This was began in February, and I didn't get
too far. But now that the reruns are over, and we
are getting the new episode "Forever"
what I had been writing finally clicked into place.
This will also have elements of "Intervention",
"Tough Love," and spoilers I had seen
on the boards—true, or not for the end of the
season. This is a Spike becomes human instead of
Angel, time shifting, and maybe AU fic with my own
ideas of how the season is going to end, and possible
future outcomes for the different characters. The
music lyrics are from "Tempest" by VNV
Nation 1999. All usual disclaimers apply to the
Buffy universe—just borrowing, and putting
the characters back eventually. I'm going to
rate this PG-17, or if you can watch the show then
you can read this.
Part 1
"Mommy, Mommy wake up," said the child's voice with a hint of worry as she shook her mother. "Daddy wants you. He's says it's time to go," the little golden haired girl told her seriously as Buffy groggily opened her eyes.
"Huh? Who are you?" Buffy managed to ask as she put a hand to her throbbing forehead, and tried to sit up, but had to lay back down because she was sick of her stomach, and dizzy.
"You're silly, Mommy. You know who I am?" the little girl giggled from in front of her as Buffy tried to get her eyes opened, and focused. It still wasn't working too well.
Okay, this kid keeps calling me Mommy' , so I'll play along so I can find out what is going on,' Buffy thought to herself trying to get a handle on what was happening, and most importantly why. "'Mommy' isn't quite in here, so you have to tell me," Buffy replied, the effort of talking almost making her pass out again. She felt like she had been run over by a Mack truck, and then some. She hurt all over and could barely move, what the hell had happened to her now?' she wondered, stifling a groan of pain.
"I'm Desiree, don't you know me?" the child asked, her voice becoming scared. The little pigtailed girl in lavender coveralls, and a matching lavender shaded tie-dyed T shirt, who appeared to be about five or six, was chewing on her lower lip worriedly. Her bright blue eyes regarded the woman before her laying on the blanket on grass of the park as almost a stranger now. There was something very wrong with her Mommy'—she didn't even feel right. "Daddy will be here soon. He had to take Destry to the little boy's room," she added, which didn't clear up Buffy's confusion, it only increased it.
"I see," Buffy said giving her a faint smile, her mind still trying to grasp what was going on, and how she had gotten where ever she was. She looked over to the little girl sitting on the blanket with her now. Yes, the child did look like her, and someone else too. The familiarity of the features was tugging at her memory of where she knew those cheekbones, and that chin from. Then the girl had the oddest accent. She was still puzzling on it when she heard footsteps, and then there was a small body landing on her.
"Mommy's up!" said the small bundle of energy that had landed on what Buffy realized now was a very large stomach—a very large pregnant stomach as she looked down.
"Cor', Destry, get yourself off your Mum. She doesn't need you to be climbing all over her, do you, luv?" said the voice from behind her, and Buffy immediate froze, panic stricken—Spike? What the hell? These were hers, and Spike's kids? What the hell was going on?' she asked herself to turn to see a grinning, Spike wrestling with his son since the boy had gotten off of her, and had gone to play with his father. Except it wasn't quite the Spike she was used to seeing since his hair was no longer bleached out, and was natural looking, a soft light golden brown, and slightly curly. He was also tanned, and sitting with them all in direct sunlight like it was the most natural thing in the world. Buffy could have fainted from the sheer shock of it all.
"Spi—ke?" she managed to sputter, her eyes wide.
He looked at her and frowned. "That's not a name I've heard you call me in a while, luv. It's just Will now," he said looking at her as he set their son down, who looked amazing like a miniature version of his father with the same hair, and slender build. "Are you feeling all right, pet?" he asking getting up, and coming over to her.
"No, I'm not. How did I get here, and where am I?" she asked, getting more, and more afraid, and confused especially when he took her hand, and she could feel it was human warm.
"That must have been some nasty blow to the head you took. Worse than I thought. Destry didn't mean to hit you. But to answer your question, we're just in the park. You thought a bit of fresh air would do us all good, seeing it's first warm winter's day we've had in a while," he said concerned, his hand feeling her forehead to see if she was running a temperature.
"We're still in Sunnydale?" Buffy asked trying to sit up, and see if anything looked familiar. Though sitting up by herself was proving difficult, and Spike had to help her.
"Yes, luv, we are," he answered puzzled at her strange questions. "Buffy, what's wrong with you? It's like you don't know us," her husband said worriedly, love and concern in his deep blue eyes.
"Something has happened. I'm not supposed to be here," Buffy told him truthfully. "You're not supposed to be alive—you're supposed to a vampire, and you and I aren't together, and WE don't have kids. What year is this?" she asked, watching the shock register on his handsome, mortal face.
"2007, and you don't
remember any of this?" he asked, and saw her
shake her head no' then he nodded mysteriously.
"She said this would happen," he told her
getting a funny look on his handsome, but subtly older
face as his mind had run through possibilities, and
everything had suddenly clicked into place. Making
a decision he told her, "Come on luv, we've
got to get you to Giles, and get this put right,"
he sighed, standing up and helping her get to her
feet.
"So, you know what has happened?"
Buffy asked relieved as she got to her feet unsteadily.
"Aye, luv, I do. You, and younger self have switched places for a time. This is your future—our future, our life together," he told her, delighting a little in her shocked expression. "You, my dear sweet Slayer are now my wife, and these are our kids, he said proudly, putting a hand on her bulging belly that decided to kick fiercely in response to his touch.
"Ohh, wow," Buffy said in sheer wonder, feeling the new life of their unborn child in her move around. "These are ours? You are Spike, aren't you?" Buffy had to ask.
He laughed, his blue eyes tinkling amusedly at her astonishment . "Yes, my love, I am, but I've gone back to being William again. Spike just didn't seem to fit anymore once I became mortal again. That's the past, and this here is the future. The only future that I ever really wanted with you even back then," he said meaningfully, looking at with such love, and wanting in his eyes that Buffy thought she was going to melt into a puddle right there.
"Back then?" she questioned, shocked. "As in when?'" she asked, frightened now as she was not speaking to Spike since she uninvited him.
"Since before I got the bloody chip, and then my feelings for you kind grew over the months. But you didn't want to believe it, couldn't accept that even after old soldier boy left, and Joyce, your Mum, died. It took this coming into the future, and seeing what could be to change your mind. That's why I'm not surprised to see you, luv, as I knew this day would come. It had to for everything to work out the way it's supposed to. When you go back you'll have the knowledge you need to fight Glory, and also start looking at me in a whole different way. Or a least I hope so, otherwise none of this will be—they won't be," Will told her pointing to the two young children crashing each other in a game of tag while their parents talked.
"Yeah, I see your point," she said watching the two giggling children with longing and then looking back at their father, and letting herself feel for him. "So we're really married, and you're really human now?"
He smiled, his eyes sparkling with joy and pride, "yes, almost six years now, and they've been the happiest of my life because I'm with you. The Powers That Be did this after our battle with Glory when I almost lost you. That I was willing to sacrifice my life for yours, Dawn's, and the Scoobies to keep Glory from taking over our world, showed them I was worth saving even though we both died that day on the battle field. But they brought us both back, and made me human again. It was because we did love one another that we were able to fight, and save the day. And you chose me over Angel, who also got his humanity back at the same time I did. He's still a bit upset about that, but now he's got Faith, and Willow now to take care of. We almost lost them both too that day. We did lose the wolf, and the other witch, and the soldier boy," he told her turning, and gathering up their picnic things hoping he wasn't screwing things up by telling her all this, but he knew that past Buffy hadn't remembered any of this, so it must be okay.
"Oz, Tara, and Riley are gone?" Buffy asked in a weak voice, feeling faint but managing to hold it together.
"Yes, I'm sorry, luv. They fought bravely trying to protect your sis until it was time for her to be the Key', and do what she was created to do. She was magnificent---you will be so proud of her."
"Dawn survived?" Buffy asked, hopefully.
"Yes, but just barely. It was real touch, and go for her, but she managed to recover finally. She was determined to keep the world we love from being destroyed, and taken over by Glory, and she did it. It was her destiny, just like yours had been to be a slayer. You're still a slayer. The Powers didn't take that away from you, but you're retired now, and there's a new slayer doing your job," he told her, straightening up.
"And Faith? Is she?" Buffy had to ask.
"She's retired too. She works with Angel investigations in LA."
"Sounds like there has been lots of changes. And Xander?" she asked since he hadn't mentioned him, and Anya.
"He, and Anya work for Giles at the new shop. The old one got destroyed during the battle, so they had to get another shop, and start over. They now have twin boys, and Anya is expecting again. Faith, and Angel have a daughter too. Then there's Willow's son."
"Willow has a son?" Buffy asked confused trying to understand all the pair ups.
"By Oz before he died. A parting gift of love before the final battle. She almost died having him, especially since she's paralyzed from the waist down now. He's her whole world. His name is Julian Ozwald Rosenburg, and they live with Angel, and Faith, along with Cordelia, and Wesley, and their son, and daughter. Angel says he's glad he bought a hotel at least he's got room for the daycare center they have going with everyone's offspring."
"Wow, we've all been very busy it seems," Buffy smiled, putting a hand over her large stomach.
"That we have, my pet. Making up for lost time, now that the world has time again," he grinned proudly.
"And what to do we do in this future' world?" she had to ask as she watched him grab hold of his son, and made sure that Desiree' was following them as they headed for their car, which was a nice large black SRV parked on the side of the road.
"Me, I'm a professor of History, and Mythology at UCA Sunnydale, and you, my dear wife, teach Physical Education. Except right now you're on maternity leave. You did manage to get your degree, and we both were going to school for awhile. Since I found myself mortal—I had to do something. Willow helped a bunch with creating a real background, and an identity for me. Then I took real teaching classes to make it authentic looking as well for the actual experience of dealing with students. It was either teach, or work with Giles, and Xander at the shop. And we both turned down Angel's offer of working as consultants for Angel Investigations though we do keep in touch with everyone," he told her as they got the kids into the car, and strapped them into their seats before he helped her climb in and get settled. Then he got in the driver's side.
"So you're a teacher, and I am too?" Buffy asked, still taking it all in.
"Yeah. That's what I had planned on being before Angelus and Dru came into my life. Thought I'd have a go at it again for you, and the young ones. And I really didn't feel like being a shopkeeper. Though you and I do hold classes at the shop on weapons, and martial arts. Getting rid of Glory did not mean getting rid of all the demons and nasties," he told her.
"So we're still fighting?"
"Every once in a while, but mainly it's the junior Scoobies we've trained that keep things safe around here now, and we've also been training groups to fight in other parts of the world here. It's part of the new Watcher's Group we helped formed after another Hell demon demolished the Council headquarters in 2003. There wasn't too much of the Council left, and since it was proven that Giles' methods were effective in stopping Glory, and the new threat he was made head of the new group. Now Slayers, and Watchers are trained here along with mages, and witches to work with the new slayers before they are sent out into the world," Will went on to explain as he started the car and they drove to the shop.
Buffy was reeling from the changes that had taken place. The Old Council was gone, and Giles was in charge of the new one. At least some very good things had come out of the battle.
They drove through a slightly newer looking, but a not vastly different Sunnydale than Buffy had remembered. There were a few changes here, and there, though for the most part it was same old same old as before. The most notable was that the remains of the High School were finally gone, and in it's place was large free standing building complex on top of the location of the Hellmouth. "The New Magic Box," Will announced pulling around back, and parking. "We all thought it would be a good idea to claim the property to make sure no one else had access to it, especially after fighting Glory emphasized that this spot should not stay unguarded," he added in explaination.
"Yeah, sounds like a good idea," Buffy agreed, looking around curiously as Will got out, and helped the kids out who she was finding were amazingly well behaved.
Buffy took Desiree' hand, and they followed Will, and Destry into the back door entrance of the shop. It was a lot slicker, and larger than the previous incarnation of the shop had been though similar in set up and layout.
"Ahh, Will, those books you were inquiring about arrived today," Giles said in welcome as they entered the shop itself. Xander, and Anya were at the counter helping a customer while Giles was at a large study table similar to the old one they used to have at the other shop.
"Good, thanks for ordering them. Any trouble getting them through customs?" Spike asked letting his son loose, and the two children went over to a play area off to the side where two identical dark haired boys close to Desiree' age looked up happily at their arrival. Those must be Xander's boys, Buffy thought looking at them, seeing that they did take after their father.
"No, no problem. Though Theos was wondering why you wanted them," Giles said, looking up at him. He was definitely older looking, his hair was almost completely shot with gray, and there was a nasty scare above his right eye that hadn't been there before.
"Just something I wanted to check on regarding the Phineas Codex material. It's better to be safe than sorry. Besides, the books there's another reason we are here," Will warned him before continuing, and Giles looked up expectantly at him. "It's happened. We have past Buffy, not my Buffy, and she's a bit confused about what is going on," Spike told him looking back to Buffy who had remained standing just watching everyone.
"I see," Giles said a bit shook as he too looked back at the pregnant ex-slayer. "I take it you have filled her in on what has happened over the years?" the Watcher questioned, nervously fettling with his glasses a habit he couldn't seem to break.
Will sighed, "as much as I've dared to. All in all she has been taking this calmer than I had expected she would. I still question this tampering with time, and sending her back with knowledge of what is to be."
"But that knowledge saved our lives, without it all that is now will not be. Your Buffy told us that, and was prepared for the consequences. She knew what had to be played out, and what couldn't be stopped."
"Yes, but it is still going to be painful for both of them," he said meaningfully, wishing that he could spare the younger Buffy from the trials she would be having to undergo once she was restored to her time line once again.
"Yes, it will be but we must do what we must," he said to the younger man and former vampire before turning to his slayer. "Buffy, come here," Giles asked her.
And the slayer did cautiously, and with a little fear still trying to attune herself to this new world of being a mother, and wife to her former mortal enemy. "Yes, Giles. Sp—William said you can explain what is going on," she asked hopefully.
"Sit down, child. There is no necessity for you to be so formal with me. This I know is quite a shock to you being here. But it is necessary because of the knowledge you must carry back with you to help in your fight with Glory. You see the knowledge to fight the Goddess did not exist in your time. It is only now that it has been uncovered, and sent to us. Part of this was safekeeping by the Powers That Be, so the knowledge could be used. You were chosen as the vessel to travel between worlds, and time periods. You are here because you collapsed mentally, and emotionally after Glory took Dawn. Willow and I had to try, and bring you back. Right at this point in time you are in a deep coma in your time, and when you recover this will seem as just a dream, or a figment of the coma, except for the knowledge you will be bringing back with you," Giles explained to a very confused Buffy.
"I see," Buffy said, not sure about any of this. "And how am I going to get this knowledge back. Let's face it Giles I am not exactly a memory master—I mean I'm not real good at the mystical magic bits," she told them honesty, looking from one to the other worriedly.
"We have a way to do it. The information is already in the Dogon sphere. It is the words and the knowledge of how to use it, and how to trigger the key when its energy is ready to be used that we will impart to you," Giles explained.
"I take it this will involve magic? Is that such a great thing considering my current condition?" she asked worriedly, her hand protectively on her stomach.
"It is part of your child's destiny according to the Powers That Be," Giles reassured her. "It will not harm her," he added, ignoring Will's frown at his words.
"Another girl, I take it?" Buffy asked.
"Yes, a very special girl," he told her, and she looked pleased. Giles continued, "We were not expecting you for two more days, according to what you told my past self when you got back to your present. You have come early somehow. The ritual to give you the knowledge, and to send you back is to be done on the first night of the full moon which is two days from now. So I guess we must simply wait until then. I am hoping that you are not finding this all too disquieting," Giles asked her.
"It is all very strange.
Like it's all some sort of very weird dream.
Not a bad weird dream though," she said with
a smile, looking up at Spike/Will then over to their
children playing with Xander and Anya's two boys.
"Good. You were rather strange
for a number of days after you returned from this
visit as I recall. And for the most part you did not
talk too much about it to everyone for fear of changing
the outcome," Giles told her.
"Yeah, I probably will be if I remember all of this. So what do I do until I go back? I feel real strange taking over someone's life and body, even if it is my own," she asked them both.
Just then Desiree came running to her with tears in her eyes. "Mommy, Jessie took Kermit away from me," she complained.
Buffy looked up to Will for clues on what to tell her as she gathered the little girl to her. "You want to handle this one?" she asked, and he nodded, going over to the play area to talk to Xander's son, and motioning Xander to join him. "Your Daddy will fix it," Buffy reassured the little girl who had stopped crying to watch her father walk away. Giles had left to go talk to Anya leaving Buffy, and her future oldest daughter alone.
"Mommy, are you feeling better? Do you know me now?" she asked hopefully, studying her carefully.
"I'm better, but I'm still not myself'," Buffy told the little almost miniature of herself truthfully.
"You need to be you' again, but I can wait. You're not my mommy—you are different," the little girl said with a frown furrowing her forehead, pouting.
"Yeah, I am. But until your mommy comes back, can I be your mommy?" Buffy asked, smiling back hoping she was reassuring her. Finding herself being a automatic mother was a decidedly strange experience and Buffy was trying to handle this as best as she could since she didn't have a clue how to act, or do mommy things with little children.
"Guess so," Desiree' answered, giving her a cautious shy look, and a slight smile as she scuffed the toe of her pink tennis shoe against the floor trying to understand what had happened to her real mommy, not that this one wasn't okay, still she could sense that this was not the woman she knew, and loved everyday.
Xander by that time had come up to them after talking with his son. Will had taken him aside, and clued him in on what was going on. He was notably shook finding out what had happened, and like everyone that now knew he had had to go back to the memories of that time to remember what had happened. "So you're the Buffy from the past?" he asked.
End Part 1
******************************************************************************************
Part 2
Buffy could see the
changes in Xander. There was a calmness, a sense of
self assurance that hadn't been present all the
way in the dark eyes of the Xander she had known.
He had grown up, matured, like they all seemed to
have grown up since the battle, and becoming parents.
"Yeah, I guess so. You've really changed.
You look all respectable now. Nice kids," she
told him, smiling at the two dark haired boys that
were identical in looks, but decided different in
temperament. One was clearly easy going while the
other was a bit more mischievous, and liked to tease
his playmates. Almost like each boy was a reflection
of different parts of Xander's own personality.
"Thanks. Jake, and Jessie tend to be a handful sometimes." He told Buffy and then turned to the waiting little girl, and spoke to her, "Des', Jessie wants to apologize to you for taking Kermit, so you go back over there, and play, okay?" he asked Buffy's daughter, and she nodded, and went back over to the play area.
They watched as the offending twin did as he had been told to do under the watchful eyes of the parents, and handed the green frog figure back to the girl with an apology. Desiree then went over to her own corner to play with the frog, and other Muppet characters and dolls she had sitting at the table. While Jessie went to go join Jake, and Destry building things out of Legos. The shop was very much kid friendlier than it had been and the whole atmosphere seemed happier, and more people friendly than it had when it had started.
Seeing that things between the kids were calm for the moment he turned back to Buffy. "Jessie and Des' tend to get into arguments a lot. This is all pretty normal for them," he reassured her. "So, you finding the future pretty different than what you expected it would be?" he inquired, with a lifted eyebrow as he took a seat by her.
"Way different. Me—Spike—kids—yeah, it's a real shocker. You, and Anya, no. I knew you two would finally get together, but me and Spike? No way," she said in low tones as her husband started wandering back their way.
"Ohh, I knew it. I think that's why I
was so jealous of him after Riley left. I knew you
two had it bad for one another, but you were the one
that couldn't see it, or admit it to yourself.
It took a number of things and this little trip to
see the possibilities, and to see that you did have
a future, and hope. That was something you didn't
have too much of after your mom died."
"No, I didn't," she admitted, the memories
of her mother's death were still fresh and raw
in her mind.
Will had come over, and heard the conversation about her mom, and hoped that wouldn't set this Buffy off. For her this was still a very raw, and new wound. Sometimes Harris just didn't think, and also didn't know Buffy as well as he thought he did. "I think the kids will behave now," Will told them, steering the conversation onto safer waters.
"Good," she told him grateful for his changing the subject. "So where's Dawn? If she survived too, where is she?" Buffy asked having expected to see her sister already.
"The Dawnmeister? Probably still at classes, or on campus. She's in her sophomore year at the college. And she has a boyfriend—Cullen," Xander told her not too enthusiastically looking to Will for help in explaining.
Buffy looked back and forth between the two, and knew something was up. "Okay, give. What's wrong with Dawn's boyfriend? He's not a vampire is he?" she asked.
"No, not a vampire. But he is other worldly. He's elven. He showed up about two years ago on some personal quest, and stayed. He's going to school with her, and trying to fit into normal human life for the most part. He helps with some of the big magicks we occasionally still have to do since we lost Tara, and Amy, and Willow is in LA. Anya can do some things, but her power has not been fully restored yet. We did get out of him that Whistler sent him to both learn, and to help us out, and the new slayer, Charity," Xander explained to her.
"He's an elf?" Buffy questioned, picturing some short tiny little guy.
"Elven, luv, there is a big bit of difference. He's like six-four, kind of like that David Bowe guy in "Labyrinth". He and Dawn have been kind of inseparable since they met. Which has caused an number of fights between you two since you don't seem to like the guy," Will explained.
"I don't huh? But Whistler says he's okay?" Buffy asked, wondering why she would be upset at Dawn's boyfriend other than he was not human, and normal, but it also seemed to be the Summer's women's fate to fall for not normal guys.
"Yeph, part of some new deal with the PTB. So you put up with him," Will told her with a slight grin, remembering when she had put up with him, but they hadn't known that the PTB had plans for him at the time. To her, and everyone else he had been just an annoying, but chipped vampire/former enemy who had become occasionally useful.
The fight to keep Dawn safe, and for their very lives against Glory had changed everything for all the Scoobies, and between the two of them. There was so much he wanted to tell this Buffy, but he could only just tell her some of it otherwise it would alter this future. When she went back she would have full knowledge of what they had to do to defeat Glory, though what she experienced, and saw here would be like only just half remembered fragments of this future.
But he remembered clearly still when she had finally awaken from the trance much to everyone including his own relief. There was a marked change in her. Though it was more in the change in attitude towards him. At first it had thrown him as he was used to dealing with her just barely tolerating him around since the disaster of when he had confessed he loved her then later chained both her, and Dru up trying to prove that he did love her. Then there was the robot. It had taken awhile for her to really forgive him over that. His enduring Glory's torture, and not telling the Hellbitch anything had been the turning point in changing her mind about him. Then fighting side by side to protect Dawn from the Knights, and Glory had been part of it too. Still when she had awaken, and sought him out to reassure him that she was all right he knew something had really changed within her heart towards him. Then they had shared their first real kiss not induced by a spell, or for any reason except that she wanted to kiss him, and let him know she really did care about him, and as more than just her mortal enemy, and now friend. That she was ready to acknowledge that he was' the man in her life, and no one else—not Riley, not Angel—only him.
In the background on the radio as they kissed not caring who was watching, he heard a song whose haunting music and lyrics seemed so much to fit what they were going through and what he was feeling:
These are not words, they're only feelings.
There are no sounds that you can hear.
There is no form that you can touch.
There are no colours for you to see.
The only sound is a distant thunder.
A tempest rages so far away from me.
I walked for miles and I started running
towards the sound and storm where you might find me.
And I ran until I had the feeling
that the Tempest I had heard surrounded me.
Here my heart still so filled with loving
cried out and told of wonders that I feel.
Here my heart is so filled with loving.
And I tell myself, I keep repeating
that your ways are bringing you to me.
And I tell myself, I keep repeating
that your ways are bringing you to me.
And I tell myself, I keep repeating
that your ways are bringing you to me,
that I will find my true salvation,
that these ways of mine are bringing you to me.
Because here my heart so filled with loving
crying out the wonders that I feel.
Here I will find my true salvation
and my ways are bringing you to me
And I tell myself, I keep repeating
that your ways are bringing you to me,
All these years since then, the feelings from that one kiss remained with him because it was the binding of their beings together in ways that the others would never fully understand. What they had, and would always have was something beyond just being soul mates. Even though he still had remnants of his original soul, they all still thought him souless when the truth was he was far from it. There were no words for what they really were to one another. It bridged time, and space, and was as eternal as what they felt for one another was. When the kiss had ended, and they had looked into each other's eyes they knew they were bonded together, and she had finally acknowledged, and accepted what he had accepted long before that moment. She loved him, and was finally not afraid to be loved by him. Nothing could destroy them, not even final death.
The gang had not been happy about their new closeness, and did not want to accept that it was for real. The idea of her being with another vampire, and in particular him, no matter what the circumstances did not make for pleasantness in the ranks. Much to his surprise his Buffy would not cave in to her friends, and made them accept their being together. When Angel, Faith, the LA crew, and Oz had showed up for the final battle things got decided tenser, but still Buffy held firm, and would not let anyone, including Angel say, or do anything to break them up. And his sire had gone ballistic over the situation immediately. Buffy wouldn't let him have a private word' with his childe like he wanted which pissed him off even more. The situation, in a way, resulted in Angel and Faith finally getting together after the final battle was over.
The night before the final showdown four couples had gone off in the desert to say their good byes in private, Xander and Anya, he and Buffy, Willow and Oz, Angel and Faith. Tara had still not recovered from when Glory had sucked her mind. Willow had been torn between wanting to be with her, and wanting to be with Oz once again. But it had been Tara having a moment of clarity, and vision, telling her lover that she needed to go to Oz to receive a precious gift that she could not give her. That this time would never be again, and what was lost would be returned. Then she had pushed Willow away forcing her to go. In confusion Willow had gone with Oz already knowing that they might not survive the battle.
While Faith, and Angel had been an entirely different matter, since they were not long lost lovers reuniting. Angel had been interested in Cordelia, but she had let him know in no uncertain terms prior to their coming to Sunnydale that there was no way she was ever getting with him, and risking her life since no one was sure whether, or not his soul was, or wasn't anchored. And he was only a friend –period. She just didn't feel that way about him. Faith on the other hand had been more than interested in Angel for several years, and wasn't afraid to find out if his soul was permanent, or not. He wasn't that disinterested in her either especially when she wrapped her luscious body around his, and got him in a solid liplock of epic proportions. Then too, they both had bottled up frustrations they wanted to get rid of. And rid them they did, and none too quietly either as the sounds of their lovemaking drifted over the normally quiet desert.
He and Buffy had camped by the stream away from everyone, especially Angel and Faith. After all the months, and years of bottled up passions they came together almost shyly, this first time being finally alone, and able to express what they felt. Still dressed, they stood there not touching, her eyes reflecting such love and trust for him it almost overwhelmed him. Then she reached up with her small hands, and cupped his face, to kiss him softly on the lips letting him feel what her now closed eyes had been showing him. His strong arms wrapped around her waist, and drew her to him as he returned her kiss, deepening it with his own held back feelings. Buffy's arms went around his neck, and her body molded perfectly to his as their kissing intensified and passions rose as they sought closer contact with each other. Clothes were quickly stripped off and thrown off without care wanting, needing there to be just flesh to flesh.
He kissed her all over until her legs felt like they were Jell-O, worshipping her body as he had always dreamed to do. Before she could fall, he had scooped her up in his arms, and laid her on their sleep bag, and continued to kiss every inch of her to bring her higher, and higher with his expert touches. He knew she was lost in the sensations he was provoking in her, feelings and desires that she had not even known were there that no one had ever made her feel before. He wanted her to know for the first time what it was like to really be made love to, to know that everything before had been a sad, pale imitation of what she was feeling. He was going to make her forget everyone that had ever touched her, and to make up that he had told her she had not been worth a second go. He had always worshipped her, wanted her, needed her to be his, and his alone since he had first laid eyes on her in the Bronze dancing. He had also been jealous of every man that she had let get close to her, including his damned sire. Now he could finally prove to her that despite his being a so called souless vampire he loved her with all his heart, and would stick by her no matter what.
When he entered her at last it was like being consumed in sweet, living fire. He melted in her, was lost in her as she had been lost by what he had been doing to her. Her inner muscles clamped around his hardness taking him to heights he hadn't known existed before. He couldn't even conceive of a human being able to handle what she was making him feel, or for them to even begin to keep up with her. He seriously doubted that soldier boy had ever gotten her this aroused, and hot, or able to let herself let go this completely without fear of hurting him. His suspicious were confirmed as she moved with him slow at first, and then as her confidence, and fears faded she allowed herself to match his movements, and add a few of her own. It had been sheer heaven that first time of what would be many times that they made incredible love that night.
He and Buffy had woke before dawn, and got back to camp before the first rays of the sun peaked above the horizon. Angel and Faith had also wandered back looking decidedly happy as well as love rumpled and not giving a care either how they looked. It was relief to all that his soul was anchored and that they were still dealing with Angel and not Angelus. Angel held onto Faith possessively as he was afraid she's disappear or vanish on him.
Not that he hadn't held Buffy just as possessively and proudly. Letting his sire know in no uncertain terms that Buffy was his in all ways. Buffy was his mate and heaven help anyone who tried to take her away from him.
Oz and Willow had arrived back before them, and were tending Tara. The werewolf, and the witch wore an air of calm and peace that none of the group had seen in either for a very long time. There was also a feeling of deep sadness to them as if they knew before the rest of the group what was about to happen. As if they had really said all their goodbyes, and knew that they weren't going to survive the coming battle intact.
Once everyone was present, and accounted for they quickly got the camper, and Oz's van loaded and ready to go, and tense silence they had drove to the location of the cave where Glory had gone to perform the ritual to open the gate between her world and theirs.
Will became aware of Buffy asking him a question, and had to shift his mind from the past to the present, and the still very confused, and bewildered past Buffy. "Sorry, luv, my mind sort of drifted there," he told her. Now what was it you were asking me?" he asked refocusing on her.
"Giles said the ritual isn't ready to be performed for two more days—what am I going to do until then?" she asked clearly worried, and nervous about how she was going to live and where' until she was returned to her normal time and body.
End Part 2
Continued in Part 3
