Aftermath - XXVIII
'It is the youth who must inherit the tribulation, the sorrow… that are the
aftermath of war' - Herbert Hoover
The Early Bird Motel
The gathering of friends, both old and new, was a far more subdued state of affairs than Willow would have anticipated. Faith perched on the edge of Giles' bed with the television remote grasped in one hand as she watched the national news report regarding the sudden activity within Los Angeles. The four potentials sat cross-legged on the floor at her feet like a litter of eager puppies. Each obediently stared at the flickering screen as though the action may offer them some redemption in Faith's eyes. Willow could sense from the older slayer's body language that their nearness did little but add fuel to the fire of her irritation. However, with a faintly evil smirk, Willow decided to allow the potentials the opportunity to work that out independently.
Willow turned her attention to the reporter's commentary without bothering to shift her gaze from Faith's face.
"The government are keeping fairly tight-lipped as to the exact nature of this supposed second terror attack upon the already devastated city of Los Angeles, but reports have reached us that at around eight pm last night the entire military guard surrounding L.A. were rendered unconscious by a sudden blast of mysterious origins. Shortly afterwards no less than one hundred survivors crossed over the borderline from the city, some in dire need of medical attention, and all claiming to have no memory of the prior six months."
A knowing smile broke out across Faith's features and Willow found her own lips mirroring the action. Allowing the reporter's words to fade into a dull background thrum, the witch shot a glance toward the rest of the gang who by mutual agreement had all gathered in Giles' motel room to unwind. Giles himself, still in a rather delicate state, occupied the reclining chair with a glass of water at hand and a cold compress laid flat across his forehead. His eyes were closed and his glasses absent, the only true indication of his conscious state being the pitiful moans he emitted every so often. Willow smirked, satisfied with the knowledge that the lecture regarding her and Buffy's recklessness would be a long time coming. In the aftermath of the battle, and knowing that thanks to their efforts so much more had been gained than lost, Willow found it difficult to regret her support of Buffy's somewhat half-baked plan.
The vampire Slayer in question stood on the balcony of the motel room encapsulated in the arms of her newly transformed lover. Buffy and Angel had remained locked in the same unmoving and blissful state for the last three hours. Neither seemed willing nor ready to break their stance despite the fact that it had been over twenty-four hours since either had last been granted the opportunity for sleep.
Willow had found herself brushing tears from her eyes as she had witnessed the couple drinking in their first sunrise together. Her heart swelled as she observed the timeless connection between the lovers that had seemed only to strengthen and never wane during their separation. It truly gave Willow hope that one day something as beautiful may be intended for her.
x-x-x
Angel bestowed a gentle kiss on the golden crown of Buffy's head and released a lengthy sigh of contentment. In his arms, Buffy shifted, allowing a little more of her weight to be entrusted to Angel's body. Buffy was beyond exhausted and yet foolishly determined to draw out this moment of happiness for as long as she were capable of standing.
For what seemed to them both to be the thousandth time since leaving L.A., Buffy raised her palm to Angel's chest and placed it over his heart. The responding jolt beneath her fingertips brought a fresh smile and new light to Buffy's features. She felt suddenly invigorated as though merely experiencing Angel's heartbeat had renewed her own.
"I still can't believe it," Angel said, shaking his head as though to reflect his words, "after I signed that contract I never once thought…"
"Shhh," Buffy instructed, turning abruptly to face her lover and silencing him with an eager kiss. "I don't know how and I don't know why… but I don't care. Something odd but incredibly amazing has happened to us and so for once in my life, I am not going to question it."
Angel nodded before leaning his head down in order to instigate a second and more fevered kiss. Buffy's lips parted, inviting his tongue to slip into her mouth, and her hands soon found purchase on the back of his neck. The kiss lasted for several minutes and the passion contained within truly surprised both. Finally, they broke apart, gasping for air and embarrassed at their eagerness. Angel assumed that it would take a while for the feeling of guilt to subside since they were in the habit of fighting against their attraction. He looked forward to the day that it did.
"I like that I don't need to feel bad that I want to kiss you," Angel murmured huskily, drawing Buffy back into his arms where her body seemed to fit perfectly.
"Me too," Buffy replied, leaning her head back against Angel's shoulder and attempting unsuccessfully to stifle a yawn.
"We should really sleep now, my love," Angel coaxed, entwining their fingers and beginning to draw Buffy towards the sliding door from which they had emerged. Buffy shook her head stubbornly and her bottom lip protruded in a pout that Angel found both simultaneously adorable and infuriating.
"I don't want this day to ever end," she insisted, attempting to pull Angel back into their comfortable embrace. She refrained from using her full Slayer strength against him since they had yet to test the extent of the ability that Angel had retained. It was strange but invigorating to force herself to view Angel in an almost breakable context.
"We'll make another just like it tomorrow," Angel promised, his heart shuddering guiltily as he recalled a time in which he had recited those same words. He shook his head in order to dispel the memory that he shared with no other mortal, and pulled Buffy towards the warmth of the inner motel room.
"We have the rest of our lives, Buffy," Angel vowed with conviction, his intense brown eyes shimmering with un-communicated emotion as he stepped into the light. "Everything we have ever wanted is ours."
With a sinking heart and a smile that she hoped would not betray her, Buffy realised that she was unsure of exactly what degree of truth existed within that promise.
x-x-x
Angel froze as he entered the motel room with Buffy following close behind him, their hands still entwined. The volume on the television had been turned up to the maximum level and the entire gang, including a decidedly shaky Giles, had gathered around the small box. Only Spike hung back from the group, instead leaning against the farthest wall wearing an unreadable expression that succeeded only in alarming Angel further.
Buffy drew to a halt at Angel's side and glanced up at him questioningly. Without speaking, Angel inclined his head towards the television set.
The female reporter sat behind the expanse of the desk and desperately shuffled the stack of papers before her. She wore far too much coral lipstick and a decidedly ruffled expression.
"Well, it appears we have some breaking news," the reporter said, her nasal voice rising an octave or so as she squinted at the alien words appearing on her autocue. "The government has this morning issued a separate statement declaring that the previously ruined town of Sunnydale in Southern California appears to have… risen up from the ground once more."
Buffy and Angel exchanged horrified glances before the reporter's whine once more drew their attention.
"Experts are so far at a loss to explain this anomaly, after the then-deserted town disappeared below ground twelve months ago due to a suspected earthquake. The government are preparing to send a team to the site this afternoon in order to establish the structural integrity of Sunnydale, and also discover the possible reason for it's sudden reappearance."
Willow turned mutely to regard her best friend whose unwavering gaze was trained upon the images of the resurrected Sunnydale that had been collected via helicopter by the news station. The question upon Willow's face was evident but Buffy was relieved that for now she appeared not to wish to voice it. It was Faith that finally shattered the stunned silence that had descended, her tone even and her eyes blank.
"What do we do now, B.?" she inquired, cocking her head to one side and looking to Buffy to lead.
The blonde slayer swallowed hard and was vaguely comforted by the small squeeze that Angel inflicted upon her hand. The entire room was staring at her, even Spike watching her face in order to attempt to discern her decision before she had even revealed it.
Taking a deep breath, Buffy used all of thirty seconds to weigh up their options before she spoke, no hint of indecision present in her voice.
"Pack your things… we're going home."
