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Because Cavemen Have Fire. Chapter 4.
First of all, please admire the wonderful icon that ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
moscow_watcher made for me! Isn’t it wonderful? ::is thrilled and grateful:: (ETA: Forgot to mention that of course it is sharable! Also variations can be found here.)
For anyone who’s been away over Christmas, this is my Spike/Buffy/Angel post-NFA fic that I am writing at breakneck speed (which is one reason why I’m so absent). Only two more chapters to go now!
This chapter I’m going to have to dedicate to my beta,kathyh who (quite literally) saved it! Trust me you don’t want to know how bad it was before she started to sort it out! What I’d do without her I do not know. She’s amazing! *sends fruitbaskets and chocolate cakes and a gift-wrapped Spike*
If anyone wants to catch up (go on - read it! OT3! You know you want to! *g*) previous chapters can be found here.
And feedback has no calories! It’s the perfect post-Christmas treat! *g*
Chapter 4
Buffy knew how to make a good entrance.
Slowly she pushed open the giant doors of the Watcher’s Council, waited a moment and then strode through, head held high. She could feel her vampires following, as well as see the effect on every person watching.
Watchers - some confused, others unwittingly taking a step back. The two worst vampires on record in Council Headquarters.... and also the only two vampires with souls. Lots of conflict. That was good.
Slayers - most had an instinctive ‘reach for a stake’ reflex. But then there was obviously more to it than just vampires... because Buffy was there.
She looked around slowly, knowing that confidence won at least half the battle.
“Could someone please tell Mister Giles that I’m here?”
Someone scurried off, and she held her ground, waiting. Even without looking she knew that Spike and Angel had done their ‘I’m-as-immobile-as-a-statue’ trick, arms crossed, faces blank. Was it very wrong that she found their otherness comforting?
But she kept her eyes fixed on the huge staircase. Giles would come to her, and they were going to have a little talk. She had finally found what she wanted - no needed - the most, and there was no way he was going to try to tell her what she could and couldn’t do. She was following her heart and her intuition, and although she knew it was risky as hell, this was how she’d stayed alive for all these years. She had thought he understood that by now...
Could it really be only two days since the morning she’d woken up in that house?
*****
It was probably the daylight that did it. Buffy sleepily opened her eyes and tried to stretch - but then realised that this would not be possible. She was wedged in between Angel - spooned up behind her, arm around her middle - and Spike, whose head was on her chest and cramping her arm.
For a moment she lay perfectly still, letting the waves of happiness roll over her. This didn’t happen to her - not with these two at least. And yet it would seem that it had. A happy morning after, with no apocalypse breathing down her neck and neither of them evil... she took a deep, deep breath and wondered at these strange new feelings of complete satisfaction.
Trying to delve deeper she frowned a little. This was not the first time she’d woken up in an abandoned house after having done something she thought she’d never do. And yes, there was a very insistent voice somewhere in her head, telling her that apparently she’d not changed at all since then and that she was a complete freak. But... she remembered that ‘other’ morning very clearly. It had been so awful that it was still etched in her mind. Everything had been wrong. She was wrong, what she’d been doing was wrong, having enjoyed it was wrong and Spike was a whole category of wrong in himself. And now... sure there was a part of her head saying that it’d been a mistake. But all the other parts of her were shouting that it’d been a bloody revelation and more importantly... it had felt right. After a year and a half of feeling adrift and unsure, finally she felt like she fitted again. She felt right, and they felt right and what they’d done felt right - even if it did make her blush.
Did this mean that she was cookies now? Maybe... it didn’t matter. All she knew was that this was how she wanted to wake up every single morning of the rest of her life. Of course it wouldn’t be easy (how did threesome’s function on a day to day basis?) and Giles and her friends would probably freak out, but she was willing to do whatever it took. And not just because of the sex... although... the things they had done to her, working together... a little shiver went down her spine as the exhilarating memories came back... But - because somehow they were the pieces that made her fit.
As she wondered at this strange revelation, she realised that Spike was stirring (which was good, because her arm was almost dead).
He obviously had a moment of confusion, but then he grinned and looked up at her, brighter than the sunshine outside. “Hey there,” she said, and he smiled back. “Hey yourself!” He looked around, taking in the room. “Didn’t break the house this time - that’s good, right?”
“Yeah, I think so.” She had no idea what she was saying, because she was watching Spike, and he was looking at her with that utter adoration on his face that made her all incoherent.
“You are... amazing! I might have said it once or twice before, but you really are!” He stopped and slowly reached to stroke her cheek. “You’re like sunshine, except you don’t burn... Everything has been so dark, I almost forgot what it’s like in the light.”
He turned to look at Angel, an oddly tender look on his face. “And thank you! For what you did for him. He’s like the poster child for repression, and half the time I don’t know if he is brooding or if he’s gone catatonic... although hitting him over the head usually helps clear that up.”
Spike grinned wickedly, and she shook her head, trying not to laugh. But then his face became sombre. “Power is bloody dangerous Buffy. He was... like a king, looking down on everyone else... messes with your head, that.”
She sighed. “You know this you-and-Angel caring about each other thing is going to take some getting used to! It still feels... weird.”
“Not sure ‘caring’ is the word you’re after love, not much with the flowers and the hand holding,” he said, suddenly a bit uncomfortable. “It’s... family I guess. Blood and history and all that. Runs pretty deep in vampires - well some anyway. This modern lot are a disgrace.”
She shook her head, because - vampires! And even worse, she knew exactly what he meant.
“Well, shall we wake up the Patriarch?” Spike grinned, and began poking Angel with his foot.
“Hey - time to wake up Mr Lazy!” Angel tried to turn over, but Spike’s very insistent foot wouldn’t let him be, and slowly he sat up, blinking against the daylight.
Main problem with having both of them around, Buffy decided, was trying to work out which of them was cutest when looking sheepish. Currently Angel was ahead. She didn’t think she’d ever seen him wake up before, and he was just adorable half-awake with his hair sticking up in every direction. Added to this was the fact that he had never really done the awkward-morning-after thing before, and he was obviously unsure how to face the two of them after his complete emotional meltdown the previous night.
Spike of course was having none of it. "Oh get over it! Confession is good for the soul - good Catholic boy like you ought to know that, Liam! It's all the fornicating afterwards that's going to cost you!"
At which point Buffy started laughing so hard that they both began to look very worried.
"Um... a nervous reaction I think..." she stammered when she finally got her breath back.
“Buffy...” Spike was studying her very carefully, and Angel was looking even more guilty. “Are you OK? I mean - about last night...”
She swiftly reached out, putting a hand on his arm. “I’m fine. I’m... better than fine. For the first time in a long while I think I’m actually OK! Sure I’m seriously freaked out ,‘cause - group sex! But... last night...”
She paused, trying to find the right words, and realised that that would never be possible, she’d have to make do with ordinary ones.
“Last night was incredible. ”
Spike smiled happily at this. "See? Told you! Give a fella some credit!"
“I’ll put a gold sticker in your quarterly report.” Angel dead panned, and Buffy giggled. Right now - life had never been more perfect.
Although... she was getting kinda cold and her stomach was rumbling. Which led to an interesting search for her clothes (how did her top end up under the mattress?), and cold pizza for breakfast. Better than cold blood though... she wrinkled her nose delicately as she took in the alternative.
"So... what do we do now?" Spike asked. “Get the spell working and get out of here?”
"Suppose so," Angel replied, and carefully deposited the empty blood bag on the floor. "Might actually be able to do more than run away once we're cloaked."
Buffy looked from one to the other. "What? You think you're leaving?"
Spike frowned. "Course we're leaving. They're going to find us soon, and we've got to be on our way!"
She took a deep breath. "So... what was this? Just a one-night-stand?"
They almost fell over each other trying to explain, but she cut them off. "I don't care! I want you to come back with me! You could work with The Council! I know Giles would probably take a bit of convincing..."
Spike shook his head. "Need a lot more than that, pet. And sorry, but..." He looked at Angel.
"We're never going to work for The Council." Angel finished. "Especially after -" he stopped and shook his head. "Not going to happen."
“But... you have to come back with me! I’m not going to let you go now I’ve finally got you back!”
Things were suddenly spinning out of control and she felt that familiar sense of panic and dread when all her dreams went *poof*. Not this time! her head was screaming.
They looked at each other and then back at her. “Come back... for good? How’s that going to work?” Spike was studying her, genuine curiosity on his face. “We get a flat in whichever part of London that is currently poor and full of starving artists, and set up a ménage-à-trois between a lentil shop and a hippie commune?”
“What? No! Yes! We’ll work something out!”
Spike shook his head. “Apart from anything else - it’s not safe for you to be around us.”
“You think I care about that? I’m a Slayer - nothing in my life is safe!”
Angel shook his head. “It’s not just you they’ll come after - it’s everyone around you. Dawn, your friends... I’ve got enough blood on my hands I... I couldn’t bear it if I caused you more pain.”
“But...” she was looking from one to the other, tears almost in her eyes. “...don’t you want me? Don’t you want to be with me?”
“More than anything!” Spike said, swiftly. “But... not if it’s going to get you killed!”
“Also there’s the fact that... well we have prophecies to fulfil. Not sure which one of us, but there’s work to be done. And... you won’t like it.” Angel caught her eyes and held them. “I saw you pull away when I told you what had happened at W&H, and that’s still there. I’m the chosen Champion of the Powers fighting in this apocalypse, and that means doing a lot of unforgivable things. I’ve killed people. I probably will again. I’m not sure you could live with that. I don’t like who I am now, but... I don’t have a choice anymore.”
She swallowed bitterly and looked away, but at the same time she was thinking furiously, trying to work out a way around all this - maybe she should call Giles?
When she turned on her phone she was startled to see 10 messages from Willow and one from Giles. And she was nearly out of power...
Tentatively she pressed the first message from Willow.
“Buffy! Um, this is a little awkward... you know how you asked for me to ask Giles to get you money to bring Mr Souled Vampire back here? Well, he’s not really going to do that - he got... a bit cranky.” Buffy could almost see Willow’s ‘Eeep!’ face. “I didn’t get a chance to talk to him until just recently because he was in this extra-specially long meeting and then he went out for ‘supper’ and he’s wanting to talk to you... Sorry, must run!”
The message stopped and Buffy sighed. What time was it in the UK now? They were ahead over there, right? So about early afternoon. OK, that was fine.
A few rings, and then Giles picked up (thank goodness she had his direct number - his secretary was impossible to get past. Not even threats of violence worked.)
“Buffy? Ah, I’m so glad you called! Willow told me some nonsense about wanting to bring back a vampire...”
“Um - that was kinda true. And Giles... not one! Both of them! They’re both alive!”
“Really? Well you must be delighted.”
“Yes! And I want to bring them both back!”
“You can’t be serious! Buffy... “ she could almost hear him shake his head.
“Of course I’m serious! They’ve been on the run from W&H for half a year. We could protect them!”
She could hear loud and vocal protests behind her, and stuck a finger into her free ear.
“I don’t understand... Buffy - quite frankly your recklessness astonishes me. Bringing those two here would put the Council at incredible risk. Having read the reports about what went on at W&H I thought we agreed to cut relations with Angel for good. And no one gets out of a contract with W&H, we know that. I understand that you’re glad that they’re alive, but surely you must see that there is no way we could work with them. I’m very sorry Buffy, but I’m afraid I can’t allow it.”
“But Giles-”
And then her cell went dead.
This wasn’t happening. Except of course it was. She turned round, utterly fed up and close to tears. They were both sitting on the edge of the bed, identical black outfits outlining their forms, eyes averted, shoulders hunched.
“Why does this always happen? I’ve lost both of you, and now I’m going to lose you again! And it feels like being ripped in half! And for your information - I don’t think there’s ever going to be a Mr Perfectly Normal Guy who’s going to sweep me off my feet. I gave my heart to you...”
She stopped, unable to continue. Closing her eyes for a moment, trying not to burst into tears, she thought that if nothing else they’d had kept up the tradition of gut-wrenching morning after misery.
Angel looked devastated, but resolute. “I’m sorry...” he said quietly, briefly meeting her eyes before looking down again. At least they weren’t in a sewer...
Then Spike jumped up. “You know what? Screw this. Let’s go to London. The spell should cloak us once we get it working, and I have a feeling it’ll be a lot easier with Willow helping. Angel - the girl of our dreams wants us! Both of us! It’s a chance in a trillion and I’ll be damned if I’m going to throw it away!”
“But-” Angel said, as wild hope began to blossom in Buffy.
“No! No ‘but’! If she loves us enough to try, I say we love her enough to take a chance. W&H are everywhere, so it’s not even going to be a problem finding them again. And also... if we manage to work some sort of truce with Giles without killing him, we could have the archives of The Council to study. Not to mention the fact that Buffy seems to be the one person in the world who can get you to back off!”
Angel appeared too stunned to reply and Spike turned to face her. “We’re coming! He’ll kick up a fuss in a minute, but just ignore that. We’re coming!”
Suddenly laughing, she threw her arms around him.
“You’ll come? Really?”
“Really truly pet. Love’s bitch and all that...”
She smiled fondly, and then remembered something.
“Oh - but there’s a problem... I don’t know how to actually physically get you back. I’ve got enough money for a ticket for me, but that’s all. And I kinda maxed out my credit card a couple of months ago in Paris, so... Also of course there’s the whole daylight thing...”
There was a pause, then Angel shifted a little, looking uncomfortable and yet oddly triumphant. “I’m not saying that I’m going along with this, but if we’re really in need of transport we could always steal my old jet...”
Her jaw dropped. “You had a jet?”
He nodded. “And a helicopter and 12 cars and a penthouse flat...”
Spike sighed deeply. “Still miss that Viper!”
“Wow.” Buffy said. “Just wow. Evil sure does pay, huh?”
“Costs too...” Angel said quietly.
“Which is why you are coming with me,” she said, taking his hand. “You’ve paid enough for now!”
“Also,” Spike cut in, “Don’t forget that we’re strong enough to knock you out, tie you up, put you in a box and take you with us whether you want to or not!” He grinned. “Angel - we get the girl! Be happy already!”
“Actually -” Buffy cut in, “The girl gets you! Now I just have to... oh god, tell everyone else.”
“Can’t do much to help you there pet, although I will try my best not to annoy Harris... much.”
She took a deep breath, the enormity of what she was undertaking slowly sinking in. She would have to explain her... ‘life style choice’ to Dawn, her friends and The Council. Which would be... difficult. To say the least. Well, if they threw her out, she could probably join whatever fight it was that Spike and Angel were fighting. She just needed to... get her shots in first. Because suddenly she was remembering a certain spell from years ago, and the way she had bulldozed her friends’ every objection. And Spike wasn’t even evil anymore. And Angel hadn’t lost his soul. She could do this! Because she’d finally found what had been missing for so long. And now she had it, she didn’t think she’d be able to live without it ever again.
*****
The next two days were spent travelling. They finally reached LA on the second evening - thanks to a very amenable long distance truck driver they got there a lot quicker than expected, which was nice.
As they got close to where the W&H jets were stationed, Angel smiled. “I think there’s one getting ready to go... let’s check it out!”
The look on the pilot’s face was one that Buffy knew she would remember for a long time. It was one thing to be told of Angel’s stint as W&H boss... quite another to actually watch him in action. She recalled Spike describing him as a king, and this was very fitting - all of a sudden he seemed to grow even taller and very imposing. And the way he carried an unconscious expectation of being obeyed absolutely was something that she would take a long time to come to terms with. She knew that she had a touch of it herself, but with Angel it was far more explicit - there were even very disturbing Angelus-like undertones to his behaviour, a casual easiness when threatening violence that made the pilot utterly terrified and her rather worried. Because she believed him.
Spike had taken her hand, and she squeezed it gratefully.
“He had a lot of staff problems,” Spike explained quietly, “killed them if they didn’t fall in line. If he hadn’t done that... he’d have been dead within a week. It’s a dog eat dog world.”
“So... what do we do now?” she asked, and Angel, slumped in one of the comfortable chairs, looked up. “We wait for the actual passengers. Apparently they’re going to Vienna, so they can just let us off on the way. No one need ever know!”
He frowned. “Presuming of course that they have any sort of brains. Never thought I’d say this, but I miss Lilah. She’d get it - would probably even help us.”
Buffy looked at Spike, but he shook his head, apparently as clueless as she. Then they heard voices outside, and instantly Spike vanished. Angel tossed Buffy a crossbow, but motioned her to stay in her seat.
A moment later two women and a man boarded the plane, but stopped dead in their tracks when they saw who was there already. When they turned around, they found the door closed and Spike casually leaning on it - a very sharp dagger in his hands; the shine of the steel reflected in his eyes.
“Well well, it looks like you remember me. How have things been?” Angel’s tone was light, but the tension on the three lawyers’ faces was rocketing.
“Mr Angel...” the tallest of the women replied, “...what a surprise...”
Angel smiled. “But surprises are fun! Now, let me introduce you to my girlfriend, Buffy. She’s going to be your Good Cop for this flight.”
Buffy waved with her free hand. “Hi!”
They smiled at her nervously.
“Oh and she’s a Slayer, so doesn’t really like the Evil Lawyer thing... and Spike of course you know already!”
They turned to look at him, and Spike grinned unpleasantly and started tossing the dagger from hand to hand.
“Now... we need to go to London, which is apparently on your way. So what do you say that we do this nicely and civilly?” Angel was scanning their faces, voice still pleasant, but the look in his eyes left no one in doubt that he was a fraction away from violence.
“There are a few different options... you can either promise to behave and get to ride here in the cabin with us - or you can kick up a fuss and spend the journey tied up in the bathroom. That’s the easy one. The hard one is this - what do you tell your boss? Now either you can go along with whatever excuse the pilot comes up with for our landing in London, and never mention that you saw us. Or... you can try to explain why you had me within your grasp and made no attempt to catch me - which should be fun if your new boss is anything like me.”
He stopped, and his eyes grew distant, voice conversational. “You know nothing gets blood out of the carpet - it’s a real drag... Oh and if he leaves you alive, be sure that I’ll come knocking on your door when you least expect it. I’m sure you remember what I did to employees who disobeyed me?”
There were silent nods from all three.
“Good. It seems you’re all bright enough not to get yourselves killed. Please sit down and make yourselves as comfortable as possible, not forgetting that painful death awaits anyone who as much as thinks about doing something rash - Spike and I are getting kinda peckish. OK?”
Observing the ‘parley’ Buffy curled in a little on herself. He was just so... brutal. Spike noticed, and after a minute came down and sat beside her, waiting for her to speak.
“I get it...” she finally said, “I understand why he is this way. I just - I just wish he wasn’t so...”
“So much like Angelus?” Spike filled in and she nodded again.
“Well - he is Angelus,” he replied. “Spent a hundred years pretending he wasn’t, but no one can keep their true nature hidden forever - which is why he needs you... Why we need you.”
He could obviously tell how unsettled she felt by this, and told her to get some sleep - it’d be morning when they arrived.
As she was snuggling down a little later with her head in Spike’s lap (there had been looks from the lawyers. She’d have to get used to that), she was turning Spike’s words over in her head. She wasn’t sure exactly what he’d meant, but she was starting to have an idea... because she remembered far too clearly what it was like to cling onto her humanity when the darkness was just a tiny step away. Thinking of the two of them, all alone and with only each other to hold onto - she could begin to glimpse how they’d kept each other from falling off the ledge. But maybe she could get them to step back a little...
Slowly she drifted off.
And sure enough, a dull rainy November morning had been waiting for them in London. The upside being no sunshine whatsoever, so they could all just get in a cab and go straight to The Council...
*****
And here they were. Expectation and uncertainty was hanging in the air, and Buffy could almost feel how she was once more becoming ‘The One Slayer’... choosing a path different from everyone else. It was scary and yet familiar and if nothing else she was good at keeping her composure under pressure.
After a minute’s waiting, Giles appeared at the top of the stairs, taking in the situation with apparent calm, but Buffy could see how startled he was - and how angry. Carefully he walked down until he was in front of her, looking from her to her companions and back again.
“Buffy...” he said finally, breaking the tense silence under the watchful eyes of dozens of Slayer and Watchers, “...what on earth were you thinking?”
She tilted her head, and tried to look as though she was carefully pondering his question.
This was it - the moment. From now on there’d be no going back...
“Mostly? That I need to get a bigger bed!”
Chapter 5.
moscow_watcher made for me! Isn’t it wonderful? ::is thrilled and grateful:: (ETA: Forgot to mention that of course it is sharable! Also variations can be found here.)For anyone who’s been away over Christmas, this is my Spike/Buffy/Angel post-NFA fic that I am writing at breakneck speed (which is one reason why I’m so absent). Only two more chapters to go now!
This chapter I’m going to have to dedicate to my beta,
kathyh who (quite literally) saved it! Trust me you don’t want to know how bad it was before she started to sort it out! What I’d do without her I do not know. She’s amazing! *sends fruitbaskets and chocolate cakes and a gift-wrapped Spike*If anyone wants to catch up (go on - read it! OT3! You know you want to! *g*) previous chapters can be found here.
And feedback has no calories! It’s the perfect post-Christmas treat! *g*
Buffy knew how to make a good entrance.
Slowly she pushed open the giant doors of the Watcher’s Council, waited a moment and then strode through, head held high. She could feel her vampires following, as well as see the effect on every person watching.
Watchers - some confused, others unwittingly taking a step back. The two worst vampires on record in Council Headquarters.... and also the only two vampires with souls. Lots of conflict. That was good.
Slayers - most had an instinctive ‘reach for a stake’ reflex. But then there was obviously more to it than just vampires... because Buffy was there.
She looked around slowly, knowing that confidence won at least half the battle.
“Could someone please tell Mister Giles that I’m here?”
Someone scurried off, and she held her ground, waiting. Even without looking she knew that Spike and Angel had done their ‘I’m-as-immobile-as-a-statue’ trick, arms crossed, faces blank. Was it very wrong that she found their otherness comforting?
But she kept her eyes fixed on the huge staircase. Giles would come to her, and they were going to have a little talk. She had finally found what she wanted - no needed - the most, and there was no way he was going to try to tell her what she could and couldn’t do. She was following her heart and her intuition, and although she knew it was risky as hell, this was how she’d stayed alive for all these years. She had thought he understood that by now...
Could it really be only two days since the morning she’d woken up in that house?
It was probably the daylight that did it. Buffy sleepily opened her eyes and tried to stretch - but then realised that this would not be possible. She was wedged in between Angel - spooned up behind her, arm around her middle - and Spike, whose head was on her chest and cramping her arm.
For a moment she lay perfectly still, letting the waves of happiness roll over her. This didn’t happen to her - not with these two at least. And yet it would seem that it had. A happy morning after, with no apocalypse breathing down her neck and neither of them evil... she took a deep, deep breath and wondered at these strange new feelings of complete satisfaction.
Trying to delve deeper she frowned a little. This was not the first time she’d woken up in an abandoned house after having done something she thought she’d never do. And yes, there was a very insistent voice somewhere in her head, telling her that apparently she’d not changed at all since then and that she was a complete freak. But... she remembered that ‘other’ morning very clearly. It had been so awful that it was still etched in her mind. Everything had been wrong. She was wrong, what she’d been doing was wrong, having enjoyed it was wrong and Spike was a whole category of wrong in himself. And now... sure there was a part of her head saying that it’d been a mistake. But all the other parts of her were shouting that it’d been a bloody revelation and more importantly... it had felt right. After a year and a half of feeling adrift and unsure, finally she felt like she fitted again. She felt right, and they felt right and what they’d done felt right - even if it did make her blush.
Did this mean that she was cookies now? Maybe... it didn’t matter. All she knew was that this was how she wanted to wake up every single morning of the rest of her life. Of course it wouldn’t be easy (how did threesome’s function on a day to day basis?) and Giles and her friends would probably freak out, but she was willing to do whatever it took. And not just because of the sex... although... the things they had done to her, working together... a little shiver went down her spine as the exhilarating memories came back... But - because somehow they were the pieces that made her fit.
As she wondered at this strange revelation, she realised that Spike was stirring (which was good, because her arm was almost dead).
He obviously had a moment of confusion, but then he grinned and looked up at her, brighter than the sunshine outside. “Hey there,” she said, and he smiled back. “Hey yourself!” He looked around, taking in the room. “Didn’t break the house this time - that’s good, right?”
“Yeah, I think so.” She had no idea what she was saying, because she was watching Spike, and he was looking at her with that utter adoration on his face that made her all incoherent.
“You are... amazing! I might have said it once or twice before, but you really are!” He stopped and slowly reached to stroke her cheek. “You’re like sunshine, except you don’t burn... Everything has been so dark, I almost forgot what it’s like in the light.”
He turned to look at Angel, an oddly tender look on his face. “And thank you! For what you did for him. He’s like the poster child for repression, and half the time I don’t know if he is brooding or if he’s gone catatonic... although hitting him over the head usually helps clear that up.”
Spike grinned wickedly, and she shook her head, trying not to laugh. But then his face became sombre. “Power is bloody dangerous Buffy. He was... like a king, looking down on everyone else... messes with your head, that.”
She sighed. “You know this you-and-Angel caring about each other thing is going to take some getting used to! It still feels... weird.”
“Not sure ‘caring’ is the word you’re after love, not much with the flowers and the hand holding,” he said, suddenly a bit uncomfortable. “It’s... family I guess. Blood and history and all that. Runs pretty deep in vampires - well some anyway. This modern lot are a disgrace.”
She shook her head, because - vampires! And even worse, she knew exactly what he meant.
“Well, shall we wake up the Patriarch?” Spike grinned, and began poking Angel with his foot.
“Hey - time to wake up Mr Lazy!” Angel tried to turn over, but Spike’s very insistent foot wouldn’t let him be, and slowly he sat up, blinking against the daylight.
Main problem with having both of them around, Buffy decided, was trying to work out which of them was cutest when looking sheepish. Currently Angel was ahead. She didn’t think she’d ever seen him wake up before, and he was just adorable half-awake with his hair sticking up in every direction. Added to this was the fact that he had never really done the awkward-morning-after thing before, and he was obviously unsure how to face the two of them after his complete emotional meltdown the previous night.
Spike of course was having none of it. "Oh get over it! Confession is good for the soul - good Catholic boy like you ought to know that, Liam! It's all the fornicating afterwards that's going to cost you!"
At which point Buffy started laughing so hard that they both began to look very worried.
"Um... a nervous reaction I think..." she stammered when she finally got her breath back.
“Buffy...” Spike was studying her very carefully, and Angel was looking even more guilty. “Are you OK? I mean - about last night...”
She swiftly reached out, putting a hand on his arm. “I’m fine. I’m... better than fine. For the first time in a long while I think I’m actually OK! Sure I’m seriously freaked out ,‘cause - group sex! But... last night...”
She paused, trying to find the right words, and realised that that would never be possible, she’d have to make do with ordinary ones.
“Last night was incredible. ”
Spike smiled happily at this. "See? Told you! Give a fella some credit!"
“I’ll put a gold sticker in your quarterly report.” Angel dead panned, and Buffy giggled. Right now - life had never been more perfect.
Although... she was getting kinda cold and her stomach was rumbling. Which led to an interesting search for her clothes (how did her top end up under the mattress?), and cold pizza for breakfast. Better than cold blood though... she wrinkled her nose delicately as she took in the alternative.
"So... what do we do now?" Spike asked. “Get the spell working and get out of here?”
"Suppose so," Angel replied, and carefully deposited the empty blood bag on the floor. "Might actually be able to do more than run away once we're cloaked."
Buffy looked from one to the other. "What? You think you're leaving?"
Spike frowned. "Course we're leaving. They're going to find us soon, and we've got to be on our way!"
She took a deep breath. "So... what was this? Just a one-night-stand?"
They almost fell over each other trying to explain, but she cut them off. "I don't care! I want you to come back with me! You could work with The Council! I know Giles would probably take a bit of convincing..."
Spike shook his head. "Need a lot more than that, pet. And sorry, but..." He looked at Angel.
"We're never going to work for The Council." Angel finished. "Especially after -" he stopped and shook his head. "Not going to happen."
“But... you have to come back with me! I’m not going to let you go now I’ve finally got you back!”
Things were suddenly spinning out of control and she felt that familiar sense of panic and dread when all her dreams went *poof*. Not this time! her head was screaming.
They looked at each other and then back at her. “Come back... for good? How’s that going to work?” Spike was studying her, genuine curiosity on his face. “We get a flat in whichever part of London that is currently poor and full of starving artists, and set up a ménage-à-trois between a lentil shop and a hippie commune?”
“What? No! Yes! We’ll work something out!”
Spike shook his head. “Apart from anything else - it’s not safe for you to be around us.”
“You think I care about that? I’m a Slayer - nothing in my life is safe!”
Angel shook his head. “It’s not just you they’ll come after - it’s everyone around you. Dawn, your friends... I’ve got enough blood on my hands I... I couldn’t bear it if I caused you more pain.”
“But...” she was looking from one to the other, tears almost in her eyes. “...don’t you want me? Don’t you want to be with me?”
“More than anything!” Spike said, swiftly. “But... not if it’s going to get you killed!”
“Also there’s the fact that... well we have prophecies to fulfil. Not sure which one of us, but there’s work to be done. And... you won’t like it.” Angel caught her eyes and held them. “I saw you pull away when I told you what had happened at W&H, and that’s still there. I’m the chosen Champion of the Powers fighting in this apocalypse, and that means doing a lot of unforgivable things. I’ve killed people. I probably will again. I’m not sure you could live with that. I don’t like who I am now, but... I don’t have a choice anymore.”
She swallowed bitterly and looked away, but at the same time she was thinking furiously, trying to work out a way around all this - maybe she should call Giles?
When she turned on her phone she was startled to see 10 messages from Willow and one from Giles. And she was nearly out of power...
Tentatively she pressed the first message from Willow.
“Buffy! Um, this is a little awkward... you know how you asked for me to ask Giles to get you money to bring Mr Souled Vampire back here? Well, he’s not really going to do that - he got... a bit cranky.” Buffy could almost see Willow’s ‘Eeep!’ face. “I didn’t get a chance to talk to him until just recently because he was in this extra-specially long meeting and then he went out for ‘supper’ and he’s wanting to talk to you... Sorry, must run!”
The message stopped and Buffy sighed. What time was it in the UK now? They were ahead over there, right? So about early afternoon. OK, that was fine.
A few rings, and then Giles picked up (thank goodness she had his direct number - his secretary was impossible to get past. Not even threats of violence worked.)
“Buffy? Ah, I’m so glad you called! Willow told me some nonsense about wanting to bring back a vampire...”
“Um - that was kinda true. And Giles... not one! Both of them! They’re both alive!”
“Really? Well you must be delighted.”
“Yes! And I want to bring them both back!”
“You can’t be serious! Buffy... “ she could almost hear him shake his head.
“Of course I’m serious! They’ve been on the run from W&H for half a year. We could protect them!”
She could hear loud and vocal protests behind her, and stuck a finger into her free ear.
“I don’t understand... Buffy - quite frankly your recklessness astonishes me. Bringing those two here would put the Council at incredible risk. Having read the reports about what went on at W&H I thought we agreed to cut relations with Angel for good. And no one gets out of a contract with W&H, we know that. I understand that you’re glad that they’re alive, but surely you must see that there is no way we could work with them. I’m very sorry Buffy, but I’m afraid I can’t allow it.”
“But Giles-”
And then her cell went dead.
This wasn’t happening. Except of course it was. She turned round, utterly fed up and close to tears. They were both sitting on the edge of the bed, identical black outfits outlining their forms, eyes averted, shoulders hunched.
“Why does this always happen? I’ve lost both of you, and now I’m going to lose you again! And it feels like being ripped in half! And for your information - I don’t think there’s ever going to be a Mr Perfectly Normal Guy who’s going to sweep me off my feet. I gave my heart to you...”
She stopped, unable to continue. Closing her eyes for a moment, trying not to burst into tears, she thought that if nothing else they’d had kept up the tradition of gut-wrenching morning after misery.
Angel looked devastated, but resolute. “I’m sorry...” he said quietly, briefly meeting her eyes before looking down again. At least they weren’t in a sewer...
Then Spike jumped up. “You know what? Screw this. Let’s go to London. The spell should cloak us once we get it working, and I have a feeling it’ll be a lot easier with Willow helping. Angel - the girl of our dreams wants us! Both of us! It’s a chance in a trillion and I’ll be damned if I’m going to throw it away!”
“But-” Angel said, as wild hope began to blossom in Buffy.
“No! No ‘but’! If she loves us enough to try, I say we love her enough to take a chance. W&H are everywhere, so it’s not even going to be a problem finding them again. And also... if we manage to work some sort of truce with Giles without killing him, we could have the archives of The Council to study. Not to mention the fact that Buffy seems to be the one person in the world who can get you to back off!”
Angel appeared too stunned to reply and Spike turned to face her. “We’re coming! He’ll kick up a fuss in a minute, but just ignore that. We’re coming!”
Suddenly laughing, she threw her arms around him.
“You’ll come? Really?”
“Really truly pet. Love’s bitch and all that...”
She smiled fondly, and then remembered something.
“Oh - but there’s a problem... I don’t know how to actually physically get you back. I’ve got enough money for a ticket for me, but that’s all. And I kinda maxed out my credit card a couple of months ago in Paris, so... Also of course there’s the whole daylight thing...”
There was a pause, then Angel shifted a little, looking uncomfortable and yet oddly triumphant. “I’m not saying that I’m going along with this, but if we’re really in need of transport we could always steal my old jet...”
Her jaw dropped. “You had a jet?”
He nodded. “And a helicopter and 12 cars and a penthouse flat...”
Spike sighed deeply. “Still miss that Viper!”
“Wow.” Buffy said. “Just wow. Evil sure does pay, huh?”
“Costs too...” Angel said quietly.
“Which is why you are coming with me,” she said, taking his hand. “You’ve paid enough for now!”
“Also,” Spike cut in, “Don’t forget that we’re strong enough to knock you out, tie you up, put you in a box and take you with us whether you want to or not!” He grinned. “Angel - we get the girl! Be happy already!”
“Actually -” Buffy cut in, “The girl gets you! Now I just have to... oh god, tell everyone else.”
“Can’t do much to help you there pet, although I will try my best not to annoy Harris... much.”
She took a deep breath, the enormity of what she was undertaking slowly sinking in. She would have to explain her... ‘life style choice’ to Dawn, her friends and The Council. Which would be... difficult. To say the least. Well, if they threw her out, she could probably join whatever fight it was that Spike and Angel were fighting. She just needed to... get her shots in first. Because suddenly she was remembering a certain spell from years ago, and the way she had bulldozed her friends’ every objection. And Spike wasn’t even evil anymore. And Angel hadn’t lost his soul. She could do this! Because she’d finally found what had been missing for so long. And now she had it, she didn’t think she’d be able to live without it ever again.
The next two days were spent travelling. They finally reached LA on the second evening - thanks to a very amenable long distance truck driver they got there a lot quicker than expected, which was nice.
As they got close to where the W&H jets were stationed, Angel smiled. “I think there’s one getting ready to go... let’s check it out!”
The look on the pilot’s face was one that Buffy knew she would remember for a long time. It was one thing to be told of Angel’s stint as W&H boss... quite another to actually watch him in action. She recalled Spike describing him as a king, and this was very fitting - all of a sudden he seemed to grow even taller and very imposing. And the way he carried an unconscious expectation of being obeyed absolutely was something that she would take a long time to come to terms with. She knew that she had a touch of it herself, but with Angel it was far more explicit - there were even very disturbing Angelus-like undertones to his behaviour, a casual easiness when threatening violence that made the pilot utterly terrified and her rather worried. Because she believed him.
Spike had taken her hand, and she squeezed it gratefully.
“He had a lot of staff problems,” Spike explained quietly, “killed them if they didn’t fall in line. If he hadn’t done that... he’d have been dead within a week. It’s a dog eat dog world.”
“So... what do we do now?” she asked, and Angel, slumped in one of the comfortable chairs, looked up. “We wait for the actual passengers. Apparently they’re going to Vienna, so they can just let us off on the way. No one need ever know!”
He frowned. “Presuming of course that they have any sort of brains. Never thought I’d say this, but I miss Lilah. She’d get it - would probably even help us.”
Buffy looked at Spike, but he shook his head, apparently as clueless as she. Then they heard voices outside, and instantly Spike vanished. Angel tossed Buffy a crossbow, but motioned her to stay in her seat.
A moment later two women and a man boarded the plane, but stopped dead in their tracks when they saw who was there already. When they turned around, they found the door closed and Spike casually leaning on it - a very sharp dagger in his hands; the shine of the steel reflected in his eyes.
“Well well, it looks like you remember me. How have things been?” Angel’s tone was light, but the tension on the three lawyers’ faces was rocketing.
“Mr Angel...” the tallest of the women replied, “...what a surprise...”
Angel smiled. “But surprises are fun! Now, let me introduce you to my girlfriend, Buffy. She’s going to be your Good Cop for this flight.”
Buffy waved with her free hand. “Hi!”
They smiled at her nervously.
“Oh and she’s a Slayer, so doesn’t really like the Evil Lawyer thing... and Spike of course you know already!”
They turned to look at him, and Spike grinned unpleasantly and started tossing the dagger from hand to hand.
“Now... we need to go to London, which is apparently on your way. So what do you say that we do this nicely and civilly?” Angel was scanning their faces, voice still pleasant, but the look in his eyes left no one in doubt that he was a fraction away from violence.
“There are a few different options... you can either promise to behave and get to ride here in the cabin with us - or you can kick up a fuss and spend the journey tied up in the bathroom. That’s the easy one. The hard one is this - what do you tell your boss? Now either you can go along with whatever excuse the pilot comes up with for our landing in London, and never mention that you saw us. Or... you can try to explain why you had me within your grasp and made no attempt to catch me - which should be fun if your new boss is anything like me.”
He stopped, and his eyes grew distant, voice conversational. “You know nothing gets blood out of the carpet - it’s a real drag... Oh and if he leaves you alive, be sure that I’ll come knocking on your door when you least expect it. I’m sure you remember what I did to employees who disobeyed me?”
There were silent nods from all three.
“Good. It seems you’re all bright enough not to get yourselves killed. Please sit down and make yourselves as comfortable as possible, not forgetting that painful death awaits anyone who as much as thinks about doing something rash - Spike and I are getting kinda peckish. OK?”
Observing the ‘parley’ Buffy curled in a little on herself. He was just so... brutal. Spike noticed, and after a minute came down and sat beside her, waiting for her to speak.
“I get it...” she finally said, “I understand why he is this way. I just - I just wish he wasn’t so...”
“So much like Angelus?” Spike filled in and she nodded again.
“Well - he is Angelus,” he replied. “Spent a hundred years pretending he wasn’t, but no one can keep their true nature hidden forever - which is why he needs you... Why we need you.”
He could obviously tell how unsettled she felt by this, and told her to get some sleep - it’d be morning when they arrived.
As she was snuggling down a little later with her head in Spike’s lap (there had been looks from the lawyers. She’d have to get used to that), she was turning Spike’s words over in her head. She wasn’t sure exactly what he’d meant, but she was starting to have an idea... because she remembered far too clearly what it was like to cling onto her humanity when the darkness was just a tiny step away. Thinking of the two of them, all alone and with only each other to hold onto - she could begin to glimpse how they’d kept each other from falling off the ledge. But maybe she could get them to step back a little...
Slowly she drifted off.
And sure enough, a dull rainy November morning had been waiting for them in London. The upside being no sunshine whatsoever, so they could all just get in a cab and go straight to The Council...
And here they were. Expectation and uncertainty was hanging in the air, and Buffy could almost feel how she was once more becoming ‘The One Slayer’... choosing a path different from everyone else. It was scary and yet familiar and if nothing else she was good at keeping her composure under pressure.
After a minute’s waiting, Giles appeared at the top of the stairs, taking in the situation with apparent calm, but Buffy could see how startled he was - and how angry. Carefully he walked down until he was in front of her, looking from her to her companions and back again.
“Buffy...” he said finally, breaking the tense silence under the watchful eyes of dozens of Slayer and Watchers, “...what on earth were you thinking?”
She tilted her head, and tried to look as though she was carefully pondering his question.
This was it - the moment. From now on there’d be no going back...
“Mostly? That I need to get a bigger bed!”
Chapter 5.
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Well... maybe you are... and then again...
Did this mean that she was cookies now? "snorfle"
“You know what? Screw this. Let’s go to London. The spell should cloak us once we get it working, and I have a feeling it’ll be a lot easier with Willow helping. Angel - the girl of our dreams wants us! Both of us! It’s a chance in a trillion and I’ll be damned if I’m going to throw it away!”
“No! No ‘but’! If she loves us enough to try, I say we love her enough to take a chance. W&H are everywhere, so it’s not even going to be a problem finding them again. And also... if we manage to work some sort of truce with Giles without killing him, we could have the archives of The Council to study. Not to mention the fact that Buffy seems to be the one person in the world who can get you to back off!”
That's my boy, always the cockeyed optimist.
Well - he is Angelus,” he replied. “Spent a hundred years pretending he wasn’t, but no one can keep their true nature hidden forever - which is why he needs you... Why we need you.”
Nods.
Excellent chapter and that last line is a killer.
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Well he does begin with 'one of us', so knows that it's not final. The speech is more to remind her that he'll do pretty much anything to win...
That's my boy, always the cockeyed optimist.
:)
Nods.
I'm glad that bit works... their internal dynamics are fascinating!
Excellent chapter and that last line is a killer.
Thank you - and I'm very proud of that line... *g*
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Also a little reminder that Angelus is just under the surface and Spike is right about her being a good influence on Angel.
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Oh yes, that too. And it's something Buffy can't hide from anymore... it's fun making people deal with their issues! :)
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I love it! I can't wait for Giles' reaction!
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I'm having a LOT of fun with this... *g*
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Wish me a sleepy baby tomorrow and happy children! ;)
And thank you for reading!
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Many thanks for the thanks but it really wasn't that bad!
*sends fruitbaskets and chocolate cakes and a gift-wrapped Spike*
All very gratefully received though the gift-wrapped Spike was a little pissed off at being cocooned in wrapping paper. I managed to mollify him with chocolate cake and a large amount of adoration *g*.
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Well it *felt* that bad!
I managed to mollify him with chocolate cake and a large amount of adoration *g*.
Heeeee! Whiskey also works a treat. Although you have to be *very* strict about not smoking in the house!
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LOL! And to her last line too.
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And she doesn't even remember the talk they had in IWRY! (The last line has been in my head for quite a long time now...) Thank you for reading! :)
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Yay! :D
And hee- that last line!
Yes - the next chapter is a tad... explosive. Although probably not in the way you think! ;)
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*sporfle* That was just fabulous.
Hell the whole thing was fabulous (I join in the chorus of how great the last line was), every thing from decisive!Buffy, to hardass!Angel and snarky!Spike. I'm looking forward to seeing how the three of them deal with Giles' protests. Hopefully there will be some calling to task for some of Giles' previous actions. Then again, I may have a little repressed angst towards the G-man that I need to work on.
Thanks for continuing to share this with us. It is highly enjoyable.
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Squee! I was so hoping someone would quote that line! :)
Hell the whole thing was fabulous
Aw, thank you! :)
I'm looking forward to seeing how the three of them deal with Giles' protests. Hopefully there will be some calling to task for some of Giles' previous actions.
*whistles innocently and examines nails*
Thanks for continuing to share this with us.
Thank *you* for your feedback! :)
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I did like the flashback structure. Wonder if Giles actually realises he's now in the position Quentin Travers was in during 'Checkpoint'? It's interesting to see the particular power dynamic you've chosen to go for between Buffy and the new Council... she's still the rebel, the outsider, though a powerful one. Although I rather pity the secretary who refuses to put Buffy Summers through to the head of the Watchers' Council...
She didn’t think she’d ever seen him wake up before,
Of course you know that I read this and immediately started trying to work out if it's actually true! Didn't they sometimes take a blanket on patrol and have post-slayage naps together in season 3? And then there's IWRY, but she can't remember that.
ménage-a-troi
Should be spelled ménage-à-trois... Um, allegedly.
I liked Buffy's reaction to Angel's CEO life of luxury... although I hope it's not so easy to hijack a corporate jet in real life. Buffy's problems with Angel acting like Angelus were also very much a highlight, although don't think she'll be quite emotionally ready to accept Spike's "they're the same person" just yet.
And next chapter will be 'explosive', eh? You've not been watching 'Never Leave Me' recently, have you? :)
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Thank you - I'm rather pleased with how it turned out in the end. :)
I think she'd 'get it', if she'd been around.
Yes she would! And then she'd complain that she never got to have a threesome with the two Xanders!
I did like the flashback structure.
That worked rather well, although it *did* make the chapter very long since I had to cram so much in.
Wonder if Giles actually realises he's now in the position Quentin Travers was in during 'Checkpoint'?
I think so... he probably has a lot more respect for Travers these days...
she's still the rebel, the outsider, though a powerful one.
Yes, but that's a very new development - she's been going along with most things so far. Also of course now she's just one amongst many, so she doesn't quite have the same leverage she did in 'Checkpoint'.
immediately started trying to work out if it's actually true!
The only time that came to mind was the start of 'The Prom' when Buffy stays over after patrol, but then it's Angel watching *her*.
Should be spelled ménage-à-trois
Thank you! My spell checker would have nothing to do with it, and then... I just forgot.
I liked Buffy's reaction to Angel's CEO life of luxury
Still a valley-girl... *g*
although I hope it's not so easy to hijack a corporate jet in real life.
Well in real life the jets also take 8 hours! Dramatic licence and what-not.
Buffy's problems with Angel acting like Angelus were also very much a highlight
Thank you! I love writing callous!Angel, and he's pretty ingrained at this point so Buffy will have to deal. The thing is of course that unlike Spike - whom she watched develop - she has barely seen Angel for years and years and he's almost a stranger. She's taking a very big gamble... of course this is why Spike is so necessary.
And next chapter will be 'explosive', eh?
Just wait and see... ;)
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Buffy making an entrance at the Council ? I liked it! And imagining Giles ' s face. ;-)
I think it worked really well to have put the scene of their morning after as a fresh memory for Buffy. And again lovely , lovely moments between the three of them.
So sweet and heart-soothing to see Spike relaxed and happy :he was looking at her with that utter adoration on his face that made her all incoherent.
Now he can show his adoration , and he will receive a smile.*happy sigh*
I also enjoyed the little touches of humor here and there.
Your voices are great.
You know I felt a bit apprehensive reading about them together ( I knew that you wouldn't write graphic sex scenes ) .I realized that I wasn't completely at ease reading about Spike willingly sharing Buffy .
You managed to handle the situation with subtlety , sensibility and I didn't suffer as much as I thought. ;-)
I got the impression that they were fitting so nicely one with the other. Like I said in another comment , Buffy has her place between Spike and Angel , your writing makes all the difference. :)
You're doing a beautiful work .
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Thank you! :)
Buffy making an entrance at the Council ? I liked it! And imagining Giles ' s face. ;-)
As I've said about 5 million times - this is *so* much fun!
I think it worked really well to have put the scene of their morning after as a fresh memory for Buffy.
It's what she keeps coming back to - the fact that it *can* be wonderful. And she's willing to go through a lot of pain to keep hold of that.
Now he can show his adoration , and he will receive a smile.*happy sigh*
I had to get a bit of Spuffy-sweetness in there! The thing is that mostly they're OK with each other - OK, so Buffy is annoyed that he didn't call, but apart from that she and Spike understand each other. The conflicts come from Buffy and Angel.
Your voices are great.
Thank you - in this chapter that is in great part thanks to Kathy! Although Teh Funny is all mine! *g*
You managed to handle the situation with subtlety , sensibility and I didn't suffer as much as I thought. ;-)
Well that's good to hear - and re. Spike sharing Buffy with Angel, then starting out with Spike/Angel was my way of getting around that. In a sense Angel is his top-priority... and also if he can get them together he can have *both* of them. So although there might be a touch of jealously somewhere, mostly it's a win-win situation for Spike! ;)
Buffy has her place between Spike and Angel , your writing makes all the difference. :)
Aw, now *that's* a compliment! The way I see it, Spike blongs with Buffy, but he also belongs with Angel... and Buffy/Angel has potential, if Spike's there to help them.
You're doing a beautiful work .
Thank you (again)! *blushes*
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This was it - the moment. From now on there’d be no going back...
“Mostly? That I need to get a bigger bed!”
Priceless.
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Thank you! :D
Priceless.
Flippant Buffy is wonderful to write!
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Seriously looking forward to Giles and vampire interaction. Does Angel even know that Giles tried to have Spike killed?
Thanks for writing!
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I do? Really? I don't think anyone has ever said that before. I'm all incoherent now!
You've captured them all so perfectly and the tri-relationship, as it blossoms, is going to be something to behold.
Aw, thank you! As I've said before, I'm having far, far too much fun with it! They just... spark!
Seriously looking forward to Giles and vampire interaction.
It's being edited at the moment - I hope it'll live up to expectation! :)
Does Angel even know that Giles tried to have Spike killed?
Oh that's the least of their worries! *g*
Thanks for writing!
Thanks for reading and leaving feedback - you made my evening! :)
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And, yes, I finally got here after having this bookmarked for what seems like forever.
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Thank you! Trying to get the characters 'right' in such a bizarre situation is just impossibly awkward (as you probably know - unless your threesome stories just wrote themselves? I mean great swathes of this just appeared out of nowhere, but I was fretting terribly that I was just deluding myself that it was at all plausible).
And I love that last line!
Flippant!Buffy is definitely made of win! :)
And, yes, I finally got here after having this bookmarked for what seems like forever.
And I am ever so grateful - surprise feedback is always a delight. Thank you lots and lots.
Because Cavemen Have Fire. Chapter 4.
Boo... after going through my F-List and using CCleaner the font on your entries (and some other LJ entries is off. Hopefully it's better tomorrow. It's the same with my old IE and my new FF. Grrr.. *copies to Word and hopes for the best for the next time* If I only had a clue what causes this.Sorry for the ramble - after clicking several setting, being ready to open a support request after I opened my email (with a different coding) now it's okay. Weird thing DW was okay, only LJ gave me problem. *sniff* wasted time. /end ramble, now again to the story!Wow, Buffy knows how to make a good entrance. :D
I can so see Spike and Angel doing the statue thing.
Bummer... to wake up happy and to hear then that she can't keep her vamps. Giles isn't happy about it either. Too dangerous for the Council, huh.
Clever way to get a flight back. :)
Heh... what a way to answer Giles' question.
Re: Because Cavemen Have Fire. Chapter 4.
Oh no worries. I know how completely frustrating LJ can be!
Wow, Buffy knows how to make a good entrance. :D
Doesn't she just? I LOVED writing this fic. LOVED it.
I can so see Spike and Angel doing the statue thing.
They're very good at that indeed. Mmmm.
Bummer... to wake up happy and to hear then that she can't keep her vamps. Giles isn't happy about it either. Too dangerous for the Council, huh.
Happily-ever-afters are tricky things...
Clever way to get a flight back. :)
Thank you. :)
Heh... what a way to answer Giles' question.
*grins*
Re: Because Cavemen Have Fire. Chapter 4.
The heavily armed monkeys guarding the servers currently reporting problems with Non-English based text strings, we are currently working on the problem and hope to have it resolved shortly.
And regarding the icons: I try to find a fitting one for each chapter; doesn't always function but I'll try. :)
Re: Because Cavemen Have Fire. Chapter 4.
Well if they use *monkeys* to look after their servers... ;)
And regarding the icons: I try to find a fitting one for each chapter; doesn't always function but I'll try. :)
I always try to do that too! (I dunno what I'd do without icons! And this is Buffy being cross about the servers.)