Title: The Definition of a Monster, Part II: The Anarchy of Deep Water
Distribution: Take it, just tell me where
Disclaimer: I own nothing, Joss owns all
Rating: PG-13
She puts a lot of effort into keeping it together, her willed illusion of comfort and stability, the words flowing from left to right, the routines of love; but underneath is darkness. Menace, chaos, cities aflame, towers crashing down, the anarchy of deep water.
--Margaret Atwood
I wake up and look around. I smell something, a white rose on the pillow next to me. I sit up and realize he's gone. He has to be, the room is covered in sunlight. There's a box sitting on the table near the window. On the box is a note with my name on it.
I open it, and pull out three sheets of paper in Spike's handwriting. I sit on the bed and read,
Dearest Buffy,
I almost wish I was there, because you're probably waking up brassed off, and you're beautiful when you wake and when you're mad, and I don't know if I could stand the combination. But I can't be there, and I know that now. I know a lot of things now.
I know you'll never love me. I've told you that before, but some part of me still wanted to believe it wasn't true. Now, it doesn't matter, because I know the truth. People make unrequited love out to be such a tragedy for the one who's in love. It's not. It's just a test. A test of how true that love is, because if you love someone, they don't have to love you back. True love is selfless, non-possessive. It's about how it makes you feel, what they give you by simply being who they are. And Miss Summers, you've given me a lot. You gave it to me whether I wanted it or not. I don't need for you to declare that you're mine, swear undying love. That won't make me love you any more than I already do. But know that I'm yours. It's the one blessing I can count. Loving you has made me a man again. For that, I can't thank you enough.
But we both know I'm not a man, I'm a monster. A monster that's coming for you. I screwed up when I broke Dru's neck. He'll be coming for me, and we both know you'll be the first person he kills, just to spite me. And he'll do it. You know I'm right. It's like some bleeding Twilight Zone episode, the thing that can destroy what I hold most dear is myself. So I'm going to try and keep my promise to you, Buffy. I'm going to keep Dawn safe. To me, keeping her sister alive ranks pretty high on the list of things that would
keep the nibblet safe. And it's not like I don't have a stake in the matter, no pun intended.
I'm not coming back if this is to end. Perhaps you'll have never known me, and maybe that's not such a bad thing. It's selfish of me, I know, but I can die happy knowing you're safe, alive and happy. Me leaving is the safe and alive part, the contents of the box are the happy. When you get back (and I know you will) give it to Peaches if it suits your fancy if he ever becomes of the souled again. Maybe if I didn't exist, he wouldn't have lost it the first time. I know part of you dreams for a normal life. This is as close as I can come to providing that, dear. We both know your life will never be normal, but maybe this will let it appear so, and keep you from some pain. Nothing hurts me like you in pain, and you'll forgive me for this selfishness. This is my choice, Buffy. Do not feel guilty about it, like I know you want to. You've nothing to feel guilty about. The kiss we shared on the dance floor last night was the most perfect moment I've ever known, and to me it was proof that whatever sacrifice you might think I'm making is not near what I would be willing to pay to insure your safety.
I know you'll still want to go after Grannie Wicca, and I won't try and stop you. I'll only ask you to wait, to give me time to draw him away, and for some people to arrive. I've asked my brother to find some people to help you and they should arrive in a couple of days. You won't have to worry about trusting them. You'll understand when they arrive. If you still remember me when this is all over, tell Dawn that I love her, and put some flowers on Joyce's grave for me.
Yours always,
Spike
I realize I can't read the last few lines because I'm crying. I look out the window and watch the birds sitting on the ledge. I want to take the box and throw it at them. Instead I open it.
I take it out and look at it, then start crying again. The Ring of Amara. He had it, and he's giving to me, to give to Angel. God damn it, he loves me. He loves me. Too damn much.
I take the box and chuck it through the window…I miss the pigeons.
I'm sitting there staring at the broken glass when Elena knocks on the door.
"Buffy….may I come in?"
"Sure, sure," I say, wiping away tears. "What can I do for you…"
"General Sumner called. He's contacted the people Spike wanted to speak to. They should be here the day after tomorrow."
"Why so long?"
"It appears they had to come from America…"
"Oh…okay…" I say, palming the ring. Probably not something I want the Council to know I have. "Did…did Spike tell you he was leaving…?"
"Yes…he did…and he told me why…I find it simply…"
"Stupid?"
"Unbelievable was the word I was looking for. He truly does love you, doesn't he…"
"Oh, yeah," I say, going a little over the top. "He loves me so much, he's going to get himself killed…"
"Pardon me…but isn't he the best equipped to handle this situation? I mean, after all, he's…him…"
"No…no he's not…that Spike…he's a cold blooded killer…a monster…and my Spike..he's…."
"Not?"
"No…he's not…I mean he is, but…besides…if anyone's going to kill him, it's going to be me." I find myself crying again. I bury my head in my hands. Why is this happening? Spike left. He never leaves. He's always there. Always here. Beside me. Giving me a hard time. Making me fight. Making me laugh. Damn him for leaving.
He knows I have to go after Willow's grandmother. And he doesn't even know about Simone's father, but he could probably tell something was up. I can't hide things from him for some reason. I never could. Why doesn't it work the other way around?
"So," says Elena, "How long has he been `your' Spike?"
"You make him sound like a sex toy," I laugh…
She blushes…I forget I'm talking to a prissy English lady…
"Well, that's not what I call mine…"she says.
"Oh…my…god…" I'm laughing again. Maybe she's not so prissy.
"So…how long…"
"I don't know…I mean…for so long, he was just there…wouldn't go away…that was before I died…"
"Which time?" she grins.
"The second time…I didn't know him the first time…and after I came back…he …he was a rock. If I couldn't count on anything else, I could count on Spike. He never changed. Never treated me any different."
"He let you be you…"
"Even when I wouldn't…I never thought to just let him be him…"
"Well, I think he has a pretty good idea of who you are…and of who he is…and who he isn't."
I look over at her. "Do you know who we are…I mean besides a slayer and a vampire?"
"Other than two people who seem to mean a lot to each other…no…"
I stand up and take a shard of glass in my hand.
"Sorry about the window…"
"It's alright. It's not often we have the Slayer Queen in residence."
"You really believe that?"
"After seeing what Spike is doing for you? I don't doubt it. But you know what…I don't think it has anything to do with you being the Slayer Queen."
"Then what?"
"It's about you being Buffy. Being who you are."
She's smiling at me. She reminds me of my mom.
"Are you married, Elena?"
"I was engaged."
"You were?"
"He was killed in the early days of the war."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be."
"Was..was he your first love…?"
"Yes….yes he was…"
"How do you get past it…I mean, do you think you can do it again?"
"It? Do you mean sex or love?"
"Love…"
"I hope so…I still hope to have children one day…"
"Children…whoa…something I've not really thought about…"
"Being a slayer I would think not. But you are the Slayer Queen. If any slayer has the opportunity to be a mother, it's you."
"You think?"
"The legends say you make the impossible possible."
Yeah right. "You think?"
"I just saw a soulless remorseless killer leave here crying because he was sacrificing himself for love…it that's not making the impossible possible I don't know what is…"
"He was crying…"
"He tried not to show it, but he was. I didn't even know vampires could cry."
Damn you, Spike.
Two nights later there's a knock at the door. I open it, and stare at the two men standing there. I can't help but smile. Thank you, Spike.
Chapter 2
Despite what you see on The Guns of Navarone or Where Eagles Dare, it's really not as easy as all that to move behind enemy lines. Especially when you have peroxide blonde hair and can only move at night. Hogan's Heroes, it's bloody not.
So I improvise. Show a little game face and it'll get you far. Winter's coming on, so I figure the farther north I go, the more night I'll get. Besides, I know Buffy won't like the cold. Discourage her from following me. It won't discourage him, though. I've never minded the cold, and neither will he.
He'll take advantage of Hitler's resources, the prat, anywhere I go on the continent, he'll likely know about it, and beat me there. If anything makes this easier, it's that he's in cahoots with the dictator. In my heart I know that was something I'd never do. But he's not me, then, is he, at the heart of things. Change a point in time, change who you are. He's still enough of me that I know that's not an option. So north I go. Besides, if memory serves me right, there's somewhere this general direction where Hitler wasn't having such a bonnie time of it. I dropped a few crumbs when I stopped in Aberdeen. He probably already knows where I'm headed. In order to get there, he'll have to drop the midget, at least partially.
I've been on the boat for four days now, and only had to spend the first day under deck. This far north, there's only sunlight a couple of hours a day this time of year. I wonder why more vampires don't move north in the winter, like a reverse exodus of birds. Go away, pretty chirpies, hello nasty vamps. Wouldn't that be quite the yearly processional. The Swallows of Capistrano, the Nosferatu of Oslo.
"Mr. Summers?" says the deckhand. "We'll be in port within the hour."
I know, Summers isn't that different from my real name, and Buffy would spot it in a minute. I'm not worried about Buffy spotting it, because she knows I'm right. Despite all the protests, she was always good about listening to me about the important things. But seeing Morris made me think of family again, and I had to be honest myself. The Summers were my family now. Joyce pouring me some cocoa, discussing our soap, and listening to me prattle on about my problems….The Nibblet showing up at all hours, and listening to my stories…and Buffy…threatening to kill me, fighting at my side….being Buffy. If I was truly honest, all the Scoobies were my family. Even that stuffy Watcher and the Harris boy. Now I understand why they didn't like me at first. If I was them, I'd resist me being there too. Especially now. If there was ever any proof that I'm a threat to Buffy, this is it. I think Rupert would approve of what I'm doing.
As the ship pulls into the harbor, it looks deserted. I chance looking up at the sun, and I'll be damned if I can tell if it's day or night. We cleared the last of the ice a few hours back, but frost still covers the chains on the anchors of ever ship in the port. We seem to be the only ship that has moved in quite a while.
The ship docks and the deckhands are quick to start unloading the cargo. I'm the only passenger. The rest of the ship is filled with weapons and ammunition, from America by way of England. I think half the crew though I was some sort of spy, half didn't know what to think. Some of the old hands I could tell knew what I was. Wearing garlic necklaces around a chap tends to make one think they know you're a vampire. Beats me all to hell where they got the garlic.
I make my way down to where there are some trucks loading weapons. There are some men standing there in the cold, smoking some cheap cigarettes. I hand them a couple of my English silk-cuts and light them up.
"Hello, Comrades"
They all raise their heads in acknowledgment, thankful for real tobacco.
"Where you boys headed tonight?"
"Where would you be wanting to go?" asks the guy who looks to be the big dog.
"Stalingrad sounds good to me."
"Why the hell would you want to go there? You do know what's going on there?"
"Yes, I do." I pull a bottle from my coat, and show it too him. "Real vodka, lads. From before the war…"
"Stalingrad, eh…"
"Yeah, comrade. This bottle, and four more like it are all yours if you get me to Stalingrad, and overlook a few of my eccentricities…" I say, putting my arm around him.
"Eccentricities…what sort of eccentricities…"
"Well, you see, I have this thing about mirrors…and you know somewhere where I can get a good, rare steak? I mean bloody…"
Chapter 3
"Hello, Whistler."
"Hey, Buffy," he says.
"You…you know who I am?"
"Yeah," he says walking into the room. "I'm part chaos demon. Time's not all that linear to me…"
"Chaos demons? Aren't they the one's with…"
"The antler's, yeah. You should see my mom, she's got a rack on her like you wouldn't believe…"
I try not to laugh…I look back in the doorway, and the other man's still standing there…
"Come in," I say.
He walks in, and looks around like the roof's about to cave in on him. His clothes are falling apart, he smells, and he looks overall disheveled. Disheveled? Did I just use that word? Willow would be proud of me.
"What about him? Is he going to remember?"
"That'll all be taken care of, once we get the Wicca."
"So Willow's grandma was a witch, too."
"Until Willow, she was the most powerful one there was…"
"And the Nazi's still got her."
"Nazis did a lot of things."
"I'm getting that picture." I look back at the other man. "And you…you up for this?"
"I don't know much…He told me to come…and for some reason I did…"
"Well, I'm glad you're here, but you're going to have to get yourself together before we leave. I'm not taking any chances on this, even if it is you…"
"Me, I don't understand…"
This is going to be hard. He's never met me. He won't for another fifty years. "First thing, we do we're cleaning you up. You're not going to be able to sneak up on anyone smelling like that…"
Elena comes up and takes him to get a shower. I sit and look at Whistler…
"If time isn't linear for you…can you tell me what's going to happen…?"
"I know what can happen…that's it.."
"Do you know if he's safe…?"
"Which one….?"
"Both of them….either…"
"Yeah…they are…"
"What happens if he kills…if he kills the other one…?"
"I don't know. Maybe he never existed….maybe nothing…"
"Nothing…so there's a chance he can do it, and still be here?"
"You two aren't supposed to be here in the first place. You've already changed things by killing Simone…from then on, this wasn't where you came from…"
"So…is there any way to get back…?"
"Yeah…but not for a while. You'll have to stick it out here for a little bit…"
"How long's a while?"
"A while, I don't know. What do I look like, Albert Einstein? All I know is that you have to get the Wicca back…if you do that, you can take care of Willow and your boy…"
"And you're on my side in this?"
"The Powers want you back where you belong. Things have happened back there that weren't supposed to…"
"Angel?"
He nods… "That went down bad. You've got to fix it."
"How can I from here…?"
"There's a way."
"And you're not going to tell me, are you?"
"No, but hey, I get to go with you on this one."
"Great, just great…just what I need, you'll annoy the Nazis to death…"
"Buffy?" said Elena. She was standing in the doorway, glancing back down the hall.
"I think he's presentable, now…He's just dressing."
"Good. Any line on what we talked about before?"
"Yes…she's in Spain…"
"We'll pick her up on the way…"
"Buffy, I have some reservations about this…I mean…"
"I thought we talked about this. I'm as good a person to tell her as anyone. Probably better."
"Yes, of course, but she's…"
"We need her…besides, you want what happened last time to happen again. We have to get there before Darla and her little buddy gets a line on her…"
"Yes…you're right…I'm just…hesitant…"
"I understand…but this is the only way…"
Elena glances back down the hall… "He's ready…"
"Bring him in…"
He walked in the room, his head hung low. They had put him in dark brown pants and a British military sweater, the kind with the patches on the shoulder. He looked good, more like I remembered. His hair was longer, and combed off of his face, though the stray strand fell out here and there.
I walk up to him, and move one away from his eyes. He steps back, afraid.
"I won't hurt you….I'm Buffy…"
"Hello," he says, his eyes darting down to the floor, then back up at me… "I'm…"
"Angel…I know…"
Chapter 4
My hair is almost dry when there's a knock on the door. I shake it loose, and throwing the towel on a chair I open the door to find Joseph standing there, looking a little wigged.
"Miss Summers? Can I talk to you?"
"Sure…come in," I say, tightening the robe around me. I don't know what I'm worried about, he's a married man, but hey guys are guys. They look. That was the whole point of dyeing my hair today. Hitler's guys are looking for a blonde, not a brunette, and the other Spike only saw me for a minute, so he probably wouldn't recognize me. I'm not fooling myself, though. I'm still me. My Spike would spot me in a second.
"You look…different…" he says.
"Disguise…" I say, sitting in the chair next to the window. The view is pretty good. I've never been to Spain before, and Barcelona is a very pretty city. I wish I could go out during the day, but what I'm here to do doesn't happen when the sun's out.
"I…I just want to thank you for letting me come along," he says sheepishly. "I know you didn't have to."
"Well, it's going to be a lot easier to get Sarah to come with us if you're there…and I mean come on…were-bear," I laugh.
"Still..it means a lot to me…I was wondering a couple of things…"
"Go ahead…ask…"
"The men we're with…they…they're not human are they?"
"No…Angel's a vampire..and Whistler…I don't know exactly what Whistler is, but he's not human."
"You trust them?"
"Yes…"
"Then so will I. Elena told me who you were…"
"That whole Slayer Queen bit, huh…well, glad one of us believes it…"
"I do. I have to. If anyone can free my Sarah, it is you…"
"It's gonna be us, Joseph. I need you there, too."
"I…I'm not much of one for combat, Miss Summers…"
"Buffy…and you could have fooled me…"
"Yes, well, I hope so…can you tell me what we are to do tonight, or is it something I don't need to know…"
Chapter 5
The engines make that funny noise, like in those old movies that Spike makes me watch, when the toy plane flies over the map and they draw a line from one place to another to tell you where you're going. I always thought that was kind of silly, but they really do make that noise. In those kind of movies there's usually a brass monkey's head or a gold cup or something the hero is chasing. Not this time. But hey, at least I got the villain right. Everything's coming up Nazis.
I can see the tops of the mountains through the clouds. The sun's not out, but the moon is, and there's a lot of snow, so everything is kind of white. I'm wondering what the crack is running down the mountain when I realize it's my hair. Still not used to the black. I wonder what Spike will say about it…geez, Buffy, obsess much? When did this start. First I'm dressing like him, now I'm worried what he'll think about my hair. Of course, that's assuming I ever see the jerk again. I can believe he did it. Can't believe he left. Just like Riley. Just like Angel. What's his excuse? He loves me? What is it with that? I get all the `I love you so I got to go' types…I thought Spike was different. I always thought Spike was the type where I could shove a nuclear bomb down his pants and he'd be there the next night trying to convince me to buy him a bloomin' onion at the Bronze…You could always depend on Spike to hit you up for some food or some cash….who am I kidding…. Lately, I could depend on him, period.
"They're the Alps…"
I look up, and realize someone's talking to me…
"The mountains…they're the Alps…."
Angel. Sitting on the other side of the plane, he's got his face buried in a book. Maria is in the seat next to him, asleep on his shoulder. He won't look at me for some reason.
"The Alps…"
"Yeah….Hannibal crossed them with a herd of elephants…"
"What for?"
He looks up at me, just for a second, then back down at the book.
"War…"
"Oh," I say, and look back out the window.
"You're thinking about him, aren't you…."
"Thinking about who…?" I haven't told him about Spike.
"I don't know. But you're thinking about someone…"
"Yeah…yeah I am…"
"Do you know where he is?"
"No…"
"He left…?"
"Yes…"
"Do you love him…"
This is not the conversation I want to be having. Not with Angel, even if it's not my Angel.
"I…I don't want to talk about this…"
"I'm sorry…I won't say anything else…"
Wait. What am I doing…this isn't my Angel.
"Angel…"
"Yes…"
"Can you tell me about someone…"
He looks up, and sets his book on his lap.
"If I know them…sure…"
"You know them. William the Bloody. Spike…"
He gets that crinkly forehead thing he does when he gets all I'm 200 something years old, Buffy, I know better…
"Why do you want to know about him?"
"Fine…don't tell me…"
"What do you want to know?"
"Everything."
Chapter 6
Chapter 9
I lay there and look up him. He stares down at me. Lordy, is this what I look like when I'm shocked. Here I thought I had more reserve.
I stand up and pull the stake out of my chest. And look down at it.
"What do you think's wrong with it?"
I step toward him, now armed with a stake in each hand.
"It's wood, innit? You did get real wood…"
I tap the stakes together…
"Yeah, sounds like wood… oh wait, did you miss the heart?"
I look down at the hole in my chest.
"Nope…that's the ol' ticker all right…hmmm…what could it be…?"
He backs up against a tree…
"How…?"
*******************************************************
It was just after sunset when there'd been a knock on the door. Nikolai starts, his head on a swivel. He stands from where he's crouched stoking the fire. I motioned for Nikolai to answer it, but not to invite them in. As he opened the door, I saw a strand of black hair fall from underneath a hood, and heard some hushed voices as the woman said something to Nikolai. Then I heard him ask her in…
Dammit, Nikolai…
I grabbed her and turned her around. I had almost punched her when I saw her eyes. Green. Her green…
"Buffy?"
Next thing I know she smacks me across the jaw and I'm on the floor again. God, this feels familiar.
She picks me up off of the floor and backs me up against the wall…
"You…
"Stupid…
"Stubborn…
"English…
"Vampire…
"Ass…." She says, pinning me with a finger in my chest.
"Yes, luv?" I smile, and give her my best aren't I so charming grin. And well, I am, so I figure it'll work.
"Never….Ever…"
"Yes?"
"Leave me again."
She grabs my shirt and pulls me to her. Her lips are cold, but they're like fire to me. She's pulling me down and I don't try to get up, until she has to stop to breathe…
"So…." I say, nonchalantly. "Miss me, pet?"
She hits me again, and I fall to the floor.
Nikolai bursts out laughing…
"You better be damn glad Dru told me where you were before I dusted her.." she says.
She looks at him and smiles.
"Friend of yours?" she asks.
"My chauffeur" I smile.
"Fine…ask your chauffeur to excuse us for a bit…"
I look at him and smile. He just grabs a bottle of vodka, and his coat, gives a silly little wave, and heads out the door.
"Smart guy," she says.
"Yeah, well, " I say, as she takes a seat next to me on the floor. "I don't know about you. You shouldn't be here, Buffy…"
"I got her back, Spike."
"The Wicca?"
"Yeah…she's on her way to London right now. Spike…she's the reason we're here…."
"What?"
"Some kind of spell…she thinks she can get us back…"
"Doesn't change a thing, luv. He's still out there…"
"I know.It's okay, though…"
"No, it's damn well not. I won't have you here," I said, picking her up off of the floor. "Leave…"
"No…"
"Fine…I will…"
She slams me against the wall again. "I thought we agreed. You're not leaving me again…"
"Leaving you? God dammit, woman…you think I ever want to leave you? You think I want you out of my sight for one second? I see you even when I close my bloody eyes…and I like it…"
"So why?"
"Why what?"
"Why'd you leave me?"
"I'm saving you…"
"From what? You? I know you, Spike. I know what you are."
"I'm a monster. A monster that's waiting out there," I say pointing to the storm outside. "A monster waiting to kill you…"
She closes her eyes, and takes a deep breath. Reaching up, she runs her hand through my hair.
"No…you're a man. A man that's right here. A man I'm waiting to love me…"
Oh, bloody hell. That did it.
I take her head and pull her to me, ripping at the cloak she's wearing. She pops buttons tearing my shirt off, and we're on the floor. We tear at each other, almost savage. But it's gentle, too. I feel everything at once. Everything about her and me. The hate, the pain, the fear…the love. I'm damn well alive.
She lays there, her head on my chest. I've a strand of her hair in my fingers, running little circles with it.
"You like?"
"The hair? Of course, luv…"
"No…I mean…the…y'know…"
I laugh. "Sure as hell popped the cork on my champagne bottle. It was beautiful, Buffy."
"It was, wasn't it…"
"I never thought it would happen."
"Yeah, well, I didn't either. Shows what we know."
"Luv…there's still a problem…"
"The gang will just have to get used to it…"
"No…I mean, yes, they will…they will?"
She laughs and looks up at me. "What, you think this was a one time thing? I told you. You're never leaving me. You're mine."
"I'm fine with that, luv. Really, I am…"
"But…"
"But we still have a problem. He's still out there…"
"Spike…I'm going to ask you something, and please, don't say no…"
*****************************************************
"You asked me how, mate? There's a very simple explanation."
"What's that, you git?" he said.
"My lady she asked me a question right before I came out to have our little tête-à-tête…"
He makes a move to get by me, and I slam him back up against the tree.
"Right before…"
"Oh yeah…and before you ask….Dru's dust…"
I see the anger in his eyes. He lashes out and I kick him in the groin.
"You see, my Buffy, she's a very non-traditional type of girl. She asked me to wear her ring." I say, flashing the Ring of Amara. "And what's a boy to do?"
I push his head back against the tree. "You asked me how I lasted so long?" I ask…
"Yeah…"
"Simple…I cheat."
And I kill the monster.
Chapter 10
We get back to London three days later, by way of Spain. I finally got to take that daylight tour of Barcelona, this time with Spike holding my hand the whole way. That night we drank a little bit too much Sangria. I told Spike it was the closest he was ever going to get to getting me to drink blood. He said that was fine with him, if I acted like that every time I drank it.
So I got a little drunk.
And danced on a few tables.
I had a good time. I know Spike did.
When we got to the Council building, Spike was a little cautious going in.
"What's wrong, Spike…."
"Buffy…I don't think we should tell them the chip doesn't work. And the ring…"
"They don't know anything about the ring. And even if they did, what are they going to do rip it off of your hand?"
"You did once…"
"Yeah…well…I'm the only one who can…so don't worry about it…"
We walk into the Council chamber, and we see Elena, Joseph, Maria, and Sarah looking at us. You'd think they'd be happier to see us.
"What's wrong…"
"We can get you back…but there's a problem" says Elena.
"A problem. Of course there's a problem. There's always a problem." I say.
"What kind of problem?"asks Spike.
"It's my fault," says Sarah. "I thought…well, I didn't think, I just needed help, so I asked the Powers…"
"The problem, Sarah?"
"The way I got you here…it only worked because there was a certain mystical convergence…a certain alignment of stars…."
"Okay," said Spike… "So you're saying that you have to wait for this alignment again."
"Yes…"
"So when is the next alignment," I ask…
"December 21…" says Sarah…
"Well," said Spike. "That's not too bad. It's November, now…"
"1954…:" says Elena.
Huh?
"Say that again…." I can't believe this.
"You're stuck here…for another eleven years."
I look at Spike. I don't know what to think.
"Well, luv. It's like we're going to have plenty of time to think of how to break it to the Scoobies."
Chapter 11
I learned a lot in the next eleven years.
I learned to love the English countryside.
I learned that marriage is a good thing.
I learned that Slayer Queens apparently don't age past 22.
I learned that Spike is ticklish in the small of his back.
I learned that it's okay for someone else to do the slaying for awhile.
I learned that I love taking long walks with the man I love.
I learned that blood pudding is as nasty as it sounds.
I learned that the Ring of Amara lets a vampire do a lot more than I thought it did.
I learned what Spike's real hair color is.
I learned how much I miss my sister.
I learned there is life without television.
I learned how to cook. Okay, I learned how to watch Spike cook.
I learned what it's like to have in-laws.
I learned Elena was a great lady.
I learned what it was to be a mother.
When the knock on the door came, we both knew who it was. Whistler and Elena stood there, with Angel behind them. I hadn't seen Angel since that night in Italy eleven years earlier, and he looked the same. He hadn't gone back to eating rats in the street. Whistler said he'd been living in Los Angeles. I guess some things never change.
Sarah and Joseph had arrived the night before, with their son. I didn't know if I could ever look Willow's dad in the face ever again. It's hard to think of a man seriously when you've changed his diapers.
Spike sat rocking our son to sleep. He had been born earlier that year, a miracle we attributed to the Ring of Amara. We had been so lucky. We had argued over the name, but finally settled on one when Spike saw how much it meant to me. He still thought the name was silly.
Elena walked in and hugged me. Elena was as close to me as anybody except Spike. For some reason, she reminded me of family. She had never married, instead devoting her life to the Watchers. I told her it wasn't too late, but she didn't believe me. She was stuck in her own time, thinking herself an old maid. Spike told her more than once she was full of crap, and I agreed.
I felt Sarah tug at my arm. "It's time, Buffy…"
I nodded, and reached out to take Spike's hand. I looked up at him and smiled. He had dyed his hair back the night before. He looked just like I remember him that first night outside the Bronze, down to the duster. Except I never imagined that Spike being father to a child. Much less father to my child.
Sarah did her stuff and a portal opened. Angel stepped beside us. He was going with us. Whistler had said, this was how we were going to fix the Angel problem. Apparently one of the gang had actually managed to stake Angelus. But we still needed an Angel. Whistler said he wouldn't remember a thing about this timeline, but he assured us we would. He said we deserved that much. I told him we'd gotten
more than enough out of our time here. He said, "You remember you said that, kid."
I didn't know what he meant, then. I do now.
Spike held my hand as we walked through the portal. All of a sudden he stopped.
"What's wrong…"
"It won't let him through…."
He turned back to Sarah, angrily. "Why won't it let him through…"
Elena looked at Sarah, then back at us. "Of course…"
"What?!" I screamed.
"Only one living being came through eleven years ago. Only one can go back now!"
"No! I'm not leaving my child…"
"Buffy," said Spike, gently holding my hand. "He'll be in good hands…"
"Spike…."
"He'll turn out just fine, Buffy…you'll see him again…"
"You don't know that…"
Turning back and handing our son to Elena, he kissed me gently. "Yes…we will…think about it…it all makes sense now…"
I realized he was right. Walking back to Elena, I kissed my son on the head one last time.
"Buffy," said Sarah…"If you guys are going, go now…"
I looked back to see Angel standing waiting for us. Spike pulled me away and through the portal.
I cried so hard when I got to the other side, I buried my head in Spike's chest.
"No…no…."
"It's all right, luv…it's all right…"
"Buffy! Are you all right?"
I looked up and saw Xander running toward us. We were back in the cemetery, where it had all started.
Willow came running up behind him. "Buffy, Spike…you're all right…and Angel…"
"ANGEL?!" said Xander. "Where?"
Angel slunk back against the door of the crypt.
"It's okay guys. It's Angel…not Angelus…"
"He's alive…You're alive…"
"Yes," said Angel. "I'm alive…and you are…?"
"Good one," said Xander. He looked at me. "I guess this mean nobody ever stays dead anymore?"
"Guess not…." I try to laugh but I'm still crying.
"I'm just glad you guys are back…"
"Yeah, you ponce," said Spike, "And so are we…come here, you," he said, giving Xander a hug. I think Xander wouldn't have been more shocked if Angel had been wearing a dress.
I decided Spike was right. I grabbed Willow and hung on for dear life…
"Buffy…I'm glad you're back…what's wrong…was it…was it horrible…?"
"No," I say, looking at Spike…"It wasn't horrible…it wasn't horrible at all.."
"You've been gone three days…where were you guys…..?" asked Xander.
"You wouldn't believe us if we told you…"
Epilogue
She sat there the whole night just looking at him. I knew what she was thinking. I was thinking it too.
"We can't tell him, luv…"
"Why not?"
"Because…it's not really him…"
"Isn't it…?"
"No, luv…it's not…"
She smiled at me, and quickly covered my ring hand, so Giles couldn't see the Gem of Amara staring him in the face.
"So…what do you have to tell me that you couldn't say in front of the other's…
"We….we…are…." she started…
"We are wanting your approval, mate…"
"Of what…?"
I lifted her ring finger so he could see her wedding band.
"Of us…"
"Of…oh…OH….."
"Since Joyce is gone, I figure you are who I go to for this."
"Are you asking me for Buffy's hand in marriage…?" He said, taking his glasses off and cleaning them like he always does when he's nervous.
"I suppose I am…"
"Well…Buffy…"
"Giles…say yes…I did…"
"Then yes, yes of course…are you sure?"
"Yes, Giles…I'm sure…"
"Yes…then congratulations…this is awfully sudden, you'll apologize if it takes me a little off guard…"
"No problem, mate. It took us off guard as well. Took us a little while to get used to it…"
"About 6 years…" says Buffy…
"What did you say?"
"Nothing."
"Well, if that's all, I'm going to retire for the night…and Buffy…thank you…"
"For what…"
"For considering me…your fa…your family on an occasion like this…."
"No problem," she said, the tear welling up in her eye. "You're family, you know that."
"Yeah, pop," I say, trying to lighten the moment.
"Yes, well…good night…"
"Giles?"she asks….
"Yes?"…
"Did you ever think your name was silly?"
"Giles?"
"No. Rupert."
"No…no…I was always told I was named after someone who meant a lot to my mother…so I never thought of it as silly…."
She smiled, and her hand grew tighter around mine.
"Why would you ask a question like that, Buffy?"
"No reason."
As he walked up the stairs, she elbowed me in the gut.
"Told you the name wasn't silly."
THE END.
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