Behind Brown Eyes 10
Disclaimers in part 1
I walk into Wolfram and Hart and immediately feel the evil coming off in waves. The various demons and employees turn the other direction; I guess being the slayer does that. Walking further into the lobby I come across no other than Harmony Kendall answering phones. I wonder if she sold her soul to the devil too to get this job, then again it's Harmony she doesn't have a soul. I walk past the desk and she hung up the phone immediately.
"Buffy, what brings you here?" She asked clearly nervous.
I rolled my eyes at her; she still thinks I want to kill her. If that was the case I would have done it a long time ago.
"I'm here to see Angel. Is he in?" I told her none too nicely.
She runs behind the desk and picks up the phone. She hangs it up again immediately.
"He's in his office, you can go on in." She told me.
I walked passed her, but not before turning around, "You finally found something you're good at." I rolled my eyes.
I stopped in front of the door and I could sense him on the other side. I put my hand on the knob, but nearly fell forward when Wesley opened the door. We were standing face to face, gone was the prissy watcher from way back when. Standing there was a man that's changed.
"How've you been Buffy?" He asked me.
I give him a smile, "I'm peachy with a side of keen that would be me." I replied.
I looked him up and down, Faith was right he has changed.
"Wow, Faith told me you somehow managed to get hot over the years but I wouldn't really let myself believe it. I guess now I have to." I told him.
He didn't have anything to say. I managed to make him speechless, something that I was always good at.
"Yes, well, thank you for the partial compliment. I'm glad to see your distaste of me has lessened over the years." He tried to make light of the situation.
"I didn't really like Giles much at first, but I got over it. Welcome to the club." I joked.
I looked over at Angel and he pretended to be looking at a file, but in all actuality I can tell that he was listening.
"Glad to be a member, so... how's life at the Hyperion? I hear you're moving out in the not too distant future." He asked
I would have wanted to change the subject too. I mean it was so long ago.
"It's going good, and yeah I am moving out, that's what I came to see Angel about." I look over at Angel.
He attempts to smile back, but it's not working. I turn my attention back to Wesley.
"And Faith? How is she fairing these days?" He asked, "I hear the destruction of Sunnydale was quite the event."
I looked over at Angel again and he looked away. I went ahead and answered with the truth.
"Yeah well, I didn't die, so it went better than most apocalypses. Faith is doing well, she's my girlfriend." I replied.
Wesley looked at me like I grew a second head or like I was speaking a foreign language.
"She's... I'm sorry your what?" He asked again as if he didn't understand.
"She's my girlfriend." I answered again.
He glances over at Angel then back at me.
"Oh, well, I'm happy for both of you." He stumbled out.
Still the same old Wes gets British when taken by surprise.
"Thanks, that's all I really want..., for people to be happy for us." I told him.
I glance over at Angel again; he shifts uncomfortably in his chair.
"Well, I'll let you finish your business here. I have some of my own to take care of."
He exited Angel's office post haste. It was just me and Angel, the tension was there but not really.
"That was rather abrupt, don't you think?" I asked trying to break the tension.
"Well, you know Wesley, he's British. He's not as comfortable with that kinda thing as... others." He replied.
I walked over to his desk and sat down in the chair. It was really comfortable; I used this time to look around his office. It was done very nicely, but not in the style that was Angel's.
I shrug my shoulders, "It must be... Giles kinda reacted the same way."
"I'm sure." He responded.
Angel avoids looking at me directly by picking up the package that has been sitting on his desk.
"You know, it seems like every time we see each other now I'm giving you something important." He told me.
I give him a small smile, ""Yeah that seems to be the case... so what exactly is in the package?" I asked.
"Your apartment... so to speak."
He hands me the package and I accept it, not believing how heavy it is.
"It's got the keys, a couple hundred dollars in spending money, and a list of everything you'll need." He told me.
I look at him and smile. He smiles back at me.
"Wow, that's very generous of you." I couldn't think of anything else to say.
"Well, I'm a generous kinda guy. The rent is all being taken care of so I want you to use that money on food and other important things for Dawn. Not that it comes with any kind of strings; I just wanna make sure you're taken care of." He explained to me.
I give him another smile, that's all I really can do. I mean he is always taking care of me whether it's behind the scenes or the way he is helping me now.
"Thanks again, you always take care of me." I tell him honestly.
He smiles back. "It's all part of being a champion."
Yeah I wonder how long he would remain a champion. I could feel the evil and it wasn't sitting well with me. Before I could reply the door opened.
"Hey there caveman brow, I need..." Spike stopped mid sentence and looked at me.
I looked back at him I knew he was back but now I'm actually seeing him in the flesh. I knew this time would come, but I was hoping later rather than sooner.
"Sp-Spike?" I asked clearly shocked.
The feeling was mutual because he didn't know what to say either. He just keeps staring at me.
"Oh my God is it really you?" I asked as I walked towards him.
I take a few steps towards him, it's still unbelievable. Spike tilts his head slightly, looking at me with a longing look. Angel looks between us disgust written all over his face.
"I think I'll leave you too alone. I'm sure I can find... something to do." Angel tells us.
We really aren't paying attention until we hear the door open and close. We were truly alone now.
"How are you Buffy?" He finally asked me.
I had to swallow to keep my throat from going completely dry. I never knew that a moment like this could seem to go on for eternity.
"I'm doing as good as could be expected. You know since Sunnydale is one massive crater now." I told him softly.
The silence fell again neither one of us knew what else to say.
"How is the bit? Does she know I'm back?"
"She's fine, right now she is in Spain with dad, but she is coming back." I explained.
Spike looked a little perplexed.
"Spain?"
I smiled, "Yeah, Spain. I needed to find out who Buffy was, and dad offered to take her. Unfortunately, he is 'too busy' to take care of her. So she's coming home, hence me being here to see Angel." I explained.
"How is Red and the little slayer?"
It took a minute for me to realize he was asking about Kennedy.
"Willow is fine with a little Goddess thrown in. Kennedy is ok, still a pain in my ass sometimes, but she's good. How are you?" I asked him.
"I'm good, except for the hangover." He replied.
Oh yes, the hangover thing. Spike used to like feeling that way; surprisingly I never really had a hangover, so I don't know what it's like. But too much alcohol did make me sick. Boy this was really going well. I need to tell him what I need to tell him so I can leave. I told Faith I would be back as soon as I possibly can.
"Spike? I have something to tell you." I started out.
He walked a few inches closer to me and tried to put his hand on my face. I backed up a little to put a distance between us. He looked at me in confusion; I gave him a small smile.
"Slayer, what's going on?" He asked.
Here goes nothing.
"I... I've met someone?" I blurted out.
Spike looks at me, "Who?" He asked.
Silence fell over the room. The expression on his face was unreadable; usually I can read him but not this time. It could be a bad thing or a good thing, but the silence was killing me.
"It's Faith." I answered softly.
He began pacing, "I thought we had something Buffy, something that we could explore later." He stated.
"I didn't know that you were going to come back. I had to move on Spike." I explained.
I run my fingers through my hair. This isn't going to go well at all and I can see that.
"But I did come back Slayer, you should know better than anyone that vampires with souls don't stay dead."
I shrug my shoulders, he did have a point. I mean Angel was sent to hell with a soul and he came back.
"I didn't know ok, you can't fault me for that." I countered.
It was a little lame, but I couldn't think of anything else to say.
"So what happens now then luv? You just move on and leave me here?" He asked.
What did he expect for me to jump in his arms and say 'I love you and I need you'? I'm not one to sit around and wait. I moved on he just needs to deal with it.
"Yes, that's pretty much it. I moved on and I'm pretty sure you will too." I answered.
Where is a hellmouth when you need it?
"I'm in love with you Buffy, and last you spoke to me, you said the same. I thought we could go from there." He walked towards me.
I backed up a little more this is not how I wanted this to go. I just wanted to tell him what was going on and leave it at that.
"Spike, yes I said I loved you and you told me that I didn't mean it. So I took it at face value, I was not going to wait around forever for you to come back, or whatever." I told him.
Life is entirely too short to be waiting around. I want right now, not later.
"Fine, if that's the way you want it Slayer then that's the way it is. It's not like you ever took my feelings into account anyway." He turns and starts walking away.
I didn't want to end it like this; I at least wanted us to be friends or something. I couldn't just let him walk away like that.
"Spike?" I call out.
He stops and turns around.
"What?" He answered.
I swallow the lump in my throat that formed. We looked at each other intently neither one of us saying anything.
I sigh, "If it means anything, I really did love you and I still do, but please just be happy for me."
That is all I want for him to be happy for me. I found happiness in someone that I never thought I would.
Spike exhales deeply. "I am, in a sad way. You just better hope that Faith and I don't ever meet again."
I knew he was serious, but he was trying to make light of the situation. It wasn't working.
I smile, "You won't."
He smiles at me but there's a pain behind it. "But let her know that if she hurts you, we will be meeting whether she likes it or not."
Why do I believe him? He's probably going to be lurking in the shadows like Angel, making sure that everything is ok.
"I will, and Spike I'm glad you're back." I tell him.
He nods at me and walks out of the office. I sit down in the chair and exhale loudly, but I knew that I was not alone. Angel was standing there.
"How did everything go?" He asked.
I looked up at him and then at the picture on the wall.
"He took it well, but you know how Spike is." I tell him.
"Yeah I do, if you need anything else just let me know."
I stand up and grab the package. I walk towards the door, but not with out turning around.
"Take care of him Angel." I tell him softly.
He smiles, "For you I will. Bye Buffy." He replies.
I walk out of the office and through the lobby.
"Bye Buffy, it was good seeing you again." Harmony called out.
I just rolled my eyes and walked out of Evil Inc. I felt a whole lot better and lighter, that chapter of my life is closed. Now it's time to start a new one. I walk the few blocks to the Hyperion and enter the lobby. Faith approaches me and gives me a kiss; of course I kiss her back. We break apart and smiled at each other.
"So how did it go B?" She asked me.
I sighed, "As well as I could expect. I got the keys to an apartment from Angel and some spending money for Dawn and myself." I told her.
I conveniently left out the part of seeing Spike, but knowing her she'll ask.
"So did you see the peroxide pest?" She asked.
I sighed, "Yeah I did. We talked and I told him about us, he wasn't too thrilled about it, but we have an understanding so to speak." I reply.
Hopefully she'll get the hint that I want to leave it alone.
"So you wanna go check out the place? Make sure it isn't pure evil?" She asked.
I smiled at her. I like her thinking; I grab her hand and lead her out the door. We walked around to the garage and we hopped on the Ninja. I'm really beginning to like this. I yelled out the directions and we pulled up to this very nice Spanish style apartment complex. Faith killed the engine and removed her helmet as I did mine and she helped me off.
I pull the keys out of the package and looked at the number on the key. I stopped in front of the apartment with Faith behind me. I unlock the door and we walk in so far no bad vibes. I let out a sigh of relief and walk further in. There is a living room with fireplace, vaulted ceilings, a dining room and a kitchen off of the dining room. I walked further down the hall and there were three bed rooms and two baths. It was nice I'm sure Dawn would like this.
I was about to say something to Faith when a little girls voice caught our attention. She couldn't have been any older than ten or twelve. She was very beautiful with big dark brown eyes and brown hair. The picture of a little angel, she walked right in.
"Are you the new people moving in here?" She asked timidly.
I smiled at her, "Yes, I am. I'm Buffy and this is Faith." I introduced us.
She smiled brightly, "My name is Alexis, but everyone calls me Lexi." She replied.
One look at her and I was already hooked.
"Well, Lexi it's nice to meet you. I have a little sister who will be moving in with me, but she's fifteen. How old are you?" I asked.
She looked at Faith and smiled and then back at me. This girl was the cutest thing ever.
"I'm twelve but everyone says that I look younger. Especially my sister." She rolled her eyes.
I couldn't help but laugh.
"So kid, what grade are you in?" Faith asked.
"I'm in the eighth grade." She replied.
Before anyone could say anything further another voice sounded out.
"Alexis, where are you?" The voice came closer.
"I'm over here talking to our new neighbors." She yelled back.
In walked a tall brunette about 5'6 and very statuesque. She had on a pair of track pants and a white sports bra. She looked like she just stepped out of a Nike commercial or something. I looked at Faith and she looked back at me.
"I'm sorry about my little sister. She just has to meet everybody, feel free to pay her no mind. I'm Noelia Ramirez, but my friends call Noel." She introduced herself.
Faith stuck out her hand, "I'm Faith and this is Buffy, she is going to be your new neighbor." She told her.
They held hands a little longer than expected until I looked over at Faith. They dropped their hands immediately. Faith grabbed mine and smiled. It was all well and good, but little did I know that it was going to be the beginning of a whole bunch of problems.