Disclaimer:
It’s not mine… Well, the story is, but the characters aren’t…Summary:
A broken Slayer befriends Clem as she starts spending more and more time at Spike’s crypt after the bleach blonde flees to Africa. Then Spike returns with dire news and the Slayer’s world is turned upside down once more.Spoilers: Set post “Grave”
Rating: PG-13
Author’s Notes: I know you’re all probably getting sick of the post “Grave” fics, but I couldn’t help myself… When I get an idea, I’ve gotta roll with it… And, by the way, I know the formatting for these things is terrible when I post ‘em. Sorry about that… I’m not good with all the HTML stuff…
Distribution: If ya want it, take it, just give me credit… And, if ya could, let me know where it’s going.
Feedback: You can send it to brock3005@aol.com or otownfan1520@yahoo.com.
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Chapter 2:
She walked among the horror; bare feet and white gown covered with slick blood still wet, though the place stunk of death and decay. There were remains everywhere. Human… All human. Such terror and mayhem was almost inconceivable to her. She’d seen her share of death and destruction in her time as the Slayer, but nothing had ever been so horrifying. How it had happened, she didn’t know. Why she was walking through the remnants of it, she didn’t know… All she knew was that there was something she desperately needed to do. Exactly what it was, she couldn’t be sure… But whatever it was, it was important.
And then, she felt a familiar wave wash over her. Her Slayer sense was going haywire. But why? There was nothing left of this place. Where would they be hiding? There was nowhere… But whatever it was, it wasn’t hiding. It was seeking her out. And she relaxed. It was closer now… He was closer now. There was only one who would bring about such comfort and familiarity, and it wasn’t Angel. It was Spike. She could feel it in her gut. He was here. He had come back to her… Finally.
Seeking, she turned slowly. He was close… So close. So why couldn’t she see him? But before she could force his name from her lips, her eyes caught something else. In the center of the horror stood two beautiful white bassinets, both laced with soft pink ribbon and lace. Where had they come from? Slowly… Cautiously, she approached them. They seemed to be the only thing left untouched on the bloody battlefield.
When she reached her destination, she peered into the elegant bassinets, taking in the sight of the two most beautiful children she’d ever laid eyes on. They were sleeping peacefully, seemingly unharmed, despite the disadvantage of their position in the middle of the murderous night. Gingerly, she reached out to gently brush back the soft blonde curls that were just beginning to fill out on the delicate head of one of the little girls before her. The Slayer smiled when she felt the child stir, latching her tiny hand tightly around Buffy’s finger. And when the child’s shining eyes were opened and raised to meet her own, her suspicions were confirmed. Those beautiful pools of blue left no room for doubt… These were Spike’s children. And her own.
“Beautiful, aren’t they?”
His voice startled her, and she jumped slightly upon realizing his presence. She hadn’t felt him approach… Probably too wrapped up in her admiration of their children… The very light guiding her through this terrifying world of pain and horror. She smiled lightly as she felt his arms wrap around her waist, and she leaned into him, letting him hold her.
Her free hand moved to rest on his at her waist and she laced their fingers, while the other moved to the still sleeping child and she trailed a gentle finger down the baby’s silken cheek. Tears of pure happiness sprung to her eyes. “More beautiful than anything in this world.”
“I love you, Buffy.” He whispered gently, turning her face towards him and capturing her lips in a soft, sweet kiss.
“I love you, too, Spike.” The words slipped out easily as she turned herself into his embrace, resting her forehead against his, one hand snaking it’s way around the back of his neck while the other came to rest on his cheek. “I always have.”
“I know, Love.” His reply was shaken slightly with tears of his own as he kissed her lips gently one final time. Their tears mingled as they slid down into the blood pooled at their feet. She knew he had to go… It was meant to be. So when he untangled himself from her, she didn’t fight it. “Take care of them… I’ll see you on the other side. All of you. I love you.”
And with those final words, he was engulfed in a bright blue flame, his body disintegrating before her eyes. As her tears fell, the two small children began to sob as well, their instincts telling them that things weren’t right… And they weren’t. He was gone. Their father was gone… Her love was gone. But as the flame before them disappeared, a wave of light ran through the darkness and all the blood and gore was replaced with the green of life… The battlefield turning to a large, lively meadow before her sad eyes. Light overcoming darkness. And still it offered no comfort. It did nothing to quell the sorrowful sobs of the small, unlikely family, now one member short.
~*~*~*~
“Spike?”
His name was a choked sob on her lips as she was immediately jolted from the dream. Her heart was racing; her eyes wide with terror. Had that been a prophetic dream or was it simply her mind playing tricks on her? Swallowing hard, she closed her eyes briefly, trying her best to compose herself. She must have cried herself to sleep in his chair. Then, Clem’s voice broke her from her thoughts.
“I’m sorry, did I wake you? I didn’t realize you would still be here. If I was too loud, I…”
“No… No, it wasn’t that.” Buffy shook her head dismissively. “It was just… I had this really weird dream with Spike and fire and our children and… well, never mind. If anyone should be sorry, it’s me. I mean, you are kinda living here for the time being. I shoulda left hours ago. I didn’t mean to intrude.”
She got up, as if to leave, and Clem raised a hand, waving her back down. She obeyed and curled back into Spike’s chair, not yet willing to let go of the comfort she received from being back there. “No problem. Come over anytime ya like… Stay as long as you like. It’s kinda nice to have a bit of company.”
She smiled sincerely at him. “Thanks.”
“Anytime. Now, about this dream. You wanna talk about it? You look a little shaken…”
“I dunno… I don’t wanna bore you or anything.”
“Not like I’ve got anything better to do.” He reasoned, urging her to go on with his questioning eyes.
Buffy nearly giggled. Clem could be quite persuasive when he wanted to be. Was it just her, or did demons seem to be the best listeners out there? She gave in, concluding that she needed to get it all off her chest, and chances were it wouldn’t really go over too well with the rest of the gang. The whole Buffy dreaming of children… With Spike, no less. And twins? Somehow she got the feeling that wouldn’t exactly go over well.
“It was really weird.” She began, somewhat thoughtfully. “I was walking through all this blood and gore and body parts… And then I feel my Slayer sense go all wacky, but not in a bad way. More comforting, ya know. And so, automatically I know it’s Spike and I’m looking around for him. Instead of Spike, I see these two little white and pink bassinets, and so I go to them, and inside are the two most beautiful little girls I’ve ever seen. My children… Spike’s… Ours. And so anyway, then he’s there, and he kisses me and tells me he loves me and we’re both crying. When he steps away from me, he’s swallowed into this creepy blue flame, and he’s just gone… And all of a sudden the blood and gore turns into this bright, sunny meadow, while the twins and I are sobbing. It was just… Strange.”
“Maybe it’s just your way of coping with his being gone. Ya know, the whole ‘the-grass-is-always-greener-on-the-other-side’ thing.” Clem suggested helpfully.
She thought about it for a moment. It sounded pretty reasonable… But there was still one detail that didn’t fit into that theory… “Then what about the twins?”