Caeruleum
Episode 2: Shanghaied Shanshu
Illyria continued to stare absently at Buffy, waiting for a response. The small blonde she had heard so much of from the two half-breeds continued to gape at Spike and her. Illyria thought it mildly intriguing that her mouth hung open at such an odd angle. Surely that was not normal human behavior?
Illyria turned to Spike looking for an explanation as to the Slayer and Angel's peculiar actions. Spike however was busy messaging his temples. His disregard for her inquiry irritated her, so she "thumped" him.
"Bloody hell Blue!" Spike moaned as he clutched his left forearm. As if he didn't already have enough bruises to go around.
"Why does the Slayer hang her mouth so? Is this normal when barging into another's domain?"
Spike nearly laughed. "Uh, no. Don't reckon it is." Glancing to Buffy and throwing her his evil-sexy smirk, Spike added, "Why don't you ask the Slayer herself why her mouth is down to her ankles."
Buffy broke out of her stupor at that. "Shut it Spike! We just came up to get you and then we find you and this… demon! Together on the ground! You can't be trusted for five seconds can you?!"
Spike's smirk slipped a little at that. It was funny as hell having Buffy being all jealous for him, but when she got that irate hurt look in her eyes, he knew he'd better do something, and fast.
"Settle down luv. It's not like that at all, and you know it." Illyria cocked her head at Spike, but her expression remained as emotionless as ever. Spike continued when no one, uncharacteristically mind you, interrupted him. "And even if t'were, you've been shaggin the sodding Immortal all this time, so I don't see how you can be getting all worked up over my affairs." Buffy gave him an indignant glare, but apparently couldn't find anything to counter his point. It was, after all, true. Trying to delicately scramble out of the hole he had found himself in since Buffy and Peaches' arrival, Spike said in a more reasonable tone, "We just fell Buffy. And we were so tired and injured that-
"Spike succumbed to his exhaustion. He brought me down as he did so. I never would have submitted to my weakness and fatigue so completely." Illyria interjected.
Giving in to his inner-Dawn, Spike rolled his eyes. "Thank-you Bluebell. We were all very concerned with how weak you might have appeared after almost single-handedly taking out the armies of Wolfram and Hart."
"Can we get back to the part about you being Illyria's pet?" Angel finally said. He looked mildly amused.
"Due to Wesley's demise, I am without guide in this strange world. I have thus appointed Spike to fulfill that roll." Illyria said absently, turning her icy, unblinking stare to the older vampire.
"Did you agree to this Spike?" Angel said slowly, as if talking to a small child accused of raiding the cookie jar.
Spike grumbled, "Not so much. But hey, there are worse things in life than baby-sittin a Goddess. I should know. I've done most of them."
"Alright," Buffy said, her 'commander n' chief' tone taking over, denial evident in her resolved mood. "We came here to bring you back down Spike and to make sure Illyria was alright. How bout we get to it?" Spike and Angel nodded. Buffy looked pointedly at Angel.
"I'm not sure I can really pick her up at the moment. My arm is almost dangling here." Angel held up his limp arm as proof. Buffy breathed a sigh and nodded. She then moved up to Illyria and prepared to pick her up in order to deposit her on the nearby bed.
If looks could kill, Buffy would have died a thousand deaths by now from the intense glare Illyria was hitting her with. She wanted to reach out and snap the impudent Slayer's neck for daring to touch her, but then she caught sight of the worried expression on Spike's face. He feared for this Slayer, this girl, because of her.
Illyria suddenly felt as she had when she lay beaten in Spike's apartment after Hamilton had attacked her. She felt ashamed, and it angered her.
Begrudgingly, she allowed Buffy to pick her up and place her on the large bed in the center of the suite. With a final glare at the Slayer's audacity, Illyria turned her head away from the trio. They were dismissed.
Illyria snapped her head back around when she heard the door slam shut. The slightest of frowns came to her blue-lips. Spike hadn't even said good-bye.
She lay there for a while, wondering why she had chosen him to replace her Wesley. No wait. Not her Wesley, just Wesley.
She shook her head, trying to clear the roaming thoughts of longing and despair raging through her brain. She closed her eyes finally, letting the memories of the bright and sunny Fred inundate her senses. Fred had loved him so much. She would have cried for months after his death. Illyria opened her eyes and put a finger hesitantly to her cheek. Moisture was there.
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"Ok Spike, what really happened?" Buffy asked as she and Angel helped the limping vampire down the stairs. Spike noticed a black med kit in Buffy's other hand.
"I told you what happened." Addressing Angel, Spike added, "Why's it that you didn't do any patch job on Blue?"
"She scares me sometimes. And right now, she's seeming a little…pissy." Both Buffy and Spike looked at Angel like he'd grown an extra head. "What?! Did you see the way she turned away from us when we left? She wanted some space, and I have no problem giving it to her. Plus, we're not the only one's with super-healing. In a few days, she'll be as good as new."
"She had some broken ribs and probably quite a bit of internal bleeding you nit-wit."
"Both of us aren't much better off." Angel heaved a sigh. "Look Spike, if you want to patch her up later, you can do it later. But I don't think it's going to do much good. Right now, we need you down here to discuss what we're going to do."
"Oh sure, like you really value my opinion." When Angel didn't say anything, Spike's eyebrows flew up. "You really want to hear what I have to say?" He was shocked. Buffy seemed to be as well.
"I think you two have been spending way too much time together lately."
Angel and Spike glanced at each other and quickly glanced away.
"Way too much time." They both agreed.
Now thoroughly spooked, both of them scooted away from each other, casting awkward suspicious glances at the other. Though highly disturbing, this did present an advantage for Spike. He was now solely leaning on Buffy. His confidence quickly returned.
"So pet, how've the Scoobies been fairing without yours truly? Dawn's not with anyone is she? I haven't got a chance to scare whatever boy she chooses senseless." He said the last part only half-jokingly.
Buffy seemed to relax a little and gave a small grin at Spike's big brother routine toward Dawn. "They're good. Giles is heading up command central in London. We've already got a new Watcher's headquarters set up there. You should come visit it sometime." Spike nodded his head. "Dawn is fixing to start at Oxford."
"Niblet? At ol' Ox-nard? You're kidding?! What would the Bit wanna go to a nancy-boy school like that for?" Beneath his surprise, Spike felt a tiny surge of pride at the younger Summers.
Buffy was about to chastise him when Angel interrupted. "Don't listen to him Buff, Spike here actually went to Oxford when he was human. When he was first turned, he used to brag about it all the time."
Spike growled. "Yea, and I was a ponce back then. Thanks so much Angelus." Ignoring his grandsire, Spike fixed his attention back to Buffy. "I take it Watcher-man pulled some strings? Not that Niblet isn't world-class material."
"Yea, Giles contacted some of his old friends. Two of them are on the board if you can believe it. Dawn was thrilled. She's going to be studying ancient languages and history. I think she plans on joining the council after she graduates."
"She'll be brilliant. What's the Wanker and Anya been up to? They have their little suburban nightmare complete with demon-spawn yet?"
Buffy's cheerful expression vanished. "Xander's been really focused on Watcher detail since Anya died on the Hellmouth."
"Oh." That caught him off guard. He'd always assumed the feisty little ex-vengeance demon would last forever. He'd liked the bird.
"Xander's a full blown Watcher these days. He's been tracking down potentials and giving them crash-courses in Slayertude. We're kinda shorthanded on the teaching side. In fact, our only certifiable Watchers are Giles, Andrew and Xander. Though each of them has been recruiting apprentices. It's insane the number of Slayers out there. This group we brought here to LA is only the one's proven battle-worthy."
"Mighty impressive luv. Too bad Anya kicked it. I'll miss the crazy bint. She would have loved going on tour teaching little Buffy's and Faith's how to properly decapitate foes and balance checking accounts."
Buffy gave a small grin. "Yea. She would have."
The three of them winded down the last of the steps and staggered, limped, and walked, as the case may be, over to the awaiting group.
"What took you guys so long?" Conner asked. He thought it funny that he had only been slightly uncomfortable amongst the complete strangers. Just went to prove how odd his life was.
Angel's brooding expression lifted for a second as he looked on his son. "Spike and Illyria were incapacitated."
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Spike decided to take the vacant seat beside Faith and smirked to himself when he sensed Wood's unease. Causing the ol' principal a bit of discomfort was fine by him. The bloke deserved it. Faith gave him an easy nod of welcome. Spike quirked his lips upward at her. She smiled.
Faith and he, when one of them wasn't impersonating someone else, and when they weren't fighting over one of them being evil, and when they weren't flirting shamelessly, and when they weren't hitting each other over Buffy, worked really well together. If circumstances were different, mainly Wood shooting him stakes every time Spike was within eyeshot of the man, Spike believed Faith and he could have been friends.
Angel and Buffy squeezed in and the meeting began. It was strange that every time a group of Spike's allies convened, he thought of it as a meeting. He had definitely been spending too much time at the evil law firm.
"I've been thinking," Angel said. Spike bit his tongue to keep from replying. Angel sure was making it easy these days. Angel, sensing Spike's will power fading, quickly continued, "I want to re-start Angel Investigations."
No one said anything.
"Don't all speak at once guys."
"There's no way I'm going to join some crack team called Angel Investigations." Spike said at last, breaking the silence.
"All the blood you can drink for free."
"Sold." As if he had anything better to do. "What about the rest of you lot? Headed off to merry ol' England?" Spike tried not to look at Buffy when he said this, but everyone knew that was who he was asking.
Buffy surprised them all by saying, "No, I think I'd like to stay here. Like Wood pointed out, there is a lot to do." Catching the excited looks on the vampire's faces, she quickly added, "But I'd have to go back to Europe for a few days and settle everything over there." Their faces immediately fell with the revelation that Buffy would soon be with the Immortal once again. On the bright side however, it did look as if she was going to break up with him.
Buffy turned expectantly to her best friend. She hoped Will would consider staying in LA with her. It could almost be like old times again, and it sure would help to have her there when dealing with the jealous vampires and the frigid demon god.
Willow considered this for a second. Finally, with her green eyes aglow, she pronounced, "I'm with you Buffy. I want to fight the good fight again. At least for a while anyway, besides, astral projection is way overrated and to be truthful, it can definitely get a little snoozy after the third go." Kennedy turned in shock to her girlfriend.
"I thought you said after coming here that we were going to head to London?" Kennedy seemed hurt. "I wanted to help Giles out with training the new recruits. You knew that."
Willow blanched a little. "I'm sorry baby. I guess I forgot. But we can go to London after hanging here for a spell right?" Spike thought Red's puppy-eye routine was a little overkill, but whatever worked.
"No!" Kennedy's hurt was fast transforming into rage. Everyone felt mildly embarrassed at witnessing the couple's argument, but Kennedy continued, oblivious. "I told you what I wanted to do Will! And then you ignored it. Just like always! I'M SICK OF BEING IGNORED BY YOU!" Kennedy screamed the last part and flew the scene. Willow got halfway out of her seat before she looked to the others and excused herself, running after her girlfriend.
Everyone sat there awkwardly for a second, unsure of what to say. Finally, not one for awkward moments, Faith exclaimed, "Man. They got issues." Everyone cast Faith an amused glance at that. They were all thinking the same thing-The same could be said of her six days a week. Wood grabbed her hand in reassurance and gave it a squeeze. Spike saw this and couldn't help feeling a little happy for the couple. So what if at one time, both of them had tried to kill him? They both deserved to have someone.
Pulling Spike from his thoughts, Buffy asked, "What's your game plan Faith? Wood?"
"I'm down with hangin in Angelesville. Whatda ya think Wood? You wanted to get the hell out of Cleveland right?"
"Who doesn't?" Wood said agreeing. Faith gave his hand an extra hard squeeze. Wood gasped out. "I mean, yea. I'd love to come live here." In a quieter voice only Faith, and Spike because of his heightened hearing and proximity could hear, Wood added, "I'll go anywhere there's Faith." They shared a very prolonged kiss after that.
Conner cleared his throat. "Umm…I'll be at UCLA, so when I'm in the area, count me in." Angel nodded at his son. Spike thought, 'Oh please! Here they go again! Why doesn't Angel just get a Kodak and make it last longer!' All the fatherly-son crap was getting way too mushy for his taste. I mean, good, at least the tyke wasn't all fixated on killing them, but did they have to be so sappy? It made him want to heave, though that could have been from the lack of blood.
Faith and Wood finally came up for air. Angel looked relieved. "Well, I guess all that's now settled. I'll fill you all in tomorrow on what AI covers and what we do."
"Trust me kids, that's one mission statement speech you'll wanna miss. He gets really going after his first hour of lecturing on the finer points of penance and the art of brooding."
"You don't have to attend Spike. In fact, please don't." Angel got up and headed toward the stairs and his room. He turned around and saw Spike mouthing to Buffy, 'Run while you still can.' "I saw that Spike."
"Don't know what you're talking about Peaches." Faith laughed. Buffy and Wood seemed to be on the verge of cracking up.
Angel just sighed. At least his own son was attempting an impassive face. Wait! Was that a twitch? It was! Conner was laughing too! Angel growled. Could you put a centuries old vampire in detention? Probably not. Maybe he could do a little curtain tampering. No one would think twice if a big pile of ash littered one of the many beds of the hotel, right? "I was just going to add that someone better inform Willow and her girlfriend of our briefing tomorrow."
"I'll do it. What time is the meeting mon'capitain?" Buffy asked, getting out her cell.
"Uh, let's say 5:30."
"It's five right now!"
"I meant at night. I'm still a vampire, and believe it or not, bleach head is too. I'll have to find someone to take the windows from the wrecked W&H office and install them here."
"There any reason for that chief?" Faith asked as she and Wood headed up the steps. They were anxious to get to a room.
"They were tinted to keep harmful, potentially dustful rays out." Spike elaborated. He was waiting for the others to leave so he could have a moment alone with his Slayer.
"Must be a fun setup!" Faith called back over her shoulder just as her and Wood disappeared down the second floor corridor.
Angel was waiting for Buffy to go with him, but saw that Spike was doing the same. Shooting the younger vampire an irritated look, he slowly receded up the steps in front of Conner, leading him to a room and giving the two of them their privacy.
"Wow," Buffy said as she began punching in a number on her cell. "Angel giving the floor to you. Never thought I'd live to see the day."
"Well, you did have to die a few times before you could, but yea." Spike put his hand behind his neck and looked away. He suddenly felt nervous. This was the first time they'd been alone since the morning of the Sunnyhell battle. Trying to find something to say, Spike asked, "Who ya calling pet?"
"Umm…" Buffy suddenly seemed very apprehensive as well. Spike knew it wasn't because she was nervous at being with him though.
"You calling that Wanker?" He couldn't help but sound a little bitter.
Buffy shot him a guilty look before her expression hardened and she reprimanded, "He was the one who financed your rescue. If it weren't for him, you'd be dust, so don't give me all this." 'Hot and Cold' Spike thought as Buffy went on, "I already told everyone I was going to stay here. What more do you want?"
That was the wrong thing to say. Just as Buffy got through on her call and a rich deep voice answered, "Buffy?" Spike closed the gap between them and said, "You." He then put his arms around her back pulling her to him and leaned down to kiss her.
At first, Buffy was surprised, but soon enough, she was kissing him back with everything she had. Her arms slowly wound around his neck and she held him there.
Both had their eyes closed and savored the other, deepening the kiss even further. Spike allowed his hands to glide up and down her small back as she played with the soft blonde curls at the nape of his neck. Buffy's cell dropped to the floor and the speaker continued to ask, "Buffy? Buffy? Are you there?" But it remained blissfully ignored.
About to turn purple from lack of oxygen, Buffy reluctantly pulled away. She was flushed and gasping. Spike, though he didn't require oxygen seemed to be short of it as well.
"That…was…" Buffy panted, her eyes wide, her mind unsure.
"Bleeding amazing," Spike finished for her. Now that had been the kind of reunion he'd been waiting for!
They stood there uncertain for a few seconds before Buffy bent down and picked up her cell. Seeing that the Immortal had hung up, she jolted to her senses. She looked up into Spike's searching blue eyes and said firmly, "I can't do this right now Spike."
"Right." He took a step back from her and looked down. In a quiet voice he said, "I'm not going to apologize for it though. We haven't kissed in several years, and I wanted…your, uh, latest one, to be worth remembering." Buffy came up to him this time and put a comforting hand to his cheek. Spike raised his head and a slow smirk spread across his face. "Besides, you needed some perspective when you go back to Italy. The sodding Immortal can't give it that good."
Instead of arguing, Buffy just shook her head and stepped back. She gave him a final appraising look and said, "I've gotta make some calls. I'll see you tomorrow." Before turning to go though, she caught his eye and added in a firm, unyielding tone, "I do love you Spike." She then quickly walked away from him, in the direction of the front desk where Willow and Kennedy's loud exchanges could be heard.
Spike watched her go until she was out of view. He didn't really know what to think. His mind was filled to the brim with a thousand warring thoughts. The one thing they all seemed to agree on was that he was love's bitch, through and through.
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"Kennedy! KENNEDY! Stop!" Willow shouted as she chased her girlfriend. Kennedy finally stopped running away from her and turned around. The look on her face almost made Willow wish that she had kept going.
"WHAT!? I'm sorry my petty wants and desires don't perfectly coincide with yours Will, but you're not the only one in this relationship!" Kennedy took a steadying breath and resumed in a somewhat calmer voice. "It takes two to tango, remember?"
Willow looked abashed. "I…I thought we were doing ok. What's all this really about? You didn't seem that upset when we were in the Amazon. I had no idea going back to London meant so much to you."
"It does, but that's not the thing." Kennedy grasped Willow's shoulders. "The thing is, you don't care what matters to me."
"I do so! If going back to London is that important, we'll go back to London."
Kennedy drew her hands back and threw them up. "You just don't get it, do you? Yes, I wanted to go back to London, but even more than that, I want you to talk to me and tell me what you're thinking. I want you to tell me how you're feeling and what your hopes are. I want you to stop treating me like some replacement and start loving me like I love you!"
Willow's eyes began to water. "You can't always get what you want." Kennedy looked at her in disbelief for a second and then began walking away again. Willow grabbed her arm and spun her around to face her. "But you can be thankful for what you have, and I have you. I'm thankful for that." Kennedy's frown deepened.
"I don't want you thanks. I told you what I wanted."
Willow froze. Someone, many years ago had said that same thing to her. But, coming from him, it had been so different. How she longed for his quiet wisdom right now! "Alright Kennedy." The younger woman's face brightened before Willow continued, "I'm going to stay here. You can either go back to London or you can stay with me, the chose is yours."
Kennedy exploded, "THAT'S IT! AFTER ALL WE'VE BEEN THROUGH?!" She began to sob.
Willow moved to comfort her but Kennedy backed away. Willow straightened up and in an even voice said, "I don't want for this to be it, but I can't dictate your life. You'll have to decide what's most important to you." With that, Willow turned away and headed back to the area all of them had earlier been seated in.
She ran into Buffy. Her best friend looked sympathetically at her and gave her a quick hug. She then pulled away and said, "I'm sorry I put you in this position. Is there anything I can do?"
Willow shook her head. "Thanks though. I needed a hug." The two of them walked over to the vacated sofa and plopped down. With the jet lag, the battle and the intense reunions and arguments, it had been a very long day.
"You still plan on staying?" Buffy asked.
"Yea. I know you'll need backup with the two of them hounding you. Tell me you're breaking up with the Immortal? Please."
"I guess so. I mean, I don't love him, but he's been nice. I want to do it in person though. It's too pathetic to do it over the phone."
Willow nodded. A teasing twinkle came to her eyes. "So, who am I to be getting my vicarious smoochies from?" Buffy grinned.
"Well, I've already gotten a taste of Spike lips."
Willow was mildly surprised. "Was it yummy?" Buffy gave an adamant nod. Willow's eyebrows flew up. "Are you actually picking Spike over Angel?"
Buffy sighed. "It's complicated Will. I talked to Angel on the way up to get Spike and I tried to explain it to him, but I just don't know. I care for them differently, but I love them both."
Willow curled her legs up under her. "Explainy."
"Ok, well…with Angel, he was, is…"
"Your first love."
"Yea, and I know that I'll always measure everyone else I've been with to him, even if I don't mean to. With Spike, we threaded the line between hate and love for so long that I'm not even sure when it changed. I love him and he's fun, funner than Angel, I'll admit, but when I think of him, I don't get weak at the knees like I do when I'm around Angel. Does all this make any sense?"
"I guess. It's kinda flattering though isn't it? Both of these really cute, sexy vampires that have lived forever are both dying to be with you." Buffy raised an eyebrow, clearly wanting to remind her friend of her newfound orientation. Willow raised a hand in defense. "I mean, I just wish my love life had so many pleasant options."
Buffy gave a comforting smile and said, "Don't worry Will. I'm sure Kennedy will come around."
"Yea," Willow said unconvincingly. Changing the subject, Willow asked, "So, was Illyria with Spike when you found him?"
"Interested much?" Buffy teased. Willow gave a sorry excuse for no. "Oh my God Will! She's so creepy! How could you even consider…"
"She's really hot." Willow interrupted with an apologetic grin.
Buffy shook off the grossness that statement gave her and went on. "Uh, anyway, yea. She was there." Thinking back to it, Buffy's eyebrows knit together in annoyance. "In fact, her and Spike were looking very comfortable on the floor."
"You're kidding!"
"Nope, although it did look like they were just lying there when we entered." Buffy shot a worried look to her friend before asking, "You don't think he has a thing for her, do you?"
"I don't know. I haven't seen them together enough to know. When they were headed up the stairs though, it did look like Spike cared for her. But maybe it's just a comrade thing." Buffy looked unconvinced. Trying to console her friend, Willow added, "Besides, I don't think Spike would kiss you if he was involved with someone else. Underneath all his badboyness, he's a softy."
"You're probably right. I still don't like her though. She reminds me of Cordelia, if Cordelia had been a robot that is."
"And had blue hair."
"And been a demon from the Deeper Well." The two girls broke out laughing. The thought of Cordelia dressed up like Illyria and talking like her was just too funny.
Once their laughter had died down, Willow got to her feet. "I'll see you…um…" She didn't know what Angel had planned for them.
Buffy glanced out the hotel entrance. Dawn was breaking. "This evening, here at five-thirty." Standing up herself, she gave Willow a final smile, "Get some rest."
"You too." Willow said as she made the journey up the steps.
Buffy watched her go and pulled out her phone once again. Immy wasn't going to be happy.
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Angel waited for Spike to come up the stairs. When the younger vampire did, he gave a stiff nod and began going back down to the lobby. He'd be damned if he let Spike have the last word with Buffy tonight. Spike stopped him though. Angel could see the torrent of emotions playing like a rock concert behind his blue gaze.
Angel couldn't help himself, "Did you kiss her?"
"Yea." Was Spike's lackluster response. Angel would have expected him to be parading around and throwing this in his face. It was obvious something was bothering the bleached wonder.
"What's wrong? It's what you wanted right?" Did he just really ask that?
"Nothing." Angel gave him a look. "Alright. It's just that every time I think I'm finally getting through to her, she runs off to someone else. I'm sick of always playing second fiddle."
"The Immortal?" Spike nodded. "She's still going to be staying here though, right?"
"Yea, but she's off to 'officially' break up with the ponce and you know what that's going to include." Spike wasn't above eavesdropping.
Angel shuddered. "I'll go talk to her. I don't like her plan anymore than you do." Angel saw a flash of gratitude. "But don't get your hopes up. Buffy will always have me."
Spike scowled a little before turning around and painfully limping up the stairs. He waved a hand up behind him in goodnight.
Angel watched him go a bit and then made his way down. At the base of the staircase, he nearly ran into Willow. "Hi Willow. Did Buffy get a chance to tell you about the briefing?"
"Oh yea, 5:30 right?" Angel nodded. They stood there awkwardly for a few seconds before Willow said, "Well, ok. Bye!" And flew up the steps. They'd always been a little out of place toward each other. In fact, the only Scooby he had sort of gotten on with, before the whole Angelus incident, had been Xander. Not that they'd been best friends or anything, but they'd at least been able to hold a conversation and could tolerate each other when out slaying with Buffy.
Speaking of the Slayer, there she stood. Talking on the cell, her long blonde hair tucked behind her ears, she seemed happy. Angel stood there, just watching her for a few moments. He hadn't meant to overhear her conversation, but…
"Yea. For the most part. I mean, we did lose a few, but that's war. And hello? This army was wicked huge!" Buffy paused. Angel could almost hear the voice on the other end of the phone. Buffy went on, she looked a little surprised. "What are you talking about? That's not even possible!" Now Angel was interested. "No, it can't!" Buffy was looking slightly panicked now. "You're sure? Ok, ok. I guess you would know. No! Well, umm…it's nice, but the reason I called was to tell you that I'll be in Rome in a few days and I wanted to see you in person. Wha…? No." The last part was said very unconvincingly on Buffy's part. "Look, we'll talk about it there." Buffy turned around and caught Angel red-handed. "I've gotta go." She flipped her phone shut and put a hand on her hip in classic Buffy annoyance pose #3. Angel had them numbered. Spike probably had them alphabetized.
Before he could apologize however, Buffy spoke. "Do you know anything about a Shanshu?"
Angel was shocked, to say the least. "Yes! Why?" His dead heart was sinking.
"I just had a very interesting call from Immy, err, the Immortal, and he was saying that his heart was now beating. Care to explain that one?"
"His heart…is beating?" Angel's felt like it was breaking. He'd wanted to Shanshu more than anything even though he knew that was impossible now. It had been his ticket to a fairytale ending with Conner and Buffy. Buffy gave a nod. Angel fell backwards into one of the armchairs. He didn't think his legs could support him with this news. A sudden thought occurred to him. "The tickets?"
Buffy looked perplexed. "What?"
"The tickets! He paid for all of your tickets to get over here. He helped end the apocalypse!" Angel was frantic now.
"You're scaring me a little Angel. What does that have to do with anything?"
"He had a hand in the apocalypse to end all, that was the Shanshu Prophesy. The vampire with a soul who has a hand in the apocalypse will become human. I'd always thought that would be me. When Spike arrived on the scene, I was a little worried, but never, NEVER, in my wildest dreams did I think the Immortal would get the Shanshu! I didn't even know he had a soul." Angel quit his rant and gave Buffy an accusing glare. "Of course. Why didn't I see this coming!"
"What is it now!"
"You only fall for vampires with a soul. Of course the Immortal had to have a soul. He must have planned this whole thing as a way to steal my mortality. Well, this is the last straw! I'm going to kill him!" Angel left Buffy standing there. She watched him go in disbelief before running after him.
"This might not be about you!" She struggled to find words. "Uh…maybe he didn't know what would happen?" She offered weakly.
Angel spared her a brief look before charging up the steps.
"Where are you going? I don't think Immy is in one of your rooms!" Buffy yelled, right on his heels.
She found out soon enough as Angel nearly skidded into one of the identical room doors lining the eerily quiet corridor. The dimly lit hall lights were giving her the wiggins. Before she could protest further however, Angel pounded on the door and shouted, "SPIKE! QUICK! WE HAVE TO GO!"
It looked as though Spike had been in the process of changing for bed as he swung open the door. Buffy tried not to stare at his naked chest. It was hard though, it still looked just like she remembered it. All lean and muscular… Hmmm…
"What's got your knickers in a twist?" Spike asked Angel, slightly annoyed. He then noticed Buffy and her staring. That perked his mood right up. He gave her a smirk she didn't even notice, so engrossed was she.
"It's the Immortal…he…" Angel swallowed. Spike was paying him attention now, his expression impatient. "He shanshued."
Spike rolled his eyes. Angel had always been one for dramatics. "So? What the bloody hell Angel? Why should I give a damn about the 'Great Wanker' getting all humanified? That's your thing. I could really care less, in fact, all the better for me. He's easier to kill now."
Angel bit back his impatience. "That was what I was getting you for. Let's go kill him," Angel gave a glance behind him in Buffy direction, tilting his head ever so slightly, hoping beyond hope that Spike would get the hint. "Right now."
Spike glanced at Buffy and then back to Angel. Finally, like fireworks had gone off in his brain, he got what Angel was trying to convey. "Oh right. Right! Let's go get the smarmy bastard!" There was no way the Immortal was going to use this Shanshu crap to keep Buffy! Especially after she'd just agreed to stay with them!
Just as Spike and Angel were running past Buffy, obviously thinking they'd just walk through the sewers until getting to the airport and catching the nearest flight for Rome, as if they'd at all thought this through, Buffy punched Angel in the stomach and kicked Spike in the knee.
The results were instantaneous. Spike, already crippled at the moment fell gasping to the floor. Angel, not expecting the blow, doubled over and fell back into the wall, breaking one of the dim light bulbs as he did so.
Buffy rolled her eyes. "Ok, first thing- you, both of you, are not about to go kill my current boyfriend just because you think he might be vulnerable at the moment. Secondly…well, uh, that's pretty much it."
Both vampires threw Buffy a dirty look. She ignored it and held out a hand to Spike, giving him a very stern glare. "Cap'ish?" He looked like he was about to throw a rebellious temper-tantrum for a second before giving a curt nod and begrudgingly accepting her hand.
She pulled him up and he swayed for a second. She probably should have gone easier on him. His leg was still looking pretty nasty. He gave a sudden lurch and threatened to fall, but she steadied him. Their eyes locked for a brief second and they both quickly glanced away. Buffy, feeling self-conscious all of the sudden, left Spike leaning against the wall and went over to Angel.
He was still doubled-over, so she bent down so their eyes were even. "I'm sorry. But, really, you have no right. He was just as entitled to this Shampoo thing as you." Angel glanced up at her.
"Shanshu." He ground out in between grunts of pain.
"Whatever. Come on, I'll help Spike back into his room then I can take you to yours." She tenderly laid her hand on his shoulder. "It's been a long night. You'll think more clearly, or hopefully a little less jealously, when you've had a chance to rest." Buffy then walked over to Spike. He threw his arm around her narrow shoulders and together, they staggered back into the room he had emerged from.
Buffy saw the personal touches Spike had placed on the room. Correction, personal touch- his leather jacket was carefully hung over a chair. "Love what you've done with the place." Buffy said lightly, helping Spike onto the bed.
Spike grimaced as his leg made contact with the mattress. "Haven't really stayed here before pet. Had my own pad." He seemed to remember something. His grimace of pain turned into a frown. Buffy tried not to focus on his pouting lips as he muttered, "Or, at least, I did a few days ago. It's trashed now."
Buffy gave him a sympathetic look and moved to leave. Spike caught her hand and pulled her on top of him. "What's the hurry luv? Angel knows the way to his room."
Buffy was sorely tempted, but Angel was just outside the door, and, she was still technically dating the Immortal. Though he probably wasn't being as chaste as her in her absence as she was trying to be. Buffy bit her lip and disentangled herself from Spike's very enticing grip, avoiding his eyes. If she looked directly into those cerulean depths, she'd be lost, and Angel would get really ticked off. She'd never admit her weakness to Spike, but she'd always been a sucker for his eyes. They were so expressive.
Shaking her head, thanking God that the vampire before her couldn't read her thoughts- he'd lord it over her forever- she apologized, "Sorry Spike."
His demeanor shifted and he became distant. He shook his head slightly and pursed his lips, gesturing to the door. Buffy was a little surprised at his coldness, but nodded. She'd hurt his feelings and brought back painful memories they both had been trying to let go of. She quickly walked out of his room and gently shut the door behind her.
Looking guiltily at Angel, she gulped, "So, where's your room?" Angel sighed. He wasn't blind to the emotions that had just wafted out of Spike's room.
"A few flights up. You…" He took a deep breath and tried again. This was hard. "You can stay if you want. I'd never admit to Spike, but, I'd…I'd rather have you with him than the Immortal. At least I know Spike would never intentionally hurt you." He looked to the floor for support. Suddenly, he felt a delicate arm wrap around his waist. He looked up into Buffy's familiar face.
"I wouldn't do that to you Angel. You should know better." With that, they traveled down the hall, Angel clutching his injured arm to his side. It was giving off a dull, pulsating pain by now. Buffy noticed and said, "You want me to get you something from that kit you found?" Angel shook his head. His medicine was right here, supporting him.
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Kennedy slowly wondered through the halls. She wasn't exactly sure how to find Willow's room, but if she had to go through each one to do it, than so be it. She wasn't going to let all they had fall down the drain. Willow meant the world to her. She just had to find a way to make Willow feel the same.
She'd heard the stories of Oz and Tara, and how perfect they were for Willow. She knew, without a shadow of doubt that if either, though both were tragically gone-Oz, because he was so in love with Willow that he wasn't able to safely be near her, and Tara because she had died-if either of them were to miraculously reappear, she, Kennedy, wouldn't even be a bug on Willow's radar. That realization was painful, but she didn't have anything to worry about. Oz and Tara were gone. Willow needed her as much and Kennedy needed Willow.
With this in mind, Kennedy ran into Buffy who was just walking slowly out of a room. Trying to catch a glimpse of the room's occupant, Kennedy asked 'The General,' as the Slayers in training had often teased her, "Um, hi Buffy. Willow's not in there, is she?"
Buffy gave the younger girl a frown and shook her head. "Nope. Angel's." Kennedy raised a suggestive eyebrow. Buffy caught her look and put up her hands in defense saying, "Don't get any ideas. He was just winded. Him and Spike have had a really rough time." Buffy stood there a second, waiting for Kennedy to say something else. When she didn't, Buffy continued slowly, "Willow usually likes a room with a view."
Kennedy gave Buffy a surprised look. She didn't think the blonde had ever been comfortable with their relationship. Especially after the whole 'mutiny' thing. "Uh, thanks." She uttered finally, unable to think of anything more eloquent to say.
"Don't thank me, I just want Willow to be happy. She's been through a lot." The two stood there for a second. Neither moving. Finally deciding that she couldn't take Buffy's disapproving stare any longer, Kennedy gave her a nod and fled up the stairs.
She didn't stop running until she got to the top. Once there, she hesitantly walked by every room door, taking a second to put her ear to it and listen. At the very last door, near the giant window that overlooked some of the LA skyline, morning light beginning to filter in and saturate the deep scarlet rug that adorned all the corridors in a rich golden hue, Kennedy heard a sound. It was a TV.
Frantically knocking, Kennedy shouted, "WILLOW!" Almost immediately, the redheaded Wiccan opened the door and they stood there awkwardly face-to-face. Willow turned away from Kennedy for a second and snapped off the TV with a click of the remote she had clasped in her hand.
Turning slowly back to her, Willow gave a timid wave and said, "Hey."
"Hey." They stood unsure for a moment, before Kennedy, unable to take it, reached out and enfolded Willow in a bone-crunching Slayer hug.
"Ow! Sweetie…need…to…breath…" Willow gasped out.
"Wha-? Oh! Sorry." Kennedy sheepishly let go of her and stood back, her hands clasped in front of her.
"It's ok. Come one, I'm one with the big tall glass of forgiveness at the moment." Willow said, a small smile spreading across her face as she held a hand to her side where Kennedy had just bruised her rib. She didn't mind though. She stood back and allowed the Slayer into her room.
As soon as Kennedy crossed the threshold, she spun back around to Willow and said, "I'm sorry Will! I…I was out of line."
Willow just took Kennedy's hand and led her to the bed. "Shhhh. Forgiveness now, apologies later." They kissed before shedding their clothes. Crawling under the covers, Willow sighed, "Much later." Kennedy had to agree.
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Although there were plenty of decent rooms to choose from, Buffy was just too wired to go to sleep. She patrolled the corridors for a while, aimlessly walking down one, and then another before journeying to the next, but that got old after a while, what with the tingles her Spidey-sense unleashed every time she passed Illyria, Spike, or Angel's rooms. And then there were the noises coming from Wood and Faith's room. That had sent her along at a very crisp pace. Then, strolling down the top floor, thinking she'd enjoy looking out the big windows on either side of the long corridor, she'd heard the same groans and grunts coming from Willow and Kennedy's room.
Eww.
And not like she cared, but did everyone have to be all flaunty with the love-making? Well, not everyone, but still. It was enough to remind her of her predicament. Here she was, stuck in a hotel with the two great love's of her life, Riley not withstanding, and she couldn't so much as smooch one of them without feeling painfully guilty about the other. It was torture.
Deciding that the safest place to go would be the lobby, where no wayward noises could reach her over-sensitive ears, Buffy headed on down. She sat on one of the armchairs and threw her legs over the side. Giving a sigh, she leaned her head back against the other arm and shut her eyes.
Couldn't they just agree to share her?
A goofy grin spread across her face at the thought of a threesome. Maybe if she just suggested to-
A sudden sound brought her out of her daydreaming. Light flooded her vision as the main door swung open and two figures stepped inside. Buffy squinted. The two dark outlines shifted into focus and she let out a gasp.
"Hey Buffy. Long time no see." Oz said with a wave.
It was a good thing she was already seated, because more than likely, she would have fallen from shock. She uttered a few syllables before the attractive blonde beside Oz took pity on her and said, "Hi! I know we haven't met before, but I've heard all about you from Angel and Oz here."
Buffy thought she might have gotten out a few more syllables before the woman elaborated. "I'm Nina, Angel's girlfriend."
Buffy stopped trying to formulate a response and just gave up. Her mind had stopped when she saw Oz. Everything else was just a dull roar. Somewhere in the static, she thought she'd heard the word Angel and girlfriend, but it was all too much.
Oz walked over to her and threw her a worried expression. "You ok Buffy? I…I know this must come as a shock, just showing up out of the blue like this, but when I ran into Nina and she filled me in on some of the crazies happening around these parts, I thought I should lend a hand, or paw. Whatever you need help with."
Buffy looked up at him. That was just about the most she had ever heard Oz say! Maybe it was an imposter?
"Is Willow here?"
Nope, Buffy thought as she slowly sat up. That had to be the genuine deal. Taking a steadying breath, Buffy started, "Oz." He nodded, waiting patiently for her to regroup. She tried again, with better results this time. "Wow. Umm…yea, it has been a while. And yes, I am one with the shock right now. Uh, Willow…is here. Somewhere. There are a lot of rooms." Nina looked at Oz, clearly worried whether or not they were dealing with a mental patient, but Buffy continued, "The big battle's over." She gave a shaky smile. "Sorry, I remember how much you loved them apocalypses."
"Oh." Oz stepped away a few paces. "Maybe I should head…"
"Don't be silly Oz! Everyone would love to see you. We're all just a little tired at the moment." She noticed the bags under his eyes and the holes in his worn out t-shirt. "Maybe you'd like a room for the day as well? You can basically take your pick." Buffy turned to Nina, remembering she was there. "Uh, who did you say you were again?"
"Nina. Sometime girlfriend of Angel." Buffy's eyes widened and she gulped.
"Uh-huh." She finally stammered.
"It's ok Buffy, I'm not even sure if he still wants me, I mean," she glanced at the floor and then back to the Slayer. "With you here and all."
Buffy felt a twinge of sympathy for the woman before shaking her head. "It's fine. I'm sure Angel would want you here too." Was she really saying this?!
Nina looked a little surprised as well. "Umm…thanks. Although I'm not too sure, the reason I left was because he kicked me out of town a few days ago."
"He probably just wanted to make sure you were safe." Buffy reasoned, recalling what she had tried to do to Dawn before the Sunnydale showdown.
"I could have handled myself. Last night's was full." Buffy gave her a confused look.
Oz clarified, "Moon. I found Nina in Long Beach last night when I was tweaking a speaker system for Devon. She had charged onto the stage we'd set up and began chewing on Jacob's bass." Buffy's eyebrows flew up.
"Werewolf," Nina said, gesturing to herself with a smile.
Buffy shook her head. "No, not that. Jacob's playing bass?!"
Oz sighed. "Yea, I had to sell mine to get to Nepal, remember?"
"Oh yea. That's right." Nina looked at the two of them oddly for a second.
"You really weren't kidding when you said you've been around," she asked Oz.
He shook his head. Turning back to Buffy, he asked, "I'd really kinda like to talk to Willow. Do you think she's already asleep?"
"She's not asleep." Buffy said, apprehension marring her face. She'd just heard for herself that Willow was DEFINITELY not asleep.
Oz, with his usual perceptiveness picked up on Buffy's growing fear. "She's not alone is she." He didn't even have to ask. The guilty look on Buffy's face gave it away. "Still with Tara?"
Buffy shook her head slowly from side to side. "Tara died a few years ago." This was so awkward. She wished Willow was here. Oh! Willow could be here! Concentrating, Buffy thought, 'Willow! You need to come down to the lobby right now!"
'What is it?' A disembodied Willow voice asked inside Buffy's head. She gave an involuntary shiver. Doing this never ceased to creep her out.
'Just come down.' She regretted not warning her friend. But what else could she do? Telling her Oz was back would be like telling her Tara was back. And who knew how Willow would react?
"Buffy? Buffy?" Oz was waving his hand in front of her face. Buffy snapped out of it and caught his hand.
"Sorry. Guess I…uh, spaced out." What had they been talking about again? Oh yea. "Tara was shot, and um…when she died, Willow kinda fell off the deep end. Xander and then Giles helped her out, but she had it rough there for a while. She even had to go to England for some therapy…sorta."
"I'm sorry." Oz said. "I obviously had some issues with her, but she seemed nice." Buffy nodded. She knew Oz was sincere. He had never been anything but. Well, maybe sincere and laid-back.
"Yea, she-
"OH…MY…GODDESS!" Everyone turned to where Willow stood riveted at the base of the stairs. She had a hand clutched to her mouth and her eyes were so wide, Buffy was worried they might fall out. Was that even possible?
Oz didn't say anything. He waiting for Willow to calm down and approach him, which she eventually did.
Her face was a mixture of shock, anguish, and something else that Buffy had been feeling all too much of lately, guilt.
When they were about an arms length apart, Oz slowly took in Willow's appearance. Buffy tried to remember the last time they had seen each other. Had Willow's hair been this long back then? She couldn't remember. At least it wasn't black now.
Oz raised an eyebrow at Willow's skimpy little nightshirt, but said nothing as his gave traveled slowly up to meet her eyes.
"Willow," He finally breathed.
Tears came to the Witch's eye as she stuttered, "Did…did you…"
Oz couldn't take it anymore, he closed the gap between them and enfolded Willow in his arms, gently hugging her to him and stroking her back. With her flaming red hair in his face, engulfing his sensitive nose in its familiar strawberry scent, he whispered, "Yea. I did it."
Nina and Buffy just stood there, watching the two for a while in awe before they finally looked at each other and nodded. Together, they headed up the stairs to give the couple their much-deserved privacy. Buffy, against her better judgment, would show Nina to Angel's room.
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Willow didn't think she'd ever let go of him. His familiar body felt so comforting. They stayed like that, entwined in each other's arms, just hugging. The shrill alarm of Oz's digital watch announcing the hour woke them both from their trance and they reluctantly pulled away.
Willow was the first to say something. "Are you sure this isn't like last time? You'd thought you'd had it then?"
Oz gave what could be considered a grin- no one else could ever tell, but Willow had studied his face for so long that the slight wrinkling at the corners of his mouth and the little spark that flashed in his eyes told her when he was happy- and said, "I'm sure."
Willow tried to contain her excitement. "I…" she shook her head. "It must have been hard."
"Well, I've spent the last several years perfecting what I was doing, but mostly, it's all mental." He then flashed her a real grin and transformed. RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF HER!
Willow shuffled backward and concentrating, flew upward out of his grip.
Oz, the wolf, didn't do anything though; he just stood there, on two hairy legs and looked up at her. Then, as if she hadn't dealt with enough shock, he transformed back!
Still looking up at her, Oz calmly asked, "So, I guess you've been getting better at your powers as well?" Willow sheepishly hovered down.
"Uh…yea. You could say that." She took his hand and led him over to the chairs. "Have a seat, this could take a while." Oz sat down, and Willow had to bite her tongue to keep from squealing with delight. Oz was really here! Sitting beside her! He looked so cute and Oz-like that she wanted to reach over and kiss him. Wait… what?! Wasn't she over the whole male thing? Looking back at the scruffy, unbelievably adorable orange haired lycanthrope, Willow knew differently. She would always love Oz. He could be a she, a vampire, a demon, a wizard-actually, that would be kinda nifty-but it didn't matter! After discovering that she loved a werewolf, she had pretty much chocked it all up to Oz being Oz. He was just her special someone. She'd only ever felt the same way about one other person and she was dead. Willow then remembered Kennedy, her girlfriend at the moment who was currently keeping their bed warm. Ooops. Oh well, it's not like she and Oz had done anything indescribably bad by hugging each other…had they?
Seeing that Oz was waiting for her to continue, Willow cleared her thoughts and began, "Well, last time, I know me being with Tara came as a shock to you, but…"
"I'm sorry she died Will." At Willow's confusion, Oz explained, "Buffy filled me in a little. She said something about therapy?"
"Oh, uh…well…therapy is one way of putting it. After Tara was shot, I lost it. Before her death, I'd been losing control of my magic. I had become dependent on it. When she died, my last tie to control was lost, and I changed. My grief almost immediately transformed to anger and it possessed me." Willow looked down at her lap. "I killed a man, in the most brutal fashion possible. I hurt my friends and enjoyed doing it. I even tried to end the world, and if it weren't for Xander, being Xander, I probably would have." Willow glanced up, expecting shock, fear, or maybe even anger. Oz just laid his hand over hers though.
Willow continued, her voice a little choked all of the sudden. "After…that, Giles took me to England. I thought he took me there to kill me. I deserved it, Heck! I even wanted it! But instead, I was taken under the wing of some of the wisest, most gentle Witches on the planet. They taught me how to center my emotions and observe the magic all around us. Before, I had only grabbed the magic, now," she put her hand to the floor and lifted it, revealing a small bonsai tree sprouting upward toward her hand, it's tiny leaves unfurling, "I feel magic and I channel it. I can feel the connection between everything. Between this tree and Japan, between the floor and the earth," she pressed her hand downward gently and the plant withdrew until the floor looked exactly as it had. She then raised her eyes to Oz and in a quieter voice added, "Between me and you." They stared at each other for a long while before Willow came to her senses and continued, "After England, I went back to Sunnydale and helped out Buffy and Xander with the hellmouth. We closed it. And, I kinda changed the ancient Slayer prophecy a little."
"Because that's usually so easy."
"Ok Ok! It was a totally cool spell! My hair went all white with the good magics and I felt this incredible connection to…well, just about everything."
"Could you feel me?"
"I always feel you Oz." Clearing her throat, Willow quickly went on, "And now there are tons of Slayers running around. Every girl who had the potential to be a Slayer is now officially one of the club." She smiled to herself at that. What a club it was! "Anyway, after Sunnydale went all cratery, umm…one of the new Slayers and I went to South America."
"And you were worried you'd never get out of Sunnydale."
Willow grinned. "Oh, I've traveled. After spending a year, on and off in the Amazon, me and…Kennedy is the Slayer's name, came here when we heard Buffy might need our help with some apocalypse, and that's pretty much it."
"You said on and off, where else?"
"Here and there. Mostly to London and Rome. The new Watcher's council is in London, Giles is in charge of it now that all the other Watchers are gone." At Oz's questioning look, Willow said, "Had to do with the First evil and a bomb, but that's more than I want to get into it right now." He nodded understandingly. She missed how easy-going he was. It took a lot to ruffle Oz.
"And Rome?"
"Rome was to visit Buffy. She's been living there as of late. What about you? Still chanting away in Nepal?"
"Yea, among other places. I've been all over." He started counting his fingers. "China, Australia, Russia, Egypt-who, by the way aren't too fond of Werewolves- Morocco, Zimbabwe, Greenland, Alaska, and even a spell in D.C., to name a few."
"Well, I'm not topping that." Willow saw Oz give his Ozish grin. "It's so good to have you back."
His small grin disappeared. "I'm sorry Will. I never planned on seeing you. I was in the area, fixing Devon's sound system in Long Beach when this other Werewolf attacked. I wolfed up and kept her away from the populace until morning when she changed back. It turns out, she knew Angel and told me that some big battle was going down in LA. She begged me to take her back to the city, and I wanted to be of assistance if Angel needed some backup, so, as soon as I could help her into my truck, we hit the road and, here we are."
Willow swallowed her hurt. "Now that you know I'm here, are you going to stay?" She held her breath as Oz opened his mouth to reply-
When all of the sudden, a voice shouted, "WHO IS THIS WILLOW?!"
Willow sighed. Of all the dumb times Kennedy, why did you have to pick this one to interrupt?