DÉJÀ VU
Chapter four: Past Life
Written by: Twinstar
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss for a few exceptions.
It's 25 years after Buffy has died and a human Angel has meet a girl who reminds him of her. It's a case of déjà vu and they are taking things slow. The missing parts of the puzzle are falling into place when Anne starts to remember things…
Thanks to everyone who has given me such good input. Yes I'll try to type faster so that I don't keep you in suspense for too long.
Angel's thoughts
^ "Anne's" thoughts
As always I like feedback at: twinstar_dust@hotmail.com
ENJOY!
************************
-Ring-Ring-
"Hello?"
"Yes."
"Anne, I'm glad I got a hold of you. You have been missing in action for so long. Your friends haven't seen you in ages."
"I'm sorry Aly I've been such a terrible best friend lately. It's just that I met a guy and we have been inseparable since."
"Oh my gosh I've know you like forever and I've never seen you this head over heels for a guy before."
"I know but have you ever known that 'this is the guy'? I've know Angel only for a few weeks and it seems like I've known him for a lifetime."
"Wow, I've got to meet this guy. Just don't forget your friends."
"I won't and I'm so sorry again. Let's get together for lunch tomorrow I probably can get a longer break from work."
"Ok and I want details girl. See you tomorrow."
* * *
Anne placed the phone back and begins to start getting ready for her date with Angel. She cannot believe that it's just been over a few weeks since she met Angel at the sidewalk bistro. They sat at the table for hours while getting acquainted and they actually closed the place. After the awkward introduction when Angel thought she was a girl named Buffy it was as if they've known each other for a long time.
^Please who would name their child a bimbo name like Buffy…^
They have talked about everything from their childhood to current events. Angel seems very interested in her childhood, parents, how she grew up and especially if she was happy. Anne especially liked when one of his eyebrows would go up after he heard interesting information about how she spent her life. The fact that she loved art, ice-skating, and her phobia for water and driving got him chuckling to himself. Anne was left wondering what got him so amused. He even asked her about her tattoo and she laughed. She told Angel how her parents got so angry when she got it done. When he asked why that specific design she stated it was from a repeating dreams she has been experienced for as long as she could remember. Angel has frequently traced the outline of the "Angel" and the only thing that Anne heard him say more to himself than anything else was 'it was meant to be…'
Angel strangely knew things about Anne that she thought no one else knew. He knew that she keep a diary when even her closest friends didn't know about. She asked him how he knew and the only thing he said was that she looked like the type who liked to write her thoughts. It puzzled her that Angel knew so much about her but it also comforted her. The best thing that she liked about Angel was his extensive knowledge about art through out the ages. He talked so passionately about it like as if he was actually there.
8pm
-Ding dong-
"Hey you," Angel sanders into the room and gives Anne a kiss on the cheek. No matter how many times they have seen each other over these couple of weeks Anne's heart skips a beat.
They have nothing special planned for tonight except each other's company. Anne takes Angel's hand into hers and leads him to the couch.
"We can talk for a while dinner is not quite ready yet."
^No matter how hard I try every time I touch Angel I have this nagging feeling that something is not right. It feels strange but not uncomfortable strange but more of a 'this is not how it's suppose to feel' sensation. I know that it doesn't make sense but the very fact that he generates heat bothers me. ^
"That's no problem I know we can talk for hours with no effort at all."
I'm still convinced that Anne is Buffy. I feel it in my very soul and the more I spend time with her I'm more convinced. She has surprising similarities that she shares with Buffy. Yes they are different memories but the essence is still the same. I have so many questions running in my head that I don't know where to start. First she's 24 years old just four years older than the age Buffy died 25 years ago. She has had a completely different life. She has no knowledge of vampires and other demons that co-exist with humans. Her life's as normal as it can get with a mom, dad, friends that love her and a childhood pet dog named Spike (I laughed so hard about that). Everything that my Buffy dreamed about …seemed to have come true for Anne. How am I going to tell her what I really think?
"I think dinner is ready. Do you want to help me set the table?"
"Sure… anything for you"
-Sometime after dinner-
"I just love being in your arms"
"I do too honey"
The soft sounds of a slow song declaring undying love play while the Angel and Anne sway back and forth to the music. Anne's head is resting on Angels' chest and the thumping of his heart is the best sound that Anne has ever heard. During the whirlwind courtship they have rain their passions for one another, opting for the opportunity to get to know each other better. But once in a while a look, a stare, a touch ignites their passions.
Anne looks up into Angel's eyes and whispers, "I can't get enough of hearing your heartbeat for some reason. I can listen to the steady beat forever…"
Those very words touch Angel to his very core. He loves this woman for the woman she is now and the woman she was. He thought that being in Buffy/Anne's would never be possible again but here he is. He didn't have to wait till he met up with her in heaven again because this was heaven…
Anne traces Angel's lips with her fingertip and then replaces it with soft kisses. Angel takes her hand and holds it towards his heart and kisses her with such fervour that it leaves them both breathless.
"We are meant for each other…for always."
Anne guides Angel towards her bedroom and in both their hearts they know it's right.
-Hour's later-
Anne's eyes slowly open she smiles to herself when she looks over to the other side of the bed and finds Angel tangled in the sheets. She places a light kiss on his lips and he cracks a smile but doesn't wake up. Anne gently gets out of bed and puts on the shirt that Angel wore the night before. She takes the shirt and puts it against her face and breaths in deeply. His scent is still clinging to the fabric, a combination of earthy man and a hit of sandalwood. His clothes and hers are on the floor in disarray because they didn't have the patience to hang up any of the clothes in their mad dash to the bed. She picks up Angel's black jacket and something falls to the floor with a clink. Anne bends down to pick up what dropped and before returning it to his pocket she takes a look. It's a man's gold ring and when she turns it around to get a better look at it her heart stops and her breathing gets laboured. It a heart with a crown on it and hands holding it in place, the room begins to spin and she suddenly sits on the bed.
Angel wakes up with the sudden movement of the bed and the first thing he sees is an unmoving Anne sitting at the edge of the bed. He gets up and moves towards her, he places his hands on her shoulders and she turns towards him without saying a word. He looks down and in her hand is a ring and in a moment he knew what ring…it's his ring…a sign of Buffy's and his everlasting love.
There is complete silence for what seemed like a lifetime but in reality it was only for a few seconds.
In a quite far off voice Anne says, "I remember this…but smaller…"
Gently Angel squeezes her shoulders and whispers, "look in the pocket again…"
Anne takes the jacket off the floor and rummages through his pockets and comes up with a smaller ring identical to the one she was already holding…a woman's ring the companion to the man's…the ring Angel gave Buffy on her 17th birthday to declare his love.
"Angel …I'm…starting to remember…everything"
With that Anne suddenly grabs Angel's hand and drops the rings into his open palm and black's out. The only thing Angel can do is hold Anne in her arms and pray everything will be alright while she remembers her past life…
To be continued…