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Maybe Someday. Chapter 2
I would have posted this sooner if it hadn't been for all the Rabbit Hole Day madness. But yesterday I finally got round to polishing off this chapter thanks to my beta, ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
kathyh, who made lots of helpful suggestions! The first chapter can be found here. Feedback is like oxygen...
Chapter 2
September had arrived, and Buffy felt that this was as good an excuse to go shopping for a new coat as was possible to find, and Dawn whole-heartedly agreed. Compared to Sunnydale, Rome was a goldmine shopping-wise and the sisters tried very hard not to go overboard as they had the first few months. So the fact that it was supposed to be getting colder was a welcome excuse!
When Buffy saw the black leather she stopped in her tracks and slowly walked up to it. It was almost identical to the one she used to have back in Sunnydale, the one she had worn the night she first kissed Spike...
Oh, she had dressed so carefully that evening - because if she couldn’t fight, at least she could make a pretty demon-bride. And black and red seemed to be the colours of choice for evil things. She had noted how well it suited her and somewhere in the back of her mind had been the thought that she and Spike would make a knock out couple, a vision of blonde hair and black leather...
No, no thinking about that! She would buy it because it was good quality and exactly what she was looking for, not because the smell of leather brought back waves of sensory memories....
The Immortal liked it. He had complimented her (and he didn’t always - he had perfect taste and was not afraid to tell her if she got it wrong. Although she always knew he was right, it sometimes chafed), and they went out to one of their favourite clubs.
It was now late, and she was very grateful for her fellow Slayers. Patrolling after a long night of dancing was not something she relished.
They were walking down a narrow alley (The Immortal claimed to know all shortcuts in Rome, and by now she believed him) discussing where to go next week, when Buffy looked ahead and saw that the piazza at the end of the alley was currently full of demons.
She was already halfway through dialling the Council’s Rome number, when The Immortal stopped her: “Your fellow Slayers will not be necessary, my dear.”
She looked at him uncomprehendingly: “If you’re suggesting that I take on a small army by myself, you’re crazy! I mean I’m flattered - obviously - but honestly...”
He smiled indulgently and explained: “These are not ordinary demons - they are hired soldiers. Look!”
She tentatively peeked out of the alley and found that as usual he was right. There were maybe 30 or 40 demons, but they were lined up and standing at the front was a human.... an Italian by the look of him, in a very expensive suit. She turned to The Immortal, and he answered the unvoiced question: “Wolfram and Hart. I recognise the man - he is one of their top lawyers. This is official business from the look of it! Nothing for you to worry about!”
She frowned slightly - Wolfram and Hart were evil with a capital E! But she knew very little about what they actually did, so she didn’t want to spoil such an opportunity: “Would you mind if we just... you know... watched for a bit? Maybe I can get the inside scoop on something!”
The Immortal shrugged, obviously happy to do whatever she wanted. She smiled at him and scanned the demon horde again. Big and lumpy with short horns they looked vaguely familiar, but she couldn’t remember what they were called. Obviously picked for their smash-and-bash skills rather than finesse. The square was mostly dark, the few lights hardly enough for someone to find their way, and the general air of grime and shabbiness making it clear that this was not a popular place. As dangerous as the alleys of Sunnydale once were. Which was probably why it was used by an evil lawfirm...
She felt a sudden stab of pain. Was this what Angel had been doing this past year? Employing demons and making shady deals? She had never told The Immortal about Angel and how she knew of Wolfram and Hart - had hardly told him anything about her life in Sunnydale. She didn’t know why, but she felt unable to explain what her previous life had been like. She felt somehow displaced from it all, and for the time being that was fine. When Giles had called in the summer explaining that W&H in LA had collapsed, and that Angel and his team were missing, she had nearly caved in. But she somehow kept going on, not letting on what she had heard. No reason to worry anyone else until they knew for sure. Some weeks later Giles called again. He had been oddly hesitant - obviously not wanting to get her hopes up too much, but he said that there had been sightings of Angel - he knew no details, but apparently the vampire was alive.
Movement on the far right side of the square tore her out of her musings. Someone - or something - was approaching. The lawyer obviously noticed too, because he stood up straight. Buffy found herself quite excited, dealings in the demon underworld were something she hardly ever got to witness, so this was an unusual opportunity. Then a figure came out into the dim, hazy light of the lanterns and she suddenly felt faint. It was Angel.
**********
Angel was followed by two other figures, but they were still covered by the shadows and she barely noticed them. She closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. It was Angel, he was alive - or not dust anyway - but how? And why was he in Rome?
When she opened her eyes, Angel was standing facing the lawyer guy, who had started talking: “Angel - Ilona sends her greetings. She does not wish for any harm to come to you! She very kindly requests that you come with us and she will personally make sure of your comfort, safe from the Senior Partners.”
Angel smiled a ghost smile and replied: “Give her my regards, but I already have a girlfriend!”
This made Buffy blink. Girlfriend? Angel had a girlfriend? Her eyes drifted to the odd blue demon standing slightly to his left. It looked kind of female, but surely...
“So you will persist in your foolhardy resistance?”
A chuckle from Angel: “Most certainly!”
The man bowed gracefully and replied politely: ”In that case, prepare to die!”
The vampire smiled wryly: “Hate to break it to you, but we’re already dead!”
And he drew his sword.
As the words slowly sank in, Buffy watched, unable to move.
Then Angel’s other companion stepped forward and into her field of vision, his own sword raised, the steel reflecting on his white hair, the coat making his outline as recognisable as her own mirror-image.
A cry pierced the night.
“NOOOOOO!”
The scene in front of her froze as Buffy realised that she had actually shouted out loud what her mind had been yelling. The vampire who had been burning to death when she last saw him, slowly turned his head and his eyes sought out hers the way they always had - like lightening striking and leaving her reeling. Unable to move, she saw him slowly sheathe his sword and when one of the demons stepped forward, he held up his hand with a casual authority that made her catch her breath. She vaguely noticed Angel and the man in the suit start a quiet conversation, but all of her mind was focussed on the man coming towards her, his eyes never leaving hers.
He stopped just in front of her, obviously waiting for her to make the first move. Carefully she reached out and touched his face as she finally found her voice: “Spike - are you real?”
Then he smiled - the smile she always saw in her dreams - the happy, glowing smile that he smiled only for her: “Yes Buffy, I’m real.” And he brought up his own hand to cover hers as he leaned into it.
She found that she was shaking as the reality of the situation hit her. Spike was alive! Spike was here!
As she started to sob, he gathered her into his arms. “Shh, love. It’s ok. It’s ok.” She buried her face in his chest and clung to him, laughter and tears mingling. She could feel him breathe her in, feel the kisses he rained on her hair, feel his hands holding her so tight that she knew that this time, nothing would take him away from her.
Chapter 3
kathyh, who made lots of helpful suggestions! The first chapter can be found here. Feedback is like oxygen...Chapter 2
September had arrived, and Buffy felt that this was as good an excuse to go shopping for a new coat as was possible to find, and Dawn whole-heartedly agreed. Compared to Sunnydale, Rome was a goldmine shopping-wise and the sisters tried very hard not to go overboard as they had the first few months. So the fact that it was supposed to be getting colder was a welcome excuse!
When Buffy saw the black leather she stopped in her tracks and slowly walked up to it. It was almost identical to the one she used to have back in Sunnydale, the one she had worn the night she first kissed Spike...
Oh, she had dressed so carefully that evening - because if she couldn’t fight, at least she could make a pretty demon-bride. And black and red seemed to be the colours of choice for evil things. She had noted how well it suited her and somewhere in the back of her mind had been the thought that she and Spike would make a knock out couple, a vision of blonde hair and black leather...
No, no thinking about that! She would buy it because it was good quality and exactly what she was looking for, not because the smell of leather brought back waves of sensory memories....
The Immortal liked it. He had complimented her (and he didn’t always - he had perfect taste and was not afraid to tell her if she got it wrong. Although she always knew he was right, it sometimes chafed), and they went out to one of their favourite clubs.
It was now late, and she was very grateful for her fellow Slayers. Patrolling after a long night of dancing was not something she relished.
They were walking down a narrow alley (The Immortal claimed to know all shortcuts in Rome, and by now she believed him) discussing where to go next week, when Buffy looked ahead and saw that the piazza at the end of the alley was currently full of demons.
She was already halfway through dialling the Council’s Rome number, when The Immortal stopped her: “Your fellow Slayers will not be necessary, my dear.”
She looked at him uncomprehendingly: “If you’re suggesting that I take on a small army by myself, you’re crazy! I mean I’m flattered - obviously - but honestly...”
He smiled indulgently and explained: “These are not ordinary demons - they are hired soldiers. Look!”
She tentatively peeked out of the alley and found that as usual he was right. There were maybe 30 or 40 demons, but they were lined up and standing at the front was a human.... an Italian by the look of him, in a very expensive suit. She turned to The Immortal, and he answered the unvoiced question: “Wolfram and Hart. I recognise the man - he is one of their top lawyers. This is official business from the look of it! Nothing for you to worry about!”
She frowned slightly - Wolfram and Hart were evil with a capital E! But she knew very little about what they actually did, so she didn’t want to spoil such an opportunity: “Would you mind if we just... you know... watched for a bit? Maybe I can get the inside scoop on something!”
The Immortal shrugged, obviously happy to do whatever she wanted. She smiled at him and scanned the demon horde again. Big and lumpy with short horns they looked vaguely familiar, but she couldn’t remember what they were called. Obviously picked for their smash-and-bash skills rather than finesse. The square was mostly dark, the few lights hardly enough for someone to find their way, and the general air of grime and shabbiness making it clear that this was not a popular place. As dangerous as the alleys of Sunnydale once were. Which was probably why it was used by an evil lawfirm...
She felt a sudden stab of pain. Was this what Angel had been doing this past year? Employing demons and making shady deals? She had never told The Immortal about Angel and how she knew of Wolfram and Hart - had hardly told him anything about her life in Sunnydale. She didn’t know why, but she felt unable to explain what her previous life had been like. She felt somehow displaced from it all, and for the time being that was fine. When Giles had called in the summer explaining that W&H in LA had collapsed, and that Angel and his team were missing, she had nearly caved in. But she somehow kept going on, not letting on what she had heard. No reason to worry anyone else until they knew for sure. Some weeks later Giles called again. He had been oddly hesitant - obviously not wanting to get her hopes up too much, but he said that there had been sightings of Angel - he knew no details, but apparently the vampire was alive.
Movement on the far right side of the square tore her out of her musings. Someone - or something - was approaching. The lawyer obviously noticed too, because he stood up straight. Buffy found herself quite excited, dealings in the demon underworld were something she hardly ever got to witness, so this was an unusual opportunity. Then a figure came out into the dim, hazy light of the lanterns and she suddenly felt faint. It was Angel.
**********
Angel was followed by two other figures, but they were still covered by the shadows and she barely noticed them. She closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. It was Angel, he was alive - or not dust anyway - but how? And why was he in Rome?
When she opened her eyes, Angel was standing facing the lawyer guy, who had started talking: “Angel - Ilona sends her greetings. She does not wish for any harm to come to you! She very kindly requests that you come with us and she will personally make sure of your comfort, safe from the Senior Partners.”
Angel smiled a ghost smile and replied: “Give her my regards, but I already have a girlfriend!”
This made Buffy blink. Girlfriend? Angel had a girlfriend? Her eyes drifted to the odd blue demon standing slightly to his left. It looked kind of female, but surely...
“So you will persist in your foolhardy resistance?”
A chuckle from Angel: “Most certainly!”
The man bowed gracefully and replied politely: ”In that case, prepare to die!”
The vampire smiled wryly: “Hate to break it to you, but we’re already dead!”
And he drew his sword.
As the words slowly sank in, Buffy watched, unable to move.
Then Angel’s other companion stepped forward and into her field of vision, his own sword raised, the steel reflecting on his white hair, the coat making his outline as recognisable as her own mirror-image.
A cry pierced the night.
“NOOOOOO!”
The scene in front of her froze as Buffy realised that she had actually shouted out loud what her mind had been yelling. The vampire who had been burning to death when she last saw him, slowly turned his head and his eyes sought out hers the way they always had - like lightening striking and leaving her reeling. Unable to move, she saw him slowly sheathe his sword and when one of the demons stepped forward, he held up his hand with a casual authority that made her catch her breath. She vaguely noticed Angel and the man in the suit start a quiet conversation, but all of her mind was focussed on the man coming towards her, his eyes never leaving hers.
He stopped just in front of her, obviously waiting for her to make the first move. Carefully she reached out and touched his face as she finally found her voice: “Spike - are you real?”
Then he smiled - the smile she always saw in her dreams - the happy, glowing smile that he smiled only for her: “Yes Buffy, I’m real.” And he brought up his own hand to cover hers as he leaned into it.
She found that she was shaking as the reality of the situation hit her. Spike was alive! Spike was here!
As she started to sob, he gathered her into his arms. “Shh, love. It’s ok. It’s ok.” She buried her face in his chest and clung to him, laughter and tears mingling. She could feel him breathe her in, feel the kisses he rained on her hair, feel his hands holding her so tight that she knew that this time, nothing would take him away from her.
Chapter 3