A/N: New story! This is a bit short (more of a teaser than a first chapter) so you can expect future chapters to be more involved. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter One

Her life was over. At the young age of seventeen, Buffy Summers knew without a doubt that her life was over, because her parents had decided to marry her off to a man with about as much personality as one of those marble sculptures in a museum. In fact, the marble probably had more personality.

Liam Angelus was not Buffy's idea of an ideal suitor. While he was admittedly handsome, that was unfortunately where the allure ended. Their conversations over the weeks of courtship had rarely strayed from weather and her health. One night he had inquired what she had for dinner, and she thought that the world must be ending.

"You can't honestly expect me to marry him!" Buffy had said incredulously when her parents had first told her of the betrothal.

"Dear, this is for the best," her mother had said. "The Angeluses are a fine family."

"Yes, they may be a fine family but their son is an insufferable bore."

Mr. Summers had affectionately touched her cheek then and said, "He is a good man, darling. And I believe he will make a find husband. Just give him a chance."

"But I don't love him," she had said, lower lip trembling.

"You will learn to love him," her mother had said.

So, it was decided. She would marry Liam Angelus and essentially give up any chance of true happiness. And her mother wondered why here spirits had been down. It was another one of the town's dances and she suffered through clumsy reel after endless reel with Liam. He was a tall man and he did not seem to know how to use his legs. Or feet. Or any limb attached to his body, really. His bows always looked as if he were keeling over.

She slipped away when she had the chance, making her way over to the family carriage. Making sure that no one saw her, she slipped in the back seat and laid down, resting her head on the cushion. She knew her parents would reprimand her when they found her, but even that would be superior to spending another minute with Liam Angelus.

The way she thought of it, she was going to be stuck with him for an entire lifetime. She was entitled to an evening on her own. Slipping her hands under her head, she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

When she woke up the carriage was moving. It was still dark outside and she felt a brush of panic when she realized that neither her mother or father were in the carriage with her. Still, there were explanations. Perhaps the coach had needed to move the carriage. They could be going to pick up her parents right at this instance. She sat up gingerly and peered out the window. They were definitely not near the dance hall anymore and her stomach dropped.

"Jeffrey?" she called out tentatively. "Jeffrey, where are we going?"

The carriage pulled over to the side with a jerk and she was thrown to the side, her arm hitting the side of the carriage.

"Oi!" the man up front said, turning around. She just about cried out when she saw it was not Jeffrey, but thankfully she was too frightened to make a noise. "What are you doing back there?"

"I-I belong here," she said, finding her voice and her courage. "This is my family's carriage. May I ask what you think you're doing with it?"

"I'm commandeering it," he said. "Actually, steal might be the better word. I have no intention of returning it."

Her eyes widened. "I demand you bring me back this instant."

He laughed. "You demand I take you back? Well, then I guess I have no choice, do I?"

"You're mocking me," she said in disbelief.

"Yes, pet, I am. Look at me and now look at you. Who do you think has the bargaining power here?"

She narrowed her eyes. "When my parents find out you kidnapped me-"

"Now, easy with the kidnapping there," the man interrupted. "I did no such thing."

"You most certainly did!"

"I did not know you were in the back. You might notice it's dark outside, pet. Didn't see you back there."

"Well, then take me back," she said petulantly.

"I don't know if you grasp the concept of stealing. One generally does not give the stolen item back, which bringing you back would necessarily require."

She began to feel like this conversation was rather hopeless and she said, "Well, then what are you going to do?"

He climbed out of the driver's seat and grabbed her arm, opening the door and hauling her out of the back. She tried to fight him, but his grasp was strong.

"I think I will leave you right here. Someone is sure to pass by morning."

"You can't leave me here!" she said, her voice rising with fear.

"Well, what do you suppose I do? Take you with me?"

She went to say no, but then she got an idea.

"How about we strike a deal," she said, speaking fast as her words tried to keep up with her mind. "I will give you the carriage if you will take me to the nearest train station."

She fell even more in love with the idea when she said it aloud. She always had wanted to see New York. Or maybe Chicago. Anywhere but home, really, and once she got on a train, there really was no stopping her.

"First, I already have the carriage," the man said. "Second, I have no intention of taking you anywhere. While petty theft doesn't ruffle my feathers, kidnapping surely does."

"It wouldn't be kidnapping," she argued. "I am a willing participant. A willing travel partner, if you will."

"I certainly will not," he said drily. "Sorry pet, but you're out of luck."

He began to walk back toward the driver's seat and scrambling for anything to make him change her mind, she said, "I'll turn you in!"

He looked back. "Excuse me?"

"I have a remarkable memory. When they find me – and they will – I will tell them each and every one of your features and they'll get a sketch. Yes, the police will get a sketch and they will send it out to all the police every where else and…and bad things will happen."

The man smirked. "Will they now?"

"Yes, they will. And they'll catch you," she said defiantly. "I'll make it happen."

"Is that so?"

She nodded fervently, holding his gaze. She needed him to believe her, despite the truth that she had just about the worst memory imaginable. She could barely remember her own middle name.

"Alright, fine," he said after a long pause. "I will get you to the next train station."

She grinned. "Really?"

"You do realize, though, that it's not for a good two or three hundred miles."

She swallowed hard. No, she had not realized that. She almost reconsidered, but then images of a life with Liam Angelus flashed in her mind. Two or three hundred miles be damned, she would not go back to that.

"Well," she said, climbing into the front of the coach beside his seat. "I guess we better get going then."

He shook his head, grinning a bit, before taking the driver's seat. He pulled on the reins and the horses began their slow trot.

"Well, pet, if we're going to spend some time together I imagine it would be good to know each other's names."

She turned her head toward him and said, "Buffy Summers."

"William Pratt," he said in return. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Buffy Summers."

A/N: Would you like to see this continued? If so, please leave feedback.