for them both, but maybe talking about it would help. He took a deep breath and said, “She was there with him. She’s been...with him for a while now. Only reason she was ever with me was to get closer to him, I suppose. He wanted to get to me, and he took the shortest route he knew, through her.”

She couldn’t think of some comforting words to say to him, partially because she didn’t yet know all about his past and partially because she felt awkward consoling him after their numerous fights. She could tell he was hurt by the whole thing, and it made her heart squeeze a little to see him like that, but she was still angry with him for all that he’d done. Still, she had duties as his wife, so she resumed cleaning his wounds and said, “I don’t want to go on fighting with you.”

He sighed. “Don’t want that either, ducks. Can’t see any way round it though. Our tempers just seem to collide.”

“I have an idea,” she told him. “I’ve been thinking about it, and I’ve decided we should make a truce.”

“Go on,” he said, intrigued.

“From now on, we respect each other’s wishes, and we put trust in each other. A marriage can’t work without trust or compromise,” she stated logically.

William pondered that for a while. The truce she proposed seemed fair, and he *was* getting awfully tired of always shouting with her. He wasn’t sure it would work, but he was at least willing to give it a shot. “‘M in,” he said.

Buffy nodded and finished cleaning his wounds. She walked back into the bathroom to empty the bowl and wash the rag. When she came out again, he was sitting up in her bed, a sheepish grin on his face.

“Um...thanks,” he mumbled, avoiding her eyes.

“You’re welcome,” she replied, just as quietly.

For a few moments, they sat in silence. After what seemed an eternity, Buffy finally asked, “Are you feeling a little better?”

He nodded. “Yeah.”

“Good,” she replied, walking towards him. Before he knew what was happening, her palm cracked against his cheek.

“Ow! Bloody hell woman!” he howled. “What’d you do that for? Injured man here, remember?”

“Just to prove that I still hate you,” she said indignantly, lifting her chin a little.

He smirked. “Hate you too, pet.” Although, this time, he didn’t really mean it.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

TBC....

~Chapter Twelve: Friendship~

William sat in his bed, impatiently awaiting the arrival of his wife. His wounds had healed nicely, thanks to her devoted care, and he was very anxious to finally be allowed out of his room. Buffy had adamantly kept him confined to his bed since his fight with Angel a week before insisting that his wounds needed time to heal, and he needed all the rest he could get. At first, he hadn’t really objected. The pain in his head was severe and getting some rest and relaxation sounded like heaven on earth. As time passed, though, he began to tire of the tedious days spent in seclusion. He longed to ride his horses or, at the very least, take a walk around the manor. She had promised him a week of bed rest at the most, and he was glad to see that week finally over.

Not all of his time spent confined to his room was terrible, however. He was surprised to find that he actually enjoyed his wife’s company, although she was still rather cold to him. Over the past week, he had even begun to look forward to her visits. She had shown him a very different side, and he found himself wanting to get to know her better. It was an odd feeling, especially after all their hate-filled arguments.

Of course, speculation was not his only pastime. As he began to grow fond of Buffy, he started to recall every little thing he had done or said to her in the past, and it all came back to him like a startling slap across the face. He gradually began to understand why she had reacted the way she had, and suddenly, she was not the woman he had been forced to marry anymore. She had become exactly the same as he: at her wits end and struggling to cope with a life she had not chosen to lead. He knew it probably wouldn’t matter to her, but he really did regret what he’d put her through, and he wanted to make it up to her somehow. It would be a painstakingly slow and careful process, not without difficulties either, but as his father had once said, he lived for a challenge.

He heard her soft padding footsteps coming down the hall, and he smiled softly to himself. She had no idea what she was in for, and by the time he was through, she wouldn’t know what hit her. That is, if things went as he hoped.

“Good morning,” Buffy said as she entered his room, carrying with her a small bowl of water and a gray cloth.

“Morning,” William replied, flashing her a quick grin.

She moved closer to inspect his injuries and asked, “How are you feeling today?”

“Much better.” He watched as she dipped the cloth into the bowl and began dabbing at the back of his head. “How’s it lookin’ back there, luv?”

“They’ve healed quite nicely,” Buffy told him as she wiped away a bit of dried blood from the cuts. “I think your week of bed rest has finally come to an end.” Finishing with her task, she pulled back away from him and dunked the cloth back into the bowl to wash it clean.

He smirked at her. “Don’t sound so disappointed, pet.”

She rolled her eyes but chose to ignore him.

“So, what’re your plans for today?” he asked, trying to sound casual.

Glancing up at him briefly, Buffy shrugged and replied, “I was thinking of going for a ride later this afternoon. It’s a beautiful day.”

“Funny coincidence that. I was just thinkin’ it might be nice to go for a ride today, now that ‘m finally allowed out of my room.” He said the last pointedly and grinned at her reaction.

She glared at him. “Are you still complaining about that? I explained to you why it was necessary I don’t know how many times. Besides, look how well your wounds have healed.”

Sighing in mock exasperation, he acquiesced, “Guess you got me there, luv. Never would’ve healed this quick if it wasn’t for your expert care and attention.” He gave her a wink and watched as a blush crept up her cheeks.

“Well, I-I’ve kept you too long,” Buffy stammered, thrown by his amiable attitude. “I’m sure you’re anxious to get out of this room, so I’ll just be on my way.” She turned on her heel, hoping to escape into the safety of her own room as quickly as possible, but he had just one more thing to say.

“I’ll meet you in an hour, pet, and we’ll go for that ride.” He didn’t give her time to protest, climbing out of bed and walking swiftly to the bathroom to dress.

Buffy stared at the closed door and sighed heavily. “Great, that’s just what I need today.”

* * * * * * * * * * * *

An hour later, Buffy was standing in front of her window, arms crossed and a frown on her face. She was lost in her thoughts, oblivious to Willow, who stood behind her, a green jacket held loosely in her hands.

“He’ll be here any minute, Buffy,” Willow said.

Buffy glanced at the redhead over her shoulder as if she’d just noticed her presence. She looked back out the window and said, her voice sounding distant, “I wonder why he’s doing this, being nice to me. You should have seen him this morning; he didn’t even *try* to argue with me.”

Willow chuckled. “Get out, get out while there’s still time.”

The blonde’s frown deepened, and Willow added with a sigh, “Buffy, d-did you ever think that maybe he just wants to get to know you? I mean, yeah, bad things have happened between you two in the past, but that’s all...w-well, in the past. Maybe he’s trying to move on, and maybe you should, too.”

“What’re you saying I should do, just forgive him?” Buffy demanded, whipping around to face her friend. “Why is it that I constantly have to remind you people about what he did to me?”

Flinching at the harsh tone, Willow said quietly, “Perhaps you *need* to forgive him.”

Buffy stared hard at her. “Excuse me?”

Uncomfortable, the redhead cleared her throat and shifted her weight from foot to foot. “You’ve b-been h-holding a grudge, Buffy,” she said shakily. “All you’re doing is-is making things harder on yourself. You’re stuck being married to William whether you like it or not, so why make the situation even more unpleasant? Maybe if you got to know him, you wouldn’t hate him as much.”

“Maybe,” Buffy said after a moment of silence. “Or maybe he’d just find new and interesting ways to make my life horrible.”

Offering a small and encouraging smile, Willow said softly, “Well, you won’t know until you try.”

Then, as if he knew they were done talking at that exact moment, William knocked on the door.

Willow turned Buffy around and slipped the green jacket over her shoulders. Pulling her into a brief but tight hug, she whispered, “Just give him a chance. You might find you were missing out on something really wonderful.”

Buffy nodded slowly and carefully extracted herself from Willow’s embrace. She walked to the door, opened it, and greeted her husband with a cordial, “Hello,” and a pleasant smile.

William returned her smile, his eyes skimming over her small form encased in the hunter green riding habit. “‘Ello yourself, pet,” he remarked and held out his arm. “Ready?”

Casting a quick look back over her shoulder, Buffy replied steadily, “Yes, I suppose I am.”

* * * * * * * * * * * *

“Tell me a little about yourself,” Buffy said as she and William walked their horses through the meadow at a leisurely pace. They had been riding for almost the entire day, but there really hadn’t been much time for talk. William’s black stallion seemed about as anxious as he was to get out and stretch his legs. It was apparent that he hadn’t been ridden since William’s encounter with Angel, and he too was in need of some exercise and fresh air.

Glancing over at her, William asked, “What do you wanna know?”

She smiled mischievously. “Well, I have been wondering what happened between you and Angel.” His face darkened, and she quickly added, “But we don’t have to talk about it if you’d rather not.”

William shook his head. “No, ‘s all right, although it is a bit involved.”

She nodded, eager for him to go on.

He took a deep breath and explained to her his rivalry with Angel, beginning with his loss over Cecily and ending with his most recent loss over Dru. It was somewhat hard for him to tell her these things as the subject always brought out bitter anger in him, but he found that talking about it actually made him feel better. He’d never really told anyone in great detail about his relationship with Angel. Sure, Giles and Xander knew the basics, but he had never gotten down to the dirt and the emotions tangled up in it. He even went so far as to tell her how they had acquired their nicknames, which she laughed at.

“You mean, you two actually made up names to make yourselves seem tougher?”

Glaring at her, William replied, “Our rivalry was *that* serious. Besides, we were only eighteen.”

She looked offended. “Just what are you implying, William Edmonton?” she asked in mock anger.

“Hey, you’re not eighteen,” he replied in his defense.

Rolling her eyes, Buffy said, “I was a few weeks ago.”

He grinned at her. “A few weeks make all the difference, Buffy.”

“Maybe to you,” she continued to huff, “but I’m still taking that as an insult.”

Shrugging, William said casually, “Well, take it as you will.”

“Hey!” she objected, and then a thought occurred to her. “You called me Buffy.”

Averting his eyes from her, William said shyly, “Noticed that, did you?”

A slow smile crept over Buffy’s face, but she kept quiet, deciding not to embarrass her husband further. It was nice hearing him call her ‘Buffy’ instead of ‘Elizabeth.’ She really didn’t like her name; it sounded too old for her. Although, with the exception of the times he’d said it in anger, hearing William call her ‘Elizabeth’ hadn’t been so bad. The name had actually sounded pleasant coming from his deep, accented voice. Then again, anything he called her sounded pleasant, even those annoying little pet names. She was surprised to find she didn’t mind them so much anymore, instead thinking of them as endearing and even a little...cute?

Shaking her head at the direction of her thoughts, Buffy said, “It’s starting to get dark. Perhaps we should take the horses back and head in for dinner.”

William nodded his head in agreement, and they started off for the stables at a brisk trot. Once the horses were safely secured in their stalls, the married couple began a leisurely stroll to the manor, companionable silence stretching between them.

Dinner was spent much the same, with hardly any conversation between William and Buffy. Xander kept them all entertained with stories of his latest trip to the docks, but overall, the meal was spent quietly.

As the meal ended, Buffy announced she wished to retire. She said her farewells, hugged Anya briefly, and ascended the stairs to her room. Her day had been quite eventful, and she had much to think about, namely William’s sudden friendly attitude towards her. It was odd, but she definitely didn’t mind the change. In fact, it almost seemed natural for the two of them to be getting along so well. She just hoped this newly acquired friendship would last.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Buffy was sitting in front of her mirror, brushing out the long strands of her hair when she heard a knock on the adjoining door. Her heartbeat accelerated a little, knowing exactly who was on the other side. Casually, she set her brush down on the dresser and stood. She was dressed in her favorite sky blue negligee for the night, but modesty prevented her from opening the door without her wrap. Grabbing the dark blue material from the corner of her bed, she threw it over her shoulders and padded silently to the door. When she opened it, the slim form of her husband stood on the other side. He was dressed only in a pair of soft, black cotton pants, and she struggled to keep her eyes locked on his face.

William stared at his wife, and his breath caught in his throat. She was the most heavenly creature he had ever set eyes on. Her soft curves were barely contained in the silk negligee she wore, though modestly covered by the darker blue wrap. Her golden hair fell to her shoulders in long, radiant waves. He could smell her skin, a faint mixture of soaps, vanilla, and the unmistakable scent that was purely Buffy. He wanted to grab her and crush her mouth with his, but he knew she deserved better than that. She deserved to be loved and cherished in long, slow movements, and he was only too happy to oblige.

Realizing that nothing had yet been said, Buffy gestured to her room. “Did you want to come in?”

He smiled slowly and reached out to grasp her hand. “Actually, I want you to come in here.”

She allowed him to pull her into his room and sat on the edge of his bed, gazing at him shyly. She was unsure about what he wanted to happen this night, but she had a feeling it was bound to become quite intimate. The way he was looking at her alone suggested he wanted her to stay the night with him. However, she was wary of disturbing their newfound friendship.

“Buffy,” William breathed as he came to sit beside her. “I know we didn’t start off on the right foot, and I know things between us haven’t exactly been the stuff of fairy tales, but what happened today...” he trailed off, unsure how to put his feelings into words. The secrets they had shared this morning had meant a lot to him. He had felt he could trust her, and by the way she had slowly opened up to him, he was sure she had begun to do the same.

“It meant a lot,” she finished for him.

He smiled gently. “Yeah, it did, and it feels like we’ve become...”

“Friends,” she completed his thought again and smiled. “I know, and I don’t want to ruin that.”

William nodded slowly, trying to hide the disappointment from his face. “I don’t either.” He started to move away, but her hand on his arm stopped him. He glanced at it and then looked into her eyes.

Buffy tried for a brave smile, but her lips quavered slightly as she said, “I don’t think this would ruin it. I-I mean, if you don’t. I think this is...okay.”

As her words sunk in, William’s mouth spread into a warm smile. He nodded and inched closer to her, dipping his head down to capture her lips in a tender kiss.

For a while, they simply enjoyed the feel of the other pressed closely to them. Then, as it always does, passion began to run its course. Need surged through both of them, and the tender kiss turned fiery. William pushed her wrap from her shoulder and both their hands began to roam, traveling slowly over new territory, mapping out smooth and firm skin. Their tongues danced in an effortless battle as they frantically tried to drown in each other, and their already frenetic heartbeats began slamming into their ribcages as their breaths quickened into short pants.

Soon, it became too much, and they pulled away, desire and lust clouding both their eyes. William’s hands went to the small of Buffy’s back, and carefully he laid her down on the velvet comforter. He could sense her nervousness, and he smiled gently to assure her that everything was fine. She returned his smile with a shaky one of her own, and their lips met again in a tentative kiss.

As he pulled back again, William gazed into his wife’s eyes and thought, ‘What a perfect way to finally spend our wedding night.’

* * * * * * * * * * * *

TBC....

~Chapter Thirteen: Leaving~

Standing in front of her mirror, Buffy made a face. She straightened up and tried to look older but found it was harder than it looked. Shifting to the side, she glanced down at her flat belly and placed a hand over it. Puffing out so that her tummy expanded, Buffy imagined what she would look like pregnant. She cocked her head and studied her round stomach curiously, patting it gently. In six months, she would look like this, and she wanted to get a feel for what it would be like.

Sighing, Buffy relaxed her stomach muscles and stood again as her normal self. It was hard to believe that only three months ago she hadn’t been concerned with becoming pregnant. The thought *had* crossed her mind--fleetingly--but she was too involved in her husband and their growing affection for one another to give it much thought. That didn’t mean she hadn’t considered the possibility though. After all, she and William had spent a few more nights together, and she was not as naive as she looked. She understood perfectly well the result of lovemaking; it just hadn’t been top priority two months ago.

Now there were two major questions on her mind: when and how to tell William.

Over the past three months, they had become even closer. Their friendship had grown, and Buffy began to think she might actually love him. She wasn’t positive yet, but the direction of her feelings seemed to be leading her straight down that path. It would take time, she knew, but the important thing was that she recognized such feelings *could* develop within her. It had taken them a while to become friends, and she was confident that if they kept progressing the way they had been, very soon she would finally be able to say that she loved him.

Smiling to herself, Buffy checked the intricate weave of braids on the top of her head, making sure they were all still in place. She was dressed in the black velvet gown she had bought back home, prepared for a long day of shopping. William had gone earlier that morning with Xander to speak to a potential client about buying his land. He would most likely be gone the entire day, although he promised to be back at dinner. Honestly, Buffy was thankful. There was so much to tell him, and she wasn’t sure how she was going to say it all. A day spent thinking without him there to influence her was just what she needed.

She headed down the stairs, stopping at the bottom to greet Giles, her male escort for the day.

“Good morning, Buffy,” he said, smiling kindly at her. “You look lovely.”

She flashed him a charming smile. “Thank you.”

“Are you ready?”

“Just let me get Willow,” Buffy said, and she entered the kitchen to find her friend busy washing dishes. “Hey, Wills, ready to go?”

The redhead turned around, a bemused look on her face. “Go where, Buffy?”

“Shopping, silly! Come on, it’s time to spend some of my husband’s money!”

Shaking her head vigorously, Willow said, “I can’t. I have too many chores to do.”

Buffy waved a dismissive hand. “Someone else will do them for you.”

“But...”

“But nothing,” Buffy interrupted, copying the redhead’s famous ‘resolve face.’ “I am the lady of this manor, and I say you will join me in my glorious day of spending money that doesn’t belong to me. You are hereby stripped of all your chores for today.”

Willow giggled. “Well, when you put it that way...”

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Buffy and Willow were having a fabulous time. They had spent the entire day traveling from store to store, and Willow had even grudgingly conceded to allow Buffy to purchase a very simple gown for her. Now they were on their way out of the shop to retrieve Giles, who had become too tired to follow them inside anymore.

As they passed by another rack of gowns, Buffy paused and glanced through them. Picking out a dark maroon one made of chiffon, she held it up and turned to where Willow had been a second before. “What do you think about this, Wills?” she asked and gasped when she came face to face with Angel.

“Well, it’s a small world after all,” Angel said, smirking at her. “Having fun spending your husband’s money, Buffy?”

Just then, Willow approached. “About which one?” she asked, not noticing Angel until she was right in front of him. Her eyes immediately widened with fear as she recognized him.

“Doesn’t this place have any class anymore?” he asked, sneering at Willow. “It seems like they’ll let anyone off the streets in here now.”

Willow winced, and Buffy took a step closer to her friend, glaring up at Angel. “I think you’d better go. I doubt the gentlemen in this store would appreciate you trying to harm two innocent women.”

Angel grinned slowly. “I’m not harming anyone. My injuries have healed completely, so I figured it was time to get out and do something. Speaking of injuries, how is William’s head?”

Buffy glowered murderously at him.

“Sh-should I get Giles?” Willow whispered as she kept her eyes glued to Angel.

The question was intended for Buffy’s ears alone, but Angel picked up on it, and his smile widened. William apparently was not with them on this fine day, which meant he could have a little fun.

Buffy nodded her head once, and Willow slowly backed away, her eyes still fixed on the tall, burly man. When she was sure that the redhead was safely out of the store, Buffy asked scathingly, “Where’s Drusilla? Shouldn’t she be following you around like any other love-sick puppy?”

Scowling briefly at her, Angel let her comment slide and shrugged as he replied nonchalantly, “Probably with Spike. She usually is around this time.”

Frowning, Buffy asked, “What are you talking about?”

“Dru and Spike,” he repeated and rolled his eyes. “Don’t tell me you don’t know that she’s his mistress.”

“*Was* his mistress,” she corrected.

He gave her an almost sympathetic smile. “Sorry, doll, but those two just can’t seem to get enough of one another. They’ve been seeing each other secretly for a few months now. Besides, Spike only wanted you for one reason, and I’m sure you know what that is.” He shook his head. “I thought you would have figured it out by now.”

A sinking feeling settled in the pit of her stomach, but she refused to believe him that easily. “How do I know you’re telling the truth? After all, you tried to kill William.”

“Only after he attacked me. Can you really blame me for defending myself?”

“Well, n-no, but…you might just be saying this to get back at him,” Buffy said accusingly.

He grinned deviously. “I might, but then again, how do you really know that?” He watched gleefully as doubt flitted across her features. God, this was fun! “Think about it, Buffy,” he continued. “Can you really allow yourself to trust Spike? After everything he’s put you through, can you honestly believe that he would change for *you*?”

Tears sprang to Buffy’s eyes, and she blinked furiously to keep them at bay. “Why would he make me think he had feelings for me?” she whispered, pain clear in her voice.

Angel rolled his eyes again. “He’s not stupid, Buffy. He knew you would never stay the night with him unless you thought he’d changed, and apparently, it worked.”

Buffy’s cheeks turned a deep crimson, but she was saved from saying anything else as Giles came up behind her. She turned her head to look at him and smiled gratefully.

“Angel,” Giles greeted coldly, gently pulling Buffy behind him.

“Nice to see you again, Rupert,” Angel replied, his voice far from being sincere. “It’s very generous of you to watch these young ladies while William’s off doing...more important things.” He glanced at Buffy briefly and saw her flinch. Chuckling, he turned his back to them. “Have a wonderful day, all.”

When he had vacated the store, Giles turned around and asked in concern, “Are you all right, Buffy?”

She forced a smile. “Yes, I’m fine, but can we go home now? I think I’ve had my fill of shopping for one day.”

Willow nodded. “I’ll say. What did Angel say to you anyway?”

Buffy’s eyes hardened even as the tears threatened to spill over her cheeks. “Nothing I haven’t heard before,” she said lowly, and with that, she walked stiffly out of the store, leaving a very confused Giles and Willow to catch up to her.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

William got home very late that night. He and Xander had had an awful time trying to convince the elderly man to sell his property to them, and after they had, his wife had insisted they stay and eat something before traveling all the way back home. He felt guilty for not being home at dinner as he had promised he would be, but there wasn’t really anything he could have done about it. Buffy would understand, he knew.

Silently, he climbed the stairs so as not to wake her should she be sleeping. He quietly entered his room and glanced hopefully at the bed. The sheets had been turned down for the night, but no Buffy lay beneath them. He wasn’t shocked really. After all, he had only found her waiting in his bed once, although the sight had been pleasantly surprising. Changing out of his clothes, he donned his favorite pair of black cotton pants before slowly opening the adjoining door to her room.

It was very dark inside, but he could just barely make out the shape of his wife beneath the covers of her bed. He moved silently towards her, a soft smile on his face as he watched her sleep. A strand of hair fell across her forehead, and he gently brushed it away.

Buffy stirred as she felt his hand on her face, but she refused to open her eyes. She did not want him next to her tonight, warming her body with his, and she didn’t want to wake up to see him smiling down at her, the sunlight bathing his handsome face in golden light. She hated that he made her think that he felt something for her, especially since she had just started to trust him and thought she might actually begin to love him, and she hated that everything he’d said about the truce and about Drusilla had been a lie. All she wanted right now was to curl up in a tiny ball and cry herself to sleep, but she remained stock still as his form beside her bed did not move.

William debated whether or not to stay. He wanted to climb into bed with her and fall asleep with her body nestled against his, but she had probably had a long day just as he had. Tomorrow morning he would wake her, he decided with a smile. Bending down, he placed a chaste kiss on her cheek and watched for a few seconds more as her eyelids fluttered in sleep. Then, he turned and left, anxiously awaiting the rising sun so that he could hold her again.

As soon as the door shut behind him, Buffy opened her eyes and stared at the darkness around her. He had been so gentle just now that it was hard to believe what Angel had said. Still, if Angel was telling the truth, then it was better that she get out now before her heart became too attached to William. Reaching under her bed, she pulled out her suitcase and climbed out of bed. Quickly, she stripped out of her negligee and donned a simple white day gown. After scanning the room for anymore of her belongings, her eyes accidentally fell on his door and tears trickled down her cheeks. She let them flow for a bit before regaining her composure and walking out the door and silently down the hall.

She had made up her mind after she had gotten home, and if she didn’t leave now, she wasn’t sure she’d be brave enough to later.

Arriving at the room where Giles was staying for the night, she stepped inside and set her suitcase on the floor by the door. Padding quickly to his bed, she tapped him on the shoulder. “Giles, please wake up.”

Startled, Giles bolted upright in bed, looking wildly about. “What? What is it?” he cried.

Buffy muffled his cries by placing her hand over his mouth. Calmly, she whispered, “Giles, it’s Buffy. I need your help. Can you take me to Rebecca’s? I need to speak with my mother.”

He nodded, and she removed her hand. “Why are you crying, dear?”

“I just need to speak with my mother,” Buffy replied firmly, ignoring her moist cheeks. “You said you would take me there.”

“It’s the middle of the night, Buffy,” he protested, reaching for his glasses.

She shrugged. “Well, if you’d rather I go alone and risk being ravaged or...”

“Come on, we’d better hurry,” he replied hastily, climbing out of bed.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

“Buffy, darling, what’s the matter?” Joyce cried as Giles dropped her daughter off. “Why are you crying?”

“I can’t do it anymore,” Buffy sniffled. “He made me think he felt something for me, and everything he ever said to me was a lie. All he ever wanted was an heir so he could inherit his father’s money. It hurts too much to know all that. I h-have to leave.”

Joyce steered her daughter to the settee in the sitting room and pulled her into her arms. Rocking her gently back and forth, Joyce whispered, “Calm down, Buffy. Tell me from the beginning.”

So, Buffy began her story, relating to her mother the fight between Angel and William, William’s discovery of Drusilla’s betrayal, the truce, and finally, the beginning of their friendship. As Buffy reached her most recent predicament, she hesitated and rested a hand on her belly. “I’m going to have his baby,” she whispered almost inaudibly as more tears cascaded down her face. “I’m going to have his baby, and then he’s going to get everything he ever wanted while I am cast off to the side and forgotten. I can’t stay here, I just can’t. I can’t take being around him and knowing that everything was just a lie.” She paused and took a deep, shaky breath. “I’m going b-back to America.”

Studying her daughter carefully, Joyce felt her heart squeeze at the pain Buffy was feeling. She had known there was trouble in paradise, but she had never expected it to come to this. Buffy was very obviously hurt, but there was one tiny thing that gave Joyce hope. Pain, at least in this case, had to be coupled with feeling. There would be no anguish for Buffy if she was indifferent to her husband and didn’t care at all about him, which led Joyce to believe that, despite all the hurt and confusion, Buffy did honestly feel something for William. However, she knew that it would take time for her daughter’s heart to heal, and if that meant she needed to go away, then Joyce would just have to be supportive. So, she simply asked, “Are you sure this is what you want?”

Buffy didn’t want to think about that. She wasn’t sure what she wanted anymore and thinking about it would only cause her to doubt herself. She had already made a decision, and she was stubborn enough to stand by it, no matter how much it hurt right now. “Yes, I’m sure,” she stated.

Joyce sighed heavily. “I want you to stay with Tara Roberts. Her mother was a midwife and an old friend of mine. She’ll take good care of you. I don’t have time to write her and let her know you’re coming, but I’m certain she won’t mind.” She gave her daughter a kind smile. “You’ll stay here for tonight, and in the morning, we’ll take you to the docks and get you on a ship to America. Just remember to take care of yourself, Buffy, and take care of my grandchild.”

Smiling her immense gratitude, Buffy said, “I will. Thank you.”

* * * * * * * * * * * *

TBC....

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