Chapter 16: The Lovers
"Buffy," he whispered again and then instantly bowed his head in shame. "W-what
are you doing here?"
"I was on patrol," she explained and then startled him again when she fell on
her knees right in front of him. "Oh Angel, what did you do to yourself," she
asked with tears in her eyes. When he would neither look at her nor answer she
framed his head in her hands and forced him to face her. "I'm so sorry for what I said to you. Do you know how long I've been looking for you? I was searching
every place I could imagine. I thought I would go mad."
"I'm sorry," he whispered and couldn't prevent his own tears from falling. "I'm
so sorry I couldn't save Anne's life. I really tried ...," his voice broke.
"I know. Angel, I know, remember I was there," she frowned, "well at least
somehow, so I know," she assured him. When she saw the flicker of hope in his
eyes she quickly continued, "I can't believe what I said to you. The only
excuse I have is that I was confused and hurting, but I had no right to lash out
at you like that. I'm sorry."
He shook his head, "There is no need to be sorry. You had every right to behave
like you did, I didn't protect Anne and ..."
"No," she interrupted him. "*I* was wrong. But I can't believe that you don't
blame me. Angel, are you even real?"
A little laugh escaped his throat and it made her smile, "I missed you," he
whispered. "God, how I missed you. After more then 60 years all I needed was to
reach out and touch you and yet you've never been so far away as you have these
past weeks."
"I missed you too," she whispered back. And then after a pause she added, "I
love you."
"Oh, Buffy," with trembling hands he reached out and touched her face. "I would
give everything to bring her back to you."
"I know," she leaned forward and brushed his lips with hers. "I heard."
"You...," shock flickered through his eyes and then he looked away in
embarrassment. "You weren't meant to hear."
"I know," she said again. "But I'm glad I did. Not because you tried to trade
your life for hers." Her voice sounded stern now, "Don't you dare and try it
again. Do you hear me. You've worked long and hard and suffered a lot for it. You earned your redemption." As a reaction his head snapped up and he was staring at her with wide eyes. When she spoke again her voice was soft, "I'm glad I heard it because it reminded me how much you love me. And what a bitch I've been." She had to laugh, "I'm over 80 years old, but it's never too late to be a bitch, is it?"
"I love you," he said suddenly and with a groan pulled her to him, holding her
close. "God, how I love you."
"I know," she said and started to cry. But they were good tears. Healing tears.
"Just imagine. We've got this incredible gift. A future together."
"I know," he mumbled into her hair. "I'm almost too afraid to let myself
believe it."
She slightly pulled back, "I talked to her, you know." When she saw his puzzled
gaze she smiled. "Tara, Willow, Ellen and I held a séance and Tara gave me the
chance to communicate with Anne. She's happy where she is, she doesn't resent me
for having this chance and she wants us to be happy together."
"I'm glad. It tore me apart to see you hurting like that. I could've killed
Whistler, but it would've been the wrong person," he sighed loudly. "He's very
annoying sometimes, but in his heart he is a good person."
"Yeah," she agreed. "I met him the first time before I sent you to hell. Did I
ever tell you that?"
Surprised he looked at her, "No. Why did he come?"
"He told me about the swords and that you were meant to take care of me, but
that it got out of hand when we fell in love with each other." She snuggled
closer to him again, enjoying the feeling of being so close. "Then," her voice
became lower, "he told me I had to send you to hell if you succeeded to pull out
the sword and to open the vortex. That your blood was the only way to seal it. I
hated him for it, although it wasn't his fault either."
"It's a damned job he has," Angel commented. "I don't envy him for it. Mostly
he has bad news. The only time he had something good for me was when he brought
me to see you."
They were silent for a long time, just holding each other. Buffy was sitting
between Angel's legs, her back leaned to his chest, while his head rested on
hers. His arms had encircled her waist from behind and her hands rested on his'.
She was stroking over them when she suddenly felt something. With a surprised
sound she lifted his hand and looked at it, "Since when do you wear it again?,"
she asked.
"I put it on when I left America," he replied calmly. "It was as if I didn't
have the right before. I didn't want you to feel uncomfortable around me."
"I lost mine," she said sadly. "I left it in the Mansion on the spot where I
sent you to hell. At that time it seemed the best place for it. I thought it was
my way to say goodbye and let you go. I should've known you'd find a way back to
me. I've given up on us so often Angel, but I swear I won't do it again. Talking
to Anne made me realise that I can only honour this gift in living my life full.
Refusing it would mean that she died in vain. I couldn't do that." She paused for a moment and then added with a smile in her voice, "Aaand, I really, really would like my life to be with you."
"Me too," he answered without hesitation. "Me too." Shifting her between his
legs so that she was facing him now his mouth descended on hers and their lips
met in a lingering, passionate kiss, telling her more about his love than words
could. Breaking the kiss after some time he smiled, "I want to make love to you.
I want to feel you again, to be as near to you as possible." The way she
responded told him that Willow had already told her about the happiness clause.
"Me too. Do you realise it's been over 60 years." Suddenly she giggled, "Do you
also think this is ... I dunno, kinda ... weird."
"Not for a vampire. I'm used to this. After all I waited about 240 years until
your 17th birthday to make love to someone. So, talk about weird."
"Hey, was that a joke?"
"Well, yeah...," he grinned. "But as much as I would like to make love to you I
suppose I can't." Embarrassment entered his eyes and he looked away, "I ... I
haven't exactly been ...," He didn't want to tell her that his body was too
weak right now for carnal love.
She pressed one finger on his lips, "I know. And I also know it was partly my
fault." When he started to protest she kissed him quickly, "It was more than
partly my fault. I should've known what my accusations would do to you. I heard
what you said to Whistler, remember?"
"I don't want you to feel responsible for this," he said.
"I won't if you stop feeling responsible for Anne. I was wrong and you are too.
I know you already blamed yourself for her death before I opened my big mouth."
Suddenly she tilted her head, "Is it ... I mean," she bit her lower lip, feeling
a bit unsure about her question, "what I want to say is, is it strange for you to see me in another body? I mean, this body is a lot like mine, it feels familiar, but I can also feel the differences, it's kinda funny actually, well sometimes, buying clothes for example, okay I'll stop now," she flushed in embarrassment.
He had to grin at her babbling, "I know what you mean. And the answer is yes
and no. It's not that I was ever really familiar with your body, although I
remember everything from that night as if it had been yesterday. But it wasn't
your body I fell in love with, the part I fell in love with is still the same,"
then his grin grew even wider, "although I don't mind the way you look."
"Why thank you sir," she joked. "A lady will never get tired of such
compliments."
"Good," his said with a nod. "Because," his voice became husky and he began to
nibble at her earlobe, "I intend for you to hear many more of them."
"Is that so," she whispered and then added, "You are aware that we're sitting
in a graveyard of all places and even worse right above someone dead?"
"We always had a thing for cemeteries," he commented dryly, his mouth now
travelling down her neck what caused her to moan.
"Uh ... Angel ... it's not ... uh ... comfortable."
"You never complained before," he said mercilessly.
"I was much younger then," she said with a grin.
He slightly pulled back and looked at her, his eyes shining with his love for
her, but there was something else, joy. It made her heart burst with love. "And
you're so old now. Let me tell you about age. Do you even know how old *I* am?"
"Something over 300, but after a certain age it doesn't really matter," she
shrugged and grinned. "Besides you're used to being old, I'm still adjusting."
"Is that so?," he pulled her closer again. "I really have to get in shape soon.
But maybe it's better this way, we would probably shock the dead if I were to
ravish you right now."
"Ravish, huh?," she reached for him and began to tickle, "The question would be
who's going to ravish whom."
"Stop it," he said between laughter.
Suddenly she gasped, "God, Angel you're like a skeleton. I will have to take
good care of you and you promise never to do that again.
"Promise," he held his hand out. "Marry me, let's not wait until I'm going to
be human," he said suddenly.
"Yes," she replied without hesitation. "We've waited long enough. Tara can do
it. She's allowed to legally marry people and we won't have to answer questions." She grinned again, "I'd think it would be rather complicated with our let's say unconventional background. Besides I want Willow there. She's okay now, but she's not going to live forever," a little sadness flickered over her eyes but was instantly gone. "All we know is that this battle will be soon, but not exactly how soon. And it's unpredictable. I want to be your wife and you as my husband. It's the only thing I wanted all my life."
"The same here," he sighed and pulled her close again. "Maybe we should go
back. Tell them all about it. Us, I mean."
"Hmmm," she made and snuggled closer. "Let's stay here a few more minutes.
They'll know soon enough. You know, Willow's going to flip. She might be 80 but
she's still Willow, I can almost hear her babble uncontrollably."
"Yeah," he sighed again, "And your watcher will have to report to the Council
that his transformed slayer is going to marry her vampire after all."
"I love you, Angel," she said and close your eyes. "Always."
"Yes, always," he replied and kissed her skull. "Buffy?"
"Hmmm?"
"First thing tomorrow we get you a new ring."
"Good."
"Yes, I want everyone to know that you belong to somebody. I won't ever let you
go again, you know that?"
"Very good," she sighed happily. "Angel?"
"Hmmm?"
"Stop talking, better kiss me."
And nothing was spoken for the next hours.
It was almost sunrise when a shriek sounded through Willow's house and she
immediately began searching for bridal magazines she'd kept from her
grand-daughter.
END
That's it, guys. Hope you liked it. Please tell me, if you did? If you
did not? (Hopefully not!!). Come on, let me know!
"Buffy," he whispered again and then instantly bowed his head in shame. "W-what
are you doing here?"
"I was on patrol," she explained and then startled him again when she fell on
her knees right in front of him. "Oh Angel, what did you do to yourself," she
asked with tears in her eyes. When he would neither look at her nor answer she
framed his head in her hands and forced him to face her. "I'm so sorry for what I said to you. Do you know how long I've been looking for you? I was searching
every place I could imagine. I thought I would go mad."
"I'm sorry," he whispered and couldn't prevent his own tears from falling. "I'm
so sorry I couldn't save Anne's life. I really tried ...," his voice broke.
"I know. Angel, I know, remember I was there," she frowned, "well at least
somehow, so I know," she assured him. When she saw the flicker of hope in his
eyes she quickly continued, "I can't believe what I said to you. The only
excuse I have is that I was confused and hurting, but I had no right to lash out
at you like that. I'm sorry."
He shook his head, "There is no need to be sorry. You had every right to behave
like you did, I didn't protect Anne and ..."
"No," she interrupted him. "*I* was wrong. But I can't believe that you don't
blame me. Angel, are you even real?"
A little laugh escaped his throat and it made her smile, "I missed you," he
whispered. "God, how I missed you. After more then 60 years all I needed was to
reach out and touch you and yet you've never been so far away as you have these
past weeks."
"I missed you too," she whispered back. And then after a pause she added, "I
love you."
"Oh, Buffy," with trembling hands he reached out and touched her face. "I would
give everything to bring her back to you."
"I know," she leaned forward and brushed his lips with hers. "I heard."
"You...," shock flickered through his eyes and then he looked away in
embarrassment. "You weren't meant to hear."
"I know," she said again. "But I'm glad I did. Not because you tried to trade
your life for hers." Her voice sounded stern now, "Don't you dare and try it
again. Do you hear me. You've worked long and hard and suffered a lot for it. You earned your redemption." As a reaction his head snapped up and he was staring at her with wide eyes. When she spoke again her voice was soft, "I'm glad I heard it because it reminded me how much you love me. And what a bitch I've been." She had to laugh, "I'm over 80 years old, but it's never too late to be a bitch, is it?"
"I love you," he said suddenly and with a groan pulled her to him, holding her
close. "God, how I love you."
"I know," she said and started to cry. But they were good tears. Healing tears.
"Just imagine. We've got this incredible gift. A future together."
"I know," he mumbled into her hair. "I'm almost too afraid to let myself
believe it."
She slightly pulled back, "I talked to her, you know." When she saw his puzzled
gaze she smiled. "Tara, Willow, Ellen and I held a séance and Tara gave me the
chance to communicate with Anne. She's happy where she is, she doesn't resent me
for having this chance and she wants us to be happy together."
"I'm glad. It tore me apart to see you hurting like that. I could've killed
Whistler, but it would've been the wrong person," he sighed loudly. "He's very
annoying sometimes, but in his heart he is a good person."
"Yeah," she agreed. "I met him the first time before I sent you to hell. Did I
ever tell you that?"
Surprised he looked at her, "No. Why did he come?"
"He told me about the swords and that you were meant to take care of me, but
that it got out of hand when we fell in love with each other." She snuggled
closer to him again, enjoying the feeling of being so close. "Then," her voice
became lower, "he told me I had to send you to hell if you succeeded to pull out
the sword and to open the vortex. That your blood was the only way to seal it. I
hated him for it, although it wasn't his fault either."
"It's a damned job he has," Angel commented. "I don't envy him for it. Mostly
he has bad news. The only time he had something good for me was when he brought
me to see you."
They were silent for a long time, just holding each other. Buffy was sitting
between Angel's legs, her back leaned to his chest, while his head rested on
hers. His arms had encircled her waist from behind and her hands rested on his'.
She was stroking over them when she suddenly felt something. With a surprised
sound she lifted his hand and looked at it, "Since when do you wear it again?,"
she asked.
"I put it on when I left America," he replied calmly. "It was as if I didn't
have the right before. I didn't want you to feel uncomfortable around me."
"I lost mine," she said sadly. "I left it in the Mansion on the spot where I
sent you to hell. At that time it seemed the best place for it. I thought it was
my way to say goodbye and let you go. I should've known you'd find a way back to
me. I've given up on us so often Angel, but I swear I won't do it again. Talking
to Anne made me realise that I can only honour this gift in living my life full.
Refusing it would mean that she died in vain. I couldn't do that." She paused for a moment and then added with a smile in her voice, "Aaand, I really, really would like my life to be with you."
"Me too," he answered without hesitation. "Me too." Shifting her between his
legs so that she was facing him now his mouth descended on hers and their lips
met in a lingering, passionate kiss, telling her more about his love than words
could. Breaking the kiss after some time he smiled, "I want to make love to you.
I want to feel you again, to be as near to you as possible." The way she
responded told him that Willow had already told her about the happiness clause.
"Me too. Do you realise it's been over 60 years." Suddenly she giggled, "Do you
also think this is ... I dunno, kinda ... weird."
"Not for a vampire. I'm used to this. After all I waited about 240 years until
your 17th birthday to make love to someone. So, talk about weird."
"Hey, was that a joke?"
"Well, yeah...," he grinned. "But as much as I would like to make love to you I
suppose I can't." Embarrassment entered his eyes and he looked away, "I ... I
haven't exactly been ...," He didn't want to tell her that his body was too
weak right now for carnal love.
She pressed one finger on his lips, "I know. And I also know it was partly my
fault." When he started to protest she kissed him quickly, "It was more than
partly my fault. I should've known what my accusations would do to you. I heard
what you said to Whistler, remember?"
"I don't want you to feel responsible for this," he said.
"I won't if you stop feeling responsible for Anne. I was wrong and you are too.
I know you already blamed yourself for her death before I opened my big mouth."
Suddenly she tilted her head, "Is it ... I mean," she bit her lower lip, feeling
a bit unsure about her question, "what I want to say is, is it strange for you to see me in another body? I mean, this body is a lot like mine, it feels familiar, but I can also feel the differences, it's kinda funny actually, well sometimes, buying clothes for example, okay I'll stop now," she flushed in embarrassment.
He had to grin at her babbling, "I know what you mean. And the answer is yes
and no. It's not that I was ever really familiar with your body, although I
remember everything from that night as if it had been yesterday. But it wasn't
your body I fell in love with, the part I fell in love with is still the same,"
then his grin grew even wider, "although I don't mind the way you look."
"Why thank you sir," she joked. "A lady will never get tired of such
compliments."
"Good," his said with a nod. "Because," his voice became husky and he began to
nibble at her earlobe, "I intend for you to hear many more of them."
"Is that so," she whispered and then added, "You are aware that we're sitting
in a graveyard of all places and even worse right above someone dead?"
"We always had a thing for cemeteries," he commented dryly, his mouth now
travelling down her neck what caused her to moan.
"Uh ... Angel ... it's not ... uh ... comfortable."
"You never complained before," he said mercilessly.
"I was much younger then," she said with a grin.
He slightly pulled back and looked at her, his eyes shining with his love for
her, but there was something else, joy. It made her heart burst with love. "And
you're so old now. Let me tell you about age. Do you even know how old *I* am?"
"Something over 300, but after a certain age it doesn't really matter," she
shrugged and grinned. "Besides you're used to being old, I'm still adjusting."
"Is that so?," he pulled her closer again. "I really have to get in shape soon.
But maybe it's better this way, we would probably shock the dead if I were to
ravish you right now."
"Ravish, huh?," she reached for him and began to tickle, "The question would be
who's going to ravish whom."
"Stop it," he said between laughter.
Suddenly she gasped, "God, Angel you're like a skeleton. I will have to take
good care of you and you promise never to do that again.
"Promise," he held his hand out. "Marry me, let's not wait until I'm going to
be human," he said suddenly.
"Yes," she replied without hesitation. "We've waited long enough. Tara can do
it. She's allowed to legally marry people and we won't have to answer questions." She grinned again, "I'd think it would be rather complicated with our let's say unconventional background. Besides I want Willow there. She's okay now, but she's not going to live forever," a little sadness flickered over her eyes but was instantly gone. "All we know is that this battle will be soon, but not exactly how soon. And it's unpredictable. I want to be your wife and you as my husband. It's the only thing I wanted all my life."
"The same here," he sighed and pulled her close again. "Maybe we should go
back. Tell them all about it. Us, I mean."
"Hmmm," she made and snuggled closer. "Let's stay here a few more minutes.
They'll know soon enough. You know, Willow's going to flip. She might be 80 but
she's still Willow, I can almost hear her babble uncontrollably."
"Yeah," he sighed again, "And your watcher will have to report to the Council
that his transformed slayer is going to marry her vampire after all."
"I love you, Angel," she said and close your eyes. "Always."
"Yes, always," he replied and kissed her skull. "Buffy?"
"Hmmm?"
"First thing tomorrow we get you a new ring."
"Good."
"Yes, I want everyone to know that you belong to somebody. I won't ever let you
go again, you know that?"
"Very good," she sighed happily. "Angel?"
"Hmmm?"
"Stop talking, better kiss me."
And nothing was spoken for the next hours.
It was almost sunrise when a shriek sounded through Willow's house and she
immediately began searching for bridal magazines she'd kept from her
grand-daughter.
END
That's it, guys. Hope you liked it. Please tell me, if you did? If you
did not? (Hopefully not!!). Come on, let me know!