Sorry for the delay once again. Been kinda busy. But don't worry, I will finish this story! I hope you guys like this new chapter. Please review!
Chapter 9:
Spike had spent a good part of his day trying to track down Harmony, but it seemed as if she knew he was looking for her. Everywhere he went, people would tell him, "Oh you just missed her," or "she was here just a second ago."
Stupid bint!
So Spike decided to head on back to her apartment and wait for her to come home. She had to eventually, because Spike wasn't sure how much longer he could last in her eye sore of an apartment.
The chit must have every damn unicorn sculpture ever made!
Spike walked by a particularly lavish figurine and not so accidentally brushed it, well more like shoved it off its place on a wooden shelf, and sent it falling to the ground. It shattered and Spike smirked.
"That made me feel a little better," he said. He took a seat in a comfy looking arm chair and propped his dirty boots up on her coffee table. He rubbed his shoes together, sending dirt chunks flying all over Harmony's table, and Spike's grin grew wider. He laced his fingers behind his head and focused his gaze on the door.
"Whoa…that's just…" Willow paused and took a seat on her couch. "Whoa…"
"Yeah, that's how I felt too," Buffy said. She took a seat next to her friend and chuckled a bit. "At least you're using more words than I did…I just froze. Kinda became all," she looked around the room trying to come up with the right word to describe how she felt when Angel showed up. In actuality, there wasn't really a word in the English language that would even touch the surface of how Buffy responded. So she just decided to go with, "statuey…that's a word right?"
"No, not really," Willow began, "But you know me, I'm all for adding 'ey' to a word to add emphasis!" She smiled at Buffy and then over at Angel. Her smile soon faded, and she bit her lip. "Are you okay Angel, you look…" She paused and her face scrunched up. "Well to be honest, you look awful."
"Thanks for not sugar coating it Willow," Angel said. He hissed in pain as he tried to take a seat on the couch. After a moment of struggle he decided against it. "I prefer standing anyways…"
"That's what we were here to ask you about Will." Buffy got up from her seat and went over to stand by Angel, touching his arm ever so slightly so as to not hurt him. "Do you think you could…" she waved her hand up and down a few inches away from Angel's body, "help with the healing?"
"Of course!" Willow walked over to Angel and asked him to unbutton his shirt.
"Um..what?"
Willow rolled her eyes and smiled.
"Angel, if you haven't noticed I don't do the whole 'guy thing' anymore," She paused and tried to hide her laugh. "No pun intended." She looked at Buffy and they both laughed. "But I do need to see what needs to be fixed…ergo, shirt off." Willow snapped her fingers and Angel's shirt disappeared altogether. "That's better!"
"Whoa! That must come in handy for…" Buffy's face went bright red. "You know what, nevermind!"
"Oh but it does," Willow said, walking around Angel and examining his scrapes. "I can teach you guys if you want?"
Angel and Buffy looked at each other for a moment before diverting their eyes to the floor. What was Buffy supposed to say? The thought of her and Angel…
Oh boy! Is he expecting us to…right away?
Buffy's eyes went wide and her cheeks turned even a brighter shade of red. She started chewing on her lip and tried to think of a subject changer. No such luck.
"Well, you are pretty battered Angel," Willow said walking around to face him once more.
"You should have seen me a few days ago…" he replied. He glanced over at Buffy and saw her nervously biting her lip. "Buffy, you okay?" She nodded her head but didn't look at him.
"I'm just gonna go to the bathroom," Buffy mumbled as she half ran out of the room.
"What's up with her?" Willow asked.
Buffy shut the door to the bathroom a little too loudly and locked it behind her. She walked over to the sink and placed her hands on the counter top, taking a deep breath. Glancing at herself in the mirror for a split second, she turned on the faucet and splashed her face with water.
"What am I doing…" she looked at her reflection. There was a girl looking back at her, but Buffy hardly recognized her. Buffy Summers was always glowing and happy. She had beautiful golden blonde hair and when she smiled, it went all the way up to her sparkling green eyes. She was a fighter. A friend. A lover. She was…happy. But the girl staring back at her now was none of that. She was empty. Weak. Alone. Buffy's eyes focused in on her reflection. She saw a glimmer of her old self…a tiny little piece that gave her hope. She was still a fighter. She wasn't completely gone. And she wouldn't go any further. Buffy had to move on. Really move on. There was a wonderful man in the next room. A man that loved her…that still loves her.
"Who? Peaches!" Spike laughed. "You really think he still loves you?"
"Spike?" Buffy rubbed her hands over her face and blinked a few times. "Am I dreaming?"
"Hardly…" Spike walked up right beside her and brushed her hair away from her shoulder. He leaned in close and whispered, "you think if you were dreamin' we'd be talking right now?" Spike leaned back and raised his scarred eyebrow at her.
Buffy felt a shiver run through her and she closed her eyes for a second. When she opened them up again and looked over at Spike, he was just staring at her, a smirk proudly sitting on his beautiful face.
"Then…am I going crazy? Why are you here?"
"Let's just say your subconscious or what not made me up…" He took a seat on the edge of the counter and pulled out a cigarette.
"You're my subcon-"
"Bloody hell…I don't know Buffy! I'm not a soddin' psychologist!" He pulled out a packet of matches and lit up.
"Geez my mind is crabby…"
"Well let's just say you've had plenty of restless nights thinkin' 'bout yours truly," Spike said pointing to himself.
"Willow's not gonna like you smoking in her apartment…"
"Good thing I'm not real then and Red's never gonna know." He smiled at Buffy and took a long drag of his cigarette. "So what do you need Goldilocks? Got boy troubles or whatever it is girls whine about?"
Buffy put down the lid of the toilet and took a seat on it. She rested her elbows on her knees and her head slumped forwards, falling into her hands.
"I'm so confused Spike…"
"What you confused about pet?" He got up off the counter and knelt down before her.
"Everything. My life. Angel. You." She looked up and stared at Spike.
"Me?!" he laughed. "Luv what do I have to do with it?"
Buffy raised an eyebrow at him.
"What you can't get over my hot bod or somethin'?" They both laughed and Buffy rolled her eyes.
"One of many many things!" She looked down and began playing with a bracelet on her wrist. "I just wish…"
"Wish what luv? Come on tell me…" He put his finger under her chin and turned her face to look at him.
"I just wish you were really here with me right now…"
"Now pet…you know that's not possible…" She looked away from him again and back down at her hands. "But hey the great poof is here…he's…well let's be honest he's bloody dreadful!" Buffy smiled.
"I miss you…"
"I know…" he said. He stood up and walked over to the door, his hand resting on the knob. "But I'm not here anymore…he is. Why not give it a try?"
"What?"
"Luv maybe this is life's way of telling you it's time. Angel's here. He's secured his bloody soul…wanker!" Spike said, rolling his eyes. Buffy got up and walked over to him.
"You think I should move on?" she asked.
He placed both of his hands on her shoulders and looked her dead in the eye.
"No luv, You think you should move on."
"Buffy!" Willow shouted. "We're all done out here!"
Buffy looked toward the door and stared at it for a few seconds. She took a deep breath and looked back over to where Spike had been just a moment earlier.
"Spike?" No answer. Buffy felt her shoulders slump dejectedly. She really wanted Spike back. If only she had stayed with him when the Hellmouth collapsed in on itself. Would they be together right now? In heaven? Buffy honestly believed he was there…he had to be. He was wonderful and brave. Strong and selfless. He gave up his life for the world.
The Powers That Be definitely had to give him points for that.
Buffy looked up at the ceiling and smiled.
"Well I haven't been to a hell dimension just of late, but I know a thing or two about torment." Spike said, sitting in the shade.
"I was happy," Buffy said. She didn't look at him. Instead she focused her attention on a crack in the pavement. Spike's forehead scrunched up in confusion.
"I don't-"
"Wherever I…was…I was happy. At peace. I knew that everyone I cared about was all right. I knew it. Time didn't mean anything, nothing had form…but I was still me, you know? And I was warm and I was loved…and I was finished. Complete. I don't understand about dimensions or theology or any of…but I think I was in heaven."
If Spike was in heaven…Buffy could be happy. She loved him with all of her heart and if he was there, then he was happy too. He was safe. There would be no more suffering for him…or pain…or torment. Spike was finished. He was complete. More importantly, so were they. Their relationship was over, but not in a bad way. Buffy could always look back on their time together and smile. And whenever she thought of Spike she could be happy, knowing that he was at peace.
"Buffy?" Willow shouted again. "Are you okay in there?"
Buffy's smile widened.
"Yeah…for the first time in a long time, I think I really am…" She said to herself.
Spike had dozed off in Harmony's arm chair, but not before taking some extra time to destroy some of her collectibles. Every hour that he had to wait, another one of her precious figurines had a date with the floor. It was probably beneficial for Harmony that she took so long, because destroying her stuff relaxed Spike a bit. Not much, but enough to make him cool off. His eyes darted open when he heard her open the door. A devious smile found it's way on to the vampire's face.
Show time.
