AN: ********** Denotes the beginning and end of a flashback
Chapter 2: Play Fights: Old and Young.
The Silver BMW, raced down the unsurprisingly deserted lane. The orange
glow from lampposts dotted at various intervals, illuminated the drivers seat whenever
it sped under one, only for it to quickly succumb back into the darkness, as
soon as they had past.
Those sparkling blue eyes and platinum blonde hair haunted Philips every second, ever since the Vampire had dropped to the ground before him, and he had raced away to his car, desperate to get home as quickly as possible.
And now as the thrumming of the cars engine buzzed around him, reverberating through his mind and lulling him into a strange state of almost sleepy calm. He slowly began to remember the first time he had seen those unforgettable features.
**********
He had been eight, play fighting with his younger brother on there way to the Magic Box, there mother trailing behind them an amused smile playing on the edges of her lips, even though her watchful gaze was carefully honed onto the two of them, making sure they didn't push each other to far or wander in the wrong direction.
There father had taken them to Sunnydale as a surprise, during the school holidays along with there mother. He had wanted to go and visit his other 'family' and friends after having not seen them for around 18 months, since Buffy's son William had been born, and he had gone down there for a couple of days.
At one point he'd gently pushed Edward, and then noticing the blue frame work of the familiar Magic Box's front entrance up ahead had taken of at a run, an excited giggle playing on his lips, followed by a shriek as, as he had suspected his five year old brother took off immediately after him.
"You two, be careful!!" Anna Giles had warned, but neither of them had taken any notice. Philip quickened his pace, so as to further the distance between the two of them, and before long he had reached the open doorway of the shop, he screeched to a halt only long enough to change direction before disappearing into the shop, and out of his mothers view.
The conversation Giles and Anya had been having was suddenly disrupted by Philips playful laughter, and the sound of running feet. A smile spread across Giles lips as he watched him, grateful to see his family as though he'd been parted from them for days, when it had merely been a couple of hours.
He moved to say something, but was disrupted as the rest of
his family walked into the shop, Anya on the other hand frowned in annoyance,
ready to voice her disapproval if he so much as came close to breaking
something. But Philip didn't see any of this, still certain that Edward was hot
on his heels, even though at that precise moment he was being lifted into the
arms of there father.
And so he continued running, eventually coming into contact with a closed door,
the sounds of voices and movement could be heard from behind it. On various
other occasions both his parents and Anya, had prevented him from going in to
the room beyond it, muttering something about 'best to not get into the thick
of it' or what ever was going on behind it, and yet he didn't even take this
into consideration as he ran into it, clawing for the handle before barrelling
into the room beyond.
After a couple of steps into the room he screeched to a flying halt, two figures stood before him, neither having noticed his presence they circled one another like predators. Both wanted to make a move, but instinct told them to wait until the other attacked first, much like them Philip was instantly curious as to whose patience would crack first.
He recognised one of them as Buffy Summers, one of his father's closest friends. She was breathing heavily, and her arms slacked a bit as though she was too tired to hold them up, and yet she seemed determined to continue-something in the depths of her green eyes, beneath the tasselled bits of her hair that lay strewn across her face, showed him that no matter what the consequences she was not willing to back down before, the person who stood before her.
Buffy had been one of the first people from Sunnydale he had ever met; she had come to England on business, something to do with the Watchers Council that his father often worked for, and had ended up staying with them for a while. He liked her, she seemed strong and yet gentle in a way he hadn't know existed before her, he liked the way she'd played with him and his brother, he watched her for a while longer before his attention was once again caught by her competitor.
He didn't recall ever having seen the tall man that stood opposite her before, and he was positive there was no way he could have forgotten having done so either. Cause everything about him was distinct, from his sparkling blue eyes and prominent cheekbones down to the long black leather duster that flowed around his ankles with each move he made, forcing your eyes to wonder to the large boots he wore.
Something about the man un-nerved him, how his every bit of attention was focused on Buffy, determined and annoyed and yet they also held a sense of loving, of comfort. A sense of only wanting to be accepted, that he would do anything to be loved.
Philips thoughts were suddenly disrupted by the sound of a voice.
"Hey Philip, are you here to see your dad??" the female voice had asked, and it took him a moment to realize that is was Buffy who was speaking to him, both of them having turned to face him, having noticed him during his thoughts.
Buffy's expression showed a surprised welcoming, while the mans held only confusion.
Philip nodded his head in agreement a pleased smile on his lips. Suddenly Buffy landed a sly kick to the other mans groin, a triumphant smile appearing on her own features as he dropped to the floor in pain.
"Bloody Hell, Slayer…." the man cried through breathless gasps, his accent distinctly British, Philip noted.
"…..That's down right dirty"
"Well then you should learn to pay more attention" Buffy simply replied playfully, slowly striding over to where Philip stood and placed an arm on his shoulder, guiding him, through the door and into the other room.
A muttered "Cheat" was heard, beyond the excited chatter of the others.
**********
Philip shook his head in an attempt to clear it of the memory as he pulled into the drive of his family's Edwardian style house.
As he pulled up near the entrance, and cut the engine. He noticed that the house was shrouded in darkness, which most likely meant his parent were still out at the party they had hurried off to earlier that night-and he was thankful for it, cause it meant there wasn't any need for whispered words and hurried conversations. He'd be able to tell Edward everything he needed to.
With that he climbed out of the car, slamming the door behind him, causing the security light to flood the drive way, and then headed into the house.
Once inside he slammed the front door shut behind him, hoping that the sound that echoed thought out the house would at least begin to stir his brother in the slightest from his sleep, and then he immediately headed for the back bedroom.
Philip flung open the door to his brother's room; it slammed against the desk on the other side with a resounding thud. The things that rested on and against it also rattled in protest.
"Edward wake up" he shouted, flicking on the light switch that lay besides him.
His brother didn't stir
"Edward get up, I need to tell you something"
Eventually one of Edwards's eyes slowly began to peel open, only to squint closed again as the surprising rush of light evaded him.
"Phil, is that you? I thought you weren't gonna be home till late" he muttered still in the throws of sleep, but slowly beginning to wake up. Philip watched as he began to sit up, rubbing his red and puffy eyes of the remaining sleep that blocked them, before using both hands to brush away his shoulder length, ruffled blonde hair from his face, and turning to look at his brother's worried and confused expression.
"Phil? What's up??" he asked, suddenly worried. Instantly concerned for his brothers, and parents safety.
"We've got a problem".
Edwards, drowsy-ness quickly subsided as the weight of Philips words sunk into him, and he was suddenly fully focused and eager to hear more.
TBC
