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Maybe Someday. Chapter 3.
This is obviously my day for posting. Actually it's half-term here, so I have the children all week - the plus side of course being that I don't have to get up early or spend time taking them to school/nursery and picking them up.
Anyway, here's Chapter 3. If anyone's not up-to-date, this is my post-NFA Spuffy story. Previous parts can be found here. And since![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
kathyh has gone on holiday, lillianmorgan was very kind to beta this for me. Thank you Lily, I owe you cookies! ;)
All I can say about this chapter is, that I obviously have a thing for letting people get their own back...
Feedback is always welcome! (And that's an understatement if ever there was one!)Also note the lovely icon by glenien that fits perfectly! ETA: Icon has now been changed to story-specific one made by buttersideup.
Chapter 3
Buffy lifted her head to look at Spike, and before she knew it they were kissing. She had forgotten how good it felt - how the world fell away and left only the two of them, the fire between so bright it was blinding. It just felt right - like she had somehow been in another dimension and suddenly found herself back in her own universe where everything made sense. Her hands in his hair (he always looked so hot when his hair was ruffled), on his chest (so perfectly sculpted, so soft for sleeping on), caressing his leather-clad back.... when they finally broke for air she found herself babbling, as she memorised his features with her fingertips, the look on his face nearly making her cry again: “Don’t leave! Don’t ever leave me again! You weren’t supposed to die! Stay! I can’t lose you - not again... Spike - promise you’ll stay, you have to! I love you!”
His eyes glowed as he replied, voice shaking: “Buffy, I...” Then he suddenly looked up and stopped. Tearing her eyes from his face, she turned her head and felt the ground give way again - the only thing that stopped her from falling over being Spike’s arm around her waist. Watching them were the odd blue demon, a stony faced Angel - and The Immortal. The demon horde had somehow vanished.
When he saw her look up, The Immortal smiled and addressed - not her, but Spike: “William the Bloody, I see you finally learned how to do thrall! How very impressive. Oh, and Angelus - how are you? If you’ll excuse us, I think that The Slayer and I need to leave, before she finds more reasons for staking you... if you go now I will spare you, even though you’ve gone too far already!”
Buffy could feel Spike tense, but before she could explain, he answered, voice mocking: “I hate to break it to you, Immortal, but those names have long been out of date. We’ve been Spike and Angel for more than a century now! And there is no thrall - who do you think I am? Bloody Dracula? No don’t tell me - you taught him everything he knows!”
Realising that the men in front of her clearly had some sort of shared history, Buffy asked the obvious question: “You... know each other?”
Angel spoke now, voice light, but his eyes dark and dangerous as he looked at The Immortal: “You could say that... now can I just ask since you’re here - what exactly did you do to Darla? She was giggling like a schoolgirl when we found her and I’m inclined to think Spike is right - only a thrall could have done that!”
The Immortal’s classic features betrayed no emotion as he smiled pleasantly and turned to Buffy: “Pay them no heed, Caramia, they are but lowly vampires, trying to add another Slayer to their small list of achievements.”
Spike unwrapped his arm from Buffy’s middle and gave her fingers a brief squeeze before he took half a step forward, arms crossed and his trademark smirk firmly in place: “I think Angel deserves an answer - don’t you Buffy? You must be curious as to why your lovely... escort slept with the nastiest queen bitch in all of history!”
Buffy frowned: “But Darla’s dead! All dust blowing in the wind! Angel staked her!”
Angel stiffened, and Spike, casting a quick glance at his grandsire, answered smoothly: “Oh, we’re talking 110 years ago... funnily enough it happened here in Rome!”
She looked at The Immortal, waiting for him deny this ridiculous charge, but he just looked handsome and smiled at her.
Trying to get her thoughts in order, she asked him slowly: “You slept with Darla?”
Before he could reply, Spike butted in: “Dru too!” And then he grinned evilly before delivering the final blow: “Concurrently!”
Buffy took a deep breath and tried to steady herself. Spike turned his head, and when she looked at him, he smiled apologetically: “Sorry, luv, don’t want to ruin this thing you’ve got goin' on, but we thought you’d like to know... “
She nodded mutely and turned back to The Immortal: “Why?”
“There are many kinds of revenge my dear, and these two were bothering me. I think it better to make my vengeance sweet.” And he smiled that perfect, charming smile that had even made Willow and Kennedy weak at the knees.
Buffy blinked. “Huh?”
Spike sighed. “Oh, he used to be our arch-nemesis - And can I just say ‘lowly vampires’? We’re from the Order of Aurelius, moron - bleeding aristocracy in vampire-terms. And the two worst vampires on record! A hell of a lot more Darth Vader than Dr. Evil.” He shrugged. “Anyway, that whole competition-thing went out the window years ago!”
The Immortal looked ever so slightly surprised. “Well, I thought it was obvious that you gave up... why this admission now?”
Both vampires suddenly stood up straight. Then they stepped forward, shoulder to shoulder, anger palpable in the air.
Angel spoke now, his voice cold: “We didn’t give up - we quite simply do not have time for pointless feuds anymore! Unlike you we have better things to do with our time than climb mountains and impress women. We’re Champions now - we fight the powers of Darkness! We stop Apocalypses, we wage wars and we are currently trying to bring down the Senior Partners of Wolfram and Hart. You should run along now and stop bothering us - you’re way out of your league!”
The Immortal never stopped smiling and replied contemptuously: “You bluff - you always were a big talker Angelus.”
Angel’s eyes narrowed, and Buffy felt a chill run through her - she had not seen him look like this since... since he was Angelus. Then he spoke again, barely contained fury in his voice: “You are a fool Immortal! You might have known Angelus, but you have no idea who Angel is! You are looking at the only surviving member of The Circle of the Black Thorn. Do you know what happened to the rest?”
The words meant nothing to Buffy, but they obviously did to the Immortal, because she could have sworn that he went pale under his perfect tan. “You lie!” he hissed, but Angel slowly shook his head, a small cruel smile on his lips: “I had them all killed! Surely you heard?”
Buffy held her breath. Looking at the angry faces she hardly knew what to think. She found her eyes drawn to Spike yet again, and in amongst the joy that welled up in her she began to wonder: “What happened? Why is he here? And why is he suddenly best friends with Angel?” Because it was obvious that something had happened - all she knew was that the last time she had seen either of them they hated each other, but here they were side by side, backing each other up - almost finishing each other’s sentences. She felt her head begin to pound as she tried to work it all out.
Her attention was caught by the blue demon, who was silently surveying the scene. Unnerving, unemotional eyes studied the Immortal, and then it turned to Angel: “The battle you promised me did not happen. I wish to amuse myself with this one instead! He is strong and should be able to withstand my power for long enough to entertain me. Will he fight?”
The vampires glanced at each other, unspoken words hanging in the air. Spike shrugged. “Would make life simpler wouldn’t it? But it’s not really up to us - what do you say Immortal? Fancy a death-match with an Elder God?”
And then Buffy saw a look on The Immortal’s face that she had never suspected him capable of - fear. It was only there for a split-second, but she knew they had all seen it. He looked at them all in turn and obviously decided that he was outnumbered. Holding out his hand toward Buffy, he said quietly: “Are you coming mon cher?”
She shook her head and stepped back. Why did life have to be so complicated? She had just found out that Spike was alive, but instead of kissing him for eternity, she found herself in a strange web of intrigue and old feuds... “I think I need to... I mean... I need some space.” He bowed elegantly and blew her a kiss: “I am sorry Buffy Summers. But I see you have fallen under the vampires’ spell.”
Sudden anger flared up in her: “There’s no spell! How dare you! They’re my...” failing to find an adequate word for what they meant to her, she just let her anger speak: “They love me - Spike died for me! Go back to your perfect house and your perfect life! You won’t be seeing me anymore!”
The Immortal shrugged and walked away, the dull lights outlining his silhouette as though he were an old-fashioned Hollywood star. As she watched him go, she almost expected there to be swelling background music and began to wonder how on earth he did that - was it a spell or just some weird ‘Immortal’-thing? Could charm be a super-power?
She turned to see Angel and Spike looking at her, laughter in their eyes. “Oh you are magnificent!” Spike exclaimed. “That was definitely worth waiting a century for!”
Then they both seemed to remember what had taken place before their war-of-words with The Immortal and Angel turned to Spike: “What were you doing kissing her?”
Spike scoffed: “Well, it seems to be the way she prefers being greeted. I distinctly remember her kissing you over the dead body of preacher-guy!”
“Not like that!” Angel shot back.
Spike’s only response to this was a smirk so smug, that it made Buffy want to simultaneously hit him and kiss him again. But Angel was right... the kiss had not been anywhere near a ‘hello’.... if she had to categorise it, it probably came closer to ‘foreplay’ - a few more minutes and a dark alley...
It seemed she would now have to have the confrontation that she had so carefully avoided that night in Sunnydale. At least she was not as conflicted as she’d been then. Things with Spike had been so tentative ... both of them treading so carefully, but looking back she wished she hadn’t been so scared. She didn’t know what would have happened if he hadn’t died, but she felt sure that they could have made it work somehow. And now she suddenly had the chance - she wasn’t about to screw up again because she couldn’t admit what she felt until it was too late.
Buffy took a deep breath and spoke: “I’m standing right here! And yes I kissed him Angel! I thought he was dead! I - I love him!”
Angel looked at her blank-faced. “You love him?”
She lifted her head, waiting for the arguments to come. “Yes!”
Spike was now smiling widely, but instead of turning into a 12-year old again, Angel only nodded. “OK.” He turned to Spike. “Lawyer guy got spooked seeing a Slayer. They’re trying to keep out of the Council’s way - for the time being at least. And since there is that big Slayer-meeting next week in London, we rescheduled the fight for next Sunday.”
Spike’s smile faded slightly and he sighed. “We have to wait a week before we get to kill their goons? Bloody lawyers. But it gives us some time to find our contact I guess.”
Buffy blinked. What had just happened? She suddenly felt like she was in a play and had been given different lines to everyone else. Then remembering her former confusion, she looked at Spike: “Why aren’t you dead anymore? Why are you here? How long have you been back? Why did you never call?”
The happy smile now completely gone, he looked down. “It’s a long story Buffy, we probably need to talk.”
On to Chapter 4
Anyway, here's Chapter 3. If anyone's not up-to-date, this is my post-NFA Spuffy story. Previous parts can be found here. And since
kathyh has gone on holiday, lillianmorgan was very kind to beta this for me. Thank you Lily, I owe you cookies! ;) All I can say about this chapter is, that I obviously have a thing for letting people get their own back...
Feedback is always welcome! (And that's an understatement if ever there was one!)
glenien that fits perfectly!buttersideup.Chapter 3
Buffy lifted her head to look at Spike, and before she knew it they were kissing. She had forgotten how good it felt - how the world fell away and left only the two of them, the fire between so bright it was blinding. It just felt right - like she had somehow been in another dimension and suddenly found herself back in her own universe where everything made sense. Her hands in his hair (he always looked so hot when his hair was ruffled), on his chest (so perfectly sculpted, so soft for sleeping on), caressing his leather-clad back.... when they finally broke for air she found herself babbling, as she memorised his features with her fingertips, the look on his face nearly making her cry again: “Don’t leave! Don’t ever leave me again! You weren’t supposed to die! Stay! I can’t lose you - not again... Spike - promise you’ll stay, you have to! I love you!”
His eyes glowed as he replied, voice shaking: “Buffy, I...” Then he suddenly looked up and stopped. Tearing her eyes from his face, she turned her head and felt the ground give way again - the only thing that stopped her from falling over being Spike’s arm around her waist. Watching them were the odd blue demon, a stony faced Angel - and The Immortal. The demon horde had somehow vanished.
When he saw her look up, The Immortal smiled and addressed - not her, but Spike: “William the Bloody, I see you finally learned how to do thrall! How very impressive. Oh, and Angelus - how are you? If you’ll excuse us, I think that The Slayer and I need to leave, before she finds more reasons for staking you... if you go now I will spare you, even though you’ve gone too far already!”
Buffy could feel Spike tense, but before she could explain, he answered, voice mocking: “I hate to break it to you, Immortal, but those names have long been out of date. We’ve been Spike and Angel for more than a century now! And there is no thrall - who do you think I am? Bloody Dracula? No don’t tell me - you taught him everything he knows!”
Realising that the men in front of her clearly had some sort of shared history, Buffy asked the obvious question: “You... know each other?”
Angel spoke now, voice light, but his eyes dark and dangerous as he looked at The Immortal: “You could say that... now can I just ask since you’re here - what exactly did you do to Darla? She was giggling like a schoolgirl when we found her and I’m inclined to think Spike is right - only a thrall could have done that!”
The Immortal’s classic features betrayed no emotion as he smiled pleasantly and turned to Buffy: “Pay them no heed, Caramia, they are but lowly vampires, trying to add another Slayer to their small list of achievements.”
Spike unwrapped his arm from Buffy’s middle and gave her fingers a brief squeeze before he took half a step forward, arms crossed and his trademark smirk firmly in place: “I think Angel deserves an answer - don’t you Buffy? You must be curious as to why your lovely... escort slept with the nastiest queen bitch in all of history!”
Buffy frowned: “But Darla’s dead! All dust blowing in the wind! Angel staked her!”
Angel stiffened, and Spike, casting a quick glance at his grandsire, answered smoothly: “Oh, we’re talking 110 years ago... funnily enough it happened here in Rome!”
She looked at The Immortal, waiting for him deny this ridiculous charge, but he just looked handsome and smiled at her.
Trying to get her thoughts in order, she asked him slowly: “You slept with Darla?”
Before he could reply, Spike butted in: “Dru too!” And then he grinned evilly before delivering the final blow: “Concurrently!”
Buffy took a deep breath and tried to steady herself. Spike turned his head, and when she looked at him, he smiled apologetically: “Sorry, luv, don’t want to ruin this thing you’ve got goin' on, but we thought you’d like to know... “
She nodded mutely and turned back to The Immortal: “Why?”
“There are many kinds of revenge my dear, and these two were bothering me. I think it better to make my vengeance sweet.” And he smiled that perfect, charming smile that had even made Willow and Kennedy weak at the knees.
Buffy blinked. “Huh?”
Spike sighed. “Oh, he used to be our arch-nemesis - And can I just say ‘lowly vampires’? We’re from the Order of Aurelius, moron - bleeding aristocracy in vampire-terms. And the two worst vampires on record! A hell of a lot more Darth Vader than Dr. Evil.” He shrugged. “Anyway, that whole competition-thing went out the window years ago!”
The Immortal looked ever so slightly surprised. “Well, I thought it was obvious that you gave up... why this admission now?”
Both vampires suddenly stood up straight. Then they stepped forward, shoulder to shoulder, anger palpable in the air.
Angel spoke now, his voice cold: “We didn’t give up - we quite simply do not have time for pointless feuds anymore! Unlike you we have better things to do with our time than climb mountains and impress women. We’re Champions now - we fight the powers of Darkness! We stop Apocalypses, we wage wars and we are currently trying to bring down the Senior Partners of Wolfram and Hart. You should run along now and stop bothering us - you’re way out of your league!”
The Immortal never stopped smiling and replied contemptuously: “You bluff - you always were a big talker Angelus.”
Angel’s eyes narrowed, and Buffy felt a chill run through her - she had not seen him look like this since... since he was Angelus. Then he spoke again, barely contained fury in his voice: “You are a fool Immortal! You might have known Angelus, but you have no idea who Angel is! You are looking at the only surviving member of The Circle of the Black Thorn. Do you know what happened to the rest?”
The words meant nothing to Buffy, but they obviously did to the Immortal, because she could have sworn that he went pale under his perfect tan. “You lie!” he hissed, but Angel slowly shook his head, a small cruel smile on his lips: “I had them all killed! Surely you heard?”
Buffy held her breath. Looking at the angry faces she hardly knew what to think. She found her eyes drawn to Spike yet again, and in amongst the joy that welled up in her she began to wonder: “What happened? Why is he here? And why is he suddenly best friends with Angel?” Because it was obvious that something had happened - all she knew was that the last time she had seen either of them they hated each other, but here they were side by side, backing each other up - almost finishing each other’s sentences. She felt her head begin to pound as she tried to work it all out.
Her attention was caught by the blue demon, who was silently surveying the scene. Unnerving, unemotional eyes studied the Immortal, and then it turned to Angel: “The battle you promised me did not happen. I wish to amuse myself with this one instead! He is strong and should be able to withstand my power for long enough to entertain me. Will he fight?”
The vampires glanced at each other, unspoken words hanging in the air. Spike shrugged. “Would make life simpler wouldn’t it? But it’s not really up to us - what do you say Immortal? Fancy a death-match with an Elder God?”
And then Buffy saw a look on The Immortal’s face that she had never suspected him capable of - fear. It was only there for a split-second, but she knew they had all seen it. He looked at them all in turn and obviously decided that he was outnumbered. Holding out his hand toward Buffy, he said quietly: “Are you coming mon cher?”
She shook her head and stepped back. Why did life have to be so complicated? She had just found out that Spike was alive, but instead of kissing him for eternity, she found herself in a strange web of intrigue and old feuds... “I think I need to... I mean... I need some space.” He bowed elegantly and blew her a kiss: “I am sorry Buffy Summers. But I see you have fallen under the vampires’ spell.”
Sudden anger flared up in her: “There’s no spell! How dare you! They’re my...” failing to find an adequate word for what they meant to her, she just let her anger speak: “They love me - Spike died for me! Go back to your perfect house and your perfect life! You won’t be seeing me anymore!”
The Immortal shrugged and walked away, the dull lights outlining his silhouette as though he were an old-fashioned Hollywood star. As she watched him go, she almost expected there to be swelling background music and began to wonder how on earth he did that - was it a spell or just some weird ‘Immortal’-thing? Could charm be a super-power?
She turned to see Angel and Spike looking at her, laughter in their eyes. “Oh you are magnificent!” Spike exclaimed. “That was definitely worth waiting a century for!”
Then they both seemed to remember what had taken place before their war-of-words with The Immortal and Angel turned to Spike: “What were you doing kissing her?”
Spike scoffed: “Well, it seems to be the way she prefers being greeted. I distinctly remember her kissing you over the dead body of preacher-guy!”
“Not like that!” Angel shot back.
Spike’s only response to this was a smirk so smug, that it made Buffy want to simultaneously hit him and kiss him again. But Angel was right... the kiss had not been anywhere near a ‘hello’.... if she had to categorise it, it probably came closer to ‘foreplay’ - a few more minutes and a dark alley...
It seemed she would now have to have the confrontation that she had so carefully avoided that night in Sunnydale. At least she was not as conflicted as she’d been then. Things with Spike had been so tentative ... both of them treading so carefully, but looking back she wished she hadn’t been so scared. She didn’t know what would have happened if he hadn’t died, but she felt sure that they could have made it work somehow. And now she suddenly had the chance - she wasn’t about to screw up again because she couldn’t admit what she felt until it was too late.
Buffy took a deep breath and spoke: “I’m standing right here! And yes I kissed him Angel! I thought he was dead! I - I love him!”
Angel looked at her blank-faced. “You love him?”
She lifted her head, waiting for the arguments to come. “Yes!”
Spike was now smiling widely, but instead of turning into a 12-year old again, Angel only nodded. “OK.” He turned to Spike. “Lawyer guy got spooked seeing a Slayer. They’re trying to keep out of the Council’s way - for the time being at least. And since there is that big Slayer-meeting next week in London, we rescheduled the fight for next Sunday.”
Spike’s smile faded slightly and he sighed. “We have to wait a week before we get to kill their goons? Bloody lawyers. But it gives us some time to find our contact I guess.”
Buffy blinked. What had just happened? She suddenly felt like she was in a play and had been given different lines to everyone else. Then remembering her former confusion, she looked at Spike: “Why aren’t you dead anymore? Why are you here? How long have you been back? Why did you never call?”
The happy smile now completely gone, he looked down. “It’s a long story Buffy, we probably need to talk.”
On to Chapter 4
no subject
::happy happy sigh of contentment::
I love the way this moved along. The pace was great, and it was fun to "watch" The Immortal walking away after she yelled at him. :)
On to Chapter 4. :)
no subject
Well, it's a Spuffy kiss - a HOT Spuffy kiss. Just... Mmmm.
And I had far, far too much fun 'dumping' The Immortal! All those old deeds coming back to bite him. But he's still charming of course... v. odd!