Valentine's Fic!

[elisi]

So, I come bearing fic. I've been working on this like crazy (if it's bad, that's why) these last few days since Valentine's kinda snuck up on me... and what with being so busy, my muse decided that a schmoopy piece of fluff was not going to be the order of the day. Well there *is* fluff and schmoop, but somehow I also managed to turn this into a set-up to a sequel to 'Maybe Someday' (for which I still don't have a plot, but give it time...).

Anyway, it is a stand-alone of sorts, but more like a FitB from this as yet unwritten sequel. ::facepalm:: But I will write it, don't worry. I just have to get a few other things out of the way first.

Many red roses to my fabulous beta kathyh.

And feedback is better than chocolate! :)

ETA: This is set in 2007, so two and a half years after the end of 'Maybe Someday'!



Valentine's
It was a rainy, dreary day, which was only fitting, Buffy thought, since everyone seemed to have a Valentine’s date except her. The day had passed slowly, its hours marked out by Dawn’s increasingly frantic behaviour as the time for her date approached. Buffy had finally seen them off not long ago, the boy in question having stood up quite well to her Steely Look of Doom while he waited for Dawn to get her coat.

And now there was only her, with nothing but a dull night in front of the TV to look forward to. Every channel would no doubt be playing soppy tales of romance - most of which would be in Italian which she still wasn’t all that good at. Why couldn’t she have a regular boyfriend who lived down the road instead of a century old vampire who was off fighting an ancient evil across dimensions? And that she hadn’t been able to get hold of for more than three weeks...

No, she wasn’t going to consider the possible reason for that. At all.

Just as she’d decided that life wasn’t fair and she should just order the most fattening pizza she could find (before finishing off all the ice cream in the freezer) she heard a knock. Heart in her mouth she ran to the door and flung it open. And there he was! Big grin plastered across his face and arms full of... picnic things? She wanted to throw herself at him, but she could see that it wasn’t really possible. Also behind him stood a disinterested Illyria.

“Spike! You’re here!” she said, stating the obvious and almost bouncing, and he beamed back at her:

“Hello love - and happy Valentine’s! Sorry I’m a bit late, but um... we’ve been busy!”

He stepped through the door and dumped the hamper and blanket on her sofa, before slowly and very carefully pulling her into a deep kiss. Breaking apart, leaving every bit of her tingling, he took her hands and looked her over. “Even more beautiful than I remembered, but I’m afraid you’re going to have to change. Go find the prettiest summer dress you can and strap on some sandals. We’re having a picnic!”

His eyes were full of twinkling secrets, so she bit back her comment about the rain outside and ran off to her bedroom, doing her best to be quick, although she did need a few minutes in front of the mirror. Her hands moving deftly, her mind was running through all the options: Picnic in her sitting room? Nah, too obvious! Maybe a moonlit beach somewhere? Or... hm, whichever way she’d better bring a jacket of some sort. Pulling one out of the closet she went back to Spike, who was looking through the hamper.

“Rather good this - went by Harrods on the way and picked it up. Nice to see something familiar after - I mean it’s been around since before I was born. Good place.”

She looked at him more closely and suddenly noticed the gashes in his coat, the tiny flecks of blood that had been left behind after a less-than-thorough wash, the exhaustion that was lurking underneath his carefree exterior.

“What happened?” she asked, as she realised that the whole ‘Valentine’s Day Surprise’ might just be some sort of ‘keep the girl happy and stop her from asking questions’ distraction.

Spike pretended to study the label of the wine bottle he was holding, but when he finally looked up and saw her face, he bowed his head in defeat. “Ran into a spot of bother and got stuck in a nasty helldimension for far too long. Made it out in the nick of time, but Angel got hurt rather badly.”

Involuntarily her stomach twisted. “Angel’s hurt?”

Spike back-pedalled quickly. “Nothing that time and vampire healing won’t fix. Left him in LA in Nina’s care... if she can cope with him when he’s ill and grouchy, they might just have a future!”

This made her chuckle, and he got up, plucking the jacket from her hand. “Nuh-uh. No jacket allowed.”

“But...”

He grinned at her, and tossed her the blanket. “Carry that, will you?”

Then he walked over to Illyria and whispered something in her ear. Her reaction was hard to gauge at first, but then a hard, dangerous look came over her face and she raised her arm, a portal unwinding and widening from her fingertips.

Buffy looked in wonder at the beautiful vista on the other side; green grass bathed in sunshine with trees in full bloom swaying in a gentle breeze. It looked like a set-piece from a Disney movie and she would not have been surprised to see little fairies or talking animals appear. Spike picked up the hamper and then in the blink of an eye jumped through, into the bright sunlight.

If it was possible to suffer a triple heart attack at her age, then she would have had one on the spot. As it was, Buffy was frozen to the spot, staring at him. He was very solid still, grinning and holding out his hand. “Come on luv, it’s nice and warm here!”

Slowly, her brain in free fall, she walked the few steps across the floor and then through the portal. Seconds later Illyria was beside her, studying the surroundings intently.

“The shell has... memories of this place. Most of them are lost to me, but... “ A look came over her face, worryingly similar to the one on Dawn’s face when she spoke of ice cream. “I will enjoy this retribution.”

Buffy finally shook herself out of her stasis. “What’s going on? Where are we? Why aren’t you flamey?... Did you find another ring? Seriously - my head is imploding here!”

Spike smiled widely. “The place is called Pylea, and it’s an alternate dimension with a sun of the non-flamey variety. Angel mentioned it once and I thought it’d be... fun. Do you think I’ll freckle?”

Slowly the corners of Buffy’s mouth turned up. “I can’t believe you remember that!”

“I remember everything,” he whispered, suddenly close by again, and she leaned into his embrace. But the anticipated kiss never came, as he lifted his head and looked around, finally homing in on the rapidly diminishing figure of Illyria. “Hey - don’t come back with a load of villagers brandishing pitchforks, OK?” he yelled, but she continued unperturbed, and he sighed. “Ah well, she likes to take her time. Let’s find somewhere to sit, yeah?”


Buffy spent most of the day just watching him. Spike in sunlight was not something she had ever thought she would witness. Or witness again, rather. It was so odd, and so wonderful, that she found herself mesmerised by little things, like the way his hair managed to look even shinier. Or how his skin was so very, very pale. He’d brought a disposable camera and she had a lot of fun making him pose with the sun shining over his shoulder or right above his head. Her friends would be so freaked!

Later, when she unpacked the hamper, she discovered a present right at the bottom. Wrapped in pink paper with little hearts and curly ribbons wrapped around, it was hard to miss, and she delightedly pulled it out. Spike frowned slightly, muttering something about crazy shop girls going overboard, but then excitement took over and he was urging her to open it. Unravelling the paper, she found a beautiful hand held mirror with fancy Art Nouveau type swirls around the edges and little pearls inlaid here and there.

“Wow! It’s gorgeous!” she said, admiring the mirror and checking out how her makeup was holding up. She smiled and then saw another face reflected, blue eyes widening as he stared at his own image.

“Well I’ll be damned. Old Broody Pants was right...”

She sat very still, watching him watching himself. If they’d been characters in a movie there would have been swelling background music, indicating the importance of the moment, but here there was no such gimmick. She wondered if she should say something, when he suddenly turned his attention to her.

Lowering the mirror she moved so she was facing him. Slowly he stroked her cheek, eyes scanning every part of her face as though until now he had never really bothered to look. “I can’t believe that... I thought I might never see you again...”

“Are you actually going to tell me what happened, or just drop cryptic clues now and again? It helps to talk you know!”

He shook his head. “Nah - no reason to spoil today. But if you’re wildly curious...” He slipped off his coat and showed her his left arm. Four deep gashes, running from elbow to shoulder and only partially healed, stood out harshly against his white skin. He smiled a little. “And I got off easy. Would have been dead for sure if it hadn’t been for The Blue Queen. She’s pretty indestructible.”

Buffy swallowed and bit her lip. “Promise me you’ll be more caref-” But he cut off the rest of her sentence with a soft kiss that deepened as he pulled her closer, stroking her back. When he slowly pulled away, the look on his face left her in no doubt as to what was going on in his head. She could feel her heart beating as she slipped off her dress, before carefully helping him take off his T-shirt.

His skin seemed to gleam in the sunshine, its beauty and softness belying the strength underneath. She loved the fact that she could admire him so freely, that there would never again be reason to hide her feelings. And then there was no room for any thoughts, just sensation and marvelling at the joy they could bring each other. Everything was so bright and fiery, like a long-forgotten dream brought to life.

She really didn’t know much about dimensions, and if he’d told her that the days here were twice as long as on Earth she would happily have believed him. Because the day seemed to stretch and stretch; lovemaking interspersed with pointless chatter and languorous eating. She felt as though happiness had been made a tangible thing and she could have picked it up and played with it if she wanted.

Later they watched the sunset together, and Buffy marvelled at the depth of the colours and at how Spike’s skin stayed the same alabaster white - or maybe it was ivory? In the end she went with marble, since in the dusk he might have been a statue, perfectly formed and made by a master craftsman. After they got dressed he draped his coat over her to keep her warm and finally she asked what would happen next. Was he going away again?

He sat still, surveying the beautiful landscape, then sighed and pulled her closer. “Have to go back, pet. Never got what we came for. Trust me when I say that it’d be easier to fight an army of Hellions with nothing but a stick of wet lettuce and a kitten for back-up than attempt to enter that place!”

She twirled a bit of hair round her finger before looking at him. “I could help if you let me - I could get a whole army of Slayers if it’s that important. And -” she smiled mischievously “- I’ve not had an interesting fight in months!”

But he shook his head. “No can do, I’m afraid. The atmosphere, or lack there of, is full of all sorts of nasty things that’d kill you dead within the minute.” He stopped, then took her hand and studied her seriously. “I’ve been to some bad places in my time, but this one wins hands down! Buffy... I can’t promise that I’ll be back. We’re getting close to something and it’s getting bad. And if we’re right, it’s just possible that your Slayer army might be needed soon.”

Her chest suddenly felt too tight and she crawled into his lap, burrowing into him as much as she could without actually melting. She knew that she couldn’t stop him, but at least she could let him know where he stood:

“You are not allowed to die, OK? Because I will seriously kick your ass if you do!” she said as sternly as she could, and he laughed. Then she buried her face in his chest and closed her eyes, hoping against hope that maybe Illyria would forget all about them and they could live happily ever after in a little cave in the forest all fairy-tale like and romantic...


In the end Buffy never showed the pictures to anyone. In fact she never let a single person know where she’d been. It became her special secret, her internal store of strength as days and weeks and months passed without a word. She trained her Slayers around the world, making sure that they would be ready if the call ever came.


And sometimes she watched Casablanca and whispered, “We’ll always have Pylea”.

To be continued in the soon to be written sequel 'Divided Destiny'.

Comments

[zanthinegirl.livejournal.com]

Very cute Valentine's day story- but oh my Lord that ending! Yikes! You're going to write that sequel soon, right? Right??

[elisi]

I'll have to work out what happens first! But all the little plot bunnies are very busy. :)

[gillo]

Love that ending. And: Everything was so bright and fiery, like a long-forgotten dream brought to life. is a really lovely line. Shades of a certain episode in AtS S1?

Hmmm. I'd really like to see where this mission is going.

[elisi]

Thank you! :) And re. that line, I was actually sort-of thinking about her dream from 'Anne' (walking on a beach with Angel).

I'd really like to see where this mission is going.
Heh. Me too! But then I've left myself a lot of cryptic clues...

[rahirah]

Sweet, but Ow, that ending...

[elisi]

Thank you so much! :)

(Squee!) (It'll take a while before I'll be used to being on your flist...)

[jamalov29.livejournal.com]

This was very lovely, and had a fairytale quality that I enjoyed.
Poor Buffy, alone for several weeks or months..how wouldn't she regard her memories of that wonderful day as her internal store of strength ?

[elisi]

Thank you. And fairy-tale was what I was sort-of aiming for. Something out of the ordinary anyway.

And of course Spike is her strength. :)

[http://users.livejournal.com/_jems_/]

I don't know why, but I love the image of her climbing into his lap and burrowing herself into him. Shades of Touched, maybe?

I'm looking forward to seeing that sequel. =)

[elisi]

Shades of Touched, maybe?
Definitely. I think I even alluded to that originally.

And as soon as sequel appears, I'll be sure to write it down! ;)

[frenchani.livejournal.com]

You made me like Pylea !

If they’d been characters in a movie there would have been swelling background music, indicating the importance of the moment, but here there was no such gimmick.

Hee!

It was really nice, like something sweet that makes you smile and your heartbeat go a tad faster.

[elisi]

You made me like Pylea !
Well I guess that's a good thing! *g* It just struck me as the perfect place for a picnic - I'm surprised that no one else has thought of it (or maybe they have and I never saw it!).

like something sweet that makes you smile and your heartbeat go a tad faster.
Oooh, what a wonderful thing to say. :)

[cindergal.livejournal.com]

Aw, nice angsty schmoop! I could almost hear the swelling music myself. But now we have to have a sequel!

[elisi]

Thank you so much for reading! And I have a few little things to get out of the way, but then I'll try to concentrate on that sequel...

[annabelle528.livejournal.com]

That was wonderful! I love the picnic in the sunshine and the mirror, and Buffy keeping it to herself. But you just can't end on a happy note, can you? :)

[elisi]

I swear it was going to be all fluffy and happy. The ending snuck up on me and then I couldn't not use it... *g*

[priscellie.livejournal.com]

*wails* Sequel! This was absolutely beautiful.

[elisi]

Squee! Thank you. And I promise you, the plotbunnies are already multiplying! :)

[samson28.livejournal.com]

Oh gorgeous! Horrendous cliff hanger but a delightful read. :)

[elisi]

Oh wonderful feedback! Thank you so much and you won't mind waiting a few months before you find out what happens, right?

[mbangel10.livejournal.com]

Wow! Great fic and whoa! what an ending. I really hope you do a sequel to this someday.

[elisi]

Oooh thank you! :) (And your icon is *very* distracting!)

If you want to find out what happened before, you can always check out Maybe Someday which should keep you in reading material until I start the sequel! *g*

[kathyh]

I think I've said it all already but...sequel, sequel *g*. Many thanks for the virtual roses.

[elisi]

Well I need to do something about 'Only a Girl' and I have to write some stuff for buffy_love month - and there's the whole S/D thing. And some thoughts on the alley scene. But after that... *g*

[spuffyduds.livejournal.com]

Oh, this is so sweet, and well-written. And I love that we know that, while the love and snuggles are going on, Illyria is just over the ridge ripping off Pylean's heads.

[elisi]

Thank you! :)

while the love and snuggles are going on, Illyria is just over the ridge ripping off Pylean's heads.
It struck me as very in keeping with the day! *g*

[kittyzams.livejournal.com]

Aww, this was just a delight! What a wonderful escape, very fairytaleesque. I loved it.

Buffy had finally seen them off not long ago, the boy in question having stood up quite well to her Steely Look of Doom while he waited for Dawn to get her coat.

Hee. I love that. You certainly wouldn't want to mess with the sister of a slayer!

A look came over her face, worryingly similar to the one on Dawn’s face when she spoke of ice cream. “I will enjoy this retribution.”

I liked the way you wrote Illyria. I wonder what sort of trouble fun she got herself into there. Hee.

The part with the mirror was just lovely. I'm sure it did nothing to downplay his ego!

What a sweet story. Eek! to the ending. I can't wait to see what you have in store for us. Lovely job.

[elisi]

Aww, this was just a delight!
As is your feedback. :)

And I'm so glad you picked out the Steely Look of Doom - I had a lot of fun with that.

Illyria is always a joy to write. And I thought that she'd want to get revenge on whoever treated Fred badly. I might even write the story one day...

I'm sure it did nothing to downplay his ego!
At least he didn't start fixing his hair. ;)

Eek! to the ending.
That was pretty much my reaction too. I looked at it and thought "Now why did I write that? Where did it come from? And now I have to write a sequel, don't I?"

::smooches::

[earth-vexer.livejournal.com]

I was going to say something about the wonderful schmoopiness, but then you go breaking my heart with this:
And sometimes she watched Casablanca and whispered, “We’ll always have Pylea”.

::cries::

On a completely different note -- the idea of Illyria in Pylea is rather intriguing.

[elisi]

I was rather worried that I'd overdone it with that last line, but then it *is* a Valentine's fic... ::patches up your heart::

Illyria in Pylea is a wonderful thing. If a plotbunny ever hops in my direction I'll be sure to write the story down (if it's interesting and is more than just her ripping people's heads off).

Oh and if you want to indulge in the how's and why's of my Spike and Buffy, you could always read Maybe Someday. But I feel I must warn you that it is looooong (20 chapters!).

[buffyprof.livejournal.com]

well, sweet and *sniff* It's not every writer that can pull off Spuffy sweetness and not have it OOC cloying. Props to you

[elisi]

Oh thank you! It was not very easy to do - snark and banter flow much more naturally than smooches. :)

[spikereader.livejournal.com]

What a lovely day for them to have - and that ending just made me want to cry. Don't know if I've ever said, but Maybe Someday is one of my favourite fics ever, and to know that there is going to be a sequel is just so exciting. Hope those plot bunnies aren't feeling too angsty, I like me a happy (or at least a hopeful) ending.

[elisi]

I still don't know what's up with the ending - I was so busy writing schmoop that the angst snuck up on me unawares.

Maybe Someday is one of my favourite fics ever
Really? You just made my day! :)

The main problem with the sequel is that it'll probably have to be fairly epic and plotty (how *do* they fight those pesky Senior Partners?) Probably not a lot of angst, but not a lot of schmoop either.

Oh and thank you so much for your feedback. ::smooches::

[lillianmorgan.livejournal.com]

I couldn't read schmoop on the day, but I'm more than up for it now. That was lovely, so refreshing to read them happy and content in each other's company :)
What a nice twist that they end up in Pylea and I can certainly imagine all the things Ilyria got up to...and more!
Do you think I’ll freckle?”

Slowly the corners of Buffy’s mouth turned up. “I can’t believe you remember that!”
I *love* it when you make connections like that.
But the ending kinda has this really bittersweet tang to it - almost like...something bad is going to happen ::meeps::

[elisi]

I couldn't read schmoop on the day
I'm not surprised! ::big hugs::

The whole scenario popped up in my head ages and ages ago, but I had to finish 'Maybe Someday' first - and then I figured that Valentine's (or Buffy's birthday) would be a good time to set it! Having Illyria ripping off Pylean heads in the next town was almost an afterthought, but suddenly made perfect sense!

I *love* it when you make connections like that.
I can't not make them. It's some sort of tic. *g*

A sequel is going to happen! ::headdesk::

Anyway, this is the last schmoop from me for a long time - I'll try to concentrate on Spike/Dawn and 'Only a Girl'. Darn that RL!

[fredsmith518.livejournal.com]

Having discovered your fic, beams, I'm going to have fun catching up, so hopefully you'll hear from me now and again.

I enjoyed this one very much. You have a light and deft touch and mix the fluff with the none fluff very effectively.

[elisi]

Squee! Surprise feedback is the perfect thing for a boring day (I'm tidying the children's bedroom...). And I'm very glad you like this. Especially since it was written down in such a hurry!

[timeofchange.livejournal.com]

I don't remember reading this. It's a killer. I look forward to the sequel.

[elisi]

It's a killer.
Thank you! :) It started off a pure schmoop (damn why can't I write?) and then all these details and angsty bits intruded.

I look forward to the sequel.
Coming as soon as I find some time to write - although it'll be long! And have plot and stuff. Which will be... interesting.

[moscow-watcher.livejournal.com]

I don't remember reading it before. I don't understand how I could miss it. Terrific story, funny, poignant, inventive and full of hope. The ending and "tbs" are mesmerizing.

[elisi]

I don't understand how I could miss it.
I don't think you had me friended this time last year... Oh and if you like this, you might want to check out Maybe Someday, which is what this follows on from. I don't think you've read that (but then it's very long!)? S/B, lots of Spike & Angel. And Illyria! Although it starts in The Summer After. (Giles, Spike, Angel, Illyria). Just in case you're in need of something to read... ;)

Terrific story, funny, poignant, inventive and full of hope.
Aw thanks! :)

The ending and "tbs" are mesmerizing.
I'm itching to write the sequel now! ::needs more time::

[adoxerella.livejournal.com]

But, but, but....you can't leave it there. I mean you get me all invested and then they're just hanging there, and poor Woobie and Spike are all missing and...*sulks*

Seriously, this was a nice sweet story. Just the right mix of angst and humor. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next. But I totally understand the need to take care of RL first. I hope things settle down for you soon (and not just because of the writing thing. Stress is not our friend).

[elisi]

But, but, but....you can't leave it there. I mean you get me all invested and then they're just hanging there, and poor Woobie and Spike are all missing and...*sulks*
Hee! You're lucky though, because the sequel is all worked out in my head now - story and plot and everything (which it *totally* wasn't back when I first wrote this a year ago). I'm planning on writing it as soon as possible! :)

Seriously, this was a nice sweet story. Just the right mix of angst and humor.
Thank you! And it was supposed to be this little piece of schmoop, before all the darkness began to creep in. I hope you like what comes next!

[larabeckinsale.livejournal.com]

Wow, I'm truly amazed at the whole series! You really did a wonderful work with the idea of Spike as a true champion.

[elisi]

Wow, I'm truly amazed at the whole series!
Thank you so much! And thank you for reading the whole thing, I'm very impressed.

You really did a wonderful work with the idea of Spike as a true champion.
You know, it's funny you should say that, because I am (inbetween other things) working on a sequel (*points to icon*), which will focus on Spike & Angel's quest to undo W&H, and the series so far can almost be seen as side-stories to that... Um, what I mean is, that the sequel will focus much more sharply on the champion-side of things, so I am incredibly pleased that it shines through to these parts. :)

Thank you again SO much for reading - surprise feedback is the best thing in the world!

"...the start of a beautiful friendship."

[revdorothyl.livejournal.com]

"We'll always have Pylea." ! ! !

Somehow, Spike can carry off the Humphrey Bogart "...what I have to do, you can't be any part of..." speech without sounding as high-handed and paternalistic as the original 'Rick' or as Angel sounded when leaving Buffy 'for her own good' -- but that may be because he has such a solid track record of NOT taking away Buffy's choices, so when he says he has to do this part of it without her while she prepares to fight her own part of the battle if needed, she knows it's only the plain truth of human physiology, and not some high-handed attempt to avoid the messiness of relationships.

You've even got Illyria in the Claude Rains role (sort of), though -- thankfully -- no Paul Henreid this time around to get between Spike and Buffy and a possible future together, eventually.

I guess I should put my hopes for reading 'Divided Destiny' into my own "maybe, someday" file?

Re: "...the start of a beautiful friendship."

[elisi]

"We'll always have Pylea." ! ! !
It was too good not to use...

Somehow, Spike can carry off the Humphrey Bogart "...what I have to do, you can't be any part of..." speech without sounding as high-handed and paternalistic as the original 'Rick'
It's odd re-reading it now, because when I wrote it the sequel was just a vague 'I ought to do something with this 'verse' thought, whereas now it is a long and complicated and very plotty epic story, and lots of stuff has happened to them inbetween Maybe Someday and this part, influencing them here. I'm just glad that even without knowing all that, it still works! :)

You've even got Illyria in the Claude Rains role (sort of), though -- thankfully -- no Paul Henreid this time around to get between Spike and Buffy and a possible future together, eventually.
I loved Illyria's part, and - if Spike survives - they can definitely have some sort of happily ever after.

I guess I should put my hopes for reading 'Divided Destiny' into my own "maybe, someday" file?
Well... as said above, it's all planned out. I even have icons! *points* And I've written nearly 50,000 words so far - it's just that it'll probably be twice that length again, and I am definitely writing it all down before posting (I keep revising bits, and there's so much PLOT). Anyway, I am determined to finish it at some point, so if you're still around then...

[comlodge.livejournal.com]

This has been such a lovely ride. :D The christmas fics, this prequel to an adventure I can hardly wait for. What a perfect little interlude it is.

[elisi]

This has been such a lovely ride. :D
:D

The christmas fics, this prequel to an adventure I can hardly wait for. What a perfect little interlude it is.
Well now. This fic is actually set towards the end of Divided Destiny (too much plot!) - but manages to be not spoilery. So glad you enjoyed it all, and you must be going all wobbly eyed as you seem to have spent all day reading... (THANK YOU AGAIN!)