Title: Rain Falls On The Just (2/?)
Author: Jeffrey Patrick
Type: B/X... Duh!
Description: Buffy's feelings for Xander awaken, just as everyone's favorite soulboy has a life changing experience. Set a few years in the future, it is a story of conflicting emotions, angst and the search for happiness. Oh, and cheese.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but a 50 gallon drum of "Miracle Sludge" and a blind seeing eye dog named "Ray Charles." Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and the WB own Buffy and all related characters. It's their party, but I'll cry if I want to.
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Xander's heart sank so far into his chest that he thought he would vomit. Angel stood in the doorway with sun shining down on him like he just came down from on high. There was no denying that the smile Buffy wore was genuine. She was elated. He watched in sorrow as she threw her arms around Angel's neck and hugged him tightly. Xander just stared at them.
"That's wonderful," Buffy said. "When did...?"
Before she could finish her question, her former lover pressed his lips to hers with a passion she had nearly forgotten that he possessed. Xander turned his back and sat down, not noticing as Buffy began to push Angel away.
"Angel, wait..." She looked back at Xander nervously.
"What's wrong?"
"Wait here."
She went over to Xander and took his hand, leading him to the door. Angel was obviously surprised to see him. His face hardened. "Xander."
"Deadboy."
"I'm not... Why is he here?"
Buffy cleared her throat nervously. "We were on a date."
"Oh," Angel said softly. "A date. Really?"
"Try not to sound so surprised," Xander said. "It's not like I'm the last guy on earth."
"Okay, let's crank down the testosterone," Buffy said. She turned to Xander. "Angel and I need to talk. Give me a few minutes alone with him."
"But..."
"And then we'll finish our date. I promise."
He looked at her for a moment. "That's okay. That conversation will take longer than a few minutes. I'll head home and let you guys sort this out. You can come by later."
Buffy looked worried. "I want to finish our date."
"We will. Just... do whatever you need to do here." He moved past Angel and out the front door. He paused a second and looked back at the former vampire. "Congrats, man. On the heartbeat, I mean." He then turned and walked away.
Angel turned back to Buffy. "How long has this been going on?"
"Just started actually," she said.
"Good. That'll make it a little easier on him."
"Giles," Buffy said, turning to her Watcher. "Can you put Angel up here?"
"Of course," Giles said. "For as long as he would like."
"Great. Can you give us a moment?"
"Let's take a walk," Angel said. "I need to feel the sunshine a little more."
"Fine."
Xander closed the door behind him and stepped into his living area. There was a message flashing on the answering machine. He pushed the button, before dropping onto the couch and resting his face in his hands.
"Xander, it's Anya," the message said. "I feel really bad about our last conversation. Call me back so I can apologize. I think it's great that you and Buffy are getting closer. I guess I was just being overly protective of my ex. If you hadn't taught me what it means to be human... Well, John sends his best, and I stuck a picture of the baby in a card for you. It should arrive in a day or two. Give me a call, though. You're too good of a friend to lose. Especially after everything we've been through together. Bye."
Xander didn't really hear the message. His brain was fried.
"Xan, it's Will," said the next message. "Buffy called last night. Talked to me and Tara nearly two hours all about you. She's got it bad. About time, huh? Listen, she told me about the date, but one of you better call and fill me in. Okay? Hold on. Tara wants to say something.
Xander? I told Willow that you and Buffy should come visit us. We'd love to see you, and it could be like... a romantic getaway or something. Here's Will.
Don't forget to call us as soon as your date is over. I gotta have the gossip. Bye."
Xander wiped a tear from his eye and ground his teeth together. It wasn't fair. None of it. He had waited too long to be with Buffy. Now Angel would sweep in and steal her away. And there was nothing he could do about it.
"It was nice of you to tell him you would finish the date," Angel said, casting his eyes up to the sun and squinting at it.
"Stop talking about him as though he were some sort of charity," Buffy said. "That's not the way things are."
"Then, how are they?"
"Honestly? You don't want to know."
"You're sleeping with him?"
"No. Not for lack of trying... on my part. But that's none of your business."
"It isn't? What is this? I spend the last six years of my life fighting the forces of hell so that I can be human again, and this is what I get? The girl I did it all for is hung up on some..."
"Watch it," she said, pointing at him. "Putting down Xander is a good way to end this conversation quickly. Note that he actually put aside what he was feeling and gave us some space to talk. Not to mention congratulating you. He's a good man."
"You love him?"
"I... Yes. I do."
"More than you love me?"
"That's not a fair question. We went our separate ways. We knew we couldn't be together. It could have been a hundred years or more before your debt to the PTB was paid."
"But it wasn't. I'm here now. Human. Able to... Damn. Why is this happening?"
"I am SO happy for you," she said softly. "I just don't know that this changes anything."
"I'll leave," he said, not looking at her. "If I have to.
"That may be for the best. Will you do that?"
"On one condition."
"Which is?"
"Tell me you don't love me anymore."
"What?" She diverted her eyes. "What do you mean?"
"Look me in the eyes and tell me you aren't in love with me anymore, and I'll go. But if you can't... I stay and fight for you."
Xander didn't know what time he had laid down, but when he heard something stirring in the apartment, he opened his eyes to find it was dark outside. He got up off the bed and opened the door leading to the living area. The person rifling through his refrigerator was a familiar one.
"Spike, get out of there."
Spike stood up too quickly and slammed his head on the top of the appliance. "Damn! You gotta stop sneaking up on people, Droopy."
"Sorry if I scared you," Xander said, flopping down on the couch.
"You didn't," Spike lied. "I was just..."
"Being comical?"
"Fine. Make fun of the disabled." Spike pulled out two beers and handed one to Xander. "What's got you sleeping the early evening away?"
"None of your business."
"Well, aren't we touchy? What's the matter? Slayer finally get sick of you hanging about?" Xander glared at him. "Touched a nerve, eh?" the vampire asked. "What'd she do? Go and get herself another boy toy?"
"Leave," Xander said flatly.
"C'mon... I was only playi..." Before Spike could finish, a full bottle of beer crashed against his face. "Ow! You sodding son of a ..."
"Leave," Xander said, standing to his feet. He began pushing the vamp out of his front door. "And don't come back, or I'll stake you."
"You say that every time."
"Well, I mean it this time. Out!" Xander shoved the blond vamp into the hallway.
"Fine," Spike said. "But just see if I help you blokes out the next time a big bad comes to play."
"Whatever," Xander said, shutting the door in his face.
Three hours later, Xander was back in bed trying desperately to sleep. It wasn't working. Instead, his mind raced ahead, thinking about what Buffy and Angel might be doing. It was torture. Then, he heard the front door open.
"Spike, I told you to stay out!"
"It's not Spike," Buffy said, stepping into his bedroom.
"I figured I wouldn't see you until tomorrow," he said, not bothering to get up.
"I told you I'd come by," she said. "But you didn't think I'd keep my word, did you?"
"I just figured..."
"That I would be consumed with Angel and forget about you?"
"Well... yeah. That's how it usually works."
"That's how it used to work. And I'm sorry for that." She climbed into bed with him and looked him in the eyes. "Things are different now."
"How, Buffy? He's human now. That's what you were both waiting for."
"I love you," she said, running her hand across his chest. "And I told him that."
He turned over on his side and looked into her eyes. "You're serious?"
She smiled. "Yeah."
"And what did he say?"
She looked uncomfortable. "He said he was going to stick around for a while. That I had time to change my mind. I told him it would be best if he left, but he was determined. I asked him not to get in our way."
"Are you sure about this?" Xander asked. "I mean, Angel is..."
"Not you," she said. "He's not you." She kissed him, more passionately than she ever had before. How much time passed as they surrendered to their passion, they did not know. After a while, Buffy began unbuttoning her blouse. "Can I stay?" she asked.
He didn't have to say anything. Instead, he simply smiled and helped her with the buttons.
To Be Continued....
Author: Jeffrey Patrick
Type: B/X... Duh!
Description: Buffy's feelings for Xander awaken, just as everyone's favorite soulboy has a life changing experience. Set a few years in the future, it is a story of conflicting emotions, angst and the search for happiness. Oh, and cheese.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but a 50 gallon drum of "Miracle Sludge" and a blind seeing eye dog named "Ray Charles." Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and the WB own Buffy and all related characters. It's their party, but I'll cry if I want to.
**********************************************************************************
Xander's heart sank so far into his chest that he thought he would vomit. Angel stood in the doorway with sun shining down on him like he just came down from on high. There was no denying that the smile Buffy wore was genuine. She was elated. He watched in sorrow as she threw her arms around Angel's neck and hugged him tightly. Xander just stared at them.
"That's wonderful," Buffy said. "When did...?"
Before she could finish her question, her former lover pressed his lips to hers with a passion she had nearly forgotten that he possessed. Xander turned his back and sat down, not noticing as Buffy began to push Angel away.
"Angel, wait..." She looked back at Xander nervously.
"What's wrong?"
"Wait here."
She went over to Xander and took his hand, leading him to the door. Angel was obviously surprised to see him. His face hardened. "Xander."
"Deadboy."
"I'm not... Why is he here?"
Buffy cleared her throat nervously. "We were on a date."
"Oh," Angel said softly. "A date. Really?"
"Try not to sound so surprised," Xander said. "It's not like I'm the last guy on earth."
"Okay, let's crank down the testosterone," Buffy said. She turned to Xander. "Angel and I need to talk. Give me a few minutes alone with him."
"But..."
"And then we'll finish our date. I promise."
He looked at her for a moment. "That's okay. That conversation will take longer than a few minutes. I'll head home and let you guys sort this out. You can come by later."
Buffy looked worried. "I want to finish our date."
"We will. Just... do whatever you need to do here." He moved past Angel and out the front door. He paused a second and looked back at the former vampire. "Congrats, man. On the heartbeat, I mean." He then turned and walked away.
Angel turned back to Buffy. "How long has this been going on?"
"Just started actually," she said.
"Good. That'll make it a little easier on him."
"Giles," Buffy said, turning to her Watcher. "Can you put Angel up here?"
"Of course," Giles said. "For as long as he would like."
"Great. Can you give us a moment?"
"Let's take a walk," Angel said. "I need to feel the sunshine a little more."
"Fine."
Xander closed the door behind him and stepped into his living area. There was a message flashing on the answering machine. He pushed the button, before dropping onto the couch and resting his face in his hands.
"Xander, it's Anya," the message said. "I feel really bad about our last conversation. Call me back so I can apologize. I think it's great that you and Buffy are getting closer. I guess I was just being overly protective of my ex. If you hadn't taught me what it means to be human... Well, John sends his best, and I stuck a picture of the baby in a card for you. It should arrive in a day or two. Give me a call, though. You're too good of a friend to lose. Especially after everything we've been through together. Bye."
Xander didn't really hear the message. His brain was fried.
"Xan, it's Will," said the next message. "Buffy called last night. Talked to me and Tara nearly two hours all about you. She's got it bad. About time, huh? Listen, she told me about the date, but one of you better call and fill me in. Okay? Hold on. Tara wants to say something.
Xander? I told Willow that you and Buffy should come visit us. We'd love to see you, and it could be like... a romantic getaway or something. Here's Will.
Don't forget to call us as soon as your date is over. I gotta have the gossip. Bye."
Xander wiped a tear from his eye and ground his teeth together. It wasn't fair. None of it. He had waited too long to be with Buffy. Now Angel would sweep in and steal her away. And there was nothing he could do about it.
"It was nice of you to tell him you would finish the date," Angel said, casting his eyes up to the sun and squinting at it.
"Stop talking about him as though he were some sort of charity," Buffy said. "That's not the way things are."
"Then, how are they?"
"Honestly? You don't want to know."
"You're sleeping with him?"
"No. Not for lack of trying... on my part. But that's none of your business."
"It isn't? What is this? I spend the last six years of my life fighting the forces of hell so that I can be human again, and this is what I get? The girl I did it all for is hung up on some..."
"Watch it," she said, pointing at him. "Putting down Xander is a good way to end this conversation quickly. Note that he actually put aside what he was feeling and gave us some space to talk. Not to mention congratulating you. He's a good man."
"You love him?"
"I... Yes. I do."
"More than you love me?"
"That's not a fair question. We went our separate ways. We knew we couldn't be together. It could have been a hundred years or more before your debt to the PTB was paid."
"But it wasn't. I'm here now. Human. Able to... Damn. Why is this happening?"
"I am SO happy for you," she said softly. "I just don't know that this changes anything."
"I'll leave," he said, not looking at her. "If I have to.
"That may be for the best. Will you do that?"
"On one condition."
"Which is?"
"Tell me you don't love me anymore."
"What?" She diverted her eyes. "What do you mean?"
"Look me in the eyes and tell me you aren't in love with me anymore, and I'll go. But if you can't... I stay and fight for you."
Xander didn't know what time he had laid down, but when he heard something stirring in the apartment, he opened his eyes to find it was dark outside. He got up off the bed and opened the door leading to the living area. The person rifling through his refrigerator was a familiar one.
"Spike, get out of there."
Spike stood up too quickly and slammed his head on the top of the appliance. "Damn! You gotta stop sneaking up on people, Droopy."
"Sorry if I scared you," Xander said, flopping down on the couch.
"You didn't," Spike lied. "I was just..."
"Being comical?"
"Fine. Make fun of the disabled." Spike pulled out two beers and handed one to Xander. "What's got you sleeping the early evening away?"
"None of your business."
"Well, aren't we touchy? What's the matter? Slayer finally get sick of you hanging about?" Xander glared at him. "Touched a nerve, eh?" the vampire asked. "What'd she do? Go and get herself another boy toy?"
"Leave," Xander said flatly.
"C'mon... I was only playi..." Before Spike could finish, a full bottle of beer crashed against his face. "Ow! You sodding son of a ..."
"Leave," Xander said, standing to his feet. He began pushing the vamp out of his front door. "And don't come back, or I'll stake you."
"You say that every time."
"Well, I mean it this time. Out!" Xander shoved the blond vamp into the hallway.
"Fine," Spike said. "But just see if I help you blokes out the next time a big bad comes to play."
"Whatever," Xander said, shutting the door in his face.
Three hours later, Xander was back in bed trying desperately to sleep. It wasn't working. Instead, his mind raced ahead, thinking about what Buffy and Angel might be doing. It was torture. Then, he heard the front door open.
"Spike, I told you to stay out!"
"It's not Spike," Buffy said, stepping into his bedroom.
"I figured I wouldn't see you until tomorrow," he said, not bothering to get up.
"I told you I'd come by," she said. "But you didn't think I'd keep my word, did you?"
"I just figured..."
"That I would be consumed with Angel and forget about you?"
"Well... yeah. That's how it usually works."
"That's how it used to work. And I'm sorry for that." She climbed into bed with him and looked him in the eyes. "Things are different now."
"How, Buffy? He's human now. That's what you were both waiting for."
"I love you," she said, running her hand across his chest. "And I told him that."
He turned over on his side and looked into her eyes. "You're serious?"
She smiled. "Yeah."
"And what did he say?"
She looked uncomfortable. "He said he was going to stick around for a while. That I had time to change my mind. I told him it would be best if he left, but he was determined. I asked him not to get in our way."
"Are you sure about this?" Xander asked. "I mean, Angel is..."
"Not you," she said. "He's not you." She kissed him, more passionately than she ever had before. How much time passed as they surrendered to their passion, they did not know. After a while, Buffy began unbuttoning her blouse. "Can I stay?" she asked.
He didn't have to say anything. Instead, he simply smiled and helped her with the buttons.
To Be Continued....